The Cascade Vol. 25 Issue 21 by The Cascade

SEPTEMBER 13 TO SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

VOLUME 25 ISSUE 21

Pizzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on The Cascade since 1993

Trolls?

pg.8-9

SUB gold The Student Union Building received a LEED gold certification for its environmentalconscious design.

3 Liz May

12 King Gizzard 14

Federal Greens leader Elizabeth May came and spoke to UFV students.

and the Lizard Wizard. Tezeta, tezeta. Tezeta, tezeta Remember, remember. Tezeta, tezeta WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Editorial //

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca Business Manager Quintin Stamler quintin@ufvcascade.ca

Copy Editor Cat Friesen cat@ufvcascade.ca News Editor Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca

Managing Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca

Junior News Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca

Production Manager Caleb Campbell caleb@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Panku Sharma panku@ufvcascade.ca

Production Assistant Satinder Dhillon satinder@ufvcascade.ca

Feature Editor Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca

Illustrator Amara Gelaude amara@ufvcascade.ca Online Editor Jeff Mijo jeff@ufvcascade.ca

What's the goal?

Culture & Events Editor Jeff Mijo jeff@ufvcascade.ca Arts in Review Editor Martin Castro martin@ufvcascade.ca Varsity Writer Rachelle Strelezki rachelle@ufvcascade.ca

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS Beth Maenpaa Harvin Bhathal Alex Terhart Kayla BWD Rachelle Strelezki

Cover: Caleb Campbell Back Cover: Caleb Campbell

JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/THE.CASCADE Volume 25 · Issue 21 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

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 every second Monday at 12:00 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.

UFV’s athletic department needed to get over 250 people trained on sexual harassment prevention, fast. So they did. On Monday, the whole of athletics sat through UFV’s In This Together: Sexualized Violence Prevention training. There’s no question about whether the training session was done for the right reasons or not — it just kind of sends the wrong message. This is sexual harassment and this is how we’re going to prevent it, by pushing hundreds of people through a short lecture? Many of which, really weren’t interested. The boys at the back didn’t seem to run out of material for cracking jokes. So before continuing, let’s get this straight: there is absolutely a sexual harassment problem and it is without a doubt far too common on, around, and connected to university campuses. Something needs to be done about it. When I was in conversation with someone after the seminar, the word that kept coming up was, “insulting.” Insulting, as in the approach to sexual harassment prevention being to usher a bunch of students and staff enmasse through a lecture. It’s not that the seminar is a bad idea. It’s that this is a pretty serious problem and I’d be

concerned if not all that can be done is being done. So how many cases of sexual harassment has there been here on campus? I encourage you to ask UFV. You’ve got to know what your numbers are before attempting to change them. If we have proof that we did sexual harassment prevention training, but no proof that it’s doing anything to curb sexual harassment, what do you think the ultimate purpose of the plan was? Who are we trying to please? Obviously saying something was done to fix the problem is more important than fixing it. How we address a problem says a lot about what we think of a problem. Do we believe that a short seminar can fix a systemic problem as human as we are? What I learnt at the training session was, in essence, if someone doesn't want to be touched, don't touch them. If someone doesn't want to play, don’t play with them — maybe engage in dialogue to find out why. Lessons we learnt in kindergarten. Makes me think, maybe the problem isn't that people are ignorant, that they are uneducated about playtime and is thus something we can fix with a quick seminar. It's not something we can educate out of our culture — people are crooked and manipulative and will take what they want regardless of what they know. Offer a lecture, sure, great, it can’t

hurt. What else will be done? UFV is positioning itself as a front of the pack adopter of new pedagogies like experiential learning. We know, according to Science Magazine, that undergrad students in stand-and-deliver lectures are 1.5 times more likely to fail than students in active learning classes. Does sexual harassment prevention not deserve more than a short lecture? The Ministry of Advanced Education is the organization pushing this new sexual harassment prevention agenda. Last year the province mandated that all public post-secondary institutions create a sexual misconduct policy by mid-May, 2017. The problem with this is, institutions will do what they will, they’ll do what they know how to do: slowly piece together an official policy on sexual harassment and ask staff to conduct seminars in the meantime. Personal relational investment and mentorship is how we make change. And that’s the high note. I know that UFV has a fantastic athletics program. Each coach is loved dearly by their players, teams are tightly knit and have a great respect for one another. This is fortunate. And this is how harassment of any kind is prevented. Let’s not stop the training seminars, bet let’s certainly not rely on them.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Campus Fundraisers //

Student Union Building achieves gold

NEWS BRIEFS

University tuition increased – StatsCan Data from Statistics Canada shows that average tuition costs for undergraduate programs have increased by 3.1 per cent for the 2017/18 academic year, an increase from approximately $6,375 to $6,571.

The Student Union Building reaches beyond its LEED Gold certification for sustainability by designing geographically relevant, energy-saving features

Constantly rising tuition fees are “perpetuating a cycle of poverty to prevent the most marginalized in our communities from accessing education that should be a right," said the deputy chair of the Canadian Federation of Students, Charlotte Kiddell. The federal government will have to take a more active role in addressing this crisis and working towards universal accessibility. -the CBC

Photo: The Cascade

JESSICA BARCLAY JR NEWS EDITOR

Esports program at Lambton College Lambton College has announced that a new program will be available for students in September 2018. The Esports Entrepreneurship & Administration program will help provide students with the knowledge required to work in the quickly growing industry of competitive gaming. These plans were revealed along with the grand opening of their new on-site Esports arena, which is the first of its kind at a Canadian college. Applications for the new program will be accepted as soon as October 1, 2017. -Lambton College

The newly built Student Union Building (SUB) at UFV received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for sustainability this August. The Student Union Society (SUS) and the University of the Fraser Valley partnered to design this environmentally friendly common space over a nine-year planning period. During the design period for the SUB, the LEED certification was used as a tool for measuring the building’s general sustainability, but not as the end goal. Craig Toews, vice president, campus planning and property development, said that, although the certification is a great achievement, the building has much more to show. “Some of the choices made here, while they don’t credit us for that, have gone well beyond LEED gold,” said Toews. The LEED certification is a pointbased, tiered system that is used as the standard for sustainable construction for all provincial buildings. All new government buildings in B.C. must achieve a gold standard level, the second highest certification on the LEED scale. Gold certification requires a minimum of 60 points. Points are awarded for considering the sustainability of the build site, using environmentally friendly resources, managing rainwater, and for overall energy efficiency. However, these points can be awarded without considering the relevance to the local geography, or the type of building that is being created. “We must step back and ask ourselves, what are we really trying to achieve here

with respect to how the building operates?” asked Craig. The primary goals kept in mind while planning the SUB were to achieve energy efficiency, create a livable space, and extend the longevity of the building. This was achieved for the SUB by several key features. The Thermenex system, a revolutionary technology at the time the SUB was designed, is one of these unique design components. “It allows the transfer of heat from the sun from one side of the building to the other,” described Jorge Candia, projects manager at UFV. This significantly reduces the use of fossil fuels to heat and cool the building. The Thermenex is essentially a ventilation system that redirects heat from one section of the building, where it’s not wanted, to where it’s needed. In addition, the ditch outside of the building is part of a three-part, natural water detention system. This replaced the original plan for an underground concrete water storage system. Retaining water underground is the more common method of dealing with excess water in regions with high precipitation. By being flexible and entrepreneurial with their planning, and choosing not to store the water but to instead allow it to return to the UFV ecosystem, Candia saved the project over $175,000. Much of the water used within the building is heated by a rooftop solar water heater. This reduces the amount of fossil fuels that will be burned in order to get water up to an ideal temperature. “In the summer months, it can get too hot sometimes,” said Blair McFarlane, UFV energy manager.

