The Other Press - September 8, 2020

Photo of Bill Belichick by AlexanderJonesi via Wikimedia Commons

Lettitor

Moving forward Janis McMath Editor-in-Chief

B

ill Belichick is an icon for a long list of well-deserved reasons, but my personal favourite moment of his is the stoic line many know him for: “We’re on to Cincinnati.” In response to a barrage of questions about the Patriots’ failures, Belichick intentionally leaves reporters without a response to nitpick later in their pieces. And this mentality—one that never dwells on past failures without moving onto the next venture with gusto—is an essential one for members of our newspaper collective.

With a weekly paper, there’s no choice but to move forward. Living in the present

and learning from your past failures rather than letting them depress you and impact your ability to fully take on your next opportunity to succeed is a great lesson that working for a student newspaper offers. (Also, having your failures published permanently to stare you in the face can be turned into a great motivation tool for improvement in the next week.)

A student newspaper can sharpen your skills as a writer, illustrator, photographer, and editor by pushing you to do a creative personal project every single week.

Prospective members always say: “I’m not ready for a responsibility like that; I need practice first!” This paper is the place to practice and improve—which ties in with another idea behind Belichick’s mantra:

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Janis McMath Editor-in-Chief  editor@theotherpress.ca

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Lauren Gargiulo News Editor  news@theotherpress.ca

Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor  arts@theotherpress.ca

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discuss your failures internally and with those you trust. The Pats are famous for the culture this legendary coach has created where all issues are dealt within the team and the players present a united front.

Similarly, at the Other Press and other student newspapers, you’ll get feedback and help from people you trust. This isn’t a BlogSpot where randos can come and go and crap all over your meaningful and well-thought out article about your passion projects. We’re all a team here so we’re all looking to help each other improve for the sake of the paper and our community.

COVID-19 definitely shook things up here at the paper, but we’re looking to have some virtual meetings this semester and will hopefully offer other social

Brittney MacDonald Business Manager Athena Little Udeshi Seneviratne Illustrators Position Open Staff Reporter Mo Hussain Sports Reporter Craig Allan Tania Arora Staff Writers Billy Bui Staff Photographer Jerrison Oracion Jonathan Pabico Nova Sawatsky Brandon Yip Senior Columnists

Timothy Easling CJ Sommerfeld Contributors Cover layout by Lauren Kelly and Udeshi Seneviratne Feature layout by Christine Weenk and Udeshi Seneviratne

opportunities! In a lot of ways, being online only affords us new and exciting creative prospects—and you should be a part of it! So, write for the Other Press today and become a part of our team (or just stay in the loop!); you can contribute as often or as little as you like! Email editor.otherpress@ gmail.com if you have any questions about getting started!

On to Cincinnati,

JANIS Janis McMath

The Other Press has been Douglas College’s student newspaper since 1976.

Since 1978 we have been an autonomous publication, independent of the student union. We are a registered society under the Society Act of British Columbia, governed by an eight-person board of directors appointed by our staff. Our head office is located in the New Westminster campus.

The Other Press is published weekly during the fall and winter semesters, and monthly during the summer. We receive our funding from a student levy collected through tuition fees every semester at registration, and from local and national advertising revenue. The Other Press is a member of the Canadian University Press (CUP), a syndicate of student newspapers that includes papers from all across Canada.

The Other Press reserves the right to choose what we will publish, and we will not publish material that is hateful, obscene, or condones or promotes illegal activities. Submissions may be edited for clarity and brevity if necessary. All images used are copyright to their respective owners.

Have an idea for a story?  news@theotherpress.ca

News

news // no. 3 • Trudeau dodges investigation • Vancouver School Board offers optional at-home learning • Vancouver aquarium announces closure ...and more

Vancouver aquarium announces closure › Hit by bankruptcy amidst the pandemic Tania Arora Staff Writer mongst the list of businesses closing, Vancouver Aquarium holds top placement for the most disappointing.

It announced its closure to the public on August 31. The facility was deprived of finances for months because of COVID-19. After September 7, the public programming will pause as authorities plan to transform the facility. The animals will still be taken care of by a team of trained staff. More than 200 people working at the aquarium have lost their jobs.

The pandemic made it harder for the operators to even cover the basics of costs which were tremendous due to the density.

According to the Ocean Wise aqua blog, “Although our summer reopening was a huge success in terms of operating in a COVID-safe way, and proving a great visitor experience, the not-for-profit Vancouver Aquarium was not able to cover costs.”

For three straight months, the facility was closed. When it reopened in June, in spite of having huge public support, the restrictions imposed made it hard for the aquarium to operate.

Opened in 1956, the aquarium was one of the top tourist destinations in Vancouver. From treasures of BC coast, jellies and tropics to Stellar’s bay, sea otters and dolphins, you may find everything behind their doors. The walls spoke about the rescue of animals and their history.

The aquarium played a major role in the conservation of the environment and wildlife. In their closing remarks, the authorities discussed continuing to be an entrusted resource and educating people on the most pressing issues for our oceans—climate change, pollution and overfishing.

While the aquarium may be closing its doors, the programs within the aquarium such as Ocean Wise Research, Ocean Wise Education, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, Marine Mammal Rescue, and many others won’t be going anywhere. The President and Chief Executive Officer of the non-profit program Ocean Wise, which runs the aquarium, also remains optimistic about the future of the facility. “We’re not closing for good. We’re taking a pause for public programs. The animals aren’t going anywhere,” says Lasse Gustavsson. “The honest answer is we don’t know when we will be open again. Will this be over next year at this time? Your guess is as good as mine,” he said in a Globe and Mail article.

The beauty of the wildlife preserved in the aquarium and the cause to care for the environment had been cherished

by Vancouverites for decades and will continue to do so after its doors are closed.

For many, it wasn’t just a tourist spot, but a place for people to connect with nature.

Illustration by Athena Little

A

While the aquarium may be closing its doors, the programs within the aquarium such as Ocean Wise Research, Ocean Wise Education, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, Marine Mammal Rescue, and many others won’t be going anywhere.

news // no. 4

theotherpress.ca

Liberals’ WE scandal continues › Trudeau dodges investigation

Timothy Easling Contributor

“W

e will not resort to legislative tricks to avoid scrutiny,” read the Liberals’ 2015 campaign platform. “Stephen Harper has used prorogation to avoid difficult political circumstances. We will not.”

Despite a strong campaign promise of avoiding prorogation, something the Liberals consistently drove home as one of Harper’s grave misdeeds, the reigning minority government chose to prorogue Parliament and halt all committees looking into the Prime Minister’s third ethics violation (Parliament will resume with a speech from the throne and a confidence vote on September 23). The government also released 5000 pages of emails related to the scandal with a great deal of the content redacted/blacked-out; as a result of prorogation, the government will not have to provide revised documents or answers until the 23rd. However, even with the lack of information and carefully worded responses from those already interviewed by investigatory committees, contradictions in the story have already begun to arise.

“Here’s an email from the minister responsible for the department that granted the half billion dollars to her top bureaucrat, again, all the substance is blacked-out. And that would not be the first time…next page, blacked-out,” said Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre as he tossed documents so redacted that the pages were simply black boxes with a white border. “This page, blacked-out. This page, blacked-out. This page, blacked-out.

Why don’t we ask what’s in those pages at a parliamentary committee? Well, I’ll tell you why: Justin Trudeau shut down those

parliamentary committees. When did he do it? The same day these documents became public. What a coincidence.”

The issue of the censoring itself is under some scrutiny. Per the finance committee’s request, any redactions were to be “made by the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons”; the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that such was the case.

However, the law clerk, Philippe Dufresne, revealed in an email to David Gagnon, the finance committee clerk, that he was not permitted to do his job as intended since the Liberals had already censored the material prior to it coming to Dufresne: “The documents had already been redacted by the departments to protect personal information and on other grounds. As my office has not been given the opportunity to see the unredacted documents, we are not able to confirm whether those redactions are consistent with the order of the Committee.” Poilievre spoke to CBC about the issue: “The law clerk was tasked with combing through all the material and redacting any cabinet confidence or other information that needed to be kept from public view. Instead, the Trudeau government did its own redacting.” In short, the Liberals have chosen to ignore government protocols and procedures—a worrying trend for the minority government.

When Trudeau testified to a committee prior to the prorogation of Parliament, the Prime Minister offered little-to-no information despite such basic questions as the following from Poilievre: “I’m going to ask you again because nobody believes you when you say you don’t know how much money your family has got from the WE group. You’ve had a month to look into that. You knew you were going

to testify here. Again, how much money total have your brother, mother, and spouse received from this organization? How much?” Instead of answering Poilievre’s question, Trudeau spoke—among other things—to the virtue of his mother “… she doesn’t have to rely on a husband or a son to support her because she does her own work, and I’m proud of the work she does[…]” Trudeau did mention that “that information has been publicly shared” but refused to state the dollar figure when pressed by Poilievre; Trudeau’s curious avoidance of providing an actual answer himself has led to speculation his family has received a lot more than a half a million dollars.

The WE organization is facing questions of its own. Although the group lobbied six different ministers’ offices and federal departments a total of 43 times for half-a-year, they only registered as a lobbyist in August; this figure is much lower than the actual total number of communications due to the fact that Craig and Marc Kielburger are technically volunteers for the organization. “For the past few years, our engagement with the government was about one to three percent of our overall budget. We thought engagement at the time was minimal. And if I thought that registration was required, we would have done it and it would have occurred,” WE Charity Executive Director Dalal Al-Waheidi said immediately upon registering.

The Kielburgers and other WE officials failed to provide all that was asked of them but expressed a willingness to oblige with the wanted information later. “That additional information had not been provided to the committee at the time that Justin Trudeau shut down Parliament,” Poilievre and Michael Barrett

wrote to the Kielburgers. “However, given you both expressed your desire to provide members of Parliament with the information required, we urge you to not wait for the House of Commons to return in September.”

But instead of handing over the requested documents, a lawyer for WE, William McDowell, said “Mr. Poilievre’s letter amounts to politics, not proper process. The committees ceased to exist with the prorogation of Parliament. There is no committee to receive the documents… when there is a new committee, our clients will be pleased to communicate with the clerk of the new committee regarding the production of documents.”

Speaker’s Spotlight, the agency used to pay Trudeau’s family hundreds of thousands of dollars, was similarly asked to turn over requested documents, but does not appear to be doing so. The initial deadline was July 29, which the committee granted an extension “in good faith” to August 19. Trudeau prorogued Parliament the day before the deadline.

Barrett commented, “The shuttering of the ethics committee does not hinder your ability to make this information public in order to bring clarity and transparency to government.”

An unethical media bias has also come to light. Amanda Alvaro, a CBC commentator who has defended Trudeau in the scandal, and her PR agency have received more than $40,000 from the government—violating the Journalistic Standards and Practices at the CBC: “it is important to mention any association, affiliation or specific interest a guest or commentator may have so the public can fully understand that person’s perspective.”

