JANUARY 23 TO JANUARY 29, 2019
VOLUME 27 ISSUE 03
Tippin’ the noodles since 1993
UFv welcomes new writer-inresidence, Robert wiersema
pg.13
does expressing political views need to be divisive?
pg. 6
pg. 10
Q&A WITH THEATRE PROFESSOR ALEX FERGUSON
pg. 4
alas, poor ufv north WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA
How being in abbotsford has reinvented theatre at ufv
VOL. 27 // ISSUE 03
Production Manager Elyssa English elyssa@ufvcascade.ca
Copy Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca
Production Assistant Renée Campbell renee@ufvcascade.ca
Production Assistant Uyen Nguyen uyen@ufvcascade.ca
News Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca
Opinion Editor Jeff Mijo-Burch jeff@ufvcascade.ca
Culture & Events Editor Cassie de Jong cassie@ufvcascade.ca
Features Editor Cat Friesen cat@ufvcascade.ca
Multimedia Editor Mikaela Collins mikaela@ufvcascade.ca
Arts in Review Editor Martin Castro martin@ufvcascade.ca
Illustrator Simer Haer Illustrator Cory Jensen
Sports Writer Alex Jesus Staff Writer Emmaline Spencer
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Staff Writer Carissa Wiens
Online Editor Jeff Mijo-Burch jeff@ufvcascade.ca
CONTRIBUTORS Beru Bell Chandy Dancey Aleister Gwynne Maecyn Klassen Scott McQuarrie Caleb Silveira Steven Sprott Cover Artwork: Joel Robertson-Taylor Back Cover: Mikaela Collins
WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA
ARTS
Illustrator Kayt Hine
OPINION
Managing Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca
NEWS
Business Manager Quintin Stamler quintin@ufvcascade.ca
CONTENTS
FEATURE
vvvv
Creative Director Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca
CULTURE
Executive Editor (interim) Cat Friesen cat@ufvcascade.ca
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13 12.......Events Calendar
Snapshots.......9 Study Break.......16-17
@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 27 · Issue 03 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by the Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a print circulation of 1,000 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities. The Cascade is open to written, photo, and design work from all students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment from an editor. Writers meetings are held every Monday at 2:30 p.m. in The Cascade’s office on the Abbotsford campus. In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief, copy editor, and corresponding section editor. 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. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 200 words. As The Cascade is an autonomous student publication, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.
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18.......CIVL Shuffle
NEWS Senate Overview.......3
4......Q&A with Alex Ferguson
OPINION No fare is no fair?.......5 Nutrition North.......6 Going electric.......7
5.......Editorial 6.......Passion misapplied 7.......Planning your planners
New impaired driving laws.......8 CULTURE Writer in residence......13
13.......Distillery festival
Artist Q&A.......14 14.......U-Join SPORTS Men's volleyball.......15
15.......Women's volleyball ARTS
This Cultural Moment.......18 Nothing like a Dame.......19
19.......Into the Spider-verse
news@ufvcascade.ca Jessica Barclay — News Editor
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019
NEWS
UFV //
Senate Overview
NEWS BRIEFS
Highlights from the Jan. 18 meeting JESSICA BARCLAY
Two senior legislature officials under investigation Two senior legislature officials — clerk Craig James and Sergeant-at-Arms Garth Lenz — are under investigation by the RCMP for allegations including overspending on travel, billing personal purchases to the legislature, awarding themselves cash in lieu of vacation time, and problems managing employees; there are 31 recorded instances. In autumn 2017, when David Plecas became Speaker for the legislature, he became aware of numerous issues with James’ and Lenz’s behaviour and, as of November 2018, a unanimous vote of the legislature assembly led to the suspension of both men. At present, the RCMP are deciding which, if any, charges are appropriate. Both James and Lenz asserted in an email statement released Monday that the allegations against them are “completely false and untrue,” and that “no one shared them with us.” -the Tyee
Skip Bassford to be inducted into hall of fame Skip Bassford, UFV’s president from 1998 to 2009, will be inducted into the Cascades Hall of Fame builder category on Friday, Jan. 25 during half-time of the men’s basketball game, alongside two students being inducted into the athlete category — Derek Fletcher for men’s volleyball and Andrea Wigman for women’s soccer. Under Bassford’s guidance, UFV built two gyms, and helped UFV plan for more athletic scholarship funding, which allowed UFV to be accepted into Canadian Interuniversity Sports (now known as U Sports), the Canadian governing body of university sports. “All in all, it was a real privilege to work on behalf of UFV athletics. I deeply appreciate the honour of induction into the Cascades Hall of Fame,” Bassford said. -UFV Today
Senate is the academic governing body of UFV, with the university president and vice chancellor Joanne MacLean as the chair. They are responsible for making decisions on everything academic: approving the new courses and program, approving changes to program, setting entrance requirements, and setting the academic calendar. The Board of Governors, who looks at the business side of the university, is advised by Senate on matters of mutual interest. All at the university are welcome to attend Senate’s public meetings, held once a month at either the Abbotsford or the CEP campus, but most do not. Regardless, Senate makes decisions that impact the daily lives of both students and faculty. Approval of new School of Creative Arts The creation of the new School of Creative Arts was met with no discussion. The school will involve the merger of visual arts and the
theatre department, effective May 2019. The departments under the school will include visual arts, art history, theatre, and media and film. It was reported that the creation of the school saw strong support from faculty and staff. Open discussion on international students Having recently come into her role as president of the university, Joanne Maclean has been encouraging a period of more open discussion after presentations during Senate meetings. This session, the conversations around international student number targets was continued. UFV has recently reached its target of 20 per cent of the full-time student population of the university, and is in the process of making new goals for enrollment targets. One commenter expressed concern over UFV’s policy of charging international students for five full courses, regardless of how few they actually take. Many B.C. uni-
versities are revising this policy, and it was mentioned this will be a recommendation going forward as well. There was also discussion around putting additional funding towards more counselling services, and if this was an effective solution. Some students in Canada on study permits fear losing their permits if they come forward to discuss issues related to their permit requirements, one commenter stated. The matter of money and how much international student enrollment is bringing into the university was broached, but not extensively discussed. Recommendations concerning the policies on international student enrollment will be coming out in May of this year from the international department, who are holding focus groups and discussing the matter. Approval of changes to programs Senate approved the new Integrated Learning Design Associate certificate. The certificate focuses on classes in adult education, but will also integrate aspects of communications and graphic design. There is expected to be an increase of an estimated two courses annually to accommodate anticipated increased demand for the certificate. The new philosophy honours and the new graphic and digital design major, set to start in September 2020, were also approved. Certificate and program discontinuations Senate approved the discontinuation of the Family Child Care certificate. There had been no student interest enrolled since 2015, as the certificate has been in suspension. Senate also approved the discontinuation of the one-year aviation degree. No one had graduated with the diploma since 2010.
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NEWS
VOL. 27 // ISSUE 03
Professor Profile //
The science of art with Alex Ferguson Where neurology intersects theatre
derstand on an embodied level or somatic level space, distances, spatial configurations, all that kind of stuff. It has to do with theater spaces, theater composiAlex Ferguson is an actor, director, and teach- tions. But of course it applies to anything. er of art and theater, and holds a phD from UBC in sonography and neuroscience. He How do these two areas intersect? is currently the artistic director of a performance company in Vancouver called Fight So part of cognitive neuroscience is With a Stick, where his work focuses on trans- showing on a neuromuscular level, including your brain, how one idea is simdisciplinary performances. In addition to his work as a director, Alex ulation. Everything you see isn't just a has been teaching for eight years in a variety thing happening out there. It's something of areas, from performance theory to theater that you're actually doing in your body. history to acting. Along the way he's taken So, you’re simulating on a neuromuscuthe opportunity to teach himself architecture, lar level everything you see and that's musical composition, contemporary dance, why it makes sense to you. Take the thetheater, posttraumatic theater, performance ater for example: if somebody is walking art, installation art, and the history of theater. across the stage and their body is tense Most recently, Alex came to UFV as a theater and they're moving quickly, part of you is teacher, and is directing the theater depart- tense and moving quickly and that's how ments winter mainstage Attempts on her Life. you understand that they're tense and moving quickly. I think also over life you develop a repHow has your family background influertoire of movement that makes sense to enced your work? you, and this is neurologically implantI come from an immigrant family, a ed in your brain and your body. So one Greek family. I have a Scottish last name, thing that might happen to you is somebut it's a freak of history. I'm actually 100 body will dance on stage and you'll really percent Greek on both sides. That's kind like it because you have that inside you. of shaped a lot of the way I write plays, And then somebody may do something its shaped a lot of the way I think. Just the that you don't have inside you and either sense of humor, the emotional landscape you'll update your neuropatterns to creof my Greek family, all that stuff's real- ate a pattern for it, or if there's no connecly fed into how I think and how I make tion at all you probably won't. work. It’s hard to describe your sense of humor because humor is always hard to describe that way. I don't want to generalize about Greek culture or anything like that, but, it’s interesting, I think there's less of a sense that realism equals truth. I think by humor tends to be more absurdist, a little bit surrealistic. I have no reservations about mixing genres in the same play; in fact, I do it deliberately. I'll put a very realist scene next to a very absurd scene next to a kind of philosophical diatribe next to a stretch of poetry. And for me, the multiplicity enriches the experience. For some people, not so much.
JESSICA BARCLAY MIKAELA COLLINS
Do you use these ideas in your productions? What I do is if I'm composing something onstage, because I like to play with what is familiar and not familiar, but with the not familiar it's like how do you bridge between the two? How do you make the unfamiliar familiar enough? The most interesting thing for me in theater is when you don't know what's happening but you're interested; when it's been well constructed and you don't know what's going on but you just can't help being intrigued with what's going on. That's for me the best. I think that what's happening at that point is you've got just enough understanding but not enough to go, “Oh yeah, I know what it is”. And so that keeps you in a state of openness to it. You remain open. Now that's a great state because then you're kind of awake; now you're really awake, now you really there, now you’re really investigating and I don't mean necessarily intellectual. I mean on a kind of a gut level, emotional, psychophysical sort of level. I do a lot of work where I'm messing with what is familiar. So sometimes, maybe I'll look at a suitcase. Can that carry a story? Can it carry any meaning by itself? I mean without anything else, only the color and the texture… Maybe. So, I'll mess with that and see, and sometimes wonderful things will happen.
