VOL. 3 ISSUE 07 | MOVEMBER 16 2010
THE MOVEMBER ISSUE
GOODBYE DEAR GORDO! P 02
WORLD FAMOUS MUSTACHES P 06
SCUBA DIVING IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA P 10
NEWS AND CULTURE FOR THE STUDENTS OF KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
page two | Movember 16 2010 | vol. 3 issue 07
NEWS & POLITICS
BC POLITICS
The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca
AROUND KWANTLEN
The creation of 25,000 seats for undergraduates and 2,500 for graduates, as well as doubling the number of doctors being trained, are positive contributions that Campbell has made to post-secondary education. However,... Campbell’s legacy for students is a negative one.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT KWANTLEN
Campbell’s divided post-secondary legacy Under the outgoing premier, universities thrived while student debt rose
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ARSHY MANN THE UBYSSEY
VANCOUVER (CUP) — On higher education, Gordon Campbell has been a boon for universities, but a bane for student finances. The soon-to-be ex-premier of British Columbia has had ties to the University of British Columbia for his entire life, besides simply representing the area in the B.C. legislature for 14 years. He was born in the area and his father was assistant dean of medicine His public life has enabled the post-secondary system to grow, raising the profile of many institutions in the province. Ending the NDP’s six-year freeze on tuition rates meant universities have had the funding to invest heavily on capital projects on campuses, especially for research-intensive institutions such as UBC and Simon Fraser University. “If you tour any of the post-secondary institutions in the province, you’ll see a significant new capital infrastructure in the areas of research and academic spaces,” said Blair Littler, vice president of the Research Universities Council of British Columbia. “Internationally and nationally, the research institutions have been recognized. Right now you have three — University of Victoria, SFU and UBC — all in the top 200, according to the Times Education Supplement,” he added. “University of Northern British Columbia, on top of that, has been recognized for its size as one of the top research institutions in B.C.” Littler went on to say that the creation of 25,000 seats for undergraduates and 2,500 for graduates, as well as doubling the number of doctors being trained, are also positive contributions that Campbell has made to post-secondary education. Under the Liberals, six colleges became universities and two new private universities — University Canada West and Quest University — opened. These policies, however, have done little to boost his reputation with students.
“I think if you talk to students they’re very unhappy about the increase in student tuition,” said Dawn Black, the NDP’s critic for advanced education. “It’s more than doubled over the last 10 years under the leadership of Premier Campbell and the B.C. Liberal party. Student debt has increased under his leadership, as have the interest rates that are charged on student loans, so I’m not sure he would get a passing grade on access to education.” When the Campbell government decided to end the tuition freeze, students objected fiercely. In March 2002, over 400 UBC students forced their way into an old administration building on campus, many spending the night, to protest tuition increases. “We, the students of UBC, have taken the president’s office,’ began a cry that was repeated by the hundreds of
ILLUSTRATION BY INDIANA JOEL/THE UBYSSEY
students who filled the entire first floor of the building,” said a 2002 story in The Ubyssey. “Students called on the university to conduct an inquiry into the benefits of tuition increases and demanded that the [board of governors] and UBC president Martha Piper lobby the provincial government for increased education funding.” Campbell also cut student grant programs in 2004 and again in 2009, and B.C.’s interest rate on student loans remains one of the highest in the country. “The cuts to the B.C. student grants program and the cuts to non-repayable financial aid [are] what’s put British Columbian students’ level of borrowing much higher than the Canadian average,” said Black. Campbell’s parting gift for post-secondary education was to divide colleges and universities under different ministerial portfolios. Colleges were placed under the newly formed Ministry of Regional Economic and Skills Development, while universities now fall under the Ministry for Science and Universities, another new portfolio. Ida Chong, the new minister for science and universities, justified the decision by saying that “science and universities are really going to be an important part of our economic future going forward.” However, Black said that few people have understood the justification for the decision. “I’ve met with some of the faculty associations and I’ve met with some of the student associations and nobody seems to be able to figure out what the rationale is. B.C. is the only jurisdiction in Canada that has done this split,” she said. “Some people are concerned that it’s a way of hiding off the colleges and the applied programs and perhaps increasing tuition fees on the university side.” Black said that Campbell’s legacy for students is a negative one. “Education is restricted more and more [for] ordinary families,” she said. “[Students] fear going on to university [and] coming out with such a high debt load.”
NOV
17
2010
Celebrity Guest Speaker - Micheal Smith WHERE: Surrey Campus - Conference Centre WHEN: 10:30am-11:00am WHAT: Attention all foodies! Food Network celebrity chef and author, Michael Smith, will be stopping by Kwantlen. Come check out his lecture and live demonstrations!
NOV
Music @ Midweek
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WHERE: Langley Campus Auditorium
2010
WHEN: 12:15pm-1:00pm WHAT: Swing by the Langley Campus Auditorium and hear your fix from Kwantlen’s musically inclined. This week will feature Kwantlen’s woodwind assemble. Best part: it’s free!
NOV
18
2010
Club Zone - Kwantlen Student Zone WHERE: Surrey Main Atrium WHEN: : 10:00am-4:00pm WHAT: Thinking of starting a club at Kwantlen? Drop by Club Zone and learn everything you know to run a successful club at Kwantlen.
NOV
EconCafe @Grassroots Cafe
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WHERE: Surrey Campus
2010
WHEN: 4:00pm WHAT: Swing by the Grassroots cafe to have your weekly fill of economics talk with a Kwantlen prof. This discussion this week is “The Economics function of dueling.”
NOV
25 2010
Movember Gala @ Night School Thursdays WHERE: Grassroots Lounge WHEN: : 7:00pm WHAT: Come out and sport your epic ‘stash at night school Thursdays!
NEWS & POLITICS
www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner
POLITICAL COLUMN
>>
SPEAKER SERIES
Meet the Kwantlen Political Science Society (KPSS). They have hijacked our political column. Every week they will talk about a different political issue and explain how it relates to you. Every week will feature a guest columnist. Check it out.
