The cascade Vol. 23 No. 21 by The Cascade

Vol. 23 Issue 21

September 16, 2015 to September 22, 2015

Trying to find parking since 1993

Your soul

THE COST OF (NOT) BUYING BOOKS p. 3 DEAD NAMES IN ROLL CALL

eSPORTS VALLEY LEVELS UP

GO, POKÉMON GO!

For trans students, calling out birth names

UFV gamers’ club aims to compete in

Augmented reality, we choose you!

can have dangerous consequences

p. 5

League of Legends tournaments this fall

ufvcascade.ca

p. 8

p. 11

NEWS News

New club on campus

Opinion

Canada needs to accept more Syrian refugees

Culture

Dissatisfied? Ask for more!

Arts in Review

Gotta catch ... another one

Sports & Health

Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy grades

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

The Feminist Initiative is officially up and running after their first Annual General Meeting saw 22 attendees.

Sonja Klotz argues we are not doing as much as we should to deal with the migrant crisis.

Volume 23 · Issue 21 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 Editor-in-Chief kodie@ufvcascade.ca Kodie Cherrille

Sex columnist Xtina talks about being giving to your partner — and about emperor penguins.

Kat Marusiak gives you the ins and outs of the upcoming 2016 Pokemon GO game for your smartphone.

If a diet of ramen and fast food isn’t cutting it, Shenandoah Heggie has some tips for you, plus a recipe for kale salad.

A stranger on a strange road

Managing Editor valerie@ufvcascade.ca Valerie Franklin Business Manager jennifer@ufvcascade.ca Jennifer Trithardt-Tufts Production Manager brittany@ufvcascade.ca Brittany Cardinal Copy Editor kat@ufvcascade.ca Kat Marusiak News Editor megan@ufvcascade.ca Megan Lambert Opinion Editor alex@ufvcascade.ca Alex Rake Culture Editor seamus@ufvcascade.ca Seamus Heffernan Arts in Review Editor martin@ufvcascade.ca Martin Castro Sports Editor vanessa@ufvcascade.ca Vanessa Broadbent Webmaster brayden@ufvcascade.ca Brayden Buchner Production Assistant danielle@ufvcascade.ca Danielle Collins Video Editor mitch@ufvcascade.ca Mitch Huttema Staff Writer jeffrey@ufvcascade.ca Jeffrey Trainor

Image credit: James Loesch / Flickr

KODIE CHERRILLE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Every now and then, in a spirit of wanderlust, I’ll go on a night drive from my home in Mission to the Trans-Canada, eastbound to the Bridal Falls exit, and then up to Agassiz and Harrison, taking the Lougheed home to complete the circuit. It’s no odyssey, but damn is it ever therapeutic to feel alone, driving through the pockets of blackness, quite often thinking nothing at all. It gives me a sense of escape that I can’t even feel in my house — I’m a lot more comfortable singing my lungs out in a car than I am strumming my guitar moderately loudly in my own room, where I’m unjustifiably afraid that the neighbours will be listening in. The sense of escape that driving can bring is liberating and well-documented. Novels like Jack Kerouac’s On the Road docu-

ment the thrill of being nowhere and going anywhere, the country before you a sprawling possibility. And with the rise of the automobile came also a sexual freedom, because people could drive to where they wouldn’t be found. I suppose that the purpose behind this editorial, where I’m pointing to something in my life, calling it completely my own, is to ask you to find something similar. Do you have a place where you can feel completely alone? If you Google “loneliness epidemic,” you’ll find articles, YouTube videos, and TED Talks about how social media is making this generation very, very lonely. The usual explanation for the epidemic is that connections between people have been made shallower. But what if it’s not the deep connections that we’re missing, but rather the solitude? When I’m driving, I feel truly alone, and I feel free to open up to myself. I can feel angry or sad without the guilt of hurting or

worrying others, and I can make mistakes without scrutiny. I can create things without fear of feeling redundant or pretentious when I’m alone. After a night drive, I feel refreshed, having exercised the small freedom of being by myself. Escape is not a road trip. Rather, it is a digression from one’s own identity, and the responsibilities derived from that identity.

Escape is not a road trip. Rather, it is a digression from one’s own identity, and the responsibilities derived from that identity.

Our online personas never rest: they are open to interaction and interpretation, even when we are away from the screen. The very possibility of someone knowing what I am up to limits my own behaviour, as I get impeded by my self-consciousness. If I see the headlights of another night driver looming ahead, I won’t sing as hard (or perhaps I won’t at all) when we get near each other. Having space to be meaningless in one’s life is as important as having a meaning, because it’s in meaninglessness, those times where you can be alone and not think about anything, where we can play around. A friend of mine had explained how she liked to be a stranger, to go to places she’d never been to before, just to have some coffee and do homework there. Finding comfort can be as simple as that — not being yourself, being no one, if only for a little while.

Distributors Vanessa Broadbent and Tia Oostenbrug Contributors Shenandoah Heggie, Sonja Klotz, Aaron Levy, Kyle Stamm, and Katie Stobbart Cover art: Brittany Cardinal

Printed By International Web exPress 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.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

“We can’t compete with Amazon” Textbook sales lower than ever at UFV Bookstore as students seek cheaper options KODIE CHERRILLE

NEWS

BRIEFS BC Government sees increase in revenue VICTORIA — Despite the decline in natural gas revenue and the numerous forest fires across the province this summer, the BC government will see upwards of a $277 million surplus at the end of this fiscal year. Income and property taxes, as well as sales tax revenue, have been large causes of rapid growth over this past year. The forest fire cost $300 million, but the government is projecting extra spending of approximately $381 million. Finance minister Mike DeJong says that the increase in revenue may result in a modest increase of spending for government programs.

— Black Press Media

SUS EGM fails to make quorum ABBOTSFORD (UFV) — The Student Union Society (SUS) attempted to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Tuesday, September 15. Approximately 30 students came to the 9 a.m. meeting in the Great Hall of the Student Union Building (SUB), but because quorum was not reached SUS has scheduled a second attempt for next Tuesday, September 22 at 9 a.m. in the Great Hall of the SUB.

THE CASCADE

The man who runs the UFV Bookstore admits that textbook prices are “horrific” for students — but to stay afloat, the bookstore still has to charge enough to make a profit. With the Canadian dollar hitting an 11-year-low, the high U.S. exchange rate has UFV students paying more for American textbooks. According to UFV’s ancillary services director Cameron Roy, about 65 to 70 per cent of course textbooks are imported from south of the border, and with a 30 to 35 per cent premium added to the cost, the change is drastic. “Unfortunately, I have to pass along that cost to the customer. That’s the cost of living in Canada right now,” Roy says. That cost of living might convince more students to quit buying textbooks at the Bookstore altogether, and to turn to the internet. For the newest edition of Passer and Smith’s Psychology: Frontiers and Applications — a textbook used in every PSYCH 101 course at UFV — students have to shell out $147.95 at the bookstore, or $99 for the eBook. On top of the premium for the U.S.-printed textbook, a 25 per cent margin is added to the books

OTTAWA — Canada’s Chief Electorial Officer (CEO) Marc Mayrand says that 13,000 Canadians have registered as new voters for the upcoming election in October. The Fair Elections Act, passed earlier this year, causes nonpartisan organizations like Elections Canada to decrease the party platform information for upcoming elections — however, Mayrand says there is still a great deal of early interest. He credits this to the early decision of a specific election date. — iPolitics.ca

Have a news tip?

Let us know! news@ufvcascade.ca @CascadeNews

sold at UFV’s Bookstore to cover operating costs and staff wages. Amazon offers the same book for about $110. One user on Books 2 Go is offering it for $100. Prices are cheaper for students willing to buy earlier editions. Students also buy and sell on the Facebook group UFV Textbook Exchange, which has over 900 members.

And it does look like more students are buying their textbooks elsewhere. “Our peak in revenue was probably in 2010,” Roy says. “And it’s declined over the past couple years about 20 per cent.” He explains that because revenue from ancillary services like the Bookstore goes into UFV’s an-

Despite low turnout, DiscoverUFV’s future optimistic JEFFREY TRAINOR

Chief Electoral Officer notices heightened voter interest

Image Credit: wikimedia.org

Textbook prices are increasing as online sources like Amazon and Books2Go provide students with more inexpensive options.

nual operating budget, the question of where students get their textbooks from directly affects how much income the university sees. “Any profit made from the Bookstore goes directly into the institution. It relies on revenue from the Bookstore,” he says. Less revenue also means less giving back to students. “I routinely get asked for donations and sponsorships, and I feel really proud to be able to contribute to such requests… but they’re not my resources that I’m distributing. I have a responsibility to manage our revenue and our assets.” “It all depends on how many textbooks we sell, and there’s all kinds of competition,” he added. “But we can’t compete with Amazon [with] their volume and their marketing strategy.” Where the UFV Bookstore can compete, however, is in its convenience. Students can find the books they need, buy them, and get right to reading. And Roy believes that there’s a place for the Bookstore, even if technological development severely guts book sales. The store also sells school supplies, UFV swag, and — more recently — coffee. Roy is optimistic that the store can adapt to the times, “though it might mean a change in the Bookstore’s name.”

