Vol. 5 Issue 03 by The Runner

THE

VOL. 05 ISSUE 03 10.16.2012

NEWS AND CULTURE FOR THE STUDENTS OF KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

THE OCCUPATION Kwantlen alum makes documentary of Vancouver protest pages 8-9

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page two | October 16 2012 | vol. 5 issue 03

ROUNDUP

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NEWS

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

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I believe Canadians want and need new leadership

WATERLOO (CUP) — After much speculation and ongoing predications, Justin Trudeau has announced his Liberal leadership bid. On Oct. 2, Trudeau arrived at the William-Hingston Centre in Montreal and met with Liberal supporters. With his family, including his wife Sophie Grégoire and their two children, Trudeau declared his intention to run for leadership of the party. The Conservative government is taking this country in a direction most Canadians don’t want it to go. We want a vision for Canada’s future grounded not in the politics of envy or mistrust.” His announcement, according to Wilfrid Laurier University professor Barry Kay, may be a result of the Liberal Party having no other serious alternatives. “I think the Liberal strategy is not about winning this next election, it’s about improving themselves and positioning themselves as the alternatives to the Conservatives,” Kay said. Trudeau, having been an MP for the Papineau riding in Ottawa since 2008, does not have many years of experience in politics, leading some to question the validity of his campaign. There has been speculation as to whether his family’s history in politics has had more of an impact on his popularity than his own political background. It has also been noted that Trudeau has not adequately addressed his thoughts on issues such as economy and foreign affairs. ALANNA FAIREY — THE CORD (WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY) DAVEHUEHN/FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS

Crown appeals weekend jail sentence of UBC student charged in Stanley Cup riot

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEOFF LISTER/THE UBYSSEY

VANCOUVER (CUP) — The B.C. Court of Appeal has received notice that the Crown will be appealing the sentencing of UBC student Alexandre Peepre, who was sentenced to weekend jail time for his charges of assault and taking part in a riot in connection to the 2011 Stanley Cup riot. The Crown is hoping for a harsher sentence. According to the Court of Appeal, the Crown expects a hearing to take place before the end of 2012, possibly in November or December. The notice of appeal notes that the Crown would like to see the term of jail increased, but does not specifically ask for Peepre to be in jail during the week as well as on weekends. Peepre, a 21-year-old political science student at UBC, was sentenced on Sept. 13 to 60 days of jail time to be served from 7 p.m. on Fridays to 5 p.m. on Sundays. He was also sentenced to 18 months of probation starting in January when his jail time is up and 125 hours of community service. Peepre is also required to pay $2,000 in restitution to the owner of the 1996 GMC Sierra truck that he helped flip on the day of the riot. Peepre was charged with assault for punching 25-year-old Cameron Brown, a man who was trying to put out a trash-can fire, in the head. Brown plans to file a $4,000 civil suit against Peepre. LAURA RODGERS — THE UBYSSEY (UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA)

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

NEWS

vol. 5 issue 03 | October 16 2012 | page three

KSA

KSA by-election asks student to choose between identities I

MATT DIMERA NEWS EDITOR

Students who self-identify with more than one constituency group may once again be forced to choose between their identities in the Kwantlen Student Association’s (KSA) upcoming by-election. Before last spring’s general election, students were able to vote for as many constituency representatives (previously called liaisons), with which they self-identified. However, the KSA’s chief returning officer, Corey Van’t Haaff interpreted the rules differently than her predecessors. “You can only vote for one constituency,” explained Van’t Haaff in a phone interview with The Runner on Oct. 12. “You only get one vote to influence the number of people on council.” The KSA has positions representing seven groups who have historically faced

unique challenges to their participation in post-secondary education: queer students, students of colour, students with disabilities, international students, mature students, aboriginal students and women. Any Kwantlen student who self-identifies with a given group may vote for, and run for, the constituency representative position representing that group. In the upcoming by-election only the students with disabilities and students of colour representatives are up for election. “It is arguable,” said Van’t Haaff. “But I’m going along the lines of one vote for the constituency, one vote for the campus and one vote with the faculty; all with the one you most identify with.” Van’t Haaff argued that allowing some students to vote for more than one constituency representative would give them an unfair influence on the makeup of council. “My position is one person, one vote,”

