Langara student an olympic hopeful.....................8 Abdul Fádel placed fifth in the Judo World Championships; now he hopes to land another podium
line at s out on m u k c e h o C avoice.c langar k for a story o eek lo oversy This w y contr t the n o K e h on t ut wha ws abo howing and ne g a e is s t s 8 5 Studio nth! this mo
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Seismic upgrade overdue As the world marks the first anniversary of the Japan ’quake, Langara’s Building A needs a refit By MICHELLE GAMAGE
D KEZIA NATHE photo
The above untitled image by second-year photo student Kezia Nathe won the Jan de Haas Memorial trophy for the Most Creative Image.
Student snaps up eight wins
Kenzia Nathe wins in eight categories at annual photo competition By AUDREY McKINNON
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angara College swept the photography awards at a competition this month. Langara hosted ImageQuest 2012. Two weekends ago, the Annual Print Salon Judging, that put professional photographers and students side-by-side. Langara alumni, students and one instructor walked away with an abundance of awards and recognition after the judging. Langara photo-imaging instructor David Scougal, a member of Professional Photographers of Canada-B.C., was presented with an award at the ceremony, but much of his pride goes out to his students who stood out against the pros. Kezia Nathe, a second-year Langara photography student, took home eight awards in total. It was unprecedented times two,”
said Scougal who says he was happy to see a Langara student win the outlandish Jan de Haas Memorial trophy for the Most Creative Image for the second year in a row. Twenty-year-old Nathe said she will keep the tall trophy, which features a silver baby floating inside, at the school until it is awarded to next year’s winner. She also won Best Portrait, Best Commercial entry for a student, Student Photographer of the Year and four Judge’s Choice awards. Her peer, firstyear student Jan Snarski also received a Judge’s Choice award. “I guess I can say now I’m a multiaward winning photographer,” said Nathe. Scougal said the judges have no idea whose photograph is whose when they silently categorize them as either unaccepted, accepted, merit or excellence.
“Even accepted is good. . . . It means it’s an outstanding image from a professional photographer,” said Scougal. The jury foreman, who reads out the standings, read out four excellences after two of the judges reconsidered their original votes of merit for Nathe’s composite image of a man jumping in three different positions against a completely Photoshop-constructed background. Scougal had the benefit of knowing whose work it was even though other members of the audience and the judges did not. “There were definitely shouts of joy and you don’t want to run up and congratulate the person because there is still more judging to happen,” said Scougal. Langara alumni Chester Goosen and David Custodio took home one award each as well at their old photography stomping grounds here on campus.
Kezia nathe Award-winning photographer
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I can say now I’m an multiaward winning photographer”
College outsources parking despite student wishes Other colleges enjoy the convenience of parking passes, but Langara refuses to try them By CLAYTON PATERSON
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tudents hoping for a parking pass at Langara are out of luck as the college is staying with their payper-park system. Langara began its search for a company to run its parking lots a number of years ago, and has stuck with ImpePrinted on recycled paper
rial Parking through a bidding process. “[The college] had considered doing it on their own,” said Jay Strachan, Director of Facilities and Purchasing. “The problem is it requires a massive infrastructure that Langara just doesn’t have.” The college receives a portion of the parking fees from Impark, though Stra-
chan could not disclose the percentage due to confidentiality reasons. Eli Zbar, LSU board member at large, said that the issue of parking does not receive a lot of attention from the college due to a lack of student awareness. “We’ve had a few people call about
See Dilemmas Im-parking, page 2
PARKING rates
FOUR HOURS: $3 all day: $6 after five: $3 weekends: free Source: Impark
rop, cover and hold Langara – because things are about to get a bit shaky around here. The one-year anniversary of the massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that left more than 20,000 people dead or missing in Japan has come and gone but Langara still has not learned it’s lesson and made sure its seismic needs are up to date. Southwestern B.C. is in for an earthquake that could be the most destructive natural disaster Canada may experience, according to government public safety documents. “The risk of a major or even catastrophic earthquake occurring in British Columbia is high. Most parts of the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the northern islands fall into the zones of greatest seismic hazard,” said a 2008/2009 report from the office of the auditor general. But do not fret, Langara’s newest buildings meet the current seismic safety codes and should safely withstand a quake. But Building A is in need of an extensive seismic upgrade said Wendy Lannard, associate director of facilities & capital planning. The last upgrade was in 1991. “We don’t know when the next [earthquake] will occur,” said geography instructor Rory Crowley. “Damage in terms of infrastructure such as buildings, roads and bridges would be serious.” The Seismic Mitigation Program, created by the provincial government in 2001, is a 15-year, $1.5-billion project to make sure elementary and secondary schools are structurally safe in the event of an earthquake. However Langara does not qualify for the Seismic Mitigation Program, or any other grants to upgrade the school. “The ministry does not have a mandate to direct independent schools on seismic safety matters,” said the auditor general report. The 1991 Building A upgrade included adding shear, or supportive, concrete walls to the cafeteria, outside walkways and other areas considered most venerable to collapse in an earthquake said Lannard. To meet the current safety codes, more shear walls need to be built. For renovations to take place, a new building would need to be built on campus to house displaced students while Building A was upgraded said Lannard.
