Vol. 3 Issue 21

THE VOL. 03 ISSUE 21 06.15.2011 THE WOMEN’S ISSUES ISSUE

FEMINISTS

TRAVEL

HST

FEATURE

TAKE ON THE SEX TRADE

REPLAYING IN GUATEMALA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

YOU DECIDE

KWANTLEN BAND ANTHROPOLOGY OF LOVE

NEWS AND CULTURE FOR THE STUDENTS OF KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

page two | June 15 2011 | vol. 3 issue 21

WHO’S WHO

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

IN THIS ISSUE

Meet this issue’s contributors At the age of eight, Lliam Easterbrook was found stranded off the uninhabited northern shores of Morocco by a band of Scottish bohemian surfers.

They taught him how to surf, and introduced him to rock and roll. Two years later, in 1995, they smuggled him into Canada on a ship bound for Baffin Island. Upon their arrival, he was given to a small Inuit community; there he was raised by an experienced Inuk shaman who taught him the miens of primordial Mother Earth through the attainment of poetic knowledge. Lliam moved to White Rock, B.C. in 2004 with his arctic wolfdog, Morrison, because he felt sereneness of the bay was adequate for the optimization of his chi.

Lliam is currently creative arts bureau chief for The Runner. He writes a weekly music column entitled “Vinyl Dust-off,” and frequently contributes narrative fiction and poetry to The Runner.

Jared Vaillancourt is a science fiction aficionado whose stories have appeared for almost a yearand-a-half in The Runner. He was the creative writing bureau chief and even served a half term on the PIPS board of directors. He majors in creative writing, and although his story “Dauntless”, which appears in this issue, is a modern fiction piece taking place in Edinburgh, most of his work explores the expansive and limitless genre of science fiction, even if it breaks away from the layperson’s understanding of what sci-fi is. He lives in White Rock, but moved here from Ontario almost two years ago when he came specifically for studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. If it means anything, he’s a Pisces.

Kimiya Shokoohi is The Runner’s contributing sportswriter. She also has a lot of vowels in her name and spent a good part of her life convinced she was Japanese – but that’s a story for an another time. Heading into her final year, Kimiya looks forward to bidding adieu to school in the spring of 2012, Bachelor of Journalism in hand, and heading to London to cover the 2012 Olympic Games. Correct, she’s an Olympic junky. During an internship at Metro, a reporter said to her: “If the Olympics was a rock star, you would be it’s number one groupie.” This reporter, was right on the money. In this issue Kimiya wrote the articles on Kwantlen soccer coach Ajit Braich, and Kwantlen’s dynamic duo.

Mike Shames has taken his love for cinema and critical eye to become the movie critic for The Runner. A history student, and a cynic, he believes movies are a reflection of historical and current events, fears, and interests in the world. He predicted The Kings Speech would win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Check out his reviews of X-Men First Class and Pirates of the Caribbean in this issue and online.

Antonio Su is an eccentric, contemporary artist who loves to engage his audiences and viewers with mind-twisting and conversation-generating works. He was the arts and design bureau chief two years ago. Now he serves The Runner as the graphic bureau chief. He is a third-year visual arts BFA major student who specialized in digital media. The front cover of the current issue was designed by Antonio. He will also be taking over from Cat Yelizarov as production editor at The Runner.

WE WANT YOU The Runner needs your help. We’re working on a number of projects and we can’t do it all ourselves. Like listening to docs? Come work on our podcast project. Like editing video? We have all the equipment and software you need.

Want to get paid? We pay our contributors for every piece we print. Have a marketing strategy? Come meet with us.

We need all the help we can get. www.runnerrag.ca THE

NEWS

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

vol. 3 issue 21 | June 15 2011 | page three

STUDENT POLITICS BRIEFS

KSA council passes new unseen regulations I

KWANTLEN CYCLIST RAISES MONEY FOR BURMESE AID Kwantlen IT staff member Naing Soe is cycling across Canada, from North Vancouver to Halifax, this summer to help raise $250,000 for healthcare for Burmese living on the ThaiBurma border.

KPU FACULTY TEACHES PUBLIC RELATIONS ABROAD Kwantlen alumna and faculty member Amelia Kennedy recently spent two weeks in Croatia at the University of Dubrovnik teaching students about public relations in Canada. In December, Kennedy will be off to Vienna, Austria to teach students there about event management.

MATT DIMERA NEWS EDITOR

The KSA council has a new set of rules, but don’t ask them to tell you what they are.

The council voted 12 - 2 to adopt a new set of regulations at the Wednesday June 8 council meeting without viewing them.

Copies were not made available to members of council or to students present at the meeting. The motion to change the regulations was not included in the agenda sent out beforehand, nor was it added to the agenda when it was adopted.

The KSA regulations govern the day-to-day operations of the society and cover everything from elected officials’ salaries and job responsibilities to how finances are handled.

As of press time at noon on Friday June 10, the regulations had still not been made public.

The KSA director of finance, Nina Sandhu, said the executive had spent a long time working on the regulations and that they had taken suggestions from council members who had come forward with ideas.

Student senator and council member Chris Girodat asked to see the regulations before he voted on them.

Sandhu explained that copies of the regulations would be made available only after they were voted on and adopted.

The family of a victim of domestic violence has set up a scholarship for single mothers studying at Kwantlen. The Maria Catroppa Memorial Award is meant to honour the mother of four who was murdered in 2009 by her second husband.

Director of external affairs Bobby Padda then moved a motion to end the debate and council voted 12 - 3 to move directly to vote on the regulations.

Executive chairperson and director of operations Justine Franson said that council should trust the executive and that it wasn’t necessary for council members to read them before voting.

The adoption of the new regulations passed 12 -2 with student Robert Emanuel (holding Cloverdale director Shivinder Grewal’s proxy vote) and Girodat (holding Langley director Jennifer Campbell’s proxy vote) voting against. Queer liaison Lydia Luk (holding Richmond director Harj Dhesi’s proxy vote) abstained. Council members who are unable to at-

tend a meeting can assign their proxy to another student, allowing them to vote in the council member’s place.

The KSA had previously adopted a new set of regulations at the April 14 council meeting and subsequently amended them on at least two more occasions.

Those updated regulations were never posted to the KSA’s website.

KSA

Banned former KSA director frustrated by slow investigation I

MEMORIAL AWARD CREATED TO HONOUR MURDER VICTIM

The KSA’s new regulations are still unavailable after being adopted without being reviewed at the June 8 council meeting.

MATT DIMERA/THE RUNNER

MATT DIMERA NEWS EDITOR

Over two months after issuing a formal ban on former director Reena Bali, the KSA council’s investigation is still ongoing according to the chairperson of the executive board.

Justine Franson, the executive chairperson and director of operations for the Kwantlen Student Association, said the ban was necessary because the director of events,Tarun Takhar, “felt threatened with his safety” after he was “legally threatened.”

The original April 6 council motion was discussed in camera, behind closed doors, and ordered Bali to not be present in KSA offices during Tarun Takhar’s office hours.

At a subsequent meeting on May 11, council voted to release the minutes from the closed

door session “to offer more clarity.” Those minutes were provided to The Runner, four weeks later on June 9.

The released minutes contain only unattributed statements and do not elaborate on the allegations made against Bali.

The KSA council also released an undated letter, alleging that Bali “has been launching wild accusations against the KSA Council for attempting to ban her with the express intent of personal gain.”

The letter further stated that the decision was made in secret to both “protect Ms. Bali’s reputation” and “to avoid embarrassing our current Director of Events [Takhar].”

According to Franson, the ban is only in effect during Takhar’s posted office hours.

“We’re not restricting her membership in anyway, she has full access to all the services,” she

Former KSA director Reena Bali is unhappy with her treatment by the current council. FILE PHOTO/THE RUNNER

said.

Franson was unable to provide a timeline as to when the investigation would be concluded and that there was “no resolution date at this point.”

Reena Bali said the KSA has still not formally notified her about the ban and that she was

only aware of what she had been told through secondhand sources.

“I did my due diligence of contacting the KSA,” said Bali.

“I sent them an email about two months ago and I’ve yet to receive a reply.”

“We’re still resolving the matter so the process of contacting her might not have happened yet,” said Franson.

Bali said she has since filed a complaint with the University, over her treatment by the KSA. “How can they be resolving the matter if they haven’t even bothered to communicate with me?” asked Bali.

“It’s slandering my name,” said Bali. “They have no cause, they have no investigation.”

“They ruled on something without me even being present while it was discussed. I’ve yet to even see what they even said about me.”

THE

OPINION

page four | June 15 2011 | vol. 3 issue 21

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

TAXES

Photos: HST forum comes to Kwantlen

Kwantlen students listened to both sides of the heated debate.

PAUL LI/THE RUNNER

Former premier and HST-critic Bill Vander Zalm sermonized against the controversial tax at the HST debate held at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Thursday June 2, 2011. PAUL LI/THE RUNNER

Panelists CJ Sidhu, Debi Stone and Peter Leitch from the Smart Tax Alliance spoke in favour of the merits of the HST. PAUL LI/THE RUNNER

OPINION

Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)

NAY

YAY I

COLIN FRASER CONTRIBUTOR

Bill Vander Zalm has one thing right.

British Columbians should not waste the unique opportunity to decide on an issue of tax policy.

This is a time to get informed, and be pragmatic. The upcoming referendum is not an opportunity to pass judgment on our despised former premier. It is on tax policy, and the decision should hinge exclusively on which tax is better for B.C. HST is simply the better system.

Every study that has been conducted shows that low-income families are burdened less heavily by HST relative to PST thanks to the $230 HST credit.

This is a huge step towards an equitable taxation system that helps out the poor. BC businesses (yes, even restaurants and barber shops) will save millions of dollars in operating and compliance costs, which will foster innovation and capital accumulation and job creation — all

things that will improve the quality of life of British Columbians.

If it becomes easier to start a successful business in B.C. and easier for established businesses to hire British Columbians, a small tax increase (less than $1 a day if you make around $67,000 a year) is a small price to pay.

The PST was complex, cascading and distortionary — qualities that are universally judged by economists to be exactly what you don’t want in a tax.

A short blurb in the school newspaper is not enough to clearly show why HST is a superior system, so I encourage you to go online and get informed. We are students. We know how to filter the political rhetoric from unbiased academic research.

Please, treat this vote as seriously as you would a research assignment. I am sure that you’ll discover on your own that reverting back to an inefficient mode of taxation would be a tremendous mistake for the province.

I

MATT LAW MEDIA EDITOR

Since the HST was introduced on July 1, 2010, residents of British Columbia have been paying more.

Many items and services that were previously exempt from the seven per cent Provincial Sales Tax are now being charged a full 12 per cent under the HST. Something as simple, and basic, as your residential phone bill is now subject to an additional seven percent tax. For simplicity's sake, on your $50 monthly phone bill you were paying $2.5 in tax. Under the HST you have been paying $6 tax. That might not seem like much but over the course of a year that adds up to $72, which is $42 more than you would have paid under the GST/PST system. And sure a $42 difference isn’t that much either, but if you add up all the goods and services that you are now paying more tax on, students will be struggling even more to pay for tuition come September.

The Liberals and Christy Clark have made all kinds of promises to lower the tax to 10 per cent by 2014, but the Liberals also promised there would be no HST not so long ago – so can we really trust them?

