Vol. 22 Issue 23
September 24, 2014 to September 30, 2014
No contact with the outside world since 1993
Jesus: man or myth? p. 3
ufvcascade.ca
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NEWS News
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Opinion
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Culture
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Arts in Review
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Sports & Health
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News
Briefs
UFV International heads to Abbyfest UFV International heads to Abbyfest Saturday, September 27 to represent UFV’s international community. Abbyfest is an annual multicultural festival at the Abbotsford Ag Rec Centre with food, music, and entertainment. UFV is presenting a fashion show, cultural garden, and various dance performances.
Disciplinary thinking and writing workshop Writing and assessment scholar John Bean is holding two interactive workshops on September 26 in room B121. The workshop, entitled “Alternatives to the Research Paper: Designing Short, Low-Cost Writing Assignments that Promote Inquiry, Deep Learning, and Critical Thinking in Your Discipline” shows how short writing assignments can enhance comprehension, as well as how to use rubrics to strengthen writing skills. Registration is available online at ufv.ca/tlc/events.
Free career and life planning
The counselling department is offering free career and life planning workshops on the Abbotsford campus. The sessions are free and include career assessments on interests, personality, and values. The next session is September 24 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and requires registration through counselling services.
Pipelines, Rights, and Boundaries On Monday, September 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., a panel will discuss land claims and boundaries with regards to the Keystone XL pipeline and aboriginal rights. Speakers include filmmaker Hugh Brody, municipal councillor Patricia Ross, and Associate Dean of Faculty Ken Brealey.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
What’s down the PIPE?
Not sewer rats ... a visual arts journal! UFV is curating a new publication for art students to show their stuff.
What does religion mean to you? For many, religion has become little more than a series of rituals. Vanessa Broadbent shares her perspective on how it’s important not just to talk the talk.
A whiff of VIFF Interested in the ins and outs of the upcoming Vancouver film festival? Check out film critic Michael Scoular’s preview and analysis. Expect further VIFF coverage as the festival continues.
“The Bitch Is Back”
Elton John and band graced Vancouver’s stage, singing everything from “Funeral for a Friend” to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Check out our concert review.
Teeing up for the season
How is golf shaping up to look this year? Coach Bertram is feeling optimistic about his teams and is eager to share the details with you in Nathan Hutton’s latest article.
Nobody wins come lunchtime: food services are lacking KATIE STOBBART
everyone else. But I find it hard to believe pizza, for instance, needs to be $3.49 a slice. I overheard a cafeteria employee last week saying the reason for the price was based on the cost of ingredients. Really? Then how are so many businesses able to stay afloat selling pizza for less than $2 a slice? AfterMath’s prices can be a little better, unless you want nachos ($13, as there’s no halfplate anymore). But with new options this year, some of the better menu items from last year (paninis, flatbread pizzas) are no longer offered. The new pizza that sits for hours slowly becoming less edible in the warmer is not worth
the per-slice price of $2.69. But ultimately, time is what makes each an ineffective lunch stop for students trying to squeeze their meal in between classes. Between the wait to order food, the wait for food to appear, and the wait to pay for that food, it can take between 30 minutes and an hour to grab lunch from either location. Their hours are also limited, each closing early in the evening Monday to Thursday, and even earlier Friday afternoons. Classes are still going on; students are still here. In light of that alone, does either really fit the definition of “service?” If students don’t have the time and cash to spend, other options are limited. You can join the Tim’s line for a bagel; trek down to the bookstore where the Press Café waits, empty, for someone to figure out they have to ask at the other cash register; or you can pop over the Finnegan’s. That is, unless a bag of chips and a coffee from the Roadrunner is your ideal lunch. Maybe it’s easier to find food on campus now than it was years ago. But I’m sure I’m not the only one who still dreams of a quick, affordable, quality meal on campus.
News Editor megan@ufvcascade.ca Megan Lambert
Production Assistant shyanne@ufvcascade.ca Shyanne Schedel
Printed By International Web exPress
Opinion Editor brittney@ufvcascade.ca Brittney Hensman
Varsity Writer nathan@ufvcascade.ca Nathan Hutton
Culture Editor nadine@ufvcascade.ca Nadine Moedt
Staff Writers breckles@ufvcascade.ca Taylor Breckles
Arts Editor sasha@ufvcascade.ca Sasha Moedt
vanessa@ufvcascade.ca Vanessa Broadbent
Sports Editor catherine@ufvcascade.ca Catherine Stewart
martin@ufvcascade.ca Martin Castro Contributors Owen Coulter, Jacquie Frost, Jeremy Hannaford, Marissa Harder, Ashley Hayes, Daniel Holmberg, Jeff Nuij, Alex Rake, Rebecca Robertson, Michael Scoular, Jasmine Sprangers, Tori Thistlethwaite, Jeffrey Trainor
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Frustration with food services on campus is not news. The years of competition between AfterMath and the cafeteria have been written about in The Cascade time and again, as have been the politics surrounding each — for example, the latter’s strict contract with UFV and the former’s struggles to break even. Since UFV is a commuter campus, it’s not unusual to hear of students staying on campus between classes. Furthermore, leftovers are perishable and few want to — or should! — eat a ham sandwich that has been sitting in a bag for more than a couple hours. So food services on campus really need to be that: services. Though students have been complaining absout food both in and out of these pages for time immemorial (old complainants have long graduated to make way for the new), the pickings on campus are still slim. Sure, both the cafeteria and the campus lounge have their merits when it comes to meal-time decision-making, and each tries its best to win student loyalty. The cafVolume 22 · Issue 23 Room C1027 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 Editor-in-Chief katie@ufvcascade.ca Katie Stobbart Managing Editor valerie@ufvcascade.ca Valerie Franklin Director of Business Development joe@ufvcascade.ca Joe Johnson Webmaster ashley@ufvcascade.ca Ashley Mussbacher Copy Editor kodie@ufvcascade.ca Kodie Cherrille
Image: The Cascade
Time makes both AfterMath and the cafeteria ineffective choices. eteria’s grab-and-go breakfast options (muffins, specialty scones, bars) are convenient and tasty. AfterMath has a shiny new menu with only one typo this time, can nuke a good bowl of mac ‘n’ cheese, and has been pretty good, in my experience, about putting an apology basket of fries on the table when the situation warrants it. But each also suffers marked disadvantages when it comes to price, time, and quality of service. In the cafeteria, a small clamshell of veggies is about $5. A salad from the case is over $7. I know, Sodexo: you’ve got people to pay and ingredients to buy, just like
Production and Design Editor stewart@ufvcascade.ca Stewart Seymour Art Director anthony@ufvcascade.ca Anthony Biondi
Cover image: Anthony Biondi
The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It provides a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a circulation of 1500 and is distributed at UFV campuses and throughout Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission. The Cascade is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national cooperative of over 50 university and college newspapers from Victoria to St. John’s. The Cascade follows the CUP ethical policy concerning material of a prejudicial or oppressive nature. Submissions are preferred in electronic format through e-mail. Please send submissions in “.txt” or “.doc” format only. Articles and letters to the editor must be typed. 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. The writer’s name and student number must be submitted with each submission. Letters to the editor must be under 250 words if intended for print. Only one letter to the editor per writer in any given edition. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, Cascade staff and collective, or associated members.
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NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Did Jesus exist, or was he a mythical character? Debate held at UFV offered two scholarly points of view on the question TAYLOR BRECKLES
THE CASCADE
“It is multiply attested by both Christians and nonChristians that Jesus existed,” Michael Horner said in a debate on the historicity of Jesus. Horner, who has an MA in philosophy from the University of Toronto, faced off against Richard Carrier (PhD in ancient history, Columbia University) who argued Jesus is a mythological figure who never existed. The Fraser Valley Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists (FVASH) hosted the event. The audience filled the B101 lecture hall on Saturday, September 20. Prior to the debate, different religious community organizations offered handouts to the audience, most of which supported the argument that Jesus existed. Horner argued that the Jewish community couldn’t have simply created the figure of Jesus because they were a monotheistic religion (believing in one god) in a world of polytheistic religions (believing in several gods), and they wouldn’t have wanted to touch “pagan views” by creating a character so similar to
Image: Joshua Kehn
B101 was packed on Saturday, September 20 for a debate on the historicity of Jesus. pagan deities. Carrier then took the floor, noting that although his idea is not yet the mainstream goto explanation, neither initially was the belief that Moses was a myth, which is now popularly believed. Carrier also commented on Jesus’ origins, stating that Jesus began as a celestial being rather than
an earthly one. He went on to say that years later Jesus was fictionalized as an earthly man. “[This] picture of Jesus then became the most successful among the competing varieties of Christianity … [and] preserved documents supporting their view, and very little supporting any other,”
Carrier writes in his book, Questioning the Historicity of Jesus. Horner and Carrier discussed the theory Carrier presented, Carrier arguing that because earlier cultures had very similar myths of deities performing miracles and being sacrificed and resurrected, it is probable Jesus was
also a myth. Horner argues that the existence of a god means the similarities between these myths are null and void. For example, the Egyptian god Osiris is said to have been cut up into several pieces and hidden, before later being resurrected — as opposed to Jesus having been crucified, buried, and then resurrected. Horner argues that the differences within each myth mean that we cannot judge one’s likelihood based on another’s. Horner also questioned Carrier’s theory because of how young it is, as his book was only released in June of this year. However, Carrier defended his theory. “[Just like with the theory about Moses], that is how change occurs,” said Carrier. The debate ended with a 45-minute question period, and several members of the audience took the opportunity to engage in discussion with the two scholars. Most of the questions were directed toward Carrier, often asking him to expand on his theories, explain his doubt of biblical stories, or further debate the arguments of the opposition.
Controversy surrounds Bill C-36 debate VANESSA BROADBENT
THE CASCADE
Prostitution and the laws surrounding it have always been a source of controversy, and the Canadian government’s new bill cracking down on the practice is no exception to the rule. So it’s not surprising a keynote forum in Vancouver on September 17 leaned strongly in one direction. The event was kicked off by Kerry Porth from the PIVOT Legal Society, who was critical in her assessment of the bill, calling it an “insane and misguided attempt to abolish prostitution altogether.” One of the forum’s featured speakers, Catherine Healy, spoke about her experiences as a former sex worker turned activist fighting for the legalization of sex work in New Zealand. She was followed by a local activist for abortion rights and sex work, Joyce Arthur.
