Over The Edge
UNBC’s Independent Student Newspaper est. 1994
In This Issue We Complain Bitterly About Politics Broken Promises, page 4 Compromising, page 5 BC Provincial Election, page 12 Trump, page 13
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Volume 23, Issue 6
Free overtheedgenewspaper.ca
February 7, 2017 ote-newspaper@unbc.ca
Letter from the T
he Quebec City mosque shooting was horrifying and tragic, but it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise. As much as Canadians would like to think that they’re above the hateful rhetoric and xenophobic prejudices of their southern neighbours, this country has had its fair share of individuals who - whether they truly believe what they say or not - have built up Islam as a dangerous boogeyman and attempted to profit off of the fear they’ve created. In the aftermath of the shooting, everyone was looking for answers. News spread that
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Moniq ue
one of the arrested suspects was a Moroccan man, and the Muslim fear machine got to work. Narratives alleging that Muslims are so savage they kill their own and that this was proof of why a Muslim travel ban is necessary emerged immediately - as if this would make the killing of six people any less tragic. Then it turned out that the primary suspect was a white nationalist, and suddenly the discourse surrounding the shooting quieted down, although it didn’t stop the rest of the reprehensible anti-Muslim fear machine from continuing to spew bigoted nonsense.
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There are Muslims at this university. There are Muslims in this community. There is a mosque down the hill from us. Take a second to think about how deleterious they have been to your life because of their religion, and I would almost guarantee you that the members of our community that follow Islam have never negatively affected you because of their religion. Take a minute and analyze how caught up in the propaganda you are, and think about whether you are engaged in the same kind of Islamophobia that led to 6 people dying.
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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.
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Gathering Place Hosts Unist’ot’en Support Rally Sam Wall News Editor
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his past Friday evening saw a celebration of the Unist’ot’en camp in the Gathering Place of UNBC. The event featured live entertainment, information about the camp, and a speech by Freda Huson, the camp spokesperson. The Unist’ot’en, formally known as the Unist’ot’en of the C’ilhlts’ehkhyu, are one group among the Wet’suwet’en who have been most active and vocal in their resistance to resource extraction projects in their territory. The newly developed Prince George Unist’ot’en Support Group hosted the event, using their Facebook page as a platform to discuss the camp.
Huson’s drumming and singing reminded us of the rightful treatment of the land and Mother Earth. Next, Huson spoke about what had been happening on her clan’s territory over the last several years, and how it led to the creation of a resistance camp. Huson addressed the effects of past and present resource extraction on their land, as well as how it affected the animals they consume and live with, which ultimately threatens their way of life and culture. Huson says, “We’re polluting the earth so much that it’s impacting our environment, and when you impact the environment, you impact the animals, and
The evening began with an introduction by the MC, Doug Koyama, a musician from Quesnel. Koyama handed over the microphone to Clarence John, who welcomed everyone to the Lheidli T’enneh territory, on behalf of the chief and council. The first performers were the Khast’an Drummers, who were introduced by Jennifer Pighin. The group consists of mainly people from Lheidli, but members of other bands are welcome. They began by performing the “Wet’suwet’en Women’s Water song,” which according to Pighin, comes from “where the rivers meet, where the water carries us. Prayer, ceremony, symbols of land and animals, that’s what this is really about, is keeping that harmony.”
and several cabins were set up there, deliberately in the path of these projects. According to the information sheet handed out at the event, the cabin and resistance camp were built five years ago at Talbits Kwah at Gosnell Creek and Wedzin Kwah, also known as Morice River. Several companies have been issued work permits to the territory, including Enbridge Energy Partners, Husky Energy Inc., SNC Lavalin Inc., and PETRONAS Global. The purpose of the camp is to occupy the traditional territory that has been used by the clan for hundreds of years, and show how they continue to use and occupy their traditional territory.
burned down, with no legal repercussions. Because of this, the camp must always remain occupied, which can be limiting to Huson as a spokesperson. The Unist’ot’en have plans to build a cultural and spiritual healing centre, to bring people back to the land, as Huson says, “land and water is life.” She mentioned that people have already found healing by being on the land, and they have fundraised 50 thousand dollars for the construction of the healing centre. When the cosmetics company LUSH heard about their goals, they provided an extra 25 thousand to install a heating system, and another environmental group gave money to improve their solar power system. Because the Unist’ot’en camp is not a non-profit organization, they cannot apply for grants, so all of the fundraising and organization they do is grassroots. Huson’s speech was followed by performances by Saltwater Hank and the Saline Solution, Samson’s Delilah, and Kym Gouchie. The event was successful in drawing approximately 40 people to learn and celebrate. It was sponsored by the UNBC First Nations Centre Gathering Place, Nicholson Billiards, and Kelly O’Bryans Neighbourhood Restaurant, who provided food for the event.
Next up was Doug Koyama, who used his voice and loop pedal to build up layers of sound with such depth as to blur what sounds came first. In discussing his music, Koyama said he is “Expressing what this moment holds, the energy of this moment, so it’s always an adventure to see what’s going to come out of it.” Local poet Erin Bauman joined Koyama on stage to perform a song that he had built around one of Bauman’s poems. The song was called “Time to Stand Up,” and used Koyama’s loop pedal and voice to add a mystical aspect to Bauman’s poetic call to action.
when you start impacting the animals, then we’re going to be impacted.” She began to get seriously involved and active in these issues when she found out that band leadership had accepted money from Lions Gate Metals and created a Memorandum of Understanding with them, meaning that the company had begun sending workers and equipment into the territory. Huson and several other members of the co
Next up was the key speaker of the evening, Freda Huson, who began by performing a song that came to her in the Unist’ot’en camp, called “Take Me Back, Take Me Back.”
mmunity decided to travel two hours from their homes, to the area of their territory that was most at risk, to protest this work. This is how the camp was originally created,
Sam Wall | OTE
The Unist’ot’en do not see their work as a protest or demonstration, but rather “a peaceful expression of their connection to their territory.” The clan has a blockade set up on the bridge into their territory, where newcomers are always asked “Who are you? Where are you from? Who gives you permission to be here?” This procedure is followed to emphasize the importance of regaining consent to who can be on and use the territory. Huson mentioned some hardships that the camp has encountered since its creation, such as several cabins being purposely
If you are interested in getting involved, you can contact the Unist’ot’en camp through their facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/unistoten/ or join the Prince George Unist’ot’en Support Group Network at https://www.facebook.com/USGPG/ or email them at dharma.w@hotmail.com . If you would like to donate to the camp, you can send E-transfers to fhuson@gmail.com or mail to Tse Wedi Eltlh, 620 CN Station Rd., Smithers B.C., V0J 2N1. The Unist’ot’en Camp hosts a work camp in May for three weeks, where anyone can contribute their skilled or unskilled labour. They also hold an Action camp for one week in July, where participants are taught how to actively engage in the process. Huson stated that anyone wanting to help can do so by spreading the word about what is happening on the land, and spread the truth about how the environment and people are being impacted.
