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Husky Uptick
Abandoned high-energy huskies are taking over BC SPCA shelters. P4&5
PHOTO ESSAY
Student Fighter Students enter competitive MMA despite dangers of injuries and low pay. P6
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ONLINE SPECIAL
Studio 58 is 58
Theatre students prepare for their milestone 58th anniversary shows. www.langaravoice.ca
OCT. 26, 2023 • VOL. 57 NO. 1 • VANCOUVER, B.C.
Shut out, shut down
LSU ELECTIONS LSU elections concluded on Friday Oct. 20 with a low voter turnout of less than three per cent of Langara College students voting. CALA ALI PHOTO
Murky eligibility process put forth unopposed candidates in lucrative roles By ERIN CONNERS
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usiness management student Jashan Sangwan was elected as president of the LSU board of directors, defeating Harnoor Chopra 248 to 145 in last week’s vote. The 12 elected members, whose job is to represent the student body and decide how to spend the student fees collected by the LSU, will begin serving their oneyear term on Jan. 1. Five of the 12 will be returning board members, but each of them will be in a different position than they are currently serving. “I’m eager to introduce innovative ideas to enrich our campus experience,” SangKeshav Puri wan, an outgoing general repre- LANGARA STUDENT sentative, said in his platform statement shared on the LSU website. For the first time in several years, there were multiple candidates running for most positions on the board. Past ballots obtained by the Voice from 2018 through 2022 had only one candidate in most roles. However, voters were still given only one option for the two most lucrative roles according to the LSU’s 2023 financial statement. The vice-president of internal
affairs and vice president of finance and administration received the highest stipends from May 2022 to April 2023, totalling $21,384 and $20,804, respectively. All other positions were paid stipends less than half of that amount. Ramandeep, who listed her area of specialty as “financial management” in her candidate profile, was elected unopposed to the position of VP finance and administration. Anurit Sangha, a health sciences student and the outgoing international students’ representative, was elected as VP internal affairs. Ramandeep was absent from the all-candidates meeting on Oct. 12, where election hopefuls presented their campaign platform. An LSU staff member said that the candidate had a schedule conflict. The Voice is aware of at least three students leading up to the election who applied to run for VP finance and were ignored. They were told they were only eligible to run for a different role — and were not given any reason when they asked about VP finance. In addition, because they were not directly told they were ineligible for the role, they were unable to appeal. One of these hopefuls, Keshav Puri, first-year business management student, said seeing only one candidate running for the role furthered his confusion about the election process. “I felt very miserable,” Puri said.
“I don’t understand why they chose two per cent of eligible voters particone person, why they didn’t allow ipated. The elections committee at more of us to run in VP finance.” the time told the Voice it was considAccording to LSU policies, eligi- ering implementing online voting bility decisions are made by either to help increase the turnout. But 12 the chief returning officer, also years later, online voting still isn't an known as the CRO, or an electoral option and the LSU building’s lower committee comprised of at least lounge is the sole polling location. two staff members and one elected Benjamin Ingoldsby, first-year arts student direcand science tor. student, said a CRO Jeanlack of campus “I don't understand nie Bates, eng agement whose Linkewhy they chose one leaves many d I n p ro f i l e Lang ara says she also students person, why they works at Elecunaware of didn't allow more tions Canada, the impact a did not answer student union of us to run in VP questions has. about the elec“I think finance.” tions eligibilt h e re i s a —KESHAV PURI, ity complaints lot of apathy BUSINESS MANAGMENT STUDENT and directed about what the Voice to the the LSU does LSU spokespeople instead. and about the election process as a The LSU did not respond to ques- whole,” Ingoldsby said. “It would be tions from the Voice about the total great if there was more debate and number of students who applied we had a wider imagination of what and were not deemed eligible for the student union could do.” VP finance or VP internal. Ingoldsby said more candidates This year’s election saw a maxi- with different views would “give mum of 411 ballots cast for a single people an actual reason to come out position. This represents less than and be more involved.” three per cent of Langara's student Aside from a handful of candipopulation this semester, according dates’ campaign signs in the week to data from Langara’s institutional prior to voting, the Voice saw no signs research department. in the LSU building or elsewhere on Low voter turnout in LSU elec- campus informing students of the tions is nothing new. In 2011, just election.
