Nov 27

Over The Edge

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uman Choices in Responsibility See Page 10

Tyson Kelsall | OTE

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Volume 20, Issue 7 overtheedgenewspaper.ca

November 27, 2013 ote-newspaper@unbc.ca

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Join us for the Memorial for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women November 29, 2013 12:00pm in the Winter Garden

News

Typhoon Haiyan Update

Nicole Halseth News Editor

NOAA | GETTY IMAGES

Nicole Halseth News Editor

T

he confirmed death toll in the Philippines continues to rise following the devastation wrought

by Typhoon Haiyan.

According to an article on the BBC news website, the UN and local agencies in the Philippines have confirmed a death toll of around 3, 361 people. This number is expected to continue to rise.

This comes after Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, hit the region around 7 November 2013. Typhoon Haiyan may be the largest tropical storm to have made landfall in recorded history. It is the fourth most intense tropical cyclone that has ever been observed. It was formed on 3 November, and finally dissipated on 11 November.

Typhoon Haiyan, at its peak, was assessed as a Category 5 super typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Its winds may have even measured up to 315 km/h. It first made landfall at Guiuan, Eastern Samar, in the Philippines, on 7 November. It later traveled along the Philippines to make final landfall on 10 November, in northern Vietnam, as a severe tropical storm.

Typhoon Haiyan caused widespread destruction in the Philippines, especially in the central region, on Samar Island, and Leyte. The city of Tacloban, located in this region, may have suffered particularly heavy losses. According to UN officials, between 9 and 11 million

Batkid to the Rescue!

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people have been impacted by this typhoon. Up to 12, 487 have been injured, 1, 187 are currently missing, and 1,871,321 have been displaced.

One of the controversies surrounding this disaster is the slow pace at which disaster aid and relief reached affected populations.

Though numerous countries have pledged money and labour to help with the relief efforts, food and supplies only began to reach affected areas one week after the storm hit.

Efforts to bring aid to these regions are hampered by a shortage of trucks, according to the Philippine government. Additionally, local emergency services are also facing challenges brought on by the typhoon. In the city of Tacloban, not even a quarter of the local police force reported for work in the week after the storm, according to the article on the BBC website.

While aid service providers struggle to reach communities that were hit by the storm, citizens in these places are faced with the reality of the devastating impacts of one of the worst tropical storms in recorded history. Bodies which were lying out in the streets have begun to be cleared and buried, and thousands of survivors are trying to leave Tacloban through its local airport. It is likely that this country will be dealing with the effects of this storm for many years to come.

If you are interested in ways you can help, you can check out information online through sites like World Vision and UNICEF.

ccording to an article on the BBC news website, “Thousands of people in San Francisco have turned out to help a boy suffering from leukaemia fulfil his wish to be Batman for a day.” Miles Scott, a San Francisco boy of five, participated in organized events throughout the city in which he fought mock crimes. Scott even received an honour from the city’s mayor. This event was organized by the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which received pledges to help with the event from over 10, 000 people.

Miles Scott is now in remission, following leukaemia treatment which had been ongoing for several years. The event began with Scott, dressed as Batman and going by the moniker ‘Batkid,’ received a broadcast calling for his help from San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr.

Following this, Batkid saved a woman in mock distress, as she was tied to cable car tracks along a major street. He was cheered along by hundreds of people who showed up to watch the event and provide support. Batkid was driven to each event in his very own ‘Batmobiles,’ which were two black Lamborghinis decorated with removable Batman stickers. He was escorted by the police, and was aided throughout the day by a man who was also dressed in a complete Batman costume.

Batkid continued his fight against crime by catching a pretend robber

in his tracks in the city’s financial district. He then traveled to AT&T Park to rescue the San Francisco Giants baseball team mascot, which he did by valiantly disarming a fake bomb.

The crux of the day, however, was when the “villain,” the dastardly Riddler, was taken into custody by the authorities who had participated in the days’ events.

According to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, this event was “on the scale of a military operation.”

The Foundation was so dedicated in organizing this event that their website was closed on Friday, 15 November, as they fulfilled the wish.

Additionally, the mayor of San Francisco, Ed Lee, reportedly gave the courageous hero a key to the city before the day’s end. Natalie, Batkid’s mother, said that the day was like a “celebration” of her son’s completion of years of treatment.

On the Make-a-Wish Foundation website, she wrote that "this wish has meant closure for our family and an end to over three years of putting toxic drugs in our son's body."

This event is a wonderful example of community engagement. And really, who does not want to be Batman for a day? It seems Gotham (San Francisco) will be safe tonight.

For more information on the event, and more pictures from throughout the day, check out the Make-a-Wish Foundation’s website: http://ssl. wish.org/

Miles Scott, or ‘Batkid’, thwarts mock crimes across San Francisco BBC World

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News

UNBC’s Food Up For Grabs, Residences to Lose Kitchens

Tyson Kelsall Culture Editor

T

he University of Northern British Columbia may be considered a relatively small institution, however, a seven to ten year contract with a permanent flow of customers rolling through your service area would still entice the big players in British Columbia’s catering industry. The time has come; UNBC’s current food service contract with Eurest is coming to an end in June 2014.

Although it was originally supposed to end in March of 2013, they were awarded a short extension so that UNBC’s food service evaluation committee could come up with a solid Request for Proposals (RFP).

To be clear, Eurest could still win the next contract if they put together the best proposal.

The RFP was put together by a group led by the Ancillary Services Department, including representatives from NUGSS, administration, staff, faculty, and UNBC’s Campus Food Strategy

Group (CFSG). The RFP includes mechanisms that will force the winning proposal to source more sustainable and local foods, to have more vegan/vegetarian options, and provide better labeling when it comes to allergens. They will also be required to be open to constant communication and constructive criticism throughout their tenure.

However, there are some big controversial changes for whoever ends up winning the next contract.

First and foremost, the cafeteria will be renovated to become a dining hall. This is very important to note, because it plays into UNBC’s plan for the residences.

Ancillary Services, the department in charge of food, residences, and other non-academic operations, is planning on slowly turning many of the kitchens in the residences into extra bedrooms. While the exact rate and degree of conversion will largely be driven by demand, more than half the kitchens could be renovated over the next five years. For first year students who choose to live in residence this will

mean having to buy a “meal plan.”

The meal plan means a guaranteed economic base for the company who wins the contract, and for the students it means eating most of their food in the dining hall out of what the company decides to supply. This permanent revenue should allow the new company to invest in local foods, a feature of the contract suggested by Aaron LeBlanc, Director of Ancillary Services at UNBC. Although the infrastructure in Prince George is not well equipped to grow large amounts of food at this point, CFSG Representative Cam Bell hopes UNBC can build the market for it, which will be the first step to creating the supply. The second change is that the corner store will be shutting down and replaced with something similar to what is currently Deli Stackers, which will shut down as well. Thirdly, Tim Horton’s will shift over a bit and the better part of the Canfor Winter Garden will turn into a seating area.

This could turn into the alternative, new openly accessible place for

students to sit, as the dining hall would be operated on a pay-perentrance system.

on as usual, perhaps even better.”

Additionally, fellow city councilor and former supporter Denzil Minnan-Wong states “we need to take away his power for the good of the city,” and "the tide has turned and there are very few people that are prepared to defend him given his vulgar comments and his admission that not only does he takes drugs but that he seems to be comfortable drinking and getting behind the wheel."

obviously if someone else steps out of line like I have, it is going to affect councilors and the mayor I think for years to come.”

Toronto Mayor Lights-Up Tabloids A

fter Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s scandal spread across the country these past few months, Toronto’s city council has voted to strip him of some of his political power.

BBC World News

Nicole Halseth News Editor

council’s standing committees. This includes the executive in control of the budget.

