CAMPUS
Stress cheating
Academic misconducts persist at Langara; the stress of returning to campus could be why. P3
ONLINE SPECIAL
SCIENCE
Low flu immunity
Langara hosted vaccine clinics this month, but young adults are unlikely to get their flu shots. P6
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Birding bonanza
Bird watching has gained popularity during the pandemic as a safe pastime. langaravoice.ca
NOVEMBER 11, 2021 • VOL. 55 NO. 2 • VANCOUVER, B.C.
Pub, please!
Riding motorcycles helps vets heal
Students want to chat over drinks at Langara
P4-5
By LESIA POGORELO
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Bob Laing, a retired sergeant and communications specialist in the Canadian military, stands next to his motorcycle outside Langara College on Oct. 29, 2021. HOLLIE MCGOWAN PHOTO
Dicey intersection on 49
th
Safety activists say pedestrians are at risk on the roadway By CLAIRE A. WILSON
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wo blocks west of Langara College, students face the fifth most dangerous intersection in Vancouver. Sukhman Singh, a second-year student who studies food and nutrition services, witnessed a close call last month at Cambie Street and West 49th Avenue when a vehicle made a right turn on a red light. “The car was turning, and they almost crashed into one of the pedestrians,” Singh said. Singh said he feels unsafe when crossing the busy intersection and believes right-hand turns on red lights should be banned. According to ICBC, the intersection had 15 crashes involving pedestrians between 2016 and 2020. Pedestrian safety activists say that ICBC’s education initiatives are not doing enough to prevent pedestrian collisions. Martyn Schmoll, a pedestrian safety activist, has been critical of
ICBC on social media. He believes the issue lies not in a “Pedestrians ultimately have very lack of education for pedestrians and little control over their own safety. drivers but with Vancouver’s road In a car-centric transportation envi- infrastructure. ronment, we really are very much at “Eighty per cent of people are the mercy of the attentiveness and hit in intersections where pedescompetence of drivers around us,” trians are supposed to be protected Schmoll said. by right-of-way laws and purposeSchmoll said his attitude towards built infrastructure … It’s clearly ICBC campaigns would change if not a pedestrian issue, it has to do the corporation with road design,” demonstrated said. “The car was turning, Schmoll a correlation Winston Chou, between educamanager of the and they almost tional tips and a City of Vancoudrop in pedesver’s traffic and crashed into one of trian fatalities data management the pedestrians.” and injuries. He branch, said that — SUKHMAN SINGH, LANGARA STUDENT says ICBC did intersections with not provide him high volumes of with the data he was seeking. vehicles, pedestrians and turn move“Their answer was that they ments have the most collisions. measure the success of their Chou said that pedestrians are the campaigns in terms of impressions most vulnerable, and when collisions and engagement. In other words, occur, “the severity can be quite high.” the goal of those campaigns is PR Lindsay Wilkins, ICBC media community outreach and corporate relations adviser, said a campaign visibility,” Schmoll said. across the province is highlighting
the dangers of the fall and winter season for drivers and pedestrians. “You’ll see our local road safety coordinators out in communities distributing reflectors to pedestrians to help them be more seen,” Wilkins said. Langara students say the crosswalk lines at Cambie Street and West 49th Avenue should be made clearer, especially as Vancouver’s rainy fall season worsens visibility for drivers. Arash Hassanpour, a first-year business management student, said the transit stops in the area make it increasingly busy. “I always see a lot of crowds there waiting for the bus … I usually feel like something might happen,” Hassanpour said. Chou said his team will be re-examining the intersection with a fresh lens. “We’ll try and have a look to see if we can make some adjustments that are not very costly to improve pedestrian safety and priority at the intersection,” Chou said.
angara College lacks a social atmosphere on campus that students and staff believe could be filled by a bar. Second-year kinesiology student Saba Salehi said she doesn’t feel connected with other students, especially after more than a year of online learning. She said she doesn’t think any issues will arise if a bar were to open on campus. “As long as the students know their limits and understand the concept of having the bar in the campus,” Salehi said. “It’s not about just drinking, it’s about communication and making more connection and friends.” Langara business instructor Deland Jessop says the college lacks a non-academic space on campus for students and staff to unwind. “It’d be great to have like a nice little atmosphere where me and a couple colleagues could go after work and grab a quick beer before we leave campus,” Jessop said. The Langara Students’ Union used to have a liquor licence, but it hasn’t been restored since the pandemic started. Up until March 2020, two cafes in the LSU building served alcohol. David Han, manager of the Langara Cafe and The Union Cafe, said the cafes did not renew the liquor licence when the campus shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Han, employees get many beer requests from customers, especially on Fridays. An application for a new liquor licence was put in at the beginning of September. “The liquor licence is in process,” Han said. “I am sure it won’t be done this year, we are hoping to get it by January or February.” UBC has four pubs on its campus, which students say contributes to a more interactive atmosphere. Ananya Chavda, a fourth-year media studies student at UBC, said she visits a campus pub with her classmates at least once a week. Chavda said that in her second year, she and her classmates had a drink with their professor. “It felt like you’re on the same level, like you can actually talk and approach your prof after,” Chavda said. “I don’t think you get many opportunities like that at other places.”
