November 24, 2021
VOLUME 29 ISSUE 24
Escaping gator-related hostage situations since 1993
Adopting vanlife as a student
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FLOODING IN THE FRASER VALLEY
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HAMILTON STUNS F1 NATION IN BRAZIL
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QUEER PLAYLIST FOR TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
Feature Editor Darien Johnsen darien@ufvcascade.ca
Sports Editor Teryn Midzain teryn@ufvcascade.ca
Digital Media Manager Jeff Mijo-Burch jeff@ufvcascade.ca
Arts in Review Editor Vriti Sehgal vriti@ufvcascade.ca
Jr. News Editor Rachel Tait
Production Assistant Niusha Naderi
Staff Writer Kathleen Clingwall
Illustrator Iryna Presley
Staff Writer Krystina Spracklin
Illustrator Danyka Van Santen
Staff Writer Danaye Reinhardt
Illustrator Brielle Quon
The Shuffler Aaron Levy
Distributor Gurtaj Dhami
CONTRIBUTORS Caleb Campbell Ken Herar
WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA
@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 29 · Issue 24 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529
The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by the Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a print circulation of 800 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities. The Cascade is open to written, photo, and design work from all students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment from an editor. Pitch meetings will be digital for the remainder of the semester. Please email managing@ufvcascade.ca to be put on the assignment email list. In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief, copy editor, and corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic, or libellous content. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 200 words. As The Cascade is an autonomous student publication, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members. 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.
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OPINION
Opinion Editor Sydney Marchand sydney@ufvcascade.ca
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9-11 ARTS
Culture & Events Editor Steve Hartwig steve@ufvcascade.ca
Copy Editor Maecyn Klassen maecyn@ufvcascade.ca
NEWS
Production Manager Elyssa English elyssa@ufvcascade.ca
Creative Director Elyssa English elyssa@ufvcascade.ca
CONTENTS
FEATURE
Business Manager Tarini Sandhu tarini@ufvcascade.ca
Managing Editor Chandy Dancey chandy@ufvcascade.ca
CULTURE
Executive Editor Andrea Sadowski andrea@ufvcascade.ca
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14 Snapshots.......8
17.......Study Break
NEWS Student Climate Action Initiative......3
4...... Affordable freezer meals
SASI Heritage Defender Award......4
5...... Dr. Claire Carolan
OPINION Editorial.......5 Sex and Relationships.......7
6.......The Conscious Consumer 7.......“That girl” and TikTok culture
CULTURE Cascade Kitchen......12
12.......Campus Fashion
Climate Change Theatre Action.......13
13.......UFV Connection Groups
Shop local.......14
14.......Big Brothers Big Sisters
SPORTS UFV Cascades recap......15
15......Lewis Hamilton in Brazil
Google Sidhu interview......16
ARTS Queer music playlist ......18 Cascade Rewind......19
19......Call Her Daddy
VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
news@ufvcascade.ca
NEWS
B.C. //
Student Climate Action Initiative Summit brought solutions and demands to the table for post-secondary institutions “White supremacy and systemic racism enable climate injustice” ANDREA SADOWSKI The weekend of Nov. 19-21 brought together student unions from post-secondary institutions across B.C. to hear from leading experts in climate action and to finalize demands they would like to see adopted by the government. The event was hosted by the Alliance of B.C. Students (ABCS), a group of student leaders from five different student unions in B.C. who advocate for student’s rights at the provincial level. According to Hassan Merali, director of communications for ABCS: “The goal of the summit is to bring students together to explore what we can do together as B.C. post-secondary students, and take a united stand on the climate crisis by presenting a set of demands to the government.” The Summit featured guest speakers like Paul Finch, treasurer of the British Columbia General Employees’ Union who
spoke about divestment, which means removing any investments from your portfolio that are morally and ethically questionable. This term often refers to taking funds away from the fossil fuel industry. Another guest speaker was Shy-Anne “Strawberry” Gunville, a disabled AfroIndigenous-Irish land defender who has been on the front lines of the Fairy Creek Protests for months in the fight against the deforestation of old-growth forests. Gunville has been assaulted and arrested multiple times by the RCMP for participating in these protests. She led a workshop on hands-on environmental activism. The keynote speech was made by Clayton Thomas-Müller, an Indigenous rights, environmental, and economic justice activist and writer. Earlier that day, Müller had been at a protest in support of the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs in Winnipeg and passionately spoke on how we should actively fight against the encroach-
ment of fossil fuel industries into territories of Indigenous peoples around the world. “White supremacy and systemic racism enables climate injustice,” said Müller. “You should do sustainable things — buy secondhand, use energy-efficient light bulbs, recycle — you should do those good things that consumer-based environmentalism allows you to do if you have that privilege,” said Müller. “A lot of the environmentalism is very classist and is inaccessible for people who are cash-poor, for people who don’t have economic privilege.” The set of demands that were workshopped and revised by the student attendees were: Demand 1: “The provincial government of British Columbia creates financial incentives for post-secondary institutions to divest from fossil fuels.” Demand 2: “A proactive, just transition
of the British Columbian economy away from fossil fuels, which takes the needs of workers and communities dependent on the fossil fuel industry completely into account, and which prepares students for lives and work in a carbon-neutral economy.” Demand 3: “Post-secondary institutions discourage the continued investment into pipelines, which continue to damage and destroy the ancestral, traditional, and stolen shared lands of sovereign Nations whose territories are within the borders of British Columbia.” Demand 4: “Cease all efforts in harassing and policing Indigenous land and water defenders protecting old growth forests, bodies of water, and ancestral and unceded lands of Indigenous peoples.”
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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
NEWS UFV //
NEWS BRIEFS
B.C. declares state of emergency over severe flooding
Affordable freezer meals on Abbotsford campus UFV and Dana partner in Food for All program to fight food insecurity on campus CHANDY DANCEY
B.C. declared a state of emergency on Nov. 17. This is largely due to the infrastructural damage caused by the flooding and reported landslides in various parts of the province. These floods, which began Nov. 13 and 14, have caused schools to close as well, including UFV. UFV declared on their urgent news web page and in emails to students that in-person classes have been cancelled until Sunday, Nov. 28, and are now back to remote learning until further notice. A severe flood like this has not hit the Fraser Valley since 1948. With changes to the climate occurring, experts are warning that severe weather conditions and natural disasters may become more regular in occurrence. - Rachel Tait
300 volunteers build sandbag wall to save Barrowtown Pump Station On Tuesday, Nov. 16, Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun alerted Abbotsford residents living in and around the Sumas Prairie about the immediate danger concerning catastrophic flooding that could be caused by the failure of the Barrowtown Pump Station. This warning also included an immediate call to evacuate the Sumas Prairies. If the pumps were to fail, the water from the Fraser River would consequently flood the Sumas Prairie further, creating more damage to the land and livestock in the area, and pose a “significant risk to life.” In response, a 25-meter wall made from sandbags was built around the pump station overnight by a reported 300 volunteers. This effort has helped to protect the pump station from failing for now, and helped to avoid further disaster in the Sumas Prairie region. - Rachel Tait
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To combat food insecurity on campus, UFV and Dana Hospitality have partnered to launch the Food for All program, which offers prepared freezer meals for purchase in the Abbotsford cafeteria (B103) for $5.25 before tax. The meals are kept in a specified freezer with a Food for All decal, and they can be purchased at the till or at Triple O’s after hours. Kyle Baillie, Executive Director of Student Affairs, said the menu will feature “a number of healthy, hearty, fall-type meals. Curries, stews, pasta (lasagna, spaghetti, etc.), and Rodney Robert (Operations Manager from Dana) is always working on new recipes, so you can expect that the offering will rotate.” Vegan and vegetarian options are also available, and they’re clearly marked. According to Baillie, the goal of the program is to “provide a healthy, convenient, and affordable food options” where “anyone is welcome to purchase meals to take home.”
Currently, the Abbotsford campus is the only location with a Food for All freezer and will serve as a pilot to monitor sustainability before the project looks to expand. The freezer meals will be available on campus indefinitely. “Ultimately, the longevity of the project will depend on uptake and committed people trying to make a difference,” Baillie said. Baillie explained that the “Food for All program is just one element of a larger food insecurity program on campus.” He highlighted the UFV/ SUS food bank which has been operating since 2019, food insecurity programming delivered by Lalem te Baker (formerly Baker House student housing), and the Peer Resource and Leadership Centre’s recent launch of a student recipe series on TikTok. UFV identified the need for a Food for All program on campus after conducting a food insecurity study in Winter 2019. They also took into account data collected by the Community Health and Social Innovation Hub (CHASI) last summer examin-
ing the causes, prevalence, and impacts of food insecurity at UFV. Regarding how the partnership between UFV and Dana Hospitality works, Robert said: “As far as the equipment goes, UFV was kind enough to purchase the freezer … As far as the food product and content goes, packaging, labelling, the time that it takes to produce those items — that’s all coming out of Dana.” This required careful menu planning to ensure a low cost-point for students and long-term sustainability, which meant the program leaned toward vegetarian and vegan options to ease off costs. “What I try to do is also be fiscally responsible beyond just providing menu content or portions that [are] going to be suitable for the program. I also want us to be fiscally responsible because … food service has been strongly affected over the last year and a half by COVID-19,” said Robert.
Community //
SASI receives the Heritage Defender Award UFV’s South Asian Studies Institute is commemorated for recording and passing on the history of South Asian Canadians KEN HERAR As the 2017 recipient of the Darpan Award in the Breaking Barriers category, I was happy to be in attendance when the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) at the University of the Fraser Valley received the Heritage Defender award in Surrey at the eleventh annual Darpan Extraordinary Achievement Awards on October 15, 2021. Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains, director of SASI, accepted the award on behalf of SASI and the university. “The Heritage Defender award by Darpan magazine is truly in recognition of the 15 years of work of the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley,” Bains said. “Since 2006, the Institute has been
working very hard to record the history of South Asian Canadians in B.C. and Canada. This history has been omitted, erased, and neglected for far too long, and the important legacy of our work is to ensure future generations have access to our rich, robust, and resilient history. At the same time, we are also concerned with investigating and researching current and contemporary concerns and successes that add to our historical record. “We have undertaken many research projects that have recorded the stories of about 500 families in B.C. — these stories create a meta narrative of our past history and they help take us into a more socially just and caring society. “We are working on the South Asian Canadian Legacy Project that aims to ensure that the curriculum in
our schools accurately reflects and includes South Asian Canadian history, heritage, and culture. At the Institute, we are busy creating the first South Asian Canadian Digital Archive that will be a repository of artefacts, images, materials and more of the 100+ year history of South Asians in B.C. “We are also busy writing a social history book of South Asians in B.C. that will bring under one cover the stories of people from the regions in South Asia — stories that are being told for the very first time. South Asian Canadians have been active in social justice causes since their first arrivals in 1903 to the shores of B.C., and their activism in the labour movements is being recorded in a fully comprehensive way for the Canadian record.”
VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
NEWS Column //
Professor Profile: Dr. Claire Carolan takes a step in a new direction The transition from SoCA instructor to the Associate Director, Program Development and Quality Assurance RACHEL TAIT Dr. Claire Carolan, a familiar name to theatre students, has recently taken on the role of the Associate Director, Program Development and Quality Assurance for UFV. Reflecting on her decision to move from being a SoCA instructor at UFV to this new position, she confided that it was one that took a lot of thought and consideration. Carolan says that she began working at the university as a sessional theatre instructor in 2016 and started a limited term appointment in 2019. What led you to want to teach and become a teacher/professor? I always call myself an accidental educator … I never planned to be a teacher; I planned to be on Broadway … I toured with Phantom [of the Opera] as my first job out of school, and I think I figured early on that touring and that sort of lifestyle wasn’t as interesting to me because I also wanted a home and a family … So, teaching was a way to be able to do both.
