Oct. 15, 2014

HONOURED BY TRU Modern day adventurer receives honorary degree at fall convocation

AWT’S LATEST A review of the Actors Workshop Theatre’s latest production, “Patience”

Volume 24 – Issue 7

www.truomega.ca Ω @TRU_Omega

100-INNINGS WolfPack baseball plays a 100-inning game and looks to clean up its image

October 15, 2014

Exploring a downtown campus WOLFPACK SOCCER INJURIES, DEFEATS AND THE HOPE THAT REMAINS

HONG KONG What happens next with the Occupy Central protests?

Pasu Au Yeung/Flickr Commons

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NEWS

October 15, 2014

Hong Kong protests: What happens next?

The world sits and watches as the Occupy Central protests go unresolved Ashley Wadhwani ISSUES EDITOR Ω

On Sept. 28, a group of students decided to boycott school, protesting their outrage against the Chinese government’s refusal to allow open nominations for Hong Kong’s Chief Executive in the 2017 elections. Flash-forward two weeks and protests have taken to the streets with a sit-in in Civic Square, Hong Kong. While the civil disobedience movement has received global recognition, some TRU students may not share the same optimistic attitude as those participating in the movement overseas.

Currently, Hong Kong is ruled under China with a “one country, two systems” model, giving Hong Kong autonomy upon China’s ruling in 1997. According to a white paper released from the Information Office of the State Council, “as a unitary state, China’s central government has comprehensive jurisdiction over all local administrative regions, including the [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region].”

This means that as the protest continues, tension between Beijing and Hong Kong grows with fear of political and economic instability.

In an editorial to The Independent, a news organization in the U.K., Noah Sin, an aspiring journalist from Hong Kong, explained why we should be paying attention to the protests.

“If you care about democracy, then you should care about what’s happening right now in Hong Kong,” he wrote.

He continued, saying, “This is Hong Kong’s fight. But we cannot let them fight alone. It might not be Iraq or Syria, but it is a global city,

where people who were promised rights have had them stripped away, and then branded as anarchists.”

Looking to social media, tweets posted with the hashtags #OccupyCentral, #UmbrellaRevolution or #HKClassBoycott share images protestors gathered on blankets and in tents, wearing yellow ribbons or holding colorful pieces of paper with messages to the current Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Underneath the photos, messages of hope and determination are written in Cantonese.

There has been a notable increase in social movements across North America, including Occupy Wall Street, Idle No More, and environmental marches against the various environmental undertakings. Western society has grown accustomed to utilising social media and mass movements to navigate through social and political issues, something that is perhaps still new to Chinese culture and their social order.

In Mainland China, the practice of censorship, strong impositions against freedom of expression and “abuses of power in the name of ‘social stability,’” are systematically condoned, according to a 2012 report by Human Rights Watch, a group focused on removing global injustice of human rights.

However, the variable that makes this protest even possible is Hong Kong’s “Basic Law,” the constitution governing the city that has alternate laws concerning citizen rights. Under Basic Law article 27, “Hong Kong residents shall have, among other things, freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession, of demonstration, of communication, of movement, of

conscience, of religious belief, and of marriage; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike.”

Because the protests are legally allowed to occur and be publicised by international media organizations, the movement’s support has garnered global attention.

TRU journalism student Bining Chen, however, isn’t sure the movement that the movement will have an effect.

“Voting is important… but I don’t think the Chinese Communist party will give them the right to vote [for] their own leader in Hong Kong. Under the single-party system, liberty is different,” Chen said.

Chen believes that although it is

important for students to voice their opinions, the only way the protests have any hope of being successful is if they have a plan ready to negotiate with the government.

“If time goes by, can they stay in the streets for two months? What are their schools’ opinions? They should come up with some leaders or plan for future thinking, otherwise it is meaningless for students [to] occupy the streets.”

A similar attitude is shared by Weijia Gu, a TRU international student from Mainland China, who believes their protest may be “too angry,” noting the recent tear gas confrontation between protestors and the Hong Kong police.

Gu also noted that many citi-

zens are worried that the ongoing demonstrations will affect relations with Beijing or the economic health of the region.

“I don’t think it will work… it may have some effect but not very much,” Gu said. “I am neutral, basically. I don’t think any side is wrong as they just try to insist on their opinions and protect their rights.”

As the protests continue, there has been no news of negotiations happening between the protesting groups and the government. In an Oct. 11 interview with Hong Kong’s TVB, a local television network, Chun-ying made it clear that there is “zero chance” negotiations will be happening.

