The Cascade, Volume 34, Issue 12

OCTOBER 7, 2026

ISSN 3111-3354 (PRINT) ISSN 3111-3362 (Online)

the

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

CASCADE

Norphing around since 1993

11

IF I HAD TO BE A VAMPIRE…

6

NEWS

NEED-TO-KNOW ELECTION INFO

10

OPINION

S.A. NOT ESSAY

19

ARTS

MALE ACCOUNTABILITY CARE PACKAGE

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor

Business Manager

Creative Director

Darien Johnsen darien@ufvcascade.ca

Aneesha Narang aneesha@ufvcascade.ca

Production Manager

Anna McCausland anna@ufvcascade.ca

Features Editor

Caitlyn Carr caitlyn@ufvcascade.ca

Cassie Williams cassie@ufvcascade.ca

Gabriela Gonzalez gabriela@ufvcascade.ca

Production Assistant Anayat Sandhu anayat@ufvcascade.ca

News Editor

Rachel Tait rachel@ufvcascade.ca

Copy Editor

Culture Editor

Arts Editor

Opinion Editor

Digital Media Assistant

Sports Editor

Zackery Fitzpatrick fitz@ufvcascade.ca

Sky Terrones sky@ufvcascade.ca

Manak Bakshi

Snapshot Illustrator

Iryna Presley

Staff Writer Abby Hansen

Staff Writer

Kara Dunbar

Staff Writer

Liam Pyper

Distributor

Kirat Dhami

Shuffler

Jasleen Sandhu jasleen@ufvcascade.ca Natalia Toscano Murua natalia@ufvcascade.ca Natalia Toscano Murua natalia@ufvcascade.ca

Digital Media Assistant Reza Keshavarz

Illustrator

Thea Van Agteren

Illustrator

Hannah Bricknell

Photographer Anjali Randhawa

Columnist

Faby Cruz Alderete

Cam the Man

Feature & Cover Illustrator Sho Okano

CONTRIBUTORS Henrique Macedo Wren.Dalman

W W W.UFVC ASC ADE .C A I N S TAG R A M . CO M T H E C A S C A D E U F V TIKTOK CASCADE_ FY Volume 34 · Issue 12 Room S2111-33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC,V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 ISSN 3111-3354 (Print) · ISSN 3111-3362 (Online) The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper and alternative press for the Fraser Valley. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting and is overseen by The Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority.The Cascade is published every other Wednesday with a print circulation of 800 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities. In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief and the corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length and will not print any articles or be a platform for any contributor or contractor who has shared racist, sexist, homophobic, or libellous content online in any form. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 200 words. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members. The Cascade is published on the traditional, unceded territory of the Stó:lō peoples. We are grateful to be able to work and learn on this beautiful land.

2

Editorial //

You don’t need as much as you think you do Ah, the life of a student. It’s all ramen noodles and penny pinching. As lowly undergrads most of us are familiar with the terror of an empty or near empty bank account. It’s super real and it’s super scary. I’ve been through this twice now and you may think I’m crazy for doing so, but honestly? It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. Living paycheck to paycheck can be stressful and it’s truly not for everyone. Some people are used to a certain standard of living and will never be happy until they’re out of school and making bank. This editorial is not for those people. This is for those who struggle with the idea of working like a damn dog for the rest of their life and ultimately walking away with little to show for it. The world is heavy right now, and I know we all feel it. I can feel the people here on campus feeling it, even if they don’t say so. Here’s my (very reductionist) speculative analysis: we don’t want to work our entire lives for a crumbling, toxic empire. We don’t want to scrape coins together and give them to credit card companies in the hopes that they might grant us a high enough score to secure ourselves a bonafide house (fat chance). We don’t want to pay absurd rent to faceless landlords, either. Most of us want one thing: peace. So here’s the story of how I got to where I am now, a broke student, and totally at peace with it. I grew up with very young parents in the early 2000s. A time when a family of three could claw its way out of the basement suite of their parents and into said bonafide home. I was comfortable, we would have been considered middle class. And while I am grateful for the material security this provided, I am not grateful for the fact that to get to where they were my parents constantly stressed about money, pounding its importance and precarity into my psyche. And I saw behaviour from them that was problematic and selfish. Yes, some of this was maybe just the fact that they were kind of shitty. But I also saw them as operating in a way that most served them in an attempt to get ahead in a society that fed them lies about what they needed. I don’t believe that my parents are the only ones who behaved in less than admirable ways in the relentless pursuit of wealth. As a result of this upbringing, I lived in fear of deprivation, even though I was not deprived of any basic material needs. I hated money’s domination in our society yet was torn between concerns that I would not have enough, or worse, being so hell bent on making money that I turned into them. After my first degree, I worked in non-profit. A career I figured would be satisfying with good enough pay. But all the while, my soul was desperate for an elusive something. I had a complete mental breakdown, quit my job, and was poorer than ever. I’m talking can’t afford to eat, living in my car, broke. I’ll skip any more sad backstory, because the backstory isn’t the point. The point is what I learned by facing this. It’s a simple one that we’ve all heard before: Money will not buy us happiness. Now, I’m back at school to explore what I love, writing. And in doing so my financial problems have not been solved. I still worry about money. But I’ve learned not to keep jobs that don’t fill me because they result in a few extra bucks. I trust myself to hang in

there, to take care with my spending. I am content to pinch my pennies, and not out of fear, but out of a place of satisfaction, because I know what I am called to do. And when we do what we are called to do, we do what we need to to make that work. And for me? It’s being a broke ass writer with a poet’s sentimental heart. It does not mean that I have stopped working, but I have reduced how much I work and cut out unnecessary indulgences.

“THE WESTERN WORLD HAS GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO CONVENIENCE, TO TAKE-OUT, PRICEY CELL PHONE PLANS, FIVE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES, AND CARS FOR EVERY PERSON. AND THAT’S LEFT US A COLD, SELFISH, AND HEARTLESS COMMUNITY.” So when you’re thinking about a career to pursue in this wild world you see around you, think about what fills you with the most joy — money be damned! You will make it work, you will find the money, you will sacrifice. Because the Western world has grown accustomed to convenience, to take-out, pricey cell phone plans, five subscription services, and cars for every person. And that’s left us a cold, selfish, and heartless community. You don’t need those things and you’re not entitled to those things, so stop pining and grieving for them. I’ll end with a quote from Little Miss Sunshine (2006): “Life is one fucking beauty contest after another. You know, school, then college, then work, fuck that. And fuck the air force academy. If I wanna fly, I’ll find a way to fly. You do what you love, and fuck the rest.” Reduce, and be glad. Because we’ve been conditioned by profiteers to think we need what we really do not. And I’ll be damned if I let those bastards grind me down.

Darien Johnsen

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

NEWS

news@ufvcascade.ca News Editor — Rachel Tait

NEWS 3 ��������������� News Briefs 4 ��������������� Local Palestinian advocacy groups 4 ��������������� September 2026 Senate recap 5 ��������������� SUS President interview 6 ��������������� Double, double, toil and trouble (at the polls)

OPINION 7&8 ����������� Snapshots 7 ��������������� Betta fish care: are you prepared? 8 ��������������� Leave low literacy rates in the dust 9 ��������������� Post-COVID flu season blues 10 �������������� Takeaways from the Cornell case

FEATURE 11-13 ��������� Creature feature: vampires

SPORTS 14 �������������� Slapshots 14 �������������� Vancouver Spirit Run

N E W S PROVINCIAL //

PROVINCIAL //

White supremacist group gathers in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc reserve

B.C. Snap-election called for Oct. 24

On Sept. 27 a group of approximately 20-30 men went to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc reserve, with RCMP confirming their intention to intimidate. Hiding their identities by wearing white balaclavas and black baseball caps, they were seen near Chief Eli Larue Way east of Kamloops, with flags and a banner headed with “got bones.” They were dressed in attire associated with the white nationalist group Second Sons Canada, and only retreated after RCMP came. Tk’emlups te Secwépemc Kúkpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir issued a statement warning members of the community to be wary, protect each other, and report any suspicious activity to the RCMP. However, Casimir also made it clear that the white supremacist group cannot prevent the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc from honoring the survivors of Residential schools, and remembering the children who never returned. “The presence of individuals associated with white supremacist ideology on Tk´emlúps lands will not deter Tk´emlúps te Secwépemc, Indian Residential School Survivors, Intergenerational Survivors, or their families from continuing to share the truth, honour the children, and advance the work of truth, accountability, and reconciliation.” Below the statement, multiple resources were listed for those experiencing harm related to this incident. With files from CBC.

LIAM PYPER

PROVINCIAL //

CULTURE 15 �������������� The roller coaster of open mic comedy 15 �������������� Gold STARS for UFV 17 �������������� Study Break 18 �������������� Campus Fashion: fall trends made for layering 19 �������������� Abbotsford’s café crawl

ARTS 19 �������������� Are you sure you don’t know Jane Doe? 20 ������������� The Art of Gravity Falls 21 �������������� New cult classic alert 22 ������������� The green yuri 23 ������������� Genshin Impact’s sixth anniversary 23 ������������� CIVL Shuffle & Charts

B R I E F S

Federal government pledges $100 million to Palestine On Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the 81 United Nations (UN) General assembly held in New York City, Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to give $100 million CAD to help Palestine in an attempt to ensure “a durable peace for Israelis and Palestinians.” In his speech, Carney explained that of this money, $80 million is being allotted for humanitarian assistance. Carney went on to announce that the remaining $20 million would go to supporting “peace and security capacity building,” which included training police in the West Bank. This is following Canada’s trade restrictions on goods produced in unlawful Israeli settlements, which was announced in the British Parliament on Sept. 8 of this year. These sanctions are being implemented among several countries including France and the United Kingdom (UK). These trade restrictions come nearly a year after the Government of Canada officially recognized Palestine as a sovereign state on Sept. 21, 2025. The Cascade will continue to report updates as events unfold.

ABBY HANSEN

On Sept. 22, Premier David Eby announced that there will be a provincial snap election set for Oct. 24. This snap election comes two years earlier than anticipated. Eby said that this snap election is due to an evolving political landscape and a growing need for a new government to address the trade conflict between Canada and the United States. The election will occur one week after the regularly scheduled local elections on Oct. 17, with noticeable overlapping in the campaigning periods. The timing of the snap election has been criticized by both Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and the Union of B.C. Municipalities because of the overlapping local elections, which have drawn voters’ attention and resources from the municipal elections. Eby defended the timing of the election, stating that the political landscape has drastically changed from when the NDPs came into power back in 2024. The election has been criticized as action taken due to political opportunism associated with the recent division in the B.C. Conservative Party. With files from The Vancouver Sun, Global News, CBC, and CTV.

KARA DUNBAR

INTERNATIONAL //

Thousands march against Orange Order On Sunday, Sept. 27, members of Northern Ireland’s Orange Order attempted the controversial Drumcree parade for the first time in 30 years, which would take them through Garvagny road. The Orange Order are a Fraternal Protestant group, who support Northern Ireland’s union with Britain. Garvagny road was the scene of several violent outbreaks in 1986 during the riots, and now runs through a densely Catholic and Irish nationalist area. The Orange Order was finally permitted to begin the parade in a final decision made early Sunday morning. However, the Order stayed at Drumcree church as nationalist protesters blocked Garvagny road, preventing the march. Police initially resisted calls to break up the protest citing concerns over escalation, but managed to clear protesters from the road. Still, tensions continued to rise the following Monday as the Orange Order again attempted to march, only to be prevented by a line of police land rovers. The participation of Sinn Fein vice-president and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill raises concerns about a collapse of the power sharing coalition in the Northern Irish Assembly, and it is unclear whether or not the Orange Order will at all be permitted to march. With files from the BBC, CBC, and The Guardian.

LIAM PYPER

3

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

NEWS Provincial //

Inside Vancouver pro-Palestinian advocacy group A conversation with lead organizer of B.C.’s chapter of Apartheid-Free Communities ABBY HANSEN Jeeda Musleh is a lead organizer of the British Columbian chapter of ApartheidFree Communities (AFC) — an advocacy group dedicated to ending Israeli apartheid in occupied Palestinian territories. Jeeda wrote to The Cascade to talk about AFC’s work and impact.

How did AFC get started? AFC was created in 2022 following an emerging consensus among the international human rights community that the zionist entity’s treatment of the people of Palestine amounts to the crime of Apartheid. It was started by a group of faith communities in the U.S. in response to a call to expand the BDS Zones in North America, and in response to a call to action by Kairos Palestine in their document “A Dossier on Israeli Apartheid” issued in 2022. While it was launched in the US, now AFC is spread over 30 different countries.