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THE VOICE | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021 | EDITOR JAN BEVILACQUA
Mission to revitalize music and food scene City organizing events to bring new business to hard-hit industry
By ALEX ANTROBUS
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wo industries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic are being given new life and attention in Mission, B.C. The Menus and Melodies event, organized by Tourism Mission and the Mission Folk Music Festival, seeks to bring customers back to restaurants, pubs and coffee shops by hosting local musical acts for evening shows. The project, I Love Mission, was given a relaunch by city council in June to help local businesses stay afloat during and after the pandemic, and is organized by Mission’s manager of tourism, Clare Seeley. “We knew that musicians had been really hard hit and out of work throughout the pandemic. And for this particular part of the project we also knew that restaurants have continued to be hard hit,” Seeley said. “Menus and Melodies would hopefully not only help to boost the restaurants, but would also give the musicians work, and would also give
MUSIC SCENE
FAMOUS ARTISTS FROM MISSION
» Isaiah Faber
Known as Powfu, his single, "Death bed (coffee for your head)," has received over one billion plays on Spotify since it was released in 2020.
» Faber Drive
Juno Award-nominated band Led by Dave Faber, father of Isaiah Faber.
» Carly Rae Jepsen
Her song, "Call me maybe," became a pop cultural phenomenon in 2012. Since then, it has received over one billion views on Youtube.
the community reason to come out.” The second show of the festival took place at Corona’s Mexican Restaurant on Oct. 27th, featuring the John Welsh Duo. “It was great, it was a lot of fun,” said Lupita Corona, who owns and manages the restaurant. “There was a big line-up, many people had the chance to come to the concert.” “Right now the sales aren’t very good, but that night was amazing.” Laura Wheeler, who is playing at English Tarts on Nov. 17, is excited for the return of live performance, and the community it fosters. “There's nothing quite so special as being in a room with live music being played, and we've been missing that for years now,” Wheeler said. “I think this is absolutely a fantastic chance for everyone once again to kind of come back together in music.” Like much of the re-opening efforts taking place across Canada, the event took cooperation and hard work. Michelle Demers Shaevitz, artistic director of the Mission Folk Music Festival, is no stranger to either. “I’m not gonna lie, this last year has been extra hard. The music is so important, but for me, even equally, is the community that emerges around these kinds of things,” she said. “To be able to sort of start slowly and safely bringing that community back together? That has meant the world to me. Knowing that people can get out, get together with friends, and go see some music, those are the baby steps we need to get back to the festival.” “We want the community to know that we’re still here - even though we haven’t been for two years - and that we’re really passionate about continuing.” The last show of the project takes place Nov. 18, with the Patrick Anthony Duo playing at The Penny. But Seeley has plans to have a capstone celebration on Dec. 2 at the city’s movie theatre, another local business hit hard in recent years. “We’re going to show a Hallmark movie that was filmed in Mission, free of charge for the public, and the plan is to bring musicians in that will play Christmas carols,” Seeley said. “And then to try and have a little bit of a farmers market.”
