JUNE 11, 2019 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 17 KPU’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER
BEYOND THE BURGER Consider the ethical cost of the patties you buy before chowing down
NEWS
KPU Considers Ending Cash Tuition Due to Provincial Concerns About Money Laundering
CULTURE › 04
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day All Month Long
OPINIONS › 05
How to Survive Transiting from the Fraser Valley
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
STAFF Editor in Chief
Aly Laube editor@runnermag.ca
Managing Editor
Connor Doyle managing@runnermag.ca
04 05
Associate Editor
NEWS
KPU Considers Ending Cash Payments for Tuition Amidst Provincial Concerns of Money Laundering “While I appreciate the need to accept payments in cash as a service to students, this has to be balanced by ensuring our post-secondary system not become a target for money laundering,” wrote Advanced Education Minister Melanie Mark.
CULTURE
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day All Month Long If one day of acknowledgment and celebration just doesn’t feel like enough to you, you’re not alone. Indigenous Services for Students wanted to spend the whole month celebrating “all the Indigenous culture and resilience on Turtle Island [also referred to as North America].”
Braden Klassen staff@runnermag.ca
Staff Writer
Cristian Hobson-Dimas writer@runnermag.ca
Production Manager
Sarah Kraft production@runnermag.ca
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FEATURES
Beyond the Burger As the western world's interest in ethical consumerism has grown, so has the popularity of plant-based proteins. One stellar example of this is the Beyond Meat burger.
OPINIONS
How to Survive Transiting from the Fraser Valley As a veteran bus-taker, here is what I have learned about how to get to KPU from the Fraser Valley if you are struggling with your commute.
Graphics Editor
Kristen Frier graphics@runnermag.ca
HASHTAG KPU
Post on Twitter or Instagram about or around KPU and you could be featured! Web Manager
Alex Rodriguez web@runnermag.ca
Operations Manager Scott Boux office@runnermag.ca 778-565-3801
CONTRIBUTORS Alex Girodat Jessica Limoanco Nicole Gonzalez Filos Nic Laube @RESLUS Samantha Mayes Tae Whitehouse
COVER BY Kristen Frier
Arbutus 3710/3720 12666 72 Ave. Surrey, B.C, V3W 2M8 778-565-3801 www.runnermag.ca Vol. 11, Issue no. 17 June 11 // 2019 ISSN# 1916 8241
All submissions to The Runner are subject to editing for style, quality, length, and legality. The Runner will not publish material which the editors deem to be harmful or discriminatory. The views expressed within the publication are not necessarily those of The Runner staff or of the Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society. The Runner is student-owned and operated by Kwantlen Polytechnic University students, published under the Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society. The Runner recognizes that our work, both in and out of the office, takes place on unceded Coast and Strait Salish territories, specifically the shared traditional territories of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Sto:lo and Tsawwassen First Nations. Our name is inspired by the hun’qumi’num meaning of Kwantlen, which is tireless hunters or tireless runners. Just as KPU is adaptable and changing, so is The Runner.
EDITORIAL
FROM THE EDITOR
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS MONTH
Get tested for safer, healthier sex Aly Laube | Editor in Chief
Asking a partner or potential partner about when they were last tested for sexually transmitted infections can be intimidating, especially if you don’t know each other well. People can get defensive when you pop the question, or grumpy when you interrupt them right when things are getting hot and heavy. Sometimes it feels like the right time just never comes around. Sometimes it feels easier to assume the best and take a risk than it does to be vulnerable and honest. And unfortunately, sometimes these excuses can lead to people getting sick or jeopardizing the wellbeing of others. This attitude towards sexual health and wellness is incredibly harmful, but common. Many adults still feel nervous about bringing it up, and it’s not your fault if you feel that way; for a long time, we have lived in a society that both idolizes and stigmatizes sex. Having an STI is still heavily stigmatized, and many people wrongfully conflate it with being promiscuous or low-class. This line of thinking is not only ignorant, but wildly hurtful to those struggling with a genuine health issue, and in the long run, it only leads to more people getting sick. Contracting an STI can be as easy as getting a cold, and certain infections, like herpes, can be spread through sharing drinks or giving kisses. Some are imperceptible in certain immune systems and not in others; your partner may not even know they have an STI until they get tested, as the symptoms might affect you but not them. Just because you feel well doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get checked out. For some folks, having a conversation about
sexual health before sleeping with somebody will mean talking about the STIs they already have. Prepare yourself to hear that, and to be sensitive and respectful to who you’re with. To be clear, if their response is that they do have an STI, you can absolutely still sleep with them if that is something you’re both comfortable with. Many STIs are non-transferable if you’re using the right forms of protection, and as long as both of you feel safe and aware of the situation, you should feel free to move forward however you’d like. Plus, you can do so knowing that you can trust each other, and that’s a great feeling. Having this chat successfully can also mean offering up information about the last time you went to a clinic without your partner having to ask you for it. Of course, this necessitates you actually going to a doctor to get tested—and it requires that you be honest about your results (seriously, please never lie about health concerns)—but many youth and walk-in clinics around Metro Vancouver offer these services for free. Give it a Google to find one near you, and call them before you go in to make sure you’re prepared and don’t need to make an appointment in advance. I’ve found making the first move to be the most efficient and delicate way of bringing up sexual health before actually having sex. If you come forward to divulge your health information first in an honest and genuine way, it softens the blow for anyone who might be hesitant to do the same. If you have to directly ask your sweetheart about the last time they got tested, you might as well open up the door to anything else they might want to tell you. Before I sleep with
JUNE 14
TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF THE KWANTLEN FIRST NATION
Join KPU’s Elder in Residence, Lekeyten, in a discussion of the traditional history of the Kwantlen First Nation. This event is a part of Indigenous Peoples’ Month, which is being celebrated at KPU throughout June. 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm,
The Gathering Place, free
(Jessica Limoanco) someone for the first time, I always ask them, “Is there anything you think we should talk about before we keep going?” This not only provides them with the chance to tell you about their health, but also about their preferences and triggers. That way, you can be confident that you’re both having a good time when you get started, but don’t forget to continuously check in with your partner during physical intimacy of any kind. Communication can be really sexy if you open yourself up to giving and receiving it regularly. If more people saw talking about getting tested as an integral element of consensual sex, the world would be a safer and happier place. You can make the decision to be a part of the movement towards making that a reality. It might start in private bedrooms, but eventually, those practices will help us change social expectations and toxic thinking in our society.
