Capilano Courier | Vol. 51, Issue 12. by Capilano Courier

VOLUME 51, ISSUE 12

MAR. 11-24, 2019

Celebrating Women

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

VOL. 51 ISSUE 12 MAR. 11-24

COVER: JULIANA VIEIRA

Celebrating Women

NEW BUDGET ELIMINATES STUDENT LOAN INTEREST

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AT CAPU

News

THE RELEVANCE OF THE OSCARS

Opinions

10 FEMALE LITERARY INFLUENCES

Cover Feature

12 THE MYSTERY OF CHUCK E. CHEESE

Columns

15 EVENTS IN VANCOUVER THIS WEEK

Calendar

16 CHILDREN OF GOD

Reviews

19 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL AT BLUESHORE

Arts & Culture

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VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 12

STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ART DIRECTOR

MANAGING EDITOR

PRODUCTION MANAGER

NEWS EDITOR

COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

BUSINESS MANAGER

FEATURES EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Christine Beyleveldt capcourier@gmail.com

Helen Aikenhead manager.capcourier@gmail.com

Greta Kooy news.capcourier@gmail.com

Annalisse Crosswell associatenews.capcourier@gmail.com

Freya Wasteneys specialfeatures.capcourier@gmail.com ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Sheila Arellano arts.capcourier@gmail.com OPINIONS EDITOR

Megan Orr opinions.capcourier@gmail.com

Cynthia Tran Vo artdirector.capcourier@gmail.com

Melissa Gibbons pm.capcourier@gmail.com

Ana Maria Caicedo community.capcourier@gmail.com

Jessica Lio businessmanager.capcourier@gmail.com

Robyn Beyleveldt, Andie Bjornsfelt, Ben Jacobs, Taylor Kleine-Deters,Alden MacKay, Mark Mapoles, Clarissa Sabile, Nirosh Saravanan, Alexis Zygan CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS

Emma Harris, Natasha Jones, Valeriya Kim, Rebekah Maurice, Jenny Oakley, Juliana Vieira EDITOR & COLUMNIST PORTRAITS

Cynthia Tran Vo COLUMNS EDITOR

Rachel D'Sa columns.capcourier@gmail.com

CARTOONIST

Annie Chang

COPY EDITOR

Ashleigh Brink copy.capcourier@gmail.com

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

CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

arch is the beginning of spring but it’s also Women’s History Month, and on Friday, Mar. 8 we celebrated International Women’s Day. Somehow, accidentally, this issue became the women’s issue. We didn’t plan for it to be that way, but it just happened, and having an all-female team of editors this year only served to emphasize that we can celebrate some of our achievements. For as long as I’ve been working at the Courier it’s been a little bit of a boy’s club. Not that I there was ever anything wrong with that, in fact, I loved it because our Friday afternoon proofreading sessions used to be a lot rowdier than they are now. On Fridays, we actually knuckle down and work now without throwing quite as many barbs at each other, but although it’s generally more productive, sometimes our office lacks that sense of camaraderie it’s had and I’ve been used to for so long. We need a good balance on our team, which, when the office dynamic swings too far one way or the other, we lack. In this week’s feature, our Arts & Culture Editor discusses the female literary talent in the Capilano University community, including Director of Marketing and Communications, Victoria Miles, who has authored several children’s books. Editing the feature story this week, I felt a rush of endearment when I read about Miles’ contributions to the literary community.

Long before coming to CapU, I met her when I was in Grade 7 and she gave me a copy of her book Magnifico. At the time, Miles was actually my literary inspiration, and I remember how relatable her protagonist, Mariangela, felt (especially after the young Italian girl at the centre of the book took a massive bite out of a marmite sandwich and immediately spat it into the alley). The whole point of having a day, at least in my mind, to celebrate women around the globe has been to recognize the achievements of women who, up until the last century, have traditionally been marginalized. And the message I hear over and over again is that when women support each other they can achieve great things. Ladies, we don't always support each other when we need to, but the results are amazing when we uplift each other. When I started at the Courier a few years ago, I had one other woman, our News Editor at the time, Therese, to show me the ropes and serve as my role model. Hopefully, with so many more women as members of the team this year at least one of us will be able to provide some guidance for someone else down the road. Happy Women’s History Month to all of our readers, and may you find a role model that not only inspires you, but you can relate to.

NEWS

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CSU Takes to the Road in Support of a North Shore B-Line Three members of the CSU race by car, bike and bus in an “aggravating” battle of the commuters FREYA WASTENEYS FEATURES EDITOR

it’s far faster for folks in East Vancouver to get to Capilano than it is for folks in West Vancouver,” he said. “That shouldn’t be the reality.” From a personal standpoint, Millard stressed the inefficiency of the current transit system. “I’ve lived in West Van my whole life and spent the last three years taking transit from past Dundarave into CapU, and on heavy traffic days, travelling in traffic both ways, it can be three hours of transit,” he said. “A B-Line would cut that time in

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half.” “It’s much longer than it needs to be,” said Rempel to a CBC reporter after she crossed the finish line. “Today there was very little traffic and it was still the slowest option.” Berson told reporters that, as things currently stand, he can see why students who have the option choose to drive, and Millard joked that he only had to deal with one angry Porsche on his bike route.

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hree members of the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) left Capilano University in a screech of tire rubber on Feb. 27 at 3:30 pm. The commuter’s battle, dubbed “The Aggravating Race”, was the CSU’s attempt to demonstrate the need for transit improvements in order to gain support for the proposed North Shore B-Line. Bound for Delaney’s Coffee House in Dundarave was Vice-President External Noah Berson by car, Vice-President Academic Joshua Millard by bike and CSU President and Vice-President Equity and Sustainability Anna Rempel by the 255 bus. The results were as predicted, with Berson arriving first at a time of 28 minutes, followed by Millard on the bike at 47 minutes, while Rempel clocked in at an hour and six minutes on the bus. The competitors were greeted by a crowd of locals, students and media supporters at the finish line. Councillor Nora Gamboli was one of the 30 to 40 people in attendance and handed out surveys regarding the proposed project, set to be addressed Mar. 4. Leading up to the event a series of council meetings and marches have seen a good turnout from both students and other members of the North Shore community, though the issue continues to be hotly debated, and many in the community are still opposed to the project. Protestors for and against the B-Line have marched in the streets of Ambleside, voicing strong opinions on both sides.

Millard noted that CapU students are key drivers in favour of this project, with some reaching out to the CSU and others sending letters directly to city councillors. “Even if we don’t get the results we want, it’s good to know that we’ve had an incredible impact and changed the conversation,” said Millard. “If it wasn’t for the students coming together collectively on this issue, as well as other groups coming out of the woodwork, then the opposition would have killed the project weeks ago.” The race was a final attempt to bring attention to the issue and bring together diverse voices and perspectives. Even so, Berson believes that they are still underrepresented, since many of the people who come to consultations are those who have free time and tend to be the least affected by transit decisions. “Luckily we have our role at the student union which has allowed us to go and advocate, but you have to imagine that there are so many folks out there who don’t have two and a half hours to spare on a week night to come out to consultations, or even 15 minutes to fill out a form online,” said Berson. “Through this event the hope was to have a bunch of those folks come out, but the reality is that we are going to be underrepresented no matter what we do. Students are perhaps most impacted by transit issues on the North Shore, which can have a significant impact on class attendance and quality of life. Millard noted that for many students it can be difficult to justify spending three hours in traffic for an hour and a half of class. “We’re supposed to be the University of the North Shore, and

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CSU Approves Policy Supporting Limit on International Student Tuition The heavily debated policy has now been approved by a majority of CSU executives ANNALISSE CROSSWELL ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

policy regarding limiting international tuition increases was left in limbo at the Feb. 15 Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) board meeting. After liberal debate at both the Feb. 15 and March 1 board meetings, the policy, which states the CSU’s support for international students tuition increases being tied dollar-for-dollar to that of domestic students, was ultimately approved by a majority vote. Vice-President Academic Joshua Millard originally brought forth the policy, believing that even the two per cent increase that is allowed annually for domestic students can have drastically different impacts on the already expensive tuition that international students pay. During the process he received

little help from domestic students within the CSU with development of the policy, but ultimately gained their support in approving it. “The international student tuition policy is a step towards equitably representing the financial interests of a group that has been consistently taken advantage of for over a decade by various institutions,” said Millard on the day it was approved, “and the board’s support of this policy means that we think that those decisions by institutions were wrong and that it is not right for an international students tuition to rise $2,000 over the period of their degree.” According to Millard, “those increases are frankly unacceptable” and, while this policy will not have a direct impact on the increases that international students face, it will guide decisions made by the Board of Governors on the issue. The policy also includes the need for more support for international students, which would be guided by consultation with international students and the Centre for International Experience (CIE).

VICE-PRESIDENT EXTERNAL NOAH BERSON, VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC JOSHUA MILLARD AND PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY ANNAELAINE REMPEL PICTURED AFTER THE AGGRAVATING RACE BY MATT SCHROETER

NEWS

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2019 BC Budget Makes Strides for Students Reliant on Loans BC students no longer have to pay interest on student loans ANNALISSE CROSSWELL ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

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he announcement of the annual provincial budget on Feb.19 was cause for celebration amongst postsecondary students and graduates, because with came the elimination of interest charges on student loans. Immediately following the BC government’s announcement, student loans will no longer incur interest charges at a provincial level. While the change will not make post-secondary education attainable to all – as many would like to see in the future – it will put more money back in the pockets of students not fortunate enough to be able to pay for their education up front. “Since 2013 this has been one of our most comprehensive and regular asks,” said Noah Berson, the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) vice-president external. “This is something we’ve worked fairly hard on, because, for us, it comes down to a fairness

issue.” Berson believes it’s unfair that the province should be making money off of students who are incurring debt to gain an education. This is something that the Alliance of British Columbia Students (ABCS) have lobbied for in the past. At this year’s lobby days event however, the ABCS chose not to address the issue as it was already a key component of the BC NDP’s election platform. The announcement of student loan relief came under fire from BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson, who thinks that interest on student loans provides a seemingly irreplaceable incentive for students to pay off their debts. Berson responded in an article published by Global News, calling Wilkinson’s comment “insulting”. “Students are folks who are capable of forethought. We’re going to get our education, we’re investing in our future. This isn’t the kind of thing we take upon lightly,” Berson was quoted saying in defence of both students and a policy that he has worked closely on. On the day of the announcement, Berson was in Victoria acting as chairperson of the ABCS along with other members of

the CSU. In a first for both the ABCS and Capilano University, Berson and other representatives were invited to attend a meeting prior to the budget announcement with the Minister of Finances, Carole James, and the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, Melanie Mark. The meeting that day also included the budget lockup, where BC lobbyists and media personnel are able to view the budget four hours in advance of the announcement. Cellphones are taken away and wifi is not available, but media are allowed to prepare press releases to issue when the budget is officially announced. Berson and Patrick Meehan, the CSU’s director of policy and campaigns, attended the lockup. The other five delegates sent to Victoria on behalf of the ABCS included CSU President and Vice-President Equity and Sustainability Anna-Elaine Rempel, Sunshine Coast Campus Representative Matthew Mclean, Business and Professional Studies Faculty Representative Joey Sidhu, and Arts and Sciences Faculty Representative Alea Replinski. This change not only makes postsecondary education fairer, but also makes

expenses and debts predictable for students. Berson thinks that this will in turn have impacts on students continuing their education without taking breaks, as they will no longer have to fear accumulated interest. Students will also be able to invest sooner in their future without the same looming debt. The provincial government estimates that the elimination of interest on student loans will translate into savings of $2,300 over 10 years for BC students. “Not only [will this set] a standard for other provinces,” said Berson, “we’re hoping this is going to show [the] federal government that we shouldn’t be making money off those that can’t afford education.”

