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T H O M P S O N R I V E R S U N I V E R S I T Y ' S I N D E P E N D E N T S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R
VOLUME 29 · ISSUE 15 · JANUARY 15, 2020
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PHP CONFERENCE SURE TO INSPIRE
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DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT
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JOE DAVIS MAKES THE RECORD BOOKS
TRU Sustainability hosts first-ever short film contest Elizabeth Nygren ARTS EDITOR Ω The TRU Sustainability office is hosting its first-ever short film contest, and are looking for videos from students about waste solutions or how students deal with waste. James Gordon, Environmental Programs and Research Coordinator at the TRU
Sustainability office, said that the “bottom line is we just want to create short videos, educational videos, to get people educated about how our zero waste stations work. [Videos] can be on subjects such as the three R’s of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, you know the three magic words in waste management.” Gordon added that “waste is one of those things, no matter who you are around the
world, you need to deal with it in one form or another and so at TRU we’re trying to deal with it as responsibly as possible and so we just thought we’d create this contest so that people can offer their thoughts on how to do that.”
See Sustainability Page 2
Students are urged to share their quick and easy ways to live a more zero waste life in this year's short film contest. (Aidan Grether/The Omega)
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NEWS
Sustainability is looking for student short films promoting zero waste CONTINUED (COVER) The short films must be between 15 and 60 seconds, shot in ‘landscape’ (horizontal) orientation and more importantly, must be silent. Gordon said, “They can have text overlayed on top of them, but because they’re going to be playing in hallways and that sort of thing, we don’t want spoken words. The other thing is that we have people from all over the world and perhaps English is not their strongest language; we thought making them silent would help in that regard as well.” More than anything, the TRU Sustainability office has attempted to make this contest as easy to enter as possible. Students are encouraged to film on their phones and to make the videos humourous, creative, shocking, and overall appropriate for students and faculty at TRU. “Ultimately, we want people to look at the thing so that’s where their creativity comes
in,” Gordon said. “Whether you’re going to use humour or shock-value, use something to get people’s attention because you want them obviously to be looked at.” They are looking for a plethora of videos and encourage students to enter this contest. If your video is chosen as a winner, you will receive a $100 gift card to TRU food services, and it will be played on various TV screens around campus. Gordon said, “I think here in Kamloops and other parts of the world, we’re kind of stuck in the recycling paradigm that everyone’s like ‘Oh, how do I recycle properly?’ and we really want to move past that to get people thinking about the reduce and reuse paradigms, and so that’s why we’re opening it up to all those three aspects, not just how to deal with the thing in your hand.” For ideas on what this short film could look like, you can check out TRU Sustainability’s
sample video on social media. If you would like your video fact-checked, you may send it to James Gordon at the TRU Sustainability Office at jgordon@tru.ca Students can submit videos
until Jan. 31and the winners will be announced on Feb 28. Anyone looking for more information about the contest can find it on TRU Sustainability’s various social media accounts, including Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter. Anyone interested in submitting a video for the contest can send them via wetransfer.com and can be sent to Sarah Miller at the TRU Sustainability Office, at millers14@mytru.ca.
Short film submissions are open until the end of the month, with the winner announce late February. (Aidan Grether/The Omega)
This year’s PHP Conference is sure to inspire The annual philosophy, history, and politics conference is taking place this weekend Elizabeth Nygren ARTS EDITOR Ω Students from all over Canada are pouring into TRU with their individual research projects and are prepared to present their work. Each year, the philosophy, history and politics (PHP) conference are organized by a committee of students who are eager to conduct research and learn from the work of other students. The most exciting thing about the PHP conference is that it’s all undergraduate students’ work. Kristen Jacobsen, chair of the PHP Conference committee, says, “In a nutshell, it’s an annual philosophy, history and politics conference that we have here at the university every January. We have people coming from all across Canada; this year we’ve got people from as far as Nova Scotia coming into Kamloops to see what we’re all about.” Jacobsen adds that “They present their original research that they’ve either written for a class or [are] people that like to write papers in their free time or do research in their own time. They submit an abstract to us, our deadlines usually around November,
and then they come back in January to give a 10 to 15minute presentation, and of course, watch others.” This year’s conference takes place at TRU, with a majority of the panels and presentations taking place in the International Building. The conference will take place over the course of three days, January 16 - 18, with a majority of the panels on Friday and Saturday. “The 16th is more of an introductory day,” Jacobsen said. “The panels will actually be on the 17 and 18. We kick it off with lunch on Friday, and then panels all through the afternoon. We’ve also got our external keynote speech on Friday night at 7 p.m., and then, of course, all through the Saturday there are panels.” There is also a banquet being held on Saturday evening, the last day of the conference. The external keynote speaker, Dr. Erika Dyck from the University of Saskatchewan, will be speaking about eugenics as well as psychedelic psychiatry on Friday evening. Dr. Tim Fitzjohn, the internal keynote speaker, will be discussing the complexities of what it means to be free at the Saturday evening banquet.
