Photo by Jessica Berget
Lettitor
The masked truth Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief
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any articles have been published about how wearing facemasks during this virus epidemic does nothing to protect you. However, this week I read an interesting article and it made me think twice about the use of face masks. In this National Post article, Tristin Hopper describes the virus spread in Taiwan in comparison to Canada. While Taiwan is just over the border from China, they have considerably less cases of coronavirus than Canada and many other countries. The writer attributes this, among many other things, to the fact that mask-wearing is normalized in Asian countries and does stop the spreading
of diseases. Given that the World Health Organization (WHO) and many other sources claim that masks do nothing to stop the spreading, this is a stance that garners more research. As of April 2, Taiwan has only 339 cases of the virus and only five deaths in the whole country. Very tame as compared to Canada’s almost 16,000 cases and nearly 300 deaths as of April 6, as reported by the Government of Canada’s website. So what did Taiwan do differently keep their country so safe despite being just a hop over the border from the origin of the disease? According to one Bloomberg article, they did everything opposite the WHO said to do. When the WHO said that there was no evidence that the virus could be transmitted via person-to-person, Taiwan health officials reached the opposite
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conclusion weeks before. Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu claims the WHO said they would “take it from here,” but didn’t hear from them again. When the WHO also initially advised against the use of traveling restrictions from China, while Taiwan put in bans for all affected areas. When the WHO said face masks were unnecessary, Taiwan upped the production and gave them to its citizens. It’s obvious that Taiwan was much better equipped to deal with this virus and maybe there’s something for Canada to take note on in the case of having enough face masks as a safety precaution. Maybe face masks do stop the spread—it’s better than nothing right? You wouldn’t want to breathe the same air as someone who is sick, and other people also don’t want the reverse from you. Maybe
Brittney MacDonald Business Manager Athena Little Illustrator Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter Craig Allan Tania Arora EG Manilag Staff Writers Billy Bui Staff Photographer Erin Meyers Jerrison Oracion Cheryl Minns Senior Columnists Tyran Batten James Wetmore Contributors
Cover layout by Lauren Kelly Feature layout by Nhi 'Jenny' Vo
they do more harm than good if worn too long like other sources say, or maybe they don’t do much at all. So, maybe Canada should up the production of masks for the future like Taiwan does. One thing I do know is that the masks provide a sense of security for many people, and if that makes them feel safe and not make them panic, it sounds good to me. More importantly, it’s the people working in the health and safety sectors that need masks more than we do. Limes,
Jessica Berget Jessica Berget
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.
News
Have an idea for a story? news@theotherpress.ca
news // no. 3 • Emergency funds available for Douglas students • Board up or shut up • Schools online for the summer ...and more
College communicates COVID-19 case to community Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter
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n March 13, a Douglas student infectious with COVID-19 attended classes on the New Westminster campus and was at the New Westminster library for three hours between 10 am and 1 pm. Fraser Health, the Health Authority responsible for public health and health provision in both cities Douglas operates, informed the college of a case of the coronavirus. Douglas posted the notification given by Fraser Health on the “COVID-19 information and resources” webpage on March 24 at 8:10 am—the day they were informed by Fraser Health. The Health Authority, with the cooperation from the student who tested positive for COVID-19, had contacted the classmates of the positive student. According to the Fraser Health website, classmates—considered contacts—of a confirmed COVID-19 case should self-isolate for 14 days since the date of exposure. This means that any Douglas
student that interacted with the student diagnosed with COVID-19 should have self-isolated until March 26. Additionally, the COVID-19 positive student spent time at the library. As recommended by the Health Authority, Douglas is advising students to monitor their health for symptoms of illness such as fever, cough, sneezing, or a sore throat. Also, Fraser Health recommends students avoid confined public spaces— these warnings are echoed by Public Health officials throughout Canada. According to the press release, the college was compelled to notify students by Fraser Health “out of an abundance of caution,” and reiterated that “if [a student does] not have symptoms, there is little risk.” Fraser Health authority disclosed the name of the student to the college, who stated that they had contacted the individual to offer support. Douglas reports that the student who tested positive for COVID-19 is “doing well.” “Due to privacy legislation, Douglas College is unable to release personal
Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne
››One confirmed case at Douglas
Douglas reports that the student who tested positive for COVID-19 is “doing well.” information about its students or employees. This is the only member of the college community with a known positive COVID-19 diagnosis,” stated the notification. The administration at Douglas College took the time in the press release to reinforce that the college is actively planning and responding to the COVID-19 situation in BC and also reaffirmed its
commitment to protecting the health and safety of Douglas’ community members. If students are concerned about COVID-19 and need help determining whether further assessment or testing for COVID-19 is needed, the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has an online BC COVID-19 Symptom SelfAssessment Tool available to the public at their website.
Coronavirus impacts Vancouver’s homeless population EG Manilag Staff Writer
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hile everyone is quarantined in their homes due to the coronavirus outbreak, there is a community of people who have no place to isolate themselves. To get a sense of what is happening in other parts of Canada, we look to Quebec on how they’re dealing with the outbreak and their homeless population. About a week ago, Montreal’s homeless situation got worse—especially regarding social distancing. According to the Montreal Gazette, some are denied access to shelters to avoid overloading, leaving them in the streets where they have no proper social distancing or proper self-quarantine procedures. Although Quebec’s Health Ministry pledged to solve this problem, many homeless are still out in the streets.
Stewart Greville is one of the few homeless that has been denied of free access to shelter. Greville has had a bad cough and achy muscles and is waiting for his test results to arrive. But he’s only been told to self-isolate until he gets his results. In Vancouver, the protocol for homeless shelters has been to increase the social distancing between clients. According to Union Gospel Mission (UGM) spokesperson Jeremy Hunka, “We’re forced with the agonizing reality that if people come looking for help who have symptoms of COVID-19, we can’t have them in our shelter because one person could put at risk the other 71 people that are there.” This puts them in a heartbreaking situation, having to turn sick people away with nowhere to go and nothing but a sleeping bag, he added. According to the Global News,
Vancouver has installed 11 hand washing stations around the Downtown Eastside to combat the growing of the virus. The city, according to a spokesperson, has also planned to use community centres to isolate sick homeless people who may have contacted the virus. Social distancing and self-isolation are difficult for homeless, especially if they live in groups—which they often do. Handwashing is also impractical for them, especially the homeless in poorer countries, because they have no running water nor soap to use—making them
Illustration by Athena Little
››Self-isolation and food shortage problems are most pressing
especially vulnerable to the virus. “This is a ticking time bomb,” said David Chapman, who runs Resilience Montreal. “The homeless are sleeping outside, in groups, sharing bottles of beer, while the rest of the city self isolates. If the virus hits this community, it’ll hit them hard.”
news // no. 4
theotherpress.ca
Emergency funds available for Douglas students
››Any student registered in the winter or summer semester eligible Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter
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ouglas College has created an emergency fund for students facing financial hardship during the COVID-19 crisis. “This is an unprecedented situation, one that creates financial challenges for many of our students,” said President of Douglas College Dr. Kathy Denton via an online press release announcing the fund. The emergency fund totals over $600,000 and was made possible by contributions from the Ministry of Advanced Education, Douglas Students Union (DSU), the College’s Foundation and Alumni Relations, and Douglas International. “Students and their families are in a time of financial insecurity like we have never seen before,” said Tanysha Klassen, Douglas College graduate and Chairperson of the BC Federation of Students. “This investment in emergency funds will help to
ensure rent can be paid and food can be on the table during these troubling times.” The announcement of the Douglas emergency fund comes a day after Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training revealed the province would distribute $3.5 million of emergency assistance among the 25 public postsecondary institutions to aid domestic BC students experiencing financial hardship. “We heard from students who are facing extremely difficult situations, and we [moved] quickly to ensure they have access to immediate financial relief,” stated Mark during the press conference announcing the ministry’s investment. Although the announcement heralded emergency relief for students, only domestic students were the intended target. Minister Mark referenced that the ministry was working with public postsecondary institutions to find solutions for international and out-of-province students. However, the Douglas emergency fund is open to all.