Arthur’s opinion on the bill was consistent with her fellow speakers’. “The premise of Bill C-36 is rooted in the same old sexist, patriarchal, conditional beliefs that we’ve been fighting for centuries,” Arthur said. “It’s not only impossible to abolish [sex work and abortion]; it’s dangerous and unjust … Criminalization removes women from the law and from health care services. When sex work is criminalized, women die.” In an article published by CBC News, Canada’s Justice Minister Peter MacKay argued that the law aids sex workers seeking health care or help from police. He also emphasized the intent of the bill to convict others involved in sex work rather than sex workers themselves. “Prostitution is now de facto illegal, but the emphasis and the focus is on the purchaser and the perpetrator — the pimps who are attempting
Image: Rob Gross / Flickr
A former sex worker from New Zealand, among other activists, spoke against a new prostitution bill. to exploit and gain materially from prostitution itself,” MacKay said. Janine Benedet, a law professor at UBC who testified on the bill, told the Ubyssey she felt that Bill C-36, while not perfect, is an improvement on old legislation. “For the first time, we have a provision that says it’s an act of exploitation to buy another
human being for sex and you should stop because ultimately, you’re fuelling inequality and exploitation and trafficking,” she explained. The bill still needs to be passed in the House of Commons before it is made official, and the intent of the forum in Vancouver was to send a message to the federal government, Arthur told the Valley
Voice before the event. “The experience of New Zealand that Catherine will speak about should send a strong message to Ottawa that there is a proven, better way to protect both communities and sex workers from harm,” Arthur said. With files from Katie Stobbart
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NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Science on Purpose
How your sleeping brain makes decisions without you VALERIE FRANKLIN
THE CASCADE
Ever get the feeling you can’t shut your mind off? That’s because you can’t. The brain is constantly working — and now scientists have begun to map the amazing things it can do even while the conscious mind has gone to sleep. According to previous studies, a portion of the brain continues to stay alert while the body sleeps, in case of danger. However, a recent study from France’s École Normale Supérieure de Paris took that idea further: What if our sleeping brains not only remain alert, but are capable of processing ideas and making decisions without the conscious mind’s awareness? In the experiment, led by cognitive neuroscientist Sid Kouider and PhD student Thomas Andrillon and published online in Current Biology, researchers hooked 18 participants up to an electroencephalogram (EEG), then instructed them to categorize words by pressing a button as they were falling asleep. The subjects listened to a list of words and pressed either a left or right button to sort them into categories: first selecting words for animals or objects from the list, and then sorting real words like “hammer” from pseudo-words
Image: Anthony Biondi
It turns out the little voice in your mind doesn’t actually do most of the “thinking” work. like“fabu.” Once the subjects fell asleep, researchers repeated the experiment with a new set of words — with fascinating results. Despite the subjects
being completely asleep, the EEG showed that their brains were still able to understand and categorize the new words just as accurately as they had when they were awake.
It took two to three times longer for the subjects to process the information than it had when they were awake. However, even the electrical activity that would have
caused their fingers to press the left or right button was still present — although because they were asleep, their hands remained physically motionless. “[The study shows] that the sleeping brain can be far more ‘active’ in sleep than one would think,” Kouider said to BBC. “This explains some everyday life experiences such as our sensitivity to our name in our sleep, or to the specific sound of our alarm clock, compared to equally loud but less relevant sounds.” Even more fascinating is that when they woke up, the subjects had no memory of the tests that had occurred while they were asleep. That means that not only did they process and sort the information while asleep, but their brains did it entirely automatically, without any guidance from their conscious minds. What does this mean for the average sleeper? Nothing yet — but it could pave the way to a future where you can wake up smarter than you were when you went to bed. Kouider told the Christian Science Monitor that there’s a lot of interest in harnessing the unconscious brain’s power to learn while we sleep. “I don’t think it’s science fiction,” he said. “I think that’s where we’re going.”
UFV’s PIPE journal offers new way to showcase students’ artistic talent JEFFREY TRAINOR
CONTRIBUTOR
There’s a new magazine on campus. The PIPE journal has been started by students to create a space to publish artwork. Visual arts students David Seymour, Terrill Smith, and Julie Epp are curating PIPE in the hopes of “creating a legacy in the department” and giving UFV another “rigorous and studious academic publication.” The name for the journal was drawn from a popular painting by French surrealist painter Rene Magritte called “The treachery of images.” It features a smoking pipe with the words “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” written beneath, translating to “this is not a pipe.” Smith, PIPE’s executive director, added that on top of the artistic connection, the
symbol of a pipe is associated with ideas of academia and study. Many visual art students already contribute their artwork to Louden Singletree, the literary magazine produced for the past seven years by UFV’s English Department. Seymour, PIPE’s editor-inchief was quick to note that PIPE was aware and grateful that the English department had welcomed visual art into their publication, but also noted PIPE’s intent “to give more of a voice to the artist.” Unlike Louden Singletree, PIPE requires a 500-word statement from the artist with submissions. Furthermore, Seymour doesn’t feel the new journal creates competition. “We’re taking a different spin on it … we just want to promote the Visual Arts department as much as possible.”
Image: Pipe Journal Facebook
The PIPE journal, which is in the process of launching, will curate student art for publication. Andrea MacPherson, faculty advisor for Louden Singletree, said she feels the same way. “I absolutely think the two journals can and should happily co-exist,” she said, adding that student artwork in
Louden Singletree is limited. She also noted that there is more than enough talent to supply each journal with quality content, even in areas that do have slight overlap. PIPE is open to submissions
from any UFV student. Information about the journal, submission guidelines and deadlines can be found on PIPE’s social media pages.
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NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Abbotsforward involves UFV students in city planning JEREMY HANNAFORD
CONTRIBUTOR
City planning doesn’t need to be left to officials in City Hall. Abbotsforward, a new initiative from the City of Abbotsford which was launched in July, is updating the Official Community Plan (OCP) and creating a framework of neighbourhood planning. The previous OCP was created in 2005, and since then the city has undergone significant economic and social changes. Urban designer and planner Patrick Oystryk offered an inside look at how the new OCP will affect the city of Abbotsford, as well as UFV students. “Specifically regarding [UFV], we are also in the process of creating [a] U-District neighbourhood plan,” Oystryk said. The plan has been in motion since 2012, and he not-
ed it would also lay groundwork for future projects. “As the City’s first comprehensive neighbourhood plan, it will serve as a model for future ones elsewhere in Abbotsford.” The first stage of Abbotsforward began in May 2014 and will end in October. Oystryk explained how the report relates to infrastructure. “This report will explore the current state of Abbotsford with regards to land-use demographics, built form, and transportation,” Oystryk said. While there is a plan for a U-District eventually, it’s too early in the planning process to predict what kind of changes could be made around the university. However, Oystryk reports that one of Abbotsforward’s goals is to support the creation of a U-District and create an OCP that will “en-
able it to thrive.” Abbotsforward has set up booths at various summer events such as Jam in Jubilee, inviting the input of Fraser Valley citizens regarding what they would like to see prioritized in future city planning projects. One of these booths was at U-Join at the Abbotsford Campus on September 9, with the goal of getting a student perspective on community issues. “The main objective was to explain the project, raise awareness, and receive feedback on topics such as housing and transportation,” Oystryk said. Despite the bad weather at the event, Abbotsfordward still connected with many students. “We managed to reach out to 105 students that day. In that sense, it was definitely a
success,” Oystryk reported. He mentioned their attendance at U-Join lines up with city strategies to meet people where they already organically gather, to collect feedback. “Rather than asking people to come out to City Hall, we’ll be making an effort to send our planners out and meet people throughout the community,” Oystryk said. One focus of Abbotsforward is to capture a community vision through photographs. People can submit photos of their favourite areas in the city, including parks and unique urban designs. “Overall, it’s clear that people love their city and want the best for its future,” Oystryk said. While there are no students currently working with Abbotsforward, Oystryk stressed the group’s commitment to the
university. He said they are also looking into creating a partnership with a geography class, which would allow students and the broader population to give their input on the OCP. The next stage of city planning in October will identify data trends from the background research report. “Once these themes are identified, we’ll be able to go out into the community and have frank discussions surrounding them,” Oystryk said. “Broadly speaking, we anticipate there will be discussions about density, neighbourhoods, mobility, amenities such as parks, and possibly more.” This stage is set to finish in May, while the entire Abbotsforward action should be completed by December 2015.
Fair Vote advocates for equal representation
Democracy Week elicits discussions on electoral reform VANESSA BROADBENT
THE CASCADE
Our vote may not be as fair as we think, advocates say. The Student Union Society (SUS) hosted a discussion on electoral reform with speakers from Fair Vote Canada. The event took place during Democracy Week to raise awareness on campus about voting. “Any time we can provide some sort of political engagement on campus is good,” said VP external Dylan Thiessen. The event was mostly represented by Fair Vote Canada, a multi-partisan campaign advocating for electoral reform. “I reached out to different professors and instructors from UBC and SFU and all of them got back to me and couldn’t come,” Thiessen added. “We’d like to make it fair so Canadians can have access and register to vote and cast their ballot in any way they want. Essentially, it’s getting people out to vote and the incentive out to vote,” said representative Bruce Behrhorst, explaining Fair Vote Canada’s opposition to the current voting system. “The most important thing is the reasoning that if your team doesn’t have the most amount of votes, it should be represented in the government,” he said.
Image: Wikipedia
Canada’s voting system models the single-member plurality system. Canada currently follows the single-member plurality system, otherwise known as first-past-the-post. In every geographical riding, the candidate with the most votes gains a seat in the House of Commons and represents that area. The candidate doesn’t need more than 50 per cent
of all votes in that district — simply the highest percentage. “You don’t vote for the person you really want to vote for, you vote to block someone else from winning, a candidate you actually don’t prefer,” Les Brown, a Fair Vote Canada volunteer, explained. “That’s a terrible way to have
to vote; you should be able to vote with sincerity.” He followed with examples, including one of the 2011 federal election. “The Conservative Party got 39 per cent of the votes, 54 per cent of the representation, and 100 per cent of the power. That means that 61 per cent of
people do not get what they want.” He described various voting systems around the world, including the proportional representation system, where political parties are awarded seats based on how many votes they have, not simply the percentage or majority. “We’d like to see countries like Canada and the UK turn over to a proportional representation system,” Behrhorst explained. However, even though the proportional representation system promotes several smaller parties instead of two or three dominant parties, this kind of representation can bring up more disagreements and issues between political platforms, making the political system more unstable. “In order to bring this on the agenda we need public pressure and the media to get on board. We need you to get out and speak to your friends and colleagues on this,” Brown explained. “The pace of change appears to be glacial. You never know what’s going to happen. There might be a point where’s there’s an avalanche. If there’s general pressure applied to the political system and there’s a fracture, something really does change.” With files from Megan Lambert
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OPINION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
SNAPSHOTS
Scots on the rocks
Curtailed commentary on current conditions
Flight blight
Rebecca Robertson To separate, or not to separate: that was the question plaguing the people of Scotland. The answer was simple: don’t leave the country that has been a part of your history and has helped you thrive since your birth! If the referendum had passed and the Scots proceeded to think they were better off on their own, it is true they could have turned out to be a successful independent nation analogous to Ireland. However, the more likely scenario would have involved Scotland struggling to support itself financially. And there would have been an awkward transition between two countries that were no longer linked as part of a greater kingdom. Separation could have been suicide, and that is something I was relieved not to see. Scotland is a great country, but it needs its relationship with Britain. Europe cannot suffer the downfall of another country economically.