RCMP Conducts Training on North Shore Campus Rope access training brings highly-specialized ERT members to the Fir building roof GRETA KOOY NEWS EDITOR

espite notices plastered on the walls of the Fir building, many of Capilano University’s staff, students and faculty members were surprised to see people repelling down from the roof as they peered out from their offices and classroom windows. On Feb. 26, several RCMP officers reported to CapU’s North Shore campus for specialized Emergency Response Team (ERT) training, collecting interested looks from passersby as they descended from the building above. “An ERT is a group of highly-trained RCMP members capable of employing specialized weapons, equipment, and tactics to resolve extremely high-risk situations,” according to the RCMP’s website. ERT’s are police tactical units, the RCMP’s version of SWAT in Canada. “We’re doing a national-level RCMP course,” explained Staff Sergeant Ron Parker. The rope access training, an integral part of the ERT training program, brought together ERT members from all over the country. “We need everyone on the same page,” he said. Rope access training prepares ERT members for specialized scenarios where unequipped ground officers are unable to respond. “Say you have a high-rise building with a bunch of bad guys with guns

RCMP OFFICERS RAPPEL DOWN THE SIDE OF THE FIR BUILDING AT CAPILANO UNIVERSITY ON FEB. 26 AS PART OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM TRAINING PICTURED BY GRETA KOOY

inside… the guys [might come in from] off the roof and onto a balcony, that kind of scenario,” said Parker. The training circuit takes place over a two-week period. During this time, Parker and several other members of the RCMP have travelled to various locations in the

Vancouver area to conduct the same rope access training, including Park Royal mall and Lions Gate Hospital. ERT training is ongoing and demands both physical and mental strength. For rope access training, “you have to not be scared of heights,” laughed Parker. “It’s complicated,

there’s a lot going on.” ERT units are comprised entirely of RCMP volunteers and their training is specifically designed to aid in dangerous, complex and high-stress situations – both on land and at sea, domestically and internationally.

NEWS

CapU Celebrates International Women’s Day on North Shore Campus Events held by the University and the CSU draw attention to representation, identity and women’s issues GRETA KOOY NEWS EDITOR

Health care professionals continue to monitor the virus’ presence in the Lower Mainland ALDEN MACKAY CONTRIBUTOR

ancouver Coastal Health declared on Friday, Feb. 15 that there had been an outbreak of measles, in fact the largest in in the city in five years. To date there have been 15 confirmed cases in the Vancouver area, 10 of which were found in school environments where the virus is likely to spread fastest. Brenda Mackay, a 33-year-old registered

having contracted the virus as a child. “It was dreadful, truly awful,” she said. “I remember my mother carrying myself and my four siblings to the bathroom as we were too weak to walk. The curtains were kept closed in our house as the light was too painful to our eyes.” Mackay’s father was against vaccination. The measles virus begins with a fever, a runny nose, and a whooping-like cough which culminates into a rash that spreads across the body. The first dose of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for children by the age of 12 months and covers up to 85 per cent protection against the measles. A second dose is administered around age five. “It’s just a pin prick,” Mackay said. “It’s nothing compared to the pain, suffering and dangers associated with the measles.” The skepticism surrounding vaccination,

this and it’s not something that can just be swept under the rug,” said Rempel. “This is one day where we can really elevate it, even though this is something that needs to be ongoing.” Maureen Bracewell, a member of CapU’s Faculty of Arts & Sciences and an instructor in both Anthropology and Women’s and Gender Studies, along with the Women & Gender Studies Department, DOXA and the FPSE, curated Friday’s events titled “Rethinking Representation: Indigenous Women, Storytelling, and Film”. The event began with a reception in the Cedar Building and a welcome speech by Elder Rose Nahanee (Sesemyia). A special screening of three short films followed from the 2018 DOXA Festival: Marie Clement’s Looking at Edward Curtis in the Pacific Northwest, Asinnajaq’s Three Thousand and Butterfly Monument by Jules Koostachin and Rick Miller. and the subsequent anti-vaccination movement, sees its roots in a 1998 study published in The Lancet that suggested a link between immunization and autism. Later, a study conducted by British doctor Andrew Wakefield showed a lack of sufficient evidence and several world health agencies showed it to be completely inaccurate. Wakefield has since lost his medical licence. In 2014 there were 343 reported cases of measles in the Vancouver area. The latest outbreak is cause for concern for those who are most at risk such as young children, but there are steps that can be taken to protect yourself in the virus’ presence. Measles survives on surfaces and in airborne conditions for several hours before dying. In a crowded place such as a school or library, anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated is at risk. Breathing the same air as an infected individual can be enough to contract the virus. “Wash your hands,” Mackay warned. “Soap and water is a great defense against many organisms and make sure you don’t

Friday’s panel discussions centred around representation, storytelling and filmmaking by Indigenous women, and featured panellists Doreen Manuel, director of the BOSA Centre for Film and Animation, Dr. Dorothy Christian, associate director of Indigenous Initiatives at SFU’s Teaching and Learning Centre and Jules Koostachin, founder and owner of VisJuelles Productions Inc. “I’m really excited that [we had] a proper event for International Women’s Day this year. In my time, since coming to Cap, I haven’t seen the CSU do a specific event for International Women’s Day,” said Rempel. Thorpe acknowledged that she had not taken part in previous International Women’s Day events, but said that this year it feels like a much stronger focus for the University. “The CSU is hugely supportive, and I think everyone puts women and feminism into everything they do,” she said. touch your eyes!”. BC residents born after 1994 most likely received the MMR vaccination when they were a child, but a second look at medical records is wise if there is any uncertainty. If records are unavailable, another shot can be administered after speaking with a health care provider. Exposure to the virus can be addressed with a visit to the doctor's office, although it is wise to call ahead before showing up to a crowded place such as a waiting room in which further contamination is possible. The vaccine itself can be administered up to three days after contraction to prevent further symptoms. In the meantime it may be wise to wear a mask. “I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone,” Mackay said. “I still remember how horrible it was after all this time. I like to live by a risk versus benefit attitude when weighing options when it comes to healthcare.” For more information on the measles virus please visit immunizebc.ca or call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.

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Fifteen Confirmed Cases of Measles in Greater Vancouver nurse at Lion’s Gate Hospital recalled

PHOTO OF MANJEET BIRK FROM THE CASA WEBSITE

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apilano University and the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 this year with several on-campus events. The day included film viewings and panel discussions sponsored by the Women & Gender Studies Department, in partnership with DOXA Documentary Film Festival and the Federation of PostSecondary Educators of BC (FPSE). Prior to Friday’s events, the CSU and the Women Students Collective hosted a screening of Clueless in the Members Centre on Wednesday, Mar. 6. The next day, a keynote speech was delivered by Executive Director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) and member of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Roundtable for the Status of Women, Manjeet Birk. Birk’s talk, titled “Intersectionality in Education”, was much anticipated by members of the CapU community. “I think women aren’t acknowledged for their successes as much as they should be,” said Women Students Liaison Makenzie Thorpe. “It’s important to bring role models such as Manjeet and Indigenous Elders into our community... and acknowledge how much history women have put in that hasn’t been appreciated enough.” The same sentiments rang true for CSU President and Vice-President Equity & Sustainability Anna-Elaine Rempel. “It’s a personal interest of mine… I really, deeply care about women’s issues, and especially taking the leadership role that I have with ‘Let’s Get Consensual’, it’s really lit a fire under me to be an advocate for women and to provide a space for us to actually talk about these issues,” she said. “I think it’s really important to uplift and elevate the

voices of women, especially who come from a greater intersectional background as well.” Rempel is no stranger to advocating for women and is clearly passionate about her work with the CSU on and off campus. “We do a fair amount of work, especially under my portfolio, against gender-based violence with the ‘Let’s Get Consensual’ campaign. We’ve seen a lot of growth within the campaign over this last year that I’m really proud of, that we’ve been able to develop with a lot of help from the University and Jody Armstrong,” she said. Last summer, Rempel fired back at North Shore News columnist Trevor Lautens following the publication of an opinions piece titled “West Van councillors Cassidy and Booth in two-woman mayoral race”. “He put out his thoughts on the race, pinning the two women against each other... Of course, they’re both vying for the same position. But there was a lot of very gendered language,” she said. The article was originally brought to Rempel’s attention when she saw a tweet addressing the article posted by MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale Bowinn Ma. “My position on it was that the opinion piece itself was perpetuating misogynistic views about women in positions of power and women in politics. It’s entirely unnecessary to write about women in politics differently than men,” said Rempel. One description stood out in particular. In his column, Lautens had referred to then-mayoral candidate Christine Cassidy as a “Dresden china doll” with “delicate porcelain skin”. “I think it’s really frustrating with where we’re at in terms of the way that feminism and gender-based issues are viewed in the media and in our larger society, where we can look at it and go ‘well, we’ve come so far, why do we need to continue doing this?’,” said Rempel. Instances like the one described above only add fuel to Rempel’s fire, and serve as a reminder to the community as a whole that comments like Lauten’s no longer go unnoticed. “When you look at the statistics, when you look at what continues to happen, we know that we do need to keep talking about

