Capilano Courier | Vol. 49.5, Issue 10.

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NEW LOGO UNVEILED

WOOLLEY MAMMOTH

Capilano University celebrates a new era with an updated logo and branding scheme.

Blues Men's Soccer captain Devan Woolley finishes his storied career in varsity sports.

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE 10 WINTER | 2016

AN INTERVIEW WITH SANTA

CONTENTS

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Cover Art

News

Campus Life

Sports

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Features

Arts & Culture

Opinions

Special Content

ANGELA SCHMOLD

NETFLIX: HOW LONG CAN THEY STAY ON TOP?

THE STAFF

CSU HOSTS SGM TO REFORM GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

THE ART OF BONG BLOWING

PHOTOS: INTERNATIONAL STUDY ABROAD FAIR

THE CHALLENGES MILLENNIALS FACE

COLUMNISTS

editor@capilanocourier.com Carlo Javier MANAGING EDITOR

carlo.capcourier@gmail.com

Tierney Milne Syd Danger

COVER ART

After a summer of recalibrating her repulsor jets, re-polishing her vibranium shield and reclaiming her right to wield the mighty Mjolnir, resident nerd world super-fan Syd Danger is back. Her column will be breaking down the latest news and developments that strike the geek world and she’ll also be offering up her Maester-approved analysis.

Maria Centola

Kevin Kapenda

Gabriel Scorgie FEATURES EDITOR

specialfeatures.capcourier@gmail.com

Marissa Del Mistro Your favourite voice of reason is back, and this time, she’ll be a voice for the people and organizations making Vancouver the best Vancouver it can be. Titled “Reign Vancouver,” this column strives to inspire and challenge the meaning of happiness, community and inclusiveness with each individual interview.

campuslife.capcourier@gmail.com

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 10 THE CAPILANO COURIER

ART

Nick Sheffield WORDS

Jacob Muir Brandon Kostinuk & Kevin Kapenda

pm.capcourier@gmail.com

Juliana Vieira

WORDS

CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

LAYOUT DESIGNER

ART

Rachel D'Sa

Christine Beyleveldt

Syd Danger

Annie Chang

WORDS

arts.capcourier@gmail.com

ART DIRECTOR

Austin Legg

Kelly Batchelor

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

artdirector.capcourier@gmail.com

ART

ART

Justin Scott

Cristian Fowlie

Dante Mercer

Fiona Dunnett

Jessica Lio opinions.capcourier@gmail.com

ART

ART

NEWS EDITOR

news@capilanocourier.com

OPINIONS EDITOR

BEST OF CAPILANO: FIND YOUR BALLOT INSIDE!

CONTRIBUTORS

Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MEET THE CAPILANO BLUES' ATHLETIC THERAPIST

These guys are like our own version of Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, and that’s exactly what you should expect from this politically-charged column. Here you’ll find Kapenda and Kostinuk duking out their differing first takes on the developments that surround the battle for America’s survival and sanity: Trump vs. Clinton.

May the right honourable win.

WORDS

Alexander Derbas WORDS

Freya Wasteneys WORDS

Nima Boscarino WORDS

Noah Penner

Andrew Yang

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

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

community.capcourier@gmail.com POSITION AVAILABLE!

WORDS

International House of Pancakes Food is one of the greatest universal languages and our new and improved “International House of Pancakes” lives by that mantra. Featuring a rotating selection of writers, IHOP will delve into the nuances and realities surrounding the cuisines that we’ve westernized, commercialized and taken for granted.

Authenticity is our best ingredient.

Hassan Merali WORDS

BUSINESS ADVISOR

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

TAKE A KNEE THIS CHRISTMAS, FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

around our front yard hiding chocolate eggs on Easter morning. How much was one little boy supposed to take? It was a good thing I had my best friend Rosie to get me through those ever-so-difficult chapters of my life.

Rosie, unfortunately, is no longer with us. The memories of her untimely passing still haunt me to this day. If there is any significant event in life that will steer one toward maturity, it is undoubtedly the death of a loved one. Rosie, bless her soul, was my best friend in the whole wide world. She was a cat, yes… a stuffed cat… from Walmart, but she was my everything.

Rosie was the strong, silent type — always there to listen, never to judge — and she was with me through thick and thin, except for the August afternoon when I left her on the front lawn while I went to go get lemonade. You can imagine my shriek of horror when I heard my dad starting up the lawnmower. I returned just in time to see a cloud of synthetic fur settling gracefully like snow on the freshly sheared grass. At least I can say that Rosie died in piece. Several, actually. I’m just thankful that she wasn’t a dog, because I’m not sure I’d ever be able to look at bark mulch the same way again.

The loss of Rosie was a major milestone in my maturation process. Being literally severed from my childhood stuffed animal and the make-believe persona that embodied her, I had no choice but to move on and deal with my feelings and my imagination in more grown-up ways.

This ordeal, and the downfall of the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny, marked a profound loss of innocence that even the most defiant game of Truth or Dare could never provide.

So, this Christmas, as I conquer Vancouver's various shopping malls and wave to my old friend(s) Santa for nostalgia’s sake, it’s really hitting me how much I actually enjoyed being a kid. I think we can all agree that bills and midterms are simply no match for supernatural figures and stuffed animals. Those were simpler times.

I, like many of you, have learned to cope with the absence of my childhood fantasies, and I have established a good life without them. I've come to accept that the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny aren't real people – but I do still miss Rosie. She was always so chipper…

THE VOICEBOX with Carlo Javier

Saw some of you guys at the Explore Capilano Info Night, damn you guys really liked those cookies huh?

It was one guy.

Cap gonna be giving away free antivirus subscription or something?

Yo, I wish.

Capilano University, sponsored by Fruit Loops.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

Okay it’s not thaaat bad.

Didn’t know the Capilano Blues soccer was gonna become Capilano FC Stop insulting the new logo, it actually looks kinda sick if you think of it as a shield.

Gotta say, it didn’t take long for me to actually start liking the logo.

I’m getting there.

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. 10

Let’s face it. At some point in our childhood, we all start noticing how no two mall Santas are alike. I’m not talking about obvious ways — like if the one at Guildford Mall was armed and the one at Pacific Centre wasn’t — but subtle ways. Longer beards, bushier eyebrows, deeper voices, that kind of thing. It’s sad, to a certain extent, because it means the jig is up on the whole Santa thing. We start seeing it less and less as a childhood fantasy and instead as just another day job for someone older, heavier and hairier than us.

As I near the end of my 20s, I find myself missing my youthful innocence more and more — in particular, those days when I truly believed Santa was real and could sit happily on his knee without examining the minute differences between his snowy locks and those of his compatriot over at Tsawassen Mills.

(Let’s also take a second to acknowledge how weird the whole knee thing is — literally the only time children are ever encouraged to approach an older stranger in the mall and wholeheartedly accept their promises of toys and candy… So, so weird.)

To my parents’ credit, or maybe to their detriment, they never bothered to tell me that any of these revered childhood icons – Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny – weren’t actually real. Instead, they let me figure it out the hard way, watching the mystique behind their existence get metaphorically slaughtered off like a character from the holiday version of Call of Duty. (You’ll have to ask our Week in Geek columnist Syd Danger if such a thing even exists… Probably not.)

For me, the first of these cruel revelations involved the Tooth Fairy.

At first, she was more than generous — but then she started slipping up pretty badly. I had a series of disappointing and financially devastating transactions with Denise (because that’s probably her name, right?) that thrust me, at the age of nine, toward the arms of maturity. Not once, but on three separate occasions, I awoke, eyes glowing with anticipation, hands batting drowsily at the underside of my pillow, only to be fairy disappointed by the lack of coinage that I found. But despite those repeated instances of letdown, I refused to believe that she had forgotten me. Instead, I began to assure myself that the Tooth Fairy must be experiencing some financial difficulties. On the outside, I appeared unaffected by this prospect. However, on the inside, I can assure you that I was suffering from a “Great Depression” of my own. I became skeptical. I became jaded. I became the man I am today.

The following year was an especially traumatic one for me. Not only did it bring out the truth behind the Tooth Fairy once and for all (I found all of my old teeth rattling around the bottom of our bathroom drawer…) but it also led to reveal the true identities of the other two most cherished figures in any child’s life. Yes, that was the year that I caught my dad eating the snack I had carefully put out for Santa and witnessed my mom prancing barefoot

NEWS

CAPILANO LIBRARY STEPS UP TO HELP STUDENTS RELAX DURING EXAM PERIOD 12 Days of De-Stress to run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 Kevin Kapenda NEWS EDITOR

To help students enjoy productive breaks amidst their end-of-term studying, the Capilano University Library will be hosting 12 Days of De-Stress as a means to calm nerves during the final exam period. “In the past, we’ve done some [de-stress] events, but they’ve kind of been one-off things,” said Sabrina Wong, CapU’s new teaching and outreach librarian. “The key is that these activities are fun, short and kind of mindless, allowing students to take a break, then get back to whatever they were doing before.”

Originally, 12 Days of De-Stress was developed by the Library because of past initiatives, and Wong’s personal background in facilitating similar activities.

“I’m actually a new employee here. I started in August and my position, teaching and

outreach, was created so that the library could participate more in supporting our students, not just academically, but as people we can care for,” said Wong.

Wong and her colleagues decided on hosting de-stress week in the library because it is often one of the main places frequented by students during the end of term period. “As you know, the library is a very popular place for students to work,” she said. “We wanted to make sure students had some opportunities for de-stressing in the library.”

‘12 DAYS OF DE-STRESS’ The Library will kick off 12 Days of DeStress on Monday, Nov. 28 with Shrinky Dinks, a children’s activity that is well known to many students. “Shrinky Dinks are plasticized sheets that you cut out and shrink in the oven,” said Wong. “It’s kind of a short, easy craft that students can colour in and take away with them. You stick the sheets in a toaster oven and get a badge type thing students can wear.”

Shrinky Dinks will be followed by activities that relax through various approaches, including games, artistic expression and light, non-academic reading.

“We’re going to have things like mini basketball hoops, where students can shoot

playpen balls into,” said Wong. “We’re going to put out some colouring pages and comic books – old school Archie’s to read for a bit then get back to what you were doing.”

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the two weeks will be Monday, Dec. 5 when therapy dogs converge on the library to help students de-stress through play. “We’re also in contact to get some therapy dogs here because that’s a pretty popular thing during destress activities,” said Wong. “I think libraries everywhere are recognizing that their students care a lot about their studies and naturally there’s a lot of stress. We just want to provide support in the best [way] we can.”

The second week of 12 Days of De-Stress will then showcase poetry set up in honour of National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Dec. 6),

origami on Wednesday, snowflake making on Thursday and urns of hot chocolate on the Friday.

Although these are only the first de-stress activities of the year, Wong is excited to see how students will respond to the initiative, as it could be something the Library starts to do more regularly. “It’s certainly something we want to see more often,” said Wong. “Because this is my first semester here, I want to try out a couple projects first – then maybe we’ll look into doing midterm stress relief or even another event in April. We’ll just see what students like, then respond to that.”

For more information about ’12 Days of DeStress and its schedule, visit the library over the next two weeks or log onto their website capilanou.ca/library.

CAPILANO HR MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION TO HOST NETWORKING AND INFORMATION NIGHT ON DEC. 2 Students help prepare peers for post-degree options with Life After Graduation: What’s Next?

Rachel D’Sa CONTRIBUTOR

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 10

On Dec. 2, the Capilano Human Resources Management Association (HRMA) will be hosting Life After Graduation: What's Next?, an event targeted at business administration students of all years, to gain confidence and knowledge regarding their post-graduation options. The event, taking place in the CSU Library Lounge, will run from 6 to 9 pm.

Organizer and director of events for the CapU HRMA, Felix Cheung, encourages all students to attend the unique event as the tips to be picked up from industry representatives and guest speakers can be of use to all students seeking a job postgraduation.

“As the goal of most students’ education is to gain the skills to get a job, this event will give an inside scoop on what recruiters are looking for and what steps to take to get that job of your dreams,” said Cheung.

With the semester coming to an end, students all over the globe are racing to submit assignments, write exams and fulfill their program requirements. Though the rigours of exams are currently occupying the minds of these students, somewhere, in the back of their heads, the question of what to do after graduation persists.

“It has become a problem for students to find jobs after they graduate. Cap HRMA would like to give students the chance and firsthand experience with industry professionals who will share valuable information and their insight,” said Cheung.

Top human resources professionals from the Lower Mainland are scheduled

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to attend and connect with students and faculty, Many of them will give speeches meant to assist future grads apply the textbook lessons learned in post-secondary to ‘real world’ scenarios pertaining to the HR profession, along with all other fields.

A representative from Capilano Career Services, Eileen Wang, will be speaking about services found at CapU to aid in students landing a job post-graduation, with a strategic plan for students to follow, leading to a job.

“HRMA has had similar events in the past. However, this event allows for a wide variety of attendees, as it is tailored to helping any future Capilano grad land a job after finishing their schooling,” said Cheung.

The $10 tickets which include a drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) and hors d'oeuvres, can be purchased directly from Capilano HRMA members. The event not only gives students the opportunity to mingle with fellow classmates in a fun and social environment, but also provides firsthand experience with industry professionals who will share their insight into career fields relevant to their studies.

The low-pressure setting will also allow for students to become acquainted with these professionals one-on-one, to get the most out of their networking experience.

“As the job market becomes more and more saturated, it has become increasingly difficult for graduates to find jobs, let alone a job they love,” said Cheung. “This workshop helps them understand what they need to do to land that job. On top of which, it will teach them networking skills and other useful skills they can take on with them for the rest of their lives.”