KPU Psychology Instructor Dispels Evolution Myths at Science World Dr. Farhad Dastur mixed hands-on activities with a powerful presentation on May 29 Nicole Gonzalez Filos If humans evolved from monkeys, why do monkeys still exist? Isn’t the eye too complicated to have evolved naturally? Kwantlen Polytechnic University psychology instructor Dr. Farhad Dastur addressed these and eight other commonly held misconceptions about evolution as part of a presentation at the Telus World of Science on May 29. His talk, titled “Moths, Monkeys & Missing Links: Ten Myths about Evolution,” was preceded by a series of activities that let participants gain some knowledge about the theory of evolution. One such activity consisted of building your own phylogenetic tree, while another featured a table full of bones including the cranium of a bear, the tooth of an elephant, a human cranium, and many more. To address the question about monkeys, Dastur made his answer surprisingly simple. “Humans did not descend from monkeys,” he told the audience. “We descended from an ancestor that monkeys also descended from. The idea here is that we all have ancestors …. If you keep going back at some point, they are not going to be human. They are going to be something else." Dastur cited the fossil evidence of “Lucy,” a member of a human-like species who lived 3.2 million years ago and is believed to be one of
the earliest known ancestors common to certain apes and modern humans. “She is Australopithecus afarensis, which is a hominid species that has gone extinct,” Dastur explained. “And that was the one that we came from and then monkeys came from too. Monkeys went one direction and we went one direction.” Dastur also addressed the question of the eye being too complicated to have evolved naturally, an idea used in creationist arguments against the theory of evolution. "The eye is incredibly complicated [and] is not perfectly designed,” he said. “The fact that we have optometrists and ophthalmologists tells you the eye is subject to all kinds of disease.” KPU University Librarian Todd Mundle, who goes to many of the Science World lectures featuring KPU instructors, says Dastur’s was one of the most well-attended presentations that he had seen there. “Part of it is that Farhad’s delivery is really good. He takes a really complex topic and brings it down … to a level for us to be able to understand it,” says Mundle. Mansi Tandon, another attendee, echoes Mundle’s enthusiasm. "Farhad was very articulate,” she says. “Despite explaining pretty complex subjects, he tried to make it very simple to understand.”
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JUNE 17
FATHERHOOD AND MEN'S RESPONSIBILITIES Learn how to fight toxic masculinity and how to be a good father at this event featuring Len Pierre, a wellness educator and consultant and member of Katzie Nation, and Omar Karim, National Projects Officer for the Moose Hide Campaign, amongst others. 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm,
The Gathering Place, free
JUNE 21
GET PAST WRITER'S BLOCK The Learning Centre wants to help you conquer writer’s block so you can finally start doing your assignments earlier than the night before they’re due. Learn how you can tap into your inspiration by
registering online. 10:00 am - 11:00 am,
all campuses (online), free
JUNE 26 ARCHERY TAG
For the first time, Active KSA will be teaching students how to play tag with a bow and arrow. This event is perfectly safe, but consider wearing activity-friendly clothing and shoes that are easy to move around in. 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm,
6Pack Indoor Beach in Richmond, $5 for KPU students
JUNE 26-27 CANADA DAY CELEBRATION
Dr. Farhad Dastur presents "Moths, Monkeys and Missing Links". (Nicole Gonzales Filos) Tandon believes that scientific institutions around Vancouver should be hosting more talks like Dastur’s. “Especially when you realize that a lot of the people who actually go to the universities and get scientific education are misinformed, this is very crucial for the society,” she says. Dastur says he chose to explore the theory of evolution for his lecture because he believes it’s an interesting topic and wanted to “set the record” straight about prevalent misconceptions.
KPU International and the KSA are celebrating Canada, first on the Richmond campus and then in Surrey a day later. Enjoy games, music, cake, and a free lunch! 11:00 am - 4:00 pm,
KPU Richmond and Surrey Campuses, free
JUNE 27 SLAMARCHY
KPU’s monthly slam poetry competition is back with a summer surprise! For anyone who’s bored of all the rules of a regular slam, this event will feature raw, unleashed poetry without time limits or penalties. 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm,
KPU Surrey, free
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NEWS
KPU Considers Ending Cash Payments for Tuition Amidst Provincial Concerns of Money Laundering
The Ministry of Advanced Education has asked universities to stop accepting cash payments following report findings Braden Klassen | Associate Editor The Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training issued a letter to all post-secondary and private institutions on May 28 asking them to help deter money laundering in the province. The letter includes a request for institutions that accept cash for tuition payments to review their financial policies and submit copies to the Ministry by June 30, and to stop accepting large quantities of cash from students. The Ministry also requested that institutions which do not already have policies regarding the acceptance of cash to develop them as soon as they can for sharing with the government. “While I appreciate the need to accept payments in cash as a service to students, this has to be balanced by ensuring our post-secondary system not become a target for money laundering,” said the letter signed by Minister Melanie Mark. This follows the publishing of the second half of a report commissioned by the provincial government and led by former RCMP deputy commissioner and money laundering specialist Peter German. In 2017, German was asked by Attorney General David Eby to investigate and independently review the practice of money laundering in B.C. The first part of the report was released in early 2018, and largely focused on the com-
plicancy of casinos in the problem of money laundering. The second half was published last month, on May 7, and a formal public inquiry into money laundering in the province was announced by Premier Horgan on May 15. One section of the second report addresses the possibility that post-secondary institutions could be used by people looking to launder money. They could accomplish this by paying thousands of dollars in tuition before requesting a refund, which can come in the form of online payment or a cheque issued by the institution. “On a recent occasion, one college was faced with a student who was required to pay a charge of $150. The student attended with $9,000 in cash in a duffel bag and asked to deposit that amount minus the $150 owing,” the report reads. “In effect, the institution was being asked to act as a bank.” “The idea of money laundering is that dirty money comes in and clean money goes out,” explains KPU criminology instructor Carroll Boydell. “The goal is [to make it] so that the money is not trackable, so that it’s not clear that it’s coming from illegal sources.” Though the issue of money laundering in relation to gambling, luxury goods, and real-estate has been widely reported on, the vulnerability of post-secondary institutions could be different and more complicated to address. “You would have to look very deeply into
Melanie Mark and David Eby speak about post-secondary institutions and their involvement in money laundering at a B.C. press conference. (Flickr/ Province of British Columbia) every single person that would be enrolled at the university, so there would be a lot of privacy concerns,” says Boydell. “You want to make sure that you’re not assisting with illegal practices—and I’m confident that Kwantlen doesn’t want to do that—but at the same time, you have to protect the information rights of citizens as well.” KPU currently accepts cash as a form of tuition payment if done in person at the Richmond, Surrey, and Langley campuses, and according to the 2016 tuition fee policy available to the public online, the school issues refunds via cheque. International students who ask for refunds have their requests reviewed by KPU International “and approved
at the discretion of the appropriate Director of Finance in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Suspicious Transaction Reporting Regulations,” as written in the policy. In a statement to The Runner, KPU Registrar Zena Mitchell wrote that the university “shares the B.C. Government’s desire for post-secondary institutions to protect post-secondary institutions as places for higher learning and skills development.” “KPU has been looking at the possibility of moving to a fully online payment model and will work with the Province as we move forward with our review of policy and practice in this area,” she added.
