NOVEMBER 28 TO DECEMBER 5, 2018
VOLUME 26 ISSUE 31
Finally done since 1993
protest on campus
social workers association protesting unpaid practicum
pg.3
Canada's emissions
greenhouse gas goin’ outta control
pg. 6
JESSE klassen
q&a with a UFV visual arts graduate
pg. 14
WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA
VOL. 26 // ISSUE 31
Production Assistant Renée Campbell renee@ufvcascade.ca
Features Editor Cat Friesen (Interim) jen@ufvcascade.ca
Production Assistant Elyssa English elyssa@ufvcascade.ca
Culture & Events Editor Cassie de Jong cassie@ufvcascade.ca
Copy Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca
Arts in Review Editor Martin Castro martin@ufvcascade.ca
Multimedia Editor Mikaela Collins mikaela@ufvcascade.ca
News Writer Edina Balint edina@ufvcascade.ca
Online Editor Jeff Mijo-Burch jeff@ufvcascade.ca
Social Media Writer Laurel Logan laurel@ufvcascade.ca
Social Media Coordinator Anjuman Grewal anjuman@ufvcascade.ca Illustrator Kayt Hine Illustrator Simer Haer Illustrator Cory Jensen
Sports Writer Alexander Jesus
Staff Writer Carissa Wiens
THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS Scott McQuarrie Danaye Reinhardt Chandy Dancey Aleister Gwynne Mehaknoor Kaur
Cover Artwork: Kayt Hine Back Cover: Renée Campbell
WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA
@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 26 · Issue 31 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 1,000 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 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 200 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.
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Staff Writer Emmaline Spencer Staff Writer Nadia Tudhope
OPINION
Opinion Editor Jeff Mijo-Burch jeff@ufvcascade.ca
Christmas Activities
7 10-12
ARTS
Production Manager Caleb Campbell caleb@ufvcascade.ca
NEWS
News Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca
CONTENTS
FEATURE
Business Manager Quintin Stamler quintin@ufvcascade.ca
Managing Editor Cat Friesen cat@ufvcascade.ca
CULTURE
Editor-in-Chief Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca
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Snapshots.......8
16.......Study Break
Events Calendar.......13
18.......CIVL Shuffle
NEWS "Work is work".......3
4.......Sexual violence prevention
New school of science.......4 OPINION Student stress.......5 Canada's high greenhouse emissions.......6
5.......First semester reactions 6.......A bus trip
Editorial.......7 CULTURE Visual Arts graduate Q&A......14 UFV India annual awards night.......15
14.......UFV Chilliwack tech show 15.......Cascade Kitchen
SPORTS Women's basketball.......17
17.......Men's basketball ARTS
Black Velvet.......18
19.......Soundbites
news@ufvcascade.ca Jessica Barclay — News Editor
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
NEWS
Student Walkout //
'Work is work'
UFV students walkout in protest of unpaid practicums
NEWS BRIEFS NASA probe touches down on Mars NASA's Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander successfully touched down on the surface of Mars Nov. 26. The landing marks the eighth time humanity has successfully landed on the planet. The probe will begin its two-yearlong mission near the equator of the planet, studying its interior to learn how Mars was formed. “Landing was thrilling, but I'm looking forward to the drilling,” InSight principal investigator Bruce Banerdt of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) said. “When the first images come down, our engineering and science teams will hit the ground running, beginning to plan where to deploy our science instruments.” -NASA
B.C. approves project for on-reserve housing The B.C. government has approved the June request to provide over 1,100 units of housing for Indigenous people in 30 projects across B.C. The project will be divided between on-reserve and off-reserve housing, with 367 of the units on-reserve and 776 units off-reserve. The project approval is part of B.C.’s 10-year plan to provide $550 million to build and maintain 1,750 units of housing through the new Indigenous Housing Fund. “The province has supported off-reserve housing for Indigenous people in the past, but on-reserve housing has been a federal responsibility since 1867 and has been chronically underfunded,” reported the Tyee. -The Tyee
Social Work Association staging a walkout on Abbotsford campus. November 20, 2018 (The Cascade)
JESSICA BARCLAY NEWS EDITOR
UFV social work students joined Québec students in solidarity Nov. 20, walking out of their classes in protest against unpaid practicums. Thirty students waved signs and marched through the Abbotsford campus, into the SUB and library, and past their social work classes. Becky Edwards, president of the UFV student social work association, said the main purpose of the protest was awareness. Students in programs such as nursing, social work, and education are required to participate in unpaid, for-credit practicums as part of their degree or certificate that can total up to a year of work. “This has been an ongoing issue for a long time and it’s important to bring it to light. That’s usually what propels change, when people know about things in the first place,” Edwards said. “We want to be paid and acknowledged for the
work that we do. A guy going into a trade would be paid for an apprenticeship and we deserve the same acknowledgement.” The UFV students were a small part of the overall protest. Over 50,000 students in Québec left their unpaid practicum placements for a week and took to the streets in protest. The demonstrations were mainly centralized in Montréal, and included students at Université du
exempt from employment standards across Canada, including B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and Québec. As it is not considered work, agencies have no legal obligation to pay practicum students. Agreements between schools and the agencies dictate employments standards, such as the length of break students are entitled to and general working conditions. Edwards claimed that
“We want to be paid and acknowledged for the work that we do.” Québec à Montréal, McGill University, and Université de Montréal. Practicum placements that are part of postsecondary education are excluded from both B.C.’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) and Québec's An Act Respecting Labour Standards (ALS). The work done by students is considered an extension of their in-class learning and therefore training instead of “work,” and is
many agencies bringing on unpaid practicum students rely on these students to run. “They're relying solely on this free labour to make their agencies work,” Edwards said. At UFV, social work students are required to participate in two semesters of practicum placements as part of their degree: one three days per week for six credits and the other four days per week for nine credits.
Students work for seven hours per day in addition to the other courses and seminars required during the semesters. Edwards said practicums in the social work program total over 400 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, students need to pay for the credits associated with the placement, around $1,400. “The feminized professions — so social work, nursing, and education — are all expected to perform practicums totalling a full year of work for free,” Edwards said. “This is a problem because it is a femaledominated field … so we’re already coming in marginalized and poor, being students.” The UFV social work students will be following up the protest with a letter-writing campaign to their local MLAs and MPs. The group will also be presenting at the Canadian Association of Social Work Education conference in May to ensure student voices are heard.
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NEWS
VOL. 26 // ISSUE 31
UFV programming //
Prevention 101
Sexualized violence prevention workshops
NADIA TUDHOPE STAFF WRITER
To support the Prevention, Education, and Response to Sexualized Violence policy introduced in May 2017, UFV created three 90-minute sexualized violence prevention workshops: Consent 101, Citizenship 101, and Support 101. The workshops last took place in mid-October with an average of three students attending each session, and will be returning in early January. Each workshop is offered as a dropin info session run by trained student peer educators, but they are also run in classrooms — in departments like nursing, health sciences, and criminology. “They’re called 101 for a reason,” Belinda Karsen, coordinator of student transition and engagement, said. “They’re sort of like, let’s begin a conversation about these topics.” The conversation-style of these workshops, particularly in the drop-
in sessions, is essential according to Karsen. The workshops are designed to be interactive, rather than feel like a lecture, and be accessible to students at all levels of knowledge about sexual violence prevention. As well, the workshops are led by peer educators to foster an informal environment students can feel comfortable in. “[Students] feel comfortable voicing an opinion that might be perceived as controversial or problematic and we can use that to say ‘Okay, let’s talk about this, what are some of the assumptions behind this comment, and where are these coming from,’ and to help students progress in their understanding without publicly shaming anyone, making them feel dumb, or shutting them down in any way,” Karsen said. Consent 101, rather than lecture at students about a legal definition of consent, relies on the discussion-style of the workshop. “We talk about where our ideas about consent and sex and gender
come from, so we talk a lot about pop culture and social conditioning, and start to critique some of the myths about gender, sex, consent, and romance,” Karsen said. “We need to understand where this baggage that we’re all lugging around with us is coming from in order to begin to critique our own understandings of consent.” The Citizenship 101 workshop is based on promoting strategies for intervening in situations that may result in sexual assault. This workshop centres around a video Student Life created that showcases a narrative wherein bystanders notice a situation that may be sexual assault but do not intervene. Citizenship 101 uses this video to discuss the bystander effect: a phenomenon where a person is less likely to intervene in an emergency situation when other people are present. In Support 101, students are taught how to “sensitively and appropriately” support a victim of sexual assault. This workshop involves the acronym CLEAR: confidentiality, listening, empathy, acting, and referring. The goal of this workshop is to give students tools and resources
for supporting someone who has experienced trauma — namely, sexualized violence. According to Karsen, the workshops are meant to be taken in order, but can be stand-alone if students are only interested in one of the topics. As well, the in-class workshops can be adapted for particular departments. “We try to stick to the standard workshop, but we are willing to adapt it a little bit so that it can fit within the learning outcomes or the topics for that class,” Karsen said. “For example, in nursing, we just did one that really was focused on consent, but two of our peer educators are nursing students so they revised that one a little bit to make it very relevant for nursing students.” As the theatre department has expressed an interest in the sexual violence prevention workshops, an adapted version of Consent 101 for acting classes will be implemented in January when the workshops return. The drop-in classes are staggered at different times and days of the week so that all students have an opportunity to attend. The schedule will be posted in the UFV events calendar.
