August 21, 2014

August 21, 2014 | VoLuME XcVI| IssuE I Jovano culture editor since 1918

$802,000

More

The AMS could spend up to $802,000 more on the new SUB project after approval from Council.

P3

CAMPUS SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS P4 FORMER PROF CHARGED WITH VOYEURISM P3 FRESHMAN 15 A MYTH? P5 PLACE TO BE: LYNN CANYON P6 MODERN DAY GLADIATORS P7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014 |

YOUR GUIDE TO UBC EVENTS + PEOPLE

WHAT’S ON Thursday

2

OUR CAMPUS

this week, may we suggest...

ONE ON ONE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UBC

21

Resume clinic

12 p.m. @ Brock Hall East wing

UBC staff will be available for oneon-one critique of resumes and cover letters. Arrive 15 minutes early to sign up for a spot. Free

Thursday

21

Aeriosa

Aug 20-23, 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. @ UBC Botanical garden

Vertical dance group “Aeriosa” dances in the trees of the Botanical Garden in this “eco-adventure” performance. Ticket prices range from $15 for youth to $35

MONDAY

25

metaphysics of love 9 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. @ Buchanan d324

UBC and visiting professors are hosting their first workshop discussing the philosophy of love.

Topics include “The Paradox of Love and Envy,” “Romantic Relationships and Social Recognition” and “One True Love.” Free, but registration is required.

ON THE COVER

Given the construction fences and equipment, it took a lot of walking around to find a good point of view for a photo of the new SUB. Most of the major work on the building is almost done, but it still looks a bit different every day. Photo Will McDonald

Video content Get ready for our first year video, coming out in early September in conjunction with our annual guide to UBC.

U The Ubyssey

editorial

STAFF

AUGUST 22, 2013 | Volume XCV| Issue I BUSINESS

CONTACT Editorial Office: SUB 24 604.822.2301

Coordinating Editor Will McDonald

Distribution Coordinator Your name here!

Lily Cai

Business Manager Fernie Pereira

coordinating@ubyssey.ca

lcai@ubyssey.ca

fpereira@ubyssey.ca

Design Editor Nick Adams printeditor@ubyssey.ca

Web Developer Peter Siemens webeditor@ubyssey.ca

News Editors Jovana Vranic + Veronika Bondarenko news@ubyssey.ca

Culture Editor Jenica Montgomery culture@ubyssey.ca

Sports + Rec Editor Jack Hauen sports@ubyssey.ca

Video Producer Keith Grant video@ubyssey.ca

Photo Editor Mackenzie Walker photo@ubyssey.ca

Opinions + Blog Editor Austen Erhardt aerhardt@ubyssey.ca

Write/shoot/contribute to The Ubyssey and attend our staff meetings and you too can see your name in the glorious tones of black that only offset printing can produce. We meet every week in our office, SUB 24 — in the basement, squirreled away in the back, there. Yeah, we know. You’ll get used to it.

Ad Sales Geoff Lister bchen@ubyssey.ca

Business Office: SUB 23 Advertising 604.822.1654 Inquiries 604.822.6681 Student Union Building 6138 SUB Boulevard Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 Online: ubyssey.ca Twitter: @ubyssey

LEGAL The Ubyssey is the official student newspaper of the University of British Columbia. It is published every Monday and Thursday by The Ubyssey Publications Society. We are an autonomous, democratically run student organization, and all students are encouraged to participate.

Editorials are chosen and written by the Ubyssey staff. They are the expressed opinion of the staff, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ubyssey Publications Society or the University of British Columbia. All editorial content appearing in The Ubyssey is the property of The Ubyssey Publications Society.

Stories, opinions, photographs and artwork contained herein

cannot be reproduced without the expressed, written permission of The Ubyssey Publications Society.

The Ubyssey is a founding member of Canadian University Press (CUP) and adheres to CUP’s guiding principles.

Letters to the editor must be under 300 words. Please include your phone number, student number and signature (not for publication) as well as your year and faculty with all submissions. ID will be checked when submissions are dropped off at the editorial office of The Ubyssey; otherwise verification will be done by phone.

The Ubyssey reserves the right to edit submissions for length

and clarity. All letters must be received by 12 noon the day before intended publication. Letters received after this point will be published in the following issue unless there is an urgent time restriction or other matter deemed relevant by the Ubyssey staff.

