The Confluence | February 20th, 2024

YOUR OFFICIAL COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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February 20th, 2024

Open Letter - BCFS Calls To Action

The Student Experience Needs To Be Discussed More

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BCFS Annual General Meeting

Review Report Submitted By the Student Reps

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Sam Sparks‘ Unfair Treatment

Gender Bias In Kids Media

EDITOR editor@cncsu.ca

Garry Rajput

Happy February, everyone! I’m so happy the month is almost over by the time I write this. There is a lot which has happened in February, despite it being one of the smaller months. Plus, I survived a 10 day sickness parade - do not walk out at 2 am, bare feet, while it is snowing outside because you ended up wanting to immediately throw the trash out rather than wait till dawn. Some mistakes are best forgotten. I’ve not had much time on my plate because of exams, elections, work and playing catch up on the classes I missed because I got sick.

Moreover, the February ain’t properly februaring this year either. Just poor little - well not so little Garry being the third wheel on my friends’ date. I hope everyone else had a good Valentines week.

EDITOR editor@cncsu.ca

Ronnie Petersen

Happy February, everyone! I hope classes are going smoothly, and that everyone’s had a good start to the new year. I’ve been spending my time furiously chipping away at writing a manuscript for one of my English classes, as well as catching up on some movies I’ve been meaning to watch for a while.

Just a friendly reminder that Garry and I are always open to hearing new thoughts and ideas! We have a lot of creative freedom when it comes to this magazine, and we want to incorporate as many great, creative contributions as we can. Enjoy this issue!

The Editorial Committee

Vacant

Vacant

Vacant

Vacant

Columnist

Journalist

Media Coordinator

Event Photographer

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Your Students' Union

Angelina Jorquera

Anuroop Kaur

Chantel John

Holiness Ozumba

Hunter Wiebe

Quesnel Campus Representative

Women Students’ Representative

Indigenous Students' Representative

Human Services' Representative

Upgrading and Access Representative

Jasvir Singh

Kartik Sethi

Kevin Jack

Riley Tarry

Business and Management Representative

Community and Continuing Education Representative

University Studies Representative

Trades, Industry and Technology Representative

Leila Abubakar -Depenau Executive Director

Guntas Thapar

Damon Robinson

Carman Hill

Hana Hoang

Organizer

Membership Outreach Coordinator

Quesnel Campus Coordinator

Office and Services Coordinator

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Campus News Column

Summary of events that influence the student life Your Own Student Newspaper

CNC Student Elections The Board of Governors is responsible for decisions regarding tuition, budgets, credentials, business affairs, and strategic direction - there are two dedicated seats for students in the board, decided by a student election process. There currently is one student seat vacant, for which the elections are being held. Candidates for Board of Governors have already entered their campaigning period. Your candidates are Analee Dumalag, Olanrewaju Folarin, Chandan Kalra, and Garry Rajput. Voting to happen via Survey Monkey on Monday, March 4 - Tuesday, March 5.

At the same time, nomination period of Education Council has been extended to February 21. Please wait for more information.

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CNCSU Student Elections As we slowly approach March, conversations about CNCSU Elections have started to surface.

The next batch of student leaders is soon to be voted on - if you’re interested in becoming a student representative, or just wanting more clarity on what to look for in an ideal candidate to vote for, come talk to Damon Robinson, Membership Outreach Coordinator, in the Students’ Union office.

Upcoming CNC Events Basketball Tournament - Friday, March 8, 5 PM to 9 PM. Registration Required.

Drumming Circle - Tuesdays, 5 PM. Board Game Cafe - February 22, March 21, 4 PM to 6 PM. Gathering Place.

Surviving To Thriving - Wednesday, March 6, 12 PM to 1 PM. Lecture Theater 1-306.

Open Letter - BCFS Calls To Action Jasvir Singh Business Students' Representative, Federation Representative, & Secretary-Treasurer CNCSU

As a member of the BC Federation of Students (BCFS), CNC Students’ Union is one of the signatories to the open letter, written to Premier David Eby asking the government to put in the work and resources needed to ensure we in British Columbia have a worldclass public post-secondary education system that rewards hard work, engages students in transformative learning experiences, and develops the skills and passions of tomorrow’s workers.

The Immediate Actions Our open letter to the BC government includes 5 key actions that need to be addressed in the post-secondary education sector: Cap international student tuition fee increases at 2% annually.