Candia claimed that the water in the rooftop heater was hot enough during the summer’s heatwave to make tea with. Another feature is the wood paneling that covers over 40 per cent of the main sitting area. The wood is from a local B.C. source, and is considered a very sustainable building material. The architectural designs on the building are also environmentally friendly. The iconic overhang at the front entrance was designed to shade the building, and the large windows on the south side of the building were planned to allow in natural light and warmth during the wintertime. “[The building] should have received more points,” said Candia. Although the LEED Gold certificate has been received, McFarlane assured that this is only the beginning of UFV’s sustainability goals. “The University of the Fraser Valley strives to be a leader in the social, cultural, economic, and the environmentally responsible development in the Fraser Valley,” said McFarlane. “I think this building and this LEED certification speaks to our continued direction.” As of last winter, the SUB was found to be operating 43 per cent more efficiently than all other buildings on campus, which is a 10 per cent increase over the previous winter. The operating efficiency of the building is only expected to improve, as the maintenance team fine-tunes the building’s mechanics. This building is being described as the signature piece in UFV’s sustainability plans, and the flagship for the environmentally friendly direction in UFV’s culture.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Pass Prices //

Pumped up parking pass prices JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Campus parking passes cost $10 more this semester. The increase is in part to cover the massive costs associated with last winter’s snowfall. Cameron Roy, director of ancillary services, said the justification for the increase was based on the rising costs the weather presented for parking lot maintenance, as well as the rising cost of doing business in general. “There’s all kinds of expenses, it was off the charts this year,” said Roy. Had ancillary services not been able to attain some emergency funding from the university, there would have been a large loss this last year, Roy said.

The budget for snow removal is near $100,000. This past year cost over $600,000. Though the pass price increase will address rising costs, it isn’t a direct response to last year’s larger than usual snowfall. “We’re not basing our budgets on this past year’s budget, we couldn’t sustain that pricing,” said Roy. “If we expected the same winter patterns over the next 10 years, we’d have to get serious about significantly raising the price.” Many of the ongoing parking lot expenses include repaving, recurbing, and line painting. Ancillary services is the department that oversees the campus bookstore, food services, housing, and parking.

Do you give a fuck about an Oxford comma? The Cascade is hiring for editor positions!

•Features Editor •Culture & Events Editor •News Editor

For more information or to apply, visit ufvcascade.ca/employment or email kat@ufvcascade.ca.

#JustChill

is put on ancillary services to supplement costs. The bookstore’s, services’, and parking revenue above ancillary fees all go to the university to support the institution in its costs. Another price increase for parking passes is unlikely in the near future, Roy said. “I wouldn’t hesitate to say that in the next five years, certainly for the passes, I couldn’t see anything dramatically changing.”

Stories worth paying attention to #PolarizedMedia

#Bangin’Budget

Police officers may not be ready for marijuana legalization

Former Conservative MP says Canadian Media following American lead

NPD’s first budget addresses campaign promises

Marijuana legalization may come too quickly for police, senior law enforcement officials say. Rick Barnum, deputy commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, stated, “We are asking that the government consider giving us more time.” This time would be used for training and preparation of police officers. An inadequate amount of training could lead to an increased number of poor decisions and bad cases that would ultimately have negative effects on communities. Colorado and Washington both share a strong screening process for individuals that want to work in the medical cannabis industry. With that said, the current organized crime industry has a worth of approximately $7 billion and over 300 organization involved in either illegal marijuana production or distribution.

The Conservative Party of Canada’s Chris Alexander, former MP, said Canada could turn into a “U.S.-style partisan battleground if its politicians and media don’t mend their ways.” In an interview with The Tyee, Alexander acknowledged that the “alt-right” groups had a place in the Conservative party, but predicted that change will come on the coattails of the violence in Virgina last month. Alexander’s recent publicity has promoted questions concerning his opinion on hijabs, and how on multiple occasions he has expressed disapproval. Alexander’s interview also covered topics of media, noting that media must create a shared sense of public service rather than existing to produce clickbait.

The first budget out of the B.C. NDP government raises taxes for corporations and top earners, while using funds to tackle longstanding issues. The budget includes about $52 billion in revenue and expense, and focuses on investing in people to invest in British Columbia. The budget holds up to a number of their campaign promises, but some will need to be further funded down the road. The most recent update showed $322 million for the fentanyl crisis, $681 million for education, $500 million for housing development, and $668 to go toward wildfire management. The two main promises that remain unfunded are the $400 annual credit for renters as well as the maximum childcare cost of $10 per day. Overall, the budget is preliminary and will be developed and refined moving forward.

-The CBC

“It’s still of value for students to buy a parking pass that way, they’re still saving money,” Roy said. The parking lot management company, Impark, does not receive a percentage of the profits that UFV collects through pay parking. Impark is paid a flat management fee, and UFV takes whatever profits are made. These profits are sent back to the university, where the finance department decides how it should be used. As budget subsidies from the government are reduced, a greater dependency

-The Tyee

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Welcome Wishes //

To new students, from a former new student KAYLA BWD CONTRIBUTOR

Entering university can be daunting. Navigating a new environment, while figuring out the workings of the academic world, is bound to be stressful. The parental pressures, and separation from high school friends, can lead to students feeling alone, even amongst their classmates. This is further perpetuated by universities callously treating students as a number, and working to fill as many seats as possible. Like many students, I had some anxiety around starting university. I wasn’t sure if I was going to find a career I wanted, or

even a subject I enjoyed. As a disabled student, I wasn’t sure how I would keep up in classes, or fit in with peers. What I found at UFV quickly erased my fears. UFV is a community-based university. Professors have smaller classes and office hours to help students. There’s a ton of resources on campus from tutoring to counselling, and even academic advising. There’s events at the school in between and after classes where you can meet and hang out with peers. The great thing is, at UFV, everyone on staff wants the students to succeed. Students aren’t a number, they’re the faces of a new generation. This supportive environment brings

peers together, and encourages students to do their best. At a university that gives you the support and tools to do well, all you have to do is put in the effort. While there’s still the stress of exams and ridiculously long papers, there’s also spaces to de-stress and hang out with friends. My first year was a rocky one. Trying to achieve a high GPA, while also dealing with a health crisis, had me so stressed I considered dropping out. However, with the support of my professors, and the disability resource centre, I was able to complete the year successfully. When other staff members heard of my plight, I was overwhelmed with support and kind

wishes. My peers were also encouraging, lending notes and cheering me on. As I was encouraged my first year, I hope to encourage you, new students. You’ve made a big step in your journey by coming to university, and you’ve picked a great one to attend. So don’t be afraid to ask questions, take advantage of resources, and engage in activities. That anxiety won’t last long once you find your groove. Pretty soon you’ll wish you could stay forever. Most likely because you’ll realize the work force is unstable and even more daunting than university. Good Luck!

