THE DOUGLAS COLLEGE NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978
OtherPress. The
Room 1020 – 700 Royal Ave. Douglas College New Westminster, BC V3L 5B2 TELEPHONE: 604.525.3542 WEBSITE: www.theotherpress.ca EMAIL: editor@theotherpress.ca
I can’t believe how small life can become. I sit on the bus and the world becomes as small as the dot at the end of this sentence.” – Douglas Coupland
Jacey Gibb Editor-in-chief
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Ed Appleby Ilustrator
Patrick Vailancourt News Editor
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Cheryl Minns Arts Editor
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Sophie Isbister Life & Style Editor
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Elliot Chan Opinions Editor
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Eric Wilkins Sports Editor
Dear Vancouver Public Library, Thank you. No, I really mean it. Thank you. I know we haven’t spoken in a while, what with me being a stressed out post-secondary student and you being a 22-branch multifaceted organization stretched out across the Lower Mainland. I didn’t mean for us to lose touch or anything. I could give you a list of reasons why I just don’t have time for recreational reading anymore—and believe me, there are plenty of them—but let’s just cut to the real reason, shall we? It’s not you, Vancouver Public Library; it’s me. You probably already know what I’m referring to: that Douglas Coupland book I took out almost two years ago. The one a friend recommended to me and I spent months neglecting? Despite a return date that has long since passed, I still had it until recently. My bad. Give me a chance to explain myself, though. At the start of 2011, I entered what I could only describe as a literary rampage. Coupland novels were like candy to me, as I chewed through critical darlings such as All Families are Psychotic, mowed past Miss Wyoming, and struggled through the likes of Generation A. If Coupland was on the cover, I wanted to read it. But around the seventh novel, my seemingly perpetual motion machine lost steam and my focus faltered. Luckily, The Gum Thief was the only book left checked out from the library, and yet I still couldn’t muster myself to conquer it. I’d become too disenchanted by the Coupland trademarks I had once craved. Existential crises-riddled characters, enlightened monologues from characters with the cranial capacity of dirt, and the endless waves of stories within stories that, despite echoing old favourites like Breakfast of Champions, left me desperate for even a whiff of plot development. I realized I had a problem. I needed to break up with Coupland and end the now parasitic relationship. Unfortunately—and I really didn’t mean for this to happen—you got mixed up in all of this. By the time I renounced the Church of Coupland, The Gum Thief was already unreasonably late. I couldn’t just return the book, because it had already cost me so much time and money; I couldn’t finish it, because the plot was too contrived. I was in the year’s most stubborn stalemate with myself and the only progress happening was on how much I owed on my library account. Autumn came and I finally managed to finish the book, thanks to a steep drop-off in customers at my seasonal job. If it weren’t for those hours spent alone in a steel food cart with no one to comfort me except The Gum Thief, I wouldn’t have been able to finish that awful, shitty book. So thanks, terrible weather. In all honesty, I’ve just been too darn embarrassed to come see you since finishing the book. It doesn’t help that I moved to Burnaby and was able to join a new circuit of public libraries, but they could never replace you. The amnesty program you launched last week really helped me a lot in moving forward. Though I had no real reason to return the mundane mess that is The Gum Thief, I’m glad I did. Maybe now I can fully move on from this. I’m still not reading as much as I used to, though I’m with a new library now and they treat me good. They don’t have the same impressive range of books and multimedia items available for lending that you had, but then again, who does? Say hi to the Central Branch for me and take care of The Gum Thief; hopefully whoever reads it next won’t be as sick of Douglas Coupland as I am.
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Love always, Jacey Gibb
Courtnie Martin Sports Reporter
Livia Turnbull Humour Editor
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Cazzy Lewchuk Aidan Mouellic Julia Siedlanowska Staff Writers
Steve Cayer Senior Columnists
Sharon Miki, Idrian Burgos Columnists
Shea O’Grady Contributors
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he 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 Wand from 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 tutition 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.
Our collective meets every Monday @ 6:00p.m. Anyone can join !
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Entrepreneurs contributing to local economic growth Douglas College shows off Self Employment Program successes at awards gala Patrick Vailancourt
News Editor
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he Executive Plaza Hotel in Coquitlam was filled with the energy and enthusiasm of new entrepreneurs as Douglas College’s Self Employment Program awarded some of its brightest at the 16th annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards gala. There were 27 nominees from nine different categories, from home-based business to high-tech to construction and manufacturing. All told, the award nominees collectively represented approximately $10-million to local economies in British Columbia and dozens of new jobs. The event was emceed by author and television host Sarah Daniels, who became a successful White Rock-based realtor after
remarks to the audience. “You see the success stories in this room—you judge for yourself.” The Self Employment program is one of the lesserknown gems amongst a wide variety of programs and courses offered at Douglas College, and McAlpine says that bringing the entrepreneurship knowledge into the wider programs offered at Douglas College is a priority being examined. “One of the things we are looking at is to bring together [the Self Employment program] with other academic programs we offer,” said McAlpine. While not everyone came away from the gala with an award, many of the nominees felt that they were already winners. Dave Sviatko, owner of Sivey’s Lawn and Order Landscaping and a nominee for the Executive Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre Service Award, came to the Self Employment program with an admittedly turbulent background. “I was a recovering addict who was on welfare when
I was a recovering addict who was on welfare when I started this. Going from where I was to being here tonight, I’m already a winner. (Dave Sviatko) a 17-year career in television broadcasting. Heavyweights from a variety of industries were represented at the event, including New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright and Douglas College President Scott McAlpine. Mayor Wright, who presented the City of New Westminster Retail Award, said that small business is integral to the revitalization of the Royal City. “New Westminster is in the midst of a transformation,” said Wright in a brief chat with the Other Press. “These entrepreneurs [are] contributing to the attractiveness of New Westminster to other businesses.” Douglas College President Scott McAlpine, for his part, said that the track record of success at Douglas College’s Self Employment program speaks for itself. “When I came to Douglas College, I committed to making it the most progressive educational institution in British Columbia,” he said in his
I started this,” said Sviatko. “Going from where I was to being here tonight, I’m already a winner.” Todd Stephenson, owner of Upstart Battery, came away as the big winner of the night, having won the Now News High-Tech Award, as well as the Coast Capital Savings Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Stephenson said that his success is a direct result of the strategies and coaching he received through the Self Employment program. “For anyone looking to get into business, this is a program that is second to none,” said Stephenson. The Douglas College Self Employment program has a great track record of success, helping to start over 3,000 businesses. Seventy-two per cent of the businesses built as a result of the program are still running after four years—besting the provincial average of around 41 per cent.
Photo courtesy of Patrick Vaillancourt
DC Self Employment Award Winners
Alliance Printing Perseverance Award
The following is a list of winners and nominees for each of the categories in the Douglas College Self-Employment awards.
Winner:
IKEA Home-Based Business Award
City of Coquitlam Smartest Start Award
Winner:
Winner:
Finalists:
Peter Wang, CanBright Enterprises Carley Struve, SewGood Lena Jerabek, Beesafe Solutions Ltd.
NOW News High-Tech Award Winner: Finalists:
Todd Stephenson, Upstart Battery Brian Timmins, Orange Frog Creative, Shauna Magrath, BeautyINK
Finalists:
Finalists:
Finalists:
Niusha Nassiri, IDEAL Immigration Services Inc. Dave Sviatko, Sivey’s Lawn & Order Landscaping Susan Boras, Squarehole Coaching Inc.
Winner: Finalists:
Finalists:
Guy Avidan-Shavit, Walker Heavy Duty Ltd. Matt Farrell, Nitro Pipe Freeze Inc. Urszula Petrykowska, ZULA Jewellery + Design Justin Johnson, JJ’s Custom Plumbing
Tasia Pona, Sewaholic Patterns Inc. Mehrnaz Bassiri, MyGradeBooster Deborah Prince, ApexMed Transcription Services
City of New Westminster Retail Award Winner: Finalists:
Business in Vancouver Construction and Manufacturing Award Winner:
Ashlee Coulthard, Revive Hair & Body Lounge Zahra Majzoubi, Zara Custom Curtains Ltd. Leanne Fox, BackPAC Fundraising
Canadian Youth Business Foundation Young Entrepreneur Award
Executive Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre Service Award Winner:
Cera Rivers, Fairy Cakes Cupcakes Helen Raven, Ocean Breeze Homecare Inc. Debra Agostino, Agon Insurance Services
Craig McDowell, Zoomies Dog Daycare and Training Centre Inc. Zainab Bernard, Miscellany Finds Sergey Shevchenko, View Review and Eye Training Center Inc.
Coast Capital Savings Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner: Finalists:
Todd Stephenson, Upstart Battery Terryl Plotnikoff, Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc. Mike Loudry, West Side Pest Control Ltd. Guy Avidan-Shavit, Walker Heavy Duty Ltd.
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Student union representatives invade Ottawa for Lobby Week Advocates looking to lower tuition fees, make post-secondary more accessible Patrick Vailancourt
News Editor
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O
fficials from the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), along with representatives from its member unions across the country, descended upon Ottawa last week for the annual Lobby Week. This included students and elected representatives from college and university student unions from coast to coast. Douglas Students’ Union (DSU) representative Madison Paradis-Woodman was in Ottawa this week, just one of several members of a delegation from British Columbia fighting to lower post-secondary tuition fees in Canada. Taking place every year,
Lobby Week is an initiative started by CFS. This year, students presented political figures in Ottawa with a copy of a CFS report entitled Public Education for the Public Good, which outlines how tuition rates have increased over time and gives politicians some public opinion data on student issues. CFS is also calling on its membership to get involved in the campaign by writing letters to their members of parliament and senators. The federation’s Lobby Week website (lobbyweek.cfs-fcee.ca) provides users with templates to send letters to multiple politicians simultaneously. CFS is actively lobbying governments at all levels to do something about the rising costs of post-secondary education. According to their website, “[a] ttainment of a post-secondary education has become a prerequisite to participate in the Canadian workforce.” They argue that the importance of a post-secondary education to recruiting employers makes it necessary for government to find ways of making college
and university more universally accessible. The Other Press requested comment from a representative at the DSU and the CFS regarding Lobby Week efforts, but comments were not available to us by press time. The CFS report, however, paints a bleak picture of the accessibility of post-secondary education in Canada. “Students are struggling to pay for their post-secondary education more than any previous generation,” says the report. “Record-high tuition fees combined with the recession means that those in vulnerable groups, including Aboriginal and other racialised students and those with disabilities, are facing increasing barriers to post-secondary education. Higher costs and fewer summer employment opportunities have contributed to an increasing number of students working during the academic year.” A digital copy of the Public Education for the Public Good report is widely available on the CFS Lobby Week website.
