The Cascade, Volume 31, Issue 8

Seizing the means of production since 1993

COPING WITH DR. JORDAN PETERSON

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

Production Manager Niusha Naderi niusha@ufvcascade.ca

Business Manager Marie-Ange Routier marie-ange@ufvcascade.ca

Jr. News Editor Jayden Talvio

Digital Media Manager Wilson Agyapong wilson@ufvcascade.ca

Culture & Events Editor culture@ufvcascade.ca

Arts in Review Editor Eva Davey eva@ufvcascade.ca

Features & Cover Rashneet Illustrator Iryna Presley

Washington Reimer Illustrator Carolina Talcan Photographer Aryan Kathuria

Managing Editor Kait Thompson kaitlyn@ufvcascade.ca

Creative Director Lindsey Roberts lindsey@ufvcascade.ca

News Editor Rachel Tait rachel @ufvcascade.ca

Copy Editor Aasha Khoyratty aasha@ufvcascade.ca

Features Editor Brad Duncan brad@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Emmaline Spencer emmaline @ufvcascade.ca

Sports

Production

Human creativity is a precious resource

Art isn’t everything, but it’s pretty damn close.

KAIT THOMPSON

When it feels like everything is going to shit, there is one comfort that we all love to turn to. Entertainment — or as it’s known in its raw, unrefined material state, “art” — has been a solace to many of us. Whether it’s a series that we binge-watched through lonely pandemic times, a video game that distracted us from our angst, or an album that soothed us through a break up, most of us have had some firsthand experience of art lifting us up and getting us through the rough patches.

Staff

CONTRIBUTORS

Josiah Hansen

Caleb Campbell

Steve Hartwig

Jordie Arthur

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

@UFVCASCADE

FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE

Volume 31 · Issue 8 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.

Good writing is the foundation of most forms of entertainment. This magical ability to transmogrify human experiences onto a page, screen, or record is a precious one that sets us apart from our incumbent robot overlords. If artists do their jobs right, you forget there’s people behind-the-scenes, crafting and orchestrating everything you’re taking in. At a time when AI is getting better at doing all the things that these talented people do, I think it’s important to acknowledge the invaluable humanity that the folks who create these things bring to their work. AI can not replace the skill, passion, and neuroticism of our creative workers.

The ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike is a great example of the divide between those who create and those who package and sell, and how that gap seems to be getting ever wider with each passing year. Those on the picket lines would tell you what every generation of writers who have gone on strike before them have: it’s not just better compensation that they’re fighting for, but the future of the profession in a rapidly shifting media landscape. As a student publication at a university, these kinds of bigger, meta conversations about the viability of careers in literary or creative fields feel relevant among our ranks. The Cascade provides a unique opportunity for anyone to write, create, and submit content that’s published regardless of clickbait appeal. It’s a safe space

for burgeoning creatives to flex their muscles and do art for art’s sake — a privilege that is so valuable in the development of writers and artists.

Whether students who engage with creative extracurriculars like The Cascade go on to be writers, journalists, graphic designers, or mathematicians; art and entertainment will be a part of their lives in some fashion. As livable, steady careers in the arts seem to be evaporating in favor of a gig economy, it’s more important now than ever that we do not let ourselves buy into the false idea that creative expression is a cute little hobby that some people have between their “real jobs.” Creating art is a job — and our lives would be unrecognizable without the fruits of that labour.

OPINION

9.....A modest proposal for the 21st century 12.....15-minute cities: Counterpoint 13.....Snapshots

CULTURE

14.....Where in the world is Andrea MacPherson?

15.....The Cascade Kitchen 15-16.....Study Break

ARTS

17......Books: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

17......Music: The Banquet Room

18......Movies: Evil Dead Rise

19..... Movies: Renfield

19..... Rewind: Pushing Daisies

Illustration by Washington Reimer

The Valley’s ongoing transit troubles

CUPE 561’s president Randy Kootte talks to The Cascade about the strike, BC Transit’s role, and how UFV students can support a resolution

be treated fairly and equally. “I enjoy helping people. I like being a part of the process.”

Randy Kootte is the president of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 561, a local union that oversees the strike against First Transit, the U.S.-based company that operates transit in the Fraser Valley. The work stoppage has been ongoing since Mar. 20, with transit workers demanding equal wages compared to other transit companies in the Lower Mainland, as well as a pension. According to Kootte, a lot of employees “work into their seventies and eighties [because] their wages are so low and they have no pension. It's unfortunate.”

As president, Kootte oversees CUPE 561 and makes sure their members are “represented accordingly, and that we abide by our bylaws and our national constitution.” Kootte decided to get involved because he believes in workers’ rights and that they need to

Dean

JAYDEN TALVIO RACHEL TAIT

“We're actually getting a lot of support,” said Kootte, “and I just believe it's because the public believes that workers should be paid fairly. When they hear that we are 32 per cent below the rest of the transit workers in the region, they're surprised.”

“A lot of our members use public transit, so they know all too well the

impact it has, and they want nothing more than to get back to their jobs. And they love their jobs, you know, they love the interactions they have with the people on their buses. These people are losing out.”

According to Kootte, BC Transit needs to get actively involved to push for a resolution. “They've contracted this work out to this company, so they need to step in and get this company to come to the table with a deal that's

going to pay our members what we're asking.”

Kootte explained that in order to end the job action quickly, what is needed “is for BC Transit to get in there and work with this contractor to come to the table with a deal that we're gonna be able to accept.” He encouraged UFV students to go to www.weneedalift.ca and help support the union. “There’s a link to write a letter to BC Transit encouraging them to get involved… and end this dispute.”

“All we're asking for is fair wages that are in line with what all the other public transit workers are making,” said Kootte. “It's reasonable, and our workers deserve it. And we want to thank all the communities and the students for the support that we're getting already. We appreciate that very much. And we're going to do everything we can to end this as soon as possible.”

of the faculty of science is retiring from her post

Dr. Lucy Lee has worked as the dean of the faculty of science at UFV since 2012. Holding a PhD in cell biology from the University of Waterloo, Lee specializes in fish cell culture and “fish muscle cell line development.” She has worked at such institutions as the University of Saskatchewan, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Waterloo, and after 11 years of working at UFV, has decided to retire from her position. Dr. Lee opened up about working in her position, the Lee Lab, her research, and what she hopes to see in the future for UFV.

Lee has been working predominantly in fish cell culture for several years, but it wasn’t her first choice back in high school. “It's actually very convoluted because you've finished high school and you never know what you want to do.” Lee said that since she was good at many subjects, her high school counsellor told her, “you can do whatever you want.” One of her passions was art, and she’d initially decided to become an architect because she wanted to utilize both her math and drawing skills in her profession.

“Then the university that I wanted to go to was on strike,” said Lee, “so I didn't go there, and eventually I changed into medicine and then to biology.” This change in career aspirations ultimately led her to UFV and her position as the dean of the faculty of science. “I just love the cell culture aspect of things that I have been doing for the last 30 years now.”

Lee ultimately made the decision to retire from her position this year. “You have to give the youth the chance to also move up.” After retiring, she will continue to work on different research projects. “I still have funding from the NSERC, which is the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. That funding will allow me to still do research until 2025 or 2026.”

The Cascade asked Dr. Lee about her work in the Lee Lab, named after her and her colleague, Dr. Justin Lee, where they conduct research on fish cell culture. Cell culture is a laboratory method of cell cultivation that enables their production and growth in a controlled environment outside of an organism’s natural habitat. Lee said she would “create the cell lines, which are continuous cultures of cells,” and her

colleague would “change the genetic makeup of the cells using nanoparticles and transfecting them so that that can be used for various aspects of applied biotechnology… We provide all of the requirements [so] that cells can survive in the lab.”

This research is a big deal. There’s a growing demand for research into lab-grown meat, as many fish species people rely on as a food source, such as tuna, are increasingly becoming endangered. “If you can get the stem cells for the muscle cells by just doing a little biopsy, for example, you can grow them forever and ever if you get the right conditions. I think [tuna] are the ideal species to protect and to grow the muscle cells in the lab as opposed to harvesting from live animals.”

Lee would like to see more funding and space for research at UFV so that the institution can grow and expand. “People think of teaching as totally separate from research, and that is not the case. Teaching goes along with research, so research must be funded and nurtured for people to be able to become really good teachers. We don't really have the space nor the funding for research all that much here at this

institution, so unless that research money comes into the university, we are still gonna stay a small university. If we have the research funds and we become known, students will come.”

“I love interacting with the students,” said Lee. When asked if she had any advice for UFV’s students, she advised them “to be curious, always ask questions [and] don’t assume that professors know everything.” She also encouraged students to research what interests them, ask questions, get faculty support, and pursue their passions. “You guys have the information at your hands. You can Google, find things, and challenge the faculty.”