A hand-made sign hung up near the sit-in protests in Civic Square, Hong Kong, where students have occupied since Sept. 28. (Willy AuYeung/Flickr)

University announces new Aboriginal Mentorship award Two TRU students reap the first benefits of hefty TD Bank donation Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

Alan Shaver, aboriginal mentor Jolene Michel, and TD Bank Group’s Mauro Manzi hold up the $350,000 cheque. Michel is one of the first recipients of the new Aboriginal Mentorship Award.

(Alexis Stockford/The Omega)

Two students from TRU’s Aboriginal Mentorship Program have some financial room to breathe thanks to a new bursary announced Oct. 7.

Senior mentor Jolene Mitchel and first-year student Anastazia Munroe are the first recipients of the Aboriginal Mentorship Awards, receiving $5,000 and $2,000 respectively. After this year, the number of recipients will double, with two mentors and two new students receiving awards.

“To have them support not only the mentors, but mentees, is really important I think,” said Vernie Clement, Aboriginal mentor and community co-ordinator.

The Aboriginal Mentor Program is meant to connect new aboriginal students with experienced students in their third or fourth year. According to Clement, the program helps first-time students

transition into university and provides a support network for students away from home.

“It’s just nice to have a hand to help them just be oriented and to feel like they belong,” Clement said. “[The mentor program] eased you into university,” award-winner Munroe said. “It wasn’t just like diving in and feeling overwhelmed.”

The first-year bachelor of arts student is originally from Fort St. James, a town of less than 2,000 people. Coming to TRU was a bit of a culture shock she said, but added that she is enjoying the experience.

“It’s a great feeling. You’re not so closed in and feeling isolated,” Munroe said.

The new award is funded by TD Bank Group, which has committed $350,000 to the Aboriginal Mentorship Program over the next five years.

“We looked to identify opportunities for development and we cer-

tainly do appreciate the values of diversity and inclusiveness,” said Mauro Manzi, senior vice-president of TD Bank Group, Pacific Region. “So we’re quite excited to work with Thompson Rivers to put together this endowment and excited to be with the program for many, many years.”

According to TRU president Alan Shaver, TD Bank has been a “valued supporter” of the university, providing funds for special events, student awards and new building projects, but this is the company’s biggest contribution to date.

Shaver added that the gift is in line with TRU’s mandate of diversity.

“We have to have people in our classes,” he said. “On our faculty, on our staff from different groups, and support for them to bring their brain power and their perspectives and their history and social outlook to us, to the university, so that everyone can benefit from the creativity that that brings.”

The Omega Thompson Rivers University’s Independent Student Newspaper Published since November 27, 1991

www.truomega.ca /TRUOmega @TRU_Omega /tru_omega

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sean Brady @iamseanbrady editor@truomega.ca NEWS EDITOR Alexis Stockford @AlexisStockford news@truomega.ca ISSUES EDITOR Ashley Wadhwani @ashwadhwani issues@truomega.ca ARTS EDITOR Kim Anderson @K_AndersonSays arts@truomega.ca SPORTS EDITOR Tayla Scott @taylascott3 sports@truomega.ca COPY EDITOR Rachel Wood @rachelwoood copy@truomega.ca

Act like a customer, become a customer We’re not clients, not customers – we’re students Sean Brady

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω

“I’m paying for it, why should anyone care if I don’t go to class?”

It’s a point I hear often – probably one I made at one point, myself. But I’ve come to realize something. The more you act like a customer, and not a student, the more likely you are to be treated that way, and I don’t think that’s something any student really wants.

It’s true, the student’s relationship to the university has become increasingly complicated over the last 20 years, with the rise in tuition and what is often seen as the commercialization of education, but it’s important to remember who you’re paying and why you’re paying them, and what their intent truly is.

No matter how unsatisfied students are at times, it’s still pretty tough to call any Canadian university a “degree mill.”

The balancing of priorities between money-making and education is still tipped in our favour.

Take university president salaries, for example. According to the Canadian Association of University Teachers almanac, the highest paid university president in Canada made $557,000 (including benefits) in 2012. By comparison, TRU’s president Alan Shaver

took home $200,000 in the same year, according to the report.

But what I think is a more important comparison, some university presidents in the United States are paid upwards of $3 million.

I often see the U.S. as a place Canadians can look to see what would happen if our own problems got much worse, and I think that’s a useful exercise here. As government funding for post-secondary dwindles, we’re going to be forced to look at other options, and if we don’t consider the U.S. examples, we might just make the same mistakes.

The university’s financial health must always be carefully balanced against the students’ education-first needs.