THE CASCADE

UFV International’s supplementary information program DiscoverUFV had a rocky start this past Friday, September 11. The first session, discussing immigration, had to be cancelled due to no attendance — while the second session on recreation ran with limited numbers. DiscoverUFV is designed to support new international students experiencing Canadian life and culture for the first time. The program’s five-week calendar of events aims to give new international students information regarding UFV campus resources and Canadian government processes. This is the first year the DiscoverUFV program is running for international students. Global Engagement Programming Coordinator Chelsey Laird says the program gives students information — while orientation was more social. “The focus of orientation was more on building meaningful

connections between students,” she says. The DiscoverUFV sessions are weekly — more of a step-by-step guide to university life rather than an overwhelming amount of information presented at one time in previous orientation sessions. Laird says DiscoverUFV will cover topics as they become applicable throughout the course of the semester. For instance, the last sessions on October 9 — nearing midterms — will host a member of UFV’s counselling department to highlight smart study skills. ”There was a conscious effort to pick themes that were appropriately based on the experience of a student in their first five weeks of university,” she notes. Laird says she isn’t too concerned by the lack of participation. “[UFV International is} playing around with times and with different methods of advertising,” she says. The September 11 seminars were only advertised on the new My Campus Life page, but that has since been expanded to the UFV International Facebook page

DiscoverUFV will continue until October 9. and emails to new international students about the sessions. Laird also mentioned they are conducting a survey at the conclusion of the DiscoverUFV seminars for all the new international students on the program to collect feedback for running it in upcoming years. Laird is hoping the results of the survey will be available by November.

Image Credit: UFV Flickr

DiscoverUFV is open to all new international students. This week’s session surrounds the Academic Success Centre and they run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and again from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday, September 18. Registration is required.

NEWS

Feminist Initiative’s first AGM a success MEGAN LAMBERT THE CASCADE

In a small room on the third floor of the Student Union Building (SUB), the UFV Feminist Initiative had their first Annual General Meeting (AGM) — electing their new executive members with crayons. Twenty-two UFV students attended the meeting to vote in the new president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer of the club that started gaining traction last semester. After introductions, acting President Ekaterina Marenkov gave a report from last year about the status of the club. “We’ve just been working on making an identity for ourselves,” she said. The UFV Feminist Initiative is a group on campus advocating for the rights and equality of women. At the student level, club members are encouraged to use inclusive language and talk about issues

that surround gender equality. The group elected Kyle Stamm, president; Mikeila Bellavance, Vice-President; Lizzi Klassen, treasurer; Robyn Mooney, secretary; and Kelsa Quakenbush, events co-ordinator. After elections, President Kyle Stamm motioned to rename the group, formerly known as the UFV Women’s Initiative, as the UFV Feminist Initiative. He said that the idea behind the group is to promote feminist ideas and values, and those ideas are not just for women. “Calling it a women’s initiative excludes non-binary folks. It would also exclude, at first glance, folks like myself who [identify as] male,” he said. The UFV Feminist Initiative is planning to collaborate with UFV Pride and the English Students Association (ESA) on student events this academic year.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

SUB officially opens its doors MEGAN LAMBERT THE CASCADE

The Student Union Society (SUS) held the grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the Student Union Building (SUB) last Tuesday, September 9 to kick off Welcome Week. SUS president Thomas Davies and UFV president Mark Evered opened the building with speeches before students enjoyed free food and games later in the week. The SUB planning, construction, and execution has been in the works since 2008 with a mortgage costing approximately $17.3 million — with twothirds of the cost and building operations belonging to SUS. The grand opening comes after the SUB gradually moved in Student Life, Academic Advising, SUS, The Cascade, and CIVL radio this summer.

Image Credit: Megan Lambert

Images: UFV Flickr

You’ll fit right in. All UFV students are invited to write for The Cascade! Come to one of our writers meetings at 1:00 p.m. on Mondays in room S2111 (at the top of the stairs in the SUB), or email valerie@ufvcascade.ca to be added to our mailing list.

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

SNAPSHOTS

The price of fries these days

Volunteer to be happy

Vanessa Broadbent

Kat Marusiak

Food is expensive and students are broke. We’ve said it before. But, until last week, I thought that I had found the ultimate student lifehack: $2 gets you a lot of fries at the cafeteria, enough to actually fill you up. To my dismay, this semester the portions have changed size and now $2 gets you the same amount of fries that it’ll get you anywhere else — not a lot at all. I don’t know if Sodexo caught on that they might be losing money on the amount of fries that they were giving away, but now I’ll be losing money unless I find another cheap food option on campus.

People often ask, “You’re always so cheerful! What’s your secret?” Well, I’ve always been good at acting happy, even when I’m not. And it’s been proven that if you force yourself to keep smiling and acting happy when you’re down, sometimes it can actually help you start to feel better. I also find interacting with others can help immensely, even just making eye contact with a passing stranger and smiling. Or better yet, throwing a compliment someone’s way! Making someone else smile and bringing some happiness into their day can also bring happiness into yours! As someone suffering from depression, I know it’s easier said than done, but we have to remember that our attitudes can greatly affect our lives. There’s a quote by the wonderful Stephen Colbert that I like to keep in mind: “At every moment, we are volunteers.”

Curtailed commentary on current conditions

Half-up hair? More like halfway to crazy

SUB doesn’t suck Images by Danielle Collins

Megan Lambert

Alex Rake

There’s a new trend around town: the half-up, half-down hair bun. Beauty gurus and style icons everywhere are using the northern hemisphere of their scalps to create a topknot — while leaving the rest of it down. If you thought the topknot was bad — which, for the record, I proudly sport on a nearly everyday basis — then you will know how bad this new hairstyle is. Here’s why: leaving half of your hair out of your bun looks like you’re too short to fully see yourself in the mirror. It looks like you’re carrying around your pet hedgehog in your hair — just in case. It looks like you’re trying to hide your neck tattoo. I could go on. Visually, the half-up half-down hair bun is visually distracting and emotionally confusing. My eyes flicker from top to bottom, taking away from your beautiful face, while trying to figure out, “How is she feeling today?” I wonder if you just woke up and are late for class (hair up) or if you’re feeling like a sexy mermaid (hair down). The half-up halfdown hair bun is simultaneously broadcasting two totally different moods to the world — the first sign of insanity.

Wow, look at that Student Union Building! People are actually using it! I was a little worried that the place would remain as empty as it was in the summer, but two weeks into this semester, the building has a pleasantly busy atmosphere. Having the campus restaurant in the same place as the CIVL, Cascade, and SUS offices was a good idea, too. Students who are hungry or need a place to hang out now have no excuse for their ignorance of these organizations, and I expect the coming year will see a lot more campus engagement because of it. The SUB is exactly the kind of place UFV needed to feel like more than a huge high school.