Success Stress //

Nobody ever taught me how to compartmentalize and to be honest it’s tiresome MARTIN CASTRO ARTS EDITOR

On the cusp of graduating, as I sniff out potential employers and polish up content to assemble into a portfolio, I generally try to look forward. I think there are several things that stand between myself and the general condition that I’d be comfortable calling “success.” Not almighty success, mind you. Not the kind of success that would allow me to kick my feet up and say something along the lines of “I’ve made it.” The kind of success I’m talking about is the kind that we experience when in the middle of things. I have had varying levels of success at UFV, but it always made itself apparent to me in that I could contemplate myself and my personal, social, and academic growth and achievements and think: “Yes, this is good. I’ve made measurable progress. My level of engagement is higher, my ability to cope with stress is higher, my output in terms of long-term goal completion is becoming more consistent.” But always, things slip through my hands. Opportunities, mostly. This is fine. This is to be expected. One can’t do everything always, and with the

highest dedication and success. There is always room for growth. And the area where growth is most severely needed, at least as far as my life is concerned, is that of compartmentalization. This is a hindrance to me on both the micro and macro level. Here’s an example of both. On the micro level, I’m not the best at juggling multiple, long-term goals or projects. Thankfully, I’m alright at working intensely and without sleep or relaxation for entire days until something is finished, say, a paper or presentation. But I’ve had to do this during instances where one paper is finished in the dead of night, only to be replaced by another. More recently, I’ve developed the ability to plan these things out — not just papers, but projects of the kind, academic and otherwise — and am therefore able to work on and deliver them in a timely manner. So I’ve been able to compartmentalize work that needs to be done, and in one way or another check that little box of skill-building off in my mind. The box I haven’t been able to check off is that of compartmentalizing the information I have. And the stress it causes me. Take climate change. Good God am I ever terrified by climate change. Terrified.

And this isn’t some vague fear or discomfort that affects me only as I glance at a climate change awareness poster, dissipating as I walk away. This is me noticing, day in and day out, that summers are getting drier and hotter, and fires are taking out swaths of forests with an efficiency that logging companies, I assume, must envy. Transitional seasons are getting shorter. Fall and spring are shrinking, and I notice this every day, and it is terrifying. Last winter we got an inordinate amount of snow, and nobody was prepared for it. There are, as of September 9, three major hurricanes threatening the Southern United States, and, as of September 8, more than 140 wildfires burning in B.C. This is terrifying to me. Mostly because, at this point, I know all we can do as a species is mitigate damage by abandoning fossil fuel consumption and the manufacture of one-use, petroleum-based plastics, and there’s too many people and, damn it, we simply all produce an unacceptable amount of garbage. I’m 22. Current life expectancy in Canada puts me in the ground at 79. I can’t even begin to fathom what this planet is going to look like by the time I get there, and I can’t really do much about climate change, other than try my best to

reduce my own environmental footprint. And I can’t just ignore what’s happening around me, that’s irresponsible. I might not be able to single-handedly fix the problem, but in the meantime I’ll try to compartmentalize my very real, visceral fear of the fact that even if you don’t think human activity is the root cause of it, our planet is becoming far too inhospitable, far too quickly. Also, I really hope the City of Mission invested in some new ploughs this past year, because I remember feeling this same dread when faced with the ridiculous amount of snow we got last winter (and I’m ready to feel it again), but I might as well have the option to do so while driving to work.

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Research Your Activism Before You Rally I sense people around me feeling a moral obligation to take on more social responsibility, and part of that manifests itself in a desire to take part in activism in the flesh. I can understand a desire to move past armchair activism. I fear people have taken part in activism that has a good headline, instead of researching what they are standing up for. We have a shared obligation to stand up for our beliefs, while having an open mind. Before you take part in some social activism, make sure you know what you are trying to change. We get offended and rally before listening to an opposing viewpoint. Our rallies and counter protests must not be fuelled by social obligation, or offence, but by individual research and reasoning. You can’t know everything, but you should try to know something. If someone is acting without any good understanding behind what they’re jumping on, I encourage you to listen intently, and respond with a curious hunger for the truth in the other perspective. Peaceful and open conversations between those of opposite viewpoints are stepping stones on any road to peaceful, free societies, and steps we should cherish. With any opportunities to join activism and rallies, we have an obligation to listen and learn, especially before you ask me to line up.

Brief bits of bite-sized brevity

A Squirrely Situation I spent some time over the summer working on the UFV campus, during unusual hours and on miserably hot days. Days and hours when no one really wanted to be there, and so no one really was. I was therefore thankful that I was never lonely. In fact, I was kept in constant, attentive company by the apparently fearless population of fat, grey squirrels that prowl the campus. Where did all these new squirrels come from? How did these animals get so fat? And why have they chosen me to glare at? All these questions remained unanswered, as I sat on the bench feeling like the monarch of squirrel land. All I knew for sure was that I definitely left my trail mix around here somewhere…

Jessica Barclay

Alex Terhart

SNAPSHOTS

Snapshot? More like napshot

I Scored 100% On “How Well Can You Complain About Quizzes?” Click Here To Try!

I’m jealous of people who can fall asleep quickly, but more than that, I’m jealous of people who can nap. It seems so idyllic and peaceful, to just lie down and sleep for half an hour or an hour, and wake up feeling refreshed. I’ve tried. Extensively. But at some point in the time since my toddlerdom, I’ve forgotten how to sleep during the day. I guess that gives me more time in the day, and means I never have the temptation to nap instead of achieving all of my hopes and dreams, but what can I say. Sometimes, when I have two hours to kill between classes, it’d be awfully nice to curl up in the back of my car, and sleep the time away. I’ve tried all kinds of tricks to fall asleep, but the best I can do is a vaguely peaceful eye-closedness. It’s okay, but it’s boring as anything. I’m paying big bucks to be at UFV, and I feel like these are the life skills they should be teaching me.

Those quizzes people share on Facebook mildly madden me. You know the ones — “can you identify this song by one lyric,” or “what is this food called,” or whatever. The ones you always see people sharing after they get 100 per cent. I know I should just ignore them, but the reason they annoy me is that I can’t. I almost always have to fall for the website in question’s trap, their clickbait quiz, and go to their site with one question per page for maximum ad views, so that I too can prove that I know some common pop culture trivia, when presented with a two-option multiple choice. Seriously, does anyone not get 100 per cent on these things? I’m sure they’re designed to make people feel good so that they share them. But that’s where I have the force of will to break the cycle. I’ll fall into their trap, but I won’t perpetuate it. Mostly because then everyone would know how many dumb quizzes I do.

