Nov 13, 2014

NOVEMBER 13, 2014 | VOLUME XCVI | ISSUE XXII REEKING OF JACK SINCE 1918

DAYDREAMING IS GOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN UBC psychology professor says your brain is more active when daydreaming than problem solving.

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MORRIS PANYCH’S 7 STORIES

OPINIONS AND LAST WORDS

UBC’s oldest club performs a Canadian classic this week at the Dorothy Somerset Studio.

Response to Briedé-Cooper, municipal elections, and Ian Turner on Shawn Olson’s firing.

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BASKETBALL HOMECOMING Women victorious, men vanquished in rendevous versus villainous Victoria Vikes.

COMMITMENT

ISSUES After pushing the opening of the new SUB back three times, the AMS is hoping to open the building in April, but is reluctant to set an official date.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 |

YOUR GUIDE TO UBC EVENTS, PEOPLE + CAMPUS

EVENTS

OUR CAMPUS

THIS WEEK, CHECK OUT ...

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ONE ON ONE WITH THE PEOPLE AND BUILDINGS THAT MAKE UBC

THURSDAY 13

BARTALK #13

6:00 - 7:30 P.M. @ THE GALLERY LOUNGE

The AMS is hosting a panel discussion about UBC’s proposed fee increases. Featuring speakers like MLA David Eby, learn about the proposals in an informal environment. Admission by donation. 19+

THURSDAY

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UBYSSEY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

UBC held its annual Remembrance Day ceremony on Tuesday, November 11.

5:30 - 6:30 P.M. @ UBYSSEY OFFICE SUB 24

The Ubyssey’s photo editor is hosting a free workshop in our office. Learn how to take better photos in a variety of situations, from sports to portraits, and how to use manual settings so you aren’t just pointing and clicking. Free

SATURDAY

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NO PANTS DANCE

9:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M. @ BUCHANAN D-140

200BPM is hosting an all-ages “no pants dance” and pillowfight. The pantsless dress code is strictly enforced, but acceptable attire ranges from boxer shorts, to kilts, to skirts, to onesies. Tickets $10, pants check $2

ON THE COVER A tour of the new SUB revealed how far from completion it really is. Photo - Micki Cowan

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OCTOBER 13, 2014 | VOLUME XCVI | ISSUE XXII BUSINESS

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UBC’s Remembrance Day ceremony was solemn and stirring Austen Erhardt Opinions & Blog Editor

UBC hosted approximately 1,000 people at its Remembrance Day ceremony at the War Memorial Gym on Tuesday.

The ceremony featured speakers from both UBC and the community, and was attended by an honour guard from local Canadian Forces detachments and the RCMP. University Marshal and music professor Nancy Hermiston served as master of ceremonies, and led the attendees in the singing of “God Save the Queen,” as well as other songs and hymns.

Tomorrow we may remove our poppies and our wreaths, but let us never remove our commitment to those who served and those who died in our service. Let each day of peace and freedom feed today’s flame honouring their remembrance.”

Joyce Murray Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra

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PHOTO CHERIHAN HASSUN / THE UBYSSEY

The sounding of the Last Post served as a mournful yet proud salute to the fallen, heralding the beginning of the two minutes of silence. Attendees were brought to attention by the Reveille that followed, the rousing sound that signalled the start of a new day during the wars — and for the purposes of the ceremony, signalling new life and a new world. The silence brought as many people to tears as any words that were spoken.

Wreaths were placed by many UBC, Vancouver and military-related organizations, the announcements of the names of the representatives accompanied by a bagpipes performance.

Member of Parliament Joyce Murray spoke on behalf of the

federal government, highlighting the sacrifices made by veterans of Canada’s war and the ongoing unity of the country.

We don’t have a blanketing ceremony in the traditions that I come from, and I wish we did because it was very powerful.

But I’ve been in many ceremonies like this, and I think for many of us here today, this is our blanketing ceremony for people who put themselves at risk every day for us.”

David Eby Lawyer and Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

“Tomorrow we may remove our poppies and our wreaths, but let us never remove our commitment to those who served and those who died in our service. Let each day of peace and freedom feed today’s flame honouring their remembrance,” she said.

MLA David Eby referenced the National Aboriginal Veterans Day event that he attended last week, and spoke of the traditional blanketing ceremony that he witnessed, in which aboriginal women encompass people in blankets to symbolize their desire to protect them from harm.

“We don’t have a blanketing ceremony in the traditions that I come from, and I wish we did because it was very powerful. But I’ve been in many ceremonies like this, and I think for many of us here today, this is our blanketing ceremony for people who put themselves at risk every day for us,” Eby said.

UBC VP Communications and Community Partnership, Pascal Spothelfer, discussed some of the impact that the wars of the

20th century had on UBC and its students, comparing the deaths suffered by the university to a modern equivalent.

“About 20 per cent of the average male population of UBC through World War I would get killed.... The amount of sacrifice this represents is staggering when we translate these percentages to the current student population.

Twenty-two thousand students would go to war, and 4,400 would not come back. It is very hard to imagine the impact that the war would have had on the UBC community back in 1915 and in the following years.”

Former UBC Nursing lecturer Linda Quiney highlighted the role of women in the wars, particularly in regard to providing nursing care overseas, and the trials that they faced in treating the wounds inflicted by this new type of warfare.

The solemnity of the event was punctuated by a vocal performance of World War-era songs, such as “It’s a long way to Tipperary” and “We’ll Meet Again,” by four UBC tenors. Though the lively music was juxtaposed with the mournful bagpipes and brass and the gravity of the event, it served as a reminder that those who we had gathered to remember had, too, enjoyed these songs. They fought for the smiles that the cheerful music brought to the faces of the children at the ceremony.

AMS President Tanner Bokor read aloud John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Fields,” a moving piece that has become both an iconic example of Canadian literature, and one of the most defining literary works that emerged from the First World War. Hermiston closed the ceremony with lines from World War I poem, “For The Fallen,” which was followed by the singing of “O Canada.”

“They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.” U

CORRECTION: The article “UBC professor hopes to bring more aboriginal language study to UBC” published in our October 30 issue implied Mark Turin is working to create new partnerships with the Musqueam community. In fact, his work is actually part of a 17-year partnership between the Musqueam community and the First Nations Languages Program. The Ubyssey regrets the error.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 |

EDITORS JOVANA VRANIC + VERONIKA BONDARENKO

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FEES >>

Third UBC Town Hall met with dissatisfaction from students Veronika Bondarenko News Editor

The third public consultation on the proposed tuition and residence fee increases took place at the Norm Theatre on Wednesday, November 5.

To start, Managing Director of Student Housing and Hospitality Services Andrew Parr, Vice Provost and Associate VP Enrolment and Academic Facilities Angela Redish and VP Students Louise Cowin went over a presentation on the increases that was shown at the two previous Town Halls, with added slides that broke down the ways that the increased fees will be spent.

