Over the edge volume 19 issue 2

Free Volume 19 Issue 03 October 10, 2012 ote-newspaper@unbc.ca ote.unbc.ca

This is the Autumn of CUPE 3799’s discontent Letters from CFUR & OTE NEWS 4

PHOTO SOURCE RANDY ROY

Student Develops PG Transit App NEWS 4

PHOTO SOURCE SHELLEY TERMUENDE LEILA MAHEIDDINIBONAB STUDENT LIFE EDITOR PHOTO SOURCE UNBC.CA

ARTivism Exibit STUDENT LIFE 8

PHOTO SOURCE RANDY ROY

UNBC hammers Grande Prairie SPORTS 6

PHOTO SOURCE GEOFF SARGENT

On Thursday October 4, carrying signs with slogans such as “2 years without contract” and “WTF: Where’s the Funding?” the members of CUPE 3799 walked off the job at 1:00pm, picketing the entrance to the UNBC campus.

The members of CUPE 3799 were protesting the upcoming $20 million in cuts to postsecondary education in BC. As part of these cuts, universities around the province are mandated to analyze procurement procedures to see if there can be any shared resources between universities, such as centralized call centres and accounting, in order to institute savings.

Caroline Sewell, president of CUPE 3799 talked about the reasons behind the strike. “We want to have stronger language about job security

and not contracting out, and a reasonable and fair increase in wages.”

akin to those granted to BCGEU – a three percent increase over approximately two years.

spending power of each individual by 5.8% due to inflation.

Throughout the day the UNBC faculty president and executive directors were seen passing out donuts to strikers and showing their support.

“We have a goodwill agreement with the management here at UNBC and the faculty. We are out protesting the provincial mandate and not the university,” added Sewell. As part of the goodwill agreement, essential services such as the power plant supervisors and security - who provide first aid services - stayed at work. The Northern Medical Program’s employees also stayed at work out of consideration for the tightly restricted course timeline of the med program. What is considered “a fair increase” to the members of CUPE 3799? A wage increase

“I’ve been with the university for 14 years now; this is the third contract I’ve gone through. In the last 14 years, I think there’s been maybe a 4% raise in the three contracts, inclusive,” said CUPE 3799 member Dawn Gonzalez, the international undergraduate admissions officer. ”There is a document out there indicating that the government and the university are looking into privatizing post-secondary education in BC. So that would mean the elimination of a lot of jobs at UNBC and across the province. I strongly feel that a good economy supports the middle class and the middle class supports the economy.” The stagnation of wages over the last three years has led to a decrease in the

These proposed cuts may not seem to affect the average student, but they do. With the outsourcing of jobs there is less opportunities for students to work at the university in the call offices or as interns in the Accounting and Payroll office. Every facet of the university (from security to the Corner Store and student jobs at the library and IT centre) has the potential to be cut to institute university savings. Services like the Registrar’s Office, Cashier and Awards and Bursaries Office are all under CUPE 3799. It remains to be seen how these services will be affected by the proposed cuts.

A Mural of environmental issues travels the country

HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR

On January 1st, 1992, carpenter Mario Houle and geography student Patrice Boyer embarked on a journey, planning to cross North, Central and South America in a selfinitiated campaign called Green Light to Rio. Their goal was to raise awareness about environmental issues.

Patrice painted a giant wooden postcard on which thousands of signatures, slogans, petitions, poems and messages of hope were collected. This postcard was eventually delivered to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. This conference (also known as Earth Summit) was unprecedented, as this was the first time

in history where political leaders committed to tackling global environmental problems by involving local communities.

The campaign and the postcard travelled to 34 Canadian universities, colleges, and organizations from coast to coast. Mario envisioned the journey from the Americas to Rio de Janeiro. With almost no funds, the team completed their journey and the giant postcard was displayed during the final days of the Global Forum as part of the Earth Summit. In its course the campaign, Green Light to Rio, evolved from an awareness and appreciation of nature into environmental activism at a grass roots level.

Twenty years later, in June 2012, the United

Nations hosted another conference on sustainable development aptly named Rio+20, and the postcard project resurfaces again. This time, however, a giant mural titled “We Are All One” was created by a group of independent and international visual artists.

The plan was to address the United Nations as a group without any political or cooperate affiliations. “Our collaborative project aims to share our views on our own future with the UN, before, during and after the conference.

We are inviting you to participate,” says the grassroots movement, now known as Unfolding Dreams. “We are inviting you to participate. We want to share our joint works of art, including your paintings, poems,

letters, and drawings, and deliver them as stamps on this symbolic postcard.”The mural will return from Brazil to Canada where it will travel coast to coast.

“Our question to you is: what is your dream for the the future of our earth? What do you value the most? What inspires you? Can you write it down? Draw it or paint it?” asks Mario Houle and the team from the Unfolding Dreams movement. “We ask you to please place your stamp on our common future, and make a positive impact.” Those interested in participating are asked to submit their work at www.unfoldingdreams.org. The 100 most impressive visual pieces of art will become stamps on the mural.

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Community Volume 19, Issue 3 October 10, 2012 A&E EDITOR Jordan Tucker COPY EDITOR Ben Filipkowski NEWS EDITOR Hanna Petersen SPORTS EDITOR Geoff Sargent EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reza Akbari FEATURES EDITOR Gala Munoz MANAGING EDITOR Shelley Termuende WEBSITE MANAGER Behrooz Dalvandi STUDENT LIFE EDITOR Leila Maheiddinibonab PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Randy Roy CONTRIBUTORS Devon Flynn Jeff Hollett Jordan Crosina Fraser Hayes Heather Ritchie Kelley Ware Rob Currie-Wood

The deadline for the next issue is Monday, October 15th. Be sure to get your articles in on time!

Over the Edge is the official independent publishing media of students at the University of Northern British Columbia.

As such, it is our mandate to report on issues of interest to students in the Northern Region. We encourage all students, both on the main and regional campuses to submit to Over the Edge.

Over the Edge is part of the Canadian University Press network of papers, otherwise known as CUP. CUP is an organization that is entirely owned by member papers, and provides such services as a news wire and advertising to Over the Edge.

Over the Edge is published every second week during the fall and winter semesters.

October 10th 2012 • Over the Edge

An Earful From the Editor-in-Chief REZA AKBARI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As Editor-in-Chief of Over the Edge and a member of the Board of Directors at CFUR Radio, I would like to inform all UNBC students that both organizations are facing major financial issues. These issues are negatively impacting the growth and improvement of these organizations, resulting in challenges with daily operations. Major funding for both organizations comes through student fees. All undergraduate students pay $5.00 for each organization every semester; this fee has not changed in 15 years, while operation costs have been increasing on a yearly basis. I have included the budget forecast for this year (September 2012 through to May 2013) in the issue you now hold in your hands.

Sales are membership fees collected from the UNBC finance department each semester. The budget was prepared on the 12th of September 2012. $12,500.00 was to be collected for the fall semester; however, the check received from UNBC was for $11,227.50. The total estimated available funds for Over the Edge (September 2012 – May 2013) is $45,424.00. A conservative estimate for operational costs is $48,480.00.

This means, in a best-case scenario, we will be short $3000.00 by the end of our fiscal year. We cannot decrease our fixed costs, as some are legal fees and others are already the best available rates. Editorial board members receive $300.00 as honorarium pay monthly,

and each member commits somewhere between 15 and 20 hours per week, if not more. Our production days are usually on Saturday and can last up to 14 hours.

The most recently published issue took 520 hours. The total available funds per issue are $3,242.85, and if you divide this amount by 520 hours, the available budget per hour is $6.23.

On September 26th, CFUR and Over the Edge held a board meeting to discuss these financial issues. We found that, on average, fees for Canadian university radio stations are $10. Based on this research and our current financial issues, board members voted in favour of proposing a $5.00 increase to student fees. This decision, however, must go through a referendum. As a former undergraduate student at UNBC, and based on my involvement with CFUR and Over the Edge directly and indirectly during past five years, I would like to draw attention to the financial crisis we are facing today. CFUR and Over the Edge are great places filled with opportunities for students. These places act as the voice of UNBC, and we are now calling upon to make sure this voice remains heard.

Members of the Over the Edge editorial board and CFUR radio are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Please stop by our office, or stop us in the hallway and let us provide you with more information.

PHOTO SOURCE BEN FILIPKOWSKI

A message from CFUR FRASER HAYES CFUR STATION MANAGER

Hello students, faculty, and staff. My name is Fraser Hayes and I am the Station Manager at CFUR. As mentioned by Reza, CFUR and Over The Edge are facing some financial challenges as of late. Our student fees have never gone up while operating costs have more than doubled. The average student fee for campus radio stations across Canada is $10 per semester; when you look only at campuses with under 10,000 students, not including UNBC, that average jumps to $14.25. In the upcoming referendum we will be asking students to approve a modest fee increase from $5 to $10. This increase will get us closer to the national average and this will allow us time to search out more funding opportunities to bridge the gap. This revenue increase will allow us to do much more for students.

Some of the things we have planned are to build a music recording studio so students can have access to professional recording equipment to make their own album or EP. This service could be provided to students free of charge if we are successful in this referendum. We would also like to upgrade our broadcasting equipment; some of the hardware we use is over 10 years old and is no longer reliable. Being a radio station

that broadcasts 24/7, we need to make sure that the on-air content is reliably delivered at high quality. With increased revenue, we will be able to bring in more bands, host more shows, and do this with minimal cost to you, the students.

The extra revenue would also ensure that CFUR staff could be paid at least minimum wage; as of now, all three of us work hours well beyond what our honorarium covers, and we would all love to be able to spend even more time here building and programming quality content for all the UNBC students and Prince George citizens.

I would also like to thank all of you for your support thus far. At last count, we have a whopping 28 original CFUR shows! This is content built and broadcasted by you, for you. We are very proud of the progress we have made over the last few months and we have a huge list of things we would like to do to make CFUR even better. Please help by supporting CFUR in this call to action.

We are very happy to answer any questions you might have about CFUR and the upcoming referendum. Feel free to stop by the station any time; we love visitors.

Editor's Note In our previous issue, we neglected to include information about Convocation with regards to regional campuses and regional students; in addition, "Application to Graduate" should have read "Application for Graduation." We apologize for the error and the inconvenience.

