November 9, 2011

The Ωmega www.theomega.ca

Thompson Rivers University’s Independent Student Newspaper Nov. 9, 2011

....but autumn wasn’t long enough!

PHOTO BY MIKE DAVIES

Zombies take over the Alumni Theatre

A modern take on a 6 Shakespearian classic

WolfPack 6 Sports 11

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November 9, 2011

Opinion

Separating information from identity The Internet has turned our identities into zeroes and ones — but at what cost?

IP de plume

Ryan Belbin

The Muse (Memorial U of NFLD) ST. JOHN’S (CUP) — Just as the prominence of the World Wide Web has changed drastically, so too has its “raison d’être” — it’s gone from a database to a hub of real-time communication and social networks.

It spreads ideas, news coverage and multimedia across geographical boundaries instantly, and researchers are constantly trying to make it even more streamlined and efficient.

According to a recent study by the Miniwatts Marketing Group, nearly 80 per cent of North Americans are online — some 270 million of us. The multifaceted nexus of computers that is the Internet has been steadily expanding since coming to the public’s attention at the end of the twentieth century.

It’s evolved from a technological novelty to a virtual necessity for billions of users worldwide.

One of the most interesting discussions on the changing landscape of the Internet focuses not so much on its content, but rather on the users themselves. Who are you when you log onto the web?

Every email you send and every post you make online is rubberstamped with an Internet Protocal (IP) address. This address can be traced by others — although, without a court order, even the most programming-savvy users can only get a relative idea of who you are, such as what province you live in or who your Internet Service Provider is.

In other words, the Internet gives you access to a worldwide forum where you are virtually an anonymous being.

The concept of anonymity isn’t even relatively new.

People have been finding reason to obscure their identities for centuries, and for many different reasons. In some cases, anonymity gives people an opportunity to voice their honest opinions and concerns, without fear of repercussions or prosecution.

One of the most prominent writers of the Victorian period was a woman named Mary Anne Evans — although you most likely know her by her pseudonym, George Eliot.

This “nom de plume” helped hide her gender, which allowed her work to be taken seriously in her own time, and helped ensure her a spot in the Western literary canon.

Who are you when you log onto the web?

That is not to say that the ability to fade into anonymous obscurity should be an unquestionable human right.

Think of robberies where criminals’ faces are obscured in an attempt to evade legal consequences — a rise in anonymity can be strongly linked to a decline in responsibility.

Social psychology finds a similar idea at work during riots, where people feel that the crowd functions as a faceless whole, rather than a sum of its parts.

The consequences of anonymity are very different when it takes place online rather than in a physical reality.

Considering that a huge number of websites on the Internet have the option for creating personal user profiles, which can then be used to communicate with other users and to post on public topics, more and more people are utilizing the web to create an online identity.

Functioning in a virtual world

Face-to-face interaction between people is completely different compared to when a computer screen and modem separates them.

Judith Donath — founder of the Sociable Media Group at the MIT Media Lab, which is concerned with how individuals function in a virtual sphere — wrote on the subject more than ten years ago in her essay, Identity and Deception in the Virtual Community.

For her, the removal of a physical presence in online interaction is related to the disintegration of user accountability and the abandonment of regular social behaviour.

“In the physical world, there is an inherent unity to the self, for the body

Social media and friendship

Social networks like Facebook have exploded in the last decade and are here to stay.

In fact I’d wager a guess that it would be difficult to find 50 students at TRU who do not have a Facebook profile.

But there might be dangers to our overuse of social media.

The entire point of Facebook is to create personal content.

We upload pictures of ourselves, update our statuses, and comment on other people’s experiences.

We even have our own web page within Facebook — a page entirely devoted to the content of the individual person.

We are broadcasting our lives via the Internet.

And because of the speed of information, we are creating personal content daily, hourly, even every few minutes for others to consume.

Obviously people desire connection with one another.

But I do not believe that this is the reason Facebook has grown so quickly.

Facebook has grown because our culture has gotten used to in-

stantaneous information, and lots of it.

We are dying for pixels to consume.

Consider This Daron Mark By creating a site where humans are able to broadcast themselves as content, Facebook gave the masses what they had grown to crave, an ability to produce large amounts of meaningful content very quickly.

The genius of Facebook is that it masks this fact in the propagan-

da of connectivity.

People will talk of using Facebook to ‘stay connected’ when really what they are doing most of the time is simply consuming the content of other people.

Think about your daily use of social media.

How much time do you spend sending/replying to messages and how much time do you spend looking at photos of friends or creeping on their walls to find out what the hell happened at that party last Friday?

Facebook can be used as a means of connectivity to be sure, but it would not have grown so rapidly if that were its primary purpose.

Sadly, I think that our overuse of social media has begun to erode the deep fundamental bonds of true friendship — and has the potential to seriously damage our ability to connect with others.

I’m not saying don’t use social media.

I’m just suggesting we think a little harder about what we’re using it for, and dedicate ourselves to cultivating true relationships.

provides a compelling and convenient definition of identity,” she explained.

“The virtual world is different. It is composed of information rather than matter.”

Browsing news websites, it’s not uncommon to see comments turn to personal attacks — comments that one could not imagine actually saying to the person’s face, given the opportunity.

A recognizable incident of these types of comments is the recent Rebecca Black fiasco.

Black was only 13 years old in March when the music video for her song “Friday” became a viral sensation after being uploaded to YouTube.

“Friday,” even after being removed and replaced, is still the most disliked video on YouTube.

User comments — which literally came in seconds apart when the video peaked in popularity — ranged from contemptuous to outright malicious.

“Those hurtful comments really shocked me,” Black went on to say to the Daily Beast.

