Issuu

Vol. 20 Issue. 11

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

Weasel Madness since 1993

SUS drops ball on referendum p. 20

Poems, Vino, and the ESA: One amazing night p. 11

Gabbing with Gabereau p. 3

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE Opinion

News

Women Talk About Women

Nearly Naked

Two female staff writers engage in conversation about feminism, sexuality, equality and where these topics fit today.

UFV alumnus, Joel Primus visited his old stomping grounds to share with students his experiences as an entrepreneur.

Read more on page 18

There really isn’t any way of escaping this simple fact. Whether it’s in taxes, tolls, tips or referendums, there’s always a beseeching palm ready to receive your dough. The onus is then on you, the man (or woman) with the money. What are you willing to give? When are you willing to give? How much was Caesar’s in the first place? The question of finances has been particularly salient in the last few months, stretching from December’s SUB building referendum to the recent tally on the Athletics & Wellness Fee (A&W), with a couple CIVL referendums thrown in for small-change. You, the student body, have been asked to make some significant decisions about the future of UFV, and about the amount of money you are willing to invest into this institution. I use the word “invest” for a reason, because it is gallingly obvious to many of you that you will not be seeing the full benefits of projects like the SUB building or the A&W (actually the potential benefits of the latter, as it has been stymied. Page 20 has details). Some of you have been paying towards the SUB building for years, and will graduate before the building ever opens. Some of you have never seen a UFV varsity game in any sport, and visit the Envision Athletic Centre only as a shortcut between C building and parking lot 10. “At least in the real

world,” some of you were saying during the referenda, ‘when you pay for something you get something comparable in return.’ While the logic in this statement sounds reasonable, it doesn’t encompass the full picture of what it means to be a university student and a member of the Student Union Society. The blunt truth of the matter is that if the student body all voted according to the direct benefits to their individual person, very few motions would ever pass. Other criteria need to be considered, one of which I’m going to discuss here. One of the basic, universal arguments against any fee is that of student poverty, that students shouldn’t be asked to pay for anything beyond our own immediate needs and even that only at the lowest, most minimum cost. Financial insecurity is one of the re-

alities of student life, but it is not a paralyzing force which should be used to refute ideas such as the A&W fee on principle. For university students part of the educational movement from adolescence to adulthood is the need to think beyond ourselves, if only because behind this institution, behind UFV’s abnormally low tuition, there are other individuals thinking (perhaps begrudgingly) about us. I was exposed to this reality a few weeks ago when talking with a high school friend whose post-secondary path has widely diverged from mine. He moved to Alberta and works as a welder. He drives a truck, shoots guns, and makes enough money to actually pay taxes. He’s also very aware that part of those taxes go to pay for the education of people like me; that he is in a very tan-

gible way financing my Bachelor of Arts degree, something from which he will probably derive no direct benefit. For every “full-time” student at UFV (roughly 30 credits over the course of the academic year), the government pays the institution $8054. This means that we poor students pay roughly a third of the actual cost of our tuition, while our friends, family and the anonymous masses make up the difference. Most of you may think that we pay too much as students, while some very few of you may be amazed that we pay so little. Either way, these are the numbers. We, as students, are being invested in by people who do not know us, do not know our potential, do not even know if we will ever repay the investment. I won’t pretend that this investment is voluntary, or even meditated, nor will I pretend that it would be wise to simply “pay it forward” to projects such as the A&W fee. I just ask that we, as students, respect this investment. We need to move beyond complaining about what we can’t afford, to considering what we are able to invest. Sometimes you are simply building a future for those who come after, and sometimes that’s okay.

UPCOMING EVENTS March 26-30

March 29

March 30

Turn it Off Week

My Symbol of Hope

Lens of Empowerment exhibit

Big Bang 2012

Michelle Rickaby will be on the Abbotsford campus in the bookstore on Thursday, March 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to read from her personal story “My Symbol of Hope” which was published in Canadian Living magazine last year. The story details Rickaby’s experience of healing from cancer. The event is a part of the Canadian Cancer Society’s corporate daffodil campaign. Funds raised from the daffodils sold at the event and elsewhere on campus from March 28 to March 30 will go towards research and cancer prevention initiatives.

Students of the Lens of Empowerment project are hosting an exhibit as well as a screening of an informative movie on Friday, March 30. The exhibit, entitled “Sitelines in S’ólh Téméxw,” will be featured in the Abbotsford campus gallery (B136) from March 30 until April 11. The opening reception for the exhibit showcasing women’s identity and citizenship in Stó:lō traditional territories with be at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 30, followed by a screening of a movie on the same subject at 5 p.m. in the nearby lecture theatre (B101).

UFV Facilities is having another Turn it Off Week in this last week of March (March 26 to 30). As a part of this campaign to go green they will be offering a number of incentives and events. One such incentive is Green Tokens. If you “Get Caught Green-handed” throughout the week – for example, if I member of the UFV “Green Team” catches you turning off lights when you’re the last to leave a room or turn off a computer monitor when you leave it for more than 15 minutes, you will be rewarded with a Green Token. You can use the token to enter into a draw for a number of prizes.

Business Manager joe@ufvcascade.ca Joe Johnson Online Editor michael@ufvcascade.ca Michael Scoular

Everybody wants your money Paul ESAU

Editor-in-Chief esau@ufvcascade.ca Paul Esau Managing Editor ali@ufvcascade.ca Ali Siemens

EDITORIAL

THE CASCADE

Volume 20 · Issues 11 Room C1027 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

Science students are getting together to celebrate coming to the end of another semester. Three sciences students associations—Biology and Chemistry Student Association (BCSA), Computer Information Systems Student Association (CISSA), and Physics Student Association (PSA)—are hosting a fun evening event at AfterMath Socialhouse on Abbotsford campus, in conjunction with the Student Union Society (SUS), from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 30. There is no cost of admission, but for $10 you will get a burger, beer and fries. There will be a number of live bands, as well as a wide selection of door prizes. The top door prize is a free four-credit UFV course.

Production Manager stewart@ufvcascade.ca Stewart Seymour Art Director anthony@ufvcascade.ca Anthony Biondi Copy Editor joel@ufvcascade.ca Joel Smart News Editor grace@ufvcascade.ca Grace Romund Opinion Editor dessa@ufvcascade.ca Dessa Bayrock Arts & Life Editor jen@ufvcascade.ca Jennifer Colbourne Sports Editor sean@ufvcascade.ca Sean Evans Photojournalist rebecca@ufvcascade.ca Rebecca Groen News Writer joe@ufvcascade.ca Joe Johnson Staff Writers Karen Aney, Sasha Moedt, Leanna Pankratz, Alexei Summers Contributors Taylor Johnson, Paige Hoblak, Kenneth Muir, Nick Ubels, Tim Ubels, Nadine Moedt, Jenny Pittman, Owen Coulter, Klaudija Lanzarec, Greg Stickland Printed By International WebExpress The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It provides a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a circulation of 1500 and is distributed at UFV campuses and throughout Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission. The Cascade is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national cooperative of 75 university and college newspapers from Victoria to St. John’s. The Cascade follows the CUP ethical policy concerning material of a prejudicial or oppressive nature. Submissions are preferred in electronic format through e-mail. Please send submissions in “.txt” or “.doc” format only. Articles and letters to the editor must be typed. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous content. The writer’s name and student number must be submitted with each submission. Letters to the editor must be under 250 words if intended for print. Only one letter to the editor per writer in any given edition. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, Cascade staff and collective, or associated members.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

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NEWS

Vicki Gabereau talks about Canadian media PaIGE HOBLAK

CONTRIBUTOR

Last Thursday night on Abbotsford campus, Vicki Gabereau was interviewed in front of an audience by UFV student and Board of Governors member Justin Goodrich. She began discussion in front of a full room about her career as a public figure in the Canadian media. UFV president Mark Evered introduced her, acknowledging her long list of achievements. Gabereau was brought in by Evered as a part of the President’s Leadership Lecture Series. The series is intended to showcase speakers who are of special interest to the University and the local community. Gabereau is a wellestablished media personality in Canada. During the interview, Go-

Image: nsb.com

odrich’s questions were mostly diverted by Gabereau’s innate talent to tell stories. The crowd was responsive to her ability to entertain as she brushed off her life’s accomplishments as mere luck. Goodrich asked Gabereau about her opinion on the role the CBC

plays in Canada; she informed the crowd how significant she believed it to be for our culture. As a previous employee of the CBC, Gabereau addressed the amount of work that goes into the service and emphasized its importance to Canadian identity. She mentioned

that the CBC would only get better if given more money to continue to promote a Canadian brand of television programming. Gabereau stated that Canadians are like children when it comes to viewing homegrown television as we beg the question “Where are all the toys?” She argued that Canadians need to stop trying to be like Americans when it comes to the media, and accept that Canadian television programs have a unique style that is not supposed to look American. Gabereau also admitted her fears concerning the future of the CBC, saying that there is a possibility of seeing it disappear. Gabereau has worked in many careers, the most surprising of which being her role as Rosie Sunrise, the professional clown. She has run for mayor of Toronto and has spent 30 years working in Canadian media, for networks

such as CBC and CTV. She has also written two books and is a mother and wife. Although she has spent so many years working with the media, she does not consider herself a journalist; rather, she considers herself an entertainer. Having received her honorary degree from UFV last year, Gabereau spoke at the UFV 2011 convocation ceremony. She gave graduating students advice: “Life is one big learning curve and you have to keep learning every day.” During the questions and answers segment of the interview one student asked what she meant by this. She responded by stressing the importance of continued learning. Gabereau emphasized the significance of reading, stating that she still reads the encyclopedia. Keeping an active mind was the main message.

Former UFV student Joel Primus: Naked and proud joe johnson

THE CASCADE

One of UFV’s former students turned business success story, Joel Primus, was on campus earlier in the week to give a talk on his Naked business, background and philosophy. He also opened up some of the more intimate details on his labour of love company while speaking to The Cascade. Naked is a very unique company to Abbotsford and has a strong connection to UFV, hence all the publicity around the University in recent days surrounding his visit to Abbotsford campus. When Primus was a UFV student, he studied philosophy – a far cry from what he’s doing now. While being a UFV student, he was also doing some soul searching which led to hitchhiking across Canada, spending some time in Asia, and eventually an attempt to make a documentary in South America. And that’s where he found a pair of underwear that caught his interest. When he got back to Canada, Primus was fired up to make something of himself. “I tried a bunch of different things,” Primus said, “just throwing stuff against the wall trying to make something stick.” Then one day Primus was hit with an idea. Primus stated, “I heard a story about Lululemon and then I heard another story about Ginch Gonch, and then all of a sudden an underwear thought popped in my mind, ‘wait a second, I bought this pair in Peru that I liked and I never even opened it.’ And that’s when I said, ‘Well, I can create an underwear line’.” With that, Naked was born. And now into his mid-20s, Primus has a young business that has been rapidly growing with a recent valuation at $1.5 million. As per their slogan, “Every Na-

Image: Jason Hargrove/Flickr

ked piece is made with soft-tothe-touch Italian fabric that seamlessly forms to your body, making you feel as though you’re wearing nothing at all.” Naked’s Abbotsford headquarters is staffed by Primus as the CEO, Alex McAulay as COO and CFO, and two full time employees on top of multiple contract workers for sales and other work. The partnership between Primus and McAulay works well; McAulay is a CA and has business experience to backup Primus’ entrepreneurial passion. The brand of Naked is one that they’re still seeking to achieve, according to Primus. “We want to create an environment that inspires people to output the brand. And the brand is sexy and sophisticated … everything that we want to be about is about outputting that consistent message because that is our place in the market,” he said. For Primus, charity will always be a part of Naked. He is a co-

founder of his own charity, Project World Citizen. “The things that I’ve seen, because I’ve travelled to a lot of places, and if I can help never see some of those things again, I will know I have done my part … if Naked can help me do better at giving, then it’s going to tie a charitable component to everything it does.” Philosophically, Primus is a firm believer in the personal and relational aspect of business, “the one thing I feel I can add specifically through speaking … is helping business students appreciate and not forget the human component of business because it isn’t just ‘business is business.’ There is a personal component to it, and I believe that personal component—that human component—is what allows businesses to thrive for a long time.” Of course, being successful is aided greatly when you can get the kind of exposure Naked has received. With multiple appear-

ances on Dragons’ Den (the first time being rejected), e-Talk Daily, Entertainment Tonight, and Urban Rush, that kind of exposure goes a long way in name recognition. What they sell exactly is composed of two lines, traditional and contemporary. Primus considers their textiles to be some of the best in the world. Their traditional line is made with Italian micromodal fabric, and the contemporary is a microfiber. Everything comes in black and white and they have six products currently. But coming from a cost perspective on using such high quality material, Primus believes that it’s what is required to service the product “So we didn’t really look to save pennies on the fabric, we went and said ‘what is the best’ because that’s all we wanted for our underwear.” Being such a young company, though, getting a product into stores isn’t easy. However, having the local and national expo-

sure they’ve received has made the most difference. As explained by Primus, “They don’t want to make a commitment to you and you don’t ship them the product, or your business goes bankrupt between now and when. So, when they see you around a couple times … year over year, all of a sudden it’s like ‘okay, this business is here to stay. I’m going to get involved with them’.” Although, exposure only goes so far and capital is needed to actually finance the business at startup. And that’s where the roughly 27 investors came in. Having sold a percentage of Naked so as to establish that growth capital, Primus said that he’s “a big believer in keeping your business your own, but that wasn’t possible with Naked.” He is still majority stakeholder, however. Now outside of the local area and even Canada, Primus noted their products are now sold from “New York to Dallas to Oklahoma, Louisiana, Seattle [and] California.” Given that distribution and product price points of $36 and $44 for the underwear, and $64 for the undershirt, Naked isn’t currently in a profitable position. But as Primus has said, “We won’t be profitable because we will always reinvest to grow the brand.” He expects to see greater return in around two years time. But because Naked is creating an interesting product, Primus identified the fact that businesses with much deeper pockets may be watching and attempt to tackle the same product market segment – a segment predisposed to luxury, willing to spend on themselves. Primus, though, is ready to take on any challengers. “The vision is for Naked to be the new standard of underwear for men and women in the world.”

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

NEWS

Students threatened with arrest for leafleting in UBC building ARSHY MANN

UBYSSEY

VANCOUVER (CUP) — A small protest elicited a strong reaction from security at the University of British Columbia’s Alma Mater Society (AMS) Student Union Building (SUB) last week. A group of about half a dozen students were told they would be arrested if they continued to hand out leaflets protesting the Canadian military presence in Libya. “I feel like our perspective is really being actively silenced by security,” said Arielle Friedman, one of the students at the protest. The protest was taking place in front of a Canadian Forces booth at a job fair being held in the main concourse of the SUB. An AMS security guard at the scene confirmed that they had told the students to stop handing out the leaflets or else face arrest. “If you don’t stop doing it, that’s when I said you have to leave the building and if you do not leave the building and stop handing out leaflets then we will have to use other force to get you to stop,” she said. The security guard went on to say that because of AMS policy, if the protestors wanted to hand out leaflets, they would have to make

Image: Arshy Mann

a booking with the AMS. “It’s not about their cause, we have nothing against that. It’s [the] policies right now.” According to one of the recruiters, the protestors were handing out leaflets to people who were trying to get information from the booth. This made it difficult for people to get to the booth itself, and also clogged up the hallway for people that were trying to pass by. “We told them basically that if they didn’t give us space for people to come to our booth, that we would talk to security. So we did,” said Corporal Evan Clark. Friedman said that the protestors had told AMS security that they would move elsewhere in the SUB in order to be less intrusive, but that security insisted they could not hand out leaflets anywhere in the building. “They clearly said anywhere in the Student Union Building. We offered to accommodate, to make

the hall passable for people,” she said. AMS security declined to comment on the event or their policy around leafleting. Clark, who is a BA student at UBC, said that this was his first time recruiting for the armed forces. “We’re not by any strech of the means professional recruiters,” he said. “We’re just part-time soldiers.” He said that the protestors were peaceful, but not pleasant, to the recruiters. “They weren’t really aggressive,” he said. “They weren’t shouting or pushing, they were just a little antagonistic, trying to say things to get emotional responses.” Clark went on to say that although this was his first time recruiting, he wasn’t surprised by the protest. “When the Canadian Forces is in the public, we do come up with people that protest various things, and we’re the target of that sometimes, justly or unjustly,” he said. “When you’re wearing something like this,” he said referring to his uniform, “you’re a target, for good or bad.”