How To Submit to Over The Edge Are you interested in writing for Over The Edge?

We're interested in publishing your work!

If you'd like to submit an article to Over The Edge, type it up with a word count and save it as a .rtf file (available with most word processors) and attach it to an email to ote-copy@unbc.ca. In the email subject line, please include the issue in which you'd like to be published, as well as what section your article is meant for.

Finally, include a title - and you're ready to go!

Our next submission deadline is Monday, the 15th of October get your articles in early!

Office Location: 6-350 MAILING ADDRESS 3333 University Way Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9 PHONE (250) 960-5633 FAX (250) 960-5407 E-mail ote-newspaper@unbc.ca

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Over the Edge • October 10th 2012

Opinion on Strike The LACE Campaign ALISSA MACMULLIN

JORDAN CROSINA

As I write this, CUPE employees are 30 minutes into their October 4 strike.

My regularly scheduled class has been cancelled due to the professor’s unwillingness to cross the picket line (despite instruction from the Faculty Association not to interrupt classes), and I find myself debating what I think of all this. To frame this discussion, I suppose I should say that I am generally pretty right-wing; I don’t generally think much of unions, and I really don’t like strikes.

But as a student at one of BC’s public universities, complaining about social movements is really looking the gift horse in the mouth.

Upon hearing that our class was off because of the job action, a fellow student loudly (and irritably) pronounced that he paid $500 for this class and that as a customer he is entitled to each and every lecture in the semester. I won’t even bother to point out that your tuition doesn’t get you a fixed number of instructional hours anyway – classes that run three hours every Monday frequently get significantly fewer instructional hours compared to classes on other days, because holidays are usually on Mondays – or that semesters don’t even have fixed lengths (anywhere from 60 to 65 instructional days is typical, I believe).

What is really short-sighted about the “paying customer” logic is the ridiculous idea that $472.20 per course actually pays for your education. If you’ll allow me to round a few digits, I’ll tell you that taxpayers are forking out about three quarters of the actual bill, to the tune of about $1370 per course per buttocks per chair. And if you’re wondering how far up my colon I had to reach to come up with these figures, you can find UNBC’s Ministry of Adv. Ed. funding letter for

2012/13 on our finance department’s website.

I’ve often thought that unions have outlived their practical necessity, supposing that the Employment Standards Act, WorkSafe BC, etc. should suffice to protect the workforce. However, the situation of CUPE members seems to shut that notion down right quick.

One staffer who has been here at UNBC some dozen-plus years told me earlier that even if she had only received costof-living raises to keep up with inflation over the course of her employment, she would be making some $7 more per hour now than what she is. That would be quite a raise compared to the 2% they’re asking for! Don’t get me wrong, I sympathize with the administration too. I don’t know how they will come up with a fair increase for these people when the university’s funding is set to continue decreasing under the Liberal government. They are only allowed to raise tuition by 2% per year by law, but according to the 4:1 funding ratio I discussed earlier, that translates into just a 0.05% increase in revenue. It seems to me that the provincial government either needs to let tuition grow naturally, or cough up some real funding.

Anyway, I suppose my point here is that we students are not customers, we are basically the recipients of educational welfare. Those union workers who earn a wage and pay their taxes contribute more to my being here than I do (especially because educational income tax credits and the HST rebate usually keep students like me from paying any net tax), and as I pass their picket line on my way home, I think I’ll just smile and say “thanks.”

Local Government Student Committee HEATHER RITCHIE, VP STUDENT AFFAIRS, NUGSS KELLEY WARE, PRESIDENT, POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ROB CURRIE-WOOD

Last year at the Political Science Student Association’s Annual Politicians Dinner, City Councillor Lynn Hall recommended that students form an advisory group to communicate the needs of students to city hall. We have enthusiastically taken up the councillor’s advice and began working to form a committee that will engage youth with local government and politics. At this time, we are actively pursuing interested students to become involved in working on this committee. The committee is open to all who wish to participate and want to effectively engage in the political process. The committee will bring forward student recommendations to city council with the aim of achieving meaningful goals that will greatly improve student life in Prince George. By participating, you will become active in setting the political agenda while making a positive difference for students in the region.

You may be thinking to yourself, ‘Why engage the local government? I thought all they did was plough snow from our streets in the winter and fill potholes in the summer.’ This may be the perceived role of our local government; however, our municipality does far more than just provide basic services. Local government is the closest level of government to you; it is the most accessible level of government to you; it is a place where the community gets together to decide a particular course of action. UNBC students make up a growing part of this community and it is important that we participate in the community discussion. What should they city be doing to improve student life in Prince George?

Participate and have your voice heard. Contact pgsac1@gmail.com to get involved.

The LACE Campaign is a grassroots movement based out of Vancouver. LACE stands for “Live Active, Create Empowerment.” Presently, women and men from all over British Columbia (and further) have been promoting paptalk and getting women empowered to get their annual pap smears!

I have taken on the role of Student Representative for the LACE Campaign in Prince George. Over the past few years, clinics in Prince George, including the university clinic, have hours designated for paps during Pap Awareness Week.

It’s a great reminder for women without family physicians in the area to get their paps done. While the clinics have promotional efforts of their own, I found it relevant to get students involved in the campaign and help make it widespread in our own town! This year Pap Awareness Week is October 22 – 28, and I am looking for more volunteers to help spread the word! Go to www.lacecampaign.com or www.facebook.com/lacecampaignprincegeorge for more information on the campaign.

Pap smears are very important to have done annually when a woman has been sexually active for a minimum of three years or when they turn 21. My mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer, caused by human papillomavirus, when I was 5, and I never understood the extent of the disease that young. She underwent treatments of radiation in Vancouver, and was away from home often. Reading her medical records this summer was difficult – if she had more regular pap smears, she could have caught the cancer earlier, saving herself from extensive treatment. Usually there are no early signs of cervical cancer, but pap smears can catch it early!

Luckily for my father, brothers and I, my mother survived the treatments, but still lives with the damage to her body

from the radiation. Today, treatment options differ, for a small portion of the cervix with the cancerous cells can be removed, rather than having to undergo doses of radiation.

With the LACE Campaign in Prince George, I hope more women will understand the importance of regular pap smears.

Have you had your pap this year?

Campus Calendar October 11 Study Abroad Fair 11:00am-3:00pm @ Wintergarden

Cookie Chat Join NUGSS, Senate, and the Board of Governors student representatives in the lounge by Degrees for some FREE cookies and juice.

2:00-4:00pm @ Lounge by Degrees Coffee

ARTivism Expressions: Sexualisation of youth in the media Guest speaker Chandra Scopie, co-facilitator of research project on Sexualisation of youth in media. Potluck and movies at 6:00 pm, speaker at 7:00.

6:00-9:00pm @ Rotunda Gallery October 12 Study Abroad Fair 11:00am-3:00pm @ Wintergarden Lecture: James Casey Quantitative Analysis of Indirect Drivers of Environmental Change in International River Basins.

10:00 am @ Room: 6-307 Lecture: Cecilia Malmqvist and Harald Sall The challenge to make the researchers and the forest sector connect.

3:30pm @ Room: 7-152 October 13 NUGSS: Annual Dodge Ball Tournament Teams of 7 for $13, part of the money raised will go towards prostate cancer research. Costume contest prizes and more!

Cost: $7 for teams of 13 people 10:00am-2:00pm @ NUSC Event Space WUSC: Ride for Refuge A 20km bike ride around Prince George to raise money for the Student Refugee Program.

Support the Ride for Refuge through donations, participation or cheering them on!

No cost, but WUSC is collecting donations.

Start at UNBC @ 10:00 am.

October 16 UFM 10:00am-3:00pm @ NUSC Event Space Stone Soup Series Get together to make a communal soup. Sign up and be contacted to bring an ingredient.

5:00-7:00pm @ the Gathering Place Lecture: Tyler Smith Impact of Land Use Activities on SedimentAssociated Contaminants: Quesnel River Basin, BC 9:00am @ Room: 6-307 Northern Medical Program Information Session Topics covered include the admission requirements, application dates, MCAT score, program costs and an overview of the application process.

1:00-2:00pm @ Room: 9-280 October 17 Food Bank Yoga Cost: $2.00 and a non-perishable food item!

4:30-6:00pm @ the Gathering Place.

October 18 ARTivism Expressions: Eco-feminism/Eco-fashion Activists involved in community garden and social justice projects will speak. Potluck and movies at 6:00 pm, speakers at 7:00.

6:00-9:00pm @ Rotunda Gallery October 19 Global Fridays: Dr. Lorna Carson Linguistic Diversity in Europe: Vision, Visibility, and Vitality.

Noon - 1:30pm @ Rm: 10-4520

Lecture: Dan Adamson Mapping Prince George’s Natural Areas and Climate Change Impacts 3:30pm @ Room: 7-152 October 20 NUGSS: Redneck Relay Participants will go through an obstacle course with a variety of challenges, including potato sack races, climbing hale bales and extreme mudding!

Cost: $5 per team of 2 people Outside next to NUSC and the Bus loop October 22 Thesis Defence: Stephanie Ameyaw Canada’s Position on Corporate Social Responsibility in a Developing Country Context 10:00am @ Room: 6-307 October 23 UFM 10:00am-3:00pm @ NUSC Event Space October 24 UFM Canning Learn how to can all those delicious fruits of autumn.

Cost: $5 per person 10:00am–2:00pm @ the Firepit (meet at the UNBC Bus Loop at 10am!)

October 25 Thesis Defence: Danielle McIntosh Wildlife Viewing in the Mountain National Parks of Canada: An Experiential View 9:00am @ Room: 6-307 October 26 Lecture: Dr. David Schindler The Oil Sands: Economic Saviour or Environmental Disaster?

3:30pm @ Room: 7-212

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Campus News

Research at UNBC Documents End to Glacier Expansion

October 10th 2012 • Over the Edge

B.C. Tuition dependency rising fastest in the country

PHOTO SOURCE UNBC.CA HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR

The growth of BC’s glaciers abruptly ended in the early 20th century after slowly expanding for nearly 10,000 years, according to a University of Northern British Columbia Geography student who began her research while studying for her undergraduate degree. Lyssa Maurer’s findings were published last month in Quaternary Science Reviews, a leading international peerreviewed journal.

