Vol. 3 Issue 23 by The Runner

THE VOL. 03 ISSUE 23 08.16.2011

SECRET IDENTITY ISSUE

NEWS AND CULTURE FOR THE STUDENTS OF KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

30 YEARS OF THE KSA THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

FOOD

FAMILY AFFAIR

ETHICAL EATS AND SUSTAINABLE TREATS

KSA DIRECTORS LINKED TO FORMER RAF LEADER FIND US ONLINE

TRAVEL

WWW.RUNNERRAG.CA

TWITTER.COM/RUNNERRAG

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO AND PEOPLE YOU’LL MEET

FACEBOOK.COM/RUNNERPAPER

EDITORIAL

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FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

The Runner is student owned and operated by Kwantlen Polytechnic University students, published under Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society. Arbutus 3710/3720 12666 72 Ave. Surrey, B.C. V3W 2M8 www.runnerrag.ca 778-565-3801

Matt Bossons’ interest in journalism was sparked in high school after reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, by Hunter S. Thompson. As he got a little older he began to develop a keen interest in travel and saw journalism as a way to travel while working. Matt has been contributing to The Runner for almost a year, mostly in the travel section, but also covering the environment and student events. Check out Matt’s article on traveling in Thailand on page 21.

Vol. 3, Issue no. 23 August 16, 2011 ISSN# 1916-8241

A fifth-year Kwantlen student, Ashley Fehr grew up on a free-run organic chicken farm and was known for fighting off cougars and bears. After an especially brutal cougar fight and the loss of her favourite chicken, Ashley gave up the farm and moved on to school and politics. Ashley has found extra excitement in drinking local beers and making fabulous vegan foods. Read Ashley and Vanessa Knight’s article about Sustainable Eats on page 22.

EDITORIAL DIVISION: Coordinating Editor / Jeff Groat editor@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3803 Culture Editor / Kristi Alexandra culture@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3804

Vanessa Knight is an event and volunteer coordinator, but has always loved reading and writing. Vanessa is an adorable, witty and very open individual who is strangely proud of her breasts. Being passionate about music, climate change, social justice issues and great vegan food, she is just as likely to be found at a local music venue as she is a great vegan restaurant or a peaceful protest rally. Vanessa worked with Ashley Fehr on the Sustainable Eats story on page 22.

News Editor / Matt DiMera news@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3805 Production Editor / Antonio Su production@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3806 Media Editor / Matt Law media@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3806

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on the web

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vimeo.com/runnerrag

facebook.com/runnerpaper

@runnermag

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR SENIOR WRITERS: Senior Culture Writer / Chris Yee Senior Entertainment Writer / Mike Shames

Stand up for an independent press on campus

JEFF GROAT COORDINATING EDITOR

Senior Features Writer / Lliam Easterbrook CONTRIBUTORS: Ashley Fehr, Vanessa Knight, Matthew Bossons, Winston Le, Taryn Pearcey, Claire Matthews, Marlow Gunterman, Simon Massey, Jared Vaillancourt, Rachelle Hoffman, Jacob Zinn, Connor Doyle, Rhea Paez, Elizabeth Anderson, Debbie Langtry Cover Art: John Sayer BUSINESS DIVISION: Operations Manager, Ads, Classifieds DJ Lam ops@runnerrag.ca / 778-688-3797 Office Co-ordinator / Victoria Almond office@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3801

Funds are collected by the university and channelled to PIPS via the KSA.

Welcome back to school and welcome to the new Runner. As we begin our third year of publishing Kwantlen news and culture, we’re implementing a number of changes, big and small. As you can tell, we’ve moved to a smaller, glossier format that’s easier to pick up and read. Our covers will be brighter and punchier, and our inside pages will have more informative news, cutting commentary, and great culture content. We’re very excited about the new Runner package, but if the KSA executive board has their wish, The Runner will be shut down and dismantled. But, as they say, don’t pick fights with people who order ink by the barrel. If you’re a new Kwantlen student or if you’re just coming back to school, we’ve already started the fight for the survival of The Runner’s independent voice on campus. On July 29, The Runner broke a story detailing how two current members of the Kwantlen Student Association executive board are related to the former RAF party leader, Aaron Takhar, who was accused in court of mismanagement of hundreds of

thousands of dollars. He failed to defend himself in court and a default judgement was found against him. Damages have not been assessed. If you’re unfamiliar with Kwantlen’s RAF history, we’ve put together a timeline of the events to bring you up to speed on page five. The two current members declined to mention their shared connection after winning this year’s elections, and were given responsibility over the KSA’s legal counsel and access to the KSA’s case against Takhar. On their first day in office, the current executive board halted the case against Takhar. After we broke the story, local media outlets like CKNW and the Surrey Leader have picked up the story and have started their own reporting on it. The latest Runner coverage on the current situation is on page four Which brings us to the present. Since April, we’ve had council ban audio recorders from open, public meetings – something we felt was directed entirely toward our reporters. We’ve seen our autonomy agreement, which explicitly protects The Runner’s right to report freely, repeatedly questioned and threatened. We’ve even had the RCMP called on our reporters while they sought

comment from executive members. Two times. And now we’ve been threatened with legal action. The Runner has learned that the KSA is refusing to hand over our funding. In February 2008, Kwantlen students approved the creation of a free, independent, student-run newspaper, which became The Runner. The money is collected by the university and given to the KSA before it’s handed to us. It seems we’ve pissed them off and now they want us to stop writing. We need your help. We’re student-run and operated – everyone who works and writes for us studies at Kwantlen. But as much as we need your voice inside the paper, we need your voice on campus, standing up for a free press. A free press that represents students’ best interests, asks the right questions of the powers-on-campus, a free press that is not afraid to speak the truth. The Runner’s fate is in all of our hands. Sincerely, Jeff Groat Coordinating Editor

NEWS

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page three

CAMPUS NEWS

The Runner Roundup A brief run around the latest news from the world of Kwantlen and beyond.

Model Behaviour — Shinder Purewal, Kwantlen Political Science instructor in a July 28 message on Twitter. Purewal then tweeted that he was concerned about “obscene sexuality at display in the parade.” In a subsequent interview with the National Post, Purewal continued: “sexuality is what you do within the four walls of your home and that’s your business. Openly in streets, we don’t do that. Heterosexuals, we don’t display that.”

Political intrigue and international diplomacy will be the orders of the day when Kwantlen hosts its first-ever model United Nations this fall. From Sept. 23 Sept. 24, interested students will practice vital skills such as public speaking, negotiations and critical thinking. Over 15,000 students participate in model United Nations every year. For more information, or to get involved, contact sophia.veale@kwantlen.net.

Birds of a feather Harvey Birdman

President Birdman Student crime doesn’t pay A former student union president has been ordered to repay $20,000, after being convicted of fraud and theft of missing student funds, according to a report from CBC News. Blue Pelletier, 31, served as president at the Saskatoon campus of the First Nations University of Canada from 2006-2007. Queen’s Bench Justice Gerald Allbright heard testimony that Pelletier spent the money on personal expenses, and ultimately sentenced him to an 18-month conditional sentence with a nightly curfew. Allbright declined to send him to jail, calling Pelletier’s behaviour “an aberration.”

Surrey campus director Sean “Birdman” Bassi is the new president of the Kwantlen Student Association (KSA). Bassi was appointed in a secret ballot at the Wednesday, Aug. 3 council meeting. He is the first KSA president since the position was abolished through bylaw changes made in 2000. KSA regulation changes reinstated the post, earlier this year. As president, Bassi is now the KSA’s spokeperson and media liaison. In recent media statements posted to the KSA website, Bassi has confused media outlets and students alike by signing his name as “President Birdman” and “Sean Birdman.” “It is common knowledge on campus that my nickname is Birdman,” Bassi wrote in a e-mail to The Runner. “It is common in the Indian culture to be referred to with a nickname.”

KSA sponsors MMA ﬁghter The Kwantlen Student Association executive board has sponsored local mixed martial arts fighter Gurdarshan “Gary” Mangat to the tune of $1,000 in a deal meant to “mutually benefit the KSA and Mr. Mangat.” Mangat will wear the KSA logo on his shorts during his next fight and has agreed to use social media to promote KSA events. The exclusive deal also forbids Mangat from being sponsored by other student unions.

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NEWS

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

KSA

Current KSA council linked to Aaron Takhar Justine Franson and Balninna Sandhu directly connected to controversial former KSA director Aaron Takhar.

MATT DIMERA NEWS EDITOR

More than two weeks after The Runner first revealed the connections between the Kwantlen Student Association’s (KSA) current board and controversial former KSA executive Aaron Takhar, Justine Franson has resigned. Her resignation was announced in a Aug. 13 e-mail sent to council members by KSA president Harman “Sean Birdman” Bassi. The KSA’s now former director of operations, Justine Franson, is Aaron Takhar’s sister. Justine is married to Adam Franson and has been using his last name. The KSA’s director of finance, Nina Sandhu, is Aaron Takhar’s first cousin. Since first taking office in April 2010, she has also used the names Balninna Sandhu and Nina Kaur. Neither Franson nor Sandhu have commented publicly on the issue, refusing to confirm or deny the family connection. When asked directly if she was Takhar’s sister, Franson refused to respond to The Runner and other media outlets as she left a KSA council meeting Wednesday, Aug. 3. Sandhu has also refused to answer any questions about her relationship to Aaron Takhar. Reports from CKNW and The Surrey Leader have both since confirmed that Franson and Sandhu are directly related to Aaron Takhar.

Justine Takhar’s 2003-04 graduation yearbook entry.

ations for the Kwantlen Student Association (KSA), and Nina Sandhu, the director of finance were members of the executive board that froze a KSA civil lawsuit on their very first day in office in April 2011. The KSA originally filed the civil lawsuit in the B.C. Supreme Court in 2008 against five former members of the Reduce All Fees (RAF) party, including the onetime director of finance, executive adviser and group leader, Aaron Takhar. Aaron Takhar and the RAF party took control of the KSA in 2005 and held power until they were ousted in a court-ordered The Lawsuit election in October 2006. The KSA’s lawsuit alleged that Aaron Justine Franson, the then-director of operTakhar and his RAF slate misused more than $2 million in student fees to commit fraud, mismanagement and theft, according to a Vancouver Sun article published in August 2008. Also named as defendants in the 2008 suit are Jaivin Khatri, Yasser Nina Sandhu and Justine Franson in a Contour Laser promotional photo.

