The Cascade Vol. 24 No. 15 by The Cascade

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JUNE 8 TO JUNE 22 2016 VOLUME 24 ISSUE 15

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY. JUNE 8, 2016

CONTENTS

Opinion

Culture & Events

Arts in Review

The mystery of the missing speech

Celebrating Aboriginal Awareness Month

X-Men: Apocalypse enters the 80s

Students of Columbia Bible College will now be able to tranfer into UFV’s general studies program

A week of speeches and ceremonies just passed by, but what about the speech that vanished?

The Abbotsford Arts Council celebrates Aboriginal art and culture to kick off Aboriginal Awareness Month

The strengths and weaknesses of the latest entry in the X-Men series, as reviewed by Kat Marusiak

News CBC and UFV announce transfer agreement

CONTRIBUTORS

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Michael Scoular michael@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Alex Rake alex@ufvcascade.ca

Illustrator Sultan Jum sultan@ufvcascade.ca

Managing Editor (interim) Glen Ess glen@ufvcascade.ca

Culture & Events Editor Glen Ess glen@ufvcascade.ca

Online Editor Tanya Vanpraseuth tanya@ufvcascade.ca

Arts in Review Editor Martin Castro martin@ufvcascade.ca

Multimedia Editor Mitch Huttema mitch@ufvcascade.ca

Copy Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca

Production Manager (interim) Sultan Jum sultan@ufvcascade.ca

Staff Writer Sonja Klotz sonjak@ufvcascade.ca

News Editor Vanessa Broadbent vanessa@ufvcascade.ca

Production Assistant Danielle Collins danielle@ufvcascade.ca

Business Manager Jennifer Trithardt-Tufts jennifer@ufvcascade.ca

Advertising Rep Kayla Schuurmans kayla@ufvcascade.ca

Rachel Tait

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA @UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/THE.CASCADE

Volume 24 · Issue 15 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 Cover Design: Sultan Jum Back cover photo: Mitch Huttema

The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by the Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a print circulation of 1,250 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities. The Cascade is open to written, photo, and design work from all students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment from an editor. Writers meetings are held each Monday at 2:00 p.m. in The Cascade’s office on the Abbotsford campus.

In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief, copy editor, and corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous content. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 400 words. As The Cascade is an autonomous student publication, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

EDITORIAL

NEWS BRIEFS

EDITORIAL

Bachelor of Education changes take effect immediately Following the approval of four degrees by the Ministry of Advanced Education, UFV’s deans and faculty are working out how to implement the new credentials — in some cases, courses are already in place, while in others, the degree proposals are years old, and plans will need to accommodate the many minor changes in programs and courses made since then. In one case, however, there won’t be any wait: the Bachelor of Education was always designed as a name change. The teacher education program will stay the same, but the credential upon graduation (previously a “certificate in teacher education”) will now be more internationally recognized for graduates that plan to teach outside of B.C. “The [BEd] mirrors the content and orientation of the existing certificates, but will represent a level of credential that is better aligned with comparable programs at other institutions, and will offer students greater opportunities upon graduation,” the degree proposal reads. The work on the other approved degrees (Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies, Bachelor of Media Arts) is currently in progress, with more information to be reported in these pages in the weeks to come. Job posting for UFV’s next president now live Boyden Global Executive Search, a firm hired by UFV to facilitate the hiring process for Mark Evered’s successor as president, has now posted the job description for the position. This begins the next phase of the hiring process, which is expected to take “the next several months.”

Illustration: Sultan Jum

After introducing UFV as a large, attractive destination for students, the description speexperienced academic administrator. “With a PhD or equivalent credential, combined with significant professional experience and demonstrated success gained as a Dean, Vice President, or President in a wellrespected post-secondary institution, you will have both the experience and leadership skills to step successfully into the Presidency at UFV,” it reads. Men’s golf competes at Golf Canada nationals The men’s golf team’s Connor McLellan brought home the individual bronze medal from the Golf Canada nationals. McLellan finished with -5 in the tournament, held in Parksville, B.C. The men’s team fell one place short of a medal and placed fourth with a com-

CASCADE

the

cifically outlines the desired applicant as an

is hiring!

The Cascade is looking for a News editor! Let us know if you think you have what it takes. The News editor’s responsbilities include: • Assign, collect, and edit articles for the news section. • Write a minimum of two news articles and news briefs per issue. • Work one on one with staff and contributors to ensure quality and development of news writing and related skills • Must work five hours per week in the Cascade office

bined score of +49. The tournament marked the third time in seven years that the team finished in fourth place.

The deadline for applications is June 10. To apply, or request further information, please email: glen@ufvcascade.ca

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY. JUNE 8, 2016

NEWS New agreement opens transfer path from Columbia Bible College to UFV VANESSA BROADBENT THE CASCADE/PHOTO

Columbia Bible College (CBC) students are now able to transfer directly into UFV’s general studies degree program through a new agreement between the two institutions. The agreement allows students graduating with CBC’s diploma of general studies to transfer directly into year three of UFV’s bachelor of general studies. UFV and CBC already have separate course-to-course transfer agreements, but associate dean of arts Alisa Webb notes that the degree agreement is a way of simplifying and formalizing a route students are already taking. “UFV has talked about doing this since it was UCFV,” Webb says. “Columbia Bible College is the other main post-secondary institution in the Valley and … there’s been a desire on both parties to see this come together in [a] more formalized agreement.” The agreement with CBC isn’t the first of its kind, as UFV recently signed a similar agreement with the College of the Rockies’ criminal and social justice certificate and Langara College’s fine arts diploma. “It’s something that we do a fair bit of,” Webb says. “They still have to go through the normal channels for admissions to UFV and meet those requirements, but the pathway is set up.”