Community

// UFV

Photo by Aryan Kathuria

BY JAYDEN TALVIO

Rise in orcas conducting “coordinated attacks” against boats in Spain

Over the past few years, there has been a rise in the number of orcas attacking and sinking boats in what some researchers consider to be “a series of coordinated attacks.” As of May 26, Spain’s Maritime Rescue has reported 24 incidents since the beginning of the year. In an interview with NBC News biologist Jeff Corewin stated, “there’s two theories to why this is happening.” One theory is that the Orcas are simply playing, and the overly rambunctious whales are creating unintentional damage. The other theory posits that a traumatic event could have induced this response, and that a particular female could have been injured, and now sees these vessels as a threat. Orcas are highly social and coordinated animals, and according to Corewin, it’s possible that “she’s taught this defensive, then offensive, behaviour to other members of her pod.”

Paralympian finds missing woman with the assistance of her guide dog

On May 17, paralympian Jessica Tuomela and Lucy, her golden retriever, helped locate a missing elderly woman with dementia. The silver-medalist received a text from her neighbour informing her that their elderly family member had gone missing around Elk Lake, Saanich. Tuomela and her dog were well prepared, as they spent a year training specifically in scent trailing for search and rescue. Lucy was able to track the missing resident through the use of a scent preservation kit, which was provided by the family. The kit consisted of a swab with the woman’s scent in a jar, which enabled Lucy to recognize and locate the woman in less than 40 minutes, where she was “splashing” in Elk Lake. Tuomela runs True North Canine, so if you’d like more information on these kits and their benefits, check out their website.

Canada wins gold in men’s international hockey tournament

Abbotsford Regional Hospital (ARH) will be adding a new 15-bed internal medicine unit. The addition will allow for patients — particularly those with complex medical needs — to receive specialized care within this one unit as opposed to being dispersed across the hospital. According to Dr. Euiseok Kim, head of internal medicine, the unit is expected to “provide more robust multi-disciplinary care to our patients with a goal to improve outcomes for our patients and decrease their length of stay in the hospital.” ARH is the third Fraser Health hospital to implement an internal medicine unit.

On May 28 at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland, Canada defeated Germany 5-2 in the championship round of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The teams were tied 2-2 by the end of the second period, but Canada scored three goals in the third to win the competition. Sammy Blais scored two goals for Team Canada, with Lawson Crouse, Tyler Toffoli, and Scott Laughton scoring one apiece. This marks Canada’s 28th time winning the Ice Hockey World Championship — more than any other country. The tournament had originally been slated for St. Petersburg, Russia, but after the invasion of Ukraine, the IIHF revoked Russia’s hosting rights, and moved the tournament inside European borders.

Abbotsford gets a new medical unit to improve patient care

It’s a swing and a miss for Cascades baseball

UFV’s men’s team can’t overcome their defensive shortcomings in CCBC playoffs

JOSIAH HANSEN

The UFV Cascades’ season ended unceremoniously with two consecutive losses in the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) playoffs.

The UFV Cascades came into the playoffs as the seventh seed after finishing the regular season with a 13-19 record. The team was highly inconsistent on the defensive side of the ball which put them in deep holes in more than a few games this season. The offence propelled the team to second in the league in team batting average and third in on-base percentage and runs scored. However, the defence

Baseball// Basketball//

was second in the league in errors and third from the bottom in Earned Run Average (ERA) and Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched (WHIP). The bullpen didn’t have the depth they needed, as four of the team’s relief pitchers who pitched at least ten innings in the season had ERAs of 5.00+.

UFV’s first game in this doubleelimination playoff, which they dropped by a score of 8-1, was against the number two-seeded Okanagan College Coyotes. Coyotes pitcher Gavin Wuschke threw seven scoreless innings, and the team racked up four runs in the fourth inning on their way to victory. Cascades’ pitcher Blake Badger was chased off the mound after

he gave up his season highs in hits and earned runs, closing out a season-low 4.0 innings in an uncharacteristic start. The offence couldn’t string enough hits together to cash in on their runners, stranding 11 of them in the game.

The Cascades headed into their second game in a win-or-go-home scenario. They had defeated their opponents, Edmonton Collegiate, in four straight games at the beginning of the season, and early on in the game, they seemed to be carrying on that momentum. A triple from CCBC Rookie of the Year, Jared Hall sparked the Cascades to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. They carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth before Edmonton

exploded for a six-run inning. The Cascades couldn’t overcome this deficit as they lost the game 8-5 despite outhitting Edmonton 14-6.

The championship game was a thrilling one between the Victoria Golden Tide and the Calgary Dinos. The Dinos saw an early 7-1 lead slowly start to evaporate throughout the course of the game, but they were able to fend off the Tide’s comeback. With an 8-7 victory, Calgary secured their first championship in CCBC history.

Through the summer the Cascades will look to regroup, develop their young talent, and come back strong for the fall season beginning in September.

UFV to host Women’s Basketball Championships in 2024

Top Canada West WBB teams compete for chance to represent at USports National Championships

STEVE HARTWIG & JORDIE ARTHUR

The Canada West Conference selected UFV to host the 2023-24 Canada West Women’s Basketball Championships from Feb. 21-25, 2024. The Men’s Basketball tournament will be held in Manitoba during the same week.

"We are excited to have the best men's and women's teams in the conference converge on a single site and really highlight the calibre of basketball in Canada West," says Eoin Colquhoun, associate director of sport at Canada West. "There was great interest from

across the conference to host both tournaments and we expect that UFV and Manitoba will host two great events."

UFV went 14-6 last season and was nationally ranked for most of the year. Head coach Al Tuchscherer indicated the program will return every player for the 2023-24 season, including some new signings to bolster their ranks. After a stellar 2022-23 season, Canada West first-team all-star Maddy Gobiel returns to lead the squad.

The Canada West men's and women's basketball seasons tip off in October, and all games during the regular season and throughout the playoffs are available live and on-demand on

Canada West TV. You can stay up-todate on the Cascades and Canada West Conference at Canadawest.news/wbb

The championship also kicks off a milestone celebration for UFV, as the institution prepares to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

UFV Athletics is planning to put on a first-class event and welcomes support from the university, the student body, and the surrounding communities.

"Given the great history of high school and club basketball in the Fraser Valley, we plan to invite all ages to experience the excitement of competition in a smaller venue," says Steve Tuckwood, athletics director at UFV. "Adding live entertainment,

great food, participation of our alumni and our community, we will be able to showcase Canada West's amazing athletes to our fans and the basketball enthusiasts we have in the Valley.

"From the humble beginnings of Fraser Valley College back in 1974, to the teaching-intensive university of 15,000 proud students of today, UFV has grown up to become a centre of the community in the Fraser Valley and beyond," says Tuckwood. "To celebrate the first 50 years with a launch party of the best women's basketball in western Canada will give our alumni and community the perfect reason to cheer loudly and prepare for a season of celebration at UFV."

DR. STRAINEDLOVE

Or: How I learned to stop quarreling and walk away from Jordan Peterson

Article by Matthew Iddon

My introduction to Dr. Jordan Peterson was probably around 2018. His notorious Channel 4 interview with Cathy Newman has been watched over 44 million times, and is undoubtedly a captivating piece of internet history. Over the course of a 30-minute interview, Newman interrupts, antagonizes, and mischaracterizes Peterson; poking and prodding in vain to wear him down. In turn, Peterson remains composed; unfazed. He confidently rebukes her at every turn. This verbal battering intensifies until she asks why his right to speak freely outweighs someone else’s right to avoid being offended — at which point Peterson utters the now-infamous quote “in order to be able , you have to risk being offensive.” Then, demonstrating his mental agility, he turns the tables: “I mean look at the conversation we’re having right now… you’re certainly willing to risk offending me in the pursuit of truth. Why should you have the right to do that? It’s been rather uncomfortable.” Newman pretty much runs out of steam, and the interview comes to an end

There’s a reason why that quip is the most replayed part of the interview. Something about Peterson’s stoicism and Newman’s flustered expression undeniably resonates (and the comments seemingly confirm this). Gen Z’s fascination with the conflict between logic and emotion pops up in internet meme culture every now and again, but has recently taken the form of the “Chad vs. Soyjak” comic. This meme exists in a variety of formats, but essentially postulates this: the correct opinion in any debate belongs to the stoic, unyielding intellectual; the incorrect opinion belongs to those too emotionally unstable to cope with reality.

Cathy Newman’s intellectual thrashing was likely a watershed moment for many young people, and many young men in particular. It certainly was for me. That killer line about the necessity of being offensive made perfect sense. Why should we sugarcoat facts for those who are too emotional to cope with the truth?

It’s 2023 now, and I’m 23 years old. As I sit down to rewatch the Cathy Newman interview for this article, I’m greeted by a Jordan Peterson ad. The man himself is sitting in a leather chair, shilling marital advice, and advertising himself as my “best chance of happiness.” It seems appropriate, since I feel as if I’ve been married to Jordan Peterson for years now — and I’m very, very tired.

