The Cascade Vol. 21 No. 25

Vol. 21 Issue 25

www.ufvcascade.ca

October 9 to October 15, 2013

Stopping the editor-in-chief from putting cat jokes on the front page since 1993

How UFV sells itself as unique, just like everyone else Why protest-happy activists get a bad rap p. 6

Out of the mist: UFV’s rowing teams p. 19

2

NEWS News

Mental health awareness day

Katherine Gibson reports on Depression and Anxiety Screening day, put on by the UFV counselling department. Students were invited to fill out a brief survey to assess their depression and anxiety, talk with counsellors, and learn about common university mental health issues.

Opinion

Open letter to Harper

Despite our best wishes, Canadian politics are beginning to look a lot like our southern neighbours’. Christopher DeMarcus puts his foot down, taking a leaf out of Sinead O’Conner’s book and writing Prime Minister Harper a concerned letter.

pg. 4

pg. 7

Arts & Life

EAT! Fraser Valley

Foodies of Abbotsford had a treat last weekend with the annual three day food-fest EAT! Fraser Valley coming to town.

Check out the result of the Cascade’s Jennifer Colbourne’s quest to find out 10 things you didn’t know about food at EAT! Fraser Valley.

pg. 12

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Sports & Health

2x the teams, 2x the hardware

Cascade contributor Nathan Hutton covers Chris Bertram and the men’s and women’s golf team, who brought home twin PACWEST titles last weekend from the UFV Invitational golf tournament. This season saw a golf-cart-load of firsts, and Hutton’s ready to fill you in on all of them!

pg. 19

EDITORIAL

MICHAEL SCOULAR

Back in 2011, then-mayoral candidate Bruce Banman (amid the usual topics municipal politicians are expected to discuss) offered a vision of a city that didn’t exist. Abbotsford: to be one day as old as Paris, and match his campaign speech describing towering, beautiful architecture and solved sprawl. Ideals and politicians being what they are, we haven’t heard much of anything from Banman when it comes to remapping the city in the two years since his election, but there is something coming around the corner that is impossible to ignore.

Highstreet mall, currently in the middle of its phased opening, will be fully functional by Christmas.

Of course it will be.

Like it or not, intended or not, while the new Abbotsford hospital was the city’s most tangible public addition during George Peary’s run as mayor, Banman’s term brings a mall.

The first and perhaps only real benefit to people living in the Fraser Valley is the number of jobs, not “created,” but available because a number of corporations have deigned to open additional retail outlets in the area. But quantity is enough to matter now, and it’s likely the average student already knows a friend or two that will benefit in this way, so it sounds good, even if it’s more of the same.

Advertisements have start-

ed to flood the Fraser Valley with phrases like “Highstreet will provide Fraser Valley residents with a new and exceptional experience,” which, like any advertisement, is only as good as its ability to make you laugh at its idiocy. Highstreet is anchored by a massive parking lot, a Walmart, a London Drugs, and an overpriced movie theatre. It’s a Monopoly piece. Some effort is made to point out there will be smaller boutiques and quasi-local offerings, but anyone who has ever been in a mall knows these are merely the less prominent, more interchangeable parts of the same block of storefronts.

The point has been there since this was announced years ago: Abbotsford already has a mall and a Walmart district and a movie theatre. But Shape Properties, the corporation behind Highstreet, is counting on that not being enough, that it will be, as they call it, “destined to become one of the Fraser Valley’s favorite new gathering places.”

They’re also counting on students. The mall showed up at the opening week barbecue and concert series on the Abbotsford green with free gum, affixed with a label calling Highstreet “a breath of fresh air.” Even horrible advertisement is advertisement, and even a student with anti-capitalist ideas has a basic need for convenience.

This is where the performance of the mall comes in, and the city’s role. Highstreet is located out near the Fraser

Copy editor katie@ufvcascade.ca Katie Stobbart News editor jess@ufvcascade.ca Jess Wind

Do we need another mall? Sources say no.

Valley Auto Mall, where no one is ever going to find themselves in the neighbourhood. There are plans to improve public transit to the area, but the real audience, and the reason for the parking lot, is contingent on two factors: Abbotsford and Highway 1.

The real “addition” to Abbotsford is that Abbotsford, finally, has that series of familiar fluorescent signs floating above trees to passersby on the freeway. To paraphrase transit writer Nathan Pachal, now you can shop in Abbotsford while completely avoiding going into Abbotsford.

No mall would completely bank on people passing through, so there’s still a projection that involves Abbotsford residents driving or taking the bus to this place to buy things already available at slightly less shiny locations.

An article, but basically an advertisement, appeared in the September 23 issue of the Ab-

Image: High Street

botsford News about the new theatre – the prime attraction, the truly new thing. Naturally, it will play exactly the same movies, charge the same $7+ for popcorn kernels and salt, but, and here’s the perk: ticket prices will be higher, so you can get larger seats and a larger menu. With progress like this, there’s a chance it will be almost as good as your living room.

Reading around, it’s hard to find much opposition. People know enough about “made in” tags and corporate influence to be offended on principle, but without any change in action. The jobs, sure, are nice, but does it matter if they’re all dead-end? Highstreet is an opportunity for familiar companies to extract more out of consumers – another place to rush to on Christmas Eve. But it’s also a place, at least due to location, that it’s easy to say no to.

October 9 - 10

October 9

October 11

Thanksgiving dinner

Study Smart Workshops

CIVL Open Mic night

Every Girl Matters

Cover Image by Anthony Biondi [Editor’s note: “But I love cat jokes!”]

Business manager joe@ufvcascade.ca Joe Johnson

Art director anthony@ufvcascade.ca Anthony Biondi

October 9

UFV counselling department is hosting various workshops that focus on better studying skills.

Whether it’s balancing assignments, dealing with test anxiety, or developing active learning strategies, there is a workshop to teach you how. Students can register at the Student Service centre in B214 on the Abbotsford campus.

Managing editor michael@ufvcascade.ca Michael Scoular

Production manager stewart@ufvcascade.ca Stewart Seymour

UPCOMING EVENTS

Prepared by the UFV culinary program, come down to U-House for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. For only $2 you can enjoy turkey and all the excellent trimmings that have us going up a belt notch every fall.

There will be two sittings with the first at 4 p.m. and the second at 5 p.m., and if you plan to attend, tickets should be purchased in advance at U-House.

Editor-in-chief dessa@ufvcascade.ca Dessa Bayrock

Online editor ashley@ufvcascade.ca Ashley Mussbacher

Let’s (not) go to the mall

THE CASCADE

Volume 21 · Issue 25 Room C1027 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

After repeated postponement, the CIVL open mic night is finally coming to AfterMath. Hosted in partnership with Birds of Canada, anyone can come down and take the stage for a night of music, creative talent, fun, and beer. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Can’t make the first week?

The event is set to run every second Wednesday of the month.

