Oct. 29, 2014

OPEN ACCESS WEEK Students and faculty gather to examine open access tools, opportunities, p. 9

Volume 24 – Issue 9

Kamloops Votes 2014

A QUICK DEGREE How a student veteran is breezing through his postsecondary, p. 2

www.truomega.ca Ω @TRU_Omega

REINSTATE HOCKEY Our sports editor talked to the man working to reinstate WolfPack Hockey, p. 11

October 29, 2014

New faces at TRUSU Union still searching for VP finance, but it has found a new LGBTQ representative

Who are you voting for?

Candidate responses to our questions, part 2

Polls open Nov. 15

An OL student union?

A petition has been launched to start a student union for open learning, but is there any demand?

What you need to know about the council and mayoral candidates looking for your vote.

CHEER GYM NOW OPEN IN KAMLOOPS LOOKS TO HELP THE SPORT GROW – FIND OUT HOW IT ALL STARTED P. 11

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NEWS

October 29, 2014

New student-run kiosk calls Old Main home Retail students with cognitive disabilities get some real-world business experience Carmen Ruiz

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Students at TRU may have noticed something different in Student Street on Thursday, Oct. 23. The Education and Skills Training program (ESTR) has opened a new student-run kiosk as part of its retail workers program. The kiosk will be mainly open Tuesdays and Thursday with hours of operation varying.

Products on offer include items from the TRU Bookstore and from seven small business entrepreneurs, including a TRU student that makes homemade jewelry.

The ESTR program trains students with cognitive disabilities with the skills needed for entry-level employment.

This includes both on and off-campus work experience and partnerships with various employers in Kamloops.

The retail pilot project in Old Main is thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Robert L. Conconi Foundation, which the seven students enrolled in the retail program used to purchase a cart and point of sale system.

“[The kiosk] is a great opportunity for students to connect classroom theory to real employment training. It’ll develop student confidence and independence in addition to specific retail skills,” said ESTR instructor Leanne Mihalicz.

Students are also eager to learn entrepreneurial skills through the project.

“I’m excited to learn what people with small businesses have to go through to get to where they are now,” said ESTR student Autumn Greenaway.

Since the project is a pilot project, Mihalicz said she hopes any profits made will help sustain the kiosk over time.

“We want to use it for student training,” she said. “We have worked on marketing, pricing, packaging and monitoring inventory, all things that the students don’t get an opportunity to work on in an outside store.”

“I’m really excited about it and I want it to see us to success,” Greenaway said.

The kiosk will run until Christmas break and open again in January and run until April. Mihalicz encourages students interested in consigning items to email her at lmihalicz@tru.ca.

Leanne Mihalicz (left) and Autumn Greenaway proudly show off the kiosk cart that was purchased through a Robert L. Conconi Foundation grant.

(Carmen Ruiz/The Omega)

Paying for credits through prior learning assessments Tests for credit afford opportunity to veteran looking for quicker route to degree Ashley Wadhwani ISSUES EDITOR Ω

Paul Niedonovich served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 14 years in both the primary and supplementary reserve, and the private sector. Two years ago he suffered an injury and was deemed un-deployable. However, Niedonovich want-

ed to find a way to still serve his country, and with the sponsorship from Veteran Affairs Canada, was able to return to a post-secondary institution of his choice in order to graduate with a degree and work in a government sector job.

Choosing to obtain a dual degree in general studies and business, Niedonovich, who currently resides in Yarmouth, N.S., registered

Paul Niedonovich hopes to finish his degree quickly and get a government job so that he can continue serving his country.

(Submitted)

at TRU Open Learning because of its flexibility with Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) courses. PLAR courses allow students to gain credits three ways: pre-assessed training from employees or selected organizations, creating a portfolio of documented learning that fits within a courses learning outcomes or challenging each course through one final exam.

“I have done a lot of self-study, reading books watching documentaries and just basically absorbing as much information as I could like a sponge over the [14] years,” Niedonovich said.

The ability to self-study is something Niedonovich suggests in order to successfully complete this kind of testing.

In order to challenge a course, students must pay $100 per credit, or roughly $300 per course. Niedonovich decided to try a fourth option that costs roughly $150 per three credits. Dantes Subject Standardized Test (DSST) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) are prior-learning assessments created across the border that are often used in the military for those interested in continuing their education while serving.

Niedonovich was told about these options when he first joined over a decade ago, and since then both assessment services have become widely used by college students across the country.

Niedonovich spoke with a TRU Open Learning advisor to determine what courses he needed to graduate, and shortly after contacted the DSST and CLEP testing center attached to University of Southern Maine. Since then, he

has completed 48 credits worth of tests within 25 calendar days.

His DSST and CLEP credits will be transferred to his degree through Open Learning as PLAR credits, which means he receives a pass or fail for the credits. Niedonovich already has one year of prior experience and previous college courses he took before serving, leaving 90 credits to complete.

Niedonovich has saved $2,400 and said he spent roughly 30 to 45 hours studying for each test.

The tests are created in a format similar to the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs) that are widely used across the U.S. Upon registering, tests are based off of specific resources that can then be accessed through libraries or found online.

With roughly 100 to 125 questions, tests take 90 minutes to 3 hours to complete. Niedonovich has done well so far, and his grades are currently in the process of being accepted by TRU Open Learning.

His sponsorship through Veteran Affairs has allowed him two years to complete his degree, which is one of the main reasons Niedonovich decided to not attend classes onsite for his required courses. The last time Niedonovich traveled to the University of Southern Maine he decided to take nine tests within five days. During the eighth test, Niedonovich passed out from fatigue mid-exam.

“First, my depth perception kinda went out and I could see the screen going to two feet away to three feet away, then it was an inch in front of my eyes and then it would zoom back and forth,” Niedonovich said.

“I slumped down in my chair. I was basically done for the day.”

Niedonovich received a D on that exam but was considered a non-credit pass. He is currently waiting for the 180-day wait period to pass before he can retake the test.

When asked if he plans on taking another group of tests in the same week again, Niedonovich said he most likely would not.

“My brain was fried,” he said.

Niedonovich wanted to challenge himself and actually finished a semester (four courses) worth of credits in a single day.

Niedonovich believes this cost-effective and time-saving strategy could be useful for other students to consider, but does want to take on-site courses to feel the campus experience.