What are AFC’s core values and goals? The [AFC]’s core values, synthesized in [their] pledge, are rooted in justice and equal human rights. Starting by first naming and calling out the injustices. The first step in solving any problem is to acknowledge that it is there. Most of our world leaders failed to name the structural injustices imposed by the zionist

entity on the people of Palestine for eight long decades. This resulted in one of the ugliest Genocides in history that has been unfolding for the past three years in Gaza, and now starting to replicate in the West Bank. The second core value that the AFC pledge upholds, is the element of collective action in response to these injustices. The pledge calls for cutting ties with any government, organization or business that could fund Apartheid and Genocide. We invite signatories to live the pledge creatively. Some decide to raise awareness about Palestine, others decide to do more divestment work, etc. The goal of AFC is to dismantle the oppressive system that the people of Palestine are subjected to, and to tackle its tentacles of the Anti-Palestinian racism that is on the rise here in our local cities. While we are fighting for the liberation of Palestine, we are also fighting for the liberation of all oppressed people. We realize that the same oppressive regimes of settler colonialism that harmed the indigenous communities on Turtle Island, use the same tools to harm the people of Palestine. Our end goal is to live in an Apartheid-Free world.

on human rights in general. While no one is counting how many people are attend- “WE REALIZE THAT THE ing Palestine movie nights or rallies, the SAME OPPRESSIVE growing list of names and numbers has been our advocacy tool when we speak REGIMES OF SETTLER to our politicians. This pressure from the COLONIALISM THAT ground up is already being reflected in governmental bodies, as among the 448 HARMED THE INDIGEsignatories across unceded Canada, there NOUS COMMUNITIES are four Canadian Cities and two political parties. In total, there are 16 Apartheid ON TURTLE ISLAND, Free Cities across Turtle Island. USE THE SAME TOOLS The municipal Vote Palestine Vancouver campaign that is running at the TO HARM THE PEOPLE moment, aims at placing Palestine at the OF PALESTINE. OUR core and the center of the municipal elections. It also aims at spreading awareness END GOAL IS TO LIVE about the Apartheid and Genocide that are IN AN APARTHEID-FREE happening in Palestine. This campaign is now running in over six cities: Maple WORLD.” Ridge, Delta, Surrey, Nanaimo, White Rock, [and Vancouver]. What are AFC’s upcoming events,

What does it mean to you to be Apartheid-Free?

and how can people get involved?

At the moment, we are working on the Vote Palestine Vancouver campaign. If you are a resident of any of the six cities listed, please sign the petition in the links under “Voters’ pledge.” To make an informed decision, you can also check the endorsing candidates under “Candidates” on the same website. Voting will take place on Oct. 17. Please cast your vote, as one vote could make all the difference!

By signing the AFC pledge, communities are joining the momentum to apply the pressure on our complicit government in regards to Palestine. They also become part of the Apartheid Free network where they attend their events, and we attend How would you explain AFC’S theirs. mission to people who are unaware In these events, there are many learnof what is happening in Palestine? ing opportunities and spaces where each AFC is a grassroots initiative that is community is invited to share how they Q&A has been edited for length and mainly about uniting and mobilizing the are living out their pledge, inspire and get clarity. power of the voices of ordinary people to inspired by others. take a stand on Palestine in specific, and

UFV //

September 2026 Senate recap

Fall enrollment numbers, new programs, and changes to course requirements RACHEL TAIT Senate is the academic governing body of UFV, responsible for making decisions that impact the daily lives of both students and faculty. The Board of Governors, which 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, which are held once a month. This article will recap the main agenda items of the hybrid Senate meeting which occurred on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. David Johnston, registrar and associate vice-president of enrollment management, gave a brief update on the latest enrollment numbers for fall 2026, and will provide a more in-depth presentation in October. Johnston gave some 4

insight into the fall enrollment figures for domestic students and international students for this year in comparison to 2024 and 2025. “The domestic student population is staying relatively the same. Some wobbles here and there, but the majority of the declines are coming up from that international student group.” The data presented showed that the university has 200 new international students enrolled this fall semester, with more of them in bachelor programs compared to 2025. “63 per cent of the new international students were in a baccalaureate program versus 44 per cent last year.” Mandigo also commented on how the immigration regulation changes have

affected current international enrollment numbers at UFV: “While we have seen a slight uptick in the number of new international students joining us this fall (about 3.5 per cent) and 72 countries represented by international students who have registered for courses, a large majority of our international students have now graduated, resulting in significantly fewer international students on campus — about 40 per cent fewer compared to last fall. Yes, fewer international students mean a loss of revenue, but they also represent a loss of global connections.” Later during the public meeting, Johnston made a motion for the new Powerline Technician Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate to be approved by the Senate board. While the university has offered

this program for over 10 years, students will now earn a certificate, which is the biggest change to the program. This will allow students in the program to be eligible for financial aid. The motion was voted on and approved. Another motion made by Johnston was for Senate to pass the changes being made to the Co-operation education entrance and program requirements. These changes include giving students the opportunity to do co-op even if they are enrolled in “programs of two years or less.” Students will also be eligible for a work term after one semester as a full time student. They now will only be required to have one work term per up to four semesters of study. This change CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 was made to make it easier for students to partake in the co-op program. After the unanimous agreement from the feedback received, this program will now be accessible for students studying in certificate, diploma and associate programs. The motion was voted on and approved. “The changes would increase opportunities for students to gain relevant, paid, work experience while still offering the option to complete additional co-op terms where feasible.” Dr. Tracy Ryder Glass included in her Provost Report that the UFV community is still going strong in supporting the Indigenous community. “[O]ur community continued to deepen its commitment to reconciliation, equity, and public scholarship, through the completion of the Indigenization, Decolonization and Reconciliation program, new Truth and Reconciliation programming this fall, and faculty research reaching national and international media audiences.” Ryder Glass also gave mention of Mandigo’s recent honour for his work in

helping to prevent and respond to drug overdoses in B.C. “We are pleased to see our president receive well-earned recognition from Minister Sunner for his work as co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Overdose Prevention & Response Guidelines for B.C.’s Post Secondary Sector an example of meaningful action to protect the safety and well-being of students, staff, and campus communities across the province.” Dr. James Mandigo, university president and vice chancellor, outlined in his President’s Report that there will be more programs going under review and the Strategic Enrolment Management Plan (SEM) will be under a “mid-cycle review” as there continues to be a decrease in international student enrollments due to the revised immigration laws in Canada. Mandigo also mentioned in his report that the university is preparing their 2027/2028 operation budget, and there will be a town hall meeting scheduled for later in the fall. (University of the Fraser Valley)

SUS //

Ensuring UFV students are well represented by their student union SUS President Tanvir Hundal on affordability, multi-campus outreach, and accessibility HENRIQUE MACEDO Tanvir Hundal is the current president of the Student Union Society (SUS), who previously served nearly two years as a student representative at-large before becoming vice-president internal, and then president. During an interview with The Cascade, Hundal shared that her next priorities will focus on strengthening how SUS operates and communicates internally, and creating more ways for students at all campuses to engage with the organization and campus life. “A student should not have to study at the Abbotsford campus to feel connected to their student union.” She added that her job has turned out to be less about single big campaigns and more about sustained relationship-building. Hundal stressed the importance of student advocacy work. “Advocacy is not always one big campaign or announcement. Sometimes it is a series of meetings and conversations that eventually result in policy or institutional change.” Hundal explained that to hold the executive board accountable, SUS is building a public progress tracker so students can follow how the team’s goals are moving throughout the year.

“Success can also mean moving an issue forward, securing a commitment, improving a policy or process, or creating something that continues beyond our term.” She was also direct about wanting to change how SUS treats their satellite campuses. This year’s plans include hosting events specifically on the Chilliwack and Mission campuses so students there can raise concerns in person, along with social media content that reflects student life across all UFV, rather than just concentrating on Abbotsford. “I do not think there is one single UFV student experience.” Hundal has noted that commuters, international students, mature students, and students living on campus all have different needs that SUS must account for. Hundal also stated that she wants to continue the previous administration’s work regarding strengthening SUS’s advocacy with outside bodies, including its involvement with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) and various levels of government. But she is willing to do things differently in closing the loop with students afterward. “If we go to Ottawa, meet with [the] government, sit on a committee or raise

Suschella ~ 2026 / SUS president Tanvir Hundal an issue with UFV, students should know why we were there and what came out of it.” She shared that new events are coming, which included the Kickback Suschella event that occurred on Thursday, Sept.

24 from 2:30 – 6:30 p.m. SUS’s signature back-to-school event kept its usual mix of activities and refreshments, but was organized around a designated theme this CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 5

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 year, which Hundal called more intentional and connected. “This year, I want the emphasis to be less on an event existing simply because it happens every year and more on what students actually get from it. It should give new students a way to feel connected to UFV, returning students a reason to reconnect with campus, clubs, services, and other parts of the university community an opportunity to reach students.” Hundal added that other returning student perks include the Student Perks Market, Culture Market, Long Night Against Procrastination, and Sub Socials. But students are also going to have the

newly “Stop by SUS” series, which will be smaller drop-in activities that don’t require students to commit to a larger event, along with expanded professional-development programming such as career and networking events with financial literacy workshops. She explained that SUS is also launching What the SUS, a short-form content series meant to explain the organization’s less visible work to students who may only know it through big events, like Kickback. SUS is also introducing short digital feedback forms at events to gather more consistent input. Hundal pointed to two recent advocacy successes: CASA-backed recommendations on youth employment

and work-integrated learning being reflected in federal committee work, and SUS’s own recommendations appearing in the province’s recent budget consultation report. She added that there is also ongoing institutional advocacy which includes briefs submitted to UFV on parking, course syllabi, and affordability, with a focus this year on following through on those submissions. Hundal explained that regional transportation remains a major challenge given UFV’s multi-campus structure, while provincial and federal advocacy continues to centre on affordability and students’ transition into the workforce.

“If there is something you think UFV or SUS could be doing better, if there is a barrier affecting your education, or even if you simply have an idea for something you would like to see on campus, reach out … My job is to make sure those voices are heard and, wherever possible, turned into action.” Students looking to get more involved with SUS can join clubs and associations, attend public board meetings and the AGM, apply for paid student positions, volunteer at events, or run for a board or executive seat when winter elections open. Hundal also said that students don’t need to wait for a major issue to reach out.

Politics //

Looking to the double-election month Local elections are Oct. 17, provincial elections are Oct. 24 KARA DUNBAR For Abbotsford-Mission, this fall has been littered with campaign signs and debates. In B.C. politics, the past few weeks have brought fast and drastic changes such as the cancelled by-election. The Cascade sat down separately with UFV professors, Dr. Eric Spalding from the School of Culture, Media, and Society and Dr. Conrad King from the political science department to further discuss the events surrounding the cancelled by-election, and recent voter behaviour. In the last two weeks, B.C.’s provincial political situation has notably changed. In Abbotsford and Mission, MLA Reann Gasper resigned, which led to the by-election being prompted and the new Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay aimed to fill her place. However, Findlay suddenly stepped down on Sept. 20. Then a sudden snap election was called and the by-election was cancelled. This snap election campaigning period now coincides with the local elections campaigning period. Due to the chaos of recent politics, the discussion went to common gaps in political understanding. Speaking about where more education is needed, Dr. King explained how there is a large gap in understanding how Canadian votes translate into the legislature. “The biggest misunderstanding that I’ve seen, without getting into too much detail, is that people just don’t understand our electoral system and how our electoral system translates our votes into the legislature, provincial or federal, and how that translates into government.” Dr. King identified three main ways that people approach the polls, with voting along party lines being the most common, because voters typically have more of an 6

understanding of a party rather than individual candidates. “Even then, many people don’t actually look at party manifestos or platforms. They just know this is what Conservatives stand for, this is what NDP stands for, this is what Green stands for, and then they have a tribal identification with one of those particular parties, and they just vote that way consistently.” Identifying another two ways that people approach voting for an individual candidate, King mentioned the motivation of delegate and trustee. With the delegate motivation, Dr. King said that this is when a voter is looking less at the attached party and more about who will be best for the particular area. The trustee motivation is similar, but is more so about the candidate appearing to be a trustworthy leader, and is someone that the voter has interacted with or seen interact with. This motivation is about the candidates own leadership qualities, and is less specifically about them representing the area well. Knowing where to find information is also important to understanding an election. Dr. Spalding gave his perspective on the media’s role in the public’s understanding of elections. “I think the journalists in the mainstream media and alternative media do a good job of conveying what by-elections are and what the stakes are with regard to [them]. It’s now a matter for the citizen to actually read these stories to become informed about by-elections.” Dr. Spalding also talked about how useful elections are for parties to gauge public opinion of them as opposed to polls. “[In] a poll, you’re asking people in the abstract who they’re going to vote for. But a by-election is much better because this is actually people going out and voting.