Ahman, Danish Butt, Jatinder Atwal and AST Ventures. Default judgments were entered against Aaron Takhar and the other defendants, after they failed to defend themselves in court. Damages have not yet been assessed by the court. The KSA’s president Harman (Sean) Bassi released a statement in early August on their website claiming that “there have been no ‘holds’ or ‘freezes’ on any legal matters of the KSA since this Board of Directors took office in April.” A letter from “Sean Birdman” Bassi sent Aug. 8 to The Runner also demanded a retraction of earlier stories claiming that the lawsuit had been put on hold: “If these statements are not retracted and an apology issued the KSA will seek legal action in this matter. The KSA will pursue legal action if further defamatory publications are made.” However, the KSA’s own executive board meeting minutes show that the lawsuit was put on an indefinite hold after the current executive board took office April 1, 2011. Within the first 24 hours of their term, the executive board of directors (EBOD), including Franson and Sandhu, fired long-time KSA lawyer David Borins and his firm Heenan Blaikie. They directed Borins to “cease all activity

pertaining to the RAF case until further notice.” They also instructed him “not to schedule a date for the case management conference until further notice.” Surrey campus director Harman (Sean) Bassi was also present during the April 1 in camera session. At that meeting, the executive designated Franson to “be the sole liaison with KSA legal counsel and represent the views of EBOD [executive board of directors] to legal counsel and report back on any issues.” They also decided that if any council members had legal concerns they were to direct them to Franson. In a later interview with The Runner, the then-director of operations and chairperson Franson maintained that the change in legal representation was due to a conflict of interest with Borins and former general manager Desmond Rodenbour, because the two had attended the same high school and university. At the time, Franson made no mention of any possible personal conflict of interest. However, according to Borins, he and Rodenbour neither attended high school nor university together. In the same interview, Franson suggested that there had been “a lot of frivolous spending” on legal matters by previous boards and staff, as well as a “lack of transparency.” Cont’d page 5.

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

NEWS

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page ﬁve

KSA

CONT’D FROM PAGE 4

RAF LAWSUIT TIMELINE 2006-2011

Justine “Takhar” Franson The Runner broke the story July 29 after uncovering multiple past instances of Justine Franson using the name Justine Takhar. Justine Takhar graduated from Sullivan Heights Secondary School in Surrey in 2004, according to a yearbook from that school. Justine Franson, Nina Kaur and the three other members of the executive board were featured in the July issue of South Asian Woman magazine about their recent election to the KSA. Justine Takhar was a beauty columnist in 2009 for the same magazine. Paid advertisements for Contour Laser also appeared in several issues of the magazine with a group photo featuring Nina Sandhu, Justine Franson and Kuldip Takhar. Kuldip Takhar is Aaron Takhar’s mother. A Google image search for the name Justine Takhar pulled up one solo image of Justine Franson and a second image of Justine and Adam Franson. Shortly after The Runner story broke, those images were taken offline.

Misaddressed? The Runner also discovered that Justine Franson, does not live at the address in the 12600 block of 55A Ave that she provided in official documents, according to a resident of that house. The names and addresses of directors of B.C. non-profit societies are required to be filed with the B.C. Corporate Registry. A resident of the house, located in the Panorama Ridge neighbourhood of Surrey, identified himself as James. He said the

property belongs to his parents and that Justine does not live there and has never lived there. He also said that Franson is his sister’s best friend. “I don’t know why ADAM FRANSON she would have put YEARBOOK PHOTO 1998 this as an address,” he said. When The Runner visited a second house in the same neighbourhood, listed in court documents as Aaron Takhar’s residence, Nina Sandhu answered the door. Sandhu retreated into the house to “put the dog away,” and never returned. Several minutes later, a man The Runner has identified as Justine’s husband, Adam Franson, came to the door. He said it was his house and initially said that Justine wasn’t there and that she was “out of the country,” then later claimed that she didn’t live there. He also explained that Nina and Justine were cousins. “I don’t know what you’re digging at, but you’re not welcome here if you’re trying to find some shit out,” said Adam Franson. “This is my house.” According to 2011 B.C. Assessment records, that house is owned by Alamjit Takhar and Kuldip Takhar. Alamjit and Kuldip Takhar are the parents of Aaron and Justine. All five members of the executive board have refused repeated requests for interviews about the RAF case and any alleged conflicts-of-interest.

DELETE EVERYTHING!

A PricewaterhouseCoopers computer forensic analysis found 4,495 emails had been deleted from the email server October 31, 2006, the last day RAF had control over the KSA’s computer system. In a written statement to the PWC auditor, Aaron Takhar claimed that he had mistakenly never changed his email password from the default “temp” and that anyone could have sent emails from his account.

Recovered email from Aaron Takhar dated May 21 directing a KSA staff member to delete emails.

NEWS

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The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

KSA

A more perfect union: 30 years of the KSA Thirty years ago, the Kwantlen College Student Society was born on Aug. 10, 1981. It may not have the timeless sound of “we the people,” but the KCSS constitution promises “to be a representative student organization which defends the rights and interests of students.” Since then they’ve gone through a few name changes. Love them or hate them, they have never lacked dull moments.

Budding politicians Student associations are often a training ground for young aspiring politicians. The KSA is no exception. Many KSA insiders have gone on to run for public office, though mostly in municipal elections. A few of them have even won:

AARON JASPER: Chairperson, Vancouver Parks Board Current Vancouver Parks Board chair Aaron Jasper was president of the KSA in the early ‘90s. Since then, he’s remained active in his community, working with different advocacy and nonprofit groups. Aaron was voted “Unsung Hero” by readers of the Westender in 2007.

TREVOR LOKE: Candidate for Vancouver Parks Board Trevor Loke hasn’t won yet, but as a Parks Board candidate for the incumbent Vision Vancouver

team, the odds are in his favour. Loke was part of the team that took over after the RAF era and was briefly KSA director of events and chairperson in 2008. Loke has had his hands in many political pies, serving as a director-at-large with the B.C. Green Party and running unsuccessfully as a candidate for the Green Party in the 2009 provincial election.

MATT TODD: Former White Rock City Councillor Usually the idea is to first cut one’s teeth in student politics before moving on to running for public office, but Matt Todd hasn’t often been accused of being conventional. The former twoterm White Rock city-councillor-turned-university-student became KSA director of external affairs in 2010, getting involved because he wanted the U-Pass at Kwantlen.

Election Hijinx Historically, KSA election turnouts have been abysmal, often hovering around two to three per cent (or lower). When the latest KSA election, held in February 2011, went online for the first time, voter turnout soared to approximately 17 per cent. Not great, but not bad.

Dirty Politics A quick review of past Kwantlen Chronicle headlines shows that KSA elections have often been contentious. Smear campaigns, impeachments, ballot-stuffing, cheating, unfair campaigning and other dirty tricks seem to be de rigeur in Kwantlen student politics. At least they’re consistent.

NEWS

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page seven

Growing pains Over the last thirty years, Kwantlen has grown substantially, and so has the student association. From it’s roots as a largely volunteer board in the ,80s with few paid staff, the KSA has grown into a substantial power in its own right. The KSA currently has 28 elected officials who are paid hourly or with honorariums and 20 paid staff members. The current KSA council has recently created nine new positions which, once filled, will continue to raise the society’s HR expenses. The KSA’s 2011-12 budget forecast nearly $3 million in revenues, largely from mandatory student fees. That number will jump significantly as the monthly $10 surcharge for the new MultiPass will also be handled by the KSA.

Fight for your rights Advocacy for students and the issues that concern them is mandated in the KSA’s constitution, though actual effort seems to wax and wane depending on the whims of whichever council is in power. Social justice and rising tuition costs have remained focal issues over the last three decades. Students have lobbied, protested, campaigned, held walkouts and chained themselves to doors, all in the name of advocating for students. The issues and the players may change, but the passion and determination of Kwantlen students has remained evident.

Dawn of The Runner In 2009, a KSA student referendum created a new publication fee leading to the creation of a brand-new newspaper that was independent from the KSA. Below is a message from the then-KSA.

“On behalf of all Kwantlen students who believe in free speech, accountability and truthiness - we reverentially hail the dawn of The Runner. We call upon you to engage in unhindered investigations and to publish, without fear or favour, the unbiased results of

such scrutiny. We urge you to use your freedom from commercial, political and other controls to ensure that you present local, national and international news, fairly, and examine what other media avoid. You must become an unbiased agent of social, cultural and environmental change while striving to emphasize the rights and responsibilities of the studentcitizen. May all your investigations pull the darkest stories in the harsh light of the truthful day!”

Feb. 24, 2009 - excerpt from Kwantlen Student Assocation ad in first issue of The Runner.

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NEWS

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

TRANSPORTATION

MultiPass comes to Kwantlen This fall, Kwantlen’s long-awaited version of the U-Pass will finally be in student’s hands.

What your money gets you Car2go (available September)

MATT LAW MEDIA EDITOR

Dispensers are being installed and students are talking. The new MultiPass will be available in all Kwantlen campus bookstores starting Aug. 25. The $40 (per month) MultiPass will provide students with access to transit under the U-Pass, and a host of additional services that are exclusive to Kwantlen students. To meet the needs of Kwantlen students, the KSA did not feel that just a U-Pass was enough – since many Kwantlen students don’t use transit. “We felt that because U-Pass programs are generally mandatory for all students that we should make an effort to try and see if we can provide additional services for students who may not see a benefit in riding transit,” said Ben Newsom, MultiPass program coordinator at the KSA. The Kwantlen Student Association had been negotiating to bring the U-Pass to Kwantlen for several years. The official program was announced in June 2010 with the intent to have the program running by the end of the summer to meet the provincial government’s campaign promise of having a U-Pass by September 2010. Members of the student association didn’t feel that the contract presented by Translink met the diverse needs of students at Kwantlen and went back to the table for more negotiations. A referendum was held in February 2011 where students voted largely in favour of the MultiPass. By May 2011 the contract with Translink was finalized. While students will have the unlimited transit access provided with the U-Pass, they will also have access to services such as an inter-campus shuttle, a car share program, a discounted membership at Gold’s Gym and discounts with SPUD, a local, organic grocery delivery company. The 16-passenger, inter-campus shuttles will run every 35-40 minutes between Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley campuses, while students who prefer a faster ride can opt for the Car2go program that will allow students to take one of seven shared cars.

Costs: $2 annual membership ~ $0.35 per minute ~ $0.13 per minute over an hour Seven shared cars available. Students can track them through a website and smart phone apps. Drive them between campuses and to Vancouver proper. Students who register will be given a pass-card to access the cars.

Inter-campus shuttle (available September) Cost: free Shuttles run all day and leave every 35-40 minutes servicing Langley, Surrey and Cloverdale. The route changes after 4 p.m. to service Richmond campus.

Gold’s Gym membership (available September) Costs: $5 per month Receive a gym membership for $5 a month. Some additional start-up costs may apply.

SPUD TBA)

The new MultiPass dispensers are ready to go starting Aug. 25 in campus bookstores. MATT LAW/ THE RUNNER

The shuttle will be free for students with a MultiPass, but, students who register for the Car2go program will be charged a small registration fee and given 20 free minutes. An additional $0.35 per minute will be charged once the 20 free minutes are used. All students have to pay for the $40-permonth MultiPass when they pay their semester tuition fees, but the additional services and any associated costs, such as the $5 (per month) Gold’s Gym membership, are optional. “All these things are optional and students do not have to spend any more than the

regular cost of the MultiPass,” said Newsom. While the procedure to sign up for these additional services has not yet been finalized, Newsom said it will likely happen through the MultiPass website. Newsom also said there have been some problems with the Gold’s Gym and SPUD programs and the final details are still being worked out. “Unfortunately the full implementation of what I wanted to have happen just doesn’t seem likely for September but it’s something that we’re working towards,” he said, regarding SPUD.

discount

(availability

Receive a $10 discount on minimum grocery orders delivered to your door.

