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Basil Hassoun | OTE
Volume 24, Issue 4
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November 14, 2017 over.the.edge.unbc@gmail.com
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Over The Edge is the University of Northern British Columbia’s independent student newspaper. Our office is located on the 2nd floor of the NUSC building in room 6-350. We are an equal opportunity publication which represents students in the UNBC and Prince George community. Our publication supports student writing by welcoming news, arts, sports, culture and opinion articles, as well as photography, comics, and creative writing submissions.
This research also highlights a key flaw in how we imagine improving the world environmentally: we
are very good at talking about the problems, but do a poor job of celebrating when we do well. The idea seems to be that celebrating our achievements will make us complacent, but I beg to differ. Looking at environmental issues is daunting even for the wellinformed, and can often feel like a huge, depressing issue that is impossible to fix. If we celebrate our accomplishments, it reminds us that change is possible, and our actions matter. The work we do is important, even if it’s learning to breathe easy in our small, northern nook of the world.
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This is a surprising revelation, as the heavy industrial area has
traditionally been associated with poor air quality. Research like this is important, as the industrial sector has been spending millions of dollars to lower the amount of fine particulate matter they are releasing. It has been difficult to provide a measure of the improvements, but this study suggests that these measures are helping. This is especially good news, as wildfire smoke threatened to choke out the province this summer.
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recent article published by a team of UNBC researchers has shown that the air quality in Prince George is improving, as compared over twelve years of fine particulate matter air quality data. The group was led by Environmental Science Professor
Dr. Peter Jackson, whose undergraduate and graduate research team were listed individually as co-authors, a wonderful experience for any student. Using a new statistical tool, the team were able to extract trends that may not be as obvious on a spreadsheet. They determined that air quality dramatically improved when air from the heavy industrial area of Prince George moved into the city centre.
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UNBC Cafeteria and Tim Horton’s Worker’s Rally Sam Wall Editor in Chief
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n Wednesday, November 8, the workers from UNBC’s Cafeteria and Tim Horton’s held a rally in the outdoor Agora courtyard to protest low wages and limited health care benefits. Despite the brisk cold, the workers held their protest signs high, surrounded by their supporters, including the UNBC Faculty Association, several students, volunteers, and other community members, equally about 40 participants. Protesters walked in two circles, with the inner circle going a different direction than the outer circle, meant to represent the core workers being supported. The rally continued on for one hour, strategically timed after the lunch rush so more employees could join on their breaks. UNBC’s food service employees are automatically members of British Columbia’s Union for hotel and hospitality workers, Local 40. Union representatives led rally attendants in several chants, such as “Solidarity Forever,” and “20 cents won’t pay the rent.” Chants continued to get more creative, as the crowd was dedicated to having their voice heard for the full hour.
Basil Hassoun | OTE
Food services on campus are overseen by UNBC, who contracts out the work to another company, in this case Chartwells, which is a subsidiary of the larger, multinational Compass Group. Food service workers at UNBC have been in negotiations with the company for months, turning down Compass’ offer of a 20 cent raise each year, as it “won’t pay the rent.” To promote
the event, posters were put up on campus, including a quote from cafeteria worker Evelyn Johnston: “I’ve worked in Tim Hortons for 15 years, and I’m proud to work at UNBC. But I only make $14 an hour after 15 years. Now our company is offering only 20 cents increase per year. I work hard for the students. We all deserve a living wage to support our families.” Any member of the UNBC community, from faculty to staff and students, would likely recognize Evelyn and the myriad of other staff who make food service on campus possible, from your morning coffee to a scan of your ID as you enter the cafeteria. This is a long-standing issue for these employees, who do some of the most vulnerable work in society. As students, we have tremendous power to influence the decision-makers of UNBC, so make sure your voice and messages of support are heard! Please email UNBCjustice@ gmail.com to show your support, ask questions, or find out how you can contribute.
