The Cascade, Volume 31, Issue 5

THE EVOLUTION OF THE F1 REVOLUTION 8

THE CASCADE DESCENDS ON HAMILTON

ALONE AND IN DISTRESS 5

HBO’S THE LAST OF US 15

Zooming around an endless track since 1993

Editor-in-Chief Brad Duncan brad@ufvcascade.ca

Production Manager Niusha Naderi niusha@ufvcascade.ca

Business Manager Stephan St. Amour stephan@ufvcascade.ca

Digital Media Manager Wilson Agyapong wilson@ufvcascade.ca

Culture & Events Editor Anisa

Managing

Creative

NASH 85 encourages us to revolutionize, and treasure our student press

KAIT THOMPSON

over our heads, surrounded by the century-old likes of publications like The Ubyssey or The Gazette

Production

CONTRIBUTORS

Gabe Martyn

Marie-Ange Routier

Caleb Campbell

Alyssa Roth

Matthew Iddon

Josiah Hansen

Sharon Strauss

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

@UFVCASCADE

FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE

INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE

Volume 31 · Issue 5 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by the Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every 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 students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment 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 approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief, copy editor, and corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic, or libellous content. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 200 words. As The Cascade is an autonomous student publication, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.

The Cascade is published on the traditional, unceded territory of the Stó:lō peoples. We are grateful to be able to work and learn on this beautiful land.

This past weekend, from Feb. 17-19, The Cascade was proud to be able to send eight staff members to the 85th annual NASH conference at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario; I was one of the lucky few. The conference, which is hosted by rotating members of the Canadian University Press (CUP) is an opportunity for delegates from student newspapers across the country to get together and brainstorm, develop, and network with each other. Returning to an in-person format for the first time post-COVID-19 restrictions, it was a very energizing and fulfilling thing to spend three days surrounded by other young people who share the same crazy passion for the news and student journalism that I do.

I began my first NASH feeling apprehensive; it was easy to feel in

Throughout the conference, buzzwords and industry terms were tossed around casually, and I found myself taking notes, looking things up, and asking lots of questions throughout every panel to try and keep up with the conversations that were happening… and the cool thing is, I was successful! I left each block feeling like I’d taken something new away. Professional guest speakers, alum, and fellow student journalists alike were warm, engaging, and accessible; imposter syndrome be damned, I didn’t feel for a second like I didn’t belong there. And isn’t that the beauty of student journalism? I took one “introduction to journalism” class pre-pandemic. Considering UFV doesn’t have a journalism program — or as the cool kids

call it, a J-school — I think it’s safe to say that I am among the vast majority of folks who have drifted through the office of The Cascade over our 30 years of publication without any formal training in the field. Yet we’ve all been able to pick up and learn from scratch how to write, edit, and put together a newspaper. (Although, I have rewatched The Newsroom three times, so I like to think that may be giving me a slight edge.)

Getting involved in campus culture at UFV can sometimes feel like an exercise in futility; like you’re an object in motion, colliding with the concrete wall of apathy that is the student body of a commuter school. Student publications provide a unique opportunity for us to build skills and portfolios before we go out into the world; as we watch community news sources disappear in this country at an alarming rate, it’s more important now than ever to protect these safe havens for budding local media. This sentiment was one that I saw reflected in my fellow delegates unanimously — because regardless of the size or pedigree of the school you’re attending, putting your time, energy, and love into a student newspaper is an act of stubborn optimism. Thank you for being stubborn with us.

SPORTS

12..... Cascade's Check

CULTURE

13..... A charmed circle

ARTS

17......Music: This is Why

17......Television: The Last of Us

18......Books: Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries

19.......Music: Wretched of the Earth

19...... Soundbites: Oleefia

Student journalism is cool, and you should care about it

Photo by Amanda Minchau

Staff shortages and limited dining services affect UFV community

Evenings and weekends offer limited dining options for students and staff — for now?

UFV has a number of cafés and fast food restaurants, especially on the Abbotsford Campus. Options like the Cascades Café, Tim Hortons, STREATS, and Fair Grounds Coffee are available for students, staff, and faculty to purchase a meal or coffee to go. However, many of these food services close early in the day, and there are limited options for students and staff in the evenings. The food services are also not open on Saturdays, which makes it a challenge for students to get the nourishment they need.

“Every time I go to Tim Hortons, there's a sign saying that they have to close early or something. We even have to close early today just [because] people are sick right now,” said Piper Hornall, a barista at Fair Grounds. Hornall believes that there should be more food options available for students in the evenings because it is important to study with a full stomach.

The problem is that even when campus food services are able to stay open for their scheduled hours, the majority still close by 6 p.m. — leaving a portion of the student body underserved.

“I always pack something, and then the microwaves are available in the

cafeteria. That’s pretty much the only option that I found for myself so far,” said Fair Grounds supervisor Nathan Williams, noting the lack of food options on campus for those taking night time courses. “There's nothing really available for me to get there if I forget [food].” Both Williams and Hornall recommend that students pack their own food to bring to campus or utilize food delivery services.

But expanded options are on the horizon; The Cascades Café is reportedly going to become a two-level facility. Construction on the larger building is supposed to start in “early 2023” and end approximately a year later. After the project is finished, the renovated Cascades Café will be able to seat 350 people instead of 121.

Brian Creighton, Executive Chef at Dana Hospitality and the manager at both the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses, confirmed that there will be more food options once the dining construction is completed, and that they will be open longer to accommodate the expanding resident population at UFV. “That's where we get to figure out what we want to do,” said Creighton. “[With] more people coming in, we're going to have to do some more offerings and staff different stations.”

The variety of foods that will be offered is still in the process of being finalized, and they will have a better idea of what options are feasible once the building of the new dining area is completed. Crieghton also mentioned that the Cascades Café will have “a few more extra tills that people can go

through [with] cash instead of waiting in long line ups.”

While there are currently a few options that students and staff can choose from, such as Triple O’s, there’s little doubt that the students and staff of UFV are hungry for some expanded culinary offerings.

Photo by Aryan Kathuria

NEWS BRIEFS

B.C. issued a heavy snowfall warning

A heavy snowfall warning was issued by Environment Canada for Saturday Feb. 25, describing “a significant weather system.” According to the warning, most of B.C. was affected, including the Fraser Valley. There was an estimated 10-30 cm of snow expected to fall through the night. There was also a road and travel warning given by Environment Canada, as the snow will make travel a lot more challenging. BC Transit also issued a warning to their riders of possible cancellations or delays in service due to the heavy snowfall. UFV was also keeping an eye on the weather and promised to issue updates on their website to keep students informed and safe. UFV remained open under winter weather conditions.

- Rachel Tait

Fraser Valley transit interruptions

The University of the Fraser Valley sent out an email notification that confirmed to students there will be no bus service on Feb. 27 and 28, due to the ongoing bus strike which will impact the entire Fraser Valley region. HandyDART was the only service that ran regularly on those two days. Classes were still running under normal conditions and students were encouraged to try and find other ways to get to the university, such as carpooling. The email also stressed the importance of informing their instructors in the event that they cannot attend school on those two days. BC Transit is currently continuing to negotiate terms with their contractor, First Transit, and held a rally at 12 p.m. on Monday. BC Transit will continue to update their notifications on their website to keep their riders informed.

- Rachel Tait

Community//

Dr. Kathleen Rodgers delves into true crime

The UFV sociology professor researches the link between women and true crime content

EVA DAVEY

Dr. Kathleen Rodgers has been teaching for thirteen years, three of which have been at UFV. She began working at UFV during the 2020 pandemic, and teaches in the School of Culture, Media, and Society. A sociologist who studies several subjects, Rodgers’ main branch is within the study of social movements and activism. The Cascade got the opportunity to sit down and discuss a topic she is currently researching: women and the transformation of true crime.

Rodgers herself is a true crime podcast fan — a casual listener who uses it as a form of escape much like most people who listen to true crime, but she is also someone who is interested in studying activism. After six months of consistently listening to and observing what was happening online around the true crime podcast My Favorite Murder, she started to notice some really interesting things around true crime and women in particular.