OPINIONS

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How Relevant are the Oscars Today? Awards show pageantry and its place in society TAYLOR KLEINE-DETERS CONTRIBUTOR

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very year there’s a buzz around the Oscars, the nominations and the ceremony, positive or negative. This year’s nominees were accepted without too much fanfare or excitement and talk of the ceremony was mostly centred on the lack of a host for the event. For the Academy, the fact that they chose to go host-less was perhaps a strong choice, because viewership from the 2018 awards ceremony to this year’s grew by 5 million. The other talking point was that of initial forward-thinking wins that were drawn back by a safe take on racism with Green Book taking home the award for Best Picture. While the film tackles racism in the southern states in the 1960s, it does so from a white perspective and its win suggests a flaw with the current voting system that the Academy uses. This year’s awards, which were presented on Feb. 24, were received with mixed reviews. The dedicated fan base of “Little Monsters” that follow Lady Gaga’s every move were thrilled to see her performance of ‘Shallow’ with Bradley Cooper translate so well on a live broadcast. The artistic team that brought Black Panther to life were also honoured for their beautiful and culturally inclusive costume design, production design, and original score. There was some muttering about a few of the winners though. The soft choice for Best Live Action Short Film, Skin, had film buffs scratching their heads, and it was also questionable that Bohemian Rhapsody won in both Best Sound Editing and Best

Sound Mixing categories considering that the editors only had to put Queen songs in a Queen biopic. The loudest of any complaints across social media and the Internet-at-large concerned the winner of the Oscars’ Best Picture award: Green Book. The film tells the true story of an Italian-American former club bouncer-turned bodyguard Tony Vallelonga, who drove and provided security to classical musician Don Shirley, who was on a tour through the racially segregated landscape of the Deep South in 1962. The message of the film is undeniably good, it was one of overcoming racial prejudice and respecting others as equals regardless of race, education or class. The issues taken with the film are not cut and dry. When a film tackles an issue like race and attempts to put it within the parameters of a PG-13 family film, there will obviously be limitations to how events are portrayed. The initial rub might be with the “white saviour” trope that Hollywood likes to take on. To support that thought, the film script was written by Vallelonga’s son, Nick, without the consultation of Shirley’s

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living family members. He claims he did not know of their existence. Shirley’s niece cut right to the chase in her critique of the film. “It’s once again a depiction of a white man’s version of a black man’s life,” she said to Deadline. Writers in the film-circle seem to mostly echo this sentiment - to “look [at] how far society has come” and not acknowledge the more pervasive subtleties that racist mindsets perpetuate. Similarly, Jenni Miller, a freelance reporter for NBC, stated that Green Book was a “movie about racism, made by white people for white people”. Critics of the film received angry emails from one of its producers, Charles B. Wessler, saying that “African Americans for the most part LOVE this film”. Even with all the controversy surrounding Green

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Book, its box office success was not all that noteworthy. The week of its release midNovember 2018 it did not even break the top 20. So the question rises, how did it come to be nominated, let alone win an Academy Award? The system the Academy uses to determine its film of the year is "preferential ballot”. Members of the Academy are asked to list their top films from favourite to least. When the less favoured films are eliminated, the votes are redistributed based on their secondary choice. The system allows for upset on occasion, such as this year, but has been used annually since its implementation in 2009. It is next to impossible to have an entirelysatisfied audience at an awards show. The Oscars recovered this year in viewers from an all-time low at the 2018 show. In a time of uncertainty for live television in general this seems like something done right, or the films that were nominated were more accessible and people had actually seen them. The Oscars are still watched by film enthusiasts and people will still avidly discuss the ceremony on social media. In 2019 the latter is what matters and money will continue to pour in and affirm the Oscars’ place of cultural importance, even if the commentary is not entirely positive, it holds people’s attention. After all, any publicity is good publicity.

Separating Art, Controversy and Celebrity

Do problematic celebrities like Karl Lagerfeld deserve to be mourned? ANDIE BJORNSFELT CONTRIBUTOR

5-year-old German fashion mogul Karl Lagerfeld passed away on Feb. 19. He worked as the creative director for both Chanel and Fendi. Although Lagerfeld was an amazing fashion icon, he said a lot of problematic things in his life, including in response to the uproar that was the #MeToo movement and how many celebrities have been exposed for their past and present sexual abuses. This brings forward a very relevant question we are all faced with today as a public audience — is it okay to support a person who has done and said shitty things if they’ve created beautiful, iconic works of art? When it comes to Lagerfeld, the concern is whether or not his masterpieces can be celebrated while still acknowledging the things he did wrong.

The answer is as complex as the question — yes, but with conditions. Lagerfeld was an icon because his contribution to the fashion world was so great. His work with Chanel was prolific. He took the brand and made them accessible to the modern audience. He attempted to make his designs more affordable (although they’re still generally unaffordable for most people, but he had good intentions). Last year he had Chanel ban animal skins and furs, making them the first major fashion house to do so. Following in his footsteps, London Fashion Week also decided to not use fur in September for the first time. Some of Lagerfeld’s comments were of a model being “too fat”,  as well as an Islamophobic comment he made when Chancellor Angela Merkel talked about welcoming Syrian refugees into Germany. Additionally, he also expressed criticism against the #MeToo movement. The opinion of whether it is safe to celebrate Lagerfeld’s life or not is divided. Actor Jameela Jamil wrote on Twitter that he was “a ruthless, fat-phobic misogynist”. On the other hand, model Cara Delevingne,

ILLUSTRATED BY CYNTHIA TRAN VO

who was both a close friend and model for Lagerfeld, wrote, “He was not a saint, he is human being like all of us who made mistakes and we should all have the chance to be forgiven for that.” Lagerfeld once said, “Everything I say is a joke, I am a joke myself.” Additionally, Lagerfeld was gay, but was against gay marriage (deeming it to be “bourgeois”). It’s possible that he could have been saying what he really felt in the moment or he could have been stirring up his image for attention. It is important to remember that Lagerfeld was 85 years old. We are now in an age, with the internet to document everything, where everything we say is kept and taken apart. He grew up in a different time when this wasn’t even the case, though it doesn’t excuse his behaviour. The answer to whether he should be mourned is complex

and requires an attempt to extend an understanding of human nature, even when it can be heartbreaking to do so. The answer is yes, we can celebrate him along with the other artists who have done things they shouldn't have and said the wrong things as well. But these wrongs must be held accountable to the person. Despite all Lagerfeld’s artistry and creativity, we cannot ignore the comments he made. It would be ignorant to do so. It is important to hold people who are public figures accountable for their actions. Since celebrities have such power and influence, responsibility comes along with that privilege-- even if they do not recognize this power, it is important they use their words with intention and care. We must recognize this, not only with Lagerfeld, but all celebrities.

OPINIONS

Why Are You Chanting? School spirit as a precursor to national pride ALEXIS ZYGAN CONTRIBUTOR

nyone who has ever taken a Sociology 100 class has uncovered the real purpose of the education system: to train students to uphold the systems that maintain a society within adulthood. This often takes the place of teaching students how to succeed in adulthood – which is why there is no

education regarding financial literacy. Instead, pep rallies are implemented into the curriculum to cultivate school pride which translates into national pride in adulthood. The education system does an impressive job teaching adolescents how to exhibit pride for their school. School spirit as seen on football fields and bleachers is a reflection of pride for the school and their ability to succeed in sports. This attitude transfers into a pride for one’s country as established through rallies and conferences held by government candidates. School spirit thus manifests as a precursor to developing national pride for one’s country as an adult. The pride is then maintained by holidays inserted in the calendar year to

Cultural Appropriation and You Appropriation isn’t always done out of malice, just ignorance

You Have a New Friend Request The orignial social network was meant to connect people - and is MELISSA GIBBONS PRODUCTION MANAGER

acebook is like a treasure hunt. You start by tracking people, and when you discover each other you re-connect. These days, the social media app that almost everyone is on sharing ‘premium

photos’ is Instagram, but Facebook was at the dawn of the social media boom. Since 2008 I became a member of Facebook and thanks to that it has globally connected me and re-connected me with people. That’s why the “10-year challenge” is a true blast-from-the-past for those of us who were members of this “friend network” since it became popular in 2008-2009. If you are part of that challenge, you are definitely devoted to sharing the differences between your past and present, because we all once took super grouchy photos of our adolescence. Facebook is the “OG” of the social media platforms and it never fails to disappoint to connect one another in this globally connected modern world. But the “friend” connecting app has slowly been left

Appropriation is not a crime, but can be a way to breathe new life into culture when done in a positive way. Ultimately, this is what we should be focusing on. Appreciation for other cultures allows us to grow as a society by letting people be creative and change their own culture based

on what they like about other cultures. It allows us to celebrate the diversity we have in this world and lets people learn about cultures they might not ever have heard about. So, feel free to embrace other cultures and let others see the beauty in a culture that you find fascinating.

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ultural appropriation is a topic that people have strong opinions on. This is good because it’s a discussion that is worth bringing up over and over again. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, cultural appropriation is, “the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture”. The last three words are what the main issue should be about – respecting people’s culture when appropriating it. That’s why cultural appropriation should be looked at on a case-by-case basis and by people who are directly affected by it, not by random people who just want to voice their opinion. Cultural exchange can be extremely positive though, when people appreciate and highlight aspects of other cultures that they find intriguing. This form of expression should not be shut down. However, we should discuss the issue when people do it in a negative way. Context matters a lot when looking at appropriation and whether people should be in an uproar or not. Context is critical and should be what everyone looks at before making a judgment. Some people might appropriate because they are curious

students to be good citizens in modern day society by participating in the bureaucracy which we are taught to perceive as a democracy. The sense of identity established by school spirit then transfers onto identifying with the ideals of one nation. This attitude thus encourages xenophobic attitudes towards those who do not belong to or identify with the community shared by members of the country. Promoting school pride is problematic as it leads to national pride which can coincide with xenophobic attitudes that leads to a divide between those who belong in the community and outcasts.