What is your new role and how is it different from teaching? It’s the same, and it’s different … One side of it is supporting other faculty members and departments as they develop new programs in [the] university. It could be something like a micro credential, which is a new certification that we are working on across the universities in North America. [This] gives easier access to people who might not have time ... or money to spend on a four-year degree. One part of it is that we help the university develop more programs and grow … and there are about 15 of those. There is a huge amount of growth going on, which I hope students [will] be excited to know — that there is growth going on despite the pandemic. The other thing that this department is responsible for … is program review. All the existing programs at the university get reviewed by the province and by the university on a rotating six to seven-year schedule. The great thing is even though I’m not in the classroom anymore teaching, I am still teaching by guiding my peers or my
colleagues and helping them to make their programs stronger and to think about different ways of teaching students … How we think of students has shifted so much in the last 15-20 years and we are getting better at recognizing that people need to learn differently and need different ways to access information. I do have to say that the transition into [the job] has gone smoothly because the team that was already here, which was guided by [Dr.] Bruce Kirkley … all know what they are doing. Would you consider returning to teaching at UFV in the future? I think so. I really think that it is important for somebody in this position to keep teaching. I think it would be a big mistake for somebody in this chair to lose touch with what’s happening in the classroom and on the ground. So, I hope to keep teaching in some way, at some point. And I do miss students. Do you get to see a lot of students now that you are in this position?
I’ll go down for a walk and I’ll run into one of you lovely folks, and it just cheers me up. Or I’ll get an email saying how’s it going, or I have a question, I want to do directed studies. So, it’s nice. I am grateful that you all still feel like you can reach out to me to teach. Are there any challenges you have encountered in this new position? It’s like a merge lane and the traffic is all going really fast, and I have to get in with the flow and not get rear ended from behind. I think the biggest challenge is that it can’t stop while I learn it. I need to learn it on my feet. While she is not teaching at UFV right now, Carolan is working hard to help students in a new way by helping to create better study programs. She now works in building B in the Vice-Provost’s office in B314d if you want to drop by and say hello! Interview was edited for length and clarity
opinion@ufvcascade.ca Sydney Marchand — Opinion Editor
OPINION
Editorial //
When the Fraser Valley fell apart and community came together ANDREA SADOWSKI & CHANDY DANCEY Who had a torrential downpour of rain causing catastrophic results on their 2021 bingo card? Not us. The Fraser Valley received almost as much rain in a few days as what typically falls over the course of an entire month from a natural phenomenon known as an “atmospheric river.” By Wednesday, Nov. 17, the province had declared a state of emergency. The flooding, mudslides, and rockslides caused more infrastructural damage than most of us in the Valley have seen in our lifetimes. Almost every highway in the region was shut down: Highway 11 going into Mission and the Sumas border, Lougheed Highway going to Maple Ridge, Highway 7 to Agassiz and Harisson, the Trans Canada Highway between Abbotsford and Chilliwack, and the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt were all completely or partially shut down, cutting off vital veins of transportation between the communities. More than 1,200 people were stranded in Hope. Over 100
members of the Canadian Armed Forces were deployed to help repair a dike before the next expected rainfall. Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun had a swift reaction, as he held a press conference on Monday, Nov. 15 immediately after the flooding followed by another press conference late Tuesday evening. He urged people living in the Sumas Prairie to evacuate immediately due to the impending failure of the Barrowtown Pump Station. This event was anticipated to be “catastrophic” and pose a “significant risk to life.” Approximately 600 people made it out safely, and another 184 residents had to be evacuated by boat or helicopter. Braun urged all farmers to leave their birds and livestock behind and save themselves. Thousands of animals did not survive. The Sumas Prairie was once the great Sumas Lake, before it was drained in order to make way for prime agricultural land that would one day produce half of the province’s eggs, chicken, and dairy products. The Stó:lō and Semá:th people relied on this lake for their food, livelihoods and the health of their communities before colonizers drained it and sold it by the acre in
Fraser Valley flooding. Nov. 2021. (City of Abbotsford)
the 1920s. This shut-down of transportation routes and flooding of agricultural lands immediately spurred panic buying of groceries and gas, similar to the great toilet paperhoard of early pandemic days. Consumers completely cleared out store shelves in
many large supermarkets throughout the region and drained gas pumps totally dry of fuel. This hoarding of food puts even more pressure on the food system, and leaves people at risk who don’t have the
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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
OPINION Column //
The Conscious Consumer: the environmental impact of microplastics SYDNEY MARCHAND Although we all recognize the importance of hygiene and self-care, we often do not think about how our hygiene habits could have a negative impact on the environment. Like many of us, you probably have some sort of laundry routine. Even if that routine consists only of throwing on a cycle when you run out of clean underwear or when your bath towels start to smell a little funky (we’ve all been there), it is a mundane chore that has to be done. But as boring of a task as it is, it is important to recognize its tie to our water systems and ocean health. It goes beyond just being concerned about conserving water (although important); machine washing your clothes contributes to large quantities of water contamination and environmental pollution. When you think about water pollution, you may think of the large pieces of plastic commonly seen floating in open water. Plastic bottles, plastic bags, tarps, and toothbrushes are all examples of large macro pollutants that contaminate our oceans. But have you ever thought about the smaller units of plastic that are not as easily visible? Microplastics are essentially tiny specks of plastic floating around in our waters. They can be as miniscule as the tip of a pencil, classified as less than 5 mm in diameter, yet pack a harmful environmental punch. In fact, there are an estimated 51 trillion pieces of microplastic in our oceans, and microplastics make up about 94 per cent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Microplastics can come from large macro plastics that begin to break down over time, or they get flushed into our water when we wash materials that contain synthetic fibres. Common synthetic fibres such as nylon, polyester, and spandex are types of microplastic that get released from our clothing when machine washed.
A combination of detergents and the mechanical movement of a wash cycle allows fibres to loosen and release into the water. Moreover, due to their microscopic size, they can sneak through conventional filtration systems and leach into our oceans. A major concern of microplastics is the effect on marine life. Due to their small size, they are not only a pollutant of our ecosystems, but they are also easily consumed by marine life. Many of these plastics can host harmful bacteria and toxic compounds that contaminate the animals and put them at risk. It is possible that these compounds can leach into the digestive systems and be stored in animal tissue. Not only is this bad for the marine life itself, but for those who choose to eat seafood, you are essentially indirectly consuming these hazardous compounds. In other words, you are a part of a food chain that is contaminated by microplastics. Now, you might be asking yourself: is it all bad news? Are we just destined to choose between having clean clothes and protecting our oceans? Personally, I don’t think so, as there are some active steps you can take to decrease your contribution to microplastic contamination. Purchase natural material clothing when possible: Compared to synthetic fibres, fibres derived from natural sources such as organic cotton or wool organically break down over time — unlike microplastics. The fast fashion industry heavily re-
Illustration by Danyka Van Santen
lies on synthetic materials, so try thrifting or purchasing from companies focused on sustainable material sourcing. Try washing your clothes in cold water: This is such an easy thing to incorporate into your routine and has a large environmental impact. Studies suggest that washing clothes in cold cycles dramatically reduces the amount of microfibres released from material as well as preserves the longevity of your clothes. Put your clothes in a garment bag: There are speciality bags that serve as an extra filter for your clothing when you decide to throw them in the wash. All you need to do is put your clothes in the garment bag, and then wash as usual. In doing so, you can catch some of those pesky microfibres that inevitably release into the water. Don’t wash your clothes as often: I
know this seems obvious, but hey, I had to mention it. If you only wore your shirt for a few hours or you sat at your desk all day and your pants are still clean, don’t wash it right away. We know that plastic pollution is a major global issue. But the emphasis is typically on macroplastics, like water bottles and plastic bags, that contaminate our oceans and harm marine life. I think that microplastics are even more hazardous and changes need to be made. There are actions that we as individuals can make to decrease the amount of microplastics present in our water systems and oceans. Sometimes even the smallest of things, like changing up your laundry routine, can make the biggest difference for our planet.
When the Fraser Valley fell apart and community came together CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 means to buy more than a week’s worth of groceries at a time. Now, more than ever, community is crucial. In order to help keep supply chains operating and roadways open for first responders and repair teams, inform yourself on which highways are open and to whom. As of writing this article, sections of Highway 1, 99, 7, and 3 are open only to essential travel. Essential travel means transporting essential personnel or supplies, evacuations, returning to your residence, or assisting at-risk people. This doesn’t include commuting to school or work, or going on day trips. Avoid disaster tourism — meaning don’t
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travel to areas affected by the severe flooding or landslides just to see the devastation. The best case scenario is you’ll see what you wanted to see while also adding more traffic and delays on important roadways. The worst case scenario is you may get stuck or injured and end up requiring emergency services, taking up time, energy, and resources that could’ve been put to helping someone already in need. You can watch the news to keep up to date on the flooding in the comfort of your own home. There doesn’t need to be a middleman in order to help our neighbours. If you’re safe from the floods and have a guest bedroom or couch to offer, connect with evacuees on social media to host them temporarily. Offer funds for those having to stay in hotels until they can return home. Post on your
local community Facebook group with what you have to offer to those in need. There are a number of verified fundraisers on GoFundMe for affected families and areas of the Valley collecting funds to repair damages and rebuild lives. The United Way, Canadian Red Cross, and the B.C. SPCA have also set up donation hubs on their websites to go toward assisting vulnerable and displaced Canadians. The Abbotsford Disaster Relief Fund has also been jointly set up by UFV, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, and the Abbotsford Community Foundation to provide essential services during this time. If you don’t have funds, there are a number of local businesses and church groups collecting clothing, household supplies, and food to redistribute throughout the
community. If you want to donate supplies, look to give toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and bath items, blankets, coats, canned soup, and other non-perishable foods. Hoarding isn’t inevitable during a disaster. We can choose to lean into our communities and offer to help our neighbours. Over 200 volunteers were responsible for saving the Barrowtown Pump Station. Volunteers at a Sikh temple in Surrey cooked over 3,000 meals for those displaced by flooding. While the disastrous floods have brought out the worst in some people, there’s also good out there that often gets overlooked, and we can choose to be a part of it.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
OPINION Life //
The TikTok trend that recycles hustle culture CHANDY DANCEY TikTok aesthetics — whether you like the app or not, you know of them. In the Know, a media site, describes “aesthetics” as being “the Gen Z-friendly term for highly stylized visual trends.” They’re visual mood boards that inspire fashion trends and ways of life — cottagecore, dark academia, and more. One such aesthetic is “that girl,” and while it has the power to encourage others to pursue a better lifestyle, it also unknowingly paints an unattainable image that embeds itself into capitalist culture. Let me paint the picture for who “that girl” is: she’s the chick who starts her day at 5:00 a.m. with a skin care routine, a workout in her Lululemons, and a green smoothie bowl. She proceeds with the rest of her morning routine — and she definitely has one — that might include journaling, meditation, or creating a to-do list before sitting down to study at her pastelcoloured desk. Her notes are immaculate, clean, and neat — just like her. By the end of the day, she’s crossed everything off her list and still has time to dive into a book. She’s called “that girl” because people notice how put together she is; she’s the best version of you.