Redish said that, along with increasing financial aid options and on-campus services for students, a large part of the money gained from the increase in residence fees will allow the university to expand its current housing services and build more residence options in the upcoming years.

“The proposed plan is to grow an additional 2,250 beds in the period from 2017 to 2020,” said Redish. “So if we advance, in two years’ time we’ll have 1,500 beds in place. If we advance, six years from now we will have a further 2,250 beds that are planned. So this is what we are talking about in terms of growth.”

After the presentation, students came up to the microphone to ask questions and voice their concerns about the proposed increases.

Several students expressed disappointment about the fact that the first Town Hall had not been publicized via broadcast email and that the second Town Hall was held on Halloween. Students also brought up the issues of affordability of living on campus and attracting a diverse group of students, saying that even if additional residences will get built, their

NEWS BRIEFS

PHOTO WILL MCDONALD/THE UBYSSEY

UBC’s third Town Hall meeting was held on Wednesday, November 5.

prices will still not be accessible for the majority of students.

One of the audience members also asked whether UBC had considered building in places such as Pacific Spirit Park or further east rather than on campus.

Parr said that as UBC does not need to pay for the land that has been set aside for the university, buying land elsewhere to build more residences is not an option.

“Those capital costs that I showed don’t include the cost of the land. We own that land,” said Parr. “If we build elsewhere, we have to buy that land and build on that and that would actually increase cost of development and,

I hate to say it, it would increase the cost of rents too.”

Another student from the audience asked whether it was problematic to state that UBC owns its land when it is claimed as the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. Students snapped their fingers to express solidarity with the commenter.

Parr later apologized for his comment about owning the land. Cowin also clarified that the land that UBC stands on has been set aside for educational purposes in agreement with the Musqueam people.

“We are visitors on the unceded land of the Musqueam

people and, as such, the university is occupying that land for an educative vision and purpose and in agreement at this time with the Musqueam people,” said Cowin.

A student also asked whether the university had explored all possible options before choosing to increase tuition. Cowin confirmed that these increases were a last resort considering the difficult financial times and cuts by the provincial government.

“Budget information went out yesterday to deans and VPs requesting that there be cost containment from the central unions of $7.5 million just to get us to close the year in balance,”

RESEARCH >>

Mind wandering off in class? Daydreaming is good for you, says UBC psychology professor

AMS agrees on strategy to tackle fee increases At the last AMS council meeting, a series of motions were passed responding to the proposed tuition and housing fee increases.

Council approved a strategy document, created working groups and directed the University and External Relations Committee (UNECORN) to create a policy to advocate to the provincial government for student tenants’ rights and increased post-secondary funding. $2,700 was also allocated to be spent on supporting student protest groups. Council ruled that the Student Administrative Commission will be working to provide these groups with meeting spaces and any necessary materials.

PHOTO COLTON WITT/FLICKR

AMS business update Last AMS Council meeting, a report was presented on the society’s business operations. According to the report, revenue last year was higher than expected, likely due to construction delays in the old and new SUBs. Now that construction is underway in both buildings, the AMS expects less traffic to its businesses.

The society expects renovations in the old SUB to set back their 2014/2015 business revenue, as many students may stop visiting the building until the AMS Student Nest businesses open. U

said Cowin. “There are very real pressures that we’re feeling and it’s the case that we have looked left and right and round the corners and under the rocks to see if there’s ways in which we could realize these benefits for students without it being a direct charge to them, but given budgetary times, given the province’s choices in terms of the way in which they direct our rules, this is the reality.”

Student consultation on the proposed increases will remain open until November 21. Cowin also said that another Town Hall on these increases may be held before then. U

UBC neuroscientist Kalina Christoff says that the mind is more active during “mind-wandering” than problem-solving.

Mariam Baldeh Contributor

Daydreaming is often perceived as a waste of time or as a nonproductive experience of the lazy mind, but recent research has shown that it can actually be good for you.

Kalina Christoff, a cognitive neuroscientist who has taught at UBC for 10 years, said that daydreaming or “mind-wandering” can lead to a more creative and insightful mind. She was first intrigued by the idea during her undergraduate years in Bulgaria, when she was overseeing an experiment that required partici-

pants to “think aloud” to solve a problem, and she witnessed how their thoughts would drift from one thing to another.

According to Christoff, the brain is more active during “mind-wandering” than it is when trying to reason out a complex problem.

“What’s interesting is that during mind-wandering, both the part of the brain involved with deliberate problem-solving [the pre-frontal cortex] and the part that is only triggered during rest, are activated,” said Christoff. “The only other time this occurs is when people are thinking creatively.”

Christoff said that one of the ways that “mind-wandering” has been studied so far in psychology is by giving someone an easy, mundane task and then waiting to see how their mind wanders away from the task. She called this “task-unrelated thinking.”

Although such “mind-wandering” might delay a physical task from being done, Christoff said that it can still be linked to some grander life task such as survival or fulfilment.

“If you’re stuck in a job you don’t like, and you’re given the task of completing an Excel

spreadsheet for example, your mind might keep wandering and it has nothing to do with the task at hand, but it’s actually related to your global task to make yourself happy,” said Christoff.

According to Christoff, what happens during “mind-wandering” is quite related to what happens during sleep. During sleep, the brain organizes our experiences and memories into meaningful connections and helps you arrive at new conclusions and remember things.

During “mind-wandering” you are not asleep, but your brain still builds connections that you would otherwise not make. The random nature of the thoughts allows us to make revelations and develop certain insights that we typically would not if we were thinking in a more deliberate fashion.

So why does our mind wander? Christoff said that it is an adaptive tendency, in that it allows us to be fluid and process different experiences so that we are not stagnant. The self-reflective properties help us make meaning and better understand both specific tasks and our lives overall. “[Mind-wandering] allows us to map our own space of experiences and get to know our internal environment,” she said. “We are better able to understand ourselves and the causal nature of the world because we can see the bigger picture.” U

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

AMS >>

New SUB opening pushed back again until end of Term 2 Veronika Bondarenko News Editor

The opening of the new SUB has once again been pushed back, this time until the beginning of April 2015.

At a Council meeting on November 5, VP Admin Ava Nasiri announced that the AMS will receive the keys to the new SUB in March, after which they will begin the transition and moving process that is required before the building can be officially opened for students at the beginning of April.

This delay is the third that has taken place since the official opening date had been slated for September 2014. After that, the opening date of the new SUB has been moved to Jan. 5, then to Feb. 23 and now to the end of Term 2.

According to Nasiri, the setbacks are caused by delays in the construction process, including problems with the fins, or slatted wood panels, around the performance space in the centre of the building.

“The fins presented some challenges in terms of practical materialization and structure,” said Nasiri in an email. “These challenges in addition to the overall complexity of our very unique building caused the delays in general.”

Nasiri also said that the AMS had foreseen that construction would possibly go on for longer than planned when it announced the February opening date, but still said that they would be able to open.