Courteous jaywalkers
Tailgate tantrum
Ashley Hayes
Catherine Stewart
Brittney Hensman
While looking up flights to Atlanta over the past few days, I noticed something very disturbing: it’s cheaper for me to fly there than to Toronto. In what world does that make sense? Shouldn’t airlines (ahem, Air Canada and WestJet) want to make domestic flights more affordable so people can explore their own country? I don’t understand why it’s so incredibly expensive to travel within Canada. I’ve spent five nights in Vegas for less than the cost of a flight to Calgary. And now, in addition to ridiculously expensive fares, Air Canada and WestJet are charging for checked bags. I understand discount airlines doing this to keep fares low, but come on — super expensive flights plus paying for bags? I guess I’ll keeping visiting Vegas until I win the lottery and can afford a domestic flight.
You know what I just love? Jaywalkers. Love them. Can’t live without them. I especially love when I drive on the road, like I’m supposed to, and I come across a person standing between both traffic lanes, staring at me all doe-eyed and innocent while they wait for me to stop for them. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t actually want to kill anybody, so naturally I slow down. But then they have the nerve to wave me on through. It’s probably unreasonable of me to get angry, but I can’t help it. I was cruising along quite happily and was forced to slow down because you couldn’t walk 20 feet to the nearest set of lights. Then they gesture, acting all self-sacrificing, in saying, “Oh, no, you go first! I’m so generous, I’ll let this car go on by.” Unlike you, I actually have the right to be on the road. Now step aside and go find a crosswalk.
To the driver who feels it is an appropriate gesture to shove the nose of your car in the tail of another because their driving speed is not up snuff: stop. This reaction is a completely illogical way to communicate to the driver in front of you that you think they need to speed up. It is immature, invasive, and unsafe. If this is your way of saying “get out of my way before I rage,” be prepared. That car cramping your blistering need for speed just may slam on the brakes, and your car will be transformed from a bull terrier into a pug. Your reckless haste to get from point A to point B had better be fuelled by a good reason: a woman about to give birth in the car; an excessive amount of projectile blood from the lack of a limb; an act of God. Otherwise, this behaviour is evidence of a tantrum. Seriously: grow up.
The condemnation of ISIS in Western media is useless ALEX RAKE
CONTRIBUTOR
ISIS, a group attempting to establish its own caliphate (a sort of theocratic Islamic state) in parts of Syria and Iraq, has begun recruiting members from all over the world with the help of quality ad campaigns and social media. The fact that some Canadians feel moved to join ISIS is a scary idea for many of us because of the way we typically oppose violence and religious fundamentalism. This issue is doubly unnerving because we are generally misinformed or only hear one side’s argument about the issues in the Middle East. But rather than react to this fear with more fear-mongering, it would be useful to attempt some understanding. Allow me to be a good English student and deal with ISIS’ activity using literature. In Virgil’s Aeneid, the Trojan leader (and son of Venus) Aeneas leaves his defeated city of Troy to establish a new empire — Rome. Although the epic paints Aeneas as a compassionate character, his compassion often
Image: Wikipedia
Media only portrays what it wants. It keeps us in the dark and moulds our opinions, thoughts, and beliefs. weakens in the face of stronger emotions. He nearly shows his rival Turnus mercy, until he recognizes his friend Pallas’ sword belt on his enemy — who had taken it as spoils after killing Pallas — and
he succumbs to anger. Instead of ending with the actual establishment of Rome, the poem ends with Aeneas killing Turnus; the poet forgoes resolving Aeneas’s purpose to emphasize that the
goddess’s son remains human. Aeneas doesn’t need to kill Turnus for the sake of his duty, but seeing his friend’s belt stolen triggers his rage. In the same way, something must have triggered the members of ISIS beyond a religious sense of duty; what sword belt do they see, and on whom? We don’t see much besides ISIS’s violent actions in Western media, when the public could do with deeper information on their causes. Perhaps this is why some Canadians are swayed by the campaigns, hearing ISIS’s perspective for the first time from ISIS itself. I don’t agree with ISIS or any group which uses old religion for its code of values, but dealing with their influence is impossible without understanding their perspective beyond their “bad guy” status. As human context is almost always missing from Western reports of groups that don’t serve Western interests, we deprive ourselves of any really useful understanding by avoiding discussions regarding ISIS’s human context. How is their use
of media to convince us that violent action equals good action any different from our government’s use of media to convince us that voting for the guy who likes Tim Horton’s the most is the proper choice? Or Coca-Cola’s use of media to convince us that a dehydrating can of black, sugary sodawater is a good thing to drink on a blazing hot day? We ought to be as wary of reports condemning what we fear because we, in these cases, seem to support what we fear. I don’t have complete answers yet for any of the questions I’ve posed in this article, but they are worth seeking out. Issues of war and peace aren’t as simple as good against evil, but without enough information our perspectives will be reduced to this. ISIS’s members see themselves as rebellious nation-builders, as goddess-born Aeneas figures, but they are ultimately — fundamentally — humans with human drives. Understand the human, understand the cause, and maybe we can see the world with greater clarity.
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OPINION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Sporting obsession clouds realities of domestic violence JEFFREY TRAINOR
CONTRIBUTOR
The NFL is the most popular sports league in North America. Its empire is so large that the league has recently expanded — from a strict Sunday and Monday weekly game schedule to a third day of action on Thursday — in hopes of feeding the evergrowing appetite of NFL fans. Recently though, the nacho-eating, beer-drinking, fantasy-footballplaying NFL fan has been thrown head-first into heated conversations about domestic violence. With news of notable players like Ray MacDonald charged with domestic violence, Adrian Peterson charged with child abuse, and the release of a video of Ray Rice punching his wife Janay unconscious in an Atlantic City casino elevator, sports television and radio stations everywhere have stopped discussing games and started breaking down court cases. Though it’s wrong to single these players out, these are the high profile cases harbouring media attention. Before the release of the Rice video, he had only been suspended for two regular season games, but after its public release Rice was suspended indefinitely and released by his team, the Balti-
Image: David Reber/ flickr
Does aggression in sports fuel aggression off the playing field? more Ravens. Furthermore, Peterson was not suspended, and was even scheduled to play for the Vikings in the third week of the NFL season, until pictures of his son after the abuse were released to the media. He has since been deactivated from the roster. Vikings
owner Zygi Wilf has publicly apologized for the organization’s lack of judgment and sensitivity. This all begs the question: Why does it take visual evidence of these assaults for us to recognize there is a problem? According to Benjamin Morris
from FiveThirtyEight, there have been over 500 domestic violence charges against NFL players since 2000. Furthermore, there are currently 12 players playing in the NFL who have been charged and convicted in cases of domestic violence, yet were never suspended.
Perhaps this reveals how sports in our society have been placed on a pedestal. Fantasy sports are wildly popular and TV ratings are higher than ever, and for many fans, sports have reached the threshold of religion. The players on the field are gods who put their bodies on the line for your holy cause on a weekly basis. But the high admiration for the person on the field can cloud your judgment in other areas. The athlete, whether it is Rice, MacDonald, or Peterson, has fought on your side and is an important part of what you believe in. This close connection between fan and player, however, is a false one. It’s as though the players are a close friend or someone you know on a personal level. Regardless of how disgusting and stomach-churning these cases are, the popularity of the league is not going to be curbed. Football is engraved in the fabric of America much like hockey is in Canada, and the NFL is the peak of that obsession. Undoubtedly, some fans will be turned off, but the majority would rather separate those on the field from the personal drama outside the stadium turnstiles — a display of the glaring immensity of power held within the fandom of sport in our society today.
Taking a stance means more than paying lip service VANESSA BROADBENT
THE CASCADE
Every time I’ve turned on the news recently, there’s always something about religious compromise. Religious groups and leaders that were once very adamant about their beliefs are now making choices that go completely against what they used to stand for. ISIS is killing innocent people in the name of Islam, and the Catholic Church is becoming more lenient in their marriage policies. I was shocked to learn Pope Francis had married couples the Catholic Church would never have approved of before. It’s nice to see the Church reaching out to a larger variety of people and putting into action Jesus’ teachings of loving and accepting everybody, but is that resulting in compromising beliefs and no longer standing up for what is right? In a society where we are bombarded with opposing views and opinions, it can be hard to draw the line between compromise and being open-minded. So when is compromising your religion and beliefs okay? It really depends on the mindset of the person. I was raised as a Chris-
tian, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve compromised my beliefs a lot. Living a Christian lifestyle isn’t always the most exciting, and hey — as long as I’m a good person it’s all good, right? Wrong. I came to the conclusion that I needed to change my attitude from “How much can I compromise my beliefs without actually doing wrong” to “What’s the best decision that I can make to help me grow in my faith” It was then that I stopped constantly worrying whether I was in the right and for once felt I was finally living a lifestyle that was pleasing to God. I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard someone say, “It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong.” Okay, I get it. Maybe they’re right. But is that the right outlook to have? If we can justify our decisions and convince ourselves they aren’t technically wrong, we think everything is okay. We know that a choice may not have been the best, but we remind ourselves that there are much worse things we could be doing. Christianity has become something people wear, rather than a personal relationship with God. We don’t mind being identified
Image: David Yu
Where is the line, and what is the motive pushing us to dance along it? as Christians, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of what we want to do. Choices are made based on whether they suit the label that people want to be recognized with, rather than if the choice will hinder or help their relationship
with God. My goal as a believer, and a goal I encourage everyone to share, is to stop arguing over if something is wrong, and think about if it’s right. I agree there are some things in the Bible that are
not always black or white, but if you need to convince yourself that your choice is right, is it a choice worth making? If you are going to take a stand for what you believe in, stand up, and stand out. Don’t settle for close enough.