@CAPILANOCOURIER

CSU HOSTS SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING TO REFORM GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE Bylaw to create new VP position and drop two liaison seats passed by members Kevin Kapenda NEWS EDITOR

On Tuesday Nov. 22, the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) held a Special General Meeting in which a bylaw to amend its board structure, among other business, was put forth to members. Any amendments to the CSU’s bylaws require

direct approval from members through a general meeting or referenda.

The main item on the SGM’s agenda was a move to reform its governance structure by creating a new executive position, vice president of equity and sustainability, and decommissioning the respective liaison positions for environmental justice and social justice. Owen Sigurdsson and Divya Nanray currently serve as the environmental justice and social justice liaison on the CSU Board.

This amendment was initially developed by VP of university relations, Jullian Kolstee, who recommended it to the policy committee in August. Three months later, the policy committee, which is chaired by VP internal Amina ElMatari, has finally decided to pursue the file and put it to students for approval.

Among the other proposed changes to the CSU’s bylaws include the names and scope of some of the VP positions. The

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/CAPILANOCOURIER

new names proposed in the amendments included renaming the current executive positions as such: VP external, VP academic, VP finance and services, VP student life and VP of equity and sustainability. The most notable changes of the four would see VP university relations become VP academic, and VP internal become VP finance and services.

Perhaps one of the most contested amendments proposed during the SGM was a move to reduce the amount of faculty representatives on the board from two to one. Arts and Sciences Faculty Representative Ashley Kenney opposed the change, moving to amend it by striking it down all together. Queer Liaison Clarice Scop concurred, arguing that reducing the number of faculty reps could put the CSU’s various committees under stress to find members to sit on them. Other directors, including Women’s Liaison Emily Solomon and CSU

CAPILANO UNIVERSITY TAKES FLIGHT WITH A NEW BRAND

President Sacha Fabry cited financial constraints due to declining enrolment and recurring board vacancies as the main reason for endorsing the reduction.

In the end, a compromise was struck between CSU directors and students that would see all of the larger faculties, namely Business and Professional Studies, Arts and Sciences, Community and Global Studies and Fine and Applied Arts, retain two student representatives.

CapU’s smallest faculty and the one in which the CSU has had the most trouble finding directors for, with both of its representative positions currently vacant, will now only have one contestable seat come future elections.

All of the changes in these bylaws would take effect after the CSU’s spring 2017 elections, where seats will be contested as per their new governance structure.

— ANDY RICE PHOTO

Eagle-inspired logo ruffles feathers in the best possible way Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

us shape and transform the symbol into meaning,” he said during a speech at the reveal. “I understand you have both studied at Cap, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one day you came back to teach here.”

Dangerfield explained that it would take approximately nine months to fully implement the brand across all platforms, including the university’s website, signage and documentation. “We are aiming for September 2017,” he said, which would see the project completed before the University’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2018.

“When all this began, we didn’t really know how far or how deep we were going to go,” he added, “But there was an overwhelming desire that came through the stakeholder engagement process to more boldly assert ourselves as a university.”

To some, however, that boldness may have backfired. In the hours immediately following the reveal, social media was abuzz with a flurry of opinions and criticisms comparing CapU’s new logo to Toucan Sam, Windows 98, NBC,

MLS Soccer and a technicolour guitar pick.

“Our brand came from careful study and research, input, observations and conversations — some very memorable conversations — across the University,” said Dangerfield. “And then there was the thinking, the creation, and many attempts left on the cutting room floor, before we got it right.

And all the while we were doing that, we were building community.”

“After almost 50 years, you’d think we’d know ourselves, and we do,” remarked Chanin.

“We discovered that we are rich in diversity and united by some powerful values.”

And really, at the end of the day, what could be more metaphorical of a university than a logo that encourages dialogue and discussion between people of contrasting opinions?

To learn more about CapU’s new brand and the story behind it, visit https://www.capilanou.ca/ BrandStory. The campus bookstore is currently liquidating all merchandise featuring the old logo at 50 per cent off.

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the brand together.

“I think that it’s a good, bold new vision for the future,” said Jullian Kolstee, vice president of university relations and services for the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU). “I really appreciated how they incorporated feedback that we gave them in the summer when they were going through the review process of some of the final drafts of it.”

Kolstee explained how initially he and the school’s First Nations advisors took issue with some of the elements that did not adequately include First Nations imagery or artists.

However, “that feedback was delivered, it was received,” he said. “That led to further consultation with First Nations elders and First Nations artists are now contributing to the logo that we see, that they went with.”

Ion collaborated with Squamish/Nisga’a artist Marissa Nahanee and Tsleil-Waututh artist Jordan Gallie to come up with the final result – a contribution that was noted

by CapU president Paul Dangerfield. “Your insights and creative contribution helped

THE CAPILANO COURIER

As several hundred students, faculty and guest dignitaries crowded into the Lower Cafeteria on Nov. 24 for their first glimpse at Capilano University’s new logo, the anticipation was palpable.

After all, the project had been nearly a year in the making, carefully crafted through months of consultation between the campus community, local First Nations and Ion Brand Design. Many who were involved behind the scenes have alluded to the myriad of revisions, changes and tweaks that were made, right up until its approval by the Board of Governors on Nov. 8 — but when Irine Chanin, CapU’s executive director of advancement, stepped up to the microphone just after noon, it was clear the University had reached common ground regarding its new identity.

“It’s been quite the expedition,” she remarked from the podium, “Full of twists, turns and revelations as we delved into who we are, and how we are all connected through our CapU experience. Along the way, we forged new relationships and a new understanding of one another. I believe we found a way to honour our past, respect our present and declare our ambitions for the future.”

CapU’s new logo features a swath of primary colours, representing the ocean, forest and mountain setting in which the University’s campuses are located. Its shape eschews the traditional crest used by many post-secondary institutions around the world, opting instead to feather the edges as a nod to the mighty eagle that is so prominent in Coast Salish art and culture. Three golden hues make up the logo’s top-right corner, where two white lines emerge downward. They represent to pathways of peaceful coexistence — not the slashing of programs in CapU’s recent past, as one student muttered at the reveal — suggesting that the two will eventually intersect one day. Underneath the symbol, a modern sans-serif typeface ties

CAMPUS LIFE

CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU OREC YOURSELF Outdoor Recreation: a different way to learn Jacob Muir CONTRIBUTOR

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a backcountry ski guide or how to become one? In Capilano University’s Outdoor Recreation (OREC) program, students are well on their way. This handson program prepares students for a career in adventure tourism with experiential learning, practical management skills and wilderness exploration.

OREC’s students come from a wide array of backgrounds. Fraser Christian is a first year student who decided to join the program after two years of uninspiring criminology at SFU and a Westfalia road trip across Canada. “During the road trip I was doing a lot of things like camping and hiking and I realized that these are the things I really love,” he said. “I feel really comfortable when I’m outside and away from the city, it just really lets me slow everything down and look at everything step by step. So I thought ‘what would be the best way for me to have a career in this industry?’” Christian remembered that a family member had gone through the Wilderness Leadership program (OREC’s predecessor) and immediately applied.

Nearly a semester in, Christian is thoroughly enjoying the program. In addition to setting students up with outdoor skills, OREC students learn to treat outdoor recreation as an industry and as a business.

Students learn this from a multiplicity of opportunities involving both experiential learning and traditional classes. Christian bragged that OREC students love Mondays, because they go on extended field trips. During class trips, students are able to develop both their skills in nature,

PSYCHOANALYSIS OF THE PSYCH TEAM The inner workings of CapU’s Psychology Club

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 10

Christine Beyleveldt CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

Psychology is one of the most sought after electives in any undergraduate student’s vocation. The opportunity to analyze one’s own mind and self-diagnose is appealing, because after all, post-secondary years are all about personal growth and exploration.

Faculty member Dr. Leonard George and then-student Catherine Church founded Capilano University’s own Psychology Club 11 years ago. Today, it has a consistent membership and strong social media presence.

Co-chair Tania Nunez stressed the importance of psychology in day-to-day activities in students’ lives. “What business major doesn't need to draw upon psychology to create an effective marketing plan? What

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but also cover class curriculum in a hands on approach. “Often I won’t really know that I’ve learned something until I’m asked about it later, then I’ll just know it and then I find it sticks a lot better,” he remarked. To date, the class has had the opportunity to learn by hiking to the Seymour watershed and Lighthouse Park and canoeing down the Fraser River.

There is not one instructor that lectures in our program,” said OREC convenor Blake Roswell.

“Normally in classes, topics are introduced, then a real world, real life experience is provided. This is not always outside experiential learning, but it is always handson, practical and student driven.”

Going forward, Christian hopes to become a guide. “I’m a skier myself,” he said. “I’ve also gotten into rock climbing and whitewater rafting… The possibilities are endless and

it’s an environment I would like to be in.”

However, he has hit a snag in achieving his goals. To become a backcountry ski guide, rock guide or alpine guide requires more certificates, which aren’t offered through the OREC program. Christian wants to become a ski guide, which has a great number of hurdles that aren’t surpassed

by OREC. CapU’s program offers a course that will give students AST1 certification in avalanche training, which itself is a pre-requisite for one of two other pre-requisites towards the assistant ski guide training. Christian also notes that other sports, such as mountain biking and sea kayaking are easier to get into coming out of OREC. OREC has grown into an incredibly successful program, and a large part of that, Rowsell notes, is due to CapU’s location.

“The Sea to Sky Corridor is the mecca for Outdoor Recreation,” he said. “From the mountain biking on the North Shore, to the climbing in Squamish, to the skiing in Whistler and Pemberton, with lots of opportunities for paddling in between, for students that love to play outside there is no better place to be located.”

CapU’s Outdoor Recreation program offers a unique opportunity to students looking to enter the adventure tourism industry, but it certainly isn’t a directto-job program. Regardless, students who are looking for a more hands-on and wilderness-based education may find OREC to be the perfect fit for their active and adventurous lifestyles.

athlete doesn't mentally prepare for [a] game or practice to enhance their performance?

Can a Music Therapy student achieve a full grasp of their field without psychology?” she asked. The club members aim to enhance their knowledge of psychology outside of the classroom and build networks to apply that knowledge. For instance, by partnering with the Writing Centre, the group has been able to host workshops in APA formatting, a reference style employed by many of the school’s faculties.

“It's important to laugh out loud and to socialize,” said Nunez. “So far, we've hosted a Happy and Loud Social in September and a cozy movie afternoon in the CSU Library Lounge in November.” Balance is important to one’s wellbeing, which is why the club arranges for several activities each semester.

The Psychology Club hosts a variety of talks on all psychology-related subject matter. In September, the Psychology Club hosted workshops in improving concentration and outsmarting test anxiety. Speaker Series presentations with faculty members and other esteemed guests have delved into Forensic and Anomalistic Psychology with

Sarah Farstad from the University of Calgary and CapU’s Leonard George respectively. As well, North Vancouver real estate agent Mel Montgomery has spoken about the trials of living with ADHD. Dr. Alberta Girardi from CapU’s Psychology department will speak about human-animal interaction on Nov. 29 in BR 205 from 11:30 am to 1 pm.

“It's tough to capture the minds and hearts of students,” Nunez admitted. “We like our familiar spaces, places and faces, and we're stressed about the amount of work that we all need to produce within short bursts of time.”

The Speaker Series presentations generally attract larger audiences, filling classrooms each time a guest speaker presents. It’s not just psychology majors who are involved either. The club is open to students of all disciplines, and in three months Nunez and co-chair Erica Steward are happy with the crowd their club has attracted.

Transfer Talks are another popular medium, given by former CapU students who have remained in touch beyond graduation.

Nunez considers the club’s connections to past students to be a valuable and informative resource for current students, so they try to remain in touch long after

parting ways. This past semester, alumni Evan Eschelmuller, who now studies psychology at UBC, and Alison D’Sa and Tania Bakas, who are enrolled at SFU, returned to CapU to speak about the transfer process between schools.

In the spring semester, Erica Steward will be taking over operations of the Psychology Club from Nunez. She aspires to add new core members to the club, and to continue hosting talks and workshops, increasing student awareness of the club and seeing the close-knit community have an active presence on campus.

Nunez expects the club to continue promoting wellness-related activities on campus in the spring semester. “Psychologists believe that a healthy amount of stress is necessary,” she said, “but anything beyond that is damaging to the mind and body.” The Psychology Club has been active in its promotion of mindfulness and meditation workshops throughout the fall semester and De-Stress week, which will avail a variety of soothing activities to students from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2.

The OREC program will be holding an information session in LB 321 on Dec. 1 at 7 pm.

More information about the Psychology Club and their events can be found at https://www. facebook.com/groups/CapUpsychclub/.

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PHOTOS: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND STUDY ABROAD FAIR CapU’s International Experience and Study Abroad Fair was held in the Birch cafeteria on Nov. 15 as part of International Education Week that ran from Nov. 14 to 18. Students who had previously spent time abroad for their university education were eager to rave about their experiences in China and Vietnam, Australia and Iran to a crowd of curious students who attended.

— CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT PHOTOS

THE CAPILANO COURIER VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 10

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SPORTS

IN SALUTE TO THE CAPTAIN Devan Woolley finishes storied career with Blues Soccer Carlo Javier MANAGING EDITOR

Capilano University and Blues soccer almost didn’t happen for Devan Woolley.