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MARK MAPOLES CONTRIBUTOR

about a culture and want to learn more about it and become a part of it. Others appropriate because they are ignorant and just see it as something that might be funny. Although appropriation in itself has negative connotations, it isn’t always done out of malice. The difference between the situations is context. Some people look at cultural appropriation and say that people should keep to their own cultures and not copy from others. It seems like a very closeminded way of looking at things, to shut down the possibility of learning about other cultures and understanding other people’s perspective. Everyone has their own unique perspective on life and instead of putting up walls and separating ourselves into our cultures, we should be open to learning from other cultures and creating things – in a respectful way. Respect is the keyword that people forget about. Appropriation is really when people create things based on other cultures and they don’t fully understand what the meaning is behind it. If they don’t understand why certain symbols are important to that culture, they don’t understand why they might be being disrespectful. Not everyone’s intention is to be disrespectful though, it comes down to being insensitive on the topic and not being aware of how our actions can affect other people. The more discussion there is about these difficult topics, hopefully, more people will become self-aware and be able to reflect on their thoughts before putting them into action and being disrespectful to people’s culture.

reflect the pride for the nation, for example, Canada Day. This demonstration of pride for one’s country promotes toxic behaviour by encouraging discrimination and hate towards those that do not belong or those who fail to prescribe to the national pride agenda. Those who choose not to engage with school pride, the same as national pride, face ostracization from the masses, thereby forcing them to engage in fear of discrimination from society. The societal purpose of fabricating school pride in students is so that when they inevitably graduate they move on to developing national pride for their country. Therefore, upholding that the actual function of schooling is not to educate but to train

ILLUSTRATED BY NATASHA JONES

behind. A lot of its competitors (Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat to name a few) have become more popular. But why? Platforms like Twitter and Instagram get straight to the point. An example — one great photo: boom! Instagram. One great story: boom! Twitter. Facebook carries so much content from photo albums, to events, news and memes. It’s just to too much. And that much content can either overwhelm people and scare them away, or draw the attention of people and become a horrifying time wasting app. On that note, Mark Zuckerberg (creator and owner of the social media platform) probably doesn’t want his baby to be forgotten and has to find ways to innovate, hence the Facebook and Instagram union now. After all, the reality is that Millennials spend way more

time on Instagram and Snapchat and their parents are the ones sneaking onto Facebook regularly. As an international student who has travelled and lived in many different parts of the world, I have really learned to appreciate Facebook. I have been able to keep up with the growing of my far away personal relationships. With Facebook I’m aware of who is finishing a degree, getting married, having kids, travelling the world, making political and cynical jokes and in general making a difference around the world. It makes it easier to trace the steps of the people that were once were (or still are) a part of your life even though they are miles away. Although the networking site may seem out-dated to some, it still serves its purpose, and that is connecting people.

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Online Personas

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Surrealist Stan

Motivational Max

Mystery Melvin

BEN JACOBS CONTRIBUTOR

MEGAN ORR OPINIONS EDITOR

CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

hances are you’ve probably encountered some of Stan’s images – they look visually confusing, mostly with low quality resolution, or were taken off an old camera from probably the 90s. He’ll make you wonder things like: “Why does that hot dog have toothpaste in it instead of ketchup?” or “Why does that Phineas costume in the background look unsettling?” Stan has made it his day job to find the most unsettling cursed images he can find, both real and photoshopped. He keeps a blog and bombards his followers with bamboozling images of uncertainty for the entertainment of those with a penchant for the weird. Often, he takes photos of spaghetti in places it shouldn’t be, or teddy bears with dentures. Why? Good question. Yet somehow the reactions he receives from his followers see no end of comments, likes and shares. Whether you find his content intriguing or concerning, Stan promises to keep you guessing.

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FEATURES

eet Max: the douchey guy that you went to high school with, who, for some reason, everybody loves. He isn’t particularly attractive, intelligent or funny, but everyone just seems to fall at Max’s feet. Now, some five or so years after graduation, despite a few bumps in the road, Max finally has his life back on track. Though the world has knocked Max down many times, he refuses to quit and he also refuses to shut up about it. Suddenly, Max, the dude that you know as being just exceedingly mediocre and generally boring, is full of wisdom that someone in his mid-twenties has absolutely no right to have. He writes long, pandering posts talking about what it takes to overcome obstacles, even though none of the problems he’s faced are truly exceptional. Max goes on and on about how hard his life used to be and now how perfect it is, as though people actually care about him. The worst part: they do! He gets hundreds of likes and people comment things like, ‘You rock!’ and, ‘You inspire me everyday, bud!’ It’s just you who sees that Max is full of it. You could delete him, but then what would you have to be unreasonably angry about on Facebook? Actual problems in the world? No thank you.

ere’s a picture of a ladybug gracing the tip of my finger. Here’s a pencil sketch of a snowy owl midflight I drew when I was feeling inspired. Here’s a behind-the-scenes photo of me in a weave, too-tight pants, drenched in blood and dribbling wine with a look on my face that makes even me question what I do for a living sometimes. Meet Mr. Enigma, or maybe let’s call him Mystery Melvin. Either way, he’s a walking contradiction. No, he’s not the Riddler from DC’s Batman, he’s the cute British actor you’ve been stalking on Instagram. You know him. He’s got the right accent and a mop of tousled brown hair that’s perfectly styled off set but a tangled mess whenever he’s in front of a camera. He’s definitely too old for you and he plays the villain. Besides the weave, he’ll often be seen on set in a period costume with a stiff, high collar or laced on sleeves, but on social media he only paints watercolours of butterflies and puppies and hides on the other side of the camera lens, his face rarely, if ever, seen. It’s almost annoyingly frustrating that the one bad boy you let yourself admire has a secret side, and it’s not even remotely gossip-worthy. In fact, maybe he’s not such a bad boy after all. Even he says so. “I’ve never done anything as remotely bad as my characters.” Too bad.

FEATURES

You already know them. They frequent your newsfeed, and they've got a flair you may be a little bit sick of. #BossBabe Bailey GRETA KOOY NEWS EDITOR

“

RACHEL D’SA SHY, BI AND READY TO DIE

uke frequents Facebook and puts himself as “interested” for upcoming events that, let’s be real here, he’ll never actually attend. He never responds to group chats and ghosts the minute someone @’s him. Transparent by day, invisible by night, Luke is just as dependable as the public transit schedules. On rare occasions, he may grace social media with a reaction or two, but only when you least expect it. He’s that one high school acquaintance that you still have on Facebook who hasn’t posted or commented in years but somehow remains your number one fan. You’re not quite sure if he’s doing alright. You’re tempted to ask, but you don’t want to be sucked into whatever scheme he’s got going on. Despite trying to remain non-judgemental, you fully expect a murder mystery documentary to come out in the next few years that explains his mysterious behaviour. Just don’t expect to ever see him in person again.

Share Happy Sally FREYA WASTENEYS FEATURES EDITOR

ally’s kids are all grown up now, so she’s having a resurgence of youth and is discovering her playful side. She’s endlessly entertained by the clever things she finds in the depths of the internet and wants you to share in the joy she feels when she sees GIFs and memes of minions and cats. They’re so friggin’ cute! Unfortunately her son Brian has blocked her from tagging him on Facebook, which is a source of frustration for poor Sally. Thankfully she has learned to screenshot the cute images she sees so she can email them to him with the caption “HAHAHAHAHA!” Sally has also recently discovered that she may be a little lonely. Her friend, Barb, recently took up pole dancing, and she’s considering it as her Wednesday social activity because she’s been told it gives you incredible abs – something she’s lost in her long hours hunched over a computer screen.

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Heeeeeeeeyyyy gorgeous!! OMG it’s been so long, how are you??!! I just HAD to invite you to this event I’m throwing at my place on Saturday night. There’s going to be wine, canapés, manicures, girl talk and a bunch of shitty, overpriced products that I’m going to shove in your face and try to get you to buy!! It’s going to be a blast so let me know if you can make it, you won’t want to miss out on these AMAZING deals. Xoxoxoxox.” If you have never received a message like this before, count your blessings. If you have been so lucky then you know exactly who I’m talking about. Bailey is a #bossbabe – an independent-ass woman who loves the #hustle of being her own “boss”. Bailey wants to help you to be your best possible self, or at least that’s what she tells you. In reality, Bailey is trying to scam you – you know it and she knows it. But why, after 10+ years of no contact, after hardly being friends in the first place, is she messaging you? Well, Bailey is now so far in the red after getting involved in Herbalife, Avon and other predatory MLM companies that she’s extended her sights past her close friends and family and is passing these incredible deals onto you! You have no idea how lucky and special you are! You and all of her other Facebook friends, that is. Bailey’s bright, friendly and hardworking. She had, and still has, great style and her Instagram aesthetic is enviable. She really could have been successful if she hadn’t been lured in by the promise of setting her own hours and becoming a self-sufficient #girlboss. Now, Bailey’s car trunk is overloaded with product from Rodan + Fields that she’s already paid for out of pocket, lurking the pages of friends’ friends in search of her next victim, er, customer.