Mr. Ford has made headlines across the country recently for his refusal to resign after allegations against his misuse of drugs and alcohol arose. Mayor Ford, himself, has admitted to using crack cocaine, buying illegal drugs, drunk driving, and using lewd language on television. These events have all occurred during his time as Mayor of the city of Toronto.

Additionally, the Council also voted 41 to two to remove emergency powers from Mr. Ford (such as in the event of a natural disaster) and place them in the hands of the deputy mayor. In the next few weeks, the Council is expected to vote on further measures.

According to the article, this includes "all powers and duties which are not by statute assigned to the mayor," which would likely take away any power Mayor Ford has over budgetary matters.

According to an article on the BBC news website, with a vote of 39 to three, the Toronto City Council voted to suspend some of the mayor’s powers in light of these recent events. Under this ruling, Mayor Ford is no longer able to appoint or dismiss the deputy mayor, or the chairs of any of the

As the City Council is not able to remove the mayor from his post unless he is convicted of a crime, they appear to be undermining his power through these votes.

According to city councilor John Filion, “we can't control his behaviour, but certainly we can ensure that city business carries

The proposals for anybody seeking to be UNBC’s next food provider had to be in by 25 November 2013. After this, the food service evaluation committee will choose a group of finalists who will be invited to make a presentation at UNBC on 7 January 2013, which is also a big opportunity for students to see what these companies have proposed, and offer their feedback.

After that, the negotiating takes place directly between UNBC’s administration and the company.

The downside to this is that students will be uninvolved in the completion process. However, the upside is efficiency, and the very fact that companies are being obligated to have face-toface presentations is progressive in comparison to previous years where that step was non-existent.

If you are interested, find the RFP online at http://www.unbc.ca/ purchasing/tenders.

In response to these comments and measures taken by the City Council, Mayor Ford has stated that he will fight and that “the tax-payer is going to have to pay a fortune for this.” Mayor Ford believes "this is going to be precedent-setting and if we move ahead with this, then

Though the investigation into his behaviour continues, Mayor Ford states that he is intending to run for re-election to his post in October 2014. It is interesting how the Toronto City Council has been forced to revert to these peripheral actions in order to take away some of the power of their wayward mayor. This may be of interest for all cities across Canada, should another Rob Ford make himself known.

In any case, there is no doubt that we have not heard the last of Mayor Rob Ford.

News 5

Sarah Jackson

Defend Our Climate, Defend Our Communities

Tyson Kelsall Culture Editor

O

n 16 November 2013, a group of nearly 150 people came together at Prince George’s Civic Center to take a stand against a variety of environmental and social issues under the umbrella of “Defend Our Climate, Defend Our Communities” (DOCDOC), which spawned over 130 protests in solidarity across Canada fighting community-based environmental issues as well as on a global scale.

DOCDOC is another event in a trend of important events

that are marking a shift in environmentalism towards truly recognizing the intersection between ecological issues with Indigenous rights and social issues in Canada. There has recently been some overlap between these causes; until now they have mostly been distinct. Some might point to Idle No More as a key factor in raising awareness when it comes to the diversity of Aboriginal philosophy and law.

The DOCDOC march in Prince George had an array of drumming and songs. The march went from

the Civic Center to Shirley Bond’s office, where the most prominent speakers were First Nations.

Carrier-Sekani representative Terry Teegee spoke about the importance of protecting our land, and more importantly, starting to consciously move away from society’s dependence on fossil fuels. He compared our reliance to an addiction problem, relating it to Rob Ford’s recent drug-use concerns. In this sense, we have to admit we have a problem, and then move forward, he claimed.

Chief Martin Louie, who is part of the Yinka Dene Alliance, also spoke about protecting the land - he especially focused on the significance of water. Chief Louie also touched on the difficulties with our obsession with money.

This is another topic that is starting to interline and find its way into the conversations of environmental protests and within activist discussion. If this argument becomes fully incorporated in

the environmental movement, as indigenous rights previously was, then we are not far from seeing an anti-capitalist discourse find its way to the forefront of the movement.

The day of solidarity drew many people throughout the nation. In Victoria, there were 1000 people standing on the ocean shore at Clover Point. In Vancouver, roughly 5000 congregated around Science World. In the latest polls, 59% of Canadians believe climate change should be a top priority for their government, a clear sign that an increasing number of people are becoming knowledgeable about the potential effects of climate change.

As Defend Our Climate, Defend Our Communities happened on the heels of Typhoon Haiyan, whose severity has been largely blamed on climate change, some people are concerned about Canada’s reputation on the international level.

UNBC Club Wins Development Debate Nicole Halseth News Editor

T

he local UNBC World University Services of Canada (WUSC) committee recently won a national debate for what it thinks the future of development should focus on.

The debate was: Youth Voices on the Future of International Development. The debate was held in conjunction with the third annual WUSC International Forum, which was held in Ottawa from 1-3 November, and members from over 80 universities across Canada attended. The event was organized in conjunction with the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI).

This year, WUSC sent five members of their local committee to attend as delegates. Prior to the event, these students collaborated to submit a proposal for their vision of the most important issue of global development today. Their proposals were judged by WUSC executives in Ottawa, and the top three were chosen to debate in front of

the entire congregation during the conference in Ottawa. UNBC WUSC’s proposal was chosen as one of these top three.

Their version of the greatest issue of global development today was that it should be a contextually based and collaborative process.

They competed against proposals with a focus in education, water, and migration.

During the debate itself, members of WUSC UNBC were able to successfully and eloquently state their case and win over the audience (and the judges). While their proposal was not initially well received, they were able to come back from being the underdogs in public ratings. They won the debate with a landslide 51 votes, up from their original 13 votes, to win by a margin of 20 votes to their closest competitor. Delegates of other Canadian universities at the conference even began tweeting about the debate, with quotes from UNBC’s delegates springing up across a wide range of social media sites.

Though the debate represents a significant achievement for the WUSC local committee, and UNBC as a whole, the conference offered other opportunities to its delegates.

Students were able to network with other WUSC members across the country, pool their ideas, and listen to notable speakers on a wide range of topics.

More information on the 2013 WUSC International Forum can be found here: http://forum.wusc.ca/ great-debates-discussions-2013international-forum/.

UNBC’s WUSC delegation has since returned to Prince George, and the members are now focusing on their next event.

WUSC UNBC plans to hold a Bike for AIDS event on 1 December from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Northern Sports Center. Bike for AIDS is a Uniterra fundraising event meant to raise money (and awareness) to buy bicycles and bicycle-ambulances for HIV/AIDS health workers and educators in Malawi. Due to the remoteness of some communities

in Malawi, and road conditions, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to get traditional ambulances to all HIV/AIDS patients who need them. As such, sometimes the most practical solution is to take a bicycle.

The local WUSC committee will be fundraising for this event from 26 to 28 of November in the Winter Garden. They will have a booth set up, so please feel free to come talk to WUSC about the event, learn more, or donate money to sponsor a WUSC member to walk on World AIDS Day (1 December). For every 2 dollars donated, a WUSC member will walk one lap. You can also stop by the Northern Sports Center on 1 December and donate. Help WUSC reach their goal of $200 to buy a bicycle for HIV/AIDS workers in Malawi. Hope to see you there!

Check out Facebook for more information about our local WUSC committee and their upcoming events!

Culture Pe

mon & Peach rsim

Bes t Rec Laura Mooney Arts Editor

Y

et again, the semester has flown by before one can even say, “spiked coffee,” and exam time is upon students once more. Here is the time in the semester when stacks of books invade your living rooms, study groups become your only form of social interaction, and “stressed out” becomes a daily facial expression. Stress from exams is a natural part of being in a post-secondary school and, over the years, students have found multiple ways to manage that stress.