Weaselicious

Come write for The Cascade! Meetings on Monday at 8:30 a.m. in C1429 OR e-mail: ali@ufvcascade.ca

NEWS BRIEFS

Image: Reuters

image: B.C. Gov Photos

image: Viterra

Image: Chris Hanna/The Concordian

Japan goes off script at nuclear summit to slam North Korea

Ottawa hints at changing Air Canada law

Canada minister signals little concern on Viterra deal

SEOUL (Reuters) - Japan steered off the agenda at a nuclear

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian government, faced with strife

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada’s farm minister highlighted on Monday

SILIVRI, Turkey (Reuters) - Former armed forces commander

MONTREAL (CUP) ¡ª Over 200,000 people took to the streets

security summit on Tuesday to hit out at North Korea’s plans for

over the closure of facilities that overhaul Air Canada planes,

the global marketing reach of Swiss-based Glencore in the latest

general Ilker Basbug stormed out of an Istanbul courtroom on

of Montreal on March 22 to protest tuition increases, many of

a rocket launch next month, as U.S. President Barack Obama

hinted on Monday at changing the law that requires Air Canada

sign from Ottawa that it has little appetite for blocking the

Tuesday and denounced his trial on terrorism charges as an

whom were students from universities across Quebec.

cautioned against complacency in dealing with the threat of

to maintain these overhaul stations at three Canadian cities.

company’s proposed takeover of grain handler Viterra.

assault on the entire military leadership and a “black stain” on

The Concordia University delegation, which led the way for

nuclear terrorism.

Aveos, formerly an Air Canada division but now a private

Canada is one of the few countries that can help meet growing

the country’s history.

the better part of the three-hour event, congregated near the

The summit was briefly interrupted by a dispute between

company, performed the airline’s heavy maintenance but last

global demand for food, which is set to increase by 50 to 70

Basbug’s outburst on the second day of his trial was the most

Hall building around 12 p.m. Over 500 students then began to

Argentina and Britain, which went to war in 1982 over the

week shut its Canadian operations and obtained bankruptcy

percent in coming decades, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told

dramatic demonstration yet of tensions that have simmered be-

proceed down Ste-Catherine Street lead by Concordia Student

Falkland Islands, over suggestions Britain had sent a submarine

protection.

reporters when asked to comment on the Glencore bid.

tween the armed forces and the prime minister, Tayyip Erdogan,

Union vice-president external Chad Walcott and president

capable of carrying nuclear weapons to the South Atlantic.

“It’s a complex file. This law was analyzed a long time ago. It’s

“It’s going to take trade at the global level to make that happen.

who has reined in their influence since winning power in 2002.

Lex Gill.

A communiqué issued at the end of the two-day meeting of

been since 1988 that this law has not been changed,” Transport

Certainly companies like Glencore have different avenues of

Basbug, who headed the military between 2008-2010, declared

The march began officially at Canada Place, where buses full of

more than 50 world leaders in Seoul was light on specifics

Minister Denis Lebel said in Parliament.

marketing than Viterra has,” he said on a conference call from

the trial a “comedy” and said he did not recognize the judges’

students from outside the city started arriving earlier in the day.

on how to reduce the risk of atomic materials falling into bad

He made the remarks after announcing he was asking the

South Korea, where he is on a trade mission.

authority over him. He demanded referral to the Supreme Court.

The approximate length of the route was five kilometres, with

hands, loosely calling for all vulnerable material to be secured

House of Commons Transportation Committee to hold hearings

Ritz said Viterra, the country’s biggest grain handler, itself has

The general’s patience snapped when the court was played a

protesters marching down both Sherbrooke and Ste-Catherine

in four years.

“concerning the cessation of Aveos Performance” and report

operations in several countries and is “not simply a Canadian

tapped telephone conversation between two other suspects

Streets to their ultimate destination, Jacques-Cartier Place in

The world’s biggest nuclear concerns, those surrounding the

back to him.

company either.”

accused of planning to engineer a coup through bombings and

the Old Port.

weapons programs of North Korea and Iran, were not on the

The Air Canada Public Participation Act, under which the former

Glencore’s C$6.1 billion ($6.2 billion) offer for Viterra must win

assassinations in what has become known as the “Ergenekon”

Protesters held signs denouncing Premier Jean Charest’s Liberal

agenda at the summit, and neither country was invited.

state carrier was privatized in 1988, requires Air Canada to main-

approval from the federal government before it can go ahead.

case.

government, the leadership of Education Minister Line Beau-

The secretive North has been widely criticized on the sidelines of

tain operational and overhaul centers in Montreal; Mississauga,

Under the country’s foreign investment rules, the industry minister

Basbug switched on his microphone and, to laughter from spec-

champ, and the idea that accessible education is not a priority.

the meeting, including by main ally China, but host South Korea

Ontario, outside of Toronto; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

must determine whether the deal would produce a “net benefit” to

tators, many of them supporters, told the judges to stop playing

The historic nature of the march had some people in the Twit-

has explicitly stated the North’s weapons of mass destruction

In a heated exchange in the House, Lebel repeated that the law

Canada, according to a loosely defined set of criteria.

the tapes. They were, he said, irrelevant to the case.

tersphere saying that a “Printemps erable,” or Maple Spring ¡ª

programs were off the table during the summit itself.

requires those centers to be maintained, and “the law is the law”.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Sunday the structure of the

“Your honor, this is a serious court, but it has become tabloi-

clearly a play on Arab Spring ¡ª had arrived in Quebec.

The forum is meant to deal only with safeguarding nuclear

But he said it was a complex issue and the law had not been

deal meant it should not necessarily be seen as a normal foreign

dised. This is a black stain in history,” Basbug, wearing a dark

Despite the massive turnout, the protest was extremely peaceful

material and facilities and preventing trafficking.

changed since 1988.

takeover bid. He said the interest in expanding the Canadian

suit, said to applause from supporters.

and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda ignored protocol and

Denis Coderre, an MP from Montreal who belongs to the Liberal

agriculture sector was “a good thing.”

The judge threatened to clear spectators from the courtroom.

reported no major incidents during or after the march. Police

urged the international community to strongly demand North

Party, said the government ought to do its job not announce

As part of its deal, Glencore plans to sell off some parts of Viterra to

“Clear it, sir, do clear it,” Basbug interjected angrily. “Even play-

presence was very light in comparison with demonstrations that

Korea exercise self-restraint over next month’s planned rocket

committee hearing.

Canada’s Richardson International and Agrium.

ing these tapes here is a shame.”

took place over the past few weeks.

launch.

“What is the government waiting for to protect the families and

With that, the grey-haired general turned and strode out of

“This sends an incredibly strong message to the government,”

“The planned missile launch North Korea recently announced

to help them, instead of having a minister who is acting as Air

the courtroom.

said Gill of the protest. “If anything else, the Liberal party has

would go against the international community’s nuclear non-

Canada’s human resources director?” Coderre demanded.

The general returned to the courtroom later, after the judges

lost 200,000 voters for life.”

proliferation effort and violate U.N. Security Council resolutions,” Noda said in an opening speech.

Turkey’s former army chief storms out of terrorism trial

called a recess, but refused to answer questions.

Hundreds of thousands flood Montreal’s streets

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

www.ufvcascade.ca

NEWS

Mulcair declared leader of NDP after a long campaign joe johnson

THE CASCADE

The NDP party—which lost its respected leader Jack Layton shortly after seeing the party make a massive breakthrough within the Canadian electorate— held a convention this past weekend to find a new leader. After all the months of campaigning, it boiled down to two men remaining on Sunday night to fill Layton’s shoes – Thomas Mulcair or Brian Topp. But in the waning hours of the night, after over 12 hours of balloting, it was Mulcair who came out on top after going to the fourth ballot. Already the frontrunner before going into the convention, Mulcair received 57.2 per cent to Topp’s 42.8 per cent of the 59,210 votes. Both men had strong campaign teams and strategists, but it was Mulcair who had managed to shake the perception of being “a risk” – something that had plagued him early on. The campaigning period, which began in September and was set to conclude with the convention in January, was extended as Mulcair pressured for an additional campaigning period – something Topp also wanted. That extra time is what allowed Mulcair to shape his image enough to be chosen by the majority of the party. Mulcair has long been seen to have a divergent ideology for the

Image: Matt Jiggins

Thomas Mulcair party, one that would move it to more of a centrist position. As Mulcair said later on, he wants to bring the centre to the NDP. Topp, on the other hand, had picked up many endorsements and was the institutional candidate who would continue to keep the party in a socially democratic standing. With two views that partly clash, it was a decision that had to be made by the party. Adrian Dix, leader of the BC NDP made this statement: “I want to congratulate Mr. Mulcair on his victory today and wish him the very best as leader of the party and leader of the Federal NDP opposition in Ottawa. I’m very confident the party will unite around his leadership, hold the Conservative government to account, offer a compelling alternative government, and continue

to build support for the federal NDP across the country.” Mulcair was born to an Irish father and French mother and grew up in Quebec. His upbringing is what allowed him to possess a natural fluency in both official languages, a major asset. He graduated from McGill University with a degree in both common law and civil law, while his political career began provincially as member of the Quebec Liberals in 1994. He was a minister under Premier Jean Charest until 2007, where he left the party for the federal NDP. Because of his move to a different political party, some called him an opportunist. But that was also left up to the party to judge. Going into the convention and vying for the position, along with Mulcair and Topp, were Niki Ashton, Martin Singh, Paul Dew-

The voice of reason:

Philosophical advice for everyday concerns from the Student Association for Philosophical Counselling

Dear Voice of Reason, I usually get good grades but for some reason I am doing horrible in this one class. I do my best to follow the professor’s directions on the assignments and exams but I find them hard to understand. I also find it hard to talk to him as he is very dismissive, blunt and it’s his way or no way. No matter how much effort I put into my work, the instructor always gives me a bad grade. I’m starting to think this professor doesn’t like me. Sincerely, Frustrated Student Dear Frustrated Student, As philosophers, we try to consider all courses of action that could be viable for your situation. First things first, don’t take this conflict too personally. You’re quite possibly a good student overall, but this course might simply be beyond your previous experience. For example, if you’re taking a biology class and you’re an Arts student, you may need to gain new skills to be successful. If this is not the case and you find it difficult to talk to the professor, compare your work with other students. If you find a student who is getting A’s on their work, then you can get an idea on what your professor is expecting. Take

a look at their work and see if there is a difference between your work and theirs. If your marks are lower than others for the same quality of work, then you should talk to your professor. Keep an open mind, he should be able to explain his marking standards with you and help you understand why you got the mark you did. If you’re uncomfortable going yourself, find another student who feels the same way and talk to the professor together. You may come to realize that the professor just has different standards than what you are used to. You may need to come to terms with the fact that you won’t always get good grades. A bad grade may affect your GPA but not your future; speaking with an advisor may ease your stress and help you find ways to be more successful in the class. On the other hand, if your work is different than someone’s who is doing well in the class, you may need to reflect back on your understanding of the assignments. Again, don’t feel hopeless, talk to your professor about your confusion. Go in with an open mind; remember your prof has office hours for a reason! Communica-

tion is the best method of solving such a dispute. If your professor seems dismissive, it is possible that he is short on time. Ask him to meet with you at a time that is convenient for the both of you. Sit down with your professor and let him know how you feel about your assignments and discuss them with him. Explain how you interpreted the work and ask him what he wants from it. If you feel like you did what the professor expected and you found his grading practices or behaviour unfair then speak with the department head of that class you are taking. Unfortunately, some professors just don’t like some students. So the department head may suggest you contact the office of Academic Integrity. They will be prepared to help you with your situation. This response is based on the teachings of PHIL 305 “Philosophy of Decision making and Dispute Resolution”. If anyone reading this would like to respond to this issue specifically or anything else please request advice from the SAPC by emailing devan. christian@student.ufv.ca

ar, Peggy Nash and Nathan Cullen. As the one-member one-vote balloting system was used, the first to 50 per cent was declared the winner. After the first ballot, Ashton, Singh and Dewar were out. Nash made it to the second ballot, and Cullen had enough to get onto the third ballot. It left both Mulcair and Topp without that needed majority, and so the fourth ballot was necessary. Mulcair was the successive leader on each of the ballots. Voting was done both in the weeks ahead of the convention— by mail-in or online—and on the convention floor, right up to the final ballot. For those voting online during the convention, though, they were plagued by network problems as the perils of online voting became evident. Because of what was potentially a denial of service attack or system fault, many voters were locked out and the voting window for the ballots had to be extended, which caused the last results to finally be announced late into the night. But once those final votes were announced, Mulcair took to the head of the convention floor for his victory speech. Speaking in both French and English, after getting his thanks out of the way, he briefly brought up youth apathy in politics. Recognizing how youth are involved, just not politically, he sees that the party needs to keep reaching out. He then spoke of the Conserva-

tive government. “The challenge that confronts us is not a failure of ability or talent – it is a failure of leadership. And that is a failure that we intend to reverse,” Mulcair said. “Leadership comes in many forms. Our current government appeals to people’s fears, rules by seeking out division, and is leaving the tab for our expenses to our grandchildren.” Mulcair also touched how in order to win the next election, the party is going to have to “reach beyond its traditional base and unite all progressist forces under the NDP banner.” His speech ended on the note of standing up for our government run services such as healthcare and public pensions. “The institutions we’ve built – we risk losing under the policies of the current government,” he said. “As we unite our party to take on a government that is dismantling the very institutions we hold dear, we will do so without excluding or demonizing those who disagree with us. We will unite progressives, we will unite our country, and together will work towards a more just and a better world.” With the leadership race now behind him, Mulcair has his work cut out for him as he steps back into the political ring, this time as leader of the official opposition in parliament.

NOW HIRING:

News Editor The News Editor of The Cascade is responsible for assigning, collecting, editing and laying out the content of the News section of The Cascade. The News Editor shall ensure that issues relevant to students are presented in his/her section. The News Editor is also required to write one news article per issue. Qualifications: 1) Must be registered in at least one credit course during the fall/winter semester. 2) Must be available to work varying hours. 3) Must be present in the office for a minimum of five hours a week druing publishing weeks. 4) Must be able to interact effectively with Cascade and university staff, students and the general public. 5) News writing experience is an asset. 6) Must demonstrate strong command of the English language by passing an editing test, which will be administered during the interview process. 7) Must have an interest in and a rudimentary understanding of journalistic practices. 8) Basic literacy is required. Rate of pay: $175 per issue Please send a resume, cover letter and sample news article to ali@ufvcascade.ca

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

OPINION

Feminism, sexism and equality: discussing the purpose of the third wave LEANNA PANKRATZ AND SASHA MOEDT THE CASCADE

Having difficulties forging through the terms and history of feminism? No worries! Sasha and leanna tackle the insand-outs of what, exactly, feminism is, was and ought to be. Leanna: As Emmaline Pankhurst, twentieth century womens’ rights activist, said in one of her many famous speeches, “Men make the moral code and they expect women to accept it … They have decided that it is entirely right and proper for men to fight for their liberties and their rights, but that it is not right and proper for women to fight for theirs.” This quote sums up the original intent of feminism: the movement from a patriarchal, male-dominated society to one that offers equal rights between genders, beginning with allowing women the right to vote. Those days are, frankly, over. There once was a time where women chained themselves to city gates in search of the right to sign a ballot, which transitioned to a time where women spurned the idea of the domestic kitchen goddess in heels and petitioned for a more prominent role in society. Now, we have third-wave feminists (armed, dangerous, ready to eat men up emotionally, sexually and physically) turning what was once a noble fight into something more along the lines of sexism. Sasha: You can certainly call the first two waves of feminism a noble fight. The first wave got women a vote, rights to custody and guardianship of their own children, and the right to go to university. They changed rape laws so that the victim wasn’t the father of the woman raped, but the woman herself – so that that the woman could actually lay charges. The second wave tackled gender equality in the workforce, violence against women, and sexist images and ideas in education and the media. They fought for access to maternal care, contraceptives, and abortion. bell hooks, a well-known thirdwave feminist, says this: “Simply put, feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.”

