The Voice • October 3, 2013 • Volume 46 • Issue 1

Falcons soccer recap ........................................8 The men’s and women’s soccer teams both earned victories at Kwantlen over the weekend

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October 3, 2013 • Vol. 46 no. #1 • vancouver, b.c.

Group of six files lawsuit Community centres going to court with park board over OneCard program

By JENNY PENG

T TYLER HOOPER photo

Protesters voice their opinions of the Marpole re-zoning plan at city hall before the city announced it had delayed the process.

City delays rezoning plans Protesters pleased after city council decides to extend consultation

By TYLER HOOPER

T

he City of Vancouver has delayed rezoning measures for certain areas of the city after community protests at city hall.

City council’s plan for condo development has created conflict between the city and residents who are concerned about changes to the character of their neighbourhoods.

On Tuesday, Sept. 24, several hundred Vancouver residents gathered outside city hall protesting the city’s rezoning plans which will impact the regions of Grandview-Woodland, Mount Pleasant, Norquay Village, the West End, the Downtown Eastside and Marpole. Residents are concerned with the lack of transparency over the issue and want city representatives to be more open about their intentions on

the issue.

“We’re hoping to get the message out that we want more consultation for our community plans, right now we’re not getting that,” said Mike Burdick, spokesperson for the Marpole Residents Coalition.

“We want them to answer our questions in an honest and forthright manner and then make good on their promises.”

Amid the sounds of evening rush hour Tuesday, the protesters chanted “More time, better planning!” and “Our community, our plan!” As cars passed, drivers honked to show support for the protesters.

Tracey Moir, a member of the Oakridge Langara Area Residents Association, stated that the entire process of the plan is broken. “It’s not in the best interest of the people that

work here [city hall] to improve that process,” said Moir.

City councillor Adriane Carr adressed a crowd in front of city hall echoing protesters’ concerns. “We had planning process in this city,” she said.

“Where is that process now?

Throughout the week residents addressed city council in a series of meetings. Coun. Andrea Reimer said people were generally “respectful” but there was “misinformation” being spread amongst residents, particularly pertaining to the legal process of re-zoning.

City council delayed the rezoning plans for Grandview-Woodland, the Downtown Eastside and Marpole. The Marpole consultation process has been extended by six months, while housing west of Cambie Street will remain predominately single-family homes.

“

We’re hoping to get the message out that we want more consultation for our community plans

MIKE BURDICK

Construction puts wildlife in danger A bird’s nest under an airconditioning unit on the A building was buried

By NADIM ROBERTS

T

wo baby pigeons roosting on the A building at Langara lost their home last week when construction workers on the roof buried their nest in a pile of rubble.

On Sept. 20, Langara journalism instructor Ed Henczel took a picture of Printed on recycled paper

the birds as roofers worked overhead.

The next day the nest and the birds had disappeared and a pile of dirt and stones lay in their place.

“I saw these two birds sitting in a nest and thought that’s kind of neat and took a couple pictures,” said Henczel, who photographed the birds on his cellphone. “A day later I come back and there is a half-ton of dirt over where the nest was.”

The nest was built under an air-conditioning unit on the roof and according to Ildiko Szabo, an assistant cura-

tor at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at UBC, “this is not a surprise.”

“It’s a sheltered and warm place.

Birds do this all the time,” said Szabo.

Crystal Brennan and her colleagues at the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. identified the birds as two baby pigeons. She felt that the birds needed one or two more weeks before being ready to survive on their own. It could be a dire situation if these birds have been prematurely forced into the wild.

Fowl play ruffles feathers, page 3

ED HENCZEL photo

Two baby pigeons were forced from their home.

hree South Vancouver community centres are among those suing the Vancouver Park Board over the implementation of the OneCard program.

Sunset, Kerrisdale and Killarney community centres, along with Hastings, Kensington and Riley Park Hillcrest want to retain the right to issue their own membership cards. Under the OneCard program, which was launched in July, revenues from all city community centres will be pooled and dispersed by the park board.

The lawsuit, filed last month, resulted from crumbling communication between the two sides, said Sunset Community Centre Association president Ken Thompson.

According to Thompson, dialogue with the park board has been shaky since 2001 when both sides began mapping a new joint operating agreement.

“Over the last 12 to 13 years nothing really concrete has happened,” said Thompson. “We’d start discussions and they would stall. A new park board would get elected and we’d start again.”

The recent revolving door of park board commissioners has delayed progress on the new agreement said Hazel Hollingdale, president of Renfrew Park Community Association. “A lot of the old park board commissioners came up through the system and really understood the associations,” said Hollingdale. “We had a lot of park board commissioners come in who don’t have that same understanding.”

The six associations argue that pooling revenues from OneCard contradicts the current system.

The OneCard program gives cardholders universal access to facilities in participating community centres. Instead of buying memberships from centres, the new system will Sunset Community funnel membership Centre revenues directly Kerrisdale Cominto the park munity Centre board’s control, as a way to close po Killarney Commutential funding innity Centre equities among all centres. Without knowing all the terms under the new agreement and how funding will be distributed, OneCard is a risk the six associations say they won’t take.

Local members of Rogue 6

Check out our web exclusives at http://langaravoice.com/

News

Editor dana bowen

The Voice, THURSDAY, October 3, 2013

2

LSU policy obscures campaign Changes to LSU’S policy block candidates from using social media and speaking to the media

By NICK EAGLAND

T

NADIM ROBERTS photo

Students Yikai Wang, Abirami Muthukumar, Haiyan Zhu, and Chen Chen (Carissa) Dong

Candidates run unopposed Out of total 18 positions available, only 12 candidates are running

By NADIM ROBERTS

T

he Langara Students’ Union (LSU) is looking to fill 18 positions on its executive board this month. An election was called for this week, but as it turns out, there is only one candidate for each position.

