EN GARDE! .....................................8
Tapping into childrens’ combative side key to harnessing their energy, says one parent
V
the
oice
PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS
NOVEMBER 12, 2015 • VOL. 49 NO. 6 • VANCOUVER, B.C.
JOURNALISM
line at s out on a u k c e h C avoice.c eb langar k for w s, eek loo g desk This w standin d an n o t n e e, an cont coverag p of a curling m e tiv interac riendly f t e p ble afforda sing in South ou rental h couver Van
School shuffles staffers Departure of senior admin raises questions about the college’s recent turnover By ANNE-SOPHIE RODET
V
ivian Lee, Langara College’s director of financial services, is just one of three senior administrative staff members who have either left their positions or been shuffled to others within the college in the last year. Despite the numerous changes in the college’s administration in recent months, the college has not been forthcoming with information Changes as to why. in adminOn Nov. 2, Viktor Sokha, vice-presi- istration dent of administra- happen at tion and finance at Langara, sent out all levels an email to staff an- in organouncing that Lee was no longer em- nizations ployed at the col- as big as lege. Langara He made no mention about the DAWN PALMER reason she left. ASSOCIATE VICEWhen asked why Lee was no longer PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES employed at Langara, Dawn Palmer, associate vice-president of human resources at Langara, said only that “Changes in administration happen at all levels in organizations as big as Langara,” and that the college sometimes needs to restructure itself. Lee’s departure follows those of Bradley O’Hara and Roy Daykin. O’Hara left his position of provost and vice-president, ROY DAYKIN academics and stuFormer vicedents in Septempresident of administration ber for the same and community position at Univerat Langara sity Canada West. Roy Daykin, formerly the vice-president, administration and community engagement at Langara, left in December of 2014 for the position vice-president of finance and administration at Okanagan College after four years at various senior administrative positions at Langara. Palmer said to The Voice by email: “Both Vice Presidents moved because the roles that were offered to them were a perfect fit for what they were personally looking for at this point in their career.”
“
KATHRYN WU photo illustration
The newly signed memorandum will give Langara students the opportunity to transfer certain credits to Queen’s University in Ontario.
Historic transfer deal sealed B.C. and Ontario schools signed new groundbreaking agreement
“
We are always working to build educational pathways for students JULIE LONGO LANGARA’S DEAN OF ARTS
By KATHRYN WU
A
first-of-its-kind partnership between two B.C. and Ontario post-secondary institutions will allow students to transfer Langara College credits towards a degree at Queen’s University. Last week, a memorandum signed by both institutions will allow Langara students with associate of arts or associate of science degrees to transfer to pursue faculty of arts and science degrees at Queen’s. This is the first partnership between a college in British Columbia and a university in Ontario. Lindsey Fair, associate director of marketing and communications at
Queen’s said, by email, that the university wants to open as many doors as possible for Langara students. “The exciting news is that not only are these programs set up for ease of transfer between our two institutions, but on a case-by-case basis we will also look at other transfer requests from Langara students as well,” Fair said. Depending on the program, the minimum GPA required for Langara transfer students starts at 2.6., compared to 2.0 minimum requirement at UBC. The initial conversation between the two institutions began in the spring of 2014 Julie Longo, the dean of arts at Langara, said in an email. “We are always working to build
more educational pathways for students,” Longo said. Second year Langara kinesiology student, Winston Yeung, said he hopes to transfer to UBC next September, and that partnerships with other post-secondary institutions will “definitely increase the popularity of Langara.” Based on his experience, Yeung’s advice to students looking to transfer to Queen’s is to carefully plan out their course schedules while at Langara. “While registering for my first two semesters, I was waitlisted on all my courses, but luckily I was able to fill my schedule full of electives,” Yeung said. Visit the registrar’s office for more information on transferring to Queen’s.
Trouble with organic brews has bubbled to the surface Finding ingredients is an issue for local producers By BRIDGETTE WATSON
A
Vancouver brewmaster is bringing the city’s beer drinkers their first local organic pints. The Lower Mainland has seen a Printed on recycled paper
surge in microbreweries in recent years. South Vancouver’s Dogwood Brewing distinguished itself as the city’s only organic brewer when it opened six months ago. The brewery caters to beer drinkers looking for local brews from an environmentally sustainable company, as some commercial breweries can leave a large carbon footprint. STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 5
ORGANIC Brewers Beau’s Brewery, ON
Mill Street Brewery, ON
Crannóg Ales, B.C.
BRIDGETTE WATSON photo
Dogwood Brewing is the first to serve organic beers in Vancouver.
Nelson Brewing Company, B.C. Alley Kat Brewing Company, AB
Check out our web exclusives at http://langaravoice.ca
2
At large
EDITOR SARA RABEY
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2015
South Van MP rising star Political rookie, Harjit Sajjan, is set to represent his riding, and Justin Trudeau’s defence portfolio By VINCENT MATAK
C FLICKR photo
Lt. Col. Harjit Sajjan, the new minister of defence Canada
anada’s new minister of defence will keep local issues on government’s agenda, expert says. Harjit Sajjan, member of parliament for the federal riding of Vancouver South, was named minister of defence last Wednesday, less than one month into his first term in Ottawa. Sajjan is the first Sikh to be given the defense portfolio. Stephen Phillips, a political science instructor at Langara College, said Sajjan’s “powerful position” on the federal scene will help ensure the federal government pays attention to local issues. He said Sajjan’s recent experience in the Canadian military could mean more government empathy for military issues and for veterans. Sajjan served
11 years with the Vancouver Police Department and had four operational deployments with the Canadian Armed Forces: three in Afghanistan and one in Bosnia. “There’s a lot of attention on the quality of the appointment,” Phillips said. “I can’t think of a defense minister who’s been a military man since General McNaughton and [his role] in the Second World War.” Stewart McGillivray, president of the Vancouver South Federal Liberal Riding Association, said Sajjan’s cabinet position solidifies strong local representation in Parliament. “It’s really important for people to see themselves in the government, and it’s important for people of the riding and for Vancouverites and British Columbia to have a cabinet with such
B.C.