“The opening date has been realistically set as early April,” said Nasiri. “We were optimistic

for an earlier date but the major asterisk that came with the February date was to allow the construction and consulting teams to sit down for a sufficient amount of time and revise the schedule to something realistic.”

As the unveiling has been shifted so close to the end of term, the details surrounding the opening celebrations remain up in the air.

“The programming around opening and the first day back is being planned with flexibility as a priority,” said Nasiri.

“We will be sure to have a celebration to commemorate the opening of such an incredible space for students, but are conscious of the need for flexibility given the PHOTO MICKI COWAN/THE UBYSSEY nature of the project.” U The AMS Student Nest is slated to open at the beginning of April 2015.

ELECTIONS >>

Political science prof Max Cameron talks voter turnout

ADVERTISING – MEDIA MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION UBC prof Max Cameron is hoping to see more students cast a ballot in the municipal elections.

Kelley Lin Senior Staff Writer

As municipal elections approach, UBC political science professor Max Cameron hopes to see more people, including students, take to the polls.

In 2011, the voter turnout in Vancouver’s municipal elections was 34.57 per cent, which is significantly lower than 50.55 per cent in Toronto in 2010.

When asked about the low voter participation, Cameron, also director of the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI), said it might be because the city of Vancouver is fairly stable in terms of governance, compared to cities such as Toronto and Montreal.

“For the most part, people are relatively satisfied with our municipal government and I think we’re well served in Vancouver and throughout the Lower Mainland,” he said. “Where people get frustrated with local governments is often around very

particular issues that affect them directly.”

At the same time, Cameron said that incumbent Vision Vancouver’s standing in the local government is not as stable as voters may think.

Cameron also said that by not voting, people lose the chance to voice their opinions on issues like local transportation, sustainability and education. Municipal elections provide the opportunity to learn about each candidate and what they stand for to make an informed decision on who to support.

“Voting is one of the minimal acts of citizenship. It doesn’t require a lot of time, [but] it does require becoming familiar with the issues and candidates,” said Cameron. “If you don’t vote, you deny yourself the opportunity to become schooled in democracy and to participate in a collective decision that is going to have an impact on our lives and the lives of the future generation.”

PHOTO CHERIHAN HASSUN/THE UBYSSEY

According to Cameron, people are more likely to vote on issues that touch them personally, such as the concentration of high building complexes downtown or the placement of homeless shelters in various Vancouver neighbourhoods.

The uncertainty and risk are what mobilize citizens to practice voting, but without it, engagement and awareness are difficult to achieve when people may not be familiar with specific campaigns.

“One of the ways we build collective citizenship is through voter participation and a university does help provide people with the skills and know-how to be both effective as citizens and leaders,” he said.

On-campus voting locations will be open at University Hill Secondary School and Carey Hall. Many more voting booths across the city on November 15 or in advance at several select locations. U

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

MUNICIPAL

| NEWS | 5

ELECTIONS

CANDIDATES FOR

DIRECTOR OF ELECTORAL AREA A The director of Electoral Area A, which includes the UBC and the University Endowment Lands, oversees the needs of the residents of this area and sits on the board with the directors across Metro Vancouver.

Daniel Wood Jovana Vranic News Editor

As a debut candidate, UBC Master’s student Daniel Wood is the underdog in the race for director of Electoral Area A. Wood has a degree in political science, and he’s currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Asia Pacific Policy Studies. Wood asserts that because he’s a student, he can best represent youth and other underrepresented political groups.

Having held positions at Canada Post and a contracted role as a researcher for the Vancouver Parks Board, Wood said throwing his hat in the ring for the municipal elections was a natural step to take.

“I always participate in the neighbourhood watch and all the community events that go on,” he said.

“This is the best way for me to give back to the community — acting in the public service realm.”

He states on his candidacy website that his top priority is strengthening security on campus, citing “cases of unresolved violence” over the past year.

One of Wood’s concerns going into the elections, noted in public debates and speeches along with long-time director Maria Harris, is that not many voters are aware of the responsibilities of the director.

But Wood said he remains optimistic about the role of students in Vancouver politics. As part of his campaign, he has visited university political clubs, fraternities, Green College and other centres of student engagement.

He believes that many people have not been encouraged to speak about their opinions, and so vows to be a politician that is more accessible to citizens. Wood has made efforts to educate citizens about their rights and motivate civic involvement through phone calls, door-to-door visits and other grassroots campaigns.

Wood believes “elected officials need to be representative leaders in the community.” He said that students need to have their voices heard and that he will work to ensure their concerns are acted upon.

“For example, I know that there is traditionally less participation in things like civic engagement for underrepresented groups on campus…. So, as an elected official, I believe that in that position it’s our duty as leaders of the community to be able to engage these kinds of groups,” he said.

Wood said his student status means he’s very in touch with the campus community. “I think that because students believe that it’s time for a change, and they’re dissatisfied with a lot of the processes and issues going on [around] campus right now, the time is right for the students to come out and have this voice.”

As part of his platform, Wood plans to engage with the student and UBC neighbourhood communities over issues of campus safety and security and the Broadway Skytrain Line. He also promises to continue consultations with Campus and Community Planning over strategic sustainability initiatives at UBC. U –With files from Mateo Ospina. U

Maria Harris Veronika Bondarenko News Editor

Current Electoral Area A Director Maria Harris is going for a hat trick in the upcoming municipal elections.

With degrees in economics from UBC and Oxford, Harris has been director of Electoral Area A since 2008. If reelected for a third term, Harris hopes to continue her work on transportation, sustainability and youth engagement within the UBC community.

During her six years as director, Harris affected progress on the Broadway Skytrain line, remained vocal about preserving UBC Farm and gained all succeeding directors of Electoral Area A a voting voice among the other metro directors.

“That’s huge for us,” said Harris about the gained ability to vote.

“And that reflects the way I work — one step at a time, actually doing thigns where I can make a difference.”

As part of her main platform points for this election, Harris

pledges to continue pushing for a reduction in car use in the Vancouver area by lobbying to make the city’s public transit system more extensive and more accessible. Harris also promises to use students’ experiences as an example of how a program such as the U-Pass can pose huge benefits to the community.

“My vision on transit is that we become a transit-dependent region and not a car-dependent region,” she said. “I think our students get it. Everybody who’s had a U-Pass gets it. People all over the world are getting it.”

Harris adds that her economics background will enable her to figure out how to bring forth the necessary funding for public transit in Vancouver.

Sustainability is also a large part of Harris’ platform, as she plans to focus on effective recycling systems, waste reduction and preserving the city’s green space in her goal to make Vancouver more environmentally responsible.

Among her other objectives, Harris also intends to increase youth engagement by holding more forums and information sessions.

In this way, she wants to help students voice their concerns about the area and push them forward to the university through the AMS. “All of these things are my pieces of the puzzle,” said Harris.