How to access the Douglas emergency fund Domestic and international students registered in the winter or summer semester are eligible for short-term financial relief via the emergency fund. Students requiring access to the emergency fund can email a student success advisor at financialaid@douglascollege.ca to review their individual need. There were no details provided as to what information should be provided in the initial email nor the criteria used to review a student’s need. The college hopes that students in need can receive their fund allocation within two weeks via the Office of the Registrar.
“Students are facing uncertainty and increased financial difficulties as job losses continue,” said Mitchel Gamayo, Director of External Relations of the Douglas Students’ Union. “We hope this [fund] will help alleviate some of the anxiety and stress students are feeling in this uncertain time.” More money soon? Additionally, the college aims to increase the amount available to Douglas students during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Leanne Poon, Executive Director of the Douglas College Foundation, the plan is to fundraise within the community to bring the total amount of the emergency fund to $1 million.
The college hopes that students in need can receive their fund allocation within two weeks via the Office of the Registrar.
Board up or shut up
››Commercial break-ins rising in Vancouver amid coronavirus panic Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief
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any people believe the reaction to our current worldwide epidemic has brought out the best in people. Unfortunately, it has also brought out the worst in some. Taking advantage of the empty streets and temporarily closed businesses brought on by the quarantine, commercial break-in rates are going up—as reported by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD). There were 81 commercial breakins from March 16 to March 26, and 86 commercial break-in reports from the first two weeks of March. They add that this was especially evident in downtown Van,
considering they had seen 20 reports of commercial break-ins in the first two weeks of March and 35 in the week after. They confirmed that what they are seeing is an average of four break-ins a day, compared to the usual one per day. VPD police chief Adam Palmer said in a news release that although this has always been a problem for the city, it is one that has been exacerbated since the COVID-19 city shutdown. “Property crime is an issue in Vancouver year-round and we continuously implement new measures to help reduce property crime and target repeat offenders. However, it appears thieves are attempting to take advantage of commercial spaces that are closed due to social distancing
measures. We are targeting these offenders aggressively on several levels,” he stated. The VPD has said they are also deploying more overnight patrol officers and safety personnel in city hotspots to quell the increase of break-ins. The absence of pedestrians, drivers, and potential witnesses has opened the door for many robbers in the city. To stop this, shops in the downtown area have began boarding up their windows and doors. Some luxury brand name stores have even taken to employ 24-hour security guards to protect their assets. Along with these measures, Vancouver Police also recommend upgrading to new locks and security, removing merchandise from the store, emptying cash drawers and
leaving them open to show no money, and cleaning surfaces so fingerprints can be shown if there is a break-in. While commercial break-in rates are rising, overall property crime to both residential and commercial properties have been decreasing. Police say there has been a 12 percent reduction in these such calls as compared to the weeks before the virus spread and another 10 percent decrease for calls overall. So, while you’re stuck at home, be sure to lock all your doors and windows. If you own a business, remove all money and merchandise from the property to protect your home and assets to avoid the possibility of robbery.
news // no. 5
issue 25// vol 46
Schools online for the summer ››The 2020 summer semester at Douglas will now be online only Craig Allan Staff Writer he coronavirus has cut a swath through everyday life, and Douglas College (DC) is no exception. After having to move all winter classes online due to the virus, DC has been forced to extend its non in-person class offerings for the entire summer semester. “In support of the Public Health Officer’s social distancing directive, and in recognition of students’ planning needs, Douglas College has made the difficult decision to move all summer 2020 courses online. There will be no in-person classes for the summer term.” Through a correspondence email, the Other Press talked with the DC administration and asked them a variety of questions regarding exactly how the summer semester will be conducted. This will be the first time DC has offered classes at are 100 percent online. Along with this, even if the coronavirus subsides at some point during the semester, classes will remain online for the entire semester. For those worried that they will not be able to take their classes online due to the nature of the course, DC has said that any classes that cannot be done online will be deferred to the next semester. This deferment will also have to apply to any students that do not have access to a computer, as computers will not be provided by the school. The switch to online will involve a lot more than simply putting a program online for students to access. One problem many students will have is getting their books and other materials they may need for the class. DC said that they are working with their suppliers to ensure that students have the books and supplies that they need for the next semester. This includes looking into different delivery methods for the books. When asked if classes will be cheaper due to the fact that they will be online, DC said no. “Tuition fees are based on credits received per course. While the delivery
Illustration by Sonam Kaloti
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format of our courses has changed, these courses continue to be taught by the same experienced faculty as they would be in person. Students continue to earn full academic credit and have access to student services.” When asked how student services will remain available,
DC stated that “All student services will continue to be available through alternate delivery models like email, phone, or service-specific software.” Though the class tuition will still be maintained, the date for when students will have to pay for the classes has
changed. Because of COVID-19, DC has moved the payment date for the semester to April 27. DC has a lot of campuses in the Lower Mainland, but for 2020, its newest campus will be on the internet superhighway.
Have an idea for a story? arts@theotherpress.ca
Arts
• A review of ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ • ‘Talk to Me’ book review • Lots of catching up on shows
Promotional image for 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' via Nintendo
...and more
Playing a peaceful island simulator during a global pandemic ››A review of ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Tyran Batten Contributor
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he world is very far from the norm right now. I can't go see a movie in a theatre, I shouldn’t visit my friends, and my family's Easter dinner is effectively cancelled—unless Jesus himself comes back to rid us of this virus so we might properly celebrate his holiday. Normalcy is gone for the time being, and this means we need to find ways to keep ourselves sane during this period of insanity. That's why I am so glad that I have been playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Animal Crossing is a series that thrives on routine and scheduled play. It's known for having an in-game clock that matches your actual time. If you start the game at noon, you will be presented a sunny day of butterflies. Start the game at midnight and you'll find moths, spiders, and maybe some strange fish to catch like the football fish. Not only does the game match your hourly clock, but it will also match your hemisphere’s seasons. Right now, it's spring—so the flowers are blooming, the trees are turning pink, and the days are mostly sunny with occasional showers. The freedom that Animal Crossing offers is refreshingly meditative and therapeutic. When the world is asking you to stay locked in your home, it is comforting to play a game that asks you to go outside, catch some bugs, fish, or talk to the animal villagers. That's essentially all this game is, and I'm so glad that it
is. There is no “finishing” this game. You can upgrade your home, donate to the museum, customize your town, and gain new animal friends—but the game won't suddenly end when you reach a certain status. Instead, this game offers you a new routine. You can check in each day to see what's changed, or you can simply stick to the “slow life” of living on an island— visiting the beach and growing new kinds of trees. New additions to Animal Crossing: New Horizons are plentiful. This is easily the biggest upgrade the series has ever gotten, and it in no way feels too daunting or too large for the simplistic roots of the series. New Horizons starts you on a deserted island where you build a town from scratch. It introduces you to every mechanic slowly and allows you to build your town from the ground up. Previous games would drop you into an already existing town, making things a bit overwhelming. This new feature is a welcome one for fresh players—there is very little to do in the first few days, and this pace allows for easy learning. The freedom you're given will only grow over time as new arrivals and features are introduced to your island village. Starting with so little actually allows for much more freedom in the long run since the building of the town is up to you. The addition of crafted and customizable items to this game makes it even more personalized. You can craft and alter your furniture in your own unique way. You are also no longer limited to putting furniture inside of your home. Furniture items can
be placed anywhere in the town as long as there is space for it. You are given great power over the design of your island. If you do find yourself scratching your head over what to do, there are many little quests in place. The new NookPhone (named after Tom Nook, your raccoon landlord and island advisor) will give you tasks to earn Nook Miles that can be spent on various items like clothes and furniture. These tasks are standard things that you might already be doing. This addition gives more purpose to the game and makes it easier for new players to find something to do. Nook Miles can also be spent on a Nook Miles Ticket, which will grant you a flight to a new island full of resources. If your own home is exhausted of resources for the day, paying for one of these flights can offer more gameplay. Each of these islands is random, so every flight has a chance of rewarding you with new novel resources. It's also how you can get the coveted peach tree in your town if you've been unfortunately stuck with pears as a local fruit. Some of the few frustrations I have with Animal Crossing: New Horizons come in the multiplayer. I have absolutely loved playing this game with my wife. When we had opposite shift schedules, this game was a great way for us to stay connected and see what the other was doing while we were apart. However, sharing a town means sharing the resources of the town as well. The game doesn't duplicate the resources for each player; instead it's up to us to share the things we need to craft items. This has allowed for interesting cooperative play,
but it's still frustrating to be forced to figure it out for ourselves. Playing the game cooperatively on the same screen is also disappointingly limited, as the second player has very limited access. They cannot open their inventory or use their NookPhone, instead they can only cycle through their tools to try and fish and catch bugs alongside the lead player. Thankfully, it is very easy to switch who's playing as the leader. The most disappointing part of sharing a village is that the second player to start the game simply won't be able to do as much as the first person to play, especially when it comes to building up your village. Only the first player will be able to decide where buildings will go and new features like bridges and shops will be located. Sharing the same village means one player will get a shafted experience, but overall it is still an incredibly rewarding experience for both of us— especially when we cooperate on the customization of our town. I have needed this game in my life way before this global pandemic. I can't tell you how excited I have been for a brand-new Animal Crossing game on the Nintendo Switch, and it couldn't have come at better time. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the ultimate de-stressor—life is slow, routine, and comfortingly simple. If you need a little more normalcy in this increasingly abnormal world, I urge you to give this game a try. The island life of New Horizons has never been a more desirable way to live than it is right now.