Neither the Liberals nor the CBC have chosen to comment.

issue 1// vol 47

news // no. 5

BC's declining unemployment not yet felt in Vancouver › Canadian economy slowly bouncing back to pre-COVID levels Jessica Berget Assistant Editor

D

espite Canada adding over 246,000 new jobs in the last month and BC’s unemployment rate also steadily declining, it’s still tough finding a job in Vancouver.

It’s been six months since many people were laid off because of COVID-19 safety restrictions to stay home, but the economy is slowly and steadily bouncing back.

According to a Statistics Canada labour force survey, BC’s unemployment rate reported the largest increase, which was 10.7 in August—down from 11.1 the month prior. The number of employed people increased in July by more than 15,000.

Vancouver has also seen gains in employment in the last month when the unemployment rate for the city went down from 13.3 to 12.8. Yet, the number of people looking to go back into work has also increased. In a Global News article, it is reported that about 10,500 more jobs were created in Vancouver. However, the rate of people looking for work has also increased, still making it difficult for many workers to find positions. As a result, local

unemployment grew from 11.6 percent in July to 12.4 percent to August, according to a Statistics Canada Labour Force table.

The majority of job gains went to full-time positions which recording 206,000 more jobs. Part-time jobs rose from 40,000 from July. Employment rates also rose faster for women over men for the third consecutive month. Statistics Canada reports women gained 150,000 more positions in August while men gained about 96,000.

The sectors of job also have scattered gains. Manufacturing jobs are up 6,000 since July, while more than 10,000 retail jobs have disappeared. Another 6,400 jobs have been created in the food and accommodation sector. The pace of job gains slowed in August as compared to July when 419,000 jobs were gained.

Statistics Canada says August’s unemployment would have been more had it accounted for people who wanted to go back to work, but didn’t look for a job, presumably because of the economic shutdown from COVID-19. “These numbers this month, prove one more time, workers are prepared to go back to

work provided there is work for them to go back to,” says Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yussuff.

BC government will announce an economic recovery plan later in the

month with decisions how and where to spend $2.5 billion—including money for transportation and other municipalities.

Before the pandemic, BC’s unemployment rate was 5 percent.

Vancouver School Board offers optional at-home learning

› General unrest as parents and teachers prepare for back to school during COVID-19

I

t’s not easy sending your kids back to school—especially during a pandemic. For many concerned parents, the Vancouver School Board is making optional and transitional at-home learning modules for kids returning to school on September 10.

The transitional option would allow students to begin the school year at home with a choice to switch to in-person learning.

It would also allow them to keep their spots in their classes by doing all their work at home with weekly check-ins from their teachers.

The decision was made after a survey by the BC government asking parents about their children’s return to school. In the survey, nearly 70 percent of parents said they planned on sending their Photo by Billy Bui

Jessica Berget Assistant Editor

kids back to school in September. Twenty nine percent said they would prefer athome focused learning.

But the parents who choose the at-home learning model may not be able to send their kids back to school till late September. In an article with Global News, Vancouver School Board Superintendent Suzanna Hoffman says this transitional program may not be available until September 21, stating that more time is needed to ensure everything is in place for the program to begin.

This new transitional model was implemented due to many parents still feeling that letting their children return to school could be unsafe. According to the CBC, two BC fathers, Gary Shuster and Bernard Trest, are among the parents who still have concerns about the safety measures. On August 29, the two dads filed a lawsuit to the BC Supreme Court to curb schools from reopening until tougher safety measures have been put in place. They claim that the back-to-school plan now puts teachers, students, and the community at risk of endangerment.

Failing to enforce mandatory face masks, physical distancing, reduced class sizes, and optional online learning are all things cited for contention of the new back to school plan.

It’s not only the parents who feel unsafe. Many BC teachers are also feeling the anxiety of the back to school season.

Both parents and teachers attended a rally

on August 29 to protest the back to school plan saying it does not address the safety issues and concerns raised by teachers and parents. Teachers have also called for tougher COVID-19 safety measures such as mandatory mask wearing, smaller class sizes, physical distancing, access to personal protective equipment, an option for at-home learning, as well as extra paid sick days for teachers in the case of an outbreak.

Despite parents and teachers concerns, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry insists that per the safety guidelines put in place, it is okay for students to return to school. She says she is confident in the plan and that to prolong school for children any longer can have a lifelong impact on them.

For those worried about the 50-person social distancing rule, Henry says schools do not have to follow the same guidelines as adult situations as they are controlled environments. “That will be in a small group, the same numbers of teachers and students and interaction is contained and limited, so it is a different situation,” she said in a North Shore News (NSN) article.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry both stress that the recent increase in cases is no cause for concern with schools reopening. “We have 28 people in acute care as compared to 149 on April 5, and 10 people in critical care, as compared to 72 on April 5,” Dix said in the same North Shore News article.

Sports

Have an idea for a story?  news@theotherpress.ca

• COVID-19 shutting down sports games shows how much people need them • What is the future of our Vancouver hockey team? ...and more

Canuck fever in September › Playoff run reveals team’s bright future Brandon Yip Senior Columnist he Vancouver Canucks were playing in the second round of the NHL playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights. The series will have ended by the time this article is published. The NHL playoffs have looked vastly different due to COVID-19.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, league governors, and the NHL Players’ Association organized and agreed to play a 24-team Stanley Cup tournament in two hub cities (Edmonton and Toronto). The playoffs now have four teams remaining.

The Vancouver Canucks in the play-in qualifying round defeated the Minnesota Wild three games to one (best of five series). The Canucks would then meet the St. Louis Blues in the first round. The defending Stanley Cup champions just could not find their stride as the Canucks defeated the Blues four games to two (best of seven series). It was the Canucks’ first playoff series victory since May 2011 when they defeated the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Final in five games.

The Canucks’ next opponent in the second round was the Vegas Golden Knights.

During the series, at times Vegas showed why they are the better team.

They out-skated, out-hustled, and outmuscled the Canucks led by enforcer Ryan Reaves. Vegas has balanced scoring with snipers: William Karlsson, Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, Reilly Smith, and Jonathan Marchessault. Also, Vegas has a ferocious forecheck, giving Canuck defensemen little time to control the puck and get it out of their own zone.

Notably, Vegas’ playoff win record is astounding. Since entering the league in 2017 (it should be noted these stats are prior to the start of game six between the Canucks and Vegas), the Golden Knights have won 27 playoff games. While the Canucks have won only 11 playoff games dating back to 2015—the last time they were in the postseason.

Above all, the Canucks’ future looks very promising: the team has shown improvement over the past several years.

Canuck General Manager, Jim Benning, has made some notable acquisitions (via draft picks and trades) to improve the team.

Benning added more scoring to the roster by acquiring Tyler Toffoli from the Los Angeles Kings. In exchange for Toffoli, the Kings received players Tyler Madden, Tim Schaller, a 2020 second-round pick as well as a 2022 conditional pick.

The Canucks have a strong foundation

Illustration by Sonam Kaloti

T

with a solid youth core that will have the team competitive for several years. Players such as forwards Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat, and Elias Pettersson represent that. Other notable players who have contributed have been J.T. Miller, Jake Virtanen (from Abbotsford), and Adam Gaudette. Also, the blue line is solid with veterans: Alex Edler; Chris Tanev; and Richmond native, Troy Stecher. Rookie defenseman, Quinn Hughes, has delighted Canuck fans with his speed, skill, and finesse.

In addition, the Canucks have shown to have more depth with their third and fourth lines. Particularly, forward Tyler

Motte has been a positive with his recent play—especially during the first round against the St. Louis Blues. As well, goalie Jacob Markstrom has proven to be a legitimate number one starter for the Canucks with backup goalie Thatcher Demko, providing solid goaltending when needed.

Paul Chapman, Deputy Editor with The Province says the Canucks’ playoff experience in 2020 will benefit the team in the future. “This experience has been invaluable to the Canucks,” Chapman said in an email interview with the Other Press.

“They will plead ad nauseum that they’re

there to win and not gain experience. But the process of playing teams bigger, faster and deeper than them, fighting back, grinding out wins by any means possible provides a roadmap to success that teams like the Oilers and Flames haven’t been able to find thus far despite their plethora of young talent,” he said.

For the first time since 2011, Canuck fans can be optimistic as the team’s future looks very bright. If the Canucks one day make another appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, let’s hope the city behaves itself this time.

But the process of playing teams bigger, faster and deeper than them, fighting back, grinding out wins by any means possible provides a roadmap to success that teams like the Oilers and Flames haven’t been able to find thus far despite their plethora of young talent”

issue 1// vol 47

sports // no. 7

Three takeaways from the Canucks playoff run this year › What is the future of our Vancouver hockey team?

Mo Hussain Sports Reporter

W

ith the Vancouver Canucks falling short in this year’s playoffs due to a heartbreaking game seven loss against the Las Vegas Golden Knights, many are speculating about where the team might be headed. Here are three important points to keep in mind with the Canucks moving forward:

Resilience Prior to this year, the Canucks often found themselves in vulnerable positions where they were unable to get far in the playoffs.

In 2012, the Canucks fell short to the Los Angeles Kings in game five of the first

round. The following year they were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round as well. In 2015, the Canucks also could not get past the first round of the playoffs as they lost to the series to the Calgary Flames four to two series victory.

Photo by Luke Lawreszuk on Flickr

Thatcher... Demko Prior to Demko’s first start in game five of the series against Las Vegas, many believed that the Canucks would continue to roll with all-star veteran goalie Jacob Markstrom the following season as many thought Demko still needed time to develop into a starting goaltender.

However, after stopping 128 of 130 shots and averaging a 0.64 goals against average in the three pivotal games against the Golden Knights, it’s safe to say Demko has shown he is capable of stepping up to the plate much sooner than expected.

The Canucks front office must now decide on whether or not to go all in on the rising 24-year old netminder next year, or opt to resign Markstrom who just played the last season of his contract and head into next year with the same goaltending strategy.

This year was much different however, as the team not only managed to knock off the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in the first round, but they managed to bring their second round series against Las Vegas to game seven after being down three to one.

That kind of experience can help shift the team’s playoff morale moving forward and can give them the confidence to potentially set the bar even higher next year.

The rebuild is officially over…

The most important overall takeaway from this season is that the Canucks are officially over the rebuilding process. Young players like Bo Horvat, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko are no longer prospects that the team is waiting for to develop after having put on the kind of performance they put on this year. This season showed that the Canucks’ young players are capable of leading this team and of posing a credible threat to arguably any other team in the league if they continue to grow and play at their best.

If the Canucks front office can somehow manage to keep their core group of young stars together for the foreseeable future and adjust key areas on the team that would compliment their game, who knows what the ceiling is for the Canucks in the coming years?

Professional sports are a psychologically essential industry › COVID-19 shutting down sports games shows how much people need them Mo Hussain Sports Reporter

I

f there is something I have learned since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s that the return of live professional sports proved to be much needed. So much so that I would argue professional sports should be classified as a “psychologically essential industry.”

