Sept 5, 2013 volume 20 issue 1 ote

Over The Edge

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Volume 20, Issue 1 overtheedgenewspaper.ca

September 5, 2013 ote-newspaper@unbc.ca

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This year’s editorial team is practical, efficient, and professional and we are equally as enthusiastic to further elevate our newspaper’s reputation.

It is for these reasons I am confident that Over the Edge newspaper will only continue to improve. I will not stop learning for (or from) the team I work with. I am honoured to have worked with last year’s team and I am incredibly excited to see what our current team can do in the issues to come. Thank you for standing by us through everything and I hope you choose to get more involved with us.

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Last year, Over the Edge saw a complete editorial and structural redesign. While many concerns and conflicts were quelled thanks to Over the Edge’s revamp last year, new

Shelley Termuende | Over the Edge

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You, the students, pay for our newspaper and with that in mind, you deserve a quality product. I cannot guarantee that the content we will be publishing this year will not offend you, upset you or make you want to sacrifice the paper to the god of war and seek revenge. Journalism is neither safe nor boring. This was the model we set last year and we are sticking to it.

Our content will offer perspectives and judgments from multiple angles and will be a voice to whomever wants to listen. Our publication is a student news platform for everyone. Over the Edge is committed to bringing the readers a

Frankly, I cannot force you to read the paper, nor can anyone else. You have to want to read Over the Edge because you know the articles and submissions will be of value and of interest to you. Over the Edge is a public forum. This boils down quite simply to, “if you have something to say, let us publish it!” This production is a team based venture, and that team includes you! Our newspaper relies on you, it always has, and it always will.

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ello and welcome back to year 2013 2014 at the University of Northern British Columbia. I am happy to be back for my second year at the helm of Over the Edge newspaper.

variety of topics, issues, and opinions.

So please, get angry, get passionate, and get involved. It is your voice that matters and we want you to be able to share it.

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Shelley Termuende Editor-In-Chief/Publisher

battles were fought as a result of the drastic changes being made. These changes, which had a lot to do with my leadership and decision making, caused an extreme amount of tension and could have been dealt with more successfully if at the time, I had had previous experience on how to manage a team effectively and empathetically. Challenges aside, our team was able to establish an official non-partisan board of directors and drastically improve the print and online design of Over the Edge newspaper.

We wrote an official policy manual, revised our constitution to be of legal standard, and drafted a two year comprehensive budget model. Along with all of these changes, we devoted ourselves to consistently providing the readership with a long list of thoughtprovoking content.

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Over The Edge is the University of Northern British Columbia’s independent newspaper. Our office is located on the 2nd floor of the NUSC building in room 6-350. We are an equal opportunity publication which represents students in the UNBC and Prince George community. Our publication supports student writing by welcoming news, arts, sports, culture and opinion articles as well as photography, comics, and creative writing submissions. Every year, we provide employment as editors, designers, and managers to students with a passion for journalism and are always looking for motivated individuals to work and volunteer in our collaborative environment. Over The Edge offers competitive advertising rates for space in our print publication as well as online.

Support is always needed and no experience is required, help make Over The Edge Newspaper better. We want to hear from you! Call us at (250) 960-5633, tweet us @overtheedgeunbc, email us at ote-newspaper@unbc.ca and be sure to like us on facebook. For more information, please visit our redesigned website www. overtheedgenewspaper.ca.

Next Submission Deadline: Sept. 11, 2013

News

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PAFSO strike Matthew Usherwood | ipolitics.ca

Strike Impairs Student Visas

Nicole Halseth News Editor

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ccording to an article on the PressTV “Canada’s striking foreign service workers are to shut down all its services at the country’s 15 largest visa processing centers abroad, following a failed attempt to go to arbitration to settle a wage dispute with the government.” This process, an escalation of pre-existing strike action, officially began on 29 July and will affect embassies in Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Beijing, Cairo, Delhi/Chandigarh, Hong Kong, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Paris, Riyadh, Sao Paulo and Shanghai, where Foreign Services workers have pledged to withdraw all services. According to the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO), “the government of Canada bears sole and complete responsibility for these impacts."

The strike began in April to protest what PAFSO believes to be an unfair distribution of wages, as the union believes that Foreign Services workers inside of Canada receive anywhere between $3000 and $14,000 more than Canadian counterparts working abroad. The strike escalated on July 26 after PAFSO attempted and failed to establish proper arbitration with Stephen Harper’s administration regarding these wage disparities.

Prior to this arbitration, Treasury Board President Tony Clement insisted on several conditions that the union would have to meet before any agreement could be reached. This included barring mention of other civil workers who do similar work from the arbitration process. However, as this forms the basis of the wage disparity issue at the heart of PAFSO’s complaints, they were unable to agree to this condition. Furthermore, according to a statement released by the union, some of these preconditions were “so paralyzing that their acceptance would have predetermined the outcome of arbitration in the government's favor and negated the purpose and integrity of the process."

The suspension of all services in the visa centers listed above has already had numerous negative effects, notably in the areas of tourism and education.

Students around the world have been forced to withdraw from their educational institutions within Canada, and tourists have been forced to cancel their trips, due to complications with the visa process and in some cases, the complete inability to receive one at all. As so many communities rely on tourism to boost their local economies, and international students form a solid proportion of the total student base in Canada, these withdrawals and cancellations have the potential to hit very hard in the upcoming year.

If this wage dispute is not resolved by the fall, other civil workers represented by five other unions, such as prison guards and border guards, are planning to take similar actions. This may affect Prince George in the next few months.

UNBC has likely already felt these effects, due to complications in the visa process, which may have hindered or discouraged some of UNBC’s international student population. Even if it has not yet had a substantial impact on UNBC students, as the application deadline for international students fell before the escalation of this action, it may have a greater impact in the January semester. However, further escalation would likely result in broader setbacks to daily life in our city. Only time will tell.

News Nicole Halseth News Editor

The Russian and Canadian Arctic: Beyond Oil

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n recent years, the Arctic has become a hot commodity, and Arctic issues are increasingly making their way into international headlines. Russia is only the latest Arctic nation to follow this trend.

According to Daniel Sandford of BBC News, in his article Russia’s Arctic: Mission to Protect Wildlife, “Russia is planning huge oil and gas developments in the Arctic Ocean off its northern coast--drilling that could threaten pristine wildlife habitats.”

Despite warnings from Russian scientists that large populations of walruses and polar bears could be put at risk, the Russian government is continuing early exploration of potential production areas and may begin activity within the next two decades.

Polar bears and walruses in Russia (and around the world) are already facing hardships resulting from climate change and environmental degradation; the most significant of which is retreating ice due to melting, which has forced numerous Arctic animals away from traditional feeding grounds to further inland where food is more dangerous and more difficult to procure. Instituting large-scale oil and gas production would likely further disrupt their lifestyles due to noise and pollution, chasing away food which is already growing scarce. These activities would also risk potential oil spills that are devastating on the surrounding environment, and can be dangerous, costly, and time consuming to clean up.

Like Russia, Canada is now facing a similar dilemma where it comes to

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dealing with our own Arctic interests.

Arctic Canada is rich in culture, biodiversity, and natural resources. It has a longstanding history of being a place of intercultural exchange through interactions between Arctic explorers and vibrant Inuit communities. Arctic Canada is interspersed with unique ecosystems and life that exist nowhere else on the planet, though both the Inuit and these unique ecosystems have recently been facing the challenges of climate change and continued environmental degradation.

for large oil and gas reserves, which makes it extremely valuable to the international community. However, this current and future oil and gas mining threatens the environment in which it is housed.

