The Cascade Vol. 25 Issue 26

OCTOBER 18 TO OCTOBER 25, 2017

VOLUME 25 ISSUE 26

Drinking from the hose since 1993

A look inside pg. art at UFV 7-10 NSERC grant 3 awarded

Philosophic combat?

Dr. Derek Harnett will continue to get exotic with hadron research

Both professor and student will be tested, and not how you would think.

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WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

Food’s future

11

Get digestible details on an international scholary event.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

Editorial //

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca Business Manager Quintin Stamler quintin@ufvcascade.ca Production Manager Caleb Campbell caleb@ufvcascade.ca Production Assistant Satinder Dhillon satinder@ufvcascade.ca Copy Editor Cat Friesen cat@ufvcascade.ca Illustrator Amara Gelaude amara@ufvcascade.ca Online Editor Jeff Mijo jeff@ufvcascade.ca Staff Writer Aleister Gwynne aleister@ufvcascade.ca Distributor Liam Ritchie distributor@ufvcascade.ca

Managing Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca News Editor Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca Junior News Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca Opinion Editor Jeff Mijo jeff@ufvcascade.ca Feature Editor Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca Culture & Events Editor Cassie De Jong cassie@ufvcascade.ca Arts in Review Editor Martin Castro martin@ufvcascade.ca Varsity Writer Rachelle Strelezki rachelle@ufvcascade.ca Staff Writer Panku Sharma panku@ufvcascade.ca

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS Shivam Duggal

Cover: Caleb Campbell Back Cover: Caleb Campbell

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/THE.CASCADE Volume 25 · Issue 26 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by the Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a print circulation of 1,250 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities.

The Cascade is open to written, photo, and design work from all students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment from an editor.

Writers meetings are held every second Monday at 12:00 p.m. in The Cascade’s office on the Abbotsford campus.

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

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A deluge of hope

JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Looks like it’s rain season.

On Monday, CTV News reported on a unique weather pattern reaching from China to the B.C. south coast. An “atmospheric river” is a narrow corridor of concentrated vapour in the atmosphere. This one will dump a massive amount of water as it passes over the Fraser Valley.

So I wondered, what if it started raining and didn’t stop?

The Fraser Valley has flooded before, and East Abbotsford / West Chilliwack used to be a lake. Fortunately there’s a website that lets you look at any part of the globe and view where new coast line would sit based on how much the ocean rises.

If the ocean rose 10 metres, most of the Fraser Valley would remain dry. Other than the Sumas Prairie turning back into a lake, and the Fraser River widening, not much would change. This isn’t to say that localized flooding wouldn’t have an impact, only that an ocean level increase of 10 meters on its own wouldn’t flood Abbotsford.

For the most part, West Abbotsford doesn’t need to worry about ocean levels until 50-odd metres. Even then, UFV would only have to worry about what it’ll do with its beautiful beachfront property. Not until 80 metres will virtually all of Abbotsford will be underwater. But I’m not worried; if we keep the levels below 60 metres, I can kayak to school.

Assuming the ocean wont rise 80 meters anytime soon, what’s the worst that could actually happen?

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, one third of the entire lower Fraser Valley floodplain has been under several metres of water in the past. The largest Fraser River flood on record happened in 1894, though not much data on it exists. The second largest Fraser River Flood happened June 10, 1948. Over a dozen dyking systems were breached and more than 22,000 hectares of the Fraser Valley floodplain sat nearly eight metres under water.

In the days leading up to June 19, 2013, Alberta experienced the worst flood in its history (according to the provincial government). Five people were confirmed to have

died directly from the flooding, and over 100,000 people were displaced throughout the region.

On June 21, the Bow River in Calgary reached a record high water level of 4.09 m and record flow rate of 1,750 m3/s. Calgary’s downtown core was without power for days, and the central business district remained inaccessible for a week.

What would you do if the river rose again? At only seven metres above sea level, the Trans Canada Highway will be flooded from Sumas to Chilliwack River. Could maybe drive west? Sure, towards the ocean and sea of people — not likely. Towards the south? Probably safer to tread water for a few weeks. If the Fraser floods, we’re saying put.

Neither the provincial or federal governments have a dedicated emergency service to deploy in the event of a disaster of that magnitude, according to Laurie Pearce, member of the Disaster Psychosocial Services Council of B.C., who spoke to Vice.

Pearce went on to say that if the Canadian military is quite small, and Canada doesn’t have a National Guard or FEMA, like the United States. If aid was needed, the military would have to be deployed from Alberta. Assuming the Abbotsford airport tarmacs were still intact, they’d land here.

The Red Cross and Salvation army would help, too, but their resources and volunteer numbers aren’t great enough to help everyone in need.

Don’t expect to call 9-1-1 or for any services to be running. Almost all of the conveniences you’re accustomed to won’t be operating. Hopefully there will be room in hospitals, and hopefully you can actually get to one. Your own your own.

"The government will not be there to help you. It just cannot be there," Pearce told Vice.

It sounds like the Fraser Valley will have itself backed into a corner, if disaster strikes. At least you’ve got these great back covers of The Cascade to keep your mind off the 37 per cent chance of witnessing “the big one” in the next 50 years. We’re just beating back that old sense of impending doom, one back cover at a time.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

Research funding //

NEWS BRIEFS

UFV physicist receives NSERC grant for research on exotic hadrons

Limited chairs Term limits for Canada Research Chairs (research professors of the Canada Research Program) are being introduced by many universities across the country as a way to help ensure that diversity targets will be met in the future.

The Canada Research Chairs gives annual funding of $100,000 or $200,000 to successful academics for research projects.

The federal government told universities in May that they had until Dec. 15 to write an action plan on how to boost the diversity of their nominees, and another 18 to 24 months to follow through on those plans, or they could lose their research chair funding,” according to the Globe and Mail.

-the Globe and Mail

Future of Food event features visiting African scholars On October 25, scholars from around the world will come to UFV to offer some Food for Thought. Billed as a a conversation about food security, sustainability, and global food systems, the free event is being sponsored by the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program and Aga Khan University.

Experts in attendance will include: the Canada Research Chair, Lenore Newman; director of the Agriculture Centre of Excellence, Garry Fehr; Sharmaarke Abdullahi UN Habitat, and Dr. Alex Awiti from Aga Khan University East African Institute.

-UFV Today

JESSICA BARCLAY JR. NEWS EDITOR

Theoretical particle physicist Dr. Derek Harnett received a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) totalling $75,000 to continue his research on exotic hadrons.

He is one of three UFV scientists who have received the five-year federal grants to continue their research.

Harnett studies hadrons, a class of particles made up of quarks bound together by the strong nuclear force. The most well-known of these hadrons are protons and neutrons, but Harnett says there are hundreds of others that have been identified.

“Probably the reason they’re not familiar to most people is because they have a finite lifetime, so they quickly, by our standards, decay into particles. A significant number of those particles have a lifetime of about 1023 seconds,” said Harnett.

Harnett works with a specific collection of theoretical hadrons, hybrid hadrons, that contain gluons in addition to the quarks. His research focuses on using known properties of the quarks and gluons that make up the hadrons to predict properties of the hybrid hadrons.

These predictions guide researchers at particle colliders, the most well-known

being the Large Hadron Collider, to work towards identifying the particles experimentally.

“These particles are hypothesized, and predicted to exist decades ago, but as of yet have not been conclusively identified by experiments. Probably, one of the reasons is that the theoretical predictions of their behaviour are just not good enough to guide the experimental searches,” said Harnett.

A new piece of software, integrated into Hartnett’s current software programs by his summer NSERC research student Steven Esau, will look to improve their predictions.

The program was a PhD software project, published online for free use. Its purpose is to calculate integrals that would otherwise not be possible to solve numerically.