Although sports do not provide essential goods or services needed for our survival, what many of those who don’t keep up with professional sports don’t understand is that sports bring fans a kind of experience that is incomparable to any other form of entertainment.

Unlike keeping up with your favorite TV show or waiting for part two of your favourite movie series, sports games don’t have a “series finale” or a “final chapter.”

Sports has pretty consistently delivered its viewers a new year long season every single year for decades.

Fans have had players and coaches participate in their final games which is somewhat of a “season finale,” but fans still keep in mind that they can get together with their friends and family to enjoy

watching their favorite team the following season as they know their favorite TV series’ is going to continue.

The concurrent viewing experience of sports is also an important aspect. Whether you’re a multimillionaire watching from your Coal Harbour penthouse or a lowincome family who has to watch on a small screen, when the game kicks off, everyone is united by watching the same game.

There aren’t any “spoilers” or “leaks.” The live, raw, and unpredictable nature of sport keeps all its fans at the edge of their seats.

To some extent, there is also a unique personal connection that sports fans feel with their favorite players and teams. After all, it’s not like what fans are watching is choreographed. Fans have been immersed with both the highs and lows of their favorite teams and players which can lead to a bond and a connection fans can feel.

The experience is one full of rewarding emotions.

So, when fans who have been keeping up with their favorite teams for 10, 20, 30, 40 or more years have that type of entertainment pulled out from under them, finding an alternative escape to fill in that missing gap can be difficult.

For many, sports provide an escape; an escape from work, school, personal issues, and so forth. For those folks, watching their favorite team climb up the ranks may be the only thing they look forward to and can give them joy with all the chaos surrounding their everyday lives.

Particularly in unprecedented times like these where people are losing their loved ones, livelihoods, social life, and sanity, being immersed in watching your favourite team for a moment can lift some of the weight off your shoulders.

Have an idea for a story?  arts@theotherpress.ca

Arts

• Saxophone music for troubling times • Marilyn Monroe: a Canadian connection

Photo-Illustration by Anastasia Simonovich

...and more

Rebel without a pause › James Dean’s legend lives on 65 years after his death

Brandon Yip Senior Columnist

J

ames Dean made only three films before dying on a highway near Cholame, California on September 30, 1955. He was 24 years old. He was driving his brandnew Porsche 550 Spyder and was en route to compete in a car race in Salinas, California when the fatal crash occurred.

It was the death of a rising star, and the birth of a legend.

• 2020 Vancouver International Film Festival preview

Dean symbolized teenage angst, restlessness, and rebellious youth. Teenagers in the 1950s found in Dean a figure they could relate with. In death, Dean received more publicity, adulation, and fanfare than he had ever gotten when he was alive. He would receive posthumous Academy Award nominations for best actor in East of Eden and Giant. Here is a look back at Dean’s three notable Hollywood films.

East of Eden (1955) This was Dean’s first Hollywood film, which opened in theatres in March 1955. The story is based on the John Steinbeck novel of the same name and directed by Elia Kazan.

In the film, Dean plays Caleb (Cal) Trask, an emotionally tormented youth trying desperately to please and win the approval of his strict and unaffectionate father, Adam (Raymond Massey). Adam favours Cal’s brother, Aron (Richard Davalos), whom he considers the “good son” of the family— while dismissing Cal as the “bad son.”

The film shows Dean’s raw and powerful emotional intensity. This is evidenced by the way Dean glares at Massey with jealous scorn and contempt as Adam gives constant praise towards Aron. Additionally, see the anger on Dean’s face before he yells and punches Aron during an argument. East of Eden was the only film Dean lived to see.

Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Dean’s second film and arguably his most famous film was directed by Nicholas Ray and was released in October 1955. The film solidified Dean’s status as a rebel cult hero with teenagers. Dean plays Jim Stark, a troubled youth whose family moves into a new neighbourhood. He attends a new high school and befriends a kid named Plato (Sal Mineo). Stark eventually gets into a confrontation with a local gang at school and ultimately leads to the famous knife fight scene between Stark and gang leader Buzz (Corey Allen). Stark wins the knife battle and is later challenged

by Buzz to a “chickie run,” a car race involving driving towards the edge of a cliff—with the first person jumping out of the vehicle being a “chicken.” Notably, the film reveals Dean’s raw and powerful intensity, especially during one scene when

he punches a desk repeatedly inside the office of a juvenile police officer and later bursts into tears. Or watching Dean yelling angrily, “Stand up!” at his emotionally fragile father (Jim Backus), dragging him with both hands down the stairs, then shoving him into a chair while strangling him. Calm down bro!

Giant (1956) Dean’s final film was released posthumously in November 1956. This western drama was directed by George Stevens (who won an Oscar for Best Director), and starred Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor in the lead roles. Dean had a supporting role playing the character of Jett Rink. The movie is based on the novel, Giant, written by Edna Ferber; and focuses on a generation of ranchers in Texas. The film was noted for being very progressive for its time, as it covered issues such as poverty, sexism, racial intolerance, and greed. Hudson played Bick Benedict whose character marries Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor). Jett works for Bick and the two men dislike each other intensely. This animosity would be further accelerated when Rink becomes rich after striking oil on land he inherits after the death of Bick’s sister Luz (Mercedes McCambridge). Make sure you make lots of popcorn because the film is 197 minutes in length. Although Dean’s screen time is minimal, he steals every scene he is in—revealing his promise and potential as an actor. Significantly, one scene that stands out is when Dean taunts Rock Hudson with derision after he strikes oil and becomes filthy rich: “Me, I’m gonna have more money than you ever thought you could have! You and all the rest of you stinkin’ sons of Benedicts!” I think he made his point.

The film was noted for being very progressive for its time, as it covered issues such as poverty, sexism, racial intolerance, and greed.

› 2020 Vancouver International Film Festival preview Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

D

uring this time last year, I went to the Vancity Theatre to pick up a copy of the program of the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). After looking through it and deciding which films to watch and talks to attend, I went back to the theatre to wait in a long lineup, fill out a form with my selections, and give it to the box office to get the tickets. This year, with the coronavirus pandemic and fear of a second wave in the Lower Mainland, this edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival will mainly happen online.

Most of the major film festivals this year including the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival

(TIFF) are held online with talks from the cast and crew of some of the highly anticipated films this year. With all film festivals, the movies that they show will only be available to those that live in the area where the festivals take place. This will be the case for VIFF where the films can only be seen in British Columbia.

This year’s edition of VIFF will happen between September 24 to October 7 mainly online with some films happening in person with safety precautions in place at the newly renovated Vancouver International Film Centre’s (VIFC) Vancity Theatre and The Cinematheque. All the content in the festival will be presented through their new streaming service VIFF Connect where year-round programming is shown during the pandemic. All the

films and talks will happen at specific times which means that people can experience them as if you are at the festival in person. Some of the films will have additional content related to them such as guests and a Q&A. Like every other edition of the festival, there will be passes and single tickets. Each pass costs $60—the same as getting tickets for a few films, plus a talk. The pass will allow you to watch as many films as you can. For full-time students, they can get the pass at half-price, and if you like to access more content and get other benefits including a year round subscription to VIFF Connect

Photo-Illustration by Anastasia Simonovich

The VIFF experience in your living room

and a VIFF+ Gold membership, there is a gold festival pass for $95. Single tickets cost $9 for online and $15 for in-cinema.

While you have to experience VIFF at home this year, you will still experience the best of current world cinema.

issue 1// vol 47

arts // no. 9

Detectives and dystopian societies

› First comic book issue of ‘Blade Runner 2019’ is a story that’s good enough so far despite its flaws

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ans of Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 will probably know Michael Green for writing the film’s screenplay that was nominated for and won many awards. Now, Green teams up with fellow writer Mike Johnson and artist Andres Guinaldo for the 12-issue comic book spin-off Blade Runner 2019. The first installment of this collection provides a refreshing take for followers of dystopian fiction with its new lead and simple premise. The story follows LAPD detective Ash as she begins her journey to solve a missing persons case.

What really makes this comic an easy read is that it’s completely accessible for everyone. Readers don't need to be familiar with the Blade Runner films to remain engaged with the story. The graphic novel sets up the stakes with straightforward storytelling to satisfy hardcore fans of the movies and more casual sci-fi enthusiasts.

The first issue portrays Ash as a stoic Blade Runner often appearing alone in close-ups or positioned on one side of her panels to evoke how lonely the life of a detective can really be. This simple

approach—combined with her pessimistic narrations, murky locations, and subdued colour palette—convey Ash’s moral apathy with her city’s rapid descent into crime.

We also see a different side to Ash as she shows slight hints of sympathy towards her case that’s emotionally antithetical to her more violent runins with criminals. This plot choice humanizes Ash and emphasizes how important it is to be understanding towards people’s circumstances. As a result, she starts becoming more selfaware of who she can be for others beyond just being a ruthless agent.

The comic also comprises mostly of small or narrow panels mixed with very few large sections that make the simple dialogue transfixing enough for good pacing and tone. This aesthetic allows Ash’s perspective to be foregrounded rather than rely on enormous imagery to carry her story.

However, character dynamics are not that strong, since the plot abruptly shifts from one encounter to the other. The first issue could have explored a little bit of Ash’s past to set her arc better—even though readers will most likely learn more about that history in subsequent issues.

The comic instead creates an imbalance between the beginning of her investigation

with a subplot.

Thematically, Blade Runner devotees won’t find significant surprises with the series so far. The comic barely breaks any ground with the philosophical subjects of the films about existentialism, consumerism, and artificial intelligence.

Overall though, the first issue of Blade Runner 2019 is a decent start to what will

most likely be a compelling collection.

Despite some storytelling problems, the comic will satisfy readers seeking to be immersed once again in a bleak future first envisioned by Ridley Scott’s 1982 movie. The series is scheduled to finish

by November 2020. Issues may be found on Hoopla Digital, a free public library streaming service.

Still of 'Blade Runner'

Jonathan Pabico Contributor

Saxophone music for troubling times › Nubya Garcia’s ‘Source’ is the reason why we need jazz in our world Jonathan Pabico Contributor

     ubya Garcia made milestones as a British saxophonist whose roots extend from her musical family to the jazz legends she looked up to in her early life. Since then, Garcia’s new jazz album Source is a remarkable collection of songs that brings comfort to anyone willing to listen. The playlist deals with resonating subjects, while immersing people in its thrilling tracks.

Garcia’s flawless mastery over the saxophone lends the album an unrivalled charisma and enveloping soundscapes.

Every note she plays bursts with a lively energy that any music intellectual can enjoy at their local club.

Some of the tracks provide rollicking moods that would be fitting for the lavish parties from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The song “Before Us: In Demerara & Caura”—a personal favorite from the album—features an astounding saxophone and trumpet combo that engulfs the listener with its sophisticated vitality. The piece becomes a jazz playground with its frenetic beats that are layered with the stylish intro from the piano and drum set.

Another refreshing aspect is that the collection is not afraid of being experimental to please their listeners.

The track “La cumbia me está llamando” mixes the saxophone’s swing tempo with the vocals, maracas, and conga drums that convey the passionate wonders of Spanish culture. The album provides ethnically diverse music to evoke how important it is to always welcome new voices and perspectives.