Webb is also working on agreements with the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts and Vancouver Film School. While there are no projected numbers for how many CBC students the agreement could bring to UFV, Webb expects that it will increase from the current intake. “At present, approximately 35 CBC students transfer to UFV a year,” she says. “For the most part, this number has been climbing since 2010 and we expect to see it continue to rise, particularly with an established pathway in place.” Though there are no concrete plans yet, Webb mentions that there is potential for another agreement allowing CBC students into UFV’s bachelor of arts degree. “The BA offers some greater challenges, just in terms of the nature of requirements [and] the residency requirements of how many courses have to be done at UFV,” she says. “It can be a hurdle for students, because if they get here and weren’t able to take courses of interest, they’re starting their major from scratch.” While there is currently no agreement in place for UFV students to transfer into any of CBC’s programs, Webb also notes that something similar could happen in the future, especially with the potential addition of a peace and conflict studies major at UFV and the already existing Mennonite studies certificate. “There might be courses there that would really benefit our students here,” she says. “These kinds of pathways open up those possibilities.”

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

NEWS Walk for Life the site of opposing views, signs, and dialogue around women’s choices GLEN ESS THE CASCADE/PHOTOS

Divides in the Fraser Valley community over the subject of abortion continue to show up in public events. The latest convergence of arguments happened at the 27th annual Walk for Life, held at Mill Lake on Saturday, June 4. The event, organized by Advokate, a prolife organization, was designed to be a familyfriendly one, featuring bouncy castles for children to play in while the walkers registered and set off around Mill Lake Park. However, concerned members of a recently formed pro-choice organization, Think Outside My Box, believed that the event was contributing to a slanted discussion around women’s reproductive rights. Unlike the UFV Life Link display on the Abbotsford campus on March 21, which saw an immediate, unplanned response from individual students, the Walk for Life and its accompanying pro-choice protest were both planned out well in advance, with both sides having prepared information to represent their thoughts on the issue. The event also saw both sides maintain a courteous, non-confrontational disposition. Despite this, by the end of the day some members of Think Outside My Box were the subjects of cutting comments by irate walkers. “We did see a bit of aggression from an older gentleman and a young couple that came over to yell at us over the course of the afternoon,” said Avril Field, a UFV alumna and the founder of Think Outside My Box. “The couple was calling us evil and arguing without even letting us interject. They stood there for at least five minutes yelling at us. Because they didn’t want a respectful conversation, we asked them to leave us alone. We had not been engaging with anyone unless we were spoken to first. We had in no way instigated any sort of confrontation.” Field formed the group alongside other UFV graduates and current students in response to a pro-life display on Sumas Way last winter. However, the Walk for Life was the group’s first organized public appearance. Gathered in the shade

of a tree off to the side of Advokate’s space, with statistics and slogan-emblazoned signs around them, the group maintained a quiet, yet visible presence. According to Field, they deliberately decided to remain non-confrontational and had been in contact with Advokate’s general manager, Jared White, and coordinator of client services, Elizabeth Sutcliffe, about the differences between the two groups and their presence at the walk. “There’s a lot we agree on,” Field said. “We both want to support women, but we just have very different ideas on how to do that.” Sutcliffe, taking a break from helping at a registration table, had a similar point of view. “We understand that everyone has a right to be heard, and they’ve been very respectful,” she said. “But we just don’t agree.” The primary disagreement between the two organizations centres around resources: whether or not women are provided with sufficient options and enough information to make an informed choice when confronted with an unplanned pregnancy. Field was critical of Advokate’s services in this area. “They do describe abortion as a choice; however, they do so in a way that contributes to the stigma, the guilt and shaming of women who choose to have abortions,” she said. Sutcliffe believes that it’s important to make people aware of the implications of that choice. “I used to be PC [pro-choice] and I made the decision to abort, and I’ve regretted it ever since,” she said. “It affected me even more with my planned pregnancies — when I got pregnant with my children, I found out how developed the child I’d aborted had been. I felt sick, [and] it got worse as my pregnancy went along. I was diagnosed with PTSD … It’s not about making it legal; intrinsically my body knew what had happened to it wasn’t natural.” That awareness doesn’t, in Field’s estimation, extend to all areas of education. Focusing specifically on the resources provided by Advokate, she said they are, simply put, inadequate. “They won’t refer women who choose abor-

tion to abortion services, or professional counselling afterwards, instead offering their own services,” she said. “Nor do they provide contraceptives or advocate for family planning. Their stance is that contraceptives lead to more unplanned pregnancies.” Sutcliffe, however, states that in her opinion, the services provided by pro-choice organizations are just as, if not more, inadequate. “I’d actually say they’re a little hypocritical,” she said. “I’ve spent years looking for a secular clinic that offers post-abortion services — if they truly care about the women, then why aren’t there services for them?” To Field, the main focus of the discussion revolved around women’s rights. “None of us are saying that life isn’t precious. It is, it absolutely is,” she said. “But this is about bodily autonomy, this is about women being forced to carry a child because of societal pressures, and lack of information.” Sutcliffe argued those societal pressures ex-

ist on both sides. “Your family, your friends, your boyfriend, everyone, all of society is telling you that unless you’re in the perfect situation, you shouldn’t bring a new life into this world,” she said. “They all shame you if you decide not to get an abortion. Our values start at conception.” Based on both sides’ accounts, the realm of early-term decisions is where each would like to see a shift in how women are talked to, how their responses to this complex issue can dictate the future. “We’re not pro-abortion ... we just believe that people should be given all the choices, and one of those choices is abortion,” Field said. “It should be presented as a choice, and not in the way that they do it, which is a negative, guilty one that propagates the idea that women should be shamed. They don’t give women enough credit.”