“...it developed into a project in which I wanted to basically try and understand why, first of all, it is that women are so interested in true crime; why they’re attracted to it, but also all this kind of chatter that happens about true crime in the social media spaces,” says Rodgers. For her first paper on this subject Rodgers specifically looked into the previously mentioned podcast, and explored why women were attracted to it, what they liked about it, and all of the kinds of ideas that go along with the podcast. Her current paper focuses on why women were involved, interested in true crime, and “trying to understand whether or not all of that chatter that's

happening is changing the way that we talk about women in crime.”

For some insight Rodgers states, “I think women are particularly attracted to true crime because violence and fear of violence is something that they experience on a daily basis, especially young women.

“The idea that I developed from that is that what comes out of those discussions is a feminist politics in which women who might never have been feminists, talk about crime and violence in a way that can be understood as feminist in the sense that it's a gender-based analysis of crime.”

On how much social media has helped the rise of true crime and the growth of fans Rodgers says, “Oh, it's tremendous. I mean the explosion of true crime podcasts is a response to that interest that's shown simply in things like the number of downloads… so anytime there's that opportunity, people are gonna try moving into it, but it's the response that they're seeing through social media that is feeding that growth.”

The viral Gabby Petito case also came up while discussing the combination of true crime and social media. Rodgers noted that Petito was the “typical subject of true crime,” and that there is an ongoing conversation in social spaces about why other stories aren't discussed as much, or reflected in traditional true crime; “or if they are, they're talked about in kind of derogatory and dismissive ways, and those are conversations that are had too.”

Rodgers’ first paper consisted of an online ethnography in which she “spent a lot of time on My Favorite Murder Facebook and Reddit groups (she received ethics clearance to

observe the groups). But she also interviewed members of those groups as well. In a continuation of the project, she also started looking at the podcast for any changes in what she referred to as “a quantitative and qualitative content analysis.”

Her agenda with this project is “looking at women and the transformation of true crime.”

Rodgers mentioned that her “larger agenda” goes beyond questions of true crime and feminism and explores the larger connections between podcasts and social media spaces, adding that the project also looks into the opportunity for a “public debate and the transformation of public discourses” that is rarely found anywhere else.

Rodgers hopes to have her project start publishing by the fall; until then, read her first paper, ““F*cking politeness” and “staying sexy” while doing it: intimacy, interactivity and the feminist politics of true crime podcasts”, can be accessed through the Feminist Media Studies Journal.

Photo provided by Kathleen Rodgers

Making the fall reading break a reality

SUS VP external Ashley Mcdougall talks about an autumn reprieve

RACHEL TAIT

For years, there has never been a fall reading break at UFV — but in the fall 2023 semester, that will change; a fall reading break has been scheduled from Nov. 11-15, 2023. Ashley McDougall, Student Union Society (SUS) vice president (VP) external, has been working since the beginning of her first term in 2021 to make the fall reading break become a reality.

“I took it on as a way of supporting students' mental health, ultimately,” said McDougall about her inspiration to advocate for the additional break for students. “We have one in the winter semester that's super helpful for people, and there's definitely a need for one in the fall as well.”

After all, mental health and having a rest from studies is good for both faculty and students alike; but the benefits go beyond a chance to rest and recuperate. McDougall explained that faculty members have already said

that an additional reading break “will help them in their marking in the fall semester.”

McDougall recalled that when she began her job as VP external back in 2021, she heard that former students in her position were unsuccessful in having one implemented at the university. “It’s to do with the number of instructional days in the fall semester,” said McDougall, stating that the fall semester has always had a “very tight schedule.” There is already a two week break between the fall and winter semesters. This has made it a challenge to fit a reading break into the fall semester while maintaining the required number of instructional days.

But in the fall 2021 semester, the university was able to adjust to the week that “pushed the semester out” just fine, and that gave McDougall the encouragement she needed. She spoke to a former vice president external, and did research to help advocate and prepare the proposal. McDougall

first presented it to the Senate during their monthly public meeting back in November 2022.

“David Johnson, the registrar, was essentially tasked with figuring out how and if a fall reading break can fit into the academic calendar which he did and brought that back in February,” said McDougall regarding the process of getting the reading break approved. Eventually, the university was able to find room in the calendar, and the proposal was voted on by the members of the board during the Feb. 10, 2023 Senate meeting.

The vote, unanimously in favour of a fall reading break, was in some ways a culmination of all of McDougall’s hard work and advocacy. This was “probably my main advocacy project as VP external, so to see all of that work that I put into advocating for a fall reading break come to fruition was really amazing,” said McDougall. “I'm really happy to see the Senate listen to the voice of students by including

the fall reading break in the next fall semester.”

McDougall hopes to continue working at SUS and is running for president in the upcoming election. She wants to continue focusing on creating more engagement within the UFV community. “I think it's just very essential and important to have those kinds of connections on campus.”

Emmaline Spencer — Opinion Editor

Canada // Child flying unattended for the first time

Brrrrrrr,

can I go home now? Please?

EMMALINE SPENCER

The smell of dusty books and warm coffee. The old brick mixed and melded into new construction. A lake so vast, I feel as though I am staring at the ocean.

I have never had the opportunity to travel alone. My father has always worried something horrible would happen; my finances were never enough to send me anywhere; I lacked the time for any amount of substantial exploration.

This year, a golden ticket fell upon my lap. A chance at the freedom, responsibility, and risk that come with traveling alone.

My journey began in Niagara Falls. I’d never been and admittedly, I didn’t really care about seeing some water falling. What I did care about was

Ripley’s Museum of Believe It or Not!

It was everything I could have hoped for. There was a strange mix of cultural paraphernalia and circus type wonders of creation. Everything from twoheaded animals to the world’s tallest man to a piece of the Berlin wall to a fork for eating human flesh to optical illusions that I’m still processing the realities of. Do I believe everything I saw at Ripley’s? Probably more than I should.

This all sounds splendid and rad, but my trouble began here in Niagara Falls — no solo travel goes without some hiccups. My hotel for the night was on the American side, in New York state. I’ve never crossed a border by foot nor alone. I’d also never been responsible for booking my own hotel.

The border guards to the American side of the falls were not amused by

my little mishap in hotel booking and seemed to only dig deeper into what I was doing in America. They questioned what I was doing on the east side of the continent at all; I remember stuttering as I gave my answers.

Despite my nervous habits, they let me through since all the facts checked out. I enjoyed some rest on a luxurious king size bed that night, and awoke to a rather strange hotel breakfast. I’m not sure if it’s an American thing to have biscuits and gravy for breakfast, but I was certainly disappointed at the lack of pancakes and syrup.

From here, I went on a two hour train ride to Toronto where I would be staying for the remainder of my trip. My final day is where things started to go askew once more. The weather had been fine before this point, but for the entire morning of my final

day, snow flaked down from the sky. That gentle snow turned to a blizzard by the afternoon and I had to start figuring out how the PATH network, the underground tunnels in Toronto, worked. I knew that they were attached to the building I was staying in, but they feel like a labyrinth when you’ve never been in them before.

After some trial and error — and finding a map of the PATH system — I found my way back to my cozy Airbnb. Later that night, I ventured out to indulge in the last meal of my trip at Shoushin, a Michelin star restaurant.

The blizzard only got worse and the restaurant staff insisted I call an Uber. I’ve never had such a terrifying car ride in my life, and that’s saying a lot. The driver stopped multiple times to de-ice his windshield, and had to intentionally swerve the tires to create

continued on page 6

Photo provided by Ashley McDougall

OPINION

continued from page 5 friction on the snow; there were no lines visible on the road. A piece of me wondered if I should have walked to the subway station — at least the train would have been safely operating underground, free of snow.

Long story short, I survived. However, I woke up at 6 a.m EST the next day to an email stating my flight home was cancelled due to weather. This was the start to a horrifically long day of insecurities and panic. I was out of funds, so I couldn’t afford to stay any longer in Ontario, and I had never been on a plane alone before.