A recent address of the subject is the documentary Ivory Tower by documentarian Andrew Rossi. While the film makes a lot of points about the state of the American post-secondary education system and student debt load, what stuck with me most was the story of Cooper Union.

For the last 155 years, the Manhattan college offered free tuition to students as part of the mandate of its founder, Peter Cooper. The school charged tuition for the first time this year. Its administration pointed to unmanageable debt following the construction of another building in 2009, but its students orga-

nized and rejected the proposed changes and staged an occupation in the president’s office, which lasted for 65 days.

They held up Cooper Union as the last bastion of institutions that prioritized education above all else, and they saw the pit of debt that loomed beneath them and all future students.

Seeing the students of Cooper Union reminded me what university was supposed to be about. None of us should be here to simply exchange money for credentials. That’s not why Cooper Union students were there. They were there to learn, to grow, to gain valuable skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives, and until now, they were able to do it without attaching a ball and chain of debt to themselves or lining anyone’s pockets.

A scholarly pursuit that is merely a means to an end is a hollow experience.

While the more obvious fight for the student might be a battle against increasing tuition, the more useful fight is the one for a more valuable education.

Despite the fact that there are financial transactions between school and student, a student shouldn’t feel like a customer and a student shouldn’t act like a customer either. It’s up to both parties to ensure that the relationship remains something completely different. editor@truomega.ca

CONTRIBUTORS Marlys Klossner Steve Leahy Courtney Ranger

PUBLISHING BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sean Brady INDUSTRY REP Christopher Foulds FACULTY REP Charles Hays STUDENT REP Travis Persaud STUDENT REP Adam Williams STUDENT REP Hugo Yuen

PUBLISHING Cariboo Student Newspaper Society (Publisher of The Omega) TRU Campus House #4 900 McGill Rd, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 0C8 Phone: 250-828-5069 Advertising inquiries: accounts@truomega.ca

LETTERS POLICY 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 any section with an “Opinion” label 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.

COPYRIGHT 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 The Omega 2014.

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OPINION & EDITORIAL

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 7

The students at Cooper Union lost something most Canadian students never had: access to free post-secondary education. Despite the fact that we pay to be here, we should remember who we really are.

(Michael Fleshman/Flickr)

Letters to the editor I was just wondering if the newspaper would write a short thank you for me to all of the people that have been kind enough to go out of their way to smoke in the new designated smoking areas. As I noticed from the letter printed in the paper [on Oct. 1], some people are upset about this and feel ‘marginalized’, I think was the term used.

Therefore, I would like to make sure that all of the people that are using the new areas know how much I, for one, appreciate it. It is such a relief to be able to enjoy areas like the one outside of Old Main without worrying that I am jeopardizing my health with second-hand smoke.

Sincerely, Trina Drummond

Steve Leahy has a good point in his “Tune In / Tune Out” of The Omega of October 1: Smokers are being marginalised.

They have earned it.

No, not every smoker is unpleasant or abusive with smoking, but too many are. I and many others have gotten tired of the smoke forced on us. Since smokers did not rein themselves in, others have taken responsibility. A solution that someone else creates is less likely to consult your tender sensibilities, but then you smokers did not consult ours.

You can see plenty of examples of smokers not taking responsibility.

Go for a walk, and count cigarette butts and packages.

Other behaviour is even more noticeable. Several years back, TRU put up signs prohibiting smoking within six meters of a door. It did not

work. All too many times, I had to walk through a cloud of smoke when I needed leave Old Main. The next year, the signs were there along with a painted line. Suddenly, the six meters was respected.

If you were to walk into a room and start quietly reading a book, it would usually not cause anyone else a problem. Walking into a room and lighting up a cigarette has a much more pervasive effect. One smoker can easily be rude to dozens with one lit cigarette.

To those smokers who are not rude about it, thank you.

To those smokers who feel entitled to pollute my air, suck it up! Or, if you prefer, inhale.

Sincerely, Gene Wirchenko BCS, TRU 2010 Graduating Class

Want to be heard? Send your letters to editor@truomega.ca and see our letters policy on the left side of this page.

TUNE IN/TUNE OUT Steve Leahy

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

What do you people think of the homeless?

A detriment to society? Maybe, but the fact is they’re the ones who have been let down by society.

And that’s why people don’t like to think about it, because it reflects poorly on the rest of us.

Now I’m not saying we personally let them down, but that’s not too far from the point. Homeless people need help, and we (the collective we) are not giving it to them. So they turn to the only support group they have; other homeless people. And when that happens we get things like the Oppenheimer homeless camp.

Heard of it? It popped up over the summer. It seems many homeless people can’t afford rent. If they could, they wouldn’t be homeless.