“Steven basically figured out the algorithm, and wrote out all the code that was needed to bridge the gap between what we were doing, and how this person’s code would help us finish the problem off,” said Harnett. “And it worked perfectly.”

Harnett hopes that the program will allow him to begin predicting the decay rate of hybrid hadrons, a problem that would previously have been impractical to solve, in addition to predicting their

masses.

“Trying to track down those decays, and trying to attach decay rates or decay probabilities to them, is exactly the kind of calculation that we would get to, and the integrals would be ridiculous,” said Harnett. “I think I’m in good shape to start to branch off and look at that now.”

Multiple follow up projects are being planned from the possibilities the software has opened up, and Harnett hopes to get the work published this summer.

The field of theoretical particle physics is purely discovery research, and is geared towards understanding the implications of the strong nuclear force, not practical application.

Harnett described it like electromagnetism. Though it is easy to understand its importance now, for practical uses like computers and lighting, it all started from someone wondering why magnets stuck together.

“If you tell a physicist to build a better mousetrap, they won’t be interested. But, if you tell them to take a picture of the beginning of the universe, somewhere along the lines they’ll have developed a better mousetrap.”

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

Upgrades //

DNA lab renovations a boon to UFV Improved equipment and facilities aid university research ALEISTER GWYNNE STAFF WRITER

Three laboratories in UFV Abbotsford’s A building underwent extensive renovations over the summer, with new and improved equipment and furnishings installed.

Among the changes, UFV’s DNA-handling facilities were given an upgrade.

The transformation was primarily motivated by safety concerns. In their prerenovation state, the labs had become unable to meet the minimum safety standards. For example, the laminate on the

old counter tops had chipped away in places, exposing the porous wood underneath, which could have potentially absorbed harmful pathogens sometimes handled in these labs. The new solid countertops will put an end to that problem permanently.

Other benefits include increased storage space, and a cleaner appearance.

Dr. Allan Arndt, department head, associate professor of biology Arndt explained some of the special equipment used in the labs.

He explained the procedures for extracting, processing, replicating, and

storing DNA samples. Sequencing is outsourced, which is a common practice among biology labs.

Arndt also explained what the data gathered is used for; he gave examples of some research projects being pursued by faculty.

Dr. Lucy Lee, dean of the biology department, is using isolated fish cells to examine the effects of byproducts from tar sands development. Dr. Terry Starr is investigating the genetic causes behind Johne’s Disease, an affliction that causes lesions in the digestive tracts of cattle.

In addition to the tangible benefits these research programs can yield, performing toxicity tests on cell cultures is a humane alternative to animal testing.

Advanced-level biology students work within the labs, like the ones that have been recently renovated, performing research duties under faculty direction, contributing to UFV’s scientific projects, while at the same time adding to their knowledge and experience as students.

Stories worth paying attention to

#BadPolicies

#BackedDown

#Whoops

Harper government blamed for opioid crisis

Enbridge changes tactics in dispute with environmental groups

The Harper government is being blamed for the extent to which the opioid crisis has spread in our country. Independent Senator Larry Campbell oversaw the establishment of Vancouver’s first safe injection site in 2003 while he was mayor. Fifteen years later, we see 18 safe injection sites across our country, though the majority of safe injection sites were established in 2015.

According to the Tyee, Campbell noted, “the Conservatives aren’t to blame for the arrival of fentanyl, but the Harper government’s opposition to harm reduction measures hampered Canada’s ability to respond to the crisis.”

As Ottawa moves to deal more closely with fentanyl crisis, Campbell hopes to see more done in terms of harm reduction treatment, and discussion on legalizing opioids.

Vancouver environmentalists had two police officers arrive at their Vancouver offices with legal documents containing information for asset seizure. After a court case loss in 2014 against Enbridge Inc., Stand.earth was required to pay Enbridge’s court costs.

But within hours, Enbridge backed off from the small environmental group after other environmental groups rallied with Stand.earth, and protested on social media.

The potential assets for seizure included second-hand furniture and other household items. Stand.earth campaign director, Karen Mahon, said “there probably wasn’t value,” a possible reason for the Enbridge pull back, according to the Globe and Mail.

-the Globe and Mail

UBC Vaccine autism paper pulled Researchers from the University of British Columbia retracted their scientific paper linking aluminum in vaccines to autism in mice, because one of the co-authors claims the study’s figures were deliberately altered before publication.

According to CBC News, the professor said there’s no way to know why or how the figures were allegedly manipulated, and claimed that original data cited in the study is inaccessible, an issue that is a contravention of UBC’s policy on scientific research.

UBC released a statement saying they couldn’t comment on specific allegations of misconduct until they’re thoroughly investigated.

The paper looked at the effects of aluminum components in vaccines on immune response in a mouse’s brain.

-the Tyee

-CBC News

UFV Cascades scores:

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Men's Basketball: UFV won 76-53 against UVIC. UFV won 58-41 against UVIC.

Men’s soccer: UNBC won 1-0 over UFV. UNBC tied 2-2 woth UFV.

Men’s vollyball: UFV beat CBC in all three sets.

UFV lost to CBC in all three sets.

Women’s basketball: UFV lost 58-41 against UVIC. UFV won 72-60 against UVIC.

Women’s soccer: UFV tied 1-1 with U of R. UFV tied 2-2 with U of S.

Women's vollyball: UFV beat CBC in all three sets.

UFV won three out of four sets.

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

Commuting //

Please learn to drive better JEFF MIJO

OPINION EDITOR

According to a recent story by CTV, 762 drivers were ticketed for driving in the left lane on B.C. highways after the new laws regulating highway driving came into effect in June of 2015, and 793 were ticketed throughout all of 2016. That’s a pretty sizable drop in monthly averages, but clearly not everyone is aware — or cares — about the regulations.

In case you’re not familiar, the law says that you should keep in the right lane of any multilane highway with a speed limit of 80 km/h or greater, except to pass, allow traffic to merge, turn, or pass a stopped vehicle with flashing lights. The idea is that it keeps traffic moving smoothly and safely, as most accidents and slowdowns come from drivers changing lanes.

And it seems like it’s a great system.

Washington state has been using it for far longer, and on the stretch of the I-5 from Bellingham to Seattle, you can actually often see it working as intended. For the most part, cars drive steadily at or slightly above the speed limit in the right lane, while the left is mostly empty other than the speed demons (whom you don’t want behind you anyway), and people pulling into it to pass slower moving traffic.

Unfortunately, not enough people have figured out the benefits of the system here in B.C., or at least not on my commute from Mission to UFV. Almost every single time I make the trip, there’s a smattering of cars in each lane, regardless of how heavy traffic is, and a few impatient people zipping in and out of both lanes, trying to get one or two cars ahead in the line-up at the next red light. It’s just a recipe for accidents. If

you don’t believe that kind of driving slows down traffic, go to Google and find that GIF of how traffic jams form that was all over Twitter a year ago (or watch the CGP Grey video it came from on YouTube). Basically, it doesn’t take an obstruction to make traffic slow to a crawl — all you need is an impatient driver moving into a space that’s too small, causing the people behind them to brake, and you have a cascading effect ruining everyone’s commute.

Notice how I said “a space that’s too small?” That’s another one of my pet peeves, if you can call something potentially deadly a pet peeve. Following distance is a massively important subject that doesn’t seem to get enough attention. Not only do you need space to stop if the driver in front of you slams on the brakes, you also aren’t obstructing traffic behind you as much if you have space to slow down without coming to a complete stop unless you need to.

And the slower you’re stopping, the less likely it is the person behind you slams on their brakes, and so on and so forth.

And while we’re at it, seriously, don’t text (or find music on your phone, or check for missed calls, or whatever) while you’re driving. I know this one’s being hammered into us a lot recently, but on top of the fact you could kill someone else or yourself, on top of the nearly $400 fine, yeah, it also slows down traffic. Checking your texts at a red light? Your reaction might be a second or two slower to get started again, and you just made two cars behind you miss the green.