Promotional image for 'Upload' via Amazon Prime Video

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The album provides ethnically diverse music to evoke how important it is to always welcome new voices and perspectives.

Beyond her enriching style choices, Garcia has used the album to promote good mental health by inspiring people to reach out and support others. The track “Boundless Beings” arguably encapsulates this relatable theme the most. It uses beautiful and simple vocals accompanied by quiet piano keystrokes to elevate lyrics like “We’re timeless creatures, you and me.”

These elements provide a thoughtful subtext about positive thinking, while creating a fantastical motif that makes the song ideal for a concert hall in a jazz utopia.

“Boundless Beings” also blends its calm tones with highly controlled saxophone sounds and hi-hat cymbal hits to illustrate the immense depths of human well-being. They provide the listener with an emotional balance that quickly becomes a pleasing remedy for their stress, troubles, and anxieties.

As for flaws, the album could have given the other instruments from the ensemble more time for solos and allow the saxophone to provide undertones for some of the tracks. There is no doubt that Garcia offers the best music to ever be heard in a modern-day jazz collection. However, the album could have made the piano, drum set, and other parts of the band be the main instrument for some tracks rather than the saxophone during most of the playlist.

Nubya Garcia’s Source is a commanding jazz album worth listening to for the start of autumn. The tracks immediately settle you in as you're transported to her own personal world that makes you look forward to her future work. Relaxing yet fearless, the collection emphasizes the need to always find hope and resilience during difficult times.

arts // no. 10

theotherpress.ca

Marilyn Monroe: a Canadian connection

Photo of Marilyn Monroe in Banff

› Late screen icon filmed movie in Canada at height of career

Brandon Yip Senior Columnist

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arilyn Monroe was the personification of beauty, elegance, and grace. Since her tragic death on August 4, 1962 at the age of 36; her legacy has endured. She has been immortalized in art, films, fashion, music, books, and documentaries.

Notably, 67 years ago, at the height of her film career, Monroe made a trip to Canada in the summer of 1953 to film the

Western movie, River of No Return. The film was shot on location in Banff and Jasper, Alberta.

The film focuses on a farmer named Matt Calder (Robert Mitchum), who has been released from prison and is united with his young son Mark (Tommy Rettig), and goal-driven saloon singer Kay Weston (Monroe). The Calder farm is later attacked by hostile Native Americans; Matt, Mark, and Kay escape—fleeing downriver on a raft with frequent rapids.

Importantly, the film’s focal point is the three characters learning to tolerate one another and working together to survive. Each person must be rid of anger, while demonstrating patience and understanding in caring for each other.

Particularly, Kay begins to appreciate and admire Matt’s courage and heroism— especially the way he cares for both Mark and her.

The film continues with more challenges and conflict that entails a mountain lion attack, a run-in with gold prospectors, as well as a second battle with Native Americans. The movie ends with a romantic but cliché ending with Kay singing in a saloon, Matt entering the saloon, approaching Kay, and throwing her over his shoulder to take her back to his farm.

Remarkably, it is Monroe’s performance that stands out. She commands a strong screen presence with a subtle vulnerability throughout the film—while sustaining her natural beauty and elegance. As well, she demonstrated her versatility by singing four songs in the movie: “River of No Return,” “I’m Gonna File My Claim,” “One Silver Dollar,” and “Down in the Meadow.”

The movie opened with a world premiere in Denver on April 29, 1954.

The film received mixed reviews. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times praised the movie: “It is a toss-up whether the scenery or the adornment of Marilyn Monroe is the feature of greater attraction in River of No Return[...] The mountainous scenery is spectacular, but so, in her own way, is Miss Monroe.”

However, Film4 was not at all impressed, stating, “The plot doesn't convince, but Monroe, at the peak of her career, is more than easy on the eye [...] despite some pretty locations and occasional tension, there’s little going on.

A shallow river indeed."

Unfortunately, Marilyn Monroe did not have fond memories filming River of No Return, claiming years later that it was her worst film. Director, Otto Preminger, was very outspoken about Monroe— criticizing her in many interviews after the film’s release. However, he changed his opinion about Monroe almost three decades after her death; during an interview with the New York Daily News in January 1980: “She tried very hard, and when people try hard, you can’t be mad at them,” he said.

J-POP SPOTLIGHT Stay home and they will come › Japanese songs released during the pandemic Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

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ike every country in the world including Canada, Japan had to go through the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic this summer, and more. The Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo were delayed to next year, heavy rainfall went through the southern part of the country, two typhoons happened, and a wellknown actor and singer named Haruma Miura committed suicide which caught the entertainment industry off guard.

Even the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, stepped down again for the same health reasons that he had in 2007.

On the bright side, many musicians in the country thought of ways to present their music including concerts online which look like live concert films, live streams on YouTube, creating trends on social media, a variety of summer songs, and releasing charity singles for coronavirus relief. Here are some of those songs that helped the country get through their hardships.

with member Mai Shiraishi singing in her apartment followed by former and current members singing at home during the lockdown while shots of the empty streets in Tokyo are shown.

The video ends with them singing on a screen in an empty baseball field, encouraging people to stay home during the lockdown.

AKB48 – “Even When Apart” After the state of emergency was lifted, AKB48 reopened their theatre with no audience and only two

members performing for the music video. We see the members perform by themselves in an empty theatre as well as them adjusting to the new normal in restaurants, grocery stores, movie theatres, and at work. The video includes a shot of fighter jets flying across Tokyo when the state of emergency ended—the most patriotic shot of the video. Former members including Atsuko Maeda make an appearance while still focusing on the current members. Right now, the AKB48 Theatre is open to the public with a 27-

Nogizaka46 – “Neighbors Around the World” The music video of the group’s charity single for coronavirus relief begins Still of 'Sekaijuu no rinjin yo' music video by Nogizaka46

seat capacity instead of their usual 250 person capacity.

Gen Hoshino – “Halfway” In this music video, Gen is at home during the lockdown trying to work but is experiencing writer’s block. He sits around his house looking at his phone and in one part of the video, he is so distracted he almost spills his tea. He has a friend who is in the other side of town and decides to make a song for her, which is this song. The song has a 1980s electronic sound which is a recurrent style in his recent music.

Official Hige Dandism – “HELLO” The band’s recent hit single from their recent EP of the same name is, in my opinion, the summer song in Japan this year. The music video features the band playing in an enclosed space and shows other people living inside their homes through their windows, representing the lockdown. When they go outside we see the band on top of a building, showing that people are allowed to go outside now and are happy. The video ends abruptly with the guitarist Daisuke making distortion with his guitar. The song is the type of music that we need during this time with its feel-good sound that’s easy to jam to.

issue 1// vol 47

arts // no. 11

A definitive ranking of ‘Dimension 20’s five seasons

› From awkward teens navigating high school to a ‘Game of Thrones’-inspired food fight Jacey Gibb Distribution Manager

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5. Tiny Heist (Season Four): On paper, D20’s fourth season and second sidequest looks amazing. The McElroy family (of The Adventure Zone and My Brother, My Brother, and Me fame) join D&D newcomers/CH cast members Lily Du and Jess Ross for a pint-sized heist to steal a roll of quarters. Tiny Heist features a slew of memorable supporting characters, but the group dynamic just isn’t there.

The McElroys’ wealth of D&D experience often overshadows the lesser-experienced players, and the plot feels very one-track.

That said, the set pieces and character design for this season are incredible, and it’s almost worth it for Justin McElroy’s character alone, a knock-off LEGO manslash-master of disguise.

4. The Unsleeping City (Season Three): Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan’s love for New York City is unwavering (he even wrote a sketch back in 2018 titled “Don’t Trash Talk New York,” where he hilariously rails against people dissing his hometown.) Unsleeping City is meant as an homage to the world-famous city but with a real-life magical twist: the aging

Promotional image for 'Dimension 20'

have an unwavering bias towards Dimension 20, the tabletop roleplaying show from streaming platform Dropout.

When the first season debuted in 2018, I’d played Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) a handful of times, but never really gelled with it. I’d even dabbled with some D&D podcasts to no avail. Then, along came the nearly two-hour pilot, appropriately titled “The Beginning Begins.”

D20 was cheeky. It never lost sight of what it was, and it featured seven of my favourite CollegeHumor (CH) cast members sitting around a table, just yukking it up together. The silliness and humour have 100 percent been influential in my own D&D journey. However, even a devote fan like myself can admit the seasons vary in quality.

Here is my breakdown, from bottom of the (still high) barrel to *chef kiss* magnificent:

My favourite CollegeHumor (CH) cast members sitting around a table, just yukking it up together.

Broadway star is in fact a faerie half-elf; the down-on-his-luck nurse from St. Owen’s Hospital is actually a cleric; the superjacked firefighter is actually a paladin. The campaign is littered with shoutouts to NYC (digs at the inconsistent subway schedule, SantaCon being a secret purge of demonic Santa clones, and even Pizza Rat!) which even I could appreciate, as someone who’s never been there. The season is a ton of fun and features some incredible battles, but the exposition overload in the later episodes really muddle the stakes.

3. Escape from the Bloodkeep (Season Two): I fucking love D20’s first sidequest, so don’t let its placement at number three fool you (numbers one and two are just that good.) Mulligan assembles an all-star cast (including Matt Mercer) to form a

team completely of villains. It feels jarring, hearing a typical fantasy narrative entirely from the villains’ perspective, but the characters are played with such humour and richness that you often forget they are the ones trying to stomp out the forces of good. My only complaint about EFTB is its short episode-run of only six episodes.

2. Fantasy High (Season One): The first season of D&D set the bar impossibly high, following six teen misfits learning the ins and outs of being a hero at their adventuring academy. The cast is bursting with iconic characters, but Beardsley’s corn-worshipping Kristen Applebees stands out immediately, along with Axford’s rebel tiefling Fig Faeth. Imagine the characters of Breakfast Club but they ultimately have to try and save the

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world—all while navigating crushes and trying to avoid detention. This season was popular enough to inspire Dimension 20: LIVE, which followed the same characters through their sophomore year.

1. A Crown of Candy (Season Five): What a satisfying juxtaposition, having the darkest and most ruthless season of D20 be the one where everyone plays animated food. Focusing on the royal family of House Rocks, ACOC interweaves political and religious intrigue like no other season. Did I mention how fucking brutal this season is? Multiple characters permanently die, real tears are shed by the cast (and myself), and the sets and minis look good enough to eat. The stakes have never felt more real, and the world-building never more absurd than in D20’s latest season.

Have an idea for a story?  lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca

Life & Style

• Back to school fashion • Dinner in the dark • Crowded seafood chowder ...and more

Crowded seafood chowder › A delicious soup for the chilly season Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

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he chilly air first thing in the morning had me starting up a fire to keep warm.

I loaded the stove with shredded wood and paper and thought about fall. I thought about the crisp leaves in the colours of the season: orange, sienna, and gold. I thought about pumpkin pie and sweet, heady spices. I thought about soup.