Opinion
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To the Good Men Darrin Rigo Contributor
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o The Good Men,
We are not actively abusers. We are intentionally hurting the women in our lives. We are not murderers and for that, we deserve no congratulations. We are doing the bare minimum, and we are to blame. Here are we are: the good men. We will sit and listen to the news stories. We quote the facts. 1 in 4 women. 72 cents to the dollar. We will shake our heads – let out a thoughtful “hmmm” - aghast as men terrorize women. Men who would shoot 14 women just for engaging in academia. We see this and we create this man, this
abuser in our heads and say – “I would never do that. Because I am a good man.” Good men do this and because we do this, we will never pause to look at ourselves. We never turn that critical lens inwards to see that we are still a part of the problem. Good men, I have a few questions for you: “Would you call yourself a feminist in front of your male friends? Would you do it often?” “Do you speak up when you hear misogynistic language? When you’re ‘broing’ down with the boys? Do you shut down ‘locker talk’?” “Do you listen? Do you listen when women disagree with you? When they
contest your ideas with their own?” I’m here to say that I no longer believe in good men. I do not believe in apathy and I do not believe in silence or passive reinforcement of a society that hurts women. I don’t want good men, I want better men and I want better men to never stop trying to be better. I want to challenge better men to make this world uncomfortable for the abusers. I want men who hold other men accountable. Better men who will confront men who say disrespectful or damaging things and rather than having an unsafe world for women, we will instead have an uncomfortable
world for abusive men. And I hope we can all agree that is a fair compromise. Do not mistake the intent, these actions will not make these men suddenly respect women. It will, however, begin to create a culture where it is known that if you do something disrespectful – it will be noticed and it will be called out. Finally, my hope is that one day, we will not have any good men left at all. Instead, we will have a culture that demands respect and with an expectation that disrespect is answered only with action – notably by men who will stand up to other men.
Why The Liberals Backing Down From Electoral Reform Is Bad For You Colin Slark Editor in Chief
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hen the Liberals announced during the 2015 federal election campaign that they were promising to make that election the last under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, it was an exciting proposition. The current system has served Canada for 150 years, but something having always been the same way is not an automatic indicator that it is worth keeping around. According to Elections Canada’s website, there are 17 registered federal political parties. These parties represent the views of varying amounts of Canadians, but it doesn’t matter. Unless you vote for 1 of 3 parties (4 in Quebec and 4 in Elizabeth May’s riding), your vote doesn’t matter because there is almost no chance any non-NDP, Liberal, or Conservative candidate will be successful. If you want to vote for a party that is likely to form a government, you have 2 choices
since the NDP have not been as strong since the death of Jack Layton. Even if you vote for one of the three major parties, FPTP ensures that the distribution of MPs in the House of Commons will not accurately reflect the popular vote. The Liberals led the Conservatives by approximately 8% in the popular vote, but won 85 more ridings than the Conservatives because our electoral system rigidly searches for passed thresholds in defined areas instead of allowing for any nuance. A proportional system that assigns MPs to the House based on popular vote percentages would more accurately reflect how Canadians actually vote.
muster enough votes to send a candidate to Ottawa. However, there is the chance that if a single vote goes farther, there may be fewer instances of voting based on compromise or strategic voting and more voting to be in line with an individual’s actual beliefs. This would probably lead to a more even distribution of MPs amongst the bigger parties, which would decrease the chance that a single party would be able to form a majority by themselves and increase the chance that parties would need to create coalitions, work together, and make compromises in order to rule effectively (whether or not this would be a good thing is hotly debated).
This isn’t to say that all of these problems will be suddenly and magically solved by moving towards some sort of proportional system. Those voting for the Pirate Party of Canada will probably still not be able to
However, the fact that Canadians will not be the beneficiaries of electoral reform is not the worst part of the Liberals breaking their promise; there was already a strong chance that any electoral reform would
die a painful death as the Constitution would have to be altered and to do you 2/3 of provincial legislatures would have to accept such a change, not to mention that any referendum on electoral reform could also be rejected by Canadians. No, the worst part is that the Liberals did not even try. They made committees, they spatted with other parties about committee composition, and they complained that the task would be difficult, but it never actually seemed like they even took a stab at figuring out a) which system would be best for Canadians or b) how to implement said systems. When you’re the government, you don’t get to say “But it’s too haaaaaard!”, especially when you didn’t even try. Let us hope that the Liberals have a different attitude towards their other campaign promises, because we deserve better.