Kwantlen Artist Comments on the Harm Caused by Canada's Knock-off Indigenous Art Market Brandon Gabriel explains how the sale of fake Indigenous art is a result of Canada’s colonial and exploitative past
Cristian Hobson-Dimas | Staff Writer According to an article published in The Discourse, a study commissioned by the Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia in 2010 found that “88 per cent of small Indigenous-themed souvenirs sold in Vancouver, like keychains, stickers and magnets, were created and sold with no participation from Indigenous artists at all.” These knock-off pieces are typically sold for much cheaper than authentic artwork in gift and souvenir shops across Canada. Another article from the same publication explains that, in Canada, no law exists “against misrepresenting inauthentic Indigenous-themed items as real—and tourist shops across the country are rife with fake Indigenous pieces.” “The topic of appropriated Indigenous art and culture is something that formed a big part of my area of study,” says Brandon Gabriel, member of the Kwantlen First Nation and graduate of both Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Emily Carr. “This issue has a lineage in Canada. It goes back to the establishment of the Indian Act as well as anti-potlatching laws between 1884 and 1951.” These laws refer to legislation that gave the Canadian government power to manage the property and possessions of First Nations communities, as well as criminalizing the tra-
ditional practices of Indigenous communities. It’s these laws that Gabriel says were “the catalyst for the outright plundering of Indigenous art and culture all across Canada.” “Many museum collections across the world house artifacts and art that was stolen from Indigenous communities across Canada,” he explains. “One result from that type of legislation has been the cultivation of culturally appropriative business practices from people who have commodified important cultural and spiritual items that historically were not commodities.” Gabriel has witnessed these culturally appropriative business practices occur in his own community. “Non-Indigenous … entrepreneurs, I’ll call them … have tried to take advantage of [the Kwantlen First Nation] by trying to sell our own art and artifacts back to us,” he says. Gabriel explains that the large markets for Indigenous art that exist across Canada, especially in bigger cities like Vancouver and Victoria, offer a “cash cow” for this type of activity to flourish. “There are buyers who are unbeknownst to the provenance of what they're purchasing, and some of them are not equipped with knowledge that would indicate they are buying fraudulent art pieces,” he says. “The dollar amounts are massive—millions of dollars are fraudulently
This plastic totem pole was made in China and imported for sale at a souvenir shop in Gastown. (Kristen Frier) being given to fortune seekers who are preying on not only ignorant purchasers of art, but also communities that have undergone drastic onslaughts of colonization.” In order to combat these harmful practices, Gabriel says that “we need to look at how Canada is complicit in the commodification and usurpation of Indigenous art, and has probably made the largest profit of both fraudulent and authentic Indigenous art out of any entity.” He cites the country’s history of shipping authentic art off to museums and collect-
ing taxes off of appropriated products as one example of how Canada undeservingly profits from Indigenous art. “Canada is dependent on the narrative that the Indigenous people of this land come from a bygone era that no longer exists, and needs to maintain its authority over these cultures,” he explains. “By marginalizing the image of Indigenous peoples' art as a bygone era, it creates a value, a scarcity for the past, which drives up the value of what is, in reality, historically stolen art.”
CULTURE
Pottery Exhibition Encourages the Growth of Ceramic Artists at KPU
Showcases such as the one recently held in Spruce Gallery lead students towards careers in the arts
Cristian Hobson-Dimas | Staff Writer Ceramic artists, including some fine arts students from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, had their work showcased throughout May in the Spruce Gallery on the Surrey campus. Hosted by the Fraser Valley Potters Guild, the annual juried exhibition—which this year was entitled Growth—aimed to display the work of artists at a wide variety of skill levels, from students to instructors. “As much as growth is an aesthetic, it’s also the inspiration behind these pieces on a deeper level,” says Leah Rosehill, a fourth-year fine arts student displaying two handmade ceramic bowls at the exhibit. Rosehill expresses how her “interest in sustainability and agriculture” informs her work as someone who was raised surrounded by nature. “The form re-enforces the theme of opening up, of upward growth,” she says, about her pieces that were put on display. “[Bowls] start at a pinpoint centre and flower open, creating upward movement.” Another artist, whose piece “Personal Growth” was showcased, is Kay Bonathan. Bonathan is a member of the exhibition committee and a former assistant treasurer of the Fraser Valley Potters Guild. “Part of our mandate is to encourage education and growth, so we want to make sure all of our members are encouraged by getting at least one piece in the exhibition,” she says. Bonathan adds that the guild encourages artists to sell their work as part of the experience of exhibiting. To select the pieces that were included in the exhibit, the jury for Growth accepted three submissions per person. Although nearly 100 individual pieces were on display, Bonathan says
Leah Rosehill, a KPU-based artist, displays her ceramic art. (Cristian Hobson-Dimas) that this showing was “a little more limited than usual,” with other showcases displaying up to 10 works from each artist. “I think it’s great when students participate in an opportunity to exhibit like this,” says Ying-Yueh Chuang, a KPU fine arts instructor specializing in ceramics. “A lot of the time, students don’t think their work belongs in the gallery because they don’t have that confidence yet.” Chuang says she never thought she would end up making a living off of her art either. "Even when I went to do my MFA, I wasn’t thinking I would do art as a career,” she explains. “But eventually, when you just keep doing it, you realize, ‘Hey, I’m actually good at it. I can actually do this.’”
Chuang attests that exhibiting in showcases like Growth provides “a path to becoming an artist,” and that before students exhibit, they will, “never really know how [their] work will be received by the public.” She adds that exhibiting helps emerging artists “gain confidence,” and creates networking opportunities for other artists “to learn about [their] artistic concepts.” There is also much to be learned by joining the Fraser Valley Potters Guild, Chuang adds. On top of teaching art students how to apply for grants, residencies, and workshops, the guild “invites practicing artists to give lectures and lead demonstrations.” “It basically gives ceramics students a model and goal for success, a way to survive as an artist,” she says.