When asked what attendees can expect at the conference, Jacobsen said “They can expect a whole whack of knowledge. What I love about this being an undergraduate conference is that everyone’s minds are so much more open and there’s always such eclectic topics.” Jacobsen adds “I think the biggest example of that this year is that our external keynote is going to be talking about the history of psychedelics in terms of applications and medicine.” Students from TRU are able to attend the PHP conference for free but still must register if they wish to attend. A full schedule detailing the weekend’s events can be found at the conference’s website, tru. ca/phpconf. Each evening, there will be a social afterwards at Iron Road Brewing, but the most looked forward to event of the weekend is the banquet on Saturday evening. This is the only portion of the conference that would cost TRU students to attend. This is a ticketed event where attendees will receive dinner, the keynote address from Dr. Tim Fitzjohn, and a dance following afterwards. Tickets to the banquet are $30 each and can be purchased on the PHP
conference website. The PHP committee is able to host this conference with funding from TRUSU, and from their own fundraisers that they host earlier in the year. Anyone
interested in joining the committee can contact them at the conference or can join when the committee makes an official call for more members in February.
The PHP conference will bring in undergraduate students from all over Canada for a knowledgeable weekend. (Submitted)
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NEWS
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Students were challenged to bring business ideas to life Pitching challenge gathered together students, professors, and entrepreneurs Lisa Chernyshova BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR Ω On Nov.28, TRU students who were about to graduate had a chance to present their start-up ideas. The event was hosted in Campus Activity Centre at the Mountain Room. Students were pitching as teams, there were 12 teams and each was given five minutes to pitch and four minutes to discuss their ideas
with judges after each presentation. Judges were experienced entrepreneurs from Kamloops and across Canada. The special Keynote Speaker was Adam Miron, TRU School of Business and Economics Entrepreneur-in-Residence. At the beginning of the event, Adam Miron shortly talked about entrepreneurship and education to put students into the pitching mood. He noticed that
pitching is not easy, but it’s something that people have to do if they want to stand for their idea. “What you guys doing here today is you’re learning, and you’re growing, and it’s a valuable life skill and it’s going to stay with you,” Miron said. The first team presented their pitch idea called G@YourDoor and it was about a fast and efficient delivery company that could
specialize in delivering groceries from stores to customers. Among the pitch, ideas were Brewing Company and cafe that would specialize in Kombucha. A team of students had pitched an idea about growing cannabis, their team called UGrow. A wonderful idea was presented by students who called their plan, “Strife for Life” which focused on creating systems and procedures to save forests from annual summer fires that destroy ecosystems and unique species. When all the pitches were complete judges had a dinner served by TRU and they came up with winners of the Pitch Challenges. The first place was granted to “Bella Wedding Films” who had presented their research and idea on the unique approach of videography. And the second place was taken by Mokka Inc. After winners were announced students had some time for networking with entrepreneurs. Most of the pitch ideas were interesting and creative, and MBA & BBA students have a put a lot of effort to complete their research.