The LSU hosted an All Candidates Forum on Sept. 26 in the Students’ Union Building to increase voter awareness for the upcoming election, which runs from Oct. 1 to 7.

Nine students are running for the 10 councilor positions this year and two students are running for advisor positions. That leaves three advisor positions unfilled. Only one student is running for an officer position, with three officer positions left vacant.

The students running for councillor positions this year are: Zahara Baugh,

Surya Carmichael, Benjamin Edelstein, Benjamin Friesen, Jialu Li, Mohammad Ameeruddin, Abirami Muthukumar, Yikai Wang and Haiyan Zhu. Candidates Benjamin Friesen and Mohammad Ameeruddin were not present at Thursday’s forum.

Baugh, a first-year Langara student, says she “supports sustainability, accountability and transparency in the LSU,” and wants to keep tuition fees down.

Carmicheal, in her third-year at Langara, believes that she would bring a unique perspective to the LSU and hopes to raise awareness about the bike-repair shop.

A student at Langara since 2008, Edelstein considers himself a “friendly face on campus.”

“I’ve heard the positive and I’ve heard the negative,” says Edelstein. “I think I’m in a really good position to

voice my opinion.”

Li, an international student, mentions impartiality as her strength.

“I’m a sociable person and love to communicate with other students,” says Li. Second-year student Muthukumar says he wishes to “bridge the gap between the union and the members.”

Running for international student advisor, Chen Chen (Carissa) Dong believes her two years at Langara have given her an understanding of the concerns of students from various backgrounds.

Running for treasurer, commerce student Xiao Qing (Jessica) Liu, says she wishes to “utilize student fees to enrich Langara students’ life.”

Running for sexuality and genderdiversity advisor Eva Snyder says she wants to build a “strong, inclusive, queer-friendly presence” on campus.

Voting Dates Thursday, Oct. 3 in the Students’ Union Building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 4 in the Students’ Union Building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 7 in the main foyer of the A Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Source: LSU website

Residential school trauma passed on to students The Truth and Reconciliation Walk happened Sept.

22, but the fight’s not over for Aboriginal people, students and staff say

By Glen Truax

T

GLEN TRUAX photo

Larry Railton, manager for Aboriginal Student Services at Langara

ruth and Reconciliation week has wound down in Vancouver, but dealing with the emotional trauma of the residential school system will continue. “It’s an ongoing process,” said Larry Railton, manager for Aboriginal Student Services at Langara.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is dedicated to revealing the damaging effects of Canada’s controversial residential schools, the last of which closed in 1996. The schools aimed at re-educating First Nations children and teaching them to be more “Canadian.” A history of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse has been tied to the schools system, and the trauma is passed down through the generations, said Railton.

“We were affected by the abuse,” said Talia Turner, a first-year nursing

student. “The abuse was passed down to the second and third generations as well.”

Straightforward financial compensation for a few survivors of the schools is not enough, added Turner.

The information about the troubled recent history of Aboriginals is often not available, said Valerie Claxton, another first-year Langara student. “I’ve had to figure out on my own why my family behaves the way they do.”

Aboriginal children “have to do their own work” in investigating the legacy of the schools, said Railton. He does not want to diminish the accomplishments of the TRC, as he noted that the information shared is now a matter of historical record.

Shelley Wright, the co-ordinator of the Aboriginal Studies department said that the “extremely important information that’s been shared is now available for all Canadians.”

However, Wright said actions like these “never go far enough.” Greater Aboriginal rights, beyond the TRC, continue to be fought for. “We have to keep fighting for the same things, just with a different name.”

Added Claxton: “And we’ll keep fighting.”

he Langara Students’ Union election is underway, but LSU policy is impeding the media’s ability to provide students with election coverage and deterring candidates from campaigning.

The LSU has prohibited candidates from using social media to campaign, banned its staff from speaking with the media and now routes all media inquiries about the election through LSU spokesperson Gurbax Leelh. “The LSU has decided not to speak to reporters, especially from The Voice [because of] past reporters,” said Leelh in an email.

The LSU media policy “sounds like Vancouver city council, actually,” said Vancouver Non-Partisan Association councilor George Affleck in a phone interview. Last month, he proposed a motion to investigate city hall’s doubling of communications staff, which he said hampers communication between reporters and the city. He described LSU media relations as a “microcosm” of city hall.

“Any elected body should be open and transparent to not only the media, but also the general public. The fact that your student union is being so closed raises a lot of red flags to me.”

Only three of the 12 candidates posted campaign materials during the week-long campaign period. The LSU disqualifies any candidate who fails to remove all campaign materials on display, including posters, by 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, according to its website.

“Unfortunately, an interview counts as campaign material,” said candidate Zahara Baugh in an email. “If that material is distributed (whether online or in print) after the campaign period, I would be disqualified.”

At the All Candidates’ Forum on Sept. 26, candidate Ben Edelstein said, “I like to do this test, which is ‘Would I do it if I didn’t want it on the cover of the Province?’ I’m going to apply that to this position.”

Emails to the LSU’s electoral committee and deputy returning officer, who oversee the election, were not returned. The LSU annual general meeting was moved from Sept. 2013 to June 2013 and minutes are not yet available to students.

Candidates’ names and platforms are available on the LSU’s website.

Polls close Monday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m.

NICK EAGLAND photo

A sign detailing the LSU election hangs in the student union building

Campus news

Editor Brenna Brooks

The Voice, THURSDAY, October 3, 2013

3

Internet privacy is vital Google developer advocate Tim Bray talks internet safety at Langara

By KENDRA WONG

P Andrea Anthony photo

Craig Keating, Langara history instructor and BC NDP candidate, lectures his students in class at Langara College.