Check out our web exclusives at http://langaravoice.com/
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news & features
Editor SHAWN GILL
The Voice, Thursday, March 22, 2012
Langara rebrand wins award College’s new advertising campaign gets international recognition By SASCHA PORTEOUS
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angara’s brand redesign has won an international award. Karacters Design Group, the company responsible for the rebrand, received an honour of distinction in REBRAND 100’s global awards. REBRAND is the world’s most respected resource for brand transformations. The REBRAND 100 awards honour design agencies that have done an exemplary job rebranding their clients. The REBRAND website states, “[Langara] was going through an identity crisis. While it has had a good level of visibility among the local population, research revealed that it was unclear what the Langara brand stood for.” In an effort to explain how Langara
was special and unique, we came up with the tagline, “The College of Higher Learning,” said Chris Dallin, director of branding and design for Vancouver-based Karacters Design Group. The tagline describes a school that stands for more than just textbooks and lectures. It’s also about social interaction, problem solving and teamwork, said Dallin. “A fundamental element is the brand identity. This is the simple word mark which we crafted and typed — Langara. — with the period after it,” said Dallin. In addition to the brand identity and the tagline, the rebranding included rebranding Langara’s outdoor signage, website, smartphone application, course guide book, viewbook, letterheads and business cards and merchandise like bags and notebooks.
College spokesperson Ian Humphreys said in an email, “the [new] brand is centred around dialogue and the elements that convey Langara’s warmth, vibrancy and creativity.” “One of the ways to convey the warmth and vibrancy was to introduce the orange color palette which is a key expression of the brand: it’s energetic, warm and friendly,” said Dallin. Nursing student Olga Pena-Nuila said she likes the new brand, “the orange stands out. It’s bright and happy.” But not everyone on campus is happy with Langara’s rebrand. “I am not a fan of the [tagline], ‘The College of Higher Learning.’ It should be implied, it’s an obvious point,” said math student Samantha Gaurilko. The awards were open to any rebrand launched between January 2009 and September 2011.
LSU promotes sustainable practices to mark today’s globally recognized event Olga pena-nuila Langara Nursing student
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The orange stands out. It’s bright and [it’s] happy.
SASCHA PORTEOUS photos
The new logo and “simple” word mark of Langara College (left). The new Langara app, is available for free through iTunes (right).
Marine Gateway will benefit students New supermarket and movie theatre among the highlights of development one stop from Langara
or dine at. “It caters to a lifestyle of not owning a car and still having access to a supermarket, a job and other shops,” Bailey said. But with one-bedroom bachelor pads starting at $270,000, college kids living off Snickers and Kraft Dinner By Michelle Gamage will not be able to afford a condo at Marine Gateway. ancouver’s trend of chic, ecoAffordable housing is part of Vanfriendly condos is moving closer couver’s plan for developing the Camto campus. bie Corridor. The development’s fifth The Marine Gateway project will deprinciple is to “provide a range of housvelop the land at Cambie St. and Southing choices and affordability,” said the west Marine Drive. Creating shops, Cambie Corridor’s document restaurants, residential towof planning principles. ers, a supermarket and a “But Marine Gateway movie theatre just one Skydoesn’t have any cooperative Train stop from Langara. housing or social housing,” The project is part of a the said Ryan Bragg, lead archilarger Cambie Corridor Plan tect of Perkins+Will, the arthat, according to a senior chitecture company designing city planner, will develop exMarine Gateway. isting neighbourhoods along Construction on the project the Canada Line into thriving JIM BAILEY urban areas, lower the city’s Vancouver senior is expected to start in May, one year after the project was vehicle dependency and con- city planner approved, and is expected to tribute to Vancouver’s greenfinish in 2015, said Bragg. house gas target. “The plan will focus on opportuni“Our real goal is to build complete ties to integrate development with communities around rapid transit, transit along and around the Canada with no vehicle dependency,” said Jim Line to support the city’s goals of enviBailey. “We are expecting people to ronmental sustainability, livability and walk and bike and transit while living affordability,” says the Cambie Corrialong [the Canada Line]. It’s all on the dor Planning Program website. menu for becoming vehicle free.” A voluntary survey distributed Vancouverites were lining up Thursaround Cambie and Southwest Marine day afternoon in anticipation of SaturDrive by the Marpole Area Residents day morning, when the 415 Marine Alliance, with 178 completed surveys, Gateway condos went up for sale. The found that 63 per cent of the residents development sold out in four hours. agreed there should be major developOnce the development is built, stuments in the area. However, 82 per cent dents will have easy access to a Cinesaid they’d prefer that the towers be plex movie theatre if they want to kill shortened to closer to 29 stories intime between class and a T&T superstead of the planned 38. market, restaurants and cafes to snack
Water Day brings fresh awareness By QUINN MELL-COBB
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orld Water Day festivities at Langara College are officially underway, focusing on water conservation on campus. Although World Water Day is officially today [March 22], the Langara Students’ Union began their own festivities with an afternoon seminar on the main floor of Building A last Thursday. Events then carried on through the week. At the seminar, Naoko Shiratori, the LSU’s environmental issues coordinator, commended the college for “showing great leadership” in working toward a more sustainable campus, and in particular for installing water bottle fill stations. “The installation of the filling stations, [the] renovation of water faucets in the washrooms in A-building. Now the Students’ Union has finally moved towards getting one filling station in the [Students’ Union] building,” said Shiratori. She also stressed the importance of spreading the word about the college’s water conservation efforts. “Many of these services still need a lot of publicity,” said Shiratori. When asked if the LSU was working with the college to ban the sale of bottled water, Shiratori wouldn’t say. “Our interest is sustainability, so we do not want to take away services that students think [are] valuable. We are working to increase the awareness of [issues with plastic],” she said. Citing a survey conducted by environmental studies students last semester, Shiratori noted that most students choose bottled water over tap because they think it is “cleaner and healthier.” “We need to educate ourselves,” Shiratori said.