Opinion: An examination into why the new drinking and driving laws are an attack on our civil liberties I THOMAS FALCONE
British Columbia’s new drinking and driving laws have received a lot of media attention over the past few months. Much has been made about the detrimental effects the new laws have had on the bar and restaurant industries in B.C., and many columnists have chimed about how the new laws have affected their lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, not enough has been said about how these laws are an abhorrent affront to our civil liberties. Under the new laws, those with a “breathalyzer” score between 0.05 and 0.08 will be summarily found guilty and punished by the police without any due process. People who score within this range are issued an immediate three-day driving ban, $450 in penalties and fees, and their vehicles will be impounded for three-days. No judge, no trial, no jury, no innocent-before-proven guilty. There isn’t even a judicial recourse for people the police suspend on the spot. All people guilty of the unspeakable crime of enjoying a glass of wine with dinner can do is file an appeal with the superintendent of motor vehicles – a bureaucrat, not a judge. The new laws contain other equally disturbing new regulations. It is interesting to note that a recent BC.. Supreme Court ruling has cast considerable doubt on the accuracy and reliability of the “breathalyzer”
vol. 3 issue 07 | Movember 16 2010 | page three
devices. Police in Australia have gone so far as to officially recognize that breathalyzers generally have a 20 per cent margin of error in their readings. But if we dig a little deeper, we’ll find that these new laws are only the surface of a deeper problem in our society: the gradual erosion of our liberties in the name of public safety or protecting “communities.” While some recent frightening developments (such as antiterrorism legislation, proposed ID cards etc.) have received considerable public scrutiny, there are some grossly illiberal things we have come to accept in our society without much thought. Let’s consider the example of police roadblocks. We are bombarded with images that
Justice William Joseph Brennan wrote in his dissenting opinion in Michigan Dept. of State Police v. Sitz, “That stopping every car might make it easier to prevent drunken driving...is an insufficient justification for abandoning the requirement of individualized suspicion.” It is most unfortunate that neo-prohibitionist organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving win the public opinion war by using sub-rational, emotional messaging and images. But the images of the nightmarish totalitarian experiences of the 20th century, all of which were inspired by the idea of promoting a certain idea about what is good in life over everything else, seem to me to be much more terrifying than a picture of a smashed car. Maybe those who take the
Under the new laws, those with a “breathalyzer” score between 0.05 and 0.08 will be summarily found guilty and punished by the police without any due process portray these arbitrary roadblocks as the heroic frontlines in the crusade against impaired driving, but after second consideration questions begin to emerge. Do we not enjoy a constitutional right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure? On what grounds should the police be allowed to arbitrarily hassle people at random checkpoints? As former US Supreme Court
often unpopular position of defending liberty against the ever-present threat of tyranny should more often use vivid imagery to remind the Canadian public of the kind of horror we face if we continue to surrender our freedoms for a false sense of security. Thomas Falcone is pursuing a double minor B.A. in political science and philosophy.
The Brown Bag Talks feature guest lecture This week, the Brown Bag Talks - a new series hosted by the Philosophy department, featured guest lecture, Dr. Evan Tiffany. Read on to hear his thoughts on the dilemna of moral choice. I KARI MICHAELS
Doctor Evan Tiffany, a philosophy professor at SFU, was the latest speaker for Kwantlen Philosophy Department’s “Brown Bag Talk” series on Nov. 3. “Condemned to be Free: Morality and the Paradox of Existential Commitment” was aimed at discussing the quandary of moral choices. Tiffany explained his view as ‘radical pluralism’, suggesting the traditional systems devised to gage what is right and wrong fails to recognize and account for the intricacies in our lives. As asserted by Tiffany, the singular focus of deontological and consequential ethics does not grasp the overwhelming complexities effecting our decisions. Further, pluralism (a combination of consequentialism and deontologism) is not a broad enough perspective to encompass the human experience. Tiffany, therefore, offers us ‘radical pluralism’, a view intended to capture the complex qualities of who we are. He thinks we must “live morality,” as moral events are context based and require we regard not only consequences and our humanity, but also our
profession, our place within our community, our emotional state during the event, and other aspects that form us. Tiffany labels these our ‘platforms’, taken from Elisah Millgram’s work, and claims by understanding how we wish to align these platforms will aid in which moral decision we commit ourselves to, allowing us to maintain our moral integrity. Tiffany explains, “we are condemned to be moral,” playing on the famous quote by renowned existentialist Jean Paul Sartre, “we are condemned to be free.” Tiffany stresses that we are responsible for the decisions we make and, moreover, we must make some decision, even if it is to step away from morality. ‘Radical pluralism’ and its embracement of the platforms found in our lives allow us to account for the multifaceted nature of our mind and behaviours. About The Brown Bag Talks: Dr.’s Patrick Findler and Colin Ruloff organize a philosophical lecture that brings in guest speakers to discuss interesting and modern ideas. Previous discussion topics include: “Are Video Games Works of Art?” and “Promises, promises: Can you obligate yourself to have sex with someone?.”
DIWALI FESTIVAL
In Photos: Diwali comes to Kwantlen
Diwali came to Kwantlen on Nov.2-5 and students got to experience the festival of lights first hand. Music, dancing, henna tattoos, turban tying and food were offered to any students wanting to submerge themselves in the traditional festival. MAE VELASCO/THE RUNNER
page four | Movember 16 2010 | vol. 3 issue 07
SPORTS
The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca
EAGLE SOCCER-WOMEN
Deliverance at the weekend that mattered the most
>> I
KYLE BENNING/THE RUNNER
Kwantlen’s women’s soccer team maintained their title at the 2010 Provincials.