“It’s not for everybody. If you are a person who has a difficulty in basically going and learning on your own, or if you typically need a structuralized environment for learning and an established set schedule, to enable yourself to learn, then these kinds of exams may not be to your thing. They rely on you to independently study,” Niedonovich said.

Niedonovich first looks at the content guide for a course before registering to see if he thinks he’ll need help with the course from a professor.

He also suggests trying one course out first before registering for many to make sure this kind of testing structure is right for the student.

DSST and CLEP testing might be the alternative choice for those just looking to complete credits for their courses, but the classroom experience is always something to be considered.

OPINION & EDITORIAL

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 9

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 SCI-TECH EDITOR Ryan Turcot @RyanTurcot sci-tech@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 CONTRIBUTORS Carli Berry Steve Leahy Carmen Ruiz

PUBLISHING BOARD

What we need to remember before we forget his name Pause is needed before using shooting as legislative boon Sean Brady

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω

In an event like the shooting at Parliament in Ottawa, people like Michael Zehaf-Bibeau rightfully lose their identity. Zehaf-Bibeau became “the gunman” or “the shooter” and little more than that.

Canada’s heroic Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers did not shoot Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, he shot and ended a threat to our democracy.

But now, “the gunman” is dead and Michael Zehaf-Bibeau lingers.

While it’s tempting to let him die, too, we need to do our due diligence first and try to understand the murder and violence he committed.

The details of Zehaf-Bibeau’s possible motives are slowly emerging. On Sunday, Oct. 26, the RCMP released a carefully worded statement saying that he was “driven by ideological and political motives,” and that he “prepared a video recording of himself just prior to conducting this attack.” Later that evening, CBC reported that in the video, Zehaf-Bibeau references “foreign policy as motivation for his actions and that he praises Allah in the recording,” though it only cited “a source familiar with the investigation.”

But before that, it was reported that three years ago, Zehaf-Bibeau asked a B.C. judge to put him in jail to help him break the cycle of his drug addiction. In the psycho-

logical assessment that preceded his trial, he is quoted as saying “If you release me what’s going to happen again? Probably the same loop and I’m going to be right back here again,” and “I’m a crack addict and at the same time I’m a religious person… I want to sacrifice freedom and good things… so when I come out, I’ll appreciate the things of life more and be clean.”

A psychiatrist found Zehaf-Bibeau fit to stand trial and the judge agreed to detain him, even wishing him good luck in his recovery.

A person’s mental health history is pretty difficult to nail down if they never seek help through conventional means. But it’s clear that Zehaf-Bibeau did seek help and that he found himself in a desperate situation, one he likely knew he’d gotten himself into.

Homelessness and drug addiction tend not to happen in a vacuum and there are reasons why mental illness is so common among street people.

So how does this explain the disgusting murder and violence he committed in Ottawa? I don’t think it does – at least not directly.

Mentally ill or not, it’s clear that Zehaf-Bibeau was a vulnerable person on the margins of our society, and now it appears that he was later radicalized; he was pushed to the edge of his religion and then outside of it into extremism.

Radical Islamism is very much something we have externalized.

When the news of the shooting first broke, our inclination was to look at where he came from and why. He didn’t come from anywhere – he was born in Canada.

It became increasingly difficult to externalize Zehaf-Bibeau and his actions and we all grew more and more uncomfortable with the story.

If Zehaf-Bibeau had turned out to just be a run-of-the-mill terrorist, it would have been much more convenient, especially to those looking to pass legislation in the wake of the shooting.

There’s cause for reservation in doing so. On Friday, Oct. 24, just two days after the shooting, the Security Intelligence Review Committee, the body that oversees CSIS, tabled its report criticizing the spy agency for delays and misleading behaviour.

The timing of the report is crucial, since it came just before the government introduced legislation that expands CSIS powers in tracking suspects abroad.

On Monday, Oct. 27, the government tabled Bill C-44, or known by its more defensible name, the “Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act.” Who would ever oppose a bill with a name like that, especially after what the country has been through?

If Zehaf-Bibeau’s acts of murder and violence are going to be used for any political purpose, how about better support for those with mental illness and substance abuse problems? editor@truomega.ca

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.

Editorial cartoon “Shooting on Parliament Hill” by Bruce MacKinnon. Courtesy of The Chronicle Herald.

Editor’s note: McKinnon’s now iconic cartoon is available for sale, with proceeds from each sale going to the family of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo of Hamilton, Ont. Prints can be purchased online at the link below. http://shop.thechronicleherald.ca/Cartoon-Reprint-of-Cpl-Nathan-Cirillo_p_5034.html

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TUNE IN/TUNE OUT Steve Leahy

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Well, we had a national tragedy last week. Some idiot thought he would off the Prime Minister, but, not surprisingly, failed and got himself shot. Now, I’m not entirely sure what the public reaction to this will be way out here on the West Coast, but I’m thinking this won’t be happening again anytime soon.

Crazy people will do crazy things; no way to avoid that. I mean, can you really blame someone for holding the Prime Minister accountable for bad things the government does? No, sure can’t, but you can blame the hell out of him for killing a soldier and wounding four other people. But crazy people are as crazy people do. I’m not afraid of that happening again, I’m more afraid of the response to this tragedy.

This was not a terrorist attack (okay, it was, but not organized terrorism like ISIS or some other unified group) this was just one guy, but I get the feeling that this will be treated like an insurgent group operating on Canadian soil.

What I’m most afraid of is the government stepping in, and, like in America, stripping away our freedoms in order to guarantee us peace. First, you can’t guarantee peace, there are always going to be stupid people that do stupid things, like the guy who shot up parliament. How many of you were actually afraid of terrorists in Canada before this happened?

Not a whole lot, I’m guessing. But now? Probably lots, I’d wager.

So what happens now? I got no clue on that one. I’m just a member of the public, I got no say in what the government does. But wait, isn’t the government beholden to the people? Yes, but the majority of people are reactionary and quick to jump to conclusions. That’s why we have a government in the first place; cooler heads should prevail in times of tension. But that’s not how it works most of the time.

The government’s beholden to the people, so if the people are reactionary, then the government will be the same. Where’s these so called ‘cooler heads?’ They’re the commentators, the people offering their opinions, not the ones dictating terms.