Dilemmas Im-parking Continued from page 1
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SUBMITTED photo
Artist’s rendition of the Marine Gateway shopping area.
HIGHLIGHTS
of the Marine Gateway development
Provides 46 rental housing units and 415 condominums.
12-floor, 230,000-square-foot office building.
T&T Supermarket, catering to an Asian clientele. Cineplex movie theatre with 11 screens, including three VIP theatres — where patrons can order alcoholic drinks to their seats — and one “UltraAVX” theatre with wall-towall screens.
Source: PCI Real Estate Development
SUBMITTED photo
The project will transform abandoned industrial land.
parking passes,” said Zbar. “But in terms of availability, we haven’t heard much outcry.” Strachan said that one of the main reasons the college has not worked towards changing its parking policies is the effectiveness of the U-Pass system. “If a pass system was implemented, it gets rid of the incentive for students to take alternate transportation, like the bus,” said Strachan. “If a student wants to bring their vehicle, it’s their call, but they’ll have to pay to do it.” “We’ve been trying to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. If a pass system was in place, that goal could be put in jeopardy.” Douglas College controls its parking lots independently, charging a flat fee of $90 for a semester pass. Kwantlen Polytechnic University is also partnered with Impark, but students are able to purchase semester passes from $125 to $395, depending on if they want a reserved spot or not. Strachan said many students are parking illegally on residential streets to avoid parking fees. “The city used to go out and ticket all the time,” said Strachan. “Now the residents have to identify vehicles that don’t belong.” Strachan added that the college will be sticking with its current system for the foreseeable future, or until a more effective and beneficial one comes along.
Campus news
Editor Alanna Hardinge-Rooney
The Voice, THURSDAY, March 22, 2012
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Enviro liaison asks peers to take up torch Workshop aims to teach students about urban farming and generate interest in environment By AUDREY McKINNON
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n urban farming workshop at Langara next month could make an impact on future environmental activism at the college, says environmental liaison Naoko Shiratori. Shiratori attended the Sustainable Campus conference, a three-day environmental workshop hosted by SFU at the beginning of March and she said she liked what she saw. That inspiration led her to organize a workshop at Langara on April 3 that will not only teach students how to bring environmental care into their homes, but will also encourage volunteers to carry on Shiratori’s efforts. “There are so many things going on in universities and campuses that I would love to see happen at Langara, but because Langara is not a university, people tend to not stay here many years. It’s very difficult to do certain programs or projects.” One of her ideas is the April workNAOKO SHIRATORI shop that will proEnvironmental mote beekeeping, liaison indoor gardening and composting. It will also include live music, and gifts like organic chocolate and plant seedlings will be given to participants. If the weather is nice, Shiratori says it will be held outside. Shiratori also hopes to identify people who will carry on the initiatives she has started. “I’m really looking for people. Volunteers, helpers, anybody who has any passion in regards to environmental issues and how to change the campus for the better.” She says the process of planning the workshop will leave experience in the hands of newcomers who can take on her activism. “I can’t just pass down a manual and say this is what I did.” Shiratori, who was elected to office this spring, will only be part of the LSU until the end of August. After that, she hopes that thanks to events like the April 3 workshop, there will be other students on campus to maintain the momentum she’s established.
These are some of the pieces that will be on display at the professional photo-imaging grad show on April 26 at the Waterfall Building. Clockwise from top, the photographers are Stephanie Boha, Mudra Napali and Kathleen Loski.
Photo grads gear up for show Students deal with budget and time pressures to put on annual event by CARA McKENNA
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hoto students at Langara have been busy preparing for their year-end show. At the end of each year, the graduating class of professional photoimaging students puts on a showcase where they publicly display their portfolios and prints of their photography. This year’s show will open at 7 p.m. April 26 at the Waterfall Building near Granville Island. lt will run until May 2. There are 18 students in this year’s graduating class, and according to photo-imaging student Corina Esquivel, most are planning to have four to six large prints on display, covering a range of photography styles from landscapes to fashion. The photo students have complete control over everything from where the show takes place to what they want
to display. “They own the show,” said Department Chair, Catharine O’Brien-Bell. “The more problems they solve, the more it becomes their show.” The students are expected to fund everything surrounding the show themselves and lately they have been busy putting on regular fundraisers and finding corporate sponsors. “Its hard getting money,” said Esquivel. The time crunch is another challenge they have to deal with. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough time to do what I was visualizing,” said Esquivel. Stephanie Boha, a photo student who likes to photograph architecture, said she is also feeling the stress. “This is your portfolio that people are going to be looking at and judging whether they hire you on,” she said.
“It’s kind of scary.” Boha said she also has her own set of challenges photographing architecture. “The weather [has been] really crappy so outside architecture shots aren’t happening very well,” she said. “It’s coming down to the bitter end.” O’Brien-Bell, however, said she is confident her students will put on an outstanding show. “We’ve seen some exciting stuff coming out. I’m quite pleased with them as a group.” O’Brien-Bell said the show usually has a great turnout, and people looking for new photography talent are usually in the mix. “Quite often [the students] will get opportunities for jobs,” she said. Admission to the show is free, but donations can be made toward the show at www.langaraphotograds.com.