By calling the movement sexist, you render it irrelevant. But what makes the third wave irrelevant? I can’t think of any way, to be honest. Look at what’s happening in the States, with the Republican battle to control women’s choices about abortion. State rep. Alan Dick said, “If I thought that the man’s signature was required ... in order for a woman to have an abortion, I’d have a little more peace about it.” This turns a debate about whether abortion is right or wrong into a debate about whether a woman should (or could) decide that for herself. As a feminist looking at the abortion issue, I am not looking at whether abortion is right or wrong: I’m looking at whether the woman has the right to make her own choice about her body. And that basic human right is being stripped away. It’s true that women have much more in society than we used to. But we are still not treated as equals. It is common knowledge than we are paid less than men; Statistics Canada shows that, in 2005, women were paid 85 cents for every dollar paid to men. This is inequality. Why is it that men are paid more? Because men are considered superior. This is a mindset we must change. The third wave is different than the first and second wave in that it encompasses more than middle class white women in North America. We are fighting oppression: of class, race and gender. We include men. We include aboriginal women. We include the poor, working class. It’s easy to describe feminism as a battle. It was most certainly a fight. But being armed implies we are fighting someone else: men, maybe.

But third-wave feminists are fighting to end oppression, not men. We don’t want to eat men up emotionally; we love men, we marry them, we have relationships with them. In many cases, we are men. We are fighting the oppression that eats men up emotionally. Men must deal with issues that oppress us: they too are forced into the traps sexism sets. Leanna: The stereotypes given to feminists these days are unfortunate - those of a man-hating woman bent on solidifying her position as “superior” in society. While women, contrary to popular belief, still have a long way to go before we are fully incorporated into both the professional and personal world as equals to our male counterparts, it’s key to realize that equality is the ideal we are searching for. As a feminist, I prefer to be one who speaks out for equality and fair distribution of social prominence (regardless of gender, race, orientation, or social status), without resorting to the angry, teeth-gnashing stereotype. I am adamant in stressing the importance of equality. We’re not here to position ourselves above men, but to position ourselves alongside them, as this world cannot run without the other. We shouldn’t be here to eat men up, as the stereotypes go, but to encourage them, with the utmost hopes that we are encouraged ourselves. Third-wave feminism, contrary to the images portrayed in such feminist works as Bitch magazine and Diablo Cody’s Megan Fox fiasco Jennifer’s Body, should not be about promiscuous-and-proud young ladies “sticking it to the man.” Yes, we belong to an age that has thankfully

liberated women from the shackles of sexual repression, and from the former restrictions that inhibited a woman to publicly speak her mind without the threat of flaming arrows, but there is room for some class – we don’t all have to become loudmouthed, makeup-boycotting stereotypes (and there certainly is a stereotype), but rather celebrate our status as women, as females, in whichever way we choose to portray ourselves. If a woman wants to toss around a football, or live in dresses, so be it. We’re women, for God’s sake, and feminism is about recognizing that, and realizing the power that holds, without trashing men. I reiterate with utmost agreement the point mentioned before that men are our friends, lovers and professional partners. Again, we’re simply trying to provide an essential shift in the mindset that women are less capable, without resorting to reducing male credibility. It should be a win-win situation here, ladies and gents. Essentially, what would a world without each separate wave of feminism be? Oppressed, and even more so these days, where sexism rears its ugly head in the faces of both genders. It’s not a battle of the sexes, but rather a battle involving the sexes against sexism. Wordy, yes, but there’s a big difference. Sasha: The stereotype of the feminist is something that defeats the feminist cause, and leaves us easy to dismiss. This image of the feminist as a man-hater, as a lesbian, as a whiny, angry woman – it is used against those who would call themselves feminists. “She’s too ugly to get herself a man,” people might say. I had a conversation with a woman who had similar views as I do in regards to feminism, yet she outright said, “Oh, I’m not a feminist.” Why the hell not? It’s because of these ugly stereotypes. But I don’t think we should avoid these barriers placed in our way. Call yourself what you are. On that note, you brought up the feminist magazine, Bitch. I believe this magazine is a “non-academic” analysis of sexism in media and pop culture. Self-described as “sharp” and “fun,” I really think the idea is to take back the meaning of the term “bitch.” What does it mean when a girl is called a bitch? It means she is assertive, perhaps aggressive – a

man’s trait? She is taking on the role of the “superior” male and is being called out for it. Of course, this is one definition of the term, which I am assuming Bitch magazine is taking on. They are, in essence, taking control of a derogatory term laid on feminists. Of course, there have been criticisms about their style, but personally, I don’t have an issue with their tone. But the aversion to being called a feminist takes away from the movement itself. The stereotype of the “bra-burning” woman (which, incidentally, was a term coined by the media in the ‘60s, though at that time a fire was never lit) pushes people away from the idea; it’s poisonous. Leanna: While most third wave feminists wouldn’t like to call themselves sexists, the well-intentioned but ultimately objective-shattering fight for superiority in society pushes out the original notion of equality. They’re not fighting for the vote, for the job, or for the paycheque (though that is certainly an issue), but for whatever else is left to fight and make a scene for. The po-mo version of feminism, for instance, is anything but empowering in its introduction of a whole new kind of sexism against men, which can be as dangerous as a completely patriarchal society could be. I’d rather fight for the upholding of equality, of a world that truly cannot live without female just as it cannot live without male. That’s real empowerment, and that, I believe, is feminism. Sasha: It comes down to fear of how people will perceive you. In a world where there isn’t enough of an understanding of how important the third wave is, and with the distorted perception of what a modern feminist is, it’s easy to imagine what a possible date might see in you: an angry, “sexist” man-eating woman clinging to an irrelevant idea. Angry for the sake of being angry. But the very definition of feminism is to end sexism, and modern feminists understand this. And, really, who wants to date a person that doesn’t know jack-squat about feminism? Let’s take back our name, and wear it honestly.

Letters to the editor Legalization removes fuel from the fire A few issues ago, The Cascade published an opinion article about how legalization would make drug trafficking worse. The question Paige Hoblak asked was, “How would decriminalizing drugs act as a solution (to drug trafficking)?” Well, the idea is that the results would be the same as alcohol prohibition. When alcohol was illegal, it was sold on the black market and smuggled across borders just like drugs are today. But now that it’s legal, do we still buy booze from the black market? No, we buy it from BC liquor stores where is it regulated and taxed. More importantly, gangs aren’t profiting from those sales. I don’t like how drug abusers are

Image: muyuy74/Flickr.com

looked upon in society. I can honestly say that I have never taken an illegal drug in my life, but drug abusers are not criminals. It’s true that some people do commit crimes and abuse others under the influ-

ence of drugs, and I have no intent of defending those people. The elephant in the room is marijuana use specifically, but I’m talking about abusers of all drugs. I fail to see how jail time is supposed to cure some-

one with a chemical drug addiction. Why are drug addicts thrown in jail and forced to make contact with real criminals? More importantly, jail is not going to make that addiction go away. Addicts don’t need jail time, they need therapy. Not only is therapy a more humane and effective treatment, it’s cheaper to send someone to drug rehab then it is to prosecute and jail them. And so far our methods of combating drug trafficking are simply not working. When a government catches and locks up the producers and distributors of illegal drugs, the supply goes down. That makes the market more valuable and tempting for new people to enter. Not to mention fighting these gangs is extremely dangerous and life risking for our law enforcement. When a govern-

ment catches and locks people up for taking drugs, the tax payers spend millions of dollars to lock up their fellow citizens who have arguably done nothing to actually harm the establishment. Is drug legalization an ideal solution? Of course not. It comes with its own set of problems. But there are two ways to make laws: for how the world should be, or for how the world is. There will always be demand for drugs, and the people buying them need help, not punishment. We could take away a large source of income from the black market by legalizing, or we could continue to spend millions of dollars and thousands of lives playing gang whack-amole in the drug wars. Greg Stickland

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

OPINION

Why doesn’t After- Prove you’re a community; be Math play CIVL? civil to CIVL KAREN ANEY THE CASCADE

When I was young, whenever I said, “I’m bored,” my mother would always say, “You’re not bored, you’re just boring.” She stopped saying this, ostensibly because it had a special knack for eliciting fits of rage, but the lesson holds true. If you’re bored— or if you don’t like something—it’s your own fault for not bothering to do anything about it. What follows is the story of two things on campus that I wasn’t happy with, and how easy it was to make them change. CIVL. It’s our school’s radio station. They broadcast an obscenely wide variety of music and talk radio. Despite that, how many of you have actually listened to them? In the interest of honesty, I can count the number of times I’ve tuned in on one hand, despite the fact it should be right up my alley – I’ve worked at a recording studio before, and as a Cascade employee, I’m more involved than most in campus goings-on. Given the high calibre of programming that CIVL offers, this is a travesty. Unfortunately, it’s also a reality – CIVL just isn’t played enough around campus; as our University is primarily commuter-based, it isn’t played enough off-campus, either. Another campus travesty, unfortunately, is the music offered at AfterMath. Yes, AfterMath – or perhaps, what’s quickly becoming known as dubstep central. No, wait—my bad—that should be loud dubstep central. The volume issues originate from a wiring SNAFU, which will be fixed in the summer, but that doesn’t mean it’s more welcoming for diners. A conversation with manager Brad Ross revealed the factors that led to the current state at AfterMath: when he first took over, the pub played 99.3 The Fox – but since he wasn’t interested in playing a station with so much advertising, he switched to his iPod. The staff got sick of his music, so they switched to satellite radio, with the station to be chosen at the workers’ discretion from a pre-determined list. The result is an inconsistent experience that doesn’t jive well against off-campus establishments. It’s understandable that employees got sick of their employer’s iPod, but (say it with me now, everyone who’s ever worked retail) they need to get over it. You may love dubstep,

or metal, or Australian throat singing, and there isn’t a single genre that won’t offend anyone – but there’s got to be a better choice than the current system. If you work in retail, it’s your job to appeal to customers, not yourself. This may mean, horror of horrors, listening to the same song two or three times on an eight-hour shift. Pay attention to this, students: not only are you the customers for our lovely campus pub, you’re also the employers. You have say in what goes on at AfterMath, and you also have some say in what goes on over at CIVL. One Cascade-born suggestion? AfterMath should support CIVL—and gain some consistency—by playing it instead of their own varied choice of music. Aaron Levy of CIVL and Ross of AfterMath were both quick to say that it’s not always feasible. Most shows will offend someone, and some will offend most – “as it should be,” Ross is quick to point out. In the process of interviewing both parties about the possibility of playing CIVL at our beloved pub, this idea is on its way to becoming a reality. Both Levy and Ross agreed that playing CIVL at AfterMath during specific times where the programming is appropriate is not only possible, but a great idea. Levy, who mentioned wishing CIVL could even be piped into the Abbotsford cafeteria, loves the idea. Ross, who’s a big enough supporter of campus goings-on that he names his daily specials after UFV basketball MVPs, is completely behind the plan as well. There isn’t yet a specific date for this to be instigated, but like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally, it’s coming. There are many aspects of campus life at UFV that probably don’t live up to your expectations. CIVL doesn’t get played enough around campus. The music at AfterMath is inconsistent and often just plain bad. In this case, two wrongs make a right. I was bored with wearing earplugs while drinking cheap beer, and with wondering what actually goes on over at CIVL – and because I listened to my mom, that’s now going to change. If you get bored waiting for this change to actually be made, speak up for yourself. It’s our campus; we pay for the pub and the radio station. It might as well be something that appeals to us.

I’m sitting in a communications class, and since it isn’t my class, the guy beside me looks kind of confused. “I’m just here for the presentation,” I explain. This seems to satisfy him. We wait together while a man who looks vaguely like a lumberjack and wears a ball cap writes something on the board: www.civl.ca/vote. Finally he turns around. “I’m Aaron Levy, the manager at the campus community radio station. How many of you know it exists?” A few students raise their hands. He grins wryly. “Not enough of you.” With that, he powers through the next four minutes. That’s not a lot of time, but he makes the most of it, explaining exactly who he is, what he does, and what CIVL radio should mean to the students of UFV. “We’re asking for an increase from three to five dollars a semester,” He tells the class. “We currently receive three dollars a semester, and that’s a result of the fact that in 2005, students voted to fund a radio station … and over the last eight years, that’s what’s been going on at CIVL right around the hall.” This is the second time in as many semesters that CIVL has held a referendum. After December’s suggested $4 fee-increase was turned down, they put together this referendum for a $2 one instead, hoping that a smaller fee-increase would sway more hearts. The fact that they’re trying to find middle ground on this issue is one of the reasons I will always stand behind CIVL radio. They’re open, honest and completely blunt about why they want what they want. Anyone can visit www.civl.ca/vote

and see exactly where the proposed funding would go; they’re absolutely transparent. They’ve made it as easy as they possibly could have for students, and if we’re not willing to pay an extra $4, maybe we’re willing to pay an extra two. Think about that for a second. Both of those are measly amounts. I probably lose that much change in my couch every month. Why does it have to be such a painful process for CIVL to win the affection of the student body? When I first arrived at UFV four years ago, I thought CIVL was one of the coolest things about it. In fact, I still think that. You speak into a microphone and anybody could be listening. You play songs, or spoken word, or throat-singing ballads, or news tips, or tell jokes. The possibilities are endless. In fact, now that I think about it, CIVL’s kind of like a metaphor for UFV as a whole: endless possibilities. We’re in the prime of our lives, can go anywhere, can achieve anything. The possibilities are endless. So why the hell are we snapping our wallets shut so hard and fast over a measly two bucks? So here I am, telling you to stop being petty and think like a community for once. I know that UFV is only a starter university for a lot of students – finish 60 credits and transfer the hell out. Fine. That’s cool. But let’s be serious; none of us are going to be here forever. We’ll drop out or graduate, and one way or another we’re all leaving at some point. Plant some trees, even if you aren’t going to be around to enjoy their shade. Think about the future. Or let me put it this way: the University of the Fraser Valley is only a toddler among universities, and we still have to prove our mettle to the bigger kids. Having an awardwinning radio station is one of the ways to do that. According to the

recent athletics referendum, 800 students are willing to pay an extra $70 a semester, some of which was earmarked for UFV sports teams to beat up other universities’ teams so we can brag about it. Having a radio station is one of the trappings of a real university, and CIVL, like the basketball team, is worth bragging about. “They talk about the Cascades Athletics, like when the men’s team made it to the final four national tournament,” Levy says, “The first time in six years. In only six years, is what everybody’s been saying. Well, we’d been a part of the NCRA for six years when we won our national award, and we won our award – we didn’t just come in as a finalist.” CIVL deserves this increase for a number of reasons. I’m the first to say that I only tune in occasionally, and I’m well aware that not many students tune in at all. It’s hard to work so hard at something, as a campus society, and have nothing physical to show for it; you can’t hold radio waves in your fist as proof of where fees are going in the same way you could hold up an athletics trophy or a copy of The Cascade. What CIVL produces is completely intangible. And this holds true on a number of levels; as Levy is quick to point out, CIVL isn’t just a radio station but a chance for students to learn a set of skills they can’t get anywhere else. Any student or community member can put together a radio show or serve on the board of directors, and you can’t attach a dollar amount to that kind of real-world experience. At the end of the day, CIVL isn’t just a radio station; it’s an opportunity, both for students and for UFV as a whole to prove that we can play with the big kids. So pull up your socks, stop complaining about a measly $2, be a team player, and maybe even listen in once in a while.

and I also must be able to accept the responsibilities that come with sex. You will never know how hard that day was for me. That day, driving to an appointment to have an abortion, it’s really hard. You don’t feel excited, you are not happy. Laying on a table, partially put under, the nurse held my hand as the doctor prepared for the surgery. She was trying to keep my mind focused on other things; she asked me if I had any plans for the summer. All I remember doing is crying. I am a good person. You will never tell me otherwise. I was faced with the hardest decision of my life, and I made the decision to have an abortion based on the fact that I need to keep being the person I am destined to be. Adoption was not an option for me. Neither was having the child. And most of all, it is not your right to tell me either alternatives were. I am sure the members of your

group are hurt by my decision. I bet it breaks your heart. I will tell you this: it breaks my heart even more. Around the world, people are forced to make decisions they don’t want to. Unfortunately, I was also forced to make a very hard decision. I had to give up having a child in order to keep on making a difference in this world in a different way. Every human on this planet has an agenda; some of us are trying to make a difference and others are not. I think if you knew who I was, you would be absolutely shocked. I am not an idiot. I am not a slut. I am not heartless. I am a spiritual individual who believes in a higher power. I am a flawed human, just like you. Please remember, Pro Life Group, that you carry a delicate message. I know you have good intentions, and you want people to consider the options available. It is admirable to an extent. I don’t expect you to change your mind on the matter, or argue

about the process. I just want to remind you that I am a woman who has made the decision to have an abortion. I am not proud, nor happy; I certainly don’t brag about the experience. But as hard as it is to say, I do not regret it. When you put down the women who have had to endure the pain of having an abortion, remember that you then put them in a situation that leaves them questioning their own self-worth. I am very alone in my experience, and I am still grieving. I had to make the choice. But I am thankful every day that I had the option and that I had a choice. I believe that I am here for a reason, and that I am who I am for a reason, I couldn’t accomplish what I have to with a child. I hope that what I’ve done will eventually be outweighed by what I accomplish, and at this rate, I think it will. I am still here, and I will continue being the person I know I am.