So where does this lead us? Nowhere good, I’ll tell you that for free. For five bucks I’ll tell you that this really isn’t a big deal. Our security is relaxed because we’re not a nation people really have beef with. It was exposed because of this, but that doesn’t mean we need more sanctions on security, it just means we need to tell our security dudes; ‘you know, just because nothing happens doesn’t give you an excuse to nap on the job.’ My fear is that our securities going to get cranked up to the nth degree, like airport security after 9-11. There was a man who once said; “they who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” But what does Ben Franklin know about modern democracy? 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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October 29, 2014

ARTS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 9

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I know Rose promised to “never let go” but it’s time to let Titanic movie quotes sink to the ocean floor Kim Anderson ARTS EDITOR Ω

I could see my breath forming in small white puffs in the chilly winter air. I slowly and carefully climbed the little mountain of snow in my friend’s front yard. It was a calm, crisp winter night (or maybe morning at this point). I was holding her thoroughly unimpressed white and grey cat safely in my arms.

Once I reached the top of the snow pile I looked at my group of friends, huddled together like penguins on the patio, all eyes were on me. I hoisted her sassy, but non-objecting cat into the sky with both hands and belted out my best intro to “Circle of Life” from Disney’s The Lion King.

I gave it my all and sang a jumbled mix of consonants and vowels to that unmistakable tune. I looked up the lyrics later, out of curiosity. The lyrics “nats ingonyama bagithi Baba” are actually sung in Zulu, an African language. What I sang couldn’t have been further from that language, yet every

single one of my friends got the reference.

Like a few Disney movies, certain films stay with us as we grow older and some references and quotes just won’t die. For instance, in the 19-25 age group, Mean Girls is a film that is constantly quoted.

I challenge you to toss out a: “she doesn’t even go here,” “on Wednesdays we wear pink,” “the limit does not exist” or “get in loser, we’re going shopping” and NOT elicit a reaction from those around you. Did I really just suggest that Mean Girls is an iconic film for my generation? I think I did…

Perhaps one day we will get tired of quoting the bright-eyed Lindsay Lohan in her pre-rehab days, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. As a matter of fact, just a few days ago a friend captioned an Instagram post with “he doesn’t even go here!” I liked it.

On the other end of the spectrum are the quotes that really should be put to rest. The ones I hear most often, that really touch a nerve with me now are from Titanic.

Alexis Stockford/The Omega Who hasn’t seen Titanic? It is over-referenced for that very reason.

I remember watching it in a theatre with my family and my mom literally jumping and scrambling over the seats to cover our eyes during the sex scenes.

Pretty sure I had already taken sex education courses by then, but I appreciate the gesture, mom.

The tragic love story is too easy to quote. Well look at that, you found a restraining fence, I know what happens next. Or maybe you’re leaning over the railing on a boat with your arms spread. With a devilish grin you wave frantically to your friends and announce: “Jack, I’m flying!”

Are you flying, Rose? I don’t think you are. I think you’re taking advantage of that poor, defenceless fence or railing and need to stop. To all the captains out there who have had to suffer through this, I offer you my most sincere apology.

Since I don’t draw or paint, I haven’t experienced this one firsthand. But I bet that all you artists out there have had enough of it: “I want you to draw me like one of your French girls” (exaggerated eye-roll).

So you want them to draw you nude, sprawled out on a couch wearing a giant gem? Is that what you truly want?

Or do you want them to laugh at your

clever link between a pencil, paper and nudity reference?

My guess is the latter, but hey, to each their own I suppose. On a semi-related note, is a hand drawn nude portrait the hipster version of nude selfies? A hard copy like that would be safe from hacks into the cloud… But, I digress.

Please enjoy films for what they are.

But please, people, let us all agree to toss these overused quotes into depths of the sea, just like Rose did with the heart of the ocean necklace.

If these exhausted Titanic quotes keep going “on and oooonnnn” (sorry Celine), don’t expect my patience or friendship to follow suit.

Frustration over 21-plus shows Carli Berry

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Despite student and musicians’ frustrations with 21-plus policies at some clubs in Kamloops, owners and operators are standing by their rules and explaining why things are the way they are.

The Blue Grotto enforces a strict 21-plus age restriction for their patrons. This prevents legal-to-drink 19 and 20-year-olds from going into the club and from seeing live music acts over the weekend. However, sometimes during the week they host 19-plus music acts.

Owners want to appeal to an older crowd and are proud to offer a different club atmosphere in Kamloops. It often doesn’t sit well with younger patrons.

“They’re just throwing money away, I think,” Tyler Dempsey said regarding 21-plus age limits.

Dempsey is the drummer of Falcity, an alternative rock band that plays in Kamloops.

“I really can’t wrap my head around why there would be an age restriction on any show because the people who spend the most money and people who enjoy music the most are in their teens,” Dempsey said.

Falcity has been playing shows in the Kamloops region for the last nine months. They appeal to a range of 18 to 30-year-olds.

“You’re cutting out more people who would come to our shows,” Dempsey said. “If they were to tell me it was a 21-plus show that I was playing I would be really upset.”

Don Garrish of Business and Licencing with the City of Kamloops said that the 21-plus limit doesn’t have anything to do with the City of Kamloops. He said that it is up to the individual businesses to determine age policies.

“Nothing in the records says they can or can’t do it,” Garrish said.

According to Rob Medves, manager of Cactus Jacks Nightclub, although there is nothing officially written in the liquor regulations regarding age restrictions in clubs (other than the drinking age in B.C.) there are many laws that nightclubs must follow. Among them are the human rights code, the terms and conditions of the liquor act, capacity restrictions, proper ID regulations, providing a safe environment and not promoting over-service of alcohol.

Beyond those laws, a club is free to create and enforce house policies. House rules like dress codes, cover charges, mandatory coat checks and age limits are at the discretion of each individual club. Medves explained how certain house rules will attract and deter different types of clientele.

Teri and Kathy Willey, partial owners of the Blue Grotto, are adamant about their 21-plus policy.

“We wanted something different than just the regular club. We wanted to create a more relaxed, mature atmosphere opposed to the other clubs,” Teri said.

The Willeys have owned the Blue Grotto for eight years along with other partial owner Kevin Willey.

They compared their club to Cactus Jacks and Shark Club, saying they want to give an older crowd a place to dance.

“We get couples in here in their 70s dancing the night away,” Kathy said.

“Would you take your parents to a nightclub? Would you take them to Cactus Jacks?” Kathy and Teri both said.

The Willeys don’t believe there are drawbacks with the 21-plus policy for their business.

“Never has it been a decision we’ve regretted,” Kathy said.

The Blue Grotto’s policies have been called into question before.