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OPINION
Is 3D printing changing our world for the worse? MARISSA HARDER
CONTRIBUTOR
3D printing is the newest technology that is taking over our lives. And since these machines have immense possibilities, the question arises: What will the consequences be? So far, it’s security issues and job losses. The reason 3D printing is currently hot in the media is because of what you can print. A car, weapons, toys, and accessories are only a few of the possibilities. The ability to print whatever you want might seem cool; however with new technology comes unknown risks and unforeseen developments. One of the main risks that come with 3D printers is the potential of printed weapons. There have been a few instances in Canada, Japan, and America where printed guns were found in people’s possession. It is illegal to have an unregistered gun but that does not stop people from having them. The technology to print off a gun in your own home makes it easy for people to obtain illegal weapons and use them without a trace. There are steps being taken toward restricting the use of printed guns. For example, a company in Japan called Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) is working on software
Letter to the editor
Re: Free Coke on campus draws a crowd — at a cost? Vol. 22 Issue 22, Sept 17, 2014 With the government cutting down on the grants and student community being generally indifferent to the way government treats them (look at the low voter turnout), the people responsible for the fiscal health of the institution have to find ways to generate revenue. Personally, I hate all kinds of corporate intrusions in the academic world, but unless the students become more pro-active in asserting their rights by getting more active politically, the corporatization of education will continue and we will have more Coke and Pepsi and whatnot trucks on campus in future. I find it sadly ironic that the student community finds sufficient time and energy to stand in line for a free Coke, but no such enthusiasm is visible when it comes to voting. The basic rule of the democracy is “people get the government they deserve.” — Rajneesh Dhawan
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Satire
No fun to be had with Orwell’s magnum dope-us SCOTT PROTTER
CONTRIBUTOR
Image: Justin Pickard
One of the main risks that come with 3D printers is printed weapons. that is supposed to prevent 3D printers from printing weapons. However, this software won’t be ready for a few years and the problem is occurring right now. Guns are being printed and modified. By the time the software is finished, it is going to be too late. Another concern is that 3D printing is taking the place of people’s jobs. Manufacturers can now click print, wait a few hours, and have a product ready to go. If companies have printers to create and assemble for them, then production and distribution by hand will no longer be needed. Using these machines may be more efficient to make products and prototypes. The public will no longer have to go to the store to buy shoes and toys because
they can design items themselves and print it off immediately and in the comfort of their homes. Right now the materials available to the public are limited, but innovation is not going to stop. New materials, faster machines, and better results will be created, and retail businesses will lose customers. Being able to print cell phone cases, toys, artwork, and many other possible items is extremely cool, and the focus is often on the fun aspect of 3D printing, but the dangers are real. The changes being made will affect everyone, and this technology has an unknown future; meanwhile the current issues are not being dealt with fast enough.
UFV SPEAKS Dulcia Kroeker
“I think it’s very interactive with the students because we are building that student life here (or trying to) and events like the Coke truck brings people together. I think it’s good.”
The hype around George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four baffles me. I started reading this garbage in order to understand the constant references in pop culture and internet news articles, and now I feel nothing but regret! What actually makes a good book? It’s hard to say, because I haven’t read that many, but sex and violence would definitely help. Now, there are explosions in the book, sure, but only once every million pages. There is sex, but it’s weird and one of the participants is a gross malnourished guy. Plus, the ending makes the whole story pointless. (SPOILER: the main guy just gives up!) The book was long, depressing, and, worst of all, boring. The reality show Big Brother, obviously a huge source of inspiration for Orwell, can cover all the topics of this book with way more thought and style. Really, every book I have read since childhood has utterly exhausted me. Shakespeare, Hemingway, and Bukowski? More like fake
beard, ham subway, and “who cares, jeez” — there are so many better things you can buy instead of books! Why can’t books be more like movies? Movies have never bothered me in this way because stuff actually happens in them. There are no difficult words to figure out, you can actually see all the sexy ladies, and everything’s over in a matter of hours. Plus, you can eat while you watch! One-handing a novel while enjoying a bucket of wings just isn’t practical. I give reading two out of 10.
How do you feel about corporate advertising on campus? Stephanie Dyer “I think its cool when they bring events to campus like the Coke truck, or if Lululemon were to come here, that would be awesome!”
Sydney Peters Mitch Hardington “I’m pretty indifferent to it, but I feel like we should have more diversity, like instead of Coke have Pepsi. It really brings students together but I’m kind of indifferent.”
Pedro Zullo “I’m against corporate advertising within campus because the campus ambience and atmosphere should be free of pushing propaganda onto people or consumerist ideas about how societies should live. It should be an ambience open for discussions without people trying to push their own ideas on people.”
Shivlein Phadohal “I thinks it’s totally fair as long as it’s within the guidelines and it’s fair to everyone.”
“I think that it’s okay as long as the university delegates which corporations should be allowed on the university to sell their product. I think a lot of people would be against the Coke truck because it doesn’t promote healthy options.”
Tabitha Garey “I don’t seem to have a problem with it because I know the school could make money off it; I guess it would have to be censored to what advertising that was and we’d have to be sensitive to making sure that was appropriate to different groups attending the school, but again, if we can make money off it and use that money to help aid is student buildings and projects, then I don’t see why not.”
Tal Wieczorek “Hey, I don’t care, as long as I get free stuff!”
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CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Never ever getting back together: when to take relationship advice from Taylor Swift
NADINE MOEDT THE CASCADE
The signs that your relationship might be less than happily ever after aren’t always obvious. Your partner may not have cheated on you. The sex might still be pretty decent and you might think you’re just in a bit of a lull. There comes a point in every relationship where the decision about whether to stay or go becomes a crushing question mark. The obvious signs of an unhealthy relationship — emotional or physical abuse, or unfaithfulness — might be happily absent, but what of the more subtle indications? Here are some get-out-now warning signals that will help you make an informed decision about your choice of long-term partners. Your partner is almost incommunicado Good communication is essential to any relationship. While it’s something that can be worked on throughout your time together, if you’ve reached the point where you’re considering whether this is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with you should be able to get more than monosyllables out of them. If not, it may be time to rethink your commitment. A key trait to watch for in communication style is selfabsorption. A conversation requires two sides; if you ask
Actually, giving relationship advice is my day job.
Events
September 25 “Madness and Delight” at the Reach
Image: Creative Commons
Listen to your instincts — is it time to call it quits? about your partner ’s day without their returned interest, you may want to bring this to the attention of your lover. It may be that they are simply unaware of their faux pas, or you may be in a relationship with a crazy narcissist, in which case you’d best run for it.
Similar dreams and a mutual respect of each others’ life goals is necessary to make things work in the long term. If you haven’t had the talk, bring it up over baked brie and white wine. Don’t ever make any serious decisions without baked brie and white wine.
Your partner is in a time warp If in any way your sweetheart reminds you of Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite, it’s time to take a long hard look at your standards. A preoccupation with the past and an inability to discuss your future together will not make for an easy ride.
Your partner has ego issues Your partner ’s inability to show any sportsmanship when he or she loses at Mario Kart may have been a little cute at first. But the pride really should not go beyond the epic rivalry between Mario and Yoshi. If your partner continuously oneups you, or has to have the last
word in an argument, they may be showing signs of an inner egoist. If they care more about satisfying their sense of entitlement than your feelings, it’s time to find a new Mario Kart rival. When trying to decide whether or not your partner is a keeper, remember that every relationship is unique. No Cosmo quiz can put you in a stay or nay category. Relationships are never perfect, so if you genuinely care about the person you are with, try working on things together. If you do and it doesn’t work out, you won’t have any regrets at the end of the day.
Richmond Night Market winds down for the fall TAYLOR BRECKLES THE CASCADE
The Richmond Night Market will close for the winter after its final day, October 13. At this time of year the festivities start to wrap up as school starts and people get back to their regular, non-summer lives. However, I didn’t expect it to be quite so wrapped-up already. Usually it’s a good idea to arrive a half hour before the gates open in order to skip the line and find parking. This time, though, I showed up 10 minutes past opening time, and walked right in; no lines, no nothing. The market really is winding down for fall. I could have spun around in circles with my arms outstretched. For the most part, my date and I walked up to any booth we wanted and were the first in line.
Upcoming
Image: 604NOW
Several merchandise and food booths were already closed, including some of the popular ones, like the barbecue booth and Saucy Pops (chicken wrapped in a wonton wrapper and deep-fried with sauce added afterwards). Perhaps the most disappointing aspect to me was that my
favourite deep-fried cheesecake truck didn’t have any cheesecake, only Mars and Snickers bars. My tradition of getting a piece at the end of the night was broken, as was my cheesecakeless heart. Most of the remaining merchandise booths didn’t have anything worth looking at, hav-
ing sold everything but cheap junk. One clothing booth, however, drew a crowd because they were having an end-of-summer sale on fairly decent-quality clothing. I managed to snag a few items for myself, so at least something worthwhile came of going. Although the night market at this time of year was disappointing what with the few remaining quality booths, it still makes a good date night regardless. Walking around, eating food, mocking some merchandise, even finding a good deal every now and then is worth the trip. I would definitely recommend going next year. Just try to aim for the beginning-tomiddle of the season if you really want the best selection.
The Reach’s fall exhibition opens Thursday at 7 p.m. with a night of live music, food and art. Featured pieces include 2D and 3D work, “Betwixt and Between” by Dana Holst and Jude Gabriel, photography entitled “By Land and Sea (Prospect and Refuge)” by Marion Penner Bancroft, and Marcia Pitch’s “Between Madness and Delight.” Pianist Betty Suderman and violinist Calvin Dyck will provide the soundtrack.
September 27 Abbyfest
For one splendid day, Abbyfest will rock your world! Two stages of live entertainment, a beer garden, and booths of ethnic foods continue all day, opening at 10 a.m. with a “parade of nations” and a First Nations welcome. Highlights from UFV include a fashion show from our styling fashion department and, near the end of the day, an interactive cultural dance lesson.
