The Cascade Vol.27 Iss.05

FEBRUARY 6 TO FEBRUARY 12, 2019

VOLUME 27 ISSUE 05

Digesting us slowly since 1993

emerging school of creative arts

pg.3

the fight against youth homelessness

pg. 12

robert wiersema making one hell of a splash

pg. 10

Cascade Kitchen: dressed up edamame

pg. 16

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

VOL. 27 // ISSUE 05

Copy Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca

Production Assistant Renée Campbell renee@ufvcascade.ca

Production Assistant Uyen Nguyen uyen@ufvcascade.ca

News Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Jeff Mijo-Burch jeff@ufvcascade.ca

Culture & Events Editor Cassie de Jong cassie@ufvcascade.ca

Features Editor Cat Friesen cat@ufvcascade.ca

Multimedia Editor Mikaela Collins mikaela@ufvcascade.ca

Arts in Review Editor Martin Castro martin@ufvcascade.ca

Illustrator Simer Haer Illustrator Cory Jensen

Sports Writer Alex Jesus Staff Writer Emmaline Spencer

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10-11

Staff Writer Carissa Wiens

Event Reporter Alexandra Johnson

Staff Writer Julie Bond

Online Editor Jeff Mijo-Burch jeff@ufvcascade.ca

Staff Writer Caleb Silveira

CONTRIBUTORS Aleister Gwynne Darien Johnson Nadia Tudhope Evan Werbin Addison Wiebe Cover Design: Mikaela Collins Back Cover: Mikaela Collins

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

ARTS

Illustrator Kayt Hine

OPINION

Production Manager Elyssa English elyssa@ufvcascade.ca

NEWS

Managing Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca

CONTENTS

FEATURE

Business Manager Quintin Stamler quintin@ufvcascade.ca

Creative Director Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca

CULTURE

Executive Editor (interim) Cat Friesen cat@ufvcascade.ca

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13 9.......Events Calendar

Snapshots.......8 Study Break.......16-17 @UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 27 · Issue 05 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley.

The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by the Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a print circulation of 1,000 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities.

The Cascade is open to written, photo, and design work from all students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment from an editor. Writers meetings are held every Monday at 2:30 p.m. in The Cascade’s office on the Abbotsford campus.

In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved

by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief, copy editor, and corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous content. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 200 words. As The Cascade is an autonomous student publication, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.

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18.......CIVL Shuffle

NEWS School of Creative Arts.......3

4......SUS public meeting

OPINION Relevance of Valentines day.......5 Dear Robin.......7

6.......Protecting free speech 7.......Editorial

CULTURE Bell's Let's Talk......12 Selfless.......13

12.......Youth homelessness 13.......Mental health awareness night

SPORTS Men's basketball.......14

15.......Women's basketball

ARTS Girlpool.......18

19.......Wayne

news@ufvcascade.ca Jessica Barclay — News Editor

WEDNESDAY, FEBRURARY 6 , 2019

NEWS

UFV //

School of Creative Arts approved

NEWS BRIEFS

Theatre and visual arts merge in Abbotsford

RBC has access to private messages, says Facebook The Tyee reports that an unnamed Facebook spokesperson has confirmed Facebook's claim that Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is one of three companies (Netflix, Spotify, and RBC) to have access to Facebook users’ private messages. When accounts were connected to Facebook, the companies were able to read, send, and delete private messages of Facebook users. Although the other two companies admit they have had access but have not used their power, RBC continues to deny any access to users’ messages.

“My question is why did RBC want to have this capacity? And if they did obtain private messages, that would be very, very serious,” Charlie Angus, an MP and member of the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, said to The Tyee.

- The Tyee

Heritage Minutes loose donors over conservative party parody The CEO of Heritage Canada, Anthony Wilson-Smith, has claimed an ad released by the Canadian Conservative party parodying Heritage Minutes has resulted in the charitable organization losing donors.

The video criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government for ethics breaches was released Saturday night. A new version of the ad was posted Sunday, with a disclaimer stating the video was a parody and not associated with Heritage Canada.

“Our intention was simply to use a recognizable and often-parodied segment to highlight Justin Trudeau’s many ethical breaches,” the Conservative party said.

- The Globe and Mail

UFV theaters 2018 production of Problem child. (UFV Flickr)

THE CASCADE The creation of UFV’s new School of Creative Arts, effective May 2019, was approved and passed by UFV Senate this January with little discussion and no opposition. The school is a merger of the recently relocated theatre department and the department of visual arts.

Discussion around forming the school began several years ago from conversations among the creative arts departments, and in 2017 the College of Creative Arts council voted to officially begin plans to create the school.

In June of 2018, the visual arts and theatre departments voted and approved the school nearly unanimously.

The main departments in the merger are visual arts and theatre, but will encompass the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) with its visual arts major and all its minors and extended minors, the Bachelor of Media Arts, and the theatre major.

“The programs that they represent are all the BFA majors and minors, and the disciplines, which range from painting to sculpture to new media, photography, and printmaking,” Dr. Jacqueline Nolte, dean of arts, said. “Other areas include art history, which is its own extended minor, and film, which is small but has an interesting interface with the new media arts degree.”

Heather Davis-Fisch, associate professor of English and theatre, and theatre department head, was part of the team who developed the structure of the school before it was presented to Senate.

After consulting with stakeholders in the two departments and researching the way other interdisciplinary schools in fine arts were structured, the team decided to base the school’s structure on five main areas of consideration: creative practice; critical studies; digital media technologies;

“I'd love to see a foundation creative arts, where they are getting students getting their core competencies and then they move up into the specialized areas, and even as they move into those specialized areas, curriculum committees are sensitive to each other's requirements, and are not constantly working to try and accommodate certain requirements moving across into other programs,” Nolte said.

With the creation of the school will come the creation of a new director position and the potential for additional class creation, particularly ones that offer students opportunities for cross disciplinary work.

In terms of the theatre department, although the creation of the new school has not resulted in any confirmed plans for a proper stage facilities, as the program had out in Chilliwack, Nolte is optimistic room will be found.

“We made a concerted decision to consolidate an arts presence here in Abbotsford and it was difficult and it is still taking time to recover from that decision,” Nolte said. “It's going to take a few years for theatre to find its footing again and to grow students’ demand.”

“There is certainly a lot of discussion going on at all levels amongst departments, faculty, campus planning, and administration about how to resolve this.”

"It was very important to us that the school provided enhanced opportunities for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary practices." equity, human rights, and inclusion; and external engagement.

“It was very important to us that the school provided enhanced opportunities for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary practices, for students, faculty, staff, and the community,” Nolte said.

They also worked to preserve and enhance the unique cultural identity each department and program had, while still creating a structure that would help students within the school have a more flexible study path.

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NEWS

VOL. 27 // ISSUE 05

SUS //

SUS public meeting overview Board of directors reform and designated women’s parking discussed JULIE BOND The Student Union Society (SUS) board of directors is the highest governing body of SUS. In addition to discussing matters related to oversight of the society, the board approves changes to policies, the annual operating budget, and project initiatives. They are also responsible for both supporting the SUS executive team and holding them accountable. Executives give a report at the monthly meetings on their activities and the progress of their goal plans.

The current SUS board of directors is chaired by Tobias Friedel, and five of the available 14 positions are filled. SUS executives president Gurvir (G) Gill, vice president external Rajdeep (Raj) Dhaliwal, vice president internal Jaleen Mackay, and vice president students Sharnpreet (Sunny) Cheema currently sit on the board. Of the 10 available student representative positions, only one is filled by Andrew Stahl, College of Arts representative.

During the Feb. 1 meeting, quorum was not reached so voting items will be moved to the upcoming meeting. The next public board meeting will be from 5–6 p.m. on Feb. 28 in room S3103 at the Abbotsford campus. All UFV students are welcome to attend.

SUS board of directors reform As a step forward to increase student participation on the board, the board discussed a possible SUS board of directors reform. The board felt that it was hard for students to volunteer for director positions as these positions are tied to an academic subject, such as Faculty of Science representative. As deciding on a major takes time or involves some changes, they are suggesting a sociocul-

4

tural-based board of directors or a combination of the two types. An upcoming survey will be sent to students allowing them to voice their opinions of the proposed board of directors reform.

Designated women’s parking Also discussed was the possible creation of designated parking spaces near the Student Union Building (SUB) for people who identify as women. This would act as a measure to increase the safety of women on campus, and was suggested in part due to discussion on UFV’s policy for sexualized violence and whether it is keeping up with other universities’ policies.

Executive reports The VP of students, Cheema, said that he is working on creating an up-to-date list of active and expired clubs and associations; an election promise he made while running for the position.

The VP external, Dhaliwal, reported that international student fees will likely be moving from a flat fee, where student have to pay for 15 credits regardless of how many they take, to a credit-based fee, allowing international students to pay as part-time students. This was brought up in UFV Senate earlier this month, where the international department confirmed this would be a suggestion in their upcoming review on international student policy. This is part of the ongoing discussion at UFV on the maximum number of international students the university is looking for. The original cap goal of 20 per cent of the full-time student population being international students was reached late last year, and international student enrollment has been cut off.

