Capilano Courier | Vol. 49.5, Issue 9.

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VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE 09

NOVEMBER 21 - 27 | 2016

TRUDEAU'S FIRST YEAR

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TV REVIEWS

CSU UNMASKED

What do Notorious, Westworld and Black Mirror have in common? Absolutely nothing, but you'll love these reviews!

A look at the most exclusive party of the semester, happening Nov. 25 at the Vancouver Art Gallery... for a lucky few.


CONTENTS

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04

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Cover Art

News

Campus Life

Sports

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Features

Arts & Culture

Opinions

Columns

TIERNEY MILNE

A HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO FAN EXPO

THE STAFF Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

editor@capilanocourier.com Carlo Javier MANAGING EDITOR

carlo.capcourier@gmail.com

STUFF THE BUS FUNDRAISER RETURNS

DISCORDER SHOWCASES LOCAL HIP-HOP TALENT

EXPLORE CAPILANO

WHEN CELEBRITIES SPEAK THEIR MINDS

COLUMNISTS

NEWS EDITOR

Jessica Lio OPINIONS EDITOR

opinions.capcourier@gmail.com Gabriel Scorgie

WHITE RUSSIANS FOR HILLARY

CONTRIBUTORS Jacqueline Ranit With the fall season comes an influx of markets. Not stock markets, actual markets. That’s why we’ve brought in market aficionado Jacqueline Ranit to investigate and understand what some of Vancouver’s finest seasonal markets really stand for. She’ll be finding the answers to questions like: which stand has the best bratwurst, what does the farmers market really mean to its immediate community, why should I go here?

Tierney Milne COVER ART

Jenny Oakley ART

Wolfgang Thomo ART

Angela Schmold

Kevin Kapenda news@capilanocourier.com

SEASON REVIEW: MEN'S & WOMEN'S SOCCER

ART

Fred Ulrich Jr. The irrepressibly bitter Fred Ulrich Jr. is back to spread even more of his angry, old-man observations. This time, he’ll be talking about all the crap he’s had to put up with from his wealth of experience travelling the world. This man has racked up his Air Miles, and that might be the only joy he’s gotten out of travelling.

FEATURES EDITOR

Maria Centola ART

Dominic Guieb PHOTOS

Véronic St-Cyr WORDS

Rachel D'Sa

specialfeatures.capcourier@gmail.com

WORDS

Justin Scott ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

arts.capcourier@gmail.com Christine Beyleveldt CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

campuslife.capcourier@gmail.com

Leah Scheitel Leah Scheitel understands your pain and frustrations. School can be tough and life can be even harder. So the ever-gracious Scheitel has dedicated her time to searching the Internet for the saddest and most laughably terrible events, all for the purpose of reminding you that no matter what’s happening right now, someone out there is always having a worst time than you.

Cristian Fowlie

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09 THE CAPILANO COURIER

Syd Danger LAYOUT DESIGNER

pm.capcourier@gmail.com Noah Penner

WORDS

Kelly Batchelor WORDS

Nick Sheffield WORDS

James Tevlin

ART DIRECTOR

artdirector.capcourier@gmail.com

Scott Barkemeyer

WORDS

Max Ley More wine! One of last year’s most popular columns is back to expand your wine pairing horizons. As always, Max Ley will be keeping his choices to a student-friendly budget, making the pairings ideal for your pre- and post-exam drinking sessions. Bonus: this year, Max will also be touching on the world of beer and cocktail pairings.

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

multimedia.capcourier@gmail.com Therese Guieb COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER

community.capcourier@gmail.com POSITION AVAILABLE! BUSINESS ADVISOR

Lars Henrik Ahlstrom If you like the psychologically-provoking ways of Mr. Robot and the subtle social commentary of Woody Allen, then Lars Henrk Ahlstrom is your man. He’ll be taking you on a deep dive into the grim politics surrounding the educational system and hopefully, by the end, we’ll all come out feeling a little optimistic – or inspired.

business.capcourier@gmail.com Brandon Kostinuk WEB COORDINATOR

web.capcourier@gmail.com

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THE CAPILANO COURIER is an autonomous, democratically-run student newspaper. Literary and visual submissions are welcomed. All submissions are subject to editing for brevity, taste and legality. The Capilano Courier will not publish material deemed by the collective to exhibit sexism, racism or homophobia. The views expressed by the contributing writers are not necessarily those of the Capilano Courier Publishing Society.


EDITOR'S DESK

A BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT FOR TODAY’S MUSIC INDUSTRY Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

to do the work in this regard. We’d rather consume songs that are, essentially, just a bunch of meaningless words that sound good together. Mars isn’t the first to use this technique, however. Jackson, too, wasn’t always the deepest thinker. I’ve often joked that the King of Pop was more often the King of Gibberish — and you’re likely to agree with me if you ever happen to Google the lyrics to “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”. I kid you not, that song contains a bigger serving of “vegetables” than a bowl of Campbell’s Soup. Make no mistake — I don’t mean to take away from either of these guys and their abilities on the stage and in the studio. In 50 years’ time, I guarantee that people will still be talking about how stratospherically talented they were — about how they could dance and sing their asses off; about how they had the whole package, which — I’ll be the first to admit — Cohen did not. There wasn’t a funky bone in his body, he couldn’t sing to save his life and he always seemed 20 years too old to be cool. However, he leaves behind a body of work that hasn’t just contributed to the musical landscape, but the literary one as well. That is an important distinction to make in today’s world, and I retain a small shred of hope that the musicians of my generation are making a note of how precious that is. You’ve likely heard Cohen’s voice at some point over the last couple weeks. Chances are it wasn’t your cup of tea, but I urge you to take a moment and let his words warm over you one more time. Start with the obligatory and oft-covered Hallelujah and branch out from there. If you think his metaphorical prowess is impressive on that track, wait until you dig deeper into his catalog. Listen to “Dance Me to the End of Love” and look up the historical events that inspired it. Then go deeper. Listen to “Bird of the Wire” and “Anthem”. You can find all of these songs on his 2008 album, Live in London, which I stand behind as my ultimate ‘desert island’ disc. Without flaunting the women on his arm and the money in his pocket, Leonard Cohen changed the world. Without namedropping all the buzzwords, catchphrases and social media sites of the day, he still managed to find a loyal audience and critical acclaim. Surely, it can still be done. We’ll just have to wait and see if the Mayers and the Mars’ of the world will be the ones who carry the torch.

THE VOICEBOX with Carlo Javier

Nice seeing you guys at the basketball game two weeks ago! Thanks! Did you see me win the free throw shooting contest? No, but I saw you refusing to participate… wuss. You guys need a sports photographer by the way? Oh I think we’re good, our photographer is always at these games anyway

THE CAPILANO COURIER

You mean the guy standing OUTSIDE the court? …yeah

What happened to last week’s horoscope? Now I don’t know what to expect with my life. Well that’s alarming. The Voicebox is back! If you have any questions, concerns or any other bitchin’ to do, text it over to our boy Carlo at 778-865-2649. “Please text me,” he says. “No one else does.”

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VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

It’s been a conflicting couple of weeks for my musical heart. On Nov. 7, we lost Leonard Cohen, Canada’s iconic Debbie Downer of song. The news came three weeks after the release of his critically-acclaimed album, You Want it Darker, which contained (I think) some of the best lyrics he’s ever written. And while he was 82, and very admittedly “ready to die”, Cohen left a world that needs him — and his poetic perceptions — perhaps more than ever before. Just listen to the words of his 1992 anthem “Democracy” and tell me it isn’t more than a little ironic that this man passed away mere hours after the results of the American election came rolling in. You’ll see what I mean. This entire year has been unbelievably rough for pop music’s metaphorical Mount Rushmore. We’ve lost songwriters and innovators we will never see the likes of again. But as much as that makes me sad, I’m trying to find comfort in what we have now. Last Thursday, John Mayer released a single that teased his long-awaited return to the world of pop-rock after a decade of distractions that included two Americana albums, a pair of vocal surgeries and a tour with former members of the Grateful Dead. He’s spent much of the past year in the studio getting the dream team back together with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan in an effort to satiate loyal fans who have patiently put up with everything else he’s said and done since the Continuum era. The following day, Bruno Mars unleashed a retro-infused takeover of the Billboard Top 100 charts with his new album 24k Magic. Over the course of its nine tracks you’ll find the r&b sensation zipping up to the high notes like Stevie Wonder, chewing on his low range like Michael Jackson and grunting incoherently like James Brown. Anyone born in the late 80s or early 90s will surely recognize some unapologetic nods to R. Kelly, Babyface and Boyz II Men as well, not to mention the unmistakable sound of a Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer, which serves as the gravy that ties it all together. But as sonically cool as 24k Magic is, I can’t help but wish that Mars had mustered the lyrical prowess to back it up. Somewhere between the 60s and now, I’m convinced that pop music was scrubbed of much of the substance it once had. To carve out a place on someone’s iTunes playlist in 2016, it’s not about how well you can put triumph or tragedy into words — it’s about how good of an arm you have when it comes to throwing subtlety out the window. The farther you can lob it, the better, and Mars has clearly been pumping iron. That makes me miss Cohen even more. This was a songwriter who mined the depths of human emotion to a level that just doesn’t seem to be required anymore. His songs had layers, and in many cases, you had to look for them yourself. Unfortunately, I’m not convinced that many of us in the Y generation are prepared


NEWS

ENACTUS COMES TO CAPILANO UNIVERSITY Club welcome to all students with a desire to impact international community James Tevlin CONTRIBUTOR

After feeling like there was no club on campus that combined entrepreneurial skills and advocated for social change internationally, first-year business students Ivy Martin-Moore and Betty Huang decided to start an Enactus Team at Capilano. Enactus is an international organization whose mission is to inspiring students who want to impact and improve the world around them through entrepreneurial action. Currently,

Enactus can be found in over 36 countries, at 1,710 universities, and has over 69,000 student members. The programming Enactus is most known for is their competitions. Co-Presidents Martin-Moore and Huang believe Enactus will primarily help CapU students in two ways. “Enactus provides Capilano students with the platform to come up with ways to create change in their communities, or be part of initiatives for change other students have come up with,” said Huang. Furthermore, they believe that Enactus’ international reputation could lead to making connections outside of Canada. “Because it’s global, there are opportunities to connect with foreign students and business leaders,” added Martin-Moore. Enactus believes that through competition, students will be more encouraged think creatively and produce greater results. To carry out their mission, Enactus hosts a series of regional and national competitions with teams (clubs) across the world. The competitions act as a

platform for students to showcase their ideas in front of a panel of industry executives that serve as judges. National Champion Teams will be selected to advance to the prestigious “Enactus World Cup” and experience a competitive celebration of innovation and excellence. Martin-Moore and Huang are off to busy start with Enactus Capilano. They’re already planning to host a competition on campus, as well as moving to enter their members in local competitions too. “This year, we have the Counting on Action project and competition, where high school classes will come together to compete with small products they’ve developed themselves; that is in March 2017,” explained Martin-Moore. “We are also hoping to send our team members to compete in the Enactus Regionals in Calgary this March, as well as the Nationals in Vancouver in May. We currently have a research and development team working on a new and larger project to implement in fall 2017, which we expect you will see some of in

youth-helping-youth kind of thing,” said Kelly, “And they were really into us helping them.” A Landsea bus will be parked near the Cedar Courtyard, from 9 am to 4 pm on Nov. 28, 29 and 30 where volunteers will be on hand to accept donations. “We are collecting clean and undamaged clothing,” said Kelly. “It can be used, but gently used — jackets, outerwear, footwear, bedding.” New socks and unopened toiletries will also be accepted, in addition to a more unorthodox request: mp3 players. “They really want mp3 players for some reason,” she laughed. “Old mp3 players and headphones.” For those who are unable to stop by the bus in person, Kelly is quite literally willing to go the extra mile. “If people can’t make it to campus we can pick it up as well,” she said, inviting readers to drop her a line at briannekelly2@my.capilanou.ca or search for the ‘Stuff the Bus’ event page on Facebook.

TRECSA

the coming months,” said Huang. While Enactus is known for business students, Martin-Moore and Huang want to make it clear that all young people with an eye for social change and entrepreneurship should join. “Enactus is open to all Capilano students, and we explicitly encourage students from outside business to apply for future positions,” said Martin-Moore. “The projects that Enactus competitions involve many areas of expertise, and they’re also the ones that make the most change. Capilano has such a diverse set of students, particularly on the fine and performing arts spectrum, and we welcome everyone,” said Huang. Enactus Capilano offers up some great opportunities for Capilano students who have an interest in entrepreneurship and have a desire to make positive a positive impact in their community and surrounding world. If you would like to learn about the team, you can follow Enactus Capilano on Facebook or email contact@enactuscapilano.ca.

STUFF THE BUS FUNDRAISER RETURNS TO CAPILANO NOV. 28-30 Tourism Management students organize vehicular variation on the classic holiday clothing drive Andy Rice

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After five years without a stopover at Capilano University, Landsea Tours & Adventures’ popular Stuff the Bus fundraiser will be making its triumphant return to the North Vancouver campus. This time, however, it was CapU students — not the company itself — who put the wheels in motion. Brie Kelly, president of the newly-created Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Student Association (TRECSA), explained how she and four other Tourism Management students used connections within their industry and alumni roster to make it happen. “The guy who co-owns Landsea, Kevin Pearce, was actually a Tourism [program] grad,” she said, “So we went to him and we asked him how he would feel if we kind of took it on and brought it back as a student event. He was super into it — it’s the perfect thing. He’s an alumni, he owns a tourism company in Vancouver and he used to do a charity event. It’s kind of everything we wanted.” Stuff the Bus was launched eight years ago as a way to collect supplies for some of the Lower Mainland’s neediest charities and shelters. The concept was simple: take a 24-passenger Landsea tour bus, remove the seats and fill it to the ceiling with clothing, bedding and toiletries. With mobility on its side, the bus became a roving donation bin, visiting dozens of communities and local attractions. “In total they’ve stuffed 16 buses of donations,” said Kelly, adding that she hopes to make it 17 this year. TRECSA’s charity of choice is Covenant House Vancouver, an organization that benefits at-risk youth. “We’re a university so we thought it would be good to have a

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TRECSA was formed in September 2015 with the intention of connecting Tourism Management and Outdoor Recreation Management students to the campus community and beyond. “Everyone knows there’s a tourism program but no one really knows what we do,” explained Kelly. “They just assume that we’re going to be working on an airplane or tour guides or something, so we’re kind of making a bigger presence on campus and spreading the word about our program.” Through a series of upcoming events and activities, Kelly and her fellow TRECSA members hope to create networking opportunities for students and educate them on the importance of tourism and the careers that are available. “The tourism industry is a lifestyle and not just a career,” she said. “It's a very people-orientated industry that most are passionate about and networking is a big

part of business.” According to Destination BC, tourism generates billions in provincial revenue each year, employing nearly 130,000 people. CapU currently offers a two-year co-op diploma and a four-year bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management. For those focused specifically on adventure tourism, there is an Outdoor Recreation Management program and an International Diploma Program. On Dec. 1 from 7 to 8:30 pm, an information night will take place in LB 321 where attendees will learn more about each of these programs. An alumni event is also on the calendar, to be held downtown in March 2017. “TRECSA will be recruiting members for the 2017-2018 year,” said Kelly, adding that the association is on the hunt for its next leader as her graduation approaches. For more information, readers may follow @capu.trecsa on Instagram or visit facebook. com/TRECSA.


