Over The Edge
UNBC’s Independent Student Newspaper est. 1994
what if... see page 8
Quebec ‘ etai ‘ t ici Volume 21, Issue 3
Free overtheedgenewspaper.ca
September 29, 2014 ote-newspaper@unbc.ca
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Next deadline: October 6, 2014
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classism that comes with spending time at a university campus creates a sort of academic elitism. Why, you ask, does this matter? Because as soon as you are finished at UNBC, this elitism will hold you back. So, I challenge everyone here to do something in or for the community that has NOTHING to do with UNBC!
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Support is always needed and no experience is required; help make Over The Edge better. We want to hear from you! Call us at 250960-5633, tweet us @overtheedgeunbc, email us at ote-newspaper@unbc.ca and be sure to like us on facebook. For more information, please visit our redesigned website at www.overtheedgenewspaper.ca.
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Every year, we provide employment as editors, designers, and managers to students with a passion for journalism and are always looking for motivated individuals to work and volunteer in our collaborative environment. Over The Edge offers competitive advertising rates for space in our print publication as well as online.
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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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Over The Edge
or when we expose our Maclean’s results to out-of-towners. This humble pride, however, is destroyed the second that UNBC-ers enter the rest of Prince George. There is a huge separation between UNBC and the rest of the city--both physical and theoretical. Our geographical position, up on the hill and looking down upon the town, along with the
Andre w
don’t know if you’ve noticed, but, here at UNBC, we tend not to take ourselves too seriously. We consistently undermine ourselves, downplay our awards and triumphs, and hide behind a northern humility when we approach bigger scholastic institutions. Our chests puff up when we tell people about our comparisons to Harvard,
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It’s not just the women's movement on campus; it's everyone’s I
would first like to acknowledge the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh. I am thrilled to be back for another amazing year at UNBC, not only for the vast amount of knowledge that I know we will acquire, but also for the events, volunteer opportunities, and programs offered by NUGSS as well as the Northern Women’s Centre during the year of UNBC's 25th Anniversary! For the month of September, the Northern Women’s Centre is organizing crisis intervention training for all of our fantastic volunteers! We are still recruiting volunteers, until October 1. There is also a collective meeting every Wednesday afternoon at 12:00pm in the Northern Women’s Centre, where current events and a great deal of event planning and
Pupić | a i M N SS UG
Mia Pupic NUGSS Women’s Representative
UNBC Life
preparation are discussed. Furthermore, some of the events planned for this year are a spa day, self defense classes, art therapy with Dr. Si Transken, ARTivism, and much more. As your NUGSS Women’s Representative, my ambition is to increase safety awareness on and off campus, and to start conversation about sexual harassment, assault, healthy and unhealthy relationships, sexual health, and the Highway of Tears. Danielle Dysserinck (NUGSS VP Finance) and I are currently working on the Safety Awareness Event to be held on October 23. Also, keep an eye out for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women/ Montréal Massacre Memorial, the launch of the White Ribbon Campaign on November 25, monthly Masculinity Discussion Group meetings, and many informative movie nights throughout the year. Moreover, my NUGSS teammates and I love to see students at our events through participation, volunteering, or both! Please stop by the office and come say
hello, hang out with us, chitchat, or ask questions because we love the company! If you have any questions or concerns, you can find me at the NUGSS office, or in the Northern Women’s Centre!
Club spotlight: Alpha Pi Beta Sorority Caitlynn Marsh Alpha Pi Beta
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reek life in Northern BC is so much more than parties and popularity, unlike what is depicted on television or in movies such as Legally Blonde or The House Bunny. At UNBC, the Alpha Pi Beta Sorority is trying to break the stereotype of what it means to be part of a sorority. Founded in 1994, members of the Sorority follow the motto “passion, pride and philanthropy” by being actively involved in academics, the UNBC community, and Prince George community.
Alpha Pi Beta Sorority
We fundraise throughout the year with events like pub nights and bake sales, and the majority of the proceeds go to local not-for-profit organizations such as the SPCA and Elizabeth Fry Society. We also volunteer our time as a Sorority and on individual bases, for events such as the Inside Ride and the Canada Winter Games this year. The Sorority’s 20th anniversary this year will bring our active and alumni members together to celebrate our sisterhood. Although we are a small sorority, being a part of our sisterhood is a phenomenal opportunity to take on a leadership position, get involved on and off campus, and form lifelong connections and friendships. For more information, or to get involved, please check out the Alpha Pi Beta Sorority on facebook!