It is agreed by all persons placing display or classified advertising that if the Ubyssey Publications Society fails to publish an advertisement or if an error in the ad occurs the liability of the UPS will not be greater than the price paid for the ad. The UPS shall not be responsible for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value or the impact of the ad.

Photo Will McDonald / The Ubyssey

Cheng Xie standing next to one of his new faculty’s landmarks.

Cheng Xie, one of UBC’s youngest students Leo Soh Contributor

A little known corner of UBC’s large and varied campus is the University Transition Program, which offers gifted teenagers such as 15-year-old Cheng Xie the opportunity to attend university at a young age.

Located between Koerner Library and the Nitobe Gardens, the program allows these students to complete the high school curriculum in just two years, after which they become full-fledged graduates of the Vancouver high school system and can choose to attend any university, with the majority staying at UBC. In this program, Xie completed his high school studies and is now entering first year at UBC as a student in the Faculty of Applied Science.

Xie was born in a small German town called Trier, and his family never stayed in the same city for more than a year all throughout his childhood. His father works as a field researcher, and it was necessary for him to move to various places around the world regularly. For Xie, moving constantly and spending time in various countries such as Germany, China and Switzerland was a blessing in disguise.

“It was a struggle having to adapt to new environments on a regular basis, but there were positives,” said Xie. “It gave me the ability to adapt and tenaciously conquer challenges.”

These qualities developed in his childhood gave Xie the confidence to pursue his passion:

U

scientific innovation.

The first science fair Xie participated in was the German

“The biggest challenges for newcomer students are their lack of language skills and relationships to land these job opportunities... I could easily relate to [the students’] situation[s] because I had faced the exact same challenges just three years prior.”

Cheng Xie First-year Engineering student

Jugend Forscht competition in 2009, in which he was the youngest participant at only 10 years of age. Despite the age discrepancy, his project received a silver medal in biology. Since then, he has been an avid participant in science fairs. Some of his newest innovations include an environmentally friendly refrigerator and a process of “bioremediation through microbial fuel cells,” an eco-friendly way of dealing with oil spills by producing energy. Xie’s passion for his projects has been recognized at many science fairs, and his distinctions include third place at the British Columbia Science Fair.

Xie’s interests, however, go beyond science alone. He is also invested in giving back to the community.

Xie started out by tutoring students in the ESL program. He was further inspired by Work Day, which helps new students explore potential careers and job opportunities.

“The biggest challenges for newcomer students are their lack of language skills and relationships to land these job opportunities,” Xie said, “so I contacted several professors as well as pharmacists and local business owners to find these opportunities for their Work Day. I could easily relate to [the students’] situation[s] because I had faced the exact same challenges just three years prior.”

His leadership qualities did not go unnoticed, and he was chosen as one of 40 nationwide and two UBC Schulich Leader Scholarship recipients — an award worth $80,000. For Xie, this was a true blessing, as he, like many of his peers, was confounded by the looming prospect of ever-increasing tuition.

Perhaps this was just another challenge that Xie was able to work his magic on.

Xie truly values the potential of university and is looking to make the most of his years here at UBC. “I would love to make meaningful connections and use them to help further develop our wonderful community on campus.

So if you see me in your classes, don’t be afraid to say hello!” U

Know someone like Cheng who deserves to be profiled in our newspaper? Email all candidates to aerhardt@ubyssey.ca

construction >>

research >>

UBC student uses satellite technology in elephant conservation effort

Photo Matt Biddulph/ Flickr

Scott Jacobsen Contributor

PHOTO Will Mcdonald/THE UBYSSEY

The AMS could spend up to $802,000 in contingency fund money for the new SUB.

AMS to set aside $802,000 in emergency funds for new SUB

Veronika Bondarenko News Editor

The AMS has set aside an additional $802,000 in contingency funds for the new SUB. With the January 5 opening date rapidly approaching, additional funds may be necessary to complete construction of the new SUB and renovation of the existing one.

Ava Nasiri, AMS VP administration, said that since construction of the new SUB ran into some unexpected expenses, the AMS wanted to set

NEWS BRIEFS

aside some additional contingency funds in case they run out of money before construction is finished.

“As it stands, we’re in the clear,” said Nasiri. “We’re not over budget on anything as far as the project goes, but looking ahead into the future, it is possible that by the end of the new SUB project we will have spent all of the contingency that we had planned going into the renovations as well.”