@CAPILANOCOURIER

@CAPILANOCOURIER

/CAPILANOCOURIER

CAPILANO’S EDUCATION ASSISTANT GRADS HELPING ALL CHILDREN LEARN Certificate program working to fill EA vacancies in districts across BC Kevin Kapenda NEWS EDITOR

On Nov. 15 and 16, the Capilano University Education Assistant (EA) program held information sessions on the North Vancouver and Sunshine Coast campuses to provide prospective applicants with details on the career. “An education assistant (EA), is a paraprofessional who works in the school system,” said program coordinator Diane Koch. “Their key role is to work with children or adolescents who present with a wide-range of abilities.” EAs work in schools, but the settings they may find themselves in are varied. At the session, Koch gave an example in which EAs were required to go into the water with their students during a field trip to a pool for swimming lessons. “EAs support students in a wide variety of settings,” said Koch. “They could support students in classrooms, resource rooms, out in the community, or self-contained classrooms [among other settings].” As for the program itself, it is parttime and takes just under two years to complete. This is partly because many of the students in the EA certificate are more mature than the average undergraduate age at CapU – 24 years old. “It’s a 20 month, 30 credit certificate program. We are the only credit program that runs parttime in the Greater Vancouver area,” said Koch. “The vast majority of students in our program are what we call mature learners. They’re folks that have experience out in the world. People, for whatever reason, have decided to come back to their passion of working with children and youth.” However, that does not mean that recent high school graduates ought not to apply. “We have a variety of students who have come to us straight out of high school. The oldest student we’ve had in the program

WHAT’S NEW WITH THE CSU?

Kevin Kapenda NEWS EDITOR

CSU Special General Meeting (SGM), El Matari submitted a revised planning tool during the meeting with additional details. The updated planning tool for the SUB Town Hall has a new tentative date of Jan. 12. A planning tool is a budgetary and administrative breakdown of CSU initiatives that require expenditure. Also discussed was a resolution to increase the SUB consultation phase budget from $16,800 to $20,000. Consultation is being done with contracting company Stantec. Much debate was held surrounding El Matari’s increase of the consultation phase cost, due to the fact that no memo on the budget amendment was submitted to the board before the meeting. CapU Senate and Board of Governors (BOG) representative Michelle Gervais moved to have the resolution on the increase postponed to the next meeting, on the basis that no budget amendment memo

was submitted to the board beforehand, hindering their ability to understand the point in question. This move was opposed by El Matari and VP of student life Beatriz Miralles during debate. In the end, Gervais’ motion to postpone voting on the resolution until the next meeting failed, while El Matari’s resolution to increase the budget from $16,800 to $20,000 passed with Gervais and fellow Senate and BOG representative Élie Lubendo abstaining. CapU Senate vice chair Nancy Lucas was also present at the meeting to present a draft of the new student academic integrity policy. According to Lucas, the new student academic integrity policy is intended to replace the University’s old cheating and plagiarism policy, and would most notably make the appeals process easier for students to understand. The new policy is of course still in its

planning stage, and Lucas expects to reconvene with the CSU in the new year to discuss it further. Also debated and passed at this meeting was a resolution crafted by Jullian Kolstee, VP of university relations, for a December Appreciation Event for members signed up with the CSU’s volunteer registry. The event would cost $2,500, spread out between the budgets for the volunteer registry ($1,000), university relation campaigns ($500), student life events ($500) and CSU clubs ($500). Expected attendance is projected at 180, and would include a wide variety of community members, including CSU directors, staff, registry volunteers, club presidents, and students, as well as individuals from the CapU administration, and faculty. The event would take place on either Monday, Dec. 12 or Tuesday, Dec. 13.

EAS IN HIGH DEMAND

For more information on the EA certificate program, visit the CapU website, capilanou.ca/ education-assistant.

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VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

On Friday Nov. 18, the Capilano Students Union (CSU) held a Board of Directors meeting in which a revised planning tool by VP Internal Amina El Matari for the new Student Union Building consultation was debated and voted on, among other business. After postponing the SUB Town Hall with students that was initially scheduled Nov. 22 to make way for a

with many school districts — especially those on the North Shore — are second to none. In fact, North Vancouver (44), West Vancouver (45), Sunshine Coast (46) and Sea-to-Sky (48) all use CapU’s program as a benchmark for employment. “I can give you an example. We usually get call-ins from school districts at least three times a month saying ‘we don’t have enough EAs’. Our grads find employment easily,” said Koch. “Many school districts have continuous employment options, so as soon as a student is ready from our program, they can be hired immediately. We have students who are taking our program, and get hired by school boards on the condition that they finish.”

With BC’s population boom comes ballooning schools, and that has created a large vacuum for EAs in almost every

community. “Across the province, EAs are in high demand. There are significant shortages in almost every school district,” said Koch. “I sit on provincial committee – we just did a presentation to deans and directors across the province regarding EA positions needing to be filled with qualified individuals.” In addition to overflowing schools, children are entering the K-12 system from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives, further precipitating the need for EAs. “The needs of the students have become much more complex. There are more students in our schools who require the additional support, from a variety of perspectives, and there are just not enough individuals who are qualified to be with the students.” As for employment outcomes in the CapU EA program, CapU’s relationship

THE CAPILANO COURIER

Budget for Student Union Building consultation process increased from $16,800 to $20,000

was 57 years old,” said Koch. “We’ve had people who have come to us as teachers, managers of banks, even someone who had been a helicopter pilot.” No matter your age, wanting to support the education of children in the K-12 system is what Koch believes is most important when deciding to apply for the EA program. “Our ideal students have to have a passion for working with children and youth.” In addition to that, Koch also adds that all of the students’ instructors currently work in schools, so students in the program are taught by people who work with EAs every day.


CAMPUS LIFE

EXPLORE CAPILANO INFORMATION NIGHT RETURNS CapU Registrar provides a setting for current and prospective students to interact Christine Beyleveldt CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

Contrary to popular belief, information sessions aren’t just an opportunity for prospective students to meet their professors and tour the campus. In fact, most of these on-campus events and tours are geared towards creating opportunities for current Capilano University students, as well. On Nov. 23 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm, the Registrar’s Office is hosting one of three Explore Capilano Information Nights held throughout the year. Explore Capilano is a general information event for prospective students and their parents. The aim is to provide them with information about CapU’s current programs, courses, student services, financial aid and support as well as to interact with students and faculty before it comes time to apply to universities in a few months. It also serves as an opportunity for current students to share their experiences with newcomers.

THE MASQUERADE BALL CSU to host party at VAG as part of de-stress plan Christine Beyleveldt

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

As the semester ends, students are feeling the crunch of final exams and the gloom of the winter months. De-Stress Week is happening from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, but Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) vice president of student life Beatriz Miralles felt something special was due for students after a particularly stressful season. Miralles attended the Student Union Development Summit (SUDS) at UBC in August to brainstorm de-stress activities for students. She decided to host an event at the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG), but wasn’t sure an art session would strike a chord with all students, and the idea morphed into the 2016 Masquerade. “An art gallery is more sophisticated, classy, but at the same time it can be very intriguing, and that’s something that we wanted to bring with the masquerade,” she explained. “I realized sometimes that can just be for certain students, not for a lot of students but I still wanted to do that. We started brainstorming student life and we came up with a masquerade rather than an art gallery where people just sit down and draw things.” Only 100 people can attend the Masquerade, excluding volunteers, which will be held at 7:30 pm on Nov. 25. Due to the cost of the VAG and the limited space, the CSU is expecting to lose money even if the event reaches maximum capacity. Miralles had hoped to charge students just $10 per ticket, and is hoping to rely on sponsors to help offset the cost, but as the cost of the event increased, the early bird tickets were priced at $15 and all

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Approximately 10 students led the previous Explore Capilano event in June, and with time the Registrar’s Office hopes to see that number grow. “We are providing engagement opportunities for our current students to interact with prospective students and to act as a resource for campus visitors,” said recruitment and transition supervisor Maria Valiouk. “For example, volunteers can experience first-hand what it’s like to organize an event and they can be involved throughout the planning of the

remaining tickets will be sold for $20. Miralles has made it her goal to host events that all students, not just those over the age of 19, can attend. “I’m trying to do more events that cater to all ages,” said Miralles. “So this event, like the winter social was one of the best to cater to all ages, since for welcome back there were a lot of events that students who were 18 wouldn’t be able to enjoy, so I’m trying to balance it out.” The Masquerade will be catered to underage students as well. Soft drinks and alcohol will be available for purchase and student IDs will be checked. Those over 19 will receive a wristband, and everyone admitted will receive snacks and a mask while supplies last. Volunteers from the CSU’s Student Life committee and volunteer registry will be running a photo booth and serving drinks as well as checking coats throughout the evening. A decorator has been hired to set up the entrance of the gallery on the evening. “I want it to have a wow factor,” Miralles described. She is confident that the Masquerade will have a high turnout and become an annual semi-formal event for students to cap off the year with dancing and socializing. If the Masquerade is successful, it could be setting the CSU up to host a winter ball each holiday season. “This is the first winter ball we’re going to be doing,” said Miralles. “I want it to be an annual event if it’s successful.” Like Rock the Boat, the yacht party that has been held in April for two consecutive years despite revenue losses, the expense of the event was offset by its success at drawing the student body of Capilano University together. A successful Masquerade could also mean a larger venue in the future and the possibility of students being able to attend in larger numbers. Tickets for the 2016 Masquerade went on sale Nov. 16 and can be purchased for $15 or $20 at Csumasquerade.eventbrite.ca or the CSU Members Centre in LB 195.

entire event or a specific part of the event, gaining valuable experience for their work life.” Students who wish to practice event planning, marketing or public speaking may find this event to be the perfect setting to refine their skills or receive practical experience. The event also serves as a platform for current students to network and meet other students and instructors who may prove to be valuable connections. Most students don’t know how to get involved or are wary of putting themselves out there, but by volunteering with events such as Explore Capilano, they can talk to and meet new people who in turn can afford them opportunities to engage on campus that directly coincide with their interests. Networking leads to engagement, and that’s the goal of recruiting students for volunteer opportunities. Explore Capilano isn’t the only way students can get involved. Students can also volunteer at the High School Counsellors Conference, whereby they can practice their public speaking engagement and address questions about the institution and their own experiences. Valiouk encourages students to share their thoughts and opinions. “Parents, sometimes, ask very specific questions about Capilano University and our current students can speak about their experiences and provide an insight on student life and opportunities available here with so much ease,” she said. Whereas instructors and deans may

be able to provide information about the various courses and programs students can enrol in, only students can speak to the vibe on campus, which is often as important, if not more so, to prospective students. “One of my favourite things as a student leader was being able to tell potential students about Capilano University,” said alumni Kate Phifer. “I sincerely knew that high school students, recent grads or anyone looking for an opportunity to learn and grow would fit in at Capilano.” Moving forward, the Registrar’s Office hopes to be more efficient with its resources and one day see a full-day event rather than a nighttime tour. Students and parents especially need the time to absorb the information heaped upon them, and a campus-wide event with the participation of all, rather than a select few departments, is something that Recruitment Services hopes to see one day. “A volunteer student base can contribute to the success of such an event and in turn be a valuable experience for the students involved,” Valiouk explained. “Our students and volunteers feel proud of being part of the CapU community. They are willing to help one another by sharing their experiences and volunteering their time.” The Registrar’s Office is seeking students who wish to volunteer for the High School Counsellor's panel on Jan. 13, 2017 and the next Explore Capilano on Mar. 2. For more information visit Capilanou.ca/explore.


SPORTS

TOP-RANKED BLUES HAVE NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP New players and surprise backcourt duo lead men’s basketball team to hot start Justin Scott ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Nearly a quarter of the way into the season, the Capilano Blues Men’s Basketball team is tied in first place with a 5-1 record, and is preparing to break out. While their roster certainly has its share of characters and role players, they see themselves as one, each member contributing for a greater goal. This mentality has been more important than ever this year, as the team’s intended starting backcourt of Martin Bogajev and Brendan Bailey were unable to suit up for the season. To alleviate this, the Blues brought in two new players who have the potential to play major roles

for the team. While the season may have started with undertones of uncertainty, the Blues have come together and seem as though they are poised for a successful season. Head coach Cassidy Kannemeyer said the news that his intended starting guards would not be available for this season “was a little unexpected.” He explained that Bailey needed some time away from school, while Bogajev encountered some issues with the school’s registrar’s office. However, Kannemeyer isn’t worried. “Our offense hasn’t changed,” he said. While the loss of Bailey and Bogajev certainly hurt, it allowed an opportunity for two players who seem primed and ready for this season to rise to the occasion. The new starting backcourt consists of EJ Mabone and Wowie Untalan. It’s Mabone’s second year on the team, and according to Kannemeyer, he is coming into his own. “He was held back by the rookie wall last year, he held himself back,” said the coach, “but over the summer he put in work and came back a more mature player.” Untalan has inherited Bailey’s role as the speedy point guard – which worked out well seeing as Untalan is also a bit of a blur on the floor

and “played fast already” as Kannemeyer puts it. Due to their abilities, Mabone and Untalan have made the loss of Bailey and Bogajev more of a speed bump than a road block to the team. Kannemeyer said the team has not had to change any of their strategies or schemes considering the new backcourt’s play style and abilities. The Blues have also made some big acquisitions since last season, bringing in two new players, Greet Gill and Caden Rowland. Gill, who transferred from the University of British Columbia Okanagan, is a beast in the paint. The hard-nosed forward has been having his way inside the paint to start the season, averaging 24 points per game and a league-leading 11.5 rebounds per game. According to Kannemeyer however, there is more to Gill than just his post play. “He’s a great teammate, which is why he was voted as the captain,” he said. “[Gill] gives us an edge we didn’t have. He’s physically stronger.” Rowland was brought onto the team after having been in contact with Kannemeyer all last season. “I knew he had a good jump shot, I didn’t know he was such a good ball handler,”

Kannemeyer said. Rowland’s work ethic also surprised the coach, as he picked up the team’s system almost as soon as he saw them over the summer. Although the Blues are currently 5-1 and tied for first place in the league, they have had a slow start. “We’re not executing,” said Kannemeyer. The team’s first three contests were on the road, an environment that can be challenging to play in. “On the road, you’re not used to the hoop, and some of our shots have been rushed,” explained Kannemeyer. Their home opener on Nov. 10 against Columbia Bible College, however, followed a very similar narrative. Although the Blues won convincingly with a score of 91-54, their shooting was evident issue. The good news is that the shots being missed are quality takes, and once they start falling, which they always do, they will be easy buckets. With so much potential waiting to come to fruition, this is a truly exciting season for the Blues. They are 5-1 and are still ironing out the creases. They have an exciting new backcourt and two new versatile role players who compliment the already strong roster. “We want a team with not one guy,” said Kannemeyer. “We play as a unit.”

