Showing Up
UVic and UBC disband pro-Palestine Encampments | Sports, Sports, Sports Do I Know What I Say? | Cult Classic | Protest to Pride I Just Shit my Pants! CapU Guide to Branding as a Socialist
Note from an EIC
Sara Brinkac (She/They/He)
Co-Editors in Chief
Sara Brinkac
Avery Nowicki editor@capilanocourier.com
Another dime another school year. Welcome back all, and — hey — thanks for picking up a copy of our humble little publication. We have quite the team here tucked in between the dumpsters of the Maple Building and, boy, are we happy to be in your hands.
In our office floats a group of characters excited about life, art, and community. We have many aspirations that span in many different directions and once a month we are given the opportunity to present some of our creative endeavours with you! That’s pretty lovely stuff. Being part of The Courier means making the effort to bring people together, to speak our minds and to create something for our university. We believe our work will create change in someone’s day, in university administration and in our collective campus experience. That is why this year for our issues I wanted to make themes that align with our new values as a publication and encourages inspiration both within the team and on campus.
So what is “Showing Up?” I suppose the concept could be taken in a lot of different directions. Showing up to class, showing up on time, showing up for a friend or to a show, the list can go on. However, for me showing up embodies the power of presence. I think we sometimes forget how physically being somewhere, experiencing life and making an earnest effort towards our aspirations can really change our worlds.
We have a lot of things pulling our attention in many different directions everyday. We have aspirations and dreams but often they can get covered up with anxieties and regrets. Our bodies are often neglected, we are lost in thought, on the screen, or stuck, in a state of “just getting to the end of the week.” Our mind is often somewhere else, our perceived shortcomings hang heavy on our shoulders and, I believe it is pretty common in our age range to have nihilism set in over any action we take.
Getting stuck in pointlessness, pessimism, exhaustion and burnout seem to be a product of our times. Yet, we still have a yearning for
wholeness and dreams of a better future. The tricky part seems to be how do we get there? How do we reconcile with the realities that surround us? How do we enjoy the sometimes gruelling work in isolating environments?
I think the answer comes in the solidity and courage it takes to show up for what we believe in. Showing up doesn’t mean being perfect — getting something exactly how you imagined it when you want it. It also doesn’t mean that you no longer suffer or grapple with confusion. Rather, showing up is the quiet moment of effort. Writing for five minutes a day for the aspiring writer, being aware of the student union for political activists, smiling to a stranger, asking questions in class, eating a fresh meal, spending time in nature, experimenting with identity. In showing up you are making an earnest effort in growing, healing and building toward your aspirations of wholeness.
The writing may not be good, but it will get better. You may feel powerless against the political regime but you’ll find others and common ground. The stranger may not smile back, the question may open more questions, the meal may be expensive, the outdoors cold and wet and your new identity may cause tension with others — but — regardless of the challenges, the fact remains, you showed up in the face of your fears. Rather than talking yourself out of things and back into routine, you are challenging who you are. You are dancing the human dance. It may be clumsy, but dear one, you’re dancing all over and right through life.
So, here we are. Our September issue where our team decided to show up despite our fears, habits and shortcomings. We’ve compiled a few dances for you between these papers and we hope you enjoy them. They may not be perfect but they are what they are. We hope you enjoy a bunch of kids trying their best to live with love.
In Compassion, Sara Brinkac (Co-EIC)
Business Manager
Prem Monpara business@capilanocourier.com
Social Media Manager
Glitter Esquivias socialmedia @capilanocourier.com
Sports Editor
Lea Krusemeyer sports @capilanocourier.com
Crew
Video Production Manager
Laura Morales videoproduction @capilanocourier.com
Zine Manager
Mia Lancaster zinemanager @capilanocourier.com
Production Manager Andy Poystila production @capilanocourier.com
News Beat Reporter Niko Williamson beatreporter @capilanocourier.com
Features Editor
Gwen Pemberton features @capilanocourier.com
Arts & Culture Editor
Jasmine Garcha artsandculture @capilanocourier.com
Art Director
Angelica Blanch design@capilanocourier.com
News Editor
Livia Pica news@capilanocourier.com
Literature Editor Gates Annai literature@capilanocourier.com
Members
Letters Editor
Jordan Tomlinson letters@capilanocourier.com
Videographer
Kiki Evans videographerkiki @capilanocourier.com
Humour Editor
Adam Wallace humour@capilanocourier.com
Crew Writer
Kate Henderson crewwriterkate @capilanocourier.com
Crew Writer
Sean Finan crewwritersean @capilanocourier.com
Crew Illustrator
Jordan Richert crewillustrator @capilanocourier.com
Videographer
Lucas Isidoro videographerlucas @capilanocourier.com
Videographer
Christien Di Angello videographerchristien @capilanocourier.com
Crew Writer
Yasmine Modaresi crewwriteryasmine @capilanocourier.com
Crew Photographer
Sophie Serendip crewphotographer @capilanocourier.com
Crew Writer
Lily Rosen crewwriterlily @capilanocourier.com
Advising Manager
Freya Emery
& Contributors
Contributors
Kayla Prince, Vansh Malhotra, Adam Stothard
Illustrators
Cameron Skorulski, Cassandra VP, Liza Borissova, Mesh Devkota, Yohahnah Loker, Siobhán Barry, Ava Shahres, Lera Kim, Sasha Lun, Jasmin Linton, Maren Brophy
Featured Artist
Rachel Lu
Cover Art & Photo Series
Sara Brinkac
Head on over to capilanocourier.com for more featured articles!
Interested in contributing?
Email editor@capilanocourier.com for potential writers, and production@capilanocourier.com for interested illustrators. Illustrators are required to send a portfolio or samples of work.
Contributors :)
UVic and UBC disband pro-Palestine Encampments
Kayla Prince (she/her)
Contributor
Cameron Skorulski (he/him)
Illustrator
Encampments held at the University of Victoria (UVic) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) protesting institutional support of the genocide in Gaza were disbanded in July. According to a study by the Lancet journal, Israel may have killed over 186,000 Palestinians as of July 5, and the remaining civilian population continues to suffer from constant displacement and the mass spread of famine and disease. Students’ activism in support of Gaza following the end of the encampments will assume new forms.
The People’s Park UVic, the student organization that organized the protests, posted a written statement on July 22 via an Instagram post after receiving a trespassing notice from UVic protestors needed to dissolve by that date or the school would pursue legal action against them. People’s Park UVic detail their experience of “[having] been surveilled 24/7 by Campus Security [and] private security” hired by UVic, and being “subject to violent harassment and assault from agitators that the University was unable to protect [them] from.” Despite the “policing and escalatory efforts” taken by the campus against them, the group’s commitment to Indigenous and Palestinian sovereignty has not been swayed, and they are “reorienting to a new set of strategies and tactics, that [they] anticipate will be more effective in bringing about action on [their] demands.”
In a statement, the University of Victoria posted on July 30, the institution cited, “safety concerns, ongoing property damage,” and “complaints about experiences of antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate” from protestors as reasons for the shut down. UVic states that they respect students’ “right to protest and to criticize and challenge the institution,” but that they require students “to act in a responsible manner that respects the rights of… the university community.”