strong local representation,” said McGillivray, who helped develop Sajjan’s election cam Justice Minister paign. Jody Wilson-RaySajjan’s appointbould, Vancouver ment includes a Granville position on the cabinet committee Defence Minister on agenda and reHarjit Sajjan, sults, which deals Vancouver South with overarching Minister of Sport government prioriand Persons with ties. His responsiDisabilities Carla bilities also inQualtrough, Delta clude public security, military Source: pm.gc.ca/eng/cabinet intelligence and emergency issues. Sajjan did not respond for comment.
federal ministers
LSU info is hard to come by online Financial records and meeting minutes available only by requests and in person, no notes allowed By KEVIN UNDERHILL Despite a 10 day wait, the Langara Students’ Union allowed The Voice to view, in the LSU office, financial audits and budget information. The records show summarized accounts of the bodies spending and the auditor reported all was in order. B.C. student advocacy groups such as the Kwantlen Student Association and University of Victoria Students’ Society have information such as meeting minutes and financial statements posted on their website. Brontë Renwick-Shields, spokesperson and chair of the UVSS said, the society keeps copies of minutes and financial statements in the office for anyone to take at any time, adding student governments have a duty to be transparent with their electorate. Langara Students’ Union media spokesperson Jared Braverman said via email, the union is transparent with its members by posting lots of information to its website and on social media, “be it the cancellation of elections, or LSU events.” BRONTË RENWICK“Many students SHIELDS get information by Spokesperson for coming in and UVSS speaking with staff at the front desk or looking at the notice boards,” Braverman said. According to article 13 of the LSU bylaws, members are allowed to look over union records, but must provide 48 hours notice and must be supervised by an LSU staff or board member “to ensure that records are not reproduced or noted in any way.” Though members must provide notice to request such documents, LSU bylaws do not specify a time by which they must be provided. Meeting minutes are also only available subject to an article 13 request.
STEPHAN REES photo
A small group gathering at the Garden City Lands in Richmond, B.C. on International Day of Climate Action
“
Some people who’ve finished school are looking for farmland. We’ve set aside farmland for students where they can farm ... until they find a place for themselves HAROLD STEVES RICHMOND CITY COUNCILLOR
Richmond begins tilling the soil The city will be turning a large tract of unused land into a way for scientists to study agriculture By ALEX HOEGLER
A
fter years of little usage, the Garden City Lands that sit in the heart of Richmond will be transformed into something Canada hasn’t seen before. Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be running a research lab farm on the Garden City Lands, in partnership with the City of Richmond. The university will be creating a minimum of eight hectares on the lands to be used for instructors to help students with farming skills. Students and agricultural scientists will research skills such as crop producing and managing organic soils. “This farm will directly support our applied research work in small-scale
agriculture,” said Kent Mullinix, director of institute for sustainable food systems at Kwantlen. The farming school falls in line with the regional food system action plan put forward by staff for the Metro Vancouver planning committee of the regional growth strategy, which looks at expanding regional food systems, food security and production. “We are developing a world-class, small-scale alternate market research and teaching farm (to extend our) undergraduate teaching program,”Mullinix said. The Garden City Lands are, by law, to be used for agriculture, since they are considered part of the Agricultural Land Reserve. Long-time cattle farmer and Richmond Coun. Harold Steves said that in 2006, delegates from the United Nations approached fellow Coun. Chak Au, then school board trustee, about a farming school in Richmond, which led to an agreement by Au, Mayor Malcolm Brodie and then KPU President Skip Triplett.
Steves also said that the United Nations delegates told him that a farming school on the Garden City Lands would be “an international training example.” Given the limited land available in Richmond, Steves also said how it’s critical to make sure there is enough farmland available for students when they graduate “Some people who’ve finished school are looking for farmland. We’ve set aside farmland for students where they can farm … until they find a place for themselves,” Steves said. Mullinix also said how farming schools are incredibly crucial to the future of farming. “We’re the only university in Canada doing this…community-linked community farming (and) food systems, it is going to be increasingly important[in the future].” KPU hopes to have the research farming operating this spring. “We’re out to feed the world. It was their (the UN’s) idea. We said yes and we’re ready for it,” Steves said.
Campus news
EDITOR MICHAEL LYLYK
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2014
3
CHARLIE RUD photo (left) SEYEDMOSTAFA RAZIEI photos (right)
A shot of the moon captured by a Newtonian reflector telescope (left), Charlie Rud in a meeting with other members (top right) planning a stargazing trip (bottom right).
Make a place for the wonder of space New student club looks to engage, excite and educate others about the stars above us By SEYEDMOSTAFA RAZIEI
T
he new Langara Space and Astronomy Club is looking for others who are interested in scenes outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Initiated by two physics students, Charlie Rud and Derek Greenaway, the club is trying to fill the gap of an absence in scientific based clubs at the college. Since similar clubs like the UBC Astronomy Club has many members, the absense of one at Langara was a reason for Rud to jump start his own.