EVENT details WHO The Langara photo-imaging graduating class of 2012
WHAT Portfolio gallery show, with door prizes, music and a cash bar
WHERE The Waterfall Building 1540 West 2nd Avenue (near Granville Island)
WHEN Opening night is April 26 (Doors at 7 p.m.) Show runs until May 2
Eat healthy, sustainably, frugally Students can learn about “food justice”, score free produce and eat bannock at upcoming SUB event By STACY THOMAS
D STACY THOMAS photo
Carmen Chan and Ryan Erwin pose with a poster for “Food for Thought,” an event that seeks to raise awareness about food issues affecting Langara students.
id you know that storing apples above your potatoes will keep them fresh longer? Or that standing your green onions upright in your refrigerator can save you money on power bills? Do you want to take home free, organic produce? Students can learn more about living healthily and sustainably at a food and culture awareness event in the SUB, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday March 22. “Food For Thought” is being presented by the student issues action
committee, environmental committee, and the aboriginal centre. The environmental committee will be giving out free organic produce and easy recipes. Students who bring their own utensils and reusable containers can spin a wheel for prizes ranging from more fresh produce to USB sticks. “We want to promote healthy sustainable living for students, especially because final exams are coming up,” said Carmen Chan of the student issues action committee. Check Your Head, a locally run youth and student action group, will be putting a political spin on things with their “food justice” workshop at 12:30 p.m. Students will learn how the food system in Canada and the world impacts the environment and our quality of life. “A lot of students have been trying to push for more sustainably sourced
foods on campus and that’s always a struggle because there’s contracts in place,” Chan said. “We can teach [students] how to go out and look for foods that are sustainable ... instead of going out for a burger and fries, they can stay home and cook for themselves and it’s healthier and cheaper.” The aboriginal centre will be having a cooking demonstration and serving free bannock and salmon at 2:30 p.m. There will be workshops to raise students’ awareness of aboriginal issues, both local and nationwide, and discussions about how to mitigate them. “What we’re trying to do is to educate individuals who may not have otherwise gotten the chance to have learned about [aboriginal culture],” native liaison Ryan Erwin said “Hopefully that will help give non-aboriginals an understanding of that perspective.”
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The Voice, Thursday, March 22, 2012
Editor ALEXANDRA GRANT
entertainment
TV host says failure is a good thing George Stroumboulopoulos gives UBC students advice for life after graduation By Carissa Thorpe
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ailure is not only a part of life, but also a part of success. That was the message George Stroumboulopoulos left graduating UBC arts students with last Friday night. Stroumboulopoulos was the special guest at the sold out UBC Arts Undergraduate Society’s Last Lecture at the Old Auditorium on campus. Typically, the last lecture is a speech given by a keynote speaker to graduates on the precipice of entering the working world, but Stromboulopoulos decided to create a conversation instead. “If 10 years from now you’re not doing what you want but you’re alive, you’ve won. And that’s how I approach every day at work,” he told the crowd. Stroumboulopoulos advised students not to place so much weight on cliché five and ten year plans as it is impossible for them to know where they will be at the time. After being rejected by an arts school, Stroumboulopoulos more or less stumbled into journalism when he saw an ad for Humber College, realizing he could make a career out of being on the radio. Stroumboulopoulos shared some of his moments of challenge with the audience, including failing high school chemistry and his short-lived stint hosting the ill-fated reality series The One. At the time, the show was considered to be the biggest failure in US network history. “You have to not care if people like you,” Stroumboulopoulos told the crowd. “You have to like you.” Engineering graduate Marianne Black, 23, said she was really impressed with the talk. Meghan Anderson, 21, a graduating international relations student, echoed that sentiment. “It’s not the end of the world,” she said. “You’re going to have failures.” Andrew Lavers, who coordinated the event, said the audience response was extremely positive. Stroumboulopoulos will be bringing his popular late-night television show to Vancouver to film at CBC the first week of April.
SUKHRAJ BATTAL photo
The organizers and participants of the Langara Business Association celebrate after their teaser flash fashion show in the caf March 7.
Students use style for good Langara Business Association put on fashion show for local charity By DANA BOWEN
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he third annual Awear Fashion Show features business appropriate outfits with a twist for students who are sick of the average suit and tie. Hosted by the Langara Business Association, the event will be held March 27 from 6-9 p.m. in the Langara Library. It will feature outfits by local designers and stylists who present a new way to dress professionally for interviews and jobs. “It’s a way to showcase to students that there are different ways to dress for work and it’s also a way to give back to the community,” said one of the event organizers, Zlata Gurevich. Every year the Awear Fashion Show supports a different cause. This year they have chosen The Kettle Friendship Society.
“The LBA chose The Kettle … to support because they believe there is a huge stigma attached to mental health issues,” said Gurevich. “Being aware is important and something that many of us need to learn about and understand.” TKFS is a community group that helps enhance the lives of people with mental illness by providing them with housing, employment and support services. Proceeds from the fashion show’s ticket sales and a silent auction will go towards the organization. The auction will have over $5,000 worth of items, from restaurant or hair salon gift cards to free driving lessons. Lauren Popadiuk, a design student, is one of the stylists who will be showcasing her work. She said she wants to show students they can dress professionally without
breaking the bank. Each of her outfits was purchased at Value Village for under $20, including all accessories. Most of the outfits are in neutral shades, with some pops of colour. “I decided to take part [in the Awear Fashion Show] because it was a good opportunity to support a good cause,” said Popadiuk. Each guest will receive a complimentary gift bag valued at over $50. Gurevich said the gift bag includes an amazing surprise for each guest. For every ticket, the guest will also receive a complimentary glass of wine as well as free appetizers. “Events like this are a great way to have fun and give back to the community,” said Ken Paquette from TKFS. Tickets cost $10. They can be purchased through Zlata Gurevich by calling her at (778) 6688019.