A lot of commentators in the media view by-elections as opportunities to talk about the strength of a political party and its likelihood to thrive or fail in the subsequent general election.” Dr. King emphasized the importance of young voters getting out to vote so that their interests are better represented. “It should be a stark warning to your generation to give up power to senior citizens and generation Xers like me. You should be motivated because we are making the decisions for you because we’re getting out and voting for people that represent our interests and not yours … I would say predominantly, when I meet people of my generation and older, they’re caring about themselves. “[I]f young people don’t get out and vote and exercise their right to suffrage, they’re basically accepting the policies

that they get from us, from the governments we elect … In a sense, it’s going to happen whether you’re involved or not, so you should try and get involved.” October will be full of campaign events, signs and information for the local elections. There are a number of events in Abbotsford, Mission, and Chilliwack to introduce the candidates running for the city councils. Local elections for school trustees, city councillors, and mayors will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17. The provincial snap election to choose a representative in the provincial legislature will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24. More information on how to vote can be found on https://elections.bc.ca/

Photo courtesy of abbotsford.ca

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

OPINION

opinion@ufvcascade.ca Opinion Editor — Natalia Toscano Murua

Hot Take //

Are you keeping your betta correctly? Why thinking of betta fish as simple pets is misleading

SNAPSHOT And a year went by

Illustration by Iryna Presley One year ago, I was drowning in one of the worst crises I’ve faced. One year ago, suddenly, the dream that brought me to Canada in the first place was threatened. One year ago, I felt as if five years of hard work were crumbling like sand as my fingers desperately struggled to keep them safe. One year ago… Everything I held dear burst into flames, the likes of which I had never seen before I had never pushed myself that far, nor fought as hard as I did back then to turn the ashes of what burned down into a new blazing flame. I think somewhere along the line, those flames burned me down, and turned me into feeble particles drifting into the unknown void… I definitely lost myself, but at the same time, I found myself too. Evolution is such a peculiar thing. I definitely would not want to go through a catastrophe like that again, but I have to recognize that along the way, a new version of me ignited anew. I hope I never forget what was burned down. May I remember that the blaze that keeps me going burns thanks to what was lost. BY NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA

NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA It is possible that you have heard bettas are really easy pets. I think they are not. If there’s one thing that breaks my heart, it is seeing a betta poorly taken care of. I find that a lot of people tend to think of bettas as simple to maintain, often leaning toward giving them a cute little tank with colorful decorations to match their vibrant and fun colours, fish food, and occasional water changes. I’ll tell you something — I used to be one such betta keeper. Now, however, it is a completely different story. It was a lot of careful research and a hassle, but it was worth it — my betta Bono is a happy healthy fish living in a cycled, tropical temperature planted aquarium with natural tannins from mopani wood, fed top rated betta fish pellets, with an automatic light that turns on and dims down on a fixed schedule. This is why I feel I can confidently say: keeping a betta is not “simple.” At least not in a traditional sense, I believe. For starters, there is definitely a learning curve when you first get into fishkeeping. Immersing yourself into aquatic caretaking is a stark contrast to other types of pets, because everything you do is contained within a tiny living ecosystem. I would agree that bettas can be a great beginner fish for people — but this is very different from finding a pet that is low-maintenance and easy to have. I believe in giving pets the absolute best you can give them, and with betta fish, that includes taking the time to learn about their needs for an optimal life. A person new to the fishkeeping hobby might find themselves overwhelmed with understanding the nitrogen cycle and its part in cycling a tank — I know I did. Also, the equipment goes well beyond just the tank itself. The minimum recommended size for a betta fish tank is five gallons, and in there, you will need to fit a filter, a heater, and adequate

decorations. If you want to go all the way and provide your betta buddy with the best environment possible, you may find that live aquatic plants will be the best choice. Finding the right type of light to sustain the tank was also a challenge, since too much light can cause an algae problem, and not

enoug h of it might starve your plants. In my case, I have a five gallon tank set up just for Bono. I’m running a Marina S10 power filter customized with ceramic rings and sponges in the canister for

longevity and solid biological filtration. My heater is the reliable 50 watt Aquael UltraHeater, it’s in charge of maintaining Bono’s water to a cozy 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of my plants consist of fast growing plants such as rotala orange juice, amazon frogbit, and red rood floaters. Fast growing plants consume a lot of nutrients, which helps keep algae in check. The light I use to maintain them is the NICREW SkyLed Plus aquarium light — it turns on and off gradually to simulate sunrise and sunset, and its light settings are highly customizable as well. Then, there is learning about common illnesses and how to treat them. As it happens, taking your fish to the vet may be more complex than other animals, and it may be hard to find a vet that wants to see a fish patient. As such, you may find that if your betta contracts an illness, it is up to you to treat it. Internet forums will become your best friend, trust me. When I first got Bono, I noticed he was brushing against the leaves of his tank quickly — this was abnormal behaviour. I then did research to discover what this behaviour was, and found out it is called “flashing”, which is essentially an itchy betta fish trying to scratch. The next step was to find out why he was itchy. Long story short, I found out it was due to a parasite called “gill flukes”, and then I had to order the medicine online because no pet shop had it available. I would encourage anyone that wants to get a betta fish to do ample research beforehand, find out what are the things that will be needed to adequately take care of a new aquatic friend, and prepare accordingly. Having a betta is beautiful, and I wouldn’t want to deter someone from getting one. What I want to spread awareness about is to avoid falling into misinformation traps — research is key! It may not be as easy as you thought at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’ll be extremely rewarding.

Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade Photo by Natalia Toscano Murua 7

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

OPINION Lifestyle //

SNAPSHOT Another kiss for luck

Is it really the damn phones? Is social media to blame for the literacy crisis, or are there other factors at play? ABBY HANSEN

Illustration by Iryna Presley Throwback to when my teenage crush gave me a cheek kiss… and I didn’t even get to enjoy it. I was 14, hope‑filled, and a keeper, wink wink — in soccer, obviously. It was a “friendly” match with another school, so basically war. Unfortunately, we sucked. We were losing 2–0, and I wanted to cry. Then I saw her — their top striker, full stampede energy. Our defenders were done for. She was wide open, and I was mega screwed. I braced myself: wait for the perfect shot, or barrel? She’d already proven she could deliver a killer strike, so I said fuck it and rushed her. Maybe I could scare her into missing… right? Wrong. We locked eyes, and she smirked — the kind that says you’ve made the wrong choice in life. Instead of blasting it, she chipped the ball over my head like it was Free Willy (1993) and I was the rock wall. Slow‑mo. One bounce. I charged like Coyote chasing Road Runner. Second bounce — I wouldn’t make it unless I threw myself, so I did. I could taste the save on my fingertips and then — A metallic clunk. Cut to black.

I woke up surrounded by teammates. My brain had done a shimmy inside my skull after slamming into the massive regulation goalpost — not the pathetic, cheap school ones. But I’d saved it. At the cost of my single brain cell left. Everything blurred after that. I must’ve insisted I was fine, because I kept playing. One, three, five, seven strikes — none went in. A switch had flipped, and apparently it was contagious, because my team snapped awake too. Did we win? No. But we clawed our way into a tie and celebrated like champions. I was crowned star player by both teams; their striker even shook my hand with a respectful nod — no smugass smirk. As for the kiss? My family later said that during the chaos of the infamous save, my friend kissed my cheek to “give me strength.” Did my brain subconsciously register it and go hero mode? Or was it just luck? Guess we’ll never know — alas, nor remember.

I come from a family of readers. Books have been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. They have been a refuge in times when I needed strength, and a welcome distraction from the everyday stressors of life. They are a second home that I still cherish today. Considering this, it’s probably not surprising that I am extremely concerned about the literacy crisis. I’ve been seeing video after video of school teachers in distress over the reading comprehension and writing skills of their students. To me, their fear is justified. According to a report by Life Literacy Canada (LLC), 49 per cent of adult Canadians are below a high school literacy level and 51 per cent scored in the lowest three of five skill levels for numeracy. LLC notes that low literacy levels can negatively impact a person’s quality of life, both at home and in the workplace. I have seen people point to phones and social media as the main contributor to this crisis. There is some validity to this. A study published in March of this year by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that increased social media use correlates to a lowered attention span in children. Although they note that these signs of inattention aren’t significant on an individual level, they warn that its effect at a cultural-level could be significant.

While I do agree that the impacts of social media use can be a major factor in the literacy crisis, I think there’s more to it than simply “phones bad.” When talking with some friends about the subject, there was a recurring theme that I noticed. A lot of them mentioned price accessibility being a major factor for why they struggle to read, or have stopped reading altogether. To add insult to injury, one of the few cheaper options for reading is being stripped from us. ReaderLink, one of the last companies that produced mass-market paperbacks in North America, have discontinued their “pocket books” which were designed with affordability in mind. While social media does present a number of issues that could be contributing to the literacy crisis, I wonder if it is also the solution. This is where these platforms, and my love-hate relationship with content creators comes into play. I have seen an increase in book-related, or “bookish” content online. These creators post everything from book reviews to footage of home libraries. While I do think that it’s an overall net-positive that people are using online spaces to get others interested in reading, there is something I noticed that I think is worth mentioning. A lot of this content does what online content does, and that is presenting an CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

BY SKY S. TERRONES

Photo by Anjali Randhawa / The Cascade 8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

OPINION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 idealized version of reality — neat, colour-coded, bookshelves that seem to have more bookish-related merchandise than they do actual books. The only books many of them have on these manicured displays are expensive hard-covers and special editions. And while I don’t think there’s a problem with this per se, it seems that some of these influencers treat reading as a commodity — which I

worry will discourage people from reading altogether if reality isn’t as perfect as the post, or they can’t financially keep up with every new book. Regardless of my minor critiques of bookish content, if it gets people interested in reading when literacy is at a low, then it is a positive help. At a time like this I wonder, should I really be gatekeeping and disparaging some of the few people out there that are encouraging a

love of reading? Social media has been so ingrained in our everyday lives, and I don’t see it going away — so why not use it to our advantage? In that case, post about reading to your heart’s content! Make videos about your collections, special editions, and home libraries. What would I suggest for people who love reading but can’t afford every new novel? Your local library! And I’m not just saying this because I’m a part of

the Library and Information Technology (LIBIT) program. Public libraries are not only free, but most modern library cards now connect to apps like Libby or Hoopla. There you can access your local branch’s books and audiobooks online completely for free! No ads or hidden fees, just you and your newest read or listen!

Health //

‘Tis the season A comparison of crises, and the quiet ways they stay with you SKY S. TERRONES The thought of COVID still makes me wince. It seems like “flu season” is starting — or at least that’s how my English professor described it. The temperature falls, and in come the bacteria and viruses, all of them looking for a cozy, warm refuge to settle into. Alas. Seeing half my class empty and hearing that my friends came down with something pulled me straight back to 2020. As people walk past me sneezing, coughing straight into the air, no mask to catch the little drops of mucus and saliva, my first instinct is to jump the hell away. I try to hold myself back because I know it’s rude — but is it? Watching how casually people walk around spreading germs, I realize, perhaps not for the first time, that things here were very different from how they were in Peru. People say it so naturally here — “oh, I’ve got COVID.” Uhm, mister? I’m glad you’re alive. No one seems worried anymore, and maybe that’s good. Maybe I’m one of few who still fears it like the boogeyman. But my body remembers. It remembers the ambulance lights flashing through the windows every night; the smell of bleach on every item that came through the door; the way my mom’s voice sounded when she told me someone else had died — tired, resigned, already bracing for the next name. It remembers the quarantine — 107 days of full lockdown, followed by almost two years of curfews and restrictions. Soldiers in the streets. Police checkpoints. Gender‑segregated shopping days. I remember the cruelty too — like the video of our police forcing trans women to do “sentadillas” (squats) while mocking

them and making them say “I want to be a man.” Because that’s the thing about states of emergency in Peru — give the police and military unchecked power, and they’ll show you exactly what they think of people like us. I remember crying myself to sleep that night, realizing with heartbreaking certainty that I couldn’t stay there anymore. And then there were the deaths. I think back to bodies lined up in the street. To the mass graves in Iquitos that no one told families about. To one of my best friends sitting with his father’s decaying body for hours because there wasn’t enough manpower to collect him. To my mom losing five people in less than a week. To my friend’s stepdad

dying because there was no space in the hospital, and not even money or connections made a difference. Viruses don’t discriminate like that. Nor does death. By the time vaccines finally reached Peru in February 2021 — well past a year into the nightmare — the first doses didn’t go to the public. They went to politicians, elites, and their friends in what became known as “Vacunagate.” People were dying, and the powerful were quietly getting vaccinated in private clinics. Do people from countries with such disparity and catastrophic death tolls experience a contrasting “casual COVID culture” in Canada? When I learned that B.C. began its reopening phase

only seven weeks after the public health emergency was declared, that the vaccine arrived in December 2020, that there were no soldiers haunting the streets, it certainly felt like a culture shock. And it wasn’t the only one. I’m immunocompromised, but within that unluckiness I was fortunate: my mom had the resources and connections to visit family abroad and take me with her for a few months. Even with my comorbidities, Peru’s vaccine rollout didn’t prioritize medical conditions — only age. You couldn’t choose which vaccine to receive, even if your doctor warned against certain ones. Mine did. My body couldn’t just receive any vaccine; some could cause complications in my brain. My mother was understandably terrified. So we packed our bags and left for the States to stay with family and get our vaccines — ones we could choose. That was when the shock fully hit. Every pharmacy had vaccines, multiple of them. Some even offered money as an incentive to get vaccinated. Many didn’t believe COVID was real, you see? Just a hoax from the government. And so people simply didn’t want the vaccine. Coming from a place where getting a single dose felt like The Hunger Games (2012), seeing the sheer abundance they had there was staggering. And it made me angry. Are we just eternally expendable, eternally inconsequential? Truth is, Peru had the highest death rate per capita, and almost no one knows. I look around at many folks unafraid, unbothered, and it makes me both compassionately glad and unfairly envious that for many, their memories don’t flinch the way mine do. If anything, I just hope people understand that fear isn’t irrational when you come from a place that ran out of room to bury its dead. Please, y’all — take care of yourselves.