Transgender students, dead names, and roll call KYLE STAMM CONTRIBUTOR

Everyone knows that heading back to school can be a little nerve-wracking. There can be a lot to take in all at once, especially for those heading into their first year of university. For most students, the last thing on their mind is whether or not their information on record is accurate. For transgender students, however, that may be the only thing they are thinking about. In the transgender community, the term “dead name” is commonly used to refer to a name given to a person at birth which they no longer use. For cisgender folks (that is, people who identify with the gender they were assigned at

birth), their birth name is likely a large part of their identity. It is how their friends and family addressed them growing up, and may have some cultural, familial, or generational significance. For a transgender person, however, their dead name may be of little significance to their identity. As part of their coming out, they may choose a name that better reflects their gender identity. With this in mind, it is important to remember that calling a transgender person by their dead name can have devastating consequences for their safety. It can make them the target of physical violence, especially for those who are not “out” as transgender. It can also be psychologically harmful if it triggers gender dysphoria,

which can produce symptoms similar to those of depression or anxiety. Instead, transgender people usually prefer to be called by a name — and often a pronoun set — that affirms their gender identity, reducing gender dysphoria and acting as a layer of protection against trans-antagonistic violence. Due to the way UFV classes are structured, transgender students can expect an extra little speed bump on the first day of classes: roll call. The one downside of small class sizes is that seating is limited, and the prof is going to have to go through the class list alphabetically to make sure that everyone who registered can get in. If you are trans, the thought of having the prof call out a dead

name to the whole class is likely to set your teeth on edge. Similarly, a student email account that uses a dead name is reason enough to start shopping around for a new email client. Fret not, fellow student! I spoke to Nisha Mahil, an enrolment services assistant with the Office of the Registrar, about steps that transgender students can take to remove dead names from their student records. Even if they are unable to undergo the legal process needed to officially request a name-change with the provincial government, amending personal information is incredibly simple: “Students can visit any Office of the Registrar and ask to have a preferred name added to their file.” Just like that, students can

give a preferred name at any time and have it appear on the class list that their professors receive. In fact, “[the only time] a student would need to provide namechange documents [is] if they wish to change their legal name within our system.” But what about making changes to the information used by UFV’s online services, like the student email? All they need to do is talk to IT Services. According to Nisha, “a request should [be] sent by the student in order to update Blackboard, student email, etc.” That’s it: two simple steps are all you will need to improve your university experience and help keep yourself safe. Now get out there and have fun!

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Canada should do

www.ufvcascade.ca

more about the migrant crisis SONJA KLOTZ CONTRIBUTOR

As a young immigrant to Canada, I see this nation as a place of refuge, safety, and civil peace. In comparison to where I came from, Canada has given me an education, accessibility to stable social services and healthcare, and a sense of empowerment for who I am as an individual. So what is it that we as Canadians can do to be that nation of peace and diversity? Give the right of passage to more Syrian refugees. According to the UN Refugee Agency website, there has been an increasing number of refugees since the Arab Spring in January 2011, from only 8,000 to over 4 million and counting, all fleeing from war-torn communities throughout the Middle East. Oddly enough, according to the UN Refugee Agency, last month, 47 per cent of those from Syria claiming asylum fled to Germany and Sweden, and 33 per cent fled to Austria, Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands — while only 20 per cent fled to “other” categorized countries. Canada was not even listed as a notable receiving country! Immigration Minister Chris Alexander commented on Canada’s role in the Middle Eastern migrant crisis in an interview with CTV, stating that Canada needs to “continue accelerating [its] refugee resettlement” in order to meet the Conservative government’s goal of granting 10,000 refugees asylum

Image: FreedomHouse / Flickr

Canada has more geographical space and resources than many countries, but is accepting fewer refugees. over the course of three years. But 10,000 refugees is not enough. Compared to all the countries that are currently accepting well over Canada’s prospective 10,000 Syrian refugees, we have more geographical space and resources to provide the proper refuge for displaced groups. Why should Canada resettle fewer refugees than European countries that are already overpopulated with limited resources and services? For example, according to the Guardian, Germany expects to resettle 800,000 Syrian refugees this year alone, adding significantly more to their already-existing population of 80 million. This influx in population growth will put Ger-

In the words of Pope Francis in his recent address to the Roman Catholic Church, “It’s not enough to say, ‘Have courage, hang in there.’” many’s natural resources and geographical space in a vulnerable social, political, and economic state — unlike in Canada, where we have an overwhelming amount of available land, resources, and services that could assist the resettlement of Syrian

families. The question that continues to surface in political coverage concerns the prioritization of the current federal budget. Should Canada set aside a significant portion of the budget for military defense? Or should they allot part of the budget for more refugee resettlement programs? According to a recent poll posted by the Toronto Star, 24 per cent of Canadians agree with the Conservative government’s plan to take military action against ISIL and keep the resettlement numbers down to only 10,000 Syrian refugees over three years, whereas 52 per cent of Canadians believe that we need to open our borders wider and let more in.

Of course, having a large group of refugees who are claiming political and religious asylum will increase Canada’s socio-political and infrastructural challenges. When we let in a group of people who are fleeing from a war-torn region of the world, it is difficult to ignore any form of potential threat to the cohesion of our Canadian society. But, in the words of Pope Francis in his recent address to the Roman Catholic Church, “Faced with the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees who are fleeing death by war and by hunger, and who are on a path toward a hope for life, the Gospel calls us to be neighbours to the smallest and most abandoned, to give them concrete hope ... It’s not enough to say ‘Have courage, hang in there.’” Finally, we have let millions of refugees and immigrants into our socio-geographical space throughout history, so what makes this different? Denying accessibility to a family that is trying to find a new life and new hope for their children is political and social dissension for dissension’s sake. Canada needs to take an empowering role in the social justice movement and be a voice of peace and restoration. After all, at some point in our family histories we were all immigrants and refugees on a journey of hope, peace, and life. As a Canadian immigrant myself, I encourage this country to take that step towards peace and reconciliation for those who have no hope, and no freedom.

Satire

Let’s make a student association that matters LUCAS WARMINGTON CONTRIBUTOR

I haven’t graduated yet, but I’ve majored in almost every subject. I’ve been at UFV for decades. I am Lucas Warmington, and I think my opinion is one of the most informed on this campus. See, I think I know why UFV seems to be a “commuter campus,” a place where nobody wants to stay despite there being so many clubs and associations. Obviously, there are too many clubs and associations, and they’re all too specialized. Science students don’t want to read no stinky poems. English

students wouldn’t know a gamma ray if it turned them into the Hulk. They simply are not going to attend each other’s events. With this in mind, I propose that we create a broader club, a better club: an all-inclusive Miscellaneous Students Association! Think about it: anyone can join the MSA! It would be a common ground for all diszciplines, a melting pot of ideas and friendship, a utopian dream association for the ages! If one particular group doesn’t want to show up to an event, it won’t be a bust like certain other events planned by certain other associations, because there will be at least a million other groups showing up!

And the mixing of minds would be beautiful! Finally, carpenters and philosophers will have a reason to talk to each other again. And who knows? Maybe this will lead to the next Jesus Christ. Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself. Allow me to explain exactly what an MSA would be like. Taking inspiration from the events of certain other clubs, every week we would have a quiz night fundraiser. Since the club will be unspecialized, so will the questions; they will pertain to topics such as work, the weather, and any good movies you’ve seen lately. Think about it — think about it! Join me, students! Together

we can make an association that actually matters, one that includes everybody. It will be as large as the university itself! And I bet you, dimes to friggin’ doughnuts, that people will finally stick around this beautiful place, where I am always alone and have no one to talk to except my professors, whom I secretly think don’t really want me hanging around their offices all the time. But that’s a different article, for a different day. Today, it’s the MSA, all the way. See? I’m so fucking excited that I’m rhyming! Please hang out with me! Anybody!

The MSA would take the “Uni” out of “university.” Image: JB-London/ flickr

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

CROSSWORD

FIRST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER by MEGAN LAMBERT

ACROSS 1. The road map to success handed out on the first day of class ... that quickly gets crumpled at the bottom of your bag. 4. At UFV, it’s hard to find your place (especially 10 minutes before class). 7. Softly, slowly, and sadly. 10. Watching Bill Nye seems like a better requirement for arts students. 11. Subscribe to the most effective procrastination tool for only $8 per month! 12. Lifeblood. Black liquid oxygen for your sanity. 13. Adults need at least six hours ... but students can operate on two.

DOWN 2. You can’t find this for a good price anywhere on campus, so bring one from home in a brown paper bag. 3. As summer comes to a close, this will cableknit its way into your wardrobe. 5. Snow’s annoying, wet, wannabe cousin. 6. Temperatures will drop, but hopefully this number won’t — at least, not if you want to make it into grad school. 8. Something that usually gets written overnight and with no prior preparation the night before it’s due. 9. Pick your poison: online scavenger hunt or overpriced convenience.

The Weekly Horoscope

Pisces: Feb 19 to March 20: Fake flowers won’t impress your significant other — they might be the sign of a fake relationship. Aries: March 21 to April 19: Be careful spending money this week. Do you really need a third dinosaur costume?

Taurus: April 20 to May 20: No time to do homework? Just “accidentally” set your computer on fire! (The Cascade accepts no liability for whatever happens if you’re stupid enough to actually do this.)

BY ANTHONY BIONDI

Last issue’s crossword ACROSS 2. PIGLET 6. ETCETERA 8. BILLET 10. TURRET 11. LIMPET DOWN 1. FILLET 3. PICKET 4. SONNET 5. CABARET 7. ETTU 9. ISLET

Star Signs from Sybil la Clair

Aquarius: Jan 20 to Feb 18: Pop song references in your essays this week will be as long as your “long list of ex-lovers.”