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CHELSEA JEWELL CONTRIBUTOR
The weekend that mattered the most was upon us. A weekend where the five best women’s soccer teams from the BCCAA were welcomed to the Eagles nest in Surrey, British Columbia for the claiming of the provincial title 2010. Quest University, UBCO, Vancouver Island University, Langara College and home team, Kwantlen Polytechnic, were welcomed to the brand new turf to claim the prize of the gold medal and a trip to Edmonton for the national championships in November. The Kwantlen Eagles were quickly approached by Quest University on the opening day, Fri. Oct. 29. With a quick start, the Eagles were up 1-0 in the opening nine minutes, with a goal scored by number 10, Shanay Sangha. This goal lead to an uproar in the crowd and sent the Eagles into action amidst a side by side game with rivals TRU and Langara College. With easy goals in both the 22 minute and 42 minute, the Eagles managed to walk off the pitch at half time with a three goal advantage. Following a stern lockerroom session, the Eagles approached the field with a mind set that there were no guarantees until the blow of the whistle in the ninetieth minute. With a fast paced, communicative field and passion up front, the Eagles sent Quest packing with a dominant five-to-nothing final. With such a quick break with game one, the Eagles were over the top excited. With one game down, the next seemed that much more enticing. The Eagles were to face the VIU
Mariners – those of which they had scraped by in regular season to tie the game in the eight-third minute. After hearing of VIU’s “ultimate plan” proclamation on the Island News, Kwantlen was ready to justify this claim on the soccer field. With precise decisions, a bright sunny day, and the spirit of the twentywomen squad roaring to go – the Eagle’s scored in the third minute, with a sharp header off of right back number seven, Nicole Gibbons. Wanting to finish the game early, Sangha launched a ball into the back of the net again in a minute 13, giving the Eagles a two nothing advantage for half time. This was not enough, as the Eagles felt embarrassed by such public accusations. Kwantlen now had a plan to finish the game off to head into the finals with a strong lead. One minute into the second half, freshman forward Kathleen Gratz rocketed a ball past the VIU keeper, soaring the lead to three nothing. Finally, in the 60 minute, VIU scored an own goal to push the lead to 4-0 Kwantlen – thus proving that the ultimate plan broke down with the attack from above, making VIU the inescapable prey from the ever-so-determined Eagles. Side by side with Langara and UBCO, awaiting confirmation of an opponent in the finals, Kwantlen questioned as to whether it would be a repeat of the birds of prey in the finals – Langara vs. Kwantlen, Falcons vs. Eagles. Sure enough, in overtime, Langara scores a last minute goal to secure a spot in the finals for their second consecutive year. Finals. Falcons vs. Eagles. Halloween afternoon, on the
center field amongst fans, family, friends and coaches. All awaiting the blow of the whistle, and the start of the game. Eagles in white Falcons in green. Tensions are rising and nerves are about to burst. The drive for the game is in fifth gear. With the blow of the whistle, the Eagles immediately pressured the ball, taking shots from all over the eighteen yard box. A sudden slip by Langara defence and the Eagles had their first of the game, now in less than two minutes thanks to Sangha. The Eagles were then rewarded one more time by midfielder Tara Makrigiannis on a low shot on the Langara keeper. These goals slowly deteriorated the Falcons, swooping them to the halftime, down two goals. With only forty five minutes left, the Eagles needed to continue their work ethic to ensure their victory. “No Sacrifice, no Victory” claims the famous movie, Transformers. It stands correct. Ninety minutes of play had surpassed, and one minute of extra time was in addition – the Eagles had succeeded in defending their title of Provincial Champions. Winning their second title in two consecutive years, the bench swarmed the field in acknowledgment of the end of extra time. The atmosphere was ecstatic, with red and black everywhere, horns blowing, people clapping and cheering and Kwantlen soaring above all expectations. Claiming top Forward, Most Valuable Player and Top Defender, First in the Province and a trip to Nationals, the Kwantlen Eagles had surpassed the expectations set by everyone in the community.
Meet Kyle. He likes writing about sports. He also believes in a no-holds-bar approach when talking about it. Beware, it’s time for ‘Eagles Watch.’
KYLE BENNING SPORTS BUREAU CHIEF
The Kwantlen women’s soccer team picked up their second consecutive provincial title. Those are the only two banners up in the gym right now, but at least one Eagles’ team has tasted glory. The women have had to adjust to a new coach, but at the provincials, it looked like they had played under Gordon Smith for years. In their three provincial matches, the Eagles scored 11 times and conceded none. Their goal difference proves that this team deserves to be fighting for a national title. Playing three days on the trot is difficult. And the fact that the Eagles managed to beat Vancouver Island University on Saturday, a squad who had a first-round bye, was a positive sign. Something that worked in their favour was the home support. Kwantlen hosted the tournament, which was played at Newton Athletic Park, plenty of fans cheered on the Eagles. Even though they didn’t finish at the top of their division, the Eagles had their best season finishing with eight wins, one draw and three losses. After the Eagles won their semifinal game against VIU, I asked Smith what his game plan would be if his team had to play the UBCO Heat in the final. Kwantlen struggled against the Heat this season, losing two of their three games to the side that finished undefeated and were ranked first in the province entering the championship. Some might say that the Eagles lucked out because they didn’t have to play the strongest team. I disagree with that. If the Heat were the strongest team in this tournament,
they wouldn’t have taken their semifinal match against Langara so lightly. Rookie keeper Melina Gomez, skipper Brittany McNeil and star striker Shanay Sangha were named in the BCCAA First Team All-Stars. The captain also won the Best Defender award after being very solid at the back throughout the entire tournament. Shanay Sangha won the Best Forward and Most Valuable Player awards. She can read the game very well and seems to fit in perfectly just behind the striker. I am sure the women will be looking to improve on their bronze medal from last year’s national championship at this year’s tournament in Edmonton. One major talking point over the weekend of the championship was the unfinished stand on the new pitch. I overheard so many conversations about the “stadium” not being complete. Personally, I think it is something that makes the entire university look unprepared. One man was talking about how we knew that we were going to host the tournament this year, so there is no excuse to not have everything complete on time. And I, for one, have to agree with him. The main reason Kwantlen hosted the provincials was because of the new field. One thing that would have made more sense is if the construction on the field was complete before Kwantlen decided to host the provincials, or if construction began sooner. Hopefully this is something that the university learns from and takes into consideration for future events.
THE RUNNER PRESENTS
PUB N I G H T Come have a burger and a beer with the Runner at Central City Pub and have a chance to win some door prizes and hang with some writer types. All proceeds go to sending our hardworking contributors and editors to the Canadian University Press’s national conference in Montreal. WHERE: CENTRAL CITY PUB 13450 102ND AVE., SURREY WHEN: NOVEMBER 29 FROM 5:30 ONWARDS COST: $16 A TICKET INCLUDES BURGER AND A BEER
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vol. 3 issue 07 | Movember 16 2010 | page five
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MOVEMBER
page six | Movember 16 2010 | vol. 3 issue 07
MOVEMBER
The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca
GROAT IN THE SACK
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Ride the mustache...train This is Jeff Groat. He’s the Runner’s sex columnist. He has only one qualification for the job: his last name sounds like a dirty word. That’s good enough for us.
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JEFF GROAT LIFESTYLE BUREAU CHIEF
The Tom Selleck: “I’m way cooler than your dad, and your mom knows it.”
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Here are what certain types of groomed looks say about you:
f you’re wondering what that dirty thing is going around that you just can’t quite put your finger on, it’s Movember. Despite what you may think about it, Movember isn’t an excuse to let your greasy ‘stache sprout to sexual-predator-type creepiness. If you couldn’t grow one in October, you probably shouldn’t try to grow one in November. But for those guys who are graced with the perfect cocktail of hormonal balance, make sure you go for a look that suits your own unique style and personality.
The John Lennon: “ Razors are just another way for the man to oppress the masses, man.” The Charles Manson: “Can you do me a favour?” The Freddie Mercury: “I’m glamorous and manly all at the same time.” The Stalin: “Puttin’ the ‘dick’ in ‘dictator.” The A.J. McLean: “Yeah, I was a Backstreet Boy. Yeah, I had a goatee. Wanna fuck?”
The Charles Darwin/Karl Marx: “Philosophizin’ to some sick beats on the gramophone.” The Joaquin Phoenix: I’m a pretentious bastard who thinks having a beard makes me an ‘artist.’ Whatever that is...” The Robin Williams: “My arms are hairier than most men’s faces.” The Mr. T: “I sported a beard and a Mohawk in the ‘80s. That’s before you faux-hawk guidos were even born.” The Confucius: “Men’s natures are alike, it is their [beards] that carry them far apart.”