According to Nasiri, the AMS has set aside $600,000 for renovating the basement of the old SUB,

$152,000 for finishing construction of The Pit, and $50,000 as an additional budget for any extra recreational pieces that may be included in the new SUB. Nasiri said that the AMS encountered some unforeseen expenses after the redesign of The Pit, which had first been imagined as a modern nightclub, but is now being built as a more practical student bar space.

“With the redesign, it made sense to add a bit of extra funding there because if we hadn’t, you would have a

Pit, but it wouldn’t be as functional or as usable as it could be,” said Nasiri.

Nasiri also said that the $50,000, which is the maximum budget that the AMS can grant for recreational expenses, will be potentially spent on various furniture or games such as foosball tables that will make the new SUB more interesting for students.

Still, Nasiri stressed that the money has only been set aside as a precaution in case the AMS runs out of funds during the building process, and will be returned to the AMS if it is not used. U

academics >>

Centre for study of residential schools proposed for UBC

Former UBC Kinesiology professor facing voyeurism charges Former UBC Kinesiology professor James Rupert has been charged with voyeurism.

Rupert, 56, is facing one count of secretly observing/recording nudity in a private place for allegedly recording subjects of a study in a changeroom on campus in April 2014.

Rupert appeared in Richmond courts on Tuesday, Aug. 19, and is due to appear again on Sept. 16.

UBC spokesperson Lucie McNeill confirmed that Rupert was a UBC faculty member from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2014, six days after he was charged. U UBC student David Huynh dead after fall onto seawall in Stanley Park 22 year-old UBC student David Huynh was identified as the victim of a deadly fall off Prospect Point in Stanley Park.

According to the BC Coroners Service, Huynh was spending time with friends on Prospect Point on the afternoon of July 26 when he was reported missing.

Just after 6 p.m., Huynh was found 70 meters below on the seawall. Huynh was reported dead at the scene.

Huynh was a commerce student who was actively involved with the Commerce Undergraduate Society and had recently begun an internship at HSBC Global Change Delivery.

A release from the Commerce Undergraduate Society described Huynh as “optimistic, outgoing, enthusiastic, generous, and above all kind-hearted.”

The BC Coroners Service and the Vancouver Police Department are investigating his death. U

File Photo Kai Jacobson / THE UBYSSEY

Koerner Library may soon have a centre for studying the history of Canada’s residential schools.

Ben Wilson Contributor

A two-story centre for studying the history of residential schools in Canada may soon be added to the south side of Koerner Library.

According to the project proposal, the centre will focus on the damaging legacy of residential schools in Canada, a period that spanned over a century when many aboriginal children were taken from their homes in an attempt to force assimilation.

Many of the children in these schools suffered physical, psychological and sexual abuse. Among those who survived, many often transmitted the abuse to their children because of their disconnect from normal family life, said the centre’s case for support.

“It’s not about feeling bad for the past,” said Linc Kesler, Director of the First Nations House of Learning

and senior advisor to the president on aboriginal affairs. “We’d like to find a way to engage people in understanding the more complete history of Canada and how understanding that can really help us shape the best future we can have together for the whole society.”

In addition to developing a curriculum for K-12 instructors and promoting awareness for adults, the centre is expected to create an environment of advanced research by offering the resources necessary to study this period of Canadian history in greater depth.

The centre will be a free resource for everyone to use along with extensive online resources.

According to the centre’s proposal, the goal is to encourage meaningful dialogue between aboriginal, academic and other communities about the difficulties of our shared history.

Although the residential school system was only one chapter of Canadian history, “it’s a way to begin thinking about a whole larger pattern that has structured our history,” said Kesler.

According to the project proposal, this type of historical understanding is important for all Canadians to better understand the ongoing struggle many aboriginal people face today.

The centre is still in its fundraising stage, but the capital costs for the construction of the building have been covered in large part by the financial support of UBC and various residential school survivor groups.

“This is certainly more than halfway to what we need.” said Kesler.

“All that’s needed to move ahead now is the funding for programming and staff.” U

UBC PhD candidate Jake Wall has adapted satellite tracking technology to help protect endangered African elephants.

Wall’s research looks into elephant needs of food, space, connectivity with the environment, security and water.

According to Wall, his research, and that of the Save the Elephants organization which he works with in Kenya “focuses on the movement ecology of elephants — their spatial distribution, range and habitat.”