This season, the business administration student and respected captain saw his fiveyear run with the Blues come to an end with a second straight provincial gold medal and a national bronze medal. Looking back at his storied career, Woolley admits that his fascination for California, particularly Santa Barbara, almost changed the course of his post-secondary life. “I love Santa Barbara and I know they’ve got a school down there with a great soccer team,” he said. Ultimately, doubts about going away kept him in North Vancouver, and led him to becoming one of CapU’s standout students. “I didn’t think I was ready to leave home. I was nervous, I wasn’t sure if I would make the team and all that, so I kept it safe, came to Cap and ended up loving it,” he added.

Like most of the Blues studentathletes, Woolley has a lengthy history with his respective sport. He started playing soccer at five years old, along with the neighbourhood kids he wound up growing up with. In his adolescent years, his interest in other sports such as hockey, badminton and basketball kept him playing gold-level soccer, despite qualifying, year in and year out, for metro league teams. Ultimately, his choice was left between soccer and hockey, and his relative success in youth soccer drove him to attending CapU, knowing full well of its historic soccer program.

Woolley has been one of the most respected and recognizable players on the team over the past two years, but this wasn’t always apparent in his early days.

In fact, he didn’t even know if he was going to make the cut. “I was super nervous and

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BEYOND A TWISTED ANKLE Blues athletic therapist Jamie Johnson treats mental injuries, too Carlo Javier MANAGING EDITOR

Despite working in a field that deals primarily with physical injuries and rehabilitation, Jamie Johnson’s biggest challenges are entirely mental. “It’s really hard for people to realize that they’re injured,” she said. “In lots of people’s heads, it’s always just one or two days, but that’s not usually the case. Not only do I help them through the actual injury, but mental support as well to help them realize that it’s okay to be injured.”

Since January 2016, Johnson has been the official athletic therapist for all six sports teams under Capilano University’s

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I really didn’t know the coaches very well,” he said. “I just really couldn’t get a reading, whether I was on the team, or on the brink.

Paul [Dailly] told me I was on the bubble and he needed to see more from me.”

Despite the uncertainty that surrounded the start of his career, it was either in the fourth or fifth game of his rookie year when Woolley finally saw of the greatest votes of confidence he’s had over the past five years – a moment that he deems to be his favourite. It was his first ever game as a starter and Dailly slotted him as a striker, a position that is almost completely foreign for the defensiveminded centre-back. “Paul started me as striker, which was totally new for me but he said that I had earned it with my hard work in practice,” he recalled. “I still remember I couldn't get the grin off my face all the way down to the Cap field from the locker room for warm up.”

Although Woolley has been instrumental in reclaiming the championship days that had eluded the Blues during his first three years, his greater impact on the team and the entire Athletics Department might not be dictated by his play on the pitch, but by the way he carried himself outside of it.

Woolley has been a routine recipient of the prestigious Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Scholar Award, an honour reserved for studentathletes who also accomplish outstanding achievements in academics. Moreover, Woolley’s contribution to the culture that envelops the men’s soccer team, and the program, is undeniable. “Devan has been the heart and soul of this team since I started playing for Cap,” said third year goalkeeper Hudson Nelles. “It can’t be put into words on how much Devan has done for this team, myself and this program… truly the greatest captain, friend and brother I have ever had the pleasure of playing with.”

Humble as always, Woolley concedes that he wishes he could have done more for the Blues. “I wish I could have had more of an impact on the athletics program as far as school support and getting people out to games, whether that be through promoting or working with the athletic department or whatever.”

Collegiate athletics isn’t the only chapter that will be ending for Woolley.

Although he will still be competing in the West Vancouver Men’s Soccer League, he doesn’t see himself striving for a higher level of athletic play. “I think I’m content with where I’m at right now,” he said. “I’m happy, university I think has probably

been my top of my game, premier is still a super high level, but I’m not going to strive for anything higher.”

The “athlete” part of Woolley’s life as a student-athlete may be coming to an end, but everything else will go on. For now, he’s focused on finishing his studies and putting his eventual business degree to work.

Blues varsity program. But before she wound up in collegiate athletics, Johnson had already dabbled in the professional and the national level of sports. Not only has she worked with Team Canada’s Rugby Sevens team, she has also been a part of the athletic therapy unit of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Canada’s national soccer team.

Although equipped with an impressive resume, Johnson was looking for something different. She wanted to further widen her portfolio and the chance to work with a university program that featured a variety of sports became all too appealing. For Johnson, becoming a Blue was “a natural transition.”

One of the exciting new elements that collegiate athletics have given Johnson is the chance to work with both court and field sports. She particularly cites the opportunity to work with three different principles in soccer, basketball and volleyball as arguably her favourite aspect of her work.

Working with the Blues has also

challenged her abilities in terms of adapting to injuries based on specific actions and environments. “Court sports and field sports are very different in the way you treat them and the injuries are very different,” she said. “Court sports you get a lot more overuse and with field sports you get a lot more acute injuries.”

Although helping athletes maintain their peak-health-levels is an essential aspect of her responsibility, Johnson is always prepared to act when the unfortunate injury does occur. “The first big thing is you should find out what’s going on,” she explained.

“There are different assessments but it gets easier once you know what’s going on.”

With nearly a year of experience working with the Blues, Johnson adds testament to a common theme that’s often mentioned by student-athletes and department staff alike: community.

She still vividly remembers the welcoming atmosphere that she experienced on her first day with the Blues.

Furthermore, Johnson is thankful of the initiatives that the Athletics Department

has done since her arrival. One of which is the renovation of a therapy room situated in the back of the gym. The new look space includes two physiotherapy treatment tables, as well as every piece of equipment that Johnson might need for her job.

“The Athletics Department has done a phenomenal job in changing the way we look at sports,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t thank the Department enough for the support and getting me what I need to make sure the athletes are healthy and injury-free.”

Early on, Johnson understood that even though the student-athletes were very much fond of her, there was still a barrier of trust that to be broken. For her to perform her tasks, it was integral that the athletes were open and informative regarding any injuries or discomforts they might have been dealing with. “I think that’s a big part of my job – having athletes trust who I am,” she said. After nearly a year with the Blues, Johnson attests that she can no longer pass through the Sportsplex halls without seven or eight athletes updating her about their physical statuses.

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BLUES REMAIN STEADFAST AMIDST UP AND DOWN START Men’s Volleyball Team looks to gain some ground in ultra-competitive conference Carlo Javier MANAGING EDITOR

Flashes of brilliance and struggles with consistencies have the Capilano Blues Men’s Volleyball Team entrenched in the middle of the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) conference with a 4-5 record.

After starting the season with three straight defeats, the Blues have been able to rally their way to around the .500 mark with spurts of exceptional defence and high-powered attack. Their comeback victory against the top-ranked Vancouver Island University Mariners on Nov. 18 captured the team’s potential to be a twoway powerhouse and provided an early highlight to the young season.

“I think a huge factor that contributed to the comeback was the constant pressure we applied through out the last two sets,

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causing VIU to play outside their comfort zone,” said setter Justin Yee. The win came on the heels of a furious comeback, where the Blues found themselves clawing their way back after falling in the game’s first two sets. The win also marked the first and only loss that the Mariners have suffered this season. “Passing well and converting digs into kills allowed us to go on two or three-point stretches, gaining us the lead and, in the end, the win,” Yee added.

The young season has also revealed some standout players in the Blues’ roster. Although the team is bereft of veterans — co-captain John De La Cruz stands as the only third year player on the unit — their host of new players have already made their presence felt on the upstart roster. Yee particularly cited two rookie left side hitters in Kevin Chiu and Cameron Fay for their emergence in recent games after a slow start to the season. Yee himself has been tremendous on the court, tallying up 105 kills in 39 sets played — good for third in the PACWEST. As the winter break rapidly approaches, the Blues are sitting right in the middle of a tight PACWEST conference. Only four out of the eight teams will qualify for the provincial tourneys this coming February, and the Blues are looking to gain some momentum to get out of the middle of the pack. “Something that will definitely give

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us an edge over other teams with identical records is our attention to the smaller, less focused aspects of the game,” said Yee. The Blues have done well in maintaining their discipline and composure on the defensive

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM STAYS ON COURSE DESPITE UNEVEN START Veteran-loaded program working to find consistency Kevin Kapenda NEWS EDITOR

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from her group. “We’ve looked at the game over the weekend. We know what we did wrong and we’re fixing things this week in practice, which is good, she said. “We’re going down the right track.”

For Hughes, the rigorous schedule is just another part of the game and something the Blues must prepare for regardless. “It’s a good thing for two reasons. If you win the first game on the Friday, then you have that momentum and that will to want to win again,” said Hughes. “Even if you lose that Friday, you still get that fight back because you don’t want to lose again.”

Unlike soccer or basketball, the PACWEST volleyball season begins in early October around Thanksgiving, and runs all the way through November, before reconvening in January and concluding in early February. This means that the first half of the Blues’ volleyball season usually coincides with midterms, term papers and final exams, a rigorous program Hughes has learned to manage after five years at Capilano University. “It’s good that there’s older girls on the team with the younger girls because we’ve been through it now for several years,” said Hughes. “We kind of get what to do and can help the rookies out. But it can certainly add some stress.”

Though Hughes and her fellow veterans entered the season with a mindset to lead, the response she has seen from her younger teammates has been beyond encouraging. “All the first years, all the rookies – they’ve impressed me so much,” she said. “From the first day we met them and saw them play, to right now, they’ve improved and have been working their butts off every single day.”

The Blues will break for the holidays and reconvene in Jan. 6 and 7 with a home-and-away series against the CBC Bearcats.

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Unlike their male counterparts, the Capilano Blues Women’s Volleyball Team is probably one of the university’s most experienced programs – something team captain Sarah Hughes believes is bound to work in their favour. “It’s awesome that we have four fifth years, and many third years this season,” she said. “It’s nice to have that experience, because we have a lot of first years – they can see how the older players and veterans kind of work, and get the hang of things.”

As of Friday Nov. 24, the Blues were 5-4, good for third in the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST).

Hughes primarily attributes her team’s up and down play to growing pains and a lack of focus, rather than any specific defense or offense-related deficiency. “This is the first half of the season and I guess anything can really happen,” she said. “I guess in the weekends that we lost, we might not have just been prepared enough. Maybe it’s the fact that we came off a win against CBC [Columbia Bible College] and got too hyped up about playing VIU [Vancouver Island University].”

While the Blues have tapered off after their four-game winning streak which saw them go from 1-2 to 5-2 in two weekends, Hughes remains unfazed and pleased with what she’s seen so far

end, positioning, as well as precise passing, and those little details could just be the key to a big run in the new year. “All the little things will improve our game as a whole,” Yee said.

FEATURES

Justin Scott ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

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For most people, the end of November and the month of December can be the most stressful time of the year. Whether it’s a frantic and abrupt conclusion of a school semester, having a timely and forgotten work project resurge in priority, or finding the perfect Christmas gift for that special someone, there is no denying this time of year can bring about a clusterfuck of anxiety-inducing tasks.

For many, losing themselves in a good movie or binge-watching a new series is the perfect way to relax. In the past this may have meant deciding on a movie to see in theatres or renting a season of a series at the library, but these traditions are no more.

Since its birth as a sort of online Blockbuster substitute, Netflix has flipped the film and TV industry on its head, from both production and consumption standpoints.

“They’re a major disruptor,” said Capilano University business professor, Mary Charleson. “They were just establishing a channel, because they knew that the channel was eventually going to be

broadband.” So while Netflix may have started as an online replacement of the local Blockbuster, they always intended to bust the traditional business model of entertainment consumption.

Over the past five years, Netflix has become one of society’s most influential companies. Gone are the days of taking a date to see the latest horror movie to hit theatres in hopes of a frightening moment leading to a comfort-seeking hand hold, or maybe even a protective arm around the shoulder. Welcome to the ‘Netflix and Chill’ era, where a companion for a night of binge watching and ‘chilling’ is only a swipe away.

This shift in customs is not a surprising one. For many of Netflix’s 86 million subscribers, the decision to subscribe is a simple numbers game. For less than $10 a month, a subscriber in the USA has access to over 8,000 titles, many of which are full TV series and newly released films.

In addition to this, “Netflix has become a genuine content creator,” according to Charleson. They are expected to have 126 in-house productions available by the year’s end, many of which have already been received with massive amounts of

acclaim. “Netflix has changed the playing field by being a lot looser and faster to green light things,” added CapU Motion Picture Arts professor John Penhall.

In regards to the creation of their content, it’s about the numbers for Netflix as well. While we tend to imagine that our favourite movies and shows are created by a group of witty and talented writers locked in a room pumping their strange minds out onto paper, Netflix has taken a different route in terms of creative inspiration. Their first in-house production that saw massive success was House of Cards. The inspiration behind this series, however, was not a human’s idea — an algorithm created it.

Netflix’s advanced analytics system determined a number of things. Based on the viewing history of its American subscribers, Netflix was able to determine that a political drama would see great success in the majority of their subscriber demographics. The algorithm also determined that the majority of subscribers who enjoyed the original, British House of Cards loved Kevin Spacey — leading to the creation of everyone’s favourite fictional politician, Frank Underwood.

It’s “discouraging, terrible and disheartening,” reflected Penhall when discussing the use of math to create shows, “but I don’t think it’s always that way.” This is a sentiment shared

by Charleson. “It really kind of cuts at the heart of the artist,” she said. “Do you create, or do you scientifically analyze your audience for what they want?”

Of course, Netflix is not the only online streaming service, nor is it the only one that produces its own content.