The voting area in the lower lounge was set up next to the staircase leading to the LSU offices. From the upper lounge building entry, the polling station was not visible and there was nothing to indicate that voting was happening. The Voice is unable to film or take photos inside of the building due to the LSU’s building policy. On Oct. 11, the LSU media committee approved the Voice’s request to film inside the building during the voting period. However, they reversed this decision in an email sent 24 hours later. “Following a thorough review, the election committee decided that no filming of any sort will be permitted within the Langara Students’ Union building during the polling period,” the LSU media committee said. While media is not normally allowed inside polling station, elections administrators such as Elections Canada often allow media in the building while keeping a distance. Stewart Prest, Langara political science instructor, said that it is in the best interest of all voters when there is an open relationship between the media and elected bodies. “It is crucial for governments to be open to, accountable to, in communication with the population that they are governing on behalf of,” Prest told the Voice. See langaravoice.ca for full story
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THE VOICE | THURSDAY, OCT. 26, 2023
Overpass hailed as boon to cyclists The 62-metre span is meant to provide a safe route across major highway barrier in Burnaby By CALA ALI
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new pedestrian and bike overpass in Burnaby over a major highway will be a boost to the city’s cycling infrastructure, says a Burnaby cycling advocate. And while Blake Standard, co-chair of Hub Cycling Burnaby, says he’s waiting for more details on the Burnaby Lake Overpass, he has faith that the city will listen to the needs of cyclists. Detailed planning is underway on the $21.1 million Burnaby Lake Overpass, estimated to be completed by March 2026. The 62-metre span across Highway No. 1 between Glencarin Drive and Claude Avenue would provide an exclusive overpass for cyclists and pedestrians. This location is near one of Burnaby’s traffic “hotspots,” an area identified by ICBC data Alison Gu COUNCILLOR as having high CITY OF BURNABY potential for near misses and crashes between cyclists and other forms of transportation. Construction will begin in 2024. Standard said the City of Burnaby and Hub Cycling Burnaby collaborated in the early design phase of the project in 2022 to ensure bike safety is a priority for the overpass. The city has not yet provided Standard with any specific bike safety features for the overpass. However, he said, “given the City of Burnaby’s commitment to improving cycling infrastructure and our collaborative relationship, we know that we will be approached with these specifics and will have a chance to provide feedback.” He added, “We are looking forward to working with city staff and elected officials to deliver the city’s very progressive and equita-
The Burnaby Lake Overpass, (rendered above) will use the existing natural terrain to reduce “extensive ramp infrastructure” in building the overpass. COURTESY CITY OF BURNABY
ble transportation plan of making sustainable transportation modes such as walking, rolling, cycling, and transit accessible to all the residents.” The overpass project is closely aligned with the Metro Vancouver Greenway project to increase safer pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in the region. Amy Choh, director of engineering transportation for the City of Burnaby, said the city engaged with the community in 2022 with “public in-person pop-up sessions.” In these sessions, “we asked the community what the priorities and
features they would like to see in the design of the overpass,” she said. Choh said, as the project just ended its conceptual design phase, “we are now looking how will we integrate these features into the detailed design that is going on.” Choh called the community response positive with good feedback on the project. “The community is very excited there will be a major connection to the park amenities in the area,” she said. However, Choh said if the city encounters any negative feedback on the project, the city “will address
them right away and look at opportunities to integrate solutions.” Burnaby Coun. Alison Gu said this project is crucial in creating “a north-south link,” which is currently not accessible for pedestrians and cyclists due to Highway No. 1. Gu said Burnaby residents are overall pleased by this project. However, she received a few emails regarding the choice of the location of the overpass. “The concerns were largely due to a perceived safety risk due to a temporary shelter currently in place,” Gu said. “Those residents
will be moved into permanent housing by the time the project is complete.” She has said some Burnaby residents are concerned the overpass will “cause a lack of investment in other types of cycling infrastructure throughout the city,” Gu said a diversion of funds “will certainly not be the case for me, as this project is simply the foundation on which to build the rest of a connected network.” Gu said the City of Burnaby’s philosophy on this project is “if they build it, they will come.”