Students from across Ottawa participated in the Student Day of Action to protest raising tuition fees. | Photo courtesy of www.times.webcitybeat.com
Laughs for a cause Douglas College Uganda Project 2014 raises funds with fun Aidan Mouellic
Staff Writer
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undraisers are crucial for groups who hope to raise financial contributions for their causes. On the evening of October 22, the Douglas College Uganda Project held a successful fundraiser at Lafflines Comedy Club in New Westminster. The evening of laughter brought in crucial funds via ticket sales and silent auctions that will go on to benefit Douglas College students within the Uganda Project. The Uganda Project is a program that offers assistance and support to students completing field learning in Uganda. The goal of the project, which started in 2006, is to enable Canadian students who are doing studies in the fields of Community Social Service Work, Co-occurring Disorders, Therapeutic Recreation, Early Childhood Education, and
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Classroom and Community Support to participate in practicums based in Uganda. The practicums that students embark on have not just been designed as a service to Ugandans, but also to Canadians. Douglas College hopes that students who go to Uganda and elsewhere will return with newfound skills and cultural awareness that can be applied at home. Funds raised by the Douglas College Uganda Project go on to help participants such as Douglas College graduate Kara Dooley. A past participant in the Uganda practicum, Dooley spent 10 weeks in the African nation in 2009 working with local peoples and learning about how they deal with mental health issues. The work she did while in Uganda and the information she gained from her experiences led her to speak at a major international conference in Hong Kong, where she raised awareness of the friction in Uganda between traditional healers and modern medical practices—especially in regards to the various mental illness challenges that are encountered. Douglas College is
also home to the Uganda Endowment Fund. The endowment fund is a way for the Douglas College community to raise funds for social initiatives in the East African nation. One way that the Endowment Fund is aiding Africans is by helping young women finance their education. Education is crucial for aiding development in nations around the world, yet so many cannot afford it. In Uganda it costs about $350 a year to send a pupil to high school (elementary school is free), and Douglas College has provided scholarships to young women to attend high school. The scholarships provide pupils with the funds needed to pay for tuition, and room and board, along with needed supplies. The hope is to be able to send larger numbers of students to higher education each year. To learn more about the efforts of the Douglas College Uganda Project and the Uganda Endowment Fund, visit douglas. bc.ca/faculties/child-family-community-studies/ africa.html. To keep informed about future Uganda Project fundraisers, go to facebook. com/UgandaProject2014
Photo courtesy of the UgandaProject2014’s Facebook page
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Get to know your Douglas Students’ Union representatives Madison ParadisWoodman wants your voice to be heard Julia Siedlanowska
Staff Writer
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adison Paradis-Woodman is the college relations coordinator at the Douglas College Students’ Union (DSU). In his interview with the Other Press, Paradis-Woodman discusses how working with the DSU has increased his awareness of the political issues around him. Could you explain for us your role as college relations coordinator at the DSU? What duties does this include? My role as college relations coordinator at the Douglas Students’ Union primarily includes liaising between the DSU and various governance boards within the college. These boards include (but aren’t limited to) the senior management team, Board of Governors, and Education Council. I also attend regular meetings with the vice-president of Student Services to discuss all matters pertaining to the student community at Douglas College. The most important part of this liaising is connecting with the membership so that their questions, concerns, and voices are recognized around all meeting tables at Douglas
College. Although these duties are specific to my role, I also help organize and facilitate various events that the DSU engages in. When did you start being interested in college relations? Is this how your involvement with the DSU began? I began volunteering for the DSU through their National Day of Action campaign. Soon after, I ran as Aboriginal liaison. During my term, I became interested in the governance and relationship between the college and the DSU, which sparked my interest in running for college relations coordinator the following year. How has working with the DSU affected your life? Have you found it helpful in other aspects of your daily life? The DSU has changed my life in a variety of different ways. I have had the opportunity to work with a group of provincially, nationally, and globally engaged group of people, which has piqued my awareness and consciousness on a myriad of issues and initiatives happening around me. Specifically, I am more aware of my political surroundings, which is a great thing. Prior to getting involved with the DSU, politics was a cryptic and confusion thing, which led me to largely ignore anything associated with the word. Although I still have much to learn, I now feel that I am a more engaged and political person, which I love.
If you could change one thing at Douglas College, what would it be? I would personally like to see more initiatives taken by the college for marginalized learners within the college (Aboriginal students, female students, students with a disability, racialized students, and queer students). The DSU and the college have collaborated in providing services for these students in the past; however, it’s unfortunate that the college is backing out of their core funding for these services. The systematic cuts to the Douglas College Women’s Centre serves as a prime example. What advice do you have for Douglas students? Get involved. Postsecondary institutions serve as a great place for students to develop inside and outside the classroom. Whether you’re a new, returning, or mature student, take this time not only to study, but to learn about who you are, what you like to do, and what you want to do when your time at Douglas College is over. Your “university” life doesn’t have to start at a university. Douglas College has a number of avenues for students to explore who they are and get involved in a variety of ways. So get out there, volunteer, join or start a club, get involved with the DSU! Just take the time to explore and try new things.
Photo courtesy of Madison Paradis-Woodman What advice would you give someone wanting to get involved with the DSU? Volunteer! Volunteering is a great way to find out what aspects of the DSU pique your interest, whether it be
a recreational activity or a social justice-related activity or something completely different! The DSU has a multitude of streams for students to explore and ignite their passions!
International students gather at DSU for dinner and conversation DSU seeks input for International Student Task Force Patrick Vailancourt
News Editor
news@theotherpress.ca
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ouglas College international students gathered in the lounge of the Douglas Students’ Union (DSU) on October 24 to participate in a forum discussing the needs of international postsecondary students. The event was held in conjunction with the Canadian Federation of Students’ (CFS) Task Force on the Needs of International Students. The open house, which
included food, door prizes, and engaging discussion, was open to all international students in the Douglas College community. Event organizers hailed it as a huge success. Keiko Nariya, a DSU member-at-large and chief organizer of the international student open house, said that the turnout was key in ensuring the success of the event. “It was very successful, we had over 80 international students [who] participated,” said Nariya. “The turnout was awesome thanks to all the volunteers of more than 25 international students who helped us promote and organize the event.” Participants were grouped based on common language so
that they could communicate with each other in a familiar language. DSU organizers suggested that this method would prove to be less intimidating with a student population who may, at first, feel overwhelmed by having such a conversation in a language other than their respective first languages. While participants were free to discuss any topic related to being an international student at Douglas College, dominant themes quickly emerged from the small group discussions, including increasing tuition fees for international students, language barriers, and limited services offered to students from overseas. “Though each group had
different choices of topics, almost all language groups chose to talk about tuition fees as a first priority in their discussion, according to the volunteers who facilitated conversation. I think it is because of students’ concern [that] tuition fee keeps going up annually,” said Nariya. Nariya argues that increasing services to international students and providing greater advocacy for their needs on issues such as tuition fees and visa requirements should be a priority for Douglas College administrators. She believes that international students are intimidated to raise concerns with college administrators due to language and cultural barriers. “International students at
Douglas College make up more than 10 per cent of all Douglas College students,” said Nariya. “So it was extremely important that we approach them to let them share their opinions and concerns so that we can try making better changes for them.” The opinions and concerns raised by international students will be compiled by the Douglas Students’ Union and a formal report is expected around March 2014. The report will then be presented to Douglas College administrators and the Board of Governors, as well as make up a portion of a provincial report sanctioned by the Canadian Federation of Students through the Task Force on the Needs of International Students.
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The Oatmeal presents food for thought Cartoonist premiers new book at Chapters Cheryl Minns
Arts Editor arts@theotherpress.ca
C
artoonist Matthew Inman, also known as The Oatmeal, presented his new book at Metrotown Chapters on October 22 on the last stop of his North American book tour. Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants is a compilation of Inman’s comics from his website, theoatmeal.com, as well as original comics exclusive to the book. As part of the event, the Seattle-native shared a history lesson, a heartwarming tale, and a question-answer session with the audience. Inman’s comics cover a variety of topics, including historical figures such as Nikola Tesla and Christopher Columbus, and animals like the mantis shrimp and his dog, Rambo. His illustrated essay on
‘How old is your dog?’ And he said something to the effect of, ‘Well, that’s irrelevant. My dog is immortal. He’s going to live forever,’” Inman said. “I could see that was his veneer. Underneath he was suffering because his dog was getting older and trying to cope with the fact that his dog was going to die.” The first Rambo comic, “My Dog: The Paradox,” ends with the most joyful moments Inman has with his dog—like when he gets home and Rambo is excited to see him, be it four hours or four seconds later—alongside the sad fact that his dog will die one day. “You have this animal that you love and you’ve built an affinity and then when they’re 15 years old—the age at which a teenager would maybe start thinking about college and you buy them a car—they die of old age. Like, how terrible is that?” Inman said. The comic finished with a dedication to Rambo that read: “May he live a thousand years.” Unfortunately, readers misinterpreted this dedication and Inman was suddenly
As part of the event, the Seattle-native shared a history lesson, a heartwarming tale, and a question-answer session with the audience. Columbus focussed on the explorer’s dark history, such as exploiting the Native Americans for gold, which Inman wasn’t sure how the public would react to. “I published it and launched it and within six hours, I had a quarter of a million Facebook likes. Within six days, it was in the millions,” he said. “It made me nervous because when it blows up like that you’re suddenly like, ‘Did I spell everything right? I hope everything is correct.’ Because you can potentially get something wrong in front of a lot of people.” While most of the facts in the piece check out with historians, Inman admitted he might have gone too far in connecting Columbus to African slavery. He also discussed a series of comics he published about his dog, Rambo. The stories started out as a commentary on the idiosyncrasies of his new dog, but after talking to a friend, it took a heartfelt turn. “I was hanging out with a friend of mine who has a small dog and I asked him,
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flooded with sympathy emails from readers who thought Rambo had died. While Rambo is still alive and well, Inman has had his fair share of pet losses, including more than 15 cats that his family had when he was a child that either ran away, were eaten by wildlife, or burned in a house fire that claimed the family’s home— all of which he documented in his comic memoir, “When your house is burning down, you should brush your teeth.” After discussing some of his comics, Inman took questions from the audience, such as why he goes by the name The Oatmeal. “I chose the name The Oatmeal because I used to play a game in the ‘90s called Quake and when I played it my name was Quaker Oatmeal. So I shortened it to Oatmeal,” he explained. He also explored the possibility of offering an app in the future that would feature unpublished comics from his sketchbook.