UFV courses //
UFV approves the creation of a new school of science EDINA BALINT NEWS WRITER
The UFV Senate recently approved the formation of a School of Agriculture, Geography, and the Environment (SAGE) in the science department. The plan is to establish the new school by Sept. 1, 2019. The agriculture department has not yet fully joined the new school of science, though they are associate members. According to Lucy Lee, dean of science, this is because the shift from a department to a school can be a slow process. Since the physical location of the agriculture department is in Chilliwack, more time will be needed to organize the logistics of the transition to a school of science. To create the new school, the smaller units within the science department, agriculture, and possibly food sciences, will merge into a larger group which includes geography and environmental
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studies, so that they can work together. According to Lee, smaller units don’t have the same resource and staffing advantages as a larger group under the supervision of a director who has more time to oversee the entire unit. “The individual departments will be managing just the teaching,” Lee said. “But looking at five years from now, we want to have a unit which is teaching very good, but also providing the students with more research opportunities. The university also wants to be more interdisciplinary so having geography and agriculture as a unit will allow them to cross-collaborate.” In the process of deciding to create the new school of science, UFV also approved a new science degree, the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES). According to Lee, the BES will be offered in two concentrations: the Bachelor of Environmental
Studies and the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Natural Sciences). The Bachelor of Environmental Studies has coursework that will centre more around human interaction with the land, whereas the BES of natural science will focus more on the environment, thereby providing more lab-intensive course work. The environmental studies program is set to begin this January and the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Natural Sciences) will be available next September. Another change will occur in the geography department. Geography will be moved over completely to the science department, whereas in the past it was offered in both the arts and the sciences. This change will allow the geography students to develop more of their research skills. In a vote regarding the future of the new school of science, both the human and physical geographers
UFV Geography students, geographing. (UFV Flickr)
voted unanimously that they wanted to be part of the school of science. One reason for deciding to merge these science departments together is because it was found that there were lab resources and materials being used by the geographers that were not available to the students in the agriculture program due to the lack of coordination between the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses. “We have strengths in the agriculture and geography departments but there wasn’t a connection between these areas before,” Lee said. There will be more faculty
hired in the process of forming the new school. Currently there is an interim director, but a new director will be hired to oversee the new school of science. According to Lee, there will likely be two more positions opening within the agriculture and geography departments as well. Although approval of the school with the name SAGE was passed through Senate, Lee said there is still debate around the name. Another acronym that has been suggested is LEAF, standing for Land, Environment, Agriculture, and Food Sciences.
OPINION
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018 opinion@ufvcascade.ca OPINION
VOL. 26 // ISSUE 31
Jeff Mijo-Burch — Opinion Editor
Student life//
Time enough for learning Is university supposed to feel this way? ALEISTER GWYNNE CONTRIBUTOR
As the semester draws to a close, now is a good time to take a moment and think back on what it is that we’ve learned over the past few months. That is why we’re here after all. For myself, I have learned small lessons in how to manage my time, slowly learning what works, and what doesn’t for me. I am also starting to get a handle on my physical health, and I hope to nurture my mental health as well in the near future. I am proud to say that I am doing better this year than last fall, which was a low point in my academic career. I failed a course for the first time in my life then. The pressure and the stress finally got to me and I cracked. Since then, I have been clawing my way out of that hole. I managed to recover my grades last spring, and as far as I can tell, I am managing to keep it together this fall. However, it is an uphill battle, and the jury is still out for me this semester. The next few days will be crucial, for me as well as for many students, since this time of year is when final projects are due. In a way, it is even worse than final exams, since at least then we might get a breather before taking the final plunge, and then going into the holiday season which has its own worries and tasks to be done. Sometimes I worry that I have less energy and motivation than most people, because I find it so difficult to meet the expectations that are demanded of me. But then I hear the complaints from my fellow students about their burdens, and how they too are often flying by the seat of their pants. The teachers do not complain, at least in front of students, but I see the evidence of their unmanageable workload
as well. Sometimes it takes weeks for an assignment to get marked, and until then, I have no idea how well I am doing. The teachers have less work to do on each assignment, but they must go over every student’s work in each of their classes. It adds up. I wonder if they too begin to resent attending class, seeing it as a waste of time when they could be doing more important things. Namely, homework.
“Has anyone stopped to wonder: is university supposed to be like this?” Has anyone stopped to wonder: is university supposed to be like this? In our conversations with each other we take it in stride, saying “That’s student life.” University is supposed to be a place of learning, and learning is supposed to be an invigorating and enriching experience. Instead, it feels like the exact opposite. I feel as if university is slowly draining my life away. With each passing season, I feel a little weaker and do a little more poorly than before. My thoughts become clouded, and my personality begins to fade. It feels like I am literally losing my mind. One of my teachers is baffled why students of today are not nearly as active as students in the 1960s and ‘70s, the age of counterculture and the civil rights movement. This is a problem that deserves a detailed answer, which I may give another time. However, I would say one of the main reasons is sheer exhaustion. Between the huge course loads, financial worries, and other crises great and small weighing on our minds, we barely have enough free time and energy to keep ourselves alive
(Adrian Sampson/ Flickr)
and sane and fulfil our duties. Cultivating relationships or hobbies is often beyond us, let alone trying to change the world. Yes, it is theoretically possible to accomplish all our course work within the time allotted and to the highest possible quality. However, this assumes that we can and will devote all of our spare time to it. We are human beings, not machines, and we occasionally need time to think our own thoughts and do what makes us happy to stay healthy. In any event, we all have work that needs to be done that has nothing to do with school. I do not think that our academic system is really taking this into account. We have come to accept workloads that most people struggle with because we have come to view it as normal and necessary.
The purpose of education is to make our citizens independent, engaged, intelligent, and love learning. If that is truly the goal of our educational system, it is failing hideously. What will become of us if every person who runs the gauntlet of primary, secondary, and post-secondary education comes out of it a withered husk? I fear that many of us will find out first-hand. We need to step back and ask ourselves whether the work we do is truly necessary for the sake of learning, instead of just assuming it is, as we have been for too long. We are not lazy, and we are not weak. The best skills, the strongest motivation, and the finest tools and materials will still count for naught if too much is demanded too soon.
Student life//
Young and old(er)
Reflecting on the first semester for two very different first-year students SCOTT MCQUARRIE & DANAYE REINHARDT
with respect for each other’s writing, was the basis of the idea to co-write this piece.
What do you do when you are the oldest and the youngest-looking people in creative writing class? You get together and write an article about it for The Cascade, of course! We are both completing our first semesters here at UFV and despite our (rather large) age difference, our experiences were surprisingly similar in many ways. We got to know each other’s writing, if not each other, in our very first creative writing workshopping group for poetry. One of the aspects of writing that we both love is that you can get a sense of the writer through their work. To write well, a little of yourself has to seep into the words. You have to be willing to be vulnerable, which is never easy but particularly so when you feel out of place. This shared experience of putting ourselves out there, along
D. Reinhardt: It was the first day of my first class. Calculus. There I was, a self-proclaimed arts student with a need to stimulate the left side of my brain, pulling out a borrowed graphing calculator, eyeing the surrounding students. I didn’t belong here. I didn’t feel like I should be on campus at all — I’m five feet tall, mistaken for a high schooler every other week, and certainly not prepared for university courses. But I went to my classes anyway. I showed up (albeit late some days) and I scribbled out essays at midnight and I shared stories that exposed myself and I thought, “Yes, I can do this.” Maybe I do have a chance at this crazy thing called writing. Maybe I’m not so crazy after all. And maybe, if I worked at it, I
CONTRIBUTORS
could make something beautiful out of it. I believe this is the testament of a lot of people here — people who have stepped across borders and finances and dreams to be here at school. We all want to belong, to step in and take charge of our futures and possibly become better people along the way. We are here to learn, to try, to fail, to be kind. I have learned that people are here to be kind. I have learned that yes, quite possibly, I did not end up in university by mistake. S. McQuarrie: I sat in my first creative writing class with sweaty palms, constantly taking sips from my kids’ favourite water bottle to hide my growing nerves. Surrounded by people half my age (okay … closer to two-fifths my age), I felt distinctly out of place. After two decades (yikes!) in a technical field, I am back
at university, pursuing a new creative path in true midlifecrisis style. People ask me what it’s like, taking this leap. “Surreal,” I always say. It’s easier than trying to explain the strange mix of thankful wonder at finding something I love to do and the creeping fear that I may not succeed at it. It is a rare gift, this second chance, and one I cherish. I’m learning so many new things. Figurative language, narrative arc, and character development — especially my own. I’m learning the importance of creating space for the out of place, as others have done for me. That out of place feeling from my first class didn’t last long. Here I am, at the end of the semester, co-writing an article with a classmate who is half my age (okay, fine, two-fifths my age) and it’s not even an issue. Here I am, at the end of the semester, feeling that I belong. That I’m
just another student, with fears and dreams and assignments — and maybe a little less hair than average. It surprised us to find that we shared similar experiences this semester. It was more than just being in the same class, of course; despite stretching a few decades apart, it had been our ages and our fear of not belonging that had shaped our university expectations. Ultimately, we have found that university has peeled away labels like the price tags on used books, or possibly ripped off the books’ dust jackets entirely. Our pages are still being written — some on page 12, some on page 94 — and right now, gathered at this school, we are all writing our chapters on university. On second chances. On the rare and radical opportunity to succeed together.