Being a British Columbian, I find that an excellent soup to warm the ol’ bones is a seafood chowder. Luckily for me, the Fraser River is the longest river system in all of British Columbia, providing the province with fresh salmon, trout, steelhead, and white sturgeon—North America’s largest freshwater fish. Additionally, living along the ocean provides British Columbians with even more ocean goodies. This results in a delicious and crowded chowder that my partner would be proud of. He often insists on dinner having at least three

different animals in it, which brings me to the busiest chowder you’re likely to try this fall season.

As an added bonus, this recipe is made dairy and gluten-free too. Now you can enjoy a creamy chowder without the cream!

• 1 can of coconut cream • basil • salt and pepper • corn starch (to thicken)

Crowded Seafood Chowder (Dairy & Wheat Free) • 5 cups chicken stock • 1/4 cup of butter or oil • 1 onion (diced) • italian seasoning • thyme • a quarter cup of rice flour • 2 celery stocks (chopped) • 1 carrot (chopped) • 2 potatoes (chopped) • 1 tomato (diced) • 1 cob of corn (shucked) • 1/2 cup of white wine • 8 ounces fish • 8 ounces scallops • 8 ounces shrimp

Method In a large soup pot, fry the onion in margarine with seasonings or spicy olive oil, then add the chopped carrots, celery, and potatoes.

Stir a couple of times, then mix in the corn.

Once all the veggies are in the pot, mix in the flour—making sure the veggies are well coated. Splash in the chicken broth, white wine, and coconut cream, then add the seafood and diced tomato and stir until the fish is cooked.

Due to the recipe being gluten-free, it is recommended to sprinkle in cornstarch to thicken the chowder to one’s liking. Lastly, add salt and pepper to taste.

Tuvalu: the least visited country in the world › One day we may disappear, but for now Tālofa!

Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

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spent a day wandering around my gulf island neighbourhood asking people if they knew what Tuvalu was. The results were quite varied but never on point. Most people thought that Tuvalu was a band or an artist of some sort, others thought it was a new brand of retail, or a place to go for lunch. No one guessed that it was a country. Although, you could go there for lunch, so… points awarded!

Admittedly, I also didn’t know what Tuvalu was until recently. I’ve been

fighting a bad case of the travel bug lately and unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the cure is in limited supply.

Sure, I could travel within Canada still, but so can all the rest of Canada, which makes everywhere highly touristy right now.

Having made the extreme choice to move to a British Columbian gulf island to get away from the crowds, I’m not quite ready to leap back into them anytime soon— which has reshaped the way I plan to travel in the future when COVID settles down.

So, I Googled “the least travelled countries in the world” and was pleasantly surprised with a list from the site

farandwide.com. A particular article titled “The World’s Least-Visited Countries— And Why You Should Check Them Out,”

by Meagan Drillinger is officially my new bucket list of 30 places to travel to. The list includes some unexpected locations: Madagascar (a country I totally thought was more travelled than it is), Bhutan, a landlocked Eastern Himalayan Buddhist paradise that I recently learned about, and French Polynesia, a tropical island slice of heaven that I have been meaning to check out for some time now. Number one on Drillinger’s list is Tuvalu, a tiny, independent country in the South Pacific located halfway between Hawaii and Australia that is but a smidgen of land.

With a total population of around 11,800 people scattered across nine thin islands and the centre entirely filled in by the ocean, Tuvalu has fewer tourists than most live-music venues at any given time! Ornamented with palm trees, the sparsely populated island chains are outlined with soft white sand. Among the amenities to partake in are tropical fish to chase while snorkeling, uninhabited outlying islands to explore, and historic WWII attractions. For travelers that require more than a sandy strip of beach to sink their sandals into, perhaps Tuvalu isn’t ideal, but to me it sounds perfect.

Tuvalu does not have any real city infrastructure. There is an airport, a bank, a hospital, and a road which stretches across the length of the Archipelago.

Anywhere you stand in Tuvalu is an easy view of the entire country. But the country

makes up for its lack of infrastructure with its wholehearted familial culture and no homeless population—everyone is of the same family and everyone shares everything. #onelove According to Drillinger, Fiji Airlines flies in and out every Tuesday and Thursday—don’t plan according to this flight schedule though, it is known to be the most unreliable flight service in the world and tourists are sometimes waiting upwards of a week to get home.

Another astonishing fact about Tuvalu is that its landmass is about the size of Disneyland and is one of the first countries that scientists which believe in man-made climate change estimate to disappear as a result of rising ocean levels. It’s sad to think that a country that is thought to contribute next to nothing towards climate change might experience the most change and one day disappear.

Another interesting Tuvalu fact: the country makes $5 million a year because its web addresses end with .tv, so websites like twitch.tv pay Tuvalu to use the web address ending. This may be a contributing factor to the high quality of life that Tuvaluans share—other factors include public education bringing adult literacy up to 99 percent, and the lifestyle of love that Tuvaluans have cultivated.

One day Tuvalu may disappear into the Pacific Ocean, but until then, the islanders welcome the few tourists who venture out with a warm and welcoming visit… I plan to be among them.

issue 1// vol 47

life & style // no. 13

Dinner in the dark › What is it like to eat what you can’t see?

Craig Allan Staff Writer

Photo by Nhi ‘Jenny’ Vo

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It was the first time in a long time that I was afraid of the dark.

veryone experiences life through the five senses: see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. However, how would the body react when one of those senses is taken away?

This experience can be seen, or in this case unseen, at the Dark Table restaurant in Vancouver. Dark Table is like any other restaurant in the city but with one key difference: the entire meal is served in pitch-black darkness. What is it like to enter a world of darkness? That is what my friend Jenny and I ventured to find out as we entered the world of the Dark Table.

The most interesting part of the Dark Table experience is the wait staff. It does not take much of an adjustment for them to get used to the restaurant because every person on the wait staff is blind, or partially blind. This adds to the experience because it is like they are shepherding you into a world that they are so familiar with. Our server was a woman named Kugi, who had been blind for many decades and guided us through the restaurant in a single file train.

When it comes to sitting in the dark, it was not what I expected. I thought that we were going to enter the restaurant with the light on, and then they would be turned off after being seated. That was not the case, as we were led into the darkroom with no light of which to glean. Before going to our seats, my friend wanted to use the restroom. I did not think it was a good idea because if I were to list some of the worst places to go to the bathroom, a blind table restaurant consisting of non-lit bathrooms would be top of the list. Thankfully, the bathrooms are adorned with dim lighting.

At the table, I could still feel what I was expecting, such as the table and chair, but outside of that I had no idea where I was.

We decided to go for the “Daily

Surprise” in which all the foods we were going to eat would be unknown to us until after the meal had been completed. First came the appetizer. From what I felt it seemed to be a baguette cracker with some crab and lemon zest on a bed of vinegar. I was correct, and it was quite good. The next item was going to be harder to surmise as it was an item meant to be eaten with a knife and fork. Though it may seem improper, I decided to feel it with my hands. With my sense of touch, I could feel something crispy, something soft, and something long. Despite missing the food and putting a fork full of nothing in my mouth about a dozen times, I was eventually able to figure out that it was a breaded codfish on a bed of mashed potatoes with green string beans. The only thing I missed was the dill sauce that was on the fish. I felt like I didn’t get a lot of fish with my meal. Then I realized that I had pushed a big hunk of it off of my plate at some point and it was resting next to the plate. The dessert was different for my friend and me as they were the only part of the course that was non-identical. From the immediate taste of coffee, I was able to figure out that it was a tiramisu; my friend had a raspberry cheesecake.

Dark Table is quite an experience for anyone looking to journey onto the wild side of dining. It was the first time in a long time that I was afraid of the dark. In most circumstances, if you are afraid of the dark all you have to do is wait for your eyes to adjust and everything is fine. That did not happen at Dark Table, as the restaurant is so dark that your eyes never adjust. As we left the restaurant after the meal and exited to a bright and sunny day, I found myself appreciating the gift of sight that I have.

After three hours of complete darkness, the colours of the world seemed even more beautiful.

Discovering graphotherapy › An underestimated yet effective healing practice Tania Arora Staff Writer

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he initial month of the lockdown passed somehow, although at a gradual pace. By the middle of it, my anxiety took over. Near the end, I was dying to reach out to a psychologist or therapist. I was in a funk that I would have traded a kidney to get out of.

I am glad I did not do that, and I am even more at peace to have discovered and calmed myself through therapeutic writing exercises. Since childhood, we have been told that journaling is a good habit. Pen your thoughts, goals, emotions, aspirations, tasks, plans, and literally everything and see the difference it makes. Discovering that writing can be therapeutic changed the trajectory of my mental illness.

The goal of graphotherapy is to modify our behaviour by improving our hand gestures consciously. It is used to produce

mental changes and is done using graphical methods and exercises. A graphotherapist analyzes our current handwriting to study and analyze our mindset including our signature. The therapy is based on improving mental blockages through the lines and dots we make.

The exercises must be done for a 30 day stretch without fail. But it is essential to take them as per individual issues and after consulting a graphotherapist. They are tailored according to our individual minds.

I asked the hardest questions of myself. It is hard to speak up and accept certain things but writing it down is easier.

I would draw strokes again and again till they turned out to be similar and satisfied me. It retrained my subconscious mind and took my attention off the things in life that do not serve the current purpose.

Writing once a week or month or year does not work. A continuous habit of finishing the recommended exercises must

be made. The questions are so compelling that they poke every thought that we are trying to suppress in our minds and the strokes require our utmost attention.

Each one of us, I believe, has multiple types of handwriting strokes. We write differently when in a rush or when upset. We write in a completely opposite way when we are at peace. We make mistakes when confused.

Our writing reflects the current state of our mind. If the connection is so strong that the graphotherapy exercises change the writing pattern at such a significant pace each

time, then why can’t we use it in a reverse manner to balance our mental health?

A comparison of COVID-19 to past pandemics How similar were the precautions, the fatality rates, and the economic impacts?

Janis McMath Editor-in-Chief

S

ince the beginning of this COVID-19 pandemic, news outlets everywhere have been trying to scrutinize this disease from every angle possible. A common tactic is to compare the current outbreak to ones long past.

Practices during different pandemics mirror that of today’s, so their successes and failures can give us some insight. These comparisons also may inform us as to what we should be preparing for.

Yet these past pandemics and epidemics are greatly contrasted to our current outbreak in a multitude of ways. There are multiple important factors to consider when trying to understand exactly how helpful some comparisons are while trying to navigate COVID-19.

Spanish Flu 1918

Commonly called one of the deadliest pandemics ever, it is often highlighted that nearly as many Canadians died from this influenza than they did in WWI. Another comparison made is that this 1918 flu killed more people in just over a year than the black plague killed in 100 years. It is easy to find headlines comparing the Spanish Flu and COVID-19, and a CTV News article states: “Despite a century’s progress in science, 2020 is looking a lot like 1918.”