So they grouped together, and made camp in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Fair enough in my book, but the world doesn’t play by my book. So the city of Vancouver decides they want them out, essentially evicting them (that’s the term being used) from their tents. Let that sink in. homeless people are being evicted from their tents. Tents.

How? There’re just camping right? The Charter of Rights and Freedoms doesn’t condone the use of public spaces for camping, does it? Well, I had a look at the Charter, and the answer to that is a solid ‘maybe.’ As Canadians we all have a right to peaceful assembly and to association. That’s the Oppenheimer Park camp right there; a peaceful assembly of homeless people associating together. Living together, with the only people in this country that won’t marginalize them further, other marginalized people. The homeless are claiming that they have a constitutional right to camp in the park, which they do, since technically they’re protestors. However, enough bylaw violations has given the B.C. Supreme Court justifiable reason to evict them.

I’m having trouble seeing the problem here. Why is the City of Vancouver evicting these people?

Are the causing problems? Aside from the open fires that violate the by-law? I think so, but not problems that are generally considered problems; you know, crime and such. I think the problem they’re causing is drawing attention to their plight. And for us middle class average people, that’s a little uncomfortable. Out of sight, out of mind, right? We don’t want to think of how we let these people down, because we didn’t, not directly. But we sure as shit didn’t help. And now they’re coming together, not to raise public opinion, but because they need to support each other.

So why are we trying to kick them out of a public space? I think it’s so we can go back to ignoring the problem, but that’s just me. Either way, by the 15th of October they have to be cleared out. leahys112@mytru.ca Stephen Leahy is a third year philosophy student who has been attending TRU since 2011. He has been living in Kamloops for 21 of his 23 years.

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NEWS

October 15, 2014

Still early as university explores a downtown campus TRU considers Stuart Wood Elementary School for a downtown campus amid transparency tensions Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

TRU says criticisms that the city was not transparent enough with the university’s proposed acquisition of Stuart Wood Elementary are baseless.

TRU VP of advancement, Christopher Seguin, said the city approached TRU only weeks ago about turning the property into a downtown campus. The two parties called a press conference Oct. 3, soon after signing a memorandum of exploration officially recognizing the possible deal.

“It’s harder to be more transparent,” Seguin said.

The elementary school is set to close by 2016. According school board chair Denise Harper, the board assumed the city would then take control of the property, which is also a heritage site, and use it for cultural or community purposes.

The board has since learned that the land must be used for a school, or else ownership will revert to the provincial government due to a clause built into the original 1906 agreement between the city and the province.

“Mayor Milobar said that he was concerned that disclosure of that information would somehow taint or influence the way the board made their decision in respect for [the school’s] appropriateness to be used as an elementary school. I was disappointed that they didn’t share that, because, of course, that wouldn’t have made any difference,” Harper said.

Harper added, however, that given the land-use requirement, TRU taking control of the property would be a good compromise.

“I think that’s a wonderful solution, because it gives the citizens another location to go to access continuing education,” she said.

Denis Walsh is the chair of the Downtown-West End Residents Association, which was formed in response to the decision to close the school. The association has been fighting to save Stuart Wood, arguing that it is the only English elementary school downtown, and losing it would dissuade families from moving into the area.

While Walsh said he supports the idea of a downtown campus, he is not sure that Stuart Wood Elementary is the right location. He also said he is not happy with how the city has handled the situation. “[TRU has] been given the memorandum of exploration and no one else was approached or considered, so I think that’s unfair and I think the city needs to work with the neighbourhood communities a lot more than they are doing at this time,” he said.

Walsh added the association might have explored different avenues to save the school if they had known the land had to be used for educational purposes.

“We’re just disappointed that we were basically sent chasing our tail by the [city] council,” Walsh said.

Neither city council nor Mayor Milobar could be reached for comment.

According to Seguin, the city only recently learned that the definition of “school” included universities, making TRU a viable option to take over Stuart Wood.

Seguin also said that the memorandum of exploration is a tool to enhance

Stuart Wood Elementary might be TRU’s future downtown campus after it closes its doors in 2016. (Alexis Stockford/The Omega)

transparency and let the public know that a deal is possible. He stressed that no usage agreement has been reached between the city and TRU. “We’re not only in early days of conversation, but we’re in early days of examination,” he said. “I mean, there’s been no physical examination of the site by any technical experts, there’s

been no evaluation of cost or repair or anything.”

While Kamloops citizens have expressed concern that a deal with TRU would lock the community out of future Stuart Wood decisions, Seguin said the university “absolutely” intends to speak with the community as part of the planning process.