The Liberals introduced the quarterly B.C. HST Credit that will equal $230 (maximum) annually for eligible people.

But since you are already paying an extra $42 on your yearly phone bill it won’t take long to add up all your other purchases that the HST now applies to – that will far exceed $230.

To vote to extinguish the HST is also a chance to remind politicians that they need to listen to the people. Some claim that we need to separate politics from a sound economic decision but when politicians have become so arrogant that they feel entitled to fly their family across the country repeatedly, on the taxpayers back, they have lost touch.

Our government officials need to be held accountable and have to be reminded that they represent us to Ottawa and not the other way around.

NEWS

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

vol. 3 issue 21 | June 15 2011 | page five

STUDENT POLITICS

STREETERS

KSA votes to ban electronic recordings of council meetings

What do you think of the HST?

Surrey director argues that move to stop recording public meetings will prevent things from “getting leaked.”

I

MATT DIMERA NEWS EDITOR

The Kwantlen Student Association council banned all electronic recordings of their meetings on May 11.

The motion did not specifically reference The Runner, but ordered that meetings could no longer be recorded without prior approval from council.

The motion was moved by Surrey director Sean Bassi and seconded by Cloverdale director Shivinder Grewal.

“Some things are already getting leaked,” said Bassi. “So I just feel that it’s necessary to prevent those issues.”

Bassi was the only member of council who spoke to defend the motion.

Student senator Chris Girodat argued that the motion was inappropriate and offensive.

“I’ve said it probably a dozen times so far since this term began and I’ll simply say it again,” said Girodat. “Members of council are responsible to students. If they are not willing to stand up to public scrutiny they should walk out that door and drop their resignation letter on the desk.”

“If you don’t want it to be recorded don’t say it.”

Langley director and Runner contributor Jennifer Campbell said the motion would go against members of council who had previously argued for more transparency.

“Our students deserve to know what is going on,” said

Student senator Chris Girodat argued against council’s decision to ban their meetings from being recorded. THE RUNNER FILE PHOTO

Campbell. “Pushing out the newspaper that reports on these issues, I think, is a way of trying to be less transparent to the people who pretty much pay our salaries and that’s not fair.”

Surrey officer Sunita Sohi also spoke against the proposed motion, saying it would give the appearance that the council had something to hide.

Philosophy student Sophia Veale said that expecting students to attend lengthy council meetings in addition to attending class is unrealistic.

“There are students that aren’t ever going to read the minutes, it’s just how it is,” said Veale. “But they do have that option of picking up a newspaper and reading it before class.

I would be really disheartened

if there wasn’t that opportunity for The Runner to be publishing things.”

Student-at-large Pavan Sodhan then motioned to cut off the debate and go straight to the vote.

The motion passed by a large majority with only Sohi (holding Richmond director Harj Dhesi’s proxy vote), Girodat (holding Richmond representative Sasha Mirza’s proxy vote) and Campbell (holding her own vote and Langley representative Ken McIntyre’s proxy vote) voting against. Council members who are unable to attend a meeting can assign their proxy to another student, allowing them to vote in the council member’s place.

Long-time Kwantlen journal-

ism instructor Mark Hamilton expressed puzzlement upon learning of the decision.

“I can think of no valid reasons why a body that relies on the support of its members should take such a stand,” wrote Hamilton in an e-mail interview.

According to Hamilton, recorders have become standard practice for journalists and can help resolve disputes over what is reported.

“It’s in the best interest of any elected body that is doing the public’s business, to do everything it can to ensure that media and others have access to the tools that will help them provide accurate reports of proceedings.”

The KSA council had briefly discussed the issue at it’s first meeting of the term on April 6, when student-at-large Pavan Sodhan and the director of operations Justine Franson expressed their concerns about being recorded.

Franson had inquired if council had the power to compel The Runner to leave the meeting, but was warned against it.

The then acting-General Manager, Catherine Wilkinson explained that council meetings are public.

“In the spirit of the KSA wanting to be transparent and to allow students to be here, I think that we breach that if we don’t allow media in here with different whatever [sic] forms they want to use,” said Wilkin-

Former Runner news editor nominated for YWCA Young Women of Distinction Award.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University student and former Runner news editor Kassandra Linklater recently took part in the YWCA Young Women of Distinction Award.

While the 24-year-old political science student did not win the award, which was presented on May 31, she was thrilled to have been given the opportunity to take part in the nomination process.

When asked if she is disappointed at not winning, her answer is short.

“Absolutely not,” she said.

“I know this is going to sound like the most clichéd answer in the book but I was ecstatic to be nominated, and to meet all the people and to bring my mother to the awards ceremony.”

Linklater was nominated earlier this year by Mary Jane Stenberg, executive director of external relations at Kwantlen.

Its unfortunate that it came on at the wrong time, right when the recession hit. I feel for the people, because a lot of people lost their jobs. It’s costing a lot more to buy stuff, so as a consumer, I’m against it, but I don’t have enough information, I’m not an economics student. Why are we even paying the HST, there’s not enough information on why.

GENERAL STUDIES

Kwantlen’s got women of distinction MATT LAW MEDIA EDITOR

GENERAL STUDIES, SCIENCES AND ARTS

JASMINDER SINGH SIDHU

AWARD

I

ASHWINI GOUNDAR

“Kassandra was a natural choice to be nominated for the Women of Distinction Award,” said Stenberg in a press release.

“She has proven herself to be a leader and her passion for improving the lives of young women is truly inspiring.”

Linklater was not aware that Stenberg had nominated her for the award and admits she was surprised when she heard.

“It was an absolute shock when she nominated me and then I was absolutely shocked when I made it in with the finalists because I’m in awe of all the other people nominated there,” she said.

The category Linklater was nominated for was one of the largest groups, comprised of seven women age 18-25. The award recognizes a young woman who has demonstrated leadership, maturity and compassion.

As part of the nomination, Linklater had to choose an aspect of the YWCA to present to

I don’t think it was the right decision, at this point of time, because of the economic downfall, so I think it was a big mistake by the government. I think they’ll probably cut it out soon. Right now it’s not the right decision. It’s not known by everybody, what exactly it is, or why it’s there, it’s just there right now.

YWCA Young Women of Distinction Award nominee Kassandra Linklater.

THE RUNNER FILE PHOTO

the public through social media and networking. She chose to support a program for youth which helps elementary school students transition into high school.

“It was a really great program and I wish they had it when I was in high school,” said Linklater. “I think having that confidence at a young age and going through those pro-

grams changes how you tackle life.”

Linklater has been heavily involved at Kwantlen as a representative for the President’s Ambassadorial Team and was recently elected to the board of governors.

For more information on the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, visit www.ywcavan. org.

JOHN ALEXANDER LIBRARY EMPLOYEE I think that if they lower it to the 10 percent that they’re discussing, I’d be fine with that, rather than paying 12 percent on almost everything.

NEWS

page six | June 15 2011 | vol. 3 issue 21

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

HST For students and young people it is hard to know how the HST will affect them. Here is a list of items or services that were previously only subject to the five per cent GST and are now subject to the 12 per cent HST:

HST referendum cometh The long-awaited vote on the controversial HST will begin June 13.

I

• • • • •

MATT LAW MEDIA EDITOR

Whether you love it, hate it or just plain don’t understand it, the time has come to vote on the Harmonized Sales Tax. Between June 13 and June 24, registered British Columbian voters will receive a referendum package in the mail with the following question: Are you in favour of extinguishing the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) and retaining the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) in conjunction with the GST (Goods and Services Tax)? (Yes/No) Voting “yes” will return B.C. to the former GST/PST system, while voting no will keep the current 12 per cent HST. The HST took effect on July 1, 2010 but has proven to be an incredibly controversial topic since the last provincial election.

The Liberals, who introduced the tax under former premier Gordon Campbell, have argued that the new HST will be better for businesses and create jobs.

Tracy Pearson, owner of Specialty Engineering, an automotive shop in Delta, is in favour of the tax and will be voting no in the referendum “The number one point is the reduction in paperwork and time, the second thing is the small amount of saving for business,” said Pearson. “If you’re going to buy something then there is incentive to buy because there is a reduction in cost because we get the 12 per cent back.”

While the HST has proven to

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

These are items or services that have been lowered under the HST:

Photo Illustration. MATT LAW/THE RUNNER

save her business some money, she admits that the amount has been so small she has not been able to pass any savings on to customers.

Pearson said that despite being in favour of the tax it is making things harder on the individual consumer.

“Personally, as it sits at 12 per cent, it is costing us more and I think that might balance out in the long run but I don’t know.

I’m much more in favour of it at 10 per cent because then it off sets the personal aspect of it,” she said.

The bicycle industry is one of many that has been directly affected by a rise in the HST. Bi-

Certain school supplies First aid kits Snack foods Restaurant Meals Catering and event planning services Basic cable TV Local residential phone Taxis Camping sites Domestic air, rail and bus travel originating in B.C. Vehicle parking Over the counter medications Vitamins Bicycles Ski lift passes Gym memberships Hair cuts Cigarettes

cycles were previously exempt from the seven per cent PST and were only subject to the five per cent GST. Simon Quinn Sears, manager of O’Hagan’s Peninsula Cycles in South Surrey, doesn’t mind the tax but admits it has changed things for customers.

“Now there is not always a deal to be made with the 12 per cent sales tax. It’s certainly harder to give people the feeling like they are well taken care of,” said Sears. “It made people more wary of shopping and they certainly had to factor that in to it.”

This past Christmas, Sears saw a drop in sales compared to

previous years and has not seen much of a savings from the new simpler HST. “We pay tax on everything but we charge tax on everything, so at the end of the day I think it’s a bit of a wash,” he said.

Sears hopes that the B.C. Liberals will follow through on plans to lower the HST on bicycles and safety gear.

The B.C. Liberal party has promised to lower the HST to 10 per cent by 2014 if voters elect to keep the tax. They have also taken input from the public on lowering the HST on some goods and services previously exempt from the PST.

• • • •

Residential heating and electricity (drops .4 per cent) Alcoholic beverages (drops 3 per cent) Children’s disposable diapers (drops 2 per cent) Hotel rooms (drops 1 per cent)

You can find a further list released by the B.C. government here http://www.cbc.ca/bc/ news/bc-100514-hst-taxableitems-list.pdf

STUDENT POLITICS

KSA executive board puts hold on legal cases Board fires long-time lawyer David Borins; suit against Reduce All Fees party members 'paused.'

I

MATT DIMERA NEWS EDITOR

The Kwantlen Student Association has fired their long-term legal counsel, moving their business to two different law firms.

Lawyer David Borins, a partner at Heenan and Blaikie, had represented the KSA since as early as 2007, but was ordered to stop all work April 1.

The current KSA executive board moved the motion on their first day in office, directing Borins and his firm to “cease all activity pertaining to the RAF case until further notice.” The motion also instructed Borins “not to schedule a date for the case management conference until further notice.”

KSA director of operations Justine Franson alleged that there was a direct conflict of interest with Borins and former general manager Desmond Rodenbour, saying that the two went to the same high school and university together.

“With our pending legal matters pertaining to the termination of the previous general

manager, it was not appropriate to keep [Heenan and Blaikie] on,” said Franson.

The KSA is now represented by both Taylor Nakai Litigation and Harris and Company, according to Franson and Sandhu.