DESSA BAYROCK

THE CASCADE

Letters to the editor Dear Pro Life Group, I am a student at UFV. I have been on the Dean’s List, I am involved in several student organizations, I have won bursaries and awards, and I have struggled to do well in all aspects of my life. I try to be a leader. I know there are many people who go to UFV, as well as friends and family, who often come to me for advice, whether that be in their studies, how to be more involved at UFV, or sometimes are just going through a rough time. I have always been a person who lends an ear, and I try to help people. It is often looked down upon to be open about your strengths, but I can confidently say that I am a caring and compassionate person, I would give the shirt off my back to help those in need. I am an independent young woman and so many opportunities continually open up for me and others

like me. Doors never seem to close for me; they are only momentarily jammed. Over a year ago, I was on antibiotics, which caused my birth control to fail. I found out a few weeks later I was pregnant. In my early twenties, I was faced with a problem that would literally change my entire future. Do you personally know how hard it is to be faced with the situation of being pregnant, knowing you don’t have anyone who will be able to support you? Not your family, not the father, definitely not the government. You don’t. You cannot even begin to pretend to understand, and this is what frustrates me the most. I don’t tell people about my abortion. I am ashamed. I am sad. I am alone. I deal with my decision every day. I walk past signs that guilt me. I hear people talk about how it is my responsibility to take care of this child. Why? Because I had sex,

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

OPINION

North Korea tries to be sneaky, pulls nothing ALEXEI SUMMERS

THE CASCADE

North Korea is slated to launch a new Kwangmyongsong satellite into space following a March 16 announcement by the Korean Central News Agency. The launch will be held on April 15, 2012, to commemorate the 100th birthday of the nation’s founder and eternal President Kim Il-Sung, father of the late Kim Jong-Il and grandfather of the current President, “beloved leader” Kim Jung-Eun. If successful, this will be the first satellite North Korea has successfully entered into orbit. International response was at first slow, and even initially positive. However, now other nations—even North Korea’s allies—seem to have taken a strong opposing stance to the launch, and have expressed deep concern. Many nations claim this will further North Korea’s ballistic missile capabilities, and have criticized the launch coinciding with the birthday of Kim Il-Sung to be a smokescreen for circumventing UN Security Council Resolutions regarding North Korea’s nuclear program. North Korean authorities have attempted to make it clear to their neighbours that this flight is a peaceful one, and that the satellite has nothing to do with its nuclear program or espionage of any kind. North Korean official state sources claim that the satellite’s purpose is only to commemorate Kim Il-Sung’s genesis and birth, and that the satellite’s only functions are to broadcast the song “Happy Birthday to You,” and to further North Korean space research. North Korea has further gone on to criticize international reactions

with strong condemnation of what it sees as a monopoly of outer space. “The peaceful development and use of space is a universally recognized legitimate right of a sovereign state,” claims the Korean Central News Agency. “The satellite launch for scientific researches into the peaceful development and use of space and economic development can by no means be a monopoly of specified countries.” North Korea has also pointed out that it has given due notice to other nations that this launch would take

place, and has also invited foreign journalists and experts to observe the space launch firsthand – not typical behaviour of North Korea, which called “The Hermit Kingdom” because of its usual policy of not allowing anyone in or out of its borders. It certainly never allows anyone to come inspect it or its industry and developments. The small communist regime has further insisted that this flight will be a safe one, and that it has been better planned than the two previous Kwangmyongsong satel-

Image: Retlaw Snellac/Flickr

lite launches, which allegedly failed and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. (North Korea insists that at least one of the satellites made it into orbit, despite the rest of the international community being unable to locate it anywhere.) North Korea insists that this launch has taken all its neighbours into consideration; should something go wrong, and debris fall from the sky, it will not land in one of its neighbouring nations, but rather into the ocean. North Korea is internationally

renowned as a terrible liar when it comes to matters such as nuclear programs. For example, in September of 2004, when a large explosion was detected in the Ryanggang province of North Korea followed by what appeared to be a mushroom cloud, the North denied any explosion had taken place at all. It invited diplomats to come inspect the area where the explosion was reported to have taken place. When brought to the suspected explosion site, nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary, and they went home satisfied. Later on, South Korean intelligence realized that the diplomats had been taken to a place 100 km away from the suspected explosion site. Because North Korea has made no efforts to cover up its tracks, as far as anyone knows, it’s highly probable that this launch is exactly as the North Korean state claims – a peaceful launch of a satellite, which will broadcast patriotic songs and be used for space research. Usually, when confronted about its actions by the international community, North Korea exhibits signs of nervousness, just as a person would – it becomes evasive, and tries to explain its actions with threadbare excuses. In this case, however, it has invited the international community to come together with them to celebrate the 100th birthday of the nation’s founder Kim Il-Sung, and because of the openness of this event, I believe that North Korea has absolutely nothing up its sleeve. Crafty as ever, and trying to convince itself of its own sneakiness, North Korea, if you ask me, is throwing a perfectly harmless event just to prove it can – hoping that, in the future, we might not turn such a careful eye to what it’s launching into space.

Sirhan Sirhan: the real Manchurian candidate? ALEXEI SUMMERS THE CASCADE The entire event was captured on live television and shook the nation to its core: yet another beloved American politician slain before the public eye, lying in a red carpet made from his own blood. It was June 5, 1968, shortly after midnight in Los Angeles, California at the Ambassador Hotel when 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant, Sirhan Sirhan allegedly drew a .22 caliber Iver-Johnson Cadet revolver and gunned down Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the democratic nomination for President of the United States of America. Shortcut to the year 2012, and Sirhan Sirhan is soon up for parole once again. He was arrested shortly after the assassination, tried and sentenced to death by gas chamber – a sentence which was overturned and replaced with life imprisonment. He is now in his 60s, and judges have been denying his appeals for parole for years. He has, as of 2011, been denied parole a total of 14 times. Robert F. Kennedy, referred to lovingly by the American public as

Image: California Department of Corrections

“Bobby” Kennedy, was the brother of former president John F. Kennedy – better known as JFK, and also famously assassinated. Given the popularity of the family, it is unsurprising that the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the Kennedy brothers have been the object of question, concern and controversy for the past half century. And there is plenty of controversy. For one thing, Sirhan Sirhan claims to have no memory of killing

Bobby Kennedy, despite numerous confessions that he committed the crime. This has been the subject of much speculation of a Manchurian Candidate-style brainwashing of some sort. The Manchurian Candidate was a political thriller novel released in 1959, written by Richard Condon. The novel’s premise is that a platoon of soldiers in the Korean War are captured by the communists, brainwashed and then released. It is apparent by the end of the novel that they have been brainwashed by the communists to overthrow the US government from the inside. The film adaptation of the novel, starring Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey, featured the final dénouement of the film as an assassination attempt by Raymond Shaw, a brainwashed character in the film who is unaware of his actions. It is in this light that Sirhan Sirhan is viewed by conspiracy theorists, speculating foul play and internal conspiracy surrounding the deaths of the Kennedy brothers. It has been suggested that he, like Raymond Shaw in the novel, was programmed to assassinate Kennedy. After he car-

ried out his duty, conspiracy theorists reason, his memory of the event was wiped. There is some evidence that could be interpreted as corroborating this. At his trial, his behaviour was seen as erratic or even mechanical. Any time he was asked if he shot Senator Kennedy, witnesses reported that he would quickly answer “yes,” but as though he had no control over his response. The memory wipe theory has also been supported by psychologist Dr. Eduard Simson-Kallas, who worked closely with Sirhan during his stay in San Quentin Prison. After many hours of hard work, hypnosis, therapy and analysis, the doctor determined that Sirhan truly had no memory of the murder or its aftermath, and confirmed that it was entirely possible that he had been brainwashed to carry out the act by persons unknown. The CIA has been accused of having a part in both Kennedy brothers’ deaths. Since both of the Kennedys’ deaths, the CIA has had free roam of many political decisions that during JFK’s day-and-age simply wouldn’t have flown. Foreign government

takeovers, assassinations, and coupde-tats -- you name it. If they want it to happen, it will. The Kennedys were well-known to have had a poor relationship with the CIA: to hold extreme contempt of them, block their actions, and ultimately disregard much of the organization’s advice. It was therefore in the CIA’s interest for the Kennedys to die. The questions remain unanswered; even Sirhan Sirhan is apparently unsure of the truth behind the events that transpired on that fateful day so many years ago. Since the death of the Kennedys, public perspective regarding the government (and its organizations, such as the CIA and the FBI) has been mistrustful. While it is a sad state of affairs when one lends sympathy to one of the 20th centuries most well-known contemporary villains, the fact is, that’s just the mistrustful age we live in. No matter whose fault the assassination really is, it remains highly unlikely that Sirhan will ever be released, and that the judges will continue to reject his appeals for parole. The Manchurian Candidate, after all, is just a movie.

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ARTS & LIFE

CROSSWORD

Once upon an Old Testament

JENNIFER COLBOURNE THE CASCADE

ACROSS 2. Moses broke the stone tablets from God when he saw the Israelites worshipping a golden ____ (4 letters) 3. The ascribed author of the Pentateuch (5 letters) 5. This king ordered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace (15 letters) 8. Elijah was taken up by a _____ of fire (7 letters) 10. The hairy twin of Jacob (4 letters) 11. Adam and Eve’s abode (4 letters) 12. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of _____ (4 letters) 13. The second plague of Egypt (5 letters)

LAST WEEK’S Answer Key

Due to a cock-up by the Arts & Life layout guy, this is a repeat of last week’s crossword. Enjoy having the right grid this time.

DOWN 1. Samson slayed an entire army with an ass’ _____ (7 letters) 3. A food tasting like honey that was sent from heaven to the Israelites in the desert (5 letters) 4. Winged beings whose bodies are covered with eyes (8 letters) 6. David put her husband on the front lines of battle to die so that he could marry her. (9 letters) 7. Noah’s ark came to rest on Mount ____ (6 letters) 9. Jael murdered Sisera by hammering him through the head with a ____ ____ (4, 3 letters)

Aquarius: Jan 20 - Feb 18 There is a pair of diabolical mice planning on taking over the world. One is a genius. The other’s insane.

The Weekly Horoscope Gemini: May 21 - June 21 Everyone’s fucked and they don’t even know.

Star Signs from the Sumas Sibyl Libra: Sept 23 - Oct 22 It’s time to put on make-up. It’s time to light the lights.

Pisces: Feb 19 - March 20

Cancer: June 22 - July 22

Scorpio: Oct 23 - Nov 21

You don’t find me funny? It just so happens that terrible things are happening this week to all Pisces who lack a sense of humour.

Your cat is actually a wizard forced to live in a feline’s body in punishment for his misdeeds. Oh yeah, and he also plans to kill you in your sleep unless you start buying a better brand of cat food.

Have no fear. Your childhood aspiration to truly be an Oscar Mayer wiener will soon come to pass.

Leo: July 23 - Aug 22

Sagittarius: Nov 22 - Dec 21

You will be tied up all this week. You should probably ask someone to come cut you free.

Somewhere in the world awaits a sword in a stone that only you can free. It is your destiny to pull it out and sell it for an immense profit on eBay.

Got milk? Or even more importantly – got beer?

Taurus: April 20 - May 20

Virgo: Aug 23 - Sept 22

You’re no April fool. You’re a yearround fool, fool!

Buy free-range eggs. Otherwise, you will ironically be abducted by aliens and forced to live in a fourfoot cage the rest of your life.

Aries: March 21 - April 19

Capricorn: Dec 22 - Jan 19 You’re going to see an alligator, later – or possibly a crocodile, in a while.

Visit us at www.monktucky.com!

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FEATURE

March of the Bronies ANTHONY BIONDI

PAUL ESAU

PHOTOS

Love and tolerate: this is the primary message of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic television show, as defined by SUS vice president financial Samuel Broadfoot, host of UFV’s first ever official Brony party. Broadfoot was the driving force behind the March 19 event, which featured pizza, games, episodes of the TV show and cupcakes. The event revealed a thriving UFV Brony community, who channeled their energy into activities like “pin the tail on the pony” and grooving to fan-made remixes of the My Little Pony soundtrack. Some even wore Brony-inspired gear bedazzled with rainbows and pastel colours, presumably to match the sprinkles they’d heaped upon their cupcakes. Shane Potter, vice president east for the 2012-2013 year, defined the term Brony for those wondering. “A Brony is someone that is a fan of the My Little

Pony: Friendship Is Magic, and one that enjoys the show and enjoys the principles of friendship and magic.” The leader of the herd, Broadfoot, was more specific. “A Brony is anyone who can, without throwing up, watch three consecutive episodes of My Little Pony and still like it.” One thing many attendees wished to stress is the vague nature of the word “Brony” in regards to the fandom of My Little Pony. Most were recreational Bronies, in contrast to the term’s more extreme internet manifestations. “A person who enjoys the show itself could be a Brony, but it’s more like a gradient of sorts,” Aaron Siebenga clarified. “There’s people who are slightly in and just watch the show. There’s people who are more in-depth who look at the fanart, listen to the music, collect fan art and music. And then there are the cosplayers,

the people who actually make the music, make the art, things like that.” When asked if Bronyism is a philosophy, a hobby or a religious movement, Siebenga was less conclusive. “Some people think it’s a religion, some people think it’s a cult. Personally I think it’s a hobby of sorts and if people appreciate the characteristics and principles represented by the show then that’s just an added bonus.” My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic follows the adventures of six ponies: Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Apple Jack, as they strive to strengthen their friendship in the town of Ponyville. Each episode embodies a certain theme or moral about friendship. The show premiered on The Hub in 2010.

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+ SCHOOL = OPEN LEARNING Canadian students are working to save money for tuition. This summer, learn while you work by enrolling in online and distance courses.

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THE CASCADE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

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FEATURE

Words and Wine brought English students together

Above: Emcee Ryan Petersen tests Aaron Levy, Joel Colbourne and Greg Eliason’s knowledge of English literature

TAYLOR JOHNSON

REBECCA GROEN

A sonnet: 14 lines, strict rhyme scheme, iambic pentameter – and bathroom stall quotations? Well, after the busy turn out of the English Students Association (ESA)’s Words and Wine Poetry Reading and Slam on Wednesday, March 21, thanks to Ryan Petersen’s hilarious poem, I am sure all in attendance can now truly appreciate the graffiti sprawled on bathroom doors across campus. AfterMath’s wine specials and the ESA’s poetry contest resulted in a completely packed house; it was nearly impossible to grab a seat. The event drew in UFV’s artistic and expressive crowd who performed energetic, witty and heart touching poetry. ESA president Niki Robinson described the event as “highly entertaining … we (the ESA) were happy to give these talented writers an opportunity to share their works” – and what talented works they were! From the serious religious poem “Crucifixion” by Paul Esau to “The Canterbury Tales”— Chaucer’s Middle English work performed as a rap by three students—these young artists captivated the audience. The emcee, Ryan Petersen, kept the event lighthearted and fun by pulling contestants up on stage

for spelling and literature trivia questions. Correct answers were rewarded with prizes, while incorrect answers were responded to by pelting rocket candies and chocolates at the contestants. Other than laughing cramps and giggle fits, no contestants were harmed by the flying sugary treats – with the exception of perhaps CIVL’s Aaron Levy, who quite staunchly took a misfired rocket to the face. After the open mic period, the poetry slam contest took place. ESA members were given the difficult task of determining the winner and recipient of the Willow View Farms Market gift basket. Most audience members could connect to Sherylynn Niezen’s “New Lamp” poem, about a distraught girlfriend who demands a new lamp after anger towards her boyfriend causes her to throw it at the door, while Scott Sparrow’s slightly calmer “Conversation: Tea Steam” caused audience members to crave a fireplace and warm cup of tea. It was indeed a tough competition. “Choosing a winner was very difficult! All the contenders were engaging,” Robinson said. “All of the poems were interesting. The

PHOTOS

CONTRIBUTOR

Below: Slam grand prize winner: Sherylynn Niezen

judges based their decision on the level of audience applause each poet received and it was a tough call … We were proud to present the grand prize winner, Sherylynn Niezen.” Hearty congratulations goes to Niezen for her energetic winning performance, Josh Frede for his runner-up “Survivor’s Guide” and to Scott Sparrow for his second runner-up placement. Beyond poetry and trivia, the Words and Wine event had another purpose: connecting students who share the same interests, as students were able to make new friends and discuss poetry over wine and appetizers. Robinson and the ESA were thrilled with the turnout and hope that the new ESA board (elections will be coming up in April) will “continue to host community building Englishrelated events” and, as the ESA mission statement reads, to make “the university experience more fun by assembling students who share similar interests.” I am sure we students can look forward to more events such as Words and Wine by the new ESA board in the coming year. Interested in joining ESA or running for the new board? Join the “UFV English Students Association” group on Facebook to learn more.