Maurer and co-authors from UNBC, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Calgary, Simon Fraser University, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the Alberta Geological Survey reconstructed the extent of glaciers back through time. Their data indicates that as early as 2,700 years ago, glaciers were nearly as large as they were during the “Little Ice Age,” a period of cool, wet conditions 150-300 years ago, which caused glaciers to advance.

“Radiocarbon dating of vegetation overrun by glaciers can tell us when glaciers advanced, but not how far,” says Maurer. “But Castle Creek Glacier near McBride, one of the glaciers we studied, straddles a hydrologic divide. When the glacier is large, it flows over this divide and deposits beds of silt into a lake that otherwise collects organic sediments. One of the most interesting aspects of this work is that Castle Creek Glacier remained close to the limits of the Little Ice Age from about 1,600 years ago

until the early 20th century.”

Maurer adds that her undergraduate research experience at UNBC is a big reason she decided to continue as a graduate student. “UNBC had an amazing effect on my life.

I was interested in doing science and my supervisor and collaborators picked me up, pointed me in the right direction, and changed my life.”

“This study is a great example of the value of collaborative research,” says Brian Menounos, Maurer’s undergraduate and graduate supervisor. “It also highlights the mutually beneficial relationship that can exist between undergraduate students and science. Engaging in handson research is often the catalyst for undergraduate students to consider careers in science. Many university professors involve students in all aspects of research from initial planning to publishing results of a study. And science simply would grind to a halt without the active involvement of undergraduate and graduate students alike.”

Maurer’s research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

PHOTO ONLINE SOURCE HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR

BC has recently been found to be the third most tuition-dependent province in the country, following Ontario and Nova Scotia. Statistics Canada has shown that in the past decade, tuition has accounted for 40.3 percent of funding for BC universities, up from 25 percent in 1999. This marks the largest increase in tuition dependency during that timespan.

BC has a low tuition rate when compared to other provinces, though, as BC has the fourth lowest in Canada.

However, as the numbers show, the responsibility for institutional funding is being increasingly shouldered to the students rather than the government.

The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), a group that lobbies for lower tuition, says BC needs to take measures to ensure the trend does not continue. They hope BC can reduce its dependence on tuition fees as other provinces have, some by nearly 50 percent in the past 10 years.

“What we're seeing is an offloading of a public service onto a student

demographic,”said CFS BC chairperson Katie Marocchi. “Other provinces, such as Newfoundland, have been taking measures to make sure postsecondary education is affordable and we advocate for the province of BC to do so as well.”

While tuition may be a hot topic for post-secondary students, John Yap, the newly appointed Minister of Advanced Education, circumvents the concern. “In an ideal world, we’d find ways to increase affordability,” said Yap. “Maybe the timing is not right in terms of the funding available.”

Last December, UNBC’s Northern Undergraduate Student Society (NUGSS) joined the province-wide funding advocacy group Where’s the Funding? (WTF). WTF includes UVIC, UBC, Langara, Capilano, UFV, and SFU representing over 121,000 students. WTF has three demands of the provincial government which are: the elimination of interest rates on student loans; the re-establishment of a provincial needs-based grant programs; and an increase to core-

funding for colleges and universities.

“We’re confident that with the caps on tuition fee increases and the supports that are provided by student aid programs, whether it’s bursaries or grants or student loans or scholarships - we’re making our system of colleges and universities accessible for British Columbians,” said Minister Yap in an interview with the Canadian University Press.

“Millions of dollars have been put into supporting our colleges and universities to prepare our students.

It’s a great college and university system and I’m looking forward to working with the many people who make it work so well.”

A ministry survey in 2010 suggested that half of BC university graduates were in debt and the median amount owing was $20,000. Of diploma and certificate students, 48 percent borrowed money to pay for their education and the median debt was $10,000.

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Over the Edge • October 10th 2012

Computer Science student Xinyi Zhuang ends transit troubles HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR

Getting around Prince George can be very difficult, especially for those who are new to the city and thus unfamiliar with the regular transit routes. Students hailing from larger cities might be used to a short fiveminute bus wait with the possibility of transferring to multiple routes, but as the residents of Prince George who frequently bus know, the transit system is nowhere near that convenient - especially in winter.

However, a UNBC computer science student has taken navigating the PG transit system into the 21st century.

UNBC Master’s student Xinyi Zhuang created the iPhone app PG Transit to make a fast, easy and free way for residents to get to their bus on time.

“I used to see many bus riders, especially people unfamiliar with the transit schedule, reading the paper-

made Rider’s Guide,” says Zhuang, who came to UNBC last January from his home in Quanzhou, Fujian, southern China. “I think this app has great potential to make a better public transit system if there is a way to directly communicate with the digital database of BC Transit. It will be easier to notice schedule changes and notifications.”

So far the app has around 100 downloads after its official release on the 12th of September. At first, Zhuang said he considered charging $0.99 to download the app, but then reconsidered. “It makes me happy just to see my fellow students and transit riders using the app, and it’s also good for my resume,” says Zhuang. He says he hopes to soon develop the app for Android.

transit troubles cannot be fixed by an app, the app does make planning the journey quite simple. It features an easy-to use interface with every route and stop marked on a corresponding Google map. Click on the route you need and the stop closest to you, and the time of the next bus appears on the screen. “Way long overdue - thanks so much for taking the initiative to build this very useful app,” says one reviewer.

The app can be downloaded for free in the iTunes app store, and a link may also be found on the UNBC website.

While the obvious Prince George PHOTO SOURCE UNBC.CA

environmental engineering program recognized Special mention of UNBC’s inclusion on the top ten was made in the survey’s editorial section. “One notable addition to this list is UNBC, which is in the process of expanding its engineering faculty to keep up with the extensive economic development and resource extraction efforts occurring in BC’s north. It offers a joint degree in environmental engineering with the University of British Columbia, helping UNBC land an overall ranking of eighth, supported by top marks in both required and elective courses dedicated to social or environmental impact management.”

PHOTO SOURCE UNBC.CA HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR

UNBC has earned its place in the top ten on a list of schools offering undergraduate-level engineering programs in Canada. The list specifically recognizes UNBC’s environmental engineering program (a collaboration with UBC) placing it eighth in Canada, a position above much older institutions such as the University of Alberta, Carleton, Concordia, and Ryerson.

The list was produced by the magazine Corporate Knights, a national supplement to the Globe and Mail. The rankings Corporate Knights produced are described as “the definitive annual ranking that analyses how Canadian Universities are faring at integrating sustainability into the school experience.”

“UNBC’s environmental engineering program, in collaboration with UBC, has been growing steadily since its inception and our success is due to our faculty, staff, and students,” says Dan Ryan, UNBC’s Dean of the College of Science and Management. “We see our role as developing forward-thinking engineers with the skills to ensure that we build environmentally sustainable industries within northern communities.”

“To be recognized nationally among some of the country’s most notable universities is an honour,” says UNBC President George Iwama. “It recognizes the foundation we have started to create with our faculty, students, and education partners as we aim to expand our offerings in engineering to be of better service to communities and industries of our region at this critical time of growth and development.”

The Corporate Knights assessment is now in its ninth year. It scores Canadian MBA programs and undergraduate engineering programs in the areas of institutional support, student initiatives, and course work.

PHOTO SOURCE SHELLEY TERMUENDE

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Sports

UNBC hosted Grande Prairie Regional College for exhibition games on Friday and Saturday.

Both UNBC teams were able to spread the minutes around their entire rosters, having the games well in hand early on the men were winners 88-70 and 100-65; the women won 84-42 and 91-46. Less than a month remains until both teams begin their inagural Canada West season.

October 10th 2012 • Over the Edge

PHOTO SOURCE GEOFF SARGENT

PHOTO SOURCE GEOFF SARGENT Allison Seinen guards a Grande Prairie attacker.

Sarah Robin keeps her eyes on the ball in the defensive half.

PHOTO SOURCE GEOFF SARGENT The Timberwolves were never more than a few feet away from the ball.

PHOTO SOURCE GEOFF SARGENT Kellie Fluit looks for an open teammate.

PHOTO SOURCE GEOFF SARGENT Daniel Stark played a lot of minutes for the men.

PHOTO SOURCE GEOFF SARGENT Joel Rybachuk goes airborne between two GPRC defenders.

PHOTO SOURCE GEOFF SARGENT Francis Rowe is the beneficiary of a well-set pick by Navjot Bains.

Josh Raphael came off the bench to play a lot of late minutes.

PHOTO SOURCE GEOFF SARGENT

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Over the Edge • October 10th 2012

Propinion: NFL Referee Strike GEOFF SARGENT SPORTS EDITOR

After three weeks of disorganization, missed calls, and bad publicity, the first sports work stoppage of the year was resolved as officials returned from lockout to the NFL gridiron. The breaking point undoubtedly came as the eyes of the football world watched Green Bay play Seattle in prime time two weeks ago; a clearly blown call as time expired saw a win stolen from the Packers and gifted to the Seahawks, as a clear interception on a hail mary was ruled a game-winning score for Seattle. As the Seahawks were famously on the receiving end of many questionable calls in their lone Super Bowl appearance seven years ago – an eventual loss to Pittsburgh – this may serve as slight retribution for their fans, but for most neutral fans this game only signified how badly the locked-out officials needed to return.

PHOTO SOURCE SHELLEY TERMUENDE

Within 48 hours of the debacle in Seattle – “Goldengate” to some, named after the Seahawks wide receiver involved with the play, Golden Tate – the league came to terms with the referees’ union, and the officials were reinstated immediately. This led to bizarre scenes around the league such as fans high-fiving referees as they entered the field the following week, television introduction packages normally reserved only for players, and at least one stadium-wide standing ovation.

The NFL was completely ripped apart by players, coaches, and media during the entire lockout in a feeding frenzy, and justifiably so; the situation boiled down to the league not wanting to set precedent with their other employees by offering a pension package the union was desperately seeking. Meanwhile,

the hiring of ‘scab’ officials – men with no future ambition of ever working with the NFL Referees’ Union, but still supposedly qualified to work in front of millions of fans – continued to provide drama for sports tabloids, as stories involving former employees or lifetime fans being chosen to work at a clear conflict of interest surfaced, or as officials previously hired (and fired!) by the Lingerie Football League took to NFL fields.