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It’s a way to showcase to students that there are different ways to dress for work. ZLATA GUREVICH
Controversy dogs fashion week Local fashion event faces storm of disapproval By ASHLEY VIENS
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ASHLEY VIENS photo
VFW director Jamal Abdourahman has been under fire for allegedly mistreating his event’s unpaid interns.
ast interns and local fashion industry members are complaining that Vancouver Fashion Week is exploiting interns for an event that has little relevance. In September 2011, interns from previous seasons created a blog, Vancouver Fashion Weak, that shared their feelings of “use and abuse” by the producer of VFW. VFW has hosted the city’s largest fashion shows over the past decade. Paul Melo, a Vancouver street-style blogger, said he, and everyone he has spoken to, views VFW as an embarrassment to Vancouver. “Vancouver doesn’t have a big enough market to have a fashion week. There’s no one to even intern with here,” said Melo.
“It’s a wasted effort,” he added. “I wish it would stop getting press.” VFW producer Jamal Abdourahman said he is grateful for the interns. “Volunteers get experience and we get a helping hand, and being overwhelmed is great,” he said. “Originally, we were paying everyone - interns, models, stylists and designers.” But after 2005, he said he couldn’t afford to pay everyone. “If you’re not challenged here, don’t come,” Abdourahman said referring to some of the interns’ complaints. Jennifer Pistor is a fashion merchandiser and blogger of Prairie Girl in the City. “After two seasons of covering every show and supporting it, I wasn›t even invited back. It was almost like they were doing me a favour,” said Pistor. “Models and stylists had also contacted me directly about similar experiences.” Rachel McHollister, a Langara journalism graduate, was part of the pub-
licity team for VFW last season. “We had a good core group of professionals to teach the interns what to do,” said McHollister. “In previous years, they had just interns working, no actual professionals.” McHollister said her team tried to repair relationships with previous interns. “Basically, we tried contacting the interns that created the blog, no response. We felt it was a bit immature that they were just complaining,” she said. “They don’t know the industry. And models just don’t get paid to do runways in Vancouver, that’s just how it is.” Emails to the creators of Vancouver Fashion Weak were not returned. “I hope [VFW] will grow and continue to change,” said Pistor. “Because of their actions, they are deterring people from going again. They need a total revamp of the shows.” VFW runs from March 20-25 at the Chinese Cultural Centre.
lifestyles
Editor jen st. denis
The Voice, THURSDAY, March 22, 2012
MARCH GOES OUT LIKE A LION: SPRING COMES LATE
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Dos and Don’ts of the working world Students give tips on staying healthy, working safely, and not getting fired By SASCHA PORTEOUS
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JEN ST. DENIS photo
While some parts of Canada have been experiencing warmer than usual temperatures, March in the Lower Mainland has been cold, blustery and even snowy. Above, the first blooms of spring struggle out of winter’s detritus. Below, the bee box near Langara College’s community gardens is buzzing with activity.
ith summer approaching many students will be looking for a job. The Voice canvassed Langara students for their cautionary tales of working life. DON’T lie to your employer. Art history student Amanda Symak found this out the hard way. “[I] told [my boss] that my mom was coming back into town and that amanda symak we had a dinner to Got caught in her go to so I couldn’t own web of lies work,” said Symak. “But I was really just getting picked up to go to a party in another town.” Once her employer found out about Symak’s dishonesty she was fired abruptly. DON’T rush. While preparing sandwiches on a really busy day at the Coquitlam food court, business administration student Carlo Verdolaga had a bloody Carlo Verdolaga Sustained sandaccident while trywich injury ing to stay on top of his work. “I was cutting a sandwich and I happened to cut through my finger,” said Verdolaga. “It didn’t require any stitches but it was pretty bad. I bled all over the sandwich.” DON’T work with family. While you might have the opportunity to work with family members, Verdolaga advises against it.
“I worked with cousins and aunts, it’s not the way to go. Family members fight over other stuff besides work,” said Verdolaga. DO take workplace safety seriously. Business student Stefan Kekovic said the workplace can present hazardous situations. Stefan kekovic Lifting heavy A weighty weights can be problem dangerous at times. Kekovic saw some risky instances while working at a Yaletown gym. “One guy, when he was squatting, didn’t put the clips at the end of the weights, [and the weights] rolled over and almost fell right on his friend.” DO wash your hands. The work place can be a breeding ground for germs, so wash your hands regularly, said Studio 58 student Emma MackEmma Mackenzie enzie. Wash your hands “I worked at often on the job Rogers Video,” said Mackenzie. “The only problem with working there is people rent out movies when they are sick so that they are covered in germs and stuff like that. By the end of the day your hands are all filthy.” DO network. Kekovic said his first job at the gym taught him the importance of networking. “I still stay in touch with some of those people [I worked with] today,” said Kekovic.