Although the list is extensive, some of the most common ways students seem to de-stress is by indulging in some good old-fashioned binge eating and daytime drinking. Since this is an inevitable part of the stress process, the least you can do for your poor over worked mind is feed it some classic, delicious homemade recipes, and since the holidays are fast approaching, it is the perfect time to try out a couple holiday treats. Each of these recipes are super quick to whip up, whether you are baking them for yourself or for a study group, and are so incredibly amazing you will be fooling anyone who tries them

ipes for the Stressed Mind

into thinking you are completely stress free and at ease.

Cherry Balls Although the name of the recipe is not the most appealing, these super sweet, no bake treats are perfect to whip up for any quick occasion.

Better than any Christmas cookie, these will satisfy any stressed out sweet tooth, and the sugar will give you enough energy to help you power through your study session.

2/3 cups soft butter 1 cup icing sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 cup maraschino cherries 2 cups rolled oats Simply mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until completely mixed, then roll into two-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper.

Then place the tray into the freezer and chill. In only an hour you will have an indulgent treat perfect for the stressed mind.

Classic Eggnog Not only is this a staple for any holiday occasion, but the feeling

of comfort and sense of holiday togetherness will lift your spirits and make studying that much easier.

Homemade Baileys

Lots of spiced rum

What is the holiday without a little Baileys? Although the store bought product is absolutely amazing, being the starving students that we are it is much more practical to make anything we possible can ourselves, holiday spirits being no exception. Not only is this delicious recipe super easy, but it also makes enough to last you well through the exam period and even into the New Year.

6 egg whites (optional)

1 cup heavy cream

Nutmeg (topping)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

In a very large mixing bowl (this recipe feeds a crowd) beat the egg yolks until completely mixed.

Slowly beat in the sugar, heavy cream, milk, and ice cream until incorporated. Once that is done, add in your spiced rum, as much or as little as you want, to taste. If you want your eggnog a bit foamier, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks begin to form, then gently spoon them on top of the eggnog.

Finally, top the delicious concoction with nutmeg and place in the fridge to chill. Then bring out the cheesy holiday glasses, grab some friends, and dive in!

1 2/3 cups Irish whiskey

6 egg yolks ½ cup sugar 2 ½ cups heavy cream 5 cups milk 1 pint vanilla ice cream

1 teaspoon instant coffee granules 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon almond extract Simply add all ingredients to a blender and blend until thoroughly combined. Then store in an airtight container and keep in your fridge until needed, like for a super long study session one cold winter’s night. If you’re really stressed out, try all three of these recipes together!

Shelley Termuende | OTE

Culture 7

Natural Trails in an Otherwise Concrete Jungle Alexander Blum-Walker, Jennifer Rich, & Cornelius Meier Contributors

I

n our Environmental Studies 101 class we were given the task of forming a group to address a social or environmental issue that we could effectively spread awareness for. Our group decided that there was a lack of awareness concerning the different trail systems in the Prince George area, so we chose to survey and present to a group of people to see what kind of results we could attain.

In order to do this we developed a survey that included three easy to follow questions. The questions

asked the participants how many years they had lived in Prince George, whether they used the trail system in and around Prince George, and, if they had used them, they were to state which one of the trails listed they had used and give an estimate of how many times they had used them in total.

We surveyed twenty-five people while set up in the Winter Garden, and the results were somewhat surprising. Of these twenty five people almost one third had lived in Prince George for less than one year. This would account for why these people had exclusively used the Forest for the World trails.

Assuming these were all people

After a rather rocky start to my trip, I finally touched down in Quito, Ecuador. The stress of delayed flights and lost luggage didn’t last long once I came to the realization that I was finally in South America! All of the planning and fundraising had finally paid off, and I had FOUR amazing weeks to look forward to!

Since I didn’t know anyone else when I signed up for the trip ,I

Help. Using funds that I and the rest of the groups had raised, we

V

olunteer hours can be gained in many different areas of our society. As someone who has done a fair amount of local volunteering, I thought going abroad would be a great way to diversify my volunteer experience.

From there the group of students that have lived in Prince George from one to five years had greatly expanded their trail use among the city, but still everyone had used the Forest for the World trails multiple times. Other trails that were commonly used by this group include Fort George Park and the Cranbrook Hill Greenway trail.

Since these are some of Prince George’s most popular trails, this was an understandable result.

The next and final group we got

Global Volunteering

knew I was going to have the opportunity to meet a great deal of new people. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to meet the incredible friends that I did. Sure I knew there were going to be lots of other people my age with common interests, but that doesn’t always equal a recipe for friendship. When three friendly females came up to me in the hotel and offered me clothes (because I still didn’t have luggage) minutes after meeting them, I knew the remainder of the trip was going to be spectacular.

This summer the Help, Learn and Discover organization gave me an experience of a lifetime that I would like to briefly share with everyone!

Tory Prentice Contributor

that live in residence or are in first year university, it makes sense that they would have only used the trails closest to the school.

were able to build 21 homes for a number of families in the poverty ridden community of Camarones.

On 17 August, I was fortunate enough to witness the houses being given away. One by one the families drew numbers from a hat to determine which of these newly constructed houses would be theirs.

It became very clear just how much of a difference our hard work was going to make in the lives of these families.

Learn. I was also given the opportunity to expand some of my existing knowledge as a 4th year Biomed student. I was able to stand in and watch surgeries being performed right before my eyes! I was taught how to perform an ECG and even draw blood!

Discover. Because a lot of my time

results from were students who have lived in Prince George for longer than fifteen years. As expected, their results included the use of most, if not all, of the trails on our survey. The most popular was still the Forest for the World trails, but was followed by LC Gunn Trail and then Fort George Park. We believe that this survey gave us some insight into both the amount of knowledge of the local trail systems that is present in our student body, and the important roles these trails play. For people who walk their animals or run for physical activity, these trails provide a connection with nature in an otherwise concrete jungle.

in Quito was dedicated to working in the hospitals, it was great that I was able to explore more of what this beautiful country had to offer once medical rotations were done. I ventured past the city to the Amazon jungle and to the coastal regions of Ecuador . Here I hiked, swam, surfed, and waterfall repelled!

Now, I am fortunate enough to be a leader for this program and introduce ecuaexperience to the students of UNBC! For more information on the program please check out the website and/or Facebook page www. ecuaexperience.com and https://www.facebook.com/ Ecuaexperience or feel free to email me at tprenticeecuaexperience@ gmail.com !

Laura Mooney Arts Editor

New Ratings System Challenges Sexism in Films

A

rt-house cinemas across a number of cities in Sweden are breaking molds and challenging the typical film ratings standards by implementing a system that determines whether a film is considered sexist or not, and, unfortunately, not many of our beloved Hollywood blockbusters are passing the test. The new standards use a system called the Bechdel test, which is a basis for testing whether a work of art leans towards gender bias, which was created in 1985. The new system takes the original idea put forth by the Bechdel test and expands on it even further to show just how much gender bias is present in not only the film we view today, but also the films created over the whole span of the film industry’s existence. The ratings’ system asks three basic questions about a film. Does it have at least two named women? Do they talk to each other at some point in the film? And do the talk about something other than a man? The cities of Stockholm, Gothenburg,

Helsingborg, and Malmo, with praise from the Swedish Film Institute, have already introduced this new ratings’ system to members of the public and have implemented it in the cities arthouse cinemas. These cinemas have agreed to only show films that meet the standards of the Bechdel test, and refuse those that go against them. So far some of the films included have been The Hunger Games, Savages, and The Iron Lady, all of which feature strong female leads in powerful positions.

While this new system may not catch on around the world in larger theatres, it does open the moviegoing public’s eyes to gender bias and exactly how much of it is really occurring in the hit films we watch.

Many favourites such as the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings series did not pass these new ratings, as well as many classics such as Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting.