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OPINION
VOL. 26 // ISSUE 31
Environment //
Why does our government hate the environment? Canada’s high greenhouse emissions are staggeringly high
NADIA TUDHOPE
STAFF WRITER
I’ve been writing about the environment a lot lately, so I’m gonna level with you guys: the situation is really starting to scare me. It was one thing when our existence would be wiped out by the death of our sun, billions of years after everyone I know has already died. That would be fine; I’m not going to be around for that dystopian hellscape. But the way things are going, the world is probably going to end well before I even get to retire. As anyone who has read the Globe and Mail’s recent article on greenhouse gas emissions or attended Tim Cooper’s talk on global warming can tell you, Canadians are not looking too hot when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, our perperson emissions are almost three times higher than the eight tonnes average of the other members of the Group of Twenty (G20). With a yearly average of 22 tonnes of emissions per person, Canadians are the least green citizens of the G20 countries by far. As Tim Cooper said in his talk, European countries — who have very similar lifestyles to us — are producing half as much greenhouse emissions per person. So really, I have to ask: what’s wrong with us? With our reputation as the “nice” country, you’d think we’d be doing better than dead last in environmental issues. But you don’t need to know very much about the years-long Trans Mountain pipeline debate to see the real issue here: Canada cares far more about making money than the environment. It’s not even a competition at this point.
The other members of G20 might be progressive when it comes to environmentalism, but we can’t rely on them to carry the team here. And I think that might be a big part of it too: we’ve all kind of adopted the mindset that it’s someone else’s problem, that someone else will find a way to fix it, and that just isn’t true. Other first-world countries have laid out the example for us, and all we need to do is follow. Sweden plans to be fossil-fuel free by 2020, Norway has banned deforestation, China has become the world leader in solar power, and a number of countries (like Germany, Norway, India, France, China, and the U.K.) are banning fossil fuel cars. Personally, I don’t think individuals can make enough of a difference — unless we’re all going to totally devote our lives to living without a carbon footprint — but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put in an effort, anyway. Little bits add up: think about how much waste ends up in your compost bin at the end of the week, and then think about how much organic waste that is a year, and then realize that there are still plenty of households that don’t compost at all. But us little regular people aren’t going to produce the kind of change needed to reduce our emissions, especially when we’re working in a system where ways of doing things predominantly involve natural gas rather than renewable energy. Or, more importantly, when we’re working in a system motivated by profit rather than the greater good of our country and our planet.
Illustration by: Cory Jensen
Student life //
The night bus misadventure The fears of a bus rider come true ALEISTER GWYNNE
CONTRIBUTOR
The plan was simple: I was going out to see a movie, and my mother was coming with me. We would take a bus to the cinema. What could be simpler? The bus did indeed take us places, but not the places we wanted to go. I had already tried to go to the movie the previous day and failed. I was too slow getting to the bus stop, and I missed my bus. There would not be another one for an hour, by which time the movie would have started long ago. So, I decided to try again the next night. At first, things went well. The bus arrived at our stop, at the Chilliwack Mall, shortly after we got there. I had expected to be waiting for a few minutes in the rain and cold, so this worked out quite nicely. My mom expressed confusion, asking me if this was the right bus. My response was a bit snappy. Of course this was our bus, why would she think otherwise? Soon the bus left and crossed the street to the Cottonwood
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Mall. Then the bus just sat there for minutes on end, in clear violation of the schedule, which I had reference to in the form of a handy brochure. My mom and I complained and expressed our confusion at the delay. I scowled, fidgeted, and looked more and more visibly uncomfortable and frustrated as the precious minutes ticked by. The bus driver refused to take the hint, instead standing at the front of the bus doing absolutely nothing, wasting our time. My mom and I made up our minds to get off the bus after a certain time, beyond which we would arrive too late to catch the movie. If this twit refused to do his job, then so be it. So naturally, we finally got moving just as the deadline came. Once we arrived at our destination, we would have just barely enough time to get over to the cinema, buy our tickets, and maybe get something from the concession stand if we were lucky. Of course, I made the arrogant and totally unfounded assumption that the bus would
actually follow its route and would take us where we needed to go. This was not the case. Things really started to go pear-shaped when the bus took a wrong turn and headed in the opposite direction that it should have gone. We were confused. Were we misreading the scenery? Was the driver deranged? No, the explanation was simpler, and one I should have suspected from the beginning: we were on the wrong bus. Apparently I misread the number on the bus, and also my schedule was out-of-date. From that point onward, any hope of seeing the movie that night was scotched. Our plan was to wait for the bus to make a full circuit and come back to the mall, but as time went by, we only got further and further away from that goal. Instead the bus followed its long, circuitous route through a part of town we had never been to, nor were even aware existed. My mom tried to make light of the situation, cracking jokes. I was in a more cantankerous mood. I resented being taken, against my will, on
this joyride to God only knows where. My mom commented at the time that this whole episode seemed like a dream. Indeed it was very surreal. Perhaps you have dreamt about travelling through your hometown, but nothing is laid out like it is in reality. It was a lot like that. I thought I recognized certain areas, but it was dark, and the windows were fogged up, so it was impossible to be certain. We didn’t dare get off anywhere we weren’t 100 per cent certain of, lest we be stranded in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. The bus’s route zigzagged through residential areas, making turns that were barely wide enough to accommodate the vehicle without crashing into the houses along the narrow streets. We must have gone up a mountain at some point, because our ears popped. After what s eemed like an eternity, the driver finally asked us where we wanted to go. The bus was now out of service, and was heading back to HQ for the
night. He was stopping at the Chilliwack Mall, which suited us fine, and we got off there. After disembarking, I checked the time. An hour had passed. In that hour it seemed as if we had been taken everywhere and nowhere. We walked home in defeat, but not before stopping at the liquor store and buying a six-pack of cider to give us some comfort after this debacle. Eventually I got to see the movie at a second-run cinema within walking distance of my home. Even if our original plan had succeeded, we would have had to take a taxi home because the buses would have stopped running by then. These misadventures are the sort of thing public transit users risk, that people with cars don’t think about. When you must ride the bus to get anywhere, you are at the mercy of someone else, and you can never be sure if they will take you where you want to go, when you want to go. It’s all very stressful.
OPINION
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
Editorial //
Protest something
SOMETHING
JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
This issue of The Cascade News covered an on-campus, student-organized protest to raise awareness about unpaid practicums in female-dominated industries. It’s the first on-campus staging of dissatisfaction in several years. In Opinion, contributing writer Aleister Gwynne notes that a professor is “baffled” at this generation’s inactivity in social movements, especially compared to students in the ‘60s civil rights movements. I’m not sure if this represents a complete understanding of the ‘60s/‘70s counterculture era, but I have to agree. Why can’t students around here seem to mobilize? In past weeks of The Cascade, the B.C. Federation of Students took out an ad on the backpage. It asked students to write the finance minister about student loan interest rates, and encourage her to cut interest in budget 2019. I’m not sure if there’s a playbook on this kind of thing, but I feel like a paid advertisement should not be the biggest call to action at a university. Are students apathetic, or just uninformed? Does the institution value education, or is it about pumping out certifications? During the height of the Trans Mountain pipeline standoffs, I saw nothing organized on campus, even though the pipeline runs right through Chilliwack and Abbotsford. And now, I see virtually no collective action, no activism, not even a hint. Not even a student with a “No TMPP” t-shirt. Notice the hallways as you walk to and from class; you’ll have trouble finding anything to do with activism and certainly nothing to do with mobilization. Look around. You can’t afford a flat as a student without more roommates than
bedrooms, you’re overstressing your body to pay for school if you intend to get out debt-free and graduate on time, and if you’re coasting on loans, you’re borrowing money at a rate profiting Ottawa $862.6 million this year, according to the Canadian Federation of Students. Oh well, it won’t last forever. Oh well, at least I’m doing a bit better than the next guy. I don’t know man, I just think we can do better. In 2012, students in Québec protested a proposal to raise tuition. And you know what? The increase was halted. My question is this: what will it take to mobilize? There are a handful of theories elaborating on the conditions required to turn discontentment into action. Proponents of one theory emphasize the need for top-down supports like funding, leadership, and organizational structuring. Others would say that favourable conditions must align; this might take form as increased political understanding among the masses, greater access to political decision-making, and shifting values or discord among the decision makers and a degradation of their ability to lead. There’s one other identifiable and important condition: unity. I think most conditions that precede the mobilization of social movements exist around here, at least in varying degrees. Unity does not. The student population here is far too atomized. Where do you go to mingle? There’s no pub, no central hub unaffiliated from a particular UFV department. Consider this an open invitation to come by The Cascade office; I’ll buy you a coffee. We can talk about things. Or, think about it over the break and write me a letter in the new year. Also, you’re welcome to use our boardroom for any activist planning meetings.