4
UNBC Life
Corbin Greening
UNBC student’s coast-to-coast summer Colin Slark Team Member
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his summer, UNBC Master’s student and TA Corbin Greening went on a 68-day coast-tocoast bike trip starting at the Pacific Ocean in Prince Rupert, and ending at the Atlantic Ocean in Halifax. By the time he had reached the other coast, he had ridden over 6000 kilometers and lost between 25 and 30 pounds. How fast do you have to ride to get from Prince Rupert to Halifax in 68 days? Greening says some days he rode up to 150 kilometers, and averaged about 100 kilometers a day, although he did take some rest days along the way to see the sights and meet up with friends. You might think that, being flat, the prairies would be easy to cross, but that’s not strictly true. On a good day, powerful tailwinds would push him along and help him cover extra distance. On bad days, strong headwinds would slow his progress by tens of kilometers. Greening admits that by Saskatchewan he started to think he might not make it to the end. He never wanted to give up completely, but he thought there might come a day where he simply could not continue. On the other end of the scale, he found Quebec pleasant to ride through as they have an extensive series of bicycle highways away from vehicular traffic.
Even though he had some doubts, Greening ultimately found his bike trip to be liberating, both physically and mentally, saying that “One of the amazing things about doing a bike trip is that you’re so caught up in the moment. The relevant things are all momentary things around you and it’s really freeing in a way. If you’re an anxious person, you lose a lot of that [anxiety]. I started sleeping better because I was no longer preoccupied with bills, school, and all sorts of other things. You really embrace the fact that you’re just on a bike going across the country and you’re a part of your environment.” Greening had many memorable moments on his journey. In New Brunswick, he woke up in the middle of the night to find a raccoon trying to get at the carrots he was keeping in a bag attached to his handlebars. When in Ontario, he discovered that it is in fact illegal to ride bikes along parts of the Trans-Canada highway. In Quebec, he tried spruce beer, a regional soft drink he describes as tasting like “Cream soda with a smack of tree.” After his long trip that involved two months on the road, crossing through eight provinces, and a trip to a New Brunswick hospital for dehydration, Corbin arrived back in Prince George on September 10. 6 days later, he successfully defended his Master’s thesis.
UNBC Life
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Dome Greenhouse opens: closed food loop at UNBC Kelley Ware Multimedia Coordinator
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our years ago, Cameron Bell had an idea. He did not realize it at the time, but this idea would put Students for a Green University (SGU) through four years of red tape, fundraising, organizing community partners, and a lot of manual labour before it finally culminated into something beautiful. The UNBC Dome Greenhouse officially opened on September 12, 2014. “A friend of mine told me about these dome greenhouse kits and I was thinking about the UNBC Green Fund because I knew it was a source of money for sustainability projects on campus,” Bell said. “So originally I thought we would just be able to apply for some funding from the Green Fund and build a dome.” The initial Green Fund proposal was turned down, forcing SGU to resubmit for the funding. Fortunately, they were able to gain community partners, such as Integris Credit Union, and find a compromise with the university. The students involved with SGU believe that without Integris on board, the university may not have bought into the project when they did. Co-presidents of SGU, Keaton Freel and Raychill Snider, are proud to have tangible results. “It’s really exciting. This has been a project of ours for four years, so way before I even got to UNBC,” Snider said. “For a really long time there was a lot of red tape, just getting permits and things like that. Now we actually have
tangible results.” The introduction of a food system at UNBC that is open for students to be engaged in is something that shows campus sustainability in a different light--something that every single student can see and touch. Minetta Norrie, president-alumni of SGU, spoke about the places where this closed loop can be seen: “[The Dome is] a closed food-loop system where students have access to volunteer and learn at every level of food production. So we’re growing food here in the Dome, we are preparing it in the Moose and eating it in the Moose, and then composting through PGPIRG... you can grow a leaf, prepare it, eat it, and compost it.” The aspect of having campus-grown food at the Thirsty Moose Pub has the possibility of reaching students all over campus. The Thirsty Moose Pub stated:“The Dome Greenhouse is an important, student driven project that [we’re] excited to be a part of. The Thirsty
Moose Pub tries to use local products as much as possible… and you really can’t get any more local than right on campus. The harvested vegetables from the Dome will be used in hearty soups or seasonal salads depending on what vegetables are being grown, creating a changing “Dome Special.” The Dome gives students the opportunity to really experience being part of the food distribution chain and we hope that showcasing their harvest will engage other members of the UNBC community around the discussion of food sustainability.” The Dome Greenhouse on campus is an important statement of student achievement. As Snider mentioned, “the most important part of the Dome is that it is a student-led project. This is the perfect example of what students can accomplish.” Norrie added, “It was the first student-initiated building on campus. It is an important project showing the student leadership capacity here at UNBC. So often we think of students as short-term thinking and frivolous, but this is a project that shows that students
can work on a project for four years and have it completed.” The fact that students are making moves towards sustainability helps UNBC live up to its self-proclaimed name of Canada’s Green University. As Bell mentioned; “universities are an incredible place to pursue sustainability because they have access to funding streams that other organizations don’t: they have access to research capacity; they have students that are essentially a workforce that that can do research on different forms of technology, different approaches to food production, energy production, sustainable building design… lots of different things. So it is important for a university to be a birthplace for these ideas, not that we invented the dome greenhouse, but just that by fostering these ideas we can help people in other communities, help local governments, help non-profits, help corporations, even, bring these ideas out to the greater public.” “It is just the beginning,” Freel told Over the Edge. “We spent the last four years fundraising and planning, and going through red tape to get this built. Now we have to figure out how to actually grow things… It’s really only the beginning of what we are going to do with it. We need volunteers. We love volunteers.” The first crop of lettuces and radishes is expected to be harvested and available in October. If you want to get involved with this project, contact sgu.unbc@ gmail.com.
