Capilano Courier | Vol. 50, Issue 19.

VOLUME 50, ISSUE 19

MAR 26–APR 8, 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EDITOR'S DESK

VOL. 50 ISSUE 19 MARCH 26–APRIL 1

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2018-19 CSU BOARD OF DIRECTORS

6

Opinions

8

HOW MY QUARTER-LIFE CRISIS GAVE ME A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION FOR MY PARENTS

News

HELL NO! THE PIPELINE MUST GO!

Columns

10 SOLES FOR SALE

Cover Feature

10 STUDENT ADDRESSES MLA’S RACIST COMMENTS

Special Feature

16 FINDING EXCITEMENT AND BEAUTY IN CLASSICAL

PERFORMANCE TODAY

Arts & Culture

18 CAPU BLUES ATHLETE WINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR AT NATIONALS Sports

STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ART DIRECTOR

Carlo Javier capcourier@gmail.com

Rachel Wada artdirector.capcourier@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Justin Scott manager.capcourier@gmail.com

Cristian Fowlie pm.capcourier@gmail.com

NEWS EDITOR

COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER

Christine Beyleveldt news.capcourier@gmail.com

John Tabbernor community.capcourier@gmail.com

OPINIONS EDITOR

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Tia Kutschera Fox opinions.capcourier@gmail.com

Andy Rice andy.capcourier@gmail.com

FEATURES EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Helen Aikenhead specialfeatures.capcourier@gmail.com

Nivedan Kaushal, Benjamin Jacobs, Laura Melczer, Natasha Jones

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

COVER ILLUSTRATION

Rachel D'Sa arts.capcourier@gmail.com

Cristian Fowlie CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS

Pamella Pinard, Cynthia Tran Vo, Rachel Sanvido, Valeriya Kim

CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

Greta Kooy campuslife.capcourier@gmail.com

EDITOR + COLUMNIST PORTRAITS

Rachel Wada

ONLINE EDITOR

Jessica Lio online.capcourier@gmail.com COPY EDITOR

Leah Scheitel copy.capcourier@gmail.com

INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING?

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Visit us in Maple 122 on Tuesdays and Fridays or

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email capcourier@gmail.com.

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are subject to editing for brevity, taste and legality.

Submit your portfolio or examples of work to

The Capilano Courier will not publish material

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deemed by the collective to exhibit sexism, racism or homophobia. The views expressed by the

​We acknowledge that the work we do and the

contributing writers are not necessarily those of the

institution we serve happens on the unceded territory

Capilano Courier Publishing Society.

of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of Musqueam, Squamish, Stó:lō and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

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THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

On coming back from the jaws of defeat CARLO JAVIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF “I knew exactly what to do, but in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.”

– Michael Scott

B

y now, anyone who pays any semblance of attention to Capilano University student politics know that we once again caught another L at the referendum.

Like last year, the Capilano Courier Publishing Society, by way of the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) Referendum, presented a fee increase question for the paying students of CapU. Like last year, we lost. Our requests were exactly same, a small fee increase to boost the production and quality of the school’s only campus publication. Yes this meant paying our editors and contributing writers and artists more, but that was truly what the Capilano Courier needed to take the next step.

Despite the similar regrettable results to last year’s, I had a vastly different feeling after we found out about our defeat. Last year, I was very open about how our loss got to me. It felt discouraging and at moments, even debilitating. The amount of “No’s” made it really seem like students did not like, or maybe even appreciate the work that the Courier is doing. While that may be true with a certain contingency of the CapU community, last year’s result also showed enough “Yes” votes to alleviate the loss. 422 ‘No’ votes sucked, but 400 ‘Yes’ votes gave me a sense of hope, a sense of relief.

This year’s results were worse, much worse. Our “Yes” votes went down to just 355, but our “No” votes rocketed to 579. Yet for some reason, I don’t feel worse than I did last year. Maybe it’s just a cynical understanding of the Courier’s place in the very fabric of the CapU community – important enough to exist, but not enough to disrupt longestablished student newspaper fees. It could also be because my exit from the Courier looms. A win or a loss would not have directly affected me, given that my years-long tenure at the paper – and student press in general – is coming to its inevitable end.

Or maybe, it's just an understanding of the value of loss and defeat.

After considerable recommendations by resident video game expert, John Tabbernor, I recently started to – finally – play Bloodborne. The game, developed by From Software, is almost like a spiritual successor to their vastly successful Souls series, a collection of games that prided itself in how it capitalized on difficulty. You will lose and you will have to try again. But with each passing loss, you come to a better understanding of how to and how not to approach challenges.

The Courier lost again this year, but that doesn’t mean the end. We can always try again, and each attempt will certainly be better than the last.

Capitalizing on failure is an oft-talked about topic, but accepting failure isn’t as easy as your favourite athlete made it seem. The realities surrounding failure, and more importantly, trying again, has started to become more evident as I inch closer and closer to a life without the Courier.

Change is coming and its daunting as hell. I’ve always been measuredly confident in what I can and can’t do, but this phase is naturally allowing more doubt to seep into my psyche. It happens, the fear of failure is hard to overcome, but every defeat offers a new perspective.

None of this is life or death. There’s always another chance.

CAMPUS LIFE

WHO YOU

Feras Bingursain

On being a champion for CapU international students GRETA KOOY CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

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hen Feras Bingursain first moved to Canada in the spring of 2014, the plan was just to learn English and head back home to Saudi Arabia. Little did he

know that a full-ride scholarship to Capilano University would not only allow him to pursue his education, but it would also show him his new second home.

Currently in the Business Administration program, Bingursain is working towards diplomas in both

A saving pulse Capilano student currently in the Philippines to help save a 10-year-old’s life JUSTIN SCOTT MANAGING EDITOR

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lthough Claus Bauer, a Capilano University Documentary Certificate Program student, has spent over two decades giving back around the world through several humanitarian outlets, his latest endeavor involves Bauer’s big heart literally saving another.

In 2013, Bauer was living in the Philippines – where he owns the Paradise English Boracay School – when Typhoon Yolanda devastated the nation.

With over 20 years of humanitarian work under his belt at that point, there was no question in his mind as to what was next. “I lived 70 kilometers away from where the eye of the storm was,” he said. “Being in the Philippines, a Third World country, I knew that there wasn’t going to be too much help from the government, especially in the area that was devastated.”

So, Bauer and his associates ventured to an area nearby with the most destruction, the town of San Isidro on the island of Panay, and help. They

brought clean water, pots and pans, canned food and rice and helped repair or rebuild shelters. While they were doing this, they met a local man named Victor. “We were handing out tarps and he goes, ‘Claus, you know what, we’ve got enough tarps,’ and I right away latched onto that guy because I was like, ‘this guy you can really trust’,” Bauer recalled.

Eventually Bauer and his team had built around 15 homes in the town, one of its school’s buildings, a playground and had coordinated medical missions with the red cross. But, they weren’t done there.

Bauer decided that he wanted to donate a trike, which is used as a taxi in the Philippines, to one of the local families to ensure them a strong future.

“I asked Victor, ‘what family could really use this?’ and he told me about Evelyn.”

Evelyn Dela Cruz has five children and had recently lost her husband to a heart attack when Bauer met her.

Evelyn and her family live on $60 USD a month, which Bauer said is nothing in the Philippines. Their house has no electricity or running water. “We were discussing how they could benefit, or if they could benefit [from the trike], because I don’t like organizations that just go there, give them cash or build them something and that’s it,” Bauer explained.

human resources and international business. On top of a full course load, he is also a member of the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU), serving as the international students’ liaison, and a volunteer mentor at the Center for International Experience (CIE).

“I want to go to a school where I can have a community and I can practice English in small classrooms, that’s why I chose Capilano,” he said.

Although a fan of many aspects of the University, Bingursain also noticed that certain things were missing, like student dormitories that could support international students. This prompted him to begin advocating on campus.

First volunteering as a mentor and leader at the CIE, Bingursain helps prepare international students before and after their arrival in Canada. This includes things like which phone plans to look at, where in the city to look for apartments, how to sort out a Compass Card and so on. The eldest of five brothers and one sister, Bingursain is no rookie when it comes to being a patient and an understanding mentor.

“I try my best,” he said, humbly.

“They’re in a new country, it’s cold, people are different, they’re nice, but they’re different, so I want to make sure that they’re welcome.”

Once settled into regular school life, he helps facilitate events that involve both new and international students.

Last November, Bingursain worked on a Christmas dinner event with the CIE for international students. “Many international students have never

experienced Christmas, at least not North American-style, and many of them are here without their families and want to get together with their friends,” he said. Over 100 students participated, and money from ticket sales were donated to the United Way. “The reason I got involved with student life was first to create relationships, practice a new language and make a change in the things that I wanted for others,” said Bingursain.

His work within the CIE eventually led him to work at the CSU when last year he had the opportunity to apply for the position of international students’ liaison. “I’m proud to say that I’m working side by side with great student leaders, a student Board of Directors, who have been accomplishing so many different goals,” he said.

This past year has been a learning experience, one that introduced Bingursain to even more student voices and experiences. Although his efforts were concentrated on the international student experience, he recognized a need for socializing new students beyond just one group on campus. “My message to international students is to please get involved,” he said, putting an emphasis on building long-lasting relationships.

Bingursain will not be returning as the CSU’s international students’ liaison next semester. He will, however, be continuing his work with the CIE, advocating for and working with both domestic and international CapU students.

However, as Bauer was with the family discussing the possibility of them receiving the vehicle, he noticed something about one of Evelyn’s children, her daughter Janeth. “She had really blue lips and was really lethargic with all the other kids,” he said. Evelyn explained that Janeth had a heart issue, but the test to determine what the issue was would cost around 4,000 Filipino pesos, or $80 USD. So, with Evelyn’s 3,000 pesos a month income, there was no way for her to afford the test. As a parent himself, Bauer knew how agonizing this must have been for Evelyn and gave her the cash for the test immediately.

They soon discovered that Janeth had a Congenital heart disease and Tetralogy of Fallot and she would require surgery.

With the situation becoming more complicated, Bauer and his team decided to reach out for help. They started a GoFundMe page, with a goal of reaching $16,330 CDN, which would pay for Janeth’s surgery, a trike and a new home for the Dela Cruz family. In less than a month, the campaign has reached $16,200, which has allowed them to begin the process of Janeth’s operation. Unfortunately, due to the risk involved, Janeth must have some dental work done before she can have her heart worked on, to lower the risk of infection once the operation is complete.

Additionally, the Dela Cruz family and

Bauer found out that Janeth may have Tuberculosis or Pneumonia, which has elongated the process even more.

However, Janeth will soon have her surgery, and eventually the family will get their trike.

As he’s in the Documentary Film Making program, Bauer will of course be documenting the trike’s journey. “We’re going to build it in Manila and then we’re going to drive it through three islands, which is about 500 kilometres to where Janet and her mother are from,” he said, explaining that he plans on giving people rides along the way. “Then we’re going to give it to them there.”

What started as helping a town rebuild, then helping a family better their future, has quickly turned into a life saving mission. “At first, we thought you know, we’re going to be able to help this family fend for themselves a little bit better. And then of course it became a much bigger thing with this little kid’s heart,” Bauer said. And he encourages others to try to help as well. Although not everyone can go the Philippines and help typhoon ravaged towns, Bauer pointed out that every community has members in need of help. “You can do things not just in a Third World country or a developing country, you can do things anywhere,” he said. “Start small, get involved with an organization and then go from there.”

