Capilano Courier | Vol. 49, Issue 19.

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VOLUME 49 ISSUE 19 FEBRUARY 29 - MARCH 06 | 2016

BALLSY BUSINESSS

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ALL STRUNG OUT

WINE FEST: ITALY

From the first cut of wood to the final coat of varnish, features editor Gabe Scorgie takes you through the process involved in building a custom guitar.

Vancouver International Wine Festival kicked off last week with a wide assortment of Italian wines. We’ve got highlights from Thursday’s gala!


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Cover Art

Editor's Desk

News

Cap You

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Special Feature

Columns

Arts & Culture

Humour

ANNIE CHANG

BUILDING A CUSTOM GUITAR

THE STAFF Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

editor@capilanocourier.com Carlo Javier EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

carlo.capcourier@gmail.com Therese Guieb

SEEING THE BIG PICTURE

THE MUTE BUTTON: ON ISLAMOPHOBIA

INCOMING HIRES REVEAL GOALS FOR ROLES

GATHERING CELEBRATES INDIGENOUS TRADITION

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

Annie Chang COVER ART

Austin Legg ART

Pamella Pinard ART

Alex Thompson

news@capilanocourier.com Kevin Kapenda

REINVENTING ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AT CAP U

CONTRIBUTORS

EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR

OPINIONS EDITOR

BLUES PROVINCIAL BASKETBALL PREVIEW

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.

Scott Barkemeyer WORDS

Graeme Findlay WORDS

Steve Tornes WORDS

CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

reporter.capcourier@gmail.com Cristian Fowlie ART DIRECTOR

artdirector.capcourier@gmail.com

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VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 19

Syd Danger PRODUCTION 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.

Jenifer Zschoerper WORDS

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

community.capcourier@gmail.com Tianyi Bao BUSINESS MANAGER

businessmanager.capcourier@gmail.com Brandon Kostinuk 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.

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EDI TO R 'S D E SK Seeing the big picture Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

And then something strange happened. I took my camera to the Space Elevator show (the one we reviewed in the Shorts section a couple issues ago) and snapped a few photos. Then I took a few more photos. And then a few more. Soon, my old zoom lenses were starting to show their limitations. I started pricing out replacements. I began looking online for vintage gear to add to my collection. I began turning into Jake. On Sunday, I bought a lens from a guy on Craigslist — my first-ever purchase from the site — and I didn’t get murdered or ripped off like my parents told me I would. You know what that means? I’ll have to test my luck with another lens. This is a slippery slope, people. Jake was right. I did need a good camera for work. My D60 was a dinosaur. But now I’m starting to wonder what else in my life is in need of an upgrade. Is my Macbook too old? My piano too clunky? My microwave too much of a testicle-zapping cancer magnet? What new hobbies can I learn? What else should I buy? What else can I sell? All sorts of questions are coming out of the woodwork. That reminds me, Jake’s previous previous hobby was woodworking. That weekend, he was patient enough to teach me the ins and outs of my new camera. In fact, we had a lesson in the middle of a Starbucks, just moments after I bought it. There were three scrawny old men in lycra cycling shorts sitting near us when we got there and now I have a bunch of highresolution photos of their sweat-stained baby boomer butts as a memento from Jake’s informative and very interactive tutorial on ISO settings. Thanks, bud. Those 1,567 images aside, I’ve really been enjoying what my D7100 is capable of. And (at least until I get my Visa bill) I’m quite thankful to the old friend who gave me just the push I needed to dive head-first into the world of photography. That reminds me, Jake’s previous previous previous hobby was diving. Call this an early wedding toast, call this whatever you like, but here’s to new skills, loyal friendships and those special people who make us see life through a different lens!

THE VOICEBOX with Carlo Javier

Syd won’t add me on Steam, what the hell?

Syd won’t add anyone on Steam

What happened to that girl who you used to deliver your newspapers across campus?

We’ve kept this quiet but she got crushed in an unfortunate delivery mishap.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

I’m selling my Yeezys, do you want them?

How much? $1200

The Voicebox is back! If you have any questions, concerns or any other bitchin’ to do, text it over to our boy Carlo at 778-865-2649. “Please text me,” he says. “No one else does.”

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A couple of weeks ago, I decided to load some clothes into a small backpack, board one of our dreadful BC ferries and drop in on a couple friends in Victoria. I certainly didn’t intend on coming home with a $1,000 camera, but that’s how things go with my old buddy Jake Humphrey. He and I have known each other since early middle school. During the first four years of our friendship alone we started approximately 40 unregistered businesses, lit dozens of things on fire and even tried to beat the crap out of each other in one sleepdeprived fit of rage. We have more stories than you can imagine, most of which we’ll be able to tell our grandkids without much censorship. Even after he moved away at the end of Grade 8, we kept in touch regularly and would reunite twice a year as if no time had even passed. We’ve both grown up a lot, but in many ways we’re still the happy-go-lucky guys we were back in the early days of our friendship. We still make impulsive decisions, we still laugh hysterically at nothing, and most importantly, we still light things on fire. I'm lucky enough to get to be the best man at his wedding this June and I know he’s found the perfect woman because she hasn’t even thought to ban open flames yet — or maybe she has but is actually just too awesome to care. Either way, nice catch, bud. For as long as I’ve known him, Jake has had an unfathomable sense of curiosity and a penchant for acquiring expensive hobbies for limited periods of time. It’s really quite amazing to watch. He’ll master a particular skill in a matter of months, ride the wave for a few years, and then abruptly liquidate all of his assets before moving onto something else. It’s like a $20,000-a-year case of undiagnosed ADHD — but it’s what makes him Jake. For years I’ve lived vicariously through his various hobbies, remaining financially unscathed in the process. But on Feb. 7 that all changed. Against my better judgement, I was talked into buying a camera I probably don’t need and definitely can’t afford. Jake’s latest hobby is photography, supported by his employment at a local camera store. Little did I know at the time, there was no way he going to let me off that island without a new DSLR in my hands. I might as well have been a fish in a barrel. That reminds me. Jake’s previous hobby was breeding fish. “You’re a journalist,” he said. “Your Nikon D60 is a total dinosaur and the D7100 is on sale right now. I can get you a killer deal.” To his credit, he totally did, but I had buyer’s remorse for about a week.


NEWS Starting anew Two of CapU’s incoming hires reveal their goals for their roles Therese Guieb EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR

Administration and faculty personnel at Capilano University are currently changing due to retirees and the Strategic Plan for 2015 to 2018.

SUNSHINE COAST Jean Bennett, dean of the Faculty of Education, Health & Human Development and the Sunshine Coast CapU campus retired on Dec. 31. Julia Denholm took over as dean of the Sunshine Coast campus on Feb. 10. Denholm has been the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for two years and will keep that position along with her new position overseeing the Sunshine Coast campus. “I'm really lucky to work on the Sunshine Coast. I've lived up there part time for a long time, and being able to get to know the community better and working with community members is something I'm looking forward to,” she said. The Sunshine Coast campus is currently facing a challenge in connecting with much of the surrounding community, in particular with individuals in the 25 to 55 age demographic who are not part of the Aboriginal community. “There is a large community in the Sunshine Coast that we haven’t quite connected with so we want to figure out how we can do that,” stated Denholm. Today, the Sunshine Coast campus is looking to identify ways in which it could draw in individuals who may want to support or attend school there. “What we are doing is trying to strengthen and build on our relationship with high schools and we are trying to work on creating programming for the high school students that will get them engaged in Capilano classes,” she continued. “We

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What’s new with the CSU? Board of Directors meeting offers insight on elections and events Christine Beyleveldt CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

With the end of the school year fast approaching, the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) executives are anxious to roll out the last few events of the semester for students.

ELECTION General manager Christopher Girodat discussed the upcoming elections for the various executive positions within the CSU. The CSU has been working closely with administrators to create online

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are also working very closely to build our relationship with the Sechelt Indian Band because they’ve got language and culture programs and early childhood education programs [at CapU] that they’re really excited about.” The business program at the Sunshine Coast campus is something that Denholm believes could serve as a bridge between the senior population, the school and its students. “We are trying to connect the students in the business program on the Sunshine Coast with members of the community that have that kind of expertise, whether they’re working as mentors or whether we are going to do some sort of think tank problem solving,” she said. “We’ve just been sort of throwing some ideas around… I mean, we are talking about an investment of funds that we just don’t have at the moment. We are going to start slowly and keep working with the community to try and figure out what it is that we are going to be able to do that can be scaled up.” A recommendation report called Campus as a Hub was presented to the Board of Governors on Feb. 16 regarding a possible relaunch for the CapU campus at Sunshine Coast. So far, no plans have been implemented or approved yet.

STUDENT AFFAIRS polling elections. However, the system will not be ready for the Mar. 15 to 17 elections and will likely only replace the current paper ballot system in 2017.

CONSTRUCTION Stantec Architecture wrote a proposal for the CSU regarding the design and construction of a new student union building, which is scheduled to be built by 2019 if the building is approved after a referendum. The CSU will begin conducting stakeholder interviews and student consultations to receive suggestions about which elements to incorporate into the new building. Vice president of external relations, Taylor Wilson, Senate student representative, Alyssa Huppler-Poliak and Business and Professional Studies representative, Michelle Gervais went to the Metro Vancouver Alliance for Affordable Housing Assembly on Feb. 8 where politicians pledged to work toward

Peter Walsh is settling into his role as CapU’s manager of student affairs, returning to his alma mater. He took over the position on Nov. 23, just 10 days after the exit of Peter Hedley. He was drawn to taking the position at CapU because he was a student here 25 years ago. “My start in student affairs work in a way began with my student experience here [at CapU]. I had been at SFU before and not done that well and I came to Cap to redo my sciences,” he said. “At the time I knew that my problem was study skills so I took workshops that was then called the Achievement Resource Centre at Cap. Cap saved my academic life but it also showed me the impact of student affairs work can have on students…It feels like I’ve come home in some ways by coming back to work here.” Throughout his career, Walsh has worked for Ryerson University, McMaster University, Mohawk College, Vancouver Community College and the Justice Institute of BC for different positions that encompassed student affairs in areas such as peer counselling, learning behaviour specialist, writing tutor and career advisor. As manager of student affairs, Walsh stated that he is responsible for the operational side of counselling, learning strategies, accessibility services, First Nations services and connecting with

creating affordable housing and spaces on the North Shore. "While nearly all asks posed towards politicians were answered in the affirmative, this one came in the negative, with certain concerns voiced by [District of North Vancouver mayor Richard] Walton linked to the soccer field near Capilano University and the fact that so may North Vancouver constituents used that field," said Wilson in a memo to the CSU Board. As one of the only remaining parcels of undeveloped land on campus, it was a suggested location for student housing in the Darwin plan, which was endorsed by the CSU in the summer of 2015. Revenue from that housing project would pay for a new turf field near Inter River Park.