SPACED

Gemini: May 21 to June 21: If a mermaid asks you for a spare hair tie, give it to her. Swimming with loose hair is a drag.

Cancer: June 22 to July 22: If your shirt has a stain on it, throw it in the washing machine. You’re an adult now. Leo: July 23 to Aug 22: Pumpkin spice-flavoured things will slowly sap your dignity. But you won’t mind. They’re just so good.

Virgo: Aug 23 to Sept 22: Be careful with your milk this week — and if it spills, don’t cry.

Libra: Sept 23 to Oct 22: If you juggle soy sauce packets, the guy at the sushi place might be impressed. Scorpio: Oct 23 to Nov 21: If you sit wrapped up in a blanket under a tree in the boreal forest for long enough, you’ll probably find a spiritual connection — with a hungry bear, if nothing else. Sagittarius: Nov 22 to Dec 21: Taking notes on grid paper won’t make you more organized.

Capricorn: Dec 22 to Jan 19: If your floppy disk doesn’t fit in your CD-Rom, try uploading your blog to the ethernet.

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

eSports Valley gets its game on UFV gaming club gears up for League of Legends tournaments, LAN parties, and more KODIE CHERRILLE

THE CASCADE

The smell of popcorn and the terse, programmed shouting of video game characters emanated from the Student Union Building (SUB)’s Great Hall on the evening of Friday, September 11. UFV club Electronic Sports (eSports) Valley was wrapping up SUS’s Welcome Week with a game night, a more low-key affair for a week that saw bouncy castles, cake, improv theatre, and a speech from UFV president Mark Evered. Super Smash Bros. 4 was projected onto a big screen, and a round of Melee was being played on a separate TV in the corner. There was also a Magic: the Gathering table for good measure. There were maybe 20 people there — a decent turnout for any event put on by a UFV club. But it’s perhaps on the tame side for eSports Valley. In November 2013, a LAN party — where gamers bring their laptops and play a shared game — brought 40 people with laptops into AfterMath. They blew a breaker when too many chargers were plugged into the outlets. Another time, they hosted a live streaming of a League of Legends tournament, which ran from mid-

Image: Kodie Cherrille

Pick Marth. Always pick Marth. night to around three in the morning. Sharma had expected maybe 30 or 40 people. “About 130 people showed up,” he said. “That proved to me that there is an untapped demographic at UFV for this type of stuff.”

eSports Valley formed in 2013. Back then, the UFV club aimed to develop the skills of those who wanted to go on to competitive gaming — “You could call them nerd jocks,” explained Sharma — but as it grew in popularity, eSports Valley started cater-

ing to more casual gamers, hosting regular get-togethers like Super Smash Brothers nights. “It became more like a social community,” said Sharma. While they’re hosting social events more often these days, eSports Valley still has a League of Legends team that plays in collegiate competitions. This summer, Sharma and Charles Scott, the League team’s “manager,” were invited to a summit in Los Angeles, along with delegations from 74 other universities across North America. “It was eye-opening,” Sharma explains. “For the past year or so, I think we were on a downward trend in terms of enthusiasm. This rejuvenated the club, kicked us in the ass, and told us it was worth doing.” eSports is on the lookout for students to join UFV’s unofficial League team in time for a tournament’s qualifying round in November. Sharma is also hoping to convince UFV IT to allow a LAN party in the Great Hall. “I think they were first like, ‘Man, those punk kids, breaking breakers, using our internet,’ but they’ve seen that we’ve had consistent events, and they’re taking us seriously.”

Below the Belt

The tragedy of dissatisfaction

A parable of premature ejaculation XTINA

SEXPERT

In a world infiltrated by slutshaming, nothing soothes the shame of my not-so-secret perversion like finding a fellow perv to bond with. We are like emperorempire penguins, sheltering each other from the bitter sting of the masses who are determined to disapprove of our most personal of choices. This is the camaraderie I share with my friend Victoria. She comes to visit about once a month, and with her she brings her superb baking skills and her most recent tales of sexual exploits. Like any worthwhile collection, her stories are funny, mildly romantic, fantastic (bordering on supernatural), and in the case of the most recent installment, tragic. Let me preface this tale of debauchery by telling you that, according to popular opinion, Victoria’s dating and mating habits are considered somewhat unconventional. She is poly (polyamorous), which means she enjoys meaningful relationships with multiple people. On a first date with a prospective partner, she thought she had hit the jackpot.

They were having a wonderful time over drinks. He was funny, smart, and very sexy. She informed him that she was a tad sexually aggressive and tended to make the first move. But when they took the elevator up to his place later that night, it was he who took the reins. Pushing her roughly against the cold elevator doors and kissing her passionately, he now informed her with a wildly sexy whisper in her ear that it was going to be him who was in charge here. A dedicated submissive, she was elated, and practically melted in his arms.

“His sex face was terrifying!” she yelled, waving her arms as she described the moment for me. He pulled her into his apartment and continued his seduction. They found their way to the couch where things really

started to heat up. Victoria stood up before him and stripped. He watched her with anticipation, his attention momentarily diverted as he reached into his pocket and unrolled a well lubricated condom onto his swollen member. Victoria watched this preparation with growing excitement. She finished disrobing and walked back to the couch, simultaneously straddling him and sliding onto him. Immediately, however, there was something that unnerved her. “His sex face was terrifying!” she yelled, waving her arms as she described the moment for me. How was she supposed to take this seriously when he was making that face? A moment later she realized in further horror that his “sex face” was actually his “coming face.” Yup — he was done, and fell limp inside of her. Needless to say, she was dissatisfied. The real tragedy of this story is that after Captain Jizz-Face regained his composure, he didn’t offer to pay it forward. Victoria dressed slowly, hoping he would pull her back for a re-do. Nope. So she left with a wave and a halfhearted agreement to call him the next week. On her way home she

felt completely cheated, and like she had been left high and mostly dry. She deleted his number in great indignation. The moral of this story, readers, is this: don’t be a lazy lover. If your sexual partner is left un-

Image: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr

satisfied, roll over and get back to work until they purr like an exultant kitten.

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

The Style Counsel

Manners maketh the boyfriend UPCOMING

EVENTS Sept 16 Lecture on the “Nature Island” of the Caribbean

From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., the Reach’s Culture, Coffee & Cookies program will host a free talk by Ron Charles, who will explore the geography, culture, and history of the Caribbean island of Dominica. Image: ekigyuu / Flickr

Go easy on the vino, heavy on the charm.

THOMAS PALAKON RACONTEUR-IN-RESIDENCE

Weekly advice on fashion and manners for the modern UFV gent, The Style Counsel will be a regular feature of The Cascade’s Culture section. Questions, comments or suggestions may be submitted to Mr. Palakon through seamus@ufvcascade.ca. Mr. Palakon, I’m meeting my girlfriend’s parents for the first time this weekend and I’m nervous. They’re having me over for dinner. What can I do to make a good impression? —Scared Of In-Laws Along with losing your job, moving house, and the OxfordCambridge boat race, meeting a significant other’s family rates very highly on the stress scale. While I currently enjoy single life and the opportunities it affords me (honestly, the blackout

bowling scene in this town is outstanding), I have enjoyed several serious relationships, and was generally able to not make an ass of myself in front of their parents. You are right to plan ahead, young man; relationships may come and go, but reputations endure. It likely goes without saying, SOIL, but the obvious first thing to do is be polite. That means the basics (make eye contact, firm handshakes, chew with a closed mouth), but you’ll also have to go a bit above and beyond. If they’re having you for dinner, at the very least you should bring a bottle of wine. For $10-12 you can get something pretty decent and Chilean. Don’t worry about matching it with the food, either. They’ll appreciate the gesture regardless, and this whole “white with fish, red with meat” thing is something snobs are still trying to lord over us mere mortals who just enjoy getting a bit tipsy during awkward family gatherings.