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An audience gathered in the Mountain Room enjoyed the pitches. (Lisa Chernyshova/ The Omega)
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Upcoming Events Therapy Dogs Student Street Jan. 16, 10 a.m. Swing by Student Street and relax with TRU's favourite furry friends. St. John's Ambulance therapy dogs will be ready to make your day. PHP Conference Various locations Jan. 16 - 18 Sample a range of topics in philosophy, history and politics when undergraduate students share their research during presentations of no more than 15 minutes. Part time work in Canada Alumni Theatre Jan. 17, 11:30 a.m. Do you want to find a job in Kamloops? Do you need information on how to work while studying at TRU? Startup Coffee Common Grounds Jan. 17, 1:30 p.m. Discuss new business ideas with experienced founders and mentors at Startup Coffee—a monthly meeting of students, entrepreneurs and community members.Get feedback on the business idea you’ve been thinking about, ask questions, meet other student entrepreneurs and get connected. Quilter's Corner OL 127 Jan. 18, 10 a.m. Come out and try something new. Quilter's Corner lets you mingle and create. Beating the Winter Blues TRUSU Boardroom Jan. 21, 12:30 p.m. Evidence-based medicine can transform the blues of winter into more joyful hues..
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The Freudian Slips start 2020 with Dungeons and Dragons Yet another hit for the troupe, audience welcome the second part of the improv with roaring laughter Sadhika Burman STAFF WRITER Ω The Stagehouse Theatre echoed with the audience’s laughs and chuckles this Saturday. After all, it was the second Saturday of the month. The theatre welcomes The Freudian Slips every second and fourth Saturday to do what they do best: improvised comedy. The troupe is made whole by theatre students, semi-professionals and others that do it for a hobby. The storyline has been presented to the audience in an episodic manner with episodes usually as long as a couple of hours with a 15minute intermission to buy snacks and drinks that are generously supplied by The Red Beard Cafe across the street from the theatre. The actors display a
laudable comic timing and most importantly an admirable presence of mind which are two of the most important skills to perform improvised comedy. The actors weren’t the only reason that the audience was a bundle of uncontrollable giggles but also how the narration was carried out. The narrator, Taylor James McCallum not only made the show more fun but also very interactive by inviting the audience to make a few decisions for the cast. The actors were asked to roll the fate dice for every decision they wanted to make during improvisation which eventually decided the actors’ fate with their next step. With the cast doing justice to their roles and managing to tickle the audiences funny bone without a definite script and just by
Disconnect to reconnect! Students are invited to participate in reasonable media detox to promote health connections with tech Sadhika Burman STAFF WRITER Ω An initiative by the TRU’s Learning Technology Team, the Digital Detox 2020 Challenge is an attempt to ‘Detoxify your relationship to Technology’. The digital detox website helps you understand, connect and refresh. The goal of this detox is not to totally eliminate or boycott technology after all the participants will be receiving emails to access a blog that will help with the detoxification. The blog helps you understand the problems and issues faced due to technology and especially emphasizes educational technology. The blog talks about ethics, equity, access, data privacy and how students and faculty get affected by the same. The blog is also a platform for connecting with other TRU faculty who have similar questions or stand on the same page as you. They’re building a community that believes in establishing a healthy relationship with technology. The blog aims to refresh the way educational technology is being used today with healthier alternative ways. What to expect? The participants will receive an
email notification twice a week about new posts on the blog, information about face-to-face meetups and help connect them to other resources. The goal of this detox is not abstinence but effective management, hope and empowerment. Over this first month of the year, the blog will be laying out numerous problems with the way technology is being utilized and measures to hopefully correct it. The first two weeks focus on the problem and the last two weeks focus on providing solutions. There will be two face-to-face coffee chats over this period of time. The challenge that started on January 7 hopes to provide the participants with tools and resources to recognize and effectively resist the negativity that technology has successfully entrapped us in. The blog is being penned by Brenna Clarke Gray who is a Coordinator at Learning Services at TRU. In her other posts, Gray talks about equity and data privacy. Interested participants can register for the blog by visiting digitaldetox.trubox.ca If you no longer want to be a part of the detox, you can easily remove yourself from the list by reaching out to Brenna at her email at bgray@tru.ca