Sandhu said that after sitting down with some of the top law firms in Vancouver, Taylor Nakai seemed like the best choice for the KSA. “Taylor Nakai is known for their litigation,” she said. “Considering litigation is going to take a long time, they had the time and the energy to spend on the matter.”

Franson also expressed concerns about the amounts of money past boards had spent on legal fees, saying there seemed “to be a lot of frivolous spending.”

“Harris and Co. also made the same comment to us that as a student association we shouldn’t be spending so much money on legal,” she said.

“This executive board has not released any legal funds without every executive board member reviewing carefully the invoices,” she continued.

The newly-furnished office of the KSA executive board sits empty on Friday, June 10. MATT DIMERA/THE RUNNER

“We’ve actually sent invoices back and asked for further detail.”

Franson explained that there were two cases on hold “until

the executive board is fully aware of where we stand on all matters and has gone through all the documentation.”

Franson explained that there

were two cases on hold “until the executive board is fully aware of where we stand on all matters and has gone through all the documentation.”

SPORTS

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

vol. 3 issue 21 | June 15 2011 | page seven

BASKETBALL

Kwantlen’s dynamic duo

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KIMIYA SHOKOOHI CONTRIBUTOR

I

t may be completely normal to expect two sisters to be competitive – call it sibling rivalry.

Sisters Brittney Church and Chelsea Church, new players on Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s women’s basketball team, are competitive, completely – just not with one another.

When it comes to sibling rivalry, “we’ve never been competitive,” Chelsea said.

“Or turned against each other or anything,” Brittney said.

“We get along. We hangout.”

Perhaps, it’s this relatively friendly edge that has made the sisters stand-out recruits for KPU basketball coaches.

Brittney, 17, originally signed with the team early in the season. Chelsea, 19, was recruited a couple weeks ago.

The biggest recruiting difference, however, between the addition of each sister to the roster isn’t the timing, rather, the recruiter. Brittney had been signed by Matthew McKay, last season’s head coach, who was let go by KPU athletics department after a weak season.

Chelsea was signed by McKay’s replacement, Dan Nayebzadeh.

“Once I got there I got to sit down with [Brittney] and talk to get some expectations – to make sure she was on the same page as us,” Nayebzadeh said. “And she was.”

“She was pretty obvious choice,” Nayebzadeh said. “She was a very, very good high school player. She would have been highly sought by any team.”

Brittney and Chelsea roundup the 12 players Nayebzadeh has added to his roster for the

KIMIYA SHOKOOHI/THE RUNNER

new season.

And come the new season, the sisters will be playing on the same court, at the same time, for the first time, since high school.

The near three-year break from their sister-teammate relationship won’t need dusting come time to lace-up for the KPU duo-ship. Basketball, they said, is simply second nature.

The sisters have been playing together since they were ages nine and 11. In the school courtyard. At the local gym. In their backyard.

“Basketball has been in our lives since we were in the fourth grade, we don’t know anything else,” Chelsea said.

Basketball is a Church thing.

Their father, Alan Church, a sixfoot-six centre-forward played for Douglas College’s men’s basketball team in 1986.

A little under two decades later, his daughters are following in his varsity footsteps – Chelsea

as forward, Brittney as shooting guard.

“We totally play different games,” Brittney said, stemming from their different positions on court. “She’s better at the things I can’t do.”

In part, the sisters said what’s built their effective partnership is their ability to capitalize on their individual skills by trusting the other to pick up in areas in which the former is less capable.

“If you combine us together,” Chelsea said, “we would be the super-player.”

It also goes past the blood – into the mind.

“We play really well together.

We have that thing, were it’s like the other person knows what’s going through your mind,” Chelsea said.

“Twin telepathy,” Brittney said. “Even though we’re not twins.”

Sister telepathy, however,

isn’t the reason Nayebzadeh praises the Church sisters’ addition to the new team.

“As far as being sisters, it’s not that important to the team,” Nayebzadeh said. “What’s important is that they’re both very mature girls.”

And relatively seasoned, solid players, he said.

Nayebzadeh did, however, ask Brittney about her relationship with Chelsea, Brittney said.

“When you have a family member on the team and you’re flipping out on each other on the court, it affects the game,” she said.

“But, the fact that we get along, helps us play better together as a group,” Chelsea said.

Are these sisters friendly, mature young women? Absolutely. Will they be kind to their opponents? Absolutely not, they assure.

“I like a really competitive team – I want our opponents to

be scared of us,” Chelsea said.

But for right now, it’s about building the team, setting a foundation, the sisters said.

Last season the team won four games, lost 14.

Since then, only two of the players have been re-added to the roster. That means a fresh new team – the slate, completely clean.

Nayebzadeh is holding open gym practices for the team, where the players come to get to know each other on the court. In a couple weeks, the team will be heading into organized training.

“I’m really excited for it,” Brittney said about working with the team in the coming season. “We get along really well.”

“The thing is trusting one another, to grow as a group,” she said.

“If there’s no trust, there is no group,” Chelsea said.

One idea that rings true for the Church sisters, and for Nayebzadeh, is that the team heads into the next phase looking to build a program – to get organized, to get a system going.

“We set standards for ourselves,” Nayebzadeh said, “and with that will come success.”

Standards, the sisters already know all about. They also know about being realistic and setting standards and goals that accommodate their reality.

“I’m not going to say we’re going to win a championship,” Chelsea said when asked about the teams overall goal heading into the 2011-2012 season.

“I’m not saying we have to win anything – but I have goals for success.”

“If you lose a game, you can still be successful,” she said.

“I just want us to do well, feel good as a team, and be proud to be Kwantlen athletes.”

page eight | June 15 2011 | vol. 3 issue 21

SPORTS

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

SOCCER

Braich preparing for swimming in the deep end I

KIMIYA SHOKOOHI CONTRIBUTOR

Practice, train, organize – these are fundamentals most coaches carry in their back pockets. But it’s not limited to that if you’re the coach of a varsity team.

When it comes to creating a successful varsity team, a lot of it is about the coach cheerleading for the school, said Ajit Braich, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s men’s soccer coach.

Braich isn’t planning on sporting a skirt and some pompoms. However, he is singing praise of Kwantlen athletics around the Lower Mainland.

“We have fantastic facilities, but we don’t shout about it enough,” Braich said.

Yes, team sports like soccer are essentially about the team.

But who makes the team?

Individuals. When it comes to recruiting players, varsity coaches are looking for the best individuals, naturally. But those players will only tryout for KPU’s team if they plan on attending KPU, Braich said.

It’s not only about attracting solid players, but attracting solid players who are also solid students that want to attend Kwantlen.

Kwantlen Eagles’ number 18, Jacob Starheim, jumps for a ball during a game last year. KYLE BENNING/THE RUNNER

Braich, a 25-year coaching veteran who’s trained everything from local soccer clubs, the American Y-League to the Vancouver Whitecaps, has now figured the secret to successful varsity coaching.

Recently, Braich was invited on a local South Asian radio show where he talked about the sports programs Kwantlen has to offer and the benefits to their student-athletes.

But he’s not stoping there.

ATHLETICS

“I’ll even go to the high schools,” he said referring to the offer he made to the athletics department.

Braich’s determination to put Kwantlen on the map appears to be paying dividends.

At the team’s last training camp, Braich saw many ideal players coming out for a slot on the team.

“We had some very nice surprises,” Braich said. “We got some of the better players we’ve

been chasing, who’ve finally made their minds up to come to school here instead of going across the river to the Langaras or Douglases.”

And those better players will be vital to the new season. Last season the team finished with one point; one draw, 11 losses and no wins.

Braich is currently choosing between 39 players.

Approximately 18 of them will make the final cut, nabbing

a spot on the new roster. The announcement is expected to come in a couple weeks.

Now that Braich has spread the word and gotten his skilled players, he’s looking to reach his next big goal: qualifying for provincials.

“We want to make the provincials at all cost,” he said.

How does he plan to do that?

Raise fitness. Raise team chemistry. Raise scholastic morale.Despite last year’s air-gasping season, Briach is confident that things are going to turn around.

“We just lacked experience and fitness,” Braich said of last year’s team. “As a coach, I was in deep without a life jacket.”

Last season was Braich’s first year with KPU, and he said was still getting a hang of things.

“Now, I’m already two months ahead of where I was last season.”

Two months ahead, lifejacket secured and seasoned players on board – could the men’s soccer team be over their growing pains?

Braich is out there singing for KPU, raising expectations and potentially raising the bar.

“I’m very proud,” he said, “to be a part of the growing phase.”

FEATURED FROM THE WEB

Eagles fundraiser raises close to $15,000

Kwantlen golf clinic was a swinging success Read this story on the web at www.runnerrag.ca

I

KYLE BENNING NEWS EDITOR

With the athletics season soon arriving, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s athletics department held its first annual golf tournament at Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey on May 25.

The tournament was a way for the department to raise funds for their studentathletes. Around 30 Eagles volunteered time to help out at the fundraiser.

Elise Le Brun, Kwantlen’s athletic director, said the Eagles raised close to $15,000.

Le Brun said that the department is looking to put the money towards educating their student-athletes in several key areas.

“We think it’s really important to educate our student-athletes on concussion awareness,” said Le Brun. “We

want to provide them with some additional support around nutrition, sports psychology and strength and conditioning.”

Gordon Smith, head coach of the provincial-winning women’s soccer team said that he would like to see the athletics program grow as well.

Smith mentioned taking his team to a tournament out of the province, and even playing in tournaments in Hawaii or California.

Even though their main goal of the day was to obtain funds, the athletics director said that everyone enjoyed themselves despite the poor weather conditions.

“The great thing about having a golf tournament like this is you can bring really strong golfers and you can bring people who are recreational golfers together.”

Each of the 120 golfers had an entrance fee of $250.

The Runner's Contributor and Production Meeting Come to The Runner’s next production meeting. Talk about story ideas for the upcoming issue and eat some free food.

July 8 (Friday)

2:00pm

The Runner Office: Arbutus 3710 (third floor of the library building) Surrey Campus.

WRITE

CULTURE

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

vol. 3 issue 21 | June 15 2011 | page nine

FEMINISM

Prostitution and the F-word Three female Kwantlen instructors and Dr. Leslie Ann Jeffrey, co-author of Sex Workers in the Maritimes Talk Back and Sex and Borders, sound off on the sex-trade, women’s rights and what it means to be a feminist.

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KRISTI ALEXANDRA CULTURE EDITOR

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s Vancouverites, we know we’re at home in the poorest postal code in Canada.

Along with that comes the struggle of some of the most economically disadvantaged, severely marginalized people—among them, streetlevel prostitutes.

It’s a visible demographic in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, and also a highly policed collection of individuals whose many injustices include a lack of support from the law resulting in a dangerous and sometimes violent work environment.

Three Kwantlen instructors, Jean Nicolson-Church, Susan Power and Seema Ahluwalia, along with Dr. Leslie Ann Jeffrey had something to say about the conditions of the Canadian sextrade, and how different schools of feminism can help or hinder the perceptions and value of sex-trade workers in Canada.

Power, an instructor in Kwantlen’s Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing program, knows that the ideas of feminism and the sex-trade can sometimes be both mutually inclusive and exclusive.

“It depends on what you define as feminism and what you define as the sex-trade,” she said, alongside NicolsonChurch in an interview at Kwantlen’s Surrey campus. “I think, philosophically, in the BPN program, teaching women’s studies, the focus is the lens with which you work with people. That’s coming from a point of relationship and respect – which are both feminist concepts. So, then it’s very compatible with working with people in the sex-trade.”