Basically, all I’m saying is that commuting is enough of a pain as it is, so please try to make it a bit less agonizing for everyone else on the road.

Humour //

Studenting //

Finding the balance in the cost of living SHIVAM DUGGAL CONTRIBUTOR

Before starting school, it is very important to get a clear idea of how much it will affect your pocket. Student life is fun, yet incredibly challenging, and one way of keeping a check on expenses is by sticking to a fixed budget. The first couple of weeks of living completely independently involve learning about what you need, and how much you need.

Because of that, there’s a chance that you buy too much, or too little.

In fact, when it comes to food, it’s not only about buying or not buying enough, but also about being able to take the time to cook it. Students often end up eating out, which costs even more money. Healthy eating requires patience and determination, and no amount of money can buy those. Since you may be sharing your place with roommates, it is always better to have clear terms of splitting expenditures among them right from the beginning, as otherwise it leads to awkward situations. Having your friendship strained over money is totally not worth it.

Living off campus comes with its own perks but, unlike living on campus, you have to pay rent monthly. Generally, basement suites are a lot cheaper than renting an apartment. Furnishing the whole place on your own is a bit of a headache, and it gets even worse if you are new to the city. It’s always best to ask someone who has lived in the area for some time. They might have something affordable and in a good condition that they want to part with, or may know where the best place to look is.

But the idea of being your own interior designer, and making all those fanta-

sies for your personal room come true, will surely brighten your mood.

Having a lean budget does not leave much to spend on clothing and footwear, and it might get difficult coping with the harsh weather without appropriate clothing. So, quite obviously, shopping must be done on weekends, and looking for sales will save you a whole lot of money. Thrift stores always come in handy for doing furniture shopping.

In addition to Craigslist, Kijiji, etc., a new online platform for buying and selling things that is becoming more useful is Facebook Marketplace, where you can find some pretty amazing deals. But, bear in mind that if you’re not planning to live somewhere long term, buying a lot of furniture will be an issue in the future when you want to move out, so only buy items that are immediately required.

There is no doubt that having a job helps in maintaining a steady cash flow.

Normally, the weekly class schedule leaves you with a considerable amount of time which, if utilized in an appropriate manner, can have positive impacts beyond just the income. One gets to learn a lot of important skills and gain experience, not to mention the connections they can lead to.

Cost of living as a student is not just a quantitative figure that you try your best not to cross every week, but do eventually. It tests you, and teaches you how to act maturely. The name of the game is balance and self control. Once you get a hold of those two elements, you’ll figure out everything.

Professor and student step into the ring PANKU SHARMA STAFF WRITER

It’s a confrontation that’s been brewing since September: the showdown of the semester that finally climaxed into a full-blown passive aggressive argument this past Thursday evening in Professor Chris Lipton’s Philosophy 100 class.

Second-year CIS major Jerry “No Not Seinfeld” Thiessen had been itching for this opportunity ever since Lipton first distributed the syllabus. “How can they call this a place of higher learning,” he opined on a public Facebook post, “with a reading list that completely ignores such critical works by people like Ayn Rand, Ben Shapiro, and Joe Rogan?”

Word of his frustrations eventually reached the sessional professor Lipton, who offered to set aside some regular class time so that they could “meet in the middle,” and “hash it out.” Speaking to The Cascade before Thursday night’s lecture, he also remarked that hopefully this would wake up some of the first-years in the classroom, who seemed disinterested in his 200 slide PowerPoints, and would instead play on their phones, not keep up with readings, and sometimes huddle in the corner of the room for warmth like a colony of penguins.

Round 1: As class began, Professor Lipton made early use of the limited space by dragging over a chair from one of the empty desks and placing it at the front, facing the white-

board. He then proceeded to sit on the chair, facing the class. It was devastatingly casual.

Not to be outdone, Jerry at first tried to navigate the early jabs and banter by gaining a height advantage in standing. However — perhaps becoming self-conscious of everyone staring at him — he eventually maneuvered to sit on an empty desk at the back. Unfortunately, his legs weren’t long enough to reach the ground, and would comically swing back and forth for much of the class.

The exchanges in this first round were mild, with both opponents sizing each other up, testing distance and boundaries, and remarking on the line up at Timmies — which received forced chuckles from the audience.

Round 2: Sensing the direction that the rest of class was going, many students began awkwardly shuffling out of the room, which provided a brief respite for the combatants.

Lipton and Thiessen returned to the exchange swinging, however, with the professor name-dropping several important-sounding people that he had worked with in the past, while also offhandedly sharing an anecdote about the one time they were on CTV News.

Not to be outdone, the student dodged the distractions and returned with a blistering critique — reminiscent of a enraged William F. Buckley in his prime — of bloated Marxist academia, a campus culture that had left facts for feelings, and the injustice of professors getting discounted parking.

When pressed in exchange, Jerry reverted to an ingrained combination of low mumbling, followed loudly by the declaration of a fallacy. This would often ruin Lipton’s tempo, as he would then have to search through his PowerPoint for the relevant slide or example of the fallacy to counter the point (and probably to give the remaining students something vaguely resembling an educational lecture).

Round 3: This round saw the two focus in on the core disagreement that had led to their showdown: the reading list.

However, while both came prepared by having at least read the sparknotes of their “essential works,” neither read from the other’s list. The frantic energy of early rounds was gone, but neither side was willing to admit that they didn’t know about the thing the other person was talking about.

Instead they deflected again, with each reaching to drag the conversation onto their preferred topic: the problems of late stage capitalism, political correctness, lazy students, and YouTube demonetization.

By the end of the class, neither the participants or the remaining audience really knew what the fuck anyone was talking about. The professor made an early exit, the students awoke from their daze and sleep, and Jerry began nonchalantly asking if anyone knew how hard it was to switch sections mid-semester.

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

Miffed cards

Infernal Combustion

Gift cards are weird. I get them from the business’ point of view: customers pay money up front, and if the cards are used, no loss, but if not, it’s literally a donation to the business. You’re turning your versatile, widely accepted cash into company-specific currency that can’t be exchanged back, or used anywhere else. It does nothing but limit you.

And yet, as a consumer, they still have appeal. Someone asked me what I’d like for my birthday recently, and I said a McDonald’s gift card. What psychological force makes it easier for me to justify buying a milkshake with a gift card than my own credit card? It’s barely even any easier. I think a big part of it is the sense that I might as well buy something, since the money’s already spent. I don’t have the mental block of “ehh, do I really need this?” because McDonald’s already has the money, so why not pull up to the drivethrough? But, when you get down to it, gift cards are clearly a terrible use of money.

Well played, marketers.

Here’s the problem with cars: the internal combustion engine is a stupidly old idea that should have been scrapped long before any notion of oil crisis or environmental damage. The ICE is a stupid idea — every single kind. Don’t come at me with your Wankels or your flats; using refined prehistoric goop to create a series of explosions that push several hundred pounds of steel around, thousands of times a second, not three feet from your feet, is idiotic.

That’s just fuel. Then there’s engine oil.

The engine needs oil to keep it cool, lubricated, and clean. Oil has to go somewhere after it does its lubricating thing, so it drops down into an oil pan. Oil is a pain in the ass. It’s dirty, gets everywhere, and the only reason this ancient piece of sloppy engineering uses oil is to prevent itself from self-destructing — great design.

There are few design flaws worse than the oil pan that sits lower than any other component in the undercarriage. How did this dimwitted idea pass inspection? It only takes one protruding rock to rip out the pan. Did no one, at the very least, suggest including some kind of skid plate?