arts // no. 7
issue 25// vol 46
Under the age of 20 and want to know what your dad considers new music? James Wetmore Contributor
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h jeez, another “dad rock” band. Commence the eyerolls. Yes, the ancient band that is Pearl Jam has garnered enough strength to struggle out of their wheelchairs and make their 11th studio album, Gigaton—released seven years after their previous record, Lightning Bolt (2013). Pearl Jam has become much more experimental since their 1990s grunge heydays, and this record is no exception. This is arguably their most experimental record—meshing new wave and electronic influences with their 1970s blues rock and punk roots. Despite that, some of the songs on the record fall into the trap that most bands from the pre-1990s rock scene are sucked into—sounding out-of-touch with what is popular today. Songs like “Who Ever Said” and “Never Destination” fall into this category, sounding like they would fit in with the music on Pearl Jam’s 1998 release Yield. There are multiple examples of the
band having fun with experimental rock on this record, so there is not much of an excuse to have a bland song. With that said, songs like “River Cross” and “Alright” are spacey, atmospheric tracks. They showcase Pearl Jam’s ability to keep it simple and not overload the listener with a dense wall of sound—instead they prioritize a small array of sounds to enrapture the listener. “Dance of the Clairvoyants” may be the band’s most experimental on the record; it’s an upbeat, new wave, ‘80s synthpop effort that works surprisingly well. Who knew that these old farts still had the ability to make a club song? Pearl Jam again switch things up for the 10th song on the record “Comes Then Goes,” an acoustic ballad featuring just vocalist Eddie Vedder and his guitar that lasts over six minutes. There are songs that are more memorable than others—and there are certainly some that cater to their older fanbase—but one thing that stays consistent is the great production throughout the record. Whether it be an 1850s pump organ like on “River Cross,” or the programmed drums on “Dance of
the Clairvoyants,” it all sounds amazing and the songs sound full. No matter if a song has five or thirty instruments, everything has its spot and there is no wasted space. Matt Cameron’s drums sound amazing and explosive, Stone Gossard and Mike McCready’s guitars are warm and smooth, Jeff Ament’s bass is huge and rounds out the songs, and Eddie Vedder’s vocal performances make this record truly exciting and rich with few dull moments. All in all, this record is going to satisfy both long-term fans and newer ones with its classic grunge sound meshed with the band’s newfound sonic experimentality. It for sure contains enough hits for both sides to enjoy. It won’t break commercial records for the band or make them break
Album cover of 'Gigaton' by Pearl Jam
››Pearl Jam ‘Gigaton’ album review
into the mainstream, but it continues the experimentalism that is characteristic for Pearl Jam post-1990s while containing the rough and raw rock sound the band helped cultivate in Seattle 30 years ago. Overall a solid performance from the biggest remaining grudge band, and arguably their best effort since Yield. They prove that no matter how old you are, you’re never too old to kick ass and rock out.
J-POP SPOTLIGHT STU48
››Group showcases Japan’s seaside region Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist
Because the Tokyo Olympic Games and many other industries—including music— are now delayed due to coronavirus, this column will be ongoing and published from time to time to learn the histories of famous musicians in J-pop. f you read this column regularly, you probably know that the 46 groups are the biggest idol group in Japan right now and still have a rivalry with their predecessor AKB48. Despite that, the coronavirus pandemic affected music sales in the country. AKB48’s recent hit single “Thank You Heartbreak” surprisingly sold more copies than Nogizaka46’s recent hit single “Protective Colour of Happiness.” Both singles were number one in their first week— with AKB48 selling 1.3 million copies compared to Nogizaka46’s 900,000 copies. It appears that AKB48-mania is here just like Beatlemania was in the 60s’. The group is still relevant today with Team 8: a team in the main group that has members from all 47 prefectures in Japan and is sponsored by Toyota. They also stay on the scene with their newest sister group: STU48. Unlike the rest of their sister groups where each represents
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an area in a city, STU48 represents the entire Setouchi region—which is in the southern part of Japan and includes Hiroshima and Kobe. I went through the region during my trip to Japan in 2018, and their music videos do Setouchi justice in showcasing their picturesque mountains, seaside towns, and lemons— the official fruit of the region. The group is co-owned by the Setouchi Tourism Board, which might be predictable. With four singles so far and a fifth single possibly being released in May, the group was launched in 2017 with their airy hit single “Setouchi Voice.” In that music video, the STU48 members get advice from two predominant members of AKB48: Nana Okada and former member Rino Sashihara. They are depicted as the captains of the ship showing the new members the way. When the group began, they performed in various theatres around the region while a ferry was being refurbished into their theatre. Since April of last year, the “STU48 GO” docked in its home port of Hiroshima and the group goes around the region holding performances inside it. Their music has a seaside sound; songs like “Darkness” and “Waiting for the Wind” sound like songs that you would hear in a cruise ship.
Promotional image of STU48
“Onward” and “The Person I Really Like” have music videos that actually showcase their cruise ship. It can even sail to other parts of the country and they do special events on the deck. The members showcase Setouchi through tourism ads and appearing on a lot of shows. One of the members, Sakaki Miyu, even has a YouTube channel called CUCA Channel where she talks about food in the region and explores restaurants near train stations in Setouchi. An interesting fact about the J-pop group is that almost half of the members went to Actor’s School Hiroshima—the same music school where the infamous Perfume was formed. The lead member in all their singles, Yumiko Takino, is very tall and plays the
saxophone. My favourite member in the group is Mitsuki Imamura who is now the captain of the group after Okada stepped down from her position during a concert in Tokyo in January of this year. She sings great, plays the guitar, likes baseball, and surprisingly knows me because I talk to her a lot in an app called Showroom where the members do live chats. One of the newer members in the group, Kudo Riko, is known to international fans because she is fluent in English. If you are going to Japan for Tokyo 2020 next year, watching STU48’s music videos and talent will convince you to go to Setouchi. Even if you aren’t, the group is great for easy listening and conjures up images of a relaxing day at the sea.
arts // no. 8
theotherpress.ca
Lots of catching up on shows
››Thoughts on ‘The Mandalorian,’ ‘The Marvelous Miss. Maisel,’ and more Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist
he coronavirus pandemic not only closed movie theatres and delayed the release of many films—it also possibly reduced the amount of shows that will be shown this summer. This allows me to catch up on a lot of shows that I did not watch or begin shows that I have been interested in watching. With the term almost done and preparing for an exam, I watch a few episodes of a show during my spare time. I did a lot of things in the past few months so the only show that I watched in its entirety is Kim’s Convenience and last year, I caught up on Game of Thrones and Veep. First, I watched the next two episodes of The Morning Show (I reviewed the first episode a few months ago). I found out that the show aired weekly after Apple TV+ was launched and has 10 episodes in the season. After watching the next two episodes, I’m not sure how the season will end. It shows that the morning TV industry is corrupted and all the damage control that occurs. It shows every side of the “Time’s Up” movement through the case of Mitch’s sexual misconduct claims. Bradley
Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne
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Jackson, a reporter for a local TV station, goes through the morning TV system and represents change in the system.
