Capilano Courier | Vol. 49, Issue 17. by Capilano Courier

VOLUME 49 ISSUE 17

SAVINGS FOR STUDENTS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

How student ID cards can save you big at local retailers.

Shining a light on the contributions of AfricanCanadians.

FEBRUARY 15 - 21 | 2016

BOUNCED OUT OF THE CLUB

C O NTE NTS

Cover Art

Editor's Desk

News

Cap You

Special Feature

Columns

Arts & Culture

Humour

BRENNA MACKINDER

CHAMPAGNE PAPI: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BOUNCER

THE STAFF Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

editor@capilanocourier.com Carlo Javier EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

carlo.capcourier@gmail.com Therese Guieb

STICKING IT TO THE DAN

THE CLEAN ENERGY PIPE DREAM

PRIDE WEEK AT CAP U: FEB. 22-26

ELECTRIC SCOOTER SHARE COMING TO VANCOUVER

COLUMNISTS Marissa Del Mistro Marissa is a recent graduate from Dalhousie University, where she studied international development and law. She’s new to the Vancouver life and is using much of her free time to master the ins and outs of the big city. She loves studying but also having not to study – so she loves to study for the joys of learning. Her column will shine a light on the victims of injustices and discrimination in modern society.

opinions.capcourier@gmail.com Gabriel Scorgie FEATURES EDITOR

specialfeatures.capcourier@gmail.com Christine Beyleveldt

Brenna Mackinder COVER ART

Maria Centola ART

Angela Schmold ART

Natalie Murray

news@capilanocourier.com Kevin Kapenda

FOUND ON CRAIGSLIST: NEW PRESIDENT NEEDED

CONTRIBUTORS

EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR

OPINIONS EDITOR

WHO YOU: MARTIN BOGAJEV

ART

Calvin DeGroot From an early age, Calvin deGroot has worked to perfect the art of freeform dance in the realm of sweaty nightclubs everywhere. You can expect the same hard work, flexibility and dedication in his radical new column, Down to Earth. He’ll be discussing environmental issues and will be using the sensibilities of freeform dance to illustrate why these issues matter. He’s one with nature.

Kyle Papilla ART

Keara Farnan WORDS

Dinah Azage WORDS

CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

reporter.capcourier@gmail.com Cristian Fowlie ART DIRECTOR

artdirector.capcourier@gmail.com

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 17

Syd Danger PRODUCTION MANAGER

pm.capcourier@gmail.com Alva Tang COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER

Syd Danger Hailing from Tamriel, Syd Danger, the rogue Khajit, traversed many mountains and seas to deliver her columns to us. With her +3 lightning damage Sword of Duquesne and +4 speed Infinity Cloak, Syd fought off numerous wyverns and goblins that stood in her way. Her mission is to relay cheat codes and answers to FAQs presented by n00bs regarding all things nerd.

Makenzie Murdock WORDS

Ramneet Kang WORDS

Leah Scheitel WORDS

Steve Tornes WORDS

community.capcourier@gmail.com Tianyi Bao BUSINESS MANAGER

businessmanager.capcourier@gmail.com Brandon Kostinuk

Katherine Alpen WORDS

Eric Wong WORDS

WEB COORDINATOR

web.capcourier@gmail.com 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.

EDI TO R 'S D E SK Sticking it to the Dan Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

our university or student association if we write something unfavourable about them when it's warranted. That said, we don’t take this responsibility lightly. Journalism demands a certain fairness and ethical standard and it only takes a few cheap shots or major screw-ups to blow a reputation to smitherines. That’s always in the forefront of our minds whenever we hit “print” on a new edition of this paper. As a publisher, you make your best efforts to ensure that business and politics don't seep into your editorial decisions, but I can imagine the risk would be greater for publications that don't have the autonomy we have. Good on Howe and Fedigan for challenging the skewed loyalties of their superior and bringing us all the story that needed to be told. I firmly believe that a good journalist will do almost anything to unearth the truth. Evidently, a great journalist will even lose their job for it.

THE VOICEBOX with Carlo Javier

Awesome Valentine’s issue! Too bad that printing was fucked up.

Yeah, like your face.

I followed your little map about where to propose on campus, guess what happened?

THE CAPILANO COURIER

What happened?

Who’s Anna L. Beedes? I read that flood in her basement article and I haven’t been able to stop flooding since! Thanks Anna L. Beedes!

EWWWWW

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.”

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO.17

Several days ago, I received an email from a colleague at another paper. She wanted to know what I thought about the recent public relations fiasco at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) involving a Peeping Tom on campus and the suspension of two student journalists who reported on it against the will of their publisher. My first thought was “Whoa, how did I miss that?” (I swear, every time I go on vacation, something big happens.) I had honestly heard nothing about it. Immediately, I clicked the link that she sent me and began reading all about the situation. A familiar name jumped off the page, and it was that of Lindsay Howe, the Courier’s former news editor from our 2012-2013 publishing season. No, she wasn’t the Peeping Tom. Howe was one of two reporters expelled from their positions at The Link magazine earlier this month. And unless you were living under a rock like I was that week, you may have even watched it on the news. Why were they suspended? Well, the answer to that question is a complicated one. First of all, The Link is operated by the BCIT Student Association (BCITSA) and its publications manager, Dan Post, is an employee of the students’ union. That means that regardless of any autonomy agreements, either formal or informal, The Link ultimately answers to the BCITSA and its political mandate. Whether such a thing could affect a paper’s ability to produce unbiased journalism isn’t really my place to say, but I believe this recent situation speaks volumes for the paper’s current regime at the very least. Howe, along with fellow student Jessica Fedigan, was suspended after going public with a Feb. 3 email from Post in which he asked BCIT journalists to focus on positive stories about the university to offset a slew of negative mainstream press following a voyeur incident on campus. “It’s a good way to turn a negative (kind of non-news story) into a positive thing while we have the attention of the world-at-large, even if just for a moment,” he wrote. Calling a criminal voyeur incident a “non-news story” didn’t sit well with the students, who decided to forward the email to their campus radio station, Evolution 107.9. It was then reported on air, and the two received notice of their suspension from The Link shortly thereafter. “We did ultimately what was right. Our instructors have backed us fully. We have their support,” Fedigan told Global News reporter Jon Azpiri on

Feb. 6. “We don’t feel we did anything wrong.” On Feb. 8, the Georgia Straight published a rant from editor Charlie Smith — a former Link staffer himself — that hit the nail right on the head. “This incident at BCIT serves as yet another reminder that student politicians and student-association bureaucrats need regular reminders that student journalism is journalism,” he wrote. “And it's constitutionally protected under Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.” I couldn’t agree more — and trust me when I say that reminders are necessary. Student journalists are all too often seen as easy targets for administrators and stakeholders who have an agenda to push. Thankfully, most of us can smell “spin” coming from a mile away and we know exactly when someone is attempting to turn one of our news stories into a carefullysanitized press release. In fact, it’s those very instincts that drew us to this contumelious profession in the first place. Newspapers have a duty to report the facts and bring light to issues that affect their community — good, bad, and whatever they may be. The Courier is the community newspaper in this little hilltop town of 7,000, and if we don’t report on meetings and dig up the occasional administrative truffle, who else is going to? Don’t hold your breath for the North Shore News. These findings do sometimes lead to a few unhappy administrators, though. In the early 2000s, back when Capilano University was still a college, the vice president of human resources had all but made it her mission to subvert the Courier’s existence through a series of “back-door attempts.” I’ll tread carefully because she’s neither with this institution nor this world anymore, but by all accounts, it appeared to be her pet project before she retired. Reading through our extensive archives this summer on a filing expedition, I happened across more than a few defiant editorials from then-editors Darcy Stemmler and Jay Havelaar, condemning her efforts to censor our content and illegitimize the collection of our student levies. Apparently, we had pushed a little too hard in gathering information about a controversial Coca-Cola exclusivity contract signed by the university a few years prior. She never really forgave us — in her words, it was a “non-issue until the student newspaper raised it,” but to me it sounds eerily familiar to the current situation at The Link. Sometimes non-issues turn out to be the biggest ones of all. I’m not sure if we’ve had any lasting confrontations with the Capilano Students’ Union, but they still let us share their microwave in the Maple lounge, so I think we’re probably OK. What we don’t share with the CSU is funding or staff. Unlike The Link, the Courier is governed by its own society with its own board of directors. There’s no fancy legalese dangling over our head that makes us fear we’ll be punished by

NEWS Pride Week makes triumphant return Celebration includes 10 events, both on campus and off Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Pride celebrations at Capilano University are going to be bigger than ever this year, stopping just short of a full-on parade. Pride Week kicks off on Feb. 22 with a Community Resource Fair, making way for a Glitter Extravaganza, community dinner and several film screenings in the days that follow. With the support of the CapU administration, Compass Group Canada, the Donnelly Group and Capilano Students’ Union, Queer Students Liaison Jon Kinsley has planned nearly a dozen events to unite and educate the entire campus community. “That was one of my main goals this year is to bring more community groups

CAPILANO UNIVERSITY PRIDE WEEK 2016: SCHEDULE OF EVENTS monday february 22 COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR Time: 11:30am–1:00pm Location: Library Hallway/CSU Members Centre, LB 195 Meet amazing organizations from the community from HIM Positive Living BC, Vancouver Men’s Chorus, Womyns Ware, and Youth Co. and more.

thursday february 25

friday february 25

WORKSHOPS: ANTI-OPPRESSION (PEERNET) AND QUEER COMPETENCY (QMUNITY) Time: 11:30am–1:30pm Location: CSU Members Centre (LB 195)/CSU Maple Lounge (MA 116)

FILM SCREENING: THE WAY HE LOOKS Time: 11:30am–1:30pm Location: CSU Members Centre (LB 195)

CHATLIVE: QUEER 101–INTERSECTIONS, ALLIES AND Q&A (KI WIGHT & SEANNA MCPHERSON) Time: 11:30am–1:30pm Location: LB188

FILM SCREENING APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR Time: 11:30am–1:30pm Location: CSU Members Centre (LB 195)

WORKSHOP: DRAG MAKEUP 101 Time: 2:00am–4:00pm Location: CSU Maple Lounge (MA 116)

WORKSHOP: QUEER BODY IMAGE Time: 1:30pm–3:30pm Location: Queer Resource Centre (LB 190B)

DINNER/ OPEN MIC (LICENSED EVENT) Time: 5:30pm–8:00pm Location: CSU Maple Lounge (MA 116) Showcase your talent at the open mic and get to know the different members of our community.