Coquitlam adds extra cash for school and park Outdoor sports and community recreation a key part of Burke Mountain project By ROY FANG
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he City of Coquitlam is boosting its contribution to $9.6 million for the Burke Mountain joint school and park project with the Coquitlam school district. Coquitlam council unanimously supported the extra funding in September. In April, the city had allocated $8.8 million for its share of the project. This included a $5 million contribution from Wesbild Holdings, a local development company. Funding for the project was expected to change as it progressed. Lanny Englund, Coquitlam’s general manager of parks, recreation, culture and facilities, said
The Burke Mountain joint middle and high school, depicted here in an artist’s conception, is expected to open in 2026. The City of Coquitlam is contributing funding to the project for school and community use. COURTESY CITY OF COQUITLAM
the project’s price change is due to post-pandemic price increases of construction and materials. Englund also said the updated cost is to help complete construction of the school by September 2026. He said earthworks on the site have
recently begun. “We allocated $9 million to the joint project to free up some funds elsewhere that could then be used for other construction projects,” said Coquitlam Coun. Matt Djonlic. “The scope of the project didn’t
really change. It’s more just the fund that we were tapping into has shifted.” Djonlic said the amenities the project will bring, including a soccer field, four tennis courts and a 400-metre running track, have been desper-
ately needed by the Burke Mountain community and that “the school is long, long overdue.” The $135-million Burke Mountain school was approved by the provincial government in 2022 after years of lobbying by parents and government delays. Located on a 9.35-hectare site on David Avenue in the city’s northeast, it features a joint middle and secondary school with room for 1,000 students in grades 6 through 12. The city’s contribution to the project will go toward outdoor sport and recreational amenities for school and community use. Rosey Manhas, president of the school district’s parent advisory council, is looking forward to the school. “I am delighted that our district heard the community and saw the need for the school,” said Manhas. “The district has been doing everything to get the school built as soon as possible and I think the whole community is thrilled.” Manhas said the park will also help families in the community form connections without needing to travel.
Campusnews
EDITOR ERIN CONNERS | THURSDAY, OCT. 26, 2023 | THE VOICE
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LSU falling short on campus events
Other student unions promote significantly more activities
“I see lots of announcements, like [I] get announcements on Blackboard sometimes,” Hadef said, referring to the college’s online platform. At Langara, second-term Studio 58 student Carys Watts said she misses many LSU events as they are not all advertised to students. “I always just randomly see By JAMIE MAH events going on. It’s never adverompared to the student tised, at least down in the basement, union at Douglas College, because that’s the only place I am,” the Langara Students’ Watts said. Union lags behind in promoting its Watts said she attended an LSU events to students on social media dog therapy event last spring during and on campus. finals. “It was a really long line, but Langara and Douglas College, there were puppies, and that was based in New Westminster, have really nice.” roughly similar student populations Sebastian Armani, a Langara and teaching missions. For the fall criminology student, also said he 2023 semester, Langara College has never hears about LSU events. He nearly 14,200 students and Douglas said student events can be imporCollege has close to 17,000 students. tant to establishing a community The LSU spent $104,677 on and would bring more excitement campus life and events from May 1, into school. 2022, to April 30, 2023, according Armani said these events would to its 2023 financial statement. The help “do something outside of just Douglas Students’ Union at Douglas coming here and being miserable.” College spent $257,260 on campus Harvey Polino, director of campus life, services and events for its last life for the Douglas Students’ listed year of 2022. Union, said building a community Throughout is important the last year, for colleges. “It's never the LSU has “I think one advertised one of the biggest advertised, at event on Instathings we try gram through to do is build least down in the a static post. communities basement, because out here, and These do not include story are so that's the only place events posts which the things that disappear you want to I am.” after 24 hours. connect with — CARYS WATTS, In contrast, everyone,” LANGARA STUDIO 58 STUDENT the DougPolino said. las Students’ In an email Union has posted 18 static posts response to the Voice, the