Release a plan on how international study permits will be distributed to institutions in BC. Complete the Post-Secondary Funding Formula Review and determine gaps in government funding, in particular for regional colleges and universities.

Develop a funding model that provides long-term financial stability for institutions, delivers quality education and

services for students, and does not rely on student tuition fees as the main source of funding.

Invest in BC’s public post-secondary institutions to ensure post-secondary education is affordable and accessible and that the province is able to produce the skilled workers needed in the labor force

Public Records and Rationale Government funding towards public postSecondary has significantly declined in past few decades due to which the students ultimately end up paying the price in higher tuition fees and service cuts on campus. The dependency on international tuition fees and lack of funding for post-secondary education has led us to a point where band-aid solutions are no longer enough, the system needs to be reviewed and necessary changes implemented.

Following the Federal government’s announcement on January 29, 2024, to put a cap on the number of international study permits being issue. I anticipate that CNC will see decreased international education enrollment which will cause a loss in revenue and budget shortfalls. Students will inevitably experience cuts to services, a rise in current

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international tuition fees again and program cuts if the provincial government takes no action. But with consistent, stable, and predictable funding for BC’s public postsecondary institutions, the financial predation on students, both international and domestic, will no longer be seen as necessary for an institution’s survival.

On December 16, 2022, CNC increased international tuition fees by 4% and domestic tuition fees by 2%, implemented on August 1, 2023, following that on September 29, 2023, CNC’s Board of Governors again approved a 2% increase to tuition and mandatory fees for domestic students, and a 4% increase for

international student tuition and fees. These changes will come into place for courses or programs starting on or after August 1st, 2024.

Currently at CNC we have 44% enrollment from international students these students are already paying at least 4 times more than their domestic peers still seeing cut in services.

That’s why we are calling on Eby’s government to address the post-secondary underfunding and facilitate long time solutions that will allow a vibrant and thriving post-secondary education system. Eby’s Government is dedicated to building a stronger BC, but without post-secondary education, more people will be left behind.

Highlights : Pathway to Permanent Residency A representative from IRCC (Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada) joined us on Tuesday, February 13th for a presentation on various pathway options towards getting your permanent residency in Canada. The event was very well received, with the Gathering Place beaming with current international students and alumni.

After the presentation, we got the opportunity to speak to one student who had driven to Prince George campus from Quesnel just to attend this presentation. Many other students also were delighted to get the opportunity to have some of their questions answered after the presentation concluded.

The presentation, initially, was supposed to be organized on a smaller scale and have limited

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attendance through registration; it was later changed to a drop-in session welcoming all the students who made the time to be there. "It was initially planned to be held in a classroom, but after seeing the student interest, we decided to take it to the Gathering place.

Despite only having a few days to prepare the entire set up, we're happy that students were so engaged and able to ask their questions directly to an IRCC Representative" said Director International at CNC. Presentations like such are highly appreciated by the students as they help students to plan their future endeavors more clearly. We strongly hope for there to be more of such information sessions that cater to the needs of different demographics which exist within CNC. If students weren’t able to attend the presentation, a copy of the information shared was emailed to all international student.

My Valentine - Kartik She makes me happy, she makes me smile, Her presence makes my life worthwhile.

With every step, she’s by my side, In her love, I forever reside.

In her eyes, the stars do gleam, She’s the beacon in my dream.

Her smile makes me happy all the while, With her, life is full of joy and style.

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In her love, I find my grace, A boundless, endless, warm embrace.

She’s the muse of my every rhyme, My love for her, an eternal chime.

She’s my everything, my shining star, With her, life’s an adventure, near and far.

With her love, I feel so fine, She’s the one, who makes me shine.

Banishment - Garry Rajput The true sovereignty is learning to love the hate deep within them.

It is when one starts worshipping the demons which they once refused to acknowledge the existence of.

“Fear of the unknown.

Anxiety due to the known.

Tears because the known suddenly seems so unknown.”

It’s sad that many of us silently live a life so miserable that it’s easier for them to live with emotions that they fear but know the end of.

“I’d rust without even achieving the merits I want.

I don’t know when, but somewhere along the way, I burned out” These fragments thoughts are all what have kept me hostage. Maybe.

I’m sure the conversations I had with my mother are part of it.

I’m sure the betrayal I felt out of high-school is still there.

I’m sure that there’s more.

There always is.

One could argue, “The act of complete submission is no less than slavery.”