With the crisis evidently resolved, attention switched back to football again. Yet in only the second prime time game since Goldengate, with a seasoned and experienced crew of officials working, human error roared back to life – an extremely close game was marred by more questionable officiating, this time without any excuses for the striped men on the field. Horrible pass interference calls

against both the offense and defense late in a game between the Giants and Eagles resulted in irrevocable damage to not only the entertainment of the game itself, but in the realization that the new officials are indeed just as capable of ruining games on the big stage as the vilified replacements who preceded them this season.

Like any non-player, officials in sports are to be not seen and not heard – they should exist only as a barely noticeable background to the greater event. By letting the lockout drag into the regular season and depriving officials of their usual tune-up exhibition contests, the NFL failed to maintain integrity and professionalism that every sports association requires.

Coaches EmbRace underdog Role

GEOFF SARGENT SPORTS EDITOR

As the end of the regular season draws near, it is increasingly likely that neither the men's nor the women's Timberwolves soccer programs will go straight from collegiate play to the playoffs in Canada West in one season. Through the first four weeks of the season, both teams were winless; the women with two draws and six losses, and then men losing each of their eight games. While both soccer head coaches acknowledge the struggles of the youthful, inexperienced teams, the outlook remains positive - in both the remainder of this season, and in years to follow. “We have improved our performances each week and that is what it is about right now for our program,” said women's coach Andy Cameron. “I believe we have a good core of players that are young and they will have a positive year’s experience under their belts once the season is over. This sets up the program to take another step next year to close the gap and compete with the best in the conference. Moving into the CIS has been a huge challenge for the women’s soccer team and I believe the

players have done a very good job keeping things in perspective.”

Neither Cameron nor men’s coach Alan Alderson, nor perhaps anyone at UNBC Athletics will shy away from the reality – the soccer programs at UNBC may not have been intended to enter the CIS program as quickly as they did. Soccer was notably absent from the first application to Canada West submitted by UNBC, containing only basketball; when the first application was rejected, an alteration had to be made to restart the process, and soccer was eventually listed next to basketball on the successful application.

This season seemed to be about building a foundation for future success, and familiar themes emerge from the coaching staff of both teams: fundamentals, battles, counter-attacks. In the lexicon of sports, these are usually just euphemisms for heavy underdogs, peppered throughout post-game interviews of perenniallylosing teams. With UNBC forced into the role of underdog, the coaches have no choice but to embrace it. “I have been

extremely proud of the effort our team has put forward this season. We have to continue to focus on the process and build foundation qualities this season,” said Alderson. “We have only two returning starters from the college league and a slew of first year players, focusing on wins and losses instead of focusing on building the habits necessary to compete at this level would be extremely shortsighted. Don't get me wrong, we would love to win some games real soon, however I am very happy with how hard the guys are working and their commitment to learning to compete at this level.”

One statistic clearly already at the CIS level is UNBC's attendance at NCSSL fields for home games. The soccer teams shared home games on only one weekend all season, and it fell on September 22nd and 23rd; close to 300 fans were along the near sideline by the time the men kicked off against Trinity Western, in full heckling voice against the rival school from the south. “I am certainly happy with our first year attendance and with the interest

and passion that some of our fans have shown,” said Alderson, potentially alluding to the boisterous crew of fans from UNBC residences lining the upper railing of the NCSSL clubhouse overlooking the pitch.

“I am hoping for some very strong and supportive crowds for our last two home games, so that UNBC and Prince George can show Canada that we are building something special in Northern BC.” Alderson has further goals in mind for the program, unsatisfied with the average or the ordinary – home-field advantage was a tactic greatly used by Trinity Western during his time as coach, and it stays in his game plan as he moves north. “I am glad we are in the top half of attendance for the league,” he said (UNBC sits at 218 fans per game, even with UFV, Saskatchewan and TWU, trailing only defending national champions UVic). “However, I am hoping that over the next two seasons we will have the highest attendance in the country.”

Women’s soccer killed by late Goals GEOFF SARGENT SPORTS EDITOR

After the season began with a scoreless draw against fellow CIS newcomers Winnipeg in early September, the season turned disastrous for the women's soccer team – three consecutive losses, conceding an almost-unbelievable 28 goals in the process. After only finding the net once in all of 2011 in a winless, drawless season that saw the team flounder in the CCAA, most were ready to write the year off entirely for the Timberwolves, yet the team immediately responded with much stronger play. The following weekend, UNBC hosted Saskatchewan and opened the scoring, holding the lead against the visitors for over half an hour until the Huskies' heavy pressure finally paid off for three goals in the last third of the game. The next day, Regina visited the Timberwolves and once again the game stayed competitive, with UNBC holding fort until the Rams found the net

three times in the last half hour. A trend was firmly established the following weekend, as the Timberwolves travelled to Calgary for a game against Mount Royal University. UNBC raced out to a two goal lead with goals from Sidney Roy and Jessica Manning before seeing the lead evaporate after the clock turned to the second hour – two goals by the Cougars in the 65th and 85th minute earned a tie for MRU. At full time, three consecutive games had seen the Timberwolves keep a clean sheet through the first hour of the game before floodgates opened late for the eight goals the team conceded.

Regardless of final results, the games showed promise for the team, as games had changed from laughers to nail-biters in less than a month. “Well, we have had chances to steal some points in three games but we still have room to grow,” said Cameron. “We are reasonably well

organized in defence and we know what we would like to do going forward but we need to possess the ball for longer periods of time and dictate more of the play.” Cameron is clearly aware that UNBC still has work to do, as the team has been an incredibly heavy shot disparity in every game. “Yes, giving up late goals has been a problem but this is the nature of the sport. Good teams will wear you down until you lose your team shape and then they attack spaces that you have left exposed,” he said. “The positive thing is that we have been keeping our shape for longer periods of time. We have been forcing teams to work very hard to beat us which is a credit to the players.”

The tide seemed to change Sunday - after trailing 2-0 to Lethbridge at halftime in Prince George, this time the late goals were provided by the Timberwolves, as Jordan Hall continued her excellent

season, scoring twice in the last 15 minutes of the game and earning UNBC another point in the standings.

Last weekend saw the Timberwolves wrap up their home schedule, with only a trip south against Trinity Western and UBC remaining before the season ends. While the team can't make the playoffs, Cameron is nonplussed; the team has turned themselves from a laughingstock to simply a developing program headed for future success. “It has been a wonderful start to our journey into the CIS,” he said. “There has been strong support at our games. There has been a lot of talk in the soccer community and the media has been very good to us. It is about building on all these positives and building an even stronger team for next year.”

standings Men’s Soccer Pacific Division

8-0-0 UBC 6-0-2 Trinity Western 4-3-2 UVic 1-2-4 Fraser Valley 0-10-0 UNBC

Prairie Division 6-1-2 Alberta 5-2-2 Saskatchewan 3-2-4 Lethbridge 3-4-2 Calgary 2-7-1 Mount Royal 0-7-3 Winnipeg

Women’s Soccer 8-1-0 Trinity Western 7-1-1 UVic 6-1-2 UBC 6-2-1 Fraser Valley 5-0-3 Alberta 5-3-0 Regina 4-4-0 Saskatchewan 2-3-3 Calgary 2-6-0 Manitoba 1-6-1 Lethbridge 0-5-3 Mount Royal 0-7-3 UNBC 0-7-1 Winnipeg

8

Student Life

October 10th 2012 • Over the Edge

ARTivism

Fireside with George

LEILA MAHEIDDINIBONAB STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

LEILA MAHEIDDINIBONAB STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

Last Thursday, the second in a series of ARTivism Expressions events put on by the Northern Women’s Centre (in conjunction with the UNBC School of Social Work and the UNBC Arts Council) was held in the Rotunda Gallery. The series spotlights different issues within the UNBC and Prince George communities through the use of art with a message.

The monthly informal meeting with President Iwama started out with no agenda as an open conversation that quickly turned to the topic of the provincial cuts in funding of post-secondary institutions. The proposed funding would cut the BC post-secondary budget by $20 million, a deficit which the post-secondary institutions would be required to fill. Of the $20 million, $506,000 would be allocated to UNBC, with costs in IT and facilities getting the first look.

Beginning with an update on the draft copy of UNBC’s cost-analysis assessments (assessments done across BC post-secondary institutions to project where cost savings can be instituted), the topic quickly changed to the feasibility of the projected government mandate of cuts. “We are seeing if the cuts are possible right now with the Savings On Procurement Practices assessments. If we can find $20 million elsewhere, such as group buying of supplies and equipment with other institutions, then we won’t have loss of jobs, salary services, etc.” the president said.

The most recent night of ARTivism focused on homelessness. The night began with a potluck at 6:00pm with the movies Men Against Violence and Meth, a short movie about a girl addicted to meth and her mental status. Later in the evening guest speaker Christal Capostinsky, a former resident of Vancouver’s Downtown east side, brought insight to the struggles of First Nations women and the vulnerability of drug addicts to sex work.

The main purpose of ARTivism Expressions is to help the healing and understanding of individuals through art. Many of the pieces on display throughout the six week interval have their beginnings in art therapy provided by the AWAC Women’s Shelter here in Prince George. Throughout the exhibition, canvases will be sold with

PHOTO SOURCE SHELLEY TERMUENDE

half the proceeds going to the Northern Women’s Centre while the other half is reinvested to purchase supplies for the art therapy sessions at AWAC. The next ARTivism Expressions evening will be on the 11th of October at the Rotunda Gallery and will focus on the sexualization of youth in the media. The night will feature guest speaker Chandra Scopie, a co-facilitator of a research project concerning youth in media here in Prince George, as well as the films America the Beautiful and Girls and Media. Be sure to check it out for a sneak

PHOTO SOURCE SHELLEY TERMUENDE

preview of some styles and looks coming to the Eco Fashion Show this semester.

President Iwama stressed the idea of instituting savings without impacting students, services or the community.

This means finding efficiency gaps in the system and working collectively with other institutions and the community to fix them and save money.