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SPORTS

SEASON REVIEW: MEN’S SOCCER Rejuvenated soccer program poised to contend for years to come Carlo Javier MANAGING EDITOR

A dormant collegiate dynasty may finally be reawakening. Although the Capilano Blues Men’s Soccer Team fell short of the national gold medal for the second straight year, the numbers – and the team’s dominance in the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) – point towards a continued run of success for Capilano University’s most storied varsity team. This season marked the Blues’ second straight PACWEST gold medal, as well as their second straight national championship berth, where they finished with the bronze medal. A deadly combination of explosive scoring, precise playmaking and stifling defence led the Blues to an undefeated 100-2 record in the PACWEST. The team’s allaround dominance was evident on the stat sheet. The Blues finished the season with a whopping 32 points – 10 points ahead of the second ranked team, Vancouver Island University Mariners. On the defensive end, seven of the Blues’ 10 regular season wins came in shut outs, exhibiting their suffocating defensive line.

“FAMILY”

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All-around play was indisputable for the Blues this year. Their starting 11 featured numerous players who have legitimate claims as the best in their respective positions, in the entire conference – if not the entire league. Their offensive line included two of the top scorers in the league

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in Kristian Yli-Hietanen and Keith Jackson. The two led the PACWEST in goals scored in each of the past two seasons, and created a nightmare offensive line for many teams to try and defend. “To have either Salah [Hawsawi] or Kam [Amini] playing central with those two on the outsides was a handful for defenders because they just never stop running at you,” said head coach Paul Dailly. Behind their blistering offensive line was a group of midfielders that third year goalkeeper Hudson Nelles confidently describes to be “by far the best midfield three in the PACWEST, and arguably the whole CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association).” Second year Kuroush Faritous and rookies David Genet and Edris Najm dazzled this season with their chemistry and two-way precision. Finally, the Blues’ backline was anchored by the team’s unwavering centre-back and captain Devan Woolley, fullback and multiple-time Player of the Game recipient Nicolas Morello and the unflappable Nelles. On top of their decorated group players, the Blues also featured a host of unsung heroes who each played instrumental roles in the team’s magnificent season. “A couple players who often got overlooked and were a major factor in our success would have to be Dan [Morello] and Kuroush [Faritous],” said Nelles. “Both are second year players who talk and play like fifth year players. They are a huge reason for our success the past two years and will be the future core of team for years to come.” Another unsung hero was Hawsawi. The forward fought through a tough season plagued with a seemingly unwavering quad injury. “He’s kind of the one that rallies the troops in the locker room,” said Dailly. “He can be a bit of jokester, he’s just a great genuine guy and he had numerous chances throughout the year but unfortunately was a little bit snakebitten as far as scoring goals.” Despite their terrific play across all facets of the game, Dailly cites an intangible, but integral element that paved the way for

the magnificent season: togetherness. “The way the team came together, and created a tight bond off the field obviously made things easier on the field,” he said. This sentiment is echoed by Nelles, who emphasized the impact of the team’s family-like bond on their overall play, “We played with 100 per cent belief and trust in each other and by doing that, it payed off with success on the pitch,” he said.

THE KEYANO INCIDENT The season was not without its struggles. After storming their way through the PACWEST, the Blues were in prime position to once again challenge for the national gold medal at the CCAA Soccer Championships held in Fort McMurray, Alberta. They soundly defeated the Holland Hurricanes, a team that featured All-Canadian Ibrahima Sanoh in the preliminaries, but fell to the hometown Keyano Huskies in the championship-semis 3-1. “I’ve probably replayed the game a hundred times already,” said Dailly. “It’s just one of those games, a couple defensive miscues that didn’t really happen all year, we didn’t really get a bounce either — it’s a tough game and a tough way to go out, but we definitely think we should’ve been in the gold medal game.” Though falling out of the gold medal equation – which would’ve have likely been a rematch with eventual, and consecutive champions, the Humber Huskies – dealt a debilitating blow for the Blues, the team knew that the loss didn’t mark the end of their season just yet. “Despite how broken we all felt after the loss we knew we still had a job to do and were determined to not come home without a medal in our hands,” said Nelles. Picking up the team’s spirits after the loss might have seemed like an insurmountable task, but for Dailly, he knew that there was another factor that the team wasn’t ready to give up on: a storied ending for their captain. “I just pointed at Devan Woolley, our fifth-year captain,” Dailly recalled. “I

said, ‘you know, I don’t know about you guys but I don’t want to see Devan go out this way, without a medal in his last year.’ Guys rose up and that was basically the message, we were doing it for Devan.”

A BRIGHT FUTURE The Capilano Blues Men’s Soccer Team is cumulatively the most successful men’s soccer program in the PACWEST and the CCAA. Since the inception of the provincial conference and national association, the Blues have won six national gold medals, and 11 overall medals – more than any other varsity men’s soccer program in the CCAA. This year, Dailly was recognized for his leadership and tutelage of the Blues with his sixth Coach of the Year award. Dailly was joined in the CCAA awards ceremony by Keith Jackson, who was included in the CCAA’s prestigious All-Canadian selection. Jackson finished the season leading the PACWEST in scoring, racking up 11 goals and a total of 22 points in 12 games. His terrific year comes on the heels of a year away from the team – his quick reintegration to the roster is much a credit to Jackson’s tireless work, but also to the team’s strong family-like environment. “The future looks very bright for us and hopefully we can get the same core group of boys back,” said Nelles. “I have no doubt we can make it back to nationals and use this experience to the national finals.” As the 2016 soccer season comes to an end, many chapters of this season will undoubtedly be added to the Capilano Blues record books. The undefeated PACWEST run, the storied-career of a fifth-year captain and the pairing of a second consecutive provincial gold medal and national bronze all add to the Blues legacy. All this adds to the rejuvenation of CapU’s most storied varsity program – a team that has missed the success it experienced in years past, is once again firmly cementing itself as one of the best varsity soccer teams in the West.


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SEASON REVIEW: WOMEN’S SOCCER Potential spurs Blues women’s team to Bronze Medal in 2016 Kevin Kapenda NEWS EDITOR

Blues left-back and first year standout Mehar Waraich didn’t think she’d be thrown into the deep end right away, but was ready to fill a big role on the flank if her name was called. “Coming in, I signed a little later than

HOT AND COLD REGULAR SEASON After coming out swinging in the first two games, picking up four out of a possible six points, the Blues struggled to pin down consistent form over their next six fixtures, going 2-2-2 in that stretch. Showing flashes of brilliance all season, the Blues demonstrated that their future, especially on the defensive end, is indeed very bright. Moving forward, much of the improvement will need to come in the form of goals from their front six, the

midfield and attack. During the last eight fixtures of their 12game season, the blues won two, lost four and drew twice, in which three of the four losses were decided by one goal. “As the season went on, we were getting results but they weren’t as good as we would like to do. But we knew as a team and a core what our potential was and that we did not play our best game,” said Waraich. Einhorn attributed this up and down form to doing everything right yet not having that represented on the scoreboard come the final whistle. “At the beginning, we came out so strong,” said Einhorn. “But when those few ties started happening, our attitude and behaviour started changing because we had a few unlucky moments during those games. We competed so well, even though we lost some of those games we didn’t technically deserve to lose.” During the season, one constant for the Blues was centre-back Price, who served as team captain, and anchored her team to the second-best goals against tally in the PACWEST. “I was excited. I was pretty happy at the fact that Coach Dennis saw me in the role. I don’t find that I coach the girls – I try to lead by example,” said Price. “I was nervous as to if they would see me as somebody they could take advice from or come to if they had problems – instead of thinking I’m just their captain during soccer. I think I’ve tried to set an example both on and off the field, and so many of the girls have matured to the point where they could take the captaincy from me.”

BLUES VS. DOUGLAS ‘FOR ALL THE MARBLES’ Despite losing two and drawing once with the Royals during the regular season, the Blues were able to improve their goal difference against their rivals from -5 in 2015, to -2 this year. After another strong season from the Royals, this year’s provincial tournament, hosted by Capilano University in Burnaby, would see them square off against the Blues in a 1 vs. 4 match-up. “Once we hit the semi-finals, we flipped that switch on

and told ourselves we have to do this. We have to make this final and go to nationals. We have to win this for the school and prove everyone who has doubt in this team wrong,” said Price. “We knew it came down to one game, one day, an hour and a half. It really depended on what team showed up that day. We knew it was going to be a long and tough game – a hard battle,” Einhorn added. On the line in their semi-final against the Royals was a trip to nationals in Montreal – but more importantly, a chance to shut up their crosstown rivals. “We’re rivals with Douglas. We don’t like them that much. We just wanted to beat them,” said Price. “I’ve played against girls on Douglas in youth soccer, and I know other girls on our team have. It just fires us up to want to beat these people. They’re a very confident team – sometimes overly confident. Whereas us, we’re very humble in the fact that we know we have to work hard to get a result, Douglas doesn’t. It’s kind of a cocky attitude.” The Blues ended up falling to the Royals in a 2-1 extra-time thriller that could have really gone either way, after a brilliant individual run from Einhorn levelled the match in the second half. “We put in a lot of hard work and dedication. I can say that for everybody on the team. Unfortunately, in the end it wasn’t enough. But we can’t be disappointed. We worked so hard,” said Waraich. While their bid for nationals was dashed, the Blues still had a chance to leave provincials with bronze. Shaken but determined to bounce back, the Blues rose to the occasion in the bronze medal match, fending off the Langara College Falcons in a penalty shootout to finish third overall this season – a galaxy away from their sixth-place finish in 2015. “To go on and win that bronze game, it was tough after that semi-final loss, but we wanted to prove that we were able to get over a loss like that and upset a team in Langara that was seeded higher than us,” said Price. “Coming out of the loss the Douglas, it was a huge disappointment. But we also knew we had a game the next day and as upset as we were, we really had to focus on our bronze medal game. We wanted to prove we were still worthy of a medal at this tournament.”

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usual, and I knew the team was great – there were players who were in their second year,” said Waraich. “My mentality was to try my best to work as hard as I can and leave everything on the field, but also mentally preparing myself for if I wasn’t going to start.” Waraich, who mainly plays on the wing in attack or midfield, was moved down by Coach Dennis Kindel so she could have more room to run at opposition defences. As for how Waraich thought the team would fare, her prediction that the team’s new recruits, herself included, would inject new life into the team rang true. “At the beginning of the season, I didn’t really know anyone, so I was hoping that the new rookies that were coming in, we’d be able to change our fortunes,” said Waraich. “My expectations were there at the beginning, but when I started to get to know the girls and preseason started, my expectations heightened because I saw the potential of the group.” For Price and Einhorn, both second year returning players, the flurry of new players brought a level of technical ability and commitment that had been lacking in their first year in 2015. “We definitely had a lot of new recruits, which always means there’s potential for more skill to come in. We had a much more skilled team this year, which really changed the team dynamic,” said Einhorn. “Coming into the season, I was excited because for the new recruits because they were head over heels amazing – whether it was Mehar or Arin [McIldoon]. They brought an aspect to the team that we didn’t have last year. Watching them play, I knew that our playing style would improve.”

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After a five-year absence from the playoffs, the Capilano Blues Women’s Soccer Program ended their campaign on a high note, capturing bronze at the fourteam provincials in late October. With more first-year players than any of the other teams at provincials, the Blues are certainly on the rise. The key for the program moving forward is to produce more goal threats and become less streaky. Douglas College Royals, who won the regular reason, but were upset by Vancouver Island University Mariners in the provincial final, had four players among the Pacific Western Athletic Association’s (PACWEST) top 10 scorers, including those ranked first and second. Conversely, the Blues only had two among that group, most notably Taylor Einhorn, who netted five times this year, ranking fourth from top. “I didn’t think we’d be able to make it to the playoffs, and as high up the table we were at times, but our work ethic, and the way we’ve been able to come back after being down a goal in games has been great,” said team captain Jessica Price. “Overall, I feel that we’ve progressed as a team this season. We’re way better than last year. We’ve managed to be able to defy odds this season against teams like Douglas and VIU. We’ve become more of a tight-knit group.”

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FEATURES

Gabriel Scorgie FEATURES EDITOR

Large gatherings of people are no fun in the best of circumstances. For someone who’s never been to Fan Expo, the thought of being surrounded by people who will judge you on your outfit, favourite TV show and who’s autograph you’re most excited to get can be a scary prospect. Fortunately, we’re here to ease that pain and to tell you that it’s going to be okay – as long as you brought a towel. Conventions like Fan Expo bring people from all walks of nerdy life, from the toy collector to the person who just wants to meet Tom Felton and everyone in between. An important part of attending these conventions is understanding what kind of nerd you are, and make no mistake; if you’re attending one of these on your own free will, you are a nerd. Here are a few examples you’ll see roaming the isles. Maybe one suits you.