“An awful lot of times, especially when it concerns governance or transportation or a few other things, I’m connecting students through the AMS.” Harris vowed to ensure that the community’s concerns are heard and addressed, but to also focus on aspects of her platform where she can make the most difference instead of making unrealistic promises to gain votes.

“I have always been willing to help residents with local issues, whether or not within my responsibility and I’ll continue to do that if I’m reelected,” she said. “I am not going to make unrealistic promises in order to get reelected.” U

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 |

EDITOR JENICA MONTGOMERY

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REMEMBRANCE >>

White peace poppies and their controversial history

PHOTO CHERIHAN HASSUN/THE UBYSSEY

White poppies were worn alongside red poppies by students this year.

Jasmine Cheng Staff Writer

On November 11, Canadians nation-wide embrace the yearly tradition of donning a red poppy in memory of those who had served our country in the First World War. As every child is taught in grade school, the red poppy is an emblem inspired by Canadian

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s famous poem “In Flanders Fields,” which beckons people young and old to remember the sacrifices of our soldiers in the Great War. According to the Royal Canadian Legion, the red poppy has been printed since 1921, with around 18 million distributed each year during their Poppy Cam-

paigns and nearly $14.5 million raised last year alone through this campaign for disadvantaged Canadian veterans and their families.

The blossoming of those vibrant red flowers that decorate coat lapels, backpacks, hats and an assortment of other possessions in early November has become as integral to our national identity as the hoisting of the national flag on Canada Day. Once in a while, however, you might spot a white poppy amongst the sea of red flowers. The white poppy, more formally known as a Peace Poppy, was first distributed in 1933 by the Co-operative Women’s Guild in Great Britain.

However the story truly began in 1926 when the pacifist No More War movement argued that the red poppies, which had only begun to be used for fundraising, should have the message ‘No More War’ imprinted in the center instead of ‘Haig Fund’, the name of a charity for veterans started by a British Field Marshal. The British Legion continued to print poppies imprinted with ‘Haig Fund’ until 1994.

Civilian groups such as the Co-operative Women’s Guild, many of whom were family members who had lost their loved ones to war, grew increasingly concerned with what they saw as a growing appetite in the govern-

ment for militarization of society and with these beginnings the first batch of Peace Poppies were produced and worn in Britain on Armstice Day — renamed Remembrance Day after World War II — in 1933. According to the anti-war Peace Pledge Union of Britain, theirs is a “challenge to the continuing drive to war.”

Peace Poppies have faced some struggle and controversy, especially in Canadian media. It has been frequently mislabeled as a new fad or a disrespectful symbol worn by people who don’t fully appreciate or understand the sacrifices made by previous generations. There has also been cause for concern that growing interest in the white poppy will take money away from fundraising interests of the Royal Legion. “[W]e’re trying to encourage Canadians to use November 11 to remember all the victims of war — civilian and military. And the victims of all wars, and to challenge the kinds of beliefs and values and institutions that make us accept war as inevitable,” said Teresa Gagné of Vancouver Peace Poppies, a group that has been bringing white poppies from the Peace Pledge Union to Canadians since 2007. “That’s why we distribute the white poppy. And I don’t see any of those things as being disrespectful to the military.”

Gagné says she will be wearing both red and white poppies, as she always has.

Supporters of the white poppy say it is more important than ever that Canadians reflect on the realities of the massive and very real consequences of violence and war, and recognition of the importance of peacekeeping – especially in light of the October shootings on Parliament Hill.

This year, students from UBC will also be distributing peace poppies on campus for the first time. Aside from UBC, many other student groups have been involved in selling Peace Poppies, including Langara College and Simon Fraser University.

“The consequences of war are so broad; it ties into so many different interests, whether you’re interested in the environment, or you’re interested in health, or science, or human rights,” said Gagné, who encourages students to be curious and open minded, and also do a little bit of research to better understand the story behind Remembrance Day. She also reminds students that the white poppy can symbolize different things to different people as there is no single monolithic white poppy movement. “[B]e respectful and listen to people whose points of views are different.” U

THEATRE >>

UBC’s oldest club to perform their mainstage production this week

PHOTO CHERIHAN HASSUN/THE UBYSSEY

UBC Players Club is the oldest club on campus – they opened their mainstage production, 7 Stories, on Wednesday.

Jessica Roberts-Farina Contributor

UBC’s oldest student club is performing a classic Canadian dark comedy this week penned by an award-winning UBC alumn.

The 99-year-old UBC Players Club is producing Morris Panych’s award-winning 7 Stories for the club’s mainstage production of the term.

The play centres on a mysterious fellow named the Man who is standing on the ledge of a building’s seventh story and contemplating a jump to his death. The Man is interrupted by the floor’s colourful residents popping in and out of the windows and it is their interactions with the Man that deliver the humour in a play dealing with serious issues. <em>

</em>

“If the audience can laugh, that means they can take in the heavier themes easier,” said Connor Nechelput, the play’s assistant director and an international relations undergraduate.

Seven actors will be playing 13 different characters in the play.

106 people auditioned for the roles, including Nick Rinke who plays the Man. Rinke auditioned with the role of Leonard, a paranoid psychiatrist, in mind and was surprised when he was cast in the role of the Man. Rinke is used to playing physical characters, so the actor has found standing on an invisible ledge with limited physical movement an exciting new challenge.

“You feel vulnerable in a way.

I do have physical freedom, but I can’t jump all over the place.”

“I’ve seen Nick [Rinke] do a lot of comical stuff. And I wanted to see him as a character who’s at the other end of the spectrum.

I know I could have easily cast him as Leonard, but I wanted to challenge both of us,” said Soo Min Park, a UBC film production student and 7 Stories’ director.

The audience is given sparse information about the Man. He’s just a man standing on a ledge of a seven-story building and he’s lost track of time.

Perhaps one of the most revealing moments in the play is when the character Lillian tells the Man that if you’re going to give up your life, give it up <em>

</em>

for something. The stories of the characters delve into these deeper issues embedded in dialogues around suicide such as hope, social isolation and societal expectations.

“This Man, he thinks too much. An old acting coach used to say to me, ‘don’t think, just do.’

And that’s sort of what Lillian says to the Man. I feel like this man is really lost. That’s a big part of the play that’s hit me,” said Rinke.

The play has presented other challenges for the cast and crew, including designing the set.

Park began working with her set designer in the summer to figure out the design of the building’s ledge, the play’s only set.

The crew was forced to get creative with their limited resources. They decided on a set that looked like a cage to echo the trapped and confused minds of the play’s characters and setting.

The play opens on November 12 and Rinke is nervous but ready. “I want people to understand the character of the Man.” Nechelput hopes the Man’s self-discoveries will connect with the audience. “There’s laughs and reality in this play.

All the characters seem weird and crazy, but they all reflect real people.”