You went back to school after being a professional artist for many years. What did you study? I got a phD in scenography and neuroscience. So, studying how people come to un-
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Alex Ferguson. (Mikaela Collins)
OPINION
opinion@ufvcascade.ca Jeff Mijo-Burch — Opinion Editor
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019
Editorial //
Saying sayonara to steak (and ham, and hot dogs) CAT FRIESEN This week, CBC News reported that humans should limit their red meat intake to “one hamburger a week, but no more,” in order to preserve the planet and keep their bodies running at optimal levels. This isn’t a new idea, and for some — such as people in Germany whose meals centre on meat, or those who grew up with “meat and potatoes” dinners — this change would be a challenge. But is it necessary? If we look at it from the viewpoint of preserving the planet, yes, it is. According to the Guardian, vegetables require 322 litres of water per kilogram during production, and fruit uses 962 l/ kg, where chicken uses 4,325 l/
kg, pork uses 5,988 l/kg, and beef uses a staggering 15,415 l/kg. However, nuts were also a high offender, using 9,063 l/kg. Given the Earth’s dwindling water supply, this is a bit alarming. Then again, livestock farming is causing a massive increase in water pollution due to runoff from the livestock themselves, metals, and pollutants such as hormones, antibiotics, and feed additives into nearby streams. This water pollution has numerous side effects: weeds and insects may die off, impacting further up the food chain; algae blooms from excessive nutrients in fertilizers suffocate lakes and ponds, killing the fish and insects in them; the antibiotics in the water may raise bacterial resistance to them, causing problems when
we need them for illness. What about from a health perspective? According to Global News, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) — a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) — reported that processed and red meats are extremely detrimental to our health. Red meat has been classified as Group 1: “carcinogenic to humans.” If a person eats 50 g of processed meats a day — hot dogs, deli meats, ham, sausages — their risk of developing colon cancer rises by 18 per cent. These findings are, in not so many words, frightening. But for someone like me, this isn’t a problem. I love a good steak once in a while, and I could eat salami until it comes out of my eyes. But does meat like me? No, no it does not.
Over the past 10 years, I’ve slowly gathered information on the foods that cause my body grief. The list is long and depressing. Most meats, all dairy, eggs, and anything with caffeine leave me feeling like someone has ripped my stomach open and dropped burning embers into it (among other unsavory side effects). So, cutting meat from my diet? Definitely not a problem. Obviously saying arrivederci to red and processed meat won’t be as easy for some, and others may choose not to eliminate meat from their diet at all for a number of reasons. It’s easy for me because of the effect it has on my body. For someone who doesn’t react badly to meat — and enjoys it several times a week — cutting meat out may sound absurd.
But it doesn’t have to be. I’ve been vegetarian on and off for about 10 years, and I’ll tell you now there are a ton of cool substitutes for meat kickin’ around the grocery store. If the fake meats don’t give you weird vibes, use those — they’re nearly indi scernible from the real stuff. If you aren’t down for that, chickpeas are weirdly versatile. You can sub them for flaked tuna and ground beef, and they’re amazing fried with onions, peppers, and spices. To bring it back around, yes, cutting red and processed meat from your diet is good for both you and the planet. So, if anyone reading this wants to challenge themselves to cut meat out and needs help, I have a bumpin’ bean burger recipe. Hit me up.
Transit //
No fare is no fair?
Should youth be given free rides on public transit? ALEISTER GWYNNE A motion spearheaded by Vancouver city councillor Jean Swanson, the #AllOnBoard campaign, was recently accepted by Vancouver city hall. The campaign calls for youth 18 and under to receive free rides on public transit. Other features of the proposal include monthly pass fees based on income and an end to ticketing of minors for fare evasion. The fine for fare-jumping is $173. New Westminster and Port Moody had already declared their support for the motion, and Swanson and her supporters hope to convince other municipalities in the Lower Mainland to sign on. Toronto already allows youth 12 and under to ride for free, and the city of Seattle recently started providing free transit passes to high school students. In Vancouver, the current cost of a one zone transfer for youth is $1.90, while a monthly pass costs $54 for minors. Swanson argued that “Kids between
12 and 18 still don’t have much money and need to be able to ride the bus … and sometimes they’re the ones most likely to be out at night and most likely to be in a dangerous situation and really need the transit,” according to a recent CBC News article. She also said, “If you’re a family of five it would take about $20 of transit fares to go from East Van to the beach, for example, and [a] lot of people don’t have that kind of money.” In my opinion, Swanson raises good points. The great majority of people under the age of 18 cannot drive and have no income. Even if their family owns a car (not guaranteed), in this age of the twoincome household, it may not be available when they need a ride. For many young people, public transit is their only means of travelling long distances. Not to mention that scrounging up the exact change for bus fare gets troublesome after a while when the fee is not a round number. It seems unfair and unnecessary to force them to pay out of pocket when someone else will usually be paying anyway, either
directly or indirectly. The only difference is whether that will be the parents/guardians, or the taxpayer. Unfortunately, the question of “How will it be paid for, and by whom?” rears its ugly head, as it too often does. Would letting youth ride for free make that much of a dent in the transit budget? Youth already get a discount, but $1.90 per rider can add up over time; $0 never can. The possibility that a budget shortfall might cause transit services to stagnate — or worse, be cut — is a terrifying prospect. Drivers might also balk at having to foot more of the bill for funding public transit while they themselves have to pay the costs of owning a car (fuel, insurance, maintenance, and the vehicle itself) as well. City councillors debating the matter in Greater Vancouver speak from a place of privilege, where public transit is already well-developed. As one gets farther from the urban core, public transport services become increasingly few and far between. Swanson says that unaffordable public transit is a barrier to youth accessing pub-
lic services and jobs, and engaging with the community. However, the same is true in places where there is little or no public transport and where very little is within walking distance, for adults without cars as well as minors. Allowing youth to ride free would mean nothing if there is nothing for them to ride, or if the service is so infrequent and/or unreliable as to be useless. Even so, I am not convinced that free service for under-18s will seriously damage the company’s bottom line. In Chilliwack, the local bus service gets by with charging adults only $2. On the other hand, as I have noted before, Chilliwack’s transit services are substandard in my opinion. If I were forced to choose, I would prefer a system that is extensive, frequent, and reliable, even if people have to pay more in fares. However, I do not think it would come to that, and reliability at least is not something dependent on funding. In the end, what matters most is enabling everyone to go where and when they need to, regardless of income, ability, or age.
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OPINION
VOL. 27 // ISSUE 03
Community //
Politics //
Is the new Nutrition Passion misapplied North easier to swallow? — a bitter irony STEVEN SPROTT
Illustration by Cory Jensen
CHANDY DANCEY Last month marked the announcement of the much needed Nutrition North program update and expansion to increase food security in northern Canada. Due to the extreme weather and isolation of Northern communities, it’s costly for retailers to ship food by any means except air. It’s especially difficult to maintain the freshness and standard of produce in storage and transit under the harsh conditions. This contributes to exorbitant price tags that have shocked Canadians in recent years; a bottle of ketchup can run a family $16.50, and a bag of grapes can set you back by $28. PROOF, a research team focused on food insecurity in Canada, uses data from Statistics Canada to publish annual reports. They found that food insecurity in Nunavut households rose to a staggering 50.8 per cent in 2015/16 (a 4 per cent increase since 2014), and these prices can help explain why. The Nutrition North program is the Canadian government’s subsidy program to bring down the upfront cost of food to families, but it’s had its fair share of flaws. This update to the program was much anticipated since the programs implementation in 2011, but will it be enough? Changes to the program were based on a 2016 engagement report conducted by the Government of Canada that engaged residents of isolated Northern communities, food suppliers, Indigenous organizations, and local governments among others. The changes that were implemented included subsidized food that was more relevant to Northerners, including ingredients like flour for making bread products and bannock, and lower costs on local meats. Similarly, there’s now a subsidy category for country, or traditional, food that receive higher subsidy rates. Smaller retailers can also now be financially supported by Nutrition North, meaning that more family-run businesses can participate in the program. There were also increases to subsidy rates for household staples such as fresh and frozen vegetables, dried beans,
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infant formula, and diapers. For isolated communities lacking access to food shipments, this has been taken into account by subsidies now being available on a wider range of goods, and the Harvesters Support Grant program has also been developed to fund traditional hunting and harvesting. Many Inuit leaders are welcoming the updates, but keeping in mind that Northern populations are largely Inuit and First Nation, the government’s neglect up until now has been in incredibly bad taste. Not only that, but all five of Canada’s major Inuit organizations pulled out of the consultations for the Nutrition North program, explaining that they felt their input wasn’t being considered for Inuit-specific changes. Unfortunately, this has become a regular occurrence when it comes to the federal government working with Indigenous groups. There are upcoming changes for the government to show it’s serious about working with Inuit leaders though; a new Inuit-to-Crown working group is being developed to focus on food security, and the government recently proposed to increase Nutrition North’s funding by $62.6 million over five years with the previous budget being $99 million in 2018-19. The Inuit-to-Crown work group and the further development of the Nutrition North program are major steps in the right direction for the Government of Canada, but they shouldn’t be the last. Critics have already pointed out that, despite the improvements, Amazon Prime can still offer Northern families lower prices than grocers on a variety of edible goods. Elisapee Sheutiapik, Nunavut’s minister for poverty reduction, commented that retailers are benefiting the most from the program at the moment, not citizens, and that there is little transparency and documentation when it comes to how companies are using subsidy funding. Food for thought? It’s time that Canada makes the North a priority and work with territorial governments instead of leaving more Indigenous communities on the back burner.