Even the Harry Potter series only had one film that would pass the Bechdel test. This points out that the majority of our favourite

The World’s End Laura Mooney Arts Editor

D

rinking, evil robot aliens, hilarious Brits, and more drinking, what else could you wish for in a film? The comedic duo consisting of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) are back in yet another original buddy comedy with a twist in The World’s End. Without giving too much away, The World’s End essentially follows Gary King (Pegg), as he organizes the reunion of his high school friends to finish a quest to have a pint at all twelve pubs in their small hometown.

Unfortunately, their mission goes awry when they run into some unexpected, otherworldly obstacles. Just like with their preceding films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, the comedic geniuses

of Pegg and Frost are always showcased best when they are working together, and, combined with director Edgar Wright, the result is always unique and crazy, but yet with a wonderful message about friendship.

While the bones of The World’s End may be the same as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, the story could not be further from the others, with one of the main differences being the roles played by each actor. Pegg is known for playing his usual uptight, righteous characters, and Frost the slovenly slacker. This time the duo switches roles with Pegg playing a nearly psychotic, chain smoking, cocaine snorting, societal reject whose lot in life is to get drunk and be as offensive as possible, while Frost, on the other

blockbusters are male dominated and leads to the question, what about the women?

However, while the test does point out the male dominance of the film industry, one major flaw in the system still remains, and that is the fact that the system measures a film’s gender bias strictly by these standards, and in no way takes into account if the females in the films are stereotypical or are presented in a negative way. So although the Bechdel test is supposed to measure gender bias, it cannot tell if a film is feminist, or if it highlights women in a positive light. For example, even the German film Run Lola Run, which is known for its strong female lead and feminist undertones, does not pass the Bechdel test standards.

While the Bechdel test is still only popular in theatres in Sweden, it still raises questions about what we watch when we go to the movies.

While 50 percent of the moviegoing public is female, only 10

percent of films feature a strong female lead. Is it because we prefer to see a male in the lead role? Or perhaps it is because of gender roles which have been around for ages? Either way, the experiment in Sweden is opening the public’s eyes to hidden biases in films not thought to possess them before. Only the future will tell, however, if these new findings will change the way people choose which movies they see, but even if the test-approved films only remain in art-house theatres, the fact that these new observations have now been brought to the general public is a step forward in stopping gender biases in popular films today. For more information, CBC did an extensive interview about Sweden’s Bechdel standards, which is available to stream online.

The World’s End | Focus Features

Arts

hand, plays the prim and proper pal of the group. This unexpected role switch is a refreshing addition to the type-casted characters that Pegg and Frost seem to have been fitted into, and add a nice element to the film.

The World’s End also features other great British talents like Martin Freeman, from Sherlock and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and an excellent cameo from Pierce Brosnan. Their appearances are a welcome addition to the film, and their unique performances only add to its hilarity. Even though the

remainder of the actors are not as well known as some of the bigger names in the film, the comedic timing and expertise of each of the actors unquestionably adds to the overall quality of the film, and will hopefully advance the careers of many of the secondary actors.

Overall, this unique tale of reunited friends who are caught up in a bad situation is the perfect comedy to watch with a group of friends and a couple of beers, or for anyone who has ever wished to relive their high school years just for one single night; minus the robots of course.

Performing Arts Center Gets the Green Light

Laura Mooney Arts Editor

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t the city council meeting on 18 November 2013, Ken Kilcullen, chairman of the Performing Arts Center project, approached city hall council members and mayor Shari Green once again to plead his case to finally get the Arts Center project up and off the ground, with greater success this time.

Kilcullen’s plan was not to bluntly state that the project should begin to be built immediately, but instead more modestly asked for the council to declare that “The Prince George Regional Performing Arts Center as the city’s priority capital project and to instruct city administration staff to refine the project’s budget and establish a timeline towards construction.”

The Performing Arts Center, a project that has been on the minds of many since 2001 when it was first recognized as a need for the city, would boast a huge space of nearly 68000 square feet, taking up one entire city block and making it the largest project in the downtown area. It would feature 800 seats in the primary theatre, 250 seat flex space theatre, and a multipurpose space. One of the main stereotypes that have swirled around the project is that it would only bring in symphonies and high art performances, a rumor that was brought up by Councilor Garth Frizzell, who wondered if the average person in Prince George would benefit from such a building. Kilcullen aptly replied that while the center would have performances such as these, it would also house many other

events such as comedy tours, music festivals, and even weddings. It was also stated that while the city has more than enough facilities to house other type of recreation, such as sports and plays, the Performing Arts Center was the one piece missing from Prince George’s cultural facilities. The project has been on everyone’s minds for so long, it was just simply time for city council to step up and take over the reins of the project.

Nevertheless, while Mayor Shari Green brought up that “this is the project I would like to see the city next take on” the main issue will always be funding. The center, which would cost a whopping $42.5 million, is subject to the harsh reality that, in general, cities do not spend funds on recreational projects such as the Performing Arts Center, and instead put the money towards city repairs and things deemed more important.

Although the Center’s request for funding through the Canada P3 fund (a type of government fund) was unsuccessful, Kilcullen stated that their hopes were that the Canada Economic Action Plan, along with funding from the provincial government, who had expressed interest in the project, would contribute to making the Arts Center possible.

In general however, the council decided that it was about time that the Performing Arts Center became a serious priority for the city, and, if asked of them, the funding would be found. While there are still many important aspects which need to be discussed, such as the location of the building and the issue of this new center taking away some of the city’s dedication to other art centers such as the Playhouse, Councilor Albert Koehler brought up a very important point; the arts community used to be fragmented, but now we see places such as the Playhouse and the Symphony Orchestra working together for the first time. This shows that the arts are becoming more of a single, large entity in our community

rather than being multiple small sections, showing that the community is growing and that the city must accommodate for that growth. In the end, to much applause from the attending crowd, it was unanimously decided that the Performing Arts Center would become a primary capital project for the city of Prince George.

While this is only the beginning for the Performing Arts Center project, it is still a huge win for Kilcullen and all those who have been involved since the project first came around in 2001. To finally have the support of the city council means that so much more can now be done in preparation for the building of the project to actually begin. While the timeline proposed to city hall by Kilcullen stated that, preferably, construction would begin in 2015 with the opening season in 2016, whether that timeline will remain intact is up to city council now.

However, what about the approval of the residents? Councilor Dave Wilbur stated that while the project may have the support of the council, it will never have the complete support of the residents of Prince George. The majority of the residents are not in favour of the Arts Center being constructed, as shown in a poll a couple years ago, and one can expect that not many of them have changed their minds. But as Kilcullen stated, the

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center will not be holding strictly high art performances, but will be a venue for all sorts of entertainment that have not been able to come to Prince George before simply because the city lacked the appropriate housing. It would also be a huge source of revenue for the city, as well as provide multiple jobs for residents. One of the main points that Kilcullen made was that a similar Arts Center was built in Vernon, and the city now proclaims it to be one of the best, and most prosperous buildings, they ever constructed.

So even if not everyone in the city is showing support for the construction of the Performing Arts Center, the important thing was getting council on board, which has finally occurred. It looks as though the center will be a huge benefit to the city of Prince George, and will allow for many new opportunities to draw in acts and performances the city has not been able to host before. Only time will tell when this project will actually be able to break ground, but the support received will only benefit this project, and will allow Prince George to finally expand its ever growing culture.