7 Stories is playing at the Dorothy Somerset Studio (6361 University Blvd.) from Nov. 12-16. Shows at 7:30 p.m., except for Nov. 16 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or the table in the SUB by cash or online by debit/credit. $6 for members, $12 for non-members. U

The UBC Film Society is showing Blue Velvet from November 12-16 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. excluding November 14 at 7 p.m., at the Norm theatre.

This 1986 David Lynch thriller is about the mysterious happenings in a small town in North Carolina.

This film has everything from mystery, drug abuse and an ear in a field. Intrigued? Head out to the Norm this week to catch this thriller.

The Eastside Flea X UBC Market is back at the SUB this week. From November 12-13 local retailers and artisans will be selling their wares in the SUB main concours.

From handmade soaps to handmade shirts you’ll be able to find some pieces to add to your vintage chic wardrobe. If you’re looking to change up your style the Eatside Flea X UBC Market is the place to grab some new and eclectic clothing and accessories.U

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

| CULTURE | 7

WRITING >>

Write a novel this month with NaNoWriMo

PHOTO CHERIHAN HASSUN/THE UBYSSEY

National Novel Writing month is in full swing, and many take the month to start and finish a 50,000 word novel.

Lawrence Neal Garcia Senior Staff Writer

For many, November means a month of not shaving and increased cancer awareness. For others, it means the end of pumpkin spice latte season and the start of Starbucks’ Christmas drinks. But for another demographic, it means writing a novel — of at least 50,000 words — in just 30 days.

The project-cum-event is known as National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which each

year attracts hundreds of thousands of participants eager to tell their stories. In 2013, there were over 300,000 participants.

The reasons people participate may vary — boredom, curiosity, the need for a creative outlet — but the word count, which amounts to at least 1,600 a day, remains constant. And as anyone who has tried NaNoWriMo will know, it requires enormous commitment.

Sonal Champsee, a third-year creative writing MFA candidate in

the off-residence program at UBC, has joined NaNoWriMo four times (including this year) and completed it twice.

Although Champsee is now using NaNoWriMo to work on what will eventually become her masters’ thesis, it started out nearly 10 years ago, while she was still working in the tech industry, as a way to explore her dream of becoming a writer — even for just a month.

“Originally, I was in computer science because I thought I would

program by day and then write by night. That didn’t really work out well.... So I stumbled upon the NaNoWriMo website … and I thought to myself: ‘well, let me try this. Let’s see if, for a month, I can be a writer.’

I sat down and I signed up and I started writing every day and it was amazing. It was like finding myself again,” said Champsee.

First started in 1999, NaNoWriMo — for better or worse — has become a fixture of the creative writing community. “The world needs your novel,” encourages the tagline, which seems both bombastic and democratic.

With countless workshops, events, guide-books, online howto’s, FAQs and tutorials widely available, there’s no shortage of tips and tricks to get you through the daunting task of writing over 50,000 words. But the ultimate advice for Wrimos (the title ascribed to participants)? Just write.

Understandably, it’s an approach to writing that is widely criticized, as churning out words regardless of quality can seem like a pointless exercise; but for many, the value of NaNoWriMo goes beyond the quality of the work produced — though it has also resulted in well-known, published novels like Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus and Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants .

“The process of NaNoWriMo, even though it seems a little bit </em>

<em>

</em>

crazy … the whole philosophy of just writing crap and getting lots of words out is also the same process of writing in general,” said Champsee, who ultimately pursued writing because of her experience with the yearly event.

For others, like Anthony Lyons, a computer science and Japanese double-major at UBC, who attempted NaNoWriMo last year and is trying again this year, the structured motivational approach is precisely why it is so useful.

“It really pressures you to get [words] on paper and just keep writing,” said Lyons, who plans to write a ‘Tokyo pulp’ novel in the vein of Natsuo Kirino, a Japanese detective fiction author, but sees the event as a way to improve his writing more than anything else. “It’s not really about writing a novel. It’s more just about the exercise.”

Reasons, results and reactions may vary, but ultimately, it’s about writing — a lot, which certainly takes a fair amount of creativity.

And while it may be easy to fault the approach, it’s hard to argue with the results. After all, there are certainly worse ways to spend a month.

“I had actually written a novel,” said Champsee of her first NaNoWriMo experience. “I’d always wanted to write a novel and here I had one. Whether it was good or not, I had done that.” U

CLUBS >>

BrUBC brewed some bold beers for the Hops Connect Cup

PHOTO COURTESY DIRK SLOT

UBC’s Brewing Club brewed against teams from UVic, Kwatlen and SFU.

Alex Lenz Contributor

Members of BrUBC have a lot to be smiling about these days. They always do, considering the fact that the club is all about brewing and drinking beer. This weekend treated the club well, as BrUBC reigned victorious at the Hops Connect Cup, an inter-university brewing competition.

BrUBC members get together weekly to brew various kinds of beer, as well as participate in tastings, brewery tours and tournaments. The club has been gaining momentum, and fast. BrUBC currently has over 200 members, with membership almost doubling each year. It’s not hard to tell why. The club aims for an inclusive vibe and welcomes all who are interested in learning about the craft of brewing great beer.

“Whatever people want to do, we can say, let’s figure this out.

And because everybody’s learning together, we use a big collaborative co-op method. So there’s nobody who has this wealth of knowledge.

We’re all learning as a team,” said Kerry Dyson, one of BrUBC’s Vice Presidents.

Creativity was abundant on BrUBC’s Hops Connect Cup team.

The team won awards for the best beer in three of five categories and took home the prize for best overall brew team. BrUBC winners included the “White Rider” brew in the Wheat category; the “Ass, Gas and Lemongrass” in the India Pale Ale category and “Bean Me Up Stouty” in the Stout category.

“We’re always taking people’s suggestions. Because we have total creative control, if you have any crazy ideas, we can figure it out.

We can try and make that beer,” said Kerry.

The Hops Connect Cup is judged by a panel of brew masters, all of whom are professionally accredited to judge the quality of beer. The competition is sponsored

by Hops Connect, a hops distributor; and Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers, a West-Coast brewery.

This year, the event was held at the Memorial Recreation Centre in North Vancouver.

The beer that takes home the Best Brew Award gets to brew their winning beer with Deep Cove, which then gets distributed commercially. UBC’s brewing team competed against teams from Simon Fraser University, the University of Victoria and Kwantlen University.

Cynthia Ni, a member of BrUBC and a two-time Hops Connect champion, said that the competition is a great way to meet new people and interact with the Vancouver brewing community.

“Everyone involved with brewing is super cool. It’s a really great opportunity to get everyone together and talking about beer and doing beer-related stuff. It breaks everyone’s walls down. We all made beer and we’re all here drinking together,” said Ni. BrUBC prides itself on its ability to create a fun and open environment that welcomes all, regardless of brewing experience. Additionally, the club is hoping to change the way that people typically view the beer industry.