“I created this club, because I love space and astronomy, and there was a lack of such a club here,” Rud said. “Also I was looking forward to joining a community of people who are interested in physics and space.” With their own personal telescopes, and other equipment available from Langara, they are planning stargazing events on and off campus. A trip to Vancouver observatory the ‘H.R. MacMillan Space Centre’, or to places like the town of Merritt, which is considered the best place in B.C. for stargazing.
During the day, they use special filters, to provide a sungazing oppourtunity as well. “Watching space is an exhilarating experience. You feel very small, which actually is very cool,” Rud said. “It is remarkable how big the universe becomes when you look at it from your telescope.” For stargazing, this club needs a clear, dark night, just after sunset. From campus through telescopes, it is possible to see planets, nebulas, or even galaxies. “Any bright thing in the sky, to be
honest, what you can see with your naked eyes.” Greenaway said. The next meeting of The Langara Space & Astronomy Club is Friday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.. Their first stargazing meetup will happen this weekend after sunset on Langara campus. Further information is available on their Facebook page. “Come out with us, or come to our meetings,” Greenaway said. “See the beauty of space through a telescope. No math is involved. You will enjoy the fun and pleasurable side this experience.”
“
Watching space is an exhilarating experience CHARLIE RUD PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY STUDENT
Anime is everywhere
ANIME
Earning others an extra life
Curriculum of English department course examines Western pop-culture’s Eastern influences
1 2
eSports club stays awake playing games to raise money for sick kids
By RUMANA DSOUZA
J
apanese cartoons have grown from a small cult following to a major pop-culture phenomenon. Its influence on Western culture is clearly evident, according to some Langara College students. Third year general sciences student Wren Go, said that contemporary western cinema owes a lot of it’s technique to anime. “Anime has influenced a lot of things, it’s one of the most original forms of art and film which has come out within the last century. If you’re familiar with [the film] Pacific Rim, that was actually influenced by an old anime title called Evangelion,” Go said. Go also said that the iconic film The Lion King, which has spawned musicals and video games since its release in 1994, very closely resembles the Japanese animation, Kimba the White
Lion, which ran from 1950 to 1966. The college’s English department now offers a film studies course called Studies in Anime: From Astro Boy to Attack on Titan which covers the origins, genres and influence of anime and its graphic novel sibling, manga. The course, taught by Langara professor Megan Otton, will outline various examples of anime’s influence on western film and television. “Most of my colleagues are not sure what I’m on about, but the course attracts an interesting group of students,” Otton said. “It attracts people already obsessed with anime and manga, as many students in the college are, and it also attracts many who don’t know anything about it and are fascinated by it.” Otton said she hopes her course will disprove misconceptions that anime is only for children, and show it for the sophisticated art form it is. “I like to show my students forms of anime that don’t exist in the West because here anime tends to be only for kids,” said Otton. “But anime in Japan is for everybody, and it can often be very sophisticated, original and creative in how it uses film technique.”
inspired
3 4 5 6 7
Inception (2010): Inspired by Paprika The Matrix (1999): Inspired by Ghost in the Shell Black Swan (2010): Darren Aronofsky acknoledges similarities in his film and Perfect Blue Looper (2012): Inspired by Akira Van Helsing (2004): Hugh Jackman’s costume shares similarities with Vampire Hunter D Avatar (2009): alleged influence from Princess Mononoke Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World (2010): too many refrences to list here Source: mentalfloss.com
By JULIA WICKHAM
T
hough playing video games is usually more about having fun, a group from the Langara eSports Assiciation dedicated a full day to gaming for a more serious reason. Gamers from around the world teamed up with a fundraising event called Extra Life, where gamers live stream themselves playing video games for 24 hours to raise money for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Six members from the Langara eSports Association played in the marathon on Saturday, Nov. 7 and gathered $1,111 in donations. Jonathan Wong, second year business administration student and chair of the Langara eSports Association, said that this is the club’s first year taking part in the event. “We are participating in the marathon to not only fundraise money for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
but to do our part in the community and to raise awareness of the club,” he said. Since its creation in 2008, Extra Life participants have raised more GRAHAM BEVELANDER than $14 million for Second-year Children’s Miracle chemistry stuNetwork Hospi- dent tals. As of Nov. 10, this year’s gamers have added just over $6.7 million to that number. According to a blog post on the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation website, 778 Extra Life gamers in B.C. raised $130,993 last year for the BCCHF. Graham Bevelander, second year chemistry student and member of the Langara eSports Association, said the team’s fundraising goal of $500 was surpassed with a donation of $1,000 from Scott Cawthon, creator of the game series Five Nights at Freddy’s. Bevelander said that the team lasted about 22 hours and they got through it by consuming “lots and lots of energy drinks and coffee.”
4
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2015
EDITOR BRYAN MC GOVERN
Entertainment
New play uses dark humour to deal with death Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver debuts comedy about family dynamics and religion By SCOTT DRAKE
I
t might be the provocative nature of the title, Bad Jews, that draws audiences into the theatre, but the play itself will have them talking a month later, according to director Jay Brazeau. The play by Joshua Harmon is set to make its Vancouver premiere at the Norman Rothstein Theatre on Nov. 12. The story revolves around three Jewish cousins who meet up after their grandfather’s death, only to battle it out over faith and family, in the unique humour of family relationships. “There are some very moving and very poignant moments in that play in terms of family, faith, culture: things that really make you think and make you feel,” producer of the play Bill Allman said. Though the play deals with heavy themes of spirituality and secularism, it is, according to Brazeau, “a different kind of play.” He expects that it will challenge audiences and provoke many different reactions. “There will be people, I’m sure, who will be laughing hysterically on one side of the house and on the other side they are going ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’” The play has been staged in New York and London where producer, Bill Allman, first saw the show. While the name was initially what piqued his interest, after watching it he knew immediately that he wanted to stage the show in Vancouver. “I laugh[ed] myBILL ALLMAN self sick for about Producer of Bad 90 minutes,” AllJews man said about watching the London production. By the time he made it back to his hotel that same night, Allman had secured the rights. He said there was “no hesitation” and had decided on the director and location, “all of it.” Bad Jews runs until Nov. 19.