Illustration by Thea Van Agteren / The Cascade 9

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

OPINION Society //

More than just seven How the Cornell case proves sexual assault still doesn’t get enough consequence CASSIE WILLIAMS Content warning: sexual assault and violence One in three. That’s how many women in Canada have experienced some form of unwanted sexual behaviour in their lives, according to the Canadian Government. One in five women in the United States have experienced rape, reports the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Seven is how many men are accused of gang raping a 20-year-old woman at Cornell University, Mahsa Saeidi wrote for CBC News. 57 is how many members were in the group chat that stood by while those seven bragged about having “free pu**y.” On Sept. 16, a civil complaint was filed by a Cornell student, referred to as Jane Doe, alleging she was drugged and assaulted by seven men who took turns raping her over a seven hour period in October of 2024. Protection of women and all young people used to be a priority, but that era has seemingly ended. The #MeToo movement brought awareness and social justice, but that priority seems to have weakened in recent years. For an institution to not take a woman’s lawsuit seriously or bring it to the district attorney when she claims seven men raped her over a period of seven hours is sickening. Protection and support against sexual assault should never be a phase. There is no equality until women can go to a party unafraid, walk at night without gripping their car keys, or having pepper spray prepared. There is no equality until institutions stop prioritizing a man’s potential over a woman’s livelihood. Why are we still in the same place? It seems like we should have made at least some progress. When talking with the women in my life, I feel disheartened and afraid. The responsibility to prevent assault should not fall on a woman. These messages to cover your drink, dress conservatively, never walk alone, avoid parties… they’re everywhere. But they are not a substitute for accountability and certainly not for consent. It’s beyond

concerning that it still needs to be said that consent must be clear and ongoing. Someone intoxicated or otherwise incapacitated cannot give consent to sexual activity. Furthermore, being drunk at a party does not give anyone permission to assault you. When there’s no systemic accountability or protection, how are we supposed to feel comfortable and safe? The onus is still on women to see how we can protect ourselves better, and to deal with the aftermath, more than often alone. When are we going to see real change and shift the narrative? Stop teaching girls to be afraid and start teaching boys to respect women. I don’t think we’re angry enough. For the friends of the seven: there’s danger in observation and staying silent. If you are allowing this action to go unreported, getting up, going to class, going about your days like normal; you’re part of the problem and you are culpable. This is why girls say it’s all men, because to do nothing is to condone assault. “Not all men,” but 97 per cent of sexual assault allegations are against men according to Statistics Canada. “Not all men,” but 57 sat silently in that group chat. “Not all men,” but men who rape women become president. See how backwards it is yet? That’s why we’d choose the bear. In 2024 — the same year as Jane Doe’s alleged assault — an “Online Rape Academy” was uncovered by a CNN report by Saskya Vandoorne, Kara Fox, et al. This network was used by men who wanted to share advice and stories about drugging and raping their partners, often uploading photos and videos as well. This was discovered two years ago and networks like it are still thriving to this day. Two years later. So, where’s the accountability? According to Statistics Canada, one in 19 cases of sexual assault end with the perpetrator sentenced. The other 18 walk free. One in 10 women are assaulted in post secondary institutions. Sexual violation should not be part of the university experience. In Jane Doe’s case, she was the one who had to drop out of school,

while the men who did this to her had to write essays as a punishment. Essays. For raping her. Best said by the Editorial Board of The Cornell Daily Sun: “A university’s obligation to the physical safety of its students is not one commitment among several, to be weighed against reputation or litigation

exposure. It is antecedent to everything else the institution does.” If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual assault, Archway has a Sexual Assault Response Program (SARP), or you can contact Fraser Health Crisis Line at 1-877-820-7444, VictimLinkBC at 1-800-563-0808, and more.

Illustration by Thea Van Agteren / The Cascade

The Cascade Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Join us for The Cascade’s AGM to elect board members and vote on proposed bylaw changes. Open Positions: 3 Student Representatives, 1 Faculty Representative, and 1 Continuity Representative. Proposed Bylaw Change (22.c): One staff or faculty representative, who currently holds a paid position at UFV, or one industry representative, who possesses sufficient experience and knowledge in the journalism industry. Date: Thu, October 15 | Time: 6 p.m. | Location: Room S2111, Abbotsford Campus 10

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

FEATURE

feature@ufvcascade.ca Features Editor — Caitlyn Carr

Sink your teeth into our favourite vamps Celebrating spooky season with fang-tastic vampire media THE CASCADE While all vampires are iconic in their own ways, let’s be real: it would suck to be some of them. From the maggots crawling out of Count Orlok’s half-rotting body to Edward Cullen’s sparkling “skin of a killer,” surely there’s some kinds of vampires more people would prefer to wake up as than others if they had the choice. So for the first issue of spooky season, the vampire enthusiasts at The Cascade reflected on our favourite vampire media, exploring the question: if we could choose, which kind of vampire would be the best to wake up in a coffin as?

Jasleen Sandhu Culture Editor Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

James Marsters as Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

While I’m a fan of many creepy, blood-thirsty creatures, if I had to be just one bloodsucker, there’s no doubt about it: I’d be Spike (James Marsters) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. On the whole, I love the physical representation of vampires in Buffy: the way they shift from human-featured to creatures of the night with their jagged teeth, sharp fangs, and pale eyes. Spike, specifically, captured my heart as soon as he was introduced in the show. Not only is Spike funny and deliciously evil, but he challenges the spectrum of morality. We have a tendency to chalk people — and undead beings — up as “bad” or “good.” Spike is more layered than that and his motivations are explored throughout the series as he struggles with his feelings for the humans around him. Not only is Spike an intriguing vampire, but his human backstory is something I think about constantly. Spike, before he’s sired, is William Pratt, a gentle poet from London who is rejected by society. His vampiric persona is a drastic change from his human self. He goes from being a sensitive, young man into a charmingly spunky vamp.

It seems that he spent his undead years evolving into the being he was meant to be and I love that he went through some “soul-searching” in his time. He also (according to Spike, anyway) inspired Billy Idol’s look. Talk about an icon. He’s a vampire, he does bad things, and while I don’t agree with all of Spike’s actions, I would be lying if I said he didn’t charm and endear me. I, too, want to be walking around in a long leather jacket, feeling invincible, and spewing witticisms that irritate, more than harm. Spike, funnily enough, also has human tendencies: he can be discouraged, but he also takes pleasure in the little things. He can get mean, but he’s also sensitive, and above all, he loves deeply. I adore Spike and his fantastic one-liners: “If every vampire who said he was at the crucifixion was actually there, it would’ve been like Woodstock.” If I die and come back as a vampire, I better come back as Spike.

Caitlyn Carr Features Editor The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017) Vervain, bourbon, and daylight rings. That’s right, we’re going to Mystic Falls to talk about The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017). As depressing and brooding as Stefan (Paul Wesley) is about the whole “being a vampire” thing, if I woke up as one of Mystic Falls’ vampires, I’d be more like Caroline (Candice King). Instead of brooding over her transformation for centuries, she knew how fucking sweet her undead life was about to be and got the glow-up of a lifetime. Seriously, there are so few downsides to being this kind of vampire. You can still eat and drink like normal, you can still pass for human if you want to, and (if you know the right witch) you get a fancy piece of jewelry to keep you from burning in the sun! And we haven’t even gotten to super speed, super strength, immortality, or compulsion yet. Imagine how

much easier life would be if you could just compel some billionaire to pay off your debt, buy you a house, or whatever you want. And that’s just off the top of my head. Sure, there are some downsides… like not being able to ingest vervain. Wow, that’d be such a bummer considering how often I definitely eat that on a daily basis, right? And the bloodlust, of course, but doesn’t every kind of vampire have to deal with that? And of course, if you ask Stefan, he’d emphasize for about the millionth time that “your emotions are heightened as a vampire.” Guess what Stefan, my emotions are already heightened for about a week every single month. What else ya got?

Photo courtesy of: AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo 11

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

Sky Terrones Arts Editor Twilight (2008)

Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment.

Okay, I need you to sit with your fixation on the whole “skin glows under the sun” thing and then get over it, for real. I get it — it sounds ridiculous compared to the vampire lore you probably grew up with — but think about it, actually think about it. Most vampires turn to dust at the mere threat of sunlight, so aren’t the ones who are not only resistant but beautiful, glowing under it, clearly far superior to the rest? What is even their weakness? Nothing. Nada. They’re perfect predators, and that’s delightful. “BUT IT’S THE SKIN OF A KILLER, BELLA” — no. No, it’s not. Humans are literally just their natural food; people are simply used to being at the top of the food chain. Thus, would I feel guilty about drinking human blood? Probably about as guilty as I feel when I eat rotisserie chicken and anticuchos (cow’s heart). That is to say: none at all. What, you don’t think that the chicken you just ate had friends and dreams? Honestly, I’m even curious about the taste differences. Bird blood vs. fish vs. reptiles vs. insects vs. mammals — what’s the flavor profile? Twilight vampires complain about animal blood being bland, with predators tasting better than the rest, but have they tried turtles?! I have questions. Look, Peru has dishes made with pig or chicken blood — morcillas, sangrecita — and I happen to think they’re delicious. Plus, my steak order has been consistently

rare or medium rare for years. So the diet? Not a drawback. The perks, though? Enhanced speed, strength, durability. No sickness. No aging. No more worrying about whether my back will hurt tomorrow. NO KIDS (that’s right, it’s an upside). I could even turn others, if they asked. And just imagine: with a few decades of uninterrupted focus, I could learn every system well enough to become a millionaire, or even buy a HOUSE (same shit, truly). It’s a bloody grand deal, full stop. The only thing I’d genuinely miss is sleeping — the disconnecting, the weird queer dreams, the nightly little movies my brain makes. But even that feels like a small price compared to being deadly allergic to garlic, dying via sharpened pencil, needing an invitation to enter any house, or turning to dust because the sun looked at me wrong. Yet none of this is actually the real reason I’d choose Twilight vampires. It’s the powers. Beyond the immortality, the beauty, the diet, the glittering skin — Twilight vampires get superpowers. Actual X‑Men‑style abilities, shaped by whatever trait you already had as a human. Not everyone gets one (allegedly, even though literally every vampire we read about has one), alas, I know I would. And I know exactly which power it’d be… Now wouldn’t you like to know which one you’d get?

Liam Pyper Staff Writer Carmilla (1872) Is it that bad if I interpret Carmilla by Mr. Joseph Sheridan La Fanu, a man from the 1850s, as a book about a closeted Christian woman being tempted and confused by a “monstrous” lesbian? Did Joseph intend me to read this as another doomed Yuri or a gay awakening story? He would probably be pretty upset considering how he treats his characters, especially in the end. But guess what, I can interpret this however I want, and doomed Yuri it is. If I had to be a vampire, my pick would be Carmilla. In short, Laura, living isolated and alone in her father’s castle in Styria, Austria, befriends Carmilla after her mother vanishes after a mishap. Carmilla and Laura become quick friends, but Laura becomes “sick” and starts acting differently. Frankly, La Fanu seems terrified of Laura and Carmilla by the end of the book — it’s like he thinks he has created

some sort of a monster that is their incoming lesbian romance, and he ends the book rather abruptly. Did I mention that Carmilla is literally the woman of her dreams? I relate a lot to Laura’s situation (not in the most literal sense, but we don’t have to get into that right now) but I would love to be Carmilla: she has a whimsical, but powerful aura around her, she’s playful and flirty but at the same time she’s terrifying and unpredictable. You see though? Reading the book, I swear the way that Laura describes Carmilla is like she is falling in love. I did some digging and I found that there are a few people who also interpret this story the way I do. I loved this article on Carmilla by Liz Debregoria from Ghouls Magazine, her take is brilliant. I also recommend reading the book itself, it is quite short and the ending sucks, but it’s so worth it.