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VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

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NEWS

Referendum and CSU elections bring mixed emotions An unprecedented voter turnout brought highs and lows for the current board CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT NEWS EDITOR

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fter weeks of rigorous campaigning for fee increases to bring new and reformed services to Capilano University’s student population, the results of the referendum brought mixed emotions to the current board of the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU).

The CSU ran a ‘Yes’ campaign to see fee creation and increases. Prior to the referendum, Pacific Blue Cross, the providers of the Health and Dental Plan, raised their premiums, which President and Vice President Finance and Services Perry Safari said was a sign that students were using the service. The CSU needed

to raise student fees to continue covering the Health and Dental Plan without taking on a deficit. Fifty-three per cent of the student body that voted rejected the proposed increase, which means the CSU will have to claw back benefits in order to continue offering the plan. Additionally, the Social Justice Support fee proposed

by Queer Students Liaison Kaschelle Thiessen to bring in more money for the collective liaisons to draw from for events was also rejected with 54 per cent of votes cast against it. The only fee creation put forward by the CSU to pass was for an Electronics Repair Service, which 56 per cent of students voted for.

Unrelated to the CSU, the Capilano Courier Publishing Society posed a fee increase, which was rejected by students with 62 per cent of votes cast against it. The Business and Professional Associations Fee, which will see a $1.99 per credit fee assessed to students

registered in the Faculty of Business and Professional Studies was approved by 51 per ent of its voters. The fee will be used to increase programs, events and services for students in the School of Business.

Furthermore, the new fee will allow the business associations on campus to divorce from the University and join the CSU without impacting its spending. This fee will also rise annually according to the Canadian Consumer Price Index.

The CSU’s general elections took place at the same time this year, and for the first time they were moved from a paper ballot to online polls. From Mar. 20-22, the CSU received a higher than ever voter turnout. Nearly 1,500 students voted in the general elections and referendum.

Several positions were left vacant, including those of the Women Students Liaison, Students of Colour Liaison, Faculty of Fine Arts and Faculty of Global and Community Studies representatives.

With these positions dormant, the CSU may opt to appoint students to these roles, who would not receive a vote on the board of directors during their time, and host a by-election during the fall semester to fill the vacant positions. This will first have to be discussed and voted on by the current board of directors.

These elections also saw several candidates drop out of the race before it was at an end. Feras Bingursain, who was running for the position of International Students Liaison, withdrew from the election. As did Vice President Equity and Sustainability candidate Shea Mills and former Vice President Academic Andrew Willis, who was running for re-election until he submitted his notice of resignation and withdrew from the elections on Mar. 13 citing personal reasons.

Meet your 2018-19 CSU Board of Directors: Q: What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming year and what is the main thing is you’d like to accomplish in your position?

Vice President Finance and Services Dilnavaz (Dylan) Dhillon I look forward to starting my role as Vice President of Finance and Services for the CSU. The one thing that I really hope to achieve is to engage as many students as possible. I plan to have more students involved with the CSU and in student associations at Capilano University. I hope to learn from current President and VP of Finance and Services of the CSU – Mr. Perry Safari, and do my best at the job

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Vice President Equity and Sustainability Anna Rempel I would like to thank all of the students who took the time to go out and vote in this election and participate in their democracy. Your voices matter and I am eager to listen to what you all have to say. I hope to see significant strides in our representation of traditionally marginalized groups on campus in the next year through increased awareness events and greater initiatives to address the concerns of these groups and bring about positive change. We as students have a huge amount of power to make a difference in increasing access to education and I cannot wait to get started!

I am so grateful to have been given the chance to serve the Capilano Students' Union membership for another year and I thank you all for your support.

VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

Vice President Student Life Yats Palat

Vice President External Noah Berson

I was very pleased with the way last year went. We made an impact and created a lot of change. Those moments when new students came up to me and hugged me for helping them make new friends through fun events were priceless.

This year, however, we have to take a bigger step up – working on constant engagement year-round. My focus this year is going to be on the more frequent, smaller events that may not have large attendance numbers, but that provide constant student engagement throughout the year. I want to ensure that gradually, day by day, there's something more important that students want to come to CAP for other than just their credits...and that something is Student Life.

Did not submit a statement in time for publication.

CAMPUS LIFE

Vice President Academic Joshua Millard

Accessibility Justice Coordinator Andrew Dillman

First of all, I would like to thank the students of Capilano University for giving me this opportunity. Serving as Vice President Academic with the Capilano Students Union is an exciting step for me and I am thrilled to begin working with a new team. There is a lot of work to do in the upcoming year, but the most important aspect of this role is going to be our relationship with students. It is absolutely necessary that students feel comfortable reaching out to their union representatives at any time. Additionally, we have made great progress in faculty and administrator relations, but more can be done. There are still many barriers between students and their access to education and I plan to keep our partnership with the University productive and thriving to ensure they are addressed. Students must feel safe and empowered during their time at Capilano University. Anything else is unacceptable.

The number one thing I'm hoping to accomplish this term would be securing a space for the Accessibility Justice Collective on campus. I look forward to working with the University and with students in coming up with a creative solution to address this issue. I'm also excited about creating more opportunities for students in the collective to meet through increasing the number of events and meetings. Doubling the amount of therapy dog visits by providing a second de-stress week during midterms is also something I would like to see happen. It’s also important that I continue to provide guidance for the University on how we can expand the amount of services and classes that address access needs for the purposes of striving to become a leader in postsecondary accessibility.

Queer Students Liaison Michaela Volpe

First Nations Student Liaison Vanessa Lewis

Did not submit a statement in time for publication.

Did not submit a statement in time for publication.

International Students Liaison Harsha Sharma I have served at the CIE as a mentor to new international students for a year now, and have touched base with quite a lot of international students. In this past year that I've been at Cap, I have learnt the struggles, the issues, the expectations and the questions that an international student has at the University. We do, for sure, need a lot of changes to the international student life in terms of curriculum and events. I have a huge event in mind, which is an educational simulation of the UN. I am also planning to propose the unique idea of an open fest on campus, organized by the students, hence providing opportunities to connect, socialize, showcase talent and popularize CAP. I see these two events as really good opportunities to make international students integrate with the domestic culture and vice versa. As soon as I get inducted, I will begin trying to get the word out as much as I possibly can. I am very excited to start my journey with the CSU and its super enthusiastic members.

I'm looking forward to learning!

Sunshine Coast Campus Representative Matthew McLean I am excited to take on the role of the Sunshine Coast Representative for the CSU. It has been a long time since our little campus has had proper representation. We have a lot of differences from the North Vancouver campus that I hope to highlight, but I also want to bring us together around issues that affect all Capilano students.

I hope to bring a new perspective to the CSU. I served on a student union board of directors at my previous university, and I think there are a lot of similarities that we can draw from that will benefit all Capilano University students.

Business and Professional Studies Faculty Representative Joey Sidhu

Education, Health and Human Development Faculty Representative Tessa Johns

Thank you to everyone who voted in the 2018 CSU general election! I could not be more thrilled to bring forward the interest of all my fellow business, communications and legal studies students in the coming year. You can find me around campus if you'd like to know more about me, or the initiatives I have planned. I'm looking forward to an exciting year!

As the Education, Health, and Human Development Faculty Representative, I hope to make myself available to connect with my peers. I want students in my faculty - and any faculty – to know that their voice is important and that they can influence change. I would encourage students to reflect on their educational experience at Capilano University. If questions or concerns arise they can contact me. I hope to do my part to inform the board about the experiences of students in the faculty I represent.

*Editor’s Note: Arts and Sciences Faculty Representative Rishabh Deol was not able to provide a statement or a photo before publishing date.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

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OPINIONS

Bring back the handkerchief Tissues are an issue NIVEDAN KAUSHAL CONTRIBUTOR

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- CYNTHIA TRAN VO

neezing. It happens at the worst times – polluting the upper lip with thick, slimy snot. Ugh. Most people would just grab a tissue and move on, but tissues are a bigger problem than the mucus they wipe away.

North Americans produce approximately three times as much tissue paper waste than Europeans.

It’s then no surprise that the Canadian tissue paper industry generated over $40.5 billion in 2017. While those figures include the sales of paper towels, toilet paper and other forms of sanitary paper, it nevertheless speaks to North America’s obsession with soft, plush tissue products.

This fixation is incredibly strenuous on the environment. After all, tissue paper is paper.

Fluffy tissues may be comforting, but their production has a detrimental impact on South American forests whose trees are harvested in the millions just for household sanitary paper. While recycled materials can be used to produce any sort of tissue, getting that pillow-y goodness requires long fibers obtained from freshly harvested lumber. As James Malone, a spokesman for the maker of Quilted Northern, a popular US toilet paper brand, said, “recycled fiber cannot do it.”

When it comes to just wiping away snot, however, there’s a simpler solution. Carry a handkerchief.

There’s far more to carrying this square piece of cloth than just wiping your nose.

Let’s start with the basics. For cleaning something — glasses, a phone screen, whatever — a handkerchief can come in handy. They are also significantly more

cost effective than their tissue-based counterparts. While it may be cheaper in the short term to run to the corner store and buy some Kleenex, handkerchiefs are a one-time purchase, given the fact that they are made of cloth.

The real value of a handkerchief, however, lies in its ability to rescue an embarrassing scenario. When ketchup lands on a clean shirt or when coffee spills on a favorite pair of jeans, tissues are useless. They tear far too easily. On the other hand, being equipped with a handkerchief makes damage control a whole lot easier.

Some are probably thinking by now, carrying around a snot infested, ketchup ridden, coffee stained cloth in their back pocket is the most unsanitary practice ever. Firstly, unless there's sickness or allergies involved, no one sneezes every 30 seconds. Secondly, it takes an astonishing amount of clumsiness to constantly get condiments on clothes.

Lastly, don’t forget that handkerchiefs are made of fabric. Like any other dirty piece of cloth, just toss them in the laundry and grab a new one the next day.

Some may also be thinking that handkerchiefs are plain uncool. The square cloth has a history of charm and charisma, however. Men and women carried the handkerchief as a symbol of sympathy, offering it to friends, family and romantic partners who may be in need of something to cry into. Depending on the material of the cloth, they can even double as a pocket square in sharp a suit.

Clearly, the handkerchief needs to make a revival. It’s simple, it’s utilitarian and it’s classy. And it reduces your carbon footprint. Besides, you never know when you might get ketchup on yourself.

Hell no! The pipeline must go!

Thousands marched in Burnaby in protest of pipeline expansion BENJAMIN JACOBS CONTRIBUTOR

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or a long time, a debate has been going on about whether or not the Kinder Morgan Pipeline can expand their existing pipeline. Many Indigenous people are infuriated at the company because their expansion is just above the Secwepemc people’s sacred ground. Ever since, people against the company’s actions expressed their outrage via protests against Kinder Morgan, and Saturday was an example of those planned events. Thousands of activists took time out of their schedules to participate in protests against the company's plans of expanding their

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existing pipeline. In the New York Times, a member of the Tseli-Waututh Nation, George Rubin said, “Our spiritual leaders today are going to claim back Burnaby Mountain.”

With the pipeline’s expansion comes the list of potential disasters. Yes, this can provide jobs, allow for more fossil fuels to be exported for transportation and this can benefit the business by giving them more profit. However, the kind of behaviour that this business is presenting towards this project is very unethical, so this protest was justified like the others that came before it.