“At times, it feels like I’m being cyberbullied.”

“Civility has gone out the window when you can hide behind the anonymity of the Internet,” explained Juan Rodriguez, a columnist for the Montreal Gazette.

“It’s easier to be rude, even hateful — in the guise of ‘freedom of expression’ — than it is to formulate a reasoned argument.”

At its most severe level, Internet anonymity has given rise to a classification of users known colloquially as “trolls.”

These users frequent YouTube, Facebook and other forum-based

websites, posting flagrant comments solely to elicit emotional responses from other users.

Trolling can be as harmless as poking fun of a song in hopes of garnering angry rebuttals from fans, generating another Internet coinage, a “flame war.”

This is a practice that Internet trolls do solely “for the lulz,” an online catchphrase that basically means “for the sake of comedy.”

How far can a joke go

Under the guise of anonymity, users are free to be as outrageously racist, violent and profane as they can imagine. More than a few do just that.

The ability for users of social media websites such as Facebook to create pages in support of special interest groups has led to the formation of memorial pages in honour of deceased friends and family members.

These pages provide a forum for users to upload pictures and post personal messages as a means of consolation.

Their public nature also means that anyone can access them.

It’s become an increasingly common practice for Internet trolls, completely apathetic to mourning friends and family members, to seek out such memorial pages and vandalize them with disrespectful images and comments.

The worst part is that, despite calls for increased Internet regulations, the trolls are still legally permitted to harass these grieving people.

SEE

Internet PAGE 9

The Omega Would like to apologize to Marvin Beatty for misattributing his beautiful cover photograph from last week’s edition.

We thank Marvin and all our contributors for their excellent work so far this year and will try dilligently to avoid such errors in the future.

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November 9, 2011

THE

MEGA

www.theomega.ca

November 9, 2011

Volume 21, Issue 10

Published since November 27, 1991

editorialstaff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Davies

editorofomega@gmail.com/250-372-1272 BUSINESS MANAGER Natasha Slack

managerofomega@gmail.com 250-372-1272 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Cory Hope

SPORTS EDITOR

Nathan Crosby Copy Editor

Larkin Schmiedl Photo Editor

Cory Hope News Editor

Brendan Kergin Promotions Coordinator/Adsales

Amrita Pannu

omegacontributors Daron Mark, Devan C. Tasa, Dora Rodriguez, Taylor Rocca, Colin Sharp, Ryan Belbin

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF * Mike Davies BUSINESS MGR * Natasha Slack INDUSTRY REP * Mike Youds FACULTY REP * Charles Hays STUDENT REP* Sadie Cox

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Literary and visual submissions are welcomed.

All submissions are subject to editing for brevity, taste and legality. The Omega will attempt to publish each letter received, barring time and space constraints. The editor will take care not to change the intention or tone of submissions, but will not publish material deemed to exhibit sexism, racism or homophobia. Letters for publication must include the writer’s name (for publication) and contact details (not for publication). The Omega reserves the right not to publish any letter or submitted material. Opinions expressed in the Letters & Opinion section do not represent those of The Omega, the Cariboo Student Newspaper Society, its Board of Directors or its staff.

Opinions belong only to those who have signed them.

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All material in this publication is copyright The Omega and may not be reproduced without the expressed consent of the publisher. All unsolicited submissions become copyright Omega 2010.

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Editorial

Just to clarify, I’m not defending anyone here. Well...other than myself, I guess Last week’s opinion piece entitled, “You’re probably not very good at your job,” was the source of some contention, apparently.

I feel it only right that I clarify my remarks in that particular piece, as it seems as though it was taken by some as a defence of the misogynistic tendencies of many food and beverage establishments — or that I was claiming that women don’t make good servers.

My intent was to address the service staff in the article written by Sarah Del Gallo of Ryerson University — which ran immediately above the article in question — who were complaining about the low-cut shirts and heels they were “forced” to wear by their employer and the lack of breaks they found themselves taking during their shifts.

The point I was trying to make is that those servers have a choice in their employment, and instead of complaining about their circumstances perhaps they should pursue other employment options.

These businesses that encourage exposure of their servers’ bits exist because there is a demand for them.

They will continue to thrive because they have people willing to work under these conditions, and patrons who will continue to frequent them.

I do not claim that it is right.

But if I’m unhappy with the expectations demanded of me by my employer, I find a new employer — if I’m unhappy enough.

Which was the point I was attempting to make.

These female servers stay in these jobs because they realize that they may have to try harder in that industry if they work somewhere else — somewhere where they can’t make a bunch of extra money just for being attractive and revealing that fact (pardon the pun).

I have met many excellent female servers during my time in that industry, and my assertion that

Editor’s Note Mike Davies Editor-in-Chief “it’s easier for them,” than it is for their male counterparts to be successful in that position was NOT meant to be a statement that you will not get good service unless you “get the guy,” when you go out to dine.

I used that first-hand example because it is a true story. In fact it is many true stories.

I was often confronted with this type of statement during my time in the business — and in fact had groups request my section when they saw me on the floor (if there was a host present), or directly ask me if I had an available table where I could serve them because they had dealt with unacceptable levels of service from women in revealing clothing too many times in the past.

My point in this apparently controversial piece

was that as long as there are women willing to work in skimpy outfits and men willing to pay them to do so — regardless of the level of service they receive — this situation will not change.

And there will likely always be women willing to work these jobs.

Because like I said, they do not have to be as good or try as hard in those positions in order to make a decent living — and they know it, which is why they complain instead of just leaving.

I’ve worked in establishments where female staff were told specifically to dress more conservatively than they were — and didn’t like it because it took away their opportunity to make bonus money from chauvinists who pay extra for some skin or cleavage.