Who made this mustache famous? (answers at the bottom)
MOVEMBER
Top ten most memorable mustaches
Ten - Burt Reynolds Our Generation might know him as “Turd Ferguson” but Burt Reynolds and his beefy hunk of ‘70s mustache captured our mothers’ hearts in “Smokey and the Bandit” and won our fathers’ respect in “Deliverance.” It seemed that Burt was the mustache pioneer during most of the ‘70s. His rugged good looks and no BS attitude put the straight shootin’ movie star in our number ten position. Nine - Adolf Hitler This evil dictator’s juxtaposed appearance has been the subject of media ridicule for decades; and rightly so. It seems slightly odd to me that the same man, who once delivered rage filled red faced political speeches, would have such a hilariously ridiculous cartoon of a moustache. Without a doubt this little black patch of hair is probably the most widely recognized moustaches of all time and for this reason it takes our ninth spot. Eight - Hal Johnson Even though he has been sans
facial hair for many years, Canadians will never forget growing up with this Body Break guru’s signature ebony moustache. With his short fitness commercials based on the premise of “Keeping fit and having fun,” Hal Johnson’s mustache evoked the comforting kindness of your father’s moustache which eventually won our hearts during short commercial breaks that fell between our Saturday morning cartoons. Seven - Mario Although his mustache was created by a bunch of Japanese animators, the very Italian Mario from the popular video game, Mario Brothers definitely gets a spot in our mustached list. This chubby little plumber was usually fighting King Koopa or saving that whiney mushroom Toad. He seemed invincible and carefree but similar to the biblical hero Samson, would all his glory even exist without his winning lip hair? Six - Tom Selleck Not unlike his mustachioed predecessor Burt Reynolds, Mr. Magnum P.I. takes the number eight slot, and injects it with 80’s television show charisma and massive quantities of sex appeal. Even though he may not be on our generation’s “Hottie List”, also like Burt Reynolds he got the moms all hot and bothered with his flattering tropical tan and Hawaiian shirt. His moustache
3. Salvador Dali
4. Prince (or the artist formerly known as...)
W
hether you call it a soup strainer, trash stash, crumb catcher, push broom or nose bug, for centuries the moustache has been a badge of honor for many a manly man. It has prowess, dignity and makes whomever sporting it look like either a bad ass or a pervert. Either way I have chosen to give credit where I feel credit is due, and in lieu of “Movember” (the annual month long event held during November designed to raise awareness for prostate cancer) I have decided to pay homage to the nose tickling wonder that is, the mustache. Now I can probably assume what many of you are thinking out there: is she crazy? With so many breathtaking mustaches out there how can you only choose ten? And to that, I declare that many painstaking hours have been dedicated to this hairy quest. I have thumbed through various journals, blogs and articles, as well as consulted experts in the facial hair field to come up with this highly supported and credible top ten list of the most unforgettable lip dragons of all time. The contenders have been judged on three variables; creativity, awe inspiration and originality. Prepare to brace yourself for one of the most epic moustache battles of all time. Some are terrifying, some
you can barely look at without exploding, while others inspire the clouds to part and rain pure sunshine down on all who come in arms reach of its unbridled holiness; having said that, without further ado I present you with the ten most memorable moustaches of all time. Enjoy!
seemed to be the perfect accoutrement to Grecian 5 hairstyle and megawatt dimples. Five - Salvador Dali This flamboyant artist’s love of everything that is gilded and excessive, probably contributed to the outrageous moustache he often sported. Dali is formally known for his striking surrealist images of warped melting clocks and for his unusual and grandiose behavior. With its incredibility long vertical edges that resemble vanilla beans, I would have to give this mustache extra points for originality. Four - John Waters Unless you are a movie buff, like me, many of you might not be familiar with this perverse film maker, or his mustache for that matter. I can assure you all that this is a mustache that might not be as loud as all the others, but it does make its mark. The subtleties of this pencil thin upper lip line win large points for creativity. Sometimes it’s not how much you have, but it’s what you do with what you have. Whether that makes sense or not, I welcome this off the cuff movie maker in our number four spot. Three - Frida Kahlo Unlike all the other contenders my guess is this mustache is without much intent and despite that small detail it still is a worthy and respected opponent. Frida Kahlo was
1. Hercule Poirot 2. Burt Reynolds
CARLIE AUCLAIR HEALTH BUREAU CHIEF
a Mexican artist, and is celebrated for her surrealist work as well as widely respected by feminists for her uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form (Ya I‘d say so!). As the only woman on this list of alpha males, Frida makes the list for her fearless pioneering into the taboo and embarrassing world of female facial hair. Two - Albert Einstein As we grow closer to number one, we see that brilliance has emerged in our number two position. As many of you know Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist, philosopher and author who is widely regarded as one of the most influential and well known scientists of all time. He also had a bushy walrus style mustache that complimented his even crazier head of hair. It makes you wonder if he really meant to write E=MC Hair. One - Friedrich Nietzsche Now in order to grab the coveted spot, there needed to be a stash so bad ass, that the mere sight of it evoked tear filled emotion. Indeed the very well endowed mustache of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche delivers what I promise. This thick, bushy marvel is the antithesis to Nietzsche’s nihilistic musings because, trust me, if you see a picture of this thing you will realize there is nothing nil about it at all.
answers
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5. Mario 6. Charlie Chaplin
CULTURE
www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner
BOOK REVIEW
vol. 3 issue 07 | Movember 16 2010 | page seven
SPEED DATING
Curing the social phobia I
JARED VAILLANCOURT CREATIVE WRITING BUREAU CHIEF
T Fire blurs lines between reality and fiction
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HAYLEY WOODIN ENTERTAINMENT BUREAU CHIEF
F
ire will spark your interest and light a flame in your heart. The fictional novel written by Mima follows a band called Fire as they set out to make a name for themselves in the music industry. The book is set in Ontario in the 90s, and references real life events that marked the decade, like the suicide of Kurt Cobain, Sinead O’Connor’s stunt on Saturday Night Live and the OJ Simpson trial. It’s details like that, and the complete unpredictability of the plot that carry the story and blur the lines between reality and fiction, allowing readers to easily fall into the novel. Fire isn’t all about music: it takes a romantic love story, and balances it out with the raunchiness of the drug and party scene that often shadows rock bands. And it has a little bit of everything, including humour and suspense, and succeeds in capturing the everyday challenges of life, and not just the challenges faced by up-andcoming rock stars. The book follows band members Tarah, William, Jimmy, Michael and Eddie as they navigate the industry and its temptations, relationships and both the upside and downside of success. The cast of characters in the band and the rest of the book are all unique, flawed in the sense that they’re real and thus relatable to readers, and well-developed, dynamic and multi-dimensional. As a student who barely has any time to read course textbooks and generally prefers to read non-fiction, I found myself making time to read Fire, and genuinely enjoyed the read. Overall, it was a solid and enjoyable book that provided a refreshing change of pace from the vampire fantasy love sagas found in every book store and all over TV.