September 27
The Berlin Blues reading As part of the BC Culture Days celebration, the UFV Theatre department has partnered up with the Sto:lō Resource Centre for a free staged reading of Drew Hayden’s The Berlin Blues. The play, which starts at 7 p.m., addresses issues of cultural tourism with a comedic spark, including a reimagining of a musical Dances with Wolves, minus Kevin Costner. A second reading runs at 2 p.m. Sunday. Both readings take place at the Sto:lō Resource and Management Centre in Chilliwack.
September 29 Pipelines and rights panel A politician, a planning and development specialist, and experts in human rights and Aboriginal land claims sit down on a panel to discuss the implications involved in BC’s proposed pipelines. Speakers include Canada research chair in Aboriginal studies Hugh Brody, associate dean Ken Brealey, Abbotsford councillor Patricia Ross and archaeologist David Schaepe. The event is free to the public and starts at 7 p.m.
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CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Vancouver International Film Festival takes BC film in a new direction By Michael Scoular
Image: BlueAndWhiteArmy/Flickr
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Image: Leigh Anthony Dehaney/Flickr
ach year, the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) reliably rolls out an impressively vast lineup of films, numbering enough to approach the level of Canada’s “festival of festivals” in Toronto, but curated into small enough segments that the event has an easily summarized identity. This approach has given the festival a diverse audience, appealing to Vancouverites interested in films that the city’s now mostly homologous first-run theatres tend to ignore. VIFF supplies choice beyond what its flagship, year-round location on Seymour and Davie Street can cover, but this has also been the reason for VIFF’s limited publicity as a festival — coming shortly after Toronto, overlapping with New York, and attaining the cultural attention of neither. Industry-directed red carpets and premieres are typically limited to the festival’s opening and closing films (neither of which is guaranteed to bring in directors or actors), and a spot
Image: Dennis Tsang
Image: Bruce Irschick/Flickr
Image: Jhayne/Flickr
in Vancouver is often the only run a film will receive in a major festival, with its closer focus on films from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. Distribution deals are not usually in the future for movies that screen at VIFF, and the same goes for the entertainment news that usually accompanies a production-deal-segmented festival. The films people have watched are what get talked about in line-ups, and with few outside reviewers and bloggers attracted to the relatively lowkey event, even the quickest of snap judgments usually don’t end up on Twitter. Theoretically, it’s as close to an ideal way to engage with new films as you’ll find in the North American festival circuit; and economically, it appears to work, with last year ’s attendance touted as a new high despite — or even because of — the death of its former hub. Before, the bulk of the lineup was contained within the Granville 7; now, it can be found at SFU’s downtown campus,
the Vancouver Playhouse, the Rio, International Village, the Centre for the Performing Arts, and the two main film centres in Vancouver: VIFF’s own theatre, and the Cinematheque, all of them with a different seating arrangement, screen and sound placement, and, to some degree, film variety. However, this year ’s VIFF signals a change in directorship, with Jacqueline Dupuis taking over from Alan Franey. The festival’s mix of films acclaimed at other sites earlier in the year, and its unique Dragons & Tigers series (programmed by Shelly Kraicer and Tony Rayns) — an assortment of Canadian film, documentaries, and the like — seem mostly intact, but a difference in direction is evident with what is now being called VIFF Industry (previously VIFF Film and Television Forum). The series of workshops and guest speakers, many from around the province, is not new, but with a bit of rebranding and reordering of voted-on competitions seems to suggest
Image: creative commons
a push in favour of the festival as a central, shaping force in BC film. Where in past years there was an award for first-time filmmakers in the Dragons & Tigers lineup, now the debut prize is applied generally. The largest award is now for the “best BC film,” with production and equipment credits tied to multiple awards. BC films to date, unlike those made in Toronto or Quebec, do not have a reputation as exportable Canadian talent, and VIFF, as an organization, is looking to find a way into that cultural pool. The effect this has on VIFF’s selection process is, for now, gradual. Six debut films that previously would have counted in the old competition are included in the line-up, and BC filmmaking as something apart from a production location for American television and films is a sensible cause to back. It’s worth noting that Toronto tried a similar approach with Perspective Canada, a program that has launched a number of careers. As current TIFF direc-
tor Cameron Bailey puts it in an article in the Globe & Mail, “People began to question whether these films can or should be thought about as Canadian films, or whether they actually have a larger frame that’s more useful.” This year ’s BC spotlight, which includes a Norwegianset album promo video (for a BC band!) and a handful of relationship dramas ostensibly unfinished in time for Sundance, will at least be an interesting indicator of what VIFF intends to identify itself as, whether a viewer-centric compendium of world cinema, or a proving ground for industry-educated local debutantes. Look for continued coverage of VIFF over our next two issues, including new films from Jean-Luc Godard, Studio Ghibli, and Olivier Assayas (starring Kristen Stewart!).
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CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
If laughter is the best medicine, I’ll take a dose of the Vancouver TheatreSports League BRITTNEY HENSMAN THE CASCADE
Ladies and gents, boys and girls, the Vancouver TheatreSports League (VTSL) visited the UFV theatre and entertained us with an outstanding show last Friday night. If you’ve ever watched the show Whose Line is it Anyway? with actors Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie (VTSL alumni), you’ll know what you missed out on. The Vancouver TheatreSports League is a live improv show. The actors are highly trained to think on their feet and incorporate audience participation into their quick sketches. They draw you in, making you feel like a part of the play. This year is about the 30th time Vancouver TheatreSports League has entertained UFV students and the Chilliwack community. Three actors, two stools, and a whole whack of wit had the audience cheering and busting their guts with laughter. UFV’s intimate theatre space, and the absence of an elevated stage, set an intimate mood. The night had us sitting on the edge of our seats, anticipating what sort of absurdity would hit us next. There was the ghost of “fish-mas” past, men giving birth, Aussies, Russians, platypus served on a bed of turkey basters, and a musical about a Coquitlam bear epidemic with
Image: vancouvermom.ca
a twist — bears make excellent roommates! Anything is possible in improv. Prior to the event, Michael Teigen of VTSL hosted a workshop open to UFV students. They ran through common improv games and sketches to get the students on their toes — the exact state of mind the actors were in when the clock hit 7:30 p.m. In an attempt to loosen up the audience members, we were subject to impromptu gestures suggested by guest star Amy
Image: Amy Cuddy / Wikimedia
Cuddys (who recently held a TED talk), which required us to stand up and hold our arms above our heads to “change our chemistry.” Let’s just say it was a whole lot of nonsense to get us into a silly state, but the audience complied and we were all laughing within the first five seconds of the show. There was spit, there was sweat, there were tears (of laughter), and even a little pee. To top it all off, the night was full of family-friendly comedy — improv doesn’t have to be
pervy to be funny, and no one was left worried if their friend, parent, or date was offended. Though the turnout was less than what it should have been, the night was well worth the drive out to the ‘Wack. You may have missed out on an incredible event, but have no fear — the Vancouver TheatreSports League plays five nights a week at the Granville Island Theatre. They offer student rates for tickets, and it provides a great night on the town. Grab your date, hit up the Granville
Island market for some dinner before the show, and get in quick to grab your seats. You’ll want to catch every second of this intensely entertaining night — and be prepared. Any eye contact, body gestures, or idea shout-outs, and you may just find yourself pulled up to participate with the actors on stage.
Image: Hellovancity
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CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
A quick breakfast recipe that won’t clog your arteries
onions and peppers together in the pan, adding in some butter or margarine to help the onions caramelize. Next, you’ll need to chop your bacon into smaller bits. When the potatoes are looking golden brown, toss the bacon back in with them, and put the onions and peppers in, too. Mix it all up and remove from the heat to cool. When cooled, portion it up into sandwich bags, and pop them into the freezer. Now when you wake up, just empty a bag into a bowl, and microwave it for a minute or two. Toss it in a pan, crack an egg, mix it up, and you’re done. A hot breakfast in no more than five minutes. If you are especially against any cooking in the morning, you can also add the eggs in before freezing, but I like mine fresh. And there you have it: a simple, healthy breakfast made easily beforehand, ready to go first thing in the morning.
DANIEL HOLMBERG CONTRIBUTOR
Far too often people tell me they don’t eat breakfast. Or “breakfast” is a cup of coffee, or a slice of toast. That just doesn’t cut it for me. I think many might agree, too, but then the excuses come out. No one wants to wake up early enough to make breakfast; besides, it’s too difficult to function in the morning. Be that as it may, I’d like to share a simple recipe that can be prepared long before the bleary-eyed, rushed morning that nutrition is needed for. All you need for this recipe is a small bag of potatoes, an onion, your favourite peppers, your choice of protein (mine’s bacon), and some eggs. Dice your potatoes, peppers, and onion. You’ll want to get the potatoes into the pan first, as they take the longest. While they’re cooking, fry your bacon in another pan. When the bacon is done to your preferred level of crispiness, remove it from the pan, and into some paper towel to soak up the grease. Drain the pan, and then start frying your
Image: Giandomenico Ricci/flickr
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this recipe is so easy you’ll have no excuse to skip it.
Style on Campus by Kodie Cherrille Melissa Walter is an English professor who specializes in Shakespeare and the early modern period of literature. She was kind enough to speak to The Cascade about her ‘drobe. Describe your personal style. I’d say functional. Whatever makes me feel comfortable, whatever ’s simple. Also I like to wear natural fabrics like cotton and wool when I can. You say you dress functionally, but that’s a really awesome top. I love this top. I got it at the National School of Drama in Delhi when I was there for a conference. It was made by artisans in north India, and it’s wool. It’s a fair-trade garment. I was told that for those who can read it, the pattern woven into the trim reveals where it was made. The top reminds me of India, and being there was a really special experience for me.
CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
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Image: dmckil/Flickr
While pride events in Vancouver are a draw for LGBTQ and allied groups as in the above photo, Abbotsford also holds its own display of colourful pride, as below.