Advice //

I lucked out and got a seat on a flight from Hamilton to Calgary, and then a connecting flight from Calgary to Abbotsford at the last second. What was meant to be a simple six hour flight turned into a eighteen hour fiasco of delays and cancellations that ended in me finally arriving in Abbotsford at 2 a.m.

Traveling alone can be freeing and give you experiences you never expected, but it also comes with risks and unpredictability. If you ever get the chance, I say go out and grab onto it for dear life, and hope it takes you everywhere and then back home.

Is it possible to separate the art from the artist?

It

MATTHEW IDDON

It’s been a rough couple of months for fans of Rick and Morty. On Jan. 12, 2023, NBC broke the news that the show’s creator Justin Roiland had been charged with domestic battery and false imprisonment in 2020. Roiland was subsequently tarred and feathered across the internet as allegations of sexual misconduct, predatory messages, and generally gross behavior began to spring up everywhere. The world then watched as Adult Swim, Hulu, and Disney all severed their ties with Roiland. The Rick and Morty team announced that the show would continue with new voice actors, and that was that.

A famous creator being outed as problematic isn’t particularly shocking in 2023. Even so, whenever something like this happens, fans must find a way to reconcile their fandom with cold hard reality. As we traverse further into the Internet Age, it feels less and less possible to ignore the widely publicized misdeeds of our favorite artists. So, what should we do?

For many people, the answer is simple: separate the art from the artist. This means tuning out the sins of a creator and instead focusing entirely on their work. For example, Kanye West’s recent behavior has pretty much trashed any positive reputation he once had. It’s safe to assume his remaining fans face a daunting moral dilemma. On the one hand, it’s obviously wrong to support an artist who is using his platform to promote antisemitism and hatred. On the other hand, a song like “All Falls Down” from 2004 explicitly condemns systemic racism.

Is it wrong to listen to what is clearly an anti-racist anthem just because the songwriter has betrayed the original message? By separating the art from the artist you leave yourself with two choices: either you continue to patronize problematic artists, or you choose to endlessly reduce the amount

anticipated video game Hogwarts Legacy was released. Since the game is part of the Wizarding World franchise that all began with J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series, many gamers have decided to boycott due to Rowling’s apparent transphobic beliefs. I certainly understand the impulse for

game.

Not to mention, by this logic shouldn’t we boycott everything? It seems a bit hypocritical to place so much focus on one transphobic author when we unknowingly consume the unethical fruits of someone’s labor every single day. It’s worth asking whether or not ethical consumption of media under capitalism is even possible.

I don’t mean to sound defeatist, or imply that boycotting problematic media isn’t a noble effort. But it seems to me that there is no simple answer to this problem, only individual choices. And one of the best choices you can make is to constantly educate yourself. Expose yourself to as much media and as many different perspectives as you can — even things you don’t like. Ask yourself why you like certain things, but not other things.

Make peace with the fact that people’s lives are defined by good and bad choices, and that people who have made overwhelmingly bad choices are also capable of making art that you enjoy. Fail to recognize this, and you risk failing to recognize your own flaws.

of art in your life. Like it or not, the art world is packed to the brim with secret scumbags. It’s entirely possible your favorite artist is one of them.

If separating the art from the artist is an unsustainable solution, what’s next? It would seem that the only recourse would be to boycott problematic art, and perhaps demand that others do the same. This month, the highly

revenge, but the reality is that J.K. Rowling is worth billions. Calling for a boycott won’t make her any poorer, and it would be an uphill battle to make even a dent in her net worth. In fact, boycotting would likely have a much greater impact on the hundreds of developers and animators who have actually made an effort to represent the transgender community within the

If you believe that boycotting Hogwarts Legacy is morally right, then more power to you. And if you’re a diehard fan of Harry Potter, Rick and Morty, or anything else, don’t beat yourself up for wanting to enjoy these things. Just make yourself aware of the historical context in which they were created, as well as the beliefs and behaviors of the author. From there, make your own choices accordingly. But by choosing to “separate the art from the artist” we are only hiding from the fact that human existence in and of itself, is often problematic.

sucks when a creator isn’t who you thought they were. What should fans do about it?

Illustration by Washington Reimer

Photo by Emmaline Spencer

SNAP SHOTS

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

Hendrix’s birthday

On the day of writing this, it’s my dog, Hendrix’s, seventh birthday. I adopted Hendrix when he was just eight weeks old, so this year marks seven years since Hendrix saved my life the first time. I struggle with mental illness, and seven years ago I attempted to end my life. During my subsequent hospital stay, I searched for a reason to live, and I thought, “what better a reason than a dog?” So I adopted Hendrix. While I still struggle with mental illness, and Hendrix is by no means a cure-all, he is a large part of the reason that I’m still alive today.

The older Hendrix gets, the less exciting and more bittersweet his birthdays are. Some would say that Hendrix being seven makes him old, but I like to think that he’s middle-aged. I like to think that he’s only halfway through his life, that losing him is as far away as getting him. But these seven years with him have gone by so fast, and I’m sure the next seven years will, too. While his birthdays aren’t exciting anymore, I’ll take as many bittersweet ones as I can get.

Aasha Khoyratty

Printing as a requirement for wastefulness

While many courses have moved their assignment formats to online platforms, some may be surprised to find students involved in workshop-centered classes that still require printing hundreds of pages worth of assignments.

One might ask, for what? Simply for peers to be able to make comments, highlights, and edits. Not only is this wastefulness an unnecessary use of paper, but of money and time. From the price of ink and toner, to the time spent waiting for each copy to spit out from the printer, physical copies of workshop-

centered assignments are simply the least sustainable option.

Regardless of the fact that many of these editorial recommendations are provided verbally in class, it is difficult to understand why some professors are still unwilling to consider alternatives. In this day and age of online documents that can be edited and highlighted digitally by peers either individually or in one mass document, little reason can be found for professors to require physical copies beyond their own stubbornness.

Alyssa Roth

Stop canceling my shows!

Lately I have not been able to go on Twitter without seeing the horrific news that no one wants to hear: another television show I like has been canceled. I have the worst luck of finding a TV show that I am sure is a smash hit. For if I like it then it will surely become a classic, right? No!

Now if I recommend a show to someone I have to add on “it got canceled so don’t get attached.” My very first cancellation heartbreak was Marvel’s Agent Carter, and my heart was so broken I ended up never finishing the final season at all. I didn’t want it to be over. Fifteen year

old me would not be prepared for what was to come. The final straw was Netflix taking Glow away from me.

In the last couple of years it seems as though streaming services barely let shows even attempt to gather a following before they get axed, and it’s incredibly unfair. Some streaming services are even removing (!!!) shows from their platforms entirely. This year, multiple shows have either been canceled or pulled from streaming services before I’ve had the chance to watch them. I beg, please leave my children alone.

Eva Davey

Selling my soul for a Michelin morsel

I love food. I love it so much. I love it like Anton Ego does in Ratatouille. It’s half the reason I work to earn money. Recently, I spent a good chunk of that hard-earned dough so that I could experience what it’s like to dine at a Michelin star restaurant. I won’t lie, I’ve truly never had food so delicious and perfectly balanced in flavour.

It’s funny that I chose to go to Shoushin, a Japanese sushi restaurant. I don’t even like raw fish. The texture has always felt off-putting and the taste has never quite been something

I could stomach, but the sushi served at Shoushin has got to be the best food I have ever had. Each dish was served with a sake pairing. I don’t like sake either, but each one they poured for me was excellent; they were clean, sweet, and reminded me of white wines or Korean soju.

I don’t know if this experience has made me never want to have sushi again or to spend the rest of my life finding excuses to return to Toronto so that I can feast at Shoushin once more.

Emmaline Spencer

THE EVOLUTION OF THE F1 REVOLUTION

As the 2023 season gets underway, Mercedes looks to reclaim the apex of Formula One

By Teryn Midzain and Marie-Ange Routier

“Thisyear is not the greatest,” Lewis Hamilton dejectedly told ESPN following a disappointing 2022 season. “It is up there with probably the top three of the worst seasons.” In the modern era of Formula One (F1), the Mercedes Petronas name has been synonymous with victory, winning seven straight championships from 2014-2020, and elevating Hamilton to one of the greatest drivers to appear in the sport. The Mercedes team, led by Toto Wolff, was long-regarded as the smartest, fastest, and most innovative on the grid — but that primacy was challenged in 2021 as Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen won the 2021 drivers’ championship in a dramatic finale.