And there are many similarities. According

to a CTV News article, The Chicago health commissioner in 1918 said “If you get it, stay at home, rest in bed, keep warm, drink hot drinks, and stay quiet until the symptoms are past.” Measures included closing schools and churches. Some places banned all public gatherings. Mandatory face masks mirror present day precautions taken by TransLink and many grocery stores like T&T Supermarket, Superstore, and Starbucks. Fines for public coughing and sneezing also existed. These fines are reminiscent of BC’s new mandate that allows police officers to hand out tickets to businesses for $2,000 and individuals for $200 for failing to follow provincial health guidelines. Winnipeg’s fines at the time were $50 for spitting—which would be equal to $725.53 today.

The differences between the 1918 pandemic and our pandemic now in 2020 are essential to know before coming to any conclusions. First, an important note that greatly differentiates us from 1918: There was a world war. Weakened soldiers travelling across the globe without access to proper information about the pandemic due to censorship was a huge reason for large death tolls and rapid spread. The war also had doctors overseas—so the shortage of medical professionals at home caused huge problems for many countries. Secondly, they had none of the antibiotics we have access to today which are used to treat secondary bacterial infections; experts suggest that the majority of those killed by the Spanish Flu actually died

from secondary bacterial pneumonia.

How deadly the most devastating flu in history was

Another point to look at is how deadly this strain of influenza really was. Initially, WHO officials put COVID-19’s case fatality rate (CFR)—which means how many cases out of 100 confirmed cases would result in death— at 2 but then later revised it to 3.4 percent.

Even though it was regularly mentioned that it is difficult to properly calculate CFR at the beginning of a pandemic, a common sentiment among news outlets was that this 2 to 3 percent was eerily reminiscent of the Spanish Flu’s CFR. Yet, as an article from Wired points out, the Spanish Flu did not have a CFR of two to three as many news outlets mistakenly report. The CFR of the Spanish Flu is an alarming estimated 6 to 10 percent according to more recent and accurate calculations by Johns Hopkins University epidemiologist Jennifer Leigh, for example. In comparison, many of the updated estimates of COVID-19—obviously working with incomplete data—have now dropped to somewhere around 1 percent. It is important to note that during 1918 medical records were not as advanced as they are now, but the estimates put the number of worldwide deaths at around 25 million people for the Spanish Flu…on the low end—100 million on the high end. At home in BC, entire Haida settlements were wiped out by the 1918 flu.

While COVID-19 has definitely had a few

The United Nations reports that a proximate $1 trillion and 100 million jobs worldwide is the loss the tourism industry will be taking—an industry that employs 1 in 10 people globally.

SARS 2003

With one of the highest CFRs among all epidemics—which the WHO puts at 15 percent— SARS is one of the most lethal illnesses on this list. It is similar to COVID-19 considering that the greatest risk is for those that are older (CFR is 50 percent for those 65 and older), and the CFR is much lower (dropping to a range of 15 to 1 percent) in younger people. While it is not a pandemic like COVID because it was not as widespread globally, this 2003 scare has many comparable lessons for us now. SARS is also a coronavirus (also known as SARS-CoV) that came out of China which affects the respiratory system and spreads through respiratory droplets.

Contact tracing, a precaution taken now in hospitals, some restaurants, and even small personal gatherings, was also taken during SARS. Because the symptoms of SARS-CoV are so extreme, it was simple to identify cases and quarantine them to prevent spread. Actually, in Canada, all 438 suspected SARS cases could be traced to one 78-year-old Canadian woman in Toronto who had just come home from Hong Kong. In response, the hospital that held the SARS patients shut down emergency and intensive care services and asked those who had recently visited to quarantine. Airports scanned for high fevers.

Lockdowns did not occur across the country unlike COVID-19, but all those who were exposed to

SARS were asked to quarantine for 10 days. Many willingly quarantined in their homes.

SARS and COVID-19: struggles in the tourism industry

Another similarity between these two coronaviruses is the shutdown of travel and tourism. Only 26 countries were affected by this outbreak (small compared to the 188 countries COVID-19 has reached) and 774 people worldwide died from SARS. Non-essential travel to most countries was cut. This had a great impact on the countries who faced this epidemic—and even those that did not. Countries that had no infections saw a huge dip. It was estimated by the World Travel and Tourism Council that up to three million people working in the tourism industry lost their jobs and it reduced the global GDP by $33 billion. Canada took an estimated hit of $5.25 billion. Asian countries that were nearly or totally unaffected saw tourist arrivals drop by 70 percent or more.

COVID-19 certainly shares this struggle with SARS, but experts estimate that this blow will be much harder. The United Nations reports that a proximate $1 trillion and 100 million jobs worldwide is the loss the tourism industry will be taking—an industry that employs 1 in 10 people globally. This is hugely negative in developing countries and small areas where tourism represents a large part of their exports. In fact, the same thing has happened close to home. As a Global News article reports, Banff’s whole economy depends on tourism and when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place, an estimated 6,000 people lost their jobs—in a town of around 9,000. As the United Nations reports, 80 percent of all tourism businesses are micro, small, or medium sized enterprises (which also largely employ women and young people).

Asian Flu 1957

After looking at the Spanish Flu and SARS, this strain of influenza seems to be more like COVID-19 in terms of fatality rate, worldwide deaths, age ranges affected, and pandemic practices.

First and foremost, the CFR of the 1957 flu was 0.6 percent. While COVID-19’s is current is higher—around 1 percent—that number is still in flux. And considering that the general trend for Canada and the US is that recorded infections are consistent or growing but deaths are stagnating or dropping (for example, in Canada new cases are consistently in the 300 to 700 range but deaths have generally been in the single digit range since the beginning of July), we could be looking at a reduction in COVID-19’s CFR as well.

As of September 8, there are about 891,000 deaths worldwide due to COVID-19. At the end of the 1957 flu, about one to two million people had died from the disease. And while COVID-19 is not yet finished, the rate of infections and deaths is similar considering that the 1957 flu ended in 1958—lasting a year, almost similar to COVID-19’s current stretch (which we first heard reports of in December 2019). While we cannot know when coronavirus will end, the rate of deaths is much more comparable to this 1957 influenza than the Spanish Flu for example—which killed significantly more people in three months than COVID-19 has over nearly nine.

Another similarity to consider is in the severity.

Like COVID, some cases of this flu were mild and others developed very serious and threatening conditions after being infected. The age groups affected are also very similar seeing how the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions were most likely to be at risk. A dissimilarity to note between these two pandemics is the economic impact. There was only some interruption in society, as most of those who were missing from their regular roles were school children, teachers, and healthcare workers. The impact of this disruption caused little economic issues and recovery was “almost immediate.”

When reviewing pandemics and epidemics, it is clear that we have lived through many disastrous periods in history—many of which have created a healthy fear in us for the future of the current coronavirus. And while it is good practice to be appropriately anxious, a side-by-side of many of the statistics of each pandemic can put our mind at ease when overzealous comparisons are made.

For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned.

For deaths with conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19, on average, there were 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death.”

Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne

cases where young and healthy people in the prime of their lives have died, the data shows that for Canada (as of September 6) of 9,011 deaths, more than 70 percent of deaths happened to those that are 80 years of age and higher, nearly 20 percent of deaths happened to those that are in the 70 to 79 age range, around 7 percent of deaths happened to those aged 60 to 69, and a bit over 2 percent in ages 50 to 59—accounting for almost all deaths. In stark contrast, the 1918 influenza hit young people hard; 50 percent of all of those who died to the Spanish Flu were aged 20 to 40, and 99 percent were younger than 65 years. Another important note about COVID-19 that the CDC states: “For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned. For deaths with conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19, on average, there were 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death.”

life & style // no. 16

theotherpress.ca

Back to school f

› A guide to being the coolest kid on the block—or in your on

By Sonam Kaloti, Arts Editor

G

oing back to school offers an opportunity to reinvent yourself. Every year in college you’ll meet new people and professors—this means you can you’re quiet, loud, a slacker, or an achiever. Best of all, change your clothes! They’re the easiest way to shake things up, and they can reflect eve you want to be and set you up for the day to come. While I’m going to show some higher-fashion fits, there’s something for every type of day you ar Of course, most classes you have this semester will likely be online, but if you’re wearing cool kicks indoors, just kick your feet up on your desk—who

Starting with something less complex, this look inspires a grunge-skater look with infused colours to make you seem a little more approachable. This outfit definitely doesn’t make you look like you just woke up, but you might as well have considering how easy it is to put together. One of my favourite fashion looks of all-time is the “no pants” look which you can effortlessly style with some super comfy cotton shorts and an oversized t-shirt of any kind. Throw on a beanie and some Vans and you’ve got yourself a comfy yet stylishly youthful outfit.

Cutesy fashion may never go out of style. Another simple but stunning look is taking any colourful crop top and mixing it with an elegant skirt and flats. Top this look off with a widebrimmed hat and you’re set for school or hitting the town. It is comfortable but looks dressy, so it fits just about any occasion.

I like this look for the summer to fall transition. Especially since it’s one you can wear when you miss summer, but it fits just as well for a warmer fall day. If you throw on a coat (may I suggest a light brown teddy coat for this particular outfit) you might as well say you’ve won autumn.

There are tons of ways you can fashion yourself for stylistic and individualistic purposes. It is extremely fun to do, and despite some of the tips I’ve sa EXCEPT red and green together, unless it’s Christmastime. You are not a reindeer or an elf. I hope. If you are, ignore this message).

issue 1// vol 47

life & style // no. 17

fashion

nline class

Photos by Sonam Kaloti

n be whoever you want. Change your hair, your personality—whether erything else that defines you. Your outfits can also remind you of who re going to have. o’s going to stop you?

Say instead of a cutesy Tuesday, you’re more into heart-breaker Fridays. The heels on this one will let you dig into the chest of anyone who glances your way. The shirt may say BSDMinspired rockstar on its own but styled with bow-tie pants and a sophisticated trench coat, this look is a guaranteed showstopper.

Black and beige are great colours to use for any outfit if you’re stuck for a scheme. If you want to take this look to heavenlier heights, try switching the black in this outfit for white, or try wearing a white coat and shoes with a beige top and pants. The possibilities are truly endless! Finish this look off with a clutch.

(Note: If going to an in-person class, beware of the concourse stairs. Those stiletto bad boys are sure to catch eyes for more than one reason if you’re not careful!)

aid in this guide, DO wear whatever the heck you want. (Okay, anything

I’ve seen so many back-to-school outfit posts that feature no sweatpants and that’s just unrealistic. It wouldn’t be a fashioncentric piece if I just left you with a sweatsuit, so let me dig in a little further to explain what makes this look more than your everyday “I’m tired and don’t want to be here” statement fit.

Monochrome, monochrome, monochrome… need I say more? It doesn’t matter what colour, but for the love of sweatsuits, wear a matching hoodie and pants. It’s an immediate fashion hack. With regular shoes, I pull my sweatpants rim to just below my knees because I don’t typically enjoy the bagginess of the entire outfit. (Quick fashion hack: try to wear either a baggy shirt and tighter bottoms, or vice versa! It’s a simple trick that’s sure to make creating outfits much easier. See: skirt/polo, sweatpants/crop top, biker shorts/loose button-up, stockings/ dress, etc.!)