Maybe it’s common sense to know that aesthetics perfectly encapsulate an idealized vision — not necessarily one that’s realistic. But it bears to point out the obvious because “that girl” relies so heavily on health and productivity. No one will ever be “that girl.” She isn’t real, and anyone trying to sell you on being “that girl” is carefully curating their image on Instagram or TikTok. The reason why she doesn’t exist is because it’s exhausting to uphold; there’s no room in “that girl’s” routine for binging on ice cream, mental illness, getting ghosted by crusty boys, or waking up at 1:00 p.m. on a weekday. There’s no room to be human. Furthermore, “that girl” relies on performative actions. As it’s been pointed out in the comment sections of “that girl” guides on YouTube, “that girl” is inspiring as an aesthetic because it involves having a mindset geared toward self-help, self-improvement, and self-care. Everyone wants to be a better person tomorrow than they were today and to work toward being their best self. But there’s a difference between adopting the mindset of working on yourself and adopting the image of working on yourself. The name “that girl” implies that she’s publicly acknowledged for what she is; her success hinges on being seen. The
aesthetic involves crafting “Instagrammable” moments that can be viewed on a social media feed, without any of the bloopers or less-than-perfect moments. If “that girl” exists but no one’s around to see her, does she even exist? Now comes the fun part: digesting how heavily the aesthetic relies on productivity. “That girl” is essentially repackaging hustle culture but with a prettier, feminine twist. There’s no time to waste in her routines, and even leisure activities are timed and measured. The Concordian describes hustle culture as “the social pressure to constantly be working harder, faster, and stronger in every area of our lives. It’s the idolization of workaholism.” This feeds into toxic capitalism, where one believes their worth is defined by their work ethic rather than their inherent value as a human being. The problem is that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you endlessly pursue productivity, eventually something has to give — whether that be your physical health, mental health, or precious hours of sleep. This is never reflected by “that girl” or her aesthetic. She’s the grind without any of the mess or hassle that comes with it. If you think that anyone who criticizes this aesthetic is only hating on it because they’re bitter, here’s the truth: I’ve always
wanted to be “that girl.” But I realized it was unattainable and that I don’t have to be her in order to find success, happiness, or good grades. I may have a 4.0 GPA, but my notes look more like scribbles, and half the time I come to class looking like a drowned rat. The meals I cook are tasty, but they sure as hell aren’t pretty. And when I work out, I look like a middle schooler that some soccer mom left at the gym unattended. On top of getting things done, I also make time to see my loved ones, go to bed by 10:00 p.m., and eat regularly. You can always take inspiration from aspects of “that girl’s” mindset without any of the visual components of her life or the relentless pursuit of productivity, and it’s worked for me so far. Remember to take care of yourself, go to bed at a reasonable time, and realize that your health comes before your work — always. If the aesthetics of “that girl” are inspiring to you, power to you. However, wield it carefully. Trends like this should be questioned for their dependence on productivity and image. We all want to improve yourselves and our lives, but be wary of adopting fads that rely on visual components to do it.
Column //
Sex & Relationships: how to respectfully break up with someone ANDREA SADOWSKI There are many reasons to break up with someone. Maybe you’ve seen the red flags and you want out, or perhaps you genuinely love this person, but due to unforeseen and unmoveable circumstances it just won’t work out between you. Breakups will always be painful, usually more so for the person being broken up with, which is why it’s so important to end the relationship respectfully. You may be thinking, “Why go through the whole awkward, painful breakup conversation when I can just ghost?’ I’m going to tell you right now: that move is shallow and cowardly as hell, and you both deserve better than that. So, here’s my best advice on how to rip the bandaid off and become single once again. Ensure the right setting for the conversation. Don’t break up with someone over text. Never, ever, ever. Just don’t do it. Have the conversation face-to-face or over a video chat if you are long distance. While I would suggest breaking up with someone in a public place, don’t do it over dinner. Nothing is more awkward than having your heart smashed to pieces over a basket of breadsticks. Initiate the heavy conversation lightly. It doesn’t have to start with the dreaded “we need to talk” text. It can be a simple, “can you call me tonight whenever you
have some time?” Or “Are you free to go for a walk later?” Organize your thoughts before the conversation. Do some brainstorming and think of the logical reasons why this isn’t working out. Instead of using accusatory language, talk about how your partner’s actions affected you. Instead of “you never
"Nothing is more awkward than having your heart smashed into pieces over a basket of breadsticks." text me during the day,” say something like, “I want my partner to show a genuine interest in communicating with me throughout the day, and going the whole day without a simple ‘how are you’ text makes me feel like you don’t care about me.” See how that second statement was more about how you feel and explains the expectations that aren’t being met? Relationships don’t always have to end because of your partner’s actions toward you. Your relationship could be excellent
with great chemistry, but we all know that life gets in the way, and there are certain hurdles that are too difficult to scale over. Or perhaps you two have just grown more distant and your values and visions for your future are growing apart. Whatever your reasons behind the breakup may be, come with specific reasons why this is not going to work out. This will ensure that you don’t lose all your thoughts in the heat of the moment, and decide to back out of your decision. Don’t let things go unsaid. Now is your chance to let go and tell them anything that is on your mind — without using hurtful language. Perhaps mention things that you have been holding on to for far too long. This is a very important step to ensure you have closure and transparency in your decision to end things. Don’t try to be “friends” right after. Arguably, becoming friends with your ex is only possible years after the breakup, when you have both recovered from the heartbreak, have moved on with your lives, and no longer hold onto feelings or grudges. Give it time. It is possible to be friends with an ex, but definitely not right after the breakup. Don’t include the classic line “we can still be friends” in the breakup speech, because that would be a lie. Block them. It may seem harsh, but trust me, it’s necessary. Once you’ve broken up, you need to block them on all social media and archive all posts and conversations with them to avoid the temptation to
analyze and dissect past convos. Go full on slash-and-burn and delete any memory you have of them off your phone — their number, photos, texts, everything. Unless you want a breakup that lasts for months on end, you need to cut all ties. You can’t get someone out of your mind if you’re constantly reminded of them every time you open your phone or your socials. They shouldn’t show up in your feed, and they shouldn’t be allowed to continue watching every story you post. Out of sight, out of mind. You can end on good terms, but you still need to give yourself the chance to heal and get over them. Don’t get back together. Just don’t do it. Remember why you broke up in the first place. Has the situation changed at all? Most likely not. Don’t be stupid. Don’t get back together with them. Once you’ve made the choice to end things with someone, don’t look back. Go to therapy. Process this relationship with a professional. Yes, spill the gossip to your friends and vent to your mom. But please, do not mistake your friends or family for trained therapists. Treating them as such will create an unhealthy boundary of processing grief and trauma with someone who is unprepared to take these emotions on. UFV offers free counselling to students, and now is a better time than any to see one. Mourn the loss of a relationship as you would grieve any other loss. Breakups are never easy. I hope these tips will guide you through this heartbreak.
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SN S AP HO TS
BRIEF BITS OF BITE-SIZED BREVITY
CURTAILED COMMENTARY ON CURRENT CONDITIONS
Illustrations by Iryna Presley
No waves
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Every year, after summer has long faded from view and the autumn leaves are finally at rest on the ground, I want it to snow. Not slushy, soak through your clothes kind of snow, but the light, fluffy snowflakes that rest on your shoulders and melt on your tongue. I miss the exciting first days of snowfall. You know, the kind of snowstorm where the streets fall silent, the world seems to stop, and the mountains are calling? I want winter snow to pile up like I experienced in the Cariboo and on the Canadian prairies. The snow reached between two and three feet high and stayed for months. At first, the focus was on finding the biggest hill to sled and ride crazy carpets. Skiing and snowboard-
ing were almost affordable enough that anyone could do it. In the days after road crews cleared the roads and parking lots, the monstrous piles of snow were dug and shaped to create forts and caves. Snow ball fights were honourable. We played until our parents called us inside. I can vividly see my mom standing in the doorway as she called to us. It was time to end our adventures for another day and the hot chocolate was ready. Now, I’m the one to put on my mom’s apron, dangle a lit cigarette off my lip, and put my hair in curlers while I call in the kids. Hot chocolate anyone?
There’s one important and possibly overlooked hard-hitting news story from the Valley this week: they’ve cancelled waves. I’m not going to rehash what everyone is already shouting about on Facebook by bringing up the amount of rain that’s fallen in the Valley. We’ve all hauled out our arks and gotten to work or school, just to find out that work or school has been closed, and come back home soaked and in need of new socks. But I went to the Matsqui Rec Centre the other day just to find that they’ve taken the waves out of the wave pool, folks. That’s right, you read that correctly. I walked right into that building and was faced with the most atrocious of signs that read: “No Waves.” They even went as far as to underline it —
how bold! It is a wave pool! How could you take the waves out of a wave pool? At first, I was kind of like yeah, okay, we’ve all got enough physical and metaphorical waves in our lives right now; but upon reflection, I was outraged. Waves are a challenge, for sure, but they can also be fun in a controlled and safe environment that’s surrounded by lifeguards and parents ready to shout at said lifeguards should your cousin drag you down when he’s drowning (totally didn’t happen to me at a wave pool once). This doesn’t mean we should eliminate waves. I advocate for quite the opposite, actually: more waves! They make us stronger swimmers.
Darien Johnsen
Steve Hartwig
Social media woes
Daylight savings sucks Every fall, when daylight savings time comes rolling around, I am reminded of how much the weather affects me this time of year. Although I won’t complain about gaining an extra hour of sleep (for one day), I will absolutely complain about it getting dark out at 4:00 p.m. and me losing all possible motivation to be productive. Even if I wanted to try to start my day early, it’s still dark until about eight in the morning. So, it’s not like I would be gaining any of the “happy vibes” that I get from sunlight anyway. Finding the motivation to do homework, pick up evening shifts at work, or attend night classes
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feels like that much more of a task now that fall weather has peaked. I mean, sure, the darkness isn’t the only thing that sucks about this time of year; it’s this whole season of gloom, really. The dreaded rain, atmospheric rivers, hazardous winds, and now tornadoes?! We have promptly passed the prime of pumpkin spice and have been thrown into the season of hibernation and seasonal depression. Anyone else struggling? Less than 120 days until spring and the sweet, sweet sunshine. Just saying.
Sydney Marchand
I say this with the utmost respect and love for the internet, but social media is exhausting. I was practically raised by the internet: starting from an early age, I used it to connect with others, ask embarrassing questions, and even used it to learn how to drive. I will be the first to defend the web and say it’s one of the best things to happen to me. And yet, I can’t deny how it’s evolved. The “algorithm” is this rapidly churning machine of viral content, distilling everything into the most clickable, digestible seconds. Memes are being born one day and becoming outdated the next in a vicious turn over cycle. Social media is almost entirely fake and ends up making you feel worse about yourself and your seemingly boring life. Trends not only turn over fast, but they also feed into
overconsumption and capitalism like vampires: you need to buy this, this, and this to be trendy, or you face being irrelevant. Sex sells, and media companies know this and incorporate it into their algorithm to constantly deliver the most banging bodies to your feed — but only the male gaze, obviously. Parasocial relationships are rampant, to the point where it can hinder one’s ability to connect with others in real life. Why am I in my 20s and already feel like a boomer who can’t get behind social media anymore? Why are we in the most digitally connected time on Earth, yet millennials and gen Z are some of the loneliest generations? Why am I so tired of the internet?