There were a few one-take shots that were great in these episodes. Recently, Jennifer Aniston got best actress in a TV
drama at the Screen Actors Guild Awards this year for “The Morning Show.” After that, I watched the first two episodes of The Mandalorian. The show has the same high quality as a film. It is a western in the futuristic style of Star Wars and there were a lot of transition shots where we see Boba Fett walking—which makes the show more intense. There were even montages when someone is building something. The rest of the season should be very fun. Next, I watched the first two episodes of the Emmy-award winning The Marvelous Miss. Maisel which is about a housewife named Miriam “Midge” Maisel (played by Rachel Brosnahan) telling her story in the form of stand-up comedy and becoming a household name in the 1960s comedy scene. It shows that using your personal experiences and being honest can create new funny material. The show’s soundtrack is whimsical and sounds like a musical, or the hit singles of the early 1960s. I am probably going to catch up on these shows during the summer, and many more. Until then, we can all enjoy the shows we’ve been meaning to catch up on as we are quarantined. It’s a great time for it!
Ask better questions, get better answers, and interview anyone like a pro Tania Arora Staff Writer
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f you are seeking answers to your questions, then your questions better be meaningful and well-constructed. If you are asked something, your answers must be up to the mark and relevant. Interviewing is not just restricted to journalists, almost every person in any kind of profession is required to ask questions or answer them. The book Talk to Me: How to Ask Better Questions, Get Better Answers, and Interview Anyone Like a Pro is written by Dean Nelson, director of the journalism program at Point Loma Nazarene University. The book has major tips and tricks on how to remove any mental barricades present while interviewing someone, and how to sharpen the communication skills needed to do so. Nelson says, “Great interviews aren’t the result of serendipity and intuition, but rather the result of careful planning and good journalistic habits.” The book is divided into 11 chapters, each followed by a case study. The author uses both informal and formal tone to give a detailed explanation. Many would think it is more of a coursebook, based on its title. But the first sentence will put you at ease.
Nelson writes, “Here’s my best excuse: I was young and didn’t know any better.” In the introduction itself, Nelson clarifies misconceptions of this book. He uses a direct approach to explain all the points. “We have questions; we want answers,” was the first one. He shared his interview experience on how he was able to convince an artist to agree to answer his questions. He then discusses how everyone is an interviewer and why other perspectives matter to writers. Here’s an excerpt defining the same, “If you can master the art of asking good questions, you’ll be able to describe which part of the sky the moon was in, what those waves sounded like as they hit the cruise ship, what that person thought about as he tried to escape the hotel fire, what happened to that mom’s soul when that baby was set on her chest within seconds of being born… ” He carefully broke down the process and blamed our negative mindset and lack of confidence to begin with. The art of interviewing involves a careful analysis of deciding who to speak to and why. Each chapter is followed by a guiding principle written by Nelson. He gives elaborate justifications for his principles and explains his realizations how he overcame barriers along the way. For his case studies he uses a conversational tone, and
Cover of 'Talk to Me' via @deanenelson on Twitter
››‘Talk to Me’ book review
additionally shares a brief part of a valuable conversation he’s had with someone during the course of his career. The book is not written in a traditional boring way. He adds a different element every few pages to break the monotonous tone and make it a real page-turner. If you are a person looking to improve your interactive skills and excel
in communication in your relationships, then this is your book. A lot of times we either have to drag answers out of people or get awkward at the questions thrown at us. This disrupts the harmony of the relationship we have with people to an extent. It is essential to know how to balance it all.
Have an idea for a story? lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca
Life & Style
life & style // no. 9 • Can we get back in the classroom or nah? • Tantalize your taste buds • Pet popularity rises during pandemic ...and more
Craig Allan Staff Writer
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››What Douglas students intend to do when social distancing is through
Photo by Billy Bui
s we begin a new month of the year, it looks like it may be the most boring month in BC history. With the announcement from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, and Provincial Health Minister Adrian Dix, the BC closing of non-essential services will be continuing through April—and likely into May. It looks like this will be another couple of months of staying in our homes and socially distancing from everyone. Many are feeling pent up and uneasy. With restaurants, community centres, and large social gatherings all shut down for the foreseeable future, many feel the growing need to get out and have fun. Whether that is by going to a restaurant, a movie, or just to a friend’s house. To attempt to shine a light on some better times, I asked the staff of the Other Press what the first restaurant, gathering, or event they are going to go to when the closing of non-essential services ordinance is through. For many, just getting the chance to exercise at a community centre was desired. Layout Manager Christine Weenk wants to go to her gym for “a long workout,” and Illustrator Athena Little would love to visit the pool/ice rink. When it came to just wanting to get outside in general, Production Assistant Nhi “Jenny” Vo is looking forward to going to the VanDusen Gardens, and Photographer Billy Bui is desiring a traverse across the North Vancouver hiking trails again. As for restaurants, Weenk is looking forward to eating at her favourite Italian establishment called That Place in Coquitlam, and Vo is looking forward to eating at a blind dining restaurant in Vancouver. Despite not being able to see the food, Vo said she will enjoy it as long as the meal does not include rice. She states: “I'm tired of eating rice every day.” Many just cannot wait until the day they can meet up with their friends again. Opinions Editor Matthew Fraser can’t wait to get a beer with friends, and Arts Editor Sonam Kaloti is simply looking forward to meeting with friends. She says “honestly I just want to see my friends! I miss them. Don't care what we do—restaurant, bowling, absolutely nothing, staring into an abyss for a few hours—that's all I really miss.” This also expands to family interactions as well, as Web Editor Caroline Ho just wants to be able to visit her family members and give them a hug. “I'm really looking forward to being able to visit my parents and hug them freely again.” For others, the first thing they want to do is book for the future. Staff Writer Tania Arora has a bunch of concerts that she hopes she can still get tickets for if they are cancelled or rescheduled. “I had a huge list of concerts I wanted to attend this summer from Camila Cabello, Maroon 5, Billie Eilish to many more. If the ban is lifted and the situation gets better, I will be jumping onto the stage.” In the case of Life and Style Editor, Morgan
Hannah, she is hoping that the virus subsides before September when she hopes to be going to Indonesia. As for myself, it will all depend on if I have some money left over after all of this. There are so many options I could take. I just know that right now I am craving the grilled cheese sandwich from Ricky’s Café. I have also had a gift card for The
Keg in my wallet for a few years now, so celebrating the end of this by finally using it could be a great way to begin the return to normalcy. A trip to an actual movie theatre may also be in the plans that day, which is something that Business Manager Brittney MacDonald also mentioned she wanted. To me, movies are a way to escape the problems of the world; just being
I'm tired of eating rice every day.”
enraptured by great cinema is powerful. These days may seem dull and boring now, but there is a light at the end of all of this. No one knows when that light will come, but it will come. We just have to stay strong and vigilant in our social distancing and know that the parks, community centres, and the crispy grilled cheeses will be there when this is all over.
Interviews with Canadian Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor
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he virus struck around Christmas time. It only intensified during Chinese New Year. It was a full-blown epidemic by Saint Patrick’s Day. Life is decaying in neighbourhoods all across the world… and it’s hard to say who has been hit the hardest. But we do know that many that are working their hardest right now are the essential service workers. In World War I and World War II, it was the soldiers that we tipped our hats to and saluted. In this war against a virus, the front lines are essential service workers such as healthcare, bus drivers, grocery store workers, bank tellers, car repair, police, and certain construction crews—to name a few.
