The Cascade Vol. 25 Issue 29

NOVEMBER 8 TO NOVEMBER 15, 2017

VOLUME 25 ISSUE 29

Watching through the blinds, since 1993

Framed! local photographer's quest to shine new light on the familiar

Pg. 7-10

Lead program Student mentors lead the way for students new to UFV.

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#MeToo Sexual violence affects everyone, that’s why you need to know the facts.

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

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Comedy Local comedian talks about his dad bod — sort of.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Editorial // STAFF Editor-in-Chief Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca Business Manager Quintin Stamler quintin@ufvcascade.ca Production Manager Caleb Campbell caleb@ufvcascade.ca Production Assistant Satinder Dhillon satinder@ufvcascade.ca Copy Editor Cat Friesen cat@ufvcascade.ca Illustrator Amara Gelaude amara@ufvcascade.ca Online Editor Jeff Mijo jeff@ufvcascade.ca Staff Writer Aleister Gwynne aleister@ufvcascade.ca Distributor Liam Ritchie distributor@ufvcascade.ca

Managing Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca News Editor Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca Junior News Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca Opinion Editor Jeff Mijo jeff@ufvcascade.ca Feature Editor Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca Culture & Events Editor Cassie de Jong cassie@ufvcascade.ca Arts in Review Editor Martin Castro martin@ufvcascade.ca Varsity Writer Rachelle Strelezki rachelle@ufvcascade.ca Staff Writer Panku Sharma panku@ufvcascade.ca

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS Kayla BWD

Cover: Jiles Molina Back Cover: Jiles Molina

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/THE.CASCADE Volume 25 · Issue 29 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley.

The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by the Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a print circulation of 1,250 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities.

The Cascade is open to written, photo, and design work from all students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment from an editor. Writers meetings are held every second Monday at 12:00 p.m. in The Cascade’s office on the Abbotsford campus.

In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved

by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief, copy editor, and corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous content. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 400 words. As The Cascade is an autonomous student publication, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.

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Disillusionment

JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This is my working logic: when cats make laws, they make laws that benefit cats. The average age of House of Commons members is 51.74. When 51.74-year-olds make laws, they tend to make laws that benefit soon-to-be retirees. And when they do, issues like university tuition costs and respecting the environment don’t pull the same kind of weight that Canadian Pension Plan rates and medication coverage does.

But I think, if you’re under 35, you should know more about Canada’s political climate than anyone over it.

And so, the proposed tax changes: Tax laws may not interest you today, but considering there’s a good chance you’ll be self-employed, they should.

According to Intuit Canada, freelancers, independent contractors, and on-demand workers will make up 45 per cent of the Canadian workforce by 2020. Currently about nine per cent of the workforce is self-employed. Maybe this is because millennials tend to prefer flexibility, collaboration, and the independence to choose projects, opposing the previous workforces’ proclivity towards corporate ladders and climbing them, according to Forbes. In a study by oDesk, 92 per cent of millennials said they want to work remote and 87 per cent want to work on their own clock, instead of the conventional 9-to-5 workday. Now, global giants like Microsoft and Uber employ comparatively few compared to their contracted workers; a shift from years past. Whether the trend is accurate or not, it looks like there’s a good chance many of us will be freelancers or contractors.

The proposed tax changes that were first announced last July spurred conversation on three central points: income splitting, capital gains, and passive income. The tone of the conversation tends to lean towards negativity; the theme is more or less that small businesses are going to get shafted.

Maybe no one reading a student newspaper wants to talk about tax law, but it will shape the future regardless. Are you comfortable with the proposal? Do you know what was proposed?

‘Income splitting’ Income splitting is a technique where income from an individual is attributed to a family member in a lower tax bracket to reduce overall tax payable. Business owners and entrepreneurs can do this by making their spouse or adult children shareholders and paying them dividends, regardless of whether they work for the company or not. Tax is still paid on the dividends, but at a lower rate than the business owner would pay.

A study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that one in eight small business owners would be affected by the proposed changes to income splitting.

‘Capital gains’ How would taxing something that’s good yield good results? Writing for the Financial Post, Mathieu Bédard said, “Just as taxes on tobacco and alcohol reduce their consumption, the capital gains tax hinders capital formation, which is one of the basic foundations of all economic growth.”

In Canada, half of any capital gain is taxed as income when an investment is sold, with a few exceptions like selling a home. Capital gain is when something bought (capital asset) increases in value past the purchasing price (e.g. house/property, stocks, artwork).

The idea is to crack down on people fudging their tax returns to convert income from private corporations into capital gains to get a lower tax rate. This might be done by selling shares in a business to a holding company and declaring the income made on the sale as capital gain.

The government says this provides “an unfair opportunity to reduce income taxes […] by taking advantage of the lower tax rates on capital gains.” Does it? Under the proposed changes, accessing “invested” assets would result in taxation.

Some business owners say this will make growing a company and planning for retirement difficult.

‘Passive investment income’ Income earned by a corporation is taxed at a lower corporate tax rate, which gives the owner an advantage in earnings when compared with a salaried employee getting a paycheck

every two weeks, taxed at the personal rate.

This is a problem, the government says, when someone holds money inside a corporation, not to invest it in growing the business, but to shield it from the higher personal tax rate.

But many business owners keep money in their business because it’s worth saving for a rainy day. A passive investment income tax would discourage businesses owners from keeping money in the company.

They save their money (within the corporation), and use it to curb economic downturns, purchase equipment, or invest in the business in any way. It could make it more difficult for small businesses in Canada to invest in themselves.

Still don’t care about tax law? Fine. It’s more than financial issues that we need to worry about. But it seems like there’s just too much to stay on top of. Republicans in the United States want to allow oil drilling in the Alaskan wildlife refuge, reigniting a [previously thought to be extinguished] discussion on drilling for oil in the refuge with the largest variety of plant and animal life of any protected area north of the Arctic Circle.

For decades, Alaskan politicians had pushed to have the refuge opened for drilling. Oil currently makes up about 85 per cent of Alaska’s revenue, and dropping oil prices means Alaska needs to sell more to maintain their income tax-free standard of living.

Natural Resources Committee Chair and Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski argues for the drilling saying, “We also know that it’s something we have to do today, because the benefits of development will take time to fully realize.”

Murkowski doesn’t get it. Like so many others, she believes drilling oil will be harmless for another few decades.

She’s been a senator since 2002, meaning she’s likely had her head in the sand for a decade and a half.

Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled against both the Ktunaxa Nation and protecting land considered integral to the survival of the grizzly bear.

The Ktunaxa believe the proposed Jumbo Glacier resort project will drive the Grizzly Bear Spirit from Qat'muk, the traditional name for the territory, which will permanently tarnish their religious and spiritual practices.

It’s interesting that even in the wake of a mass shift in perspective of Indigenous issues, when it really comes down to what matters, the Supreme Court doesn’t care about spiritual practices older than its rule.

It’s no surprise. Ottawa continues to fund terrorism in the Middle East, ignores human rights violations practically everywhere there aren’t corporate interests, and promotes the ongoing use of oil as a primary source of energy within Canada. And while these problems are about as insurmountable as problems come, in the Fraser Valley, the only Aids Service Organization in the Fraser Health region faces closure at the hand of the feds. Kinder Morgan wants to pump 890,000 barrels of oil per day along the Fraser River, increasing Vancouver’s inner harbour traffic from 60 to 400 tankers, putting all coastal life at risk.

We say things like, young people are too apathetic, but that’s mostly wrong. For the most part, we’re just disillusioned. It seems that every small political win is accompanied by a barrage of negativity. It doesn’t have to be that way.