It is not right.

But it is what it is.

As soon as everyone refuses to put up with it, these businesses will change their approach — but I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for that.

I do not defend the people that operate these businesses but also don’t see the defence for people who choose to work for them and complain about it.

I do understand why both exist, though.

It’s called capitalism.

Prove me wrong, ladies. I sincerely hope that you do. I’m not being patronizing — I genuinely hope that I’m wrong about this.

You go into work wearing full-length black pants instead of a skirt and a collared long sleeve shirt done right up to the top (or at least second from the top) button for the next month at your serving job.

And let me know how that works out for you financially. editorofomega@gmail.com

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November 9, 2011

Nominations open for TRU Board of Governors, Senate Devan C. Tasa

time spent on reading the agenda and discussing it with other senators.

Robinson said that student senaStudents have an opportunity to tors could also sit on subcommittees get involved in TRU’s government of the Senate.

“If you do sit on a committee — by running for a student position on depending on which committee it is the Board of Governors or Senate.

In order to be on the ballot, one — it could add anywhere from two must submit a nomination form to to maybe three or more hours [per the Registrar’s office at OM 1155 by month.”

“Overall, the 4:30 p.m. on Nov. work load is not 10. bad. It’s very There is one manageable as a student posistudent.” tion open for the Both SchuurBoard of Goverman and Robinnors and four for son would recomSenate. mend that other Students will students run. be able to cast “It’s definitely their vote for a challenging exthese positions perience because online between it brings you out Dec. 8 and Dec. of your comfort 22. zone a little bit,” “These elecsaid Schuurman. tions are very “You learn a important to lot as a student TRU so that we [member].

It’s have student something I’m voices on our going to take with Board and Senme in my career ate,” said Marion and everything Hannaford, the else that I do.” acting registrar “Def i n itely,” for TRU, in an said Robinson. email.

“I think it’s a The Board of really good exGovernors is responsible for the —Melissa Schuurman perience. You get to meet people, financial aspect of the university, Melissa Schuur- like administrators and faculty, who man, a student member of the Board, make really important decisions about what’s going on in the institusaid.

It oversees such items as the uni- tion.”

Schuurman and Robinson said versity’s management, operations, that it’s important students get inand buildings.

“The workload…consists of about volved in the governance of TRU, five board meetings a year,” said whether it is running for a position or simply voting.

Schuurman.

“I think the students have a really “They’re anywhere from three to important role on the board because five hours.”

On top of that the student board they bring a perspective that a lot of member has to read an agenda — the other board members don’t see,” which generally has a couple hun- said Schuurman.

“A lot of the board members are dred pages — before each meeting.

Student senator Dylan Robinson actually community members, so said the Senate is responsible for the they aren’t on campus every single day.” academic aspect of the university.

“I hope that people are involved in It deals with items like determining course offerings, course content, the process [this year],” said Robinthe rules for grading students and son. “Hopefully we’ll have [a] relatively good voter turnout.” promotion of professors.

Student senators spend about four Nomination forms and more inhours per month to fulfill their Senformation about the elections can be ate duties, he said.

Around an hour is spent attending found at http://www.tru.ca/about_ Senate meetings, with the rest of the tru/elections.html.

Omega Contributor

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News

Community Calendar Wednesday, Nov. 9 -Heroes Live Concert Series.

Show starts 8 p.m. $5 Dollars cover.

-Benefit party for TRU baseball’s Tyler Lowey Cactus Jacks Downtown $10 at the door, all proceeds go to support Tyler, who lost an eye tragically while playing for TRU baseball.

Thursday, Nov. 10 -Inter-active Bible Study and Prayer Time 12:30-1:20 p.m. OM2464 Lunch bags welcome.

For more info contact: TRU Chaplain Narayan Mitra 250.371.5940 or narayanmitra@tru.ca -CCAA Cross Country Running Championships Nov. 10-12 McArthur Island Park Check tru.ca/athletics for details Friday, Nov. 11 -CCAA Cross Country Running Championships Nov. 10-12 McArthur Island Park Check tru.ca/athletics for details

Saturday, Nov. 12 -CCAA Cross Country Running Championships Nov. 10-12 McArthur Island Park Check tru.ca/athletics for details

I recently found out that people think putting events in this calendar costs money.

It sure doesn’t.

You just have to tell us the when, where, and why. editorofomega@ gmail.com

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The Omega · Volume 21, Issue 10

News

Words of hope from a senator Mobina Jaffer addresses women’s and aboriginal rights Brendan Kergin News Editor

Appointed to the Senate in 2001, Mobina Jaffer has spent a decade advocating for women’s rights, Africa and a more harmonious culture in Canada’s upper house.

Friday Nov. 4 she brought those experiences to TRU. With a crowd filling the seats and spilling onto the f loor in the Grand Hall she spoke about a variety of issues facing Canada and the world.

Central to the talk were women’s rights. While Canadian women do enjoy a much higher level of equality to other nations, work needs to be done to protect those rights and make sure they aren’t eroded, Jaffer said.

Other countries’ situations worry her more however.

“I’m petrified about orthodox Islamic law after the Arab Spring,” she said.

Libya, Tunisia and other countries are facing the situation now, that after decades of dictatorships repressing religion to a certain extent, could see the return to Islamic fundamentalism.

Jaffer sees this as a threat to women’s safety.

She described how Sharia Law requires witnesses to the act of rape for a woman’s claim of rape to be validated.

If no one comes forward, the rape never happened.

In Canada she is particularly concerned about

the rights of aboriginal people.