In Vancouver, student protestors at UBC gathered in the MacInnes Field starting in late April. The Instagram account @peoplesuniversityubc made a post listing safety tips and community agreements to be followed by all involved with
the encampment, ensuring protestors agreed to “not talk to cops… campus security… agitators or counter-protestors,” that masks would be provided and required in the camp, and that they have “no tolerance for discrimination” of any kind.
People’s University UBC posted on July 7 that they “decamped on [their] own terms – just like [they] will win on [their] own terms. Campus organizing did not begin and will not end with this encampment.” They state that they’ll employ “a variety of tactics and strategies” going forward with their public action. Encouraging students to “not let the encampment be the last time you engage with student organizing.”
People’s Park UVic and People’s University UBC have also posted in solidarity with Vancouver Island University (VIU) students, their encampment in support of Palestine still going strong as they fight a lawsuit that VIU filed against them. Courtroom hearings were held in Vancouver in early August, despite their protesting taking place in Nanaimo. The case is still on-going as of publication.
The public outcry from protestors at UVic, UBC and VIU has not gone unnoticed by their respective administrations, and has succeeded in bringing communities together in support for the human rights of Palestinians. Capilano students that wish to organize, can fill out a google sheet linked in the Instagram bio of @capstudentsforpalestine to join the cause. “It’s a very new group ...pushing for disclosure, divestment, and student support,” a leading member that wished to remain anonymous states.
Public action has been taken by others in the greater Vancouver community. 80 or so autonomous, queer pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted Vancouver’s Pride Parade in a peaceful demonstration, following similar protests that have interfered with pride marches across the country. An attendee of the protest who wished to remain anonymous, described the objectives of the interference: “[a] big goal was blocking off the road so [MPs participating in the parade] couldn’t pass and had to listen.”
Life on Campus Post Federal Cap on Student Visas
Capilano University heavily relies on international students’ tuition –its sudden absence will bring changes.
Yasmine Modaresi (she/her)
Crew Writer
Cassandra VP (she/her)
Illustrator
Over the past few years, heated discussion brewed over the number of international students allowed in Canada. The debate was propelled by the desire to see the nation wide housing crisis solved, which was exacerbated by a steadily increasing stream of immigration, and Canada’s lack of infrastructure to support the influx of students, who predominantly reside in metropolitan areas. The lack of Canada’s resources became especially obvious throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, when it was not uncommon to hear horror stories about international students being conned by private, for-profit colleges, which offered few programs that are actually considered reputable by employers. Promises failed to be met by a plethora of private fraudulent institutions, commonly referred to as “diploma mills.”
The conversation culminated back in January of this year when the federal government’s decision to place a year “cap” on student visas, reducing the total of international students allowed to study in Canada. This policy aims to stabilize growth and address systemic issues related to the international student program, but for smaller institutions like Capilano University—which rely heavily on the revenue generated by international tuition fees—the federal cap raises important questions about the social and financial relations within the institution.
While the federal cap on student visas has ultimately been an attempt to mitigate fraud, control the mass settlement of international students, and make the entry level and lowwage job markets less competitive; there will also inevitably be consequences to the on-campus ecosystem. With 12,700 students enrolled annually, approximately 20% of Capilano U’s student body is composed of international students. International students who have already secured enrolment in a program are not at risk of being affected by this cap, and should be able to carry out their studies until the completion of their program of choice. However, the Capilano student body can expect to continue observing a decrease in enrolment of new
international students, since the cap specifically targets new applicants.
With a decrease in international students enrolling at Capilano University, domestic fees will increase to compensate for the net revenue losses in the absence of international tuition fees. As a small and relatively young academic institution, it is unclear the extent these losses will impact CapU’s ability to grow as both an accredited academic and research institution. International fees often subsidize various programs and operational costs—especially following the reduction in domestic fees in many provinces—and the loss of revenue will likely result in some friction between higher education institutions in general with the Canadian government.
Aside from increasing domestic tuition fees, Capilano University, much like its neighbor Simon Fraser University, may also reduce the frequency at which courses are offered as well as program offering. Being a smaller institution, Capilano U has had a longstanding issue of limited course selection (i.e. certain courses only being offered as one section once per year), and this issue could potentially become more prominent with the decrease in revenue triggered by the cap. Additionally, entire programs with overall lower enrolment numbers and/or are less profitable to the institution may be eradicated entirely.
Not all is lost: Capilano U may still have success in alternative methods of generating funding outside of tuition, such as lobbying for increased government funding. Either way, this is a long-term endeavor that seeks to reevaluate public funding priorities, and could ultimately lead to significant change in how higher education is funded at both the provincial and national levels depending on professional involvement and community activism.
Capilano in Squamish:
the new campus ’ opening
With the opening of the long-awaited Squamish campus, an exciting new chapter of Capilano University’s history begins this Fall semester.
TYasmine Modaresi (she/her)
Crew Writer
he Squamish CapU campus, funded by $48 million from the B.C. government, will be the first publicly funded student housing in the Sea to Sky corridor. The scenic Squamish landscape isn’t the only appeal of the new campus, the building is equipped with 333 beds in nearby housing units only a short walk from the main campus. Situated in one of the lower mainlands most diverse adventure settings, Squamish-residing CapU students will have full access to activities like parasailing, rock climbing, and backcountry hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park, and hitting the slopes all within an hour’s drive from campus. Students have the ability to live parallel to the Squamish village while still having the convenience of being a short walk from their classes.
One benefit of the new campus is the increased access to higher education in more remote areas, which has historically been a problem across Canada with the more prestigious institutions being concentrated in the Lower Mainland. CapU students who have to commute long distances to campus miss out on a lot of the resources that a university can offer. The opening of the Squamish campus will make accessible involvement in studentwork programs with professors and school organizations (e.g. student council, clubs, childcare, etc). Capilano, furthermore, will positively impact the local economy by creating new jobs and posturing partnerships with local businesses. Through direct collaboration with Indigenous communities, the University aims to enhance programs that enhance Indigenous collaboration.
In campus’ operational infancy, there are a plethora of issues that have yet to be addressed. The campus is extremely small and if enrollment increases, the university will need to create infrastructure to house students without overcrowding in the surrounding village. The course selection is also currently limited at the Squamish campus, with the only current programs being within the of arts and childhood development care.
If Capilano University’s venture into Squamish proves fruitful it could become a vital catalyst in B.C.’s journey towards increasing university enrollment in rural areas. This will only be true if Capilano University succeeds in providing a reputable education that grants credentials equally as employable as those granted by larger institutions such as UBC and SFU. It’ll be fundamental to keep an eye on the strategies employed by the university to enhance the campus’s academic and career opportunities.
Illustrator
Liza Borissova (she/her)
Our Athletes Are Outstanding, Our Food is Not
Standing in the Birch Cafeteria one can’t help but wonder: what do student athletes eat? Between Subway, burgers and pastries, where do they get their nutrients from?
Crew Writer
Illustrator
Sean Finnan (any)
Mesh Devkota (he/him)
Everyone has to eat. Except — allegedly — some monks who have transcended the need for physical nourishment due to their vital connection to cosmic chow. So unless you are a monk, fueled entirely by willpower, the thought of your next meal will be a constant companion during your time at CapU –especially if you are a student-athlete.
Having a healthy diet is not only essential, it is the foundation on which student-athletes base their success. Recent studies have shown that a poor diet of processed foods can lead to significantly worse mental and physical health, because it affects both the gut microbiome and serotonin production in the brain. If an athlete’s diet isn’t on point, it could cost them games, championships and even scholarships.