The TRU community is invited to readjust their media usage to better their relationship with technology. (Austin Distel/Unsplash)
their perfect comic timing, the show was a hit and a perfect end to a snowy Saturday night. Just like every other Slips’ show, the audience is encouraged to dress according to the show’s theme and the participants get a chance to grab the hot seats before the rest of the crowd walks in. With a troupe that performs like a family, you won’t leave the theatre without a few giggles leaving you as you exit. The next improv show is scheduled for Jan. 25, ‘Sahali Vice’ and the tickets can be purchased online in advance at www.thefreudianslips.com or at the door. The Freudian Slips acted out a hilarious night of Dungeons and Dragons live and in the flesh in their second night of their D&D series. (Blake Chartrand/The Freudian Slips)
THIS WEEK IN SUSTAINABILITY:
We're recruiting. Apply to be a Sustainability Ambassador or a Work Study student today. Make a difference on campus, receive $200.00 tuition credit and over half the points you need for the Leadership in Environmental Sustainability Certificate! For more information and how to apply for an ambassador role contact Canyon (csinclair@tru.ca) Join one of the coolest offices at TRU and help us make the university a more sustainable place! For more info on how go to: https://www.tru.ca/cel/career-services/ work-on-campus.html
Zip around town with Zipcar Yearly membership of $20 // affordable hourly rates // includes gas and insurance // get around town- for cheap! // Costco is a long walk, zip-up instead! TRU has its own carpooling app and its 100% free! For more information check out: http://www.trurideshare.com
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ARTS
The Witcher season one review How The Witcher makes Game of Thrones look childish Morgan Hunter CONTRIBUTOR Ω The Witcher series, produced by Netflix, became one of the top ten most-streamed things on the platform over 2019, and it came out on Dec. 20, 2019, a mere eleven days before the New Year. That fact shows how in-demand the series was from the initial announcement of the show’s development, though it may also be due to the fantastic world-building, greatly acted characters or the interesting plot that give the books the series was based off a page for page reflection on the silver screen. The Witcher follows the story of Geralt, a mutated monster hunter commonly referred to as a witcher, as
he goes about his business when he is thrust into a political plot between armies, sorcerers, mages, and monsters alike that will lead him not only into a battle against impossible odds but a past he so desperately wants to forget. The show’s entire plot is dependant on the actor portraying Geralt due to the character’s immense popularity, whether through fans of the video game to lovers of the book and the show’s biggest strength is Henry Cavill as Geralt. His dry wit to the pain he shows and intense mannerism towards intense character moments to his comedic timing carries the show through every episode and steals the attention of the viewer every time he is on-screen. The lore that comes from some of
these episodes makes watching an episode of Game of Thrones feel like Sesame Street compared to the heavy subject material provided here. Given the fact that The Witcher was able to do in eight episodes what Game of Thrones barely did in 10 episodes speaks volumes. (Plus, all the books are out for The Witcher so there’s a lower chance the showrunners can ruin it with a rushed last season, kinda like Game of Thrones did). The Witcher does leave you on a cliffhanger but given that season 2 was renewed even before the show was originally aired, it’s fair to say that the show should provide a brilliant series for years to come, and if the next seasons even come close to the first season, then I’m personally strapped in.
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NOW
HIRING FOR IMMEDIATE START
NEWS EDITOR As the News Editor, you'll never be short of stories on and off campus. You're the first voice for news on campus. Keep the campus up to date with breaking news and and stories that students want to hear.