Therese Guieb EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 17

Drag Makeup 101, an open mic night and several movies. In fact, it was a showcase of Queer cinema that jumpstarted a tradition of Pride events on campus to begin with. “We had the Queer Film Festival for three days, for two years, and then…I felt that it should be bigger,” said Kinsley. “I had heard other schools had Pride Week, so I was like ‘you know what, we’re just going to do this.’ The first instalment was launched around this time last year, with collective member David Fryer serving as interim organizer while Kinsley was in Austria on a Study Abroad trip. Now returned, he’s writing a manual for future events in the hopes that his successor will maintain and expand his vision. “I’ve been on the CSU a long time,” he said. “I see how different directors can take on different things, change things, stop things. By no means this being the second [Pride Week] does it mean there’s going to be a third… I’ve taken this role pretty seriously but that doesn’t mean the next person will and that doesn’t have to be good or bad, I don’t think. For me, I know they’re going to have all of the information so I hope they run with it. My hope is that it gets bigger and bigger and bigger.”

wednesday february 24

CSU offices to undergo $150,000 in renovations this spring

THE CAPILANO COURIER

Group and one thing led to another.” The event will take place at Bar None, located at 1222 Hamilton Street. The popular Yaletown venue boasts three dance floors, an LED wall and an upscale VIP vibe. Kinsley has lined up three DJs and drag performers as entertainment. Tickets are $10 each, including one free drink, and are available at the CSU Services Desk or online at Eventbrite.ca. All proceeds will be donated to Rainbow Refugee and Directions Youth Services, two local charities that benefit atrisk youth in the Lower Mainland. For those who prefer to shy away from the downtown club scene, there are a variety of on-campus events taking place throughout the week as well. “You want something for everyone and you want to make it accessible to a wider variety of people,” said Kinsley. “With Queer issues, often I feel people are like ‘well, I don’t identify, so this is something for you folks,’ but we want them to come into the conversation.” Events are open to all CapU students, both as active participants or open-minded spectators. More serious topics like Queer competency, body issues and anti-oppression will be sprinkled among lighter fare like

tuesday february 23

Ready, set, renovate

Last year, a series of renovations were completed in the Maple building at Capilano University under the direction of the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU). The CSU Lounge in Maple as well as a conference room were refurbished from Dec. 2014 to Mar. 2015, costing the Union $70,000. Soon, contractors will return to the building to complete phase three of construction, upgrading the CSU’s private office space in time for the Fall semester. During the CSU’s Annual General Meeting on October 2014, plans for renovations to the CSU Maple Lounge, conference room and offices were presented and approved by CapU students. “The renovations to the Maple building as a whole have always been in three phases,” said Sacha Fabry, the CSU’s vice president of university relations. “The first

on campus into the mix,” said Kinsley. “Facilities is purchasing a flag and actually raising it at the main bus loop, Chartwells is going to make a Pride pasta, the Library is going to display all of their Queer content in the main entrance.” Although Vancouver’s city-wide Pride celebrations take place during the summer months, CapU was forced to plan things a little differently, being a university and all. “The [Queer] Collective and I discussed when would be the best,” said Kinsley. “We didn’t want it right after Reading Break, we didn’t want it in the middle of an exam period. We thought about doing it with Vancouver Pride, but at the same time, the campus is so quiet in the summer that it just didn’t make sense.” Late February turned out to be the perfect choice, and happened to coincide with a previous offer from the Donnelly Group to host an off-campus event for students. “That event will be the Glitter Extravaganza and it’s running on Thursday from 9 pm until whenever we try to end up vacating the bar,” said Kinsley. “It came about through the VP Student Life [Kate Phifer, who was] planning the end-of-year party… She put me in contact with the Donnelly

phase is the lounge area, because that’s students using that, so that’s the most important so students have a good place to hang out,” he continued, “Phase two was the conference room, but that got done more or less at the exact same time as the first phase of the renovation so it’s hard to notice any difference. And then, the third phase has always been the back at the office.” The first two phases of the renovation were delayed due to structural issues in the Lounge. The start date for the construction was supposed to be in the summer 2014 semester when fewer students were on campus but it did not begin until December 2014. This resulted in the closure of the Lounge for almost two thirds of the spring 2015 semester, disabling access for students. This year, the third phase of the renovations does not have a set start date yet but Fabry anticipates that it will begin in a month or two. He assured that the construction of the CSU’s office will not interrupt students from using the Lounge beside the office. Renovations to the CSU office are essential due to some of the structures of the building that may cause health and safety hazards. “There’s asbestos under the carpets and there was also asbestos in the Maple Lounge too [before it was renovated] but it's only dangerous if it gets airborne,” said Fabry. “This is one of the older buildings on campus — there are literally vines growing through the ceiling in the summer time.”

FILM SCREENING OF PRIDE Time: 11:30am–1:30pm Location: CSU Members Centre (LB 195) GLITTER EXTRAVAGANZA Time: 9:00pm–1:00am Location: Bar None (1222 Hamilton St, Vancouver)

In addition, the renovations will help to improve space in the office. “It’s an open space, it’s hard to get work done because there’s junk everywhere, but really it’s just us getting a facelift. We’re changing one doorway to make the walk through the office more efficient, but for the most part it’s just a facelift,” explained Fabry. New features in the office will include an open-plan work area for staff, working space for shared computer stations, a staff kitchen, a closed private office for the CSU’s general manager, a staff lounge and shared meeting room, a storage room and a secure area for a safe. “We’re going to have a reception desk so students can walk in and know that it’s a reception area so there’s going to be some chairs and front desk so we can direct students where they need to go,” said Fabry. New furniture will also be provided for the office and new computers may also be bought. However, Fabry explained that the CSU’s computers are still working well and they will make sure to consult the IT department at CapU before deciding on purchasing replacements. The CSU Services Committee, which deals with services offered to students and members of the CSU, played a role in planning for the three phases of renovations. “We have a services committee which handles student service space issues and [is] part of any project when you have big

capital planning like this,” noted Fabry. The construction company chosen to take on the project is Jonathan Morgan & Company Limited (JM&C) based in Langley, BC. The CSU decided to use JM&C instead of Aberdane — the company that worked on the first two phases of the renovations — after a competitive bid process. “We figured it would be responsible of us to evaluate as many options as possible. We asked multiple companies to submit a proposal for the space. JM&C gave a better submission,” said Fabry. Planning and consultation with JM&C began in the beginning of the fall 2015 semester. The CSU signed a contract with JM&C to do the renovations for $142,000. This amount does not include furniture as the Union will purchase this from a different company. In total, the maximum budget for the renovations, including furniture, for the office is $150,000 — double the cost of the Maple Lounge. Fabry assured that there will be no additional building levy fee for CapU students. However, the money accumulated from the building levy fee that the CSU has collected from students over the years is being used to fund the renovations. When the renovations begin, some of the CSU staff and Board of Directors will be relocated to their conference room in the Maple Building, the workstation beside their office and one of the classrooms in Maple.

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National conference to be hosted by CSU 150 student association staff members across Canada to visit CapU Therese Guieb EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR

In just three months, the Association of Managers in Canadian College and University Student-Centres (AMMICUS-C) National Professional Conference will occur under the leadership of the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) in Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites in downtown Vancouver. AMMICUS-C is a national not-for-profit organization that assists staff members of student associations in post-secondary

Budget talks Student union to adjust budget due to school’s declining enrolment Christine Beyleveldt CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

At a meeting held on Feb. 5, the Capilano Students’ Union’s (CSU) Board of Directors concluded some unfinished business from 2015 in order to prepare for this year’s upcoming activities. Board members who sent regrets for not attending the meeting include vice president of external relations, Taylor Wilson, business and professional studies representatives, Michelle Gervais and Emily Solomon, accessibility justice coordinator Jullian Kolstee, Squamish campus representative, Alora Wallace, fine and applied arts representative, Melissa Plisic, and senate representative, Ben Glassen. Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) HIV nurse educator, Logan Chinski, presented

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institutions across Canada with planning conferences, providing professional advice and tools for its members of over 60 institutions. The National Professional Conference rotates locations in either the western, central and eastern regions annually. The conference is strictly for the staff of student associations who support a Union’s board members. At the AMICCUS-C conference last year, Christopher Girodat, general manager of the CSU, put forth the Union’s name in the bidding process for a western conference host in 2016. The CSU was chosen to be the host with Girodat leading the planning and logistics leading up to the conference, which takes place from May 30 to June 2. “The biggest challenge, I think, is reaching out to presenters and keynote speakers and making sure that the program is [one] that AMICCUS-C member associations are going to find helpful,” said Girodat about the planning of the conference. “It’s a lot of logistics and a lot of working at the conference site.” With an

estimated 125 to 150 attendees coming from across the country, Girodat is mostly excited for the CSU and Capilano University to receive recognition from AMMICUS-C and other student associations since CapU is one of the smallest universities to ever host the conference. “A big part of it is putting Capilano University on the map and just showing them what the CSU can do and what we can organize for a conference of this scale,” noted Girodat. The three day-long conference will consist of over 20 workshops with guest speakers, panels and keynote speakers, as well as a banquet at the last day. On June 1, the attendees will have a workshop and a tour at CapU’s campus. In addition, attendees will also head to UBC to visit its new student union building which will give the CSU and other student associations the opportunity to gain knowledge about the planning of the building to help with the future construction of their own. The keynote speakers for the conference include Adam Kreek, Olympic gold medalist in rowing, chairman of the Board of Directors

of Greasecycle and a journalist for CBC Sports, Sabina Nawaz, owner of a selftitled consulting firm for CEO coaching, and Dave Meslin, founder of the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto (RaBIT). Budget for the conference is well over $100,000. However, Girodat explained that the conference will be fully funded through its registration fees. “All of the members in the association that will be attending will be paying their share of that cost, that includes primarily costs related to the venue. So this will the base for catering, for example, some incidental expenses related to the conference site, educational fees related to our keynote speakers and of course there’s going to be some rental fees related to this,” he said. AMICCUS-C will be responsible for paying any surplus or deficit in the conference budget. “We’re just taking care of the day-to-day planning of the conference. Any surplus or deficit at the end of the day belongs to the national organization… Regardless of the budget, this conference will be revenue neutral for the CSU,” noted Girodat.

to the Board the benefits of testing students for HIV. He requested that the VCH be allowed to survey students across the Capilano University campus in order to provide more information about the testing process to their primary stakeholders, including the student health centre staff at CapU. The VCH would ideally like five per cent of students to participate in the survey, amounting to 350 surveys of which they hope to have 50 international students, 200 female and 150 full-time students participate. “We’d like to have a robust representation,” explained Chinski, “So we actually do have quite a bit of incentive.” The VCH prepared a comprehensive timeline that included the drafted survey. VCH is also currently in the promotion phase and they would like to collect data throughout the month of March to be analyzed in April so that they can present their findings to the stakeholders in May. Upon approving the VCH’s request to conduct a campus-wide survey, the Board moved on to the budget for the upcoming year. Senate representative, Rhita Hassar, explained that it is expected that the CSU

would suffer a decrease in revenue due to declining student enrolment. Budgets in numerous areas have been reduced, including the dipping pools for conferences, student spaces, university relations and services. Administrative expenses and the monetary needs for office supplies also saw significant reductions. The CSU wishes to use some of that money to fund the Queer Collective and the Women’s Collective resource centres. However, the money set aside to pay staff members’ wages and benefits saw an additional $9,000 added to the budget for the 2016 to 2017 school year which was approved by the Board in the fall of 2015. The Board went to a vote and approved the budget for 2016 to 2017, which will take effect on June 1, 2016. After the budget was approved, each of the executives gave their reports. Vice president of internal relations, Zach Renwick, said that the union is looking to implement their signage to get word out about CSU events and services on campus. A non-binding agreement with the registrar’s office will allow the CSU access student emails once a month in order to send out newsletter and

other promotional material. Vice president of student life, Kate Phifer, is currently planning the upcoming Sexual Assault Awareness Week, which will run from Feb. 16 to 18. Phifer is also planning a year-end party, which will have a finalized contract by the next board meeting. She hopes to have a procedure for implementing new student clubs in place soon, as she has been meeting with several students looking to implement new clubs on campus. Also, in collaboration with students from the Outdoor Recreation program, student life intends to host a Bunnyhop Mic Drop with an Easter theme closer towards April. Finally, vice president of university relations, Sacha Fabry, announced that the CSU executives had been working to build relationships with the University’s newest hires, whose names have not yet been disclosed. By building relationships, the executives aim to get an understanding of procedures and negotiate earlier releases of exam schedules, coordinate meetings with program Deans to review mandates and eventually campaign for a smoke-free campus.

THE CAPILANO COURIER VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO.17

CAP YOU Picking through post-secondary perks Student status offers big savings at local retailers Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After forking over many hard-earned dollars for tuition, transit, parking and those inevitable weekend alcohol binges, students are almost always on the hunt for a good discount. Thankfully, it’s not just senior citizens who stand to save a few bucks in the world of retail anymore. Sure, a Gold Card may still be about four decades into your future, but don’t let that stop you from cashing in on some perks here and there. Behold, the The Courier’s comprehensive guide to student savings.

STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARD The infamous CapCard is standard issue for every CapU student at the beginning of each school year. With no initial charge

and no expiry date, it’s a valuable piece of plastic that carries significant discount power far beyond the campus. Seymour’s Pub at the Holiday Inn currently offers 25 per cent off the cost of all food for CapU students — all day, seven days a week. The establishment’s close proximity to CapU makes it a regular destination for thirsty academics. But the savings don’t end there. In early 2016, Deep Cove Brewers + Distillers began offering $1 off growler fills every Monday with proof of student status. That’s almost two litres of beer for just $11. Back on campus, the Blueshore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts has been known to release a limited amount of Student Rush Tickets for select concerts, including those presented by the University’s premier ensembles, Nitecap, A-Band and the Capilano University Singers. Cash only, they are available one hour prior to a performance for $10 each, instead of the usual $22 or more. St. John Ambulance offers between five and 20 per cent off the cost of First Aid and CPR training courses for all students who mention CapU during registration.

STUDENT PRICE CARD One of the most popular loyalty programs in Canada is the Student Price Card (SPC),

available online at Spccard.ca. With a small up-front cost of $10 plus shipping, it’s a bargain that stays valid between Aug. 1 and July 31 of each calendar year. Discounts range from 10 to 20 per cent at over 120 participating retail chains nationwide — everything from Banana Republic to Booster Juice. CapU’s on-campus bookstore is a participating merchant as well, offering 10 per cent off all general merchandise with the CapU logo on it. The institution joins many of the biggest names in fashion, food and travel.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARD For $20, an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) can be purchased through the Capilano Students’ Union or online at Isic. org. Though it carries fewer retail benefits than the SPC, the program does offer savings on more practical purchases and experiences, such as those found at Staples, The UPS Store and the Royal BC Museum. Since 2015, Pacific Coastal Airlines has offered a generous 25 per cent off the cost of flights for those who use the “STUDENT” promo code and present their ISIC card upon check-in. Serving over 65 destinations in BC, the deal makes for an affordable weekend getaway.

CSU SERVICES DESK More amazing discounts are waiting at the CSU Members Centre in LB 195, including subsidized passes for skiing and snowboarding. Lift tickets for Whistler Blackcomb are offered at $92.40 per day (regular $129) — cash and debit only. Season passes are $599 plus GST, a whopping savings from the regular $1,999. Mt. Seymour offers a similar deal in October and November of each year, selling seasons passes for a third of the usual price. The CSU offers smaller items as well, including pens, mugs and water bottles. Condoms, lubricant, feminine hygiene products and legal advice are all available for free. Cineplex tickets are sold for $9.50. Further savings are offered through the Endless Savings & More app, a custom discount program for CapU students that offers savings on dining, entertainment, travel, clothing, automotive, consumer goods and more. It can be accessed through the CSU’s mobile app or online at Csu. bc.ca/services/endless-savings. Hundreds of retailers are currently participating in this little-known gem.

WHO YOU

Martin BOGAJEV

Martin Bogajev Get buckets

VS. KPU EAGLES 11/20/15

Carlo Javier

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 17

It was mid-November and the Capilano Blues men’s basketball team were playing on the road against the Kwantlen Eagles. Early in the game, Blues guard Martin Bogajev received some surprising information from the opposing players: The Eagles’ coach had instructed his players to let him shoot, as according to the scouting report, “he was gonna make it anyway.” It worked like a jinx. Bogajev wound up missing his first four shots, “I was a little off so I started going to the hoop more.” Like any scorer, the sight of the ball going in the hoop is remedy to any shooting slump. As Bogajev went on a roll, the defence around him tightened. But it didn’t matter. “I’m always pretty confident about my shot,” he said. The Blues won the game 103 to 76, a decisive victory that was much needed after the team’s inconsistent start to the season. As for Bogajev, he only played 22 minutes, but it wasn’t because of the defence that honed in on him. He only needed 22 minutes to score 35 points. At its very core, the foremost principle of basketball is incredibly simple: put the ball in the basket. Bogajev happens to be very good at scoring the ball. This season, the second-year combo guard has taken a big leap in his game. Bogajev is known across the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) as a consistent threat from the 3-point line, and even though he’s become the centre of scouting

— VANCOUVER SPORTS PICTURES

EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

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3-POINT FG reports and defensive schemes against the Blues, he’s still managed to shoot his way into becoming the league’s premier scorer, leading all players with an impressive average of 21.4 points per game. “I guess I have more confidence than I had last year,” he said. Although Bogajev has clearly made a jump as a scorer and has also taken a bigger leadership role within the Blues, he still seeks to make considerable improvements in some areas of his game, particularly his defence and his on-court communication. As a combo guard, Bogajev can seamlessly transition between both guard positions. For the most part, his team looks for him to score, but the distinction between a good player and a great player comes when a

scorer is able to bend defences and draw double teams. Not only is Bogajev a scoring threat, he’s also a very capable playmaker, “Sometimes [the defence] load up on me, so I try to get other guys going in the beginning.” Despite his outstanding play, the Blues’ season has been marred by inconsistencies. The team is currently sitting at fourth in the league, winning nine of their games and losing seven. “We’re really struggling right now so, we have to gel as a team right now and try to the best that we can,” Bogajev said. “We’re not scoring, we’re not playing defence, everything — we’re a young team.” Despite their uneven play, he still remains positive that he and his Blues teammates can reach their goals this season. “I feel like we can win, if we come second [in

the league] we can go to nationals, that’s the goal.” Playing in home or away games can sometimes be the difference maker in sports. Home games can include the raucous cheers of fans, while away games can include jeers and heckling from supporters of the opposing team. Though both types induce their own respective dynamic, playing in front of an away crowd is one aspect of the sport that Bogajev very much relishes. “I kinda like when there’s a lot of people in the gym on away games. I like that, that’s always fun.” This year’s provincial basketball tourneys will be held from Mar. 3 to Mar. 5 at Capilano University. For a full schedule, visit Capilanou.ca/athletics.

O P I N I O NS Sweet, more taxes Taxing sugary beverages won’t go down too well Steve Tornes CONTRIBUTOR

Everything has a cost and someone has to cover it. The long-term price of soft drinks includes obesity and diabetes, among other health issues. In Canada, everyone pays the costs of healthcare. In other words, as citizens, we are paying for the healthcare costs associated with soft drinks. While those conditions are personal, the strain they put on our health system affects us all. That is why there are growing calls across Canada to increase taxes on soft drinks and sugary beverages, with the hope of curbing consumption. One problem is that most people think that the entire cost of soft drink is accounted for in its market value price. Unfortunately, the truth is that the cost to produce soft drinks is much cheaper than the strain it puts on our health care system and society. There is a link between soft drinks and obesity, diabetes and cavities, among other conditions, which can lead to other indirect effects such as social isolation and a lack of confidence. It’s not as if soft drinks have any nutritional value. They’re nothing but empty calories. Given the impact that obesity and diabetes is having on our health system, it is clear that the current prices of soft drinks and sugary beverages are not enough to cover those costs. Taxing sugary products would generate revenues for health care and discourage the consumption of soft drinks at all at once. One issue regarding the taxation of soft drinks has to do with misinformation that exists about the impact they have on people’s health. Many sugar and beverage companies have funded research, potentially to raise doubt about whether or not their drinks are truly unhealthy.

Fetal attraction Leah Scheitel CONTRIBUTOR

reach. This isn’t to say that the relationship between surgery drink and health isn’t complex, but that there appears to be a conscious effort at obfuscation. In order for society to properly deal with its food-related health problems, we need a comprehensive plan that’s not only restricted to soft drinks. Our governments need to implement taxes that discourage the consumption of junk and fast foods, so that those revenues are used to promote healthy eating in schools and homes. Moreover, there should be an effort to promote good eating habits and

physical activity. The largest problem with getting lawmakers to tax sugary beverages is the politics of it. Many people give Social Darwinist arguments, and like Cain, ask, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” People seem content with letting people consume at their own demise. While this may be the least confrontational approach, we have to get over this and tax unhealthy products because of the impact they are having on our society. The influence of unhealthy choices is far-reaching. Poor health has a cost, and we all pay for it.

drinking alcohol if they are not on birth control. The announcement was labelled as a blanket approach to combat fetal alcohol syndrome in newborn babies, and many women found it insulting. Within 24 hours of the address, an onslaught of ridicule and backlash against the advice from women flooded social media. The CDC’s message was lampooned because it basically insinuated that women exist to be baby incubators. The female role throughout history has been bound by the fact that our lady bits double as an oven for babies, but in the past century, women have made progress to break out of this binary role. The CDC’s warning acts as a reminder that we haven’t come nearly as far as we need to and that our biggest accomplishment is when we poop out a child. The CDC said that "about half of all US pregnancies are unplanned and, even if planned, most women do not know they are

pregnant until they are four to six weeks into the pregnancy. This means a woman might be drinking and exposing her developing baby to alcohol without knowing it." There are a few things to say to this argument. The verdict is out on whether it is safe to drink during pregnancies. Some cultures endorse it, saying a small amount of alcohol isn’t harmful and may benefit pregnant women as it supplies needed calories. And the verdict will always be out on this matter because no doctor or scientist will test on a pregnant woman or a growing fetus. If the experiment did induce life-long harm to the baby, they would be at fault and liable. And secondly, alcohol is known to create the mood, enhancing the chance that a woman will get pregnant. By their own advice, about half of women get pregnant without knowing, and drinking during the first few weeks of the pregnancy, but half of the population does not suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome. And if alcohol were

removed from the equation, it would reduce the number of pregnancies a year, and the birth rate is already down from what it was 50 years ago. In 2012, the birth rate in Canada was 1.61 children per women oven. In 1962, it was 3.68. Women are already choosing to marry later, have children later and opt for their careers instead of traditional and stereotypical rolls. If these accidental pregnancies, brought on by two shots of Jack Daniels and a shitty compliment, were to disappear, it’ll be hard to replace them. It’s not like sober thought and arguments over Earl Grey tea get the loins flowing and the nice guy laid. Booze does that. It’s no wonder that women in every crevice of social media are speaking out against the CDC’s advice. It’s the advice of an old white man under the guise of “medical professional.” And how many of the old white guys would be here if their mamas never had a drink before having sex?