Canada’s Arctic also holds great political and economic potential. First, it has gained increased attention recently in regards to the Northwest Passage, which after further glacial melting may serve as an efficient and viable international trading route. Second, our Arctic holds enormous potential

Given the challenges Canada’s Arctic is already facing, we must be cautious not to follow such an environmentally damaging route if we wish to continue enjoying a vibrant, sustainable Arctic in the future. Should we fail in this respect, we may not be the ‘true north’ for much longer.

Arctic nations around the world are gradually realizing this fact, and placing more focus on protecting their habitats because of it. This gradually increasing awareness remains, even if some do not appear to be on the same page.

Pot Calling the Kettle “Trudeau” Nicole Halseth News Editor

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o it seems that Liberal leader and MP Justin Trudeau is 'one of us.' Or at least, one of the nearly 40% of 'us' in Canada who have dabbled with marijuana at least once.

Openly admitting he has smoked pot after becoming an MP, though only “five or six times” in his lifetime, has resulted in immediate backlash from members of the Conservative party, among others. When asked, Prime Minister Stephen Harper responded that these actions “speak for themselves,” while Justice Minister Peter MacKay publicly questioned Trudeau’s ability to lead Canada and declared he sets a “poor example” for all and especially youths.

However, it seems not all sectors of society are willing to condemn the man for his actions, as high profile celebrity and human rights spokesman George Takei was quick to praise Trudeau for his bold admission.

Trudeau himself is unapologetic over smoking pot, and has taken it one step

further. In July, Trudeau announced that pot is one of the major issues dealt with in his new policy plans, and supports full legalization of the substance.

This is an upgrade from his previous stance of just decriminalization. Stating that “the current model is not working” in regards to the war on drugs, Trudeau believes it is more important now to tax and regulate it in order to ensure social progress is being made.

One of Trudeau’s main arguments towards the legalization of marijuana is the pressure it puts on the legal systems, and the associated costs.

Currently, hundreds of thousands of people have incurred criminal records for possession and/or use of marijuana.

These near 500,000 records may result in barriers to future travel, employment and citizenship, while additionally costing law enforcement almost $500 million per annum.

The Liberal Party is explicit in its resolution to “understand the need to consider ending the prohibition of marijuana and addressing the root causes of crime to see real results,” as is

seen on their website. Other solutions directed towards taking the pressure off law enforcement and minimizing the impact on citizens caught with marijuana include more “enforcement options,” such as ticketing.

Arguments against the legalization of marijuana in the past have been numerous. After Trudeau’s announcement in July, the Conservatives posted on their official website that pot has harmful effects on its users and society as a whole, and that legalizing it would be against the interests of Canadian families. Another main argument put forth put forth by the Conservatives is that legalizing pot may make it more readily available to youths.

Individual opinions aside, the legalization of marijuana would have plenty of impacts on Prince George, and in the UNBC community as a whole. Aside from the obvious, this action would have direct effects on the level and severity of crime in Prince George, as well as local finances and debt. It would also impact public perceptions and social interactions. As youth and

Peter Power | heglobeandmail.com

Alexey Abel | bbc.co.uk

young adults are a significant proportion of users and first time users of pot, legalization would also impact students across Canada. Whether these potential impacts would be negative or positive remains to be seen, though that they would be seen and most likely felt is almost certain. For more information on what to expect should Canadians legalize marijuana, we could possibly look to the examples set by other countries, such as the Netherlands, who have already been dealing with the aftereffects of legalizing marijuana.

Pot legalization may be one of the key political issues in our very near future.

Furthermore, it will be interesting to see if this stance of total and complete honesty will be something we can expect from Trudeau throughout his run in politics, and if this will be a help or hindrance to him in the next federal election.

Culture

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Ancient Forests in Our Backyard Sarah Jackson Culture Editor

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n hour and a half drive east of Prince George, an ancient inland rainforest has grown relatively undisturbed for millennia. The park, according to the Trail Peak website, features an incredibly unique ecosystem complete with looming 8002000 year old cedars, a waterfall, and multiple mountain viewpoints. The hour-long trail is well-marked with signposts describing the local flora and fauna, many of which are the only ones of their kind found for miles around. In fact, Ancient Forest is advertised as the only temperate rainforest that exists so far inland in all of North America.

The unique ecosystem has been the focus of much attention from local hikers, scientists and activists looking to protect old-growth forests and the many species which call them home.

Prince George`s hidden gem now features a wheelchair-accessible

Sarah Jackson | Over the Edge

boardwalk built by the collective volunteer efforts and donations of the Caledonia Ramblers (one of our region`s oldest hiking groups), residents of McBride, the Dome Creek Forest Information committee and people from Crescent Spur and Walker Road. The supplies for the "universal boardwalk" were also donated by local committees,organisations ,and individuals. Four long years of effort and altruism have made this local wonder accessible to just about everyone.

Ancient Forest and the work that has taken place to protect it and make it accessible to everyone is a great example of the willingness of citizens of Prince George and surrounding communities to contribute their time, energy, and money to build a better community for everyone. A spirit that is supported and often exemplified in the efforts of students and staff of UNBC.

A University “To Do” List: What to do now that you’re here (or back) Sarah Jackson Culture Editor

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hings to do now that you are at university So it is your first year of university, or you are returning for another fall semester, and some of you are probably wondering how to get into the swing of things. Here at Over the Edge, we thought we would come up with some suggestions to try and help you address those first day jitters, find your niche at UNBC, or perhaps add a boost to your resume: 1. Join a Club Clubs are a great way to meet new friends and get involved with the community at UNBC. Club members often work together to throw events and fundraisers which support worthwhile causes, and contribute to making UNBC a fun, social place to be. It also looks really good to have a club (or two, or three...) on your resume. It shows potential employers and prospective graduate schools that you are a well-rounded person with a wide array of interests. Plus, UNBC has enough clubs to fit everybodys interests: from Dance Club, Cycling Club, and Men’s and Women’s Rugby Clubs, to Students for a Green University which works towards

making the campus more sustainable; everything from the Nerdy Gaming Club to clubs with a global impact like WUSC and Free the Children. A great time to check out all the clubs on offer at UNBC and see what fits for you is on Clubs Days from September 11th to 12th in the Winter Garden.

2. Attend events Even if you do not want to commit to joining a club, attending events is a great way to find your feet at UNBC. Whether you are focused on academic gaming, socializing, local foods, crafts, music, dancing, or all of the above, there are events for you.

A few exciting events coming up in the next month include the Backyard BBQ on September 6th, which takes place on the lawn of UNBC just outside the Thirsty Moose, featuring bands, barbecue and beer (for those of you over nineteen). It is a fun way to get to know people and listen to some local music. September 14th is Shinerama, a cross Canada fundraiser that takes place at more than 60 campuses, raising money for Cystic Fibrosis research. Students shine shoes, wash cars, and host bottle drives. The event is mandatory for UNBC clubs so if you have just joined a club you might find yourself shining shoes and making new

friends before you know it!

3. Volunteer There are a lot of great opportunities to volunteer at UNBC or around Prince George. UNBC hosts a volunteer fair every year so you can check out your options then. Or, if you really want to get involved right away, google “Volunteer Prince George” and you will find links to agencies and events around town. There is also a volunteer opportunities section on the UNBC website for those of you looking for ways to help out on campus. One volunteer opportunity the we, the team at Over the Edge, love to see people take advantage of is writing for the school paper (not that Over the Edge is biased). It is a great chance to hone your writing skills and see your name in print. Just contact our volunteer coordinator, Tyson Kelsall at otevolunteer@unbc.ca to submit your ideas and get involved with Over the Edge.