Lurker Luke

ILLUSTRATED BY EMMA HARRIS

FEATURES

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Pen and Paper Dreams

Highlighting the influential female authors in Capilano University’s writing Community BY SHEILA ARELLANO JULIANA VIEIRA ILLUSTRATOR

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riting instructor Brook Houglum sits in her small office at Capilano University and smiles when she recalls Vancouver’s innovative women writers from the 80s and 90s. As the former editor for the literary magazine, The Capilano Review, Houglum has long been a curator of diverse voices. “Vancouver’s writing community has always been experimental,” she said fondly. Since 1968, storytellers like Houglum have gathered inside the walls of Capilano University, drawn by the lush surroundings and fellow creatives. Freedom of expression is a privilege that

is often taken for granted, and during Women's History month, writers like Houglum reflect on how the female literary community has evolved. These days the world grants women a freedom that was not always present, and as more female writers emerge, the community builds off their successes. Many talented writers and poets such as Lisa Robertson, Catriona Strang, Christine Stewart and Nancy Shaw have been integral voices in the community. “These women also built

on the work of previous women poets in Vancouver such as Daphne Marlatt and Maxine Gadd,” said Houglum. The contributions of these writers to the poetic and literary community in Vancouver was profound, and this was reflected in literary magazines like The Capilano Review and The Liar. The Capilano Review is one of many publications that has provided a safe space for writers, and the magazine’s nature has always been progressive. Since it was founded in 1979 by Pierre Coupey, the magazine has been concerned with private meaning rather than gender. In 2015 it became independent from Capilano University, but it still holds deep roots in the community. The magazine is perhaps best known for its exploratory thinking, which is seen in all of their issues. Similarly, The Liar, an independent literary magazine produced by CapU, prides itself for existing in “the rupture between the personal and the political” and is dedicated to poetry, fiction, non-fiction and other creative works. Both magazines are known for their divergent way of thinking and have shone a light on women authors when it was difficult to do so. Today, it is the writer’s responsibility to represent the topics they deem important in their art to help society thrive and progress towards a conscious and

inclusive future, but this can take many forms. Dawna Jones is a Vancouver-based non-fiction writer who has authored and collaborated on many strategic texts focussing on leadership and decisionmaking in complex environments. “I had no intention of being a writer or of writing,” she revealed. “I used to say that when my life hit a wall, I wrote. Consequently, I have a lot of life’s experience to draw material from.” For Jones, the most challenging part has been putting herself out there as a writer. “I began writing as a way to express my ideas and had no intention of publishing them,” she said. While Jones never considered herself a writer, she admitted that receiving criticism was challenging at times. She warned against locking onto specific styles. “Experiment with different expressions,” she said. “Lock on to crafting a visceral visual story even if you’re writing nonfiction. If people don’t like your work, then keep on writing.” “Male or female, you have to work hard,” said Victoria Miles, director of communications and marketing at CapU and the award-winning author of Magnifico, Old Mother Bear and numerous other books for children. “You'll probably be keeping a day job for all or a good part of your career and then write ‘around’ it,” she said. She noted that most gender restrictions on storytelling

FEATURES how far women have come. Authors like Miles, Jones and Houglum have set an empowering example for the next generation of writers. “Keep on writing [even] if people don’t like your work. Do your best to get inside the head of who you are writing for so you can choose the best visual metaphors that they might relate to,” Jones said. When thinking about future women writers, Jones reminds people to consider writing as “a fun place to experiment with ideas, deepen understanding of how the human character

rejections and don’t mind if editors don't give you feedback,” said Miles. The importance of being a writer is evident in society as art is perhaps one of the best ways to express the issues in the world. Authors have a social responsibility to convey, within stories, valuable messages that will incite people to act and be aware about the privileges women writers in Canada have gained. “ [It is important to] write because you love to, because you have to,” said Miles. “[And] if it feels like work, that’s good, because it is. Use your words

for good.” Women authors in Canada have fought their way through history with their pens and papers to achieve a tangible dream. Thanks to the struggles women writers have experienced in the past, today we have an amazing privilege to write what our hearts desire. The Capilano writing community has granted a beautiful space for people to express themselves and has stood true to their beliefs since the beginning. Storytelling will always carry power and bring people together.

“I don't think I was ever certain of success, I just really wanted to try. I had stories inside me and things that I thought were wonderful.”

is built, and the conditions for accessing creative flow. If you feel like it is a slog, your reader will most likely feel those emotions, so write in sprints – or until your excitement about writing needs a walk to recharge.” Most of all, she reminds aspiring writers to have fun. Regardless of gender, artists must keep thinking outside the box for a safe space to exist and for unheard voices to break their limits, speak up, and tell their stories. By working collectively, silenced and underrepresented voices will eventually be heard and read. It is inspiring to see the many female authors who have inspired the future generations of women writers to emerge and stand by their side. “Rejection is all part of the process. Don’t be discouraged by early

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had been erased by the time she emerged into Vancouver’s literary scene. However, the North Vancouver local knows she is lucky to live where she does. “I think, perhaps, [Canada] has shaped the stories I value most and the ones I've chosen to pursue as a writer… I definitely read a lot of books that I expect appeal more strongly to a female audience,” she said. “I don't think I was ever certain of success, I just really wanted to try. I had stories inside me and things that I thought were wonderful that I wanted to share with children in story form. That began as a feeling of wonder for animals and then expanded into what was remarkable in my ordinary family history.” Although women no longer face the same challenges as before, judgments linger. In a study conducted by Canadian Women in Literary Arts (CWILA) in 2015 showed that men are two to three times more likely to review books by other men. Even Joanne Rowling, author of Harry Potter, was instructed by her editor to publish her books under her initials “J.K.” since young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman. Things have changed and are still changing today, but it is important to appreciate how far the writing community has come, especially in Vancouver. Author Faye Hammill wrote that when arriving in Quebec in 1763, she found virtually no literary culture in place, and that there was little in society to encourage Canadian fiction in English. In 1984, only 31 per cent of authors were women, and by 2013, this number grew to 45 per cent. Today, the limitations of the past have diminished significantly, but by bringing to light the stories of women writers, we are able to understand the dynamic that exists today between women and the publishing world and appreciate

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Conspiracy Corner The Missing Piece

GRETA KOOY COLUMNIST

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 12

n Feb. 11, YouTube personality Shane Dawson released his now infamous video titled “Investigating Conspiracies with Shane Dawson”. Shane is no stranger to investigating conspiracies, in fact it’s kind of his shtick. I’d even go as far as to say, without suggesting he’s a nut job, that he’s the king of conspiracy theory videos. Personally, I’ve watched every single one he’s ever uploaded, and I’m not the only one. At a minimum, Shane’s videos draw in an audience of over 6 million viewers, and since his account was created in 2005 he’s amassed a total of 4,819,863,592 video views. Having been up for a month now, this scandalous video has been seen by over 27 million people. This conspiracy video was different from his others however, this video made global news. Although Shane discusses more than one theory in his hour and a halflong video, the focus is on Chuck E. Cheese. That’s right folks, the pinnacle of childhood dreams and adult nightmares is at the centre of a very public and very controversial conspiracy theory that set Twitter on fire. Chuck E. Cheese’s secrets lie within the sauce... Well, actually the crust, or rather in the idea that the crust and toppings never seem to match up from slice to slice. Are you laughing yet? Shane and other skeptics dished out the theory that Chuck E. Cheese recycles its pizzas, mixing and matching unfinished pies from different tables and parties and then passing them off as freshly made pizzas to new guests. Before you completely discount this one due to its absurdity, there is some pretty convincing “evidence”. Countless photos are available on Google of mismatched pizzas, and online employee testimonies suggest that conspiracy nuts aren’t that far off from the truth. Following Shane’s video, several past and current Chuck E. Cheese employees came out in support of his claims. That being said, there were many that immediately “debunked” the theory, and Chuck E. Cheese naturally denied the conspiracy in a statement to E! News saying, "The claims made in this video about Chuck E. Cheese's and our pizza are unequivocally false… No conspiracies here – our pizzas are made to order and we prepare our dough fresh in restaurant,

ILLUSTRATED BY VALERIYA KIM

which means that they're not always perfectly uniform in shape, but always delicious." The Chuck E. Cheese pizza thing is nothing new, Shane himself has covered the topic in previous videos and the same can be said for the countless number of other online content creators. The difference is that Shane is notably more influential than he was just two short years ago, and conspiracy videos in particular have recently gained enormous traction. This may or may not, however, be due to YouTube’s recommendation algorithm that, until January of this year, essentially promoted conspiracy theory-related content. Regardless, the pizza theory blew up and I was hypnotized by it. In contrast to his previous videos covering the Chuck E. Cheese topic, Shane left the house (snaps for you, Shane) in search for answers. With his regular company in tow, he hit up a local store and ordered one pepperoni and one cheese. When the pies came to the table, Shane and friends were shocked. I was shocked. We were all shook. The pizza was exactly what he wanted, and most likely didn’t want at the same time. At first glance, several pieces were off. It just didn’t look right. Upon further inspection, which included a trip to Home Depot and a serious attempt at realignment to try to give the franchise the benefit of the doubt, Shane proved that

his pizza really was off. It even looked like there was an entire piece missing. That’s when I knew that I had to go and find out for myself. On a relatively sunny Saturday, when I already had about 100 other far more important things to do, I drove for nearly an hour and a half to go to the only Chuck E. Cheese in BC. Lucky for me, it just so happened that Megan, our Opinions Editor and resident professional critic, who also decided to ignore her adult responsibilities for the afternoon, was free. We excitedly, albeit shamefully, walked through the doors of the corner-of-the-strip-mall Chuck E. Cheese and braced ourselves. The girl standing at the entrance asked if we were there to join a party, to which we replied “Nope, just here for the food.” She looked confused, and I’m sure she wasn’t the only one to be baffled and mildly concerned. We were two 25-year-olds with no children to accompany and seemingly had no business being there. But we were there, and we had a job to do. We ordered a medium pepperoni pizza and waited in anticipation at a booth located right next to the exit. It didn’t take long for me to realize that all the childhood fun and excitement that I had once associated with Chuck E. Cheese had completely vanished. For the most part, this particular location felt like someone’s well-lit basement, filled with random

game machines and an old McDonald’s PlayPlace structure stuffed into the corner. It sucked. Mr. Chuck E. Cheese even made an appearance at one point, but his lackluster performance was celery on a scale of water to ghost pepper and it made me feel bad for the kids. They deserve better. When the pizza finally got to our table, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit disappointed. My tinfoil hat had been on for nearly three weeks and I was convinced that we’d get a Frankenstein pie. But it was perfectly round, and frankly delicious. There is an argument to be had about whether or not certain locations practice less than sanitary pizza procedures, but that absolutely was not the case at this particular Chuck E. Cheese. I still wouldn’t recommend going there unless you absolutely have to, but I can now say with absolute confidence that it’s not because of their pizza. Shane’s come under fire since uploading his latest video and has received a lot more attention than he probably ever expected because of it. With that being said, he’s got millions of loyal, die-hard subscribers, many of whom probably went to Chuck E. Cheese just like Megan and I did, simply out of curiosity. So, despite being in the news (again) for some unfavourable comments, Chuck E. Cheese has finally, for a brief moment, appealed to someone over the age of 6. Can they really be that mad?