ROSEMARY NEWTON photo
Director and founder of the Vancouver Pops Symphony and Orchestra Tom Kuo conducts a rehearsal in South Vancouver.
‘Pops’ heading to Los Angeles Local performing group ‘Vancouver Pops’ plays movie soundtracks By ROSEMARY NEWTON
W
ith a Disney playlist on their side, a South Vancouver group of musicians have their eyes set on Hollywood. The Vancouver Pops Symphony and Orchestra recently launched their ‘Hollywood in Concert’ tour, which will take them to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles next July. Jaelem Bhate, jazz director and principle conductor for the Los Angeles performance, said these soundtracks appeal to a ‘classical ear’ but are accessible to everyone. So far, the playlist features tracks from Star Wars, Disney’s The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Pirates of the Caribbean. He expects the Star Wars set to be a hit given the December 2015 release of
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. “It’s a soundtrack that’s so monumental and pivotal to how we perceive music in movies,” said Bhate, who is also director of the Vancouver Pops’ 45th Avenue Jazz Band and a principle percussionist. “Every single note in the score has deep meaning.” Rachel Wong, a cello musician in the orchestra and an alto in the choir, said the Star Wars set sounds “epic.” “I love it. Everyone knows what the soundtracks are from [their] childhood,” Wong said. She’s been with Vancouver Pops for two of their six years. The tour consists of four Vancouver concerts—the first took place in October at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts—before ending in Los Angeles. Tom Kuo, symphony and choir direc-
tor, said two successful performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City led to another trip across the border. “The members decided they loved doing it so much we set our own destination and our own genre with the goal to do an entire production ourselves in a different city,” Kuo said. He noted the New York City performances had been by invitation. He said the final performace in Los Angeles will include music from Broadway hits, like Mamma Mia! According to Kuo many college-aged students join Vancouver Pops because they can’t find many opportunities to perform after graduating high schools with music courses. Their next performance is a Christmas concert with the Vancouver Pops’s piano quartet at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on Dec. 13.
POPS
soundtracks
E.T. the ExtraTerrestrial
Star Trek
The Incredibles
Forrest Gump
Aladdin
The Little Mermaid
Source: orchestraclub.com
Modern playwright earns praise Award-nominated Langara College English instructor launches new theatre project on Granville Island By JAKE COSTELLO
W
JAKE COSTELLO photo
Curtains for Roy, Bushkowsky’s debut novel, will be adapted into a screenplay.
ith a debut novel out, two productions in Vancouver, and one play being produced across the globe—in Lithuania, no less—it’s been a good year for Langara College instructor Aaron Bushkowsky. Bushkowsky, whose latest play Dressing for a Wedding opens this week at Performance Works on Granville Island, has been teaching writing with Langara’s English and Studio 58 programs for 15 years. “He’s a living-breathing-thriving playwright, and our students are lucky to be able to interact with someone like that,” Tess MacMillan, English department chair at Langara College said. Having someone on staff working as much as Bushkowsky can inspire students to follow a career path they oth-
erwise might not have considered, MacMillan said. Bushkowsky said that part of why he teaches is to help get young people working in theatre. In fact, he discovered the assistant sound designer for Dressing for a Wedding, Tanika Charles, in a film writing class at Langara. “She did this soundscape for a little film that they had produced in my class, and it was so good I said ‘you’ve got to work in theatre,’” Bushkowsky said. Kathleen Oliver, English instructor at Langara, said she first met Bushkowsky in a writ- KATHLEEN OLIVER ers group in the English instruclate ’90s. tor at Langara “Aaron is really College good at creating interesting characters and putting them into situations that are just slightly off-kilter,” she said.
Eccentric characters finding themselves in complicated situations are at the heart of his debut novel, Curtains for Roy (which was nominated for the Stephen Leacock humour award) and his latest play Dressing for a Wedding. Both are dark comedies that have their roots in Bushkowsky’s own real-life experiences. “I’ve been married three times. That’s three weddings. So I took the best, and the worst of all those weddings,” he said. “It’s easier to write about things that have really happened, and lie about it a little bit, because there’s an element of truth to it.” Right now theatre is a growing field in a “golden era” according to Bushkowsky, whose play Strangers Among Us is currently being produced by the National Youth Theatre company in Lithuania. “Everybody thought we were going to be cocooning, because of our cell phones and iPads and all that, but the very opposite happened. People want to get away from that. They want interaction—they want theatre,” he said.
Lifestyles
EDITOR TONY SU
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2015
5
Standing desks may provide better health Paper suggests standing in the workplace is ideal, as people are not meant to be stationary By SERENA PATTAR
N
KATE RICHARDSON photos
The first day of the winter market at Nat Bailey Stadium on Nov. 7, 2015. It featured 18 varieties of potatoes, root vegetables and others.