Above: James Linde Below: Scott Sparrow

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ARTS & LIFE

Double Dine & Dash: Donairo’s & Peggi’s Donair

Peggi’s Donair 5643 Vedder Road, Chilliwack 604.858.0999

Hours: Mon-Sun 11 a.m. to 9 a.m. Prices: regular donair under $10 (depending on meat choice). Donairo’s 33357 South Fraser Way, Abby 604.870.0199 Hours: Mon-Sat 11 a.m. to 8 a.m. Prices: regular donair under $10 (depending on meat and cheese choice), soft drink included.

DESSA BAYROCK THE CASCADE

I’ll start by saying that if you’ve never had a donair, you are seriously missing out. Pita. Shaved, roasted meat. Miscellaneous vegetables. Sauce. I stand by the idea that the simplest food is the best, in terms of being tastiest or healthiest. Donairs are a prime example of this rule. However, a donair is a lot like a sandwich in that there are a million variations, some of which are good and some of which are bad. You can use chicken, beef, or lamb. You can add falafel (not that I’ve actually seen anyone ever do this). The vegetable topping selection is similar to what you’d find at Subway, and the choice of sauce (although varying from place to

place) usually includes a variety of things, such as garlic sauce, ranch, tzatziki, hot sauce, chipotle and sweet sauce. The kind of cool part about donair places is the way the meat is cooked: giant, upright roasting spindles are loaded with a side of beef or lamb or innumerable chicken breasts, which are then placed in a semicircle of heating elements. As the spindles turn, the meat slowly roasts – and as the meat roasts, the outer layers are shaved off and put in donairs. This way, new layers are always being exposed to the heat, and the meat in the donairs is always hot. These spindles rotate, cook, and are shaved down all day; by closing time there isn’t generally too much left. However, while method and ingredients are basically the same from donair joint to donair joint, no two donair places are alike when it comes to the final product. We have a prime example of this in Donairo’s in Abbotsford and Peggi’s Donair in Chilliwack. Both places are favourites of mine, and I recommend either. Since one is in Chilliwack and one is in Abbotsford, it’s probably easiest to go to whichever is closest. However, for the sake of argument (or assuming you live on No. 3 road and travel times are approximately equidistant), I’ll take each donair joint through its paces. As restaurant spaces go, I’ve never seen a donair place intended to hold a massive amount of peo-

Image: Aaron B./Yelp.ca

ple. Both Peggi’s and Donairo’s have three or four small tables if you really want to sit and eat, but both offer relatively cramped dining areas. Peggi’s, however, has a cosier and more comfortable atmosphere by a mile. The menu is hand-drawn on a chalkboard and local art lines the walls – it’s an interesting place to look around while you’re waiting for your donair to be made. Donairo’s, while suffering the same dining space constraints, has an absolutely massive and mostly empty kitchen, making the narrow eating space seem almost absurd. Both kitchens are completely visible to customers, separated only by a counter. This only adds to the cozy atmosphere in Peggi’s, but only

creates a sense of massive, seemingly unused space in Donairo’s. Donairo’s takes clear advantage, however, in pita. They make and cook it themselves, fresh for each order, and as a result it is the most delicious pita I have ever tasted. Because both pita and meat are hot off the pan, the donairs begin and stay warmer for longer, and a donair is at its best when it’s still warm; because Donairo’s donairs have a hotter initial temperature, they generally travel better, i.e., if it’s going to take you 10 minutes to get home or back to class. On the other hand, because these pitas are made fresh they tend to be thicker, and as a result they have to be used in more of a tortilla style. The finished donair has the shape of a hard-shell taco; both ends are open, as well as the top (to some degree). It’s because of this more open shape that I recommend sitting and eating at Donairo’s, rather than taking it elsewhere. If not handled correctly, the Donairo’s donair is one that can become messy at an alarming rate. Eating while driving is definitely not an option. The Peggi’s donair, in contrast, is a neat little packet that is easily maneuvered. In terms of menu choices, Peggi’s is a little sparser; if you’re looking for something that’s not a donair, Donairo’s also offers fries, wings and salads. Peggi’s, I’m afraid, is just donairs. Both offer beef, chicken and lamb options, and Donairo’s has the option of falafel if anyone is interested (or,

Image: Shawn M./yelp.ca

really, knows what that is). When it comes down to it, ordering the same thing at these two places yields totally different styles of donair and both are delicious. If push comes to shove, I’d have to pick Peggi’s over Donairo’s; although I am in love with the Donairo’s pita, the more manageable packet and the more welcoming atmosphere drive my taste buds to Peggi’s menu. But the important lesson you should learn here is to go out and get a donair. No matter where you go, it’s going to be delicious. If you’re a little overwhelmed with all the options, I suggest the Halifax style, which is available at both establishments and contains tomatoes, onions, beef and sweet sauce. And, as the guy ahead of me in line at Donairo’s said, it beats out Subway any day of the week.

Drink o’ the Week:

The Cascade Cookbook

Crispy Crunch

Martin Kelly’s “Finger” Cookies

Martin Kelly is currently a programmer in the UFV Student Life Department. He has minimal expectations and high hopes. He is a possible lottery winner, at least until he checks his ticket. “This is not the easiest recipe to make, but well worth it if you’re looking for finger food this April Fools. Great for Halloween as well.” Ingredients: 1 cup softened butter 1 cup icing sugar 1 egg 1 tsp. almond extract 1 tsp. vanilla 2 ¾ cups all purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt ¾ cup whole blanched almonds 1 tube red decorator gel Directions: Beat together butter, egg, sugar, almond extract, and vanilla; then beat in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Image: Drunken Monkey/flickr.com

Image: Sam Selby

Working with about ¼ of the dough at a time (while keeping the rest refrigerated) roll heaping teaspoonfuls into finger shape. Press almond firmly into one end for the nail. Press in centre to create knuckle shape. Using a paring knife, make slashes in several places to form knuckle. Bake on lightly greased baking sheets at 325° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 3-5 minutes. Then, lift up the almond and squeeze the red decorator gel onto nail bed and press almond back in place so gel oozes out from underneath. Remove from baking sheets and let cool on racks. Makes about 60 cookies. *Don’t use real fingers. Estimated cost: $10 – $12

You won’t have to run out to 7/11 for a chocolate bar with this tasty treat in your liquor cabinet. 1 oz White Creme de Cacao 1 oz Frangelico Pour ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake. Pour into shot glasses. Ideal for: Chocolate cravings Bad for: Children On The Cascade scale: A-

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

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ARTS & LIFE

Haute Stuff Fashion flies south LEANNA PANKRATZ THE CASCADE

I had the good fortune this past week to jet down to Palm Springs for some much needed R&R. Take it from me: nothing feels as good as 30-degree weather, knowing there’s rain back home. Sorry, friends, Abbotsford just doesn’t provide tans like this. Tennis, pool, and desert hiking aside, there is something else that will always stand out to me on any trip – whether overseas and exotic, or a jaunt to the States. This is the simple joy of witnessing what people are wearing in other places. I’m always surprised by the change in fashion philosophy that a departure from small town style can provide, and I have been struck and, frankly, visually stimulated by what I’ve come across down here. A desert, palm-lined oasis favoured by such names as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin (a heartthrob of mine) and Bob Hope, Palm Springs is a lush garden of all things lifestyle – be it shopping, sport or food. An area with no shortage of country clubs and art enthusiasts, there was a truly wide variety of fashion folk for me to observe, and I came away delighted. It was during the full flush of El Paseo Fashion Week that I made my trip, and though I did not make it to any of the shows, the streets were compensation enough. I was very inspired by my fellow shoppers, in summer gypsy-chic and Old-Hollywood classic shapes, swanning down El Paseo, the city’s premium shopping district. In the land of packed rooftop restaurants (lunch and mojitos on Tommy Bahama’s upstairs patio), and sun-

soaked sidewalks, the style du jour down here consists mainly of crisp white linens, and, paradoxically, anything flowing and bohemian – occasionally a merging of the two. I saw the desert’s answer to Riviera chic, particularly in the lovely ivory sundresses, loose pants and swimsuit cover-ups in Ralph Lauren and Tommy Bahama, and also my fellow sun-tanners. White linen seems to be a favourite down here, and I certainly approved of the clean, classic line it creates, plus its functionally sun-reflective nature. I can see how the likes of French New Wave icons Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot favoured linen for their decadent, sun-drenched romps through St. Tropez (when they weren’t skinny dipping in the Med!). Sheer, nearly-nude linen overtop of a coloured swimsuit is classic sexy, and can be amped up with gold embellishments, and a keyhole neckline for a not-so-small insinuation of skin; pair with a wide-brimmed black or white sunhat, and you’re ready for Resort 2012. White café trousers and Marina trousers, courtesy of J.Crew, can be perfectly paired with navy stripes and perhaps slim boat shoes for a classic, nautical approach that will never lose its elegance. “You can never go wrong with linen,” as a fellow J. Crew shopper quipped, piling her arms full of a mountain of white that I could tell would be a swimmingly fine poolside wardrobe. Silk headscarves also made their appearance, ranging in presentation from the manner of Grace Kelly (together with a great pair of oversize cat’s eye sunglasses), and ‘40s fictional feminist Rosie the Riveter (slightly rockabilly, slim

Book Review

Joe Sacco – Footnotes in Gaza

Image: bthmatth/flickr.com

red scarves laced through up-done hair). Batik-print headscarves were also tied nonchalantly around the entire head, paired with loose braids or long, flowing hair, in a flower child ensemble that sang of shoeless dances around midnight desert campfires. Increasingly taken by the Morocco-inspired look featured in Kate Moss’ line for Longchamp Paris, I was enchanted by the faux jeweland-gold encrusted hippie headbands in Anthropologie, perfectly modernized from being too Sonny and Cher, yet ’60s enough to be retro-chic. Long, flowing skirts in floral or tribal prints are also making their waves, as well as short, psychedelic body-con skirts that provide a similar look with less fabric. Pair any of these with large wooden, gold or feathered jewelry, and you’ve found the Turkish sunset – or at least the Palm Springs one. There really is nothing like a holiday, and I’m looking forward to returning home fresh, rejuvenated and certainly inspired by a change of scenery – headscarves and linen included.

NADINE MOEDT

CONTRIBUTOR

In his vividly-illustrated graphic novel Footnotes in Gaza, Joe Sacco gives readers a glimpse into the present day lives of disenfranchised Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. At the same time he attempts, through the gathering of oral testimonies, to document several traumatic incidents in the history of Gaza. Footnotes in Gaza begins in 1948, with the creation of the independent state of Israel. After a brief history of the initial humanitarian crisis that followed the formation of Gaza, Sacco gathers firsthand accounts of what life was like during the first (1987) and second (2000) intifadas (Palestinian uprisings). Sacco, who is known for his war-reportage comics, moves fluidly from past to present day Gaza, and he discovers that for the poor of Gaza, living conditions have improved very little. Fundamentally, nothing has changed for the great grandchildren of the original Palestinian refugees. Sacco’s focus throughout his novel is on two specific incidents that took place in 1956 in the Palestinian towns of Khan Younis and Rafah. The novel, for the most part, is narrated through eyewitnesses’ firsthand accounts, supplemented by Sacco’s research and made vivid by his own illustrations. On November 3, 1956, the Israeli army invaded Khan Younis, a small town in the Gaza Strip. Reports state 275 inhabitants of the town died as a result of that invasion. That same year, in the neighbouring town of Rafah, witnesses claim 111 Palestinian men were shot and killed by Israeli soldiers. These incidents were relegated to the dustbin of history before Sacco chose to investigate. Sacco’s drawings are based on his own experience in Gaza as well as photographs from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. His images, often close-up portraits, capture the despair of those he interviews. While the research Sacco did for this novel was largely done almost seven years ago, Sacco notes that the lives of Palestinians have not improved. With the election of Hamas, the Islamist political party that governs the area, Israel has declared the Gaza strip an “enemy entity,” making war a constant fear for civilians. Khan Younis is where Sacco begins his investigation, a Pales-

tinian town bordered by a Jewish settlement, tracing the events that led up to that one night in 1956. Palestinians crossing back into what were once their homes, now Israel, were seen as “infiltrators” and were killed on sight. In addition to Palestinian civilians, Sacco also interviews a former chef-debureau to the chief of staff in the Israeli army, who describes murders of Jews by these “infiltrators” and hence the justification for the retaliations by the Israeli army. One of these retaliations, according to Palestinian reports, left 42 unarmed Palestinian civilians dead, almost all of them women and children. The violence goes both ways, Sacco notes, but it is obvious in his story which side has the power. One of Sacco’s drawings of a young boy throwing a stone at a gun-toting Israeli soldier sums up the imbalance of power that the Palestinians faced, and still face today. Many different firsthand accounts are pieced together to describe the two massacres in detail. The witnesses range from scarred survivors, old widows, sheikhs and former Israeli soldiers. The details vary, but the essential story remains the same. Sacco simply gives the reader a graphic (in both meanings of the word) narrative with as little bias as possible. The characters he portrays are darkly humourous, but also haunted by war, violence, poverty and oppression; they tell their stories with obvious pain, but do not ask for sympathy. A man shot 36 times in the back of the head chuckles at the soldier who failed to kill him. Palestinians, Sacco says, do not seem to have “the luxury of digesting one tragedy” before the next is upon them. So why choose to focus on historical tragedies when such incidences are happening now? Sacco maintains that past and present “cannot be so easily disentangled.” To pause a moment and examine these events might, Sacco writes, be instructive to those who wish to understand why, as one interviewee says, hatred was “planted” in hearts. Sacco’s unique form of comicjournalism depicts a bleak landscape burdened with the past. His research and attention to detail give a voice and a face to a people brought together through suffering. Footnotes in Gaza transforms a complex and deeply emotional conflict into an intimate experience.

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

ARTS & LIFE

Q&A: Fields of Green DESSA BAYROCK THE CASCADE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

CHARTS

Real Boys Real Boys Sidney York Apocalyptic Radio Cynic Old Mare You Deserve More Jordan Klassen Kindness

Said The Whale Little Mountain

Ketamines Spaced Out

B.A. Johnston & The Moby Dicks B.A. Johnston & The Moby Dicks

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Durban Poison Lost In Space Wintermitts Oceans Long Weekends Don’t Reach Out

Silver Dapple English Girlfriend Odonis Odonis Hollandaze Redrick Sultan Trolling for Answers The Experimental Tropic Blues Band Liquid Love

15 16 17 18 19 20

Coeur De Pirate Blonde Menage Menage JW Jones Seventh Hour Leonard Cohen Old Ideas Field Music Plumb

Florence + The Machine Ceremonials

Shuffle AARON LEVY

CIVL DJ/SWELL GUY

Aaron Levy hopes you’ll vote yes for CIVL Radio on myUFV until tonight (Wednesday) at midnight! In honour of this occasion, here are some vote-related songs.