Which you will not do, by the way. Keep your alcohol consumption to one drink with dinner, max. You’ll need to stay sharp, and it demonstrates good self-control to your hosts. But it is important to have that one drink. People tend not to trust teetotalers. (I don’t make the rules, I just teach them.) Worse, they might think you’re in recovery, and therefore not a great fit for their delightful little angel. (Of course, if you are in recovery, stick with it, good luck, and stop worrying so much about this silliness.) Dress casually, but neatly. No shorts, clean jeans, and I would strongly urge a collared shirt. Yes, we’re all excited Slipknot are back on the road, but there’s no need to wear your tour tee. Get your hair out of your eyes, skip the cologne, and clean your nails. In essence, this is a job interview, so dress and present yourself accordingly. In that vein, keep conversation topics casual and none-too-mor-

ally complex. Current events are usually suggested, but I disagree — they can lead to unpleasant political exchanges. (Your potential in-laws are not going to care about your progressive views on drug legalization or ending the nation-state, Trotsky, so calm down.) Have a couple of funny, family-friendly anecdotes ready, and stick to the safe topics such as sports, books, movies, your classes, and so on. Finally, have something to say about your future. No one cares if it’s true or not, but they’re expecting you to have some sort of a plan, so just be ready to ramble a bit about your career goals, which will preferably be something with steady income and some level of social responsibility. In the end, just relax, enjoy the meal, and laugh at her dad’s jokes. Remember, SOIL, you’re not dating her parents. They just have to be able to stand you.

Sept 19 Coalesco and Encausticus opening reception Organic sculptor Bill Stewart and encaustic painter Myriame Gabay will have a dual exhibition at the Kariton Gallery from September 19 to October 13. The opening reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m.

Sept 11 to 12

Graphic Guild’s drop-in drawing session The Central Fraser Valley Graphic Guild hosts open studio drawing sessions with a model on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kariton Gallery. Drop-in fee is $5.

The Cascade is hiring an Advertising Representative! We’re seeking a motivated, outgoing, and reliable self-starter to sell ad space in The Cascade. This is a great opportunity for a business student interested in getting real-world sales experience while still in school. Pay: $50 / issue plus 25 per cent commission. Send your resume and cover letter to valerie@ufvcascade.ca by October 1. Must be a UFV student enrolled in at least one course to apply.

Sept 12 Betrayed: Portraits of Strength exhibition UFV’s Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies is hosting the photography exhibition Betrayed: Portraits of Strength at the Library Rotunda from September 21 through 30, with an opening reception at 4 p.m. on September 21. The exhibition will be available for viewing September 21 to 30, and features the work of photographer Tony Hoare.

ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Book

CHARTS By 1 ElReturn to the Moon

Destroyer Poison Season

Daze 3 Teen Morning World Bandit 4 Twin For You de Pirate 5 Coeur Roses Calder 6 Kathryn Kathryn Calder Healer 7 Faith Cosmic Troubles

Les Jupes Some Kind of Family

Impala 9 Tame Currents Pepper and His 10 Gregory Problems

Chorus! Chorus! Chorus! Best Coast California Nights

Bridges 12 Leon Coming Home

13 Slayer Repentless Galaxy 14 Young False Work Out Vile 15 Kurt b’lieve i’m goin down Order 16 New Restless [single]

Unleash the Arches Time Stands Still

Maiden 18 Iron The Book of Souls Scott 19 Travis Rodeo Luz 20 LaWeirdo Shrine

Shuffle DAVE CUSICK

PROGRAM DIRECTOR / PORTLAND AMBASSADOR

The fall equinox is coming next week, bringing pumpkin-spiced everything with it. Here are some songs to see you through the official end of summer. Big Star “September Girls” Big Star is the best (and bestknown) band you’ve never heard of. In 1971, when rock critics were tired of the excesses of arena rock, Alex Chilton’s band was a welcome reprieve of jangly guitars and straight-ahead songwriting. But nothing lasts forever, neither summer nor rock bands, and the group ended after three years of no commercial success. Chicane “Autumn Tactics” The most memorable track from the 2000 electronic chill-out classic album Behind the Sun. The female vocalist laments that the summer sun is “turning dark on empty car lots ... winter’s one breath away.” Rhye “The Fall” If you’re looking for an artisanal R&B song about a summer love who has to leave now that fall has arrived, I know where you can find one. Vivaldi Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, “L’autunno” You think you don’t know any classical music, but you do. You’ve heard this one. Composer Antonio Vivaldi published his four violin concerti “The Four Seasons” in 1725 with accompanying sonnets to explain his inspiration. Part of the sonnet for his autumn concerto reads: “The cup of Bacchus flows freely, and many find their relief in deep slumber.” Sounds like great advice to me. Jonathan Coulton “Summer’s Over” According to JoCopedia, where nerds nerd out about nerd-rocker Jonathan Coulton, “A karaoke version of ‘Summer’s Over’ is available on the Jonathan Coulton Karaoke Store.” So if you’re trying to branch out from “Don’t Stop Believin’,” there’s that. Plus, it’s beautiful and sad in all the right ways.

A strange, intriguing story of grief and human need KATIE STOBBART CASCADE ALUM

The Hunter and the Wild Girl By Pauline Holdstock Goose Lane Editions (Canada) Released September 1, 2015 It begins with a mad break for freedom, a feral child running from the darkness, chased by men and their dogs through the rural paysage of 19th-century France. It begins, also, with a hunter who can no longer hunt, Peyre Rouff. As the title might suggest, The Hunter and the Wild Girl sets out to navigate the peculiar bond between them, and explores, with poignant, often poetic, and always vividly concise language, what it is to be human. Though not strictly a fairy tale, HWG courses with mythical lifeblood. A girl appears to have literally flown away; a man haunted by ghosts dwells alone in a chateau, surrounded by taxidermy of his own making; and a band of villagers ventures into the wild scrubland at night to retrieve the wild girl. It makes sense, then, that author Pauline Holdstock’s “earliest diet in fiction was myth, fable, fairy tale, later the ghost tale,” as she said in an interview with Found Press. “I’m still drawn to those forms for the way they wear such outlandish clothes and yet bring us in the end right up against the most basic and the most universal of our impulses as humans.” Holdstock also keeps to her reputation for deft, compelling prose and digs elbows-deep into the very real landscapes of love, fear, and grief. From their earliest encounters, the girl is more a source of wakened pain for Peyre (whose name fittingly recalls the French word for father) than light, a reminder that it is not easy to be dragged up from the darknesses we weave around ourselves. “Now Peyre alone with the vision does cry out, for in the chaos of girl and dog his son has broken through. He rams his fist against his mouth, and his stomach heaves as if he is choking on his own voice… The very thought of her is an iron claw dragging at the coals of his heart, raking them to red life.” Rather than cliffhangers or a se-

ries of dramatic peaks, this aching movement out of darkness carries the plot and characters forward. That is not to say there are no moments of action or intrigue, but these are always thick with Holdstock’s true foci: the human and the natural. Reading her work brings an incisive intimacy with her characters, as well as with the natural landscape — its scents and textures are embossed, braille-like, in Holdstock’s prose, and nature is enlivened with its own emotive force. This is true for both the wild girl’s experience of nature as a home or a second skin, and Peyre’s more removed view of it as a representation of his inner landscape, and as a force whose laws of life and death dredge up enduring ghosts and a fierce internal resistance. “For there were times, times in winter especially, when Peyre looked out on the world and saw there his own soul displayed,

laid bare upon the leaden and liverish firmament; when late in the afternoon the grey sky bruised to dark plum, and illdefined clouds heavy with puce merged with infinity, leaving the mind to guess at their contour. It was his future, this skyscape of dread with its ominous light, that might discover and expose yet deeper chasms within. And when he saw this augury of his life to come, the impulse to pre-empt it rose again and he retreated to his work, or to his mind-erasing lists, finding salvation from his torment.” Holdstock’s tale is far from ordinary, fathoms-deep, and moving. Although it plunges heavily into gloomy territory, it is worth noting that her troubled characters can often be found looking skyward, drawing not the ominous, but hope, life, and renewal from that “ecstasy of blue.”

ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Cascade Arcade

Come on, admit it — you wish you’d had this when you were 10.