Feature

Woodland Caribou near Prince George, BC Dayn Craig

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Killing Wolves For Caribou Recovery: Humanity’s Nature Tyson Kelsall Culture Editor “The Grey Wolf (Canis lupus; hereafter wolf) is a highly adaptable, intelligent carnivore that inhabits most of British Columbia” – Ministry of Environment, Government of British Columbia

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he face of an elusive wolf plays to the heart of many people; it evokes strong emotions. Canis lupus is as close as you can get to man’s best friend in the wild; travelling in packs, they have intertwined themselves throughout the landscape of human history. A wolf can play the role of a predator in the wild, but its recognizable image has a crucial role in reminding humans that there are things outside the borders of our sprawling mega-cities and small towns that we do not yet control. This has not stopped us from trying. The government

has sanctioned traps and guns to hunt them under a grey wolf management plan; what defines “attempted control” better than a management plan? There has been a coming and going of open season hunting in certain areas of British Columbia in order to keep wolves’ populations leveled. The BC government itself notes that, even in the early twentieth century, wolves were, what they call, “persecuted.”

The history of the war on wolves in the Pacific Northwest is a little more ugly than a single shot to the back of the canine’s head. Besides being stigmatized, wolves have been poisoned,trapped, sterilized, and shot under the mandate of BC government programs. Early in the twentieth century, they nearly went extinct in southern British Columbia, according to Timber Press. There have been proposals both in BC and its neighbour to the northwest, Alaska, to shoot them down from helicopters. This has led to a division amongst citizens,

with many calling wolf culls immoral. Shelley Black, co-founder and operator of Northern Lights Wildlife Centre in Golden, BC, said that ever since the European man settled in the west, the human-wolf relationship has been a violent one.

However, being followed by a wolf might give one a different perspective than having a friend in the wilderness. Christopher Wilde (who’s name has been changed for privacy), a hunter for over 30 years, tells the story of his hunting partner who came across wolves in the woods. His hunting partner blew into his bull-moose call whistle. A moose cow ran through the forest, into the clearing, whimpering in fear, looking for the bull moose and the protection he would bring, unable to see him, she ran on. The hunter, who was ducking in the bush, was not well hidden to the eye of a wolf. The wolf, perhaps the pack leader, edged towards him, and when the hunter looked around he was flanked by wolves on all sides;

however, as he looked back and forth the wolves would appear and then, disappear again. Terrified, he slowly loaded his bow and arrow and stayed still. Eventually one timber wolf charged towards him and he released the shot. The pitch-black wolf lay on its side, motionless, and the rest of the pack receded into the woods in response to the hunter’s actions.

On the other side of the predatorprey dynamic sits the caribou, a disappearing species related to deer which migrates with the weather. The government has drafted recovery plans for caribou. Cross-border, nongovernmental organizations, such as the Yellowstone 2 Yukon Initiative, have taken note. The caribou has a long cultural history in Northern Canada, and its face has passed through many hands on the front of the 25-cent piece.

Its cultural importance is widely shared by many First Nations and settlers alike. As Chief Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

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stated in a 2011 media release via the Sierra Club Prairie, “the caribou have and will always be the traditional food of our people.

Working to sustain the caribou is critical for our culture, and way of life.”

Where do these two animals intersect? Historically, the caribou cured the wolf ’s hunger while the wolf kept the caribou strong by eating the weakest members of the herd. However, with the manipulation of ecosystems that has been happening around caribou migration routes, they have not been able to stay strong.

Their numbers are dwindling and although they remain a meal to the predator, because of social constructs and, perhaps, guilt that humans feel for allowing them to be in such a situation, they have found themselves as a priority when it comes to protection.

Where does human responsibility sit in all of this?

In western history, the idea of humans removing themselves from nature reaches as far back as early human interpretations of Genesis; some say it was the unlocking of agricultural capability that pushed people on to a different plateau, taking a step outside, and perhaps above, the food chain. However, where do morals and ethics fit in when it comes to the killing of wolves to fix damage caused by humans?

When the hunting and trapping laws are opened right up under the assumption that they are found “non-detrimental” towards wolf numbers, do we consider social aspects within wolf packs? The answer could easily be that even if the numbers are sustainable, there could be serious impacts on the traditional structures of wolf packs. Historically, reviving threatened species has not been as simple as graphs and calculations.

The BC government acknowledges that even the “economic returns have been low for decades,” so what is killing a wolf worth besides protecting the human ego from taking responsibility for caribou and other prey decline?

Wilde says, as a hunter, it might be ethical to kill certain wolves

when the numbers become unsustainable for survival.

However, he points out that the idea of open season throughout BC could be a little too sloppy, and vague, considering packs are not likely to be overpopulated in every area. Shelley Black disagrees, suggesting that deliberately killing wolves is never necessary. She points to a common myth that most people believe all wolves in the pack are

of two-years in BC and a selfidentifying environmentalist, agrees that it is not necessarily a human’s job to control wolf populations, but argues that if humans can harvest a wolf in an overpopulated pack and make use of its’ hide and potentially meat, without affecting the pack in a negative way, then perhaps it is not ethically, nor theoretically problematic. However, he acknowledges gaps in the current system as to how hunters

“The Grey Wolf (Canis lupus; hereafter wolf) is a highly adaptable, intelligent carnivore that inhabits most of British Columbia” -Ministry of Environment

Government of British Columbia

breeding; however, that is not the case, as only the two alpha wolves will breed. As she explains, when there is not enough prey to feed the pack, the wolves ostracize certain members, and a lone wolf only has about a 1/10 chance of surviving. Black points out that the population will go in five-seven year cycles, and deems a wolf cull to be ethically “ridiculous.” Black also brings up that wolf and a variety of prey, including deer, moose, and caribou, have coexisted for a long time, and says that man is now using the wolf as a scapegoat.

Markus Pollhammer, a new hunter

could really know exactly what is going on in a timely fashion, in regards to both wolf populations and what other hunters are doing.

There is also very little done, legally speaking,to monitor how the animal is used after it has been killed. Pollhammer points to the provincial “Report All Poachers and Polluters” program, but says that much of it is based on the honour system rather than solid policing, and, after being reported to the conservation officer, the officer then has to go find proof of the hunter misusing the animal he or she killed. Generally, he reasons, the monitoring of killing animals is too loose to really know what is

going on.

Of course, wolves are not the only species that shoulders the consequences of human misconduct. Another member of the animal kingdom has also been the bearer of much blame: the pine beetle. By any standards, the pine beetles’ effects on British Columbia’s forest have been absolutely tragic, both ecologically and economically. However, the pine beetle’s unexpected winter survivals have often been claimed to be due to the winters getting warmer, which can be attributed to climate change. Climate change has been proven with 95% certainty to be man-made by the “UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s fifth assessment” which came out in September 2013. In any case, there is a potential pattern here of people walking away from their responsibilities and putting them on another species.

Lastly, many great thinkers and psychologists from different specialties have pointed out that how we treat non-human living beings reflects onto how we treat each other, and what kind of people we are. Gandhi once took it as far as to say, “what we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” Shelley Black says it is possible that we fear wolves because of how similar they are to us. Perhaps the violent and sometimes barbaric ways we are treating wolves is only one part of a greater trend of the conscious human separation from nature.

Perhaps part of dismantling this myth is to shrink the space in between nature and humans by taking full responsibility in our recovery plans, to modify our own behaviour instead of the behaviour of other species, and to be mindful of the consequences to ecosystems brought on by our actions. The stance of killing certain species to protect others is surely a controversial, multi-faceted topic; but could it be avoided altogether with a new approach to how we treat the planet?

Sports UNBC Women’s Rugby Team Melissa Lasure | Contributor

UNBC Rugby: Rebuilt and Ready for the Year Adam Vickers Sports Editor

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ave you ever wondered, “Who are those people running around with no equipment on carrying an object that looks like a cross between a soccer ball and a football?” Well, those people are athletes called rugby players, and they go all out; they do not need pads or helmets. Rugby players are hard-nosed, thick skinned, and passionate; they play a game that requires skill, technique, and guts.

Rugby is a fast growing sport, with countries from all over the world coming out to compete. North America is seeing a huge growth in the sport, particularly in women’s rugby. Women’s rugby has become so popular in Canada that the Women’s World Cup is even being hosted in Edmonton this coming year. We are fortunate enough to have two teams at UNBC, men and women’s.