Cartoonist Matthew Inman at Chapters’ Metrotown | Photo courtesy of Cheryl Minns
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‘Prism’ presents the passion of Perry Katy’s fourth album shows depth, growth Sophie Isbister
Life & Style lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca
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rism, the fourth studio album from former Christian pop singer Katy Perry, shows the mature, spiritual side of the woman who got famous for gimmicky songs like “I Kissed a Girl.” Perry began recording the album during her highly publicized split with actor Russell Brand. This event is firmly represented in many tracks on the album, including the rousing first single and opening track, “Roar,” a song about Perry finding her voice after the trauma of her divorce. Full of ‘90s nostalgia
beats, Prism shows off its solid production and commitment to the legacy of pop music. Even throwaway tracks like “Birthday” and “This Is How We Do” had me dancing in my seat. But pure cheese doesn’t fill the whole album; Prism primarily contains songs that deal with self-empowerment, epic love, and growing up. On “Love Me,” she sings about honesty, self-love, and saying goodbye to insecurities—good advice that is a far cry from Teenage Dream’s obsession with ménage a trois and drunken Friday nights. Prism is firmly an album for the late-20s set. Perry, who was 27 during the writing of this album, references her age on the haunting and beautiful track, “By the Grace of God.” Spirituality combines with the angst of approaching the age of 30, as Perry gently sings about picking herself up off the floor with the help of family and faith. This is just one of the songs on
Prism that references Perry’s religious background: she is the daughter of Pentecostal pastors, and had an early career as a gospel singer. But despite this, Perry’s new effort does not come off as overtly religious. Rather, Perry’s spirituality is held up as an incidental factor that helped her realize the true strength of herself as an individual. Of course, deep thoughts aren’t exactly the reason that most people will pick up a Perry album, and for that crowd, Prism doesn’t disappoint. She teams up with rapper Juicy J on “Dark Horse,” a trap-tinged track with an infectious beat that was inspired by the 1996 film The Craft. The genuinely gleeful “International Smile” is the cherry on top of this wellrounded effort that cements Perry’s position as reigning pop princess.
Katy Perry | Photo courtesy of www.1053kissfm.com
‘The Dark and the Wounded’ teaches viewers to heal An immersive art experience at Riverview Hospital Aidan Mouellic
Staff Writer
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’ve visited art galleries and museums all around the world, but none of them has had as much of an impact on me as James Picard’s art show, The Dark and the Wounded. The show was held in the abandoned Crease Clinic building at Riverview Hospital on the night of October 27. It was less of a pure art show, and more of an art experience. Picard, a Vancouver-based artist who specializes in dark and powerful oil paintings, used the symbolic space of the abandoned psychiatric hospital as the perfect place to display his paintings, which deal with the topics of pain, suffering, and hardship. Crease Clinic, where the paintings were displayed, was dark and spooky. Having previously spent a lot of time there for work-
Previous show of James Picard’s | Photo courtesy of James Picard related purposes, I’m familiar with what the decommissioned psychiatric hospital is like. But when the walls are adorned with Picard’s powerful and gory imagery and the halls are filled with the sounds of a haunting musical score by renowned composer Jeff Danna, you get a whole new experience—and that’s what Picard is hoping for. The point of the show is to inform viewers of the types of
tragedies that go unnoticed in the world, and to allow viewers to become more self-aware. “You go through life wearing blinders and think that everything is beautiful, then you’re ignoring what’s really happening. When you stop ignoring, that’s when you heal,” Picard explained. Healing is what the show hopes to achieve, and Picard is taking his art on tour throughout North America
and soon to Europe in hopes of achieving that. “When we don’t look at our wounds and think everything is fine, it festers because we’re not healing it and only putting Band-Aids on,” he said. Picard’s show aims to heal by making us think about and confront the very fears that cause us to ignore the deeper rifts within society. In a way, he is on an ambitious mission
to change and civilize the world—a grand task, but not an impossible one. Picard realizes that there is a lot of bad stuff that goes on in the world and hopes that his show will be a critical worldwide intervention to open the eyes of people hoping to make change. We are all human and we all have the power within ourselves to make the world a better place. The show that Picard created at Riverview Hospital attempted to effect change, and it did. The immersive experience of sonic, visual, and physical aspects transported the viewers into his ingeniously dark and powerful world. Picard’s work is aesthetically moving and, more than that, it shares a message of healing and confronting stigmatized fears that society turns away from. This is important art. Next up for Picard is a fundraiser and documentary trailer premier for The Dark and the Wounded on November 9 in Vancouver. Details for the event are available through his website at www.jamespicard. com
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Doing the Time Warp again The Rocky Horror Show releases audience tension Cazzy Lewchuk
Staff Writer
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he Rocky Horror Show is a cult musical involving rock music, science fiction parodies, and sex-crazed cross-dressing aliens. It may sound like a weird time for some—and it is—yet thousands of people gather every year to see the show, dress up in costumes, shout callback lines to the characters, and throw props all around to enhance the experience. It’s a phenomenon that’s been going on for over 35 years and it shows no signs of stopping. The show is best known by its 1975 film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, featuring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon. However, it was originally a play by the name of The Rocky Horror Show. Such was the production I saw at the Jericho Arts Centre. I’m a big fan of the movie and have seen it several times, but I’d never seen it live before. The venue has no official raised stage—there’s just a flat, open area where the actors perform. This allows for a good degree of intimacy, which works well for the play because many would say the audience participation is just as fun as the play itself. Whether it’s the characters giving sass to the audience or the confetti being tossed during the celebration, it really engages you in the zaniness that is Rocky Horror. The play’s plot is just as bizarre as the antics around it. A newly engaged couple, Brad and Janet, go to visit a former
teacher when their car breaks down. They travel to a castle for help, and it turns out to be the home of Dr. Frank N. Furter, a sex-crazed “sweet transvestite,” and his equally creepy servants. Frank has just created a perfect man, the titular Rocky Horror, and the very square Brad and Janet soon become trapped in Frank’s crazy plans. The cast itself was very good. Although the usual question of “Can they act/sing?” was in my head while watching, I was more entertained by their understanding of what Rocky Horror is. The actors regularly broke the fourth wall by replying to the audience’s many callback lines—often with even wittier responses. From the program, I learned that most of the actors had been in productions of Rocky Horror before, and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves. It’s definitely a hard musical to put on because the cast has to be very comfortable and freespirited. There’s a lot of high energy and high demand in each role—even the background cast was constantly dancing and switching around in every scene. If you’ve never heard of or seen Rocky Horror, you may be quite confused by this production. Most of the audience had obviously at least seen the movie at home. However, if you’re comfortable with not really knowing what’s going on in the story, possibly being rested on by a cast member between scenes, and/or you’re already a Rocky Horror fan, it’s definitely a night to remember.
Rocky Horror comes to Rio in November
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riterThink Halloween events can only happen in October? Think again! For those of you who missed your fix in October, or who just can’t get enough of that Halloween goodness, another opportunity to celebrate will go down on November 9. The Rio Theatre in Vancouver presents the cult classic film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Featuring a live shadow cast
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re-enacting the movie on stage while the movie plays on the screen, this is sure to be a night of sensation, transformation, and doing the Time Warp again! The bar service certainly won’t hurt, either, Audience participation is strongly encouraged. Outside props are allowed, and prop bags will be sold for $2 in the lobby. Guests are encouraged to come in costume and BYO squirt guns and noisemakers. The event will be 19+ and tickets are available for $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Doors open at 9:15 p.m. and show starts at 10 p.m.
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Femme power in Douglas College’s ‘Steel Magnolias’ cast and crew prepare for play’s opening Julia Siedlanowska
Staff Writer
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was lucky enough to get a sneak peek last week of Douglas College’s latest production, Steel Magnolias. Most of us know the story from the 1989 film starring Julia Roberts, Sally Field, and Dolly Parton, but the script made its initial debut on the stage in 1987. With an all-female cast, the girls agree that there is a lot of “femme power” going on within the show. “Steel Magnolias is a touching and humorous story about a group of women who come together, let go of class, religion, and other differences in order to support each other through some very difficult times,” said director Deborah Neville. Neville is known at the college for her recent productions, Dancing at Lughnasa and The Rez Sisters. She tries to create meaningful and poignant relationships both on and off the stage. For Steel
Magnolias, she had her cast bake an armadillo-shaped cake like the one mentioned in the play to help them get into their roles and develop strong relationships between the characters.
“There are a lot of emotional journeys within the show,” said actor Nicole Cochrane, who plays the initially shy and reserved Annelle DupuyDesoto. Unlike the film, the play is set entirely in Truvy’s beauty salon. The Studio Theatre is transformed as we enter through a screen door reminiscing those we might imagine in a dusty southern town. “Welcome to Truvy’s beauty shop because you are literally sitting on the stage—you’re with us, and you’re following our journey,” said actor Alexandria Gamache, who plays Shelby. “You get to know the southern people, their customs, and how they communicate with each other in the salon— especially with the ladies— family, love, and life,” said FJ van Wyk, who plays Clairee Belcher. “There’s a lot of hair too,” added Cochrane. “A lot of ‘80s.” Fans of the movie will enjoy some of the same zingers as heard on screen, such as “There’s no such thing as natural beauty” and “Smile, it
increases your face value.” Playwright Robert Harling originally wrote the play as a short story in reaction to his younger sister’s death due to diabetes. The two were very close, and many of Harling’s friends advised him to write as a coping mechanism. The result was a story that continues to endure as a touching and powerfully funny portrayal of friendship and sisterhood. “Harling’s script is beautifully written and allows us to slide easily into the friendship circle of six fully realized characters. It’s such a pleasure for myself and the actors to work with a strong script like Steel Magnolias,” said Neville. “It provides us with the opportunity to see deeply into another person’s life, to witness another person’s choices, find a commonality or connection between ourselves and someone else, someone whose choices and thoughts, their way of life and reason for being may be vastly different from your own. This insight, this connection— this is the best of theatre.” Steel Magnolias runs November 1-9 at the Studio Theatre at Douglas College’s New Westminster campus. Tickets are $10-12 and are available through Massey Theatre at 604-521-5050.
True believers, unite! ‘LEGO Marvel Super Heroes’ review Steve Cayer, Senior Columnist
When The Avengers came out last year, fans of the ever-increasing LEGO games series wanted to see their favourite characters in LEGO form. Finally, their prayers have been answered. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes hosts 155 different Marvel characters and has the most variety of powers and abilities of any LEGO game. From transforming into the Hulk to transforming into a teapot with Mr. Fantastic for absolutely no reason, you’ll be finding things out the entire way through. Of course, every LEGO
game has the basic collectables, and this game is no different. It has gold bricks, red “Deadpool” bricks, and minikits. Instead of students in peril, they put Stan Lee in peril! I loved how when I found enough studs (money) in the level, Stan Lee says, “Excelsior!” This game is one of the longest LEGO games—I’ve been playing for around 11 hours and I’m only 12 per cent done. Saying that, the main campaign will probably take you around 13 hours. The rest of the time you’ll be exploring the sprawling city of Manhattan, completing specific jobs for citizens, or collecting the different characters and vehicles. The puzzles in this game are pretty basic, trying to appeal to a younger demographic, but the game itself is all-out fun whatever your age. Basically, if you are a true believer, you need to get this game.
Still from LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
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LIFE & STYLE.