Illustrations: Amara Gelaude

Jeff Mijo

Curtailed commentary on current conditions

Jeff Mijo

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Varsity Rowing //

Rowing to Canadian University Championships RACHELLE STRELEZKI VARSITY WRITER

The varsity rowing team has trained throughout the summer in preparation for their competitive racing season. For the month of September, the team races in exhibition races. The exhibition races allow newer rowers to acquire race experience. Being a younger team, exhibition races will help athletes understand the intensity and pressure of racing. Not only are they expected to row with proper form for the full two kilometres, but also be able to change course within a couple strokes by command of the coxswain. The coxswain is an athlete who is preferably lighter, and whose sole purpose is to be in charge of the course while critiquing technique. During competitive sea-

son, athletes train five days on the water, with six dry land sessions per week. Workouts on the water are held at the Bedford Channel in Fort Langley. Dry land sessions consist of three days of weights, while the other workouts are either running, spin, swimming, or on the rowing machine. All of this is in preparation for Western University Championships, which will be held at the University of Victoria this year. The Canadian University Championships, which are held at the University of British Columbia, are also an important regatta for UFV. Instead of having one captain for the men’s and women’s rowing, this year the team is using a team leader system. The team leaders for the men’s team are Stephen Wall and Mitchell Wierks. The women’s team leaders are Genelle Grubb

and Michelle Olive. This month, the team is hosting its annual Learn-to-Row program. Students are welcome to come out and try rowing. Varsity athletes will coach on and off the water at the beginning of the program. Once athletes have developed in the sport, they can choose to try out for a spot on the varsity team. Coach Liz Chisholm said, “Not only is this a great recruiting opportunity for this late entry sport, but it also tests to see who has what it takes to row at the varsity level.” Learn-to-Row athletes will be able to test what they learned in the boat by acquiring race experience. Their races will be at Western University Championships and Head of the Lake in Seattle, Washington. Westerns is essentially a two kilometre

sprint, whereas Head of the Lake is approximately a six kilometre course. These races will be between other novices from Simon Fraser University, as well as a few other universities. This program is offered to any UFV student who is interested in learning about the sport while meeting new people. For those who may want to try rowing competitively or recreationally.

Cascades Soccer scores: Women:

Men:

UFV vs. UVIC 2-2 UBC vs. UFV 3-1

UFV vs. UBCO 2-0 TRU vs. UFV 4-2

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SEPTEMBER 24

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE

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Expo: 1 pm - 5 pm • Free Seminars: 12 noon - 5 pm

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Photo: UFV Flickr

Frog Frog Legs Legs in in the the R R

hen you’re the daughter of a fisheries biologist, long treks down dusty gravel roads into research areas transpire frequently. One particular trip down from Vancouver Island was a long and unforgettable one, where we rolled into an old farming community in the Fraser Valley. I remember watching the dust cloud in our wake as it circled up to the tall fir giants, which gathered on both sides of the road as if to welcome us to this place. I had come down to visit from the north end of the Island, during the early 1980s. My little legs scrambled out of the van when we pulled up to the large farmhouse in Silverdale, hopping with the excitement of having arrived in this place of anticipated adventure. This was Storyland Trails, and it was very much alive then. A remarkable gift offered to families and their children, on the privately owned forested acreage that belonged to the Clark family. Fairytale scenes were planted along trails on the farmhouse property. Imaginations ran wild; children chased chickens, and frogs turned into princes. Fast forward to 2017 and those same tall fir giants stand in line with the road, which is now paved with a bright, yellow line down the long, straight stretch to the dam, and the hidden back roads of Mission, B.C. Storyland Trails is long gone. It closed down after a tragic car accident on the Lougheed Highway in May of 1990, which took the lives of the long-time family residents who created the ingenious idea in 1972. I’ve been told by the family members currently living on the property that there are still some

of the fairy tale cast figurines amongst the overgrown settings and forgotten trails. With no wish to ever encounter that troll from under the bridge again, I’m often alert and careful when I venture out on any trails these days. Walk down Hayward Street in Silverdale today, and it becomes clear why we keep ourselves tight to the shoulder. Fast vehicles whip by. Those tall trees seem to usher them along, as the tailwinds sway their boughs. An unassuming trail off the street, like a secret passageway, reveals an escape from the thoroughfare to Silvermere Lake. Ironically, this man-made lake is home to an impressive ecosystem, and is a precious habitat to many wildlife species. This is where we find Storyland magic again. Still here. Over the last few years, a few trolls and giants have stepped into Silverdale.

senior fisheries biologist for the provincial environment ministry, who vehemently opposed any development slated for this highly sensitive ecological area, namely due to the fact that it supports a large run of salmon. “The scope of this project is considerably out of line with the environmental and ecological values associated with this particular landscape, and the extensive amount of damage it will cause,” Rosenau said. On the bank of Silvermere Lake, I stand up and ready my paddleboard to catch a quick meeting with sticklebacks that dart around the underwater vegetation. There’s a feeling that I aim to trespass in my own backyard. (Who’s that trip-trapping over my bridge?) Traffic rolls by on the causeway across the lake. I can hear the rush of traffic in one ear; the ripple of the lakeside in the other.

”What does it take to recognize and acknowledge that this area already existed as a valuable, developed community?“ Their names are Genstar Development, Madison Development Corporation, WestSea Properties, and Polygon Homes. The District of Mission set the scene, and designated urban growth areas. Silverdale was named as one of them, which has ruffled a few old feathers. In 2008, CBC’s Kathy Tomlinson reported on Marvin Rosenau, a former

Genstar owned the lake (and according to a local source has now recently been replaced by another developer), but in actual fact, owned the land under the lake because the water itself is not owned property. The developer also owns the island that occupies the middle of this precious salmon run and valuable habitat. Dale Clark is a long-time family

resident of Silverdale; his parents had owned and operated Storyland Trails. “Progressive development should be based on individual landowners, not giant corporations out to build communities from their perspective and forcing them onto us,” Clark said. Further to the concerns regarding development, Clark stated: “This is believed to be the most critical habitat with direct connectivity with the Fraser floodplain and upslope habitats which is very rare in the lower Fraser. The lake is a treasure trove of aquatic species and the environmental value here is extreme on all fronts. This site should never be developed for human occupation … Hey, have you heard that screech owl that’s been active lately?” Genstar promised the district a few shiny improvements, and slivers of green space to be maintained, should their proposal for development go through. Along with this, the natural wooded and wetland areas are home to species at risk, like the screech owl and red-legged frog. What does it take to recognize and acknowledge that this area already existed as a valuable, developed community? According to Urban Dictionary, “Trolls are predatory creatures, shysters who are tight fisted money grabbers who will screw you on any deal, while making it out like you are the one coming out ahead.” With regards to the accommodations for corporations, their efforts to develop the highly sensitive Silvermere Island, and expand the surrounding lake area development despite conservation concerns, Dr. Tracy Lyster, chair of

Rearview Rearview Mirror Mirror

Written by: Beth Maenpaa

Citizens Against Urban Sprawl Society and resident of Silverdale, addressed Mission council members. In her 2010 article, “Silvermere Island Mission,” she wrote: “Clearly, the fact that the Silvermere project is even being considered again by local and senior government signifies a breakdown in government accountability, and a reluctance or inability to ensure the public’s interest in the environment.” Most recently, in an article for the Footprint Press, Lyster ignited a call once again for residents to keep a watch on the district planning team and developers, trolling for land use that does not align with conservation. I stood on my paddleboard as it drifted above the busy wetland below, while my eyes scanned the landscape across the lake. Thompson Creek Farm is perched there, off the grid, where Phil the Eggman lives. If there’s a memorable character who can draw attention to the issue of preserving historical, ecological habitat, it’s the Eggman. On any given day, if you drive down the Lougheed Highway leaving Silverdale to enter the downtown core of Mission, you may see a brightly adorned man, small in stature, whose sinewy frog legs pedal madly, his bicycle stacked with egg cartons. He hops out of his Thompson Creek chicken farm on the far side of Silvermere Lake and over the causeway, to deliver eggs to the locally owned produce store on a daily basis. Whenever I am in the throes of hurtling myself and the kids down the highway in our giant jacked-up diesel, I tend to lighten up on the throttle when I see him. The kids sometimes wave.