Amazon Prime also releases in-house productions. However, no other service has the ubiquity with online streaming that Netflix does. Once a brand achieves this cognitive association with their product, it is unlikely that any of their competitors will be able to surpass them in recognition or popularity. “It’s really hard,” said Charleson. “A classic example is Apple when they brought in the iPad.” Charleson recalled the campaign Apple’s competitors like Samsung, Microsoft, Dell and other tech producers embarked on to have the devices labeled as tablets, as to avoid the iPad becoming ubiquitous with the products they would soon be releasing.

— MARIA CENTOLA

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Due to its early adoption of online streaming, Netflix has also become embedded in the devices we use. Most TVs and gaming systems now come with a Netflix app installed, and downloading the app on portable devices couldn’t be easier. Complementing the prevalence of Netflix’s platform is its interface. Netflix has created an aesthetically appealing and ultra-easy interface that allows its users to think as little as possible and binge-watch until their eyes are watery and burning. Their previously mentioned algorithms add to this as they recommend titles to you that have been scientifically selected as ones that you will enjoy. In addition to this, there is no advertising on Netflix — at least obvious advertising, that is.

It seems as though those working at Netflix understand the pain of having a 30-second add pop up, or having a product you just Googled appear on every web page you visit for the next week.

So rather than traditional advertising, Netflix has opted to splatter product placement all over their in-house productions. “Product placement as a form of marketing is a bit subversive,”

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said Charleson. For example, rather than having an ad for Hochkalter beer before each episode of Daredevil, Netflix opted to make Matt Murdock a Hochkalter drinker, eliminating the separation of advertising and entertainment altogether. “I would be willing to bet that if you took 10 people off the street, a good half of them, or more, would be aware that stuff’s in there, but they wouldn’t be aware that somebody’s actually paying for it,” said Charleson.

It’s not all positive for Netflix, however.

A recent increase in their monthly fee led to a loss of subscribers and a drop in stock prices. “The thing about the television side of the film industry,” said Penhall, “is since we’ve gone to Netflix, the last five years, I do not understand how it makes money. I do to some degree, but I don’t understand what the long term goal is.” While Netflix is currently the top dog in the world of online TV and film streaming, they have to keep growing to maintain this position, and many are questioning how much more they can.

Penhall, who has been involved in the film industry for over 30 years, brought up the practice of syndication.

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Traditionally, networks would produce and air shows, and if a show was successful enough it would get syndicated. Remember all the re-runs of Friends and The Simpsons you watched back in the day, when watching shows on TV was still a thing?

That’s what Penhall is talking about.

“Those kind of shows, before the Internet came along were just making money hand over fist,” he said.

Could a part of Netflix’s future, then, be a complete role switch with the networks they originally licensed content from, seeing TV networks license shows from Netflix? “I think so, yeah,” said Penhall. “At some point they’re going to want to make some extra money, and they’ll have all this stuff.” Charleson agreed, but doesn’t see it happening for a while, adding “there’s no reason it couldn’t happen.” At this stage, its value is its exclusivity.

While it appears that the business model for online streaming companies may be experiencing some uncertainty, there is no reason to worry – after all, Netflix got to where they are today by disrupting the previous model. It seems that platforms like Netflix and Amazon

Prime understand that being a creator of content as well as streaming others’ is the way of the future, and they are just figuring out the numbers of producing quality content, but maintaining a low monthly subscription fee.

It looks as if Netflix will remain the supreme subscription streaming service for now. “They’re doing some edgy stuff.

Not as edgy as HBO because HBO is known for adult content. Netflix is trying to be all things to all people,” Penhall said. Charleson believes that it is key to remember that “if it can be digitalized, it can be disrupted,” a factor that has been key to Netflix’s rise to power. They have disrupted how TV shows and films are made and distributed, and have a firm grasp on the streaming industry they pioneered and are ubiquitous with.

However, as Netflix has proved, it is hard to predict the future of an industry seeing such rapid growth and adaptation.

“Probably in about five years from now,” said Penhall, “we’ll be able to go, ‘ok, I totally get it. This led to this, which enabled Netflix to become who they were, which enabled somebody.’ But right now we’re in the middle of it.”

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FEATURES

MANAGING EDITOR

Carlo Javier

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Believe it or not, I met Santa Claus at a Blenz Coffee shop in Richmond. He looked exactly as the legends said. His beard was grey and majestic, extending past his collarbone. He had a relatively tall and imposing figure, but a mild limp that favoured his right knee impeded his gait. He took his coffee black and greeted me with a jolly reminder when I finally approached him: “It’s the big beard, right?” he said.

Santa Claus did not have his red suit on, there were no reindeers parked at the plaza on Ackroyd and No. 3 Road and he did not walk in the café with a booming, “ho-ho-ho.” He wore a simple pair of jeans, a grey long-sleeved shirt and a jacket.

Mr. Claus was on his day off, and he was simply going by Bill Marles. ~~~~~ It was nearly seven years ago when Marles first put on the red suit. He was in an acting class centred on typecasting when one student quickly placed him in the role that has since become his post-retirement calling. “Somebody looked at me and said, ‘you’re Santa Claus,’ he recalled. Sixtyone at the time, Marles had kept busy by browsing through Craigslist for odd jobs.

His first serious attempt at getting in the Santa Claus trade came after he found a mall-Santa position that paid $25 per hour. Although he did not get that gig, it did not take long before he gained some momentum in the industry. On Christmas Eve of 2009, he was visiting houses in Cloverdale, igniting the Christmas spirit in children and adults alike.

Marles, 67, now only works on a freelance basis. He left the mall-Santa business nearly four years ago, citing their restrictive schedules as his primary reason. It does not hurt that working corporate gigs and toast parties can often pay more. The freelance business does require more auxiliary duties for Marles.

He keeps an updated website, regularly communicates through social media, particularly Facebook, and keeps in touch with agencies that may come calling during the holiday season. “I mean, not

everybody is as promotion or advertisingoriented as I am so they prefer the security of the mall.”

Generally, Marles’ season begins around mid-November. He worked as a courier for most of his life and his extensive experience

travelling around the Lower Mainland has been a significant asset in his job.

Since his services are not always called for until the weeks leading up to Christmas, he often spends his “months-off” writing performance poetry and his memoir about his experiences as a youth on Sea Island. He enjoys travelling and openly admits to “wasting a lot of time on Facebook.”

Although he concedes that his work is very much of the learn-on-the-job variety, he does have extensive experience in education via the Santa Claus industry.

In 2009, he attended a “Santa School” in Calgary, Alberta where he had the opportunity to fine tune his improv skills.

The school also suggested that he utilize make-up for his preparation. “I have eyebrows but I’m so fair you can’t see them, so they told me to use some make-up to bring them up a little bit,” he said. Marles also learned from Ed Taylor, a professional Santa Claus actor based in Los Angeles, California. Taylor created the “Santa Claus Conservatory” and is recognized as one of the premier Santas-for-hire in the business.

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weight on his right leg because of arthritis in his knee. He also knows that no matter how well he portrays a character, he can’t always control the belief of children. He’s accepting, but bemoans the cynicism that tends to dominate society. “Kids are taught to be skeptical,” he said.

On at least one occasion, everything Marles was wary of materialized simultaneously. A major accident on the Arthur Laing Bridge had stymied his travels on the way to a pre-school in Point Grey. The crash was so debilitating that he waved off all fees for his appearance, but that was not even the worst part of Marles’ forgettable gig. The children were, as he bluntly put it, “horribly-behaved.”

“You’re not the real Santa, there’s no such thing as Santa,” he remembered them chanting. Like any performer, Marles was left with just a single option: shrug it off.