Who is Jordan Peterson?

If you’re a young man between the ages of 18 and 25, you already know who Jordan Peterson is. Whether or not you found his work organically, or if the YouTube algorithm shoved him in your face, the man is an inescapable facet of digital life. He’s

a clinical psychologist with a passion for mythology; he’s taught courses at Harvard and the University of Toronto, and his online lectures rack up millions of views; he’s written three books, and provides several self-help programs all while touring internationally. There’s no denying his resumé is impressive, but it’s not the reason for his notoriety.

Peterson has been a figure of controversy ever since 2016, when he publicly opposed Bill C-16. The bill was intended to protect the rights and freedoms of those with differing gender identities, but Peterson ruled it to be an authoritarian overstep intended to “control the ideological and linguistic territory.” While legal experts quibbled over whether the misuse of a person’s preferred pronouns could send you to jail, Peterson seemed primarily concerned with the bill’s infringement of free speech.

After this event, Peterson’s life and career became symbiotically intertwined with a new cultural audience, particularly young, conservative-leaning men. His book, 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote To Chaos advises men to “stand up straight with your shoulders back” and “set your house in order before you criticize the world” (a.k.a. “clean your room”). Despite being touchy about speaking on his relationship with God, Peterson’s teachings are undoubtedly grounded in a Judeo-Christian framework, which usually affords him favour with the Christian demographic.

Wherever Jordan Peterson stands politically (we know he’s antiTrudeau), it’s clear that he has struck a chord with a very particular subset. He advocates that tradition should not be abandoned without great caution, and disagrees that Western society and culture has been built upon a bedrock of systemic oppression. His scathing critiques of feminism, postmodernism, and Marxism have cemented his position as a countercultural beacon for young men who identify as right-wing, alt-right, or simply conservative. Beyond politics, he appeals to the disenfranchised and abandoned as a kind of father figure. But he didn’t reach them all on his own. It took a middleman to bring Peterson’s moral teachings to the masses.

Why The Algorithm Loves Him

Are you a college student trying to veg out and watch some YouTube videos before bed? The YouTube algorithm would like you to know that there are millions of Jordan Peterson clips available for you to enjoy, all conveniently chopped up into bite-sized YouTube Shorts. What’s that? You’re not interested? Don’t worry, YouTube also has plenty of content from Joe Rogan, Steven Crowder, Ben Shapiro, and other content creators that your liberal friends find “problematic.”

It’s no secret that YouTube algorithmically curates what you watch in order to suit your interests. With the proliferation of TikTok-style short form content across every social media platform, this process is made even more instantaneous. Each swipe takes you further and further into “your” personalized side of TikTok/YouTube/ Instagram.

Many have theorized that social media algorithms have an ideological bias that can lead users down politically extreme rabbit holes. While the thought is concerning, the truth may not be quite so scary. A study by Brookings found that YouTube’s algorithm only pushes users “into (very) mild ideological echo chambers.” YouTube

His scathing critiques of feminism, postmodernism, and Marxism have cemented his position as a countercultural beacon for young men who identify as right-wing, alt-right, or simply conservative.

isn’t necessarily leading innocent young lambs to the slaughter, and personal choice is still the main factor that determines whether or not you spend your evening watching Holocaust denial videos. So if there’s no grand conspiracy, why is there so much goddamn Peterson in my feed?

The answer is simple. If you’re a young college student, quickly gaining an appreciation for politics, religion, and philosophy, you will surely stumble across one of Peterson’s videos discussing one or all three of these things. If you tend to agree with what he says, and you enjoy the video, you will be delighted to find that YouTube has ten more Peterson recommendations waiting for you. If you didn’t enjoy the video, but hate-watched even just a quarter of it, you will inevitably find yourself back in the arms of Dr. Peterson.

Short form video content has made this process even quicker. It may seem harmless to hate-watch a 30-second video, but after 30 seconds pass, you’ve advertised to the algorithm that you would like ten more videos where that came from, please. Even if you attempt

to curate your content stream with feedback, it’s not just your digital diet the algorithm is analyzing. The internet is a vast ocean, and the same virtual currents that brought you to Peterson in the first place will see you drifting back to him again — and again.

Why People Love Him

There’s nothing wrong with being interested in some of Peterson’s work. He has a fascinating series of lectures on his YouTube channel in which he analyzes The Book of Genesis. He’s undoubtedly a very intelligent man who has contributed value to the world, and if some of his “12 Rules For Life” inspire you to become a better person, more power to you. His lessons for men are certainly more mature, thoughtful, and profound than the “advice” that people like Andrew Tate spew out. But when I see book titles like Savage Messiah: How Dr. Jordan Peterson Is Saving Western Civilization, I have to believe there’s some degree of blind hero worship happening here.

I mentioned earlier that Gen Z has a particular infatuation with stoic characters, and this is evident in countless internet memes. There’s something inherently humorous about watching someone have a meltdown when confronted with steely opposition, and the people who upload Jordan Peterson clips to YouTube know this. Videos titled “Overconfident Atheist Tries To Cancel Jordan Peterson, gets DESTROYED Instantly!” and “Jordan Peterson Instantly OWNS Woke Professor On Gender Pronouns” rack up hundreds of thousands of views.

Stuff like this is conservative porn. It intentionally frames Peterson’s opponents as whiny submissive crybabies, and Peterson himself as the intellectual dominant, bolstering the confidence of his young audience. Nevermind that most of these video titles are misleading (the videos themselves mostly contain civil discussions where no one gets DESTROYED or OWNED). They entice people on both sides of the political fence to click, strengthening Peterson’s digital empire.

I get it, I really do. As the culture wars rage online, young people desperately want to be included; to be viewed as intellectual keyboard warriors. Peterson has become a father figure to many, and like good children, his followers want to emulate him. They want to counter opposing arguments with cold hard facts and logic and be seen as deep, philosophical thinkers. I know they do, because I did too. But by emulating Peterson and other famous conservative pundits, you may be conflating “intelligence” with what is essentially just petty schoolyard bullying.

Jordan Peterson is not the stoic Chad you think he is. He cries frequently, loses his temper, and froths at the mouth when talking about the things he hates. He’s a human being. Not to mention, much of his recent online behavior is frankly vile and unpleasant. Whether he’s throwing a tantrum over a curvy “plus-sized” woman making the cover of Sports Illustrated because she’s “not beautiful” or calling a drag queen “the whore of Babylon,” it’s becoming increasingly difficult to take him seriously anymore. My hope is that his fans are starting to see this too. Try to mouth off in public like Peterson does on Twitter, and most people will deem you to be anti-social and embarrassing.

Remember that Cathy Newman interview? At the beginning of it, Peterson declares that there is “nothing uglier than an old infant.” Never before have such prophetic words been spoken.

In Conclusion…

Peterson is not just some amorphous online entity. In fact, he recently appeared at the Abbotsford Events Centre as part of his Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life tour. His appearance elicited a condemnation from the interim president of UFV’s Faculty and Staff Association (FSA), Greg Mather, who was “deeply concerned for the holistic safety of our UFV community members to have this speaker so close to our campus doors.” It’s hard to see how UFV’s overreaction to an unaffiliated event does anything but strengthen Peterson’s case. The things he says are resounding with young people in a very real way.

When Peterson cries wolf about cultural Marxism, claims to be a victim of the “woke” agenda, or when he is demonized by the left, his audience showers him with sympathy and cash. In return, Peterson caters more and more towards the 4chan crowd, pushing him further into the conservative “manosphere” until both parties are leeching off each other for support. Peterson’s online presence has become increasingly mean-spirited and extreme, likely because he doesn’t want to alienate the audience he’s cultivated.

If I could ask men my age one thing, it would be to carefully consider where you get your “wisdom” from. At this point there can be no doubt that the motivations behind self-help content are never wholly altruistic. Peterson has become a sort of “port-in-the-storm” for disillusioned, depressed young men. And yet, I can’t help but wonder: what precisely is the difference between catering exclusively towards vulnerable people, and preying on them? There’s good money to be made in telling insecure men how imperfect they are, especially when you alone hold the antidote to all their problems. Take what resonates from his sermons, but always try to diversify your media diet — man cannot survive on Peterson alone.

I am not trying to slander Jordan Peterson, or indict his behavior. Nor do I seek to poke holes in his arguments or somehow subvert his entire enterprise with “facts and logic” of my own. His beliefs are his own, and he has every right to them. If anything, I wish him success in his endeavors, and hope he continues to help people. I’m not smart or competent enough to challenge him on intellectual grounds (and as the man himself says, you shouldn’t meddle with things you’re not competent enough to deal with).