Parade highlights Abbotsford’s pride CATHERINE STEWART THE CASCADE
Participants in the Abbotsford Pride parade braved sweltering heat to show their support for diversity and pride Sunday. Abbotsford Pride was put on by the Fraser Valley Youth Society (FVYS), whose mission is “to build and maintain networks and opportunities for learning, support and expression among, around and about queer and questioning youth in the Fraser Valley.” It was the parade’s second year running and a cozy gathering of supporters came together to create a welcoming atmosphere, including a shoeless SUS president Ryan Peterson. The pride festivities began with a colourful march through
town at 12:30 p.m. Once 1 p.m. struck, the fun was brought back to Rotary Stadium. Along the field at the stadium were games set up at a few select tents for everyone’s enjoyment, along with live entertainment, and a concession at the front gates. A number of family-friendly tents, including a photobooth, popcorn vender, and a facepainting table found a congregation of kids. Most tables sold colourful pride swag to raise money for the FVYS’s drop-in programs in Abbotsford, Mission, and Chilliwack. Abbotsford Pride will likely be back again next year, perhaps with even more people coming out. No pun intended. Image:
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STUDY BREAK CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
CROSSWORD
It was a dark and stormy night
by VALERIE FRANKLIN
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Jane ______ helped secure women’s place in the literary world with novels like “Jane Eyre.” (6) George R. R. ______, author of the Song of Ice and Fire series, might be allergic to happy endings. (6) Animal Farm author George ______ is famous for his dark, satirical novels. (6) J.D. ______ penned the controversial 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. (8) Charles ______, author of A Christmas Carol, often released his novels in serial form. (7) American writer Ernest ______’s first novel was The Sun Also Rises. (9)
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EclipseCrossword.com
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1 SEAHORSE 3 SWORDFISH 5 TURTLE 8 BARNACLE 10 PLANKTON 12 OCTOPUS
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The Weekly Horoscope
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Star Signs from Natalie Nebula
Aquarius: Jan 20 - Feb 18: Make note: on your 40th birthday, book a dunk tank and have a hamster wheel race.
Gemini: May 21 - June 21: The path twists ahead, but that isn’t always a bad thing. The sun is rising somewhere in any direction, if you look far enough.
Pisces: Feb 19 - March 20: Enter a championship. Even if you lose, you will know that for a little while, you were among champions.
Cancer: June 22 - July 22: You may fear the sisters, but there’s little hope of escape now.
Aries: March 21 - April 19: If two sparrows perch on an elder branch along the road, there may be a storm coming. Seek higher ground.
Leo: July 23 - Aug 22: New people in your life will become old people in your life. This is inevitable.
Taurus: April 20 - May 20: Pinstripes are your hidden calling.
Virgo: Aug 23 -Sept22: Who can you take care of if you don’t take care of yourself? Give yourself moments of tea and rest.
Libra: Sept 23 - Oct 22: If you’re looking to change your life, begin first with your handwriting.
Scorpio: Oct 23 - Nov 21: One day this week, the thing you’ve been searching for is just going to sneak up behind you and smack you in the back of the head. BAM. Sagittarius: Nov 22 - Dec 21: Do not read your horoscope, lest you be swallowed by a whale and spit up on the shores of Newfoundland. Capricorn: Dec 22 - Jan 19: Focus on your studies by focusing on your studies.
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ARTS IN REVIEW
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Album
Phillip Phillips stays authentic in Behind the Light JASMINE SPRANGERS CONTRIBUTOR
Some might recognize the name Phillip Phillips from the PNE this summer, where he performed live. Others might recognize him from American Idol, where he came out on top back in 2012. Regardless, if you listen to Sonic, the Hawk, the Beat, or even Star FM, you’ve probably heard his hits “Home,” “Gone Gone Gone,” and “Raging Fire.” With a unique and authentic voice (none of this Auto-Tune), his music stands out from the crowd. It’s fresh, true, and soothing, yet it also has an upbeat tone to it — great music for zoning out.
Behind the Light is Phillips’ second album and was released in May. It has more of an edgy pop-rock feel to it compared to his first album, The World from the Side of the Moon, which had a softer folk-rock tone to it, and is a more inspirational and personal album. While the newer album still has Phillips’ sound, it is marked by a different tone, a faster pace, and added strings. Behind the Light almost seems dedicated to someone he has loved. Themes about life lessons, imperfection, and little faults are woven throughout. Behind the Light is a mixture of sounds: slow and mellow with guitar and soft strings have a calming effect. A few of the
songs (“Raging Fire,” “Searchlight”) have a faster tempo, though, and are a bit more lively — faster, stronger tones and an undertone of drums makes them edgy. “Unpack Your Heart” is one of my personal favourites. The balance between the strings, the
Images: Phillip Phillips / Facebook
guitar, and the lyrics make for an upbeat, hopeful, and happy song. It’s about acceptance, rough times, and loving someone despite their sometimes
not-so-lovely personality traits. People are people, and little faults can be forgotten. “Searchlight” is one of the more romantic songs: “There’s a fire in me that’s still burning/ I’m sending out searchlights shining out ‘til I find you.” It’s one of those belt-it-out-in-thecar, feel-happy songs. All in all, Behind the Light has awesome, meaningful lyrics and a great sound overall. Personally, I prefer the original sound that came along with The World from the Side of the Moon, and was a little shocked by the new sound in Behind the Light, but it’s still a great album. It makes you want to be the girl he’s writing the songs to.
Mini Album Reviews
SoundBites
The Cascade needs an ad sales rep! Death From Above 1979 The Physical World
Glass Animals Zaba
“It’s the same old song, just a different tune,” go the lyrics in “Right On, Frankenstein,” the second song on the second proper DFA 1979 album. It’s been 10 years since these elephant-faced groove lords put some dirty dance-noise down on plastic. Any fear that DFA 1979 may have deviated from their signature sound is dispelled first thing, even though opener “Cheap Talk” doesn’t burst from the rafters like “Dead Womb” or “Turn it Out” do. Regardless, the pogo-stickstaccato riff and rolling cowbells will indubitably set the mood: dance or die. Bassist Jesse Keeler takes more time to riff around in The Physical World, going into quick modal tangents and playful licks reminiscent of Josh Homme (“Government Trash,” “Cheap Talk”). Drummer and vocalist Sebastien Grainger doesn’t quite sing as high or howl as hard as in You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, but he makes up for it with a lyrical subtlety previously unseen. Album highlights: “Cheap Talk,” “Virgins,” “White is Red,” “Gemini,” “The Physical World.”
Zaba is the debut album from English indie-rock band Glass Animals. “Black Mambo” starts out with an almost jerky drum beat and lightly strummed guitar before descending into a mellow, groovy jam that moves along at a leisurely pace, aided by the occasional bells and what I strongly suspect is a triangle. “Gooey” plays out smoothly, full of bass and harmonies, and pulses on in a calm, confident pace that highlights the other instrumentation on it. It’s oddly reminiscent of elevator music, but in a good way. “Toes” is also quite groovy, to the point where it’s almost stylized. The act of walking will feel five times cooler while listening to “Toes.” “Cocoa Hooves” is one of the more relaxed tracks on the record, at times jazzy, always chill; driven by a minimalist beat and simple yet effective guitar riff, the track builds up to a thoroughly spacious and busy chorus before descending back into a watery lull.
KODIE CHERRILLE
MARTIN CASTRO
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ARTS IN REVIEW
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Concert
Elton John delivers a nostalgic journey down the Yellow Brick Road
CHARTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Ariel Pink pom pom Energy Slime New Dimensional
Shuffle AARON LEVY
CIVL RADIO STATION MANAGER CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy wants you to think of songs, not wrongs, when you think of bombs this week.
Mac DeMarco Salad Days White Lung Deep Fantasy
Aphex Twin Syro
Monomyth Saturnalia Regalia
The B-Lines Opening Band Cowards World Champions of Male Chastity
9 10
Cheap High Ego Wholesale
The New Pornographers Brill Bruisers
11 12 13 14 15 16
Flying Lotus You’re Dead! Stamina Mantis Hondo Animals As Leaders The Joy of Motion The Nailheads Victim of War Alvvays Alvvays
Death From Above 1979 The Physical World
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Acid Mothers Temple & Melting Paraiso UFO Astrorgasm From The Inner Space
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Ty Segall Manipulator
Outkast “Bombs over Baghdad” Really upbeat, really popular, and I feel like it’s already forgotten, despite being a classic Stankonia track that speaks perfectly to the political nature of the mid-late ‘90s and early 21st century from an Amerikkkan perspective. Trippy video that kind of reminds me of Willy Wonka’s tunnel of love and chocolate. Matthew Good Band “The War is Over” “They fear sex and not the bomb, and the rest is just ad-libbed.” The finale on their debut album (before the secret track), this song is about as folkoriented as he’d get until Hospital Music a few years back. It’s a song about maturity and changing times. Rage Against the Machine “Bomb Track” One of the first pentatonic riffs I ever learned, Rage is synonymous with a fiery underbelly hoping to change the system and alert youngsters to their growing inability to live the kinds of lives they want to. They broke up, reunited, and made lots of money though … soooo … yeah, that. The Runaways ”Cherry Bomb” The original Joan Jett offering, pre-I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, as a teenager, and one of the first and most effective youth and alternative rock outfits, packaged and prepared in order to reel in that demographic from an act that actually was that demographic. Sounds like the Go-Gos, right? Ch-chch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch … TV on the Radio “Bomb Yourself” A sprawling experimental piece towards the end of their debut Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes album, this song epitomizes the kind of subtle, sarcastic, and often, of course, ironic hipsterisms laden across TVOTR’s career-spanning output, whether through Kyp’s Rain Machine, Dave’s blogs, or Tunde’s public statements. It’s not their best.
Image: Wikipedia
Elton John has been performing his hits since the ‘70s — and he’s still going strong.
OWEN COULTER CONTRIBUTOR
Fine wines get better with age — and so has Sir Elton John, who turned 68 this year. To say the least, Sir Elton put on masterful performances on September 13 and 14. Being the professional that Elton is, the show started right at 8:30 p.m. The performance remained colourful throughout, and Elton’s artistic touches are as masterful as they were in 1973. He came onstage to a standing ovation in a shiny and flashy green tailcoat, with green-tinted eyewear and green shoes. Fans went nuts when the flamboyant musician and multiple Grammy-winning legend opened the show with “Funeral for a Friend,” and then delivered every one of his classics, ranging from his 1970 selftitled album to his arguably most famous record Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and even including his smash hits from The Lion King. Consistency is key to a superb performance, and Elton John did not disappoint. Rarely did he leave the stage, and he between songs he offered a few sentences explaining the creation of amazing pieces such as
“Your Song.” It was shocking to hear that he and long-time lyricist partner Bernie Taupin never created a song in the same room. Rather, Taupin would write in the spare room, while John expanded on the melodies that encapsulate his grand and artful performance abilities in his parent’s living room. The duo first started working together in 1967, when John was 21 and Taupin was just 18. Taupin played as much of a role as John did in creating his music, which blends together rock, blues, glam rock, and classic R&B. Reminiscing about old classics was a large element in this concert’s atmosphere, and one could not ignore the sheer pop-power as John went from “Levon” to a great rendition of “Tiny Dancer,” then off to a corny but catchy chorus of “Holiday Inn.” That was when a shape-shifting chandelier lit with pastel LEDs lit itself on the stage. It was a great creative touch to a polished, professional performance. Always one to speak his mind, Elton ended with his Lion King classic, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” “I’m going to play this, whether it’s approved or not as being cool,” he explained.