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What’s Happening this Month in Senate? Trevor Ritchie Contributor
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n October 25, UNBC’s Senate met, with most the meeting being devoted to changes in a number of courses and programs. These program and course changes will be focused on changing prerequisites for courses and streamlining the process for new and current students. Changes are being made to the Developmental Standard Teaching Certificate program at the Haida Gwaii campus. This program is meant to bridge into the Bachelor of Education program and focuses on Indigenous languages. The main changes to the online course calendar are to add a section on Professional Education for Skidegate Haida, and removing several courses that are no longer being offered. The general coursework requirements for the program are not being changed. The biochemistry program is proposing changes to the program prerequisites. For lower division requirements, the main change reduces the options for acceptable kinds of math classes for the program, with the program now only accepting MATH 100 and MATH 101 for entry into the program, instead of allowing for MATH 105, 150 or 152 to be used in combination with other math classes. The ENGR 210 course is proposing to have its co-requisite course changed from CHEM 200 to ENGR 220, while the ENSC 417 Designing Solutions in Environmental Engineering course is being rebranded as ENGR 417 Engineering Design V. The prerequisites for the new ENGR 417 course remain the same as they were for ENSC 417. Significant changes were made to the UBC/UNBC Joint Environmental Engineering Program in terms of the courses that are completed at UBC for the
program. Proposed changes to the courses taken at UBC include the addition of the CIVL 403 Engineering Economic Analysis and the CIVL 409 Municipal Engineering courses, with a change to the CIVL 402 course to make it become a three-credit course. The course numbers provided are for informational purposes only, and the calendar continues to note that students should refer to the UBC calendar for the official requirements and UBC’s course numbers for those required courses. The program is also proposing to include FSTY 345 Wood Materials Science as an elective course in the program, with a requirement that the elective be taken before heading to UBC for those two years of the program. The final major change to the academic programs at UNBC will be a change in the application deadline for the Bachelor of Education program, with the new proposed date to be January 15 of the year that students wish to apply to. The current application deadline of March 15 is seen as too late in the academic year, and that students who are offered acceptance to UNBC’s program have already accepted offers to other programs by that point in the year. Several scholarships are also being changed or created with the approval of Senate this month. The Canada 150 Anniversary International Scholarship is being changed to clarify that international students enrolled in the English Language Studies program are not eligible to receive the scholarship until they have completed that program and been accepted into a UNBC undergraduate degree
program. The scholarship is also being amended to note that there is a finite number of these scholarships each year, and that the full three years of renewal may not be available for students. It has been proposed that the Youth in Care Tuition Waiver at UNBC be suspended, effective this year. The removal of this program is being proposed due to the provincial government providing similar grants on a province-wide basis, and removing the UNBC program prevents duplication of program services and funding for students. This suspension would only apply to new students, with current students in the waiver program not being affected by the change. Senate is being informed of two new scholarships that have been approved by the Senate Committee on Scholarships and Bursaries. The Inspiring Women Among Us award would provide financial assistance to female identified students who are facing significant challenges or financial barriers, and who are studying at the Quesnel campus. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, but the applicants have to provide a statement outlining why they feel they are eligible for the award. Finally, the Paul Madak
Award is being brought to Senate after being approved by the Senate Committee on Scholarships and Bursaries. This award is specifically for Aboriginal students, and would be available for a full or parttime Aboriginal student who demonstrates financial need and satisfactory academic standing. These scholarships must still be approved by the Board of Governors before becoming available for students.
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Inspiring Women Among Us 2017 Tierney Watkinson News Director
Inspiring Women Among Us (IWAU), the annual community event series, is returning strong in 2017. Designed to celebrate women’s contributions to Canadian and global societies, IWAU will discuss ways society can support our female colleagues, friends, and family members. “Women, Work, and Allies” is the theme of this year’s event, which takes place November 16-29. In 2015, Dr. Zoe Meletis (Associate Professor of Geography) and Dr. Annie Booth (Professor of Ecosystem Science and Management Program) of UNBC created and co-directed the first annual IWAU event. Along the way, they have been helped significantly by fellow professors, students, and community members alike who volunteer a great deal of time and effort. For several years now, the City of Prince George has also supported the event with small funding allocations, attendance, and a City Proclamation. Integral to the success of IWAU is the Student Planning Assistant— this year, the position is held by Furqana Khan. A Graduate student at UNBC, she is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Social Work. Khan is hard at work organizing volunteers, sending out posters, and otherwise readying IWAU for the opening ceremonies on November 16. A great deal of her job involves answering a constant stream of emails and other inquiries, Khan discloses. She was surprised and genuinely pleased by the influx of students wanting to volunteer at the event, as well as by the number of people who approach her or IWAU tabling events simply wanting to learn more about it. People in the broader Prince
George community, too, have been reaching out and wanting to contribute in any way they can, she added. Khan encourages anyone interested in volunteering to connect with her and think ahead to next year as well— joining an organizing committee for the event is also an option for next year’s events. According to Dr. Booth and Dr. Meletis, a dedicated pre-event volunteersupported organizational core will help IWAU survive and thrive in the future. Khan’s work will not end with the closing ceremonies of IWAU— there will be plenty of work still to do in the form of official reports, which are available on the IWAU website. And, after the closing ceremonies mark the end of this year’s event series, there will be a few IWAU events in the coming semester to be on the lookout for, such as Shimmy into Spring, a co-hosted fundraiser for IWAU and the Prince George Pride Society. Talented burlesque artists and other performers will also be showcased at later dates, at our very own Thirsty Moose Pub. IWAU events will occur not only on campus but at multiple venues throughout Prince George, including the Prince George Public Library and Hub Space. Khan notes that IWAU 2017 events will be taking place across UNBC’s regional campuses as well. Several of the UNBC home campus events will be livestreamed, she says, in order to let as many people as possible view presentations. There will also be an IWAUrelated (Colored Girl Narrative) podcast, via CFUR Radio 88.7FM, which will be open to the public. Khan highlighted, “We are going to have the Honourable Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training,
talk about How Post-Secondary Institutions Can Be Allies to Those Excluded from Universities.” The MLA will be speaking immediately after the Opening Ceremonies, which start at 9:30am and continue through to 11am, on November 16. A brief Q&A session will follow, moderated by Dr. Dan Ryan (Provost and Vice-President, Academic). Everyone is welcome to IWAU, Khan emphasizes, and there is a broad spectrum of activities being hosted. All but a few of these events are free to attend. “We have panels and workshops for people who are interested in running their own businesses, we have panels about how we can facilitate women and their success in medicine…” Khan lists, adding that there will be films and a play too, for those passionate about the arts. Speakers from a variety of disciplines will be giving talks in accordance with the 2017 IWAU theme. “There is something in it for everybody,” Khan states, “whether you are a woman or not.”