THE COMIC BOOK FAN These people are your run-of-the-mill, straight-off-The Simpsons Comic Book Guy-looking, stereotypical nerd. They are there solely to get their hands on some limited edition comics, and to argue over which alternate Superman vs. Batman crossover universe was the best. They don’t care about the fan art or the action figures, they’re here for the thing that started it all: the comics. THE LOOK: • Your favourite superhero (or villain) t-shirt/hoodie • Deodorant

THE BRITISH FANATIC

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The British fanatic really enjoyed the opening paragraph. This person loves Sherlock and Dr. Who, but can also quote episodes from The Office that sound familiar, but not quite right. They believe that Misfits and Shameless were much better on the BBC and that it’s a global tragedy that most people only know of Douglas Adams through the horrible movie adaption. THE LOOK: • Pea Coat • Detective Hat • Sonic Screwdriver

THE PROFESSIONAL COSPLAYER The most intimidating of all people there. The professional cosplayer is using Fan

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Expo merely as practice in preparation for the Holy Grail of nerdy: Comic Con. Cosplay this good is few and far between, and even harder to spot since they spend most of their time being surrounded by a hoard of people taking photos with them.

store and get a Walking Dead costume on sale and expect people to be impressed. There is no expectation for people to come dressed as a character, so if someone decides to cosplay, then they should do it right and put the effort in.

THE LOOK: • Don’t even try.

ONCE YOU’RE THERE

THE SUPPORTIVE SIGNIFICANT OTHER These people are there for a variety of reasons. Maybe they’re trying to show that they’re cool with their partner spending hours online every day, or hundreds of dollars on posters and comic books. Maybe they know their partner gets a little too handsy every time they see someone cosplaying as Deadpool and need to be there to hold them back. Whatever the reason, this person would rather be anywhere but here and they will frequently be walking around with their phone out, or staring at the ceiling saying “Yeah, that is neat!” absentmindedly as they get pulled around the convention. THE LOOK: • Jeans • Jacket • General air of disinterest

HOW TO COSPLAY Now that you’ve figured out what kind of nerd you are, maybe you have decided give cosplay a try. For guys, this is one of the few acceptable reasons to wear spandex. “My very first cosplay was the second gen Pokémon, Bellossom,” said make-up Artist and cosplayer, Julia Alfano. “I also forced my fiancé to dress as Trainer Red from the first game. That was his first and only cosplay.” Not every cosplay has to be complicated and intricate. Many recognizable characters have very simple outfits, such as, Rick from Rick and Morty or Eleven from Stranger Things. Alfano’s biggest piece of advice for someone considering cosplaying for the first time is “Just have fun. I know it sounds lame and I thought that was lame the first time I heard that too. It’s really easy for a Cosplayer to get in over their head and become super competitive. You shouldn’t care about needing to get ‘likes’ or followers or being perfect. Cosplaying is a fun hobby and so many lately are taking it too seriously. Just choose a character you’ve always wanted to be and go with it.” Handmade costumes are the way to go for cosplay. Don’t run to the Halloween

The good news about Fan Expo is that while it’s large, it’s far from overwhelming. “It’s the biggest local Con but it still isn’t so large that you get lost in the crowds and activities,” said Alfano. Other conventions like Comic Con are much larger. “My very first convention was 2012 at Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle. It was overwhelming but a lot of fun. It felt like sensory overload with how much stuff there was from all different fandoms. Being in a place where so many people could be themselves and be welcomed as they are was great. The main reason I wanted to go was to meet Jennifer Hale, the voice of Female Shepard from the Mass Effect series. I was so nervous I couldn’t even form proper sentences. I just gave her my collector’s edition to sign and awkwardly stood there.” Fan Expo is also a big supporter of local artists. They have a section of the convention called Artist’s Alley where working local professionals can apply for a booth. Each artist will have loads of materials for sale, ranging from pins, to paintings, to swords. Many of these artists are also very friendly and are willing to chat with you about their work. “There are some amazing artists there and you will probably find your new favourite. It’s great to see what the local cosplayers and artists are doing,” said Alfano. “There are a few artists that I always go back to.” It’s important to note that everything inside Fan Expo costs money, so it would be wise to bring some cash with you. All in all, Fan Expo is a great starting point for someone who wants to get a feel for what it’s like, without spending the time and money to travel to San Francisco or Seattle for Comic Con. Alfano said that her best pieces of advice for your first time are, “Check out the Con schedule ahead of time so you have an idea what’s happening. Have cash on hand, and bring a water bottle and some snacks. Also, take a multivitamin. Illness easily spreads through the floor; the last souvenir you want is a post-Con cold.” For $30 a day, the cost to go to Fan Expo and let your nerd flag fly — conveniently and safely within a 30-kilometre radius of your parents’ basement — is easily worth the price of admission.


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— SYD DANGER


FEATURES

Nicholas Sheffield CONTRIBUTOR

“Sunny ways, my friends, sunny ways.” That was the promise Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made to the nation on Oct. 19, 2015. It was a heady time for the newly-minted world leader, having risen from MP to head of the Liberal Party to prime minister in just eight years. Now, a year on from that historic night, many have begun to question the ability and willingness of the government to follow through on the policy proposals made in the run-up to the election, with some even bemoaning their decision to support the Liberals in 2015. With a rapidly changing political climate and rising uncertainty among the electorate, the time has come to assess the progress of the Liberal Party platform from campaign asset to public policy and what can be expected over the next three years.

THE GOOD

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According to SFU Political Science professor, Remi Leger, the Liberals swept into power with “One of the most ambitious mandates in Canadian history,” covering issues ranging from electoral reform to redefining the government’s relationship with Canada’s indigenous population. On economic issues, they promised billions in infrastructure spending as well as a modest tax-cut for small businesses and reforms to the tax

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code to put money into the hands of middle-class Canadians. To address Canadians’ environmental concerns, they vowed to “un-muzzle” government scientists, uphold Canada’s obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, ratify its successor, the Paris Agreement, and impose stringent conditions on new energy and infrastructure projects. Funding levels for healthcare and the military were to be maintained or expanded, while Canada was to take a more active and productive role on the international stage. Many of the proposals centre on repealing or reforming legislation introduced by the preceding Conservative government. A year later, many of the more progressive-sounding policies have been acted on. For the first time in history, the prime minister’s cabinet contains as many women as men, although there remains a slight gender imbalance among the top positions such as finance, foreign affairs, and defence. Funding of the CBC has been restored, while controversial legislation allowing the government to revoke the citizenship of those convicted of terrorism or treason has been repealed. The tax rate for middle class Canadians has dropped a full 1.5 per cent, while those earning over $200,000 a year now have their own higher tax bracket. Canadian aircrafts no longer darken the skies over Iraq as part of the anti-ISIS coalition, while the government is actively seeking a UN peacekeeping mission to join. Canada has also welcomed over 25,000 refugees, most of them displaced by the conflict in Syria. However, as Capilano University Political Science professor Ed Lavalle sees it, many of these reforms were “largely symbolic fixes, requiring little in the way of government investment to realize.” Far more indicative of the willingness of the government to deliver on its promises is the commitment to $60 billion in deficit spending over the next decade. This amount has already grown, forcing the government to quietly abandon their commitment to keeping the deficit below $10 billion annually during their first term in office. In spite of this, the Liberals have stood by their infrastructure plan, a potentially positive sign of their commitment to fulfilling their mandate on a macro level. In a similar vein, they have maintained their tax breaks for the middle class, originally billed as revenue neutral, even though they have now been shown to cost the treasury over $1 billion annually. The commitment to invest $2.6 billion in First Nations education has also been acted

on, although the time-frame has been extended from four years to five. While the effect of these programs remains to be seen, the Liberal government has, at least in part, delivered on its major spending promises.

THE BAD Not all sections of the Liberal party platform have received the same attention, however. Regarding the military, the government has delayed spending $3.7 billion earmarked for new equipment until 2020, while continuing to drag its heels on canceling the controversial F-35 program. A reduction in taxes on small businesses has been allowed to quietly fall by the wayside, while even flagship proposals such as the Liberals’ refugee policy have fallen short as nearly half of the 25,000 refugees admitted following the election were privately sponsored, with little government assistance. Since the election, the Liberals have openly abandoned several of their promises, although these primarily revolve around spending limits designed more to counter Conservative accusations of fiscal irresponsibility than to be implemented as workable public policy. Far more controversial is the relationship between the MPs and the prime minister, which the Liberals had promised to improve. Instead, the Liberals unilaterally announced the creation of a basic carbon tax for any province which did not implement its own by 2018 and chose to maintain a six per cent cap on healthcare transfer payments, angering several premiers and potentially jeopardizing key elements of any substantive electoral reform requiring a constitutional amendment. However, while his relationship with the provinces has soured, Trudeau’s implementation of the carbon tax has fulfilled his promise to act on climate change and to impose a price on major polluters. The majority of the platform remains a work in progress, with proposals from


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electoral reform to marijuana legalization currently under review before their implementation. In Leger’s view, much of the dissatisfaction with the government stems more from an impatient public than any failing on the Liberals’ part. Some of the proposals put forward in the platform, such as changing the relationship between the government and First Nations communities, require major social changes which policy can influence but not create on its own. On issues such as electoral reform, which will likely require a constitutional amendment and approval from the provinces to pass, review and reflection are vital to ensure that the changes made lead to the desired outcome. According to Leger, “…change of this scale takes time, and it should.” While the pace of change may seem sluggish to the average voter, when compared with previous administrations, the Liberal government is acting on, or has acted on, a remarkable number of their domestic campaign promises. It is in the realm of foreign policy that criticism of the current government begins to ring true, but even here it is difficult to argue that the Liberals have broken their promises. Trade notwithstanding, the Liberals’ vision for Canada in the international community is contained in just one page of the party platform, and merely reaffirms Canada’s commitments to UN peacekeeping operations and Canada’s history of supporting legislation such as the ban on the use of landmines in conflict. There is no mention of Canada’s participation in arms-control treaties which may make the current $15 billion sale of LAV III fighting vehicles to Saudi Arabia, supported by the Liberal government, a violation of international and Canadian law, or of Canada’s

WHAT REAL CHANGE MEANS

Metis and First Nations men in Canadian prisons. While pledging to legalize marijuana, the government has remained oddly silent on the opioid epidemic currently ravaging the nation’s most vulnerable. Despite promising increased investment in clean technology and environmental protection, the Liberals have so far stopped short of seeking to transition Canada away from a carbondependent economy in the way that some European nations have. They have effectively retained the emissions targets put in place by the previous government, leaving energy companies contented but environmentalists infuriated. Lavalle believes that Trudeau ran on a platform which sought to “…give a little bit to everyone.” While this strategy proved highly successful on election night, pandering to conflicting interests can lead to, well, conflicting interests. Recent Ipsos polls found that while some 65 per cent of Canadians generally approve of the government’s performance, 59 per cent also felt that government rhetoric had outweighed government action during Trudeau’s first year in office. According to Poltext, a policy analysis database run by the University of Laval, Quebec, the Liberals have so far completed approximately 25 per cent of their campaign promises, and are currently in the process of enacting a further 31 per cent. Only one per cent of their original platform has so far been abandoned outright. Unfortunately, these gains may not be enough to meet the expectations of the average voter, given the language of substantive change used by the Liberal party on the campaign trail. It remains to be seen what impact the policies implemented so far will have on Canadian society at large. It’s difficult to say how the electorate will perceive the government’s achievements by the next election. Ultimately, while the government may deliver on the entirety of its platform, only time and the ballot box will tell if the Trudeau government’s promises are enough to satisfy Canadians buoyed by the party’s catch-line of Real Change.

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It is perhaps here that the source of the dissatisfaction with the Liberals lies. While the government has so far done an admirable job of sticking to the letter of their platform, they seem quick to abandon the progressive spirit promised by its title, “Real Change.” One need only listen to the government’s response to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction movement to wonder if there had even been an election in 2015. The Liberals have maintained the same targets for carbon emissions that they criticized as unambitious when the Harper government introduced them, and have so far failed to improve their relationship with provincial governments in spite of promising closer cooperation between the prime minister and premiers. While none of this constitutes a direct violation of the promises made before the election, taken together it does little to support the Liberals’ message of a new era in Canadian politics. Most worrisome for progressive supporters of the Liberal party, however, are the promises which were never made in the first place. While the platform pledges to act on the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it contains no specific policies to address poverty and isolation in remote reserves or the disproportionate incarceration of

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continued refusal to support the banning of asbestos. While the government has withdrawn Canadian aircraft from Iraq, they have tripled the number of Canadian Special Forces advisors on the ground in Iraqi Kurdistan, meaning that the number of Canadian combat personnel engaged in the fight against ISIS has actually

increased since the Liberals took office. While portraying themselves as defenders of minority rights at home, the Liberals have maintained and improved diplomatic relations with thoroughly autocratic regimes throughout the Middle East, even going so far as to host a Saudi Arabian human rights commission at a time when the Saudi armed forces have been accused of war crimes by the UN for their ongoing bombing campaign in Yemen. This is far from a uniquely Trudeau problem, however. Leger said that Canada departed from its traditional role as a peacemaker as far back as the Mulroney government, although the public remains attached to its perception of Canada as a peacekeeping nation. Since the 1980s, Canada’s contributions to peacekeeping and the defence of human rights internationally have taken a back seat to overt use of the military, a trend which has continued under both Conservative and Liberal governments. While the rhetoric surrounding the use of military force by Canada and its allies may change with a new ruling party, the function is highly unlikely to.