“I definitely think there’s a problem of, you think beer and you think guys watching football and drinking beer. But BrUBC’s really great. We’re so inclusive, and for women as well. Anybody really,” said Ni. U

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 |

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LAST WORDS >>

8

LETTER >>

Have your voice heard in the municipal elections

ILLUSTRATION JULIAN YU/THE UBYSSEY

LAST WORDS CONFLICT HAS NO PLACE ON REMEMBRANCE DAY Around this time of year, you may have noticed some people wearing a white poppy on their lapel, instead of or in addition to the traditional red flower. Much has been said about the intentions and meanings inherent to both poppies, but in reality, there is no decisive answer that fully captures the objective meaning behind either or both – because there isn’t one.

Remembrance Day has always been a time to quietly reflect on the horrors of war and to be thankful for those who gave their lives so that we can continue to enjoy the freedom we have today.

Anything beyond that is individual interpretation, which is to be expected for an occasion which can hold so much meaning in different forms, to different people.

That interpretation, however, should be kept calm and respectful of the solemn atmosphere of November 11.

PARTING SHOTS AND SNAP JUDGEMENTS FROM THE UBYSSEY EDITORIAL BOARD

Everyone is free to wear on their chest whichever poppy they choose, but good intentions can sometimes cross the line into arrogant, lucid discourse on matters on which, fundamentally, we all agree. When that happens, not only is the meaning of Remembrance Day grossly misinterpreted, but disrespect is shown to the people who fought and died to give us the liberty to speak our minds at all.

DISAPPOINTED ABOUT DELAYS, BUT NOT EXACTLY SHOCKED The opening of the new SUB has been delayed. Surprise, surprise.

We were going to write a long and wonderfully snarky post about yet another delay, but felt that such an announcement really speaks for itself. At this point, anger has just been replaced with sad resignation about the fact that we will not be moving into our new office before the end of our editorial term.

That said, we would like to point out that the AMS is waffling about when the new SUB will open by constantly giving us early opening dates and then pushing them back. When we took a tour of the new SUB on October 31, it was quite clear by the abundance of construction materials and lack of paint on most of the central structures that the building was nowhere near finished. This is also made glaringly obvious to anyone who walks past the working construction site on the way to class.

While it is great to hear reassurances that the new SUB is coming along swimmingly and will be finished on a specific date, the disappointment that follows when such promises are not followed through always outweighs that momentary glimmer of hope. Just give it to us straight because, quite frankly, we’re getting tired of writing article after article about how the opening date has once again been pushed back. U

Proposed tuition increases are unjustified ALEX MARX Letter

Dear Luc Briedé-Cooper, I am writing here to argue you out of your belief that the international tuition increases proposed by the university are justified, and I hope to win your future participation in student protests as well as a cookie while I am at it. Your justification of the increases was based on two different lines of argument, the first being the status of education as a human right and the second being the necessity of the increases for the continued success of the university.

Let’s examine each in turn.

I’m afraid to say you have a very confused notion of the nature of “rights” and of the relationship between law and ethics. In the debate about the proposed increases, many people have invoked the idea that education is a human right and should therefore be as cheap as possible, if not completely free. You want to respond to this claim by telling us that you have been unable to find any mention of a universal right to post-secondary education in Canadian law, and that, therefore, no such thing exists. You seem to have a very deep respect for contemporary Canadian law, as if it was some eternal God-given gift to humanity containing all the ethical wisdom that we would ever need.

But, surely, you must be aware that the current legal system is a historical and social product, and that all of the rights that are in the Charter of Rights and other documents weren’t always there.

Imagine a time not long ago when women did not have the right to vote, and when racial minorities, such as people of African and Asian descent, did not enjoy the full rights of citizenship.

I doubt you believe that these campaigns for equal rights were unjustified simply because they were not supported by existing law, and so I am led to conclude that you don’t understand what people mean when they say that education is a right. When someone says that people have a right to education, they mean that people should receive an education and that the political arrangement should make this a reality. If the law doesn’t include this right then it is flawed and it should be changed to include it. People are using the term “right” prescriptively, rather than descriptively.

I don’t have space to fully explain why education is a good and necessary thing for human fulfillment and well-being, but here are a few reasons to get you thinking: what person and society would not benefit from the collective intellectual wealth of human civilization in such areas as medicine, engineering, natural and social sciences and art? We need to have knowledge about the world in order to act effectively and wisely. Just think about climate change and the imperative to educate the world on what it is and how it works in order to adjust our lifestyles and political policies accordingly? It’s not that hard to see how an educated and intelligent world would be a better world.

How about the argument that says that the tuition increases are necessary to sustain the university’s high quality? I see no reason to think that the university would get worse in terms of infrastructure and academics if it retained its current tuition levels or even decreased them by a bit.

I concede that, in the current political climate, tuition cannot be decreased significantly if the university wants to continue to rank so highly, but neither does it need to increase international student tuition by 10 per cent, rather than the annual three per cent that it does already. Perhaps construction would slow down a little, but so what?

The funds are already there to improve the university, as the last decade of construction has shown, and anyway, providing a good education to a genuinely diverse body of students from all over the world is more important than giving a smaller group of richer students expensive aquatic centres and luxurious residential towers.

UBC already enjoys a good reputation, and because it is situated in one of the world’s most livable cities it is hardly in a desperate position when it comes to attracting top professors.

In conclusion, the tuition increases are not necessary for the continued excellence of our university, and are therefore unjustified.

Alex Marx is a fourth-year anthropology major and philosophy minor. U

The Vancouver municipal election is on November 15.

BAHAREH JOKAR

Letter

According to the most recent reports from Elections Canada only 39 per cent of youth voted in the last federal election. In contrast, 70 per cent of older adults actually showed up at the polls.

This reality leaves youth severely under-represented across all levels of government. We can change that right now!

The 2014 municipal elections are in full swing across British Columbia, giving residents of the province the opportunity to choose their mayors, directors, councillors and school board trustees. The results of this election will impact things such as public safety, transit and infrastructure management, road services, utility services, parks management, arts and culture and many other crucial issues across a province of approximately 4.6 million people.

This is a vital opportunity for the general public and students to shape the future of our communities.

During this time, it is imperative for students and other youth to be engaged in the democratic process and take advantage of the opportunity to have their voices reflected in the people who represent them. The AMS urges every single Canadian student 18 or older, who has been living in B.C. for the last six months to head to the polls and have their voice heard. Voting is open until November 15 at multiple voting stations in different municipalities across the Lower Mainland.

For students who live on campus (Electoral Area A), the AMS is hosting a meet and greet with district director candidates

FILE PHOTO VIVIAN WONG / THE UBYSSEY PHOTO VIVIAN WONG/THE UBYSSEY

Daniel Wood and Maria Harris at the AMS SUB Art Gallery on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:00 p.m.. There will also be an event earlier that same day (4:00-5:30) at the same location, to learn more about Vancouver School Board trustee candidates.