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

OPINION For even a reluctant rider, campus shuttle is a picturesque, relaxing commute GLEN ESS THE CASCADE

Transit is an oft-cited source of frustration among students like myself. I don’t drive, and the weather during the academic year isn’t conducive to walking or biking — my two favoured forms of transport — and so I have to take the bus to and from school. The fear of missing a bus, the frustration of a slow one, the concern that something so removed from my own control may result in arriving late for a class: these are all thoughts that go hand in hand with taking public transport. These frustrations are such a common experience for bus-taking students that a friend of mine once wrote a paper on BC Transit and what, in his opinion, they could do better. If memory serves me right, he got a good grade for that paper, too. But these issues don’t just make commuting to campus a hassle; they’ve also ensured that I avoid taking any courses outside of UFV’s Abbotsford campus. I’m already going crazy over busing within Abby; imagine how angry I’ll get if I had to bus to Mission or to Chilliwack! Despite the presence of the handy shuttle that takes students from Abbotsford to CEP and back, I still maintained my exclusive relationship with Abbotsford. But recent revelations have made me reconsider this. For the first time, I rode the shuttle. It’s a

simple, basic little bus, and it takes roughly half an hour to complete its journey — a surprisingly relaxing journey. Each has wifi, so I happily sat there, laptop open, clicking away as we drove through the farmlands that separate the two campuses. It wasn’t as crowded or as noisy as all the other buses I’ve had to take. And it didn’t have to stop every two blocks, so there was no anxiety induced by losing precious minutes to someone taking a long time to board. Most pleasant of all was the absence of obnoxiously loud adolescents, music blaring from their phone speakers (not headphones, never headphones), constantly bragging that they “totally smoke pot man,” and that they could “down, like, a bottle of vodka in no time, dude.” Yes, I know I sound like a fuddy-duddy. But who among us wouldn’t like to have a less stressful commute to class? That’s not to say the shuttle is a perfect service. Nothing ever is. There are some problems with riding the shuttle. Things like the odour of manure that dominates the farmlands the shuttle passes through, the relatively rough ride, how the schedule could be made a bit more efficient, the driver’s choice of radio station. These are all things that I felt detracted from my first-ever shuttle bubvvs experience. But they were minor inconveniences, and overall, the experience may just lead me to broaden my UFV experience by taking a class or two at CEP in the future.

SATIRE

Disappointed that my speech was not delivered at convocation KAREN MOUCHE GRADUATED

I am miffed. I am miffed because nobody read my speech at convocation this year. That’s right, I wrote a speech. But neither Mark Evered, the guest speakers, the student speakers, the goshdarned alumni, nor those honorary degree-getters followed up on their promises. I swear to you that everyone of them emailed me back to imply that they would love to read my speech, subtly suggesting that mine was much better than theirs. Mark Evered’s email

even said “Thank you” at the end! But I went to every convocation ceremony, and good old Mark read the same speech — very pointedly not mine — at every one. Do you know how painful it is to sit through five hours of other people’s speeches, day after day? My hemorrhoids are blown up like basketballs! Anywho, since the speakers at this year’s convocations were liars, I thought I would publish my speech here: “Dear Grads of 2016, I was walking outside the other day, just to get my weekly dose of fresh air, when I saw a rabbit on my lawn. Now, I know what you’re thinking: rabbits don’t just appear on lawns out of nowhere. Normally you’d be correct. Rabbits do like to keep to more bushy areas so they can escape coyotes and stuff. But this rabbit was different. It was not afraid of me and our suburban chaos at all. In fact, this rabbit was dead. I know what you’re thinking: rabbits don’t just crawl up to people’s lawns to breathe their last breath! They usually just get eaten by predators or eat something poisonous. Normally you’d be correct, and in fact you are correct. But this rabbit died a little differently. Its death was not the fault of its own place in the food chain at all. In fact, its death was my fault. It was my pet rabbit, you see. I killed it the day before with my bare hands and I left it on my lawn because I wasn’t sure if you were allowed to put animals in the garbage.

What I’m trying to say, Grads of 2016, is that you did it. You killed the rabbit you were tired of taking care of. You grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, thought going through some adoption process would be too much of a hassle, and gave up the compassionate spark that makes us human so you could get your degrees. The path was long and difficult, but I just want you to know that I and the rest of this university are so incredibly proud of you for doing what had to be done. Congrats, Grads of 2016! You did it!” Whatever your reasons for not going with my speech — whether it be because you thought it was too short, or because I’ve never actually went to nor intend to attend university — I just want you to know, speakers, that I’m very disappointed and that next year I will not be attending convocation unless I get some answers. You have 24 hours to respond or I will write another speech.

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

OPINION S

The fear of getting too old for Facebook Dadada Zuckerberg

Campus cat, campus hero Alex Rake

This is the digital age, where advancement and redesigns reign supreme, and Facebook’s new emojis are sleek and stylish. So why do I hate them so much? Why was I so repulsed by the sight of an unfamiliar smiley face? Why is it that this update is the one that made me break? After all, I’ve been using emoticons since I started using the internet, and they’ve been redesigned dozens of times. I know. They’re too well thought-out. If I’m sending someone a nose emoji, I just want a nose emoji, not seven variants! This is an unnecessary complexity that the trivial nature of Facebook just doesn’t warrant. Plus they look downright absurd! These new emojis are too stylish, too clean cut; they beg to be laughed at, named, used in online news headlines of the future. The new 3D style, with its slight depth shading, just looks idiotic to me. My kingdom for some pixels! It’s entirely possible that the new look isn’t actually the cause of my unease. I’m painfully out of touch with modern internet life. I’m behind on memes, I no longer know what all the acronyms mean, I don’t know how to use Snapchat or Tumblr or Instagram. I am an old man in a young man’s body! This is the end! Or almost! The beginning of a terrifying slide into a mid-life crisis!

There’s a new character at UFV. I had heard about him, but I didn’t believe it until I saw him dash through the plant-filled ditch next to the SUB the other day: a beautiful little cat with no name and no home. He was very clean and very shy and he’s exactly the touch of wildlife that the Abbotsford campus has been lacking. Sure, we got ducks and bunnies already, but they’re seasonal, they’re terrified of us, and they’re pretty useless. And yeah, we got those Canadian geese, but they hate our guts. You can’t casually walk by them on your way to class without them hissing at you, as if they owned the place. Stupid big-shot geese think they’re so tough … Anyway, a campus cat is both aesthetically pleasing, emotionally gratifying, and a practical tool against rats. I mean, if that form of pest control is good enough for a place the size of Disneyland, it’s good enough for UFV. We must defend our collective little buddy from forces that would have him impounded. Let’s adopt him as one of our own. Let’s give him a degree. Gosh, he’s perfect.