Businesses along Railway Avenue, just south of Mission's commercial centre First Avenue, across from the city's West Coast Express station. DAVID ANTROBUS PHOTO
Atlarge
The Tofino volunteer fire department, seen here in an undated photo, currently has 30 members, many of whom have jobs and businesses outside of the fire hall.DISTRICT OF TOFINO PHOTO
Proposal to pay Tofino firefighters
Recommendation made to city council with an aim to keep volunteer fire stations staffed By JAN BEVILACQUA
that would be coming from property taxes. he days of unpaid mandaThe recommendation was tory on-call shifts may approved unanimously, with counbe coming to an end for cillors Britt Chalmers, Duncan the Tofino volunteer fire McMaster and Tom Stere voicing department. support. During a city council meeting “Frankly, I believe that our held Oct. 12, fire chief Brent Baker community is getting a bargain for recommended changes to the fire and the level of service the Tofino volunlife safety bylaw, which has not been teer fire department delivers,” said updated Stere during since 2004. the meeting. Among If approved, t h o s e Tofino will “They're trying to manage changes is not be alone their own lives. They don't a proposed in shifting its $450 per pay structure necessarily have the free weekend to meet the time that they used to. " honorarneeds of its ium paid volunteer fire — FIRE CHIEF BRENT BAKER, TOFINO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT to volunfighters. teer fireAcross the fighters province, for on-call weekends during holidays many fire departments are lookand peak summer months. ing for ways to keep their stations Currently, each officer is required staffed. to commit to seven weekends per In a blog post by fire chief Vince year where they must be ready and Mackenzie of Grand Falls-Windsor, willing to work between Friday night N.L., a census conducted earlier this and Monday morning, totaling 62 year by the Canadian Association of hours. Fire Chiefs counted about 100,000 This creates a hardship, said Baker, volunteer firefighters across Canada. as many members of his team have jobs outside of the fire department. “Not very many people can turn down paid work to be on call on a volunteer basis for 62 hours straight,” said Baker, who would like to ease the financial burden for staff, many of whom work in the tourism industry. “By providing guaranteed wage, they can make that financial decision for themselves to sign up and be committed to that and not necessarily feel like maybe they have to pick up an extra shift at their place of employment.” The proposed honorarium would equate to an hourly wage of $7.26 The logo for Tofino volunteer fire for on-call staff and cost the city department DISTRICT OF TOFINO PHOTO nearly $19,000 annually, an amount
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That is a noted decline from 126,000 volunteers in 2016, from a census conducted by the National Fire Protection Association. Fire chief Dustin Curry, of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., said that about 70 per cent of firefighters in the province are volunteers and many have careers outside of emergency response. Curry was an auto mechanic before joining the fire department 16 years ago. Eventually his work caught the attention of the fire chief, who encouraged him to become a volunteer. Within the Tumbler Ridge volunteer fire department, many of its members work in coal, oil and gas, and wind farming. The department also created a flexible schedule that allows stay-at-home parents to volunteer while their children are at school. “I would definitely say that [Baker] is following a trend that we're seeing, not just in B.C., but across the country in terms of recruitment and retention and coming up with new ideas and strategies in order to try and secure those valuable tools, which is our personnel, to maintain our service levels,” said Curry. For Curry and Baker, both living in small towns with roughly the same population, making life a little easier for their volunteers is important. “They're trying to manage their own lives. They don't necessarily have the free time that they used to. Everybody's just gotten so much busier in the last few years managing their businesses. But also, things have changed quite substantially with COVID,” said Baker, who said that some of his volunteers now spend their weekends covering staff shortages due to the pandemic. The motion to update the bylaw with the proposed wage structure moves on to the budget council. If passed, it will be enacted in 2022.
Campusnews
EDITOR ALEX ANTROBUS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021 | THE VOICE
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Return to campus fails to curb elevated academic misconduct Faculty are worried but understand the challenges that students are facing By LAUREN VANDERDEEN
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tress and difficulty adjusting to the return to campus may explain the high level of cheating among students that has continued at Langara College since the COVID-19 pandemic. Erin Hagen, a student conduct officer at Langara said last year’s rise in academic misconduct cases at Langara was extensive. She said there was about a 30 to 40 per cent increase across the college. That number has not gone down since students returned to in-person classes on campus. “Numbers are pretty high still, like pretty similarly high to what they were last year,” Hagen said. At post-secondary schools all over the world, cases of cheating, plagiarism, unacceptable collaboration and other forms of academic misconduct rose drastically during the pandemic. But Langara is doing better than most schools. Sarah Elaine Eaton, an associate professor at the University of Calgary who researches academic integrity, isn’t surprised by the high numbers. “To be honest, i f yo u’v e h a d a 30 to 40 per c e n t i n c re a s e, compared with what I’ve heard globally, that ’s n o t h i n g, ” s h e Sarah Elaine said. Eaton Hagen offered ACADEMIC INTEGRITY RESEARCHER t w o e x p l a n a tions for the high numbers. She said more instructors might be aware of Langara’s student conduct and academic integrity office, so they are reporting more incidents.
Students and staff talk in the library of Langara College. LAUREN VANDERDEEN PHOTO
She also suggested students had learned bad behaviours during the pandemic that are continuing now. Marianne Gianacopoulos, the chair of Langara’s management programs division, acknowledged the difficulties students faced with the sudden shift to online learning. “ T h e p re s s u re s w i t h t h e pandemic for many people were insurmountable, so we saw an increase in misconducts,” said Gianacopoulos. Jer ic a Yoon, a recreation
management student at Langara, said it made sense that cheating became more common during the pandemic, but she said Langara has done a good job of making resources available to students. Two of her classes included a mandatory module on avoiding plagiarism. “If I found someone cheating, I wouldn’t think it’s because Langara didn’t teach students or didn’t provide enough support,” Yoon said. She added that with all the
information given to students, it would be wrong for them to cheat. Chris Schmidt, a computer science instructor at Langara, agreed. “[Students] have some responsibility to know the basic expectations here.” Schmidt sees a common theme throughout the plagiarism cases he reports. “The higher stress a student is under the more likely they are to have issues,” he said. When it comes to dealing with students’ academic misconduct,
some Langara faculties said empathy is important. Gianacopoulos believes that the misconducts aren’t always intentional. She said many students feel they do not have the help they need. She noted that students have other stressors and challenges in life other than school, and it is OK to ask for help. “Coming to [students] with compassion would be such a huge, beneficial change for them,” Gianacopoulos said.