4. Get a Job (you bum!)

Looking for a way to pay for groceries, cover rent, or just go out on Saturday night? Nuggs and UNBC offer a variety of job searches that will boost your resume, teach you valuable skills, and line your pockets, all at the same time. Plus, for those of you living in

dorms, it cannot get more convenient than walking down the hall to work.

Working at the Thirsty Moose as a cook, server, or security person; or whipping up coffees as a barista at Degrees Coffee Co.; getting a job at UNBC is also a great way to be front and centre for events on campus.

Check out www.nugss.unbc.ca to see current postings.

5. Join a Sports team For those athletes attending UNBC, the Northern Sports Centre is a great place to stay in shape and avoid essays or lab reports throughout the year (not that Over the Edge condones procrastination). UNBC also offers a variety of team sports, such as basketball, co-ed soccer, floor ball, and volleyball.

Whatever you end up doing this year, try to take advantage of the opportunities you have now. Be young, have fun, and make friends that you can hold on to for life. The memories and relationships you make today may just last a lifetime. What you are learning right now is not just how to pass your classes; you are learning life skills, and a new way of understanding the world around you. Take chances, dive right in, and learn all you can, because it is easier than you think

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Laura Mooney Arts Editor response to those who may call their show of choice strange, most of the men respond with, “you have to see

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ho would have thought that a show about colorful horses teaching lessons about tolerance and love, targeted for girls under ten, would find it’s home amongst boys ranging from their teens all the way up to their thirties. Well, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic seems to have filled this once untapped niche quiet nicely.

Although first created in the early 1990’s, the My Little Pony being aired today was rebooted in 2010 with a new image to appeal to the next generations. With the ponies now appearing as though they came straight from an anime, ponies like Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy, aim to teach lessons about making friends, dealing with being different, acceptance, tolerance, and standing up for what you believe in.

On August 25th, in Richmond, B.C, the first annual Canadian Brony convention, aptly named BronyCAN, was held to celebrate all things associated with the successful television show. BronyCAN featured musical artists, special guests, including voice actors from the show, and even action figures exclusively designed for the convention. Hundreds of fans gathered, many of them being men and self proclaimed “Bronies”, donned in full costume to declare their allegiance to the show and express their support. Of course, those of the Brony community who attended the convention are aware that their odd obsession is usually met with trepidation, but in

it for yourself”.

So in order to fully understand the hypnotic pull of the ponies, I grabbed my fuzzy blanket, regressed back to childhood, and watched the show.

In an episode entitled “Griffon the Brush-Off”, the ponies are dealt the difficult situation of figuring out what to do when you not only don’t get along with your own best friend’s BFF, but when said BFF is, (to use Pinky Pie’s phrasing) “a big mean grumpy mean meanie pants”. After the neon ponies had performed their

Over The Edge

parade across my laptop screen, and the end credits began to roll, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of emptiness, like there was something they had left out.

Then it hit me. While most television shows, children’s TV included, revolve around central conflict, here was this little cartoon with no devious villain, no fighting, no troubles, nothing. Essentially the only conflict in the show was resolved through calm discussions, and was usually dealt with within seconds of the conflict arising. By the end of the episode, these hooved creatures had managed to teach me valuable life lessons like knowing when a joke has gone to far, what to do when you see someone commit a crime, and how to stand up to your friends when necessary, all with much conflict.

What I had just experienced was a calm, tender show about how friendship, unity, and being kind to those around you can solve even the largest

of problems. Suddenly the world didn’t seem so dreary, the biggest problems didn’t seem so big, and I knew that with the power of friendship I could do anything! Whoa…maybe the show really is hypnotic. I need to go play some Grand Theft Auto.

So although why this show is a hit with the younger crowd, even after sitting through one sickeningly sweet episode the question of why grown men are willingly watching it, and even flocking to conventions so celebrate it, still remains. Perhaps it is the flashing bright colors and simple animation that draws them in like moths to the flame. Or maybe the quirkiness of the characters tickles the funny bones of men in particular. Or perhaps it is just nice to watch a show, even if it is about ponies, where people (or ponies) are genuinely nice to one another.

Whatever it may be, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic can thank the Brony community for aiding their success, and can only hope that these peculiar conventions will continue on for years to come.

Culture Sarah Jackson Culture Editor

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Loss is the Price We Pay for Love

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he number of young people infected with HIV in Canada may be increasing, according to a report published by CATIE (the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange). The report claims that the number of youth, aged 15 to 29, reporting HIV infections in Canada represented over 26% of all cases leading up to 2008. This combined with ongoing reductions of HIV education in northern British Columbia has led some people involved in HIV work to express fears that the number of youth infected with the disease will increase in years to come. This matters to anyone who attends UNBC because the vast majority of the student population (at UNBC) are within this age bracket, and because those who are not inevitability are aware of people who are. This matters to me because I am a youth and because the HIV movement began shaping my life both personally and professionally since before I was even born.

My uncle Chris died with AIDS in April 1993, four months after I was born. I spent my first months of life in his hospital room having my diapers changed on his sheets and sleeping in his sister’s (my mother’s) arms. After he died I grew up listening to stories about him: how he loved to carve and make art, how his feet were always so cold, and how his smile was always so bright.

My uncle's death, and the deaths of so many other young men in the Ontario hospital where my mother worked as a nurse during the 1980s and early 1990s, led her to apply for a volunteer position at the Prince George AIDS Society after moving to British Columbia in 1995. The volunteer position never panned out; instead of volunteering, she was offered a full time job as an educator. She has been facilitating education about health and HIV in and around Prince George ever since.

I was hired to work for Northern HIV and Health Education Society in 2011. The non-profit society was founded by my mom, Mary Jackson, in 2007, to provide education on HIV, hepatitis C, and general health in order to prevent the spread of these and other blood-borne diseases. At first I just took the job because it paid better than Tim Hortons… but I slowly grew to love it. The stories people shared helped me to understand how complex, beautiful, and terrible the world can be. I have learned more about love and life and courage from people (that some) label as sex workers, drug addicts, and criminals, than I could ever have hoped to teach them.

I have learned that the roots of HIV prevention go much deeper than just convincing people to wear condoms. By examining the history of the disease, we can see that time after time it has affected the most marginalized components of our society: first gay men, then IV drug users, Aboriginal people, seniors and, according to the most recent statistics, now youth. While these trends can most clearly be attributed to the behaviors of those infected, specifically sexual practises and sharing of drug equipment, on a deeper level they result from our

Sarah Jackson | Over the Egde

society's failure to respond to this epidemic and to protect and care for these groups of people. Our failures as a society have resulted in the persistence of factors that put so many marginalized people at risk for this disease. These risk factors include a lack of education regarding HIV, a lack of access to services such as food and housing, and, all too often, discrimination, isolation, and stigmatization.

I remember going to one of my professors in my second year at UNBC and asking how all the theories we learned made sense when I went out into the community, and heard all of these heartbreaking stories. To me, there seemed to be a huge disconnect between the theories I was learning and the stories I was hearing. He told me that university focuses on matters of the mind. It teaches us about intellectual matters that are only the tip of the iceberg of human experience. The vast majority of the things which make us human, such as spiritual experiences, compassion, empathy, and love, exist within the lower part of that iceberg, hidden beneath the surface, and are not what contemporary universities concentrates on.