FUNDING The Board will be sending four members to the Healthy Minds Healthy Campuses summit on Mar. 11 and 12, held in downtown Vancouver. $800 was released

the students’ academic and behavioural conduct. Walsh is currently reporting to Richard Gale, vice president of academic and Provost. However, when the associate vice president of student success is hired, Walsh will be reporting to that individual. Walsh revealed that there are many student resources and services at CapU that are available to students but the biggest issue is that students are not aware that the services are accessible to them. “One of the things that I’m working on is how to connect academic support services in a way that students have a sense of where to go with what kind of issue. We have all the services but it’s one of those cases where students don’t know where the services are,” he stated. He is working with the Integrated Academic Support team which was developed through the Strategic Plan in order to easily connect students to resources on campus. “We’re [the Integrated Academic Support Team] looking at student retention, student academic success, where are students running into trouble, what kind of great things that we’re already doing that maybe need more promotion,” he added. He is also looking into changes in first day orientation and an early alert program to help student find services just in time to get them out of a situation such as academic probations. Walsh is interested in helping create mental wellness strategies on campus as well. Student affairs is currently working with the human resources department to hire a student affairs officer who will be the first point of contact for students with complaints and concerns. Walsh is hoping to have the position filled by the end of the spring semester. Other new administration hires at CapU this year include: Mike Knudson, interim director of Human Resources replacing Parveen Mann, and Victoria Miles, director of communications and public relations, who is the successor to David DeMuynck. For a list of administration staff at CapU visit Capilanou.ca/about/ Administration/.

from the budget for the members to attend the summit. Geronimo Alec, First Nations student liaison, and Harold Williams, students of colour liaison, also appealed to the board to have additional funding for events being put on by their collectives. Alec motioned to increase the budget for a Celebration of Nations event from $250 to $450 and a secondary $550 budget in order to purchase materials for a dreamcatcher making session as well as provide an honorarium for the elder. Williams requested an additional $300 on top of his budget of $200 for a trio of African drummers to perform during Black History Month celebrations this month. Vice president of student life, Kate Phifer, has planned a second Rock the Boat year-end yacht party and will begin selling tickets and promoting the event in the coming days. The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for March 4.


@CAPILANOCOURIER

Earthworks series returns Lectures chosen with goal to educate and inspire Christine Beyleveldt CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

Capilano University’s Earthworks lecture series is back with new events and activities on campus this spring. In 2012, EarthWorks began as an initiative to boost awareness and has since blossomed into a regular event that captivates staff and students alike. “EarthWorks is basically a series of lectures and workshops and events that’s really brought together faculty members, administrators, staff and students,” said Kaylie Higgs, student organizer and

Capilano Students Union environmental justice coordinator. EarthWorks events are mainly organized by Global Stewardship, Geography, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation programs. “It’s an opportunity for experiential learning and to raise awareness about environmental justice and sustainability on campus,” said Higgs. Each year, faculty members select a theme for Earthworks. The themes in the past few years have included Waste, Water and Wetlands, which was inspired by the state of our oceans and conservation efforts. Art, Advocacy and the Anthropocene have been the primary focus of EarthWorks through 2015 to 2016. “It [Antropocene] has to do with the geological record or timescale,” said Higgs. “Looking back, there are certain eras that are defined. It’s basically the idea that humans are now affecting our environment so much that we’re actually creating, we’re actually changing these geological layers [on Earth].” “We have quite a few annual events

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actually, such as our Ode to Spring which is coming up on Mar. 24, so that’s kind of a chance to really bring the community together and connect with the community garden,” Higgs explained. Most of the events that happen throughout the semester tie back in with the year’s chosen theme. In January, author of the 100-Mile Diet, J.B. MacKinnon, presented ReWilding, the notion of creating spaces in the urban environment for nature to be restored, keeping to the idea of art and advocacy. Ecological Identity: Becoming a Reflective Environmentalist was a lecture on sustainable living and ecological awareness by author Mitchell Thomashow. CapU groundskeeper Jo-Ann Cook is next up, with an interactive event called Tug Out the Tyrants! On Mar. 10 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, she is inviting students to assist with the removal of invasive plants from the university’s grounds. Later that evening in the Bosa Theatre, Environment Canada's former senior researcher and biologist, Rob Butler, will

speak about bird brains in The Society of Crows: A glimpse into Corvid Culture. On Apr. 2, EarthWorks will celebrate International Bear Day with an evening of natural history lectures on the bear species found on the North Shore and other species at risk. The whole purpose of EarthWorks is simply to educate and inspire. According to Higgs, it’s worth students’ time and attention because it is building connections and bringing together a community of likeminded student activists concerned with environmental justice, sustainability and other issues facing our world today. Creating content that faculty members can incorporate into classroom discussions is also engaging to students. “It’s about trying to bring learning to life in that regard,” said Higgs, “Not just learning from textbooks or what you hear in the news but actually having speakers come in or doing workshops.” For more information on Earthworks visit Capilanou.ca/earthworks/.

Seeking justice Global Stewardship program reaches out to high school students through workshops Christine Beyleveldt CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

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For almost 10 years, Capilano University’s Global Stewardship program has created activities for its students to help out in the community. The program hosts Justice High, a full day of workshops provided by CapU students for local high schools that deal with social justice and inequality issues. This year’s workshops will be hosted at Carson Graham Secondary on Mar. 6 and will focus on environmental issues. “It’s been different every single year. We’ve covered topics like social inequality [and] gay rights, but this year we’re doing environmental issues,” said program coordinator Brooke Allan. The theme was chosen in response to the Clean Bin Project, a documentary produced in 2010 that featured a couple from Vancouver who attempted to produce zero waste for an entire year. Throughout the day, students will cycle through three two hour-long workshops lead by Global Stewardship students. This year’s workshops are Food Insecurity, Zero Waste: How to be a conscious consumer and Geography of Garbage. “That was inspired because we know that there’s a huge mass of garbage floating in the Pacific Ocean, and we’re all very concerned about where our garbage ends up,” explained Allan. “The goal was to get students educated on these topics because they’re not spoken on a lot in high schools.” Not only is Justice High an educational experience for high school social justice students, but also for the CapU students who host the workshops. “It allows our students to gain that capacity and the ability to put on an event like that,” said Cam Sylvester, head of the Global Stewardship program. “There’s a couple things they’re hoping to achieve. Number one is that they [students] each find the

confidence and get the feedback on how well they can pull something like this off,” he explained. “A lot of times it seems a little bit disorienting or too large for them to pull off an event like this, but we’ve been doing it so long that we trust them.’ In 2009, the Global Stewardship program received a grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for public engagement activities, which was used to fund Justice High in the years that followed. “This year we didn’t really get a lot of money because our grant money is running out,” said Allan. “We’ve held Justice High every year since the grant but we haven’t received any other grants besides that one since.” With approximately $1,000 left in the budget for Justice High this year, Allan says they are making it work. The workshops aren’t very expensive to host as Carson Graham Secondary provides the facilities where Global Stewardship students will present their workshops. However, the program does rely on a small budget to cover the cost of food and poster making supplies each year. Grant money or not, Justice High will remain and if necessary the program will fundraise in order to continue hosting workshops. Justice High is usually hosted at Carson Graham or Byrne Creek Secondary, but this year Allan and her fellow organizers explored the possibility of hosting it on campus. “We wanted to have the day here, show them around Cap and maybe get them interested in coming to Cap as students, but there were too many issues,” explained Allan, citing the binding nature of the university’s contract with Chartwells as a major factor. Regardless of its location, the purpose of Justice High remains unchanged. “We want students to reach out to the high school community and create the capacity for kids in high school to understand these [global] issues,” explained Sylvester.


CAP YOU Protect this house A Blues basketball provincials preview Carlo Javier EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

They might be playing on familiar ground, but make no mistake, Capilano University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams know not to take the competition lightly – even on their home court. This year’s Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) provincial basketball tournament will be held Mar. 3 to Mar. 5 at CapU’s Sportsplex. The Courier caught up with women’s team head coach, Ramin Sadaghiani and men’s team head coach, Cassidy Kannemeyer, to talk about the preparation of their respective squads as the tournaments draws near.

WOMEN’S SQUAD LOOKS TO AVENGE LAST YEAR’S EARLY EXIT

PACWEST Championship,” he said. Focus and consistency will be key factors if the Blues want to win it all. They’ve gone through an entire season’s worth of games, but the playoff atmosphere is an entirely different animal than the regular season’s. “We know that we have to put three strong games together in order to give ourselves a chance to win it all,” Sanghiani shared.

MEN’S TEAM AIMS TO BE REENERGIZED AFTER ROLLERCOASTER SEASON Simply put, the men’s basketball team have had an up and down season. The team suffered from the unfortunate mix of injuries to key players and inexperience, on their way to 11 wins and 10 losses in what head coach Cassidy Kannemeyer described as a “rollercoaster type season.” It also doesn’t help that the Blues tend to find themselves undersized in a league that has its fair share of giants. No player from the team managed to crack the league’s top 10 rebounding ranks. However, like any sport, adjustments are important. The Blues have numerous players who have the ability to take their man off the dribble and create scoring opportunities by penetrating to the paint and breaking down defensive schemes. Throughout the season, Kannemeyer and his staff have preached the importance and effectiveness of making the extra pass. If they can get the ball whipping around the court and the opposing players scrambling to keep up, they can find great scoring opportunities. “It just so happens that our players are really unselfish — they’re able to make, for the most part, the right read,” he said. Finding the open shot also requires the Blues to set numerous screens, on and off the ball, within a single offensive

possession. Though they may not have the size, the Blues players remain fully capable of setting screens that deter defenders from keeping up with shooters. Despite their unselfish and teamoriented strategy, the Blues do have the luxury of having a player who can simply take over games. Shooting guard Martin Bogajev has maintained his position throughout the year as the leading scorer for the entire league and his ability to knock down the three-point-shot has been a big weapon for the Blues. “Martin is the best shooter, probably, in the league,” Kannemeyer said. “We have one of the best shooters in the league, but we also have people that complement him and he complements other people to get the other guys open at the three-point-line as well.” Defensively, the Blues have approached each game with a conservative approach. They play the percentages, remain under control when closing out and contesting shooters and they put an emphasis on early rotations with their help defence. However, Kannemeyer admits that their conservative approach can sometimes hinder their offence. They limit their gambles and force very few turnovers, thus the team isn’t always able to get out on transition. For the upcoming provincials, the team will look to take the tourneys one game at a time. Their first matchup is scheduled against the Royals, where Kannemeyer aims to employ some new defensive schemes to thwart the Royals’ offense. For more information on the PACWEST provincial tournament, held Mar. 3 to 5 in the CapU Sportsplex, visit Pacwest.bc.ca. And remember, there’s no better atmosphere than that of a raucous home crowd, so be sure to come out and support CapU’s hardworking athletes in their quest for gold.