Chandy Dancey
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Feature //
Adopting vanlife as a student How I lived in my minivan for four semesters Andrea Sadowski
When you think of “vanlife,” what are you picturing? A cute retro VW with a spectacular ocean view? A Sprinter complete with a built-in shower and minikitchen? Or how about a rusting silver minivan, with a zap-strapped front bumper parked in the darkest back corner of UFV’s parking lot? I lived in my van for a total of four semesters over a period of two years. I was able to save money and build a community within UFV, all while taking a full course-load of five classes a semester. You are probably wondering how this is possible and have many questions about the logistics of this living situation, such as: did I feel safe sleeping in random spots? How did I make food? Where did I poop? I hope to answer all your questions and more. In 2018, after travelling around South America and living out of my backpack for five years, I started the journey toward earning a piece of paper that says I am smart (ie. an Arts degree that will hopefully get me a job). Back then, minimum wage dictated I sell the hours of my day for $13 a piece. I could not afford to pay rent on a less-than-living wage, so I lived with my mom all of 2018 while I devised a plan that would allow me to save money while going to school. I was adamant to not rent a run-down basement suite that essentially would have me putting my earnings toward someone else’s mortgage payments. Intoxicated by an Instagram feed full of “vanlifers” living exciting lives, I began to crave that same adventure. I wanted my entire life to be a road trip. I would live in a van.
“I lived in my van for a total of four semesters over a period of two years.’’ I wanted to start small, with something affordable, reliable, inconspicuous — something that didn’t scream “someone’s living in me!” I decided to go with a minivan. I searched high and low on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for the perfect van that I would call home. I test-drove a handful of vans, got heartbroken as the perfect ones slipped out of my fingers by a faster offer, and finally settled for my silver Mazda MPV. The owner was a bit sketchy, the check-engine light was on, and the tires were totally worn down, but I haggled him down to $1,100 and drove away with it. Within the first three months of buying the van my radiator busted ($500 repair), my water pump broke (another $500 repair), and the tires had to be replaced ($360). With a handful of other alignments, tune-ups, small replacements, and new fluids, she was a solid little van — road-worthy and fit to be lived in. I maintained her as best I could: learned how to change a blown fuse, jumped her battery with the help of passing cars, rotated her tires, and changed her oil on a regular schedule. She was my home, and I tried to look after her.
“I wanted to start small, with something affordable, reliable, inconspicuous — something that didn’t scream “someone’s living in me!” I decided to go with a minivan.” 9
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Feature // “Intoxicated by an Instagram feed full of ‘vanlifers’ living exciting lives, I began to crave that same adventure.”
from my mom’s patio furniture and piles of pillows. With a bit of creativity, frugal solutions to all of life’s little problems are possible. I still spent most weekends at my mom’s house, doing laundry and prepping food for the week that would be easy to keep in my cooler. Soups in Adams peanut butter jars were my go-to meal prep. I would make big pots of soup, stew, or chili and fill dozens of jars that would keep fresh in my mom’s deepfreeze before being placed in my cooler full of ice. I filled my milk-crate pantry with cereal, sandwich bread, peanut butter, bananas, almond milk, granola bars, and ramen — all food that required little preparation and no refrigeration. For the weeks when I couldn’t make it home, I cooked simple meals on my camp stove, in the PRLC lounge kitchen, or at friend’s houses. When I say I “lived in my van” what I really mean is that I slept in my van and stored all my stuff in there. All my living was done on UFV’s Abbotsford campus. I showered in Building E’s locker room showers; I toasted my bread, microwaved my food, and percolated my coffee in the PRLC lounge kitchen; I rented a locker from SUS to store my books and course materials in so they wouldn’t become crinkled; I brushed my teeth and washed my face in the washroom on the second floor of Building S that no one ever goes in; I found quiet study spots in every nook and cranny.
Next came furnishing my new dwelling. First, I took out all the seats in the back so I could build off an empty canvas. The first purchase I made was a foldable, memory foam mattress to sleep on and some plywood and 2x4s from Home Depot to make a flimsy bed frame. I also bought some wooden crates from Home Depot that would fit under the bed frame and act as my closet. I borrowed my mom’s old cooler to store my food in and bought a little camp stove off Facebook Marketplace. I bought strings of fairy lights and a mandala tapestry to staple to the ceiling to make it feel more home-y. I cut window coverings out of reflective material that I would velcro on the inside of each window at night to keep people from peeking in. My furnishings were rearranged as I slowly settled into a routine and figured out what worked best. After designing and building a few different bed frames, I decided to nix the structure all together and just make the entire floor of the van my bed. While having a bedframe meant more storage space, my back ached from curling up my 5’10” body on a thin piece of plywood that was just under five feet long. So, I limited myself to just a duffle bag full of clothes and sprawled out over the entire floor of my van. This also allowed me to sit up in bed and even gave me enough room to have a guest over, if they were up for an adventurous sleepover.
I went to every student event that promised free food and the chance to make friends. Anyone remember “Waffle Wednesdays” in the Global Lounge? I got a job working at the front desk in Building E where I swept the gym floors and occasionally snuck in a load of my laundry in between washing varsity jerseys. I become a staff writer for The Cascade and spent most of my time outside of class in the office of S2111, doing my homework in the boardroom and taking naps in a quiet room all while making a few of the best friends I’ve ever had.
“I lived in my non-insulated structure over the course of two snowy winters.” I lived in my non-insulated structure over the course of two snowy winters. I stayed indoors until the buildings were locked up for the night. I warmed up my van by driving her around for about 15 minutes, blasting the heat and getting it almost intolerably hot. Then I pulled into my parking spot, turned off the engine, velcroed my blinds on the windows, and burrowed under the covers. This strategy made the van warm enough to fall asleep comfortably in, but it slowly cooled over the course of the night. There was one morning I woke up shivering and so uncomfortably cold that I could not get back to sleep. The inside of my windows were slathered with condensation and the outsides were coated in frost. It was 5 o’clock in the morning. I drove to Starbucks, ordered a black drip coffee, and sat inside while I warmed up and waited for the thrift stores to open. I bought seven blankets and the warmest pajamas I could find from the Salvation Army thrift store. I slept in a nest made of second-hand fabric for four nights before I could make it back to my mom’s place to do loads of laundry.
Vanlife is as simple as sticking a mattress in your car and sleeping on it. To this day, the most expensive piece of equipment I’ve bought for my van is my Jackery portable power station for $260. Almost everything, including the van itself, I bought used from thrift stores or Facebook Marketplace. The first mattress I bought for the van was ruined by an unruly Yeti mug full of coffee and an unfortunate spill of tomato soup. Not wanting my van to smell like sour soup, I threw out the mattress and lined the floor of my van with the cushions
I relied on many of the friends I had made while going to every social event I could find on campus. I showered in their houses, used their freezers to store my jars of soup in, and slept on their couches during particularly cold nights. Vanlife taught me to accept the gracious hospitality of so many and to find the resources available to students that often go untapped. I was no longer a commuter student. Instead I found community within the school that everyone said offered none.
“Vanlife is as simple as sticking a mattress in your car and sleeping on it.”
Every season had its own ups and downs. Winters meant frigid nights, but at least my food kept for longer because the ice in my cooler never melted (except my bananas which turned black from the cold). The hot summers had me using every fridge available to me on campus — mini fridges galore — because my cooler ice turned to slush within a day, and I couldn’t afford to keep buying fresh bags.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
I parked my van and slept in the darkest corner of the parking lot near the dorms where other student’s cars were regularly parked. The security guards must have known, but if they did, they never bothered me. I didn’t make what I was doing a secret, but I didn’t want to draw attention to my situation either just in case I was evicted from my favourite sleeping spot. My rent was essentially $75 a semester — the price of a discounted parking pass at UFV.
EXPECTATION
I have woken up to the red and blue flashing of police lights a handful of times. Often the firm knocks on my windows would wake me up, except for that one time they shook me awake by rocking my van back and forth. I would dart into the front seat and tell the police officer that I had just gotten tired driving home from my night shift and decided to nap in my car instead of risking falling asleep at the wheel. As a young, pretty white girl, I came off as non-threatening and some officers even acted paternal toward me, saying things like “I would never let my daughter sleep at the side of the road in this neighbourhood like you’re doing.” I am certainly not your daughter, but thanks for your concern. I never felt unsafe sleeping in my van. I never had a reason to.
“Through living in my van, I experienced more human kindness and pleasant interactions than I ever have living in a ‘normal’ house.” Through living in my van, I experienced more human kindness and pleasant interactions than I ever have living in a “normal” house. One summer I had gotten a little too comfortable in the parking lot near one particularly popular walking trail in Mission, and a lady tapped on my window and gave me $100 cash because she saw I had been living in my vehicle and wanted to offer her assistance. After insisting that I had a full-time job and I was living in my van completely by choice, she still forced her money upon me. That $100 filled my gas tank and bought me some groceries. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down in March 2020, all the resources I had used to live were no longer available. Every washroom I once used became closed to the public, all the available mini-fridges and microwaves were taped off, friends closed their doors to guests, and the Abbotsford Rec Centre no longer allowed people to use their showers. Over the summer of 2020, if I was not working, I would be outside. I slept in the parking lots of whatever parks I wanted to hang out in the next day, or near the trailhead of whichever mountain I wanted to explore. I bathed in lakes, oceans, and forest streams. I road tripped to hidden gems on my days off, and I slept in underground parking garages after my graveyard shifts to avoid being cooked alive in a scorching hot van. I heated my food up on my camp stove in the parking lot of UFV’s Mission campus. I peed in more bushes and dug holes for more poop than I care to tell you about. As 2020 came to a close and another winter was slowly creeping up, restrictions on the resources I needed to live comfortably in my van still were not available to me. In November of 2020, I moved into a room in a nice lady’s house and became roommates with six cats. While I was able to save a lot of money living in my van, build a strong community, and grow more resilient than ever, my values had changed. After nearly two years of vanlife, I wanted to hang my clothes up in a closet, be able to use the washroom in the middle of the night, and have a hot shower at the end of the day instead of settling for baby wipes. I wanted a warm home to relax in and a space to be able to offer hospitality to others. I wanted a kitchen to be able to cook meals every night instead of heating a pot of soup over my dinky camp stove. If I have to pay half of my income every month for these little luxuries, so be it.
REALITY
Vanlife was a fun, challenging adventure at first, but slowly became tiresome and extremely inconvenient. I still use my minivan as my main commuter vehicle and as a camper van on weekend trips. I would definitely consider vanlife again in a bigger vehicle with a few more amenities, but my days of living in a minivan are over. Still have questions or want to know more? Email me at andrea@ufvcascade.ca to connect. If you want to learn more about vanlife, check out the many Facebook groups on the subject. One group I found particularly helpful was Solo Female Vanlife, as well as r/vanlife on Reddit. Read Mitch Huttema’s article from 2016, “Advice from a van dwelling student.” If you want to save money and learn how to become more resourceful, try living in your van. It’s possible.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down in March 2020, all the resources I had used to live were no longer available.”
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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
CULTURE
culture@ufvcascade.ca Steve Hartwig — Culture Editor
Column //
Column //
Cascade Kitchen: Breakfast quinoa
Campus Fashion: Come thrifting with me @ MCC Clothing Etc Shopping ethically and cheaply with pride RACHEL TAIT
Breakfast quinoa. 2021. (Andrea Sadowski/The Cascade)
ANDREA SADOWSKI The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budgetfriendly recipes and cooking tips. Check back bi-weekly for something new to try in the kitchen, or if you want to see your own recipe featured next, get started by reaching out to culture@ufvcascade.ca.
