March 30, 2015

MARCH 30, 2015 | VOLUME XCVI | ISSUE L SCRUB-JAY SINCE 1918

NEWS

REMEMBERING TIM DIXON

4

CULTURE POETRY

SPORTS STORM

7

10

CONTEST

THE WALL

THE END OF AN ERA

“It is the end of an era.... I think there’s a little bit of a bittersweet nostalgia for many students.”

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 |

YOUR GUIDE TO UBC EVENTS, PEOPLE + CAMPUS

EVENTS TUESDAY

OUR CAMPUS

THIS WEEK, CHECK OUT ...

2

ONE ON ONE WITH THE PEOPLE AND BUILDINGS THAT MAKE UBC

31

UBC DANCE TEAM YEAR-END SHOW

7:00 P.M. @ THE NORM THEATRE

Some of UBC’s best dancers will be showcasing a wide variety of styles at their end-of-year show. Come out to watch some very talented performers and support a good cause. By donation

SATURDAY

4

GOOSEHUNT 2015: WOODSTOCK EDITION 6:00 P.M. @ KOERNER’S PUB

PHOTO AUSTEN ERHARDT/THE UBYSSEY

Borland-Walker is the current coordinator of AMS Speakeasy.

Do you harken back to the days of hippies, Hendrix and tie-dye? BVP is offering you the chance to experience your own Woodstock, albeit featuring some slightly more modern music of all genres. $5-10

Kyra Borland-Walker ensures students can speak easy

SUNDAY

The AMS strives to support students in various ways: hosting events, making executive decisions and offering various student services. Speakeasy is the AMS’ most storied student service, and Kyra Borland-Walker is currently at the helm of the ship.

Although Borland-Walker grew up in Vancouver, she attended high school in the Netherlands and did not know many faces coming into UBC. “I kind of fell into Speakeasy.

My first day as a first year, I was late for Imagine Day and I only went to the main event. Honestly, I was feeling a little discouraged about being on campus, making friends and finding something that felt like home for me. I was looking for community.”

At the Imagine Day main event, Borland-Walker came into contact with Speakeasy and decided on the fly to apply for a position there.

“I read a little about what it was, and immediately I was thinking to myself, ‘wow, that is what to do; I want to support people and be part of a community that helps other people feel supported.’”

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THE CALENDAR’S SPRING FORMAL 8:00 P.M. @ CHAN CENTRE

Are you a person who jumps at any chance to put on a tux or ball gown? Then this is the event for you. Featuring a Rose Garden photo booth, chocolate fountain and magicians, this party is sure to scratch your formal itch. $20-25

ON THE COVER Still as ugly as ever. Love it anyway.

- Photo Kosta Prodanovic

Want to see your events listed here?

Email your events listings to ourcampus@ubyssey.ca.

U THE UBYSSEY EDITORIAL

STAFF

Coordinating Editor Will McDonald

Photo Editor Cherihan Hassun

coordinating@ubyssey.ca

photo@ubyssey.ca

Design Editor Nick Adams

Opinions + Blog Editor Austen Erhardt

printeditor@ubyssey.ca

aerhardt@ubyssey.ca

Web Developer Peter Siemens

Copy Editor Ciaran Dougherty

web@ubyssey.ca

copy@ubyssey.ca

News Editor Veronika Bondarenko

Distribution Coordinator Lily Cai

news@ubyssey.ca

lcai@ubyssey.ca

News Producer Olivia Law

Illustrator Julian Yu

news@ubyssey.ca

News Administrator Kosta Prodanovic news@ubyssey.ca

Culture Editor Jenica Montgomery culture@ubyssey.ca

Sports + Rec Editor Jack Hauen sports@ubyssey.ca

Video Producer Tim Hoggan video@ubyssey.ca

julianyu@ubyssey.ca

Natalie Scadden, CJ Pentland, Kosta Prodanovic, Dave Nixon, Soren Elsay, Olamide Olaniyan, Lawrence Neal Garcia, Olivia Law, Tariq Vira, Kelley Lin, Jenny Tang, Leo Soh, Mateo Ospina, Koby Michaels, Jasmine Cheng, Miguel Santa Maria, Natalie Morris, Mackenzie Walker, Sam Fruitman, Braedon Atkinson Pauze, Jacob Gershkovich, Emma Partridge, Ben Cook, Ming Wong, TammyHsieh, Chloë Lai, Mischa Milne, Aiken Lao, Danni Shanel, Kaylan Mackinnon, Elba Gomez Navas, Keagan Berlette

MARCH 30, 2015 | VOLUME XCVI | ISSUE L BUSINESS

CONTACT

Business Manager Fernie Pereira

Editorial Office: SUB 24 604.822.2301

fpereira@ubyssey.ca

Ad Sales Geoff Lister advertising@ubyssey.ca

Accounts Oliver Colbourne accounts@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.

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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.

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Leo Soh Senior Staff Writer

We were started by a group of students who were concerned with campus loneliness.

They wanted to give students a place to come and feel connected to other students.”

Kyra Borland-Walker AMS Speakeasy Coordinator

In the past, Borland-Walker had personally experienced some mental health issues and started a gay-straight alliance at her high school. Therefore, she felt a personal connection to Speakeasy.

Each year at UBC, Borland-Walker’s involvement with Speakeasy increased further. In her second year, Borland-Walker applied to be a team leader, in her third to be the assistant coordinator and in her fourth

to be the coordinator: she was hired all three times.

Through her involvement in Speakeasy, Borland-Walker is contributing to an AMS tradition.

“We were started by a group of students who were concerned with campus loneliness. They wanted to give students a place to come and feel connected to other students.”

To describe it in a nutshell, you could call [Speakeasy] free, confidential, oneon-one drop-in peer support with a trained volunteer.”

Speakeasy has served students for over 45 years. “We were started in 1970, and as such we are the oldest student service.” Throughout its history, it has taken on several different forms, but has never strayed from its mission to provide peer support. “We’ve offered a lot of services throughout the years: drop-in peer support, peer-support over the phone, tutoring referrals, club space. Our mandate has always been to further the well-being of students.”

In its current form, Speakeasy provides peer support for students facing a wide variety of challenges. “To describe it in a nutshell, you could call [Speakeasy] free, confidential, one-on-one dropin peer support with a trained volunteer.”

However, Borland-Walker stresses the importance of recognizing that Speakeasy volunteers, despite being carefully chosen and well-trained, are not professional counsellors. “I think one of the important distinctions to make note of is that we are not professionals.

We don’t pretend to be professionals, and as such we have unique advantages and limitations.”

Volunteers at Speakeasy are peers who can relate to students on a personal level that perhaps professionals cannot, but are not trained to treat physiological or psychological disorders. “We are short-term service, and we only see students one time [per issue]. Our ultimate goal is to refer out so that students can continue to deal with their stress long-term.”

If you feel the need to speak to a peer support counsellor, making use of the Speakeasy service is straightforward and easy.

“There are two ways of accessing our service. The primary way is to approach our desk, which is in the north concourse of the SUB.” The second way is a more discreet approach that students are encouraged to take if they feel uncomfortable approaching the front desk.