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For some reason, governing bodies love to lecture women about their bodies. It’s a tradition as old as sex, really. As the female body is designed to make babies, it is a bullseye for critics of both genders to debate. And no matter how many times women might try to take their bodies off of the table, debate never seems to end. Last week, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) broadcasted its newest advice: all women of childbearing age and who are sexually active should refrain from

According to a New York Times article published last August, Coca-Cola has allocated millions of dollars in research grants to organizations that refrain from blaming sugary drinks and unhealthy foods for obesity and diabetes. Those organizations usually leave out food and beverages altogether, identifying lack of exercise as the main culprit for obesity in the US and UK. With all this misinformation about the dangers of sugary drinks, it is not hard to see why some people are still unsure as to whether or not soft drinks should be taxed out

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Why the CDC’s advice to females is being mocked

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Regulating the skies Stricter rules needed for personal drone use Eric Wong

THE CAPILANO COURIER

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Don’t be alarmed if there is a buzzing sound overhead – it’s not a UFO. Instead, it’s probably a remote-controlled Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone. Drones are popping up in cities around the world for personal use. The use of drones has allowed people to capture stunning footage that otherwise could not been seen from the ground or a helicopter. They are easy to operate, have several fail-safe mechanisms, and can be flown straight out of the box. As they are coming down in price, there is an increased number of them occupying airspace in cities and towns across the country. The challenge for transportation authorities is regulating their use, because when flown irresponsibly, drones can be very dangerous to planes and helicopters. The primary reason why governments are moving quickly to further regulate drones is to ensure that their operators can be identified if they cause problems. Currently, UAVs can be reported if they invade an individual’s privacy, become a danger to the public or fly too close to airports. However, even when drones do crash or get caught, it’s nearly impossible to identify the operator. In extreme cases, planes have had to divert their flight paths due to drones hovering too close to them. Industry fear is that drones may enter planes’ engines or damage their exteriors, jeopardizing occupant safety. Transport Canada is proposing to have commercial drone operators take a course to ensure they have the skills to fly them and know the rules associated with doing so. There are many rules as to what pilots can and cannot do with drones, yet most are flown immediately after they are unboxed. Companies and individuals who use drones for commercial purposes are required to

Finding cap’s hero Next chancellor must be inspiring and accessible Kevin Kapenda OPINIONS EDITOR

Unlike most universities across the country, Capilano is currently without a chancellor. A chancellor is the symbolic head of a university, like the lieutenant-governor is for a province. CapU’s Alumni Association has decided to take its time with regard to its search for a new chancellor, a position that has been vacant for over a year now. Chancellors can come from all sorts of professional backgrounds, but must embody the culture of the university they

— KYLE PAPILLA

CONTRIBUTOR

register them with Transport Canada. However, those who use them for pleasure or personal use do not require training and that is where most of Transport Canada’s problems lie. Most commercial drone operators spend thousands of dollars on their UAVs and wouldn’t want them to get seized or damaged in flight. Current drone regulations regarding personal use are practically useless because they are so difficult to enforce. In most cases, backyard drone flights successfully land without a hitch. The majority of hobbyist pilots take pride in operating their “babies” and are responsible drone

users. But as they often say in law, it only takes one precedent to ruin it for everyone. One thing regulators could possibly do is force manufacturers to include mandatory flying guides with the purchase of drones, so users are aware of the rules from day one. By educating beginners that have little to no experience with drones, Transport Canada can help prevent the number of accidents that occur, while keeping the airline industry off their back. Unlike fashion, drone prices have continued to drop despite increased demand for UAVs. There will be more drones soaring above your city, meaning

accidents and close-calls with planes could be on the rise without further regulation. By regulating personal drone use, Transport Canada can help lower accident rates and help pilots become safer operators. After all, there’s no reason why anyone shouldn’t be able to enjoy the freedom that comes with operating a drone. The important stipulation is making sure they know the rules of sky, before taking off.

have been appointed to lead. Whoever does end up becoming our chancellor should inspire students to persevere and overcome challenges in their lives, like he or she did. When searching for a new chancellor, the first people who often come to mind are notable alumni of a university. Academics, politicians and business people are often courted for the position because as former students, they are able to relate to those who presently attend their alma mater. Other individuals who become chancellors include artists, media professionals and philanthropists as well. Before appointing a chancellor, a school must first know what its values are. If not, controversial appointments could end up turning faculty and students against their administration. As with most appointments, it is impossible to please everyone who may be impacted by the decision. However, if a candidate clearly clashes with a university’s

culture, there is no way he or she can be relied upon to inspire and bring their community together. Luckily for CapU, we seem to have to a pretty good idea of what we’re all about. We have a strong connection to the North Shore, and love the area that surrounds our school. Unlike some universities, we are quite diverse as well, not just in terms of ethnicity, but age, and gender too. Whoever our Alumni Association recommends for chancellor must have a history of bringing all sorts of people together in an inclusive fashion. Sustainability and innovation should also be important to our chancellor, since our school is passionate about the environment, too. An individual who has a history of doing what most wouldn’t try or think possible is exactly what students need to keep find new ways to sustain our community and planet. Accessibility is also something

many students like, such as the ability to regularly meet with instructors and other staff on campus. Our next chancellor should be no different, and must be an individual students that want to know and hear from. Most students in Canada don’t know who their chancellor is, unless they’re low-key famous, like Peter Mansbridge at Mount Allison University or Robert Thirsk at the University of Calgary. CapU’s next chancellor probably won’t be a national TV anchor or former astronaut, and quite frankly, doesn’t need to be. There is no need to appoint a traditional candidate to a school that is anything but that. Whoever does get the job though should be local, and committed to inclusiveness. An alumni of our school would be nice, but what’s most important is that our new chancellor is someone who has dedicated their life to making their community and country a better place.

FE ATU R E S

From the perspective of the bouncer who wouldn’t let you in the club Carlo Javier EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Michael Couture towers over most people. At six-foot-four and 290 pounds, the 22-year-old CFL hopeful isn’t just a big man — he’s physically imposing. He recently completed his fourth and final season with Simon Fraser University’s football team, finishing his career with recognition as one of the most versatile and skilled offensive linemen in the Northwest. However, the football field isn’t the only place that challenges Couture’s physicality, mentality and patience. On weekends, he’s one of four bouncers at Pierre’s Champagne Lounge, one of Yaletown’s premier establishments. With a legal capacity of 65 people, Pierre’s is considered one of the smaller venues in the Lower Mainland. On any given weekend night, there are four bouncers present at the lounge. Two tend to be stationed at the main door while another one is deployed at the back door. Finally, a fourth bouncer patrols inside, not unlike a military sentry. There are six reserved tables, each available for bottle service. Any questions regarding the establishment’s exclusivity and prestige were answered by just one look at the drink menu. With several bottles easily exceeding $1,000, the reputation of Pierre’s wasn’t too hard to pinpoint. According to Part 6, Subsection 4 of the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, any establishment cannot exceed the set capacity that it was licensed with – doing

guy just threw a punch and guys started jumping in and there was probably 20 to 25 people fighting,” he explained. Bottles were shattered and tables were flipped. People were throwing items all over the place, whether it was ice or shards of glass. The chaos was real. Couture has had his fair share of scrums on the football field. Most of the time, he has no problems pushing people around. But this was different. This wasn’t a sanctioned, competitive and ultimately fair football game. This was a mix of alcohol and anger among men. This was violent. “I ended up actually having one guy in each hand, by the neck, by the shirt,” Couture said. “Of course because I’m holding two guys, one of their buddies came at my neck, and I’ve got my bouncer just flying over my shoulder, smoking guys, it was nuts.” Fortunately for everyone involved, the brawl would die down eventually. Innocent bystanders in the bar were smart to quickly remove themselves from the scene and Couture walked away relatively unharmed. “One of our guys actually got sucker punched at that fight, so he was a bit banged up. I was really fortunate.” Couture has held an interesting perspective over the years, that of a gatekeeper. He’s seen people at their worst and at their lowest. He’s seen people resort to animalistic and barbaric senses. The proverbial perils of the nightlife have been too close to him. It’s been too real. After three years at the door, Couture has taken an extended hiatus from the industry. Truthfully, he doesn’t see himself coming back. His life has been dedicated to a career in football, and plus, for the past three years, he’s been very close to the nightlife — almost uncomfortably so. “I always drank a little too much, spent a little too much,” he confessed. “Once you’re in it and you see the same people every weekend, getting as low as they are, spending their money… It’s a fad that ended very quickly for me.”

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and fights, she thought of the possibilities that he could get stabbed or shot. She was perturbed by his proximity to the often unabashed and unfiltered world of the nightlife industry. Couture might’ve had the ideal size and composure for the job, but he was still ultimately only 19 years old. Despite this, he saw that the job paid well, to the point that unlike other sectors in the nightlife industry, he’s not worrying about tips or tip share. More importantly, the schedule worked with his athletic and academic responsibilities. Sooner or later, there came an understanding that Yaletown wasn’t the worst of environments; it wasn’t exactly a violent or dangerous place. “This place isn’t as bad of a club as there is in Vancouver, so fighting and brawls and that kind of stuff are minimal, but they have happened.” And it isn’t pretty when they do. With about a year and a half under his belt, Couture encountered the worst brawl he’s had the misfortune of being a part of. As a lounge, Pierre’s wasn’t required to adhere to the same entry restrictions that were obligatory for a regular club. “It was super laid-back,” Couture said. His main priorities were simply to watch capacity levels and maintain a certain balance in customer ratio. He wore the usual get up: buttoned up shirt, dress shoes and trousers. It was mid summer, but he knew there would be a bit of a chill as the night went on, so he wore a pea coat as well. Like always, there were four bouncers patrolling the premises. Individually, they would easily rank among the bigger people you would see — after all, they tend to be linemen for collegiate-level football — but together, these guys were like a phalanx. But no matter how much size and strength advantage they had, there were still only four of them. Although the bouncers were wired, they didn’t need any communication to know that their immediate presence was needed inside on that particular evening. The commotion was loud enough. Couture busted through the main doors, and there it was: the biggest brawl he’d seen on the job. Nearly two-dozen people were fighting and it was up to the four of them to stop it. On that night, four of the six tables were occupied by different groups of men and their girlfriends. Alcohol seamlessly circulated across the venue, but because of the smaller space, people weren’t moving as smoothly as they would’ve liked. Shoulders were bumped and drinks were spilled. “One

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so will lead to a hefty fine. Yet on some occasions, even when a club has yet to even come close to its set capacity, customers may still find themselves having to line up. “Ratio is very important,” Couture said. “You need a good girl-to-guy ratio, or if we’re just simply full and then we can’t let anybody in.” This nightlife principle ignites one of the common misconceptions that Couture hears about bouncers: “People think that we have something against the people that are trying to get into the club.” More times than not, certain types of people will resort to pulling the race card on a bouncer who may have denied their immediate entry. Some even go as far as incessantly poking the bouncer. Although physicality, timing and skill have been the main elements of his game on the football field, Couture admitted that working in the doorman industry has led him to pay attention to the power of his words. Sometimes, a firm look and the right words are the difference makers on whether or not he’s liable for any lawsuits. “That’s one of the most unfortunate parts of the job is that people that are intoxicated will argue with you as much as they can,” he said. “You can’t really do a whole lot about it. I can’t just push them away.” In a sense, bouncers can be defenceless. They can’t always act on what’s thrown at them — sometimes they have to take the insults with a grain of salt, even if the insults hurt. “You have to be intellectual to do it, to be able to restrain yourself sometimes. If they realize that they’re not gonna get into the club, they’ll do whatever it takes to make me angry, to maybe set me off,” he said. “Guys think we’re just big and stupid that’s why we’re doormen.” The life of a full-time student-athlete can already be hectic enough on its own. Adding a job to those two immense responsibilities could almost be an impossible notion for some. Fortunately for Couture, Pierre’s has maintained a lasting relationship with SFU’s football program. The club has a history of offering doorman jobs to the older and bigger players on the team. Couture was only 19 when he got the start. There were concerns at first. He didn’t really know what he was getting into. He was just as big as most of the other guys working, but there was more to it than size and intimidation — much more. His mother, however, had bigger concerns. She was worried about brawls

A HISTORY OF BLACK H

Christine Beyleveldt CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

THE CAPILANO COURIER

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Recently in the Globe and Mail it was argued that multiculturalism was a venture that had failed in Angela Merkel’s Germany. In contrast, as one of the world’s most diverse nations that over 200 ethnicities call home, Canada’s experiment with multiculturalism can be considered a resounding success into the new millennium. What sets Canada apart is the fact that other cultures are welcomed with open arms into the Canadian family, no matter their origins. “An overwhelming majority of immigrants proudly take up citizenship in Canada,” wrote Globe and Mail reporter Irene Bloemraad. She argued that it was Canada’s cheer, friendly faces and policies surrounding integration that make so many feel safe and included within our borders. However, up until the end of the 20th century Canada wasn’t known for its warm embrace. In fact, racial intolerance was often pitted against the very communities who shaped the Canada people know today. According to the last census taken in 2011, just over two per cent of the entire Canadian population classified themselves as black, yet that small group paved the way for the tolerance seen today. The first black communities were formed at the same time as the European colonization of North America, and while discrimination was present consistently, in time they were recognized for their role in Canada’s formation. Today, this contribution is honoured and celebrated in the form of Black History Month every February.