Pokémon GO will let you catch ‘em all — in the real world KAT MARUSIAK THE CASCADE

At a press conference in Tokyo on September 10, The Pokémon Company announced that they are currently working on a new addition to the popular series, to be titled Pokémon GO, and which will incorporate the real world into players’ Pokémon experience. Pokémon GO is set to be released in 2016 for iOS and Android smartphones, and will be free to download (though they will also be offering in-app purchases, of course). It will continue the franchise tradition of attempting to promote the social factor of the game by making different Pokémon available in certain places in the real world. The examples given included the Hokkaido and Kanto regions of Japan, New York, and Paris. Players will need to travel to these real-world locations in order to obtain specific Pokémon, or trade with others who’ve been there. GO was inspired by Ingress, another smartphone game created by Niantic, Inc., who are working with The Pokémon Company and Nintendo on the project. Ingress is a massively multiplayer mobile AR (augmented reality) game that uses GPS to integrate the real world into a sci-fi mystery story which also includes competition with other players. Similarly, Pokémon GO will allow players to battle other nearby “Pokémon trainers,” as well as trade Pokémon. Game Freak Inc.’s Junichi Masuda, director of the Pokémon series, is also helping out with the project. Being released alongside the game is the portable Pokémon GO Plus, a small device that can be attached to a bracelet, and uses Bluetooth technology to communicate with your smartphone. This allows some basic gaming aspects to be available even if you don’t have your phone, including catching nearby Pokémon. It will let the

player know if any Pokémon appear near their area via vibrations and LEDs. Designed for simplicity, the Plus looks like a teardrop-shaped Pokéball with a single button in the centre. One has to wonder just how super cool your non-gamer friends will think it looks, though ... Some features of the game may not be for everyone, and feelings towards it seem rather mixed. Many fans feel it will be brilliant, and that it’s the right step forward for the franchise to take. Others worry it will be awful— a gimmick which will quickly become annoying or frustrating if certain Pokémon you want are not located anywhere nearby. Similar problems arose with Ingress for people living in more rural areas. But perhaps GO will provide alternative options to help with this, such as the possibility of being able to purchase Pokémon in the app store. One gamer interviewed on the subject also commented on the problems that may arise if some people potentially develop an unhealthy obsession with the game. He laughingly described a possible scenario where someone may be late for, or even skip, school or work in order to not miss out on a capture opportunity: “Sorry boss, but a Charizard just popped up on Third and Main, and I need to get there before Team Rocket does.” Also, due in part to the travelling aspect, Pokémon GO seems to be being marketed primarily towards older players, who are quite common now, given that the main generation who grew up playing the original GameBoy games when they came out (Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue were released in 1996, almost 20 years ago!) are no longer kids — the demographic that has always generally been targeted. But why not? For new and seasoned gamers alike, you can never be too old to wanna’ catch ‘em all.

Image: The Official Pok émon Channel / YouTube

IT’S GO TIME men’s soccer home openers Fri sept 18, 7:30pm vs. Sat Sept 19, 7:30pm vs.

Women’s soccer Fri sept 18, 5pm vs. Sat Sept 19, 5pm vs.

All Games @ Abby Senior UFVcascades.ca

ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Foals stick to their guns on What Went Down JEFFREY TRAINOR THE CASCADE

British rock outfit Foals are known for developing their sound throughout each of their records, and their newest offering, What What Down, is no exception. Foals are perhaps best known for jangly rhythmic guitar melodies and punchy bass and drum lines, most notably found on 2010’s Total Life Forever. Though this sound is what made Foals a household name in the United Kingdom, Foals have an incredible variety within their back catalogue, ranging from almost primal tracks filled with raw energy and heavy distortion to songs that drip with atmosphere and simplicity. This multiplicity has turned Foals into their own genre, which speaks to the incredible originality and diversity they hold themselves to. Once again, all facets of their creativity are on display. The album’s opener and title track “What Went Down” sets a high mark and cruises from one crunchy pitch-shifted riff to the next, leaving the listener begging for a chance to catch their breath. This all stews into an al-

most cataclysmic wall of sound as the song comes to a conclusion, culminating in Foals frontman Yannis Phillippakis barking, “When I see a man I see a liar.” Unfortunately, the energy levels found within “What Went Down” are never reached at any other point throughout the record. Despite this, there is a consistent barrage of catchy hooks and rhythms throughout the remaining tracks; songs such as “Birch Tree”, “Mountain at my Gates” and “Lonely Hunter” capture that perfect mix of alt rock and indie pop that shot Foals into the stratosphere of the indie scene in 2010. Throughout What Went Down, Foals seem to put a new emphasis on the use of MIDI sequencing and keyboards. Edwin Congreave has held down the role of keyboardist in Foals since the band’s first release, Antidotes, in 2008, but this may be the first time his sequencing and playing are heavily prominent throughout an album, especially in “Lonely Hunter” and at the ends of “Night Swimmers” and “Birch Tree.” At a few points it can feel a bit overwhelming, but for the most part, this expansion of keyboards within the record adds another dynamic level to the

whole album, which helps hold it together more cohesively. The other progressive element of What Went Down is the general tone that comes across. Foals’ past two releases (Total Life Forever and Holy Fire) felt polished and crisp around the edges, but at times, What Went Down can feel like an uncaged animal. The group, along with engineer Jimmy Robertson, have conjured a very raw and instinctive sound that breathes life into each track. Despite these highs, What Went Down does falter in some areas. The most noticeable issue with the album is its repetitive nature. A prime example of this is “Mountain at my Gates” and “Birch Tree,” which are the second and third tracks, respectively. When listening to the record in succession, the start of “Birch Tree” sounds like a continuation of “Mountain at my Gates,” as it carries the same chord progression. Though “Birch Tree” does break away from this initial stunned feeling into a unique and charismatic track, you still can’t help but find yourself singing “I see a mountain at my gates” in the back of your head. This is also noticeable, though less so, between the

Foals’ newest album has a raw, untamed edge that breaks away from past albums, but can get repetitive. heavy riffs found in “What Went Down,” “Snake Oil” and “Night Swimmers.” Though these riffs aren’t matching chord-wise, their rhythmic similarity is undeniable. Though there are remnants of the jangly math rock days of Total Life Forever and pieces of the arena

rock complexities of 2013’s Holy Fire, What Went Down is Foals’ firm declaration that they are determined to continue experimenting with their sound and forging into previously uncharted sonic territories.

Is there actually Beauty Behind the Madness? The Weeknd’s latest is a confused mess, but one with excellent production ALEX RAKE THE CASCADE

Let it be known that the production on the Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness rules. There’s no denying that the beats are killer, the dreamy, woozy atmosphere is intriguing, and the music is overall quite addictive. This addictiveness, however, masks the questions the album raises about excess and party culture. The songs primarily focus around sex and drugs, and how they are superior to intimacy and sobriety. In the opening track, “Real Life,” the speaker says that “every woman that loved me / I seemed to push them away,” revealing his attitude toward traditional love — yet he boasts about his sexual prowess in “Often,” saying things like, “Baby, I can make that pussy rain.” In “Losers,” he asserts that “only losers go to school,” and that he doesn’t need it because he “makes [his] own sense.” So, he doesn’t think that love or study matter, and in “Tell Your Friends” he reveals what he really wants out of life: “Money is the only thing I’m chasin’ / And some dope dimes on some coke lines / Gimme head all

The Weeknd doesn’t seem to be able to make up his mind about, well ... anything. night, cum four times.” The speaker exchanges cultural expectations such as monogamous love and education for an excess of sex and drugs; in other words, rather than critically engaging and dealing with these expectations (which probably do deserve questioning), he opts for an ex-

treme, sensual escape from them. The way the lyrics are put together reflects this desire to escape. They are often incoherent, which combines with the woozy atmosphere to emulate the advice of a drunk and stoned dude who has no idea what the conversation’s about to begin with. In “Tell

Your Friends,” for example, the Weeknd sings, “We are not the same, I am too reckless / I’m not tryna go in that direction / These niggas, they been doin’ too much flexin’ / And they about to call the wrong attention.” What does he mean here? Who is he not the same as? What direction is that direction? He criticizes flexing and calling the “wrong kind” of attention while he’s the one getting high, buying fancy stuff, and fucking everybody — but it rhymes and sounds tough. It is important that here the Weeknd proves himself correct: he truly makes his “own sense.” But what use is it if it communicates nothing? It’s difficult to tell if the Weeknd’s speaker is painfully selfaware or wilfully self-deluded. Most of the time he enjoys his lifestyle perfectly, like in “The Hills”: “When I’m fucked up, that’s the real me.” Also, in “I Can’t Feel My Face,” he sings, “I can’t feel my face when I’m with you / but I like it,” essentially defining a gratifying relationship as one having a pleasant, numbing effect. The catchiness of these songs drills these ideas, unquestioned, into the listener’s head. In fact,

it almost feels dirty to question these ideas after being told for so many songs about how much better chasing fleeting pleasure is than engaging with anything difficult. Other times, however, the speaker seems legitimately unfulfilled by his lifestyle, such as in the closing track, “Angel,” where he laments that he is “desensitized to feeling these emotions.” The fact that these sentiments come at the end of the album perhaps reveals how the Weeknd actually feels, but this perspective seems lost on his audience based on the popularity of songs like “Often” and “I Can’t Feel My Face” in comparison to everything else. As with Kendrick Lamar’s “Swimming Pools,” the popularity of these songs is not the fault of the artist so much as an indicator of a culture-wide desire to be constantly thrilled and intoxicated, and a culture-wide ability to ignore the contexts of their party songs. Intentionally or not, Beauty Behind the Madness exemplifies the emptiness of escapism, and should not be mistaken for a cool, fun, and sexy summertime album.

ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

S undBites

Mini album reviews

Chance the Rapper and Lil B

Tame Impala

Jose Gonzalez

Free (The Based Freestyle Mixtape)

Currents

Vestiges & Claws

Tame Impala’s never been that hard to dance to, but songwriter Kevin

Chance the Rapper officially became a big deal for the rest of his life

Swedish singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez’s latest record builds upon

Parker’s forays into disco, trap, and R&B on Currents will no doubt be

upon releasing 2013’s Acid Rap, a record that fused unbridled youth,

the calm, gently flowing folk of his past releases. And while there’s not

considered stylistic leaps — all the while retaining his talents for com-

energetic positivity, introspection, and acrobatic yet casual lines that

a discernible change in direction — no added instrumentals, no obvi-

posing immediately catchy hooks. It’s an album that liberates a proj-

stay with you long after your last repeat listen. similarly, Lil B is a sick

ous post-production touch-ups — Gonzalez definitely seems to have

ect that was two psychedelic, effects-laden guitar hooks away from

rapper who talks about loving all other rappers and that it’s all about

honed his craft further on Vestiges & Claws. This record is among the

becoming a caricature of itself; it now looks to the contemporary as

positivity squared, but that he’d still fuck all them other rappers’ bitch-

most hesitant I’ve heard from Gonzalez: “Idle as a wave / Moving out

much as it does to the past.

es. And also that he’s gay, though he isn’t, but he’s totally cool with

to sea … / Serene between the trails / Serene with the time and ink

That songwriting gauntlet was dropped months ago, when the

saying that he is. Both of these guys have the underground by the

of a ghost.”

album’s first single “Let It Happen” was released, and here, it’s still

horns, but apparently neither of them vetoed the others’ interest in

Gonzalez’ s lyricism is simple — “The cracks under the bridge, the

unstoppable. In one busy, pulsing verse, Parker dreamily (as always)

colouring so far outside the lines on Free (The Based Freestyle Mixtape)

gaps along the road / Why didn’t I see the forest on fire behind the

wishes for a storm to take him away, but the music brings something

that you might say they were doing it blind. As the name suggests,

trees?” — yet it’s strikingly balanced when backed up by an ever-pres-

more akin to the eye of one, where subterranean synths offer brief

this release is all improvised, and its raw hunger inspires and enlight-

ent guitar, which, apart from some percussion, is the only instrument

respite from the drama — which comes back twofold in a tense coda,

ens.

present on the record. The record plays as an accompaniment for a

never quite resolving.

particularly overcast and slightly rainy car trip across rolling grassy

From there, Currents slows down, substituting urgency for sensual-

hills — autumn in the Shire.

ity. Parker tends to pair his lyrics — no matter how much heartbreak or disappointment is loaded up in them — with optimistic arrangements. But as ever, Tame Impala is more about sound than lyricism for this listener, and gorgeous moments abound. The blissed-out “Yes I’m Changing” finds a middle ground between Daft Punk and Vampire Weekend when a barely audible harpsichord dances over the wall of synths, and then soars over the sounds of a busy city centre. Song for song, Currents might not be as hook-heavy and tight of an entry as 2012’s Lonerism, and I do wonder what kind of an album it would be if it followed the stylings of “Let it Happen” a little more. But Tame Impala have never been as exciting as they are now, when they’re embracing the now.

Kodie Cherrille

Aaron Levy

Martin Castro

Narcos tries to humanize Pablo Escobar, fails Show rehashes the same story the USA has been telling since they first won a war, but at least it’s entertaining MARTIN CASTRO THE CASCADE

If there’s one thing I took away from the first episode of Netflix’s new series Narcos, it’s that contrary to what the showrunners might want you to believe, there’s a very obvious political agenda at work here. When seen purely as entertainment, Narcos is a wellpaced, exciting recap of Pablo Escobar’s rise to power, despite the DEA and Colombian government’s efforts to subvert the notorious drug trafficker’s operations. The thing about Narcos, is that even though its main character is Pablo Escobar (opposite DEA

agent Steve Murphy), it’s important to remember that this show was made by Americans. Why does this matter? There’s an ever-so-subtle yet always-present effort throughout the narrative some of which is actually told via voice-over in the style of Goodfellas, though not nearly as well — to portray Americans as shining beacons of truth and justice among a country more corrupt and violent than anything main character DEA agent Steve Murphy had ever experienced. As a history lesson, Narcos fails horribly; as a piece of entertainment, it has many triumphs, the main one being that it manages to portray the growth of Pablo

Escobar’s drug empire through the eyes of both a DEA agent and Escobar himself. The narration might get tiring at times (especially during the first episode, where it’s seemingly inserted at random every 30 seconds), but if you manage to stomach that, it tapers off later on in the season. There’s no shortage of suspense throughout the show’s first season, mostly because as a viewer, you’re not quite sure who to root for: the DEA, the Colombian government (or for that matter, the Colombian people), or Escobar himself. One of the things the show gets right — and perhaps this isn’t the most interesting point to a crowd which I’m

mostly sure is comprised of only English speakers — is accents and places. What this show lacks in historical authenticity, it makes up for in authenticity of the geographical variety. Most of the Colombians are played by Colombians, and the accents and subtleties of their Spanish (which is plentiful, as half of the show’s dialogue is in Spanish), are genuine to the region their character is supposed to be from — except for Escobar, played by Wagner Moura, whose accent sounds forced at times. The man looks a lot like Escobar, though, so I’ll give him that. As the show moves on, the viewer is presented with a question: if we accept moral ambi-

guity at one point, saying, “Oh, yeah, that’s justifiable,” at what point do we have to stop accepting it? How many people does a policeman have to kill before he’s no longer a good guy? How many people does a drug dealer have to help before he’s no longer a bad guy? (Granted, Escobar is portrayed almost exclusively as a power-hungry killer, which, all things considered, he was). The show answers the questions almost as soon as they’re asked though, and the answers almost always seem to verge on propaganda. But at least it’s very well-hidden, entertaining propaganda.

SPORTS & HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Cascades soccer recap UFV’s men’s and women’s soccer teams played four games last weekend; will play four more this weekend VANESSA BROADBENT THE CASCADE

Women’s Soccer vs. Victoria Vikes

The Cascades finished their regular season opener with a scoreless draw against the Victoria Vikes on Friday at Abbotsford Senior Secondary. Tristan Corneil almost scored the Cascades’ first goal in the eighth minute of the game. The Vikes also came close to scoring a few times, but Kayla Klim and Danica Klump prevented that from happening. In the second half of the game the Cascades outshot the Vikes 9-2, with five of those shots being on target. Shelby Beck and Gurneet Dhaliwal almost scored goals for the Cascades, but both were stopped by Vikes’ keeper Meaghan Storie.

Women’s soccer vs. UBC Thunderbirds

The Cascades women’s soccer team won their first game of the season on Saturday. They beat the UBC Thunderbirds 2-1 on their home turf at Abbotsford Senior Secondary. Monika Levarsky scored the first goal in the 14th minute, assisted by Shelby Beck. Jade Palm scored the final goal, also assisted by Beck. The Thunderbirds’ only goal was scored by Taylor Shannik. The game was the Thunderbirds’ first loss of the season.

Men’s Soccer vs. UBC Okanagan Heat

The Cascades men’s soccer team took home their first win of the season on Saturday against the UBC Okanagan Heat in Kelowna with a final score of 2-0. Midfielder Connor MacMillan scored the first goal in the 22nd minute, assisted by Daniel Davidson. James Najman assisted Kree Byrne with the Cascades’ second goal at the beginning of the second half. Keeper Alex Skrzeta only needed to make one save in the 90th minute of the game, as the Heat only attempted two shots compared to the Cascades’ 19.

Men’s Soccer vs. TRU Wolf Pack

After a winning home opener, the Cascades men’s soccer team lost their second game of the season. On Sunday afternoon the Thompson Rivers WolfPack beat the Cascades 3-0 in Kamloops. TRU striker Ryan Glanville scored two goals and assisted a third scored by Oriol Torres. Despite their loss, the Cascades outshot TRU 16-8. The Cascades even had two apparent goals by strikers Daniel Molendijk and Daniel Davidson, but both were disallowed on offside calls.