In October, Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced that the Liberal government would drop the capital gains tax. Business owners, especially farmers and fishers, made a big fuss about the proposed tax. One of the main issues comes from the potential difficulty in passing down a family farm intergenerationally if taxes had to be paid on capital gains. What this shows is that the government’s mind can be changed — if there’s real opposition.

All this is to say you should probably give a darn about what today's politicians do, because tomorrow, civil war might break out in Spain or the United States; Justin Trudeau’s chief fundraiser and senior adviser, Stephen Bronfman, might get away with tax evasion; and the southern resident orcas could get wiped out by a single oil spill. Good luck and Godspeed, future us.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

New Program //

Lead pilot program transitions new students into university life

NEWS BRIEFS

MUN’s cash-strapped student newspaper stops the presses Memorial University's student newspaper will only publish online for a semester due to the paper’s mounting debt. Fast turnover rate and lack of communication over the last few years are being pointed at as possible reasons why.

"I don't think anybody before me realized how bad it was, because the editor-in-chief really doesn't have a hand in the business side of it," she told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show.

Newsstands that once held the paper will now direct students to the online website. This change will save the paper nearly $14,000 in printing costs, and is intended to help to pull the newspaper out of debt.

-the CBC UBC students maintain ongoing effort to support First Nations’ anti-Kinder Morgan court case UBC students held a live-music fundraising event as their most recent protest against the federal government for their approval of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

The event, hosted by various sustainability and First Nation groups on campus, raised over $500 for the ongoing First Nation court cases against the project. In the past, court cases were found to be a successful form of protest, leading to cancellation for the $7.9 billion Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project.

“Beside the fundraiser and protest, UBCC350’s other efforts include canvassing, talking about bank divestment, and speaking at the Stop Kinder Morgan Flotilla in Cates Park, North Vancouver on October 28,” reports the Ubyssey.

-the Ubyssey

Photo: Alexandrah Pahl

UFV Hacking //

Web services back, student emails still down JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Limited functionality of the myUFV web portal was brought back on Monday morning to prepare for winter term registration. Student emails will remain unavailable while UFV continues their investigation.

The services, suspended Oct. 31, will continue to be brought back online in phases.

On Oct. 30, UFV learned that a hacker had obtained 29 students’ personal information, and threatened to release thousands more if a $30,000 ransom wasn’t met.

UFV changed the myUFV web portal password requirements, and asked students to update their passwords.

Previously, the web portal enforced six-pin passcodes. It now requires a CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

JESSICA BARCLAY JR. NEWS EDITOR

UFV started a new leadership initiative this fall called Lead, which looks to pair firstyear students with an upper-level student mentor. The goal of the program is to help ease new students’ transition into university life. Mentors send out a weekly newsletter to connect with their students, and make themselves available to answer questions or meet up to give their student mentees advice.

“If you're starting at a university for the first time, some people take the transition very easily. For other people, it's very intimidating. They might be living on their own for the first time away from all of their friends and family, their support network.

It’s valuable for them to know they have a single person who's checking in on them and making sure they’re okay,” said Belinda Karsen, UFV student transitions coordinator.

The program is modeled after the current mentorship program at University of B.C., Okanagan. Students start off as mentees, then have the option to move on as mentors after their first year. After the first year as a mentor, those students in turn have the opportunity to move on to be mentored themselves, by either alumni or university staff, depending on their future career goals.

Though alumni mentorship has not yet been set up, Karsen said that members of the Alumni Association have expressed interest in the program.

“They think it’s a great program, and they think alumni will be receptive to it,”

said Karsen. “Now it’s a matter of getting specific individuals to commit, and matching those alumni with their potential mentees.”

A UBCO student who was actively involved in their mentorship program was hired by UFV as a summer intern to assist in the setup of the Lead initiative.

Greg Mathers, manager of student wellness and development at UFV, also spent time on the UBCO campus as a commuter student coordinator. “[Greg] saw what this program can be.

They are several years into the program, and theirs matches every single new student to a mentor,” said Karsen.

Cambree Lovesy, one of around 50 mentees in UFV’s pilot Lead program, said that the program has been very beneficial to her in helping her transition into university life.

“I decided to become a part of Lead because I was looking for a way to become involved on campus, as I was a first-semester student at UFV. I have benefited from all the friendships I have made, as well as from the mentors who have helped to make the transition from high school to university seamless,” said Lovesy.

Karsen said the big picture goal of the Lead program would be to match every student coming into UFV with a mentor.

“Even if the student just needs a mentor for the first week or two of classes, to have a big enough team of mentors who are fully trained and committed that we can do this on an ongoing basis would be the level that we'd like to get to,” said Karsen.

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Alumni //

UFV Alumni Association chair succession

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Don’t tell anyone, but there might be free pizza!

Nav Bains takes over from Nik Venema

JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

UFV’s Alumni Association elected a new Chair at their AGM in September. Nav Bains, 2013 graduate of the Bachelor of Business Association, and a marketing specialist for G&F Financial Group took the reins from Nik Venema, 2012 graduate of the Bachelor of Business Association, and an associate advisor at RBC Dominion Securities. Venema will continue to work with the association as chair emeritus.

“I am excited to start working with our board of directors, alumni association, valued partners, and the community of UFV. We are in a phase of transition, and we look forward to building on the momentum that past Chair, Nik Venema, created for the Alumni Association,” Bains said in an email.

Venema said the association has known for a little over two years that Bains would

Hacking CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

carry on as Chair. The association’s bylaws outline a succession plan for Chair: when the Vice-Chair is elected, they also become Chair-Elect. Once the Chair has finished their last term, they are expected to remain in an advisory capacity.

At the September AGM, Ali Siemens was elected to the role of Vice-Chair and ChairElect.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to serve my alma mater and my fellow alumni for the past several years as Chair, and for the last half decade on the board in other roles,” Venema said.

Chair Emeritus is an ex-officio board member, and expected to advise the incoming Chair, as well as build partnerships and strengthen relationships for the association.

“In addition to these things, I’ll continue my efforts as a proud alumnus to support the establishment of new endowed leadership awards, bursaries, and scholarships at UFV to help our current students... and future alumni,” Venema said. “[Nav is] an incredible leader, a man of character, and I can tell you he cares deeply about our university. I have the utmost confidence in Nav and his team.”

password eight to 12 characters long, containing a combination of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

According to a November 6 news release, UFV has not seen any further exposure of student personal information.

Is hosting an

November 22nd 2:30 pm

EGM EGM EGM EGM

* The Cascade office * Room S2111 * Top of the stairs in the SUB *

(Extraordinary General Meeting)

The Cascade Journalism Society requires a board of directors to oversee the functions of the paper.

We need to elect a few new members, and we’ve got some other official stuff to talk about, too.

(There will be free pizza.)

If not enough people show up, we cant proceed.

So come and pretend like you know what quorum means.

Stories worth paying attention to

#JumboDisappointment

Supreme Court ruling on Jumbo Glacier ski resort disappointing to B.C. First Nation officials The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the Jumbo Glacier ski resort can be built on land the Ktunaxa Nation considers sacred. The Kootenay region ski resort has been in development since the early 1990s, and in 2004 received an environmental-assessment certificate, with project approval from the Shuswap Indian Band. The Ktunaxa Nation opposes the resort, saying that the project will destroy grizzly bear habitat, whose spirit is essential to their faith.

As it stands, very little construction has been done on the project, and in 2015, B.C.’s environment minister declared the project's environmental-assessment certificate expired. The developers have filed for judicial review of the decision.