Discussions about how to generate revenue for the university without pushing the cost onto the students or depending on government funding were brought to the table, like those at Bangkok University where an adjacent shopping center has been set up by the university.

With the review of budgets and upcoming decisions about the best methods to improve cost savings, the relationship between the management and workers, specifically the communication on where the potential savings could come from, needs to be improved. Continued conversation on what we can all do to get the university functioning better and physically being together to converse is an aim that is being pursued with these informal meetings.

top Tips for better road trips magically stretch into an hour and a half. I know this seems like it wouldn’t happen, but just imagine all those beautiful little shops you see along the way, not to mention fruit stands, creepy looking farmhouses, and random lakes that are just too beautiful to pass by without stopping. The lesson here: time your stops, when you say 15 minutes, it should be 15 minutes.

How we learned: we started our trip at 11:00am, but got into Vancouver at midnight. That’s 13 hours, people!

PHOTO SOURCE LEILA MAHEIDDINIBONAB LEILA MAHEIDDINIBONAB STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

For a large percentage of us who are not from Prince George, Thanksgiving weekend is a time of road trips and family; emotional reunions, goodbyes, and a long drive back. It’s hard to say which part of the weekend wears most on a person, but the long hours spent on the road (home, and finally back to the university) can determine the mood of the whole weekend. This Thanksgiving, the boyfriend and I drove down to Vancouver from Prince George, and then back. Here we will tell you the best ways to avoid those little bumps in the road that can make even the best plans fall apart, and give you some helpful hints about how to make them succeed.

1. Leave at a reasonable hour.

What does this mean? It means leave

and be well on the road before 8:00 am! For us, I had lofty plans for this weekend, plans that would become much less lofty as we drove on. Had we had the option, we would have left around 6:00 am. Unfortunately I had an early morning shift at work until 11:00 am on Friday, our departure day.

The lesson here: make sure your days are booked off WEEKS in advance. How we learned: we were still on the road by the time the sun set and we weren’t even in Hope yet.

2. Time the pit stops Okay, so no one is saying “don’t have pit stops,” which would be unreasonable.

People have to eat, stretch, use the washroom, and sometimes just take a break. What we’re saying is when there’s a half hour pit stop, it shouldn’t

3. Don’t get mad at drivers when doing homework.

This goes mainly for whoever is the passenger. On this trip and many others, I, who cannot drive, usually do homework. What was different on this trip? The homework was on my laptop. When working on layout designs or in Photoshop one quickly learns that those little sways and nuanced movements that a car makes are terrifically annoying. So remember, if your boyfriend (or whoever is driving) could stop those movements they would, but they can’t, so there’s no point in yelling at them to. The lesson here: communicate frustrations calmly. How we learned: by NOT communicating frustrations calmly.

So here it is three easy ways to make any road trip more enjoyable, and less of a hassle. Next time we’re taking the dogs, all three of them... I think I’ll need a new list for that.

PHOTO SOURCE LEILA MAHEIDDINIBONAB

PHOTO SOURCE LEILA MAHEIDDINIBONAB

9

Over the Edge • October 10th 2012

ANTH/POLS Fieldschool

Flynn in Scotland DEVON FLYNN CONTRIBUTOR

So I’ve been gone for a month now. It’s gone by pretty fast, but that tends to be the case when you’re experiencing school abroad. The transition from one school to another abroad can be a bumpy process, but an exciting one as well.

my own means, not by any forced living conditions.

In case you missed the last issue of OTE, I am a UNBC student on an international exchange through a recognized post-secondary institutional partner. Technically, I am still a UNBC student, I’m just taking classes in another country. There are other opportunities to study abroad, such as the Erasmus program, which seeks to bring students to Europe. If you are interested, I suggest talking to the exchange office at UNBC or students who have studied abroad, or just going online to look for yourself.

While some may see a larger campus as intimidating, I see it as offering more opportunities to make connections and get involved. For one, there are way more clubs (which they call “societies”) and a lot more members in them. Much to my dismay and even the societies themselves, I had to restrain myself from joining too many. I have a problem with joining too many societies and only being able to genuinely commit and contribute to a few. This, compounded with my out-of-town living situation made me weary of signing up for a lot of things, particularly sports societies. For those that use the campus sports institute you must matriculate (enrol) as membership and insurance is not included in your tuition fees.

This is the first time I am living off residence; I’ve traded living quarters and opportunities to meet people, make friends, and be close to the school for saving money - residence was expensive and the exchange rate was not too friendly. I’m content with that decision as I feel I’ve learned enough previously living with people to know how to interact and socialize under

Fortunately my frugal attitude has not excluded my social well being. One day I found the Free Shop, a room designed with a similar concept as our reciprocity shelf. I was able to procure note books, paper, and some extra clothes (I packed very light to get here). I met the woman who organizes the room and she was very helpful. She pointed out where my classes were on my

LEILA MAHEIDDINIBONAB STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

The upcoming joint Anthropology and Political Science field school to Ireland and the Isle of Man gives students in Anthropology and Political Science the chance to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the real world. In its second run this May, Dr. Gary Wilson and Dr. Angele Smith will be taking a projected group of 16 students to the islands in order to study globalization, culture and the politics of Celtic Europe.

PHOTO SOURCE DEVON FLYNN

school map, spots to check out, and even cheap places to eat! The woman mentioned needing volunteers for the room and I offered. I’ve met some other volunteers who are very engaging on environmental topics and skill building, just like PGPIRG.

grasp on a new place. “Oh, it’s just like back home” can be a comforting phrase to run through your mind. For other times when you can’t find yourself in a similar element, be bold and adventurous and try something new.

Making those connections to familiar places and people, like the Free Shop/ reciprocity shelf, can help you get a better

Have questions for Devon about his life abroad? Send them to us at ote-life@unbc. ca

Grad-Student Spotlight LEILA MAHEIDDINIBONAB STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

2. What are you studying/ researching?

I am studying forensic anthropology.

I’m working on my Interdisciplinary Studies MA. That means I’ll need to cover aspects of geography and history as well.

“Interdisciplinary” means the work is between any two or more disciplines. My topic is a comparison of testimonio and skeletal trauma analyses. I am trying to reconstruct the events that happened during a massacre in Peru. I will do that by examining written reports on bone trauma of individuals in a mass grave related to the massacre. I will apply what I have read about forces that cause skeletal trauma to see what happened to the individuals at the time of their death. I will then compare the forensic information with testimonio (recorded oral testimony) accounts of the massacre.

My goal is to examine the two types of information, note the overlaps and gaps, and lead into why these gaps exist.

PHOTO SOURCE BARBRA WILLMER

Name: Barbra Willmer Age: 27 Program: Interdisciplinary Studies 1. Who is Barbra Willmer?

I was born in Vancouver and grew up in Gibsons, so I’m very fond of the ocean. I love playing my fiddle and try to play as often as possible. I tend to get addicted

to licorice when I get the chance. I’m also very interested in environmental issues in the news because what happens to our environment will ultimately affect us.

3. Why did you choose this topic?

I chose this topic because UNBC has a working relationship with the Peruvian Forensic Anthropology Foundation (EPAF) and this research will give me an opportunity to learn more about forensic anthropology’s use in a human rights context.

4. How was the research conducted?

The research will be conducted through analysis of testimonio transcripts/ documents and skeletal analysis reports.

I also hope to go to Peru this coming summer, but I am still developing ideas

about what research-related activities I will do there. Testimonio is, in nutshell, the oral accounts from marginalized and repressed people, usually recorded by an interlocutor. Testimonio can also include performative elements like dance, drama or song, and can incorporate areas of memory over the landscape and on the body itself. Testimonio is autobiographical, but also collective - the person sharing their testimonio will also tell of other people’s experiences as well.

5. Where would your research be implemented? What are some applications for this research?

My research could be implemented in exploring the comparability of different types of evidence in the context of forensic anthropology. I also hope to learn more about how skeletal trauma can be used to reconstruct events occurring around the time of death.

6. When will you be graduating?

I hope to graduate winter or spring of 2014.

7. If you could give one piece of advice to the new grad students this year, what would it be?

I would tell new grad students to go for a topic that they are passionate about, and to not get discouraged when studies and research get tough. Nearly every grad I spoke to in my first year reassured me that the first year was really tough for them too.

“I hope students will get hands on experiential learning where they can be within the context of the area they are studying and be able to get first-hand information from key informants, so the ideas of globalization and multiculturalism come to life for them. We want students to get a good sense of what research especially field research is all about,” said Angele Smith, co-runner of the field school.

Students will start the month-long adventure with a week of preparatory school work in Prince George before traveling to Dublin, Ireland for ten days, then heading to the Isle of Man for another week. While in Dublin, the students can look forward to an informational visit with the Irish Refugee Council, where they will get a first-hand account of the NGO, and an afternoon at the Guinness Brewery Museum before heading to the Isle of Man, where they can look forward to a tour of Tynwald (the Parliament of the Isle of Man) and the Niarbyl Nature Preserve.

When asked what she thought of the field school in its first run, Brianna Stefanik was filled with praise: “I found it very interesting and educational. The student group was dynamic so everyone got something out of it. It’s a joint field school so we looked at different views on everything and when we shared in group I learned a wide range of perspectives on an issue. It was a lot of fun.”

This year’s field school promises to be just as diverse, if anything can be said of the eclectic range of prospective students present at the information meeting. Previous participants got to share their experiences, as well as words of advice for anyone who was serious about the field school: “Bring shoes, you walk a lot.”

To learn more about the joint Anthropology and Political Science field school to Ireland and the Isle of Man, including extended itinerary, projected costs, and application deadlines, please contact Gary Wilson at wilsong@unbc.ca or Angele Smith at smitha1@unbc.ca.

10

Features

October 10th 2012 • Over the Edge

What is your Stress Type?