LSU said it marketing its events. has held many events over the course Douglas students interviewed by of the year despite its website listthe Voice say they are kept informed ing only three events. However,the by the promotional efforts. LSU did not provide a list or exact Hosna Hadef, a third-year asso- number of events, and said it did not ciate of arts student at Doug- keep any records. The union said it las College, said she likes how the has events planned every month for Douglas Students’ Union advertises the remainder of the year. its events. The LSU said it always posts about “I like how they’re not solely its events on social media despite promoting it on Instagram, although some students claiming they don’t like lots of students now are on Insta- see the LSU use social media. gram, but they also make sure that “We always post 24-hour stories on they’re promoting it around the social media for events. Some events campus [on posters]. So, people have a special post as the budget who aren’t on Instagram they can may allow for us to serve 300-500 talk about it,” Hadef said. students, and some are catered for Hadef said she notices student a smaller group, and the free food union events happening on a weekly and swag is first come, first serve,” basis around campus. the LSU email said.
C Students accessing Langara's new food assistance program will receive a Superstore gift card. CALA ALI PHOTO
Gift cards replace food
Langara College closes campus food bank By SARAH AMY LEUNG
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angara College says it ended a program that provided free groceries to students because giving them gift cards offers more flexibility. Previously, Langara students could fill out an online form and anonymously pick up a weekly or monthly bag of non-perishable food at the Community Cupboard on campus, which opened in 2017. As of this term, students needing food assistance must schedule an appointment with a financial aid advisor to “investigate possible resources available,” according to Langara’s website. Jordan Berger, associate registrar of enrolment services, said that students picked up food, toiletries and other items at the Community Cupboard 3,400 times in 2022. Berger said each bag was worth approximately $25, but some
students left groceries behind. “They weren’t getting the whole bag because it was too heavy or wasn’t within their dietary needs,” Berger said. “We moved to the gift cards because that’s what we were hearing from students.” The replacement program this fall offers students one $200 Superstore gift card per semester. While there are no set eligibility requirements, Berger said what students share with the financial aid advisors helps to ensure that the assistance goes to those “who actually need it.” Berger said they switched to an appointment-based program to be able to have more thorough conversations with students about addressing their specific needs. “We’re only kind of six weeks into this, and we have not had as many inquiries for these [gift cards] as we were anticipating,” Berger said. Berger said they have been notify-
The college says gift cards give students more choices. CALA ALI PHOTO
ing Langarans of the change when students contact financial aid and through the Langara Post, an internal newsletter for college employees. First-year photography student San Chu, who was unaware of food assistance offered by the college, said while the new initiative still sounds beneficial, it needs greater visibility. Chu said more proactive communication from the college would help more students know that help is available. “Maybe putting it on the [Langara website’s] front page or somewhere where you can see it more easily,” Chu said. “Putting up posters around the school or maybe sending out an email.” Langara College has not issued any news releases about the new program and no specific details are provided on the financial aid webpage. Daniel Levangie, associate vicepresident of student success at Capilano University, said the North Shore school promotes its food supports through social media, student newsletters and physical messages on campus. Levangie said one way to make food security more available to students is to integrate assistance into routine interactions on campus. “We’re starting to bake it into the conversations we have with students, so that if finance or money comes up, food comes with it.” Levangie said the university is piloting a project stocking its counselling offices with on-hand lunches for students, creating immediate access without needing an additional referral. “[Counsellors] can actually just hand them a lunch kit and say, ‘here, take this for now, and a little more information for the next step.’” Levangie said gift cards serve as an immediate option for students in need. But in addition, Capilano provides its own community cupboard in partnership with the Capilano Students’ Union, hosts weekly pop-up events that provide students with free produce and houses a food security table in its student affairs office.