The Willeys said in the past there was a case with a man not following a house rule regarding the dress code. According to The Daily News, the man was asked to leave because he was wearing a tank top. He argued that women with similar looking tops were allowed inside. He took them to the Human Rights Tribunal of British Columbia for discrimination.

The Blue Grotto won the case.

The Willeys stick to their policies. They have refused family and even had a band threaten to leave because they would not let a band member’s daughter in to see the show.

“We will not make an exception for anyone for any reason,” Teri said.

Jim Elliot is a 20-year-old journalism and political science student at TRU. He has also been a resident of Kamloops for 12 years.

There were certain shows Elliot was unable to see at The Grotto due to his age.

“The Stanfields played there and I would have liked to go,” Elliot said. “I’m just a little bit disappointed that I can’t bring my business there.”

Elliot also felt “frustrated because while the average 19-20 year old may be a drunken mess most of the time, I’m not, and I feel like I’m being unfairly profiled based entirely on my age.”

For now, it seems The Blue Grotto will stick to their policies and continue enforcing their 21plus age restriction.

“Just because it’s the minimum drinking age in B.C. [it] doesn’t mean we have to do that. It’s what we want for our club,” Teri said.

“Technically it is discrimination, but it’s our club and we can have our own rules.”

Film review: Gone Girl Rachel Wood

COPY EDITOR Ω

Based off of Gillian Flynn’s bestselling 2012 novel, “Gone Girl” is a movie dedicated to suspense, plot twists and ultimately surprising the audience in every way, shape and form. It’s a mystery, thriller and drama film all wrapped into twoand-a-half hours of screen time.

Now, before you start questioning whether or not you’ll be able to sit through a movie that long, let me help you out. Director David Fincher has made “Gone Girl” a lengthy production, but it is in no way excessive. Each moment is fabricated so well that by missing even a minute, you are in danger of missing a critical piece to the puzzle that is the plotline.

Enter Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck): A bar owner in Missouri who leads a rather bland life, aside from his deteriorating relationship with his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike).

When Amy suddenly disappears on the morning of their fifth wedding anniversary, the insanity begins.

The movie follows Nick on his quest to prove his innocence, as well as to find out what really happened to Amy. The riddle is slowly pieced together as Nick finds his

way through Amy’s inexplicable disappearance, but it is not simple.

With each development in the plot, what seems like the obvious answer becomes increasingly cloudy. Is Nick to be blamed for this tragedy, or are there other forces at play?

Supporting characters also give the movie greater depth. Amy’s ex-boyfriend Desi Collings (Neil Patrick Harris), Detective Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) and Nick’s twin sister Margo (Carrie Coon) weave in and out of the plot. The cast is a mix of high-profile actors and actresses, as well as lesser-known ones who all tie the movie together.

Aside from the cast, the movie’s soundtrack increases the intensity of the experience. Coined as “dark ambient” by the soundtrack producers Trent Renzor and Atticus Ross, every note plays a role in keeping the audience on its toes. The mixture of calming orchestra music and harsh, rhythmic electronic sounds made my pulse quicken and hands sweat at times.

“Gone Girl” is a film that does not lack shock value. Twists and turns are inevitable at each passing minute, resulting in the audience not knowing what will come of the characters until the credits roll at the end.

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ELECTION CANDIDATES

October 29, 2014

Who will you be voting for?

With the 2014 municipal election less than a month away, The Omega has created a multi-week rundown of your choice for mayor and city council. We put two questions to each candidate. See last week’s issue or our website for more candidates’ responses.

The city will go to the polls Nov. 15. More information can be found on the City of Kamloops website at www.kamloops.ca.

Pierre Filisetti

MAYORAL CANDIDATE

(1) What is your platform and why should TRU students vote for you?

(2) What do you feel is the role of TRU and its students in Kamloops and, if applicable, how do you feel the university can become more integrated with the city?

(1) Livability and Beauty -A beautiful, clean city becomes a destination many people look forward to visit, -Becomes the source of community pride and it is more livable Fiscal accountability -Complete openness, transparency and 100 per cent financial accountability at every level Sustainability -Quality management with a fondness for innovation will deliver consistently high value services and civic projects destined to last for ages.

(2) People from all over the world are studying at TRU and I welcome that beautiful diversity. TRU and the city can co-operate to stage cultural events to leverage that diversity in a mutually beneficial cultural exchange. Let there be art to integrate us while safeguarding cultural identities!

(1) I’m introducing new ideas to the area. Some of my ideas revolve around the Kelowna Rockets arena with its second bowl of seating. I’m also asking people for their ideas.

I want to look at the financial records of the city and I want to responsible for every nickel, and if we’re in debt, hopefully I can pay it off within four years and then be responsible.

(2) I know tuition is very high and I’d like to do something about it. I’d like to sit down with the university administration and work out possibly a deal. So, what I’m going to suggest is a second MAYORAL CANDIDATE Lafarge plant, which will build concrete masonry columns and, in return for selling products and opening up new industries in Dallas and Valleyview, that money will pay for local student tuition. We’ll work out the numbers, but I was thinking 50 per cent. If you show your birth certificate, your student fees might be waved.

Dallas Paisley

(1) I support Kamloops growing sustainably, such as increasing density and preserving farmland.

I will advocate for services for people of all abilities such as wheelchair accessible facilities. I support making Kamloops a diverse, vibrant city including the downtown core. Finally, we need to invest in infrastructure like storm drainage.

(2) Through its students, TRU increases the number of skilled, educated people in Kamloops.

This helps the individuals as well as the community.

The research done by TRU and its student helps organizations grow.

TRU and its students also enhance the city economically. Money spent by TRU and its students CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE helps local businesses thrive.

TRU speakers and cultural events benefit the entire community. As well, students support a vibrant local live music scene.

Integrating TRU more with the community includes enhancing city services, like additional transit, as well as building partnerships, like further community-based research. It also includes collaborating on projects such as cultural events and conferences.

Nancy Bepple

(1) Marg is a dedicated volunteer who loves Kamloops, green spaces, and preserving parkland. She advocates for seniors, people with disabilities, and children off the side of her desk.

This past session Marg developed and put on two workshops for locally elected leaders on understanding budgets, as well as a session in May on best practices to recruit and retain family physicians. Six Kamloops doctors were the result of working with government and recruiting agencies.

(2) Marg made supporting TRU’s international program as an economic engine one of three pillars of her platform in 2008.