I’ve become exhausted with trying to be right all the time. Peterson certainly enjoys waxing philosophical about many things — his fans expect it — but I suspect he’s not competent enough to fully understand all of them. I’ve taken what I can from him, but ultimately I know that I have to look elsewhere to gain a wider perspective of the world. Plus, embracing the vision of a man who sees imperfection and chaos everywhere can make you bitter. Perhaps that’s why he’s abandoned so many of his “rules” in his own life, and why his online persona is so divorced from any semblance of the man who laughingly jousted with Newman in 2018.

I don’t have an answer to the challenges created by a society that is rapidly evolving and dissolving all at once. But I do know with absolute certainty that I can aspire to be a nicer person than Jordan Peterson — and possibly a happier one too.

There’s good money to be made in telling insecure men how imperfect they are, especially when you alone hold the antidote to all their problems.

Satire// A modest (sum for a) proposal

An essay

Much discourse has been had regarding the crisis of men in our times; it appears, in this modern age of both technology and ideas, that millions of men around the globe are succumbing to an abject melancholy and reduction of spirit. While one might assume that the evolution of society would disproportionately affect the elder generations — those rooted in their outdated ways and susceptible to “wrong” ways of thinking — many of the ills fall squarely upon the shoulders of the boys and young men of the day.

The troubles for boys are mounting indeed. They struggle in academics compared to their female counterparts; to the point

where some say boys should be held back for a year in order to “catch up” to the girls who are mentally and socially more mature and thus prepared for grade school sooner. After they have (eventually) matured, chaps are also less likely to attend a post-secondary institution than their counterparts. UFV’s own data shows that the female-tomale population ratio is 57 per cent to 43 per cent, which is in-line with Canada’s overall discrepancy. This trend does not simply disadvantage men in the workforce. Collegeeducated women are less likely to partner up with a man who lacks a comparable collegiate background. This has made men with degrees a commodity, while those without are rendered less-

viable prospects. There may be more fish in the sea, but the ones with degrees are not biting.

The workforce has also changed for men. Many jobs requiring physical labour have been offshored, and as workplaces shift to a knowledge and service economy, men are finding fewer opportunities for jobs that pay well. This continues to hurt their prospects for longterm romance, as many educated women still prefer relationships with fellows who earn at least a comparable salary. Those who seek a life in the military are also at a disadvantage, as “Gen Z’s” sedentary upbringing has resulted in a pitiable skeleton prone to injuries in training.

Simultaneously, technology has aggravated anti-social

behaviours. Lads raised like veal develop fewer meaningful relationships, and many struggle to fathom basic social agreements. That a woman posting provocative photos or selling online content does not greenlight the universal sexualization and commodification of all women should not be an enlightened concept, and yet this reality seems entirely outside the grasp of many. The village it takes to raise these pups has replaced accountability and instruction with shame and societal rejection. A systemic lack of appropriate mentorship, guidance, and empathy leads to many juveniles slowly transforming from their mother’s sweet Jekyll, to the Hyde of their online avatar or gamertag.

BRADLEY DUNCAN

Brad Duncan | Generated by Stable AI

A gravitational force in their own right, these wayward adolescents find each other online and congregate behind truly toxic personalities. These guru bros are more than willing to separate their woeful flock from whatever modest earnings haven’t yet been spent to see a boob. Devoid of deep friendships, romantic partners, academic successes, and fulfilling careers, a bounty of lost boys are becoming lonelier, angrier, and starved of hope. The rising rates of the involuntarily celibate (“incels”) points to a troubling undercurrent of societal washouts, and it seems that neither these despondent man-babies, nor their respective nations, are equipped to address the root causes.

These new challenges have arrived just as the economy kicked an entire generation squarely in the genitals. The prospect of home ownership for those not already in the market has become almost unimaginable, save three factors: a substantial dual-income relationship, help from parents, and inheritance. It is here that I make my proposal: we should, with all due haste, return to the normalization and institutionalization of the dowry.

A dowry is a gift in the form of money, goods, or property — typically paid by the family of the bride — in exchange for marriage. It is, in part, an incentive a family would pay to marry off their daughters, who were societally deemed less favourable than sons. To put it crudely, fathers would shell out to unload their daughters onto a husband, and a hefty dowry could increase the pool of suitors and better their child’s prospects. The practice

has largely fallen out of favour, but the custom leaves traces, like a traditional expectation that the bride's family pays for the wedding.

It seems we need the dowry again — but this time for our young men. It is a win-win proposition. Women are better educated, more hirable, and more selective in their mates, but despite these advantages, struggle to find either a suitable partner or an affordable home. Alternatively, many men have become ill-suited to modern school and modern work, illprepared for close relationships, vulnerable to predatory “alpha” influencers, and infused with a deep-seated doubt about any tangible self worth — but they are worth something — a handsome down payment. If society writ large doesn't value the lads it’s leaving behind, perhaps their parents will.

I do not make this case for myself, and I’ve no children of my own. I make this plea for the good of society as a whole. This proposal has been given a great deal of care and consideration, and the tangible benefits are clear. First, the pairing of partners based on real estate will help to form more lasting unions, as many couples who have signed onto a mortgage will quickly find themselves house-poor and lashed together by circumstance. Once firmly pushed from the nest, young men will have little choice but to ensure that they remain an acceptable partner. The housing and rental market being what it is, it would certainly be preferable for men to be dutiful husbands, rather than venture out into a basement suite that

evaporates a majority of their income.

As well, although birth rates are historically low, many people still desire to have children who would benefit from a stable home environment. Especially in situations where the father earns less, it makes sense for them to spend the first years of their child’s life at home with the kids. Having an active and engaged parent throughout a child’s earliest stages of development will serve as a social benefit for all — in part, because children who have such supportive upbringings do better later in life — but also because it may be possible for fathers to absorb some of the pro-social themes of their children’s entertainment, which sadly, many seem to have missed out on themselves.

This re-imagining of the nuclear family dynamic should appease both progressives and conservatives alike, as the former have advocated for greater opportunities for women for many decades, while the latter has pushed for a re-emphasis on the importance of two-parent households on child-rearing, and the value of a stay-at-home parent.

As far as I can tell, neither camp has taken a favorable position on reducing male role-models in the home, so this compromise should be satisfactorily non-partisan.

The return to a dowry for men of marrying age will also have ripple-effects throughout the culture, as parents reassess their roles in preparing their children for adulthood. Lads who might otherwise be left to their own devices will begin to see a shift in their adolescence. Certainly the modern incarnation of “Prom” will adapt to an earlier conception.

Prom is of course, short for promenade, a tradition rooted in debutante balls in which families would introduce their children to society. Prom was a comingof-age expectation with a long and storied past, as any fan of the works of Jane Austen (or Bridgerton) will quickly recognize. However, while young men of the age could demonstrate their manners, social standing, and their ability to procure a good tailor, women’s experience was somewhat more transactional. Promenade, borrowed from the French term “to walk,” was a means of parading one’s

Lads raised like veal develop fewer meaningful relationships, and many struggle to fathom basic social agreements.

Illustration by Carolina Talcan

daughters about like horses at a country auction. Fathers could appraise would-be suitors, rejecting those who did not meet their standards.

In January of this year, Xochitl Gonzalez, a writer for The Atlantic wrote “The New Case for Social Climbing.” In the article, Gonzalez states:

“I am here to make a modern case for social climbing. (...) To destigmatize and demystify the art form — because it surely is an art. One that I don’t believe any of us can afford to ignore in this era of growing income inequality, decreasing social mobility, and increased isolation — particularly not young people who are stymied by the state of capitalism and boxed in by lack of opportunity, and who, more and more, work and socialize online. Meritocracy is makebelieve; wealth is elusive. But there’s one form of capital that is not finite, and it is social.”

This seems to reinforce the virtues of my proposal. Merit and hard work alone can no longer be counted on to wrestle established wealth and equity from the clutches of the twentyfirst century landed gentry. Those who own property outright can leverage that capital into new

wealth — for example — by buying up all the new condo developments and living on the income of the exorbitant rents they charge. The very idea that tenants can simultaneously save for their own down-payments while supporting a new leisure class of rentiers would be laughable if it weren’t so profoundly sad. The marriage of income to inheritance has clearly also become one of necessity. With this expectational shift, parents may take greater care to educate their boys in virtues that often go underserved. Selective women will want to ensure not only that their prospective mates are well-mannered, of good breeding stock, and capable of grilling more than a cheese sandwich. They will also select against men who believe Clitoris to be the name of an Elf in a Lord of the Rings adaptation that they intend to deride regardless of their eventual enlightenment. If tutoring boys in the art of seduction seems radical, it’s worth pointing to the past education of aristocratic young women for just how far we've taken that idea before.