Write about the thrilling escapades and daring do of our UFV sports teams!
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S S S N S N N S A h A A h P o P P o t t s Simer Haer s Illustrations by:
Onion facts!
You thought you’d get through the semester without seeing a third onion snapshot, didn’t you? Well, you thought wrong. You get onion facts! Onions are one of the oldest plants known to humans: there’s evidence that our ancestors in 5,000 B.C. (over 7,000 years ago!) ate onions during the Bronze Age. Ancient Egyptians revered onions, believing that their round shape and inner rings symbolized eternity. Because
Lighthouse in the dark of this, they were placed in the tombs of pharaohs, in order to bring prosperity in the afterlife. And, most importantly, during the Middle Ages onions were used as currency, being used to pay for rent and food, and were even used for gifts! So yeah, onions are cool. And, with Christmas coming up, maybe you should give one as a gift. It’ll save you from spending extra cash you could use for your own onions.
Cat Friesen
At the end of every day I set off on my journey back to Chilliwack, boarding the shuttle bus and laying my head back, tense and ready for rest as the lights dim. I’ll still have to wait for the city bus, but what gets me through the ride every time is the A&W logo blaring from the garage of a home just a minute from the Chilliwack Trades building. I don’t know why or how mere mortals managed to gain possession of such a sign, or why they keep it lit every night without fail; it’s the kind that goes 50 feet above the ground with the sign under saying that
Positively pesky pests on my pets
Resisting the upgrade
About a month ago I discovered a flea on one of my dogs during a late night date with our couch. I immediately combed through his frustratingly thick fur to locate the little bastard. To my chagrin when I found him, he was holed up with dozens more of his bothersome brethren. With a sigh I realized that if he was infested, my other two must surely be suffering the same fate. The next day I bought oregano-scented flea shampoo, and dumped them all into the tub to lather them to their salvation. They sat there for a good long while afterwards,
My iPhone 4S is still alive and kicking. I can text (but not iMessage) and even use Instagram. I gave up on Snapchat years ago because the filters caused my phone to freeze. Last month my phone threw in the towel on Netflix. Now I sit on my couch and think about the papers I have to write while I wait for my husband to get home so I can use his phone to cast Mad Men to the TV like a sad housewife. Back in 2013 when I first got the phone (previously used by someone else for two years) I thought the photo quality was excellent. Now my ‘grams have
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staring at me with the most morose of pouts, trying to figure out why they had been punished so. From there, their lives went to back to normal. They once again gouged through the garbage and sped after squirrels through the yard. Then yesterday I spotted one again. What cruel contest is nature subjecting me to? I shampooed the carpets, washed all the bedding (theirs and mine), and still these miniature menaces have made their comeback. Now I have to go through the whole process again. My dogs will love me for that ...
Cassie de Jong
they’re hiring. At this point though, I’ve stopped asking questions. All I can say is thank you to the owners for the service you provide our community. Your A&W sign is a beacon of hope: a lighthouse to ground me if I’m lost in life. If you’re ever feeling down yourself, I encourage you to turn your head gently to the left on the shuttle bus to Chilliwack and gaze upon the Sign. Bow your head in respect, smile, and go on your way knowing that miracles happen every day.
Chandy Dancey
been deteriorating in beauty along with my phone’s inability to update itself to provide me with the latest emojis. I scroll and read the captions but get interrupted by the box with a question mark inside. Why don’t I get a new phone? Just like everyone else: money. But I’ve grown accustomed to my lack of readily available Netflix and incredibly slow Insta stories. I have realized that I am scared of what will become of me when I have that all back again.
Carissa Wiens
The Cascade’s
y a d i l Ho t ivit ies Ac Word Scramble 1. ccitar
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9. htmoehypira
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2. iyllch
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10. oime rcst
________
3. yrlubets
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11. sotacjfrk
_________
4. zbailrdz 12. ecnoienp
________
5. nbirdgegrea
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13. arvcseot
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6. egenrerev
_________
14. arfsc
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7. tbnofetstir 15. qitul
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8. ankosfelw
_________
16. oasnnmw
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Sudoku
________
_____
Answer Keys on pg. 12
Christmas Facts The average Canadian is expected to spend $625 on gifts this Christmas, and $720 on travel. More Canadians buy turkeys for Christmas than for Thanksgiving, with 36 per cent of households buying one for Christmas and 29 per cent buying one for Thanksgiving. Speaking of turkeys, Canadians ate 3.3 million whole turkeys for Christmas last year. A study of 3,000 people from Japan, Germany, and America found that every single one of them gained weight during the Christmas holidays. Canadians double their spending on exercise equipment and activities in January: 31.3 million compared to the monthly average of 17.1 million. NASA has found some part of the world can be up to 50 per cent brighter during the holiday season, in part due to humanities insatiable love for funky coloured light bulbs. Canadians produce 25 per cent more waste during the holiday season, including gift wrapping, holiday cards, gift bags, and food waste.
Anti-Consumerism List Even if you and your loved ones decide against buying presents, consumerism has been built into almost everything about the holiday season, from the decorations to the activities to the food, making them equally superficial and prohibitive. Volunteering is an obvious way to flip consumer culture the bird this Winter, but to help you put the holiday in holiday season, here’s a list of holiday season activities and alternatives that are free or dirt cheap and focused on spending time with friends and family.
Sledding You can go sledding with family or friends, and fear not, my toboggan-less friends: roasting pans, laundry tubs and cardboard boxes will fulfill you need for speed. The fields of yuppie elementary schools in the more mountainous suburbs are prime sledding real estate - if you don’t mind being regarded as a hooligan by white moms named Karen.
White Elephant Party The second cousin twice removed of the white elephant party. Enforce a low thrift store spending limit or prohibit spending entirely and force people to reach into the depths of their closets and crawl spaces for their long-forgotten treasures that are quirky, kitschy, or straight-up cursed. Remember the meaning of Christmas by watching twelve of your friends fight over your kindergarten macaroni painting of a teddy bear with a penis.
Make Reindeer Food The Christmas equivalent of staying home to hand out Halloween candy, spring for a bag of glitter and staple it into some sandwich bags. Break out the markers and pencil crayons and decorate cards with instructions to sprinkle it in the yard on Christmas Eve. Give them out to neighbourhood kids or, if you work in retail, your tiniest customers. And if they think it’s lame, tell them you think they’re lame.
Play Dreidel If you revel in the sadistic thrill of putting down a pick up four card in Uno, dreidel has the drama you’re looking for. Though hard to find in the Fraser Valley due to a general scarcity of Judaism, dreidels are cheap and well worth the search; the game involves giving and taking out of a pot of game pieces at the whim of a spinning top, and it can be played with as many people as you can cram into your apartment. Chocolate coins are the usual stakes, but you can play with anything from spare socks to your dad’s love.
Play Christmas Chopped The message of more at at Christmas doesn’t only extend to gifts. The pressure of providing a pictureperfect Christmas feast is an expectation that most of us can’t live up to, especially if we’re not spending the holidays with older relatives who can buy all the groceries. Instead of splurging on a turkey with all the fixings, get a few fresh vegetables and make mystery baskets combining them with odds and ends already in your pantry. Make cooking dinner into a full-day social event by inviting friends to compete in the kitchen olympics and eat their entries at the end of the night. Depending on ow chef-y your family and friends are, we recommend having a few boxes of stuffing and a pot of mashed potatoes on standby.
Write Heartfelt Notes When you buy gifts with money, you’re putting time into it via your money. Putting time into a gift with your thoughts and words can sometimes be more meaningful - take the time to think about what a person means to you, the things you appreciate about them, and what you want for your relationship in the coming year. If you’re so inclined, make a nice card to write it in or do it out by hand on a plain sheet of paper - or just print it off and sign it! Like your mom said when you were ten and your aunt sent you a nut assortment in the mail, it’s the thought that counts.
Look at Rich People’s Christmas Lights This one is a little hypocritical, since it offloads the consumerism you’re trying to avoid onto other people, but if you make fun of them, that makes it okay. Go for a walk or a drive. Look at the twinkling lights. Feel the tingling in your brain’s pleasure center. And mock them for their disposable incomes. Mock them viciously.
Christmas Baking Just kidding - nobody can afford that much butter.