A recent study has shown that the Trades and CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE Technology sector will require thousands of workers by 2017. Perfect timing for TRU to continue the good work of expanding this sector and investing in the students who will replace the baby boomers as they retire. This coupled with the new law school, research capabilities, means that TRU is and must be considered an economic force in Kamloops. We need to support and advocate for TRU funding so that students can continue to rely on an excellent education in a safe, healthy environment.

Marg Spina

(1) As city councillor, I will strive to maintain a high level of fiscal accountability and responsibility to all tax payers. Our tax dollars must be spent prudently and wisely. Furthermore, we must make an on-going sincere effort to find efficiencies in current spending to better allocate available funds and minimize tax increases.

(2) TRU is a community within our wonderful community. It plays a significant role as an employer, cultural and arts contributor, helping young people become qualified, confident new members of our work force. TRU has put Kamloops on the map in a very positive way and needs our continCITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE ued support to ensure its students have a positive experience in our sunny city. By engaging in more events and activities that draw community members to the campus, such as open houses and hosting events presented by students, residents of Kamloops and TRU students will be more connected. Furthermore, working towards more opportunities for job shadowing with local companies will foster a better transition to the workforce.

Tanja Hasler

(1) I am dedicated to Kamloops. My approach is community focused and business minded. I support a Performing Arts Center, a focus on affordable housing and business attraction.

Bernadette Siracky CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE

(2) Thompson Rivers University is truly a gem.

This world-class institution is a magnet for cultural and social diversity. It attracts invaluable opportunities for our city in business, tourism, education and the arts.

The students of TRU encourage our community to think outside the box, to welcome new ideas and to be proud of the opportunities it provides its

graduates.

I would be honored to formally represent Kamloops as a destination of choice for education, business, healthcare, quality of life and tourism, but mostly as home.

All candidates were given two weeks to submit material to The Omega. The following candidates did not submit material before deadline: Patricia Wallace, Glenn Hilke, Benjamin James, Peter Milobar.

ELECTION CANDIDATES

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 9

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Don’t forget to vote on Nov. 15. More information: www.kamloops.ca (1) I have a proven record of dedication to our community through my many years of volunteering including working with the Serv1000 program at TRU. I will equally represent all geographical areas of the city and promote public consultation focusing on issues relevant to social, environmental and wellness issues by building on the strengths, opportunities and diversity that exists in Kamloops.

(2) I feel that we have just started to open the doors of communications and the possibilities for partnerships between TRU and our community. We already have partnership between TRU and the city’s water treatment technologies, as well as TRU and CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE TCC, which allows to the city host to many sporting events while giving tourism students practical experience. Partnerships between TRU, New Gold and Highland Valley Copper allow training and employment within our local area. As a city councillor I challenge you to look at ways to engage yourselves within our community.

The last and most important item that you as students must ensure is that you vote on Nov. 15.

Andy Philpot

Reo Rocheleau

(1) Students should vote because it’s their God-given right. It doesn’t matter where they are, they have to follow the city council and make sure they do not overspend like this city is doing.

Without proper authorization, this city is building round-a-bouts, they are building parkades—spending $100,000 with no authorization, just by somebody saying “Let’s do it.” You need to get involved in politics and learn what your city is doing so your taxes don’t get increased.

(2) The role of TRU is to show Canadian friendship. There should be more advertising on TRU’s International Days. That is a fantastic show and it should be opened up so the public really gets to know what it is and what happens in the whole world.

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE

(1) My platform focuses on a vibrant and inclusive community for all residents of Kamloops. My key areas include: - Focus on the long term future of the city - Expand multi-sectorial collaboration for economic growth and diversification - Foster civic participation - Enhance quality of life and social connectedness (2) I feel that TRU and its students represent innovation and growth, not only for the city of Kamloops, but also for our region. Having graduated CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE from TRU, I feel we can further bridge partnerVISION KAMLOOPS ships between TRU, the city and various industries and organizations. These ongoing partnerships would expand student experiences and also strengthen job creation and retention within our city.

Jenny Green

Daphane Nelson

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE VISION KAMLOOPS

(1) My platform follows: Beyond the status quo: fiscally responsible, socially conscious.

-Approach City Council with a progressive perspective: Decide based on new information, not status quo.

-Challenge Kamloops mindset about labour: Specialized workers will create long-term employment in emerging industries.

-Budget in a way that makes sense for Kamloops residents: Gain commitment from citizens prior to large capital expenditures.

-Embody social responsibility: Understand barriers of Kamloops citizens and create a connected city.

(2) TRU plays an integral part in the future of Kamloops as I see it. There needs to be continued diversification of our economy, but we also need to take into account the health of our community. Educated and specialized workers will create long-term employment opportunities in sustainable, emerging industries, such as those highlighted by Venture Kamloops: green energy, high-tech and tourism.

(1) If I am elected I promise to be myself ! A successful business person, a bold decision maker.

The councillor you can count on to ask the tough questions. Thrifty with finances and not afraid to say no. I am a three-term councillor with proven abilities to plan effectively for the future.

(2) I believe TRU is the jewel of Kamloops with positive benefits economically, culturally and socially. The students give our city vibrancy and diversity while making a critical contribution to our economy. Locals can get a first-rate education without moving away. Our city is more desirable to move to and invest in because we have university.

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE Council looks for synergies with TRU, such as putting our Tournament Capital Centre beside the campus and our present negotiations with the university to locate a downtown satellite campus at Stuart Wood School. As a councillor, I make decisions considering the effect on the whole community including TRU.

Tina Lange

(1) As a city councilor, I feel I would be able to represent TRU students in a meaningful manner. I work at TRU and think I have a good understanding of their needs and wishes. I am a part of the Vision Kamloops Alliance and we have a progressive set of core values and principles. Details of that platform can be found at our website, VisionKamloops.ca.

(2) I think TRU is integral to the health of Kamloops, economically, culturally and socially. Council should lead the way in encouraging major players such as Interior Health, School District 73, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, industrial partners and TRU to work collaboratively in an effort to make our city a more dynamic, sustainable place CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE to live. If these important groups joined forces on a VISION KAMLOOPS regular basis, the sky is the limit.

I feel that the students of TRU will take a significant lead within the city and region in building a prosperous and sustainable future. The skills and energy they have will encourage emerging industries such as high-tech, tourism and green energy to locate here. That translates directly into jobs.

Brad Harrison

(1) Students at TRU make up a significant portion of the Kamloops population. There is a need for greater public engagement in shaping Kamloops and enhancing and protecting our quality of life.