INTERVIEWS WITH GROCERY WORKERS
“Blush Lane is one of the few essential services, so I’m one of the few people with job protection, provided I don’t get sick. It’s as chaotic as the internet makes it out to be. Luckily, our regulars and most people are good—but there are so many assholes. It’s been a stressful couple of weeks on all fronts,” said Roxanne Elizabeth, a produce clerk from Blush Lane Organic Market in the South West of Calgary, Alberta in an interview with the Other Press. Getting back to BC, we asked a produce manager at a Maple Ridge Save on Foods location (who requested his name be omitted) about the most obvious differences at his grocery store now compared to before the outbreak. He announced that sales have been doubling, there are stricter cleaning regimes, and social distancing is a must whenever possible. He stated that a lot more customers are wearing masks and gloves, and that they are definitely much more paranoid, resulting in frequent panic shopping and hoarding. The top five shopped for items were not surprising; it’s the usual toilet paper, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and tissue paper. The sixth though, maybe unknown to some, is eggs. I asked how this produce manager felt about his position nowadays and whether he felt any different than he did during calmer times, and his response is this: “I feel the same about the position for the most part, it’s a lot more stressful mentally and physically. You go home exhausted and full of aches. I have little ones so it can be even harder at times. I’m just happy to have a job during this pandemic. Having a mortgage and family to take care of, I feel lucky I’m still working.” Job security is certainly valuable in a time like this. When asked whether he thought there would be any lasting changes to grocery stores after the pandemic, this produce manager talked about the strong safety and health programs that all Save on Foods locations launched. He did state that he thinks that they will be “even more thorough given this pandemic and its effects.” I asked him how long he planned on working for, and whether he had any plans to change careers at any point—to which he replied: “The company has been good to me, I plan on working here until I retire. I think we will be working through this whole pandemic. No self-isolation for me.”
AWFUL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES
A topic that I had to ask for this produce manger’s opinion on—toilet paper hoarding—earned this response: “It’s crazy how everyone has gotten over toilet paper. Skids will come in and they are gone within the hour at times. It’s actually sad as it is a need for everyone and customers come in saying they have been to so many stores and have none at home and don’t know what to do.” This didn’t surprise me, as I found myself in a similar situation last week—only three roles left and no stores seemingly stocked up. And I wasn’t eager to wake up for the 7 am mad dash through a grocery store for my household quantity either. When asked to describe a typical day at his job, the Save on Foods employee told me how things are typical even during the pandemic. “Come in, write an order, and try to predict trends of sales for the week—put away a huge order as it has been impossible to keep up.” He says that “it’s just more intensified now.” He also says that “there have been so many shorts as the supply chain can’t keep up—we just accept the holes in departments and try and deal with
the customer frustrations.” The common theme at various grocery store locations nowadays seems to be stress. And, a lot of times, this stress seems unnecessary. I asked how the staff handled tough customers before the pandemic, and apparently there were simple protocols to follow. Things must have changed now, though? The response to this question was disheartening: “I wish I could say that customers for the most part have been great—but to be honest, it has shocked me how they have treated us. Seeing how people deal in these circumstances has left me jaded. The rudeness and selfishness can be appalling. But I know workers will not accept being talked down to as well so that aspect is changing. Before, the customer was always right. In the end, we are the front line and we are exposed while helping these customers bring food home in this pandemic.” It seems as though the only thing that can be done is to explain to customers that we are all enduring difficult times together and the staff at Save on Foods, other grocery stores, and other essential services globally are doing their very best. There isn’t much else to be done or said. Lastly, the produce manager wanted me to pass along the importance of thanking the employees that each of us interacts with the next time we shop as it can brighten their day.
essential service workers AN INTERVIEW WITH AN INSULATOR AT A HOSPITAL
In another line of work at the Vancouver General Hospital, Bernie spoke with the Other Press about what it is like to be an insulator right now. His site is the last one left open as his company has temporarily shut down all other projects until further notice. When asked whether he considers himself an essential worker, Bernie commented, “I don’t consider myself an essential worker. Personally, I have no idea why we are still working, but we are working at a hospital, so that might have something to do with it. Maybe the government cannot afford for every site to shut down—that’s a lot of EI to payout. I’m just happy that I am one of the people that still have a job.” The biggest differences in Bernie’s job due to the pandemic is due to social distancing; only three people can be on the lift at a time—and workers must be focused on separate tasks. “Purell is widely available, and a hot water tank and sinks have been installed on the roof where we work. Face masks and respirators have been made available. The lift causes lots of delays as it usually takes 20 minutes to get up and down now. And COVID-19 is a highly talked about topic in safety meetings.”
SOCIAL DISTANCING DRAMA
The changes applied to Bernie’s site are not all bad though; “COVID-19 hasn’t really affected my job on the day-to-day. The work itself is identical to how it was before. No one has changed the work, it’s just everything else. Like how we get to work. Traffic is lighter, parking is easier, work is lighter. Sometimes I deal with stupid people, like this one guy who doesn’t want to wait for the lift. There’s always that one dude that’s lipping off and being mouthy, but we are all paid by the hour, so it doesn’t matter. Safety first.” I asked if he could tell me more about the lift and what it’s like. To which he responded, “It's like we’re in prison. Three people enter, two face the north wall, one faces the west, and there’s the lift operator. We’re not allowed to look at each other.” When asked how he feels about his position now versus before the pandemic, Bernie stated that it feels mostly the same. “It’s a little quieter around the job site with so many people in self-quarantine.” Lasting changes that he would like to see kept up are “the sanitary standards of the restrooms to stay where they are… they are very clean because, with COVID-19, they are cleaning those things daily. I feel confident in going number two at work.” And lastly, I asked how long Bernie intended to work for—to which he replied he’d “work until they shut us down.” Here’s hoping that isn’t anytime soon.
It's like we’re in prison. Three people enter, two face the north wall, one faces the west, and there’s the lift operator. We’re not allowed to look at each other.”
Photos by Morgan Hannah
Whether essential or not, anyone who’s still working any job during this war deserves a pat on the back, compassion, and courtesy. What’s important is that we are all in this together. Life will be back to normal soon enough—but until then, we all should unite against the virus. We already have a shared common enemy—who needs another?
life & style // no. 12
theotherpress.ca
Pet popularity rises during pandemic ››New safety guidelines affect animal adoptions at shelters Cheryl Minns Senior Columnist
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Illustration by Athena Little
hysically distancing yourself from others—be it six feet apart or full isolation—can certainly get lonely without some kind of interaction. Perhaps this is why (among other reasons) people are now opening their homes to rescue pets— making a new friend for life and freeing up shelter space for another animal in need. “There are a lot of people saying that this is an opportunity to bring an animal into their home because they’ve got the time,” said Nicole McBain, manager of
the Burnaby SPCA, to the Other Press in a phone interview. “It’s been really great community support.” Although new physical distancing and cleaning protocols mean BC SPCA shelters are closed to the public for casual viewings, the shelters are working within these new limits to accommodate the people who want to adopt. “We’re directing everyone to our website where we have a new online application for dogs and cats that can be filled out directly on the website, which is great,” McBain said. “Everything is by appointment only. We’re spacing them
out to make sure that we don’t have overlapping visitors coming in.” Like the BC SPCA, the New Westminster Animal Shelter has changed its adoption procedure due to the new protocols and being closed to the public. The old procedure allowed the public to visit the shelter and see the animals, find a pet they would like to adopt, submit an application, wait a few days for approval, then return to pick up their pet. Now the shelter has streamlined the process to avoid having people make multiple trips. Instead, they ask people to review the adoptable animals online, submit an application for their desired pet, wait to be approved, and then arrange to meet the animal in person. “We schedule a time for them to come meet the pet and, if the meeting goes well, we can send them home the same day. We can do that with our cats and our small animals—rabbits, guinea pigs, and such,” said Margie Fox, an animal service officer at the New Westminster Animal Shelter. However, this new procedure has affected the adoption possibilities of a certain type of popular pet at New Westminster Animal Shelter. “Unfortunately, we can’t do the meet and greets with dogs and adhere to the physical distancing requirements. We’ll gladly talk to people on the phone about the dogs we have for adoption and take applications and review them, but we’ll have to postpone any meetings. The dogs we have are probably going to be with us until we can reopen to the general public,” Fox said. On March 23 to 27, the BC SPCA ran an adoption promotion which offered 50
percent off adoption fees. According to the BC SPCA website, the promotion resulted in a variety of animals finding new homes. Adopted pets included the usual cats and dogs, and birds, small animals, and even some farm animals—including mini-horses. “Over 300 animals around the province found their home in just one week,” McBain said. The community’s outpouring of support for local shelters is surely a welcomed surprise, considering some groups fear that pets may potentially play a role in spreading COVID-19. “I think there has been some concern, but it hasn’t been as prevalent as we were anticipating,” McBain said. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control website, there isn’t any evidence at this time that shows domestic animals or livestock can get sick from COVID-19 or spread it to humans. However, the centre also states that the situation is constantly changing and new information on this issue could come to light in the future. For those interested in adopting a pet, check out spca.bc.ca for the BC SPCA and local city shelters for online listings of adoptable animals and adoption applications. For anyone wanting to support shelters and the animals in their care, many shelters have a donation option on their websites where people can send financial support. “We are always very grateful for monetary donations because they go right to the veterinary costs that are above and beyond the basic care,” Fox said.