Anyone wanting to learn more about the municipal issues, voter ID requirements, voting locations or general information on how to vote, please visit outreachams. ca or contact the vice-president external affairs at vpexternal@ ams.ubc.ca.

Happy voting!

Bahareh Jokar is the AMS vice-president external affairs. U <em>

IAN TURNER Letter

The first time I interviewed Shawn Olson in person, I found him painting his defensive coordinator’s office. To me, that summarizes Olson’s tenure at UBC: he had to do it all, from drumming up alumni donations to save the team from budget cuts, to recruiting, to being the offensive coordinator.

So, I found his firing quite “unfair,” as Olson’s prodigy Billy Greene said. Olson had infused the program with a lot of energy whereas the previous regime was much more negative, something former player and all-star Serge Kaminsky told me long ago. To be frank, I found the firing to show a general lack of understanding about UBC’s football program.

If you want to compete with the big boys (Laval and Calgary), then either double the program’s funding or get out of the sport entirely, but firing the Jack-of-all-trades makes no sense.

Ian Turner is a former sports editor of The Ubyssey. U

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It was reported that “major steeze” was thrown down at the Ski & Board Club’s sixth annual Rail Jam. Upon investigating we learned that no one from the army was hurt. Cash prizes and Rockstar were given out to the contestants for landing tricks. The event had a turnout of about 100 people.

Ski & Board Club is coming into prime season. If you’re interested in getting rides up to the mountain and meeting fellow shredders.

Visit ubcskiandboard.com for more details.

PHOTOS PETER SIEMENS AND NICK ADAMS/THE UBYSSEY

9

10 | SPORTS |

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

BASKETBALL >>

Homecoming sweep for Thunderbird women

PHOTO SOFY TSAI/THE UBYSSEY

Diana Lee scored 10 points and dished out four assists in UBC’s 71-48 victory over Victoria on Saturday night.

Mason McIntosh Contributor

The Thunderbirds continued where they left off from the preseason with a perfect weekend of hoops against the University of Victoria.

With a finish that came right down to the wire, the T-Birds were

successful on Friday night beating the Vikes 60-63 and handing them their first loss of the season by completing some late fourth quarter heroics in a sterling team effort. Harlene Sidhu hit a jumper that wrapped up the game, Diana Lee provided a crucial block in the dying moments and Kris Young led

the team from start to finish with a remarkable 23 points in the 33 minutes she was on the floor.

With four T-Birds playing 30 or more minutes, this experienced UBC squad looked to have a quiet Friday night, but had no intent to slow down their play come Saturday.

Victoria was seeking blood in game two of the weekend’s double-header, but they were no match for this dominant T-Bird squad. Before the opening whistle blew, UBC looked to be in the zone. They came out firing and working hard defensively, holding UVic to only five points in the

opening quarter. The slaughter didn’t end there, UBC were relentless.

UBC never took their foot off the gas. The first half ended with UBC on top 31-17. The 14-point lead came mostly from turnovers, and by the final buzzer the T-Birds were able to steal 23 points off numerous giveaways from the Vikes. The Thunderbirds kept their heads down and worked their way to a 71-48 victory.

The women’s squad managed to last the entire game without appearing fatigued whatsoever.

Starting the second half with an astounding 19 points, they knew they had the game in the bag, so head coach Deb Huband was able to grant her bench players some well-deserved minutes.

The entire team was able to do their part on the court with every player capitalizing on the opportunities they’ve been working towards. Kara Spotton led the way with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Andrea Stujic, Stepanie Bell and Cherub Lum put in some phenomenal work in the heavy minutes they played.

UVic had no counter to the T-Birds’ team play. Confidence with the ball was a gamechanging factor for the team, as they were able to come out with 18 points in the paint, running towards their largest lead of the night (27 points).

The Thunderbirds are looking to learn from this experience and bring their A game on next weekend’s road trip against the University of Alberta.

UBC now heads to Edmonton and Winnipeg. Their next home game will be against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies at the War Memorial Gym on November 28. U

THUNDERBIRDS >>

T-BIRDS 5-ON-5

MIKE DEB MOSHER HUBAND

SHAWN OLSON

Men’s soccer

Football

Women’s basketball

MARIA GALLO Women’s rugby

STEVE PRICE

Swimming

COMMITTED COACHES 1. What is your coaching philosophy?

Sport can be a great teacher of life lessons and skills for future success.

Foster the pursuit of excellence in all that you do, on and off the court.

Strive for excellence.

Coaching is teaching ... I try to be tough but fair and provide an environment where young men grow into the best version of themselves.

I am athlete-centered and process driven. I’m trying to develop independent, motivated and educated women.

Develop young people in and out of the pool to their maximum potential — and of course, win!

2. What are some of your hobbies/interests outside of your sport?

Family, travel and golf.

Nature, the arts, hiking, photography, sports, travel, family and friends.

Coaching doesn’t leave much time for hobbies ... anytime I don’t spend on football is spent with my wife and two kids.

I’ve got two little dogs that love the outdoors, so we go on a lot of hikes and runs.

I like to watch other sports, travel in the off-season and spend time with family and friends.

3. As a coach, what’s your biggest pet peeve?

Poor attitudes and poor work ethic.

How an individual can so easily lose confidence as a result of a temporary lack of performance.

As a coach my pet peeves are bureaucracy and any loss.

Athletes that waste talent because they are lazy. I’ll select hard work ethic over talent 100 per cent of the time.

Giving less than your best everyday.

4. Hypothetically, if you could “poach” an athlete from another UBC team, who would it be and why?

Conor Morgan from men’s basketball ... he would be quite a threat to score off corners and free kicks with his height and hops!

How about an aggressive athlete over 6’3”!

Luka Zaharijevic [from men’s basketball is] 6’8”, 260 lbs. I think he would make a great offensive tackle and big guys are always hard to find.

For 15s, perhaps a soccer player — they are fit and have a good foot on them. Kicking is an under-developed skill in Canadian rugby.

Paul Ahn [from] men’s rugby to help “prop” up our men’s team! Paul is ... a great example for our teams.

5. What advice do you have for any aspiring coaches out there?

Gain as much experience as you can in a variety of coaching environments. Also, don’t have an ego — it’s not about you.

Study the game. Be open minded and willing to learn. There is always more to learn and ways to improve your game.

Stay true to yourself and surround yourself with great people.

Don’t try to change a new program all at once, it takes time! Be patient and flexible. Never sacrifice your coaching philosophy.

Bring your passion everyday to your team.

Live and love what you’re doing because we have the best job in the world!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

| SPORTS | 11

BASKETBALL >>

Thunderbird men vanquished by Victoria

PHOTO KOSTA PRODANOVIC/THE UBYSSEY

UBC looked promising at some points, but ultimately continued their unlucky streak versus the Vikes.

Jacob Gershkovic Staff Writer

The UBC men’s basketball team has not beaten the University of Victoria Vikes in regular season play since the 2011/12 season.