If you’re passionate about Speakeasy, you’re the right person to volunteer here. You may not feel like you have the base skills, but we have really intensive training.”

“Behind that wall to the left of the desk there is a doorbell.”

Speakeasy volunteers are listening for the sound of the bell, and will come to assist you. All sessions take place in a private room.

Borland-Walker encourages those interested to apply and volunteer at Speakeasy.

“If you’re passionate about Speakeasy, you’re the right person to volunteer here. You may not feel like you have the base skills, but we have really intensive training.”

With empathy and a willingness to learn, Borland-Walker believes any passionate volunteer can become an effective peer support counsellor.

A spot is not guaranteed, as “we typically have about four times as many applicants than we have positions, but at least apply and get your name in there as we have a lot more positions opening up next year [for the opening of the new SUB].”

Speakeasy provides peer counselling to those in need of social support, and also plays a role in protecting mental health at UBC. Furthermore, it has provided countless numbers of students like Borland-Walker with a welcoming and inclusive campus community since its inception. There is no denying that Speakeasy has become an integral part of the UBC community. U

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 |

EDITOR VERONIKA BONDARENKO

ISRAEL-PALESTINE >>

BDS referendum doesn’t pass, but receives more ‘yes’ than ‘no’ votes

GRAPHIC NICK ADAMS/THE UBYSSEY

The BDS referendum did not meet the eight per cent necessary to pass.

Veronika Bondarenko

News Editor

The referendum on BDS did not pass due to a failure to meet quorum.

Earlier in the month, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights raised the 1,000 signatures necessary to hold a referendum on whether the AMS should divest from companies that support the Israeli military’s actions in Palestine. BDS had previously passed at McMaster, York and Ryerson University.

The words of the referendum question read as follows: “Do you support your student union (AMS) in boycotting products and divesting from companies that support Israeli war crimes, illegal occupation and the oppression of Palestinians?”

According to AMS President Tanner Bokor, the referendum question received more ‘yes’ than ‘no’ votes, but failed to meet the

eight per cent of students quorum necessary for it to pass.

The referendum received 3,493 ‘yes’ votes, 2,223 ‘no’ votes and 435 abstentions. A total of 4,130 ‘yes’ votes (eight per cent of 51,614 elegible students) was necessary for the referendum to pass.

Following the results of the referendum, SPHR released a statement on the number of ‘yes’ votes that the question received.

“SPHR would first and foremost like to thank the thousands of students who took the time to vote yes to our boycott and divestment campaign, as well as the numerous student groups, professors, and allies who endorsed and supported our efforts over the past several months to push this important social justice campaign forward,” read the statement. “Despite the fact that the referendum did not pass as it did not meet quorum, we are very proud and touched that a majority of almost 3,500 students

voted in favour of disassociating from Israeli human rights violations and illegal occupation, which shows that students on our campus have not only been engaging with this vital issue, but are also becoming increasingly more critical of the violence and marginalization that Palestinians face on a daily basis. The referendum results show that despite the immense discrepancy in resources and funding between ourselves and the no campaign and the AMS’s decision to officially oppose the referendum question, that UBC students are nevertheless standing up for justice and asking our student union to do the same. This, to us, can be seen as a victory.”

UBC’s Hillel branch, who have been the most vocal proponents of the ‘no’ side, also released a statement following the referendum.

“We are tremendously proud of the UBC community for rejecting BDS,” read the statement. “Whether they voted no, or simply abstained from voting yes, students clearly recognize the importance of keeping our campus safe and open to all people of various opinions and backgrounds.

We hope this will put the hateful and damaging BDS campaign to rest, so that we can all turn our attention to positive initiatives that will bring students together instead of those that divide them.

We understand that not everyone will be happy with the referendum’s results and we extend our hand in the hope that we can work together through open dialogue and mutual respect to make the world a better place.” U

CRIME >>

Woman sexually assaulted near campus early Thursday morning

3

COUNCIL >>

AMS months behind on posting Council minutes

ILLUSTRATION CHERIHAN HASSUN/THE UBYSSEY

The last AMS Council minutes have been posted on October 14.

Moira Warburton

Contributor

The AMS has not posted Council meeting minutes since October 14, 2014, despite the minutes having been regularly approved at every Council meeting since then.

This is in direct violation of AMS Code which states that minutes must be posted in public within 48 hours of being approved by the AMS Council.

“Mostly that’s an ‘oops! Sorry folks!’” said Daniel Levangie, executive director of the AMS. “We’re way behind schedule.”

The process for posting notes is two fold: at each Council meeting two note-takers take down minutes, then these two copies are combined for clarity and to ensure nothing is missed. The polished minutes are then posted on the AMS website.

“Basically it just takes a while and we’re backlogged,” Levangie said. “Anybody can access the information so if they want to see

what’s been said, Sheldon [Goldfarb, the AMS archivist] has all the raw, unfinished, unpolished minutes. It’s more that we’re backlogged for getting them finalized.

They all exist, they just haven’t been polished up.”

Levangie cited other projects — such as the AMS centennial yearbook and the new SUB opening — as reasons for the backlog in posting.

“We recognize that it’s super important, and that obviously students care. If there was one student who was paying enough attention to notice then that’s awesome, that’s great news for us, people care.”

Levangie said that after the move to the new SUB is complete students can expect minutes to be posted in a more timely manner.

“We have a new system set in place so that as soon as the projects have been completed … [it] will be more efficient and sharp in getting things turned around.” U

U

Want to cover the news? Send us an email.

TEACH IN KOREA with the support of the Korean government!

Get a transformative cultural experience through TaLK! • Teach conversational English in after-school classes • Monday - Friday A woman has been sexually assaulted while jogging near 16th and Discovery Streets on March 26.

Veronika Bondarenko

News Editor

A woman was sexually assaulted near UBC Thursday morning.

According to Vancouver Police Department Constable Brian Montague, the assault took place shortly after 6 a.m. on Thursday, March 26. A 30 year-old woman was jogging near 16th and Discovery streets in the West Point Grey area when she was grabbed from behind, pushed to the ground and sexually assaulted. She was able to fight off her attacker.

The victim was taken to the hospital with minor physical injuries.

“She was taken to the hospital,” said Montague. “She did receive some minor physical injuries. Obviously, [she was] very shaken and upset about the incident, but her physical injuries were fairly minor.”

Montague also said that the VPD conducted a search of the area with a police dog, but were not able to locate the suspect. Details on the attacker’s age and physical appearance are not available at this time, but the VPD will be putting together a description once the victim is ready to sit down with them.

MAP COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

The VPD is continuing their investigation for the suspect.

“We’re canvassing for video, we’re going door to door knocking on people’s homes to see if they have any information they can share, if anyone saw or heard anything suspicious,” said Montague. “We’re asking if they did so, that they give us a phone call at (604) 717-0600.”

A week ago, the RCMP arrested a suspect in an attempted sexual assault case at Totem Park.