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Aging gracelessly Age is inevitable, so do what you want! Natalie Serafini
Assistant Editor assistant@theotherpress.ca
“Youth is wasted on the young.” - George Bernard Shaw
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s we age and the bloom inevitably wears off, we will all look down on fresh-faced youths and think, “Youth is wasted on the young.” This pessimistic view of ageing encourages the frantic fostering of habits to help you age gracefully— without actually looking your age. Now, I’m all for being healthy, but these tips and tricks— like controlling your facial expressions so your face doesn’t find itself stuck in a wrinkly rut—don’t focus on health. They focus more on adapting your life in minute ways to prevent wrinkles and, let’s be real, they won’t accomplish much: try to stave off ageing in any kind of significant way and you will eventually feel like Atlas trying to shoulder the earth. “Controlling your
Photo courtesy of www.curezone.com facial expressions” (a genuine tip I found while researching this article) does little apart from nurturing another beauty obsession.
your health (and consequently your appearance, if that’s what will get you to pick up the sunscreen); when it comes to the nit-picky bits, though? I say set them to the side. And on that note, let’s recount some of the tips I will likely never follow of my own volition! The first tip comes from a company that says you should sleep on a silk pillowcase for supple, smooth skin. According to Sleep ‘N Beauty, of Sleep ‘N Beauty silk pillowcases, “Virtually everyone (99.9 per cent of the population) sleeps on pillowcases made from cotton. But, of course, the problem with cotton is that it does not slip,
Pei because you didn’t buy into Sleep ‘N Beauty’s propaganda— or their pillowcases. I’m not a dermatologist or a pillowcase professional, but your cushion’s cover won’t make that much of a difference in preventing a droopy face. The next tip advises against sleeping with your face on your pillow, to avoid all of that abrasive tugging. I don’t sleep well unless I’m on either my side or my stomach, so while I might look like a darling bud of May come middle-age if I slept on my back, I’d look like a zombie come the morning—not an appealing trade-off. No thanks, I’ll take wrinkles, a good night’s sleep, and laying on my belly. If it’s an
The way I see it, I’m going to look my age when I’m 50; hopefully I won’t look older, and it would be nice if I looked a little bit younger, but nobody’s going to mistake me for a 20-year-old. Granted, I’ll probably regret not clinging to my dermis 1020 years from now, but there’s a limit to how much upkeep I can keep up. Moisturize away, eat healthfully when you can, exercise, and avoid doing things that will seriously endanger
so the fabric continuously tugs at delicate parts of the face and neck.” Listen, kiddos: sleeping on a cotton pillowcase isn’t exactly like facing a wind tunnel for 24 hours. It might tug at your face a bit, but you’re not going to wake up looking like a Shar
uncomfortable life change that likely won’t significantly affect my appearance, I’m not super keen on it. Webmd.com, that fountain of accurate and helpful medical information, says that you shouldn’t over-wash your face.
Apparently, “tap water strips skin of its natural barrier oils… Wash them off too often, and you wash away protection.” Okay, but how much is too much? Am I avoiding washing my face every day? Am I only washing my face with Evian, and not tap water? Do I only douse my face with the lightest mists of water? I say get in, wash off your makeup, and get out. It’s not direct from a doctor of the web, but it gets the job done. The way I see it, I’m going to look my age when I’m 50; hopefully I won’t look older, and it would be nice if I looked a little bit younger, but nobody’s going to mistake me for a 20-year-old. There are things I will do to maintain a certain level of youthful glow, like applying sunscreen and staying hydrated, but fooling about with these useless suggestions is fruitless. I furrow my brow, I like to laugh, I sleep on my stomach with a cotton pillowcase, and I wash my face with a modicum of vigour. My hope is that living a relatively healthy life otherwise is enough to prevent me from looking grotesque in my old age. If it turns out I’m wrong, I’m sure I’ll be in good company with other people who didn’t obsess over tiny tips and tricks.
Lunch of the Week: Coleslaw Classic side with a unique spin Sophie Isbister
Life & Style lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca
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oleslaw, that sloppy mess that you used to eat at summer barbecues when you were a kid, is probably the best-kept secret of the salad world when it comes to a flavour to nutrients ratio. You may recognize coleslaw’s main ingredient, cabbage, from other popular cultural items such as cabbage rolls or gardens where babies are born. In truth, cabbage is fantastic for you. Sure, boiled cabbage dinner is mostly associated with foulsmelling working class fare, but the humble cruciferous vegetable is a ubiquitous household staple for a reason. For one, cabbage is denser than lettuce, probably because it has to carry so many nutrients. Raw cabbage is rich in vitamin
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C, as well as the antioxidant glucosinolate. Cabbage also contains dietary fibre, the roughage that humans need to eat a lot of in order to keep things running smoothly. Faced with the truth about cabbage, I started looking for tasty and fresh ways to eat more of this wonderful veggie. That’s when I discovered the versatility of coleslaw. Coleslaw is traditionally made with mayonnaise, buttermilk, and cabbage (or radioactive waste, if we’re talking about KFC’s slaw), but there are several variations to both the dressing and the salad ingredients. Because the relatively neutral flavour of cabbage makes up the bulk of the salad, a variety of other ingredients will complement and enhance the overall taste. You can add sweet fruits like grapes, apples, pears, and pineapples. You can also try nuts and seeds—I’m partial to sunflower seeds, but I’ve had great slaws with walnuts and pecans in them as well. The dressing can also be jazzed up
with horseradish, hot sauce, or mustard. For this recipe, I’ve kept it super simple, only adding apples and tasty sunflower seeds. This salad is dead easy to make—in fact, the hardest part is cutting the apple into small, twig-like pieces. Also, whether or not you decide to use fresh cabbage will play a factor in how labour intensive this recipe is. I’m partial to the store-bought bagged coleslaw mix, which can easily be replaced with a quarter each of shredded red and green cabbage, and a half a cup of shredded carrots. To assemble, shake the dressing ingredients in an empty mason jar, or in one of those shakers made specifically for salad dressing (who even buys those)? Then cut your additional vegetables into small, matchstick-shaped pieces (it adds to the homogenous texture of the salad). Mix it all up and let it sit, covered, in the fridge for about 30 minutes before serving.
You will need:
1/2 package of pre-cut coleslaw mix 1 Granny Smith apple 1/2 cup sunflower seeds (unsalted)
For the dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar Salt and pepper to taste
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I’m bringing velvet back Modern ways to wear a snuggly textile of yore Sharon Miki, Columnist
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hen it comes to fashion, everything is derivative, and this couldn’t be truer than with my fave fall fashion trend: velvet. Just as I rocked this sumptuous textile in my firstgrade holiday dress in the 1990s, and fashionable ladies rocked velvet brocade gowns in the 1890s, cool chicks of today are turning to velvet to add a little feel-appeal to their wardrobes. Anyone with fingers and sense receptors knows the smooth, pet-able appeal of this tufted fabric; however, just because you can touch something doesn’t mean that you should put it on your body. The key to velvet in 2013 is shape. Velvet, by nature, makes a bold statement through its distinctive texture, and if you go too baroque with your venture into velvet-town, you risk exuding a gaudy aesthetic. Instead, stick with pieces that inject a velvety feel into basic and clean shapes: think a simple LBD with a softer side, or an unadorned long-sleeved tee or
bodysuit in crushed velvet. Speaking of simple, today’s truly crushable velvet looks are decidedly muted in their colour palettes—and with good reason. While neon-pink-sparkle stretch-velvet made sense for your dance leotards back in the day, if you want to look modern and grown, you’re going to want to stick with rich and yummy jewel-tones, neutrals, and (my favourite) blacks. For example, trading your bland denim for a deep forest green velvet mini pops some wearable sophistication into an otherwise boring Friday night outfit. Worried about looking too Victorian in your new fuzzy-soft outfits? If you’re going for sexy, look for body-conscious pieces in stretchy, curve-hugging velvet and velveteen (again, clean and simple silhouettes are key to not looking ridiculous). Modern velvet (and velvetlike materials) is a perfect, sexy, and utterly touchable way to vamp up your wardrobe in the cooler months. If you want to try the trend without splurging, stores like Forever 21 and H&M are currently bursting with cheapish versions of my suggestions. Try it—and then try to keep your hands off your super-soft self.
Photo courtesy of www.americanapparel.net
Sex-oween In defence of sexy Halloween Sophie Isbister
Life & Style lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca
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very year during the runup to October 31, countless people feel as though they are qualified to weigh in on the topic of sexualized costumes. Well, I’m here to add my voice to that cacophony, and to take a firm stand in defence of Sexy Halloween. The old arguments against baring a bit of skin on All Hallow’s Eve are stale and tired. Dissenters say, “It’s indecent!” Or they express faux concern: “Won’t all those Playboy bunnies be cold?” And then there’s my personal favourite, “Won’t somebody think of the children!” On the surface, that argument seems to hold legs. After all, a five-year-old who is just minding her business doesn’t need to be
confronted with the female body in all its National Geographic glory. But that argument falls like a jack-o’-lantern on November 15 when you consider that for the most part, adults and children operate in separate worlds on Halloween. Halloween for children functions as an outlet for their hedonistic energy—and that’s right in line with the traditions of the event. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations in Mexico are held to honour the spirits of the dead, and the Anglo-Saxon tradition of Halloween involves dressing up like monsters to scare away potentially vengeful spirits. All interpretations of Halloween point to a connection with the afterlife, the otherworldly, and the devil (plus any associated devilish activities). And so, kids celebrate their wicked side by running around and stuffing their precious faces with chocolate and candy until their exhausted parents finally put them to bed at
midnight. Conversely, adults get closer to their hedonistic heritage by dancing around and stuffing their precious faces with booze, also known as adult candy. And what better time than Halloween to wear something skimpy? There’s nothing to be ashamed of when behaving sexually in this day and age—perhaps we’re scaring away bad spirits with our unabashed and unbridled sexual energy. Whether your Halloween is about the haunting kind of spirits or the kind of spirits that go nice with Coke and a twist of lime, it is likely that you’re living large to prove to death that you’re alive. Sexuality and hedonism pair well to this end, making the Sexy Snow Whites and the Sexy Lumberjacks a welcome and fitting addition to Halloween: Adult Version. So this year, lose some clothes, invest in coat check, and get down with your bad self, because you’re not a kid anymore.
L&S LISTED Five not-so-sexy sexy costumes Sexy Halloween is actually a thing now? Okay, well, for all my bad bitches out there who like to take a trend too far, here are five ways to weird out the coat check guy this year.
1. Sexy George Costanza 2. Sexy sewer monster 3. Sexy waffle—including syrup-coated fishnet tights 4. Sexy burn victim 5. Sexy the Other Press Editor-in-chief Jacey Gibb!