-the Globe and Mail

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#SinghingSupport

#ParadisePromise

Singh Backs B.C. NDP on Kinder Morgan Federal NDP government leader Jagmeet Singh expressed his support in the B.C. federal government's fight to stop the Kinder Morgan pipeline project.

The project, which would look to continue the Trans Mountain pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby, was approved by the Federal Liberal party in 2016, under the leadership of Justin Trudeau. The B.C. NDP minority government announced it would join court challenges to the project, after being sworn in last July, and pledged to use anything in their toolbox to stop it.

In Alberta, the NDP government strongly supports the Kinder Morgan pipeline project, and wishes to see it continue as planned.

-the Tyee

CRA promises “appropriate action” on tax haven use after Paradise Papers leak The Canadian Revenue Agency promises action following the recent offshore tax haven accounts leak. The Paradise Papers leak revealed 13.4 million files from offshore service firms and tax havens, including many of the world elite, such as the Queen, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s chief fundraiser.

"The CRA is reviewing links to Canadian entities, and will take appropriate action in regards to the Paradise Papers," said spokesperson John Power.

"I think, at least, we have to think hard about the state of our tax system right now, because it's broken. It's obvious to Canadians that lots of people and the well-off are not paying their fair share," said NDP Parliamentary Leader Guy Caron.

-the CBC

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Spirit Bear //

Affronted by a font

Designing signage for UFV’s new coffee shop is serious business JEFF MIJO OPINION EDITOR

Earlier this fall, UFV’s Canada Education Park (CEP) campus’ coffee shop underwent a rebranding, from Tim Hortons to the Spirit Bear Café. Abbotsford has one too, which replaced the old Roadrunner Café. The name comes from a Richmond-based, First Nationsowned, organic, fair trade coffee roaster. That’s all fantastic, and it’s great to see UFV move away from a chain restaurant (who restricted what could be offered on the menu) to a smaller, more local business.

However, there’s one major issue with this change in branding: the signage.

The box of text on the wall behind the coffee shop is a great idea.

It tells the legend of the Spirit Bear in a brief enough format for customers to read while they wait for their coffee. But, while the story itself is written in a clean, Sans-Serif font (that is, clean-edged letters, instead of overhangs like you see on the top and bottom of a capital I in The Cascade’s font), the top and bottom of the sign feature large text written in a font called Papy-

rus.

You may have heard of Papyrus before. It’s a default font on both Windows and Mac computer, and has been around since the 1980s.

Maybe your graphic designer friend rants about it sometimes, or perhaps you saw that Saturday Night Live sketch from the beginning of October where Ryan Gosling obsessed over the font’s use in the poster for the movie Avatar.

You’ve definitely seen it before. The thing about Papyrus is that, once you start looking for it, you’ll find it everywhere.

While it’s hard to say what Avatar’s excuse is, in a lot of cases it’s not hard to guess why Papyrus gets used. It stands out from the list as you scroll through the overwhelming number of fonts on a computer, and for a fledgling company designing its own logo, it looks like an exotic, eye-catching choice. It can give off an earthy, natural feel, like Spirit Bear is going for, or it can be a mystical choice for fantasy novels or metal bands. However, at a certain point, a company needs to hire a professional designer, and a professional designer should know better. It just doesn’t look good,

and it doesn’t stand out (in a positive way) from the crowd of other places using it.

There’s no shortage of places online where you can go to see examples of poorly placed Papyrus, since, alongside Comic Sans, it’s one of the most commonly derided fonts in existence. But unlike Comic Sans, which has strong defenders for its practicality (some dyslexic people find it much easier to read than other, more “standard” fonts), there aren’t many defenders of Papyrus. There are other, more unique, better looking “mystical” fonts out there, available for free, that can make your brand stand out, rather than making it look like you didn’t hire a designer.

It’s a minor quibble, to be sure, and certainly not worth spending significant amounts of money to fix. The Spirit Bear Café can keep their signage as is for the foreseeable future. That’s fine. But perhaps, when the time comes, touch up the paint on that eye-catching photo displayed on the wall. It’s worth considering a change in the font.

Papyrus A a B b C c D d E e FfGgHhIiJ jKkLlMm NnOoPpQqRrSs Tt U uV v W wX xYy Z z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

#HowWillIChange //

#MeToo, too

KAYLA BWD CONTRIBUTOR

Protesting social issues is becoming a trend. In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, actress Alyssa Milano brought attention to the awareness campaign #MeToo, so women across the globe could show just how prevalent sexual assault is.

The hashtag was created by activist Tarana Burke 10 years ago, but has quickly gained mainstream attention since Milano’s October 15 tweet, with victims of sexual assault posting the hashtag on social media, often with their personal stories.

Though I am a victim of sexual assault myself, I have not supported the #MeToo trend. While it does spread awareness, I thought it presented sexual assault as a women’s issue and focused on the problem, rather than solutions. I set out to write this article about the trend of unjustly blaming men, when everyone is at risk of sexual assault. I was wrong. The more research I did, the further I realized my opinion was from the truth. According to Stats Canada, “Of all sexual assault incidents, the vast majority (87 per cent) were committed against women.” Furthermore, “Of all sexual assault incidents, nearly half (47 per cent) were committed against women aged 15 to 24.”

When your own government reports that women are at a higher risk, there’s no point arguing. Revising my position, I came to

realize how significant the #MeToo movement actually is. For the first time in history, women across the globe are bringing attention to sexual assault, and it’s being discussed online, in the media, and in our daily lives. While #MeToo doesn’t solve the issue, it forces society to realize the magnitude of the problem, which is a big step towards change. One response has been the new online movement — from men who support the women speaking out — called #HowWillIChange. With the hashtag, men are posting how they will stop victimizing, stop victim-blaming, educate themselves, and speak out in support of women.

While it is important to note that women are more commonly victims, it is equally vital that we realize it’s more difficult to get an accurate count of male victims. Societal pressures and gender stereotypes push males to repress emotions and vulnerability. The stigma surrounding male victims is something that needs to be addressed as a part of sexual assault awareness. Minority victims also must be considered. Mentally ill, disabled, Aboriginal, and immigrant peoples are at high risk of being sexually assaulted. Members of the LGBTQ community, especially transgender people, are also targeted more frequently by offenders.

It’s incredibly important that we know the facts, especially because we are university students. One in five women, one in 16 men, and one in two transgender individuals experience sexualized violence while

in university, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the United States Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, respectively. This is a relevant issue to us. Thankfully, B.C. recognizes the risk in universities, and has passed Bill 23, the Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act, in an effort to address it. The University of the Fraser Valley created its Prevention, Education and Response to Sexualized Violence policy in response. Our government and our school recognize the issue, but we still need to take action to reduce the rates of sexual assault.

What can we do as students? Three simple things: education, perception, and communication. First, educate ourselves on the topic. UFV has resources and workshops on what sexualized violence is, and how to help. There’re movies and documentaries, like The Hunting Ground, Speak, Precious, Boys Don’t Cry, and Audrie and Daisy, that provide a visual representation of sexual assault, and the aftermath. There are also books, peer reviewed journals, and community services with a wealth of information.

Second, we must change our perception of each other. One of the biggest issues is that we objectify others, which makes it easier to victimize them. This has been perpetuated by social media, where we can attack each other with lewd pictures and threatening messages without face-to-face confrontation. We rationalize that, because

someone is different from ourselves, it’s okay to harass, bully, grab, or force ourselves on them. We are all human beings, and it is never okay to hurt someone. Realizing that we are all raised with prejudices, and working to overcome them, is vital in changing our perception. Viewing everyone, no matter their age, gender, sexual orientation, race, physique, mental ability, or education as equal to you, and treating them with the same respect you would show yourself, is how we stop assaulting each other.