2022 introduced revolutionary new rules and regulations that Mercedes was happy to exploit. Their car, the W13, employed some radically different racing philosophies that no other team had thought of. The Silver Arrows looked quick, and Mercedes stated that they were on the attack. It all fell apart.

The W13 turned out to be one of Mercedes’ worst cars to date. Riddled with problems, it pained their drivers both physically and psychologically as it bounced around the circuits. There were glimmers of hope throughout the dark season. Their second driver, George Russell, proved the car could still be competitive when he won his first (and Mercedes’ only) race at Interlagos in Brazil, but the triumph was hollow. By then, the championship had already been decided, and the end of the Mercedes Dynasty was cemented. Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing were the new alphas in F1.

But all is not lost for the Mercedes Silver Arrows. The team has spoken about a fundamental change to the car’s DNA and their crews worked tirelessly to address the issues that plagued their last season. If any team is suited to iron out their kinks, it’s Mercedes — but they also don’t have a free hand. A freeze on engine development, a tight budget cap, and a hungry field of rivals are all working against their ambitions. F1 is an unforgiving ecosystem in which every predator can wind up prey. These machines, crews,

and drivers thrive in an evolutionary arms race where victory and defeat — and sometimes life and death — may come down to the most imperceptible advantage… or defect. It’s a lesson that Mercedes is learning the hard way.

The sport of Formula One is still on a massive uptake. With the success of Netflix’s Formula One: Drive to Survive, viewership has swelled to make last year’s season its most watched to date. North America has started to appreciate Formula One, exemplified by Red Bull’s new partnership that returns Ford to F1 in 2026. The U.S. has also added two more races to the F1 calendar, bringing their total up to three. The Miami and Vegas Grands Prix, while not the most technical and exciting tracks, offer a degree of media and star power to which the U.S. excels. Nicknamed “The Circus,” F1’s monumental

logistical and operational scale employs teams of small armies to transport the paddock to the varied dream destinations around the globe.

Last season, Walter Foreman, UFV’s associate director of international relations, broke down the “excellence” of F1 and why he finds the sport so thrilling. “It literally touches every human sense,” he told The Cascade. Walter has breathed F1 since the first time he saw Artyon Senna’s iconic MP-44 in 1988 live in Hockenheim, after

Photo provided by Walter Foreman

These machines, crews, and drivers thrive in an evolutionary arms race where victory and defeat — and sometimes life and death — may come down to the most imperceptible advantage… or defect.

“ “

l’Automobile (FIA) management.

Walter spent time in the Williams Racing pits in the 2010s when he lived in South Korea, back when there was still a Korean Grand Prix, and when Williams was a championship-contending team. Williams’ has struggled as of late, but a new team principal in James Vowles, the dumping of Nicholas Latiffi (the most consistent worst driver in F1 history), and the addition of a hot new driver in Logan Sargeant have breathed new life into the squad.

“You know, I’m a Williams fan,” stated Foreman, “and that’s not easy to say. It’s a bit like saying you’re a [Maple] Leafs fan. They just typically underachieve in the modern era… but there’s a genuine chance for Williams to rebuild this year.” They’re not the only ones.

Mercedes is hungry to regain their championship status. They have two of the best drivers in F1 who both want a spot on the podium. Hamilton has displayed a renewed vigour coming into the new season, smiling more as he watches Russell drive laps in the new car. The W13’s performance issues added strain on the team, but spirits seem higher after pre-season testing. The team has banded together to work on and perfect what had brought them down last season. “I’m really proud of everyone in the team for continuing to remain positive after a tough year last year,” Hamilton commented after the last day of pre-season testing.

The F1 paddock is filled with talented (and perhaps legendary) drivers such as Fernando Alonso, fresh into his new position at Aston Martin. The Canadian-owned team, clad in British racing green, dazzled at pre-season testing. “I want to see if [Alonso] can pull an Alonso,” said Foreman. “Hands down, certainly in the last 20 years, Alonso can get more out of a car than any other driver on the grid.” Even in a car that melted down six times at crucial opportunities, Alonso had been in top-five contention throughout last season, making him a persistent threat from the midfield for Mercedes.

Regardless of how talented the drivers are, a team’s success ultimately comes down to the speed, precision, and dependability

of their million-dollar machines. These cars, painstakingly designed and honed, are in a constant state of evolution. F1 is a place where

F1 is a place where generational knowledge meets technological breakthroughs, and the necessity to push every limit and exploit every advantage keeps these cars at the forefront of engineering innovation.

generational knowledge meets technological breakthroughs, and the necessity to push every limit and exploit every advantage keeps these cars at the forefront of engineering innovation. Some adaptations are so successful that they become the new industry norm, while others are relegated to the dustbin of history. Finding out which is often done on the track.

“What a lot of fans don’t know is that [F1 teams] have to very deftly decide when they are gonna pull the plug on the development of last year’s car and start the development of the next year,” Foreman explains. “It’s not in November, it’s mid-season when they make the decision. They have to decide in July and August, into September.”

Mercedes’ record during this period in 2022 wasn’t a racewinning one. They had to decide whether or not to commit to their aerodynamics philosophy. Throughout the season, Mercedes refined the W13 to be competitive, and finally, race-winning in Brazil. The car was a great improvement, with minimal porpoising (bouncing). It looked like Mercedes had found the solution late in the season. On Feb. 15, they revealed the culmination of their tinkering efforts with

An eye-catching and sublime work of art and mechanics, the W14 is gorgeous; sex on wheels, it is absolutely filthy.

the release of the highly-anticipated W14.

The W14 immediately caught the attention of the paddock and racing journalists alike. An eye-catching and sublime work of art and mechanics, the W14 is gorgeous; sex on wheels, it is absolutely filthy. “They’ve done a lot with a car that at its core, is just a black car,” says Foreman. “There are a lot of black cars this season, with open carbon concepts, but Mercedes has done a wonderful job of taking that and making it look aesthetically pleasing.”

Mercedes’ return to a black car emphasizes the open carbon concept trend that started last year. As the 2022 cars were coming in overweight, or at the weight maximum, teams started to scrape off paint to save those precious hundreds of grams. The trend this year to remove paint and have more open carbon is spread across the grid, as teams have turned their cars to Dark Mode, incorporating more of the black carbon into their liveries.

“Paint is heavy,” Foreman says plainly. “It’s simply weight savings.” F1 cars have strict weight limits and must be within those limits to be legal, but also to ensure the car’s top performance. “We’re only talking a few hundred grams of paint, which is only hundredths of seconds of speed gained,” Foreman explains, “but last year, we saw pole positions were determined by hundredths of seconds a few times. It’s going to matter again in 2023.”

The W14 has used colour sparingly. Only the top of the car is fully painted black, with thinly painted teal and silver accents over the open carbon sides. Vibrant and bright colours are used for the driver’s numbers so they can be clearly seen from a distance.

While some (including myself) love seeing a fully painted car that streaks and dances along the track, Mercedes’s approach is somewhat a nod to the fabled tale of how the iconic Silver Arrows got their name back in 1934. When Mercedes unveiled the new design of their race car it had a minor problem — it was overweight. To save precious pounds, the engineers scraped off the paint to reveal the silver aluminum of the chassis. As the car darted around the course, the Silver Arrow moniker was born. Successful F1 teams need to constantly refine, adapt, and push the limits of innovation.

Mercedes’ innovation really starts with their potential secret weapon: the front wing. “There had to have been a rule change, or at least a loophole discovered that allowed Mercedes to design their front wing.” Foreman remarks. Mercedes used an early concept of the W14’s front wing on the W13 last year, but Red Bull and Ferrari argued and proved it wasn’t exactly legal, and Mercedes had to abandon the design. Now that it’s returned — and legal according to the new rule adjustments — the front wing plays and evolves the overall aerodynamic flow that Mercedes is hoping to achieve with their new car. “That for me is one of the key pieces. There are

so many all over this car, but Mercedes’ evolution starts at the front wing.”