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Curtailed commentary on current conditions Illustrations: Danielle Collins

Hearts, not heads!

Life is so short. Not making the right decisions in your life could lead to deep regret and disappointment. Sometimes life does not go the way we plan, and it can’t be helped. Having full control over one’s life is near impossible and it usually hinders you from reaching your potential — fear pulling you back, or ambition propelling you forward. Both can hurt the journey to gain your heart’s desire, one limiting you and too much of the other distracting you from the goal. Everyone has a dream, whether they will admit to it or not. Taking a step in that direction is fulfilling, even if it’s a baby step. As a student, taking every opportunity to write and gain recognition for one’s work is not easy, especially with the fear and insecurity of believing that there are better, more qualified writers out there (and there are). But I keep going, and I encourage all those out there who stifle their dreams, burying them deep within, to keep going, because in the end the reward will be rich knowing that you actively followed your heart — and not your head.

Rachel Tait

Farewell to the best boxer the world’s ever seen

Sadly, the greatest of all time passed away last Friday. Muhammad Ali only lost five times over the course of an 18-year-long professional career — and three of those losses came after he was already struggling with Parkinson’s, the disease he would fight for over 30 years. Ali was the sportsman of the 20th century; he dominated the boxing ring to such an extent that his name has become synonymous with the sport. I most certainly don’t have the physique or athletic ability of Ali, but I idolized the man, his actions, his wit, his prowess in the ring. I used to have a shirt with his face on it, because I found him such an uplifting figure. He was an inspirational, eloquent, and charismatic individual, a political activist. Ali sacrificed three years of a glittering career when he refused to be drafted, rejecting the warmongering policies of the U.S. government. Ali won acclaim and respect for his refusal to never back down. We could all learn something from the People’s Champion.

Glen Ess

The Cascade is looking to fill a number of positions! Let us know if any of these opportunities catch your eye! • Production Assistant: Designing and laying out sections of The Cascade as directed by the Production Manager. • Illustrator: Designing and creating The Cascade’s cover illustrations as well as other illustrations throughout the issue. • Distributor: Delivers the latest issue of The Cascade to a variety of locations throughout the Fraser Valley. The deadline for applications is June 10. To apply, or request further information, please email: glen@ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

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FEATURE

Ceremonies, speeches, and (finally) relief UFV’s latest graduating class share stories of their time here

GLEN ESS THE CASCADE

Every year, we say goodbye to hundreds of our classmates as they move into the real world that exists outside of UFV’s walls. This year’s convocation, which took place on June 2 and 3, was once again held at the Abbotsford Centre and was divided into four interminably long ceremonies. Once again there were minor gaffes that lightened the mood: an award winning student’s speech was lost, numerous mispronunciations, a proposal, and, in the case of former SUS president Ryan Peterson, a partial renaming, as the announcer mistakenly used his middle name, Eugenio. In between and after these ceremonies, several of these graduating students took a moment to talk to The Cascade, separating themselves from the party that had broken out in front of the centre.

Aziz Alfaldel Bachelor of Computer Information Systems, general studies diploma How long have you been at UFV? Should I start? Yeah? HELLO EVERYBODY! [Note: he actually yelled that.] I’ve been here at UFV from 2013 to 2016. Only three years but I took some courses at SFU and Coquitlam College before coming here. Did you enjoy those three years? In my three years here at UFV I had the best time in my life, especially with the UFV Arab club. When we established the club I met a lot of amazing people, staff, faculty. As well as working with International, I was given the opportunity to explore my education here. I not only learned through books, but I learned through practicum, and it was amazing. Do you have any specific memories that stand out? I have so many favourite memories, that’s a hard one. I dunno. Did you have a favourite professor or class? Ooh, almost all of them, I would say. I like Dan Harris, he’s the department head of CIS right now, he made those groups where we can do a security concentration and we can go to a security conference in Vancouver for free, so we always go to those to network with people, have a good time, and get connected to the real world. There’s a lot of good teachers in the program, but he’s just, extra great. Any advice for students coming to UFV, or students who are still here? Yes, don’t give up on your studies, this is the first thing. It’s not easy, but at the same time it’s not hard, you just need to practice, and my advice is have fun while you can and get involved on campus to get the best education.

Sabrina Gibbs Associate of Arts degree How long have you been at UFV? I’ve been at UFV for six years. How does graduation feel? It felt good, it felt great, it was awesome! I don’t know what else to say. Were you nervous crossing the stage? Surprisingly no. I’m usually a person who’s very nervous, like walking across in front of everybody and audiences in general, but I was okay! Did you have a favourite teacher or class? Uh … My photography professor, Grace Tsurumaru. She is the most wonderful woman I have ever met, super helpful, kind, and took so much of her time to help me in my projects, I’ve had no professor that has compared to her. She has such a kind heart. Most memorable UFV experience? Working with Grace for the art gallery, the school gallery, setting up my photo. It was a kind of experience I’d never done before. Any advice for current, or even new, UFV students? Just have fun, explore different types of subjects, don’t rush into something, just have some fun! And don’t worry about graduating right away, take your time, you’ve got all the time in the world

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

FEATURE Megan Helmer Bachelor of Arts in English Literature How long have you been at UFV? Hah, for like, nine years part time! How does it feel having graduated? It’s a relief, it’s been such a long time, yeah, it’s been a slog, but I’m happy. I’m very happy to finally walk across that stage and be done. How did it feel crossing that stage? I was a little bit nervous, but it was good once I got up there, had the photo, had the paper in hand. How do you feel about those nine years? Meeting new students, the memories I’ve made with them, and all the knowledge I’ve gained — it’s been a good atmosphere. I like the small class sizes, and the feel of this university as opposed to the larger universities where you’re just in a lecture hall. There’s a community vibe around here. Did you have a favourite class? Or a favourite professor? I would have to say “The History of the English Language” with Jamie Pelkie. I wish he still taught here. Any advice for current and new students? Just try out a lot of different classes, that way you’re not pigeonholing yourself too early, try and meet people, join a couple of clubs. Keagen Lansle Architecture and Drafting certificate How long have you been at UFV? I was only here for a year, but it was a pretty cool experience. How does it feel having graduated? Yeah, great. It’s pretty cool to be done. Did you have any favourite classes or professors? Not particularly. I just enjoyed the class, the whole class. It was a pretty small class, we only had 18. Any advice for other students? I don’t know, parts of it are challenging but it’s worth it in the end.