I recently found myself reading an article from The Daily Beast about how YouTube’s “recommended videos” algorithm guides viewers into increasingly fringe content bubbles, leading them towards so-called “extreme” political perspectives — white supremacy, Holocaust denial, anti-feminism, etc. The algorithm — which the article calls a “radicalization machine” — can make these groups appear much more widespread than they are. What struck me most was the power of this passive persuasion. YouTube’s system is a symbol of the power of a surrounding culture. Political views such as the above can still seem unbelievable, but they are difficult to dismiss. Naturally, in response to such views many people feel angry or indignant. We have a tendency to draw a line and say “Enough!” We may even have the sense that time is running short. Environmental apocalypse looms and there is talk of a deteriorating world order. All is urgency. We feel impotent. Yet the more pressure we feel the less careful our responses will be to the political climate, and as The Daily Beast shows, small influences can be remarkably strong. In part, these “extremist” groups that we are seeing are reacting to other movements. A recent Vox article featuring the political filmmaker Deeyah Khan explores this idea. Khan has fought racism in many ways, but is “not sure what difference it made.” Changing her approach, she attempted to understand her radical “enemies” face-toface. Drawing on these experiences, she tells Vox that “These movements are deeply rooted in a sense of victimhood, real or imagined. So if we exclude them, if we shout at them, if we condemn them, that completely feeds into that. And then the monster gets bigger, not smaller.” Ironically, the misapplied fervour of one position can bolster the other. Perhaps we feel retaliation to be our right, like an ancient law of revenge — “an eye for an eye” or the Furies of Greek mythology. But this goes both ways and leads us in circles, centrifugally, pulling us apart. We polarize into camps from which we automatically damn anyone on the other side of the fence, and this leads us into needlessly bitter rhetoric. Yet ad hominem attacks are not the only culprit. Even the relatively innocent sort of ridicule most of us have used against “obviously ignorant” political perspectives can be harmful. Our Facebook friends lists probably include more than a few people whose opinions contrast our own. Do our posts really help them understand our perspective? We
should aim at improving the world, not merely satisfying a sense of justice. Our focus should be on effect. The power of an effects-based approach on behaviour is evident in the world’s penal systems. For instance, the heavy-handed American prison system has a far higher reoffence rate than the relatively comfortable, humane prisons of Norway. The difference is that the United States focuses on punitive justice (or the people’s sense of it), whereas Norway focuses on preparing prisoners to re-enter society — rehabilitation. As Warden Are Høidal from Halden prison in Norway asks in an article from Business Insider: “Do you want people who are angry? Or people who are rehabilitated?” Norway treats prisoners as whole beings from a desire to change thinking, not really to “punish” at all. This psychological focus has obvious parallels to political expression. Although Deeyah Kahn’s experiences were mixed, she was surprisingly positive overall: “I never believed I would remain friends with any of these white supremacists, that some of them would walk away from their movement after we interacted. But that’s what happened.” I feel that the best way to begin is with an attitude of grace. This requires us to adopt a view of our enemies akin to the feeling of Scrooge’s nephew towards the human mass — as “fellow travellers to the grave.” Considering our opponents as human individuals, we might discover more aspects of ourselves in them than we expect. Yes, this includes Trump supporters — or whichever category of humanity we happen to hold in contempt because their views are not our own.
Is it good to be so divisive? (Steven Sprott)
OPINION
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019
Canada //
Electric slowpokes
Canada lags behind in electric vehicle adoption ALEISTER GWYNNE A recent Huffington Post article claims that Canada is “among the worst-equipped countries for electric cars.” The article cites statistics from a study by GoCompare which measures percentages and absolute numbers of electric vehicles and charging stations in 30 countries. According to the study, Canada has the seventh lowest ratio of charging stations to roads with only 0.56 stations per 100 kilometres of road. Compare that with the Netherlands’ 23.25 stations per 100 km. This, combined with a lack of government incentives and the fact that many Canadian auto dealerships aren’t stocking electric vehicles, means that Canada’s adoption of them has been slow compared to other countries. However, I feel that HuffPost’s presentation of the data is unfair and fails to take into account Canada’s unique geographic circumstances. Canada is a vast country with a very low average population density for our size. Many long stretches of roadway between settlements will naturally bring our average down compared to smaller or more denselypopulated countries. Taking a closer look at Electric Avenues, GoCompare’s survey on electric vehicle infrastructure, reveals that the number two nation for charging stations per 100 km is Luxembourg. This shouldn’t be too surprising since Luxembourg is a tiny “postage stamp” nation in Europe. It makes sense that the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and other European countries can and will cram more stations into less space. A fairer measure would be charging stations per capita. Using the data from Electric Avenues, the United States, which has similar geography and land area to Canada, has a total of 45,868 charging stations. Since Canada has one-tenth the population of the United States, we should have at least 4,586.8 charging stations to be doing as well as the U.S. Canada actually has 5,841 stations, which is above the mark but not by very much. The Netherlands has a total of 32,735 stations. So perhaps we aren’t doing as well as we could be. Why are Canadians hesitant to embrace the age of the electric
car? One reason is the lack of infrastructure. Charging stations are not so widespread that you can be reasonably sure of finding one when you need one, like gas stations. Nobody wants to be stranded in the Canadian wilderness because their electric car ran out of juice. So, people in rural areas play it safe and stick to gasoline vehicles or hybrids (which the survey does not count). This drives down demand, especially outside of major cities. Another reason suggested by the HuffPost article is that concerns about air pollution have spurred governments to create programs to encourage electric car use. This is perhaps why China is the world leader in total numbers of electric vehicles and charging stations. Air pollution is so bad in China that the air has become unbreathable in major cities like Beijing, making the problem impossible to ignore. Yet in North America’s wide-open spaces, we are less concerned about air pollution, even if we should be. Lastly, perhaps Canadians simply haven’t made the mental leap that electric cars are not the future, they are the present. Most people who are old enough to drive grew up learning that electric cars were a fringe, currently non-viable technology that would be everywhere in the near future. Yet, much like cold fusion, that “just around the corner” tech revolution never seemed to come, until it did. It doesn’t help that electric vehicles are a hidden technology. Electric cars don’t look or behave any differently from gas-powered ones. You could be seeing electric cars every day without realizing it. I think this internalized assumption of gasoline’s dominance makes people underestimate both the availability and effectiveness of electric vehicles today. Still, even Huffington Post admits that we are closing the gap. According to their article, electric vehicle and hybrid sales were up 158 per cent in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the previous year. The demand is there, the transformation is just a bit slow to get moving. In a country as vast and complex as Canada, a transportation revolution will not occur overnight.
Lifestyle //
Planning your planners The pros and cons of different tools for organizing your life BERU BELL It’s the new year, and that means it’s the culturally expected time to try and get your life together. Actually following through on your New Year’s resolutions is hard, but if you want to start new habits or create a new routine for yourself, it helps to set some kind of schedule. One of the first things you can do to create a schedule is to get a planner. Whether this is a wall calendar, notebook-style planner, or digital planner, writing down what you’re doing every day is the first step. Each type of planner has its upsides and downsides. Many people have a monthly calendar hanging in their house. This is nice, because it provides an easy way to look at your entire month at once, but it’s definitely not portable and there’s not a lot of space to write down multiple events for each day. Notebook-style planners come in a wide range of sizes, time periods, and styles, from daily agendas the size of bricks to monthly planners that fit in your
pocket. Monthly planners are pretty much just a portable wall calendar with even less space, but they can be useful if you only want to use them to track studying and due dates. Daily agendas are useful if you have a lot of things to do in your day, but they’re usually pretty heavy when you buy them and only get heavier the more you add to them. Digital planners, on the other hand, come in all forms because they aren’t constrained by what you can do with paper. The default calendar apps for both Apple and Android have a daily view that lets you add entries by the half hour which you can make recurring, and can send push notifications so you don’t have to remember what time your class is every week. It’s definitely the most convenient, but most planner apps aren’t very cute or customizable. My preferred type of planner is a paper hourly planner in which each two-page spread is one week. It lets me plan exactly what I’m doing during my day and makes sure that I know exactly how long my obligations
are going to last. I started using one last June and it made me realize how much time I was wasting in my day. I had always felt like I had no time for anything, but being able to look at a visualization of my week helps me feel less anxious about how much I’m doing because I know I have time to do it. I tried using a digital planner, but I got distracted by my notifications every time I looked at my phone and forgot what I was going to write down. Plus, paper planners are definitely more in-class friendly. Getting the evil eye from your professors while trying to write down your due dates in your digital calendar makes you feel bad for trying to be more organized. Whatever type of planner you may choose, you can use it to gain a visual representation of what you’re already doing and see where you have time in your week to accomplish your goals for the new year. I hope that if you were thinking about how to make your schedule a little more organized, this might help you figure some of it out.
Pile of planners. (Beru Bell)
7
OPINION
VOL. 27 // ISSUE 03
Canada //
Intrusive breath samples: at home or on the road
Canada’s new impaired driving laws give police additional powers CALEB SILVEIRA
Following closely after the legalization of marijuana, it is no surprise the federal government would take the opportunity to also revise the laws surrounding impaired driving. Effective Dec. 18, a series of stricter laws have come into effect under Bill C-46, such as removing the clause of reasonable suspicion (roadside only), mandatory alcohol screenings, and increased maximum penalties, with the minimum remaining a $1,000 fine. What does this mean for the average Canadian? Well, in three words, mandatory roadside breathalyzers. In removing reasonable suspicion, police can now pull over anybody regardless of probable cause. With this comes the potential for inconvenience, especially with the mandatory alcohol screenings. Waiting in traffic can be bad at times, but now, as police do not require reasonable suspicion, they in effect have ultimate authority on the roadside, and the potential for delays seems — unfortunately — inevitable.
Furthermore, the change implemented a “two-hour rule,” in which police can breath test drivers two hours after driving. If they refuse they can be taken into custody and potentially charged. This means the police can test people at home, at restaurants, or even at bars themselves and it’s the responsibility of the driver, if they fail the breathalyzer, to prove that they haven’t driven in that time frame. It should be said, though, that in order for the police to test you at a restaurant or at home they must have reasonable cause. Michael Engel, a Toronto defence lawyer, in an interview with Global News stated: “It casts the net too wide. It’s going to potentially criminalize innocent behaviour.” This series of stricter laws sets Canada’s driving laws closer to that of Germany, France, and Ireland, and it’s clear that the goal is to massively reduce the presence of drunk drivers and accidents associated with them. But where is the line drawn and does it impede social liberties? As a person that enjoys the occasional recreational drink with friends at home or at a bar, this is deeply concerning. Now, I realize that the likelihood of this happen i ng is relatively slim and that the local police cannot demand a breathalyzer, in a restaurant etc., unless they have probably cause; however, I still cannot help but feel a little more paranoid when I drink out. When
I do enjoy a drink at home I don’t feel nearly as paranoid since unless a warrant is provided there is no obligation to let the police inside my house, and that provides a way around directly refusing the breath sample. This breeds a swath of potential harassment cases. While I would use a warrant in the case of the police coming to my home, it quickly becomes an impossibility if the police decide to, let’s say, breathalyze drivers at restaurants, grocery stores, bars, and the list goes on. Does this extra granted authority breach on social liberties and freedoms? Is it unconstitutional? If the police can justify reasonable suspicion, how long until these new laws are manipulated to serve an individual’s purpose? For instance, a spiteful ex could phone the cops and have them show up during pub night to breathalyze you, or a rival sports team could disqualify a competitor by using this system. These new laws can be manipulated; let’s keep that in mind. In reality, however, I doubt that these changes will seriously alter our day-today lives and the enjoyment that comes with recreational drinking. Breath sampling everyone at check stops is a hassle for police and their time can be better spent elsewhere. Furthermore, despite the strictness of these laws, without probable suspicion, I do not think that these
Illustration by Cory Jensen
changes will be acted upon with vigour but rather sparingly. In addition, I doubt the police will hire or dedicate any more man power to the pursuit of impaired drivers than they already do. Yet this is the law now, and since it is we will surely see these laws come into effect now and then. Overall, I find these new laws too strict in nature, a great potential for inconvenience, and wasted taxpayer dollars. While they may prove beneficial in reducing the overall presence of impaired drivers, I think the cost is not entirely worth the delays it represents. Criminal lawyers suspect that this law will be challenged and is likely to undergo court appeals, and perhaps even make it to the Supreme Court of Canada, yet this process is likely to take years. In the meantime, we have no choice but to sit tight and wait.