she said. “You would be giving the person who identifies with four, four opportunities to put somebody on council.” The Capilano Student’s Union has six similar positions on their board, however they allow all students to vote for all constituencies, even those who don’t self-identify with the constituencies. According to Van’t Haaff, the issue is out of her hands, but was brought up with the KSA council in her April 30 report, on the spring 2012 general election. “If council’s intent is to have people only cast one vote, or if council’s intent is to have people cast more than one, then council is free to clarify that particular rule,” she stated. Melinda Bige, the KSA’s aboriginal constituency representative disagreed with the current policy. “It gives the implication that one category matters more than the other,” she said. “I

don’t identify as an aboriginal person separately than I identify as a woman. It’s something that I’ve advocated for, to change it.” Christopher Girodat, the KSA’s executive chairperson, agreed that the issue needs to be addressed. “This is [something] we identified as an issue shortly after the release of the official results of the general election, unfortunately a package of amendments is not yet complete and won’t be in force in time for the by-elections,” said Girodat. “It is on our radar, it’s definitely something the governance committee’s identified as something that needs to be changed. Unfortunately we can’t change the rules mid-election.” Girodat said that council didn’t have adequate time in the five months since the last election to make changes, but that they would be made in time for the next election. “The election rules are about 27 pages long, so there’s a lot they’re looking into.”

KSA exec says conference hotel rooms were a matter of safety I SAMANTHA LEGO

>>>>

Kwantlen Student Association (KSA) delegates attending a local conference in Richmond B.C. last month, spent the night in a hotel paid for by student fees. The KSA paid $285.60 for two hotel rooms at the Four Points Sheraton hotel for seven elected officials, staff and volunteers who attended the Volunteer B.C. conference Sept. 27 and 28, so they wouldn’t have to take public transit at night. “Due to the time frame it would have been challenging for some of our volunteers to make it there and back because there were debriefs after the days,” said Christopher Girodat, the KSA’s director of student services and executive chairperson. The attendees included the director of finance, Tony Chiao, the director of student life, Amrit Mahil, and Kwantlen senator Iman Ghahremani. According to Chiao, the money spent was beneficial because there were several volunteers who would not be able to get

home afterwards. “We’d have to send them home through the transit [which would be] three hours at night,” said Chiao. “If we don’t care about volunteer safety then [the hotel] was not a good idea but if we do care about volunteer safety for getting home then I believe we should provide them with a shelter.” The conference sessions ran on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 pm and on Friday, Sept. 28 from 8 am until 3:30 pm and focused on training and retaining volunteers for non-profit groups. The conference was held in the hotel, five blocks away from Brighouse Skytrain station. The KSA also paid $100 for dinner at the No.9 Restaurant that, according to Chiao, was meant for networking with other organizations. The dinner was an added cost because “it wouldn’t be nice to ask the volunteers to pay for it,” said Chiao. The total costs for the seven attendees was $1007.20 as of Oct. 10.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

(seriously though, please write us a letter. We’ll publish it. We promise.)

LETTERS@RUNNERMAG.CA

page four | October 16 2012 | vol. 5 issue 03

NEWS

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

KWANTLEN

KSA by-election candidates ask for your vote The Kwantlen Student Association’s (KSA) by-election takes place Oct. 23-25 and the candidates are asking for your vote. Here are their pitches to you:

ideas, your needs, and your concerns. We need your supports to make our Richmond Campus a better place to learn, to live, and to love.

Richmond campus representative (1 position)

Academic and career advancement faculty representative (2 positions)

Inga Kavtaradze: I have worked at the KSA as a Member Services Specialist for almost two years. Working mainly at the Richmond office, I have learned what students want, the advantages of KSA and areas in which it needs improvement. I can easily relate to Kwantlen students in Richmond since I am a student myself. Studying Accounting, I have a good understanding of budgeting and managing money. If I get elected, I will implement my ideas to make this campus even better, with more events, resources and opportunities for students. Vote YES for Inga Kavtaradze to make Richmond campus YOUR campus!

Gaurav Kumar (Bhulla): I am running for position of Academic and Career Advancement Representative. I believe that the KSA plays an amazing role in student life. I have always been the type of person, who wants to help people in any way possible. I believe that I can speak for students and can offer them help within the school. My goal is to find out what it will take to better student life and involvement at the Campus. Most of all I would like to help build a functional and exciting student life for Kwantlen. Vote for me, I do stuff!