Student and staff researchers at KPU are examining how fungi can keep plants healthy
Findings from the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture (ISH) laboratory on KPU’s Langley campus have been used to put more biological control into the hands of growers since the summer of 2009. Lisa Wegener, Laboratory and Research Coordinator for the ISH, has been there since the lab was opened in 2009. She has seen it develop into a multi-million dollar research lab over the last 10 years. Right now, researchers at ISH are collecting data about Trichoderma, a fungus capable of suppressing pathogens that cause plant disease and enhancing plant growth. Its spores naturally exist in soil, and through various modes of action can kill other fungi that attack the roots of plants. In 2001 the research team at ISH collected soil samples from the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Interior search-
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day All Month Long
Kristen Frier | Graphics Editor
The Institute for Sustainable Horticulture’s Lab is Breaking Barriers in Agriculture Aly Laube | Editor in Chief
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ing for beneficial fungi such as Trichoderma that have the potential to be developed into biopesticides—environmentally sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides. Although numerous products like this are available in many parts of the world, the number of products registered in Canada is relatively limited. “What we’ve done is we’ve gone out to sample soil from the area [because] we’re looking for what we call native Trichoderma,” she continues. Farmers will have more success using biocontrol products derived from local fungal species than if they were to use a product containing a fungus native to another part of the world with different environmental conditions and disease populations. The ISH also works with small businesses developing other types of products for the agricultural sector. This not only helps them get their products to the market, but more importantly, the industry as a whole.
“It’s finding opportunities to help horticulture students and let them get experience. We have a research greenhouse as well which supports work conducted in the lab,” she says. At the moment in the greenhouse, they’re growing wine grapes and testing ways to control pests known as the Climbing Cutworm. Cutworms are also a common issue on golf courses, making this research beneficial to the turfgrass industry as well, Wegener explains. Sustainability is at the heart of the ISH lab’s mission, which Wegener says hasn’t changed over the years, even as the lab itself underwent rapid growth. Making space for students to learn and grow is still one of its priorities, as is providing inventive and environmentally conscious research for everyone involved with farming around KPU campuses. The work at the lab will continue to contribute to making that possible, and to ensuring that growers in B.C. have sustainable products to help keep their crops pest-free.
The summer solstice, June 21, is recognized in Canada as National Indigenous Peoples' Day. If one day of acknowledgment and celebration just doesn’t feel like enough to you, you’re not alone. Indigenous Services for Students wanted to spend the whole month celebrating “all the Indigenous culture and resilience on Turtle Island [also referred to as North America],” according to the event series page on the KPU website. To kick off the month-long celebration, KPU’s Elder in Residence, Lekeyten, spoke at the Surrey campus for the opening ceremony of Indigenous Peoples' Month on June 3. For students who are unsure of which events they’d like to attend, Samantha Jack—student host and mentor at KPU, head of the Indigenous Student Council, and member of Nuu-chah-nulth nation and Stó:lō nation—particularly recommends attending Fatherhood and Men’s Responsibility on June 17 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Surrey Main Courtyard. “It’s basically just about how to be a father, avoid toxic masculinity, and teach kids to not glorify [toxic masculinity],” says Jack. Len Pierre, previous Manager of Indigenous Services for Students, member of Katzie nation, and loving father will be speaking at the event on Father’s Day. Since Pierre stepped down from his position on March 29, Ethan Semple—member of the Métis nation and coordinator for Indigenous Student Transitions and Support Services and Indigenous Services for Students—organized the series of events. “I had about a month and a half to put it all together,” says Semple. “It has been stressful, and this month is going to be stressful, but also exciting and I'll be very happy when it’s done.” Semple recommends checking out Traditional History of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ on June 13 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm at The Gathering Place. “Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) history is going to be really cool,” says Semple. “We are bringing in Mr. Terry Point, who is a Musqueam knowledge keeper. He also works in the Richmond school district as an aboriginal support worker.” Unfortunately, due to the low student count during summer semesters at the Richmond campus, this event could not be held on Musqueam territory. Beyond the scope of KPU campuses, feel free to head over to Holland Park for Surrey’s National Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration and Wellness Event from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This event, like all of the ones hosted at KPU, is free to enjoy. Surrey resides on the unceded territory of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, and Kwantlen peoples, and according to the City of Surrey website, Statistics Canada found in 2011 that the city has “the highest Urban Indigenous population in British Columbia.”
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FEATURES
BEYOND THE BURGER Consider the ethical cost of the patties you buy before chowing down Braden Klassen | Associate Editor and Aly Laube | Editor in Chief
As the western world’s interest in ethical consumerism has grown, so has the popularity of plant-based proteins. A 2017 article published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services found that shoppers have been increasingly factoring ethical concerns into their food purchases, and are becoming more likely to buy organic or locally sourced foods. One stellar example of this is the Beyond Meat burger, a patty that won the hearts of omnivores who had otherwise been reluctant to eat outside of their comfort zone. It attracted consumers with its inventive ingredients and relatively subtle differences in flavour from traditional beef, and provided plant-based eaters with an affordable and accessible fast food option. The company’s share prices soared after they went public at the beginning of May, and their products are now being sold at several locations across the country. A press release on Beyond Meat burgers states that they are made using peas, mung bean, and brown rice for protein, beet and pomegranate for colour, and coconut oil and potato starch for texture. The patties are free from GMOs, soy, and gluten, and are kosher. They’re also being distributed at over 30,000 grocery stores and restaurants worldwide, including fast food chains like A&W and Carl’s Jr. and retailers like IGA, Save on Foods, and Whole Foods Market. Richard Macmillan, organizer from the KPU-
based vegan community organization Let’s Be Compassionate, says he eats Beyond Meat burgers “very rarely,” but has plenty of friends who are regular consumers of the product. Still, he suggests that grocery shoppers buy their food from local sources rather than commercial giants like Beyond Meat and its partners. While he appreciates meat substitutes for normalizing plant-based eating, he also urges Beyond Meat fans to think critically about which industries their money is indirectly supporting. “If we’re getting it from A&W, which is a restaurant that’s responsible for millions of non-human deaths every year, we should just be aware of that and talk about it. Capitalism is evolving to make money, which is what it’s good at, but there are a lot of animals being killed,” he says. “I like that these options are available, but for my preference, my personal goal would be for more whole foods and less processed options.” Macmillan also believes that investigating the treatment of workers involved in the production process for Beyond Meat is crucial to understanding whether or not purchasing its products is ethical. One potential way to answer these questions, he explains, is by getting B certification. “It’s a pretty rigorous label that companies have to go through for the social side, the environmental side, for labour, and they do inspections of the whole supply chain,” he
says. “I would be really pleased if Beyond Meat were to go attain that label, or at least mention that they’re working towards it. That shows that they’re at least wanting to improve or to be more transparent.”
Beyond Meat declined The Runner’s request for an interview about how the burgers are sourced, assembled, packaged, and distributed.