It’s even possible that pornography will change. Previous generations of young

lads whose sexual awakenings were rooted in provocative cinema, troves of stashed magazines, or the finding of a random Sears catalog, are often taken aback by the accessibility and content of today’s pornographic ecosystem. Publications like Playboy, which would print completed questionnaires on the back of their centerfolds — alongside interview-based articles specifically to humanize their subjects — have been replaced by content that often reduces women to objects of strict sexual gratification who are coerced into performing increasingly dehumanizing acts to satiate their ravenous audience. The commodification of sex, combined with a reduced appreciation for women as human beings and revolutions in artificial intelligence (AI) has led to an uptick in “deepfake” videos and revenge-porn. Parents who fear their sons minds could be corrupted by this content may finally stop avoiding “the talk” and invest in producing sexually literate youngsters.

I am, of course, open to all suggestions for rectification. The challenges we face are significant and mounting, and we must

Merit and hard work alone can no longer be counted on to wrestle established wealth and equity from the clutches of the twentyfirst century landed gentry.

put our collective shoulders to the societal wheel if we want to avoid a future of gender wars seen elsewhere. Wealth is being consolidated at an alarming rate while opportunities to bridge the economic gap are dwindling. Prices, like isolation, anxiety, depression, and addiction, continue to rise. Hope, on the other hand, is plummeting. We could, as a society, decide to address these plagues — to ensure adequate affordable housing, rebuild communities, diversify jobs, stem the impact of toxic media, curb addiction, reform education, guide our children, and generally give people a reason to cherish the future. But that seems hard when we can just pay someone to take the most hopeless of our boys off our hands — so it’s probably what we’ll end up doing anyway.

I recently read a colleague’s article advocating for 15-minute cities. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of having everything I need within 15 minutes of me, but I don’t think it’s everything it’s cracked up to be.

First of all, I love my long drives. I used to take public transit everywhere, so the privilege of now having a car is a big deal for me. I have cut my average travel time from an hour and a half to just 30 minutes. Even when I did take the bus, it wasn’t all that bad — minus the occasional wacko or that one person who thinks the bus is the place to have a loud and public lover’s quarrel over the phone.

But those hours on the bus, and now my traffic-filled trips to campus gave and continue to give me time to enjoy podcasts, listen to music on full blast, roll my windows down to embrace the sunshine, and sometimes, they give me the chance to sit in silence. I drive to the Abbotsford campus from my home in Surrey and I get to see the shift of city to farmland, all with the impeccable backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia is in fact quite beautiful, and I do find myself thinking, yeah, this is it. This is why

people stayed here

I could go on for pages about my love for being able to sit in my car and just be, but it’d be more practical to talk about the realities of 15-minute cities. For me, the concept of a 15-minute city is an urban development plan that would end up displacing me from my home — again. The idea of it seems great when I think about having everything I could need nearby, and that I would be able to enjoy more time with my family rather than spending it on the road, but then I think about what has to happen for that sort of life to exist.

Gentrification: a word full of stigma and concern. At the end of the day, it just means taking a place and developing it for the better, but unfortunately, this ends up displacing people a lot of the time. A 15-minute city means higher population density and changing the way our cities work in their entirety.

In “Transformation or Gentrification?

The Hazy Politics of the 15-Minute City,” Joe Herbert warns against “a capitalist, growth-driven model of the 15-minute city” that could “exacerbate rather than reduce urban inequalities and ecological impacts.” Left to its own devices, we could see a widespread increase in rents, driving out poorer tenants.

One of the largest factors in a rent price is property value. But what makes a property value high? It’s based on a variety of points, with one of the main ones being the access to resources. For example, if we were to analyze the local area of the Greater Vancouver Area, we would see the rent prices are the highest in areas that are high density, with necessities nearby. To me, this is a clear sign that if my current neighbourhood were to adopt the 15-minute city lifestyle, that I would have to move to a new neighbourhood simply because the cost of living in

such a neighbourhood would still be too high, even if I no longer had to pay for a car.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have 15-minute cities, I just think how we go about implementing them needs to be done carefully and mindfully of the people currently living in the area. Before we go about shifting entire neighbourhoods, it would be better to focus on giving people that already live there the ability to continue living there with the shift toward a walkable city life.

When urban development leads to displaced communities Walking is cool, but having a home is cooler.

Lifestyle// A send a resume and cover letter to managing@ufvcascade.ca to apply

OPINION

SNAP SHOTS

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

Have an adventure — get a new perspective

This past week, I had the pleasure of going on a road trip with my best friend. We drove over 1,400 km, stopping all along the Rocky Mountains on our way to my hometown of Edmonton. Settle in, jam to your favorite playlist, and get into some deep convos, because being stuck in the car with someone you love on a trip like that is a profound bonding experience.

The sites en route are breathtaking! Cruising down the highway, you’ll see sweeping views of snow-capped mountains, crystal clear blue lakes, and if you’re lucky, a bear or two! My favorite experience was the Sulphur Mountain gondola. Even though I’m terrified of heights, the short ride to the peak was

worth the mini panic attack from seeing the ground very far below us. At the summit, we had 360-degree views of Banff and the surrounding mountain vistas. That state of nature makes you feel almost insignificant. These mountains have existed for millions of years, and will be around for millions more. I’m very lucky to exist in this very small period of time that allows me to experience it.

I’m glad to have made some epic memories and inside jokes that will last a lifetime. Pack your bag, grab some snacks, and hit the open road. Life’s too short not to take that risk or go on that trip — it’s absolutely worth it!

Lindsey Roberts

Just like building Lego they said

I built my own computer during the height of a microchip shortage. If you don’t know what that means or why it would matter, graphics cards (a fundamental part to a PC) were egregiously priced at the time. Despite the damage to my wallet, I loved the entire process of building the computer. I watched several videos on how to go about it and studied up on what sort of specs I wanted my computer to be running. I then worked out where to get the parts I needed, and even custom painted my PC case.

Did I know anything about computers beforehand? No. I still don’t even know how to use Excel (please don’t ask me to ever make a spreadsheet). Did I learn a lot in the process? Yes (but not how Excel works). Would I do it again? I would, but not during a microchip shortage. I think building your own PC is a great idea if you are into gaming, have specific PC requirements, or just like a fun project, but maybe be kind to your wallet in the process.

Emmaline Spencer

A few months ago, I brought up to friends that I would bring back the concept of yearning. Maybe I’ve seen too many episodes of Bridgerton, or maybe I just like the chase of it all! I have been dabbling in hand touches and tweeting from a distance in hopes that my crush sees it, but I’ve also come to realize that yearning doesn’t have to be romantic. The impulse to yearn can be deeply rooted in my desire to be rid of instant gratification. I count down the minutes during my work day for when I can go enjoy a cold patio beer. I sit by

my front door waiting for my Sephora delivery and think: seriously?? A whole week before it gets here?? Yet, I try to argue that I’m self-aware enough to know I’m being ridiculous. Just these past few weeks I started reading three books at the same time due to feeling like the pacing was too slow! One book off? That’s the author's problem! Two? Coincidence! Three? Okay, that’s a “me” problem. So, slowly, I have been trying to gain back patience. I yearn to yearn.

Eva Davey

Sometimes I feel like there’s too much dating advice in the world. I feel like we’ve come to a point where most of it contradicts itself, or precedes toxic and/or codependent relationships. But, the best and simplest advice I have been given is to find someone I can fart with.

I needed to stop looking at what I wanted my partners to be, and stop trying to make them see me a certain way. I needed to be comfortable enough to fart.

Admittedly, it wasn’t until this last relationship that I finally understood

this breeze of wisdom. You see, at first, I didn’t want a relationship. I was tired of the repeatedly disappointing results I’d had in the past, so when this one came along, I was too exhausted to play a role. I never filtered what I said, I dressed up if I felt like it and didn’t when I didn’t, and most importantly, I never held back a fart. I implemented the same policy as the as-is section of Ikea, and they could take it or leave it. It’s been five years now, and we are still farting together.

Marie-Ange Routier

The art of yearning

UFV // Andrea MacPherson silently exits UFV after 18 years of teaching

One professor is silenced as another speaks out

AASHA KHOYRATTY

Last semester, it came to light that Andrea MacPherson, long-time creative writing professor, faculty advisor of the Louden Singletree, and artistic director of the Fraser Valley Literary Festival, is no longer employed at UFV.

In the weeks following her unannounced and strangely timed disappearance from UFV halls, a Change.org petition, demanding her reinstatement, and a Kudoboard filled with messages of thanks and gratitude, emerged.

Professor MacPherson’s UFV email account has been disabled, leaving students with no way of contacting her. On April 12, I reached out to professor MacPherson via Instagram direct messages, and received no response. The same day, I received a reply to the inquiry I had sent to John Pitcher, associate professor and English department head, which said that, “Mrs. MacPherson resigned her employment at the end of March,” and went on to say that delivery of the creative writing program, including the Fraser Valley Literary Festival, Writer in Residence program, and the Louden Singletree literary magazine, will continue as planned.