“He came onstage to a standing ovation in a shiny and flashy green tailcoat, with green-tinted eyewear and green shoes.” “I’ve never been cool, so fuck it.” Before he returned for his encore, Elton went to the front of the stage to sign more than two dozen t-shirts and posters, in a rare and classy act. Perhaps it’s this kind of genuine kindness that has led Elton’s bandmates to continue performing with him. Lead guitarist Davey Johnstone has played over 2,000 shows with the British legend, and drummer Nigel Olsson is an original member of the Elton John band, having toured and recorded with the star for the past 45 years. From start to finish, John delivered a masterful performance that, over the two-anda-half hours, highlighted a magnificent career, as well as the vigour and showmanship that have made the British rock icon famous since he took the world by storm in 1970.
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ARTS IN REVIEW
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Cascade Arcade
The most expensive video game in history: how did Destiny cost $500 million to create? JEREMY HANNAFORD CONTRIBUTOR
It was barely a year ago that Grand Theft Auto V was released, and at the time it was the most expensive game produced in history, with a budget of $250 million. Then came Destiny, the MMO shooter from Bungie and Activision hefting a price tag of $500 million! To some, that seems like a very extreme number for making a video game. As the saying goes, “in order to make money, you have to be willing to spend it” — but two weeks after Destiny’s launch, has that gamble paid off? GTA V debuted to resounding reviews and purchase sales that set world records, according to Gamerant.com. The game made $800 million within 24 hours of its release and went on to generate over $1 billion in revenue. But this was a sequel in an already very well-established franchise. Destiny is a new IP, such deep investment was extremely risky. It was a risk Activision CEO Robert Kotick was willing to take. “If you’re making a $500 mil-
lion bet, you can’t take that chance with someone else’s IP,” Kotick said on Polygon.com at the Los Angeles Milken conference in April. “The stakes for us are getting bigger.” But while $500 million is a lot of money, that isn’t all going into the game’s production. There are marketing costs, advertising, additional content, and a pre-release live action trailer. Unlike major Hollywood productions that only reveal their production budgets, Activision is publicly stating how much it cost to put everything in motion. And for some, that
number seemed necessary. Ben Kuchera from Polygon speculated in his article in June about how the investment wasn’t just for the game but for the franchise’s future. “The $500 million isn’t the cost to make a single game, it’s the cost to get a franchise rolling, in the public eye and ready to ship.” Activision used a similar tactic with another one of their billion dollar franchises. After the huge success of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision wanted to cement the series as the juggernaut it is today. For
the Modern Warfare 2 sequel, the production value came up to $200 million. It was the most expensive game in the series, but that risk has paid off tenfold, with new Call of Duty entries garnering billions in sales each year despite smaller production values. The Destiny open beta did provide some impressive stats leading up to the official release. According to Bungie, over 4.6 million people played, making it the most successful beta test in developer history. The number of pre-orders for the limited edition copies were so high that retailers like Best Buy had to cancel orders due to lack of supply. But while certainly impressive, lack of limited edition copies is to be expected — ergo the title “limited.” Mass Effect 3 had a limited edition that was almost entirely sold out prior to the game’s release. These pre-orders tied in to the sales report released by IGN, which stated that Destiny had sold in over $500 million as of day one. The phrase “sold in,” however, means the cost of copies sent
to retail stores — not how well those copies sell. While some believe the game will make decent coin, there are those who are skeptical about its overall success. In the previously mentioned Gamerant.com article, market analyst Mike Hickey from Benchmark Company stated that while the game would likely sell well, “there’s no way they would come close to Grand Theft Auto.” But there’s more to come. Although Destiny was released on September 9, Bungie has a plethora of additional content that will be released via several massive expansion packs. This is also just the beginning of a four-game contract spanning 10 years between Activision and Bungie. While the game’s reviews haven’t been outstanding, the criticisms are irrelevant when you look at how much money the game is making. After two weeks, Destiny has made $325 million in physical sales; as long as that number continues to grow in the coming months, it looks like Bungie and Activision’s gamble will pay off.
Dine & Dash
Rendezvous is a great place to meet JEFF NUIJ CONTRIBUTOR
3033 Immel Street, Abbotsford 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Entrées under $25 Rendezvous isn’t one of those places that catch your eye as you drive past; situated in a little nook of Abbotsford, it can be hard to find, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Everything in the first few seconds upon entering will convince you you’ve just stepped into Italy or Greece: the smell of pasta from the kitchens, the radio playing instrumental music, and the European-themed architecture. The place is also larger than it looks from the outside; there are two full rooms for seating and a bar surrounded by tables between them. There aren’t any sports games blaring on televisions, so if that’s your priority, you’re out of luck. But because of that, Rendezvous might be one of the few restaurants where I can actually have a decent conversation. It’s not like the Keg or
Image: Rendevous Restaurant/Facebook
It might be a little pricey for the average student budget, but Rendezvous is perfect for a special night out. Moxie’s where you have to say “what?” three times to actually hear what your friends are saying and then just say “cool,” even though you still don’t
know what they said. If you don’t come in for the atmosphere, the food will surely satisfy your palate. The menu is pretty basic — everything
you’d expect from a Greek-Italian restaurant. Unfortunately for vegetarians, there isn’t a lot on the menu for you. If you feel like something other than wine,
beer, or special coffee, they lack a mixed drink menu, but if you know what you want they can make it. I ordered a strawberry daiquiri, because there’s not a day that I wouldn’t rather be sitting on a beach in the Caribbean, and they made it with real strawberries! My date and I had the saganki for an appetizer, otherwise known (by me) as flaming cheese, which comes with a shot of whisky lit on fire — though the whisky doesn’t always light, so it sometimes leaves the waitress fumbling. The service is quite good. The waitress almost got me to consider dessert, but after stuffing myself with their delicious lasagna, I would’ve exploded if I’d eaten another bite. For those of you looking for good date places, Rendezvous is a perfect fit, but the quiet environment will force you to actually talk to each other. So think ahead and bring someone who won’t order the $37 full rack of ribs without sharing and expecting to make out after — or do, if that’s what you’re into.
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ARTS IN REVIEW
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Films
Fed Up about the not-so-sweet junk food industry
SASHA MOEDT THE CASCADE
We’ve come to the point where the word “obesity” is often followed by the word “epidemic” in North America — especially in the US, where there are 600,000 food items on the market, and 80 per cent of those products have added sugar. Where studies are emerging that say sugar is as addictive as cocaine. Where a third of Americans will have diabetes by 2050. Yet we still tell people that being healthy is about willpower, not the nutritional content of the food they’re consuming. Why? Produced by journalist Katie Couric, Laurie David (An Inconvenient Truth) and directed by Stephanie Soechtig, Fed Up examines 30 years of American health (or lack thereof). It comes after the 2008 documentary Food, Inc. in examining the power of the American food industry and the deliberate manipulation of how we perceive food as consumers. Fed Up, however, focuses on the obesity epidemic in relation to America’s favourite ingredient: sugar. The parallels between junk food companies today and tobacco companies operating 20 years ago are startling. Sugar companies have fought toothand-nail to control sugar ’s im-
Image: Fed Up
The documentary offered some chilling insights into the food industry and just how much sugar we eat. age. Why does the food pyramid not have fruit and veggies at the bottom? Why do labels not include sugar ’s “percent of daily intake,” even though sodium, fat, and carbs are included? Some of the lies we’ve been told about food and health are uncovered in the film, and it’s pretty scary. Consider your average day of food intake. Even if you don’t have a mocha or a can of pop, you are probably eating over your daily intake of sugar — it’s everywhere. It’s in
breads and pastas. It’s in anything packaged or canned or processed. It’s called different names by “health” food companies: sucralose, maltose, brown rice syrup, agave, maltodextrin. But no matter what it’s called, it all goes straight into your bloodstream. You’ve heard the term “empty calories,” but maybe the term should be more like “detrimental calories.” Here’s Fed Up’s very simplified version of why: Say you eat a slice of white bread, or have a can of Coke.
It’s digested and quickly converted to glucose. Your blood sugar levels spike. The pancreas produces insulin, which is the hormone for body fat storage, and the majority of the blood glucose is turned into fat. Carbs, juices, sodas — all of it just turns into fat in your body. And the problem doesn’t stop there. The sugar is rapidly digested, and your blood glucose level turns to normal — but the insulin level is still very high. Ultimately, insulin resistance caused by high insulin levels in
your bloodstream takes away your brain’s ability to be “full.” So after you eat a plate of spaghetti, your brain will still make you feel and act like a hungry person: lethargic, foggy, hungry, irritable. A veritable couch potato. Exercise — though important — is a distraction point used by companies. Exercising does not eliminate the damage that that chocolate bar has done. Fed Up looks at Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign. It wasn’t originally an attempt to get kids active; it was an attempt to change people’s understanding of health. But once the junk food industry got their hands on it, it became all about exercise. The food companies see us as a culture focusing on being healthy. They then manipulate food, taking out the fat and adding the sugar, and sell it to us. Low-fat, non-fat — these words usually mean added sugar. And artificial sweeteners are just as deadly as naturallyderived ones. Obesity is not about willpower, and it’s not about exercise. It’s about companies slipping sweet stuff into our food, telling us that it’s okay via clever advertising, telling us we’re not being controlled. Fed Up will make you lose your appetite, and that’s a good thing.