Jun Tao (Davis) Xu: My name is Jun tao (Davis) Xu; I have been a volunteer working for student for more than two years and studying in Kwantlen for more than three years. I understand the need and feeling of the students. Vote for me as the Richmond representative, let students in Richmond campus have a chance to speak out their demands. If I am honored to be elected as the representative of Richmond students, I am representing your

Chanel Kwong: My name is Chanel Kwong and I am running for the Academic and Career Advancement Representative. I recently graduated from high school where I was involved in Air Cadets, was Vice-President for the Service Club, acted as student leader for several other clubs, and was an active volunteer at South Vancouver Neighborhood House. Recently, I have been involved in AIESEC at Kwantlen as the Corporate Communication Specialist. I have gained many skills from all these experiences, and will bring them to

my new position in the KSA. Design faculty representative (1 position) Ming Li: Working experience in marketing has equipped me with practice and knowledge for designing projects. I am hardworking, responsible and with pleasing personality. I am motivated to devote my energy and time to create designs that will refresh your eyes and mind. Students with disabilities representative (1 position) Asheen-azad Khan: If elected, I will work diligently to ensure that all current and future needs of persons with disabilities are met, including issues regarding accessibility barriers throughout the campuses. As a person born with a disability, the issues and concerns of those facing the same challenges as myself are of greater importance to me than can be put into words. I will, to the best of my ability, ensure that every complaint made by my constituency is treated as a priority. Students of colour representative (1 position)

eral grassroots social movements. I have embarked on my current academic path in an effort to legitimize my passion for social and economic justice. I am involved with various initiatives and clubs around campus including: 2013 Student Leadership Conference, CIR:CLE, AIESEC-Kwantlen, Kwantlen University Policy Students for Sustainability (KUPSS), Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP-KPU), and the Federal and Provincial Green Parties. I believe I can assist Students of Colour with my perseverance and determination to make a significant impact for my fellow students. Ans Imran No Statement Provided Ke Tsi: Born in China, raised in Russia, studied in England, and lived in Canada, I have now understood how each of us so different, yet alike. Acquire knowledge and make friends, these are core values of KPU student life. My goal is to make your KPU experience as colorful as possible. Each of us represents a unique color, together we are the rainbow. Give me your voice; we can create a beautiful symphony.

Richard Hosein: My name is Richard Hosein, I am a mature student at KPU and am involved in sev-

Kwantlen students step up to meet volunteer challenge I

SANA SOHEL CONTRIBUTOR

Eager and motivated students signed up to volunteer for four local charities and successfully met the 100 Volunteers Challenge at Kwantlen Polytechnic University on Sept. 14 and 15. “Some of the many benefits of volunteering include gaining greater self-awareness – your likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses,” said Theresa Voorsluys, program assistant at Kwantlen’s Student Leadership and Development department. “It can help you gain experience and also voices to future employers that you have a

good attitude – it is more than money that motivates you to get a job done.” Students who participated were presented with an eye-opening opportunity to experience the community they live in by being part of the Surrey Food Bank, the Sharing Farm in Richmond, Partners in Parks and the Langley Environmental Protection Society. Each organization benefited from the students’ contributions. “People need to consider volunteering like they would a job. Find out what these organizations will be asking you to do, how long they need a commitment, what benefits they offer, and what skills you may need to come in with.”

Here are four reasons why students should consider volunteering important: 1. Polishing your skills Volunteering presents students with an opportunity to exercise or gain new skills. Leadership, organization skills are the two skills that students have been able to use in achieving academic and social success. 2. Connecting with the community Reaching out to the community is extremely important and volunteering helps presents a chance to gain awareness of the issues surrounding our environment. Students are able to connect with others and increase their societal connections.

3. Framing your future There is no doubt that volunteering will assist students in getting better jobs and also placing them one step ahead of their contenders. Employers and even universities appreciate students who venture their time for the betterment of society or a community. 4. Sensing self-accomplishment Feeling a sense of self-accomplishment is perhaps the greatest reward for volunteering. Volunteering presents students to approach their personal goals and dreams and volunteer in a setting that helps them achieve something for themselves.