But what if slavery to an extent is the spiritual freedom we all truly want?

Maybe it’s just me but doesn’t everything get better with a little bit of restrain?

“Excitement of stepping into the unknown.

The pleasure of a secret Alice only existing in your wonderland.

Ravishingly upsetting and egocentric thoughts - that’s true sovereignty.

Of course, it’s all a banishing terrain of very uncomfortable yet satisfying illusions.

And of course, it all comes to an end every night as I hit the bed.

Have any poetry you want to submit? Send it to editor@cncsu.ca All published work gets you $20!

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BCFS Annual General Meeting Review Report Holiness Ozumba Human Services' Representative

The Annual General meeting was held in Delta Hotels, Marriott in Vancouver. It started on the 18th of January 2024 with opening plenary at 7: 00pm by Ashkon Hasemi after being ratified as the plenary speaker for the general meeting.

The plenary agenda was adopted after Hasemi read them. Also, the minutes of the last meeting were read.

It was very inspiring been my first BCFS meeting with the theme: Dare to dream. The introduction on the day one of the meeting set the tables straight for the rest of the meeting. I took away from day one that the Federation has 14 locals as participant representing over 1,70,000 students all over British Columbia and the first meeting was held as far back as 1975.

This gave the feeling of being part of and continuing a big thing that has seen the efforts of so many young people. The highlight of the second day was the open session, where guest speakers like Tracie Ho and Bobby, spoke on the importance of student organizing and mobilizing. He explicitly differentiated the difference between both. What does it take to organize? What is the first question to ask as

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an organizer? Understanding power, who has it? and who doesn’t have it? In addition, the third day’s workshop was another hit, where the snowflake Model – a distributed approach to leadership was talked about. One thing I took away from that session was: Be You! Share your story.

Current student issues such as housing crisis, food insecurity, MSP insurance fees for international students took center stage. We also emphasized on lobbying the government for 500 million dollars for post secondary funding. The take home for our local is the next steps; we have organized and continue to organize. We now need to figure out how we should mobilize these steps better.

In general, we concluded on the line of actions for representatives from that moment forward especially for our housing continuum to: build evidence base for proof to the government, go out there in the community, gain vacancy control, bring feedback, get in contact with housing Co-ops, rental protection funds.

Finally, we need to provide students with the knowledge of their rights to tenant housing, to empower international students and best avoid the exploitation. In whatever we decide to do henceforth, we should DARE TO DREAM!

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Unfair Treatment of Sam Sparks Gender Bias in Kids Media

Kiaya Morrisey One of the main ideas in the film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is about the constant internal battle many people have. External forces like the idea a person has to change themselves to be accepted in their society plays a role in this film, but the movie also includes the idea that being different can be a good thing since it leads to innovative ideas.

However, this mostly applies to Flint Lockwood because though he is seen as an outsider in his town, he doesn’t have to change himself very much. He is still listened to when he makes new inventions and is celebrated when he makes the machine to produce food from water.

The mayor of the town does take control of some aspects of Flint’s machine, yet if it was a woman who made something so important, it is likely she would’ve been taken out of the public spotlight. Sam Sparks is a character who is like Flint but she is treated differently due to being a woman. Both of these characters received bullying when they were younger for being different but Sam is forced into the small box of an acceptable woman as she gets older whereas Flint can continue his eccentric habits. She even actively ignores her own needs, like needing glasses to see and wears an impractical hairstyle for her work because it is the only way she will have a chance to be taken seriously.

In the beginning she gets what is believed to be a terrible work assignment that is so bad the news station would only send an intern to do it. Sam is also unqualified for the position and it shows when she goes on air the first time and makes mistakes. This purposeful way of

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making her do something she is unprepared for is a form of sabotage.

The themes in the movie features messages about inequality in the workplace and consumer culture. The idea of emphasized femininity is contributing to the workplace inequality and is seen in relation to Sam Sparks. She is pretty, dumbed down and poses no threat to any of the men working at the TV station. One line from the film is “Oh just send the intern. She’s cute and she’s super perky,” followed by “Well those are the only things we look for in a weather person.” This is a reflection on how positions are limited based on looks for jobs that a woman may get in the television industry.

When a woman is on TV, they are in the less watched time spaces and despite this, almost all female news reporters are slim and beautiful to entice people into watching their channels. Until recently there were very few woman announcers and even though the number is growing, it is almost exclusive that they are women who look like models. This furthers the idea that women have to look a specific way to work in certain jobs, like being the image of emphasized femininity to work on television. Seeing Sam struggle to fit into this role when she would be able to do it better while wearing a more practical outfit for her job roles is how this is represented in the film.