On February 23, an 18 year-old woman was also assaulted near UBC’s Mundell Park. U

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4 | NEWS |

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

“He was the kindest guy.... He was always here, smiling and he wasn’t speaking but always making small jokes suddenly and they were funny.”

Remembering

Tim Dixon

Veronika Bondarenko News Editor

When friends thought about Tim Dixon, ‘kind’ was always the word that came to mind.

An exchange student from the University of Edinburgh, Tim had a passion for the outdoors and came to UBC to study geology. He would often go hiking in the mountains with the classmates and friends he had met during his time abroad.

On March 12, the flag at the intersection between Main Mall and Agronomy was lowered in his memory. Earlier in the month, Tim had passed away suddenly in his room at Fairview Crescent. He was only 20 years old.

After starting his year at UBC in September, Tim quickly grew close with a group of other exchange students from all over the world. Most of them lived at Fairview and would get together to hang out, explore Vancouver or go out for drinks in their spare time after classes.

Friends described Tim as quiet, reflective and kind to just about everybody he met. He was there for his

friends in a constant, silent way that would sometimes go unnoticed by those around him.

Leo Theobaldt, who also met Tim through the Fairview crew, said that Tim was the type of friend that you grew close to over time spent together, without even realizing it.

They would see each other often to work out, go swimming or watch soccer games. Tim’s favourite team was the Celtic Football Club, based in Glasgow.

“That’s what happened,” said Theobaldt. “You just realized, at some point, that we just kind of sat somewhere, just the two of us, and it wasn’t uncomfortable and we actually were friends.”

Lucas Bernar first met Tim at the Samesun Hostel before both of them would move into Fairview.

They knew that they would be roommates for the year and began to talk.

One time, in mid-September, Tim tried to explain the details around the Scottish independence referendum to Bernar. He was passionate about Scotland’s independence and would talk about it with excitement.

PHOTOS COURTESY TIM’S FRIENDS

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

| NEWS | 5

“Although we are still trying to cope and understand his passing, his influence and his memory will always live forever.... Timbits — as one of our dear mates on exchange, as part of the best time of our lives, as one of us.”

PHOTOS COURTESY TIM’S FRIENDS

“He was trying to explain [to] me why he thought Scotland should be independent, and how the whole UK Government structure is,” said Bernar.

“I couldn’t quite understand half of what he said because his accent was too strong and he spoke too fast, but I remember him being very excited to tell me.”

Tim also liked to enjoy Vancouver’s nightlife — visiting pubs across the city with his friends.

According to Theobaldt, Tim would end up at The Bimini on Fourth Avenue so often that his friends had nicknamed it “Timmini’s.”

During those nights, Tim would often sit back, drink a beer and talk to those around him while observing the action at the club.

“He was the kindest guy,” said Baptiste Savary, another exchange student at UBC. “He was always here, smiling and he wasn’t speaking but always making small jokes suddenly and they were funny.”

Almost all of Tim’s friends remembered the time that he shocked everyone by jumping into Coal Harbour after a night spent hanging out at Granville Island’s Backstage Lounge as one of the most memorable moments from their exchange.

“It was in November so it was freezing but he just did it and I took a video of him,” said Linda Lilly, who currently studies at UBC. “And every time he saw me he jokingly told me ‘Linda don’t show this to anyone,’ but I know that he was really proud of that secretly.”

Tim would often not respond to the various party and event invitations that he received through Facebook, but could always be counted on to show up at some point during the night.

Many of the people that Tim met during their time on exchange wished that they had gotten to know him better. In the excitement of coming to a new place, meeting other people and getting to know the city, there was often not enough time to pause and talk.

But no matter where he went or what he did, Tim’s thoughtful and compassionate presence was felt strongly by those who knew him. He was always looking out for his friends and acquaintances in small, thoughtful ways.

“He was a really nice, quiet guy who was always there for you and who you would take for granted sometimes because he was always there and always helping out when you needed something,” said Theobaldt.

After many from the original group of friends left to go home following their first term at UBC, Tim grew especially close with those who stayed behind in Vancouver after December.

Along with Theobaldt and Savary, Chi-Wai Kou was among the group of friends who had gone on a trip to Whistler with Tim over reading week. Four of them had booked an apartment for two people and had to sneak the other two in unnoticed. It was during the time they spent snowboarding, partying or just hanging out that their friendship truly cemented.

On an average day in Fairview, Tim’s passing still doesn’t feel real. As time goes by, the initial shock of his death has been replaced by the feeling that Tim will walk through the door at any moment, will still be there in person or on Facebook the next day. And although the circumstances of his death remain a painful mystery to his friends, his quiet warmth and good nature live on in hearts and in thoughts.

Kou said that, despite all the pain of losing a good friend, he’s honoured to have met Tim and shared in his kindness and positive outlook on the world. As friends from exchange begin to scatter and go home to different parts of the world, Tim’s memory also travels far and near.

“Although we are still trying to cope and understand his passing, his influence and his memory will always live forever,” said Kou. “Timbits — as one of our dear mates on exchange, as part of the best time of our lives, as one of us.” U

6 | NEWS |

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

STUDENT FEES >>

KUS referendum prompts controversy and speculation

PHOTO KOSTA PRODANOVIC/THE UBYSSEY

Kinesiology students voted to help fund a new student building.

Kosta Prodanovic News Administrator

A referendum to secure $5 million for the construction of a building for the School of Kinesiology has passed.

The referendum asked students from the School of Kinesiology to approve a $250 student fee increase to be handed in its entirety to the university. The fee will go towards funding the building of the Community Health Sciences Centre, to be used by the School of Kinesiology, the Faculty of Education and the School of Nursing, but the onus is falling directly on Kinesiology undergrads to pay for it.

Although the project is still in its preliminary stages of develop-

ment, it is slated to cost $88 million in total; $78 million of which will come from the government, $5 million from donors and the rest from Kinesiology students.

The campaign has been headed

by Make Your Mark (MYM), a student-led organization that launched earlier this year with the intention of securing funding for a space for kinesiology students.

According to Robyn Freiheit, who spearheads MYM, the need for a Kinesiology building was identified by the Executive Council of the KUS four years ago and has been a point of discussion ever since.

The proposed fee increase has faced a lot of criticism and speculation from observers, who

have framed it as a money grab on behalf of the School of Kinesiology. An article posted by UBC Insiders called the referendum a “sham,” stating “It’s being driven by the School of Kinesiology, using the KUS as a shell organization through which to institute the fee.”

The rationale behind the claim is that MYM Special Projects Coordinator Robyn Freiheit is on UBC’s payroll to push the building project forward.

When approached for response, KUS President Jason Quach explained why MYM has been organizing the project. “[The CHSC has] always been on the plate of the KUS but unfortunately it’s just because of

the way the KUS is structured we don’t have the capacity to move this project forward.”

As a result, a former KUS Executive Committee decided to reach out to the School of Kinesiology about hiring a “non-voluntary” person to help with the project, so they found Freiheit, who proposed a job description to the school through which she could assist the KUS and Kinesiology students by taking the lead on this student-led project. The school accepted Freiheit’s terms and she is currently paid for her work with MYM. When Freiheit was asked if she saw her position as an employee of the university and the coordinator of a “student-led” organization as a conflict of interest, she said her “motivations to stay involved in this project have come from [her] personal experiences as a Kinesiology student displaying a dire need for a new space for our program.”