The first annual Every Girl Matters Day is being held at the Centre for Indo Canadian Studies at 10 a.m. Held in partnership with the GirlKind foundation, that brought you the “It’s a Girl” documentary last fall. Come out for cupcakes and refreshments at no cost. Mike De Jong is slated to make a special presentation.

Opinion editor nadine@ufvcascade.ca Nadine Moedt Arts & life editor sasha@ufvcascade.ca Sasha Moedt Sports editor esau@ufvcascade.ca Paul Esau Photojournalist blake@ufvcascade.ca Blake McGuire News writer katherine@ufvcascade.ca Katherine Gibson Arts writer jennifer@ufvcascade.ca Jennifer Colbourne Contributors Taylor Breckles, Christopher DeMarcus, Kierra Enns, Remington Fioraso, Valerie Franklin, Kaitlyn Gendemann, Jeremy Hannaford, Nathan Hutton, Adesuwa Okoyomon, and Tim Ubels Printed By International Web exPress The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It provides a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a circulation of 1500 and is distributed at UFV campuses and throughout Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission. The Cascade is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national cooperative of 75 university and college newspapers from Victoria to St. John’s. The Cascade follows the CUP ethical policy concerning material of a prejudicial or oppressive nature.

Submissions are preferred in electronic format through e-mail. Please send submissions in “.txt” or “.doc” format only.

Articles and letters to the editor must be typed.

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. The writer’s name and student number must be submitted with each submission. Letters to the editor must be under 250 words if intended for print. Only one letter to the editor per writer in any given edition.

Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, Cascade staff and collective, or associated members.

3

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Secondary school option for teacher education program ASHLEY MUSSBACHER

THE CASCADE

Students interested in teaching at the secondary school level won’t need to look any further than UFV after July 2014.

The teacher education program (TEP) will soon offer a secondary school certificate in addition to the elementary school one.

To enter TEP the student must complete a bachelor’s degree with a teachable major and/or minor.

According to UFV’s website, the secondary school option will ensure that students “take 14 of the same courses as the elementary program, as well as 12 new courses,” which will focus on education methods for a high school atmosphere.

These courses will also depend on which subject branch the student is interested in teaching. There are two major pathways: math/science and humanities.

Awneet Sivia, UFV teacher education department head, explains the reasoning behind the specialized courses in UFV’s news blog UFV Today.

“The specialized secondary program courses are designed to foster a deep understanding of the content and pedagogies that maximize student learning,” she says. “We want our students ... to examine how knowledge ... can be transformed into rich and engag-

Image: Anthony Biondi

Students can learn skills for teaching in a secondary school environment as soon as 2014. ing learning experiences at the secondary level.”

The secondary certificate will also prepare students for more than basic classroom education.

“Students will also be able to take a course in online instructional methods to prepare them for 21st century classrooms and a special topics course focusing on secondary specialties such as physical education, French, fine arts, or drama,” UFV media and communications coordinator Anne Russell explains.

Students will need to have volunteer experience before they apply for the program.

The experience should come from a classroom environment within the same discipline. For instance, if a prospective TEP student wants to teach biology, he or she should seek a volunteer position working in a biology classroom.

According to makeafuture. ca, a website aiming to help potential educators find work in BC, non-teaching support staff are needed. Some of these positions are paid, but many of them are volunteer opportunities.

The program will run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. over the course of 12 months. During this time stu-

dents complete several unpaid practicums in classrooms. Sivia explains that the program is designed to give future educators real workplace knowledge and room to grow.

“Our program really instills confidence in students, and equips them to work within the system while inspiring change from within,” Sivia says, quoted in UFV Today.

“They develop a professional identity and set of competencies through the program that help them to work effectively within their profession while enabling it to change, grow, and adapt to the demands of the 21st century.”

Shuttle bus service faces liability issues with park and ride stops

KATHERINE GIBSON

THE CASCADE

UFV’s shuttle bus is being given a critical look in the face of the Student Union Society’s shuttle referendum and the announcement of the Fraser Valley Regional District’s proposed Chilliwack-AbbotsfordLangley public bus route.

Currently, the shuttle bus travels between the Canada Education Park (CEP) and the Abbotsford campus, but does not stop at Park and Ride locations at McCallum Road in Abbotsford and Lickman Road in Chilliwack as the original plan stated.

These stops were part of the original schedule for the shuttle service, but were suspended just before the beginning of the fall semester. The press release cited liability issues.

While the cities of Chilliwack and Abbotsford were supportive of the shuttle stopping at the Park and Ride locations, they sought insurance coverage, something that required more time than UFV

Keeping up on campus Hiring a director of teaching and learning Four candidates were asked to outline their understanding of the post-secondary landscape in relation to UFV and their vision for the role of Director of Teaching and Learning.

This role deals with anything and everything regarding teaching and learning at UFV. Wendy Burton took on the inaugural role in 2009 and is now preparing to pass the torch to one of the hopeful candidates.

Over the last few weeks these candidates have been giving public presentations, each bringing his or her own unique background to the table. Everything from student needs and faculty development to expansion into untapped resources have been touched on.

Check back to find out what the future of teaching and learning direction will look like at UFV.

AfterMath hiring and management In the summer it was announced that AfterMath would become entirely student-run. Three managers were hired to fill the positions of events manager, operations manager, and human resources manager. Additionally, many new servers were hired to keep the service running smoothly.

There has been turnover since the original hiring flux, and now a new position is advertised through the UFV careers page.

From the description, the services manager will oversee AfterMath as well as other operations pertaining to SUS. With a new style of operation there are sure to be many new faces at the student lounge.

Stay tuned to find out who they are, what their roles entail, and how your pub is being run.

Have a news tip?

Let us know!

Image: Katherine Gibson

Liability issues have hindered the shuttle from stopping at park and ride locations. and SUS had before the beginning of the fall semester.

“While the two cities were interested in supporting pickup/drop-off opportunities for our shuttle service, they wanted both the university and the shuttle bus provider to [insure] them for any liability,” UFV vice president for students Jody Gordon explains.

“This will require significant discussions, both with [Impark] and with our Provincial Insurance provider,” she continues. “We simply did not have enough time before the start of the fall semester to ensure this was in place, let alone even possible.”

Whether or not the shuttle will be able to stop at the park

and ride locations in the future remains to be seen, but students cannot expect any changes to take place until after the upcoming referendum.

“We will pick up [this] conversation after we see the results from the referendum,” Gordon concludes.

Email news@ufvcascade.ca or tweet at @CascadeNews

4

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

SCIENCE ON PURPOSE

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a tooth for an eye?

DESSA BAYROCK

THE CASCADE

A rare surgery is helping patients get their eyesight back when all other treatments have failed – by implanting one of the patient’s own teeth into the eyeball.

The procedure, known as o st e o - o da nt o -k e rat opr o s t h e sis (OOKP), was pioneered by Italian professor Benedetto Strampelli in the 1960s and tweaked by Dr. Giancarlo Falcinelli in the ‘90s to create the current procedure (modified osteo-odanto-keratoprosthesis, or MOOKP).