Unfortunately, after dropping the first two games of their regular season to Victoria this weekend, the streak continues.

Nerves seemed to have gotten the better of UBC in their home opener. The atmosphere inside the War Memorial Gym was electric, and feeding off of this energy, the ‘Birds looked a little too excited to begin Friday’s game.

After getting off to a jumpy start on offence, Tonner Jackson dove out of bounds to save a loose ball for UBC. The crowd erupted as Jackson crashed into the hardwood, and his effort seemed to ignite the rest of the team.

Thanks to some solid post play, and a couple of three pointers by veteran Tommy Nixon, UBC finished the first quarter with a 19-13 lead.

Following an 8-0 run by Victoria that quieted the hometown crowd, both teams cooled off in the second quarter. Offensively, the game lulled. At the half, the score was tied at 29, with both teams shooting under 40 per cent from the field.

Entering the third quarter, UBC seemed to hold a slight edge until Victoria’s Marcus Tibbs took over. The third-year point guard wore down UBC’s defence, finishing with 15 points and four assists. Supplemented by Victoria’s Reiner Theil, who inconspicuously contributed 18 points, the Vikes climbed to a 55-44 lead by the end of the third quarter.

It was a lead UBC could not recover from, and game one went to the Vikes, 68-58.

Jordan Jensyn-Whyte and Nixon led UBC in scoring with

13 points each. Connor Morgan, arguably UBC’s most dangerous offensive weapon, looked timid to start the season. The 6’9 forward went 4-13 from the field for 11 points.

“It wasn’t difficult getting our guys excited for this game,” said assistant coach Spencer McKay. “The first home game of the season, the big crowd — unfortunately, I think we channeled our energy in the wrong direction.

We were impatient on offence, and didn’t get into our sets like we should have been. Defensively we allowed them to use the ball screen too much. We weren’t able to rotate and recover so we allowed them to recover a lot of offensive rebounds.”

After taking Friday night to think things over, UBC looked calm and focused entering Saturday’s tilt. Unlike Friday’s contest, both offences came out firing.

Tibbs, the architect of the Vikes’ offence, continued dissecting UBC’s defence to begin Saturday’s game, catapulting Victoria to an early 14-6 lead.

Nixon ended UBC’s shooting woes with two early three pointers. The fifth-year veteran was on fire to start the game, putting up 11 points in the first quarter.

David Wagner pitched in eight points, and UBC trailed Victoria 25-23 after one quarter of action.

UBC switched to a zone to start the second quarter in an attempt to stifle Victoria’s hot three point shooting. The move was to no avail. Victoria must have slept in an excellent hotel, because they ended the half shooting 50 per cent from beyond the arc and 56.3 per cent from the field. Chris McLaughlin dominated a UBC defence that looked entirely out of sync. The fifth-year, 6’10 center for the Vikes put up 18 points in the half, and UBC entered the break trailing 48-40.

“McLaughlin really hurt us,” said Nixon, who led UBC in scoring on Saturday with 23 points.

“We tried to take that away, and were able to contain him for a bit to start the second half — but we can’t just have spurts of defensive energy, it’s got to be more consistent.”

An invigorated UBC defence took the floor to start the third quarter. After a few quick defensive stops, and baskets from Jackson and Nixon, UBC tied the game at 48. Tibbs committed three fouls early and was substituted out, but McLaughlin carried his team to a 67-63 lead to enter the fourth quarter.

UBC’s Brylle Kamen was a force down low and kept the ‘Birds in it to start the fourth.

Kamen finished the game with 15 points and seven rebounds, but unfortunately fell into foul trouble when his team needed him most.

With Kamen on the bench, McLaughlin continued to hurt UBC inside. Finishing Saturday night with a game high 31 points, he led the Vikes to a 77-70 lead with four minutes left in the game.

Nixon was able to hit some clutch free throws down the stretch, bringing the home team within four points, but that was as close as UBC would come.

The final score read 85-79 in favour of Victoria.

“I think we came out not being the aggressors, which is something we’re going to have to change. We have to refocus. You can’t dwell on losses for too long because games are coming up quick,” said Nixon.

Nixon and his team will look to rebound next week against the University of Alberta Golden Bears, a team that ended the Thunderbirds’ season last year in the first round of the Canada West playoffs.

“There’s definitely more incentive to go in there and win, considering what happened last year. But we go into every weekend expecting to win. That’s our goal,” said Nixon.

Victoria was perhaps the toughest opponent UBC could have faced to open the season.

The Vikes won the Pacific Division last year after finishing with a 19-3 record. They possessed the number one ranked defence in the country, and went deep

into the CIS playoffs. After this weekend, they’re 4-0 to start the 2014/15 year.

The University of Alberta Golden Bears won’t be any easier. The Bears are off to a hot start at 3-1 this season, and looked extremely intimidating in their recent back-to-back wins against Trinity Western.

UBC’s next home game will be against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies at War Memorial Gym on November 28. U

12 | GAMES |

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Photo of the Day

TIM HOGGAN/THE UBYSSEY The Crowsnest Highway on the way to Manning Park.

OCT 30 ANSWERS

COURTESY KRAZYDAD.COM

COURTESY BESTCROSSWORDS.COM

ACROSS 1- Erased 8- Capable of being evaluated 15- Embodiment 16- High spirits 17- Lacking 18- Situated near the ear 19- Crazy as ___ 20- Brings up 22- ___ -Aztecan languages 23- Makes lace 24- Middle East rug 25- From the U.S. 26- Hot time in Paris

27- Keyboard key 28- Anatomical passages 29- Remainder 31- Hans Christian Andersen’s birthplace 32- Hardens 33- Citrus coolers 34- Stately dance 37- Animal 41- Inventor Howe 42- Newsgroup messages 43- ___ de guerre 44- Slender 45- Domesticates 46- Speech issue 47- Actor Vigoda

48- Skater Boitano 49- Elector 50- First Russian astronaut 52- Plant of the buttercup family 54- Conceive 55- Abilities 56- Arteries of the neck 57- Appears

DOWN 1- Dehydrate 2- Shave 3- Understatement 4- Community spirit 5- Animated character

6- Large flightless bird 7- Debris 8- Mend 9- What you put on snooze 10- Sailors 11- From ___ Z 12- Asphalt 13- Tarries 14- Express support 21- K-6 24- Coach Rockne 25- Bikini blast 27- Perfect places 28- Brainstorms 30- Singer Chris 31- “Awake and Sing!” playwright

OCT 30 ANSWERS

33- Certain salt 34- Pertaining to the open seas 35- Montgomery’s state 36- Impure acetic acid 37- Prolonged unconsciousness 38- Unific 39- Floral ornament 40- Catherine the Great, e.g.

42- Hurt 45- Singer Lopez 46- Hermit 48- Londoner, e.g.

49- Meadow mouse 51- “…and seven years _____” 53- Engine part