he KSA’s annual speed dating event has come and gone, so for those of you who missed it, I really do pity you. You missed out on a fun evening of meeting a good group of fun people who were all there with the single objective: seeing just what the hell “speed dating” is like. I attended the event as an undercover (okay, openly advertised) reporter for the Runner and actually managed to have a good time. The trick, it would seem, was not to barge in, guns blazing with sex and only sex on the brain. Apparently that makes you look like a jackass. The event ran something like this: everyone arrived at the Grassroots Lounge in Surrey and got their name checked off of the list (yes, there was a guest list that you had to sign up for –
way cool) and got a pen, a nametag and a little sheet that had boxes asking questions about people in general. It turned out to be a good icebreaker; for the first twenty minutes we were all chatting around in a friendly atmosphere asking people whether or not they fit any of the criteria on the sheet. You’d be amazed how few of us had tattoos and piercings, even little ones like earrings! But once the prize had been claimed (the first person to hand in their completed sheet got a prize no one else knew about), the serious business started. All of our nametags were numbered 1 to 13; girls had to take their seats and guys had to find the table with their number, to reference as ground zero. Our hostess made the rules plain and clear: when that buzzer beeped, guys shifted down one table. We only had two minutes to actually meet the person sitting across from
us. That would be the “speed” part. As for the “dating” part, you ask? That was the fun part! Everyone in attendance was bubbling with energy and eager to meet whomever they were sitting across from. There was no big thrill of the “sexual buffet” in anyone’s eyes (that I saw, at least) – this was new for everyone, and we all were content to just have a good time. So what if the organizers gave you each other’s contact information if both parties wrote down “yes” on their little sheet? At the very least, we all made some new friends. I can hear the die-hards groaning all the way from here (and back in the past from whence I wrote this), bemoaning the “failure” of the speed dating event to actually result in some temporary intimate relationships. That wasn’t the purpose of the event. We were out there to meet new people,
have some fun and if the possibility of a spark igniting popped up then hey, you know what? Maybe the two lucky sparklers would start dating. That’s the definition of dating: getting to know someone for the possibility of a long-term, intimate relationship. If you wanted direct, immediate intimacy, hire a hooker – there were no “women of the night” this night. But enough semantics! The event was a success. We were treated to free cupcakes and a whole lot of smiles and laughter. I feel like I made some new friends and I know that everyone else did, too. I’m not as adept at reading body language as I ought to be, so I’m not sure if anyone was eyeing me up and feeling a spark tingling, but if that happens to be the case then so be it. I’m just glad I participated. Good hunting, and remember to sign up next year!
MEET AND GREET PART 2
MEET YOUR NEW BUREAU CHIEFS Who are you?
What colour describes you?
Closing statements?
A wayward art student who’s on the path of self discovery... or thinks he is.
Purple.
Thanks for reading the paper! I hope you find it to your liking and remember, suggest the paper to your friends!
What are you doing here?
“Civilization” by The Andrews Sisters and Danny Kaye.
Only if you could tell me what are you doing here first...
ANTONIO SU
Who are you?
Why are you here?
In regards to? Well I love to sing, dance and act. Oh, and I love school.
I am here because I love student life and I guess this has been one of my passions—writing for fun. and I really enjoy the Runner.
So that’s who you are? Your name is “I love to sing and dance and act?
Raphael! He’s just really out there. He’s a really cool dude. You know, I always used to watch the Ninja Turtles. I love it. Closing statements?
I had this really weird dream with Rihanna! I think she was just onstage or singing or something and I was just there in the crowd.
I love school!
Who are you?
without getting distracted. A deadline is a hopeless procrasinators best friend!
What colour describes you?
In a nutshell I am huge daydreamer/ bookworm who loves writing, reading, art and crisp fall afternoons, but sadly enough I have a tragic addiction to hollywood gossip. Why are you here?
HEALTH BUREAU CHIEF
What did you dream about last night?
Who’s your favourite Ninja Turtle and why?
No, no, no! I’m Mae Velasco and I love school.
CURRENT AFFAIRS BUREAU CHIEF
CARLIE AUCLAIR
What comic book character do you aspire to? I don’t aspire to comic book characters, I create them.
ARTS & DESIGN BUREAU CHIEF
MAE VELASCO
Describe your childhood in a song.
Because I am the biggest procrastinator in the world, and writing for the Runner is one of the only ways I have found to practice my writing
Mint green. It’s calming and a little bit retro.
Describe your childhood in a song. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song. I was never sent to live with my uncle phil in Bel-Air for makin’ trouble in the neighbourhood but the show did raise me!
What comic book character do you aspire to? Probably Storm from X-men. Being able to control the weather for your own personal gain? Closing statements? Don’t text and drive!
CREATIVE
page eight | Movember 16 2010 | vol. 3 issue 07
The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca
SHORT STORY
ILLUSTRATION BY ANTONIO SU
Humanity Revisited JARED VAILLANCOURT CREATIVE WRITING BUREAU CHIEF
I
“
Hey, Jane, can I ask you a question?” Kris asked. Jane offered a non-committal nod over her shoulder, her boots crunching the odd plant-like things underfoot. “What do you think of those things we discovered a few weeks ago?” he ventured. Jane shrugged and sneered at some dead thing. “You mean those fruits?” she replied. “I mean, those fruit-like things? Fuck, if those were fruits, they’re totally inedible.” She curled up and leapt, clearing the mass of the rotting carcass. “I mean, fuck, dude… they smelled like gasoline to me.” “I don’t mean here,” Kris replied once he hit the undergrowth next to Jane. “I mean those things we discovered, you know?” he asked. Jane gave him a perplexed look, her brown eyes betraying the boredom he thought she wasn’t even trying to hide. “We discovered those fruits,” she countered. “What are you getting at, Herr?” she asked. Kris sighed as she took a sniff and immediately cupped her hands over her nose. “Fuck, this thing smells like those fruits, too… that’s not a good sign…” Kris laughed as he scanned the path ahead, deploying a quick nadion pulse from his forearm emitter to clear a tree-like limb thing from their way. “I’m talking about those aliens, mein frauline,” Kris said as she took the lead again. Jane laughed aloud, but then paused and looked around warily as her laughter echoed mysteriously. Both of them paused. “Interesting,” Jane whispered, “but I can’t say I’m a fan…” She motioned for him to follow as she continued at a gentler place. “There are a lot of aliens in the galaxy, Herr. Which ones are these?” “Those cyborgs.” He replied. Jane stopped and turned to show him her ironic smile.