The researchers attach satellite tracking collars around the necks of the elephants. Wall’s tracking system monitors the animals through live data feeds that detect changes in their behavioural patterns.

The data funnels through Google Earth into a network of Kenyan and South African conservation and management partners.

“We hope this technology will help deter poachers because they know we are monitoring these elephants closely,” Wall said.

The data feeds can quickly alert rangers of animals in danger through changes in their daily patterns of movement.

According to Wall, upgrading to lighter and more efficient tracking equipment could improve coordination with rangers for conservation efforts.

For example, the use of heart monitors could provide more detailed information on tracked animals’ health.

According to a study by the Wildlife Conservation Society, 65 per cent of Central Africa’s forest elephants died between 2002 and 2013.

“It’s really important for the world to know what’s happening to elephants right now,” said Wall.

“It’s tragic that many people in this world don’t see the inherent value of keeping a wild elephant alive versus killing it for its tusks.”

Wall hopes to continue his animal conservation efforts outside of Africa.

“I’m hoping we can start to work with other researchers and adapt [the tracking technology] to monitor blue whales swimming in shipping lanes, or polar bears walking into Churchill, Manitoba,” he said. “Or we could know right away when migrating birds break a virtual ‘geofence’ boundary and fly near wind turbines.” U

U

Write Shoot Edit Code Drink

COME BY THE UBYSSEY OFFICE SUB 24, FOLLOW THE SIGNS

4 | News |

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

Expenses >>

UBC discloses over $168,265 in Toope travel costs for last year in office

File Photo Geoff Lister/THE UBYSSEY

Stephen Toope’s 2013/2014 travel expenses add up to a total of $168,265.

Jovana Vranic News Editor

UBC has released former president Stephen Toope’s travel expenses for his last year in office.

Toope made at least one major trip each month from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014, costing a total of $168,265, according to university documents.

Toope made 51 trips to donor events and meetings, which raised $33 million for the university.

According to the release, another outcome of the outgoing president’s travels was the establishment of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, which will provide UBC and specific other Canadian post secondary institutions with a federal investment of $1.5 billion over the next 10 years.

Toope’s wife Paula Rosen accompanied him for two trips per year, including a 14-day trip to Hong Kong, Berlin and Paris which cost a total of $28,988.01.

This is the first year that a breakdown of the president’s expenses has been made available to the public. U

security >>

UBC to spend $750,000 on campus safety improvements Veronika Bondarenko News Editor

UBC will be taking several steps to increase campus safety following a series of sexual assaults on campus last fall.

The university will be investing $750,000 to improve campus safety, including improved lighting and landscaping, strengthening the current Safewalk program, developing more safety and communication features for the UBC mobile app and increasing education around campus security with students, faculty and staff.

Ben Goold, a professor in UBC’s faculty of law who specializes in security and surveillance and is a member of a safety working group established in response to the incidents, said that these improvements will be part of a larger, ongoing effort to improve campus safety.

“The campus is more like a suburb of 60,000 people than a contained area,” said Goold. “Long term, we must focus on actions that foster a truly engaged and connected community. That is ultimately the best deterrent.”

According to Goold, the $750,000 will go towards purchasing higher luminosity bulbs, installing additional light fixtures and pruning trees to make various paths around UBC safer to navigate at all times of the day.

“We are really getting on top of the landscaping issue, so that the lights will not be concealed by the trees and bushes,” said Goold. “We are trying to create an environment where people really feel that the campus is well-lit and comfortable to walk around.”

Goold also said that the mobile app will complement the current blue phone system and make it easier for students to contact Campus Security in case of an emergency.

72+18+631 Toope’s 2013-2014 expenses

Total: $175,689

Airfare

Accommodation

Other Travel

Misc

Meals

File Photo Will McDonald/THE UBYSSEY

The changes will include improvements to lighting and landscaping on campus.

“One of the things that the working group looked at was the fact that most students carry mobile phones,” said Goold. “We wanted to build an app that would do essentially what the blue phones do and connect to the blue phone system.”

In terms of education, Goold said that the university is focused on providing information on campus safety to the UBC community, increasing communication between various university groups and examining its current sexual assault policies.

“A very important part of the working group’s focus was looking at UBC as a community

of people, and starting to work together around these issues,” said Goold.

UBC still plans to consult several campus stakeholders before making a decision regarding the installation of CCTV cameras on campus.