OPINION

opinion@ufvcascade.ca Jeff Mijo-Burch — Opinion Editor

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Life //

Where has the love gone?

V-day has less relevance for some ALEISTER GWYNNE Call me a wet blanket, but I have trouble getting into holidays. That isn’t to say I can’t get some enjoyment from them when they finally roll around. I may be too old to go on Easter egg hunts or trickor-treating, but I can still capture some of the joy of the holiday if only through privately pigging out on chocolate eggs or Halloween candy picked up at the store. Logically, I should be able to do the same with one of those heart-shaped boxes of chocolates they sell for Valentine’s Day, right?

Well, no. Unlike hoarding Easter eggs or Halloween candy, buying Valentine’s Day chocolates for yourself feels somehow dirty and pathetic. Just like a bouquet of flowers, it is meant to be for someone else, and not just anyone else, but your romantic partner specifically.

The only problem is this: what if you have no romantic partner? Of course, this problem will always face many peo-

ple on Valentine’s Day no matter what, but what is a temporary disappointment for some is a lifelong condition for others.

I am asexual, so that already puts me off to a bad start. I didn’t realize this for quite some time, and for a long time I couldn’t figure out why I was not only failing to attract a mate, but had little desire to. I have just turned 29, and I have yet to even go on a date. However, I am not 100 per cent certain that I am asexual. I currently identify as ace because it would explain a lot of things, and it fits me best out of the labels available. Yet, I have an alternative theory that whatever my sexuality originally was, it was so under-stimulated in my formative years that it essentially withered on the vine.

Either way, I do feel a need for love and affection, but I simply don’t know how to obtain it.

Why should we bother anyway? We have all heard horror stories, or seen first-hand, relationships that are abu-

sive, dysfunctional, or that simply don’t last long. It creates the impression that such relationships will inevitably involve pain and misery, and are doomed to fail from the start. There is no guarantee that the happiness gained will be worth it.

Finally, like so many other students, I simply don’t have the time or energy to spare. It’s hard enough just trying to keep up with the demands of school, and perhaps earning money as well. Relationships take time and effort to build and maintain, and mustering enough of either is a challenge even at the best of times. Even if we do meet someone, will we ever see them again? Classes change and people graduate or leave. This is the problem with school and workplace crushes. Keeping in touch after we go our separate ways is difficult.

All of this adds up to a situation where people of my generation are struggling to find ways to meet our emotional and sexual needs, because we increasingly

lack the tools to do so. Many millennials are delaying marriage and having families, and for some, “later” means “probably never, if this keeps up.” Personally, I have been trying to come to terms with a future that may not include a significant other or children, and it’s not easy.

Think of how much the baby boom of the mid-20th century impacted our civilization, and then think of what a baby bust might do. For one thing, poor little Valentine’s Day would become an irrelevant and overlooked holiday that celebrates what many people do not have.

This is why I am indifferent, if not a little bitter, towards Valentine’s Day. It not only celebrates the romantic couple, but idealizes it, and implies it should be a part of everyone’s life, despite the barriers that many face to achieving it.

Being alone in life is hard enough, and I don’t need some cheery and light-hearted orgy of cards, chocolates, flowers, and candlelit dinners to rub salt in my wound.

Illustration by Cory Jensen

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OPINION

VOL. 27 // ISSUE 05

Life //

Censorship or social responsibility How far should free speech be protected?

ALEISTER GWYNNE The matter of free speech is one the great issues of our time, and it has been troubling me of late. On the surface, I am adamantly against censorship of any kind, and I believe everyone should be able to voice their beliefs and vision without fear of ridicule or ostracism. Yet more and more I see people who are flagrantly abusing the right of free speech to spew unjustified hatred and voice opinions so absurd and offensive that it is impossible to engage with them in anything resembling a civilized manner. My convictions and the consequences of those principles being universally applied are in conflict, and I feel morally compelled to resolve this dilemma to the best of my ability.

“Free speech” has unfortunately become a loaded term in recent years. The

most vocal defenders of “free speech” appear to be the most egregious abusers of that right. Deep down, these sorts of people are not so much anti-censorship as simply wanting to be able to say offensive things without being shunned or called out for it, as if absolute freedom of expression could or would prevent that.

It is completely missing the point and damages the position of genuine anticensorship activists. Freedom of expression is an admirable principle, but not everything people have to say is worth hearing or allowing to be heard.

I have the right to voice my opinions.

I have the right to shout them from the rooftops. Of course, if I did that in the middle of my housing complex at three in the morning, I could be charged for disturbing the peace, because other people have the right to sleep.

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6

I have a right to say what I think about people I dislike. However, if I were to spread lies and rumours, I could be sued for slander, because other people have a right to not have their career and relationships ruined by false allegations.

So, you see, even now we have restrictions on free speech, even in Canada and the United States where freedom of expression is supposedly sacrosanct. Here we find the crux of my position: one’s own rights end where another’s begin.

My right to free speech doesn’t give me the right to spread damaging lies or harass people in their own homes. I would also bring up another of the human rights held dear in the English-speaking world: freedom of association. This entails not only the freedom to associate, but also the freedom to not associate.

Nobody would want to be around people who spew insults at them and disturb them with loud, offensive speech. Unfortunately, it is not always as simple as avoiding the places where these people congregate. Our needs and responsibilities often give us no choice but to venture into the public sphere. On these occasions, we still deserve protection from verbal assault. Therefore, I would argue that laws against hate speech are just as valid as those against slander or disturbing the peace.

When it comes to the private arena, those in control have

more discretion in policing what forms of expression are allowed in that place.

For example, Tumblr recently tightened their rules on what can be shown on their site, mostly relating to certain depictions of nudity. I do not agree with these new changes, and I view them as unnecessary censorship. However, since Tumblr is a private organization, and their space is easily avoided or substituted by anyone, they have the right to pick and choose what sorts of expression they will allow. Those who disagree can and will go elsewhere. Tumblr and its managers also have the right of free association and of having their peace undisturbed.

The right of free speech that this nation, and others like it, was founded upon assumes that right will be used in good faith. Not content with merely trusting to the good in human nature, laws were put in place from the beginning to rein in abuses of that right. A functioning society depends on people willingly or unwillingly putting limitations on what they will publicly say or write. This is the compromise we must all make in order to be able to live with each other. Forms of expression intended to share visions or stimulate debate are worthy of protection, and they should be. Words, sounds, and images intended only to attack, demean, or irritate are not.

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Advice //

Editorial //

When you give a groundhog a responsibility CAT FRIESEN This week in “Humans do strange things seemingly without reason,” Groundhog Day was celebrated for the 132nd time. On Saturday, Feb. 2, the CBC reported that Wiarton Willie did not see his shadow when he emerged from his burrow in Wiarton, Ontario, meaning that spring temperatures will soon be on the way. But Shubenacadie Sam of Nova Scotia saw his shadow — a sure sign that winter temperatures will continue.

And Punxsutawney Phil, the original groundhog, saw his shadow: spring temperatures are coming early to Pennsylvania! You know, as long as you put stock in the actions of a groundhog and don’t take into account that the weather that day has anything to do with it or consider how a rodent in Pennsylvania predicts the weather for all of North America.

Before we ask the question of why we still look to a furry rodent to predict the coming weather by use of his shadow, let’s look at how this strange tradition started.

According to HuffPost, the first celebrated Groundhog Day dates back to 1887. Why the people of Pennsylvania decided a groundhog was an accurate way to forecast the coming weather is unclear, but the practice likely stems from European lore stating that a sacred bear or badger predicts the weather. It also shares a date with Candlemas, which celebrates the ritual purification of Mary and the day she presented Jesus to God at the Temple of Jerusalem. How or if these two practices are linked is also unclear.

So many questions arise from Groundhog

Day. Does it have to be a special groundhog, or can it be any old guy? Clearly, they don’t need to use the same one, despite stating that they do (a groundhog’s lifespan is about six years — Punxsutawney Phil has apparently been predicting the weather for over 130 years, due to a magic elixir he drinks every summer), but how do they select the new groundhog if they need to? I imagine there must be a swearing-in ceremony where he promises to do his job to the best of his abilities.

More importantly, why do we, as a society, continue traditions that have been around for hundreds of years and don’t serve a purpose in modern day? It might be because we’ve always done it this way and haven’t yet managed to break away from something that doesn’t serve us in the present day (see: daylight savings time), or it might be because it’s shifted to somewhat of a cult following, something you do for fun on a frigid February morning.

I think it’s a bit of both. Wherever there’s a groundhog predicting the weather, there’s a ceremony complete with fancy dress, a stage for the groundhog in question to stand on, and live music. It’s turned into a big production, and from the looks of it, everyone’s having a good time. It doesn’t matter that Punxsutawney Phil has only been correct for 39 per cent of his predictions.

Yesterday, Phil and the rest of the groundhogs made their predictions. But today, I’m watching the wind whip snowflakes around outside my window. It’s negative two degrees, and it’s going to be colder tomorrow. I think the weather will do what it wants, despite what the groundhogs say will happen.