Langara instructor aims to become BC NDP president History instructor and North Vancouver councillor Craig Keating hopes to apply the lessons of the past to his BC NDP campaign

By ANDREA ANTHONY

N

orth Vancouver city councillor Craig Keating will be adding BC NDP president to his resumé if elected this November.

Current NDP president Moe Sihota announced last month that he would be stepping down once his term ends in November.

If elected president of the BC NDP, Keating said he would have to take a look at his workload. “It’s a lot of balls in the air, you’re trying to balance things and still do a good job in every realm, and hopefully so far so good,” said Keating. “This is, at this stage of my life, something I can still handle.”

Keating said he hopes his generation can find a way to bridge what he calls

“an obvious gulf between our current political system and youthful desire for change.”

Keating got his start in politics as a teenager in Peterborough, Ont., when he worked on the campaign for his high school teacher and NDP candidate, Paul Rexe in 1981.

Keating ran for the NDP in 2005 and again in 2013 in North Vancouver-Lonsdale, coming in second to the BC Liberal candidate both times. Keating is now running for what he calls “a bit less glamorous” job, the president of the BC NDP. Keating earned a degree in history from Trent University, and subsequently a PhD in history from McMaster University, but he’s lived in North Vancouver since 1991. “Never going

“

Knowledge about the past helps to decode the world in which you exist today Craig Keating

First ever academic plan

Fowl play ruffles feathers at Langara

Planning committee looks for campus perspectives

Continued from page 1 “At this stage they are too young to be on their own,” said Brennan. “They need to be fed and kept warm, otherwise they’ll die. It won’t be a good death and they will suffer.”

According to Section 34 in the B.C. Wildlife Act, it is an offence to destroy a nest “when it is occupied by a bird or its egg.”

An email received from the Department of Communications and Marketing at Langara stated that the contractors, Coastpro Contracting, “were not aware of a birds nest on the roof when the work began” and had only discovered the nest after removing the airconditioning unit.

When the contractors came back the next day and saw that there were no birds “they proceeded to remove the nest.”

Henczel thought the nest was moved.

“They are sitting there for a reason, it’s their home,” he said.

back,” said Keating. “I’m a refugee from Ontario.” Keating has been a professor at Langara for 22 years, and a North Vancouver city councillor for 14 years.

Keating said his background in history helps bring perspective to what he is doing in council by using the historical process to think about the modern world today.

“Knowledge about the past helps to decode the world in which you exist today,” he said. “I have to control myself from making historical analogies when I talk politics, because it marks me as a dweeb who people should beat up and throw in their lockers.”

Despite running for a less glamorous job, Keating says that “the aim is to win a friggin’ election.”

rivacy is the at the top of Google’s priority list and they are a few clicks away from making the Internet safer for billions of users, a Google employee said last week at Langara.

Tim Bray, a developer advocate at Google, said the answer to preserving Internet privacy lies in what he called “federated identity.”

For example, when you log on to a website, instead of creating a new password, you can sign in using Gmail, Facebook, or Yahoo.

Users enter fewer, more complicated passwords at the beginning of the day rather than several poor passwords throughout the day to login to their favourite sites.

Bray encourages more companies to use this no-password system.

“This kind of thing that cuts down the number of passwords is probably one of the single biggest steps that we can take to make the future of the Internet safer,” said Bray.

He admitted you cannot stop government agencies and social media sites from peeking at your Internet activity, but you can use strong passwords to avoid having your account hacked.

“Bad guys are not imaginary . . . there are monsters under the bed and they are out to get you and they can make a lot of money doing it,” Bray said “The Internet is not necessarily a safe place.”

Fridrik Jonsson, a fan of Bray’s blog who attended the event, agreed with his suggestions.

“He really is an expert about privacy and security,” he said. “This is a really important problem . . . it’s a brilliant idea and is going to solve a lot of problems if it’s adopted.”

Bray said his views do not necessarily reflect the views of Google.

The presentation kicked off this year’s CS Computer Tech Meetup, a networking group for computer technologists at Langara.

By TAMMY ENGLISH

N

Tammy English photo

Brad O’Hara, Vice President, Academic and Provost, will lead Langara’s first academic planning process.

early twenty years into its existence Langara College is developing its first academic plan.

“The academic plan will define a set of priorities within which we will operate for the next 5 years,” said Brad O’Hara, Vice President, Academic and Provost, who is leading the planning process. “I could see that the plan would be a catalyst for some new programs and certainly could be a catalyst for taking existing programs and reshaping, revamping.”

Langara has contracted consultant Glenn Harris, of Harris-Gray Associates Corp., to facilitate the plan. Harris will compile campus opinion regarding student expectations and potential concerns throughout the fall.

Julie Longo, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and a member of the planning committee, said faculty, staff, and stu-

dent opinion will be gathered through focus groups and open forums.

In addition, she said the academic planning committee “would be happy” to directly accept student feedback.

“What really works for them at Langara? It’s important to hear that. What do they want to make sure Langara continues to do?”

Longo also encourages students to be critical, and “tell us what the institution needs to do better for them.”

O’Hara points out that students have more alternatives for both private and public post-secondary education than they’ve ever had, despite budget cuts.

“The resources aren’t there to support organic growth. We have to be strategic.”

Last February, the B.C. government implemented three years of cuts to all post-secondary institutions.

This translates to a $400,000 cut to Langara’s current budget, with a further $600,000 reduction expected for 2014-15, said O’Hara, in an email.

The Academic Plan is scheduled for implementation in mid-2014.

Langara degrees added recently

Bachelor of Performing Arts, a 9-month degreecompletion program for students with credit in the performing arts.