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At 15 wins and six losses, the women’s team ranks third in a league marred by disparity. Along with the Blues, teams like the second-ranked Douglas College Royals and the league-topping VIU Mariners have found little resistance en route to winning records. Others, namely the KPU Eagles, CBC Bearcats and Camosun Chargers combined for less wins than any of the league’s top three squads. Despite, the duality of the league, the Blues’ winning record can’t simply be attributed to poor play from some opponents. Ultimately, competition is competition and that’s an aspect of the sport that Blues have been eager to address since last year. “I think last season’s disappointing first round loss in the playoffs motivated us to come back re-

focused this season,” said Sadaghiani. “We met as a team over the off-season and made a commitment to work hard and make a run for the PACWEST Championship.” He further cited the team’s renewed commitment and the acquisition of several key players as major factors to the team’s resurgent year. One of the challenges that every team will face during the provincial tournament is the tight schedule. The games happen in the span of three days and each team becomes subject to fatigue due to the shorter rest breaks between games. Also, teams will have much less time to apply and adjust their specific strategies against new competition. According to Sanghiani, the Blues have decreased the length of their recent practices in order to better manage each player’s rest and conditioning. The team also boasts the luxury of having a deeper bench, thus giving Sanghiani and the coaching team greater versatility with their substation patterns. “We also have a lot depth at every position so one of the advantages that we have is the ability to play many players over the course of a game,” he said. The team also possesses a wide-ranging offensive arsenal. Sanghiani considers the squad as one of the toughest teams to defend in the league. They have the ability to score in bunches with any given lineup and have the right balance with their post and perimeter play. But despite their offensive prowess, the Blues are not without their flaws. Throughout the season, the team has erred to the side of inconsistency with their defence. However, Sanghiani hopes that the uptick in defence that the team illustrated in recent games will carry on towards the tourneys. “We need all players to be committed to playing hard defence for the entire tournament if we want to have a shot at winning the

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— VANCOUVER SPORTS PICTURES


O P I N I O NS Selfies aren’t narcissistic, they’re artistic Steve Tornes CONTRIBUTOR

There is something inherently tragic about the narcissist; their desire for adoration pushes people away through self-satisfying egotism. In Greek mythology, the hunter Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection. He did not love himself as much as the image he projected. Eventually, he starved to death, staring into the glassy surface of a small pool. Some people say that we are falling in love with our reflections; that selfies are a persona, an avatar, which we ask people to like and worship as gold idols. Perhaps there is some merit in their comments, however, it would be more constructive to look at why society is saying such things. Instead, let us say that the selfie is associated with narcissism largely because society judges Millennials as being vain and egotistical. (Yes, that’s right. You’re so vain, you probably think this article is about you!) Millennials is a word imposed on us by older generations. The term Millennial carries certain stereotypes with it, including laziness, entitlement, unreliability, and narcissism. As much as we try to redefine the term, the word was created to cordon us off and place us into an easily identifiable category. The need for esteem, according to Maslow’s

Peak-to-peak drama Why North Shore needs additional ski resort Jenifer Zschoerper CONTRIBUTOR

room or market for another ski attraction in the region. What tends to be bad for special interest is often good for consumers who could one day see a drop in price for mountain access on the North Shore. That day will take a while though, as this resort is not expected to be completed for another 20 years. The proposed resort will cover 668 hectares of terrain, with 124 ski runs, 18 chair lifts and three gondolas. Tentatively named Garibaldi at Squamish, will also have three mountaintop lodges. The resort plan consists of 1,700 hotel rooms and 5,736 housing units spread across three interconnected villages, which can accommodate roughly 22,000 people. The resort would be on Crown land that is 30 minutes closer to Vancouver than Whistler is by car. As BC’s population and tourism industry continue to grow, it makes sense to add a new ski resort to the province — especially

one that is close to Vancouver and not in the Interior. This project will also stimulate the local economy by creating jobs and increasing tourist attractions in the region. This project will cost an estimated $3.5 million dollars over the next two decades and create more than 4,000 well-paying jobs once opened. Furthermore, it is expected to generate roughly $50 million per year in tax revenue for the District of Squamish, money they’re apparently uninterested in. Lastly, increased competition between the North Shore Mountains for skiers will lead to more affordability. If you care about skiing and snowboarding and want to see prices go down, this project is pretty much a win-win. Unfortunately, the Municipalities of Squamish and Whistler, Whistler Chamber of Commerce and Whistler Blackcomb Mountain don’t view the project that way because it is expected to impact their bottom

line, among other concerns. For starters, Garibaldi at Squamish will be much closer to YVR and the Lower Mainland than Whistler will be, cutting off the already struggling town from incoming tourists and vacationing locals. For years, Whistler’s consortium tried to argue that Garabaldi at Squamish wouldn’t be environmentally sound, but with approval from Victoria and support from Squamish First Nation, their argument against the new resort is now purely centred on greed. BC’s climate is warming, and many people are unsure whether our ski industry will be that profitable in 20 years when this resort is finally complete. What is certain though are the economic benefits this project will provide to the region. In every development, there are winners and losers. Whistler is set to lose out on the ski resort monopoly it has had for decades, but maybe that isn’t such a bad thing for the rest of us.

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VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO.19

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After months of review, Aquilini Investment Group, the parent company of the Vancouver Canucks, has received the environmental go-ahead from Victoria to begin planning construction on a new ski resort at Brohm Ridge near Squamish. Opposition is fierce, with many different interests voicing their displeasure with the project. Disapproval is loudest from the municipality of Whistler, as well as the owners of the other North Shore mountains, who argue there is no

Hierarchy of Needs, is a universal human trait. The problem is that our need for esteem is being embodied by the selfie. From the outside looking it, it depicts a narcissistic culture, and maybe that’s true, although it seems to be used to absolve the rest of society of any pretensions. When you juxtapose the stereotypes of the Millennial generation with those of the baby boomers, it’s easy to see which generation is favoured by society. Traits of the baby boomers include a strong work ethic, prosperity and competitiveness. They are also viewed as that special generation that achieved the American Dream. Not to say any of these traits are true or false, but that this is how they view themselves. A selfie is essentially a modern-day self portrait, which has a rich history unto itself. The fact that a large segment of the population is using their creativity to make self-portraits — the first time in history that this has been available to everyone — is worthy of admiration. Of course young people are going to be the first to experiment with new technology; they still have an adventurous spirit. Young people are also still maturing. They are on path of self-discovery, so they will naturally be fixated on the self. They need that esteem because they are unsure of themselves. Who is the modern Narcissus? The teenager who is making a duckface while taking a selfie? The society which makes broad, sweeping negative generalizations about Millennials? Maybe it’s both, but at least teenagers have an excuse. Don’t forget that Narcissus fell in love with the image he projected, rather than his own self. Every generation is in love with its own projection. There is no need to associate narcissism solely with youth or with the selfie.

— PAMELLA PINARD

Read this! Look at me!


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Housing the electorate Could affordable housing money be spent elsewhere? Kevin Kapenda OPINIONS EDITOR

In Canadian politics, left and right-wing politicians often use legacy issues to define their broader ideology and build political dynasties. These issues, such as tax reform for conservatives, are embraced by all levels of government, whether local, provincial or federal. After years of soul-searching, the Canadian left seems to have settled on their new legacy issue: affordable housing. It’s an issue that is creating lots of debate right now in urban centres because no one is quite sure how to fix it. Unfortunately, when no one has a solution to a problem, the knee-jerk reaction is to throw money at it for votes. Affordable housing is one of the only issues

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that has had an impact on all three levels of government in BC. Federal leaders had no choice but to answer questions on the issue last year, and our provincial parties have not been able to ignore it either. Mayors in BC are doing their part by setting aside land for these projects, in the hope that Victoria and Ottawa will cover the costs of construction. Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson, who leads the left-wing Vision Vancouver civic party, didn’t mince words last year when the federal election was taking place. Robertson used every interaction he had with the media to attack the former prime minister, arguing that he doesn’t do enough for urban residents. When he met with new prime minister Justin Trudeau in early February, he expressed relief at the change in government, saying that he was happy to have a “prime minister that gets cities”. While Robertson and the left-wing establishment took a big loss last year during the transit referendum, affordable housing seems to be an issue that has breathed new life into them. On Feb. 2, Robertson allocated $250 million worth of land to affordable housing projects, on the condition that the Trudeau

/CAPILANOCOURIER

government can chip in another $500 million to get these units built. Robertson is also asking that premier Christy Clark pitch in as well, though that is unlikely to happen due to the fiscal orientation of her government. All of that to house no more than 10,000 people or so. That land could have been sold, developed and used to address the Vancouver School District’s budget shortfall — among other things — but when urban votes are at stake, being stingy is probably not the smartest political card to play. Apart from health care, there hasn’t been another issue that has mobilized all three levels of government like affordable housing has. Transit investments tend to come in carefully budgeted chunks, like they did under Chretien and Harper. However, affordable housing is being billed as a project with no end date – with license to spend until there’s nothing left. Trudeau has said that he is going to spend $20 billion over the next 10 years on “social infrastructure”, which includes affordable housing. There are dozens of ways that money could be put to better use, such as

tuition relief for post-secondary students and job-creating stimulus for struggling energy workers. Affordable housing is an issue that any student on campus who wants to get into politics should learn a thing or two about. It’s going to be around for a while. The real question is how history will look back on Mayor Robertson, PM Trudeau and possibly, an NDP Premier in four decades time. Is affordable housing in expensive cities a right, or should government only be responsible for giving citizens basic shelter? When housing got too expensive for previous generations, families packed up and moved. But letting people leave expensive cities is no longer an option for Robertson, Trudeau and the BC NDP. When residents leave urban centres, leftwing parties lose support. Maybe that’s why they’re prepared to spend billions on housing their electorate.

Holding back Ghomeshi trial could deter victims from reporting sexual assaults Christine Beyleveldt

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 19

CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

Since 2014, Canadians had been patiently waiting to see how the Jian Ghomeshi saga would unfold in court. Ghomeshi was fired from CBC in late 2014 after multiple women accused him of sexual and physical assault. On Feb. 1, the wait was over, although it became clear almost instantly that this trial was just another case of victim blaming where the accused may soon walk free, much to the dismay of his alleged victims. It’s really a shame. Under the right circumstances, this trial could have changed everything. It was one of the most anticipated trials in Canadian history. When the first allegations were made public, it sparked immense debate about sexual assault. To counter this scrutiny, Ghomeshi’s lawyer, Marie Henein, tore the credibility of his victims to shreds. Former Trailer Park Boys actress Lucy DeCoutere was made to look like a revenge seeking exgirlfriend with a wandering memory. Each of the complainants were young adults when the alleged assaults took place. In comparison, the majority of students at Capilano University are in their early 20s and likely only have a couple years of sexual experience under their belts. When you’re still trying to navigate your own sexuality and aren’t clear on where the line is drawn on consent, it’s too easy to make mistakes. DeCoutere wrote letters to Ghomeshi trying to establish a relationship with the CBC star after he had assaulted her, and two of the complainants adjusted their testimonies in the time between reporting them to the police and going to trial.

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— ALEX THOMPSON

Other details of the assaults, which took place over 10 years ago, are now hazy, but their actions, which are being picked up by the media right now, paint them as bitter, rejected lovers. Whether or not Ghomeshi truly brutalized these women, Henein has humiliated them. NDP Member of Parliament Charlie Angus, who has known Ghomeshi for over 25 years, said that this trial was just an example of how the law continues to fail women. “A woman who remembers being beaten is not considered credible because she didn't know the make of his car,” shared Angus in a Facebook post that has since gone viral. It’s all too easy for the justice system to tear a victim’s story to shreds, leaving Ghomeshi smiling in the back of the courtroom. "Nobody close

to Jian even pretends he is innocent, and somehow this isn't an issue — the women are.” Angus wrote. Ghomeshi’s actions were subject to intense scrutiny leading up to the trial, but once he sat down before the judge they seemingly held no weight. Instead, all of the attention was showered on Henein and her efforts to discredit the three victims. No woman wants to undergo such a humiliating experience on the off chance they may be able to bring their perpetrator to justice, and that’s why so many assaults go unreported. Even those that are reported are hardly ever produce convictions. According to Statistics Canada, for every 1,000 sexual assaults that take place, only 33 will be reported, with 12 resulting in charges being laid.

Worse yet, only six will go to trial, and three will be convicted. That’s less than one in 300 sexual assaults resulting in an offender being punished for their crimes. It’s no wonder women are reluctant to come forward after being sexually assaulted. Knowing the low odds of conviction and lopsided public scrutiny that comes with these cases will likely continue to deter victims form reporting the injustices that are done to them. “It was just easier, I thought, to carry on and try to put it behind me as a bad experience,” one of Ghomeshi’s victims told the court. And in light of the trial’s proceedings, unfortunately many women will adopt that same attitude.