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ARTS & CULTURE

THE TABLES HAVE TURNED Studio Arts grad Ben Barber is bringing colour back to modern furniture design Carlo Javier MANAGING EDITOR

Ben Barber doesn’t forget the importance of a strong foundation. Before the up-and-coming furniture/ object designer fine-tuned his skills at the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, he was kindling his passion for fine arts in Capilano University’s now-defunct Studio Arts program. “I owe a lot to that program. If it wasn’t for that, there’s no way I would’ve been admitted at Pratt and doing what I’m doing now,” he said. Barber attended CapU from 2008 to 2010, completing his Studio Arts diploma just two years before the program was unceremoniously cut. Three-and-a-half years later, he completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Pratt Institute. In the fall of 2014, he launched Ben Barber Studios, an energetic new addition to the booming designer and builder community on Vancouver’s Parker Street. In just the two short years of his studio’s existence, Barber has already showcased his creations in the revered convention, IDS West (Interior Design Show). He has also cultivated a steady market in New York, and is looking to expand to markets in Los Angeles, Miami and eventually, Japan. Barber takes his inspiration from elements of the Memphis Movement of Italian design, as well as aspects of the Minimalist Movement that influenced visual art in the 60s and early 70s. The impact of these doctrines of design are most evident in Barber’s Fin Credenza,

DISCORDER SHOWCASES LOCAL HIP HOP TALENT This will be sent in after the showcase on Friday Jessica Lio

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VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

OPINIONS EDITOR

The Canadian West Coast has never sustained a thriving hip hop scene. The grimy underground happenings of the 90s that brought together rappers, skaters and graffiti artists didn’t establish a lasting legacy to put Vancouver on hip hop’s map. But a handful of noteworthy artists are still out there trying to make a name for themselves. In hopes of giving Vancouver’s underground hip hop scene some welldeserved attention, Discorder Magazine brought together a crew of underground hip hop artists who are commanding the stage in their own right. The publication hosted a showcase at the Media Club on Nov. 18, shining a spotlight on the likes of So Loki, Missy D, Something August, R.O.M.I., Spotty Josif and Freeman Young. The lineup, curated with the help

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an item he openly admits to be his favourite work, “I feel like that one has most of my personality in it and definitely lends to our brand identity the best.” The credenza amalgamates uniformity and minimalism. It supplements its understated style with an undeniable function – it’s polyurethane paint finish is both scratch resistant and shock proof, rendering it far superior in the all too common lacquer finish found on most furniture. “You need to have that balance,” he said. “For myself, if we do a lot of colour in the stuff we make, the shapes should be pretty minimal, clean, simple and refined, or else there will be too much going on, so minimalism allows you to use more colour.” Amidst its host of little details, the most dynamic feature of the credenza might be its most visible: three funky-coloured bowls that serve as its feet. “That’s just one of those processes where you’re working in the studio and you’re mulling over different ideas and it kind of came out of just having some of the

bowls hanging out of my shop,” Barber said about the “Bullet Bowls” that have become a signature of his studio. “I just had the bowls, looked and I realized it looked really nice, with the three-legged design, it would actually sit still and be kind of a cool shape. It kind of just happened,” he added. Ben Barber Studio is still a relatively young establishment, and one might say that despite its clear identity and branding, the shop is still very much in its pre-adolescent stage. Currently, Barber is looking to push more of their products into retail. Much of their business is coordinated through their website and Barber is hopeful that they can soon expand into a much larger retail platform. Further down the road, Barber aims to transition more of their manufacturing under their own roof. “At the moment, a lot of the stuff we kind of outsource to local guys, local metal spinners and powder coaters and things like that, it’d

be nice to actually bring it in,” he said. In the design industry, creativity is imperative – it’s like breathing. Yet for Barber, creativity isn’t the only important element required to prosper. “I think the biggest one has been just believing yourself when you have slow periods,” he said. “This industry can be very feast or famine so when things slow down, you have to just stay positive and trust that you’re doing something that you truly believe in.” As Barber continues to build his brand in the thriving Vancouver design community, he’s also playing a role in the reinvigoration of colour in trends. Over the past few years, IDS West has been dominated by furniture focused on reclaimed wood, muted tones and heavy colour palettes. Last year, Barber showcased his own brand of Memphis Movement and minimalism to the eyes of Vancouver’s design aficionados. Not only did Barber come back for the 2016 exhibit, colour did, too.

of folks from CiTR’s Crimes and Treasons and local hip hop vanguards, So Loki, reflected the diversity of what Vancouver has to offer hip hop fans. “There’s a roster of similar hip hop artists that do get quite a bit of exposure, but there are a lot of talented underground artists that are under-represented,” said Discorder editor Brit Bachmann, explaining why the publication wants to recognize artists who don’t get as much praise as they should. “We’ve done a terrible job [covering] hip hop over the last few years… I know we haven’t proven ourselves in that community yet,” Bachmann admitted, adding that she hoped the showcase would be a chance to break down barriers between established communities. Putting Diane Mutabaruka on the bill was a good first step. At 24 years old, the bilingual femcee who goes by Missy D is on a path of serendipity. Bringing the rich influence of Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire and Zimbabwe, she has always celebrated diversity in her music. It’s because of hip hop that she learned English and met many of the friends she’s made in the past five years since she moved to Vancouver. “You don’t hear of a third party wanting to showcase hip hop,” said Mutabaruka , reflecting on her excitement when she first

heard about the showcase. “If you’re a local artist, hopefully one day you get to perform at Fortune [Sound Club], hopefully you get a gig here and there. But you have to create those opportunities yourself.” It’s a hard fought path for upand-coming artists in any genre, but Mutabaruka still sees the silver lining. The lack of prominent local hip hop icons or a distinctly refined “Vancouver” sound means artists have the chance to truly experiment. “People aren’t afraid to try new things. It allows you to experiment in a way with finding your voice, create your own genre,” Mutabaruka said, noting the support she’s gotten from audiences. And for her, there’s always more to hip hop than competition and diss tracks. It’s about building community and encouraging others to find their voice. “Yeah, you’re trying to have the best rhymes, but you’re also trying to tell your story, express yourself, which people sometimes forget,” she said. The title track on her debut album, When Music Hits You Feel No Pain,sets the tone for exactly that. Her decision to work French lines and verses into parts of the album reflect her desire to work through emotions in different languages, explore her identity and find peace through that process. The result is a mix

of old-school beats and melodic lullabies, both therapeutic and powerful. Mutabaruka’s affinity for making rap n’ soul music has introduced her to a community of artists who work hard to put on shows together and support each other. “XX”, one of the album’s harder hitting tracks, features K!mmortal, another locally beloved female rapper. After connecting at an open mic event, the pair easily became friends. Instead of competition, they embraced a shared passion for music and supported each other. “XX” is a bold testament to the sisterhood they share and the mutual understanding of what it means to be the token female emcee at a show. “I want to see more space for that diverse variety of hip hop, a diverse crowd, a diverse lineup,” Mutabaruka said, sharing her hopes for people to see the big picture — one that is about helping each other and building community. Even if the path is lonely sometimes, she believes people always come into our lives for a reason. And if we can all see the bigger picture, that’s when artists can achieve something beyond the numbers. “Hopefully I can do this as my nine-tofive one day,” said Mutabaruka. “If I can do this and sustain my life, thats good enough to me.”


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‘TIS THE SEASON… ALREADY? A look at the way consumerism has elongated the Christmas season Véronic St-Cyr CONTRIBUTOR

For many, the morning of Nov. 1 consists of waking up, putting on a Michael Bublé Christmas album and browsing the Sephora Christmas gift sets online. It feels like the Christmas season begins earlier and earlier with each year. The rule used to be ‘you can celebrate Christmas after Dec. 1.’ Then, slowly it was after American Thanksgiving, and more recently, after Nov. 1. Some

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people have even started getting into the Christmas spirit as early as the day after Canadian Thanksgiving in October. The reason is simple: the longer the season is, the longer people will go out and spend their money. Rita Isola, a sociology professor at Capilano University, made the point that the relationship between the holidays and spirituality gives us a reason and an excuse to go out and buy for ourselves. “After Halloween it’s like the next big thing is Christmas, so all of the stores are getting ready. They are dealing with all of those logistical issues of getting their decorations and their staffing — but then of course there's a longer period for us to shop. So we’re thinking about it more and we’re spending more,” she said. “I think that by creating that atmosphere of consumption around a religious or a spiritual idea, a meaningful idea which is Christmas or the holidays, it also gives us license to

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buy for ourselves.” So whose interests are really being served? Are there benefits to be had from the holiday deals and the sudden allowance to go ahead and 'treat ourselves', or are we spending money we don't have on things we simply don't need in the spirit of the holidays? “It’s largely driven by the corporate marketing machine that has a vested interest in selling as many products to as many of us as possible,” said Isola. “Extending that Holiday craze can really only be good for them." The consumerism that comes along with the Christmas season has also began to overshadow meaningful holidays like Remembrance Day, that fall right in the middle of the November holiday hype. “Consumerism takes everything that has meaning and turns it into an opportunity to make money,” said Isola, “So Holidays like Remembrance Day, this significant celebration, become less meaningful

RAIN OAR SHINE

because they’re overshadowed by these spectacles of celebration, and those spectacles are there to get our money.” Fiscally speaking, it’s difficult to for merchants to capitalize on Remembrance Day because the only thing there is to buy is a poppy, and that is more of a donation. This leads to the meaning of Remembrance Day getting lost in the madness to consume during the elongated Christmas season. This isn’t to say that holiday shopping is all bad. In fact, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of having bought someone the perfect gift, just to show them that you know and love them. The activity of shopping with those you love can also help bring in the holiday spirit and cheer. However, when you’re up at 2 am this Black Friday, keep in mind the reason for the season: loving those around you, being thankful and making sure that girl in the black dress doesn't get to those shoes before you do.

— WOLFGANG THOMO

Winter kayaking offers unique experiences and freedom to explore secret spots around Deep Cove Therese Guieb COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER

can even go cliff jumping. Since the fall weather can be volatile and unpredictable, individuals who choose to go winter kayaking should pack far more than their usual checklist in the summer months. Bob advises that appropriate gear such as a dry suit, spray skirt, wide brimmed hat, a paddle jacket, a cell phone in a waterproof case, VHS marine radio, whistle and a flare are the most important things that should be brought during a winter kayaking trip. Since there are fewer people out on the water, it would be harder to get help should an emergency occur. “Everybody should know how to get back into their boat, be self-reliant and self-rescue,” noted Bob. “Rarely, people will capsize when it’s flat [water] — you either capsize when it gets rough or a wave hits you. To know skills and practice them in

conditions where you’re going to be tested can save you.” According to Seth, winter kayaking requires more skills and experience because of the rapid change in conditions. However, it is still possible for novice paddlers to enjoy the activity through heading out with their buddies, joining a kayaking club such as the Sea Kayaking Association of BC or taking part on Deep Cove Kayak’s group tours on Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm. So why not go try to go out on the water this fall? You might just end up like Allie and Noah from The Notebook after an afternoon of paddling. For more information on Deep Cove Kayaks visit http://www.deepcovekayak. com/. CapU students receive 10 per cent off their products and services.

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“I like kayaking then camping in the fall, it's unbelievable. There are some amazing spots in and around Deep Cove. You can just go spend the night and it's the ultimate adventure, packing all your stuff into your kayak and journeying out there,” he explained. Deep Cove has many hidden spots perfect for enjoying the scenery while island hopping. “Deep Cove itself is very sheltered. You can paddle along the shoreline. Down south of Deep Cove there are a couple of little islands that are relatively short distances, so it’s easy to cross,” added Bob. In the winter, there isn’t any motorboat traffic on the water so it is safer to cross all the way to Belcarra in the east of Deep Cove and across from Indian Arm. Seth also suggests that an overnight kayaking trip to Twin Island, which is 5.5 km from Deep Cove, is an ideal camping spot where you

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Summer activity in the winter? Say it ain’t so! Kayaking is perceived by many as an activity reserved only for bright, sunny days. But little do they know that there are still people who kayak year round, braving the rain, cold and everchanging weather. The fall weather calls for torrential rains in the Lower Mainland and can be a turnoff for any kind of outdoor activities, but Bob Putnam who is the owner of Deep Cove Kayak, attests to the unique scenery that winter kayaking brings. “It’s quiet, it’s peaceful, that gloomy melancholy, rainy West Coast kind of day image can be really quite beautiful,” he said. “There can be different tones of grey and sometimes even low lying clouds from the mountains.” What’s even more exciting is that there is a pink salmon run that can be spotted while kayaking in places like the Capilano River and the Fraser River. “It’s really pretty. This time of year when the pink salmon run happens, sometimes you’ll see the salmon breaching out of the water while kayaking,” Bob shared. One of the factors ignored by many when it comes to kayaking is its mental benefits. Bob’s son, Seth Putnam, a first year Liberal Studies student at Capilano University, claims that the activity is more than just a workout but can also be mentally soothing. “I would say that it's a perfect combination of relaxation and a workout. You can go as hard as you want or you can go out there and float around,” he said. “Mentally it's relaxing, it's just so calm out in the water that you can't help but just clear your head.” Moreover, winter kayaking can also be a source of adventure. According to Seth, day or overnight kayaking trips are possible in the winter and can offer more privacy in public outdoor spaces.


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SHORTS: TV REVIEWS

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NOTORIOUS

WESTWORLD

BLACK MIRROR

ABC

HBO

Netflix

Kevin Kapenda

Carlo Javier

Gabriel Scorgie

NEWS EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

FEATURES EDITOR

When films or television feature things people care deeply about, it can be hard to impress them. So, when Notorious, a show about a witty defense lawyer and successful cable news producer, debuted on ABC this past September, I was skeptical. However, after two months of brilliant legal posturing and emotional CNN-style programming, Notorious will make you wonder whether highprofile celebrity cases are decided on the airwaves, as opposed to courtrooms. Indeed, the show is based on the real-life relationship of superstar lawyer Mark Geragos and Larry King Live producer, Wendy Walker. Notorious stars Piper Perabo as Julia George, the executive producer of TV’s most watched cable news program – a familiar face, but one you may need Wikipedia to remember. Prior to Notorious, Perabo was mainly known for stealing the hearts of now 20-somethingyear-old men in the Cheaper by the Dozen films, something our freelance photographer reminded me of as I pitched this review. His first love back then, Perabo is now one of the most powerful influencers of public opinion in American society, regularly coming across evidence to crimes before the authorities. Supporting Perabo is Daniel Sunjata as attorney Jake Gregorian and Kate Jennings Grant, as the host of her self-titled hit show, Louise Herrick. Gregorian and George blur between honest reporting and judicial interference, by trying to influence the public with heart-wrenching interviews and “randomly” obtained evidence that’s rarely admissible in court, but so damning, the jury might as well rush proceedings and deliver a verdict. Unlike most news-themed productions, Notorious is not about the press checking other people’s power, but whether we should be holding the media’s feet to the fire from a conflict of interest and ethics standpoint. As important as it is to ensure the press is free from external influence and suppression, it is just as critical that they be free from internal conflicts and intentional misrepresentation of truths, so the public can be informed. If the drama and love triangles don’t hook you, the overarching theme of media transparency will.