However, some feminists aren’t always willing to look at the sex-trade this way.

“According to some feminists, [prostitution] should be illegal because it’s a product of our society as a man’s exploitation of a woman,” said Power.

“However, there’s another group of feminists that believe that it should be legal to ensure the safety of women in that they should have a right to choose. People need to realize that it’s complicated and look at it through a systems perspective.”

Jeffrey, a political science professor at University of New Brunswick and co-author of Sex Workers in the Maritimes Talk Back and Sex and Borders, also sees the separation among feminists.

“Feminism as a field is fairly complex and has many, many forms. There are a number of sex-work alliances across Canada who are trying to bridge the gap,” she said over the phone from New Brunswick.

“You’ve got to stop calling that kind of feminism – which is prohibitionist and wants to eradicate prostitution – you’ve got to stop calling it radical because it’s actually not radical, it’s quite conservative.”

It’s these conservative views,

unfortunately, that lend to conservative law-making, which ultimately lead to a lack of protection for sexworkers and force them into more dangerous situations.

Seema Ahluwalia, Kwantlen’s chair of the Department of Sociology, has focused heavily on violence against women and policing surrounding the sex-trade.

She says that street-level prostitutes, unlike prostitutes at massage parlours or escort services, are at a higher risk of violence and policing.

“Today, we have the term ‘survival sex.’ Often what people are referring to is street-level prostitution, and we understand that this is where most of the public gets their sense of what prostitution is,” she said from her office on Kwantlen’s Surrey campus.

“That’s the type of prostitution that’s largely policed, and the kind that’s most visible. In terms of policy to protect society from prostitutes, there’s a concern that street level prostitution is connected to other social problems like crime and drug-use.”

These stigmas amount to much of the negative attitudes towards female sex-workers, when in fact, the unseen avenues of prostitution are the norm.

“Generally, street-based sex-workers are the minority in sex-work. They are maybe 10 to 20 per cent maximum of those in sex-work. It’s the smallest proportion but is the most visible. The vast majority of it takes place as escort work or massage parlour work, which nobody ever sees or cares about,” said Jeffrey.

But the author doesn’t see this changing anytime soon.

“I don’t see a lot of stigma changing around sex-work,” she said. “It’s probably the biggest barrier. What contributes to [violence] is the stigma by society, which doesn’t care when sex-workers are killed or when they’re blamed. Murders of sexworkers are going on across the country – we’ve lost 18 women in Halifax alone.

It’s a fairly constant set of killings that wouldn’t be tolerated if it were any other group of people.”

“It goes deeply into gendering and sexuality,” she added. “Most importantly, there’s a double sexual standard. There are whores and there are good girls— that’s it, Madonnas and whores.”

These two restrictive classifications for women spurned the country-wide Slutwalk events that had women from all walks-of-life marching together to eradicate victim-blaming. The initiative was to bring to attention that women are not responsible for being sexually assaulted, regardless of what they do or what they wear.

“We have to get rid of that set of assumptions [that people deserve violence], and the Slutwalk is one of the ways in which women across the spectrum have taken up that issue.”

CULTURE

page ten | June 15 2011 | vol. 3 issue 21

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

STUDENT CLUBS

WOOW poised to smash glass ceiling with dialogues Students Kari Michaels, Ashley Fehr and Reena Bali founded the Women Organizing Opportunites for Women club to battle sexism in the professional world.

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Kari Michaels is one of three founders of WOOW, and a prominent female figure at Kwantlen and in the KSA. KYLE BENNING/THE RUNNER

CHRIS YEE CONTRIBUTOR

Facing the looming remnants of sexism, Women Organizing Opportunities for Women plans to create dialogue about women’s issues at large and connect female Kwantlen students with local female leaders.

Even the group’s abbreviation, WOOW, seems poised to smash the glass ceiling, its arms flexed and thrust upward in solidarity.

“For those who think women have achieved equal status (at least in North America), I would ask them to look at the lack of female representation in parliament and in high level corporate positions. I would also ask them to look at the statistics on sexual assault and domestic violence and tell me there isn’t a trend in who the victims are,” said WOOW co-founder Kari Michaels of the new club’s rationale, in correspondence to the Runner.

“In Kwantlen’s community specifically, there are culturally repressed women who may not have access to opportunities because they come from a male dominated background,“ Michaels continued.

With this in mind, Michaels,

along with Ashley Fehr and Reena Bali, decided to start WOOW to address a lack of advocacy at Kwantlen around women’s issues.

“In the last KSA election we saw a lot of sexualizing [of] female candidates in a completely inappropriate manner; it’s clearly something that still needs address,” Fehr said in a message to the Runner.

Fehr added, “We want to see women leaders emerging from Kwantlen. “ “You can easily name 20 male leaders off the top of your head but when it comes to naming 20 female leaders it requires a lot more thinking; you can do it, but it’ll take longer.“ “We want to create a space where female students at Kwantlen are able to connect with each other as well as with local female leaders and develop relationships and mentorships.“ Fehr expects WOOW to be in “full force” in the coming semester, doing monthly dialogues with local women leaders and conducting awareness campaigns.

“We’re reaching out to various MPs, MLAs, businesswomen and other forms of leadership,” Fehr says of

WOOW’s planned conferences with female leaders.

Further on, WOOW hopes to set up and work with Kwantlen to create a Women’s Studies minor and set up a Women’s Centre on campus (“a safe place for women [on] campus,” Bali says of the plan.)

While WOOW was founded to address women’s issues at Kwantlen, it is open to anyone who supports the cause, regardless of gender.

A common misconception of feminism, Fehr says, is that it is “about women being more important than men”. Rather, it is about “gender equality and inclusivity in society, “achieved through “break[ing] down barriers women face socially, politically and economically” (as Michaels noted in her message to the Runner defining feminism).

“In no way is Women Organizing Opportunities for Women a club only for female students,” Fehr continued.

“We welcome anyone who wants [to] help foster a progressive campus.”

For more information on Women Organizing Opportunities for Women (WOOW), send an email to kpu.woow@gmail. com.

FASHION

Denim is back and blue I RACHELLE NIENKAEMPER

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his spring/summer season we have seen the re-emergence of denim in the form of pants, tops, bags and even shoes. Blue is the prominent denim color this season. Denim is making its comeback and it’s a prominent one! If you’re shopping in malls or boutiques, you will see denim. It might just be a piece or two, but it’s there.

At the boutique where I work, Warren Fashion Boutique at Elgin Corners in Surrey, we have had denim shirts featured as well as denim bags and of course denim pants and lots of them. A denim shirt can be easily thrown over a cute summer dress for heading out to the beach. Your denim bag is an easy “grab and go” staple piece for a day out and about. Denim is easily integrated into our lives and each of us probably has a least one denim piece whether it be jeans, a shirt, shoes or a cute pair of shorts. Another popular piece this spring is the denim boyfriend style capris and shorts, which are fashionable and also super comfortable. I have already picked up myself a pair of boyfriend shorts for this summer season!

It’s a great staple that we base the rest of our outfits around and denim makes a statement as well. For jeans this spring/summer season we’ve been seeing a lot of trousers and flared jeans coming back in style. Another big trend for the spring and summer is white demin, which is a great light colour to pair with your spring tops, and white goes with everything! Jeans are a staple, but it’s not all the time we see denim featured in shirts and bags; that trend comes and goes, but is definitely on top this season. It’s easy to work with, and is usually hassle free and always a good investment.

Denim was also featured on page 41 of the June 2011 Elle Canada issue. It is definitely a noteworthy trend to watch out for, and perhaps do a little shopping for as well.

Top: A jean purse is always a good investment.

Left: A denim shirt over a cute summer dress is a quick fashion fix when heading to the beach.

RACHELLE NIENKAEMPER/THE RUNNER

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

CULTURE

vol. 3 issue 21 | June 15 2011 | page eleven

MUSIC FEST

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY MATTHEW J. VAN DEVENTER

Black Mountain does Vancouver proud at Sasquatch! Music festival I

KRISTI ALEXANDRA CULTURE EDITOR

F

or its 10th year anniversary, it seemed that Quincy, Washington’s Sasquatch! Music festival spared no expense.

Each year its commerciality heightened just a little bit more, and with money from huge sponsors like Honda, Esurance, Kokanee and PS3, the festival has been able to get a little more glitzy each year.

No, this doesn’t mean you got to upgrade to flushing toilets from the portable outhouses (aptly named Honey Buckets) – unless, of course, you paid the extra $160 to be a premiere camper – but the festival grounds were flush with extras like a 50-foot shower among other things.

The big budget was shown in the line-up, however, with big headliners like Foo Fighters, Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips and Wilco. What a weekend for music! Not that last year’s headliners like Band of Horses and My Morning Jacket weren’t spectacular, but when it came to the festival’s 10th year anniversary, the booking agents did it right.

This year, the festival expanded into four days, with Foo Fighters headlining the evening. Ironically, all of the boys accidentally showed up in plaid—not quite a surprise for the pacific northwesters, some of whom were at the pinnacle of the ‘90s grunge scene when lumberjack-punk fashion saw its inception. Foo Fighters frontman and

former Nirvana drummer, Dave Grohl made a quick quip about the guys’ unintentional coordination, but mostly kept to the music.

The five-piece played early and recent favourites, all flawlessly, including songs like “Monkey Wrench,” “My Hero” and “Let it Die.” An eerie version of “Everlong” made the packed Gorge Amphitheatre go wild. Nearing the end of their set, Grohl announced his distaste for the concept of an encore.

“It’s this weird thing,” he said to probably over 10,000 people. “Instead of playing an encore, we’ll maximize our time and play through it. Is that okay with you guys?”

A cheering crowd indicated that, yes indeed, it was all a-okay with them.

Saturday boasted a full day line-up of bands, which was well taken advantage of on the sunniest of the weekend’s days.

Swedish band The Radio Department and fellow Swede Robyn showed charm and precision in their sets, while folk-singer and former teen heartthrob Connor Oberst fulfilled the dreams of 20-something girls when he played the mainstage with Bright Eyes later that night.

Jenny & Johnny – comprised of Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice, who are also coincidentally a couple – played the Bigfoot stage mid-day to an adoring audience. The folk-pop duo’s relaxed sounds pander to a predominantly female audience – probably the same audience that swooned to Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward’s band, She & Him. Hmm, a few points of similarity

here.

A short acoustic set by Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis drew a surprisingly small crowd, as well as a disappointing comedic performance by Canada’s Trailer Park Boys.

Speaking of Canada, it seemed there was more than a handful of our fellow Canadians in attendance. If their/our utter confusion about American drug-lingo—“Has anyone seen Molly?” roughly translates to “Who’s selling MDMA?”—and our accents weren’t indicator enough, a few patriotic hockey fans chanting “Go Canucks Go” showed us that the Canucks might have just beat out the Yankees in number of attendees.

Not only was our Northern blood reflected in the crowd, however. Vancouver band Black Mountain wowed fans old and new during their performance on the Bigfoot Stage on Monday afternoon.

The five-piece’s brand of chilling stonerrock was a slight departure from upbeat indie-rock bands like Noah and the Whale or Surfer Blood. While the band is incredibly tight and each reliant on each other’s musical prowess to complete the outfit, standout players were singer and frontwoman Amber Webber and guitarist-vocalist Stephen McBean. Webber’s unique, chilling croon is one feature that easily defines Black Mountain’s sound, along with McBean’s sludgy guitar style.