The two teams are in the process of being rebuilt, and were fortunate enough to have recently been able to add two coaches; Jesse Olynyk and Derek Pue. Jesse Olynyk played for the University of Victoria and was an alternate for Team Canada, while Derek Pue is an avid player well connected in the rugby community. With Olynyk and Pue, the teams have taken strides in rebuilding the rugby program and have had a lot of support from young, ambitious rugby players.

The women’s rugby team in general has had a lot of growth this year with the help of the coaches, and a strong core of girls leading the way. The team’s most recent adventure was to Vancouver for a tournament where, according to Melissa Lasure, the team’s progress, “from the first game to the fourth game was unbelievable” in a situation where girls were thrown into positions with little knowledge of what to do except

catch the ball. Unfortunately, it was short lived at four games, but the team has not stopped there and has started honing their skills at the Northern Sports Center with weekly training sessions and field skill practices. With consistent coaching and support from the leaders on team, the team has slowly started building on their already strong core. No team can be a team without goals in mind, and this year the team sat down and looked at what their goals really were. With the guidance of Pue, the team set their goals for the season; they are currently working towards reaching those goals. The goals set by the team are to go to Edmonton at the end of the year, work on fitness and skills, and try to be competitive at the tournament in Edmonton. To get fit, the team works out twice a week at the Sports Center, focusing on building strength and conditioning. To get better at the game, the team works

on skills and techniques from 7:30-9:00 on Thursdays, also at the Northern Sports Center.

The teams are very welcoming to new players, but if you are a guy you should expect to be committed, or you might hear from Melissa Lasure. Lasure harped on guys for not showing up to practices saying that, “the men from UNBC are so flakey.” Come on guys, get out there and prove her wrong. With the New Year fast approaching, this could be an opportunity to try something new and exciting. If interested in joining the women’s team, they have a website (www. unbcwomensrugby.com) and can be contacted at unbcwrfc@gmail. com. For updates on tournament results and team activates the team also has a Facebook page (UNBC Women’s Rugby) and twitter (@ unbcwomensrugby).

More Than Just a Dynasty Adam Vickers Sports Editor

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or those who do not know, floorball is very similar to floor hockey with slight differences.

Floorball is played with smaller sticks, a weighted version of a whiffle ball, and goalies with no padding. The sport was developed in Sweden and has grown quite popular throughout recent years, with the Scandinavian countries leading the way and other countries like the US and Canada slowly catching up to the sport. Like the rest of Canada, UNBC has adopted the sport as an intermural activity to be played every semester. For the last three semesters in particular, one team has dominated most of competition. “Playing the Chiefs is something that my body will never forget… ouch,” says competitor David Powe.

The team is called the Chiefs,

named after the team in the movie Slap Shot, and their leader is Stewart Lambert. The Chiefs top players include Nick Desousa, Jordan Duncan, and Cam Braun; in the net is Jonathan Gibson. The Chiefs are the three time reigning champs of UNBC’s intermural floorball, forming our very own Dynasty at UNBC. The first year was the most difficult for the Chiefs, but their years of hockey experience and being a close group of guyshas its benefits. Some of the Chiefs have been playing together for nearly ten years, having started hockey together in pee wee. What makes the team unique is their ability to control possession of the ball and find a way to win games late. For the Chiefs, the first year resulted in losing only one game as well as coming from behind twice in playoffs to pull out the championship. The team has only excelled from going undefeated in

three seasons. The team’s biggest adjustment in moving from the ice to the floor was dealing with the floor itself, the different type of balls used for floorball, and the number of players allowed on the floor at any given time. The floor is different than ice in the sense that you aren’t able to glide as if on ice, and, to adjust to the solid surface, you need to keep your feet moving while handling the puck, which can be difficult when trying to pull off a complex deke. The different ball type is also something they needed to deal with, because a whiffle ball is much larger than a puck and moves differently because it is on the ground rather than on ice. The number of players is another big adjustment; going from five players to four players puts pressure on everyone to play a better team defense while trying to produce offense, which makes possession a big key to success.

The WHL: a Pool of Prospects Clark Grieve Contributor

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he Prince George Cougars, for those in attendance, faced a tough challenge at home on 12 November, against the Central Division leading Medicine Hat Tigers. Ultimately, the club kept it close through two periods, but ended up falling apart by the end of a lopsided third period, enduring a disappointing and somewhat humiliating 6-1 loss in front of the Prince George faithful.

Although the game was a tough setback for the Cougars, it did give Northern BC hockey fans a chance to see a future NHL star come through the area for the only time this season. The Medicine Hat Tigers forward, Hunter Shinkaruk, was a big factor in the victory for the Tigers, as he spearheaded an offensive powerhouse simply beyond what the Cougars defense could handle. While Shinkaruk has heated up the Western Hockey League (WHL) with over one hundred career goals in three seasons, the Vancouver Canucks recognized Shinkaruk’s potential

Sports13 The Chiefs are about to enter playoffs with some stiff competition ahead of them, and their most recent win resulting in a tight game. Can the Chiefs continue their dynasty? We will see with the upcoming semester end playoffs. The Chiefs are playing for more than just wins this year, they are playing for their friend Matthew Matte. Matte passed away a week before the Chiefs finally achieved their dynasty, and this year the team got a new set of team jerseys with the initials MM on their sleeves to remember him by.

The Chiefs have dedicated every win this year to Matte, and hope to carry his memory to another league championship this season. A team with guts, glory, and heart are hard to beat, and it will be a tall order to unseat the dynasty which has so much to play for.

Adam Vickers | OTE

early this year, selecting him as 24th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Shinkaruk has the opportunity to be invited to the Canucks training camp and preseason, where he is expected to make a significant contribution to the Canucks roster sooner rather than later.

Shinkaruk is one of many talented players coming out of the WHL, and, being in the WHL, has had the opportunity to play throughout BC. Although Shinkaruk hails from Calgary and has spent his entire WHL career in Alberta, the Tigers’ recent road trip has given him an opportunity to play in the province he will likely suit up for some time in 2014.

Last season also saw defenseman and fourth overall selection from the 2013 Entry Draft, Seth Jones, excel in the league on his way to the Memorial Cup final. There are several other current players worth keeping an eye on who will pass through Prince George soon, including Vancouver Giants’ defensemen and 2012 draftees Brett Kulak (drafted in the fourth

round by the neighbouring Calgary Flames), and Dalton Thrower (drafted in the second round by the Montreal Canadiens). The Giants will be in Prince George for a homeand-home against the Cougars on 29 and 30 November. Further down the schedule, the Cougars will get the chance to see Ottawa Senators first round draft pick from 2013, Curtis Lazar, facing off in midJanuary. Although the Cougars did not have the start they were hoping for this year, having a chance to see prospects that will be playing in different places throughout the NHL is a great incentive to watch some games.

Finally, expect to see a lot of WHL players playing for Canada in the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey

Championships, from 26 December 2013 to 5 January in Malmo, Sweden. The eastern location means some very early morning hockey games for Canadian fans, but hopes are high that our country’s best under-20 hockey players will be able to bring home the gold for the first time since 2009. All in all, there is a lot of amateur hockey to be seen over the next few months, both on TV and in person, for Northern BC hockey fans to watch. With the World Junior hockey Championships starting off a winter of great national hockey, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi will be just around the corner, and your opportunity to see talent at the before it hits the big time is right close to home.

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Sports Crossfit: Mentally and Physically Intense

Adam Vickers Sports Editor

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rossfit is a new sport hitting the world by storm; it has had a massive impact on the fitness community and is starting what some people are calling a cult.

Crossfit is high intensity exercise involving functional movement.

Crossfit is cross discipline training that prides itself on being ready for any situation that arises.