“You’re talking about us?” she chuckled. “My, my, mein Herr. Going native already?” “I would never dream of it,” Kris replied, pretending his dignity was hurt. Jane’s smile only broadened as they continued to trek through the odd purple foliage. “Standard fleet personnel are only eighty per cent cybernetic. I’m talking about those aliens, mein frauline.” He yawned as she used her forearm emitter to quickly vaporize a hungry insect about the size of his torso. “Aw, Jane! That thing was loaded with some interesting iodine compounds!” “It was big, slimy and full of what I assume were teeth,” Jane replied with out turning around. “I think that translates quite competently into ‘shoot me’.” She hacked a smaller twig – which then shrieked – with a sharp chop of her hand. “Sorry. What were we talking about?” “I was talking about those alien cyborgs…” Kris trailed off as he noticed his voice echoing into the thick fog. Active scans couldn’t detect any solid surfaces through the thick soup. “I agree with you, mein frauline. I’m no fan of this talking fog either.” “I’m no fan of this planet,” Jane countered as she crouched down to hack and chop at the plant-thing that had started shrieking, quickly silencing it. “Fuck me!” she shouted when the thing erupted, splattering her armor and face with a smear of light pink goo. She quickly stood up and spat while Kris laughed and slapped his knee. She grunted something rude in a language he could understand. “Mein frauline!” Kris replied, only half-shocked. “Those are bad words, ja? Hey, it’s the planet that ejaculated on you, not I.” He chuckled as Jane stared blankly at him before she frantically did everything in her power to clean the goo from her face. “This better not fucking leave a rash!” she half-yelled. She scowled up at her echo as Kris did his best to subdue his laughter. “All right, fine, mein Herr. What about this new alien species of cyborgs?” “Done talking about this beautiful, pristine world, are we?” Kris asked. He hesitated as Jane spun around, discharging
her forearm emitters as she indiscriminately attacked the fog. “Ja. Okay, so like I was saying, what do you think of them?” Jane turned to face him and sighed, her wrist wiping sweat and goo from her dark ebony forehead. “They’re just more nonhumanoids,” Jane countered, her hands going to her hips. “You know, I shouldn’t be surprised that every single sentient species we’ve encountered hasn’t been humanoid. I can follow the logic that alien environments starting with alien materials and going down alien paths of evolution can produce intelligent beings totally alien to us, but… well, I wasn’t really prepared for this,” she sighed. Kris crossed his arms. “We were all excited by first contact, ja,” Kris agreed. “I mean it was all so perfect! Our good Herr Doctor flies his historic flight, the aliens land in his hometown… but when they emerge, they are using breather masks, stand nine feet tall and have four arms. The only humanoid feature on them had to be the ears.” He scoffed, smiling down at some snakeslug-root that was exploring his boot. “At least their ears were pointy, if not retractable and ten inches long.” “The Vulcan race,” Jane agreed, “there’s no way we could ever breed a Spock.” “Ja,” Kris smiled amicably as he took the lead, intentionally checking to ensure the red armor over his shoulders was cleaner than Jane’s yellow security plating. “So, what about these new aliens our good French pioneer captain ran into? Why do you think the Borg are so interested in us lowly humans?” Jane laughed as she reached into her hip, removing a probe to deploy into the fog. “We’d probably be the easiest to assimilate,” she scoffed, “you know, being cyborgs and all.” “Ja, mein frauline,” he replied as they reached a precipice. “Star Trek, mein ass.” “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combination” -Vulcan proverb
MOVIE PREVIEW
Efron to play leading man I
HAYLEY WOODIN ENTERTAINMENT BUREAU CHIEF
Z
ac Efron will star in a new romantic drama called “The Lucky One.” The teenage heartthrob will play the role of U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault, acting alongside Blythe Danner (“Meet the Parents,” “Meet the Fockers”) and Taylor Schilling in the screenplay based on the bestselling Nicholas Sparks novel under the same title. While at war, Logan found a photo of an unknown woman: the photograph itself proved to be a good luck charm for the Marine. In the film, Logan returns home from Iraq to North Carolina, on a mission to find Beth, the woman whose picture he claims kept him alive while at war. After finding the woman (Schilling), Logan takes a job working with her at her familyrun kennel. The story develops
as Beth and Logan get to know each other, which leads to the beginnings of a romantic relationship. The movie, directed by Academy Award-nominated writer and director Scott Hicks, is currently being filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana, with the help of cinematographer Alar Kivilo (“The Blind Side”), costume designer Dayna Pink (“Bruno”) and producers Denise Di Novi (“A Walk to Remember,” “Nights in Rodanthe”) and Kevin McCormick, among others. Adding to the cast are Riley Thomas Stewart (TV’s “90210”), Jay R. Gerfusion (TV’s “Mad Men”) and Adam Lefevre (“The Bounty Hunter”). Both Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures are behind the film; Warner Bros. Pictures is principally in charge of distribution, with Village Roadshow Pictures in charge or the film’s distribution in selected territories.
MOVIE PREVIEW
Classic cartoon character goes 3D I
HAYLEY WOODIN ENTERTAINMENT BUREAU CHIEF
T
PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PRESS SITE
V’s beloved and smarter than average bear is finally returning to the big screen. Hanna Barbera’s classic cartoon character Yogi bear, along with his loyal pal Boo Boo, will star in a 3D film produced by Warner Bros. The cast will include Jellystone Park’s two most troublesome bears, as well as Ranger Smith and his deputy Ranger Jones, nature documentary filmmaker Rachel Johnson and the scheming Mayor Brown.
The voices of the memorable characters will be acted by academy award nominee Dan Akroyd (Yogi bear), Justin Timberlake (Boo Boo), Tom Cavanagh (Smith), TJ Miller (Jones), Anna Faris (Johnson) and Andrew Daly (Brown). Unlike the preoccupations Yogi Bear had in his 1961 television show, which mostly revolved around him and his sidekick trying to figure out how to swipe the lunches of Jellystone Park’s patrons, the bear is set to face bigger problems in this movie. Mayor Brown has decided to close
down Jellystone Park and sell the land because the park has been losing business, meaning Yogi and Boo Boo will lose their home, and families will have to go elsewhere to have their picnics. The two bears, with the help of their former frenemy Ranger Smith, are forced to put their minds together to find a way to save the park from being permanently shut down. Yogi is no stranger to the big screen. In 1964, he was the first Hanna Barbera cartoon character to make it to theatres with the release of “Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear.”