New site offers trusted place to get odd jobs Social media site Ayoudo connects users with too much to do with those who want to pick up some extra money By OMAR SHARIFF
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ove over Craigslist, a new website is now available for students as a safer alternative for posting and responding to job listings. Vancouver-based ayoudo.com was launched in January 2012. The site requires its users to login through their Facebook accounts to eliminate anonymous postings and reduce the chances of people being scammed. “Ayoudo uses social media to help people help each other in a trusted environment,” said Marie Chatterton, director of community engagement at Ayoudo. The site can provide people with help for smaller, one-time jobs like raking a lawn, getting pants hemmed or cleaning someone’s house. This type of work is especially helpful for students who are looking for some quick cash without wanting the responsibilities of a full-time job. “It’s awesome for picking up a few extra bucks when you have some free
time,” said Chatterton. “It’s easy to work around a busy student schedule.” The site features a rating system that helps Ayoudo users find trustworthy people to interact with. “Ayoudo is all about people helping each other and it’s our responsibility to make sure that everyone has a positive experience,” said Chatterton. Once someone completes a task for a user, the person who posted the task can then rate the worker out of five stars. The worker also has an opportunity to rate the task-poster. Heather Pound, a first-year arts and sciences transfer student, was intrigued by the website and is interested in using it in the future. “I would definitely use Ayoudo because it feels safer and less anonymous,” said Pound. “And I know that it won’t be a scam or scheme of some sort. “And it’s a lot more convenient to search the Internet and find thousands of job postings in one place instead of having to call each employer.”
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Editor MAtt hyndman
The Voice, THURSDAY, March 22, 2012
viewpoints
Lack of reaction to child drawings is concerning
Social media job site not a solution for the job hunt A I n this digital age more and more people are turning to the Internet for everything from dating to advice, and now even to find a job. Another site has popped up on the market, Ayoudo.com, allowing users to get someone to help with their yard work, teach them to play guitar, or act as their full-time marketing consultant. Based out of Vancouver, the site launched in January calling itself a social media site that lets you “tap into the collective help of those around you.” Ayoudo is both a website and is available as an app for the iPhone. The application makes you sign in with your Facebook account in order to reply to postings, reducing the possibility that users will fall for scams. But will Ayoudo.com be the next Monster.ca or Workopolis.com? I don’t think so. With so many big name sites out there, as well as major companies that already have online job application forms on their own websites, I can’t see Ayoudo.com taking off as the next big thing. While I myself have looked for Hayley doctor jobs on websites such as Craigslist or Monster.ca, I don’t think that integrating social media to help you find a babysitter is really the way of the future. Ayoudo.com seems to be more for odd jobs around the house and chores that people don’t want to do themselves (taking someone’s trash to the dump for $100 for example). Rather than a way to find full-time careers, it is just another site out there in the miasma of the internet. According to a study published by Pew Internet Project in 2002, 52 million Americans admitted to using the Internet for a job search at some point in their careers. That same study revealed that over 60 per cent of people aged 18-29 used the Internet to help them find a job. If, on the off chance Ayoudo.com does stick around, I can’t see it being more than just a place to find students who are willing to earn pocket money.
Child’s View from Gaza was an event hosted by Langara depicting pictures from kids in the Gaza Strip and how they view their surroundings. Unsurprisingly, the majority of the images on display depict scenes of extreme violence: rockets blowing up a playground with a child running away, missiles falling onto a school building and an Israeli tank killing civilians, just to name a few. In today’s post-modern, desensitized society, depictions such as these are so commonplace that most people do not even stop to raise an eyebrow anymore. It is common knowledge that, yes, there has been a constant state of quasi-war between Israel and the Palestinian people for the last 64 years. And yes, there have been over 14,000 casualties as a result. But, the world’s in a bad way right now. There are a lot of wars being waged
all across the globe, so there’s nothing to be done, right? Wrong. Those images on display at our college were horrifying, and the fact that the mainstream news, and people in general, do not give these events even an iota of the attention they deserve is, frankly, unacceptable. These images drawn by children alex skerdzhev may look colourful and playful, but they depict actual, real events. Joseph Stalin, the communist leader of Russia during WWII responsible for the murder of tens of thousands of Russian citizens, famously said, “The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of
OPINION
millions is a statistic.” This is unfortunately true. We see so much violence around us that we aren’t overtly bothered by news of child casualties in a distant country. But every single digit increase in the number of children killed living in a war-zone should spark a firestorm that consistently places more and more pressure on Israel and the Palestinian people to finally settle on some kind of peace treaty. It is not even a headline anymore: Israel seeks peace with Palestine, peace negotiations break down. There are, of course, many factors that play into these peace talks, and ending such a long-running feud sparked by religion is no easy matter. However, more attention must be paid to the suffering of the less fortunate. We cannot be complacent and simply do nothing. This matter has to get resolved.
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Journalism instructor Nicholas Read oversees The Voice. Email him at nread@langara.bc.ca
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. All letters must be signed. They may be edited for brevity. Names may be withheld in special cases, but your letter must include your name and phone number.