Westworld fits perfectly well in the modern HBO ethos. It’s a gripping narrative that is abundant with multilayered characters, a Reddit-primed mind-boggling plot(s) and performances by the likes of Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Wright, Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton that are sure to receive Emmy nominations by the time awards season rolls in. Just like HBO’s prized Game of Thrones, Westworld has no shortages of violence, sex and batshit crazy people. Westworld follows the stories of numerous characters caught up in the business of Westworld, a futuristic amusement park created by (evil?) genius inventor Robert Ford (Hopkins) and his deceased and mysterious partner, Arnold. The park is populated by hyper-realistic robots known as “hosts” and is marketed to ultra-rich costumers known as “guests”. Within the park’s boundaries, guests can partake in pre-ordained narratives that are programmed within the hosts. They’re also free to do whatever they please to the hosts, they can torment, rape or even kill – with no fear of harm, as the hosts are programmed to be completely incapable to harm guests. Then one day, consciousness and memory starts to mysteriously manifest in some of the hosts, existence and purpose are questioned and all hell breaks loose. As big as Westworld is – its sweeping shots of mountains and plains are a masterclass in scope and grandiose – what makes it truly great are the small interactions between characters that put its primary themes under a microscope. Westworld tackles issues with humanity and existence, playing God and the perils of entertainment. Ultimately, Westworld is HBO’s very own tapestry about the state of entertainment. It’s a show about humans’ willingness to trade away reality for the high of an immersion so deep that you could lose a sense of who’s real and who’s not. With the television landscape becoming more radical with each passing season, Westworld succeeds as an unsettling and thoughtprovoking show that keeps HBO firmly on the throne of television.

Don’t be put off by the fact that only season three is available on Netflix. Each episode of Black Mirror is a standalone with no relation to the others. There’s a whole new cast, location and story so the only confusing parts will be the six different twists in each episode. Black Mirror has been heralded as the modern day Twilight Zone, but even more dystopic. You’ve likely already heard this before, but the best example of a Black Mirror episode happened on Nov. 8, when Donald Trump won the election. No, really, in season two, episode three was called “The Waldo Moment” and was about a blue CGI bear developed by a latenight comedy writer becomes popular among British citizens for verbally attacking establishment politicians. This bear becomes so popular that it runs for office, and ends up becoming the biggest authority in the world. Season three looks at the effects technology has on our lives, skewering people obsessed with Internet popularity and those who always need to tweet out the most popular hashtags. Most episodes don’t have a happy ending. In fact, out of the seven episodes on Netflix, only one will leave you with a sense of optimism. It’s a hard show to binge on — with each episode being so serious and occasionally running over an hour, it isn’t recommended to watch the whole show in one sitting unless you’ve got a bottle of anti-depressants on hand. Despite the doom and gloom the show seems to promote, it’s still worth the watch. The subject matters are tackled extremely well, and with writing and production value on par with shows like Sherlock, Black Mirror is as close to a must watch as it gets.


CALENDAR

21 MONDAY

HATHA YOGA WITH KENZIE SPORTSPLEX, ACTIVITY ROOM 11:45 AM TO 12:30 PM / $5 DROP-IN What better way to start the home stretch of the semester than with some Hatha Yoga with Kenzie? Now I may not know who yogi Kenzie is, but I do know that some yoga to start what could be the busiest week for most of Capilano University’s students is not a bad way to de-stress. You can’t get a better deal than their $5 drop-in fees either.

25 FRIDAY

YG

22 TUESDAY

VOGUE THEATRE 8 PM / $40.50 + YG is a pretty darn solid rapper, but he seems to think that he’s running the state of west coast hip-hop right now. Spoilers: he’s not. Notwithstanding YG’s (and really, most any rapper’s) strong superiority complex, this show promises to bring one of the true carriers of the gangsta rap torch, if gangsta rap is still somehow your thing. Expect lots of profanity and rich white dudes.

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO ONLINE TRAVEL VPL WEST POINT GREY BRANCH

2:30 PM TO 4 PM / FREE This sounds helpful! Now I don’t have any immediate plans of travelling, but I do know that it’s a common thought for many students. This seminar gets deep into flights, accommodations and things to do once you land. What it doesn’t do is talk about where and how you get the money to actually get to the online travel planning phase. Bummer.

CARTEMS OPEN MIC

23 WEDNESDAY

8 PM / $29.50+

This London-based indie pop outfit has kind of flown under the radar in recent years because of how saturated the spacey/dreamy/ethereal sound has become. They’ve still got a pretty cool name though. Do you think Son is still available? I’m gonna name my band Son.

26 SATURDAY RIO THEATRE

SUNDAY

HARD ROCK CASINO VANCOUVER 8 PM / $59.95+ This event is actually called “Quest for Fire” and features other rappers like Ace Hood – who, by the way, was never really good – but the promoters knew that they can piggyback on the artist formerly known as Lil Bow Wow’s ever-recognizable and regretful name. I can’t believe that Bow Wow is now playing casino shows. He might lose all the money he’ll make by the end of the night!

CHRISTMAS WITH THE COURIER THE AMERICAN 9 PM / FREE This is the night you’ve all been waiting for. If you happen to be one of the 100 people that get to attend the Masquerade the night before, and if you somehow end up getting disappointed, feel free to hit up The American the night after to join us in our Christmas party! Just look at the establishments close to The American: Pizzeria Farina, The Cobalt, Juke Fried Chicken, the Skytrain! What else could you ask for?

FUNDAMENTALS OF VOICE ACTING THE STUDIO AT CREATIVE COWORKERS

12 PM TO 4 PM / $300 This one-day workshop is a comprehensive crash course on how to get yourself in the competitive voice acting market. Learn how to manipulate your voice, craft characters through dialogue and use onomatopoeia to its full extent. Here’s one: “wow”, this event is $300!

BURLESQUE MARATHONG

PNE

RIO THEATRE

8:30 PM TO 11:30 PM / $20 What a title. You wouldn’t have a single doubt about what this event was going to be with that title. Well, it seems like this is the first calendar of the year that doesn’t feature any sort of craft beer-inspired event. What a run that was. There also seems to be an alarmingly high number of burlesque mentions in this calendar. Hmm…

SUPERHEROES VS. ANTAGONISTS

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THURSDAY

27

BOW WOW

DISNEY ON ICE 7 PM / $25 It’s pretty self-explanatory — this one is a show with your favourite Disney characters on ice. They’re going to be skating. It would be much better if the performers dressed up as the characters and instead of performing, they should just compete in ice-based Olympic events like speed skating or hockey.

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7:30 PM / $20 I’m not really a big fan of masquerades in general because the mask doesn’t really do much to conceal your identity, and then if you wear glasses like I do, you pretty much have to go blind or you’re not gonna be able to fit that mask on your damn face – especially if you have a big-ass head like I do. I hear only 100 people can go to this, so there must be something crazy happening to make it such an exclusive event.

QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE

7 PM TO 10 PM / FREE Music and donuts! Two out of the five things that our editorin-chief likes the most. This event just sounds like the physical embodiment of happiness. You know Cartems is literally steps away from Brassneck and about a block away from the Foundation? Damn, that’s definitely one of the best combos that Vancouver has to offer.

CAPILANO UNIVERSITY 6 PM / FREE Catered towards both incoming high school graduates and current students, Explore Capilano Info Night is looking to shed a light on the endless amount of opportunities that Capilano University offers — like, say, a student newspaper that you can write for, and that pays you for every article, unlike the other presses.

VANCOUVER ART GALLERY

DAUGHTER

CARTEMS DONUTERIE (MAIN & 6TH LOCATION)

EXPLORE CAPILANO INFO NIGHT

CSU MASQUERADE 2016

LIBRARY BUILDING, ROOM 188

11:30 AM TO 12:30 PM / FREE

This is probably the catchiest ChatLive name they’ve ever had. This discussion will delve into how alternative comics generate curious heroes, so it’s likely that they won’t even delve into the recognizable comics of Marvel or DC brands. Don’t let that dissuade you from going, however. Lunch is provided!

COMMODORE BALLROOM 8 PM / $32.50+ James Vincent McMorrow is a terrific Irish singer with an angelic voice. Throughout his career, he has consciously evolved his sound from folk, to electronica, and now to alternative r&b, making him one of the real dope dudes out there who just never stays boxed in. His greatest talent might by his humour though. I’ve seen this guy before and I nearly thought it was a stand-up performance!

BOW WOW

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JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW


OPINIONS

SHUT UP, BONO! (OR DON’T, WE CAN RESPECT THAT) Entertainers have every right to speak their minds Kelly Batchelor CONTRIBUTOR

This year’s US election has produced one of the most insane and overwhelmingly documented campaigns ever recorded. With debates and rallies being heavily scrutinized and judged, this election seemed to focus more around a bad reality television vibe, rather than a nation engagement in the spirited nature of the event. It felt like everyone had an opinion on the subject. This isn't just limited to politicians or people who work in politics, but more than ever we’ve seen political issues branching out into the media and people in the public eye. We saw prominent celebrities, including musicians, athletes and comedians, using their reach to appeal on behalf of candidates or to persuade people against voting for a certain candidate. But it seems

that voicing their thoughts on what either Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump would have brought to the table left some fans unimpressed. With this comes a nuanced question: should celebrities and entertainers be talking about politics? Frankly, if a person in the public eye has a valid view on the topic being shared, they are fully allowed to express how they feel. It’s their right to share their views and beliefs, and to use whatever platform they may hold to do so. With that being said, and this is true of how I believe every person should operate, they need to be passionate and educated on the subject they are preaching. It’s not uncommon to see stars use causes that they’re not personally invested in as a way to generate publicity for themselves. Perhaps they might think that an image of them doing something charitable will make them more likeable and popular. But when asked about the cause they so dearly support and they can’t generate a believable answer, they end up looking like fools. However, there are many celebrities who spend a substantial amount of their time and energy supporting causes that they believe in,

and they shouldn’t be excluded from participating in public conversation about serious political matters. Throughout the campaign, we saw celebrities like Beyonce, Lebron James, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Aniston, Chuck Norris and even Snoop Dogg use their platforms to show some love for their chosen candidates. The wikipedia page listing people who had publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton is so long that it’s hard to believe so many influential figures would have a hard time swaying voters, yet the final results reflected a different story. For entertainers who were passionate about promoting social causes, it didn’t stop there. Following the election, Atlanta-born rapper T.I. marched through the streets of New York with thousands of other protestors and discussed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! why he supported anti-Trump protests. Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, one of the very few people in the public eye who actually took Trump’s candidacy seriously from the very beginning, marched in protest as well and has been vocal about his opinion. Killer Mike of rap duo Run the Jewels articulated why it’s important for citizens to hold politicians and political parties accountable. He

TRAVELLING SOMMELIER WANTS TO MAKE WATER EXPENSIVE AGAIN And the Most Pretentious Job in the World award goes to… Scott Barkemeyer

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VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

CONTRIBUTOR

Martin Riese has the official title of one out of a few water sommeliers in the world. Yes, you read that right. A profession that’s normally associated with fine wine is also being applied to comparing and contrasting water. And, despite Riese’s claim that he hopes to teach people the value of water and encourage its preservation, it seems these ideas come second to his desire for profit and status. The world-travelling sommelier has curated water lists, including one for an upscale restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. According to Riese, his water list displays 20 options that are priced from eight to 20 dollars, originating from 10 different nations. The menu is broken down into two rankings — sweet to salty and smooth to complex — in addition to a solubility test that displays total dissolved solids. He has even consolidated a 44-page document breaking down the characteristics of water. An excerpt from Beverly Hills 90H20, one of the water brands on Riese’s list, calls its product “the world’s first SommelierCrafted Water™”, inspired by the crafting of fine spirits and created with the help of fine dining experts. These unique characteristics supposedly make Beverly Hills 90H20 the “champagne of waters”. That’s right, a group of people designed a water that’s meant to be paired with fine foods because there wasn’t an alternative already on the market. I don’t know whether to truly hate these people or to toast their success and forward thinking. Yes, there is absolutely a demand for

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— ANGELA SCHMOLD

had campaigned for Bernie Sanders and continually advocates for social equality and awareness of police brutality and systemic racism. On the other hand, comedian Bill Burr, who had openly criticized both candidates on his podcast, received harsh criticism, hate mail and even death threats from both Clinton and Trump supporters who felt he should have kept his mouth shut. Ironically, his take on the entire fiasco summed the issue up in the best possible way. If someone did their research and decided that neither candidate represented what they believe in as a citizen, they have every right to say so. We shouldn’t be looking solely towards celebrities to inform our political views. Citizens should have the capacity and responsibility to learn about the issues at hand themselves, not just listen to what famous or influential people are saying. Celebrities are humans too, and they deserve the same treatment as your everyday Average Joe citizen. Singing, playing ball, dancing or acting — these are just their jobs. This should in no way restrict them from being able to use their voice and advocate for the issues they care about.

clean drinking water, but there is no need to “craft” custom water and fill a ridiculous demand that does not need to be there. In actuality, their product is spring water from California, which means they’re bottling and distributing water from a state that already experiences massive periods of drought. Not on his list is Acqua di Cristallo Tributo a Modigliani, the world’s most expensive water which sells at $60,000 for a 750ml bottle. This makes each mouthful of water worth $10,000. But when you buy this, you’re really only paying for the badass 24 karat gold bottle. The blend of Fijian and French spring water with Icelandic glacier water and five milligrams of gold dust mixed in to round out the “flavours” is also available in a much cheaper $3,600 version, but where is the fun in that? There is nothing special about the water itself, considering the gold dust you’re ingesting only has a value of around 20 cents anyways. So, in a world where some people cannot access clean drinking water, we’re selling bottles of it for outrageous prices. Riese’s own brand of water sells at $16 for a one litre bottle. He has also hosted water tastings where, for $50, a participant can have him run through a number of different waters and develop a finer understanding of the chemical substance that makes up the majority of our bodies. Living here in the Lower Mainland, access to clean and drinkable water is not an issue we often run into. But this certainly can’t be said for all of Canada. On any given day there are around 1,400 drinking water advisories, many which affect indigenous communities and neighbourhoods where people don’t have alternative ways to access clean water. On a larger scale, the United Nations states that 11 per cent of the world’s population doesn’t have access to an improved soured of drinking water. So maybe Riese can put his talents to good use in another way, if his intentions are really what he claims.