Freiheit reiterated that the MYM student action committee and the KUS represent the interests of students.

“The purpose of this position was to assist the KUS, and give students a voice in building planning while providing a platform for expressing their views ... the information flow was always from the students (KUS and MYM Action Committee) onwards to the school, never the other way around,” said Freiheit.

Others have criticized the fact that Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the referendum was presented to AMS Council without giving councillors time to digest the information. The motion was added to the agenda the day of the meeting and the MOU was not circulated in advance.

VP Finance Mateusz Miadlikowski said that the MOU felt rushed.

“I was uncomfortable signing it due to the amount of fees collected and the importance of the MOU and the direction it sets,” he said.

The motion was postponed until March 25. KUS president Jason Quatch was noticeably absent from the meeting and councillors moved to postpone the motion once again.

This did not stop MYM from publishing that the building features had been confirmed in the MOU “by all relevant positions at UBC,” specifically citing the AMS, in a Q&A on March 5 — prior to the referendum.

The post is misleading. It refers to the fact that, at the time, the referendum question had been brought up at a series of consultations with various student leaders on campus, including members of the AMS, but it had not previously been brought to Council.

Aside from observer speculation and backroom chatter, the bottom line is that Kinesiology students want a building to call their own. They have voted in favour of the student fee increase to fund the CHSC. According to Freiheit, moving forward will involve “working to develop a strategy to keep the momentum going as we engage with other stakeholders of the project and work towards a potential donor campaign for our building.”

It will also involve pushing the controversial MOU through the AMS Council chambers, along with the results of the referendum itself.

For that to happen, all parties involved must remain accountable. U

TRANSIT >>

UBC is updating plans for the University Boulevard Precinct. In February 2015, we gathered feedback from the University community on how to complete the precinct vision. This feedback, in combination with further design analysis was used to develop draft planning and design concepts for the precinct.

Please join us at a public open house to review the emerging planning and design concepts for the precinct.

Place: Main Concourse, Student Union Building (SUB), 6138 Student Union Boulevard Refreshments will be served.

Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm Precinct Area

Can’t attend in person? Online consultation will run from April 7 - 19. Visit planning.ubc.ca to learn more.

Wesbrook Mall

North Bus Loop

Meeting Location

Gym Aquatic Centre

Old SUB

For additional information on the project, contact: Aviva Savelson, Senior Manager, Consultation, Campus + Community Planning at aviva.savelson@ubc.ca or 604-822-9984

East Mall

IK Barber

N

With the academic term coming to a close in two weeks, the next UBC students to replace their U-Pass with Compass Cards will be those who are enrolled in the summer semester.

Jude Crasta, associate VP external, said that students enrolled in the summer semester should be receiving their Compass Cards just before the beginning of classes.

However, Crasta did not release a specific date as to when this will be happening as the AMS is still in the process of finalizing the details.

“We are working through the Compass distribution process and in the next step, UBC’s summer term students will be receiving their Compass Cards,” said Crasta.

“We’ll [have] the dates finalized with TransLink and with the uni-

University Boulevard Precinct Planning

levar d

Bill Situ Staff Writer

Public Open House – April 8

Univ ersit y Bou

FILE PHOTO CHERIHAN HASSUN/THE UBYSSEY

The Compass Card should come into effect in September.

versity for distribution sometime soon.”

After the summer, the next and final distribution phase will effectively mark the discontinuation of the U-Pass as almost all students transition to the Compass Card.

The first distribution phase took place back in January, when the 850 students from UBC’s various affiliated colleges became the first group of students to receive Compass Cards.

According to Crasta, neither the AMS nor TransLink received any reports of problems from students during the last distribution phase.

“The students who have their Compass Cards are, as far as we have been informed, pretty satisfied with their travel,” said Crasta.

Crasta said that he does not anticipate any major problems for transitioning to the Compass Card during the final distribution phase.

“I’m pretty confident that if any issues arise, there shouldn’t be any problems for us to handle them when they come along,” said Crasta.

The Compass Card system should be in full implementation

by September, in time for students who begin the new academic term. Still, Crasta also said that this schedule is only tentative and not certain.

“At any time, depending on if any issues arise, the schedule could change, but as far as we are planning right now, that’s the process,” said Crasta. U

Student Union Blvd

Summer students to receive Compass Card before start of term

This notice contains important information which may affect you. Please ask someone to translate it for you.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 |

EDITOR JENICA MONTGOMERY

POETRY >>

ASA and Hillel commemorate Armenian genocide through poetry

7

TRAVEL >>

Students organize trips to India to promote intercultural dialogue

PHOTO CHERIHAN HASSUN/THE UBYSSEY

Aadil Brar, Asad Ali and Amiteshveer Mann want to introduce students to India.

Tisha Dasgupta Contributor PHOTO JO NAYLOR/FLICKR

Students today are still affected by the 1915 Armenian Genocide, the contest intends to raise awareness of the atrocity.

Adam Waitzer Contributor

In remembrance of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, Hillel B.C. and the Armenian Student Association (ASA) jointly organized a poetry contest on the theme of genocide.

Carried out by the Ottoman Empire, the genocide saw the systematic decimation of its civilian Armenian population — modern estimates put the death toll at approximately 1.5 million. And yet this atrocity, often dubbed the “forgotten genocide,” has received limited international attention. What is more, Turkey, the successor state of the Ottoman Empire, denies the legitimacy of the genocide to this day.

Avetis Muradyan, president of the ASA, contends that the Armenian Genocide remains highly relevant in modern times.

According to Muradyan, Turkey’s denial of the genocide stands both as an affront to the tragedy of the event and as an obstacle to dialogue.

“Turkey, being a NATO ally, usually pressures other western countries into avoiding any conversations or any public discourse

on the Armenian Genocide,” said Muradyan. “There’s very little coverage.”

While some see this issue as distant from Canada, let alone UBC, Muradyan disagrees. “We feel that even though there is official recognition, Canada’s foreign policy does not act as though that recognition is in place,” Muradyan said.

Although Canada has officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, the government continues to tiptoe around the history of the atrocity.

For the ASA, international acknowledgment of the genocide is not the only goal. According to Muradyan, remembrance of the tragedy is also a preventative measure against future abuses of human rights.

“I’m a descendant of a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. We feel this form of moral obligation to stand up for human rights, especially when it comes to extreme situations which deteriorate very quickly,” said Muradyan.

“We saw it happen in Darfur.”

The partnership between the ASA and Hillel evokes the parallel between the Armenian

Student tickets only $12 per show, or $29 for all 3 shows!

Genocide and the Holocaust.

While the latter has drawn more awareness, Muradyan believes that both incidents stand as cautionary tales of the consequences of hatred.

“You see a lot of connections between the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide,” said Muradyan. “It’s very obvious, it’s very stark.”