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Damn. It happened again. That thing you said you wouldn’t let happen last year. It was sometime in November or December when you thought of the perfect Halloween costume and said to yourself, “I’m going to work on my costume early so that by the time Halloween comes around, I’ll already have mine prepared.” Well, chances are good that if you’re reading this article, you’ve let the year slip past you like a toddler on a Slip ‘n Slide and you have a Halloween party coming up that you need a costume for. But never fear, dear readers; we at the Other Press are marginally more prepared than you, and have compiled a list of easy, last-minute costumes for you to transform yourself into someone remotely interesting. In the eternal words High, “Makeover makeover of Clone High makeover makeover makeover makeover MAKEOVER!” Chan, Opinions Editor Elliot Chan If you can’t be scary, be fancy! I for one don’t get to wear my formal clothing often enough. The suit I bought for high school graduation six years ago might be a tight fit, but hey—there is nothing wrong with being the hand-me-down prom king. Respect. Gentlemen, I know wearing a shirt and tie might seem like a crummy, unimaginative costume, but think of all those respectable, well-dressed characters. That’s right, we can all be Jon Hamm for Halloween. Ladies, I know the last thing you want to do is go digging into your closet and uncovering bad memories, but the only way to forget old memories is by making new ones. Put on a gown, whether it’s an ancient bridesmaid dress from your sister’s failed marriage or the weird lacy thing you bought for your 22nd birthday. You might not have been the belle of the ball the first time you wore it, but Halloween is all about second chances and formal apologies. Jacey Gibb, Editor-in-chief I haven’t been able to master the art of last-minute costume designs, but thankfully I’m a creative dude and never have a problem coming up with a substitute. Three years ago I needed a costume for a “Heroes and Villains” party, but I didn’t have the finances to go all-out, so I just put on a hodgepodge of wacky clothes from previous costumes and called myself “Good Times Guy.” I strapped my beer bong around my chest, wore some underwear on the outside of my pants, and had a fun-tility belt of party favours like bubbles, balloons, sparklers, and a water gun. People were skeptical at first but they grew more accepting the more I unleashed balloons onto the apartment. Feel free to deviate from the same idea with varying degrees of party supplies and attire. As a backup plan for parties that you don’t want to attend, my strategy has always been to tell the host that I’m going as the Invisible Man. It’s snarky and witty and it almost guarantees that you’ll be left off the guest list next year. The perfect costume! Sophie Isbister Isbister, Life & Style Editor I was always that kid who had the amazing idea for a Halloween costume sometime in April, but then when the time came to actually set my vision in motion, I would procrastinate until it was far too late for even my mom to save the day. I was born a procrastinator, and that hasn’t changed. I spent a lot of Halloweens traipsing around the neighbourhood dressed vaguely as a witch; the situation has not improved in my adulthood. That’s why I spent four consecutive years dressed as a bunny, and that’s why my number one last-minute costume recommendation involves simple animal ears and a bit of face paint. Being a bunny (or a kitty, or a mousy) will probably only involve a $10 trip to the costume store—you’ll be able to wear anything in your wardrobe as long as it’s a colour like white, brown, or black. A lazy animal costume is the best choice for people who just don’t want to deal with the social stigma of not wearing a costume at that Halloween party. Bonus: a bunny costume can easily convert into a sexy bunny costume with the help of a corset, some fishnets, and heels. Cody Klyne, Layout Manager I like dressing up. There, I said it. Before you get too many ideas, in this case I’m speaking specifically about Halloween. Unfortunately, like many of you I fall into the regretful camp of 90 per cent enthusiasm, 10 per cent preparation. I come up with my costume ideas six months in advance and throw my costume together the week before. Procrastination
strikes again. Cut to October 2013: it’s the same old story, but this time around I saw it coming and had a backup. Better still, it’s a backup built for two that could potentially save your significant other or brother/sister from another mother the annual party panic. Three words: we can’t stop. Two more words: Miley Cyrus. What you’ll need: a torn up tank top, a pair of tighty whities, combat boots. Extra credit: a sledge hammer, red lipstick, and a hip haircut. What your partner in costume-crime will need: all black everything and a plastic chain. For best results, if your situation allows it, gender-bend the role of Miley for that extra bit of “doing whatever we want” attitude. Have Miley mount up, tongue licking out at the night’s full moon, and it’s balls away, baby. Sharon Miki, Columnist To me, costumes are very serious business; even last-minute costumes can be works of (performance) art. Whenever I find myself devoid of ideas come party time, I can always count on my trusty backup costume: loser hermit Barbie. Anyone can pull this one off, no matter how little time you have to prepare—feel free to put your own spin on it! Personally, I usually go with an ultra-luxe combo of ratty sweatpants and some sort of food-stained T-shirt. Accessories for a classic hermit costume are simple, cheap, and functional, too. Think things like a bottle of wine, a TV remote control, and a solid deadbolt lock for your front door. The key to successfully executing a last-minute hermit costume? Do not leave your house or talk to anyone for the entire night. Be sure to post some pics of yourself crying alone in the dark, and enjoy! Natalie Serafini, Assistant Editor Not to brag, but this costume once won me a mug in a Halloween costume contest. Yeah, I’m kind of a big deal, and you can be too with just a few items that you likely have in your home! It’s the crying runnerup in a beauty pageant costume, and all you need is a fancy to fancy-lite dress, a sash pronouncing you the runner-up (I made mine out of an old shower curtain, writing the title in Sharpie, but you could use any number of white materials for your sash), and a whole lotta mascara. Get dressed and throw on your sash—easy. The fun part is experimenting with how you want the mascara to run down your cheeks. I suggest doing full make-up then, using the wand, drawing thick streaks of mascara down your cheeks. An interesting twist would be gluing fake eyelashes to your cheeks, so it looks like your tears were violent enough to push your falsies down a few noticeable centimetres. To fully embody the part, practice your crying face, smear that mascara all down your cheeks, and prepare for the accolades to roll in. You’ll only be a runner-up in your costume name! Patrick Vaillancourt, News Editor The last time I got dressed up for Halloween was back when it was a big deal for kids, about 20 years ago, and I went as accused murderer OJ Simpson—complete with business suit and a glove that didn’t fit. This year will mark the first time in two decades that I make any effort into doing something for Halloween, and once again, I didn’t want to get into a costume. But not to disappoint my colleagues who will no doubt expect me to go along with the festivities, I opted for something that allows me to keep wearing my regular clothes while getting into the spirit of the season. Since Breaking Bad just ended, I thought it topical to go as Walter White. Shaving your hair may seem radical, but it’ll grow back and only sets you back about $10. Give yourself a good shave and let the goatee stand out, while hitting the dollar store for a cheap pair of nonprescription eyeglasses. Walter White’s trademark pork pie hat is an optional accessory, but makes your costume more convincing. If you’re looking for one, I recommend starting at your local thrift shop or Value Village, as many good quality pork pie hats will start at $140 if purchased from a specialty hat store. Eric Wilkins, Sports Editor I’ve long resigned myself to the fact that I lack the drive, time, and energy to put any real effort into Halloween. I’m the sort of person who’s perfectly alright not being the guy wearing some impressive getup that makes everyone ooh and ah. And yet, I have just enough “pride” that I refuse to show up to a party without any sort of costume. Or semblance of one. Fortunately, being the miserable type who thinks that wordplay is always in fashion, an easy costume isn’t hard. I’ve been basing my “costumes” for years off of terrible puns and overused terms. All you need is a T-shirt, Sharpie, a lack of self-respect, and maybe a dollar store item—but you only need the latter if you really go all out. My last few have included a fork in the road (black T-shirt, yellow strips of tape down the middle, and a plastic fork taped to it), a drug front (the word “drug” written on paper on a shirt), and Iron Man (“Fe” printed on a shirt). You’re welcome.
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Photo illustration by Joel McCarthy
All Halloween everything Celebrate the spooky season—indoors or out Cazzy Lewchuk
Staff Writer
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alloween can be a difficult time for many students, especially those who have just started college and might have no celebrations to look forward to. Although 99 per cent of us look too old to go trick or treating, there are still many options for ensuring a fun October 31. If you’re looking to stay in, there are plenty of options. You could hide out on the couch and watch scary movies. Whether your tastes are It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or somewhere in between, Halloween night can be the perfect time to marathon all
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the horror shows not shown in the other months of the year. For extra fun, eat a bunch of Halloween candy. You could also spend your time making Halloween fun for others by scaring the local children. Dress as something scary (vampire, witch, zombie) and make the little ones scream in terror when they reach your
opportunity for single people to discover new and creepy ways to enjoy themselves. Leaving the house on Halloween—an extra scary option—is sometimes necessary in the name of fun. Perhaps you could take a friend or neighbour’s children trick or treating. Just because it’s not socially acceptable for you to
(Do not take candy from infants; they cry). For some solitude, go to a graveyard. Bundle up and explore a cemetery in darkness on the creepiest night of the year. Bring a friend, a Thermos full of hot drink, and a book of ghost stories to read by flashlight. In the interest of respecting the dead on All
Leaving the house on Halloween—an extra scary option—is sometimes necessary in the name of fun. front door or yard. Don’t forget to console the kids by rewarding them with lots of candy. For the lovers among us, might I suggest you dress up in a sexy or twisted costume, stay at home, and turn the lights out for a night of sexy role play. Although this works better with a partner, it could be a great
go without children doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the annual tradition. You can probably even wear a costume without raising too many eyebrows, especially if it goes with the child’s somehow. If you’re really lucky, you may even be able to get some treats out of the deal—it’s like taking candy from a baby.
Hallow’s Eve, and out of basic human decency, be respectful, not obnoxious, and leave no trace. Those who are of age can check out a local club or bar. Most of them will probably have at least a vaguely Halloweenthemed party going on. If not, it’s still likely someone will
be there pre- or post- another Halloween party—an excellent chance to make a new friend or date. There are plenty of other Halloween events for all ages, like horror movies at a local movie theatre, or ghost trains and tours. The Rio, Vancity, and Cinematheque theatres are all showing scary movies on October 31. The remake of Carrie is also playing in most major theatres, and as for haunted things, the city is full of them. Try Fright Nights, Potter’s House of Horrors, the Stanley Park and Bear Creek Park Ghost Trains, Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tours, or Halloween events in Chinatown. These places may be quite crowded on Halloween night… but hey, you didn’t have any other plans so you don’t mind waiting in line, right?
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Love gone viral? #StarbucksDrakeHands & the fickle art of digital seduction Sharon Miki, Columnist
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hen it comes to romance, there’s always a chance that the person you’re interested in isn’t going to feel the same way about you. Learning this information often comes at a cost: you put yourself out there, and the object of your affection either wants it or not. If not, you dust yourself off and move on—c’est la vie, etc. So why would any sane person risk immortalizing their own digital rejection for the entire world to see? The most recent case of romantic digital fontrum to sweep the web is #StarbucksDrakeHands.