Alex Mierke-Zatwarnicki,a fourth-year political honours student, said that the current list of improvements is a step in the right direction for the university.

“I’m glad that the working group recognized that efforts need to be focused on broader, systemic change and that we can’t solve these issues without acknowledging the wider cultural context,”

said Mierke-Zatwarnicki.

Still, Mierke-Zatwarnicki feels that the university could take more steps to increase safety on campus, including a bigger focus on long-term education efforts.

“In particular, I don’t agree that it is enough to ‘expand existing training’ to teach student leaders how to create safe and inclusive spaces,” said Mierke-Zatwarnicki. “Inclusive spaces should be mandatory, and the administration needs to come up with methods of ensuring that students, faculty and staff are abiding by high standards of accessibility and inclusivity.” U

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014 |

EDITOR Jenica Montgomery

Music >>

A final crescendo to the fall

The perfect remedy for end of summer blues Baylee Landymore Contributor

Many students have spent the entirety of August biting their nails over class schedules, student fees and all the textbooks they have yet to purchase. Precious, sunny hours are slipping away and some students are already starting to worry about finals in December. There’s nothing better to quell those end of summer blues than a three day music festival, headlined by some of this year’s most popular artists.

Squamish Valley Music Festival has been taking place in August of each year since 2010 and never fails to boast an impressive roster of artists popular among UBC students, with this year’s headliners including Arcade Fire, Bruno Mars and Eminem.

While those festival goers included people of all ages, from young families to elderly couples seemingly reliving their Woodstock days, the majority of the crowd was made up of university and senior high school students.

Just as you’d expect, flocks of hipsters in flower crowns and oversized glasses were ubiquitous — as were some music fanatics, squealing fangirls and, of course, those who were just out to have a good time. True dedication was found in the few that attended solely to see Eminem perform near Vancouver for the first time in almost a decade.

Music festivals like Squamish attract so many young people because they offer a chance to let loose, go hard and be with peers.

Die hard fans get their concert-fix tenfold, with the opportunity to see all of their favourite bands play live in the same place. Students get a final chance to shake it out and

Health >>

Freshman 15: real or myth?

Regular exercise and a balanced diet is ideal for students.

PHOTO Baylee Landymore/THE UBYSSEY

Angelina Lam Contributor

Festival goers patiently waiting at Squamish Music Festival.

spend a long weekend with their friends before they start getting handed assignments left and right.

Many of those in attendance spent the weekend in one of several event campgrounds, all of which went from barren fields of sand to massive tent cities overnight. From then on, it was like a Friday night in Totem — but 24 hours a day, three days straight.

The non-stop party migrates over to the festival grounds when they open their gates. While people wait for their favourite artists to take to the stage, they visit booths to take pictures, have their faces painted or grab as many free samples as they can shove into their fanny packs, like the SUB on Clubs Days.

Squamish has a lot to offer to students beyond all the free swag at the sponsor booths. While at-

tending the festival, students get to see the best of the best perform in front of their very own eyes, sing along to their favourites and maybe discover some artists they had never heard of before. If nothing else, festival goers will have tons of stories to tell to the next person they sit beside in class.

Overall, the weekend was unforgettable. The location was stunning, the music was awesome, and the people were friendly and fun. UBC students would definitely appreciate the natural beauty of Squamish and the relaxed vibe of the community that resembles that of UBC’s campus. Squamish was a great way to close the summer and dance away those back-to-school blues before classes start again in the fall. U

5

Whether you know it as Freshman 15 or First Year Fatties, you should realize that it is nothing more than just a myth.

“Research actually shows that the majority of first year students do gain weight but not as much as that 15 pounds,” said Sally Stewart, senior instructor and undergraduate coordinator at the UBC Okanagan. Weight gain is influenced by many factors such as independence, environment, lack of physical activity, genetics and stress.

“When students are kind of navigating first year university, they might be partying a lot, they might be drinking more or snacking junky food more or they also might think that they need to study all the time and so they don’t plan their lifestyles very well,” said Stewart.

“Planning is a critical component,” said Gail Hammond, lecturer in food, nutrition and health.

Simple methods of planning ahead include making meals in larger batches and storing them to ensure that healthy foods are always available. It can be as easy as a smoothie for breakfast, trail mix as snacks and casserole for dinner.

Students who live in residence could ask for smaller portion sizes, sauce to be separate and avoid drinking soft drinks with empty calories.