“We have a long history of communicating with groups and creating partnerships,” he said. “We’re going to be examining what are the best fits for us in that school and for TRU and the surrounding community ...

“You can’t be a good neighbour without listening to the ideas and needs of your neighbours.”

TRU awards honorary doctorate to modern-day adventurer Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

TRU’s newest PhD doesn’t exactly keep office hours.

Fall convocation saw well-known mountaineer and adventure photographer Pat Morrow cross the stage to accept an honorary doctorate.

“I did really appreciate being able to turn up in an auditorium full of other graduates and feel the sense of camaraderie that it brings with it,” Morrow said.

Morrow’s travels over the last 39 years have spanned the globe, with a particular interest in mountains and the people who live in them. In 1982, he was the second Canadian to make it to the top of Mount Everest, part an expedition that killed four people and caused half the party to turn back. Following his historic climb, Morrow set out to be the first person to climb the tallest mountains on each continent, including Antarctica. His adventure diary with his wife, Baiba, includes regular trips to Nepal,

Pakistan, India and Tibet, among other places.

“I don’t even count being in a country unless I’ve been there at least a month, preferably two months or longer because, frankly, to understand a culture you have to immerse yourself in it and that takes time,” he said.

TRU isn’t far from home for Morrow, who grew up in the East Kootenays and the surrounding wilderness.

“When he was young he’d go out with his father, Frank, to, you know, fish and hunt and so-on in the Purcells, so he turned that passion into contributing back to that protection [of nature],” said John Bergenske, a long-time friend and current conservation co-ordinator of Wildsight, an environmental group Morrow helped establish in the B.C. interior.

Pat Morrow also helped establish the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy in the 70s and is an active participant in the Keep Jumbo Wild campaign, aimed at stopping development of B.C.’s Jumbo Glacier.

Cured of convention

Pat Morrow (left), receives his honorary doctorate and poses with TRU chancellor Wally Oppal.

(Alexis Stockford/The Omega)

Morrow studied journalism at the South Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and photography at what is now the Banff Centre. In 1973, he graduated

from SAIT and started as an intern at the Calgary Herald.

It only took one year for Morrow to look for other options.

“After eight or nine months of working there I was just pretty much burned out,” he said.

Despite his discontent during his brief stint in traditional journalism, Morrow said he doesn’t begrudge the experience.

“It taught me how to organize myself and how to work with people and be very efficient at it, so when I went full-time freelance in 1975 I was able to use those skills, plus the education I had received from those two institutions, to forge a freelance career,” he said.

“I think we were really lucky in our point in life because it was a lot easier to make a living with our freelance photography and writing,” Baiba said, a freelancer herself.

After getting their journalistic start through Equinox, a Canadian adventure magazine, the Morrows branched out into videography. To date, they have created nature and cultural films for outlets like National Geographic, BBC, CTV and the Discovery Channel. They also own Morrow Productions, an independent company offering professional videography as well as photo and video workshops.

School is in While Morrow has never taken a class on campus, he is no stranger to TRU. In 1991, he and Ross Cloutier, the founder of TRU’s adventure studies program, met on an expedition to Mount Everest and hatched the idea that Morrow should hold a photo workshop for Cloutier’s students. The workshop for TRU adventure studies students is now an annual event.

A little closer to his hometown of Wilmer, B.C., Morrow gets high school students up on the peaks through the Conrad Kain Centennial Society Bugaboos Teens program. Every spring or summer, 10 teenagers try out mountaineering in the Bugaboo Mountains on a multi-day trip.

Prominently displayed on the Morrow’s website is a quote by Mark Twain: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”

Both Pat and Baiba Morrow said they’ve seen that reflected in their own lives.

“Starting out as young travelers, you’re afraid of everyone and everything, and I think by being exposed to the hospitality shown by people… I think it really has opened up the world to us in dissolving those preconceptions that we carry around,” Pat Morrow said.

“Frankly, we live in a very insular society, and the only way to break out of that is to get out on the road.”

ARTS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 7

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Careful what you wish for: “Patience” in review

Actors Workshop Theatre’s latest presentation explores desire and regret Marlys Klossner CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Thompson Rivers University’s Actors Workshop Theatre put on their first show of 2014 with “Patience” on Oct. 9.

Kory Cudmore stars as Reuben, a competitive and egocentric man who lives the Canadian dream with his own company and a formulaic family in 1998. All at once, Reuben loses his job, wife, kids and sense of direction.

Reuben tries to pinpoint the moment it all went wrong and figure out how to go on with the input of his brother, wife, friends and coworkers.

“He comes so close to having everything he wants and then he throws it away,” Cudmore said.