So what do CapU’s hungriest student-athletes think about the nutrients available to them?
“If you ask me and any other athlete that goes to Capilano, there is a desperate need for an improvement on food that we need to fuel ourselves and help us nourish our bodies,” said Ahman Athman from the men’s basketball team. Athman did not just criticise the lack of nutritious foods but also pointed out that — as a diabetic — the sugary and processed foods at CapU pose a real threat to athletes’ health. He is not the only one who would like to be able to avoid processed foods; Taylor Melnyk — from the women’s soccer team — stated “I often find that I cannot afford the meals with higher protein at the university”.
Another concern for student-athletes is; the prices of the meals offered by CapU. Melnyk as well as Sophie Panther, who also plays on the women’s soccer team, mentioned their concern for the cost of food. Panther’s solution is bringing food from home, “I always bring my protein shake to school as well as yoghurt with granola and berries. For lunch, I would usually bring my leftovers from my dinner the night before. I would also
bring a bunch of fruit and protein bars.” Is this how it has to be? Students bringing their own meals because the school fails to provide what they need? Not all students have access to a space that allows them to prepare meals, this is especially true for students in CapU residence.
Barcha Hnizdilova from the women’s basketball team said, “It would be appreciated if we had some food stations for athletes. Just to grab a quick snack before or after practice. Some fruit, vegetables, or protein bars.”
These ideas were shared by all interviewed athletes, this goes to show that CapU’s athletes seem to be displeased with their offered forms of nutrition and that implementing a few simple changes could lead to satisfied athletes and students. This isn’t an outlandish request, especially considering the amount of revenue and marketing materials athletics generate for the school.
If a student athlete is looking for healthy options on campus, their best bet is the Birch Cafeteria. Within the Birch Cafeteria you can find “Chef’s Table,” where there are high-protein meat and plant-based options served on a daily basis. Next to this is a Stir-Fry-Station serving up plenty of meat, tofu, noodles, rice, and vegetables. For cheat days there is a Subway and Tim Hortons, which both serve a slimmed down version of their usual menu. In the Bosa Cafe there are also Grab N’ Go meals, as well as the infamous UpMeals vending machine, which all have healthier meal options!
What we choose to put in our bodies affects every single process of body and mind, and CapU’s studentathletes want the opportunity to choose — and be able to afford — what to fuel their bodies and minds with.
Sports, Sports, Sports... So Much to Offer but Where to Start
What happens in the Rec building does in fact not stay in the Rec building; we are here to spill the tea on all things sports.
Rosen (she/her)
Loker (she/her)
As the fall semester kicks off at Capilano University, students can dive into a heap of sports teams and recreational activities. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just looking for a way to stay active and meet new people, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a roundup of what CapU offers and how you can get involved.
Capilano Blues Varsity Team
For those with a competitive streak and athletic experience, the Capilano Blues Varsity Teams are calling you. The university boasts men’s and women’s soccer, basketball, and volleyball. These teams are members of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST), offering highlevel play and the chance to represent CapU in regional and national championships.
How to Join As a competitive team, recruitment is selective. Aspiring student-athletes must complete a recruiting questionnaire and contact the respective team’s head coach. They must also register for a minimum of 9 credits for each competing term.
When It Happens The season runs from September to March, with regular practices, home and away games, and potential participation in regional and national championships.
Costs It’s free to try out! The university may cover or subsidize expenses related to team participation, such as uniforms, travel, and accommodation for away games.
Recreational Activities
For students new to sports or just looking to stay active without the goal of becoming a pro, CapU offers a variety of recreational activities. Designed to be inclusive, CapURec encourages students to participate regardless of their experience or skill level.
Intramural Sports
If you’re craving something less intense but still want the thrill of competition, intramural sports might be your pick. These leagues include sports like badminton, cricket, basketball, soccer, and volleyball.
Crew Writer
Illustrator
Lily
Yohahnah
“With so many options popping up as the school year begins, there’s no better time to get involved.”
How to Join All skill levels are welcome, and programs are co-ed. Make a CapURec account online, select the free student membership, and register through the university’s recreation portal. Spots can fill up quickly, so register early.
When It Happens Intramural sports typically occur in the early afternoon, and sessions run for 9-12 weeks.
Costs It’s free!
Fitness Classes
If you’re keen on yoga, dance, or HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training), these group classes are an excellent way to stay fit and flexible.
How to Join All skill levels are welcome, and programs are co-ed. Sign up through the university’s recreation portal. Spots can fill up quickly, so register early.
When It Happens Classes are held intermittently throughout the school year, with schedules posted at the beginning of the semester and often by @capu_rec on Instagram.
Costs Many classes are free for students, though some specialized sessions might have a drop-in fee.
Outdoor Adventures
CapU occasionally organizes guided walks, hiking trips, and kayaking excursions for a breath of fresh air. These are perfect for students looking to explore the beautiful nature of the North Shore.
How to Join Sign up through the university’s recreation portal. Spots can fill up quickly, so register early.
When It Happens Activities are held intermittently throughout the school year, with schedules posted at the beginning of the semester and often by @capu_rec on Instagram.
Costs Prices vary depending on the activity, but they’re generally affordable and subsidized by the university.
Weight Room and Open Gym
The university’s weight room and gymnasium are available for drop-in sessions. In these sessions, you can shoot hoops, lift weights, or just get some exercise in an unstructured environment.
How to Join Sign up through the university’s recreation portal and complete the Athletics and Recreation Waiver.
When It Happens Check the facility schedule for open gym hours.
Costs It’s free!
Whether aiming for varsity spotlight or a fun way to stay active, Capilano University has a sport or activity that will fit your interests and skill level. With so many options popping up as the school year begins, there’s no better time to get involved. Let the games begin!
Summer is the Season of Breakfast and Swimming
Crew Writer
Crew Illustrator
Sean Finan (any) Jordan Richert (he/him)
My yoghurt skin makes your graham cracker skin look a few shades darker. Evening sunlight glitters and gallops on the water, you always look beautiful.
We lay, bodies dispersed on the warm dock like marooned starfish.
Moisture is being tractor-beamed into the sky from our chests and legs and hair. The sea rocks us back and forth like a mother. You say swimming like that makes you feel drunk— I touch your head and you bite my shoulder, “salty.”
I put my face close to yours, our lips fold together.
I become aware of the water in my body, and yours
The taste of your mouth is salty.
After a while I have no idea how long we’ve been lying here— the sun has sunk and is no longer washed across our bags on the shore, remnants of a past mammalian life, about to be swallowed by the tide. Our window for drying off on the shore closes the longer we stay on this piece of wood.
I stand up and stretch my limbs upwards and to the side, performing the various yoga postures I know— out of order and incorrectly.
I help you up and you express your disdain for the water that once felt refreshing. before my mind can think of a reason not to—
I cannonball into the water,
Water rushes into my ears, muffling the splash. For one eternal moment I am curled up and encased in liquid.
I think of the Jell-O pool scene from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Today the ocean is holding me.
I feel her arms on my back— and her legs around my torso.
I think this is the first time we have swam together. What a gift it is to giggle through water with you.
II
I sit in the cafe where you work and watch you make coffee and eggs in circular tins. You are playing the music you like and I am working on my computer. You make the most regular eggs the most kind creation I wonder if your customers know how lucky they are to eat your eggs.