"IF WE'RE GETTING IT FROM A&W, WHICH IS A RESTAURANT THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF NONHUMAN DEATHS EVERY YEAR, WE SHOULD JUST BE AWARE OF THAT AND TALK ABOUT IT."
FEATURES
Understanding the Environmental Impact of Farming Evidence shows that increasing the popularity of plant-based diets could also have a measurable impact on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the world’s need for the industrial development of animal agriculture and production. The reduction of producing greenhouse gases is an important step to mitigating or preventing some of the processes that are causing global climate change. Vegetables, fruit, grains, and other crops require less resources to farm than raising cattle, chickens, or other livestock, and growing crops is much more efficient in terms of energy input and output. These findings were popularised by a 2003 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition which included data showing that, on average, it would take 13 kilograms of grain and 30 kilograms of hay to produce one kilogram of beef. As a result, producing beef requires around 100 times more water than producing most crops when you factor in the water cows drink throughout their lifetime, as well as the water used to grow the food the cows eat. In simple terms of converting energy and resources into protein and other nutrients, cultivating and harvesting plants requires much less energy to produce the same output as farming animals, and the waste that results from farming crops contributes less to greenhouse gas emissions. “Agriculture is responsible for a disproportionate amount of greenhouse gases,” says Mike Bomford, an instructor in the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems program at KPU and a fellow with the Post Carbon Institute based in Oregon. “Even though it’s a relatively small part of the economy in terms of the dollars that are created, the entire food system accounts for somewhere between a fifth and a third of glob-
al greenhouse gas emissions.” Bomford teaches courses on vegetable production, pest management, agroecosystem management, and agriculture and energy, and he has also taught a course on livestock production in conjunction with other faculty members at KPU. “It’s important to recognize that, in the broader economy, our greenhouse gas emissions are almost entirely due to burning fossil fuels, but in agriculture it’s different,” he says. “In agriculture, greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide and methane [are commonly emitted] because of the way we manage our animals.” He continues, “So particularly the ruminants—animals with multiple stomachs that are able to digest grass and convert that into protein which is digestible by people—they depend on bacteria in their gut to facilitate that, and the process occurs in an anaerobic, or a low oxygen, environment, and it emits a lot of methane in the process.” The waste products that result from raising animals, such as manure, also provide an ideal environment for bacteria to develop and flourish, which in turn continues to add to the emission of greenhouse gases. Oftentimes the animal waste is moved off-site to other areas like ponds and lagoons where it is left to decompose, increasing the timeline during which bacteria can develop, and contaminating or destabilizing local ecosystems. Like almost every other industry, agricultural production relies on fossil fuels to provide energy for things like food transportation and farming machinery. But the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in these processes may have less of an environmental impact than other aspects of food production, such as keeping livestock. Bomford explains that, “in agriculture, burning fossil fuels is actually a very minor component of total greenhouse gas emission.” “A larger way in which we emit carbon diox-
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"THE "THEENTIRE ENTIREFOOD FOOD SYSTEM ACCOUNTS FOR SYSTEM ACCOUNTS FOR SOMEWHERE SOMEWHEREBETWEEN BETWEEN AAFIFTH AND A THIRD OF FIFTH AND A THIRD OF GLOBAL GLOBALGREENHOUSE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS." GAS EMISSIONS." ide is by transforming land, so if we log a forest and turn it into farmland, that emits a lot of carbon,” he says. “If we destroy a peatland and turn it into farmland, that emits a lot of carbon—and it’s far more than we would emit by burning fossil fuels to run tractors and those sorts of things.” Often, greenhouse gas emissions are measured and referred to by their carbon dioxide equivalent, or “CO2e.” If a mixture of gasses contains chemicals like methane, carbon monoxide, or nitrous oxide, scientists and statisticians will convert it all into a standard set by carbon dioxide. For example, 28 to 36 kilograms of carbon dioxide is roughly equivalent to one kilogram of methane, and 265 to 298 kilograms of carbon dioxide is equivalent to just one single kilogram of nitrous oxide. The basis for this conversion is derived from the gas’s potential for impacting global warming, meaning that nitrous oxide is between 265 to 298 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, and it is proportionately impactful on warming. The properties of these gases that cause
them to absorb, reflect, and emit energy like heat determine how much they perpetuate warming. The tendency for the gas to remain in the atmosphere is also taken into account, and all of these aspects are combined and measured in order to calculate the gas’s Global Warming Potential, or GWP, which measures its impact over 100 years. As gases absorb and emit heat, they trap that heat in the atmosphere, which results in the warming effect that is continuing to increase all over the planet. This is why, in comparison to emissions released by burning fossil fuels, emissions caused by agriculture—especially animal agriculture—can contribute to warming on such a large scale, even though it occurs in smaller amounts. “The whole greenhouse gas picture is very, very different in agriculture from the rest of the economy, and a lot of it has to do with the way that we manage livestock production,” Bomford adds. “If we can move away from depending on livestock and animal products and towards a more plant-based diet, it really offers a lot of opportunities for us to be able to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”
8
OPINIONS
Vancouver and Victoria Should Hop Off of Horse-Drawn Carriages Using animal labour for recreation and tourism should be a thing of the past
Cristian Hobson-Dimas | Staff Writer You’ve probably seen them in Stanley Park or on the streets of Victoria: cartloads of sweaty, uninterested tourists awkwardly bunched into horse-drawn carriages. And for some reason, if you drive one of those things, you’re seemingly required by law to dress like it’s the 1800s. That’s your first sign that horse-drawn carriages are an outdated mode of transportation, both socially and ethically. It’s just wrong to make horses pull large amounts of weight through loud, crowded roads. Horses are easily startled by nature, and accidents involving horse drawn carriages happen all the time, causing injury to both the horses and passengers alike. As Maclean’s points out, the use of horsedrawn carriages used to make sense when Canada was a developing nation, but Canada has long since outgrown their viability. Now that these carriages only exist for entertainment, it’s harder to look past the cruelty and exploitation of the horses. Perhaps that’s why people, including Victoria Councillor Steve Issit, have an open distaste for the practice of riding in horse-drawn carriages. Issit even suggested banning them in early May, but has since backed down from the proposal due to protest from the small communities of people who, for some reason, think horse-drawn carriages are an important part of the city’s culture. It would be great if Victoria and Vancouver could join the handful of cities across North America that have already banned these car-
(Nic Laube) riages, like Camden, Key West, Palm Beach, and Salt Lake City. It would also be another step in the right direction in terms of re-evaluating the subservient role that animals fill in our society. I’m all for uniting to protest against practices like the inhumane involvement of animals in circuses, or the cruelty of keeping sea mammals imprisoned within the confines of Marineland. Believe it or not, there are more ethical and, frankly, more enjoyable ways to
interact with animals. Carriage drivers and company representatives will swear by the quality treatment of their horses, which is fair enough. Perhaps the best solution is enforcing more strict regulations about the well-being of horses, such as by designating carriage trails where there aren’t any cars or limiting the number of hours they are allowed to work. Still, that wouldn’t change the fact that horse-drawn carriages are just another sym-
bol of all the practically useless and harmful practices that people nostalgic for a romanticized version of history can’t let go of. One of those practices is allowing for the mistreatment of animals. Also, if you spend your money on being hauled around by old, tired horses being forced to breathe in exhaust fumes all day, you’re probably an asshole, or boring, or both.