As a former Councillor, I see the potential for a positive change on Council.

I believe your choice this election should be based on who has the best skills, common sense, and who will be mindful of your tax dollars... not simply name recognition.

(2) I would like to see more accessible alternative transportation options for everyone. This would be for transit, walking paths, safe biking lanes and other modes to get easily and conveniently from point A to CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE B. VISION KAMLOOPS If elected, I would discuss with my colleagues on council the benefits of increasing the options, the regularity, and extended hours for transit service.

As my most important initiative, I would encourage regular transit riders such as TRU student to form a powerful transit lobby group to represent the people that really know what is wrong, what is right, what we need, what we want, and how it will benefit our community.

Denis Walsh

(1) My platform is about building community resilience through the retention of current business, continued pursuit of sustainable industry, fiscal accountability and equitable taxation, addressing the challenges of a changing environment and depleting resource base, and promoting health living programs while developing infrastructure to support them. These issues will affect students more than any other segment of society.

I believe I can offer a fresh perspective while working with the student body and the public.

(2) The role of TRU is to educate and prepare individuals to enter the workforce as highly trained individuals in specific fields, ensuring strong economic stability and growth. The challenge is to create opporCITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE tunities that accommodate the training students have VISION KAMLOOPS received while attending this fine university. This rests with the city. In concert with university staff, students and economic development agencies, council can identify emerging markets, industrial opportunities and independent business opportunities. I believe in connections and feel that the university could be part of a larger group made up of members from other agencies such as Interior Health, Chamber of Commerce, and Venture Kamloops and ultimately be instrumental in determining a long-term vision for the city.

Dieter Dudy

8

NEWS

October 29, 2014

Staffing changes shake up TRUSU board of directors Student union will see some new faces in the coming weeks Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

The TRUSU board of directors gained an LGBTQ representative and lost a vice president of finance last Tuesday.

Trad Bahabri was removed from his post on Oct. 21 after exceeding his limit of meeting absences according to TRUSU bylaws. Bahabri left TRU after accepting a job offer and is now living in his home country of Saudi Arabia.

“It’s really not that uncommon for folks to leave the institution, like Trad has done in this case, whether for job opportunities or to take advantage of study abroad or co-op or go back home for a semester,” said TRUSU president Dylan Robinson.

Applications for Bahabri’s position are being accepted until Nov. 5 with the new vice-president of finance announced Nov. 18.

“We’re not looking for any sort of special requirements,” Robin-

son said of the position. “You don’t have to be an accounting student or something to be the vice president of finance; it’s open to everybody and everyone.”

LGBTQ rep vacancy filled

During the same meeting, Megan Graham was announced as the new LGBTQ representative, a post that has been vacant since Nic Zdunich resigned Sept. 23.

Initially, Graham said the LGBTQ position was not something she was going to pursue.

“Apparently there wasn’t a whole lot of interest and I was approached by Dylan Robinson to step up because I have a lot experience in speaking and leadership roles and I felt that I could contribute something useful,” Graham said.

Graham, who is in her fourth year of interdisciplinary studies, has been working with the TRU Pride Club for the last year.

As LGBTQ representative, she said she plans to take up some of

her predecessor’s projects, such as integrating the pride community into the city with pride-friendly businesses downtown, as well as pursue some of her own priorities.

Gender-neutral washrooms on campus are one item on her list, since she says the issue is important to the transsexual community and is relatively easy to solve.

“I know that there’s a lot of flexibility in the role and I can kind of do what the community needs to be done or what I’m interested in and that’s really exciting,” she said.

“I guess I’ll be a little more visible and in your face… I’m not here to be shy and we’re not going back in the closet,” she added.

“We’re really excited about having her on the board,” said Melissa Gordon, TRUSU vice president internal. “We look forward to working with her for the equity plan.”

Graham will be the second person to sit as LGBTQ representative since the position was created in 2013.

Megan Graham is TRUSU’s new LGBTQ rep. TRUSU will also announce a new vice president of finance by Nov. 18. (Alexis Stockford/The Omega)

Open learning student union fails to gain traction Petition to start a new student union receiving a lukewarm response, effort has been made before Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

Alexis Stockford/The Omega

A former distance education student says TRU Open Learning (OL) should have its own student union, but he may be fighting an uphill battle with little support.

Two weeks ago, Mark Swarek launched an online petition to TRU’s dean of students, Christine Adam, advocating the creation of an OL student union much like TRUSU. The university would collect a union fee from each student, which would then be funnelled to the union for advocacy, services and entertainment.

Swarek argues that the current system excludes OL students, since they are not members of TRUSU and do not benefit from its services such as advocacy, student saver discounts and health and dental insurance.

“It takes a lot of self-discipline and a lot of commitment and dedication to be an open learning student, especially if you’re pursuing a program that way,” Swarek said. “So we need every support and every advantage that’s available to us.”

According to Adam, the demand for what Swarek is proposing is low.

“Many OL students are actually members of student unions elsewhere and they are taking a course through TRU OL, so they’re receiving benefits and other sorts of services connected to their affiliation with another institution,” Adam said.

Only seven people have signed Swarek’s petition so far.

TRUSU president Dylan Robinson said that, while he is not opposed

to a separate student union, OL students must collectively approve the idea.

“We’ve spoken to open learning about this issue in the past and more recently as well and, at this time, we don’t really believe that there’s widespread interest amongst open learning students to join a student organization,” he said.

He added that, if there ever were widespread agreement among OL students, TRUSU would be happy to be part of those discussions.

Swarek said he attempted a similar movement while he was a student at TRU OL, but support for his movement was limited then, too, with only about 10 people interested in his cause.

A union all his own

While Swarek said he still envisions a student union associated with the university, he is also taking matters into his own hands.

Only a few days after launching his petition, Swarek announced the Open Learning Students Alliance (OLSA), his own independently formed organization separate from the university.

“I realized that perhaps the best way to demonstrate to [the administration] that there is support from open learning students is to go ahead and form an organization, gather members and start delivering services,” Swarek said.

According to Swarek, he hopes his organization can eventually provide members with health and dental insurance, advocacy and student discounts on items specific to

an off-campus education such as software and technology. At the moment, however, membership benefits are mostly related to forming the organization’s framework and voting in the first board of directors.