Survivor – “Eye of the Tiger” Newt Gingrich recently used this song in his Republican presidential nomination race campaign, and was promptly sued by Survivor, in addition to having lead singer Jimi Jamison perform on The Colbert Report parodying the politician. It worked for Rocky, too bad Newt’s not quite as built – he’s definitely been exercising …

K’Naan – “Waving Flag” Shameless plug, in 2006, before anyone knew who K’Naan was, I interviewed him on my campus radio show. Yeah, I’m that cool! And campus radio is that useful! Think about it. Anyway, K’Naan also didn’t want GOP candidates using his music. Who can blame him? I know I wouldn’t. Anymore.

Fields of Green is Kyle Tubbs, Kevin Dreger, Connor Tkach, and Johnny Jansen. They hail from Kelowna, BC, and describe themselves as “eccentric yet aggressive” indie-folk-alternative. They are currently working on their second full-length album. The four of them sat down after band practice to answer a couple questions for The Cascade. In your website blog you briefly touch on how helpful the Peak Performance Project boot camp was for you last year. What kind of doors did that open for you? The Peak Performance Project was awesome. We became friends with a lot of really great Vancouver bands, which has made it easier to set up good shows both in Vancouver and back home in Kelowna. We also met and learned from several industry professionals, such as tour managers, major labels, publicists, live performance instructors, psychologists, media (TV, magazine, radio), producers, and more. By far the biggest door opened for us was meeting Garth Richardson. Garth, known as GGGarth, is a big name producer all over the world. Garth is mostly known for producing Rage Against The Machine’s first album. He’s also worked with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nickelback, Hedley, The Melvins, Biffy Clyro and countless others. We had the chance to work one on one with Garth at the PPP boot camp, recording a song with him. It was incredible. We are now about 75 per cent done recording our new album with Garth, alongside Vancouver engineer/producer Paul Boechler.

Revenge of the Nerds – “Vote No on 15” Don’t mistake this for me asking you to vote no. I want you to vote, but it’s up to you how. “I’m no jock, no football hero,/ but that don’t mean I’m an absolute zero,” sing The Nerds, but they did vote no on 15, and nerds conquered the universe.

What’s the best experience you’ve had as a band? Going back to the PPP boot camp, our best experience as a band has to be recording “I Left My Heart In Pigeon Park” with Garth and Paul. We started recording at around 7 p.m. and continued til about 6 a.m. It just felt... perfect. That experience has also carried on to the album we’re recording with Garth and Paul, spending weeks with them at Garth’s home studio and also in Vancouver at the new Fader Mountain Sound (formerly Little Mountain Studios). Any crazy tour stories? Well, it’s not exactly PG... but you know what is PG? Prince George.

Image: Courtesy of Fields of Green

Prince George is surprisingly a pretty good place to play. We drove nine hours to PG, expecting a no-show, but the small venue “THIRD” ended up being packed out. Well worth the drive. Vancouver is obviously one of our favourite towns to play and just to be in general. The Red Room in Downtown Van is awesome. We played there last fall as part of the Peak Performance Project Showcase shows. It’s so [much] fun to play for a packed building. Kelowna’s music scene isn’t quite the same as it used to be, but there’s still a fantastic venue called The Habitat. It’s pretty much the staple venue in Kelowna for up-and-coming indie artists. If you could play with any artist or celebrity, who would it be? Harry Nilsson… but he’s dead. So perhaps in the afterlife. As far as living and still active artists, I think the most amazing band to play with would be Radiohead, no matter how unlikely. They’re one of our biggest influences, and a favourite band for all four of us. What are five words you would say describe your musical style? Transensational, retro-tri-mythical, psycho-rhythmic, Qui-Gon-scimasculine, and loud.

Bringing back the spark: five tips for reigniting intimacy THE CASCADE

Leading up to the 2008 American election, this song was huge … at least in the circles I ran in. Chorus = “Barack Obama” repeated again and again, ooooh! Verse: “This is not about class,/ Nor colour, race, nor creed./ Make no mistake, it’s the changes,/ Weh all the people dem need”

How did you start doing video logs, as a band, and how do you think that’s affected you as a band – promotionally and relationshipwise? We started doing video logs at the PPP boot camp. Part of the boot camp is to have some sort of log at the end of each day, whether it be a written blog or a video log. We decided to do video logs because of our drummer’s (Johnny) years of experience with creating videos. The vlogs have definitely helped us in reaching people in a new way, other than just through our music. It gives us a chance to show our goofy side.

Discussions Below the Belt VIOLET HART

Cocoa Tea – “Barack Obama”

What’s your involvement with the Peak Performance Project this year, if any? We will be applying for the PPP again this year, in hopes of making the top 20 again. The program is really extraordinary and we would love the opportunity to be a part of it again.

There’s a radical difference between making love and just plain having sex, as almost any person who has been in a relationship can tell you. Sex can be had with anyone, but making love requires a more intimate connection. When a couple is first dating and falling in love, sex is usually intimate and passionate. How can it not be? You’re discovering a whole other person, who quickly becomes the focus of your life. But, as time will have it, eventually the initial spark disappears – but just because the novelty of the relationship has worn off, doesn’t mean your feelings for each other have disappeared. And it’s important once in a while, during the madness of life, to stop and reignite your love. Here are a few tips to help bring back the romance in sex: 1. Slow down. In our high speed society, sex can quickly become just one more thing to get done. Sex shouldn’t be something hastily scheduled in between brushing your teeth and bedtime. Make time to spend with your partner. There’s no rush. Enjoy a glass of wine together, talk, engage in some gentle foreplay. If you’re touching and spending quality time with each

other, sex will inevitably happen of its own accord. Forget your habitual foreplay rituals; just enjoy each other’s presence and your mutual attraction. 2. Set the mood. Soft music, candles, and flower petals on the bedspread may seem the sort of thing of a romance movie, but these things are actually quite important. The reason such gestures are romantic is that they signify that a special time together has been set aside. You don’t put on soft music and candles when cleaning the house, paying the bills, or taking care of the kids. Romantic gestures set the mood for romantic love. 3. Focus on your partner’s pleasure. Often sex is primarily about yourself: what makes you feel good, what makes you come to orgasm. This is not a bad thing—in fact it’s a healthy thing—but concentrating solely and completely on your partner takes you out of yourself. With both of you completely focused on only each other, you’ll find it difficult to tell where you begin and your partner ends. Their pleasure becomes your pleasure, and often their orgasm becomes your orgasm as well. 4. Fantasize about your partner. Fantasy is a major component of sex, and most of the time our fan-

tasies are quite imaginative and specific. However, take a break from your usual fantasies, and try focusing entirely on your partner: how beautiful their body is, how they turn you on, how much you love them. Think only of them and nothing else for once. Let them fill your brain, heart and body. 5. Concentrate on all the sensations. Rather than zeroing in on your body’s pleasure, take the time to be aware of everything that’s going on: how you feel inside each other; the softness of your partner’s skin; the smell of their body; their breathing and sounds. Take everything in. Let sex be about the both of you and the feelings are you giving to each other. Relish every sensation, rather than race to the finish. Ultimately, reclaiming intimacy is about focusing on the love you have for your partner, and setting aside quality time to physically show that love. It’s not that we ever stop loving our partners, but it’s worth taking the time to bring out that romantic love from where it gets buried in the day-to-day. Having regular sex with your partner is healthy and great, but it’s just as important to really make love with each other now and again.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

www.ufvcascade.ca

Mini Album Reviews

SoundBites

ARTS & LIFE

The Wooden Sky Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon a Sun The Wooden Sky’s third album, Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon a Sun, is the perfect solution for calming your nerves. This album is bound to keep you relaxed during this very stressful, exam-ridden time of year. The band’s sound is distinctive as it plays with genres, not really fitting into any one in particular. It is a mix of indie-rock, alternative-country, and soul. Although I am not a country listener, if country sounded more like The Wooden Sky, it may make a listener out of me. Lead singer Gavin Gardiner’s authentic voice carries the album with passion. The songs on Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon a Sun, are perfect for reflection, but won’t exactly have you dancing on the bar. This album is experimental, refusing to reduce itself to anything less than its unconventional musical style.

PAIGE HOBLAK

ALBUM REVIEW KAREN ANEY THE CASCADE

For reasons that readers of South Asian descent are likely to understand, I’ve spent a long time avoiding The Ting Tings. For the rest of you – yes, it’s what you’re thinking it is. However, The Ting Tings (giggle) just released their newest album, Sounds from Nowheresville, so I decided to open up (my mind) and let it in (my ears). First, some quick background: The Ting Tings are an English duo, Katie White and Jules de Martino. They both spent time in other musical groups before breaking off and working together, spurred by a mutual distrust and dislike for the recording industry. They have a few wide-spread hits, including “That’s Not My Name,” which is one of those catchy tunes that everyone sings along to without actually knowing the words. The album is receiving widespread praise. For some reason, the collective music industry seems to have turned itself into an overexcited puppy dog and wet itself over how innovative this album is. Here’s a secret for you, readers: it’s not. The praise is derived from the fact that the music encapsulates so many genres: pop, electronic, bluesy-folky-chimey dance, and more. The album truly does play like someone’s iTunes playlist set to random. The problem is that The Ting Tings’ style isn’t necessarily suited to every incarnation it’s forcefully shoved into on the

Gentleman Jesse Leaving Atlanta

The Shins

Mati Zundel Amazonico Gravitante

Recorded over three years ago in front man Jesse Smith’s basement, Gentlemen Jesse’s sophomore release Leaving Atlanta was unexpectedly delayed because of strange and unforeseen events in Smith’s life. After releasing his self-titled debut in 2008, he got beat up with a table leg while helping a stranger change a tire and had to recover from a broken nose in the hospital. On top of that, he lost several young friends in succession, including Jay Reatard and Bobby Ubangi, to whom Leaving Atlanta is dedicated. The album plays much differently after learning about such trying circumstances, as the jovial feel and Smith’s belting voice comes across as weary, but at the same time sincere. Darkness shrouds every note of every song, as Smith’s looming loss of innocence is stabilized by the kinetic energy of his band, The Men, and their carefree power pop tunes. His emotionally honest songwriting and melodic hooks are modeled after the energetic groups of the new wave era, bringing fresh talent to a classic genre long forgotten.

After a five-year hiatus, James Mercer has refashioned The Shins to match his evolving creative output in the same manner that Jeff Tweedy rebuilt Wilco 10 years ago. While Port of Morrow is not nearly as potent as Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, it is a heartening and vibrant return: a collection of simultaneously caustic and delicate, sharplypenned pop songs that boasts a betterthan-average ratio of diamonds to coal. Mercer impressively resists self-indulgence in spite of the doubly-enabling environment of a big-budget production and what essentially amounts to a solo album. No longer constrained by bedroom recording or the creative wills of bandmates as equals, Mercer can be just as sensitive and subtle as ever, though he certainly takes advantage of the wider range of tools at his disposal when warranted. Sonically, Port of Morrow picks up where Wincing the Night Away left off, but kind of blows The Shins’ early aesthetic to pieces, drawing on a much wider range genres and styles from hazy, psychedelic R & B (“Port of Morrow”) to ’70s AM radio (“Fall of ’82”) in addition to familiar, but freshly-tilled ground on tracks like “Simple Song,” “Bait and Switch,” and “September.”

Mati Zundel’s Amazonico Gravitante blends South American indigenous beats with wind instruments and upbeat grooves. From the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Zundel explores his homeland of Argentina with sounds from various South American countries, such as native instruments from the Andes and digital cumbia beats. Amazonico Gravitante is Latin in its entirety, yet it blends perfectly with modern dance tracks that get you moving. Recently joining Waxploitation records, Amazonico Gravitante is an album that allows the listener to explore dance tracks and melancholy melodies, while mixing the past with the present. Some of the tracks which stood out were “Taki Onkoi,” a haunting melody that blends wind flutes and murmuring chants, as well as “Zinud vs. Melo de Tababa.” The music itself of Amazonico Gravitante is the language of the album, and even if the listener doesn’t understand Spanish, this album still maintains a universal message that inspires the listener to enjoy the music and get off their chair and dance.

TIM UBELS

Port of Morrow

NICK UBELS

JENNY PITTMAN

The Ting Tings – Sounds from Nowheresville

album. It opens with “Silence,” which sounds like a cross between a track on a zombie movie playlist and something you’d hear in a multicoloured tent while smoking from a hookah and oiling your dreads. The effect is intriguing and slightly hypnotic; the slow beat sets a gentle ground upon which the duo layers multiple guitar effects. The lyrics and the melody they follow are slightly repetitive (if you’re looking for a great drinking game, take a shot). This adds to the hypnotic feel, and as it’s the first track of the album, isn’t entirely obnoxious. Yet. The album’s second track is called “Hit Me Down Sonny,” and opens with little drummer boyesque snare rolls. These are eventually layered with White’s voice and some percussive instrument – it sounds like bells, but more brassy. This could suggest a few things, but likely just means they used an old set of chimes or bells in the basement of the club in Berlin where the album was recorded. On this track, the vocals are perhaps best described as anthem-like: there’s an angry, perhaps intense overtone to her voice, and it’s really more of a speech than a song. The third track, the album’s single “Hang it Up,” is incredibly similar; the two songs are virtually indiscernible before you’ve subconsciously memorized the melodies, unless you can remember that track two has the chimes and track three has the stereotypi-

cal guitar. Both songs start off interestingly enough (if you haven’t just listened to the other track), but end up being noisy and repetitive (there’s your second shot). By the time the album reaches the fifth track, “Give it Up,” it’s fallen into a trap that White says they both wanted to avoid; in an interview with Digital Spy, she explained: “We were in Berlin where there is a great electro scene, and so we made songs like that, but quickly realised that everything on the radio was Euro-pop shite. We didn’t want our record to be tarnished with that brush.” After this realization, the duo cut half the songs on the album. Apparently, they weren’t critical enough, as the fifth, sixth and seventh tracks are destined to be put out to pasture with all the rest of the, well, Europop shite in the world. They’re over-produced, over-auto-tuned, and completely repetitive (third shot). The album changes incredibly abruptly with the eighth track, “Day By Day.” This is where the auto-tuned clouds part and we realize that Katie White can actually sing (so why the auto tuning and voice effects in the first seven tracks?). This song is lovely – acoustic guitar, a simple and melodic voice, and simple lyrics. It’s a recipe for success, and the artists are completely unrecognizable as those who performed the previous tracks. Also, despite the chorus reciting the song’s title eight thousand times (fourth shot), the lyrics

aren’t too repetitive. The album’s final track, “In Your Life,” is likely the shining star. It’s an interesting counterpart to the first track, embodying the same hypnotic feel, but this time using sparse broken chords on the guitar, an un-treated voice, and some eerily sad violin. Now this review is getting repetitive (fifth shot?), but it’s completely different from the other tracks. This is the strength the music industry seems to be obsessing over, but is it really a strength? Our generation has fairly ubiquitous access to personal music devices. We can make our own

random playlists, or we can let creepy computer programmers decide one for us. The question is, then, why a group or artist would feel the need to do this themselves. It’s wonderful that they’re expressing themselves artistically, but this album lacks the coherency that makes it worth a buy. For those of you with deep pockets, maybe you should go out and buy it; support what could be a new horizon in the music industry. For the rest of us, preview the songs individually on iTunes and buy what you actually like – because you probably won’t like it all.