Culture
Marc Smith
Exploring Prince George, British Columbia Mani Samani Team Member
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rince George offers the unique opportunity to enjoy the amenities of a city, while finding a variety of wilderness opportunities just minutes away. Outdoor activities in BC range from high-energy adventure to pleasant rambles through nature. A number of competitions and events are held in and around Prince George each year. Students can find entertainment and attractions in Prince George at any time of year. Depending on whether you live in residence or in town, you may be able to wander through gardens, poke around in museums, see movies, or watch a sporting event and above all, have fun and explore. Some attractions are provided below. Prince George has two main indoor aquatic centres for swimming. Both are free with a student card! Prince George also caters to mountain biking enthusiasts at all levels. The terrain and trails around the city and region range from easy single-lane trails to tough and tumble trails with jumps and technical aspects. Some key mountain biking areas near Prince George include Dirtland, Forests for the World, LC Gunn, Otway, Pidherny and Tabor Mt. Bike Park. Prince George has plenty for campers, with camping opportunities that range from roadside and lakeside to wilderness
escapes. It is normal to see moose, deer, bears or other large animals on these trips. Hiking opportunities are abound in and around Prince George. Beginners can find easy trails for enjoyable walks, while experienced hikers will find more challenging prospects an hour or two away. The 15 km Forests for the World Trail at Cranbrook Hill and Kueng Road next to UNBC offers an enjoyable walk and educational experience. Trail sites include Shane Lake and a city lookout point. Fort George Park is Prince George's main urban park. Many of the city's festivals & events are held at the Fort George Park Bandshell including Canada Day! Find a wilderness getaway without leaving the city at the Cottonwood Island Nature Park, located at the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser Rivers. Cottonwood Island Park is made up of ancient gravel bars that have formed into forested islands, including towering cottonwood trees.
interior BC ecosystem. This temperate rainforest is found 800 km inland, with towering ancient western red cedars as old as 2,000 years. People of all ages and experiences can hike the trail. Depending on the location, there may be beaches and swimming spots, or quiet lakes for fishing and paddling. The Prince George area has a number of lakes and some rivers that offer abundant freshwater fishing opportunities near town. The Nechako River is by far the best river for fishing near Prince George, with clear water and one of the best salmon runs in British Columbia. One location where anglers can try their hand at catching salmon is the boat launch at Cottonwood Island Park in Prince George.
There are many excellent hiking opportunities in provincial parks near Prince George including Bobtail Mountain, Crooked River, Dahl Lake, Eskers, Evanoff, Sugarbowl-Grizzly Den, Three Sisters, and West Lake provincial parks. Trails vary in lengths and difficulty.
Fresh powder falls on British Columbia mountains and trails each winter. Depending on the location, there are opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, dogsledding, or even making snowman! Beginner and advanced skiers can enjoy skiing along groomed trails near town. More experienced, competitive skiers can take advantage of wilderness trails developed outside of the city.
The Ancient Forest, 113 km east of Prince George on Highway 16, is a truly unique
Prince George’s museums provide a truly authentic sense of Prince George's history
and the importance of forestry to the community. The museums are interesting during any season; there are authentically decorated buildings, a number of different train displays, and other machines. A gallery showcasing local heritage, First Nations, natural history, science, and paleontological exhibits is also in town. If you're looking for gifts for that special someone or stopping in to stock up the camper, you'll find some of the best shopping outside the lower mainland in Prince George. Featuring specialty stores, modern malls, and big box establishments, Prince George has it all. A variety of locally owned stores are found in downtown Prince George, especially along 3rd and 4th Avenue, also known as "Specialty Avenue." Within just a few blocks, there are art stores, consignment stores, pawnshops, second hand stores, boutiques, kitchen and bath shops, import furniture, hardware, and more. Enjoy farm direct produce, homemade goodies, and artisan crafts from vendors year round! If you are fan of secondhand stuff, there are some second hand stores located downtown. There are also some charity stores that offer tons of inexpensive second hand merchandise. While downtown offers specialty shopping, students will find just about anything they need in Prince George. We all hope you enjoy Prince George!