You can find out about this year’s schedule and additional information on the IWAU website (https://www.unbc.ca/inspiringwomen); you can also email Furqana Khan at iwau@unbc. ca. IWAU can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and will be hosting a Snapchat account for this year’s events. Be sure to follow IWAU on social media, and to attend IWAU 2017!
IWAU Facebook Page
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Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Curriculum Enters BC School System Trevor Ritchie Contributor
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ast year, the BC Ministry of Education announced that all BC school boards and independent schools would be required to specifically reference sexual orientation and gender identity in their codes of conduct, which followed a similar amendment to the BC Human Rights Code that added gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination. The new changes come after more than three quarters of school districts had independently created policies addressing sexual orientation and gender identity within their districts. This new provincial policy will force the remaining districts to create policies that are in line with provincial requirements.
resources to be used in the classroom by teachers and staff. The first part of the program has already been implemented by school districts because of previous Ministry requirements, and school boards across British Columbia are now attempting to implement changes that account for the second part of the program, which is to create more inclusive learning environments. Implicit in this is that additional training will be required for all school staff, including school board officials who are meant to oversee the program in their local districts.
The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) curriculum being used by the provincial government includes pre-made lesson plans that recognize students right to self-identify their gender and preferred gender pronouns, which may be different from the person’s biological birth sex. This differentiation between biological sex and gender identity is a major point of contention for trans individuals, and the new curriculum will help to educate students and faculty about these differences and how to better support people with different sexual orientations and gender identities.
It is this change in environment that is currently attracting opposition from some school trustees and concerned parents. These concerns mainly revolve around concerns that children are being introduced to the topic in age inappropriate ways, and that the families themselves should have greater control over when their children are introduced to topics of sexual diversity. Other groups are concerned that the focus on changing the language used is going too far in stifling the way individuals refer to each other, with some people who are opposed to the policy expressing concern that young children are not able to understand the issues and accurately explain their own sexual orientation or gender identity.
The SOGI 1-2-3 program that the BC government is implementing has already been used in Alberta and consists of three parts of the program: creating district policies that specifically address sexual orientation and gender identity issues, creating inclusive learning environments, and developing
Supporters of the policy note that past anti-bullying strategies have lacked a coherent focus on sexual orientation and gender identity issues, and that members of the LGBTQ community experience higher and more severe rates of bullying within the school system, and that these statistics
justify specific policies meant to address those concerns that are not being addressed through the current anti-bullying programs. According to its creators, the SOGI 1-2-3 program is meant to evolve over time, with teachers and administrators continuing to add to the program and in particular to the classroom resources that make up the third component of the program. The program website provides links to lesson plans that the program claims are suitable for each age group and grade, but there is a limited amount of material currently available. The expectation is that as teachers create their own lesson plans and materials that would be suitable for the program, those lessons will be added to the SOGI 1-2-3 database for other teachers to use, further building the program and making it more accessible to a greater number of educators and students throughout British Columbia.
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BC 2017 Election and Minority Government Analysis Eric Depenau Contributor
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C politics is always changing, but the last few months have had an added touch of depth. The tight results of the May 9, 2017 election paved the way for a temporary return of Christy Clark and the BC Liberals, to a minority government. But the slim majority did not provide enough breathing room to allow Clark to hold the reigns through the confidence motion that shortly followed. After the fall of the BC Liberals from power, John Horgan of the NDP, now Premier, and Green Party Leader, Andrew Weaver, were able to come to terms with a Confidence and Supply Agreement between their parties. A Confidence and Supply Agreement, in this case, simply means that the Greens will not vote against the NDP on issues of confidence. Confidence issues would include budgets and Throne Speeches for example. This deal helped to make the Lieutenant Governor’s offer for the NDP to form government possible. While the dust is only starting to settle and every aspect of the provincial election is still being mulled over and analyzed for lessons to be learned, clues as to what the parties need to do to consolidate or regain power, and where the next battle ground ridings might be. An exciting process for political pundits
and enthusiasts has begun to take place. The NDP forming government for the first time in sixteen years is interesting on its own, but the Confidence and Supply Agreement between the NDP and Greens is something that no one saw coming. Now, at the onset of the NDP’s term in government, we can more or less guess how the NDP and Liberals will interact, but the new agreement is a wild card. Dr. Weaver has been clear about his intentions. He said that the BC Green caucus would strive towards a productive and collaborative working relationship with the new NDP Cabinet, as well as the BC Liberals. This statement is no doubt expected, if not nearly customary, at the onset of a new relationship. However, this relationship is unique, as the Green’s support is necessary in order for the NDP to maintain a minority government which is obviously precarious. So, what? Norman Spector recently wrote that, “B.C.’s minority government means that power-sharing agreements, negotiations and compromise are part of the deal. That means campaign promises might have to be modified to earn the support of the parties so the legislation actually passes and the NDP stay in power.” To be clear, the need for greater