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Trying Times Red Hot Regret

MEGAN ORR COLUMNIST

to be eaten, tip to the base of the stem and we’d have to chew them, not just swallow. We cheered (to our health) and then bit into the peppers. I chewed diligently on both sides, alarmed by how immediately awful this was. First of all, I felt like my pepper was ultra-seedy, and that’s where they say the heat comes from. I started to cough, not knowing if I was going to be able to even swallow it, not even sure if I wanted to have this in my body at all. As soon as I did, my ears started to burn and my mouth began to profusely salivate. I leaned over the kitchen sink allowing the saliva to pour out of my mouth like molten lava. My eyes darted to Kiel beside me, who looked to be struggling even more. From my blurry line of vision I could see that he was still chewing and he kept violently hiccuping. Both of our eyes were watering, we were crying. He was judging me for drooling into the sink and I was confused about his aggressive hiccups. My nose was running and I started to panic. I didn’t want to feel like this anymore. Literally, probably only 30 seconds had passed, but it was already too

What can TV tell us about the future of cinema?

CARLO JAVIER DOESN'T LIKE THE KIDS IN JURRASSIC WORLD

his year’s awards season saw movies like Roma, Black Panther, and If Beale Street Could Talk get some much-deserved recognition. And the likes of Regina King, Rami Malek and Mahershala Ali took home honours for their respective performances. It’s only natural that Steven Spielberg and his straight, old, white, male, and probably flat, ass would descend from his nearly $4 billion estate and recolonize the spotlight. Spielberg – who is undoubtedly among the true titans of moviemaking lore – made headlines in the past month after he suggested rule changes that would inhibit Netflix and other streaming services from scoring Oscar nominations. His stance became public after Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma – a film distributed by Netflix after a three-week limited theatrical run – received 10 Academy Award nominations (winning three) this past February. Though Spielberg himself hasn’t commented on his stance – his message was delivered by his production company, Amblin Entertainment. Media musings

ILLUSTRATED BY REBEKAH MAURICE

have pointed towards distribution models as the likely root of Spielberg’s chagrin. Films released through Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc. don’t follow the same production loops that a theatrical film traditionally does, and thus, as Spielberg said in an ITV interview last year, should be classified as a “TV Movie”, and be recognized at the Emmy Awards instead of the Academy Awards. We can also point to the “essence” and “spirit” of film as a possible factor, the cinema is an established semisocial space which prospers a shared viewing experience, whereas television is catered to more of an isolated experience. The theories are sound, but here’s my favourite: Spielberg’s contention against Netflix is representative of the sea of change that is slowly happening in Hollywood. We can lie to each other and say this is simply a battle of distribution models or a debate about

the essence of cinema, but the underlying narrative here is hard to miss: cinema as we know it, is slowly changing. On one hand, we are seeing more stories about historically marginalized groups and visible minorities. On the other, we are starting to see calls for more diversity and representation behind-thescenes, from screenwriters, to directors, to producers. Decision-making in cinema is seeing a slow, but steady change, and Spielberg’s gripes about Netflix is looking more like the old boys club becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the changing of the status quo. This traditionalist vs. modernist struggle is reminiscent of the evolution of television. Gunn Enli and several scholars from the University of Oslo posited that the dawn of new media technologies is often met

with hesitation and fear because “they are perceived to threaten established activities, values and institutions, as well as bring progress and improve political, cultural and social life.” This phenomenon has been observed with the introduction of commercial television as an alternative to state-sponsored programming, we also saw this when broadcasting, telecommunications, and computer technology started to coalesce with the development of digital television. More recently, we’ve started to see the effects of new technologies in the television landscape, with audiences preferring streaming services to cable and satellite platforms. What’s happening in cinema is operating on a much deeper level. Not only are new technologies impeding the process of established norms, but the stories we’re starting to see are veering away from the repetitive Hollywood norms we’ve grown accustomed to. So far, the critically-recognized films to come out under the Netflix banner include the aforementioned Roma, Beasts of No Nation, 13th and Mudbound. The four movies have received acclaim not only for their achievements in the art of filmmaking but also for their commentary and analyses on issues surrounding race and ethnicity. Spielberg and Hollywood’s old boys club may be starting to hear the footsteps of a new generation and if preventative measures are enforced at the Academy, their stranglehold in the movie industry will only be prolonged. However, looking to television suggests that regardless of whatever blockades we legislate, change is inevitable. Streaming services are here to stay and it's not because traditional means have failed to evolve and make the most of their platforms, but it’s because the audience has changed. Change is here whether Spielberg and other gatekeepers like it or not.

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CMNS 236: Understanding More Television

much. My tongue, mouth, lips and ears were all burning, my heart was racing and I was generously sweating. Even though I hadn’t had milk in years, I poured myself a glass and drank eagerly. The relief was instant but fleeting. As soon as I swallowed the last of it the burning returned. I grabbed ice cubes and sucked on them – they melted all too quickly. This was at about 4:30 pm. By about 5 pm the effects had finally started to wear off. My mouth and lips had stopped hurting but I pretty quickly developed heartburn. During our afterdinner walk at 7:00 pm, my stomach started to grumble. Being a person with a sensitive stomach I tried to brush it off and ignore it, but it could not be ignored. At 8:35 pm it began. I am trying to figure out a way to put this that isn’t incredibly crude. Do you know about the ring of fire? I don’t mean the Johnny Cash song or the area of volcanic activity in the Pacific Ocean. If you know you know. The following morning most of the issues I was experiencing had disappeared, other than a slight feeling of unease in my gut. I think my dreams of ever surviving on Hot Ones have gone up in flames since it really can’t be emphasized enough that this was a fairly mild pepper. You might be wondering why I even did this only to cause myself such discomfort. The answer: I did this for you, readers. You’re welcome.

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don’t know if anyone would ever describe me as a picky eater, but I do have a sensitive stomach. I generally try to be quite mindful about what I put into my body, which makes the following decision kind of a weird one: I ate a red hot chili pepper… Just to see what would happen. When I was deciding what to try this week there were a lot of different things I was throwing around. I was pretty sure I wanted to eat something. But not just something, something weird, interesting and gross all at the same time, and for some reason, I awoke at 6:45 in the morning with my mind stuck on trying something spicy. I love the YouTube

series Hot Ones, where celebrities are interviewed while eating increasingly spicy chicken wings. I like to think that one day when I’m famous, I’ll be able to down all ten wings no problem. I landed on red chili peppers at about 3:00 in the afternoon, mostly just because they were at the store I went to and when I asked the clerk if they were the hottest between them and the poblano or jalapenos, he assured me that they “definitely” were. According to a quick search, these red hots fall somewhere from about 20,00050,000 Scovilles (the measurement used to determine how spicy a food is based on the capsaicin levels). For reference, the Carolina Reaper, which is known to be the world’s hottest pepper, falls somewhere between 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 Scovilles. So, really this was a mild, hot pepper I was preparing myself to eat. I started by first eating a couple of Tums, hoping to line my mouth, esophagus and stomach with some sort of protective film. I had water on hand and milk at the ready. I set out some ground rules for my boyfriend, Kiel, who joined me in this absurd challenge. The whole pepper had

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor:

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VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 12

As soon as the calendar flips to March, it seems like university students are suddenly bombarded with announcements. Job postings go up, internships start accepting applications, and various organizations on campus hold elections for the next year. There’s no shortage of positions for student leaders at CapU. The Business Society of Capilano University (BSCU) is holding open elections for the first time. Students who have declared their candidacy for the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) Board of Directors are campaigning as we speak. And, quietly, the University has sent out two emails to all students with subject lines starting with the same phrase in all caps: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS. The email lets students know that nominations are open for elected student representatives of their two highest decision-making bodies: the Board of Governors and the Senate. There are two student seats on the Board of Governors and four on the Senate. In the last two years the students in

these positions have mostly been acclaimed. Winning by acclamation means that a person runs for a position and, since no one ran against them, they are elected to the position by default. No one votes for them, no one questions their competency, no students decide whether these people should represent the student perspective at the highest levels. Lucky for us, most of the students who currently occupy these seats are fantastic young leaders who bring dedication and skill to their roles. And then there’s me. I am one of those two student representatives on the Board of Governors. But I’m not special: in fact, far from it. I got here by fluke – I was in the right place at the right time. That was in March 2017, and now, two years later, I’ve been acclaimed to the role twice. My 19 months on the Board of Governors have given me invaluable professional experience and let me advocate for fairness and sustainability where it matters most. Through this role, I served on the CSU Board of Directors until I stepped down

in August (I decided to start doing this “studying” thing everyone seems to be talking about). My time with the CSU helped me grow as a person, make new friends, and prepared me to be an effective student leader. I wish more people knew about the incredible opportunities students in these leadership positions get, so here’s a quick rundown: According to section 6 (27) of the University Act, the Board of Governors is responsible for “the management, administration and control of property, revenue, business and affairs of the university”. This means the University’s budget, policy, tuition rates, real property, assets (including investments), collective bargaining, approval of degrees and programs (from a business perspective) and strategic direction. Students on the Board of Governors engage in high-level decision-making that affects everyone in the CapU community and will leave with experience few (if any) people their age have. The Senate is responsible for everything academic – from learning outcomes to

course outlines, program requirements to curricula. Everything to do with teaching and learning is developed and approved by the Senate. Student members of the Senate provide a student’s point of view to make sure processes like academic appeals and withdrawal procedures are fair, and help develop and oversee course content, program offerings and admissions criteria. This is an excellent place for an undergraduate student to get experience with academia and educational policymaking. I hope to see lots of people running for election to both the Board and the Senate this year. If you do, you may find yourself in a position to develop your leadership skills and make a difference at the same time – even if you get there by fluke.

- Hassan Merali, Capilano University Board of Governors

CALENDAR

MARCH

INDIGENOUS BRILLIANCE: FUTURE ANCESTORS

MASSY BOOKS 7:30 PM / BY DONATION

Tonight’s all about celebrating up-and-coming Indigenous youth through public reading.

11-15

EXPERIENCE WELL-BEING WEEK VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY 7-8:30 PM / FREE

Yoga, therapy dogs and fitness testing are all available on campus this week. No, it’s not De-Stress Week, but it’ll be just as good if not better considering you’ll experience mindfulness instead of a temporary reprieve from stress. And the CSU lounge will be filled with just as much dog smell.

CSU PRIDE MONTH: LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY

QUEER RESOURCE CENTRE AT CAPU

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CapU’s Queer Collective is back with their biggest on-campus event of the year! Pride Month kicks off today with “Let Your Freak Flag Fly” – join this free workshop and make a flag that means something to your personal identity.

SOUTH VANCOUVER CLOTHING SWAP

LUPII CAFE 5 PM / $10

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Who doesn’t love a good clothing swap? Trade your uninspiring wardrobe in for some new and exciting pieces that accentuate your style at this vegan, zero-waste cafe.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SLAM

RED GATE REVUE STAGE 7:30 PM / RECOMMENDED $12.50

Ever since we reviewed Rupi Kaur’s poetry collection in our last issue, slam poetry seems to be cropping up everywhere (at least in our newsfeeds, thanks cookies). Tender is the theme, make of that what you will, and just think, you can spend your Wednesday night watching people try to out-rhyme each other as they attempt to claim the “Growing Room Slam Champion” title.

CSU PRIDE MONTH: INTERACTIVE ART MURAL CAPU LIBRARY 11:30 AM / FREE

Pride Month at CapU continues this Thursday with a community gathering in the hallway outside the library. The Queer Collective wants your art, your pride and your expression on their large-scale interactive mural.

9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL

BLUESHORE THEATRE AT CAPU 8 PM / $15 FOR STUDENTS

Support your fellow acting students at CapU and see a musical. Seriously, they’re brilliant, and they didn’t pay us to say so. Soundtracked by the music and lyrics of Dolly Parton, 9 to 5 follows three young women who dream and scheme of taking over their company à la revolution and booting their boss through the door.

SCHOOL STRIKE FOR CLIMATE EMERGENCY JACK POOLE PLAZA 1 PM / FREE

It’s an excuse to miss school.

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20 21 22 23

ST. PATRICK’S DAY DRUNKFEST

EVERY PUB IN TOWN

Even the luck o’ the Irish won’t stop a few fights from breaking out on one of the booziest nights of the year. Enjoy it anyway, there’s bound to be green beer and Celtic dancing at more than a few pubs.

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION CAREER PANEL CSU MEMBERS CENTRE 11:30 AM / FREE

Are you in the Communication Studies program? Do you want to hear from grads about their careers? Or are you in any other program at CapU and looking to mingle, have a good time, and score some free food? Regardless, this event is for you.

DISNEY TRIVIA

COQUITLAM TAPHOUSE 7:30 PM / $10.99

Be our guest, be our guest, put your knowledge (of The Lion King, Aladdin, Tangled and more) to the test! You probably don’t stand a chance against our Editors.

BECOMING: AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION WITH MICHELLE OBAMA ROGERS ARENA 8 PM / $29.50 TO CRAZY EXPENSIVE

Just as the title suggests, it’s an intimate conversation with Michelle Obama. Although I don’t know how “intimate” it’ll be with an entire arena (read: thousands) of people hoping for a fireside chat with the former First Lady.

LATE NIGHT MOVIE AT THE RIO

RIO THEATRE 11:30 PM / $10.50

American Psycho is playing at the Rio late Friday night. Always a great time when you can see a cult classic on the silver screen with bar service. It’s no Darkest Hour, but bring your boo anyway for a good time.

MAKE YOUR OWN MACARONS CLASS

EDEN WEST FINE FOODS AND GIFTS 1 PM / $69

When you think about how much macarons cost at any artisanal bakery and cakery in Vancouver, the ticket plus the promise of as many macarons as you can fit in a tupperware to take home with you sounds quite reasonable.

EAST SIDE FLEA SPRING MARKETS EASTSIDE STUDIOS 11 AM / $3

This bi-weekly flea market pop-up is the highlight of spring in Vancouver. Who doesn’t love a good deal on vintage clothing and handmade goods from local vendors?

SHORTS

LA BOHÉME (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Corey Payette’s Children of God at the Cultch

ROBYN BEYLEVELDT CONTRIBUTOR

e all need a fancy day every now and then. Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Vancouver Opera’s production of Giacomo Puccini’s classic La Bohème. As a beginner and amateur in all things refined, I greatly anticipated my trip to the opera and was not disappointed, even though it is two and a half hours long and in Italian (albeit with English subtitles displayed above the stage). If you get the opportunity to see this classic, I candidly recommend that you take it. La Bohème recounts the relationships between four charming bachelors and two young women living in the poorer bohemian quarter of Paris in the 1830s. It deals with timeless issues of youth and growing up that remain relevant today and resonate with modern audiences just as well as they did with the original ones. The first act opens with an artist, a writer, a musician and a philosopher gathered in their small apartment. Though they usually struggle financially, the musician has recently secured a job paying enough to buy food for the coming weeks, and to treat the rest of the group to a Christmas dinner at the local café. While the rest of this motley group are leaving for the café, the writer stays to work on his latest article and resolves to meet up with them later. As fate would have it, he is visited by the girl in the apartment upstairs in search of a match for her dying candle. They fall in love by the moonlight and the writer invites her to join him and his friends for their dinner. As a counterpart to their relationship is the relationship of the artist and a young socialite. While eating their dinner, the group recognizes the artist’s former lover. She rekindles her love with the artist and both couples, as well as the overall group, are in high spirits. The drama surfaces in the following acts. Both couples are tested by jealousy, poverty and illness. The girl

from upstairs is found to have terminal cancer which shifts the dynamic of all of the characters’ relationships for the remainder of the opera. Although tuberculosis was her illness in its original incarnation, the Vancouver Opera’s version of the opera changed it to cancer to relate to modern audiences. As well, this production was in partnership with BC Cancer Foundation. La Bohème was a resplendent display of music, sets and costuming. The whole opera had an atmosphere of art deco from sparkling festival attire, to ornate buildings, artistic alleyways, and intricate lampposts and archways built into the set. The highlight of the show for me was the use of the lighting and screening. During act three, a translucent sheet of fabric imposed images of a town over the built-in set, giving the scene a faded, vintage look. Although the overall tone was tragic, La Bohème had moments of humour to lighten the mood. I was surprised to find out how many contemporary stories were based on Puccini’s opera, including Moulin Rouge! and Rent. However, the lovable and humorous dynamic of the struggling group and their relationships seemed, to me, like a precursor to The Big Bang Theory-esque sitcoms. Hopefully you will get the chance to experience one of the myriad incarnations of this classic in the future.

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he deep vibrations of a distant drum are heard as the sun rises amidst a set overwhelmed by grey clouds. The opening number, “God Only Knows”, begins with tremoring string instruments that fade into the background against the haunting lyrics sung by a chorus: “We’re falling but we will not touch the ground. They sent us here and this is what we’ve found. Now all they say is forcing its way down. We run away, we’re running to the sound.” This was followed by a piano outbreak and upon a swarm dressed in grey uniforms, the character on stage, Tom (Dillan Chiblow), quickly transforms into one of the group, his mother (Michelle St. John) disappearing. What starts off as a quiet rumble rapidly turns into a powerful opening scene with dialogue depicting the characters’ living conditions. From the racing opener, Children of God takes off, easily becoming one of the most influential performances I’ve had the honor of attending.   Children of God ran from Feb. 20 to Mar. 10 as part of the Talking Stick Festival at its home at the Cultch’s York Theatre, while on its cross-country tour. The musical, presented by Urban Ink Productions, recounts Canada’s shameful history of the residential school system and the harsh contemporary realities of intergenerational traumas that were the result of it through a heartbreaking story of one Oji-Cree family’s traumatic experience. Oji-Cree and French-Canadian Director Corey Payette premiered the show during Canada’s 150 celebrations in 2017. While dealing with highly triggering content, Children of God is able to bring light to issues that have and continue to be ignored by mainstream media and the entertainment scene. It showcases First Nations activism and Indigenous communities as strong despite the marginalization they continue to face. Children of God humanizes what for so many years settlers have been disconnected

Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème at the Vancouver Opera

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RACHEL D’SA COLUMNS EDITOR

from comprehending. The visuals, while dealing with sensitive topics and depicting the horrors that Indigenous populations faced, were done tastefully. There are also trained counsellors and safe spaces on-site for audience members who need a breather. As a musical about such a heavy topic, I didn’t know what to expect. I’d only really attended Arts Club shows like Altar Boyz and I think the darkest one I’ve seen is Les Misérables. One thing to note: I never cry at shows. The only movies I’ve ever cried over were Dumbo and P.S. I Love You. Children of God had me shamelessly sobbing. The music outdoes itself. Julia’s (played by Cheyenne Scott) solo “Runaway” was what had me in tears. The lyrics: “Can’t you come in close and hold me tight, Lord. Can’t you hear me crying in the night, Lord,” sung as Scott broke down in rage. Being a musical allowed for the contents to be digestible. In a recent interview with the Georgia Straight, Payette stated: “So much of my upbringing, and so many people’s upbringing, lacked this history. I thought maybe one day, with this show and these characters, that people would not see it as just a family of Indigenous people historically, but as, ‘What if it had been your brother or your sister who had been sent to these schools, and how would that impact your family?’” I can’t just review this show as merely that, a show. I can’t say enough good things about the level of talent of every cast member and the hauntingly beautiful ambiance the crew was able to put forth. I felt frustrated leaving the show knowing that it will be disregarded as just another entertainment option for the weekend. I feel it should almost be mandatory to see. Children of God has sparked important conversations all over the country in an attempt to create understanding between communities and highlight the importance of truth and reconciliation. While you’ve missed out if you didn’t get the chance to see the show here in Vancouver, if you ever get the chance to see this brilliant work in the future, I beg of you to tuck away your Netflix for the night and make it out. Otherwise, listen to the music online, read the published script and educate yourself on Canada’s history – the good and the horrific.

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VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 12

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International Mother Language Day at CapU

A day to celebrate cultural diversity and rescue underrepresented languages

SHEILA ARELLANO ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

anguage carries culture within it, and conveys a specific view of the world. The promotion of cultural diversity has been around for years, but it wasn’t until 1999 that UNESCO created a day dedicated to promote awareness of linguistic diversity. On Feb. 21, people around the world create events to celebrate mother languages and identities. Today, the celebration of other cultures has become relevant at Capilano University as well with the International Mother Language Day event that was held on Feb. 28 by faculty members of the University. People danced, laughed, sang and clapped to the beat of Cumbia music and Latin rhythms as they celebrated the cultural diversity and language multiplicity on campus. The coordinator of the event, Catherine

Gloor, had identified the gathering as a day to celebrate cultural diversity and multilingualism at the University. Faculty member Josema Zamorano explains that “the process of colonization [has] already forced the disappearance of most languages during the last few centuries, and of... thousands of languages currently spoken, almost 45 per cent are at the risk of disappearance.” The resolution to make International Mother Language Day an international holiday in Bangladesh was suggested by Rafiqul Islam, a Bengali living in Vancouver, with the intention of saving the languages of the world from extinction. This highlights the importance of creating a space for mother tongues to be celebrated because, if they are not, cultures could vanish as their mother languages do. “I believe it is a matter of major importance to support the flourishing of current native languages, and their historical influences over the major colonial languages. Keeping their diversity would make for a more pluralistic way of understanding the world,” Zamorano said. Linguistic diversity is at risk as numerous languages fade slowly. Globally, 40 per cent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. This CapU event thus creates a space where people speak about this issue and creates a sense of community on campus. Mother tongue-based education has become more prominent recently and is thriving today – the International Mother Language Day event at CapU stands as

evidence of this progress. During the event, the jazzy blend of traditional Colombian rhythms created a showcase of cultural diversity. Due to the variety of people who attended the event, the gathering was multicultural. In order for societies such as North Vancouver to exist and thrive, the cultures of the world must be preserved through their traditional customs and knowledge in a sustainable manner. “On one hand, [the] Capilano community gets to see how other cultures consider music in relation to everyday life. Cumbia, in this case, is one those rhythms most people would naturally enjoy and be skilled at dancing if you grow in the Hispanic world. In another hand, events like this spread a sense of pride for showing your own cultural background,” Zamorano said. Keeping Indigenous languages and customs alive can be a way to partially recuperate ancestral knowledge that would otherwise be lost. By keeping alive the native cultures and languages, pressing challenges such as climate change can be faced from a broader and contrasting point of view. Art and culture are what bring people together, and sharing these backgrounds through music and sound creates a universal language that can be utilized to begin a cultural conversation. “Food sharing is another successful way for doing this, we should try a campus-wide food-sharing event in the future! And if we include music and performance there… Bum! Cultural understanding beyond our campus can grow from there,” Zamorano said.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Poly Queer Love Ballad: A Tale of Two Lovers Anais West and Sara Vickruck’s play challenges preconceptions of relationships with music and poetry NIROSH SARAVANAN CONTRIBUTOR

New musical an empowering performance about female co-workers dethroning their boss CLARISSA SABILE CONTRIBUTOR

n the 1970s, what was it like to be a woman in a man’s world? Find out on March 14 at the BlueShore Theatre for the Performing Arts. 9 to 5: The Musical, presented by 25 students from Capilano University’s Musical Theatre (MUTH) and Acting for Stage and Screen (ASAS) programs offers a sensational look at life in the 70s. Under the direction of Sylvia Zaradic, the dynamic group of second and third-year actors took

on this semester’s mainstage performance with empowering feminist attitudes, catchy musical numbers, and comical workplace scenarios. The 1980 movie-turned-2008 musical perfectly strikes on themes of workplace harassment and mistreatment. “9 to 5 is essentially about three women getting even with their sexist, disrespectful and egotistical male boss,” Zaradic explained. It’s a hilarious twist on the classic resistance story, with deeply-rooted matters regarding workplace discrimination. The musical features three protagonists: Judy Bernly, Violet Newstead and Doralee Rhodes. After each became fed up with their boss, Franklin Hart Jr.’s privileged and misogynistic actions, they fantasize about overthrowing him. Through amusing scenes, the women eventually kidnap Mr. Hart, plan to expose his schemes and achieve revolutionary changes at their workplace in his absence.

artists) will make your imagination fly and open your mind to new possibilities. The harmony of Vickruck’s musical skills and West’s poetry talents slowly become more intertwined through the course of the play. Tickets can be bought at the Queer Arts Festival website. The show runs at the SUM gallery from March 5-11, costing between $10-$20.

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9 to 5 Shines a Light on Being That Woman in a Man's World

and boundaries… You see them navigating that part of the relationship, having that difficult conversation and finding that common ground and finding compromises. Really, every relationship requires that,” McIsaac said. If you are wondering why a slam poetry musical might capture your attention, wonder no more. Vickruck and West (as much as they are collaborators they are still individual

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rom March 5 to the 10, the poetic musical Poly Queer Love Ballad plays at the Queer Arts Festival's SUM Gallery. Poly Queer Love Ballad follows the story of two lovers with contrasting views on relationships and affection. On one hand, there is Nina (played by Anais West), a polyamorous bisexual poet. And, on the other, you have Gabbie (played by Sara Vickruck), a monogamous lesbian songwriter. This contrast is showcased throughout the play, unveiling the divergent mentalities of both characters. The play has received much critical acclaim, with the Georgia Straight stating that “the complicated intimacy between old-fashioned romantic Gaby…. and polyamorous Nina…. is beautifully mapped in Vickruck’s songs and West’s passionate poems.” The play was inspired by “the lack of representation they [West and Vickruck] have seen of stories of this kind,” said director Julie McIsaac. “For example [Nina] is bisexual and polyamorous and we haven’t seen these kinds of stories on the main stage. So, stories where women are experiencing [these] challenges are important. [The characters] encounter these challenges because they have different perspectives and different wants and needs,” McIsaac said. Overall, the story and the characters were aspects the creators of the play thought were relatable and true to many underrepresented groups in today’s society. Because they haven’t seen these stories on stage, the crew for Poly Queer Love Ballad decided this was a play that needed to be portrayed for the world to see.

When asked about polyamory, a subject not often touched upon in the mainstream media, McIsaac stated that “it is certainly something that’s part of communities and [that is] the everyday life of lots of people. You could say it’s not necessarily part of mainstream in terms of the conventions we have around relationships, around heteronormativity, around a certain kind of relationship that equals marriage, that equals kids… Those are the conventions that we are used to seeing acted on stage.” Polyamory is still not part of normal, day-to-day conversation, yet it is talked about. However, the peak of the polyamory conversation took place in the 1960s and 70s during the sexual revolution, when open relationships were socially accepted. “There are lots of healthy, beautiful ways to be intimate with each other” McIsaac said, which describes the experience of people breaking the hegemonic views of love. One of the main values McIsaac gathered from the play is that, in any relationship, communication is key regardless of its form. At times, it is terrifying to speak aloud, and when the topic of communication emerges, it is even more scary to tell the truth. “Something that has been really hammered home for me is the necessity of being clear of what you want and need. Sometimes we assume the other person is automatically going to key into what our needs are, or what we want from them and it’s really not fair to put that on someone else, to read our mind and read our hearts…. Even someone that you have a really good bond with.” The play demonstrated, with its diverse cast and captivating story, that there are various perspectives on love. “Nina, who is versed in polyamory is taking Gaby along in that journey around agreement

ILLUSTRATED BY JENNY OAKLEY

Ivania Delgado, a third-year Musical Theatre student, is the bright-eyed, naïve Ms. Bernly, and she describes the show as being as much off stage as her character puts in on stage. “Rehearsals dedicated to choreography, choral and music, blocking, costumes, lighting and sets occurred five times a week since the second week of January,” she shared. Being a musical, the singing dimension makes the production. The original musical numbers by Dolly Parton are accompanied by a talented live orchestra that are toe-tapping and memorable. A collective challenge that Delgado discussed during production of 9 to 5 was learning how to maneuver a piece that is so politically-correct, but ironically using extreme comedy to effectively make feminist points. “Some sequences were so ridiculous, but 9 to 5 highlights the wrongs to make them right,” she said. Some scenes were uncomfortable in the levels of sexist and dogmatic ideas portrayed. Additionally, Zaradic mentioned that the effort put into creating period props and sets from the 1970s and the realistic nature of the musical

is truly what makes the play impressive. Both Delgado and Zaradic press that they wish for audiences to walk away with the positive, feminist messages circulated throughout the performance. “We still need to fight the fight for equality,” said Zaradic. “No matter how smart, accomplished or educated women are, they are often marginalized.  I want people to walk away thinking about what feminis[m] is and possibly even self-[identify] as a feminist, because the true definition of a feminist is someone who believes in equal opportunities for men and women.” 9 to 5’s advanced humor and political themes make for a memorable experience, emphasized by forward ideas, like a female trio of leads and tongue-in-cheek comedic references, which is convincing enough in a regularly solo male-dominated industry. The play, based on historic development, makes strong links to the relevant #MeToo and #TimesUp movements happening today. 9 to 5: The Musical will show at the BlueShore Theatre at CapU from Thursday, March 14 – Saturday, March 23.

CABOOSE

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HOROSCOPES AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 – FEB.19)

Wait? You’re still here? You should’ve called it quits and dropped out months ago.

PISCES (FEB. 20 – MARCH 20)

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CARTOONS MOPEVATIONAL COMICS FOR SAD PEOPLE. ILLUSTRATED BY ANNIE CHANG @SADTIRIST_

You know you can get tapeworms from eating too much fish, right?

ARIES (MARCH 21 – APRIL 20)

What you’re looking for is right under your nose. It’s on your upper lip.

TAURUS (APRIL 21 – MAY 21)

It’s time to reconsider how you act around polite company.

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GEMINI (MAY 22 – JUNE 21)

You will soon meet your ideal partner. There’s just one catch: they live in Uzbekistan.

CANCER (JUNE 22 – JULY 23)

How do you ever expect to be able to handle a kid if you can’t even keep a plant alive?

LEO (JULY 24 – AUG. 23)

You may have been a lion in a past life, but you’ll be a tapeworm in the next.

VIRGO (AUG. 24 – SEPT. 23)

Your life is sadder than the opening scene of Up. The good news is that it can only go up from here.

LIBRA (SEPT. 24 – OCT. 23)

Avoid shopping for the next week. No no, it’s not because the stars are out of alignment, it’s because your credit card is.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 – NOV. 22)

Shouldn’t you be studying?

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23– DEC. 21)

Running away from your problems won’t solve them, but if you don’t have to worry about them that’s surely just as good?

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 – JAN. 20)

You’ll run into your ex this week while having a particularly fabulous hair day. Enjoy it. TO ADVERTISE in the Courier’s pages, please email Ana Maria Caicedo at community.capcourier@gmail.com. We are proud to offer discounts to non-profit organizations and North Shore customers. A full media kit with sizes, rates and deadlines is available on our website: capilanocourier.com. Classified advertisements up to 50 words are free for students.