On some days, Marles’ worst enemy is his own humanity. “I don’t always live up to the character,” he admitted. Like any other person, Marles battles with emotions. There are days when he will consciously try to be merry and jolly, to be easy-going and generous. Despite working as the character that personifies the very meaning of words like “joyous” or “festive”, Marles can get frustrated with the simple nuances of life, too. What

~~~~~ Marles knows the things he can and can’t control. He knows to reserve as much time as possible before a scheduled appearance. He knows to prepare a stock of Christmas songs in the case he gets asked to sing. He knows to avoid too much

does he do on days when he has to put on the red suit in the face of his own human emotions? “Look in the mirror and smile and laugh,” he said.

Fortunately, there is one inevitable factor that almost always gets Marles

spirits up: the children. He describes kids, particularly those aged four or five, to be especially sweet and loving – a trait he never fails to respond to. He even cites the children he has met over the years to be a central part of some of the most profound experiences he has had on the job.

Selflessness and generosity are the very nucleus of the Christmas spirit.

There is never-ending chatter about the over-materialistic culture that has seemingly tarnished the true message of Christmas. As the foremost figure of giftgiving, Marles has seen firsthand how the consumerist demands have seeped their way into children as well. Kids often wish for Xboxes or iPads, Lego even, he revealed. Yet, the wishes of one girl, back in his days as a mall-Santa, resonate with him to this day, and for many days to come.

She was older than most of the children there, around eight, Marles guessed. He asked her the routine question that he asks every kid that finds their way to him: “What do you want for Christmas?” To his surprise, all the little girl asked for was for her mother to be home for Christmas, to be able to spend Christmas with her.

“It was a very non-material wish,” Marles recollected. “It just struck me, it was a very powerful moment.”

Marles has 36 gigs in the coming weeks leading up to Christmas. Over the seven years of work, he has established himself as one of Vancouver’s most sought after Santas. He does admit that he no longer has quite the energy he used to, and has been more deliberate with his selections — even turning down a chance to deliver an engagement ring due to scheduling conflicts. As a final question, I asked him how often he would get mistaken as Santa Claus by children in public.

Before he could even answer, a man to our left overheard our conversation and exclaimed, “You could be Santa Claus!”

The conversation took a bit of a historical tangent, lasting a full 10 minutes about the history of Santa Claus. There I saw Marles in his natural environment, answering inquisitive questions about Christmas, jolly and all.

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ARTS & CULTURE

HEADY DAYS Have bong-blowers in Vancouver reached their high-water mark?

Nick Sheffield CONTRIBUTOR

Bongs: they’ve become as synonymous with marijuana as red-tinged eyes and Rastafarians. While intimidating and confusing to some, the smooth, wellpercolated hit of a good bong has become one of the preferred means of toking for all but the most occasional of partakers.

First introduced to western markets in the late 1960s, the humble bong has gone from a few basic designs to a dizzying array of shapes, sizes and percolators (perks).

Since then, lax law enforcement and the best ganja hydroponics and nature can grow have made Vancouver a Mecca for bong enthusiasts, with both major companies and local artists cashing in on this city’s romance with the reefer.

With business booming and legalization around the corner, Mackenzie Dungate of Fourth Dimension Glass seemed like the perfect person to talk to about the place of so called “heady glass” (hand-crafted bongs and their accessories) within the wider bong market, and what the future holds for Vancouver’s cannabis artisans.

Heady glass occupies a unique niche in broader cannabis culture. In contrast to their mass produced, machine-blown cousins, hand-blown bongs combine form and function into eye-catching works of art, with no two pieces identical. According to Dungate, working on a piece-by-piece basis allows the glass blower to put “love, thought, and time into creating the perfect bong.”

Working by hand also allows the artist to fully express their creativity through the work, leading to dazzling colours and psychedelic patterns beyond the technical scope of any current machine. However, the equipment needed to blow glass is expensive and highly specialized, and the techniques required to produce a quality bong can take years to master. These factors combine to make the heady glass bong a unique and

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THE TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT OF SUSTAINABILITY Capilano continues to move towards a sustainable campus Hassan Merali CONTRIBUTOR

Adidas has taken sustainability to a whole new level with the latest model of their popular Ultra Boost sneaker. The athletic apparel titan recently teamed up with Parley for the Oceans, an organization dedicated to protecting the world’s largest and most fragile ecosystem.

Determined to cut down the amount of new plastic used in the production, distribution and consumption of goods, Parley collaborates with industry partners to take plastic pollution collected from the oceans and reuse it to manufacture new products.

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— DANTE MERCER

sought-after commodity, a status symbol of sorts proclaiming one’s love of the herb to all those lucky enough to toke it.

The rise of dabs, marijuana extracts high in THC content (ranging from 40 to 90 percent), has brought an entirely new dimension into the world of heady glass.

While the hand-crafted paraphernalia industry once centred around bongs, bowls, and pipes, dabbing has introduced skillets, carb caps, nails, and glass concentrate containers to the artist’s potential repertoire.

Dabbing also benefits from smaller, more compact bongs, often called oil rigs or rigs (although the functional difference between a bong and a rig is minimal).

While size can be a key factor in the smoothness of a normal bong toke, dabs aren’t necessarily smoother off of a large rig than a small one, allowing glass artists to expend less time and material without harming the performance of the end product. The high cost of concentrates also ensures that those purchasing a rig are often more willing to pay top dollar for a unique piece of artistic glass. In addition, relatively easy-to-make items such as skillets and carb caps have allowed newcomers to the art to finance themselves while they

perfect their techniques for big-ticket items like pipes and bongs.

For Vancouver’s glass artists, bongs have been a growing source of revenue for decades.

While police once targeted smoke shops and studios which produced paraphernalia, the laissez-faire attitude of the VPD and provincial law enforcement have allowed for an explosion in the number of bong shops since the 1990s, while the advent of the dispensary has driven the industry to new heights in recent years. Today, there are hundreds of shops throughout the Lower Mainland scrambling for hand-crafted bongs and accessories, and a veritable army of glass artists has sprung up to meet the demand.

While some older glass-blowers look down on artists who focus primarily on bongs and other paraphernalia, bong-blowing has become an increasingly accepted part of Vancouver’s artistic community, a process aided by the growing acceptance of cannabis in society at large. This has, in turn, led to a generation of up-and-coming artists, unconcerned by any stigma still attached to bong-blowing, saturating the market with heady glass. “It’s really hard to break into the market,” said Dungate. “There’s just so much

competition out there. It’s hard to make a name for yourself.”

For small-time glass-blowing operations like Fourth Dimension Glass, the coming legalization of marijuana offers a somewhat uncertain future. While Dungate believes that demand for bongs, both factory and heady, will continue to increase in the short term, he worries that the growing popularity of edibles and vaporizers will ultimately begin to undermine the popularity of the bong as a smoother alternative to joints and pipes.

He is also concerned that legalization will simply increase the number of artists currently selling to a finite market, driving down prices and putting many of the smaller studios — where truly heady glass is made — out of business. “It (legalization) will either be really good or really bad for the industry, depending on what people do with it,” he said, adding that overall, he’s hopeful for the future.

Ultimately, while changing times may impact the nature of Vancouver’s handcrafted glass industry, the heady glass piece will always occupy a special place in broader cannabis culture, satiating the creative juices stimulated by a nice, milky bong hit.

The Adidas x Parley for the Oceans Ultra Boost Uncaged is made of 95 per cent Parley Ocean Plastic and five per cent of other recycled materials. Although the original production order was for just 50 pairs, Adidas announced that they’re expanding that to a colossal 1 million pairs by 2017 – making it the world’s first massproduced sneaker to be made from entirely recycled materials.

Sustainability-driven initiatives also exist on the smaller scale. As everyone witnessed by the celebratory Sustainability Week in October, Capilano University has been making waves of its own when it comes to sustainability projects. Whether it’s directly reducing landfill waste through our Zero Waste Stations or educating the pubic via the EarthWorks Speaker Series, there are a plethora of initiatives going on around here that are making the Capilano community more sustainable.

Bill Demopoulos, head of CapU’s sustainability department, said their goal is to offer students opportunities to do “something both operationally and educationally effective that will lead

to student success.” Perhaps the most innovative initiative is the CapUWorks program, which offers hands-on experience to a few hard-working students and, as Demopoulos said, “trains [future] leaders by allowing them to lead sustainable initiatives.”

There are two to five students at any given time working for the department.

Demopoulos believes that preparing the next generation of leaders in sustainable development with hands on experience and mentoring from past participants and faculty is of the utmost importance.

The Sustainability Department is working on multiple projects to further improve the campus’ waste management.

One of their initiatives is centred on reusing wood and old furniture. “[Sustainability Dept.] employ carpenters who refurbish furniture. Not just polishing it, but they recut and repurpose it,” said Demopoulos.

They have also been working with Chartwells to make the campus cafeteria more sustainable. “They started using reusable packaging,” Demopoulos said.

Unfortunately, they have run out of these

packages and have yet to re-order them.

In addition, PatchWorks student Mara Mennicken is keeping the community garden at CapU going strong and EarthWorks student Tessa Janzen is gearing up for events lined up for next term like Mobilizing Resources and the Waste Audit. Janzen is also organizing the University’s ninth annual Waste Audit for early 2017. The Waste Audit engages students from all faculties in going through a day’s worth of CapU’s waste to remove what could have been recycled from waste and then sort the recyclable material into the appropriate recycling stream. The Waste Audit has been so successful, Janzen said, that “community members are coming to us to learn how to conduct their own waste audits.”

Whether it’s actions taken by a small university or changes to the production model of a multinational corporation, from global to local, the actions taken by organizations today are trending towards a more sustainable future. For Demopoulos, the most important thing to remember is that “the most sustainable reuse of material is the elimination of disposable material.”

@CAPILANOCOURIER

CHRISTMAS IN VANCOUVER The best Christmas activities to take in over your December break Kelly Batchelor CONTRIBUTOR

We can all agree that the Holidays are a very magical time of year, and the best way to enjoy this charmed season is by enjoying your city in all of its Christmas glory. Luckily for you, Vancouver is full of multiple activities that can be enjoyed, providing many with their Christmas fix. Here are four affordable and fun things to do on a date, with your visiting family or just for fun this holiday season!

VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS MARKET OPEN: Nov. 26 - Dec. 31, 2016 HOURS: 11 am - 9 pm The Christmas Market is a wonderful event to attend with the whole family or a group of your friends. Vancouver

MAKE ART NOT WAR A local group of students is fighting extremism in their own community Justin Scott ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

CAPILANO CANYON LIGHTS OPEN: Nov. 24, 2016 - Jan. 8, 2017 HOURS: 11 am - 9 pm Have you ever wanted to walk amongst glowing Christmas lights, while feeling as if you are walking on air? Well, now is your chance. The Capilano Suspension Bridge on Grouse Mountain offers a magical Christmas light-illuminated walk through the trees every year. In addition to a magical journey through the forest, you can see the world’s largest living Christmas tree, standing at 153 feet tall, or go on a Snowy Owl Prowl.

There are also lots of fun arts and crafts for everyone, including decorating your own gingerbread cookie and making

your own Christmas card. To top it all off, the Bridge has a troupe of carollers who welcome visitors to sing along.

VANDUSEN BOTANICAL GARDEN FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS OPEN: Dec. 1, 2016 - Jan. 2, 2017 HOURS: The garden’s hours are 4:30 pm to 9 pm; closed Dec. 25.

This is another affordable and fun event meant for the whole family. The VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights is a spectacular collection of glowing bulbs for all can enjoy. While the other events are well known around Vancouver, VanDusen’s sparkling festival is truly a local gem. The gardens offer a backdrop so beautiful you may not want to leave, and they double as a picturesque romantic backdrop. No matter who you are, the gardens will be a beautiful event for all to enjoy.

ENCHANT CHRISTMAS MAZE OPEN: Nov. 25 – Dec. 31, 2016 HOURS: 4 pm - 10 pm Enchant is Vancouver’s newest Christmas attraction, boasting a maze of nearly 500,000 LED Christmas lights. According

and working towards achieving them.

Art is H.E.R.E is being hosted by the HiVE in Vancouver’s Gastown, but this wont be the last time the two organizations work together. “The HiVE is a community hub for social impact,” said Taghipour, which is why VAE plans on working with them over the next year, furthering both of their work.

Although VAE started as a school project, it has become far more than that.

“A lot of us have poured our hearts and

to Enchant team member Alexandra Leo, Enchant is more than just a record-setting spectacle. It is also home to “a vibrant market place, food truck fair and other special surprises,” she said. Enchant is not only home to the worlds largest Christmas light maze, it is also a oneof-a-kind event in Vancouver. “What makes Enchant special is that it is the first of its kind in the world. The interest in the event has even exceeded all expectations,” said Leo. People from all over the world have been buying tens of thousands of tickets, from as far away as the UK. With all of this positive attention, it is easy to see how Enchant will impact Vancouver’s holiday season. Not only will Enchant be attracting an abundance of tourists, but it “will help put Vancouver on the map globally,” said Leo. Don’t let the VIP lounge fool you. “Everything about Enchant has been designed for the family,” she said. “The maze is really the highlight for children, while adults enjoy the full experience including a licensed food & beverage area,” Leo added. There is also a giant communal fire pit, and unique Christmas gift shopping opportunities. It’s safe to say that Enchant is going to be a shining light in Vancouver for years to come.

souls into this,” said Taghipour. “It’s very personal for some of us. We’re creating something here and we’re seeing positive results.”

Art is H.E.R.E: Reshaping Identities takes place at 6 pm on Thursday Dec. 1, at the HiVE in Gastown. To find out more about the event and Voices Against Extremism visit their website at Voicesagainstextremism.ca.

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is the sense of [community] inclusion,” said Taghipour. “When we started this campaign, we were a bit too focused on highlighting the differences in people. Then we realized that trying to seek commonality [in people] was very impactful.”

On Dec. 1, VAE will be hosting a gallery event entitled “Art is H.E.R.E: Reshaping Identities” at the HiVE in Gastown.

The acronym stands for Humanizing, Empowering, Respecting and Educating.

The event aims to actively bring several of Vancouver’s communities together and raise money to be donated to related organizations. Taghipour believes that Showcasing artwork created by local artists, community members, and youth in the community is an extremely important aspect of the event. The event aims to address the issues “mainly through the art itself, with some commentary,” she said.

Art is H.E.R.E aims to “highlight respect for diversity,” explained Taghipour.

The event will also be raising money to donate to organizations like the Muslim Food Bank and Mosaic BC by accepting donations and hopefully “by auctioning off some items,” she continued.

Although VAE isn’t even three months old, they are already actively involved in the communities they aim to help. Originally, VAE was focusing on engaging with Syrian and other refugee communities. “A lot of people said they had a fear of authority because of where they came from,” recalled Taghipour.