“There goes the Eggman again you guys, look at him go!” “Mom you always say that,” they look out the window, and watch him anyway. “That man has crazy frog legs.” I chuckle at my own observations, and try to incite conversation. “You know he got hit two times?” My eyebrow goes up in the rearview as I shoot a look at the middle child, who once road his bike across the frozen lake to see if it was frozen enough to skate on.

I went to a party at the very same old farmhouse at Storyland Trails that I had skipped off the Island for so many years ago. Mid conversation with another guest, out of the corner of my eye I saw a man of small stature who hopped out of the basement stairwell, and into the thick of the party. I couldn’t help but notice he was disheveled, like a confused marathon runner lost on a west coast rainforest trail. His skimpy black nylon running shorts

”Trolls are predatory creatures, shysters who are tight fisted money grabbers who will screw you on any deal, while making it out like you are the one coming out ahead.“ “Yeah mom we know.” Eye rolls and sighs from the backseat. Moments like this make me long for that outright freedom I see pedal down the highway. I would hike the morning trail or paddle Silvermere Lake. Instead, I am exhaling the frustration of being cast off as an annoyance. I often forget the golden rule of moms in the car; let them initiate conversation, or you won’t get any. I know he’d been hit two times because I met the Eggman in person by accident a few years ago. I passed by him often, most every morning he did that spin into town while I did mine, his being less crazy (I’m sure of it). I admired his freedom and determination in any weather. Shortly after I had noticed this daily pilgrimage,

and grey wool socks pulled up to his knees were curious. He had an alarmingly long scar that travelled down his sinewy leg. I must have been staring (no doubt) as the woman I had just been conversing with, nodded her head and said in an amused tone, “And there’s Phil.” She just happened to be his wife, and was quite happy to introduce me. I reached out to shake his hand. “It’s so great to meet you Phil, the infamous Eggman!” I said. He laughed at the notion of infamous. “Me and the kids see you all the time, you’re like a celebrity on our way to school in the morning!” “Yeah...well...can’t miss me!” “So you bike every day? What happened to your leg?” (This I blurted

out, not meaning to pry so early in the conversation.) He did a little hop and flashed his leg for me to have a good look at it. “I’ve been tangled up with a couple vehicles on the Lougheed. First time I broke my hip, and second I broke my leg.” “Whoa, and you still do that ride eh? You’re not worried about it happening again?” “It’s all about the footprint. He who has the smallest, wins,” he responded. “So bike or nothing? You pack all those eggs in every day too? All from your farm?” “Yeah! Elaine is the boss. I’m just the delivery boy.” He smirked at his wife. I couldn’t help but be amused. As he chatted with me, he hopped from side to side, with an obvious glint in his eye. It was like he had walked right out of Storyland Trails, an eccentric forest gnome who cried, “Make way for the smallest footprint!” and “Back off trolls!” When the trolls do come out, and the trees start coming down, the promise of preservation of natural habitat must be upheld. Residents of Silverdale will be watching to ensure noses do not start to grow longer. This is a place where there are more stories to tell, from adventure inside the lakeside forested areas, and within the lake itself. We need these spaces, and our children’s children need these places, to live happily ever after.

STUDY BREAK Crossword //

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 ACROSS

Made by Jeff Mijo

DOWN

1. Someone who shows off their intelligence (3 words) 3. Most populous continent 5. The B in FBI 7. Capital of Peru. Also a type of bean 8. The knowledge or skill to do something 10. Warm, knitted overwear 12. Dice shape

1. Skewered meat dish 2. Garfield’s dish of choice 4. Book-writer person 6. Most famous work of James Joyce 8. Location of the first modern Olympic Games 9. Essential scientist fashion 11. Volcanic explosion verb

13. Number-and-grid-based game, popular in newspapers (but way worse than crosswords) 14. Former video game console manufacturer, Nintendo’s rival 15. Large catapult-like siege engine

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS: Across: 1. Mimic 3. Hew 6. Aesop 8. Legumes 9. Probability 11. Zigzags 12. Elope 13. Ego 14. Niger

Down: 1. Millipede 2. Chimpanzee 4. Washington 5. ASCII 7. Polyester 10. Oreo

Illustration by: Amara Gelaude

Horoscope //

Astrological mysteries interpreted by Master Moji

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 Don’t worry, the voices in your head aren’t just your imagination, I can hear them too. They told me about all of your innermost thoughts and deepest secrets. You’re a peculiar person, by the way. Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 Space might be the final frontier, but your fridge has some pretty wild stuff going on too.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 I heard a troubling rumour that you don’t like cheese. If you’re lactose intolerant or something that’s okay, but if not… I don’t know what to say to you. Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 When life gives you lemons, ask life if it could try changing things up sometime, because maybe you just feel like an apple today instead.

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 The secret to your happiness this week lies somewhere on Netflix — the position of Mercury indicates that bingeing shows to try to find it is the best course of action.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 Being stubborn could cause some issues for you this week. Of course, doesn’t being stubborn generally do that? Sorry if that makes this seem like a bit of a cop out.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 I’m sure somebody would have told you if you snored loudly by now.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 Just ignore the people making jokes about pumpkin spice — it will give you power.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 You could potentially find one of the loves of your life at the library this week. Whether that be a person or a book, I cannot say.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 You know what would make for an amazing time? A fun, fresh, self-contained adventure to the Lost City of Atlantis. You might even meet a nice merperson.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 If you’ve ever wanted to join a barbershop quartet, now’s the time.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 Do you know why the mushroom always gets invited to parties? Because he’s such a fungi! You should totally use that one if you get invited to a party this week.