Mad Libs It was a ________________ first day of December, and ______________ was feeling down about everything. “Ugh,” they sighed, (adjective ending in y)
(person in the room)
sitting down on their ___________. “These holiday rituals are too stressful. I don’t know how I’m going to manage to _________ all the (verb)
(noun)
___________ I need to before ______________________.” (holiday)
(plural noun)
But at that very moment, The Ghost of Consumerism Present materialized with a loud ________. “Hey you,” it shouted, (sound)
__________________wildly. “Have the pressures of capitalism got you feeling _______? Well ___________, do I have the (verb ending with “ing”)
(emotion)
(exclamation)
cure for you!” “But how?” asked the glum individual. “If I don’t ___________ as much as everyone else, my friends will think I hate them!” (verb)
The ghost shook its _________ in disagreement. “All you’ve gotta do is find an alternative. Get them tickets to see ______________, (body part)
(famous person)
or try __________________! If you want something permanent, make them a _________ yourself, or buy it from a local (exciting activity)
(noun)
_______________. You can celebrate without feeding money into the ________________capitalist machine!” (profession)
(adjective)
“Wow, Ghost of Consumerism Present,” exclaimed the enlightened individual, “I never thought about all that! Mega-corporations can go straight to ____________ — I’m in!” (fictional place)
And so, they went on to have a fantastic time filled with_______________, and realized that true happiness came from (plural food)
____________________ capitalism. (verb ending with “ing”)
Christmas Quiz
What kind of handmade holiday gift should you give? a. b. c. d.
An ugly Christmas sweater that you designed. The fanciest outfit you own. Something simple, but nice. Pajamas and slippers.
What type of artistic outlet do you prefer? a. b. c. d.
Building something. Performance art. Writing. Visual art.
How early do you wake up on Christmas morning? a. b. c. d.
The crack of dawn. Whenever I happen to wake up. I never sleep, so I won’t have to wake up. 2 in the afternoon.
What is your favourite holiday beverage? a. b. c. d.
Eggnog. Vegan eggnog. Peppermint Mocha. Gingerbread spice tea.
Which Christmas movie is the best? a. b. c. d.
Christmas with the Kranks. Elf. Scrooged. The Grinch.
Which of the items from the twelve days of Christmas do you resonate with the most? a. b. c. d.
The partridge in a pear tree. Five golden rings. Twelve lords a leaping. Two turtle doves.
Spot the 8 Differences
Word Scramble arctic, chilly, blustery, blizzard, gingerbread, evergreen, frostbitten, snowflake, hypothermia, jack frost, pinecone, overcast, scarf, quilt, snowman
Sudoku
Answer Key
Quiz Results Mostly A’s Got some spare craft supplies hanging around? Why not put them to good use and create something out of them. You could make ornaments, embroider fabric, knit toques, or make some cards. The possibilities are endless!
Mostly B’s Bake some goodies! Cookies, jam, fudge, pie, oh my! Who doesn’t love some good old fashioned homemade treats?
Mostly C’s Write something! Write a poem or a letter about all the reasons you love / appreciate the people in your life. It’s bound to have a greater impact on them than anything you could buy at a store.
Mostly D’s Grab a pen, pencil, paintbrush, or whatever else, and use your skills to make some personalized gifts. Draw a portrait of your mother, paint your dad a picture of his favourite place, make a comic about your brother or sister, or photograph your friends.
Nov 28
C3: They’ll Fight Better in Kilts @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford), 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Papermaking Workshop with Helen O’Connor @ UFV Library (Abbotsford Campus), 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. Evening Wreath Making Session @ Minter Gardening (Chilliwack), 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
LEGEND:
The Cascade Community Events are in UFV Events are in Music Events are in Art Events are in Cultural Events are in
Dec 2
Letśe Q’ép (Let’s Gather) @ Stó:lō Business Association (Chilliwack), 6:00 7:30 p.m.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament for Mission Food Bank @ Game Changers Buy and Sell (Mission), 12:30 4:30 p.m.
Banff Mountain Film Festival @ Clarke Theatre (Mission), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Alt Country Night with Derby Town @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Blue Green Red Purple Yellow
Note:
Some of these events require tickets, most are on Facebook. If something catches your eye, take to the internet for more details.
Dec 8
Photos with Santa @ Clayburn Pet Hospital (Abbotsford), 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Harlem Globetrotters @ Abbotsford Centre, 1:00 p.m. Photos with the Grinch @ Paw Street Market (Abbotsford), 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Dec 4
The Nutcracker @ Clarke Theatre (Mission), 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Paint N’ Take Acrylics w/Nan @ House of Fine Art (Abbotsford), 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
CityStudio Abbotsford HUBBUB @ City Hall (Abbotsford), 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Kwerks @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack), 7:00 10:00 p.m.
CreWri: Secret Santa Social @ Room C1421 (Abbotsford Campus), 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
VA116 & VA402 Dual Exhibition @ Rooms C1401, C1042, and C1134 (Abbotsford Campus), 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Nov 29
Research Encounters - Jon Thomas and Arjun Kalyanpur @ University House Room F124 (Abbotsford Campus), 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. School of Business Alumni Networking Mixer @ The Sprouted Oven (Abbotsford), 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. UFV International Holiday Party @ Rancho (Abbotsford), 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Stretch and Sip: Movember Edition @ Parallel Yoga (Abbotsford), 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Dec 5 C3: Everything You Wanted to Know About The Reach @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford), 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Life Drawing Studio: Instructor Jesse Klassen @ House of Fine Art (Abbotsford), 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Sam Weber @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Nov 30
Dec 6
Concerto Invierno with Daniel Bolshoy @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Coffee with the AbbyPD @ Duft and Co. Bakehouse (Abbotsford), 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Elvis: A Christmas Special @ Abbotsford Arts Centre, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Christmas Carol: A dramatic reading @ Lifetime Learning Centre (Mission), 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Interpretations and Expressions: Evolution of South Asian Canadian Experiences @ University House Room F125 (Abbotsford Campus), 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Dec 7
Dec 1
Reel Change: The Lesser Blessed @ The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford), 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Christmas Open House @ Trethewey House (Abbotsford), 10:00 - 4:00 p.m.
34th Annual Candlelight Parade @ First Avenue (Mission), 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Winter Jubilee + Tree Lighting @ Downtown Abbotsford, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Santa Claus Parade @ Downtown Chilliwack, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Don Alder @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Roots and Blues with Harpdog Brown @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. The Molten Blues Band @ Historic Dewdney Pub (Mission), 8:00 - 11:00 p.m.
Winter Warm Up: Post Parade Party @ The Stage in Mission, 8:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Dec 9 Holiday Party @ HighStreet (Abbotsford), 3:00 7:00 p.m. Roots and Blues w/ Arsen Shomakhov Band @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. A Celtic Christmas @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Dec 11 All Ages Uke Drop-in @ Fraser Valley Regional Library (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Winter Harp @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Dec 12 Fraser Valley Métis Association Christmas Gathering @ Mamele’awt Aboriginal Education (Abbotsford), 5:45 - 8:45 p.m.
Dec 13 Tunic (WPG), Loans, Aaron Levy @ Carport Manor (Abbotsford), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Captain’s Cabin Christmas Food Bank Fundraiser @ Captain’s Cabin Pub (Mission), 8:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
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CULTURE
VOL. 26 // ISSUE 31
culture@ufvcascade.ca Cassie de Jong — Culture Editor
Community Event//
UFV’s blossoming visual arts grad CARISSA WIENS STAFF WRITER
The last time I was taught how to draw humans was over 10 years ago when I was in middle school. Therefore, jumping into UFV grad, Jesse Klassen’s art class at the House Of Fine Art (HOFA) last week was a bit intimidating. For the next two hours several of us students were guided by Klassen to sketch out the different poses of the model in front of us. By the end of the class I noticed a substantial difference between the first piece and last piece that I produced. Jesse was a gentle teacher, who reminded us to “Draw what you see, not what you know.” It was obvious that he had an extensive knowledge of figure drawing. I sat down with him after the class to learn more about his background in visual arts and where he wants to end up. First, what sparked your interest in visual art? Both my grandparents were painters and they helped inspire me. Every time we’d go over to grandma and grandpa’s house as kids we would sit down and be given a canvas and paint, then just go for it. It was always just the thing we did at grandma and grandpa’s. I’ve always been a little bit artistic but they really helped fuel that. What prompted you to do a visual arts degree at university instead of something more academic?