To address this issue, VAE plan on facilitated meetings “where we’ll have law enforcement members and newcomers who were able to engage in dialogue in a safe and respectful way,” Taghipour explained.

With the first two months of working together being unexpectedly productive for the group, they have concocted major developments for the future. VAE plans on working closely with law enforcement – the RCMP in particular – over the coming months, attempting to find mutual goals

/CAPILANOCOURIER

THE CAPILANO COURIER

Extremism is a term used with an unsettling prevalence today. With the issue being so prominent in society, what is being done to combat it?

Voices Against Extremism (VAE) is a student organization based out of Simon Fraser University that is addressing the issue of modern day extremism. VAE was formed for an advanced cybercrime course at SFU, explained team member Matty Taghipour. “The class was built around trying to create a campaign for a competition called P2P Challenging Extremism,” said the fourth-year SFU criminology student and former Capilano University student.

Over the past two months, VAE has evolved from an idea born in a classroom to an acknowledged social-betterment initiative. “We created this grassroots movement dedicated to creating a positive impact to try and tackle violent extremism,” said Taghipour. “Extremism isn’t just terrorism,” she added.

In addition to the horrible acts usually associated with extremism, VAE is focusing on forms of extremism affecting Vancouver and its surrounding communities. It’s not just about quelling issues in the multicultural communities in Vancouver, but also in some of Canada’s oldest communities. Violence against indigenous women is a major issue in BC, and Canada as a whole. “It’s not often seen as a form of extremism in the mainstream media, but it is,” said Taghipour.

Of course, this isn’t the only issue VAE is focusing on. “One of the biggest things we’ve heard through interviews with community members and law enforcement

boasts a German-influenced variation that allows people to walk around the welcoming booths and get their fill of Christmas spirit. This year the venue has changed from the Queen Elizabeth Plaza to Canada Place by the Olympic cauldron in downtown Vancouver.

Admission fees are affordable, at $8 for adults, with discounts offered during the weekdays, so you can save your money for the different foods, drinks and Christmas crafts inside!

@CAPILANOCOURIER

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 10

SHORTS: TV REVIEWS

WOMAN

24K MAGIC

Justice

Bruno Mars Justin Scott

Carlo Javier

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

After a five-year wait, Justice is back with their third album, Woman — and it was well worth the wait. As Justice fans have come to expect, the sound of Woman is very different from its predecessors.

Justice exploded onto the electronic music scene with a slew of well-received remix’ followed by 2007’s † (pronounced Cross). † influenced the electronic sound irreversibly. It was loud, aggressive and unlike anything people had heard before.

Because of this, many were surprised when 2011’s Audio, Video, Disco sounded more like a medieval rock album than the riot-inducing tracks found on † like “Stress” or “Phantom, Pt. 2”. Justice’s Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay had made a conscious effort to allow their music to evolve and not chase the sound they unleashed four years prior. In the same spirit, Woman is not just their latest release, it’s their latest sound.

The driving basslines are still there.

They have taken the minimalistic, analog sound they embraced on Audio, Video, Disco and paired it with the exhilarating energy † became so popular for.

While Woman may not be as raveready as † was, how could we expect it to be? With nearly 10 years separating the releases, the boys of Justice have grown up. Woman’s inspiration was just that, women. Where † made its listeners want to mosh and go as crazy as possible, Woman makes its listeners want to dance with the woman they love.

Tracks like “Safe and Sound” and “Fire” are pure disco bliss. They have choirs, and strings provided by the London Contemporary Orchestra, guiding the tracks to what seems like the Eden of funk. The album truly shines, however, on tracks like “Love S.O.S” and “Stop”, where the duo draw inspiration from the entrancing synthesizers perfected by their Parisian contemporaries (think M83).

“Close Call”, the album’s final track is the perfect closer. Its angelic vocal samples and rolling instrumentals offer the perfect finale for Justice’s latest work. Augé and Rosnay have yet again crafted an amazing album completely different from their others, yet unmistakably theirs.

Since his arrival to the very forefront of mainstream music, Bruno Mars has established himself as one of the preeminent stars in modern pop.

His latest release, 24K Magic, marks his first solo effort in four years, and although Mars has stayed relevant with gems like the Mark Ronson-produced “Uptown Funk”, his presence as a bona fide pop star has been lacking in lustre since “Treasure” faded from the playlists and airwaves.

With 24K Magic, Mars not only outshines the glimmer of his previous work, he also stakes his very strong claim as the preeminent male pop star of modern music.

The title track and album opener is an uber-infectious synth-funk track that channels 80s electronica and shades of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and The Neptunes. Second single “Versace on the Floor” is a slow-burning seductive ballad that sits comfortably between a young Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men. Album highlight “That’s What I Like” is a callback to Jodeci’s best work, amalgamating elements of new jack swing, r&b while lacing it with Mars’ emphatic crooning and falsetto.

The past few years saw the resurgence of albums that accomplished both sonicingenuity and conscious lyricism — even ultra-elusive artists like D’Angelo and Frank Ocean had major releases amidst the pleasant surprise of fans and critics alike. Though Mars falls short in terms of lyricism and substance, his work as a vibrant beacon of positive, irresistible and seemingly universally-beloved tunes almost makes up for his avoidance of poetic subject matter.

24K Magic is an exemplary piece of modern pop music. The nine-track album may seem short, but the record is exuberating with energy and such effusive vibes that clocking in at just 33 minutes seems almost perfect. In the album cover art, Mars sits comfortably on an inconspicuous chair. For what it’s worth, he might as well be sitting on the long-vacant throne that the King of Pop abdicated back in 2009.

WE GOT IT FROM HERE… THANK YOU 4 YOUR SERVICE A Tribe Called Quest Kevin Kapenda NEWS EDITOR

It can be hard these days to find a rap album without the sounds of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) overcrowding the once-treasured “beats” of rap.

Luckily for hip-hop heads, mellow rap has been brought back by one of its pioneers – A Tribe Called Quest (ATCQ).

Of course, ATCQ were most recently in the spotlight for the sudden passing of original member, Phife Dawg, last March.

We Got It from Here combines many of ATCQ’s classic characteristics – mellow, earthy beats with soul-inspired drum kits.

It should be noted that the last time

ATCQ were in contention for album of the year bragging rights, nearly 22 years ago, sampling was still legal. In 2005, a Supreme Court ruling almost put hip-hop to death.

We Got It from Here is divided into two parts. The first part instantly hooks listeners with “The Space Program”, and “We The People”, a fitting criticism of the white, paternalistic wave of politics that culminated in Donald J. Trump’s election earlier this month. Part One then picks up with strong messages in “Dis Generation” and “Kids”, with the former paying homage to this decade’s conscious rappers, while the latter – featuring Andre 3000, warns kids that the hip-hop industry ain’t always what it seems.

Part Two begins with two verses from Consequence and Busta Rhymes respectively, an homage to the smooth and “gruff” rapping styles that dominated New York in the 90s. After a warning to all those who think ATCQ has gone soft in “Black Spasmatic”, it’s back to ever important politics of anti-black repression in “Killing Season”, “Moving Backwards” and “The Donald.”

For now, We Got It from Here will go down as a tribute to what hiphop once was at its best – tales of economic struggle, misrepresentation of black men, institutional racism and inner city problems. However, if “Dis Generation” can become a source of motivation for today’s emcees, this album could take back the genre of hip-hop from mumblers and EDM producers.

BOGO

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Friday, December 2nd @ 8am to 4pm Only at 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver Valid only at 2055 Purcell Way Subway® Restaurant. Limited time only.

No cash value. No coupon necessary.

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No substitutions, additional charges for extras, Plus taxes applicable.

Limit one per customer.

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CALENDAR

THINGS TO DO THIS WINTER BREAK ENCHANT MAZE

$19.95+

WHERE: 1ST AND CROWE WHEN: NOV. 25, 2016 TO DEC. 31, 2016 Billed as the “world’s largest Christmas light maze,” Enchant looks to be this season’s can’t-miss festivity in Vancouver. There will be 55,000 sq. ft. of illuminated sculptures, a dozen food trucks, over 40 local vendors and enough lights to warrant potential epileptic seizure warnings. In the immortal words of Rihanna, “Turn up the lights in here baby, extra bright I want ya’ll to see this.”

VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS MARKET $4+

WHERE: OLYMPIC CAULDRON WHEN: NOV. 26, 2016 TO DEC. 30, 2016 This year, the city’s annual Christmas bazaar will be relocating from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza to the Jack Poole Plaza in Coal Harbour – more commonly known as the sit of the Olympic cauldron. The new area promises to be larger and more accessible and is, without a doubt, prettier than the market’s former digs. Once you get here, head straight to Haxen Haus and get the biggest roasted pork shank you see.

BRIGHT NIGHTS CHRISTMAS TRAIN

$16.35+

WHERE: PROBABLY STANLEY PARK

WHEN: NOV. 28, 2016 TO JAN. 1, 2017 This is the Christmas version of the ghost train that happens in Stanley Park during Halloween. It’s exactly the same — it even features the same route and some partially altered decorations.

Expect more lights, harsher weather conditions and a great number of way-too-excited adults. On the plus side, this train comes on time and more often than the SkyTrain!

CHRISTMAS YULE DUEL 2016 WHERE: GASTOWN STREETS

BY DONATION

WHEN: DEC. 1, 2016 Choirs from across the Lower Mainland will be going head-tohead with each other, singing your favourite Christmas carols from the streets of Gastown. All proceeds will go to May’s Place, a storied Downtown Eastside hospice. There will also be awards handed out to the performers for numerous, yet to be named categories.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 2016

$18.50+

WHERE: VANDUSEN BOTANICAL GARDEN WHEN: DEC. 1, 2016 TO JAN. 2, 2017 More fucking lights. At this point we might as well be subject to a free, acoustic performance by Lights, performing covers of “All of the Lights”, “Lightwork” and Christmas songs. This event is also commonly mistaken as the “Celebration of Lights”, which happens in the summer.

I still don’t know how safe it is to have all these electronically-wired contraptions surrounding ponds and plant-life. Seems dangerous to me.

ROBSON SQUARE ICE SKATING $4 WHERE: ROBSON SQUARE

WHEN: DEC. 1, 2016 TO FEB. 14, 2017 The Robson square ice skating has become a cultural institution since its establishment and has rapidly become an iconic venue in the city during the winter. I hardly ever go here, because I don’t skate, but a $4 rental fee for a short skate session sounds like a fun idea before (or after) you hit the local pubs.

WHERE: BLUESHORE THEATRE

WHEN: DEC. 3, 2016 Choirs and lights seem like serious themes every Christmas season and this production at the BlueShore Theatre definitely has the choir part covered. Don’t let the “Fiesta” fool you, there will be no such feasts in this collaboration by CapU Festival Chorus and Singers. It’s just their way of saying that there will be a Spanish theme to the tunes.

No paellas here.

FEE PAYMENT DEADLINE

$ - A LOT

WHERE: CAPILANO UNIVERSITY

WHEN: DEC. 19, 2016

What better way to start or cap off the Christmas shopping season than blowing cash on your tuition? Dolly Parton will probably disagree but I think the greatest gift of all would be the government covering our Spring semester tuition and billing it simply as a gift to all the hardworking students of British Columbia. It's also two days after Christine's Birthday...

CONCORD’S NYE VANCOUVER

$28.75+

WHERE: BURRARD LANDING AND COAL HARBOUR

WHEN: DEC. 31, 2016 This is Vancouver’s version of the iconic Times Square NYE party that also served as a major plotline for the worst ensemble movie ever created: New Year’s Eve. Food trucks, live music (with acts like The Sheepdogs, Delhi 2 Dublin and Humans) and fireworks displays will be on hand. It’ll be just like Times Square, except without Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark.

NEW YEAR’S EVE WATERFRONT

$100+

WHERE: FAIRMONT WATERFRONT WHEN: DEC 31, 2016 The Fairmont-based NYE party is routinely among the most exclusive and expensive NYE parties in Vancouver every year. This year, general admission tickets are selling for over $100, while a VIP table clocks in at over $1,500. The VIP package includes two bottles of champagne, macaroons, your own personal server and a lifetime of regret.

SPRING TERM COMMENCES

$ - TUITION

WHERE: CAPILANO UNIVERSITY

WHEN: JAN. 3, 2017 The old adage says that “all good things come to an end” and, well, this is as true as they come. If you have final exams like I do, your break is going to only be three-and-a-half weeks — short, and probably not as sweet as you’d like it to be either. If you don’t have any final exams and finish everything on the last day of classes, well then fuck you.

BLUES BASKETBALL HOME GAME

$2+

WHERE: SPORTSPLEX

WHEN: JAN. 6, 2017 If everything goes according to plan, the Blues Women’s Basketball Team will head to the break undefeated, while the Men’s will be holding either one of the top three spots in their conference. This is only the second home game this season for basketball, and this year’s Blues teams are really good — championship calibre good. It wouldn’t be a bad time to catch a game. It's also the day before Justin's Birthday.

FREE!

THE CAPILANO COURIER

LAST DAY OF CLASSES FOR FALL

A CHORAL FIESTA! $10+

WHERE: CAPILANO UNIVERSITY

WHEN: DEC. 2, 2016

This is a lot of people’s favourite day until about two days later when final exam season starts. It’s a tease, really. It seems like school is over, but then you’ve still got a thesis proposal due in four days, which happens to coincide with your Philosophy and Communications finals — two classes you probably hardly ever go to. Sounds like a diary.

WHERE ROBSON SQUARE WHEN: DEC. 2, 2016 It’s the 10-year anniversary of Vancouver’s 50-foot-tall Christmas tree so this year’s lighting should be a lot more special than the previous ones. The event is a major source of support for the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, which is arguably one of the most noble charitable causes out there. Buy a bulb and help bring a child to the Festival this spring!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING FREE!

OPINIONS

HELLO? IS ANYBODY HOME? Vancouver’s Empty Homes Tax may not produced desired results Andrew Yang CONTRIBUTOR

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49.5 ISSUE NO. 10

On Nov. 15, the City of Vancouver approved a one per cent Empty Homes Tax which will penalize real estate investors who leave their homes empty for more than six months out of the year.

This comes after the 15 per cent Foreign Buyer Tax on those who are not Canadian citizens, which was implemented by the BC Liberals in August 2016. Both of these policies are supposed to help mitigate the housing “crisis”, but will they solve the problem? Or do they just cover up the provincial government’s failure to address concerns about affordable housing in the past 20 years?

It’s too early to say if the tax on foreign investments has been effective, but it’s evident that government subsidized housing has been severely depleted since the mid 1990s, creating an ever-increasing demand for affordable housing that a profitdriven real estate ‘market’ can’t sustain.

This issue is still ongoing, with no end in sight as developers keep tearing down people’s homes to build luxury high-rises that regular people can’t afford to live in.

At the current rate of Vancouver’s housing prices, you’re better off buying a mansion in Hollywood or nine castles in France instead of buying a hideous detached house in this city. Right now, the average price for a house (fancy or crappy) in the Point Grey neighbourhood is four million dollars. That’s right, four million. To be fair, it’s not the house alone that dictates this value. As my mom (who happens to have an eye for real estate) would repeat to me, “Location. Location. Location” is the mantra of insane housing demands.

Did I forget to mention that with Donald Trump becoming the president of the USA, the Canadian immigration website recently crashed? Our southern neighbours can’t handle the crazy shenanigans of American politics, so they’ll need move somewhere else safe too.

All jokes aside, disenfranchised local

CHRISTMAS GARBAGE: IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS Why people hate re-gifting Gabriel Scorgie FEATURES EDITOR

There’s no doubt that Christmas is not a good time for the environment.

Wrapping paper, tape, plastic covers, cardboard boxes — not to mention the gifts themselves, are all produced in factories that are far from eco-friendly.

This has caused Metro Vancouver municipalities to start a “create memories, not waste” campaign, encouraging people to re-gift and reduce waste during the holidays. The