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

Addiction Study //

Digging into illicit drug use in Chilliwack Project needs student participants, says UFV alumnus JEFF MIJO CULTURE & EVENTS EDITOR

The University of Victoria’s Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC) is carrying out a study in multiple cities across B.C., including Chilliwack, on the use of illicit drugs by youth, and police relations with that same group. “The incidence of overdose and overdose mortality due to illicit drugs is at an all-time high here in B.C.,” explained Sarah Ferencz, a research assistant for the Youth Experience Project (YEP)’s Chilliwack site, adding that “youth are overrepresented among the victims of our current overdose epidemic.” In an effort to understand patterns of drug use in Chilliwack, CARBC’s study is seeking volunteers aged 16 to 30 who have both lived in the city for the past six months, and use illicit drugs, including marijuana, at least once a week. Ferencz, who graduated from UFV with a BA in criminal justice last spring, is part of a team that also includes another UFV alumnus, Nikki Dionne as a second research assistant, and UFV professor Dr. Zina Lee, who works as one of the co-investigators for YEP. In that role, Lee oversees the local ethics and operations of the study, and collaborates with the project’s principal investigator, Dr. Scott Macdon-

ald. Alissa Greer, the coordinator for Chilliwack, said: “The information gathered [through YEP] may be useful to create guidelines for how police interact with young people. We hope that the results will give us a better understanding of the substances youth in Chilliwack use relative to other cities, the relationships and interactions between young people and police, what it is about them that elicit positive or negative interactions, and how we might be able to promote more positive relationships between young people and police.” Ferencz highlighted the importance of the study, saying that “from a criminal justice standpoint, we know that trust in our institutions, including trust in police (which is often the first point of contact people have with the justice system), is integral to ensuring safe communities.” She hopes that YEP will show which demographics’ variables may be strengthened to build trust in police. “In this way, I view CARBC’s research as contributing to public safety,” she added. The study is, however, in need of participants, especially from the student demographic. “We are hoping to survey a wide spectrum of drug users, from marijuana to cocaine, to prescription drug misuse,

to opioids... the whole spectrum of illicit drug use,” said Ferencz, who urges those who don’t meet the requirements but know others who might to still get in touch, saying “we would love to chat. We appreciate any help with identifying participants.” She adds that “we are also making a deliberate effort to recruit a diverse experience of youth. This includes university students, street-based youth, youth employed in the service industry, and so on. Other variables for representation include race/ethnicity, age (within the 16 to 30 limit), sexual orientation, type of substance used, and so on.” Given the nature of the study, potential participants may be wary of disclosing information, but Ferencz says that “the researchers do everything in their power to ensure confidentially and anonymity. You do not have to disclose your name or other identifying information, and all communication with the research assistant, such as myself, is held in confidence and destroyed following completion of the research. You can withdraw at any time during the interview, and/or skip any question you do not feel comfortable answering. Your name is not recorded on the survey, but instead we identify you by a random number. Even these files are secured in storage, and are only accessible

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to the research team.” The study is also using a system of “coupons” to find participants while also aiding research. “I think our methodology is really fascinating,” said Ferencz. “We are using respondent-driven sampling. So, we provide every participant with five coupons, with a corresponding code that connects each coupon to them. These coupons are distributed to five friends or acquaintances the participant knows who qualifies for the study. As the coupons return, networks of participants are formed, which contributes to a more nuanced analysis of our data.” The coupon system also ties into the financial incentive offered to participants. “For the initial interview, you will be provided a $25 cash honorarium on the spot. For every one of your coupons that is returned for an interview, we will give you an additional $5 (up to $25). There is also the potential of a follow-up qualitative interview for $30. In total, that’s up to $80.” Anyone interested in taking part in the project can contact the researchers, either as a potential participant or with questions, at (604) 799-5652, via email at Yep. Chilliwack@gmail.com, or on the Facebook page YEP Chilliwack.

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CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

Federal Greens //

Green pastures ahead Elizabeth May speaks on the future of the Green party JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Elizabeth May was invited to speak in the Student Union Building by the Young Greens club. She spoke about the history of environmental protection, the current Canadian political landscape, and the need for electoral reform. Her deep knowledge of environmental and political issues engaged a diverse crowd of students, university faculty, and local residents. May is an absolutely charming woman. She speaks casually, honestly. What do you think the insurgence of Green votes in B.C. means for the federal Green party? Nothing but good news. We’re polling really well now right now across the country. It’s two years out from the next federal election, and we’re already starting to hear from people who want to run for the Green party because they now know that running Green can actually get you elected. That is the kind of message we need people to know. It is of course an important way to send a signal, but it’s more than that; there are ridings where we will win seats. And what about the Site C dam and the Trans Mountain Pipeline? Well, I wish that the NDP had been open to stopping construction on the Site C dam while it went through. But I do know from my friends in the B.C. Green caucus that in that negotiation, the best they could get was the commit to send it to the public utilities commision. We have to hope that there is an opportunity for British Columbians to submit comments to that commision.

And I think it’s critical that we stop Site C, but it will depend on what the B.C. public utilities commision says about Site C. After Kinder Morgan, the commitment is very clear. I was an intervener in the Kinder Morgan hearings and they were appalling. I was the only MP actually, to participate in the final arguments and fight Kinder Morgan. So was Andrew Weaver the only MLA. So if you’re looking for elected people who participated to fight Kinder Morgan, we’re both Greens, federally and provincially. And Adam Olsen actually participated as well, but on his own as a Tsartlip person, and brought forward the Douglas Treaty issues. Anyway, I think it’s really one of the bigger wins out of the May 9 election, is the B.C. government now intervening in the court cases on the side of the people and governments that want to stop Site C and stop Kinder Morgan, as well as having retained the services of Thomas Berger. He’s of course one of Canada’s most respected jurists, he was the commissioner of the Mackenzie gas pipeline here back in the 1970s. He’s hugely respected, and he is now the external council for the government of B.C. in order to fight Kinder Morgan. So I’m very encouraged. There’s some good progress being made on that front. Yes, well the court cases from the City of Vancouver and City of Burnaby are so strong, the Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, and Squamish First Nation cases are on top of that. And they’re raising different legal points as well as the court cases from environmental groups, arguing that the Species at Risk Act will be violated because this other resident killer

whale population will be exterminated. You went to law school, you’ve done very well since then, now so many students look at their degree and are wondering, “What am I going to do?” Well you know, I never did a conventional career, my family moved to Cape Breton Island and we opened a restaurant and gift shop. So I don’t have an undergrad degree, I waitressed and cooked through my 20s. I got into law school as a mature student without an undergrad degree. I’ve been enormously lucky that from there I was able to find work in law. And then I basically haven’t practiced law for many, many years because my environmental work lead me away from law and towards running an environmental group. What do you say to students then? I think it’s still safe advice to tell young people: Charge out in the world, and take your space. Demand your space. Find ways to not make a living become more important than having a life. And even in the precarious employment opportunities that exist for students today, I think between NGOs, and self-employment, and finding jobs in places where people are looking for smart people, that the future is still good for people who are committed to an issue. If you’re committed to making a big income, I think your life is less interesting, and you may be more disappointed. But if you want to have an important and meaningful life, nothing stops you. It’s the paycheque. And of course, student loans will be limiting, so that’s why we really want to address the crisis in educational costs for students, it really needs to be dealt with.

Pizza Party //

We gave out free pizza and people liked it JEFF MIJO CULTURE & EVENTS EDITOR

On Tuesday, September 12, The Cascade put on a welcome (or welcome back) party for UFV. From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., we handed out free pizza and drinks to hundreds of hungry students, faculty, and staff on the Green of UFV’s Abbotsford campus. The event, which was sponsored by Milani Norman, and had organic pizza from Emilio Finatti Sicilian Pizzeria, drew large crowds with whimsical chalk on the sidewalks, and music and DJing from CIVL’s Aaron Levy. The pizza was delicious, the smiles were joyous, and whoever that guy who beatboxed was, stop by The Cascade office for a round of high-fives.