Grant’s Rant: Cross The Aisle Already Grant Bachand Contributor
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t’s hard to be a political scientist these days, because all your friends look to you and say “Explain Trump to me.” Here is my explanation of Trump; I don’t have one. I say that not because I gave up but because I simply can’t explain his madness. Instead I ask people to go out and find out themselves. If Donald Trump’s rise to power highlighted one thing more than anything else it’s that people need to talk to each other. Politics is about how we live together, and in this current time we are not living together very well. Divisions in this world are deeper and more fundamental than ever. Identity politics, racism, environmentalism, feminism and conservatism are all labels to divide us. “Human” is the word that should unite us. Not to sound corny with that last part, but seriously, we need to stop freaking out when people disagree with us. I think feminism is important and we need to be aware of our gender bias at all times. However, if I am putting together a project and I pick all men because no qualified women come forward, it doesn’t make me sexist. It doesn’t make me a bad person either if you don’t identify as a man or a woman because I don’t understand it or feel comfortable conforming to it. Gender expression is new, and people need time to wrap their heads around new ideas. Stop freaking out because we aren’t all automatically allies. The left needs to calm down with the identity politics which are only relevant to a faction of the population and get on board with the idea of fixing problems in a community. This coming from a liberal, not a conservative. Conservatives, you need to get over the fact that the country is changing, and that immigrants are here. We need immigrants because our birth rate is low, and we need more people to help our country prosper. Aside from that, it is the right thing to do to welcome refugees, especially since it
acknowledges human rights. I want you to get over the fact that Muslims are moving into your neighborhood and go over meet them and stop being so insolent-looking. Canadian Values are immigrant values. Stop thinking the way your dad did things is the right way. The 1950’s is over, and they aren’t coming back. Move forward or move out of the way. Both sides need to stop being so petty and stop pandering to their bases and cross the floor to see the other team’s perspective. Now is the time for moderates to take over and show these extremists that Globalization is good, reforms are needed to lessen the wealthy gap, and people want to stop being dictated about how to live their lives. Moderates, join in on the debate and start saying to your racist uncle, “You are crazy. Stop being crazy.” Also do not be afraid to look at your radical feminist cousin, and say “Calm down, you are alienating people from our side and making it hard to have a discussion about anything.” The lesson about the Trump Presidency for the world is this: stop staying in your camps because they do nothing for the political discussion. If you are a socialist, talk with a capitalist. If you are a fundamental Christian, go to a gay rights rally. If you are a liberal, hang out with a conservative and find out why they believe what the do. We need to break down barriers and get past the small things that divide us and find the big things which unite us. Divisions don’t foster a healthy future. They only allow for radicals to take over and hold us all hostage.
Correction: In our previous issue (issue 5), a piece titled “Looking Past the Surface - A Rebuttal” was not given a writing attribution. It should have been attributed to Colin Slark. We apologize for any confusion.
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Mental Health
Caring For Your Mental Health Shayley Harris Guest Contributor
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ne of the things we often don’t think about is mental health. Some people scoff at the idea and believe that the people living or suffering from some form of mental illness are making it up. However, these people are wrong. I say that confidently because I am living with Bipolar type two with anxiety induced rapid cycling and borderline personality disorder. Be honest, when you read something like that, it sounds terrifying. When I first heard it, I was too, but also relieved because someone believed me. If you’re not trained in mental illnesses or have never known someone with it, it’s highly likely that you’d judge that person more harshly or try to dumb down things because you think it’s needed for interaction. An actual statistic is that one in two people would unfriend a person if they found out that person has a mental health illness. Another stat: One in five people are diagnosed with a mental illness, meaning here at UNBC around 800 people could be living with some sort of mental illness and one in three people have some sort of mental health issues which would be 1300 UNBC students. Mental health issues are different than mental illness but should be taken just as seriously; just because a person does not qualify by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) does not mean they’re faking. People that are suffering in silence are more likely to drop out of school. So many people will stay silent because they’ll think that they’ll be judged by their peers and that their professors will treat them differently. People think that having anxiety to the point of it severely impact on their grades is normal and “need to study more”, that having a hard time to get to classes because they feel like it’s all worthless is normal and that sudden or irrational anger outbursts are normal. That not being able to relax and viewing their school work as the most important thing in their life and lets it take over is normal. Having a feeling that you’re different or broken or wishing that you were someone else that lives a normal life is normal. Anyone
reading this that has had passing thoughts of suicide and thinks that is normal? Technically, it’s not, and you do not need to be ashamed of it but you can seek help if it’s interrupting your life. If it leads to potential actions, there is a lot of help on campus. If we were to think about it, what is normal? That’s not an easy answer for anyone, mainly because everyone’s normal is different. I’m going to admit that I’m no expert, I’ve just been through the ringer with my diagnosis. I’ve learned what it is like to have mental illness here in Prince George and what it looks like to get help. It can be challenging getting past that initial fear of “they’re going to judge me” or “I’m just over thinking things” or “Nothing is actually wrong and I need to get over it” or “grow a pair”. UNBC has a wonderful Wellness Center team, they are here to help and they have regular walk in hours if you’re unable to book an appointment! Did you know that we have a psychiatrist on staff at the university and nurses too? How about that security is trained to help in mental health related issues and crisis? If you feel like you’re struggling at all, there is help. No one will judge you, and you will feel better.
do, you will feel so much better. I feel like I’m repeating myself quite a bit in this, but the point is, if you feel like you’re in any way struggling, there is help at the university and outside of the university (although that avenue can be difficult to use). The university is here to help and wants you to succeed in your academic career. If you’re one of the people reading this and scoffing, I’m not going to lie, you are part of the problem that 66% of people with mental illness are scared to talk about it. If you’re one of the people reading this and thinking that it connects with you in some way, there are people in the school to help, to talk to, or just learn more.
If you do need help or are scared to talk to people here in the university, here are some helpful links and places that I wish I was told about when I was going through the thick of it. UNBC wellness center: (250) UNBC Wellness Center: (250) 960-6369 or room 5-196 Canadian Mental Health Association of Prince George: 250-564-8644 Blue Wave http://www.bluewavebc.ca/ Mind Check https://www.mindcheck.ca/
Now, after reading through this, does being Bipolar type two with anxiety induced rapid cycling and borderline personality disorder sound as scary? Just to let you know, I don’t consider myself to be suffering from a mental illness, maybe about six months ago when I was in the worst of my symptoms, but there is a light at the end of it all. It’s manageable and I’m living with a mental illness. It does not define me, nor should anyone else use it to define me.
My experience is rather unique,\; this year has been rough on me, from being prescribed a medication that I’m severely allergic to, to being suicidal, and to being in a harmonious place. I must work regularly and put the effort in to make sure that I’m mentally prepared for school. My diagnosis is something that I’m going to live with the rest of my life, but many people have milder forms of mental health issues or illnesses and can get better. Sometimes, just having someone, such as a counsellor, to listen to you and give you advice on proper breathing techniques when having a panic attack or how to stop the spiral effect of depression helps a lot. Maybe you’ll end up on antidepressants or antianxiety medications, which are not as scary as some people make them out to be. It takes a couple weeks for them to take effect and once they
mymeditativemoments.com
Mental Health
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Living with Monsters in my Head Anonymous Contributor
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t the start of this semester, I began to feel really run down.