Photo courtesy of Daily ReHash/www.youtube.com Basically, a barista named Brody Ryan asked a hot lady customer for her number. She gave it to him. A few days later, Ryan texted his crush a video of himself staring intently into the camera and wiping his hands dramatically on his face; all to the baby-making bass of Drake’s song “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” The girl wasn’t interested, but she did forward Ryan’s
video to her friends to make fun of him. One of her friends posted the video on Instagram, and voila! It instantly went viral, with millions of strangers laughing at Ryan’s earnest attempt to get a date. The hashtag #StarbucksDrakeHands was born, and within days there were hundreds of parody videos popping up. Poor guy. As mean-spirited as I think it was of the girl to share this
he does, as long as he continues creating evocative and enjoyable music. His 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, is one of my favourite albums, and I couldn’t imagine it without the hit single “Runaway,” where Kanye acknowledges the fact that he is a douche-bag. In 1977, Roman Polanski, director of classic films including Chinatown and Rosemary’s Baby, was arrested for raping a 13-year-old girl. Fleeing from America to France to avoid imprisonment, Polanski went on to direct some of the most thought-provoking films of the past three decades. The Pianist, which received theatrical release in 2002, still remains one of my favourite World War II movies. Polanski was detained when he tried to attend the Zurich Film Festival in 2009, where he was to receive a lifetime achievement award for his work. Anti-Semitism and racism have been the muses of many artists throughout history. From the works of Joseph Goebbels to TS Eliot to DW Griffith, all have had an impact on history—despite their bruised reputations. Goebbels developed some of World War II’s most appalling and brilliant pieces of cinema, all of which were used in some form or another as wartime propaganda. He was therefore
known as one of the most influential people during the Third Reich. Many consider TS Eliot to be one of the greatest poets of all time, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t find inspiration from his prejudice. In a piece entitled “Burbank with a Baedeker: Bleistein with a Cigar,” Eliot uses a classic stereotype to compare the Jewish people with vermin: “The rats are underneath the piles. The Jew is underneath the lot. Money in furs.” My last example is DW Griffith, who was best known for directing American masterpieces The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Throughout the Ages. The silent films made in 1915 and 1916 told the stories of the American Civil War, but through the eyes of Griffith’s racist ideals. Although the Old South bias stained the cinematic experience, the movie led the way in filmmaking and storytelling innovation and changed cinema for the better. It seems as though art is a lawless occupation, where quality entertainment offers immunity. In a world where any other professional would lose their job, an artist can survive, because creating art is akin
guy’s (albeit really stupid and embarrassing) digital seductiongram with her friends, I place the blame firmly on Ryan’s shoulders. It’s sad, but we live in a social-sharable world where you can’t trust anyone— particularly a total stranger—to not exploit your sincerity or vulnerability. Even people who take private photos while in relationships can never be sure if their exposure could later be used against them. Earlier this month in California, a bill was signed to outlaw “revenge porn,” which is a sub-genre of pornography in which bitter exes post relics, made during happier times, on the Internet. If this type of pornography has reached a level that the government needs to outlaw it, it’s insidious. While I imagine that many of the jerks sharing revenge porn are also the types to film people without their knowledge, I am also willing to
bet that many of the images and videos were taken in the name of trust and romance. There is a difference between bravery and stupidity. Hitting the record button doesn’t automatically guarantee you success; it merely puts you at risk for becoming a laughing stock. Sure, Brody Ryan may have found his 15 minutes of viral fame. In doing so, however, he sacrificed his emotional integrity. Call me a prude (hey, it’s better than being called a prune!), but the best defence against public humiliation when it comes to romance is to not digitize or publicize it. If you want to make a grand romantic gesture à la Lloyd Dobler and his infamous boom box, go for it. Just don’t do it in front of a camera. If your romantic goal is to interact with someone you like, maybe the best thing to do is to just interact with them, sans camera.
Art attack Judge the art, not the artist Elliot Chan
Opinions Editor opinions@theotherpress.ca
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always wonder what Hitler would have created if he had made it into that art school. All throughout history, bad people have created brilliant artwork. There doesn’t seem to be a correlation between artistic ability and common courtesy. Musicians, painters, filmmakers, and all other artists are just average people, and people are complicated creatures. Sure, we might condemn a person for an unforgivable act, but is it right to boycott or banish the art they produced? Are we horrible people for enjoying the work of monsters? Shouldn’t the work of art have a life of its own? In modern times, there are several despicable individuals who have created such a substantial body of work that we cannot help but admire. The first that comes to mind is Kanye West. Although I don’t know the man, I do know his work and his reputation. His arrogant persona often makes entertainment headlines and causes a stir. I for one don’t care how he behaves or what
to creating life—the art lives on honestly, while the hateful person dies shamefully.
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OPINIONS.
Need to vent? Contact the editor at opinions@theotherpress.ca
Stephen Harper is not the devil Harper not like the Tea Party hooligans down south Aidan Mouellic
Staff Writer
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didn’t vote Conservative in any recent elections. I have always preferred the views of the other political parties and enjoyed the charisma of the politicians running against Stephen Harper. But Harper is not as bad as vocal left-wing outliers make him out to be. Our current Prime Minister is clearly not the coolest cat in town. He doesn’t even come close to Obama’s charisma or Putin’s bare-chested bravado, but he’s a politician and he knows it. Politicians aren’t rock stars. Harper’s job is to make sure our country runs well and doesn’t go bankrupt—and he’s doing okay. What gets to me is how people are quick to hate someone because it’s the “in” thing to do. I neither love nor hate Harper, and I feel as if I’m one of the
few. I’m a young, socially liberal Vancouverite; I should hate the man, right? But I don’t, because he’s actually pretty good when it comes to some social and fiscal issues. I first took notice of Harper’s social views during the ongoing homophobia crisis in Russia. Instead of staying silent on the issue, Harper’s government spoke out against the actions of Putin’s government and sided with the LGBT community. Here at home, Harper’s government has made efforts to limit cellphone roaming charges, change Canadian mobile contract structures to benefit the consumer, and end cyberbullying. These are things many people want, and they go along with a more liberal ethos. I’m happy to be Canadian for many reasons. We don’t have to deal with the abhorrent political drama of the United States, and American conservatives make Harper seem like a Green Party member. Harper likely has some questionable stances on some issues, but he keeps them to himself—he does a pretty good job separating his work
and private life. In America, it’s the opposite: if an American politician is against something, such as abortion, then they will often buy ads on TV detailing why women shouldn’t have a say in their own reproductive cycle. Politicians in Canada try not to meddle with citizens’ personal lives too much. As Pierre Trudeau famously said, “There’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.” In the United States, many politicians, especially Republicans, feel as if it’s their duty to tell their nation what people should and shouldn’t be doing in their private lives. There are plenty of things Harper has done that I’m not a fan of, like cutting funding to many arts and science initiatives. As a whole, though, he’s a much better politician than what our neighbours to the south are often dealing with, and he’s not nearly as conservative as a lot of people make him out to be. It’s never going to be cool to be a fan of Harper, and I’ll never have his poster on my wall, but he doesn’t deserve nearly the amount of hate that he is currently receiving.
Stephen Harper | Photo courtesy of Ben Stansall
The shame game I’m just here to drink Elliot Chan
Opinions Editor opinions@theotherpress.ca
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ames aren’t my thing, but I do enjoy company and a beverage now and then. I’m what you call a passive social drinker: I don’t care what you do, but let me do what I want to do. Hopefully I won’t ruin your good time and you won’t ruin mine. I’ve never understood the purpose of drinking games, because I came to drink, not to prevent myself from drinking. The argument is that people who play drinking games tend to get drunker. I don’t necessarily disagree, since it’s house rules, so BYOB. But it’s not my intention to simply get drunk. When a game of King’s Cup or I Never breaks out, I sit to the side while other partygoers try to wrangle me into the group. Eventually, I’ll notice that everyone has gathered around a table or in a circle on the
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floor, scattering a deck of cards around. I give an exasperated sigh and express my lack of interest. I continue to receive indignation and encouragement from the group, but I can feel their loathing. I have two options now: to be alienated from the party, or indulge my friends in a game I want no part of. Feeling like a sourpuss, I always choose the latter. I don’t really care for games. They stress me out and cause me to think, which is the last thing I want to do when I’m relaxing with company, enjoying a conversation, and consuming alcohol responsibly. Now, I’m not saying I’m against drinking games; I don’t care what others do. Just because I don’t want to participate doesn’t mean I should be shunned for being a spectator. I conform to many things, but why should I spend my precious free time doing something I don’t want to do? I appreciate the invite, but I respectfully decline. Competition is fine, just not while I want to relax.
To me, sitting idly by is more enjoyable than trying to think of something I’ve never done, or remembering what rule correlates to the six of diamonds. The worst part about being a passive social drinker in a drinking game is that I will always end up being the loser, because I don’t pay attention. I forgot to put my thumb on the table or I miss a rhythm— whatever. But drunks are hard to convince. A simple solution: if you want
people at your parties, don’t force activities onto them. This extends further than drinking games: if you want lasting friendships, you shouldn’t shame others into doing what you want. I’m aware that I’m not the most valuable person at a party. I bring a six-pack and
a bag of chips and mingle—that is my ideal party. It’s what I want to do after a long week of work. Let me have that without stressing over Truth or Dare. Please, let there be a mutual understanding. Because, hey, I don’t force you to come to karaoke night, do I?
OPINIONS.
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Facebook down The effects of a social media blackout Elliot Chan
Opinions Editor opinions@theotherpress.ca
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n October 21, Facebook users experienced a brief outage caused by network maintenance. Although recovery was swift and the team at Facebook was quick to apologize, I couldn’t ignore the uproar of such an occurrence. Am I crazy to be concerned about such a minuscule problem? I need to step back for a moment and remember my
life before social media: before Twitter, LinkedIn, Myspace, and even Nexopia. I was a 14-yearold high school student waiting patiently for a phone call on a Saturday afternoon. I was in grade eight, procrastinating over homework by watching television and taking naps. But how would I behave now, a decade later? Would my life be any different? Facebook is more than just a tool to communicate with friends and plan events: businesses use it to market, and people use it as a news source. There is a lot of other noise buzzing about on social media, like adorable cat pictures, inspirational quotes, and public displays of affection, and these would be the greatest loss;
Facebook allows us to share little slices of life any time we want. Social media is a casual means of communication. Phone calls have become too intrusive, emails feel too professional, and meeting in person is too timeconsuming. For me, the first real consequence of social media’s demise would be a sudden increase in text messaging. As time passed and Facebook remained broken, I’d begin to lose contact with certain people. Those “friends” and “followers” who aren’t affecting my real life would fade away. That random girl at the bar, my science fair partner in high school, and the manager at the restaurant where I worked for a few months one summer
would all be gone. You might be a “friend” on Facebook, but if you don’t have my number, we’re not really friends in my book. Sorry. Because of social media, the act of verbally catching up is virtually obsolete: job promotions, new relationships, and exotic vacations are all displayed online for everyone to see. Without this, people at parties would spend more time indulging others with “what’s new,” and less time simply saying, “Oh, you know.” No, I don’t know—how would I know? There is no doubt that my Facebook persona is much cooler than the real me. That’s because I only publicize good things. I have full control,
where I don’t have full control of real life. The Internet is a marketplace and I’m the brand. I have to make my Facebook page cool. I go on trips and take photographs, I share interesting content and creations, and I interact with my “friends” even though I barely ever get to see them. I make all those things happen. I’d like to believe that without Facebook, I’d still act the same. To me, the platform is nothing more than a scrapbook. Sure, it’s nice to look back and see what other people have been up to, but I’d rather look ahead. Because in the future, there might be a solar flare that would erase all the material online— then what will we “like?”