For the music lovers: Steve Dawson performs at ArtSpace - Oct 17th 8:00 - 10:00pm Steve Dawson is a Juno Award-winning artist who has produced and created music in the Canadian music scene for the past decade. With five solo albums under his belt, Dawson’s music ranges from gentle acoustic melodies to “gut bucket” blues complete with dark and challenging lyrical content. Tickets are $20 and available at Books & Co. Michelle Wright performs at the Prince George Playhouse - Friday, October 19th 7:30 - 10:30pm On her Songs From the Halls commemorative concert tour, Wright will be making a stop in Prince George to showcase her upbeat, countrystrong vocals. Being the first Canadian-born artist in the modern era of country music to have a top ten hit in America, a number one video on CMT-USA (Take It Like A Man, 1992), and becoming inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in September 2011, Wright is no novice to the spotlight. Tickets are available at Studio 2880 on 15th Ave or by phone 250-563-2880 for $45 each.

The Sojourners perform at the Prince George Playhouse - Sunday, October 14th 7:30 - 10:00pm Composed of Vancouver-based gospel singers Marcus Mosely, Will Sanders and Khari McClelland, The Sojourners perform with echoes of doo-wop, R&B, country and blues music. Originally from the U.S. Mosely, Small and Sanders’ spent their formative years singing in churches and developing themselves as authentic gospel moguls. The Sojourners sound has an authentic edge blessed with soul that can’t be faked. Tickets are $37.50 (plus HST) and are available at Studio 2880.

Stickybuds at the Generator - Saturday, October 13th 9:00pm - 3:00am Hailing from the Canadian west coast, Stickybuds has performed at festivals such as Shambhala, Burning Man (Nevada, US), Glastonbury (UK), and the Space Club in Ibiza, Spain. His dance floor-friendly music is filled with influences from such genres as Electronic Funk, DNB (Drum and Bass), Glitch Hop, Reggae and Breaks. Tickets can be picked up at Ruins Board Shop for $10.

For the fair-goers: Fall Fair at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church - Saturday, October 20th 10:00 2:00pm If you’ve missed the previous fall fairs happening around the city, now’s your chance to check one out! With a bake sale, café, crafts section, garage sale and raffles the Fall Fair at the Lutheran Church will be sure to have something for everyone.

For those who can never learn enough:

Community of Gardeners.” The documentary takes a look at current concerns about food security, healthy eating, and youth education and engagement in Washington, D.C. GALA MUNOZ FEATURES EDITOR

For the active humanitarians: Freedom Run at Fort George Park - Sunday, October 14th (Registration at 8:30am and the Walk/Run starts at 10:00am) Get your endorphins pumping for a good cause! In support of the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Freedom Run offers options for a 3K Family Fun Walk and 5K Walk or Run, prizes and refreshments.

Registration fee for adults is $35.00, youth is $20.00 and kids under 12 are free.

Prince George Kidney Walk at the Northern Sports Centre - Sunday, October 14th 2:00 - 3:00pm If you can’t make it to the Freedom Run, make sure to stop by the Kidney Walk at the Northern Sports Centre. To register for yourself or a team, visit www.princegeorgekidneywalk.ca For those who like to feast and dance (and in that order): Truffles and Travel Banquet and Fundraiser at the Ramada - Saturday, October 13th 6:30 - 11:50pm The evening starts off with a delicious dinner of Pan-Roasted Filet Mignon in Café de Paris Butter and Red Wine Peppercorn Reduction and a Triple Layer Double Chocolate Torte with Raspberry Sauce for dessert and if that’s not enough to sway you there are fantastic auction items to bid on, a 50/50 raffle and dancing until the night’s end! All proceeds raised go to support AiMHi, a registered charity providing services to over 1000 people who have special needs and their families. Tickets are $85 and can be picked up at AiMHi or the Ramada Hotel.

Bavarian Big Night at Esther’s Inn - Saturday, October 13th 6:00pm - 1:00am Dance and eat the night away in a traditional Bavarian way! The party starts at 6:30pm with Oktoberfest Beer from Pacific Western Brewing Company, a traditional home-booked Bavarian buffet, party games and dancing until 1:00am. For tickets contact the Esther’s Inn Catering Department at catering@esthersinn.com. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door and $15 for dancing only (after 8:30pm).

Stuart McLean at Vanier Hall – Saturday, October 20th at 7:30pm & the 21st at 2:30pm Known as Canada’s favourite storyteller, Stuart McLean is celebrating a landmark year for the best-selling author in 2012. In January, Apple named The Vinyl Café, his hit radio show heard by 1.3 million people each week, the best audio podcast in their Best of the Year awards.

Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.ca for $52.75

World Food Day at the Public Library - Tuesday, October 23rd 7:00 - 9:00pm The Prince George Public Library, REAPS, HEAL, University Farmer’s Market, PG PIRG, Milburn Community Gardens and Beyond the Market have partnered up to present a free screening of the documentary “A

Turkey Wraps Recipe

PHOTO ONLINE SOURCE

1. After an intense study session, do you find yourself mostly: a) high-strung b) exhausted c) giddy d) calm 2. The first place you get tension is your: a) shoulders b) temples c) jaw d) neck 3. The best way to take a break from homework for you involves: a) physical activity b) reading/watching movies c) fresh air d) surfing the web 4. Your favourite genre of music is: a) upbeat/dance-y b) folk c) lyrical pop d) indie rock 5. You study best when you’ve: a) colour-coded everything b) made flash cards c) scheduled specific time slots d) picked a prime location Now, for every “a” you’ve answered add one point, for every “b” add two points, every “c” add three points and every “d” point add 4 points.

If you scored between 5-8: You’re more of a Type-A personality with a tendency to stress out over trying to make everything perfect. Try not to get too caught up in the intricacies of your study material and make sure to get the bigger concepts down pat. Suggested de-stress activities: jogging, biking, long walks and hot baths.

Whether you’ve got way too much leftover turkey from Thanksgiving weekend or you fancy yourself a lover of all things wrapped in tortillas, here’s an easy to make recipe for turkey wraps.

Ingredients: 2 8 inch whole wheat tortillas 4 slices turkey 1/2 cup finely shredded iceberg lettuce 3/8 large tomato, diced 3/8 large avocado, sliced 1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 3/8 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese

PHOTO ONLINE SOURCE

If you scored between 9-12: You have a tendency to get easily overwhelmed and emotionally strained when schoolwork starts to weigh on you. Be sure to take a little time out every day to bring a little relaxation and perspective into your life to help you refocus your priorities. Suggested de-stress activities: drinking warm beverages, dancing, and going to the movies.

If you scored between 13-16: While you don’t find yourself as frantic as those around you come midterm time, you can still benefit from a more focused study pattern. Try not to let yourself get distracted by making colourful diagrams or fancy flashcards and make sure to maximize on your study time by jumping right into the material. Suggested de-stress activities: painting, writing, and playing an instrument.

If you scored between 17-20: You don’t seem to have problems with getting stressed out or, at the very least, stress doesn’t tend to hit you until the last possible moment. Try to capitalize on better time management and organization practices. You can definitely benefit from both planning ahead and sticking to your plan.

Suggested de-stress activities: listening to music, crosswords, and DIY projects.

1. Mix together the Dijon mustard and cream cheese until smooth. Spread each tortilla with approximately 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese-Dijon mixture, spreading to within ¼ inch of the edge of the tortillas.

2. Arrange about 1/4 cup of shredded lettuce on each tortilla, place 2 turkey slices per tortilla over the lettuce and sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons of shredded Swiss cheese. Top each tortilla evenly with tomato and avocado slices.

3. Roll each tortilla up tightly and enjoy!

11

Over the Edge • October 10th 2012

What’s The Difference?

GALA MUNOZ FEATURES EDITOR

With social media now an integral part of everyday life, our preferences towards either Facebook or Twitter can say a lot about us. While the similarities between the two are obvious (the main goal being to connect people from all over the world at any given moment), the differences are a bit harder to make out. While Twitter is great for a steady flow of information and interactions with people who may be far beyond your social circle, Facebook is a lot more personal and intimate. Your News Feed is filled with current updates on your friends, families and acquaintances’ lives whereas your Twitter feed might teach you a new fact every

five minutes (@OMGFacts), or inform you of Kim Kardashian’s latest manipulation of a word starting with the letter “K” (“kasual”). The functionality of status updates versus Tweets also speaks to the type of image you strive to portray to the larger social world. Tweets tend to require more thought and they focus on the collective or individual spheres of our lives. While we might Tweet something that is trending in order to get in on the action and feel relevant, we might also create a new hashtag about something only a select few have talked about.

With a 140 character limit, Twitter users are forced to choose the most humorous or remarkable insights

from their internal monologue. It’s almost as if Twitter is the start of a new relationship when you try harder to impress and woo your mate while Facebook is that point in the relationship where you don’t worry about sounding or acting inappropriate because you feel entitled to a little provocation now and again. Facebook is dinner with your roommates while Twitter is lunch with the President (because the Prime Minister wouldn’t have dinner with you anyways). That’s not to say that Twitter is better than Facebook; each site occupies its own niche in modern society. By distinguishing the functionality of each form of social media, we can better understand and engage in our use with either or. So whether you prefer Twitter or Facebook, the better knowledge you have about how to express yourself within each, the more comfortable you’ll feel in transcribing your life out into the virtual world.

Homework YOU’LL ENJOY

PHOTO ONLINE SOURCE GALA MUNOZ FEATURES EDITOR

On the corner of 3rd Avenue & Quebec Street is the ever-quirky and original clothing and home décor store Homework. With a special 10% student discount and such items as extendable back scratchers, Bananagrams and books with titles like “Insults and Comebacks,” there is sure to be something that will suit your fancy. Homework is open from 10:00am Mondays through Saturdays

and closed every day at 5:30pm (except for 7:00pm closure on Friday evenings). If jokes and puns aren’t your be-all, end-all (you need to see a doctor), and you are looking to find yourself a new wardrobe, Homework has a superb selection of women’s clothing, handbags and boots to choose from. With inventory from such brands as Free People, Gentle Fawn, Smash, Chinese Laundry, and Hunter boots, Homework has a great mix of feminine and folksy clothing to choose from. Once you’ve laughed at every obscure cooking utensil and how-to book make sure to take a peek upstairs at their wonderfully unique and eclectic home furniture. Fancy yourself a master in the kitchen?

Homework has a delightful selection of cookbooks, sauces and starter kits for helping you earn your badge of “Host(ess) with the Mostess.”

Whether you’re looking for your next favourite appetizer dish, outfit or silly household item be sure to stop by Homework and hunt to your heart’s content.