Students must pick up a new MultiPass from campus’ bookstores at the beginning of each month. Simply swipe your student ID card through the dispenser and you will receive the MultiPass. Students should remember to have their MultiPass and student ID on hand when using public transit. “If transit police ask you for your proof of fare and you don’t show them your student ID and just show them the U-Pass, they will confiscate your U-Pass and will likely give you a fine,” said Newsom. For more information and updates on the MultiPass, visit ksamultipass.ca

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

NEWS

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page nine

KSA

KSA international liaison puts on his clothes After being given no official response to his request to hold an event on campus, Gurbaksh Dhaliwal takes issue with the KSA.

JEFF GROAT COORDINATING EDITOR

Gurbaksh Dhaliwal is not happy with the KSA – and he’s wearing his concern on his sleeve. In a unique form of protest against what he sees as the current KSA council’s double standards in event planning, he’s chosen to wear traditional clothing from his home country of India in the hopes people approach him and ask him why he’s doing it. As the KSA’s international students liaison, the president of the Kwantlen International Students Society and the vice president of the Kwantlen Sikh Students Association, he’ll likely answer a lot of questions. In April, Dhaliwal wanted to plan and host a Vaisakhi event at Kwantlen for students on Surrey campus. He approached the KSA, but was denied funding. Instead of Dhaliwal’s plan, KSA executive members decided to take part in the larger offcampus Surrey Vaisakhi event. Dhaliwal decided to pay out of his own pocket and put the event on himself. “It was my money and my friends’ money,

Gurbaksh Dhaliwal is wearing his traditional clothing around campus to voice his displeasure with the KSA. KRISTI ALEXANDRA/THERUNNER

who supported me,” he said. The event cost between $300 and $400. According to Dhaliwal, he’s only heard excuses: “oh, you didn’t get the proper documentation, you didn’t give us enough paper work.” He says he’s upset that he was denied without being given a chance to provide any additional quotes before his idea was quashed. Sean “Birdman” Bassi, president of the KSA, said in a written statement, “The liaison was asked to obtain more than one price quote so that the society gets the best price. He refused to shop around stating that his friend assured him the best priced product and if he asked someone else it would be ‘disrespectful’ to his friend. The events director did not accept this argument as due diligence would not be performed. The liaison was again asked to get more than one price quote, refused to do so, and left the meeting. We have not heard anything since. The liaison can bring this issue to council [this] week if he chooses to do so.” Dhaliwal is concerned that while ordinary students are required to account for

every penny that they plan to spend, other events that council or executive are taking initiative on aren’t under the same scrutiny. Council spent $3,500 to rent tables and hand out food at the Surrey Vaisakhi event. At the time, Student senator Christopher Girodat questioned why the KSA was spending hundreds of dollars renting when they already own both. He says he was told the it was a package deal. The KSA recently upped their budget for the upcoming Cram Jam event in September by $31,000 to $81,000. “If I’m looking at their Cram Jam event.... They aren’t telling what they’re doing with [$]31,000,” he said. “It’s like one month to Cram Jam.” So Dhaliwal decided to put on his traditional dress. “I’m doing my part,” he said, “generating awareness about what’s happening here.” Dhaliwal wants people to become interested in what he has to say and look into how council is operating. “There’s no democracy,” he said. “They’re saying ‘it’s not our event, it’s not happening.’”

KSA

Former director of events: still banned, still no answers I

MATT LAW MEDIA EDITOR

The KSA executive board has recommended that the ban on former director of events Reena Bali be lifted, but council has yet to respond. The KSA’s director of operations, Justine Franson, authored the July 22 report which also suggested that if Bali were to behave inappropriately in the future council should impose “a more severe punishment.” There are still plenty of questions surrounding why Bali was banned from Kwantlen Student Association offices April 6. New information about an alleged altercation between Bali and the current director of events Tarun Takhar was detailed in an undated letter from Takhar addressed Franson that gives his version of events.

“While I was standing outside, the then Director of Events and Chairperson Reena Bali suddenly approached me in anger and frustration. She yelled ‘I am going to sue you, I’m going to sue you for this,’” wrote Takhar. Takhar also states a second altercation took place on a later date where, “The ex Director of Events also told me to ‘watch out’ and this is when I got a little scared.” The report further states “Takhar brought his concerns to Council as he felt threatened by Bali’s behaviour.” But according to Bali, that’s not how it happened. “The only thing I said along the lines of suing was ‘if you try to steal money or anything then I hope you realize that you can get sued’ because it was under the context of the whole RAF situation,” said Bali. “That was the only thing that had the word sue in

it, which wasn’t even directly towards him, it was like a comment, like stating a fact, ‘if you do something illegal, you can get sued for it,’” she said. Bali is adamant that she never told Takhar to “watch out.” “The only thing I told him was that the events portfolio was a really big portfolio and that it may be overwhelming,” she said. There are also questions surrounding a letter that was sent to Bali, dated June 15, and a second letter, dated June 13, that were presented to council in the report by Franson. Bali said she was sent the June 15 letter by mail but never received the June 13 letter that was presented to council. Both letters are signed by Franson. The June 15 letter states “You have expressed to The Runner that you have tried

to contact Council in regards to this matter. We have not received any emails, letters or messages from you since April 1st, 2011.” But the report by Franson contains an email from Bali, dated April 14, that asks for clarification on why she was banned. Takhar issued the following statement in an email when asked for comment. “It is the KSA’s standard to conduct written or email interviews only. In future situations to be respectful and professional please send me at least 48 hour notice. However my comment on the altercation is: I am glad the issue is been put behind the student association. On July 21st 2011 at the executive board of directors meeting the chair person issued a report in regards to this matter and you can find details there.” Franson did not respond to a request for interview by deadline.

SPORTS

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The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

CRICKET

Bringin’ back cricket

If you can do well in cricket you can do well in other aspects of life. It teaches you how to be patient, it teaches you how when things don’t go your way stick through it.

Kwantlen economics student Monty Purewal is bringing cricket to campus this fall. PHOTO BY MATT LAW / THE RUNNER

Canada’s first national sport is coming to Kwantlen this fall.

MATT LAW MEDIA EDITOR

Canada’s sporting history is synonymous with hockey and lacrosse … but cricket? Sir John A. Macdonald once declared the game Canada’s first national sport – but cricket slowly drifted into the dusty corners of many Canadians’ memories. This fall, however, students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University will bring cricket back into the spotlight. While studying economics at Kwantlen, Monty Purewal found there were no organisations that interested him. He decided to bring his passion to the university. After some initial advertising and creating a Facebook group, 82 students signed up for the new cricket club. But lack of funds and few places to play slowed the progress of the club. After recently being approved for $2,100 by the Kwantlen Student Association, the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Cricket Club has big plans for the future of the “gentleman’s” sport on campus. Purewal, who is president of

KPUCC, hopes that cricket will be a helpful addition to students’ academic life. “If you can do well in cricket you can do well in other aspects of life,” he said. “It teaches you how to be patient, it teaches you how when things don’t go your way stick through it.” In recent years cricket has been gaining popularity. Twenty20 cricket, a form of the game that is much shorter and can be completed in around two hours, has drawn many people to the sport who previously steered clear of the daylong matches because they were too long. Purewal was thrilled with the overwhelming response he had from students, but admits there have been some challenges to getting the club off the ground. “The biggest problem for cricket is having a proper cricket field,” said Purewal With only three cricket fields in Surrey, it can be hard to find those coveted places to practice, especially when other leagues with funding have already booked them. Unlike a typical baseball diamond, a cricket field has a bare strip of dirt, called a pitch, that is 22 yards long and seven feet wide. This is where

the bowler (like a pitcher in baseball) throws the ball – some of the world’s best bowlers can throw the ball close to 160 km an hour. Finding equipment is another huge challenge. There are no retailers in the Lower Mainland that sell cricket gear and shipping can be very expensive. Having the money approved was a big step to overcoming these obstacles. “I’m happy that we got that money so the next step would be for us to order the equipment as soon as we get the money,” he said. The equipment will be the property of the KSA so all Kwantlen students will have an opportunity to participate. Purewal’s vision for the club is for something much more than just another student organisation, however. He hopes it will help welcome international students to Kwantlen and give high school students a reason to choose to Kwantlen over other universities. “It will be a good place where they can meet new people and they will have something that they are more familiar with and it will be good grounds for them to make friends,” he said. Purewal also has plans to take cricket beyond

Kwantlen. He hopes to establish an intercollegiate league by next year and has already talked to students at UBC, SFU and UFV. “It’s like a religion to them,” he said,” even at UBC they’re not that organized but they still play cricket in parking lots. They get up at four or five a.m. in the morning and there’s no cars in the parking lot and they play cricket there.” Purewal has had great response from students at other universities and his excitement is palpable. Bringing awareness to the club and getting more students involved is the top priority when classes resume in the fall. He suspects many more Kwantlen students and staff will become involved with the club as word gets out around campus. The club has planned a beginner cricket clinic that will take place sometime after summer semester exams finish on Aug. 18. A student versus staff game has also been tentatively planned for Sept. 16. For more information on the cricket club, visit facebook.com/groups/121993721194484/

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

FEATURE

ARTS

Summer Arts Review The Kwantlen Creative Writing Guild and the Surreyalists arts collective collaborate, working on a central theme of

divine vs. design

CHELSEA LAWRICK, A CHILDHOOD MEMORY, SILKSCREEN ON PAPER.

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page eleven

FEAT

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

ARTS

Adrift I WINSTON LE

RHEA PAEZ, URBAN SPRAWL, PHOTO COLLAGE.

RHEA PAEZ, BI-FOCALS, CHARCOAL.

Four concrete walls and a world of bleached silence all around you. Dust collects itself at the corners and a plethora of broken cobwebs hangs above the ceiling, a sluggish snowfall of dust descends from its silken strands. On the front wall, there is a steel door, but it never opens for you, only for the people on the outside who wish to prod your brain. Your hands are folded against your chest bound by the leather straps of a straightjacket that will keep you from causing anymore trouble, yet you are never really certain what these skinny, bookish men in long white coats mean by trouble and also uncertain by the nature of the word. There are no windows in the room; everything is solid and contained, unable to gaze at the dawning of the sun over the calm, steady river or nightfall, which signals the disappearance of light from suburban households, or praying to that single shooting star, a lonely traveler gliding across foreboding nights. There‘s an itch in the back of your brain that denies this is real and its coping for all those years of solitude, but it’s vivid in your mind — a dark emerald shade of grass, it’s tangy scent edging into your nose, fireflies float under the jade-green leaves of the tree in your backyard. Night is a blackout for the world and these innocent creatures are incandescent flames lit on the fragile, melting wax sticks of candles. Besides chasing the star with a wish under your mumbling breath, your mind always retreats to the tire swing lassoed by a piece of rope under the tree branch. Summer afternoons spent on that makeshift swing, pushed by a woman who always smiles, glossy and shimmering. Turning over to your side, you gaze at the wall and see the symmetrical lines carved into it. They don’t come as any surprise since they represent the days you’ve been here, tracking down the madness, a mother spider laying her newborn eggs in the hollow spaces of your brain. Clammy sweat cascades from the forehead, exorbitant drops of fear. Fear is falling. Above you on the ceiling is a light bulb. Dying. You recall those fireflies and their glowing bodies, but the light in the room flickers between yellow and black. The sun breaking into sparks. Once it burns out, it’s dead; there’s nothing left, except the warmth fading from its glass body. You are reminded of that night where there were no fireflies and the full moon was hidden. The light bulb goes black. Dusk begins to settle across the horizon, signalling the coming darkness, but there are still peeks of waning light showering through the cracked clouds. The sun is a burnt-orange, a star preparing to quench out its flame. You’re a teenager — gelled hair, wearing a Converse T-shirt, and True Religion shoes. That tire swing is gone — has been for years and day by day, those summer afternoons spent with that woman becomes broken glass, cleaned up and tied inside a garbage bag. The grass in front of you is gardened with white pearls, which glisten like blinking stars. A sound creaks above you, something hanging from the branch, but it’s weighing it down. Looking up, the woman who read your bedtime stories, folded your clothes, and covered your cuts with band-aids is suspended by a noose snaked around her neck. Beside her, a man hangs above him, roped in the same fashion. You walk over to his motionless body and pry open his fist and grab something out of his hot, clammy flesh. It’s a ring encrusted with diamond, which you shove into your pocket. A smile forms on your lips in the sight of the light failing in the sky. A click announces itself on the door of the room; it repeats itself again and again, and then once more. The door swings open and two men approach. Both dressed in the same white shirt and pants, eyes bereft of emotion. Without words, they unbuckle the straightjacket. The sleek sliding leather of the straps is released. Weightlessness overtakes the body, the hallucinatory lightness of a feather, but then you think it might still be the pills in the drinking water, still under its mesmer. Although, you haven’t seen a clock for years, mobility means it’s time for your daily appointment with Dr. Purvis. That means it’s noon.