On-Campus Event//
It all just goes back to my grandparents. When I was in grade 11 my grandma had a stroke which caused her to lose the ability to speak and to use her hands. She lost the ability to create. That was extremely hard for my family. Since she was my main inspiration for making art, I chose to create in her place. That choice helped me make the jump into university, because that’s when I started making more and realizing that since art was her passion, I wanted to make it my passion too. When I started creating in university I really started to pick up speed with art and realizing that I truly loved it. Do you feel that UFV equipped you well enough to go out into the art world? I’ve studied in several countries and UFV alone was not enough. They have a very specific way of teaching and a specific focus that they take which is focusing more on the idea rather than the technical aspects. For example, when I went to Poland to study for a year, I went into my figure drawing class thinking I was decent at figure drawing, but after I produced my first drawing my professor looked at it and said “Bad. Redo.” It was a complete fail because he told me that I didn’t understand any of the basics of drawing. I realized the difference between UFV and the Polish was that UFV’s focus on the idea, like what
are you saying with this piece and what are you trying to inspire, was not what the Polish talk about at all until they reach their master’s. In Poland everything in the bachelor’s was learning about the technical skills. It was a complete opposite of what I was used to. Even though I was a fourth year in these classes in Poland with firstand second-year students and was falling behind, I had my profs talk to me about the meaning in their art they were working on. It was this weird juxtaposition that happened. So did UFV prepare me? They kind of did. The ability to bring meaning into work was great throughout the program but I think UFV needs to focus more on the technical aspects of art. The teaching methods at UFV are very nice and encouraging. But if you need criticism it’s not readily available. I had to ask for it when I needed it because it wasn’t freely offered. Every professor was different but that was generally the way it was.
the moment. But without a studio I have to get creative because of the restraints I have. For example, I can’t work with certain sizes of things or materials that are too messy. It keeps me challenged.
Have you been doing any art-related work since you graduated?
Doing an art class is relaxing. It’s a change of pace. The majority of students are very busy and doing many different things, but the ability to sit down for two hours in a non-stressful environment to focus on one thing is very relaxing. You get to block everything else out for two hours.
Yes, this course is one thing. I wanted to do more figure drawing and I wanted to find a way to offer that to people. So I was talking with the owner of HOFA, Tim, and we organized this course. As far as my own practice, that’s a bit difficult because I don’t have a studio at
What do you see yourself doing in the future? I see myself in the art world, but who knows where that can go. Right now my plan is to pursue a master’s in visual arts. This next summer I’m going to check out several universities and check out their programs to find one that I think would suit me. If I’m still in love with art after a master’s degree then hopefully I’ll be able to work in the industry. You have several more classes left in your figure drawing course here at HOFA. What would you say to a busy university student to entice them to come to one of these classes?
To check out more of Klassen’s classes at HOFA, head to lovehofa.com
Chilliwack tech show held at UFV CEP campus EDINA BALINT NEWS WRITER
The 2018 UFV tech event, Chilliwack.Tech/Next, was held at the CEP campus on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 1-5 p.m. The event was organized by David Harper, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at UFV and Colin Schmidt from Wisebox Solutions. There was an array of presenters that spoke about the fast growing tech industry, and how businesses can benefit from advances in technology. Harper noted that UFV contributed to the Chilliwack tech show by providing the space and Collin Schmidt arranged the program and the presenters for the evening. According to Harper, the purpose of the event was to promote interaction between community business leaders and UFV students and faculty. However, the conference was available to anyone in the valley. “This is the first time that UFV has hosted the tech show on campus. The cost to UFV for hosting the event was under $2000, so it wasn’t a big event,” said Harper. The afternoon began with a presentation and demo by Rob Carnegie, information and communication tech educator. Carnegie’s discussion was about the enhancement of machines through microcontrollers and internet connectivity. Afterwards he talked about building IOT (Internet of Things) products and
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Chilliwack tech show. (The Cascade)
then showed the audience how to create an internet-connected doorbell. The second presentation by Richard Clark, who works for Crafty Penguins, was on the ChatOps communication model. ChatOps is a buzzword for communication between computers or over the internet generally involving the use of Chatbots to improve the management of software development and operations tasks. Clark’s presentation also focused on DevOps, the merging of the development and operations fields in technology to have people who create software working more closely with people who build the infrastructure to help run the software. Jonathon McIntyre, CTO at i-Open Technologies Group, took the stage after Clark to speak about applying machine learning to geospatial applications. The
future of image recognition was discussed in terms of facial recognition and object detection on roads and in cities. Artificial intelligence in the form of selfdriving cars and mapping software developed by Microsoft and ESRI rely on spatial technology, which is constantly being improved. The last two presentations were about improving the process of data analysis. Danny Burgoyne from Microsoft discussed how to build a predictive analytics machine using the machine learning application, Microsoft Azure. Machine learning involves using computers to analyze data from the past to predict future results without the need for coding. And so, with Microsoft’s Azure program the aim is to improve the accuracy and capabilities of data prediction software. Colin Schmidt then followed Burgoyne’s
demonstration with a discussion on quantum computers and data storage. From the perspective of business and economic development, IT is a very lucrative field. There were two speakers, David Harper and Raymond Szabada, that touched on the importance of innovation at the technology conference. David Harper spoke about UFV’s innovation and entrepreneurship programs and how the university is planning on repurposing the newly purchased building, Finnegan’s Pub and Phoenix Ballroom, as the “Digital Innovation Hub” in the next few years. There will also be hands-on business development workshops in the near future for those interested in starting up their own companies. “I think the plan in the next couple of years for the space will be to use it for storage, offices and maybe even some classrooms.
Now, everyone including the communities and the government would like to see some kind of innovation center in the Fraser Valley. But we will need support from the community and probably support from both the provincial and federal governments to do that. We are just in the discussion stage right now. Ideally we will have something in place five years from now,” said Harper after his presentation. Harper also mentioned that the goal is to bring more events directly related to innovation and entrepreneurship to UFV in the future. Chilliwack.Tech and UFV will be hosting their yearly Hackathon function next semester beginning in March. There have also been plans to organize hands-on business development workshops for those interested in starting up their own companies. Raymond Szabada, CEO and chairman of XLRator, ended the evening with a speech on the necessity of funding for entrepreneurs. Currently, their Venture Acceleration Program and the Venture Expansion Program provide networking/ commercial support for tech companies. Also, due to the growth of employment opportunities in technology, the Fraser Valley aims to begin recruiting talented youth from public schools into the tech program.
CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
On-Campus Event//
Recognizing success across the globe UFV India annual awards night held at Chandigarh campus MEHAKNOOR KAUR
CONTRIBUTOR
The cultural calendar of UFV India is marked by many exciting events. One of the most awaited for on UFV’s Chandigarh campus is the annual awards night. The event is nothing short of a week of celebration for the students and faculty at UFV India. This year, the awards night was held on Nov. 1 and was the 13th annual event. It is enthusiastically looked forward to by the students, as it marks their academic success along with their co-curricular achievements. This year, the occasion was graciously attended by the UFV president and vice-chancellor Dr. Joanne MacLean, legal counsel Ms. Maureen Murphy, and UFV chancellor Dr. Andy Sidhu. Amid the music, cheers, celebration, and enthusiasm of receiving the awards, the students were addressed by numerous dignitaries and were congratulated and encouraged to keep up their excellent efforts. More than 6.7 lakh INR (6,70,000 rupees (₹) was given out to the students in the form of scholarships and academic achievement awards this year. Additional awards summing up to 2.7 lakh INR (2,75,000 ₹) were also given out to 10 distinguished students for their continued academic excellence in the 2017-
18 academic year. The students who successfully completed summer practicum internships were also recognized, along with the participants of the student company program. Dr. Joanne MacLean, in her first visit to UFV India, spoke to the students about how their tremendous growth and potential continues to benefit the UFV community. UFV chancellor Dr. Andy Sidhu also spoke to the students about making positive changes to the society by the power invested in them through a good education. UFV principal Ms. Satwinder Kaur Bains was also present at the awards night event along with Mrs. Pritam Sidhu and Dr. Mike Ivanof (faculty, School of Business, UFV Canada). After addressing the eager sea of beaming faces at the occasion, Ms. Bains handed out two additional awards at the event to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of two members of the UFV India family. Dr. Shyam Babu Vyas, professor of marketing and business, was acknowledged and awarded a UFV Teaching Excellence Award. Mr. Sanjeev Singh, the senior recruiting officer was also graciously presented with an Outstanding Employee Service Award. As the event came to an end and dinner was served, the
bustling energy of the students could be seen as the dance floor was taken over by an enthusiastic band of undergraduates. All the hard work, the all-nighters, and the stressful examination weeks had been conquered by the
students. Crossing the hurdles that university offers, they managed to come out victorious. All this could be seen evidently on the beaming faces of the proud parents and the ecstatic students.
Column //
The Cascade Kitchen: Brownie in a Mug
Illustration by: Elyssa English
CHANDY DANCEY CONTRIBUTOR
The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budgetfriendly recipes and cooking tips. Consider contributing a favourite recipe of your own, or check back weekly for something new to try in the kitchen. There comes a time in every student’s life when they haven’t seen the sun in a few days, and family and friends are wondering if they’re still alive. If this sounds painfully familiar then it’s time to treat yourself! One great way to reward yourself at the end of a long day can be a serving of dessert which is exactly when a brownie in a mug can be so convenient. This recipe is also dorm friendly and good for those that don’t have access to an oven. Ready in: 5 minutes. Serves: 1 Ingredients 30 ml (2 tbsp.) butter or oil 30 ml (2 tbsp.) water or milk 1 ml (1/4 tsp.) vanilla extract Sprinkle of salt 30 ml (2 tbsp.) white sugar 30 ml (2 tbsp.) cocoa powder 60 ml (4 tbsp.) flour Instructions Put 2 tbsps. butter in a microwave-safe mug of choice and microwave for ~20 seconds, or until most of it has melted. Combine with the water/milk, dash of salt, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Add in your cocoa powder and stir well. Add your sugar, stir again. Add your flour, and surprise, stir again. If you want to take this to the next level this is when you stir in a square or two of chocolate, a handful of chocolate chips, or a spoonful of Nutella. Microwave for 60 seconds (or a little less depending on your microwave). The middle should look slightly uncooked. If overcooked, no big deal; you’ll just get more of a cake texture. Serve and enjoy!