My body felt heavy. My head was not in the game. I was tired all the time, but at the same time, I couldn’t sleep. I began missing assignments, I wasn’t writing notes in class, I was distracted most of the time. I began to actively avoid my responsibilities. I knew that all I was doing at that point was hurting me and my academic career. I had monsters whispering in my ear. “You’re not doing great. You’re going to fail. You’re pathetic. You’re never going to get anywhere.” When I first experienced those whispers late last semester, I remember distinctly thinking to myself, “Don’t worry about it. It’s probably just the winter blues, you’ll get over it pretty soon.” I never really did just get over it. It faded and relapsed, never going away. It was an omnipresent muttering, and however faintly, I could always hear it. That should have set off alarm bells in my head, but I ignored the feelings and tried to carry on anyways. Of course, it didn’t work out for me. I ended up in a train wreck of my own making, burning myself from the inside out. I was emotionally and mentally spent, and had I not done something about it at that point, I’m fairly certain that I might
have given up on living normally. What I did instead was I first screamed at the world, tore myself apart, and just lay there for a whole night crying my eyes out. All the pent-up emotions I had, all the stress I was suppressing, I vented it all, and I didn’t expect an ounce of compassion or empathy in return. When the sun rose the next day, I picked myself up and started over. The monsters stopped their whispering, humbled by my scream. Since then, so far, I’ve been doing okay. I’ve been getting my assignments in on time. I even handed in a few late ones, after I apologized to my professors. I didn’t tell them what had been going on though. Maybe I should have, maybe I shouldn’t have, who knows. All that matters is I’ve lived through my monsters to survive another day. If this somehow resonates with you, if you somehow understand my disjointed ideas and hear the same whispering monsters inside your head, I’m not going to tell you what to do. There’s a number of resources you can use, some on campus even. You can choose to do so, or you can choose not to. There’s no shame in either choice. You can use your friends. You can talk to those anonymous people you know on the internet. Just remember though: you can’t live with the monsters forever. They’ll either rule your life, or you’ll drive them away.
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Student Life
The Benefits of Keeping Plants Jade Szymanski Contributor
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s we slowly escape the darkness of winter and approach the flourishing of spring, we should start sprucing up our living spaces to reflect the revival of earth’s blossoms. A great way to achieve this would be to line our walls with large bamboo leaves, cover our floors with nutrient-rich soils, and canopy our ceilings with creeping vines as we welcome the new season of mother earth’s renewal into our lives. However, as we are all on a university student’s budget and have limited resources and space, perhaps one could trade the whole extreme home makeover for a simple house plant to brighten up your days. While most of us lack the virtue of a green thumb, there are many benefits of having a house plant which should motivate you to roll up your sleeves and practice a little tender loving care. First of all, it gives you a sense of responsibility to take care of another living being other than yourself, but on a smaller scale than if it were the terrors of a young child or the suspense of an animal. Taking time out of your daily routine to foster the growth of something other than yourself is important as it keeps you grounded and are reminded that there are other life forms on this earth; everything doesn’t revolve around you but rather with you. That being said, a plant doesn’t require that much attention and therefore won’t take over your life. Restricting you from going to the movies with friends because it needs you to give it a massage or impeding you from visiting your parents for the weekend because it needs you to read it the entire Harry Potter series are things that you don’t need to worry about from your plant, unless you get a menacing Venus fly trap of course. Another benefit of keeping a house plant is that it adds a visual pleasantry for you to enjoy every single day. The bright colours from the buds and blossoms adds a refreshing pop to your indoor space which can often be plagued by dull furniture and piles of mess that you keep losing socks, letters from your mom, and teeth in. What most people don’t realize about this visual stimulant however, is that the beauty of these plants
creates a more calming atmosphere and helps reduce stress. While plants cannot do your taxes, remind you to show up for jury duty, or help you cheat on your chemistry midterm, being close to greenery makes us feel more at ease with our surroundings. It makes us feel more in touch with nature, and when humans connect with the natural roots that they come from, it’s often related to a sense of bliss and contentment which can distract from the daily stresses we face. One last benefit is that keeping a house plant will teach you to learn about coping with death. Let’s not beat around the bush here, this plant that you get will inevitably die after about a month or so due to careless negligence; feeding it vodka instead of water by accident, using its leaves as a garnish on the pasta dish you made for your tinder date, slow dancing with it after your date ends early and dropping it on the ground when attempting to do a spin, and even just forgetting that it exists and not watering it for two weeks. No matter how you kill your plant, there will be some degree of sorrow as you trash it and add it to the list of plants you’ve massacred over the years. The first one is always the hardest as you are mortified you were so negligent, but about after the fifth one is when you truly come to terms with the inevitable and have a better outlook around the topic of loss. No matter what new benefits your house plant will bring to the table, be assured that the list of benefits are never ending. Learn about responsibility but at the same time, don’t be scared that you will kill it, as that is just part of the process. The varieties of house plants are limitless and everyone can find some living greenery that reflects their dazzling personalities, so there is no excuse not to get one! Get out there and get gardening, kids.
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Review: Rogue One Leaves An Impact Jesmeen Deo Contributor
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’m going to start this off by saying I am a casual Star Wars fan. I saw the original movies and the prequel trilogy several years ago and enjoyed them. I’ve seen The Force Awakens and enjoyed that too. So last month, when I had the opportunity to go see Rogue One, I decided to take it. I assumed that like the other Star Wars movies I’d seen before it, this would just be an enjoyable, casual viewing, and I’d walk away without much lingering thought about the film afterwards.
casting directors; I’m even more excited to see a woman of colour— Kelly Marie Tran— in Star Wars Episode VIII. I’m ecstatic that we’re (very slowly) starting to see more representation of diversity in media. As Diego Luna, the actor of Cassian Andor, would say: “A Mexican in Star Wars? Come on!” It may seem a small and insignificant thing to some people, but then again, those people are probably the ones who already see their demographic well represented on screen.
Boy, was I wrong.
Moving on from this point, let’s get back to the plot. I think what struck me most about it— this is where the spoilers come in, folks— is the ending (or the last twenty minutes or so).