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NEWS

vol. 5 issue 03 | October 16 2012 | page five

STRIKE

Hundreds of workers begin strike action at B.C. universities I

LAURA RODGERS THE UBYSSEY (UBC)

VANCOUVER (CUP) — Many support and service workers of CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) picketed and rallied at five B.C. universities CUPE unions representing staff at the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, Thompson Rivers University and the University of Northern British Columbia participated in job action on their campuses. At UBC, over 500 CUPE workers, as well as supporters from other union locals, formed a march that snaked its way around campus at noon today, ending in a rally in front of the Student Union Building (SUB). A picket line was also set up today in front of various SUB entrances. The workers are planning more job action in the coming weeks. “This is the first day of our escalating job action. We need to wake up, first of all, we need to make some noise, because I don’t think they can hear us over in Victoria,” said CUPE 116 president Colleen Garbe to a crowd of union workers outside the SUB. Since any offers from UBC are bound by mandates set by the provincial government,

various CUPE unions at universities across the province are planning concerted job action to put pressure on the province. “Yes, we’re UBC employees, and UBC is our employer, but the the government has been hamstringing them and tying their hands,” said Garbe. CUPE 116 represents Campus Security, food services, tradespeople, custodians and other support and service staff throughout UBC. Garbe said that today would be a one-day strike including many of their employees and they will be back at work by tomorrow, but she added that job action will continue to escalate as long as CUPE and UBC have not reached a collective agreement. “At 11:34 we shut down the food services in the SUB so our members could come out,” said Garbe, describing today’s job action in a later interview. “We went over to Plant Operations and we took out all the trades, the clerical, the utilities, the mail room. We also took down our Campus Security to the essential service levels.” Representatives from other CUPE locals also participated in today’s march, and Barry O’Neill, president of all CUPE unions in B.C., who also spoke at the rally. “What the locals are asking for is a cost

of living allowance which doesn’t seem very outrageous to me,” said O’Neill. The union has no future bargaining dates set up with UBC. CUPE 116 workers are asking for increased job security, costof-living allowances, and pensions for all of their members. COPE 378, the union representing AMS security staff, also put up a one-day picket line outside the SUB today in support of CUPE. AMS security workers have been negotiating a collective agreement with the AMS since September 2011. COPE says that bargaining with the AMS is winding down, and the two parties’ offers are now within a dollar of each other. Their main reason for picketing was to support CUPE 116. The provincial government has recently considered privatizing service jobs across B.C. public universities, according to Garbe. She says that the CUPE unions across B.C. will not cease their job action until the province promises that no privatization will happen. So far, the job action didn’t have a huge effect on UBC’s day-to-day operations, according to UBC director of public affairs Lucie McNeill. “We have to say that service disruptions have been kept to a minimum and we’re

grateful for that,” said McNeill. “Our students, and our faculty and staff who are not involved in this particular dispute appreciate the fact that they can go about their business.” If picket lines are set up around classes in the future, students will need to notify UBC if they choose not to cross them as a matter of personal conscience. So far the university sent out a single broadcast email today about the job action on campus, but many students still aren’t fully aware of the situation. Sauder student Krystal Ramirez said she wasn’t aware any job action was going on today until she saw the picket lines outside the SUB. “I haven’t checked my email, so probably it’s there, but I don’t know,” she said. When a CUPE picket captain informed her of the job action underway, she opted to turn back and not cross the picket line. But she said she may not make the same choice in the future. “I would definitely go into my classroom. I won’t miss a class just because of this, you know? Education is important, this is important for some people, but for me, education is more important.”

CUPE 116 workers marched around UBC’s Point Grey campus Oct. 4, as part of their first day of job action. KAI JACOBSON/THE UBYSSEY

page six | October 16 2012 | vol. 5 issue 03

NEWS

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

POLITICS

B.C. government believes ‘Hipster is not a real job’ I

EMILY OLESEN THE NAVIGATOR (VIU)

NANAIMO (CUP) — The B.C. government wants to be absolutely clear — hipster is not a real job. A $15 million advertising campaign by the B.C. Liberals that including running “Hipster is not a Real Job” ads is causing confusion among political adversaries and students alike. The ads are geared towards getting youth excited about pursuing a skilled trade and are currently running on Vancouver public transit. Gwen O’Mahony, the NDP’s skills training critic, questions the judgment and ability of Premier Christy Clark to connect with B.C. youth. “I’m quite confused by it. Obviously she [Premier Christy Clark] doesn’t have the groundwork … [to] get out there, talk to

students directly, find out where they’re at and make that a part of the investigative work of policy development,” she said. “Clearly this shows that she really hasn’t had a lot of time speaking with students. “If she [had] even gone to one institution and asked them what they thought of the slogan — I’m sure that the students would have set her straight.” Trades students at Vancouver Island University (VIU) were also confused by the Liberals’ new ad campaign. “I don’t really understand the point that they’re trying to get across with the slogan. It doesn’t really make that much sense,” said Ryan Crowder, a VIU electrician student. “To me, hipster is just a way of dressing; it’s just a style. It’s not a job or someone’s career choice. So to me, I’m not really seeing the message,” Erin said Cooper, a VIU hair