YOUR NEWLY ELECTED LSU COUNCIL
NEW TERM BEGINS JAN. 1, 2024
» Jashan Sangwan
» Harleen Kaur
» Ramandeep
» Harshdeep Singh
» Anurit Sangha
» Kirandeep Kaur
» Akash Rana
» Harinder Kaur
» Komaldeep Kaur
» Shiven Chopra
» Ashton Peterson
» Yuvraj Anttal
President
VP finance and administration VP internal affairs
VP external affairs VP student life
Indigenous students' rep.
International students' rep. Diversity and inclusion rep. General representative General representative General representative General representative SOURCE: LANGARA STUDENTS' UNION
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THE VOICE | THURSDAY OCT. 26, 2023 | EDITOR CHRISTOPHER HARCOURT
Photos and sto
High energy huskies crowd shelters
These aesthetic large dogs take longer to rehabilitate than other breeds
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aves of abandoned huskies are overwhelming shelters and BC SPCA branches around the Lower Mainland amidst adoption rates that are lower than normal. The Richmond branch of the BC SPCA and the Delta Community Animal Shelter have been particularly hit hard by an uptick of abandoned huskies appearing in recurring locations around Delta and farmland areas in Richmond. “It’s really hard to find homes, especially for huskies, because their breed themselves is a very energetic, very active breed,” said Erin Leoppky, an animal care attendant at the Delta shelter. “When they do not have the right stimulation or that kind of thing, they can be quite
destructive and loud and get into trouble.” Animal shelters across the province are experiencing the lowest adoption rates seen since the summer of 2022 according to the BC SPCA. Leo Cheung, an animal conservation officer at Richmond BC SPCA, says the huskies’ mental state upon arrival has significantly lengthened their recovery time at the shelter and ability to find a home. “Mentally, I would say a lot of them are borderline broken, to the point where like, they’re just zero trust,” said Cheung. Cheung and other staff are heartbroken by the condition these waves of huskies are in. He estimates the ideal turnaround time for adopting a surrendered dog
to be between six to nine weeks. Still, when these waves of abandoned huskies come in it can take upwards of three to five months to rehabilitate them. “Any dog that comes in undersocialized requires lots of time and commitment, and thankfully the team here has stepped up to the plate,” said branch manager of the Delta shelter, Ryan Voutilainen. “It did take a lot of effort. Now what we really need to do is get these animals into homes.” Voutilainen and Richmond BC SPCA are working together to determine where these huskies are coming from, and in the meantime, he is urging people not to abandon their pets. “Abandoning your pet is illegal, and can result in cruelty charges,”
said Voutilainen. “So we want to make sure that people are being responsible, and also trying to find alternative arrangements for their pets, rather than doing that.” Voutilainen says the public should educate themselves before choosing to adopt a pet. “Doing the research to kind of get a really good understanding as to what the costs are associated with keeping a pet, and those time commitments, is really helpful to make sure that before you bring that pet home.” Leoppky says despite the huskies’ poor condition when they first arrived, they’ve shown tremendous improvements with support from staff and volunteers. “They’ve come leaps and bounds,” said Leoppky.
News&features 5
Far left: 10-month-old husky rescue, Cosmo, stands inside his kennel at Delta Animal Community Shelter. Cosmo is currently awaiting adoption. Middle top: Animal care auxillary Marisa Reddy accompanies 10-month-old rescue husky Jade to meet her play buddy Cosmo outside the kennels at DCAS. Middle bottom: Richmond BC SPCA animal conservation officer Leo Cheung poses outside the BC SPCA Richmond branch. Top right: Tug-of-war between two huskies, Jade and Cosmo. Both were found abandoned in Delta several months ago and are up for adoption.