1 cup water 1 tsp cinnamon 1/3 cup raisins 2 tbsp agave nectar or maple syrup 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen berries of choice 1/3 cup chopped nuts of choice
Method: I know you’ve had oatmeal for breakfast, but have you had quinoa? Qui- 1. Add the quinoa, milk, water, cinnamon, and raisins in a small noa is high in protein, fibre, and iron, pot over medium heat until it making it a perfect meal to fuel you starts to boil, then reduce the until lunch. It’s just as easy to make heat and simmer on low with as oatmeal as well; it’s a one-pot the lid on until the quinoa has meal, customizable to your taste, and absorbed all the liquid. It should works just as well on-the-go as a sittake around 10-15 minutes. down meal. So, if you’re looking for a little more variety in your breakfast, 2. Add the sweetener, berries, and nuts. If you are using frozen bertry out some quinoa! ries, let them cook a few minutes longer. Turn off the heat after no Cook Time: 20 minutes. Serves: 2 more than five minutes, and let rest for five minutes before digIngredients: ging in. 1 cup quinoa 1 cup milk of choice
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MCC Clothing Etc. is a treasure trove for students on a budget to explore and find amazing deals for as low as 50 cents. This week, I spoke to the social media manager and donations processor, Hannah Gray. She gave a thorough tour and rundown of how their store works. The first stop was at the donations drop off, where two volunteers were sorting various items into different bins. MCC has bins for clothing, shoes, bags, lighting, books, etc. From there, the donated goods are brought to the back of the house and are sorted further, fixed, and priced before coming onto the floor. Gray confirms that out of all the merchandise MCC carries, the biggest donations are clothing. Gray agrees that a lot of students shop at MCC. “We reconfigured our clothing section a few months ago to make it student and younger-generation friendly. So, we now have one section of our clothing area that is for trends.” This includes brand name companies such as Lululemon, Aritzia, and American Eagle. There is also a sports outerwear section that features brand names such as Columbia and Nike. Gray also highlights the vintage section, which consists of older fashions that “your mom might have worn back in the day.” Another area of the store is called “local and sustainable.” Gray says this section is “all brands that are local to the area or [Canadian]. Sustainable in the way they have ethical practices.” When asked why she thinks that students are more drawn toward thrifting now, Gray says: “I think that originally thrifting was more because you had to, and it was an issue of money. And I am sure for a lot of students it is still a reason why they thrift, because going to school is expensive … [and] living on campus is expensive. So, thrifting is a great option to get cheaper items that are still on trend or the right brands.” Gray also believes that thrifting has become popular and that students are more concerned for their environment. “They want to be part of the change that comes with thrifting [by] not buying new, which is huge,” says Gray. “We are taught since we were kids [to] reuse, reduce, and recycle, and we are all so good at recycling and reusing, but they are in that order for a reason. You have to reduce. And that comes
MCC Clothing Etc. 2021. (Rachel Tait/The Cascade)
with not buying new. You have to buy second hand.” Vintage is becoming a popular trend for students, and Gray believes that “fashion today is pulling from older trends from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s [and] ‘90s because vintage is authentically [trendy].” She also highlights that students want to stand out and be different, and vintage is a way they can achieve that goal. While there are no student discounts at this MCC location, MCC Clothing Etc. does have a weekly 50 cent sale. Yes, you read correctly. MCC has two different coloured tags on sale per week: one at half off, the other for half a dollar. MCC Clothing Etc. not only has amazing deals, but they also provide funding for MCC relief, development, and peace projects around the world. When asked what she likes best about working at MCC Clothing Etc., Gray says: “I love both [jobs] because social media is the creative aspect where you get to connect with people locally in the community … But at the same time, too, going through the donations is fun, and then when I get stuff that is vintage — I mean, how can you not love working in a vintage clothing department? [laughs] … I really feel like I have the dream job!” To learn more about MCC Clothing Etc., you can follow them on Instagram, @mccclothingetc. I encourage you to go check out MCC and see what fashionable finds you can buy for 50 cents.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
CULTURE UFV Event //
Climate Change Theatre Action urges climate solutions DARIEN JOHNSEN UFV Theatre plans to host its first production of the season, Climate Change Theatre Action, virtually from Nov. 25-27. Climate Change Theatre Action is a globally distributed theatre festival featuring an itinerary of 51 plays from playwrights across the world; the UFV Theatre department has chosen 10 of these 51 plays to present. Director Elaine Ávila notes on the Eventbrite page that these plays were chosen “because they are deep and complex; I believed that the student actors, editors, and designers, and now you, our audiences, would enjoy contemplating them for a long time.” Emmanuel Akpoviroro will be one of three actors starring in the series of 10 plays. He believes theatre can be a way to not only show people the effects of climate change, but to also bring about impactful realizations for community members in the Fraser Valley. “A lot of people learn from watching … there’s a lot of people that have no idea about this stuff. It teaches people more about stuff that they might not have realized. It opens their eyes to what is happening around them.” Climate change has become a seemingly endless roundtable of dialogue performed
by policy makers, governments, and human rights organizations. But where these organizations fail, artists seek to fill the gap. This pressing issue has been heavy on the public mind for the last several years. In the Fraser Valley, it has been impossible to ignore as community members watch
the Sumas Prairie flood, just months after a summer of wildfires. “There is something that somebody used to say to me when I was younger; they say seeing is believing. When I see it, I will believe it,” said Akpoviroro regarding climate change.
The UFV Theatre department seeks to inspire viewers into conversation, community, and action around climate change through these plays. Ávila explains that the plays chosen are intended to inspire people to find new ways forward and include themes such as consultation between government and First Nations, the meaning of a true apology, and solving literary puzzles. Creative solutions are needed to move forward, and that means that everyone must be included at the table, not just the policy makers and experts. Small, global communities are the ones that are most heavily affected by climate change, and solutions need to include these players’ inputs as well. For actor Akpoviroro, who is originally from Nigeria, these places need to be considered: “Every place has it’s own story, you can’t forget the small places.” After each of the plays, “Post-Performance Talkbacks” will give audience members a chance to ask questions and increase their understanding of the plays. These Talkbacks will be attended by guest playwrights including Angella Emurwon for the Nov. 25 performance, Dylan Van Den Berg for Nov. 26, and Yvette Nolan for the final performance on Nov. 27. Free tickets are available through Eventbrite.
UFV //
UFV Connection Groups provide mentorship for new students The PRLC program hopes to gain more students for next semester DANAYE REINHARDT UFV Connection Groups is a mentorship program that helps students navigate UFV, learn skills, and get connected with fellow students. It is geared toward first- and second-year students — those who have not been on campus before Fall 2021 — and looks at a holistic approach to wellness. UFV Connection Groups are organized through the Peer Resource and Leadership Centre (PRLC). PRLC Coordinator Ashley Ward-Hall explained that the program was inspired by a student-run Facebook group called “UFV Student Connection,” which was created during the pandemic for students to ask questions about courses, share resources, and get connected with fellow students during the online semesters. Student Life, recognizing that need for connection, decided to offer a program that emulated what was happening on Facebook. UFV Connection Groups meet weekly
with students, two peer leaders, and PRLC Student Assistant Billie Brown. Meetings cover topics that range from time management skills to physical health. While each meeting looks somewhat different, they might include discussions, a PowerPoint presentation, and “assignments” for students to practice what they’ve learned. Their approach is a hands-on, practical one. “[For] our mental health wellness one,” Brown explained, “we had a whole class on tips and tricks [on] mindfulness and identifying your stressors, and then the next week we had a yoga class in the classroom. So, it does always look different, which I really like.” Despite their efforts
to get the word out, however, student commitment has been extremely low. Busy or conflicting schedules, fewer people on campus, and general pandemic fatigue are potential reasons why engagement has been lacking. When asked if the student response would look different if the program had occurred before COVID-19, the answer was an emphatic yes. “More humans, less global trauma,” WardHall said simply. “There [are] so many unknowns right now,” she said, “and so we try our best to serve and support as many students as we can, but it’s a chal-
lenge for sure.” UFV Connection Groups will continue next semester. However, the PRLC hopes to adjust the program to meet student’s capacities. Instead of cohort-based groups, they would provide drop-in, workshopstyle meetings. One meeting might feature mental health, while another looks at finances. They hope the “no commitment” approach will attract more students. Ward-Hall anticipates they will start the program again in mid-January, to allow students to organize their schedules and get into the rhythm of school. Students who are interested in joining can fill out the UFV Connection Groups form online, or find program details on the PLRC website. “Having been a student at UFV,” WardHall said, “getting involved in literally anything on campus can’t be measured [in] how valuable [it] is. It’s just good for people to get involved. It’ll make the university experience that much better.”
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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
CULTURE Lifestyle //
Shop local this season with these businesses KATHLEEN CLINGWALL With the holiday season coming up, it’s easy to take the quick way out and order from big corporations like Amazon. But with so many options for buying from small businesses, especially in the Fraser Valley, we should try and support our hard working local creators. Here are a few small Fraser Valley businesses to look into when shopping for that candle-lover, jewelry-wearer, or dog-owner in your life this year. Fraser Candle Co. Prices range from $8 to $40. Fraser Candle Co. creates a variety of premium soy wax based candles, hanging air fresheners, and handcrafted concrete decor and vessels for their candles. These candles smell amazing — not only is there an array of scents to choose from, but they’re all inspired by the Fraser Valley. They have scents named after Fraser Valley landmarks such as Cascade, Cheam, and Hayward. The scents I purchased are Slesse, made with the scents of bergamot,
pink peppercorn, cinnamon, clove, and vanilla, as well as Spirea, with pumpkin spice, caramel, molasses, and ginger. Another great reason to purchase from them is because 10 per cent of proceeds go to the Fraser Valley Humane Society or the Mission Royal Legion Branch 57. If you’re looking for a gift for that candle lover in your life then I highly recommend Fraser Candle Co. Find their products on their website at shop.frasercandleco.ca. Forestial Friends Prices range from $31 to $115 on their online Etsy shop but you can find some of their products for less at their in-person markets. Forestial Friends specializes in resin jewelry made with foraged mushrooms, flowers, and plants. They make the most enchanting terrarium necklaces — with a surprising amount of detail, considering how small they are. If you’re thinking of buying someone in your life (or even yourself) some nice jewelry this holiday season, then consider Forestial Friends. Their mushroom and fern terrarium necklaces are a must have. They also donate a dollar
from every order to the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada. You can check out their Instagram (@ forestialfriends) for info about upcoming in-person markets, and follow their foraging journeys to see where they find their plants and flowers. You can find their products on Etsy under the store name ForestialFriends as well as at Found Boutique in New Westminster, Everbloom Designs in Abbotsford, Hunt & Home in Abbotsford, and Copper Reata in Langley. Sunshine Pup Co. Prices range from $3 to $30. Sunshine Pup Co. handmakes leashes, collars, harnesses, bandanas, and more for that lil’ pooch in your life. You can choose from a wide range of patterns and sizes for their bandanas and collars. The harnesses and leashes don’t have quite as many patterns to choose from, but they still have a lot of fun ones. Every season they release seasonal bandanas to choose from as well. For Christmas they have design options such as snowflakes, gingerbread men, or even some simple plaid patterns. Sunshine
Pup Co. is a great option this season for that dog lover in your family to add extra cuteness to their pup. You can find their products on their website at www.sunshinepupco.ca. Oak & Earth Prices range from $10 to $16. Oak & Earth is a business created by Enactus UFV that creates soy candles with scents inspired by plants that are important to Indigenous communities within the Fraser Valley. The candles come in 4 oz tins and 9 oz jars and have scents like tobacco, lavender, and sweetgrass. They may only have a small selection at the moment, but they will be releasing aromatherapy rollers in the near future that will come in three scents: lavender, cinnamon, and lemon. Oak & Earth has also partnered with the Fraser River Indigenous Society (FRIS), giving them 50 per cent of all profits from their sales. You can check out their Instagram at @oakandearthdesigns for more information about what they do, and you can find their products at oakandearth.square. site.