In order to provide health insurance and other standard benefits, Swarek said he plans to become a member of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), a national organization that regulates student unions across Canada, including TRUSU. According to Zachary Crispin, spokesperson for CFS British Columbia, there are several Canadian universities with a separate union to represent a specific group of students.

He added, however, that any union applying for CFS membership must be able to demonstrate that it represents all students in that group, in this case, OL. The organization must also be ratified under the B.C. Societies Act, which requires each applicant to have a constitution, bylaws and at least three directors.

Christine Adam said that getting the OLSA to represent all TRU OL would be a challenge, since distance makes it difficult for students to organize. Adam added, however, that sending an email to all OL students “wouldn’t necessarily be an unreasonable thing to request.”

She also said that the OLSA would have to be ratified by the Societies Act before the university would consider an arrangement similar to TRUSU. Swarek’s organization is currently an unincorporated society outside of the act.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 9

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Cheaper, more accessible open access learning Open Access Week highlights promising tools, hopes to raise student/faculty awareness, adoption Ryan Turcot

SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Ω

Digital content services like iTunes and Netflix are changing how people consume music and entertainment, so what stops universities from using technology to make education cheaper and more accessible?

This question became a hot topic at TRU during Open Access Week, which took place from Oct. 20 to Oct. 26. The TRU Library sponsored a series of workshops and seminars to give faculty, staff and students insight into how existing but under-adopted digital tools could improve the student learning experience at TRU. “This is the third year in a row that TRU Library has sponsored Open Access Week events,” said librarian Penny Haggarty. Open Access Week, which started in 2007, is an event that universities around the world acknowledge annually.

Last Tuesday, Haggarty and Brenda Smith spoke about open access journals, which are published online free of cost and allow users to copy and distribute the contents freely (with proper attribution, of course).

“Journal price increases have far exceeded increases in library budgets,” Haggarty explains. “Not even the largest and richest academic libraries in the world have been immune from these pressures.”

In the wake of cancelled subscriptions and compromises in other scholarly resources, Haggarty sees open access journals as

“a means for institutions to provide access to their scholarly work without the burden of expensive journal licensing programs.”

TRU Library is also involved with the BC Institutional Repository Network and considering developing its own repository.

“Should TRU choose to fund and implement an institutional repository, the institution would be able to manage, store, preserve and provide access to digital content, including…open access journals,” Haggarty said.

The open access conversation later shifted away from libraries – TRU’s director of innovation, Brian Lamb, spoke about how existing and readily available open access tools could improve the classroom.

“There’s a provincial open textbook program here and a lot of faculty don’t know about it,” Lamb said. “A lot of students don’t know about it.”

The program Lamb is referring to is BCcampus’s Open Textbook Project. It is funded by the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education and works to provide faculty and students with free, digital copies of openly licensed textbooks as well as low-cost hard copies.

Lamb notes that the student voice will play a significant role in the success of an open textbook system.

“If students don’t make it understood that they would like to see this happen, it won’t happen,” Lamb said.

He urges students to do so respectfully, and “recognize that there isn’t an open textbook for

every course, or that there may be a good reason for instructors doing what they do.”

When Lamb spoke about the Learning Management Systems TRU currently uses in its classes (Moodle and Blackboard), a weakness became clear to librarian Elizabeth Rennie: “Teaching students to become proficient in Moodle or Blackboard…is only of so much use if they’re never going to use the systems again [after they graduate].”

Lamb believes this presents a missed opportunity for students to learn employable skills. During his seminar, Lamb demonstrated how an online learning environment could be created using WordPress, the content management system that powers over 20 per cent of websites on the world wide web. Lamb also noted that TRU implemented its own wiki earlier this year, and MediaWiki is a collaborative tool based on the same source code that powers Wikipedia. By learning tools like these, Lamb said “these students will have something to point to.

If they’re applying for a job in an office, they can say ‘I can build a website. Here’s an example.’”

Carolyn Teare, who also attended Lamb’s seminar on Wednesday, is working on her own open access project for the TRU Open Learning OERu. OERu.org allows students to register and take online courses for free, then apply for formal academic assessments to get credits towards a credential.

Lamb concluded the Open Ac-

cess Week events by giving faculty, staff and students a chance to try various open education resources for themselves.

He said that feedback will play an important role in TRU’s open access innovations.

“I really depend on student feedback to tell me whether what I’m doing is helpful,” he said.

“If one student tells me they find

something confusing, there are probably 10 to 100 others who feel the same way. If there are things students want to do that I am not doing now or planning to do, I can guarantee I won’t do it if a student doesn’t ask for it. I can’t promise I will implement everything a student asks for, but I can definitely promise that I’ll listen carefully, take it seriously and investigate it.”

Brian Lamb demonstrates how WordPress can enhance a digital classroom.​

(Ryan Turcot/The Omega)

University to host public forum on Ebola Oct. 30 forum will discuss the spread of virus that has ravaged West Africa and now appears as isolated cases in North America Ryan Turcot

SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Ω

Canada has so far been spared a case of Ebola in this most recent outbreak, but as the United States sees more cases appear, our senses have been heightened on the need to be prepared and understand the virus.

Students with concerns about the spread of Ebola can attend a public forum on Oct. 30 to learn more about the outbreak. TRU professor Michael Mehta will speak about complexities associated with a public health scare, and answer questions that people may have.

“We now live in a world where risk has become a dominant

framework for understanding issues from the local to the global,” Mehta said. “Many people are challenged with navigating their way through this risk society, and a key goal of the public forum on Ebola is to help us contextualize risk more fully and to understand the nuances associated with living in a world where technology, globalization, and the products and processes of modernity create risks unlike what we’ve ever faced before.

“In many ways Ebola is a test run to see how well our societies can manage and demonstrate resilience in the face of likely larger and more terrifying future risks.”

The forum will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 in the Arts and Education building, room 162.

10

COMICS & PUZZLES

October 29, 2014

Puzzle of the Week #7 – Haunted Yard Plans You are planning a haunted yard for Hallowe’en. You have a lot of what you require already, but money is tight. You have $20 to spend. You have come up with a list of scary stuff with each item’s cost and scariness (per occurrence): 1. haunted doorbell (one only): $3, 2 scary points 2. tombstone: $2, 1 scary point but doubled if 5 or more tombstones 3. scary tomb: $10, 5 scary points 4. vampire figure: $15, 5 scary points 5. vampire costume and makeup: $10, 10 scary points 6. small, carved pumpkin: $3, 1 scary point 7. large, carved pumpkin: $5, 2 scary points You do not want an insipid haunted yard so it must have at least three items and at least 20 scary points.