Illustration by Sho Okano / The Cascade 12

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

Darien Johnsen Editor in Chief What We Do in the Shadows (2019-2024) When people think of vampires they think blood, guts, and night stalking. But what if I told you there was another option? Ever heard of an energy or psychic vampire? If you’ve seen the television spin off of What We Do in the Shadows, you know I’m here to talk about Colin Robinson. It may seem like an odd choice, but I promise you there’s logic here. An energy vampire is one who feeds off of awkwardness, boredom, and irritation, intentionally draining the energy out of everyone around them. Colin is full of terrible jokes, random irrelevant facts, and is insufferably pedantic. He thrives on the mundane, can feed anywhere, at any time, without having to worry about the fuss of cleaning up a big bloody mess afterwards. Energy vampires are also day walkers, meaning they can still enjoy a beautiful sunset and live a relatively normal life. It honestly seems like a great way to save money on groceries and survive in this

Illustration by Sho Okano / The Cascade hyper-compartmentalized and nonsensical society we live in. Colin is also highly intelligent and self-satisfied. He thrives in the sterile, fluorescent lights of an office, calling it a “hunting ground,” and gorges himself on water cooler small talk. When he gets promoted despite not even knowing what the company he works for does, he receives the “power of a thousand cowboys running through [his] veins.” I want that cowboy energy. I don’t want to

be a victim of the office anymore, I want the office to be a victim of me. Colin is unapologetic, and that I deeply respect. I mean, most vampires don’t feel bad when they murder someone (aside from Angel and the Twilight (2008) vamps) but at least as Colin, I wouldn’t actually be killing anyone. I’d just trap them in an insufferable conversation about ferriers, car detailing, or 18th century naval battles. Plus, have you seen that episode where he attends a town hall meeting? Absolutely

one of the most satisfying things to watch. He describes it as a “smorgasbord of banality and despair” and honestly, it’s a true skill to be able to bore the life out of politicians with a roundabout conversation on zoning ordinances. There is a hilarious irony in a vampire like Colin, and my inner troll wants nothing more than to fuck with our overly orderly and polite society. But what I like most about him is that he boldly takes what he needs: attention.

Anna McCausland Production Manager My Babysitter’s a Vampire (2010) These might not be the best vampires, but I feel like My Babysitter’s a Vampire is one of the most overlooked pieces of vampire media out there. If you’re not familiar, it was a short lived Canadian movie that also got two seasons of television before ending abruptly in 2012. It follows a boy, Ethan, and his group of friends as they battle supernatural beings that keep popping up in their hometown of Whitechapel, Ontario. Now as a child I didn’t want to be a vampire like Sarah or Erica. I wanted to be a seer like Ethan because I wanted to be quirky (and I definitely didn’t have a huge crush on Matthew Knight either or anything). But now that I’ve rewatched it as an adult, I have to admit being a vampire in this world that Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis wrote would be sick as fuck.

For starters when you get turned you suddenly get a freaky fashion makeover. Gone are the days of needing glasses (as a glasses wearer this is appealing) and instead welcome to early 2010s fashion of pleather jackets, infinity scarves and skinny jeans. If you look up Erica’s transformation, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Now there are some standard vampire traits that these vamps have that most others will too. Flying for one. We love a good flight to the next town over. There’s also super speed and super strength, as well as regeneration. And if I’m being so for real, the fangs on these vampires are actually kind of chic. Unlike most vampires, the sun doesn’t seem to really affect those from Whitechapel. All they need are some stylish sunglasses and a little bit of sunscreen

Photo courtesy of Fresh TV on their noses to basically become day-walkers who can go outside in the sun, no problem. Look, are there some double standards going on here for the sake of story-telling? Yes, but that plays better for my argument so I’m okay with it.

My final argument for My Babysitter’s a Vampire being the best vampiric experience is that there’s never a normal day in Whitechapel. Which means for as long as you’re living there, you’ll never get bored — even if you’re stuck there for thousands and thousands of years.

13

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

SPORTS

sports@ufvcascade.ca Sports

Track and Field //

SL APSHOTS Prime time for women’s hockey

Save the Caps!

2026 Vancouver Spirit Run’s impact What makes this race event unique and how UFV can benefit from it NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA

Illustration by Iryna Presley Illustration by Iryna Presley With the fall semester’s return also comes many fans’ favourite season: hockey season. It’s started off strong for Canucks fans, with them beating the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in their season opener. Aside from that win came, arguably, an even bigger victory. Hockey Night in Canada is set to return this fall, with women’s hockey being showcased. CBC announced a partnership with PWHL; starting on Dec. 5, there will be eight prime time games aired throughout the 2026–27 season on Saturday nights. The opening matchup has Hamilton against Montréal Victoire in Place Bell. This news came after the league announced their first All-Star Game set to be held on Mar. 7, 2027. With recent events diminishing women’s sports, this PWHL Hockey Night development is a move in the right direction. As a woman in sports myself, I didn’t see a lot of games like this on my television growing up, so I’m excited for future generations and hopeful that this step is just the beginning in bringing women’s matches to a larger platform.

I love the Vancouver Whitecaps. If I was an affluent person, I would single-handedly purchase the team to keep them in Vancouver forever. Don’t get me wrong, I love our hockey teams and going to their games (even when they let me down), but the atmosphere at BC Place is something else. It brings me joy to see living legend Thomas Müller run around the pitch, to hear the Southsiders’ innovative chants, and to jump up at the first chords of “Freed From Desire” as soon as the ball goes past the goal line. My first time at a Whitecaps game was only a few years ago, but I was hooked immediately. Their matches almost feel like being at a sporting event in Europe: the fans are consistently full of passion, rooting for the team even if they’re losing. I care about this team. I want the Whitecaps to stay. I want to maintain my tradition of going to games every season and I want to see them win the MLS Cup. Please, someone save the Caps.

On Sept. 27, the 2026 Vancouver Spirit Run took place on Jericho Beach in Vancouver, B.C. It is a track and field event that welcomes people from all backgrounds, from running novices to experienced athletes. This race is the realization of the late Frank Reynolds’ vision to create an open cross country event that could provide donations and support to local high school and university athletes in B.C. This year, the race saw participants from different B.C. universities compete primarily in the eight kilometre category. Most of the student track and field athletes participating in this race category came from the University of Victoria (UVic), and the University of British Columbia (UBC), though more local communities such as the Coquitlam Cheetahs and the West Vancouver Track and Field Club also partake in the race. As for the official results provided by Startline Timing, of the 65 participants of the eight kilometre male open category, Jaxon Kuchar from UVic won first place with a time of 25:30 minutes, Tyler Browne from UVic came at a close second with a time of 25:57 minutes, followed by Jacob Webster from UVic in third place after finishing in 26:21 minutes. In the eight kilometre female open category with 38 entries, Brooke Lawlor from UVic finished the race first with a time of 29:44 minutes, she was followed by Grace Beach from UBC whose time came in at 30:07, and in third place there was Katelyn Cotterell from UBC at 30:15. Vancouver Spirit Run’s mission to include people of all walks of life and especially support local high schools and universities distinguishes this race from

the rest, setting it as an impactful track and field event for local B.C. communities. Via the proceeds of the race event itself, the Board of Directors of the Vancouver Spirit Run offers a bursary for students that demonstrate exceptional track and field potential, hold a solid academic record, showcase the values of leadership and volunteering, and are currently in demonstrable financial need. With the minimum award being 500 Canadian dollars, this bursary has the potential to boost student athletes’ careers and goals while pursuing education. The unique support that this race event is able to provide for students is an opportunity that perhaps UFV could benefit from participating in the future. Although UFV does not currently have a designated track and field division or club within the Cascades, the Vancouver Spirit Race not only provides a great example of an athletic event that can help boost student athletes’ careers forward, but can also support them, and help them connect with other student athletes from different local communities within B.C. Discovering these types of athletic events happening within the local space of B.C. communities presents a unique opportunity for UFV alumni with talent in track and field or students interested in practicing this discipline. For the university, these types of events could potentially be a pathway to broaden the sports scope and branch out into more disciplines that are gaining popularity, as is the case with track and field. It is always positive to be able to support local talent, and if such track and field talent resides within UFV, then it is well worth supporting. Perhaps, in the future, we could dream of seeing a top three finish by one of UFV’s student athletes in the Vancouver Spirit Run.

BY JASLEEN SANDHU BY CASSIE WILLIAMS

14

Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

CULTURE

culture@ufvcascade.ca Jasleen Sandhu

Event Coverage //

Open mic comedy is one unique ride That’s Wild hosts Abbotsford’s up-and-coming comics every Wednesday KARA DUNBAR Abbey Road Taphouse was so quiet when I walked in that I worried I’d gotten the time wrong, but turning a corner into the bar area, I found music playing, a raised stage, and a few people setting up tech. Two of those people included Luke Taylor and Kel James, who sat down with The Cascade to discuss That’s Wild, Abbotsford’s only open mic comedy night. This free show goes on every Wednesday, from 8:00 p.m. to somewhere between 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. depending on how many people sign up. Taylor said that they average 10 comics each week. “What we do is every week we try to have a feature of a local comic. So either an up-and-comer or someone who’s doing a lot of shows regularly that just wants extra practice. So most of the time people get five minutes, and then the feature gets 10.” The weekly show started back in April of this year, so they are only a few months into hosting at Abbey Road, but both Taylor and James have previous experience hosting events. Getting this show going felt like a natural progression for them. Their highlight from the experience so far has been the ticket giveaway they were able to do for a comedy festival in Vancouver. Taylor described the process. “We had a couple good nights with that, so we gave tickets to the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival. The owner supplied them for us. And we did a

raffle, then we also did a ‘best comic of the evening.’ And that was really fun. Everyone came out with intention.” That’s Wild started as a way for James and Taylor to continue their work, and fill a gap in the Fraser Valley market for comedy. But they are also seeing comics come from Vancouver, like the featured comic for the night I attended, Sept. 16, Corbin Stephenson. James explained the issue of limited stage times in Vancouver. “While there are a lot more shows in Vancouver, there’s also, someone told me the other day, about 200 comedians in the city. So the mics give only three minutes.” After our chat outside, the Taphouse had filled in a bit, but it was still easy enough to find a seat at the bar, and save one for the friend I was waiting on — I reasoned that open mic comedy should not be experienced alone, and I was right. This week, 14 comics stepped up. The comedy brought chuckles, sighs, eyerolls, and concern for the comics wellbeing. One should not go to open mic comedy just for the laughs, but for the whole experience. Attending means that you will (hopefully) laugh and definitely cringe. There will be gems, bad jokes, bits that miss the mark, and memories made. You walk away bonded with those you attended with. No other entertainment experience compares. That being said, I do think you should try it out, at least for one night. This is a place where comics are finding their footing. James got a start in comedy from a dare in high school, and Taylor got started after an invitation from a friend. They

Photo by Kara Dunbar appreciate how welcoming the Fraser Valley comedy community has been. James encourages anyone thinking of it to step on stage. “The worst thing that’ll happen is that they’re not gonna laugh at you. Some people might get mad … once you’ve done it, it’s easier. The first time is definitely the hardest. It’s not like it’s gonna be easy after the first time. It’s definitely a hard, kind of emotionally taxing art form. But just sign up. Sign up, go up.”

Sign-up starts at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Abbey Road, with the show starting at 8:00 p.m. No tickets or payment is required for participating or watching. Local art is a venture worth supporting and no comedian was without their open mic era. I would recommend you go at least once, cheer them on, experience it, or get on stage yourself. There are no polished comedy specials on Netflix without the rough and tumble of a local open mic comedy night.