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SPORTS.
Know the score? Contact the editor at sports@theotherpress.ca
Leaf it alone Why we need to stop making fun of Toronto Shea O’Grady, Contributor
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hat do you call 30 millionaires sitting around a television watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs? The Toronto Maple Leafs. Yes indeed, as a nation, one of our favourite pastimes has long been bashing the Maple Leafs. The question is, how much longer are we going to be able to partake—especially considering the Canucks’ abysmal playoff performance the last two seasons. It is possible that the nation will be looking at other teams to feel represented come Cup time. While the Leafs looked to be off to a rough start this year with a few injuries making headlines in what seemed like the first minutes of the season, they’ve managed to win seven out of their 11 games played thus far. Vancouver has played 12 games and has won the same number. The only reason the Canucks are ahead in points is due to an overtime loss. Though it’s still very early in the year, I would like to be the first to suggest to Vancouver fans that we acknowledge the strides that the Leafs have made. We should all consider the fact that Toronto and Vancouver are the only two Canadian teams in the league’s top
10. Currently, Vancouver is placed fourth and the Leafs are holding the sixth position. Finally the Leafs are experiencing the much-needed change-up fans have been waiting for. With the buzz surrounding their latest draft picks, how could they not? This means a few things for Vancouverites, and possibly the nation. We should all start working now to be less hypocritical when we inevitably choose to jump on the bandwagon of any Canadian team left in the playoffs. We can now fondly look back at the days of laughing at the Leafs’ painful performances and remember them as “the good old days.” It’s the dawn of a new era in Canadian hockey. Leafs fans need no longer cut eyeholes in brown paper bags when they put on a jersey. If this season proves even moderately successful, Torontonians can hold their heads high after game day. As one of the original six, the Leafs have a long history in Canadian hockey. As the team perks up, we should expect that there will be a massive increase in the Leafs fans among us. Many of us may have to reexamine Leaf-bashing as one of our favourite pastimes and instead just focus on the actual hockey. But just for fun, one more: What do the Toronto Maple Leafs and possums have in common? Both play dead at home and get killed on the road!
Maple Leafs’ Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak | Photo courtesy of Richard Lautens/www.thestar.com
Always compete Women’s basketball ready for a new year Courtnie Martin
Sports Reporter
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he lady Royals have taken very little, if any, time off to prepare for the upcoming 201314 basketball season. “In the summer we practiced three to four days a week including workouts and gym time. Most of it was technical and individual skills. It was beneficial, I just wish we could’ve worked more on individual skills,” says Garaline
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Tom. After finishing last year with a bronze medal in provincials, an All-Canadian, an All-Rookie, and the Coach of the Year, the bar has been set high for this season. The Royals have seven returning players, including guards Adelia Paul (All-Rookie) and Lauren Sollero, the team’s speed and voice Shanice Fuoco-Guy, defensive powerhouse Mackenzie Brenner, all-around lethal asset Chloe Kennedy, rebounding aggressor Jettie McLaughlin, and hustle player Garaline Tom. Of the seven, Coach Curtis Nelson selected Paul, Fuoco-Guy, and Kennedy to represent the team
as captains. Since the first day of summer, the team has been working gruelling practices, weight-room workouts, and individual “at-home” workouts in order to start the season off in the best shape possible. As the off season progressed, the squad picked up six rookies who will be huge contributors to the continued success of the team. The six rookies come from all over BC, as well as two other countries. Threepoint specialist Simran Bir was recruited out of Fleetwood Park Secondary in Surrey, Ellen Fallis from Elphinstone Secondary in Gibsons, Sara Jorgenson comes
from William Aberhart High in Calgary, Amber Beasley of WJ Mouat Secondary in Abbotsford, and two international recruits in Courtnie Martin of Washington, US, and Nanaya Miki of Osaka, Japan. With diversity in experience and a tight-knit group, Coach Nelson has no doubt in his mind this squad can meet and exceed expectations. “Well every year is a new year, so our goal each season is to focus on carrying our culture forward but to let last season stay in the past. So even though we have seven key returners who experienced our first trip to the playoffs in eight years,
our first playoff win in 13 years, and our first playoff medal in 20 years, we have tried to keep our focus on this year’s group and not what our team did last year. Our returners have all tasted success and have been to the mountaintop before, and it seems they are ready to lead this new group to even greater heights. As for key players, everyone is really. We aren`t really built around one or two players. We are at our best as a team when every single player is contributing.” In a nutshell, the girls made their intentions very clear: always compete!
SPORTS.
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Welcome, Cohee! Douglas College hires new Athletic Director Courtnie Martin
Sports Reporter
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ver since mid-summer, Douglas Campus Life and Athletics has been searching for the right person to fill the Director of Campus Life and Athletics position; a search that’s now over with the appointment of Paul Cohee, a man with 18 years of academic experience and a decorated athletic career. Cohee graduated from University of British Columbia (UBC) with a diploma in Education: Curriculum and Instruction Studies, while minoring in biology. He was intrigued by the biology program, but ultimately decided he didn’t want to be locked away in a lab for the rest of his life. After graduation, Cohee had the fortune to travel to several different countries to work in many different schools. He started his career in South Africa before moving back to Canada to teach at an international school. His stint back home wouldn’t last long, though. “I found that it was very difficult connecting with the Japanese males at this school. I came across a program called
JET (Japanese Exchange for Teachers) basically we [Cohee and his wife] decided to move to Japan to study the language intensely. I learned about 500600 Kanji—which is the formal writing structure.” After three years in Japan, Cohee and his wife moved back to Canada, where he worked at Mulgrave in West Vancouver for seven years as a head of department and athletics director. Cohee grew the small school into a powerhouse, helping them take bronze in provincials, along with recognition through numerous other awards. The next stop on Cohee’s résumé was a provincial championship while coaching men’s basketball and teaching Grade Nine Japanese. After all the great academic and athletic experiences over the course of his career, he ended up at Stratford Hall as a principal, but he didn’t enjoy that as much as he thought he would. Finding himself further away from athletics and campus life than he liked, he decided to tip his hat to Douglas College. The position matched his background nearly to a “T.” As for his athletic side, Cohee and his twin brother got a late start in sports in a small town in Saskatchewan, but made up for it with their passion and talent. After neither brother was recruited out of high school, they decided to go to a school in Alberta. While his brother left
following the first year, Cohee stuck around and received an All-Star award in his second. From there, he headed to UBC, where he would play for three years after making the team as a walk-on. After graduating from UBC, he decided to play for a new pro league in Africa—the National Basketball League. His children haven’t taken to his passion though, instead choosing the more Canadian sport of hockey. Cohee expressed the importance of staying focussed in college as he expressed his regret of flunking out his third year of school. “It was so embarrassing. I had to tell my parents, my family and friends [that] I failed out. The person who gets distracted by the parties and the prestige of playing a varsity sport [being the big man on campus] without looking down the road and saying, ‘I have other dreams and aspirations,’ is going to fail. If not today, then maybe tomorrow. My word of advice is vision—keep yourself grounded and not allow things to cloud your intelligence. Head baseball coach and academic coach ‘Cav’ Whitley said it best, ‘Student athlete… it’s said in that order for a reason.’” With a strong resumé and an experienced head on his shoulders, it’s little surprise he got the job. Welcome to Douglas, Mr. Cohee.
Athletic Director Paul Cohee | Photo courtesy of Jerald Walliser
Te’o marries Favre Reporters need to check their facts Eric Wilkins
Sports Editor sports@theotherpress.ca
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pproximately two weeks ago now, the St. Louis Rams’ season was pronounced mostly dead. With star midtier QB Sam Bradford suffering a torn ACL, the keys to the sputtering Rams’ offence were tossed carelessly to journeyman backup Kellen Clemens as the team began desperately dialling anyone and everyone with an arm and two working knees. After a relatively fruitless search, the hapless lambs settled on Notre Dame bust Brady Quinn and preseason cut Austin Davis. Much as I have a soft
spot for Notre Dame (Jimmy Clausen comeback, anyone?) grads, anytime your team picks up a New York Jets castoff, it’s about time to start paying more attention to those mock drafts. But the Rams’ being terrible isn’t exactly breaking news. The Marc Bulger jersey on my wall is a
dummy behind centre. The story spread like wildfire. It was the lowest low a team destined to do its best Jacksonville Jaguars impression could sink to. Chasing a 44-year-old whose last season included 19 interceptions? Almost makes one long for Vinny Testaverde. The
about Davis, a representative jokingly inquired, “Hey, what about Favre?” Not quite the hot pursuit painted by the media. In today’s world of instant information, it seems that the focus is more on getting the news out than verifying whether it’s true or not. Case in point: the
“It was the lowest low a team destined to do its best Jacksonville Jaguars impression could sink to. Chasing a 44-year-old whose last season included 19 interceptions? Almost makes one long for Vinny Testaverde.” constant reminder of that fact. The fun bit here is the complete incompetence of the media in covering the team’s quest of a budget-priced saviour. A report came out last week that the Rams had tried to get Brett Favre out of retirement to act as the sacrificial tackling
best part of the story though was that Favre turned them down. Hold up. The best part of the story was that it never happened. Davis, a Mississippi alum like Favre, happens to share the same agent, Bus Cook. When the Rams were talking to Cook
Manti Te’o saga. If anyone had done any research at all at any point, that entire fiasco could have been nipped in the bud from the start. Instead, every reporter who was anybody was flipping the story along like it had come straight from the heavens.
While it’s true that not every reporter is going to be the one to break the huge headline, and thus, is restricted to hurrying out his own version of the story as quickly as possible, the timeless art of fact checking shouldn’t be ignored. It shouldn’t be enough that someone else already reported the story that one doesn’t need to do their own research. The “everyone else was doing it” mentality doesn’t fly at any level. What’s perhaps more distressing is that no one seems to mind. Whether this is due to the media losing credibility in the public or because people really don’t care what they read is unknown, but either way, journalists need to step up, do their job properly, and take some pride in what they do instead of being mindless drones churning out story after story.
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SPORTS.