B.C. academia embraces indigenization Indigenous artwork can be an effective avenue of education
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. She said that “the work that [she] did at the National Inquiry is going to provide a focus for [her] at UVic.” Buller said she will be looking at decolonization with the university. “Where can we decolonize? How can we indigenize curricula in addition to By CHRIS MACMILLAN relationship building?” Shandin Pete, an Indigenous he first Indigenous chancellor hydrogeologist and science educaof the University of Victoria tor with UBC’s department of earth, says Indigenous art can have a ocean and atmospheric sciences, said key role in promoting indione of the biggest chalgenization and decolonizalenges facing Indigenous “It doesn't take tion at schools like Langara. people within post-secondMarion Buller, the ary institutions is feeling much to open a book first Indigenous woman outnumbered. and read about your promoted as a provin“I’m a part of just a very cial judge in B.C. and the small cohort of Indigenous neighbours[...]” chief commissioner of scholars,” he said. — SHANDIN PETE the National Inquiry into Pete said post-secondUBC HYDROGEOLOGIST AND EDUCATOR Missing and Murdered ary institutions can better Indigenous Women and represent and connect with COURTESY OF UBC Girls, says the recent red Indigenous cultures and dress exhibit seen around Langara's southern Vancouver Island. people. “It doesn’t take much to open campus can be both shocking and Buller came to national attention a book and read about your neighmoving. as the chief commissioner on the bours and […] understand the norms
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“I think they make people think, they make people feel, and make people react. And that’s very important.” Buller was appointed as UVic chancellor on Nov. 5. She said that while it is an honour for her to be appointed chancellor, she is joining two other Indigenous university chancellors in B.C.: Steven Point at UBC and Judith Sayers at Vancouver Island University. She said her focus will be building the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, both within campus and throughout
A red dress display hangs in front of Langara's campus. CHRIS MACMILLAN PHOTO
of a community.” The recent red dress exhibit at Langara campus was part of the REDress project created by artist Jaime Black. Similar exhibits were seen across Canada and the U.S., beginning in 2010. According to Black’s website, the project consists of red dresses hanging to commemorate the loss of more than 1,000 Indigenous women as a result of
“the gendered and racialized nature of violent crimes against Aboriginal women.” Paisley Samoil, a first-year fine arts student at Langara, noticed the month-long red dress exhibit on campus. “It drew my attention. I knew what it was about, too, so I thought it was a good representation or a good thing to think about,” Samoil said.
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THE VOICE | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER. 11, 2021 | EDITOR MAXINE ELLIS
Veterans find comfor
Biking brings ex-military pers
Community and healing are found in a shared
C
anadian war veterans are finding camaraderie and healing in motorcycle clubs within the Metro Vancouver area. Even years after leaving the military, retired soldiers are connecting with fellow veterans for support after experiencing the lasting effects of war. Wayne Williams, a former reser vist and member of the 56 Field Engineer Squadron, said both his bike and the veteran biker
Bob Laing, retired sergeant and communications specialist in the Canadian Military, sitting on his motorcycle while sporting his military beret and medals. HOLLIE MCGOWAN PHOTO
“I call it my wind therapy.” — WAYNE WILLIAMS, VETERAN AND MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIAST Robert Seckler (second from the left) pictured with the 9 platoon Oscar company in Alberta, 1987. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT SECKLER
comm that other tary e “C demo them up w ride cate, word them Bo comm Cana nity o out o when he w bike a came land
rt on the open road
News&features 5 Stories by Hollie McGowan
sonnel together
d passion for motorcycles
munity act as companions, one allows him to escape, and the r that understands his past miliexperiences. Call them your struggles or your ons or whatever you want to call m,” Williams said. “You can meet with [other veteran bikers]. You with them, you can communisometimes it’s not even through ds, they just get you and you get m.” ob Laing, a retired sergeant and munications specialist in the adian military, said his commuof veteran bikers continue to go of their way to check on him even n times are tough. Once when was in the hospital after a serious accident, his veteran biker friends e from all over the Lower Mainto check in on him. “The guys that I ride with came from Agassiz, Mission, Abbotsford, Langley, Burnaby [and] Vancouver,” Laing said. “They all dropped in to see me to make sure I was doing OK, and make sure my family was doing OK.” The network of veterans within the province is strong, with a substantial number throughout British Columbia. According to Statistics Canada, there are currently 87,700 war veterans living in the province. “A lot of veterans, because of their
PTSD, get stuck away in a closet,” Laing said. “They don’t want to come out, and they don’t want to see anybody. And that’s why we have a lot of veterans take their lives when they get out because it’s just hard to compete out here. “[It’s] hard to live a civilian life after you’ve lived in the military.” Veteran bikers note the therapeutic effects of simply getting on their motorbikes and going for a ride. “I call it my wind therapy,” Williams said. “It allows you to be out; just have the wind in your face, be in a moment, appreciate your surroundings.” Devin Wilkins, who was in the United Nations Protection force in Croatia during the Yugoslav wars and is currently a member of the Commandos Motorcycle Club, said his bike rides are a form of meditation for him. “ You have to be paying attention to what you're doing,” Wilkins said. “So everything else falls away.” Veteran bikers also mention the similarities between riding their bikes and working together in the military. “It's also a formation. It's us as a group,” said Robert Seckler, president of the Mainland Crew of the Veterans UN NATO Canada. “So it's structured like the military … You’re trusting the people you're riding with to keep you safe.” Not only are they getting together to ride, but many of the veteran biker communities also do charity work raising money for other war veteran support services, military grave maintenance, seniors, bikes for underprivileged children, and service dogs for veterans. “Our point is to help people, primarily veterans, but we'll help anybody,” Wilkins said regarding his work with the Commandos Motorcycle Club. “It's good for our mental health.”