LOOKING FORWARD Despite all that it stands for, Black History

Month has never passed without criticism. Although the event grows larger every year, many notable figures still believe that the best way to recognize the contributions of Black Canadians is to integrate their history into everyday studies. An independent month, some argue, confines an entire race’s contributions to a mere 28 days while the rest of the year again looks at colonial history and marginalizes other groups. Race is not a topic to be taken lightly — even in Canada, which is considered one of the most diverse countries in the world. “It's important to celebrate Black History Month to not only recognize the sacrifices and contributions that leaders of the black community have made and will make, but to celebrate the progress humanity has made from the events that occurred in the past,” said Harold Williams, Capilano Students' Union’s Students of Colour Liaison representative. “Black history, I think, shouldn't be seen as recognition towards one group of people. It involves every one of us, regardless of race, thus it is our history to share and celebrate.” Before Black History Month, the history of African Americans was still celebrated. In the 1920s, historian Carter Woodson conceived the idea of Negro History Week, which would evolve into a much larger cultural event. In 1979, Toronto was the first municipality in Canada to celebrate Black History Month throughout the month of February, and in 1996 it was celebrated nationwide for the first time following a motion made by Member of Parliament Jean Augustine, the first woman of colour to be elected to the House of Commons. Twenty years later, Canadians still recognize many of the same events in black history. “Today, Black History Month continues to grow nationally with events being held across the nation. These events range from simple gatherings and cookouts to marches and historical recreations,” said Williams. “Black History Month is an opportunity to share the history, contributions, and culture of Black Canadians,” the City of Vancouver released in a written statement. Over the last five years, Vancouver has funded public events to celebrate black history throughout the month of February. Black History Month in Vancouver kicked off this year with an address from Mayor Gregor Robertson followed by live music, poetry and dancing outside City Hall. Toward the end of the month, CapU will bring the celebrations from the downtown core onto campus. “We hope to also get a guest speaker to talk more about black heritage in Canada and have a live performance of African djembe drummers who would also offer free lessons to students,” Williams explained. If all goes according to plan, there would also be an opportunity to sample a variety of traditional African dishes on campus, along with several movie and documentary screenings over a two-day period. Film is a large part of the celebratory nature of Black History Month as it gives members of the black community an opportunity to

show their work, and for other aspiring filmmakers to highlight the contributions and sacrifices made by Canada’s black communities. Williams hopes to arrange for movie and documentary screenings at CapU about influential members of the black community who were critical figures in the movement toward equality in Canada. The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) also devotes the month of February to premiering films that mark pivotal moment in Black Canadian history. On Feb. 2, VIFF showed the migrant saga Mediterranea, a film that emphasized the hostilities faced by African migrants, and on Feb. 9, a documentary dedicated to Senegalese author and filmmaker, Ousamane Sembene, who is widely

considered the father of African film for the headway he made. On Feb. 15 and 16 VIFF is showing Ninth Floor, a film by Mina Shum which documents the student uprising in Montreal in 1967 following accusations of racism made against a professor. “What I consider most important about Black History Month is remembering the sacrifices that those before us made to effectively change our lives for the better. Some even paid the ultimate price to achieve what we take for granted today and if that isn't worthy of some kind of recognition I don't know what is,” said Williams. Black Canadians give essence to much of this country’s early history, and arguably Canada wouldn’t be the diverse and accepting culture it is today without their struggle for acceptance into society leading up to confederation and even beyond that point. “This aspect is especially important because it highlights the lessons learned from the past so that we can continue to make positive change in our society,” explained Williams. Black Canadian communities paved the way for the acceptance we see today, but it wasn’t achieved without a struggle. There is a rich history ingrained in the black communities here that is often unrecognized, beginning with Canada’s colonization.

LOOKING BACK “Most people have heard of the Underground Railroad and slaves coming

HISTORY IN CANADA to Canada to escape slavery, but most people don’t know or don’t realize that the history of blacks in Canada goes much deeper than that,” said CapU history professor, Derek Murray. The history of black communities in Canada doesn’t make up a significant component taught in elementary and secondary level schooling, and when it does it is often only touched upon briefly. Murray explained that there isn’t much information about the early black communities in Canada because Francois Xavier Garneau, the French writer who recorded the early history, purposefully omitted it. "In English Canada, it hasn't so much been actively written out as it has been ignored in the dominant narrative," said Murray. The first traces of black Africans in North America were slaves brought over by European settlers. Oftentimes studies of Canadian history neglect those beginnings. “People are more aware of what went on in the US because it’s such a part of popular culture and it’s such a significant element of American culture and as Canadians we’re consumers of American culture,” said Murray. “Basically black history in Canada starts in the 1840s as opposed to the 17th century when it actually does start.” In the 1730s, Canada was a French colony and 10 to 15 per cent of the urban population owned slaves. Throughout the 18th century the French were traditionally more open to the idea of slavery, and it wasn’t until the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte that antislavery laws were passed overseas in their American colonies. The turning point in Canadian history was the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759, where invading British forces defeated the French colonists and forced them to surrender Quebec to the British crown. Under British rule, the anti-slavery movement grew. “In terms of black slavery in Canada there was always resistance to it,” Murray explained. The black population that was enslaved in Canada was always pushing against the system and fighting for their own rights, and it just so happened to coincide with the antislavery movement in Britain that spread throughout the British Empire toward the

— ZED ALEXANDRA

were] kind of set aside from the rest of the community,” said Murray in reference to the black community in Halifax that existed in the 1960s, “and social services and basic infrastructure were underfunded. When development opportunity came along, the government basically unilaterally forced them to move. So they tended to be pushed aside at the government level as well in Canada.” In the grander scheme of things, black history is just as important as any other culture that has made its home in Canada, but it deserves to have a light shone upon it for all that has been omitted from the history books. “One of the reasons is that since the 1970s we’ve had this idea of Canada as kind of a multicultural place and we tend to see that as being a relatively new thing after the Second World War,” Murray explained. “But it’s a place that has had that character for hundreds of years, and blacks were an important part of that, at least from the end of the 17th century.” Black Africans, such as Mathieu Da Costa, served as translators and charted Canada alongside the French colonists in the early 1600s. Without these early figures, Canada would not be the nation it is today. In 1812, independent black communities in Nova Scotia had grown to such an extent that they formed their own militia to fight against the Americans in the War of 1812. Many feared an American victory would return them to slavery, and so they helped to bring about a Canadian victory over their southern neighbours. “So their place as, having been here as long as any other immigrant group, and yet tending to be forgotten, in the larger narrative of what Canada is and what Canadian history is all about.”

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end of the 18th century. “The first lieutenant governor who was in control of the colony of Upper Canada, which is now Ontario, was himself an antislavery activist and so when he was put in

charge of Upper Canada he wanted to make it a British society, and so he saw no place for slavery in that. So he brought in legislation to phase out slavery in Upper Canada,” Murray explained. Lower Canada, which is modern day Quebec, was undergoing something similar. There was relatively little resistance to the abolition of slavery in Canada, largely because the economy wasn’t dependant on human trafficking like many of the southern states in America were. In sheer numbers, a much greater percentage of the American population was enslaved, and in the Deep South the majority were plantation workers whereas Canadian-owned slaves were kept as household servants. “It was slowly phased out after 1793. Black culture in the United States, in the few decades after that, there came to be this notion of Canada as some kind of promised land, people didn’t really know what Canada was except that they didn’t have slavery there,” said Murray. Perhaps the most widely recognized moment in Canadian black history was the Underground Railroad. From the start of the 19th century until the end of the American civil war in 1865, a network of anti-slavery activists in the USA helped nearly 10,000 slaves to flee to Canada and the northern United States. “There was a whole community of people in the United States working to support slaves who wanted to reach Canada,” said Murray, “and so the Underground Railroad was essentially activists and volunteers providing shelter and providing transportation and things like that to help support those who were trying to get to Canada.” Even after the abolition of slavery throughout North America, problems persisted. “Segregation did exist in Canada well into the 20th century — segregation not just for blacks but in BC Asian communities,” said Murray. In the wake of the American Revolution thousands of those loyal to the British crown migrated to Canada. Among them were nearly 30,000 black loyalists who had been promised their freedom if they fought for the British. After the war’s end, they primarily formed communities in the Maritime provinces. This mass northern migration was made famous in Lawrence Hill’s novel, The Book of Negroes. Unfortunately, these people weren’t welcomed into Canadian society with open arms. Halifax, Nova Scotia and Toronto, Ontario received many black migrants, but many also built their own communities in areas such as Buxton and Dryden, Ontario. Even though slavery at this point in time was illegal, paid work was so scarce that many African Americans sold themselves into indentured servitude – whereby people would repay debts through unpaid labour. While segregation was enforced through Jim Crow law in the United States – similar to Apartheid in South Africa throughout much of the 20th century – black communities across Canada were isolated due to social convention rather that a specific set of laws. “One of the things that attracted blacks to Canada was that the law was, in theory, colour blind,” said Murray. It was only that way in some cases, due to political interference. “[They

CALENDAR

15 MONDAY

TED 2016 LIVE STREAM SCOTIABANK THEATRE

5 PM • $12.95-$19.95 Haaaaaaave you met Ted? No, not Ted Moseby from How I Met Your Mother — the conference where everyone from Al Gore to CapU’s own Michael Markwick gives a talk on something mind-blowing, mind-numbing or some mixture of the two. Cineplex will be showing it live on the big screen, even though the events are taking place right down the street.

16 TUESDAY

CANUCKS VS. WILD

WEDNESDAY

ST. PAUL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH

4:30 PM • $10

Quick geography lesson: Minnesota is the American state that borders Manitoba and Ontario. By the looks of recent statistics, it would seem as though they’re not doing too well in their NHL conference. But then again, neither are the Canucks, so this is essentially a perfect matchup. Our advice: stay home and watch it on Sportsnet so nobody can see your ugly man tears.

It’s not every day that you get to drink wine in a church — and even when you do, you’re stuck waiting in line for nothing more than a sip. This event changes everything. Marketed as an evening of laughter, alcohol and dance, you’ll be entertained by six choreographers, a sommelier and a standup comic. Extra wine is $5 a glass. Bring your own bread.

LUNCHTIME JAZZ: CHES SMITH TRIO FR 113

11:30 AM • $ - FREE Drummer Ches Smith is in town with his trio from New York. We’re all dying to know what Ches actually stands for (Chester? Chesney? Chespitarnialenkopoulous?) but that will have to wait until this lunchtime concert in the Fir building. They’re also playing at the Western Front at 8 pm that night, so there’s not one but two chances to ask him about his peculiar name!

18 THURSDAY

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 17 THE CAPILANO COURIER

VARIOUS TIMES • $25 - $70 There are huge names lined up for this year’s JFL Northwest Comedy Fest, which was formed through a partnership between Northwest Comedy Fest and Just For Laughs. Daily Show host Trevor Noah, YouTube star Miranda Sings and the guys from CBC’s This is That radio show will all be there, plus Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho and dozens of others.

WATERFRONT THEATRE

8 PM • $25

Running from Feb. 17 until Feb. 21, the BC Home + Garden Show features famous handyman Bryan Baeumler alongside… uhh… well, that’s about it. It appears Martha Stewart was unavailable. While there aren’t a ton of recognizable names on the speakers list this year, it’s a safe bet that you’ll still leave with plenty of inspiration for your next do-it-yourself project.

With no props, no costumes and no Batmobile in sight, supernerd Chris Ross will pay tribute to Christopher Nolan’s fabled Dark Night Trilogy in this action-packed one-man show. Apparently, he’s condensed the whole thing into just over an hour, using comedy and slapstick humour to illustrate epic battles between Batman and the super-villains of Gotham City.