New climate, new challenge Hotter summer weather has farmers seeking new planting plan
“
By KATE RICHARDSON
Our livelihood depends on weather, and our energy is connected to the weather HOLLY ROOKE FARMS MANAGER FOR EDIBLE GARDEN PROJECT
A
fter last summer’s extreme heat, farmers are doing what they do best—adapting to changing weather by carefully selecting crops and planning ahead. The rising temperatures are the real challenge, according to Pemberton potato farmer, Anna Helmer. “It’s chaos,” she said. “Completely unpredictable.” The hot and dry trend will continue according to Helen Chesnut, gardening columnist for the Times Colonist and horticulture expert. “It calls for a lot of trial and error and adaptation,” Chesnut said, who will be moving her planting season up by three to four weeks next year to take advantage of cool weather before the heat comes. Adjusting schedule is just one strategy she and other growers are trying.
“Different things affect different crops,” said Holly Rooke, farms manager for Edible Garden Project in North Vancouver. She says planting a variety of plants in different locations around a farm can help mitigate extreme weather risks. Despite challenges, Rooke and Chesnut said there were clear winners in the heat, listing “hot crops” like tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, garlic and some surprises like ginger, melons, grapes and even bananas. Some are now experimenting with sweet potatoes, a notoriously finicky plant. “That one still takes a lot of work to grow, up here. You still need to baby
them in the beginning stages,” Rooke said. Chesnut has been growing sweet potatoes in Qualicum Beach since the 1980s. “You need to plant a short season variety,” she said, among other tricks like pre-heating the soil. For Helmer, the sweet potato might be a fun experiment, but she said it is not yet commercially viable. “I think we’re still a ways away from that,” she said. The changing climate is a pressing issue for farmers who are on the front lines of the struggle for food security. “Our livelihood depends on weather, and our energy is connected to the weather,” Rooke said.
ew research is showing why the decades-old format of sitting in desks may not be the best option for the classroom. Recent studies have shown that standing and working for short periods of time can reduce the risk of obesity and increase concentration. The study Sick of sitting by James A. Levine of the Mayo Clinic states that humans were not meant to do all of their work sitting. According to the study, “People were designed to be bipedal and, before the industrial revolution, people moved substantially more throughout the day then they do presently.” At Langara College, the library has a number of height-adjustable standing desks that can be used for quick reference searches, or for students who prefer to stand and do their work. Joyce Wong, the library department chair at Langara believes the standing desks create a more amiable atmosphere for students and librarians alike, and that is what prompted their implementation. “I find that it provides for a more friendly look and feel for students when approaching us for help,” said Wong. “Height-adjustable also makes it very ergonomically accommodating.” Manveer Sanghera, first-year general studies student occasionally uses the standing desks in the library, particularly when she tires of sitting and needs a change of scene. “They’re a good way to let your body stretch out,” said Sanghera, “Sometimes when you’re studying, you tend to slouch over, but with the standing desks, you’re level with the computers, so it’s good for your posture too.” Although the response to the standing desks at Langara has been a positive one, there are no plans to implement more on campus. “There are no plans to install standing desks in classrooms at this time,” Langara director of facilities Wendy Lannard said, however she did not say why.
Beer pairings 1 ORGANIC BREWS, continued from page 1
BRIDGETTE WATSON photos
Claire Wilson is enjoying her freshly brewed organic beer.
Molson Coors Canada sent 7,067 tonnes of waste to landfill in 2014 according to the 2015 corporate responsibility report by Molson. That is comparable to the weight of 3,000 cars. “We make every decision to decrease the impact of our business,” Claire Wilson, Dogwood Brewing owner and brewmaster said. This includes donating grain waste for animal feed and mainly package their beer in cans because aluminum can be recycled indefinitely. The Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association certifies Wilson’s brewery under international standards, although she admitted it is not easy or cheap to maintain organic status. “Sometimes I feel like I am banging my head against the wall. It is so hard to find organic ingredients,” Wilson said, who sources organic hops, malt,
barley and yeast. “We get a smaller profit margin because of the cost of our materials.” Other microbreweries argue organic certification is not worth the headache. “It’s difficult and expensive to get organic licencing,” explained Morgan Munro, an employee at Brassneck Brewery. “We buy product that may not be labeled organic, but is still top quality.” Wilson said that ingredients being local is just as important as organic sources. She made supplier connections through farmers she befriended before opening her brewery. “Local is so important to us. To be able to see our money go into local farms and to see more farmland converting to organic, that is going to safeguard the security of our province for the future.”
2
3
4
Organic honey lager 4.5% ABV paired with salad and seafood Organic IPA 5.9% ABV paired with spicy Thai curry or mild blue cheese Organic Fest lager 6.9% ABV contrast with spicy, savoury cusine or complement with almond biscotti Organic stout 4% ABV paired with BBQ dishes, meat pie or tiramisu
SERENA PATTAR photo Source: dogwoodbrew.com
A Langara College student using a standing desk.
6
EDITOR BAILEY NICHOLSON
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2015
Standing desks just don’t sit right G
od gave me a large bum for a good reason. Stand-up desks are available in the library at Langara College for students to use while doing their course work, but stand-up desks aren’t new. Winston Churchill, Leonardo Da Vinci and Ernest Hemingway were known to use their stand-up desks. They became popular in Silicon Valley, where peoples’ desire is to brag about long work hours and introduce new trends to draw attention to their own trumped up self-importance. Supporters of stand-up desks reference a study from 2010, Sedentary Behaviors Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Men. This MURRAY B. HUNT study claimed that people who sit for 23 or more hours per week had a 64 per cent greater chance of dying from heart disease than those who sat for only half as long. Those who support the promotion of this ill-conceived fad argue that sitting for extended periods of time can send individuals to an early grave. But the advice they give is false, and those who choose to stand can end up in the same place. An October study by Cornell University Ergonomics Web shows that standing while working is problematic. It is more tiring for men with heart disease because it increases the load I will on the circulatory continue to system. Prolonged standing at work plant my also increases the bum on a risks of varicose chair when veins. Fine motor skills are reduced I work when people stand rather than sit, and standing requires 20 per cent more energy than sitting. Standing all day is unhealthy. I will continue to plant my bum on a chair when I work at my desk and promise to do my share of exercise. I am not prepared to trade in my desk and comfortable chair for the stand-up desk fad without true benefit.