Much like our armed forces, these athletes train for anything and everything; they train gymnastics, weightlifting, swimming and any type of fitness training you can imagine.

Crossfit is highly receptive because the training is helpful and applicable to any sport or competition. Crossfit has training blogs from Crossfit football, which focus on training for football, to Crossfit endurance, which focuses on training for long distance activities like running and rowing.

Crossfit has even made its way into professional sports including the NFL, NHL, and MMA, because it is becoming the best way to work on strength and conditioning.

Some of the criticism from Crossfit is that it is dangerous, because many of the lifts are very complex.

These complex movements are very difficult and very dangerous without

the right guidance, but one of the great things about Crossfit is the community. The Crossfit community is made up of people who are serious about getting bigger, stronger, and faster. The community is fascinating because it does not matter how big or how small you are; they will work with you to make sure you reach your goals. The people who coach Crossfit all have certification on how to coach the movements and how to scale them so that people can work

out their own way of doing the movements safely.

The way Crossfit works is by putting a bunch of people in a room and getting them to workout face to face, trying to beat one another in a race for time, weight, or reps. In the race for time, you are trying to complete a workout in the fastest time possible - to make it fair, the workouts are scaled by weight or in the movement so that everyone can try to beat one another.

In a race for weight,

the goal is to get to the heaviest weight possible in a certain allotted amount of time; the more weight you lift, the better you do. For these types of workout, the goal is usually to try to beat previous personal record weights. In a race for reps, you try to do the most reps in a specified amount of time. To scale for these workouts, the weight is adjusted to the strength of each person.

One thing that has grown along with Crossfit is the Crossfit games. The Crossfit games are much like the Olympics, but are instead a competition of fitness.

The goal of the Crossfit games is to find the fittest man on Earth.

The competition puts athletes through grueling activities, testing them in strength, endurance, determination, and mental toughness. The competitions they have gone through include a sprint triathlon, a half marathon row, 300+ pound clean lifts, and more.

Crossfit is not just intense exercising; it is a combination of community, intense training, and a desire to be a better self.

Crossfit will not only make you fit, it will make you mentally strong and prepare you for any situation. The worst thing about Crossfit is that you may feel some failure – failure builds character, after all!

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Sports15

Staying Fit During the Break E

very year around this time, when we hit the holiday season, we stuff ourselves full of Christmas goodies. Everybody has those Christmas parties they love to attend, the Christmas cookies we all enjoy, and those warm Christmas drinks that heat your hearts on those cold winter nights. How then, do you enjoy all that the holidays have to offer while staying fit? Well, you are in luck, as there are many ways to stay fit over the winter holidays, and all it requires is that you get off the couch. This article looks at a number of ways to get out and enjoy the holiday season while maintaining that chiseled physique you have worked so hard to keep over the semester.

Let’s begin; the first thing you can do to stay fit over the holidays is helping others shovel snow.

Shoveling snow is that task that everyone hates to deal with during the winter, but, when you get down

to it, it has to be done. You don’t have to stop at just shoveling the snow on your driveway - offer to help others clear off a local rink, or shovel at a local senior’s house; it can go a long way to helping out the community and your health.

Another thing you can do to stay fit over the holidays is get out of the house and enjoy the snow. Often, we spend way too much time hating the snow because it sucks to drive in, finds a way to make everything wet, and can sometimes just be plain miserable, but it doesn’t have to be. There are tons of ways to get out and enjoy the snow, from skiing local hills to finding any kind of hill to go sledding on.

An activity that can be fun in the snow, but does not require hills, is snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Snowshoeing and crosscountry skiing are great activities to enjoy during the winter; they are quite the strenuous activity and are a lot of fun to learn. Snowshoeing

eatsimplyliveheathy.com

Adam Vickers Sports Editor

and cross-country skiing uses a lot of energy to keep your balance, as well as using a lot of energy in general just to move. Attempting one of these activities will go a long way to keeping that weight off during the winter and staying fit.

The previous activities may be a bit extreme to stay fit, but there are still a couple of things you can do if those activities are not possible or are a bit out of your comfort range. The best things you can do throughout the winter holiday is to get out and do ANYTHING. There are tons of festive activities out and around the town where all it requires you to do is show up. Although these activities may

not be the most active, it gets you out and about walking. For the average person, inactivity is the biggest reason for gaining all that holiday weight, and getting out and walking around can do wonders for keeping those winter pounds off.

Just dealing with the cold alone can spike your metabolism because of the extra energy it takes to keep your body warm.

Really, it doesn’t take much to stay fit over the winter holidays and still enjoy all that the holidays have to offer. What it comes down is eating right and staying active; accomplishing both will make it easy to stay fit as well as enjoy the holidays.

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Sports Canada West not Budging on 2014-15 Basketball Schedule Issue obviously had rapid growth. And the biggest challenge with rapid growth is scheduling.”

Individual schedules are voted in for each Canada West sport, and basketball, with the most member participation of any sport, has its own unique challenges.

Still, the 11 and six divisional split is controversial in that it doesn’t recognize geographic considerations, historic program rankings, or numerical parity between divisions.

Paul Esau The Cascade

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he 2014-15 season is going to be an unusual one for the UFV Cascades basketball programs, as they play the same five teams again and again… and again…and again.

On October 30, UFV’s motion to rescind the 2014-15 schedule accepted at a previous Canada West meeting in June was defeated by a vote of 22-6, almost ensuring the schedule will become a reality next season. Each of the 14 voting schools in Canada West are allowed two voting representatives at each meeting, and only UFV, Manitoba, and UBC-O voted in favour of rescinding the schedule.

Currently, every team in Canada West (a region of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, or CIS) plays every other team at least once per season. The addition of six teams in the last five years has necessitated a shake-up of scheduling practices, since playing all 16 other Canada

West teams in 20142015 would stress each program’s athletes and budget. Canada West representatives accepted and analyzed numerous scheduling proposals before the June meeting where they decided to break the league into two divisions: a “Pioneer” division of the 11 “historical” members, and an “Explorer” division of the six “newer” members (including UFV).

Canada West responds: According to Basil Hughton, Canada West President and University of Saskatchewan Athletic Director, change is necessary. “I’m a relatively new AD,” he said, “I’m just entering my sixth year, and when I first came on board we had 11 full members. That was in 2008 … and then we went up to the point now where we have 14 full members and three probationary.

We’ve seen a very big influx in new schools, new members, and we’ve

“I think in fairness,” said Hughton, “and this is me editorializing now, not as the president but as a member, I’m saying, very clearly, there wasn’t a good alternative in basketball.

The decision to put this [schedule] forward was the best information we had at the time and [the best one] we could try given the circumstances.”

In the six-team “Explorer” division, UFV will play the other five teams four times each to produce a 20game schedule. Some, including UFV president Mark Evered in an open letter to the presidents of Canada West institutions, have accused Canada West of creating a “tiered” divisional structure behind meaningless euphemisms.

While Hughton said, “the semantics [of “Pioneer” and “Explorer”] are lost on me; I didn’t like the words, either one of them,” he maintains that Evered and others are mistaken.

“I can understand the perception of tiering,” Hughton said, “but that isn’t what we did.

“Let me rephrase what I said earlier,” he continued. “The basketball schedule that

ultimately passed was the one that membership felt was … the best fit for what they saw that they wanted to do.”

Also voted on in late October was a 2014-15 Canada West playoff format that is dependent on the results of this season’s schedule. If the 2013-14 Canada West champion is in the Pioneer Division, the 10team format will include the seven top Pioneer teams and the three top Explorer teams. If it happens to be a Explorer champion, it will be involve six Pioneer and four Explorer teams. The Final Four tournament will be hosted by the highest remaining seed left after the quarter-finals, rather than the team with the best regular season record (as under the current format).