THE SHEEPDOGS COMMODORE BALLROOM

8 PM • $32.50 + SC The Sheepdogs are taking over the legendary Commodore Ballroom for a two-night stand in support of their latest studio release, Future Nostalgia. The Saskatchewan-bred guitar-rockers were the first unsigned band to make the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and have achieved widespread success in the United States as a result. Pfft… sellouts.

GRANVILLE ISLAND

SUNDAY

VARIOUS LOCATIONS

9 AM TO 4 PM • $13 - $16

WINTERRUPTION

JFL NORTHWEST

ONE MAN DARK NIGHT: A BATMAN PARODY

BC PLACE STADIUM

FRIDAY

8 PM • $20-$41 A 91-year-old woman receives a visit from her grandson who’s been cycling across the country. He’s got no job, no money and has all sorts of annoying attributes. By all accounts, so does she. Their worlds are changing, but they help each other out. (I’m not sure how though, so please go to this and report back to me next week.) Apparently, the lead actress is fantastic.

7 PM • $59.25-$210.25

BC HOME + GARDEN SHOW

BLUESHORE CENTRE

BLOOM DANCE + WINE PAIRING

ROGERS ARENA

4000 MILES: ARTS CLUB ON TOUR

20 SATURDAY

BOSA CENTRE OPEN HOUSE CAPILANO UNIVERSITY

11 AM • $ FREE

Usually, security for CapU’s Bosa Centre for Film and Animation is tighter than a cat’s ass, but they’re unlocking the doors for this special open house. You’ll get to see live 3D motion capture demonstrations, take a tour of their state-of-the-art post-production facilities, green screen studio, mixing lab, editing suite, costuming studio and schmooze with the MOPA faculty.

WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? RIVER ROCK CASINO

VARIOUS TIMES • VARIOUS PRICES

8 PM • $35 - $50

Granville Island’s popular Winterruption festival runs from Feb. 19 to 21 this season, celebrating 11 years of music, dance, theatre, art, food, crafts and activities. CapU alumni Gordon Grdina will be there, performing improvised music on guitar with clarinetist Francois Houle and drummer Kenton Loewen in tow. For a full schedule of events, visit winterruption.com.

With comedian Ryan Stiles at the helm, some of the most recognizable faces from the popular improv show Whose Line is it Anyway? will be making a stop in Vancouver. Whose Live Anyway? features Stiles alongside Greg Proops, Jeff Davis and Joel Murray. As always, audience members are encouraged to bring suggestions — and may even be used as props.

TAIKO DRUM WORKSHOP TAIKO SPACE

10 AM TO 4 PM • $50 - $75 This is a one-day crash course in traditional Japanese drumming. At it, you’ll learn notation, basic rhythms and the history behind this ancient art form that dates back to around 588 CE. A master drummer will even teach you a piece that you can bring home to show your family. No experience is necessary, and you don’t even have to be Japanese in order to attend.

DOUBLE DOWN

HAVANA THEATRE

9 PM • $8

Contrary to its misleading name, this event doesn’t actually involve any KFC menu items. Rather, it’s an evening of spontaneous improvisation hosted by some Vancouver’s foremost comedic geniuses. Eight names are pulled from a hat and divided into four teams. None of these people will have worked together before, so hilarity and failure are inevitable.

THE SHEEPDOGS

C O L U M NS Down to earth A slow and painful death for Enbridge, but two more pipedreams have taken its place Calvin deGroot CONTRIBUTOR

Apparently oil pipelines are back, and back in a big way. Earlier this month, we had the Kinder Morgan pipeline hearings and review conducted by the National Energy Board here in Vancouver. The hearings drew hundreds of protesters who gathered to voice opposition to the flawed public review process. One that doesn’t take into account crucial criteria such as, I don’t know, the biggest environmental threat in the history of the world – climate change (among other things). Also, in a surprising turn of events, Christy Clark and the BC Liberals formally opposed the project because Kinder Morgan was unable to meet the conditions her government had previously demanded. Not to be outdone by Premier Clark, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently declared a moratorium on oil tankers on the Northern coast of British Columbia.

This announcement effectively defeats the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and honestly, I’m kind of annoyed. You see, around three years ago when I discovered the horror that was the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline, not only were there many sleepless nights, but I also embarked on a relentless personal mission to simply put an end to the project forever. I helped organize massive rallies, coordinated campaigns and through endless harassment of my fellow schoolmates, neighbours and random strangers, I managed to gather close to 10,000 signatures for petitions opposing the project. I also took part in a massive coordinated effort to ensure that Christy Clark would not be re-elected, because at the time it appeared the only way to stop the project was to go through the provincial government (we had this Prime Minister who just kind of hated environmentalists, you see). In the end it seemed like we had failed in all of our efforts to stop Enbridge’s pipeline, and when Premier Clark won that resounding victory in 2013, I fell into a bit of a negative and cynical spiral, which is why I was obviously pissed when I heard Trudeau’s announcement. You mean I put in all that time, effort and passion, suffered emotional trauma and defeat and all we had to do in the end was elect a different Prime Minister in 2015?

Get out. Okay fine, I am pretty thrilled with the decision – now, dear Justin, follow through please. Speaking of a lack of follow-through, Rick Mercer also gave quite a controversial pipeline rant that that scolded Montreal Mayor, Dennis Codere, for his opposition to the Energy East pipeline (yes, there is another one). Mercer’s rant kind of came out of left field (well… right field) and seemingly drew inspiration from the ghost of Stephen Harper’s past: completely ignoring the depths of the issue and instead giving a nice stern lecture on the importance of national unity, attacking entitled and selfish Quebecers and finishing with the always popular sentiment of “it’s about getting our resources to the market.” Rick, the opposition to the Energy East pipeline is about many different things, just not actually anything you mentioned. This pipeline is about climate change, Indigenous rights and propelling the Canadian economy into the 21st century. The Canadian government, along with a host of other nations, agreed in Paris to only allow the average temperature of the earth to rise by 1.5°c – anything above this will be catastrophic for the human race. In order to meet this agreement, we get down to zero carbon emissions by 2050, and that the majority of Alberta’s oil needs to stay in the

ground. However, the Energy East pipeline would produce over 30 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year and drastically expand the operations of the oil sands. But opposition to this pipeline (and Kinder Morgan) is as much economic as it is environmental. Over the last 10 years, the Canadian economy has been slugging along while desperately hanging on to 19th century economic notions and the pipe dream that Canada can still become a petrosuperpower. This kind of thinking brought dire consequences the moment the price of oil collapsed because we have become heavily dependent on fossil fuel exports as one of our only revenue streams. This has led to massive lay-offs, delays in new projects and to the selling off of assets as companies scramble to stay afloat. The tanking of the oil sector has only increased the urgency for these pipelines in the minds of their proponents, but there is just one problem: building a pipeline will not increase the price of oil, and without high oil prices Canadian oil cannot survive. The sun has set on the fossil fuel age, and instead of antiquated pipelines, let’s modernize the Canadian economy by aggressively shifting to clean energy and clean technology that embraces the electrification of energy and transportation. This will create more jobs and prosperity for Canadians without poisoning our environment and altering the climate.

when the article of clothing reaches a store near me, I pay for this overpriced, unjustly made piece of clothing. In areas like Cambodia, the workers behind the clothing production are often children, as young as 12. The factories in which they work are small, dirty and breaks are often out of the question. If a woman is noticeably pregnant, she’s often fired for being unable to work efficiently enough. With the growth of fast fashion – the production of cheap, fast and trendy clothes – the companies themselves are becoming increasingly unaware of who is involved in their own production. They use numerous intermediates and the process becomes less translucent. For them, finding the cheapest labour comes hand in hand with the lowest environmental standards and highest profits. Each year, roughly 70 million barrels of oil are used to manufacture the most

popular fibre in clothing: polyester. Nylon manufacturing creates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Cotton is the most pesticideintensive crop in the world, which also takes up a mass amount of land – land that’s needed for local agricultural needs. Currently, the clothing industry is in second place among industries causing the most pollution in the world, second only to the oil industry. On top of that, the clothing industry demonstrates the most cases of known slave and child labour. There are always choices. There’s the choice to fill closets with known origin items. This often promises increased quality of clothing, and in turn sends a message to brands without a traceable supply chain to organize their system. Doing so can also place the onus on companies, particularly if they want to attract and maintain consumers who are interested in responsible

buying. Vancouverites are lucky. Our city is sprinkled with many niche consignment stores. These stores offer the chance to reuse and recycle clothing rather than buy new ones, when it usually isn't necessary. James Conca of Forbes explained that the average person is throwing away 32 pounds of clothing every year. There are also stores like Patagonia, which offer transparent details of the process behind their clothing. Material makes a lot of difference. Organic cotton, hemp, organic wool and even recycled polyester are immensely more eco-friendly. With all the discussion about environmental, sustainable and responsible living, it’s important to realize what we wear everyday has grander effects than our style presentation. Sustainability, environmentalism and responsible living also involve the apparel industry. Shop responsibly.

The mute button Fashion faux pas Marissa Del Mistro

THE CAPILANO COURIER VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO.17

Fashion is at the forefront of human expression. The blissful ability to thoughtfully transform oneself from a dramatic display to casual comfort through a quick wardrobe switch is exciting. Every February, the highly notarized conglomeration of “New York Fashion Week” unchains the fruits of fashion icons to become that year’s epicentre of trend. Mood, weather and district are some of the inspiration behind ensemble choices, but what other thoughts go into what we pick to wear? Often, we’re told that we’re “somebody,” as long as we’re wearing the right brands. Recognizable by a logo or certain look, most individuals can ramble off a list of approved brands they like to sport. But what about where those clothes are made? We are responsible for the consequences for all our other actions, so what makes shopping so different? The clothes we buy are often manufactured in some factory on the other side of the Earth. When one takes the time to think this over, the disconnect becomes apparent. Who and where the clothes were made becomes a distant unknown, perhaps in Bangladesh. Nearly 80 per cent of garment workers in Bangladesh are women. Many are young, poorly educated and originate from rural villages. The majority grins and bears the inhumane working conditions because they need the salaries to support their families. For an average of 14 to 17 hours of work a day, these workers will take home something ranging from $4.20 to $5.10. Yet,

— ANGELA SCHMOLD

COLUMNIST

@CAPILANOCOURIER

/CAPILANOCOURIER

Spoiler Alert CONSOLE VS. PC: THE ETERNAL BATTLE Syd Danger CRAZY KHAJIT LADY

— SYD DANGER

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 17

When I was even shorter than I am now, my dad introduced me to The Legend of Zelda. We booted it up on the NES, and I sat completely engrossed on the floor of our living room for hours as we explored the land of Hyrule together. I was told that we could only play the next one once we beat the game – which in hindsight, if you have ever played any of the original Zelda games, was pretty cruel. To this day, there’s something about sitting on the couch covered in crumbs and still being in my pajamas at three in the afternoon that brings me right back to that place. Fast forward a few years and I discovered computer games. I’m talking I Spy: Haunted Mansion, Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? and later Earthworm Jim. This brought me to a whole new level of total obsession. I can still vividly remember my dad calling the Nintendo headquarters because we couldn’t beat a specific level of Earthworm Jim. If I remember correctly the phone call went a bit like, “Hello? Nintendo? This is FUCKING IMPOSSIBLE.” Now, when I boot up my PC, it’s to make games completely mine. I won’t lie – I have “modded” (gamer term for modify) the hell out of The Elder Scrolls

V: Skyrim. I’m pretty sure that if my save file were a person, it would be begging for a mercy kill. Unfortunately, I’m the High King of Skyrim and talking to me is punishable by 30 years in the dungeon. My Left 4 Dead game has been modded to the point where I’m not entirely sure what the Pokéballs used to be originally, but I know that they are a bomb of some sort and that Donkey Kong is infinitely more terrifying than a Tank. This is why I never truly got the whole “PC vs. Console” battle that seemed to be raging on the Internet. I’ve always kept them in separate boxes in my head: console is for nostalgia and PC is for customizability. There are specific games I play strictly on console in the hope that, when I look back on them, I’ll have the same feeling as I did when I first went on an adventure with Link. Then there are the games that I have on my PC, that I know I’ll want to continue playing forever and feel truly engrossed in a world where I can continuously create new experiences. I don’t know if PC is truly the “master race” (in fact, every time I hear someone say that, I throw up in my mouth a little). I don’t even really know much about the nuances of gaming, or why people would spend so much energy arguing about which platform is better. All I know is that it’s dangerous to go alone, and if you don’t take both, you’re missing out on an entire adventure.