Songs like “Queens Will Play” surely earned the group a few new fans, and wellrepresented the growing Canadian music scene at Sasquatch! Music festival.

CULTURE

page twelve | June 15 2011 | vol. 3 issue 21

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

TALENT

Kwantlen’s Got Talent: Anthropology of Love Three-piece band Anthropology of Love, consisting of Kwantlen students has future plans to add an orchestra to their as-of-yet humble DIY sound. For now, the boys are just looking to book Vancouver venues and gain local clout.

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CHRIS YEE CONTRIBUTOR

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nthropology of Love wants it all. At least, they want a drummer, though an orchestra of musicians would be nice. “Xylophone, vibraphone, fiddle, mandolin, banjo - then we’d be a band,” front man and chief songwriter Vaughn Swenson quipped.

Originally consisting of Swenson, an anthropology and art history student who is planning to transfer to UBC. “Kwantlen’s a sweet school, though,“ he commented.

Along with long-time friend Joe Gibson, Anthropology of Love quickly morphed into a guitar and bass-driven three piece, adding Ryan Faliszewski to the line-up (future drummers notwithstanding).

As one might guess, Swenson’s studies inspired Anthropology of Love’s name. “Hopefully our music can be a bridge for all the different cultures, and it can unite [them] by the one universal thing, which is love, which binds us all,” Swenson said.

A love of 60s and 70s pop informs Anthropology of Love’s music. There’s the obvious Beatles influence, which Swenson admits, but the band’s influences are more wideranging than that. For instance,

Vaughn Swenson, Joe Gibson and Ryan Faliszewski make up the guitar-and-bass driven three-piece Anthropology of Love.

CHRIS YEE/THE RUNNER

at a May 19 battle-of-the-bandsstyle show at Ceili’s Irish Pub, Anthropology of Love did what Swenson described as a “sultry” cover of “I Saw The Light” by classic rock radio staple Todd Rundgren (later known for “Bang the Drum All Day” and

being Liv Tyler’s alleged-butnot-actual dad, though his 1972 album, Something/Anything? is quite good, at least in Swenson’s opinion as a self-described record “guru”.)

Sadly, Anthropology of Love didn’t win, despite their solid

musicianship that night.

“I thought we played the songs OK... the levels could have been better,” Swenson said when asked about how they fared during the set, exhibiting a degree of discernment that also defined their set on May 19.

It’s all for the better that at least one of the Anthropologists of Love has good ears: though they hope to put out CDs soon, Anthropology of Love is selfrecording for now.

“I have recording equipment, Ryan has recording equipment, we’re just trying to write songs and play shows,” Swenson said.

“Recording an album costs so much money,” Swenson noted, reflecting on the realities of the music business. “[Doing it yourself] is, like, ten times cheaper,” Swenson added.

So what else is next for Anthropology of Love? “I think we need to pick up different styles of music, like Indian songs, gypsy music,” Swenson answered.

This explains Swenson’s hope for a vanload of musicians to fill out Anthropology of Love’s ranks.

“I think we could have an orchestra, definitely.”

For now, though, the love anthropologists at Anthropology of Love plan to continue courting venues in Vancouver and elsewhere with their classic pop stylings.

Anthropology of Love played their latest show on June 7 at the Railway Club with bands Blake Acoustic, Something Paisley and Hallow Moon.

SONIC ARCHAEOLOGY

Vinyl Dust-off: Budgie’s In For The Kill Lliam Easterbrook –– sonic archaeologist –– brings you his latest finds from excursions into ancient record bins.

Every week, only on Vinyl Dust-off.

H

I

LLIAM EASTERBROOK CREATIVE ARTS BUREAU CHIEF

3/5 Records

aving been in the mood for some pleasurable pain earlier this week, I made an appointment with my girl Sasha at Funhouse Tattoos in Vancouver. Caught in the midst of the tattoo gun’s buzz, I heard a deadly riff shooting from the shop’s stellar sound system: killer guitar tone, relaxed production—what is that? I said to myself. Having put the tunage on herself, I asked Sasha. “This is Budgie, man,” she replied, in between cries of “Ooh baby, I can rock and roll/ Ooh baby, get out of my soul.”

That man is Burke Shelley, a “slap-a-da-bass” screamer on par with Rush’s Geddy Lee (but with a voice that doesn’t make you want to dig your eardrums from your skull with a dental scaler).

And the band, Budgie, who hail from Cardiff, Wales, largely remain an uncelebrated relic of ‘70s hard rock.

Now the irony here is two fold.

First, a band as dirty and heavy sounding as Budgie should damn rightly have a name as timid and unassuming as Budgie; and even though

the album art displays a pretty menacing bird of prey, the tame name of Budgie still makes me laugh after hearing how tasty some of these riffs are.

Shelley wails, “Raven black is on my track/ Please show me how to neutralize the knife.” over choppy guitars on the single “Crash Course in Brain Surgery,” which is the second irony, because, coincidently, the three tattoos I permanently had incisioned into my epidermis that day had to do with ravens—two based on mythological narrative, and one for its aesthetic antiquity—so Shelley’s raven lyric was unexpected, fitting and welcomed as I lay in the midst of the needle’s sear.

Budgie, along with other hard rock staples from this early to mid seventies era—Zeppelin, Sabbath, Deep Purple, Judas Priest etc—can sometimes sound a lot alike: prominent guitars, deep bass lines and heavy handed drums; and most of them tailored themselves around a deep-seeded blues sensibility.

Budgie’s sound is typical of its generation in rock, but they explore more progressive (and

heavy) song structures, in my opinion, than their metallic brethren—except for perhaps the one and only Black Sabbath.

With multiple songs reaching the nine to ten minute mark, In for the Kill sounds more like an extended jam than a cohesive hard rock album. Songs like the aforementioned “Crash Course” rip and tear with crunching brevity, while the ten minute “Zoom Club” takes flight, building itself up to a thunderous climax before crashing down like a bird of prey in a blur of screeching guitars and pounding drums.

Good shit, man.

So all in all, this past Tuesday was a good day; the sun was shining and the Bonitas were flowery; I got some ink done and was introduced to a band I’d only vaguely heard of before, but never gave a spin.

Gifts abound and gifts around; that’s how this art thing works, my friends, how rock and roll works: get a gift of something found and give a gift of something sound. Until next time, all. Cheers.

Play it loud.

Play it proud.

EDITORIAL

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

vol. 3 issue 21 | June 15 2011 | page thirteen

KSA RESOLUTION

The Runner is student owned and operated by Kwantlen Polytechnic University students, published under Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society.

Vol. 3, Issue no. 21 June 15 2011 ISSN# 1916-8241

An open letter to KSA council: let us do our jobs The Runner takes issue with a Kwantlen Student Association council decision that bans our reporters from recording public meetings. We’ve decided to let our readers know that we consider it to be the wrong move.

I THE RUNNER

Arbutus 3710/3720 12666 76 Ave. Surrey, B.C. V3W 2M8 www.runnerrag.ca 778-565-3801

EDITORIAL DIVISION: Co-ordinating Editor (interim) Jeff Groat editor@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3803 Culture Editor Kristi Alexandra culture@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3804 News Editors (interim) Matt DiMera Kyle Benning 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: Campus News / (Vacant) Creative Arts / Lliam Easterbrook Environmental / (Vacant) Graphics / Antonio Su Health & Lifestyle / (Vacant) Political Affairs / (Vacant) Sports / (Vacant)

CONTRIBUTORS: Katrina Pederson, Connor Doyle, Chris Yee, Matthew Bossons, Matthew J. Van Deventer, Mike Shames, Jared Vaillancourt, Rachelle Nienkaemper, Winston Le, Kimiya Shokoohi Cover Art: Matt Law

BUSINESS DIVISION: Operations Manager, Ads, Classifieds DJ Lam ops@runnerrag.ca 778-688-3797

A resolution banning all electronic recording of KSA council meetings was passed at the Wednesday, May 11, meeting of council. We at The Runner find this to be a step in the wrong direction in student affairs on campus and wish to see it overturned at the next available opportunity.

On the KSA’s website, a statement to members fills the main page. The statement details the new councils’ digging into the past five years of KSA management, claiming neglect of duty, among other things. It reads, “a KSA that is not respective and responsive to you is not worth having at all.” We agree. We believe respect and response stems from

a transparent council which is committed to maintaining access to any and all of its public functions.

It is essential that The Runner’s reporters be able to use the tools that any professional journalist may have at their disposal to do their job to the best of their ability. This includes digital voice recorders.

An argument that council minutes are an acceptable record in place of an audio recording is faulty. There is no definition as to how detailed minutes need be, nor is there a requirement to attribute statements made to the person who said them, a fact that has recently been put to use. More to this, minutes come out a minimum of two weeks after meetings take place, and in

most cases can take well over a month to be released. That kind of delay is unacceptable.

The statement goes on to describe the “debacle” of “very poor communication and transparency” seen in the past five years. To be sure, a motion which bans all recording devices from the council chambers only ensures that “very poor communication and transparency” become permanent fixtures.

As elected representatives of the student body, council has a duty to maintain public access.

We understand the impossibility of having every single Kwantlen student drop in on every council meeting. Our duty is to tell that story. But just as members of Canada’s House of Commons, the British Columbia

Legislature and Vancouver City Council maintain high levels of public access and audio/visual recordings, the KSA Council should not only expect such recording of meetings, but aid in the publication of the events occurring in those meetings.

As an explanation for the inquiry, the KSA statement says, “we hope it will help the KSA to understand what went wrong, how it happened, and how to prevent it from happening in the future.” The Runner believes that by holding a good record of events, this process need not be done in the future. In fact, it serves to prevent such circumstances ever arising in the first place. We urge council to rethink its resolution and allow recordings of meetings, if only to better serve its members.

WOMEN

The negative connotation of feminism I

KATRINA PEDERSON CONTRIBUTOR

Last term I enrolled into an introduction to political science course with Greg Millard and sat down in class as we were starting a new topic: feminism.

I didn’t know too much about feminism besides what I had seen in movies, which usually consisted of stereotypical hippies burning bras and women walking down the streets in mass crowds, with signs waving in the air.

Many view feminists, even today as man-hating lesbians who don’t care about their appearances and refuse to be the typical “housewife.”

As the slides from the Power Point arose to the screen, I slowly started to realize I knew nothing about the waves of feminism, the power struggle or the fact that women today aren’t as well off as they seemed. I figured after all these years of women fighting for their rights that we would have everything we could ever want, I mean, come on – it’s the 21st century.

We have computers, transportation, exports and imports from all around the world, but we still don’t have full gender equality.

We proceeded to watch

a short documentary called, “The F Word: Who Wants to Be a Feminist?” This documentary was enlightening to me as it brought up questions like, “what is the definition of a feminist?” and, “what does being a feminist mean to our world today?”

Already, I can imagine readers cringing at this article as they start to read it, but these questions must be answered in order to help others realize the true meaning of the word feminism. Feminism to me is women or men standing up for the rights of all genders, not just women’s rights. So by that definition, wouldn’t we all be feminists? Doesn’t everyone want to be treated equally in the world and have their opinions heard? Feminists merely want to change the power struggle and make sure all people – no matter what race or gender – are equal. Feminism is merely misunderstood.