UFV’s next step: Evered, vice president of students Jody Gordon, and athletics director Rocky Olfert have all been highly critical of the upcoming schedule, pointing out that it hurts UFV’s recruiting appeal, athletics prestige, and potential competitiveness. Evered especially has been a significant asset to UFV resistance, despite the traditionally hands-off role of university presidents relative to CIS issues.

“Recognizing that decisions made

by CIS or any of its divisions could have an impact on our institutions,” Evered said, “it’s not unreasonable that the president should have some significant say in the work of CIS and its divisions. There’s still those who feel that presidents should have more than an advisory role; they should have a more decisive role.”

Having already been defeated in an attempt to rescind the motion that led to the two-division 2014-2015 schedule, UFV will have to adopt other measures in defending the interests of UFV varsity programs.

Since the motion only dictates the schedule for one season, both

Sports17 Gordon and Olfert are committed to preventing it from being extended, or adopted in other sports.

“Our concern is that this is just the beginning,” said Gordon, “that this 11 and six will move into other sports … [We need] to stop this becoming a pattern or trend.”

As well, both will take part in Canada West meetings this December as representatives from a number of schools attempt some strategic planning for the organization and for future scheduling. The discussions UFV has begun on the topic will be vitally important for Canada West moving forward, even though they are unlikely to change the realities of next season’s basketball schedule.

The parable of the referee: Evered likened the situation “to the frustration with a referee who makes a lot of bad calls. Following up on that is unlikely to change the outcome, but you’ve at least alerted others to the problem.”

Gordon went further, saying, “if I was the team that was the beneficiary of the bad call I would still want to step back and look at that and say, ‘this isn’t good for the league’ … From [Canada West’s] perspective, this isn’t good for the conference.”

Neither UFV men’s coach Adam Friesen nor women’s coach Al Tuchscherer are enthused with the schedule their teams will play in 2013-2015, yet both understand their authority is on the court rather than in the meeting room.

For now, the schools of Canada West have voted to accept a schedule that divides them into two unequal divisions; a system that will require Victoria to play Manitoba, but not have UFV driving 20 minutes down the road to play rival Trinity Western. Hughton says democracy has spoken. Evered, Gordon, and Olfert would beg to differ.

- See more at: http://ufvcascade. ca/2013/11/07/canada-west-notbudging-on-2014-15-basketballschedule-issue/#sthash.4G7qQS8v. dpuf

Illustration by Stewart Seymour | The Cascade

Jasmine Kirk Copy Editor

I

was one of those dreaded first years who went to class, and then ran away from campus as fast as possible. I didn’t turn nineteen until my second year – ironically around the same time I started hanging out at the pub. By the time I got to my third year, I felt comfortable at the university; I found a favourite couch at the library, and I had stopped eating lunch with my headphones in. Now, though, I have reached fourth year status. Now, I hold the power of experience, camaraderie, and two pieces of government issued ID. Here are a couple things I’ve done in my final semester of university that popped my university cherry: I started working for OTE. Through Over the Edge I have

Kelley’s “Korner:”

Kelley Ware Finance Manager

I

t seemed like just yesterday we were in September; the semester was just beginning. Now it is the end of November; deadlines and exams are creeping around the corner. The most important things for a student to do at this time are to breathe, relax, and stay focused.

Finals and assignments are not the end of the world. We got through midterms and other assignments, we can get through these as well.

Just do not panic!

It is also very easy to think that because the semester moved by so quickly, nothing really happened.

Remember, time flies when you are having fun and there were plenty of great things that happened at UNBC this semester. Here is a quick summary of some of the great things that happened this semester (so you can end the semester happily): This year’s Backyard Barbeque was a good time thanks to the NUGSS coordinators who set it up. The bands were a ton of fun and the crowd was definitely high-energy

My Fourth Year University Virginity gotten to attend a highly practical conference which allowed for great networking opportunities, I got a sweet addition to my resume, attained a good university reference, and made a little money on the side. Oh, and I got to show my mom my name in print. She’s pretty psyched about that.

I started learning the violin. As someone who has never played a musical instrument before (not even the spoons), this was a huge personal challenge. It is very hard, and sounds very bad so far, but I at least understand what some of the squiggly lines mean when I’m looking at a sheet of music!

I joined Search and Rescue. The training alone for this has probably been one of the most fulfilling and draining things I’ve ever done.

There’s usually about six training sessions a month, varying from

“how to use a GPS” to “how to track someone through the woods.”

Because of SAR, I proved to myself that I could spend a night alone in the woods in October without a tent or sleeping bag, I jumped out of a helicopter (it was only six feet off the ground, but still!), and I met a bunch of awesome people spending their free time helping people who really need it.

It is an amazing experience, and I recommend it to anyone who has any desire to help out – find out more about volunteering at www. pgsar.ca, and tell all your friends to volunteer too! (PS: this is not just for outdoor science majors! If you have any affinity for the outdoors, you should definitely apply for September training!)

I stopped purchasing from Eurest.

There are too many delicious local options available on campus; rather

than buying from Tim Horton’s and the cafeteria, I instead financially supported the UFM, the Thirsty Moose, Degrees, and the Corner Store, and attempted to be better about bringing my own food in.

Everyone should develop a healthy appreciation for hot lunch on Tuesdays, amazing salads, the best London Fog in town, and the Bread Guy’s contributions to our amazing school.

I applied for scholarships. Yes, it took me four years to figure out that I can get free money fairly easily. I got a couple – it’s not hard!

Everyone should do it, they go greatly underused!

As your university years fly by, learn from my mistakes and take a step out of your comfort zone!

Make the most of these four (or five or six) years!

Where Did the Semester Go? that night. The after parties were also a great way to end the night, with people going to both the Generator and LAMBDA Cabaret.

Partying with The Wild after their set was also an added bonus.

Clubs Week and Shinerama were also a success this year. It is always nice to see people take an interest in the various organizations on campus. The same goes for Shinerama; it is awesome to see so many students help fight Cystic Fibrosis and have fun doing it. The weather also was warm, which made raising money even more enjoyable out in the sun.

A more OTE specific event that happened in October was WPNCUP. OTE hosted the Western, Prairies, and Northern Regional Canadian University Press Conference where delegates from BC to Saskatchewan came to drink (a lot) and to listen to various speakers talk about journalism and media. It was a great success and a ton of fun.

Getting UNBC and Prince George’s names out to a more national audience in such a positive way is a huge plus in our eyes.

Halloween also went over very well

this year. I am so used to seeing only a small percentage of students dressed up, and an even smaller handful dressed up well. This year we actually had a great proportion of the students dressed up and enjoying themselves on Halloween.

Watching the Costume contests and pumpkin carving was very fun, and parties later that night just made the day even better.

So, all in all, we had a pretty fantastic semester. I’m glad to have shared it with you. Thank you for reading Over the Edge, we work really hard on it, and thank you for reading my little ramblings. It is very encouraging to know that you all enjoy it. Good luck on your finals, enjoy your winter vacation, and see you in the new year!

There have also been many Pub Nights hosted by various clubs around campus. Student parties hosted by students usually are a great time. We have a lovely staff at The Thirsty Moose who treat us all well, which makes everything that much better - tell them how much you appreciate them!

Shelley Termuende | OTE

UNBC Life

And finally, the NUGSS AGM went better than it has in the past few years. Sure, there were a large amount of questioning and debate, but that is something that should happen anyways. Quorum was reached very quickly this year, which is a great sign that people are more interested in their student society than they were in past years. In the eyes of a political science student, that is a great sign!

Micheal Johnson | The Gateway

Sam Bullis | The Dialog

Dessa Bayrock | The Cascade

Jessica Pigeau | The Gateway

Coffee Break

Warm-up to Coldsnap with Willhorse

Photos by Alan Zhao

| Over The Edge