The play mirrors Reuben’s ups and downs with some heavy philosophical musings interspersed with comedy.

Throughout the play, each character tries to figure out what they really want and realizes that sometimes getting what they want still doesn’t make them happy.

“Every character has a distinguished character arc,” said Josh Sunderman, who plays the Rabbi, a comedic character, who also offers Reuben some insight.

The supporting cast offers refreshing candidness and hope in comparison to Reuben. For example, Liz ( Jessica Buchanan) is Reuben’s brother’s new flame.

Liz is the youngest of the characters and does not yet feel the jaded cynicism that the rest of the cast struggles with.

Reuben’s brother Phil (Taran Waterous), describes his character as “a grass is always greener on the other side kind of guy.” Once Phil gets to the other side, he regrets his decisions.

This is true of most of the cast, as they ponder whether they are truly living or just going through the motions. Though somewhat misguided, the characters of “Patience” are just searching for meaningful connections, but real life doesn’t live up to the ideal.

Reuben’s story is told both as it unfolds, and through flashbacks and dream-like episodes. Each of the sup-

porting characters voice concerns that reflect Reuben’s own subconscious. In the second act, it becomes clear that Reuben’s surreal imaginings are influenced by his past. The pace switches quickly, so be prepared to adjust your headspace.

Reuben owns a cell phone company, so he is always connected to his loved ones, but doesn’t actually communicate.

It feels like this theme should be more apparent, as the stage is bracketed with circuit-like design.

The set was minimalist in style, with simple grey furniture that was rearranged for every new scene. Some of the transitions were lengthy, but understandable considering the amount of rearrangement.

Behind the actors was a circular projection screen that showed repetitive, cyclical designs, from Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” to Buddhist symbols.

Despite a few line hiccups, the show went smoothly and the audience was responsive. The actors successfully balanced the more admirable and less ad-

mirable traits of their characters.

The play is realistic and doesn’t end with everyone back to being shiny happy people.

“Patience” will play Oct. 16 to 18.

Tickets are $14 and can be purchased at the ticket booth outside the Black Box Theatre or in advance.

The cast of Patience, from left to right: director Wesley Eccleston, Joe Bunn, Celine Majcher, Rebeka Binder, Daniel Ondang, Erik Stephany, Shannon Dunn, Madison Henry, Jessica Buchanan, Mercedes Basford, Taran Waterous, Chanelle Renee, Kory Cudmore and Josh Sunderman.

(Marlys Klossner/The Omega)

Guess what? Someone still uses cassette tapes ARTS EDITOR Ω

Film review: Chef

A tale of culinary masterpieces and Twitter missteps Courtney Ranger CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Rarely is popcorn unsatisfying when watching a movie. But with the impressive array of culinary treats on display in “Chef,” starring, written and directed by Jon Favreau, popcorn just doesn’t hit the spot.

When we join Carl (Favreau), he is head chef of a restaurant owned by Riva (Dustin Hoffman). Carl’s culinary creativity has been stamped out

by Riva’s demand for tradition. After their opposing views come to a head, Carl sets out on his own to rediscover his culinary passion.

The sensuality of the food alone could earn this film a high rating.

Every shot in the movie is delectable.

Each frame is richly coloured, allowing the plates to pop on screen.

The rich, layered sounds compliment the food scenes. Favreau was not afraid to linger over sizzling pans of bacon, a bubbling grilled cheese sandwich or donuts crackling in oil.

Audience members should thank him for it right before they run to satisfy the cravings those shots create.

What appears to be a movie about cuisine quickly turns into a lesson in social media. After a negative review of Carl hits the Internet, he joins Twitter to read comments about him before slinging back some commentary of his own.

Before Carl knows it, a video of an outburst against a critic has gone viral and he is confronted by the instantaneous nature of social networking. Although current, relying on the Internet for the plot feels hokey. Thankfully, Twitter soon hands the spotlight to Carl and the people around him.

While struggling to reclaim himself as a chef, Carl begins to invest more time in his preteen son, Percy (Emjay Anthony). “Chef ” shows a father’s redemption the right way. Carl doesn’t make it up to Percy by finally appearing at some big game or by accepting an unconventional hobby.

Instead, the movie follows a gradual, realistic process of a father discovering common ground with his son at what he describes as an “awkward age.” Carl shares his guarded love for the kitchen with Percy, with only the occasional misstep on either side.

Despite the casting of celebrity co-stars like Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau doesn’t have to fight for audience attention. The big names guide Favreau through his self-discovery as supporting characters, all without overpowering the screen.

Carl is believable and relatable as he integrates his professional and personal lives.