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Album Review //

CHARTS 1

ALVVAYS Antisocialites

WOOLWORM Deserve To Die

WHITEHORSE Panther In The Dollhouse

BIG THIEF Capacity

RESPECTFULCHILD Searching

DO MAKE SAY THINK Stubborn Persistent Illusions

FAITH HEALER Try ;-)

BLESSED EP 2

PERCY FAIRWEATHER Reign of Blues

SHUFFLE

French Vanilla’s debut is weird but worth it.

AARON LEVY SASSY SOUS-CHEF

In honour of the Cascade Student Journalism Society’s wildly successful Tuesday afternoon Pizza Fest on the green, CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy pays tribute to, what else, but pizza, in this week’s shuffle! Das Racist — Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell I recently drove to Aldergrove, all the way down the Fraser, on a Saturday afternoon, with one sole purpose: to visit the combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (except it was a KFC, details) so that I could have some Taco Bell, cause I can’t in Abbotsford. Das Racist rules. Dean Martin — That’s Amore This is one of the classic songs that you may not even know who it’s sung by, where it’s from, or if it’s literally an actual SONG, and not some sort of jingle produced and written for Western Union or Money Mart or something. But it’s an old school banger!

TOPS Sugar at the Gate

WHITE POPPY The Pink Haze Of Love

WEED Born Wrong Love

KRISTIN WITKO Union

JOHN MAUS The Combine

CHAD VANGAALEN Light Information

RZ RHYMEZTEIN Mary Jane

TOUGH AGE Single (Shame)

The Olsen Twins — Gimme Pizza

DEERHOOF Mountain Moves

CHIHEI HATAKEYAMA Mirage

ARIEL PINK Dedicated to Bobby Jameson

During the aforementioned ‘research’, it was impossible to ignore the prevalence of the all knowing Olsen Twins’ timeless classic, Gimme Pizza, wherein the girls and their friends order a plain, large pizza, with definitely nothing on it, so they can sing a song about the toppings they like on it.

Chance the Rapper — Cocoa Butter Kisses In ‘researching’ content for this shuffle, I was pleasantly surprised to find that one of the hip hop lyricists whose work tends to grace my ear drums more often than certain others, Chance, has a pizza reference in one of his most popular recordings. I thought it was about meth.

MARTIN CASTRO ARTS EDITOR

Over the summer, I drove to Portland with a friend to see a band I’d only heard of in passing. Going into the concert, I was ignorant of almost everything. I’d only listened to the headlining band once or twice, and I had no clue who the opening act were. When their guitarist carried a saxophone with him onto the stage, I felt a pang of fear, because saxophones are rarely used well in contemporary music that isn’t overly fringe or experimental in the sense that it emphasizes the relative shock value of featuring an instrument like the saxophone over actually incorporating the instrument in a thoughtful or effective manner. Boy did they prove me wrong. French Vanilla starts off with “Honesty,” a track that is representative of the off-kilter quality the rest of the record embraces. For example, the bass and guitar sort of trade roles on this track. The bass riff is more varied and in-your-face than the guitar, which is less distinct from the rhythm section. The vocals, which would be more aptly described as being howled rather than sung, are immediately jarring. They seem to be art-house in the sense that certain refrains follow melodic paths, but others seem to climb up into the air without direction, grounded by the comparatively consistent instrumental components of the track. This is mostly the case throughout the record, and it’s noteworthy that French Vanilla pulls nine songs out of their hat without losing steam. Some are better than others, but for the most part there’s a continuity of sound on the record that can be attributed to the fact that, even though their set-up is unconventional, the band sticks to it throughout. “Evolution (of a Friendship)” is a great example of this. The guitar is replaced by a saxophone, which

seems tame and complementary at first, but as the track progresses, it starts to compete with both the vocals and bass for centre stage. The magic here is in the fact that no one element ever really overtakes the others on the track. Sure, the chorus is squawky from the end of the sax and the vocals, but they both dance around each other, weaving two distinct melodies, which somehow complement each other without ever becoming similar. There are tracks on the record that are more cacophonous than others. The most cacophonous of which is probably “Anti-Aging Global Warming” which, were it not for the bass somehow managing to cut through the screeching guitar and belligerent vocals, depicting a post-apocalyptic scene, would fall apart well before its three-minute runtime. And, once we clue in to the lyrics (“pretty soon: sitting at a big round table. Having a laugh, eating your own pet animals”), the track’s absurdity shines through its business. There’s a playfulness in French Vanilla which manages to come through, but it’s often a little dark. Like part of the first chorus on “Carrie” which, with a cheerful melody, exclaims: “Carrie got her period in the shower! Carrie got her period and everyone laughed at her!” And, despite the fact that the track essentially retells Stephen King’s “Carrie,” it’s the one track I would peg as a radio-ready single, if I thought any of the music on French Vanilla’s debut might have any chance of landing on the air. For what it’s worth, that’s a dig at the current state of non-independent radio, not at French Vanilla. French Vanilla’s debut is weird, and full of wavering vocals and rad saxophone and bass tradeoffs and, by golly, you should listen to it.

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Album Review //

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard illustrates images of the place where they record music I.e. Sketches of Brunswick East

Photo: Facebook

JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Three down, two to go. This is King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s third album this year. Yes, and it doesn’t lose one bit of traction. Though it diverges from their signature driving drumline garage psychrock, King Giz’s most recent album is also their coolest. In the sense that it’s smooth. The album was created with Alex Brettin, sole member of Mild High Club. Supposedly, he and King Giz frontman Stu Mackenzie collaborated for most of the album, sending each other iPhone voice memos of recordings, which they called sketches, hence, Sketches of Brunswick East. Brunswick East is the Melbourne suburb where the band has their studio space. The album’s title may also be a reference to Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain, or something. But enough of that. Jazzy and eclectic, that’s what Sketches of Brunswick East is — in or out of context. With the incorporation of jazz-lounge textures, and Zimbabwean vibes via the help of a flute and marimba respectively, King Giz has made yet another moonlanding-sized leap in style. If albums were a fruit and bands a tree, King Gizzard and

the Lizard Wizard would be the only fruit bearing tree you’d need. Unless you only like pears — you’d be out of luck. I really wasn’t concerned about the band’s lofty five-album ambitions. At least, not until their last album. Murder of the Universe wasn’t great, easily their worst album (their worst, yet still a work of fine musicianship). It was simply more experimental (psych rock narrated by a vomiting sci-fi future robot’s gibberish, for context) than expected. So what? King Giz pushed their boundaries, since then they’ve nestled into a delightful soundorgy, and called it Sketches of Brunswick East. Looks like the psychedelic juices aren’t boiling over yet. This is King Giz’s most approachable album. Though it still boasts experimental excellence, the chill that Brettin undoubtedly infused into the King Giz extravagance wears comfortably against the old eardrums. Not to say that any other King Giz album doesn’t, but obviously their energy and psych-style sits reasonably far away from cocktail party music. Bands who attempt new voyages into musical rebranding knowingly embark into stormy seas. King Giz avoided that potential deraling by releasing Sketches of Brunswick East.