Bob Laing shows off his military medals, including (from left to right) one NATO medal, a Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, UN forces in Cyprus Medal, UN Disengagement Observation Force Medal, Canadian Forces Decoration Medal. HOLLIE MCGOWAN PHOTO
Group healing an alternative to therapy
Bike communities creating a more comfortable environment to talk about PTSD
I
ncreasing numbers of Canadian ex-military personnel are supporting one another in dealing with PTSD. “A lot of guys will joke about some of the stuff they’re dealing with,” said Robert Seckler, president of the Mainland Crew, a branch of Veterans UN NATO Canada. “They'll open up a little bit and one of our members will just say, ‘Hey, I'm here if you need it.’ It's more of a safe atmosphere to be able to talk to them and we have a lot of guys who have been trained extensively in PTSD counsel-
ling and stuff as well,” Seckler said. “So, without making it such a formal process of, ‘Hi, come on in let's talk
“One of our members will just say, 'Hey, I'm here if you need it.'” — ROBERT SECKLER, PRESIDENT OF THE MAINLAND CREW
about your PTSD,’ they can just have a beer and talk about it and it really does help them.”
Irene Brady, a counsellor in Penticton, British Columbia who worked with veterans dealing with wartime trauma, said that the mental health benefits for those that seek help within their own communities are significant. “When individuals who share a common struggle come together, it gives them the sense that they’re not alone in their struggle,” Brady said. “It then creates a sense of connection which I think with PTSD and any trauma experiences, you can feel very isolated and disconnected from yourself and from others.”
Members of the Commandos Motorcycle Club, a club specifically for active and retired Canadian Armed Forces and Allied Military members, going for a ride. PHOTO COURTESY OF WAYNE WILLIAMS
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Sciencenews
THE VOICE | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021 | EDITOR CHRISTI WALTER
Youth ignoring flu shot urgency
B.C. health experts have been predicting high rates of influenza this season By JEN SHANNON
Y
oung adults are the least likely to be vaccinated against influenza, according to Statistics Canada and health experts are urging them to get the jab as they predict a severe flu season. Langara College held its annual free flu shot clinics over the last two weeks to encourage higher vaccination rates on campus. Experts are concerned about this year’s flu season, saying the population’s immunity will be low after 18 months of social distancing and strict hygiene practices. “This year, it’s especially important for people to get vaccinated against influenza,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, in a statement on B.C.’s government website. “Last year’s low influenza rates means our immunity against influenza is lower than usual.” An August preprint study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted large influenza numbers in 2021 that could lead to an increase in hospitalizations — a concern for B.C. hospitals dealing with COVID-19 cases. A U.S. study supported by the CDC found flu vaccines can prevent hospitalization. Shea Rennie, a third-year Langara nursing student, who helped run the clinics, said these past 18 months have placed an unprecedented strain on the healthcare
system. “Getting this flu shot is one way to minimize putting extra weight on this already very burdened system,” she said. Langara’s Health Services said the initial two-day turnout at its clinics was roughly the same as previous years. It did not supply numbers for the second two days by The Voice’s deadline. According to Stat Canada, adults aged 18 to 34 have the lowest percentage of flu vaccinations. In a government of Canada survey published in 2020, the most common reason adults gave for not getting the flu shot was that they were healthy or had never had the flu. Alex Vardy, a third-year nursing student at Langara who also helped organize the clinics, said the flu might seem benign — but it’s not. “Even though many people do get [the flu], and it’s likely that a lot of people have gotten sick by the influenza, it doesn’t mean that everyone will be okay afterwards,” he said. Pritin Sachdeva, a Langara marketing student, received his first flu shot at the student clinic. “Especially after COVID, I’m taking my vaccinations seriously,” he said. The college’s website states that students must attend all classes and are responsible for class work or assignments missed due to illness. A medical certificate may be required for repeated absences.