ELIZABETH ANDERSON, JOURNEY’S END, O

ELIZABETH ANDERSON, MOLOCH SERIES (L

TURE

OIL ON CANVAS.

L-R): QUIETUDE, DISTURBANCE, MAELSTROM, EXTINCTION. OIL, WAX AND CHARCOAL ON BOARD.

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page thirteen

Cousins

Dear God,

I TARYN PEARCEY

I CLAIRE MATTHEWS

Yes, I believe in evolution. Of course we are related to monkeys. Drunken uncles at Christmas, nearly incoherent, picking at themselves in public. Simian sorority sisters gladly pick on the weakest, they rip the branch from beneath them, send them plummeting to the forest floor. We may not all throw shit but we throw hissy fits. Cry, scream, wail hurl stones through store windows unaware of our snarling faces reflected in the glass, teeth barred in baboon smiles.

if you’re out there please give me a sign because I have this image in mind of a man who’s All Knowing All Being All Seeing. I have an image of a man with no face who somehow needs to belong in every inch of my daily space that I should never replace with another god, another deity. Dear God, if you’re out there please leave me alone because I’m afraid that I won’t like what’s at the end of this road if I find your faceless image waiting for me.

Yes, I believe in evolution, but we still have a long way to go.

A scar for you I MARLOW GUNTERMAN

I bear this scar A cross upon my heart Remnants of a jealous past Seared between my breasts I bear this scar upon my body Swollen above my sultry skin A blistered bruise infusing This rift between broken years When heartbreak pounds at my door Your innocent smile looms Ghostly gasps ring like church bells Outside my cloudless window Secret whispers spent on you Free from helpless tears To cry no longer sweet sorries With empty words with empty meaning I bear this scar A cave made just for you To hide your jealous secret From the man you love Scio Verum

RHEA PAEZ, NEW WESTMINSTER, PHOTO COLLAGE.

page fourteen | August 16 2011 | vol. 3 issue 23

FEATURE

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

ARTS

He isn’t here I

SIMON MASSEY CONTRIBUTOR

“He isn’t here.” “What do you mean He isn’t here?” “I mean I... I think He isn’t here.” “What in blazes are you talking about? Of course He’s here.” “Well, how do you know He’s here?” “What kind of a question is that!? How do I know He’s here? Everyone knows He’s here! It’s a fact, a certainty, it’s common knowledge. One would have to be daft to think otherwise!” “Have you seen Him?” “Well, no... I myself haven’t seen Him. But I’m just a pencil pusher, I’m on the low rung and He... well, he’s Him, I wouldn’t assume we’d ever have occasion to cross paths. That doesn’t go to say that He isn’t here, He just hasn’t been where I am. That doesn’t surprise me though. I don’t see that as something strange, I wouldn’t expect to run into Him where I am anyway so it’s not unusual that I haven’t seen Him.” “But do you know anyone who’s seen Him?” “Again no, but you and me, we’re pencil pushers and the people we know are pencil pushers so it’s not like they would have had any occasion to run into Him either. But just because we haven’t seen Him doesn’t mean we don’t know where He is. Really we all know where He resides so even though we haven’t seen Him we’re all aware of where He is.” “You mean the place up there at the top of the long staircase.” “Yes, exactly.” “I went there.” “You did what!?!” “I went up there.” “Why? Why would you do that? He’s up there, Him! What reason would you have? Why would you disturb Him? Why would you do that?” “I needed someone to sign off on my overtime.” “Your overtime!? Unbelievable! I can’t begin to imagine...You went up there, to Him for your overtime. Why? Why! Why would you even do that? Why would you try to get your overtime signed off in the first place?” “I felt I did good work and I felt I deserved it.”

“But why? We all work a little overtime here and there but no one else tries to claim it, no one else has to throw a wrench in the system, its unheard of, it simply isn’t done!” “It was good work, I felt I had earned it.” “Earned what? I know we have hours and I know we’re assigned wages but currency is meaningless here, we don’t use it. You know that, we all know that. So why would you do it?” “Well, I worked considerably longer than I was required to and in my opinion I did some very fine work, exceptional even. So I believed I was worthy of some recognition.” “Oh my! The sheer impoliteness of it! What, of all things would possess you to march right up there and ask it directly of Him?” “I didn’t” “You didn’t?” “No, I mean not at first. Originally, I tried to find someone in management.” “And?” “And I couldn’t.” “Well certainly you didn’t look hard enough!” “I was very thorough, I asked everyone if they had seen anyone from management but none of them had.” “Maybe they were all off somewhere, maybe there was a meeting or something important that needed tending to.” “But that’s the thing, none of them could remember having ever met anyone from management. Naturally each one thought it was only them and that it was all just some unfortunate coincidence but none of them seen any management at all.” “Well... what did you do then?” “So I decided to go up the stairs, to his place.” “It’s too presumptuous, no one would just walk up there and ask Him something, least of which to sign off on their overtime!” “Given the circumstances I was certain He’d understand” “And did He?” “He wasn’t there.” “I don’t think I like where you’re going with this... I don’t like it one bit!” “I don’t like it either.” “You’re sure you’re right? You’re ab-

solutely, positively, undeniably sure He wasn’t there?” “Yes.” “Well if He’s not there now, then where did He go? When did He leave? And why?” “I don’t think He left.” “What?” “I don’t think He left. I don’t think He was ever here.” “That’s madness! It’s completely preposterous! You have to have lost your mind to even consider that! What about the stories? Everyone knows them! About Him and Gabe! And Him and Lu, before their falling out. Everyone knows those stories how could He not have been here!” “Ask anyone and they can quote those stories verbatim, but ask them if they remember meeting Gabe or Lu and none of them do. None of them have seen them and they certainly aren’t anywhere to be found!” “But. Well what about His son? Who

flu.” “Well then how is all this possible? how can any of it be if He hasn’t ever been here?” “I don’t know, but I’ve looked... I’ve looked everywhere and nothing indicates He was ever here. His place up there, it looks like it was set up expecting Him to one day be there... but He never came.” “Well this is not good... It just won’t do. We’ll have to keep it to ourselves, if word gets out... If any of the others find out about this it will be... it would be catastrophic!” “I agree” “Oh if only you hadn’t had to get that blasted overtime approved! This is horrible, this is why you don’t go against procedure! This is just the kind of thing that happens when you step out of the line! But wait... what if, what if this is a test? Yes! What if this is all just a test! He tests people? Right!? He does it all the time doesn’t He? I’ve heard of it, I’m sure! People down there tell stories about it all the time! So that’s what this has to be! It’s a test!” “Are you sure?” “It has to be! And since it is a test what we have to do is go about our business like none of this ever happened! Umm... Faith! Yes! Faith, right? Yes! Faith, that’s what they’re always going on about down there. That has to be the... Err... Point! That’s it, it’s all about faith. So tomorrow to show DEBBIE LANGTRY, ANTICIPATING FROST, OIL PAINT ON BOARD. we have this ‘faith’ we’ll go back to work like went down there, but now he’s back and I nothing ever happened and forget all this mean, sure he lives off by himself so as not nonsense about overtime. I mean just look to be disturbed, but what about him?” what you got us into with that hubbub. “I looked for him.” “Alright then... I guess that’s the best an“And...?” swer.” “And his place... there’s nothing there. “Of course it is! We’ll get back to norI came at it from three different directions mal, and before we know it this will all be just to make sure I hadn’t missed it and a humorous story that we’ll remember and there simply isn’t anything there.” laugh about. But never tell anyone! It will “But... but, it doesn’t make sense...” all go back to normal if we just keep on go“I know.” ing with faith. I’m certain, completely posi“I mean, we do have wings right?” tively sure that’s the answer. There isn’t a “Yes.” doubt in my mind...” “And we were down there, and then we To see more work by the Surreyalists and died and now we’re up here. I mean I rethe Kwantlen Creative Writing Guild, go member it, I remember dying, I was hit by to runnerrag.ca a truck.” “Yes, I remember it too... I died from the

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

BOARD

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page ﬁfteen

RESPONSE

A message from the PIPS Board of Directors to the KSA President.

Mr. Sean “Birdman” Bassi President Kwantlen Student Association Dear Mr. Bassi, In response to your correspondence received August 9, I must respectfully reject your call for an apology and a retraction. We find this is yet another attempt to silence Kwantlen’s free, student-run, independent newspaper. For the record, I would also like to state that PIPS is fully aware and supports the work being done by our journalists with regards to their reporting.

3. Concerning Mr. Borins’ continued work for the KSA, I would like to inquire as to the nature of this work, since the Executive Board decided that “the firm Taylor Nakai LLP be instructed to represent the KSA on all legal matters effective immediately” on April 1. Did the Executive Board violate its own resolution and award more work to Mr. Borins, and did not inform the rest of the Society?

First, I would like to express my profound disappointment at the manner in which the Kwantlen Student Association’s Council and Executive Board has behaved over the past few weeks, with regards to curtailing the rights of students to being heard and the right of students to a free and independent newspaper.

Also important to note is that of the five-person Executive Board, only Operations, Finance and Events were present and voting in the meeting. Nowhere in the minutes are any potential conflicts of interest, apparent or real, mentioned. No one declined to discuss or vote on an issue. For the record, I would like to remind you that these resolutions were passed in camera, and that you were specifically invited to join in at the request of the Directors of Finance and Operations.