“We still have a long way to go before we treat aboriginal people equal,” she said.

She also expressed concern with the scrapping of the long gun registry in Canada by the current conservative-led parliament.

However she does see Quebec’s possible legal action against the federal government as a positive.

Despite all the pain and suffering she described in the world, Jaffer did have words of hope.

She advised students to travel, learn a second language and to not be overwhelmed with the problems facing our world.

“I stand before you truthfully to say, you can change the world,” she said.

She also spoke directly to the nursing students in attendance telling them she was jealous of their career choice.

“You have chosen the most amazing career.”

Jaffer is a family lawyer who was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 2001 by Jean Chrétien as a B.C. representative.

She was born in Uganda in 1949, educated in England and practices law out of the Vancouver firm Dohm, Jaffer and Jeraj.

She encouraged those in attendance to become more active in politics, even inviting them to help her create a bill for Ottawa looking at how to help provide affordable medicine to Africa.

If you wish to get in contact with her, her email address is mjaffer@sen.parl.gc.ca and her website is www.mobinajaffer.ca.

Rivers nightclub denied increased capacity by council Dora Rodriguez

umbrella.

“As owners we should be working Omega Contributor together,” she said.

“I’d be embarrassed if [Rivers] After a heated city council meeting, Rivers nightclub was denied was my place. What improvements its application to increase capacity has Rivers shown?”

Dino Bernardo, co-owner of The from 210 people to 380.

Rivers has the physical size to Commodore Grand Café and Lounge hold more than 380 people, but is and council candidate, explained the Bar Safe Prorestricted by its gram to council. liquor licence and In an interthe city. view, Bernardo The RCMP said, “I don’t was opposed to think, as a comthe increase of petitor, council capacity and prewill take anysented a letter to thing I have to council. say [about RivCompetitors of ers’ motion] seriRivers presented ously. arguments show“That’s why I ing their disonly spoke about agreement with the Bar Safe Prothe possible ingram.” crease.

When council The tension discussed the was palpable as motion they did various speakers take the possiwent up to the microphone.

—Gordon Van of Rivers Nightclub bility of bias of the speakers into Cactus Jack’s consideration, as Saloon owner Robert Mevez presented photos from well as the safety and security cona social network, displaying Rivers cerns the speakers raised.

In the end, the majority of council at maximum capacity.

He argued that an increase would voted against the motion to increase Rivers’ capacity, taking into considbe impossible.

“We are trying to fit more kids eration the $143,999 RCMP overlike cattle into the bar, and are at- time costs. Only councillors Tina tempting to make the bar look fuller Lange and Denis Walsh supported to create a happening party atmo- the motion.

Council said they did not want the sphere,” said Gordon Van, operator cost of hiring more RCMP officers of Rivers.

Kathy Williams, owner of the Blue designated to the downtown bar flush, which would come out of the Grotto, was opposed to the motion.

“We all get grouped under one taxpayers’ pocket.

“We are trying to fit more kids like cattle into the bar.”

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November 9, 2011

Arts & Entertainment

Zombies take over the TRU Theatre Cory Hope

Arts and Entertainment Editor Who doesn’t love the undead these days?

There’s something about zombies that just makes them so darned lovable you can actually forgive them for wanting to eat your brains.

Well, that might be pushing it a little bit, but many people myself included will go out of their way to see the latest interpretation of the Zombie Apocalypse (it’s all visual survival training, you know). The original production Zombies put on by TRU Theatre students was no disappointment.

Zombies is the tale of the Zombie Apocalypse taking place in none other than Kamloops.

The tale began prior to the doors being opened, with the girl at the box office wearing one of those surgical masks that paranoid people put on every time somebody around them sneezes.

The ticket takers were dressed as doctors, and as patrons walked in they were asked to extend their arms to be scanned.

No reason was given for the scan, of course.

Those government types are like that.

Upon entering the seating area, a choice of red or black was given.

We were warned in advance

that seating in the red area would potentially have one more involved in the production than they might be accustomed to.

Sitting in the black area would be safer.

Zombies didn’t take itself too seriously.

The opening scenes took place in and around a secret military installation near TRU, an installation they claimed Stephen Harper built with his own hands.

A running joke about how this is Canada and we don’t shoot people was peppered throughout the entire play.

Pop-culture references made cameo appearances as well, with assistant director Skinner of The X-Files and Operation: Village of the Damned being mentioned.

The action moved from the area around the university into the theatre itself, which became the setting of the quarantine area for the impending crisis.

The audience suddenly became involved, as actors planted in the crowd were called out and asked to go in for further testing.

Some of them never came back.

A well-thought-out and wonderfully executed short, Zombies was a thoroughly enjoyable Halloween treat.

Using the set created for the production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (which was gra-

PHOTO BY CORY HOPE TRU theatre students took over the set of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for a couple of days to put on Zombies. Whether it was because of Halloween or just because zombies are cool...?

ciously put on hold for a few days to present Zombies), they effortlessly maneuvered the action from one spot to another via quick changes in lighting and kept the audience on board by literally involving them.

I’d like to see more shorts pro-

duced using the same tactics of borrowing a set and using whatever devices the troupe has at their disposal.

The precedent they set with Zombies proved that it’s possible to make this work, and maybe next month we could see Santa

coming down the chimney, getting stuck, and being the sole survivor of the Zombie Apocalypse because they couldn’t get at him to eat his brains.

Maybe that’s pushing it a little bit, but crossovers work in the comic book world, so why not?