Marketing and consumer culture also play a part because Swallow Falls went from being a completely unknown island to playing a massive part in consumerism. This was because of the novelty of food falling from the

sky, it was pushed hard in the television industry as a prime destination to visit, which put a strain on the machines production and created mass amounts of waste. Near the beginning when the amount of food produced was controlled and in a smaller amount, the town was able to dispose of it but it quickly showed the flaws when more waste was produced. Using the “Outtasighter” machine to catapult uneaten food away to a place they could not see it, therefore it was “out of sight and out of mind’ and wouldn’t have to be dealt with. This way of thinking is common, as it is how western countries operate and they also send large portions of garbage to landfills or even export it to other countries to keep it out of the sight of the people that live in those areas.

Another issue with the film is the way that Sam feels the need to dumb herself down and act like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

She shows many times that she is intelligent both in weather related things, which she has loved since she was a child, and with other chemistry disciplines. She could easily make the inventions that Flint does, but as a child she was pushed away from pursuing science related subjects because it didn’t suit girls and that is another example of her being forced into the narrow definition of a proper woman.

I love this film because of its fun and quirky nature and many of the issues listed before do get resolved in the end. That includes the issue of Sam’s looks being tied directly into how she is received by others as shown in the scene when she is trying to tell the news channel that there is a hurricane coming. Rather then being listened to, as anyone else would be, she is laughed at and kicked off the air because she doesn’t fit exactly into the standards that are expected of her. In later films she also keeps the new look which shows her confidence has

grown. Her concerns are brushed aside in this movie and even though she is the first person to think something may be wrong, nobody takes it seriously until the threat is too big to handle. Other issues like consumerism are also shown why exactly they are harmful, as the build up from all the unnecessary waste takes over the town, which I also think is a good message to take away from the film.

I think even with limitations of this being a movie aimed towards children, the messages that they show are well done. Topics in kids movies tend to not be developed extensively and having Sam break away from being constrained in the idea of what a woman should be shows other people who watch this film that not adhering to the rules can be helpful. She goes from being someone who wouldn’t have contributed very much to the story to becoming one of the heroes through using her intelligence. Something that could be changed is that Sam finds herself on her own, rather than needing to be encouraged by Flint to embrace how she truly is. By using this route it would show that Sam was the one who managed to accept herself, rather then someone else telling her that it is okay to live in a way that is authentic to herself. If I include the sequel film, I wish that she was taken more seriously, all of her concerns are still not heard and continues the idea that her ideas are never important.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a great film that shows different messages in a lighthearted but effective way. The ideas behind many of the topics are less obvious and may be harder to notice as society is so used to seeing these messages from films. Looking more critically at any film will reveal biased ideas like the ones featured here, whether they are intentionally placed within the narrative or are because it is so familiar.

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U-PASS The U-PASS gets you on the bus and in the pools for free! Come to the CNCSU office (1-303) with your student ID to get one!

LOCKER RENTAL We offer lockers all across the Prince George campus for you to store your books and personal items throughout the day. The rental fee is $5 (half-sized) or $10 (full-sized) per locker a semester, plus a $5 locker deposit.

HEALTH & DENTAL

The CNCSU's health plan provides access to thousands of dollars in coverage for prescription medication, dental treatments, paramedical services and multiple other benefits for less than $23 per month, making it some of the least expensive extended medical coverage in the country.

ADVOCACY

We listen to your concerns and provide information on college policies and procedures, as well as student rights and responsibilities. We also help you prepare for conversations with supervisors, deans, instructors, or administrators and participate in meetings as a witness and mediator when requested.

CLUBS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES We have a variety of clubs and recreational activities that bring students together to destress. These range from sports and recreational clubs to writing and poetry. You can even start one of your own!

*Our other services inlcude the food bank, poster boards, campaigns, and events.

http://www.cncsu.ca/ | info@cncsu.ca | 250-561-5852

“More Riddles To Confuse Your Brain” - Wildlife Edition Solve it - 3 minute challenge Bonus: There is a secret word

Find these words Bag Bugs Camp

Can Fire Hat

Map Pan Tree

Anuroop Kaur

A Reflection and An Invitation!!