A CLASSIC COMEDY ABOUT FAMILY JAN 25 – FEB 9 ABBOTSFORD COMMUNITY ARTS ADDITION BY MES AN JA ERM SH
8
2329 CRESCENT WAY, ABBOTSFORD
For Tickets & Info
WWW.GALLERY7THEATRE.COM
BRIEF BITS OF BITE-SIZED BREVITY
SN S AP HO TS
CURTAILED COMMENTARY ON CURRENT CONDITIONS
Illustrations by Simer Haer
Don’t reject the renunciant We don’t have a good category for someone who renounces material desires. Asceticism is the word, and ascetics are not valued or respected. We’ve got cults, communes, monks, transients, and so on. Each is problematic for their own reasons. I recently learned about the Sannyasa life stage of dharma. The renunciate lives dedicated to spiritual things, and I think that’s great. But the society they function within is accustomed to and reverent towards such a practice. There’s a sort of Western mythology of the monk, no doubt from wuxia / kung fu films, beatnik poetry, and the like. One
(Not) afraid of aging
could walk that path, but something in it resembles our insatiable attraction to consumerism. It’s like a putting on of something else, rather than an elimination of all things. In our society, there’s no room for renunciants, defined as deviants, and I feel like that’s something that causes us to all miss out. If there were space — and I mean consideration, not physical space — for intentional renunciates, those who rejected political theatre, consumer addictions, and every passing fad, I think we’d be a happier society.
less really cool (and sometimes not so cool) experiences, and you learn from them and you better yourself for it. Plus, things that bother you when you’re younger (body image, whether this person or that likes you) disappear the older you get. And I’m not afraid of aging. Everything natural on this earth ages: the trees, the mountains, the oceans. Why wouldn’t I want to age along with them? Then again, being a vampire would be pretty cool, too.
Cat Friesen
Joel Robertson-Taylor
Dollarama drama Heading into my final semester at UFV, my student debt level has finally reached its peak. If they weren’t already, the weekend trips to the liquor store and egregiously expensive textbooks are now beginning to take a more serious toll on my bank account. In an effort to change my ways and spend less cash, I have recently found myself turning to creative methods in order to avoid buying the outrageously overpriced food on campus. My latest method was to exclusively buy my daily school snacks at the dollar store. At first, I considered myself a genius. I spent an average of $10 a week
I turned 26 this weekend. I spent my day reading, writing, and hanging out with friends: we ate cherry chip cake covered in strawberries and played Twister. All in all, it was a low-key and stellar day. What’s not low-key and stellar is people asking me if I’m feeling my age yet. I just turned 26. 26! As of 2018, the average life expectancy for females is 84 years of age. I’m barely a third of the way there! On top of that, why is aging scary? You gain wisdom and experience through count-
Are they self-cleaning? on multipacks of random goodies filling enough to satisfy my cravings all day long, and I had come to believe that Dollarama was the poor student’s paradise. However, a word to the wise: one must remain careful when wandering through such wellpriced halls. For while the snacks you see there may be offered for cheap, they do not substitute well for a balanced diet with actual fruit and vegetables. Don’t forget to eat well while trying to stay thrifty, kids. Sometimes the splurge on a decent meal is worth it.
Cassie de Jong
When I throw in my bi-weekly load of laundry I often wonder if I should toss my bath towels in too. Of course the bath towels need to be washed, but I never know how often they should be washed. The towel is only being used to dry my clean self after stepping out of the shower, therefore are the towels really all that dirty? Maybe they’re “self-cleaning” like Chandler’s description of the bar of soap him and Joey share? I’ve heard some say that they wash their bath towels after every shower. Okay, so when my partner and I only have four bath towels
(that amount is another can of worms) in our home and shower every day, we’re having to do a load of laundry at least every two days just for towels. That’s a lot of extra going back and forth between my couch and the washing machine. Others have said once a week. Using the same towel seven times before a full wash doesn’t seem right either. If you’ve found the bath-towel-washing-schedule-enlightenment, please spread the love my way. Sincerely, A Bath Towel Concerned Individual.
Carissa Wiens
9
Attempts on its Life UFV’s theatre department searches for identity on and off the stage By: Mikaela Collins
What do a porn star, a terrorist, and a car have in common? They’re all the main character (yes, character singular) in UFV’s winter mainstage for 2019, Attempts on her Life. In the script for this season’s production, there are no characters, no assigned lines, no definite settings — the only certainty is Anne, and the fact that nothing about her is certain. In rehearsal, the actors take turns reading the same lines, only mostly following the path of the dashes down the side of the page, the vague suggestion of where a new speaker might join the conversation. The practice is held in D105, a classroom which has been painted black from floor to ceiling. Heavy black and white curtains hang on rails, parked against the back wall, and from the ceiling, a heavy steel grid hangs, laden with lights, girdled by their wires and cords. At the front of the room, where a small audience will eventually sit, there are tables for reading lines around, and a row of boxes overflowing with books, clothing, and lengths of rope. “Let’s try it with a little more energy,” says director Alexander Ferguson, “like you’re bouncing ideas off each other. Like you’re writing a movie together.” Other members of the production hold up lengths of rope in pairs, forming rectangles; it’s not clear from my chair at the front of the room who is an actor and who is a stagehand or a lighting technician. Their arms tremble with the weight of their impromptu camera — or maybe it’s a
screen. “Keep her in frame,” Ferguson reminds them. The actors comply, and seem to be coming up with the story of a grieving mother from a war-torn village in real time. Like archaeologists, they seem to be uncovering her story, and their excitement as they describe the carnage of a civil war paints the scene with a sick green tinge. The her in frame, like in the title, is Anne. Attempts on her Life is a piece of experimental theatre, now over 20 years old, written by British playwright Martin Crimp. It represents a break from mandate for the theatre department, which has long maintained a tradition of doing one classic and one Canadian work in an academic year. This past fall saw the production of Rocks, a Canadian play from the 1930s, so it appears that Attempts on her Life has overthrown the former rather than the latter. Given the recent history of UFV Theatre, this is unsurprising. “We just aren’t able to do anything by Shakespeare,” said Raven Turnichetz, this season’s propmaster and second-year theatre student. “That requires a much larger space.” It requires the kind of space that UFV Theatre was forced to leave behind at UFV North, the department’s former Chilliwack home, in 2017. This was presumably because the university was preparing to sell the property, which it would do to the Chilliwack school district in 2018. Though the move was announced in 2011 as a way to increase enrollment in the College of Arts, the university failed to provide a new theatre in the meantime, and hasn’t released any concrete plans to do so in the near future. In this extended period of transition, UFV Theatre has undergone a change not only of location, but of culture and identity, which has led it to produce different types of theatre than it has before.
“Rocks is interesting because it is recognized as one of Canada’s first multimedia pieces even though it was written in the ‘30s,” said sessional professor Claire Carolan, last season’s mainstage director. She explains that unlike traditional plays which centre around structured narratives, concerned with plot and character, Rocks came from writer Herman Voaden’s exposure to “ideas about a new kind of theatre that was a total work of art instead of just one person’s vision or one person’s idea about what the show should be.” Carolan considers herself a scenographer, not a director, which means she has more experience working with what some people might see as peripheral to what goes on on stage — the design of the lighting, the sets, and other parts of a play that make up the audience’s complete sensory experience. On more traditional sets, a director might enter with a vision which their scenographers would try to make real. On the set of Rocks and other productions that eschew this creative hierarchy, there is more back-and-forth, because different aspects of the show are seen as more equally important. This semester, Ferguson’s approach to directing takes this ho-
listic, collaborative style to the next level. Ferguson came to UFV as a sessional instructor from the Vancouver-based performance company Fight with a Stick; a collective of artists that, as their website states, creates “hybrid performances for a hybrid audience” — that is, installations which combine acting, visual arts, video, music, and importantly, setting. In these performances, the end result is a product of collaboration without necessarily consensus about the meaning of each element. Similarly, he encourages actors and crew members to come forward with any ideas they have about the acting or staging of a scene; according to assistant director Luke Stevens, an 11th-year theatre student, the similarities between Rocks and Attempts on her Life haven’t been intentional, and the plays have been “completely separate entities.” So while these productions represent an unconventional, new direction for UFV Theatre, they’re clearly not anomalies. Rather, they signal a shift in the character of theatre at UFV. Stevens emphasized the importance to UFV’s production of Attempts on her Life of object ontology — simply put, it is the
idea that objects are incapable of lying, but that humans distort them when we interact with them. For example, a pen can look sad when it has been left alone on a desk in an empty classroom, or it can look angry when it clatters to the floor after being thrown. Neither of these emotions are inherent to the object, and because the emotions aren’t objective, they stand to be interpreted by every person in different ways. Watching as the cast and crew seem to interrogate their relationships to the objects they’re using on stage, it’s hard not to think about their relationship to D105. They use a mannequin like a woman, but it’s not a woman. They use rope like a frame, but it’s not a frame. They use D105 like a theatre, but it’s not a theatre. How would it be different, I wonder, to watch Attempts on her Life if it were? Ultimately, says Ferguson, Attempts on her Life is a search for identity — the players, he explains, are trying to locate Anne, who is actually absent as an active character in the show. She might be represented, but only in the way that others see her — through a lens, like the one made of rope. If they can understand who she is, he reasons, they can understand themselves through comparison. As they experiment with the props and the space at their disposal, in the black hole of D105, they’re trying to figure who she was, who she is, who she’s going to be, where they can find her, and where they can follow her. And isn’t that poetic? UFV theatre is conflicted; some, justifiably, mourn the loss of UFV North. Others are embracing the new styles of theatre necessitated by the limitations of the Abbotsford campus. Others — and presumably most — have mixed feelings, but Carolan says these feelings are turning to determination and excitement, describing the department as “a ball of potential.” According to Theatre Student Association president and thirdyear theatre student Ian Wilson, these last and next few years shouldn’t, and likely won’t, be looked back upon as an embarrassing in-between phase, like when you move into a new apartment without unpacking all your boxes. Wilson is pursuing a Bachelor of Science, but his hunger for the theatre was stoked when he took Acting Skills for Work and Life (THEA 111) with Raina Von Waldenburg. It seems that for many students, it only takes one class to begin a love affair with the theatre department. Wilson, among many others, sees this as positive, and one of UFV’s unique strengths. “I had the opportunity to see an auditions day to get into some programs at Simon Fraser and places like that, and I didn’t see anyone like me,” he explained. “Having people with no experience or different experiences with theatre coming in really allows us to find those diamonds in the rough.” Carolan believes that the resilience of the department is, in
some ways, “a double-edged sword,” because “If you cope too long by thinking outside the box, then the powers that be will say you don’t need the box.” But UFV still needs a theatre space. Outside of D105 and the adjacent green room, very little space is reserved for the department. “Rooms that we use for theatre classes are quite often booked in between, like, physics classes, so we have to make sure that all of our acting space goes back to being [conventional] learning space again, and that eats up class time,” veteran student Luke Stevens said. Previous to the move from Chilliwack, UFV enjoyed a deserved reputation as the home of one of the best theatre programs in Western Canada. On the UFV North campus, UFV put on largescale productions and was able to host full weeks of constant performance, inviting other universities to attend and put on shows. In a room which can only hold about 30 people according to fire safety guidelines, this is no longer possible. Furthermore, it’s not unreasonable to pose the question of whether or not UFV Theatre is adequately preparing students who intend to pursue careers in theatre; would a current student be out of their league in a sound booth larger than a repurposed overhead projector cart? How easy is it for a stage manager to go from working on a team of 10 or 12 to a team of 25 or more? While the fact that students continue to be drawn to the vibrancy of the program makes it clear that the instruction students receive is top notch, the material circumstances students learn under shouldn’t be overlooked, especially in a program to which application is so integral. Because of the loss of the UFV North campus theatre space, UFV Theatre has changed, and Attempts on her Life is a poetic complement to the current state of uncertain flux the department has found itself in. The program has perhaps lost its previous status as a leader of university theatre in Western Canada, but it has also branched out into new areas of theatre, adapting to the limitations of the Abbotsford campus. The contemporary, somewhat radical approaches used in Rocks and Attempts on her Life may be only the beginning of a new, deeply innovative identity for the department, which will be able to include students from every area of of study. However, this identity should come to fruition in a proper theatre space, where students have access to the kind of facilities they can expect to encounter when they go out in the world, and where they can act as leaders to other programs. “The title of the play is a bit of a pun,” said Ferguson, smiling. “They’re not trying to kill her, they’re trying to construct her, figure her out.” It would be untrue to say that the move from Chilliwack has been an attempt on the theatre department’s life. It is still strong, still growing. But recent productions have been such attempts, in the sense that Ferguson describes: attempts at making meaning, at bolstering the department, and at figuring out what it can become.