“The corner stone to a healthy diet is variety. So get a variety of foods within each of the food groups in the [Canada] Food Guide,” said Hammond.

Contrary to what most students believe not eating breakfast actually leads to consumption of more calories. “It’s really important to nourish your body when you get up because you’ve been in an overnight fast, if you skip that breakfast it’s more likely that you are going to be grabbing something that may not be as healthy,” said Hammond.

“When you eat breakfast in the morning it kickstarts your metabolism ... because if people wake up, and they skip breakfast it puts their body kind of in starvation mode, your body basically calms down and tries to conserve energy so your body doesn’t burn as many calories,” said Stewart.

What really causes weight gain is the imbalance between food consumption and energy expenditure. To maintain a healthy weight, a balanced diet along with both resistance and cardiovascular exercises is needed. Resistance exercises help to build muscle mass. Having more muscle means burning more calories than having excess fat. Cardiovascular exer-

PHOTO Will Mcdonald/THE UBYSSEY

cises are also important because they help strengthen our hearts which contribute to bettering our overall health.

During finals, students should still include physical activity in their daily schedules to help relieve stress.

This may seem like a lot, however Hammond suggested that it’s easier than it sounds. “Even if it’s just 10 minutes walking from one end of campus to another, or getting off the bus three stops before you usually get off, or taking the stairs when you are going up and down the floors in a building. That all contributes to energy expenditure.”

Though gaining 15 pounds in your first year of university is unlikely, it may be easy to still gain weight as your habits and diets change. To avoid any unnecessary health problems in the future, it’s clear that students need to keep track of their diet and exercise in between studying and partying. U culture vulture Varietist VIFF The greatest part of September is the beginning of the Vancouver International Film Festival. VIFF not only brings some of the greatest films of the year to Vancouver, but it provides an opportunity for film enthusiasts to explore the new and creative ways that film is being used in Canada and across the world. VIFF celebrates the creative outlet of film and broadcasts some of the best in film from across the globe. Keep a close eye on VIFF’s program for the fall as it is certain that there will be some interesting and innovatve films showcased this year.

Fervent FRINGE Festival Vancouver’s Fringe Festival, starting on September 4 and running until September 14, highlights local Vancouver theatre and stage performance.

This year’s Fringe Festival will also be featuring the works and performances of current and graduated UBC students. Vancouver has a thriving theatre and performance community and the Fringe Festival serves to bring this community to the forefront. From a naked and unscripted shared body experience to a Frankenstein inspired play, the Fringe Festival has everything that theatre and performance buffs will bask in. U

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014 |

EDITOR Jack Hauen

6

Explore >>

Places to be: Lynn Canyon

Hiking, diving and fishing in the natural beauty of North Vancouver Jack Hauen Sports + Rec Editor

I practically lived in this place growing up.

Lynn Canyon is the giant temperate rainforest in upper Lynn Valley, North Vancouver.

The main attraction to the place is the second-best suspension bridge in North Van — which doesn’t exactly sound like a slogan that would draw throngs of tourists, but every summer the forest is packed with camera flashes and inappropriate hiking footwear.

The canyon boasts a staggering natural beauty just minutes from a residential road. Nonthreatening hiking trails are perfect for beginners, with clearly defined routes and an abundance of signage to guide those new to the area, while heavily forested sections are easily traversed by experienced canyoners.

The suspension bridge for which the canyon is so wellknown is a long, swaying, skyhigh length of steel cable and wood stretching over the canyon itself. Built in 1912, the bridge still has that rickety feeling that can make even the most seasoned crossers feel a dip in their stomach when they get to the middle.

More so if someone jumps.

Once you work up the courage to make the journey, take a look over the edge to prove you’re a real adventurer, or take a selfie to prove it to everyone on Facebook.

A tip when you cross: use the handrails, but you don’t need to put a death grip on them. Even in wet weather, the reverse indentation and wooden planks under your feet will make sure you won’t slip.

On the other side, follow the trail (or your heart) to the 30foot pool, or simply “30 Foot,” if you want to sound like you know your stuff. A favourite among locals, this picturesque cliff jumping spot is perfect for hot summer days.

A relaxed and friendly atmosphere is guaranteed during the warm season, since everyone’s

just happy to be outside without a rain jacket. Swing by anytime the sun’s out to join in the fun.