I’d like to remind you that all members of Council are elected officials of the association; the position of the president in particular that carries the role of spokesperson of the KSA. Your words carry the weight of the association; electronic records are the time-proven and tested way of ensuring that your words are passed on accurately to students. The Runner has every right and duty to attend, record and report on the meetings of the society, as enshrined in our Bylaws and the KSA-PIPS Autonomy Agreement. And yet, at your initiative, Council moved to ban recordings during public meetings of the KSA. Such a resolution (and later regulation) on the matter is nothing but a punitive measure against students-at-large that have taken their time and the initiative to get informed about their student association. As for the matter at hand, you write of your concern regarding potential “gross inaccuracies in recent online and print publications of the ‘Runner’ [sic],” and state three examples. I must firmly and respectfully disagree on all three counts, and would like to refer you to the Minutes of Executive Board of Directors for the meeting held April 1, 2011. They are available online, but we can provide you with copies if necessary. Specifically: 1. Concerning the Directors of Finance and Operation’s lack of involvement in matters pertaining to the legal cases, I’d like to refer you to the resolution passed at 1:26pm of the day in question, when by initiative of the Directors of Events and Finance the Director of Operations is to “instruct David Borins and his law firm to cease all activity pertaining to the RAF case until further notice.” Two minutes later, the Director of Operations was designated to be “the sole liaison with KSA legal counsel.” 2. Concerning the comment that there have been no changes to the case involving former directors since the new board took office, the Executive Board resolved that Mr. Borins be instructed “not to schedule a date for the case management conference until further notice.” This was part of the resolution to instruct Mr. Borins to cease all activity.

In light of the evidence provided above, and barring any new evidence you can provide, I cannot take you on your word that the statements are grossly inaccurate. Consequently, and as I said previously, I must respectfully reject your calls for an apology and a retraction. In fact, I must go as far as to condemn your attempts of using the threat of legal action against your fellow students, funded by the very fees we all pay into the KSA. Once again, I’d like to repeat that Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society stands fully behind the work of our journalists, and believe that they have acted with all the due care and standards of the profession. We will act with care, with responsibility and with integrity, and shall “govern ourselves accordingly,” as you put it. But we will not stop reporting the facts, and we will not be silenced by threats. In your letter, you mention an appreciation for our “strong drive to bring information” to students, and that you “respect true journalism which aims to highlight only the truth.” I agree wholeheartedly. We would be more than willing to provide full and fair coverage of the KSA’s perspective as well, as befit the proper journalistic standards that PIPS and the Runner strive to achieve every day. To this end, I would like to invite you and the Executive Board to sit down with our reporters and directly comment on all of these stories. Openly. Transparently. Responsibly. For the good of the KSA and of the students of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, I hope you accept.

Respectfully, ____________________________ Paul Li, Chairman of the Board Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society

CULTURE

page sixteen | August 16 2011 | vol. 3 issue 23

FASHION

BOOKS

Say yes to neutrals

The Void sci-ﬁ series will only make you want more Peter F. Hamilton I JARED VAILLANCOURT CONTRIBUTOR

You can play down any outﬁt with a pair of neutral heels, some nail polish and muted makeup. RACHELLE HOFFMAN/THE RUNNER.

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

RACHELLE HOFFMAN CONTRIBUTOR

Neutral shoes have proven themselves a necessity this summer. Neutral coloured heels and flats have been my best investment this season. Neutral sandals, pumps and flats have been selling like hotcakes in stores this summer, and the trend has staying power for the fall. Neutrals are a great investment because they match everything. They are definitely the best purchases to get your money’s worth, especially if you are a student on a tight budget and still want to follow the trends. This has also been a huge trend in nails this season as well. Nudes and neutral tones have been big in the OPI and Essie nail polish lines, as well as smaller brands. Neutrals are also the best nail polishes because often we don’t have a lot of time to paint our nails and have to commit to painting them. If we’re painting them neutral colours, it goes with all your outfits and if you have

the good brands, your nail polish can last up to a week. This trend has also been great for makeup. I’m not a huge makeup wearer and love neutral colours for makeup because it doesn’t look like I’m wearing too much. It’s great because it also saves some time. I usually just use my Covergirl roll-on makeup in the brown tones with a little mascara and I’m ready to go! Quick and easy and you don’t have to worry about your makeup matching or looking great with your outfit. Neutrals have definitely been my favourite trend this summer and have not broken my bank yet. They’re great because they go with everything and make life a little easier. I love the ease of it all and am hoping this trend continues into the fall. Even if it doesn’t, you can definitely still use all your nude shoes, makeup and nail polish. Use the new trends in different ways and tie them in! It’s definitely worth the investment.

FREE +

+ What are

you waiting for?

Next meeting: Sept. 9 at 2:00 pm Runner Office: Third floor of Surrey Campus library Discuss the upcoming issue & other important decisions

What do you get when you mix fringe science, British humour, several fantastical characters and an immense plot of galactic reconciliation? Easily enough, you get The Void series, by Peter F. Hamilton. The five book in this series – which goes from Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained, two books that actually occur a thousand years before The Dreaming Void, The Temporal Void and to finally The Evolutionary Void, which execute events of potentially galactic armageddon – chronicle the life stories of several characters across a massive empire known simply as the Commonwealth. While transient players are different to each of the series’ eras, the main technologically immortal characters include Paula Myo, a genetically engineered supercop whose determination and attention to detail has established her as the most efficient, ruthless and utterly effective justice junkie – ahem, Investigator – in the entire galaxy; Oscar Monroe, a freedom fighter turned special operative whose out-of-thebox thinking and devotion to the goodwill of humanity on both the macro and micro have saved the human race (spoiler alert) from annihilation at least twice; Gore Bernoulli, an old aristocrat whose political clout and never-say-die demeanour has pulled plans and tactics for the good guys practically out of the ether; and The Cat, a deranged psychopath whose only qualifications include practically genocidal killing sprees and overtly torturous murders motivated by little more than the desire to alleviate her boredom. And these are just the human players that help shape events. The (unofficially named) Void series of course centres around what was once thought to be a black hole at the centre of the galaxy and what turns out to be an immense micro-universe known as – ready? Hang on tight – the Void. While the events of the first two books occur before humans have the knowledge of the Void’s existence, they set up the personalities and characterizations of the major players who will confront it. For inside the Void, a telepathic human allows those outside to witness a paradise unachievable in the galaxy and universe beyond the Void’s devilishly black boundary. But what is a paradise for those inside is a desperate hell for those outside. Of course, any rational species with organs

even closely resembling a brain would want such a beast to be destroyed. Within the human Commonwealth, a religion has developed that grows eager to enter the Void. Exciting summary aside, the books read like cloak-and-dagger adventure novels, as factions war within ANA (Advanced Neural Activities – it’d take too long to explain), agents attempt assassinations, and seemingly unimportant bystanders get caught up in the fray. Hamilton’s style is to soak the reader in action first and then provide some detail to give the white-knuckled masses a breather (as well as a look into the wonderfully alien and fantastic universe he’s imagined for our species’ future). The storytelling is gripping, with more twists and surprises than a polyester rope and when the different perspectives finally amalgamate, each book ends with such an explosion of either cliffhanging beauty or divine resolution that leaves the reader eager for more. Of course, each book is a bit long, each over a thousand pages and some even broken up into smaller acts to help the reader catch up on all the events, specialized jargon Hamilton has conjured out of pure necessity and the fantastical worlds that even now my imagination is struggling to conceive. Cliches appear, unfortunately, but they turn out to be unique to the story of The Void series. People in the Commonwealth are smart, much smarter than the idiots making the same boring mistakes and humorous errors that befall modern entertainment and writing like obligatory check-marks on some invisible list. Subtle patterns emerge for those who read through the whole series that only the most engaged reader could decipher, so literally anyone reading through the entirety of The Void will pick up on them and almost squeal with delight when they come about full circle. The humour is witty and sublime, which is to be expected from a British author – I admit I had to stop reading at some points because the tears welling up in my laughter-squinted eyes prevented me from seeing the words clearly. All in all, Peter F. Hamilton’s work is an under-appreciated gem that should be explored and marvelled by all those brave enough to taste real, honest science fiction. But be warned – he’s written many books, and after just one you’ll want them all.

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

CULTURE

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page seventeen

CONCERT REVIEWS

Nazareth shakes Coquitlam Nazareth’s July 14 show at the Red Robinson Theatre proves the band has still got it – even with only half of its original members.

JACOB ZINN CONTRIBUTOR

When a band tours with only half of its original members, it’s hard to set realistic expectations. But on Thursday [July 14], Nazareth put on a performance as solid as their seven gold records. Dan McCafferty missed a few high notes, but his voice is still intact, considering it’s been raspy since 1968. Photo by Jacob Zinn. The Red Robinson Show Theatre in Coquitlam seated almost a thousand 50-somethings — Naz fans since high school — and a few youngsters in their 20s and 30s to see the Scottish hard rockers. Their name in its iconic typeface loomed over the instruments in the background, setting a tone of awe. When the bagpipes sounded and the lights went out at eight o’clock, the floor filled up before the band even took the stage. The current line-up consists of original lead singer Dan McCafferty and bassist Pete Agnew. Replacing the late Darrell Sweet on drums is Lee Agnew, Pete’s son, and Jimmy Murrison has been Nazareth’s guitarist since 1994. The absence of a keyboardist might have detracted from the

show, but it still rivalled the energy of their 1981 Vancouver-recorded double-live album, ‘Snaz. Touring on their 2011 release Big Dogz, they started with a few new tracks including “Big Dog’s Gonna Howl.” Then they dialled it back to 1984’s “This Month’s Messiah,” which one long-haired fan found headbanging-worthy. Then they brought out the big guns: ballads. Murrison strummed an acoustic guitar for “Sunshine,” and though McCafferty can’t croon like he used to, the song moved every husband in attendance to put an arm around his wife. Between songs, McCafferty told jokes, and when he noticed the romance in the theatre following slow songs, he took a few jabs at Canadian stereotypes. “All this lumberjack shit is not working for me,” he said with a grin as they moved into “Turn on Your Receiver.” The band alternated between new songs and oldies midway through the set. The crowd sat idly through new songs “See Me” and “Radio,” but they sang along note-for-note with “Broken Down Angel,” “Love Leads to Madness” and “Whiskey Drinkin’ Woman.” Just before the encore, Lee Agnew broke his kick pedal during “Changin’ Times,” which briefly delayed

the rest of the set, but he made up for it by kickdrumming the teeth out of everyone at the start of “Razamanaz.” Agnew and Son laid the drum-and-bass rock n’ roll foundation for “Hair of the Dog,” which got the best crowd response of the night by far. Nazareth managed to squeeze one more ballad, the widely covered “Love Hurts,” and fans at the front raised and swayed their lighters — no cell phones here. Nazareth closed their set with their rock interpretation of the Joni Mitchell folk tune, “This Flight Tonight.” They skipped a few singles like “Bad Bad Boy,” “Woke Up This Morning,” “Shanghai’d in Shanghai” and “My White Bicycle,” but the concert wasn’t a disappointment. The audience had a good time, and aside from some unforeseen technical difficulties, Nazareth played every song loud ‘n proud.

Dan McCafferty missed a few high notes, but his voice is still intact, considering it’s been raspy since 1968. JACOB ZINN/THE RUNNER.

Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers bring hoe-down Father of the Bride star and his comical bluegrass band were seriously good and hilariously un-serious on July 22.