A slightly modernized classic

TRU Actor’s Workshop Theatre takes on Shakespeare and wins Cory Hope

Arts and Entertainment Editor The TRU Actors Workshop Theatre put on their final presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Saturday Nov. 5, playing to a sold out crowd. The production was an updated version of Shakespeare’s original play, which I thought related only to costumes until I picked up on some subtle nuances in the dialogue.

Don’t mistake me for an Shakespeare aficionado in any way. Up until the night I saw the production I was unfamiliar with A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

I do know enough however, to assume Shakespeare didn’t pen the words, “Layest thee down a beat” in the original manuscript with stage direction telling members of the cast to start beatboxing.

I had to ask somebody who was familiar enough with the play to confirm that the majority of the dialogue was the original text, and was only tampered with in moderation.

The delivery of some of the lines using modernized inflection and physical comedic devices brought the meaning of the antiquated dialogue through far more effectively than a straightforward reading would.

It made it more engaging, and therefore more accessible to a younger crowd.

The potion used to make people fall in love with the first person they see upon waking was cooked up using something that was unmistakably a takeoff of the process used in movies (and probably real life) to cook up heroin.

The main action wasn’t the only thing

worth watching, as the characters in the background kept themselves busy while our attention was supposed to be on the main action.

One actor was wobbling on a set of high heels that he was supposed to learn how to wear.

Another picked his nose (I am reasonably sure he was in character), and another made a slashing motion across his throat while the main characters were talking.

I must admit I became a little too intrigued by the background at one point and ended up a little lost when I came back to the story.

They also went on to prove once again that there isn’t anything that isn’t funny when it’s done to the theme song from Benny Hill.

Colourfully-dressed characters against an almost monochromatic background — the set had the feel of the same juxtaposition that the actors had with their lines, and it worked.

The fairies were of particular interest to me as they looked like they had stepped off the set of Blade Runner or some other 1980s movie that had a pretty good idea about what the villainous punks of the future were going to look like.

I have to admit I was sceptical about going out to theatre events this week.

I’ve never been a theatre person, and wasn’t sure how well I would react to sitting down for two hours watching Shakespeare being played out, modernized or not.

What I saw was way more than I expected, and after looking at the list of upcoming events on the schedule, I guarantee I’ll be there to see each one.

PHOTO COURTESY TRU MEDIA Some of the cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Yes...that’s the cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as envisioned by the TRU Actor’s Workshop. Cool, right?

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The Omega · Volume 21, Issue 10

TRUSU BY-ELECTION NOTICE POLLING WILL TAKE PLACE ON Monday, November 14th, 8:00AM-4:00PM & Tuesday, November 15th, 8:00AM-4:00PM in the Students’ Union Building

The following candidates have been nominated for election to the position of Arts, Science, Education, and Advanced Technology Representative:

• Colonna, Kailey • Holm, Steven

Campaign Period:

Electoral Committee:

The Campaign Period will run from 8:00AM Monday, November 7th, 2011 to 4:00PM Tuesday, November 15th, 2011.

For more information please contact the chair of the electoral committee by email at elections@trusu.ca or by phone at (250) 828-5289.

All Candidates Forum: The All Candidates Forum will take place on Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 12:30PM in the TRUSU Boardroom. All members are welcome to attend.

Advocacy | Services | Entertainment

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November 9, 2011

Life & Community The reason behind the sudden growth on students’ upper lips Taylor Rocca

Omega Contributor Ever wonder about the cookie dusters, lip-ticklers, push brooms and lumberjack smiles that you see on campus during November?

Chances are they have been adorned by faithful supporters of Movember.

Men and women of all ages are engaging in Movember — a movement to help raise awareness and funding for prostate cancer research. From Australia to Canada, this annual event is picking up speed.

Here at Thompson Rivers University, we have our own brand of Movember musketeers, and they call themselves “The Moustache Movement.”

“The Moustache Movement is about creating funds as well as creating awareness for prostate cancer,” says Daniel Houghton, one of the organizers of the group.

“It’s one of those cancers that no one wants to talk about. It was just one of those taboo kind of subjects.”

The Moustache Movement has been in existence for three years on campus and is directly affiliated with Movember. In its first year, the organization raised $1,300.

The following year, they more

than doubled their fundraising efforts, raising over $2,700.

The goal in 2011 is to hit $5,000, says Houghton.

“Any support is greatly appreciated. Come out and buy a shirt.

Come out to the party. Come out and support the cause.”

The Moustache Movement sells T-shirts in order to raise funds for their cause. A $1,000 grant from Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union allows these moustache crusaders to cover the majority of their costs and enables them to donate 100 per cent of the proceeds raised to Movember.

“I think it’s a good campaign and I agree with the goals,” said Nathan Lane, TRUSU Executive Director.

On Nov. 24, The Moustache Movement will be hosting two parties to celebrate the success and facial scruff achieved over the month.

For those of you who like to stay close to campus, Heroes will be hosting one of the parties and it’s scheduled to start between 9-9:30 p.m.

Houghton suggests arriving early as Heroes is likely to reach capacity.

The second party will go down at Cactus Jack’s in downtown Kamloops.

It starts at 9 p.m. For those dedicated supporters out there, a

shuttle will be running between Heroes and Cactus Jack’s so that you can make appearances at both parties.

There is no set cover charge at either event, but people attending are encouraged to make a donation towards The Moustache Movement cause.

The only requirement is that all people in attendance wear a moustache. For those who can’t grow one, it is perfectly acceptable to draw one on or wear a prosthetic piece of facial hair — ladies included.

The work of The Moustache Movement is starting to receive recognition off campus, and even outside of Kamloops. Cabral “Cabbie” Richards of TSN’s “Cabbie Presents” contacted the group, requesting a shirt.

The hope is that Richards will wear his Moustache Movement T-shirt on air during a TSN segment.