Photos: Mitch Huttema

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

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CULTURE & EVENTS Latest addition to Abbotsford bar scene puts entertainment and comfort first SONJA KLOTZ THE CASCADE / PHOTO

Amidst all the new artisan cafes and breweries that have been popping up all over Abbotsford, there is yet another that has joined the hipster trend in the downtown core. Located on Essendene Avenue in what used to be the Agave bar is a new craft beer lounge called The Spotted Owl, which officially opened its doors on March 4. As you walk in, you will most likely be greeted by Richard Murphy, the bar’s general manager, and his team. Murphy, a fan of the legal drama Suits, has the Harvey Spector hair, charm, and adrenaline-driven hobbies, such as off-road mudding. He also enjoys the ballet and possesses the loyalty and customer-care focus of Spector’s frenemy Louis Litt. This combination makes for a welcoming nature that extends to The Spotted Owl as a whole. The lounge, named for an indigenous species of owl found here in the Fraser Valley, includes plans to have 10 taps of craft beers from local breweries alongside the bar’s own “Hoot Lager,” thus cementing The Owl’s relation to the surrounding community. When asked about how this bar’s atmosphere would compare with some of Abbotsford’s latest artisan businesses, such as Field House Brewing, Oldhand, and Cafe Amarti, Murphy had a ready answer. “With us, we’re more of that ‘premium dive bar’ atmosphere, where yeah, it’s a nice looking space, but

we’re not going to try and blow you out of the water with the aesthetics,” he says. “We’re trying to blow you out of the water with our selection and environment.” “That’s why it was kind of a slow start,” Murphy adds, “and that is why they brought me on board, to make the changes in the space to create that comfort and that vibe that the craft beer lounge really requires.” That vibe includes board games, free air hockey, and local art on the walls that changes each month with a new local artist. “Rather than trying to blow you out of the water with ‘Hey, look how nice this place looks’ [instead we’re aiming for] ‘How much fun is this place to go to? How much entertainment can we have as group?’” Murphy says. Murphy’s ideas for entertainment include a weekly Cards Against Humanity night, open mic night, and Tuesday night karaoke. This extends to the type of musical and nightlife entertainment this specific location has previously hosted in past years — The Spotted Owl is proudly welcoming back Harma White, one of the local scene’s heavyweights, to play this Wednesday night, June 8. According to Murphy, prior to the ownership turnover of the space, Harma White had consistently played for over two years at this location every Wednesday night. Perhaps the artisan-hipster scene may not be for you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a lovely pint of the Fraser Valley’s craft beer after a hard day of studying.

Cafe Amarti brings a European tourist twist to Abbotsford’s list of coffee shops SONJA KLOTZ THE CASCADE

Photo: Olivia Scholes

This bright new cafe is located in East Abbotsford on Immel Street where the Gourmet Gallery coffee shop used to be. Cafe Amarti was inspired and built by a sibling duo, Jimmy and Kelly Kang, upon their return to the Fraser Valley from travels abroad in Europe. As I walked into the shop, I was greeted with an open, well-lit, industrial-style space buzzing with people of different age groups and many familiar faces. During the official opening, this new cafe was busy with long lineups, filled tables, and live music by Abbotsford singersongwriter Scott Currie. “Although we were inspired by the European culture, we wanted to stay true to our roots here in Abbotsford and stay as local as possible in our products and service,” the Kangs write in an online post. After a number of visits back and forth between Vancouver and the rest of Fraser Valley, the two of them settled on supporting the Parallel 49 Coffee company that is based out in

Vancouver and local breweries such as Field House Brewing Co. Homemade meals and casual, laid-back customer service brings a personal and unique Bohemian touch to the place. This relaxed and informal attitude, is in stark contrast to their slightly more bourgeois attempt to adhere to a European standard. This is most prevalent in their presentation of foods and drinks, such as their mixed cheese platter, which along with their selection of red and white wines can make you feel as though you are experiencing a little bit of Europe here in your home town. As a European immigrant, I was excited to see a cafe like this on my side of town, one I can easily walk to whenever I feel the need to experience a slightly classier, near Bavarian approach to coffee from back home. Abbotsford’s hipster artisan scene is booming — we no longer need to go to Vancouver to experience a little bit of Europe. Cafe Amarti will appeal to the Bohemian and the bourgeoisie; or to individuals who identify with both, the Bobo.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

CULTURE & EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

Abbotsford Arts Council kicks off Aboriginal Month with art and culture celebration SONJA KLOTZ THE CASCADE

JUNE 9 JUNE 10 JUNE 11

Lion Bear Fox concert

@The Railroad (33121 North Railway Avenue Mission) Doors 8:00 p.m.

Cities and Food conference

@SUB 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Almost Alien EP release show w/ Like Bears, Majesty of Soul, and Behind the Throne

@Vineyard Community Centre (45892 Wellington Ave. Chilliwack) 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

JUNE 11

Industrial Revolution exhibit opening reception @Kariton Art Gallery 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Hip Hop and Waffles

JUNE 11 JUNE 12 JUNE 14

JUNE 17

@Cafe Amarti 11:00 a.m.