“Chef ” is a feel-good film with a delicious flare to it and worth checking out.

I never have to hide expensive-looking items when I park my car (a 1998 Toyota – I know you were dying to know) because I don’t have anything worth stealing.

Of all my friends and family, I am the only person that is still rocking a cassette deck in my car. Oh yes, it’s the original deck with stock speakers.

One time it crossed my mind to tuck my briefcase of cassette tapes underneath the passenger seat, lest an ambitious thief spot it and mistake it for something much more valuable.

Why don’t I upgrade to an actual stereo deck? It’s a pain, an expensive pain. I’ve priced out car stereo systems in the past. I didn’t ever feel that approximately $500 was worth

putting into my car. I mean, I paid less than that for my last set of tires.

Considering the age and high kilometers of my slick ride, suffice it to say that it would be unwise to put a ton of money into it.

I did, however, invest in a sweet cassette adaptor for $10 that I can connect to my iPod to play music on.

But, I’ve gotten so used to my tapes, I always forget that I have it.

I love asking my friends to open up the briefcase and “pick a tape.”

Partly because of blank stare they give me, followed by nervous laughter and finally a shocked comment remarking on my collection.

Sure, my Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” starts to skip and gets tangled once in a while. That’s a minor inconvenience. Yes, some of my Fleetwood Mac tapes don’t have cases. But all that adds character!

I like my cassettes because they

force me to listen to the whole album, in the correct order. Often the true gems on an album aren’t the hit singles, sometimes they are the songs you have to listen to several times in order to get the true meaning.

I can’t just skip around and listen to whatever I want. That is how I discovered the narratives in Pink Floyd albums.

I guess this means I will never roll up to campus blasting the latest jams, my poor little speakers would probably blow out anyhow. I’ll enjoy this minimalist setup while I can.

It’s likely the last time I’ll ever use a cassette player consistently, as it’s the only one I own.

I won’t upgrade until I absolutely have to. I’ll race around in my Toyota family sedan until it dies, and I’ll listen to my cassettes until they fray, melt or explode, whichever comes first.

Kim Anderson/The Omega

Kim Anderson

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COMICS & PUZZLES

October 15, 2014

xkcd.com

Puzzle of the Week #6 – Hallowe’en Candy Calling You just bought a big bag of 200 candies for handing out on Hallowe’en.

Unfortunately, you have somewhat of a sweet tooth, and you raid the bag twice per day, each time taking from three to five candies.

What is the probability that the bag will run out before Hallowe’en evening? (Assume that your first daily raids are on October 15th and your last daily raids are on October 31st.)

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@telus.net>. Submissions by others are also welcome. The solution will be posted the Wednesday after that in my blog (http://genew.ca/) and in the Math Centre (HL304). Come visit: we are friendly.

SUDOKU

Because you’re probably not doing enough math

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SPORTS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 7

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Move to CIS soccer proves challenging

Both men’s and women’s teams struggling, but coaches remain positive Tayla Scott

SPORTS EDITOR Ω

The WolfPack’s first season playing Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) soccer has resulted in losses and injuries, but there is some hope.

The WolfPack women have one win and the WolfPack men have two.

Both teams saw some success in their previous collegiate league. The women took the PACWEST title for the last three years, and the men won silver last year at the CCAA soccer nationals after becoming PACWEST champions.

This year’s move to CIS brought a new level of intensity to the WolfPack soccer games.

“We’re just not used to the speed of the game and we’ve been trying to catch up to that, but the girls have done very well in improving, basically every game that we’ve played,” said Tom McManus, head coach of women’s soccer.

John Antulov, head coach of the WolfPack men, said that the men’s

team is facing a similar situation.

“Most teams, when they transition from college level to an upper university level, you know there’s going to definitely be some growing pains and a huge learning curve,” Antulov said.

“We lost a majority of our players from last year. We’ve been playing with a lot of first and second year players that really aren’t used to this level yet.”

The ‘Pack men won their first game of the season on Oct. 10, with a 1-0 victory against the University of Northern B.C. Timberwolves. They doubled up with another victory against UNBC the following day with a 3-0 win.

The WolfPack women took their first CIS win on Oct. 11, against the Timberwolves, with a score of 6-3.

But it wasn’t just the switch in leagues that hit the players hard this season. They took physical hits as well, which yo-yoed some of them in and out of games all season.

The women’s injuries began in the pre-season, when forward Katie Sparrow, in her fourth year with the ‘Pack, suffered a concussion.

“She punched me in the face, but I was checking her from behind, so I think she lifted her hand over her head and hit me just above the nose,” Sparrow said. “I played the rest of the half and then I felt weird and dizzy so I told my trainer and he said not to go back on.”