Women Students' Representative, & Chairperson

I’ve been lucky to represent the women here at College of New Caledonia for nearly two years now as the Women's Representative. With my term almost ending, I’ve started to look back on the conversations I’ve had and how much I’ve grown over the last two years. I’ve come to deeply value the importance of women groups.

These groups play a crucial role in boosting the confidence of participants by creating an opportunity for women to interact with peers from diverse backgrounds, fostering connections and friendships which extend beyond academic boundaries, and overcoming challenges that extend beyond our academic lives. By coming together, we share perspectives, exchange ideas, and, in doing so, gain a more diverse knowledge base.

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As I write this, I’m extending an invite to all the self-identifying women to come and participate in this gathering. These women's groups provide an essential environment for students to unwind and find respite from the pressures of their academic and professional obligations. It serves as a foundation for cultivating a lively and supportive community within our campus.

I strongly hope to see you at the upcoming Women-to-Women Group. Please email me at women@cncsu.ca to express your interest and enquire about the dates. I'm eagerly looking forward to reconnecting with familiar faces and welcoming new ones, as we create a circle of support and engage in fantastic conversations together.

See you all there!!

The

Women-to-Women Register for March and April

Group

Email your interest to women@cncsu.ca Food, Games and Guest Speakers to keep you engaged

The Women-to-Women group is being held once a month! It is one of our favorite events and we encourage all women-identified students to come and join the group!

There will be games, conversations, activities, dinner, and, hopefully, you!

What’s Up With Valentines’ Day? “Just my opinion - It’s pointless.”

Ronnie Petersen When people think of February, one of the most common associations is Valentine’s Day. Some people put February 14th on an untouchable pedestal, treating it like the most important day of the year; others see it as nothing more than a capitalistic cash grab that plays on people’s relationships.

Initially, Valentine’s Day started out as a Christian holiday celebrating several different martyrs named Valentine. The most notable of those martyrs was St. Valentine, who was a clergyman in 3rd-century Rome. He ended up being martyred on - you guessed it - February 14th. Because he allegedly taught people how to recognize and experience true love through his religious work, the day became associated with the act of courtship and love. It was also considered a celebration of sorts for spring, since St. Valentine was considered the patron saint of spring in some parts of Europe.

Like most Christian holidays, Valentine’s Day evolved overtime and lost almost all of its religious meaning. Nowadays, it’s seen as a day for showing off for your significant other through extravagant, occasionally disastrous acts of love. People will do anything, ranging from going to a fancy restaurant for dinner to

skydiving out of a plane with roses and doves.

For the most part, it’s become one day of the year for everyone to either revel in the happiness of their relationships or sulk and complain about how much they hate all of the frivolous displays of love.

It’s a bit of a bold statement, but truth be told, I think Valentine’s Day is kind of a pointless holiday. Yes, the festivities are admittedly fun; it is certainly a fantastic excuse to indulge in flowers, chocolate and cheesy romance movies. However, it’s admittedly a little silly how we have one day specifically set aside for all of this frilly, over-the-top stuff when there are 364 other perfectly good days in the year.

We shouldn’t shove all of the love and affection we can muster into only one day, just to cast it off to the side afterwards.

If you take anything away from my half-baked musings, let it be this; tell the people in your life you love them. Don’t wait around for one ‘special’ day to give someone a sweet gift, or to spend quality time with them. Love is pretty darn cool, and it should be celebrated 365 days a year…or 366 days, since 2024 is technically a leap year. You get the idea.

College Can Be

Complicated.

Having issues? Contact advocacy@cncsu.ca

I have no idea who to talk to about this...

I think there was a mistake in my grade...

We can assist.

Fun thoughts at 3 o’Clock - Darien Davis To paint you a picture of my wonderland I am the red rose painted white by the house of steady cards While the stories say white painted red my story is where the white chess piece plays first I can no longer see myself as the red natural beauty my families white paint has become muddy and hurts

their strong petals.

Wonderland is my homes name what a adorable distorted idea. I'm sure the name was proper at first but the suits from the house of steady cards got bored The house got hungry Tea time!

Be a volunteer, we always appreciate extra hands

Sign-up right now by scanning this link!

Or you can go to: cncsu.ca/opportunities

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Sharing Circle

Come join the CNC Students Union for a sharing circle, a place where all are welcome to discuss and seek support for what troubles them Refreshments provided

February 28th

(12 pm - 2 pm)

Room 1-769 (Elder’s Room)