dressing student. O’Mahony and Michelle Mungall, the NDP advanced education critic, have been visiting B.C. campuses this fall to listen to the concerns of students and promote the NDP’s plan to improve access to learning opportunities. “When I was traveling with Mungall we mainly were talking to students about their experiences and what’s on their minds, and affordability was the number one issue,” said O’Mahony. She claimed that within five to ten years, 80 per cent of all B.C. jobs will require a post secondary education, and that the B.C. government should be examining this statistic more seriously. John Yap, the newly appointed Minister for Advanced Education has stated that increasing skills training is his biggest priority.

“If I were to sum up the focus in the shortterm, it is to ensure we have the facilities and programs to do trades training,” Yap told the Canadian University Press last month. “It’s important we offer British Columbians the opportunity to fill those positions and encourage those that are in school and thinking about career options that they consider, if it’s right for them, a career that is well paying and rewarding, in the trades.” O’Mahoney however believes the Liberals are communicating the appeal of trades in the wrong way. “You should never underestimate who you’re speaking to — people don’t like to be talked down to,” she said. “I think just telling people this is how much you’ll get paid if you had a trade or education and this is what you’ll get paid if you don’t is enough.”

RELIGION

University of Windsor removes convocation prayer after lobbying by atheist group I

DARRYL GALLINGER THE LANCE (UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR)

WINDSOR (CUP) — The prayers of atheists have been answered by the University of Windsor with the removal of Christian prayer from convocation ceremonies in favour of a personal moment of reflection. Holly Ward, chief communications officer for the university, confirmed the change. “It’s definitely a tradition of the University of Windsor to use a prayer, as it has been a tradition to use prayers at most universities nationwide,” she said. “Having a moment of reflection is not unusual. It’s changed because we have a changing campus. We have a lot of diversity on our campus … we want to make sure you feel

included.” “The decision was made at the president [Alan Wildeman’s] level because concerns had come to his office,” Ward added. Shawna Scott, student and president of the Windsor-Essex County Atheist Society, had lobbied for the prayer’s removal and feels validated by recent decision. “I’m really proud of the university for making this change,” she said. Scott challenged the line of the convocation prayer, which refers to an “eternal God” as “the source of all goodness, discipline and knowledge,” explaining that, “The end result of us graduating is a product of our hard work, support from our family and friends and everyone working really hard to build our own success. To us,

it doesn’t come from a deity … it makes it really awkward to be there and feel excluded like that.” Scott founded the atheist group in 2010. Its 170 members fundraise for charities and provide a network of non-believers with resources and support. “The sentiment of a prayer is a beautiful one,” said Paul Anderson, a member of the atheist society. “However, it’s impossible to write it in such a way that can accommodate all faiths, including those who don’t believe in god.” “Or even those who believe in more than one god,” Scott added. Scott first expressed concerns about the prayer following her undergraduate graduation in 2010 and again in 2011 in formal let-

ters to university. She never received a reply from administration. In preparation for the fall 2012 convocation ceremony, where Scott would be recognized for obtaining her master’s degree, she wrote the university once more, suggesting a moment of personal reflection as an alternative to the traditional prayer. A month after the letter was sent, Ward confirmed the change to The Lance. According to the new script, Reverend Mary Templer of the University Community Church will ask the graduates to, “Take a moment to reflect on those who guided you along your path of learning, to appreciate our families, our teachers, our peers, the world in which we live and all that inspires us.”

EDITORIAL

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vol. 5 issue 03 | October 16 2012 | page seven

LETTERS & COMMENTS

Letter: new parking rates are too high

We saw a lot of reader reactions to our Cram Jam coverage on Facebook. We’ve printed some below:

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.runnermag.ca 778-565-3801

Vol. 5, Issue no. 03 October 16, 2012 ISSN# 1916-8241

EDITORIAL DIVISION:

I TIFFANY WILLIS (HORTICULTURE)

Cram Jam spending was down this year, along with attendance. Is a $26,000 concert worth its price tag when about 100 students attend? Where would you rather see the money go?