LEGEND:
The Cascade
Community Events are in UFV Events are in Music Events are in Art Events are in Cultural Events are in
Blue Green Red Purple Yellow
Note:
Some of these events require tickets, most are on Facebook. If something catches your eye, take to the internet for more details.
Jan 23
Jan 29
Sexualized Violence Prevention Lunch & Learn: Forensic Nursing at ARH @ Evered Hall (Abbotsford Campus), 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Learn to Draw @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford), 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Jan 24
Graphic Design Program Info Night @ UFV Mission Campus Room TBA, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Paint N’ Take Acrylics w/ Nan @ House of Fine Art (Abbotsford), 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. London International Youth Science Forum - Info Session @ Room B121 (Abbotsford Campus), 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Presidents Leadership Lecture Series presents Dr. Strang Burton: Revitalization of the Indigenous Languages @ Gathering Place CEP A1457 (Chilliwack Campus), 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Jan 30 Blind Date @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Jan 31 Art History Course: The Human Form in Art Across the Ages @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford), 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Next Generation Marketers @ Evered Hall (Abbotsford Campus), 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Mental Health Awareness Club Pub Night Fundraiser @ The Canadian Brewhouse & Grill (Abbotsford), 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Exploration of the Human Body @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford) 7:00 p.m.
Celtic Night with Murphy’s Lagh @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Winter/Spring 2019 Exhibitions Opening Reception @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford), 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Feb 2
Lauren Mann @ Field House Brewing (Abbotsford), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Jan 25 Alumni Night at the UFV Cascades @ Envision Athletic Centre (Abbotsford Campus), 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Meditation Class @ Two Dragons Tai Chi Academy (Abbotsford), 7:00 p.m. Dark Shades Event: Video Release in Support of SARA for Women @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford), 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Whitey
@
Tractorgrease
Cafe
(Chilliwack),
7:00
-
10:00
p.m.
Jan 26 Abbotsford Family Literacy Day @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford), 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Life Writing Workshops @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford) 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Fraser Valley Distillery Festival @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Roots and Blues with Brandon Isaak @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack) 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Bonnie Scott - Female-fronted AC/DC tribute @ Captain’s Cabin Pub (Mission), 9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Feb 4 Sexualized Violence Prevention Lunch & Learn: Intimacy Direction for Stage and Screen @ Room B101 (Abbotsford Campus), 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Feb 5
Paint a Heron in Watercolours w/ Glenn @ House of Fine Art (Abbotsford), 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Library and Workplace TASK Program Film Screening: Intelligent Lives @ Black Box Theatre (Room A2106) CEP (Chilliwack Campus), 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Red Haven @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Feb 6
Jan 27
UFV Blood Drive @ Evered Hall (Abbotsford Campus), 12:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Yoga & Music @ Old Yale Brewing (Chilliwack), 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Brain Imaging: Presented by UFV Physics Student Association @ Room A353 (Abbotsford Campus), 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Adult Jigsaw Puzzle (Abbotsford), 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Contest
@
Clearbrook
Library
Jan 28 Cold Process Soap @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Introduction to Silversmithing for Adults: the Versatile Pendant @ SPARK art collective (Mission), 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
12
CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019
culture@ufvcascade.ca Cassie de Jong — Culture Editor
UFV Event //
UFV welcomes Robert Wiersema as 2019 writer-in-residence
Critically acclaimed Agassiz-born novelist returns to the Fraser Valley with sights set on building community MIKAELA COLLINS UFV’s writer-in-residence program accepts one writer every year, for 11 weeks between January and April. The position is designed to allow the writer dedicated time to work on their projects and to engage with the UFV community, and the community of the Fraser Valley at large, as a member of the contemporary literature landscape by holding office hours, visiting classes, and participating in readings and workshops. The position is held by someone who has made notable contributions to the Canadian canon of published works — a fitting description of 2019’s writerin-residence, Robert Wiersema. Wiersema was welcomed with a quiet reception last Thursday, from 12-12:30 p.m. in conference room B121. Promptly after noon, the room filled with English faculty and students until there were few empty seats left, and English department head Melissa Walter began his introduction. In excitement, she initially forgot to introduce herself, but she recovered quickly and relayed Wiersema’s career as a UVic graduate, book seller, reviewer, and author before inviting him to take the stand.
Wiersema grew up in Agassiz to talk, if you want me to take a he said, last week, after settling in the late 1970s, and fondly de- look at some of your writing, by into his office and getting lost on scribed how going to town meant all means drop by. That’s what campus in search of coffee, he regoing to Chilliwack, but going I’m here for.” turned to his desk and did someto the city meant going to AbHowever, Wiersema’s residence thing he said he hadn’t done in a botsford, where he would have has already proven symbiotic. In couple of years: he wrote. Proudafternoons ly, Wiersema to himself announced his once a month intention to spent buying work on two records and novels during books, which his residency: he smuggled the revisions to home to deone called The vour. The first Fallow Heart, words he had which will be to say about set in a fictionhis fellowship alized Agasat UFV echoed siz, and a ne this same deep w story, set in affection. Victoria called “One of Spindrift. the things To finish I’m coming the event, Wiinto this resiersema read dency with, is excerpts of a strong emboth; The Falbrace of the low Heart idea and realpromises to Wiersema reading from his upcoming novel, The Fallow Heart. be intriguing ity of commu(Mikaela Collins) and intimate, nity,” he said, pointing out with the gothic the solitary nature of writing as the current tumult and trouble of overtones small towns can rarely a profession or past time. “It’s so the world, he said, particularly in escape, and the beginning of valuable to be part of a commu- the wake of Donald Trump’s elec- Spindrift was the poignant start nity, and I’m hoping to develop tion in the United States, he and of the story of an artist mourning that. My office doors are open. If many writers have found it dif- his wife. you have questions, if you want ficult to maintain their craft. But, Wiersema’s writing consists of
“realistic fiction with a quarter turn towards the weird” and he describes it as “strange and interstitial.” There was also a brief questions period in which Wiersema discussed the state of Canadian literature, which he sees as undergoing “a boom the likes of which not seen since the 1960s,” and a reinvention which includes marginalized voices, shattering long-time stereotypes of CanLit as being made of “novels about letters that you find in attics in dusty, sepia-toned jackets.” Writers entering the world of publication, he said, shouldn’t feel that small or regional presses are their only avenue; the large houses here in Canada are only branches of the houses in Germany and Australia, so they have more room to take risks and are far from monolithic, though they are more concerned than others about their bottom lines. When asked about his advice for fledgling writers, he emphasized the importance of building a personalized routine. “Once you start building routines, you don’t have to rely on willpower,” Wiersema said, describing willpower as overrated. Students wishing to take advantage of Mr. Wiersema’s invitation
Event Preview //
Preview: Fraser Valley Distillery Festival music, and administers scholarship and bursary funds on behalf of several organizations and donor groups. British Columbia is very well-known for There will be fundraising for the acadits booming craft beer industry, but not emy in the form of a silent auction and enough attention is often given to the a 50/50 draw. All the items for the draw scores of local B.C. distilleries. Entreprehave been donated by Chilliwack busineurial creatives and spirit enthusiasts nesses. All the proceeds from this benefit alike can band together at an upcoming event will go towards the academy’s festival dedicated to the ingenuity and craftsmanship demon- “Those on the hunt for new craft vodkas, rums, programming, so the distillery festival can be counted as a good deed as strated by these establishments. The annual Fraser Valley Dis- gins, single malt whiskeys, or flavoured liqueurs well as an indulgence. The event is tillery Festival will be held on need only visit this one event to find all they also just in time for Superbowl Sunday the following day, which makes Feb. 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Chillimay be looking for.” it the perfect occasion for football wack Cultural Centre. This 19+ fans to pick up supplies. event will showcase the variety of Nearly 20 distilleries presenting a local liquors that even the most experi- music available and affordable to the enced connoisseur may not have heard entire community.” There are currently wide range of craft spirits will be in atof. Organizers invite all who may be about 500 students involved in the acad- tendance, including Wayward Distillalooking for their new favourite spirit to emy’s lessons and activities. The acad- tion House, Sons of Vancouver, Taynton emy also partners with other non-profit Bay Spirits, and many more. Those on attend. The event is presented by the Chilli- organizations in Chilliwack to promote the hunt for new craft vodkas, rums,
CASSIE DE JONG
wack Academy of Music, a not-for-profit community music school founded in 1979 which is also a federally registered charitable society and a member of the B.C. Association of Community Music Schools. The academy states in its online mission statement that, “as a registered charity, [it’s] mission includes making
gins, single malt whiskeys, or flavoured liqueurs need only visit this one event to find all they may be looking for. In addition to all the drinks that will be available, the Lakeside Beach Club restaurant from Cultus Lake will be offering an array of appetizers designed to pair perfectly with the selection of spirits. As well as delectable food and drink, there will be live performances. The Fraser Valley Distillery Festival is ready to provide a army of locally sourced talent, including the first appearance of the Chilliwack Academy of Music’s very own band of instructors, Dis Stil a Thing. Alongside the debut appearance, students from the academy will also be presenting musical selections on piano. Tickets are $50 and are available at the Centre Box Office by calling 604-391SHOW(7469) or online at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre’s website.