ories by Emily Best
High maintenance pups Huskies require a routine, mental stimulation and social bonding to live a happy life
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ancouver dog trainer and behaviourist Charlotte Hutchinson says huskies are “wonderful dogs, but for the right person.” Hutchinson said huskies are affectionate, high-energy dogs that bond more closely to their family than other breeds. “The ideal husky parent would probably be someone or a family that is super outdoorsy, has a yard, is happy to go on hikes, you know, three, four hours long,” said Hutchinson. “If you’re not around all the time, that’s something that can be really
hard for them. Especially huskies, they’re extremely emotional.” Hutchinson said that it’s not just physical exercise that keeps huskies healthy. “Huskies are super, super intelligent dogs,” said Hutchinson. “They need brain work. They need mental stimulation. They need nose work.” Though abandonment is traumatizing for any pet and is included in the Criminal Code for this reason, Hutchinson says huskies are more susceptible to long-term repercussions than other breeds. “It can really, really affect kind of how their life moves forward.
They can suffer from PTSD. It can be really hard for them to bond with that second family, their new home,” said Hutchinson. “They won’t be able to settle. “They’ll cry. It’s a struggle for them. They’re one of the harder dogs to kind of come back out of that abandonment.” Though recovery is a challenge, Hutchinson said it’s worth it. “They’re so beautiful, so amazing, extremely affectionate,” says Hutchinson. “They’re very, very positive and happy dogs to have around you if you’re the right family.”
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Photoessay
THE VOICE | THURSDAY, OCT. 26, 2023 | EDITOR TY LIM
Crushing the cage and classroom A Photo essay by TY LIM
s a consequence of MMA’s rise in popularity, the stereotype of backyard brawlers has died. Locally, MMA has grown in B.C.. The British Columbia Athletic Commission approved 96 applications for amateur MMA fighters in 2023 alone. That number alone accounts for nearly 58 per cent of applications from 2019-2023. Pinnacle MMA is a gym in the metro Vancouver area which hosts a multitude of fighters both professional and amateur. Vancouver’s Michael Tse is one of the many young fighters training out of Pinnacle MMA. At only 21 years old, Tse says he’d like to go as high in the sport as his ability would take him. After years of hitting pads and countless rounds of sparring, Tse recently decided to enter the amateur scene. He has a record of one win and one loss. Despite his athletic dreams, Tse still
realizes his dreams of going pro aren’t guaranteed. He studies criminology at SFU as a road to a career in law. “School’s definitely tough,” Tse said. “I have a fight next week, I have a midterm on the same day as the fight.” Tse expressed concerns about concussions, saying they have affected his schooling. “Yeah, after a hard sparring session, you definitely don’t want to be studying,” Tse said. Despite the struggles of academics and the low financial pay at the beginning of a fighting career, Tse still shows up to the gym day in and day out. “I don't think anyone in the MMA world does this sh** for the pay, especially at the beginning. You do it 'cause you love it and you want to compete in it,” Tse said.
COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Amateur MMA fighters Michael Tse and Justin Situ ready themselves for their upcoming bouts. Michael Tse wraps his gloves before the official photo shoot. After training, Michael Tse and Justin Situ admire the rest of the kick-boxing class. Michael Tse mentally prepares himself before entering the cage. Michael Tse lands a body shot on Justin Situ during a light sparring session. Justin Situ laces up his boxing gloves.