Jeff Mijo

Brief bits of bite sized brevity

SNAPSHOTS When a car alarm goes off, do you think that a car is being broken into? No, of course not. You think that someone’s car alarm is going off for no reason, and 99 per cent of the time, you are right. Honestly, car alarms have had such a massive cry wolf effect that they serve no purpose whatsoever anymore, other than annoying people. The device has more than outlived its usefulness when instead of wondering if somebody’s vehicle is being burglarized, you fantasize about bashing in the offending vehicle’s windshield with a baseball bat.

Worse than the alarm itself is when it goes off, and the owner doesn’t do a thing about it. I don’t care if you are out of earshot, not shutting off your alarm is extremely rude, period. People who do this, even without realizing it, deserve to get their car smashed up; and frankly, I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often.

If you ask me, car alarms should be banned. They are irritating and serve no positive purpose. If a vehicle does have an alarm, and it goes off, the owner should be ticketed and fined.

Fall is possibly the best season in the Lower Mainland. Our summers are too hot, our winters are too cold, and our springs are just too weird. Fall is crisp and fresh, with the perfect balance of frosty mornings and just chilly enough afternoons. It’s the best season for wearing your collection of wool sweaters and cute boots, and hiking through forests of beautiful orange and red leaves.

Fall is the perfect season for storms.

Snow is great for the first day and a half, until it becomes a disastrously slushy mess. Spring rains are light and short, enough to get soaked through but not enough to enjoy a good cup of tea to. Fall storms have substance; they’re heavy and cozy and dark. They force you to sit inside in front of a space heater, enjoying a good game with friends, because there’s no way you’re going out in that weather.

Jeff Mijo

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Curtailed commentary on current conditions

More annoying than alarming

Au(some)tumn

Illustrations: Amara Gelaude

Joel Robertson-Taylor

Aleister Gwynne

Art in the Fraser Valley— Where it’s at, who’s involved, and why you should care should care

By: Martin Castro Designed by: Caleb Campbell

O

n the surface, UFV’s Abbotsford campus is very blunt about it being a university campus. Whoever planned the space must have thought: well, a university needs buildings and parking. Parking takes care of itself. You pave some land, draw some lines, and there you go — parking. The buildings, it seems, were designed to project their very essence at their inhabitants. Full of classrooms, these buildings seem desperate to tell us something, to declare it sternly, and with a measured tone: This is a place of learning, they seem to say.

So it is, but it is also so much more.

Curious students have doubtless stumbled into C building at various times throughout the year and found its walls dotted with sketches, drawings, and paintings; students running to and from studio spaces with brushes, cameras, and other supplies.

There is learning at UFV, but there is also making. There is also art. It’s on the top floor of the Student Union Building, on the walls and corners of C building, and in the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery. Who makes the art that goes

up on the walls of our campus? How does it get there, and what does it mean for the UFV community?

In order to get a grip on the process of art-making at UFV, we spoke with UFV’s widespread and varied community of artists: we spoke to professors, ready and willing to impart skills and knowledge to their pupils; to students, one connected to the community at this institution, and the other continuing her journey as an artist by embracing the resources available to her. Out on the fringes, a graduate tackles the real world with enthusiasm after leaving a unique signature on the walls of UFV’s newest building and student hub. Together, these voices tell us just as much about the burgeoning community of artists in the Fraser Valley as they do about the community of minds coming together within the walls of UFV, learning and collaborating, exchanging ideas and skills, all in an effort to create something new.

Continued on next page

Learning Art at UFV For students like Sidi Chen, an outgoing visual arts major who focuses mostly on painting, and Paige Caldwell, a fourth-year student who works primarily in charcoal on plywood panels, education in the arts at UFV has been a twofold process of book-learning and hands-on work.

Chen notes that he spends as much time on readings as he does brushing up on, well, brushing.

“Through art history courses you get a lot of information and theory. The higher you go, the more freedom you have to direct where your projects go. That’s not to say that before that you don’t have freedom, you still do, but there are more requirements on the technical side.”

Throughout our conversation, I get the sense that, apart from a steadfast commitment to the progression of his work, there’s nothing extraordinary about Chen apart from, perhaps, diligence. He tells me he’s been painting since

he was five. He’s had training in colour theory and basic art practices from an early age. These childhood resources have proved their usefulness over and over again, but none of them are game changers, none lay outside the grasp of any other student.

Caldwell explains that visual arts staff at UFV focus on giving students skills they can actually use.

She notes her education has been, above all, pragmatic.

“All the professors I’ve had in studio courses talk about getting a portfolio set up, and setting yourself up to be able to apply to galleries if you’re going in an independent route,” says Caldwell.

“They tell you that it’s a lot of selfpromotion — 80 per cent selfpromotion, 20 per cent doing the work. That’s been really helpful.

Not so much the studio part of it, but how you’re going to get your stuff out there.”

“It’s a lot of selfpromotion — 80 per cent self-promotion, 20 per cent doing the work.”

The S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery has been a part of UFV since 1985. ‌‌ October 2014, The UFV Visual Arts Gallery In was renamed S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery.

The S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery is not publicly funded, and does not have an annual budget.

Submission schedule Annual Call for Submissions — reviewed after the May 31 deadline.

Events that are scheduled every year include: the BFA Exhibition the Visual Arts Diploma Exhibition the BFA Silent Auction “Multiples” — an annual class project for VA 116

Co-curricular student involvement UFV’s docent program allows up to 4 co-curricular record students to become docent/preparators (gallery attendants/handlers).

Students involved might be required to: Volunteer 1-2 hours per week. This time is spent in the gallery Provide information to visitors Help with the installation of exhibits Support exhibitors with installation, opening reception, or cleanup

Displaying work at UFV As Chen tells me, UFV offers plenty of opportunities for students looking to showcase their work. There is wall space throughout C building available for displaying student work.

“Everyone knows they can book a wall and put their stuff up,” says Chen. “As long as they’re responsible for taking it down and patching the wall, everything’s good.”

Caldwell echoes these comment s , saying that displaying art at UFV is easier than it seems from an outside perspective. “You can do that any time and put [your work] up for however long. You just gotta do it.”

The booking format for space

on these walls is old-fashioned but effective. A paper schedule is available to students in C building which displays the available times for using wall space throughout the building. Despite its simplicity, the booking process is not a walk in the park.

“You need to be very self-directed,” says Chen. “Where is the best place to present your work?

When is the space available?”

As great a resource as the walls of C building are, there exists, for students looking to put together a more professional display of their work, a second option at UFV: The S’eliyematexwtexw Gallery.

“We want to provide the unique and important opportunity for our students (current and alumni) to exhibit their work professionally.”

S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery Students don’t have to walk too far into B building before they stumble into UFV’s most wondrous, magical room: B136, the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery.

Space in the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery isn’t as easily booked as space in C building, and the job of overseeing the space falls to associate professor of sculpture and extended media, Melanie Jones. As one might expect, there’s quite a step up from booking a wall in C building, and scheduling an exhibition at the gallery.

“The S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery is a curated space, so it is not ‘booked’ in the same way a classroom or a meeting space is,” says Jones. “Once we review submissions, a schedule is made for the coming year’s exhibitions or events.”

Submissions for the gallery are reviewed annually, and students interested in exhibiting their work have to prepare to do so a year in advance. Students must write an artist statement,

Schedule of

submit a proposal of what they plan to display in the gallery, include a CV, and supply an image list to the gallery.

Although the gallery receives a considerable amount of requests per year, Jones says that student work is given priority.

“We want to provide the unique and important opportunity for our students (current and alumni) to exhibit their work professionally.”

The gallery’s own guidelines for submissions give students a taste of what it’s like to exhibit work professionally.

“When an exhibition or event is given space in the gallery, the exhibitors are responsible for all aspects of the exhibition, but can consult with myself or the other gallery committee members/technicians for specific support, such as arranging projectors or lighting.”

Since the gallery is run entirely by volunteers, matters of installation are left up to students.