Co-ordinating Editor / Jeff Groat editor@runnermag.ca / 778-565-3803 Culture Editor / Max Hirtz culture@runnermag.ca / 778-565-3804 News Editor / Matt DiMera news@runnermag.ca / 778-565-3805

“

Only $260 per student. That's cheaper than Coachella. I say keep it. Colin Fraser (alumnus) I was there. All the bands were shitty Nickelback clones and there was a distinct lack of holograms. Not worth $260, in my opinion. Chris Yee (journalism) I think that the budget should go to student led clubs. Leeta Gill (psychology)

Production Editor / Antonio Su production@runnermag.ca / 778-565-3806 Media Editor / Kimiya Shokoohi media@runnermag.ca / 778-565-3806 Associate News Editors / Sarah Schuchard / Vacant / Vacant Associate Culture Editors / Tabitha Swanson / Vacant / Vacant Associate Features Editor / Matt Bossons Associate Opinions Editor / Vacant

It was fun back in 2009 when Danny Fernandes performed. Lots of people attended. Heber Ramos (psychology)

Associate Photo Editor / Vacant Associate Sports Editor / Brian Jones

Forget all this social crap for a commuter school that doesn't give a damn. I'd rather see the money go to subsidizing textbooks or something else useful which actually helps the student population. Katie Walker (fine arts) The Slam-A-Palooza that the Creative Writing Guild held last Wednesday got more than half as many people with 0.015 % of the budget. Connor Doyle (creative writing)

“

The new parking fees and absence of the semester parking pass are outrageous. (Kwantlen hikes student parking rates, Aug. 21) Considering parking fees and the implementation of the mandatory MultiPass, education at Kwantlen is rapidly becoming unaffordable. As a student who commutes to the Langley campus from the Tri-Cities area, public transit is not a viable option for me. What is my point? Why were the parking fees raised 179 per cent over the summer? Why were the students not consulted before such a dramatic price increase or the discontinuation of semester and hourly parking passes? Why are semester passes valid for multiple vehicles for $ 120.00 still available for faculty? The university states that Kwantlen’s parking prices are quite low compared to other local universities. I strongly disagree. I did the research and the only university with higher semester parking fees than Kwantlen is UBC. The cost for a semester parking pass at SFU, Capilano and Douglas is less than half the cost of Kwantlen’s. Not only have the fees significantly increased, but our options have decreased. We can no longer pay for a partial day of parking and we are unable to use more than one car with the weekly permits. Being limited to one license plate per weekly permit excludes students who carpool and students whose families share multiple vehicles. I was advised by Impark that in the event of an emergency that required me to drive a different car, I would have to purchase a day pass for $ 5.00 or I would be risking a ticket. What can we students do to voice our concerns over the new much higher parking fees?

SEND US YOUR LETTERS & COMMENTS! www.facebook.com/runnerpaper

Associate Art Director / Sylvia Dang Associate Copy Editor / Elizabeth Hann CONTRIBUTORS: Chris Yee, Samantha Lego, Sana Sohel Cover Photo: Max Hirtz BUSINESS DIVISION: Operations Manager / Vacant ops@runnermag.ca / 778-565-3801 Office Co-ordinator / Victoria Almond office@runnermag.ca / 778-565-3801

page eight | Oct 16 2012 | vol. 5 issue 03

CULTURE

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

OCCUPY VANCOUVER

Former Kwantlen student completes Occupy Vancouver doc “Our job as . . . journalists [is to] take a step back... and provide a definitive historical document of Occupy Vancouver.”

Matthew Van Deventer spent weeks on location at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the Occupy Vancouver protests.

CHRIS YEE CONTRIBUTOR

Sometimes, a journalist has to drop everything when a major story breaks. But last year’s Occupy Vancouver protest was more than a huge breaking story; like the Arab Spring and the beginnings of the Occupy movement earlier that year, this was a historic event. And so Matthew Van Deventer, a former Kwantlen student, started work on his first feature documentary, The Occupation, as a class project at BCIT. Working with fellow journalism student Rafferty Baker, it was a break from their usual routine of class work and internships. The Occupation co-producers are fully aware of the constraints of conventional reportage in reporting an event like Occupy Vancouver, having worked in mainstream media outlets, with Baker at the CBC and Van Deventer at CTV. “Usually... [the media doesn’t] have the resources to have one person down there all