The Moustache Movement was also featured on a recent CFJC newscast here in Kamloops.

Other organizers apart from Houghton include Abdallah El Chami, Nicole Jelinski and Roy Sihlis.

For more details and information on how to volunteer visit The Moustache Movement’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ moustachemovement.

Do you have unpublished stories or photos related to campus news or events?

Submit them to the Omega.

Email us at: editorofomega@ gmail.com

A bit of humour: The internal monologue of this guy in front of me during my lecture Colin Sharp The Peak (SFU)

BURNABY, B.C. (CUP) — I can’t believe that everybody else is sitting somewhere between the middle and the back of the lecture hall.

Don’t they know they’re paying for this education?

What a bunch of proles.

I’ll just slide into my usual spot: front row, just off to the side.

After all, I wouldn’t want to be dead center.

Then I would seem like a real suck up.

Today I have the entire row to myself, how lucky!

This extra space will come in handy for this unidentifiable Tupperware container of food that I microwaved before coming into class.

I am a talented cook, so my classmates will be so happy to enjoy the smells emanating from

my seat.

I would happily share, but no one ever seems to ask.

I suppose I’ll just finish this and then leave it on the empty seat beside me when I leave.

Maybe the next person to sit here will be able to appreciate the smell.

Well, it’s been 13 minutes since class began, so my ADD is really starting to act up.

Seems like now would be the perfect time to work on my multitasking skills.

I think it’s time to take out my computer.

Oh no! It’s low on battery!

I guess I need to find an outlet.

It’s a good thing I’m right at the front of the class and everyone can see me, otherwise my classmates would have no idea why someone was making all this noise.

I found a nice outlet.

I have moved all my things over one seat so that it can reach

my laptop, and aside from having to move my empty Tupperware to another seat it went smoothly.

Multitasking, here I come.

My doctor suggested that playing Starcraft would be a great way for me to multitask.

I’ve gotten pretty good at the game, so all these folks behind me are going to have a great view.

Come to think of it, maybe that’s why everyone sits back there.

If you sat right up front, there’s a chance you would be able to completely ignore me playing Starcraft.

Hell, you might not even know that I was playing it at all.

It must be such a relief to all my fellow students that I sit up front.

You know what? For their benefit, I think I’ll sit up front every time I play Starcraft.

I can’t wait to see how much pussy I get.

9

The Omega · Volume 21, Issue 10

Hard fought loss with a huge rebound.

Cascades center Jasper Moedt goes for the inside jump shot in Friday’s season opener for both teams. The ‘Pack lost the opener, but rebounded huge the next night to take down the pre-season ranked #7 team in the country. See the story on page 11.

PHOTO BY CORY HOPE

Internet identity Continued from PAGE 2 The worst consequence available is a ban on the social networking website, although it only takes another name and email address to start a new account and begin the harassment again.

Borne from some of the same websites that helped establish the concept of Internet trolls, a group of users styling themselves as “Anonymous” wreak similar havoc on the online community, albeit in a much more organized fashion.

Like trolls, the endeavours of Anonymous have repercussions in the real world.

From collaborative mischief — on May 20, 2009, they uploaded pornographic videos to YouTube, disguised as family-friendly content — to plaguing major corporate websites such as MasterCard and PayPal, in what is known as a Distributed Denial of Service Attack (DDoS).

In some of these cases, several arrests have been made across the globe.

Nonetheless, the issue of online anonymity is extremely complicated.

The online communal nature of the Internet has made it easy for vigilantes to send photographs and information related to criminals (think of the online response to the recent London riots, where images of rioters were posted on photosharing websites), and law enforcement agencies have been paying attention.

Protesters in the recent Egyptian and Syrian revolutions also owe something to the Internet as a tool for rallying support, thanks to the identification veil that the digital world presents, and the

protection of anonymity.

The world is yours From the safety of your computer chair, you have the power to create a prof ile in a vir tual realm where you can r uin someone’s reputation, be yourself victimized, work against it or stand by on the sidelines and watch it all happen.

It sounds like a computer role-playing game, but some of the realities of the twenty-f irst centur y are ultimately stranger than f iction.

The unprecedented peak in online activity has demanded that laws be updated to accommodate the new challenges presented by the Inter net, but balancing anonymity and privacy remains a tricky problem in contemporar y society.

Just as Danish police are cur rently pushing to dishevel the anonymous nature of the Inter net in Denmark, thousands of users applaud the World Wide Web for its ability to protect real-life identities, calling it the ultimate for m of free expression.

According to Rolling Stone contributor Sabrina Rubin Erdely, “Finding some kind of balance between free speech and privacy online will almost cer tainly become one of the major legal battles of the centur y.”

Wherever you stand on the issue, you could always post your opinions on Twitter, Facebook, message boards or any number of other public for ums on the Inter net, and be completely anonymous and open with your thoughts — just as long as you know that your readers will be too.

Ju is money from three.

WolfPack guard Jen Ju fires one of her many three-point shots of the weekend during the ‘Pack’s opening night win over the Cascades. Ju put up 30 points over the weekend series and helped lift the team to a 2-0 start to their season. See the story on page 11.

PHOTO BY CORY HOPE

Puzzle of the Week #9 – Buttons Sally has some old buttons. They are each one of white, blue, or black.

Each button has either two or four holes.

1. There is only one button colour and hole combination for which there is exactly one button.

2. For each colour, there are more four-hole buttons than there are two-hole buttons.

3. There are one, two, or three of each of the two-hole button colours.

4. The number of two-hole buttons is the same as the number of black, four-hole buttons.

5. There are exactly as many two-hole buttons of one colour as there are two-hole buttons of the other two colours combined.