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CULTURE
VOL. 27 // ISSUE 03
Artist Q&A //
UFV Event //
Art Battle Joining UFV’s Abbotsford U-Join event artist Q&A with Tori Carter CARISSA WIENS
SCOTT MCQUARRIE The Abbotsford Arts Centre made a perfect venue for the Abbotsford Art Battle on Friday, Jan. 18. A large crowd of spectators swirled around the artists in a slow tornado, watching the pieces develop from blank canvases to stunning artworks. The atmosphere buzzed, with dj elixir providing a rhythmic soundtrack as the artists battled the clock and each other for the right to represent the Fraser Valley in the upcoming Vancouver regional competition this summer. Abbotsford artist Tori Carter, one of the evening’s finalists, shared her experience after the event. Congratulations on making it through to the final round. As we talked about earlier, this is not your first Art Battle. No, I have done Art Battle in Edmonton as well. How did this Art Battle compare? It was pretty similar. The one in Edmonton was a lot darker so it was hard to see your painting. Here they had good lighting which I really appreciate as an artist. What drew you to compete tonight? I think when you get out of your comfort zone, that’s when you learn the most. I’ve been painting for as long as I can remember. I’ve been doing custom paintings for 12 years so it’s hard to get out of my comfort zone. I kind of just take whatever people want to hire me for and I don’t really get challenged much because I’ve been doing it so long. Here you have 20 minutes to do something and that’s really challenging. This painting size I do in two months, so 20 minutes for two months worth of work. How did the format influence your style or how you prepared for tonight? I was not prepared. The whole time I was fighting with myself like, “What do I paint? I don’t know what to paint.” I was at war with myself. I think the other artists planned out what they were going to paint, practiced it beforehand, had a plan. At first I was thinking colour, then black and grey.
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It worked out pretty well for you; you made it to the final round. What was it like to participate? What were you feeling? It’s a lot of pressure. Adrenaline, for sure. Your hands are shaking but you’re trying to do a straight line. If you can image that with a hundred people staring at you — that’s kind of what it felt like. It’s not easy at all, but it’s fun. Is it nerve-racking having all the people walking around, so close? I’ve done a lot of live painting, so I’m used to people staring at me. It’s more like I back up to look at my artwork and I bump into someone. So I’m trying not to bump into people. And the music adds more adrenaline so you end up painting fast instead of thinking things through and planning it out. You’re just kind of throwing it on. It’s very impulsive. Looking back on this tomorrow, what do you think you will take away from it? I’m going to take away that I loved my face (first round painting) and I hated my tiger (final round painting). And I’m sure there are people that did like the tiger. I know somebody bid on it so obviously people liked it, but for me it was not my best work. My wife thought she could reach out and pet it. Aw, thank you! It was a big learning experience and I had fun. As long as I take that out of it and I learn from it, then I’m happy. Overall, the Art Battle evening was fun, well-organized, and provided a unique art experience. Local artist Shameem Khan, an Art Battle veteran, walked away victorious and earned an invite to the regional competition in Vancouver this summer. For more information, visit the Art Battle Canada web page or keep an eye on the Abbotsford Arts Council website for upcoming events. To view more of Tori Carter’s work, visit her website or Facebook page.
UFV’s U-Join event took place on Tuesday, Jan. 15 in the Student Union Building (SUB). This event consists of the school’s clubs and associations, along with local organizations gathering together to entice students to volunteer with them or join their club. Students were also able to learn about another exciting opportunity UFV has, the study abroad program. Plenty of groups were present in the building to help show students all that UFV has to offer. In order to get people to even show up to an event, free food must be present. Most of the booths were on board with this mentality. Students were able to obtain candy, ice cream, cupcakes, samosas, and plenty of pens from many of the organization’s booths by chatting with those running it. To my surprise, the turnout was excellent. I couldn’t even get out of the door once I was done, there were just so many students eager to get involved crowding Evered Hall. I had the pleasure of being able to learn about several of the opportunities students at UFV can get involved with. These were some of them that piqued my interest: I’m sure you’ve heard of the Co-Curricular Record, but do you actually know what
they’re all about? Elicia Tournier, operations coordinator of student engagement at Student Services, explained that this service for students will “make use of your experiences.” The Co-Curricular Record hooks students up with various work and learning opportunities which can lead to earning CCR credit. These opportunities are good for students to add on their resume to show their future employers all of the experience and leadership skills they have now. I also learned about UFV’s Student Refugee Program. This program is run under World University Service of Canada (WUSC), an organization which is present across other universities in Canada working towards the same goal. Their goal is to sponsor one refugee student per year to attend UFV along with covering their costs of housing and everyday life while they study. In order to bring a refugee student to Abbotsford, the club requires $25,000. Fortunately they have already raised this money through paint nights and local business donations, and will be welcoming a new student this August through the program. Students are able to get involved by keeping up with the club on Facebook (WUSC UFV), attending fundraisers, and donating funds. Even though I’m not a sci-
ence student, I took a stroll over to the Biology and Chemistry Student Association. At the moment they’re still getting some wrinkles ironed out because of the new semester, but Lise Nehring, the associations’s vice president of communications, said they hope to have a more formal mentorship program between upper year science students and first year science students running soon in order to help newcomers navigate UFV’s science program. Students can often find association members hanging out in the science student hang out, room A367, where they are available to ask for help in a non-intimidating environment. UFV’s Amnesty Club is an offshoot of Amnesty United, a global organization that gathers evidence of human rights violations across the globe and provides the government with peaceful alternatives to the nation’s issues. If the government fails to change their violent ways, Amnesty United raises awareness of the problem around their outreach platforms to advocate for those in danger. The club’s president, Melissa Salter, labeled UFV’s club as more educational, unlike action-based Amnesty United. Students can get involved by following what they’re up to on their Facebook page (UFV Amnesty Club) and attending their weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in the SUB, room S3103. Salter added that the club also enjoys watching a bunch of riveting documentaries, which you’ll hear about through their Facebook page. Local organizations like the Alzheimer’s Society, Abbotsford Community Services, and Fraser Health were also present to show students various volunteer opportunities to help others in need while upping their resume game. It’s a win-win. If you missed the event but are looking to get involved somewhere, on their website under the “Get Involved” tab SUS has a list of all of the university’s clubs and associations ready for you to learn more about and join.But keep in mind it unfortunately isn’t always up to date.
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019
Women’s Volleyball //
Cascades take down the Avalanche in straight sets ALEX JESUS The UFV women’s volleyball team came into the Envision Financial Athletic Centre looking for a pair of wins this past weekend after their previous weekend saw both a win and a loss. They accomplished that, sweeping the College of the Rockies not only in backto-back games, but also in sets (3-0, 3-0). The first set that took place Saturday night was largely representative of the weekend. The Avalanche had no problem starting strong, and jumped out to a lead; however, the Cascades got back to only one point down on a timeout from the visiting team. After the 10-11 score for the Avalanche at the timeout, they went on a sizable run, largely due to excellent blocking. UFV was then in the backseat, calling a timeout at the 1117 score mark. From this point on UFV would go on a heroic run, moving to 1719, tying the game at 20-20, taking the lead the following play, and ultimately winning the set 25-21. The second set saw the College of the Rockies fight hard early on to get the momentum back, and with the score at 8-4 for UFV, a massive series of plays
ensued in which the Avalanche came out victorious. With the momentum taken back, it seemed as though they would go on a run, but the Cascades stayed patient and committed to their star players. The visiting team called a timeout at the 16-7 score mark and it was clear that UFV had completely taken over the set. Finishing out the set at 25-16, it appeared that the Cascades were in the driver’s seat going forward. The third set was more of the same. UFV used massive contributions from #12 left side Kim Bauder and #9 left side Amanda Matsui to consistently edge out ahead of the College of the Rockies. UFV won the third set by a score of 25-19 and won the game three sets to none, making that the second straight game they won without giving away a single set. Their second encounter on Sunday saw the Cascades reverse the Avalanche’s ability to start strong, going up 10-5 in the opening set which was then followed by a timeout from the visiting team. UFV switched gears from the night prior, winning by a score of 25-12 in the first set. UFV started the second set strong with big contributions from Amanda Matsui, #16 middle/right
UFV Cascades Sports Scores
side Kiera Fisher, and #17 middle Lauren Poirier. The College of the Rockies called timeouts at the 12-9 and 20-13 score marks, but UFV would remain in control. Amanda Matsui unfortunately went down in the second set with a bad ankle injury and had to be helped off the court in tears, but her contributions stayed firm and the Cascades won the set 25-18. We wish Amanda a speedy recovery! In the third set, the Cascades would have to win without their star left side. The College of the Rockies called a timeout at the 9-6 score mark and then again at the 15-8 score mark. UFV remained composed and committed to the task at hand, winning the set 25-17. “We love our depth,” volleyball head coach Mike Gilray said to Dan Kinvig, communications coordinator, after the game. “It’s something we’ve talked about with our middle group — if we want to stay healthiest and have the freshest legs going into the end of the year, we’ve got to use that to our advantage.” The Cascades now head to Vancouver Island for a matchup with the VIU Mariners, going back-to-back on Jan. 25 and 26.