Is it strange to say you are like the mother hen of this cafe?
III
Leaving your house:
The world is covered in dew.
My eyes are fuzzy–I forgot to bring a replacement for my contact lenses— which lie still, glued to your chapstick on your bedside table— making him look like a hopeful young boy with big translucent eyes, or abnormally large circular glasses.
A beautiful accidental child.
Like Harry Potter.
Our breakfast still digesting in my stomach, continues to remind me of you.
A warm light shines through my chest. I think about the conversations we just had— things that I said, things that you said. and I wonder what you are thinking about, and how your stomach is feeling.
Do I Know What I Say?
Vansh Malhotra (he/him) Andy Poystila (he/him)
Contributor
Someone who had always been the answers to all my questions. Someone who now becomes a question mark to all my answers. Did talking to you remind me of positivity? Or did positivity remind me of you?
I am confused. Did we become friends to change our destiny? Or did destiny decide to change our friendship?
Maybe, the answer did not lie in friendship adding to our happiness. The thought of adding happiness to our friendship never crossed my mind.
I hope this is only my horrible imagination confusing the bright reality.
Alas, no, it is the horrible reality confusing my bright imagination!
I am laughing out loud. I am crying inside.
I am smiling at everyone. I am sulking from within.
I am excited to socialize, I am dreading talking to myself.
I chuckle and giggle when I think about you. I also get anxious at the same time.
Life is funny. Life is serious, Life is a mystery. Life is dreary .
I am confused. I have clarity.
I do not know. Maybe I know.
I am not able to accept it. I am not able to reject it.
I am clueless.
I want to speak to my family. I do not want to speak to them. They may get irritated. At times they understand me, too.
I am unable to sit still. I have to sit still.
I do not want to study. I have to study.
I want to erase memories of you. Maybe, I want you back in my life.
Illustrator
10 Books to Read
Get back into an academic vibe with these books perfect for the start of the school year
1. The Defining Decade: Why your Twenties matter—and how to make the most of them now – Dr. Meg Jay, PhD
This non-fiction book is all about making the most of your 20’s, and ensuring success later in life based on the choices you make now. With three sections; Work, Love, and the Brain and the Body, you can start your school year jumping in with both feet in all sections of your life.
Pick up a copy for yourself or some friends on Amazon from $25.80 used, or Indigo for $25.99.
2. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
Friends and video game designers Sam and Sadie dream up and create their blockbuster game, Ichigo, before they even graduate Harvard. They become an overnight sensation, with all the privileges and joys that come with it, but also the dangers and heartbreaks. This novel spans thirty years of connection between Sam and Sadie who are at once more than friends but never quite lovers, and the young adult experience of struggling for identity. Slow moving but captivating.
Indigo has your copy for $24.95!
3. Bunny – Mona Awad
Graduate student Samantha is an outsider among her beautiful and preppy classmates, who call each other “Bunny” and are inseparable in and out of the classroom. When Sam is invited to a “Smut
Salon,” an annual party the Bunnies throw to share erotic works they’ve written, she gets caught up in a sinister yet saccharine world that blurs the edges of her reality until she’s entwined with the Bunnies. Before she knows it, she’s participating in their dark off-campus rituals. Gory, twisted, and weird but totally gripping from cover to cover, this is a great book for fans of The Secret History or Heathers.
Available at Indigo for $23.
4. The Rachel Incident – Caroline O’Donoghue
The Rachel Incident follows Rachel and her best friend and unrequited love James through their topsy-turvy young lives of love, fun, heartbreak, and identity. Queer, funny, and heartbreaking, this book is a coming of age for those trying to find their feet in their early twenties, and how complicated the seemingly “best years of your life” can be.
On Indigo for $24.95
5. The Little Book of Calm – Paul Wilson
This nonfiction self-help book is perfect as a pocket companion, encouraging the reader to slow down, regain balance, and manage stress in healthy and helpful ways. Perfect for the university student who sometimes needs to be reminded to take a breath and a moment amidst busy lives of homework, classes, and jobs.
Grab yours on Amazon for $12.55
this September
Gates Annai (they/she)
Literature Editor
6. Come and Get It – Kiley Reid
A residential assistant gets entangled in the unruly dramas of a professor and three students when all she wants to do is graduate and buy a house. Messy and tense but funny and strange, this book can feel like an unscripted reality show, where the reader witnesses lives and dramas unfold in an unrealistic but undoubtedly interesting alternate world.
On Indigo for $39.99 or Amazon for $32.70.
7. The Truants – Kate Weinberg
For fans of The Secret History, The Truants follows a college student who becomes entangled in the mystery of her enigmatic professor and drawn into her dark life. If you’re looking for dark academia vibes and are a lover of murder mysteries but have already read The Secret History like five times, The Truants is the perfect next read for you.
Grab your copy from Indigo for $23.00.
8. The Female Persuasion – Meg Wolitzer
Join shy Greer Kadetsky from her adolescence to her late twenties as she’s mentored and forever changed by Faith Frank, a women’s rights activist. Taking place in the 90’s to the early 2000’s, this book covers a broad range of feminist discourse while reflecting on womanhood, the people and relationships that change us and the course of our lives, and becoming who we were meant to be. Indigo has it for $23.00
9. Real Life – Brandon Taylor
Wallace is an outsider in his Midwestern university town as a black and queer man. At school, he leaves his family behind but still can’t escape his childhood, and holds a sizable distance between himself and his group of friends. Then his life is turned upside down over the course of one weekend, revealing long-simmering hostilities, secrets, and desires within his school community.
Grab it off Indigo for $24.95
10. The Incendiaries – R. O. Kwon
Friends, Phoebe and Will both have deep secrets they keep from one another, and still-lingering heartbreaks that draw them to ruin. Grappling with the loss of her mother, Phoebe is enchanted by a religious group which quickly reveals itself to be an extremist cult tied to North Korea and Phoebe’s Korean-American family. After the cult is responsible for numerous deaths and Phoebe disappears, Will hunts her down looking for the truth of who she really is, and unable to get past his obsessive love for her.
Indigo has paperbacks for $24.95
Commuting to Campus
Three university students reflect on their experiences commuting long distances
Vansh Malhotra (he/him)
Contributor
Commuting to the Capilano University campus is an integral part of many students’ lives. More than just a journey, it is an experience that shapes students’ sentiments as they balance academic life, work pressure and extracurricular activities. The experiences of students vary significantly, and every person faces different routes, schedules, and transit challenges during their commute.
I accompanied Gurpreet Singh, an international student, on one of his campus commutes from his residence in Surrey.
“Here comes Bus 325!” Singh exclaims as I stand with him at the bus stop across the street from his residence on 140 Street. He steps onto the bus
Siobhán Barry (she/her)
Illustrator
with a dispassionate look and sits right at the back. He says that students often face demanding routines and yet they are expected to offer their seats to anyone who assumes the youth can stand comfortably without any issues.
As the bus departs, Singh takes out his phone to update changes to a project, knowing that he has 20 minutes before he reaches the SkyTrain at Surrey Central Station. However, the bus halts after 10 minutes so that the drivers can change. I keep staring out the window and checking my watch as the bus shows no indication of leaving, standing motionless for five minutes. Singh shrugs and explains that such delays happen frequently. He also adds that changing bus drivers can sometimes take significant time
without prior warning. I notice his expression becoming churlish and decide to stay silent.