Opening June, National Aboriginal Awareness Month, the Abbotsford Arts Council hosted its very first Aboriginal art and culture celebration. “We are here to celebrate and promote the First Nations and Aboriginal community in the region,” said Sophie Suderman, the arts council’s executive director. As guests visited each of the artisans’ vendors, they were also able to see the creative processes through which these vibrant creations are made. Throughout the day there were jiggers and fiddlers from the Valley’s Metis communities, along with storytelling and a closing drum circle that kept the performance stage alive and inviting. As children were getting their faces painted, parents enjoyed inspirational Aboriginal performances while also partaking in some of the delicious Aboriginal treats that were sold at the concession. Jay Havens, the arts council’s artist-inresidence, is originally from Abbotsford, currently living in Haida Gwaii. In addition to being at the event kick-off, Havens’ work was part of a multicultural exhibit that highlights diasporic communities in the Fraser Valley. “We [also] have some Mennonite quilters, we have some First Nations drums,” Suderman says. “The goal is to both raise awareness of the Aboriginal communities within Abbotsford and celebrate the heritage that we have here — the art and culture that they bring to our community.”

Cascade Wind Ensemble

@Trethewey House 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Positivity through Creativity painting workshop @Global Lounge 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

David Gogo

@Eagle Hall (33868 Essendene Ave) Doors at 7:00 p.m.

JUNE 18

Singletree Winery’s one year anniversary party

JUNE 22

ESV host LANslide 24hour gaming marathon

@Singletree Winery (5782 Mt. Lehman Rd.) 12:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

@SUB 5 p.m.

Photos: Abbotsford Arts Council (top), Sonja Klotz (bottom)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

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CULTURE & EVENTS

UFV India celebrates tenth year GLEN ESS THE CASCADE / PHOTO

Ten years ago, UFV opened its most distant campus in the heart of Punjab, northern India. To mark the anniversary, UFV held an award ceremony last Friday to celebrate the “top 10” students to have graduated from the Chandigarh campus. Held shortly after graduating students had finished their final convocation ceremony, the great hall of the SUB began filling with UFV faculty, administrators, and alumni. The scent of food wafted through the building from the Student Life kitchen, the dulcet tones of a live sitar echoed, and men and women in walked in traditional dress. Hosted by the Satwinder Bains, the head of the Centre for Indo-Canadian studies, the event celebrated all of UFV India’s alumni, which numbers over 100 now. Special focus, though, was placed on the institution’s top 10 alumni, all of whom graduated with the bachelors of business administration (BBA). The evening also saw UFV’s president, Dr. Mark Evered unveil a commemorative plaque honouring the Chandigarh campus’ original founders.

Urban planning students spruce up the green

GLEN ESS

THE CASCADE / PHOTOS

Walking across the green is something students do all the time as they hurry to and from classes, but as pretty as the green is — and it is gorgeous during the spring and summer times — it’s never truly operated as a campus hub. Occasionally it does play host to events. Last Thursday, June 2, students from Geography 464, an urban planning course, set up shop just outside Tim Horton’s with the goal of making the green a more vibrant, entertaining place. One of the students involved, Rose Harding, sat down with The Cascade to describe exactly what she and her classmates were aiming to accomplish. “This is a class project, where we’re trying to promote place making. We’re trying to create an environment to show what UFV could become,” Harding said. Lately the green has seen a larger variety of students using it as a space for them to host classroom related projects and entertain their fellow students. Harding and her peers were simply the latest to partake in this trend — one that promises to continue.

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

ARTS IN REVIEW MOVIE REVIEW

X-Men: Apocalypse isn’t the best or worst in its trilogy New actors assuming old roles makes up for weak villains, ending

Shuffle AUDREY MCDONALD

CIVL MUSIC DIRECTOR

JAMES KASPER

FVMA COORDINATOR James and Audrey bid UFV's latest graduates adieu by compiling a list of graduation season hits.

Alice Cooper "School's Out" When asked "What's the greatest three minutes of your life?" legendary rocker Alice Cooper responded with: "There's two times during the year. One is Christmas morning, when you're just getting ready to open the presents. The greed factor is right there. The next one is the last three minutes of the last day of school when you're sitting there and it's like a slow fuse burning. I said, 'If we can catch that three minutes in a song, it's going to be so big.'" The Four Freshman "Graduation Day" Almost always performed as an a capella multiple-harmony by most covering acts, this song was written by Joel and Noel Sherman of The Four Freshman in 1956. It has been covered by many artists, including The Lennon Sisters with Lawrence Welk in '56 and The Beach Boys in '64. Cyndi Lauper "Graduation Day" The writing of this song began with the title, which Lauper had seen in TV Guide magazine in reference to the 1979 science fiction film Time After Time. This song has also been covered by multiple artists, including Miles Davis' instrumental re-imagining in 1985. Lauper herself would recorded a duet of the song with Sarah McLachlan on Lauper's 2005 album The Body Acoustic.

CHARTS 01

Radiohead A moon shaped pool

Basia Bulat Good Advice

Wolfmother "Victorious"

Anvil Anvil is Anvil

Primal Scream Chaosmosis

John Cale M: Fans

Tricky Skilled Mechanics

Garrys Warm Buds

Hot Panda Bad Pop

10 11

Laura Sauvage Extraordinormal Nothing Tired of Tomorrow

Blessed Blessed

Programm A Torride Marriage of Logic and Emotion

You Say Party You Say Party

Rae Spoon Armour

Jordan Klassen Javelin

Short of Able Welcome

Smash Boom Pow Higher Power of Desire

KAT MARUSIAK THE CASCADE

X-Men: Apocalypse is the ninth film to be released in the X-Men series (and the fourth to be directed by Bryan Singer), and takes place a decade after the events of the previous film, X-Men: Days of Future Past. To give a brief overview of the plot, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), a long-dormant demigod and the world’s first known mutant, is accidentally reawakened in 1983 during an excavation. Upon his revival into a world where humans now hold power over mutants, Apocalypse decides the best course of action is to simply destroy humans and remake the world to his liking. Of course, professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), head of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, does not intend to let that happen. With some help from his old flame in the CIA, Moira MacTaggart (Rose Byrne), Xavier puts a strategy into motion to stop Apocalypse in his tracks. Unfortunately, Apocalypse is also after Xavier, having plans for him to play an important role in helping him assume complete control over the other mutants of the world. Apocalypse and his four new lieutenants (he has always kept four fighters at his side, known as the “Four Horsemen”) kidnap Xavier, and the military begins taking mutants from the school for interrogation while a young Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) attempt to organize a rescue and save the world. Overall, I definitely enjoyed the film. The atmosphere is all ‘80s, and it was great getting to see the younger iterations of characters we’ve already seen, and introductions of some who hadn't yet been featured on the big screen. One of my biggest complaints about the movie would have to be Apocalypse’s new Horsemen. With the exception of the insanely powerful Magneto (Michael Fassbender), our forever flip-flopping hero-villain, the other three were kind of pathetic, even after Apocalypse enhances their powers. Storm (Alexandra Shipp) had the excuse of being young and new to the scene and her abilities, but the others? Apocalypse asks for powerful mutants and then, after he basically picks up a kid off the street, he finds Psylocke (Olivia Munn), whose main abilities in the film seem to be