Dr. Michelle Superle, associate professor in UFV’s English department, and a close colleague of MacPherson, voiced her concerns about the situation in an email sent to several creative writing students, including myself, on April 13. She said that the statement that professor MacPherson resigned from UFV made her “uncomfortable on several levels,” pointing out that MacPherson “is extremely dedicated to her students and committed to her work at UFV,” that she had “no plans to retire or resign,” and that even if she had chosen to retire or resign, “it seems unlikely that she would do so in the middle of the semester without communicating with any students or colleagues.” Dr. Superle also stated that she reached out to MacPherson, who was able to confirm that neither her or her daughter are terminally ill. UFV administrators have refused to provide Dr. Superle with “any information about Andrea’s departure from UFV.”

On May 25, I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Superle and hear more of her thoughts on the situation. She reiterated what she had said in her prior email; that it doesn’t make any sense why professor MacPherson would resign, but that that’s the version of the truth that UFV is providing, adding that she finds the situation to be “very puzzling and disturbing.” She told me that she has worked closely with professor MacPherson for 18 years, and although they’re not technically teaching partners, they function as if they are. She went on to say that although MacPherson is “not allowed” to provide any additional information, she has said that she loves her job, and loves and misses her students.

“I feel like it's also incredibly strange, and she definitely seemed sad to me … She was definitely not like, “Yeah, I'm doing this great new project. We're happy to be moving on.” That was not the vibe I was getting.” Dr. Superle is considering hiring a private investigator to look into the situation, because it’s just “so strange.” She offered some insight about what has to happen for a professor’s position to be terminated, “for a professor to get hired, and for a professor to get tenured at UFV. It involves many, many, many people … it's a process with many, many steps. That goes on for a long, long time, like months … And so by the time somebody has been hired that's been approved by many administrators, many colleagues and so on, which is as it should be.”

While many people have to approve a professor being hired, it only takes two people for a professor’s position to be terminated. “There is a line in our contract in the collective agreement that says that any faculty member can be dismissed at any time for anything that is considered “breach of trust” … but breach of trust is not defined. So it's open to [the] interpretation of these two people.” Dr. Superle went on to say that one of the two people currently in charge of making these decisions used to work for a Christian organization, and pointed out that MacPherson is very outspoken about things that could be controversial in the Bible Belt, including diversity, feminism, and sex positivity.

When I asked Dr. Superle if she was concerned about losing her own

position, she said that MacPherson “has the respect and trust and buyin of her students. She's an excellent, excellent, excellent professor. Excellent writer. Excellent colleague. Impeccable credentials and track record. Like you couldn't find anything on her if you try. So I am also a good instructor, a good colleague. All of those things. Could somebody come along and say something I did could be breach of trust, is doing this interview breach of trust? I have no idea because it’s not defined.” She said that while she is concerned about her position, she wants “this information to be publicly available to students and anyone and everyone else in the community … I love my job and I don't want to leave my job. But … I'm very uncomfortable working for and being affiliated with an institution where this kind of thing is happening … I'm being told that my colleague has resigned. My colleague is telling me she can't give me any information about this. She seems sad. She loves her job. It just doesn't make

sense.”

Dr. Superle also reflected on how this situation has affected her personally, “I'm literally grieving. I say to people like I actually basically lost two weeks of productive work time because I was so distraught about it. And I would say to people, “I'm sorry, I'm not functioning very well right now because I've lost a colleague. She was my teaching partner of 18 years,” and they'd be like, “Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.” I would say, “well, she actually, she didn't pass away. She’s still alive but she has left the institution and I don't understand why or how.””

While UFV administrators have failed to provide adequate information about the situation, and while they insist that their band-aid solution will fix the gaping wound in the English department, a feeling of unease settles over students and colleagues of professor MacPherson’s. What happened to our beloved professor? And why are we being left in the dark?

Sudoku // Column //

Cascade Kitchen: Gyoza Dumplings

EMMALINE SPENCER

The Cascade Kitchen is a studentrun 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.

Gyoza are a Japanese style of dumpling, similar to potstickers. They are pretty easy to make and are freezable for a whole month! I used pork in this recipe, but you can sub it out for tofu and more vegetables, or really any filling of your choice. The great thing about making your own dumplings is that you can put whatever you’d like in them.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Bake Time: 6-8 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pack of dumpling wrappers (can be bought at any Asian grocer)

½ pound of ground lean ground pork

250 grams of firm tofu

½ cup of finely chopped cabbage

1 bunch of finely chopped green onion

3 cloves of garlic (or as desired)

1 inch knob of fresh ginger

2 tbsp light soy sauce

2 tbsp sesame oil

Method:

1. Start by finely chopping and mincing the cabbage, green onion, garlic, and ginger.

2. In a bowl, crumble the block of tofu and mix with the ground pork. Once combined, add in the rest of the chopped vegetables and aromatics.

3. Gently mix the sesame oil and soy sauce into the filling mixture.

4. Now for the hard part: wrapping the dumplings. Remember, there is no wrong way to wrap the dumplings, just make sure to avoid air bubbles as any air pockets will expand in the cooking process.

5. Once all the dumplings are wrapped, you can either cook them immediately or freeze them for up to a month.

6. To cook the dumplings, place them in a pan on medium heat with a few tablespoons of water to steam them under a lid for a few minutes.

Crossword: Wildberries of BC//

ACROSS

2. Though loved by wild animals, these beautiful soft-blue coloured berries are poisonous to humans.

5. This species gives a gin martini its unique flavour and is a coniferous plant.

6. A tart yet refreshing-tasting berry that appears either blue or red in colour.

7. An invasive species in B.C. and a popular home to wild rabbits.

8. Named after a fish species found in streams, rivers, and oceans.

DOWN

1. This berry’s flower is Canada’s unofficial national flower.

3. A red or orange berry that resembles a cherry tomato. Autumn is the best time to harvest these berries, but they can last throughout winter.

4. These sweet berries’ leaves are famously used as outdoor toilet paper.

ANSWERS:

Horoscopes //

Your weekly life predictions made by K. Thompson

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19

The name of the game this week is impulse control, Aries — before taking the leap, ask yourself what you’re chasing. You’re especially blind to consequences in the areas of love, finance, and friendship right now.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20

Taurus, you’re a charismatic presence and people flock to you; but this week, try to be mindful of boundaries. When that signature bull-headed temper flares, ask yourself: are you really that amicable, or are you just people pleasing?

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20

It’s your season, Gemini! But don’t let it go to your head. Avoid the urge to complain and gossip. Choose your battles this week — communication and venting could get tricky, especially in mixed company.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22

Cancer, I have bad news… you’re not always right. This week, learn to listen to other opinions and really see the value of a new perspective. Don’t take dissenting opinions so personally!

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22

Slow your roll, Leo. This week, you may find that your grand plans come up against the reality of your limits. It’s a good time to swallow your pride and be vulnerable about your need to regroup; no one will think less of you for it.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22

Your respect for expertise and thirst for knowledge is an asset, Virgo — but so is your own intuition. Trust yourself, and avoid pedestals and false prophets this week. You have everything you need!

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22

Libra, this week you may feel like your brain and your heart are on two different pages. You’ve been moving your life forward, but your nostalgic nature has your feelings stuck in the past. Consider what relationships or habits might be holding you back.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21

This week, you have a crystal clear vision of what you want — and you are determined to let nothing get in your way. But it takes a village, Scorpio; and not everyone moves at the same pace as you. Slow down and tend to your most valuable relationships.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21

This week, you’re feeling restless and inspired to set bigger picture goals for the future, Sagittarius. Seize the motivation and start making plans; but resist the urge to preach about it. It’s okay to just sit with your thoughts for a while and see what comes up.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19

You are in full swing with the signature Capricorn-intensity this week! It’s great that you’re so passionate, but be mindful of your sharp tongue and attraction to swift decisions, Capricorn. Believe it or not, you are capable of being illogical.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18

Aquarius, you’re feeling emotional and overwhelmed this week. Don’t be afraid to wait for the waters to calm before you draw any conclusions on what’s bothering you; and avoid the urge to isolate as you navelgaze. Strategic alliances are your friend!

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20

Pisces, your supernatural powers of perception mean you see right through people. But this week, you may struggle with compassion. Advice is only valuable to those who ask for it — sometimes, our loved ones just need a shoulder to cry on.

Made by Brielle Quon

Eva Davey — Arts Editor

An amazing guide to murder

Holly Jackson writes a thrilling crime-filled novel that will keep you up till the early hours of the day. Spoilers Ahead!

GIANNA DINWOODIE

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, written by Holly Jackson, is the first in a threepart series that proves to be a thrilling novel that’s hard to put down. The story follows main characters Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi and Ravi Singh. In order to clear the name of Ravi’s brother Sal (known as the “Fairview monster”) for the disappearance of Andie Bell five years earlier, the duo set out to discover what really happened.