JACOB ZINN CONTRIBUTOR

We couldn’t wipe the plucking dumbass smiles off our rosey plucking cheeks. That’s because Steve Martin was making us laugh so hard between songs with the Steep Canyon Rangers on Tuesday night. Martin and the band played their old-South bluegrass under the Northern lights of the Centre in Vancouver. “Oh, now I wish I had practiced,” said Martin as he and the North Carolina quintet took the stage to applause. They have been touring the United States and Canada on their 2011 collaboration, Rare Bird Alert, and this was the first time in 35 years that Martin had been back to our city. The theatre was surprisingly unfilled; every seat was taken in the orchestra, but the dress circle and balcony were half-full at best. Martin, dressed in a white suit-jacket, was finger-picking good. He plucked the living

twang out of his five-string banjo during the opening number, “Pitkin County Turnaround,” as though we were at a toe-tapping hoedown. They followed with two more instrumentals before acoustic guitarist Woody Platt sang “Daddy Played the Banjo” off of Martin’s 2009 solo album, The Crow. Platt’s vocals (a cross between Joe Nichols and Dierks Bentley) were so velvety, he could have smooth-talked any woman into coming home with him. The other band members included Graham Sharp on second banjo, Mike Guggino on mandolin, Charles Humphrey on stand-up bass and Nicky Sanders on fiddle. The stage full of stringed instruments left little room, and no need, for a percussionist. “There’s a downside to travelling with no drummer,” said Martin. “No pot.” The band shared vocal duties on “Go Away, Stop, Turn Around, Come Back” and “Jubilation Day,” which featured a yee-haw-worthy banjo solo by Sharp. Then, on “I Can’t Sit Down,” the

band layered their vocals into the chorus until reaching harmony, holding long notes and cutting them off on cue. The six of them sang a cappella around one microphone for “Atheists Don’t Have No Songs,” the most comedic tune of the evening. In short, the song points out that while nonbelievers don’t have hymns or church services, they do get to watch Sunday football in their underwear. After two more instrumentals (“The Great Remember” and “Hide Behind a Rock”), they performed “Wally on the Run,” a song written about Martin’s playful dog. Toward the end of the song, Wally, a golden retriever, walked onstage and the crowd delighted as Martin gave him a treat. Platt led the vocals of “Yellow-Backed Fly” and “Me and Paul Revere” before they left the stage, only to return less than two minutes later for the encore, featuring a softer song titled “You.”

They closed the concert with the 1930s fiddle tune, “Orange Blossom Special,” during which fiddler Sanders weaved in the melodies of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” the theme song to The Simpsons and at least four other distinct musical pieces. Throughout the night, Martin proved he hadn’t lost his sense of humour, but the absence of his 1978 novelty song, “King Tut” was a letdown for any ‘70s Saturday Night Live viewer, considering he and the Steep Canyon Rangers recorded a bluegrass version of it for their album. He even referenced the song earlier in the night, which only built anticipation. “I know you want to hear it, okay,” he said before quoting Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind.” The audience laughed, but fell silent rather quickly. “Maybe that wasn’t a hit up here.”

page eighteen | August 16 2011 | vol. 3 issue 23

CULTURE

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

CONCERT REVIEWS

FILMS

Chromeo shows practice makes perfect at Commodore

KRISTI ALEXANDRA CULTURE EDITOR

Aug. 2 marked the fourth time that Montreal two-piece Chromeo had played Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom this year. And a couple of seasoned veterans they proved to be on that Tuesday evening, creating one heaving, sweaty, orgiastic dance party that would usually befit a Saturday night. It wasn’t without a rough start, however, as Vancouver electronic two-piece Humans opened for Eastern Canada’s glory boys. There was something a little off-kilter with the usually magnetic twosome, who’s knob twisting and button mashing just didn’t syncup that night. Layer that on top of flat vocals, and you could audibly hear Humans flopping. When the lights went out at 10:45 p.m. for the main attraction, the dancefloor was vis-

P-Thugg and Dave 1 of Montreal two-piece Chromeo know how to make panty-melting tunes. CHROMEO PROMO PHOTO GALLERY.

ibly packed with 20-somethings, all dressed to the nines. The musical energy and carnal attraction in the venue seemed to mesh well, as Chromeo opened with their sexy groove “Don’t Turn The Lights On.” Ironically, the flashy, strobe-like light show suggested that P-Thugg and Dave 1 actually

did want the lights – on them. Well-known hits like “Tenderoni,” which boasts of the group’s own reputation, didn’t help to show Chromeo in a humble light. While I’m typically averse to shameless self-promotion so often seen by mainstream hip-hop and rap artists, Chromeo’s grade of self-involvement might actually be well-deserved. The boys totally nailed “Hot Mess” and “Waiting For You,” and then even nailed a short interlude of Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” on guitar. “Bonafied Lovin’” definitely sealed the deal for those who were wont to go home with someone that night, as Chromeo provides the perfect soundtrack for a bangfest. And getting all that raw, musically sexual energy live rather than via your iTunes account? Double the chance of getting laid.

FILMS

Cowboys and Aliens tells tale of monsters vs. bad-ass good-guys

MIKE SHAMES SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

GRADE: AThere is something so appealing about cowboy movies. The outlaw turned hero, the gruff old war veteran with a soft spot, the gunslinger women, the boy and/or Indian sidekick/tag along, the kind doctor, the other bandits and finally the Indian tribes are all staples of any western. We all love them. And we love alien movies. The sudden appearances that make you jump, the grotesque drooling monsters, the cool ships, the abductions, the experimentation and the heroes that fight them are all essential for an alien movie. And the newest cliche that has become popular in the past years has been the invasion for Earths natural resources, as seen in Battle: Los Angeles, makes it into the hybrid of these iconic genres. So Cowboys and Aliens is what would happen if these clichés were combined into a fun filled ride topped with some of the best casting possible. Starting with the cast, it stars Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde as the leads. Craig is best known for James Bond, and Ford for Indiana Jones, two of the biggest bad-asses in cinema. Craig and Ford dominate this movie. On their own, they are lost in the character. Craig is a

wanted outlaw, awakening in the middle of 1873 Arizona, completely unaware of how he got there, let alone who he is. But it is quickly shown that he is not helpless, but is extremely dangerous. There are other oddities, like the strange item on his arm, and flashbacks to a mysterious women. Not to mention waking up with amnesia, in underwear, in the middle of the desert. There is also layers to this charismatic outlaw, shown by Craig himself, flashbacks, and through the characters he meets as he seems to be infamous. Ford is gruff old war veteran, tired by the world, even a bit racist (as per the era). But through some simple scenes and with subtle body language Ford shows there is a softer side for all people hidden beneath the fierce and hard layers. But when they are together, they are the best. Some scenes there is no dialogue and yet the two can have a conversation. They start off as adversaries, but are forced to cooperate after the aliens attack. Each are very similar, multilayered and are genuinely good people at the core. Wilde does a good job in her role but isn’t given much time to develop her character. It’s hard to care about her. She’s a mysterious woman that can hold her own with the boys. Big deal. There are other characters that come and go, and even some side stories that are not very engaging,

but we must remember that this is essentially a comic book movie. The main attraction is Craig and Ford, and they do deliver. The story is classic western with a dash of aliens. Lifted from a graphic novel, it certainly has the ability to grab and hold an audience. There is some remodeling of clichés to fit with aliens, like jumping horse to ship rather than horse to train. And some Bond/ Jones slips in if you’re really paying attention. But it is fun, filled with little bits of comedy, and has many interesting characters, even if they are cliched. The aliens are the usual screeching drooling affair of any alien movie, and yet they fit into the world, and look pretty cool too. They aren’t dumb either, as demonstrated by their technology for extracting resources. It is definitely a meeting of two very different worlds, but merging seamlessly. Ford and Craig are titans on the screen; much like if Clint Eastwood and John Wayne starred in a western, they are so well done. They make this movie, but not without their supporting cast. No matter how small the role, everyone does an excellent job of bringing the flick to life. So if you’re looking for something to cure that sickening feeling from watching Transformers, or Green Lantern, this movie comes complete with outlaws, cowboys, scary aliens, and cheesy Wilhelm screams.

Horrible Bosses plays out fantasy justice

A group of over-worked employees meet with their murder consultant, played by Jamie Foxx, in a dingy and dangerous bar. WARNER BROS PRESS PICTURE.

KRISTI ALEXANDRA CULTURE EDITOR

GRADE: A

In a hate-my-fucking-job, heist-like, endlessly entertaining film like Horrible Bosses, one can’t help but draw similarities to movies like Office Space or Pineapple Express. Starring Jason Bateman, Jason Sudekis and Charlie Day as three average joes who can’t stand their bosses, the guys jokingly conspire to “take care of them” over drinks. An over-worked Bateman, who answers to a malign prick played by Kevin Spacey, loses a well-deserved promotion and resolves to exact revenge. The audience is in for a surprise as we find out that Spacey is an unrelenting psychopath with a vendetta against all men who look at his wife. Day, an endearingly dorky dental assistant, is sexually harassed by his dentist, played by Jennifer Aniston. Aniston, who vamps it up Elvira-style, plays her conniving, nymphomaniacal character seamlessly. Then there’s Sudekis, the most ballsy of the group, but who is still struggling for fair treatment after his late boss’ coke-head son takes over the business. Colin Farell plays the balding, drug-addict son who moves Sudekis to “cut the fat” of the company, and aims to fire the overweight and unattractive staff members. Hilarity ensues as each storyline gets tangled in the others, creating a slap-stick string of events that will undoubtedly have you on the edge of your seat. The flick gets extra points for its bad-ass soundtrack featuring The Heavy.

CULTURE

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page nineteen

CONCERT REVIEWS

Owl City charms Vancouver

In Medias Res shows off entire catalogue

Adam Young, a.k.a. Owl City, kept his show at the Centre for Performing Arts pretty tame on July 16.