Adapting their minimalistic sidepod concept that made the W13 so infamous, the W14’s sidepods have evolved Mercedes’ philosophy without applying radical changes. The tops are wider than last year’s, narrowing down at the bottom. They’re also positioned

vertically now, instead of tapering out, giving it a sleek arrowhead look, rather than that of a melting candle.

The W14 has also added volume to their sidepods. They are thicker and wider, more akin to Ferrari’s design to help keep the air wake coming off the outwash moving backwards without getting drawn in too early along the rear. That air can be pushed into a more favourable position into the beam and rear wing to create more downforce and a stronger Drag Reduction System (DRS), in theory.

Red Bull’s RB18 was last year’s championship-winning car, in part, thanks to its aggressive sidepod design. The midfield of the grid has been aggressively reshaping their designs to emulate what gave Red Bull an advantage in ground-effect aerodynamics. McLaren, Alfa Romeo, and even Williams have followed this model. Meanwhile, Red Bull has taken everything the RB18 did so well, and elevated it on the RB19 in an attempt to make one of

Illustration by Rashneet based on photo by Mercedes-AMG F1 Petronas

Illustrations by Carolina Talcan

the best cars in the racing world even better. The RB19’s focus on refinement while the majority of the grid plays catch-up will make Red Bull tough to beat.

Aston Martin, another team in the midfield, has emulated successful aspects of both the Ferrari and Red Bull designs on their new AMR23, resulting in an intriguing design. Last year’s AMR22 was dreadful and seriously underperformed. This year, Aston has totally overhauled their car under the scrutinous eye of their new Technical Director, Dan Fallows — formerly of Red Bull.

Ferrari, like Mercedes, has stuck to their guns. Continuing to expand on their unique 2022 designs, with wider sidepods that scallop down and redirect air coming off the tire wake. Ferrari had one of the best cars last year, but reliability issues with their power unit (the collection of parts, including the engine and motors, that make the car go vroom) meant they were forced to reduce output. Ferrari looked good early on, but their turbulent jet ignition technology proved unreliable. The turbulent jet ignition system affects what happens in the pre-combustion chamber, and was supposed to answer some questionable performance issues, however, the thermal patterns were off (heat would peak at the wrong time), which led to the mitigating decision to reduce power output for the 2022 season. Now that they have had time to properly address this problem and the system has been refined, there is a 30 horsepower (HP) increase projected for Ferrari’s upcoming season, hopefully giving Red Bull and Mercedes a run for their money.

It’s important to note that the FIA imposed a freeze on power unit development in 2022 that runs through 2025. This means that performance upgrades to these systems have essentially been banned for the next few seasons, though tweaks can still be made

pump — part of the reliability issues that had failed them last season — go figure) and some other tweaks here and there, are making them a team to watch out for this year.

Not even the victorious Red Bull faction can afford to rest easy. Some new modifications to their motor generators have squeezed an additional 10 HP out of the powertrain. It may not seem like much, but these organizations can’t idle with so many contenders looking for an opportunity to overtake them, both on the track, and in the standings. The precariousness at the top of the F1 podium is a lesson Mercedes learned the hard way.

Mercedes’ power unit may not have any reliability issues, but that did not stop them from finding ways to improve for this season. They focused on lowering the internal mechanical frictions on some main bearings, the crankshafts, and the connecting rods to improve performance in a way that fits regulations. With a new lubricant and fuel, and a slight change of the radiator’s position (making it less exposed), Mercedes has projected a 16 HP increase for this season. The money, time, and expertise that go into finding every hidden source of untapped horsepower demonstrates just how thin the margins are between the victors and the vanquished.

The first contest of 2023 is in Bahrain on Mar. 5. The race will provide the first glimpses of what 2023 has in store for the teams, as well as how the cars will start to be developed as the year progresses. Bahrain sets up what looks to be a fantastic racing season, but the troublesome questions of 2022 remain. Fans will have to wait and see if the drama is centered on or off the track.

“I think it will be more of a racing season,” says Foreman, “but in saying that, you can never exclude the silliness, if you will. There are so many young, new drivers, there’s gonna be crashes, there’s gonna be mistakes. I feel with so much going on and the teams evolving this year, only time will tell who’ll be on top.”

The 2023 Formula One Circus is just getting started, and if Mercedes wants to be the champions again they’ll have many tough battles ahead. To witness the evolution of the F1 grid for yourself, tune into TSN or subscribe to F1TV, or follow up with the championship standings by visiting Formula1.com

to improve reliability. These engines are beasts that must be taken apart, studied, and reassembled before each race, and that run so hot the air intake must be located on top of the drivers’ heads and away from the engine. They are so hot that at their peak they nearly reach half the temperature of the sun’s surface.

Alpine responded with a strategic but risky approach to their power unit designs before being locked-in by the freeze, prioritizing performance and leaving them to worry about reliability later. The gamble looks promising. The Renault e-tech engine architecture allows them to play with the aerodynamic performance of the car. The changes made to the shape of the car (on top of a new water

Illustration by Carolina Talcan

Illustration by Carolina Talcan

Scores//

CASCADES ATHLETICS

Welcome to the Cascades Check — an update on the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades Athletics

Three UFV Cascades playoff teams saw their seasons come to an end in February.

The women’s basketball team started the Canada West playoffs off strong with a 77-70 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves, but was unable to keep their run alive as they fell to the Alberta Pandas in the quarterfinal on Feb. 18. Despite the playoff exit, UFV guard Maddy Gobeil was named a Canada West First-Team All-Star for her exploits this season.

The men’s basketball team put up a huge fight but was unable to overcome a hot-shooting Brandon University Bobcats team in the play-in game as they fell 106-94 on Feb. 17.

Women’s volleyball opened up their playoff quest with a stiff challenge, as they came up against the University of Winnipeg Wesmen in the Canada West quarterfinal best-of-three series. Both teams came into the matchup with 18-6 records and ranked in the national top 10.

The Cascades struggled from the service line in game one as they fell 3-1 on Feb 24, but bounced back to secure a 3-0 win the following night thanks in part to Gabrielle and Lauren Attieh who combined for 28 of UFV’s 45 kills in the match. Both teams came out firing in the decisive third match, but it was the Wesmen who came out on top with a 3-2 victory.

Up next for the Cascades, the men’s and women’s golf teams head to Las Vegas on Mar. 7 and 8 for the Rocky Mountain College Intercollegiate tournament.

Make sure to visit gocascades.ca to keep up with all the news, stats, and scores from the UFV Cascades. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at @ufvcascades to stay connected with all our UFV teams.

Men's Basketball

Feb. 17, 2023

UFV vs. Brandon University

Bobcats

Score: UFV 94 - BU 106

Women's Basketball

Feb. 17, 2023

UFV vs. University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves

Score: UFV 77 - UNBC 70

Feb. 18, 2023

UFV vs. University of Alberta Pandas

Score: UFV 54 - Alberta 73

Women’s Volleyball

Feb. 24, 2023

UFV vs. University of Winnipeg Wesmen

Score: UFV 1 - UoW 3

Feb. 25, 2023

UFV vs. University of Winnipeg

Wesmen

Score: UFV 3 - UoW 0

Feb. 26, 2023

UFV vs. University of Winnipeg

Wesmen

Score: UFV 2 - UoW 3

Teryn Midzain — Sports Editor

Canada women’s soccer team forced to end strike while labour discussions continue

The gold-medal squad continues their fight for equal pay, even when forced to play

Soccer// JOSIAH

HANSEN

Although the Canada women’s national soccer team’s strike lasted just two days, their message will resonate for much longer. With less than six months to go until the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, funding for both the women’s national and its associated youth programs has been cut.

These cutbacks come despite Canada Soccer seeing an increase in corporate sponsorships, especially since the women’s Olympic gold at the 2020 olympic games in Tokyo, and accelerated by the men’s appearance in the World Cup.