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Album Review //

Movie Review //

Traverse into the Fear takes many mind of a troubled forms in IT and torn teenager in XXXTentacion’s 17 KAT MARUSIAK MANAGING EDITOR

HARVIN BHATHAL CONTRIBUTOR

Nothing about Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, who performs as XXXTentacion, is conventional. Who he is as a person, his persona, and his music can be argued are all one and the same. His unconventionalism is what thrust his assent into his cult following and what is unappealing to the mainstream music industry. 17, Onfroy’s debut album, gives listeners an insight into the mind of a teenager plagued with mental health problems. As an artist, the 19-year old is as versatile as they come. When the name XXXTentacion is thrown around, what’s brought up are his actions inside and outside his music career, his use of crass lyrics, and songs that are produced differently (or awfully to some) to tell you it’s real and not another product of manufactured mainstream music. 17 is hardly a rap album; Onfroy showcases his until now underused singing abilities that blend R&B with distinct emo-punk undertones. “The Explanation” is a precursor to the album. In his own words: “By listening to this album, you are literally, and I cannot stress this enough, literally entering my mind,” and even goes as far to say “and if you are not willing to accept my emotion, and hear my words fully, do not listen.” If it wasn’t clear already, he says “I do not value your money / I value your acceptance and loyalty / Here is my pain and thoughts put into words.” With this monologue, Onfroy sets the tone for the rest of the album. As far as execution goes, Onfroy doesn’t deliver consistently on the album. Onfroy tries too hard to come across as an edgy teen, so much so that it’s unappealing to the listener. However, on “Jocelyn Flores” and “Revenge,” his execution is no issue. From the perfectly balanced production, to lyrics that grab

you by the heart, they are the centerpieces of the album. Though 17 is an R&B album, there’s rapping on songs such as “Everybody Dies In Their Nightmare” and “Jocelyn Flores.” Onfroy does an excellent job of maintaining the low-key vibe of the album, despite the change in genre. Furthermore, “Depression and Obsession” is a breezy listen, but doesn’t offer much lyrically, and comes across as too edgy. Where the emo-punk undertones in Onfroy’s voice are showcased the most are on “Save Me,” “Ayala Outro,” and “Revenge.” Especially in the former, where the song’s production parallels that of Mud Flow’s “The Sense Of Me” or “I Wanna Be Adored” by The Stone Roses, in terms of the buildup before lyrics are introduced, and the flow of the song. His versatility shines through noticeably. Of the 11 songs on the album, “F*ck Love” is the most marketable, with its bass-infused production, and the voice of Trippie Redd fitting the mould of the current state of hip-hop and R&B. On the other hand, “Orlando” and “Carry On” are the opposite. The power of 17 is that it’s a Groundhog Day in the form of an album; each listen comes across as if it’s the first. Onfroy’s thoughts, in combination with his voice, are shockingly elegant, and even though it’s rather unpolished, it’s raw, and that’s who he is. The 19-year old is not a saint, but he is not a false idol either. 17 is XXXTentacion, stripped and naked with visceral emotion – emotion that maintains his cult-leader authority over his following. His music and he himself aren’t for everyone’s tastes, but with an open mind, the album is worth a listen.

Directed by Andy Muschietti, 2017’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 novel IT takes place in the fictional town of Derry, Maine: a place that’s somehow sinister, seems a little off, and where bad things tend to happen — notably to children — much more frequently than usual. Not only that, but every 27 years, things get far, far worse. Large numbers of kids and sometimes adults are killed or go missing under unusual circumstances, and within a relatively short time span. Almost as if something that lurks in the area is coming out of hiding every so often, and whatever “It” is, it’s full of nightmare fuel, and looking to feed. Well, it’s been 27 years since the previous adaptation of the book, a two-part TV miniseries, was released in 1990, and now It is back to terrorize Derry and moviegoers alike. The main characters of this tale, aside from the infamous and terrifying Pennywise, are seven middle school kids, all of who are bullied to one degree or another for various reasons and made to feel like outsiders. Coming together, they form a strong bond through their shared struggles, calling themselves the “Losers’ Club”: shy Ben Hanscom, the “new kid” who gets picked on for being overweight; “Trashmouth” Richie Tozier (played by Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things), who wears Coke-bottle glasses, and is constantly saying things that get him into trouble; the seemingly fragile Eddie Kaspbrak, never far from his asthma inhaler and overbearing mother; pragmatic Stan, often targeted for being quiet and Jewish; home-schooled Mike Hanlon, who also faces racial discrimination as an African American in a predominantly Caucasian town; Bev Marsh, the only girl in the group, who has an abusive father and is often the subject of cruel, false rumours; and stuttering Bill Denbrough, the unofficial leader of the group, and whose younger brother Georgie mysteriously disappeared one night while out playing in the rain. Though the film does a decent job trying to stay true to the source material, there have definitely been some changes made — some, I think, for the better. One of the most notable changes, and the cause for many others, is that the story is now set in the ‘80s as opposed to the ‘50s, and taking place in the more recent era definitely shifts the dynamic somewhat. And even though not all of the content from the book can or even necessarily should be included in a film adaptation, there are still some great nods to both it and even the miniseries throughout, such as Bill dropping a Lego turtle in one scene, a reference to a character found in the novel named Mataurin, and one very creepy uttering of the phrase, “Beep, beep, Richie!” which

was often used by the other kids as a way to tell Richie to shut up. A clown can also be seen in one scene that looks identical to Tim Curry’s Pennywise. As much as Curry’s Pennywise will always be iconic, admittedly, Bill Skarsgård’s is even more accurate to the novel’s vision of a cosmic, evil being with a very other-worldly feel. The new iteration takes full advantage of current CGI technology, and the even more incredible effects work well with the clever acting, amplifying the visual horror along with the psychological. The titular It is not actually a clown, but a shapeshifting entity that tries to manifest our deepest fears. How frightening you find his most common form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown will depend on your personal feelings towards clowns — I admittedly did not find him to be overly scary in those scenes, but felt they were still effectively done. The different manifestations of the children’s fears were fantastic; among them, one original change made for the film was particularly unsettling, and very reminiscent of (possibly even an intentional homage to) another of Mushcietti’s films, 2013’s Mama. This film’s pacing seems a little fast at times, quickly bouncing from one event to the next, and not as much time is devoted to character development as I would have liked. However, this is understandable given the amount of content that is covered, despite the film focusing on only the first chronological half of the story. But a reasonable attempt is made to at least touch on the back stories of everyone in the Losers’ Club, which, combined with the chemistry between and fantastic acting by the main cast, makes it easy to become invested in the characters and their plights. The movie is as much a drama/thriller as a horror, and the web of relationships among the members of the Loser’s Club is always at its core. Despite some parts feeling a tad rushed, the film still does a sufficient job of building tension, and provides some decent scares. The atmosphere and ambiance are well set, and complimented by the amazing, spooky soundtrack. It does run a bit long at two hours and 15 minutes, but I personally didn’t find myself getting impatient or bored, and was glad the filmmakers chose to include the amount of content that they did. As a huge fan of King’s work, and its adaptations in the media, I found the remake to be a lot of fun, and would recommend it to both people previously familiar with the story, as well as those who are just looking for a half-decent horror flick.

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