TRAVEL
www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner
vol. 3 issue 07 | Movember 16 2010 | page nine
MEXICO
Exploring the worlds aquarium I
ABBY WISEMAN COORDINATING EDITOR
F
or many people, sitting beside a pool drinking two-for-one margaritas and wearing a straw Corona hat is a completely satisfying vacation experience. For others ––like myself–– pool-hugging is nice for a day or two, but a week of it will induce hallucinations. That’s why, when I checked into the hotel in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, and took a look out over the balcony to the stretching ocean and crashing waves, then to the huge pool with fellow sunburned vacationers sipping blended drinks, I thought “I need to find something to do.” Scuba diving is one of those things I always wanted to do, I have even tested out on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, where I spent half the trip over the side of the boat. Bad experience aside, I was bent on getting my PADI, an international scuba certification program, certificate and wasn’t about to be seduced to the pool by way of fruity drinks. Following up on a few recommendations by a hotel concierge (who is also a diver), I chose a dive instructor in Cabo San Lucas ––generally referred to as Cabo, the more famous town in the Gulf of California. Located 30 minutes east of San Jose del Cabo, the town is littered with American-style bars with names like Happy Endings and Cabo Wabo, and Mexican salesmen wanting you to by silver jewellrey “at a very special price, just for you.” I arrived at the marina and realised I didn’t have a name of the dive shop, just a name: Lars. Unfortunately, there are many dive shops along the marina, but fortunately only one man named Lars. Lars was reserved but friendly and with a brief introduction we were ready to go on what I thought was our first confinedwater dive, which is supposed to be in a pool. Apparently this wasn’t going to be the case and I found myself on a long-boat being battered by uncommonly rough seas while Lars strapped a 20 pound waist belt to me and debriefed me on the theory of scuba diving: you inflate your lungs and you will rise; you deflate and you will sink; don’t stop breathing. I was good-to-go. Strapped onto a tank and buoyancy control device, kind of a fancy life jacket that you can inflate and deflate, I fell back into the water and was immediately assaulted by waves. A few seconds later my BCD was deflated and the weights strapped to me pulled me eight feet under to calm waters and
Cabo San Lucas is a scuba divers dream since the area is known for it’s abundant sea life. ABBY WISEMAN/THE RUNNER
I breathed deep and exhaled calmly. Everything was just fine. Cabo is on the most Southern tip of the Gulf of California. Famous for its natural rock formations, most importantly one called Los Argos which is a natural arch that leads onto a popular tourist spot called Lover’s Beach. Cabo is also the land mass that separates the Gulf of California from the vast Pacific Ocean. The two meet at the end of a jutting rock formation fittingly called Land’s End. Dubbed the “worlds aquarium” by oceanographer and environmentalist Jacques
through hand signals and body language, Lars and I went through several exercises like how to find your regulator, which is the device you breath through, if it gets knocked off; how to relieve a leg cramp and a panic-inducing try at taking on and off your mask underwater. My automatic response to the searing pain of incredibly salty water in the eyes was to kick to the surface as quickly as possible. Luckily, Lars was prepared and yanked me down by my fin. As we resurfaced the motion of the ocean began to affect my unprepared stomach. Luckily I
There’s something about hot and sunny places that make you want to get up early. By 6 a.m. I was sitting on a lounge chair try to cram in the three chapters I was supposed to read, but took an extended nap instead. I made it to chapter one-anda-half as the seasickness pills set in and I took off to the dive shop. Determined to show Lars that I was an apt pupil, even without doing all the readings, I strapped together my gear and made my way into the water. This time I was joined by a couple from North Carolina who were trying out scuba for the first time. Instructed to
I arrived at the marina and realised I didn’t have a name of the dive shop, just a name: Lars. Unfortunately, there are many dive shops along the marina, but fortunately only one man named Lars. Cousteau, the Gulf of California has over 900 fish-species, and according to the World Wildlife Foundation, is threatened by over-fishing. There are presently 40,000 small-scale fishermen and 8,000 commercial fishermen operating in the Gulf. The ocean is also threatened by tourists who come to sport-fish massive tuna and marlin. The delicate eco-systems are also affected by boat traffic and careless snorkelers and scuba divers. According to PADI, it takes 10 years for a small coral stalk to grow, so the flick of a fin can reverse years of growth in an instant. Sitting at the bottom of eight feet of water communicating
wasn’t the only one as the rest of the group was on board and trying not to lose too much of their breakfast. On the way back we got wind that the marina was closed and no boats could go back out as we rocked past a capsized boat pushed onto the shore. The next day Lars let me know that the water was some of the roughest he’d seen in Cabo. He hid that fact well the day before. Sent back to the hotel with a PADI textbook to study, I was elated by the feeling of breathing underwater, how wholly unnatural it was and how much better of a view I got than the people with their simple snorkels hanging out on the surface.
meet him at the bottom, Lars gave some guidelines to the couple as I attempted to make my way down. I deflated my BCD and lungs, tried to sink down and swim down, but still I couldn’t go more than a few feet. Lars pulled me up to the surface and firmly warned me that boats would not see me and I was close enough to the surface that I’d be hit. Then he stuck a weight into a pocket on my BCD and I sunk all the way down. Scuba diving is a fine art of inflating and deflating your BCD and your lungs. The final goal is to hover in the water without going to far up or down. In other-words maintain-
ing control. Mrs. North Carolina didn’t make it past 10 feet before panicking and going back up. Her husband glided along with Lars and me, checking out the barracudas, eels and reef formations as we made our way around Pelican Rock. Lars signalled it was time to go up and I slowly ascended to the surface noticing that Lars had swum away from Mr. North Carolina . As I reached the top Lars signalled for me to come towards him and then I realised that Mr. North Carolina had lost his breakfast burrito and I had been swimming right in it. On the second dive that day we left Mr. and Mrs. North Carolina behind and made our way to Land’s End. Here is where a Sea Lion colony lives and I was going to get the chance to swim in the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean at the same time. We made it to forty feet and the sea was filled with colour. Purple coral and yellow, pink, green and indigo coloured fish. And then there it was, a sleek and shiny figure gliding gracefully through the water. A sea lion came swimming right down from the surface doing a few loops on the way. He took a good look at us as we hovered all together and then swam smoothly on. Lars and I gave the “o.k”. signal to each other as he laughed at my awed eyes. Swimming with sea lions is something I could get used to, but I wanted to see a turtle. Sea turtles are endangered in the Gulf of California but conservationists like WWF and Mexico’s Association for the Protection of the Environment and the Marine Turtle in Southern Baja, make efforts to aid the turtle population by collecting eggs when laid from the shore and releasing the hatched turtles from the same beaches into the ocean. This is an added bonus for the hotels because the eggs are often laid in front of them, giving the guests a chance to see the release. On day three I was going to be doing two dives at 60 feet. I had gained some system of watching my gauges, hovering in the water and allowing a moment or two to enjoy the surroundings. As I admired tiny fish that looked likes purple flowers, Lars pulled me around as a giant devil ray slid smoothly and silently by and out of sight. Looking up towards the surface, waves swirled and crashed on the reef, but down near the bottom everything was calm and quiet. There were no sea turtles that day, but I was content to just pass the written exam. As I flopped my sore body into the bed that night I thought “Tomorrow, I think I’ll sit by the pool.”