The women’s team went on strike on Feb. 10 to protest these cutbacks, as well as the fact that Canada Soccer has been secretive about how they are handling their finances and expenditures. However, just two days later they were forced to end the strike as they were threatened with legal action by Canada Soccer ahead of the SheBelieves Cup. The litigation costs as well as the potential for personal financial loss for many of the players was not something they were able to risk, so they were coerced back onto the pitch on Feb. 12 to continue training.

The complaint that Canada Soccer has not been transparent with their expenditures in the past has been a grievance brought up by both the men’s and women’s teams alike. The men’s team refused to play in a friendly match last summer in Vancouver because of their displeasure with the state of negotiations with Canada regarding compensation for the World Cup.

Where the men’s dispute was about their individual salaries and compensation, the current dispute regards Canada Soccer’s cutbacks to the women’s programs, and for equal support as was shown to the men’s team for Qatar World Cup in 2022.

Women’s team captain Christine Sinclair tweeted a picture of Canada Soccer’s Statement of Operations for 2021 that showed a disproportionate increase in funding for the men’s and women’s teams. From 2020 to 2021 the men’s funding increased

from $3 million to $11 million, while the increase seen for the women’s team went from just $2.8 million to $5 million. Sinclair also noted that close to $2.5 million came from Own the Podium, rather than Canada Soccer.

The women’s team has been receiving a united front of support from players in other clubs. The Canada men’s national soccer team players association released a statement showing support for the women and expressing their continued disappointment in Canada Soccer. The statement appeals to soccer’s growth as a sport in Canada at a rate that hasn’t been seen before and says that Canada Soccer is putting that growth at risk. It also makes reference to the upcoming World Cup, saying “Canada Soccer is claiming it does not have the funds necessary to provide the Women’s National Team players the working conditions and games they need to prepare for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. That is outrageous and calls for an immediate and urgent response.” The statement concludes by calling for a change in leadership to one that will be transparent with finances.

The Canadian women’s national soccer team continued to play in the SheBelieves Cup, but under protest; training wearing their jerseys inside out, and wearing purple jerseys for their match. The United States Women’s National team also showed solidarity with Canada by coming together in the middle of the pitch for a show of support before their match on Feb. 16. The U.S. team also released a statement before the match that noted they were already on “the other side of the fight” but were still on the Canadian women’s side. This is referencing the fact that the United States’ women’s and men’s teams recently signed collective bargaining agreements to set a standard of equal pay that runs through 2028.

The negotiations are paused temporarily, but as soon as the Canadian women are at a place where they are able to negotiate without risking their own personal financial well-being, these discussions will continue.

Anisa

Our Charmed Circle shares the story of four friends connected across the continent by a shared enthusiasm for gaming and bound by a sense of solidarity. Follow the story of Fenix,

Amrita, Mary-Jo, and Zoe as they navigate the realities of online relationships and daily life. With this comic, CHASI and artist Sharon Strauss aim to explore the issues we face, the

world we live in, and how we find the strength to forge an identity in an ever-changing political landscape.

Column //

Cascade Kitchen: Sugar Cookies

Horoscopes //

Your weekly life predictions as told by Ageless

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19

Everything is not enough. You could have the world on a platter and still desire the moon.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20

You’ve lost a great deal in the last few months; maybe it’s life preparing you for something bigger.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20

To put it straight, you have no idea what you’re doing with your life, and that’s fine, that’s more than fine. If everyone knew what they were doing, we’d all be automated.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22

You have regrets that eat at you; situations that were sealed with no closure — resolve them before time renders it a case with no resolve.

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22

You bite off more than you can chew and, quite frankly, talk over more voices than most are comfortable with. Sit down, take notes, and listen to the room.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22

EMMALINE SPENCER

The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budget-friendly recipes and cooking tips. If you want to see your own recipe featured next, get started by reaching out to culture@ufvcascade.ca.

I’ve been making and perfecting these cookies for the last decade. I’ve made several tweaks over the years to get them just right every time. Soft and melt-in-your-mouth, but firm enough to hold shape, these cookies are a classic baked good from my personal recipe book. I most recently made them as Valentine’s Day gifts to all of my friends.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Bake Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 60

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups softened, unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

5 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp flavouring of choice (I used homemade vanilla)

Method:

1. Cream butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.

2. Add in eggs one at a time. Thoroughly mix each egg in to prevent separation.

3. Stir in vanilla or other flavourings of choice.

4. In a separate bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients.

5. Slowly incorporate dry mixture into the wet ingredients.

6. Once dough reaches a playdoughlike consistency, chill it in the fridge for at least an hour.

7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

8. Roll out into ¼ inch thickness and cut out shapes of your choice.

9. Bake for approximately 8-12 minutes depending on the final cookie size.

You pride yourself in being the most talented in the room. You think that most people are only background characters to the movie that is your life. You need a good humbling.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22

You feel like you’re behind — that resume isn’t full enough, you have little accomplishments to your name — but know there’s no metric to success.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21

Your superiority complex is focused on one thing: yourself and your success. The world is bigger, beautiful, and deserves more respect than that.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21

You’re a jack of many trades but a master at none. Focus on one niche.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19

Find a party trick! It will benefit you in the future.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18

Procrastination is your worst enemy. One moment you’re focused, the next you’re off somewhere browsing on the internet. Stick to a strict schedule.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20

Give yourself some rest!

Azalea

Photo by Emmaline Spencer

SPORTS STUDY BREAK

Crossword: Extreme Sports //

Made by Brielle Quon

ACROSS

1. A potentially dangerous type of diving, this sport is all about exploring dark caverns.

3. Where a rope is strung between high mountains or buildings and the athlete risks walking across.

5. A harness and rope are all that keep these athletes from falling.

6. This sport involves jumping from an aircraft and produces an addictive adrenaline rush.

7. This sport requires no equipment and can be done anywhere. The athlete must swiftly move over obstacles.

8. A team of two or four people sled down a track at high speed.

DOWN

2. Where ice axes and crampons are needed, this sport involves frozen waterfalls or massive glaciers.

4. This sport can be done on water, sand, or snow. All that is required is intense wind.

ANSWERS:

Across:

1. Cave diving

3. Highlining

5. Rock climbing

6. Skydiving

7. Parkour

8. Bobsledding

Down:

2. Ice climbing

4. Kitesurfing

Eva Davey — Arts Editor

This is Why is a warm welcome

A review of Paramore’s newest album

While it isn’t full old school Paramore, it is probably the closest fans will get to it. The song is angsty and a great nod to the past.

but the band’s ability to harmonize comes through in their cohesive sound. This was the song where I didn’t solely focus on

The very first album I ever bought was Paramore’s Riot! back in 2009. While the album came out in 2007, I had only just heard of them due to my brother getting into the pop-punk genre. “This band has a girl singer. I think you’ll like it,” he said. And I did. I would watch their music videos on the family computer, and wish I could have orange and yellow hair just like Hayley Williams. Something I have always admired about Paramore is the band’s ability to become a genre chameleon of sorts. I became a passive fan, listening to a few songs here and there, but it was 2017’s After Laughter that roped me back in and now here I am in 2023, bopping to their new album This is Why.

The title track is a strong opener. “This is Why” somehow blends the multiple genres Paramore has mastered all into one; it feels pop-punk and just plain pop. Repetitive and friendly, it is easy to see why this song was chosen to welcome listeners back. If early-career Paramore is your favourite, I recommend listening to “The News.”

Television //

How HBO’s

Instrumentally the album isn’t breaking any barriers, although “Figure 8” is arguably the best in this category. Every instrument shines on its own in this track,

Williams’ vocals or the lyrics being fed to me. I imagine it’s a great song to see the band perform live. The album can feel repetitive at times.

It isn’t doing anything wild and different from past releases from the band. In recent years I have made peace with being slightly disappointed by music released by artists I love. The mindset is almost like hey, the world is burning, let them groove to what they want, and that is exactly how I feel about this album. Is it my favourite Paramore album? No. Am I happy the band is making the music they want to? Yes!