The procedure is also known as “tooth in eye” surgery.

The performing surgeon starts by removing one of the patient’s teeth (usually a canine), shaving it down into the right shape, drilling a hole through the centre, and implanting a lens. The tooth and lens are then bonded into a single object, which is considered a “bio-integrated prosthetic unit,” according to Medical News Today.

After the lens bonds to the tooth, the tooth is planted un-

Image: Wikimedia Commons

A rare eye surgery performed in London this month involves implanting a tooth into the eyeball. der the skin of the patient— either in the shoulder or the cheek—to keep it healthy until the surgery. During this period, the eye is similarly prepped and the damaged cornea (the outer skin of the eyeball) is scraped away.

The tooth is then implanted into the patient’s eye, replacing a cornea (the natural lens of the eye) with the functional lens inside the tooth.

Because the new lens is housed inside the patient’s own tooth, the body doesn’t reject it.

The procedure is considered a last resort when all other treatments have failed, and is only an option in patients who have heavily damaged corneas but an otherwise healthy eye.

MOOKP was performed for the first time in North America in 2009 in Mississippi by Dr.

Victor L. Perez.

“For certain patients whose bodies reject a transplanted or artificial cornea, this procedure ‘of last resort’ [can] restore vision,” he told Medical News Today.

The procedure is rarely performed for several reasons.

Each stage takes hours to perform and weeks to recover from. Other procedures are often more effective. Finally,

MOOKP results in an unnatural-looking eye: the iris is often completely obscured or removed in the process of implanting the tooth, so the end result is a completely white eye with a pinpoint of a black pupil – eerily similar to “white out” novelty contact lenses.

Shannon Thornton, the patient in the 2009 procedure, says the result was completely worth it. After recuperating from the surgery, her eyes had 20-70 vision.

“We take sight for granted, not realizing that it can be lost at any moment,” Thornton said, quoted in Medical News Today.

“This truly is a miracle.”

Ian Tibbets, who underwent the surgery earlier this month in London, agrees. After the surgery, he regained 40 per cent of his vision, which he lost over 16 years ago in an accident that tore his cornea in six places. He could only see coloured blurs, and had never seen the faces of his twin boys.

“Before, the kids were just shapes,” he told The Telegraph.

“I had to actually learn to tell them apart by their voices.”

A day for mental health awareness at UFV

KATHERINE GIBSON

THE CASCADE

Whether you’re in your first semester or finishing up your last, students are no strangers to the pressures that come along with university life. Papers, midterms, and hours of reading piled on top of parttime jobs and family responsibilities can overwhelm even the most organized person.

Looking to address these student anxieties, the UFV counselling departmen set up booths on October 3 for students to come and take free, anonymous, and confidential screening tests. The event was in conjunction with the 19th annual Depression Anxiety Education Screening Day in BC. “Today wasn’t about counselling,” explains Eileen Burkholder, a student services counsellor. “Today was about education and starting conversations.”

These conversations, looking to educate and help students suffering with anxiety,

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Anxiety, depression, and risky drinking plague students now more than ever before. depression, or high-risk drinking activities, saw an increased amount of students coming to discuss the anxiety they were

feeling. Burkholder attributes these anxieties in part to the hectic lifestyles that many students now have to live.

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“I think that, overall, there’s more stress on students [now] than there was 10 or even 20 years ago,” she notes. “Students are not so traditional anymore. Often students will work 25-35 hours a week and take four courses … I don’t think 25 years ago it was like that so much; you had the more traditional students who left university from high school, lived in a dormitory and that’s all they did – that was their job.”

Beyond this, Burkholder also reflects on the role that an increased dependence on technology has had in increasing student anxieties. “[Student] connection to the internet and instant messag-

ing [causes] a lot of stress because it’s ‘right now,’” she says.

“Information is always ‘right now’; you’re always responding ‘right now.’”

While Burkholder acknowledges that for many students, cutting out all increased pressures from their lives is unrealistic, she advises that there are key steps to living alongside anxiety. She suggests identifying, through counselling, how patterns of thought, or selfdefeating belief systems work in the mind. Burkholder also emphasizes that simply breathing properly can make a significant difference. “[Deep breathing] is the quickest way to reverse our body’s tension,” she continues, “Even one breath will start to reverse it. We have a natural relaxation reflex, and the quickest way I know to kick in your reflex of relaxation is breath.”

Burkholder is hopeful that the event and the knowledge it provides will have lasting effects on the student body and awareness of mental health.

“Physically if you’re ill, you’re not going to be able to study very well. With mental health, if that is interfering, you’re not going to be able to perform very well either,” she says. “There’s so much emphasis in university on our academic development, and then there’s the physical development. Well, mental health is equal—one is not better than the other—we are one complete system as human beings.”

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

5

OPINION

The university brand

Is UFV a business or an institution?

CHRISTOPHER DEMARCUS

CONTRIBUTOR

The UFV bookstore is holding a fashion show on October 23. Student models will be showing off ready-for-fall selections of university-branded jackets and hoodies.

On the surface, the fashion show seems like another way for the bookstore to sell us stuff.

But the embroidered scarves and engraved pens they offer are part of key concept in our modern culture: branding.

In decades past, a brand was a symbol shaped by a manufacturer to give identity to a product. Today, in a social media world where the consumer has a louder voice than a company, a brand can be shaped by the consumers as much as the producer. Branding has become a two-sided conversation – we shape our brands as much as they shape us.

So what do we want from the brand of our university? Are we academics or consumers?

On September 24, UFV’s Centre for Environmental Stability held a public talk about the influence of market forces on academic research, both in the sciences and the arts. The lead lecture was given by English professor Trevor Carolan, who said, “Reading selections [for classes] are made by conference tote bag-carrying poets, not the essential writers.”

During the open discussion period, a UFV instructor added the comment, “I feel that the corporate model has been adopted by our university. And it affects what I choose to teach.”

The language of academia has changed. Business terms like “branding” and “marketable” have become part of the vernacular in university life. Professors feel pressure to focus their research and instruction topics on those that fit well in the current economic climate.

But branding isn’t just about the marketplace. It can be how a community shapes itself.

“We stock hoodies and athletic wear products for students. We are here to serve them and build student community.” says bookstore manger Cameron Roy. “We want

to create a culture at UFV that er-like behavior when choosing embraces the vast amount of aca- which post-secondary institution demic research and teaching that is to attend. So telling prospective done here.” students why they should come For the bookstore, branding is here, what makes UFV different, more about how to create a form is important regardless of the ecoof unity, academic solidarity, and nomic climate.” pride at UFV. The connection between local Indeed, Roy is right about the community and UFV’s brand is output of academic work at the strong amongst students. university. Groundbreaking re“UFV seems to attract its acasearch written by UFV faculty— demic ‘consumers’ by promising published by both academic jour- that students get a high quality ednals and mainstream printing ucation at a reasonable price, while houses—can be found throughout also supporting the local econothe bookstore. my,” says recent Bachelor of Arts Roy also explains why students graduate Natasha Smith. Fourthshould come to the bookstore out- year geography major Diandra side of the book-buying season.