We Should All be Judging Matthew Begbie
Begbie sentenced six Tsilhqot'in chiefs to death, but a statue of the man still stands in New Westminster Nic Laube | Contributor Looking back at human history helps us predict obstacles that we may face going forward, but it isn’t always a pleasant experience. Such is the case while reflecting on Judge Matthew Begbie, a lawyer and politician who was alive from 1819 to 1894. For his work, he was honored by having a statue of his likeness placed in New Westminster, though some argue that he may not be deserving of having a landmark in his name. Begbie is accused of wrongfully trying no less than six Tsilhqot'in chiefs during an infamous phase of British Columbia’s history referred to as the Chilcotin War. In 1864, Begbie arranged the hangings of Tsilhqot'in Chiefs Biyil, Tilaghed, Taqed, Chayses, and an unidentified sixth referred to as Lhats’asʔin with no justification. As if that act was not abhorrent enough, Begbie went on to repeat his offense the next year with the trial and hanging of Chief Ahan. Begbie’s actions constitute just a few of the many shameful blots on the history of our country, and though apologies were issued by the governments of New Westminster and Canada as a whole between 2014 and 2018, the commemorative statue of Begbie still stands in front of the courthouse named after him today. It wasn't until recently that the
city began considering removing the statue. So, what of Begbie’s sentence? The discussion about whether or not the statue should be removed seems to be fairly one-sided at the moment, with many calling for the city to rid of the symbol of racism. However, there are those who are inclined to see the statue as a lesson, a sombre reminder of how toxicity can permeate communities. Perhaps we can do what Begbie did not: judge without bias, and do the right thing. To remove the statue could be seen as sweeping the tragedy associated with it under the rug. To keep it would mean glorifying the life of a murderer. Either way, the past remains unchanged, and how we deal with this tragedy going forward is entirely up to us. It is only by considering both options that we can reach a truly fair decision. I believe we should remove the statue. The idea of casting such a heinous criminal in bronze and immortalizing his legacy makes my stomach turn, and while an emotional response shouldn’t hypothetically be a factor in unbiased decision making, I think that feeling is just an indicator of how insidious Begbie’s continued presence in New Westminster would be. However, I would consider combining that solution with another: placing statues of the wrongfully executed chiefs where Begbie once stood.
A statue of Judge Begbie stands at the Provincial Court of British Columbia on Carnarvon Street. (Kristen Frier) The painful parts of our past are difficult to navigate, but to do so with honesty and integrity is to commit ourselves to forging a better future. Regardless of which course
that future takes, Chiefs Lhats’asʔin, Biyil, Tilaghed, Taqed, and Chayses have not been forgotten, and we can only hope to do them justice from this day onwards.
OPINIONS
9
How to Get More out of Life by Owning Less Committing to minimalism can improve your quality of life
Braden Klassen | Associate Editor When I was younger, I was really into the movie Fight Club. The film, based off of a book by Chuck Palahniuk, is known for its depiction of violence and toxic masculinity, and for its nihilistic spite towards social conformity. I loved it because of its thematic focus on the main character’s realization that materialism did not make him happy, that buying new things was not as fulfilling as he initially thought. Since then, I’ve tried to carry that sentiment throughout my life and appreciate how less can be more, and how satisfaction can be found outside of buying and accumulating shiny new toys. The amount of time we dedicate to collecting more and more stuff can become a source of unhappiness and frustration. For all its flaws, Fight Club makes a compelling point about how rejecting materialism can be empowering, even liberating. “The things you own end up owning you,” wrote Palahniuk. That resonated with me, and it seems that I’m not alone. Learning to live with fewer possessions is becoming more popular, especially for younger people. There are a growing number of reasons for this—reasons that have less to do with personal philosophy and more to do with practicality. Costs of living are rising, wages have stagnated in many fields, and consumer and student debt is piling up. People are becoming more aware of how limiting their consumerism can reduce their carbon footprint, which has inspired a lot of us to seek out lifestyles that are commonly thought of as “alternative”
(Nic Laube) or even “radical.” There’s the tiny house movement, in which people are choosing to live in miniature houses with a smaller square footage than conventional houses. There are “micro suites” available in urban areas, and people are retrofitting vans to become furnished living spaces with beds, plumbing, and even kitchenettes. The digital economy has enabled some people to drop almost all of their possessions and rent small spaces to live and work in. Now, it’s normal to want to own things. It’s normal to collect new possessions, to go shopping, to fill up our closets and tool sheds and garages with things that we end up neglecting for years on end or forgetting about entirely. But the fact that choosing to live with
fewer possessions can be considered “radical” reveals just how deeply consumerism is embedded in our culture. The term radical can refer to behaviour or ideologies that exist far outside the established bounds of what we consider to be normal, but if that’s true, then using people’s consumerist habits as a metric to determine their level of “radicalism” is based on a double standard. Is paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars for bottle service at a club normal? Is Chip Wilson’s $73 million house not an example of extreme consumerism? Does buying a $600,000 Rolls Royce adhere to common standards of normalcy? Private jets, diamond wristwatches, superyachts, paintings worth hundreds of millions of dollars, design-
er clothes intended to be worn only once or twice—we should question why any of this seems more “normal” than choosing to live in a van with the freedom to travel around without ever leaving your home. Ask yourself why you might think that living in a van is a “radical” lifestyle choice, but spending almost 1,000 times the average B.C. annual income on a home isn’t. Why does it feel easier to normalize one and not the other? Modern existence is defined by a repeating cycle of trading time and labour for money, and then trading that money for goods and services. Maybe it’s time we realize that we can reverse the cycle, that we can trade in our possessions for a better quality of time spent and enjoy a life free of compulsive materialism.