No Good Deed makes no lasting impression JACQUIE FROST CONTRIBUTOR
What would you do if a homicidal sociopath charmed his way into your home and threatened your family? New thriller No Good Deed explores this scenario — but leaves a lot to be desired. After malignant narcissist Colin Evans (Idris Elba) is denied parole, he escapes from custody and goes on a minor killing spree. In addition to his murder charges, it is also believed that he is responsible for the deaths of five other women (though the film never confirms nor denies this). When his car collides with a tree, he seeks help from our protagonist, Terri (Taraji P. Henson), a typical, exhausted mother of two. At first she welcomes him into her home with the intention of helping her
Image: No Good Deed
Idris Elba plays every woman’s nightmare in this sadly forgettable thriller. neighbour and perhaps making a new adult friend. Unfortunately for Terri, her new friend is a violent sociopath. But while the characters aren’t badly acted, they lack any real depth. None of them are very exciting or unique: we have the typical best friend, the
husband that works too much, and friendly security guards. Even the narcissistic sociopath seems like a stock character. The entire movie could just as easily have been an episode of Criminal Minds. The unoriginality isn’t terribly detrimental, as any audi-
ence familiar with the genre will immediately understand the characters, saving us from having to sit through too much exposition before the real action started. However, it does mean the film has little chance of being remembered once you leave the theatre. This film’s only really memorable character is the protagonist, Terri. She isn’t the most original thriller protagonist, but she is very likable and smart. We understand why she lets the man in the house, why she starts to be suspicious of him, and why she has to pick her battles so carefully. Her two children are probably the most original plot point this film has to offer; every time she makes a decision she has to take their wellbeing into consideration. She can’t just bash him over the head with a lamp and run, because then she’d be leaving her
children in the hands of a psycho. No Good Deed certainly tries to fit into its genre; the scenes that are supposed to be tense certainly are tense. Unfortunately, the thrilling scenes should have made up the majority of the film, when they only made up about 20 minutes. Even those got repetitive quickly, and a lot of scenes that tried to be scary and sinister came off more like vaguely uncomfortable. The film is mercifully short, with a running time of just under an hour and a half, but even then some scenes dragged on longer than they should have. In that time, the movie didn’t do anything new; even the final plot twist seemed random, and it really cheapened the entire message of the film. No Good Deed was not bad overall, just disappointing.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
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SPORTS & HEALTH
Golf team looks to repeat victory in pressure-filled year NATHAN HUTTON THE CASCADE
The fall semester means good things for Chris Bertram and his UFV men’s and women’s golf teams. The UFV golf program will take their talent province-wide in hopes of getting a chance to take back their national title. The program takes place in four PACWEST golf invitationals over the season before the playoffs. Up to this point in the season, the Cascades have played in two of those four, and dominated the first, winning gold for both the men’s and women’s team. The second tournament didn’t go as well for the Cascades, who failed to capture first place in either division. Cascader Kelly Dalzell, who has won back-to-back individual titles so far this season, is one of the dynamic returning players for the women’s squad, which had a significant turnaround for their championship team. “Losing the PACWEST conference player of the year is tough, but that’s the way things go in university sports,” said Coach Bertram. “Thus far this
Image: ufv.ca
Coach Chris Bertram has high hopes for the golf season ahead. season, Kelley Dalzell has really stepped up and filled those shoes and played some terrific golf. When you put that together with Jen Woods (2013 PACWEST and CCAA silver medalist), who can win any time she tees it up, we still have a strong core.” Bertram added that the team had recently welcomed Nata-
sha Mackenzie from TRU and freshman Hannah Dirksen. “I am really optimistic about making another strong push for a national championship on the women’s side,” he said. Coach Bertram refers to former conference player of the year, Dani Shap, who left the Cascades this off-season in order to pursue a career in pro
golf. On the men’s side, the team returns not only under Bertram’s leadership, but also that of their returning star Aaron Pauls. Bertram and Pauls spent their off-season travelling to the Swiss Alps for the World University Golf Championship. Regarding the growth he saw in Pauls during the trip, Ber-
tram said, “The experience was incredible for me personally, and for Aaron I think it gave him a chance to put himself on a global stage and see where his game stacks up. “His 17th place finish at the World Championships was a really impressive accomplishment, and he is someone who could really take off in the months and years ahead. He’s going into his final year with us, and I know he wants to go out on top.” The last big change this year comes not from the players, but instead from the coaching staff, who have added Jennifer Greggain. “Jennifer brings to the table a wealth of playing experience at both university and professional level, and is already a well-established coach at the Chilliwack Golf Academy. We are so lucky to have her on our side, and she is already making a huge impact. It’s another step in the evolution of our golf program at UFV, and one that I am really excited about,” Bertram reported. It looks like this upcoming year will be one we’ll all need to watch when it comes to UFV’s golf teams.
How to get past your weight-loss plateau TORI THISTLETHWAITE CONTRIBUTOR
Instead of looking at ourselves and identifying our harmful behaviour, we often make excuses for our actions. The crazy thing is, we cling to these excuses and say them so often that we begin to believe that these lies are true — so much so that they become enforcing mantras. When it comes to fitness, there are many absurd excuses that people create in order to avoid making an effort and working hard. One that I hear often is, “no matter what I do, I just can’t lose weight.” This statement is not only untrue, but it functions to displace personal responsibility when it comes to health and fitness. Many people use this one because it makes our failure seem the fault of some force beyond our control. It is much harder to look at ourselves when we are
Image: Ben Watkin/flickr
Reaching a plateau is natural, but a little extra effort can get you through. unhappy and know that what we see is the result of the poor choices that we, and we alone, have made, then to blame something else.
In order to move forward, we have to say, “I have the power to change myself,” and let go of the excuses that make us comfortable. Fitness is not about
comfort; it is about reducing the risk of health issues, and improving the quality of your life. There is a difference between someone saying they can’t lose weight when they are inactive, versus someone who can’t lose weight who is active. When your workout isn’t helping you lose weight anymore, it’s called a plateau. To avoid a plateau, you must change and add to your fitness regime. If you ran 20 minutes a day at 5 km/h when you first started working out and continued to do the same workout for six months, there is only so much this workout can offer you. Your body will habituate to the activity it is exposed to. In order to see results again, you have to do more. You can increase the time or the speed, but the important part is to never let your workout get easy. You won’t see results unless you are challenging yourself. Another important issue to
address is diet. Of course you are not going to see results if you eat poorly and if you make the grave error of deficit thinking. Deficit thinking is when someone says, “I went for a jog today, so I am going to eat this piece of cake.” If the cake is not part of your everyday diet, then the calories you burned will be replaced by the piece of cake, and the activity will not help you lose weight. Often you will actually gain weight and get discouraged. Despite being active, you are eating more than usual and your caloric intake is not seeing any change, but your body is. So if you want to see results, don’t add things to your diet, and better yet, swap that bag of chips for some sliced-up cucumber. Remember, weight loss is attainable if you put in the work! Think about “calories in” versus “calories out.” Get sweaty, and change what you eat. If you do this, you will be successful.
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SPORTS & HEALTH
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca
Cascades soccer team enjoys the home field advantage throughout a winning weekend NATHAN HUTTON THE CASCADE
It’s known around the world as “the beautiful game.” Soccer is a sport with a deep and rich past, and it unites the world in competition every four years. It’s also a sport that the Cascades excel at. The UFV soccer program is one of two that play at the CIS (university level) at the school, meaning they face the best competition day in and day out. This past weekend (September 19 and 20) the Cascades had a chance to shine as the men’s and women’s soccer teams battled in the heart of Abbotsford against two strong teams from the University of Northern British Columbia. The women’s soccer team came into the weekend at 3-10. In the first of two games, the team was represented well by fourth-year criminology major Shelby Beck, who registered two goals by the 55th minute, giving the Cascades a two-goal lead and securing the Cascades’ victory. UNBC’s Sydney Hall would get a goal back late, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the lone effort of Beck, who was also named the
Image: UFV Cascades Athletics FB page
The Cascades hope to repeat their success next weekend against the TRU WolfPack and the UNBC Heat. Cascades’ woman of the match. “I thought Shelby Beck was the difference today with her assertive play up front. As well, Sunayna Samra came off the bench and made a very positive impact for us in an attacking role,” Cascades coach Rob Giesbrecht told the Cascades Media. The second game for the women would allow them to
extend their winning streak to five games, increasing their overall record to 5-1-0. Beck scored again in the second contest of the weekend, bringing her season total to four. With back-to-back wins this weekend, the Cascades leapfrog the Trinity Western University Spartans for first place in the Canada West, Pacific Division.
The men’s soccer team had struggled early this year to remain consistent, their 1-3-0 record being a tell-all. The offense has struggled mightily to put points on the board. Prior to this weekend, the Cascades men hadn’t scored more than one goal a game since the beginning of the regular season. That changed Friday night,
when the Cascades put up not only one goal, nor two, but kicked three balls into the back of the net against the UNBC Timberwolves. The game was punctuated by sloppy play from both teams, but for the first time this year it seemed that the bounces weren’t going against the Cascades, but for them. The second game of the weekend featured a Timberwolves team that was anxious to get the chance to redeem the loss that the Cascades handed them the night before. The Cascades controlled the game early but failed to capitalize on chances that looked like they had been gift-wrapped for them. The Cascades broke through late into the first half, giving them the one-goal lead. Playing with the lead helped the Cascades to secure the win as they took more chances for the rest of the game, getting another goal and winning the game 2-1, extending their overall record to 3-3-0. The Cascades are home again next weekend doing battle with the TRU WolfPack and the UBCO Heat.
Are you working out for all the wrong reasons? TORI THISTLETHWAITE CONTRIBUTOR
It’s no secret: we often measure our worth based on our appearance, especially our weight and body shape. Women are constantly stereotyped as the main sufferer of body-image issues, but it is important to realize that this problem is not genderspecific; men feel the pressure, too. We live in a society that perpetuates the idea that looks are the most valuable coin we have, and because of this, we are presented with advertisements and attitudes that make us feel ashamed of what we look like. We feel like we have been judged, and the ruling is “lacking.” It is not easy to ignore the weight of this judgment, and most of the time we are affected by it, whether we realize it or not. Many of us develop a harmful inner monologue that
Image: Mike Baird
“Our focus should be on health rather than our appearance.” speaks up when we buy clothes, see ourselves in photos or mirrors, are with our peers, and especially when we eat. If people made choices about their body because they genuinely want to
change their lives and live in a healthier way, I would applaud them, but the sad fact is that appearance, along with public opinion, has become the biggest motivator out there.
Most of us are at the gym because we don’t want people to call us fat, skinny, little, weak, big, bulky — the list goes on and on — and furthermore we really, really don’t want to actu-
ally be these things. The most shocking part of this is that the majority of us are not working out to improve ourselves for our own sakes. Instead we do it to cater to someone else’s idea of who we should be. Words are powerful, but cannot maintain a long-term workout regime; neither can shame nor envy. A change has to occur inside a person where they want to work out to improve themselves, for themselves — a desire outside of public opinion. When it comes to fitness, our focus should be on health rather than our appearance. We should still exercise, not as a reaction to public opinion, but because it is the best thing we can do for our bodies.