“After my concussion I dropped one of those big Starbucks water bottles full of water on my head so that probably made it a lot worse,” Sparrow said.

After a week off, Sparrow re-entered the game, only to be punched in the back of the head by another player. That put Sparrow out for another week. When she returned she was hit in the face by the ball, which put her out for yet another week.

“Losing Katie in pre-season definitely lost a little spunk in our team.

She was really a fast forward and we probably could have had more goals this season if she was healthy,” said defender Olivia Rasmussen.

On Oct. 3, Rasmussen injured her knee while playing against the UBC Thunderbirds. Rasmussen was taken

Oriol Torres keeps the ball in play as Dan Goodey attacks during the men’s game on Oct. 11.

(Alexis Stockford/The Omega)

Miyoko McKeown defends against the Timberwolves in their Oct. 11 game, which they won with a decisive 6-3 victory.

(Alexis Stockford/The Omega)

from the field by ambulance.

“I was going up the wing and the ball was coming towards me and I went to go touch it past my check. My foot got suck in the turf and my knee went one way and my body went the other,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen’s knee is still too swollen for an MRI, but doctors suspect the injury was to her ACL. “If it’s my ACL and MCL, I probably won’t be playing for six months to a year,” Rasmussen said.

On Oct. 4, defender Christine Fergin injured her ankle in the first 15 minutes of a game against the UVic Vikes. Fergin had already missed the first four games of the season due to a broken ankle from the year before.

Things didn’t improve for the WolfPack women over the weekend. Thirdyear midfielder Kelsey Martin suffered an upper body injury and was taken off the field by stretcher. She won’t return this season.

The WolfPack men have suffered injuries as well, which has impacted the team’s performance.

“I haven’t had my set starting line since the first few games of the season,” Antulov said. “We’ve had some guys gone for two or three games here and there. It’s all been to our starting play-

ers, so that makes it really difficult.”

“Mike Harvey, who is one of our key central mid-fielders, has been out pretty much the whole season,” Antulov said.

Harvey suffered a stress fracture in his foot during the second game of the season against the UFV Cascades.

During the same game, defender Stefan Shaw suffered a leg injury. Both players missed the next two games.

Neither team has a shot at provincials this year, but Antulov is focusing on the gains.

“A lot of my rookies have come in and played really, really well and having that year under their belt in CIS is going to be great for next year,” Antulov said.

McManus shares in the sentiment.

“The girls have come into training and worked very hard in practice. I’ve seen a big difference in them since day one,” said McManus. “I’m quite happy with what they’re doing.”

Despite the spike in losses, both coaches welcome the level of play seen in CIS. “We’ve been wanting CIS almost since I was hired actually. It’s much better competition and the games are much better. We’re very excited to be there,” McManus said.

One hundred innings of redemption WolfPack baseball hosts 100-inning game with hopes of cleaning up image Tayla Scott

SPORTS EDITOR Ω

WolfPack baseball played a 100-inning game at NorBrock Stadium on Oct. 12 to fundraise for the team’s reading break trip to Arizona.

The 100-inning game has been an annual fundraiser since head coach Ray Chadwick started in 2003.

“The Arizona trip is paid for totally by the players. Each player has to get $700. They go out and get sponsors to make a pledge in their name,” Chadwick said.

“The trip usually costs us from $30,000 to $40,000 each year,” Chadwick said.

The ‘Pack will play against various

college teams in Arizona and when they return the spring season will start.

The 100-inning game was open to the community and equipment was provided for anyone who wanted to play with or against the WolfPack.

“We’ve got little kids coming out and we show you how to play roughly,” said team captain Lucais Simpson.

Simpson is playing his third year with the WolfPack and hopes the 100-inning game will help the team’s reputation.

“We had a rough year last year.

Guys used to fight off-campus and we didn’t make a good name for ourselves. We’re trying to show that we’re not, pardon my language, the

assholes or pricks of the campus that we used to be,” Simpson said. “As team captain this year, I’m trying to change that for the future and make the WolfPack look good again.”

“Last year I don’t think anybody actually turned out. The weather was bad. We didn’t really sell it that much,” he said.

This year, Simpson and the team advertised on Facebook and Instagram. They distributed flyers and posters around campus.

“We tried to spread the word as much as we can. This is a good way to get the community involved with us and show that we are changed in the ways of our past and are making it good for years to come,” Simpson said.

Ryan Lehman slides in on Isiah McDonald during the 100-inning game on Oct. 12.

(Marlys Klossner/The Omega)

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September 3, 2014