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

ARTS & LIFE

FilmReview The Hunger Games MICHAEL SCOULAR

THE CASCADE

The audience seems a little too impressed by some pretty standard lines, falls completely in love with nervous banter, is enchanted by fire as if they’ve recently moved in from Pleasantville, and is taken aback by what must be rote by the seventy-fourth edition of this type of event. This is The Hunger Games, but more specifically this is the movie adaptation of the story, which thrusts the audience identification, directorial manipulation, and artificiality of the would-be Olympian entertainment into sharp relief. The Hunger Games is ultimately the story of how the reluctant hero Katniss, and her opponents in the game, will do anything once seduced by the camera, and how an audience will eat this up, each locked in gaze with the other, never looking at the larger problem of how the overarching system keeps them in. Maybe it’s because it’s been there so long, presided over so many games, done so much harm and provided some measure of entertainment along the way – but that they don’t dare to question it is the unspoken problem of the movie, both on a narrative and aesthetic level. Director Gary Ross implants his adaptation with a sense of protraction, disaffected line readings, and mannered circumstance, barely referencing, let alone investigating, the morbidity hanging over the event that takes place in the second half of the movie. The handheld camera that haphazardly locates Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) is less the artistic decision of so-called subjective cinema and more an act of conformism to the modern rule of action filmmaking to hide unimpressive effects and unimaginative action. The whip pans occasionally find some obscured beauty in the green-spliced surroundings that shield and ensnare the combatants, but more

often it’s a hindrance, which along with the tired presentation of hallucinations and dangerous walks in the dark, indicates wherever Ross found the imagination that anchored Pleasantville, it’s now long lost. This flaw of the narrow focus, embedded in the camera, is also reflected in the narrative. The screens watched by the frozen townspeople and gilded aristocrats display so many points of action they are divided into three, yet this adaptation both strays from a completely singular perspective (we frequently see things Katniss cannot, or see her from a different view than her own) and completely sidesteps detailing those other points of view. Despite The Hunger Games mentality of resolute indignation at the idea that the working class of the world should have to dance for the heartless upper crust’s fun, the other 23 combatants are excluded. If they have families watching in quiet horror at home, if they have thoughts, lives, dreams as we are drilled that Katniss does, we never hear about it. One idea The Hunger Games submits as worthy is that to marginalize, to count out someone, is a great error, yet consider the scene where those who have died in the early stages of the games flash above in the digital sky as an announcement to the few left. They count as numbers towards Katniss’ goal, but the deceased mean absolutely nothing to this movie – they are fodder, just as the loathsome directors of the game view them. This carries through to the few people Katniss meets, who are about as useful as the sponsored help items, and just as disposable. So devoid of lives— so utterly worthless except as objects to aid our hero they are—that one dies telling Katniss “you have to win.” The Hunger Games isn’t to be commended or derided for treating its subjects in such a way on the grounds of being a cynical movie, because it fundamentally isn’t. The

outcome bears that out. It’s more a case of a movie that cloaks itself in cynicism to excuse what proves to be shallow work, characters and ideas. Its main character is treated as more deserving of empathy, identification and worship, when there are so many different paths, emotions and motivations that

CASCADE ARCADE JOEL SMART

THE CASCADE Although Angry Birds has had a few different iterations since its original release—Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio—each one has functioned more as a level pack than a true sequel. Things have changed in the latest release, as Rovio has opted to take the game, literally, out of this world. What really sets the game apart from the traditional Angry Birds experience is the inclusion of gravity fields. While an entire level operated with the same, default “Earth” gravity in previous games, gravity is now only present within certain indicated areas within a level. In most levels, players slingshot birds from one asteroid-sized planet to several others with varying degrees of gravitational pull. It adds an increased level of difficulty, as well as several new techniques for completing a level. For example, you might choose to shoot downwards, under a planet, instead of the classic upward-arch used in previous games. As well, some levels skip gravity altogether, allow-

ing players to shoot in a straight line through space. If nothing else, it gives the game a completely different “feel” from its predecessors. Adding to the changes are two new birds. In previous versions there were birds that had the ability to speed up, split into three, or even drop bombs. Adding to the mix in this edition are the laser bird and the ice bird. The laser bird can be shot off in any direction midway through its trajectory – you can even shoot it back towards the direction you shot it from. The ice bird, on the other hand, freezes anything it comes into contact with, allowing the next shot to shatter the frozen area in a single hit. While it’s true that the game loses some of its classic charm by adopting such a new play style, it’s good to see the developers finally innovating after relying on the original premise for so long after the original game came out. I would argue that the game actually does maintain the Angry Birds “feel” well enough that fans of the original will easily transition into the new play style – with perhaps

could be—but aren’t—at play here. Instead, small moments of moral superiority are celebrated, never mind that they are they’re still all under the same system. Revolution is a word that seems like it might be on the tip of everyone’s tongues in the world of PanEm, both in the game and in the dilapidated grey homes, yet aside

from one throwaway scene it’s never expanded on. For this movie, living, dying, it doesn’t matter. The Hunger Games sets out—and proves—a reality where we only want to be entertained by set pieces called down by digital dictators, just so long as the side we’re rooting for wins.

Angry Birds Space HD is true sequel to popular time-waster

Image: buzz.bishop/flickr.com

just a few “retries” needed to master the idea of the various gravity fields. But, then again, trial-anderror has always been the basic premise for the game. Also new to the series: Boss fights. Although they function similarly to a traditional level, taking turns shooting birds from a slingshot, the objective is to defeat a large, more difficult enemy (it tends to be moving around) rather than stationary pigs like in most

levels. It’s an interesting new challenge that expands the scope and variety of levels within the game. It’s a bit of a throwback to the classic boss fights from old arcade games. The game also pays homage to early video games through the inclusion of five bonus levels, unlocked by finding golden eggs scattered amongst the levels. Each of these levels is based on a classic game, from Super Mario Brothers to

Space Invaders. It’s a fun little inclusion that nostalgic gamers will really get a kick out of. The only real controversy surrounding the game is the fact that despite paying for the game, Rovio is still asking players to pay more for the game’s final 29 levels, in a section called the “Danger Zone” – only the first of the 30 levels is free. However, considering the game already has 60 levels—30 in each of the game’s first two zones—there is plenty of content there for gamers. The game is currently available for free (with ads) to Android users, as well as an ad-free 99 cent version. It’s also available on iOS for iPhone and iPad for 99 cents, or $2.99 for the iPad HD edition. Mac users can also download it onto their computer for $4.99, while PC users can purchase the game for $5.95. As for a free version of Angry Birds Space on Google Chrome or on Facebook, so far nothing has been announced. But, as seems to be the case with Rovio, it may just be a matter of time.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

www.ufvcascade.ca

ARTS & LIFE

POSTCARD LITERATURE Klaudija Lanzarec was born in Warsaw, Poland, and now studies the English language at UFV in Abbotsford, British Columbia. She is fascinated by linguistics, sociology and playwriting.

A Good Day

Klaudija Lanzarec

Sun. Waves. Laughter. Children playing. Glee. Sand. A forty-something bespectacled man sat on the patio of a brasserie as music from an organ-grinder echoed across the boardwalk. Across the street teenagers drank Coca-Cola Zero. “What a day to be alive,” he said. He watched the gulls ride the wind, and ordered another beer and breathed in deeply the salt air. The waiter arrived and brought his drink. “Eight beers. A bit early, isn’t it?” asked the waiter. The man did not hear. He gazed out at the sea and remarked to himself that it was a good day.

Red Ink Irene waltzed through my thoughts as Gordon talked. She was in a cocktail dress dancing with a married man at the Alexandra. There was money in that dance; each delicate step was filling my pockets with cash. I was still in the office of Gordon McGinnis, the EIC of The Sun who had the demeanor and rigidity of a wartime veteran with a victory medal. He smoked a long mahogany pipe with his left hand as he leaned back in his chair. Trails of smoke billowed out the open sixth floor window. “I want names, Halligan. I’m sick of the police jerking us off.” In truth, so was I. I had been covering a mid day shootout on the Connaught Bridge, but the police had left me high and dry. Apparently I was late enough that the cleanup crew was all that remained of the investigation. It wasn’t a clean kill either. Either the shooter was blind, or he had the worst aim I had ever seen. Only a few stray shots had found the poor bastard they were aiming for. Some new officer, a kid named Charles French, had graced me with his opinion, that it was a gang related incident. I spilled all of it to Gordon, but the details made him restless. “They gave me squat. They said they would send us details when they had furthered their own investigation.” I was knocking a pencil against my temple.

Anthony Biondi

“Any witnesses? We gotta have something we can pull from under the rug.” “There were a few. Suppose it was a saving grace the killer decided to shoot in the middle of the day.” I stood from my seat and used Gordon’s push lighter on his desk to light a cigarette. I flicked it out and tossed it in the bin at Gordon’s feet. “A woman, Margery Bench, said she saw a man in a black trench coat. She had given the description to the police already. Apparently the man only had one hand. Tough rap for a guy with an automatic.” “Distinctive. And put that cigarette out. I don’t tolerate cheap smokes in my office, Halligan.” I stubbed it out on the ashtray on his desk. He told me once that his ex-wife had smoked 60 sticks a day. She had cheated on him with three different men at the same time. Or so his story went. Sounded rough. I thought again of Irene with the married man. Gordon took a puff of his pipe. “Run it with the details we have. The police won’t like the description of the killer, but they don’t have to approve everything we print. Be sure to include it as an eyewitness account. Have it to the editors by nine. I want it run tomorrow. Now get the hell out of my office. I gotta call Terrence.” I didn’t argue with the man, I just did as I was told. Working for

Postcard Literature: Call For Submissions Would you like to see your short fiction published? The Cascade is looking for original flash fiction to grace the pages of this fine publication. Submissions may touch on any theme or topic.

Art: Anthony BIondi

my money still felt strange to me; like I was living in a backwards dream. Money was why Irene was alone with the married man now, and money was why I sat in an office job, typing my living. But somehow I knew I needed to write these stories. It wasn’t a calling, it was work. And I needed a steady paycheck. If writing about mur-

ders in the streets paid my rent, then I’d record every death in this damn city. Even if the death happened in the middle of the day on a busy urban bridge. Gordon was making money off of a murder, Irene a marriage. I was somewhere in between them both. I sat down at my typewriter. There were stories everywhere,

and my hands would write them. It didn’t matter how much blood was shed before my fingers met the keys. All blood runs black when it’s thick enough. The only thing that mattered was that it was my money. I’m simple like that. I sat at my desk and began to type.

Submission Guidelines:

- We’re not sticklers for genre. As long as it’s good, we’ll consider it.

-Subject line should include the name of the work and the author

- Please inform us if your submission has been previously published.

-Submissions should be attached as a Word .doc.

- Submissions can come from UFV students, faculty or community members.

-All works must be under 1000 words. Show us what you can do in a limited amount of space. What we like: - General fiction is preferred, but humour and satire are also appreciated.

Response time will typically be one week. Please email all submissions to: alexei@ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

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SPORTS & HEALTH

Canucks more physical and defensive in Sedin absence JOEL SMART

the cascade

As most British Columbians are already aware, Daniel Sedin received a dangerous elbow to the head in the March 21 game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He left the game with what is now known to be a concussion. The words should (and do) strike fear into the hearts of Canucks fans who are hoping for better results in this year’s playoffs. As most pessimists would agree, the team was simply too healthy for too long, so a head injury to the team’s leading scorer was almost a sure thing. While Sedin could return in just a few games, and be no worse for wear in a best-case scenario, it’s worth taking a moment to consider what kind of chances the team has if he’s out long-term. If the Canucks were to enter the playoffs without Daniel Sedin on

the roster, it would likely lead coach Alain Vigneault to accelerate his plan to make the Canucks both tougher and more defensively-focused than in last-year’s playoffs. We’ve already seen that the team has begun to engage with the opposition after whistles in the few games since Daniel has been absent. Though they seem to be penalized for it more than usual, it’s

heartening to see teammates standing up for each other. The physical play also seems to increase the team’s desire to win, as they become more engaged in the game. However, sometimes it really costs the Canucks; as great as it is to see the Canucks mixing it up, a two-minute penalty to kill when the game is on the line is too dangerous – especially if it’s just for a glorified face-wash. As well, due to a serious hatred by many NHL referees, Alex Burrows seems to be the first to go to the box – a serious detriment considering he is also one of the most likely to score a goal at an important moment in a game. If business needs to be taken care of, it should be players like Dale Weise and Zack Kassian stepping up to administer justice – considering we acquired them this season for primarily that purpose. Though they have answered the bell a few times, they have a lot

more to prove. As for the defensive side of things, it just follows basic logic. With Sedin out, the Canucks will have to make up for his lack of production by shutting the door in their own end. Unfortunately, that is often easier said than done. The Canucks have shown, though, that they are willing to clog up the neutral zone and frustrate their opponents, even if they’ve only got a one-goal lead – and they can be quite effective at it. However, sometimes the Canucks defence can get quite out of sync, making it a risky strategy to rely on for the entire playoff run. Though the injury seems to have sparked the Canucks, at least in the short-term, it does not bode well for the team if Daniel can’t make a quick recovery. They heavily rely on his firepower. Though Henrik came alive offensively last time his brother was injured—going on to win the Art

Ross that year—it might be a little much to expect the same to happen again. That said, I wouldn’t count the Canucks out. Just like Mason Raymond, coming alive just when things seemed bleakest, the team has what it takes to build off of adversity, especially if some secondary players can begin to take on some additional responsibilities. The Canucks face the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, continuing a five-game homestand, which also includes a battle against the Dallas Stars on Friday, a Hockey Night in Canada duel with the Calgary Flames on Saturday, and a bout next Tuesday with the Anaheim Ducks. All four games start at 7 p.m. The Canucks would be extremely fortunate to see Daniel Sedin back in the lineup by then.

Despite the drama, little coverage for this year’s Madness OWEN COULTER CONTRIBUTOR

illustration: David G. Steadman and Mark Mackenzie

Does fighting have a place in hockey anymore?

With increase in head injuries over the years, NHL has hit a crossroad Tristan Woodworth-Lynas

THE MUSE

ST. JOHN’S (CUP) — Fighting in the National Hockey League has always been a hot topic for sports analysts. In recent years, the discussion has intensified in the post-lockout era with communication and a new understanding of concussions. The game of hockey is slowly changing its ways to protect its athletes, with a large emphasis being placed on head injuries. For even longer than the NHL, the junior ranks have been effecting change to prevent trauma to the heads of young athletes. Only since the NHL lockout during the 2004-05 season have concussions really been accepted as not only a viable injury, but the worst type of injury. During the ’90s, players competing in the playoffs could take a hit that had obviously concussed them, only to return to the game later because it was the manly and courageous thing to do. When New Jersey Devils defenceman Scott Stevens floored the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim forward Paul Kariya in the 2003 Stanley Cup finals, for example, he came back to

score the winning goal of the game. But perhaps this concussion was the reason his career has been derailed ever since. Stars like Sidney Crosby miss 20 games in a season, with no timetable for a return, all due to concussions that probably would have gone unnoticed, or at least unmentioned, by the players. With this in mind, the issue of fighting in hockey has hit another level of scrutiny amongst fans and analysts alike. In the wake of the 2009 death of Don Sanderson, a senior hockey player in Ontario, the question has been posed frequently: Does fighting belong in hockey in this day and age? There are those who enjoy the heart and the energy that fighting brings to the game, as well as the policing that goes behind the scenes of these teams. On the other side of the coin, there are those who see it as a barbaric ritual that has no place in a sporting event, especially not one where there are no safeguards to prevent serious injury. Since 2005, fighting majors have skyrocketed from 466 to 714. This year, there have already been 497 fights in the NHL after 60 games. That’s a pace for about 690 fights over

the course of the season. While fighting has decreased in the last two years—albeit minimally—it has otherwise seen an increase year by year since the lockout. Due to the instigator rule—a rule that penalizes the player who purposely seeks out a fight—there has also been a giant leap in planned fights that take place right after the whistle. There are mixed reactions to these fights, as a lot of true-blue hockey fans see them less as a part of the game and more for the sake of getting it over with. The NHL has come to a crossroads with regards to where fighting stands in the grand scheme of the game. Is it okay to let junior and minor-league players think fighting is the way to deal with problems on the ice? Does it affect someone’s attitude toward adversity off the ice? Don’t get me wrong; I would be a very sad individual if I couldn’t check out hockeyfights.com for the latest tilt. However, I have a feeling that if it’s not taken out completely, there will soon be big restrictions on the methods of fighting and their place in the game.

For the past few weeks the NCAA March Madness tournament has been going on – did you even know? (by the way it’s in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – spot that on a map for me) The sports headlines are buzzing, but not about number 15 Lehigh upsetting number two Duke. Headlines instead are focused on Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby’s one-point performance in his first game after his second recovery of neck issues. Headlines have also focused on Peyton Manning, who signed a five-year, $95 million deal last Monday to play in Denver. And it wasn’t the last we heard of the Bronco’s – Tebow will be “Tebowing” as the New York Jet’s fullback come September. That is not even the sports headliner – that spot is saved for the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Sean Payton and former defensive coordinator Greg Williams supposedly had bounties for the Saints defence, whose main targets were Cam Newton, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Kurt Warner. Knockouts were worth $1500, and $1000 for cart-offs, with the value doubled in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the NCAA tournament has its highest television ratings in 18 years, but it isn’t seen, read or listened to an awful lot in the sports world. It is understandable that the New Orleans Saints will be ruling the sports debate table for weeks and months to come, but aren’t you getting sick and tired of listening to constant Canuck news? The same issues of Roberto Luongo playing horribly, the lack of scoring, who’s in Alain Vigneault’s dog house, and Duncan Keith’s elbow are talked about constantly on the morning, afternoon and evening shows in this province – can’t there be a little room for a tournament that is having some of it’s best games in years? Sorry Canucks fans, but it is time to stop talking about Roberto Luongo for the three millionth time, and notice the heart pounding drama that is thrilling the basketball world.