Third, and last, keep the communication about sexual assault open. Now that #MeToo has shown us that sexual assault is a huge problem, we need to keep the conversation going. The issue isn’t going to go away when we move on to the next trend.

We can petition our cities’ schools to develop more accurate and relevant sexual education for all grades, and put sexualized violence prevention programs in place. We can reach out to our peers, spread awareness about the issue, and work together to keep our friends informed and safe. We can continue to speak out against sexual assault, and be supportive of victims. Change starts here, with all of us. We each have a voice we can lend to the issue, and when hundreds of voices join, they become a roar that can’t be ignored. Sexual assault is worth roaring about.

5

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Snow it begins

Cheese is ruining my life

Being at UFV in the late afternoon on November 2 was an interesting experience.

The SUB was bustling with students, all eyes watching the first snow of the season falling outside. It didn’t amount to much and was gone by the next day, but the fear and panic we all felt over that centimetre or so of snow was real.

I’d heard that this year wasn’t supposed to be bad for snow (in the way that one “hears” predictions about an entire season’s weather months ahead of time, and can’t remember who told them that), but getting a serious dusting, even a brief one, just two days after Halloween is not an indicator of a light winter. It’s time to get those snow tires on, stick a sleeping bag in the trunk, and start crossing your fingers that if it snows enough to make the roads scary, it’ll snow enough for UFV to shut down.

Oh, and if classes aren’t cancelled, be prepared to spend even longer finding parking once piles of snow start hogging more than their share of spaces.

Happy winter, everyone!

Why do we do things that we know are bad for us? We drink copious amounts of coffee instead of getting a good night’s sleep, we watch four hours of Netflix instead of doing our homework, and we eat things we shouldn’t eat (I, for one, am no stranger to devouring an entire chocolate bar in five minutes flat), even though we know they’re terrible for us. Take for instance, us lucky people who are lactose intolerant.

We know we shouldn’t eat it, but those chili fries covered in hot, melty cheese just look so dang good. But, is the instant gratification we receive from these things really worth it? From someone who spent the weekend throwing up because of said chili cheese fries: it is in fact not worth it.

The after effects of downing three cappuccinos to stay awake, or finishing just one (read: three) more episode of The Handmaid’s Tale before bed, are also not worth it when you’re left feeling like you were run over by a truck the next day. In short: if something is going to give you immense pleasure right now, you’ll probably end up paying for it later.

Cat Friesen

Jeff Mijo

Brief bits of bite sized brevity

SNAPSHOTS

The best drink in the world award goes to…

Boundaries in public broadcaster funding

Tea. The world really wouldn’t be the same without tea. It is possibly the most versatile and flavourful drink that has ever been discovered. It is far superior to coffee; you can choose from zero to coffee-level caffeine content, and from multiple flavours that don’t require packing the beverage with sugar. Plus, decaf tea is actually drinkable, unlike decaf coffee. Tea can be drunk cold or warm, in the summer or winter. You can have tea with breakfast to wake up, a light afternoon tea with a snack, and a soothing nighttime tea before bed. It doesn’t require any special equipment to prep, just a cup, and a way to boil water.

In fact, tea is so great it might even help to fight cancer, with many varieties of tea being packed with antioxidants.

Black tea may be linked to a reduced risk of strokes, and can improve artery health, unlike coffee, which has been shown to increase blood pressure, and has been lightly linked with an increased chance of strokes. The more I think about it, the more I realize there doesn’t seem to be any downside to this wonderful drink.

The CBC should open up to being more critical of the federal and provincial governments. It’s biting the hand that feeds, but now is a great time to establish relationship boundaries.

The public broadcaster has produced some fantastic content recently, especially with Radio One and Radio 2 — world class stuff. But now is the perfect time to toughen up. As the private sector side of journalism fades, and with the CBC seemingly favoured by slightly left leaning Ottawa, our public broadcaster needs to be bold with what it chooses to cover in its media. No fawning the top brass.

Ottawa already committed to providing increased funding to the CBC. What are they going to do, cut it all when the CBC speaks heresy against their establishment?

Besides, if the government reneges on the funding, the CBC could just dip into some of that Mansbridge pension to finance more hard-hitting journalism.

They could fund a lot of journalism with that Mansbridge pension.

Illustrations: Amara Gelaude

6

Jessica Barclay

Curtailed commentary on current conditions

Joel Robertson-Taylor

Framed!

A local photographers quest to shine new light on the familiar Written by: Martin Castro Photography by: Jiles Molina Layout by: CAleb Campbell

The sky above downtown Abbotsford has been overcast all day. As we pull up to the parking lot and get out of my car, the wind blasts thin and unforgiving.

People dash from their cars into stores and back, opting to limit their time exposed to the elements. In a matter of minutes, the weather worsens, and rain falls on the streets of Abbotsford.

Beside me, Jiles Molina reaches into the bag slung over his shoulder. Rolls of film click against each other as he takes inventory. I can’t tell how many rolls he’s brought with him, but I can see that there are more than one kind.

Satisfied, he picks up the collapsed tripod leaning against the car, and turns to me.

“Let’s go.”

Molina has been taking photographs for years now, and focuses on documenting place. He works in Sechelt throughout the week, and comes back to Abbotsford on the weekends, which affords him the opportunity to shoot two vastly different landscapes.

Shooting on film allows him to focus on the moment.

“I prefer not seeing the picture right away,” he tells me. “When you scan the pictures after not seeing them for months, it gives you a reflection on what you were doing at the time, and what you can do next time.”

Going out after having waited months, he says, forces him to focus.

“If I were to have a digital camera, I could go out the next night and reshoot,” says Molina. “I think my pictures would turn out worse.”

Molina has a set of locations he wants to shoot, but I notice he walks patiently, despite the cold weather.

He shoots on film, which means every shot is all or nothing. His chosen format comes hand in hand with an imposed restraint, which informs how he chooses his subjects.

“I’ll have a house in mind that I want to take a picture of,” he tells me. “Once I get that picture, I’ll wander around.

I spend a lot of time driving, and not taking pictures.”

Molina’s job with a hospital transfer unit gives him enough mobility to scout possible locations to shoot, mostly throughout Abbotsford and Sechelt.

Molina actively adds to two ongoing projects, each focused on the cities he lives in.

“Local Traffic is about the Sunshine Coast, and City in the Country is about Abbotsford,” he tells me. “I try to give an adequate representation of these places that turns away from a tourism point of view.”

A focus on documenting the aspects of our surroundings that go overlooked, it seems, explains Molina’s subjects.

“To give a local viewpoint of both these places is my end-goal,” says Molina. “Whether that presents itself in a book or not is subject to change.”

In the meantime, Molina spots something of interest. It’s a square

building on the corner of a street, an Asian restaurant from the looks of it.

Many eyes have no doubt skipped over it; buildings like these have a tendency to blend into the background, but Molina says it’s representative of the landscape.

“My goal is to give people my perspective on the area,” says Molina, “or a new perspective on things they’ve seen a lot.”

The most obvious aspect of Molina’s photography that presents a new aspect of the everyday to viewers is his propensity for taking pictures at night without flash, letting light in through long exposure times.

“I rarely use flash,” says Molina. “Exposure times can range from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.”

Molina tells me that shooting at night is far removed from shooting during the day.