FE ATU R E S

Gabriel Scorgie FEATURES EDITOR

“I was playing gigs, so I had some time on my hands and I wanted a better guitar than the one I had. I couldn't afford to buy one so I thought, 'well, I should see if I could make one,'” said Dr. Jared Burrows, head of the Jazz Studies program at Capilano University, recalling his start down the path of becoming a luthier. I could already use hand tools because I was brought up doing manual labour and using hand tools to make things out of wood and metal. My father and I had built some boats together and my grandparents were both very skilled craftsmen, so I learned a lot of physical skills from them and my dad.” Burrows had not only the skill and the passion, but also a musical understanding of what he wanted out of a guitar. For him, it was a matter of “knowing how they should sound and actually figuring out how to make them.” That was 20 years ago. Now, Burrows has made enough instruments “that I can't remember all of them.” But in his two decades of luthiery, “there's only been one student that's purchased one of my instruments from Cap,” he recalled — 2012 Jazz Studies graduate Keith Sinclair. “I got it in December 2010,” began Sinclair. “I spent five years in the Jazz program at Cap and for the first three years I was playing a more traditional jazz guitar, which is quite big and bulky and I already have bad posture as it is. I was talking to Jared because I knew he was a luthier, so we decided to build a custom one because this other guitar was not treating

not the case.” Although he keeps a busy schedule as a father, husband, performer, composer, instructor and program coordinator, Burrows still loves making instruments for people — even though parting with some of them can be bittersweet. “Sometimes I'll be somewhere listening to music and there will be somebody playing one of my guitars and I feel like it's still mine somehow. In fact, there was a fellow called Arthur Smith a while back and I went to hear him preform, and he knew I was coming to the gig so he brought this guitar I had made for him and I had completely forgot. And I thought, 'oh, I made that. That's a great guitar. Boy that looks good.' Then he played it and it sounded really good and I thought, 'why did I give that to him? I should've kept it for myself, that's way too good.' So sometimes I get that feeling, but I'm just happy to see them played and see people enjoy them and making creative music with them.”

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and I have a few different models of instruments that have their own shape. Usually customers choose one of those.” Sinclair elected to combine Burrows’ already-unique style with a few other elements, creating a hybrid shape to call his own. “Keith came over and he drew some things and I drew some things and I kind of explained some of the challenges and the possibilities around the ideas that he was presenting and we came up with kind of an unusual shape that had some ergonomic properties as well as just looking cool. He had some sound ideas and some visual ideas and we collaborated on those,” recalled Burrows, adding, “I don't think I’d ever do that again.” It wasn’t because he didn’t enjoy working with Sinclair. During the build process, their unique design posed many technical challenges, rendering some of its physical components nearly impossible to realize. “For instance, the tail piece of the guitar, I couldn't make it the way I would normally make it. I thought about it and thought about it and I drew hundreds of diagrams and pictures trying to solve the problem,” said Burrows. “The problem was the bottom end of the guitar was not symmetrical so I needed a way to attach it so that the strings would run straight to the tail piece, but the tail piece would have to sit skewed relative to the bottom. It was very complicated to solve and eventually it came to me in a dream.” Sinclair remembers Burrows’ excitement the next day. “Anyone who knows Jared Burrows knows that he doesn't stop working. He once came to school while he was working on my guitar and said 'Over the weekend, I solved a problem on your guitar with the tail piece.' And he had solved it in a dream. Apparently he was lucid dreaming and he had a dream about how to solve this issue and he woke up, went to his workshop and figured it out.” Around-the-clock dedication to a project can be what it takes to make an instrument in a timely fashion for a customer. Many different factors come into play when deciding on a delivery date for a custom guitar.

“It depends what I'm making,” said Burrows. “If it's an electric guitar, maybe 100 hours, not including the finishing time, because finish takes weeks to dry. If you're building a classic guitar or steel string guitar or archtop guitar it would be at least twice that. For an archtop guitar it takes a really long time because you have to curve the fronts and the back,” explained Burrows. In Sinclair’s case, due to a busy schedule and the technical challenges, it took six months before Sinclair got to play his new instrument. For Sinclair, the wait was well worth it. “I have two custom guitars. I also ordered one from Carvin, a custom shop based out of California, so I have experience with two custom guitars and both times the wait was unbearable. You build it up in your head, you go to guitar stores and you're like 'nothing on this wall is as good as what I'm going to get' and you absolutely can be let down by the final result. Luckily, in my experience both times that certainly was

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my shoulder very well. He measured me sitting with a couple different guitars and then built one to fit my body.” Burrows used spruce for the top, mahogany for the back, maple for the neck and rosewood for the fingerboard, along with nickel frets and Golden Age humbucker pickups — all selected with Sinclair’s musical goals in mind. “With Keith, he had specific ideas about the kind of music he wanted to play with the instrument, and we both understood what those kinds of music sound like and the kinds of sounds he needed to make with the guitar. Based on knowing what kinds of sounds he needed to make, that gave me a good idea of

what kind of woods to use for what parts of the instrument,” explained Burrows. Aside from his guitar’s ergonomic design and jazz tone, Sinclair had a few additional requests when it came to the appearance. “In Keith's case, he had very specific ideas about the shape of the instrument,” said Burrows. “That's quite unusual. Normally people just go, 'It should be guitar shaped,'

— SYD DANGER

A Luthier’s process for creating instruments


GOOGLE.CA/ STUDENT START UPS

Kevin Kapenda OPINIONS EDITOR

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 19

If working for other people isn’t your thing, you’re probably a budding entrepreneur. Starting a business is challenging, but it can be very rewarding in the long run. Entrepreneurs tend to have more freedom than the average employee and pay less tax too. Deciding what type of business to start isn’t all that hard either. All you need is skill or product idea that can be monetized for profit. The difficult part is keeping your business afloat.

Starting a business is a great way for students to bring their ideas to life. Capilano University Interactive Design graduate, Parker Busswood, who cofounded a startup called LDRLY in 2013, saw entrepreneurship as a way to work on something he was completely invested in. “For me, having that freedom to kind of build what you want, and execute on your visions was always attractive,” said Busswood. Similarly, CapU business student Ali Abassi co-founded an Internet marketing company in January because he was attracted to the independence that comes with being an entrepreneur. “When you work for somebody else, you do what they’ve decided is the right way to do things,” said Abassi, who is also president of Capilano Undergraduate Business Enterprise of Students (CUBES). “[As an entrepreneur], you get to decide who you work with and the processes you use. You get to build your own culture and have freedom of choice with a lot of other things too.” In addition to autonomy, one of the other key benefits that comes with running your own business includes paying less tax. Small business owners pay less tax than people who earn income through employment. As of 2015, the federal tax rate for small businesses was 11 per cent, while the base rate for income taxes was 15 per cent. An individual whose business earned $90,000 per year, for example, would only pay about $10,000 in federal taxes, while an individual who earned that same amount in employment income would owe over $16,000. If both of those residents lived in BC, the employment income-earning individual would end up paying over $20,000 in total tax that year, while the business owner would only pay $12,250. If you’re thinking of finding a job that you can easily do without the security

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of an employer, you might want to consider starting your own business. You could end up paying thousands of dollars less in taxes.

When you first start your business, there are many factors that can lead to it not doing so well in the beginning. Some of those issues include funding your startup, or in the case of Abassi, landing your first customers. “The major challenge that [my company] faced was getting our initial clients,” said Abassi, who currently runs Beeknown Marketing. “[When we started] we didn’t have a large portfolio of proven past work to showcase.” Nonetheless, lack of funding and sales aren’t the only reasons why young startups fail. There are many different factors that can kill your business, no matter how viable it appeared to be in the beginning. “Even when you work really hard and put a good team together with the right pieces in place, [startups] can still go sideways,” said Busswood. “There’s so many different things that can hamper [your business]. You can have a competitor that comes out with something better or fail to get everyone on the same page, which was something [LDRLY] struggled with.” For Busswood, every student should know what they want to accomplish before they start their business. “[At LDRLY], we never really made sure that everyone was on the same page,” said Busswood. “Having three different founders, each with their own idea about how to solve the problem we were trying to solve, definitely hurt us in our first year.” It’s equally important that students and grads enter the marketplace with an understanding of what type of lifestyle they’re committing too. “It’s important that [entrepreneurs] don’t have unrealistic expectations about what they’re getting themselves into,” said Busswood. “There’s a lot of people I think that are attracted to the idea of being an entrepreneur cause it seems very sexy and what not. The reality is that 90 per cent of startups fail. Being an entrepreneur for the most part is far from stable.”

With regard to the types of businesses students can register, there are many kinds. Many tech startups chose to

incorporate, and have equity structures with multiple owners. If your business idea is more service-based, owning it yourself or having a partner is probably the easiest way to get started. For Abassi, having a business partner is especially fruitful when they’re able to bring different abilities to the table that you don’t necessarily have. “Our [partnership] is stronger because we can combine different skillsets and focus on our key strengths,” said Abassi. “My specific skillset is based on the whole digital marketing aspect of things.” Abassi’s partner, on the other hand, is more-detail oriented, and excellent at administrative tasks. “My partner is skilled in administrative stuff like paperwork,

primarily responsible for design, as cofounder, he had no choice but to take on all sorts of different responsibilities. “[In startups] there’s like a hundred different things that kind of just add up and as a founder, you have to be willing take on all those tasks,” said Busswood. Some of the additional tasks Busswood found himself dealing with included human resources, finance and bookkeeping.

registration, taxes, and similar aspects,” said Abassi. As a business owner, you will probably find yourself taking on more roles than you would as an employee in a company. That’s because running a startup often requires individuals to do more administrative tasks that aren’t necessarily related to their specific area of expertise. “When you go and work for a big company, you’re going to be responsible for a very tiny piece of the puzzle,” said Busswood. “In a startup, you do a bit of everything for your business.” Busswood, an interface designer by trade, served as chief creative officer during his two years at LDRLY. While he was

Many students get ideas for products or services they can’t seem to let go of. If you have a business idea that just can’t stop building in your mind, it could be worth pursuing. “If you’ve got an idea that you just can’t get out of your head, those are usually the ones worth exploring,” said Busswood. Once you have an idea for a product or service, your next course of action should be to look into whether it’s practical. For Busswood, this step can really help determine if your startup idea is ready for development, or unlikely to succeed. “You should be able to build what [the tech industry] calls an MVP or Minimum Viable Product [with your idea],” explained Busswood. “It’s like bare minimum you can show that proves your


GOOGLE.CA/ STUDENT START UPS

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE LAUNCHING A BUSINESS

ordering thousands of bags or clothes to sell. “When dealing with manufacturers, make sure that the product is a hundred percent how you want it to be, and that the quality is up to par, before you buy a ton of [product],” said Nguyen. “This process can be frustrating. It’s a lot of back and forth.” Just because you don’t have a passion or unique idea doesn’t mean you can’t start a business. For Abassi, all you really need is a skill or talent that can be sold to others. “A lot of students tell themselves that they’ll start their business when they have this brilliant, new idea for a fantastic product that’s going to change the world,” said Abassi. “Stop waiting for your big idea. Get good at solving small problems and eventually you will find which problems you as a unique individual can solve exceptionally well.”