viewpoints
Puppies relieve pressure I
can honestly say that I’m feeling pretty stressed, and I’m sure I’m far from the only one. Having some cute, cuddly puppies on campus would certainly take my mind off things. UBC and SFU have tonnes of things that we don’t have, and typically that BAILEY doesn’t bother me. But bringing in NICHOLSON stress-relieving
OPINION
dogs during exam time seems like it shouldn’t be this difficult. I feel like I’m constantly walking past empty classrooms that could be donated for a few hours of puppy time. Also, we have a giant, grassy lawn just begging for paws to run all over it. In terms of people with allergies or a fear of dogs, it seems easy enough to just avoid the room where the ‘scary’ puppies are being held. I’m not too fond of birds, but I still manage to shuffle past the crows that line my morning walk to school. I think that if a room full of puppies terrifies you, not entering that room would be easy. Stress can take a toll on you mental-
ly. Yes, there are counsellors on campus willing to listen, but there’s just something about the calming nature of animals that provides a different kind of relief and relaxation. It’s not like we’re asking for puppies all-year-round (although I wouldn’t argue against it), just briefly during the time of year that we all need it the most. I understand that certain policies may need to be put in place, and that it isn’t as easy as just finding dogs and transporting them over here to be played with, but for something that so many students would love, Langara should try a little harder.
V
the oice The Voice is published by Langara College’s journalism department. Editorial opinions are those of the staff and are independent of views of the student government and administration. We welcome letters to the editor. They may be edited for brevity. Your letter must include your name and phone number.
HOW TO REACH US PHONE
604-323-5396
FAX
604-323-5398
thevoice@langara.bc.ca
DROP-IN
Room A226 Langara College There is a mailbox at the entrance to the journalism rooms.
OPINION
SNAIL MAIL
The Voice 100 West 49th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 2Z6
WEBSITE www.langaravoice.ca
EDITORIAL STAFF MANAGING EDITOR Kelvin Gawley
PAGE EDITORS PAGE 1 Ethan Reyes
PAGE 2 Sara Rabey
“
PAGE 3 Michael Lylyk
PAGE 4 Bryan Mc Govern
PAGE 5 Tony Su
PAGE 7 Mona Butler
PAGE 8 Owen Munro
MANAGING WEB EDITOR Tanya Commisso
WEB EDITORS Jocelyn Aspa Anna Dimoff Dustin Godfrey Alex Hoegler James Smith Xiao Xu
COPY/WEB EDITOR Erin Boe
REPORTERS
CORRECTION In last week’s edition of The Voice, we incorrectly printed “Hula Hoop Dancing” in our front page masthead, when in fact it should have read “Hot Hula fitness”. We apologize for the error.
We want to hear from you Got a different point of view? Write to us. Problems with something we’ve said? Let us know. Think we got a fact wrong? Tell us.
Journalism instructor Erica Bulman oversees The Voice. Email her at ebulman@langara.bc.ca
MICHAEL LYLYK comic
Organic beer: passion over price W
hen it comes to what they consume, Vancouverites are most passionate about organic horticulture and craft beer. Naturally, the two have joined forces in South Vancouver to form Dogwood Brewing, the Lower Mainland’s first ever allorganic craft brewery and tasting room. And while organic breweries might feel easy to BEN BENGTSON label as a marketing gimmick, if the passion from brewers for organics is real, it’s hard to dismiss. But why is organic beer easy to dis-
OPINION
miss in the first place? Organic food and drink, while ideal in theory, is so often coopted by corporations that seek to exploit it. Companies like Whole Foods Market, for example, are the kind of big-box organics that go against what proper organics stand for, which should be hyper-local, smallbatch products that are free of plastic. Buying organic can also be an expensive endeavour, and since the health benefits of eating “naturally” are relatively unproven it’s a tough sell for anyone. However, if a brewery makes the decision to go organic and do it properly, such as Dogwood Brewing has, their attempts should be supported. Organic brewing should be focused on the important stuff: cultivating relationships with farmers and creating beer in an ethical manner.
Most breweries aren’t organic because it’s expensive. It’s expensive to purchase all-organic ingredients to brew beer, but if a brewery chooses to do so they should do it because they favour organic principles, not selling organic beer for it’s trendy marketability. Brewers, for example, should be passionate about dealing with local farmers and knowing where their ingredients come from – that’s what’s important to consumers and, hopefully, the brewers as well. Organic beer won’t be a game changer, but it’s hard not to be impressed with the passion and principles that can go into it when a place like Dogwood Brewing does it. If other breweries want to go this route – if they really believe in it, if they don’t treat it as a gimmick – then I say go for it.