“Everything looks different,” he says. “The sky is black instead of white,

which is drastic. Noises are different.

The people that you run into are different.”

Self-deprecating, Molina underplays its novelty.

“Just after I graduated, I felt like I wanted to try it,” he says. “I thought I had the potential to make okay pictures at night, at least subconsciously.”

The rain hasn’t let up, but Molina is undeterred. Hunched over, he balances an umbrella on his shoulder. Using one hand, he stabilizes a tripod on the ground, then takes out a roll of film, prepares it, and inserts it into the back of the camera. Then he looks back at me, umbrella in hand.

“I’ve just got to clean the lens here before I start,” he says.

We walk for a while before he spots a red building, and sets up a shot from across the street, adjusting the tripod accordingly. He bends over the camera, and glances through the viewfinder. The rain is coming down hard. As

he tries to take the picture, wind pulls at Molina’s umbrella, so he drops it. Cars drive by and their passengers throw curious glances in our direction. Picking up his tripod, Molina moves up the hill. I ask if he’s trying to avoid getting cars in the photo.

“No,” he answers. “I’m trying to make it so my tripod doesn’t fall over.”

A couple of seconds later we’re walking back down the street. Five minutes of setting up in the rain comes to a head in less than a second. No flash, no electronic beep, no instant preview — only the shutter mechanism’s faint clicking betrays that anything has happened.

I ask him what about that particular building was interesting.

“The banner,” he answers. “That one looks like it’s about to fall off.”

He’s right. I hadn’t noticed it, but on the corner of the square building, a large

pink banner’s loosened corner flaps in the wind. Jiles is telling me about the buildings he’s planning on photographing, when we come across the curb which delineates a parking area.

“Oh, this is interesting,” he says, setting up the tripod once more.

Someone’s thrown a watermelon (or part of one) next to the curb. As mundane as the fruit might be, it strikes me that I didn’t notice it sooner. The red clearly stands out against the pavement.

We say our goodbyes, but Jiles stays behind. As I get into my car, I scold myself for not remembering to bring gloves. Before pulling away, I look up from my seat. It’s cold, the rain has picked up drastically, cars are whipping by, and yet here’s Jiles Molina, balancing an umbrella on his shoulder as wind throws his hair about his face. All for a photograph.

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Film Series //

Palestine film series on campus CASSIE DE JONG CULTURE & EVENTS EDITOR

As part of the ongoing UFV Palestine Film Series, the film The Iron Wall was shown on November 2. The series is sponsored by the political science department. The screening was presented by UFV alumni Philip Sherwood. Sherwood has a personal connection to Palestine, and in addition to introducing the film, he gave an experienced account of the events taking place there.

The 52 minute, 2006 film documents the Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza in Palestine, which has lasted 50 years, and has established approximately 200 settlements and outposts in the region. The Iron Wall specifically follows the events leading to the construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier. The film speaks about the effects of both the wall, and the

settlements on the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

The Iron Wall advises that the viability of a Palestinian state, and the peaceful resolution of conflict, is rapidly slipping away.

The film features interviews with both Israeli and Palestinian activists such as Jeff Halper, Akiva Eldar, and Hind Khoury, as well as interviews with Israeli soldiers, settlers, and Palestinian farmers.

A block of time was set for discussion after the film, which prompted a healthy and respectful question period and debate.

Sherwood stated that the political science department is trying their best to show films that speak about different aspects of the crisis in Palestine.

Following the discussion period, in an interview, Sherwood gave advice on how students can get involved with the crisis in Palestine. Sherwood stated that “the best thing students can do is get more in-

formed.” He suggested that students question information regarding this subject.

“Don’t just take what you’re handed, challenge the dominant narrative, and take time to get informed by seeing films like this.” Sherwood also encourages students who feel strongly enough about the situation to visit Palestine, as there is simply no better way to educate yourself on the events taking place there than to witness them yourself.

By showing this series, Sherwood and the political science department are trying to raise awareness about the region, and the topic of human rights. Sherwood states that the only reason these people are being persecuted is because they are Palestinian, and believes the Canadian government should be doing more. “I think that it’s wrong, and I don’t see why one group should do that. Our government gives almost unconditional support, this being the

Don’t Panic //

De-stressing with LNAP

Students find solace from end of semester stress with LNAP CAT FRIESEN COPY EDITOR On Tuesday, November 7, UFV’s Academic Success Centre hosted their annual Long Night Against Procrastination (LNAP). Started in 2015, LNAP is an event focused on helping students prepare for final papers and exams, and the stress that comes with them. Abbotsford campus’ event was held from 5 p.m. to midnight in G building, and the Chilliwack campus’ event was held from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. in A building.

There appeared to be only three rules for LNAP: no naps, don’t panic, and have fun.

Students were able to visit a citation first aid tent, the math and stats centre, a knitting station, the #InThisTogether table, and the Academic Learning Centre table, among others. Students were also given the opportunity to speak with librarians and peer tutors in the Academic Success Centre, and were given access to free black and white and colour printing as well.

There was also a button making station, where

Canadian government and all three political parties, to the Israelis. It’s a degree of complicity, in the sense that our country is enabling Israel to carry on what it’s doing.”

The main message that Sherwood suggests students should take away from these films, is simply that this is happening, and there are steps we can take to make a difference. “If there is any change, it’s probably going to come from the bottom up. It’s people like us speaking out that will help bring about change.” These are the topics Sherwood believes we should be talking about.

The Iron Wall is on YouTube for any who may have missed the screening. This is the third of four events in the Palestine Film Series. The final film, Stone Cold Justice, which is about the treatment of Palestinian children, will be shown on November 15 at 3:30 p.m. in room B121 at UFV. This event is free to attend.

Correction: In the November 1, 2017 issue of The Cascade, The article “UFV event aims to battle procrastination,” erroneously stated that, “the support offered at LNAP will consist of academic advising and counselling.” Information on both services was available at the Academic Success Centre, and students were provided with various support services at LNAP; however, neither advising nor counselling services were actively offered at the event, or advertised as such in promotional material

students could cut out parts of a magazine, and have them be turned into buttons, and a de-stress room, which had calming music, colouring books, board games, and crossword puzzles.

If students signed in to the LNAP event, they were given a bingo-style card, which they could get covered in stickers from different booths — collecting eight of these stickers allowed students to enter a draw for a free three credit course.

Perhaps the most popular activity of the night was the therapy dogs who showed up at the Abbotsford campus at 7 p.m. Students swarmed around the stout golden retrievers, making sure to pet them and tell them what good boys they were.

That, or the cartons of cookies, and the pizza that was delivered at 11 p.m.

UFV’s LNAP hopes to promote good study habits, provide students with the resources they need to get through end of semester assignments and exams, and grant UFV students a brief reprieve from the stress that accompanies the last few weeks of the semester.

Photo: Cat Friesen

What could UFV do to enhance your learning?

Submit your idea and you could WIN an iPad Mini

www.ufv.ca/tlc/feedback 11

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Aboriginal Art //

First Nations exhibit opens at Chilliwack Museum

New museum exhibit showcases local aboriginal community’s past and present ALEISTER GWYNNE STAFF WRITER The Chilliwack Museum and Archives opened a new exhibit on Thursday, November 2. The exhibit, which runs until April 28, 2018, showcases the life and history of Sq’éwlets (pronounced “scowl-its”), a Stó:lō community near Chilliwack at the confluence of the Fraser and Harrison rivers, where archeological work has been going on for the past several years.