There are two things that really stuck out to me about this movie. One is nonplot related and the other is plot related. I’d advise anyone who hasn’t seen Rogue One and is interested to see it not to keep reading to avoid that spoiler. The first thing that struck me was that, with the exception of Jyn, all the mains were people of colour. Cassian’s actor was Latino, Chirrut and Baze’s were Chinese, and Bodhi’s Pakistani. They all played complex and interesting characters. Unlike in many films, there wasn’t just one or two token minorities! Now that is the kind of stuff I like to see. I’m even more pleased at how well the film is doing; I hope movies like these continue to show the big studios that movies with non-white leads can and do make money as long as they are treated properly. And that’s exactly what this movie did. Kudos to the
All the main characters died. I’m the kind of person who generally much prefers a happy ending to a sad one, but in this case, I think that this made a lot of sense in the context of the universe this movie is set in and the fact that it’s a prequel for the original trilogy. Jyn, Cassian, Chirrut, Baze, Bodhi all died in their mission to salvage the Death Star plans (the droid K2SO “died” as well, at least in the very loose sense of the word). And this, I think, is the reason that the movie has stuck in my mind for so long afterwards. Because this is the end of their story— we get to know them for one movie; we become familiar with their lives, what makes them tick, their personality
quirks, and we grow to love them as the fully formed complex characters that they are. Then, quite abruptly, they die in various, equally tragic ways. And then what? The plans are in the hands of the Rebel forces, and we never hear anyone mention their names in the Star Wars universe ever again. From a Doylist viewpoint, that’s probably because the original trilogy was made several decades before this movie. However, from the Watsonian standpoint, it shines light on a very sad truth: most of the people who make change happen will inevitably be forgotten. Perhaps it’s a weakness of human minds; we tend to remember those that came last, the ones that completed that goal everyone was working towards. It’s like a relay race: the focus is on the person who runs that last leg, not the people in between, even though those people trained just as hard and worked just as diligently to ensure that the race could be completed. The very real tragedy of history is that not everyone’s hard work and stories will be remembered. This is the case with Cassian, Jyn, and their rag-tag group of rebels that fought so, so hard and gave up their lives to make sure the Death Star plans could be given to the Rebellion. I remember thinking for the whole movie, “This is what this movie is about? All this ruckus, just for the Death Star plans?” This movie showed how epic and big a journey it was, but in the grand scheme of the Star Wars story, it was a small act, a
mere stepping stone to the final victory. The characters themselves, of course, don’t know this. Jyn and Cassian spend their final moments on a beach, where Cassian tells Jyn that her father would be proud of her. They’re hugging tightly when the explosion reaches them. Perhaps they are content in knowing that a part of them will be remembered. Without them, the Rebellion would have fallen apart. They are immortalized not by name, but by legacy. It’s a good reminder to us in real life to always keep in mind that history is written by the people with the loudest voice: the victors, and the people who completed the race. There are always others who worked hard before them, who created great waves of impact on history that we may never even realize. This is the reason why Darwin is a household name, but not Wallace; why people remember Alexander Graham Bell, not Antonio Meucci; and why Watson and Crick are most often credited for finding the structure of DNA, not Rosalind Franklin. And there are so many more who remain completely anonymous that none of us have the slightest idea about. But they were there; they existed, and they mattered. They were people, each with their own complex story that could probably fit into a dozen thrilling movies. I think that we should start trying to do a better job of remembering their names.
screenrant.com
10
Culture
Freedom
Medicine, for Mom
Contained Beasts
Tierney Watkinson Team Member
Sam Wall News Editor
Sam Wall News Editor
I watch
Mother, mother
dependent elephants
as the sun sinks
I am drowning
bred in zoos
into hills beyond
I can’t pick it up
defying odds placed
and the sky slowly
I can’t start again
before their mouths
changes
give me more
and dark, acrid cries
from blue
medicine
devoured by curious onlookers
of scarlets and violets and yellows
K-po 2:
defeat and darkness look
and then starts to fade and deepens
Cee, Cee, Cee,
like pity
to ebony—the rich and deep black
Gee, Gee, Gee,
looks like
of night.
Aim, Aim,
failure looks like
Then stars appear, sparkling softly,
efF, efF.
trying again
to a kaleidoscope
looks like
ever singing their hushed song and the moon slowly rises up
Sometimes I know you
bugs in the system
to join them
like you’d never met me
look like
casting eerie yet beautiful light
didn’t know I wasn’t
defeat
over the silent shapes
relevant, no second chance
of trees and hills,
I can’t just go home
heartbreak and animals look look like animals
and sleeping animals and houses. I watch, and envy the stars
Doon doon doom
look animalistic
and the moon,
boom boom boon
like wild animals look secret looks
because they are free,
animal
and I can never
Daughter, daughter
truly
tell me one day of all
be free.
the things I can’t be
take pictures because
without the
pictures don’t have sound
medicine Oooooo, ooooo, may-dah-sen, meh-de-sin. Lisa M | deviantArt
The Tragedy of Kraft Dinner James Eckstein Contributor
K
raft Dinner has been ranked as one of the classic student meals of all time. Not only is it tasty and affordable, but more importantly can be prepared relatively quickly without burning down the entire house. It would be extremely difficult to find a university or college student who has never eaten Kraft Dinner at least once in their life.
O
n average, a Canadian family will eat approximately 3.2 boxes of Kraft Dinner every year. That’s a total of almost 90 million boxes sold every year in Canada alone. No matter how many boxes of Kraft Dinner you eat per year (or day in some cases), the history of how Kraft Dinner came to be is wrapped in tragedy, going all the way back to the early 1900’s. The main element that makes Kraft Dinner so convenient and quick to prepare is the cheese powder. The invention of processed cheese is credited to Walter Gerber of Switzerland, in 1911. However, it was not patented until the year 1916 by James Lewis Kraft, who just so happened to be the president of soon to be Kraft Foods Inc. After expanding the company to Canada in 1919, there were only two events that had to occur before Kraft Dinner was created. The first was the Great Depression. During the economic crash of 1929 and the massive loss of employment, many families were tight on money to spend on food. Many began to resort to cheaper alternatives to feed themselves. A brilliant St. Louis salesman, who never earned the credit he deserved, came up with the idea to bundle together macaroni pasta and cheese and sell this to the hungry public. Much like the modern Kraft Dinner of today, his bundle was made up of a cardboard box filled with dry macaroni and a little bag of cheese. The cheese in this case was simply grated cheddar in a bag held together with a rubber band. This version of macaroni and cheese was sold all the way through the Great Depression, all the way up to the final event that altered the history of Kraft Dinner, World War II.