Culture
Prince George: changing for the better Grant Bachand Team Member
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ambda… ancient Greek for homosexuality,” says Linda Allen, owner and operator of Lambda Cabaret on Third Ave, also known as Gala. Lambda is a place I have recently been very interested in, not only because it is one of the most visible places in Prince George where the LGBT community can go, but also for what it represents. Growing up in Prince George, the only community I was very aware of was the trades-focused, outdoor-loving crowd. Other groups, such as the LGBTQ community, were all but non-existent. So why am I focusing on this one establishment? This business is Prince George’s only place where the main clientele is from the LBGTQ community. Lambda, though popular with the university and younger crowds, is not very well known to older generations. The fact that this establishment is one of the few venues here in Prince George that caters to groups other than the standard PG norm is very disappointing to me. Prince George has a great sense of community; however, it does not seem to be as inclusive of a community, at least not to all of its residents. What do I mean by the PG norm? I see that person as someone who tends to be white, male and likes driving big trucks and playing with things that go bang. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “not everyone in Prince George is like that.” You are right. However, when I look around, many people who don’t fit this do still sympathize with the PG “normals”. Those who do dare to be the alternative tend to not be as welcome in the community. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Prince George’s LGBTQ community. The LGBTQ community, I would say, has a hard time breaking though the old school mentality in Prince George. Though I would say they are not alone, other-minded people
who look for culture and art rather than guns and hiking seem to have a hard time getting through too. It is a well-known shortcoming of Prince George amongst its young people; if you aren’t an outdoorsy person, it can sometimes seem unbearable. This is something many locals will refute by saying “we have the Prince George Play House, local restaurants, and coffee shops for people who look for these things.” Things have gotten better in these last couple years. There does, though, still seem to be an alarming amount of people in this community who harbor resentment toward this change. I am not saying that if you like these things you are a bad person, I am saying that if I hold a contrary point of view or lifestyle I should not be worthless, or not worth the time of day, which is the way many people in Prince George are made to feel. Nowhere is it more apparent that Prince George does not want to become more diverse than in the resistance to build a performing arts center. In 2007, the Prince George Regional Performing Arts Centre Society was formed. This group was tasked by Initiatives Prince George to help in the development of a performing arts center here in Prince George. In 2011, the application for funding unsuccessfully went before Prince George City council. Since then, the momentum for this center has decreased, and no real progress has been made since 2012. When it comes down to it, money is always the nail in the coffin for many of these cultural projects. Is funding there? Will there be enough of a demand for this project? Though they are the right questions, the answers are often ignored or under appreciated for what they might mean to Prince George. That being said, things ARE changing. Many of the artistic, musical, and LGBTQ communities in Prince George are becoming more visible here in town. They are
coming out and building a community. And with many organizations such as Lambda expanding, the future does look bright. LGBTQ people and others who once felt left out of the city norm are now having more options available to them. This is a sign of growth and change, which
is very exciting for Prince George and could lead to a larger community for all people. I predict that if more organizations like Lambda open up around our city, we will soon see a community where everyone feels like they are welcome.
7
The
Feature
Blow it out your kilt! Scotland saves the world S
eptember 18, Scottish people came out in droves to vote in an independence referendum. “Should Scotland be an independent country?” was the question they were asked (showing Quebec how a real sovereignty referendum works). The Scots also showed all democracies how it is done by having an unprecedented voter turnout of 85%, according to the BBC. Some polling stations even closed early due to 100% voter turnout of their registered voters. During the excitement, CNN even made a mistake (shocker) on its polling graphic, delighting Tweeters with a screen that showed 52% no and 58% yes, and inspiring some wonderful remarks about how Scotland always gives 110%. At the end of the night, Scotland decided to stay with the United Kingdom with 55% voting no to independence. This decision was met with a collective sigh of relief from much of the world.This is an important decision for the world. Many other regions were looking towards Scotland to see if they would set up an independence precedent. Here is an overview of what the OTE staff
Daily Post
Over the Edge
thought would have been possible alternative futures had Scotland decided to leave instead: 1) Scotland succeeds as an independent country, with an economy based on the export of scotch and kilts. 2) Wales decides it is tired of being made fun of by England, decides to leave too. No one cares. 3) Quebec separatists figure out how to successfully have an independence referendum and separates. Still asks for an allowance from Canada. 4) Quebec separates and does not ask for an allowance, instead decides that it does not want to touch Ontario anymore, figures out a way to pull Quebec into the Atlantic as its own island, sinks the Maritimes in the process...No one cares. 5) Catalonia decides to separate, breaking Spain apart into a bunch of regions. As independence spreads, the idea of country becomes meaningless. Treaties fall apart, the UN breaks up, and anarchy ensues 6) Scotland rebuilds Hadrian’s Wall, declares that the Soviet Union was actually a good idea. 7) Scotland offers to rejoin the union, with the caveat that Charles cannot be king --only Harry (because, you know,
gingers gotta stick together). 8) Quebec decides to join Scotland. Canada cries. 9) Scotland joins Canada and replaces Quebec as our 10th province, “Olde Scotia.” Quebec sticks with the UK. 9.5) France and Quebec become BFFs in the EU. 10) BCTF decides to join Scotland. Canada eliminates public education. 11) Photo of sad David Cameron goes global, and Scotland caves to international guilt trip before rejoining the UK. 12) English nuclear missiles remain unclaimed and unmonitored in the Scottish countryside, eventually leaking radiation
and creating the first generation of mutant superpowered sheep. A new world order is established--The Justice Sheep. As the sheep population grows beyond control, a faction splits, calling themselves the League of Black Sheep. They terrorize what remains of the human race in what would later be known as the Bleatzkrieg. Humanity learns that the Black Sheep have invented a time travel device and plan to destory all of humanity before the mutated sheep first revealed themselves. The last hope for humankind is to steal the technology and use it to stop Scotland from ever claiming independence.