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STUDY BREAK Crossword //
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 Made by Cassie de Jong ACROSS
DOWN
1: Figure made outside in cold weather, often dressed up with stick arms, a carrot nose, and a top hat. 5: Song sung only during the holiday season. 6: A long, narrow strap attached at one end to a reindeer’s bit. 7: Tree decoration consisting of thin strips of shiny metal. 8: Little helpers that make children’s toys. 10: To cut roast meat into slices for eating. 11: The annual holiday held on December 25. 12: The jolly fat man in the red suit.
1: One who does not like Christmas, or a beloved character in a Dickens novel. 2: When two people stand under this, tradition says they must share a kiss. 3: Where the jolly fat man in the red suit lives. 4: Holly 8: Singer who famously performed Blue Christmas. 9: Green spherical vegetables everyone hides from at holiday dinner. 10: Hot drink enjoyed during cold weather. LAST ISSUE’S
ANSWERS: Across: 1: Practical Joke 4: Strasbourg 6: Onomatopoeia 10: Psychiatrist 13: Royal Flush 14: Precious Metal
Down: 2: Ratio 3: Kanji 5: Gnocchi 7: Officer 8: Aioli 9: Orbit 11: Satyr 12: Tesla
Bread Crumbs
Horoscopes //
Astrological mysteries interpreted weekly by Morgana the Mystic.
Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 You’re usually one of the first people lined up outside for Boxing Day. If you’re there for the deals or the brawls, that’s your business, but perhaps try to scale it back this year; you’ll benefit from the down time. Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 Your wishlist has been in the making since last December, and it’s only bound to get longer it seems. Try rewriting it, and be picky; nobody needs that many variations of the same tennis shoes. Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 Some days it seems like there’s no better rush than the one you get in a brand-new outfit, or a brand-new pair of shoes, or a brand-new anything. Novelty is great, but it wears off. Encourage yourself towards the secondhand; upcycling can be just as rewarding.
Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 Experiment with the hand-crafted, Cancer. Your dedication will mean that much more if you turn away from store-bought sentiment and instead embrace your talent for customization.
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Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 Think permanent this week, Leo. You have a talent for focusing on “the moment” but what happens when that moment passes? Look for meaningful experiences rather than momentary excitements.
Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 The champion of buyer’s remorse, you’re probably feeling a little ashamed and a little overwhelmed by recent purchases. There’s no need for anything drastic; resolving to abandon your ways isn’t necessary, but perhaps spend a little time looking for any return receipts!
Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 Stressed out? You’ve got miles of to-do lists and no time to do them! Reevaluate them this week, Virgo. Lots of things on those lists can be left for another day— or better yet, just plain left out. Consider the long-term when you’re making these cuts.
Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 You’re pretty minimalist already but there’s no harm in scaling it back even further. Think efficiency, durability, and relevancy (all traits you admire!) when making purchases this week.
Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 Empty your online shopping cart, Libra. It’s time to focus your energy towards more permanent things. The gifts you’ve amassed for yourself can surely wait a little while longer.
Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 Focus on actions, not objects, Aquarius. You’re not one to get caught up in material matters but it’s always good to look back on recent decisions and evaluate their meaning. Change isn’t a possession: it’s a purpose.
Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 If your room is becoming a shrine to plastic water bottles, you might need to make some changes this week. Clear them out and reflect: it’s 2018, invest in the reusable.
Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 Thinking locally has never been a problem for you, so carry on, Pisces! Continue on with your contribution and encourage others to turn their focus to sustainability and the longlasting.
SPORTS
VOL. 26 // ISSUE 31
Women’s Basketball//
UFV Women’s Basketball Weekend Recap:
Cascades sweep Timberwolves in season defining weekend ALEXANDER JESUS SPORTS WRITER
From the title you may already be saying “Come on Alex, season defining? It’s only part way through the season!” But here I am to tell you that this weekend the UFV women’s basketball team did more than just win; they showed their true potential. Coming into the weekend the UNBC Timberwolves were riding high, unbeaten and looking to extend their undefeated season over the Cascades. The Cascades had other plans and pulled off the upset by defeating the first-ranked team not once, but twice! The first game of the weekend proved tough for the Cascades. The first quarter score read 16-18 with UNBC establishing their game, and though UFV was right in the game, fouls and rebounding seemed to be the early issues for the Cascades. The second quarter saw a much different UFV team and their defence was the key to UNBC calling a timeout with a score of 22-18 for the Cascades, though the Timberwolves were very much in the game. Once UNBC began to work around the constant double- and triple-team defence on Vasiliki Louka by the Cascades, they were able to reestablish their offence and lead by a single point going into halftime. UFV showed moments of great success,
and it was up to them to bring it in the second quarter. The third quarter started very close with UNBC struggling to hit shots, but also getting more calls from the referees. UFV saw foul trouble early in the second half and it wound up helping the Timberwolves lead by one point yet again going into the fourth quarter. A big score from the Cascades’ Victoria Jacobse had the Cascades up two. The game was still very close, and UFV had a chance to defeat the undefeated Timberwolves but it would take some heroics. Those heroics came from the Cascades’ Madeline Beerwald who hit the game-winning midrange jumper to put UFV ahead by four points with only 12 seconds left. This did it, and UFV defeated UNBC by a score of 72-66. Taylor Claggett had a great showing for the Cascades, scoring 28 points and going 16-19 from the free-throw line. Big nights from Jacobse as well as Vasiliki Loula from the Timberwolves rounded out just some of the impressive performances from night one. Coming into the second game, the question remained: Could UFV beat a team this talented two nights in a row? The first quarter went much better for UFV, who reversed their trends from the game before and started strong. A layup for Katelyn Mallette closed out the first quarter, the score
reading 20-14 for UFV. A tough night shooting the ball for Timberwolves’ Maria Mongomo helped the Cascades hold onto the lead in the second, with UNBC coming back at times and UFV firing back. The halftime score was a fifteen-point lead for the Cascades and it seemed that things were starting to come together. Madison Landry got the score to a close 35-37 for UFV at the 7:20 mark of the third quarter, but Kate Head, who went down with a knee injury prior to the half, had other plans and hit a three-point shot to make it a two-score game. The game came right back to what it was the night prior: a close match in need of some courageous play. Madeline Beerwald established herself as a clutch player Saturday night, by yet again winning the game for the Cascades from almost the same spot with only 26 seconds remaining in regulation play! UNBC tried to come back, but the Cascades held on for the unprecedented sweep of the nation’s number-one-ranked team. The Cascades proved their fans right and their doubters wrong this past weekend with a great weekend of hoops. Now sitting at 0.500, they will look to establish a winning record when they take on the UBC Okanagan Heat on the road this weekend.
UFV Men’s Basketball Weekend Recap: Cascades Sweep the Timberwolves in Fun Weekend of Hoops ALEXANDER JESUS SPORTS WRITER
The UFV Cascades came into the weekend at .500, and ended with a pair of wins that landed them at 6-4. overcoming the talented UNBC Timberwolves in backto-back games. The matches were close at times, but due to excellent coaching and responsive and talented players, Cascades fans were once again treated to a great weekend of basketball. The first quarter of Friday night’s game was going great for the Cascades, but head coach Adam Friesen saw that changes need to be made if UFV were going to continue their dominant play. The score at the quarter was 19-10 for UFV but turnovers helped UNBC stay in the game. The second quarter saw UNBC come back a bit, garnering a timeout by UFV with a score of 19-15. UFV’s defence was there, but the offence was lagging just a bit. UNBC however had established their offence and this gave the Cascades more to think about coming down the stretch of the first half. A second timeout was called and with a score of 19-17, coach Friesen was livid. That seemed to be exactly what helped
Nov. 19 – Nov. 24, 2018 Men’s Basketball
Game/Date: UFV Versus UNBC Nov. 23, 2018 Result: Win (81-62) Game/Date: UFV Versus UNBC Nov. 24, 2018 Result: Win (85-79)
Women’s Basketball Game/Date: UFV Versus UNBC Nov. 23, 2018 Result: Win (72-66) Game/Date: UFV Versus UNBC Nov. 24, 2018 Result: Win (74-71)
Men’s Basketball//
UFV turn the game around, because following the fiery timeout, UFV was on a roll. UFV finished the second quarter with a total score of 38-20, largely due to excellent guard play from Vick Toor and Parm Bains and some great defensive play from Cascades centre Sukhman Sandhu. The third quarter was good for the Cascades, but not as good as the second. UNBC began to catch up with some good offensive plays and it looked like the game may get close. This was corrected by UFV, who in the fourth quarter turned up the scoring big time. The score was 81-62 for the Cascades, and five players scored in double figures. The 19-point win was big for the Cascades, who developed a reputation for starting slow on Friday nights of weekend back-to-backs. This was proven wrong, but now a brand-new question had emerged: What happens when the Cascades actually play great on Friday? Can they still show up in excellent form on the Saturday? Early on in the second game of the weekend, it was clear that Timberwolves’ #4 Jovan Leamy was in for a big night. How could we tell? He opened the scoring with a dunk! It wouldn’t be his
UFV Cascades Sports Scores
only dunk of the game either, as he had big success throughout Saturday’s game. The first-quarter score read 27-23 for UNBC, which was a little shocking considering how well the Cascades looked just a night prior. UNBC also managed to do something they hadn’t been able to do on Friday: hold a lead. Going into the half, it was clear that UFV would have to correct their scoring woes, while also finding a way to slow down Leamy, who had 15 points in the first half. In the third quarter, at the 6:17 minute mark Vick Toor hit a layup to make the score 47-45 and, in some ways, it began to set up the comeback for UFV. Parm Bains and Sukhman Sandhu started balling out of control, with Bains shooting from deep as well as mid-range, and Sandhu shooting what seemed like constant well-timed three-point shots and defending with passion. UFV would find their stride and win the rematch 8579, marking a back-to-back sweep for the Cascades. Now 6-4, the Cascades will look to keep their win streak when they take on the UBC Okanagan Heat on the road this weekend.