ARTS & CULTURE Writing is on the wall for cursive and its place in the BC school curriculum Keara Farnan CONTRIBUTOR

As the old adage goes, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” But is it mightier than the computer? That’s precisely what the British Columbia Ministry of Education is trying to determine with its ongoing curriculum review. In March 2014, the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News reported that handwriting, an art form which has been taught in schools since the 18th century, could be eliminated from the BC school curriculum within the next few years. Under the current model, cursive writing is introduced to students in Grade 3. By Grade 4, children are expected to “produce legible handwriting using a style that demonstrates awareness of alignment, shape, and slant.” The province last updated its prescribed learning outcomes for English Language Arts in 2006. With draft documents showing that handwriting will be removed from the new version, concern is mounting among teachers and parents alike. “Handwriting is important on so many levels such as fine motor skills for primary students and even intermediate students. It’s about paying attention to detail, artistic-ness, and relaxing,” said Angela Anzonio, a teacher at Highlands Elementary School in the North Vancouver School District. “I teach [handwriting] as an art as well, so the students pay attention to the lines, forms, and detail,” she added. “Everyone needs to be able to read [their writing] just in case. Once they learn basic cursive, then they have [an opportunity to] personalize it.” Although printing and typing are used almost exclusively for the remainder of elementary school and beyond, many students maintain their penmanship well

Art installation turns questions into answers

Dinah Azage CONTRIBUTOR

around that question. It officially launched on Feb. 11 with a party at Calabash Bistro and is now on display at The Cheeky Proletariat, located at 320 Carrall Street, until Feb. 29. The installation is anything but ordinary — rather, a storefront looking at the lives and stories of black individuals through the visual lens of photography, painting and writing. Of Vancouver’s total population, only one per cent is made up of the black community. “Unless you dig for black history events, you can't see it anywhere in the city,” said Ogundele. “I wanted something to represent black history on the streets of Vancouver." Ogundele herself is not an artist, but instead put out a call out for others who were interested in showcasing their work and coming up with a concept for Black History Month. That’s how she found Shahanah Shivji, a photographer and founder of Dimemond Mentality, and Floyd Sinclair, a renowned painter and sculptor.

Sinclair’s painting, titled “Black Is…”, now anchors the exhibit, alongside several portraits of Shivji’s that showcase black individuals from around the city. “These stories range from different genders, ages to different backgrounds,” she said. Each aims to answer the big question, “Where are you from?” Even when the three came together to discuss the title and theme, it was a question that couldn’t be avoided. “It came up in natural conversation, and we joked about it,” recalled Sinclair. "Who knows, maybe art is the answer, or maybe it's just the start of a new conversation,” Shivji added. Regardless, the exhibit will help bring the art to a wider audience, a move Sinclair described as “being active and proactive.” "I think it brings a big change to Vancouver in terms of Black History Month,” said Shivji. “It's kind of lost and non-existent, and if it is, it’s in small, rural spaces like school campuses. It needs to be on a human street level.”

this June, has mixed feelings. Although cursive has proven to be a useful skill during her adulthood, she stopped short of calling it an essential one. “With the rise of technology, typing skills are a much more important thing that should be taught to kids these days,” she said. “I never benefited from handwriting in elementary school. We didn’t use handwriting, only in Grade 4. However, I use handwriting often in my life now. It looks really nice, and when I need to write out something it seems more professional as opposed to my normal printing. Handwriting has a lovely flow and appeals to the senses of the mind.” And only time will tell if it appeals to the Ministry of Education, too.

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO.17

"Where are you from?” Is a question many black Vancouverites are regularly faced with, and it was one voice in particular that brought this question to the public eye. Anthonia Ogundele is a local gallery owner and organizer of the first ever "Where Are You From?” art installation. Just in time for Black History Month, the theme of the exhibit revolves soulfully

important,” she said. “When is the last time you used it? We are forced to learn it in school, but most of us struggle with fine motor skills. Wilson said she does not use handwriting in her personal life. However, she feels as though it is relevant to Art History. “[Handwriting] is like reading Shakespeare,” she continued. “Although it is an art form that we can admire we may never be able to benefit from it… Computers and printing are all necessities. When we fill out forms we are only allowed to print. When writing an essay students are allowed to print their work by hand or use a computer. I would never recommend handwriting.” Ana Rosey Walkey, a Creative Writing student who is set to graduate from CapU

THE CAPILANO COURIER

“Where are you from?” exhibit opens to coincide with Black History Month

into adulthood. The importance of handwriting can vary from person to person, depending on his or her personality and whether or not they prefer using a computer to a pen and paper. “Handwriting and using a computer are used for different reasons,” said Anzonio. “I find that handwriting is much quicker than printing, which is why we have cursive in the first place. Europe, for example, learns cursive before printing. Cursive is more natural, as opposed to straight, hard and precise printing.” Amber Wilson, a Grade 5 teacher at Canyon Heights Elementary School, disagrees with Anzonio on the idea of cursive being practical in a digital age. “I do not think that handwriting is

— NATALIE MURRAY

A slip of the pen

@CAPILANOCOURIER

Director’s cut Fourth-year MOPA student explains process behind final film project Makenzie Murdock CONTRIBUTOR

Though certainly not immune, Greater Vancouver isn’t exactly a hotbed for South Asian gang violence. But despite this controversial subject, Jacquile Kambo, fourth year Motion Picture Arts (MOPA) student, has an aspiration to create a film that portrays the perils of the gang life – and its being produced right here at Capilano University. As a requirement to graduate from the MOPA degree program at CapU, students must create a film project as their final hurrah. The project is reasonably open and students have the freedom to choose which angle they’d like to take, including teaser trailers, short films or even a business plan for production companies. Kambo has always been interested in script writing

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and directing, so having the opportunity to direct his own film is very important to him. “I’ve been waiting a long time to have an opportunity to direct. The story is very important to me and I wanted to make sure I’m making a film for people who are affected by the subject matter – I’m willing to fight for them,” he said. Creating a film involves many steps that often go unnoticed to the average film fan. Kambo explained the five main steps necessary in order to create and direct a film of this capacity.

SCRIPT WRITING Script writing is perhaps the most crucial step towards completing a production. A typical script development goes through the process of treatment, first draft, second draft, third draft and polishing. Kambo originally wrote 12 drafts for his piece. “Scriptwriting is very, very, very hard,” he stressed. “It’s going from an idea you have in your head to putting it on paper, that’s the hardest part about scriptwriting,” explained Kambo.

HIRING ACTORS

/CAPILANOCOURIER

Hiring actors can be a tedious process. Actors, perhaps more so than the story, are essentially what induce people to fall in love with the art of filmmaking. Kambo felt naturally inclined to make use of local CapU resources – the Acting for Stage and Screen program. Many of the students in the program are eager for this kind of opportunity, and interested actors will be selected after vigilant examinations of their abilities to connect with the characters.

FINDING SOUND TECHNICIANS Kambo and other MOPA students are quite lucky to have the resources they do while completing this project. Sound technicians and other members of the technical crew are first-year students who are eager to put their skills to use and work on a recognized production. Kambo and his classmates don’t have to search far when ‘hiring’ these crewmembers.

FILMING The filming process is one that many filmmakers anticipate the most. The head of each department must maintain a focused continuity throughout the set.

The process for a feature of this nature can take anywhere from a few days to the extent of a few months. To ensure the order is quantified and executed properly throughout the set, there must be instruction, communication and a qualified film crew who is always eager to take on this exciting and important task.

MARKETING A film is one of many things that, through its scenic text, can bring people together from all different aspects of the world. Marketing is key to this kind of success. This massive expansion can be brought down to a lower level and be appropriately applied to that of Kambo’s production. Without the tool of mass media, it would be quite difficult to bring a local film like this off the ground. Although Kambo is on his way out of CapU, students just might see his name scrolling through the credits of many recognized films in the future. He plans to get his foot in the door of feature films while also doing what he loves the most – writing and directing.

Wheels down all over town Canada’s first scooter share program set to launch this summer Ramneet Kang

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 17

CONTRIBUTOR

When it comes to two-wheeled transportation, Vancouver is on a roll. This summer, the city will be home to a new electric scooter sharing service launched by Saturna Green Systems. Scooter access will now be made possible by a book, unlock, ride, and park method, making it even more accessible for Vancouverites to get around while being environment friendly, as there are zero emissions released with scooters. Like Car2Go, which is currently the largest car-sharing service on the globe, scooter sharing will utilize a similar “one trip” model with no time limits. Essentially the service allows users to subscribe to a sharing service in the city and then use the Saturna app to choose and reserve a scooter nearby. When a member has reached his or her destination, they simply park the scooter, log off, and continue on their way. When they log out of the onboard computer display, another user can find and use the scooter using the app. Scooters are very popular in large North American and European cities such as Paris and Milan. However, it is very rare to spot local scooter riders in traffic. “There isn’t a big scooter culture here in Vancouver, so we really want to change the way people interact with scooters,” said Saturna Green’s marketing manager, Marco Parlato. According to Parlato, the flexibility of the scooter will release Vancouver citizens from congestion and all the problems daily commuters experience while also helping the environment. The service will also be launching in

— MARIA CENTOLA

London at the same time it is launched in Vancouver. “The idea is to test it in Vancouver and sell it as a franchise all over the world,” explained Parlato. The first 50 to 100 scooters will be available for use at the University of British Columbia this coming June with plans to expand the fleet to around 300 scooters within the downtown Vancouver area. Young adults and students are the target audience for this project because it will enable them to get around while on a budget. Users will be charged a $15 monthly fee and 25 cents per kilometre, making the service very affordable for students. The scooter’s battery is designed to last 50 kilometres before it requires a charge, and users who park the scooters at charging stations will be rewarded with free kilometres, says Parlato. Plans for a North Shore expansion of Saturna’s scooter program have yet to be

announced and would be subject to city approval, but many in the area are already quite familiar with this sustainable method of two-wheeled transportation. Grace McNab is a jazz studies and music instructor who has been teaching at Capilano for 27 years. In order to take her car off the road for two years between 2008 and 2010, she drove her fully electric 500watt Kaishan scooters to school. “I had a black one and a pink one, both bought for $1,700, and would alternate between the two,” she said. “They weighed around 80kg, 50 of which was battery.” At the time, McNab lived in Kitsilano and it would take her approximately 50 minutes to get to campus. “I would highly recommend them except for a few drawbacks. It was difficult to ride on the Ironworkers Bridge because I got treated really badly by cyclists, got badmouthed and was told the scooter was too silent and

should have horns.” Due to a knee replacement, and having had both her scooters stolen from her home in Kitsilano, McNab stopped riding to school. “I’d love to go back because I now live closer to campus on the North Shore,” she said. There were also problems finding a place to charge them on campus. The good news is that Vancouver’s attitude and approach towards scooter riding may just be shifting. Various charging stations can now be found on campus and all scooters and motorcycles can park for free in Lot #1, located on Skeena Road adjacent to the Maple Building. Perhaps the scenic route of taking a nice ride in the breezy weather just might be a selling factor when it comes to the use of scooters as a method of transportation for a new generation of environmentallyconscious and fiscally-responsible students.

