Confluence The
Brought to You By Your Students’ Union The Confluence, your students’ own CNC campus newspaper is brought to you by CNCSU -Local 13 Canadian Federation of Students.
Quesnel Special
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May 23rd 2013
Quesnel Road Trip
Garett Svensen, Production Editor Tomorrow we are going to Quesnel, semi-blind. I, personally, have only spent a few nights in the fine community. I thought it was neat. Lots of four-way stops in downtown, and a decent breakfast at an old-timey restaurant that I think was attached to a casino.
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The last time I visited Quesnel, I was holed up with a contract fire crew in an old billiards hall. While waiting for a call out, I was dicking around with the lights in the building when a thunderstorm rolled through town, striking off several fires as well as striking the pool hall. As I flipped a switch, the blast struck blue glints off of every reflective surface and the thunder spoke like the voice of some angry deity. I thought I had inadvertently flipped the switch triggering the apocalypse. Shaking from the close strike, we headed to Nazco. We spent the next two weeks in a miserable drizzle, spraying stinking swamp water over the saturated, barely smoldering embers of a lightningstruck fire.
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Not to diminish the town, but it was not a fun fortnight. We were sent home a few days early, due to the rain: our spirits and all of our gear cold and sodden. We arrived back in town in the late evening, offloading our gear as the last helicopters lifted from the fire base. While leaving, an absolutely brilliant rainbow framed what we could see of the Quesnel , now washed clean and gleaming in the evening
Andy Johnson, Editor-in-Chief
light like the promised land. Dinner was gas-station fried chicken and a long drive back to Prince George into a sky dark and violent as the mouth of hell. I was mooching Sirius radio from the vehicle I was tailgating. The guy ahead of me had pretty terrible taste, but there wasn’t great radio coverage on the highway.
The Confluence is seeking student submissions for biweekly publication. Submissions are ongoing, so if you have news, opinon, short stories, poetry, comics, pictures or anything else you I’ve been to Barkerville twice, I know would like to see in the paper, send it’s not really Quesnel, but it left an impression on me. The first time I visited, them to us and we will pay you $20 I stumbled into a building where a girl for a published submission. was being fitted for a dress, locks notably absent from gold-rush-era construction. The second time I went gold panning and found a few shiny grains, but I suspect every tourist does. The pre-packaged dirt gave it away. I bought rock candy and watched an actor play the Hanging Judge Bigby with relish and aplomb. We got our pictures taken in historical dress, without glasses or modern-day conveniences and printed in sepia. My parents had it hanging in our staircase for years, but they took it down recently because they need to “depersonalize” the house for selling.
Contact us at: news@cncsu.ca
Our trip is hopefully going to be enlightening. I hear there is a “haunted doll” in a local museum. And that there is a drive-through liquor store, but that might be closed now. It’s a neat town, and I kind of regret not spending more time there, but with the full inclusion of the Quesnel campus in the students’ union, I can make the trip more often.
Garett Svensen, Production Editor
Taren Johnson, Web Manager
May 23rd 2013
May 2013 2013 MAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
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5
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9 CNC May Days
12 Mother’s Day
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14 15 Election Day
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SATURDAY
4 Student Saver Deadline
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Student Scavanger Hunt 9am
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22Executive 23
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25 Convocation
29 CFS
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Intersession Classes Begin Fall Registration Opens
20
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Victoria Day
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FRIDAY
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Meeting 5:30pm
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City Transit “Future Bus” 11am
30
CN Centre 2pm
National Convention
The Confluence is produced biweekly at the CNCSU office on CNC’s Prince George campus by Garett Svensen and Andy Johnson. Submissions, inqueries and requests can be made to news.cncsu.ca, in person at the CNCSU office room 1-303, or mailed to “The Confluence c/o CNCSU 3330-22nd Ave. Prince George, BC. V2N 1P8”
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Weather
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SUNDAY
Environment Canada 6-Day Weather Forecast: For Quesnel, BC. 23-29 May, 2013. Thursday, May 23: 18°C, Chance of Showers. Friday, May 24: 15°C, 5°C, Showers. Saturday May 25: 14°C, 10°C, Showers. Sunday, May 26: 17°C, 6°C, Chance of Showers.
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Monday, May 27: 20°C, 6°C, Sun and Cloud. All submissions are welcome, the authors of edited works used in the Tuesday, May 28: 21°C, 7°C, Sun and Cloud. confluence receive a $20 cheque upon publication. Advertisement rates are availiable upon request.
May 23rd 2013 The Confluence - Feature
Mick Frazier, Treasurer
Joshua Balsom, Prince George Campus Rep
Back for her second year, Patria Obasi has returned as the International Students’ Representative. She is responsible presenting an international viewpoint on behalf of all international students attending CNC. With her keen organizational skills, Obasi will keep the international student population informed on Union matters.
Mick Frazier is joining the Executive Committee as the newly elected Treasurer for the Union. He will be responsible for keeping the Executive Committee informed of all issues which pertain to the finances of the Union. Frazier will ensure careful accounting of all money received and disbursed by the Union.
Joshua Balsom is joining the Executive Committee as the newly elected Prince George Campus Representative. He will be presenting a general viewpoint on behalf of the entire student population attending CNC. Balsom will be responsible for keeping the Executive Committee informed of all issues pertaining to the Union.
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Patricia Obasi, International Students’ Rep.
May 23rd 2013 Teleah Old, Services Co-ordinator
Robert Chavarie, Executive Director
Chantel Quock is joining the Executive Committee as the newly elected Aboriginal Students’ Representative. She will be taking an aboriginal viewpoint on behalf of the aboriginal student population attending CNC. Quock will also be sitting on the Aboriginal committee of the Union, as well as attending this year’s caucus meeting on behalf of the Union.
Teleah Old has been with the Union for the past two years. As the Executive Committee’s Services Coordinator, she is able to answer student questions in regards to all programs and services offered by the Union. This includes, but not limited to: the CNCSU Health and Dental plan, locker rentals and U-Pass distribution.
Bringing three years of experience as Executive Director, Robert Chavarie will be effectively running this year’s Executive Committee to best serve students attending CNC. His primary responsibility is to advocate on behalf of students attending all CNC campuses provincially, as well as nationally through various campaigns.
Arnold Yellowman, Secretary
Leila Abubakar, Women’s Students’ Rep.
Roxanne Quock, Chairperson
This year’s elected Secretary is Arnold Yellowman. His primary responsibility is to oversee and coordinate clubs created by students attending CNC. Yellowman will ensure that the appropriate records of the Union are filed with the Registrar of Societies. He is also familiar with services and programs that are provided by the Union.
With three years of experience, Lelia Abubakar has held a number of positions on the Executive Committee. She will present a feminist viewpoint on behalf of the female student population attending CNC. Abubakar will also be sitting on the Women’s committee of the Union and keep the female student population informed.
Roxanne Quock returns to the Executive Committee this year. She will be holding the Chairperson position with the Union. Quock will regularly organize and attend Executive Committee meetings and act as a liaison between the Union, media, the college and other external groups.
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Chantel Quock, Aboriginal Students’ Rep.
May 23rd 2013
Student Saver Card
Clint Everall, Contributor So the Student Saver Card, which was supposed to be here at the start of the fall semester, has finally arrived at the beginning of the spring semester (well, in Prince George I’d guess it’d be more reasonable to say that it’s the beginning of the ‘winter semester’ due to the fact the snow doesn’t really leave until after exams…). Never the less, it’s here, and it’s strongly recommended that all students take advantage of it!
Depression and the Traditional Male Brandon Williams, Contributor Depression is a debilitating illness, especially for men. Men are far less likely to get help with emotional problems because societal norms have shaped the way men feel about seeking help from doctors.
This is not a healthy way to deal with problems; these problems need to be dealt with through education and treatment. The need to feel like a man in this day and age is felt by a lot of depressed men and sadly they may never get the help they require. If depressed men in society do not learn to express their emotions to doctors and receive the help they so desperately need, then these issues may never be dealt with. The stigmas assigned to men and depression has been around for too long. If they continue to be in place, then men will continue to fall into their “traditional roles” and bottle up their feelings rather than actually seeking help.
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The subjects of depression and anxiety issues have always interested me because a lot of people in my life have suffered from them. I have never had issues with depression and I used to think “why can’t these people just snap out of it?” I chose to do research on depression for an essay I wrote If you have already picked up your a year ago entitled “Depression SuppresStudent Saver Card from the Students’ Union, on page 13 of the booklet, which sion.” I was originally drawn to the broad subject of depression as a whole and later was glued to the back of the card, you refined it to focus on men and how they can find all the various local businesses typically do not seek help. It is important The CNC counseling department has that offer discounts. If you have not to note that I realize that depression isa lot of resources; students looking for already picked up your card, they will sues exist to both sexes, but this is a short help dealing with issues of depression and still be available until they are all gone article. anxiety are encouraged to contact Tammy (which will probably not happen anyway). Skomorowski at the CNC counseling As well if you are lucky enough to be Depressed men have a problem getdepartment. The room number is 1-753 traveling anytime this year, you can also ting help because of societal norms and and is located just down the hall from use the card in many other cities across stigmas and the general fear that it makes admissions; or you can call the counseling Canada! The booklet only covers British them “less of a man.” The notion that men department at (250)561-5818. Columbia, so if you are traveling there is a are seen as feminine for seeking help in website available at www.studentsaver.ca regards to depression is ridiculous. A lot which lists the locations and names of all of accredited doctors and researchers have participating businesses. written books and articles on this very subject. An article written by Michael G. The locations that are participating vary McCuster and M. Paz Galupo at Towson from sporting goods stores, restaurants, University states: “The stigma associated and retail to office supplies distributors. with mental illness prevents men from In other words no matter what program pursuing and accepting psychological you’re currently enrolled in, or however services when suffering from debilitating old you may be, there will be a little symptoms of depression.” The fact that something in the card that would be useful so many men refuse help is scary; undito you. Finally it should be noted that the agnosed depression impedes progress at Student Saver Card is completely free work and leads to a lot of problems like and you do not have to sign anything or suicide. register onto some emailing list, all you It is because of social stigmas and norms have to do is stop by and pick it up, and that men will tend to express themselves then enjoy your savings! outwardly, rather than deal with the emotional pain happening form within.
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These are collected articles created by former and current CNCSU executive committee members. We typically run one or two articles a month from members on anything that interests them and the student body they represent. The issues they appeared in were the following: Brandon Williams - Punk isn’t Dead, It’s just Decaying - September 18th 2012 Issue Brandon Williams - Depression and the Traditional Male - October 16th 2012 Issue
This tonic drink made its way to Thailand within the next decade and became a popular drink for rickshaw drivers in Thailand called “Krating Daeng” The main active ingredient in this drink was taurine, an amino acid that was first discovered in bulls as was later taken on by an Austrian in 1987. A Dietrich Mateschitz took this novel idea and ran with it, adding caffeine and sugar and named this drink Red Bull, after the taurine amino acid. This was a drink that quickly became extremely popular in Europe right off. It was introduced in American a decade later in 1997 and has been rising in popularity ever sense then. In fact energy drinks when up 61% in the year 2005 alone in the U.S. Market and every year energy drinks go on to become more popular and come out with more variations. Energy drinks are now the latest manmade fuel of choice to keep the economic world still spinning, and may wonder
what we ever did without them. With more people working more hours than ever, even they need more energy to do it. Before Red Bull, the first energy drink made its way to America, the American citizens were already beginning their frantic search for something that would help them work those longer hours as the global job market began to change and people in the U.S. Especially began to stay longer hours away from the home and more hours at work. Jolt Cola has a short term popularity before Red Bull hit the scenes, but now it is almost impossible to find.
Brandon Williams, Contributor Punk is dead! This is something that has been said since the early days of punk rock and is not true; I would argue, however, that it is aging. The days when you could walk into HMV and buy albums from an array of punk bands on multiple shelves for instance are gone. This is because there are more bands retiring and there are far less up-and-coming bands playing punk.
All my favorite punk bands are well into their 30s and several are 40 plus. Even though these bands are old, some of them are still releasing great albums. September of this year has brought new albums from ‘veteran’ punk bands Nofx and PropaganEven though other energy drinks later hit dhi. Propagandhi released Failed States on the market, Red Bull still remains the most September 4th. With lyrics like: “So much well-known and top name, with annual for your hopes and your dreams and your sales around the two billion dollar mark children.You just sat there believing in this globally. Name brand Soda’s like Coca bullshit system.” Failed States is primarily Cola and Pepsi have started their own a political punk album with many songs energy drinks as a way to better compete critiquing many of the decisions made by with this new fad in mega-caffeine filled the current government and even asks drinks and Jolt Cola has tried to fight it’s American citizens in the same song: “How losing battle be re naming itself an energy does it make you feel to know that you drink and coming in a can shaped like a voted for this?” battery. Hanses Sodas introduced some competition for Red Bull with Monster The newest Nofx album Self Entitled was Energy and Rockstar coming in third released on September 11th of this year, behind the other two energy giants. possibly on purpose. With songs ranging from dealing with dividing your record collection after divorce to suicide bombings, Self Entitled has something for every punk fan. Nofx has been around for 25 plus years and have always done a great job of offending the majority of people with one song and then making them sing along on the next. These two bands are an example of a handful of my favorite bands still making amazing records. Bands like this question Governments and provide commentary on issues that are too offensive for the mainstream; and as long as they exist punk will not die.
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Patricia Obasi, Contributor The first real drink made just for energy was in Japan in the 1960’s by Taisho Pharmaceuticals as a drink called Lipvitan-D. This drink contained a mix of essential vitamins such as B1, B2 as well as B6. It also included in its ingredients niacin and taurine which are metabolic agents proven to boost things such as energy and concentration. First introduced as a medicinal tonic drink for those suffering from lack of energy and fatigue, it grew in popularity in Asia as part of a fad that had more to do with late party hours and clubbing. From Japan and China on downward news of a tonic to help you stay up later and be more productive spread and eventually it made it out of Asia and into Europe but not before some interesting turns and twists in this energy drink filled road.
It’s Just Decaying
May 23rd 2013
The History of Energy Drinks
Punk isn’t Dead,
Patricia Obasi - History of Energy Drinks - November 27th 2012 Issue Clint Everall - Student Saver Card - February 1st 2013 Issue
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These are collected articles created by former and current CNCSU executive committee members. We typically run one or two articles a month from members on anything that interests them and the student body they represent. The issues they appeared in were the following:
May 23rd 2013
According to
WikipediA
Andy Johnson, Editor-In-Chief Anyone born and raised in Prince George are usually of the mindset that, “Prince George is a shithole.” While this may be the case, I have my reservations of this particular mindset. I have witnessed numerous high school friends who have taken the ‘risk’ of moving away to metropolises such as Victoria, Vancouver, or Edmonton. In most cases, they return six months later to complain about how much more expensive and unforgiving these supposed promised lands are.
Giscome stayed in California to make a profit. Due to the oppressive legislation towards African Americans in California, Giscome migrated in 1856 to Victoria, British Columbia, and then to Quesnel, British Columbia.
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It was in Quesnel that Giscome met his Bahamian partner Henry McDame and they decided to join the Cariboo Gold Rush. Giscome and McDame canoed up the Fraser River, hoping that they would reach Fort Saint James, but they were One of the reasons I have never moved forced to winter in Fort George. The for more than a month has been due to following April, Giscome and McDame the strange and connected histories Prince were forced to travel by land through George seems have with the world. For what is now Hubble Homestead to instance, the local history of Kathryn B. Summit Lake, which has become known as Gannon—who I am quite sure is well Giscome Portage. versed in “prairie style” (whatever it is)— Giscome and McDame were among the was born in Prince George on 12 April first to successfully prospect Germansen 1969. Gannon’s break from Prince George Creek in 1870. Four years later, McDame came in 1995 when she starred in “Star found a gold vein around Dease River Attraction” under the name Marylin Star tributary (now known as McDame (anyone wishing to seek this film out must Creek). Giscome, McDame and a few be 18 or older). other prospectors formed the Discovery While Star never made it onto the A-list Company and successfully prospected this of the adult entertainment world, she vein for quite a few years. did make headlines in 1999 when she John Robert Giscome returned was charged with insider trading. The back to Victoria, British Columbia by allegations were dropped in 2005, but 1891. Unlike most of his prospecting only after Star served 3 months at the contemporaries, Giscome died a wealthy Women’s Correction Center in Danbury, man at the age of 75, leaving his landlady Connecticut and paying roughly $500,000 $21,000. in legal defense. I would consider this to be risk. While Giscome’s legacy survives through his name, his personal history was Another local history that I feel I should explored by Cecil Giscombe in his 1998 address concerns John Robert Giscome. book “Giscome Road,” which Giscombe Giscome was born in Saint Mary, Jamaica explores what Publisher’s Weekly calls in 1832. In 1854, Giscome and his brother a “powerful, understated meditation on Peter migrated to California to work on place.” the Panama Railway, but by 1855, the railway was completed and Giscome’s C.S. Giscombe was born in Dayton, brother returned to Jamaica, while Ohio in 1950. He graduated with a
Bachelor’s degree from SUNY, Albany in 1973 and then obtained his M.A. from Cornell University in 1975. In 2000, Giscombe released “Into and Out of Dislocation,” which is part travelogue, part memoir aimed at researching “the ‘facts’ about John R. Giscome, the Jamaican miner, explorer and possible relation whose name graces several geographical features near Prince George, B.C.” (Paula Koneazny, www.amazon.ca). Eight years later, Giscombe read at the College of New Caledonia (C.N.C.) from his 2008 release “Prairie Style”—which won the American Book Prize—with local and nationally renowned poet Barry McKinnon. “Prairie Style” focuses around “the breakdown of location and voice” (www.amazon.ca).
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Andrew Johnson is the Editor in Chief of The Confluence. He is currently writing the next article in his “Histories of the North” series, of which, this is the first. It appeared in the October 2nd 2012 issue of The Confluence. His next, “Arts, Culture and Community” is scheduled for the May 27th issue.
May 23rd 2013 The Confluence - Feature Page 8
This is a running anonymous comic strip in The Confluence.
May 23rd 2013 The Confluence - Feature
YOUR STUDENTS’ UNION
MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK
The College of New Caledonia Students’ Union (CNCSU) is the collective voice of all students attending the College of New Caledonia. The CNCSU provides services and events, and advocates for student rights locally, provincially and nationally.
- Dayplanner to help you keep organized - Great source of information on your students union, the College, and the campaign work of the Canadian Federation of Students
The CNCSU is also a founding member of the Canadian Federation of Students, Canada’s national student movement.
- FREE to all CNC Students! ($20 Value) - Great discounts on travel with Greyhound, Via Rail and Travel CUTS
Your Students’ Union provides many opportunities to get involved, such as joining committees, volunteering at events, or advocating for the rights of students everywhere. Whatever your interest, your Students’ Union has an opportunity for you.
CAMPUS CLUBS
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, e-mail us at info@cncsu.ca. Tel: (250) 561-5852 Fax: (250) 561-5884 Web: www.cncsu.ca
STUDENT ADVOCACY Advocacy is the primary function of your Students’ Union. The CNCSU can support and assist you through grade appeals and student complaints, and provide advice and assistance with any issues you might face as a student.
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The CNCSU also lobbies for a fair, affordable and fully accessible post-secondary education on the municipal, provincial and national government levels. Contact us at info@cncsu.ca to find out how you can help.
ISIC CARD
- Funding available up to $500 per club! - Great opportunity to make new friends & build campus community - Start a club today!
STUDENT SAVER - Free discount card with local discounts around town, in Prince George and all over BC and across Canada. - Discounts are solicited by student for students so let us know if you are interested in
ACTIVITIES & EVENTS - The sky is the limit! - Let us know if you would have any event or activiy ideas and we can help make them happen - We’re looking for feedback and ideas on new campus life innitiatives to start in Quesnel
your students’ union • local 13, canadian federation of students
May 23rd 2013
QUESNEL CAMPUS REP WANTED The Students’ Union is looking for a Quesnel Campus Representative Please Apply by sending a resume to info@cncsu.ca This is an interim position until elections can be held this Fall. As a member of the Executive, the Quesnel Campus Representative will help to coordinate student advocacy, services, events and campaigns to support Quesnel students and to help build campus community. The Quesnel Campus Representative shall:
This is a volunteer position which is compensated by a monthly stipend of $400 based on a minimum of 5 hours of work completed per week and monthly contributions to the Confluence Campus Newspaper.
MEET THE REST OF THE 2012-13 CNCSU EXEC & STAFF
Roxanne Quock Chairperson
Joshuah Balsom PG Campus Representative
Arnold Yellowman Secretary
Leila-Soila Abubakar Womens’ Representative
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c) d) e)
Participate in regular meetings of the Students’ Union Executive Committe; Be responsible for keeping the Executive Committee informed of all Quesnel Campus issues which pertain to the Union; Be responsible for organising and keeping informed members of the Union at the Quesnel Campus; sit on at least one committee of the Union; and Help to host events for and to provide services to Quesnel campus students of CNC.
Mick Frazier Treasurer
Teleah Old (Staff) Patricia Obasi Robert Chavarie (Staff) Services Coordinator International Students’ Executive Director Representative *Note: No picture available for Chantelle Quock, CNCSU Aboriginal Students’ Representative
your students’ union • local 13, canadian federation of students
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a) b)
May 23rd 2013
I Am Who I Am
The Separation of North and State
Hira Rashid, Contributor Don’t judge me by the way I look The way I dress Who I seem to be The hijab I wear doesn’t symbolize me, As a terrorist Or a perfect person My hijab symbolizes that I choose to be Respected . Unlike other women Who seem to be dejected By the men that gawk at their body With their painted on clothes and See through panty hoes I choose to be liberated Not told what I should wear Or whom I should be
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If you tell me how to dress And try to impress the opposite sex You must be outta your mind That just ain’t me I refuse to dress In a mini-skirt Short shirt Only to be hurt By men who’ll treat me like dirt With their perverted minds Occupied by filthy intentions The devil whispers to them With his immoral convention People don’t you see My hijab liberates me Although you may think All it does is enslave me But you are wrong In the way you think The ones without it Are the ones enslaved Shackled by images of perfection Flogged by the whip of unwanted affection Forced to bare skin and be seen as equivalent When really all they are is ambivalent
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They wish to be free and choose their own way Yet they have a need to bare skin And to get all the attention They are oppressed by the world With its sick minded invention
Of how a woman should look How she should dress Who she should be If you think I’m the one enslaved Take a good look at me. I choose to be beautiful Inside not just out I want men to see the beauty of my mind And see what I’m all about How I love my religion How I’m treated like a queen This hijab symbolizes The purity that is unseen I pity women who are used as Game, Toys and sex machines They know not of the shield That protects me But don’t be fooled by My hijab For it doesn’t symbolize my Perfection Its a reminder of who I strive to be and It’s a mere reflection Of those women of Islam Who were and are strong Fighting for their rights and Fighting to belong
Ryan White, Contributor The dancing crimson harlots frantically escape their encampment as the temple ruptures and the dam breaks the incoherent vessel takes its maiden voyage into uncharted waters before landing, being burnt to ash and dismembered bone screaming regrets under blood moons for a community that never gave two fucks about the structure to begin with It increases morale Academia becomes nothing more than a joke Stumbled through by men in prairie ponchos redefining the genre, let the tumbleweed role the genre becomes the joke as the critics cannot withstand the criticism by the self-righteous as a sermon of co-dependency and dogmas If you’re here to receive a gentle ass pat and congratulations, there’s a guy for that sort of thing on Victoria Street Drop my name and maybe he will Give you the hypocrite discount
I wish to be even half of What they were but I have my days Good and bad I have done or do things I wish I didn’t have
Did I ever tell you about the human condition?
But everyday I strive To fight the demons within me And everyday God willing I come closer to be
Ideologies have always been the phallic impression of the mind
A better person inside and out A better example A better leader Someone much more devout. I wish to be me In the best possible expression It takes fight, focus, patience and a little aggression To be able to think freely And not give a damn So the world can see I am who I am
Beer room philosophy lessons from people I wouldn’t trust with a nerf ball, let alone an ideology
If you think yours is great just wait until I stick mine down your throat Liberals, big head Conservatives, small head Anarchists, no head And the Moustache Enthusiasts, The Bob Ross, The ism’s, oooh, the ism’s Chewed up and spit out with two legs and an ego to believe
Hira’s poem appeared in the October 16th 2012 issue of The Confluence. Ryan’s poem appeared in the April 1st 2012 issue.
‘The One,’ our soul-mate, Prince Charming, our knight in shining armor. We women spend our lives believing that one day our prince will come and whisk us away into happily ever after. But after repeated losers, boozers, and drug abusers, when do we start to wonder if our guy is really just a frog disguised as a prince, and not the Disney version? Who is to blame for this misconception of Mr. Right, and the maze of men we seem to keep running through? When we think back upon every prince idol we grew up adoring, is it any wonder why we end up chasing losers? Walt Disney’s famous princes are all shallow or ill-tempered, and the only thing they have going for them is a giant castle and stunning boyish looks. Disney films are rife with examples of young women gawking at pompous jerks, but for some reason this is viewed as a ‘happily-ever-after’ situation. First and foremost on the list of bad men women swoon over is Beast. Ladies, if you ever encounter a man who has been nicknamed “beast” (or in this case, been transformed into a beast on account of his crude manner), you should probably take this as a hint and assume he behaves exactly as the name would suggest. The list of Beast’s unfavorable behaviors is a long one, but let’s focus on a few of these key qualities. As a prince he is described as “spoiled, selfish and unkind,” and “repulsed by [the sorceress’] haggard appearance, sneered and turned her away.” It would seem that the Beast has a severe distaste for older people: he turns a poor old woman away before abusing and locking Belle’s father in a dungeon. Throughout the film, the Beast exhibits many instances of being an angry and domineering man. When Belle disobeys him, he yells at her, grabs her, and throws furniture around. He constantly blames her for his short temper: “If you hadn’t have run away, this wouldn’t have happened!” This is, mind you, only after he has thrown large pieces of furniture at her. Let us not forget the fact that Belle is also under Beast’s captivity in place of her father, and is not allowed to leave without his permission. It is only because of the
“A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re fast asleep.” Too bad for Cinderella: her dream of being freed from one prison only happens when she confines herself to another. After singing this famous song, Cinderella is interrupted by the chiming of the castle clock: “Oh that clock. Old kill joy. I hear you! Come on get up you say, time to start another day. Even he orders me around.” This could certainly be seen as foreshadowing into Cinderella’s future life, a life which will be consumed by bearing heirs to the throne and happily participating in royal duties. Cinderella’s prince is the original Prince Charming, yet there is nothing that seems to fit this name other than his superb dancing skills. The king, Brittany’s article first appeared in the Charming’s father, says he is “irresponsible April 16th 2012 issue of The Confluence. and avoids responsibilities” and he makes
May 23rd 2013 The Confluence - Feature
Brittany Mills, Contributor
this abundantly clear in the movie. Prince Charming is obviously very careless, and demonstrates this immediately after he meets Cinderella. They spend the night dancing away, and yet he never once asks for her name. Again ladies, a man who does not ask for your name within the first couple of minutes meeting you is probably not that interested in you. At the stroke of midnight, when she tries to flee, he commands her to stay, a sign he is controlling and does not like to be disobeyed. To add to his lack of concern for her, the prince cannot even muster up enough enthusiasm to go find his future bride after she has left: he leaves the hard Now, “under the sea” is a beautiful work for his duke and servants. What and natural miracle of this world, but woman would not be wooed by a man apparently the watery depths make man too lazy to search for her? Thanks again and fish alike very vain. Above waters, it is to Disney, the message that a true Prince generally frowned upon for a grown man Charming is a man void of responsibility to be flopping like a fish out of water with and lacks any self-motivation is what all a 16 year old girl, but I guess when you are women need. a prince you can do whatever, or whoever, you want. Prince Eric is a completely self- Without a doubt, there are Prince Charmings out there, but do not rely on involved man, who often day dreams so much that he cannot even remember the Disney’s standards. A prince is dashing, face of his “true love” after blatantly staring charming and chivalrous: not lazy, selfcentered and easily angered. Women need into it for a good two minutes. After centuries of women trying to get men to to stop idealizing the lounging princes pay attention to something more than just of the Disney movies, and look for the their youthful appearances and “womanly real prince: a man who is hard working and devoted to his princess. Happily ever curves,” The Little Mermaid goes and tarnishes all of that. The only reason Ariel after is out there; women just need to dig through the swamp of frogs to find the real winds up with the Prince at the end is Prince Charming in waiting. because he falls for her looks. She has no voice; therefore he knows nothing about her, and certainly does not realize what a huffy sixteen year old girl she is. Another great Disney lesson for women: men should judge a woman completely by her looks, so she had better hope she still has the body of a sixteen year old. gentle-hearted servants that Belle is given a proper room rather than being left to ‘be a guest’ in the dungeons for all eternity. However, by the end of the movie, Belle seems to be suffering from something called Stockholm syndrome, which is characterized by a captive who develops sympathetic feelings for their captor. Beauty and the Beast is the classic tale of a woman coming to the rescue and changing a heartless man into a prince. Ladies, this is a fairy tale, and should not be tried in your own relationship: Disney strikes by giving women the false hope that they can change a man.
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Once Upon a Lie: The Reason Why Women Fall for Frogs
May 23rd 2013
Student Survival Guide
Garett Svensen, Production Editor Well into my 6th year of undergraduate study, I feel like I have a few tidbits of advice I can share with fellow students. 1: Get enough sleep. 8-10 hours worth a day. It’s the single most important thing that students typically don’t get enough of. 7: Don’t overdo it. To quote John Your well-being, friends and grades will McCrea “Excess ain’t rebellion.” Just thank you. because you can go and get wasted on weekends doesn’t mean you should. Not Zzzzz.... to say you shouldn’t have fun, but take it easy and for the sake of whatever deity or force you pray to, don’t drive if you’ve been indulging.
Garett Svensen wrote this for the first issue of the 20122013 regular semester. It appeared in the September 4th issue of The Confluence.
The Confluence - Feature
2:Try new things. Opportunity abounds in post-secondary to experience things way out of your comfort zone. Just be careful. 3: Go to class. Especially for new students, the temptation to just lie in bed in the morning is great. The classes may be dull, but you’re paying for them. Make your investment worth it. 4: Eat right. This meshes well with many of the other items here in promoting well-being. Learning to cook is fun, and produces food so much more satisfying than fast-food fare.
8: Education is never useless and not everything worth learning is in class. Skills in research and critical thinking are useful everywhere. Time management and working with hard deadlines can help with efficiency. Interpersonal skills become essential as schooling progresses and you move into work. The list goes on.
5: Get involved. Every year, dozens of students participate in clubs, go on trips, organize events and have a blast building a community around their interests. It’s a great way to meet people and have some fun. Even outside of clubs, study groups, sports groups and regular old hang-out groups offer that delicious social function.
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6: Challenge yourself. There’s a bit of a problem with a lot of classes, either they’re mind-numbingly boring or mindbendingly hard. Either way it’s easy to become frustrated. A hobby or project that challenges an existing skill can be a good way to ease that frustration. Pick up that guitar, throw some paint or write something for the student paper.
This Image was edited by Garett Svensen for the cover of the Oct. 16th 2012 issue. The original artist is unknown, but the full piece is on display at the “Graffiti Wall” at the top of one of CNC’s staircases.
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The Confluence - Feature
May 23rd 2013
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The Confluence - Feature
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Sasha Patrick is a writer, artist and millwright. This comic of hers appeared in the October 30th 2012 issue of The Confluence. It was a special comic issue spearheaded by Andy Johnson. We are always interested in doing other special issues, and typically do one a semester.
It takes me a long time to work up my conversational steam, but once I start blathering I’m not apt to stop, no matter what the setting. I have a deep quiver full of quotes. They very much aid and abet me when I write and ramble and really work wonders in throwing a curtain over the not so deep and essentially indifferent fact that I have very little to say. Perhaps that’s why I’ve decided to write a bit of criticism for The Confluence, as it’s often been said that those who can write become writers, and those who can’t become critics. I can easily live with that, not that it means that being a critic is necessarily free of worry and mind-taxing rumblings. Quite the contrary: for what if one runs out of something to criticize? What then? Where
to turn and what to bitch at? Not that I’m prone to a great deal of bitchery anyway, as I find it awfully tiring trying to keep my finger on the rapid pulse of negative vibes, if you’ll excuse my anachronistic stab at hip dialogue. That being the case, I thought I would write about something that I actually feel buoyed by. I just have to figure out what it is that buoys me. Movies were thrown up as a possibility. Why not write a critique of a movie? Everyone’s seen at least one, I’d venture to guess. Why not write a critique of a book? was the other possibility tossed about.Yet not everyone’s read at least one of those, I’d also venture to guess. I therefore think it best to stick with movies. They seem to me to be the more universal medium in this day and age. So with that in mind, I think I’ll write – for no real rhyme but with somewhat of a reason – a critique of the 1968 needs-tobe-rediscovered classic No Way to Treat a Lady.
Looking back on this last windy sentence that I’ve just written, I can see that I’ve taken an abrupt and disturbing turn towards the cynical, which is something I told myself I simply would not do, what with my desire to not tire myself out with all the “bitchery” that I (apparently) erroneously claimed myself to be void of. And now, looking back again on this new last sentence that I just wrote, I see that I unfortunately chose to end it with a preposition. Nothing’s going right. Therefore, this review needs to come to a close. This endeavour did not turn out like I’d hoped at all, not in any way, shape, or form. Oh well, perhaps it’s best to simply end things with one of the encapsulated themes of the great novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: “At least I tried.”
I’m quite hopeful about this new endeavour and cannot wait to see how it turns out. I choose this movie not merely because it is representative of that intriguing, immediate-post-censorship era of the late 1960s that I am inexplicably captivated by but also because this film seems somehow linked to the scary themes of Halloween, what with it being one of the first serial killer movies to come out of a Hollywood that now spews them out at an alarmingly overbearing rate. I was, when I began this “musing” a mere 600 or so words ago, convinced I would delve into both the plot and aesthetics of the piece and, in the process, illuminate the world to both my cinematic acumen and the reasons as to the necessities of seeing this particular two hour piece of captivating celluloid, one of those foremost reasons being the presence of Lee Remick, a once-revered actress whose diminishment of reference in the current public discourse speaks volumes as to the deteriorating nature of our culture.
Dennis Schreiner is an English instructor at CNC. He is a self-published author of three novels. We included his submission in the October 16th 2012 issue.
May 23rd 2013
When you don’t know what to write about, it’s sometimes best to just follow your current train of thought and hope that something shows itself to be of interest. Ironically, or perhaps only coincidentally, my train of thought consists of an overwhelming thought of trains, which means that my strategy in this instance is useless, as I’m quite sure that no one wants to hear me ramble away about cabooses, steam engines, and all the boxcars in-between. Joseph Conrad once said that “even the best of writers gives himself away every three or four lines” yet this is my third line and I don’t feel that I’ve given a whole lot of myself away, other than the obvious fact that, as a writer, I am Conradically different from the esteemed author of the earlier quote, and am also not one above stealing a cool pun, much like the just aforementioned one that was first thrust onto an unsuspecting world by Vladimir Nabokov. I’ve used that Conrad quote before, many times in fact, in classrooms, barrooms, poolrooms, and the like – “Really? So often?” some of you who are queasily experiencing the misfortune of reading this piece are probably asking yourselves. My only response to such inquisitiveness is with a dreary “Probably.”
The Confluence - Feature
Dennis Schreiner, Contributor
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Musing