Lyric-wise, a few of the songs are simple. “Crave” gives me relatable sad girl vibes to an upbeat tempo with basic lyrics which I can’t deny that I love. Yet, the track “Thick Skull” shows the band's vulnerability, with Willliams crooning “I pick ‘em up and now my fingers are bleeding / And it looks like my fault / And it looks like I’m caught red-handed.” It's demure and slow; the complete opposite of “This is Why” and an emotional closer for the album.

With a runtime of just over thirty-six minutes This is Why gives fans a slice of where the band’s lives are at right now, or at least their mindsets on the world. The album is short and sweet (and kinda sad) making it a digestible listen for casual fans and a few die hard ones.

The Last Of Us successfully translates terror

Video games have always been difficult to adapt. Is the curse finally broken?

MATTHEW IDDON

At the time of writing, 6 out of 9 episodes have been aired.

It’s proven quite tricky to spin video game franchises into cinematic gold. Ever since Super Mario Bros. was released in 1993, a so-called “curse” has plagued a long line of failed video game adaptations. Luckily, modern video games have become more and more cinematic in scope, thus making them easier to adapt. Back in 2013, you didn’t need a PlayStation 3 to experience The Last of Us since watching the cutscenes back-to-back on YouTube was practically akin to watching a long movie. Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson’s performances as Joel and Ellie were just as powerful and emotional as any “real” Hollywood acting. Video games are now recognized alongside film and television as a medium capable of truly immersive storytelling. Now that HBO has adapted The Last of Us as a TV show, the question is: has anything been lost in translation?

First let’s look at the story: The year is 2023. The world has been ravaged by a deadly pandemic, and (unlike other zombie apocalypse tales) the source of the

devastation is fungal not viral. Cordyceps (a fungus which, terrifyingly enough, exists in our world) has mutated and infected the population, turning people into mindless monsters (called Runners, Stalkers, Clickers, etc. But let’s be honest, they’re zombies). City-wide quarantine zones have managed to keep the Infected out, but within the city walls a brutal military regime has taken power. Those unlucky enough to find themselves traversing the country must not only survive hordes of zombies, but roving bands of sadistic humans as well. It’s up to Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) and Tess (Anna Torv) to protect a young girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) whose blood may be the key to creating a vaccine. As you might expect, this is easier said than done.

Writing a show like this is no easy task. Stick too closely to the plot points set out in the video game and you risk being repetitive. Too much difference, and the show becomes just another generic dystopian drama. Luckily, writers Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin are keenly aware of this balance. As the creative director of the original game, Druckmann keeps the show tethered to its roots, but also lets the story grow in a unique direction. Mazin (creator of HBO’s Chernobyl) injects The Last of Us with a sense of pervasive dread that is all too familiar for the COVID-19 generation.

There are some significant differences from the source material, and fans of the game might be disappointed. However, the core of the story — Joel and Ellie’s relationship — is strong enough to withstand these changes. The world of The Last of Us is richly detailed, and it’s nice to see the writers explore it in ways that video games just can’t. For example, episode three is a tale of apocalyptic romance between two characters that we’ve never met before and who never show up again — and it’s being called one of the show’s best episodes. We are also treated to some incredible performances. Pascal’s Joel is slightly different from his video game counterpart. But rather than being distracting, these differences enhance the character. In the game you play as Joel, and can mow down hordes of Clickers with ease. The tension comes from your own skill limitations. Pascal’s Joel is noticeably less durable, and this vulnerability makes an encounter with just one Clicker a nail-biting affair. Ramsey also does an excellent job channeling the character of Ellie. Their dysfunctional father-daughter bond is the beating heart of this story, and both actors portray this dynamic beautifully.

It’s safe to say that HBO’s The Last of Us is a successful translation of the original game into live-action. But the best thing about this

show is that it’s not a carbon copy of the game. Diehard fans may balk at the changes being made, but the fact is that both versions of this story are strong enough to stand on their own. The Last of Us is available on HBO Max, and there are still three episodes to go. If you haven’t started this series yet, I highly recommend doing so.

Photo credit: HBO

EVA DAVEY

Photo credit: Atlantic Records

ARTS

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a cozy winter read

Get bundled up and ready for major winter academia vibes

CHARTS SHUFFLE

MAUVEY Before The Album: a love letter to the moons of mars

LITTLE SIMZ

NO THANK YOU

LOKRE ELIZABETH PLANET GIZA You Don't Understand [EP]

DOPE.GNG NRNTB_Rouge

ALVVAYS Blue Rev

SKYE WALLACE Terribly Good BOSLEN GONZO

NADUH HOMIESEXUAL

DUMB Pray 4 Tomorrow

SLOAN Steady

KURI

I love You, You're Welcome

WHITE LUNG Premonition

TEGAN AND SARA Crybaby

BLESSED Circuitous

MAYFLY HIDEAWAY

DILL THE GIANT Weed Man Son (Deluxe)

BLACK PONTIAC

From Bad To Worse (and back again)

WEYES BLOOD And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglo

THE SYLVIA PLATTERS Youth Without Virtue

AARON LEVY STATION MANAGER

CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy is sending out good vibes for the eventual and inevitable time of spring with these tunes to fix any ‘tude.

Igor StravinskyThe Rite of Spring

On one hand, this is one of the modern masterworks of human creativity; on the other, its debut performance erupted into somewhat of a riot. Today, we can recognize this story as emblematic of what art can evoke. In this case, without even having swear words in the lyrics.

The GandharvasFirst Day of Spring

This single from this '90s alternative group anchored out of London, Ont. appeared on their debut release. It was later repackaged on their more widely distributed swan song, “Sold for a Smile,” next to original Canadian radio hit “Downtime,” and a disarmingly heavy cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.”

Matthew Good BandFlashdance II

I don’t know why Matthew Good and Good Charlotte both started referencing “loser anthems” in and around the early aughts, but the EP this song is on, and Good Charlotte’s Anthem both make the reference — and, both were released within about a year of one another. Internet?

The ProducersSpringtime for Hitler

Mel Brooks pushed a lot of boundaries in his comedy. There’s a lot of subtle and not as subtle racism in films like History of the World Spaceballs, etc. But in assembling The Producers into what is now a modern theatre classic, it seems like he’d been walking a tighter line.

MARIE-ANGE ROUTIER

Tell me if these buzzwords resonate with you: academia, winter in Scandinavia, mischievous, evil, fairies, whimsical magic, and adventure. Yes? This tickles your interest? Well then Heather Fawcett’s newest novel Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a book for you. I’ll be honest — I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when the book dropped this January. I knew I liked the dark academia genre (when it’s well done) and faeries/folklore have always been a favourite of mine as well. I figured there’d be little chance of me disliking it, and I was right.

The protagonist, Emily Wilde is a young, grumpy, and serious Cambridge professor with an I-havesomething-to-prove-at-all-times personality. She sets off on an expedition in the cold north with her giant and loyal four-pawed partner Shadow, with the intention of studying the “hidden ones” and compiling the very first encyclopaedia of Faeries. At first her narration comes across as arrogant, dry, and slightly narcissistic. It even made me reconsider whether or not I wanted to keep reading; but shortly into the book — before I could make the mistake of stopping — she is joined by her frenemy/coworker Wendell Bambleby. I think that Wendell, who has a very contrasting personality, could very easily be a tiresome character on his own; but the blend of the two characters is what had me smiling and even laughing out loud at times.

Writing characters who get on each other’s nerves is a balancing act — make them too mean and the humour can get lost, while jabs that are too subtle may be read as flirtation — yet, this is where Fawcett excelled. She kept the jabbing, pranking, and backhanded compliments in harmony with the characters and the story.

The story provided a decent amount of mystery and action with side plots and side characters that were nice enough. The action, pace, and adventure components made for a very engaging read that could be binged in an afternoon or spread over a week without losing too much sizzle.

Hardcovers today typically come with dust covers, and as barbaric as it might seem to you, I never keep mine on. I don’t toss them either as I’d feel bad trashing such artful covers, so I do the one

thing I excel at: I hoard them in a drawer. This was pleasantly not needed for Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries as the hard cover itself is beautifully decorated and there was actually no dust cover in sight. The book is written in a daily journal format. This makes each chapter a short read, which I’ve always preferred when I’m busy as I do not have to wait 15 more pages for the next chapter break. The journal (written in the voice of Emily) has footnotes on folkloric details for those not well versed in dryadology, which benefitted me as a reader. Lastly, the book was not too long, making it a short and engaging read.