Offered jointly with Capilano University, Douglas College and Vancouver Community College.

Bachelor of Health Sciences. Offered in conjunction with SFU, students can take the first two years of courses at Langara, with the final two years at SFU. SFU confers the degree.

Entertainment Famous shooter comes to Langara

Editor Ben bulmer

The Voice, THURSDAY, October 3, 2013

4

Award-winning author and photographer will talk about the planet’s most valuable resource: water

By BILL EVERITT

A

ward-winning Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky is coming to Langara on Oct. 8 to talk about water, the world’s most valuable resource and the name of his newest book. He also has a film called Watermark in the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Burtynsky is a TED-prize winner and in 2006 was inducted into the office of the Order of Canada. TED, which stands for technology, entertainment and design, is a non-profit devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading.”

Humans are dependent on water.

Without water, life on earth could not exist. Burtynsky attempts to draw attention to our relaEdward tionship with this Burtynsky crucial resource in Filmaker and his latest book and author film.

Watermark is a celebration of water and how it shapes our lives, but it also laments the damage we do to it when we manage it.

Burtynsky was not available to talk to The Voice, but in an interview with CBC Radio, he said, “My main concern is that, when we redirect water, there’s always a winner that gets that water, and a loser, the people or fish or animals downstream. There’s always that consequence with water.

“I don’t think we fully comprehend how much we are affecting the world when we change it.”

Burtynsky will be at Langara discussing both his book and the film in room A130 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The film Watermark will be featured in the Vancouver International Film Festival on Oct. 10. Tickets are still available for this show, which will be screened at the Centre for Performing Arts.

Tammy English photo

Dominic Duchesne (Oberon) and Lili Beaudoin (Puck) perform in Studio 58’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: vampire-filled extravaganza Scott Bellis’s adaptation takes Shakespeare to Transylvania

By TAMMY ENGLISH

C

hances are you read this one in high school. Even if you didn’t, you probably know the gist. It’s the one with woodland nymphs, a play-within-a-play, and a manipulative sprite named Puck who messes with the romantic lives of humans at the bidding of Oberon, the fairy king.

Or maybe for you, it’s “the one with the donkey.”

In this adaptation, director Scott Bellis sets the play in Romania, traditional home of Dracula. The fairies are vampires, Oberon is king of the undead, and the rustics are a traveling Roma community.

With white-on-white costumes and blood-drained complexions, the vampire fairies are effectively creepy, to say nothing of their staging and movement.

The cast is almost uniformly strong.

Lili Beaudoin’s physicality as Puck is perfect. Lauren Jackson, as Hermia, speaks the text as naturally as though she may order breakfast in iambic pentameter. Maxamillian Wallace, as Quince, the long-suffering leader of his troupe, makes a hilarious straight man to Bottom, a needy show-off who in Erik Gow’s hands becomes an endearing charmer.

A director’s note in the program warns, “Purists take note: I have adapt-

ed some scenes for our darker purposes.” The bulk of the adaptation works well with some exceptions. The zombies (you knew there had to be) are superfluous, serving only to move set pieces and to be pummeled – however crowd-pleasingly so – in a scene of ticked-off girl power. And the darker tone of the middle acts, set in a woodland beset with the undead and vampiric spirits, makes the finale – a truly delightful laugh-riot of intentionally bad acting – a bit jarring.

But unless you’re a purist, and a hard-core one at that, you’ll have fun.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream plays at Langara until Oct. 20.

Studio 58 1 2 3

A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs from Sept. 26 Oct. 20 Check out cheap Tuesday where all tickets are $12.75 Studio 58’s next performance is 4Play starting Nov. 13

Langara grad publishes tween novel Mother of two takes do-it-yourself philosophy to getting her work into book stores

By GAVIN FISHER

S

Gavin Fisher photo

Deshka Peneff signs a copy of her novel Monkey Tales

tage fright may have kept Studio 58 graduate Deshka Peneff from pursuing an acting career, but 42 rejections of her manuscript didn’t stop her from becoming a published author.

This 44-year-old event planner and mother of two is the author of Monkey Tales, a tween novel about a geeky 13-year-old who invents a pet monkey in an attempt to become popular with his classmates.

Peneff, who graduated from Studio 58 in 1992, realized she’d “rather be behind the scenes than in front” after starring in a number of TV spots, including The Outer Limits.

Having always been in the closet

about being a writer, it was only after some friends read Monkey Tales and encouraged her that she decided to try to publish it.

After 42 rejections she discovered iUniverse – a self-publishing company.

The editors at iUniverse saw merit in her book and guided her through the process of editing, publishing, and marketing herself.

“They really helped and supported me,” said Peneff. “Mind you everything that I do from the printing of the books and so on all comes out of my pocket.”

When Peneff saw that she was only making $1.07 per book, she decided to become her own distributor. She now makes anywhere between $4.50 a book sold at a bookstore to $12.95 if she sells it directly.

“It also really makes you want to move the books and be selling,” Peneff said.

“They’re taking up my spare bedroom.”

Peneff said her self-publishing experience might differ from that of other budding writers. Perhaps, she joked, the editors at iUniverse were just in a good mood the day they read her manuscript.

“I was at the right place at the right time and the right person read it. I don’t know, it was sunny, they had a good bowel movement that day, who knows? However it happened, it was awesome.”

Monkey Tales, published in March this year, is available at selected book stores.

Lifestyles

Editor Deanna cheng

The Voice, THURSDAY, october 3, 2013

5

Lunch sources unclear School food vendors won’t reveal their suppliers

By VANESSA SZPURKO

T

he local food movement has fans in Vancouver and the Langara student body, but whether it has made its way into the cafeteria is less clear.