According to a CBC article, the Secwepemc people did not consent to have the pipeline on their sacred grounds. If there is no consent from the people that own the land, then Kinder Morgan has no right to expand the pipeline in the first place. This kind of behaviour from a business is quite

VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

distasteful and is unfair to the people that view the area as sacred to expand their existing pipeline over something with sentimental and cultural value to them. If companies begin to show signs of distasteful behaviour without taking responsibility for it, then the consumers should make them by supporting their competition. Especially since any spillage caused by the pipeline itself will not only damage the sacred ground that the Secwepemc people hold dear, but create serious health concerns such as water poisoning. These activists acknowledged the consequences of the expansion with signs saying, “Water is life”, “No consent, no pipeline” and “Keep it in the ground”, even carrying inflatable orcas and traditional native drums to show what will be affected after the expansion.

The company has had its fair share of oil spills in the past. According to

the Trans Mountain website itself, about 82 spills have happened for this company since 1961. With this history of spillages and the potential damage to the pipeline’s surroundings, the company cannot be trusted with this kind of plan.

The protesters have the right to protest against this expansion. After all, not only is this an exercise in freedom of speech, but a response to the unethical behaviour of how the company is acting with the controversy surrounding the pipeline. Considering that Kinder Morgan is fully aware and completely indifferent about their disrespectful behaviour, it makes the protesters even more justified. The fact that Kinder Morgan had no consent from the land’s owners in the first place, are not taking responsibility for the backlash and are completely indifferent about this unethical plan shows that the expansion must be cancelled.

@CAPILANOCOURIER

The kids are all fight Students across America walk out to protest the state of America’s gun laws LAURA MELCZER CONTRIBUTOR

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mericans need to have an honest look at themselves in the mirror and realize their relationship to guns is problematic. On Feb. 14, 17 people, including high school students, teachers and administrators lost their lives in a school shooting in Parkland, Florida. In the month since, youth have become a leading voice in the fight for responsible gun legislation in the US. The National

TIA KUTSCHERA FOX OPINIONS EDITOR With files from Ana Frazão

T

he April issue of National Geographic is dedicated to race. But the actual discussion around the magazine is that the Editorin-Chief, Susan Goldberg, wrote her editorial about the magazine’s racist past. The racism is hardly surprising for a magazine that has been printing for 130 years in a country with a blatantly racist history, and it is hard to find a publication that wasn’t racist in the past. But it’s heartening to see a large publication write an open and harsh self-

/CAPILANOCOURIER

- FIONA DUNNETT

School Walkout, which happened Mar. 14, was a day that changed the course of anti-gun activism. The walkout was organized by Empower, the youth chapter of the Women’s March, and saw students from grade school to post-secondary walk out of their classrooms to protest and take action against the state of American gun laws. According to CNN, there were over 2,500 walkouts planned with thousands of students leaving classrooms for 17 minutes, one minute for each person killed in Parkland, Florida. The goals of the day were to bring young people together to show the power of a collective voice and to make demands on Congress to reform gun laws.

To quote Dan Hodges’ famous tweet, “In

Better Late Than Never National Geographic’s acknowledgement of its racist past is an important first step

@CAPILANOCOURIER

examination. Goldberg wrote bluntly, “Until the 1970s National Geographic all but ignored people of color who lived in the United States, rarely acknowledging them beyond laborers or domestic workers. Meanwhile it pictured 'natives' elsewhere as exotics, famously and frequently unclothed, happy hunters, noble savages—every type of cliché.”

In order to support boundaries of respect and work towards the end of racism and a future of equality, the first step is admitting there is a problem.

Especially in this time of scandalous racism in politics and the dubious comments made by Donald Trump. The editorial sends a strong message of the magazine’s position.

It’s impossible to fully measure how generations of racism, lack of representation and dehumanization can impact a group. But it’s clear the effect is devastating, and echoes through generations. So if a powerful magazine

retrospect Sandy Hook marked the end of the US gun control debate. Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.” In terms of law reform in the context of Americans and their guns, it seems impossible to actually make productive change to make the country safer. But it’s inspiring that young people are beginning to inject themselves into this conversation. Throughout history, young people have been at the forefront of historic change. And to see young people in the US gather together and rally to change gun laws is encouraging. If we throw our hands up and walk away, then nothing will actually get done. That’s why it’s hopeful that students gathered across the country partake in one of the largest

can do anything to make reparations for a racist past, they must do it. Just like women fought – and continue to do so – to release themselves from centuries of subjugation. The Black community also continues to fight for the acknowledgment of past heroes that were ignored by the media, lack of representation and eradicating stereotypes. Black people were portrayed horribly in the magazine. Goldberg pointed to a 1916 National Geographic article in which Aboriginal Australians were called “savages” who “rank lowest in intelligence of all human beings.”

Other powerful entities are taking similar first steps. The New York Times reviewed past obituaries to celebrate distinguished females and Justin Trudeau making amends and apologizing to First Nations people. In order to past beyond the history, the bullies must recognize their actions. National Geographic Magazine Chief, Michelle Norris, wrote,“it’s hard for an individual—or a country—to evolve past discomfort if the source of the anxiety is only discussed in hushed tones.”

demonstrations to protest. This generation of young people is not just saying that they’ve had enough, they are doing something to show their desire for change.

There have been comments from students who refuse to participate and comments saying that a walkout isn’t going to change things. However, the success of Mar. 14 shows that, given the space and tools to do protests, young people have the knowledge and skills to aptly critique the world as it is. One of the major successes is that the demonstrations got people talking about how necessary gun reform is. When you have the majority of news outlets, both American and international channels, paying attention to a cause through major walkouts things tend to start changing.

Bringing about social change and law reform is difficult. Advocating for a cause is exhausting. Especially when we start talking about guns in the US – where firearms are such a piece of identity for so many, attempting social and legal change feels like constantly hitting a brick wall. That’s why it’s so important to bring in young voices and encourage youth to create this change. Young people have a sense of optimism, strength and knowledge that can carry our world forward. Students experienced some of the most horrid violence our world offers, and Mar. 14 they stood up and said enough.

Every Town for Gun Safety, an American organization that seeks to understand gun violence in the country, has identified 305 school shootings in America since 2013.

Students and young people came together to say that they weren’t having it. These up and coming generations are more aware, educated and politically involved.

And there is an enthusiasm because the next place where these young activists will voice their sentiments will be the polls.

For when we look to major political and social issues in the past, much of the work that gets done is by groups of young people realizing they have the power to fight for change.

For those that think this was not needed at all, their position simply reveals their privilege. Marginalized groups have been fighting for centuries for acknowledgement and reparations. While acknowledgement is just the first step, it’s still a key part of ending systemic racism. A problem can’t be solved before it is acknowledged. Goldberg even stated “It’s possible to say that a magazine can open people’s eyes at the same time it closes them.” That influence is not insignificant.

Acknowledging a problem doesn’t excuse it and it’s a first step, not a finish line.

The magazine’s position shows progress, as long as this isn’t the only thing they plan to do. Apologies without action are empty. The world needs more powerful voices admitting their mistakes and actively working towards reconciliation. We all should take a leaf out of National Geographic’s book. “Let’s confront today’s shameful use of racism as a political strategy and prove we are better than this.”

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7

COLUMNS

DIGITAL HURDLES

Changing the game – an industry chasing the next craze JOHN TABBERNOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER

J

ust like in our world, the only constant in virtual worlds is change.

When I was a kid, I never could have envisioned what this ever-evolving medium would become. Games seek new innovative ways of sharing experiences and telling stories, but they are also businesses that will never tire of chasing the next big thing. As indie developers challenge the definition of what games can be, publishers in the triple-A space are hunting for their next Minecraft. We as players seem ever eager to latch on to the latest industry trend as sales records and every other perceivable metric continue to be smashed. Just over a week ago, Drake (yes, that Drake) helped game streaming site Twitch break its all time concurrent viewer record for a single broadcast. The impromptu team up between Drake and popular Twitch broadcaster Tyler “Ninja” Blevins speaks to the mainstreaming of gaming culture that we have seen over the last two decades. Though the rest of the world, like Drake and Ninja, are currently obsessed with Epic Games’ Fortnite, I cannot help but wonder when the next sea change will arrive.

Last year at this time, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds was about to take the world by storm, and if you had asked me only weeks ago

STAFF EDITORIAL

How my quarter-life crisis gave me a newfound appreciation for my parents RACHEL WADA ART DIRECTOR

I

’m 26. I’m at a midway point in my life where I’m desperate to hold onto the youth I feel slipping through my fingers, yet I want nothing more than the fabled stability adulthood brings.

It’s a gut-wrenching feeling of fear, uncertainty and an overwhelming desire for everything to just “be okay” – even though I don’t know what that means yet.

This mental tug-o-war got me thinking about my own parents, wondering how they navigated through their mid-20s, and the trials of confused identity, misguided purpose and hopeless transition.

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- VALERIYA KIM

if anything could have matched its meteoric rise to popularity, I would have shown you a bridge I could sell you. Yet change is ever constant. Today it’s Fortnite and tomorrow, I wouldn’t even dare guess. Not only do we see this change in the industry and in our world, but also in ourselves. As I grew with games, so too did my tastes evolve. When I was younger, I wanted entertainment. Fantasy role-playing games that allowed me to escape into epic storylines and arcane mysteries.

Action games that never relented with their delivery of adrenaline and violence.

Now that I’m older, I just want escape.

Escape from responsibilities, escape from stress, and escape from the world

spiraling into the toilet that is the 45th president’s Twitter feed. In a way, all popular media provides this for us. Tenyear-old me definitely found solace in Star Wars: Dark Forces when wanting to fend off thoughts of schoolyard bullies.

But tastes change, and now I cannot settle for just distraction, I need an experience that is all consuming.

I detested online multiplayer titles when I was younger but now they have reinvigorated my love for games. Being engrossed in a multiplayer match offers not just challenge but an excuse to evade the horrors of the world. Encountering other players online means there is no pause button. If I'm watching TV or browsing Reddit, I'm constantly

At 26, I live with my brother in my parents’ home. I’m almost two years into my first serious relationship and still trying to jumpstart my career. Meanwhile, my mom got married at 23, and had my brother that same year. I was born two years after – when my mom was the same age that I am now. It’s mind-blowing when I compare my mom’s life experiences by the time she was 26 to what I’ve accomplished in the same amount of time.

I could not even imagine being in my mother’s shoes.

My mom grew up in Iwata, Shizuoka, which is a small, rural city in Japan.

According to her, Iwata is frozen in time – nothing ever changed, nothing ever happened. In her early 20s, she had the opportunity to leave her dead-end desk job and travel to Canada with her dad, who had a close friend that lived there at the time. Following that trip, she made the life-changing decision to stay in Vancouver for good and to start a new life in a foreign country where she barely spoke the language. She then went to a Japanese-English Language School and earned an Office Administration Certificate at a community college. I recall stories of how my mother lived with her Russian homestay family, where she gained a lot of weight from all the

new and foreign food she was introduced to. And somewhere along the lines of adjusting to her Canadian lifestyle, she met my dad.

My dad was the second youngest of six siblings to their Chinese immigrant parents who made the move to Canada in the late 60’s. They did not come from much, and struggled to make ends meet. My dad would often tell us about how he found his first job in Vancouver by walking into every restaurant in Chinatown and asking if they would hire him for any position available. Working at the Hon’s Restaurant on Keefer Street, along with two other part-time jobs, he worked tirelessly to provide a better life for his family and my mom. He would eventually change careers, working as a real estate agent for a couple more years. During that time, my parents got married. Soon after, my mom got pregnant with my brother and I came around two years later. During this time, my dad had saved up enough money to pursue more business opportunities overseas in Hong Kong and Beijing, which meant leaving my mother to raise the two of us all on her own. In his broken English, my dad would often gloat about how he would not be the same man he was today if it weren’t for my mom

VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

distracted by my phone and its ceaseless notifications. In Rainbow Six Siege or Dota 2, I can’t be distracted. I’m enraptured. I’m 100 per cent focused on every frame and every pixel of a competitive match. Not only can we not pause the action, but my four teammates are counting on me to carry my weight.