12

Arts & Entertainment

October 10th 2012 • Over the Edge

Album Reviews JORDAN TUCKER ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Mother Mother, The Sticks The past few years have seen Mother Mother go from being a quirky folk outfit to a sleek electric pop set to...what exactly? While listening to their latest effort, The Sticks, one gets the impression that the band members aren’t quite sure either, but knew that whatever it was, they weren't going to make it easy for the listener to figure out. The songs range from hopeful, straining pop (“Let's Fall in Love”) to dark (“Happy”) to melancholy, anxious and haunting (the title track). Eureka, their third album, was the musical personification of that over-energized kid who talks too much in class but is so smart you can't hate him.

The Sticks is an even smarter kid who barely has to say a word to make the professor steal their comment for a paper. The Sticks is wise, moody, and scribbling in the margins of your journal. The well-produced album flickers across genres, while remaining a quintessential Mother Mother release. The lyrics are

sometimes mundane, with “Let's Fall In Love” being a prime example:

This fearsome English trio has mellowed out, it would seem. The first few tracks of this new album surprised me; I had grown accustomed to the screeching gothic electric sound that defined the early XX tracks. The vibe of this album is more like ocean waves. Gentle keyboards pulse and pull, lulling the listener in and out of songs that often seem to be about some sort of breakup. The sparse drums, keyboards and an echoing bass guitar create a focus on melody and rhythm that is often lost in other more instrument-heavy bands.

While their previous self-titled album had a spacetimey feel that delivered the ephemeral joy of the wonders, outrage and confusion of young love,

Coexist is decidedly not about that. This album is mournful. This album takes all of the love and special sweet and sour sauce of their first album and punches it in its stupid, euphoric face. As usual, Romy Madly Croft and Oliver Sim share brooding vocals, using the interplay between his deep, scratchy tones and her sweet staccatos to further emphasize their focus on the light and dark in relationships. Often the two sing a sort of call and answer between imaginary former lovers, making arguments about mundane matters seem poignant and wrenching. XX was an album more focused on the light in the dark: while it was certainly moody, it had undertones of sex and gothic love that were

“There’s a game in the world, a little bit of cat and mouse With the boys and the girls, and if I had to ante up I’d bet on the birds, ’cause they don’t have to get caught up With the boys and the girls and a little game of cat and mouse” However, it's the emotions between the lyrics that contribute to an understanding and perhaps an overall concept for the album. The track “Happy” is one of the strongest on the album, mainly because it pairs the painstaking description on the minutiae of everyday acts with the placid contemplation of drug addiction and personal philosophy. Because of this bleak and bare honesty, this album becomes

suddenly more complex. Because of the uncertainty the band presents to the listener, the music feels much more full-bodied. If Mother Mother was a character in a television series, The Sticks is the episode where they go from the guy with the glasses who banters with the leads to the man with deep personal problems.

This is the episode where the guy in the glasses kills someone because of a screwed up childhood. This is my favourite episode so far, needless to say.

Overall, The Sticks is a hectic, confused album at face value with much more ordered and honest undertones. Dissonant chords come together behind happy melodies to suggest a great tumult than first represented. While The Sticks may be a mess stylistically, it is organized chaos. It is the work of a band with more experience that isn't afraid to get messy this time. I liked this album.

The XX - Coexist

Top 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Mother Mother Grizzly Bear The xx Wax Mannequin Rah Rah David Byrne & St. Vincent English Words Amanda Palmer And The Grand Theft Orchestra Chilly Gonzales Milo Greene Cat Power The Sheepdogs Pet Shop Boys Nu Sensae Chap One Erin Costelo Ssion Lou Wreath Efterklang The Antlers Roche Limit Husky Shad Ciseaux JEFF the Brotherhood Kelly Hogan Stars Fiona Apple MAK Bernard Adamus

The Sticks Shields Coexist No Safe Home The Poet’s Dead Love This Giant Red Potion Theatre Is Evil Solo Piano II Milo Greene Sun The Sheepdogs Elysium Sundowning Strange Frequencies We Can Get Over Bent Exploding Diagram Piramida Together Sky Parlor Forever So Melancholy and The Infinite Shadness Ciseaux Hypnotic Nights I Like to Keep Myself in Pain The North The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw...

MAK No. 2

Last Gang Warp Young Turks Zunior Hidden Pony 4AD Self-Released Self-Released Arts & Crafts Chop Shop Matador Atlantic Astralwerks Suicide Squeeze Self-Released Self-Released Dovecote Self-Released 4AD Frenchkiss Self-Released Sub Pop Self-Released Self-Released Warner (WEA) AntiATO Epic Self-Released Grosse Boite

essentially fairly light as subject matter. Coexist is more brooding. It's sorrowful. It has regrets and speaks of mistakes. While Coexist hasn't really strayed too far from the traditional XX formula, the feel is different, and as any mopey fan of the XX can tell you, the feel is what you're there for. I heartily recommend this album to anyone who has had, or is currently having, their heart crushed in with the force of a billion accelerating fiery comets. I can't promise that it will make you feel better, but it might make you feel somewhat less alone.

Comics

by Jeff Hollett

13

Over the Edge • October 10th 2012

Why you Need Fantasy Humour in Your Life

JORDAN TUCKER ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

“Gandalf” without seriously injuring the storyline. I find most fantasy books to be a slog into the murky kiddy pool of some basement dweller's imagination, with the murkiness related less to depth as to the amount of bodily waste in the water.

PHOTO ONLINE SOURCE

Personally, I've never been much of a fan of modern fantasy writers. I find much (and I am here generalizing heavily, but if you want to write and tell me about how Robyn Hobbe-Lyndholm or George R.R. Martin is totally awesome and I don't understand and should be trampled to death in a dragon stampede, please do, as it will fill up my section) of the genre to be replete with overwrought and over-boring hero's journey storytelling written by authors who have never seen the pointy end of an editor's red pen. The imagery involves words with way too many “e”s and “y”s, all the cute girls have pointy ears and a mysterious past, and just about every old man could have his name replaced with

However, unlike pool poo, lots of modern fantasy is not funny. Also unlike pool poo, it is fairly dry. I have nothing against elements of fantasy, specifically trolls or orcs or elves or witches. I love that stuff.

What I can't abide with most fantasy is not only how alienating it is, but also how unfunny it is. Most fantasy is like going through an extremely detailed account of life on another planet by the world's driest anthropologist. I don't read to nobly grit my teeth through the underbelly of some fictional plane so I can gain a better understanding of why the Clarkxans beat the Slurhgans in battle, along with the accompanying three page flagellating descriptions of Planeswalker chain mail. If one reads fantasy, I think they do for the

escape into magic, for the grand lessons we can find, the hard-learned similarities between dwarves and elves. I personally like it when it goes one step further.

Humour! Enter Terry Pratchett.

Pratchett writes a delightful sort of fantasy novel that parodies and often downright mocks our contemporary society through the foils and foibles of the characters living in Ankh-Morpork, his flat world which exists on the backs of elephants carried by turtles. Through the descriptions of the adventures of Police Commander Sam Vimes, the Wyrd Sisters, or even Death himself, Pratchett weaves a world that is not only unto itself, but also so complete that is sometimes punches through the fourth wall to remind us of how silly we are. Terry Pratchett writes a fantasy that is readable because of its simplicity and wry glance at the world, a skill honed and made useful by the many years Pratchett spent as a journalist. Pratchett also enjoys a bit of clever savagery, as evidenced

by the note on his wikipedia page that details his ownership of a greenhouse full of carnivorous plants. He has spoken intelligently and compassionately on the topic of assisted suicide, which reveals him to be humane and understanding. Clearly, you should buy his books. I won't attempt to surmise the reasons he is funny, I will only list a few quotations: “Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch.

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.” - Thief of Time “If cats looked like frogs we'd realize what nasty, cruel little bastards they are. Style.

That's what people remember.” -Lords and Ladies “In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded.” - Lords and Ladies “God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from

the perspective of any of the other players [i.e. everybody], to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time.” - Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, “If complete and utter chaos was lightning, then he'd be the sort to stand on a hilltop in a thunderstorm wearing wet copper armour and shouting 'All gods are bastards!” - The Color of Magic If you are going to chance by your local bookseller's, I would recommend that you pick up Going Postal, Wyrd Sisters, or two of my favourites, Guards! Guards! It will provide you with a bit of easy, funny reading. It will also not make you wish to claw your eyes out, something that is useful in a book. Buy some Pratchett books, if only to procrastinate from your midterms more.

Arts Funding 101: An Introduction to Grant Opportunities for British Columbian Artists JEFF HOLLETT

I’m an artist – I keep hearing about grant programs, but I really don’t know what they are all about, or where to get more information.

If the preceding statement represents your situation, check out this brief FAQ. How many grant programs for artists are actually out there?

There are quite a few grant programs designed specifically for the arts sector. Some of these are:

•The British Columbia Arts Council: www.bcartscouncil.ca

•The Canada Council for the Arts: www.canadacouncil.ca

•The Aboriginal Arts Development Program: www.fpcc.ca

•BC Film & Media: www.bcfm.ca

•Music BC: www.musicbc.org To learn about other art-specific grant programs:

•Contact staff at the above organizations. In addition to being knowledgeable about their

own programs, these folks are often familiar with other programs that may be useful to

you.

•Review the websites of grant organizations. Often these sites will provide links to other

grant programs.

•Talk to established artists.

What types of projects get funded by these programs?

Each program has a different purpose, but most will fund the creation of new artwork, and the enhancement of artistic skills & abilities. Some will fund travel costs, marketing and other activities as well.

I’m a university student. Are students eligible for arts grants?

The rules vary. Some programs are open to everyone – students and non-students alike. Some programs exclude full-time undergraduate students, but are open to graduate students. Most programs do not exclude part-time students.

When should I apply for a grant? Are there any deadlines to worry about?

Some programs operate with submission deadlines, while others accept applications all throughout the year.

How do I apply for these grants? Is there help available if I’m new at this?

Each grant provider has a different application format and process. In many cases you can get “how to apply” information from program websites, as well as from program staff. Some grant providers even allow you to submit draft applications for feedback, in order to optimize your final submission.