The poetry contest aims to raise awareness and encourage activism, said Muradyan, who believes that student activism regarding human rights is lacking at UBC. Entrants competed for the $200 Lemkin-Tehlirian Prize for Poetry, named after Raphael Lemkin, the man who coined the term “genocide,” and Soghomon Tehlirian, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide.

“What this is all about to me is grievance, an extreme sense of grievance for everyone who has died in genocide,” said Muradyan. “We’re grieving even more that it happens over and over again without any engagement from our governments.”

The genocide commemoration poetry contest took place on Sunday, March 29. U

In India over 23 official languages are spoken, along with over 1,000 minor languages and dialects, each belonging to a different culture.

The best way to experience this cultural diversity is through travel.

Destinations India UBC is a program founded by three UBC students who want to present India as a travel destination, and share their own experience of touring through the country.

Founders Aadil Brar, Asad Ali and Amiteshveer Mann are all from the Indian sub-continent — and hope to introduce it to other students.

With this program, participants will be able to experience India without having to deal with the stress of planning a trip to a foreign country.

“We are going to show you places [in India] that you don’t usually get to see as a regular tourist. It’s not any conventional tour, there’s also a social work aspect to it,” said Brar.

The first trip is planned for August 2015, spanning approximately two weeks. The intended itinerary involves visiting all the major cities in North India: Delhi, Amritsar, Agra, Bombay and Jaipur as well as visiting the famous tourist spots.

radius

at the Telus Studio Theatre

The city’s top vocal and instrumental ensembles weave elements of medieval courtly entertainment, into playful concerts that explore the full spectrum of sound.

The Nu:BC Collective

Thu April 9 2015 at 7:30pm

Turning Point Ensemble

Fri April 17 2015 at 7:30pm & Sun April 19 2015 at 2:30pm COPILOT DESIGN

musica intima

Fri April 24 2015 at 7:30pm & Sat April 25 2015 at 2:30pm

Telus Studio Theatre Chan Centre at UBC Tickets and info at chancentre.com/radius

Additionally, this trip provides an opportunity for humanitarian work in the country as the organizers have collaborated with established NGOs in the cities to create day trips to rural villages, allowing insight into both urban and rural life of the country.

“India is just so diverse in itself. Each city has its own language and culture. For us India is like a mini-Europe,” said Ali, when asked about the inspiration behind choosing India as the destination.

India celebrates its 69th year of independence on August 15 — providing an ideal time to experience what the country has to offer, according to the founders. The parade in New Delhi, the country’s capital, is both a solemn and a jubilant event.

“We are familiar with this part of the country. We already have an existing network there, so we will be able to organize a trip specifically designed for you,” said Brar. “It is something different and special — to see a new place through someone else’s eyes. It will be a lasting experience.”

Destinations India UBC hopes to initiate an ongoing dialogue between Canadian and Indian students, and aims to organize two trips every year to the country. U

Then AMS President Jeff Friedrich said “My understanding was that it was a big fight. These things happen I guess.”

1979

The fight had escalated to the point of individuals throwing rocks and beer bottles.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

a large brawl broke out in the Gallery for no discernible reason on February 16.

The fisticuffs involved approximately 30 individuals, according to AMS security staff.

8 | CULTURE |

PHOTOS COURTESY AMS ARCHIVES

THE

END

OF

On March 13, amongst cheers of “Phi Delt! Phi Delt!” and a shower of champaign and beer, Aaron Bailey was elected as the 106th AMS president.

The Gallery, packed with cheering friends, frat brothers and Ubyssey staff, played host to yet another AMS elections announcement and celebration — a tradition with an unknown beginning.

“It was never a designated thing, it was just something, it was like Pit Wednesdays — nobody ever decided that we will make our Wednesday nights the big night on campus, it just happens,” said Nancy Toogood, former AMS food and beverage manager.

The AMS elections announcement is just one of many different events hosted at the Gallery throughout its lifetime in the SUB. However, after almost 36 years, the Gallery will close its doors permanently on April 10.

h istory

BY

JENICA

MONTGOMERY

The history of the Gallery goes back to 1979, where, for the first week of classes, the SAC turned the SUB Art Gallery into a temporary lounge. The gallery was located in the space where the current Gallery Lounge is located and the temporary arrangement was originally pitched as a coffee shop, but predominantly served as a cocktail lounge.

The temporary lounge, dubbed the Art Gallery Lounge, was so popular that the AMS brought the lounge back, again on a temporary basis, in 1980 and 1981. In 1981, the lounge lasted for the first two months of class and was known solely as the Gallery Lounge.

AN

ERA

The art gallery programs committee and the fine arts department were opposed to converting the original art gallery into a lounge, fearing smoke damage to the art and loss of a space for students to share their art, eventually opting to form its own space in its current location next to the SUB conversation pit in the mid 1980s.

Students outside of the fine arts department felt differently about the matter. In March 13, 1980’s issue of The Ubyssey Merike Talve wrote “The student gallery is being used by a minority of students. The space should be a lounge. We need a lounge…. I mean, you people can still put art up on the walls.” At the time, Talve was a second-year art history student.

Talve and many other students had their wishes granted in May of 1982, when the Gallery Lounge reappeared, and again on June 2 when the AMS voted to permanently change the art gallery into a lounge — changing the social landscape of the SUB for years to come.

The Gallery existed as it was until 2012 when it merged with the Pendulum — an AMS owned and operated restaurant that focused on local and sustainable services.

“The gallery used to be phenomenally popular … but the gallery was getting a little bit out of hand with a little bit of overcrowding and … a little bit of noncompliance, so we needed to get a handle on that,” said Toogood. Toogood retired in January after almost 25 years with the AMS. The rowdy behaviour didn’t start during Toogood’s time in the 1990s, but in the Gallery’s early years. In

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

1982 while performing, guitarist David McKay leaned forward off the stage, falling and landing on three Lutheran ministers. While the ministers only suffered minor injuries, McKay was more seriously injured and sought compensation from the university and the AMS. In 2007, The Ubyssey reported on a large brawl that broke out in the Gallery for no discernible reason on February 16. The fisticuffs involved approximately 30 individuals, according to AMS security staff. The fight had escalated to the point of individuals throwing rocks and beer bottles.

Then AMS President Jeff Friedrich said “my understanding was that it was a big fight. These things happen I guess.” The article noted that only one individual was arrested.

2015 “It is the end of an era.... I think there’s a little bit of a bittersweet nostalgia for many students.”

PHOTOS THE UBYSSEY

n e w gallery In 2012, when the construction of the Nest began, Toogood and the AMS were surprised to learn that the Pendulum would not only lose its patio but its whole space. The knuckle point that connects the new and old SUB, beside the Pit, is where the Pendulum used to reside.

The Pendulum was a student favourite, often full of people studying and eating.

“It was kind of, I think, one of the first places on campus where students really felt that it was their place,” said Toogood.

To keep with the spirit of providing local, sustainable food options and to calm the Gallery, the AMS merged the Pendulum’s menu with the lounge — creating the Gallery as students know it today.