Dear Robin

ROBIN HALPER Life is tough and confusing and weird. We all need help sometimes, and when you need an expert opinion, you turn to an expert opiniongiver like Robin Halper. Whatever problem you’re facing in life, Robin will have a solution. The Cascade cannot guarantee the effectiveness of Robin’s unique approach to life, but if you’re in a jam, get some advice by writing to halp@ufvcascade.ca Friendship disappointments Dear Robin, I entered UFV at full force right after I graduated from high school. I’ve been taking 15 credits a semester and I’m set to finish my BA this April. Now that I’m preparing to start real life and look for a career, I’m beginning to realize how far away from this my friends are. They’re still getting wasted at Townhall on Tuesday nights and going off to their minimum wage jobs the next morning with no goals in sight. Should I start looking for friends who embody my new lifestyle or should I tell my friends to get their act together?

Sincerely, Achiever in Abbotsford

Hey Achiever, Wow, it sounds like you’re a little too keen for the Abbotsford community. I bet you graduated from Yale High School on the honour roll. I think you need to realize that no one tries that hard right out of high school around here because there’s always a job

at Starbucks to fall back on. You should have more compassion for your friends who are taking things easy. I advise you get trashed with them this Tuesday evening.

Robin Shopping troubles Dear Robin, Recently I’ve decided to wear actual jeans in public instead of gym clothes, but I’m having a really hard time finding some that fit properly while being affordable. What should I do?

Sincerely, Pantless in the Fraser Valley Nice to meet you, Pantless, This is a big problem these days because Lululemon leggings are starting to be priced well over $100. It’s just too damn difficult to afford those buttery soft fabrics. I recommend first finding the cheapest jeans in town. That would be at Walmart or Value Village. Once you’ve found yourself at either location, clear the rest of your day to try on every single style of jean they have in various sizes and washes. If you spend enough time there, you’ll make the staff so angry for messing up the change rooms that they’ll finally pull out their secret stash of high-quality jeans from the back to shut you up. Those are the ones that are cheap but fit like a million bucks.

Robin

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BRIEF BITS OF BITE-SIZED BREVITY

SN S AP HO TS

CURTAILED COMMENTARY ON CURRENT CONDITIONS

Illustrations by Simer Haer

Precious pieces Sometime in elementary school, I borrowed a book about dogs from a friend. When I swore I’d give it back I really meant it but over time we both forgot. I didn’t find it until years later in a box under my bed. At this point, my friend had moved away and I had no way of giving it back. For all I know I still have it sitting in storage somewhere.

I sometimes think about all the things I don’t remember losing as a child. A book I lent to a friend that I never got back or a

stuffed animal left at a hotel. All the little things that I never remembered. Now I feel like I have a much greater appreciation for my stuff. I feel like having stuff as a child was a short-lived sense of maturity while now having stuff feels like an investment.

I may not have appreciated my toys enough to remember losing them, but now I feel like I’d be hard-pressed to give up my good frying pan

Addison Wiebe

Top 10 burnout Being a person who drives to and from work more than four hours a week, I listen to the radio a lot.

Let’s reiterate: a lot, a lot. And in doing so, nothing is more tiring than hearing the same songs every day around the same time slot. I understand that popular songs are, well, popular and that people like these songs, but including extra variety can’t hurt, right? Combine the overplayed music with the constant interspersion of commercials and the appeal of radio broadcasts fades pretty quick. Although sometimes, I admit, the adverts are

just cheesy enough to warrant a smile.

As of late I’ve found myself tuning into early morning talk shows.

The station 100.3 The Q! serves as a multicultural platform where anything from bilingual talks to hard rock can be heard, but sadly once you leave the Aldergrove area the broadcast can become horrifically grainy with static.

Maybe some of the localized stations can take up some initiative. Or perhaps they might not want to pander to me, the only guy on the roads at 5 a.m.

Caleb Silveira

I hate winter I have a lot of opinions. Usually, they’re really hard stances on some honestly pretty irrelevant things, but a lot of these opinions are so essential to my sense of self that if you, for example, don’t know that I hate pineapples with nearly every ounce of my being, I question if we’re really friends. Look, I complain about these things a lot. It’s kind of impossible to spend any amount of time with me and not know about my very specific longstanding hatreds.

And one of these longstanding hatreds? Winter — the longest season of the year. (You can say it doesn’t start until the winter solstice but you would be wrong.)

There’s no two ways about it: win-

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ter is the worst. It’s terrible. The only irredeemable season. I hate being cold, it’s dark all the time, driving in the snow is terrifying, and my chronically-running-behind ass can’t stand budgeting time to scrape my car windows. Also, your chances of getting sick in the winter? Significantly higher. One November, I got sick three separate times. It’s impossible to make it out of winter unscathed by at least one nasty cold.

Or, at the very least, an imaginary one, if you’re a known hypochondriac like I am.

My main point being this: if winter is your favourite season, you’re dead to me. Yes, mom, that includes you.

Nadia Tudhope

Cats and liminal spaces Cats are much more intelligent than we give them credit for. For example, cats are fascinated by the concept of liminal states; that is, times and places when one thing is in the process of transitioning into another. This is the real reason why cats hesitate when we open doors for them.

They want to savour that sublime moment when inside becomes outside, when warm becomes cold. Sadly, our crude primate intellects cannot appreciate the

feline concepts of both and neither. In typical human thinking, something must always be one thing or another, and we become confused and upset when cats refuse to transition instantly and completely from one to the other.

I think the world would be a better place if we could shed our simian preoccupation with extremes and absolutes. So next time, open your door, stand on the threshold for a moment, and free your mind.

Aleister Gwynne

LEGEND:

The Cascade Community Events are in UFV Events are in Music Events are in Art Events are in Cultural Events are in

Blue Green Red Purple Yellow

Note:

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

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

Feb 6 Graphic Design Dept. Donut Sale: NYC Study Tour Fundraiser @ Breezeway (Outside, between buildings A & B) (Abbotsford Campus) 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

UFV Blood Drive 12:00 - 7:00 p.m.

@

Evered

Hall

(Abbotsford

Campus),

Brain Imaging: Presented by UFV Physics Student Association @ Room A353 (Abbotsford Campus), 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Feb 7 Pizza Night with The Unbranded @ (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Tractorgrease Cafe

Feb 8 Fraser Valley Design Forum @ Room B101 (Abbotsford Campus), 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.

President’s Leadership Lecture Series: Dr. Sophie Schmidt @ Evered Hall (Abbotsford Campus), 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

UFV’s Hospitality and Culinary Experience @ Elements Pop-Up Restaurant (Chilliwack), 5:30 - 9:00 p.m.

The History of Romance @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 7:30 p.m.

Hotel California 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.

Live

@

Chilliwack

Cultural

Centre,

UFV Physics Student Association: EGBC and Networking Event @ Room A353 (Abbotsford Campus), 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Canvas and Cabernet @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Selfless Documentary Screening @ Clarke Theatre (Mission), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Feb 13 Valentine’s Day Print Sale @ Library Rotunda (Abbotsford Campus), 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Scholarly Sharing Initiative: Indigenous Stories, Reflections @ Room F125 U House (Abbotsford Campus), 1:00 - 2:30 p.m Ballet Jorgen Pointe Shoe Clinic @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 4:30 - 5:15 p.m.

Ballet Jorgen 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Masterclass

@

Chilliwack

Cultural

Centre,

I Love Agriculture Workshop: Beeswax Candle Making @ Eco Dairy (Abbotsford), 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Feb 14 Ashland Endowment: Marcus Youssef Guest Talk @ Room D105 (Abbotsford Campus), 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Feb 9

Ashland Endowment: Marcus Youssef Student Workshop @ Room D105 (Abbotsford Campus), 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Sweet SantaFe @ Mission Coffee House, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

People in Motion @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 2:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Blue Moon Marquee 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Coppélia: A Comedy of Love @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 7:30 - 10:00 p.m.

@

Tractorgrease

Cafe

(Chilliwack),

Shawna Caspi @ Acoustic Emporium (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Feb 15

The History of Romance @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 7:30 p.m.

Air Stranger w/ Koalala @ Captain’s Cabin Pub (Mission), 9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Feb 10 Armchair Adventure Series – Librarian on the Loose @ Clearbrook Library (Abbotsford), 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Mandala Stone Painting @ Earthtacular Rock and Gem (Mission), 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

19th Annual Valentine’s Day Dance @ Suburban Swing (Abbotsford), 7:30 - 11:00 p.m.

Feb 11 Open Mic Poetry and Blue Moon Readings @ Clearbrook Library (Abbotsford), 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Feb 12 UFV Faculty MicroLecture Series @ Spirit Bear Cafe (Abbotsford Campus), 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Publication Celebration @ Room A225 (Abbotsford Campus), 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.

ABT Trade Show 1:00 - 2:20 p.m.

@

Room

L102

(Clearbrook

Centre),

Drawing Eyes w/ instructor Glenn @ House of Fine Art (Abbotsford), 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Feb 16 Spirit of the People Family Day Powwow @ Chilliwack Secondary School, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.