Community Spotlight //
Big Brothers Big Sisters looking for mentors “Volunteers and little buddies say it’s the highlight of their week.” STEVE HARTWIG Aziz Ghafoor and Nafeel Arshad are fourth year Kinesiology students at UFV. They are also dedicated volunteers with local agencies of Big Brothers Big Sisters. The two have committed years of their lives to mentoring youth requiring additional supportive relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is a non-profit organization assisting young people who face adversity to develop and maintain relationships with mentors. Big Brothers Big Sisters is facing a shortage of volunteers in the Fraser Valley. On average, little buddies, as the organization calls their mentees, wait for one to two years to be matched with a mentor. During the long wait times, Big Brothers Big Sisters offers support to the family in the form of group social activities and events. The organization is in dire need of volunteers interested in meaningful opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the children they are matched with. Cassie Silva, the Abbotsford/Mission agency’s mentoring coordinator, explains that volunteers pass a rigorous screening process before starting as a mentor. “Volunteers must complete an application process including a criminal background check, driver’s abstract, and providing four references before an in-depth interview determines their suitability … Pre-match training is approximately three to four hours long and includes all the pro-
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gram rules, what to do in certain scenarios, and just makes sure they feel prepared and know their role.” Before working with a child, mentors have to learn about the elements of a developmental relationship, setting effective boundaries, program expectations, and responsibilities for creating a safe environment for their little buddy. According to Silva, UFV students continue to make up a large portion of volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters. “UFV students have made up a significant percentage of our volunteers. We’re really open to any student as long as they have the time, because we ask for a yearlong commitment.” Ghafoor and Arshad have balanced the workload of full-time university students with weekly commitments to the in-school programs their mentees are enrolled in. They commit to a scheduled weekly visit at the youth’s school where they hang out, watch movies, talk, or play sports. Ghafoor started volunteering in 2018. He says the three full school years he’s been involved have been a learning experience as he watches his little buddy grow and develop over the years. “It’s been an amazing experience. I feel I have grown with the program as well — in addition to seeing my mentees grow. These are at-risk youth who I foster a friendship with and we engage in things like sports, storytelling, and arts and crafts. It’s a very fun experience for me.”
Ghafoor has built friendships with two mentees in what he calls a “two-way relationship.” “I’ve learned so much from visiting my mentee once a week. There’s a lot for me to learn and a lot for them, so it’s a growing experience for both of us.” After graduation, Ghafoor is looking to remain involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters and his little buddies. Arshad started mentoring seven years ago when, as a grade 10 student, he was encouraged to participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. “A friend recommended it to me back in grade 10. I was really young, but my mom pushed me to try it out. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made and gave me the opportunity to make a positive impact in someone’s life.” Arshad credits the mentoring program with fueling his passion for volunteering and especially mentorship. So much so that he branched out to other volunteer organizations and became a member of the National Youth Mentoring Advisory Council (NYMAC). NYMAC is a selected group of mentors from across Canada that promotes and advocates for youth mentoring. “Cool story. We [NYMAC] actually went to Ottawa and spoke to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ourselves about a funding opportunity for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Trudeau invited us to his personal cabin and we all had a talk for around 30 minutes — each of the NYMAC members got
a chance to speak about why we’re a part of NYMAC and Big Brothers Big Sisters.” While in Ottawa, Arshad attended the 2019 Day on the Hill, a visit to the Parliamentary buildings, where he and his peers spoke to as many Members of Parliament (MP) as possible to let them know what Big Brothers Big Sisters is about, their primary purpose, and what their goals are. “Our primary objective was to let them [Members of Parliament] know why we need funding and why funding is important and crucial for this organization [Big Brothers Big Sisters] to run.” In November 2019, Arshad was invited to the B.C. Legislature to speak at a conference about his involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters. The Members of the Legislative Assembly wanted to hear about the positive impact mentoring has had on Arshad. “I’m really happy about meeting so many amazing people from across Canada with NYMAC and Big Brothers Big Sisters. They’re friendships that I’m holding onto to this day. Also, seeing the positive aspects of leadership and where that can take you in the future. I’ve been able to develop communication, leadership skills, and teamwork. It’s such an honour. I’m grateful for witnessing them [mentees] grow up and mature as [people] — with them through their rough points in their life, the ups and downs, and then celebrating the achievements that they accomplished. It’s an unbelievable experience.”
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
sports@ufvcascade.ca Teryn Midzain— Sports Editor
Recap //
Cascades bye week provides much-needed rest and recovery Recap of the UFV Cascades games before a needed break TERYN MIDZAIN The mid-November weekend: a weekend that we won’t forget. The heavy winds and rains that started during the weekend were originally something we were somewhat prepared for. We in the Fraser Valley know a lot about blinding rains and high winds. While we take the time to recover from the devastation the floods have wrought, let us not forget what we have to look forward to in the coming weekend. Last weekend our UFV teams earned a needed bye week. The women’s basketball team stood tall like our team’s namesake and blocked Thompson Rivers from achieving a win in both the Friday, Nov. 12
and Saturday, Nov. 13, games. The women played two strong games and were able to consistently outscore the TRU team in all four quarters in both their games. After coming off a hard-fought weekend against UBC, the UFV women played dominantly against TRU. Deanna Tuchscherer had over 20 points in both games and Victoria Jacobse had two personal record-setting scoring nights. The UFV women’s basketball team remains in second place in the West Division. Our UFV men’s basketball team had a decent weekend, splitting their game win-loss record 1-1 against Thompson Rivers. TRU’s Brad King had an explosive double-double in Friday’s game, kept the scores tight, and helped TRU get a
69-63 win over UFV. Saturday, UFV out-nipped and clawed TRU for an 81-75 win that kept the battle for third in the West a threesome. In the Saturday game, UFV outscored TRU in the first and fourth quarters, led by Kyle Claggett and Vick Toor. The two team veterans led the UFV scores in both games with backup from Zubair Seyed and Jake Willemsen, who both earned more than 10 points off the bench Saturday. Unfortunately, the third-place trio will have to wait to see if one can finally pull ahead in the standings, since the Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 games have been postponed. The basketball teams’ next games will be on Dec. 2 against Thompson Rivers in Kamloops. The UFV volleyball teams have been on a cold streak that
has been matching this November’s weather, bringing an end to their UBC Campus Tour. Our men’s volleyball team lost all six sets against the tough UBC team, dropping to an 0-4 record and last place in their division’s standings currently. The women’s team battled four sets for a 3-1 win on Friday, Nov. 12 — their first win of the season. Unfortunately, they couldn’t completely stay out of their cold spell, losing 0-3 on Saturday, Nov. 13. Luckily, the UFV volleyball teams will have an extended bye week, as their scheduled games have also been rescheduled to early February. This means their next games will be on Friday, Dec. 2 when the teams play host to Trinity Western.
World Sports//
Lewis Hamilton’s thrills in Brazil TERYN MIDZAIN November’s second weekend gave racing fans the São Paulo Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit — a rollercoaster weekend for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One racing team and Lewis Hamilton. São Paulo was an important race for the Mercedes F1 racing team. Their rivals, Red Bull Racing, are close behind Mercedes in the Formula One World Championship, which sees teams compete simultaneously for the World Constructors’ Championship and the World Drivers’ Championship, given respectively to the best car constructors and best driver of each season. Red Bull’s top driver, Max Verstappen, is in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship. Hamilton is racing to secure his eighth and record-breaking world championship. Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, set the fastest lap in Friday morning’s practice session and qualified on pole, putting him in first place for the F1 Sprint on Saturday. Minutes later the stewards, the officials in charge of upholding the rules, ruled that Hamilton would have to take a starting five grid penalty, meaning a start in a lower position, for using a new internal combustion engine for his car.
Saturday, Nov. 13, held the F1 Sprint event — a fast-paced event that has the drivers race 100 km around the race track for extra points in the championships and determines the starting lineup on race day. Hamilton was disqualified from his qualifying time due to the adjustable DRS portion of the car’s rear wing, a flap that helps the car pick up speed to be able to pass other drivers, failing an inspection, which moved Hamilton to the last place starting position for the F1 Sprint. Despite this, Hamilton drove beautifully in the F1 Sprint, making up 15 of his lost positions to start in fifth place (P5) before the grid penalty dropped him to P10. The weekend started out cloudy, but on Sunday the temperature rose to a sunny 27 ℃ — a perfect day for racing. The drivers do their formation lap and line up on the starting grid; engines are revving, warming up the air, running on the same high octane fuel as their drivers, and Hamilton starting in P10. The starting lights shine brightly. The roaring crowd, drowned out by the engines. The starting countdown begins. The lights go out; the cars leap forward. And this humble F1 enthusiast witnesses one of the most spectacular drives on a Sunday he has ever seen.
Hamilton charged up the track on the first lap, passing slower drivers and making up four positions by Lap two. On Lap four, Hamilton cut between the two Ferraris to slide into fourth. On Lap 18, Hamilton, now P3, made two brilliant moves through the Senna “S” of Interlagos into P2. The next 53 laps were like watching a battle of a war, with the commentators, David “Crofty” Croft and Martin Brundle, speculating as to what the best tactics for the drivers were and which would make their pit stop first. Verstappen pitted earlier on Lap 41; Hamilton took his pit stop on Lap 44, hoping the fresher set of tires would be beneficial in the final pushes of the race. A terrible accident was avoided on Lap 48. Verstappen, about to be overtaken by Hamilton, closed the outside door with a dangerous block that drove both racers off the track in Turn four. The stewards, after much chagrin from the Mercedes Team, chose not to penalize Verstappen after the dangerous manoeuvre. Hamilton pushed Verstappen to his limits during the following 10 laps. The cars were speeding over 250 kilometres an hour on the short straights. At the start of Lap 59, Hamilton moved to overtake Verstappen with DRS as they headed into
Turn one, but couldn’t quite get out in front through the Senna S for Turns two and three, bearing down the straight into Turn four. “Is it third time lucky?” shouted Crofty as the pair came roaring up to Turn four. The rear flap of Hamilton’s rear wing opened; DRS was engaged. “It is third time lucky for Lewis Hamilton!” Crofty shouted, and the crowd at Interlagos roared, waving Brazilian flags. Hamilton would maintain his lead for the last 12 laps of the São Paulo Grand Prix. He shows how thrilling this motorsport continues to be since the first F1 race in 1950. The podium finishes for the São Paulo Grand Prix are: Hamilton first, Verstappen second, and Bottas third, maintaining Mercedes’ lead in the 2021 Constructors’ Cup over Red Bull. It’s the thrills on and off the track that make this sport so amazing. You have to take any advantage given to you; every point and inch matters. Hamilton’s performance in Brazil shows you how and why he is a seven-time world champion, and why you can’t ever give up in the world of sports. Anything can change; every chance given can lead to glory and the laurels, and you just can’t ever truly know the outcome until that checkered flag is waved.