Bactawar feels the same: “I chose “We encourage students to to go to UFV because it is close to shop at the bookstore because home, class sizes are smaller, and it helps support the university,” the instructors are excellent.” he says. “We pay our staff union At the same time, Smith sees wages. Amauniversities as “I feel that the cor- competing entizon doesn’t do that.” porate model has ties in the market.

But the line “UFV seems between brand- been adopted by our to have to work ing and school university. And it af- harder then the spirit can be universifects what I choose bigger hard to draw. ties (UBC being In Benjamin R. to teach.” the Coca-Cola Barber’s book of the industry), Consumed, he so it provides writes, “In the new world of brand smaller classrooms for a more inidentity, values are transferred timate atmosphere, with the great through trivialization. Inauthen- additive of approachable, humble ticity becomes a kind of simulated instructors,” she says. authenticity.”

Like Smith and Bactawar, In short, Barber feels that using fourth-year political science major branding to set values removes Jay Mitchell looks at UFV as a local quality from the identity of people brand. and institutions.

“I think UFV tries to stand for In contrast, Leslie Courchesne, that hometown school feel, and it’s director of marketing and com- what they’re provincially mandatmunications at UFV, says the UFV ed to do as a ‘regional university,’” brand sets value on authentic qual- he says, “but a commercializing ity and connectedness. shift in post secondary education “It’s all about quality and loca- has forced them to balance finantion,” she explains. “UFV is rec- cial responsibility against their deognized for our students’ success, sired image.” personal and supportive studentThe commercializing effect that focused environment, and our Mitchell refers to is at the crux of close connection with the Fraser the branding debate. Students, Valley communities we serve.” professors, and administrators Of course, she too is aware of the have to weigh the benefits of ecoeconomic forces that determine a nomic choices and personal valbrand. ues.

“A brand is basically the essence In 2012, the Guardian held a of what makes a product or service roundtable debate between univerdifferent from other choices avail- sity students and communications able,” she says. “Prospective stu- consultant company Purpose. The dents are exhibiting more consum- conclusion was that student values

and university expectations are— like universities themselves—dynamic. Students choose universities based on their own values and on the values that are implicit in their particular degree program.

On top of the values of a specific program, student demand in an institution is influenced by their local community. The overall university brand is formed by its connection to the community, scholarly values, and the values of each program.

Courchesne explains she sees different programs under the same general brand.

“Some of our programs are widely known, others have a strong reputation in their particular sector or industry, while others are less known,” she says. “But all are inseparable from the overall reputation of UFV. Our athletics teams have the Cascades brand, but it is still connected to the UFV master brand.”

And the term “brand” is not used solely to describe market and cultural principles. Branding is a process that labels both sides of the definition; economic values and human values. However, some—like Barber—worry that we’ve slipped too far into a market culture; we think too much like brands, when we should think more like people.

That fact is that all institutions, both private and public, have decided to wield the concept of branding to shape their identities. The mechanics of branding are multidisciplinary. It requires the craft of writing, the quantitative analysis of statistics, and the creativity of visual arts. What is unclear is how the methods of product branding influence institution-building as a whole. That commercialization effect mentioned by Mitchell may result in damaging the UFV brand itself. Do we want the new student union building named after a corporation, or would we rather see it named for a local hero?

If nothing else, one thing is becoming clear: it seems that as budgets shrink, institutions will rely more and more on free market principles to run themselves.

6

OPINION

OPINION

SNAPSHOTS

Danger of the thesaurus

Katie Stobbart

Learning to communicate ideas is an essential part of academia. However, that goal is often crippled by an overzealous need to prove how smart one is.

Don’t get me wrong – I believe a good thesaurus is an essential part of any student’s arsenal. But like any weapon, it should be used sparingly to avoid a barrage of words swamping your audience.

Often, words selected from the thesaurus don’t fit the context of what is being communicated, and make the task of reading or listening laborious. This defeats the purpose of communication. If you want someone to understand your message, clear and concise language is a must.

So why do we have thesauri? Used properly, the words contained within these handy books liven language and help us to express ourselves in more specific terms.

Your intelligence will show when you wield language skillfully, not superfluously.

Love your thesaurus; don’t abuse it.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Curtailed commentary on current conditions

Turn it off!

Is kindness extinct?

Oh, Canada

Christopher Demarcus

TAYLOR BRECKLES

NADINE MOEDT

Turn off the TV! Why do restaurants use televisions as wallpaper? Cactus Club has screens in their bathroom stalls. You can’t even poop without getting covered in an explosion of reality TV one-liners.

At the new Fatburger in Highstreet mall you can stuff chicken and cow into your face while sitting at the oh-so-new-and-shiny HDTV counter. No more need for pesky friends to share a meal with. Instead you can eat under the calm, soothing glow of Modern Family.

Pubs and restaurants need to stop trying to be a sports bars. We go out to connect with people and to live life, not to watch TV. So the next time you’re in your favorite restaurant, ask them to turn off the TV. It’s dinner and a movie, not dinner with the Kardashians.

The other day, while waiting for the bus downtown, it started to rain. It wasn’t a monsoon, but it was still raining. Since I had forgotten my umbrella, I was not impressed with the sky turning against me.

Yet in the midst of my frustration, something more than welcome happened. A fellow UFV student ran up to me and shared her umbrella with me.

“Here, it’s raining,” she said, then resumed watching for the bus. I was blown away. Naturally, I started a conversation with this remarkable girl, and she told me she’s an ESL student from China. This explained everything. Of course she isn’t from Canada!

If you’ll pardon the stereotype, most of us are fairly inconsiderate. Instead of immigrants flocking to come here, we should be fleeing the continent to escape the discourteous manners of Canadians! It is beyond sad how flabbergasted we have become when we experience kindness.

Something needs to change before compassion itself becomes a myth.

A proposal to change the wording of our national anthem to include women has generated the usual negativity from patriotic traditionalists.

The change would revert the line “in all thy sons command” back to its original 1908 version, “thou dost in us command.”

Both versions of the national anthem were penned by a man in a time when the general consensus was that women were inferior.

So I really don’t see anything wrong with inserting a little gender equality into a tradition of sexism.

If citizens are obligated to sing the anthem at sporting events and in schools, we should strive to make its wording as inclusive as possible.

If Canadians want to foster that “true patriot love,” they should seriously consider making the switch to gender neutrality.

Why no one likes feminists and environmentalists VALERIE FRANKLIN

Hint: it has something to do with negative stereotyping

CONTRIBUTOR

Would you avoid making friends with someone if they were an activist?

A new study from the University of Toronto shows that people don’t want to be associated with environmentalists or feminists, even if they support those ideals themselves. Participants indicated that they were not interested in becoming friends with “typical” activists who organized rallies and protests, and were somewhat more likely to accept “atypical” activists who engaged in milder forms of activism like fundraisers or events.