It has been almost two years that Singh has been commuting from Surrey for his Business Diploma classes at CapU. Although he appreciates the organized transit system in Vancouver compared to his home country of India, he says that commuting from Surrey has become stressful. It takes him almost one and a half hours to reach the campus. Moreover, there is no straightforward route from Surrey, due to multiple transfers. Once he jumps on the SkyTrain, he has to patiently stand with a smile for 20 minutes, before getting off at Metrotown Station. Then, he has to wait for a bus to Phibbs Exchange, which takes him around 30 minutes.
“The continuous noises of whistling and shouting added a level of discomfort to his commute.”
From Phibbs Exchange, he catches the final bus to CapU.
Singh also expressed annoyance when a large class of kindergarteners and their teachers unexpectedly boarded one of the buses during his commute. He says that this has happened twice during the summer term, and he remembers that the continuous noises of whistling and shouting added a level of discomfort to his commute. He also noted that some of the kids pulled the stop cord constantly, causing the bus to halt at each stop, even when no one wanted to get on or off. As a result, he felt mentally strained by the time he arrived at the campus for his first class.
Despite Singh’s mixed experience, some students have discovered public transit serves as a sort of therapy helping them build confidence and personal growth. Baljinder Singh expresses joy as he shares how public transit has contributed to his overall development, including social skills. He is in the Post-Bachelor Global Hospitality and Tourism program. He arrived in Canada two months ago from India.
While commuting from South Surrey twice a week for his summer classes, Singh mentions that he met some classmates who use the same transit route, including one who lives in his neighbourhood. Commuting to the campus with his peers helped him build friendships and form new connections in Canada. Singh also believes that the long transit time from Surrey is manageable, and proper planning and time management can lead one to discover “the positive side of commuting through public transport.”
Mateusz Grab, a BBA student, offers a balanced perspective. He explains that as a full-time student, he commutes to CapU on average three times a week from the Killarney-Vancouver neighbourhood. Sometimes he drives to the campus for morning lectures, but mostly takes the bus for afternoon classes. Grab says, “My experience with using public transportation has been satisfactory. I was able to commute on time without delays. But there were days when the bus was also out of service.”
Although Grab agrees that transit delays pose a problem, he also acknowledges that such issues are common only during morning lectures. Moreover, he also appreciates the affordability incentive, praising the U-Pass that gives freedom to students, and allowing unlimited access to transit, regardless of transfers. He is concerned about the rising fuel prices, and that the cost of driving—or even a taxi trip to campus—is higher than what he earns in two hours at his parttime landscaping job.
Gurpreet Singh shares the frustrations of long commutes and unexpected disruptions, while Baljinder Singh appreciates the commute and sees it as an opportunity for personal growth and social connection. Grab praises the convenience and affordability of public transit, even amidst the inconvenience of unforeseen delays. He also believes that using public transit is not a choice for him, but a mandatory part of life, given the economic constraints of driving a car. Clearly, there is no onesize-fits-all solution here.
“I keep staring out the window and checking my watch as the bus shows no indication of leaving, standing motionless for five minutes.”
Cult Classic: The Rio, The Room and the Roar of the Crowd
The most famous bad movie of all time returns to screens in Vancouver, along with a new offering from director Tommy Wiseau
Gwen Pemberton (she/her)
Features Editor
Ava Shahres (they/she)
Illustrator
Shouts drown out the dialogue on screen. Plastic spoons bounce off the walls and the backs of seats. Laughter punctuates every single dramatic beat. It’s movie theatre mayhem at the Rio on this smoky, sticky August evening, and not one person inside would have it any other way.
On August 8, the Rio Theatre hosted a double bill of two films by writer, producer, star, director and enigma, Tommy Wiseau. First was Wiseau’s newest project, the 2023 thriller Big Shark. Then came the main event.
The infamous 2003 cult classic, The Room, may be the most famous sobad-it’s-good movie ever made. And right in the middle of it all was Greg Sestero, who plays Mark in the film. No last name. As he took the stage before the lights went down, he was greeted in the best way fans of the movie knew how; “Oh, hi Mark!”
This is far from Sestero’s first rodeo at the Rio. By his own estimate, he has been hosting screenings and
Q&A’s of The Room at the theatre an average of once per year since 2013. Sestero has found stardom through the movie, although maybe not in the way he expected.
Not only has his book about his experience on the set, The Disaster Artist, become a bestseller, it has also spawned an Oscar nominated film of the same name, starring James and Dave Franco as Wiseau and Sestero respectively. “Mentioning an Oscar nomination with anything to do with The Room makes me concerned for humanity.” joked Sestero during the Q&A.
When you sit down to watch The Room, you become a part of an experience that comes with its own set of evergrowing rituals. Whenever one of the numerous panning shots began, so too did the gleeful chants of, “Go! Go! Go! Go!” Whenever water appeared on screen, a raucous shout of “Water!” quickly followed. Whenever a character did a mocking impression of a chicken—
which happens more than you would think possible—the audience joined right in. And of course, the spoons. They rained down mercilessly each time a spoon appeared in the background, and if you were to run out, it didn’t matter. There were bound to be plenty littering the ground at your feet, or lodged in your armrest next to your popcorn.
If you’ve never seen The Room before, it can be hard to explain. From the awkward performances to nonsensical dialogue, painfully obvious ADR and a plot that somehow manages to simultaneously crawl along and move at break-neck pace, it is a movie unlike any other.
Although not as well known as its predecessor, it would be a mistake to leave Wiseau’s new film, Big Shark, out of the conversation. If it was possible, the film may be even more baffling than its predecessor. Complete with random bursts of a cappella singing and a CGI shark that can seemingly appear and disappear at will, the movie delivered
exactly what the audience was looking for: a good time. By the end, the audience was cheering, laughing—and singing—along. The audience became the soundtrack, as Sestero put it.
The experience of watching these movies with an audience is one that has to be seen to be believed. In the crowd were many first time viewers, but just as many had returned for a second—or third, or fourth—time. In the aisles people were dancing, taking pictures and chatting excitedly. Many sported T-shirts emblazoned with the titular big shark, or Wiseau passionately announcing, “You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!”
In between screenings, Sestero signed copies of his book and posed for pictures with fans. In the crowd, I heard Wiseau compared to Mozart, Shakespeare and Picasso. “There’s nothing like seeing [The Room] at the Rio,” said UBC student and one of the most enthusiastic participants of the evening, Yuma Sudo.
Back in 2003, when The Room began its two week long run in theatres— which Wiseau arranged specifically so that his movie would be eligible for the Academy Awards—no one would have believed that it would become so popular, least of all Sestero. “I’m sitting in the fourth row [at the L.A. premiere] and suddenly it’s not funny anymore,” he said. Unable to sit through the movie, Sestero retreated into the lobby a few minutes into the film. Walkouts began soon after. As they left, Sestero said he heard someone say, “Man, I haven’t seen shit like that in years.”
And neither, it seems, had anyone else. Two weeks after the premiere, some L.A. film students saw a review of the movie that said “watching this film is like getting stabbed in the head.” Just like that, a cult was born. After the first private screenings in L.A. which were arranged by the students, The Room began to spread across the U.S., becoming more and more infamous as it went.