SPORTS
UFV Cascades Sports Scores Nov. 12 – Nov. 13, 2021
Women’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV Vs. University of British Columbia / Friday, Nov. 12 Score: UFV 3 UBC 1 Game/Date: UFV Vs. University of British Columbia / Saturday, Nov. 13 Score: UFV 0 UBC 3
Men’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV Vs. University of British Columbia / Friday, Nov. 12 Score: UFV 0 UBC 3 Game/Date: UFV Vs.University of British Columbia / Saturday, Nov. 13 Score: UFV 0 UBC 3
Women’s Basketball Game/Date: UFV Vs. Thompson Rivers University / Friday, Nov. 12 Score: UFV 73 TRU 54 Game/Date: UFV Vs. Thompson Rivers University / Saturday, Nov. 13 Score: UFV 72 TRU 31
Men’s Basketball Game/Date: UFV Vs. Thompson Rivers University / Friday, Nov. 12 Score: UFV 63 TRU 69 Game/Date: UFV Vs. Thompson Rivers University / Saturday, Nov. 13 Score: UFV 81 TRU 75
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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
SPORTS Athlete Q&A //
Bye week Q&A with Google Sidhu Google Sidhu on stepping up in her rookie year with the Cascades TERYN MIDZAIN The November bye week swam by quickly, giving our UFV varsity athletes a week off and much-needed rest. Among the athletes is Google Sidhu, a rookie guard on the women’s basketball team. Sidhu stepped into her first game against UBC and showed herself to be an adept defender with stats in every defensive category. She equalled this performance against TRU. During the bye, The Cascade was able to catch up with the rookie guard to ask how her adjustment to this crazy year has been, and how the women’s team has been able to remain strong in this tough Western division. So Google, how has this crazy year with COVID-19 and school adjustments affected the team’s training and their dynamics with each other? Well, it was weird in the beginning, I had signed on when COVID-19 hit. The first training calls and workouts were all done over Zoom, and I didn’t get a big chance to know the other girls. It felt like I didn’t really know anyone up until we actually started practising in person, and then everything clicked into place. The team dynamic has become so awesome! We’re all so close, and we all care about each other to our core. Let’s jump to your first game against UBC. You go from only playing a handful of minutes to stepping into a game to cover for an injured starter, how nervous were you?
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Well, yeah, as you mentioned, our starting point guard Maddy [Gobeil] was injured and before the next game, Coach Al said, “We need players to step up for this game.” I really saw that as an opportunity to play the best I can to show the team and coach that I am able to play at this level and in the role they need me to be in. Was there a fundamental of basketball that you focused on, or still focus on to keep that mentality locked in and the nerves away throughout the game? I always tell myself to start on defence and offence will come. So, I start there, on defence. You can [have] control through just hard work and effort. At the end of the day, so many skills come from how you navigate your defence. I wanted to touch on your defence. You’ve shown you have a knack for steals, a stat in every defensive category, have you always had such rogue-ish hands and qualities? Thank you, but I think knowing when to dive for a steal is just what defence is about. Defence is all effort and you just need to be willing to dive on the floor and be winning those 50/50 battles. We [the team] have sticky notes that we write our goals on and post on the walls before each practice. Every day my sticky note-goal is to be the most annoying defender on the court. So if the ball is there, I’m diving for it. I don’t care if my opponent is in my way. That’s my ball! What has been the biggest hurdle to overcome with the team, classes, and fitting in everything to your busy schedule?
Honestly, time management. I make a planner that has the times when I’ll be at practice when I will be doing my homework and studying. And holding [myself] accountable throughout the week. The team is such a great help; we are close and keep each other accountable, being there to support and help out in many little ways that it’s really hard to describe. Is the team open and forward with giving each other help and support? Oh yeah! Our whole team is open and forward with each other, whether they’re veterans or not. I’ve got the best role models both on and off the court! Victoria [Jacobse] is amazing at making sure I know the play and am watching the game film. ‘Lex’ [Alexis Worrell] is such an encouraging leader as well! Every player adds an important contribution to the team. It’s nice knowing that those leaders are there and it doesn’t matter to them who’s playing; they just want us to succeed. Throughout our conversation, you circle back to putting in effort and your team’s dynamic. What’s been motivating you and the team to continue performing the way you have? We have a sheet we made at the beginning of the year of the team’s goals. Our two main goals are: win Canada West [and] be in the final four at nationals. Those are our nonnegotiables. And it all comes down
to effort. That keeps you motivated and thinking you just got to put in that work, you can do that. Then we can win Canada West. We can be in the final four for nationals. When you look at your goals and see they’re reachable if you just put in the time and effort, you’ll be where you want to be. Interview was edited for length and clarity.
Google Sidhu. 2021. (Gibi Saini / UFV Athletics)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
STUDY BREAK Crossword //
Made by Steve Hartwig
ACROSS
DOWN
2. Wind funnels that destroy; Dorothy’s mode of transportation
1. Water spouts and volcanoes have these; emotional outbursts
4. Prolonged period of dryness; period without winning a championship
3. Dangerous snow and ice fall; Colorado hockey team 5. Carolina hockey team; ocean-based swirly thing
7. Rapidly spreading blaze; B.C. summer disasters
6. Violent winds drawn into a column of hot air over a burning area; outburst of controversy
8. Earth slippages; overwhelming victories 9. Huge tidal wave; not a good time to surf
10. A haboob; a meteorological phenomenon common in arid regions
11. San Jose MLS soccer team; shaking and vibration of the ground 12. Noah’s yacht-racing team needed these; pants that are too short in the leg Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.53) Sudoku //
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ANSWERS: Across: 2. Uniforms 4. Frontlines 5. Cenotaph 6. Sacrifice 8. Trumpet 11. Service 12. Parade
Horoscopes //
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Down: 1. Accoutrements 2. Polish 7. Remembrance 9. Reveille 10. Poppies
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Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 This week will bring a breakthrough or shift in perspective that has the potential to open a realm of possibilities. Take this as encouragement to break out of your stubbornness and force of habits enough to recognize the opportunity it presents. Channel your energy, make intentions, and ride this streak. Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 No one can deny you’re ambitious and adaptable, and this week you’ll be celebrating a success. Now’s not the time to shy away from recognition; allow others to take pride with you and let your true self shine through. Challenges may lay ahead, but no one can take a job well done away from a Gemini. Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 This week you’re beginning to realize you’re not where you want to be, and while this is scary for a self-protective Cancer, it’s also deeply necessary. You’ll need to come to terms with what’s not working in your life, and acknowledgement is the first step toward change. Don’t be afraid of letting go of the old and embracing the new.
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Your weekly life predictions as told by Shiva the Sage
Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 You’re trying to manage too many things at once: different roles, responsibilities, and priorities. While this sounds like the time for your Aries drive and determination, be careful about how you manage things. You may be losing sight of what’s important, and you’ll need to reassess your priorities and strategy. Remember to work smarter, not harder.
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LAST ISSUE’S
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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 9 16:58:45 2021 22 GMT.to Enjoy! Sagittarius — Nov Dec
Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 You attract attention with your big personality, and this week it’s time to connect with others on a more personal level. It’s time to pull from your deep pool of compassion and let others know you appreciate them. You have partnerships with the potential to be deeply fulfilling, so don’t be afraid to reach out.
Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 By reading this, you’re mandated to do the splits or face a mean streak of bad luck. If you can’t do the splits, that’s very unfortunate.
Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 It’s time to commemorate an event or milestone in your life before tackling the next set of hurdles. You’ve earned this chance to take a break and celebrate with loved ones, even if only briefly. Give yourself permission to breathe and relax.
Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 You’re a sign with a deep emotional landscape, Scorpio, and you’re currently emerging from a period of turmoil. You’ll come out on the other side changed, yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s time for resentment. Instead, allow yourself to cultivate a better sense of self, appreciation for your resilience, and renewed hope.
21 You’re a freedom lover, and lately you’re feeling burdened by something extra weighing you down — maybe you’re pulling all-nighters for a project, taking on more hours at work, or giving too much of your time to loved ones. Recognize a need to recoup, reprioritize, or set boundaries in order to avoid burnout.
Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 As an ambitious sign, you’re used to working hard to get what you want, but lately you’re also feeling the stress of having it taken away. This week you’ll recognize a pressure in your life to compete with others to keep what you’ve earned. Be prepared to defend what’s yours, renew your conviction, and stand up for yourself. Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 You’re an original thinker that often focuses on the big picture and how your work can help others. This week you’ll make progress in this by allowing your humanitarian side to connect with your creative side. Channel that energy into accepting new projects, helping those in need, and investing time in others. When you give abundance, you’ll receive abundance. Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 This week you’ll be inspired to pursue a new opportunity in the realm of the material — whether that be an investment, job, purchase, or project. While you’ll be presented with the initial motivation to explore these ventures, you’ll need to plan how you’ll go about making them a reality.
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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
ARTS
arts@ufvcascade.ca Vriti Sehgal — Arts Editor
Playlist //
Queer playlist for Trans Day of Remembrance CHARTS 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Ada Lea one hand on the steering wheel the other sewing a garden DijahSB Head Above The Waters Jada Klein Always, Forever
AARON LEVY ABSENTEE METEOROLOGIST
CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy is absolutely shocked by what's been going on this past week in the Valley as a result of the mudslides and flooding associated with the atmospheric rivers we had and may continue to experience.
Steve Earle — “This City”
Beach Moms Beach Moms - EP
Steve Earle was a classic singer-songwriter well before he began playing cameo roles in David Simon HBO producThe Halluci Nation One More Saturday Night tions like The Wire and Treme. His musical contribution to the latter is a highlight of my entire Jenny Mayhem fanboy affection for all things Social Piranha related to the world of recently departed Michael K. Williams. Tei Shi Die 4 Ur Love Parlour Panther Retrograde
TV On The Radio — “Dirtywhirl”
This song was the first little nugget we got of what ended OK Vancouver OK up being one of the now-forgotten, but then-emergent new Never Perfect records that would meld the worlds of indie rock, dance, Tony Garviz lo-fi, and power-pop — ReCountry State of Mind turn to Cookie Mountain. The fact that we now have Imagine Missy D Dragons deters me not. Delete My Number (single) Billie Myers — “Kiss the Rain” Simon Bridgefoot Blossoms/Hotel Song
One of those ‘90s one-hitwonders that always gave me Karl Blau that feel of “yeah, unbridled soft-pop hooks and melodies Introducing that can be enjoyable and earworm-y too.” Imagine the The Sheepdogs Fraser Valley singing this to the No Simple Thing rest of the country amidst the Man Made Mountains environmental upheaval currently underway, and put that Average Man positivity out there into the ether. Generationals ILEANA
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Lex Leosis Terracotta
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Sleigh Bells Texis
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Baby Keem The Melodic Blue
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Lowercase Dream Lowercase Dream
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SHUFFLE
Radiohead — “Pyramid Song” “I jumped in the river and what did I see? / Black-eyed angels swam with me / A moon full of stars and astral cars / And all the figures I used to see / All my lovers were there with me / All my past and futures / And we all went to heaven in a little row boat / There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt.”