No such thing as a sure thing

BOSTON – The game went down to the last minute, the majority Syracuse crowd held their collective breath until the buzzer went. Wisconsin was heavily armed with their three-point shooter brigade, lead by Jordan Taylor

who had 17 points and eight assists. Their wing exchange was superb and they continuously moved the ball. The Badgers were seconds away from winning a thriller at TD Garden and making it to the Elite Eight. However, it wasn’t enough to beat the Orange who won 64-63. The Orange was led by big man C.J. Fair who had 15 points and Scoop Jardine who tallied 14 points and four assists. The stats don’t lie – it was a close game. Wisconsin and Syracuse were neck-and-neck in all categories. Wisconsin had a total of 25 rebounds compared to Syracuse’s 26, they matched equally in turnovers with six, and there was a four-point differential in bench points (Badgers with 13, Syracuse with 17). Though the score and the stats were close, Wisconsin couldn’t match Syracuse’s intensity in the first 12 minutes of the opening quarter. They seemed lethargic and couldn’t get anything going. At the seven-minute mark of the first, the Orange went on a seven-point run. Wisconsin never seemed to catch up; though their three-pointers were the reason why the Badger’s stayed close, they only went 14 for 27 – something that has been their greatest weapon or greatest demon. When the Badger’s three-point game is on they are invincible, but when it’s not, the team quickly falls – most notably during the season sweep by Iowa. It also didn’t help that guard Jared Berggren was fouled out of the first quarter, who tallied 10 points in the first 12 minutes. Syracuse kept the Badgers on their heals in the last several minutes, extending the zone and putting pressure on the Badger’s shaky three-point game. Jordan Taylor couldn’t get in his long contested jumper to secure the win and Josh Gasser’s putback attempt was off target. Unfortunately this will be the last game for senior Jordan Taylor, but he will be remembered for much more than Thursday’s effort. Taylor grew mentally and physically stronger each year, and single-handedly won games for the Badgers. His steady play at point guard elevated Wisconsin from a 1-3 start in the Big Ten to lead them into another NCAA tournament. Taylor deserves a lot of credit for leading a relatively young team, putting them in the position to get to the Sweet Sixteen and almost upsetting the first-ranked Orange.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

www.ufvcascade.ca

SPORTS & HEALTH

Health Kick: supplements KEN MUIR

out of sport. Of human growth hormone, a number of researchers from Stanford University found, in a May 2008 report, that the available evidence shows dosing with the hormone does little to improving athletic ability; on the contrary, it was found to actually debilitate performance. Once again, this hormone is illegal without a prescription anyways, and is similarly banned from sport.

CONTRIBUTOR

In the high-intensity world of body-building and high performance sport, there is a constant desire to push your body to its limit. At first, this is achieved through hard workouts, using some combination of blood, sweat and tears. However, every exercise junkie will hit a point where improvement becomes stagnant; this is often referred to as plateauing, or getting stuck in a rut. It’s a completely normal phenomenon, and the way to avoid plateauing involves planning the composition of your workouts months in advance—such as its intensity and whether or not it will comprise aerobic activity—though that’s a lengthy discussion best left for another day. There are ways to soften the effects of plateauing, and this comes in the form of, mainly, supplements. By supplements, I’m referring to those massive containers found in health or fitness stores that promise to help you gain muscle fast, such as protein powders. Though I’m not about to completely call for the boycotting of all supplements, it’s worth saying that with the right nutritional intake, supplements are, for the most part, unnecessary. You should be able to ingest all your body’s needs through natural foods. Some supplements such as protein powders are basically get-out-of-jail-free cards that allow you to be less stringent in what you eat, as you’ll be getting your daily requirements of protein through supplement. Don’t think that I’m taking the high road by saying this, however: I do use whey protein, and I acknowledge the fact that maintaining a healthy diet 100 per cent of the time is a difficult task. There are many different kinds of expensive supplements out there, and they all do different things to help the body build muscle. If you are thinking about using supplements, here’s a rundown on what’s out there and what you need to know.

image: dea.gov

Anabolic Steroids Anabolic steroids do appear to effectively help increase muscle growth. Though these effects are impressive, they’re also eclipsed by their potential side effects – side effects that could be extremely debilitating. Similar to the often-debated side effects of marijuana, those who juice refuse to believe the reported incidents of shrunken testicles, liver damage, accelerated balding and “roid rage,” among others. In any case, anabolic steroids are illegal unless given as prescription for an ailment (they do have other uses), so you shouldn’t really be looking at steroids as an option, but it would be naïve to completely dismiss their usage (and availability) in the public sector (I’m not saying it’s baseball players, but it’s totally baseball players). If you do decide it’s a law worth breaking, and that the side-effects are worth the risk, I ask only this: stay out of organized sport. Obviously steroids are banned by every sporting regulatory body, and at a high enough level of competition, drug tests will allow those bodies to search out and permanently ban anyone who’s using them. They really do provide an unfair advantage, so for the sake of all the honest athletes out there, keep steroids

Creatine supplements are relatively new, and are therefore poorly regulated. If you are thinking about using them, I would recommend thoroughly researching which brands can be trusted, and how much you should be taking per day. Don’t take the word of a shopkeeper – find out for yourself. Creatine is legal, but its usage in sport is somewhat controversial. Most sport organizations haven’t banned the substance, but do appear to be watching its development with a baleful eye. You may want to research what the official position of your sporting organization is before you start using it. From what I can discern, its usage is vaguely frowned upon in most sports.

image: uraks/Flickr

Creatine Creatine is a naturally-occurring substance in the body, which is used to accelerate the release of energy in muscle cells without the need of oxygen. Therefore, it’s mostly used in anaerobic activities lasting 10 seconds or less, which includes power lifting, intense sprints, and so on. Essentially, any activity that demands a high power output for a limited duration. Creatine supplements increase your muscles’ store of creatine, which should theoretically increase your body’s ability to exert power. In 2006, the Institute of Sports Medicine in Copenhagen also found that creatine supplements stimulate increased muscle growth in subjects. Other studies suggest that, under appropriate doses of 5-20 grams per day, there are littleto-no side effects.

image: Mercola Natural Health

Protein Powders I was admittedly stubborn for many years and refused to take protein powders. I knew that I theoretically should be able to eat well enough to not need it. However, talk is cheap, and my diet was far from perfect. I rarely got enough protein in a day. Finally my coach convinced me to take the plunge, and now I take a reasonable amount each day, and it appears to be having its desired effects. The philosophy behind protein powders is to meet or exceed your

daily requirements of protein in order to ensure your body will have enough to build and repair muscle fibers, which should consequently maximize the effectiveness of your workouts. Its powdered form allows it to be consumed easily. Generally protein shakes aren’t meant to replace meals, but are meant to compliment your daily caloric intake. So what do you need to know? Unfortunately, protein powders are not regulated effectively either, so you must do some research and be a little buyer-savvy, especially if you belong to a major sport. It’s not always clear that what is claimed to be in the container is what’s solely in the container. That is, it could contain banned substances that would show up in drug test, ruining your competition results (as well as your athletic career). It pays to be cautious. As such, you should be looking for protein powders that are independently verified as safe to use. You also shouldn’t necessarily trust the word of a shopkeeper. I had a bad experience in which a store owner told me how much I should take on a daily basis; I found out a month later that the amount I was taking was completely excessive and could have caused damage to my kidneys. It’s also worth mentioning that a more expensive powder does not necessarily mean a better one. So, take it from me: do your homework and find out what powders are safe to use, and in what quantities they should be taken. Other than those stipulations, protein powders are an effective way of increasing your protein intake, and can therefore speed along the process of reaching your goals. With a little bit of smarts and previous research, you too can start shelling out more than $80 a month (at the cheapest) to circumvent your bad eating habits. Your wallet may not forgive you, but damn, these biceps are starting to look good.

Increasing food allergies: the danger of self-diagnosis SASHA MOEDT the cascade

The identification of food allergies in our population is increasing. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies in children under 18 increased by 18 per cent from 1997 to 2007. What’s the cause of this? Your grandparents were never in “peanut-free” classrooms; even your parents weren’t. What are food allergies, exactly? Health Canada differentiates between food allergies and food intolerances. “In allergic individuals, a food protein is mistakenly identified by the immune system as being harmful,” Health Canada states, while “food intolerances are more likely to originate in the gastrointestinal system and are usually caused by an inability to digest or absorb certain foods, or components of those foods.” Another category of food sensitivities is chemical sensitivities: the reaction to chemicals

image: Stewart Seymour/The Cascade

that occur naturally in food, or are added – caffeine, for example. Canada Health cites the most common food allergies to be peanuts, eggs, tree nuts, wheat soy, sesame seeds, sulphites, seafood and—most recently—mustard. This list of top allergens can be used as a guide to

prevent the possible occurrence of allergic reactions when preparing food for large groups of people. Or, if you’re a bit of a maniac, you might have the opposite intent. There are no certainties in the medical world explaining the sharp increase in reported allergies. Yet,

there is no sharp increase of peanut consumption to match the huge rise of peanut allergies. For example, in an article written by Caroline Hadely in the scientific journal EMBO, China and some African countries consume about the same amount of peanuts as North America does per capita, but the rates of peanut allergies are much lower. We could blame manufacturing for this: here we tend to eat them dry-roasted, while the Chinese, for example, boil or fry them. But, there is one correlation that we can’t deny: with more awareness, there will always be an increase in diagnosis. Though the cause of the increased rates is not entirely known, food allergies are easily recognized and diagnosed in North America, which may not be the case elsewhere. Allergies are generally something people discover and diagnose in their childhood. Yet for an unknown reason, some people develop allergies later in life. If you have an adverse reaction to a food, how do you know if

it’s a food allergy? There are instructions for “self-testing” online – but the medical world warns against this. Health Canada suggests people immediately consult a dietician or doctor. Self-diagnosing is quite cumbersome, and can easily have false results. It is impossible to tell whether it is allergies, food intolerances or chemical sensitivity. Failing to identify a serious allergy could have bad results. Alternatively, you could omit food out of your diet with great inconvenience needlessly. A doctor would perform a basic blood or skin prick test, with generally reliable results. The identification of food allergies is increasing, but that doesn’t mean the amount of food allergies themselves are. Four per cent of adults in Canada have allergies. If you notice an adverse reaction to a certain food, get it checked out; the improvement in your quality of life is absolutely worth it.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

www.ufvcascade.ca

SPORTS & HEALTH

“Activity and Wellness fee” referendum results scrapped due to “technicality” SEAN EVANS THE CASCADE

The “Activity and Wellness fee” referendum held by the Student Union Society (SUS) last week passed with a final count of 849 to 701. Just a day after the results came out, a SUS press release announced that no action would be taken on the referendum. The official reason given by SUS is that on February 3, 2012, when the SUS board voted in favour of holding the referendum, they did not receive support from 75 per cent of the board. Thus, the referendum never should have been held. The announcement came in the midst of allegations that the vote and the campaign leading up to the March 19-21 vote violated SUS referendum by-laws. This issue was brought to the attention of SUS communications director Jhim Burwell by newly-elected VP academic Dan van der Kroon via email on March 22. Burwell spoke with The Cascade on the matter: “I don’t know how Dan felt about the referendum … I don’t know why he was asking questions, but quite frankly … I am glad he found it.” Burwell continued, “It’s better to have it discovered when it was than to have taken further steps toward implementing it.” Athletics students and athletes were upset with the news that a technicality brought down the results of the referendum that would have seen greater support for their programs. Caleb Davidson of the UFV Cascades Men’s Rowing team—a team that has seen its future in doubt in the midst of the current funding crunch—was

disappointed with the news. “It’s pretty frustrating, for the most part,” he said. “We were out there, spreading the word; quite a few of us were standing up in our classrooms, telling people about the referendum. There was a big move against it, and there was a big move for it. Obviously the vote passed … and then the technicality showed up.” Allegations of violations of SUS referendum bylaws UFV criminology student Dan Crich was shocked when he first heard about the referendum on March 19th – the day it started. Crich did some investigation into the issue, and was upset by what he found. Crich came to The Cascade offices last Thursday following the release of the referendum results. Armed with a copy of SUS referendum policy, Crich pointed out a number of issues he had with how the information campaign had been held, and, in his opinion, a number of SUS bylaws that had been violated. “In the Governing manual for the SUS referendum policy, I found a couple issues with the referendum, including that at least a week before the referendum they [SUS] should hold an info session,” Crich said. “It [the info session] was only three days before. Personally, as a student I had questions, … but it was too late.” Crich stated that his frustration was that he only heard about the referendum on March 19 and thus had no opportunity to ask questions about the referendum. The first SUS bylaw that Crich alleges was violated is under Referen-

dum Policy section two, part F, which reads, “A question and answer period must be held one week prior to the vote where students will be given the opportunity to ask the Board questions regarding the referendum.” The info session for the referendum in question was held on Friday, March 16, the referendum began the following Monday. Crich also pointed out that the info session was hosted by

Athletics director Chris Bertram and Susan Francis from Student Life, not the SUS board. When questioned on this, SUS communications director Jhim Burwell stated that: “In looking at the policy from my eyes, and my interpretation of the policy, they hit everything.” When asked if it was a problem that the info session was held three days prior to the referendum, Burwell responded, “No. No, because the spirit of that [bylaw] is, and has always been recognized as being within the week before … if you engage people too far out, they forget about it.” “There has been an obvious lack of effort to get information out there,” Crich said, “there is myUVF email available, there are campus and per-

sonal announcements on myUFV. None of them were used. And the first time they used that was a campus announcement on myUFV half way through the referendum at 11 a.m. on March 20.” Crich continued, obviously upset by what he saw as an injustice, “I’m sorry, but they could have put it up a week before.” Crich went on, “They didn’t put an effort into getting information out to the whole student body, while I have heard of Athletics students saying things to their classes ... they haven’t told the whole student body to vote.” The second SUS bylaw that Crich had concerns about is under section two, parts B and C, which read “Posters and a posting on the SUS website will be put up not less than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of polling” and “No less than fifty (50) posters will be hung in the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses…” While Crich can not confirm that this bylaw was violated, nor could The Cascade, his complaint was that the design of the posters, with an official UFV logo and classic UFV design made them innocuous – they blended in, and they were not effective at generating awareness of the referendum. On top of the poster that Crich saw, it read in big letters: “This is Campus Rec.” On the bottom, in smaller writing, was: “For more information on the upcoming referendum hosted by SUS, please visit uvf.ca/studentlife.” Crich argued that the posters failed to comply with the spirit of the bylaw—to inform the student body of the referendum—and questioned if the required number of posters was put up on all campuses.

Jhim Burwell, in response to these questions, stated that “Chris Bertram assures me that they were put up, and that they were put up largely by him and students directly within his sphere. And I want to take his word at it. He told me he did it, so I trust him.” SUS president Carlos Vidal spoke with The Cascade about the concerns raised by Crich and others. Vidal confirmed that the posters had been printed and posted by the University, approved by SUS, and to his knowledge, the SUS policy had been followed. In the press release announcing that no action would be taken on the referendum, it stated: “In the week leading up to polling, and especially since the result was released, there has been a great lash-back [sic] about the referendum process. The crux of the complaint being the perception that the information and engagement campaign was insufficient, though the SUS Referendum Policy was followed to the letter, and in many respects exceeded.” In a letter to UFV president Dr. Mark Evered questioning the Universities involvement with the referendum, Dan Crich concluded by saying that the “The Athletics referendum should be re-held after they have sufficiently communicated to all students at UFV. A true democracy, after all, includes informed people from all paths. Please consider the well-being of democracy in our school and help us to ensure we withhold our integrity as a democratic student union with the ability to vote.”

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