Changing those corporate food sources to local ones in the cafeteria is not simple.

“The majority of educational institutions usually have long-term contracts with their distributors that they’re buying from,” said Bonita Jo Magee of Farm Folk City Folk.

Eating locally also means eating seasonally, said Magee. “The variety that’s available if you’re going to be buying from local producers is going to really fall during the winter and spring.

There needs to be a program where they are buying and freezing or drying or canning what they’re using.”

Troy Martin, director of non-traditional restaurants for Quiznos Canada, said the Quiznos in the cafeteria does have the option of using local produce.

However, localizing the other ingredients is complex. It is cheaper to have one main plant producing all food products for Quiznos. This also keeps costs down for consumers. However, cost is not actually the main issue.

“The difficulty that national brands have is how do you ensure that everyone is using the exact same quality product from coast to coast?” said Martin.

Consumers expect their product to be the same wherever they get it in Canada, and that can be difficult to manage when there are multiple food sources.

Chartwells, the Andrea stevenson cafeteria’s main Biology student food provider, did not respond to email questions by deadline.

White Spot, the parent company of Triple O’s, also did not respond in time.

Tim Hortons said the information being sought was private and could not be released.

Arts and science student Jennifer Wu said she believes that Chartwells promotes the corporate food outlets like Triple O’s and Tim Hortons over other locations in the cafeteria that may be offering local products.

Magee emphasized that any effort to eat local is a valid one. “Start with baby steps. No step is too small.”

Computer science student Abram Wiebe said, “I would prefer if it came from local sources because it would be fresher, and it would support locals.

“But there are some fruits they have at the salad bar you couldn’t have at this time of year. Because it’s warm in California where you can grow them, but you can’t grow them here.”

Biology student Andrea Stevenson makes an effort to eat local in her personal life, but is hesitant to push for local food in the cafeteria because of potential price inflation.

“If you get a local product from the grocery store it’s not going to be as expensive,” said Stevenson. “I buy local for myself, but when I go out I’m not as concerned with it, unless that’s the point of the restaurant.”

Creative writing and psychology student Kyle Lucas said, “I only buy local produce, because I work on a farm and it’s something I care about.”

BILL EVERITT photo

Melissa Ferreira, owner of Adhesif Clothing, creates most of her pieces in the back of her store.

Green, more than a colour Eco Fashion Week challenges designers with slow-fashion movement

By BILL EVERITT

E

co Fashion Week returns to Vancouver Oct. 6 to 10, marking its seventh year of celebrating environmentally friendly designs, fabrics and manufacturing.

Working in fashion for years, Myriam Laroche witnessed the massive amount of waste created at every stage of the process. This inspired her to begin Eco Fashion Week: a series of fashion shows designed to highlight environmentally friendly materials, methods of manufacture and design.

The eco fashion movement is based on the philosophy of reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Eco Fashion Week organizers claim fashion is the third-most-polluting industry in the world.

Glencora Twigg, co-owner of twigg&hottie, said it all comes down to ethical workmanship and production.

“Our focus on sustainability is improving, at a minimum, one step of the chain of distribution,” she said.

Their store mostly sells women’s clothing, but they also feature a designer who makes men’s T-shirts and boxers. All items in their store bring together one or more aspects of sustainability, such as using organic cotton or being made by hand.

How a fabric is dyed is an important factor for sustainability. Synthetic dyes are highly toxic to groundwater and Glencora suggested consumers check the label for natural dyes.

Melissa Ferreira, owner of adhesif clothing, believes eco-fashion in Vancouver is about building community and getting to know the people who make your clothes.

“It’s a slow-fashion movement,” she said. “We want people to slow down and question everything. Go beyond the tag and think of the whole process.

Organic materials are important, but they aren’t everything.”

Reworking used garments is the cornerstone of Ferreira’s philosophy. From this “discarded yardage” she fills her store with unique garments.

“If you love it, if it’s quality and if you will use it, then it’s an investment in yourself and the environment,” she said.

Ferreira has participated in the fashion show in the past, but is taking this year off to step back and focus on her business. It can take her three times as long as a standard manufacturer to make a collection of items.

Eco Fashion Week is growing every year, with continuing support from Value Village and new sponsors like Vancity and Holt Renfrew.

Eco Fashion Week kicks off Oct. 6 at Robson Square. Tickets and live streaming of fashion shows and seminars: www.ecofashion-week.com.

Fashion designers 1

Glencora Twigg twigg&hottie

3671 Main Street

Vancouver, BC

V5V 3N6 604-879-8595 twiggandhottie.com

2

Melissa Ferreira

adhesif clothing

2202 Main Street

Vancouver, BC

V5T 3C7 604-568-4905 adhesifclothing.com

Students receptive to better reception Improved signals allow students to continue with smartphone addictions

By TRICIA LO

L

TRICIA LO photo

Students in the LSU basement can get cellular reception because of the campus’ new rooftop microsite.

angara students can stop chasing cellular signals around campus thanks to a timely $350,000 installation on the campus’ rooftop.

Telus spokesperson Liz Sauvé explained the turnaround.

“We were aware that people were experiencing slower service than what we want to be providing,” she said.

To fix the problem, she said Telus built a microsite at Langara that went live at the end of May. The microsite is a small antenna that improves the coverage without putting up an extra tower.

Former dead zones are now signal hotspots.

Science student Tom Dao said he gets full reception in the LSU basement

now. “I’m surprised. Last semester I would’ve had zero,” he said.

Langara students complained in past years about the inconveniences and safety issues associated with spotty cellphone reception on campus.

“I never answered my messages and people would get worried,” said science student Kelsey Langille, who would spend late nights studying at school for her midterms.

Last semester, dietetics student Ashley Wong would have to run out into the rain to send a text.