Once the Rio began hosting midnight showings of The Room, rumblings about the incredible crowds at the theatre eventually reached Sestero, who had been making appearances at screenings for a few years by that time. After his first visit to the Vancouver theatre, a book signing in 2013, he has made many subsequent appearances. “There’s just something special here,” he said. He visited so many times in fact, that the theatre became a permanent part of the film’s history.
“Once the ride began, it didn’t let up steam until the credits rolled.”
When James Franco was in Vancouver shooting The Interview, he attended a screening of The Room at the Rio, which Sestero was hosting. There were rumours that he had read The Disaster Artist, loved it, and was interested in turning it into a film. Dressed incognito with a baseball cap pulled down on his head, it wasn’t until after the show that Franco approached Sestero and said, “I love your story. Let’s make this movie.” Apparently the experience of the Rio itself affected Franco as well. After catching up with him recently, Sestero says that Franco still talks about how, “They don’t do it anywhere like the Rio.”
Cult film screenings like this one are a unique experience. To share in the joy of movies like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Donnie Darko, and, of course, The Room, is to share in a collective adventure. Watching with an audience fundamentally changes the viewing experience and produces an experience more akin to a theme park ride than a movie, which is what makes it so special.
“The experience of watching these movies with an audience is one that has to be seen to be believed.”
As the lights dimmed, you could practically hear the buzz of anticipation, and once the ride began, it didn’t let up steam until the credits rolled. The story behind the making of the film is legendary, but so is the way that it was embraced wholeheartedly by audiences around the world. Leaving the theatre, you could feel how much the experience meant to those in attendance. To quote one disgruntled movie-goer from 2003, “I haven’t seen shit like that in years.”
Carmen Rosen talks art schools, art societies, art festivals
How can Cap students learn from Rosen, get in touch with the forest of our campus, and become stronger artists in turn
In the various environments on campus where one is constantly measuring success academically, artistically, or even personally, it can be easy to be overwhelmed. Considering Capilano University offers a beautiful outdoor space to ground oneself, it brings to question how students can better appreciate our forests in a way that can recharge them in all facets.
Carmen Rosen, an artist based in East Vancouver, harnesses this energy, learning to flourish in multiple art forms as a festival director and creator. With her annual Moon Festival, also known as Harvest Fair, returning for its 22nd year this September, this feels like the perfect opportunity to learn from Rosen’s balance to understand how we can all uniquely find harmony in our own goals with the natural tools of our campus.
Rosen started her university career in 1978 with a degree in Art History from the University of British Columbia. During this time, she went from having an appreciation for art, to learning about art and eventually shelving books about art at her school’s
fine arts library. However, upon developing tendonitis from this routine, she realized she’d rather be getting her hands on making the art itself.
This led Rosen to pursuing a diploma at Emily Carr, providing the opportunity to study in an exchange program in Sapporo, Japan. When asked about her career ventures after university, she detailed an approach that would lead her to such wide success: “I remember early in my career—creating this three-tiered Japanese marionette—and to share this, a performer would have to stilt walk. So, I decided to learn how to stilt walk and, well, apparently there are very few stilt walkers, so I made my puppets and also stilt walked.” Rosen described this as what led her to create Mortal Coil Performance Society. It was this attitude of being able to “fall from new skill to new skill” that allowed Rosen to support her goals as well as discover new goals.
Paired with Rosen’s adaptability, her approach is also grounded in the value of sustainability. When studying at Emily Carr, Rosen discovered she was “disturbed by all
the toxic materials used to make art.” Rosen began by collecting trash in an abandoned warehouse, hoping to reshape people’s way of seeing what had been thrown away. Later in her career, in combination with her stilt-walking puppetry community within the festival community, Rosen began a sustainable festival community through the creation of Still Moon Arts Society (SMAS). With SMAS, the help of the City of Vancouver, and Rosen’s patented “fun(d) raising” she was able to create an artistic site along the Renfrew Ravine in East Vancouver. This site includes everything from gardens growing fibres and natural dyes, to hand-sculpted sheds, “I try to make everything on-site artistic, even something as simple as a shed” Rosen shares as she explains their choice to light their shed with glasswork buried in its walls.
Rosen has mended East Vancouver’s nature in artwork, expanding sustainability in community with nature and with each other ; Rosen’s approach is also based on the importance of connecting the community to these spaces. She insists this not only starts by “having free places where people can gather,” but extends to having linguistically accessible places of gathering—the community’s shared art being its own language.
On top of creating this shared space, Rosen coordinates events with SMAS such as the upcoming Moon Festival this September 14th and 21st. “On the 14th we have multiple weaving stations, with creators sending profits to families in Guatemala.” Rosen further connects the neighbours of East Vancouver by working with the local high school students to giving university students like Jasmine Garcha a space in the Renfrew Ravine for her own art collective—Crow’s Nest.
Not only does Rosen encourage others to learn through a firsthand approach: “stumble from thing to thing, follow your bliss then things happen.” She also shows an incredibly admirable warm connection with nature and those around her. When asked how Capilano University students can start this practice, Rosen pauses, “Those little moments of breath— oh wow, this is my life and I get to be here, I’m just going to take 5 seconds right now. Making time to just be there.” This could be our greatest tool, not only on campus but in our exciting future.
From Pride to Parade
A Discussion on Representation
Yasmine Modaresi (she/her)
Crew Writer
Sasha Lun (she/her)
Illustrator
Since the pride celebrations of August this summer, critiques have arisen in LGBTQ+ sub–communities throughout Vancouver regarding topics of inclusivity and monotonous displays of diversity. Vancouver Pride showcased many impressive floats, performances, and artistic displays. Yet amongst all the commotion, people of colour (POC) and individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds were underrepresented. At first glance, some may interpret this as individuals of certain ethnic or cultural backgrounds simply refraining from public participation in pride events. However, a closer look at Pride events reveals a rich history of ethnic and cultural diversity interwoven with the progression of LGBTQ+ rights.
Across North America, Pride has always been a movement for human rights, and as a result, inseparable from the struggles of communities of colour. One of the most famed examples of queer POC involvement in human rights is that of the Stonewall Riots in 1968. During these riots, trans women of colour organised and led pivotal riots in response to police brutality and systemic oppression faced by LGBTQ+ people—particularly those experiencing multiple forms of systemic marginalisation through both race and sexuality.
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“Pride is...also an queeraccepting folks of all can cultivate
While often considered the catalyst for the progression of LGBTQ+ rights, the Stonewall Riots weren’t isolated events. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, marginalised communities were forced together in protest due to their collective lack of fundamental human rights. Observing the early history of the civil rights movement, Pride was a monument erected upon a foundation of protests and riots that sought to deconstruct cultural norms of police violence, racial discrimination, and economic inequality.
Over this year’s summer in Vancouver, B.C., the Pride parade was so celebratory that a casual onlooker may be unaware of its deep cultural and humanitarian significance. A celebration of love in all forms is a revolutionary act in itself and should be valued as a marker of progress in basic rights for all. Yet, whether you went to the pride parade in person or looked at pictures online, something that becomes very apparent is an ironic lack of diversity in a space built upon concepts of inclusivity: the parade was overwhelmingly white.