In order for people to understand feminism in its entirety, they must know the core beliefs of feminism. Feminists believe that women are oppressed.

They ask with this statement, “what exactly is the definition of oppression?”

Is it only having two mansions in the Hamptons, or is it just having the bare necessities

COURTESY OF THISGEEKREDES VIA FLICKR

in life?

Another core belief of feminism is that there is an imbalance of power, which usually leads to women getting the short end of the stick. Finally, the last main belief of feminism is that the personal is political.

This statement means our individual rights become a political issue.

Madonna, The Spice Girls, and Lady GaGa. When you read these names, you think of strong, powerful and wealthy women. All of these women are seen as women fighting against women’s typical roles and showing the world that they do not need men to support them. “Girl Power” is among the popular catchphrases of The Spice Girls, but is it really a

good thing to use sex appeal in order to make yourself known and important in the world that you live in today? I think we need less of Lady GaGa and more women in the workforce and involved in politics in order to make a true difference on gender equality. Women should not be ashamed or afraid to admit that they are feminists.

Feminism has been given such a negative connotation from the media that when people hear the word they immediately have negative thoughts swarming in their heads. Feminism needs to be embraced and explained properly to others because I know if it wasn’t for that one professor to truly explain the ideology of feminism, I would be afraid too.

Office Co-ordinator Victoria Almond office@runnerrag.ca 778-565-3802 Operations Assistant Brittany Tiplady

BC What do you think?

HST letters@runnerrag.ca

page fourteen | June 15 2011 | vol. 3 issue 21

CULTURE

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

THEATRE

Wicked defies the odds as a touring Broadway act I

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Menzel and Chenoweth loom large as Broadway icons and trying to avoid the inevitable comparisons is a daunting task.

Brummel’s Elphaba is alternately vulnerable and fierce and her ascent in Defying Gravity at the end of the first act is spellbinding.

Daradich doesn’t fare nearly as well. Though she holds her own as a talented performer, her voice seemed to strain through the operatic trills in the opening number No One Mourns the Wicked. But her Glinda is endearing and she lithely steals the show as she makes over Elphaba in the comedic Popular.

Wicked is far from perfect.

Though it has plenty of showstopping moments, it lacks heart and often veers toward the overly sentimental and dramatic.

With tickets topping out at $164.15 apiece after fees, magic doesn’t come cheap. But the show is still a must-see, especially for those who can’t afford to travel to see it in New York.

MATTHEW DIMERA NEWS EDITOR

T

he touring Broadway productions that come to Vancouver are too often hitor-miss with high-priced tickets that don’t always adequately deliver in quality.

Wicked, however, completely defies the odds. From the moment the first curtain rises until the last one falls, it is pure Broadway spectacle. Even the scaled-down version currently playing on stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre until June 26 is a technical vision to behold.

Billed as the untold story of the witches of Oz and based on the Gregory Maguire novel, Wicked made its Broadway debut in 2003 and the commercial juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down.

The show is practically a two-woman musical, with wicked witch Elphaba (Anne Brummel) or good witch Glinda (Natalie Daradich) dominating the stage for most of the nearly three-hour running time.

The two have awfully-big shoes to fill, playing characters originated by Tony-winners

MOVIE

Pirates return with no flounders I

MIKE SHAMES CONTRIBUTOR

Grade: A+

W

hen people first caught wind that Disney was making a new Pirates of the Caribbean, it was a cringe-worthy piece of news for everyone.

After the disaster of Worlds End what could possibly compel them to try anything with this franchise again?

The Curse of the Black Pearl was a joyous thrill ride with all the makings of a great movie.

It was a huge disappointment when the next two came out. The acting was almost forced and the actors tired.

The third instalment had more plot twist than a few wellknown Fox shows, and it was all very unnecessary.

The latest, Stranger Tides, eliminated the entire cast save for Johnny Depp –– of course –– Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa and Kevin McNally as Gibbs, Jack’s First Mate.

This move was brilliant and the wave of new characters, including Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane opened many new possibilities.

It all comes together to create a movie that’s nearly as good as the original Pirates of the Caribbean.

Stranger Tides is the movie that should have followed the original.

The film is set a few years after the events of At Worlds

End. Jack is lacking a ship and a crew, Barbossa is a privateer and Gibbs is, well, still a pirate.

The whole flick revolves around the race to the Fountain of Youth between the English, lead by Barbossa, Blackbeard’s pirates, guided by Jack and the Spanish –– who we don’t see much of.

The opening scenes come with a scare and the Spanish king ordering a fleet to search for the Fountain of Youth.

Meanwhile, Jack comes to London to rescue Gibbs from being hanged, using a judge disguise.

After nearly escaping, Jack gets an official offer to guide Barbossa to the Fountain before the Spanish. Jack escapes in the usual Sparrow fashion –– a mix of the old Indiana Jones and James Bond –– including a chase through the streets to a pub were someone is posing as him.

He ends up on Blackbeard’s ship were he runs into an exgirlfriend, Angelica (Cruz) who is Blackbeard’s First Mate.

Gibbs, in the meantime, is pressed into Barbossa’s privateers, and the race beings.

Jack and Angelica fight, plot and scheme, Blackbeard has magic powers and yet is fearing for his life, while Barbossa pursues them, and we rarely see the Spanish at all.

Despite its 33 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is a thrill and a joy to see the best characters return with much renewed and re-energized performances. Many people could tell by World’s End that

Depp, the rest of the cast and crew were sick of characters and didn’t want to do it anymore.

As a result, the performances and movies suffered severely.

After a four year break, Depp has found his love for Captain Jack Sparrow again, and it shows in the delivery.

Jack is his usual goofy, drunk, scatter-brained, fly-by-theseat-of-your-pants self, and yet manages to be a cross between super-spy and Navy SEAL. He’s a joy to watch, never knowing if he’s going to be the brave and fearless pirate or run away screaming. Rush, McNally and the writers have also rediscovered their enthusiasm.

Cruz’s character is the only woman that could ever truly capture Jack’s heart, and match him in wits, sword play and plotting. She is strong, stubborn, rough, deadly, manipulative and yet manages to be sexy, merciful and feminine. Without spoiling the plot, there is a missionary she manages to spare.

McShane plays Blackbeard, an actual historical figure. What the writers were going for with this character we’re not sure, but he didn’t seem all that evil, more like a strict father with a kick ass ship, super bad rep, and zombie officers. Giving him telekinetic control of he ship to recreate someone like Davy Jones comes off as hoaxy. Also he’s running to the Fountain to escape some horrible death but he has made zombie officers, so why bother with the Fountain?

If anything, Blackbeard come

off as tragic, trying to cheat death, yet condemning himself to it anyways. But still is very evil, despite being tragic.

The missionary is on board Blackbeard’s ship trying to save souls, including the Captains, at the behest of Angelica. Okay –– missionary on a pirate ship –– not all that likely, and annoying. He spend most of his screen time helping a captured mermaid in a side story resembling Will and Elizabeth or the other Disney mermaid.

Other than the love story, he is useless.

I can’t help but think many of the things he does could easily be performed by anyone in the main cast, and the JackAngelica love story should have more attention. The mermaids are beautiful and terrifying.

Fashion models are cast as the main mermaids, giving them an unearthly beauty, and massive seductive powers. But you know at any moment they are going to attack.

The mermaids are smart, complex and all this is transferred to the audience in a few short scenes.

The story itself is fun, twisting and grandiose. While the other movies are grand in scale, this one limits itself to a few specific areas. In doing so, we can have a much better, more developed story that allows the characters to develop. There are a few plot twist to keep things from getting boring, but not too many to get silly. There are times you may have to just go with a plot

hole or two, but the story is still strong and exciting.

One disconcerting part is the Spaniards. We see them at the beginning, and once more before their final appearance at the end of the movie. We don’t know what they want with the Fountain of Youth, we just know they are the reason the English and maybe Blackbeard have to get there first.

In some ways, they should have been fleshed out more, to make them seem more threatening. On the other hand, the secrecy adds to the mystery and suspense.

Like Terminators or Ring Wraiths, little is known but they have a mission and they are unstoppable.

They should have been shown in this context more, at the cost of the missionary’s boring subplot.

Stranger Tides should have been the sequel to Curse of the Black Pearl. There are many elements to this film that could have a brief explanation, or remain unexplained.

Like Jack’s compass, it could just be something he acquired from somewhere. The second and third films were silly in every aspect, this is the only one that could follow the first.

This movie is great, wonderful, thrilling, fun, and funny. It can be compared to the original, but doesn’t surpass it.

Stranger Tides has a few issues, can be silly, slow at times, has a few plot holes, but definitely is a must see for this summer.

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

CREATIVE

vol. 3 issue 21 | June 15 2011 | page fifteen

PHOTOGRAPHY

TIME EXPOSURE BY KYLE BENNING

FICTION

Dauntless I

JARED VAILLANCOURT CONTRIBUTOR

M

iranda leaned back and ran her left hand through her messy black hair. The screen flickered before her, the text file opened and still blank. She took a deep breath and gritted her teeth, absently reaching for a pen to stick behind her ear. The glow of the street lamps outside her window provided the only other illumination in her downtown flat, casting her olive-bronze skin into a strange shade of orange. She tapped the pen against her temple before shoving it into the space behind her ear.

“Bollocks, really?” Miranda muttered, her mother’s old “birds of the countryside” clock chirping like a sparrow as the arms reached midnight. The ancient – at least to her perception of technology – clock presided on a site of honour above the doorway between her bedroom and kitchen, and even with the oak door half closed she could still hear the thing as loudly as though it were wired to a megaphone. Nights like this one where she stayed up late to finish her articles were the worst, alerting her every hour to the calls of nightingales and storks that she was confident she’d forget in the coming weeks.

As it sat, however, she’d have to endure the device until either exhaustion or liquor eased her to sleep this night.

She stood up and tiptoed over to her window, smirking briefly at the sleepy Edinburgh suburb as a gentle breeze wafted the sweet smell of baked goods up from the rich house at the end of the boulevard. Whoever lived there was always baking, creating a fog of perpetual hunger that lingered over the street like the rain clouds over the city this late into August. She’d become used to the smell by now, but after an evening sampling food at the new restaurant on the Royal Mile, she gently closed the window and locked it, lest her stomach think her nose was taunting it.

Miranda had always been an unimposing woman; her father was of Indian descent, his parents having migrated from the former Commonwealth colony when he was a little boy. Her mother, an English nurse, had more French in her than her obsession with nationality would have let on and thus Miranda had a curious appearance, with thick eyebrows and a wide mouth that she always felt was a touch too large for her face. She’d missed out

on her mother’s vibrant blue eyes and inherited plain brown ones, and had a slim hook nose that seemed out of place with her low cheekbones. Looking at her reflection in the glass, she felt she couldn’t lay claim to any of her juxtaposed heritages.

Though, she mused, her new job was beginning to make her resemble an American.

“Now, let’s see...” Miranda whispered as she tiptoed over her low Ikea bed and resumed her fold-out seat before the computer. The Edinburgh Evening Newspaper had hired her as a food critic, taking her at a modest pay raise from The Telegraph in London. Her first few articles had covered popular pastry places and the famous Taste of Scotland dinner and show (although they didn’t serve the foreign guests real haggis, thank the good Lord), followed by reviews of miscellaneous niche pubs and bed and breakfasts. Her assignments had always been easy ones, or so she had thought; apparently there was more to critiquing food than saying whether or not one liked it.