“We do not install or hang the artwork for the exhibitor — we require exhibitors to be present for the install of their work,” says Jones.

upcoming shows

Skin Tactility — Sidi Chen & Paige Caldwell October 16 – November 3, 2017 Opening Reception: October 16 (will have happened at publication) VA116 (Intro to Studio II: Space, Form, and Time) Annual Exhibition November 13 – December 5, 2017 Opening reception: November 13, 2017

Shoganai — Grace Tsurumaru (VA faculty member presenting her artist’s book) December 8 – 14, 2017 Deep Sea Changes — Madeline Hildebrandt January 8 – January 15, 2018 BFA Silent Auction Jan 29 – Feb 2, 2018

While most students’ first encounter with UFV’s Emerge program.

“This is a different experience only art gallery will happen by chance, it’s evident that initiative is what’s brought Chen into the from [submitting to The Reach.]

S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery today, where he turns We’re setting the exhibit up, to Caldwell, and asks for her opinion: Should two whereas in the Emerge gallery, they have a curator and staff paintings go on the far wall, or just one?

Caldwell and Chen are hard at work prepar- which give you a lot of help. It ing a forthcoming exhibition which will feature was a good jump-start to be disChen’s paintings and mixed-media work, along- played in a gallery that gives you a lot of help. side Caldwell’s drawings.

Chen tries to gauge the size of “Having a public gallery inside a It helps you a wall, and considers the lighting school is very nice. If it wasn’t here, build up momentum.” before explaining how he came the rest of the school wouldn’t be As a learnto collaborate with Caldwell. He ing tool, the and Caldwell were both in the aware of this art.” same painting class before summer, which gave them both the opportunity to S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery’s focus on being a resource which experience each other’s work.

“I saw that there was a commonality between students can take advantage of inour work,” he says. “I asked if she wanted to put dependently of class places them in a sink-or-swim situation. Firstly, together a show with me, and she said yes.”

Caldwell notes that the experience of submit- it falls to the student exhibiting ting a proposal to and organizing an exhibit in their work to assure the process the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery is more demand- goes smoothly, and secondly, ing than other local alternatives, like The Reach’s there’s no better cure for stage

She adds that communication between students and the gallery is key in the smooth transition from one exhibit to the next.

“If a student cannot be present to retrieve work, then it is likely that arrangements could be made in advance. If there is significant damage, or materials required to restore the space, we ask the exhibitor to take responsibility for those things as part of their agreement to use the space.”

Are these rules tough? Perhaps, but they do mimic the process that students will have to go through to display art at most major galleries.

Standardizing the practice of installing exhibits as part of the reality of being an artist is a key step in making sure students are prepared to work professionally in their chosen field.

Jones understands the challenges that come with exhibiting at the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery, but insists that they “offer students a launch pad to help them move forward in their careers.”

BFA Silent Auction Jan 29 – Feb 2, 2018 Invisible Horizons — David Evans February 6 – 26, 2018 pArticipate Poster Competition March 1 – 15, 2018 Diploma Show March 19 – April 6, 2018 BFA Grad Show April 27 – May 18, 2018 fright than having your work on display at a gallery within walking distance of the cafeteria.

“It’s really good to have this space in a separate building than C building,” says Caldwell. “Just walking around the school, there’s not a lot of art in it. Having a public gallery inside a school is very nice. If it wasn’t here, the rest of the school wouldn’t be aware of this art.”

Caldwell realizes there’s no avoiding the fact that your peers are bound to wander in sooner or later.

“Yes, people are going to look at your work. People are going to judge your work.

You kind of have to get over it.”

Continued on next page

After Graduation: Enter Meshaal Alzeer If Chen and Caldwell are representative of artists at UFV, then Meshaal Alzeer is representative of artists from UFV. Before graduating in 2016, Alzeer painted and exhibited a striking series of paintings titled Portraits of the Unknown.

Adventurous students might recognize that as the joint title of the three huge, bold oil paintings of Muslim scientists and scholars currently hanging in a hallway on the topmost floor of the Student Union Building at UFV’s Abbotsford campus.

“That body of work was part of a directed study. Its aim was in revealing and shining light on ancient Muslim scientists,” says Alzeer. “I see that as kind of a big deal in terms of bridging [cultural] gaps, and breaking stereotypes.”

Evidently, it was also a big deal for well-connected visitors of the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery at the time it featured his paintings. A member of the Student Union Society reached out to Alzeer, and spoke a phrase to him that I’m sure many art students dream about one day hearing.

“She said, ‘We like your body of work, we think it’s powerful, and we’d like to add it to our permanent collection.’ I’d heard that they purchased student work, which is very encouraging and motivating to students. I was lucky enough to be among those students whose artwork was purchased.”

Thinking back, Alzeer feels confident in the skills he gained during his time at UFV. “Of course, right now, I’ve been out of school for a year, looking back at the work I’ve done in my school years, I think that I could have done better.

I’m satisfied so far with what I’ve explored, and wanted to speak about and with my technical skills. I could have spent or invested more time, but in general it’s good. I’m satisfied.”

As an artist in his own right, and a member of the greater Abbotsford community of art-

ists, Alzeer sees only opportunity on the horizon — for artists and facilitators alike.

“I’m involved with a few artists in the community who really want venues in Abbotsford.

Abbotsford is developing right now, it’s becoming huge, and the arts sector will need attention. I’ve met people who really want to work together, share a workspace, exhibit together. I see a lot of potential for sure.

There’s huge change.”

What does that mean for artists at UFV?

“There are opportunities, At this point, I think it’s fair yes. In terms of finding them, to say that, if art is what Abartists need to get themselves botsford wants, it doesn’t know out there. And [the same goes] what it’s got coming. for the people who are looking — suppliers, providers, patrons, benefactors.”

In an observation that should be brought to the ears of city planners as they budget growth for the city’s infrastructure, Alzeer notes three areas in need of improvement: “[There needs to be] a focus on venues, affordability, [and] exposure.”

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

Event preview //

International scholars come together at UFV to discuss the “Future of Food” CASSIE DE JONG CULTURE & EVENTS EDITOR

With the Earth’s population rising to an almost unsustainable level, food manufacturers must make the most out of our now limited amount of resources. Our current agricultural systems exhibit some serious issues regarding poor working conditions, food waste, animal abuse, damaged ecosystems, and more. The world is in desperate need of a new and improved means of food production that will provide enough food for urban areas, while consuming less resources.

On October 25, both local and international speakers are coming together to discuss what can be done to resolve issues of unsustainable food production on a global scale. The event is called “Future of Food: Global Food Systems and Food Security,”

and will be held in the Student Union Building on UFV’s Abbotsford campus from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Organizers invite you to ask yourself questions such as, “Do you know where your food comes from?” and “Ever thought about the changing dynamics of food production and consumption as we head into the global future?”

The main purpose of “Future of Food” is to promote knowledge of food systems and food security, as the globalized world that we live in has become increasingly dependent on food systems that are interlinked.

Thus, the list of speakers includes experts in food systems and security from Canada, Kenya, and Tanzania.

According Amy Chiasson one of the event’s organizers, Dr. Alex Awiti will be visiting UFV from Aga Khan University, East Africa Institute in Nairobi, and Dr.

Tatu Mtwangi Limbumba is visiting from Ardhi University in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They will be joined by Dr. Lenore Newman, the UFV Canada research chair in food security. This collaboration ensures all international concerns are addressed.

The promoters of this event would like to note that the individual from UN-Habitat will no longer be speaking.

Chiasson stated: “We are excited to have both speakers from East Africa. I think that, as the only chance that students will have to hear from these scholars will be at this event, they will likely draw the most attendance. These speakers will also benefit students, as they offer a perspective that many UFV students have probably not heard before.”

The event will be hosted by Queen Elizabeth Scholars Alison Thorpe, Stephen Otieno, Vera Mwangi, and Mariam Genes.