If we really want to eradicate HIV in Canada and around the world, we need to see what is below the tip of that iceberg. We need to take a hard look at our own society and at the root causes of addiction, social isolation, and lack of access to a high standard of education. As individuals we need to look at our own lives, at our own choices, and figure out how we fit into this pattern.

AIDS Vancouver created a video campaign this summer to mark 30 years of service to their

community. They released one video for every year that the organization had been in existence. The videos marked the "remarkable loss and remarkable progress" that has been achieved by many people who have been involved in the HIV movement in the last thirty years. My mom was interviewed for one, and we went down to Vancouver to attend a gala where the last video was unveiled. It was powerful, just as the others had been. The interviewees discussed what they had learned from HIV and, one woman's words stuck in my head. This woman, Micheal Vonn, is a lawyer who has been involved in HIV work for many years, remarked in the final video that the disease has taught her that “loss is the price we pay for love.”

It made me think of when we talk about grief and loss in workshops. We share a quote that says "grief exists because you have the ability to love others; grief fades because you have the ability to love others and to love yourself". I believe as individuals what we are truly missing is the ability to love ourselves.

As the future leaders in our society, we share the responsibility of creating a world in which the circumstances are in place for ourselves to learn to love themselves and others. Future generations need to change the circumstances so that we can create a healthy cycle of love. We can do this through our future and current roles, professionally and personally, and through our own actions today: by challenging our own assumptions and striving for a better, kinder world. I personally believe that in a world where everyone can consistently present that, HIV would be eradicated.

Culture Sarah Jackson Culture Editor

Valuing Public Art

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nyone who has ever seen Cirque du Soleil will agree that it is an awe-inspiring experience. For me, it was an even more incredible experience seeing it for free in a revamped airport hangar in Quebec City this summer.

I arrived an hour early and stood in a line that stretched further than I could see, along a dock beside the St. Lawrence River. The sun set over the crowd as we waited, bubbling with anticipation.

Sarah Jackson | Over the Edge

In the lineup a woman told me how much she enjoyed living in Quebec City. She explained how she had lived in Ontario and in Montreal for years, but Quebec City, which is officially classified as a UNESCO world heritage site, is the place she wants to live.

Later, standing mere feet beneath swinging acrobats in the cool, black night I felt as if I could quite easily live in Quebec City as well.

What is the true value of art and architecture? There are different perspectives on that question. A commonly held assumption in our society is that function is often more important than beauty. But is it?

Think about your favorite city. Why is it your favorite? For me it is all about the impression I get from public spaces and the feeling those spaces create.

Walking through the famous cities of the world, it is the architecture and art that makes an impression: the curve of the buildings, sculptures, street musicians and parks filled with trees and gardens.

The first thing a city does when it is looking to revitalize the downtown is make it more attractive. Beautiful places attract investment. Take Vancouver, with its modern, shapely skyscrapers and gorgeous parks.

Wherever you go in downtown

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Vancouver the mountains seem to loom in the distance and the gorgeous blue ocean is within walking distance.

But public art is also controversial. Like anything else that involves people’s tax dollars, critics question its value and complain about the cost, especially if it is something they do not like. Cities are expressions of ourselves and we want them to reflect that.

According to David Staples of the Edmonton Journal, most major cities in Canada have a program that ensures one percent of tax dollars goes to public art. This program demonstrates the importance of public art from a political perspective.

In April of this year British Culture Secretary, Maria Miller, argued that in periods of global economic austerity such as the one we are currently experiencing policy-makers have to look at the economic value of public art and culture. Her Shadow Culture Secretary, Harriet Harman, added that “arts and culture is about much more than the economy: they’re about a sense of identity, of community, and the potential of each and every individual”.

Every person who has ever played with trembling hands at a piano recital or covered themselves in paint at a summer camp understands the value and thrill of creating and participating in art. It is an intrinsic and often underlooked part of our lives. (CITE) For me, art is something I am learning to value more, the longer I live and the more I experience. It is something we can all contribute to in a variety of ways, from supporting local artists to learning to become one. Everything can art if it is seen from that perspective, from a well-crafted sentence in an essay to the way we move about the world. It is just about becoming aware of the art that exists all around us and within us.

For Volunteer Opportunities With more than 125 organizations, visit

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Culture Laura Mooney Arts Editor

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hile the students were relaxing and out enjoying their summers, the entertainment industry and pop culture were hard at work creating the “next big things” in movies, books, video games and more, dishing out exciting announcements, box office-shattering releases, internet sensations, and some shocking revelations. Here were some of the biggest and best events of summer 2013.

J.K. Rowling Reveals Alias: Possibly some of the strangest news of the summer, an unassuming crime novel entitled The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith, originally released early 2013, was skyrocketed to super stardom when it was revealed in July that Galbraith was in fact a pseudonym for Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. When the news was released that Rowling had written a “secret book” of sorts, fans of the author rushed out to purchase the novel without question. Overnight the once unheard of novel was launched onto bestseller lists all around the world, including topping the New York Times bestseller list mere weeks after being released. While Rowling claimed the reveal was due to an unwanted

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Culture: Summer 2013 Edition leak from her law firm, one cannot deny that the mistake only increased Rowling’s already massive reputation, while providing deviation from once just being known as the Harry Potter author.

The Internet Goes Vine Crazy: Who would have known that a phone app dedicated to amazingly short videos would ever hold its own against an online video giant like YouTube?

But in a generation where attention spans are continually growing shorter and shorter, you have to admit the creator of Vine was probably a genius.

Initially released in January 2013, Vine simply allowed users to record videos, much like any other recording app.

The catch? Users could only record six seconds at a time. As the year progressed, average users, YouTube sensations, and well-known actors all rose gloriously to the challenge of creating a work of comedy in such a restricted period of time. Soon hundreds of thousands of “Vines” began to circulate on the app, and by summertime many of the shockingly creative video clips had progressed to internet stardom as the next great hit.

Compilation videos began to go viral, as the best six second clips, such as

Will Sasso’s “Lemons” and KingBach’s “How Thugs Shower”, were grouped together to showcase the best of what the app users had to offer. Soon the Vine compilation videos skyrocketed up to 40 million views on YouTube and continue to climb higher each day. While this trend may not survive the year, it is definitely a defining internet moment of summer 2013. It is worth checking out the “Best Vine Compilations” on YouTube while their star is still burning bright.

Xbox One Finally Announced! But Do the Gamers Rejoice?: The cries of dedicated gamers and fans all across North America filled the air when in June 2013 at the E3 conference in Los Angeles, game console heavyweights Sony and Microsoft finally announced their greatly anticipated system successors.

However, not all of the reveals were met with good reception, with one of the announcements in particular sparking controversy and raising eyebrows about the company’s credibility and dedication to their fans. While some information about Microsoft’s Xbox One had been discussed in the past months, during their time at E3 much more information

A Baby by Any Other Name

a lucky, lucky baby, depending on how you view it.

Nicole Halseth News Editor

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s conflict abounds and tensions continue to rise worldwide, the international community has been dealt a slightly less than unexpected bundle of joy in the form of Prince George. Son of the recently titled Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, whose wedding on 29 April, 2011, sparked an international media frenzy, this little newborn has already merited a headline or two of his own.

Born on July 22nd in Kensington Palace, the event itself was kept somewhat quiet in comparison to the attention garnered by the royal family in previous years. However, pictures of the happy family, taken by what one can only presume is an equally happy grandfather, have recently been made available. Naturally, they have spread like wildfire and are already spurring international debate and speculation.