Ben Bengtson Jake Costello Scott Drake Rumana Dsouza Jason Hamilton Murray B. Hunt Sean Lee Vincent Matak Rosemary Newton Serena Pattar Nancy Plechaty Seyedmostafa Raziei Kate Richardson Anne-Sophie Rodet Mark Stuart Kevin Underhill Tessa Vikander Bridgette Watson Julia Wickham Kathryn Wu
Contact us: Online at langaravoice.ca
Twitter: @LangaraVoice
Issues & ideas
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2015
EDITOR MONA BUTLER
7
Dogs are a student’s best friend A pet can be a fun, useful companion, but having one can bring about unique issues
Service pets welcome on campuses The use of guide dogs is becoming more common as their jobs expand beyond the traditional roles By SEAN LEE
E Courtesy of MARTIN MROZ
A PADS service dog lays down during a dog therapy session at SFU during the exam period of spring 2014.
No space for de-stress pups
Langara struggles to get room to accommodate puppy therapy but SFU has no problem By MARK STUART
B
eing able to de-stress with cute dogs during exam time has become a popular trend at other post-secondary institutions but Langara College has been left out of the trend for lack of space. The inaugural exam-time “puppy room” took place at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia in 2012 and quickly caught on at other schools. One of the schools to hold this activity is SFU. According to Martin Mroz, director of health and counselling services at SFU, the process has been a glowing success every year. “We’ve had amazing responses to it. We started it in 2012, when I first took my dog in, and since then the response has really been quite overwhelming,” said Mroz. As for why Langara can’t host such
an activity, space and liability seem to be the primary hurdles. Wendy Lannard, director of facilities I’ve done at Langara said it in small that, “the main islounge ar- sue right now would be space to eas; you re- accommodate such an activity. Presally don’t Langara has a need much ently space shortage and would not be able space to entertain the accommo- to idea because we would have nodate it where to accommoMARTIN MROZ date this.” “Secondly, if Director of health and councelling Langara did supservices at SFU port a puppy room on campus there
“
would have to be a policy in place which would address issues like liability, noise disruption, people will allergies, fears, etc.” she added. When SFU was posed with space problems, Mroz said that it was never an issue finding new locations. “I’ve done it in small lounge areas, you really don’t need that much space to accommodate it,” he said, “When it became a bigger deal, we moved it outside.” It’s something that students at Langara are onboard with. “I think it would be a cool idea, puppies are pretty cute,” said third-year psychology student Alysha Watt.“It’s hard to be stressed when you’re playing with something that’s so adorable and has no stress itself, puppies are so carefree.”
WEIRD service animals
Ferrets who alert their owners to seizures Boa constrictors who squeeze their owners harder to alert them to a seiziure Parrots who talk their bipolar owners out of a psychotic episode Miniature horses who act as seeingeye guides Pigs are easily trainable for many assitant tasks Capuchin monkeys trained to assist with grasping items
veryday life on campus is becoming easier for students with guide dogs, according to John Wheelwright, the executive director of Dogs with Wings. Service animals such as guide dogs on campus weren’t very common years ago, but as their jobs expanded beyond just visual or hearing impairment, institutions are seeing an increase in number of them. “It’s not just guide dogs. We have dogs being used for emotional support, helping people with autism spectrum disorder, and other physical or psychological challenges,” Wheelwright said. Students with guide dogs may face challenges that are unique to campus life. Hallways or stairwells may be crowded, the dog might get startled, or the planned routes may not be optimal in which case the trainers would have to retrain the dog, he said. However, despite these challenges, Wheelwright said that generally people on campus are helpful to these students. “You get a good deal of buy-in from the general student population. The person with the dog may become a bit notorious. I think people go out of their way to help. Stepping out of the way, or making sure there’s a bowl of water around,” said Wheelwright. “We found that people want to be helpful.” Any student who requires service animals must visit disabilities services on campus in Building B, room B139 and fill out the proper documentation for approval. Any Langara staff that require service animals must visit human resources in Building B, room B201. Disabilities services was unable to give a comment by deadline.
Souce: NCHPAD blog
Housing harder to find with Fido Having a pet makes it difficult to find an apartment but there are ways to make your pet rental-friendly By JASON HAMILTON
T JASON HAMILTON photo
A Nicola street resident takes his dog Chulo for a walk.
o increase your chances of finding a rental unit as a student with a pet you may want to consider creating a pet resume according to the BC SPCA. The associations renters guide says that only 15–20 per cent of downtown Vancouver apartments allow cats and even fewer allow dogs. It is far easier to find a rental unit that allows pets in the suburbs than downtown. Ryan Voutilainen, manager of the Burnaby branch of the BC SPCA advises students to go to check the pet-
friendly housing resources. Their website helps with putting together a letter for potential landlords and how to draft a pet policy. “About 20 per cent of the animals we receive through our shelters is usually due to housing related issues,” Voutilainen said, “tenants with pets stay on average for 46 months compared to 18 months for those without pets.” Global Education City Holdings Inc. (GEC) is a student-focused real estate company that retrofits apartments and old hotels into luxury rental units for students. Rodney Davidson, property manager for GEC, said that although they don’t have pet-friendly units available yet, it is something they might consider in the future. “It’s hard when you have students living together with shared spaces. When it comes to pets, not everyone
likes having animals around, especially those without pets. We are not opposed to the idea of pets and it is something we may look into,” Davidson said. As for service animals, he said, “We don’t discriminate and service animals aren’t considered pets. We will follow the laws regarding service animals.” According to the BC SPCA, if you find a place that allows pets, keep in mind they may charge a pet deposit. This deposit can be up to, but no more than, half a month’s rent regardless of the number of animals and can only be used by a landlord to cover damages incurred directly from a pet. Voutilainen also explained that although many people are refused housing due to potential damages incurred by pets, there is factually no significant difference in damages between tenants with pets and those without them.