This serves to promote the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship available to UFV students.

“We hope that students will leave this event with knowledge of food systems and their importance in our daily lives, and also with an understanding of how scholars cooperate at a global level,” said Chiasson. “We are also hoping to inspire more students to engage in international internships.”

“Future of Food” invites you to participate in a conversation with qualified individuals, and to add a student perspective on possible solutions for a global problem.

You can register for this free event at eventbrite.ca.

Student club //

UFV Amnesty hosts Refugee Stories Day MARTIN CASTRO ARTS EDITOR

On Tuesday, October 10, UFV’s Amnesty Club hosted Refugee Stories Day, an event aimed at sharing the experiences of refugees living in the Fraser Valley, with members of the UFV community. Housed in Evered Hall, it took place from 3-5 p.m.

The event took the form of a panel presentation by four members of the community and their role in alleviating the refugee crisis which, in the wake of the Syrian civil war and related conflicts, has left thousands displaced.

Michelle Murray-Schlitt, president of UFV Amnesty, spoke to The Cascade about the event, and the goals of UFV Amnesty.

“There were roughly 50 people in attendance,” said Murray-Schlitt. “We heard from [UFV political science professor] Ron Dart about the importance of discussing the structural issues behind refugee crises.”

Bibi Dilmahomed, an outreach worker with Abbotsford Community Services (ACS), spoke to guests about ACS’ role in the resettlement of Syrian refugees.

“It was great to hear firsthand updates on how these newcomers to the Fraser Valley are doing,” said Murray-Schlitt. “[Especially] from someone working directly with them.”

Also present at the event was Tima Kurdi, a hairstylist who immigrated to Canada in 1992.

On September 2, 2015, Kurdi’s sisterin-law Rehanna Kurdi and her two sons, Ghalib and three year-old Alan Kurdi, drowned in the Aegean Sea as they tried to make their way from Turkey to Greece.

Alan’s death brought international attention to the refugee crisis after a posthumous photograph of the young boy taken by Turkish journalist Nilüfer Demir surfaced through the media.

Since then, Kurdi has stepped into the

public spotlight in an effort to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis facing Syrian refugees, a crisis which has cost Kurdi a sister-in-law, and two young nephews.

“We hope that students will be challenged by these personal stories,” says Murray-Schlitt. “We want to [relate] the things students see on the news to a different and more personally challenging and impactful level. We all have a role to play in these events, and it’s important that students consider their individual role in the scope of these [humanitarian] issues.”

To that end, Murray-Schlitt hopes having guests like Kurdi speak at UFV nurtures an understanding of the injustices affecting marginalized groups at home and abroad, and encourages students to begin a dialogue about them.

“We want to open up conversation, and challenge people to consider the value of stories and experiences [of] people outside the groups they usually interact with. Ultimately, we want to create a dialogue about human rights, and our role in maintaining them here at home [and] abroad.”

Examples of recent actions taken by UFV Amnesty include campaigning for Indigenous rights, and doing outreach work. “[We’ve written] letters on behalf of political prisoners such as Mahmoud Abu Zeid, who was jailed in Egypt for taking a picture in 2013,” said Murray-Schlitt. “[As well,] we have campaigned on behalf of Indigenous rights to the land, which the proposed Site C Dam will affect, and we hope to partner more with Indigenous groups on campus and in the community as the year progresses.”

UFV Amnesty encourages all students interested in joining to reach out through Facebook, or email them at ufv.amnesty@gmail.com.

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11

STUDY BREAK Crossword //

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

Made by Jeff Mijo

ACROSS

DOWN

1: First month of the year

2: A chemical substance that dissolves some materials

5: Flower with long white petals and yellow centre 7: Award for television and emerging media 9: What you wear on your feet to go outside 10: Main ginger-haired character in Harry Potter 12: Dynamite 13: A long, narrow strap attached at one end to a horse’s bit 14: Also commonly known as a mountain lion or panther 15: An Indigenous nation that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period

3: Red gemstone 4: Planet closest to the Sun 6: Item that protects your camera component from fingerprints, scratches, and dust 8: Territory where the gold rush was 9: Animal that produces wool 10: Small rodent 11: Almonds, pecans, and pistachios are all a type of _ _ _ 15: World’s biggest continent 16: Shellfish you dig for on the beach

17: A recreational hobby is also known as a ___

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS: Across: 1: Mocha 3 Oasis 5: Spoon 6: Kite 7: Aviator 9: Leopard 10: Buoy 11: Bowie 12: Yahoo 13: Egypt

Down: 2: Avocado 4: Satyr 8: Tadpole 9: Laugh

Illustration by: Amara Gelaude

Horoscope //

Astrological mysteries rudely interpreted by Lady May

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 Wish upon your most extravagant desires this week, and they will be granted. But remember that Star Trek is fiction, and you are not a Borg leader.

12

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 A good friend asks only for your time, not your money. A closer friend asks only for your Netflix password.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 Land is always on the mind of a flying bird.

Just like loans are always on the mind of a student.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 You will drive many cars in your lifetime, often into trees or buildings.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 A good way to keep healthy is to eat more Chinese food. Or was that a good way to keep happy…? Either way, eat more Chinese food.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 The people around you are hardworking, reliable, and incredibly dull. Your everlasting patience dealing with them will be rewarded sooner or later.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 People are naturally intrigued by you, and follow you closely wherever you go. Ask them why, and they will probably mutter something unintelligible about solidarity.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 You find beauty in strange things. You are also the sole reason butterfly brooches and parachute pants have made a comeback.

Cool down the strangeness a little.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 If nothing is currently wrong in your life, then that in itself is something wrong. Re-evaluate your surroundings, as something is out of place.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled.

Though, if you think someone is cheating you, you’re probably right.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 The person you desire feels the same about you. So, now is not the time to reveal your strange habits — such as eating coffee straight out of the bag with a spoon. They won’t be impressed.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at. But laugh at another Pisces, and they’ll kick your ass, and the asses of your imaginary friends.

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

ENTERTAINING. EDGY. ENTERTAINING. EDGY. An An eclectic mixmix of provocative short plays. eclectic of provocative short plays.

OCTOBER OCTOBER 18 — 21 18 — 21

For play and schedule, visit:visit: For information play information and schedule,

WWW.GALLERY7THEATRE.COM WWW.GALLERY7THEATRE.COM

Event Preview //

Olympic gold medalist, WestJet CEO, and more, to speak at Abbotsford conference CASSIE DE JONG CULTURE & EVENTS EDITOR

On October 20, the second National Character Canada Conference will take place at the Abbotsford Arts Centre, and at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School. The event is being held to promote character in education, sports, and local businesses in our community. Tickets to the event include admission to two keynote speakers, two breakout sessions of your choice, lunch catered by local eatery “Restaurant 62,” and for those 19 and up, there will also be a post event wrap up party featuring food and drinks provided by local businesses, such as Lepp Farm Market and Field House Brewing.

Character Canada is a non-profit, non-religious, and non-political group that aims to teach people how to define which values matter to them, and actively integrate them into their organizations and daily lives. The Abbotsford branch was founded by several organizations including the City of Abbotsford, School District 34, the Chamber of Commerce, Police and Fire Rescue Services, and Abbotsford Community Services. Character Abbotsford council member Gina Vanderheide stated that “Character Abbotsford represents a movement supported by every large influential group across the city, a movement that can impact all of Canada. It’s something everybody should

become part of, and this event will give them the chance.”

The National Character Canada Conference is a community event. This year’s theme is “Make Your Mark,” and that translates to leading with character and making a lasting impression. According to event organizers, the purpose is to encourage people to consider the “lasting impression” they are leaving on their community, business, school, and family.