Alexander Boston, chair of the Langara philosophy department, said instructors may determine their own attendance and grading policies for students who need to stay home sick with the flu or COVID-19. “I not only think it is up to the departments, but I also think it is up to the individual instructor,” he said. “Personally, I don’t require a note, and I simply grant extensions. That said, if a policy comes down from on high, I will abide by it.”
CANADIANS & FLU SHOTS
2019-2020 GOVERNMENT SURVEY
» 49%
adults who got the flu shot to stay healthy
» 13%
seniors concerned with vaccine safety
» 26% chronically ill adults who didn't get the shot
» 21%
healthy adults who said they would not get the shot because they hadn't gotten the flu or that they were healthy
Rainel Terciano and Gurkiran Teja, term 7 nursing students, host the information booth for Langara's flu clinics. JEN SHANNON PHOTO
Join the conversation #BCflushot
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA
Businessnews
Apps help preserve your money, sanity
Young adults turn to phones amidst uncertainty, financial fears
By CLARISSA KURNIAWAN
W
ith young adults across Canada facing the highest unemploy ment rates of any age group during the pandemic, many students are experiencing financial anxiety. Finance apps are replacing cat ears on Zoom as a new pandemic-trend, as fears of financial insecurity settle in. A 2020 survey by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found that 63 per cent of young people in member countries are concerned about their economic well-being. In Canada,
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. We welcome letters to the editor. They may be edited for brevity. Your letter must include your name and phone number.
young adults faced higher unemployment rates than any other age group in 2020-21, according to a recent report from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. Jane Tran, who will be studying graphic design at Langara in the spring, had anxiety about her finances during the pandemic. “Thinking of everyone going through the same thing, it brings a lot of comforts.” Tran said. “There’s that feeling that we are going through the struggle together. It makes you less lonely.” In the U.S., according to a report from Global Wireless Solutions, a company that analyzes mobile consumer data, young people increased their hours spent on financial apps by 102 per cent, the highest of any age category. “Every generation increased usage of finance apps, but Gen Z lead the
charge,” the report said. The finance app market includes investment apps like Wealthsimple, budgeting apps like Mint, and apps like Student Price Card which provides student discounts for over 450 retail brands across Canada.
Many students turned to financial online tools during this time. Canadian use of mobile banking apps increased by 40 per cent in 2020, as measured by Sensor Tower, an America mobile metrics-tracking company.
Caitlin Sklad, assistant branch manager at RBC, said she’s seen a significant rise in younger people opening up direct investing accounts since the start of the pandemic. "There's a lot of things that friends were telling other friends to do," she said. Online investment tools like direct investing allow users to trade, invest in a retirement plan and access other choices through their phones. Brenda St Louis, a Vancouverbased financial therapist and money coach, warned students to be careful. “Most students will take more risks than someone in the workforce sometimes. You want to understand what you’re doing before you do it,” she said, adding that understanding how money works can also help with financial anxiety. Podcasts and social media sites have allowed students to share and
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gain financial advice. Jessica Moorhouse, an Ontariobased financial educator and host of the More Money Podcast, said the pandemic caused more young people to share online about their financial personal opinions. “The more we talk about it, the better we all [will] be. If everyone has a higher level of financial literacy, the entire society would benefit from it. Everyone can learn and apply this stuff. It just takes time and patience,” said Moorhouse.
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Arts&life
EDITOR PATRICK WACHTER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021 | THE VOICE
7
Indigenous artist unveils his Haida art
Christopher Auchter posing in front of the crab at the Museum of Vancouver. NICOLETTE COLOSIMO PHOTO
Mouse Woman sculpture that is on display at the Museum of Vancouver. NICOLETTE COLOSIMO PHOTO
A South Van artist sculpts a character from his short Mountain of SGaana By NICOLETTE COLOSIMO
H
aida filmmaker Christopher Auchter created a unique take on an ancient Haida fable by focusing on a female protagonist whose story is told without dialogue. Auchter read several traditional versions of the story Mountain of SGaana before adapting it into a short animated film. He is screening the film at a long-term exhibition Indigeneity Rising at the Museum of Vancouver. His first sculpture, Mouse Woman, is also on display. In Auchter’s version of Mountain of SGaana, a young Haida fisherman is lost until he meets a feisty character named Mouse Woman who
tells him a story that anchors him to Haida culture. Mouse Woman spins the magical tale by knitting a blanket, and the story unfolds as the blanket gets longer with a colourful array of Haida designs and graphics that have meaning in oral tradition. As the story progresses, the designs change, relaying important events throughout the story. Auchter wanted the female protagonist to be the heroine, so he altered the traditional story and made the woman dive into the spirit world to save the man she loves. “I don’t think a Haida woman would sit around waiting for a Haida man to come rescue them,” Auchter said. The protagonist was modelled after his grandmother, mother and aunts who have been strong figures in
his life. Auchter’s sister, Nikita Auchter, sings three Haida songs in the film. The heroine in the animation sings these
“It just really shows you the talent that exists today in these Indigenous communities.” — SHARON FORTNEY CURATOR OF INDIGENOUS COLLECTIONS AT THE MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER
songs to get herself out of trouble. She said she felt connected to the character and enjoyed digging deeper into her heritage through learning these songs.