the time to cover just Occupy... they have to go out and do one story there and grab clips from another place down the road, and they may not be even involved with Occupy on that day,” Van Deventer said. “They’re just parachuted in, [and] the people down there don’t really know this reporter, so some people will stay away from the CTV or CBC character. So these reporters have to go out and find the quickest sound bite... they might end up getting someone who is not really fit to be answering the questions; they aren’t portraying the true ideals of this Occupy movement.” But Van Deventer had a loftier goal than simply filling in gaps in the coverage of Occupy Vancouver. “Our job as historians and journalists [is to] take a step back... and provide a definitive historical document of Occupy Vancouver,” he said. “If it goes unnoticed, that’s fine, because history takes time... I would love it if this thing bloomed into a respectable document... [a] well-documented piece of the history of Vancouver, a real local history

PHOTO COURTESY RAFFERTY BAKER

of Occupy.” Filming every day of the occupation in their spare time, Van Deventer and Baker traced the history of Occupy Vancouver as it unfolded, from the pitching of the first tents in October to the Occupy camp’s injunction-forced dissolution in November. The two filmmakers yielded hundreds of hours of footage, with a broad cast of characters, such as occupiers, city officials, and reporters. Ultimately, after spending days getting to know Occupy’s participants, their main focus was on the tent city itself. “That’s where the life was, that’s where the culture was, and that’s how the Occupy movement wanted to push their message, through this physical occupation,” Van Deventer said. Van Deventer admitted that the term “occupy” is a word loaded with violent, oppressive implications, but added that the movement was a way to reclaim the word from these negative meanings. “In a sense [the Occupiers] were overthrowing these... oppressive forces, and at the same

time they were trying to strip this word down to present their own meaning for it handing everything back to the people, not just a fortunate few who [are] in control of everything,” he explained. Van Deventer continued: “We don’t get that deep into the message of Occupy, of the word, we don’t deconstruct it... [but] there would be no discussion about Occupy Vancouver, about the Occupy movement, if people weren’t occupying something , if people were not situated in this plaza, in Downtown Vancouver, in the heart of Vancouver... there would be no conversation about this. There would be no point in making a documentary if they were just meeting in a community center - but no, they’re setting up tents in fall, in solidarity with the movement around the world.” Since its physical breakup last November, the Occupy Vancouver group continues to hold meetings and has taken part in such events as the Quebec student protest solidarity marches. “Occupy Vancouver is still around,” noted Van Deventer, but with a caveat: “It’s not occupying anything... it’s occupying an idea - but occupying an idea is not the same as occupying action... or occupying physical territory.” Van Deventer hopes for wider distribution for the self-shot, self-financed Occupation, as long as he has the funds to do so. “This [documentary] was funded by student loans,” Van Deventer said. “I mostly want this thing to be seen. I really don’t care too much for the money.” Having pitched the documentary to the Whistler Film Festival, the Canada International Film Festival, the San Francisco International Film Festival, and even Sundance, Van Deventer retains a sense of perspective. “I’ll take it one step at a time; I don’t expect anything to come out of that but to say ‘I tried,’ and that someone out there has seen it,” he said.

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

CULTURE

vol. 5 issue 03 | October 16 2012 | page nine

OCCUPY VANCOUVER

Photos and stills from The Occuption

IMAGES COURTESY MATTHEW VAN DEVENTER

CULTURE

page ten | Oct 16 2012 | vol. 5 issue 03

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

BLANKETS

Kwantlen student shares the warmth this winter

g n i l l o p f o e c i t o n

A S K

N O I T C E L E Y B

Cast your vote on

october 23 – 25, 2012 Each voter must show a valid Student ID to receive a ballot

By-Election Polling

Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 10 AM – 6 PM Surrey – Surrey Main Atrium Richmond – Richmond Rotunda Langley – West Building Library Hall

Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 10 AM – 6 PM Surrey – Surrey Main Atrium Richmond – Richmond Rotunda Langley – West Building Library Hall

Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 10 AM – 4 PM Katie Buemann is collecting donated blankets until December.

TABITHA SWANSON ASSOCIATE CULTURE EDITOR

It’s that time of year again. With shorter days and colder nights, its time to throw on that extra layer. But what about those who don’t have that extra layer to throw on? Well, Kwantlen student Katie Buemann has a solution for that. Buemann, now in her second year of fashion marketing, created the organization Fleece the Streets in 2009, and was able to create 50 handmade blankets as well as hats, scarves and gloves to give to those who needed them. This year, she said she is “going more for quantity instead of individual handmade blankets, because it’s not necessarily what people in that situation are looking for.”