While there was some showcasing of Indigenous communities in portions of the parade, it’s safe to say that Pride can do more to collaborate with queer communities of diverse backgrounds throughout Vancouver. After all, Pride is not just about celebration, but also about creating an accepting space where queer folks of all backgrounds can cultivate community. With the influx of immigrants to large metropolitan regions like Vancouver, it’s obvious that along with the majority of heterosexual and cisgender immigrants, there will also be queer immigrants. Along with them, there is also the underrepresented queer community already residing within the greater Vancouver area. It seems only reasonable for queer people from all walks of life to be represented in Pride celebrations.
Throughout Vancouver, there are a plethora of queer POCcentred spaces that are both ethnically and culturally inclusive. In future pride events, direct collaboration with such organisations could mean the difference between Pride being a celebration of love and Pride being a celebration of love plus a community-building event.
about creating space where all backgrounds
cultivate community.”
Queer Vancouverites will have to wait an entire year for Pride to grace our streets once more—and a year is a long time for queer POC folks to wait for an opportunity to grow their community. So, in collaboration with a few queer POCs from the greater Vancouver area, read on to learn about some amazing organisations that are actively weaving a city-wide infrastructure of cultural competence, community, and love.
Nestled near Chinatown, the Vancouver Black Library (VBL) is an incredible space for learning, education, and a safe space for queer POC folks to build meaningful relationships and community. With the longstanding history of non-white knowledge, experiences, and ways of life being completely erased from traditional archives like libraries and academic institutions, the VBL highlights the writings of Black and other POC writers, scholars, and activists. Vancouverites of all backgrounds are welcomed to this space to increase their knowledge of Black history and culture in Canada.
Another art-themed Vancouver-based queer space is Love Intersections, a media arts collective founded by queer artists of colour. This organisation has continuously devoted itself to addressing societal issues such as systemic racism through relational storytelling and art. Revolutionary change is a central goal and intersectionality is incorporated into stories to advocate for underrepresented communities of colour.
Finally, queer youth of any heritage can find their community at Ricecake, which strives to make spaces of support and inclusivity where Asian and other POC youth can explore their complex identities. The organisation has consistently showcased Asian artists and talent and has been successful in creating a queer space for ethnic and racial minorities who have previously felt that they lack a home in more mainstream LGBTQ+ communities.
Kate Henderson (she/they)
Crew Writer
Andy Poystila (he/him)
Illustrator
How my caffeine consumption has changed throughout the past two years, and so has my handle on life
I Just Shit My Pants!
Inner Child
Whether it was eating sand at the beach, drinking soda before bedtime or hiding your 3DS under your pillow, as kids the most effective way to learn to take care of yourself was seeing what happened when you did exactly what you’re told not to do. My perspective has grown, and yet this approach seems to be the only consistent thing in the rollercoaster that has been the past two years of my life. Well, that and my need for caffeine.
Younger Self: Year Onethe Bottled Vanilla Iced Coffee
Get eight hours of sleep and a balanced diet.
During what felt like an adult summer camp, my first week of independence started in Capilano University Residence. With the same impulses as a kid in a candy store, I discovered how delicious it is to drink an iced coffee and meet people until three in the morning each day, fueling both an elevated heart rate and my extroverted nature . It was a high of meeting friends, lovers and acquaintances in a way that I’d never done before. The thought of being perceived as ‘exciting’ and ‘unique’ was exhilarating. This high could only last for so long, and so could my university dining dollar account balance. Turns out, each of those bottled iced coffees cost eight dollars, and every night of four hours of ‘cool girl’ sleep was costing me my sanity.
With my counsellor’s prognosis of manic episodes and a dining dollar balance of zero, by late November, I had reached the peak of all the chaos. I was told to start tracking my ‘routine’ in a Google Sheets document with a prescription of eight hours of sleep each night and no iced coffee.
Younger Self: Year Twothe Bosa Building Cafe Coffee
Communicate your needs and emotions.
I just shit my pants. No, literally.
The coffee had nothing to do with this, rather some beer and some Tacofino from the night before in my system… and confrontation. I remember looking at myself in the mirror, like I was some overgrown baby for being scared to tell someone else how I felt, with no diaper to embrace me. In a weird fucked up kind of way, this soiled moment showed me that I’d need to work on my methods of planting seeds of communication. While not as thrilling as my manic episodes at residence, being honest about how I felt to someone seemed risky. After a year of mentioning when I didn’t feel comfortable with a joke, or something as significant as why I was deciding to move out, I have learned that there is no risk communicating when you know the right people.
The most prominent irrationality left was my finances after ordering Skip the Dishes and eating tofu for a year straight (two dollar tofu does not cancel out every Breka bocconcini sandwich ordered at 1 a.m., woof).
Year ThreeKeurig Colombian Roast
It’s clear that the path I took to learning healthy routines was pretty unorthodox and had some pretty bizarre methods. I mean, I can’t believe that what finally proved to me that eight hours of sleep isn’t propaganda was literally going insane… and I had to shit myself to start healthily communicating. I hope all these gruesome details provide comfort: I’ve found a whole new angle on life without the constant guidance of parental advice and that it’s okay to find your own rhythm in ridiculous firsthand experiences! It could be the nature of how we learn in youth and we can know we’ve grown older because we know how to be there for ourselves.
Deep down, we all yearn for the clubs.
Why are we so infatuated with club music in our everyday lives?
Crew Writer Illustrator Lily Rosen (she/her) Jasmin Linton (she/her)
“The club is a unique place of liberation, hedonism, and connection where the rules loosen and societal expectations lower.”
Be it hardcore, hyperpop, or house, club music has danced into the zeitgeist with speakers blasting, and there are no signs the volume will drop anytime soon. From mainstream artists like Charli XCX and Kim Petras to underground sensations like SOPHIE and Peggy Gou, this sound has underscored our generation’s fantasies, aesthetics, and attitudes for a few years, culminating with multiple explosive releases this summer. Yet, this passion for the “club” lifestyle surpasses the music itself — the allure of the club isn’t necessarily about attending one, but rather about what it represents.
From disco beginnings to techno, jungle, EDM, and today’s fluid lines between genres, club music has evolved over half a century and created generations of partygoers. While the beats are ever-changing, the motivation for clubbers has always been the same. The club is a unique place of liberation, hedonism, and connection where the rules loosen and societal expectations lower. In our post-pandemic world, it also promises the community we sorely missed after years of isolation. We crave the noise, the mess, the party. This is an era where it’s sexy to sweat through your clothes dancing, smoke a cheap cigarette, and act like a bitch.
Yet this romanticization of club culture often stops short of actual participation. The trend is what matters most. For example, “brat summer,” a viral concept inspired by Charli XCX’s latest album, embodies a “club girl’s” rebellious, candid, brash attitude. But it isn’t crucial to go to clubs or even enjoy the music they play to call yourself a “brat.” Adopting this trend is more about the associated identity and aesthetic than the place
or genre. It’s doing what you want, when you want, without caring what others think. It’s neon green, smudged eyeliner, and exposed bra straps. It’s whatever’s popular on social media, be it an “Apple” Tiktok dance cover or a “brat wall” photoop. In our hunger for a sense of self, we find a communal persona to cling to — for some, the lifestyle, and for many, just the look.
No matter the case, there’s a reason so many of us are clinging to this “365 party girl” identity, lifestyle, and music genre. The club music resurgence we’re experiencing in 2024 has eerily similar circumstances to 2007-2009’s Great Recession. We danced to Kesha, Katy Perry, and the Black Eyed Peas to forget about our financial vulnerability. Our tracks have changed, but the pull to escapism is just the same. “Recession pop” is an audible response to the challenges and anxieties of contemporary life. Gen Z inherits a world of strife, uncertainty, and disillusionment. No wonder we seek solace in club music’s chaotic, fast-paced energy. This isn’t just a revival of a genre — the raw, restless nature of club beats reflects our inner turmoil and desire for change.