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citizens are fed up with being displaced in their own hometown, and they’re going to need all the help they can get to be able to stay in the city. If you noticed that a fancy house hasn’t been visited by a living soul for half a year, wouldn’t you find it a complete waste of space? There are so many people in this city who are homeless and hungry for food, income and shelter. Yet here we have these empty condos lying around the Downtown area with nobody living inside.

The mantra of madness “Location. Location.

Location” echoes in the back of my head. I see so many empty houses, but not one that Vancouverites can call home.

Then again, why would a wealthy investor of real estate want anybody living in their pristine condition high-value property? Would you be willing to risk your place being ransacked and sullied by reckless and disrespectful tenants? I sure as hell wouldn’t. But one thing I do understand is that money makes the rules in our society. Whoever can cough up the cash will be ranked high priority in the minds of real estate agents and the politicians with the deepest pockets.

Let’s take a closer look the Empty House Tax. It will be the first of its kind to be implemented in the country. However, critics such as NPA Councillor George Affleck and Condominium Homeowners Association executive director Tony Gioventu are skeptical about this policy’s effectiveness. For starters, home owners will have to self-report the status of their residential property. What happens when your neighbours decide to snitch on you for leaving your house empty?

If savvy buyers are able to exploit the loopholes of our lax policies now, how will reinforcing this law make them compliant? If anything, this could inspire dishonesty and foster mistrust between neighbours, or encourage investors to step up their strategies in dodging penalty fees.

Even if homeowners do pay the extra tax, how exactly can we trust this extra one per cent tax to be properly invested in affordable rental properties for those who need it most?

Whether this Empty Homes Tax becomes the Band-Aid to patch the bleeding rental market or another bureaucratic nightmare, one thing for certain is that trust is the ultimate currency. And right now, I don’t think we trust each other enough to invest in our city.

problem with the campaign is that even the idea of re-gifting is enough to make people shudder.

Objectively, the idea of re-gifting is great. Steve got you a really shitty present for your birthday and your best friend Martha loves really shitty things, so instead of going and buying Martha a new piece of shit present, you give her the one you already have.

In theory, everybody should be happy. In reality, everybody’s pissed.

Two of the many issues with the human race are that we’re horrible at being objective and we have very fragile egos. Even if our friend gives us that sweater they’ve never worn but know we’d like, we don’t think about how nice it is that they gave us something of theirs to make us happy. Oh god no.

We’re far too busy being offended that the lazy bastard didn’t bother to put on

— AUSTIN LEGG

pants or spend a dime to get us a new gift. We imagine them realizing they haven’t gotten us a gift that morning, reaching into the closet and wrapping the first piece of clothing they find.

It also never feels good to be the person that gets re-gifted. Nothing screams ‘you don’t know me’ like not even bothering to pretend to like a gift.

There’s no positive way to spin someone caring so little about what you got them that they gave it away the first chance they could. If “it’s the thought that counts” is the golden rule for buying gifts, keeping it for a minimum of six months before throwing it out should be the responsibility of the receiver.

Re-gifting, if to be done at all, is to be handled as discreetly as having an affair. Meaning, you do it in a different city with absolute certainty the two parties involved will never

meet each other and you never talk about it again.

Re-gifting would cut down on waste in a big way. It would also cut down profits stores like Walmart and Best Buy make during the Holidays – something they will fight very hard to prevent. It’s ironic that Vancouver, the place that loves to thrift shop, eat local food and drink craft beer, still gets bent out of shape if they don’t get a brand new toy for Christmas.

Yes, the idea of re-gifting to reduce waste is a good one. Unfortunately, our culture and society is far away from being able to accept second-hand gifts as anything other than a slap in the face. Maybe one day we will be able to accept it without thinking the other person hates us, but until that happens we’re going to keep asking for shiny new smartphones and big screen TVs.

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FAKE NEWS INFO-TASTROPHE The danger of fake news and misinformation to the public Alexander Derbas CONTRIBUTOR

In the aftermath of the US election, Facebook and Google have been playing defence. Having faced accusations that fake news stories shared on their platforms throughout the election cycle influenced voters’ choices, the two companies now appear to be taking action.

Online publishing of false and misleading information is no recent phenomenon, but vigorous opponents of fake news sites claim that this year’s election could have been swayed by their pervasiveness on social media platforms and aggregators such as Google News.

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Websites such as Morning News USA and IntelliHub appeared to emulate content published by credible news organizations, but spewed fabricated reports and false accounts that could easily fool individuals who believe the website is legitimate, furthering their preconceptions and beliefs about a particular false or inaccurate idea.

Headlines claiming falsely that “Pope Francis endorses Donald Trump” or “Hillary Clinton worships the devil” spread like wildfire.

Defenders of fake news websites claim that most of their content is created out of satire, humour and comedic effect rather than to purposely misinform. They argue that the public should learn to think more critically and assess what they are reading instead of blaming satirical websites for their own naivety and gullibility. Regardless of the social media platform or search tool used, our “news feeds” are still oversaturated with memes and click-bait content about celebrities, “miracle weight

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loss pills” and conspiracy theories. Even after the election, sites publishing false information about the results of the vote were trending, being viewed and shared hundreds of thousands of times. It’s clear that many people saw these websites as credible sources of information.

Consequently, Google has decided to restrict ad serving on fake news websites so as to block those sites from bringing in revenue. On the other hand, Facebook’s position has been enigmatic.

Mark Zuckerberg had claimed that the idea that fake news on Facebook could have influenced the election was “pretty crazy”. However, a group of Facebook employees disclosed anonymously that it was widely known within the company that “fake news ran wild” on the platform throughout the campaign season. Now, Facebook has announced that users will be allowed to flag alleged fake news to reduce its distribution.

Facebook and Google would be taking the morally correct actions in stopping

“fake news” and “misrepresentative content” from using their ad-selling services or appearing on their websites.

The more difficult problem is how we define fake and misrepresentative material. There’s controversy over the potential of stifling free speech, inaccurately blocking accurate information and allowing Facebook users to flag alleged “fake news” that may be falsely flagged just because it goes against the user’s views. Content that is created for satire and comedic effect shouldn’t suffer if it is obviously seen by the vast majority as a source of comedy.

However, the spreading of deceptive information should be monitored and these companies absolutely have the resources and ability to do it.

The best that individuals can do to prevent fake news from influencing our actions, thoughts and decisions is to encourage critical thinking and analysis of what we see and hear. As the old adage goes, not everything you read on the Internet is true.

ABANDONMENT ISSUES: THE CHALLENGES MILLENNIAL STUDENTS FACE Alarming first year dropout rates spark discussion Freya Wasteneys CONTRIBUTOR

— FIONA DUNNETT

marks than ever before to enter university, causing secondary institutions to inflate marks as a counterattack. Today, the average entrance grade to be considered for admission into the University of British Columbia is 87 per cent, whereas 20 years ago it was only 70 per cent.

As a result, grades have become intrinsically tied to many students’ self worth. Academic performance is often closely tied to financial support, allowing students little room for failure, and sending the message that universities are a place to perform, rather than learn.

The high tuition rates also put pressure on the idea of picking “the right program” in order to save time and money. It’s no wonder students who are feeling stressed, discouraged and unmotivated begin to questioning whether their education is worth it.

In fact, most students admit that they

have considered dropping out at one point or another, and some will change their field of study multiple times before settling on a degree. In the face of these pressures, many students are questioning whether a degree is still “worth it”. New research from the University of Ottawa suggests that there are still tangible monetary benefits associated with pursuing a degree, regardless of the field of study.

It’s clear that this system is in need of reproach, but it’s unlikely to be fixed overnight. In the meantime, most universities are providing a partial systemic response with additional resources to enable students to deal more effectively with the pressures, but this is not enough.

As a society we need to de-emphasize the anxiety-producing concept of winners and losers and shift the focus from grades to learning. It is the only way forward.

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of undergraduate students are graduating with an average student debt of $27,000.

In addition, students are finding that it’s harder to get jobs straight out of university, with reports by the Canadian Labour Congress showing a 13 per cent unemployment rate, and almost double that number in underemployment for youth.

Despite these figures, the education system still appears to mirror that of the previous generation, only at a higher price point and with less job security than ever before. While there is no doubt that pursuing higher education remains important, it is also vital to recognize that with the changing world, we cannot simply expect students to succeed using the same model.

Currently, students are faced with different pressures than those of the previous generation, and yet our performance-crazed society expects higher

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There is a contagious epidemic causing students to abandon their studies at an alarming rate. Statistics Canada recently found that one in six first-year students will leave their programs of study, and other Western countries are seeing a similar spectacle. Along with the increased attrition, universities are also seeing an upsurge in anxiety and mental disorders which Denise Pope, a senior lecturer at Stanford University, partially attributes to academic pressure.

Of course, there are countless factors that contribute to the first-year drop-out rate. High schools are often blamed for not properly equipping students with the critical skills they need to succeed, while others blame the large lecture halls and unapproachable professors in a university environment. While these obstacles are not new to this generation, one thing is clear: tuition fees are higher than ever.

In 2015, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) released a study that showed tuition fee trends since the 1990s. The study found that tuition and other student fees have tripled since 1993-94 alone which, when adjusted for inflation, saw a 100 per cent increase.

In order to address concerns regarding the affordability of university education, provincial governments provide grants, loans, incentive programs and afterthe-fact assistance. However, according to the study’s co-author Erika Shaker, the result is a “highly complex, nontransparent system” that research has shown to be difficult to navigate.

The CCPA also found that 60 per cent

COLUMNS

THE WEEK IN GEEK The Villains of 2016 Syd Danger SALTY.

There are many things to be thankful for with the year coming to an end. Ryan Reynolds’ butt in Deadpool, Nathan Drake’s butt in Uncharted 4, Chris Evans’ butt in Civil War, and probably some other cool things as well. 2016 has truly been The Year of the Geek. However, with great, taut successes comes massive pancake flops, so let’s take a journey and uncover the true villains of the year

Suicide Squad

No Man’s Sky

Doctor Strange

Not even the super bangable and hot Margot Robbie could save this heaping wad of Ed Hardy-esque shit. Excited to ramp up their already fantastic and hard-hitting movie roster, DC decided the best thing they could possibly do would be to completely re-edit the entire movie last minute. Highlights include: that famous model chick doing a weird hula-hooping dance, Killer Croc wearing a velour jumpsuit and an extremelyforced Ben Affleck cameo.

A video game with extreme promise that became the target of every angry Redditor in a very short period, No Man’s Sky promised gamers the universe but delivered farming in space. For a mere $80 and hundreds of hours of their time, gamers everywhere rejoiced being able to explore new worlds, harvest rocks, collect minerals, name weird randomized alien creatures, harvest more rocks and finally have someone other than Valve to be mad at.

This one pains me to even write. A character and universe with such potential ruined by someone on the writing team liking Inception a little too much. A convoluted time-based story filled with kind of boring magic and the blinding bald head of Tilda Swinton. Also, that one girl who's in every single romantic comedy ever was in it, for reasons that I honestly still don’t understand. Doctor Strange was a huge disappointment, even with the sexy shark-faced Benedict Cumberbatch to carry it.

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HONORABLE MENTION

Any Virtual Reality Game

X-Men: Apocalypse

Zelda Breath of the Wild

What do you get when you combine a crazy fantastic idea and the moneyhungry grabby hands of consumerism?

An extremely overpriced headset with some completely unready games, that’s what. Not quite able to really deliver on any promises, VR has taken gamers to crazy new, low-res worlds such as: a game which simulates you working an office job, a game where you ride a rollercoaster, and multiple games where you look around and get jump scared by pixelated monsters. I had high hopes for VR like everyone else — just call me when someone actually does it well.

I don’t know why I continue to think these movies are going to come out even a little bit okay. I’m convinced at this point the writing team just goes, “Hey don’t even worry, Fox. We have the formula for a massive hit already!

Just take one blue villain, add a dash of Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence in tight spandex, throw that kid from American Horror Story in there and make sure Wolverine has some screen time.” Even after all this shit, I still have hope for the Logan movie, and that will ultimately lead to my extreme disappointment.

Can you please just release this game already, Nintendo?

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I’m actually begging you.

— ILLUSTRATIONS BY SYD DANGER

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1600 AND STILL RUNNIN’ TRUMP PRESIDENCY REVELATION FOR NATIONALISTS AND NATIVISTS ACROSS GLOBE Kevin Kapenda NEWS EDITOR

Perhaps the most surprising reaction to Donald Trump’s candidacy and eventual victory was not the outpour of support he received from white American voters, but the messianic congratulations sent to him by high profile leaders and heads of government across the globe.

So far, the narrative surrounding Trump’s presidency has been that he is bad for integrationists and globalists — people who want to see the world come together and achieve common goals, such as resettling displaced people and tackling climate change. However, even more concerning is the fact that he’s become a beacon for the growing number of nationalist and nativist political movements around the world. Trump’s glorification as a deity of politics driven by racialized perceptions of entitlement and exceptionalism is probably what’s most suitable at this point.

As Canadians, it’s difficult to imagine where we are now, after the overly joyous election of our “progressive” prime

minister last year. Trudeau campaigned on this notion that he would restore Canada and the government to what it once was, a bilingual, science-loving, peacekeeping voice that the world looked to for leadership. At this point, it’s quite clear that “if Canada is back”, we were never missed. Sure, there is no doubt that our current prime minister is certainly a more attractive and accessible leader than Stephen Harper ever was. However, when it comes to the ideological direction our planet is heading in, Trudeau couldn’t be more out of touch.

Since globalization and integration have become so entrenched over the last quarter century, it is very difficult to guard against nativism and nationalism because their champions are viewed less like sprinters proposing quick reforms, but marathon runners trying to undo years of autonomy-hindering policies. In other words, no time limit or measure of success can be applied to projects of nationbuilding, such as Trump’s “Make America Great Again” manifesto, because the group in question (White-anything) will never be completely safe from the threat other people and belief systems pose.

— ANNIE CHANG