10th Annual Valley Wine Festival @ Best Western (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

CR Avery @ Tractorgrease Cafe (Chilliwack), 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

LDThrills / Myriad of Whispers / Nelson Padilla @ SippChai (Abbotsford), 8:00 p.m. - Midnight Feb 17 Spirit of the People Family Day Powwow @ Chilliwack Secondary School, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Murfitt and Main 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

@

Tractorgrease

Cafe

(Chilliwack),

Feb 18 The Zaniac @ Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

PNT Watercolours w/ Nan @ House of Fine Art (Abbotsford), 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

9

Interview with 2019 writer-in-residence Robert Wiersema

Cat Friesen “I'm in the third grade, and this is when I knew I was doomed to become a writer,” Robert Wiersema, UFV’s 2019 writer-in-residence, said. He tried to draw a comic strip of Martians invading the Earth, but — as he put it — he was “a terrible artist,” and he had to keep explaining what was happening when he showed it to someone.

He realized then that it was much easier for him to tell a story than to draw one. “So I basically fell backward to the whole writing thing at a very young age.”

Since graduating from the University of Victoria with an undergraduate honours degree in English literature, Wiersema has published two novels, Before I Wake and Bedtime Story; a novella, The World More Full of Weeping; and the non-fiction Walk Like A Man: Coming of Age with the Music of Bruce Springsteen. Currently, he teaches creative writing part-time at Vancouver Island University, and writes freelance for the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Maclean’s, and The Walrus, among others.

Someone who’s devoted much of their life to writing certainly must have plenty of ideas to draw from. Some writers jot down situations they pass by on their walk to work; others dream of them while sleeping and sketch out the remaining fragments when they’re still half asleep.

What does Wiersema do?

“Myself, I have a soup pot on the back burner in my head and when I get scraps, they get tossed into the soup pot. I don't know what it's going to taste like. I don't know what form it's going to take, but eventually it's been cooking long enough and there's enough ingredients in there that something comes out,” Wiersema said.

For example, the novel he’s working on during his residency, Spindrift, found its roots in Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, but it also draws from his surroundings in Victoria, as well as Diane Ackerman’s story on the containment of a mermaid.

Alternately, another novel he’s working on, The Fallow Heart, stems from a Tragically Hip song, which the Tragically Hip borrowed from author Hugh MacLennan, who borrowed it from filmmaker Atom Egoyan, who borrowed it from a Russell Banks novel that centres on the fallout of a bus crash in a small town. However, Wiersema’s novel focuses on the fallout of a car crash in a small town. Still, the thread follows through.

Wiersema’s novels steer toward the dark — and the strange. Before I Wake centres on a miracle (or curse) that links to the surfacing of a battle 2,000 years in the making; Bedtime Story sees a boy suffer a seizure before being sucked into a book where his soul is at risk of being de-

voured. Where does he get his influence from?

“Stephen King was a huge, continues to be a huge influence on me. I don't think anybody comes close to what he's done. He's inspiring on a number of levels, both in terms of the work and the work habits, and in terms of the imagination and the work he puts out.”

Anyone who spends even minimal free time writing fiction will be familiar with the delicate balance of character building. Characters need to be well-developed and have bold, memorable tendencies and quirks so the reader won’t brush them aside, lose track of them, or become bored with the story. And, it’s safe to say if you’ve found yourself crafting memorable characters, you’ve likely also heard the question “Do you use people you know in real life in your writing?”

“In real life, if I did — wink — I would disguise them well enough that they would never be able to tell them to avoid getting this shit kicking I would so rightfully deserve,” Wiersema said.

Although Wiersema is mostly against building entire characters based on one individual known in real life, he does acquiesce that, although the saying “Write what you know” is an accurate one, there are other ways to build your friends and family into your story — albeit in pieces.

“If you know even a few people, you've got a fairly wide span of human characteristics and human traits to draw on.”

Some writers, like Hemingway and Kerouac, supposedly only wrote one draft, where Stephen King apparently does three or four. Wiersema, like many writers, errs closer to the side of King.

“The base is two. I do a full handwritten draft, which I then type out verbatim, and then I work from that and will tip in scenes and move things around. After that it's typically the incremental working, and all of that's done on the computer. It's all sort of saved in separate data files, and it depends on how long I'm working on it.”

In an age where we can type a novel in the speed it would take to hand write two or three copies — and an age where it seems that, more and more, the speed at which you can finish something is valued over quality — why write a first draft by hand?

“Writing for me is a very organic, very physical process.

There's a direct connection from the pen to whatever part of the brain fiction comes from. And that's part of the joy of it, the pleasure of the handwritten process. I write with

a fountain pen, usually in a notebook. There's a whole ritual that goes into starting a new project … There's so much visceral, sensual pleasure in that process. And seeing a notebook fill up and with fountain pens, the ink goes on really wet. You have to wait for it to dry, but the way fresh ink catches the light, it's just … you have to embrace the process.”

And the process, according to Wiersema, is one of the most important things to keep in mind when writing.

“It’s easy to lose sight of the process when you're goal oriented. And one of the things I try to remind myself of is to savour the process, not worry about the end product, because you'll get there day by day by day. You have to keep going.”

So, focus on the process. But every writer knows that, once they release their work into the world — even if they’re just showing a few friends or family — criticism is inevitable. And as a writer, or a painter, or anyone, you need to be able to identify and accept different types of criticism.

“There’s good criticism and there's bad criticism. The reasonable criticism I have no problem with. And typically good criticism, even negative is good because it'll bother me because they may be right. And bad criticism has missed the point.”

However, some criticism is easier to accept than others,

and some is like trying to swallow an egg-sized rock.

“Well-written, well-reasoned, well-formed, well-supported criticism. Even if it’s negative or it hurts, you go, ‘Yeah, they may have a point.’ I think that's why it hurts.

You're like, ‘Shit, busted. Damn it.’”

The great part of hearing or reading criticism about your work is that you get the chance to improve your work. The negative side of this is that, sometimes, the voices stick in your mind and this colours your work habits in the future. Specifically, many writers, upon hearing “negative” criticism of their work, stop writing. Wiersema advises against this.

“One of the pieces of advice I give to student writers

who are just starting out is don't wait.

When you have something that's coming out, keep writing. If you don't have something that's coming out, don't rush. Savour this time in your life where it's just you at the desk, where it's not a negative review or your agent or your mom or your editor or your Beta readers because you have to be alone at your desk. If you start taking those other voices into account, I don't think you get anything written. And if you do, it'll never satisfy you because it's not your work anymore.”

Alas, writers need to listen to some of the voices. Works of writing are, after all, often written with the goal of becoming published. And becoming published means you’ve got to keep in mind the people who will eventually read your work.

“It's of paramount importance to write with a readership in mind. But it's also of paramount importance to remember that you're not going to please everybody, and if you try to please everybody, you're going to suck and you'll know it. Tamping down those voices, it's hard sometimes.”

Now, you’re writing with your readers in mind, you’re preparing several drafts, you’re continuing to write even if you’re waiting on a different work to be looked at (and those with publishing experience know that the publishing world often moves at the pace of icebergs). Now what?

You integrate it into your life so that it becomes akin to breathing or sleeping.

“What makes someone a good writer is someone who has a loyalty to the work, a

routine habit. Someone who's totally integrated into their lives. You get up in the morning; you don't think about brushing your teeth before you leave, you don’t think about having a shower. You get dressed, you leave the house. You just do these things, and a working writer is someone who does that [with writing].”

Wiersema lives by his own advice.

“When I’m writing, I write every morning.

I get up at four, I write before the world wakes up, and I have a nap at 6:30 a.m.

I'm writing always from that sort of liminal space between being asleep and being awake, and I write really long first drafts because it comes so easily. It's just that the membrane between the consciousness and subconscious is so porous at that point.”

Despite his strict personal regime, the novels themselves don’t follow this pattern.

“I’m one of those people who does zero planning … I don't know how the novel's going to unfold and I tend to just follow the characters and let them lead, and sometimes they lead me wrong and sometimes they lead me to wonderful places where I couldn't possibly have imagined them going.”

However, Wiersema doesn’t entirely fly by the seat of his pants. There is some foresight, regardless of whether planning is what led to it.

“Typically, I'll know what the next scene or two is. So when I'm finishing writing for the day, I'll jot down just a line or two: the next couple of things I think are going to

happen. It's the idea of driving in the dark.

You only see what the headlights show you, but you get to where you're going eventually.”

Even with headlights, we can see Wiersema’s writing leans toward the eerie and peculiar and mysterious; things that wouldn’t quite add up in real life. But some of his simplest, realistic, and most inspiring advice comes from a logical, analytical practice: math.

“How long is a novel? Well, 100,000 words for King, they start, but probably 125,000 to 150,000 words. If you're writing five days a week and you're writing a thousand words a day, you're writing a full novel, a first draft in three or four months.”

He also draws inspiration from David Foster Wallace (writer of Infinite Jest and The Pale King, among others). “‘In dark times, the definition of good

art would seem to be art that locates and applies CPR to those elements of what's human and magical that still live and glow despite the times’ darkness.’ That speaks to me and it's what I've always tried to do. I think that's what I needed to be really cognizant of at this point.”

Dark times or not, Wiersema is UFV’s writer-in-residence for 2019 and is ready to get back to work on Spindrift and The Fallow Heart.

“One of the reasons I'm excited about this residency is that it's sort of forcing me

to get back to work. It's giving me time. It's giving me space, giving me support so that I can get back to work and I'm gonna use that. Just ask me again in three months.”

Wiersema’s teaching statement on VIU’s website states: “I believe, unequivocally, in the power of stories. Far from diversions, stories shape the world, and our understanding of it. My goal in the classroom is to assist students in their understanding of this powerful force, and their role in the ongoing line of stories; to help them understand the stories of others, and to present their own stories in way by which they can best be understood by others.”

If you have stories to share with Wiersema, feel a similar pull to the life of a writer, or want to chat about the powerful force that is writing, you can find him in D3009 every Wednesday and Thursday until the end of the semester.

CULTURE

VOL. 27 // ISSUE 05

culture@ufvcascade.ca Cassie de Jong — Culture Editor

UFV Event //

UFV Event //

Measuring success

Starting the conversation

UFV’s counselling department and Mental Health Awareness club educate students on mental health CARISSA WIENS

Bell’s 10th annual Let’s Talk Day occurred on Jan. 30. The occasion is a social media campaign that surfaces every year at the end of January to raise awareness of mental health across Canada. With every text, tweet, and video view of #bellletstalk material plus every call through the Bell network, the company donates five cents to mental health programs and initiatives, like grants for Indigenous families and military families across the country. The original goal was to raise $50 million to donate, but currently the campaign has raised exactly $100,695,763.75 as of this year.

From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the UFV Counselling Services collaborated with UFV’s Mental Health Awareness Club (MHAC) to host an informal and welcoming space for students to ask their mental health-related questions in order to understand more about the issues many Canadians deal with every day. This event also provided a space for students to learn

about the different options UFV has for those who are struggling.

At the event I was able to talk to one of UFV’s counsellors, Marnie Venema.

Venema explained that one valuable resource for students is the drop in crisis appointments. “If someone has

will be retiring on Feb. 11 of this year, but he’ll still be on campus. He has lived a long life filled with helping those around him.

Even just by walking past the counselling offices in B Building, Room 214, one can learn a lot. There are plenty of pamphlets lining the walls outside the office on how to handle stress or how to support a friend dealing with anxiety. The list goes on and all of the printouts are free.

MHAC was also at the event to educate students about mental health. The club’s president, Jessica Reist, stated that the club’s purpose is to “End stigma and create conversation.”

“As long as we keep these conversations going, the topic will always be on the minds of students and every day people who can make a difference by advocating for these changes. We have begun the conversation at the university level and it’s continued by the individuals we reach here,” Reist said.

MHAC reaches students by distributing resources about mental health on campus and creating events, like paintball and pub night fundraisers, to raise awareness of and end the stigma around mental health. Students are able to keep up with the club on Facebook (UFV Mental Health Awareness Club).

Bell’s Let’s Talk Day is a great start to end the stigma and begin the conversation about mental health, whether that be on campus, at work, or with family. Other resources for those struggling are the Fraser Valley Crisis Line, 1-877-8207444 and the Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).

“As long as we keep these conversations going, the topic will always be on the minds of students”

12

something urgent or is feeling suicidal they can come in for a drop-in appointment the day of.” Alongside the crisis drop-in appointments, students are able to schedule a personal counselling session to talk with a trained counsellor about various issues such as depression, abuse, eating disorders, and grief.

The UFV counselling centre is home to a therapy dog named Mac, who was also at the event. Normally he will be in sessions with counsellor Dawn Holt. Venema said that Mac is a “very calming dog,” whether that be at the event or when interacting with students during counselling sessions. Unfortunately Mac

The fight against youth homelessness ferent initiatives to help keep youth off the streets, especially during How do you measure success? On winter months. During the months Jan. 30, Les Talvio, executive direc- of November and December in 2018, tor of Cyrus Centre in Abbotsford, Talvio estimated they had around 75 held an event on campus to address persons between the ages of 19 to 24 the issue of youth homelessness. He that accessed their temporary shelter began the seminar with the inspiring program.

Many people don’t realize that backstory of how Cyrus Centre came there is an urgency for facilities like to be.

After participating in a group study this due to how many youths are on on youth homelessness, in the Fraser the streets. Speaking with Talvio, he Valley, Talvio realized that there was said that you can see a youth on the street with ripped a need for supjeans, and assume port.

Talvio they paid for them pa r t ic ipat e d that way. But some in multiple don’t realize that focus groups might be the only that helped jeans they have, established a and they don’t list of things have a place to that could go home to. With drastically imthe support of prove life for the Cyrus Centhese youth. tre, many young He heard their adults have gone stories and lison to find success: tened, creatsome go on to uniing a model for versity, some start Cyrus Centre a family, and some based around buy their own five important homes. The Cyrus needs.

The Centre gets the octop of the list casional visit from was a need to Les Talvio. ( Alexandra Johnson ) adults who have have access to previously benefitshowers, and second was a place to do laundry; ed from their programs. Sometimes that way they could confidently ap- they bring food, and sometimes they ply for jobs. Third on their list was bring their kids to come by and say access to good food, and fourth was hello. It’s the success stories that truly show how important it is to give more support to young people who need it. The Cyrus Centre is a safe place to talk to adults. The fifth not a home for runaways, it is a facilithing on the list was a need for shel- ty that helps support youth who have no place else to go. Through life skills ter.

After months of fundraising, and initiatives and other programs, they establishing a good connection with help give these youths the opportugenerous donors, the Cyrus Centre nity to succeed.

Creating relationships with the first opened their doors in 2004. But how do you measure success in an surrounding community is one of operation that deals so often in heart- the Cyrus Centre’s initiatives. They ache? To Talvio and his team, it can want to have conversations with lobe as simple as someone finally ac- cal businesses and schools to help cepting a cookie. Many of the youth bring understanding to the commucoming into the Cyrus Centre have nity. Talvio also talked about some had a very difficult backstory. The of the different opportunities with Cyrus Centre focuses on creating an the Cyrus Centre. There are plenty of environment where they can open up volunteer and work study programs and start to heal. Sometimes that pro- available for students who might be cess can be hard, but getting through interested in this line of work. The one thing that Talvio wants to remind to youth often starts with a meal.

The centre operates multiple dif- us all is that “Every kid has a story.”

ALEXANDRA JOHNSON

“The Cyrus Centre focuses on creating an environment where [youth] can open up and start to heal.”

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Preview //

UFV Event //

What are you reaching for?

Mental health awareness pub night

selfless prompts discussion around social media risks CAT FRIESEN selfless is a documentary centring on the high usage of social media, selfies, and technology in our society, and poses the question “What are we really reaching for?” when we reach for our phones. Though selfless is not an anti-technology film, it does probe us to consider why we spend so much time with our face to our phone.

The documentary was created by Kim Laureen and Megan Dirksen, a mother and daughter and the two women behind Fresh Independence Productions, a film

company based in the Fraser Valley. Despite being turned down by major film companies due to their status as first-time filmmakers, they persevered, funding the entire produc-

“Though selfless is not an antitechnology film, it does probe us to consider why we spend so much time with our face to our phone.” tion out of pocket. selfless follows several unique individuals — a girl living on a farm in rural Wales with no electricity, a boy in Vancouver who’s 95 per cent blind — who don’t fit into the mould of what people expect from the “younger generation” (neither spend any time on social media) and how this affects them in their day-to-day lives.

The documentary also prompted the creation of the hashtag #raisethebar, which encourages individuals to take a step back from conducting the majority of their relationships through texting or social media, and return to face-to-face connections. It also attempts to persuade people to step away from basing their self-worth on the “likes” they receive on social media.

After the screening, guests will be able to stick around for a Q&A panel from some of the individuals involved in the documentary: Kim Laureen, the director; Dr. Dave Currie from Doing Family Right; Greg Bay from CBI Health; and Paige Freeborn from World Music Program. selfless will be screened at Clarke Theatre in Mission on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.

Club Spotlight //

A look at the Mental Health Awareness club’s pub night fundraiser EMMALINE SPENCER The Mental Health Awareness Club (MHAC) hosted a pub night at the Canadian Brewhouse (Abbotsford location) on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 6–10 p.m. The fundraiser event featured allyou-can-eat appetizers for $20 and a 50/50 raffle. Participants spent the evening socializing over food and drinks, and learning a bit about the MHAC and their purpose: to spread the awareness of and remove stigma around mental health.

They also aim to make their club, and the events they host, a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

In the past the club would normally host a “burger and brew” pub night, but this is the first time MHAC has worked with the Canadian Brewhouse.

Instead, all-you-can-eat appetizers were served buffet-style, with offered vegetarian options. In an interview with the MHAC executives, it was mentioned that based on the reaction of attendees, people liked the change up from the usual burger and brew night.

Aside from a buffet of appetizers, there was a 50/50 raffle which was done at 8 p.m. Tickets were sold at $2 per ticket. The winner of the raffle went home with an extra $143 in their pocket.

Originally there was going to be a second draw at 10 p.m., but the event started to die down at about 9 p.m.

The fundraiser had a table set up

with all of the MHAC’s club info and mental health awareness pamphlets for anyone to take or have a look at. The table also had sheets to colour as well as a plethora of markers and pencil crayons to go with. MHAC said that casual social events like this one are “an excellent way for the club to see some income and … to reach out to members of the community.” The club hoped to share all of the work they do on cam-

“MHAC is a club that wants to spread the awareness of and remove stigma around mental health.” pus and to raise some funds to do more events in the future.

The pub night earned the club just over $300. Continuous success of these pub nights means that we can expect to see more of them in the future. The proceeds will go towards future events like this one. The MHAC are planning to host a Mental Health First Aid event at the end of March. A portion of the pub night proceeds will go toward providing a catered lunch to the participants of the event. Other upcoming events for the club include a games night at Abbotsford’s Boardwalk Cafe on Feb 19, and they’ll host a table at the Health and Wellness Show held at Tradex on March 9 and 10. To stay up to date on any events going on with the MHAC, “like” their Facebook page (UFV Mental Health Awareness Club) or follow the club on Instagram (@ufvmhac).

UFV culture and focus: the CreWri association Looking deeper in UFV’s culture with a glance into student led creative writing CALEB SILVEIRA Creative writing has always been a staple in UFV’s BA programs, but workshops can be an intimidating process for those who are not used to a more pressured form of criticism from both instructors and other students. The CreWri association at UFV seems to offer an alternative. When asked what experiences or skills students may glean from working with CreWri that they may not otherwise find in creative writing workshops, Rhiannon Griffiths, CreWri board executive, stated, “It’s definitely been very beneficial to students who are particularly shy about their work … [in the past] we’ve had quite a few students who came up and said they’ve appreciated it and that it’s made them feel more confident about their work.” In this way, CreWri acts as both an entry into creative writing and as a means to meet other writers who

are open and willing to discuss a shared interest.

By existing separately from UFV’s Bachelor of Arts programs, CreWri opens a road for students from all sorts of backgrounds and degree types. Whether they are alumni already established with full careers, or students simply enrolled in a different program such as the sciences or economics, it is abundantly clear that CreWri offers a space that is welcome to a wide variety of writers from varying backgrounds.

However, the associate has been experiencing some ongoing troubles. Collaboration efforts within the last year have been an issue for the group.

“We’ve had, in the past, attempts to collaborate, but due to communication issues and promotional [problems], many of these attempts have fallen through,” said Nicole Tukker, another CreWri board member.

To further this, funding within the last year has presented itself as a constant

problem. Typically associations can reach out and request funding from the SUS (Student Union Society). However, as Griffiths explained, “We’ve had a lot of problems with SUS, not even with promotional but definitely with funding.” In effect, this is

ciation is the fact that many new students may not be aware that these clubs and associations exist. SUS does not advertise CreWri in the Student Union Building, and features an outdated mention in the club section on their website.

However, that does not mean that CreWri as an association has fallen into the background.

They still strive to host a series of workshops every other month, as well as a few social events on occasion. CreWri does plan to host a poetry social event Feb. 14 for new students and veterans. For more information on this event and others, CreWri’s Facebook page is an excellent source for updated events and workshopping opportunities.

Overall, CreWri is a valuable resource for any student, new or old, to further develop their writing skills and expertise.

“It’s definitely been very beneficial to students who are particularly shy about their work.” due to a new system SUS has put into effect since SUS’ foundation: clubs and associations are required to declare planned fundraising ahead of time, request funds for said planned fundraiser, and then follow through with the planned event. However, this takes time, and often the association is not reimbursed until weeks after the event has occurred. On this Griffiths said: “It’s a long process that [can] seem unnecessary.”

Another issue brought up by the asso-

13

SPORTS

VOL. 27 // ISSUE 05

sports@ufvcascade.ca The Cascade — Sports Editor

Men’s Basketball //

Cascades put on a show in the lead up to playoffs

After two tough losses to Calgary, the Cascades looked to bounce back against the Trinity Western Spartans

Cascades basketball. (UFV Flickr)

ALEX JESUS On Friday, Feb. 1, as part of a home/away weekend of basketball action, the UFV Cascades took on the winless TWU Spartans. In what would be looked back on as a highlight reel weekend, UFV handily defeated TWU in back-to-back games and said a heartfelt goodbye to the regular season careers of Mark Johnson, Navjot Bains, and Andrew Morris.

The first quarter of Friday’s game saw UFV start slow, shooting only 40 per cent from the field. Trinity Western not only shot the ball well, they also out-rebounded the Cascades, leading to a largely undesirable first quarter score of 27-21 for the home team. The second quarter saw a switch around, with UFV now shooting over 50 per cent and enjoying some fan-friendly moments, such as a massive slam by Daniel Adediran and a three-point shooting streak for Mark Johnson (appropriately, on senior night).

The UFV Cascades put forth quite the showing in the third quarter of Friday’s game. With five members of the home team already in double digit scoring ter-

14

ritory, the Cascades shot a wildly hot 72.2 per cent from the field. The highlights kept rolling as well, with Andrew Morris showing off some impressive playmaking and passing ability, as well as with Sukhjot Bains’ huge two-handed slam to close out the quarter. The fourth quarter saw the Cascades continuing the narrative, out-playing the Spartans who all too often had to rely on contested shots due to UFV’s impressive defence. In the end, UFV shot 53.8 per cent from the field to go with 41 rebounds, while TWU shot 41.5 per cent to go with 35 boards themselves. This was enough for the Cascades to win their first meeting with the Spartans by a score of 106-75.

These two teams met again just one day later, this time at TWU. UFV looked to continue the brand of basketball they displayed the night before, while Trinity Western attempted to find their first win of the season in their final regular season home game. The Cascades started strong this time around, outscoring the Spartans 20-12 and shooting 42.9 per cent from the field compared to TWU’s 22.7 per cent field goal percentage. The second quarter was

all Parm Bains, as the UFV guard came off the bench and scored 14 points, leading to a 26-14 quarter score for the away team.

The third quarter saw Parm Bains and Andrew Morris come up big, scoring 19 of UFV’s 31 points in the quarter. TWU played better in the fourth quarter but by that point the Cascades had built quite a lead for themselves. UFV wound up winning the game 94-73 with Parm Bains lighting up the stat sheet for 28 points and Andrew Morris turning in a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double. The Cascades (13-7) now host the UNBC Timberwolves for their first playoff game of the year which will take place at home on Thursday, Feb. 7.

Due to it being the final regular season home game of the year, it was senior night on Friday at UFV. The Envision Financial Athletic Centre came together Friday night to celebrate the contributions of three fanfavourite players: Mark Johnson, Navjot Bains, and Andrew Morris. Mark Johnson provided great outside shooting with very good rebounding, and overall, he gave the fans here at UFV excellent guard play night in and night out. Navjot Bains gave UFV and UFV fans incredible hustle with

lockdown defence. His post-play was also noteworthy, and Nav could always be seen hyping up players on the bench, showcasing his skills as a passionate, effective leader. Andrew Morris brought athleticism and basketball knowledge to the Cascades and could be seen in all types of plays.

Whether it was a key rebound, a longdistance shot, a dunk, or a well-placed assist, Andrew always provided UFV with a well-rounded game and in turn, gave the fans at UFV many exciting plays over his tenure with the team. Their contributions to the team and to the fans at UFV have been nothing short of special.

Mark Johnson reflected on his time with the Cascades after his final regular season home game.

“It means a lot to me. I mean, I’ve been here for four years now, gotten to know the team, gotten to know the community.

It’s been a fun ride. I don’t have any regrets coming here; it’s been a great four years and I’ve loved every second of it.”

Come see the Cascades play this Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Envision Financial Athletic Centre here at UFV.

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Women’s Basketball //

Cascades swept for second week in a row

Coming off of a tough weekend versus Calgary, the Cascades fall to Trinity Western Spartans ALEX JESUS This past weekend the UFV Cascades looked to return to their winning ways after running into the powerhouse Calgary Dinos. In order to accomplish that, they had to play the Trinity Western Spartans, a talented squad with the exact same record as them (10-8). With neither team having complete home court advantage due to Friday’s game taking place at UFV and the Saturday game taking place at TWU, the games were up for the taking. Trinity wound up winning both nights, but the story of the games is far more complex than the box score shows.

From the moment Friday’s game started, it appeared that the Cascades would have to battle both the Spartans as well as their shooting woes.

The first quarter saw UFV only commit one turnover to Trinity’s five; however, the shots just weren’t falling for the hometown Cascades. Shooting 27.8 per cent from the field and being out-rebounded 6-13, a score of 16-11 for the Spartans was almost surprisingly close. UFV came back in the second

quarter, scoring slightly more efficiently at 35.3 per cent and working off of Taylor Claggett’s 10 points. The Cascades held their turnovers in check yet again, prompting a much closer score of 26-25 for the Spartans, although the glass was still a pressing issue for the hometown team.

In the third quarter, Trinity Western swung back into the driver’s seat with Tessa Ratzlaff’s total of 16 points, six rebounds, and one block. The Cascades scoring problems were most obvious in the third quarter, which saw them hit their lowest quarter field goal percentage of the night (21.4 per cent).

UFV forced turnovers and played great defence, but with shots not falling the Spartans were able to roll on. When it mattered most, the Cascades showed up, coming back to make a run at the game in the fourth quarter. UFV had the game close at multiple points, with Madison Draayers hitting a three to make it a one-score game with only minutes remaining. In the end, Trinity Western persevered with their rebounding and effort, defeating the Cascades by a score of 57-51.

The second encounter proved to be a

much different game, with UFV starting strong. The Cascades jumped out to a 17-5 lead on a largely improved 50 per cent field goal percentage. They also matched the Spartans in the rebounding column, which seemed to be the key to keeping the score within reach, or better yet, in the Cascades favour.

The second quarter saw the Cascades go 2-14 from the field for a pretty awful percentage of 14.3 per cent. Though they were rebounding well, like the night before, the shots were not falling, and this led to a 20-9 second quarter score for Trinity.

UFV picked it up after the half, scoring better and turning out a more impressive effort, but Trinity was one step ahead. They continued to play well after the first quarter and slowly but surely started to out-rebound the Cascades. In similar scores of 24-16 and 26-15, the second half went to the home team Spartans who won by a score of 75-57 and moved to 12-8 on the season.

UFV (10-10) stayed 0.500 and will now look to pick up a road playoff victory when they take on the number seven-ranked Victoria Vikings on Friday, Feb. 8.

UFV Cascades Sports Scores Feb. 1 – Feb. 2 2019 Men’s Basketball Game/Date: UFV Versus TWU Feb. 1, 2019 Result: Win (106-75) Game/Date: UFV Versus TWU Feb. 2, 2019 Result:

Win (94-73)

Women’s Basketball Game/Date: UFV Versus TWU Feb. 1, 2019 Result: Loss (51-57) Game/Date: UFV Versus TWU Feb. 2, 2019 Result: Loss (57-75)

Men’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV Versus CAPILANO Feb. 1, 2019 Result: Loss (2-3) Game/Date: UFV Versus CAPILANO Feb. 2, 2019 Result:

Loss (0-3)

Women’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV Versus CAPILANO Feb. 1, 2019 Result: Win (3-1) Game/Date: UFV Versus CAPILANO Feb. 2, 2019 Result: Loss (0-3) Cascades basketball. (UFV Flickr)

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STUDY BREAK

VOL. 27 // ISSUE 05

Column //

Sudoku //

Cascade Kitchen: Dressed up edamame

Edamame. (Carissa Wiens)

CARISSA WIENS One of the most difficult parts of my day is packing a lunch for a full day on campus. If there’s leftovers from dinner last night, great, I’ll pack those. But often I find myself without.

I do my best to avoid the Triple O’s on campus because (a) they take all of my money and (b) the onion rings are too good and too greasy. It’s nice to have something to eat that I can bring from home which doesn’t need to be warmed up in a microwave and doesn’t go bad in my bag after a couple of hours.

I’m all about one bowl meals with all of the veg, grains, and protein mixed in together. This edamame salad perfectly fits the bill. Make a large batch for your week’s lunches and keep it in the fridge for up to five days. All you need is a sealed container and fork, and it’s also good for snacking on throughout the day. This salad is filling, zesty, and easy to make.

Ingredients: 500 ml (2 cups) shelled and cooked edamame (I boil it from frozen for about 5 minutes in the microwave) 250 ml (1 cup) frozen corn (I set it on top of the hot edamame in the bowl and it thaws in minutes) 175 ml (3/4 cup) cooked quinoa (about 125 ml [1/2 cup] dry) 1 red pepper, seeded and diced small (yellow or orange peppers may be substituted) 1/2 bunch cilantro leaves with stems discarded, or to taste ~125 ml (1/2 heaping cup) crumbled feta, or more to taste 2 green onions, trimmed and sliced 500 ml (2 cups) cherry tomatoes 1 avocado peeled, pitted, and diced (optional) 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) salt, or to taste 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) black pepper, or to taste generous pinch cayenne pepper (doesn’t make it spicy, just makes it not bland) 30 ml (2 tbsp) lemon juice 30 ml (2 tbsp) lime juice 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil Directions: 1. Toss all of the above ingredients together. Adjust measurements to your preference. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to five days.

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LAST ISSUE’S

ANSWERS:

YOU WANT NUMBERS? WE’VE GOT NUMBERS!

Fabulous Facts: Fabulous facts is a weekly installment where we consider a specific thing/theme each week and list some neat knowledge about it! Want to try your own? Email Cassie at cassie@ufvcascade.ca with your ideas!

3. On this week’s edition of weird but true stories: goats don’t have teeth in their upper jaw. Seriously. This likely accounts for why they look strange when they eat. (Don’t come for me with your goat-induced anger.)

1. Goats were one of the first Europeans to set foot in Canada. Along with the settlers, goats boarded the Mayflower, sailed across the ocean, and set hoof in what is now Jamestown, Virginia. By 1630, goats were named most popular (possession) by settlers.

4. Goats are the devil in mammal form. Just kidding! But they sure do look it with those odd, rectangular pupils. Next time you’re staring one down, remember: they’re not trying to look into your soul, but they do have a wider range of vision due to these strangely shaped orbs.

2. Goats skyrocketed to fame in 1904 at the World’s Fair due to the display of over 300 Angora goats famous for their soft, curly hair. Go ahead, Google one of these boys and tell me you wouldn’t have fallen in love, too.

5. Goats have four stomachs. I have nothing else to add to this.

Cat Friesen

STUDY BREAK

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Crossword //

Made by Cassie de Jong

ACROSS

DOWN

1: Circle of longitude adopted as the zero starting point for planet earth.

4: An object that serves as a warning or reminder of death.

6: An elaborately ornamental latebaroque style of decoration from 18th-century Europe 7: A strong, sweet, and colourless orange-flavoured liqueur.

8: City that the ancient greeks consider the navel of the world or Omphalos.

9: A building that houses an astronomical telescope used for the study of natural phenomena.

10: A retired American actor, who founded the Sundance Film Festival

1: The three colors from which all other colors can be obtained by mixing.

2: The imitation of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past.

3: A district or community within a town or city.

4: Name for an eastern Canadian region consisting of three coastal provinces.

5: To degrade to the status of an object or person.

8: The piece of turf cut out of the ground by a golf club making a stroke.

LAST ISSUE’S

ANSWERS: Across: 1: Macabre 4: Ruins 6: Physiotherapy 7: Necromancer 8: Biodegradable 11: Elope 12: Sixties

Down: 1: Merchandise 2: Aioli 3: Earth 5: Superfluous 9: Guess 10: Debut

Cascade Calamities

FEB 2 Horoscopes //

4 DAYS LATER

Illustration by Elyssa English

Astrological mysteries interpreted weekly by Morgana the Mystic

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 You’ve been feeling pretty unstoppable lately, and rightly so! Your success is its own reward, but expect acknowledgement from those around you. They’ve certainly noticed your never-ending dedication and are impressed.

Take pride in yourself, Aries; you deserve it.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 Practicality is your friend, Taurus, but this doesn’t mean you’re destined for boredom.

Let your expensive tastes and even richer aspirations run wild this week, as you’ll benefit from a bit of a break from constant sensibility.

You’ll gain powerful insight on what it is you really want to strive towards.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 Now is the time to get ahead of any work you may have. A surge in productivity is just around the corner and you’ll want to spend as much time as possible working on your own personal projects rather than what’s demanded of you. Keep an eye on what’s ahead of you, rather than having to worry about it when it’s passed.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 Don’t let others drift away from you, Cancer.

Your close-knit group might be experiencing some strain lately and this is bound to upset your sentimental side; strike up conversations you haven’t had in awhile and get in touch with the people you care about. They want to hear from you, too.

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 You’ve got more plans than your agenda can hold! Don’t let this overwhelm you — you thrive best when you have a million things to do. Just make sure to keep it a nice balance between work and play; you don’t want to lose out on any opportunities, whether they be social or professional.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 This week is a good time to embrace your serious side. While you’d much prefer to keep it light, not everything can be fun and games. You’ll get a chance to liven things up once you’ve put in the work, Sagittarius; don’t worry about it too much.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 This week will get better towards the end, Virgo. A break in your bad luck is approaching and you’ll be able to catch up on the rest you so badly deserve. An added bonus will be the clarity you receive from a little bit of relaxation; solutions for any lingering problems will arise once you’ve had a chance to think.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 Though you may pride yourself on your objectivity, it’s beginning to take its toll on you and your relationships with others. You might have to make some compromises in your brutal honesty to keep from hitting a nerve.

Sometimes the “tough love” approach isn’t what’s needed.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 Keep things as close to the same as possible.

While you might have the urge to make a change, let any ideas you have simmer for a while before trying them out. You won’t have too much trouble with this as you’re not prone to impulsivity, but make sure your daydreams don’t lead you to making any rash decisions.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 The moon starts anew in your sign on Monday, Aquarius, so prepare for a brighter outlook in the days that come. You might feel tempted to focus on how this upswing can help others, but don’t forget about yourself! Try to dial down the altruism, at least for this week. This season is yours for a reason.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 Invest some time in yourself, Scorpio. Turning your attention inwards rather than on what’s around you will help you make some much desired progress. It doesn’t have to be a laborious task; even a little bit of housecleaning and reorganization will provide you with a clean (or, at the least, decluttered) slate.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 Get rid of anything that reminds you of the unpleasant past. Rebuild what you want to keep and discard what you don’t. Let yourself be picky about what you want from the future. You desire and deserve a fresh start, and you’re the only one who can provide that.

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ARTS

VOL. 27 // ISSUE 05

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018

arts@ufvcascade.ca Martin Castro — Arts Editor

Album //

CHARTS 1

Swim Team V

2

Blessed Thought (single)

3

Saint Soldier Dark Shades (Single)

4

David Ivan Neil Talking (Single)

5

Teen Daze Bioluminescence

6

Ben Cottrill Spice Boy

7

future star i will fight the devil and i will win

8 9

Art d'Ecco Trespasser Tanya Tagaq Snowblind

10

Sneaks Highway Hypnosis

11

Jock Tears Bad Boys

12 13

Big Joanie Sistahs Tallies Tallies

14

Pudding Pop Over

15

High Parade Cole

16 17 18

Booker Stardrum Temporary etc.

Charlotte Gainsbourg Take 2

Cowbo Morsche Cowboy Miracle

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UNKNOWN ME Astronauts

20

Juan Wauters La Onda de Juan Pablo

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SHUFFLE AARON LEVY

Girlpool bloom on What Chaos is Imaginary

PINEAPPLE IMPERSONATER

CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy thought it was time for Hawaiian shirts and summer barbecues, but boooooy was he ever wrong.

Modest Mouse - “Grey Ice Water” A soft, jaunty little number off of the B-sides and rarities compilation from 1999, Building Nothing Out of Something, this one is less creepy than the Eraserhead nod "Workin' on Leavin' the Livin'", but less bouncy than the sensual "All Night Diner" that follows said Lynch reference. Great backing vox.

Pearl Bailey and Hot Lips Page - “Baby It's Cold Outside” Time for me to weigh in on this timeless debate! I do think you have to consider what the impression of each of the vocalists is, as well as the author, however I'm not going to do that research, so I'll just say that privilege exists whether or not it’s recognized.

Guns N’ Roses - “November Rain” I know I've shuffled this epic music video before, but I just can't escape the feel of the earworm that Axl burrows deep within my mind like Khan with his wrath, reminding me that sometimes you just feel like crying all alone in the cold November Rain. Oh, so cold.

Matthew Good Band “Flight Recorded From Viking 7” Space is colder than the air in the mountains where I come from. For years I've drifted further and further into the unknown. Space is older than the air moving in and out of your lungs. For years I've drifted the math of a divinity that goes on and on.

MARTIN CASTRO I’d almost like to say that Baltimore-based Girlpool has experienced a second birth of sorts. It’s not evolution, because we’re not talking about a natural and logical progression from one state to another.

If the three records that precede What Chaos is Imaginary constitute something of a straight path along which the band’s aesthetic progression can be tracked in a specific direction, each record further refining and exploring expression within an often bittersweet, bedroom-pop niche, the material on this latest record doesn’t strike us radically as something other than another step towards that initial direction.

Saying that Girlpool has been reborn is both kitschy in the sense that it metonymically sneaks religious iconography into our headspace when discussing the band, and inaccurate in the sense that the band never suffered an artistic death from which to be plucked by rebirth. The change between Powerplant’s shoegaze anthem “123” and Chaos’ rock crowd pleaser

“Hire” isn’t reactionary; the band doesn’t seem to have embraced faster tempos and more obviously electric instrumentation in a bid to get away from what they once were. The change comes nonchalantly.

Cleo Tucker’s more energetic, confrontational vocals are just sort of there and man, do they work.

Girlpool’s first three records evolve; the fourth simply appears, fully-formed, and rad as hell.

Mind you, the Chaos still betrays the nostalgic emotionality of its predecessors. On “Josephs Dad,” for example, Harmony Tividad’s vocals are timorous once again, but she wields her indecision with a tenacity that paints its appearance on this record in an entirely different light. Album closer “Roses” is equally akin to the band’s earlier work in that it wears its patient, shoegaze drone on its sleeve. All this to say that the band hasn’t changed so much as to become unrecognizable, just enough to turn heads.

Acoustic tracks like “Hoax and the Shrine” also balance the record out in a manner that seems counterintuitive at first, since the tracks foil more

straightforward rock pieces like “Swamp and Bay,” which itself manages to retain the distinction of being as suitable to a John Hughes soundtrack as they are unique to the moment in which they appear on the record.

Equally impressive is the record’s eponymous track, which builds itself around a metallic synth and kick that might risk being too 1980s if it weren’t for Tividad’s silky, honest vocals.

The marriage of both these elements, almost more than anything else on the record, drives home the point that the duo have grown in spades up until this point. There’s next to no room left to dismiss the more earnest tracks on the record as melodramatic, particularly since they’re flanked by more energetic companions which themselves can’t be dismissed as escapist, since they’re still each clearly two sides of the same coin, lyrically and emotionally tied together at the core.

I know we’re hardly into February, but I’m willing to bet that if you check in with me at the end of the year, I’ll still be enthusiastically telling friends (and you, reader) to give What Chaos is Imaginary a spin.

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

YouTube Red //

Justice is a Five Letter Word Wayne breaks the stereotype of bad YouTube Premium content EVAN WERBIN Let’s be honest, YouTube Premium Originals are bad. Really bad. By employing former Vine stars and YouTube personalities who have no acting skills whatsoever, the shows and movies themselves are basically writing “Do Not Watch” on the thumbnail. Either that, or the content is way too thrilled by its own originality that it overreaches and completely botches expectations. (I’m looking at you, Bodied.) But finally, from the seemingly hopeless platform rises a new hero in the form of 16-year-old badass Wayne.

Taking a no-nonsense attitude to life, Wayne and his new girlfriend, Del, set out to Ocala, Florida to retrieve his fa-

ther’s 1979 Pontiac Trans Am, which was stolen by his mother, her boyfriend, and his stepbrother. Their journey is full of heart and heartbreak, both being incredibly earned, which is a fantastic hiatus from the usually rushed plot pattern that a lot of YouTube’s productions follow. We get to witness a lot of hardcore justice in the form of righteous ass beatings dealt out by our titular hero to those deserving of it. The key moments in the series are not grounded in action, however, but rather in the amazing acting from Mark McKenna and Ciara Bravo, who play Wayne and Del, respectively. McKenna is relatively unknown, with his most notable work coming from the J.J. Abrams-produced 2018 “D-Day”

film, Overlord. Bravo, however, has appeared in many works from Angels & Demons to Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, as well as a minor role in a season five episode of Marvel’s Agents of Shield. Although they seem to only have experience in minor roles, the two are truly spectacular in the roles that they play.

On the exterior, they show themselves to be total rebels, smartmouthing cheeky waitresses and assaulting bullies, but throughout the series also show themselves to be vulnerable in a lot of the positions that they find themselves in due to past experiences and heartbreaks.

Though there are a lot of good things to say about Wayne, there are also some negatives that must be mentioned. The main issue with the setup of the series is pacing. Everything in the first episode seems to go by too quickly, which is not great. It feels like it should have been split into two, with the episode’s first half setting up the world of Wayne and utilizing its fantastic cast to show how Wayne operates and what he thinks in specific (and very comedic) situations. The second half should have been written to show us why

Wayne decided to go to Florida to get his father’s car back, as well as to establish how important Del is to him. Although the first episode was rushed, the second episode and on don’t suffer from the same problem. The lesson being that sometimes a minor pacing problem in the opening act does not always doom the production.

Among the many evil-doers they encounter, one of the baddest bad guys comes in the form of Del’s father, only referred to as “Daddy,” played by Dean Winters (Oz, Brooklyn Nine-Nine). Along with Del’s brothers, twins Carl and Teddy, Daddy tracks Wayne and Del to Florida, seeking to exact revenge on Wayne after being assaulted by him, and retrieve his daughter. For most of the series, Daddy serves primarily as comedic relief, specifically during one memorable fight scene featuring a very popular Vanessa Carlton song, but he also shows a lot of emotion and sensitivity, especially in the presence of his daughter. In that you can see just how special Del is to him compared to her brothers, whom he refers to as “morons” for the full season.

Wayne is a must-watch series that effectively proves that YouTube Premium can make decent, well-developed content. Here’s hoping for a follow-up season.

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