Researchers also reported that participants were more reluctant to change their behavior if it was promoted by the “typical” activist than if it was promoted by the less aggressive “atypical” activist.

As troubling as this research is, it seems easy to guess the participants’ reasons. No one likes to be harassed or nagged, and activists can stir up our guilty consciences, making us feel like we’re not doing enough. Unfortunately, it seems there’s also a deeper level of prejudice at work.

Another study performed by the same researchers revealed that participants associated activists with shockingly negative stereotypes. Feminists were most often described as “man-hating” and

“unhygienic,” while the most common words associated with environmentalists were “tree-hugger” and “hippie.”

What’s disturbing about these results is that vitally important causes like environmentalism and feminism are being singled out and cruelly stereotyped. This seems especially confusing when we consider that most Canadians believe in equality between men and women, which is the ultimate goal of feminism. Similarly, environmentalism has become so popular over the last decade that “greenwashing” (deceptively portraying a product as more environmentally friendly than it really is) has become a common advertising practice. People seem to support feminism and environmentalism, yet dislike feminists and environmentalists. Why? Whenever a movement or a cause is adopted as an identity, it becomes easy to forget the humanity of the people who support it. A divisive “us-or-them” mentality is the result. Thanks to years of media sensationalism, activists are often perceived to be wacky radicals and extremists, even if they’re peacefully protesting for higher wages or equal rights – and the unkind labels tossed around in newsrooms and on talk shows don’t help. Environmentalists are called “eco-terrorists.” Women who ask to be paid fairly are “feminazis.”

Protesters and feminists don’t necessarily fall into the holes often pegged for them.

These words turn human beings into faceless caricatures, easy to mock and easy to fear. Who would want to be friends with them?

It’s clear from this study that we all need to play more nicely. It’s easy to get angry and passionate about the problems in the world, but it’s clear that aggressively touting your beliefs isn’t going to win you much support. On the other hand, assuming that people are dirty, die-hard “eco-terrorists” because they’re holding signs denouncing the Enbridge pipeline project is unfair and, frankly, silly.

We shouldn’t stop protesting.

We shouldn’t stop caring about women’s rights or pipelines or global warming – the world des-

perately needs people who care.

But this study makes it clear that the traditional method of marching and carrying signs turns people off. Many activist groups are sensing this and turning to the internet to circulate petitions, send letters, share photos, write blogs, and run crowdfunding campaigns.

These are more respectful, inclusive ways to gain support for a cause without making anyone feel like it’s being shoved in their face, and anyone with internet access can participate.

But as useful as the internet can be, it will never have the same power as the protest rally. Our physical presence is the most simple and most effective way of dem-

Image: Jay Morrison/ flickr

onstrating our belief in a cause, and turning up at a protest shows a commitment of time and effort. A crowd of 10,000 holding signs and chanting in a city square means much more than 10,000 digital signatures on an online petition. It demonstrates the kind of solidarity that can make a government quake in its boots.

That’s why these negative connotations around feminism, environmentalism, and the word “activist” need to disappear. Real human beings are behind those labels, putting their energy into making the world a better place.

They deserve to be treated with respect – whether or not you agree with their point of view.

7

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Harper needs to stop acting like an American and remember what it is to be Canadian CHRISTOPHER DEMARCUS

CONTRIBUTOR

Dear Mr. Harper, While everyone is busy writing Miley and O’Conner, I thought I would write to you.

You’ve cut aid funding in favour of your preferred method of development: mining as much of the world as possible. Your government has stayed away from the political suicide that is Iraq, but has no problem sending in mining companies to take advantage of the spoils of war. You seem to be fine with Canada’s move from the image of peace keeper to that of profiteer. Like a mid-level pimp, you’re fine with selling off Canada’s resources bit by bit.

I’m really worried about you,

Mr. Harper. I think that when you grew up, you only saw the benefits of economic growth and you’ve never seen the downside to free trade.

But it’s not all your fault. Conforming to an American style of politics has been a long time in coming.

Back in 1961, Prime Minister Diefenbaker made a stand against the American empire. America’s golden boy JFK wanted to put nukes on Canadian soil. Diefenbaker told Kennedy to shove it.

In response, Kennedy sent American political researcher Lou Harris into Canada to work the 1962 election. Diefenbaker lost. As you know, this type of American interference continues in Canadian politics today. I assume you work with American pimp pollsters, as

you’ve definitely learned a trick or two from them: you like to put a hold on parliament whenever you can.

During our last provincial elections here in BC, party workers loved to talk about how they got “a guy from the Obama campaign.”

BC pollsters rubbed the American consultants like lucky tokens. No respect for our Canadian way of doing things. The best part was when the pollsters got it all wrong.

Another funny thing about BC: Our population thinks the Liberals are actually liberal!

There is an idea that has been floating about the halls of government: that Canadians are simply Americans who don’t want to be Americans. We want the same stuff – cheap electronics and a spinoff of Breaking Bad. I’m guessing

you’re a big fan of House of Cards.

You seem to emulate it.

Nothing compares to you, Mr. Harper. I haven’t seen someone take an economic wrecking ball to a country like this since the Americans let their banking system regulate itself.

We used to have a unique culture of politics that was distinctly not American, but that seems to have faded. Now our parties function like products and we love to run attack ad campaigns on each other.

I’m worried about your mental health, too. You’ve been quite the narcissist, not concerned about people that have something directly to do with you; censoring scientists, expanding prisons, cutting social services, and forgetting that Africa exists – except when it’s

time to drop some bombs or dig up some minerals. You always have to do things your way.

My dear Mr. Harper, the world does not only run on economics.

I’m not getting paid to write you this letter. I’m writing because I love you and I’m worried about you.

Like it or not, we Canadians can be role models. We have to be careful what messages we send to other countries. The message you keep sending is that it’s somehow cool to be prostituted. Canada isn’t simply a resource, it’s a country.

Canada and your government are worth more than the market value.

Please don’t be angry that I’ve expressed alarm. Come election time, I’ll be here to help you remember what you’ve done.

Prenatal care cannot be all “Blurred Lines” Controversy hits local school things to all people TAYLOR BRECKLES

KIERRA ENNS

CONTRIBUTOR

Every year, about 44,000 babies are born in British Columbia. Of these, about 62 will be born with Down syndrome.

Because Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder, it is possible to assess risk for this abnormality while the fetus is still in the womb. Among other factors, the age of the mother is important in assessing risk, as pregnancies in older women are considered high-risk for chromosomal disorders. Early warning is valuable for a pregnant woman, as she may then choose to terminate her pregnancy, deliver at a high-risk birth centre, or prepare to raise a disabled child.

However, do we need to go to the length of expensive testing for every pregnancy in BC, considering the rarity of the disorder?