psychic energy projection, wearing a revealing swimsuitstyle costume, and being altogether underwhelming. She then leads him to recruit Angel (Ben Hardy), a drunken birdboy who cage fights. For the most part, I really liked the casting choices for the younger versions of the familiar characters: SmitMcPhee was an adorable and endearing Nightcrawler, and Turner was captivating as always in the role of Jean Grey. Quicksilver (Evan Peters) stole the show again in my opinion, with his cool charm and fast feet: his character’s ability to move at supersonic speeds made for some stunning action scenes, especially one mind-blowing threeminute sequence near the middle of the film. I’ve heard complaints about the large cast and know that this has always been a bit of an issue with the X-Men, given the vast number of characters, not all of whom everyone watching will necessarily be familiar with prior to viewing. I was reminded of this during a scene with Jean when a family member quietly asked me, “Who is that girl again? What is her power exactly?” Though most people are likely to be more familiar with Jean Grey and her abilities prior to viewing, I can understand how things could get a bit confusing for those less versed in comic lore. However, if you’re familiar with even one or two of the previous movies, the complaint becomes less about not knowing or forgetting characters, and more about wanting to see them done justice. It's a shame that some notable characters were given next to no screen time, and felt simply thrown in for the recognition value; the biggest example of this being Jubilee (Lana Condor), who we barely get to see at all. The second half and ending of the film felt very rushed — so much buildup led to a rather lacklustre end. (Again, the Horsemen are an example of this: I was expecting to see a far more epic, drawn-out battle between them and the X-Men, but in the end, they really didn't put up much of a fight.) At one point, while talking about film series, Jean says, “At least we can all agree that the third one is always the worst.” Well, as far as the First Class trilogy is concerned, I’m honestly not sure that I can! Apocalypse is definitely in a tight competition for my second favourite with First Class, both close after Days of Future Past.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

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ARTS IN REVIEW ALBUM REVIEW

Anderson .Paak’s versatility shines through on Malibu GLEN ESS THE CASCADE

Over the last two years, Anderson Paak has been receiving praise for everything — from his well-received sophomore album Venice to his appearance on Dr. Dre’s Compton. However, despite Paak knocking on the door of popular fame, it’s only with his latest album, the soulful Malibu, that he’s grabbed my attention. Paak’s delivery and the overarching stylistic direction of Malibu is reminiscent of Kendrick Lamar’s magnus opus, To Pimp a Butterfly. But Paak is more than just a Lamar-esque figure, and Malibu is more than just a rehash. Where Lamar preaches, telling his listeners exactly what he thinks, Paak is more conversational, and where Lamar discusses societal issues, Paak is more anecdotal, relying instead on his own life and family history as subject matter. Paak reflects, while Kendrick remonstrates. Lamar’s political statements are nowhere to be seen with Paak, whose narratives revolve around his own past. His mother’s gambling problem, the first time he fell in love, trying on Jordans for the first time — no experience is too weighty, or too inconsequential for Paak to reveal. But he doesn’t stop at regaling his listeners with stories of his past, he moves onwards to hammer home

the emotional importance of these memories. Even the most seemingly rote, immaterial of Paak’s stories carries with it something of significance, and Paak revels in sharing that. This similarity with slight differences extends to the album itself. Malibu, like To Pimp a Butterfly, is a jazzy album, full of retro nods. They exist beyond the basic description of genre. In many ways, it could be argued that Malibu is even more expansive than Butterfly. Paak floats across decades with abandon, from the ‘70s-inspired “Put Me Thru,” with its funky guitars, to the ‘90s-R&B-influenced “Without You,” with its airy, carefree beat. Over the course of 16 tracks, Paak examines what made the last 40 years worth of music successful, and then incorporates those successes into Malibu, enriching it. But Malibu doesn’t stop there, it also successfully integrates trap affectations, appealing to the modern scene. It’s this lush range of influences and narrative that make Malibu a rewarding, interesting record. Yet Paak’s laid-back storytelling and personality almost take a back seat to the sound. At times it feels as though Malibu exists beyond Paak, rather than an album that exists to make him a star.

BOOK REVIEW

Weyman Chan’s Human Tissue: just as messy as the real thing MARTIN CASTRO

THE CASCADE

Perhaps more so than any other genre when it comes to written work, poetry is the hardest to pick apart, critique, and take in with a critical eye. Mostly because it’s so unbounded by conventions. There’s a freedom to poetry that contemporary narrative prose, for example, isn’t afforded. Normal sentence structure goes out the window, or at least it can, if the writer wants it to. Certain words are emphasized more heavily than others. The focus isn’t always (or even most of the time) on a broad narrative but rather on a moment, or a concept. At least, that’s how it is in the type of poetry Weyman Chan is writing. We get only what is absolutely necessary, what adds to the image being presented. The end result is economic, vivid, and clear. Or at least it should be. I really wanted to like the poetry in Human Tissue. And some of the poems within the collection did stand out as being clearly-presented introspections of Chan’s into his own upbringing and the formation of his cultural, sexual, and individual identity. These poems, ones which explore in detail the intricacies of Chan’s (or a persona’s) own formative experiences, are there throughout the collection. But more often what Human Tissue offers us is something more akin to free association, which is interesting visually — the images we conjure up while reading are distinct and clear, but they go nowhere, they’re unconnected. And I’m talking about images within one poem, not those ranging throughout the collection. If anything, the poetry within Human Tissue is