The two keynote speakers are expected to attract the most attendance. Gregg Saretsky is the CEO of WestJet, and Cassie Campbell is a Canadian Olympic gold medalist and sports broadcaster for women’s hockey.

Some of the panels include Stephen Pasiciel, a technology entrepreneur, operations consultant, and business developer who will speak on helping people adapt in the face of change. Also, Cam Friesen and Nerpal Sidhu from School District 34 in Abbotsford will run a panel on how to develop students’ character, and provide tools to change the culture of schools. The full list of panels can be found at characterconferencecanada.com.

Full-price tickets are $135, and students tickets are available for $65. Event coordinator Goldie VanGarderen stated: “We hope [the conference] inspires students to lead with character in all aspects of their life. We want them to feel empowered, and realize the potential they have to make a difference in their world, and leave their own per-

sonal mark in their community.”

Panels which VanGarderen suggests would most likely benefit students include: “Collaboration over competition, how to re-build a community from the ground up,” featuring the owners of local businesses including Field House Brewing, Spruce Collective, and Oldhand Coffee; “Boys Club” for students hoping to work with kids, featuring speakers Cam Smith and Mike Enns; or speaker Courtney Verbeek on “how to empower the next generation of female leaders.” Sports speakers addressing everything from coaching to teamwork would benefit students involved in UFV sports. Perhaps most relevant to UFV, Jory Smallenberg will lead her own panel about building a grassroots movement.

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CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

Art of the month

Artist statement:

In my artwork, I embrace a sensibility associated with childhood to express variations of loneliness, fear, and uncertainty.

This perspective is a significant part of my own experience, and it gives the work a more visceral, authentic, and mysterious aura. I aim to pinpoint moments of understanding within our young lives that transition us from innocence to uncertainty and skepticism. The child’s experience is all about mysteries and the unknown, as they haven’t yet learned the truths and realities of adulthood. Everything is magical, new, and adventurous, and I attempt to look at the world in this way in the hopes to bring more inspiration, wonder, and significance into my art practice and personal life.

Bio: Jessica Peatman is a recent Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate with a major in visual arts. She works primarily with drawing and printmaking. Currently, she is undergoing a self-directed study in printmaking at UFV in Abbotsford.

Instagram: @jjezzzica

Rough Waters

By Jessica Peatman Graphite pencil on paper Art of the Month is a recurring feature that highlights the visual arts work of UFV students. In conjunction with the Visual Arts Student Association (VASA), The Cascade chooses the works of multiple artists to be featured each month. To submit your work, please send an image, 50 word bio, 150 word artist statement, and image list with titles, mediums, sizes, and dates of creation (must be within the past year) to:

artofthemonth@ufvcascade.ca.

Limit of three submissions per person, per month.

Selected works may be displayed at The Cascade lounge, in room S2111 of the Abbotsford UFV campus.

The deadline for submissions is October 25.

Cascade Events Calendar Oct 18 Folio Thinking @ Canada Education Park (Chilliwack Campus), 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Journaling Workshop @ Room A315 (Abbotsford Campus), 5:45 - 7:45 p.m.

Info Session: 2018 London, Iceland, Paris Study Tour @ Room A305 (Abbotsford Campus) 10:00 a.m.

Palestine Film Series “Budrus” @ Room B121 (Abbotsford Campus), 3.30 - 5:30 p.m.

Oct 19 Play: It’s a Glorious, Wonderful Life @ Matsqui Centennial Auditorium (Abbotsford), 8:45 p.m.

Play: Forward to the Right (Opening Night) @ Matsqui Centennial Auditorium (Abbotsford), 7:30 p.m.

Oct 20 *MOVED* The Hague/Guilt Trap/Atodaso @ Carport Manor (Abbotsford), 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.

West Coast Women’s Show @ Tradex (Abbotsford), 1:00 - 9:30 p.m.

MOVE Fashion Show @ Abbotsford Arts Centre, 6:30 - 10:30 p.m.

2nd National Character Canada Conference: @ Abbotsford Senior Secondary School, 7:30am - 3:00 p.m.

14

Note: Some of these events require tickets, most are on Facebook.

If something catches your eye, take to the internet for more details.

Oct 21

Oct 28

West Coast Women’s Show @ Tradex (Abbotsford), 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Play: It’s a Glorious, Wonderful Life @ Matsqui Centennial Auditorium (Abbotsford), 12:00 p.m. & 8:45 p.m.

Opening Reception: “Semblance” @ Kariton Art Gallery (Abbotsford), 6:00 8:00 p.m.

Free Try It Out Class @ The Goddess Movement (Abbotsford), 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m.

Oct 22

Oct 31 Downtown Abbotsford’s Trick Or Treat @ Montrose ave. & Essendene ave., 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Nov 2

Nov 6 Visions of Truth and Fantasy Book Launch @ Clearbrook Library (Abbotsford), 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Four Year Anniversary Party @ Townhall Public House (Abbotsford), 10:00 p.m. 12 Midnight Nov 7 Publishing Panel featuring Carleigh Baker @ Student Union Building (Abbotsford Campus), 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Long Night Against Procrastination @ Location TBA (Abbotsford Campus), 4:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

West Coast Women’s Show @ Tradex (Abbotsford), 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Foreigner @ Abbotsford Centre, 7:00 10:00 p.m.

Palestine Film Series “The Iron Wall” @ Room B121 (Abbotsford Campus), 3.30 pm

Oct 25

Nov 3

Future of Food: Global Food Systems and Food Security: @ Student Union Building (Abbotsford Campus), 2:00 4:00 p.m.

Curator Talk - Legacies on the Lake Exhibit @ Trethewey House (Abbotsford), 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The Vintage Barn Market at Christmas @ Chilliwack Heritage Park, 4:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Fourth Annual Native Art Gala @ Ruby Creek Art Gallery (Agassiz), 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Remembrance Day (Observed) – UFV CLOSED Play: Peter and the Starcatcher (Opening Night) @ Abbotsford Arts Centre, 7:30 p.m.

Nov 4

Nov 12

The Vintage Barn Market at Christmas @ Chilliwack Heritage Park, 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

Grand Opening of Temple Entertainment @ 2603 W Railway St (Abbotsford), 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Intro to Chalk Lettering Workshop @ Community Room Highstreet (Abbotsford), 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Oct 26 Pumpkin Carving Contest @ Townhall Public House (Abbotsford), 9:00 p.m. 1:00 a.m.

Oct 27 ArtHAUS @ The Reach (Abbotsford), 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Mollys Reech Halloween Party @ Gators Pub (Abbotsford), 8:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Nov 5 Hedley, Shawn Hook, and Neon Dreams @ Abbotsford Centre, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Nov 10

Nov 15 Palestine Film Series “Stone Cold Justice” @ Room B121 (Abbotsford Campus), 3:30 p.m.

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

Album Review //

Kaipa: prog rock comfort food CHARTS

SHUFFLE

1

FAITH HEALER Try ;-)

AARON LEVY

2

KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH The Kid

3

THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA Under Burning Skies

4

ALVVAYS Antisocialites

5

DECATUR Badder Than Brooklyn

Because baseball playoffs, AND because CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy recognizes that some years ARE just intended by the PTB for, *sigh*, the Bronx Bombers. This edition of the shuffle is dedicated to the folks at Security, IT and Ancillary Services, because they keep us running here both on campus and off, and because there are a slew of, *sigh*, insufferable Yankee fans among their ranks :P

6

BLESSED Daytrotter Session

The Isotopes — The Legend of George Brett

7

NASHLYN Work It Out

8

GHOST TWIN Plastic Heart

9

BETH Beth

Like Brett, this band can exhibit some unbecoming behaviour when pressed, for time or patience, perhaps. This song is an offering to the non-Jaybirds among us, as Brett’s legacy includes the summary dismissal of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1985 American League Championship Series with Kansas City’s Royals.