8
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2015
sports
EDITOR OWEN MUNRO
Three Falcon women earn all-star nods Kappeli, Graeme and Tasaka selected as PACWEST all-stars By NANCY PLECHATY
D
RUMANA DSOUZA photo
Two fencers practise at the Killarney Community Centre, where Tri-City Fencing Academy will hold a program for ages eight to 15.
Fencing on guard in Killarney Classes take aim at bringing fresh faces to a historic tradition By RUMANA DSOUZA
T
he Killarney Community Centre will soon be transformed from classroom to battlefield for swashbuckling kids who want to learn the centuries-old sport of fencing. The community centre is offering beginner and intermediatetraining courses, structured for kids ages eight to 15. The program, run by the Tri-City Fencing Academy, begins Nov. 16. According to Brad Kelly, founder of the Tri-City Fencing Academy, fencing is becoming more popular among children who have a competitive spirit and are not interested in team sports. “Fencing is one of the original Olympic sports, and it has a strong psycho-
logical aspect to it, much like any martial art,” Kelly said. “You’re measuring yourself; not against a clock, but against another person.” Fencing has its origins from duelling, in the days when military cavalry fought on horseback. After the invention of firearms made it obsolete, fencing developed into a sport over the years. Kelly said swordplay is naturally appealing to children. “Sometimes, moms come to me and say, ‘I’m not sure if my 12-year-old son will like this sport,’ and I say, ‘Well, I’m going to give him a stick and tell him to hit other kids. Of course, he’s going to like it,’” Kelly said. Harry McCullough, 11, learns fencing at the LaSalle Fencing Club & Stu-
dio. “I like playing with a sword and hitting people,” he said. “I like getting tired. I want to be a great fencer.” The Tri-City Fencing Academy advertises their courses in program guides. Kelly said parents enrol their kids in the program because fencing offers many health benefits. Dr. Cameron Leong, a naturopathic doctor and director of Jericho Integrated Clinic, specializes in sports medicine and is a fencer himself. “Fencing requires a lot of physical endurance. It involves a lot more movement and flexibility than people think,” he said. “Fencing is considered a martial art, so there’s a discipline to it. Improved flexibility and hand-eye coordination come with training.”
“
I’m going to give him a stick and tell him to hit other kids. Of course, he’s going to like it BRAD KELLY TRI-CITY FENCING ACADEMY
espite a disappointing finish to the season, three Langara College women’s soccer players took home some hardware. The Langara women’s soccer team finished in fifth place in the PACWEST league, but proud to produce three allstars at the end of their 2015 season. The all-star selections, Olivia Kappeli, Alyssa Graeme and Tessa Tasaka said it’s about the friendships they earned, not the awards. Only 11 women are selected as allstars from the six participating teams in their division. “Three girls being recognized says a lot about them indi- ALYSSA GRAEME vidually,” women’s Two-time PAChead coach Ryan WEST all-star Birt said. “Because it’s awards that are voted on by the other coaches. You can’t vote for your own players.” Kappeli said she feels grateful to have had the opportunity to play at provincials and nationals last year, but the most important thing for her was making best friends. “It feels nice to be recognized. I don’t show off about it and tell everyone,” said Kappeli, who won her third straight PACWEST all-star award. Alyssa Graeme, a second-time allstar winner, said she didn’t expect the nomination again. “I followed my best friends here. We went to Nationals last year. It’s been fun. We all just connect so well,” Graeme said. Tessa Tasaka, a second-year player, won her first all-star award. Last season, she suffered an ankle injury near the beginning of the year and saw limited minutes. She credited her nomination to her friends and coaches. “Honestly, I just played for the team.”
Falcons’ Tally WOMEN’S BASKETBALL W-D-L
MEN’S BASKETBALL W-D-L
2-0-1 Ranked: Tied 2nd
2-0-1 Ranked: Tied 3rd
Marpole mini league hits it right on the button Six-week mini league in Marpole hopes to draw a new generation as older curlers move out of Vancouver
CURLING clubs 1 2 3
4 5
Marpole Curling Club Vancouver Curling Club Royal City Curling Club (New Westminster) Tunnel Town Curling Club (Delta) Cloverdale Curling Club Source: Google
By TESSA VIKANDER The Marpole Curling Club is sweeping up a new demographic with a sixweek mini league for beginner curlers. The club introduced the mini league for beginner teams who aren’t ready to commit to the usual 24-week season. General manager Melinda Michalak said the initiative stems from a need to attract younger adults to the club in face of a decline in number of older members. The club has also increased its focus on beginners’ clinics and group rentals. “A lot of our older curlers who are retired, and used to make up a large portion of our membership have decided to go with the trend, sell their [Vancouver] property, and move to the suburbs,” she said, “the suburban curling
clubs are busier.” Michalak said people who first attended beginner clinics or who participated in a private group rental formed some of the teams in the mini league. Deanna Brummitt, 34, first got involved at a beginner’s clinic. Michalak said she was “instrumental” in helping fill the
mini l e a g u e both this year and last because she rallied 30 of her friends and acquaintences to join. Brummitt’s hooked on curling because of how strategic it is. “ I t ’s
kind like chess on ice. You’ve got to think a few moves ahead… Plus I like how it’s social. You get to come and drink beer after.” One of Brummitt’s recruits, Jenni Sheppard, age 34, said the club is friendly and welcoming. Sheppard said she likes the element of suspense in curling. During her team’s last turn, she could knock the other teams’ rocks out of position on the ice sheet, causing an unexpected win. “You don’t know how [the game] is going to end until the very last rock,” she said. NANCY PLECHATY photo
Members of the Royal City Curling Club sweep the ice.