A losing battle against online classes Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor
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y consciousness floats somewhere between wakeful boredom and whatever dream I was in the night before. I’ll lay here, conscious of the impending alarm notes but uncaring; the sun shines on to the foot of my bed and the ambience paints the inside of my eyelids. It could be 10 minutes, or it might be three hours, but I’m not moving. The sound “Bach Cello Suite No.1 Prelude” wafts from my phone speaker and calls me to turn it off; I drag the plastic contraption into bed with me like my body heat would console it. Doesn’t happen, 10:05 am hits and it starts again. Out of bed, naked and cold, across the short floor that divides my studio apartment—I turn on the kettle. The joys of living alone. Now that the ‘Rona has us all on lockdown, every day is a school day. The first week of shutdown saw me do nothing followed by nothing at all. The second week saw the dawning of my responsibilities and now—God alone knowing what day it
is—I have shit to catch up on. Pants (no underwear because commando is for freedom’s sake), housecoat over my bare chest, and I sit down with my tea for an absorbing day in front of my computer shoving PowerPoint slides into my central processing apparatus. Some slides about fiscal policy sit in front of me, rendered by a 1080p screen. The self-study online textbook could bore me to death if the pain in my spine from sitting too long didn’t cause me to twitch. It’s linguistics now and I would consider fighting someone to hear the drone of a human voice over the even silence of a computer screen. The mind wanders and fixates on the endless abyss of meme recollection. Black screen; it’s been at least four minutes and the screensaver has leapt into action. I think I was absorbed by the swirl of a long-lost paint stroke during the creation of my white walls. My green tea is probably getting cold, my keyboard and mouse batteries are probably going to die from being left on for so long, and I’m sure that if a power outage struck right now, it would
probably (albeit inadvertently) help my education. I have endless envy for the people who can self-study their way to a degree. What type of self-motivated monster can crush PowerPoints and dry policy descriptions so ravenously as to be awarded a degree at the end? Teachers should thank people like me for preventing their job obsolescence. If 16-year-old me could see today's me begging for a classroom, he would be shocked into sickness and consternation. Kendrick Lamar once told me (not directly) “ADHD crazy.” He was not wrong. “Maybe if I throw on an album it’ll break this boredom.” I like lying to myself. Santana’s “Abraxas” nears its end and my fiscal policy slides beckon with a sneer. Once again, I am asking for your attention. Cursing in every single language I know, I blink to clear the glaze from my eyes and hope that the dryness doesn’t cause my eyeballs to fall from their sockets. Being bored to tears might help.
Photo by Billy Bui
››Can we get back in the classroom or nah?
life & style // no. 13
issue 25// vol 46
Five Criollo bean liquor recipes ››Tantalize your taste buds Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor
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iscovered in Trinidad and once thought to be extinct, the Criollo bean makes the richest of chocolate flavours and lends itself nicely to smooth, sweet liqueur. Much like coffee, cocoa bean varieties affect flavour, spice, and everything nice in chocolate. There are many different species of cocoa beans, but the Criollo is king. Why? Because it’s so rare that it is sparsely found in commercial plantations today. One place where the Criollo bean can be found is in a liquid form—at your local liquor store. Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel Liqueur makes tantalizing treats that soothe everyone who tries them. And with that, I present five recipes using sweet, sweet Criollo liqueur:
Photo by Morgan Hannah
Salted Caramel Margarita • 1 oz of Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur 1 oz of Olmeca Tequila • 2 oz of sweet and sour mix • lime • salt • ice Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur shaken with tequila, fresh lime sour, and finished with a salt-dipped lime wedge. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur, Olmeca Tequila, and sweet and sour mix. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge dipped in salt. • Criollo Greyhound 2 oz of Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur • 4 to 5 oz of ruby red grapefruit juice • lime • salt • ice Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur topped with ruby red grapefruit juice, rimmed with salt, and garnished with a lime wheel.
Rim half a highball glass with fresh lime and salt (optional). Fill with ice and add Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur and ruby red grapefruit juice. Stir to mix and garnish with a lime wheel. Caramel Manhattan • 1 oz of whiskey • 1/2 oz of Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur • 1/2 oz of sweet vermouth • Angostura bitters • cherry • ice Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur stirred with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and a dash of bitters, garnished with a cherry. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add whiskey, Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur, sweet vermouth, and a dash of Angostura bitters. Stir until icy cold and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a cherry. Criollo Cider • 2 oz of Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur • 5 oz hot apple cider • cinnamon stick Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur topped with hot apple cider, garnished with a cinnamon stick. To a heatproof mug, add Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur and top with hot apple cider. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Adult Salted Caramel Sundae • Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur • vanilla ice cream • cherries • nuts Vanilla ice cream topped with Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur. Drizzle Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel liqueur over your favourite vanilla ice cream. Add chopped nuts or maraschino cherries (optional).
The stress of moving out during COVID-19 EG Manilag Staff Writer
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oxes… boxes… And even more boxes to tape—and move around! Boxes are only one of the few stressors in moving out. The main stressor, however, is not tangible like the boxes I’ve mentioned. The main stressor comes from the mind: overthinking. Overthinking is especially inevitable when planning to move out. Although it helps you in staying focused, it often leads to anxiety, sickness, or anxietyinduced sickness. I experienced a lot of overthinking when my family and I moved to a new home. Weeks before moving out, I had a flashback to something in my psychology book that haunted me: the theory that moving is always a stressful event,
especially when paired with other big life events that offer a lot of pressure. It’s hard to really argue with that. Three weeks before moving, the COVID-19 pandemic was portrayed by media outlets as a really serious problem. As a result, students and professors were forced to transition from in-person classes to online ones (with all Douglas summer courses online). These happenings really sparked a global anxiety. As for me, the paired pandemic and move triggered my long-gone asthma. At first, I thought it was mostly because of the dust I faced in our old home when we were cleaning. I also thought that maybe I contracted the virus—which has shortness of breath as one of the signs and symptoms. To make sure I didn’t get the virus, we contacted our family doctor. Fortunately, it has nothing to do with COVID-19. So, I thought that maybe it was
Photo by Billy Bui
››Just the thought of it makes me anxious
the stressors that ultimately made me feel sick. And I was right. While moving out, I tried to stay calm and avoid overthinking. But that was really hard, especially when the world is getting scarier. But when moving day finished and we completed arranging our stuff in our new house, I felt released, and I was literally able to breathe normally again.
A lot can also happen after moving. For instance, your daily routine might be distorted, and you might have shorter periods for studying. These adjustments can be quite stressful and make you feel anxious. But one thing is certain, dealing with the inevitable readjustments (stressors) in life and working to overcome them can help you become a stronger person.