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The problem with the DNCL are the numerous loopholes and overly broad regulations that make it very easy for companies to work around the system. For example, regulations state that businesses can call you if you’ve purchased, rented or subscribed to a service or product of theirs in the last 18 months. If your service or product has lapsed or expired in that time, they can also call you to “rekindle” that business relationship. Furthermore, if you’ve provided consent to be called again, by saying “maybe next time” or “I’ll think about it”, companies could very well follow-up on the grounds that you have agreed to subsequent correspondence. Most businesses know that it’s easier to double-down on loyal customers, by upgrading their services or getting them to re-subscribe, rather than calling every number in the phone book and hoping for the best. Very few people are fans of businesses telephoning people like war-time technicians, however my fear is that this anti-calling sentiment could balloon to a point where people don’t want anybody contacting them at all. While this would be a relatively minor loss for financial institutions, credit card companies and telecom

providers, it would be massive blow for charities, non-profits and political parties who depend on telephone contact for donations and support. If we are to continue striving towards the ideal of a Free and Democratic Society, as outlined in our constitution, we must keep in mind that this doesn’t solely apply to the politicians entrusted to serve our democratic institutions. It’s just as important that the organizations who contribute to the political process every day are able to reach Canadians through as many channels as possible, including the telephone. Most Canadians are on the same page when it comes to cutthroat telemarketing or debt collection calls. No one wants to be consistently badgered with robotic voice recordings telling you to ‘seize a one-time discount’. However, telephone campaigns remain a reliable way of reaching citizens, especially in our era of permanent campaigning, and policies to ban telemarketers from calling citizens could end up throwing out democratic participation along with the banks, telecom and credit companies. The issue with this type of publicprivate dilemma, and Canadian policy in general, is that we tend to assign

the same rules to businesses and nonprofit organizations. Therefore, I find it hard to imagine a scenario in which a policy to ban for-profit telemarketing without doing the same to non-profit and political calling isn’t met with feverous backlash from our highly organized and well-funded networks of business lobby groups. Indeed, this is the type of discriminatory policy that could end up in the courts, and with Trudeau’s sour relationship with business in Canada – he’s better off Jimmy Fallon-ing this one. With landlines becoming increasingly scarce and most mobile users messaging rather than calling, this anger with telemarketers may one day resolve itself on its own through obsolescence. For now though, it is evident that Canada’s two-pronged approach to telemarketing, in which non-profits, charities and political parties get a free pass while businesses are trivially held back by regulations, has not worked. Unfortunately, where we appear to be headed, asking service providers to block these calls could have devastating implications for civil and democratic organizations doing work that governments can’t or don’t want to do.

Rachel D’Sa CONTRIBUTOR

If Buzzfeed or Reddit developed a dating app, would you try it out? What if it promised to pair you up with your soulmate, based on your common interests and location? This is exactly what the Guardian, a British daily newspaper, has been trying to do since 2004 with their international dating platform, Soulmates. By advertising to their readers, the site aims to connect like-minded, witty and innovative people. But the idea that building a good relationship will be easier for people who read the same newspaper is a bit of a stretch. Over the last five years or so, news companies have stepped up their social media game in an effort to compete with newer companies that have built a strong online presence. Almost every newspaper can now be found online, and gone are the days of morning coffee with a side of paper cuts. But instead of these technological advances putting the emphasis on distributing quality news, companies can’t stop coming up with ways to sniff out revenue. After giving the Soulmates website an email address and basic personal information including their identified gender and sexual preference, users expect to be matched with their soulmates. Though anyone over the age of 18 can create a profile for free, only those who purchase a subscription to the service can gain access to the site’s

HEY BUSINESSES AND CHARITIES, STOP CALLING ME! CRTC push to ban telemarketing could negatively impact civic society Kevin Kapenda NEWS EDITOR

With so many instant messaging apps at our disposal, it’s hard to imagine that many Canadians still receive phone calls from people they know. Ironically, it’s rings from unknown numbers that are driving Canadians insane. Solicitation calls have the Canadian Radiotelevision and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in a tug-of-war with phone companies, arguably the biggest culprits, about whether service providers should step in and block telemarketing from their users. This demand from the CRTC comes eight years after its “Do Not Call List” (DNCL) launched, which has over 13 million phone numbers subscribed but fails to deliver substantial results.

— MARIA CENTOLA

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continue using the service for prolonged time periods, with discounted rates for three and six month subscriptions. In 2014, Soulmates won a UK Dating Award for Daters’ Favourite Website, however there seems to be a lack of qualifications associated with the relationship advice given by the site and the service in general. The only

Why not read your newspaper and date it too?

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features. Why offer hopeful users free access when you can charge them 32 pounds per month (almost 55 Canadian dollars)? At only five times what you pay for Spotify monthly, you can have a personalized profile, advanced searching for matches and a messaging system to get in contact with other users. Of course, the site urges customers to be picky and

indications of expertise within the site are mentioned in the context of online safety, stating “An experienced team of UK based moderators review all profiles and monitor the Soulmates service.” No mention of relationship counsellors or even slightly qualified relationship evaluators. This leads to the conclusion that the service is just another business venture undertaken by a company not qualified to be tasked with such an intimate and sensitive subject matter. But why would a newspaper company run a dating website, especially without a qualified team? Money, the green, coin, dinero. The craving for love and affection is timeless, and dating websites like Soulmates know that people will do what they can, with what they have, in order to achieve the feeling of being desired. With circulation of over 160,000 people daily as of March 2016, The Guardian seems to have taken advantage of its big name edge, creating Soulmates as just another way of experimenting with new media, without evaluating the emotional repercussions, to gain attention and profit. On the Soulmates frequently asked questions page, it’s even stated that the profits made from the website and app are reinvested into the Guardian Media Group for the newspaper, rather than improving the quality of the service to better serve its paying, emotionally devoted customers. Sure, there might be more agreement between matches, as The Guardian’s political viewpoint is generally centre-left leaning. However, even with that idea, the stretch made to connect people who read the same newspaper to romantic relationships is enough to split a nice pair of jeans. Seeing as the Guardian doesn’t have any substantial edge over other online dating platforms, I’ll stick to the personal connections I make in my everyday life. Or at least continue to silently hit on cute strangers.

THE GUARDIAN PLAYS CUPID IN HOPES OF POCKETING REVENUE


COLUMNS

Max Ley COLUMNIST

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VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

KFC & 2013 TIME ESTATE SUNDIAL WHITE

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I’ve had many requests over the duration of this column so I thought this would be a good time to accommodate one of the biggies. Today, I’m continuing with the chicken theme from the last entry by tackling Colonel Sanders’ famous Kentucky Fried Chicken. What else is there to say about KFC? Greasy, fatty, deep fried… KFC’s famous fried chicken checks off all the boxes for whatever late night craving you might possibly have. Now, I haven’t had KFC myself in an absolute eternity, but I was curious to see what we could do wine-wise to pair with the $5 fill-up box of chicken strips, popcorn chicken and fries we snagged from KFC. Most chicken recipes tend to be paired with white wine, but we would need something that could hold up against the more “robust” flavours of the Colonel’s famous seasoning. The wine that we picked for this pairing came as a bit of a surprise. As most of you know already, all the wines that I pick are typically priced at under $20 before tax. Even though I’m the biggest cheerleader for wine from our great province, I have yet to feature a BC wine on my column, namely because I haven’t found many wines that fit my price criteria. Today marks my first BC wine for the column – the 2013 Sundial White Blend by Time Estate Winery. Composed of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, this white was not only refreshing, but it fit the bill with the chicken. Right out of the glass, you get huge floral aromas of melon and lime, both with a faint scent of honey. At first sip, it’s medium bodied, with hints of tropical fruit, honey and crisp green apples, and a long and very tasty finish. The acidity is crisp and fresh, already hinting at how perfect this wine might be with the box of the Colonel’s best I had purchased. My only complaint about this wine was that it was slightly on the “hot” side, meaning

that you could taste the alcohol of the wine ever so slightly. Not a deal-breaker, however, as this bottle was just a total steal at $14.99 on the shelf of Liberty Wines Commercial Drive. Now let’s bring this wine and the chicken together! That world-famous recipe gives the chicken a very savoury, herb-heavy coating that has the potential to upstage some of the subtleties in a wine. However, the Sundial performed admirably – stupendously even. The wine managed to cut through the deepfried chicken perfectly. This pairing did, as with any of the successful pairings in my column, everything that a good wine pairing should do. Being more mediumbodied but balanced with a crisp acidity gave this wine the chance to be able to cut through the fattiness of the chicken, yet it accompanied the herb-like qualities of the seasoning quite perfectly. The fruit forward qualities of the wine managed to make the chicken more fresh, clean and not nearly as insanely greasy and unhealthy as it was. We also had gravy, a honey mustard dip and a honey garlic dip on the side. I tried both the chicken strips and the popcorn chicken with every combination of dip and the wine performed admirably as I put it through its paces. The inherent honeyed nature of the wine was already ideal with the chicken, but when brought together with the dips, they just complemented each other perfectly. All the sweet savoury flavours you could possibly want were brought out from the dish while the acidity was what kept everything nice and clean. All in all, this was another one of those pairings that seemed to work just perfectly. The chicken was brought up and improved by the wine beautifully, and I was totally thrilled to finally feature a great and affordable BC wine in the column. Thanks for reading and once again, be sure to check me out at @sipsiphurray on Instagram and Twitter. And if you have any requests for wines or affordable foods you’d like me to feature, give me a shout!


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THE UNLEARNED SOCIETY Demanding a civic education Lars Henrik Ahlstrom COLUMNIST

“Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.” - UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was written and ratified in 1948, setting a detailed list of basic rights we should strive towards to guarantee peace. In this case, semantics deserves extra thought: these rights are deemed universal because they are not culturally specific and thus are not “a matter of opinion”. They are derived from common fears and aspirations of humans. That

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“no one shall be subjected to torture or inhuman punishment”, that “no one shall be held in slavery”, that we are all “entitled to equal protection before the law”, that “everyone has the right to a nationality and the right to seek asylum from persecution”, that all should have “freedom of thought, conscience, and religion” and that everyone has "the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control." The right of equal pay for equal work. The right to form and join trade unions. The right to marry. The right to free speech and free assembly... And now, less than 70 years later, we find ourselves contemplating the fate of our decrepit planet when one of the world's most powerful nations is about to be ruled by a psychopath whose views arguably contravene most, if not every single one, of those universal human rights. We've held on with idealism to Dr. King's famous quote that “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Now, we turn to it with cynicism, as if realizing that though it bends towards justice, at times it seems to snap back ferociously towards injustice. Trump's election has prompted a variety

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of cocksure explanations from specialists of all stripes. Though compelling arguments abound to blame this destructive result on a corrupt electoral system, a sensationalist media, a broken education system, a rigged economy and a bigger reservoir of bigotry than we ever expected our neighbours to harbour, there is no single explanation as to how we retreated so far back in our linear historical fight for those universal rights. That Millennials would have overwhelmingly voted Democrat is hardly surprising and hardly a hopeful prospect for the future. The youth of today needs to realize that their education should be complimented by the right to reasonable protest. Modern students are being granted a very powerful motive for revolting: they have very little to lose at this point, since it is becoming more apparent that the “product” they pay so dearly for is hardly worth anything. They should learn about how students spearheaded a general strike in Paris in 1968, bringing the country to a halt. Much more recently, they should learn about how Greek students rose in 2007 to protest university privatization, and how British students rose in 2010 to protest cuts to higher education, and how students in Quebec rose in 2012 to protest a proposed

75 per cent hike in tuition fees, and how Brazilian students are currently occupying over 1,000 schools to protest Neoliberal austerity measures... It is not enough to profess certain rights and claim indignation when they are breached. We must be custodians of those rights. No right has ever been voluntarily granted by the oppressing class. Once granted, they should be duly protected. Ensuring a civics education that promotes co-operation seems to run contrary to our individualistic and competitive culture, in which our privileges are only made possible by others' privations. Our understanding of the narrowness of options on the political spectrum, our knowledge of history, law, philosophy, ecology, taxation, electoral procedures... have all greatly suffered to the point that most of us have come to respond emotionally to a very restricted set of “political issues” informed by our selfish needs that are easily exploited by politicians and pundits. We are all at risk for falling into a similar trap our neighbours down south have fallen into. At the same time, there's great hope that a proper civics education will return to schools. But like any essential right, it must be fought for until granted.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL NO Hong Kong Gone Wrong Fred Ulrich Jr COLUMNIST

— JENNY OAKLEY

towers have countless air conditioning units protruding from their innumerable windows, and some of those AC boxes are all prone to leaking condensation onto the street below. In certain areas, the clusters of sky scrapers are tall enough and the AC units numerous and leaky enough that you can actually get patches of gross, artificial rain. On a hot and cloudless day, you need to watch out for the wet areas on the sidewalk that denote these small localized zones of unnatural precipitation. There are some spots where it’s almost as if it never stops raining, no matter what the real weather is actually doing. Avoiding these spots may be difficult, as you’ll be competing with everyone else on the sidewalk pushing to bypass the same spot at the same time as you. When it came time to eat, I only had only one specifically weird complaint. Their milk tastes weird. Apparently, they add calcium supplements or something to it, but whatever it is makes the endproduct taste chalky and watery all at the

same time. Maybe it was my fault for trying to eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast one morning instead of something more typical, but I guess sometimes I can be a sucker for familiar habits when I get a touch homesick on the road.

FRED’S LOCAL SUBSTITUTE: Buy a child-sized chair and table to eat your breakfast in a closet or other confined space. Breakfast can either be delicious dim sum or cereal with chalk-infused milk, your choice. Then, convince six strangers to squeeze into a typical five-seat car along with yourself. Make sure to do this without actually speaking to anyone. Keep the windows closed and wait until the condensation from your breath begins dripping onto your faces from the ceiling. Drive around seeing cool sights and eating good food, but be super competitive about who gets the good seats every time you get back in the car.