The concept of the club extends far beyond a thumping bass or auto-tuned vocals, representing a sense of freedom, a longing for connection and identity, and a need to escape. Whether embracing the true club lifestyle or simply adopting its trends, the recent popularity of club music reveals how vulnerable we really feel in a world filled with challenges and uncertainties. Sometimes, all we can count on is a fun night out.
The CapU Guide to Branding Yourself as a Socialist While Having Rich Parents and Not Actually Doing Anything Socialist at All
So, you’re a sheltered rich kid, and you’ve realized that the Gen Z population is really left-wing. You hear students debating the best ways to enact Gramsci’s war of position in the lunch hall, and while you disagree, you also don’t want to exude the air of a bourgeoise snob. Maybe, you desire to take your deceptions even further and interject yourself into far-left campus discourse. It’s all possible if you brand yourself properly.
The good news for you is that most people who are theoretically left-leaning are complacently testing the waters before they actually start partaking in political activism. So, branding yourself as a baby commie might be one of the most effective ways to tell the campus “I’ve read Marx… I didn’t understand too much but I’m here for it.”
read, which means random left-wing quotes strategically spread throughout your posts, and maybe a picture of you wearing a shirt with Karl Marx on it. Be idealistic, vague and diverse in the quotes you include.
3. Engage in performative activism: Repost the work of real activists. Show up to protests and have a friend take candid pictures of you hanging out there. Do you need to actually be organizing? No.
Yasmine Modaresi
(she/her) Crew Writer
Cameron Skorulski
(he/him) Illustrator
Once you’ve mastered the art of not out right giving yourself away, move on to performative activism and style curation:
1. Master the aesthetic: real socialists do their best not to support big corporations, opting to shop at small local businesses or secondhand stores. As someone with rich parents (or, a “comfortable” home life, as y’all like to say), shopping for actual secondhand clothing might seem a bit too revolutionist for your liking. In this case, try to find designer brands that scream ‘distressed’, ‘punk’ and ‘revolutionary’— think Che Guevara t-shirts, which tend to cost more than the average bluecollar worker’s weekly wage.
2. Curate your social media: Be unapologetically left-wing on your social media. Since you’re only a fake leftist, you don’t have to make real calls for community organization in support of workers’ rights or have any links to policy reformations on your accounts. As a rich kid, you should have time to become ridiculously well-
4. Finally, and probably most importantly, learn to manipulate. At some point down this road of performance, gonna pick up on your act and call you out. This is where being manipulative and cunning comes in. Did you get called out about all the expensive clothing you wear? Well, guess what, that’s your personal property. Since it isn’t private and you’re not profiting off of it, there’s nothing unethical about owning it—in fact, it’s expensive because it wasn’t made by child labourers! Did someone call you out for not volunteering with underprivileged communities? You’re wielding your privilege to create your own non-profit organization.
If you follow all of these steps and improvise along the way, you’ll probably get away with branding yourself as a socialist without ever actually putting your money where your mouth is and helping your community.
Dear Music Students: knock off that dang racket!
Contributor Adam Stothard, computer scientist.
I sit here, perfecting my diorama, and you have the gall to invade my ears with your jazzy-wazzy nonsense? Well I’m sick of it!
You artsy fartsy music kids think you’re so tough merely because you push your stale breath through a compendium of pneumatic brass tubes. While I say this: Guffaw! You waste your time!
While you pollute your ears with a hodgepodge of cacophony, I, for one, am studying a subject that MATTERS. We science students are attempting to solve problems by asking the greatest and most profound questions known to this crazy blue marble we call earth. By god, we science people created the atomic bomb! By comparison, you music students do nothing but sit back and smoke your weed ganja, party it up with alcoholic beverages, and engage in lurid, thoughtless fornication.
Har, I chortle at your naivete! You shall never possess the knowledge of the cosmos that we true academics do.
Scientifically, there is only one acceptable volume of music: silence, thus to not damage the hearing system of the human body.
Why doest thou create damage known as “Tinnitus” in thine fellow pupils eardrums?
My theory is it is because you are all philistines hellbent on ignoring reason and logic. I subsequently inquire: who are your heroes? Jonathan “John” Lennon? James “Jim” Morrison? Stephen “Stevie” Wonder?
Well if they’re so smart, why are they all dead from DRUGS? Hopefully, we scientists are able to finally defeat you hippy-dippy beatniks with the advancement of utilizing science to outsmart you.
Maren Brophy (she/her)
Illustrator
You see, we scientists have been working for years on a way to push you bohemians out of the way of the advancement of the human race. Artificial intelligence is coming to finally put an end to your substratal ways and pave the way for a new great society. A society devoid of crude animalistic noise, where everything makes sense and there’s no wasting our precious time. Let me describe the beautiful world of the future for you carnal noisemakers:
• No more need for consumers to digest the creations of others, every piece of art will now be 100% democratic.
• Fan of music? Create a song in any style with the click of a button. This will save economic waste that consumer bases will appreciate.
• Fan of movies? Create any movie of any genre starring any actor you wish with the click of a button. No more watching what you yourself wouldn’t imagine to create.
• Between shifts, everyone shall enjoy A.I entertainment designed specifically for your own consumption for comprehensive dopamine stimulation.
• With unimpeded scientific progress, lifespans will now be circa 170 years.
Now, do you understand what sort of progress you are impeding with your frivolous tintinnabulation? It’s time for you perfidious ignorami to finally grasp that your musical proficiency is a mere blip in the grand scheme of what we, the genius class, have in store for our future.
by Sofia Musa
Crossword!
34. Paint job to rejuvenate a car
37. The dryer ate it
39. Vertical ship structure
40. Turned on, as a candle
42. World’s best boss
45. Klimt’s student
49. Woolen garment worn by gauchos
51. In a boring manner
53. Part of Indiana Jones’ collection
54. Daze
55. Young Adult writer or Legend, Marie___
56. ___ and pans
57. Prefix to -gender
58. High priority in hospital
59. Coding counterpart to “else”
60. May be the cause of 16-across , hint in puzzle’s grid*
61. Share again on twitter, for short
DOWN
1. Adele’s “___ Like You”
2. “Keep it to yourself,” abbr.
3. Canoe steerer
4. Diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald
5. Vice-president during the Trump administration
6. Delighted (in)
7. Article before a vowel sound
8. Can follow Empire or Mind
9. For each
11. garland at a Luau
17. Timed circuit around the racetrack for qualification
18. Pulitzer winning playright David Alan ___
19. Enrages
20. Steam category for Skyrim and Mass Effect, abbr.
21. Remains on the highway
22. Frisky encounter with multiple partner
26. Yellow buzzer
29. Spanish uncle
34. Coarse quality in a person’s voice
35. Courtesean
36. Affirmative
38. Make less dirty
41. Whiplash lead
43. Electronics company known for its TVs
44. “Use your head”
46. American channel airing Young Sheldon
47. Break out of shell
48. “The people” in the language of Inuktut
50. F1 driver for Alpine
52. Round fur-covered tent
56. Sweetest math ratio
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