Arts&life
EDITOR EMMA SHULAR | THURSDAY, OCT. 26, 2023 | THE VOICE
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More students are experiencing anxiety in the past few years as cost of living and academic pressure increases. MAIYA SUZUKI PHOTO
New school year, more anxiety
Generalized anxiety has doubled for people aged 15 to 24 By MAIYA SUZUKI
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he number of students suffering from anxiety has dramatically increased in recent years, hurting their academic performance and overall well-being, experts say. A Statistics Canada study released in September 2023 showed the percentage of Canadians aged 15 and older diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder doubled from 2.6 per cent to 5.2 per cent between 2012 and 2022. For women, the number tripled from 3.8 per cent to a staggering 11.9 per cent. Lack of sleep, loneliness and bad
diets have long been the cause of stress for students. Today, ballooning inflation, crushing financial burdens and increased parental pressure are causing more anxiety, according to Andy Wilkins, a registered clinical counsellor located in Vancouver. He said previously, students would go to college to get a degree or diploma then figure out what they wanted to do next. Wilkins said now either the students are paying for themselves so they’re going into debt or parents are helping with tuition, which causes its own set of stressors. “They have more influence over what the student’s studying,” he said,
adding that students “don’t have that same autonomy, which can be stifling and anxiety provoking.” Mikayla Gelz, a fifth-year geography student at UBC diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, said she struggles with academic comparison with her peers, which triggers her anxiety during the school year. “School definitely makes me feel more anxious than being off or just working in the summer, and that’s because there’s kind of this like competitive aspect to it,” Gelz said. “But it’s hard not to compare yourself to other people and feel like you’re not doing enough.” In 2022, the Canadian Asso-
ciation of College & University Student Services reported anxiety as a top concern for college students in Canada, including a 29 per cent increase in anxiety between 2018 and 2022, a majority of which was during COVID. “Loneliness is going to make you more predisposed to anxiety,” Wilkins noted. Registered clinical counsellor Karen Hamill said students stop focusing on self-care when they’re stressed. “We stop eating, we stop exercising, we stay up too late,” she said. “All of the things that help us manage anxiety kind of go out the window.”
LIFETIME ANXIETY
2012 AND 2022 COMPARISON
8.7% ...of people had lifetime anxiety in 2012
13.3% ...of people had lifetime anxiety in 2022
4.6% ...increase over that decade SOURCE: STATCAN.GC.CA
Students bossing themselves around Young business owners work to balance school and their side hustles By LOUIS BERGERON
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tudents say running their own side business affords more flexibility than traditional jobs to work around their school schedule and helps them cope with the high cost of living. Yet it’s not always the perfect solution. A 2022 RBC Small Business poll showed that 84 per cent of small businesses started by Gen Z entrepreneurs were motivated to start a small business or side hustle due to the increasing cost of living. In 2023, RBC reconducted the poll and found that 84 per cent of respondents between 18 and 34 said that they think “entrepreneurship is a suitable alternative to traditional nine-to-five desk jobs.” Sarah Lubik, SFU Beedie School of Business professor and director of
entrepreneurship said that there is a variety of reasons students may want to start their own businesses. “People start it because they want a side hustle, they want something that is fun or cool. They see something as a hobby of theirs that they might be able to make money off of,” she said. “Other ones who, if they reach a ceiling in their job they might decide like ‘Screw this, I don’t want to work this hard to work for someone else. I should go and work for myself and make my own opportunities.’” Lubik also said that she has seen students having to run their own business more often in order to get through school, despite the struggles that may come with it. “You’re more responsible for yourself, which can, which can feel daunting,” she said. “So, you’re
more responsible for yourself, but then you own more of the upside if it goes well.” Stephanie Chau is a secondyear Langara student in the Asian studies program who has a hobby of crocheting simple bags for her friends and family, which she is turning into a business. She said that her biggest motivation to run her own business is money. “I want to earn money, but I don’t want to work for people. It makes me feel so stressed,” Chau said. Chau spends her time working on her emerging business whenever she is not attending school, but finds it challenging to share her time between her schoolwork and working on her crocheting. “I actually have to spend the whole day to do my schoolwork and also my crochet work,” said Chau.
Chau is not the only Langara student business owner who struggles to balance their school with their work. “The main con is just having to divide my time,” said fourth-year Langara student Matthew Jones. Jones, who has two degrees but came back to Langara College to take Asian studies, owns his own clothing business called Sexy Boys and Girls Club. He works out of a small studio on Fifth Avenue in Vancouver. “If you manage your time properly it’s not that much extra work . . . I like to have a balance in my life, so I do some school and some work and not just focus every- Matthew Jones with one of his shirts. LOUIS BERGERON PHOTO thing on one thing,” he said.