Luckily for all of us, Scotland voted to stay. Now it is time for the UK to try to figure out a way to make their politics more federal, so no one else gets any bright ideas.
9 Wolverine | Fox Studios
Culture
Wolverine: from deadly mutant to studio pawn Brady Stark Team Member
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s the word spreads about “The Death of Wolverine,” Marvel’s newest issue of its ongoing story, it is imperative that geeks, nerds, and superhero enthusiasts alike are not fooled in reading this series. Like Superman, Captain America, and countless others before him, Wolverine is not destined to stay dead for long. According to Marvel, Wolverine is slated to only be dead for approximately three years. Most would say that the turnaround is rather short, but Superman was only dead for approximately six months. Marvel, as a film studio, is only one part of a much larger
entity. Marvel Studios has the rights to many of the characters that are within the Marvel comics’ umbrella. Unfortunately, two major character groups who are not part of that umbrella are the X-Men and Spiderman. Wolverine and the X-Men are owned on the silver screen by 20th Century Fox, whereas Spiderman and most of his villainous counterparts are owned by Sony Pictures. Now, Marvel is trying to make Wolverine less desirable to the consumers by killing him off for a certain period of time in an effort to try and reclaim the character from Fox for a reduced price. Marvel is using Wolverine as a pawn in a much more grand chess game of heroic and financial proportions.
5th annual gaming convention, PG O
find a space to play together. Before NPC-Con, the nearest gaming conventions were in Grande Prairie or Vancouver. “Because Prince George is a small community, options for connecting with other gamers are limited,” said Amsel. However, this event is not just a Prince George affair; as Amsel says, people are coming from as far away as Burns Lake.
One organizer, Matthew Amsel, described his motivation for organizing this convention as an effort to help PG gamers
As for how many participants they are hoping for, the convention had 80 people attending last year, but Amsel says that “Our philosophy has always been the more the merrier, until the fire marshal tells us to stop.” Tickets are $10 per day, or $15 for the whole weekend, but that price goes down to $10 for the weekend if you show a valid student ID or if you preregister. For more information, check out www.npc-con.ca.
Colin Slark Team Member
n the weekend of October 18 and 19, the Northern Players will be hosting Prince George’s 5th annual gaming convention, NPC-Con, at the Knox United Church downtown at 1448 5th Avenue. On both days from 10am to 11pm, participants can experience events such as tabletop and live action role-playing games, various board and miniature games, a video game tournaments, a costume contest, and a silent auction.
Culture Maryno Bakhno | OTE
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Sam Weber rocks PG pub Kelley Warre Multimedia Coordinator
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inding a stress-release during the semester is important for students’ sanity. I decided to go check out Sam Weber play at Nancy O’s on September 10. The 21 year old songwriter from Victoria had just released his first album, Shadows in the Road, eight days prior and was touring around to promote it. I was fortunate enough to not only get to watch him play, but to also chat with him on his way up to Prince George about music, guitars, and life.
“I’ve played guitar for many years, and for a long time I considered myself a guitar player,” Weber said, “that was my thing. But now I kind of define myself as a songwriter mostly… I listened to a lot of classic rock when I started playing guitar, I listened to a lot of big guitar-driven music and the transition [to song-writing] came when I started to realize my favourite parts of those songs weren’t necessarily the big guitar parts, but the songs themselves, the song-writing.” When he took the stage, his skills on guitar were immediately apparent. While his
music is closer to heartfelt folk-rock, classic rock was clearly one of his influences. It is not hard to see that Weber is the type of man who would be covered by Guitar Player magazine at only 19. Weber was humble and welcoming, walking around and chatting to the crowd between sets. He simultaneously put the entire audience and ease, and received some of the loudest cheers I have ever heard at Nancy O’s. His talents are already being recognized. He was offered a scholarship to a prestigious music school, although that was something he chose not to pursue.
“I left music school because I saw that I could do what I wanted to do without it,” Weber said, “It exists and is a positive force for a lot of people, but for me it felt like… when you are creative you don’t need anyone to tell you want to do… It’s basically an accreditation with music school that I didn’t feel I needed. I didn’t need the validation and diploma. It’s not like a doctor who needs a doctorate… that doesn’t really exist in the arts.” If you are interested in Sam Weber’s music, check out the video for the song “August” and his album Shadows in the Road.