However, due to the double baggy nature of this outfit, stuffing those ankle-cut sweats into a pair of boots for a cleaner look works. Shoes are said to be one of the first things someone notices about a person, thus they are one of the first things that impact people’s perceptions of you upon your first meeting.

Layers, layers, monochrome, layers—wait how did that get in there? It’s true though! Layering adds so much depth and dimension to an outfit. You could honestly layer anything here and get away with it. I did an oversized flannel—the blues matching the cool tones of the hoodie’s design—and topped it off with a pin jacket.

(Quick fashion hack: Do use the colour wheel to wear cool tones or warm tones together or find complimentary colours to make outfit schemes! Don’t wear pink and red together, or even worse, green and red. Just don’t. Please. I will cry.)

The jacket is also oversized, as it should be for this look. A tighter jacket would work but it would clean you up into the baggy pants/tighter shirt universal combo instead of the cool guy “I don’t want to be here, but I still look good” style.

You’ve probably noticed how difficult it is to approach someone wearing just a hoodie and sweatpants. Wearing a statement piece with an outfit like this pin jacket will give you and other people something to talk about. If you’ve got nothing of the sort, perhaps opt for a baseball hat with a logo on it (this one is a Porter Robinson & Madeon merch). This will finish the look and give people the impression that you have a personality under those layers and eye bags.

Opinions

Have an idea for a story?  opinions@theotherpress.ca

• Application work wanted • Finished watching sports • Has the internet gotten too hostile? ...and more

The summer of 2020 will go down in history

Illustration by CJ Sommerfeld

› How COVID changed everything

Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

T

he year 2020 will be one that cements itself into history books and won't be soon forgotten. A lot of major events happened this year so far that have changed our everyday life.

The coronavirus pandemic is still happening with 27 million cases worldwide. On top of that, many famous people passed away this year, including recently deceased Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman who passed away after his silent years long battle with colon cancer.

Sharing the stage with those events were other major incidents that pushed things out of control and unexpectedly changed the way that we think not only about various issues but various people as well. During the early days of the pandemic, British Columbia responded early with most people practicing social distancing which led to low case amounts, making Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry seem successful throughout her updates. However, when there was a surge of mass gatherings throughout the summer, and people calling her back to school plan and provincial back to school ad “unrealistic,” it caused people to distrust and doubt her authority. Based on the

information about the back to school plans in the provincial government’s website, it looks like that ad might be accurate, but it will depend on when it takes place.

During the pandemic, there was an increased amount of reporting on racist incidents in the Lower Mainland, especially on Asian Canadians located in Chinatown.

Systemic racism got more attention and caused much debate after the George Floyd incident, leading to protests in the United States, Canada, and the rest of the world.

My suggestion for a solution to police brutality is to reform police procedures on how officers handle incidents to reduce discrimination and by creating more welfare and mental health programs.

While Canada did a great job handling the pandemic, the federal government’s handling of the WE Charity scandal changed the way that we think about people in government, which led to Bill Morneau stepping down as the minister of finance. Another thing that happened this summer were the allegations from staff members in Rideau Hall that Governor General Julie Payette bullied them, which caused me (and perhaps many others) to change my views on her.

With 2020 almost over, there may be more major events that could change everything again.

The coronavirus pandemic is still happening with 27 million cases worldwide."

issue 1// vol 47

opinions // no. 19

Finished watching sports › Who cares about the players’ Jacob Blake opinion?

Timothy Easling Contributor

A

fter the shooting of Jacob Blake, a number of players and coaches began talking about a boycott. Soon, games were cancelled, and multi-millionaire athletes were sitting quietly in their bubbles. No speaking engagements, no volunteer work, no plan of action. Just days off.

It’s really a struggle to understand political mob mentality sometimes. The idea that “boycotting” your own games (which you are willingly and handsomely employed to play) does anything for “awareness” of the cause is a serious deviation from logic. But perhaps more serious than this rational shortcoming is the insulting nature of athletes thinking that they can truly affect change simply by not doing something. Where are the athletes volunteering their time to speak to their communities? Where are the tales of athletes studying their stats and key points so they can better argue their side? Where are the millionaire athletes donating even so much as a meal to those truly in need? If you’re going to take a stand, you probably shouldn’t be pulling up a chair.

Even more insulting, albeit likely through a helpless ignorance, is the total lack of regard shown for the already struggling food and beverage industry.

When the athletes decided to boycott for Jacob Blake it was easy for them. Just don’t play. Get a night off. Get a few nights off.

They’ll still eventually play all the games.

They’ll still eventually pick up their game cheques. They’ll still keep living the high life as they spout off against those who are truly privileged. But they didn’t think about the people who they really hurt. Game nights are the lifeblood of a great deal of bars and restaurants. They represent extra exposure. They represent extra revenue.

They represent a chance to keep those already razor-thin margins above the water line for at least another day.

Of course, with that added opportunity for a decent night, the establishments also have to prepare extra staff accordingly, whether it’s behind the bar, in the kitchen, or on the floor.

More food than usual might be prepped.

More advertising might be in order. And when these games get cancelled and the businesses are left with a quiet evening and a boatload of unnecessary overhead?

At least the players are still fine. Thank god they let us know about their righteous cause.

And all of a sudden, even some of those rabid fans among the group start to question their enjoyment. Sports are meant to be an escape. Movies are an escape.

There are all manner of escapes—but now the politics are inescapable. If issues start to get crammed into our leisure activities, are they escapes anymore? If you went on a hike and someone screamed “BLM” at you every few feet, it might lose a bit of the magic. I was very invested in the Canucks’ run. Did the politics bother me? A bit, but I figured it could be worse and put up with it. And then it got worse. Because it wasn’t just politics—it was a privileged, actionless, ignorant, and selfish protest. If you postpone games without doing anything on the evening that you postponed… I’m going to stop watching. And I’m far from alone.

NBA viewership is down. NHL ratings are down. MLB is down. …perhaps not surprisingly, golf and its completely non-political approach is up. For the rest though, many of the commentators for various networks and newspapers try to explain away the drop with “people are slow to get back into watching sports,” “it’s traditionally a quiet time for TV,” and, “COVID-19 has put everything out-of-

whack.”

People are slow getting back into sports? It’s the playoffs.

There’s been nothing for months. Every sports fan has been starved for action. NFL fans have been reading superearly mock drafts for the entire summer.

And summer may not be a traditional couch potato fest, but this is the playoffs.

It’s that time of year you’ve been saving all of your best get-out-of-plans excuses for.

It’s irresponsible and incorrect to try and blame so many failures on COVID-19. At some point you have to look at the product.

How do characters like LeBron James not redden with embarrassment?

If the system is so terrible and racist and weighted against those less fortunate, should not he give up all of his ill-gotten gains? The system that he constantly speaks out against is the same system that has given him more money, power, and fame than any of us can ever dream of.

He’s crying bloody murder as every racist money stream he’s got pours funds through his window. Quit basketball. Quit all of the oppressive practices that your position entails. Quit profiting from the very thing you campaign against every single day.

He’s like those oh-so-common Canadians who decry colonialism and stealing land… and then turn around and “purchase” a brand-new plot of land complete with a

stolen-wood house. And is it about race or politics? He keeps saying “Vote” without offering any real solution to issues. Are you campaigning or crusading? Anyone really think LeBron has to deal with racism? Anyone think the man shares any of the struggles with those not as welloff as himself? He’s nothing more than a massively talented hypocrite. His privilege allows him to profit from both sides.

You need fewer LeBrons and more Billy Turners. The black tackle for the Green Bay Packers perhaps said it best himself: “Yeah, we can go out there and boycott football games. Sure, we can do that; that’s easy. What change is that going to bring initially and right away?

Football fans across the country and the world pissed off because they can’t watch football. What is that negativity going to bring to the world because we’re not out there playing this game? I don’t know that that necessarily creates change initially.”

I’m with you, Billy. I’d like to watch some football this season.

Toxic.com?

Craig Allan Staff Writer

T

he invention of the internet may very well be society’s greatest achievement.

It has allowed all of us to do everything from writing assignments to watching TV. While it has also led to more seedier elements of the world like the black market to flourish in a new way, the good outweighs the bad. However, there is one part of the internet that often gets criticized for its toxicity and mean-spirited nature: social media.

Is this reputation warranted though?

In my opinion, social media is not really that toxic. The only reason we think it is toxic is because we choose to follow toxic people, and don’t use the powers these social media platforms have to block out that toxicity.

Though I am making this argument, I am not going to say there are not toxic people out there. The people who drove Elizabeth Olsen off of Instagram due to her

deemed late condolences to the death of her Avengers co-star Chadwick Boseman, and the people who contribute to the harassment of politicians are out there.

However, for the most part, I believe that social media is not as toxic as people say.

The reason we believe that social media is more toxic is because we are more likely to remember a bad interaction on social media than a good one.

For example, years ago I was having a discussion with a woman on Twitter about politics. At one point I mentioned that overthrowing regimes is not always a good thing because they can lead to a worse regime taking over. The person I was talking to then attacked me saying that I was condescending and insinuating she, and all women were dumb because I began a response with “Just remember.” If you had asked me what the last positive social media exchange I had, I would not be able to tell you, even if it may have happened just a few hours ago. If you asked about bad exchanges, I can still clearly remember this

one and other bad exchanges I have had over the years. That’s because those stick with me longer than the good interactions, even if I didn’t do anything wrong. I have a feeling that this is the case with other social media users as well.

Social media can be toxic, but it is getting easier to avoid these kinds of toxic interactions due to social media sites developing new technology to combat toxicity on social media. For example, Twitter has the “Mute” button, which allows people to mute conversations and accounts of people who might be displaying toxic behaviour. Muting someone is much nicer that straight up blocking someone and it provides a shield in defending people against social media bullies.

Social media is much different than real life; in real life, anyone who comes out and wants to preach something that is racist or homophobic likely wouldn’t do it in public. This leads to an emboldened populous who is willing to say online what

Photo by Billy Bui

› Has the internet gotten too hostile?

they wouldn’t say to someone’s face. For this reason, it does have some level of toxicity, but it can be avoided. Some can’t avoid the brutality of social media, like politicians and celebrities for example, but for most people, separating yourself from social media toxicity is easy. Just don’t follow people who are spreading hate or drama, and if someone does attack you on social media, always remember that things like the “Mute” and “Block” buttons are your friends. If everyone used these properly, we would find that we can still have calm and thoughtful discussions without the toxic elements.

opinions // no. 20

theotherpress.ca

Application work wanted › The ‘unpaid internship’ that is job searching

Craig Allan Staff Writer

Illustration by Sonam Kaloti

W

ith the crushing blow that is COVID-19 leaving a wasteland of unemployment in its wake, many are looking for new jobs right now—including myself. There is often a saying that looking for a job is a job in itself. You have to make a resume, cover letter, go on many interviews, and devote a lot of your time to the pursuit despite the fact that all of it may end with a message from the company saying that they have moved on to other potential candidates. With the advent of the internet, searching for a job should be easy, but that is not the case as many jobs now. Even minimum wage jobs are forcing potential hires to jump through hoops in order to get their application in, and those hoops can be downright annoying.