In 1937, the Kraft Foods Inc. took the idea of the bundled macaroni with cheese and branded and sold it as Kraft Dinner. While the initial sales of the product were lackluster, the popularity saw a massive surge in popularity after the beginning of World War II in 1939. It was at this time that many mothers of large families had begun work as their spouses were enlisted to fight overseas. This put families in a tough spot where they had a combination of both a lack of time and money for preparing meals. The fact that there was also a ration of milk and dairy products and an increased reliance on meatless meals did not help very much. Kraft Foods Inc. decided to change the labelling on their Kraft Dinner boxes to “A meal for 4 in 9 minutes”. After this shift in marketing, the sales of Kraft Dinner soared. Another contributing factor to its success was because families on food stamps could buy two boxes for only a single stamp. Ever since the start of World War II in 1939, Kraft Dinner, or Kraft Macaroni and Cheese how it’s known in the United States, has remained a staple in North American culture. It’s bizarre to think that without these massive events of history, we may have never of had a meal as simple as Kraft Dinner. Today, instead of helping low income families that are dealing with the world’s greatest economic depression or the Second World War, Kraft Dinner is helping broke university students not starve to death.
12
Opinion
Voters, Start Thinking! - 2017 BC Election Tierney Watkinson Team Member
E
ver since he-who-must-not-be-named was sworn in as President of the USA, we have been watching, transfixed in our horror as a narcissist sporting the hairstyle of a stained, dead albino rat on his head does whatever his whimsical, narrow-minded self desires to a country that made the mistake of not taking him seriously until it was too late. Let’s not forget that British Columbia’s own elections are coming up. I feel that it is important to note that there are, in fact, a great number of registered political parties in BC. Elections BC lists the following parties (as of February 1, 2017) as viable: B.C. Vision, BC First Party, BC Marijuana Party, BC NDP, BC Progressive Party, BC Refederation Party, British Columbia Action Party, British Columbia Conservative Party, British Columbia Excalibur Party, British Columbia Liberal Party, British Columbia Libertarian Party, British Columbia Party, British Columbia People’s Party (BCPP), British Columbia Social Credit Party, The Cascadia Party of British Columbia, Christian Heritage Party of British Columbia, Communist Party of BC, Cultural Action Party, Green Party Political Association of British Columbia, Land Air Water (LAW) Party, People’s Front, The Platinum Party of Employers Who Think and Act to Increase Awareness, Unparty: The Consensus-Building Party, The Vancouver Island Party, Work Less Party of British Columbia, and Your Political Party of BC. I am going to skip right over the discussion about which of these parties are duds and which are worthy of being listened to. My point is, do your research. Maybe Canada doesn’t seem to have as many shows based on political satire or late-night TV hosts dedicated to such topics as the USA does —for instance Seth Myers, The Daily Show, or Samantha Bee (who was born in Canada but whose heart was stolen by the USA)—and maybe we don’t have quite as colourful a leader at the moment, but that does not mean we should not pay attention to politicians at home. The US has made
it very clear that it does not matter how stupid or ignorant a candidate seems; if you don’t slam the door on the toddler who wants to get into office, they will get in and they will start breaking things.
themselves on some passive aggressive Twitter zingers they tagged the opposing party-goers in you give up completely and switch to chugging that sweet alcoholic nectar straight from the bottle.
Write this down: Voter registration closes April 11. Advance voting begins the end of April; check out the Elections BC website for exact dates. Otherwise, the day to vote is May 9. MAY 9, 2017. Voting in elections is not something anybody should take lightly. Voting is THE chance you get to have a say in how your region, province, and/or country are run.
If you avoid debates and party websites because you are sick and tired of the repeated arguments that political parties use, and are frustrated that they tend to focus on bashing the opposition rather than actually suggesting valid improvements to policy and other issues, I recommend you at least watch The Beaverton and Because News. The Beaverton (thebeaverton. com) is, much like The Onion, a fake news show but it focuses on Canadian politics and events. Because News is a CBC Radio podcast that mocks current events in the country (they also touch upon the antics of the burnt marshmallow in charge of the USA because, well, it is unavoidable) in a panel format; it is hosted by Gavin Crawford and features new guests each week.
Visit the party websites. “Party” is a bit of a misleading term, I’ll admit. If a political group was a party it would be the kind of party where you arrive feeling awkward and underdressed, because you had to ring the doorbell three times before anyone answered and the host opened the door and swept you with a look you would describe as “unimpressed”. You don’t know why they are unimpressed--you just assume it was your face or what you are wearing or maybe the champagne you brought wasn’t fancy enough for the four-storey house that was built in the 1940s and has been in the host’s family for five--sorry, six--generations. Once you are inside the mansion you are suddenly and painfully aware that you probably shouldn’t touch anything so you station yourself in a corner and drink your own champagne with a tiny flute the butler--why didn’t the butler open the door, you wonder, confused-hands you, listening to the conversations of the better-dressed people who are either ignoring you or simply do not see you. You did, after all, subconsciously activate your cloaking device. Initially you are hoping to learn something of interest (and perhaps waiting to become inspired to make some sort of contribution yourself, to either the conversation or the country) while you demurely sip from your champagne flute, but as the hour wears on and it becomes clear that the party attendees are perfectly content to bitch about the people at the party across the street and congratulate
Drag your thoughts away from the debacle in the USA for a moment and give these programs a try. The Mercer Report and This Hour has 22 Minutes also inject a great deal of political satire into their shows—“Rick’s Rant” on The Mercer Report especially tends to focus on political issues and 22 Minutes often interviews party candidates or leaders even as they make light fun of them. Locally, be sure to stay tuned in to the radio stations (at very least when the news is on) such as UNBC’s very own CFUR as well as programs such as Prince George Up Close with Grant Bachand. Up Close already presents a substantial interview with the NDP’s candidate for the upcoming election, as well as the Prince George mayor and other city officials. Voting itself is frustrating. The research is inconvenient. The process is not even remotely fun, regardless of how big a nerd you are. But it is necessary. Don’t sit passively by. If you miss this opportunity, you won’t get another chance to have a say about BC’s Premier until 2021.