The feeling of having a space of their own was mirrored in the new Gallery’s open and welcoming environment. After the 2012 renovations to include the Pendulum’s food menu, the Gallery got rid of the black walls and silver railings, opting for a lighter, cozier feel.

“I think it’s like a living room, like if UBC’s your home this is your living room. Like you come for food [and] you just sit down, it’s so cozy, old couches, old tables, everything’s very ... homey. It’s our place,” said current AMS VP Finance Mateusz Miadlikowski.

Miadlikowski worked as a bartender for the Pit and the Gallery for two years before stepping down to take the position of VP finance. He still visits the Gallery regularly.

After the Gallery and the Pendulum merged, the atmosphere in the lounge changed — adjusting to the interests of students.

| CULTURE | 9

“It was a cozy place but it was really ... weird,” said Miadlikowski on the pre-2012 Gallery. “Then the Gallery became the Gallery as we know it and everything changed a little bit more towards the cozy side. So I think it was a great change because it’s more chill, it’s a very relaxed atmosphere.”

The Gallery, much like other AMS businesses, suffered from an identity crisis prior to the merge with the Pendulum, a result of a shifting collective student mentality. Miadlikowski noted that in comparison to when he started at UBC in 2010, the Pit and the Gallery seemed dead. Toogood said that student drinking culture changed as the students’ focus shifted to academics. She also noted that student’s food and beverage tastes have changed.

“Students have become a lot more sophisticated.

They’re more interested in food and drink, and microbrews and microbreweries and cottage industries and craft beers and all of those sorts of things; their tastes and level of sophistication in what they want…. I think all of these things is just a sign of the times,” said Toogood. The current SUB does not offer options for student’s changing tastes — a problem the AMS hopes to solve in the Nest with businesses like the Perch and the modernized Pit Pub. “I was thinking everybody’s like ‘let’s save the Gallery,’ but then you can’t move all the couches that are falling apart … you cannot move it to the new SUB. The new Pit is the attempt to bring the coziness as well and combine it with the more modern ideas,” said Miadlikowski.

fin The Gallery, though closing permanently, will be fondly remembered by current and past UBC students.

“It was the perfect place to just grab a pitcher, sit down on a couch and work on something and then friends would pop by, I knew I was going to bump into someone,” said Jonathan Elmer, a fifth-year unclassified student. “I’m going to be curious to see what Captain R.J. ends up doing on Tuesdays now … he’s a very serious karaoke guy.”

Toogood and Miadlikowski echoed that while the Gallery, and older institutions found in the old SUB, will be closing soon, the AMS intends to adapt to changing student tastes with the Nest and the new AMS businesses.

“It is the end of an era. It’s the beginning of a great new beginning, but it’s the end of an era and I think there’s a little bit of a bittersweet nostalgia for many students and I hope that they fondly wish farewell to the old SUB and then embrace the new building, the Nest, as well,” said Toogood. U

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 |

STUDENT VOICE. COMMUNITY REACH.

LETTER >>

LAST WORDS >>

I was assaulted on campus and nobody saw ANONYMOUS

Letter

ILLUSTRATION JULIAN YU/THE UBYSSEY

‘Everything’s coming up Milhouse.“

LAST WORDS

PARTING SHOTS AND SNAP JUDGEMENTS FROM THE UBYSSEY EDITORIAL BOARD

BDS, BUREAUCRACY AND NOT TAKING A STANCE Although much of UBC’s student population has been largely unaware of the goings-on of the past few weeks, the BDS movement has played a significant role in campus politics (and The Ubyssey ’s opinions section).

Student groups on all sides of the debate have run campaigns trying to convince uninformed or undecided students how to vote in the referendum that occurred over the course of the past week.

Regardless of your stance on the issue of BDS itself, we think that most would agree that the process by which the referendum was held is subject to considerable critique.

Even accounting for the campaigns run by student groups, the referendum was poorly publicized — as reflected by the large numbers of students who (still) have no idea what BDS is.

We aren’t saying that the AMS should be devoting massive amounts of resources into promoting referendums, but including a little more information and context in the first email they <em>

</em>

10

sent out would have been helpful.

We are critical of the AMS, however, in the stance that they took on the issue — or rather, the lack of a stance. Though the notion of our student society taking a stance in general is an altogether different issue, we strongly believe that if you’re going to take a stance you should actually take a stance.

“Anything but yes” basically equates to the AMS taking the position of ‘we want to say no but don’t actually want to say no because it might make us look bad.’

We understand, of course, that BDS (and the Israel-Palestine debate in general) is a highly controversial and convoluted subject and that, for many people, taking a stance is a difficult decision to make. Some of our editors believe that in taking the stance that it did, the AMS may have been attempting to avoid creating a hostile campus environment to those who were in favour of BDS — which is also understandable.

The majority of us, however, view the “anything but yes” position as an attempt at sugarcoating a “vote no” stance and avoiding taking a public stance on a major geopolitical issue.

DON’T BLAME US — IT’S ALL THE NEW SUB’S FAULT! The AMS is months behind on posting minutes from Council meetings online and blamed the delay on — are you ready for this? — the new SUB. While the AMS minutes are something that, quite possibly, only we, Sheldon Goldfarb and the Councillors themselves care very much about, it’s still a good idea to post them for ease of reference. There’s this little thing called Code, after all.

But putting all that aside, can we talk about the new SUB excuse for a second?

There are only so many times you can use the ‘the-new-SUBmade-me-do-it’ line successfully without sounding like you’re grasping at straws to hide your own incompetence.

Things are naturally busier with the new SUB, but considering the number of people that the AMS employs, you would think that one of them would be able to set aside 10 minutes every two weeks to repost something on the internet.

SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTING DISCREPANCIES Campus security has included RCMP sexual assault reporting in their annual Campus Security Report and the statistics show a massive discrepancy between the number of sexual assaults reported to the RCMP versus those reported to Campus Security.

The statistics were included in the report at the recommendation of the Campus Safety Working Group, which was established after a series of sexual assaults on campus in late 2013.

There is no doubt that this is a positive change. But the timing of the development is suspect.

A CBC investigation in January pointed out the discrepancy to the administration. VP Students Louise Cowin told the CBC that it raised the question as to why the RCMP data hadn’t been included previously.

We can’t help but agree. The report shows RCMP sexual assault reporting data as far back as 2009.

When it comes to campus safety and security, why did it take a public outcry regarding sexual assault for the administration to reach out to the RCMP detachment located right here on campus? U

The bass was bumping. Seas of people were swaying back and forth in unison with arms raised and smiles plastered across their faces.

As the clock struck two in the morning, the crowd began to dissipate with a unanimous sense of satisfaction at their mid-week outing.

I decided to leave with the main crowd of people. It was pitch black outside and there were scattered crowds dispersed on the street.

On my way to my friend’s house, I passed a group of six guys who made some snide remarks about my ethnicity — specifically the fact that I was wearing a turban in public.

Feeling uncomfortable, I started to walk faster towards my friends’ residence hall while frantically trying to get ahold of him. I could feel the presence of a group behind me. I started to walk a little bit faster. The street was quiet. There was nothing other than the sound of my steps as I quickened my pace.