Before you start a business, the most important skill you must possess is a willingness to grow and learn. If you don’t, you’ll likely find it difficult to adapt to the demands of running a startup. “You’ve got to be adaptable and able to learn different things cause if you don’t do them, who will,” said Busswood. For Abassi, every entrepreneur must also have sales abilities because no matter what you decide to sell, people have got to buy it. “Every business requires selling. Learn to be persuasive and don’t be hesitant to ask for what you want,” said Abassi. If you’re ready to start a business or want to learn more about registration, there are many online resources you can use such as Canadabusiness.ca or Futurpreneur. ca. As for resources on campus, CUBES hosts many networking and professional development events throughout the school year, which are not only restricted to business students. Local chambers and boards of trade are also great ways to meet business owners and seek out mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs. Many of these organizations offer student rates, or sell general memberships for small companies at the cost of a Canucks ticket. Joining these organizations also allows entrepreneurs to access services from other businesses at discounted prices. No matter what type of business you choose to start in the end, do it because you love your industry or product. You have to be completely invested in your company for it to take off.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

— ANNIE CHANG

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product works.” When you’re serious about turning an idea into a startup, developing your MVP should be done as soon as possible. The last thing you want is for your idea or product to become obsolete because you took too long to start building it. “It shouldn’t really take more than a few months to get an MVP out the door,” said Busswood. Taking too long to release an MVP can lead to years of unproductivity if entrepreneurs aren’t able to quickly move on from ideas. “There are a lot of people out there working on companies where three, four years later, their still kind of plugging away without any major breakthrough, and you kind of go, what are you doing? Are you actually getting anywhere with this or are you just keeping it alive because you don’t want to let go.” Second-year business student, Thao Nguyen chose to turn her passion into a business after going on a backpacking trip across Southeast Asia three years ago. “Travelling is really what got my business started,” said Nguyen, who founded Pine Supplies Co. in 2013. “When I was in Southeast Asia with my brother, I had an opportunity to start making these backpacks.” Thao, whose business has been limited to street markets in Vancouver and UBC, will be expanding her operations this year to increase stock and launch an online store. “For the last couple years, I’ve been selling my bags through East Side Flea and UBC’s market, to kind of get the word out.” Nyugen who outsources to manufacturers, believes that it’s important to make sure you’re completely on board with your designs and samples before

“There’s a lot of people I think that are attracted to the idea of being an entrepreneur cause it seems very sexy and what not. The reality is that 90 per cent of startups fail. Being an entrepreneur for the most part is far from stable.”


CALENDAR

29 MONDAY

MANIC MONDAY KARAOKE ASTORIA PUB

9 PM • $ FREE This isn’t just another Manic Monday — and even if it was, there’s still karaoke, cheap drinks, free pool and a couple of ageing prostitutes to help numb your pain. This is the Astoria after all. The event poster had David Bowie on it, but don’t let that trick you into thinking there’s a theme. We’re pretty sure the host/organizer is just a huge Bowie Fan. His name is Jordan.

01 TUESDAY

DROP-IN STICH & CRAFT

WEDNESDAY

VENUE

8 PM • $22.50 + SC

Step 1: Round up all your half-finished craft projects and head over to the Wise Hall. Step 2: Crack open an alcoholic beverage, or two, or three, or four. Step 3: Finally finish that motley-looking seashell collage you started back in July on your trip to Mexico. And don’t worry, there’s tons of light and 2,600 sq. feet of floor space for you and your vintage glue gun collection, too!

Inspired by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Paul Simon, Phil Collins and Lionel Richie, South African singer Jean-Philip Grobler (St. Lucia) is on tour in support of his new album, Matter. His blend of indie-electronica has garnered him airplay worldwide and 98,000-plus Facebook fans. That’s exactly 265 times more than the Courier has. Sheesh, we better get on it.

THE GAY HERITAGE PROJECT THE CULTCH

8 PM • $20 Damien Atkins (Angels in America), Paul Dunn (PIG) and Andrew Kushnir (Project: Humanity) have searched through history to find out whether or not there’s such a thing as ‘gay heritage.’ In doing so, they’ve unearthed a lot of milestones of contemporary gay culture. This performance pays “a hilarious and moving homage” to those monumental people and events.

03 THURSDAY

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 19 THE CAPILANO COURIER

ALEXANDER GASTOWN

10 PM • $15-$20

Hip-hop legend J Dilla died 10 years ago this month, leaving a large body of work and a lasting legacy in which 2006’s Donuts is the crowning jewel. This tribute night features a performance by his own brother Illa J, along with special guests Frank N Dank, Moka Only, David Morin and DJs Headspin, Flipout and Nick Bike. Go to this if you’re a big fan of beats.

GIANTS OUTDOORSMAN NIGHT PACIFIC COLISEUM

7:30 PM • $15.50 The Vancouver Giants are taking their tacky lumberjack theme to a whole new level with Outdoorsman Night, presented by Peregrine Lodge in Haida Gwaii. Country radio station JRFM will be there, which is exactly what you’d want to blast during a peaceful guided fishing trip. Plus, there’s an appearance by your favourite mascot, Jack the Giant, and the Laughing Loggers.

05 SATURDAY

MADAMA BUTTERFLY QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE

7:30 PM • $45

Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the story of a young Japanese girl who falls in love with a United States navy officer. The three-act opera is now considered to be a classic, but it wasn’t always so well-received. During the debut performance at La Scala in 1904, soprano Rosina Storchio accidentally flashed the audience after an unfortunate “kimono malfunction.”

DÉJÀ VU VINTAGE MARKET THE SHIPYARDS

8 PM • $25

9 AM • $5

Five bitter bridesmaids in matching dresses, one shallow bridezilla and an over-the-top Southern wedding in Tennessee. That’s the premise for Five Women Wearing The Same Dress, a play by Alan Ball and directed by Don Briard. “With the help of a little booze and a little pot, initial venting about their current situation soon develops into… lifelong friendships.”

Over 30 vendors will occupy the historic Pipe Shop building at North Vancouver Shipyards — home of Justin Trudeau’s nowfamous election eve rally — for an day of vintage finds. Running from 9 am until 4 pm, collectors and curious hipsters can expect an assortment of furnishings, decor items, handmade gifts and more. Admission is only $5 and parking is free in the ICBC lot.

VINYL SWAP/INDUSTRY NIGHT ALEXANDER GASTOWN

10 PM • $ - WHO KNOWS? Take those old records off the shelf and bring them down to Alexander Gastown for a spin. Vinylheads will be out in abundance and resident DJ Chadio will be on hand to create mixes from your favourite rare and obscure tracks. Entrance is through the back door on Alexander St. and there’s a complimentary Ciroq cocktail waiting for anyone who makes it there before 11 pm.

MICHAEL BLAKE

BLUESHORE CENTRE

8 PM • $27-$30

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8:30 PM • $10 Back in 2008 or 2009, our editor-in-chief opened for Redrick Sultan at the River Springs Community Centre in Port Coquitlam. Since then, they’ve fired saxophone players, changed drummers and experimented with 12-tone equal temperament tunings for all their guitars. On this night, the CapU grads unveil their third CD, "Fly as a Kite,” with Supermoon and Jo Passed.

Frankie’s Kitchen & Bar is the new home for jazz in Vancouver, presenting shows several times a week. This one is a crossborder collaboration between the Helen Sung Quartet (Houston, Texas) and the Jodi Proznick Quartet (Vancouver, BC). They’ll be joined by special guest Laila Biali, a singer/pianist who grew up in Horseshoe Bay but now works out of Toronto and NYC.

METRO THEATRE

SUNDAY

THE COBALT

8 PM • $35

FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS

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REDRICK SULTAN

J DILLA TRIBUTE

FRANKIE’S

FRIDAY

8 PM • $20 + SC Susy Hendrix goes blind. Then, as if that isn’t enough. she unwittingly finds herself the keeper of a heroin-filled doll. Three bad men are after her. They want the doll. They want it bad. This play centres around their suspense-filled game of cat and mouse until somebody inevitably wins. Or maybe the nice blind lady becomes a heroin addict and falls into a life of addiction. Who knows?

7:30 PM • $ FREE

HELEN SUNG/JODI PROZNICK/LAILA BIALI

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HAVANA THEATRE

ST. LUCIA

WISE HALL

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WAIT UNTIL DARK

Critically-acclaimed jazz saxophonist Michael Blake originally hails from Vancouver but now makes his home in Brooklyn. Touted as “one the most original saxophonists of his generation” — the anti-Kenny G, he’s returning to his West Coast stomping grounds for a performance and workshop, joined by bassist Ben Allison, pianist Frank Kimbrough and drummer Rudy Royston.


C O L U M NS Propaganda proliferation Marissa Del Mistro COLUMNIST

Recently, while I was at a bus stop at Robson and Cambie watching bodies rush by, two middle-aged men dressed in suits strolled by. Behind them, wearing a subtly charming pink niqāb and matching dress, was a young woman with a backpack and headphones. Upon noticing this young woman, one of the men became obviously uncomfortable. I observed as his body began to tense, his pace became disorganized and displeasure ran through his tall stature. Noticing this, his companion touched his shoulder. “Calm…” he said. Perhaps, he did not hear his companion. He started to yell loudly, gaining volume with every word. His words were directed at the young woman. Without falter, he yelled repugnant slander for a solid ninety seconds. As a bystander, emotions rushed through me: anger, fear, confusion and disappointment. Not only were his words terrible but not one of the commuters glanced up from their screens to assist. Anti-muslim rhetoric, sadly, is not new within the Global North. It did not present itself spontaneously in the West, but has rather been a concept spread through the goal of imperial hegemony. Many decades have utilized the manufacturing of fictitious enemies as a tactful power move. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) noted an “unprecedented” inflation of Islamophobia since the terrorist attacks in Paris, France on Nov. 13, 2015. Since then, Muslims (or those perceived to be Muslim) have been victims to personal assaults, shootings, harassment and even attacks at their places of worship. Some mosques have gone as far as hiring security guards. Anti-Muslim rhetoric was prominent in the 2015 Canadian election when Stephen Harper preached the eradication of the nigāb

Down to Earth Relax, I’ve solved Vancouver’s housing problem Calvin deGroot COLUMNIST

course some modifications would need to be made in order to run a modern highspeed train, but is completely in the realm of possibilities. The train would create thousands of sustainable jobs across Metro Vancouver, free thousands more commuters on the brink of insanity and cut thousands of metric tonnes of carbon emissions. And yes, it even has the potential to help solve Vancouver’s housing crisis. It goes back to basic economics. If you allow the entire Fraser Valley to efficiently access downtown Vancouver, you dramatically increase the supply of attractive liveable areas for Vancouver residents. Living in Langley would not be that different than living in North Burnaby – at least in terms of working in or visiting Vancouver. (It’s actually probably better in many other ways.) A dramatic increase in the supply of easily accessible living areas will inevitably lead to decreases in prices in housing in Vancouver. Admittedly, this would not solve the entire housing problem, but it will definitely help – and, as mentioned earlier, would bring many other benefits

for this great city. The more I think about this project the more I believe it needs to happen as soon as possible — especially when you consider the kind of infrastructure spending the Liberal government has been investing in over the last few years: over $500 million on renovating BC Place for sports nobody in Vancouver seems to care about (football and soccer anyone?) and a staggering $3 billion in the antiquated Gateway Project that has focused on expanding massive bridges and highways to improve traffic congestion. Conservative estimates for building this rail would cost less than a third of the Gateway Project. Building this project is not matter of feasibility – it’s a matter of political will. The exciting part is that there is that the next provincial election is just over a year away, and we will just have to elect a different government.

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Vancouver area. Also, commuting in this city is an absolute disaster, so the demand for housing anywhere in the vicinity of the downtown core is at an all time premium. Our political leadership from all levels of government is failing to make life easier for the majority of Vancouverites. However, I have the appropriate antidote to combat the growing problem of unaffordability metro Vancouver is facing while simultaneously making our city both more efficient and sustainable: build a train. I know what you are thinking. We are already doing that. It is called the Evergreen Line. But I’m talking about a different train — not a small extension of the current SkyTrain line that, while important, will only add six new stations. I’m talking about the simple idea of building a high-speed light rail system from Chilliwack to Downtown Vancouver. Sound crazy? It has actually been done before. The British Columbia Electric Railway was an interurban passenger train that connected Vancouver and Chilliwack. The track is even still operational for freight lines to this day. Of

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You may or may not have realized how difficult it is to get ahead in this city we live in, but it was recently revealed that Vancouver is the most expensive city in North America, finally surpassing both New York and Los Angeles. The biggest factor contributing to the high cost of living in this city is soaring real estate prices – houses that are 900 sq. ft. are selling for $1.3 million. There are many reasons as to why prices are out of control, and it does not help that those beautiful mountains and ocean surround us, making it difficult for the city to expand. Moreover, a recent report projects an additional two million people relocating to British Columbia over the next 25 years – most of which will be moving to the

during citizenship ceremonies and it seems to be furthering its latency with the current American political campaign. The discourse is almost overwhelming – it seems to be everywhere. The systematical myth and the manifestation of fear have caused an overcast fog of anti-Muslim paranoia around the globe. It’s a confusing mess of foreigner inferiority. A web of misinformation promotes Islamophobia and the combination of prejudice and discrimination creates a dangerous environment. The assumption that an entire race should be painted with the same brush is a massive part of the problem. When global leaders, or potential ones, are continuing this discourse, it is no wonder it becomes a trusted opinion. Yet, when this opinion is spread, where does individual critical thought go? Where does the need for a greater individual understanding go? Looking through a factual lens, only 2.5 per cent of terrorist attacks in North America from 1970 to 2012 were done so by people who identify as Muslim. Yet still, 52 per cent of Americans and 48 per cent of Canadians say the West does not respect the Muslim community. This becomes obvious not only through incidents of explicit racism, but also these small moments such as a joke or a rude comment that assumes Muslims are inherently violent. The very existence of Islamophobia needs to be addressed. Despite the overwhelming headlines in the media, what also needs to be noted is how the mundane, unreported events that are happening on a daily basis to these individuals are brewing these ideas even further. Microagressions such as the moment I witnessed on the streets of Vancouver are what fosters the fear, and these incidents only serve to magnify the sense of otherness and daily isolation. The woman who was verbally attacked on the corner of Robson and Cambie spoke with a sense of mixed understanding – both calm and fearful — and it seemed as though it was not the first time she had been victim to this circumstance. She, a citizen of Canada and a resident of Vancouver, was treated no more then a dangerous criminal.

— AUSTIN LEGG

The mute button

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RISE OF THE NEW NERDS Syd Danger A SIDEKICK

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I’m your average, run-of-the-mill nerd. I’m not extraordinary in any way. I wasn’t first in line to see Ryan Reynolds’ fantastic naked ass in Deadpool, I’m not hot enough to get thousands of Instagram likes for cosplaying as my favourite Street Fighter (fun fact: it’s Blanka), and I’m certainly not smart enough to spend my weekends deciding if the T.A.R.D.I.S. could actually work. For most nerds, none of this stuff really matters anyways. We’re a fun little band of misfits who are slowly becoming extremely mainstream, and not really misfits anymore at all. Being a nerd is super “in” right now. I know. I hated writing that sentence probably even more than you hated reading it (please direct all hate mail to The Voicebox), but you can’t deny the truth. The Internet has made it trendy to be an introvert and cool to be a nerd… but not an average, 200-plus comics, dyes their hair an unnatural colour to have a defining feature kind of nerd. I mean like a Jessica Nigri – someone who has a functioning life but sometimes likes to watch Chris Evans’ rippling pectorals steal the spotlight in Marvel movies. Before I start digging myself a hole I can’t get out of, there is no community more passionate and welcoming than the soft, chubby arms of the nerds. Are you fat? Do you have terrible cystic acne? Do you sit up at night thinking about that super embarrassing time you laughed so hard you peed in ninth grade gym class? Great,

welcome aboard. On the other hand, if you mistake Adamantium for Vibranium, you can be sure every single nerd in your life will ream you out so bad you’ll be walking like an action figure for a week. Now, there’s nothing anyone hates more than a know-it-all nerd. The amount of times I’ve been quizzed by dudes who don’t believe I actually know what I’m talking about is astounding. Having to defend the fact that you actually knew who T’Challa was before the Civil War reveal can get a little tiring, especially when you have to repeatedly defend it to randoms who have their “Nerdier Than Thou” fedoras on. Having said this, I’m about to do the exact same thing to everyone reading this column who has ever said “oh my god, I loved The Avengers! I am such a nerd!” Congratulations, you enjoyed a film that made over $200 million in its opening weekend, you special geeky snowflake. Get back to me when you’re 40 straight hours into researching the lore behind Mjolnir. That’s a rabbit hole you never fully come back from. I know what you’re thinking: Syd seems a little bitter. I have to admit, this column took a little bit of a darker, self-deprecating turn than I had originally planned. The truth is, I feel super fortunate to be in a time where comic books have been blasted in to mainstream media. It means more hi-res Chris Evans pectoral shots and amazing heroes brought to life on the big screen. It also means a huge new group of mainstream superhero-lovers us average nerds can pretend we’re better than — which, let’s be honest, is the best karmic gift the universe could have given us.

— SYD DANGER

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ARTS & CULTURE Gathering celebrates Indigenous tradition of music and movement Campus community invited to attend free performance Mar. 4 at the Blueshore Centre Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

had just not thought of them and it was beautiful,” she said. Due to a previous commitment in Edmonton, Andrew won’t be joining Sewepagaham at the Gathering, but local pianist Paul Keeling will be there in his stead. The two have also collaborated on many occasions in the past. “Because a lot of the songs are in Cree, I always preface by telling [the audience] what the song is about,” she said, “But with that in mind, I also want them to feel the song’s emotional output. Even if someone wasn’t listening or doesn’t know the translation I think they can get the sense of the emotional intent behind the song with what they’re hearing.” Whether in Vancouver, Alberta or beyond, Sewepagaham rarely declines an opportunity to share her music with others. “It’s a gift that I was given so I need to honour that by accepting invites as much as I can,” she said. “I also want to show that this traditional language can

flourish and be heard in modern times and in contemporary music. Historically, it was denied, it was suppressed and the languages were at risk of being lost. For me to sing in my language, I’m reviving the language of my ancestors, my parents and Cree people in general.” “It is extremely important given we have been assimilated, oppressed for so long,” added Kirk. “Capilano U First Nations Students not only works with our Indigenous students on campus here, but to support all students in their educational journey sharing the teachings and history about Indigenous peoples.” For updates on this and other events hosted by the Kéxwusm-áyakn Student Centre, visit Capilano University First Nation's Student Services Department on Facebook or follow @CapUFirstNation on Twitter. To hear samples of Sewepagaham’s music, visit Sewepagaham.com.

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called Splashing the Water Loudly, is a collaboration with Edmonton-based jazz pianist, Chris Andrew. It blends elements of the Cree language and drumming tradition with contemporary jazz piano, Cuban percussion, cello and layers of vocal harmony — a truly unique fusion of influences. “I’m very interested in how different genres and musical styles blend and how they can compliment each other,” said Sewepagaham. “I play the piano — not as well as [Andrew] does — but I enjoy the sound and I wanted to bring in an element of pop and jazz into the music. I would come with the melody and the words and then either a rattle or a drum and then he added to it.” Together, they tinkered with various combinations until they found a magical blend that suited each song. “Sometimes he would offer suggestions in arrangement… Sometimes he also brought things that were completely off the charts and I

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For 71 years, Canada’s Indigenous peoples weren’t allowed to sing, dance or publicly celebrate important cultural events. Participating in a traditional Potlatch ceremony was considered a misdemeanour offence under the Indian Act from 1880 to 1951. “If we did we ran the risk of being imprisoned,” explained David Kirk, First Nations Advisor at Capilano University’s Kéxwusm-áyakn Student Centre. As a result, an entire generation grew up without its oral history — without songs, without dances, without longstanding cultural values. The effects still echo to this day, drowned out only by the voices of a new generation who is once again able to sing and dance without fear. For the past several years, Kirk has organized an event on campus called Gathering of First Nations Voices Through Song and Dance. This year’s incarnation will take place on Mar. 4 from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Blueshore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts. “Our aim is to share Indigenous culture to all of the campus through sharing of songs and dance, and in turn this brings the campus community together to share an afternoon of Indigenous culture,” he said. “It also allows for our students who identify as Aboriginal, First Nations, Metis, Inuit, a sense of belonging — a sense of pride to see our culture shared with the whole campus. We keep it free so that it is accessible to anyone wanting to attend. I also know all students face challenges financially, so it is important to have free events.” CapU’s North Vancouver campus is located on the traditional, unceded ancestral territory of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wúmesh) and Tseil-Watuth Nations of the Coast Salish people. Out of respect, Kirk has asked Squamish elder Latash Nahanee to emcee the event. A former journalist and business owner, Nahanee was also a one-time CapU student, graduating with an associate degree in Arts and Sciences. The afternoon’s performers hail from a variety of neighbouring territories. The Chinook SongCatchers are from Squamish and Nisga’a of the Northwest Coast of BC. The award-winning group, Kalan Wi, formed in the Lil’ Wat Nation but uses the chanting and language styles of the St'at'mix peoples. The third performer, Sherryl Sewepagaham, is a Cree-Dene singer from the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta. She is also a CapU student, about to complete her second year of the Music Therapy program. “We have so much deep rich culture to share from various nations,” said Kirk of the many participants in this year’s Gathering. He and Sewepagaham were introduced in 2015 through a bi-monthly drum circle that took place on campus. Her latest CD,


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Content filters create issue for advertisers With an increase in ad blocker plugins, who is willing to pay creators now? Scott Barkemeyer CONTRIBUTOR

Advertisers have been around the block, but that doesn’t mean they know what do to about AdBlock. The popular browser extension for Chrome, Firefox and Safari and others like it are costing them billions by effectively stopping their content in its tracks. It’s become a huge problem with no single-click solution in sight. In 2015, there was a noticeable increase in active ad blocker users — a whopping 41 per cent, which increased total number to 198 million individuals worldwide. Pagefair, an organization that advocates against ad blockers, reported that publishers lost $22 billion in 2015 as a result of ad blocker plugins. The numbers

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affected everyone from independent bloggers to content creators on popular sites such as YouTube. Felix Kjellberg, better known under his YouTube moniker PewDiePie, stated in an Oct. 2015 video that although he himself can accept the loss in revenue, smaller channels may not be able to afford it. The Swedish vlogger currently has over 42 million subscribers with most of his videos being seen over one million times. He made an estimated $4 million in 2013, which ballooned to $7.4 million the following year. That number could have been nearly double, he suggested, if not for the increase in active ad blocker users. “It’s a number that has grown a lot over the years, from roughly 15 to 20 percent when I started [to 40 percent currently]. What this means is that YouTubers lose about 40 percent of their ad income,” he explained in the video. Kjellberg also stated that the premium subscription service of YouTube Red is a direct result of the increase in the use of ad blockers. Another YouTuber, PJ (KickThePj), used a Twitter poll to see what percentage would be willing to pay $10 per month to access the premium ad-free service. Of the 90,000-plus respondents, only seven per cent were willing to spend the money.

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In an attempt to combat the problem, many media content providers have implemented similar tactics as YouTube with subscription models. However, Forbes is leading the charge for written media with a redirect for users of ad blockers asking them to disable the plugin. Similarly, YahooMail has blocked inbox access for users who are running a browser extension that interferes with sponsored content. How ad blockers work can vary depending on the software developer. Most aren’t overly complex, relying on lists to search against and block content on the site. This is where each program differs. Some replace the empty space with something else; others do not, which can drastically impact the user’s experience. In addition, some ad blocker programs do not remove Google ads. They are either paid to keep them intact or their content is deemed beneficial to the reader. Ad blockers do more than block advertisements. They also remove page trackers that assist companies in understating how customers and potential customers use their website. The implementation of ad blockers removes any presence, giving marketers no data to understand interaction. “The whole idea is that they only

Putting the pedal to the metal ‘Musical Frankensteins’ and the fascination with modding technology Graeme Findlay

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For the same reason one might paint a wall, change a recipe or swap out the tires on their car, musicians have a habit of modifying off-the-shelf gear into something more. We’ve all put on a record and heard an unfamiliar sound — something so unique and so impossible that we had no idea it could even be made. That’s because it wasn’t, until someone took it upon themselves to grab a screwdriver and void their warranty in the name of science. Over the years, the concept of sound from the instruments we play and hear has constantly evolved. New styles have been created, as well as new playing methods. Guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend of the Who and Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple were key innovators of new effects and sounds, each producing many that were never heard before. When pedals entered the market in the early 60s, rock ’n’ roll took another step further, and modding them meant even more possibilities for those who were brave enough to risk it. Although computers have replaced many cumbersome contraptions over the years, there’s nothing quite like the sound or feel of analog music equipment. Pedals especially have stood the test of time — even today, it’s not uncommon to see a guitarist playing footsie with a dozen or more. Such is the case for the Vancouver

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— CRISTIAN FOWLIE

CONTRIBUTOR

indie rock band Kaslo, who incorporate the use of pedal-based effects into their style and sound very meaningfully. "A lot of musicians at some point will start getting into pedals,” explained bassist Nic Bermudez. "It is a world that you dive into, and that is exactly what happened to me. I just had to get a bunch of them." So how exactly do Kaslo and other bands produce these kinds of sounds? One might be curious as to what the combinations are, and what settings they use. "For me, hearing bands in high school like Rage Against the Machine, Tool and System of a Down was what inspired me

to play bass and fool around with different sounds on your instrument. For us, we try out different sounds and do experimenting at home and bring it to a band setting,” he said. "You get an awareness of the sounds that you do have as part of your tool kit. With that, you start with a sound you want to achieve in a certain part of a song. The music always informs the direction you want to go, such as 'I want to thicken this part out' or 'I think this part could use some distortion.’ It can be done in an onthe-spot setting as well." With so many settings and possibilities, it’s easy to wonder where the sonic linein-the sand might be. "If you are trying

capture aggregate data that can be used to create aggregate decisions,” said James Carter, president of North Vancouverbased Path Marketing. The data that is collected by the tracker codes is geographic data and session info, which is simply how you interacted with the site; what is in your cart, what items you clicked on to add to your cart, how long you were on the site for, and the bounce rate, which is if you entered the site and then left it without viewing other pages. Carter believes that unless individuals are willing to purchase a premium account such as YouTube Red then they should be shown ads. “Content creators get paid through advertisements,” he said. “The Internet is the ultimate source of free content — the reason you are getting good content is because people are getting paid.” He fears that if ad blockers become the norm, there will be a reduction in the quality of content, aside from the more direct effects already felt by his industry. In a roundabout way, this could prove to be beneficial. Perhaps only then, once a tangible negative impact has cycled back around to the consumer, will users finally understand why advertisers have been trying to knock their block off all these years.

to layer parts in a song and you have an overdrive sound, distortion pedal or a bass boost pedal, there can be some incompatibilities that can come up", says Bermudez. "However, something that sounds completely unusable can always come up and can be tweaked even if you weren't expecting it to.” When the sonic limitations of one pedal are reached, the temptation of course is to buy another — but this isn’t always the case. Many musicians choose to customize what they have on hand, often creating something even better than the factory could have ever imagined. However, things don’t always go as planned. Richard Faubel is a repairman at Backline Musician Services in Vancouver. When it comes to pedal mods, he’s seen the good, the bad and the ugly. "There are no shortage of repairs,” he said. We do work on electronic equipment such as amps, synths, mixers, keyboards, etc. The causes of the repair are a result of poorly done mods by people who know nothing about electronics or project construction. No warranty will cover failures as a result of opening gear up and tinkering with the insides. That's why manufacturers have authorized warranty centres and authorized technicians." For Bermudez and others, there is a certain thrill associated with the risk — not to mention the inevitable payoff when a mod goes right. As long as analog gear remains a mainstay of the guitar world, there will be those who push it to its limits and beyond. Their innovations are earth-shattering, their volumes are glassshattering — and when it comes to rock and roll, what more could you possibly ask for? Kaslo perform on Mar. 26 at Studio Records on Granville as part of their EP release.


SHORTS

Phase Jack Garratt Carlo Javier EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

THE UNRULY MESS I’VE MADE Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Carlo Javier EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Vancouver Art Gallery Cristian Fowlie ART DIRECTOR

MashUp is the latest and largest exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The massive show is a comprehensive survey of the most important artists from the past century, based around the theme of mash-up. A mash-up is the simple process of combining existing things to create something new. This exhibit traces the process from its humble origins in the collages of Pablo Picasso, to its ubiquitous influence on culture through art, photography, film, music, dance, architecture, fashion, graphic design and much more. It's a big undertaking for a mid-sized gallery like the VAG, but the quaint courthouse has been transformed into a space that could compete with New York's Museum of Modern Art. For anyone not able to fly out to NY soon, this is the best chance to see work by many of modern art's biggest names. Warhol, Haring, Koons and Basquiat are just some of the 156 creators represented in the gallery. The show isn’t just for art fans; there is a little something for everyone: Quentin Tarantino for the cinephiles, Brian Eno for the audiophiles and Maison Martin

Margiela for the fashionistas. Savvy Vancouverites may recognize the Bjarke Ingles Group, or BIG, the architectural studio behind the upcoming Vancouver House highrise. There is Tobi Wong, a Vancouver-born designer and artist who has created work for Prada and Swarovski. Native Art is represented as well with Brian Jungen, an Emily Carr grad who transforms Nike Air Jordans into traditional Aboriginal masks. The crown jewel of the exhibit is the installation by Barbara Kruger in the rotunda, commissioned specifically for the show. The installation stays true to the show's concept, remixing the classical, white marbled staircase with Kruger's signature, bold typography and mischievous emojis. Black and white striped walls packed with nonsensical rhymes fill the space and dramatically welcome viewers into the show. It also makes a pretty great place to take a selfie. While the 316 artworks are spread out on all four floors, each for an era in modern culture, the sheer size of the exhibit is still overwhelming. The gallery's traditional white box rooms have been bisected with new walls and installations, creating an endless array of spaces. With so many crooks and crannies to discover, the exhibit calls for multiple visits to really take it in. MashUp runs Feb. 19 to May 15. For gallery times, artist talks and additional events, visit Vanartgallery.bc.ca.

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every tendril of race is tackled with the political microscope. Whether it’s racism, privilege or minority issues, for better or worse, everything is analyzed and overanalyzed. Yet, “White Privilege II” is not the inherent burden that Macklemore carries. It’s not something that damages his artistic integrity – it benefits him. He’s not necessarily in the wrong for addressing the issue. He’ll get massive airplay and this think piece will be broadcasted for the many. The question is whether he suffers from the proverbial white saviour syndrome, which in itself is an aspect of white privilege. Additionally, the praise he’ll get and is getting is in itself also fuelling white privilege. Where was the mass media coverage when Kendrick Lamar wrote “The Blacker the Berry?” The Unruly Mess I’ve Made might ultimately be the title for the perception (or reality) of what Macklemore is. He’s one half of a chart-topping duo that doesn’t ever get credit for the other half. He’s a walking 400-word Facebook post, the type that was made by that classmate who took one political science course and got inspired. At least he’s a dexterous rapper, one that is well connected enough that he can always promise some fantastic guest verses from the hip-hop community. Plus, the radio loves him, so at least mass media may finally start talking about the same issues he preaches about.

MashUp: The Birth of Modern Culture

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“I hate myself,” Macklemore raps in the Leon Bridges assisted “Kevin.” The song explores the perils of prescription drug abuse and in it, the Seattle-born rapper admits his own trials with addiction and the self loathing the followed. I hate him too. There, my biases are revealed. It’s a valiant effort to address an ongoing issue that Macklemore himself once faced. Bridges’ touch of soul empowers the piece with his silky vocals and grace, while producer Ryan Lewis revels in the background. But at the forefront is Macklemore, as it always has been with the hip-hop duo. It just so happens that this self-imposed, guilt-ridden persona that the rapper takes on doesn’t make him the most likeable person. The Unruly Mess I’ve Made is wellproduced and it has some standout work from its collaborative artists, namely Chance the Rapper, Jamila Woods and Melle Mel. Yet sometimes, an entire body of work is judged primarily on the pieces that stand above the rest. “Downtown” is a hit that almost lives up to its hype as the new “Uptown Funk.” It’s a joyous and catchy exercise of superfluity and it features some true classic rap heavyweights. However, the real story of this album is the eye-catching “White Privilege II,” a title that speaks for itself – it’s also a song that probably should’ve spoken for itself. We’re in the age where

Momentum and hype are certainly not issues for English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jack Garratt. His debut album Phase comes off the heels of winning a host of merits in 2015, including Critic’s Choice from the Brit Awards and the BBC’s Introducing Artist of the Year and Sound of 2016. Unfortunately for Garratt, the hype might’ve been a little too hot. Make no mistake – Garratt is a brilliant vocalist. His voice rests comfortably between Ed

Sheeran and James Vincent McMorrow. He’s able to seamlessly transition from an understated and mellow tone of singing to bursts of falsetto. His voice shines in Phase, and the music very much places him in a position to succeed. The production is everywhere, and he’s right at the centre of it. It’s almost analogous to how he was brought up to the big leagues by Universal Media Group – the environment is manufactured to support his rise. Garratt’s already positioned to be the next big UK solo artist, in the veins of Sheeran or Sam Smith. He’ll have no issues with marketing and airplay, but the problems with the music are apparent. Phase essentially, is a victim of mass appeal. It’s a painfully generic album that caters to the seemingly unstoppable rise and integration of EDM to mainstream airwaves. It’s overwhelmingly obvious that this album is meant to populate club scenes and raves. It’s also filled with songs waiting to be remixed by your favourite DJ. Garratt really is quite talented though. He’s a capable multi-instrumentalist, a promising producer with a knack for synth textures and he’s an undeniable talent on the mic. Ultimately, none of these matter. Garratt’s already primed for a big career. He has the look, the trendy hipster beard and affinity for streetwear couture – everything you need to be excel in today’s popular culture.


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FEB. 20-28, 2016 - VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE handpicked on the Ferrari family vineyard, this bottle carries a classy vintage at a fair $40 price tag.

Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Italians may be notorious for talking with their hands, but when it comes to wine you won’t find anyone with a steadier pour. Vancouver International Wine Festival kicked off last week at the Vancouver Convention Centre, boasting over 1,450 wines from 14 countries. Though Italy was this year’s theme with 60 different winemakers in attendance, the Thursday night tasting on Feb. 25 reached far beyond the boot — save for the noticeable absence of South Africa. The popular event sold out weeks in advance, along with many seminars and dinners that took place earlier in the month, but that didn’t stop the Courier from getting a piece of the action. Here are a few of the highlights from this year’s festival.

TENUTA SANT’ ANTONIO SCAIA ROSATO IGT 2014 Every region of Italy has its own specialty and its own pride and joy when it comes to the grapes that are grown there. This rosé is made from 100 per cent Rondinella grapes, which are native to the Veneto region of Italy, where this winery is located. Aged in stainless steel, this rosé is slightly dry on the palate with a well-balanced mix of citrus and flowers. I bought myself a bottle to stash away for the summer.