In the 1990s, UBC began archeological digs in the area, which inspired the people of Sq’éwlets to learn more about their history.

This exhibit is the result of years of cultural revival, which has included the construction of new longhouses, and revival of the Halq’emeylem language. The purpose of the exhibit is to educate both Indigenous children and non-Indigenous peoples about the history and way of life of the people who have traditionally inhabited this region.

The two-hour opening event was hosted

in part by three representatives of the Stó:lō community: Chief Robert Coombs from Skwah, Chief Andy Phillips, and Johnny Williams. Coombs, who spoke first, had only a few brief comments, but he expressed hope for a unified and harmonious community that will embrace all as equals. Phillips had the most to say, and he explained the purpose of the exhibit, and how it all came to be. Williams, with the help of his children, then presented a traditional welcoming dance to the attendees. Comments and introductions were also offered by Matthew Francis of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives, and Councillor Sue Attrill who was there as acting mayor.

The exhibit includes not only historical artifacts, but also modern objects, and written and video testimonials from members of the Indigenous community that shed light not only on the past, but also the present.

Phillips explained some the hardships that the Indigenous community still faces, especially regarding federal policy, such as the reversal the Ktunaxa Nation recently suffered when they lost a Supreme Court battle to

prevent the Jumbo Glacier resort from being built on land sacred to them. Despite roadblocks and disappointments, Phillips remains optimistic.

“You are on the right path,” Phillips said, referring to the ongoing process by which Indigenous people have slowly but surely gained the respect and recognition from other Canadians, and noting that an exhibition like this one would have been unthinkable 40 years ago. It is but one part of a larger movement for cultural revival and indigenization that has been spreading across the Fraser Valley.

A metaphor that was used was of standing astride two canoes with one foot in each, one representing the past, and ancient traditions, and the other representing the present, and the modern world. Therefore, the new exhibit at the Chilliwack Museum presents the contents of both these vessels. It is the hope of the people of Sq’éwlets that these two canoes will not drift apart, and that both will carry them into a bright future.

Cascade Events Calendar Nov 8 Gender and Society Network Event @ Room C1429 (Abbotsford Campus), 3:00 4:00 p.m.

Civil Villains, Mollys Reech, Alex Rake and the Leaves @ Carport Manor (Abbotsford), 7:30 p.m.

Nov 10 Remembrance Day (Observed) – UFV CLOSED Play: Peter and the Starcatcher (Opening Night) @ Abbotsford Arts Centre, 7:30 p.m.

Nov 12 Intro to Chalk Lettering Workshop @ Community Room Highstreet (Abbotsford), 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Barenaked Ladies: Fake Nudes Tour @ Clarke Theatre (Mission), 7:30 p.m.

Nov 14 Graphic + Digital Design Portfolio Workshop & Info Session @ Heritage Park Centre (Mission Campus), 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Fraser Valley Music Awards (FVMA) Nomination Announcement @ Townhall Public House (Abbotsford), 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Nov 15 Palestine Film Series “Stone Cold Justice” @ Room B121 (Abbotsford Campus), 3:30 p.m.

Self-Publishing Workshop @ The Reach (Abbotsford), 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

UFV Town & Gown Fundraising Dinner @ SUB (Abbotsford Campus), 6:00 9:30 p.m.

12

Note: Some of these events require tickets, most are on Facebook.

If something catches your eye, take to the internet for more details.

Nov 16 Play: A Flea in Her Ear by George Feydeau @ Chilliwack Players Guild, 7:30 p.m.

Free Sass Class @ Army of Sass (Chilliwack), 8:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Nov 17 West Coast Christmas Show @ Tradex (Abbotsford), 2:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Lonesome Town Painters @ The Stage in Mission, 7:30 - 11:59 p.m.

Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market @ Chilliwack Heritage Park, 12:00 p.m.

Peter James Band @ The Well (Chilliwack), 9:30 p.m. - Midnight 4th Annual Mission Rock and Gem Show @ Clarke Theatre (Mission), 4:00 p.m.

Nov 18 A Formal Affair: Masquerade Ball @ Townhall Public House (Abbotsford), 8:00 10:00 p.m.

Practical Photography: Understanding Exposure @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

West Coast Christmas Show @ Tradex (Abbotsford), 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m Chilliwack Independent Film Festival @ Cottonwood Cinema (Chilliwack), Showtimes vary Quidditch Canada Western Regional Championship @ W J Mouat Secondary Fields (Abbotsford), 8:00 a.m.

Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market @ Chilliwack Heritage Park, 10:00 a.m.

Nov 19 West Coast Christmas Show @ Tradex (Abbotsford), 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m Chilliwack Independent Film Festival @ Cottonwood Cinema (Chilliwack), Showtimes vary Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market @ Chilliwack Heritage Park, 10:00 a.m.

Nov 21

Nov 26

Presentation by B.C. Support Unit Fraser Centre @ Room A225 (Abbotsford Campus), 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Play: The Nutcracker @ Abbotsford Arts Centre, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Maan Farms 3rd Annual Christmas Market @ Maan Farms (Abbotsford), 10:00 a.m.

Nov 22 Upcycle Your Dusty Gems @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Folio Thinking @ Room G113 (Abbotsford Campus), 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Nov 24 Random Dander, China Syndrome, and Pete’s Arcade @ Captains Cabin Pub (Mission), 8:00 p.m. - Midnight Tree Lighting Ceremony @ Salish Park (Chilliwack), 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Exit 123 @ The Well (Chilliwack), 9:00 11:00 p.m.

Fraser Valley Music Awards (FVMA) Battle of the Bands Final @ The Stage in Mission, 7:00 p.m.

Nov 25 All Canadian Classic Rock Concert @ Abbotsford Arts Centre, 6:00 - 11:00 p.m.

Maan Farms 3rd Annual Christmas Market @ Maan Farms (Abbotsford), 10:00 a.m.

3rd Annual Movember Dodgeball Tournament @ Heritage Park Middle School (Mission), 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Movember Pub Night/Dodgeball After Party @ The Stage in Mission, 7:00 10:00 p.m.

Abbyfest Ft. Glass Tiger, With Special Guests Chilliwack & Sass Jordan @ Abbotsford Centre, 7:00 p.m.

Brewing Workshop @ Royals Kombucha Brew House (Chilliwack), 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Nov 29 Film Production Info Session @ The Reach (Abbotsford), 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Writing for Film + Television Info Session @ The Reach (Abbotsford), 5:30 6:30 p.m.

Nov 30 Colour Mixology: Acrylic Paints @ Chilliwack Community Arts Council, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Dec 1 Body, Wine, Jewels! Workshop @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Candlelight Parade @ Lougheed Highway (Mission), 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.

Jerry Seinfeld @ Abbotsford Centre, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m Dec 5 Abbotsford Education & Career Fair @ Tradex (Abbotsford), 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Dec 6 National Day of Remembrance, and Action on Violence Against Women - All Day

STUDY BREAK Crossword //

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Made by Cassie de Jong

ACROSS

DOWN

1: A usually black dinner jacket set, often worn at black tie events.

1: A muscular organ in the mouth for tasting and swallowing.

2: The seeds you find on top of bagels.

3: Band that played song “Hotel California.”

4: Friends that exist only within your mind are _ _ _.

11: A criteria for peer-reviewed sources in your essays.

12: A puzzling question posed to be solved.

13: A person charged with officiating a baseball game.

4: Bladed shoes to wear on a frozen pond or rink.

5: Long-tailed aquatic pets named after a heavenly host.

6: To appear exactly the same as something else.