SHORTS Pride & Prejudice

Troye Sivan

Feb. 3, Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage

Feb. 3, Vogue Theatre Syd Danger

Katherine Alpen

FIREPROOF

CONTRIBUTOR

— SYD DANGER

Once in a while you get the opportunity to see someone perform who truly captivates and inspires their audience. Troye Sivan, a YouTube sensation who started posting videos at age 11, is one of those artists. His huge fanbase – who had camped out overnight to secure their space pressed against the stage barrier – screamed and cried as he stepped up to the microphone at The Vogue Theatre on Feb. 3, their rowdy excitement growing into a thunderous roar as he began to sing. The kickoff to Sivan’s Blue Neighbourhood Tour was an astounding success. Each song from his album, Blue Neighbourhood, had the crowd singing along with every word. A Canadian flag with messages of endearment written on it waved above their heads as they belted out the lyrics to WILD, and mimicked the Sivan’s infamous dance moves and enthusiasm. Midway, Sivan slowed it down and went acoustic, covering Justin Beiber’s hit, “Love Yourself,” and singing his first ever single, “Happy Little Pill,” released in 2014. During the show, Sivan would reach out and touch the hands of his adoring fans and continuously thanked the crowd for making his dreams come true. Towards his last songs, he would ask the venue to turn the lights up so he was able to see the face and thank everyone who had turned out to see his first world tour and the launch of Blue Neighbourhood. Sivan saved his current chart-topping single, “YOUTH,” for last, standing in the centre of a cloud of blue and red smoke, the bright outlines of houses framing his silhouette. The performance was electric, his raw energy and love for performing captivating. With a final thank you and to screams from his adoring fans, Sivan vanished from the stage, and left this blue neighbourhood.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

If you’re looking for a scathing review, you should turn your eyes elsewhere because I’m happy to say I found Pride and Prejudice at the Arts Club quite delightful. This isn’t to say I am completely void of criticisms, which I will divulge. It’s just that the overall aesthetic of the production — the use of portraits and paintings as a vehicle for the story alongside mostly strong and intelligent performances — made me forget I was watching a play, which I know from previous painful experience can run up to four hours. Naomi Wright was a convincing and endearing Elizabeth, opposed nicely by her Darcy. I did find Eric Craig to be a bit of a caricature at times, but perhaps the stoicism of Darcy creates that kind of almost fabricated demeanour. It was a pleasure watching Craig’s physicality and tenure loosen throughout the piece as he was transformed by his love for Elizabeth. Based on the novel by Jane Austen, Janet Munsil’s adaptation was well supported. It’s a lively script and under Sarah Rodgers’ direction; it was not overrun with fanfare, which allowed the words to reign. Amidst the overall simplicity of the piece’s aesthetic, the scene changes were as enjoyable as the scenes themselves. It was a romantic and scandalous story for its time and it was enjoyable to see this was honoured in the bathtub exchange. I won’t give away any more than that. Overall, the players were strong with a special mention to Charlotte Lucas’s truthful humanity (Georgia Beaty) and Kitty Bennet’s (Kayla Deorksen) allencompassing rapture at most things superficial. Unfortunately, Wickham (Paul Barton) seemed to diminish in Elizabeth’s presence rather than command it. Considering how manipulative and charismatic his character is in the original novel and his important role as the antithesis of Darcy, I felt the portrayal fell short of the mark. I highly recommend seeing this show. The onstage music and use of paintings transported me into a story I thought I knew everything about. I was shown that a skilled director, set design and players could make the truth ring out in a new way, even in a story as iconic as this.

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Les Liaisons Dangereuses Feb. 11, Blueshore Centre Christine Beyleveldt

THE CAPILANO COURIER

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CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

Exit 22 Theatre Company’s third installment in a season of raunchy and liberated productions opened on Feb. 10 to an excited crowd. Les Liaisons Dangereuses, originally a French tale, has been adapted for theatre and screen numerous times since its original publication in the 18th century, and on the Blueshore Financial Centre’s stage at Capilano University, the perversions and decadence of the court of Versailles sprung to life. The show was extremely cultured and the language fanciful, which gave it an air of class and sophistication, like a classic, as if you had stepped into a Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë tale. However, without prior knowledge of the story, piecing together characters and events can be just as confusing as the love lives they lead. Keeping track of names and titles and the countless liaisons that were occurring proved at first a mental challenge, but the soft wit gave way to raucous laughter and the rest of the performance played out like a roller coaster ride. Lead actress Sophia Ballantyne put on a spectacular performance as the Marquise de Merteuil, a collector of lovers as wells as secrets of the art of seduction. Having promised herself in a wager, she smoothly avoids the advances of the Vicompte de Valmont, played by Gavin Langelo, that keeps both the audience and this sexually frustrated character guessing ‘Will she?’ Won’t she?’ She suggests to the Vicompte that a man with a few choice words can so easily ruin a woman’s reputation. She must guard her reputation as well as her heart and if need be, strike back. She employs blackmail to prevent her lovers from tarnishing her name, and coyly suggests that a woman must only flirt with a man she intends to reject. The Vicompte falls for her charade. She rebuffs him and declares war, setting him up to be undermined and humiliated throughout. The play was wicked and sensual without ever actually appearing that way. The tone was highly suggestive, and without ever saying anything direct but through numerous witty lines, subtle references were made to some very saucy episodes. The play constantly teased the audience but never quite let them catch a glimpse of anything occurring behind the scenes. “How can I please my husband?” The innocent Cécile asks the Vicompte alone in her bedchamber. He drops a cushion on the floor and she kneels on it in front of him. The audience gasps and the lights dim and the scene changes. Always suggesting but never revealing. What begins as a web of torrid interwoven affairs unravels quickly, because not even the French were immune to the dreaded feels. When the first utterance of love is spoken, the game is over. You can count on the French for a dramatic ending. How else do you untangle a web of liaisons? The men lock horns and fight to the death,

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while the women lock themselves up in convents to waste away of broken hearts. The Marquise de Merteuil’s words hold truth. “When one woman strikes at the heart of another, she seldom misses, and the wound is invariably fatal.” Unlike previous Exit 22 productions, Dangerous Liaisons wasn't filled with the same bedazzle, pomp and ceremony of Rocky Horror or Treasure Island. The music was subtle – a quiet tune that filled the silence of the theatre and drew the audience into the time period, but didn't distract from the drama unfolding onstage. The lighting wasn't overly spectacular – the mock candlelight appropriately set the mood. Exit 22 has yet to disappoint. With one show left before the 2015-16 theatre season wraps up, they have set the bar high.

— ANDY RICE

Space Elevator Feb. 11, Fox Cabaret Carlo Javier EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Mike Allen wasn’t lying when he said “bring earplugs.” In fact, the Capilano University jazz studies graduate brought a box full of earplugs for any audience members who may have come ill-equipped for the grand show. By the second song of the set, the box was near empty. On Feb. 11, Space Elevator, an experimental big band composed of 19 of the best instrumentalists in the city – most are graduates of CapU’s jazz studies program – delighted a packed Fox Cabaret with an innovative and electric take on big band sounds. The show began with an evocative set from opening act, Only A Visitor. The avant-pop outfit showed off its masterful, piano-driven sounds and its asymmetrical harmonies that harken to the best tunes of experimental indie band, Dirty Projectors. Songs like “Running In My Sleep” and “Feigning Innocence” were both stirring and soothing, perfectly showing of the talents of Robyn Jacob’s virtuoso skills on the keys and the ethereal vocals of Nitecap alumni Emma Postal and Celina Kurz. After a quick turnaround and the impressive success story of fitting all

19 band members on the stage, Space Elevator, took the spotlight. Led by its talented and hilarious leader and conductor, Mike Allen, the band rocked the Fox Cabaret with their exuberant take on big band music. Each song and each interlude were greeted with raucous responses from the audience, and each break had its own highlight: Allen on the mic. Not only did he lead the way for Space Elevator as its conductor and composer, he worked the audience, too. There were highlights everywhere. Space Elevator is composed of a who’s who of the Vancouver music scene, and that was evident during the show. “KDot,” a song that Allen describes to be inspired by Compton rapper, Kendrick Lamar, exhibited the abilities of CapU grad, bassist Nikko Whitworth, who (seriously) gave Thundercat a run for his money with his wizardry on the bass. The uber-talented saxophonist Brent Mah, also a CapU grad, wowed the crowd with his otherworldly skills on the sax. Further, a thunderous duel by drummers Max Ley and Eliot Doyle damn near blew the roof of the Fox. The night also featured Juno-award winner Brad Turner on lead trumpet — a gracious last-minute replacement. Ultimately, Space Elevator was a showcase for some of the best musicians Vancouver has to offer, an exhibit of Allen’s compositional genius and, simply put, a captivating show that elevated big band into a whole other galaxy.

HUMOUR

New President needed (North Vancouver) About Capilano University: Capilano University is BC’s foremost teaching-intensive university. Established in 1968, CapU prides itself in offering a multitude of academic programs, including studies in business, communications and tourism. In addition, we are a renowned incubator of the arts. We deeply value our offerings in the fields of Illustration and Design, Motion Picture Arts and Acting for Stage and Screen. We also provide a host of auxiliary programs such as Adult Basic Education. About the position: Our current president announced her departure a year ago and is about to finish off her contract by the summer of this year. The Board of Governors holds the position accountable. Salary: Maximum of $187,500, plus standard employment benefits (health, dental, vacation, etc.) Qualifications: • Some knowledge of finances required • Must be flexible with a proven ability to multitask in a demanding environment • Adequate understanding of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) • Proven teamwork skills. Must be able to connect with both students and faculty members • Must have full Class 5 drivers license and passport • Must be a champion for higher education • Thick skin is a necessity – the position is a lightning rod for controversy and criticism • Ability to problem solve • Ability to ignore reprimands from Supreme Court and teacher associations who disagree with your definition of “problem solving” • Communication skills • Attention to detail • Must have an eclectic enough fashion sense for visibility • Must have zero fear or concerns of making cuts

THE CAPILANO COURIER

Job duties: • Lead the institution as it further grows as a university • Maintain a subtle favouritism towards business and international program • Fully support the Board and its mandate • Lend your likeness to sculptures, sometimes unknowingly • Make friends with some students • Must be on campus some days of the week • Make an appearance here and there • Talk to media once in a while If you think that you might be an eligible candidate for this position, please send your CV and cover letter to the email link above. Please mention the job title in your email subject. To learn more about Capilano University, visit Capilanou.ca

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PRIDE WEEK FEBRUARY 22-26

COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR Meet organizations including HIM, Positive Living BC, Vancouver Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chorus, Womyns Ware, and Youth Co. (11:30am-1:30pm, LB 195)

Anti-Oppression (11:30am-1:30pm, LB 195) Qmunity (11:30am-1:30pm, MA 116) Drag 101 (2:00pm-4:00pm, MA 116)

OPEN MIC COMMUNITY DINNER Showcase your talent at the open mic and get to know the different members of your community. (5:30pm-8:00pm, MA 116)

CHAT LIVE: QUEER 101

THE CAPILANO COURIER

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Two of Caps faculty Ki Wight and Seanna McPherson will be creating discussion around Queer 101: Intersections, Allies, leading into a Q&A. (11:30am-12:30pm, LB 188)

GLITTER EXTRAVAGANZA (Bar None, Vancouver) A night of celebrating with live DJs, drag shows, and a dessert bar. Where all proceeds will be going back to the community. (9pm, Bar None, 1222 Hamilton St, Vancouver)

FILM SCREENINGS (all screenings take place in LB 195) Thursday, Feb 25, 11:30am Pride (2014)

22 FEB

WORKSHOPS

Wednesday, Feb 23, 11:30am The Way He Looks (2014)

FEB

Friday, February 26, 11:30am Appropriate Behavior (2014)

FEB

23 FEB

25 FEB