Scoreboard

Upcoming Games

Men’s Soccer:

Saturday Sept 12 UFV Cascades vs. UBCO Heat W 2-0 Sunday Sept 13 UFV Cascades vs. TRU Wolf Pack L 3-0

Women’s Soccer: Friday Sept 11 UFV Cascades vs. Victoria Vikes T 0-0 Saturday Sept 12 UFV Cascades vs. UBC Thunderbirds W 2-1

Men’s Golf: Sept 12-13 UFV Cascades @PacWest tournament 3rd place, total: 597

Women’s Golf: Sept 12-13 UFV Cascades @PacWest tounament 2nd place, total: 345 IMAGE CREDZ

Friday Sept 18 7:30 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. UBC Thunderbirds (home) Saturday Sept 19 7:30 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. Victoria Vikes (home)

Women’s Soccer: Friday Sept 18 5:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. TRU Wolfpack (home) Saturday Sept 19 5:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. UBCO Heat (home)

Men’s and Women’s Golf: Saturday Sept 19 time TBA PacWest Golf Invitational 2 at Kwantlen Polytechnic University

www.ufvcascade.ca

Upcoming

Events

September 20 Chilliwack Terry Fox run The annual Chilliwack Terry Fox run takes place this weekend from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The race begins at the Landing Sports Centre. Register at terryfox.ca/terryfoxrun/ chilliwack. For more information contact Desmond Devnich at 604701-1399 or desmond.devnich@ gmail.com.

September 20 Abbotsford Terry Fox run The Abbotsford Terry Fox run begins at the Tradex (north end) Buildin A. The race starts at 9 a.m.and ends at 1 p.m. There are various distances including 2km, 4km, and 10km. For more information call 1-888-836-9786 or email info@terryfoxrun.ca.

SPORTS & HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Healthy eating

What are you putting in your temple? A guide to picking healthier alternatives, from whole-wheat flour to Himalayan pink salt SHENANDOAH HEGGIE

whole-wheat flour instead of allpurpose flour, or pure cane sugar rather than refined white sugar. I also try to find local suppliers, who are interested in providing the community with wholesome and natural foods. A good place to start exploring local suppliers is by taking the Circle Farm Tour, which is available in the Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Agassiz, Langley, and Maple Ridge areas. If you aren’t too hung up on buying your food from local farmers, you can experiment with recipes from various cultures across the world, which often call for exotic vegetables, fruits, and spices. You might try looking at recipes from Morocco, Ethiopia, Japan, Vietnam, India, or any other place that strikes your interest. I began by learning how to make simple dishes like red Thai curry, salmon onigiri, Vietnamese salad rolls, and injera with wat (a common Ethiopian dish with a savoury crepe-like bread topped with stewed meat and vegetables). Another interesting way to get into these new recipes might be to organize a cultural dinner with some friends, learn how to make the dish together, and then enjoy it together. Furthermore, you could even look into vegan, vegetarian, raw, pescetarian, or paleo recipes for

CONTRIBUTOR

Good health can be a difficult pursuit, especially in recent times, when a vast majority of the food available to us is heavily doused with pesticides and often comes pre-cooked or packaged for convenience. It doesn’t help that healthier options are usually overpriced, or seem to surpass the budget of the average working person or student. In my own experience, I have taken to replacing a few integral staples such as flour, rice, milk, sugar, and salt with more beneficial options. Though some of these options come at a higher price, they can make a significant impact on your health. My personal interests in experimenting with new foods have driven me to try using spelt flour, brown or wild rice, almond or coconut milk, coconut palm sugar (which, due to its low-glycemic index, seems to be a safer alternative for individuals with blood sugar issues), and pink Himalayan salt. These are ingredients that I now substitute in most of the recipes that I find, slightly altering them to fit my own lifestyle. If you are just starting to experiment with healthier ingredients, you may want to begin with an easier transition such as choosing

Blended Kale Salad This is one of my favourite raw vegan recipes. It is quick, fresh, simple, and tastes amazing. Tools: Food processor or blender Sharp knife Ingredients: A handful of stripped kale (any type) 1 - 2 avocados, peeled and pitted ½ - 1 lime, squeezed 1 – 2 cloves garlic, chopped Pink Himalayan salt, to taste ½ - 1 zucchini 2 – 4 tbsp. olive oil Directions: Pour half of the olive oil into the food processor. Add garlic and blend. Add kale (off the stem) and blend. new and interesting dishes to incorporate into your diet. I feel that some of the best ways to motivate yourself to eat healthier are to have fun making the food, to really enjoy what you have made, and to take an interest in experimenting with new types of food and different cooking techniques. At times, it is easy to believe that healthy eating isn’t worth the

Chop the peeled avocado into chunks and place only a bit in the processor at a time. If you need to, take the blended avocado out and put it in a bowl so the rest will fit. You can add it all together afterward. Add lime juice, salt, and a few chunks of zucchini, and blend. Add the mixture to a suitable bowl and stir together. It may be slightly chunky, but as long as it is relatively blended, that is okay. You can either eat this by itself, or you can spiralize the remainder of the zucchini and serve it as a raw sauce over the zucchini “pasta.” Enjoy!

trouble, but the results can be surprising. When you take steps to change your lifestyle, you start to notice big differences, such as having more energy for a longer span of time, being able to focus better, losing the desire for junk food, and feeling happier. A healthy diet can help to improve both your physical and mental abilities, and it may even benefit you in your studies.

Hikes, Bikes, and Walks

Every Wednesday Free yoga!

Peace, quiet, and the Fraser River VALERIE FRANKLIN

Join the UFV Yoga Club every Wednesday for free yoga classes. The classes are from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Building in the Great Hall. For more information contact the yoga club at facebook. com/ufvyogaclub.

Ongoing Organized drop-in sports on campus Now that school is back in gear, drop in sports are beginning again. Stop by the Envision Athletics Centre to join in basketball, pickleball / badminton, soccer, volleyball, rugby, or ball hockey games. No registration is required and anyone with a valid UFV campus card can participate. For more information and to see the full schedule visit ufvcascades.ca/rec.

THE CASCADE / PHOTOS

If you need a dose of Mother Nature and Mill Lake isn’t cuting it, try the Matsqui Trail. It’s far enough from the city centre that it isn’t an easy spot to get to if you don’t have a car or a bike — but that just means there are fewer people, more wildlife, and a peaceful stillness that’s rare to find on most municipal trails. The trail curves along the strong brown arm of the Fraser River, nestled between Abbotsford and Mission. Its flat, winding path is perfect for cyclists, pedestrians, or dog-walkers who aren’t looking to work up a sweat — but even if it were a steep hike, it would be worth it for the beautiful vistas of the Fraser River and the Matsqui prairie. Much of the trail runs along a steep gravel dike that overlooks the river on one side and a postcard-perfect patchwork of rolling green farmland on the other, framed on all sides by distant mountains.

The trail is broken into four segments: Page Road to Olund Trailhead, 13.6 km; Page Road to Mission Bridge, 6.5 km; Mis-

sion Bridge to Gladwin Pond, 1.1 km; and Gladwin Pond to Olund Trailhead, 5.5 km. The full trail takes hours to explore, but it’s

worth visiting the area even just for the short one-km segment between Mission Bridge and Gladwin Road. The path there is framed by thick blackberry brambles — some with ripe berries still attached — and tall deciduous trees which turn red and gold over the next few weeks as autumn settles in. Although there are several points of access along the trail, Matsqui Trail Regional Park, just north of the village of Matsqui, is the easiest and most obvious one. It sits in the shadow of the Highway 10 overpass between Abbotsford and Mission, but as long as you don’t mind the distant rumble of cars high above you, it’s a peaceful place to sit on the beach and dip your feet in the water, take in a stunning sunset, or, if you have the right licenses, even fish for the Fraser’s famed trout, salmon, and sturgeon. The park also offers amenities such as outhouses, picnic benches, fire pits, and a map of the area — a good place to start if you’re planning to hike the whole trail.

SPORTS & HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Fun and games outside the SUB VANESSA BROADBENT THE CASCADE / PHOTOS

As part of Welcome Week, the Student Union Society hosted “Games on the Green” on Thursday, September 10. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. students were invited to partake in various outdoor sports and activities including sumo wrestling, bungee running, and jousting. Carnival booths were set up where students could win raffle tickets which could later be traded in for candy. The Student Union Society also had a prize booth where they gave away gift cards to various places such as Starbucks, Boston Pizza, the Canoe, and Fair Grounds coffee, among other prizes.