This novel is set in the town of Fairview, Connecticut, giving us the classic small town mystery trope. The case of the Andie Bell disappearance has been closed for years, with the police having no interest in reopening it, as the evidence against her boyfriend Sal Singh seems irrefutable. Andie is gone and Sal is found dead with Andie’s phone in his pocket — along with her blood in the back of his truck

and under his nails. The makings of a guilty man.

When Pip has to choose her senior capstone project, she takes on the brave act of re-examining the case, because in her gut she can feel that something is not quite right. Jackson does an exquisite job of unravelling the secrets of the small town with a tempting plot, making the book take on an intriguing and fast pace. Her characterization is also excellent, with fully fleshed-out characters that have natural development as the novel progresses. Particularly fascinating to me, is how Jackson is not only able to create an engrossing mystery, but also a heartwarming romance between Pip and Ravi. As they work together to clear his brother's name, they also find themselves enjoying each other's company.

The way Jackson creates thrilling twists and turns is particularly commendable. The exhilaration I felt

as the mystery and clues unfolded kept me up until two o’clock in the morning, just so I could get to the end. Jackson writes from Pip’s point-of-view, allowing me a deeper connection with the novel, as I’m around the same age as the protagonist.

If you’re considering giving this book a try, go for it! This book is not just a good guide, it’s an amazing one! Although this book is aimed at the Young Adult (YA) genre audience, I still believe this book is worth a read for even the most avid of mystery/crime novel seekers. The way Jackson creates this entangled chaos is complex and intricate and it never feels like you are steps ahead of Pip while she is on the case. Due to the sheer amount of tom-foolerly that A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder creates, it sets the worldbuilding and characters up for a series, as Holly Jackson has written two sequels — which I, for one, will definitely be binging.

What is one to do in Abbotsford on a Saturday night? The answer is not much. Perhaps you go on a brisk midnight walk to the lake with your friends or indulge in a beer or two at home with your favourite show playing in the background. However, whatever you choose to do, it becomes abundantly clear that Abbotsford does not have a bumping nightlife scene. If you want to see shows, or party to your heart's content, you better dump out your pockets and scour the couch cushions for $100 to make it to Vancouver and back on a good night.

That's why, when I heard about The Banquet Room: a DIY venue located in Abbotsford that was hosting a night of fun-filled tunes, I was excited to see what they had to offer. I wasn’t expecting to show up to a Mennonite church, but the venue had hidden charms when I realized I had to walk around the back of the building to get to the actual event. It was secretive, making the night even more magical. The venue had themed mocktails based on each band which enhanced the experience of listening to the artists

play their released and unreleased music.

For the sake of experiencing the night to its fullest, I tried every mocktail they had to offer and was pleasantly surprised. After speaking to the bartender, I discovered that she works at every event The Banquet Room hosts, and curates a unique drink menu for each band/artist.

The Rake and Leaf: This was the first drink I tried and it was composed of a homemade white peach syrup topped off with maple soda. It was a wonderful complement to the first band, Alex Rake and the Leaves; sweet and wholesome just like them! I have never seen a double bass and banjo duo. It was so amazing that I was in awe. The group sang a great deal of unreleased songs and I found myself enjoying their folkpunk sound.

The Hollow Grove: Next was a vanilla tea sour, which was quite a match to the gritty and real sound of Hollow Groves — a grunge alt-rock band. I liked this band the most, frantically searching for their set list after every song they played. Although the controversial themes in their music — like burning down churches while drinking

whiskey — may not be for everyone, I thought they were fantastic and sung with passion! That’s something that is crucial for a new band starting out.

The Villian Villian: I then tried a blueberry lemon fizz, which had a homemade blueberry syrup and was quite the experience. It was intense and complex to say the least… This is not to say that it wasn’t delicious, because it was! It was just a big contrast to the lemony sweetness of the previous drink. When Villian Villian came on, I was just as taken aback as when I tried the drink the first time. They had odd instruments and vocals with the lead vocalist doing what looked like 11 things at once. I saw a synthesiser, a microphone, a guitar, and a keyboard! If anyone can be called a jack of all trades it was this guy. They weren’t my favourite of the night, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the engrossing vibes of their set.

The Loan: Lastly, was The Loan, which was the drink for Loans, consisting of pomegranate and ginger beer. I may be biased because I got this drink for free, but this rivaled the Rake and Leaf for my favourite drink. The foam on top was tangy and spicy, yet

coupled with the ginger beer it took on a refreshing, mellow taste. I think this was a perfect drink to end off on as not only did it depict the ups and downs of the final set, but I feel like it was a metaphor for the whole night. Overall, this event was fun and quite surprising! I did not expect much from the Abbotsford music scene, but now that I’ve seen what there is to offer I will definitely be returning for other events. If music is not your scene, they also do movie nights at The Banquet Room. The environment is truly so welcoming and if you’re stuck on things to do this summer, I would give The Banquet Room a chance; hopefully they cement themselves as an Abbotsford staple, and I am looking forward to seeing what they bring next!

Photo Credit: Electric Monkey Publishers

Photo Credit: Gianna Dinwoodie

CHARTS SHUFFLE

AARON LEVY STATION MANAGER

CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy profiles four diverse songs from Canadian artists that popped up in the last half-a-year, most of them since spring, two of them from the Valley, and three from B.C.! Enjoy the summer.

Evil Dead Rise doesn’t fully rise to the occasion

Is too much of a good thing real when it comes to this film series? spoilers ahead

BABE CORNER Crybaby

BRIDAL PARTY Cool Down

EMERALD OSAGIE What The Heart Sounds Like

LITTLE SIMZ NO THANK YOU

MAUVEY Before The Album 2: A Brief Overview

SKYE WALLACE

Terribly Good

GAYANCE

Mascarade

ANDY SHAUF Norm

YOUNG FATHERS Heavy Heavy

BOYGENIUS The Record

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA V

DEBBY FRIDAY GOOD LUCK

THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

Continue As A Guest

WINONA FOREVER Acrobat

Cody

Lawless - It's Always Warm in San Araya

Does the video for this song glorify smoking cigarettes, or is the female lead evoking a Euphoriainspired callback to Patricia Arquette's Alabama Whitman Worley from the Christian Slater classic True Romance? Two better questions: 1. Is San Araya an actual place? 2. Was this video shot in Vancouver? Probs.

Mauvey - 1+1=THR33

I usually hate misinformation. But in this case, I'm imagining it's just tongue-in-cheek and not mathematical fake news intended to confuse and obfuscate the masses of well-intentioned and trusting young music lovers. The opener to Mauvey's Fall mixtape thus recalls Radiohead's opener from Hail to the Thief

Kelly McMichael - Tour From Hell

This song is an upbeat and almost funky little ditty that almost recalls "we got the beat" and other 1980s catchy, punky pop tunes. Not very 1980s, the key line: "Goin' on tour, and everything's expensive / but we're built to spill, and it's gotta happen." Featuring a musical car crash!

Devours - Jacuzzi My Stonewall

Devours released this single a couple months back, and treats it like an updated calling card.

"I guess we're mainstream now, let's move out to the 'burbs," reflecting on the status quo-ing of gay men compared to the relative marginalization felt by queer folk pre-Stonewall, relishing “freedom that you died for.”

I sat down with my popcorn and orange soda ready to be scared, or considering the franchise, I was about to at least be entertained. Except, in the end, the scariest part of watching Evil Dead Rise was the fact that a lady brought her children (who were clearly too young to be watching this movie), into the screening. While the movie isn’t the worst thing I have ever seen, it’s also not the best by any means. This isn’t director Lee Cronin’s first rodeo into horror, but it is his first time he is credited for an Evil Dead movie, and it shows. Cronin seems to be given creative freedom for this installment in the franchise, and I would argue that this is a huge benefit.

Viewers begin the movie in the woods, where we meet a female character that is slightly off (spoiler: she's possessed). Where I thought we would be getting the typical cabin-in-the-woods beat, instead, viewers get one of the best openings in horror I have seen in a long time. If you’re like me (someone who did not watch any trailers going into this viewing), then you will be surprised at how things unfold. Seeing a possessed woman rise from a lake with the title card behind her seemingly mimicking oozing blood got me incredibly excited for what the next 90 minutes had in store.

The core setting for this film is really genius. Instead of an isolated cabin — a staple in the franchise — it takes place on a single floor of an aging apartment complex. With barriers and obstacles leading to lack of escape routes (demolished stairs, bloody haunted elevators, and an inaccessible fire escape), the characters seem just as isolated as they would be deep in the woods. This setting does wonders for making the characters and the audience feel claustrophobic. Normally when I watch horror I can think of a few ways to escape; to think of loopholes in every scenario to get out of there! Yet, I left thinking, Wow! I would’ve given up! There is no way! I think

the setting really served the story. It made the non-possessed ready to fight with everyday objects they knew like the back of their hands, and it gave the possessed a leg-up by mostly seeing all the defences coming.