STAFF WRITER As a Staff Writer, you're free to dabble in stories from all beats. Nothing is off limits. Spend your time covering student election news then turn around and chat with the director of the latest theatre production, the choice is all yours! To apply, send your resumé and samples of your work (published or unpublished, academic work accepted) to editor@ truomega.ca. Positions will be filled as soon as possible. If a position is still posted on this page, applications are still being accepted. To be eligible for any of the above positions, you must be a student at Thompson Rivers University while you work. Students who will be employed by the TRU Students’ Union during their employment period may not be eligible to work for the newspaper in order to avoid any conflict of interest. Applicants are asked to disclose all potential conflicts of interest. See full posting at www.truomega.ca/work
Newest redition of Little Women boasts great reviews
How Little Women Makes A Big Impact (sorry, I couldn’t resist) Morgan Hunter CONTRIBUTOR Ω Little Women (2019) leads an intelligent, profound story stemmed in a historical setting yet provides a timeless message. From the acting to the overarching plot, setting, and cinematography, the film demonstrates a level of authenticity that remains from the beginning right to the end. Little Women follows four sisters as they start to develop their sense of belonging while trying to support each other. Set during the American civil war, the film jumps from the past that shaped their viewpoint on life to how they utilize those perspectives in their present day. The film’s central character, played by Saoirse Ronan, is complex in her own right and it all f lows rather well. The decisions that she makes throughout the film all
come from the desire for independence and even the small acts come off as empowered, regardless of the restrictions towards her due to the time period. Emma Watson was serviceable but who stood out the most was Florence Pugh as Amy, whose range is shown in the characters maturing storyline which carries much of the story’s tone towards family while still adding to the feminism the picture invokes. The cinematography also does wonders, adding a rich, encompassing setting to complement the characters rather than just being present such as many films. The comforting setting of the countryside to the richness that encapsulates Europe being contrasted to a developing New York City all ref lect well compared to the directions the plot needs them to deliver. They could have easily rented two mansions and
used a few dresses to tell the story they did, but the care that went into things from the setting to the props, add more to the impact the show has on the viewer. And the ending itself is a bit abstract but in a way that stays true to the tone, the film itself goes for, carrying a great closure to any desires the audience has at the end. It provides that warming ending that most casual viewers want while hinting at a more profound interpretation that other audience members were hoping for. Little Women does a profound job of spinning many different plates at once while still holding true to the themes set out at the start. From most of the cast’s brilliant acting to the beautiful shots helping the tone of the film to the great subtleties that give grace to a powerful story, Little Women is a tale that should be heard by anyone who can hear it.
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CFBX TOP 30 CFBX 92.5 FM, 350 Watts Kamloops, BC Music Director: Steve Marlow Charts to January 9, 2020 * indicates Canadian Content ** indicates a local artist Artist - Album (Label) 1) Little Scream* - Speed Queen (Merge) 2) Natalie MacMaster* - Sketches (Linus) 3) Big Dave McLean* - Pocket Full of Nothin' (Black Hen) 4) Woolworm* - Awe (Mint) 5) Stripmall* - Surrounding Area (Independent) 6) Red Arms* - Critical State (Yeah Right!) 7) Lower Back Pain* - Picnic on the Moon (Independent) 8) Vicious Cycles* - Motorcycho (Teenage Rampage) 9) Diane Roblin* - Life Force (Independent) 10) Corridor* - Junior (Bonsound) 11) Crimson Witch* - Satanic Panic (Independent) 12) The Unfaithful Servants* - The Unfaithful Servants (Independent) 13) Riit* - Ataataga (Six Shooter) 14) Brittany Howard - Jaime (ATO) 15) Kinga** - Forever in My Heart (Kayla Dream) 16) Mellt* - Swim Slowly (Wave Phase) 17) Land of Kush* - Sand Enigma (Constellation) 18) Britt A.M.* - Psychic Knots (Good Egg) 19) Debate Club* - Phosphorescent (Michel) 20) Samantha Fish - Kill or Be Kind (Rounder) 21) Common Holly* - When I Say to You Black Lightning (Royal Mountain) 22) Fuel Junkie* - All Out (Independent) 23) Counterfeit Jeans* - Good Morning (Kingfisher Bluez) 24) Diana Panton* - A Cheerful Little Earful (Independent) 25) Chron Goblin* - Here Before (Grand Hand) 26) Skydiggers* - Let's Get Friendship Right (Independent) 27) Electric Youth* - Memory Emotion (Last Gang) 28) Kanada Day* - The Quiet War (Independent) 29) The New Customs* - Selling Religion on Government Street (Independent) 30) Matchedash Parish* - Saturday Night (Make it Real)
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SPORTS
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Joe Davis becomes all-time leading scorer for TRU