Opinions
Have an idea for a story? opinions@theotherpress.ca
• Who has the quarantine worse? • There's no evolution without a little obsolescence • Any day is a good day for racism ...and more
Too much porn? Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor
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uman sexuality is an undeniable drive that works in all of us. Even when people are forced into quarantine and social distancing the primal urge still needs to be sated. With the combination of financial stress and extreme boredom, the dopamine release of an orgasm becomes all the more enticing, yet with the shelterin-place directive willing participants are harder to come by. For those who don’t live with their significant other but have a steady partner, the switch to sexting and/ or digitally facilitated sex has been quick. But for promiscuous singles masturbation is the key to satisfaction; cue Pornhub making its premium subscription free to global users for the month of April. Without leaning on a puritanical view we should still consider what, if any, potential ramifications come from combining social isolation with prolonged porn usage. Can it all be so simple and still so good? Porn aims to be a guilt-free way to access limitless sexual experiences with none of the intricacies, complexities, or risks of the real thing, but as the old adage goes, “if it's too good to be true...” The problem with heavy porn usage is that it is sometimes tied not to high sex drive but to increased levels of social isolation and loneliness. Although the levels of people who report having watched pornography at any point in their lives are high (as well as in the past month) there has been a similar rise in people
reporting severe levels of social isolation. A survey of 1,247 people yielded the data that would underpin Pornography Use and Loneliness: A Bidirectional Recursive Model and Pilot Investigation (Butler, Pereyra, Draper, Leonhardt, and Skinner, 2018); the group found that porn usage was a maladaptive attempt to alleviate loneliness wherein the temporary euphoria of sexual stimulation provided release from the melancholy of social isolation and lack of close connection. Butler and co. associated high levels of porn usage with disrupted attachment, and strained pair bonding, which they found to harm relationships. They connected the frequent sexual scripts consisting of eroticism, objectification, promiscuity, and misogyny all of which led to the impairment of secure attachment. Without secure attachment relationships cannot be built or maintained and the level of perceived or experienced loneliness increases. In a time when everyone is encouraged to stay inside and peruse the internet, the much lauded “Netflix and chill” is no longer an option. Now, another video rises to the occasion. The scripts and settings employed by most porn studios and creators focus sexual pleasure almost exclusively on the male actor; this has led to a reported raise in unsafe sexual practices and misinformation about female sexuality. A study conducted by UCLA and the University of Copenhagen found that men with low levels of agreeableness to begin with showed worse attitudes towards women after watching porn
(though normal men’s attitudes were unchanged). Add to this that porn often depicts female orgasms as resulting from exclusively penetrative sex, which does not correlate to real sexual encounters, and you’re left with a frequent refrain from both feminists and sex therapists: that porn neither teaches young men anything of use about sex nor does it empower young women to speak for their sexual needs. What about the pleasure derived from orgasm? One would assume that at least that has value, but a sample of 1,500 adults (Personal Pornography Viewing and Sexual Satisfaction: A Quadratic Analysis -- Wright, Bridges, Sun, Ezzell, and Johnson (2018) had zero instances in which porn usage was ever connected to increased sexual pleasure; in fact, it showed a correlation between decreased sexual pleasures and porn usage as infrequently as once-a-month. This connection could be related to the depictions of the sex acts themselves, the adherence to certain body stereotypes, or the underlying feelings and motivations of the user at the time of viewing. Although correlation is not
Illustration by Sonam Kaloti
››Can excessive free pleasure really be a boon?
causation, it seems fair to say that sexual dissatisfaction is related to increased porn usage. Herein lies the conundrum of sexuality during enforced isolation. Hormones keep flowing and needs still need satisfying, yet we all should stay inside and avoid excessive contact. Though pornography has not panned out as the ultimate evil that many a traditional church-goer believes it to be, nor the rape training ground that many feminists predicted it to become, it is clear that porn is neither an adequate nor satisfactory substitute for real human-to-human kinship. Instead it is an imperfect and deeply flawed tool that can provide temporary pleasure at the risk of exacerbating the loneliness and isolation of the already vulnerable. Sexual interest is as natural as breathing, but there is no great substitute for the real thing.
Who has the quarantine worse? ››People living alone or people living in shared housing Tania Arora Staff Writer
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ll of us were so busy running down our own respective paths of life. We were grateful or ungrateful for things around us, liking or disliking people around us, complaining or enjoying the work we do, procrastinating or being highly active in
our daily routine. The universe seemingly decided to collectively give us a break. Believe it or not, each one of us will come out of this quarantine as a different person. The process might vary from person to person. We might be building relationships or breaking the ones we have. For better or for worse, we will get the results later on. But who has the worst quarantine to endure? To those who say that living alone is the best—aren’t you already regretting the decision you made? Because I definitely am. I have been living alone for a while now and never have I said anything other than “living alone is the best.” But
after more than 15 days of this quarantine, even my walls are tired of listening to what I have to say. My hand is now swollen after holding my phone all day long. My laptop is hanging on a thread because I use it pretty much all day. I just have my two hands to play with if I feel sporty. To keep myself entertained and moving, I would sit on the chair—then move to my sofa set… followed by my bed. When my ass starts hurting, I would lie on the floor. No, I am not depressed or completely alone; I have people to talk to, but everyone is involved in their respective families and lives. It was my choice to live by myself. Although it has just been nearly three weeks, this time has been enough to teach me to value each relationship and to not give up on them so easily. But on a brighter side, my productivity has increased. My mind is able to produce and execute all types of creative ideas since I do not have a 9 to 5 anymore. The entire space is mine with nothing to take my mind off and I have the liberty to use it my way. For people who say “I like to be
surrounded by people”—I am sure you are actually enjoying seeing the same face every day after you wake up or before you sleep. The struggle of slow Wi-Fi in the house must be real. I would love to know how you manage to keep your dogs, cats, or children away from the webcam when you are working from home or trying to concentrate. Also, you have got no more “I am tired” or “I have to wake up early tomorrow” excuses to throw at your partner. How many times do you play cards or other games with your family members because you have nothing else to do? What new games have you invented to play with people? These might be the “issues” of living with family—but really, they are not issues. But sooner or later, all of us living with family will realize that families are a blessing. Think of not having them by your side and you might even get choked up. Families are with you through health and sickness and in this global health crisis, they are the ones you might need the most if anything goes wrong.
opinions // no. 15
issue 25// vol 46
The price of the future Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor
I
t’s the year 2075, you’re sitting with your grandkids reminiscing about the days when TikTok was cool and Billie Eilish was young. They ask you about the great COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, you grow sombre as memories of weeks spent indoors flash through your mind and you begin to vividly recount the underground exchange of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. You omit the part where 25 percent of old people have died because they either didn’t have health care or were deemed too old for saving. The kids accuse you of lying, you laugh, they laugh, and you tell them how most grandparents met on this app called Tinder. Life goes on because you’re past the stage in capitalism where grandma dies. In economics you learn about a little thing called autarky. Basically, autarky is when a country is self-sufficient and doesn't need to trade with the outside world—it can hoard all of its products and resources for its own benefit. Though we have precious few examples of this in the modern world (Nazi Germany and North Korea being the main two) more often than not this gradually kills the economy and ensures deep shortages of many essential items or crippling market inefficiencies. Donald Trump took issue that the $3M manufacturing company was prioritizing rich foreign orders when many US states are in need. I assume this is an attempt to make up for downplaying the virus and waiting to employ the Defense Production Act. Alternatively, it's because Donald Trump has forced a bidding war between states for various hospital equipment from the suppliers who were willing to sell to the USA. As if depleting reserves
due to inaction wasn’t enough, in order to show the world who’s really the boss, the President felt the need to air out which governors he thought “knew nothing” or acted too “nasty” to deserve help; on stage at a press conference he saw fit to tell everyone that he advised Mike Pence not to call a number of governors back in the midst of a global pandemic. Not because he was too busy, not because he was closing a deal of the utmost importance but because they weren’t appreciative of the hard work and efforts of the task force. This is the part where Grandpa died because capitalism needed hospitals in foreign countries to run out of PPE and governors to kiss presidential ass to get it. In a previous article I mentioned that Trump with a number of Republicans and right-wing media personnel have wanted to get some of the public back to work to reinvigorate the economy, despite the risk of some computer models suggesting 100,000s of lives will be lost. Before we consider the audacity required for this action to even be considered, I would like to lay out the fact that Republican governor of Georgia Brian Kemp, admitted on April 1 to just finding out that asymptotic people exist and that they can spread COVID-19. If that guy is in charge of your state’s safety, you may as well quit breathing. This is the incredible thing about the audacity required to make the majority of America aware that someone will die for the economy while simultaneously convincing them that it won't be them. It seems to require not just cunning evil but an incredible amount of willful ignorance; one must truly believe that they themselves and their family are guaranteed to be spared while whomever does die is serving their wellbeing. If it wasn’t for the absurdity,
I would marvel at the delicacy that backs this bold-faced lie. Many parents struggle with the prospect of speaking to their children about death, yet legions of American adults have been convinced that other people’s deaths for monies sake is to be cherished. This is the part of capitalism where Grandma died for Boeing and Amazon to get bailouts while small businesses foreclosed. Finally, we look around at our own backyard; long-term care homes across Canada have had to call the families of their patients and begin to explain that if the elderly catch COVID-19 instead of taking them to the hospital, they’ll make them as comfortable as possible in the place their already at. A CBC story attained a letter from the Glebe Centre in Ottawa informing caregivers and the families of residents that the centre has no plans to transfer their loved ones should they come down with COVID-19. “Doctors have learned there is no benefit for seniors with COVID-19 to go to the hospital, and they would not survive intensive care.” The news report goes on to illustrate that one
Illustration by Athena Little
››There's no evolution without a little obsolescence
hospital only has six ventilators to its name (granted the fatality rate is 90 percent in many cases for those on ventilators) while a care centre elsewhere in the country saw 23 of its 65 residents and one resident’s spouse die from the virus. Of course, these deaths may be better attributed to the savagery that the virus wrecks upon the elderly or the global level of unpreparedness that welcomed this virus, but I can’t help but wonder if the decisions made are not influenced by the cost of saving the young versus the old. This is the stage in capitalism where Grandpa died because it was cheaper to save 38-year-old Fred.