Look past our neighbours to the south, and nationalism is creeping up in every corner of the planet. Whether in the socalled left-leaning utopias of Scandinavia, where the majority of Denmark’s governing coalition is composed of “welfare state” nationalists, or France and the Netherlands, where one look at their diverse national football teams wouldn’t reveal the level of racial tensions fuelling their far-right parties. Most worrisome of all, what was once seen as embarrassing and shameful — to be accused of being racist — is now a badge of honour and measure of integrity for politicians across Europe.

As a black person and individual of colour, I fear for the future of people who share my ancestry or don’t fit the description of “white” across North America, Latin America and Europe.

After years of paternalism and pity, ethics have been swapped for Eugenics, and there’s no telling what will be next, when many leaders across the world are calling for values tests, stricter citizenship exams, physical social contracts and culturally-selective (i.e. non-Muslim or dark) immigration reform.

For too long, people have wanted

to believe that Trump’s protectionist worldview is exclusive to a growing alternative right faction, something we must refute if we are to stop this wave of racism from sweeping the world. Many political parties are taking Europe by storm with policies that advocate for increased exclusion of ethnic and religious minorities on the basis that they pose a threat to the security of the welfare state. Indeed, much of the rhetoric in Vancouver surrounding increased cost of living and natives not being able to live there anymore is rife with an antagonistic view of predominantly Chinese migration into the city. Trump has made it okay to believe that the interests of whites wherever they exist must always come first, and those types of ontological perspectives know no economic system.

While the road ahead is indeed filled with potholes, we must all do our part by calling racism what it is when we see it, so we can break down the “Pences” that society wants to divide us. It is through the pursuit of these ideals that we can reject the forces claiming “colonialism is over” or “institutional racism does not exist.”

forms of bigotry that you have actively and implicitly endorsed in your campaign.

Racist graffiti, brazen, violent attacks against minority groups, language riddled with prejudice and bigotry, and then the pinnacle, election day, where voter turnout was just over 50 per cent of the eligible population.

Clinton notched about 64,400,000 of the popular vote — perhaps more as absentee and mail-in ballots are still being counted — to the president-elect's 62,300,000, according to the Cook Political Report. Trump secured just about the same Republican numbers as the previous two candidates in the 2008 (John McCain) and 2012 (Mitt Romney) elections.

Clinton didn’t fail to turn out liberal voters in the mass of numbers President Barack Obama did, at least as far as 2012 goes. Obama secured just under 70 million votes in 2008, 66 million in 2012.

What the American election

demonstrated, along with the protests and picketing post-election day, the persistent racial tension, and everbrooding class war, is that, our big brother to the south is strikingly divided. A darker underbelly reared its proverbial ugly head, an underbelly that stretches nearly as long and as far as the history of the country itself, now personified in a 70-year-old brash billionaire.

Whether anti-establishment or antistatus quo, president-elect Trump is a political culture shock. A Congress controlled by Republicans is only throwing kerosene on the right-wing fire about to take hold of the American political system. Clinton clearly drew numbers that show a visible liberal base. The crystal ball says a resurgence from the left and centrist left is on the rise, to be bolstered by the impending conservative movement and shock of this year’s election.

The turnaround could be to the tune of the Trudeau triumph in 2016.

TRUMP WIN COULD SPUR LIBERAL RESURGENCE Brandon Kostinuk COLUMNIST

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What!? President-Elect Donald Trump could be good for liberal Americans? Well, it isn’t so absolute as much as theoretical, and very much grounded in an expansive political estimate on a diverse and ever-shifting US political culture. But, nevertheless.

One of the first things you learn in the science of politics is that politics is about the movement of people, goods and ideas.

Domestically, a happy, democratically governed populace is one where ideas fall in line with popular thought and goods and people flow freely. Prescient to all of that is a strong economy.

Trump won the election placating to those that feel — or felt — like the outliers in a changing and modernizing economy.

An economy where job loss, most glaringly in the manufacturing industry, has been sped up by advancement in

technology and cheaper labour beyond US borders.

The previous two administrations were also quite liberal — a historic presidency along racial and economic lines. Further exacerbating the racial element was rhetoric over illegal aliens and the graphic, tragic realities of the killing of African-American citizens by the hands of police.

As has been well publicized, Trump has legitimized hate. He has pushed hate groups into the mainstream. Trump’s own Alma Mater, the Wharton School of Business, stated in an open letter: We, proud students, alumni, and faculty of Wharton, are outraged that an affiliation with our school is being used to legitimize prejudice and intolerance.

Although we do not aim to make any political endorsements with this letter, we do express our unequivocal stance against the xenophobia, sexism, racism, and other

COLUMNS

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES “Salam Khanum!”

A Look at Persian Food Nima Boscarino COLUMNIST

With the days becoming colder and darker every week, it’s the perfect time to explore the lesser known elements of Persian cuisine. While kebabs have decidedly entered the Western mainstream, let’s look at some of the more obscure dishes from the Middle-East.

Rice is a staple ingredient in Persian cuisine and is most often steamed and prepared as Polo — a fluffy, separated rice cooked in broth. Then, the Polo is combined with spices, meats, herbs and vegetables. As a bonus, during the process of cooking Polo, the rice at the bottom of the pot forms a golden rice crust, known as Tahdig. Sometimes, the rice pot is lined with slices of potatoes or bread as well.

One popular Polo dish is Lubia Polo, where the Polo is prepared with turmeric, fava beans and dill. Additionally, Lubia Polo is often paired with chicken cooked in a saffron tomato sauce. There are many other types of Polo dishes, where rice is often paired with a stew, known as Khoresh.

Stews like Khoresh are generally

prepared with meats, vegetables and abundant quantities of spices. If you look at a Wikipedia entry for a Khoresh such as Gormeh Sabzi, you might think you’ve been sucked into a George R.R. Martin novel. The dish, featuring a mix of sautéed herbs such as parsley, leeks and green onions combined by various beans, spices and limes, is widely regarded as Iran’s national dish.

If you’re not in the mood for a ricebased dish, you might enjoy Kashke Bademjan. This is an eggplant-based puree made with walnuts and a yogurtbased sauce known as kashk. While the dish is generally considered an appetizer, I’ve been known to eat several bowls as a full meal on multiple occasions. Kashk is a very salty sauce and is often used in vegetable and bean soups.

Displaying civility and respect is very important in Persian culture, and there are very specific rules of etiquette in place. When out at a Persian restaurant, keep your eyes and ears open for people partaking in T’aarof, the Persian ritual of false invitations.

Here’s a situation: You’re at a restaurant, and have just finished your plate of Baghali Polo. As you reach into your wallet to pay the bill, your friend Amir speaks up and says, “Nah man, this one’s on me.” Without hesitation, you might respond with, “Thanks!”

BAM, you just T’aarofed yourself.

Later that night, you’re dropping Amir off at his place, and he suggests you come in

for some tea. “Well, it’s 11:45 pm on a Tuesday night,” you say, “And I know you have an exam tomorrow morning… but okay!” BAM, you just T’aarofed yourself again!

What? How? Where? Who? Exactly!

T’aarof is all about offering to pay (or host, lend, etc.) to show deference, but it’s supposed to go both ways. An offer (such as “I know it’s obscenely late, but come in for tea!”) is supposed to be politely declined several times before being accepted. In fact, there are many circumstances where an offer is not meant to be accepted at all.

So, if you’re looking to try something new this winter, my suggestion is either head to a Persian restaurant or drop by your local Halal store to pick up some ingredients for a big pot of Baghali Polo.

It’s focused on environmental issues too, which we’re passionate about.”

Aside from the stunning nature, Vancouver native Jeffs is driven by the struggle of the city. Jeffs explained his relationship with the city as love and hate. As an artist, it’s a constant challenge balancing living somewhere where the cost to survive can get in the way of dreams. There are plenty of talented musicians and artists in Vancouver but with the struggle of being an artist, it can be hard to get recognition.

It’s not all bleak, however. Spruce

Trap’s album release is being held in a cathedral and Jeffs would love to see more of that. Supporting music in unexpected places can help flourish the music community. “Maybe we could even play in a bank,” Jeffs joked. Music can create inclusiveness in Vancouver: there aren’t many people who don’t enjoy music and it brings people together. Everyone is united, no one is fighting or judging.

It’s a healthy space to share opinions or thoughts. “[Music] can break peoples’ hearts, or fix them,” Jeffs said.

Jeffs is prepared to be both terrified

NIMA’S RECOMMENDATION: If you find yourself in North Vancouver this winter, head to one of Lonsdale’s many Persian restaurants to have a taste of some of the best cuisine the Middle-East has to offer.

My personal recommendation is Persian Gulf on 15th Street, and I’d also suggest making a stop at Laleh Baker nearby where you’ll find baklava, custard-filled donuts and honey-glazed fried dough balls known as bamieh.

REIGN VANCOUVER Spruce Trapp-ed Marissa Del Mistro

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COLUMNIST

“It affects so much inside of you. It makes you see things differently. It’s like an energy – better than any drug,” Isaac Jeffs confessed about the inspiration behind his music. Jeffs has been playing the guitar for over a decade and, since 2012, he’s been strumming experimental sounds with his band, Spruce Traps.

The band came upon its name after the members spotted an actual spruce trap during a snowshoeing trip. It harmonizes beautifully with the band’s sounds, as nature has played a leading role in the group. “I love to use sounds that I find. I always have a recorder with me,” Jeffs explained. “If I hear a wild bird or something, I’ll record it.”

The band methodically works together to encompass the triad of unique sound each member offers, producing an amalgamation of indie rock, metal and ambient music. Jeffs admits its hard to put a name to their production, but that’s what keeps it mysterious and unique.

Spruce Trap’s music is ambiguous.

Their songs are devoid of lyrics, taking listeners on a cinematic journey, alone to decipher the band’s message through sound and texture illustration. They offer vague hints such as the title and illustrations of their work – and there is always a message. On Dec. 2, the group is releasing their first album The Wise Prefer to Perish. “It is very dark,” Jeffs declared. “It’s based on the idea of the inevitable fall of everything. Humans may have left fixing our world too long.

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and euphoric on the night of their album release show. Performing is his favourite thing in the world, and the empowerment he feels showcasing what the band has worked tirelessly on is unparalleled.

Come to the Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Vancouver, welcoming the city to Spruce Trap's album release. The show is free, and bound to be a special evening of musical imagination.

For more on Spruce Trap, visit their Facebook and Bandcamp page, both under “Spruce Trap”.

CABOOSE

TEXTBOOK REVIEWS Google

by Larry Page & Sergey Brin

Canadian PR for the Real World

by Maryse Cardin and Kylie McMullan

Film Directing Fundamentals

by Nicholas T. Proferes

Christine Beyleveldt

Noah Penner

PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST

SPIELBERG-IN-TRAINING

I don’t go to university, meaning I’ve made the conscious decision to not spend any money on an education. So, if you think I’m dropping a discontinued penny on a textbook, you need to give your head a shake. I will, however, offer my two cents on why the Internet has absolved you of the need to buy your Economics professor’s overpriced textbook.

Simply put, everything is on the Internet. If my Grandma has a Twitter account, you can bet the answers to your quiz on Public Finance Policy can be found in some corner of Google. Hell, I’d be willing to bet the exact test can be found online for free. In fact, many textbooks can be torrented.

Sure, you’ll have to deal with the scorn of your professor when you turn up with their textbook stapled together on printer paper – but if they were as successful in their field as they are at curing their students’ insomnia, maybe they wouldn’t be in this predicament to begin with.

There are so many online educators that even this whole ‘going to university’ nonsense should be re-evaluated. There are also many free resources online: Coursera, EdX, Ted Talks, educational YouTubers and podcasts. If you want to, you could be a non-stop learning machine.

Listen to a podcast on the treadmill.

Exercise your mind and body. The only teeny downside to this is that you’ll never get a degree, and most businesses don’t accept 1,000 hours of podcast listening as a relevant education. But most people go to university to broaden their mind, not for a job, right?

Unlike just about every other outrageously expensive textbook I have ever splashed my hard-to-comeby cash on, Canadian PR for the Real World offered something different than the tomes of theory I’ve grown used to in Communication studies. Public Relations has often been labelled as Journalism’s rival. Don’t get me wrong.

We’ve got similarities, like our drinking problems and the never-ending search for a paying job.

This book was useful in terms of learning tools of the trade, like how to expand your market and distinguish online and print mediums. Some of those tools include how to outsmart journalists. I’ll admit I did laugh when I read Tricks Journalists Use to Get People to Talk. “That’s me!” I thought, except I’ve been a pro journo for two years and these tricks don’t work on me.

Nicknames for interviewing tactics such as the Silent Treatment, the Columbo Question and the Machine Gunner were used to elaborate on some of our supposed techniques. We’re not all bad.

PR professionals and journalists have a common problem of a bad reputation.

My professor asked me several weeks into the course if I felt like I was crossing over to the dark side, but there’s always something to learn, even from the people who may appear to be your total opposite when you’re not so different after all.

It was a legitimately interesting book to read, even if I felt mildly offended by some passages. A particularly lengthy section of prose in the second chapter attempted to clarify PR’s characteristic split from journalism when that profession went sour – and believe me, we’ve been a sour bunch for a long time. (Editor’s note: a long time being two years.)

It’s only a $140 book, which works out to about 35 cents a page. My only regret is that I’ve lost my receipt from the bookstore.

If you’re passionate about the delicate and complex craft of filmmaking – oh boy, have I got a treat for you. See, Motion Picture Arts students are gifted in our second year with the remarkably notterrible and shockingly affordable Film Directing Fundamentals, by Nicholas T. Proferes. You know it’s good because it has quotes from someone who's actually been paid to work on movies.

Upon reading the first six chapters of Proferes’ advice, you start to realize what an absolute genius Alfred Hitchcock was, through relentless analysis of that balcony scene in Notorious you probably don’t remember, but totally should.

Through a compact summary of many different kinds of shots and composition choices available for directors to impose on their fortunately unionized cast and crew, you suddenly become enlightened why Francis Ford Coppola literally ordered multiple helicopters flown through every shot in Apocalypse Now. And, for the first time, the thought crosses your mind: “Wait a minute – I’m in second year. How did I ever make it this far without this book in my life?”

But wait — there’s one more barrier you should cross before taking the box office by storm!

What about actors? Rest assured, dear auteur, Proferes has your back! Through 10 handy on-set rules listed from pages 130-131, your film’s actors will be sweeping the awards circuit in no time!

Seriously, follow Proferes’ advice, and talk to your actors. They’re cool people, and your movie will be terrible if their performance is terrible. No, really. (To all acting students: Keep being awesome!

We already owe you enough coffee and beer to last a lifetime. Also, get back to me about those videos!)

So, whether your career goal is to go full Jean-Luc Godard and sneak communist undertones into all your movies, or to finally score that one big hit that jump-starts the EnglishCanadian film industry, check out Film Directing Fundamentals by Nicholas T. Proferes. Because not all textbooks have to suck, and all great films have to start somewhere. Plus, you’ll save a few dollars for your next project’s budget.

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Gabriel Scorgie DOESN'T EVEN GO HERE

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READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2016 Voting: Nov. 29–Jan. 12 Winners Announced: Jan. 16 Ballot & Details Inside