Culture 11 4 classic sci-fi books to Help Stave Off Boredom
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ou may have heard of these books. You might have heard how influential and great and so on and so forth they are. These books are all 30 or more years old, but they have aged well. You may recognize some of the elements contained within the pages, but that is because these books are their genesis. Dune (1965) by Frank Herbert: The Dune series is massive. There are 20 books, two TV miniseries, a David Lynch movie, comics, video games and much, much more. In its present state, the series is a bloated mess, which should probably be avoided unless you are a big fan. However, for a moment, let us imagine it is 1965 and there is only a single book named Dune. A young man is found to be the culmination of a secret breeding program as his family is killed all around him, forcing him to live out his life with a tribe of desert people. Dune features treachery and power politics on a galactic scale, as well as revenge, love, culture shock, and some of the neatest fictional creatures ever: the sandworms of Arrakis. Foundation (1951) by Issac Asimov: Hari Seldon is a man who has perfected “psychohistory,” a combination of psychology and history that can with great accuracy predict future events. Seldon foresees the collapse of the Galactic Empire in which he lives and has created a society on a far away planet called “The Foundation”, which
is set up to outlive the Empire. Originally published in a serialized format, Foundation tells the story of people trying to survive as everything dissolves around them. The series as a whole won a Hugo award for “Best All-Time Series,” beating out The Lord of the Rings. If you do not know, the Hugos are the highest honours in science fiction and fantasy media. Foundation is the best science fiction series you’ve probably never heard of. Neuromancer (1984) by William Gibson: Do you like the cyberpunk genre? Do you like futuristic computer hackers with cybernetic implants crouched in an alley, out of the way of bright neon lights trying to earn a big score? Neuromancer is the genesis of that subgenre of science fiction. Case is a former computer hacker whose last job ended with his nervous system getting fried, making him unable to hack anymore. Years later, a beautiful woman and an ex-Green Beret come to him with a proposition: they would fix his nervous system if he agrees to take on his biggest job ever. If you like the video games Deus Ex or Watch_Dogs, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner or even just pulp noir, you will like Neuromancer. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979) by Douglas Adams: You might have seen this one in one of its many forms. It was originally a radio series, but has also been a series of books, a TV show, a video game, and a movie. The great thing about all the incarnations
alphacoders.com
Colin Slark Team Member
of this series is that they’re slightly different. Douglas Adams wrote different jokes and plot points into all versions of his story so that while the plot is basically the same across all iterations, there’s something new for you to discover if you’ve seen the TV show but haven’t read the books. Arthur Dent is an ordinary English bloke who one day wakes up to discover that both his
house, and his planet are being demolished to make way for a hyperspace route bypass. If you’re a fan of science fiction and humour, the first book in the series features one of the best examples of wit to have ever written in the genre.
Rendition of MAVEN spacecraft in orbit NASA | GSFC
News
National pride and the final frontier James Mangan Team Member
O
n September 21, the United States made a great achievement. Late that Sunday evening, spacecraft Maven achieved an orbit around Mars. The purpose of this spacecraft is to examine the atmosphere of the red planet. Maven will now spend the next year (that’s in earth time) determining whether Mars may have at one point had an atmosphere capable of sustaining water. Two days later, another incident occurred that is almost equally worthy of praise. On September 23, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) also achieved an orbit around one of our closest planetary neighbour. Both spacecrafts are designed to perform similar experiments in Mars’ upper atmosphere, but Maven is much better suited for the task. Why is India celebrating what appears to be a redundant mission, especially since Maven is able to outperform MOM? India’s justification is that this mission is their first mission to Mars’ orbit. The fact that something not much larger than a
vehicle found on the roads of Prince George was able to travel 771 million kilometers to find itself in a stable orbit around another planet, and that this feat represents the national will of India, was enough of a reason to engage in the $75 million project. Nationalism has historically been the prime motivator for nations to engage in Space Exploration. Beginning in the late 1950s, the United States and Soviet Union were racing to break Earth’s gravitational pull in order to prove their superiority over one another. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin, a soviet pilot in training, became the first man in space. By the end of the day, the young Cosmonaut’s 108 minute voyage had seemingly proven the Soviet Union’s scientific superiority not just to the world, but to its own people. As a result, space exploration became a pivotal role in the Russian identity, so much so that Soviet officials refused to listen to Gagarin in 1967 when he claimed that the Soviet-made Soyuz 1 spacecraft, scheduled to launch on the 50th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, would not work. The Soviet Union, dedicated to the idea of proving
its natural superiority to its citizens, were not interested in such trivial nonsense such as the safety and wellbeing of their cosmonauts. On April 23, 1967, Soyuz 1 pilot and personal friend of Gagarin, Vladimir Komarov, was killed when his parachute failed to deploy upon his re-entry. Although not the first man to die for the sake of nationalism, Komarov was the first man to die as a result of space exploration.
Space Station (ISS) was a proud heritage moment. Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to act as commander aboard the ISS, made global headlines through his use of social media to engage us earthlings in the daily lives of astronauts. This not only cemented Col. Hadfield as a Canadian hero, but also excited Canadians with the prospect of space exploration, as well as Canada’s role in scientific inquiry.
Unlike in the former Soviet Union, safety standards for astronauts today are paramount. Therefore, tragedies such as Space Shuttle Challenger’s disaster of 1983 and Space Shuttle Columbia’s disintegration upon re-entry in 2003 are all events of national mourning. Despite the horrific memories of these accident, space exploration is still encouraged and supported by the people of every space-faring nation. Even in the face of danger, nations demand investment in scientific exploration.