The Chicago Principles Blur the Lines Between Free Speech and Hate Speech
The Albertan government wants to exert influence over post-secondary institutions under the guise of supporting speech protections Tae Whitehouse | Contributor As Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party unfurls its stiff, right wing feathers across the Albertan prairies, its shadow falls over college and university campuses. According to the Calgary Herald, Kenney’s Advanced Education Minister—Demetrios Nicolaides—has talked about how applying the famous Chicago Principles would ensure that Alberta post-secondary institutions “are competitive with those in the United States.” For those unaware, the Chicago Principles are a report from Chicago University issued in 2014 that champions freedom of speech. The authors of the principles write that, on a university campus, “debate or deliberation may not be suppressed because the ideas put forth are thought by some or even by most members of the University community to be offensive, unwise, immoral, or wrong-headed.” What Nicolaides doesn’t understand is that freedom of speech isn’t under attack at post-secondary institutions. Minorities are. According to the “Report on the Uncivil, Hate and Bias Incidents on Campus Survey”, the number of hate crimes on American campuses being reported to the FBI is rapidly climbing, from 194 in 2015 to 280 in 2017. With hate crimes on the rise in American col-
leges and universities, staunch freedom of speech protectionist policies could open the doors for radical and hateful groups to begin practicing their intolerance in Albertan institutions too. While the thought of offensive and likely unwanted groups having their say on campus isn’t exactly ideal, the Chicago Principles do state that there are certain restrictions to what can be said. Anything that “constitutes a genuine threat or harassment” will not be tolerated under the discretion of the university. Although this isn’t saying much, it may give some peace of mind to students who already feel unsafe and might be worried about the dangers new speech policies might bring. Tolerance of bigotry aside, what’s most unnerving about the government stepping in to dictate post-secondary policy is that it sets a precedent for politicians to dictate what’s being talked about at places of higher learning. Post-secondary institutions aren’t meant to operate under the thumb of whichever government is currently in office, especially if they’re being threatened with performance and compliance-based budget slashes, as is the case under the Ford government in Ontario. According to the Globe and Mail, Doug Ford of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party has explicitly “promised during the spring election campaign that he would tie funding to free
(Samantha Mayes) speech on campus.” The implementation of similar punishments has been neither confirmed nor denied by the UCP, which doesn’t exactly instill confidence in the hearts of students who aren’t ecstatic to see the government making heavy-handed changes to their university life. It seems pretty clear that, if the UCP does develop and implement its own version of the Chicago Principles, it wouldn’t be for the
enlightenment or education of Albertan students. It would be more for the purposes of displaying the government’s Orwellian disregard for autonomy. While this probably isn’t some evil geniusstyle plot to take over the country and turn us all into a Borg-like conservative hive mind, it’s still a shrewd strategy to exercise some control over universities and their students.
10 OPINIONS
How to Survive Transiting from the Fraser Valley to KPU When TransLink isn’t an option, getting around can be tough but it's not impossible Alix Girodat Commuting 85 kilometers to Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Surrey campus is a struggle I have learned to live with, but it doesn’t need to be so hard. Just a few years ago I lived five minutes away from the Surrey campus and had never considered transiting to school. I hadn’t even taken a bus by myself at that time because everything I needed was within walking distance. That all changed when I moved to Chilliwack and suddenly had to find my way from the heart of the Fraser Valley to KPU. I was in for a rude awakening; TransLink does not run by where I live, which makes commuting to and from home considerably more complicated. I am not alone in this struggle. With rising house and gas prices, more families are moving out to the Fraser Valley for a slightly cheaper life. But just because we don’t live in Metro Vancouver doesn’t mean we can’t still go to KPU. As a veteran bus-taker, here is what I have learned about how to get to KPU from the Fraser Valley if you are struggling with your commute. First of all, don’t drive! It’s nice if you can drive or have someone to drive you, but it’s not worth draining your tank every day commuting back and forth.
Second, don’t listen to anyone who tells you the West Coast Express is a good idea. The WCE is a train operated by TransLink that runs between Mission City Station and Waterfront Station, and it is not an option if you want to get to class on time or get home before 7 pm. The only reasonable option for getting to Metro Vancouver from my part of the Fraser Valley is to take the BC Transit bus #66, the Fraser Valley Express. The FVX begins its run at 5:15 am in Downtown Chilliwack, stops throughout the rest of the city, and then travels down Highway 1. It stops at both McCallum and Highstreet in Abbotsford, and then finally reaches Langley at Carvolth Station at around 6:30 am. Another bus runs half an hour later than the first and continues its run until 9:00 pm. Sadly, because BC Transit operates the FVX, your Compass card won’t work. You will need a $5 bill to get where you want to go—and that’s $5 each way. Some stores in the Fraser Valley sell tickets for the FVX, making it easier if you lose your $5 or simply get on the bus going the wrong way. Now that you have your transit options figured out, be sure to take a book with you. Download some Netflix, Crave, or Amazon Prime TV to your phone. If you’re a procrastinator like me, spend the commute doing your homework. Sit near the doors and put your bag on the seat beside you and have a little
The Fraser Valley Express, line 66, goes all the way to Chilliwack. (Alix Girodat) nap, unless someone needs that seat! The FVX takes about an hour and 15 minutes to get from Chilliwack to Carvolth Exchange, and that’s on days with no traffic. When there is traffic, you will need all of the above to keep you entertained. Once you get to Carvolth Exchange, your transiting possibilities are endless. That expen-
sive U-Pass you pay for finally becomes useful, and you’re free to use TransLink’s plethora of buses to find your way to your campus. It is definitely tiresome at first, but after a while, the commute is a breeze. Maybe one day TransLink will extend its bus routes to the Fraser Valley. Until then, the FVX has got our backs.