huffingtonpost.ca
Humour
13
5 Fictional Dictators That Would be Better Presidents Than Trump T
he beginning of the Trump administration has been a maelstrom of chaos. Protests have been happening across the United States as people stand up against a variety of decisions Trump has made. Trump’s Executive Order curtailing immigration from Muslim-majority countries has dramatically affected the lives of refugees and even legal US residents and citizens, and has also spawned a large number of lawsuits against the government. Trump has been inflaming tensions between the US and other countries and frequently takes to Twitter to pursue petty grudges. All this and more has happened, and it has lead to Trump having the lowest approval rating for a new President since that sort of thing started to be monitored. The terms “fascist” and “Nazi” are thrown around a lot in reference to Trump, his administration, his advisors, and supporters, but this article is not going to argue those points. Instead, here is a list of fictional dictators and tyrants that would do a better job at leading the United States of America than Trump.
Absolutely. Does he employ unscrupulous methods to maintain power and order? Of course. However, he is supremely competent and is a pretty benevolent dictator when compared to other ones.
1. Lord Vetinari, Discworld: Entries in Terry Prachett’s Discworld series are about all kinds of peoples, places, and things on the Discworld. This means that many of the books are not connected except that they take place on the same planet. One constant in the series is the filthy, grubby city of Ankh-Morpork which is ruled over by Lord Havelock Vetinari. Vetinari is ruthless, supremely cunning, and thanks to a large network of spies and agents is essentially omnipresent and omniscient within his city.
3. Darkseid, DC Comics: There’s no way that living under Darkseid’s tyrannical rule on the hell-planet Apokolips would be preferable to living under the Trump administration. However, Darkseid can take your free will away and make you an obedient mind-slave, so at least you wouldn’t have the capacity to worry about your miserable existence. Trump only wishes that he could remove the American citizen’s ability to think independently. Also, Darkseid’s propaganda is much better. “Make America Great Again” can move over because Darkseid is “The tiger-force at the core of all things.”
Perhaps his success comes from his view on democracy as seen in the novel Mort: “Ankh-Morpork had dallied with many forms of government and had ended up with that form of democracy known as One Man, One Vote. The Patrician was the Man; he had the Vote.” Is he a tyrant?
2. Doctor Doom, Marvel Comics: Victor Von Doom is a monster. He’s a murderer, he’s a dictator, and he’s probably committed every crime possible. He even once turned his only true love into magical leather armour so that he could gain power from a version of the devil. LIke Trump, he does not enjoy people telling him that he’s wrong. However, unlike Trump, Doom does not suffer fools. He is a monstrous tyrant, but he keeps his promises and says what he really thinks. If people love it when Trump does it, they’ll go bananas for Doctor Doom. Just don’t get on his bad side though, Trump just impotently tweets at people he doesn’t like, Doom will straight up shoot your house into space. Is he a better person than Trump? Er... probably not. Is he more competent? Almost certainly.
4. Emperor Palpatine, Star Wars Series: If we’re being honest, the Emperor is a lot like Trump. A man from an affluent family rises to power to create a new authoritarian
and xenophobic political order that creates blatantly false propaganda while giving his buddies from his previous endeavours positions of authority? It’s a bit familiar. However, whereas Trump keeps making absurd demands and then pounds at his desk with impotent rage when people resist, no one disobeys Palpatine’s orders because they know the words will be backed up with action. Palpatine is a monster, but at least he can keep some semblance of order. 5. The Handicapper General, Harrison Bergeron: In Kurt Vonnegut’s satirical short story set in a dystopic future version of the United States, no one is allowed to be smarter, better-looking, or more capable at something than anyone else, and the Handicapper General is in charge of levelling the playing field. As the Trump Administration and the Republican Party continue to insist that every American, no matter their gender identity, physical appearance, religion, ethnicity, and etc. are equal, the Handicapper General would make sure that this rule is enforced to the letter and enforced on everyone. Sure it would curb individuality, but that doesn’t seem to be a trait endorsed by the Trump Administration.