10

MAUNO Tuning

11

HOODED FANG Dynasty House

12

JOM COMYN I Need Love

13

ARIEL PINK Dedicated to Bobby Jameson

14

MAC DEMARCO This Old Dog

15

SOFT GLASS Orange Earth

16

PON THE REBEL Shelf Life

17

XCEPHASX The Space Between the Walls

18

THE APE-ETTES The Ape-ettes

19

TIMBER TIMBRE Sincerely, Future Pollution

20

THE BELLE GAME Fear/Nothing

OSUNA MATATA

Betty Jane Bonney/Les Brown — Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio It’s 1941, July 2nd, as the lyrics elude, and Joe is about to set a record for the most consecutive games with a base hit. As of yet unknown: Within the year, this song would be a hit and DiMaggio would become MVP before spending 3 years in Europe fighting Nazis.

Simon and Garfunkle — Mrs. Robinson Perhaps an even more complete tribute, this song refers to the Yankee Clipper, as he was known in his personal life, the not-quitewidower of Marilyn Monroe, and wasn’t yet a Hall of Famer when the last song was written, apparently didn’t appreciate Monroe’s disdain for bathing? Who knows.

Choclair — Let’s Ride A song that, among other things, immortalizes through hip hop the most meaningful walk-off home run a slugger has ever hit. Pittsburgh’s 1960 walk-off WAS the only such game 7 clincher, (Carter’s was game 6), but Mazeroski’s nearly the definition of light hitting (read: best ever defensive) infielder.

JEFF MIJO CULTURE AND EVENTS EDITOR

Is it possible to be a big fan of a band, but not feel strongly about any of their songs? I’ve listened through every album Swedish prog rock band Kaipa has released since their resurrection in 2002 (the group was founded in 1974, but with an almost entirely different lineup, and most of their songs performed in Swedish), and they’re one of the few bands I almost never skip when they come up in my shuffled playlist. But if you told me you wanted to try listening to them and asked where to start, I’d stutter and eventually say “anywhere.”

That’s because you can pick a song at random and get the full Kaipa experience, and their new album, Children of the Sounds, is no different. Their songs check off all the boxes I like: multiple singers working in unison, complex song structures, weird but fun lyrics, a unique and memorable sound — but that sound of theirs is almost too uniform. This is their eighth modern album, and I’m not sure if there’s been any evolution or change during the past 15 years. I can tell their songs apart, but that isn’t a qualification I should have to list on a band I count among my favourites.

Children of the Sounds only consists of five songs, but it still clocks in at 58 minutes, with the shortest track running almost seven, and the longest nearly 20. It’s definitely not for everyone, either — this is exactly the kind of music that, before I fell down the prog-rabbit hole, I’d laugh when I heard. It’s very over the top, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

In fact, the tone of the music might be one of the reasons that Kaipa’s very well-defined sound clicks with me. Despite all the complex melodies, changing time signatures, and lyrics that range from

mundane day-in-the-life, to fantasy worlds, to weird-I-don’t-know-what-this-is-about ramblings, of the nearly 80 Kaipa songs in my playlist, I cannot think of a single one that’s dreary, depressing, or even negative. It’s just plain fun, and even the slow songs have a hopeful, optimistic slant to them.

The shortest song on Children of the Sounds, “The Shadowy Sunlight,” may contain the closest thing to a somber song I’ve ever heard from the band, and it’s not exactly brooding.

Kaipa is like musical comfort food, the prog rock version of a poppy top 40 feel-good song, and Children of the Sounds is just another big helping. It’s exactly what I want on in the background while I work, it’s great driving music, and I don’t know if I could name a single song from the modern iteration of the band that I dislike.

If I had to rank the album, I’d say it falls a little short of some of Kaipa’s other releases in recent years, if only because none of the songs highlight the vocal talent of Aleena Gibson the way some past work has, with this album focusing more on the male singers, or harmonized lyrics. It also doesn’t have many lyrics that jump out at you the way some past songs like “A Universe of Tinyness” from 2012’s Vittjar, do. And when the lyrics do stand out, it isn’t always because they’re great — I know this group is capable of better than “roving down my winding road / I don’t need a secret code / to unfold this piece of art / so emotional inside my heart.”

That said, if you want something fun, light, and very different, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend checking out Kaipa. Should you start with Children of the Sounds? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Listen to any three songs of theirs, and you’ll know exactly what you’ll think of the rest. Personally, I happen to like them.

Podcast Review //

Pod Save Cardassia

PANKU SHARMA STAFF WRITER

Seems you can’t swing a vole by the tail these days without hitting a podcast devoted to talking about Star Trek. While The Kickers of Elves might be the most poorly named team behind one of these podcasts, I’d highly recommend you choose them as your guides into the terrifying world of technobabble, ‘90s television production, and the parsing of what is and isn’t canon. I find supplementary material like this always enhances my ability to enjoy and understand entries in the franchise, granted they have enough depth to warrant a podcast.

I’ve followed the team of comedian Wade Bowen, writer James Nolan, and cartoonist Hugh Crawford through my binge watch of Deep Space 9 this past year, and was very impressed by the level of detail they brought to their episode-specific discussions.

The central idea of Rules of Acquisition, their first podcast, was that DS9, by its end, was a precursor to the “golden age of television,” modern audience tastes for compelling arcs, and deep characters.

This was in contrast to not only the self-contained and somewhat campy tropes of Star Trek in general, but also the studio needs and expectations of syndicated television. Long seasons of 22 episodes meant stories would have to be simple enough for audiences to drop and in and out of, without an expectation of keeping track of too many moving parts and characters week to week. Much of early DS9 seasons work this way, but changeover in showrunners, and more autonomy to the writers room, bring the show to a higher level.

It’s interesting listening to their discussions of the episodes because the hosts bring an extensive knowledge, not only of Star Trek canon, but also

behind-the-scenes information related to production and writing. They all have a theatre background as well, and are able to elaborate on the acting choices of the cast. They are able to give deep reads of the show within its historical context — Odo as a borderline fascist, the cracks in, and limitations of the Federation that aren’t explored in other series, and its progressiveness in regards to the show’s treatment of race. That’s not to say it’s all dry or academic; Star Trek is pretty goofy — and they talk about it without backing into “an angry nerd corner,” or recreating that scene from The Simpsons, where Comic Book Guy chastises Itchy and Scratchy writers for the rib xylophone.

The new series has led to them starting the Discovery Home Companion as a second podcast, but I feel there is a shift in dynamic that hurts the purpose behind, and overall quality of the discussion.

With DS9, even during the goofy and filler episodes, they knew that there was a satisfying conclusion waiting for them — which meant they were able to delve into foreshadowing, world-building, character arcs, and central themes of the series as they went along. However, with Star Trek: Discovery, they aren’t really all on board, and without an endgame, a lot of discussion meanders around speculation and subjective enthusiasm for the show.

Final verdict? The team at The Kickers of Elves should think of re-naming, as they have a really unique and in-depth perspective on sci-fi that I think people want to hear. I also think podcasts should stop talking about ongoing shows, as even The Kickers can’t bring the discussion to as much depth as retrospectives allow.

15

LOOKING FOR A

Y T I Y V I T HHIIIPP NNEEW AC IVITY H

THAT’S JUST AS COOL AS PLANKING WAS???

Look no further!!!

It ’s called “Drip ‘n’ Dip”

All you gotta’ do is, grab your surfboard, a platter of fresh fruits, and snag one of your— okay hang on…

e r a l l e h e h t t ?

Wha ? ? g n i you do

TRY TRY IT IT OUT. OUT.

You haven’t even tried it out yet?

What the— the- come come on, on, ugh, ugh, too too late, late, nevermind. nevermind.

It’s over. It’s done. No more “Drip ‘n’ Dip”.

Ideas like this only come around once in a generation ok?

YYAA BLEW IIT. T.