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REPORTERS
Kony activists disenchant public I
t’s not as though Jason Russell and his organization Invisible Children launched the Kony campaign for the wrong reasons. Joseph Kony is a terrible person. Using child soldiers is wrong. And he’s right that North Americans easily ignore war crimes in far-off countries. But the way this information is brought to light does matter and Invisible Children got it wrong. In October 2011, months before the Matt hyndman Kony 2012 video was released, the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations criticized groups like Invisible Children for altering
OPINION
facts and exaggerating the atrocities of conflicts in Africa. The council concluded that this activity had helped pressure the U.S. government into sending troops to central Africa in October last year. Russell should have known that if his project reached the level of awareness he was hoping for it would be thrust under intense scrutiny. It did, and there was plenty for critics to feast on. There’s the $84,377 salary Russell takes out of the charity. There are the photos of the group’s founders holding weapons and posing with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. And then there was the outrage in Uganda when the video enraged locals who complained that the facts were simplified and the country’s
violence was hardly shown in lieu of shots of Russell and his kid. It leaves skeptics with the picture of an egotistical man who will do whatever it takes to draw money to his organization so that he can gain fame and impress his son. That may not be the truth but how it’s interpreted is all that matters in the end. But more dangerous is the simplification of such a complex issue, especially considering that Kony is now in another country, and any effort to catch him would involve the invasion of a sovereign country. The fallout from the Kony 2012 video produced by Invisible Children does damage on two levels. It misinforms the public and leaves people disillusioned about internet-based activist campaigns, especially in conjunction with the sour end to the Occupy movement.
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community Urban farmers Growing Eden in south Van
Editor Martin Wissmath
The Voice, THURSDAY, March 22, 2012
7
Families rent plots of land on urban farm on 57th Avenue to grow fresh food By hayLey Doctor
G
LEORA ISRAEL photo
Kyle Berger stops to pose while playing in a Jewish Community Centre ice hockey game at the Richmond Ice Centre.
Journo sports a new career Former owner of Jewish newspaper felt called to work with youth By LEV JACKSON
K
yle Berger works as the sports coordinator at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver on 41st Avenue and Oak
Street. Berger, 36, has always been a contributing member of the Jewish community. Before finding his way to the JCC he worked for a youth group called United Synagogue Youth. He was a board member at Beth Tikvah temple in Richmond, captained a JCC ice hockey team and wrote for the weekly Jewish newspaper The Jewish Independent, which he also owned. “Judaism has always been a big part of my life, certainly bigger than I thought it would be. For me, it’s more cultural than it is religious.” Berger said his connection with the JCC and the Jewish paper is more about supporting the community than relating to
City to develop a new greenway along the south of Langara Golf Course for pedestrians and cyclists
A Families prepare their plot of land for the urban farm on 57th Avenue.
to the Jewish community paper. After 10 years with the publication, Berger once again went looking for a change of scenery. Now the sports coordinator at the JCC, he runs the daily operations of the gym and the organized sports leagues. One of the main points of focus for him has always been the JCC ice hockey league. Throughout his seven years working at the JCC Berger increased the league from six teams to ten, and made it the department’s premier program. He said his beginnings as a journalist still help him in his current position. “It was my experience with the paper that best helps me solve controversies in the [sports] leagues. Whenever there is an issue between two teams, or two players that I would have to review, my time at the paper really taught me to appreciate that there is always two sides to a story,” Berger said.
FACES
North Arm Trail goes south of Langara By AGUSTINA COCCARO
AIMEE TAYLOR photo
his religious beliefs. He was not originally looking for a job in recreation leadership. Upon completion of the journalism program at then Kwantlen University College (now Kwantlen Polytechnic University), he began writing for the weekly sports paper Sports View, which has since gone out of print. As Berger covered the Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver Grizzlies games working for the paper, he gradually became disillusioned by sports journalism, and longed for a change. “I would sit in interview scrums after a game with 20 people around interviewing the same player holding their microphones up. I would read their stories the next day and they all got a completely different story out of the same interview that I got. They would take the quote the player gave, and stretch it into what they wanted it to mean.” Berger made the switch from sports
of South Vancouver
rowing Eden is a project where 12 low-income families, including those on disability stipends, and new immigrants to Canada get together and learn how to grow food and cook healthy meals. Funded by the United Way, Growing Eden is based out of the George Pearson Centre in south Vancouver and is connected to the Farmers on 57th urban garden project. This is the second year of the program that runs from April to October. “We have 12 families that come, and they bring their children and we give them a plot of land and teach them how to grow food,” said Aimee Taylor, horticultural therapist and co-founder of the program. “Then what we do is we harvest that food from our gardens and we make a lunch with that.” Growing Eden put up flyers around south Vancouver and in local housing co-ops to help find people who would like to become involved. The group meets weekly and encourages new participants to come to a session to find out more about sustainable sources of food and healthy meals. While the program focuses on growing sustainable sources of food, many families bring their children for an educational and fun weekly outing. There are also arts and crafts activities and a community kitchen where a fresh meal, prepared from produce grown by participants, feeds about 35 people each week. “We also have the ability to educate through this program,” Taylor said. Participants learn about food security and urban food production. “People come from different angles,” she added. They either want to learn about food or maybe food is difficult to come by.” Growing Eden received a three-year grant from the United Way to front the cost of creating a garden with a play area as well as a greenhouse. “We try to create a beautiful garden,” said Taylor. Bob Perry, a computer science student at Langara, agrees urban farming is a good idea, possibly even here at Langara. “It would be great if it were implemented properly. We would need to make it efficient and a high-density thing that uses all the space it has,” said Perry. “Farming techniques have come a long way and I think it could eventually work for anywhere that wanted to try it.” Spaces are still available for families interested in taking part. For more information, please contact Farmers on 57th at farmerson57th@gmail.com.