One of the attackers ripped my turban from my head and kicked it to the curbside.

My ribs were on fire and my chest was exploding. I knew I had to make one last run for it.”

Out of nowhere, one of the guys from the group pushed me from behind. Within seconds I was surrounded by the six people I loosely recognized from earlier. “What do you think you are doing you sand n***er?” they yelled as they started to punch my stomach and chest.

I tried to run away from the crowd, but they had me completely trapped in the same position.

The street was deserted other than the seven of us. I could only cover my head and hope that they didn’t hurt me too badly. About 10 minutes passed; I gathered my strength and tried to run through them but the guys formed a circle around me and they threw me back to the ground.

Twenty unrelenting minutes of verbal and physical brutality ensued. One of the attackers ripped my turban from my head and kicked it to the curbside. My ribs were on fire and my chest was exploding.

I knew I had to make one last run for it. I threw a punch and hit one of them in the face, buying myself 10 seconds. I sprinted down the street, turned a corner and managed to jump into a bush next to one of the residences. For 30 minutes, I hid away from the attackers in complete silence.

I am a student at UBC and I faced this terrible situation following a Wednesday evening Pit Night. Combined with the sexual assaults that have taken place over the past year, it is yet another incident on UBC campus in which the perpetrator has yet to be apprehended.

In my eyes, the solution is staring everyone in the face. Security cameras. It is ridiculous that students have been assaulted over the past year and UBC has not thought to put up closed circuit cameras at highly trafficked areas like the bus loop, and streets leading to the residence halls. I can only hope that raising my voice — as a victim of a UBC campus assault — may finally start to get this idea across to campus leadership.

By speaking out about the terrible crime that took place at UBC, I hope that other students will start to listen to how real the threat might be. The objective is not to scare people; it is simply to raise awareness about the variety of people that may actually be targeted. Just because you are a 20-year-old healthy male doesn’t mean that you don’t have to be careful. I just want no other student to go through what I did. If you are studying late and have to walk across campus alone, be extremely aware of the situation you are in and don’t be afraid to call SafeWalk or even the police if you feel threatened.

Ultimately, my main message is that something has to change. The worst part about the whole situation is that tomorrow, I could walk into a lecture and sit down next to the same person that stripped me of my dignity, physically brutalized me and disrespected my religion — while being completely oblivious to that fact. U

The AMS had no business in BDS ALEX HUMPHREY Letter

After reading the university-wide email sent on March 26 by the AMS urging an “anything but yes” vote on the BDS referendum, lots of words came to mind. Pathetic, spineless, disgraceful, lazy and undemocratic were just a few. I’m disappointed in the AMS’ decision to intervene at the height of the voting period, effectively discouraging UBC students from participating in our campus’ democratic process.

It seems likely that the AMS did so not out of altruistic principle, but because it is afraid to be associated with anything remotely controversial. (In this case, I would argue that ‘principled’, ‘ethical’ and ‘refreshing’ are in fact more appropriate words than ‘controversial’, but that’s another discussion). This referendum gathered the required number of signatures to be on a ballot. This is an issue that UBC students have demonstrated they care about a great deal. The AMS has no place intentionally manipulating the referendum process because it is afraid

that a ‘yes’ result might make its job a little bit harder.

The AMS says that its intervention was in accordance with its mandate to uphold clause (e) of the AMS constitution: “To promote unity and goodwill amongst its members.”

Fulfilling this objective is important indeed, but should be pursued in accordance with, and never at the expense of, the democratic process.

After all, who is the AMS Council to say which groups on campus should be favoured in accordance with clause (e) and which should be ignored? To make such an inherently exclusionary calculation is a huge overstep of authority.

Indeed, what isn’t mentioned in the email is that clause (c) of the constitution states that the AMS must “promote the principle and practice of student representation at all levels of decision making.…”

The AMS blatantly ignored this obligation in wading into this debate in hopes of keeping their student government jobs tame and easy.

The AMS Council members clearly need to review their job descriptions as well as the basic tenants of the democratic process, pronto. U

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 |

EDITOR JACK HAUEN

RECREATION >>

Storm the Wall 37 was the biggest — and best — ever

11

WIZARDRY >>

Quidditch team needs your help to get to World Cup

PHOTO COURTESY UBC QUIDDITCH

The UBC Quidditch team has found competitive success in recent years.

Olivia Boon Staff Writer

A Super Ironman competitor attempts to scale the wall under his own power.

Koby Michaels Senior Staff Writer UBC’s 37th Storm the Wall was the largest ever, with over 830 teams and an estimated 3,800 participants, according to Aaron Mui, the manager of marketing and communications for UBC Athletics and Recreation. Much of this growth came from the Just For Fun category, according to manager of Intramural Programs at UBC REC, Jason McManus. This year’s Storm saw 275 Just For Fun teams.

McManus credits this to students’ desires to be part of a UBC tradition that has remained largely unchanged for 37 years and a “Get Over It,” marketing campaign.

But McManus and his team of over 230 student volunteers revamped the event this year with a new community festival that featured music, kids’ activities and of course, plenty of storming. The event drew 150 local children and community members on March 22.

Thursday’s Party on the Plaza saw top teams and individual competitors, who had qualified through the previous two rounds, completing the race and storming the wall in front of packed bleachers outside the SUB. Students and staff circled the wall and cheered on the competitors, spilling out from the SUB’s balcony. A beer garden, food truck festival, sponsor tents and a health and wellness fair also joined the festivities. The atmosphere was electric and the

excitement palpable in the warm spring air. Spectators basked in the glorious sunshine, cheered on the Super Ironpeople and other competitors while listening and laughing along with the music and hilarious antics of the announcers.

“It’s the type of experience that animates campus and gives it life,” said McManus. “It makes UBC students proud.”

This mentality was echoed by Tara Stamnes, a senior student program developer for UBC REC. “It’s the last hurrah. It’s a celebration of the people actually competing,” said Stamnes. Stamnes’ favourite aspect of the event were the teams who competed in costumes, including a team that stormed the wall in miniskirts in the pouring rain and team Storm the Onesie.

After Winnie the Pooh, of Storm the Onesie, boosted teammate Cookie Monster over the wall and a Minion pulled up a penguin (or panda?), the team discussed their rigorous training regimen. “We’ve been training for months,” said Winnie. “My parents told me it was why I was conceived.”

Slightly more believably, Super Ironwoman winner Madeleine de Lotbiniere-Bassett, one of only two women to clear the wall with the help of only one person, claimed the hardest part was clicking enter when she was signing up.

“Amazing,” was all she had to say after finishing, between smiles and catching her breath. Lotbi-

PHOTO KOBY MICHAELS/THE UBYSSEY

niere-Bassett managed to scale the 12 foot wall with a mixture of pure determination, teamwork and athletic ability. The crowd exploded with cheers when Lotbiniere-Bassett and fellow Super Ironwoman Allie, under the team name Wall Me Maybe 3.0, reached their helpers’ hands and pulled themselves over the wall. The excitement of the crowd rivalled that of other notable UBC sporting events this year like the Winter Classic.