UFV //

Five years of UFV sustainability The Office of Sustainability celebrates five years LIAM PYPER This September, the Office of Sustainability celebrated its fifth year of building a better and more environmentally friendly UFV. The event was opened by Director of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Doran Hoge, who started with an explanation on sustainability and its importance. “Sustainability is how we create a future where people, communities, economies, our business models, and the natural environment continue to thrive together, continue to function together. It’s about recognizing that all of these things are interconnected. Sustainability asks us to consider not only what we do

today, but also about the impacts on the decisions and people and communities around us.” Across its five years the Office of Sustainability has made great strides toward a more sustainable UFV. Hoge presented a picture of the Office as a force that interconnects the whole university, helping bring it toward sustainability. “The office’s work has included engagement, education, partnerships, advocacy, and initiatives that connect sustainability across the institution. It’s this green thread that sews all of these pieces together.” In addition to its fifth birthday, the Office of Sustainability announced a monumental achievement: UFV was

given a Gold rating by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, & Rating System (STARS). STARS is a program for education institutions that tries to incentivize, as well as teach, how to be more sustainable. It has four ratings, with Gold coming second place. Associate Vice President of Teaching and Learning Dr. Awneet Sivia sees UFV’s achievement of the Gold rating as the beginning of a true change towards lasting sustainability practices. “When I think about the STARS Gold rating and what it represents, I don’t see a checklist of operational achievements. I see an institution that is beginning to align its teaching mission with a sustainability mission. This is a

really beautiful partnership and collaboration that is happening. We recognize that the most lasting impact UFV can have on sustainability is the thousands of students and the many alumni who are already in the region who attend UFV every year or have graduated from here, and they leave prepared with the knowledge and skills they need to create and thrive in a sustainable world.” Sustainability Manager Jennifer Martel spoke to the Office of Sustainability’s history. She explained how each step and achievement contributed to the STARS’ Gold rating and how the United Nations Sustainable CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 15

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

CULTURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 Development Goals have been a key guide for the Office. “We guided our work through the lens of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. The SDGs are a shared blueprint for peace, prosperity, for people, and the planet now and into the future. These interwoven goals provide a framework for collaborating across disciplines in pursuit of a more sustainable world, which is exactly what UFV needed.” Martel painted the Office as a young healthy plant that has grown over time into something strong and interconnected. The Office of Sustainability brings together many facets of our university, including people. As it began to grow, more faculty, students, administrators, and departments began to include sustainability in their goals. “Through these partnerships, we were able to launch new initiatives, such as the Eco Challenge, March for Sustainability, a brand new pollinator garden, and U of T’s Sustainability Report that showcases the work happening across the institution under each SDG.” In five years the office brought solar power to UFV with panels on Baker House and the library, and a solar wall on the side of G building, all to help turn UFV’s energy consumption a little more green.

(Jordon Fernandez / University of the Fraser Valley) It also brings students together every semester for March for Sustainability, one of its most successful and impactful programs, making sustainability and the Gold rating feel like a community driven achievement. Martel proudly spoke of the Office of Sustainability’s greatest and prettiest achievement of the year, the brand new pollinator garden located between Buildings C and S.

“Our newest garden, centrally located near the circle labyrinth, encourages the community to stop and smell the roses, or in our garden’s case, the blanket flowers, while raising awareness of the vital importance of pollinators in our ecosystem. UFV’s pollinator gardens are loaded with over 30 native plant species that support, feed, and house a plethora of pollinators while promoting climate

resilience, biodiversity, and experiential learning.” Five amazing years of sustainability, and a quick climb to the top of the STARS rating, the future of the Office of Sustainability looks bright. However, with increasing cuts and adjustments to budgets, whether UFV will keep its commitments to the Office, and to sustainability, remains to be seen.

Event Coverage //

Coffee pairs well with acoustic guitars Downtown Abbotsford’s café crawl was a pleasant surprise Stuetz, who didn’t expect the music that greeted him at Aurora Roasters. Stuetz emphasized the importance of events such as the café crawl. “I think it’s very important. It’s a very pleasant surprise to see it this morning, and I play music myself, so I enjoy music. I think the more we do it, the better it is.” Alexandrah Pahl, a local musician, based in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, shared with The Cascade what events like this mean to her. “I’ve spent many years playing at home, in my bedroom, in the kitchen … but it’s really special to have events like this. It’s a way to connect with people in person. I get really frustrated, [because] I don’t think it’s very balanced or soulfully sustainable to only have my music live on the digital world. I really appreciate these events that are live, in person … I get to see people I don’t usually see.” Pahl has been playing music since an early age and she expressed how local venues give emerging musicians the spaces they need to share their work. “We have such incredible, soulful, talented musicians that need spaces

JASLEEN SANDHU On Sept. 26, Downtown Abbotsford was involved in Music Day — a part of Canada’s national music celebration. Abbotsford’s Downtown Business Association (ADBA) partnered with the City of Abbotsford to present a café crawl which included live music and a pop-up art gallery on the West Railway Plaza. Four cafés — Aurora Roasters, Foxglove Floral Cafe, Boardwalk Cafe and Games, and the Polly Fox — hosted local musicians based in both the Fraser Valley and Vancouver. Downtown visitors got the chance to enjoy free, live music as they entered one, or all, of the establishments. The artists included Alexandrah Pahl, Jonathan Cottrill, Norine Braun, Saint Soldier Project, and Stanza Lune. Each artist brought a unique sound to the spaces they performed in, giving café-goers the opportunity to be exposed to new music and ways of performing. While the event was advertised by the downtown district, there were attendees who weren’t aware of the café crawl beforehand. The Cascade got the chance to speak with an Abbotsfordian, Martin 16

(Photo by Jasleen Sandhu) Alexandrah Pahl performing at Aurora Roasters

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

STUDY BREAK Crossword //

Horoscopes // By: Lilith of Rhiannon Wisdom from The Neverending Story (1979).

Aries - Mar. 21 to Apr. 19 “There are many kinds of delusion.”

Taurus - Apr. 20 to May 20 “So much had been given to him in Fantastica, and now, among all these gifts and powers, he could no longer find himself.”

Gemini - May 21 to Jun. 21 “… Who knows what use they’ll make of you? Maybe you’ll help them to persuade people to buy things they don’t need, or hate things they know nothing about, or hold beliefs that make them easy to handle, or doubt the truths that might save them.”

Cancer - Jun. 22 to Jul. 22 “He wanted to be loved for being just what he was. In this community of Yskalnari there was harmony, but no love. “He no longer wanted to be the greatest, strongest or cleverest. He had left all that far behind. He longed to be loved just as he was, good or bad, handsome or ugly, clever or stupid, with all his faults — or possibly because of them.”

Leo - Jul. 23 to Aug. 22 “The swamp of sadness… it is a place where even the bravest of hearts would falter.”

Virgo - Aug. 23 to Sept. 22 “‘By going the way of your wishes, from one to another, from first to last. It will take you to what you really and truly want.’ “‘That doesn’t sound so hard,’ said Bastian. “‘It’s the most dangerous of all journeys.’ “‘Why?’ Bastian asked. ‘I’m not afraid.’ “‘That isn’t it,’ Grograman rumbled. ‘It requires the greatest honesty and vigilance, because there’s no other journey on which it’s so easy to lose yourself forever.’”

Libra - Sept. 23 to Oct. 23 “He felt very lonely, yet there was a kind of pride in his loneliness.”

Scorpio - Oct. 24 to Nov. 21 “He tried to remember Moon Child’s eyes, but was no longer able to. He was sure of only one thing: that her glance had passed through his eyes and down into his heart… That glance, he felt, was embedded in his heart, and there it glittered like a mysterious jewel. And in a strange and wonderful way it hurt.”

Sagittarius - Nov. 22 to Dec. 21 “Once someone dreams a dream, it can’t just drop out of existence. But if the dreamer can’t remember it, what becomes of it? It lives on in Fantastica, deep under earth. There are forgotten dreams stored in many layers. The deeper one digs, the closer they are. All Fantastica rests on a foundation of forgotten dreams.”

Sudoku //

Capricorn - Dec. 22 to Jan. 19 “If you stop to think about it, you’ll have to admit that all the stories in the world consist essentially of twenty-six letters. The letters are always the same, only the arrangement varies. From letters words are formed, from words sentences, from sentences chapters, and from chapters stories.”

Aquarius - Jan. 20 to Feb. 18 “‘The Nothing caught us in our sleep and this is what it did to us.’ “‘Is it very painful?’ Atreyu asked. “‘No,’ said the second bark troll, the one with the hole in his chest. ‘You don’t feel a thing. There’s just something missing. And once it gets hold of you, something more is missing every day. Soon there won’t be anything left of us.’”

Pisces - Feb. 19 to Mar. 20

SUDOKU MADE BY WREN.DALMAN

“When it comes to controlling human beings there is no better instrument than lies. Because, you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts.”

17

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

CULTURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 like this to continue to share their craft, because we find it so hard. Showing ourselves on a phone, we don’t even bother doing it. … I’m excited for what the music scene could grow into.” Initiatives like the café crawl impact the community at large, giving people chances to connect. Katie Letkemann, a barista at Foxglove spoke to how community-minded events make a difference in the atmosphere around downtown. “I think it definitely changes the environment. Saturdays, or when we usually host these things, they’re busy

anyway… it definitely brings in new people, which I love. We get live music, so it brings a different energy and joy to the environment.” Visual art accompanied the music with the pop-up art gallery. The gallery was led by Jennifer Shepit and Anuki Karunajeewa-Pineda. The Plaza showcased local artists’ works and encouraged attendees to create their own art as a part of the Free Little Art Gallery initiative. The Cascade discussed with Shepit how the Fraser Valley’s strong, yet budding art scene inspired her to organize the gallery at West Railway Plaza.

“I heard about the café crawl, and being aware of this new space here … I asked the city and ADBA, and they didn’t have plans, so I thought, ‘I know artists. Let’s do a pop up and bring some visual arts to it.’ They said yes, and I reached out to some art friends, and we came out.” Shepit wanted the community to be able to engage with the local art scene. “I think that people in Abbotsford love the arts, but they don’t always have the opportunity to engage with them. The more that we have these things where the public can come, just walking by, they don’t have to know that they’re looking for it. It allows them that opportunity to

discover that this is an exciting thing that they can find, and they can be a part of.” The crawl brought people together to support local businesses and artists. A similar sentiment was echoed between baristas, artists, and attendees: we need spaces to share our passions and people to share them with, and that starts with a sense of community which the café crawl was able to provide on a bright afternoon in early fall.

Campus Fashion: layer up! What to wear when the weather can’t make its mind up RACHEL TAIT This is Campus Fashion, your source of inspiration for seasonal trends, cool finds, and wardrobe basics to keep you looking stylish throughout the year. Dressing for the day when the weather is ever-changing with cool temperatures in the morning that quickly heat up in the afternoons can be a real challenge. Layers are the key to staying comfortable all day long, so The Cascade compiled a list of the top five trends that are ideal for combatting the fickle fall weather we’re having this season!

Puffer vests This trend is ideal for those days where the weather just can’t make its mind up. The beauty of wearing a puffer vest is that it keeps your body warm, but it is more breathable and versatile because it has no sleeves. This makes a huge difference! For a casual look, pair a black puffer vest with a white and black striped sweater, black jeans, a long sleeve white crewneck shirt, and tall black leather boots. For added warmth, you can wear a longer, three quarter length, navy blue vest over top an oatmeal cable knit turtleneck sweater, a white T-shirt, blue medium wash jeans, and camel hiking boots.

Denim jackets A denim jacket as a layering piece is great because the cotton is both breathable and is made from a sturdy and thick material. Denim jackets pair well with hoodies, sweaters, turtlenecks, T-shirts, flannels, and more. For a casual look, wear a denim jacket over a brown and

white flannel button-down shirt, a white T-shirt, brown jeans, brown sneakers, and aviator sunglasses. For a more dressy look, add a medium wash denim jacket to a black dress, a statement belt, and tall black leather boots.

T-shirts T-shirts are easy to come by and can be worn all year round. T-shirts are a good layering piece because of their versatility as they pair well with several styles of clothing such as denim shirts, corduroy jackets, sweatshirts, and sweaters. Try wearing a white cotton crewneck T-shirt with a merino sweater, a dark brown corduroy jacket with a sherpa collar, matching dark brown corduroy pants, and a pair of dark brown leather ankle boots. For a more formal look, wear a silky black T-shirt with a pair of black dress pants, a black blazer, and black heels.

Scarves Great for the cool weather and easy to remove when it heats up, scarves in general, are a great transitional layering piece. Wearing a scarf made from natural fibres such as merino wool, can keep its wearer both cool in the heat and warm in cooler temperatures, thus making it more ideal for layering than manmade synthetic materials. For a windy day, adding a multi-coloured striped scarf to an all black outfit will keep your neck warm while still looking stylish on campus.