How many different haunted yards can you come up with if you do not repeat any items? How about if you can repeat items as much as you can afford (except for the one marked “one only”)? (You do not have to spend all of the money.)

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.

SPORTS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 9

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The man with a plan to reinstate WolfPack hockey Petition and financial plan serve as boons to reinstatment of shut down pay-to-play team Tayla Scott

SPORTS EDITOR Ω

Since WolfPack hockey was cancelled in July due to a funding shortfall, Trevor Bast has been working diligently to get it back.

Bast was surprised by the cancellation.

He had no idea that the team was struggling with funding. Bast’s son, Desmond, was recruited by the WolfPack 12 days before the cancellation was announced.

“I was just disappointed that he had perhaps his last competitive hockey game last spring and didn’t even know it. It was kind of pulled out from under him,” Bast said.

Bast immediately began trying to raise the money in a last ditch effort to help the team play for the season. Bast estimates between $25,000 and $30,000 would have been needed to get the season on track. He couldn’t raise the funds in time.

Bast, who lives in Victoria, now has his sights set on getting the team reinstated for next season. Former WolfPack player Cam Weir has been working with Bast on this project.

“We’re going to have to come up with a plan that shows that we can get this team back, and the TRU athletic department and university will not have to step in and provide funding to bail us out,” Bast said.

“They’re not interested in the sentimental side of it because they had to bail out the program for a couple of the years when it was struggling and they didn’t have that in their budget. I get where they’re coming from to a degree, but I also want them to be extremely open-minded when it comes to allowing the program back.”

So far, Bast’s financial plan includes raising player fees from the previous $1,500 to $2,000. It also includes “really pounding the pavement” to find sponsorship.

This will mean the WolfPack players finding sponsorship, as well as Bast.

“They were able to fundraise around $20,000 for last season. That’s pretty good for student athletes to be able to do that for their program,” Bast said. “We’ll hit up other areas of TRU. Maybe various faculties within the school will benefit from having those students.”

Bast is confident that sponsorship will

Trevor Bast and his son Desmond. be found to fund the team for another year, but that might not be enough.

“TRU isn’t interested in what we can do for one year. They want to know what we can do for five years,” Bast said.

“That’s a lot to ask for sponsors and donors but that’s what we’re up against.”

Bast hopes to have sponsorship commitments by early December.

Bast will present his financial plan at a B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League meeting, to receive critique and suggestions before he presents it to TRU. “It’s not just the athletic department

New cheer gym in Kamloops looks to continue growth of sport Tayla Scott

SPORTS EDITOR Ω

TRU alumnae Keri Lewis and Aly Bradford are adding to the progression of cheerleading in Kamloops, hoping to continue the growth of a sport they’ve seen an increasing interested in.

“Now Kamloops is a big enough city and people are more aware of the sport,” Lewis said. “The rate of growth that we saw when we were working at KGTC was just phenomenal. It was packed in there. There wasn’t enough room for the growth that Aly and I had envisioned.”

Lewis and Bradford were the main cheer instructors at Kamloops Gymnastics and Trampoline Centre (KGTC) before they de-

cided to start their own business.

They opened a gym called Freeze Athletics in September, the first gym in Kamloops only for cheerleading.

Lewis attributed the spike in attendance at KGTC to free cheerleading demos and promotional activities she had done while working at the there.

“We saw that kids were loving it and they were amazed that it was even an option in Kamloops,” she said.

The WolfPack cheerleading team has also seen growth in the past few years, going from 12 athletes in the 2011-12 season, to 30 athletes in the 2014-15 season, more than doubling its roster.

Bradford coached the team before graduating in 2008.

“We’ve got a good relationship

Liv Crane, Bailey Smode and Emma Humphrey stunting in the air at their cheerleading practice at Freeze Athletics. (Tayla Scott/The Omega)

with them. We like to cheer them on and they cheer us on when they can. It’s pretty good to see the sport progressing,” Lewis said.

“The big competition of the year is called Sea to Sky [International Cheerleading Championships] in Vancouver. It’s a big competition because they hand out bids to the Summit Championships,” Lewis said.

WolfPack cheerleaders will also compete at Sea to Sky on April 17 and 18.

“Every team that goes out has a two and a half minute routine.

You’re trying to pack all of the things that you need to hit on your score card into that two and a half minutes,” Lewis said.

“It’s pretty cool to see the originality that comes out. [Each] routine looks completely different.”

Emma Humphrey, who is on the junior team, has been in cheerleading for seven years.

“I wanted to get into cheerleading because I used to dance and do gymnastics and cheerleading is a combination of both. It’s exercising and dancing and everything. It’s awesome,” Humphrey said.

Cierra Gallagher is also on the junior team. She has been in cheerleading for three years.

“I tried it during summer a few years ago and I really liked it. It was really fun and I plan on doing it until I can’t be in cheer anymore,” Gallagher said.

Lewis regards the future of cheerleading in Kamloops brightly.

“Kids are looking for it, they’re looking for something glittery and sparkly but also super athletic,” Lewis said.

(Sandra Bast/Submitted) who has the final say on this. There’s a few different departments and heads that have to sign off on it,” Bast said.

“There’s a process we have to go through to re-apply to get in and under the umbrella of Thompson Rivers University.”

Bast hopes to present the plan right before Christmas break.

“I’ve picked this time frame because we don’t want to get behind in the recruiting game. I would like to be recruiting players by January because that’s when players start picking universities,” Bast said.

Along with the financial plan, Bast will also be presenting his petition to reinstate the WolfPack hockey team.

Bast posted the petition online on Oct. 18. He set a goal of 5,000 signatures. So far more than 390 people have signed it.

Bast addressed the petition to the university and president Alan Shaver.

“The petition is a venue for showing, in the comments section, what the team means to different types of people who have either played in the program, have children in the program or who have children coming up who might be able to play in the program,” Bast said.

“Money will run the program, but there’s passion for the program. I want to show that there’s passion for hockey at TRU and passion for university hockey in general. It’s important and lots of these kids don’t go to school if they’re not playing hockey,” Bast said. “I don’t think you can put a dollar value on the program.”

Bast hopes that if the program does get reinstated it will be run differently, with more attention paid to the business side of things. But more than anything, Bast is hoping that WolfPack hockey will be back on the ice for next season.

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October 29, 2014