Jan. 15 – Jan.20, 2019 Men’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV Versus College of the Rockies Jan. 19, 2019 Result: Loss (0-3) Game/Date: UFV Versus College of the Rockies Jan. 20, 2019 Result: Loss (1-3)
Women’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV Versus College of the Rockies Jan. 19, 2019 Result: Win (3-0) Game/Date: UFV Versus College of the Rockies Jan. 20, 2019 Result: Win (3-0)
Men’s Volleyball //
Cascades swept again in competitive sets versus College of the Rockies
ALEX JESUS The UFV men’s volleyball team had a tall task in front of them this weekend when they took on the College of the Rockies Avalanche in back-to-back games at the Envision Financial Athletic Centre. Heading into the weekend, the Cascades looked for wins to keep their playoff hopes alive, whilst the Avalanche looked to pick up back-to-back road wins to further secure their standings come playoff time. UFV fell to the College of the Rockies in their meetings this weekend, but not without putting
tion, the Cascades took the lead, going up 24-23 and it was at this moment that the College of the Rockies decided a timeout would be useful. They recovered the set, winning 27-25; however, the home fans did not lose out at all due to the intensity and competitive play by all parties. The third set opened very even, with the AvaDan Kinvig (UFV Cascades) lanche calling a timeout after the score become up a fight. a one-point difference at 13-14. On Saturday, UFV opened their first set by falling behind, UFV was not willing to quit, callbut rallied back to call a timeout ing a timeout at the 20-21 score with the score at 17-20. With the mark and again at the 21-23 score deficit only three points, the Cas- mark. The College of the Rockcades started serving and playing ies went on to win the set 25-21 better, but it wasn’t enough as the as well as the match 3-0, but UFV Avalanche closed them out 25-23 showed resilience in their play. in the first set. The second set was After maybe the closest sweep possibly the best set of PacWest ever, there was one question revolleyball played in the Envision maining: could the Cascades turn Financial Athletic Centre this it around on a day’s notice? The game on Sunday kicked off year. UFV was down 12-17 upon with some adversity. UFV used their first timeout, but once again they staged a comeback and got all of their available timeouts (at the score to 17-20. In shocking ac- the 8-13 mark and the 10-18 mark) in the first set to stop the momen-
tum of the Avalanche as they continued to score. It worked, getting the Cascades back in the game upon a timeout from the College of the Rockies at the 17-22 score mark. Unfortunately, that deficit was enough to see the Avalanche pull away, winning the set 25-19. The second set opened with excellent play from UFV #2 outside hitter Landon Uy, who was serving and making big plays all throughout the set. The College of the Rockies called a timeout at the 18-14 score mark for UFV, and again at the 21-17 mark. The Cascades almost lost their lead, calling a timeout at the 22-21 score mark, but they held on. With a standout effort from #13 libero Evan Bell-Foley the Cascades stayed the course, winning the set 25-22. The third set was a complete stalemate, as neither side wanted to relinquish the set that would provide the advantage going forward. The Cascades and the Avalanche traded the lead, fighting all the way through, each screaming in celebration after their team scored a point. When UFV called a timeout at the 24-25 mark it was
either team’s game, but the College of the Rockies edged out the Cascades, winning and going up two sets to one. The fourth set was tough for the Cascades, as they continued to fight despite knowing they were down on the scoreboard. The Avalanche, ever determined to close the game out, would do that by a score of 25-19. Though this game shows as a loss, the score does not reflect the dogfight that was the game. Head coach Kyle Donen was positive after the loss. “We’ve just got to keep moving forward and know that it will come,” Donen said to Cascades communications assistant Jordie Arthur. “Every day is a challenge and a new opportunity to try and grab a win. We’re battling for every win we can get, and the chance to go to playoffs. We need to keep playing with that mindset and hope that the win will come. But it’s not going to be handed to us — we’ve got to earn it.” The Cascades will look to capture a win on the road when they take on the VIU Mariners in Nanaimo on Jan. 25 and 26.
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STUDY BREAK
VOL. 27 // ISSUE 03
Column //
The Cascade Kitchen: Oatmeal your way
Sudoku //
Oatmeal. (Carissa Wiens)
CARISSA WIENS The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budgetfriendly recipes and cooking tips. Check back bi-weekly for something new to try in the kitchen or consider contributing a recipe of your own! If you’ve ever wanted to share a favourite dish or see your name in print, get started by reaching out to cassie@ufvcascade.ca. It’s unfortunate that what seems like the majority of the North American population is terrified of carbs these days because oats are an absolute winner for any university student. Fear not: oats will make your life all the better while you maintain your jean size. A bowl of oatmeal has plenty of iron, zinc, and vitamin B to keep your energy levels up. They can be whipped up in minutes with just a pot over heat and water or milk, then made sweet or savoury. (Salt in oatmeal is a lovely thing.) Overnight oats had their spotlight two years ago on Pinterest but I’m here to tell the students of UFV that it doesn’t have to be absent from your life even though avocado toast is all the rage. It’s the best way to have a quick and filling breakfast before scooting off to that dreaded 8:30 a.m. class. Here’s the basic recipe for overnight oats. From here you can customize it to suit your preferences. 70 ml (1/3 cup) plain Greek yogurt ~125 ml (1/2 heaping cup) rolled oats 150 ml (2/3 cup) unsweetened milk of choice 15 ml (1 tbsp) chia seeds or ground flax meal 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) vanilla extract Pinch of salt 0-30 ml (0-2 tbsp) honey or maple syrup Instructions: Mix the ingredients in a bowl then place them in a jar or even a cup with plastic wrap over top for the night. When you wake up in the morning you’ll have a gooey and hearty serving of creamy, healthyass oatmeal. To make banana chocolate chip oatmeal just add half of a mashed banana (or add the whole thing if you want) to the basic recipe plus 30-45 ml (2-3 tbsps) of chocolate chips. Easy peasy. If you’re a peanut butter person, add 30 ml (2 tbsps) of cocoa powder and 30 ml (2 tbsps) of peanut butter to the basic recipe and bam: chocolate peanut butter oatmeal. And if you’re feeling like all of those chemistry labs aren’t allowing your creative juices to flow enough, feel free to let this oatmeal be that replacement. Add strawberries and pineapple for a mental trip to Hawaii or shredded carrots and raisins for a carrot cake oatmeal. Or see how many different type of nuts and seeds you can mix in. Make it however you want. And the best part is, you only need to wash one bowl after preparing the oatmeal. So you can blissfully go back to watching season three of The Office for the 12th time for the rest of the night knowing that your breakfast is already taken care of.
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Fabulous Facts: Bread Fabulous facts is a weekly installment where we consider a specific thing/theme each week and list some neat knowledge about it! Want to try your own? Email Cassie at cassie@ufvcascade.ca with your ideas!
7, 1928 in Chillicothe, Missouri. Otto Frederick Rohwedder, an American inventor and engineer, invented a — you guessed it — breadslicing machine. It only sliced one loaf at a time, but dang, it was worth it.
1. In 2500 B.C., the ancient Greeks were already making more than 80 different varieties of bread. How many can you name?
4. If you think it’s a good idea to feed bread to ducks, let me tell you — it’s not. Not only does it cause pollution in their habitat, but it can lead to overcrowding, disease, and unnatural behaviour (a.k.a. it takes away their “wildness”).
2. During the Middle Ages in France, bread was used as a form of currency and credit when someone was short on funds. King Louis IV was quoted as saying “He who controls a nation’s bread is a greater ruler than he who controls their souls.” Yikes! 3. The first loaf of sliced bread was sold on July
5. In ancient Egypt, mouldy bread was used to treat burn wounds, likely due to mould’s antibiotic effects. This discovery is initially credited to Alexander Fleming, but we all know who the real brains are here.
STUDY BREAK
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019
Crossword //
Made by Cassie de Jong ACROSS
DOWN
1: An extinct species of elephant with a long, shaggy coat, small ears, and a thick layer of fat. 4: A rice dish in which the rice is cooked in stock, with spices, to which other ingredients are added. 5: A commonly known flying dinosaur. 8: A candy often made from sugar or molasses, boiled with butter and pulled until glossy. 9: A group of islands. 11: The continuous line of rails on a railroad. 12: Classic actress known for her role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
1: A thick dairy condiment usually served on hot cocoa or pie. 2: The entrails or internal organs of an animal used as food. 3: An organism that has both male and female sexual characteristics. 4: A small, spherical, green seed, commonly eaten as a vegetable. 6: Relating to the eye or vision. 7: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and _ _ _. 9: A table or structure upon which offerings are made for religious purposes. 10: A coloured fluid used for writing, drawing, and printing.
LAST ISSUE’S
ANSWERS: Across: 3: United Nations 5: Archaeologist 9: Unsymmetrical 10: Condensed Milk
Down: 1: Advertisement 2: Paul McCartney 4: Narration 6: Highway 7: Gnocchi 8: Strip Mall
Cascade Calamities
Horoscopes //
Astrological mysteries interpreted weekly by Morgana the Mystic.
Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 Let someone else take the lead for once, Aries. Your need to be in charge is causing more harm than good. Let loose and have some fun; you’ll enjoy a break from all your self-imposed responsibilities. Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 Let your natural decisiveness take over when a conflict arises, just be sure to be generous with others involved. While your dedication to your beliefs is admirable, make sure not to turn down a good compromise.
Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 You’ve got too much on your plate lately. You thrive on fun and excitement and you haven’t experienced either of those in a while. Get together with friends and give yourself a break from the boredom! Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 You’re often too caught up in thinking about what the future holds to truly appreciate the present. Things won’t fall apart if they’re not planned to the last detail. Allow for some improvisation now and then, Virgo.
Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 Don’t be afraid to be sensitive, Gemini. Too often you neglect your own emotions in fear of others’ reactions. Honesty is the best policy, and this includes being honest with yourself. Let it all out this week.
Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 Your wishy-washy nature is making itself known, Libra. It’s an unfortunate truth that you can’t have all things both ways, and you’re only prolonging the indecision that’s plaguing you. Make some choices in the next few days — and stick with them.
Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 Molehills will quickly become mountains if you don’t attend to your worries quickly. Avoidance isn’t the best plan of action right now, Cancer. Meet your troubles head on — even if they’re scary. You’ll feel better once they’re dealt with.
Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 No one will ever accuse you of being a stick in the mud, but lately you’ve been a little uptight. Worrying over the small things won’t do you any good. Let your stress take a backseat and unwind this week.
Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 You’re a fan of the “big picture” and it’ll help you make some hard decisions in the next few months. Keep focused on your long-term goals and stay vigilant; straying too far in the name of luxury will cause more trouble than it’s worth. Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 Expect your ambition to take a hit this week, Capricorn, but don’t let it get you down. With the sun transitioning out of your sign you might feel as if you’ve lost track of the one-thousand-and-one things you need to get done. Concentrate on the most pressing issues and you’ll feel like yourself again in no time! Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 Prepare for a surge in all things wild and wonderful! Your natural creativity, ingenuity, and curiosity will only be heightened since the sun entered your sign on Monday. Explore new places and ideas and don’t be hesitant to share them with others. Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 You’re mood is on an upswing and it’s only bound to get better. Whatever you’re doing to create the relaxed environment you need to thrive is working and will continue to work so long as you stick with it! Your renewed sense of confidence will inspire others to do the same so don’t be afraid to share your good vibes with the world around you.