7: A presenter who tells audiences various messages over the radio or a loudspeaker.

8: A day that is neither today or tomorrow, but has recently passed.

9: A name for both a delicious salad, and a savoury alcoholic drink.

10: A small structure in which you park your car, and store various items.

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS: Across:

Down:

1: Snake 3: April 4: Latte 5: Heart 7: Oak 8: Monet 9: Inuit 10: Oar 11: Elder 13: Igloo 14: Steam 15: Stark

2: Everest 3: Ash 6: Tutor 7: Olive 8: Misfits 12: Rum

Illustration by: Amara Gelaude

Horoscope //

Astrological mysteries rudely interpreted by Lady May

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 It is in the now, and in this world, where we must focus our energy. That being said, it’s pointless to share this logic with an Aries, as their minds are usually off somewhere around Cloud nine… or in Narnia.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 You are the most stubborn individuals in the zodiac, much to the Aries dismay. Your ram’s horns are up everyone else’s asses, causing you to also be the most annoying. However, focus on your good qualities, and don’t let anyone bring you down.

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 Leos claim to be happy-go-lucky, responsible citizens who are always having fun. However, we have all witnessed you, on several occasions, fighting with your servers, and causing heated debates over billboards.

Perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate your lifestyle choices.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 Virgos never seem to share details about their living situation. Whether you live in a sizeable mansion, or a cardboard box, you simply insist that it has always been your intent to reside there.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 Your artistic accomplishments will win the admiration of your peers. Just try not to brag too much about the perfect image of Cher you claim to have made in your Cheerios this morning.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 A Libra’s ability to master any task will take them far in life, but be wary of assigning them duties they consider beneath them. If one is asked to clean toilets, they will likely start a riot in the parking lot.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 You cannot love life until you live the life you love. If, lately, you feel like your life is going nowhere, you are probably right.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 You will be invited to a flashy event next week. Sadly, you will also be appointed to take the drunken, drooling friend home. This friend will likely be a Cancer.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 You describe yourself as a hard worker.

Mostly, this is because you make everything harder than it has to be. Take a chill pill. Lady’s orders.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 Your flair for creativity manifests in the strangest of ways. Whether you know it or not, you have been gifted with remarkable talents for knitting, yodelling, and interpretive dance.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 Enjoy the good luck a companion brings, as companions are few and far between for you. Aquarius have a need for constant attention, which causes them to have a hard time finding anyone who doesn’t think they are creepy.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 While most people hang posters of musicians and movie stars on their walls, Pisceans hang posters of great mathematicians. The fact that they are obsessed with math explains why they are such pains in the ass.

13

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Comedy //

CHARTS 1

METZ Strange Peace

2

VIEWMASTER Alternative Classics

3

WEAVES Wide Open

4

HOLY HUM All Of My Bodies

5

BLESSED EP 2

6

GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR Luciferian Towers

7

CHAD VANGAALEN Light Information

8

BIRD CITY Winnowing

9

FAITH HEALER Try ;-)

SHUFFLE AARON LEVY

CRAZY SNIFFABLE

CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy is in pieces over the death of future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Roy Halladay, and shocked by the senseless murder of an APD constable this week.

Robert Palmer — Bad Case Of Lovin you “I got the news today (yesterday, because you’re reading this on Wednesday, but I’m writing it on Tuesday night), oh boy,” says the song by The Beatles, Britain’s classic art rock sensation that took the America’s heart by storm, much the way Doc Halladay wooed me one September Sunday in 1998.

Photo: Facebook

MARTIN CASTRO Puff Daddy ft. Faith Evans — I’ll Be Missin’ You

10

ANDRE BISSON Break

11

XCEPHASX The Space Between the Walls

12

SOCCER MOMMY Collection

13

OUGHT These 3 Things

14

DAVIDE PANNOZZO Unconditional Love

15

ESMERINE Mechanics of Dominion

16

GARY COMEAU AND THE VOODOO ALLSTARS One Night Only

17

VERSING Nirvana

Aliyah — Are You That Somebody?

18

JIM BYRNES Long Hot Summer Days

19

WARCALL Invaders

20

ST. VINCENT MASSEDUCTION

No one will ever be that somebody again, neither for Toronto, nor baseball. Locally, we’ve experienced loss in a big way as well, and to that end it’s of paramount importance to focus on community and togetherness. The Doc got it in the teamwork he fostered every day. Do you?

14

Local comedian jokes about family life, fatherhood.

I never thought I’d find an appropriate place to project my teenage affection for Puff Daddy, and this Police-lifted tribute to B.I.G.gest of them all, the very much Ryan Howard-like (from the Philadelphia Phillies, not The Office) Christopher Wallace. I’ll be missing not watching.

Don McLean — American Pie The day the music died. My my, this here Halladay guy, maybe later a no hitter, now he’s just a tall fry, he took the mound, and blew the hitters right by, saying soon I’ll be a hall of fame guy. And he soon will be, like Clemente and the Bopper.

ARTS EDITOR

Stages throughout the Fraser Valley are well-trodden by the feet of many different performers: musicians, from avant-garde, to folk and punk have all shared spotlights, and collectively laid claim to the stage in venues around the Valley. However, as the popularity of Abbotsford’s Yuk-Yuks underscores, Valley-folk are increasingly heading to stages not to head-bang or dance, but to laugh.

Enter Cliff Prang — husband, dad, funnyman.

Prang, a local stand-up comic, has been performing since he was young. As a child, he instinctively turned to comedy to diffuse tension at home. At school, he found an outlet for performative creativity.

“I remember the first competition,” says Prang, “we’re at the national arts centre. There’s like 400 students, and we’re doing a Western scene based on dental hygiene. There was no conflict, so I rode in on my imaginary horse, and said ‘Hi, I’m plaque.’ Everyone lost it.”

The reaction of that now-distant audience set in motion the events that brought Prang to where he is now. However, as far as stand-up-comedians go, Prang is of the less-offensive variety.

“I like dirty jokes, but my personal philosophy is to bring as many people in on it as possible.”

He says, “If a joke is funny, it’s funny, whether it’s clean or dirty. Most people, when they come to a comedy show, they’ve come to laugh. I’m the product, right? But they’re the reason.”

That relationship, says Prang, has informed his act.

“The way that I look at it is that I’m their servant. I’m trying to give them something that they want. I’m talking to them, trying to figure out what they want.”

Sometimes, though, Prang’s jokes aren’t either clean or dirty. Sometimes, they’re all too real.

“The set up is that I’m a stay-at-home parent, but I suck at my job, because I’m there — at the show.”

After some jokes about family-life, Prang tells

his audience a story about being on vacation with his kids. “[We’re] in the ocean,” says Prang, “drifting in the waves. It comes to this point where we all ended up in the deep water. I’ve got two kids on my chest, I’m floating in the deep. My eldest son now is struggling to get out of the water. I don’t think I can get to him.”

Prang lets the moment hang before continuing.

“I’m a stay-at-home dad,” he says “and I almost lost my job that day. And the audience erupts with laughter.”

Despite his “squeaky-clean” label as a comic, Prang says that, even while telling potentially polarizing jokes like that of his son, he strives to connect, not alienate, his audience.

“I was able to pull people out of the stress of the moment by adding little jokes,” he says. “My daughter asks, ‘Dad, did you bring the snacks?’ I look at my son (whom I’ve set up to be a bit of an idiot throughout the night — I love him) and my son just [dolphin screech], and says ‘Go faster daddy!’ And then at that point I look out at my eldest son and think Oh no, I’ve saved the wrong kid.”