s part of the effort of turning Vancouver into the Greenest City on Earth by 2020, the city is developing 17 greenways, one of which passes by Langara. The North Arm Trail is a new bike and pedestrian corridor that will connect 59th Avenue from Champlain Heights to Southlands. The 11-kilometre bikeway is expected to connect the southern neighborhoods of Vancouver and runs along the southern edge of Langara Golf Course offering student cyclists another safe
route to travel through the city. “Work is expected to be completed by 2012, with a few minor pieces of construction that could possibly occur in 2013,” said Alex Russell, the City of Vancouver’s communications manager. “Residents should expect localized traffic disruptions at specific construction sites along the route.” The North Arm Trail will connect several elementary and secondary schools, community centres, parks and the George Pearson Rehabilitation Hospital. The new greenway will also be a scenic route in the city as it runs down the Fraserview ravine and passes through many of the natural features of south Vancouver. Langara nursing student and cyclist Shelby Young said she is excited for the new greenways but is sure that these new bike lanes will face as much controversy as the bike lanes downtown.
“The attitude in the city about bikes is pretty frustrating, but I think once drivers get over the fact that the roads have been shortened, they’ll like it,” said Young. “It’s nice to be separated from the cars, and it’s safer for the drivers too.” The North Arm Trail will not only connect east to west but also north to south. The greenway already connects with the Ontario Street bike lane and would be attached to two other proposed greenways running along Arbutus and Renfrew. Currently 59th Avenue is a quiet residential street with minimal traffic. The city hopes people living in the community will use the new greenway, as well as those who want to connect from other greenways or bikeways. Of the 17 greenways in development, only two are fully complete. Several existing routes will also be expanded.
PROPOSED Greenways downtown historic trail Three walking routes through Gastown, Yaletown and Chinatown
portside Runs along the southern edge of Burrard Inlet
spirit trail Along the eastern edge of UBC from the Fraser River to English Bay
fraser river trail Expands current trail along the north side of the Fraser’s North Arm
sports
Editor daniel palmer
The Voice, Thursday, March 22, 2012
8
Submitted photos
Clockwise from left: Abdul Fádel (white) tries to submit his opponent at the B.C. Judo Championships last March; Fádel (blue) arm-locks his opponent; Fádel (blue) at the World Junior Championships last November in Moscow.
Judo champ sets sights on Olympics Langara student Abdul Fádel places fifth at World Judo Championships in Moscow By ROSS ARMOUR
A
bdul Fádel’s teachers may want to think twice about criticizing him, as he is currently one of the best judoists in the world. The Langara human kinetics student came fifth overall at the World Judo Championships this past November in Moscow. “Last year I was two spots further down, I was seventh. Luckily I did better this year,” he said.
After his success on the world stage, Fádel now has his sights set on a possible route to the Olympic Games in London this summer. “I’m with the alternate team for the Olympics right now. So if the guy who has the spot on the senior team takes enough points then he gets to go. If he doesn’t, then I get to go.” Fádel has his fingers crossed he can make the Canadian team and have a shot at an Olympic medal. “The guy with the senior team has
one more fight coming up and if he manages to pick up a win there then unfortunately it’s not mine. If he loses, I’m heading to the Olympics.” Fádel has been practicing judo since the age of five and said athleticism runs in the family. “I’ve been involved with judo since basically I could walk. My dad was a former Olympian as well as all of my uncles.” Fight games are Fádel’s biggest passion, something he believes will define
him for a long time. “It’s not just judo that I’m involved in but specifically judo personally is something I plan to pursue for the rest of my life.” A graduate of Lord Byng Secondary School in Vancouver, Fádel also has high hopes for the future. “I’m hoping to use my judo and fighting experience to take me into professional fighting, hopefully somewhere within the borders of UFC or professional boxing.”
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I’ve been involved with judo since I could walk ABDUL FÁDEL
Basketball coaches hustling to court fresh talent “ Both mens and womens teams turn to scouting high school talent pool for September tryouts By BRANDON REID
A
s basketball season fades away, the Langara Falcons are scouting players for next season. But recruiting a future all-star is a bit like hitting a game winner — shoot for the best and hope it works out. “You want to over-recruit because we never fully know who’s going to come back next season,” said Carly Scarr, assistant coach for the women’s
basketball team. Jake McCallum, head coach for the men’s basketball team, said he won’t know how many spots are opening until he finds time to hold meetings. “The year-end meetings take Jake McCallum Mens basketball place whenever I head coach can find the time soon after season to meet with the players,” said McCallum via e-mail. “Typically, we discuss how the year went on an individual and team basis and what’s going to happen moving for-
ward.” After evaluating the status of their teams, coaches will scout out high school and club team games for new players, McCallum said. “Basketball coaches will watch high school games throughout the year. They’ll talk to players to see if they’re interested in playing for us,” Scarr said. “If the players are interested they’ll usually contact the coach and come watch the Falcons play or send in an application. For the women’s team we already have two players committed to coming next season,” she added. Both women’s players are guards, but coaches generally go after the best players available regardless of position
because of limited options. At a college like Langara, most players move on after their first or second year of playing due to university tranfers. “We’re losing our fifth year center Carling Muir, we’re going to need post players,” Scarr said. McCallum said guards are typically easier to find than forwards “so we are usually looking for big men.” The Falcons are in the PACWEST, which governs 14 colleges and universities across B.C. “We have open tryouts in the first week of September where anyone that’s a Langara student can attend,” McCallum said. Recruiting forms can be found on the Langara website.
You want to overrecruit because we never fully know who’s going to come back next season CARLY SCARR