6. There are two blue, four-hole buttons.

If the number of white four-hole buttons is as small as it can be (fitting the other clues), how many of each type of button are there?

This contest is sponsored by the Mathematics and Statistics department. The full-time student with the best score at the end of the year will win a prize.

Please submit your solution (not just the answer but also why) by noon next Wednesday to Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net>. Submissions by others are also welcome. The solution will be posted the Wednesday after that in the Math Centre (HL210A). Come visit: we are friendly.

10

November 9, 2011

Coffee Break 4 7 6 2 8 3 3 1 8

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MYLES MELLOR

sudokueasy

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last week’s answers easy

hard

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Across 1. Certain sandwich 5. Broodish 10. Sky box?

14. Celestial 15. City in Rio de Janeiro 16. It gets pumped 17. Classic film 20. Lt.’s inferior, in the Navy 21. Carry away, in a way 22. Floppies, e.g.

23. Ticket info, maybe 24. Floor items 26. Stephen King title 29. Threat word 30. Drink from a dish 33. Group of eight 34. Horned mammal 35. Old Italian bread 36. Classic film 39. Bolted 40. Lions’ prey (pl.)

41. Great success 42. Load from a lode 43. Arctic sight 44. Underline 45. “Go ahead!”

46. Swaddle 47. “M*A*S*H” extra 50. Garlicky mayonnaise 52. Car accessory 55. Classic film 58. Carpet type

59. Moss-like 60. Org. with a mission 61. Seafood selection 62. Executive branch, informally 63. Calendar span Down 1. “Lord of War” star 2. Old Spanish kingdom 3. Garden decorations 4. Departure announcement 5. Happy face 6. Turkic language 7. Real 8. Crushing defeats 9. Hong Kong actress, Sally 10. Fuzzy fruits 11. Pupil’s place 12. Honky ending 13. Aims 18. Creep 19. Periphery 23. Bait 25. Military acronym 26. “All for one and one for all,” e.g.

27. Greek god liquid 28. Cubic measurement 29. Provide, as with a quality 30. Fine thread 31. Met expectations?

32. Agreements 34. With footnotes, e.g.

35. Ill-gotten gain 37. Unappealing fruit?

38. Kind of unit 43. Central points 44. Electrical transformer 45. Dreary song 46. Omnivorous mammal 47. Physics calculation 48. Canyon sound 49. East Indian lentil sauce 51. Mosque prayer leader 52. Braveheart hillside 53. Civil rights icon, to friends 54. Apple spray 56. Place for sweaters?

57. Unspecified number

last week’s answers G A L A

U N I T

R I G S

N A S A

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N E W S Y

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M A I S O N E T T E

U L E S H T A E A R I T L A P U R I T E T P A L S L I I C H A H E E E R

A S S O S T O P S A F E B A R E R O N D N S E S U A L M E T U I H E R P D E E S E A V Y R N I E S S E N

S E A T A X L E A T H E R T A R M T G U T S I L S R A T E S E D I U M S O R E O N O W U S C H O P S H E A R T A H O Y F U S E

XKCD.com, creative commons

Anyone notice anything strange about the sudoku? Anyone? Bueller? Email editorofomega@gmail.com.

11

The Omega · Volume 21, Issue 10

Sports

Women’s basketball WolfPack sweeps UFV at home Bites

Nathan Crosby Sports Editor

It took overtime and some rookie magic to help the Wolf Pack women’s basketball team start the season 2-0 for the second straight year.

The ‘Pack opened their 2011-2012 campaign at home against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades on Nov. 4 and 5, upsetting the Cascades both times, 6864 and 65-59 in overtime, respectively.

“It’s a huge win, especially against a great team. It’s a great way to start the season off,” post Diane Schuetze said.

The six-foot-three post was a force over the weekend, having 24 points and 10 rebounds in the first game and 20 points and 19 rebounds in game two. If getting back-to-back double-doubles wasn’t enough, she also suffered a bloody nose on Saturday’s game and managed to finish the game.

“Diane had a fantastic weekend against us,” Cascades head coach Al Tuchscherer said.

“All the power to her, it looks like she’s taking her game to a whole other level this year, it’s impressive.”

Saturday’s game was a momentumshifting affair with leads constantly changing. The Cascades had a 56-54 lead when ‘Pack rookie guard Taiysa Worsfold sunk a basket after picking up a missed Jen Ju rebound with 19 seconds left to force overtime.

“I’m so lucky she got my back,” Ju said.

“She got that rebound after I shot it up, it was an air ball and she got my back, that’s what teammates are all about. She stepped up.”

The ‘Pack then went on a seven-point tear in the extra frame to put the Cascades away for a second night in a row.

“We are very happy we won this one,” Wolf Pack head coach Scott Reeves said.

Soccer WOMEN CCAA Championships - Round Robin from Quebec City Nov. 10 - 12:30 p.m. (EDT) vs. King’s College Blue Devils Nov. 11 - 12:30 p.m. (EDT) vs. F.X. Garneau Second year guard Jorri Duxbury pulls up for a jumper over a Cascades defender in the WolfPack’s opening night win.

PHOTO BY CORY HOPE

“They’re a high-quality team that we beat. That was no mediocre team; they’re a very good basketball team. We are lucky they didn’t shoot that well and we took advantage of that.”

Reeves said Schuetze’s hit to the face in the fourth quarter that sidelined her for a few minutes wasn’t serious and said it caused a bit of bleeding but once the team medic stuffed cotton up her nose she was fine.

Wolf Pack forward Tracy Kocs’ aggressive defensive effort was a huge reason the Cascades couldn’t match the ‘Pack on the board and Kocs was named Leader of the Pack for her performance.