CHRIS YEE SENIOR CULTURE WRITER

Owl City is a mixed bag, critically speaking. Some have called his music overly cutesy, even blatantly derivative of mid-aughties indietronic project The Postal Service. At the same time, though, there are some things about Owl City (Adam Young, of Owatonna, Minnesota; insomniac, former warehouse worker, avowed Postal Service fan, and apparent Ben Gibbard impressionist) that this reviewer finds fascinating, even under the pretence of avoiding his oeuvre. Owl City’s attempts to evoke a sense of childlike innocence and wonder in many of his songs seem at first glance to flirt with a disagreeable, affected mawkishness – but somehow it feels rather ill-spirited to fault him for his MySpacedriven ascent from insomniac bedroom musician to world-touring major-label star, even as this particular route to commercial success has by now become cliché, even passé. But Owl City seems unconcerned with what is cliché and passé, and to someone who doesn’t usually make a point of partaking in such fare, this makes for an interesting diversion at least and a refreshing one at most (OK, scratch that last one.) Nonetheless, I took the opportunity of free press tickets to go on a lark, and checked out Owl City’s appearance at the Centre for Performing Arts in Vancouver on July 16, part of a world tour promoting his latest album, All Things Bright and Beautiful. Among the crowd thronging the marble-gilt concourse of the centre, which mostly consisted of teens, tweens, their chaperones and a smattering of young families, I felt out of place – but hey, it’s an adventure, I told myself. Instrumental rock band Unwed Sailor opened the night. The band’s riffs evoke a pleasing sort of tourism commercial epicness. Unfortunately, they came across as too inoffensive and interchangeable to succeed beyond making stock background music. The relatively lukewarm response of the crowd seemed to confirm my suspicions. Next up was chart-topping balladeer Mat Kearney, of “Grey’s Anatomy” soundtrack fame (naturally, he played “All I Need” during his set, along with his various other hits and some new songs off his forthcoming album Young Love). The audience was ecstatic, as ecstatic as generations of audiences have been to generations of pop stars, even as he let slip a slightly untimely and unseemly dig involving the Boston Bruins

and Vancouver in his otherwise charming stage banter. Not that he was limited to working the stage – he worked the audience, too, with highfives and hugs. Finally, headliner Owl City attempted to top this performance with projections, dramatic lighting, dramatic teddy bear hugging and a full band, which drowned out his voice on a few songs. Owl City’s set ranged from older, bouncier material about daydreams, “Fireflies” (an early single of his), the Pacific Northwest (as evidenced by another early single, “Hello Seattle”, among other songs) and innocent longing, to newer songs which almost (but not quite) belie the title of All Things Bright and Beautiful: songs like “Hospital Flowers” (a perspective-changing, near-death car crash), “Deer in the Headlights” (more than just being about unrequited love, the lyrics mention being pepper sprayed in response to some rather chaste advances), and “Galaxies” (sampling Ronald Reagan’s post-Challenger disaster State of the Union address in its intro). Ultimately, what carried Owl City’s set was the ample participation from his devoted, owl costume-clad fans; a good part of the audience was standing up toward the middle of it. As for myself, I found myself a little charmed by the time Owl City took a bow after the set, backup band and all – but not by much. I left, telling myself that this’ll be nothing more than a guilty pleasure for me. No, really. I did. I really did.

Members of In Medias Res just graduated from their college course “Mean-mugging 101.” PHOTO: IN MEDIAS RES MYSPACE PAGE.

LLIAM EASTERBROOK SENIOR FEATURES WRITER

Vancouver’s own In Medias Res played for a hopeful crowd of intimates Saturday night at the Biltmore Cabaret. The band took a long hiatus to focus on family and work obligations, but recently reformed this past year, recording a new album at Vancouver’s Mushroom Studios. It Was Warm And Sunny When We First Set Out, their first album in over six years, was released digitally on Jan. 4, and has been lauded by local critics and fans alike as a return to form for the postrockers. It was released on vinyl format on Saturday, July 16 as part of the band’s celebration of being signed to Vancouver label File Under: Music. In Medias Res singer, Andrew Lee, and drummer, Steve Watts, worked up a sweat playing their entire catalogue that night. Starting off with their 2002 self-titled EP, the band then moved to 2004’s Of What Was, their first full-length studio release.

“The Dark Crystal,” a single released online in 2008 which escapes the 10-minute mark, ended their first set, where there was a short intermission before the band returned to the stage to play their newest album in its entirety. Their sound has been described as sonic and atmospheric — like early ‘90s Radiohead, often breaking out in cascading riffs and leads that change the band’s sound suddenly, from languid ethereality to allout head-banging rock. But performing live at the Biltmore — never a great venue for vocal performances, kept In Medias Res right in the middle of things on Saturday, with muted, muffled and often strained vocals from Andrew Lee, who likely couldn’t hear himself above the tumult of sound the rest of the band was making. In Medias Res is set to take off on a summer tour spanning Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta before returning home to Vancouver by the end of summer.

Need a reference for a

scholarship ❃ job ❃ program? ❃ Get paid! Owl City gave his teen and tween fans high-ﬁves and hugs at his show. Perhaps when the budget gets bigger, he’ll be handing out bibles instead. PHOTO: OWL CITY OFFICIAL SITE.

and ideas! ❃ We need your words pictures, attitudes ❃ editor@runnerrag.ca

CULTURE

page twenty | August 16 2011 | vol. 3 issue 23

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

SEX

COMPACT DUST-OFF

An all-live compilation comprises beneﬁt album

Junk-food sex

Sonic archaelogist Lliam Easterbrook puts his usual Vinyl Dust-off column on hold to talk about the compact disc. Just for this week.

LLIAM EASTERBROOK SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR

This brand new, 64-song compilation album was released today via Greyday Records. Live From Nowhere Near You: Volume II is comprised of rarities, collaborations and b-sides from artists such as Wilco, Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, The Strokes and Eddie Vedder. Originally conceived by Kevin Moyer to help raise funds for the homeless youth organization, Outside In, Live From Nowhere works “by collaborating street musicians with friends and music professionals . . . tell[ing] a story of life on the streets and the roads leading to and from there.” The three CD set sells for $15 online, with 100 per cent of proceeds going to charity. Purchase a copy online at greydayproductions.com, or listen to a stream at undertheradarmag.com

Exclusive Online Content

Lliam’s Article “On The Resurgence of Vinyl” Jared Vaillancourt’s Latest Short Story “Last Stand” Matthew Bossons’ Several Travel Adventures

runnermag.ca

CONNOR DOYLE CONTRIBUTOR

No Strings Attached and Friends With Benefits are two movies that have been released within months of each other, star respectively, the two femalee leads of Black Swan,, and promote essentially the exact same credo: Let’s have all the meaningless,, commitment-free, hedonistic-palooza sex x we want a- Oh no! Now w we’re in love... The whole concept pt of, of let’s call it what we really want to call it –– fuck buddies –– invites a myriad of emotions and opinions. It can be categorized as whatever one wants it to be, from a refreshing alternative to boyfriend/girlfriend relationships to complete victimization of at least one of the parties involved. Ultimately, its intended to be a way of retaining the sexual benefits of having a significant other without any of the other expectations or attachments found in a serious relationship. It’s like having a bag of trail mix but ignoring all the fruits, grains and nuts because all you really want are the M&Ms. It’s saying: “I want IN you... but I’m not into you.” Immediately the answer that comes to mind when someone asks “is it ok to be fuck buddies?” is “depends on what’s right for you.” But having said that there are some things to consider objectively about this subject. Does every sexual encounter need to take place in a safe and loving relationship? Fuck no. Is it a good idea to have continuously emotionless sex? Not if you actually enjoy sex that much. The fact is that sex need never be limited to a single ideal: to restrict it to either end of the spectrum is to ignore at least half its awesome power. There are possibilities where having/being a fuck buddy is not only awesome, it’s goddamned commendable. Consider the following example of such a relationship from Erica Jong’s 1973 novel Fear of Flying, here deemed the Zipless Fuck: “The zipless fuck is absolutely pure. It is free of ulterior motives. There is no power game. The man is not ‘taking’ and

the woman is not ‘giving.’ No one is attempting to cuckold a husband or humiliate a wife. No one is trying to prove anything or get anything out of anyone. The zipless fuck is the purest thing there is. And it is rarer than the unicorn.” That sounds like a work of beauty, a marvel of achievement in the world of human sexuality. But is that sex’s hi highest calling? Of course not. There is a measure to wh which sex can reach that is beyond slamming the uglibo est parts of our bodies together until we get off. It is achieved by having sex with someone that you truly consider to be the most desirable person in the universe, someone you love and admire and respect and want, nay, need to express your love for physically. Tom Robbins, another prominent writer from the 70’s takes a different approach to considering the art of sex in his provocatively named novel Still Life with Woodpecker: “There is lovemaking that is bad for a person, just as there is eating that is bad. Every nutritious sexual recipe calls for at least a pinch of love, and the fucks that rate four-star rankings from both gourmets and health-food nuts use cupfuls.” He goes on to argue that, while some “explosions of passion between strangers make more erotic sense than many lengthy marriages”, such relationships are like fast food; they can be finger-licking good, but depend too much on them and you’ll end up feeling bloated and worthless. The trick is to search internally before searching externally; find out what you’re looking for before having either incarnation of sex. Sex is, at its best, number one on the list of “reasons we continue to exist,” and that’s not entirely for practical purposes; sex is one of the most awesome powers on earth. You can fuck the person you love and you an make love to your fuck buddy, all of it only further explores the infinite possibilities of getting it on. Sex is eclectic, don’t limit yourself to any one iteration of it. Fuck, bone, screw, nail; lust, like and love. Anything less than all of the above is to miss the point entirely.

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

CULTURE

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page twenty one

TRAVEL

The places you’ll go... and the people you’ll meet I

MATTHEW BOSSONS CONTRIBUTOR

It was late morning in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai. I’d awoken with a splitting headache, a result of heavy drinking the previous night and the hot, humid weather that I was still not used to. I made my way down to the ground floor of the guest house, which happened to be a restaurant and bar. That was good news – while travelling I live by a hair-of-the-dog philosophy for hangover cures. It was roughly 11 a.m. and the street was bustling with activity. The ground floor was packed and I took a seat at the last empty table out by the street side. I called to the waitress for a tall glass of Chang beer and a menu – food also being an essential part of the hangover recovery process. The beer came quickly, and I ordered a simple meal of pork-fried rice before giving the waitress the menu and a few Thai baht for the beer. A short time later my food arrived, along with another beer. I started reading. Lost in thought. It was shortly after I finished my meal that the deep roar of an engine began drowning out my music. I looked over to see a man riding a jet-black motorcycle pull up in front of my table, along the street edge. The man was tall and tanned, wearing shorts, sandals, a white tank and a black helmet with a short visor. He had to be in his mid-sixties. He walked into the restaurant with his helmet tucked under his arm and glanced around. He looked shocked at how full the restaurant was. From my peripherals, I could see him making his way over to my table, which still had three empty seats. I glanced up at the man and he motioned for me to remove my headphones – he clearly had something to say. “Oi, you ink it would be okay if I sat here?” said the man, pointing to the opposite side of the table. “You can leave your headphones in, I don’t expect you to chat wit me or nuffin, just wanna cup of coffee.” Throughout my travels I had met many people with many different accents, and this man had a unmistakably British one. “Sure,” I replied. I set my headphones down on the table. Despite his assurance I could leave them in, I felt awkward listening to music while he sat quietly across from me. I like to think I’m more social than that.

I took a sip of beer, and lit a cigarette from my pack while the man ordered a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. “What are you going to do with a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey?” I said. “Whaddya think? Drink’em,” he replied. I felt sorta stupid for asking, it just seemed like a strange combination. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his shorts and flicked the paper pack so that a single smoke left the pack and found a home between his lips. “Where you from?” he asked, looking up at me while he lit a smoke. “American? Canadian?” “I’m from Canada,” I said. “And you?” “Me? I’m from here,” he said. “Well actually, I’m from just outside town. I live with my wife on her family’s farm.” I took a long, deep drag from my cigarette and continued, “originally?” “Well, originally I be from east London, but ‘ats ancient history now,” he said as he poured the shot of whiskey into the cup of jet black coffee. Whiskey and coffee – I still couldn’t get my head around it. It seemed like it was too hot of a climate for a concoction of that sort. I left this experience wondering why he drank it, I assumed it must taste good. It wasn’t until over a year later in Belize that I tried mimicking the drink – it was terrible. I still don’t get it. We started talking about narcotic use in a country that has such harsh drug laws. The man’s advice to me was simple: don’t do them. Good advice. We had been joined at the table by another backpacker. Mike, a scrawny American from Pennsylvania, had been coming around a lot lately because his hostel was just down the road from mine. He was just in time for one of the most interesting stories I’d ever heard. “You see, when I was in my early 20s, me and a friend came up with quite a lucrative plan to

smuggle hash from Morocco back to London,” said the man. “We spent sometime building compartments in my jeep.” He paused for a moment and took a long sip of his coffee-whiskey mix. “You see, it’s easy enough to cast metal compartments – well easy when you work in a shop anyway. Once you have ‘em made you just hide the hollow metal boxes under the truck, and you’re in business.” Both Mike and I stared at the man in amazement; when he first sat down I never would have guessed our conversation would stray so far from the commonplace topics. “So you just drove the hash back to London?” I asked. “Yes, we would drive to Spain –– a long bloody drive that is, then take the ferry across to Morocco,” he said, “then head back the same way we came.”