The experience manifests itself not just as one based around competition, but one of social catharsis. I might not have the time to meet my friends downtown for a drink, but we can spend an hour catching up while rescuing a hostage from a digitally rendered Boeing 747.

In the last 20 years, gaming has provided us this new avenue to socialize that has moved beyond the couch. We can be together with those we care about, taking part in the same rituals, while shutting out the distractions of our mundane lives. To an outsider, it can sound comical listening to my friends and I argue politics while breaching a room with shotguns. Talking points are often interrupted by the occasional callout or explosion. One minute we're debating the merits of legalizing marijuana, the next we're trying to remember the difference between magic resistance and spell immunity. It’s a cavalcade of nonsense that I wouldn’t give up for anything. Laughing at a silly in-game moment, to lamenting work, or empathizing over a sick parent; these parts equal the sum of my new escapism.

Though these are the games that I cherish now, who knows what I’ll crave in the days ahead. The industry is showing no signs of slowing down. Fans will be waiting with bated breath as it iterates, innovates, and experiments in search of the next Fortnite or Minecraft.

There will likely be hurdles on the path ahead, but the shared experiences games provide us make navigating those obstacles worthwhile.

being supportive of this decision to allow him to pursue his passion, and how our family has her to thank.

I understand that times are different.

We live in a different sociopolitical and cultural climate than our parents’ generation. Moving to a foreign country, overcoming cultural and language barriers, being in an interracial marriage, and raising two children by herself – there is no way in hell that I can even imagine doing that myself today. This newly developing relationship and understanding of my parents has allowed me to be all that much more grateful of all their trials and tribulations.

But as I age, I realize that there’s more to my parents than simply being “mom” and “dad”. As much as I had grown up thinking that they’ve always had their life together, I’m starting to relate to my parents more and more as individuals, with real feelings and anxieties and mistakes. I’m realizing that our worries are becoming more the same – money, future, savings, health and that growing up doesn’t get any easier and parents can be insecure as well. It’s taking growing up on my part to appreciate the grownups in my life, and that’s one thing I can be grateful of for my quarter life crisis.

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BEATING AROUND THE BUSH

Getting Polarized

FREYA WASTENEYS COLUMNIST

M

y first bush job was working for my dad in a geology exploration camp in northern BC. Coming from the confines of a café position, I was amazed that I could get paid to hike around mountains. Every day, the helicopter dropped us off in a new, remote location and I would skip off with my partner for the day, with my rock hammer swinging. Given my role as “assistant”, my job mostly consisted of carrying samples, marking waypoints on my GPS, standing ready for first aid emergencies (almost causing a few myself) and enthusiastically hitting rocks that looked prospective.

For the geologists, it probably felt like babysitting a five-year-old, but for me it was the first time I realized that work could be fun.

Halfway through the summer, however, a geophysics crew came to camp. They brought boxes of wire, electrical transmitters and receivers, as well as long metal rods. As we unloaded the equipment, I was reminded of torture apparatuses, but instead of interrogating people, they were there to interrogate the ground – conducting an induced polarization (IP) survey, measuring the electrical chargeability and resistivity of subsurface material.

They also happened to be short a crew member. As the boss’s daughter, I drew the short end of the metal rod, and was promptly enlisted.

The first day we headed into the field was in the middle of a thunderstorm, which, as you can imagine, is not the

POP GOES THE POLITICS

Princess Di started it all LEAH SCHEITEL COPY EDITOR

W

hen Princess Diana visited the Middlesex Hospital in London in April of 1987, she was doing a chore on behalf of her mother in-law, the Queen of England.

As her usual cavalry of photographers and journalists surrounded her – they all had one question on their minds: would the Princess of Wales dare touch an aids patient without the use of gloves?

At this time, the AIDS epidemic was at an apex, with the World Health Organization estimating five to 10 million people worldwide had

- RACHEL SANVIDO

very best time to deal with electrical currents. Our first order of business was to set up the lines, which involved hacking our way through bushes with machetes, and running kilometers of wire through buckbrush and talus slopes. Once the line was in place, each member of the crew was spaced out at 100-metre intervals. At each station, I hammered metal rods into the ground, attached them to the wire, and waited for a current to be sent through before pulling out the rods and running to the next station. Sometimes we moved after a minute, and sometimes I sat miserably in the rain for hours while someone ran down the line to find the break in the wire – often because an animal had

walked through it.

After being told all the ways I could kill myself through electrocution, I was a bundle of anxiety. It also didn’t help that my radio continually shorted out, and I kept missing the “current on”, “current off” and “moving” cues.

Because I couldn’t hear the discourse, I had to touch the exposed wire with one hand to check if it was on before removing the rods with both hands, which would cause much more damage than just a little shock. The result was several instances of mild electrocution, and many stealthy tears throughout the day.

After my first field day, I jumped to the hasty conclusion that there

the disease. There was ample fear mongering and misinformation spread about the disease, including that merely touching a carrier could infect a person. Princess Diana, potentially unbeknownst to her, had the power to dispel these rumours by shaking hands with an AIDS patient.

When she did, it was documented and she instantly became a spokesperson for the cause. She helped focus the conversation surrounding AIDS, and instead of adding hysteria, she infused compassion into the discourse.

This was the kind of mystifying power Princess Diana exuded from the beginning of her life in the public eye.

Using the media to her advantage, she was able to take an already huge platform – the Monarchy’s – and build it up to be the biggest one the world has ever experienced. This is why many consider her to be the first celebrity crusader. She used her platform to blend her celebrity prowess with the political causes she believed in – from HIV to

landmines to leprosy. If she believed in a cause, she had the ability to broadcast the message around the world and the charm to make people believe in it.

While celebrities had used their platforms before Diana, none had thought as globally as they do now until after her. Bono, Angelia Jolie and Oprah all use tactics first used by Lady Di, such as touring areas devastated by landmines or using the media attention to advocate for a message. It was Diana that made it fashionable to care.

People have moved on from her tragic death two decades ago, which her brother blamed, arguably correctly, on the hunger of the media. While we, as a culture, have always looked to movie stars and famous, beautiful people, to inform us of what trends to wear or how to style our hair, times are different in 2018. We now look to our favourite celebrities to see what causes to support. This new factor plays a major role in both what we think of the cause and what we think of the celebrity.

was nothing I hated more than the unpredictability of geophysics work, and I begged someone to take my place. But, at this point I had already learned the basics, and it would take more time to train someone new. Stuck in my new role, I was sent out again, this time at least with a fully charged, working radio.

As the week wore on however, I began to get the hang of things, and started to understand my role in the grand scheme of things. I also managed to relish the moments of alone time rather than dreading them. One day, while I waited for the line to move, I succeeded in eating an entire sloppy joe above a mountain tarn while listening to Pavarotti and contemplating philosophical questions like “would this sandwich be better with a pickle?”

And, when the last day finally came, I wrapped wire with the agility of a seasoned veteran, running the talus slopes like a mountain goat. As we returned to camp, the geophysicists came huffing behind me. Impressed by my horse-to-the-barn-door efficiency, they deemed me “Super Girl” and told me to call them if I ever needed a job.

Having started out with a hatred for geophysics, I was surprised my change in attitude throughout the week.

Being thrown into a position where I had to learn quickly was challenging, unpredictable and at times frightening, but I also felt prouder of myself because of it. While following geologists around was enjoyable, being given my own responsibilities was rewarding. I had forgotten what it felt like to be given trust and respect in a job, and in many ways, it was the challenges of that week that I learned from the most even though it wasn’t always the most “fun”.

The next summer, I found myself doing it all again, and this time I only cried when it was over.

Celebrities never used to have this much power over our thoughts on social causes and politics. That is until, of course, Diana made it possible to do both. She made it cool to care. And that is why we continue to look to her work – to her media savvy, to her natural charisma and to her empathy.

Diana was the first superstar celebrity to realize and harness her powers. Her legacy is multi-faceted, as she secured the future of the British monarchy while changing the face of it. But it was her humanitarian efforts that won her into the hearts of billions worldwide and made her the “People’s Princess.” And it was her compassion that inspired other celebrities to take on bigger causes, further blurring the lines between celebrity and politics. She could make a style in trend by wearing it once, make John Travolta relevant by dancing with him once and she could make a cause matter by shaking one hand without a glove. It was the power of Princess Di.

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VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

9

FEATURES

How a small community based around sneakers has evolved into a thriving market

BY JUSTIN SCOTT ILLUSTRATION BY CRISTIAN FOWLIE

30 pairs of sneakers. I fell in love with the athletic footwear at a young age, originally through my enthusiasm for basketball.

Every year, my mom would take me to get a pair of shoes that would have to last me an entire year, making it one of the most anticipated and exciting days of the year for me. For months I would flip through the latest editions of SLAM at the grocery store and pay close attention to the footwear worn by NBA players I watched on TV, evaluating my options and eventually settling on a pair. I can still remember the East Coast Air Jordan 20s I owned in Grade 6 and the VC Shox 4s that I got the year after in Grade 7.

If this sounds crazy, it may be – but I’m not alone. There’s a massive culture that has developed around sneakers. While footwear has always been at the focal point of fashion and sneakers have been around for decades, there’s one moment, or one man, that many point to as the turning point for the industry – Michael Jordan. A mixture of forward-thinking design and genius marketing from Nike and the unmatched impact Jordan had both on and off the court saw a line of signature basketball shoes jumpstart an entire culture.

Ever since the iconic Jordan 1 Silhouette launched in 1985, sneakers have grown far beyond their original purpose. And although sneakers have become incredibly coveted items since then, the culture around them has seen an interesting shift over the past decade own over

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or so, going from a niche collectable to a mainstream phenomenon. Artists like Kanye West have now become just as well known for their footwear and fashion collaborations as they are for their music.

Meanwhile companies like Nike and Adidas have been figuring out how to best cash in on the phenomenon.

With the sporting goods giants seeing their market expand, there has been a surge in a different market as well – the resell market. Sneaker culture was originally fostered in a small community of those who simply appreciated the footwear, it has grown into a behemoth movement with people from all walks of life wanting to get their hands on the latest “hype release”, forcing the demand for shoes to skyrocket. However, rather than meeting the demand, shoe companies have figured out how to keep the supply of certain styles and colorways — a certain color iteration of a sneaker style — low enough that the demand stays high, resulting in boosted resell prices and the growth and creation of thriving communities surrounding the culture.

“I didn’t seriously start collecting until [the] early 2000s,” explained Jaycy Jaminal, one of the founders of the Vancouver-based Facebook group Vancouver Sneakerheads Group (VSG).

“My older brother and Dad were really into basketball in the 90s, so most of the time on TV, we’d be watching a game with Jordan in it. ‘It’s gotta be the shoes,’ was always what I heard, and I guess it just became a part of who I was,” he said.

Since the internet entered mainstream use, there have been online forums and

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discussion boards surrounding sneakers, but they were generally smaller, much like the culture before the emergence of the web. Forums like NikeTalk, which was started in 1999, saw sneaker enthusiasts coming together and discussing all things shoe, from the latest releases to where to get certain styles and anything else they thought important. And while sneakers were sold on the forums, it was more so enthusiasts helping fellow enthusiasts get hold of pairs they wanted, rather than individuals trying to make a profit.

In the same spirit, Jaminal and a few local friends started VSG a few years back. “We really just wanted a hub for all connoisseurs to come in and discuss.

It was never really about how much a pair of shoes were worth,” he said. After a few months, the group had grown to 500 people. Fast-forward to today and the group now has nearly 35,000 members.

And while many are in the group to participate in the same kind of discussions that were found on the forums of the past, the majority are there for a different reason – to resell and buy shoes.

Although there’s always been a resell market for sneakers, it has blown up over the past decade or so. A combination of advancements in online marketplaces and high-profile collaborations have lead to sneakers breaking out of the small community they were once in and into the masses. While many believe Jordan sparked the rise of sneaker culture, Kanye West is another one of the figures that popularized it. His original Nike collaborations and current Adidas ones have become the must-have shoe for many sneakerheads, often fetching hundreds or thousands of dollars a pair.

The key to the market is the basic principles of supply and demand. The more limited a shoe, the more coveted it is and the more people are willing to pay for it. An example of this is the quintessential sneaker that kicked it all off, the Air Jordan 1 in the black and red – or Bred – colorway. When the sneaker re-released in 2016 it retailed for around $200, but now sells for closer to $650. Although the price seems steep, it’s actually relatively low. West’s latest Adidas shoes retail for around $300 and fetch anywhere from $500 to $1,500, and some of his past Nike collaborations go for around $5,000. Some of the rarest sneakers available, like Eminem’s past collaborations with Jordan Brand on the Air Jordan 4 sell for more than $60,000 online.

Although the business of sneakers is booming worldwide, Vancouver’s scene in particular is thriving. It’s no secret that the city has a lot of residents with expendable incomes who are looking to spend it. Something that VSG member and long-time sneaker collector Gabriel Lee has noticed.

Lee has been passionate about shoes for a long time and has seen Vancouver’s sneaker scene evolve. “It’s changed because of the influx of expendable income which is now much higher, especially in the Lower Mainland, that’s what’s driven the market,” he said. “In the past you’d just buy something because you love it, but now it’s become more of a pre-requisite and more of a social status symbol.”

With such exorbitant prices, it was hard to tell if you were getting a ‘good’ deal or not in the past. Although those buying could try to follow prices in online groups, or rely on consignment stores to give them a fair price, there was no reliable index of what a shoe’s aftermarket values was.

That was until the website StockX, which is essentially a stock market for shoes, launched in 2016. Since then, the site has acted as a reference for many when purchasing sneakers.

So, how does one go about acquiring the coveted footwear they crave? In the past, stores would simply allow customers to line up outside and sell the shoes on a first come first served basis. However, with the hype came longer lines. People would camp outside for days, occasionally weeks, and violence became a common occurrence as the demand for certain pairs grew. Most stores started to do raffles, or strictly sell these shoes online. And while this system has aimed to make purchasing more fair, it seems to have almost done the opposite.

As I sat in my friend’s basement, surrounded by multiple pairs of Adidas Yeezys and Ultra Boosts and Nike and Supreme’s latest collaborative Air Force 1, he explained to me how he gets the shoes he resells.

Liam Chang*, a coding student in Vancouver, got into reselling shoes about two years ago. After looking for a new pair of running shoes, he came across Adidas’ Ultra Boost sneakers online and realized that there was a market for them. “I saw how limited they were and I saw that there’s resell money in it,” he explained. “It kind of made me feel that I could do this kind of culture, as in buy the limited stuff and sell it for more money.”

He started trying to get as many pairs of valuable sneakers as he could, entering in raffles and waiting on websites when he knew certain pairs would be released.

As he got more involved in the sneaker community through Twitter and eventually private group chats, he made

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Furthermore, he and his friends utilize a technique called “cookie injecting”.

Websites use cookies, we all know this, but if you’re like me you don’t really know what they are. Chang explained that each cookie holds a piece of information. So, himself or one of his friends will identify the cookie that represents a certain pair of shoes being added to their cart and share it with their group. “You can find that cookie that is the cart of that shoe and I can copy that cookie and inject it into the console of my Google Chrome,” he explained. “Then I’ll have that shoe in my cart and I can check out.”

Of course, retailers are aware of this and are constantly battling these techniques.

Recently Chang was attempting to get into Livestock’s system, and although he checked out with the pair he wanted, the store identified what he had done and cancelled his order. That being said, Chang believes that while companies are trying to combat the issue, they’ll never win. “Nike splits their stock into two backends, so they’re trying to change,” he said. “But what they don’t understand is that people will adapt to their code.”

Of course, not everyone is as tech savvy as Chang. If they don’t win a raffle or secure a pair of shoes they want online, they have to turn to the resell market. Many people use online buy and sell groups like VSG to hunt down pairs they want, but for another group of purchasers, this method is too uncertain or time consuming. An alternative to hunting a pair down online is a sneaker consignment store. Flight Club evolved from an online marketplace and opened two stores in 2005, one in Los Angeles and one in New York. Since then, it has become the most prominent sneaker consignment store. However, with the rise in sneaker popularity, more stores opened, and now Vancouver has many of its own.

The most recent is Gastown’s Plus.

Founded by Andy Zhu, Plus consigns sneakers from anyone who has a pair that they want sold, in addition to sought after clothing and accessories. Zhu, who

“Nike splits their stock into two backends, so they’re trying to change...But what they don’t understand is that people will adapt to their code.” - Liam Chang. connections and learned how to bypass certain systems put in place to make releases fair. Using his tech background, he’s been able to essentially hack into the websites of local stores like Livestock and even the sites of Nike and Adidas, securing himself pairs of sought after shoes that he then flips on Facebook groups like VSG. Chang has what are referred to as “monitors” on certain sites. A monitor tracks the back end of a website, essentially its code, so he gets notifications when a website adds a new item.

Additionally, he has set his system up so that when a site adds a new item he receives a link which when he opens it, automatically adds the item to his cart, allowing him to checkout faster than anyone trying to buy the item the designed way.

grew up in Ontario and got into sneakers when he saw other kids in his high school wearing Jordans and fashionable wardrobes is not new to the resell game.

He originally funded his sneaker habits through a clothing line he started called Tamed Toronto and opened a consignment store with friends. He then decided to open a store in Vancouver after doing some research and realizing that Vancouver was a hot spot for luxury spending. “Nordstrom in Vancouver does the most sales out of all Nordstroms in North America,” he said, while we chatted in the store that replaced Livestock’s old Abbott Street location. “The supercar market here is crazy, there’s more supercars here than any other city in North America – that’s crazy. There’s more than New York which has 10 million people, this [Vancouver] is 1.2 million.”

In terms of pricing, Zhu also refers to

StockX when selling items. “I try to just base it off StockX, which is the lowest marketplace prices probably,” he said.

“I gauge it in between StockX price and StockX plus customs, so it will be cheaper than if you were ordering it from StockX, but it’s not as cheap as StockX if you live in the states,” he continued.

Although Zhu attempts to offer fair prices, he says that some customers are still loyal to Flight Club, even though they’re known to overcharge. “One of my customers, his dad bought the Jordan 1 Off-White from Flight Club, he still buys from Flight Club because he trusts them,” he said. “He spent like $4,000 Canadian after customs. I would have sold him that exact same shoe for $2,800.”

After opening in November, Zhu is now developing a steady stream of regular customers. He told me about one man who buys any Bape products in a XXL size. “He doesn’t care about the price, he just swipes,” he said. Zhu is even looking at potentially opening another store in Calgary at some point in the future.

The sneaker market is only expanding and doesn't look to be slowing down any time soon. Although, the culture is changing. Many of those who have been collecting for years are starting to distance themselves from the culture’s current state. “I feel as though the passion for history was a big reason as to why people were sneakerheads. Nowadays, it really has either become a fashion statement, and even more so, I feel like opinions are really lost,” Jaminal said. Lee shares a similar sentiment. “I definitely enjoy the storytelling around the shoes, especially with Jordan Brand and how each one of the Jordans that are retroed has a story,” he said. It seems though that much of today’s market is driven by hype and exclusivity. “Everyone wants the community to be equal so everyone can get the same shoe, but then it gets rid of how limited the shoe is so it’s not exclusive,” Chang explained.

The question now is what does the future hold for the market? Will sneakers be the modern equivalent of tulip bulbs in the Dutch Golden age or will they see a long term market much like that of artwork or other collectable items? With the hypebeast culture that has pushed the market into the mainstream still being relatively young itself, only time will tell.

For many collectors like Lee though, it’s not about a future investment, it’s about collecting things that have meaning to you. “I always come from the perspective of, in this world, you should be both spending money on and accumulating experiences that have meaning to you,” he said. “I think it’s important for people to be self-aware,” he added. “How many sneakers is enough sneakers?” *Name has been changed

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

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FEATURES

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VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

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During a class trip to the legislature, Taylor McCarthy reported her shock at MLA Simon Gibson’s remarks about First Nations communities

BY CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT ILLUSTRATION BY PAMELLA PINARD

after Capilano University communications student Taylor McCarthy visited the legislature on a class trip on Mar. 1, she wrote an impassioned letter to Speaker Darryl Plecas. In her letter, McCarthy wrote about an encounter with Liberal Abbotsford-Mission MLA, Simon Gibson, that she called “not only offensive and racist but hurtful.”

Communications professor Dr. Michael Markwick took his students to Victoria for the day where they met with party members from all three caucuses, which he hoped would encourage his students to take ownership of democracy and build relationships with people in government. “Nobody needed to be told what happened,” he said of his students’ reactions to Gibson’s comment. “It registered with everybody at an intellectual and at a visceral level.”

Despite their earlier discomfort, Markwick’s students left the legislature feeling empowered. “I do want to just reinforce how important it was for us to have positive discussions as well,” said Markwick. In their meetings with the BC Greens, Liberals and NDP, students asked about the confidence and supply agreement between the Green Party and NDP that allowed them to form a coalition and come to power. One important topic of conversation that arose was about how non-renewable resource extraction projects, including the Kinder Morgan pipeline and Woodfibre LNG, which will process natural gas shipped by pipeline from northern BC into a liquefied state for export, would impact the province.

“The only thing I would say is that a lot of First Nations are around the province are struggling, struggling with addictions, poverty, [unclear] and you know all the tragedies,” Gibson allegedly stated in response to a question posed by McCarthy about the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project and Woodfibre LNG. McCarthy included this quote in the letter she ust one week

wrote to Plecas, explaining that this response echoed a similar sentiment made by Liberal MLA and former Public Safety Minister Mike Morris in February.

After the NDP announced that as part of their budget released on Feb.

“That [comment] is something that unfortunately entrenches a racist stereotype of Indigenous peoples and again the impact on Taylor was visible and immediate.”

20, $50 million was to be put towards preserving Indigenous languages in BC, which are currently under threat, Morris suggested that the resources would be better spent on policing.

“The expressed concerns are not just my own, but shared by First Nations people across the province as we are implicated in each other’s lives,” McCarthy wrote. She reported feeling angry after hearing the comment, even wanting to leave the room, and the more she thought about Gibson’s comment the angrier she felt.

“During a conversation regarding economic benefits to First Nations from resource projects such as Kinder Morgan and LNG, I commented that financial economic benefits would help First Nations working to overcome the effects of addictions, poverty and other issues,” Gibson issued as a response. Although McCarthy reports that she still hasn’t heard from Gibson himself. “I was making the case for the positive impact of well-planned economic development on First Nations Communities. I look forward to ongoing positive relations with First Nations from all across British

Columbia,” wrote Gibson. Legislative Speaker Darryl Plecas responded that he was unable to comment since he wasn’t present during the meeting in which Gibson spoke and he hadn’t seen McCarthy’s letter until now.