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ARTS
VOL. 27 // ISSUE 03
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018
arts@ufvcascade.ca Martin Castro — Arts Editor
Podcast //
CHARTS 1
Dumb Seeing Green
2
Blessed Disease (Single)
3
Loans Feeding Time (Single)
4
Laverne Yarrow
5
Swim Team V
6
Devours Curmudgeon (Single)
7
Milk Mattress Ranch Homeshake Just Like My (Single)
8 9
Jock Tears Bad Boys
10
Freak Dream Into The Sun
11
Priests The Seduction of Kansas (Single)
12
The Fretless Live from the Ant Farm
13
Single Mothers Through A Wall
14
Daniel Romano Finally Free
15
Andy Michaels Revisted
16
David Gogo 17 Vultures
17
Hank Shreve Band Trouble Sharon Van Etten Remind Me Tomorrow
18 19
Carpe Diem String Quartet & Jeff Midkiff Jeff Midkiff: Music for Mandolin and String Quartet
20
Brandon Isaak Rise'N'Shine
18
SHUFFLE
The religion of flat whites and individuality This Cultural Moment critiques Western utopia
AARON LEVY
PAPER MACHET CARTOONIST
It’s another year since racists murdered a civil rights hero, so allow me to provide you with some literature to demonstrate how I feel about that.
Run The Jewels - “Lie, Cheat, Steal, Kill” “A revolutionary bangin' on my adversaries / and I love Dr. King but violence might be necessary / cause when you live on MLK and it gets very scary / you might have to pull your AK / send one to the cemetery.” A line that may seem contrary to the Dr.’s teachings. Rage Against The Machine - “Renegades of Funk” “Since Prehistoric ages / and the days of ancient Greece / right down through the Middle Ages / planet earth kept going through changes / then no renaissance came / and times continued to change / nothing stayed the same / but there were always renegades / like Chief Sitting Bull, Tom Paine, Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcom X / they were renegades of their time and age.” Kendrick Lamar - “Backseat Freestyle” In this song, Kendrick announces his freestyle flow state of name dropping Martin, having a dream: “All my life I want money and power / pray my **** get big as the Eiffel Tower / so I can and F*** the world for 72 hours.” U2 - “Pride” This is perhaps the most out of place song on this list, primarily because it’s by a group of pretty fully white guys, but also because it’s by a non-hip hop artist, and one that’s fronted by, of all people, Bono. And guitarist “The Edge.” Soooo.
JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR This Cultural Moment is a conversation about post-Christian and secular culture. In it, John Mark Comer, an author and pastor at Bridgetown Church in Portland, and Mark Sayers, an author and pastor at Red Church in Melbourne, attempt to provide a sociologically and historically informed commentary on the condition of the Western church, with a focus on those based in highly liberalized, “utopian” cities such as the aforementioned, or somewhere like a London, New York, or Vancouver, etc. The podcast launched a year ago and has produced three seasons, the last of these finishing in December. Episodes are short, 20–30 minutes. Though the conversation is constructed around ideas and thinkers respected in both the secular and Christian world (Charles Taylor, Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Marx, Augustine of Hippo, as the most recognizable), much of the language is unapologetically representative of the perspectives and communities that Comer and Sayers operate within. That’s to say, it may be ostracizing for those who prefer to listen to content that reaffirms dissonant beliefs. Noting that, there is very little to scoff at, and much to ponder. Contemporary Western Christianity hardly resembles its namesake, or the first century socio-political movement that emerged. From movement, it institutionalized. Over 2,000 years later, the culture that it established has moved on, largely without it, though profoundly impacted by it. This era, in which the faith has bated but the cultural imprint is systemic, is one that increasingly gets pinned as post-Christian, divorced from the religious ideas that it was built on: “the kingdom without the King,” Sayers suggests. In America (which loosely includes Canada) there is sometimes the belief that Christianity reached its height at some point, or that the U.S. was founded
on good, solid, Christian ideals, which have since descended into insignificance. Actually, they have grown and waned much more cyclically, Sayers suggests. The Christian faith only reached its height in North America (in terms of church attendance) in the post-WWII 1950s and ‘60s. In fact, the early settled North America was the most “unchurched” period in North American history. Most of the founding fathers were themselves unitarian universalists, or deists, not adherents to protestant Christianity. It wasn’t until the First Great Awakening, a period of religious revival in the mid-1700s, that church attendance began to grow. By the early 1800s, then again in the late 1800s, the Second and Third Great Awakenings took place, and successively broadened the religion. For this reason, and many socio-cultural factors discussed, post-Christian society is somewhat of a misnomer. However, the characteristics it aims to define are worth exploring. Ours is largely a secular society, and it likes to treat itself to a loftiness of self-worth. Sometimes this takes the form of defining itself against what it once was: namely, protestant. The show’s appeal is as commentary. As with most pop-theology and mainstream intellectualism, the content is by no means an attempt to add to the theoretical body from which the hosts draw. Instead, it functions as a sort of café conversation that the audience gets to listen in on. It’s café talk, entertaining yet thoughtful. In form, Comer picks Sayers’ brain, while contributing to the conversation with ideas of his own. As secularization runs its course, with little or nothing to provide meaning, anxiety and meaninglessness ensue. According to Comer and Sayers, flat whites and brunch, consumerism, and the “religion of politics” have emerged to fill the meaning-making void. It is in this critique that I think the value lies.
ARTS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019
Documentary Review //
The long curtain call of Nothing Like a Dame A touching look at life, fame, and art from four masters of their craft MAECYN KLASSEN The concept of Nothing Like a Dame is deceptively simple: get Dames Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, and Joan Plowright in a room together, serve them tea and champagne, and let them loose to talk about whatever strikes their fancy for an hour and a half. What results from this more or less perfect combination is a poignant and hilarious reflection on everything from the beginning of the (British) National Theatre to the necessity of hearing aids. The film is elegant without being pretentious, and while these actresses are still larger than life by the end of their conversation, one leaves the theatre with the sense that they have nonetheless been given access to something quite personal. Where Nothing Like a Dame shines is in highlighting the relationships between the four women involved. The depth and history of their friendship bleeds through every word in their conversations, and most of the film is punctuated with their warm, sharp wit and the kind of teasing that can only come from knowing someone for decades. In the process of sharing memories or being shown archival footage from their youth, the dames walk
the viewer through what strikes them as the most important from their careers and their personal lives, weaving together stories about their children, husbands, and international fame. It cannot be stressed enough how funny this documentary is, and that is only highlighted by how emotional some conversations become; Judi Dench can hardly talk about her late husband Michael Williams, who died in 2001, for more than a few seconds without beginning to get visibly choked up, and Maggie Smith has an uncharacteristically regretful tone when speaking about her first husband, Robert Stephens, with whom she had a difficult and emotionally draining marriage. They don’t linger on sad times for long, but these moments only deepen our understanding of the long and storied lives these women have led. Even from a technical standpoint, Nothing Like a Dame is a quietly fascinating experience; the documentary is constructed with a meta-narrative in mind, which is an unusual approach to take for a film that mostly consists of talking heads intercut with archival footage. The film includes the offscreen prompting questions asked by the director, Roger Michell, and shows the
dames being shuffled around the cottage where the documentary is being filmed (owned by Joan Plowright and her late husband, Sir Laurence Olivier) in between “scenes.” There are shots of makeup being touched up, brief conversations before the interviews formally begin, and Michell leaves in natural moments of silence and introspection as the dames consider a particularly difficult question or struggle to mince down decades’ worth of experience into succinct, salient observations. Michell even lets us see footage taken near the end of their filming days, where one or more of the dames becomes vis-
ibly more tired and annoyed with the drawn-out process — Maggie Smith, in particular, has a wonderful moment where she looks up at the director and asks, quite sharply, “Haven’t they told you how old we are?” The purpose of this film’s existence is not to convince the viewer that the dames know everything there is to know about life. This is a sharp, sometimes emotional conversation between old friends, and no one involved is trying to change the landscape of cinema or theatre. (The film, probably wisely, doesn’t even begin to touch on modern topics like the #MeToo movement.)
Nor should they, in this context. The film is more akin to an afternoon tea with your slightly cranky great-grandmother (that you have an excellent, yet somewhat distant relationship with) and her three best friends — an event where you are not expected to contribute much to the conversation, but to nod and appreciate and let yourself laugh along with them. Nothing Like a Dame will not lead to any revelations, but it is a perfectly sweet and easy way to spend an hour and a half, and sometimes that kind of reprieve from the world is exactly what you need.
Movie Review //
Into the Spider-Verse weaves a web of fun BERU BELL Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a Golden Globe award-winning animated feature film that you need to go see right now. If your plans for tonight were to do homework, save that for tomorrow. This film will change the way animated films look and feel forever. Into the Spider-Verse features Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he inherits the mantle of Spider-Man to save his universe from collapsing. Miles Morales was originally created by writer Brian Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli in 2011. The film provides an alternative (and possibly better) version of Morales’ origin story, blending it with the Edge of Spider-Verse comic event from 2014. It swaps out villains and streamlines both stories while still sticking to its basic framework. Into the Spider-Verse draws from diverse incarnations of Spider-Man, including the hard-boiled 1930s detective Spider-Man Noir (Nicholas Cage), vaguely animestyled Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn) and her hyper-intelligent spider companion, the ‘60s-cartoon-style agent of chaos SpiderHam (John Mulaney), teenage Gwen Stacy (Hailee Stenfeld) from the recent Spider-
Gwen comics, as well as a reluctant mentor and role model to Morales who is original to this movie, Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson). This diversity is important not just because it provides more representation for people of colour, but also because it makes the multiverse aspect more apparent by contrasting these vastly different incarnations of the same character against each other. Each character also brings their own art style to Morales’ universe, which creates an eldritch and otherworldly feeling that emphasizes how different the metaorigins are for the Spider-Humans. However, the most praised aspect of Into the Spider-Verse is its innovative art style that mimics the mis-registered layers of colour and dot matrix printing that is the hallmark of cheaply printed weekly comics. It also successfully translates the visual representation of sound effects to animation without feeling like a 1960s cartoon, even when Spider-Pig is doing Spider-Pig things. Tiny words appear next to leaves bouncing and hair flips as it would on the page, with a motion that accentuates the movement of characters or objects. In one scene, the films treats the screen as a comic-book page, building up panels and text-based narration to convey Morales’
inner thoughts and feelings. All of these small things add up to make Into the SpiderVerse something that will be discussed by animation studios and students for years to come. The writing in the film is also excellent. The plot is entertaining and there is no filler or wasted time. There are definitely jokes and gags, but they’re never mistimed and often add needed levity to serious scenes. Morales’ origin story would be very heavy if the writers didn’t consciously take the time to add a gag or punchline into the drama. The expert balance between gags and plot beats makes this film a smooth ride that is excellent for all ages. Children will appreciate the comedy and jokes, and adults will appreciate the serious family drama. If you’re looking for a break from the mundane, you should see Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse as soon as possible.
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all of us, students. The Cascade is better when more of us write it.