“Original and in-depth”, Miranda repeated absently as she typed the name of the restaurant at the top of the page. Her editor was one of thousands seduced by the artistic and pseudo-intuitive trend that had come over with the likes of haute cuisine and refurbishment of older and much pricier establishments.

“If the food makes you cry, make your readers cry!”

Miranda’s editor (now stylishly named “Zed”) had told her earlier yesterday. “If it makes you mad, get the readers mad! I’m overemphasizing, of course. Don’t – don’t make any of our readers mad.” He finished quickly. “Unless the food makes you mad!” Thus armed, Miranda went and had, if nothing else, the most expensive dinner of her life. Now all she had to do was write about it.

“The food at the new Delta – wait, scratch that,” Miranda muttered, deleting the sentence she had just started. “Hi everyone, it’s me again!” she whispered as she typed. Her habit of reading aloud whatever she happened to be writing had been irksome to her college professors and many a roommate, although her current salary granted her the luxury of not needing to endure the whines and complaints of the latter. Her new headline was the same one she started all of her articles with, and despite the occasional letter from some neo-conservative schoolchild pointing out that it was a

constant waste of ink to continually print the same thing (she’d had many a quick quip to respond to that) she was dead-set on keeping it.

Her brief surge of enthusiasm at getting something on the page faded as she stared blankly at the screen.

The meal had been extravagant, owing in no small part to her visit having been arranged by the newspaper and as such every staff member was in full sycophant mode.

The wine list was open and waiting for her when she sat down, the bread in the basket at the centre of her table was still steaming and warm, and her entree was delivered short only of a fanfare. She hated going to places where her identity was established, but as this was the restaurant’s first week in business her words were required to determine the fate of the place. Something about that stayed Miranda’s hands.

“That’s it,” Miranda whispered as she leaned back.

It seemed far too grandiose, too glorified a power for someone like her to hold. The fate of the restaurant, she mused, whether it stayed open or closed down and was replaced by maybe an indoor swimming pool or one of those fancy shops where they sold chocolate for the cost of a small car, was perched squarely on her shoulders.

If she said anything even the slightest bit negative, their business would suffer. Or maybe it wouldn’t; lots of people could tolerate nitrous oxide-addicted servers if their service was prompt or handle a far too intimate atmosphere if the food was “all right”. Either way, whatever she wrote would hang over the place like a rain cloud, something that never mattered to the niche market where everyone interpreted her reviews to fit what they already thought about each place. This new-found power was a tripe daunting, she mused grumpily.

A shower, a change into her plain yellow nightgown and a quick nightcap later and she was once again sitting before her computer, the one o’clock stork making its muted cries through the oak door she’d remembered to shut and lock. A little warmer from the scotch, she stared at her line on the screen. Whatever she wrote would be used by connoisseurs and restaurant-goers alike to forge their immovable opinions of the place. The worst part of all that was she really had no feeling on the subject whatsoever. Miranda blinked at the screen.

“Bloody hell, that’s it!” she whispered, and began typing feverishly.

CREATIVE

page sixteen | June 15 2011 | vol. 3 issue 21

POETRY

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

PHOTOGRAPHY

October Daze I

WINSTON LE CONTRIBUTOR

In October Daze, Death sits at the edge of my bedside.

The touch of his bare bones makes my haggard body seep out sweltering sweat, it slides and drips; beads of water falling on the floor and then shattering.

On this day, oak leaves fade into a brown decay, but from these changing leaves of icterine and vermillion, I recall a brisk breeze breathing across meditative meadows on summer days, which dream away October daze.

Waking up amidst the sun ablaze above a sea-green greenery and the orange hue of the horizon rising over emerald hills.

Further out, the sea’s swerves and curves sung like a siren’s song, and in dusk, aubergine fires lingered among the clouds, until all that was left were shades of cobalt and obsidian.

After sunken sunset, I stood at the edge of dark, listening to the clicks of crickets and watching the luminous lanterns of fireflies radiate.

Daylight is light; leaves are flaked and cracked.

I wished fall were far away, yet with wisps of winter’s wistful wind, these shrivelled, wrinkled, and withered leaves will fall in fall and then crumple and crumble.

A smelting technician pours a gold bar at a precious metal refinery in Richmond, B.C. PHOTO BY MATT LAW

MUSINGS

How to Live a Life Without Love I

CONNOR DOYLE CONTRIBUTOR

Rule #1: Fuck Shakespeare.

You take more time than you need to get your stuff out of her apartment. She’s gone to a movie with her friends, Joe and Katey- Karen- Kristina- the one who always has her underwear sprouting out from the top of her jeans, and although you could be done in a half hour you wait until she gets back so you can make a big deal about walking out the door and maybe hitting her with one last snide comment before you’re gone forever. It’s not that you’re bitter about it ending, you just want her to suffer for all the shit she’s put you through lately. This way you win. She feels bad and you get to be the one who was royally screwed over and is legally allowed to bitch about it now.

That’s a win. That’s definitely a win.

Romanticism be damned.

You know a little poetry, not anything to boast about in front of people, but you get what most of that stuff is saying and you know who Sylvia Plath is, so you’ve earned that cocky “Love set you going like a fat gold watch” strut you’ve been boasting lately. Point is you don’t want to put airs on things that don’t deserve them. This

should be short and succinct.

She’s done you wrong. You’ll be happier without her.

You linger specifically over the copy of Romeo and Juliet you bought for Christmas.

You’ll listen to music, sure, but just regular rock n’ stuff.

The first few notes of “Lay Lady Lay” or “Time To Say Goodbye” already boils the ocean swelling in your stomach. Avoid any romantic affiliations, they won’t play here, she’s not worth it.

You always suspected she was kind of shallow. You two were only together because you were into the same stuff. It’s what you like, not what you are like.

Rule #2: Understand That There’s No Hidden Meaning.

She comes back and is pissed that you’re still there, her twenty-something face morphing to match the demented features of some tortured Succubus. You know all she talked about with her friends was how cruel and arrogant you’ve been. When you hit her with that one-two jab about how her last few relationships before you ended she gets this look in her eyes like she’s either gonna cry or bust.

She sets into the passive aggressive routine and just as you’re in her doorframe with your shit in your arms she flings “I guess we didn’t really get the chance

to know each other,” and at first you become all reluctant to leave, but then you’re enraged because you thought she might be looking for a second shot at you. She’s not. She just wants you to squirm.

Still, you put your shit down and engage her.

Rule #3: Never Engage The Enemy.

The majority of the next hour is delegated to last weekend’s tiff about that time she thought you said you wanted to sleep with Rebecca. This isn’t an argument, it’s an argument about an argument about something you may or may not have said once, more than a month ago, and it makes you think that even talking to her about this brings you down to her level. But you don’t leave. If you left now she might actually still think she’s in the right.

You say something about getting the chance to actually sleep with Rebecca now, which is meant to be a biting commentary on how ridiculous she’s being for getting all uptight about one little remark, but it turns into a catastra-fuck when she uses it to confirm all her suspicions and justify her position.

Well Christ, you spit, and tell her that she never understood what you were saying. You call

her dumb and ignorant. And what the shit is this now? Tears?

She’s a crocodile all of a sudden, and you’re stuck feeling the full rainbow of emotions; anger, disgust, regret, lust. An apology worms your mouth open, leaps out and eviscerates all over the carpet before you can stop it. Now not only have you lost any semblance of being the righteous one, you can never bag Rebecca, because then she’d win.

Rule #4: Take Good Care of Your Hands, You’ll Need ‘Em. Now things have gotten a little calmer. You sit beside her, even think about putting your arm around her but that wouldn’t do any good for either of you. You try to work some double-sided comments every time you say something but you doubt she’s even paying attention, so instead you try to make her less upset and start listing all the things you’ll miss, not about her so much as just about being in a relationship. Most of all, sex, but you specifically list other things as well, like holding someone and sharing a bed.

And maybe everything isn’t as loud now, but you get a little depressed because you really will miss all of those things. Who knows when you’ll actually have a woman again, someone

to love again. That’s why you got together with her in the first place. Your last girlfriend dumped you and you didn’t want to be alone.

Rule #5: Beware The Quiet Times.

So now it’s just you and her sitting side by side on her couch and feeling sorry for yourselves but not for each other. She gets to talking about what’s been going through her mind lately and what kind of life she’s been leading and what might be down the road, and although you find it all kind of boring and narcissistic you suddenly start finding out a lot about her that you didn’t know.

She says something about something to do with ‘why so pale and wan, fond lover?’ and that really grabs your attention.

Looking over her features once more you detect a layer, a strand that you hadn’t noticed before, a deeper meaning in those otherwise straightforward lines. The thought strikes you to kiss her on the cheek and offer to give things another try, but you don’t let it linger for long because she could turn you down and then she’d have the upper hand, wouldn’t she? So instead you sit there thinking about how you never did really get to know her.

Rule #6: Never Get To Know Them.

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

CULTURE

vol. 3 issue 21 | June 15 2011 | page seventeen

TRAVEL

Guatemala never ceases to impress I

MATTHEW BOSSONS CONTRIBUTOR

G

uatemala is a country some people have a very hard time getting their head around.

Just mentioning the country’s name spurs up imagines of a long and bloody civil war, mass graves, genocide, and violent drug gangs. Sadly, Guatemala is so much more than its reputation suggests.

I recently spent time in the northeastern region of the country Petén and saw a country rich in culture, history and natural beauty. It seemed anything but violent.

Petén is the largest department in Guatemala; it’s home to hot humid jungles, a variety of rare and endangered wildlife and impressive Mayan ruins – some of them almost untouched.

My fellow travelers and I spent roughly a week exploring the area around Lago Petén Itzá, one of Guatemala’s largest lakes.

Lago Petén Itzá is roughly an hour and a half from the Guatemala-Belize border and has a number of notable settlements along its shores.

Flores is the main reason we decided to visit this region of Guatemala. The city is situated on an island on Lago Petén Itzá and is built in traditional Central American style – colourful and simple.

Flores is connected to the mainland city of Santa Elena by a paved causeway, which makes it easy to come and go.

Alternatively, small boats, chartered at fair prices, leave Flores to service other regions of the lake.

The city is a reasonable tourist haven –– by Guatemalan standards, anyway –– and offers a variety of different accommodation options ranging from budget to luxury.

There was visible police presence in the city, but by all accounts Flores is very safe.

Flores is impressive in almost every way imaginable: welcoming people, affordable accommodations, cheap food and drinks, docks to swim from, and beautiful scenery put it in the running for one of the nicest cities I have ever visited.

The nicest thing about the city is if you get bored, you are no more than a short drive or ferry ride from the next town.

From Flores it’s easy to flag down a tuk-tuk, sometimes called an auto rickshaw, and visit the vibrant local market in Santa Elena, just a five minute drive from our hostel along the waterfront of the island.

Santa Elena, which lies across the causeway from Flores, is considerably larger than its island neighbour.

The locals market in Santa Elena is a cultural experience like no other, and the adventurous soul will feel rewarded wandering the narrow alleyways packed with vendors selling used clothing, shoes, pots and pans, fruits, vegetables and fruits, tools, and other daily goods.

This is not a tourist market; this is a place for the locals to buy products for their day-to-day lives.