“That [comment] is something that unfortunately entrenches a racist stereotype of Indigenous peoples and again the impact on Taylor was visible and immediate,” said Markwick.

Before the class left for Victoria, students took leader training from the Metro Vancouver Alliance and prepared to meet with legislators, although Markwick asserted that they were not prepared for an encounter like the one McCarthy had.

McCarthy is a politically engaged individual. She moved to Vancouver from Tacoma, Washington in 2012 and became active during the 2015 federal election canvassing for Jonathan Wilkinson and Claire Martin, who ran for the Liberal and Green parties respectively in the North Vancouver riding. “It really taught me a lot

“[The Elder] shared with me that this had been going on for the past 150 years,” she said.

“It’s nothing new but in this era of reconciliation it needs to stop and we need to have mutual respect for each other.”

most connected to because I felt I could rely on them if I need help.”

That kind of desire to be involved in politics and in her own community is what Markwick hoped his students would gain from the experience meeting with legislators, and he believes they did after their visit .

Whether it’s taking an interest in the cost of housing or transportation or the new provincial budget, Markwick and McCarthy stress engaging in the democratic process.

McCarthy sought help drafting her letter to Legislative Speaker Darryl Plecas from Elders in the First Nations Centre on campus. “[The Elder] shared with me that this had been going on for the past 150 years,” she said. “It’s nothing new but in this era of reconciliation it needs to stop and we need to have mutual respect for each other.” Lateral violence is the term she used to describe the encounter, and it was pushed on students in residential schools, who were encouraged to quarrel with their peers.

“People like Simon Gibson who don’t really know the whole truth about First Nations people, First Nations culture, First Nations values and what really hits home - what we’re really about,” said McCarthy. “For me, to be First Nations, to be Squamish, is to have that connection to the land, having the connection to the water, the air, our language, and I don’t think he really understands that.” On Mar. 21, McCarthy met with Bowinn Ma, MLA for the North-Vancouver Lonsdale riding, and Premier John Horgan to further discuss her visit to the legislature.

about what they have to do to get to know their constituents while also sharing their concerns, listening and respecting their constituents’ concerns as well,” she said. “It taught me a lot about party priorities in the sense that I didn’t even know who I was going to vote for while I was canvassing, but I would vote for the person I felt the THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

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SHORTS

EPIDEMIC SUGGESTION Dilemma Season

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS Phonte

COLD HEART Thirdstory

JUSTIN SCOTT MANAGING EDITOR

CARLO JAVIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CARLO JAVIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

E

pidemic Suggestion is the new album from Dilemma Season, the brain child of North Vancouver-based musician Scott Hardy. The album sees Hardy showing a versatile musical skill set across a track list diverse enough to show off his lyrical, vocal and musical range, while remaining cohesive enough to hold the record together.

The album opens with “The Antagonist”, an introspective and spring ready track that kicks the work off on an upbeat and uplifting tone. “a beast of your own mad design, that will antagonise the ego in the skies until it forsakes the prize,” Hardy sings atop a bouncing guitar riff. His poetic self analysis allows him to introduce the mind behind the album to the listeners on the record’s first track.

As the work progresses, Dilemma Season weaves their way in and out of folk and rock stylings, with a nice mixture of upbeat and slower tracks, seeming to have paced Epidemic Suggestion out meticulously.

The album’s energy peaks on “The Queens of Dundarave”. Upbeat drums lay the foundation for Hardy’s distilled voice and playful guitar to truly shine.

A true rock song, “The Queens of Dundarave” has all the elements to ignite a fire.

The final three tracks once again slow things down and allow Hardy’s song writing to shine through. “It’s been this way, it’s been a while since we last tried to make amends,” he admits of a troubled relationship in his life on the closing track “Roots”.

Epidemic Suggestion is more than an album, it’s Dilemma Season’s frontman opening up through a mixture of well recorded instrumentation and thought out lyrics, proving that substance is still supreme.

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P

honte has long existed comfortably in the margins between alternative and underground hip-hop.

Throughout his two-decade career, the North Carolina rapper has cultivated a reputation not only as a virtuoso storyteller, but also as a talented singer.

In his latest release, No News is Good News, Phonte doesn’t seek reinventions or potential hits. Instead, the album shines the spotlight on an artist who knows exactly who he is, and what he does well.

No News is Good News is his first solo release since 2011’s Charity Starts at Home. Its an exhibition of maturity and restraint, best exemplified by how Phonte eschewed collaborations with big name producers to provide an opportunity for lesser known beatmakers.

“Change My Mind” deprives fans of a full-on rap duel between Phonte and Freddie Gibbs, but the album highlight finds magic in the little things – like by contrasting Phonte’s silky-smooth vocals with Gibbs’ signature raspy vocals.

In the Tamisha Waden-assisted “Pastor Tigallo”, Phonte raps of acceptance of others and of self. The gospel track ends on a somber note honouring the lives of Phife Dawg, Prodigy and Combat Jack, but once again – contrast is king. How often do you get tracks that feature both chants of “booty” and lyrics about praising the lord?

No News is Good News is a lush, deeply introspective record that’s reminiscent of The Roots’ How I Got Over, Its built on pillars of honesty and struggle, that the world is bleak and grim – but that doesn’t always mean its over.

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W

ait… are R&B boy bands back? Ever since they spellbound the internet with their majestic and intricate cover of Taylor Swift’s “Style”, anticipation for what Thirdstory does next has been increasingly palpitating.

With their debut full-length release, Cold Heart, the New York based trio illustrates the vocal harmonies that made them such an instant hit among fans. “Still in Love”, easily their most recognizable song outside of their cover of “Style”, shines as the album’s standout track. The song exhibits the harmonic ingenuity that the trio of Elliot Skinner, Ben Lusher and Richard Saunders have together. Fans of the song are also treated to the even-more popular acoustic version, featuring Eryn Allen Kane. In “On And On”, the trio’s vocal chemistry is spotlighted by the ornate yet minimal production, allowing the group’s hauntingly beautiful track that borders on church gospel to excel by way of their voice.

However, Thirdstory does fall into the easy trappings that hurt many new artists. Some tracks tread the territories of generic radio pop music, overshadowing the group’s voice with production that can tend to be overbearing.

Though their careers are still in its infancy, Thirdstory already seem primed for great things. In 2017, they reached bigger heights after being invited to join the Be Encouraged Tour as part of Chance the Rapper’s band.

The trio’s also already claimed an impressive co-sign from Pusha T, with the G.O.O.D Music president even dropping a bar in their track, “G Train”.

Thirdstory isn’t running out in the talent department, the next step is harnessing their tremendous potential for an all around excellent album.

CALENDAR

MARCH/APRIL 26

30

AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITH

FRI

COMICS IN TRANSIT DOUGLAS COLLEGE 5:30 P.M. / FREE

MON

No, this is not the budget version of Comedians in Cars. It’s an exhibition of all the posters from Comics in Transit 2017, where refugees had their stories converted into comics by nine BC comic artists, and the stories were scattered around bus shelters all over Vancouver, now they’ll be on display at Douglas College.

ROCK CLIMBING THE EDGE 2 P.M. – 9 P.M. / $15

Rock climbing is one of the less shitty ways to work out, so if you’re trying to get in shape for the summer, give it a shot. Just try not to get embarrassed by the six-year-olds there as well.

27 TUES

ANDINA BREWMASTER'S DINNER

RIO THEATRE 7 P.M. / $40

CRAFT BEER MARKET 6 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. / $60

Kevin Smith has been a big force behind the campaign to save the Rio. This talk is a part of it and all proceeds from this event will go directly towards supporting the #SavetheRio campaign.

Not everyone is concerned about their gut this spring. Some people want to do what they do best and slam back beers and eat fried food.

There is a set menu, but they do not tell you what it is. Not very considerate.

CHEAP(ER) MOVIE NIGHT

GREAT A-MAZE-ING EGG HUNT

Did you know the movie theatre at the New Westminster SkyTrain station has reclining chairs? Holy crap, you will never want to see a movie in those normal, pilgrim chairs again.

I know this event is meant for kids aged under eight, but those kids will appreciate having a ringer like you on their team. Think of yourself as a modern day, Easter Robin Hood. Stealing from the old and giving to the kids.

CINEPLEX 11:30 A.M. – 11 P.M. / $8.50

28 WED

98TH VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW CONVENTION CENTRE 10 A.M. – 9:30 P.M. / $17

What do people do at auto shows? The closest I’ve been to going was when they went to one on the first episode of Queer Eye. They have a world’s fastest car debut, so maybe go check that out. At least it won’t take long.

VANDUSEN GARDENS 9 A.M. – 1 P.M. / $11.25

31 SAT

THURS

THE COBALT 8:30 P.M. / $15

Shred Kelly is probably the best thing to come out of Fernie in the last 20 years. The five-piece band is best known for (in their words) “mixing clawhammer banjo riffs that tear the fabric of space and time with high voltage guitars and fierce drums.” How can you not want to see them now?

PLAYDOME

BIG EASTER RUN

The largest indoor carnival is back. Carnival rides, games and sweet treats. With over 45 rides and attractions all under one roof. This might be a kids’ event, I really don’t know. Maybe smoke a joint or drink some hard liquor before entering.

The website for this event is one of the worst I have even seen.

Besides that, who doesn't want to spend their Easter Saturday running 10km? It’s for a good cause, all proceeds go to Canuck Place Children Hospice.

BC PLACE 10 A.M. – 10 P.M. / $31.45

29

SHRED KELLY

THE ROAD FORWARD BY MARIE CLEMENTS BOSA THEATRE 6 P.M. / FREE

This is a musical documentary connecting the beginnings of Indian Nationalism in Canada in the 1930s with First Nations activism today. Blending a musical with a documentary is a huge risk, it might be the first time its ever been done.

JERICHO BEACH 11:30 A.M. / $10 - $15

1

SUN

JAKE BUGG

COMMODORE BALLROOM 8 P.M. / $39.50

Did you know that the Courier used to send writers to review shows?

Back in the day, when we had money, Jake Bugg was the first show I ever reviewed. I thought he disappeared, but its good to see there’s still an audience for 50s rock music.

EASTER TRAIN

APRIL FOOLS DAY

Hop on the Stanley Park Train for an Easter ride through the forest and look for cotton-tailed inhabitants! I think the amount of themed trains Stanley Park is doing is unsustainable. They peaked when they only did Halloween and Christmas.

If you were a real master of April Fools day, you would have started your prank at least a month ago. For you amateurs who have not prepared, there’s nothing wrong with good ol’ fashioned pranks like vodka in the water bottle, or turning all the clocks in the house behind an hour.

STANLEY PARK 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. / $6

EVERYWHERE ALL DAY / FREE

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

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ARTS & CULTURE

More than just ‘elevator music’ Finding excitement and beauty in classical performance today RACHEL D’SA ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

A

s a commuter school, Capilano University is often the source for ultimate dead silence on the weekends. This however, is not at all a concern for performance soloists and students part of Capilano Singers, Charmaine Marie Iormetti and Kaylene Chan. CapU’s BlueShore Financial Centre will be the home to the breathtaking concert, Viennese Masters, from Apr. 7 to 8. Organized by conductor Lars Kaario, in collaboration with the CapU’s Festival Chorus, CapU Singers, Soloists quartet and Orchestra, the show will bring forth emblematic works including Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass”, Schubert’s “Mass in C major”, and Mozart’s “Regina Coeli”. Iormetti notes that while not every show that is put on gets sold-out, a majority of the shows end up being full house. “For a lot of people that live on the North Shore, it’s actually an easier trip than travelling across the bridge and going deep into Vancouver. Why not enjoy music that is just as good and here in your neighbourhood,” said Iormetti.