EDITORIAL
page ten | Movember 16 2010 | vol. 3 issue 07
THE RUNNER
The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca
ART
The Runner is student owned and operated by Kwantlen Polytechnic University students, published under Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society. Vol. 3, Issue no. 07 November, 16 2010 ISSN# 1916-8241 #205-12877 76 Ave. Surrey, B.C. V3W 1E6 www.runnerrag.ca 778-565-3801
EDITORIAL DIVISION: Co-ordinating Editor // Abby Wiseman editor@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3803 Culture Editor // Kristi Alexandra culture@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3804 News Editor // Kassandra Linklater news@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3805 Production Editor // Cat Yelizarov production@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3806 Media Editor // Matt Law media@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3806
BUREAU CHIEFS: AISHA CHOHAN/THE RUNNER
Arts & Design // Antonio Su Creative Writing // Jared Vaillancourt Current Events // Mae Velasco Entertainment // Hayley Woodin
OPINION: B.C. POLITICS
Campus opinions: Gordo gone good?
Environmental // (Vacant) Health // Carlie Auclair
NAY
YAY
Lifestyle // Jeff Groat Politics // Paul Li Sports // Kyle Benning Student Affairs // (Vacant) Travel // Matthew Bossons
I
KASSANDRA LINKLATER NEWS EDITOR
CONTRIBUTORS: Chelsea Jewell, Thomas Falcone, Aisha Chohan Cover Art // Carlie Auclair
BUSINESS DIVISION: Operations Manager, Ads, Classifieds // DJ Lam ops@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3802 Office Co-ordinator // Victoria Almond office@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3802 Operations Assistant // Brittany Tiplady Distribution // The Now Newspaper
I am horrifically embarrased to admit this, but when I found out that good ol’ Gordo, the former-yet-still-in-power premier of B.C., resigned, I was visibly shaken. Sitting in front of the computer screen, questions of “who was going to take over as leader? Are the NDP finally going to get their act together to run a decent campaign? Is Vision Vancouver going to finally turn into Vision BC? And dammit, what is Vander Zalm going to do about all this?” ran through my head. See, I am just not ready for Campbell to go. With a 12 per cent approval rating, I’m not exactly lobbying for Campbell
to stay on as premier. But the timing is off. I am a proponent of the HST, and while I believe the flack it’s frying is not because people are really all that against it but because Campbell thought the electorate were too“ignorant”. Funny who got the last laugh. I also don’t believe we’ve seen the last of the Olympic spending and I think Campbell is getting off scott-free by passing this on to the next leader of the Liberals. And maybe that’s what scares me about Gordo going. What’s going to happen to my province? I never thought of myself as afraid of change, but as a young person in this province, I enjoy that there are opportunities here, compared to the mass exodus of the ‘90s. At the end of the day, Campbell had to go and I just didn’t want to see one of the better (which isn’t saying a lot) B.C. premiers that we had leave so soon.
I
MAE VELASCO CURRENT EVENTS BUREAU CHIEF
I was faxing some paperwork and this dude in the KSA was like “Did you hear the big news?” Three hours later, it was confirmed that Gordon Campbell was done serving British Columbia as the premier on Nov. 3. Awesome! I changed my facebook status to “Yes!!!! Goodbye Gordo=p!!!! This totally made my day=)” So why am I so glad? Well, he’s not a very good example. He was arrested in Hawaii for drunk driving back in January 2003, yet he fully supports and introduced the new tough drinking and driving laws in British Columbia. So is Campbell contradictory to this new law? I think so. Education is dear to my heart and Campbell closed more than 176 schools. Teachers have been
laid off, students have been affected, and the budget cuts for the school have been very severe. This has made it hard for recent graduates to find a job, and difficult for children who need their schools. Health cuts are severe. There are long waiting times in emergency rooms and surgery times are more prolonged than in the past. Cuts are hurting seniors as many nursing homes have been closed, and staff laid off. Our health care is critical to the people of B.C. and Campbell cut too much. Harmony Sales Tax (HST) was introduced on July 1, 2010. Great! Now an extra seven per cent is added to purchases and services. Your already overpriced cup of coffee costs even more because of the tax. What happened to helping the poor in the community? I think he just robbed them out from the evilness of his heart. As you can see, Gordon Campbell is not my cup of tea. I’m glad he’s gone. Goodbye and I await the new leader of this province! Good riddance!
PROCRASTINATION
www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner
vol. 3 issue 07 | Movember 16 2010 | page eleven
BEN HORNE - DINGER
HOROSCOPE
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
If you go to Peru, don’t eat the eggs.
PISCES Feb. 20 - Mar. 20
You are a floater. Don’t let life flush you.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan.19 SCORPIO Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 Make tacos for dinner tonight, it is critical to your survival.
Show what you have to bring to the table, even if it is only canned ham.
ARIES Mar. 21 - Apr.19
Watch out for airborne urinal cakes. They come out of nowhere.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20 - Feb. 19
Someone will be watching your every move. Yup, it’s that creepy guy on the bus.
TAURUS Apr. 20 - May 20
Don’t count on anything or anyone to do what they say. The world is full of fuckin’ liars.
RIP OFF KWANTLEN
GEMINI May 21 - June 20 VIRGO Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
If the doctor tells you to stop playing with it, STOP.
CANCER June 21 - July 22
Listen to someone with inexperience, experience is overrated.
You may feel aggressive due to an intense dislike of the word nutmeg.
LEO July 23 - Aug. 22
LIBRA Sept. 23 - Oct. 22
This is a give and take day. But it’s ok to just take.
If you’re going to spoon, be the little spoon.
THE SMART ZONE
KSA what’s up yo?
WEIRD STUFF: STUFF IS WEIRD
So we have this thing called the Kwantlen Student Association. We pay them money to look out for our interests as students. In any business relationship where one party is being paid to do a job, the other party expects them to do said job. So what’s the problem? Because of squabbling and infighting, the KSA has not been able to meet quorum and approve meeting minutes, thusly, shit ain’t gettin’ done. Sort your crap out KSA, work together for the people who are paying you.
A hard working adult sweats up to 4 gallons per day. Most of the sweat evaporates before a person realizes it’s there. Of all the words in the English language, the word “set” has the most definitions. The average person laughs 13 times a day. Source: strangefacts.com
page twelve | Movember 16 2010 | vol. 3 issue 07
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