Men’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV Versus CBC Nov. 23, 2018 Result: Win (3-2) Game/Date: UFV Versus CBC Nov. 24, 2018 Result: Loss (0-3)
Women’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV Versus CBC Nov. 23, 2018 Result: Win (3-0) Game/Date: UFV Versus CBC Nov. 24, 2018 Result: Win (3-1)
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ARTS
VOL. 26 // ISSUE 31
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018
arts@ufvcascade.ca Martin Castro — Arts Editor
Album Review //
Once more with feeling A soul giant’s farewell from beyond the grave
CHARTS 1
Stephen Carl O’Shea & Sylvia Platters Shadow Steps (split)
2
BadBadNotGood, Thundercat, Flying Lotus King of the Hill (single)
3
Kristin Witko Now Am I Feeling (Single)
4
Wish Lash Altar of Doubt
5
Dan Mangan More or Less
6
Grapetooth Grapetooth
7
Lié Hounds
8
Art d’Ecco Trespasser Ian William Craig Thresholder
9 10
Various Invisible Channel: Live Sessions From CJSW 90??.??9 FM
11
Jock Tears Bad Boys
12
J Mascis Elastic Days
13
Colin James Miles to Go Jacques Greene
14 Fever Focus 15
Parker T. Pettus People Like Us
16
Miya Folick Premonitions
17
TWRP Together Through Time Folly and the Hunter
18 Remains 19
Part Time Spell #6
20
Jon Hopkins Singularity
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SHUFFLE AARON LEVY
CIVL STATION MANAGER
CIVL and Station Manager Aaron Levy are partnering with MCC and Inaugural Fraser Valley Music Award winner for hip-hop, Saint Soldier, to work with local young adults on “speaking their mind” and sharing their own personal experiences through spoken word, music, and storytelling. Here are four songs in honour of the Speak Your Mind project!
No Doubt - “Don’t Speak” Flamenco guitars, a reggae vibe chorus, and a Marilyn in the Garden of Good and Evil style video that probably has a more specific than Adam and Eve literary reference to it and I haven’t placed it yet ... This is who Michael Moore blames for the Donald era of America. Green Day - “F.O.D.” The closer to Green Day’s breakout commercial success, ironically, or just purposively, is named after a euphemism for making a bowel movement, but this song is more than just an F-U to the mainstream; it’s also a torch song. “Something’s on my mind / it’s been for quite some time.” Do Make Say Think “In Mind” The first song on the first record released by this instrumental Toronto fore-bearer of the Torontopia musical revolution to include vocals. Not the opening track, but the inaugural vocalization. It’s been a decade and they haven’t repeated the trick yet. Something to keep in mind for the time being. Tool - “H” One of the least favourite and most popular bands of all time (go figure), but this song, from an album thematically in tribute to one of the greatest and bravest comedic minds of all time, Bill Hicks, includes the emphatic chant, amidst some sick bass: “I don’t mind.”
MARTIN CASTRO ARTS EDITOR
Full disclosure: the only thing I’ve listened to this past week has been a mix of The Birthday Party’s Live 81-82 comp, Childbirth’s 2015 release Women’s Rights as well as songs cherry-picked from Chastity Belt’s discography, and Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers’ 1959 bop scorcher, Moanin’. All this to say, Charles Bradley’s posthumous Black Velvet, released at the beginning of November, has made its way to my ears without the luxury of in-genre context. Charles Bradley died more than a year ago, on Sept. 23, 2017. He was 68 years old. Only six years earlier, Bradley had released his first record after a life moonlighting as a James Brown impersonator while working day jobs as a plumber and chef. In the time since, Bradley made a name for himself as the inheritor of soul’s mantle — a mantle he held until his death in 2017. Black Velvet evokes a portrait of a man whose life was defined by music, and who died (though perhaps sadly, in our eyes) having made it. Through tracks like “(I Hope
You Find) The Good Life” and “Slip Away,” Bradley pays homage to the soul of the late ‘70s and ‘80s after which he modeled his career; and though both tracks are technically and emotionally impressive, connecting with listeners fairly easily, they seem to characterize an attempt by Bradley to reach out to more varied influences in his music — an attempt that works on “Slip Away,” but doesn’t deliver as well on “The Good Life.” Perhaps not surprisingly given that “Changes,” one of Bradley’s most successful tracks to date, was a cover of the Black Sabbath original, one of the tracks that works the best on this record is a Neil Young cover. Bradley’s soul affectations play particularly well on “Heart of Gold.” Backed by a horn section and a tight rhythm element, “Heart of Gold” emphasizes the best that Bradley had to offer. Accompanied by the Menahan Street Band on the bulk of the record, Bradley’s James Brown-influenced soul is best highlighted by three tracks on Black Velvet. The first of these is “I Feel a Change,” a slow-cooked jam
that grounds itself in simple soul instrumentals and gives Bradley a football field’s worth of space to sing, and boy does he use it all. Romantically hopeful in an “America at the end of the 1970s” kind of way, Bradley’s voice takes centre stage in a soul powerhouse of a track. Given that the record was released posthumously, it seems especially appropriate that an electric re-recording of “Victim of Love” ought to be the closer on Black Velvet. On it, Bradley is back at home base: explicitly comfortable in screaming out his love for (we assume) a beloved. More than likely though, is that the track is as touching as it is because music for Bradley was, indeed, a labour of love. A fitting farewell from an artist whose tenacity in commitment to his chosen medium is immediately apparent, Black Velvet will likely have you pining for further contributions to music from Bradley. Thankfully, he left behind a back-catalogue through which you might get to know him, or, if you’re already acquainted, greet him once more.
ARTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
Soundbites //
Anderson Paak Oxnard
Ted Nugent The Music Made Me Do It
The Nuge is back! With no restraints, the music made him do it. This is the rock and roll of freedom. We’re talking a rock and roll of plenty, celebrating big hair, big mudders, and big guns. Grab a brewski out of the Cariboobranded mini-fridge you won at that hotdog eating contest last May that fits perfectly in your cabin-in-the-woodsthemed man cave, and blast some Nugent while you admire your wall of trophy antler racks. This album literally
has it all: We’re talking guitar solos on top of drum rolls on top of guitar solos. You know what else? Guitar solos. Wee waa woo wee. Rock and roll is God’s second most important gift to the world, and Nugent’s The Music Made Me Do It is a full-on celebration of our right to rock. A bit on the nose for you? Give the album a listen and tell me this ain’t a rescue winch for the soul.
JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR
FOR THE POSITIONS OF:
For some reason, I’ve been listening to a lot of mellow French coffee shop music recently, and I’ve been living my life to match — languid, unhurried, eating too many croissants. So hitting shuffle on Anderson .Paak’s Oxnard was like opening a door that led straight to a sweaty dance floor — and that’s exactly what my kitchen turned into when I hit play. (Which my neighbours probably found entertaining; my large kitchen windows look out onto the street below.) “Who R U?,” “Mansa Musa,” and “Headlow” especially will get ya groovin’.
And although the songs are bumpin’, the lyrics aren’t anything special. Anderson talks about fame, money, lying, and love — nothing groundbreaking. But if you aren’t looking for anything fresh, it doesn’t matter, because the groove factor makes up for it. In “Light Weight” (not on Oxnard) he says “You know I really can’t fuss about it / you know I really can’t funk without it” and I agree. Damn, Anderson, I’ll never funk the same again.
CAT FRIESEN
TAKE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF STUDENT RELATED STUFF!!!
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