Storm brought students, faculty and members of the community together for a week of athletics, silliness and friendly competition.

While none of the Super Ironmen finished the race by successfully climbing the wall unassisted, they kept the crowd (and the photographers balanced comedically on top) on their toes. Throwing themselves at the wall over and over again, their fingers brushed the glory that was the ledge, just missing their mark every time.

While they were desperately attempting to get over it, others were enjoying the Party on the Plaza nearby. “Storm the Wall becomes more of a community and less of an event,” said McManus.

McManus and UBC REC are looking to continue to expand the Storm experience and involved even more students, staff and community members. “I’m not going to let the cat out of the bag yet,” he said, “but early next year students are going to be very excited.” U

We don’t bite much.

Write about sports, fitness, hiking, skiing, the outdoors and whatever else your little heart desires.

Say hi: sports@ubyssey.ca

Five years ago, a couple of enthusiastic Harry Potter fans founded the UBC Quidditch team. Since its inception in 2010, the group had one clear goal in mind: to qualify for and compete in the prestigious Quidditch World Cup, an international tournament held in South Carolina, where 80 of the US and Canada’s top Quidditch teams compete not only to win, but also to uphold their reputations and to improve their rankings amongst other schools.

This year, for the first time in UBC Quidditch history, the team has managed to snag a spot in the World Cup. Today, they are hoping that with the help of fans’ donations through their indiegogo campaign and a $3,000 Competitive Athletic Fund from the AMS, they will be able to make their five-year long dream a reality.

The Ubyssey had the opportunity to sit down with four players to speak to them about what it would mean for them to be able to compete in the World Cup, and the successes that have led them to where they are today.

Alexa Rowe (AR): President Mormei Zanke (MZ): Team member for two years Janik Andreas (JA): Vice President Patrick Fuller (PF): Coach What would you say is the most memorable success you have had this year as a team?

How did that contribute to your journey in the pursuit of the World Cup tournament?

MZ: I definitely have to say coming third place in the regional Quidditch competition — it was the final tournament that we had to play to qualify for the World Cup. We played against a strong Boise team, and there was just an insane amount of spirit and pride that our team displayed on the pitch. Just being in that moment when we were fighting hard in that last game was overwhelming and indescribable, and I can’t wait to relive the feeling when we get to the World Cup. JA: About a year back, our team competed in a competitive Quidditch tournament in Los Angeles. At that time, we were still considered the underdogs in the Quidditch-sphere, and not considered as much of a threat. But we actually did pretty well there, and that was the day other competitive Quidditch teams started to see us as level competitors. Being able to play against some of these same teams in the World Cup this year would really give us a chance to represent the UBC community and hopefully emerge victorious amongst other schools.

What would going to the World Cup mean to you, personally, and to the future growth of the team?

PF: Having been one of the pioneer members of the team and its current coach, I have seen the team strive toward this goal of going to the World Cup for so long, that finally getting the opportunity to go feels like a dream. Every year before this, we fell short on the chance — but that only made us a stronger team. To be so close to competing in the World Cup this year means so much for the club’s current members, and for its future. It feels unreal.

JA: The World Cup would be a great place to learn from so many experienced teams and to get UBC recognized in the Quidditch world of sport. Personally, I am excited for the team, because it is our first time even qualifying and it is a great accomplishment for our Quidditch family. It is an incredible way for UBC Quidditch to open another chapter, and I am hoping that this legacy will contribute to the future growth of the team for years to come.

MZ: There is such a great competitive dynamic on our team, and everyone is still so enthusiastic even after practicing for hours.

I think it would mean so much to the team to finally be able to achieve the one thing everyone has wanted since the beginning — playing in the World Cup! If you had the chance to speak to a member of the UBC community to persuade them to donate to your World Cup campaign, what would you tell them?

AR: UBC Quidditch is an incredible and driven team of Harry Potter fans and competitive, athletic players with one dream: to travel to and play in this year’s World Cup! One of the greatest things about the sport is that it is entirely inclusive — regardless of anyone’s culture or orientation, we accept all recruits and will train anybody who wants to become an athlete in our sport.

We also promote community involvement both within campus and internationally, active living and anything and everything Harry Potter. By supporting us, you are supporting our values and what we stand for, and you will be helping us represent you, the UBC community, in the World Cup. Currently, we are ranked 15th out of hundreds of Quidditch teams around the world — help us get to number one!

Donate to the team’s fundraising for their World Cup trip at tiny.cc/ubcq. U

12 | GAMES |

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Weekend roundup: ‘Birds have a hoot, paddle Rowing Club Baseball

Baseball

Final, March 28

Final, March 28

13

Thunderbirds

7

Owls

Baseball

Thunderbirds

9

Owls

6

Men’s Rugby

Final, March 29

Final, March 28

12

Thunderbirds

3

Owls The ‘Birds completed the four game series sweep with a 6-1 victory Sunday afternoon.

March 29 Thunderbirds Owls

Thunderbirds

37

Van. Rowing Club

24

6 1

MAR 26 ANSWERS

COURTESY BESTCROSSWORDS.COM

ACROSS 1- Flat sound 5- Young bird 10- Some DVD players 14- Mandlikova of tennis 15- Goddesses of the seasons 16- Author ___ Stanley Gardner 17- I’ve Got ___ in Kalamazoo 18- Separated 19- Dirty 20- Cosmetics 22- Pertaining to tactics 24- Software buyers 25- Technique 26- Neck part 28- Food and water

32- Potpourri 35- Metal-bearing mineral 37- Untidy states 38- Crosses (out) 39- Free of frost 41- Metal container used for frying 42- Goes in 45- Classical beginning 46- Dict. entries 47- Gallows loop 48- Victor’s cry 50- Pendent ornament 54- Gives up 58- Not producing fruit 61- Comfortable 62- In ___ land 63- Unexpected victory 65- Baptism, e.g.

COURTESY KRAZYDAD.COM

MAR 26 ANSWERS

66- Grating 67- Give 68- K-6 69- The most heavily populated continent on Earth 70- “Surprise Symphony” composer 71- Stains

DOWN 1- SeaWorld attraction 2- Long stories 3- Reptile 4- Italian seaport 5- Bloke 6- Bounce on one foot

7- Steamed 8- Unit of weight in gemstones 9- Sailing vessel 10- Dwells 11- Gator’s cousin 12- Inter ___ 13- Exchange for money 21- Mex. neighbor 23- Muscle quality 25- Nothing more than 27- Seed containers 29- Catch a view of 30- Faculty head 31- IRS IDs 32- Farm team 33- Letterman rival 34- Ratio words 36- German article

37- Cat sound 40- Slather plaster on the upper surface of a room 43- “CHiPs” star 44- Gather, harvest 46- Scoffed 49- Fall mo.

51- Murmuring sound 52- Above 53- Sontag composition 55- Every 24 hours 56- First name in cosmetics 57- Appears 58- Pond organism 59- Bugs, clunkers, and rides, e.g.

60- Et ____ (and other men) 61- Env. notation 64- Break off