Overall it was a good little winter read, and as this is the first in a series, I will be looking forward to the next one.

Photo credit: Penguin Random House

The Wretched of the Earth helps Smuther stake their claim

first time way back in October. The energy of community is brilliant on this EP, and that spirit of resilience it brings is one of its greatest strengths.

Wretched of the Earth is the new EP from Fraser Valley-area hardcore band Smuther. The EP is an important release for the band, considering the dissonance between their live sound with their recorded material (which amounts to one demo). Wretched of the Earth does away with that problem and is a prime example of a band finding their groove in a scene full of diverse sounds. This of course begs the question: what does this EP sound like? To put it simply, it’s fast hardcore that knows exactly when to slow it down. One might say “that’s a really vague answer,” to which I’d respond “just listen to the EP.” But as this is a written review I will give a bit more.

This EP sounds like you and twenty people are crammed into a basement in the middle of December, seeing the same faces every time you see Smuther with the number only growing. This EP sounds like it knows what it’s like to have it all taken away, and that it won’t take opportunities for granted again. This EP sounds like a community that has been here for a long time, right under your nose. To be honest, it was under mine for a long time too, until I saw them for the

Soundbite //

Wretched of the Earth has a “live” feeling to the production. Now, live recordings have usually turned me off from most bands. On the other hand, one of my favourite elements of Converge’s All We Love We Leave Behind is its production that makes you feel as though you’re right there in the room with them. Wretched of the Earth scratches that same itch; it sounds just as dirty and electric as the live event.

This EP is six tracks and eleven minutes long, and it uses those eleven minutes mostly to its advantage, though there was one thing that I wasn't the biggest fan of.

The samples of dialogue from movies, although infrequent, are a little long. It’s a personal dilemma; they’re dynamic and add to the atmosphere of the EP, but I do feel as though they slow down the overall fast-paced nature of the tracks. Either way, it’s far from a problem and more a matter of preference.

The lyrical tone is excellent on Wretched of the Earth, as it takes the listener on a tour through political themes that feel important in 2023. “Capitol Hill” calls out religious hegemony in politics; “White

Guilt” calls out the bullshit espoused by those who think they have it all figured out; and “Wretched” challenges the listener to reconsider whether they’re really seeing and feeling the injustices in the world. Although the internet provides us with a constant stream of information, some of us tailor that stream to help ignore what’s happening just outside our doors and just down the street. When is the last time you really thought about and questioned the decisions your city council members are making? Smuther is paying close attention.

I saved the instrumentals for last, because my thoughts on this are straightforward: riffs don’t need to be full of chugs and double kicks to be heavy, and this EP is heavy without relying on all that. It feels like every single song on this EP was written to be moved to, knowing when to bounce and when to pick things up. A wise man once said that the best moshers make the best bands, and this is a perfect example. I’ve heard rumours that it’s taken them a while to find their sonic niche among their peers. It’s clear that their niche has been found, and they’re on track to dominate it. Smuther is a group that’s tight; you can tell that they’ve practiced more than enough to keep every part in line, as I’m sure they had more than enough time on their hands

Oleefia is a dreamy slice of nostalgia

Best listened to on high-definition headphones, this is a gem of a truly “indie” EP.

Fraser Valley based indie-folk artist Oleefia’s first self-titled EP Oleefia dropped on Bandcamp and streaming platforms on Feb. 15. Oleefia’s five-soundtrack list comes in at a little more than twenty minutes of intimate, ethereal folk that at certain points evokes a blend of First Aid Kit and Feist “Intro,” a resonant, spacey melody, opens the EP with a slow build, establishing early the mental imagery and soundscapes that continue throughout; soaring violin and dreamy piano drift into the main events of track two and three.

“A Bird’s Grief,” the first of the EP’s two singles, is a sorrowful song about longing. The choral hook is particularly strong, and gives Oleefia’s strong vocals a chance to

during the pandemic to hone their craft and fine-tune their creative vision as a band. Since things have started to open back up post-COVID-19, Smuther have been taking up every opportunity they can get, playing shows on a near-weekly basis and even recently headlining at Red Gate Arts Society in Vancouver. At this rate, Smuther is on track to become one of B.C.’s best underground bands. Smuther’s put their blood, sweat, and tears into this; when you listen to Wretched of the Earth, you will know this to be true.

shine in this solid indie-acoustic piece. The second single, “Night,” (featuring fellow local artist Quinn Sojo) feels more experimental. Calling back to the strings and dreamy atmosphere of “Intro,” “Night” sounds almost overwhelming at moments, like a stream of memories sailing past. Melodically, “Night” takes more risks, and they ultimately pay off with a single that builds on the pensive atmosphere.

Track four’s “Dust” is a return to the more traditional indie sound, but Oleefia’s lyrics and harmonies are compelling enough to make this song stand up on its own. By the time the EP closes, bookended with “Outro,” you can’t help but feel a certain wistfulness; Oleefia is as sonically rich as it is poignant. This shimmering slice of nostalgia deserves a spot on your Pisces-season lineup.

Photo credit: Smuther

Photo credit: Oleefia

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.

UFV Events Sports Community Events

March

University Christian Ministries Weekly Welcome Table @ UFV, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Pickleball @ UFV E150, 12:00 -

Campus Recreation Fitness: Self-Care Yoga @ UFV E150, 12:10 - 12:50 p.m. Webinar: Get to know UFV @ Online, 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Campus Recreation Fitness: Zumba (Abbotsford) @ UFV,

Campus Recreation Drop-in Cricket @ UFV E150, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

ROCKZILLA @ Abbotsford Centre, 6:00 p.m.

Campus Recreation Fitness: Summit Circuit @ UFV E150, 11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.

University

Campus

SDGs Lab Event Day @ Evered Hall, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Learn to Play D&D @ Boardwalk Cafe and Games, 12:00 p.m.

Anita’s One Dough 4 Ways Class @ Chilliwack, 4:00 p.m.

Golf RMC Intercollegiate @ Las Vegas, NV

CEP U-Pass Distribution @ Chilliwack Campus, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Professional Learning Community: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy @ Online, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Campus Recreation Fitness: Self-Care Yoga @ UFV E150, 12:10 - 12:50 p.m.

CECE Career Coaching Drop-In Session @ UFV International Global Lounge B223, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Spikeball @ UFV E150,

Campus Recreation Fitness: Zumba (Abbotsford) @ UFV

Campus Rec Culture

Golf RMC Intercollegiate @ Las Vegas, NV

University Christian Ministries Weekly Welcome Table @ UFV, 9:0011:00 a.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Pickleball @ UFV E150, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Workshop: Embracing Others, Getting Results @ UFV, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Campus Recreation Fitness: Self-Care Yoga @ UFV E150, 12:10 - 12:50 p.m.

Campus Recreation Fitness: Zumba (Abbotsford) @ UFV E150, 4:05 - 4:45 p.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Cricket @ UFV E150, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Canucks vs. Colorado Eagles @ 7:00 p.m.

CEP U-Pass Distribution @ Chilliwack Campus, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Campus Recreation Fitness: Self-Care Yoga @ UFV E150, 12:10 - 12:50 p.m.

CECE Career Coaching Drop-In Session @ UFV International Global Lounge

B223, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Spikeball @ UFV E150, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Campus Recreation Fitness: Zumba (Abbotsford) @ UFV E150, 4:05 - 4:45 p.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Basketball @ UFV E150, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Volleyball @ UFV E150, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Badminton @ UFV E150, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Campus Recreation Fitness: Spin & Strength @ UFV E150, 12:45 - 1:25 p.m.

Campus Recreation Fitness: Body Blast @ UFV E150, 4:35 - 5:15 p.m.

UFV Islamic Relief Club Team Meeting @ UFV A300, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Dungeons & Dragons Drop In Adventures! @ Boardwalk Cafe and Games, 6:30 p.m.

Golf RMC Intercollegiate @

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