She additionally notes that the audience generally consists of families of the performers, former and current students and faculty, along with the general public, all looking for a great show. In addition to two weekend performances in the school year, one in April and one in December, members of Capilano Singers are also required to set aside one to two Saturdays

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each semester. Despite typical student attitudes towards campus-free weekends, Iormetti noted that she never questioned her commitment to her passion due to having to be at school more than the average student, in fact, she likes it that way. “Some people are like ‘ah, we have to come in on a weekend?’ But believe it or not, I actually look forward to those.”

Both Iormetti and Chan are a part of the solo quartet (for Iormetti, on Saturday, and Chan on Sunday), comprised of soprano, alto, tenor and bass vocalists. A fourth-year student in the Music Diploma program, Iormetti started off her time at CapU with violin and piano, having taken lessons throughout her childhood and adolescence. She found joy in singing, however, found it difficult to find a way to commit to it fully.

Despite knowing that she wanted to pursue music, before attending CapU, she found herself surrounded by individuals who were into classical music and looking to take performance seriously.

At the moment, Iormetti is a choral scholar, funding her life as a student by performing at an Anglican church. “I love choral music and classical voice, and opera is like my favorite thing to see and to hear.

Comparing opera with choral music is like comparing apples and oranges, they’re both really beautiful and I could go on and on and on about how much I love both of them,” she said.

Though her appreciation for the classical genres has grown over the years, it was her that brought classical music into her home. Although her Italian father grew up in Italy and listened to opera, his preferences centred on jazz and her mother only recently began signing operas with her. While Iormetti’s

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soul performance brilliance stems from the classical genre, she added that she understands its lack of appeal to others. “I don’t necessarily want to say intimidated, but I think there’s always been that element in opera and classical where it is that people go ‘eh,” she said.

“Not necessary because they don’t like it, maybe they find it unattainable in a sense.” Last year, Iormetti went to see Turandot, a three-hour opera, with a friend, and by the end, the two were surprised to find that time flew by.

Chan built on Iormetti’s point as she added that there is definitely a sense of doubt towards the classical performing arts. “I know that classical music may not be what everybody is into these days and I definitely didn’t listen to much classical music before I came to school, but I really learned to appreciate it and find so much fun and beauty in all of it,” said Chan.

Having been raised “like other kids,” with pop music, it wasn’t until she began attending the University that she found a deeper passion for classical music, which stemmed from her love towards musical theatre. Her mother had taken her to see the Phantom of the Opera and Chan fell in love with the idea of musical theatre and begged her parents to put her in classes.

She then began her musical theatre career, which included academy training and led to performances in Vancouver.

Her vocal teacher at the time mainly taught classically, which sparked interest in Chan and led her to pursue the genre.

“Especially through taking music history, I’ve found so much appreciation for the music and how complex and beautifully written things are,” said Chan.

Her devotion to classical music however is only a portion of her musical tastes.

“I listen to everything. If you look at my music playlist, I mean there’s a lot of classical, because I have to listen to a lot of classical, but I like pop and indie pop and rock. I really like 70s funk and E.L.O., Earth, Wind, and Fire, it’s really fun and it gets me in a good mood. I have some really avant-garde experimental music too.” Having found appreciation in every aspect of varying music genres, Chan knows classical music to be more than the credit it is given today. “I feel like when you hear classical music people now just kind of think of it as elevator music, or that kind of thing, or like when you’re studying. But, like Mozart and Beethoven like how did they write those kinds of things?” questioned Chan. “I think it’s great to celebrate them and sing and perform their music because it’s just amazing.”

Iormetti and Chan both look forward to opportunity to do classical music proud with their upcoming concert. “In reality, there’s a lot of humanity in opera, and there’s so many things and characters that people can connect to but they just don’t see that because all they think is ‘ah, loud singing, big orchestra, three hours, oh my goodness,” said Iormetti. “Some people just cannot get passed that, but I think that if they’d just see it for what it really is and take it one step at a time, they’d find that it’s quite beautiful.”

Viennese Masters: Haydn, Schubert, Mozart will be at the BlueShore Financial Centre at CapU on Saturday, Apr. 7 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, Apr. 8 at 3 p.m.

Tickets range from $10-30

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Looking ahead at the 2018 IDEA Grad Show This year marks the first batch of students to complete IDEA's four-year Bachelor's Degree, since the shift in 2014.

CARLO JAVIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

E

very year, the works of Capilano University’s best visual artists are showcased at the annual IDEA [Illustration/Design: Elements and Application] Grad Show. Though each passing group brings about tremendous talent and potential for the illustration and design industry, this year’s batch has a little something more: a full extra year in school.

This year’s graduating students stands as the first group from IDEA to complete the four-year Bachelor of Visual Communications Degree program. The move started in the Fall semester of 2014, when the respected illustration and design school replaced its three-year diploma program with a full degree. “It’s been a gradual evolution,” said program instructor and co-chair, Pascal Milelli.

Since the switch to a degree program in the Fall semester of 2014, Milelli said that IDEA has continued to better develop its curriculum. “We’ve worked to build on the strengths of the IDEA diploma program, with added rigour, depth and flexibility for the student.”

For graduating student Shanene Lau, while jokes about her group being the “guinea pigs” for the degree’s launch have become far too common, the benefits have been impossible to overlook. The additional year allowed for the implementation of more workshops as well as the opportunity to explore finely specified skills with industry professionals. Students were also able to attend the AIGA Conference in Las Vegas as part of the degree expansion.

“I feel like having more time is always beneficial to learn more and get comfortable with skills before heading out to the workforce,” said Lau. Moreover, seeing as Lau and her cohort were the very first group of students to enter the IDEA’s revamped degree program in 2014, they were also given the opportunity to participate in constant dialogue about how the curriculum operates. “It felt natural to work out the first year of the degree program together,” she said. “And our coordinators have always been eager and receptive toward feedback.”

As graduation looms ever nearer, fourth-year students have naturally been more intensely focused on their grad show presentations. Though Lau plans on showcasing what she defined as “your typical design portfolio” – one that she described to be “laboriously aligned on an angle (myself included),” her other responsibility is catered more towards the grand scheme of things.

The @ideaeighteen Instagram profile is arguably the most finely-curated CapU-based Instagram account, and the one behind the profile is Lau herself.

Along with the help of “class clown” Annie Chang, @ideaeighteen has set somewhat of a social media standard for some of CapU’s other programs. “Good content is plentiful around here, which makes putting @ideaeighteen together pretty fun,” she said.

From Apr. 9 to 13, at the Harbour Centre, the IDEA program grads will be presenting their work not only to members of the CapU community, but also figures from the art industry.

Milelli said that the students will be showcasing projects that range from interactive, to branding and to illustration fields, while also putting forward work that combines elements of several philosophies. “Our students are aiming to provide industry guests in particular with a clear impression of their strengths and the kind of work they hope to continue producing,” he said.

For Milelli, while the appeal and opportunity that comes with meeting members of the art industry is certainly a key – if not the key – concept of the grad show, the chance to also showcase projects to other CapU students is also welcome. Presiding strictly in the upper floors of the Arbutus building, IDEA students have long been lumped with CapU’s other “artsy” faculties. Motion

Picture Arts (MOPA) students stick to the Bosa building, while Jazz Studies students dwell in the lower floors of the Fir building. Separation from the everfleeting thought of a campus community is inevitable. “So much of what the students do happens in a classroom, within the program,” Milelli said. “To share the sum of their experience at CapU with the greater University community provides new opportunities for connection and insight.”

Through the years, the annual grad show has provided a wonderful experience for students and visitors alike. This year’s celebration promises to continue that tradition. According to Lau, those who catch the showcase will get to see the culmination of their hard work over the past four years. It’ll be beyond your typical design convention, too. “You may also see acrobatic cats, dismembered legs, an elephant baking cookies, penguins from the future and stylish deodorant,” she said. “You know, design stuff.”

The 2018 IDEA Grad Show opening gala launches on Apr. 9 at the Harbour Centre Lobby. Industry preview will be from 6 to 7 p.m., while friends and family goes from 7 to 9 p.m. The show will run until Apr. 13.

How Buddha-Ful capitalizes on the power of social media

North Shore eatery dishes out hearty plant-based goods as they use social media to slay the industry RACHEL D’SA CONTRIBUTOR

T

hough it may have started out that way, social media is not just a tool to connect. With the growth of media outlets such as Yelp and Instagram, appealing to web surfers has become the new billboard of advertising.

But a North Shore restaurant is using

social media to take online marketing to the next level, with the development of a web show series, leading their success onwards as they continue their physical expansion.

Inspire, love and nurture health.

Those are the words that North Vancouver plant-based cafe BuddhaFull serves by. The cafe was developed by its partners Geremie Voigt and Kyla Rawlins upon its first door swing in 2010 at 106 West 1st Street and has since, been bringing a reliable and easy approach to the health food scene.

It all began eight years ago when friends Voigt and Rawlins decided to combine their desire and experience.

As Voigt’s father is a chef and Rawlins parents own a restaurant, the two worked endlessly together to create a healthy and planted-based spot with an inviting environment.

The business has grown to a second location in the Northwood Village (102-2120 Dollarton Highway), along with a ‘Buddha Bus’ that is on its way.

The company has always had a strong online presence working with platforms including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, with a clean and well-thought design that transmit the idea of the cafe. “As a company, we definitely believe in the importance of having a clean and uniform social media layout,” said Lonsdale location manager, Brett Cummins, who has been with the company since October. Designed

by Rawlins, the locations make for a social media-friendly environment, that relates with Voigt’s approach of visual importance for the first location of Buddha-Full, with recycled and self-built projects, making every corner photo material. “It is really important to make every single aspect of Buddha-Full beautiful,” said Rawlins, who knows the importance of customer review posts.

With this eye for business, over the last year they formulated a web show series titled, Buddha-Full TV. This is

where the community and everyone that may be interested can learn and be inspired by the easy approach to the raw food hosts Voigt and radio host Mandy Gill teach in the show. The positive response in the community to this online expansion has led to an increase in incentive for partners to help grow the business. The show’s creators plan to attain a better space to film their content in and showcase various guests in the future.

The show reflects the homemade approach to food that Buddha-Full uses in-house, one that has done them a solid in the food community. “Our most popular menu item is probably the Lobo,” said Cummins, referring to the protein smoothie comprised of sprouted almond ‘mylk’, organic peanut butter, hemp protein, banana and dates.

Cummins sees the eatery continuing to grasp the essence of Vancouver’s health trends as it further its aesthetic, developing in a city that prides itself on its visual appeal. “The plant-based community in Vancouver is pretty strong. I’ve been vegan for 22 years and I’d say this is a good place for that.”

For more information on BuddhaFull and to keep up with their upcoming developments, visit Buddha-Full.ca

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 19

17

SPORTS

Blues volleyball athlete named National Player of the Year

The award adds to thirdyear Simon Friesen's already illustrious collegiate career NATASHA JONES CONTRIBUTOR

S

imon Friesen was surprised and honoured when he heard his name being called up to the stage at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Volleyball National Championship banquet in Victoria.