Last weekend Davis scored his 1,025th point, putting himself in the record books
James Fraser SPORTS EDITOR Ω History was made at the Tournament Capital Centre last weekend after Joe Davis sunk a basket to become the wolf packs all-time leading scorer. He dropped a cool 16 points in a win against Mount Royal University to bring his career total to 1,028 points, passing Kamloops legend Gregg Stewart’s old tally of 1,024 points. He was met with a huge ovation from the crowd after he scored the pivotal basket to put his last name in the record books for the rest of time. “Leading up to the game I knew I was close but not exactly sure how many points away. I didn't want to know, but people in the athletic department kept reminding me,” Davis said. “I mean I didn't even think about it until I was being congratulated after the game. I am really trying to just stay in the moment and focus on the team because I know I will have time to reflect after the season; however, with the media coverage, I've been able to reflect a bit and without a doubt, it’s an honour.” Davis attributes his success to being well-coached, playing for competitive teams, and being consistent. “It’s all about the process of showing up every day to get better,”
Davis remarked. “I really just think about all the players before me and think about the process of getting better over the last five years.” Davis comes from humble beginnings. In his first year, he rarely played and found most of his minutes on the bench. He is a great example of what happens when you work hard and learn from others. Now he is passing the knowledge he gained from those above him and passing it down to the younger players. “I had great leaders that showed me what I had to do to become an impact player,” Davis reflected. “What I constantly tell our
first-year guys is what I was told as a first-year, I tell them that’s the typical process of being a university basketball player, I try and show them the work ethic and tools they need to be able to be impact players later in their careers. I try and inform them of the culture and process here at TRU. If they chose to buy in and be a part of that, then they will have a chance to improve and contribute. I also tell them to practice like it’s the games and get extra workouts in so they’re physically ready. This is their chance to absorb as much knowledge as they can so they can be mentally ready for next year.“
Watch Davis in action Jan. 31 when he and the TRU wolfpack take on the University of Fraser Valley’s Cascades, 5 p.m. at the
Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops. Don’t miss out as this will be their last home game of the season.
Joe Davis slams it down in a win against the MRU cougars where he broke the record for most points in history for TRU. (TRU Athletics)
International player putting in monster numbers Nimo Benne is in the middle of a breakout season during his first year with TRU Wolfpack James Fraser SPORTS EDITOR Ω Head coach of the TRU Men’s Volleyball, Pat Hennelly, added some European flavour to his lineup after he signed 6”6’ Nimo Benne from the Netherlands during off-season. The Dutch giant has been putting up monster numbers for the Wolfpack including a game two weeks ago where he became the third player in TRU history to score 30 kills in a single game. At only nineteen years of age,
the best is yet to come: “I found out about TRU while looking for schools in North America because Europe doesn’t offer the combination of academics and sports the way they do here and I wanted to get an education before trying to go pro,” Benne stated. “I also had gotten good recommendations from ex-players and the school was very helpful in trying to get me to come play for them, which in the end made me choose TRU.” Benne has experience playing with the U-18 Dutch national team as well as an amateur club in the top Dutch
Nimo Benne with a cheeky kill against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. It was one of thirty kills for Benne on the night. (TRU Athletics)
Men’s pro league. His experience has undoubtedly helped him excel in U-Sports, but he is still getting used to the new style of play. “The volleyball in Canada is very physical compared to back home, in the Netherlands we are taught to be very technical and clean in the way we play and avoiding errors at any cost,” Benne said. “Here I have seen a lot more guys who take risks in attacking and really try to terminate
the ball any chance they get, which has been a bit of a transition; in the end, it’s still the same volleyball everywhere.” Not only is Benne adapting to the Canadian style of play, but also the country as a whole. “The big differences between The Netherlands and Canada are definitely the size of the country and how big everything is here. Especially in the Netherlands we all live very cramped and everything
is small,” laughed Benne. “Kamloops is a nice place to live and it’s been a smooth adjustment for me. I also live with teammates which helped getting adjusted a lot easier. The nature and mountains here are stunning, something I don’t see a lot back home.” Watch Benne in action Jan. 24 when he and the TRU Wolfpack take on the UBCO Heat, 5 p.m. at the Tournament Capital Centre.
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