Take a recent experience I had for instance. While searching, I found a posting for a retail job at a sporting goods store. I thought the application would be easy, as this is a retail job that was likely only going to pay minimum wage. Boy, was I wrong. First, they asked me to send in my resume. Then they asked me to fill their application form with my address, phone number, city, etc. Then they asked me to fill in my previous work experience. That’s when I asked, “Why are they asking me for my resume, but also want me to write out my entire resume?”

That was not the worst part though. The worst was by the end of the application, they required me to fill out a questionnaire. These questions involved asking me how I felt about certain situations with a “Strongly Agree” to "Strongly Disagree” scale. The questions involved are, to paraphrase, “Do you like work that is easy,” or “I prefer working with a team.” Above the questions is a percentage wheel, which tells you how much of the test you have done. I looked at the wheel, and after adding it up I realized that this questionnaire consisted of a hundred questions. A hundred questions for a minimum wage job— companies should not be allowed to do this. I should not have to spend over an hour on one application, especially when this application is for a job that pays only minimum wage. I tried to contact the store’s media division and ask them why they require people to go through this for an application but I could not get anyone on their customer service line.

Searching for a job should be a lot easier, especially in these times. I know companies want to try and reduce risk in every section of the hiring process, but the truth is that hiring is always risky. Yes, you can get someone who doesn’t work out, but you may also be turning down someone who is a great fit simply because they didn’t pick one right answer of a 100-question questionnaire. In life and in work, sometimes you just have to take a chance.

I looked at the wheel, and after adding it up I realized that this questionnaire consisted of a hundred questions. A hundred questions for a minimum wage job—companies should not be allowed to do this.

humour // no. 21 • “This hand sanitizer is juuuuuust right!”

• How to not look like the FaceTime hamster ...and that's everything!

Illustration by Athena Little

Humour

Have an idea for a story?  humour@theotherpress.ca

A modern fairy-tale: Liberty Spikes and the three hand sanitizers › “This hand sanitizer is juuuuuust right!”

CJ Sommerfeld Contributor

O

nce upon a time, there was a punk nicknamed Liberty Spikes. He was a high schooler who liked loud music, hair gel and white glue—a product that he substituted for hair gel.

No one knew much about him; he was a bit of a loner. His family’s home was quite a dump from the outside, it had the perfect aesthetic… for a haunted house. It was for this reason—coupled with the fact that none of his classmates had ever met his parents—that rumours had forever circulated that he had been birthed from bats.

Perhaps it was this uncanny aesthetic that diverted people from him. This odd thing also happened, where people would get a sudden fever when he stood too close to his classmates, within two meters of him to be exact. Some concluded that this was due to his lisp that had caused him to speak moistly. In speaking moistly, his

saliva seemed to fly everywhere, landing on those who were within a two-metre distance of him.

One day, Liberty Spikes decided to go for a stroll in the woods. He went for a long hike exploring both the woods as well as the depths of his thoughts, trying to configure. Why, oh why, was he was such an outsider? Whilst in the forest, he stumbled upon a log cabin. The stone pathway leading up to its front door seemed to be spaced exactly two metres apart. He hopped from one to the next until he reached the front door.

The door was not properly closed before, as it creaked open now. “Hello?”

Liberty Spikes called, “hello?” but not a single reply followed. Bravely, he walked into the cabin, tiptoeing slowly, peering around, until he saw a strange sight. Sitting atop the table there were three very large containers, all of which had a pump. What a peculiar sight. He walked over to the table where the large containers are sitting and pushed down on the first pump placing

his other hand underneath the spout. Out of it shot a slightly viscous liquid, its scent reminiscent of tequila. “What the fuck?”

He exclaimed out loud.

He looked around but no hand towels were in sight to rid his hands of the liquid he rubbed them together until it was all gone. For some peculiar reason, he thought that this viscous liquid might be very efficient and killing bacteria and viruses. But the smell was horrible; his hands smelt as if they had spent all night in a cantina. “I could never, for example, rub this on my hands anytime I walked into an establishment that had many touchpoints.

Even if it were to rid my fingertips of a potential economy crashing virus. This one's too tequila-y,” he concluded as he walked over to the second container.

Liberty Spikes pushed down on the second container thinking that a seemingly identical viscous liquid would come out of it. Upon pushing down on the pump a surprisingly slimy substance came out like a loogie. “Gross!” Liberty Spikes laughed to

himself. The liquid almost didn’t separate from the pump—he had to pull it away for it to break. “This one's too phlegmy.”

He concluded, rubbing his palms in quick circles, trying to rid them of the substance.

The substance never did rub into his palms and he had to wipe them on his denim back pockets.

He peered at the last container—“Is it even worth it?” he asked himself. Despite his doubts, he walked over to the last container. Just like he had done with the others, he pushed down on the pump.

To his surprise, a perfect viscous liquid dropped down, its scent was perfectly fragrant—being slightly perfumed with vodka. With a quick smear of one palm to the next, this last substance had dissolved between his hands. “This one’s just right!” he exclaimed.

And just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted another table. Upon it, there were three bowls of porridge...

humor// no. 22

theotherpress.ca

Being a poser in online classes › How to not look like the FaceTime hamster Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor

I

3

t’s officially September which means school begins and you’re living your life through a camera and screen. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing though! Making the most of your time at home is all you can do to keep yourself sane right now (hey, think about all the saved gas and transit money!)

There are some flaws that you just can’t shake about online schooling. One being the feeling of being watched at all times. Then again, you’re watched in live classes too, but at least you usually know who’s looking at you. With online classes, someone can just minimize the professor to expand you to admire your beautiful face which is shamelessly highlighted by your phone screen as you pick your nose because you totally forgot you were in a class. Amateur move, brother.

1

I call this one “hiding in plain sight.” It’s a play on the classic phone-hidden-behindtextbook con. You stare at the computer screen, but you’re truly looking at your phone (and no one can see it!). Simple and genius.

4 First things first: your settings. Enabling HD is optional. Being low quality has its own perks: hides flaws and hangovers, doesn’t murder your computer, matches your personality, more privacy for your background. Mirroring your video will make looking at yourself more bearable but take note that everyone who’s ever looked at you has seen you inverted. You can lie to yourself and mirror your video, but it won’t erase inverted you from being the main version of yourself. Probably feel a bit like Doodle Bob right now, don’t you?

Heads up to check “Turn off my video when joining meeting” just to avoid embarrassing yourself. Yes, we get it—you’re late again—at least hide the fancy coffee before spotlighting it to your whole class. I love the attention, so my Spotlight setting is on, but if you fancy staying in the shadows feel free to check it off. There is a genuine downside though, which is that if you and someone else call out an answer at the same time, your professor will not see you and assume the credit to the person who they can see.

Onto my next point: what professors can’t see won’t hurt them (it’ll just hurt you! But that’s your decision to make, chief.)

Here’s me sneaking a phone selfie during class. Best part about it? No one knows.

That’s all it really takes. Keep your phone concealed, because not only is it rude to be blatantly distracted during class, but you’re also likely to miss participation marks for it. Turn your brightness down, and don’t keep it in your lap. Checking out your downstairs may work for Biology 101, but it won’t slide for any other class.

Try these other poses instead.

Photos by Sonam Kaloti

2

Last but not least, I call this one the Hangover. Suited for hangovers and shifty eyes alike, it hides where you’re looking so you could even sleep (although that is not recommended). You could get creative and set up mirrors to angle your view to wherever you’d like, or wear a mask—perhaps a mask of your own face—why not have fun with it?

With online classes, someone can just minimize the professor to expand you to admire your beautiful face which is shamelessly highlighted by your phone screen as you pick your nose because you totally forgot you were in a class.

Comic by Nova Sawatzky

Comic by Udeshi Seneviratne

Comics Leather(jacket)back turtle on tour!

Denial

Creative Works

Summer’s End I’m so bored I’d say break up with your boyfriend but I really don’t care. I stare at my phone. I talk to people who say they like me but I don’t care. The same day over and over and over; It’s not bad, it’s not good.

I wish to grow older so something—anything AT ALL would change. Not this same old day wasting away in pain.

Photo by Sonam Kaloti

Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor

Crossword

Weekly Crossword: Words, words, words Caroline Ho Web Editor ACROSS 1. Give stars to, say 5. Not new 9. __ the crack of dawn 13. Underground vault 15. Iditarod end point 16. Tomato type 17. Eagle’s nest 18. Flightless bird 19. Junk mail 20. “Not __ …”

22. Medical wrap 23. Tax pro 26. Source of daylight 27. Bear’s lair 29. Apiece 30. Roof beams 32. Break suddenly 34. Keen on 35. Felt hat 37. Part of a mouse 41. Sci-fi author Anthony 43. Touch lightly 45. Cavalry sword 46. Pages into which photos might be pasted 48. Actress Gadot 50. It comes in liquid or bar form 51. Loud precipitation 53. Prosecution’s counterpart (US sp.)

55. Inits. after a proof 58. Golf prop 59. Hubbub 60. “__ a wizard!”

61. Bring together 63. __ Transfer Protocol 66. “__ point in time…”

67. Answer to “Are you awake?”

68. Ravine 72. Modern-day Persia 73. Give someone a ring 74. Make a speech 75. Ancient harp 76. Patella’s place 77. Biblical garden

DOWN 1. Now-defunct electronics co.

2. Exist 3. God after whom Tuesday is named 4. Perfect example 5. How some grains and produce are sold 6. Neighbourhood in Lower Manhattan 7. Corrects text 8. US anti-trafficking org.

9. Lead-in to minor or major 10. Like many annoying ads 11. Wow 12. Circus performer 14. On edge 21. Fake field cover 22. Chews 23. Bloods’ rival 24. Kind of button or attack 25. Following 28. Record, esp. on parchment

31. Hebrew Bible 33. Stage 36. Turn sharply 38. Black key material 39. Rub away 40. Pariah 42. Sudden outpouring 44. Problematic member, idiomatically 47. Bet-taker 49. Intro of a news article 52. __ Brothers: Bank in 2008’s financial crisis 54. Do without 55. Game bird 56. Doorway 57. Currency in several Mediterranean countries 62. Musical quality 64. Christmas 65. Fabric quality 67. “Gross!”

69. Young fellow 70. 4G __ 71. Longing

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Welcome to the Fall Semester!

From your Students’ Union!

The Douglas Students’ Union is currently operating online and on campus.

To contact us online, please email info@thedsu.ca or visit www.thedsu.ca.

To contact us on campus, we have offices open at both campuses: New West - 2nd floor of DSU Building Monday-Thursday 10am-3pm Coquitlam - Kiosk in A/B Atrium Tuesday-Friday 10am-3pm