Serum Integrated Prenatal Screen (SIPS), an assessment of the probability of a child being born with Down syndrome, is offered to every woman in British Columbia as part of her prenatal care. The cost of SIPS is fully paid by the Canadian health care system, and is considered the standard risk assessment for normal and low-risk pregnancies. The cost to the province per SIPS is approximately $500 per pregnancy.

Some women choose not to have the assessment done.

SIPS consists of two blood tests done at 10 to 12 weeks and then again at 15 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. It measures the levels of certain proteins and hormones to assess risk of chromosomal abnormality. It’s not actually very informative by itself, but it indicates to health-care providers whether or not a woman should have further testing done. It’s important to understand that SIPS is not an actual specific test for Down syndrome.

However, SIPS is non-invasive

Last week, the worst of popular culture plagued Abbotsford’s Yale Secondary school. The school band selected “Blurred Lines,” the song by Robin Thicke infamous for its controversial lyrics, to perform at a pep rally.

However, one student initiated a chain reaction of responses which ultimately derailed the plan.

Though many people are familiar with the song’s lyrics and it has been criticized as glorifying rape, the song was crowned the “song of the summer.” That, and its presence in a high school setting, are nothing short of disturbing.

“Project Unbreakable,” a poignant online photography project by artist Grace Brown, features women who have survived sexual assault quoting their attackers.

Two of the photographed quotes, “I know you want it,” are echoed in the chorus of “Blurred Lines.”

Thicke’s lyrics are astoundingly insensitive to people who have experienced sexual assault.

Chloe Knull, a student at Yale, and her family reacted immediately to the band’s song selection.

Emails were sent to the principal and vice principals, but there was no response, even though more than one parent was disturbed by the issue. Knull printed the lyrics to the song to show students and gather their opinions on the subject. Her sister even stood up and left her band class after announcing that she was “not going to play a song about rape.” However, even after all of this, the performance was not yet cancelled.

Knull herself is a victim of sexual harassment, with lyrics of Thicke’s song having been spoken to her in an “oppressive nature” before.

Clearly it was not the best song choice, but regardless of the harm it could do to students, the prin-

CONTRIBUTOR

Image:Buckdaddy/flickr

A new test for Down syndrome isn’t covered by health care – the only test that can absolutely confirm chromosomal abnormalities is an amniocentesis (a needle inserted into the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus), which is invasive and can, although rarely, be traumatic enough to cause miscarriage.

A new method of testing known as Non-Invasive Prenatal testing (NIPT) can actually detect fetal DNA in the mother’s blood and is usually conducted at 10 to 13 weeks of pregnancy. This test is substantially more accurate and does not require invasive testing to confirm results. As well, because the results are received earlier in the pregnancy, a woman intending to abort can do so without coming close to the point when terminating a pregnancy can become dangerous.

The downside? This test is not covered by the government, and the price tag is hefty at $1,100 per test.

Even with a public health care system, not every procedure or test can be covered by the provincial government. SIPS is now a well-documented method of assessing risk for Down syndrome and selecting women who would benefit from an amniocentesis. It’s already the system standard for pregnancy care in BC, and doctors

offering the assessment understand it well, knowing which of their patients should be urged to have SIPS done, and which may not need it.

To provide NIPT to every pregnant woman would cost double what SIPS does and its advantages are simply not worth the cost. We have limited resources of health care dollars at our disposal, and for 62 diagnoses of Down syndrome a year, this would be an unreasonable over-extension of prenatal risk assessments.

We can absolutely ensure that all high-risk pregnancies are offered all of the necessary assessments and tests – covering NIPT tests for all mothers over the age of 35, for instance, would be reasonable – but we don’t need to pile new procedures onto a system already carrying the weight of one standard assessment. Ultimately, NIPT is a specialized test for a selective group of pregnancies, and we shouldn’t cover its cost for those who statistically don’t need it.

As a province, we need to understand collectively that we cannot tax our health care system indefinitely, and at one point or another, we need to tailor care to those who need it – not blanket everyone who may want it.

Have an opinion about something? Share it with us.

Image: Picassoweb

cipal did not agree to remove the song.

Knull then posted a Facebook status to express her anger at the situation, which generated more awareness outside Yale Secondary students and resulted in a three-day in-school suspension.

She also created a petition for students and teachers to sign in order to stop the band from performing the song.

Knull was punished and intimidated for expressing her views, but in the end the song was removed. It took Knull, her family, her friends, and several other concerned individuals to accomplish this. Knull also says “[the principal] had received over 80 emails not only from parents that had kids at Yale, but also students that had graduated the year before.”

The sheer amount of people needed to get the attention of a single man is unbelievable. But it seems many more voices will be needed to raise awareness about rape before messages like Thicke’s (“I know you want it”) are taken seriously.

Comment on our website or email your thoughts to Editor@ufvcascade.ca

8

OPINION

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

How do you feel about the new Highstreet mall?

Feel like sharing your short-andsweet opinion? Keep an eye out for our whiteboard-toting pollsters roaming the halls.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

ARTS & LIFE

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10

ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Canadian Ambassador to the UN shares his

By Christopher DeMarcus

R

obert Fowler has had an epic career. After starting out as a teacher in Africa at the age of 19, he joined the Canadian foreign service. He has been the Canadian Ambassador to Italy and the UN, Deputy Minister of Defence, and Foreign Policy Advisor to three different prime ministers.

On top of that, Fowler and his colleague Louis Guay were kidnapped by al Qaeda in 2008 while working for the UN in Niger. Their captors drove them deep into the Sahara Desert where they held Fowler and Guay for over four months.

On October 2, in response to an invitation by UFV political science professor Edward Akuffo, Fowler came to UFV to speak with students about his experiences. There were many topics to cover: international law, economic aid, terrorism, religious extremism, and of course, Canadian foreign policy.

What’s your advice for students who wish to get into the Canadian foreign service?

It’s not as easy as it used to be. When I applied they were looking for people. Now people are looking for them. I had one degree: a BA in art history. Today, it’s highly competitive. Our government isn’t as engaged in foreign policy as it used to be, so there [are fewer] foreign service jobs. I believe that last year they hired less than 20 people, if any at all. They require more credentials, at least two degrees. About 8,000 will apply, maybe 20 will get hired. Only 400 of the 8,000 will be interviewed. How you get an interview is pure luck. It’s a significant crapshoot. It also depends on how well you get along with the hiring board. Do they like you? Are you someone they want to spend a lot of time with?

How has Canadian foreign policy changed over the years?

There are four times more countries in the UN today than when it started in 1945. Canada is less of a big player because the membership has expanded.

We used to be in the top rank of peace keepers – now Canada is the 58th most important peacekeeper. Our military strength has declined. During WWII we had around 1 million troops. We were a major military power.

Today we have 70,000. Our procurement process for new hardware has become much more politicized and complex. For example, we build frigates in Quebec and New Brunswick, then we try to fit them together. We want to punch above our weight, but the reality is we punch below.

There just isn’t enough money to get it all done. If there ever was a “golden age” in Canadian foreign policy, I caught the end of it.