PHOTO COURTESY KATIE BUEMANN

She said her inspiration was to do “something good during the Christmas season.” With so many charities to choose from, she had a hard time knowing which ones to trust to get her donations to the people who needed it most, and she “just wanted to do something local that could impact people who were less fortunate.” After a two-year hiatus, her and her friend Christina May are starting it up again and hope to bring it back with a new energy. Buemann and May will be collecting blankets until mid-December, when they will then donate them to a shelter. If you want more information on how you can help by donating blankets or a little extra cash, you can message Fleece the Streets on Facebook.

Cloverdale – Main Atrium (by the KSA office / across from the cafeteria)

Thursday, October 25, 2012, 10 AM – 4 PM Cloverdale – Main Atrium (by the KSA office / across from the cafeteria)

Ballot Counting

Thursday, October 25, 2012, beginning at 6 PM Surrey – Cedar 1140

For the full notice of polling for the KSA by-election, visit

www.kusa.ca /elections Chief Returning Officer | Corey Van’t Haaff Kwantlen Student Association | Cell: 778.388.0141 | Email: kwantlencro@gmail.com

CULTURE

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

vol. 5 issue 03 | October 16 2012 | page eleven

POP CULTURE

Culture Roundup Your monthly review of pop culture – from the amusing to the irreverent.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees announced

Tired of listening to your Rush-obsessed friend complain about the band’s lack of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame awards on a daily basis? Your pain is almost over (maybe). The canadian prog-rock band, along with 14 other bands/musicians, have been nominated for this year’s award.

Here is a list of all of the nominees: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Deep Purple, Heart, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, Albert King, Kraftwerk, The Marvelettes, The Meters, Randy Newman, N.W.A., Procol Harum, Public Enemy, and Donna Summer.

Last year’s inductees included Beastie Boys, Guns N’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Donovan. You can watch this year’s event live on HBO on April 13, 2013, if you’re into that sort of thing.

The Lesbian in development Pussy Riot member freed

Sacha Baron Cohen has begun developing his next film, The Lesbian. Like his last film, The Dictator (seen above), The Les-

bian will be scripted. The script is inspired by the real life story of a Hong Kong billionaire who offered $65 million as a reward

to any man who could win the affections of his lesbian daughter. Silly Hong Kong billionare! Money can’t buy you love!

The Moscow appeals court dropped charges against Pussy Riot member Yekaterina Samutsevich, and she has been released from prison. Two

members of the punk band are still in jail after being charged with “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.” What will happen next?

PROCRASTINATION

page twelve | October 16 2012 | vol. 5 issue 03

STARS

COMICS

LIBRA Sept. 24 - Oct. 23

ARIES March 21 - April 19

You’ll be feeling betrayed this month. It’s because you are being betrayed. By everyone you know. Your life is a lie. Or is it?

Stay away from saturated fats this week, and then binge the following week. You’ll notice an improvement in all aspects of your life.

SCORPIO Oct. 24 - Nov. 22 The wind of change is blowing in your direction. Pretty sure good things are going to happen. But I’m usually wrong.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

TAURUS April 20 - May 20 A ghost from your past is going to show up in your life very soon. Who knows, he/she could be standing behind you RIGHT NOW.

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

How many times do I have to tell you: STAY AWAY FROM BLACK AND WHITE MOVIES. Do your homework instead!

The desk in front of you is haunted and is plotting against you. It’s harmless but still creepy, and I thought you should know.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan. 20 Keep saving for that summer cabin. Never give up on your dreams. Attitude is everything. You can accomplish anything.

AQUARIUS Jan. 21 - Feb. 19

CANCER June 21 - July 23 The season is changing and so is everything else. You’ll be a completely different person in a month. A much better person! Joy!

LEO July 24 - Aug. 23

Donate half your money to charity this month, and you’ll gain karma. Double the karma you’d usually get, because it’s DOUBLE KARMA OCTOBER!

PISCES Feb. 20 - March 20 Halloween is coming, and don’t you think it’s time you went out and found a costume? Don’t wait until last minute like you did last year.

Your spirit animal this month is the pterodactyl, nature’s most elusive beast. Better than last month’s spirit animal, the tapeworm.

VIRGO Aug. 24 - Sept. 23 October is typically a bad month for Virgos. Not much more to say about that. Expect horrific things to happen.

SUDOKU

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