“I couldn’t get reception in the library, lecture halls or the cafe,” she said.

The improvements aren’t exclusive to Telus subscribers.

“To eliminate the need for more infrastructure, we have agreements where we roam on one another’s network,” said Sauvé.

Criminal justice student Shivani Verma says she gets a signal on Virgin Mobile’s network everywhere she couldn’t last year.

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Editor JANA MINOR

The Voice, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

viewpoints

LSU: stop twerking us around

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the oice The Voice is published by Langara College’s journalism department.

Editorial opinions are those of the staff and are independent of views of the student government and administration.

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he Langara Students’ Union is like Miley Cyrus – they’re so outrageous it’s normal now.

Their antics are simply to be expected. You’d think with a new year, a new election and new bylaws, that things would be different, but no. They’re still up to their old tricks: dodging media requests and withholding meeting minutes.

An elected government should be accountable to the media, but more importantly it should be accountable to the people who voted it into power.

The cover of The Vancouver Sun read like a Fox News report last week: “Neighbourhoods in Revolt” it read in threateningly large font. But it wasn’t hyperbole. Vancouver citizens are speaking out in forceful unison these days, all over the city.

Well, almost everywhere.

Here at Langara, the LSU shifted its annual general meeting – its mandatory, once-a-year financial kimono-opening – from September to June. June, a month when The JANA MINOR Voice is not in production and only a fraction of students are on campus. But who noticed this sly yet critical adjustment? Who voiced protest? This week The Voice requested minutes from that meeting and were informed they had not yet been approved and made available. What are we paying them to do up there?

City councillor George Affleck said the LSU is a “microcosm” of city council. I disagree. Yes, we share the same skewed media policy, but there’s a big difference: people actually march on city hall.

Citizens pushing strollers and hobbling with canes are rallying there to protest their government operating in the dark.

Community centres – the epitome of non-confrontational spaces – are taking legal action against the city.

When meditation instructors and swim coaches start suing people, you know the times they are a changin’. Langara, maybe we’re overdue for a good old revolution of our own?

We’re students, for crying out loud. We practically invented the word “protest.” Maybe we should start acting like it.

OPINION

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DROP-IN JANA MINOR cartoon

Misbehaving Rogue Six: get onboard the OneCard T

he six Vancouver community centres that refuse to join the new OneCard program, known as The Rogue Six, don’t know how to play nice. Like a toddler who brings the best toys to the sandbox but won’t share – and kicks sand in the other kids’ faces – the six are being naughty and need a time out.

They cry that the park board is centralizing finances in an effort to skim centre money, slash programs and reduce membership. Their response to this perceived threat is to waste taxpayer dollars in a lawsuit. Well, Six, over 50,000 people have signed up so far and demand grows. Vancouverites cherish their health.

The six see this as a David and

Goliath-type story, but the OneCard is for the underdogs. It acts like socialized health care by making recreation cheap and accessible, especially for those with low incomes. If major hospitals decided they didn’t want NICK EAGLAND to chip in to our glorious Canadian health care system, people would die. If the six keep this up, people won’t drop dead, but it will certainly be a pain for the OneCard users who rely on those great centres for health and recreation.

That the other 18 community

OPINION

centres have embraced the program doesn’t matter to the bullheaded six.

They argue the card was created to destroy the centres. To them, the 18 are suckers destined for ruin. Now, for their legal tantrum, the six may face eviction on Dec. 31. Then the park board, that big bully, will drain all uniqueness from them.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret: Vancouverites like things to be special. They’re nostalgic, and grow weary of the homogenization of Vancouver culture. Community centres are no different. If the park board tampers with centres, it will be met with fervent resistance by Vancouverites, who care violently about things like cheap yoga and uniqueness. Why don’t the six play nice?

Complaints of rezoning protesters justified I ncreased rent, overcrowded streets, heightened noise and limited parking; these are all effects of housing densification on single-family neighbourhoods.

Residents in Grandview-Woodland, Marpole, the West End and the Downtown Eastside oppose the City of Vancouver’s plan to rezone the neighbourhoods from single-family home properties to ones that accommodate high-rise buildings, and for good reason. City council rushed into making plans for these neighbourhoods without considering the current residents or the character of their neighbourhoods.

In the long run, students may encounter lower rents as a result of an increased supply of apartments, but it will be some time before this benefit takes effect. For now, rents may actually increase. When properties are rezoned, property values increase, which increases property taxes. Although the houses

will be rezoned for apartment buildings, that does not mean that those apartments are going to be built anytime soon. People are living in those houses, and the only way for them to be torn down is if they are sold. For now, students who are renting suites in these homes will pay higher rents.

Housing density is also detrimental to homeowners because of how it alters the feel of the community in which they have chosen to live.

Residents in these neighbourhoods have spent money to live in areas that best suit their needs. A family wishing to raise their children in a peaceful neighbourhood with accessible parks and large yards will not be happy in a dense neighbourhood full of apartment buildings and busy streets. It is not right to impose this kind of lifestyle onto people who have not chosen it.

Vancouver prides itself on being a green city, yet city council appears

to be willing to sacrifice thisunique characteristic to maximize profits for the city and developers.

Last week, community members from Grandview-Woodland, Marpole, the Downtown Eastside and the West End gathered outside city hall to protest the proposed rezoning of their neighbourhoods.

As a result, city hall announced deadlines for Andrea proposed rezoning plans will be ANthONY extended from four months (Downtown Eastside) to a year (Grandview-Woodland). Time will tell if council will listen to community members’ valid concerns or if they are simply buying time to better their case.