Space exploration and national pride have been intertwined since the very first space programs began firing rockets into the sky. Even today in the United States, where NASA lost a majority of its funding as a result of the 2009 recession, Americans celebrate as private enterprise act as representatives of their nation out in the final frontier. The sense of nationalism that emerges as a by-product of scientific inquiry is not only beneficial for national morale, but also for scientific progress. As a result, when we watch India launch a satellite into Mars’ orbit for the first time, we celebrate right along with them.
Canada is not immune to the allure of nationalism regarding space exploration. The development and implementation of the Canadarm aboard the International
News 13
Senate Reform Part II: unchallenged and unchanging James Mangan Team Member
I
t’s one thing for Canadians to complain about senate reform, but the two main solutions (abolition or election) seem unchallenged in current political discourse. Unless alternative ideas concerning senate reform are brought forward, northern British Columbia--as well as many other regions throughout Canada--will lose its influence in Parliament. As argued in the first issue of Over the Edge, senate reform must accommodate the demands that Canadians make without sacrificing the senate’s ability to practice regional representation. Both an elected senate and an abolished senate would fail to provide Canadians with adequate regional representation. Canadians have two major grievances with the senate: he appointment process for senators, and their term limits. Senators, who must represent the provinces in which they reside, are appointed by the Governor General at the request of the Prime Minister of Canada. Keep in mind that by failing to follow his advice, the Prime Minister can remove and replace the Governor General. In practice, the Prime Minister has the final word
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regarding the appointment of senators. Canadians are uncomfortable with this practice, as it results in the Prime Minister possibly imposing theird influence in both the Senate and the House of Commons. Canadians worry that a personal relationship between a senator and the Prime Minister could compromise the principle of “Sober Second Thought.� Canadians are also upset with senate term limits. Currently, once appointed, a senator is considered to have the position for life, or until the age of 75. Although an elected senate may impede on a senator’s ability to practice “Sober Second Thought,� a life appointment leaves Canadians feeling senators are not held accountable to their actions. Unless directly breaking the law or engaging in a conflict of interest, a senator will not be held accountable for engaging in an unpopular act or promoting unpopular legislation. So what solution could accommodate Canadian grievances and still uphold efficient regional representation? Have the premiers appoint senators. A premier-appointed senate would have the Prime Minister appoint senators based on the council of the premiers of each province. Technically, the Prime Minister would still be fulfilling his constitutional obligation to appoint senators, though these senators would be associated with the provincial political parties rather than the governing federal party. The only constitutional amendment required would concern senate term limits. A senator could only keep his seat until the Prime Minister dismissed him at the request of the premier of the province the senator represents. For example, the British Columbia Liberal Party would present six senators to the Prime Minister. Those senators would only remain until the Premier of British Columbia asked for said senators to be dismissed and replaced. Therefore, if the BC Liberals lost an election to the BC NDP, the Senators associated with the Liberals would be replaced with Senators associated with the NDP by the Prime Minister at the council of the new premier. Senate appointment would become an electoral issue during provincial elections giving Canadians, not a vote, but a voice in their regional representation. Such an alternative would directly expand the provinces’ role in parliament. Although federal parties have not traditionally supported the provinces’ infringement on issues of federal jurisdiction, a party advocating for a premier-appointed senate would most likely enjoy support from all the provinces, who would appreciate their input on federal matters. If a federal party requires unilateral support among the provinces to engage in senate reformation, a premier-appointed senate would entice the provinces more successfully than either abolition or an elected senate. Also, the elimination of lifeappointed senators and the diversification of appointment power among the provinces would reassure Canadians not only that senators can be held accountable for their actions by provincial parties, but that appointment power is not held solely by the Prime Minister. This example should be viewed as an alternative solution to the Senate Reform debate. An abolished or elected senate must not continue to be Canada’s only two options. If Canadians need to become creative in dealing with their incompetent political institutions, so be it. A premier-appointed senate would not reduce northern British Columbia’s influence in the senate while providing northern Canadians with the regional representation they are entitled to.
Sports
Brady Stark Team Member
H
ockey has always been a game of tradition. Off ice, there have been many changes to how the franchises were run since the time Ed Schneider bought the Philadelphia Flyers for a cool two million back in the 60’s.