SportsNews
EDITOR MATEO MUEGO | THURSDAY, OCT. 26, 2023 | THE VOICE
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Betting apps hit jackpot with kids Concerns arise as sports betting gains popularity By EDMUND HAYLEY
started by playing fantasy sports online when they were teenagers. xperts have concerns that Fantasy sports leagues allow players free-betting options for to draft athletes to their team which sports lull people into a then their line-up of players compete false sense of mastery that against other people. Fantasy leagues results in them losing money. can have prize pools but also enable “There’s a lot more free play apps free options so anybody of any age and sites for people,” said Adrienne can play. Cossom, a Vancouver gambling Langara business students Jordan counsellor. She explained it’s an invi- Kupillas and Graeme Pratt both tation to, “hey, give it a try, you don’t played fantasy sports before starting have to bet money.” to gamble with real money as soon as Sports betting apps like Yahoo they turned 19. Fantasy and FanDuel allow minors Kupillas said he has friends who to place free bets on sports, so often sports gamble every day, after seemwhen they become the legal age to ingly getting hooked at a young age. gamble, they bet large amounts of “They do it every single day and money. it’s getting to be a bit of an issue,” Cossom said when anyone starts said Kupillas. He said some of his with these friends have free betting gotten to the options they point where “Hey, give it a try, can easily be they are asking “set down o borrow you don't have to bet tmoney the path” of to place gambling bets. money” addiction S p o r t s — ADRIENNE COSSOM, GAMBLING and financial b et t i n g h a s COUNSELLOR losses. b e c o m e S p o r t s i n c re a s i n g l y betting has the highest percentage popular in Canada due to intensified of returning players among any type and effective advertising campaigns. of gambling among youth as 25 per In Ontario, sports betting ads featurcent of youth aged 12 to 18 place ing pro-athletes were banned in multiple sports bets a month, accord- August, and it will be implemented ing to the McCreary Centre Society. in February 2024 because of Even card and dice games, which concern of their influence on youth. have more total students participat- As a result, young adults have been ing, see fewer kids returning to bet a surrounded by advertising for sports second time. betting apps in recent years. Cossom said that people with Some students think there need to experiences at a young age gambling be changes with legislation amidst have an increased risk “for gambling concerns from experts. getting problematic later on.” “It's terrible, especially with these Many students who bet on sports younger kids that are you know just
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Former Vancouver Canucks' goaltender Kirk McLean in an ad for the Parq Vancouver Casino. Sports betting ads featuring professional athletes have been banned in Ontario but B.C. has yet to follow. MATEO MUEGO PHOTO
turning 19 and they see all these athletes,” said Kupillas. “Ontario just made a thing to stop it so hopefully British Columbia follow in their footsteps too.” Sports betting companies use highprofile athletes like Connor McDavid and Wayne Gretzky to advertise their apps because people are more likely to use products endorsed by celebrities, according to Ana Gupta, a Langara marketing professor. Sports betting apps are becoming increasingly available and advertised to people as the online sports betting market grows, said Cossom. Recent legislation in Canada allows sports
betting on single games. Since the introduction of Bill C-218 on Aug. 27, 2021, Canadians have been able to bet on single-game events, such as NHL games, UFC fights and NASCAR races. Over three million people in Canada started sports gambling in the past year and 10 million have joined since single-game betting was legalized, according to Stastista.ca. But some students believe the advertising is not the problem with sports betting apps. Pratt said the issue is not seeing pro-athletes promoting sports betting apps. Instead, he says the problem is
how easy it is for young people to go online and place a bet. “There’s just constantly games every night,” Pratt said. He said every day is a betting opportunity for people addicted to sports gambling. “It’s all digital, so it makes it really easy for people to access,” Pratt said. Director of the centre for Gambling Research at UBC, Luke Clark, said the risk with sports gambling is that people think they know a lot about the sports they are betting on. He said sports bettors often think “that this might be an easy way for them to make money,” Clark added.
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