Not even in the face of a global pandemic can one find unity Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor
T
here is no hour when the siren call of hatred will go unheard, nor a reprise from the wicked at heart; neither strife, nor flood nor pandemic can halt the onwards march of racism. The global COVID-19 pandemic has born an opportunity that no self-respecting racist can pass by; from the streets of England to the boardrooms of France, at a podium on the White house lawn or in a parking lot here in Vancouver there is always enough hatred to go around, even if the toilet paper runs out. On April 1, 2020, Jean-Paul Mira, head of intensive care at Cochin hospital in Paris, made a blatantly racist hierarchy of the importance of human life: “If I can be provocative, shouldn't we be doing this study in Africa, where there are no masks, no treatments, no resuscitation? A bit like it is done elsewhere for some studies on Aids. In prostitutes, we try things because
we know that they are highly exposed and that they do not protect themselves.” He apologized shortly after. But yes, in that statement Mira did indeed compare EVERY African to prostitutes and imply that they were the best people to test drugs on before Western distribution. It is clear that the head of Cochin’s intensive care ward truly sees all humans as equally valid to existence. Certainly, one would imagine that countries like Spain and Italy whose death toll from COVID-19 is now north of 12,000 would be more likely to take on an experimental drug than a continent of over 1.2 billion with 10,000 cases and 500 deaths (as of this writing). …but no, Jean-Paul Mira would rather be “provocative” and use Africans as if they were lab rats. Not human beings with lives and needs of their own, but something akin to an AIDS-ridden prostitute to be experimented on and cast aside. The president of the “free world” has insisted day-in and day-out to call
the virus from Wuhan by a much simpler name that cleaves closer to his “America first” principles: the China virus. The president has been so ardent in his stance that various extreme right-wing outlets have gone so far as to dub COVID-19 as “Kung-flu”, taking the lead of CBS reporter Weijia Jiang’s poorly veiled smear invention. One would hate to think it was done begrudgingly but Trump has recently agreed to stop calling it the “China virus”; perhaps it was only last week the months and months of reports about rising animosity towards Asians around the globe finally filtered to his desk. Maybe he just realized that Asian Americans vote and if you want to win an election in nine months you should avoid smearing them as virus spreaders. Still, with the minority lowlifes of society spitting at Asians on the streets of the Netherlands, cursing them in Vancouver, and assaulting them in
Photo by Billy Bui
››Any day is a good day for racism
England, that is one small step too late. In a moment of clarity Kanye West once said “Racism is still alive; they just be concealing it.” More accurately it seems that racism is still alive and no one is confronting it. Well, at least not in the government offices where laws are made and press conferences thought out. Or in hospitals and pharmaceutical labs where trials are planned and test groups identified. It seems to be that for all the lip service about a changing and better world too many people are too willing to drag old evils along forever.
Humour
Have an idea for a story? humour@theotherpress.ca
• Party thrown to celebrate • front-line health workers • The 'Other' Other Press • 'Are you a communist?' Quiz ...and that's everything!
Party thrown to celebrate front-line health workers ››Staying at home may be our only shot to saving humanity Craig Allan Staff Writer
O
f all the groups struggling in these difficult times, no one is struggling more than the front-line health workers. Fighting the coronavirus, front-line health workers are putting themselves in the line of danger every day to care for the sick and dying. To celebrate them, New Westminster’s Daniel Brown decided that he wanted to really get people together to show their support for front-line health workers by throwing a sick party. Brown, who was laid off from his job, said that he was sitting around his apartment with nothing to do when he saw
a news story about how front-line health workers are suffering right now. He said he realized he needed to help. “I don’t usually watch the news, because that’s like for, old dudes, but then I saw this story and realized I needed to help.” The party is going to be a hospital themed. It will have jello and masks, and everyone is required to come wearing scrubs and bring any pills they have in their medicine cabinet. Brown feels all of this will “set the mood.” There were some problems though, when it came to Brown’s party planning. For one, medical supplies are in desperate need, so he could not find any masks for the party—but Brown said he got lucky as he found a bunch of masks recently.
“I went by this church, and there was just boxes of ‘em sitting out front of the church. The box said ‘for the front line health workers.’ Since I am throwing this party for them, I can totally take these.” When asked if it was wise for Brown to throw a party when all of the bars, restaurants, movie theatres, and other social gathering events have been shuttered, Brown said “Oh this isn’t like those. This isn’t a bar or a movie theatre. This is just a party at my house.” In this time of great pain and anguish for many, Brown is looking to bring up the
The 'Other' Other Press ››In the news this week... Erin Meyers Senior Columnist
spirits of the neighbourhood by helping everyone out in their time of need. After wandering around New West and seeing no one out on the street, Brown wants to bring the party back to New West. In a final message to his hopeful attendees, Brown says “come on down, bring your scrubs and that heartbeat listen thingy, and let’s have some fun.”
humour // no. 17
Quiz by Erin Meyers
issue 25// vol 46
Creative Works
The Creative Process
Illustration by Sonam Kaloti
Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor I begin to conjure the worth we see, beyond our eyes past shows, the stars, to where only darkness lies. the edge— is it real? how does it stop? can we make it beyond? then tell me, if we can’t, what is it all expanding from? let’s say we opened the opportunity to reach the edge let’s say we go past it let us say that there is absolutely nothing, but by now we know that nothing, in terms, is something, so long as we have a word for it, so long as we know what it is. so, let’s say we make it there and with despair come to terms with only blank space, though with nothing we can make something to create something with our minds and mold it from nothing create something that doesn’t exist, a nonexistent colour, per se, but we, as a species, cannot conjure up anything new. there is a limit
Space Geographer Part 11 Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor
I
Illustration by Morgan Hannah
creativity is not infinite.
n clusters, like some horrific science experiment… what I can only assume are people, writhe and twist. They look like a species somewhere between myself and the creature that led me here. Moaning, clicking, and gasping for air, their skin bubbles and pops—there’s a green hue underneath the first couple of layers of flesh. They are mangled together in a hellish way, like melting metal and it’s enough for me to bring up all the water I had consumed earlier. Loose and fast, the liquid dribbles down my chin and the front of my shirt with each heave. My fists grip at the fabric across my torso, squeezing it tight until it hurts. All around me, stalagmites and stalactites emerge from the rough, wet stone, like teeth in a cancerous mouth. Torn t-shirts, boots, and splintered helmets litter the uneven ground, pale and drenched. A crack way up high in the cavernous space sheds light down on the equivalent to the pits of hell. I am reminded of the smashed observatory window in my ship, and my eyes well up. I should have never left that fucking ship… I never would’ve seen… this. Never would’ve known. Dying of a lack of oxygen would have been a better way to go than the disturbing reality I am now aware I will have to endure. It’s suddenly clear to me now why the creature that led me into the belly of this mountain looks like a fucking brined vegetable. This goddamn planet is nothing more than a steamed pickle jar, and lost explorers, lost Space Geographers are the vegetables inside. The proof writhes in front of me and inside me, there’s no denying that I will not be returning home from this expedition. Fin.
Comics & Puzzles Weekly crossword: No place like…
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Caroline Ho Web Editor
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