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program and staying out of the way. With scenic waterfront areas, mountaintop views of the city and loads of incredible history, Hong Kong is kind of like Vancouver’s older, cooler brother. It’s exciting, loud, busy and unfortunately not terribly friendly. Accustomed to Vancouver’s reputation as a “cold” city when it comes to public friendliness and the chattiness, I usually find the inhabitants of most other cities to be social towards strangers, even when there is a language barrier. Friends and family of people who knew us in Hong Kong were always exceptions to this, but it is probably the only place I’ve been, where speaking to a stranger on the street is met with more surprise and irritation than Vancouver. Even in establishments where it’s an employee’s job to interact with customers, I often felt like I was being perceived as a nuisance just by having the audacity to order lunch. Hong Kong has its own special weather to watch out for. Many of the insanely tall

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Hong Kong is worth a trip for many reasons (as with most places that aren’t Vancouver, the food alone is enough). Unfortunately, it’s not a place I could stay in for long. I’ve felt uncomfortable many times in many places during my travels, but never have I felt so truly out of place as when I was in Hong Kong. It wasn’t a matter of fitting in, so much as simply fitting. Being a bit of a bigger guy, I spent the entire duration of my stay being made acutely aware that nothing there was made for people my size. I ate meals with half of each butt cheek fighting for real estate on the seat. I washed by rubbing my body against the walls of the shower stall like a bear scratching its back on a tree because there wasn’t room for me to lift my arms without popping the door open. Every moment I spent in the city was seeped in claustrophobia. If you’re a bigger person, the 13-hour flight in economy class will be the most comfortable part of your Hong Kong experience. Everywhere you go, there are too many people crammed into not enough area. I quickly learned that personal space isn’t held in very high importance when you’re in public. I became intimately familiar with other people’s bodies on the MTR. If a person can technically fit in that tiny space beside/on you, you bet they’re going to make that happen. Whether you’re walking down the street, standing on the train or sitting in a restaurant, you will constantly be an unwilling participant in an ongoing game of human Tetris. I felt like people were being rude when they pushed me, but I soon realized that I was being rude for not getting with the


COLUMNS

NEWS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD White Russians for Hillary Leah Scheitel COLUMNIST

There is absolutely no question about it: everyone is having a better week than Hillary Clinton. On Nov. 8, Americans voted for a celebrity with an affinity for tanning salons over her – a lifelong politician with over three decades of experience. In the words of Dave Chappelle, Americans elected an Internet troll to be their next president over Clinton. It doesn’t matter what test you failed or what guy didn’t text you back, nothing compares to what that must feel like. Rejection is a shitty feeling, and half of America just rejected her. In the weeks following the election, pundits, media and experts have all been trying to figure out what went wrong. What caused the greatest upset since the 1948 election, when Harry Truman overcame all odds to beat Thomas Dewey? Blame has been laid on both political parties, on the “alt right” and the liberal

deficiency in appealing to middle America. The Clinton campaign themselves blamed the FBI’s investigation of her emails the week before the election as the cyanide that brought down her campaign. Some media pundits have even come out to blame comedians and satirists, citing that if Jon Stewart was still behind The Daily Show desk, she would have won in a landslide, which is a worrisome claim. If satirists have that much pull in an election, Fox News would make Ann Coulter try standup, which would explain her obscure and terrible showing on the Roast of Rob Lowe (Google it, it is worth an hour just to see Jewel skewer Coulter). Esquire has released numerous reports since, saying Russia had a huge hand in swaying the election in Trump’s favour. In reality, there isn’t one lone factor to blame on her defeat, rather a cocktail of things. And I bet she is drowning her sorrows in a pile of cocktails right now, ideally White Russians. Where does Clinton go from this? She put all of her eggs into her bid for the Oval Office, including a career spanning three decades. The last two years have been a gruelling campaign, arguing first against millennial hero Bernie Sanders, before taking on the spray-tan hero,

Donald Trump. If Trump lost, which by all accounts even he expected, he had plans of expanding his Trump brand into network television and likely returning to reality TV, the very beast that made him. Clinton, on the other hand, didn’t have a plan B. She didn’t have talks of network shows or book deals. She was all in, dedicated to public office as if it was her own child. She could very well settle into a private life, hiking around the hills of New York State and spending time with her family, but that’s just not the way she wanted to retire. Politicians’ careers often bloom with age, and although she is 69, four years past the average age of retirement, I doubt she had any plans on stopping, ever. Clinton doesn’t seem like the person who can sit at home with MSNBC playing in the background, watching Trump work his wonders on the country. She started working when she was 13 years old, finding a summer job in Park Heights, a suburb of Chicago. Besides her eight-year stint as First Lady, she has always had some form of employment. This will be the first time she has been without a job since then. An early succession into private life means we will miss out on more

than just the first female president. It will retire Kate McKinnon’s impersonation of Clinton on Saturday Night Live, which by all accounts is almost as inspiring as Clinton herself. McKinnon’s performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” during the Nov. 12 cold open caused everyone to stop and recognize two things: McKinnon can sing and we are going to miss her version of Clinton. It also means Fox News is going to have to find another high-profile female figure to blame problems on. It means we are going to have to wait longer for young women to see a lady in the highest political office possible. It means we are going to lose Bill from the public eye, and he would have made one hell of a first gentleman. There is no way you feel as terrible as Clinton right now, so hold that close going into the end of the semester. If she can be beaten by a sexist, xenophobic racist who is enlisting alt-right leaders to spearhead his cabinet, and still have grace to concede and offer well wishes, you can push through the end of the semester. You can retain grace in the face of rejection, just as she did. Remember, there will always be White Russians on the other side.

transforms into a stand for a tablet or cellphone. It bears a unique tracelike design that is the result of fungi permeating the bark – an artistic touch authored by nature itself. Contrary to the rustic reputation of craft fairs, collections like this one by Morin and Tardif are at the peak of avant-garde style. Familiar among higher-end art galleries herself, Vancouver-based photographer Desirée Patterson also represents contemporary art at Circle Craft. A spirited advocate for the conservation of wildlife and the Earth, Patterson’s photography reflects this passion with every shot. Her latest series, Enraciné, is a vivid mashup of

nature and the city. Featuring the iconic skyscrapers of Manhattan overlaid with crisp mountain ranges, Patterson evokes feelings of beauty – both in our natural and urban environments. “I spent a lot of time outdoors as a child and seven years travelling after graduating from high school,” said Patterson. “In that time, I’ve seen many beautiful landscapes and also witnessed a lot of pollution.” A fan of Whistler’s zero waste policies, the self-taught artist uses her art to proudly promote the unique features of our coastal region and inspire preservation among her audiences. Boosting cultural diversity and promoting a sustainable economy, it’s

evident that markets like Vancouver’s annual Circle Craft are important in building community. They connect artisans with consumers and invite a dialogue over issues like transparency and reducing environmental impact. Just like a circle symbolizes an entity, whole and inclusive, Circle Craft is an event that unites people. So, if you’re looking to avoid the consumerist trap this holiday season, consider supporting the local scene by checking out Circle Craft. Although the market has wrapped up for the year, their diverse selections of gifts are available year-round at their Granville Island co-op store and online at Circlecraft.net.

MARKET WATCH Craft Wonderland Jacqueline Ranit

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VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

COLUMNIST

There’s an alternative approach to Christmas in lieu of crowded department stores and indifferent retail service. It’s a place filled with unique handcrafted gifts backed by a community of talented local artists. Although you’ll inevitably leave with a lighter wallet, you’ll also feel lighthearted, too. This week I found this paradise at the annual Circle Craft Christmas Market. In its 43rd season, Circle Craft brings together over 300 Canadian artisans for one amazing week of culture, fine arts and ingenuity. Founded by the BC Artist Co-operative in 1972, this community-based organization helps independent producers of craft, drink, fare and music promote themselves and encourages their success. With goods ranging from textiles to glass, Circle Craft gathers the best of BC and celebrates them all under one roof – the Vancouver Convention Centre. Drifting from one shiny bauble to the next, I felt an emerging theme uniting this diverse showcase of coastto-coast Canadian talent – a passion for the environment. Sourcing all their materials from fallen trees and driftwood, Quebec designers Serge Tardif and Nathalie Morin produce some of the most aesthetically pleasing and functional accessories for the home that I have ever seen. As masters of manipulating shape and flexibility of wood, their collection is something straight out of a Scandinavian interior design magazine. “This was made from a honey tree that was threatening to fall over in our backyard,” said Morin, pointing to a block of wood that

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HUMOUR

✁ 69 / 100

CSU Masquerade Location

Vancouver Art Gallery

Date

Friday, November 25

Time

7:30pm

69 / 100

Admit One

THE CSU MASQUERADE MIGHT BE THE BEST PARTY OF THE YEAR … and only 100 lucky people will get to experience it

Gabriel Scorgie FEATURES EDITOR

OPEN BAR

THE MASKS ARE GOING TO BE SICK AF

1. Why?

Once upon a time, before the Sauderinspired showed up wearing their suits, CapU was an art school. Some very talented and hungry artists still roam around on campus, and even though they won’t be invited to attend this prestigious event, I’m sure some savvy business students will commission high-end masks to be made for them.

2. What do I wear? 3. Do I go straight from school or do I go home first? 4. I heard you’re giving out a limited number of masks, why couldn’t you give out 100 masks seeing as there are 100 guests? 5. Why only 100? 6. What if you run out of masks and I don’t get one? 7. I’m probably going to be wearing a navy-blue suit,

ONLY STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ARE INVITED

what colour of masks are you going to be giving away?

There are only 100 tickets available. If you think this is some oversight and that the CSU accidentally meant to leave over 98.6 per cent of the student population out of this event, you are very wrong. This is to celebrate de-stress week and the CSU’s version of de-stressing is to not have to look, hear or think about any of the poor and badly dressed students that go to CapU. You won’t see anyone who has a class in Dogwood at this event.

9. Are the masks inspired by 15th century Italian design

THE GOODIE BAGS

What if it falls off, will I get in trouble?

Nobody knows what’s going to be in these goodie bags, but rumour has it they are going to be the highlight of the night. The leading theory is the answer keys to upcoming exams will be included. That’d be a nice way to de-stress. A handful of Valium would also be an appreciated parting gift. At the very least, these goodie bags should give students their money back. This event isn’t going to be for everybody. Statistically, it won’t be for the vast majority of people. If you’ve decided not to attend, or you simply weren’t invited because of your Philosophy major, it’s important to remember you’re still a part of this night. After all, your student fees paid for it.

8. Are they hand-made? or 16th century Italian design? 10. Are the masks ethically produced? 11. Am I allowed to bring my own mask? 12. If I bring my own mask, can I still get a mask from you? 13. What happens to the masks after the event? Do you donate them to the Salvation Army? 14. Do I have to wear the mask at all times? 15. If I have glasses, do they go over or under the mask? 16. What if I can’t see out of the mask? 17. What if I don’t like the mask I’m given? Am I allowed to switch masks with someone else? 18. Are only 100 people going because everyone is wearing a mask? 19. Can more people come if we don’t wear masks? 20. Are people supposed to know who I am? 21. Are they gluten-free? 22. Can I bring my own vegan gluten-free snacks? 23. Can I pre-order my mask? 24. Do I put the mask on before I go inside, or after? 25. So… why?

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VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

This may or may not be true, but when it comes to the prospect of free booze I like to be optimistic. An inexpensive drink ticket with a four-drink maximum is the most reasonable, and shitty, compromise. I would imagine the VAG wouldn’t be thrilled about having 100 students with access to unlimited free booze in their gallery halls. The easy solution would be to bring a flask full of White Lightning. Either that or slam back those cheap

25 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CSU MASQUERADE

THE CAPILANO COURIER

Who doesn’t like to party? On Friday, Nov. 25, the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) is holding their first event worth going to since September to kick off their annual De-Stress Week. The Masquerade will be held in the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG), and is said to cater to students both below and above the drinking age. Although I’ve received a very official Facebook invite for this, I’m not actually committing until I get a handwritten invite delivered to me by an old British butler. This is a classy, exclusive event, being held at an art gallery and the only invitation people are getting is through Facebook? I think the CSU can do better than that. The CSU has been tight-lipped about what exactly is going to be happening. Likely because the entire event is in total disarray and on the verge of being a full-on disaster right now. Where were those food trucks we were promised at the Welcome Back party again? The good news is that if they do manage to get it together in time, this event will be extravagant and luxurious on a scale CapU has never seen before. How do I know? Well you don’t normally host a party where only 100 out of a community of about 7,000 people can go – with great exclusivity comes great amenities after all, right?

drinks and head over to Granville Street where a real party might be going on.


CABOOSE

HOROSCOPES

THINKING CAP

Q

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK:

Staying alive is tough, but not for you! Good job.

LIBRA (SEPT. 22 - OCT. 23):

ARIES (March 21 - April 19):

The best way to de-stress this week is to assume you’ll fail.

Calling you a train wreck would be putting it nicely..

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 21):

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20):

No amount of hard work is going to make up for that IQ.

You can call it love at first sight, but everyone else is calling it a mistake.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21):

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20):

Most of your personality is composed of regurgitated Reddit memes

Food isn’t free. You’re the only person who thinks it is.

How would you rate Justin Trudeau's first year in office?

“He's had a rocky start, and I don't mean Rocky Mountain. He's going to need more than his fabulous hair to fix Canada's problems.” Andrew Yang, fourth year Communications “It's been great I think. I think there have been a lot of changes and there are a lot of promises. Obviously he's young but he's had more opportunities.” Salah Hawsawi, third year Business

“I literally have no idea." CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19):

CANCER (June 21 - July 22):

Your tombstone will read “Not a winner, please try again.”

Your desire to always be around the opposite sex is undermined by the fact that none of them want to be around you.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18):

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22):

Your week can be summarized in two words: Oh no.

The only positives this week are the ones on your STI tests.

Peter Quelch, second year Creative Writing

“He still has nice hair.” Carissa Konesky, third year Global Stewardship

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20):

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 21):

If there was ever a time to run from all your problems, this would be it.

You will play a critical role in a catastrophic event.

“It’s been fabulous! Everyone still loves me.” Trudeau the Younger

TO ADVERTISE in the Courier’s pages, please contact us by phone at 778-855-9942 or email Andy Rice, our editor-in-chief, at capcourier@gmail.com. We are proud to offer discounts to non-profit organizations and North Shore customers. A full media kit with sizes, rates and deadlines is available on our website, CapilanoCourier.com. Classified advertisements up to 50 words are free for students.

HUMANS OF CAPILANO — DOMINIC GUIEB PHOTOS

Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.67)

THE CAPILANO COURIER

5 5

SUDOKU

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 09

8 2

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9

1 4

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7 2

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8 3 6

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2 2

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sat Nov 19 03:00:09 2016 GMT. Enjoy!

24

What's a moment you'd like to go back to?

8 1

"Just being a kid again, where there were no responsibilities or problems. When you just think that everyone's a good person and when you have no sense of reality. You're so happy when you're little and nothing bad happens and there are no worries. The older you get, everything just gets harder."


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