cooperation is not necessarily a bad thing. However, there are questions that are bound to come up. One that comes to mind might be: is there enough policy overlap between these parties to make this agreement work in the long run, and if not, will the Greens simply go along to get along with the NDP? Beginning with a small example, “John Horgan said during the election . . . he would change the current law that requires employees who want to unionize to take a vote by secret ballot.” Ballot rules may be a niche issue but it resonated with many. In response to this commitment Dr. Weaver was clear, “I will never support legislation that will eliminate the secret ballot . . . It’s simply not going to happen. And no amount of convincing will ever convince me.” Of course no relationship is perfect and disagreements are healthy in a governing relationship, but if we expand our considerations it’s not just this issue. Grizzly bear hunting, bridge tolls, Uber, and rental subsidies are just a few of the other issues where tensions have erupted prompting Dr. Weaver to call some of the NDP’s plans both reckless and irrelevant. These disagreements hamper movement on issues that have arisen since the NDP have come
to power and a number of key campaign promises like the $400 renter’s rebate and $10 a day daycare subsidies were not outlined in the most recent NDP preliminary budget; an occurrence that is unlikely coincidental considering that the Green Party opposed these initiatives. While it is clear that both groups agree on the underlying principles that would inform these types of policies, their individual plans to get there have not yet come close enough to make something work. In fact, they appear to be hundreds of millions of dollars apart when child care funding is considered. If any of these sticking points can be overcome by the NDP and Green Parties, or if another election is just beyond the horizon, is yet to be seen. What is clear, is that the parties have remained distinctly independent and that the Green Party is unwilling to make some of the compromises many thought they would to get closer to power. Despite criticism and the pet name “GreenDP,” there are very much two opposition parties today in the BC legislature, and the Greens will clearly not be rubber-stamping the NDP’s plans. While this scrutiny is good for democracy, as a whole it may lead to some worrisome times for our new and fledgling government. BC Government
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Softwood Lumber Dispute Eric Depenau Contributor
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arly in 2015 there was a constant buzz about the pending expiration of Canada’s softwood lumber trade agreement (SLTA) with the United States. Canada has been without a proper agreement since then. Negotiations have been dragging on for years and many are lost in the process. With so many British Columbians relying on the forest industry for work, this issue was top of mind as the agreement’s final days counted down, expired, and lapsed without a new deal in place. The province’s political situation at the time also fanned public interest as leading parties expressed why they would be the best negotiators moving forward. Being as the SLTA is a federal agreement, many might think that the provinces would each share both an equal risk and an equal benefit being party to the agreement. This equality isn’t the case, BC is exposed to a greater risk than any other province and the inability to negotiate a new agreement soon could be devastating. BC is the largest producer of softwood lumber accounting for nearly half of Canada’s overall production. Some have commented that regardless of a fair decision coming out
of these talks, Canada, and BC in particular, will be able to take their business elsewhere. However simply changing markets isn’t an option, not today and not in the foreseeable future. BC has taken steps to diversify into the Asian and Indian markets but the US is still BC’s single largest recipient for softwood lumber. Reports published by the Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations show the value of BC lumber exports to the US in 2016 at more than $4.6 billion. Overall, forestry is responsible for more than 60,000 direct jobs and is estimated to support more than 40% of BC’s rural communities. No series of impromptu trade missions will wean BC away from the US’s economic magnet in the short term. The centrality of the US market in Canada’s forestry sector makes completing these negotiations a no fail task. So, what’s the hold up? The reasons for the delay include both the US and Canadian Federal elections but more importantly the delay stems from the fact that many major industry organizations in the United States simply do not want to renew the contract. They believe that Canada is getting
too good of a deal under the current fees and tariffs. Canada does not accept this position. Adding to this disagreement is the prevailing opinion in the US among groups like the US Lumber Coalition that, should negotiations fail, the coalition will have grounds to petition the US Commerce Department to start work on an entirely new deal. This likelihood is reinforced since Canadian owned companies in the US would have no say in the petitioning process.
out this directive announcing a plan to raise fees on most sources of Canadian lumber. A fact sheet on the plan states that West Fraser Mills will pay the highest duties at 24.12 percent. The second highest fees will be paid by Canfor Corp at 20.26 percent. Both companies are headquartered in BC. In retaliation, Canada’s Federal Government suggested that it will be investigating counter measures including a ban on exports of US coal through Canadian ports.
In March of 2016, both nations tasked their respective cabinet members to resolve the trade dispute. Canada’s International Trade Minister, Chrystia Freeland, said that “what we have committed to is to make significant, meaningful progress towards a deal — to have the structure, the key elements there 100 days from now.”
The above timeline brings our brief highlight reel of events to the present date. Despite years of negotiations, it would appear that we are not on the verge of a new agreement, that the 100-day pledge has fallen dramatically short of fruition and that retaliatory measures between the countries may become the norm in the days ahead. All of this is bad news for BC, as beetle infestation, wildfire, and competing economic interests ravage our forestry sector. The uncertainty that stems from the lack of an agreement and the threat of ever increasing costs are issues for the BC economy; issues that will remain for the foreseeable future.
In November of 2016, only a few months later, a memo was leaked from President Trump’s transition team suggesting that the softwood lumber dispute be used as a tool in the NAFTA renegotiations to better the agreement’s terms for the United States. In April of 2017, President Trump’s administration carried
Monique Gendron | OTE
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Banished to the Bayou Event
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Fairy Tales
Alexandra Tuttosi Team Member
Alexandra Tuttosi Team Member
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ames, contests and music are three words to describe the Two Rivers Gallery’s “Banished to the Bayou” event. Each costume became more creative than the last. Ghouls, ghosts and goblins were only some of the creatures that haunted the gallery. Fortune tellers could also be found predicting the future of those brave enough to know. Upstairs, belly and burlesque dancers claimed the stage with their dance moves. Guests could also try their luck at various boxes for an unknown prize donated to the Gallery. Those who attended this event had a fun time and would gladly come back in future years.
Alexandra Tuttosi | OTE
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he public library hosted an event where an English PhD student named Alauna Brown, presented her thesis in a fun and unique way. The two names of fairy tales that she looked at during her research were: “The Three Faries” and “The Two Cakes” by Giambattista Basile, “The Enchantments of Eloquence” and “The Effects of Sweetness” by Marie-Jeanne L’Heritier, and “The Fairies” by Charles Perrault. All of the fairy tales were written during the seventeenth century; one in Italy, one in France, and the other in England. The general storyline contains: bad girl has everything in the beginning of
the story, then is punished at the end, and the good girl works hard all of her life but still suffers and by the end she gets rewarded. When asked why she chose this specific topic, Alauna Brown said she was listening to CBC radio one day and a woman, who studies fairy tales, was talking about her work. This inspired Alauna to pursue this topic during her English studies. She also said that as a child “Ella Enchanted” was her favourite novel. This love for feminist fairy tales allowed Alauna to narrow her focus and do what she never thought was possible: study fairy tales.
indianfolk.com
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For the Love of Sex: Trustworthy, Ethical Sexual Life Advice Polyanne Marie Columnist
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ear Pollyanne,
I have been wanting to try polyamory for some time now but am worried about how I will handle my current boyfriend seeing other people. We have been together for 2 years and talked about having an open relationship but never went further than a couple of threesomes with other women. I would like us both to feel that we have the freedom to see other people without too many rules, but I am scared I won’t be able to handle it. I also don’t know where I would meet someone who would be interested in dating someone who is already in a committed relationship but is totally new to polyamory. I am also worried they will think I am stupid for not knowing all the lingo. Do you have any advice for me?” -S.Bee143 Thanks for writing in, Bee. I spoke quite a bit about jealousy and compersion (jealousy’s much easier going brother from another mother) in my last article, which you can read on my website, Pollyannemarie.tumblr.com. As I mentioned there, I have also been learning how to deal with these feelings and continue reminding myself that, as my poly friends say, “it gets easier!” Something that has helped me when I have a hard time thinking about one of my partners hooking up with someone else, is taking a good hard look at where I think my worth is coming from. Society spends a lot of time telling us that being someone’s one and only is paramount in our worth as a person. Honestly, this is a big part of the reason I found that being poly was important
Bobbu | thebobbu.com to me in the first place. It’s an enormous weight we put on people to be our partners today. As Esther Perel expressed in an interview with Dear Sugars: “At this point, we are living one of the greatest experiments in humankind - to create something that has, throughout history, been considered a contradiction in terms - a passionate marriage. Passion has always existed, but it took place somewhere else. Everything that we wanted from a traditional marriage companionship, family, children, economic support, a best friend, a passionate lover, a trusted confidante, an intellectual equal - we are asking from one person what an entire village once provided. And couples are crumbling under the weight of so much expectation.”* I think it’s important to put these things into perspective and self-reflect on why you are feeling jealous. Of course, if your partner is breaking arrangements which were previously agreed upon by the two of you, or you feel that you are being made to compromise more than you are comfortable with to make your new dynamic work, it might be time to sit down and have a conversation about expectations. Just because you’re poly doesn’t mean you’re not human. You are very much allowed to have feelings and to have those feelings change, and that’s why we stress communication between partners. You’re allowed to be jealous, the attempt to change our partner’s actions so that we feel better is more so what I try to avoid. Speaking of which, keep in mind that when you are stepping into the poly community, most of us
are pretty open communicators. If you’re feeling intimidated because you’re new to the scene, my advice would be honest. Anyone who is worth dating is going to be able to have an open and transparent conversation with you about their expectations and boundaries and will be happy to explain anything you don’t understand. The beautiful thing about polyamory is that we aren’t a pretentious clique, we really do believe in a “the more the merrier” mindset. I’m not saying everyone will want to date you but they should, at the very least, respect that you are new to the scene and encourage you to ask questions to expand your understanding of polyamorous relationships. I’d say that goes for your question on how to meet people as well. I meet poly people on regular dating sites as well as FetlIfe. com (a kind of Facebook for kinksters). You can meet poly people anywhere you go to meet people in general, you just have to know what you are looking for. Someone’s Tinder profile might identify them as “Queer” or maybe all they have is a rainbow emoji in their profile description. The truth is that “queer” is an umbrella term for anyone practicing a form of unconventional sex, relationships, or who identifies as a sexual or gender minority. So they may actually be trying to put out a discreet poly flag. I met a few of my partners on Tinder and Plenty of Fish. Those and the relatively new app “Bumble” seem to be your best bet if you are not on Fetlife. Like I said, just be honest from the start. I know that starting out can be scary and putting yourself out
there in any new arena can be anxiety-inducing, but I also know that the people in the poly community of Prince George are easygoing and always happy to meet new likeminded people. If you are looking for further materials to help you in your journey, a great place to start is the website www.morethantwo. com or the book of the same name by Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert. You can purchase the book on Amazon or support a local business and order in from Books and Company as I did. While you’re there, you can pick up a copy of “The Ethical Slut” by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy, they usually have it in stock. One more? Try Cacilda Jethá’s “Sex at Dawn” for a look at the fascinating evolution of monogamy. Remember to be honest with your current and upcoming partners and above all, take your time. There shouldn’t be a rush into any of this. If it is really what you and your boyfriend want then go slow, communicate often and take baby steps. Good luck! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas for upcoming articles, please email us at Askpollyannemarie@ gmail.com. You can submit anonymously and read past articles through the website at Pollyannemarie.tumblr.com. Until next time, keep it kinky and keep it consensual! ~Pollyanne Marie *Listen to the full interview with Esther Perel at www. wbur.org/dearsugar
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Professors A to Z Talk: How do People Become Professors? F
ive different UNBC answers to that question, collected from the generous colleagues of Professors A to Z: “I fell into academia somewhat by accident. After an undergrad in history I was at a loss as to what I wanted to do with my life, so I thought I should continue with my studies. The MA, however, almost destroyed my sense of curiosity and enjoyment in intellectual challenge. It wasn’t until after a prolonged absence from academia that the desire for interesting conversations and the allure of research dragged me back in. A PhD in the history of horsemanship complimented my background in horse riding, while also engaging with some of the ongoing debates surrounding animals in the past. This work continues to be fruitful here at UNBC, though the continuing casualization of the academic workforce has resulted in sessional and contract positions rather than a permanent post. Finger’s crossed this will eventually change.” -Dr. Monica Mattfeld, Assistant Professor, Departments of English and History “I started my career in chemistry after completing my Master’s program in applied chemistry. I provided services to a company, and was asked to study the vegetable oil production plant to find production related bottlenecks, and was lucky to find a major bottleneck in the first few months, and reported it to the senior manager in charge of the production. However, the process took a long time to win management over and make changes in the process. This led me to believe that if I would have
been part of the management decision making process, then perhaps the decision to make changes would have been faster. So, I decided to go for a management position, and after completing a management program, provided management related services to another division. I was asked to work on projects that entailed collection of data and information from various departments to prepare
Bachelor in Forestry (U. Laval) and a master’s and doctorate at the University of Guelph in botany and mycology, followed by 5 years of postdoctoral work (2 years in Corvallis, Oregon with Oregon State U., 1 year in Uppsala at the Swedish U. of Agricultural Sciences, and 2 years at UBC), I would be recruited just in time for the opening of a brand new University in Prince George in August 1994.
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reports and provide action oriented advice to management on various managerial issues. This action oriented research work experience got me interested in research, and I joined a Ph.D program, and was also invited to teach management courses to undergraduate and graduate students. I later got the assistant professor position after completion of my Ph.D program, and since then I have worked at various universities conducting action oriented research and teaching graduate and undergraduate students.” -Dr. Balbinder Deo, Associate Professor, School of Business “My path to UNBC was tortuous, serendipitous and exhilarating. Tortuous because frankly, I could not have predicted nor anticipated that, after a
Serendipitous because my expertise in forestry and plant biology was indeed a scientific profile that UNBC was looking for in this northern setting for our sprouting Forestry Program! It was so gratifying to be wanted for the suite of experiences I had had over the years. Exhilarating because at UNBC, you felt this immediate welcome from the city and the local University community. I was immediately surrounded by an outstanding group of scholars in many disciplines who, like me, had a full teaching and research agenda to initiate just after the monarch visit! Those were the days (as the song goes!) but the excitement is still very much alive 23 years later!” -Dr. Hugues B. Massicotte, Professor, Forest Biology
“I became a professor as it was the inevitable thing to do. My father was a university professor, who began taking me to classes at the university when I was 10 years old. There was no question of not going to university. After I finished my Master’s and worked for the government for a bit, I finally decided the PhD and a professorship was what I wanted. At that point, my father told me not to get a PhD. Way to change your mind, Dad. To be fair, there were not that many jobs for graduating PhDs at that point. I went anyway, he got over it after I started, even came down and scared my PhD supervisor by making pointed comments (although not enough, I had to dump the guy for being a jerk). So, I guess it was the family business, to be a professor.” -Dr. Annie Booth, Professor, Environmental Studies “Since my undergraduate years, I aspired to become a professor for three main reasons. First, being the first in my family to attain a University education at the time, I wanted to reach this height so I become a source of inspiration to my younger siblings and cousins. Secondly, I had a desire to teach so I figured being a professor would be a great way of mentoring the next generation of higher learners. Thirdly, my passion for research comes from its potential to contribute to addressing real life issues. By being a professor, I gain the needed reputation for my knowledge and expertise to count towards social change. -Dr. Nathan Andrews, Assistant Professor, Department of Global & International Studies
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Opinion
Do you Think We’re Past the Point of No Return? Katie Shier Contributor
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bout two weeks ago, we posted the question “Environmentally, are we past the point of no return?” on a whiteboard in the Winter Garden, because we were curious to know what people really thought. If I’m being honest, there were some interesting responses. In total we received 50 responses and it’s fascinating to hear just how varied yet similar the answers were. Overall, there were about 15 responses that said we are definitely past the point of no return environmentally speaking, but there were a few people who wrote that even though we are past the point of no return, it
doesn’t mean we should give up entirely. I wonder if the rest of the people who think we are past the point of no return are still willing to try and change the world for the better? I thought that it was amazing that the section with the most responses was the group that think that there is still hope to fix the damage that has been done. There were 17 people that wrote that they believe we haven’t reached the point of no return yet. The majority thought that we were getting close though and if we don’t take action now that it will be too late. It seemed that most of these people have hope that we can create a better
future. There were a couple of responses though that thought we are fine just the way we are. Similar to the people who said we aren’t past the point of no return, there were 10 responses that believed that we are and we aren’t past the point of no return because there is always new technology coming out and it’s up to us to find a way to create a better future. One response that made this clear was “It doesn’t matter, we have to try or curl up in a ball and die.” I don’t know about you, but this seems like a very clear choice to me. The other 8 responses were half other questions relating to environmental issues, but
Fingers Crossed for a New Pool Corey Bonnar Contributor
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hat a pleasure to have the Mayor of Prince George on campus on October 17 to provide us with an overview of some proposed new infrastructure developments. Mayor Lyn Hall did an excellent job of presenting the information and answering questions. I particularly loved how he summed up his presentation by saying a “No” vote on the upcoming referendum is indeed not a “free” vote. However, by the time you read this it will be too late. The ballots will all have been cast and counted and the city may have to start planning how best to manage the cost of maintaining the Four Seasons
swimming pool. I am confident the voting citizens of Prince George will have voted in favor of a new fire hall in a new location, but I am not so optimistic the “Yes” will prevail in deciding on a new pool. I am happy to live in such a wonderful community with access to amazing public facilities. I also know how important the Four Seasons pool is in serving the needs of our community. That is why I am disheartened to think of a time when the Four Seasons pool will be torn down, still at a high cost to the city taxpayer, and replaced somewhere further west of the city at an even higher cost to the city taxpayer.
Increased taxes are always unpopular, but for increased local economic development and new investments in public infrastructure downtown, I think these proposed tax increases should be considered positive costs for the benefits they provide to all of us. My only hope is that enough people who understand how good public facilities create healthier communities vote “Yes” to a new pool.
there were a few responses that posed the question, “Return to what?” This is an interesting view because everybody has a different opinion of what we should be trying to achieve environmentally, so really, what are we returning too? In the end, it seems that the majority of people still believe that there is hope for a better future. Most importantly, do you think that environmentally, we are past the point of no return, or do you think that there is still hope to
Culture
What’s about Secrets? Emmanuel Drame Team Member
A burden amassed through discrete actions The truth dare not knock for it will desecrate that which is to remain obliterated To many a men, it is a responsibility of trust too great to bear To the few trustworthy custodians, it palpitates the conscience When moments thus remind us of them The tale of absolute secrets is that to which only our actions are privy Plurality in knowledge to it makes the guilty feel uneasy To the grave it should be taken But a harm it remains until its discovery sets all participants free It is a double-edged sword for its bearers Until it is let loose, it is rationalized as a disguise To protect those we proclaim to love Confidentiality is its maxim that defines the depth and duration of relationships. Secrets amongst a handful is grounds for variations of truths Everyone is deemed a liar until there is a unanimous coherence in their truth So what’s about secrets? Are they sedatives for our consciences when let loose? Or are they bitter insomnia pills worth swallowing? A life free of secrets devalues truth On the other hand, life was not meant to be an open-book No secrets is living life uninterested with no place for suspense whatsoever Know your threshold for how much you can keep hidden Weigh the repercussions, stay true to your secrets for That is “what’s about secrets”
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Culture
How to Successfully Flunk a Final Exam James Eckstein Contributor