For a longer but still leisurely hike, take the route to Lynn Headwaters and end up at Rice Lake, which once served as the source of drinking water for North Shore residents, but now exists primarily as a wildlife refuge.

The trails to the Headwaters are easily accessible from the canyon and meander along the river, making for an obvious picnic/hike combo. Once you get to Rice Lake, you can head out onto the dock to fish, if you were smart enough to bring your rod.

The lake is stocked with plenty of easily catchable rainbow trout in the spring and autumn, so that’s your best bet for catching something you can tell your friends was, like, this big.

If your aim is a day spent free from the bustle of a popular tourist destination in the summer, Twin Falls is a less popular area for visitors, so you can expect to spend a quieter time enjoying a spectacular view of the falls.

Head right after you cross the suspension bridge from the main entrance, or turn right past the Lynn Canyon Café to access it from the other side. Take a picnic here for a lovely afternoon. Take a date for an even lovelier afternoon.

The canyon’s hikes are easy enough for beginners, but lengthy enough to satisfy outdoor enthusiasts.

The best views are accessible to anyone willing to walk for 30 minutes, and they pay off in a spectacular way.

The forest is just outside a residential neighbourhood, but feels like stepping back a thousand years.

Wherever you end up, be it on one of the designated trails, or further into the rough, Lynn Canyon is a beautiful place to spend a couple hours or an entire day.

Don’t take my word for it; Lynn Canyon is TripAdvisor’s #1 thing to do in North Vancouver. U

The canyon boasts a staggering natural beauty just minutes from a residential road.”

Lynn Canyon has numerous places to enjoy beyond its suspension bridge.

Photos Mackenzie walker/the ubyssey

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

| SPORTS | 7

Wrestling >>

Wrestling takes over Robson Square Grapplers of all ages turn downtown into a coliseum for international festival Jack Hauen Sports + Rec Editor

What began as a protest of the International Olympic Committee’s potential removal of wrestling from the Olympic Games has evolved into UBC wrestling’s showpiece.

A celebration of wrestling as a sport and a community took place on Saturday as wrestlers of all ages took over UBC Robson Square in downtown Vancouver for the 2014 Vancouver International Wrestling Festival.

This year marks the second time the event has taken place, and it’s quickly becoming an annual tradition.

“The number of athletes has gone up this year for sure,” said Pavin Takhar, secretary of UBC’s men’s and women’s wrestling teams. “We’re expanding.”

The event began at 9:00 a.m., giving athletes a chance to warm up before the youth division (pre-high school) began its competition at 10:30 a.m. The athletes grappled their hearts out as they immediately took to the open-air atmosphere. UBC Wrestling Club’s head coach David Wilson wasn’t surprised.

“The reason we’re at UBC Robson Square is because it has a coliseum feel,” he said. “It’s reminiscent of the gladiator days.

Two people, one on one, centre of the city, everyone can come down and see it.”

Passers-by did indeed walk down the concrete steps next to the Art Gallery to scout out the source of the cheers and skin-onmat slaps.

They were also greeted by an exhibit put on by the BC Sports Hall of Fame: the Path

The second annual Vancouver International Wrestling Festival took place on Saturday, Aug. 16.

to Excellence — a looming structure depicting the many ways in which one can progress from a young wrestler to an Olympic Champion.

But the main attraction was just steps away — two full size mats placed in the middle of the square so well-known for its winter skating rink, upon which some of the top wrestlers in the region battled it out for bragging rights and, less importantly, a medal. Wilson was happy to see the event he created attracting so

many young athletes and promoting the sport he loves.

“I’m proud of it,” he said. “I’m proud of the volunteers, I’m proud of how the community has come together on this — we see a lot of faces out there that are from all over, it’s a very diverse crowd.

That reflects wrestling.”

Driven by an intense passion for the sport, Wilson’s aim has always been to keep UBC wrestling a competitive and inclusive endeavour. The club is slated to receive competitive club status in 2015,

PHOTO Jack hauen/the ubyssey

and though he is excited at the prospect, he remains stoic in his role as coach and leader.

“We hope [the UBC Athletic Department] will share our vision of a really competitive program.

But for now, we’re committed to the program. Whether we become varsity or not, we’ll still compete at UBC.” The competition was in full force at Robson Square during the afternoon, as the youth and high school divisions finished and the university athletes took centre

stage. The division was packed with stars from all across the region, and they left it all on the mat. The event’s main goal was to spread the good word of wrestling, but that didn’t mean that the wrestlers shied away from a good match. On the contrary, they were downright inspired.