Laughter, for Prang, is all about bringing people together.

“Whether you’ve seen it on TV, or you’ve been in the same room and felt that electricity, you all laugh together,” he says. “Part of why stand-up comedy has seen a resurgence is that people want to come together, and watch this unique experience for that moment.”

Afforded a degree of perspective after putting together Dad Body of Work, his first comedy special, Prang has some words of wisdom for students invested in performance: put yourself out there.

“Pursue the opportunities that are around you.

Tell people that you do it. If there aren’t opportunities, make them yourself,” says Prang. “The biggest thing is, you have to put yourself out there.”

Prang’s special, Dad Body of Work is available for purchase or streaming online.

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Video Game Review //

A bit fractured but a whole lotta laughs

While it may not be perfect, The Fractured But Whole is pretty fun KAT MARUSIAK MANAGING EDITOR

Three years after their first major awardwinning video game release, South Park: The Stick of Truth, the South Park gang is back in the direct sequel, South Park: The Fractured But Whole (cue immature snickering), released on October 17, 2017 for PS4, XONE, and PC. Returning to your role in the story as the “New Kid” (also known by such loving monikers as “Butthole,” “Douchebag,” and “the Farting Vigilante”), the title of king you earned previously in TSoT becomes more or less meaningless, as the name of the game has changed. Forget wizards, royalty, and garden betrayals, it’s time for some ass-kicking superhero action! Of course, the game ties in directly to the series — season 21 even includes an episode that leads into it — and as fans know, the boys have again split into two opposing sides as heroes: “Coon and Friends,” led by “The Coon,” half-man, half-raccoon (“Who IS The Coon?” As everyone’s always known, it’s Cartman), and the “Freedom Pals.” Due to disagreements with franchise plans, the

two are now rivals à la DC and Marvel.

Stuck in the middle, the New Kid will have to decide which franchise they think will be more successful and want to stick with, or try to find a way to unite the two once again. Oh, and you’re going to need to get some money to start up that first Netflix series.

The game does not disappoint in its delivery of signature South Park style humour (there’s an ability where you fart out a hamster at high speed that’s been shoved up your ass — I think that’s probably a sufficient example), the dialogue is fantastic and feels natural, and as with TSoT, it really is like stepping into an extremely extended episode of the popular show. It manages to incorporate quite a large number of characters from the series, with some of the nonplayable ones still able to assist in battle, either with the use of items as in the last game, or in the case of PC Principal, a free swing at any bigot punks who are caught using a microaggression, ‘cause that’s not cool, bro.

The combat system has been only slightly improved upon from the last title, some might say not really at all, but most nota-

bly the “fart fighting” mechanics are quite a bit smoother, and more useful. However, an even bigger emphasis is now placed on the farting abilities, which may be a bit much for some people. Other characters can also be called upon to help the main hero outside of battle in order to complete puzzles and reach secret areas, and there are many side quests ranging from fights to fetch quests and collecting items, such as all the Tweek and Craig yaoi artwork you can find in town.

The game gives you a ton of options for customization, both in the appearance of your character (featuring more costumes than you can shake a Stick of Truth at), as well as class, attacks and abilities, and special upgrades — you’ll also be asked to declare such information as your gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc., and will have to deal with those intolerants in town who “don’t take kindly to your types” regardless of what you choose. You’ll have to declare a weakness as well, because every hero has to have a weakness (except The Coon, of course), and there is a difficulty setting that will be determined by your character’s ethnicity, increasing as skin colour gets darker.

However, as they explain, it doesn’t make combat harder, just every other aspect of your life, sadly.

As an avid South Park fan, I’ve really enjoyed playing TFBH, and it proved to be a wonderful escape from some of that postmidterm stress I’d been feeling. It’s definitely not without its flaws, with many people reporting bugs and other issues with the game, as well as complaints about Ubisoft’s online component, “UPlay.” Personally, I have not experienced any bugs playing on the PS4, nor has the UPlay feature caused trouble for me, so I can’t speak to that. But even if TFBH may or may not live up to its predecessor depending on the gamer, I found it to be a worthy enough sequel and would recommend it to any fan of the show, if even just for the humorous dialogue and stories that unfold, and all the hilarity contained therein. Honestly, the title is fitting for more than just its play on words: the game may have some flaws that “fracture” it, but overall, it still delivers a whole lot of laughs and fun.

Movie Review //

Blade Runner 2049 is drawn-out, but impressive

MARTIN CASTRO ARTS EDITOR

Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to the 1982 scifi juggernaut Blade Runner is as grand as its predecessor. Aesthetically, viewers will find more of the original. Broad cityscapes portray a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, riddled with garbage and inundated in smog. The replicants (bioengineered humans) of the previous film have gone from being used as slave labourers to further being integrated in the world as servants and low-level workers.

Ryan Gosling portrays the replicant “K,” a “blade runner” (hit-men tasked with hunting and killing replicants). As the film’s plot unfolds, K attempts to piece together an increasingly complicated conspiracy, which asks us to consider what it truly means to be human.

In a callback to the style of its predecessor, 2049’s plot doesn’t spell things out for the viewer. Scenes are set by sweeping shots which run through highly stylized environments — smog-filled cityscapes all but destroyed by pollution fill the frame. The film’s decidedly violent scenes are punctuated by longer, more patient scenes of conspiratorial brooding. As K tries to track down the whereabouts of a replicant freedom movement, his investigation forces him to consider the possibility that there is a darker, more sinister hand at work: a child as the result of a relationship between replicant Rachel, and Harrison Ford’s character in the 1982 original.

For all its brooding, 2049 manages to ask us updated versions of the questions the original did: what does it mean to be human in a time when replicants are so adept at mimicking human behaviour that

A Play by

Rick Elice

they might as well be real? This central plot, which morphs into Rick Deckard’s (Harrison Ford) attempt to find his child, previously believed to be dead, hijacks the investigation aspect of the film. The change in focus gives viewers a reprieve from (in that they have time to consider) K’s investigation. Time is needed in the first place because, for the most part, 2049 doesn’t explain the investigation to the viewer by adding expository dialogue. We’re given the tools we need to understand when K has taken a step forward, and are expected to follow along accordingly.

Meanwhile, one of the most interesting questions the film asks rears its head innocuously. For companionship, K relies on his girlfriend Joi, an artificial intelligence product. Despite his role as a blade runner, and one who knows he is not human, K constantly demonstrates affection and

Based on the novel by

love for K, a disembodied artificial intelligence he purchased some time back. Just as the original film, this iteration of Blade Runner questions the reality of our experiences, and although viewers might have to keep their wits about them as they take in the narrative, the film manages to be just as provocative as the original.

Insofar as acting is concerned, Harrison Ford’s late appearance in the film is underscored by a shift into a more relentless action-packed hour than otherwise indicated by the film’s set-up, but for all the fuss about the actor’s involvement in the film, it’s Ryan Gosling’s reserved performance that steals the show. That said, apart from aesthetic enjoyment, if you haven’t sought this film out already, odds are you can wait until it shows up on Netflix.

Music by

Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson Wayne Barker

The Exciting (and Entertaining!)

Prequel to Peter Pan Abbotsford Arts Centre

NOVEMBER 10 – 18

“An absurdly funny fantastical journey!” ~Entertainment Weekly For play information and schedule, visit:

WWW.GALLERY7THEATRE.COM

Production Presenting Sponsor: PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is produced through special arrangements with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.

MTIShows.com. Originally produced on Broadway by Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Greg Schaffert, Eva Price, Tom Smedes, and Disney Theatrical Productions.

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