Baby Prince George, according to his

about the upcoming system was revealed. Not everything being said, however, was to the ever curious listener’s liking. New so- called features were being introduced; the Kinect having to be connected at all times, the limitations being placed on lending or sharing games with friends, having to log in at least once per day. This caused many dedicated Microsoft fans to ask questions about privacy in one’s own home, because the Kinect camera would be on at all times, and incited outrage when they realized they could no longer loan their friend the game disc to play, instead the friend would now have to buy a digital copy, or play on the game owner’s account. To top everything off, the Xbox One also revealed a price tag that was one hundred dollars heftier than their main competitor, the PlayStation 4. However, after much explaining and defense of their system, Microsoft rose to the occasion, listened to their fan- base’s criticisms, and made the necessary changes. While both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One are due out late this fall, only time will tell if Microsoft successfully did enough to be the top gaming console of the year, or if the Xbox gamers will finally switch their allegiances.

John Phillips | UK Press

admittedly exhausted looking father Prince William, is of course “extremely good looking”. I am sure we can expect great things from him in the future.

Now, why exactly should residents of our lovely city, and indeed students

here at UNBC, spare a thought to this new ‘royal baby’? First and foremost, because of the inevitable plethora of puns and royal jokes inherent in our same name situation. It is practically a gold mine, and face it, opportunities this good just do not happen every day. We are a lucky, lucky city. Or he is

Second, because our illustrious mayor Shari Green appears to have extended an unofficial invitation for little Prince George to visit, especially during the upcoming February 2015 Canada Winter Games. Should the Duke and Duchess ever actually take up this invitation, it would mean the first royal visit since the couple last popped by during their post-wedding international tour. Above and beyond the natural boost to the local economy and our image this would garner, it is very likely the royal family would swing

by UNBC, as one of the larger sites of interest in the city. Meaning, you the student may get a chance to see members of the royal family in person, maybe shake their hand, even. And how cool would that be, really?

So the next time you see coverage of little baby Prince George on the news, or floating across the social media site of your choice, give it the respect it deserves. Because one day, Prince George may be in Prince George.

Laura Mooney Arts Editor

A Rich Asian’s Book Review

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ith a title as blunt as Crazy Rich Asians, one may assume the story beyond the cover would follow suit and be a mindless, fluff-filled, straight-tothe-point plotline. In some respects, it is essentially just as the title states--a story about crazy, rich Asians.

However, as the reader opens the blazingly bright, golden cover adorned with fluorescent pink writing, he/she becomes well informed that this is anything but a simple story.

Author Kevin Kwan begins this extravagant tale with the short introduction of a Chinese family trying to check in to their London hotel late at night, only to be met with extreme racism and judgment from the hotel staff. In response to the crudeness of the staff, the matriarch of the family makes a few phone calls and, soon after, much to the chagrin of the racist hotel manager, purchases the entire hotel. This sets up the entire tone of the novel, with the over the top lavishness only climbing to higher extremes as the story progresses through their son (Nick’s) love affair.

Crazy Rich Asians is the story of Rachel Chu, a young woman who is launched into her Nick’s (her boyfriend’s) secret world of wealth when she is asked to accompany him on a trip to visit his family

in Singapore. Only once she arrives does Rachel realize that Nick’s family is practically royalty, and his world is beyond anything she had imagined. Now she must learn to be a part of it. She is quickly swept up in a frenzy of exquisite dining at exclusive clubs, galas at enormous imperial palaces, and meetings with royalty and high powered politicians from all around the world. On top of all of that, she has to go through meeting Nick’s individual relatives, consisting of three extended families, each wealthier than the last. However, while Rachel is amazed by Nick’s fantastical life, she is also introduced to the much Alexis Rodriguez-Duarte| wordandfilm.com

Arts

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darker side of his family. Conniving relatives, including Nick’s mother, are determined to have Nick marry a girl appropriate to his status. Rachel faces unrelenting cousins focused only on their own amusement and satisfaction, and more inter-family gossip than the worst high school anyone has ever attended. Rachel is forced to figure out a way to not only survive this so-called dream vacation, but also to try maintain her relationship with the man she thought she knew so well. Although Crazy Rich Asians may appear

to be an indulgent, over the top novel purely based on materialism, constant name-dropping, and vanity, when you look below the surface it touches on important issues, such as falling in love with someone outside of your “class system,” old world money versus the inherited, and the role of gossip within a family unit.

One feels genuine emotion for the main characters, Rachel and Nick. Everyone in a relationship has experienced that awkward first encounter with their partner’s parents, everyone has felt that pressure to impress someone more worldly and experienced than they are, and everyone has been the subject of unwanted, hurtful gossip. As the story progresses, the reader really starts to feel sympathy toward Rachel for the immense pressure that she is unwillingly placed under, knowing that she is only suffering because she loves Nick. These same feelings are also extended to Nick. Although he comes from an exceedingly wealthy family, he never comes across as pretentious or snooty, and the reader grows to respect him for avoiding this fate that has befallen many of his cousins and other relatives.

Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians is the ultimate indulgence for anyone who loves extravagance, and wants to escape into a world where the reader is offered an exclusive sneak peek into how of some of the richest (fictional) people in the world live. The perfect endof-summer read, this novel is a great way to get in one last taste of luxury before heading back to reality.

Studio 2880 | PG and District Community Arts Council

Local Artist Seeks New Home Laura Mooney Arts Editor

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his past summer, Prince George’s Studio 2880 showcased the amazingly talented Andrew Mooney’s exhibit, which featured works of art that resembled graffiti and were all created with aerosol paint. Now that the summer exhibit is

coming to a close however, these unique pieces of art are searching for a new home, and UNBC may be a possible contender. The bright pieces would be a welcome addition to the school’s already unique collection of art pieces, and by displaying local art, it provides an excellent way to reach out even more to the community, and show support for our amazing local artists. So now it turns to the students. Would you like to see local art displayed at UNBC? Go to the “Over the Edge Newspaper” Facebook page and let us know!

capitalcitiesmusic.com

Capital Cities: In a Tidal Wave of Mystery Album Review

Laura Mooney Arts Editor

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magine a sound that is upbeat, unexpected, exciting, and yet soothing all at once. A soundtrack to put a true pep in your step, and wake you up from your post- summer hangover for those ungodly early morning classes.

Capital Cities’ debut album, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, combines heavy synth and electronica with the instruments and sounds one typically expects to hear from the purest of indie bands. Comprised of members Ryan Merchant, Sebu Simonian, Manny Quintero, Spencer Ludwig, Nick Merwin, and Channing Holmes, this Los Angeles based indie-electro band creates a familiar and yet strangely hard to describe new sound that comes across as a genre all its own. From the first burst of trumpets intermingling with a synthesizer in the opening track, “Safe and Sound,” to

the eerie choir-esque vocals heard ever so subtly in the background in “I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo,” the band lets the listener know what they stand for, and that they are not following the typical rules when it comes to electronica. The songs weave tales of the struggles that come with true, passionate love and what to do when that love is lost, while still hammering out encouraging notes about branching out in life, going a little wild, and being who you are, as shown through the delightfully contagious song of “Kangaroo Court.” One look at the album’s cover may provide even more

insight to the quirky inner workings of the boys at Capital Cities. Elaborately decorated with tigers in space helmets, winged blue whales, and elephants with boom boxes all floating around in space, one gets the impression that although the band may be writing songs about love and being oneself, they are doing so with a grain of salt and a cheeky sense of humor. So if you do decide to indulge in this unique band, a word of caution: leave plenty of room around you when listening to it in public, because you may break out into a spontaneous dance.