“It is important to sing Haida songs because there are very few people in the world that speak Haida fluently,” she said. The story unravels through the characters’ actions rather than dialogue. Christopher Auchter said the Haida language is rarely heard in daily life and the lack of dialogue in the video emphasizes its rarity. Shirley Vercruysse, the National Film Board producer of the short film, said the lack of dialogue gives it a global reach. Since there are no language barriers, audiences around the world can discover Haida culture through the film. “The Mountain of SGaana is such a beautiful exploration . . . The complexity and the richness of it allows for a sense of discovery, going on this jour-
ney with a very unique filmmaker, and this story that is so precious to him,” Vercruysse said. Sharon Fortney, the curator of Indigenous collections at the Museum of Vancouver, said that the exhibit showcases the creativity and dynamism of Indigenous artists. “It just really shows you the talent that exists today in these Indigenous communities,” Fortney said. Auchter said when he sought the story out himself, it made him feel more powerful and grounded because Haida stories are still absent from everyday life. “When you learn a new story, you pull your culture closer into you,” Auchter said. “You become closer to what it is to be Haida, so the stories aren’t lost.”
Studio 58's next play 'Everybody' set to excite
Angus Yam poses in the poster for 'Everybody'. EMILY COOPER PHOTO
Audiences can look forward to a colourful play By ASHLEY BURGOYNE
S
tudio 58 is promising a captivating set design for its newest production, Every-
body. The cast and crew say they are excited to work in a transformed space and say the audience will be
surprised to see the theatre. The play, which runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 3, will feature uniquely sourced props and costumes to go along with the set design. Ben Brown, costume crew member and second year student, said the set design will set the tone for the show. “You're going to be waiting in sort of exciting anticipation for the show to start once you see what the set is looking like,” Brown said. Assistant director and third year student Harmony Yen said the inspiration comes from old English-style theatres.
“The design is really strong and “Being able to get back into the captivating, so it's really exciting theatre, and be able to perform to bring those images to life,” said a show, in front of actual human Kahlila Ball, second year student beings in the same room is really and crew head of the props crew. emotional,” Foy said. The prop team of seven is workKim Collier, a Studio 58 alumna ing with set designer Emerenne of 1994, is directing the producSaefkow. tion. “One thing that we're going to Yen praised Collier and the be doing a lot by hand is paper experience of getting to work flowers, and that has a special alongside her. technique that Emerenne has “Every time she comes into worked on,” said Ball. rehearsal, she brings a very fresh The play perspective “Every time she [Collier] was written into how by Branden she sees this comes into rehearsal, Jacobs-Jenkins play,” said and is a Yen. she brings a very fresh witt y take The show perspective into how she on the 15th has a cast of Century 27 actors, sees this play.” m o r a l making it — HARMONY YEN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF i t y p l a y, one of the 'EVERYBODY' Ever yman. largest casts Jacobs-Jenkins was nominated as Studio 58 has had in recent years. a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2018 for "It presented an opportunity Everybody. to actually create a chorus,” said Yen said that the audience will Foy, who is one of the nine chorus resonate with the play because actors. of the losses people experienced Costume designer Donnie through COVID-19. Tejani, who is working at Studio “It touches on these really big, 58 for the first time, said the audiprofound questions about what it ence can anticipate surprises from is to be alive and how do we as the show. human beings navigate that,” said “I think you can expect a lot of Tristen Foy, actor and third year new experiences from this play. It's student at Studio 58. such a wild script,” he said. Foy spent 2020 at his home in Tejani said,adding the costumes Manitoba to be with his family reflect the existentialist theme of through the pandemic. the play.
Tickets for students are $10
PLAY FACTS
»Historical title
The original play name is titled The Somonyng of Everyman.
» First performance
The play was first performed at the Charterhouse in London during the month of July in 1901.
» Film Adaptation
The film adaptation of the play was shot in 1913 and produced by Kinemacolor.