14
Culture
Brolesque Sam Wall News Editor
T
he Foxxie Follies, led by Sasparilla Foxx, have been working hard to create a loyal following in Prince George, holding events such as their Christmas Spectacular and Night of Intrigue. But the event this past Saturday was different. The burlesque troupe featured “Brolesque” in their “Chip n’ Tassles” performance, featuring mostly male dancers. “Mostly male,” as in many of the performers were our usual favorites from the Foxxie Follies dressed in drag, spiced up with other new performers - for some it was their first time! The Artspace was buzzing, as several people were lined up hours before the show for the chance to get one of the last dozen tickets available to the sold out event. It’s safe to say that the Foxxie Follies are bringing new energy to Prince George, especially downtown. he show was led by the troupe’s usual MC, T Dicky Delight, who warmed up the audience with saucy jokes and reminded them to avoid taking photos and give the performers their best applause. The excitement of the audience was palpable, as they awaited the evening of fun and intrigue before them. Dicky then introduced the Foxxie Follies, who kicked off the evening with a group performance to “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, slowly working out of their black slacks, dress shirts, and bright pink sports coats, down to golden thongs and nipple pasties. Next, Jazzledazzle took the stage, dressed and dancing in a style reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin - complete with audience participation, of course. The dedication of the performers to their craft was obvious, as many of them practiced the art of mustache and sideburn makeup, often coated in glitter for a little extra flair under the lights. The MC then took the time to introduce the “sexy stage kitten,” Alley Cat, who donned a rainbow jumpsuit, a pink fluffy vest, and cat ears, while he cleared the stage of props between acts. he evening continued to “drag on,” as T Brandy Wine arrived on stage, rocking the “Dad bod” wearing a white robe and
a mullet, while Earl Martini kept it classy in a suit. Ivan Vodka and Larry Borealis came out to “What is Love?” by Haddaway, complete with suits which bring to mind the late 90’s film, “A Night at the Roxbury.” In the style of Steve and Doug Butabi, they began the number with synchronized head bobs, pulling the entire sleeves off of their suits, stripping down, and seeming shocked by the breasts they found underneath. Brandy Wine returned with Tom Cat to provide a performance to “Greased Lightning” from “Grease,” evoking the esthetic of the film, while embracing the masculine energy of the event in their mechanic’s uniforms. The last performer before the audience ran to the small bar during intermission was Hammer and Balls. He arrived on the stage to a medley of 80’s rock hits, while wearing his long hair down with a bandana wrapped around it, and other attire inspired by the era. As he began to strip down, a humorously fake hairy chest was revealed above nipple pasties. Next came a shocking moment as he pulled a huge fake penis out, complete with two balls on a string, which he waved around for the enjoyment of the audience to close out the first half of the show. o begin the second half, the lovely T MC, Dicky Delight, put on his first solo burlesque performance, donning a snowsuit, while carrying a snow shovel, as a song about shoveling snow played. Next up was Clit Eats Wood, dressed as a typical construction/city worker in a visivest and hard hat, while holding an unlit cigarette and a STOP/SLOW sign, which he used to tease the audience. Mister Elixir provided an interesting performance with Baby Romaine, as he chased her around in his fur coat, mustache, and fur hat, while she was dressed as a beaver. The next performer, Alberto, hit the stage dressed as a firefighter. When he removed his top to reveal his built abs, and smooth movement to the music, the crowd lost it immediately. He proceeded to allevents.in pull colourful party ribbons out
of his pants to signify fire, before stripping down. To end the evening, Chicks with Dicks performed to “YMCA” by the Village People, each one dressed to match the apparel of the original music video. The performers put their arms up to imitate the letters in the song, getting the audience to join in as other members of the Foxxie Follies ran around and drummed up more energy. All of the performers met back at the stage to remind the audience of their names, and thank their Prince George producer, Shannon Williams. With the performance concluded, the audience was in high spirits as they left Artspace for the blustery January streets of downtown Prince George. he Foxxie Follies are led by Sasparilla T Foxx, from Bottoms Up Baring Burlesque in Quesnel. With the Follies, Foxx is bringing the gender and body inclusive art of burlesque north to Prince George. If you would like to check out this local burlesque troupe, the Foxxie Follies hold an event once a month. This month they will be bringing you the love with their February Showcase, which will take place at the Eagles Hall in the Hart, on February 18th. As usual, tickets are available from Bolli Imports for $20 in advance, or $25 at the door. Keep an eye out for future events, as well as their Itty Bitty Burlesque Festival on April 21st and 22nd.
Culture
Review: Super Bowl LI
Northern Historical Conference
Colin Slark Editor in Chief
I
don’t watch many NFL games, so I thought I would give this year’s game a shot. One of the biggest problems for me as an extremely casual fan is that I constantly forget the ins and outs of the game and as well as the arcane rituals that surround the viewing experience itself. Like I do with every big game - the Stanley Cup Finals, the World Series, the Michael Jordan Intergalactic Basketball Championship Derby, and many more - I went to the Sports Bar. Of course, the Sports Bar is a massive wrought iron bar that bisects the opening of a large cave with the official logos of all the major sports leagues, as well as that of the NBA, engraved onto its surface. Once you have purified your body by bathing in a font of holy water blessed by a local minor league hockey referee and donned a football shaped hat made from the corpse of a real football, you are ready to begin your descent. Wearing a blindfold and awkwardly fumbling down a stairway where sound is lost and forsaken, you must make it to the bottom safely or risk death by statisticians, who claim lost souls and attempt to explain how the possession numbers indicate that really the 2014 Edmonton Oilers were the greatest team in hockey history until the spirit has been flayed from your dessicated corpse. Once you have arrived at the dank tavern located in the deepest, darkest pits of the
cave, you must be ready to offer a toast to the dark gods of probability that makes sports viewing worthwhile. Of course, their preferred sacrament is extremely shitty lager, and they insist that you sip deep from those cavernous pitchers. Thin strips of vellum are attached to poles and stretched until taut with images projected from magic crystals dancing upon their surface. There you are made witness to the holy relic, the Super Bowl, which all mortal men crave. For the next 2-3 hours you sit in uncomfortable chairs, stuffing triangular wedges of baked cornmeal topped with ritually sacrificed meat and decadent cheeses into your gaping maw. Above you images of teams human warriors controlled by rich oligarchs competing for the affections of an unyielding metal statuette ring out and you try not to think about the horrifying legacy of concussions upon these men. Halfway through you are treated to a performance by some kind of song wizard in an attempt to restore the energy of the athletes and to heal a divided country. It will be pretty decent, although it will lack the same charm as the one with the poorly dancing shark. To serve their chosen team, some mutter dark incantations, some make sacrifices, and some attempt to project their life essence into key players to attempt to improve their chances. At least, that’s what I assume happened, because that Patriots comeback was some dark magic.
insider.ticketmaster.com
15
Darin Kamsteeg President, NHSS
W
e are proud to invite you to the inaugural Northern Historical Conference. We feel this event will be an excellent showcase of the academic excellence the North has to offer, as well as provide an opportunity to network with scholars from across Western Canada. This is a primarily undergraduate conference, but we both allow and encourage graduate students, professionals, and community members to attend and present. We welcome talks and posters related to any geographic region or time period, as long as it can be linked to the idea of “Expression”. Our theme was chosen because it allows for scholars of different backgrounds to come together and share in a discourse on the past that incorporates numerous disciplinary approaches. Please refer to the attached PDF for more information, and if you have any further questions do not hesitate to email us at nhss@unbc.ca. The prices listed in the PDF are early bird pricing, of which there are 30 student tickets and 30 regular admission tickets available. This pricing ends either on January 16th , or when the tickets are sold out. Tickets may be purchased here. Our deadline for scholarship applications is February 10th 2017. Applications may be submitted here. Applicants can expect to receive a response by February 20th. We look forward to hearing from you and hopefully seeing you at UNBC in March!
Reprinted with permission from Rania El Mujammar and the Centre for Social Innovation