“The Wolf Pack defend really well.

They knew what we were doing, they knew what our personnel was all about,” Cascades head coach Al Tuchscherer said.

“They really disrupted our f low offen-

sively.”

The Cascades came into the weekend ranked ninth in the nation but left with a winless record despite strong efforts by Sarah Wierks who scored 31 points over the weekend against the ‘Pack.

“Getting a win is always a big deal for us,” Jen Ju said. Over the two nights, she combined for 30 points.

“To get two wins and a sweep at home is fantastic.”

The Wolf Pack started last year 2-0 but hit a 10 game losing streak and finished 9-17, failing to make the playoffs in the competitive division.

“Every game in Canada West is going to be tough this year,” coach Reeves said.

“We play one game at a time; it’s an 18-game season.”

The ‘Pack’s next four games are on the road, including stops in Calgary and Lethbridge this weekend.

Men’s basketball’s incredible comeback win Nathan Crosby Sports Editor

Six years after joining the league, the men’s basketball team beat a top 10 CIS ranked team.

The WolfPack were down by 21 points at one point in the second quarter but clawed back in the third to win 91-83 over the University of Fraser Valley Cascades.

It was their first ever win over a CIS ranked team since joining the Canada West, beating the seventh-ranked Cascades at the Tournament Capital Centre on Nov. 5.

“We fought hard, coach kept telling us to keep rebounding and that’s what we did and we stuck to it,” WolfPack forward Justin King said.

He led the WolfPack offense with his second double-double of the season with 32 points and 10 rebounds.

“We knew we couldn’t give it away, especially for all the fans that came out and supported us,” he said.

The Cascades were led by offensive weapons Kyle Grewal and Sam Freeman, who beat the ‘Pack the night before 77-69 in the season opener on Nov.4.

“It’s really important to get an early win, especially with all these young guys,” WolfPack forward Chas Kok said.

“Coach said we have to compete and if we don’t, we are going to get blown out of the water.”

‘Pack point guard Kevin Pribilsky was named Leader of the Pack for another

strong performance with 12 points, including a clutch three in the fourth quarter.

Pribilsky led all Canada West players in court time in the 2010-2011 season, averaging 35.1 minutes a game.

He once again had lots of time on the court with teammate Chas Kok.

WolfPack Point guard Kevin Pribilsky (Photo courtesy of TRU Athletics)

“I believe every single time I throw him [Pribilsky] the ball, regardless of where it is on our side of the court; he’s going to make a three from anywhere,” Kok said.

It looked like the WolfPack were en route to starting 0-2 after a rough first half, trailing the Cascades 49-32.

WolfPack head coach Scott Clark was charged with a technical foul and things looked like they would go from bad to worse.

Clark’s determination to motivate his team finally caught in the second half when the WolfPack went an incredible run, outscoring the Cascades 59-24.

“It’s all the players,” coach Clark said.

“We said, ‘let’s compete and take it possession by possession. Let’s see if we can get this thing down to single digits,’ and we did.

“The guys did the work, I never made a jump shot, I never did nothing. It was all them.”

The Cascades kept the ‘Pack offense in check for the first half, but ran out of gas trying to contain Justin King’s 32 point night.

King committed to the ‘Pack this past summer and after one weekend of play, has shown head coach Scott Clark he is ready to be the game-changer TRU is looking for.

“I knew we were getting a pretty good player with him, probably more than I bargained for, so it makes me look like a pretty good coach and he’s a smart guy,” coach Clark said.

King had 20 points and 16 rebounds in his first game for the ‘Pack on Nov. 4 in a losing effort in TRU’s season opener. He said the individual wasn’t important in the team’s win.

“I’m just going out there playing hard for my teammates, trying to get the W and I was fortunate to have two big games.”

Volleyball WOMEN @ Alberta Nov. 4 @ Alberta L – (3-0) 25-21, 2521, 25-15 Nov. 5 @ Alberta L – (3-0) 25-23, 2519, 25-19 MEN @ Alberta

Nov. 4 L – (3-0) 25-18, 25-11, 25-21 Nov. 5

L – (3-1) 25-20, 15-25, 19-25,

18-25

Basketball MEN (1-1) Nov. 4 vs. UFV

L – 77-69

Nov. 5 vs. UFV

W – 91-83

WOMEN (2-0) Nov. 4 vs. UFV W – 68-64 Nov. 5 vs. UFV W – 65-59

Hockey Nov. 5 vs. Okanagan College T – 4-4

Cross-Country CCAA

Cross

Country

Running

Championships Nov. 10-12 @ McArthur Island Park

12

November 9, 2011

TRUSU Membership Advisory Post-Secondary Education Fact:

TRAVELLING OVER THE HOLIDAY? Post your trip on the Rideshare and reduce your costs and carbon footprint SIGN UP AT WWW.TRUSU.CA

TRU has 55% less student representation on Senate than UBC. This Week:

You can vote in the municipal election if: • You are a Canadian Citizen (18+) • You have lived in BC for 6 months • You have lived in Kamloops for 30 days

Bring 2 pieces of ID and proof of address to the nearest polling station on Nov. 19th

Visit city.kamloops.bc.ca for more info

COFFEE & SERVICES Bring a mug, get a free coffee and learn about a TRUSU Service Thursday Nov 17th | Old Main | 9am

• Municipal All Candidates Forum • Heroes live music • By-Election Polling Check out the Events Calendar at trusu.ca for details!

Log on to trusu.ca and get connected!

• Subscribe to the Newsletter • Join us on facebook • Follow us on Twitter

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