AMARONE SELEZIONE ANTONIO CASTAGNEDI DOCG 2012

ZENATO LUGANA SAN BENEDETTO DOC 2014 Deliciously floral and bright on the nose, this would be a great little white for an afternoon on the patio. It’s packed full of ripe tangerine flavours and aromas of stone fruit right up front, with a slight minerality that lingers on the palate. Fruit-forward but not too sweet, this particular wine is made from a grape called Trebbiano di Lugana, also known as Verdicchio, which gives the wine a youthful lemon-lime colour. RIPASSA VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE DOC 2012 Zenato’s Ripassa is one of my favourite wines on this planet. This was poured for me by owner/winemaker Alberto Zenato himself and he makes it by passing a mix of 85 per cent Corvina, 10 per cent Rondinella and five per cent Oseleta over the warm marc of Amarone before its second fermentation. The result is a balanced, but deeply flavourful and alcoholic bundle of cherries, plums and blackberry jam.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 19

LUCCARELLI PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA DOP 2011 “FOLLE” Made from 100 per cent primitivo grapes, known as zinfandel to Californians and Canadians, this full-bodied wine packs a burst of spice and berries on the nose and palate. Soft tannins give it a pleasant dryness with a nice hint of mocha and vanilla on the finish. Its younger cousin, the Primitivo Puglia IGP 2014, is almost as delicious at a third of the price, packing less body but more plum and rosemary flavours.

BATASIOLO MOSCATO D’ASTI DOCG BOSC D’LA REI 2014 Other than a sip here and there, I’m not usually a big Moscato fan, simply on

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account of its sweetness. However, this one had the crowd buzzing so much that I had to try it. Before I’d even reached the booth I could already pick up the fresh aromas of peach and rose. This wine is a wedding bouquet of flavour with great fizz and extra layers of orange blossom on the finish. Plus, it’s available at the BC Liquor store!

PASQUA

If I can’t die with a bottle of Zenato’s Amarone in my hand I’d happily take this one from Tenuta Sant’ Antonio. Black liquorice, cracked pepper and dark chocolate all hit my palate right away, giving way to a smokiness from the French oak barrels it spent two years ageing in. This robust red would go very well with a big, juicy steak cooked to medium rare on the barbecue — or perhaps a nice old hunk of cheese.

PASQUA LAPACCIO PRIMITIVO DEL SALENTO IGT 2014 At $14 a bottle, this one is a bargain to say the least. Sadly, it was a wine festival exclusive, but I was told it may reach private stores in the coming months. This red boasts aromas of ripe raspberries and a little oak, having spent approximately 40 days in barrels before bottling. Plenty of tannins and full-bodied warmth appear on the palate while cracked pepper offers a nice little surprise on the finish.

ARGIOLAS COSTERA CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA DOC 2013 Composed of 90 per cent Cannonau with a little Carignano and Bovale Sardo mixed in, this wine is a nostalgic reminder of grandma’s spice cupboard and grandpa’s pipe tobacco. There are fruit flavours as well, redolent of strawberries, cherries and sage. Cannonau is another name for Garnacha, or Grenache, which explains the dry pucker on my palate. Try it yourself for $22 at the BC Liquor store!

FERRARI PERLÉ 2007 This one smacks of buttered toast, erring on the savoury side with flavours of crabapples, nuts and subtle spice. There is some sweetness that appears after a crisp effervescence greets the tongue and yields to a yeasty bouquet of bready goodness. Made from 100 per cent Chardonnay grapes

BURROWING OWL MERITAGE 2012 Uncorking a bottle of Burrowing Owl’s acclaimed Meritage is like opening a big jar of berry jam. Notes of baking spice, chocolate, cassis, coffee, raisins, oak, olives and dried sage make this an unforgettable mix of flavours. Although that sounds like a lot of things, the balance never falls out of alignment. If you ever find yourself springing for a rack of lamb, I’d advise you pick up a bottle of this wine to go with it.

PAINTED ROCK ESTATE GROWN ROSÉ 2014 Painted Rock’s 2013 rosé was one of my favourite wines coming out of last year’s Wine Fest and the 2014 vintage did not disappoint. As always, it’s a beautiful strawberry-rhubarb bouquet for the nose and palate. A blend of 50 per cent merlot, 30 per cent Cabernet Franc and 20 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine retains a bit of tartness from a day spent in contact with the grape skins after pressing.

SANDHILL SMALL LOTS BARBERA 2012 Sandhill was one of the first vineyards

in Canada to use Italian grape varietals — long before many of the others caught on. My favourite of three wines in their small lots series, the Barbera, is redolent of cherries, plums and leather. Medium in body, it carries a friendly pucker, a bit of oak flavour and pours a beautiful ruby red colour. It’s also quite juicy and would be the perfect match for a cheesy thin-crust pizza.


HUMOUR Tree removal draws ire from campus Greenpeace club Petition circulates after logging commences in West Walk Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

When it comes to fallen trees on campus, Capilano University’s Greenpeace Club (CUGC) has never been one to let sleeping logs lie. In recent years, the group has made Courier headlines for its disastrous ‘Plant a Pinecone’ campaign and its ongoing advocacy for a protected squirrel habitat in the P building. Lately, however, CUGC has directed its concerns toward the West Walk, where selective tree removal has created several holes within the dense greenspace. CUGC sent a letter to Capilano University’s Board of Governors on Feb. 16 calling for the cessation of any further logging in the area. Since then, many

CapU unveils revised Adult Basic Education program Curriculum changes come in response to confusion among Millennials Andy Rice EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It is unclear as to exactly why the University has been removing trees in the West Walk, although the absence of heavy equipment indicates that it is likely being done for maintenance or safety purposes. Unfortunately, the Courier totally forgot to ask facilities director Susan Doig for a comment before she left the office on Friday. However, a university spokesperson assured us that all formal complaints have been "logged" within the necessary departments. A protest rally is scheduled for 10 am on Mar. 2, organized by Hollandaise and two other Global Stewardship students. “I’m gonna chain myself to one of the stumps,” he said. “Not quite sure what’s gonna happen after that.” We’re wiling to go out on a limb here and say that nothing will, because this is a news story in the Humour section.

this autumn, the most basic season of all. ABE will still offer training to students looking to complete secondary school qualifications, improve their GPA or fill in the missing prerequisites for university courses. However, all entrants will now need to complete a series of additional courses in a smaller, workshop-based format. “The first is an exciting new English unit called ‘Adjectival Ejection,’” explained Richards. “Students will learn how to modify everyday words, parsing them into their most vital components and then either eliminating excess grammatical fat or adding extra syllables for clarity. For example, something like ‘totally,’ ‘definitely’ and ‘for real’ would become ‘totes,’ ‘defs,’ ’for realzies.’” Later in the semester, ABE students will complete another mandatory workshop called ‘Technology, Narcissism and Me,’ taught by three of Vancouver’s top social media experts. “All of the basic basics will be covered, such as selfie photography, emoji selection and excessive hashtagging,” said Richards. Several field trips will be taken throughout the term, including a pilgrimage to Starbucks, Forever 21 and the UGG store downtown for a case study on basic fashion essentials. A pair of classic UGG boots will be included in the tuition costs for all women enrolled the program. Men will receive a combo pack containing an Ed Hardy t-shirt and four bottles of Axe Body Spray. “Capilano University is looking forward to partnering with a variety of high-profile businesses and guest lecturers throughout the semester,” said Richards. “It’s going to be the best ABE program in the country, and we’re obvs very proud of that.”

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VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO.19

To learn more, visit Capilanocourier.com/ humour.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

At the behest of a younger generation of Pumpkin Spice Latte-sipping scholars, Capilano University has updated the curriculum for its Adult Basic Education (ABE) program. Traditionally, ABE has enabled students to upgrade their knowledge of English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computers and Study Skills. However, the name had begun to cause some confusion among Millennials. After all, “basic” means something very different today than it did 20 years ago. “Many people were actually entering the program by mistake, thinking it was a crash course in mainstream culture, fashion and music,” explained Gale Richards, assistant to the University’s vice president of academic and Provost, Dr. Richard Gale. “It was time to retool the focus to better represent the 2016 definition of the word ‘basic’ and all that comes with it. Expectations have changed, and if we want Capilano to compete with the likes of Sprott Shaw and CDI then we must be willing to adapt.” A new intake for the program will open

students have come out of the woodwork to voice their concerns as well. “Where else am I supposed to smoke dope between classes?” asked Satchel Hollandaise, a second-year Global Stewardship major. “I need a tall canopy to contain the haze and a garbage can to toss the roaches in when I’m done. You don’t have both of those things in any other area on campus.” For others like fourth-year Women’s Studies major Eunice Keillor, the removal of trees is most concerning for its potential environmental impact. “Those conifers are one of the last slices of green we have here,” she said. “I don’t care that it was just a few trees that were cut. They all looked perfectly healthy to me.” History shows that CapU is no stranger to cutting things that appear to be perfectly healthy, although it’s usually programs that find themselves on the chopping block, not trees. A petition is currently circulating the North Vancouver campus, urging students to speak out against any past and future logging efforts by the university. CUGC also reached out to hip hop icon Kanye West for his support. “We told him the wooded area was named in his honour and we thought he might take the bait,” explained Hollandaise. West did, and responded in his typical fashion — on Twitter:


CABOOSE HOROSCOPES

HUMANS OF CAPILANO Dominic Guieb

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK:

PHOTOGRAPHER

Nobody made a cake for you.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19):

You’ll be spending the week accepting that you are, in fact, a finger-in-the-booty-assbitch.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20):

With all the music festival lineups being announced, you’ll look at every poster, pretending you have the money and the friends required to attend one.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20):

Take this week one step at a time. That car crash really did a number to your motor skills.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22):

You’ll be eye to eye with love and it’ll look back at you and smile. Then it’ll spit on you, kick you in the crotch and walk away laughing.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22):

Sorry. Despite what Netflix’s new show Love tries to suggest, that combination of awkward and nerdy doesn’t equate to a life of threesomes and casual sex. But you already knew that.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 21):

The moons are in retrograde this week, which explains why they’re all doing drugs and sleeping with each other right now.

LIBRA (SEPT. 22 - OCT. 23):

The only thing that can stop you this week are obstacles, work ethic, ability, desire to get up and your unwillingness to put on pants.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 21):

It’ll be a tough week after you discover that the meaning of life is mostly composed of not fun, difficult stuff.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21):

Living a happy life is tough, so that mounting depression and anxiety you feel is fairly normal.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19):

Insomnia will go from enemy to ally after you discover that cocaine is far better than sleep ever was.

"One of the most important lessons I've learned is to work hard while you're young. I'm from Ontario, originally, and I left to move here when I was 18. Coming here with my sister put me in a better position for my future. I grew up a lot faster in terms of maturity. With my age at the time, work allowed me to move up a lot quicker with the things I wanted to do."

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18):

You’ll wish you were a kid again, when your biggest challenge was trying not to die of dysentery on the trail.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20):

This week isn’t going to be very funny for you, but it will be for the millions of people who watch it on YouTube.

SUDOKU

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 49 ISSUE NO. 19

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"What has been the best time you've had together?" They looked at each other and laughed. Right: "First day!" "We won the scavenger hunt. I think we won $100 or $150." Left: "We were strangers and we just met at the cafeteria. Simon (middle) asked if I was in engineering. I said yes. He immediately said "We're going to be friends". Our group name was 'the winners' and we were actually winners!

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