UNBC Life

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CFUR TOP 10 1.

Young North

2.

Trouble Will Find Me

3.

Shaking the Habitual

4.

Our Nature

5.

One More Time Around

(The Paper Kites) (The National) (The Knife)

(Savoir Adore) (Scott Cook)

6.

My Prairie Home (Rae

7.

The Nex t Day

8.

Tales of a Grass Widow

9.

Random Access Memories

10.

Mother Earth

Spoon)

(David Bowie) (CocoRosie) (Daft Punk)

(Brett Wildeman)

For more album reviews, live performances and charts visit cfur.ca

Fraser Hayes CFUR Station Manager

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OOOOOOD MORNING UNBCCCCCCC! We here at CFUR radio would like to welcome all of you to our beautiful school. New or returning students alike can all agree that it is a great place to be, so congratulations on your excellent judgment.

We trust that you all had sun-filled summers complete with campfires, bathing suits, and acoustic guitars.

CFUR is a student and volunteer run community radio station located right here at UNBC. For all you new students, we are in the NUGSS building right beside the Over the Edge office. Our goal is to provide students a platform to build their skills in pretty much any media related field. If you have any interest at all in journalism, radio, TV, music

production, documentaries, business management, grant writing, or the entertainment industry, there is a place for you at CFUR. All of our staff and volunteers are delightfully intelligent, funny, and with aboveaverage looks, so you would likely fit right in. On top of that, local Prince George legends such as Bad Not Cheap, Air Guitar with Greg the Egg, and Rock n’ Soul are broadcast right out of our little slice of UNBC heaven, to you, the radio connoisseur.

On top of all the truly excellent perks, CFUR provides some of the best work experience you will get before graduating. Through CFUR, staff and volunteers have gone on to secure internships and staff positions with the CBC, interview and build relationships with their favorite musicians, sports writers, athletes, and journalists. As an undergrad, this is the best time to build your resume through work and volunteer

Fraser Hayes | CFUR

WELCOME BACK FROM CFUR experience. We are looking for volunteers in our music, programming, and spoken word departments.

Dedicated volunteers have been known to receive free festival passes and tickets to concerts, as well as nacho and beer nights! Why are you not here already? Seriously, come and chat with us. We do not bite and we can figure out the best way to help you with your radio dreams. And hey, no matter what, we have always got a shelf full of free new music just begging to fall into your hot little paws.

THIS.. IS.. .

-SPELLING!

Kick us where it hurts.. Take the -red pen challenge

UNBC Life

therecord.com

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Balanced Acticity in Youth Giridhar Krishnan Sports Editor

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he world in which people reside today is not facing a transition from tradition to technology but rather multiple transitions from technology to better technology. Be it the change from desktop computers to laptops or from PlayStations to Xboxs, a rising concerns is that children are hardly encouraged to play or at some cases don’t find time to fit in.

Although it is argued that the Wii and Xbox controllers stretches the muscles of kids, they cannot really be considered as a replacement to playing a game of baseball or soccer with your friends, as the human connection is greatly missing.

Certainly, multiplayer games allow a team effort in video games, but even then, to experience real emotions as a team is totally different.

UNBC provides a great balance with research labs to work out the mind and the Northern Sports Center with basketball, gym and soccer courts to work out the body. While some have health conscious reasons to visit the Sports Center and others visit out of fear that they may get fat, something to ponder over is to what the future generations at UNBC could be like. Whilst most of us think of greater minds in the upcoming era, the rising fear of the rise of obesity and lack of physical activity too needs to be taken into concern. It is important for the kids who are the potential future candidates at UNBC to stretch their mind and body too.

A lack of real physical activity seems to be greater with each generation, which in turn tells people to focus both on the academic and at the same time not forget the importance of physical fitness for the future generation. Some encouraging signs are parents sending their kids to summer camps, requiring children to stretch their limbs outside, and events like the International Children's Games in

Club Spotlight:

Windsor are a great opportunity for the budding sports person in an Olympic-like competition environment with 450 medals up for grabs and with 1200 athletes from 31 countries. It is a big enough opportunity that should never go missing from the itinerary of the child athletes. Two dozen teens from Waterloo did not miss out, and came in for the event.

Sharing their experience with The Record, the children said they initially were intimidated looking at the size of other athletes, but soon came into the comfort zone realizing all the participants were kids like them. Sport is something which brings in unity and it is of high importance that interested kids are allowed to participate in such events. This will open up a world they were not too sure of bridging people from various countries and culture. Getting to break the biases already built by the culture surrounding them can be broken easily here as kids get to know all of them equal.

As the kids share there may be fellow sportsmen speaking other languages and may look different, but the sport which connects them speaks volumes that cannot be understood by others who did not embrace athletics from a young age. Sport is something which builds character, and shows life in happiness and sadness through victories and defeats. It is important to start exercise routines early to get into shape and build talent and experience for any sport.

The UNBC Political Science Student Association Gerald Pinchbeck VP Finance, PSSA

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ou can follow the PSSA at @UNBCPSSA on Twitter, like their Facebook page UNBC Political Science Student Association to stay updated on their events, or email them at unbcpssa@gmail.com.

It is very rare that you get to sit down one to one with our elected representatives and chat with them... or so you would think.The PSSA has made it their goal to challenge this status quo, especially among students. Last year, they practically broke it with their annual Politicians’ Dinner, which gave members of the community a chance to not only meet City Councillors, but to meet the various provincial candidates as well.

“It blew my mind how many people we had there. The restaurant was packed, and everybody was chatting and having a good time,” said club President Kelley Ware. “I hope we can do that every year we hold this event.”

And that is not the only event the PSSA has hosted. Along with their annual dinner, they have also hosted pub nights on campus, and sold Valentine’s cards from dictators, both of which were successful endeavors for the club.

Kelly Ware | Over the Edge From left to right: Adam Vickers, Jeff Kormos, Chelsea Dunk, Kelley Ware, Gerald Pinchbeck, and Morgan Wright.

All avid members of the PSSA.

These events have always had one important thing in mind: getting students to know what is going on, and to pay attention to the political issues of today.

The PSSA has made it their mission to make sure you, as students, are politically aware and active, and encourage your friends to do so as well. And they have found that a pint of beer here and there can get people talking politics. Getting people out to pub nights encourages political debate; especially when your buddy says he’s a fan of Romney.

For more information on events or about getting involved, follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

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UNBC Timberwolves Kick off preseason Giridhar Krishnan Sports Editor

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he UNBC women’s soccer team started their preseason with a high goals count in their first two matches.

The coaches and players did not seem to place a foot wrong.

The Timberwolves devoured and devastated their opponents with nine goals in two preseason encounters against Grande Prairie Regional College, winning the games 4-3 and 5-4. Coach Andy Cameron deserves credit for this show. It may be hard to pull out the spirits of players from a dull season last year in the Canadian Interuniversity Sports, but it seems as though the boost of 12 returning players this year will allow a smooth season for the female wolves.

media.bclocalnews.com

The coach’s statement summed it all up in a statement to the Prince George Free Press; “we scored more goals on the weekend than we did all last season.” Scoring just six goals in 12 games last season, and now starting the preseason with nine goals in two matches would set grins at the pace of penalty kicks in the face of any coach, and Cameron is no exception.

goals including a hat trick in the 4-3 victory. The coach and support staff can have their collars up as Cameron’s brainwave to move Hall from defense to forward seems to be reaping the rewards. The female Timberwolves are next scheduled to take on the Thompson River University and will be traveling to Kamloops. Hopefully, the Hall/Roy storm continues there too.