» Recent play
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins adaptation premiered in 2017 at the Pershing Square Centre in NYC. SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA.COM
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Sportsnews
THE VOICE | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021 | EDITOR MANAV ARORA
Mixed results for Falcons teams Douglas Royals guard Filip Karanovic tries to dribble past Falcons' defence on the Nov.5 game at Langara Gymnasium GRAHAM ABRAHAM PHOTO
While the men recovered from a tough loss in their PACWEST opener to win their next two games, the women have some catching up to do By GRAHAM ABRAHAM
I
n their return to competition after the pandemic hiatus, the Langara men’s basketball team rallied from an opening-match loss to win their next two games on home court against Douglas College last week. Langara’s women, meanwhile, will try to recover from their three-game losing streak. Rallying from a season-opening defeat at the hands of Capilano University, Langara’s men defeated the Douglas College Royals 97-85 on Nov. 6, a day after winning an intense 89-84 battle. Men’s coach Paul Eberhardt said he thinks the men can challenge for one of the top two spots in the league.
“We dominated the boards and as “I do expect us to continue to I tell the guys, if we do that we’re improve throughout the year,” she gonna win most games,” Eberhardt said. “So whether or not we are said, though remained cautious. “We nationals-ready yet, hopefully by the have so many new [players]. end of the year we will be.” I just have to remind myself In the men’s last game, to be patient.” Douglas took the lead with The women also got four minutes remaining in off to a tough start with a the last quarter until Jas season-opening loss against Dhudwal made a free throw Capilano University, but and tied at 81-81 were unable to recover, With less than three suffering a 71-62 loss to Paul Eberhardt minutes remaining in the Douglas College on Nov. 5 MEN'S BASKETBALL game, Saleem Ali-Musa’s COACH and an even more lopsided layup gave Langara a two82-47 defeat the next day. point advantage, a lead the Women’s coach Virginia Watson home team was able to build upon to said she hopes the women can take eventually win by 12 points. the steps necessary to reach the playThe day before, Falcons guards offs and the Canadian Collegiate Royce Sargaent and AJ Chahal had Athletic Association Champion- 17 points apiece, and guard Nic ships. Lafontaine hit four three-pointers.
Royals guard Jarrett Jacobs scored a game-high 23 points. In the women’s last match, Douglas College jumped to a 26-14 advantage in the opening quarter, and Langara’s women were never able to catch up. The day before, guard Rachel Labrador led Langara’s women with 13 points. Douglas was powered by Laini Glover’s commanding 31 points and 16 rebounds. In Langara’s PACWEST home opener last month, Capilano’s men dominated 107-93 while its women won 72-59 at the Langara gym on Oct. 29. The games marked the first PACWEST action for the Falcons since the 2019-20 season, before competition was cancelled due to the pandemic.
GAME SCHEDULE » VIU Mariners-Nov 12 900 Fifth St. VIU Gymnasium
» Camosun ChargersNov 13 4371 Interurban Rd, Victoria Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence
» OC Coyotes-Nov. 26 100 West 49 St. Langara College
SOURCE:PACWESTBC.CA
PACWEST resumes season, cancels golf Insufficient golf teams for 202122 disqualifies league from CCAA By GRAHAM ABRAHAM
P
ast members of the Langara and PACWEST golf communities are disappointed in the indefinite cancellation of the PACWEST golf league. PACWEST announced that golf will not be a part of the upcom-
ing 2021-2022 competitve season. CCAA requires atleast three competitive programs to compete in PACWEST to qualify for the CCAA Golf Championships. With Vancouver Island University dropping their golf program, only Langara College and Camosun College were left to play. “As with numerous programs across the country some of our member institutions were forced to pair-down their athletics program and unfortunately golf has become a casuality.” said PACWEST President Jake McCallum in a PACWEST press release last June. “We are hopeful that in time golf
will return but for the foreseeable future it will not be a part of the PACWEST competitive season.”
“If COVID never happened, I believe we would be having a golf season right now.” —RYAN WATTERS, PACWEST MEDIA
Former Langara student and Falcons’ golf team member Cole Kendy, now the head of marketing for Construct by Nuthatch, said he made lifelong friends during his experience with the Langara golf
program. “I thought it really helped my game playing for that team and I grew so much,” said Kendy. “That’s something that a lot of us wouldn’t have had if our seasons kept on getting cancelled, so I’m really thankful for the time I had there.” PACWEST communications and media coordinator Ryan Watters said it wasn’t a question of lack of interest from athletes, and he had seen no signs of declining recruitment pre-pandemic. “If COVID never happened, I believe we would be having a golf season right now,” said Watters. Former VIU golf coach and
wealth manager Mike Hrabowych provided insight into his old program’s decision. “From the VIU side of things, they stated reasons such as budgetary concerns, COVID uncertainty, inequity in the league between guys and girls,” said Hrabowych. “They could have been answered or resolved, those issues and concerns they had, but the decision had already been made it seemed like.” Hrabowych said he feels especially bad for the student-athletes missing out. “They’re the ones who are taking the brunt of the pain, so I just feel terrible for them.”