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ith the end of the semester fast approaching, there will be no shortage of helpful guides or tips popping up everywhere for how to be successful and pass your upcoming final exams. However, being a university level student, you’ve probably heard the same advice countless times before. But what about the opposite end of the spectrum? What if you were actively looking to fail a final exam? Below are the six easiest ways that will stop you from successfully passing your big final. Start by eating unhealthily. Having a well balanced and nutritious diet is a key part to ensuring your mind will be in top shape to both study and learn. Since we want none of that, we need to lose the idea of a healthy diet. Forget once a week, make everyday your cheat day. Load up on unhealthy snacks, sugary drinks, pizza, or anything that’s bound to make you sick when consumed in large quantities. Stop sleeping regularly. Another essential to getting the lowest grade possible on your final exam would be to start getting as little sleep possible. You want your body and mind to be totally sleep deprived when you write your final. Eight hours and above is the amount of sleep you want to avoid if you want to score a low grade. It’s important to note that it isn’t just the night before your exam that you should get as little sleep as possible, but also in the weeks leading up to your final. Start binge-watching more television. There’s no point in limiting the amount of
television or streaming you watch during the week. Instead of saving a new show with eight seasons worth of content for winter break, binge it over the course of a week. Time that could potentially be spent studying should be concentrated on finishing as many new shows as humanly possible. Ignore all available academic resources on campus. UNBC has a variety of different locations available on campus that can help you with difficulties you may be having in your courses. These range from the Academic Success Center, the Mathematical Academic Center of Excellence, or the Nucleus (to name a few). Forget these spots your professors keep telling you about. They are only trying to trick you into getting a better final exam mark. Make studying and going to class a thing of the past. One of the easiest ways to get an understanding of your course subject would be to simply show up to class, or even rereading the notes you took in class once you get home. Fully attending and participating in all your classes is a terrible idea that should be avoided at all costs if you want to maximize your chance of flunking your final. Lastly, don’t show up to write your final. If all else fails and you’re still worried about getting a good mark, the simplest step you can take is not attending the final exam. This way you don’t have to worry about accidentally writing down any of the information you may have learned unknowingly sometime throughout the semester.
Daniel Dubois | vanderbilt.edu
At the end of the day if you try to follow as many of these tips as possible, you should be well on your way to an atrocious final exam mark. It may seem daunting, but knowing that winter break lies directly after you finish your finals is a great motivator. If for some unknown reason you decide that you want to do well and pass your final exams, you can always take the direct opposite of these steps.
Culture
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How to Give the Perfect Christmas Gift Jade Szymanski Contributor
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hether it be a family member, a friend, a lover, or a stranger you think would appreciate some love and compassion, Christmas is a great time to remind those around you that you care and value the roles they play in your bleak and depressing life. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, this time of year is still a wonderful time to express your appreciation and gratitude to them that they find you tolerable enough to call family or a friend. Perhaps give them a call on the telephone or send a muffin basket to their doorstep. However, if you do celebrate Christmas and are feeling the pressures of providing the perfect presents to purely peachy people, look no further, as this is the piece of advisory text you have been desperately searching for. First of all, you need to get out of the mindset of copping out and giving a basic gift. Items such as candles, mugs, tea, bath bombs, and scarves are too common
and predictable. The world has enough mugs to hydrate everyone on this planet at least 10 times each, please don’t buy your sister another one from Indigo. It’s easy to fall into the trap of getting someone one of these classic gifts because they’re so versatile for everyone and require little to no effort. However, Christmas only happens once a year and this generation’s creativity is only getting weaker. It’s time to put your originality and imagination to work so that your gift really stands out from the rest and is memorable for years to come. Secondly, as university students, it’s also important to set a budget and not focus on a large price tag or grandeur of a present. No one is expecting you to buy them a white Ferrari 458 Spider as you are not Tyga and this is not Kylie Jenner’s 18th birthday. Although Christmas has become tradition for advertising the biggest and best new products to produce the biggest and best smiles on your loved ones’ faces, the fact
of the matter is that that is not the true spirit of Christmas. The true spirit is to spend time with those that you love, and giving gifts is just an added bonus to celebrate how much these people are worth to you. As long as you can remember that worth is measured in love and not in dollars, you’ll be able to stay on track to gifting the most perfect (and affordable) Christmas gift. So finally, we get to the actual criteria of what makes the best Christmas gift. The thing in which people appreciate the most is that you put thought into what you got them. As long as they open your gift and think about the personal effort you used for them individually, that will show how much you care. The best gifts are those that either involve an inside joke or something that is particular to your relationship in a more private manner. If you and your brother have discussed always wanting to watch a movie together and you buy him the DVD, he will appreciate that you
remembered this thing you share and will get to experience it together. Or if your dad and you have an inside joke about how good the guacamole is at your favourite restaurant and you buy him 20 jars of guacamole, he will reminisce on all of the good times you’ve had at that restaurant and that you remember that joke too. The thing that people care most about is having others care about them. When you get someone a gift that reflects something you two share in common, it shows that you keep them in mind and haven’t forgotten all the good times you’ve had together. As long as you truly care about the person and they care about you back, there can be no bad gift to get them. They will appreciate the effort you put in and will be stoked about the new iPhone that their mom got them because honestly it’s only moms that should stress about getting the biggest and best presents for everyone.
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