CHANDY DANCEY Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed on Nov. 20 and is meant to be a day that “honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence,” according to GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). The tradition of having a specific day to honor trans lives was founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to commemorate the life of Rita Hester, a transgender woman killed the year before. To commemorate this day when we mourn those lost and honor those continuing to fight for justice, here’s a playlist of exclusively queer tracks featuring largely trans artists. “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend” — Ezra Furman Furman gives us a touching track dripping with romantic yearning, all while she rocks twangy electric guitar notes and reverberating voice effects. The track is completely dreamy with a hint of angst, and its lyricism speaks to Furman coming out as a trans woman in April, 2021. “But me, I was considering ditching Ezra / And going by Esme / Baby, would you find that so odd?” Furman paints the complexity of being a woman, a mother, and the difficulties of the journey getting there in this track. “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” — Against Me! This track is raw, punk, and unapologetically trans — i.e. it’s an absolute banger. It’s an anthem to the struggles of gender dysphoria by Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!, who came out as a transgender woman in 2012. The drums are loud and in your face; the guitar riffs in the chorus are intense and electrifying; the lyricism is both angry and forlorn. Grace sings: “You want them to notice / The ragged ends of your summer dress / You want them to see you / Like they see every other girl / They just see a f*ggot / They hold their breath not to catch the sick.” According to Alt Press, alt-rock is a heavily male-dominated industry, and within that realm
Grace is telling us about her experiences — and she doesn’t hold back. “Pussy Is God” — King Princess King Princess, aka Mikaela Straus, blesses us with this candid, playful, no-fucks-given track. It unabashedly celebrates gay love in its chorus: “Your pussy is God and I love it / Gonna kiss me real hard, make me want it.” Straus continues to release queer hit after queer hit, revolutionizing what queer music sounds like while cultivating her own identity as a genderqueer person. Straus said it best in an interview with RNZ Music: “I feel proud to be a part of a piece of art that is kind and loving toward women, while also appreciating the anatomy that has been marginalised through all of our history.” “Malibu” — Kim Petras Petras is the queen that gave us “Heart to Break” — that song that became so big it now plays in box stores on the regular (the epitome of success, I think). This talented singer-songwriter has been touted as one of the youngest people to undergo gender confirmation surgery and is an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. “Malibu” is pure bubblegum in audio form. It’s beach days, bikinis, and a sangria with fresh fruit. In a world that seems set on discriminating against trans identities, this song is refreshingly bubbly and happy. It’s a reminder that trans joy can be an act of resistance. “Slow Dance” — Evil This is the cute song that was featured in an episode of Adventure Time. Marceline, who was largely rumoured to be in love with another female character named Princess Bubblegum, sang this to an audience. Many immediately assumed it was about her longing to be with Bubblegum, while others were quick to claim it was completely heterosexual — that is, before the songwriter, Evil, confirmed she intentionally wrote it to be queer. This slow, sultry song has a hint of that sweet country twang as Evil laments an unrequited love: “I wanna slow dance with you / I know all the other boys are tough and smooth / But I just wanna slow dance with you.“ Stay mad, TV moderators and concerned parents. Your cartoons are gay.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
VOL. 29 // ISSUE 24
ARTS Podcast //
Call Her Daddy: a podcast about so much more than just sex A podcast that went viral for the famous Gluck Gluck 3000 VRITI SEHGAL Today, I woke up feeling rather bold. And that is why I’m going to talk about Call Her Daddy: a very controversial podcast, yet one of my favourites. Hosted by Alexandra (Alex) Cooper, the podcast tears down the walls of misogyny and is very focused on providing power to the modern woman through the host’s bold and open ideology about sex. Even though Cooper’s approach of working toward those goals might not be the most conventional one, her heart is certainly in the right place. The podcast involves Cooper discussing her dating life and exploring the hookup scene in New York City. She talks about dating in her 20s, living life commitment-free, and shares her scandalous sex stories. Filled with drama, secrets, and gossip, the podcast is a completely entertaining experience that always keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The podcast series gained recognition after the host’s famous fellatio technique, the Gluck Gluck 3000, went viral on TikTok, giving tips to women all around the world who may be concerned about performing oral sex on their partners, or who are just wanting to spice up their usual ways of satisfying their lovers. The technique was the reason behind the show’s rise to fame, but it wasn’t limited to just that. While many women listen to the podcast, it also gained the attention of many male listeners. So, in order to not leave them feeling left out, the host digs deeper into female anatomy and gives tips about performing oral sex on women. The podcast does seem to focus mainly on heterosexual relationships, so Cooper, in episode 94, acknowledges that fact and talks about more diverse relationships with guest Maggie Lindemann. Lindemann identifies as a bisexual woman and shared her insights into same-sex rela-
tionships. After the success of the podcast, Cooper recently signed a $60 million contract with Spotify, creating a spot for herself amongst the top grossing podcasters. The show entails the host sharing her personal life in great detail (some might say oversharing). She discusses her experiences with cheating, breakups, bad dates, and recent sexual encounters. It’s worth mentioning that the sexual encounters cover a huge part of the podcast’s run-time, and the stories can be anywhere from funny and embarrassing to hot and heavy. The main idea behind those stories is to tell the listeners what not to do in the bedroom. But instead of just talking about what wasn’t a good experience, I think it would be better for the listeners if she actually shared how to avoid these bad experiences and instead shared tips about better communication during sex. Cooper, along with many guest hosts, (Miley Cyrus, Tana Mongeau, Harry Jowsey, Alexis Ren and Emily Ratajkowski being some of the notable ones) covers topics that people would usually find hard to talk about, such as intimacy issues, exploring fetishes and kinks, relationship problems, and just being more vocal about your likes and dislikes in the bedroom. One of my favourite segments is when Cooper talks to sex therapist Emily Morse to bust all the sex-related myths and bring up safe sex options for young couples. To some people, it might seem like the podcast is overly sexual. But all I see is a woman speaking up about her sexual preferences, paving the way for many others to speak up. She breaks the age old tradition of women being submissive in the bedroom and acting as an accessory to the men, and portrays females as people who can have their own choices when it comes to sex. And isn’t this what empowerment is all about? Overall, the podcast is an informative and entertaining experience, but Cooper’s normalization of infidelity is where our views begin to differ. I find it rather odd how Cooper encourages women to cheat on their partners. In episode 37, she mentions “cheat or be cheated on” as a way of gaining power. She was slammed by listeners for giving out toxic advice and destroying relationships. However, I try to not let it get to me, and focus on the positive aspects of the podcast — Cooper’s messy sex stories and the inside gossip. If you are tired of faking orgasms, or you just need some tips to bring back some excitement in your sex life, give Call Her Daddy a listen and let Father Cooper help you out. The podcast is available to stream on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube.
Rewind //
The Princess Bride is a great blend of cheesy and charm
DANAYE REINHARDT “Timeless” isn’t quite the right word to describe The Princess Bride. Released in 1987, it’s certainly a product of its time — cheesy music, a lack of CGI, and villains without a tragic backstory. Yet this romance-adventure-satire-fantasy movie is every definition of classic. It’s one of those films that could have easily slipped through the cracks of ‘80s media. The set pieces are obviously fake. The music is laughably bad at times. It’s so cheesy it could feed an army of mice. But all of this is part of its charm. The Princess Bride begins as a sweet romance between Westley and Buttercup on a medieval farm (first of all, what kind of a name is Buttercup?). Thank goodness the movie is more than the first five minutes. Buttercup (Robin Wright) and Westley (Cary Elwes) are two of the dullest characters I’ve seen in a love story. The characterization, however, improves dramatically when it stops being your basic love story. As one of the characters says, the simple romance turns to “fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, [and] miracles.” Every character brings their own charm to the story. Inigo Montoya (with Mandy Patinkin’s Spanish accent) is a swordsman obsessed with avenging his father’s death. The wacky Vizzini (Wallace Shawn) is a Sicilian with either a death wish or a lack of brain cells. Fezzik (André the Giant) is a gentle giant in the wrong line of work.
The villains, too, are hilarious in their own way. They are serious and pokerfaced, but, of course, they are equally ludicrous. And, unlike many villains today, they don’t have tragic backstories or a sympathetic side (I’m looking at you, Cruella). They’re just bad guys who, instead of crocheting or collecting stamps, have a passion for torturing people or starting wars. As for our main characters, Westley changes from a boring farm hand to a romantic, sword-fighting pirate who relentlessly insults Prince Humperdinck as a stalling tactic. Swoon. My only complaint is Buttercup, who is almost as dull and passive as she was in the first five minutes, although I will give her credit for her loyalty. She’s your typical damsel in distress, albeit a pessimistic one who tells the Man in Black he should kill himself. It’s like she and Westley are made for each other. There are also moments of impeccable timing in this movie. My favourite is when Buttercup mentions ROUSes in the Fire Swamp. Westley goes, “Rodents of Unusual Size? I don’t think they exist,” and is immediately attacked by a ROUS. This movie is a great collection of witty dialogue, unforgettable characters, and absurd premises. If I haven’t convinced you to watch The Princess Bride, it might help to know that this movie is timely for one specific reason. When asked why he was wearing a mask, the Dread Pirate Roberts replies, “They're terribly comfortable. l think everyone will be wearing them in the future.” Who knew, right?
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Note:
Some of these events require tickets, and most are online. If something catches your eye, take to the internet for more details, including those about social distancing measures for in-person events.
Community Event UFV Event Sports
november This Old Broken Back of Mine @ S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery (B136) 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Yoga 4 Self-Care @ The Cave, E182. 1:10 - 1:50 p.m. Games Night in the Global Lounge @ UFV Abbotsford, B223, 4:00 7:00 p.m. Spin Class @ The Cave, E182, 4:15 - 5:05 p.m. UFV Circle K Weekly Meeting @ UFV Abbotsford, S3103, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. UCM Thursday Gathering @ UFV Abbotsford, C1422, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Climate Change Theatre Action @ Online, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Basketball League Night @ Building E, South Gym, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Climate Change Theatre Action @ Online, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Climate Change Theatre Action @ Online, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. The Fraser Valley Queer Christmas Market @ Trinity Memorial United Church, Abbotsford, 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Self-Care Strategies @ Online, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Futsal League Night @ Building E, South Gym, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
French Language Exchange @ Online, 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Self-Care Strategies @ Online, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. WUSC Committee Meeting @ UFV Abbotsford, C1422, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Abbotsford Canucks vs Ontario Reign @ The Abbotsford Centre, 7:00 p.m.
Arts Event Culture
december MCAT Info Session @ UFV Abbotsford, B121, 5:45 - 7:45 p.m. Abbotsford Canucks vs. Ontario Reign @ Abbotsford Centre, 7:00 p.m.
Games Night in the Global Lounge @ UFV Abbotsford, B223, 4:00 7:00 p.m. Cascades Women’s Volleyball vs. TWU @ Building E, South Gym, 6:00 p.m. Cascades Men’s Volleyball vs. Thompson Rivers @ Building E, South Gym, 8:00 p.m. Basketball League Night @ Building E, South Gym, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Christmas/Holiday Movie Night @ UFV Abbotsford, B101, 6:15 - 9:00 p.m.
Abbotsford Canucks vs. San Jose Barracuda @ Abbotsford Centre, 7:00 p.m. PHILUFV Pub Night Fundraiser @ Townhall Abbotsford, 6:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Abbotsford Canucks vs. San Jose Barracuda @ Abbotsford Centre, 4:00 p.m.