oversaturated with images and details which I’m not convinced are warranted. The biggest problem I had while reading the collection was Chan’s penchant for starting out with a vivid image, only to abandon it halfway to completion for another, just as seemingly vivid, but also incomplete, before doing the same again. And then I started reading the collection differently. I read out loud, and focused more on the tonal qualities of the work presented rather than its meaning. Chan throws words at each other and they clash, rebounding and freezing in mid-air, so that when read, Human Tissue seemed to be more of a collage, impulsive and immediate, than it is a meditation, precise and economic. But if the poetry within Human Tissue is only meant to sound interesting, and not to actually present me or any other reader with anything of value, no clear exploration of anything other than the poetry’s own aesthetic, then it seems kind of unnecessary. Other than being vaguely interesting, and at times (again few and far between) refreshingly candid, Human Tissue didn’t leave any lasting impression on me other than sounding interesting, when upon further inspection, it wasn’t interesting, just convoluted. I’m sure some of you might enjoy this more than I did, and I can certainly appreciate what Chan tried to do with Human Tissue, but in my opinion, the content found within this book is just as messy and unfiltered — like how we might consider the tissue found within our bodies. That would be a compliment if I thought Chan had orchestrated the collection to reflect that sentiment, but I don’t think he did.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

ARTS IN REVIEW TV REVIEW

Reign’s third season rules tries to switch up the medieval power-love game TANYA VANPRASEUTH THE CASCADE

Reign, the CW network’s historical fantasy television series, follows Mary, Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane) during the years she spent in France. While seasons one and two focused on Mary becoming queen of France and ruling alongside her husband, King Francis II (Toby Regbo), season three took a different turn in events when Francis died due to illness. Season three focuses on the aftermath of Francis’ death within the French Royal Court. In the wake of Francis’ absence, the show’s writers, led by showrunner Laurie McCarthy, introduced new plots, character developments, and new characters such as the Queen of England, Elizabeth I (Rachel Skarsten). Queen Elizabeth’s addition to the show creates more conflict and suspense, allowing the audience to see Reign’s story being told outside of France. Skarsten portrays Queen Elizabeth’s strong and independent personality well but also does a great job in allowing the audience to see her vulnerabilities. That being said, although it was interesting to see a softer side of Elizabeth this season, I was hoping to see more of Elizabeth as a ruler and how she managed being queen of England during a time when women were considered inferior to men. Even though the female characters in Reign have stood up for themselves countless times, it is easy to see that the men are the

ones who have the final say in any decisions to be made about their daughters and wives. After two seasons of seeing many of the female characters being controlled, used, objectified, and influenced by the male characters, it was refreshing to see Queen Elizabeth rule England as an independent woman away from the control and influence of men. However, her independent nature can not always be seen, as she is constantly invested in her feelings for her lover, Robert Dudley (Charlie Carrick). With Robert in Elizabeth’s life, she is portrayed as a lovesick teenage girl rather than a powerful ruler — by the last episode though, there is the realization that she must always put her country first. Another character who, in my opinion, has alway kept this show alive is Catherine de Medici (Megan Follows), mother of Francis alongside her husband King Henry II (Alan Van Sprang). Catherine has always added excitement, interest, and comic relief through her formidable, manipulative, and conflicted character. This season, Catherine grieves for her son, while also earning the right to be queen regent of France through manipulation and secrecy. Although season three was filled with excitement, grief, and suspense, I am excited to see what the next one brings to the table when Reign’s story will unfold in not only France and England, but hopefully Scotland as well.

GAME REVIEW

Doom, rebooted for a new decade, is relentless, unsubtle space-age violence MARTIN CASTRO

THE CASCADE

The release trailer for Doom promised, at the very least, a campaign that would pit the player against an army of increasingly daunting demons as they made their way out of the depths of hell and into an energy facility and its surroundings on the surface of Mars. It also promised a multiplayer aspect that seemed like a faster-paced version of the arena-shooter standard common to games in the vein of Call of Duty. Having played both the online multiplayer and most of the campaign, my impressions aren’t all that different from critics who panned it for having too much in common with just about every other multiplayer in the first-person shooter genre. You run around, shoot opponents, and try to avoid getting shot yourself. Power-ups are distributed on the map, including some that temporarily transform the player into a demon, giving them a clear edge for a short time. The most impressive part of Doom is its campaign, and how hectic and ridiculously fun it is. Some games rely on the player being stealthy, slowly sneaking around corners and taking out enemies in succession. This is not at all what Doom is. As a matter of fact, Doom actively discourages players from being overly cautious or stealthy. But its genius lies in its simplicity when it comes to how the campaign tackles gameplay. Essentially, the player is locked in a room, which is then filled with demons. Some are fast, some are slow, some are stronger than others. To progress to the next room, the player has to kill every demon in the first

one, as well as complete a goal to prevent more from spawning. Every aspect of this type of gameplay leads the player to push forward. For example, although health pickups are available, more often than not health is regained by killing an enemy. So even when one’s health has dropped, your best strategy is to just kill a demon to regain health. Your best strategy is to push forward. Doom basically approaches gameplay in the same way that Mad Max approaches driving: going forward at 100 miles an hour and only speeding up. Moreover, Doom is generally pretty simple to play: you run and shoot, and if you run out of ammunition, there’s a chainsaw which, depending on how much fuel you have (fuel is plentiful throughout), allows you to saw through just about any normal enemy. Along with their torn flesh they drop ammunition. Which you then use to keep fighting. Because of this, Doom gives the player absolutely no breaks in terms of difficulty. And believe me, the game is ridiculously challenging when played on Nightmare, a difficulty that sees you wade through a maelstrom of fast-moving demons, trying not to fall down or die. And then once you’ve beat the game, there’s Ultra Nightmare, a difficulty wherein if you die once, that’s it. You’re done playing the game, and must start from the beginning once more. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Doom, then, is bloody, brutally fast-paced, and unrelenting. But it’s also ridiculously fun.