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In the latest talks with the owners of all the teams in the NHL, an idea has sprouted up that has caused hockey fans to see red. A proposal was brought forth to sell advertising space on NHL jerseys. Doesn’t Reebok already advertise on every jersey in the NHL? The answer is yes, because they are the ones making the actual jerseys. The NHL wants to have multiple advertisements all over their team’s jerseys in order to create extra revenue. The estimated revenue generated would equal around four million in additional revenue per year for each team in the league; that’s enough for a solid second line center on most teams. Here is one of the main problems with that idea: fans won’t buy the jersey if they are playing “where’s Waldo?” with the team’s actual logo. If you take a gander overseas and see a European jersey, you will see that the whole jersey is advertisements and that the logo of the team almost seems to be an afterthought. I purchased a Modo jersey from the Swedish elite league team, not because it looks good, but because I wanted a souvenir. I can’t even wear it around town, because I feel like a walking billboard sign. If the owners want to put advertising on the jerseys, make them small and only have a couple, or you will have a mutiny on your hand. Soccer fans are probably asking; what’s the big deal? We have giant logos on the front of our jerseys and they still sell like hot cakes. The problem is when I am watching Manchester United lose to some lowly team because their coaching sucks, I want to believe I am watching the Reds.
Toothless Timberwolves Brady Stark Team Member
T
he UNBC Timberwolves are now well into their third season in the top tier of Canadian university soccer; the CIS. It’s all well and good to say that you have made it to the big show, but then you have to perform when you actually get there. Over the last couple years, the fans of the Timberwolves have accepted that there would be growing pains after making the big jump; unfortunately the honeymoon is over. The past three weeks of competition has been hard on both the men’s and the women’s
teams as only the men have managed a single win this season thus far. When you look at the stat sheet, you would see that the goals for column and the goals against columns are severely lopsided against the UNBC squads.
transitions comes off of errand passes. When the UNBC Timberwolves squads were making errant passes, the other team’s defense would quickly pass the ball up to their forwards in order to get a solid chance on goal.
That doesn’t exactly tell the whole story. While watching the squads a couple of weeks ago, it was clear that even though both teams tried their hardest from whistle to whistle, it was the fluidity and organization that the opposing teams constantly attacked with that made all the difference. A perfect example of the higher tier that most of the other teams have been playing with, comes in the form of the transition game. Like most transition strategies in sports, a lot of soccer’s
The frustrating part about the UNBC squads were that they didn’t seem to be able to quickly take advantage of their opponent’s mistakes. The coaching staff lead by Alan Alderson and Andy Cameron have worked diligently to try and work on all aspects of the game, but the fans are not seeing the bite that they are expecting in the third season of the CIS. The UNBC Timberwolves should be teams to be feared on the pitch,
rather than the small puppies that were lucky to be invited to lunch.
Sports 15
Young stars shine for the Canucks Brady Stark Team Member
A
s hockey fans already know, the regular season is only a week and a half away, but the fun has already started, as the pre-season is in full swing. The Canucks have dressed enough players for two squads that are able to play split-squad games against teams from around the league. The pre-season is not only a chance for the veterans to regain their top form or to have one last crack at getting a contract for the season, it is also a golden opportunity for young prospects to shine on the big stage. The Canucks have had the luxury over the past couple of seasons to draft some top tier talent from leagues such as the CHL. With that luxury comes a wealth of competition and added excitement for the fans. Obviously, for those
who follow the Canucks closely, names such as Horvat, Gaunce, Virtanen, and Corrado are household names at this point. But, have you heard of Wilson, Fox, Friesen, or Archibald? Prince George Cougars fans should know the name Wilson. Last year Klarc Wilson was an integral member of the Cougars squad who got signed to the prospects. Unfortunately, Wilson ended up getting cut by the team later on but managed to sign on to the Canucks ECHL team in the hopes of making the big club down the road. Another name on that list is Alex Friesen. Friesen has been in the farm system for a couple of years but has really made his presence felt during the game against the San Jose Sharks this past week. His speed and puck-handling skills were among the best on the ice, even compared to the veterans on the ice. The only knock on him
Alex Friesen (Right) canucksarmy.com
is that he is considered rather small by comparison. Fans would normally not be able to see young talent within the Canucks system, but the pre-season gives us that opportunity. The pre-season is a chance for prospects to make a name for themselves and to show the brass what they got. Players like Horvat, Corrado, and Shinkaruk have
obviously shone bright, but it’s the stars that you can’t see that might end up being the brightest. Wilson, Fox, Friesen, and Archibald are those stars; at least one of them might end up becoming the best of the bunch.
Expansion on the way? Rumours of NHL 2017 geewall
Brady Stark Team Member
Las Vegas:
ccording to Howard Bloom of sportsbiznews.com, reports have been flying around the NHL world of a possible three team expansion in 2017. It gives the great pleasure to this reporter to analyze all three cities that might join.
A
The second team that is being rumored to be getting a NHL team is Las Vegas, Nevada. Obviously, this town is known for its gambling, shows, and ladies of the night. Sure, sports sometimes do well in Sin City; look at the UFC. Why on earth would you put the fastest game on ice into a desert?
Toronto:
Seattle:
This expansion city seems a little familiar. Oh wait, there is already a struggling team in Toronto. Even though there are 2.8 million people in the greater Toronto area, there is no reason for a city to have two teams (despite the fact that the new franchise would probably be in Hamilton). This just seems like an ill-conceived plan.
Now this is a city that makes way more sense than the other two. Having a rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks in the Pacific division would boost the fans of both teams, and create even more revenue for the owners and the league.
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