What exactly is a business grant? If I’m a commercial artist, can I access any business grants?

Business grant programs provide funding to entrepreneurs to help them start and expand businesses.

If you sell your art, then you are in business, and you are potentially eligible for some of these programs. Each program has unique eligibility criteria - you may or may not find a business grant program to fit your particular circumstances.

Here are two examples:

•The B.C. government’s Self Employment Benefit Program helps unemployed individuals

become self-employed by providing start-up advice, mentoring, and a living allowance

during the difficult first year in business. To learn more, select “Self Employment” from

the “Job Seekers” tab at www.labourmarketservices.gov.bc.ca.

•The federal government’s Aboriginal Business Canada Program provides grants of up to

$100,000 to aboriginal entrepreneurs to help start and expand businesses. To learn

more, select “Economic Development”, and then “Funding” at www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca.

You can learn about other business grant possibilities at this federal government website www. canadabusiness.ca. Select “British Columbia” from the “My Region” tab to get a list of programs available in British Columbia.

I’ve heard that getting approved for a grant is a long shot – is this true?

Application approval rates vary by program. Not all granting organizations publish the number of applications received and approved, but at least two key organizations do publish these figures.

In 2011/12, the British Columbia Arts Council received 2,148 applications, and approved 1,028, for an approval rate of nearly 50%. In 2010/11, the Canada Council for the Arts received 15,443 applications, and approved 6,098, for an approval rate of nearly 40%. In other words, the odds of grant approval at these two organizations are really quite good.

Of course, not every artist, or every project, is a candidate for funding. It is good practice to discuss your project idea with program staff, before you start working on an application. Often these folks can give you feedback about whether, in principle, your idea fits with program criteria. If it doesn’t fit, at least you will have found out before putting in all that effort to complete an application!

14

Opinion

October 10th 2012 • Over the Edge

A Beer with Ben What is wrong with me?

BEN FILIPKOWSKI COPY EDITOR

Growing up and developing my own musical tastes, I was exposed to a number of different genres and artists before finally settling on a definition of what was good to my ears. I’m a big music fan, and do my best to remain open-minded to new music and new artists, no matter how bad an initial reaction is or how poorly they are received by friends and the music press at large.

That said, I have never held country music in high regard.

I’m not entirely sure what it is about country that bothers me; indeed, sometimes I’m certain everything about it bothers me. A number of friends who enjoy country tell me that I need to stop listening to Top 40 stuff, that I need to look into the genre a bit more, and while I respect that, their suggestions are often little better than the stuff on the radio.

PHOTO SOURCE SHELLEY TERMUENDE

I really can’t put my finger on it - as

a musician myself, I can appreciate skillful playing and composition, and I can ignore with the twang present in both voice and instrument. I enjoy lap steel guitar (the source of those swelling slides that just scream country), I enjoy the techniques present in country (hybrid picking, where one picks a guitar with both a plectrum and fingers, is a standout) and I have to admit that the players know what they’re doing.

So maybe it’s something more - lyrical simplicity? That must be it. But then, rock and roll isn’t very deep lyrically either.

I recently discovered the music of Ryan Adams. For lack of better terminology, his stuff is alt-country (a problematic term for me, because alternative is a poor name for a genre as is), thoughtful and…fun.

There’s twang, there’s heartbreak, there’s drinking with your friends,

but below all that, it’s clear this guy doesn’t see himself as a country artist. He’s a songwriter who happens to have some good old twang, some Americana, some salt of the earth. It’s folk, electrified.

And the thing is, it’s good. The songs will speak to you, will make you want to sing along, and you’ll enjoy them.

So I suppose I have to admit, I enjoy some country.

Oh no…what’s wrong with me?

15

Over the Edge • October 10th 2012

Schedule Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Hit Chart Japan 8am - 9am

Underground and Around 8am - 9am

Underground and Around 8am - 9am

Underground and Around 8am - 9am

CFUR Playlist 8am - 9am

CFUR Playlist 8am - 9am

Hit Chart Japan 8am - 9am

Sports with Smoke and King 9am - 10am

CFUR Breakfast Bowl 9am - 10am

CFUR Breakfast Bowl 9am - 10am

CFUR Breakfast Bowl 9am - 10am

CFUR Breakfast Bowl 9am - 10am

CFUR Breakfast Bowl 9am - 10am

CFUR Playlist 9am - 3pm

Story Records 10am- 12pm

The Walrus 10am - 11am

The Walrus 10am - 11am

The Walrus 10am - 11am

The Walrus 10am - 11am

The Walrus 10am - 11am

CFUR Playlist 12pm - 2pm

Democracy Now! 11am - 12pm

Democracy Now! 11am - 12pm

Democracy Now! 11am - 12pm

Democracy Now! 11am - 12pm

Democracy Now! 11am - 12pm

CFUR Playlist 12pm - 1pm

CFUR Playlist 12pm - 1pm

Native SolidarityNews 12pm - 1pm

Native SolidarityNews 12pm - 1pm

Fresh Sheet 1pm - 2pm

Trashcan Americana 1pm - 2pm

CFUR Playlist 1pm-2p,

CFUR Playlist 12pm - 1pm Sports with Smoke and King 1pm - 2pm

CFUR Playlist 1pm-2p,

CFUR Playlist 2pm - 3pm

Bad, Not Cheap 2pm - 3pm

Bad, Not Cheap 2pm - 3pm

CFUR Playlist 2pm-3pm,

Air Guitar 2pm - 4pm

Beaver Hours 3pm - 4pm

CFUR Playlist 3pm - 4pm

Celtic Fire 3pm - 4pm

Grandpa's Spells 3pm - 4pm

World Reggae 4pm - 6pm

Open Perspectives 4pm - 5pm

Showtunes 4pm - 5pm

In the Moshpit 4pm - 6pm

CMJ Playlist 5pm - 6pm

Fresh Sheet 5pm - 6pm

CFUR Playlist 6pm - 8pm

Grandpa's Spells 6pm - 7pm

Underground and Around 6pm - 7pm

Trashcan Americana 6pm - 7pm

Dance To Trance 7pm - 8pm Hiphopnautic 8pm - 9pm

CFUR Playlist 7pm - 8pm

Story Records 7pm - 9pm

World Reggae 2pm - 4pm

Open Perspectives 4pm - 5pm Almost Mainstream 5pm - 6pm CFUR Playlist 6pm - 9pm

Celtic Fire 6pm - 7pm CFUR Playlist 7pm - 9pm

Beaver Hours 8pm - 9pm Underground Hiphop 9pm - 11pm

Inside the Intro 11pm - 12am

Planet Without Borders 3pm - 4pm CFUR Playlist 4pm - 5pm

Underground HipHop 101

4pm - 6pm

Almost Mainstream 5pm - 6pm The Anarchist of Power 6pm - 8pm

Air Guitar 8pm - 10pm

Inside the Intro 8pm - 9pm

The Dune 9pm - 10pm

The Dune 9pm - 10pm

Hitshitshits 9pm - 10pm

Kinetic Flow North 9pm - 10pm

Databass 9pm - 10pm

Planet Without Borders 10pm - 11pm

In the Moshpit 10pm - 12am

The Anarchist of Power 10pm - 12am

Thanks, Babe 10pm -11pm

Hiphopnautic 10pm - 11pm

Dance To Trance 10pm - 11pm

Beaver Hours 11pm - 12am

Kinetic Flow North 11pm - 12am

Thanks, Babe 11pm - 12am

Databass 11pm - 12am

Start Something With Alesse ERICA SIMPSON

A recent study shows a majority of young British Columbians – 78 per cent, ages 18 to 34 - state they would ultimately like to be their own boss. This finding reflects an entrepreneurial, innovative spirit in Canada’s next generation of business and community leaders.

For the third consecutive year, the Start Something with Alesse program invites residents of BC, and across the country, who are 16 years-of-age and older to submit an idea for the opportunity to start their own business, project or community program.

Many young entrepreneurs have exciting ideas for new businesses or projects, passion and an entrepreneurial drive, but require guidance through mentorship, business planning and financial support.

This program provides support and encourages British Columbians to “start something” and follow their dreams.

To learn more about how to become your own boss, visit: w w w. s t a r t s o m e t h i n g w i t h a l e s s e. ca or http://www.facebook.com/ startsomethingwithalesse The submission deadline is October 31, 2012. Two winners will be chosen from across Canada, awarded a $5,000 grant and partnered with a mentor.

Previous years have included finalists from the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University.

For more information or to speak with a spokesperson, please feel free to contact me.

Best Regards, Erica Simpson 604-691-7386

PHOTO ONLINE SOURCE

16

October 10th 2012 • Over the Edge

Cornered on Campus

We’ve all had them, those people in class or in the library who distract you from your work. It could be something as trivial as a lack of tissue paper, but it all depends on the timing.

Over the Edge asks: Dish the dirt on those annoying classmates habits!

Lee & Aaron

Matt

3rd Year Bio-Chem & 2nd Year Computer Scoence

3rd Year Math and Computer Science

Burke

Addie

4th Year Fisheries and Wildlife

Students who always need to show how smart they are in class. Just so you know, I love it when you correct the prof and you’re wrong.

Asking stupid questions… we have an individual in class who asks some great questions.

2nd Year Masters NRES

Eating in the library, especially carrots. You hear every. single. crunch.

Students who answer obviously rhetorical questions. You always hear this person’s voice and it’s not necessary.

Jordi

1st Year Anthropology

Caitlin & Molly

2nd Year Biology & Political Science

When someone comes with a cold to class, especially midterms. I mean, sorry you’re sick, but you’re annoying.

Eating something crunchy in the quiet part of the library. You couldn’t wait a half hour to eat it later? I hope that carrot stick tastes delicious!

ALL PHOTOS SOURCE SHELLEY TERMUENDE

David

5th Year History/First Nations Studies

Usually I’m the annoying person. Not necessarily annoying; I try to provide some spice, some David, it makes classes engaging. You get more out of it that way.

People who ask questions they know the answer to. It’s disruptive and annoying.

2 birds, 1 stone, congratulations.

Marissa

4th Year Political Science

Nose pickers. I saw one. He just stuck it up there shamelessly!

Guess the background picture for a prize!

Submit through ote.unbc.ca