It is ironic that all I had previously known about Morocco is that it produces lots of hemp, hash and hash oil – a fact confirmed by this man, who had driven from London to North Africa to acquire it. “I had made a connection there, years before while on a vacation, that could get me good quality hash and hash oil.” He stopped and put his cigarette out. “So when I got to Morocco, he would deliver me blocks of hash which I would hide inside the compartments. “It all worked well, and was extremely profitable - until I got caught.” “You got caught!” I blurted out. “What the hell happened?

“Did they beat you, or whip you or lock you up?” “No whippings or beatings, at least not initially,” he said. “They threw me in a shitty, dark, toilet-less jail cell. And in that jail cell I stayed for a long and terrible 12 years. It’s terrible being in a foreign prison, especially an African one.” “But how, how did they get you? Just a random search?” said Mike, now clearly interested in where this conversation had gone. “Someone tipped ‘em off, and I got a very comprehensive search at a police check point, obviously leading to my arrest and subsequent imprisonment,” said the man calmly. I pulled another cigarette from my pack. I think imagining the gravity of the man’s Moroccan situation stressed me out vicariously. I lit the cigarette and waved at the waitress for another beer. “It was hard to argue too, when you get caught red-handed with drugs stashed in your car, there’s not a hell of a lot you can say,” he said. “But you learn a lot about yourself after 12 years in hell, it’s dark and smells terrible. Panic is your first thought, but that quickly fades into a long dark depression. Prison is the worst punishment imaginable – it makes the sane go crazy and the crazy go insane. Suicide becomes a mans best friend,” he said sadly. “Sometimes I wonder how I lived.” He picked his cup from the table, put it to his lips and tipped the rest of the alcoholic coffee down his throat. He set the cup back on the wooden table and the smile returned to his face for the first time since he began the story. ”Now I live in paradise with a beautiful wife, a big farm and enough money to enjoy my days.” He paused and laughed. He was right, things had to be better now, living in northern Thailand is a dream I share with many others, but it was evident he still carried the stressful memories with him, it was obvious from the deep lines in his face. Wrinkles from the terror and horror of a Moroccan prison. There was a lesson to be learned from this story, and it’s importance was immediately impressed upon me. Never traffic drugs, it’s simply not worth it. Smoking a joint in a foreign country is bad enough – selling the stuff is just plain stupid. The man agreed. “Stay away from selling the stuff kid, I tell ya – it’s simply not worth it. Freedom is just too good.”

page twenty two | August 16 2011 | vol. 3 issue 23

CULTURE

The Runner | www.runnerrag.ca

FOOD

Sustainable Eats Two ethical foodies provide their guide to friendly fare around Metro Vancouver. or get in a car to find a good meal. Get on the web to do a little research about what’s in your area, or encourage the shops and restaurants you frequent most to bring in more sustainable options. In the meantime, here’s a compilation of some of the best places in the Lower Mainland to get your sustainable grub on! We’ve listed under each place their location, and price point rating on a three-point scale.

BANDIDAS TAQUERIA Price: $$ Location: 2781 Commercial Drive There are a lot of great places to choose from for a great dinner and drinks with friends but as summer winds up it seems only fair to suggest Bandidas; one of the most summer-feeling restaurants that isn’t on the beach. With $3.50 beers and thirst quenching drink specials this place is perfect for a perch at the bar and great conversation. If you’re hungry, they specialize in tacos and burritos with great side salads made with in-season vegetables. Bandidas is primarily vegetarian and offers vegan alternatives with the use of the popular vegan Daiya Cheese brand and other substitutes. According to the website they buy their produce from local markets and bring them in with a bicycle and cart. All sauces, tortillas and the like are made in house, and all the beer and wines they carry are local. Look them up at bandidastaqueria.com

ASHLEY FEHR VANESSA KNIGHT

As more and more information surfaces on issues such as climate change, pesticide or chemical use, and our local economy, more and more of us are asking the simple question: Where does our food come from? For those health- or environmentally-conscious individuals, the answers often result in dietary changes; some choose the 100 mile diet, eating only food grown or raised locally; some decide to cut out factory-farmed meat and animal products; still others decide to cut down on meat in general, become a vegetarian, or cut out absolutely all animal products and become vegan. Whether you’re just cutting down on meat or you’re going full vegan, finding places to eat can be difficult. A lot of the places with better options (including some that we’ve listed below) are located in Vancouver, but that doesn’t mean you have to jump on the Skytrain

KARMAVORE VEGAN STORE Price: $$$ Location: 610 Columbia Street (New West)

THE ORGANIC GROCER Price: $$$ Location: King George and 74th Ave

Karmavore is an adorable store nestled on Columbia Street in New Westminster. The store has a very strict policy; no-animal products, byproducts or testing went into anything they carry. Co-owner Jennifer Jamal says that she and her husband started Karmavore to “make it easier and more accessible to live a vegan lifestyle and also to make a way to generate funds for animal charities.” The store has two levels; upstairs they have various vegan products such as clothing, shoes, soaps and vegan resources, and downstairs lies a plethora of vegan treats. In addition to a frozen and dry goods sections, they have a great deli selection as well as a small take-out menu including their fantastic soft-serve, vegan ice cream. The prices may not be considered student friendly, but there are often day-old items as well as a student discount. Of course one of the greatest parts is that you can also find out about local initiatives to help our fellow creatures; like Jamal says, “It’s all for the animals.”

Since 1993 The Organic Grocer has provided Newton with a variety of organic products, including a very large supplement selection. Pam Duff is a registered medical nutritional consultant who works at the grocer, she says “our supplements section is quite extensive as well as our body care section. We also have registered holistic nutritionists and a master herbalist on staff.” The store is Certified Organic, which means that “We have to follow some stringent regulations we cannot have produce in here that has been sprayed or raised with any kind of chemical.” In terms of stocking local foods, Duff says “we try to go with local products and then branch out from there.” Unfortunately their prices are fairly high for students, so this store is great for specialty items and if you want to talk to a professional about supplements for your diet. They do have a points system, so you can accumulate discounts.

FARMER’S MARKETS Price: $ to $$ Location: Find one in your area! Farmer’s Markets are a great place to get fresh, local items, and chances are there is one in your area. Matthew Stuart from Training Wheels Farm says “students should shop at the market because you actually get to meet the grower. You can ask questions and find food that meets your value system.” While chain grocery stores can offer artificially low prices because of subsidies around food shipments, “you can find deals on things when you shop in season” recommends Stuart, “The best advice I could give is spend a little more on things that are important to you … And then say ‘thank you’ for all the hard work that these people have put in to deliver the food, it will mean a lot.” For more info on farmer’s markets visit bcfarmersmarket.org and bcfarmfresh.com.

The Kitsilano Farmer’s Market thrives during the summer months, and you can be assured you’re doing the right thing by supporting local farmers while lessening the carbon footprint. ASHLEY FEHR/THE RUNNER

CULTURE

www.runnerrag.ca | The Runner

vol. 3 issue 23 | August 16 2011 | page twenty three

FOOD

ETHICAL EATS CONT’D PLANET VEG Price: $ Location: 1941 Cornwall Avenue

If you’re heading to any beach near Kitsilano, it can be difficult to choose which delicious food place to grab some grub from. Two blocks from Kitsilano beach, Planet Veg offers Western-Indian cuisine that is wrapped up in a tidy square to make it easy to carry to the beach. Owner Chitra Bansal says that when ordering her ingredients she makes every effort to have local products, and all sauces and foodstuffs are made in house. When asked why make such a healthy fast food options, Bansal says, “I myself am a vegetarian and I know that it is difficult to have healthy choices when eating out. I want to make sure people are able to eat healthy meals.” With nothing over $10 this is one of the most affordable and healthy meals in Kitsilano.

SUSHI Price: $ to $$ Location: Richmond is a great place to find excellent sushi This isn’t a particular restaurant, but if you want to eat out with a vegan, sushi is always a great option in the lower mainland. Prices tend to be uniform, and you can usually get a vegetable roll, avocado roll, and a couple pieces of inari (bean curd wrapped around rice) for under ten bucks. If you’re concerned about sustainability but not strictly veg, you have even more options. Because sushi is served raw, the fish must be of higher quality, which can tend to (but not always) mean more sustainable practices. According to the Living Oceans Society website, “Companies like Bento, Tomiyama and Tokyo Express are getting on board with SeaChoice to provide sustainable options to their customers.”

Specialties at The Templeton: mangled eggs with organic bacon and rosemary potatoes; background, BLT with soy bacon, fries and miso gravy. ASHLEY FEHR/THE RUNNER

SeaChoice is a healthy oceans seafood program put together by a group of conservation orga-

nizations. Check www.seachoices.org for more information and a sustainable sushi guide.

ASTROLOGY

LEO July 24 - Aug. 23

Mercury enters to offer you second chances in relationships and open lines of communication. In short: it’s time to stop being such a bitch.

SCORPIO Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Mercury and the Sun come together as big developments over your career are at play. Bridges you’ve built are strengthened, and this continues.

VIRGO Aug. 24 - Sept. 23

Several new frontiers present themselves to you this month. You can learn when to say no, but stay humble and roll with the punches.

LIBRA Sept. 24 - Oct. 23 Passions flourish around you right now. It could be in the form of a fulfilling career or reconnecting with old friends or lovers. You’re on fire! Own it.

AQUARIUS Jan. 21 - Feb 19

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

You get a fresh wave of insight, creativity and mental focus right before an adventure or opportunity presents itself. Life is about to get exciting!

CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan. 20 There’s going to be some progress in romantic relationships and ﬁnancial issues soon, but not without work.

You’ll balance work and play this month and with ease, but when it comes to money and relationships, you’re still in limbo.

PISCES Feb. 20- March 20

The Sun, Mercury and Venus are all up in your professional life right now, which could mean really big things. Keep on truckin’.

ARIES March 21 - April 19 You’ve got a lot going on and are ﬁnding it hard to balance everything in your life. Grab some sextoys, relax and prioritize.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

You’re changing your name to that of a famous rapper, but it draws more similarities to a popular cast member of sesame street. Both are stupid.

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

Mariah Carey’s “Shake It Off” is going to be your anthem this month. Shake-shake-shake it off!

CANCER June 20 - july 20 You might have been a bit of a grumpy-pants lately but it’ll be over soon. You’ll get that medical marijuana card and ﬂy hiiiggggggghhhhhh!!!

page 24 | August 8 2011 | vol. 2 issue 23

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca