The Cascade, Volume 30, Issue 16

Crying in the shower since 1993

The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the uni versity 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 other Wednesday with a print circulation of 800 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 stu dents; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assign ment from an editor. Pitch meetings will be digital for the remainder of the semester. Please email managing@ufvcascade.ca to be put on the assignment email list.

In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be ap proved 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.

Editorial //

Peace out, UFV

SYDNEY MARCHAND

I’ve been part of The Cascade for a year and a half and though my time at the paper has been shortlived, and I have a long list of things that I never got to tick off my to-do list, I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.

UFV is notoriously known as a commuter school, and as someone who regularly drives an hour to campus each way, I am the definition of a commuter student. I spent my first couple of semesters hiding in my car in between classes because I was too anxious to sit in the SUB without the security of familiar faces. I drove to school, went to class, spoke to nobody, and drove home. And then the pandemic hit.

Flash forward a couple of years and I am proud to say that I have worked in a variety of roles at The Cascade — sometimes three at once — and have spent the last year working as the Managing Editor. Such opportunities have arguably given me a stronger portfolio and more skills than my education could’ve ever provided. And now that I brace myself for graduation, I can confidently say that I am

venturing out into the world with optimism — all thanks to a silly little job at a student newspaper. It sounds incredibly cliché to admit that I truly am a completely different person than I was before joining. I no longer sit anxiously in my car alone between classes; I am surrounded by amazing people who fill our wonderful office with so much life and vibrant conversation. I have learned to trust my gut, be a leader, speak up for myself, and collaborate with fellow writers, illustrators, and editors who are far more talented than I’ll ever be — I found a place that is encouraging of my passions and pushes me to step out of my comfort zone, and for that, I am forever grateful.

To those of you who may be struggling to find your way at UFV and are scared shitless (like I was) to join campus organizations, I challenge you to reach out anyways. Join a group of like-minded people and participate in something during your time at UFV. It doesn’t have to be The Cascade (although I am certainly biased and think we are the best), it can literally be anything that you feel best aligns with your passions, hobbies, or

interests. There is no better feeling than being a part of a community that supports you and provides you with the tools to be the best version of yourself.

As I sign off from my role, I want to thank all the folks at The Cascade for being so amazing and for riding this wild ride with me. And to all our readers, thanks for putting up with my articles and for supporting our humble student paper. I’m stoked to see how it continues to grow, as I am sure it will accomplish even greater things under new management. Here’s to the next chapter!

Building new skills, making friendships, and loving life at our humble student press

Photo by: Aryan Kathuria

UFV //

UFV promotes internationalization through world dumpling event

Dumplings are the “tip of the iceberg”

On Nov. 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the “Let’s Eat Together! Dumplings of the World” event was hosted by the Building Community Across Cultures (BCAC) at the U-House in room F124. Employees were served dumplings from various local businesses for free. Faculty and staff at the event included teaching and learning specialist, internationalization, Victoria Surtees; school of culture, media, and society (SCMS) associate professor and South Asian studies institute director Satwinder Bains; SCMS director Chantelle Marlor; and director, international Daryl Smith. They discussed the importance of building community, internationalization, establishing cultural relationships, and how that related to the dumpling event.

“This free event gave employees a chance to taste dumplings from around the world and to have conversations with others around their own food experiences and traditions. It was a chance to build community and relationships around something we all have in common: food,” Surtees explained.

The food served at the event was a variety of dumplings: gyoza, samosas, Jamaican patties, baos, empanadas, and perogies and sour cream, which came from a variety of local restaurants, community kitchens, food trucks and people’s homes. Vendors included Mr. Siopao de Langley bakery, Gian’s, The Patty Shop, Ebisu Sushi, Margui’s Peruvian Cocina, and Old Country Pierogi.

According to Surtees, the dumpling event is one of four they are putting on for UFV employees with the intent to bring people together and “build relationships, connections, and get dialogue going” through different global foods.

Bains explained that the lack of community felt by staff and employees at UFV helped to trigger this journey to gain a better understanding of different cultures. This hunger led to the creation of four events that will take place in the Fall semester.

The first event was “Building Community Across Cultures” with guest speaker Kyra Garson on Oct. 12. This event explored how faculty members can support intercultural learning. “Let’s Eat Together! Dumplings of the World” was the second event.

The third event, “Relationship Building Across Cultures” took place on November 8, 2022 and focused on the different expectations people have for each other based on their culture and cultural assumptions, and how this knowledge can help faculty and staff be more understanding and mindful of their expectations of students and each other.

The final event is “Brazil v. Cameroon FIFA World Cup Game” and will take place on Dec. 2 at 11:00 a.m., where employees can both watch the game and then discuss the cultural significance and roles soccer plays worldwide.

The dumpling event brought together staff and employees to promote interest in joining the journey to the UFV Chandigarh campus in India that is planned for 2024 to better understand

the culture and gain insight into international students’ perspectives.

“The idea is we're building up to a study tour for faculty and staff to go to Northern India, and the impetus behind that is so [they] can help themselves become internationalized by becoming more familiar with where a lot of our international students are coming from,” said Marlor.

According to Bains, the goal is to take a group to the Chandigarh campus where they will spend close to 15 days visiting six different cities, immersing themselves in the culture, and getting to know the students who attend UFV India . They hope to gain a better cultural understanding that they can bring back with them to help cater to the needs of both international and domestic students.

Smith said that one of the challenges is to make sure the study tour is “decolonized.” Bains added that the employees partaking in the trip will encounter remnants of colonialism in India where some of the people tend to still think with a “colonial mindset” and “give white people more room” or treat them as if they have more knowledge.

Smith and Bains also mentioned that there will be a lot of preparatory work that needs to be done before the tour can take place to help make as smooth a transition as possible, to help reduce the culture shock, and “to make their experience richer.” India is very different from Canada, they explained, and Bains described it as a “heavy country that can hit a person like a ton of bricks.”

“I think that the end goal would be how do I engage with a culture with

people who are different from me in a meaningful way to move and to advance things forward?” said Smith.

A series of planned workshops will take place during the next year and a half to help staff to engage in this initiative, and students are encouraged to come and have conversations with the faculty. Marlor said that staff can get a first hand perspective of where students are coming from, and Bains added that the students in turn can hear the viewpoints of the faculty.

“Our focus is on faculty and staff because we want to make a more welcoming, inclusive space for everyone … So, while our focus is largely on working with faculty and staff, our larger purpose is very student-driven,” said Marlor.

“I've been here about a year and UFV is a wonderful place because it brings all these different cultures together, and I think with the domestic, international, Indigenous, recent immigrants, people who have recently come to the country, we have this potential to utilize this and to build on this strength of the diversity that comes to the campus, but we need to be intentional with it; it's not just going to happen,” said Smith.

On a deeper level, the free world dumpling event is the “tip of the iceberg” in the journey to bring the community together through internationalization and gaining a better understanding of different cultures. At the heart is the goal, the shared desire, for this venture to support students.

RACHEL

Photo credit:Victoria Surtees

NEWS BRIEFS

Another painting damaged in the name of protest

Climate change activists targeted an Emily Carr painting, “Stumps and Sky,” on Nov. 12. The painting alleg edly had maple syrup poured on it and the activists glued their hands to the wall below the painting. This is not the first time protesters have taken to damaging priceless or wellknown pieces of artwork under the claim of protesting. On Oct. 14, Vin cent van Gogh’s famous “Sunflow ers” painting had cans of tomato soup thrown at it. Less than a week later, Andy Warhol’s “Campbell Soup I” was vandalized, again in the name of protest. The recent string of activ ists targeting artwork have brought backlash from the art community and have stirred up controversy on whether the reports of vandalism are furthering or damaging the message of the various activists.

- Emmaline Spencer

UFV// UFV Chilliwack campus displays antiwar sculpture

RACHEL TAIT

At the UFV Chilliwack campus there are two large antiwar symbols in the form of large hedgehog sculptures on display to help raise awareness about the current Ukraine conflict with Russia, and to promote peace. The original steel hedgehog sculpture was created by Maciej Kaczor, program technician from the faculty of applied and technical studies, welding instructor Matt Olafson, and several students. The antiwar statue is made up of large steel beams that are protectively placed over a map of Ukraine. The words “End War” are mounted on the very top of the sculpture in clear letters.

“The most important thing for me was to do something to express how I feel about the whole situation on the other side of the big pond,” said Kaczor.

Originally from Poland, Kaczor felt the direct impact of the UkraineRussia conflict and wanted to create a symbol that would help support his friends who live in Ukraine.

Kaczor said that there was not a lot he could do physically to help with the conflict abroad.

behind the decision to go with this particular symbol which Kaczor said “will not be as easy to remove,” first came from Pierce Stoeckly, program technician in the trades program.

Ukraine were defending their turf,” said Olafson.

Kaczor said that he let his Ukrainian friends know about the welded hedgehog he and his colleague created, and they were touched by the gesture when they saw pictures of the antiwar sculptures.

Kaczor hopes that the sculptures and the media attention will prompt others to support Ukraine during this time of war through donating to existing foundations that can help bring aid. Olafson said that there is the hope that other post secondary institutions will emulate their example and create similar antiwar symbols to help support those affected by the Ukraine conflict.

Olafson also mentioned that Stoeckly came up with this “assignment as a challenge” for other universities to partake in and create their own antiwar symbols.

Flood recovery of the Fraser Valley continues one year after devastating downpour

In November of 2021, the Fraser Valley area was hit with unexpected and overwhelming rainfall, resulting in uncontrollable flooding. Many in the Fraser Valley are still struggling to recover from the damages of catastrophic floods of the past year. One year after the floods, the provincial government has pledged an additional $41 million toward reparation to further repair the Sumas River, Kilgard Creek, Clayburn Creek, and Vedder Canal. The ongoing repairs to the Sumas dike are expected to be completed by the end of the month. Calls of action are being made to the government to have a more detailed plan of preventative measures against future floods.

- Emmaline Spencer

“I started with making little antiwar signs that I would leave all around Chilliwack and after they disappeared, I was pretty disappointed.” said Kaczor.

According to Olafson, it took between 10-20 hours to complete the steel hedgehog and the inspiration

Olafson explained how the hedgehog antiwar sculpture they created is very similar in design and aesthetic to the hedgehog welded sculptures that the welders in the Ukraine are creating to help block out the tanks from the invading Russian army. He also points out that the hedgehog sculptures are very “dramatic” looking in appearance.

“Seeing the first news reports from Ukraine in February, [and] anybody with a welder and steel were putting these [hedgehogs] together to block their roads. So it's something kind of visceral for us as tradespeople. It's one of the ways that tradespeople in

When asked what students can take away from these antiwar symbols, Kaczor said: “Inspiring students to make a statement with the skills that they're gaining here during the course to actually do something good for the people that are suffering.”

The original hedgehog sculpture is currently set up near Vedder Park in Chilliwack, and a larger version welded by UFV students Ian Lees and Josh McKenzie is also on display at the front of Building A at the Chilliwack campus.

“Industrial Mischief:” welding for a worthy cause

Photo Credit: UFV Flickr

EMMALINE SPENCER

In November of 2021, devastating floods overtook the Fraser Valley, leaving farms in ruins and many homeless. As the community works toward returning to normalcy and recovering from the damages, the Flood Stories project was started to help the people heal through a creative and tangible form.

One of the many impacted by the floods was Michelle Superle, associate professor at UFV, who was evacuated from her home at the beginning of the floods. Fortunately, she was able to return home with minimal damages to her own abode and immediately started volunteering at the Yarrow Food Hub. During her time there, she saw a real need for people to find ways to cope and process.

Superle explained that while volunteering and doing interviews for an article she wrote for edible Vancouver & Wine Country, she found people wanting to write about their experiences but not knowing how to start. “Many

an expressive art contest of healing

people would say to me, ‘oh you know I've always wanted to write a book. I've always wanted to write such and such.’

Then after a while I had this idea, that it might hold up and be helpful for them to write about this, because I had just read [UFV student] Lauryn Joly’s term paper on expressive writing as a way of supporting resilience and mental health.”

That was the very beginning of the long road of the Flood Stories project.

From there, Superle started working with Joly to create a workshop to help the community express their experiences and hopefully find a sense of healing along the way.

According to Superle, the project shifted into creating “a public platform for more people to share how they were affected by the flooding.” The most recent addition to the project was an Expressive Art contest, which gave people of all ages a chance to work through their emotions through creative forms of writing, art, and other creative mediums, while providing them with an opportunity to have

those passionate pieces shared with the public.

As the project began to come together, Superle had students come to her wanting to write and participate, though they weren’t directly impacted by the floods. This spawned the second prompt in the contest: express gratitude for local farmers.

“It's been hugely, hugely challenging and I don't know if that's mostly because this kind of work is very new to me. I'm trained as a literary scholar and an English professor, and I'm pretty good at those things. But this kind of research, this level of project development and coordination, is absolutely new to me,” Superle explained.

“I've had quite a large team of students working with me, which has been wonderful, but all of those things are quite new to me and to be doing them all at once and in such a high stakes situation. I'm always mindful that I want to be respectful of people’s experiences and time, and making sure that we're only adding beneficial aspects to their lives and experiences,

and not causing any kind of harm,” said Superle when discussing what it’s been like bringing such a large project together during a sensitive time.

The final day for submissions was Nov. 4. The competition has multiple categories including written, visual art, auditory, and kinesthetic. Within the categories are age groups such as students in grades K-7, students in grades 8-12, and a section for the UFV community.

“I hope to keep offering the ‘writing to heal workshop.’ I would also like to pass along the resource booklets and the method [for expressive writing] to train students, folks, advocates, and facilitators at the Peer Wellness Center,” said Superle, looking back on the work done so far.

Disclosure: The Cascade’s Managing Editor, Sydney Marchand, is involved in the Flood Stories project as a student research assistant. To avoid any conflict of interest, she had no editorial input on the selection of this topic or the writing of this article.

opinion@ufvcascade.ca Kait Thompson — Opinion Editor

Stop trying to put me in a box!

How micro trends and aesthetics have dominated the FYP

on having a specific style that would force people to make snap judgements about my personality. Then one day my For You Page (FYP) broke me.

I never really fit into one aesthetic grow ing up, and this is not for a lack of trying. When I was fourteen I wore the same kha ki green jacket and messy bun most girls in my classes were wearing. Totally laid back, yet so chic. At fifteen I started listening to The 1975 and decided being soft grunge was my true calling. Yet, I never fully leaned into the fashion, or the attitudes that came with them. Over time I gave up

If your TikTok algorithm is like mine in any way then you would have seen hyperspecific aesthetics being forced upon con sumers. The original idea of aesthetics is a philosophical study towards beauty, art, and taste. Nowadays, it is mainly a word used when discussing something in pop culture, and specifically a style/fashion (warning: this article will be heavily using the latter definition). Cultures and sub cultures of style have existed most likely since style was created, but within the last couple of years I have noticed how hyperspecific they have become, which led me to ask myself: does this make anyone feel good about their style?

On one hand, a hyper-specific aesthetic style could help someone find like-minded people and build a community. It could help them gain a sense of self, and grow in confidence. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, but the problem is when it feels like my algorithm is desperately clawing at my eyes begging me to pick one niche it can market to me. It never ends. I watched a few videos on the “clean girl”aesthetic and decided that couldn’t be me, and days later I was being fed “whim

sigoth.” Then it tries to get me to become a “coastal grandmother” (essentially Di ane Keaton), and eventually the videos get extra hyper-specific with the creation of a “coastal granddaughter” (the same as Di ane Keaton but also you have a trust fund).

This barely even scratches the surface of the multitude of aesthetics that TikTok creators provide their followers, and other

users. This isn’t to say I haven’t ever given into these niches; have I picked up a hor ribly written book because I knew that if people saw me reading it on the bus I would be deemed a cool girl like TikTok says? Yes, of course I have! I nod along happily when someone says my bangs give them Sally Rooney era vibes. My worst habit is exclaiming to friends that yes, their dark green sweater is incredibly dark academia. For however long the video lasts I love being a part of this weird niche community that thousands of other people relate to, but to be completely honest, I am tired. For one minute I think I have finally found my niche style. Then suddenly I am being pushed into a whole new direction.

As time goes on it becomes clear that these niche aesthetics are simply being used to sell users products, and it contrib utes to the overconsumption of both me dia and products. This push and pull into so many different style directions that my FYP gives me has left a question mark over my sense of self, despite now being the time where I have a million aesthetics to choose from. Enough is enough! From now on I will not force myself to fit into a niche craftily-prepared style made for me by someone with a brand deal and millions of followers.

Is resting the best self-care?

EVA DAVEY REMINGTON FIORASO

With the winter holidays quickly approaching and plans beginning to form, stress can start to build up. Throw in work, school, relationships, inflation, social media, news, and many other stress inducers — it can be overwhelming to deal with. Individual coping strategies may vary, but is there one go-to model that can help individuals relieve their stress — or reduce the potential impact of stressors.

Inspired by the book Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, “sacred rest” is the latest viral self-care model that has gotten some traction on social media recently, going viral on selfcare TikTok, and inspiring think pieces on sites like Bustle. In her book, DaltonSmith discusses the role of rest in reducing and recovering from stress. Specifically, she identifies the seven types of rest that one may need; physical, social, sensory, emotional, mental, creative, and spiritual rest which all make up a complete picture of the different ways we need to recharge ourselves.

Dalton-Smith's work acts as a good stepping stone. It brings different areas of self-care to light, rather than focusing on just countering the physical tolls that stress can have. I also find the variation it brings to the concept of “rest” useful, as it is more broad — it can be too much of one thing or too little.

In this sense, the movement DaltonSmith’s book inspired promotes having a greater balance in several areas in life, and a real focus on the individual’s needs.

Individual’s "rest" is based on their needs and interests, and while the seven categories might not dictate to a tee how one will deal with stress, it can be a source of inspiration on where

to begin. For example, when it comes to creative rest — depending on the individual, having writer’s block could be an obstacle that could benefit from either a break from writing, or writing something for fun as a creative outlet. In this way, either option could be defined as “rest.”

The seven different types of rest also encourage creating more boundaries between work, school, and life rather than just “dealing with it” or “sucking it up;” the need to take mental rests is highlighted. For example, it made me reflect on the lack of boundaries I have been setting in my life, including not separating work and home.

I do not believe that the seven types of rest is the “best” self-care model,

nor do I think there is one “ultimate” selfcare guide; each model or expert can have varying opinions on how to deal with the goings-on of life. Not everyone will practise the same things, or have the same types of stress. The coping strategies may be different, but yet, all have the same objective — focusing on your individual needs. For example, I prefer relaxing in bed watching a new show or doing a puzzle to focus on something else while others may seek comfort in being around friends when they are stressed out.

Either way, self-care methods including rest should continue to be normalised, discussed, and respected rather than ignored or stigmatised. What works for you? Rather than always "going the extra mile," take a recommended rest to try to create the best balance in your life. It is not selfish to take a rest if need be, and the seven types of rest is a good model to review to figure out where to start.

“This push and pull into so many different style directions my fyp gives me has left a question mark over my sense of self despite now being the time where I have a million aesthetics to choose from.”

Illustration by Washington Reimer

Illustration by Washington Reimer

Fighting the winter blahs, one good habit at a time

Dark days got you feeling down? Me too. Here’s my best (non-medical) advice

KAIT THOMPSON

For as long as I can remember, I have felt a direct connection between my mental health and the change of the seasons. You would think that I was made to thrive in the cooler months — between my pale, easily-sunburned skin, my tendency for heat stroke, and my love of all things Christmas, the back half of the calendar should be when I really hit my stride. Yet without fail, the post-Halloween slump into daylight savings has always seemed to mark my own slide into a funk that lasts well into the new year.

The vibrant oranges and reds of the autumn leaves start to dull; the crisp, cool, windy days start to fade into overcast mornings, and the golden, early-evening sunsets give way to endless, dark nights. I start to feel like I’m in hibernation. A few years ago, I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist with Seasonal Affective Disorder — or SAD, as it’s more aptly known — a form of depression that is triggered by the changing of the seasons.

Now, SAD is a medical condition, and benefits from medical treatment; but the symptoms that mark it are commonly experienced by many of us in a phenomenon sometimes called “the winter blahs.” This condition is especially

common in young people who live farther away from the equator, and thus get less exposure to sun in the winter months. In fact, it’s thought that one in 100 Canadians meet the criteria for SAD, and that the milder but still problematic “winter blahs” affect as much as an additional fifteen per cent of us.

As a person who has been trying to manage these blahs for over a decade, I feel that I’ve gotten a handle on what works for me and I wanted to share them with you, in case you find yourself also entering hibernation mode this November.

First of all, you gotta have your basics down; rest, water, food — think of yourself as a fussy houseplant with complex emotions and student debt. Get a cute refillable water bottle and put dumb little stickers on it that make you smile. Also, fun fact — a 2010 study found that as many as 97 per cent of Canadians demonstrate insufficient vitamin D levels, and low levels of vitamin D have been linked to an increased likelihood of SAD symptoms. So try and eat a vegetable every once in a while, and for when you can’t manage that, make sure you’re taking a multivitamin.

Also, fellow night owls; you might not want to hear this, but in the winter, when the sun sets at 4:00 p.m., it is more important than ever that you find a reliable sleep schedule and stick to it so that you can avoid the vicious cycle of oversleeping or napping away what precious daylight hours we have. Pick a time that is realistic to start winding down and stick to it, and try to limit your phone use in the hour before sleep. Use of electronics that emit blue light have been tied to restrained production of melatonin, a vital hormone in our sleepwake cycle. So set up a charging station for your phone on the other side of your room away from your bed. Better yet, put it in a different room at night and go vintage with an old-school alarm clock.

Second, try and find A Thing To Do — preferably, something that involves you getting outdoors regularly. This year I have taken up going for walks around Albert Dyck park with a friend, but it doesn’t have to be a big commitment; the

important thing is finding little ways to infuse more of the outdoors into your day. If the weather isn’t inclement, sit outside Building B while you eat your $12 TripleO’s burger; if you’re stuck studying up in the stacks, open a window and get some fresh air; and, if you feel like you need a little extra boost, the Clearbrook library loans out sunshine lamps to anyone with a library card. Go pick up one of those, and sit in front of it while you drink your morning coffee; I always find it helps me!

Finally, if you are really struggling, to

the point where you feel like it’s impacting your ability to function, then talk to your doctor or to a counselor (UFV offers free counseling services, FYI). All these things are great tools to give yourself a pickme-up, but they are no replacement for the advice and treatment of a healthcare provider. As the temperatures drop and the days get greyer, remember to be kind to yourself and give yourself some grace.

Also, for the love of God, delete TikTok — your circadian rhythms and your mental health will thank you.

“First of all, you gotta have your basics down; rest, water, food — think of yourself as a fussy houseplant with complex emotions and student debt.”

Illustration by Gabriela Gonzalez

OPINION

Conscious Consumer: You don’t have to do it all

Conversations about sustainability in an unsustainable world

SYDNEY MARCHAND

When I started this column a little over a year ago, I wanted it to be a space for me to unpack some of my opinions on sustainable living and share some of the things I have learned over the past few years. Little did I know that this column would turn into a place where I would educate myself on topics that I assumed were perfectly “green” and climate-conscious.

Sure, things like greenwashing, microplastics, the ethics of fast-fashion brands — even issues within the veganism movement, were all things that I felt an unexplainable duty to shed some light on. But this column has also explored other topics that were written and researched purely out of my own curiosity. What if my houseplants cause harm? What if my chocolate addiction affected more than the health of my teeth? Asking these kinds of questions forced me to dive deep into topics that I wouldn’t have considered researching, and there is still so much to

learn. So if there is something that I didn’t touch on but you are curious about its sustainability of it or want to advocate for some greener alternatives, I encourage you to look into it, spent some time researching, and submit an article to The Cascade of your own!

I don’t want to be another millennial preaching that the world is ending, shouting that everyone sucks and that unless we all change everything in our lives, we might as well change nothing. I have learned while writing this column that almost everything that is convenient in the modern world produces and creates some kind of negative effect on our environment. We aren’t living in a zero-waste society that puts sustainability before profit and power. The point of this column wasn’t to scare you, it was to inspire you — inspire you to make one change in your life and give you a variety of issues and reasonable sustainable solutions to choose from.

I had a great conversation with a professor last week about the importance of making small changes — tangible and

Deconstructing Disability

HARJINDER “JINNIE” SARAN

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a large part of our world these last few years, especially for those who are immunocompromised or disabled. It turns out that many at the institution have strong opinions on UFV’s response to the pandemic.

Caitlyn Carr — an English student at UFV — wishes that the institution had gone a step beyond the provincial recommendations to ensure the health and safety of everyone. She states, “the mask mandate should not have ended immediately when the province allowed it to, but rather it should have been extended at UFV. I (personally) believe it should have only just now been lifted, though I realize this appears overkill to some.”

Carr still chooses to mask “to protect my own health, to protect the health of those around me, and to hide the fact that I bite my lips a lot.” Moreover, she explains that although a return to in person learning was pleasant, she admits she wishes that “staff and students had worn their masks a while longer. After all, it’s better to be too cautious than not cautious enough.”

Similarly, student Wren Ashenhurst still masks for a few different reasons, regardless of the way in which breathing can be difficult sometimes and the material can be overwhelming. “I live with a few immunocompromised folks, so anything I can do to avoid getting them sick is appreciated. Secondly, I have contamination related anxiety triggers, so the mask helps me feel more secure in the

: COVID-19

thought that I won't get sick. Lastly, I'm not a person who likes to be looked at.”

Ashenhurst adds that they didn’t agree with the removal of mask requirements on March 10, 2022. “I thought allowing masks as optional for the summer semester, when I believe there are generally less people on campus, would have been a good trial run.”

In addition to talking with these students, The Cascade also reached out to Andrea MacPherson, a creative writing professor at UFV who has been vocal on social media about how the institution has handled their approach to the pandemic.

Although MacPherson feels that the institution initially responded well to the pandemic, she believes that “we returned to in-person learning too quickly.” Stating, “I also believe that we should not have lifted mask-wearing, as this is a simple precaution that we already had in place, with almost 100 per cent of people on campus masking.”

When asked about her experiences in her classes MacPherson said “There has been a huge difference and impact in my classes, both when we returned to in-person, and when masking was lifted.

I consistently have anywhere from two to eight students away in each of my classes, and often for multiple classes. I have never seen this kind of absence rate before.”

She continued, “I definitely feel like my health and safety have been compromised because of these decisions.”

Director of Communications for UFV — Dave Pinton — stated that although he appreciates the concern, “I respectfully disagree. The health and safety of UFV

realistic changes in accordance with our own individual lives, in whatever stage of it we are. I think that this point is incredibly important to remind ourselves of as I wrap up this column. Although I am in a privileged position where I am able to make large changes in my life, sometimes I forget my reusable bags at the grocery store, sometimes I buy clothes new instead of second-hand, and sometimes I purchase chocolate without doublechecking the company's ethical policies. If we put pressure on ourselves to be perfect every second of our lives, in every aspect of our lives, we will never keep up with those changes long-term. It would simply be unrealistic to expect everyone (and anyone for that matter) to be 100 per cent sustainable.

So I challenge you to choose one thing. Choose one thing that is a reasonable and attainable change and stick with it. It doesn’t have to be anything big or groundbreaking, but it should be something that you are willing to commit to change long-term. Over time, you may find yourself being in a place where you can make another

change, and then another, and another, and this snowball effect of making more conscious choices over time is how we will see lasting changes in our own lives, but also as a collective group. Mother Nature is counting on us, so remember to be realistic with how quickly you make her promises of change if you aren’t going to be able to commit to them. Start with one thing, and then build upon it.

and UFV’s lack of safety measures

students, faculty, and staff have always been the university’s prime concern from the outset of the pandemic. Pursuing any other course would not be responsible or true to our university’s core values.”

When asked if any changes would be made going forward, Pinton stated “UFV will continue to adhere to the recommendations of the provincial health authorities, the BCCDC, the Provincial Health Officer, WorkSafeBC, and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training. If the need arises, as UFV has done in the past, measures will be taken to protect our community and help prevent the spread of the virus.”

Pinton added that in addition to following all guidance from those organizations, UFV has: "Installed MERV13 filters for all recirculating air systems as per ASHREA’s filtration recommendation; installed plastic glass barriers where required to maintain physical distancing requirements; increased cleaning regimens in the first months of the pandemic; moved to remote classes as instructed by the BC Provincial Health Officer on several occasions. In January of 2022, UFV exceeded these guidelines and delayed face to face classes by two weeks to Jan. 24; Provided COVID-19 rapid test kits once in person classes began."

Recently, the University of Waterloo announced that as of November 8, 2022, masks would once again be required in all indoor settings. They have made an official announcement as well as circulated this positive shift in their COVID-19 protocols. After this announcement was made, many Twitter users have urged their own

institutions — including UFV — to follow suit. This sets a precedent in going above and beyond the provincial and territorial recommendations in ensuring a safe and proactive stance when it comes to the pandemic and the safety of their populace. Thus, if a large institution such as the University of Waterloo can implement further safety measures without much difficulty or drawback, it is even more concerning that our own institution cannot do the same for its students, staff, and faculty members, and seems to be adamant on sticking to provincial guidelines and not going above and beyond for their students. When will our institution stop just following the bare minimum recommendations, and actually be a leader in fostering safety and change?

Illustration by Washington Reimer

Illustration by Gabriela Gonzalez

SNAP SHOTS

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

Dear IKEA, I like your meatballs, but please help me

I recently built my little sister’s new bed frame from IKEA and I have never seen an IKEA instruction booklet so thick in my whole life. The bed came with four boxes of parts and four separate bags of screws galore. I wanted to cry multiple times in the process. There is a deep sense of struggle when no parts are la beled and all you have for instructions are pictures and several pieces that look identical, minus a couple of different pre-drilled hole placements.

Too deep into the project, I realized it was a choose-your-own-adventure style instruction manual. Unfortunately for my sister, this meant she had no choice

My parent taxi service is calling for a return to foot, bike, or possibly the horse and buggy.

I’ve recognized the impact gas prices have on my family finances. I discov ered my crosstown driving to and from schools, sports, band, grocery shopping, our favorite bookstore and, of course, coffee shops now costs more than my commute to work. Not good! So, do I quit kids or work?

Pondering… thought-bubbling… speaking with a higher power… asking friends for advice… I’ve even tried asking for advice on Facebook, but was thrown in jail.

I enjoy being actively engaged in my kids' lives, but I have to be honest with myself; the cost of taxiing is entering the “too expensive” category. Not the “car is too expensive” category — everyone

needs a sweet ride, right? — I mean the “kids are too expensive” category. So, I’ve decided to sell a couple off. It‘s dif ficult choosing which kid, and I’ve had a serious interest in them all, because I really love them. But like socks, do I part with holes in the toe or heel? That's a dif ficult decision.

In the meantime, I’d like to propose a return to horse or foot travel for chil dren, to and from all activities. They of ten complain, but I used to walk many kilometers to and from school — uphill both ways — and always covered in at least two feet of snow. I don’t understand the reasoning behind their argument because life is so much easier now, just more expensive!

Halloween treats rebuked

Last issue, Jeff called the Wunderbar a “Blunderbar” here in the opinion section. I disagree, but now’s not the time for such arguments because there’s a bigger villain at play: fun-size treats. They’re the candy equivalent of fullprice loose leaf textbooks marketed as “for student convenience.” We all know that this spineless spinelessness is a misrepresentation. The so-called convenience curbs itself when you try to shove the thing into an appropriate binding. In the same way, the fun in “fun-size” evaporates as soon as you have to open 70 tiny Snickers packages to emulate a regular sized bar.

in the orientation of the bed since I didn’t understand that at the start.

Don’t worry though, it gets worse. Upon coming to an end of this multihour gong show of building a bed, we get to the final page of instructions. The final instruction is to lay down some slats that were not included in the four boxes and that we would have to buy separately. I will be obtaining the slats later today, but by golly, please make your instructions clear and clarify what we need to complete furniture.

Sincerely, A worn out customer

Originally promoted by Mars in 1968 to sell smaller-portioned candy as nutrition mindfulness increased, the term reflected the idea that you could still eat junk food without worrying about your health. As someone who eats his fun-size candy dozens at a time, this clearly no longer applies to me. The term now reflects a variety game for those who trick-or-treat, and it creates a wrapping mess for everyone.

If this whole rant has put you off any fun-size candies you have laying around, don’t worry. Come to The Cascade’s office and I’ll take care of them for you. Just make sure Jeff doesn’t find out.

Last week, during a crazy wind storm, my house lost power. Maybe a tree fell over on a power line, or the wind caught too much speed, I don’t really care how or why it happened, all I know is that I love power outages. I took the opportunity to turn off my laptop and collect a bunch of candles that I had tucked away in my closet and scattered them around my house. My walls turned into shadowboxes cast in a warm, auburn glow. The hum of the refrigerator stopped, there was no TV to distract me, no buzz of fans or glare of

overhanging lights. Just silence.

I quickly found myself curled into a ball on my couch, wrapped in far too many blankets, being forced to take a moment to calm down. I was reminded to breathe and disconnect — even if it was only for an evening. The fright of windstorms and power outages is nothing compared to the little pockets of peace and serenity that they so often bring. They can be a great reminder to unplug, sit in silence, and relax for a moment. So bring it on, wind. You aren’t so bad.

The joy of power outages

Sydney Marchand

Kian Johnson

Emmaline Spencer

Steve Hartwig

RADICALIZATION NATION

How tribalism, the media, and online zealotry are creating a culture of political violence

By: Bradley Duncan

In the early hours of the morning of Oct. 28, just before 2:30 a.m., a man entered the San Francisco residence of Paul and Nancy Pelosi. He was armed with a hammer and carrying zip ties. The man encountered Paul Pelosi and physically detained, questioned, and beat him, repeatedly yelling, “where’s Nancy!?” She was not home. Nancy Pelosi, the senior house representative and U.S. Speaker of the House, was in Washington D.C. where she spends much of her time when not in her home district. Luckily, Mr. Pelosi had managed to call 911, leading the San Francisco Police Department to perform a welfare check on the residence. When law enforcement arrived, they found Mr. Pelosi and the intruder, David DePape, struggling over control of the assailant’s hammer. DePape then gained the upper hand and struck Mr. Pelosi in the head before he could be tackled by the arresting officer. DePape was taken into custody, and Mr. Pelosi was taken to a local hospital to undergo brain surgery. DePape later informed the police that he planned to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage. “I think we definitely are living in a time of potential political violence and danger,” says UFV’s assistant professor of history, Dr. Ian Rocksborough-Smith. “There’s no question about that. There is something animating the current moment, given the sort of extreme divisions that we can see both politically, but also just in terms of … the material conditions that people face.” The Pelosi attack is not an aberration, but a product of increasing levels of economic inequality, mistrust, disinformation, and discord. The uptick of extremist groups, right-wing nationalism, populist rhetoric, and the justification of violence are not simply a problem for other nations. DePape was born and raised right here in British Columbia. Bombastic tirades that cross international lines are nothing new — the CBC podcast, The Flamethrowers, hosted by Justin Ling clearly conveys right-wing media’s extremist roots — but fringe opinions are becoming increasingly mainstream. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) of California’s 15th district has been vocal about “The Tucker Carlson effect,” noting the direct pipeline from the ratings-dominant Fox News anchor’s broadcasts, to the skyrocketing number of threats made against himself and his family. Swalwell tweeted to his followers: “Tucker attacks me. His fans respond with threats to kill my family. And Tucker knows exactly what he’s doing.” Embedded in the post was a voicemail the congressman had received, the content of which I have not the heart to transcribe here. Swalwell’s not alone. According to Politifact, “threats against members of Congress rose from 902 in 2016 to 9,625 in 2021.” This trend is also not isolated to elected officials — the legal system is also increasingly being targeted. The U.S. Marshals Service tracks threats against “the judiciary and other federal court officials” and a 2021 report showed that the number of threats that “resulted in investigations rose from 363 in 2017 to 1,343 in 2021.” These are troubling statistics, and reflect a population that is becoming increasingly radicalized. Threats and harassment are not isolated to elected officials. Election workers — from state attorneys general who oversee elections, to poll

workers and volunteers — are increasingly at-risk of violence and intimidation. In Georgia, one of the hotly contested battlegrounds of the 2020 election, Donald Trump called out election workers by name with unfounded claims of vote tampering. Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, became instant subjects of conspiracy. The fact that the allegations were baseless and quickly disproven meant little to the mob that swarmed the duo with harassment and threats. Some learned of Freeman’s address and began showing up at her house. She had to relocate for two months on advice from the FBI due to threats to her safety. In a recorded deposition, Freeman testified, “There is nowhere I feel safe. Nowhere.”

On June 21, 2022 Moss delivered a chilling and heartbreaking testimony to the January 6th Committee. “It has turned my life upside down,” she said. “I no longer give out my business card. I don’t transfer calls. I don’t want anyone knowing my name. I don’t want to go anywhere with my mom because she might yell my name out over the grocery aisle or something. I don’t go to the grocery store at all. I haven’t been anywhere at all. I’ve gained about 60 pounds. I just don’t do nothing anymore.”

This ecosystem of intimidation has led to election officials resigning en masse. Out of Pennsylvania’s 67 electoral districts, nearly 50 top election officials have vacated their positions in the face of mounting intimidation. In Arizona, groups of armed and masked individuals have been showing up to ballot drop boxes, resulting in allegations of coercion as voters are regularly filmed and followed as they carry out their civic duty. None of these cases are unique or isolated.

Trump’s presidential career was an injection of bath salts into an already stressed system. Many were quick to point out that he exploited, rather than created, pre-existing cultural divisions, even within the Republican party. But his campaign victory and time in the Oval Office drew clear dividing-lines that quickly calcified into separate camps. Fueled by bravado, Diet Coke, and sheer audacity, Trump began sloughing off any ties to rational, status-quo governance. He fired or chased out chiefs of staff, secretaries of state, members of his press corps, and more. His administration began tapping into an evershallowing talent pool, the effect of which was an increasingly scummy

“Fueled by bravado, Diet Coke, and sheer audacity, Trump began sloughing off any ties to rational, status-quo governance. He fired or chased out chiefs of staff, secretaries of state, members of his press corps, and more.”

staff of formerly undesirable applicants.

The Trump administration gradually came to reflect the man in office, rather than the Republican party which had initially helped to staff it. Professionals within the White House were purged and replaced with lackeys who indulged Trump’s most preposterous fabrications. He returned to his habit of lying about election integrity with claims of rigged ballots and widespread fraud in the run-up to the 2020 election. When his defeat was announced, he claimed victory. When the results were confirmed, he called foul. When the recounts verified the totals, he sued. When the cases were thrown out of court, he mobilized his base.

On January 6, 2021, they stormed the Capitol and erected a gallows outside, chanting “hang Mike Pence,” the Vice President, who intended to certify the victory of Joe Biden.

In today’s polarized and politicized landscape, the January 6 Committee’s parade of testimonials made little-to-no difference in the minds of the public. Despite the fact that the majority of testimony

increasingly being seen as an eventuality, if not an inevitability. Despite the social unease, historians, politicians, and journalists are at-odds with how much credence to give to this elevated tension and conversation surrounding violent conflict. A failure to look this problem in the eye and speak frankly about the cultural shift is worrying to some. “The reality is, there are violent extremists who want to overturn the current system,” says author and Professor of International Affairs, Barbara Walter in an interview with CNN. An expert in civil wars, Walter is troubled by the trends she’s been seeing in her country.

The problem with drawing parallels to America’s Civil War of the 1860s is that there is no Mason-Dixon line in a future conflict. Today, battle lines are drawn through states, cities, and dinner tables. The pluralism and freedom of movement that fed America’s melting-pot narrative has diversified the nation, making a modern incarnation of its Civil War past a virtual impossibility. Experts are therefore taking a hard look at right-wing militias and paramilitary groups, as they represent the greatest clear and present danger.

delivered to the committee came from Republicans, many of whom had openly supported Trump, minds were not changed. According to FiveThirtyEight, an American website that analyzes opinion polls, on June 8, 2022, the day before the January 6th hearings began, Trump’s favorability rating had been 41.9 per cent. As of October 20, that number is 42 per cent. Hyper-partisanship is increasingly divorcing elected officials from consequences.

The Committee’s co-chair, Liz Chaney, is as conservative as they come. Her father served six terms in congress and was Vice-President from 2001 to 2009. Liz currently occupies his old seat. She’s a legacy. She was the third-ranking member of the Republican House of Representatives and voted for the president’s agenda 92.9 per cent of the time. Her swift and subsequent downfall within the Republican caucus began nearly two years ago when rioters stormed the Capitol Building.

First, she was ousted from party leadership for holding Trump to account for his instigation of the riots. Then she lost her state primary election to a candidate who denies the legitimacy of the last election. A refusal to bend to Trump’s will has severed her from a political party that has become increasingly untethered to reality. Her time in office will soon come to an end. The list of Republican House members who voted to impeach Trump was never long to begin with, but of the ten who did, most have either been voted out in favour of his loyalists, or have opted to bow out rather than suffer the tsunami of pushback from the Republican base.

All over the country, serious administrators and officials are being fired, primaried, or harried into exile. As in the Trump administration, they are being replaced with grifters, screwballs, and yes-men who create the very chaos and institutional instability that they have been falsely claiming for years, fostering a self-fulfilling prophecy that may further erode trust throughout the States. Comedian and long-time political commentator, Bill Maher asserts that regardless of the lunacy of Trump’s future election conspiracy claims, “they will be fully embraced by the stooges he’s installing right now.” What happens, he ponders, when two people show up on inauguration day in 2024, both supported by different factions of the population?

Surveys now show that U.S. predictions of — and calls for — a new civil war, are at levels unseen since the 1860s, and many claim that the country is in the midst of a cold civil war right now. Violence is

A 2021 brief from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reports some disturbing trends. The number of active militias in the U.S. has been on the rise since the 1990s, but have become more active in recent years and are actively recruiting military personnel, current and former police officers, and veterans. These groups are increasingly being linked to a growing number of domestic terror plots and attacks, and CSIS found that “far-right terrorists — including militia extremists and white supremacists — pose the greatest domestic terror threat in the United States.” Conversely, Military and law enforcement are also increasingly targeted by terrorists, with threats coming from the far-right, but also the far-left. According to the same report, “anarchists, antifascists, violent environmentalists, and other violent far-left extremists conducted 23 per cent of terrorist attacks and plots in 2020 — an increase from the previous three years.”

Just how real are these threats? In early 2020, members of the Wolverine Watchmen: a paramilitary extremist group, conspired to abduct The governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer and overthrow the state government. They were arrested before their plan could be carried out, with three members being convicted of multiple felony charges in October 2022. This June, 31 members of the Patriot Front — a white nationalist group — were arrested near an Idaho Pride rally. They had come from 10 different states, donned matching clothes and riot gear, and packed themselves into a U-Haul, attracting unwanted attention

“Political polarization leads to increasing levels of dehumanization, where parties are no longer political opponents, but ideological “others” and existential threats.”

from a concerned citizen. Many will notice the similarities between the Patriot Front’s aesthetic, and that of Italy’s National Fascist Party. It’s also worth mentioning that Italy’s dalliance with fascism is also having a renaissance moment.

This past August, Romana Didulo — The self-appointed ‘Queen of Canada,’ successfully convinced some of her 60,000 online followers to join her in Peterborough, Ontario to undertake a “citizen’s arrest” of the local police force. It sounds farcical, and in many respects, it is — but Canada’s tinfoil-hat sovereign, who has convinced some devotees to stop paying their taxes and utility bills, has also called for the death of healthcare workers who provide vaccines to children. It’s important not to catastrophize — not paying your gas bill is not a slippery slope to murder, but it’s also important not to mock her adherents, as it can lead to ideological entrenchments. Ridicule is not an effective tool for rehabilitation, and nobody leaves a cult if you just call them “crazy” enough times.

Unfortunately, contempt and derision make up a large portion of our political discourse, which is driving polarization. Political polarization leads to increasing levels of dehumanization, where parties are no longer political opponents, but ideological “others” and existential threats. Dialogue breaks down. Vitriol spreads. Our fellow citizens become things, excusing a rise in bigotry, racism, anti-semitism, and jingoistic nationalism. Camps get divided into the “true people” and the rest — and much may be forgiven to ensure the safety, security, and prosperity of “the people.”

We see the rise of this today, from Kanye West’s slow implosion from MAGA ally to antisemitic leper. We see it in the attacks on the Asian community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We saw it in the language around vaccines, mandates, and the Freedom Convoy. More and more, those with opposing ideologies, values, and perspectives, regardless of their validity, become harmful and intolerable. While it is easy to point this out on the political right-wing, as many leaders lean into nationalistic demagoguery to stir their base, it is a bipartisan phenomenon.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earned scorn from conservatives and moderate-liberals alike when his frustrations over anti-vax protestors seemed to boil over. “They are extremists who don’t believe in science, they’re often misogynists, also often racists,” said Trudeau, regarding the vocal and disruptive fringe element. “It’s a small group that muscles in, and we have to make a choice in terms of leaders, in terms of the country. Do we tolerate these people?” The sentiment may be understandable given the challenges the nation was facing at the time, but as the head of Canada’s government, it’s rife with problematic and concerning language, especially in a country that has made tolerance a cornerstone of its national identity.

Rhetoric of this sort is understandable, but it’s also damaging. When someone with power and influence amplifies division, people begin to lose sight of common ground. Trump widened the rift between the left and right wings of the political spectrum by spotlighting their inherent differences, but also through a narrative that painted the opposing sides as fundamentally adversarial. Many pushed back against Trump inkind, fortifying the divide. Those on the extremes of the political and ideological spectrums became increasingly vocal and politically active, often crowding out moderate voices who are increasingly likely to selfcensor. As the most extreme voices drown out everyone else, discourse becomes discord, and the population as a whole appears more tribal.

Fueling this radicalization is the social internet, which is perhaps the most effective tool in history for finding and exploiting our cultural fault lines. Long divorced from its quaint beginnings, algorithmicallydriven content is now cherry-picked to get our views and entice our engagement. The phenomenon, dubbed “the attention economy,” treats human attention as a commodity, and its scarcity pits tech-giants against each other for the largest share. Its relative infancy and the rate at which technology changes means that it’s difficult to gauge social media’s long-term effects, but it’s been raising the eyebrows of some concerned citizens for years.

Dr. Rocksborough-Smith has concerns over social media’s influence on our discourse, remarking that “[it] has kind of stood in for good faith public discourse, and I think it’s actually bad faith public discourse, in a lot of cases.” Apprehension regarding the oversimplification, or “memefication” of public debate are shared by many. Earlier this year, Barack Obama spoke to the need for increased regulation, aware that “the sheer proliferation of content, and the splintering of information and audiences” has “made democracy more complicated.”

Big Tech companies rely on artificial intelligence to curate content based on our engagement — the posts we replay, share, or generally interact with more often are analyzed and similar material is delivered to keep our eyes on our screens. Increasingly, the content we get is chosen by a computer rather than who or what we chose to follow. TikTok seems to have mastered this model, but it’s worth noting that despite being developed by the Chinese company ByteDance, the international version of TikTok, is not welcome within its home borders. China’s version of TikTok, is much more regulated and content-moderated — a hint that China understands the societal impact of its product better than we currently do.

Social psychologists like Jonathan Haidt, and groups like the Center for Humane Technology are working to educate the public and shape the direction of technological progress to a more sustainable

“We see the rise of this today, from Kanye West’s slow implosion from MAGA ally to antisemitic leper. We see it in the attacks on the Asian community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We saw it in the language around vaccines, mandates, and the Freedom Convoy.”

model of interaction. American academic and video game designer, Ian Bogost, takes a more hardline stance, gleefully encouraging the death of social media. He reminded readers that emotionally charged content became boosted once platforms realized how well it drove engagement. “Polarizing, offensive, or just plain fraudulent information was optimized for distribution,” writes Bogost, in a recent article for The Atlantic. “By the time the platforms realized and the public revolted, it was too late to turn off these feedback loops.”

Social media’s thirst for attention exposed a lot of people to conspiratorial content, especially before COVID-19 misinformation prompted platforms to tighten up their guidelines. According to a recent study, there is a direct correlation between a predilection to conspiratorial beliefs, and the justification of political violence. The study’s authors, Federico Vegetti and Levente Littvay, argue that political radicalization can be fueled in part by conspiratorial narratives that also work to “endorse violent political actions.” But why is there a through-line from conspiratorial thinking to political radicalism? As stated by the study: “Conspiracy theories share the same characteristics that make religions good narratives. It has been shown that belief in conspiracies is not necessarily based on a logical evaluation of their content, but rather on their fit with a wider, more abstract worldview according to which some powerful individuals are in control of the major (and usually negative) events occurring in the world. In other words, conspiracy theories offer an interpretation of reality, and they identify a cause for people’s distress, usually an enemy. Moreover, very much like religion, conspiracy theories set the borders of a community of believers.”

This may explain why it is so discouraging to reason with someone who believes in the demonstrably untrue — like the shape of the planet. Maybe Poison had it right… maybe people just need something to believe in. Similarly, supporters of Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) campaign and Britain’s “Brexit” movement spoke to restoring some amorphous past greatness that was difficult to articulate. Neither were ultimately hindered by a lack of specificity in their respective visions. Perhaps this is why the QAnon movement has paired so well with the Evangelical right in the United States. This strange marriage of convenience between America’s conservative Christian base and Trump was always enigmatic, as there are few who embody Christ’s teachings less than “The Donald.” Social media put politics, religion, and conspiracy theories into a blender, and served up the slurry to a ravenous audience that was hungrily devoured by people like David DePape.

The trouble with intermingling politics with faith is that matters of governance are given religious significance. For Christian Nationalists, America represents a covenant with God, and so a love for God and for country can be synonymous. Fights over public policy can become a fight over the soul of the nation. Elizabeth Neumann, a former Department of Homeland Security top official told Politico, “When you paint it in existential terms like that, a lot of people feel justified to carry out acts of violence in the name of their faith.”

Faith’s justification for violence takes many forms. Sometimes that conviction is religiously based, as in the rise of the Islamic State. In the case of Myanmar, where Rohinga Muslims have been targeted in a genocidal campaign, a UN report found that Facebook inflamed national tensions and facilitated the spreading of hate speech among the Bhuddhist majority. Political ideology however, can easily supplant

a religious doctrines’ devotional fervor. The single-mindedness of communist takeovers in Russia beginning in 1917, and China in 1949 are dramatic examples of a secular political movement with all the piety of a theocracy. In that environment, political ideologies become strict dogmas where dissent is heretical. Strict state control designed to maintain its homogeneity is invoked to promote stability and quash opposition. As Mao Tse-tung stated, “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” This is the justification of the use of force to effect political change — that power begets power, so to protect the faithful, violence is required. When Japan’s former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe was shot and killed on July 8, 2022, it evoked a history of Japan’s fraught period of ultranationalist violence in the interim years between the World Wars. UFV’s Dr. Eiji Okawa discussed with The Cascade how bloodshed became a tool of political activism for frustrated and disenfranchised Japanese who railed against westernization, and sought a return to an idealized agrarian past. For insurgents, assassination and the resultant culture of fear provided the means to reestablish the emperor as the absolute head of state and forge a new bright new future which drew from a more traditional conception of Japan’s past. It didn’t work out as intended.

History provides a plethora of reasons to be pessimistic about the rising trend of political violence — but hope persists. Dr. Noah Schwartz, an assistant professor of Political Science at UFV notes that threats against the government have to contend with institutions, and countries like Canada and the United States “have very, very strong democratic institutions.” The resiliency of institutions, however, is not absolute, as they are extensions of the people who administer them. In order to safeguard our democracy, we must reinforce our pluralistic civil society.

“We agree on more than we disagree on,” said Shwartz, who reminded me that our political differences typically occupy a much narrower ideological divide than previous generations experienced. “Go out and talk to someone who disagrees with you. I think when you talk to people face to face and you give them the benefit of the doubt… I find that’s where the most meaningful engagement happens.”

We need a new way forward, and perhaps our future really can be found in the past. American civil-rights activist Pauli Murray famously wrote, “I intend to destroy segregation by positive and embracing methods. When my brothers try to draw a circle to exclude me, I shall draw a larger circle to include them. Where they speak out for the privileges of a puny group, I shall shout for the rights of all mankind.” I encourage us all to expand our circles.

The case of David DePape is a cautionary tale. In a period of increasing income inequality and cultural wedge issues, he found community and purpose in online conspiracies and was moved to action. In many ways, his path to radicalization is troubling because it is so relatable. Who among us doesn’t know someone who has fallen down some rabbit hole only to emerge a little wonkier on the other end? Too often we respond with fight or flight, calling them nuts, problematic, woke, or toxic, and driving them ever deeper into their foxholes, cornering them like a wounded animal. Are we surprised by what emerges? Should we be?

“Social media put politics, religion, and conspiracy theories into a blender, and served up the slurry to a ravenous audience that was hungrily devoured by people like David DePape.”

Formula One//

Finding enjoyment in the silly

The Brazilian Grand Prix finished on Nov. 13 in an epic weekend of racing.

Ever since Max Verstappen clinched the championship in Japan in October, the races have been a lot more exciting to watch. The racing has been scrappier, driver egos are clashing, and the battle for 2nd in constructors and 2nd in the drivers has been more intense.

The explosive and high-flying Austin Grand Prix, followed by the slower game of chess of the Mexican Grand Prix; Brazil concluded a grand trio of fantastic racing weekends. Though the racing in the last few races leading up to the end has been fun, the races are still requiring a small crash and safety car to bunch the leaders back in with the pack to create closer and tighter racing to have the same excitement and close battles that gripped new racing fans.

Abu Dhabi and the finale are this Sunday, Nov. 20, and 2023 is around winter’s corner, the cars are staying the same, with a rearranged driver grid, and a performing Mercedes, without

season, as the best designed car on the grid, there doesn’t seem to be a clear way to stop him, he even painted his helmet with a golden lion to assert his dominance. He has made this sport exciting and how the teams adjust to Red Bull’s and Verstappen’s style of winning, both on and off the track, is going to be the main story for the next season.

2. George “Mr. Top 5” Russell and Mercedes healing:

The Mercedes 2022 season hasn’t gone as smoothly as the seven-time world champions would’ve loved. In a season riddled with issues, the biggest consistent is George Russell. 18 Top 5 finishes, nearly every race this season, eight of which podiums. The Brazil weekend was a long overdue master class of racing by Russell and a great sprint performance on Saturday to start first in the race. Sunday, Russell had a fantastic start and never slowed down.

Managing his tires and pace to keep the lead and achieve his first race win.

Brazil was a long time coming for this young star, and the Mercedes team. An achievement of this year’s hardships and overcoming the technical and

and to secure whatever seats were left available. The circus performance ended with a reshaped Driver’s Grid for 2023 that projects to be just as feisty.

The change from Alpine to Aston Martin was a peculiar one, as Alpine currently has a better car than Aston Martin and Lance Stroll has yet to

90-degree corners that only really fit two types of cars for the next handful of years. There’s no denying that Vegas should have a night race with the promo pictures, interviews, and capturing the Vegas nightlife, and the lights of the cars. It’s an F1 promoter's dream, but should it come at the cost of a dull and boring track that is clearly designed for promotions, and not real racing?

5. Is the FIA still in need of some cleaning?

The FIA had to work on a lot of damage done after the handling after the explosive ending of 2021, and for the new President Ben Sulyamen to bring in changes to strive for a “completely transparent FIA.” Which one might say, has made slow progress.

prove any remarkable talent as a driver. The last set of races has been more eyeopening to the state of management at Alpine which has rightfully left Alonso less than satisfied. The driver vacuum created a ripple effect throughout the sport to secure the best talent for the close battle in the midfield. Pierre Gasly has moved from Alpha Tauri to Alpine, a jump from a development team to a team at the centre of the scrappy midfield battle with McLaren. Williams let go of Nicholas Latifi, choosing Logan Sargeant, who has proven himself in Formula 2, for a long-term plan for their development.

While not a massive change-up in the starting grid, the talent distributed around the teams are more even, with an experienced driver and a new potential, or two drivers with experience but are in a tough spot and desperate for a race win.

4. Growth in America

Having two Race Directors was a worthy idea, but this season’s lack of consistency in the racing rules, safety regulations, and penalties highlights the issues that still linger in the sport. On the plus side, safety car regulations were upheld tighter and more properly this season.

The FIA’s showcase in Japan, forcing the drivers to drive at Jeddah, the wet handling of Monaco, and countless others without even touching the lack of decision making and handling of Red Bull’s budget scandal, show that the FIA is still in the middle of its overhaul. Hopefully, this season is a

clear direction from the FIA on car and rule changes, things are looking to be static for the next few years.

There were five big takeaways from 2022 that will affect the next F1 seasons until the new engine and car changes, and Audi’s coming in in 2026 that will usher in bigger changes.

1. Max Verstappen is the alpha lion in the Paddock:

There is no question about how dominant Verstappen has been this year, and how on-point the entire Red Bull team has been. The pit crew has been consistent and one of the fastest in pit stops. Hannah Schmitz has been the best strategist and made use of Red Bull’s exceptional pit crew to deploy under and over cuts throughout the season. As for Max, Verstappen’s at the top of his game, one of the youngest two-time world champions, broke multiple winning records this

pace difficulties through the season. Mercedes claims they have found a fix for the mistake that has kept them behind the leaders this year, and Brazil is proof of that progress. The silver arrows were agile and fast in the corners, drove smoothly through the counter-clockwise layout of the track with hardly any porpoising, and absolutely flew down the main straights and with DRS.

The teams are running similar cars and designs through the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and if Mercedes can learn from this season, the last few races show how deadly Hamilton and Russell will be in the future.

3. Fernando Alonso and the fallout of the Contract War:

Fernando Alonso was the ringleader of F1’s summer circus, kicking off the contract war that saw many drivers battle for the second seat of Alpine

The massive events of the Miami and Austin Grand Prix. With the longruling of the Colton Herta case and now Logan Sargeant racing for Williams, the market of F1 has continued to explode across North America, with Las Vegas being one of the most anticipated races for 2023. More students even across the UFV campus are showing off their favorite teams and drivers’ merch. It’s great to see this magnificent sport take off, and for the last handful of races, be purely exciting. Vegas being so exciting is great mainly for the sport when you take a second look at the proposed track and realize it’s rather boring. Boxy, with three long DRS zones, and nearly

great learning year for the organization, and can make the changes to make a singular and clear direction for racing.

The Silly Season is the perfect moniker for this F1 2022 season. Most of the drama has been off the track, with the races being rather dull and long DRS trains until a safety car, finishing with a well-deserved, easy Verstappen win. The most exciting part of this season has been the setup for future seasons. Audi is slowly coming in as a partner and owner of Sauber. The small changes and adjustments to these ground-effect cars. Will the FIA learn from the small messes that they are shown to still need to address? Will the progression of the season only get more wacky in the wild, as the budgets progressively decrease? Or will there need to be another adjustment with the new era of cars in 2026?

TERYN MIDZAIN

This weekend in Abu Dhabi is the grand finale of the Formula One season, and here are he top 5 thoughts and feelings from this Silly Season

SPORTS sports@ufvcascade.ca

Teryn Midzain — Sports Editor

Russell and Hamilton share the Brazil pdoium | Credit: The Canadian Press

Fernando Alonso waves goodbye|

Credit: Getty images

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen |

Credit: Getty images

Christian Horner and Mohammed Ben Sulayem|

Credit: Getty images

Campus Rec//

Why you should attend a game, even if you don’t follow sports

Whether or not you know the rules, sports offer free, social fun, right here on campus

JEFF MIJO-BURCH

In October, I went to my first-ever UFV Cascades game. It was also the first sports game I’d ever watched from beginning to end (live or televised) since attending my cousin’s hockey game when I was about ten. And I don’t know why I waited so long to start attending, because I had a blast.

In my years at UFV, I’ve heard the same complaint over and over: that there isn’t enough community on campus. That there’s nothing going on. That people come to classes and then go right home after. I’ll admit, there have been semesters where I’ve done just that. But there is community on campus, if you just make the effort to join in. And it’s thriving.

On top of all of the events hosted by various departments, clubs, and student organizations, UFV’s athletics department is hosting frequent, wellattended events multiple times per week. You just need to actually attend them.

For years, The Cascade didn’t have a sports section, simply because we couldn’t find writers who followed sports, either at UFV or on the world

stage. But, while athletics departments might not have the massive level of popularity in Canada as we see south of the border, our school athletes are putting in incredible levels of effort to their chosen games, day in and day out, and they’re putting on incredible shows that anyone at UFV can enjoy.

Did you know that UFV students can watch games for free? Did you know that many games from our basketball and volleyball teams are hosted right here at the Abbotsford campus? You can literally grab a few friends and drop in after class. And when you

get there, you’ll see stands lined with other students and members of the community, all cheering on our teams. And that excitement is infectious!

The Cascade’s sports editor suggested that the newspaper staff all attend the men’s basketball preseason tournament together, specifically the Cascades’ game against the Mount Royal University Cougars on Oct. 21. Around a dozen of us watched the game together, cheering on the home team. Even though many of us didn’t understand every rule, by the end of the game we were invested and fully

engaged as the Cascades managed to secure a 118 to 107 win in overtime.

That game brought us together us a team socially, and it also made me feel a sense of community that I don’t always feel at UFV: being in a crowd of people, all excited for the victories and feeling the pain of the defeats, swept me up in a way that I haven’t experienced before as a non-sports fan. I may never be a diehard fan attending every game, but I would absolutely attend more if I was looking for a good way to spend an evening on campus with some friends or classmates.

If you’re interested in checking out a game for yourself, it’s a great time to do so: the women’s basketball team is off to a fantastic start to the season, with a four-game winning streak to start the season, and the men’s team is showing great teamwork with a solid 2-2 record. If basketball isn’t your thing, the volleyball teams also regularly play in E Building, right next to the Student Union Building on UFV’s Abbotsford Campus. I encourage you to attend one and see for yourself what the community at UFV can look like when it comes together.

Lions’ postseason ends in the cold western final

The BC Lions’ postseason ended Nov. 13 as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat them 28-20 in a spectacularly sad western final. The Toronto Argonauts are now the only obstacle in Winnipeg’s way of winning a 3rd Grey Cup in a row and making franchise and league history Sunday, Nov. 20.

Nathan Rourke and the Lions couldn’t get anything started all game long. Rourke didn’t look sharp and wasn’t in sync with his receivers. Their first few drives were two in and outs, only getting saved with an unnecessary roughness call and a fumble recovery that created a touchdown run in by Antonio Pipkin.

Rourke stayed in the entire game, only completing 20 passes out of 37 attempts, for 300 yards. An impressive stat for 54 per cent passing and only one passing touchdown to Alexander Hollins. The pattern of two in and outs

stayed through the entire game. An occasional good drive would either end in a field goal or a turnover on downs. The hearing and understanding issues continued throughout the game, halting the one promising final drive with time clock violations and rushed plates.

Defensively, the Lions suffered from one weakness. Stopping Winnipeg’s run game. Brady Oliveira stomped over and through the Lions’ D with 130 rushing yards in the game. The defensive backs made a few key pass blocks and an interception, but it was mainly to keep Winnipeg’s win from being a blowout.

Zach Collaros and the Bombers played exceptionally well. Collaros was on fire, throwing 70 per cent for, for only 178 yards, but for one touchdown and an interception. Winnipeg’s short style of passing and letting their receivers punch up the field proved effective at keeping possession and maintaining the pace of the game.

The Great Blue Wall, the name aptly given to the Bomber’s massive defence with Adam Bighill and Willie Jefferson, shut down the Lions' rare attempts at getting their own run game started, and blitzed Rourke throughout the game.

Rourke had a late-game surge in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, and for a second it looked like the Lions could scrape by and get into overtime. However, the Lions miscommunication, in addition to how loud 30,000+ fans at the Bombers IG Field were, caused time-clock violations that ended the final chances.

Toronto’s win early Sunday morning against the Montreal Alouettes puts them directly in Winnipeg’s warpath to make CFL history. If the Argos want to slow down Winnipeg and establish control of the game, they have to do what the Lions could not: stop the run and Oliveira. Winnipeg is a well-built team that can drop bombs from short or long ranges. Collaros is deadly at

the short passes, he can throw the occasional long ball and has the best receiving corps in the league. Shutting down Oliveira means that the Bombers can’t shift between playing short and long plays to stretch the field and Toronto’s D, letting the Argos take possession and pace of the game to give their offence the drives they need to score.

Like so many important games, this year’s Grey Cup will be about defence and stopping Winnipeg’s ground game. If Toronto’s defence can control and give their quarterback, McLeod BethelThompson a chance to connect with his receivers and stretch out a good short to the medium passing game, Toronto has a chance. The Argos cannot hope to create or find a hole in the Bombers’ Blue Wall, it’ll be too late by the time they find one, and Winnipeg will have capped off their already stellar performance this year with the first 3-peat championship in over 40 years at the 109th Grey Cup in Regina.

The BC Lions' inability to get their offense scoring let the Bombers outplay and win the Western Final

Football//

TERYN MIDZAIN

Photo credit: Sabastein Obinna Onyemaobi

Cascades men’s volleyball team competing with Canada’s best

start this season.”

As coach of the Cascades men’s volleyball team, Nathan Bennett believes the team is already working on a successful season with a strong focus on making the playoffs.

“We’ve started the season facing three top-five teams and it’s been difficult, but coming out with two wins is a good start. I think it’s great, now that I look at it [playing top teams], because the competition brings our level up right away. We were in every set and played hard in every match.”

Bennett has previously tasted success as a player and a coach, and believes the Cascades men’s volleyball team has what it takes to reach the playoffs this season.

“We’re here to win,” Bennett said. “We’re going out every night to win the match, not just improve our game. The whole group is standing out. Actually, Nimo Benne is having a career year so far, Jonas [Van Huizen] has been very consistent with his setting, and I can say that everyone else has been raising their level. I’m happy with the team’s

The coach’s resumé includes an extensive volleyball history including more than a decade playing professionally in Europe, a four year stint with the British National Volleyball team and more than a decade coaching provincial, national, and university level volleyball. Bennett has the desire and experience to take the men’s volleyball program to become one of the top teams in the Canada West Conference.

“Coming into this season, we have a team that can compete with the best teams in the country. If you’re a volleyball fan, you know that Canada West is the best volleyball Canada has to offer. It’s the most physical, the most athletic, and it’s the fastest game.

And we’re in there competing and beating teams like U of A [University of Alberta], Trinity, UBC, Sask [University of Saskatchewan] and Mount Royal, the top five in our conference. We’re right there.”

This is the Cascades’ first full season of Canada West play. Last year the Canada West Conference returned after previous seasons were cancelled due

to the pandemic. The 2021-22 season saw the Canada West Conference split into three divisions, with the Cascades men’s team in the West division facing several of Canada’s top volleyball teams all season long.

Bennett spoke of sharing the conference with teams like six-time national and seven-time conference champions, Trinity Western University. TWU travels to the U.S. to compete with, and often beat, American NCAA Division One teams like the UCLA Bruins.

Bennet said, “The Canada West Conference is on par with American NCAA Division One volleyball teams — that’s an easy statement.”

The coach, and the men’s volleyball team are working on creating an excellent fanbase. Bennett says he would like to see a fan base — from UFV and the local communities — create a difficult environment for opposing teams when they come to play at UFV that is on the same level as the Cascades’ experience at other schools.

“We’re on par with Brandon University, Thompson Rivers and UBC Okanagan. They’re smaller communities with a strong fan base for their [university]

UFV’s basketball home openers recap

STEVE HARTWIG JORDIE ARTHUR

Cascades Athletics Communication Coordinator, Jordie Arthur, writes and publishes in-depth nightly recaps for every UFV Cascades game at gocascades.ca. The Cascade is working in collaboration with the Cascades Athletics Department to bring bi-weekly publication of sports, athletes, and game recaps to the newspaper.

Women’s Basketball

Maddy Gobeil led the Cascades as they outscored the Manitoba Bisons 21-6 in the second quarter of Friday night’s home opener on their way to an 8454 victory. Gobeil had a game-high 22 points to go with seven rebounds on the night, while teammate Julia Tuchscherer notched 13 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in the effort.

“Tonight was definitely a team effort,” said Tuchscherer. “We put in a ton of

work this week and we wanted to focus on what we needed to do first, and then focus on Manitoba. They’re a strong team, so we had to come out and do our thing and let the game come to us.

“It was a really good turn out tonight, and the energy was great. It’s great to be back on our home court again after a long summer of hard work put in.”

Natalie Rathler and the UFV Cascades women’s basketball team improved to 4-0 for the season with a 69-58 win over the Manitoba Bisons on Saturday. This was their second win in two nights over the Bisons, and cemented their top 3 in Canada West standing.

Rathler scored a game-high 21 points and added seven rebounds in the victory, while teammates Deanna Tuchscherer and Gobeil scored 17 and 15 respectively. Julia Tuchscherer also had a big night with 14 points, 14 boards, and seven assists.

“In this league any team can beat any team,” commented Cascades forward Rathler postgame. “I don’t think we had our best performance tonight, but I

think coming away with the win shows the resilience we have as a team.”

The Cascades are back in action Nov. 18-19 to host the UNBC Timberwolves. Game times are set for 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. respectively and can be streamed live on Canada West TV.

Men’s Basketball

The Cascades men’s basketball team dropped a 73-61 decision to the Manitoba Bisons on November 11, 2022 at the UFV Athletic Centre.

The Bisons got off to a fast start in the first, taking a 17-5 lead, but the Cascades fought back to close the gap to just five after Dylan Kinley scored six quick points to end the frame.

Manitoba led by as many as 20 in the third quarter, but the Cascades battled back again, scoring 14 straight points, to trail by six headed into the fourth. UFV got within three points with nine minutes to go, but that was as close as they would get.

Kinley led the Cascades with 17 points on the night, while Dhivaan Bhogal

teams. We have an excellent product, basketball has an excellent product, volleyball and soccer are all excellent products, and we are working on creating that excellent fanbase as we improve our program.”

UFV athletes and teams are receiving national recognition and rankings. The athletes and teams are showing up on game night and competing at a high level, so we need to do a better job to get the word out to UFV and our local community.

Bennett believes marketing their product, with the combination of increased attendance at games, fan support, and media exposure, will benefit the men’s volleyball program by being a place where top players want to play.

The men’s volleyball team has their next home games November 25-26, 2022 against the Mount Royal Cougars at the UFV Athletics Centre.

The Cascades are also hosting a Senior Night for Stefan Halas, their fourth year Middle, who graduates this semester. The men’s volleyball schedule is at gocascades.ca.

scored 13 and added 10 rebounds. Dario Lopez added 14 rebounds of his own in the effort.

“I thought our guys battled hard,” noted Cascades head coach Joe Enevoldson.

“I think that we are starting to develop a bit of an identity about who we are, and how physically tough we can be. Our bigs, Dhivaan and Dario, did a great job on the glass tonight.”

In the second game of the weekend, the Cascades dropped a 92-53 decision to the Manitoba Bisons on Saturday night.

The Cascades dropped to 2-2 on the season after their opening weekend sweep of MacEwan.

Lopez led the Cascades with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Uyi Ologhola added eight points.

“We are going to have our youthful moments,” noted Enevoldson after the game. “We have to go back to the drawing board, maybe find easier ways to score, and find some ways to defend a bit better.”

Coach believes Canada West Conference is on par with NCAA Division One rivals

Women’s basketball team ranked third in the country while the men fell to 2-2 in the season.

Volleyball// Basketball//

STEVE HARTWIG

Make friends and celebrate different cultures: Global Lounge game nights

EMMALINE SPENCER

The Global Lounge (B223) hosts a game night every Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Games found at the event range from common North American games like Uno or Monopoly to international games, like Mahjong.

The coordinator of global engagement, Sarah Gabor-Martinez, supervises the weekly event. She is the self-declared “crazy lady” of the office. “I think sometimes our job titles don't really translate to what we do, and so what I essentially do in this office is I promote internationalization programs and I create a lot of engagement and focus on globalization and internationalization,” she explained.

Gabor-Martinez described the board game nights as a “fun and easy program where it's an opportunity for us to gather without a schedule required. We put the games out and we have some games from around the world.” She goes on to say how

students are able to just drop in, even if it is only for a half hour, and meet other students to make connections.

The regular weekly event has spawned some regular attendants and GaborMartinez noted that it feels more like a family game night. “There’s a lot of regulars and they sometimes will come over and go ‘I brought another person to games night’ and I'm like, ‘yeah!’ It's like it's become a family atmosphere in so many ways.”

The Global Lounge offers other programs, all of which are open to both international and domestic students. Gabor-Martinez hopes to make the Global Lounge into a place students feel comfortable just hanging out in as “there's not a lot of places on campus for students to just gather and truly relax.”

One of the programs offered at the Global Lounge is the monthly “En Route” program. En Route allows students to travel around the Greater Fraser Valley area each month. The upcoming trip will be to a laser tag arena on Nov. 25. Students

UFV's best kept secret

The following is a submission in collaboration with UFV’s Social Work 392: Community Development course. It was created by Latasia Commodore, Mandy Dhillon, Shardé Forbes, Emma Holmes, Gursimer Kaler, Chandani Kular, Oludotun Oluwasina, Chai Stanley, and Zain Zaidi

In a quiet corner in the southwestern perimeter of the Abbotsford campus, near the Student Union Building, there lies a powerful retreat. The small space that holds a history and serenity that extends far past its physical boundaries. Indigenous plants blanket the ground; salmonberries, wild raspberries, and wild carrots to name a few. A totem pole with eagles and ravens, carved by E'yies'lek of the Sts'ailes First Nations (also known as Rocky LaRock), stands tall in the garden's center. It is a place of life, nourishment, and knowledge — and it is hidden in plain sight. Take a wander and stay a while, as all are welcome in this Living Classroom.

What is a Living Classroom?

A Living Classroom is a space where the UFV community can connect in the natural environment. The Indigenous garden itself is a space for one to focus on interconnectedness to the land, each other, and ourselves. It continues to remind us of the path towards reconciliation. Filled with Indigenous plants and medicines, the Living Classroom offers a stunning sanctuary for meditations. The design of a circle also fosters a natural, immersive space for story telling, healing circles, forest bathing, or even a space to find some quiet away from the Green.

Did you know?

You can find rose hips in the Living Classroom from late summer and into the fall season. Rose hips are used in traditional medicines alone or as an additive. They can also be brewed as a tea, used in jellies, and are used in a variety of baked goods and dishes.

can go through the iCent app to sign up.

“All our events and our programs are open to all. Programs like ‘Friends [Without] Borders’ or ‘STEP Café’ which you can join if you’re a domestic [student], though STEP Café is more geared towards transition information for international students, but domestic students can also benefit from some of the information because sometimes there's like a focus relevant to them, which is why we don't like [to] discriminate,” Gabor-Martinez explained.

Gabor-Martinez talked about how it can be difficult finding the first step in seeking out a sense of community in a new environment. “I feel like if you're just looking for community and you don't know where to start. I believe it's sometimes hard to find that starting spot, so coming to game nights is the best way to get involved, or if they just want to message me on Instagram which is @sarah. ufv. More than anything, I want to help students find community,” she continued,

“If it's helping them connect with a club, that's something I'm more than happy to do, to make those connections happen.”

Gabor-Martinez explains, “I guess for me that's my biggest truth. Helping create that sense of community because it's hard when you come from different countries and this is definitely more geared to international students, but even myself, I was a domestic student at UFV. I related more with the international student story when I was a student here. As a BIPOC person, growing up as a first generation immigrant kid, I always had struggles with that difference and trying to find my people. Finding your people, especially in this day and age, it's harder than it seems. If I can help facilitate that connection piece and help any individual who comes to games night, or any of our programs, find a sense of community. To me, that's my passion.”

Notice of correction

In our November 2, 2022 issue, The Cascade published an article titled “UFV’s art exhibit, Projections: the cultural impressions of those living with dementia.” That article erroneously referred to Candace Couse as “Candace Couce” throughout the article.

The Cascade apologizes to Dr. Couse for the error, and to our readers for any confusion it may have caused. We have corrected the version of that article that appears on our website

“It's about bringing the community together”

Photo by: Aryan Kathuria

culture@ufvcascade.ca Anisa Quintyne — Culture Editor

Holidays & Observances: Tolerance 101: you’re not special!

the International Day for Tolerance, we’ll discuss quirkiness, multiculturalism, and Jughead’s stupid hat!

NELSON FROTA COLARES

Breaking news: you’re special! Also breaking news: everyone else is. So, if everyone’s special, is anybody special? Yes and no. Alright, this is getting way too philosophical way too quickly, hold on.

There was a time when we all wanted to be the same. And I’m not just talking about the olden times, such as the Victorian era, when everyone was literally dying to get that fresh-tuberculosis look. In middle school, for example, daring not to read the dystopian YA novel of the week was social suicide. Furthermore, kids didn’t get to walk around wearing the same stupid hat all the time. One snarky comment about how weird it looked, and off it came — after all, who wants to look weird?

(Jughead, apparently.)

However, we now have reached a moment in society when being weird is cool. Everyone is the same in one thing: we all want to be different. In the age of TikTok’s self-deprecating jokes, there’s only one law: be quirky… OR DIE!

Scroll for a few minutes on the trendy side of TikTok, and you’ll quickly find an array of “relatable” influencers in oversized hoodies bravely confessing their quirkiness. For example, their love for the super-ultra-secret-undergroundindie-rock band Arctic Monkeys. Check

the comment section, and you’ll find: “me omg,” “i feel called out,” “if you get it you get it” — the kind of modest self-loathing that makes you want to pour yourself a glass of bleach.

But dare to reveal your mainstream pop inclinations and watch the room go silent. As it turns out, it’s okay to be different — but only in a cool way. What happens when you’re not?

That’s the reality of our own Theresia Yovinka Tio, a first-year student at UFV’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Program. A talented writer (handwriting included), she is passionate about teen shows, boy bands, and all things pop culture, including all the drama, gossip, and breaking news. Sounds pretty mainstream at first glance. However, in a world where pop is cringy and alternative is truth, she’s found herself looked down upon for her passion. “Every time I say something [about pop culture], I feel like [people] say ‘oh, really?’ but they’re not really interested,” she revealed (soon before breaking me the news on Rebel Wilson’s recent motherhood).

And that’s not all. As an Indonesian with a Chinese background, Theresia is different in plenty other ways that society doesn’t quite find as amusing as listening to true crime podcasts before bed.

For one, though Canada’s multicultural environment has been rather kind to her Asian background, she still cannot shake

the feeling of being different in the wrong way — or at least, in the wrong language.

“I go to [class,] and they start talking. I understand what they’re saying, but I just cannot reply, because I feel like my English is not their level of English, and that’s hard sometimes,” she described. With a heavy heart, she also added that most notes she gets on her writing relate more to her English than to her ideas.

As we reach the 16th anniversary of the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance by the United Nations, it’s astounding how we still struggle with understanding our differences, even on such a minor scale. Despite the advent of social media, where people can come together to celebrate diversity, it has never been harder to feel that you belong.

Whether it’s cultural background or musical taste, our differences have never been more important for the wrong reasons: a mixed extreme of loathing and indulgence, towards each other and ourselves. Somehow, in a world so deeply interconnected, we have managed to isolate ourselves more than ever before.

All because we’re different.

Instead, we should realize the countless ways in which we are the same. Your passion for Arctic Monkeys reminds me of my passion for Ariana Grande. Your love for storytelling echoes my love for reading, regardless of your English level. And the

entire world can agree that Jughead’s hat is not stupid — he just has some serious selfesteem issues (and terrible friends).

Because at the end of the day, nobody wants to be different. Even when we want to be special, we know we want to be special just like everyone else. If we would just put all that effort into celebrating ourselves and each other… now, that would be special, wouldn’t it?

Crossroads Café: a workshop focusing on intersectionality, equity, and diversity

An upcoming student-led diversity workshop advocates for inclusive thinking and self-reflection on adversity

and that just sparked our interest to combine our two interests into a workshop that suits everyone.”

Crossroads Café, an event being held on Nov. 17 in room K149, is an intersectionality workshop organized by two exchange students at UFV. Xymphony is from the Netherlands and is in her final year studying psychology. Laila, from Denmark, is in her final year as well, studying business. The two students are part of UFV’s Living Learning Community at Lá:lem te Baker, which focuses on antiracism, systemic injustices, and advocacy on these issues.

Laila spoke about Crossroads Café, and what led to creating the workshop: “In the Living Learning Community, we were encouraged to do a service project which could give back to the community, and Xymphony and I teamed up. We had some different ideas, but in the end, we wanted to make it work to combine these two topics together.”

“To add more to that,” Xymphony said, “we’re very much inspired by the lecture given to us by Sundeep Hans, the diversity and inclusion director at UFV. In that lecture, she talks about intersectionality,

The workshop will be broken out into segments, defining the root definition of intersectionality as being a unique overlap in individual identity, and the different forms of oppression that are developed as a result, as well as providing information on inclusivity. As Xymphony described, “So, for example, you have diversity, equity, [and] inclusion. Those are important definitions that you have to look to before talking about intersectionality.” Later on, participants will go through exercises so they can discover parts of their identity that are intersectional and members will be able to learn from them.

Laila followed by going into depth about the activities. “The sections we're asking them to fill out in that exercise is based on the Human Rights Code in B.C., so we hope that this exercise makes them aware of their advantages or disadvantages… making people aware of their own intersectionality. This is what we hope to achieve and all of that is going to be hosted in a café kind of vibe to make everyone feel very comfortable.”

Laila and Xymphony continued to outline their inspirations for joining the Living Learning Community program. Laila explained how the book Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall lead her to want to make a change.

Xymphony said, “I just wanted to advocate for more diversity inclusion, and especially in my field, psychology, and it’s very important to have knowledge of where other people come from and how they come to their beliefs from their perspectives. And also how I feel like knowing those differences, and knowing their intersections, are also crucial to know how you should treat someone in a clinical sense, but also interpersonally because in mental health there's a lot of stigma, a lot of mental health poverty. For me, it was just in general, from my studies and what I find important.”

The intersectionality workshop will be hosted on Nov. 17 in room K149 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Students or faculty interested in attending can email Laila to register at laila.buhr@student.ufv.ca.

On

Shane Rounce | Unsplash

ANISA QUINTYNE

Photo credit: Laila Buhr

CULTURE STUDY BREAK

Made by Brielle Quon

Horoscopes //

Libra

3. The art of interlocking loops of wool into something warm for the winter months.

5. Something all students have in common and hate doing.

7. Includes the use of upper body strength with ropes and indoor walls.

9. Involves ice and some surefooting.

Sudoku //

DOWN

1. Just settle down with a good ____.

2. A DIY involving photos, crafty hands, reflecting on memories, and lots and lots of glue.

4. Purchasing second-hand items.

6. An activity involving bread, cookies, cakes and pastries.

8. Visit this place for homework, snacks, coffee, and good conversations.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21

Ghosting of Sumas Lake: Play Preview

KAIT THOMPSON

Beginning Nov. 30, UFV Theatre presents its first production of the 2022-2023 theatre season with the premier of Ghosting of Sumas Lake, a devised show directed by Dr. Michelle LaFlamme, an associate professor at UFV’s English department, and featuring a UFV Theatre student cast of performers.

In November 2021, an historic atmospheric river caused catastrophic flooding in the Sumas Prairie region of Abbotsford, B.C. These floods lead to the destruction of homes, businesses, farms, and livestock, and as our community marks the one year anniversary of this devastating event, UFV Theatre presents a devised show based on student experiences during the floods.

According to the UFV School of the Creative Arts (SoCA), Ghosting of Sumas Lake is a dynamic show that “explores the impact of our climate crisis, the stories of community loss and resilience, and how we continue to be ghosted by our experiences on the land, history, and the past.” UFV SoCA states that the show will use immersive elements and multimedia to “create the ghosting effects, layering audio sources and visuals from the floods.”

“Being a part of Ghosting of Sumas Lake has meant a great deal to me,” said Owen Muller, a cast member in the show. “Of course, it comes with its personal meaning. This is the first full production I’ve been a part of, and it has given me the opportunity to explore my acting abilities to a new extent. I’ve also met some incredible people along the way.” Muller, who

is featured in Ghosting of Sumas Lake alongside fellow UFV Theatre students Aryan Tuknayat, Nishi Channa, Sabrina Morgan, and Erin Wansink, is hopeful that the audience will feel enlightened by the stories and gain a higher understanding of those impacted by the floods.

The formation of how Ghosting of Sumas Lake has come about is unique; Muller explains that as a “devised production, we have created the script as we’ve become more connected with the characters and stories. This provides a completely unique connection between the actors and their role: creating a more immersive experience.”

“Theatre provides folks with a unique ability to share stories and perspectives of others in order to spread awareness and empathy,” said Muller. “This show is no exception, and that is why I feel so honoured to hopefully be able to spark some compassion and understanding throughout the community that can be shared with those who are still recovering.”

Ghosting of Sumas Lake will run in the performance studio in Building D on the Abbotsford Campus, starting with a preview matinee on Nov. 30 ahead of opening night on Dec. 1. Performances will continue through Dec. 3, and tickets are pay what you like with recommended options of $0, $5, $10, $20, or $40. Seats are available for reservation via Eventbrite, and the UFV School of Creative Arts recommends early booking as seating will be extremely limited; please visit the UFV theatre website for more information or email theatre@ufv.ca for questions

Fraser & Co. Modern Vintage shows us how to be sustainable

With more talk around the subject of sustainability, The Cascade sat down with a local vintage store to chat about consumers making the switch to slow fashion

EVA DAVEY

What is better than being a conscious consumer? Being a local conscious consumer. That is why The Cascade sat down with local Chilliwack store Fraser & Co. Modern Vintage, a vintage and pre-loved specialty store within the central village of downtown Chilliwack. Store owners Kim and Sara have been active on social media since 2019 and have been selling via Instagram, Etsy, and pop-up shops. The pair officially opened their physical store in August 2021.

They have now been open just over a year, and love being a part of the local downtown scene. With the two growing up in Chilliwack, The Cascade wanted to know what it means to them to be a part of the community, and why they chose Chilliwack.

“You know, so that teenagers or young people in Chilliwack can experience what shopping should be when shopping locally. I feel like especially where we are, all the businesses really support each other, and we send people to each other. Our neighbors are fantastic.”

By even just looking at the store’s social media it is clear that Kim and Sara have a strong passion for vintage clothing. They grew up thrifting and going to garage sales with their mom, and it has always just been normal for them to shop for unique vintage pieces. However, the part of vintage and pre-loved fashion that really drives them is sustainability.

“I feel like once you’ve taken into account the sustainability factor and all the positives that come with it, [and] I think our culture is moving in that direction anyway, it feels up and coming and new even though we’ve been doing it forever,” said Sara

The store also features non-vintage and pre-loved items as well. Fraser & Co. Modern Vintage features clothes, accessories, and home goods. There is a big emphasis on why the duo chose these newer items to be the ones they sell.

“We try to be very careful about which ones we bring in,” said Kim. “Womenowned, Canadian-owned, definitely small batch. Ones that produce items ethically or sustainably, either one or the other if not both. It’s hard to find, but we try our best.”

Kim and Sara are also aware of how the rise in sustainability has changed the game of vintage or sustainable fashion. Their goal is to make the store fit a wide range of budgets, and hope their customers can find something at any spending level. They have included dressing rooms, curate their pieces, and wash and mend all the pre-loved pieces so they’re ready to wear straight away. They also understand that fast fashion cannot be

totally avoided, so what is their advice for navigating fast fashion?

“I think like trying to limit what you buy from fast fashion sites or if you are buying from there, just using [the product] as much as possible until it's completely destroyed,” said Kim. “We’re never trying to make anyone feel bad for shopping that way because we understand that not everyone has the time to look for things, but we’re just trying to give people an option.”

During the interview we got to talking about how so many trends become recycled every few decades and they note how fun it is to see trends come back in the vintage market.

Sara explained that “every single trend has its roots in vintage. Actually, you can find the original. It’s gonna be better made, it’s gonna last way longer. So we’re just so thankful for every person who’s being so intentional to come and shop. There’s a fun energy in it too.”

Lastly, we discussed the events the store has hosted and the pop up events they have taken part in. The store recently had a private event after closing hours where they sold tickets for a chance to shop with a stylist to help pick specific items.

“We want everyone to feel like this is their closet and someone’s here just helping you find what works for what you’re looking for,” said Sara.

Fraser & Co. Modern Vintage is hosting another private event Dec. 1. Keep an eye out on their social media @shopfraserandco for updates and to purchase tickets. They will also have a rack at the holiday shopping event at Create Space Hair Co. on Dec. 6.

Provided by UFVSoca

Photo by: Dylaina Gollub

Live Theatre //

Gallery 7 debuts ambitious stage adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ “The

Magician’s Nephew”

KELLYN KAVANAGH

I remember first listening to The Magician’s Nephew on CD when I was maybe nine years old. The radio drama captured my imagination in monumental and unique ways. I could close my eyes while listen ing to the performance and envision every scene with near total clarity in my mind. Having been raised in the church, I found the God-like character of Aslan a deeply comforting presence within the narrative. As an adult, the impact these stories have had on my imagination has only strength ened as I grow older and pursue creative writing. Over the years however, I’ve since disconnected from the central theology un derlying The Magician’s Nephew. When Gal lery 7 Theatre announced their 30th season with an adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ ambitious story, the nostalgia bug kicked in and I was eager to see their performance. The result was both spectacular, and conflicted.

For those unfamiliar with the source ma terial, The Magician’s Nephew is a prequel to C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia se ries, which consists of seven books in total. While it was the second-last to be written and published, it serves as the first chrono logical book in the series. The story centers around a young boy named Digory, and his friend Polly who lives next door. One night, after being caught spying on the mysteri ous activities of uncle Andrew, Digory and Polly are sent on a multi-dimensional jour ney. The story ultimately introduces audi ences to the creation of Narnia and estab lishes the character of Aslan, who acts as an allegory for the Christian God. The story involves numerous different locales and the traveling between different universes. It’s a monumentally ambitious story to success fully communicate in a live theater setting. To my amazement, Gallery 7 pulled this off astonishingly well.

Nearly every aspect of the production was perfect. The only blips occurred in the beginning with the actor's microphones cut ting in and out a couple of times, however it wasn’t a strong enough distraction to fully break my immersion. The different locales were communicated brilliantly by the pri mary use of stage boxes and projected im ages. The music and sound design pulled me right into the action. Without giving away spoilers for specific scenes, the use of simple stage props to communicate dis

children, the story feels outdated in a mul titude of ways. I’m not in any way against the creative expression of one’s worldview. However, as the saying goes, show don’t tell. One of the most overt examples of this would be in a scene where Digory, Polly, and the winged horse named Strawberry are taking a break on their quest. Polly and Digory express their concern with the dan gers they face as they run directly into an altercation with a supernaturally powerful witch. To close the conversation, Digory

duced to either antagonists or support ing roles for the men in the story. The two primary women in the story are Polly and the evil witch Jadis. After spending most of the story being belittled by Digory and/ or needing rescuing, Polly doesn’t provide much else to the narrative outside of sup porting Digory in his quest for personal development. After an altercation in which Digory violently pushes Polly to the ground and hurts her arm, Aslan asks her “do you forgive him?” without asking whether or not she’s okay or what happened. She’s told to forgive Digory before he’s even asked to own up to his actions. After Polly forgives him, Aslan immediately moves on from the situation entirely and sends Digory on a re demption quest to save Narnia. This feels reductive and misogynistic at best. Howev er, if they were hoping to accurately portray how women are often treated in patriarchal institutions, mission accomplished! Else where, uncle Andrew’s alcoholism is treat ed exclusively as a comedic device, which comes across as wildly insensitive to those suffering from addiction.

tance and travel adds a cinematic flair to the production. The cast do an excellent job with their characters, particularly Karis Duncalfe who plays the formidable central antagonist with her powerful stage pres ence. In regards to the production, Gallery 7 has achieved something they should be incredibly proud of.

My issue with this play really lies within C.S. Lewis’ story itself. Published in 1955, and written with the express purpose of working as a Christian ministry tool for

suddenly breaks out of an anxious funk to boldly state “So long as we’re flying with Aslan, we have nothing to fear!” Despite the fact that they aren’t flying with Aslan. They’re flying with Strawberry, running Aslan’s errands; saving his newly created world on his behalf. This moment of dia logue in the context of the story feels decon textualized and forced.

Other ways that the original story feels dated are in its representation of gender roles. Female characters are generally re

Overall, Gallery 7 has produced an in credibly fine adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ classic story. The lighting, acting, costum ing, stage design, and music are impecca bly well done. The critiques of the overall story lie in the time period it was written and certain concepts not aging very well. If you have fond memories of The Chronicles of Narnia and want to see an immersive and thoroughly ambitious live theater adapta tion, Gallery 7’s The Magician’s Nephew will provide you with a wonderful evening of entertainment. If you’re someone like me who feels nostalgic for the stories but dis connected from the theology, you may still find it an interesting albeit conflicted expe rience.

Disclosure: The Cascade was provided with complimentary tickets to this performance for the purposes of review.

All Quiet on the Western Front: the closest true antiwar film

delving too far into the overall accuracy and true portrayal of war.

“There’s no such thing as an antiwar film,” is a phrase made famous by French film director Francois Truffaut that reflects and criticizes how war films glorify combat in war. Thrilling and colourful displays of violence, adventure, and fighting for a purpose. Carefully curated depictions of charismatic camaraderie and trauma to capture and hook the audience. Movies entertain and tell stories, but without

Edward Berger’s adaptation of the famous WWI book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque does fall prey to having thrilling and suspenseful combat scenes and has some incredible cinematography. However, Berger’s film is as close to a true antiwar film as the book that it is adapted from. The scenes of no man’s land and trench warfare are colourgraded with a grey, monotone palette which highlights the blunt and brutally honest horrors of war. Berger’s film briefly shows

the war propaganda the German generals and governments used to recruit their youth for the army. Well-crafted scenes dynamically show the living conditions, driving home the disillusionment that the majority of the young soldiers experienced.

While the classic 1930s adaptation is a masterpiece in its own right, Berger’s version is the first adaptation that is cast with German actors and is spoken in their language. The film’s great storytelling and acting are easily appreciated when watched in German with subtitles.

The film opens with a silent forest,

calm and peaceful. A family of foxes nests together and there is calm in the forest. Then the surface of a battle is shown. The raw and cold bodies, gunfire, and bullets pop through the air and off the ground. A battle starts, the stark contrast between everyday nature and brutal warfare. Berger’s limited score kicks in as the audience is introduced to a young boy named Heinrich, who begins to panic in the trenches and fights to survive.

The film continues with the story of a young man named Paul Bäumer. He’s enthusiastic to enlist and set off on the

Kellyn Kavanagh— Arts in Review Editor

Impressive performances and production shines a spotlight on the source material’s flaws

TERYN MIDZAIN

Edward Berger’s adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front bottles the trauma and sadness of World War I in a brutal masterpiece

Photo by Dianna Lewis Photography

ARTS

great lie of a grand crusade alongside his peers, fulfilling their honour and duty to the empire. With barely any training, Paul first arrives at the front line with his schoolmates and is immediately forced to bail out the flooding trench. These are his first glimpses of the horrors of war.

All Quiet On The Western Front is one of the most brutal, yet honest war movies there has been. Some of the sights in the film are truly unsettling. In a series of nameless battles, Paul witnesses breathing men become empty vessels in a matter of seconds beside him. He sees and uses bayonets, knives, and shovels as melee weapons, views men run over by tank treads, and his close friend is burned alive. Berger shows the meat grinder of WWI. Paul and his squad are half starving and steal meals during battles, or food from neighboring farms.

Felix Kammerer, the young actor who plays the lead character Paul Bäumer, was the greatest strength of the film. He perfectly captures and embodies the youthfulness that the character of Paul represents at the beginning of the film, as well as the war-weathered and haunted

man that Paul becomes in a few long years. The amount of emotions Kammerer was able to convey with his facial expressions, like the heartbreaking scene when Paul kills a French soldier with a knife, then apologizes for doing so, resonates harshly. Paul finds the soldier’s wallet with photos

of his wife and child, with letters written to him. The realization of war is that everyone is a human being, and this soldier had love and aspiration like Paul and like his friends.

Berger’s adaptation steps away from the PTSD focus and on Paul’s personal battles

and trauma that’s in the book and the previous 1930s version, Berger adds some attention to the decision and actions of the government in the war.

Berger’s film takes on Paul representing the many characters of German soldiers at the end of the Great War, still matching the overall themes the book represents. It tells the stories of the young lives that are stolen and wasted in war. It’s a film that unrestrainedly shows that in every war, everyone is a victim. This is a beautifully made antiwar movie, and while it focuses on a small band of brothers that develop a close camaraderie, the characters are a bottled image of the extensive casualties of the first world war.

All Quiet on the Western Front is one of the war films we should watch during times of remembrance. Berger’s adaptation of Eric Maria Remarque’s novel brings out the voices of the hundreds of thousands of lives lost, and the suffering all sides endure in war.

Score 9/10

Movies //

Terrifier 2 is a phenomenally twisted experience

KELLYN KAVANAGH

I first came across Damien Leone’s Terrifier franchise while scrolling through Netflix a few years ago. I’d heard some small mutterings around the internet regarding the film, and decided to check it out. It was alright, but didn’t hook me as strongly as it captured the affections of its modest cultfollowing at the time. I wasn’t aware that a sequel to the first Terrifier film was even made until I saw news reports of the film causing people to faint in movie theaters. Despite not being super impressed with the first film, I became determined to see Terrifier 2 the first chance I got. Was it pure interest or un-accounted for masochism? Honestly, probably both. Part of me assumed that the reports were a case of overhyping and exaggeration. I’m happy to say, that was certainly not the case.

The film picks up immediately on the tails of the first film. After being shot dead by cops, Art the Clown is resurrected by an unknown entity. He brutally murders a mortician, locates his supernaturally strong garbage bag full of weapons, and makes his way to a laundromat to wash all the blood and gore off his suit. The narrative then switches the central protagonist Sienna, who’s connection to Art the Clown isn’t explained until the final moments of the film. The story utilizes a sort of catand-mouse flow to show Art stalking and

killing Sienna’s friends and family as well as random passersby — for generally no apparent reason.

Normally I’d say context is so important for storytelling, that without it I’m lost pretty quick. While a lot of things in Terrifier 2 go unexplained, I can honestly say it only adds to the appeal of the story. We get small hints of reasoning here and there, as well as occasional clues to what/who Art the Clown really is, however nothing is ever fully confirmed. This adds to the visceral terror of our central villain. We only ever see him in his black and white clown outfit, his teeth reminiscent of a shark’s mouth, all identifying features distorted by makeup. All we get from Art are exaggerated expressions. He never speaks or makes any kind of vocal sound, even when seemingly in fits of laughter. All of this creates incredible tension that only seems to give when Art finally stops taunting his victims.

The strongest aspects of this film are in director Leone’s VFX artistry, and David Howard Thornton’s menacing performance as Art the Clown. I didn’t realize until after watching Terrifier 2 that Leone (the mastermind behind the entire franchise) is also behind the visual effects. The cinematography, soundtrack, and acting calls to mind campy B horror films from the 80’s and 90’s. The practical visual effects seem to be the main purpose of the film’s existence, with Leone and company gleefully pushing the limits of gore to the most absurd levels. Thornton’s silent

yet menacing performance is incredibly powerful, turning the audience’s stomach in knots the mere moment he shows up on screen.

It’s hard to actually find things for me to criticize about this film. It’s a very specific kind of vibe for a rather niche audience. Everything is intentional, from the campy dialogue and acting to the cartoonishly over-the-top graphic violence. The decontextualized elements of the story exist to drive home the visceral terror of it’s central antagonist. This movie is entirely self-aware and uses that to its advantage. It makes drastic improvements upon the original which lacked cohesion, and makes extremely effective use of its $250,000 budget.

Without a doubt, Terrifier 2 is one of the goriest films I’ve ever seen. For reasons entirely unrelated to the cartoonish levels of gore depicted on screen, it’s also one of the most genuinely frightening films I’ve watched. The tension built up within the mystery of Art the Clown’s character, his silent demeanor, and chilling facial expressions make the film’s trailer alone a difficult experience for some to sit through. The cinematography is wildly colorful and expertly shot, the acting is perfect for the aesthetic, and the runtime never feels tiresome. If you’re squeamish or not fully accustomed to slasher horror films, I’d say give this one a pass. However, if you like campy and absurdist movies with a twisted antagonist, Terrifier 2 will provide a bloody

good time. My best advice going into this one would be to avoid using cannabis while watching (I learned this the hard way), and keep a ginger ale on stand by if you start to feel nauseous.

Damien Leone’s Terrifier 2 surpasses the original and gives audiences a delightfully twisted schlockfest to watch through their fingers

Photo credit: IMBD

Photo credit: Netflix

SemisonicClosing Time

It's approaching the end of the semester, which in many ways is like the end of the night on a weekend. Expectations — social, professional, academic, or otherwise — are coming to a close, and the time to be alone, in bed at home is near. Can't stay here for much longer!

Sublime - Get Out

The late Sublime singersongwriter Bradley Nowells famously declared, in this quick little classic ditty from their album 40oz. to Freedom, that "My place is not a home," and claims that "you should have seen all the flops in my house, they was jumpin’ on walls and kicking ceilings." I can identify with that.

Wyclef JeanGone til November

This former Fugee had one of the biggest non-Lauryn Hill breakouts from that lauded mid-90s group, and it's one that comes up for shuffle every year at this time, for obvious reasons. This is the time of year he should supposedly be coming back, so welcome Wyclef back to town!

Guns n RosesNovember Rain

Finally, one of the most important and emotive superhits regularly shuffled. Axl Rose doesn't have to reinvent anything about himself to be relevant every fall, thanks to this timeless albeit saturated classic. When Halloween is over, get out your red bandana and scream like a wolf in pain, that's musicianship!

Rewind //

Aliens, war, and time travel

Slaughterhouse-Five uses absurdism to understand humans

CHANDY DANCEY

Slaughterhouse-Five is a literary classic by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. that wields absurdism to try to explain the unexplainable — using themes like war and aliens. It’s deeply moving, confusing, and will leave you with a new perspective on the world although you won’t be sure how it happened. Strap in, folks, this book is a wild ride.

The story follows our protagonist Billy Pilgrim as he’s conscripted into World War II. During his service, he finds himself unstuck in time, witnessing all of his life experiences at once with his consciousness flitting in and out of different years. One moment he’ll be fighting in the war, the next he’ll be in a human zoo after being abducted by aliens from a planet called Tralfamadore. Wait, what?

This mishmash of ideas is jarring, yes, but it's through this chaotic state that the nature of war is revealed. Humans on both sides of the war believe in justice, and yet we see a soldier executed by firing squad for taking a teapot from a pile of rubble. Children are meant to be protected, and yet young men not so far from childhood are sent to the front lines to risk their lives. Civilians have no part in battle, and yet the entire city of Dresden is decimated by firebombing in a matter of days. The prose is heavy in black comedy and satire, showing us the absurdity of the violence we see. The death and survival of characters seem to be driven by unknown factors throughout Slaughterhouse-Five that can’t be reconciled with because they make no sense. Billy survives the war by luck alone, not by being prepared or skilled, with the questions remaining: Why him? Why anyone? How does one come to terms with why one man lives and another dies? What’s the meaning behind suffering?

Billy as a character is much like a kicked puppy, and I mean that in the kindest way. He’s ready to give up, unsure of where he fits in the world, and passively

accepting of what’s happening to him both on the battlefield and while jumping through time. Through him we see the effects of war. If you decide to interpret the sci-fi elements of the book as imaginary and therefore he’s gone mad, then the novel can be a metaphor for post-traumatic stress disorder. However, an even more tragic possibility is interpreting the sci-fi elements as fact and seeing how the war has made Billy not bat an eye at the existence of an advanced alien species. He questions nothing. He’s seen worse.

Slaughterhouse-Five is a novel that explores the mysteries of war and why human beings fight each other in nonsensical ways for nonsensical reasons. It’s a novel that questions if we have any control over our fate or if we’re proverbial leaves in the wind. It’s a novel that provides more questions than answers — questions that are still relevant in our increasingly complex world. So it goes.

Note: Note:

Some of these events require tickets, and most are online. If something catches your eye, take to the internet for more details, including those about social distancing measures for in-person events.

November

Symposium on Decolonizing Research @ UFV A225, 11:00 - 1:00 pm.

Summit Circuit @ Abbotsford Room E150, 11:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Alumni Panel: Negotiating Salary and Benefits @ UFV online 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Drop-in Spikeball @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Inclusive Movement @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Game Night in the Global Lounge @ Abbotsford Room B223, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Territory Acknowledgement Workshop @ UFV, 4:00 - 5:00 pm.

Information Session UFV Engineering Programs @ UFV B101, 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

Senate Public Meeting @ UFV A225, 1:30 - 3:00 pm.

GLOW @ Chilliwack, 7:00 pm.

WBB vs. UNBC @ Abbotsford, 6:00 pm.

WBB vs. UNBC @ Abbotsford, 8:00 pm.

After Market Adventures! @ Boardwalk Cafe and Games

Student Psychology Association Meeting @ Abbotsford Campus Room S3103, 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Drop-in Pickleball @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 12:30 - 4:00 pm.

Circle K Meeting @ Abbotsford Campus Room S3103, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Chilliwack Jets vs. White Rock Whalers @ Sardis Sports Complex, 5:00 pm.

Drop-in Badminton @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Self Care Yoga @ Abbotsford Room E150, 12:10 – 12:50 p.m.

Circle K Meeting @ Abbotsford Campus Room S3103, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Drop-in Badminton @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

Consent Cafe @ Student Life, S1111, 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

Spin & Strength @ Abbotsford Room E150, 12:00 - 1:25 pm.

Student Psychology Association Meeting @ Abbotsford Campus Room S3103, 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Zumba @ Abbotsford Room E150, 12:10 - 12:50 pm.

Drop-in Pickleball @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 12:30 - 4:00 pm.

Acknowledging and thanking the Sto:lo community: honouring ceremony for Indigenous programs @ Shxwhá:y Village Community House, 4:00 - 8:00 pm.

Drop-in Volleyball @ The Cave Room E176 @ 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Drop-in Badminton @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Self Care Yoga @ Abbotsford Room E150, 12:10 – 12:50 p.m.

STEP Cafe Career Panel: Transitioning from University to the Workplace @ UFV, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Holocaust remembrance event - A conversation with a Holocaust

survivor @ UFV, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Organized Drop-in Cricket @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

SciComm Workshop @ UFV B132, 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

Drop-in Badminton @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 8:00 - 10:00 pm.

UFV Events Sports Community Event Campus Rec Culture

Summit Circuit @ Abbotsford Room E150, 11:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Drop-in Spikeball @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Inclusive Movement @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Game Night in the Global Lounge @ Abbotsford Room B223, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Organized Drop-in Basketball @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 5:30 - 7:00 pm.

MVB vs. Mount Royal @ Abbotsford BC, 5:00 pm.

vs. Mount Royal @ Abbotsford BC, 7:00 pm.

Drop-in Pickleball @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 12:30 - 4:00 pm.

Circle K Meeting @ Abbotsford Campus Room S3103, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Drop-in Badminton @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 12:00 - 2:00 pm.

Self Care Yoga @ Abbotsford Room E150, 12:10 – 12:50 p.m.

Circle K Meeting @ Abbotsford Campus Room S3103, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Drop-in Badminton @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

Organized Drop-in Basketball @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 5:30 - 7:00 pm.

Spin & Strength @ Abbotsford Room E150, 12:00 - 1:25 pm.

Zumba @ Abbotsford Room E150, 12:10 - 12:50 pm.

Drop-in Pickleball @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 12:30 - 4:00 pm.

Drop-in Volleyball @ The Cave Room E176 @ 6:00 - 7:30 p.m

SUS Public Board Meeting @ Large Boardroom (S3103), 2:00 - 3:00 pm.

Drop-in Badminton @ Abbotsford, North Gym, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Self Care Yoga @ Abbotsford Room E150, 12:10 – 12:50 p.m.

Peace Talk: Genocides across time and space @ UFV, 1:00 - 2:30 pm.

View our website for more details on current, local events.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever @ Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, 7:00 pm. MVB vs. Mount Royal @ Abbotsford BC, 6:00 pm.