Cardigans An essential layering trend, cardigans are good for the mornings under a jacket that is easy to remove once the warmer weather hits. Wearing a cardigan unbuttoned is great when the weather warms up and the buttoned up look is more ideal for cooler temperatures. You can also

SPORTS EDITOR

18

CC0 wear a cardigan wrapped around your shoulders as a fashion statement if it gets too hot. Try wearing a navy and white striped cardigan with naval admiral buttons wrapped around the shoulders, a navy T-shirt, white denim jeans, and white sneakers. For a more formal look, pair a black cardigan with bejeweled buttons over a little black dress and black kitten heels. There you have it, a list of five layering essentials you can wear this season. Layer up in style as the weather continues to change, while still looking chic and fashionable on campus!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

ARTS

arts@ufvcascade.ca Arts Editor — Sky Terrones

Media Care Package //

Understanding rape culture through media Four works of media that examine victim-blaming, accountability, and institutional failure KARA DUNBAR Content warning: this article includes discussion of sexual violence. On Sept. 14, Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Cornell University protected seven men who she claims drugged and gang-raped her over the course of several hours in October 2024. Cornell had conducted an internal investigation, and prosecutors have now reopened their criminal investigation. Regardless of how this lawsuit plays out, it has sparked outrage online due to the lack of severity in its consequences and the sheer amount of men in the fraternity who were aware of sexual violence happening without stepping in. This has led to larger conversations about rape culture, men’s accountability, and how we treat victims in the aftermath of assault. We cannot change behaviour or institutional thinking without understanding how rape culture shows up and is lived out in everyday life. In pursuit of that understanding, here is some media that speaks about these issues through film, documentary, comedy, and music. Promising Young Woman (2020) is a comedy thriller about Cassie, who pretends to be heavily intoxicated to entrap men intent on taking advantage of her. A chance encounter gives her the opportunity to get closer to those who enabled the rape of her best friend, and she proceeds to carry out a series of revenge plans. Instead of focusing solely on the assault and its perpetrator, the film asks how so many people were willing

Photos by Anjali Randhawa / The Cascade to look the other way. This was the first piece of media that came to mind for this list because it does a brilliant job of showing how many forms rape culture can take, and how easy it is to miss our own part in it. The Hunting Ground (2015) is a documentary that investigates sexual assault on college campuses and the institutional failures that often follow. Over a decade after its release, it remains painfully relevant. Looking around today, especially in the wake of the allegations at Cornell, it can feel as though we’re still living in the hunting ground the film describes.

Through survivor testimony, reporting, and heartbreaking statistics, the documentary exposes how institutions frequently fail those who come forward, turning the aftermath of assault into a nightmare that extends far beyond the assault itself. It’s not only a recommended watch but a necessary one. College sexual assault continues to be an epidemic, and while it’s unfair that survivors and advocates must keep fighting for change, the reality is that the fight is far from over. X (2019) is a comedy special by Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss. In this 90-minute special, filmed live at a sold out show in Australia, Sloss discusses his observations on modern gender and sexuality, with direct takes on toxic masculinity and rape culture, including reflection on when a male friend of his assaulted a women they both knew. It’s articulate, funny, and current. “I believe and deep down I know that most men are good, of course, we are. But when one in 10 men are s and the other nine do nothing, they might as well not fing be there.” Paris Paloma’s “Good Boy” is a folk song speaking directly to the men who inadvertently or intentionally uphold systems of patriarchy that push women down. Paloma has written numerous songs about the patriarchy’s effect on women, including “labour,” “last woman on earth,” “as good a reason,” and “Good Girl.” Her writing and music videos have resonated with a wide audience. “Good Photos by Anjali Randhawa / The Cascade Boy” addresses how engaging in these

attitudes and ways of thinking often harms the men involved as well, distancing them from healthy community and fulfillment. It speaks to men with empathy without absolving them of fault. The news of what happened at Cornell was not surprising to me or any of the women in my life. By the time that I was 18, I had lost count of how many women and girls had personally told me about their experiences with sexual violence. I have never lost count of how many of their attackers have seen consequences for their actions, because that number is zero. The men who hurt the women around me were not held accountable, least of all by the men around them. When men chuckle at disrespectful jokes, are all too ready to call a woman a bitch, or objectify women in conversations with other men, they chip away at any potential trust that they would be the man to step forward, stand up to their mates, and stop harm before it happens. Learning about the problem, listening to the women around you, and reflecting on the ways you may have caused harm or mistrust is what gives you the tools needed to call out harm in others. Being able to call others out starts with being able to call out yourself.

19

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

ARTS Books //

The (He)Art of Gravity Falls The newest art book shows there’s more to the series than supernatural adventures ABBY HANSEN The year was 2012. On the TV, an animated gnome was barfing rainbows, and I was laughing so hard I was about to hurl myself. Four years later, I was crying in the lobby of my former music school as the same show’s series finale played on my phone. What could possibly inspire such a wide range of emotions? None other than Disney’s Gravity Falls (20122016), a cartoon about twins Mabel and Dipper, who are sent to the fictional town of Gravity Falls, Oregon. There, they encounter a multitude of oddities, uncover hidden secrets, and solve mysteries beneath the town’s quirky surface. Now, 10 years after the show ended, creator Alex Hirsch and producer Rob Renzetti have released The Art of Gravity Falls(2026), a book documenting the show’s creation from its earliest concept art to the final designs seen on screen. On Sept. 22, 2026, Barnes & Noble hosted an event at the University of Washington in Seattle. There, Hirsch and Renzetti spoke to a largely cosplay-clad crowd (myself included) about the book and the work that went into writing it. By

the end of the event I had a signed copy in hand. With that in mind, I want to delve back into the world of Gravity Falls and try to understand how this cartoon has connected with so many people. And how, over a decade later, its art book is still drawing massive crowds. My initial thoughts on the book are that it’s gorgeous, but what stood out the most was the glimpse it offers into the real-life inspirations behind the show. Against the backdrop of supernatural events and strange happenings, Gravity Falls is ultimately a story about childhood. This is no accident. Multiple elements of its core story and characters were inspired by Hirsch’s own childhood with his twin sister, Ariel. Hirsch explained that every Summer, the pair were sent to Northern California to stay with their great-auntie (“Grantie”) Lois. Away from the comforts of TV and video games, they were forced to spend time outdoors. The wooded cabins where they stayed each year had a fundamental impact on the sheltered city slickers. “In the absence of all my favourite medias, something happened, which is I grew an imagination! … Touching grass

did wonders for me. I highly recommend it to anybody!” Hirsch attributes Gravity Falls’ longevity to the many personal details of his life and upbringing that he wove into the series. The intellectual Dipper and sparkly Mabel are directly inspired by Alex and Ariel. The wise-cracking Grunkle Stan derives heavily from both the aforementioned Grantie Lois, and the Hirsch twins’ grandfather, Stan. The Mystery Shack, Stan’s home and the place where Dipper and Mabel spend their summer, is an amalgamation of numerous cheesy tourist attractions in Northern California and Oregon. We see this in the book through side-by-side photos and stories of the real people and places that shaped the show. Next to concept art of Dipper and Mabel are pictures of a young Alex and Ariel. The description of Hirsch’s grandfather sounds so much like the swindling Grunkle Stan it’s practically a copy-and-paste. Although the setting and characters are mainly based on Hirsch’s life, he also encouraged the production team to draw on their own memories — recalling that he told the artists to “remember your

favorite summer? Make it look like that somehow!” I agree with Hirsch’s assessment of why the show remains so beloved. Gravity Falls perfectly captures the nostalgia of childhood: the awkward moments, the growing pains, the moments of bonding with family, and the laughter that accompanies it all. The result is a cartoon that speaks not just to kids, but to people of all ages who long for adventure and mystery. This book is not only a visual feast, but also a testament to the care that went into creating this show. Alongside the official artwork are the production sketches, behind-the-scenes photos, and even a few inside jokes. With every page of The Art of Gravity Falls, you can see the love and sentimentality that the production team poured into the series. If you’re looking for a deeper look into what I consider one of the most heartfelt cartoons of our generation, I highly recommend this book. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure I’m properly equipped for the apocalypse and “buy gold, byeeeeeee.”

Interior artwork from The Art of Gravity Falls (Alex Hirsch and Rob Renzetti). © Disney; promotional image via Amazon. 20

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

ARTS Movies //

Meep meep! The cartoon that outran corporate silencing How Coyote vs. Acme escaped a tax write‑off and became a cult hit SKY S. TERRONES This is the age of nostalgia. Every media company is working overtime dusting off whatever old franchise once had a pulse. Sequels, prequels, live‑action remakes, TV reboots, big‑IP films… they all prey on your childhood because, statistically, your childhood prints money. At first glance, Coyote vs. Acme (2026) looks like the perfect nostalgia trap. So why was it tossed in the corporate dumpster? And was that actually a smart financial decision? For those uninitiated: this movie is about Wile E. Coyote suing ACME — the company behind all his famously faulty gadgets — for corporate negligence. Little guy vs. megacorp. And Warner Bros (WB) decided to pass on it as a tax write‑off. Gee. Shocked. Let’s remember that pre‑merger WB was greenlighting projects like Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), The Lego Movie (2014), Barbie (2023), Joker (2019) — films that, despite being tied to existing IP, were still major risks and weren’t afraid of offending corporate sensibilities. Under the new leadership, though, the philosophy shifted to aggressive cost‑cutting, brand “clean‑up,” and eliminating anything not aligned with franchise strategy. Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt were already sacrificed for tax benefits. Big‑brand IPs like Harry Potter were the new priority. So it wasn’t surprising when Coyote vs. Acme joined the slaughter. What was surprising was that the movie had already done test screenings with highly positive results. Then why give up on it? My conspiracy theory was that the movie’s message was the real reason WB tried to bury it. Two years later, fans’ outrage and an unexpected hero — Ketchup Entertainment — rescued the film. And now, in 2026, three years after the ax fell, it’s finally here. After watching it, I’m happy to report I’ve solidified my delusions. So please, join me in reviewing this unhinged middle finger to big corporate.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. We start immediately with ACME trying to bury a secret — something both the characters and the audience spend the entire film trying to uncover. Wile E. Coyote begins his usual quest to catch the ever‑elusive Road Runner, only to see a TV ad telling him he’s not the problem — the products are. Thus, he can sue. And as we all know, once Wile sets his mind on something, he’s 100 per cent committed. The movie quickly and effectively establishes its insane physics laws and uses them in a way that supports how people already perceive animated characters; something that will become relevant later on. This approach to causality is exactly why it works so well. Every detail has a specific purpose — even the nostalgia crumbs. As a Looney Tunes fan, I expected that nostalgia with caution. Yes, I wanted the references and cameos, but after movies like Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), I feared this would be nothing BUT nostalgia. It wasn’t. This movie is a perfect blend. Cameos are plot‑relevant, and it takes an

old‑school premise inside a modern societal issue — ironic, considering the film finished production back in 2022. Alas, has it been four years already? The plot is simple — goals, motives, flaws are clear — but the layers make it effective. And those layers come from the characters. Wile is a coyote hunting for a meal, sure, but he’s not a 2D personality. None of them are. The film gives each character depth and relevance. Wile’s co‑protagonist, Kevin Avery (Will Forte), is the perfect contrast: the exact opposite in how Wile approaches life. Opposites attract, but certainly not at first — and it’s their journey of learning from each other that makes the relationship so rich. I went from hating certain characters to genuinely cryin’ — err, I mean, feeling for them. This movie is witty not just in dialogue, but in how each theme interlocks, strengthening the climax. Considering director Dave Green was inspired by the iconic Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), it’s no wonder I kept thinking about it while solving this carefully crafted and interwoven mystery. The case file dispute

even gave me Erin Brockovich (2000) vibes — which is an insane thing to say, yet here we are. I’m not calling it a masterpiece, but cult classic? Iconic? Worth your time? Absolutely. And guys, this movie is so fucking funny. I went in expecting a great time, and that’s exactly what I got. If you’re a Looney Tunes fan, I don’t know how you wouldn’t enjoy this. And if you’re not, give it a chance anyway. It touches on themes that question the ethics of consumerism and our comfort in staying ignorant or detached from the things that harm other communities. It’s also a delicious thought, honestly, that WB’s executives lost millions trying to kill this movie, and Ketchup gets to walk away with the love, the goodwill, and the profit. Ah, poetic justice. Go support it.