The interesting thing to note would be that all the nine goals were scored by players named either Sydney (Sydney Hall and Sydney Wilson) or Sidney (Sidney Roy). Hall scored four

On the other hand the UNBC Timberwolves Men were not disappointing. They finished their five game preseason tour with win loss ratio of 2:3. The loss against Carleton

University was the biggest defeat with the scoreline being 2-0. The other losses were 1-0 to McGill University and 2-1 to Montreal University. The victory count was just one short with a win over Ottawa Fury Football Club and the University of Guelph; both victories were marked with identical scores of 2-1.

It seems like the male wolves need to pull up their socks a little and get into action with a storm of their own. On the whole, the preseason seems to be balanced for men, and women seem to have an awesome start.

New BC Combat Sports Regulations - Reducing Injuries or Reducing Talents?

Giridhar Krishnan Sports Editor

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ritish Columbia now joins with Alberta to be one of the first provinces to regulate combat sports and mixed martial arts. The legislation, Bill S-209, amends the Criminal Code to allow each individual province to grant permission for a "contest between amateur athletes in a combative sport with fists, hands or feet.” “The federal government told the provinces “that it was up to us to make a determination as to which of the amateur combat sports would be legal and how we wanted to deal with those," BC Athletic Commissioner Dave Maedel said in an interview with The Vancouver Sun. BC will now regulate some mixed martial arts like kick boxing, pankration and Muay Thai, while others; wushu, karate, kung fu, grappling, jiu jitsu events, boxing, wrestling, tae kwon do and judo; can take place without regulations and do not need permission from the Athletic Commissioner.

Initially it seems a really healthy sign that fewer injuries will occur with the new regulations, and fighters can feel a sense of safety. It can be seen that this applies for only amateur mixed martial arts. It is expected that amateur fighters can be facing a lot of issues like lack of safety gear and also lack of professional training.

It seems a trend that by restricting some of the moves which are more likely to cause serious damage to the fighters, these amateur fighters can be saved from the bad bruises of the big fists.

The other side of the story seems to pose a bit of worry. As some amateur fighters who had fought earlier are really comfortable with the old rules, regulating the sport also regulates their moves. Some fighters may look to move out of Western Canada as the regulations right now are in Alberta and British Columbia alone. This can lead to loss of some of the talented amateur fighters as they move.

The other concern is that the fighters would start their careers with these amateur

vancouversun.com

fights with a set of regulations. Athletes would then become fighters who get into the professional level and there may feel handicapped with a new set of rules with unrestricted moves. This could mean amateur champions can be made to look like paupers at the professional level because they have to relearn how to fight with different regulations.

Looking at the whole picture there is nothing to be blamed as the provincial government has done this in concern with the safety of their participants, as these sports look highly likely to cause injury. On the other hand the worry of talents leaving the province and transition to professional level is justified too.

To tackle this does not seem to be an easy task. A research into the past of number of injuries to amateur fighters could give a better insight and a possible head start. On one hand, it is a positive feeling that amateur fighters are safer and less likely to get injured, but on the other hand, hopefully it does not become negative with the worries of transitions and possibility of talents leaving the province. An interesting future waits for combat sports in British Columbia, and for now we can only hope it is for the better.

Sports

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Canadian Cricket on the Rise

Milos Roanic on Day Four of 2013 US Open Matthew Stockman | Getty Images

espncricinfo.com

Netherlands Outplayed Giridhar Krishnan Sports Editor

Glimmer of Hope for Canadian Tennis Giridhar Krishnan Sports Editor

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he connecting distance between the United States and Canada via the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara is only 492 meters, but there are still miles to travel for the maple leaf to raise sky high in the US tennis open. It would not be unrealistic to imagine the likes of Canadian hopefuls like Milos Raonic and Vasek Popisil to go all the way and get glory against the likes of US players Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal.

Tennis in general, compared with other sports, is a sport which focuses on individuals. There are doubles and mixed doubles, but even then the focus is at the maximum on two individuals.

Even though it is highly necessary that the coach, staff and players work as a team, on the whole focus is at the individual level. It is not a team sport like soccer or basketball, which require high levels of team coordination. This is one of the reasons that the elite league of tennis stars be it the Pete Sampras-Andre Agassi era or the current era of Nadal-Federer last much longer compared to other sports. So it will be a great transition period for Canadian tennis if hopes like Raonic, Pospisil, Eugenie Bouchard and Frank

Dancevic get going at their best and make it to the semifinals or at least the quarterfinals. If one of these athletes makes it to the quarter final it may well mark the era of Canadian tennis stars.

Everything needs a beginning. It is a known fact that no Canadian has ever won the US open. Thinking that way will not take these tennis players anywhere.

Rather, thinking that Dancevic, Raonic and Bouchard made it past the first round gives a glimmer of hope for the maple leaf. Pospisil’s fighting loss in a humdinger of a match against Brazilian qualifier Rogerio Dutra (scoreline:4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (9), 6-2, 7-6 (10)) was a disappointment, despite discussion of close calls going against Pospisil. It is still a pride to lose with the head held high and the mighty fighting spirit of the maple leaf region.

On August 29th, Raonic took a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Pablo Andujar, advancing to the third round.

Let us hope the best is delivered this year from the Canadians in action at the US open and they mark the glimmer of hope to start a Canadian era at the grand slams after the SwissSpaniard (Nadal-Federer era).

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anadian cricket seems to get going on the right track. The intercontinental cup 2011-2013 saw the Canadian cricket team register their first ever victory (over the Netherlands).

The Netherlands were outplayed on all three departments: batting, bowling and fielding by their Canadian counterparts.

Netherlands were bowled out for 164 by the left-right bowling attack of Raza-ur-Rehman and Jeremy Gordon who took four wickets apiece. Raza-urRehman was pretty much devastating just conceding eight runs in 8.3 overs with four maidens and taking four wickets.

Canada pretty much set the tone for the entire match in the first innings they played, posting a mammoth total of 436. The hero of the innings was Ruvindu Gunasekera with a knock of 150. Gunasekera was wasting no time scoring 150 of just 173 balls with a strike rate of 86.70. The innings comprised of 21 fours and 2 sixes.

Gunasekera was well supported by half centuries from Jimmy Hansara and Salman Nazar.

With a lead of 272 runs Netherlands were staring at a likely innings defeat at 45/3. Then a ray of hope came in the innings of Eric Szwarczynski and

a partnership with Daan Van Bunge.

There was a knock of 75 unbeaten runs out of the blue from the tail-ender Pieter Seelaar. Even though the Netherlands fought well in the second innings, all they could come up with was a score of 336 and the Canadians just required 65 runs to win the match, which was achieved with much ease.

The callback to captain Ashish Bagai to lead in the remaining World Cricket League Championships seems to be worthy now with this confident victory over the Netherlands in the intercontinental cup. Two wins were seeming likely against the Netherlands.

Unfortunately the first match was called off due to a wet outfield. After winning the toss, Canada opted to field first and the Netherlands were bowled out for 143 in 27.5 overs missing to play a ball in their stipulated quota of 28 overs. Canada was going strong at 62 for 1 in 10 overs and seemed cruising to victory but the wet outfield resulted in calling off the play. It will be interesting to see what Canada can come up to counter both the weather, and the Netherlands, and bring Canada a victory.