Of course, the film has lots of moments where you want to yell at the characters for being so incredibly stupid, but at this point it’s almost fun to see characters be dumb in new, non-typical ways. My biggest complaint with this movie was that it felt half-baked. Maybe if it had gotten a little more time on the editing table, perhaps it would carve out a name for itself in horror rather than just serve as another installment. For many, there’s a certain humour that comes with the borderline camp feel of the Evil Dead franchise, but Rise has too many instances where the one-liners fall flat, or are trying to rely on people thinking this movie will be camp too. They forget that the originals are a cult classic for a reason, and Evil Dead Rise has the challenge of being its own thing while also paying just enough debt to the originals. I wish this movie found its ground more. A few tweaks and it would be great; sadly it is just plain okay.

To end on a positive note, the acting is the strongest part of this movie. Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie (the possessed) and Lily Sullivan as Beth (the non-possessed) bounce off of each other incredibly well. Sullivan played both the caring motherly role and that of the demonic killer, yet managed to pull off both of them. Sutherland deserves a roster of movies where she plays horror villains — she plays them that well — and Sullivan has cemented herself as a final girl in my books. When she walks away drenched in blood with only her eyes visible, I practically got chills and wanted another movie just to see her in this role again.

Like Evil Dead? Go into this with low expectations and you’ll be alright. Enjoy notso-scary scary movies? You’ll love this one… but maybe close your eyes once you see a cheese grater pop up. Trust me.

EVA DAVEY

Photo credit: Warner Bros/IMBD

Movies

Renfield: A film that sinks its teeth into its own silliness

// Nicolas Cage brings Dracula back to life in Renfield, but his wild-eyed deliveries and startling outbursts can’t carry the entire film

TERYN MIDZAIN

Renfield tells the story of Robert Montague Renfield (played by Nicholas Hoult), the immortal manservant to the legendary Count. After decades of subsisting on bugs while he sources human victims for his master, Renfield finds himself in hiding, contemplating his life choices. While nursing Dracula back to health, Renfield somewhat inadvertently comes to realize that he is in a co-dependent relationship with the narcissistic Prince of Darkness. Armed with affirmative mantras and bugfueled superpowers, Renfield vows to break free from his toxic relationship once and for all.

Renfield had everything it needed to be great — but it kept adding more. A clever premise anchored by a star-studded cast is ultimately weighed down by trying to have it all. The horror/comedy written by Robert Kirkman (Invincible; The Walking Dead), Ryan Ridley (Rick and Morty; Community), and Ava Tramer (Central Park) delivers laughs, with self-aware metahumor and plenty of winks to the audience. The horror ultimately serves the comedy, letting Dracula loose in a modern world and relishing the gory chaos that ensues. It’s obviously a successful formula, and yet there’s something off about it.

Chris McKay’s experience in directing visual and physical effects brings the movie world together, but the overpowering action and blood cause the movie to lose focus on its core. The action elements interrupt the interplay of the characters and break apart

Rewind //

the film’s comedic sandbox. Overloaded with migraine-provoking shaky cam, the over-choreographed action spectacles detract from the film’s hilarity rather than reinforcing it. Kirkman and Ridley’s experience with comedic gore that works so well in animation haven’t translated as effectively into the realm of live-action — and there’s a lot of that brand of action to go around. Virtually every scene ends in one of these over-the-top set pieces. It’s too much of that one spice that overpowers the dish.

When the movie isn’t balls-to-the-wall combat, it’s actually full of careful and considerate filmmaking. Renfield’s director masterfully splices Tod Browning’s 1931 classic film, replacing Bela Lugosi’s iconic Dracula, and Dwight Frye’s Renfield with Cage and Hoult. The rest of the movie is filled with easter eggs nodding at previous incarnations of Dracula films and classic monster movies. It's clear that McKay and the set designers did their homework. The

gothic style of Dracula’s typical haunts is on full display, and costume designer Lisa Lovaas gives Drac the most fabulous costumes. There’s a modern take on the signature high-collared shirts and capes that’s equal parts dark prince and rock star. So fetch.

The cast is filled with multi-genre talent who look like they’re enjoying themselves, which is a real blessing. Hoult is one of the better and more balanced performances and does a great job making Renfield likable. Awkwafina’s acting is more of her natural comedic style, so if you like that you’re in for a treat. Ben Schwartz makes an appearance as one of the secondary villains and gives the small role his idea of going “full cage.” Brandon Scott Jones plays Mark, Renfield’s group therapy leader, and deserves a special shout-out for his hilarity in the small part. However, the rest of the cast doesn’t get much chance to sink their teeth into the material.

Nicolas Cage is the reason to see this movie, and his performance makes the whole film work. If it was any other actor in the role of Dracula, this movie would have failed. Cage’s “nouveau shamanic” acting style is what allows him to fully commit to both the serious and the overthe-top egomaniacal character. The actor has expressed wanting to play Dracula for a long time, and this performance shows why he is the perfect casting while also paying homage to the classic portrayals of Dracula, heavily leaning on the late Sir Christopher Lee’s iteration.

Despite not having a lot of screen time, there is the perfect amount of Cageula needed. You never grow tired of the character and are always left wanting more. The best scenes of the movie are when Cage is in them and there’s no action. Cage’s 100 per cent commitment brings the same levels out of the rest of the cast who try to match Cage’s shamanism when they share the spotlight.

Renfield is a decent movie that’s worth a watch for Cage’s Dracula alone, and there’s some hope that movie lovers will get more in the future. The practical props and costumes are sublime, and the script is clever and anchors a talented cast — but Cage is such a show-stealer that the scenes without him feel lacking. Its disjointed tone hurts the final product, but you can still enjoy what you’re getting, provided your expectations are sufficiently tempered. Ultimately, it might be more worthwhile to watch when it comes to streaming.

Score: 7/10

Pushing Daisies deserved better

The tragic loss of a great show, and a lesson in paying your writers what they’re worth

EVA DAVEY

Picture this: It is 2007, and you settle down with your mum to watch a fun television show about some dude that can cause something to die or resurrect just by touching it. Creepy? No! Funny and sometimes dramatic! When thinking about the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike of 2007-08, I racked my brain over what I thought was one of the most impacted shows. Then I remembered that I was seven, so the biggest drama for me television-wise was which boy Hannah Montana would pick. Yet, I distinctly remember being told by my mum that after two seasons of Pushing Daisies, there would be no more.

Main protagonist Ned (Lee Pace) realizes from a young age that he can indefinitely resurrect the dead with a single touch, but a second touch will render them permanently deceased. Later, as an adult,

he opens a bakery called The Pie Hole, and to be honest it’s only after working in a produce department that I see this as insanely clever. The man never has to worry about rotting ingredients! His sweetheart Charlotte “Chuck” Charles (Anna Friel) has been resurrected after being murdered, and if he ever touches her again she will expire permanently. Hilarity ensues when Ned agrees to use his “gift” to help Private Investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) solve murders by temporarily bringing victims back to life to name their killers.

This was also my very first introduction to the incredible Kristen Chenoweth, who feels as though the WGA strike was the reason for the show's cancellation.

How did a four-month writers strike cancel this show you ask? The union walked out shortly after the show premiered, leading to a very short (for the time) nineepisode run. Back in the mid-2000s this was not the norm and did not give audiences enough to sink their teeth into. The short

season made for a long break between the first and second installments, and with loss of excitement, by the time season two came along, the show was a goner. While there may be many reasons for a show's cancellation, there is no doubt in my mind

that the WGA strike of ‘07 was one of the key causes of this show’s premature demise. So how can we avoid another tragic loss such as Pushing Daisies? Pay those writers, Hollywood! This show proved it's hard to bring back something once it's gone.

Photo Credit: ABC

Photo Credit: Universal Studios

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

June

Campus Rec Culture

Accessibility Awareness Event @ UFV, Online, 9 a.m. Drag Night Bingo @ strEATS, UFV Abbotsford, 5 p.m.

Senate Meeting @ Room A225, Abbotsford, 1:30 p.m. SUS Board Meeting @ Room S3103, 3 p.m. Form and Space @ Jubilee Hall, Abbotsford, 7:30 p.m.

Open Mic Comedy @ Highwayman Pub, 7 p.m.

Career Coaching @ Room B223, Abbotsford, 1:30 p.m.

Invasive Species 101 Workshop @ Agassiz Library, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Career Coaching @ Room B223, Abbotsford, 1:30 p.m.

Summer classes end (early semester)

Campus Recreation Drop-in Racquet @ Room E150, Abbotsford, 12 - 2 p.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Racquet @ Room E150, Abbotsford, 12 - 2 p.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Racquet @ Room E150, Abbotsford, 12 - 2 p.m.

Summer Fest @ The Green, Abbotsford Campus, 12 p.m.

Painting Event @ Room S111, Abbotsord, 1 p.m.

Campus Recreation Drop-in Racquet @ Room E150, Abbotsford, 12 - 2 p.m.

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