The Cascade Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Join us for The Cascade’s AGM to elect board members and vote on proposed bylaw changes. Open Positions: 3 Student Representatives, 1 Faculty Representative, and 1 Continuity Representative. Proposed Bylaw Change (22.c): One staff or faculty representative, who currently holds a paid position at UFV, or one industry representative, who possesses sufficient experience and knowledge in the journalism industry. Date: Thu, October 15 | Time: 6 p.m. | Location: Room S2111, Abbotsford Campus 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

ARTS Manga //

SHUFFLE Cam the Man here, back with another CIVL Radio Shuffle featuring artists currently in the Top 30, along with a few who could break into the chart in 2026. Tune into The Cam the Man Show every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m. on CIVL.ca. Prairie Gamble - “Train” Prairie Gamble is a southern bluesrock band from Saskatchewan that recently released its self-titled debut album. My favorite song is “Train” because it’s a song about risking it all to pursue both an artistic dream and a rural prairie life. As of July 7, 2026, Prairie Gamble sits at number 13 on the CIVL Top 30 chart. Cat Clyde - “Man’s World” Cat Clyde is an Ontario-based folk artist whose album Mud Blood Bone (2026) features my selection, “Man’s World.” It’s a song that captures the frustration of navigating life as a woman in a patriarchal society. Clyde makes her debut on the CIVL Top 30 chart at number 28 as of July 7, 2026. Jody Glenham - “The Local” Jody Glenham is a Vancouver-based artist who released her EP Still Here (2026) a few weeks ago. My choice is “The Local,” a song about endurance that reflects on presentence, community and accepting life’s hardships. Glenham will likely crack the CIVL Top 30 very soon, as Still Here remains a regular feature on The Cam the Man Show.

Smells like queer spirit Nirvana, first love, and a whole lot of green make this beloved yuri manga SKY S. TERRONES Hello, hello, ‘tis I, your trusted rainbow dealer back in action with some gayness to throw your way. After a few insane weeks of getting myself back into the craziness of school and work, I finally made time to read the first volume of a manga whose anime is about to make its debut. This manga is The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy at All, a.k.a. the “Green Yuri.” I mean, the title is kinda self-explanatory. This manga tells the story of a girl who… likes a guy and… it turns out he wasn’t actually a guy? Ha ha, guys, you’ve gotta love a title that literally spells out the premise. That being said, that’s very much a surface-level summary of what this wonderful story is truly about. As the story begins, one of its core elements swiftly makes itself known with a reference to the kickass song “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” That’s right. Aya, our fashionable and perky high school protagonist, secretly loves Nirvana, and so does her handsome, mysterious, cool guy crush. Yes, yes, we’ve all read the title, so we know this is not actually a guy. What we don’t know is that the “guy” in question, Mitsuki, the introverted employee at a local CD shop, not only knows who Aya is, but also sits beside her in class! And has realized the confusion but (obviously) doesn’t know how to tell her. Also, she might actually like being Aya’s crush?! Gasp! I know. So messy. So GAY. Anyway, you might be wondering why this is known as the “Green Yuri.”

For those young unicorns out there, yuri is the Japanese genre also known as “girls’ love.” In other words, we’re firmly in queer-girl territory. Hell yeah! So why the “green” part? Well, because this gorgeous manga’s backgrounds are accented with green, and it looks truly stunning. The addition of this single colour instantly makes your brain tingle with curiosity. I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve seen me reading it and immediately grabbed it to flip through a few pages themselves. In good old wholesome yuri fashion, this story carries a cute and adorable vibe, almost reminiscent of the Kase-san (2010–) series. Yes, it has its fair share of drama, as every story should, but it’s also incredibly sweet and celebrates the joy of first love. The kind that will undoubtedly leave you with a small smile on your face. Perhaps the biggest surprise I got from reading it (mind you, I devoured it in a single FVX 66 ride) was its hilarious side characters. Too often, it happens that while the main couple is brilliant, the supporting cast is completely forgotten. The side characters here don’t necessarily appear often, but when they do, they make it count. (Mitsuki’s uncle 100 per cent represents me.) And they’re hilarious. Actually hilarious. They’re also incredibly supportive, and honestly, don’t we all want to be surrounded by people like that? Is it realistic? Probably not, at least not in the sense that it largely avoids the crueler parts of society that might react poorly to this kind of crush. But it’s also not meant to be. This story wants to immerse you in feelings of isolation and longing, in the

desire to connect with someone who understands a part of yourself that society as a whole doesn’t quite get. It’s about falling in love through a shared love of something else, in this case, music. It’s about sharing something meaningful and being truly seen. This incredible pairing is made up of polar opposites, and yet, in many ways, they’re the same. Two sides of the same coin. It creates a balance and a wonderfully crafted relationship that you’re rooting for from page one. This manga is not just a love story. It’s a story about allowing yourself to be fully open and fully in sync with someone else. Without giving away too much of this volume, let me tell you: this is not the end. Manga creator Sumiko Arai initially posted the series on Twitter in 2021 before it moved to a four-page serialization on Pixiv Comic. It has since been collected into four volumes. And would you look at that? Now it’s getting an anime adaptation! Woohoo! What’s more, CloverWorks has shared that it will feature a Nirvana song as its opening theme because it’s literally their meet-cute band. I might actually cry. And according to Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain would’ve loved this manga. That’s it. I’m actually crying. I will absolutely be watching this adaptation when it comes out in January 2027. As for the manga? I can’t wait to get paid so I can buy the rest of the volumes. Go make your life better with some lovely Green Yuri goodness.

Laura Roy - “2-Seater Rocket” Laura Roy is a Nova Scotia folk artist who recently released her album Late Bloomer Season (2026). My pick, “2-Seater Rocket,” explores themes of fantasy, freedom, and intimacy. Roy is another great independent artist who could break into the CIVL Top 30 chart in 2026, as her album continues to receive airplay on The Cam the Man Show.

Image source: Kitora YouTube channel 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

VOL. 34 // ISSUE 12

ARTS Video Games //

Genshin Impact just turned six, and I’m celebrating it!

CHARTS

Why this game’s anniversary became a big thing for me NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA I never would have thought this game would become so relevant in my life. When it first launched on Sept. 28, 2020, my initial impression was that it was simply an anime ripoff of another game with similar exploration mechanics. Well, fast forward six years, and I am beyond happy to be celebrating Genshin Impact’s sixth anniversary. I stand corrected. Far from being a ripoff, this game has become one of the most unique gaming experiences I have ever had. As a longtime player, there are plenty of reasons why I am excited to celebrate Genshin’s birthday. Each year, Genshin marks its anniversary by giving players special rewards, and this year’s rewards might be the most bountiful yet! To understand why this feels so exciting, it is worth revisiting past anniversary events and how they have improved over the years. Since the first anniversary in 2021, players have consistently received 20 wishes, the currency used to obtain characters. That changed with the game’s fourth anniversary in 2024, when HoYoverse introduced a free selectable five-star character. These characters come from the standard pool, meaning they are always available through the regular wish system. While two free 10-pulls and a selectable standard five-star character are certainly welcome rewards, many fans have long hoped that one day, Genshin would give away a limited five-star character for free. Imagine my delight when I learned that, for the first time in its history, Genshin would indeed be giving away a limited five-star character for free! From the pool of six limited five-stars, players can choose one as long as they’re caught up with the game’s main story quest. I feel lucky — one of those options happens to be a character I regretted skipping ever since her release. Now, I’ll be able to get her, and for free! As exciting as the anniversary rewards are, they’re not the entire reason why I am thrilled about Genshin’s current state. I am especially pleased with the amount of quality-of-life improvements that have made the game more enjoyable to play. To me, it has felt like over the past two years, the developers of the game have really prioritized making the gaming experience more convenient and rewarding. For example, the game used to have a recurring issue where certain story quests would overlap with others, preventing players from progressing through the

Source: HoYoVerse one they were actively completing. But with Focused Experience Mode, players can now prioritize a specific story quest and temporarily override the conflicting quests — allowing for a much more seamless playthrough. Daily commissions also feel easier to complete, with far greater flexibility in how players earn their daily rewards. Characters and weapon enhancing materials are more accessible than ever, making progression less of a grind. My favorite improvement, though, has to be the immersion and quality of the story quests themselves. Ever since Nod-Krai, one of the game’s regions introduced in 2025, the story and immersion have been absolutely popping off! The way stories are narrated and experienced feels like it has taken a massive step forward. I was blown away by the level of detail and storytelling woven into the region’s quests. I can confidently say there is nothing I look forward to more than new main story quests, even more so now that we are reaching a critical point in its timeline. The most recent region, Snezhnaya, was introduced this past August. Arguably one of the most hyped regions since the release of the “Teyvat Chapter Storyline Preview: Travail” trailer, where

all of Teyvat’s playable regions were first teased. Let me tell you, things are about to get even more fun. This anniversary, I get to play through story quests that dive into the deepest of Genshin’s lore and see the craziest of story events unfolding! I get to have an absolute blast discovering a region I’ve been tremendously excited for. I get to be blown away by more of this game’s breathtaking scenery and soundtrack; to feel great about the gameplay — and at the end of it all, I get a free character! Are you kidding me? This is everything I could have imagined five years ago and more! This game has aged very well, and it continues to be one of my favourites. I am still awestruck by the sheer scale of it, and would highly recommend Genshin for anyone looking to experience it as one of the most unique free games I’ve ever seen. Yeah, that’s right — you can get Genshin Impact for free!

01. WINE LIPS TV Dinner 02. LOV Iskwew 03. STEEL CUT OATS Okay Love You, Okay Bye 04. NORTHERN DARKHORSE Northern Darkhorse 05. MAGI MERLIN POWER HOUSE 06. KRISTIN WITKO Lavender Town 07. TAXI GIRLS STATIC 08. OLIVIA PENALVA Exit Wounds 09. NICKY MACKENZIE Morals 10. CEC BRIEFLY EP 11. 64 FUNNYCARS Happy Go Lucky 12. LAURA ROY Late Bloomer Season 13. CATIE ST. GERMAIN 100 Proof 14. PRAIRIE GAMBLE Prairie Gamble 15. SONREAL Here Goes Nothing 16. THE DELLA KIT Dreams Speaking in Colour 17. EMPANADAS ILEGALES LABORATORIO TROPICAL 18. TRUCK VIOLENCE Theweathervaneismybody 19. ALLISON RUSSELL In the Hour of Chaos 20. LA SÉCURITÉ Bingo

Where your music taste matters by CIVL’s Music Director, Stephen Munga.

23

EVENTS CALENDAR

OCTOBER • TEMPÓ:QW 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 15 17 18

6:00 – 7:00 P.M. Drag Bingo @Sidekick Brewing, 45530 Vedder Mountain Road

12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. Chat-R: So, what does Decolonireally mean? 21 zation @UFV, Online (Zoom)

12:00 – 1:00 P.M. Equity, Diversity, Inclusion 101 @UFV, A203b, UFV Abbotsford

6:30 P.M. Chilliwack Independent Film Festival 21-25 @CIFF, 45939 Thunderbird Lane

2:00 – 5:00 P.M. Bat Appreciation Badge Button Making @FVRL, 32320 George Ferguson Way

6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. A Taste of Scotland! - Whisky & 22 Chocolate Pairing Event @Everything Wine, 125-1828 McCallum Rd

10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Downtown Chilliwack Community Market @Chilliwack Market, 45951 Victoria Ave

2:15 P.M. UFV vs TWU Men’s Soccer 23 @UFV, Rotary Stadium

9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. MCSS Fall Fair @City of Mission, 7460 Hurd Street 6:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Trivia Night @Sidekick Brewing, 45530 Vedder Mountain Road

24 25

4:00 P.M. UFV vs UoS Women’s Volleyball @UFV, UFV Athletic Centre 1:00 P.M. UFV vs UVic Women’s Soccer @UFV, Rotary Stadium

11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. Craft & Commiserate @UFV, A203b, G124, UFV Abbotsford

11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. Beyond Mindfulness – Exploring 26 Structural Opportunities for Changes in the Workplace @UFV, A203b, UFV Abbotsford

11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. 5th Student Welcome Back Event @UFV, A203b, UFV Abbotsford

7:00 P.M. Spill the Tea Party 27 @Chilliwack Cultural Centre, Rotary Hall Studio Theatre

10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Open House @UFV, Building E (South Gym), UFV Abbotsford 8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Abbotsford Flea Market @Lullys, 33800 King Road

28 29

6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.Queer Clothing Swap @Chilliwack Cultural Centre, Performance Studios A&B 6:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. Vinyasa Yoga @Thrive Collective, 2276 Clearbrook Road

19

6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. Yoga at the Chilliwack Museum @Chilliwack Museum, 45820 Spadina Avenue

5:00 P.M. Music Bingo - Halloween Edition 30 @Wings, 1965 Sumas Way

20

12:10 P.M. – 12:50 P.M. Hatha Yoga @UFV, J161, UFV Abbotsford

4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Halloween Parade 31 @Greendale Acres, 41905 Yale Road

9:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. Pancake Breakfast @UFV, Building A Atrium, UFV Chilliwack

NOTE: Some of the events require tickets, and most are online. If something catches your eye, take to the Internet for more details, including those about any safety measures for in-person events.

VIEW OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ON CURRENT EVENTS!