Just two weeks earlier, Friesen was named Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) Player of the Year.

“It was pretty cool,” he said. “I knew I was going to be one of the top players in the league this year, but I wasn’t expecting to be recognized as the top player. It’s really cool to be recognized for all the work you put in, even though other players put in effort.”

While winning the PACWEST Player of the Year meant he had a shot at winning the National Player of the Year at the CCAA Awards, the setter didn’t

think that he would come this far after his team didn’t make it to national tournament after coming up short in the PACWEST provincial playoffs. “I thought all those chances dropped off, that they’d give it to a guy who played in the tournament. It was a shock,” he said.

Despite the fact the season ended rather disappointingly after two losses at the PACWEST’s provincial tournament, the Capilano Blues men’s volleyball team finished the year with a unforgettable regular season, and Friesen is proud of how far his team has come and reflected on how much they’ve

grown. “After such a strong season, it got us all very excited for next year because we can do the same thing but finish strong as well,” he said. The team excelled at keeping a spread out offence, and clear communication on court meant that Friesen could set to any of his teammates.

Friesen got into volleyball after his friends encouraged him to try out for the school team in Grade 6, and shortly after that, he developed a love for the sport when his team won provincials and nationals in Grade 8. While he didn’t receive as much playing time back then, the setter remembers his experience fondly and continued to improve as a player ever since.

Since then, Friesen has grown exponentially as a player, rarely finding himself on the bench while playing for the Blues. His time at CapU has allowed him to gain a better understanding of the game, as well as helped him grow stronger both physically and mentally.

He also attributes his performance to his coach, the PACWEST Coach of the Year Emmanuel Denguessi, who’s lead the Men’s Volleyball since Friesen arrived.

In addition to his contributions on the court, the student-athlete is team representative for the Blues Athletic Council, and volunteers alongside his teammates at kids volleyball camps in the summer run by the team’s assistant coach, who works for Volleyball BC. Currently in his third-year, Friesen is pursuing his degree in the Bachelor’s of Arts program at Capilano University and wants to play Volleyball professionally in future. Friesen also hopes to one day win a national championship with the Blues.

Almost a storybook ending Blues women's basketball team puts up valiant effort at CCAA national championship tournament JUSTIN SCOTT MANAGING EDITOR

H

aving achieved their goal of winning the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST)’s playoffs and advancing to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)’s national tournament at last, the Capilano Blues women’s basketball team represented BC well.

Their first game of the tournament was against Westmount, Quebec’s Dawson College and was dubbed the Battle of the Blues as both schools compete under the same name. Dawson College entered the game under the CCAA Coach of the Year Trevor Williams and with a noticeably bigger lineup.

However, after a shaky start, Capilano showed why they were at the national

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tournament. Although they had ended the first quarter down seven points, spurred on by the play of CCAA Second Team All-Star Ashley dela Cruz Yip, by halftime they were up five points with a lead of 37-32. “We all really came together and brought the energy that we’ve shown at Cap before, and showed the rest of the country that we can play,” explained PACWEST All-Rookie Team member MacKenzie Smith.

Capilano came out gunning right away in the second half and by the end of the third quarter, they were up 10 points.

Knowing that Dawson would inevitably make a push, the team rallied together.

“We always knew that body language was so important,” Smith said. “So, to keep our body language up and to keep encouraging each other like we’ve always done really helped us stay in that game.”

As Dawson closed the lead and eventually regained it for themselves with under three minutes left in the game, the teams traded baskets until the end of regulation time where they were tied at 63. Unfortunately for Capilano, Dawson

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carried their momentum over into the extra frame and won the game. “It was a heartbreaker to go to overtime and then just miss it by five points,” Smith admitted.

However, even though they no longer had a shot at a national title, the Capilano Blues had showed the nation how strong they were – which they would continue to exhibit in their next game against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers, winning 76-64. “It went really well,” Smith said.

“We played as a team and just really stuck to our game plan that Ramin put in place.” By the team’s third and final game though, the three-day tournament had taken a tole. “We were kind of out of gas but we still wanted to give it our all,” Smith said. There just wasn’t enough gas left though as the Blues fell 67-83 to the Collège Montmorency Les Nomades, who went on to win the bronze medal.

All in all, the team sees the tournament as a success. Their goal had always been to win the PACWEST and make it to the national tournament, and they did. And while this was the last shot for many on

the team, Smith saw the team achieve their goal during her first year on the squad. “It was definitely a surreal first year,” she said. “I never imagined it could happen, but obviously we wanted it to.”

With the season now over, focus has shifted to next season, which will look very different. Last week the team’s Head Coach Ramin Sadaghiani announced that after a storied and successful tenure at his position, which he’s held since 2012, he wouldn’t be returning next year.

Additionally, the team will be losing much of its core with fifth years dela Cruz Yip, Carmelle M’Bikata and Francis Penafiel all coming out of their last year of eligibility and guard Emma Cunningham also leaving.

The hope now is that the younger players can retain the lessons they learned from their time as Blues and begin a new chapter of success in the women’s basketball history book.

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Year-End Review The best moments of the 2017-18 Capilano University Blues Season JUSTIN SCOTT MANAGING EDITOR If last year’s collective Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) season marked the “turnaround” phase for the entire Capilano University Blues program, then this year was about maintaining that success. As the 201718 season closes, we look back at some of the year’s most memorable moments.

Best in the Country

After just three seasons in the PACWEST, Blues men’s volleyball captain Simon Friesen has already established himself as the best player in the entire conference and beyond.

This season saw the captain win both the PACWEST and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Player of the Year awards, cementing his position as one of the eminent volleyball stars in the country in just his third year of collegiate play.

Friesen was second in the league in assists, but brought far more to the team than statistics. His Volleyball IQ and instincts were obvious throughout the season and his ability to make his teammates better elevated the entire squad’s play. With two years of eligibility left, the best is yet to come for the CCAA’s best volleyball player.

The Proposal

Men’s basketball head coach Cassidy Kannemeyer had multiple plays planned on Friday, Jan. 12 – one of them was life-changing. Before the game tipped off, Kannemeyer took a very special moment to propose to BC MLA and Minister of Advanced Education Melanie Mark.

Few in the audience even knew the two were a couple making the event that much more exciting and electric. The only unfortunate part of the evening was that the Blues ended up losing their game to Vancouver Island University Mariners after the proposal, but the overall evening was a win for everyone.

Golden Girls

After two straight PACWEST silver medals and three in the past five years, the Blues women’s basketball team finally secured PACWEST supremacy with the 2018 provincial gold. After making some strong moves in the off season, the team came into this year’s campaign tooled for success. Finishing the regular season in second place, the team won a thrilling semi-final game and played their best game of the season in the finals against the Camosun Chargers, securing their ticket to the CCAA national tournament.

Although any championship is exciting, this one was almost a relief.

Over the past few years the team had made it clear that they were a PACWEST powerhouse, but had never

been able to finish in the finals until this year. The win was just as much a relief as anything else and was the perfect way to finish what will be looked back on as a Blues reign.

Dropping Dimes

Ashley dela Cruz Yip cemented herself as a PACWEST legend in her final year by breaking the league’s all-time assist record. She finished with 389 career assists in 94 games. That’s 72 ahead of the next closest, despite her having played four games fewer. Dela Cruz Yip’s final season was successful in almost every measurable way. She was named to the PACWEST First Team AllStar, CCAA Second Team All-Star team and with a gold medal around her neck.

Although she’ll most likely be remembered for her assists more than anything else, dela Cruz Yip finished her time as a Blues athlete with a wellrounded game. She placed 12th in the league in scoring and steals in her final year, and had an ability to come out of any crowd with a rebound, making her one of the most versatile players on the court at any given time.

A Record Breaking Game

As if their season wasn’t already exciting enough, on Nov. 3, the Blues Men’s Volleyball team were a part of a record breaking game. The Blues and the Vancouver Island University Mariners battled in a history-making second set, running up an unprecedented 44-42 set score – which the Blues won. The 86-point set ranks as one of the longest in recorded volleyball history, and is certainly one of the highest scoring sets in Canadian volleyball.

If that wasn’t uncanny enough, the Blues won the third set of their Feb. 16 match against the Douglas Royals 43-41, nearly breaking their own record.

Silver for a Young Women’s Soccer Team

Coming into the 2017 soccer season, no one knew what to expect from the Blues women’s soccer team. With eight rookies, a handful of second and third-years and a single fourth-year player, the season seemed as though it could go in any direction. After starting the season with mostly draws, the team continued to leave fans wondering where the season would end up. However, as the team developed chemistry towards the end of the season and found their stride, it was clear that what they lacked in experience, they made up for with skill and heart.

By the time the PACWEST playoffs came about in late October the women were a clear contender and didn’t fold, making it to the gold medal game.

Unfortunately, as with so many of their games throughout the season once regular time and added times were complete, the game was tied and went to a shootout where the Blues fell to the Douglas College Royals. Although the season ended with a bittersweet silver.

Sustained Excellence

Despite a massive turnover in their roster, the Blues men’s soccer team showed that the team’s culture could withstand even the biggest of changes.

This year, the back-to-back provincial gold medalists came in with 13 rookies, most of whom were immediately tasked with the responsibility of contributing on the field.

Though the Blues fell short of an ultra-rare provincial three-peat, their bronze medal finish show that despite their overwhelming youth, a winning culture still exists.

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HOROSCOPES

CAPILANO CONFESSIONS

“I voted no for your referendum because two of your editors wouldn't stop bickering about communism at your coffee table.”

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK:

Your grandma will send you a cheque for $50.

ARIES (MAR. 21 – APR. 19)

Don’t get a buzzcut, it’ll draw too much attention to your face.

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TAURUS (APR. 20 – MAY 20)

“Seeing as I routinely get rejected by your arts and culture editor, I thought it'd be fitting to reject your fee increase, too.”

You will discover that pokè is far better than sushi.

GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUN. 20)

Hope you enjoyed the two weeks of summer.

– “Here's an opinion pitch: how about we lower the fees.”

CANCER (JUN 21 – JULY 22)

No one will love you as much as your dog does.

LEO (JUL. 23 – AUG. 22)

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If you can’t relate to your horoscope its because the stars are behind deadline.

“I actually would have liked for the Courier to have gotten the fee increase. Why you might ask? Because I work here.”

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123456

SUDOKU

Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.43)

“So, are you guys gonna try again next year?

Good luck. Lol.”

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Difficulty: Medium

LIBRA (SEPT. 22 – OCT. 23)

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– “Ya'll said we'll get Lattes with the Courier if you win. If everyone knew that, I'm sure you guys would have won”

VIRGO (AUG. 23 – SEPT. 21)

Now is a good time to start vaping.

5 8

3 7

5 8

4

2

3

4

“The Courier trying to raise fees is like me trying to raise my GPA. It's a good idea, but it's not gonna happen.”

2 9 3

8

9

9

2

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 – DEC. 21)

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5

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1

It’s exam season. Time to calculate the exact minimum effort required to pass.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 – JAN. 19)

No hole is so deep you can’t climb out of it. Except maybe your psychology grade.

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SCORPIO (OCT. 24 – NOV. 21)

The entire world is out to get you.

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You will look someone in the eyes for the first time and find it very uncomfortable.

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sat Mar 24 03:27:06 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 – FEB.18)

It’s upsetting how out of breath you are after walking up a flight of stairs.

PISCES (FEB. 19 – MAR. 20)

Read more and submit your own confession at capilanocourier.com/confessions

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Don’t forget to eat your vegetables.