Club Calendar: Club days : September 11&12 Shinerama: September 14 Club’s package due date: September 16 Club’s hearing : September 23-27 Club’s packages available in the NUGSS office and online.

For more information, contact nugss-studentaffairs@unbc.ca

Welcome

15 Dr. George Iwama | UNBC

From George Dear Students,

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exceptionally fine this year, so I hope you took every chance to play as well as work. I know that for you graduate students, summer is a chance for research.

I trust this was successful, adding to your important thesis work.

If you are returning to UNBC, welcome back! It is great to see you back again. We've missed you. I hope your summer has been rewarding in more ways than just monetary. The weather in BC has been

Remember, this is your community. I hope you will reach out to someone who may seem like they need a bit of help or encouragement, as much as you might reach out for a hand yourself. We all need that

Alden Chow | NUGSS

elcome to the University of Northern British Columbia for all of you who have arrived for the first time at UNBC! For those of you in Residence, there is a chance we had a chat during this year’s move-in welcome. It is a real pleasure for me to welcome you to the best small university in Canada (this side of the Maritimes, if you want to be technical. See MacLean's magazine). I hope your experience at UNBC will be a rich one, learning and experiencing new things and making lifelong friends.

We have over 10,000 alumni around the world now, and many of them have shared with me how wonderful their experience was when they were in your shoes. It was not always easy, but the alumni reached out and found the help and support they needed. I hope you will follow their example and as a result will find your learning experience with us a memorable accomplishment and stepping stone to each of your professional careers.

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elcome to another school year at the University of Northern British Columbia.

The UNBC Northern Undergraduate Student Society (NUGSS) is the official undergraduate student society here at UNBC. All full and part time undergraduate students attending UNBC at all campuses are

Take care; do say hello when you see me in the hallway. I'll do the same. Let us have a great year together.

George PS: Please come out to the games, they're really fun.

And it is a real boost to the teams to see you in the stands. GO TIMBERWOLVES!

Alden Chow: NUGSS Welcome Back members of NUGSS. NUGSS represents you to the university, including various committees, as well as to all levels of government.

NUGSS has accomplished several initiatives over the years. The Northern University Student Centre is student owned space with study and meeting rooms, and houses the Thirsty Moose Pub. In addition, NUGSS has also been working with other student societies from across the province to advocate on issues affecting post-secondary students, such as student debt.

Student debt is at an all time high in British Columbia and across Canada. We need to find ways to work together to lobby the government to address student debt.

Dear Students,

from time to time.

This year, the NUGSS agenda books have been redesigned with full colour at a lower cost than previous years. The 2013/2014 agenda books are also printed on 100% recycled paper with 100% vegetable based inks to help do our part to make UNBC be Canada’s Green University.

NUGSS will be hosting a number of events in September 2013, including: Backyard BBQ - Friday, September 6, 2013: NUGSS will be offering a free Backyard BBQ lunch at noon beside the NUSC. From 7pm to 10:30pm, NUGSS will be hosting the annual Backyard BBQ with The Wild

as the opener and the Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker (USS) as the headlining act. Doors open at 6pm beside the NUSC. xzClubs Days - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 and Thursday, September 12, 2013: All UNBC clubs will have tables set up for Clubs Days in the Wintergarden for the entire two days. Feel free to check them out or join a club.

Shine Day – Saturday, September 14, 2013: As part of our Shinerama campaign at UNBC, NUGSS organizes this annual event to fundraise for Cystic Fibrosis research and treatment. During the day, hundreds of UNBC students volunteer their time to shine shoes, wash cars, and collect bottles throughout Prince George.

Also in September, NUGSS will be seeking student volunteers for the Events Planning Committee (EPC), Monetary Affairs Commission (MAC), and the Northern Transportation Improvement Commission (NTIC).

I encourage you to visit or contact us to learn more on how to get involved in your student society.

Have a great year and drop by the office anytime.

Sincerely, Alden Chow President UNBC Northern Undergraduate Student Society nugss-president@unbc.ca

Coffee Break

K K

elley’s “ orner ”

Kelley Ware Finance Manager

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Shelley Termuende | Over the Edge

o you are new to university, huh?

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready for what the year can bring.

Maybe you are a little nervous or maybe even quite excited. You may be ready to dive head-first into the university experience and all that comes with it. Maybe you have already thought about clubs and organizations to join. If that is the case, you deserve a high-five. More likely, however, you are exactly

where the rest of us were was in our first year: thinking that it is in your best interest to focus completely on your studies and wait a year or two before joining clubs or volunteering. After all, you have plenty of time, right? Is that not sort of thing best left for when you have more experience? This type of thinking is common, but it is not exactly accurate. University clubs and organizations do not detract from the university experience; they enhance it.

I stumbled into university clubs quite by accident. When I was in first year I had no intention of joining anything until I had at least one year of schooling under my belt. I was new, did not really know anyone in my program and decided to focus wholly on my studies. In early October, however, I ran into a girl I met at some inter-high school meeting once or twice. We talked a little and I found out about a multi-disciplinary meet and greet with the Political Science, International Studies, and History departments.

Thinking it was a good idea to meet my professors so I could stand out a little bit, I decided to attend. One of the people introducing the event was the president of the Political Science Student Association (PSSA) on campus. Also attending was my new friend, whom I had spoken to earlier.

At the end of the meet and greet, we talked a little before she almost literally pushed me into that young man who had coordinated the event.

He told me about his club’s weekly meetings and, because I was available, I decided to check them out. Now, I only intended to try a single meeting, thinking that it would not be something I would be interested in. What actually happened, however, is that I sat down and immediately the members looked at each other, exclaimed “We have a First Year!” and made me First Year Representative. I was slightly stunned, worried about what I managed to get myself into. That moment was a turning point in my university career and one of the best things that could have happened to me. I am now entering my second year as president of the PSSA and I wholeheartedly say that my experience at UNBC is many times better than it would have been if I had not been a member of that club.

You see, clubs do not simply offer a good reference for scholarships or a line on a resume (although that is also a good reason to join, extracurricular activities do set you apart from the flood of applications), they can also function as a shortcut into understanding exactly how UNBC works. Here is a chance to meet students a year or two ahead of you that have already gone through what you are currently going through. These people can give insight into UNBC that you might not have realized naturally until you are several years into school. They can talk to you about professors, classes to take or avoid,

things to do and see, et cetera. They can also become the best friends you have ever had. Most of my university friends are people I met in the PSSA or people I met through my new friends in the club and so on. Clubs are another way of getting yourself known in the university with either other students or professors. Believe me, becoming involved is one of the best things you can do with your time here.

There is a wide variety of things you can do or join in UNBC as well.

There are clubs that lean towards the academic: from Political Science to Math and Physics to Anthropology to Nursing. However, it does not end there. You can also join clubs that focus on non-academic interests such as the Nerdy Gaming Club, fencing, photography, dancing, and others.

Interested in social activism? Try WUSC or Free the Children. Like writing? Why not contribute to Over the Edge?

(After all, you are currently reading it) More physically inclined? Intramural sports are quite popular. Whatever your interests are, there is an activity or club there for you and they are always excited to gain new membership. We definitely do not bite… at least, not that I know of.

So seriously, get involved! Join a club, volunteer for NUGSS, or write for Over the Edge. There is nothing but awesome experiences waiting for you if you do!