The festival lasted hours longer than its loose schedule had planned, but the crowd never thinned out. Almost all of those who had competed earlier in the day stuck around to watch those at the highest level compete, and a steady stream of casual onlookers kept the audience full.

At the end of the day, the reason everyone had traveled to Robson Square in the first place was clear: the celebration of an ancient sport that never seems to quit, and the prestige of being among the best of your ilk.

Wilson hopes that the event will continue to inspire professionals and rookies alike for years to come. Though his wrestling days are over, the sport’s grip on the veteran coach is as firm as ever.

“Just imagine -- when you shake hands with the other guy, everyone’s watching, and they’re thinking, ‘Who’s going to win?’

Then you put that outfit on, and it pretty much shows everything. So now you’re naked in front of the world in many ways -- then you’re wrestling. Now, whether you win or lose doesn’t matter, but when you win, it feels amazing. The ref does this.... [He took my arm and thrust it into the air. ] “There aren’t many sports that do that.”

Wilson leaned back and closed his eyes as a wide smile spread across his face.

“That’s what we’re celebrating here.” U

UBC eSports club is heaven for PC gamers

Members compete internationally, looking to branch out to new games Olamide Olaniyan Contributor

Although not as popular as football and hockey, the eSports community is bigger than many people realize, and growing every day.

This year, the International Championship for DOTA (Dawn of the Ancients) 2 had a massive prize pool of $10 million, eclipsing several major sporting events including the Fed Ex Cup (golf ) and the UEFA Europa League (soccer).

According to Battlefy, an eSports management platform, it has become such a huge spectator sport that the number of tournaments rose from 8,809 in 2011 to a projected 47,500 for 2014. Some tournaments are now aired on major sports channels — ESPN picked up The International this year and drew thousands of viewers.

The eSports community covers a wide range of video games, from Pokémon to FIFA. However, the UBC eSports club’s focus lies on three main games: League of Legends, StarCraft and DOTA 2.

UBC eSports’ collegiate team has an amazing track record and

file PHOTO josh curran/the ubyssey

UBC eSports club members compete in games such as League of Legends, StarCraft and Dawn of the Ancients 2.

several star players in these core games.

It prides itself on veteran alumni such as Sung Min Park (who goes by Stalife in-game), Kurtis Ling (AUI_2000) and

Alberto Rengifo (crumbz). The team has had remarkable success over the past four years in bigname tournaments including the International Cyber Cup, Major League Gaming and others.

Michael Medley, one of the founders of the club, is optimistic about its future.

“I expect us to make it far in collegiate leagues like League of Legends and Counter Strike:

Global Offensive,” said Medley, also an employee at Battlefy. “Our ex-UBC players will continue to be some of the best in the world, and our brand will continue to grow, hosting all manner of eSports-related events.”

UBC eSports was founded in November 2010, originally known as the UBC StarCraft Club. At a time when most of the few competitive gaming associations that existed were not open to new members, the StarCraft Club began to set the stage for unseasoned and inexperienced players.

According to Medley, UBC eSports hopes to branch out into other games like Super Smash Bros. and Street Fighter. He encourages all passionate gamers — amateur and professional — to check out the club.

Perks of the club beyond being part of a gaming community include access to gift cards for equipment and gear such as keyboards, mice and sound systems.

“If you love video games, love playing or watching them with friends, and meeting professional players, then UBC eSports is for you. We have something for everyone.” U

PICTURES + WORDS ON YOUR UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014 |

illustration julian yu/THE UBYSSEY

Top Posts of the Class of 2018 Facebook Group The posts and comments that define the class of 2018 Amongst the dozens of ‘Amazon Student Prime’ referral posts and Facebook app spam, there has been considerable discussion taking place in the UBC Class of 2018 Facebook group. Much of it has been the regular banter of students excited to begin their first year of university. Questions about housing, classes, commuting and textbooks, as well as people trying to form friend-

ships before they even arrive on campus, are all prevalent. Several posts, however, have stood out from the rest — for better or for worse.

From the weird, to the hilarious, to the downright offensive, these posts provide a summary of the ongoing discussion in the class of 2018 Facebook group, as well as some insight into the character of the latest class to enter UBC. U

8