What were some of the policy errors made in Afghanistan?

Foreign policy is a mixture of security interests, development, and values. The more a country talks about values, the more I distrust them. What we were trying to do was turn Afghanistan into Alberta. We [western powers] had poor war aims. We wanted to fix everything in our own way. You can’t change the values of extremists. They’ll wait you out.

When Mr. Obama announced a 30,000 troop surge, he also mentioned a timeframe. He said that in a year-and-a-half the troops would come home. The Taliban will wait it out. They are religiously dedicated. Time doesn’t mean the same thing to them as it does to us.

You’ve spent the majority of your life working in Africa. It seems that Africa functions as a symbol of charity in our culture. What do you think of the commoditization of aid to Africa?

It’s a dilemma. NGOs can be big business. There are some good NGOs and there are some bad. One of the problems right now is that NGOs are not regulated as much as other businesses. At the same time, we need them. If you’ve read Dambisa Moyo’s book Dead Aid, you know her thesis, that imperial forces have created a system of aid that makes African states reliant on the aid of wealthy states. And it’s true, there is an imperialistic aspect to aid. But the World Food Programme fed hundreds of millions of people last year. I don’t pretend to have the answer. How we give aid is a problem that we need to be more creative at solving.

“What made them extreme was their radical religious convictions, not a lack of education.

They don’t want development. They want jihad.”

Do you think terrorism is a real threat?

Absolutely. It is the threat of our time. And extremism is growing.

In your book, you describe the members of the al Queda cell that held you. Some of them went to school in France and spoke several languages.

Do you think that more education and development is a good way to fight terrorism?

Development is important, but most terrorism comes from religious extremism. When I was

Canadian Ambassador to the UN Robert Fowler, who was captured and imprisoned by al Qaeda, shares his story with U

A standing-room-only B101 was filled with faculty and students for Fowler’s presentation. kidnapped, it wasn’t about getting more development, it was about [for my captors] Islam.

Yes, some of them were educated with bachelor laureates from France. Some were well-travelled. The camp leader, whom I call Omar One, spoke several languages. What made them extreme was their radical religious convictions, not a lack of education. They don’t want development. They want jihad.

I was ashamed about what I knew about Islam before I was kidnapped. My captors didn’t know much about Islam either, but by God, they knew what they knew! They were fundamentalists. They were jihadi. When I spoke to them about things I had to come at it through a religious method.

They were technically agile with smart phones, laptops, and

GPS. At the same time they absolutely detested the concept of flexibility. They knew that their view was right and they didn’t care about what they didn’t know.

The cultural gulf was enormous. There was no fun. At no point was my interaction with them friendly. It was all business.

When I was leaving the camp, Omar One told me, “Tell them that I did everything to save you.” “Tell who?” I asked.

“When you die, tell the angel Gabriel that I did everything I could to convert you. Tell them you chose to not be saved. Tell them that it was not Omar ’s fault!”

What makes someone go radical? How do we prevent extremism with policy?

Image: UFV Flickr

I don’t know. One idea is to lean on the Saudi princes that fund terrorist cells, to stop the radical poison that is being pumped into children’s heads.

Many of the jihadis are sons of devout families that have been given to the cause by their parents. Kind of like how large families used to give one son or daughter to the church, to become a priest or nun. The difference with al Qaeda is that they’re getting fitted for a [suicide] vest.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

With files from Chris Kleingertner.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

ARTS & LIFE

s story with students

UFV students, staff, and faculty.

11

A Season in Hell: My 130 Days in the Sahara With al Qaeda

“We want to punch above our weight, but the reality is we punch below.”

R

Image: UFV Flickr

obert Fowler has written A Season in Hell: My 130 Days in the Sahara With al Qaeda, a book which covers his nerve-racking captivity. The account is a bold narrative about how the clash of civilizations plays out in real time with real consequences. It is essential reading for anyone who wishes to learn about Islamic terrorism.

What has made Fowler’s book work is its core perspective of observation. There isn’t a lot of complicated discussion about cultureal relativism or moral ambiguity. Instead, Fowler has written a clear account. His vivid descriptions journey through both his external environment and internal personal trauma.

Throughout the book’s 340 pages, Fowler lays out an even-paced,

chronological narrative. In contrast, his captors do not have the same sense of time. While Fowler operates on a strict day-to-day schedule, the terrorists see time as relative – they are completely focused on their extremism, not the dials of a clock. The perception of time in the book is a key indicator of how different Fowler’s culture is from that of his captors.

Pushing the story along, the cultural divide makes for strenuous negotiations. The extremists are committed to a black and white way of thinking. The grey areas of negotiation process—of give and take, conceal and reveal—don’t go over well with al Qaeda.

Beneath the surface of the thriller-like memoir is a constant need for judicial prudence. The ambassador works through mind-numbing fear to clarify and understand his predicament. Physical damage takes a toll, too. Fowler’s back was heavily damaged while being transported from Niger into the vast deserts of northern Mali.

He couldn’t lie down. He couldn’t sleep. Yet, he and his fellow hostage Louis Guay were focused on survival and empirical analysis.

Fowler clearly expresses how al Qaeda is dedicated to a cold and brutal ethos. They are an absolute threat to human security and Fowler’s life. But at the same time, the book never feels demonizing.

While obviously critical of the ideals of terrorists, it respects them as a real threat – worse than monsters under the bed.

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ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

10 things about food you didn’t know from the Fraser Valley Food Show The Fraser Valley Food Show came to the Tradex for its sixth year this October, featuring celebrity chefs Rob Feenie and Corbin Tomaszeski, the Great Canadian Sausage Making Competition, numerous seminars, and countless exhibits. Some of the presenters and exhibitors at the show shared some information and advice off the Food Network-beaten path.

JENNIFER COLBOURNE

erates make all the pasta sauces.” – Michael Collins, The Italian Kitchen Company

Cheese “Don’t use vegetable crackers – they linger on your palate. You buy a $3 box of veggie crackers and wipe out $40 worth of cheese.”

– Reg Hendrickson, The Dairy Farmers of Canada, Cheese Seminar

Pet food “Raw food is the biologically appropriate food for both dogs and cats, because let’s be honest – they can’t cook.” – Michael Bridgman, Just About Pets Wellness Center

THE CASCADE

Honey “[Beware of] honey laundering – a lot of Chinese honeys are laundered through New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, and different countries, and brought in as that country’s honey. Huge deal.” – Diane Stubson, KB Honey Processors/ Western Sage Honey Cranberries “Historically, [cranberries] are one of only three native fruits to North America … cranberries, blueberries, and concord grapes are the only native fruits.” – Geraldine Auston, BC Cranberry Marketing Commission Beer “Our bitter taste buds are at the back of the tongue. In order to properly taste your beer, you have to swallow it.” – Rick Mohabir, Just Here for the Beer, Beer and Sausage Seminar Mead “Mead is the ‘drink of love’ because they gave it to newlyweds to start their families. You know what I mean – get the juices flowing.” – Hannah Bernard, Campbell’s Gold Honey Farm & Meadery Pasta sauce “In Canada, only two conglom-

Manioc “Manioc is a root that grows in Brazil, it’s very similar to cassava—it’s in the same family—it grows there for centuries and it’s the base food for the native people … It’s a very good replacement for wheat, and it can be used for desserts as well.” –Silvia Martinelli, Otimo

Image: Jennifer Colbourne

Sprouted grains bread Sprouted grains are very good for you because when you’re sprouting a grain—putting it under water—it actually acts like it’s … going to be planted, and so when it’s started, the enzymes … get rid of the phytic acid … and phytic acid [keeps] your body from absorbing nutrients.” – Janine Killian, Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery Chocolate “The basic difference [between American and European chocolate] is in the crunching of the cocoa bean: [European] chocolate [is so] fine, that’s why European chocolate will melt in your mouth.