COLUMNS
11
A Critical Affair: Wage Against the Machine Lowering Alberta’s minimum wage for students under 18 is discriminatory, cynical, and exploitative
Braden Klassen | Associate Editor It is illegal in this country for companies to decide to pay employees less money because of their age, gender, ethnicity, orientation, or other identity-based grounds. This is enshrined in the Canadian Human Rights Act and is also addressed in the Canada Labour Code. Responsible companies take great pains to avoid violating these rules, ostensibly because they want to respect the basic human right of being entitled to a fair wage without having to be concerned about being unjustly disadvantaged by biased employers. We are unable to change or control these aspects of our identities, and it is obviously unfair to be treated as a less valuable person because of them. Unfortunately, our constitutional rights and the laws that protect them don’t seem to apply to government when it comes to regulating wealth distribution through policies like those guaranteeing a standard minimum wage. The Alberta Provincial Government led by Jason Kenney has chosen to exploit that. In May, Kenney announced that the United Conservative Party planned to reduce the minimum wage for students under the age of 18 as part of the “Act to Make Alberta Open for Business.” Those who were younger than 18 would be entitled to less—would literally be valued less—than those who are older by rolling back the minimum wage from $15 to $13. This means the government believes that equal pay for equal work is not something young workers deserve, and that paying people less because of an uncontrollable aspect of their identity is an acceptable practice. Kenney offered a justification, saying “This is still a very generous wage—$13 an hour is a
lot more than $0.” Maybe it was just a-foot in-mouth moment, but that sounds uncomfortably close to “be grateful, at least it’s not slavery.” Perhaps it makes sense to match wages with job experience, which younger people are less likely to have. Maybe it will protect small businesses, and increase the likelihood of minimum wage workers to find jobs. But it leans on the assumption that younger people need the money less because they can rely on their families and support structures. Absolutely nobody, least of all the government, has the right to tell the lowest income earners in our society that they deserve less money because their financial compensation is already “generous” enough, and it’s outrageous that the government would go as far as to work that notion into economic policy. This also ignores the blatant appeal to privilege inherent in the message; an arrogant assumption that every Albertan student under the age of 18 does not have to work in order to help their family or support themselves, and that younger people aren’t concerned with saving for the future or for post-secondary education. As for the claim that it will protect the bottom lines of small businesses, while this may be true in a few cases, it’s reasonable to argue that if your business is so precariously dependent on withholding $2 an hour from your employees, you should probably make some other adjustments to your operations first. Certainly, industries that offer minimum wage for entry pay would continue to exist, even if they’re paying a higher minimum wage to minors. Perhaps the most cynical aspect of this policy is that it targets people who can’t vote. Like
(@RESLUS) a bully who shakes other kids down for their lunch money, Kenney thinks he can get away with this because the victims have no way of fighting back. They have no choice and no sys-
temically fair way to advocate for their own rights. They have no voice, and no say in their future. Let’s hope they remember this once they finally get the chance to cast their ballots.
Artist Spotlight: RAG
The brand new three-piece is ready to defy expectations in the local rock scene Aly Laube | Editor in Chief Echo-immersed screams, hard-hitting guitar leads, and stylistic nuance makes RAG one of the more interesting names to emerge from Vancouver’s underground this summer. Formed by guitarist Mila Krajina and drummer Nigel Young—recently joined by bassist Joshua Jiho Silickas—the project marks a creative departure for three of the city’s seasoned rock musicians, all of whom are looking forward to collaborating on something fresh. “With my old project, a lot of the stuff that I wrote was from years ago when I first started playing, and I was playing more 90s, more grunge,” explains Krajina, former member of grunge-punk band Miss Mudd. “At the time, that’s what I was into, but as soon as I put it into fruition, that wasn’t what I was listening to at all. With this, I would listen to stuff that’s like RAG, and that’s one of my main drives: making shit that I would listen to.” Young adds that he “wanted to do more punk [and] more shorter and to-the-point songs,” as he rarely gets to do so with his music elsewhere. Krajina invited Young to jam with her after Miss Mudd’s disbandment left her itching to play new material. Although Young currently drums for local psychedelic rock group The Intelligence Service, it wasn’t until his first
performance with RAG that he got to show his songwriting to a live audience. His jaunty drumming combined with Krajina’s droning guitar makes for an intriguing backdrop to the duo’s eruptive vocal hooks and raw, reflective lyrics. Working through difficulties with mental health are central to Young’s lyricism for RAG, while Krajina has expanded her writing to explore not only her internal processes, but also how others see and treat her. One unreleased song, “The Couch”, only has one line: “Touch me there.” “It’s about people just kind of being okay with touching you without consent, and it’s angry because it’s like, I’m not always down with that,” she says. “How I get my anger out is writing a song about it.” Krajina adds that she has been getting “a lot of positive feedback from women especially” since RAG started playing shows. “Even people who knew me from Miss Mudd are like, ‘You’re doing shit and it’s powerful,’” she says. “I feel like, especially with what’s going on in the world right now, it’s not a woman’s world. I’m not too political, but it’s nice to know that I’m doing something for someone out there because there are a lot of people who might need it.” “I just like being a part of that,” says Young, with a smile. “I’m just happy when people say the drumming’s okay.”
Mila Krajina and Nigel Young are the founding members of the garage band RAG. (Aly Laube) The two of them share the mic and write alongside Silickas, a member of garage rock band The Rambling Derelicts. Part of what unites the trio is a soft spot for anything that comes across as gritty and genuine while still being fun to dance to. And for RAG, sticking to a genre takes a backseat to occupying that wider niche. The band’s first two singles, “Taffy” and “Beguna Leach”, were posted online at the end of May. While they are relatively cohesive in structure and production, Krajina and Young anticipate that future releases from
RAG will offer something different from what listeners have heard so far. Dark vocals contrasted with light instrumentals, including an unrecorded “surfy” track written by Silickas, are likely to be featured on their first record, slated for release before 2020. RAG will be opening for BB, Monsterwatch, and Dopey’s Robe on Saturday, June 15 at the Clubhouse. They’ll also be playing on July 4 at Static Jupiter with YEP, the Umbrellas, and Bored Decor. To follow them, check out @rag00band on Instagram.
PROCRASTINATION HOROSCOPES
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
This week, make it your goal to put the “chop” in “psychopath.”
Your crimes are known. The council sits in judgement of you.
You are not at war with Portland.
Pisces
Aries
Taurus
The banana is the atheist's nightmare.
No one understands your love for Jennifer Lopez.
You greatly resemble a bird, as your bones are hollow and you are the last living remnant of the dinosaurs.
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
You are an ill-formed and fragile parcel of ghosts who offends heaven with your pitious cries for mercy. Pilgrimage to the grave of the last sineater to pay recompense for your life.
If you apply yourself, focus on your goals, and have just a little bit of luck on your side, you can be the first person to punch Mars.
That stupid dragon thinks he’s so big, thinks he can just take everybody’s gold and burn everybody’s thatched-roof cottages. How we gonna re-thatch these roofs without any gold?
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Eat enough cheese to forget about the darkness.
Give a man a fish and he has food for a day. Give a man to fish and you have momentarily appeased the Under Gods.
Get in a car and drive to IHOP. That’s literally the horoscope.
Nov. 23 - Dec 21
Dec. 22 - Jan 20
Mar 21 - Apr 19
Feb 20 - Mar 20
Jun 21 - Jul 23
May 21 - Jun 20
Aug 24 - Sept 23
Sept 24 - Oct 23
SUDOKU
Look for the answers in the next issue of The Runner.
Jan 21 - Feb 19
Apr 20 - May 20
Jul 24 - Aug 23
Oct 24 - Nov 22