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PAGE EDITORS PAGE 1 Jesse Adamson

PAGE 2 Dana Bowen

PAGE 3 Brenna Brooks

PAGE 4 Ben Bulmer

PAGE 5 Deanna Cheng

PAGE 7 Marie-Andree Del Cid

PAGE 8 Puneet Dhami

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OPINION

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Iissues & ideas

The Voice, THURSDAY, October 3, 2013

Editor marie -Andree Del Cid

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TransLink is making changes

Cutbacks on programs and possible new developments will be in the works for 2014

Employer Pass won’t make it TransLink has decided to scrap the Employer Pass Program for more “equitable” fare system

By VANESSA SZPURKO

ransLink says it is ending the Employer Pass Program to spread fare discounts across a broader ridership via the new Compass Card.

But Langara instructor Stephen Phillips says TransLink is misrepresenting the benefits.

Phillips and two other Langara staff members started two petitions - which together total about 415 signatures – against discount-program cancellations effective in the new year.

Created to boost transit use, the EPP offers 15 per cent off fares for workers at participating employers, including Langara.

“At the college, we’re hearing that many faculty and staff who currently use the EPP are going to get back in their cars and start driving to work,” said Phillips.

TransLink’s executive VP of strategic planning Bob Paddon said, “Building ridership is not necessarily our biggest challenge today. Our biggest challenge is handling all the riders that we have. [The EPP] is a good discount, so why are we just providing a discount to a very select audience of people?”

With no new dollars added to the system in five years and minimal expansions of bus service hours over the past three, Bob Paddon TransLink hasn’t TransLink’s been keeping up executive VP for with population strategic plangrowth, Paddon ning said.

“We’ve found about $300 million in efficiency over the last three years and $40 million last year. So we looked at this program in that context.”

The reloadable Compass Card comes with a potential discount for anyone, said Paddon. Any holder who puts at least $5 on their card beyond the required minimum of $6 automatically receives a 14 per cent discount on their fare.

“They’re being very misleading about that,” said Phillips. “What they’re talking about is 14 per cent less than cash fares.” The EPP provides about a 15 per cent discount – on a monthly pass. “We’re also protesting the planned elimination of the Sunday fare waiver, where a regular monthly pass holder or EPP pass holder can take adults for free on Sundays and stat holidays,” said Phillips. “Low-income families in particular benefit from that the most, and they’re going to suffer.”

Paddon said Translink understood people losing discounts may be concerned and upset. “We’re just trying to

T Gavin Fisher photo

Langara students board the Canada Line SkyTrain station at Langara 49th Avenue station during a busy hour.

SkyTrain needs more funding Residents in Marpole can look forward to a new SkyTrain station on Cambie Street and 57th Avenue but there are conerns with money

By GAVIN FISHER

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usinesses and residents in Marpole look forward to having a new SkyTrain station on Cambie Street and 57th Avenue, but doubts about funding for the project remain.

The City of Vancouver is considering how redevelopment in the Marpole area could fund construction of the station, said Jeffrey Busby, senior manager of infrastructure planning for TransLink.

The project is only in the development stage, and the timeline for construction hasn’t been determined.“It’s something we’d like to achieve in the not-to-distant future, but exactly when

that timing will be is unknown at this point,” said Ben Johnson, senior planner for the City of Vancouver.

Don Barthel, the co-coordinator for Marpole Matters, a group that meets with city officials on behalf of residents said,“It’s a good thing for Marpole, but I’m not sure if they can get enough money from the developer and from TransLink to build the station.”

Some businesses and residents said they supported having a SkyTrain station in Marpole. Joan Arguelles, who works at the RBC Royal Bank on 57th Avenue, takes the 15 Cambie/Olympic Village Stn. bus to work but said it doesn’t come regularly and is often late.

“I commute every day, so having a train station here would be really con-

venient,” said Arguelles. In the morning, the No. 15 bus is always crowded with Langara students, so having a SkyTrain station in the area would be convenient she said.

Langara nursing student Erin Weber had a practicum placement at St. Vincent’s Langara care home on 62nd Avenue and Manitoba Street during her first year, and found the commute frustrating.

“I’d have to either [take the] Canada Line to 49th, or go all the way down to Southeast Marine Drive and walk up,” said Weber.

“It would be nice to have a stop inbetween because I know every semester they have a placement there. It would be convenient for students.”

Marpole facts 1 2

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Marpole is one of Vancouver’s oldest communities Another commercial district has been approved for Marpole which will be located in the eastern side of the neighbourhood.

In 2009 the Canada Line helped replace the 98 B-Line which used to run through Cambie Street

Compass Card program ready to take over

“

What students will have is a Compass Card that will be associated with their student ID.

Derek Zabel TransLink’s media relations

By JESSE LAM

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ransLink’s new Compass cards will not drastically change Langara’s U-Pass Program.

Volunteers across the Lower Mainland have been testing the Compass cards and so far the feedback has been positive, said TransLink spokesman Derek Zabel.

“We’ve had some feedback about the bus readers [sensors that read your card when swiped] which have been a little slow,” said Zabel.

“The BETA testing is actually one of the most important parts of introducing and transitioning to the Compass

Card, so there are a lot of things that we have learned.”

One Langara student questioned the new Compass Card for its effectiveness and ability to meet the same standards as the current U-Pass program.

“I am skeptical. Will the Compass Card for students have an unlimited amount of money?” said Elizabeth Leung.

Another Langara student, Heng Cao, said, “I don’t like it. What’s the point?”

So what will happen to the U-Pass once it gets replaced by the Compass Card?

“What students will have is a Compass Card that will be associated with their student ID. They will still have to

purchase $6 to get themselves a Compass Card,” said Zabel.

The cards will replace all of TransLink’s passes which include Faresaver tickets and the Employer Passes.

At the moment, the prices for the UPass will stay the same, as TransLink does not wish to breach the agreement with student societies and the provincial government, said Zabel.

To use the Compass Card, riders will tap it on blue readers upon entry and exit to transit.

Failure to tap upon leaving will result in a charge for an entire route instead of just specific zones travelled, according to TransLink. Tapping before a trip’s end could bring a fine.

sports

The Voice, THURSDAY, october 3, 2013

Editor Puneet dhami

Men hope to repeat as champs

Falcons trample Eagles Women and men’s soccer teams defeat Kwantlen in torrential rainfall on Saturday

The men’s basketball season starts this November and they’re hoping to keep their PacWest title

By JESSE LAM

By TYLER HOOPER

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he 2013 PacWest defending champions, Langara Falcons hope to repeat that success in 2014.

Falcons’ men’s basketball coach Paul Eberhardt aims to use last year’s championship tactic, as he believes the team can repeat another run to the championship.

“It will be a challenge, but we have a lot of players back,” said Eberhardt. “I expect that we’ll challenge for the top of the league again.”

“We definitely have the pieces to win again this year,” said guard and forward, Matt Madewan. “We picked up about five new guys too, so we definitely have the pieces to win the whole thing again.”

Eberhardt worries that last year’s success may also affect the team’s mentality in the game.

“The one thing we have to be aware of, especially for the returning guys, is not be complacent,” said Eberhardt.

“The league has gotten tough.”

Jesse Jeffer’s was last season’s allstar, and is no longer with the team.

“Jesse went to Trinity Western so that will be tough to fill.” said Eberhardt. “Our frontline will be a bit small this year, but I expect guys like Jitinder [Lohcham], who’s a fourth-year guy, and Garrett Ling-Lee to step in and play a few more minutes for us so we should be fine.”

Coach Eberhardt and Madewan believe Vancouver Island University is the one team they have to watch out for.

“They are returning with Brandon Jones,” said Medewan. “He was the MVP when they won nationals too, he’s a special player, they’re defMen initely our biggest oct. 4 competition.”

8 p.m. at Langara Langara Falcons College. will be the team to beat this season in oct. 5 the PacWest after Game time TBD at being last year’s Langara College. champion.

The first game is oct. 13 1:30 p.m. at Langara on October 4 at LangCollege. ara College at 8 p.m..

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Games

basketball

TYLER HOOPER photo

A Langara Falcons player swoops in for a kick against the Kwantlen University Eagles at Newton Athletic Park on September 25, 2013.

he Langara Falcons men and women’s soccer teams both won their games on Saturday Sept. 28 at Newton Athletic Park against the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Eagles.

The women took the field at noon, defeating the Eagles 3-1.

Forward Amrit Berar scored two goals and Olivia Kappeli scored one.

The women’s team played a strong first half but lost some momentum in the second, although not enough to lose their lead.

The men took the field at 2 p.m. to relentless rainfall and a slippery playing field.

The Eagles put pressure on the Falcons early, scoring the first goal 16 minutes into the match.

Four minutes later Falcons forward Brett Wiens tied the game.

At 39 minutes midfielder Mynor Campos Jr. scored, giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.

During the second half the Falcons got two quick goals, a second by Campos Jr. and another by midfielder Carlos Marquez.

Kwantlen managed a second goal, but Falcons midfielder Brody Kirkley-Fech scored in the dying minutes of the game making the final score 5-2 Falcons.

“We started off a bit slow I think, but then we picked it up in the second half,” said coach Steve Lucovic who was filling in for head coach Marc Rizzardo.

“Losing their composure didn’t help them out, it opened their weaknesses up and we took advantage of it,” said Lucovic.

“We worked hard, from what I saw we knocked the ball around well, kept composure and finished our chances,” said midfielder Andrew Hauser.

Assistant coach Rob Dattilo said that the Falcons were able to absorb the game plan and capitalize on their chances.

Both teams played Douglas College on Sunday, the women’s team won their game 2-1 while the men lost 2-1.

Both teams play Quest University this weekend and finals are scheduled for the end of the month.

Falcons basketball team starts 2014 season The women’s basketball team has high hopes for season after recruting two university transfer players to the Falcons

By AMY JONES

he Langara Falcons women’s basketball team is shooting to reach the PacWest provincial playoffs this season with two new universitytransfer players.

Team Coach Mike Evans hopes to improve the team’s standing from their seventh place finish last season. He blames it on poor play early in the season.

“My approach is one practice at a

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time, one week at a time, one game at a time and not look beyond that,” Evans said. “After that obviously our goal would change based on where we’re sitting.”

The team has been practicing six days a week with their newest rookies and two transfer players, forward Theresa Jacobse and point guard Karen Li. Jacobse previously played for the University of Waterloo. She is aiming to win at the provincial level for a shot at nationals.

“It’s going to be very intense but fun at the same time, it looks like [the team] has a lot of potential,” said Jacobse.

Li played for the University of Lethbridge team last season. She is already settling into the Falcons squad.

“The team is great compared to last year,” said Li. “I feel like it’s a family,

I’ve known most of them previously when we played club teams and training during the summer.”

This season, fourth year player Rhea Silvestri, is looking forward to what the team can do with their new recruits.

“We have a whole bunch of new players this year so we’re going to get used to each other,” said Silvestri. “I think they’ll be great additions to us, I’m excited to see.”

“They will definitely add a lot,” said Evans. “They have more experience, they’re good players, they’re smart, and lot of those things you look for.”

The season starts in November, until then the team will spend the month of October playing exhibition games. First game kicks off at Langara against Kwantlen on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. and against Capilano University on Nov. 8.

AMY JONES photo

Fourth-year player Rhea Silvestri is excited to watch the team shape up for the upcoming basketball season.