Although Santa Elena is safe to explore during the day, locals will warn you against straying into the city after dark – it’s not safe, period. Caution should be exercised at all times. If you keep your wits about you, you should be fine.

Another option from Flores is to take an hour boat ride to the small, laid-back town of San Jose. This town is one of the more rewarding cultural experiences to

Above: Rooftops in Flores. Bottom: Pyramid in Tikal. MATTHEW BOSSONS/THE RUNNER

A Mayan woman shared tea and experiences with a few young travellers with the aid of a translator. MATTHEW BOSSONS/THE RUNNER

be had in the region.

The majority of San Jose’s population still speak various dialects of Mayan which, to most people in Guatemala and elsewhere in the world, is considered a dead language. My companions and I were lucky enough to sit and share a unique Mayan tea with a Mayan woman.

Of course, a translator was necessary.

Through the translator, we discussed a variety of topics with her: from the ancient Mayans to her life experiences in San Jose. These are the type of experiences that should compel people to travel – to learn about people’s different ways of life.

San Jose is far less touristy than Flores, so a trip there is essential if you’re in the area. The nice beaches make it worth a visit, even if you’re not overly adventurous.

The last town we visited on Lago Petén Itzá was the sleepy village of El Remate, the last stopping off point before Tikal.

El Remate is amazing simply because it’s quiet, calm, relaxed and scenic. Also, like Flores, the town offers lots of options for accommodation, from upper-end hotels along the water, to rustic backpacker hostels and guesthouses.

The town is situated on the lake, on a shallow bay of light blue water. Along this section of the lake the water is hauntingly Caribbean-looking for a lake located so far from the ocean.

Across the water is Crocodile Mountain, named for it’s startling resemblance to a crocodile’s head and back. The distant hillside provides for amazing photos and is beautiful at sunset.

El Remate radiates relaxation, which is probably the reason we stayed there for so long.

The town is also full of small, reasonably priced, restaurants and a good amount of small shops selling everything from shot glass and key chains of Tikal, to beautiful wood and jade handicrafts made by local artists. Needless to say, most of my gift shopping happened here.

Most people simply pass through El Remate on their way to Tikal, and I can see why: there’s not a hell of a lot to do.

But if you are looking for a good place to relax and unwind, El Remate is the place.

Just up the road from El Remate is the world famous Mayan ruins of Tikal.

Tikal was once a Mayan metropolis and it remains one of the largest urban centres of the pre-Columbian civilization.

It could take many days of exploration to see the whole site, but since we were on a time crunch, we decided to go in the late afternoon and watch the sunset over the ruins – which I highly recommend.

Many tour companies also offer sunrise tours that leave from Flores at around 4:30 am.

Visiting Tikal is essential if you find yourself in Petén, as I consider it the most breathtaking Mayan ruins in Central America.

Tikal’s pyramids and temples were even more impressive then Coba, Chichen Itza, and Tulum – the major Mayan ruins in Mexico.

Leaving Petén was a sad event, as I’ve learned is the case when you truly enjoy visiting somewhere.

The truth is I have a million reasons to go back.

Petén could take a life time to explore, with thousands of archeological sites, jungle treks, colourful birds, and countless other rarities to see it has something for almost everyone.

page eighteen | June 15 2011 | vol. 3 issue 21

CULTURE

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

TRAVEL

KATRINA PEDERSON/THE RUNNER

Eat, drink and shop in the Domincan Republic I

KATRINA PEDERSON CONTRIBUTOR

T

he Dominican Republic is world renowned for its white sand beaches and the Caribbean lifestyle.

After a day of traveling, you arrive and hop out from the plane to warm air accompanied with a cooling breeze. The Dominican Republic is the perfect travel destination, but unless you and your friends can afford an all-inclusive hotel, then I would advise you to vacation elsewhere. The treasure of the Dominican lies at the resorts where people from all over the world come.Literally. To work at the hotels in the Dominican Republic you must know at least four to five languages from English to German.

This country is a hot-spot for some Americans and Canadians, but mostly Europeans.

While vacationing in the Do-

minican, the best things to do are shop, drink and explore.

Tips for the shopping in the Dominican: Do not go to the outlet store. As good as it looks and with all the brand names you could imagine, from Guess to Billabong, and even La Senza.

These stores charge more than they would at home and may even be knockoffs. The local markets are the ideal place to buy your souvenirs since you can bargain with the owners for a cheaper price. You’ll hear all shop owners yelling, “cheapy cheapy looky looky” which means, “come into my store to buy my products even though you’ll find the same stuff in every other store, but hey, we’re friends”. The best buys in the Dominican Republic would be alcohol, tribal and market place paintings, but most importantly local brew of “Mama Juana”.

This drink combination consists

of red wine, rum, honey and tree bark that can only be found in the Dominican Republic. This drink, which is usually served as a shot is believed to be an aphrodisiac while also having medicinal value. Just make sure you’re around good company when you decide to take the plunge with this drink.

With many expeditions available the top three would be the catamarans, Dr. Fish spa boat and the Punta Cana Boogies.

If you want to drink and party all while sailing the islands coast, then the catamarans are your perfect expedition.

The tour company has many different boats that cater to the romantic sunset cruises, family friendly days, or booze cruises.

The catamaran tours also offer different tours for different languages since there are many people from all around the world that visit the. During the catamaran tour you will have

the chance to snorkel with fish and explore the vast amount of coral. If you are looking for a day to relax and pamper yourself before you come home to the reality of school, work and Vancouver rain, then the Dr. Fish spa is the perfect expedition. During the duration of the tour you will take part in Pilates, massage beds, personal massage and you will have dioxins exit your body through a foot bath.

Additionally, you will lie on floating mattresses in the blue ocean water and swim with stingrays. To end this expedition, you will place your feet in a bucket as fish eat the dead particles off your toes. These fish are specially imported from Turkey and will suck on your feet even if they are full.

The Punta Cana Boogies are a fun expedition although their dune buggies are not of the best quality. They will show you a

typical classroom, allow you the change to swim in a fresh water cave and show you how to make spices and cigars.

The Dominican Republic holds much amazement in the island that it is hard to describe in words.

Pictures don’t do justice to this island but much like anything else in life, nothing is picture perfect.

Some negatives include animal cruelty, hospitality from the hotels and not being able to explore the other parts of the Dominican Republic. If you are planning on going to the Dominican you must be aware of what expeditions you go on.

Many of the Dolphin and zoo expeditions are not recommended by the World Society for the Protection of Animals Canada (WSPA). Additionally, many of the resorts try to make you attend an “information meeting” which is also known as a time share presentation.

This is less than ideal when you’re on vacation and tends to piss off many vacationers. The Dominican Republic is not the safest or most accessible island to travel around. Traveling to the capital of the Dominican, Santo Domingo, takes around a four-hour bus ride there and back. This historical landmark of Christopher Columbus finding the new world would be an ideal trip to take, but who would want to make the trip only to stay for a couple of hours.

The Dominican Republic is filled with luscious fruit, bright blue skies and the most beautiful beaches. This island is a must for people looking to unwind in the hot sun and live a carefree lifestyle.

PROCRASTINATION

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

HOROSCOPES

vol. 3 issue 21 | June 15 2011 | page nineteen

BEN HORNE - JOEE: CAPTAIN’S LOG (DINGER.CA)

TAURUS May 13 - June 21 I ain’t gonna work on Markie’s Farmville no more.

GEMINI June 21 - July 20

Call a 1-900 number and ask for Yulia. Hang up. Repeat. Rinse.

CANCER July 20 - Aug. 10

Take a look over your good shoulder, you’re being videotaped by a maneating stick of butter. Sounds sexy.

LEO Aug. 10 - Sept. 16

Don’t sell your gold for $$$, it’s a scam, bud.

VIRGO Sept. 16 - Oct. 30

Remember: wear flowers in your hair.

Also: remember LSD. Also: remember that we’re all the same, man.

LIBRA Oct. 30 - Nov. 23

That tryst with your McDonald’s boss would have been a good idea. So much for horoscopes.

SCORPIO Nov. 23 - Nov. 29

Go to church and ask the priest if he’s heard any good jokes lately.

Remember when they wouldn’t let women be priests?

OPHIUCHUS Nov. 29 - Dec. 17

You are mostly just a design element for our horoscope page.

SAGITTARIUS Dec. 17 - Jan. 20

You miss that Slip ‘n Slide you had when you were a kid. Go buy one and slather it up with a stick of butter.

CAPRICORN Jan. 20 - Feb. 16

You’re feeling sleepy. No, you’re not.

Yes. You are. Stop it.

AQUARIUS Feb. 16 - March 11

Buy! Buy! Buy! Smell! Smell! Smell!

Buy! Smell!

PISCES March 11- April 18

Murphy Chessier, I’ve got a big sexy surprise for you. I call it my “pee-pee gun.” Lewd sonofabitch.

THE SMART ZONE

CUP Crossword

ARIES April 18 - May 13

That existentialist depression you’ve been feeling can be solved by burning every book you own. Now go buy a taco and a six-pack.

RIP-OFF KWANTLEN

Across 1- Equal; 5- Victor’s cry; 9- Feudal lord; 14- Arthur Ashe’s alma mater; 15- All there; 16- Conductor Dorati; 17- Jutting rock; 18- Astounding; 20- Chinese martial art; 22- Gal of song; 23- As to; 24- Part of Q.E.D.; 26- Protracted; 28- Like some ulcers; 32- Must; 36- Young ___; 37- Acclaim; 39- Chews; 40- Vessel; 42- Causing goose bumps; 44- Very, in Versailles; 45- Layers; 47- Fragment; 49- Wreath of flowers; 50- Move apart; 52- Waver; 54- Smoke deposit; 56- Sand hill by the sea; 57- Italian wine city; 60- Marry; 62- Lunatic; 66Oppressively heavy; 69- Dresden’s river; 70- Angler’s basket; 71- Incline; 72- Bound; 73- Sows; 74- Kind of prof.; 75- Fill to surfeit;

JEFF GROAT/THE RUNNER

It’s 4:30 p.m., you’re studying, and you start to get hungry. You walk over to Sodexo. Closed. You walk over to the Grassroots. Closed. You walk over to Tim Hortons. Closed. So much for getting a bite with some friends. Instead, you now have to leave campus if you want to eat anything other than chips and pop. So much for any sense of campus life.

Down 1- Playful sprite; 2- Beige; 3- Brio; 4- Tattered; 5- The act of issuing; 6- Buddhist temple; 7- Burden; 8- Sherpa’s home; 9- PC linkup; 10- Needy; 11- Collar type; 12- Massive wild ox; 13- Additional; 19- North Carolina college; 21- At liberty; 25- Stories; 27- Bit of film, to a photog; 28- Brushes; 29- Square; 30- Bendable twig, usually of a willow tree; 31- Coniferous tree; 33- “Our Gang” girl; 34- Chirp; 35- Actor Davis; 38- Exhausted; 41- Was in the chair; 43- Convenience; 46- Paulo; 48- colada; 51- Feathers; 53- Principles; 55- Inventor Nikola; 57- Basics; 58- Deodorant brand; 59- Corner; 61- Evil is as evil ____.; 63- Bones found in the hip; 64- Assist, often in a criminal act; 65- Give up; 67- Golfer Ernie; 68- Barker and Bell; (CUP) — Puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com. Used with permission.

page twenty | June 15 2011 | vol. 2 issue 21

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