Know the score? Contact the editor at sports@theotherpress.ca
The mane event Douglas student has a ticket to ride Eric Wilkins
Sports Editor sports@theotherpress.ca
“It was an instant infatuation… I had Barbies at home specifically to care for the Barbie horses that I had… I had no other interests except for horses… horse people are weird.” I’ll say. Clad in a pair of black pants and a grey hoody, Natasha Sukorokoff looks like your average college student; and for all intents and purposes, she is. The New Westminster Secondary School product is in her first year of Douglas College’s Future Teachers – Associate of Arts Degree program, and appears to be just as stressed out as the rest of us. Her choice of sport, however, is just a little unusual: having decided at a young age that there was really no need for them to be reserved to fairy
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tales, Sukorokoff rides horses. “When I was six I asked for riding lessons for my birthday and I got them,” she explains, before chuckling and adding, “That was the most expensive decision my parents have ever made. Started with five [lessons]… and here we are 12 years later.” The ambitious woman is clearly not one to settle for anything less than the best. Her most recent accolades include being champion in her division and reserve champion in another (overall winner throughout the week and overall second place) in the Milner Downs Summer Classic this year. To boot, she finished third in her division in the entire province this season, only being edged out by two professional riders. It’s safe to say she’s pretty alright at what she does. It’s not all prancing about several feet in the air and picking up ribbons, though. As with any sport, it’s the work behind the scenes that makes you great—and Sukorokoff has put in plenty of that. “Five hours a day, six days
Photos of Natasha Sukorokoff
a week,” she answers plainly in reference to her in-season schedule. “A lot of it is just conditioning, so, time running around an arena. We work on flexibility and strength training—skills that horses need, just like any other athlete.” Perhaps the major difference with this sport though is that it’s a collaborative effort between horse and rider. And Sukorokoff shares an interesting relationship with her current horse, Union. “He got sick one day and I read an entire book to him—The Princess Bride. He’s basically my best friend. As lame as that makes me sound. It’s a strange, strange relationship,” finishes the future teacher with a laugh. And one with a hefty price tag. “My first horse was $15-grand… and that’s cheap,” she comments, before going on to mention how stable and vet fees add up to another $17,000 or so annually. Despite the costs associated with her passion, she’s adamant in defending it against those who suggest it’s only for individuals with deep pockets
and an easy lifestyle. “I’m not [loaded]. We’re a regular family in a regular house driving regular cars. Both my parents work and I work two jobs to buy what I need for my horse. Horseback riding takes a lot of money, it’s true. It also takes a lot of time and effort, just like any other sport. I consider my being able to ride a privilege. Not everyone gets that opportunity. But that doesn’t mean I take it for granted.” Continuing in the vein of public perceptions, though it may come as a surprise to some, horseback riding can be a dangerous sport. While horses are certainly beautiful beasts and it’s not exactly football out there, it’s easy to forget they’re thousand-pound—or heavier— animals that can be easily spooked. Sukorokoff has witnessed this firsthand, and describes the reaction of her horse after his shoe came off following a jump and lodged itself in his foot: “It’s like putting a nail under your foot and stepping on it repeatedly. He started panicking and ran all the way around the
show grounds, onto a road, and then slipped and fell under a parked car. I separated my shoulder, sprained my ankle and had road rash everywhere… I ended up a foot away from a tire… and he fractured his skull and had to be put down.” The injuries don’t end there for the young rider as she rattles off a list that includes a shattered kneecap and several concussions. But even with all she’s been through, and the countless sacrifices she’s had to make, Sukorokoff has no plans of stopping anytime soon. “I really have [thought about whether it’s worth it], but then I’ll go and get myself injured or something and not be able to ride for a while, and realize how much I miss it and need it to keep myself kinda sane. Every time I try to imagine a future, there’s always a horse somewhere.” An aspiring teacher who loves horses. As she heads down the hall to class, one can’t help but wonder if she’s weaving a fairy tale of her own.
HUMOUR.
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Marvel’s ‘The Fifth Estate’ to premiere this winter Superheroes will hopefully get people to pay attention to politics Shea O’Grady, Contributor
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n light of the recent blockbuster success of The Fifth Estate, DreamWorks and director Bill Condon are said to be in deliberations with Marvel Comics to prepare a muchanticipated sequel to the film about Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks website. The 2015 film will be called The Avengers: WikiLeaks and American Justice, and will feature the entire Avengers cast as they scour the globe on a hunt to find Edward Snowden. The storyline thickens further as the cast realizes that Snowden has not only leaked National Security Agency (NSA) secret documents, but has also stolen the Tesseract energy source that was so pinnacle to the original film’s plot. As expected, Avengers
Photo illustration by Joel McCarthy fans seem to be fraught with excitement. Although most haven’t heard of WikiLeaks or the NSA scandal, fans are sure to like anything with Robert Downey Jr. playing Iron Man. This was expected by Condon, who told
Entertainment, “We realized the general populous doesn’t care about the facts. After all, millions viewed our first film, which was basically just a fictionalized caricature of Julian Assange. When we spoke to viewers, we realized the first film didn’t have
nearly enough firepower, special effects, or A-list celebrities. That’s why we are so excited to be speaking with the cast of the Avengers.” So far, the film promises to be as big and loud as possible. The bar was set high with the
last Avengers film, which created thousands of computer-animated aliens, so it is important for fans that the next film have even less substance and more effects. With any luck, the team of Hollywood writers assembled for this project will make every effort to wrap up all of the details essential to the plot in the first 20 minutes and allow for the remainder of the film to be packed with incredibly stimulating and sensational fight scenes. When asked his thoughts on the film, previous Avengers director Joss Whedon expressed concern about the new film living up to his latest endeavours in the Marvel franchise. He has asked Condon to correct many plot errors in the last Avengers film, and explain how the Hulk has learned to manage his anger. The film has run into trouble with the studio, however, after asking to spend one-third of the approved budget on Bluetooth earpieces. TMZ has reported that the film is slated to start filming in the summer of 2014.
‘The Pencil’ film review The art movie that beats all other art movies when it comes to everything Idrian Burgos, Contributor
Another edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) has ended, and with it a roster of films that challenged our preconceptions about cinema and life. They brought us to undiscovered worlds, gave us stories we don’t see in mainstream cinema, and made us question what we see, hear, and think. Just like other film festivals, VIFF has shown us films that are rich in meaning, excellent
in technique, and brilliant in other aspects. They’re incomparable to commercial movies. Yet the movie that best reaches—nay, exceeds—these criteria didn’t even appear at the festival. This, of course, is Pencil. The Pencil The Pencil is directed by someone who simply goes by the name of Festo, because that’s how avant-garde he is. The film is about an unemployed worker (played by Festo) who one day comes across a pencil that seemingly talks to him telepathically— though the audience doesn’t hear the pencil speak. The pencil directs him to go to an unknown destination through an undefined direction. Along the way, his trip through the clean and orderly streets of the unnamed city is juxtaposed with various images and
sounds. The images and sounds set alongside the nameless character’s journey are unarguably the film’s highlights. They differ with each other in significant ways. We see a mountain sunrise, children blowing bubbles in a backyard, a detailed portrayal of a lion-zebra chase and its predictable result, and termites progressively chewing at a neglected house. A scene of SpongeBob repeatedly hitting himself in the head with his foot is followed by a moving, abstract image of swirling colours, accompanied by stock sitar music. Sounds are either placed over images or stand by themselves. Sheldon’s signature “Bazinga!” line is superimposed over Johnny Weissmuller’s iconic chestbeating and Tarzan yell. A
series of sound clips, including an excerpt from a Bush speech, Lady Gaga singing, and vocalized cat meows, are played while the screen shows a still image of a man picking his nose—the film’s version of a blank screen. Sometimes, the sounds and images are manipulated in diverse ways. The scene where Festo looks out a window is followed by the image of a runway model, which is turned upside down, stretched lengthwise, duplicated all over the screen, and set to the Halo soundtrack. Such scenes obviously present different meanings to the audience members. Does a particular scene represent the effects of capitalism, the erosion of human relationships, or that math assignment that’s a couple of months overdue? Does the
scene of a panda repeatedly eating bamboo signify the situation of man in society, or my laziness and lack of exercise? Does the abstract, colourful image represent unexplored outer perceptions, a reminder that I need to take out the garbage, or is it a pointless and unnecessary picture? Does the fact that the main character and the city are nameless suggest the nature of modern existence, or the director’s laziness in coming up with names? Festo’s film is superb in its average, uninteresting manner. His directing is likewise laudable in its originality and freshness. Overall, The Pencil exceeds the likes of Citizen Kane and The Godfather trilogy. Its direction and meaning are exemplary and worthy of reflection and imitation.
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HUMOUR.
By Joel McCarthy, Graphics Manager http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob7V_WtAVg Who thought drinking tea could be so epic? Alan fucking Rickman, that’s who. Somehow, this man drinking tea is Michael Bay-epic; that being said, it could probably have used more explosions.
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Malls make up new holiday called ‘Hallowmass’ Sources confirm ‘It was going to happen eventually’ Livia Turnbull
Humour Editor humour@theotherpress.ca
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t’s that time of year again when people rush off to buy candy for themselves and toothbrushes for the kids. However, stores across Canada were feeling a little more Christmasy than usual this year. “It’s all part of a new holiday,” said Tom Anderson, a stock boy at Target. “We’re
calling it Hallomass so people won’t complain about the Christmas items on sale in October.” After browsing through the store’s many costumes on display—including a bootleg Santa Grinch outfit with “Jolly good fun, yes!” printed on the tag—it was time to face reality: stores really don’t care what kind of holiday the world celebrates. “Well, we did try to sell Ramadan hams, but nobody liked that idea,” said Anderson. “Come to think of it, our Menorahs in books didn’t sell too well, either. What’s
everyone’s problem? Can’t every religion just learn, like, YOLO?” The Other Press was escorted from the store by security after punching Anderson in the face. However, even the jail seemed like it was gearing up for Hallomass. “The prisoners really like The Nightmare Before Christmas,” an unnamed prison guard said, indicating a group of teenagers who were arrested for shoplifting. The teenage shoplifters voiced concerns about maintaining tradition, asserting that it was important to keep Halloween separate from
Christmas. “We just wanted to steal, like, some fake bat wings and stuff,” said Dark Raven, a morbidly obese young lad with oily hair. “But all we could find was Christmas stuff. What the fuck, dude? Christmas makes people happy. We never want to be happy again.” “I heard if you smear fake blood on your own face and run out into the neighbourhood, people will phone the police,” said Dani Dagger, a known manipulator. “I just want to be a stripper,” said Misery, a female goth. “I’m gonna be one when
I’m forced to pay for college. There’s no hope for me.” “Halloween is rad, Christmas is bad,” said Raven. The Other Press spent the rest of the interview listening to the prisoners talk about how Jack Skellington is a metaphor for human existence and how Sally is the chain that drags him back to reality as a mindless drone. It was a long 24 hours. The Other Press feels confident, following this intensive research, in reporting that holidays don’t matter; consumerism does. Let’s all welcome Hallomass with open arms.
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