[The crunching process] is done sometimes for three days … making the particles of the cocoa bean so fine, that you can look at them with a microscope.” – Veve Tas, Chocolatas

Image: Jennifer Colbourne

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ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

CROSSWORD

Answer Keys

Falling leaves

LAST WEEK

by Valerie Franklin

sudoku solution

Across 4 COURAGE 5 GOLDENSNITCH 8 PROOF 9 JOB 10 KEYS 11 EVASIVE

Down 1 WALDO 2 ELUSIVE 3 GOODFRIENDS 6 CULPRIT 7 LOSTPET

SUDOKU PUZZLE ACROSS 2.

6.

7.

8.

9.

What you burn leaves and roast marshmallows on. (7) Warm and comfortable like a woolly pair of socks. (4) What a farmer might call this time of year. (7) A hot apple beverage for cold autumn nights. (5) Stay dry under one of these if you go outside. (8)

DOWN 1.

3.

4.

5.

7.

Listen to your mother and wear one – it’s cold out there! (7) It rolls in overnight and makes it hard to see. (3) Jonagold, Honeycrisp, or Fuji. (6) The tenth month – and the theme of this puzzle! (7) What you take to get down to the pumpkin patch. (3, 4)

The Weekly Horoscope Star Signs from Sumas Sibyl Aquarius: Jan 20 - Feb 18: The answer is written in the stars of your heart. (Whatever the heck that means!)

Gemini: May 21 - June 21: Don’t trust anybody. Not your banker, not your real estate agent, not your mother.

They’re all out to get you. The only things you can trust are Jesus, Obama, and lettuce.

Libra: Sept 23 - Oct 22: Take all hairpin turns at twice the speed limit. The world needs fewer people.

Pisces: Feb 19 - March 20: You’d better start running – the ghost of last year’s turkey has it out for you!

Cancer: June 22 - July 22: This may be a confusing week for you. Just keep in mind, scotch and poodles do NOT mix.

Scorpio: Oct 23 - Nov 21: You’re going to be drafted into World War Onion. Better move to Canada…

Aries: March 21 - April 19: Do what you want with your life – just don’t stir the goddamn rice.

Leo: July 23 - Aug 22: You may want to keep away from your bathroom. The straightening iron and the curling iron are fighting again, and the blow drier is threatening to get involved.

Sagittarius: Nov 22 - Dec 21: Follow your sartorial inclinations. Rompers are the new black. Wear them and romp free my child!

Taurus: April 20 - May 20: The king is still alive! No, no, not Elvis. King Kong. And you’re going to meet him!

Virgo: Aug 23 -Sept22: Shower well. That glitter isn’t going to remove itself.

Capricorn: Dec 22 - Jan 19: Your cat is actually a wizard trapped in a cat’s body. He’s very lovable, but beware his cutting sarcasm and feline wit.

Image: Philippe Leroyer/Flickr

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ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Dine & Dash

Hi Lunch Box

1

CHARTS

Matana Roberts COIN COIN Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Janelle Monae The Electric Lady Jordan Klassen Repentance Rhye Woman

Moderat II

Light Fires Face

The Gertrudes Neighbourhood Mavo Mavo Tim Hus Western Star Kim Wempe Coalition

Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five Bison Ranch Recording Sessions

12 13

Jimmy Hunt Maladie D’amour

Twin Library They Were Marked As Targets

14 15 16

Basia Bulat Tall Tall Shadow Wildlife ...On the Heart

Outlaws Of Ravenhurst Book II

17

B.A. Johnston Mission Accomplished

18

The Darcys Warring

Shuffle AARON LEVY

CIVL STATION MANAGER

CIVL station manager Aaron Levy remembers all sorts of bands that you might always (or never) have hated, and how they sounded to him before they turned into what some prefer to call “sell outs.”

Weezer – “Say It Ain’t So” This is what fans were saying in 2002. With The Green Album out, Weezer appeared to be a force once again demanding to be reckoned with before releasing Maladroit with its less crunchy guitarwork, more flowery songwriting, and ultimately their own demise as underground harbingers of postpunk-low-fi cool.

Matthew Good – ”Weapon” The first release under his given name without the band, this single was an inoffensive, biting piece of panoramic Canrock, complete with a mememotif music video and a drudging, angst-ridden bridge. Good was never the same after this, never again reaching his Underdogs/Beautiful Midnight era peaks. Great song though.

Nine Inch Nails – “The Hand That Feeds” For many of us, The Downward Spiral, The Fragile, and even Pretty Hate Machine were timetested works of depression and despair that helped us through the tweenage years, toiling about in uncool social abnormality. The Hand That Feeds shows Trent Reznor recognizing that after high school, even geeks get popular.

Nickelback – “Breath” The first song on the first fulllength release. I have been telling people lately all around town that I’d gone and purchased Nickelback’s sophomore release, Silver Side Up, on September 11 2001, right after spending all day talking about the towers coming down being our JFK shooting. Some transition.

31962 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Prices: Up to $11.95 for lunch boxes, $16.95 for dinner boxes SASHA MOEDT

THE CASCADE

As soon as I walked in, my first thought was that Hi Lunch Box is the kind of place I could eat in at.

The decorations weren’t overly tacky (in the way sushi places can be), the music was pleasant and quiet, and the seating was fairly private for such a small establishment – screens are set up right between tables. Hi Lunch Box definitely knows how to do homey. Not fancy, not a dive, but just a place you can be comfortable in. It is even located in the same building as a laundromat, and I thought I could smell a whiff of detergent now and then – home sweet home.

When a sushi place serves complementary edamame, it’s a good sign. It was heated up nicely – this shouldn’t be difficult for some

restaurants, but sometimes I get bowls of edamame with pockets of still partially-frozen areas.

Prices aren’t awesome – are they ever at sushi places? But spending under $15 for a celebratory lunch isn’t a bad deal.

I always order a California roll, miso, sunomono, maybe some tempura, and then something a little more exciting and new. This time I ordered a “Rock & Roll” – a roll from the special roll menu that has deep fried smoked salmon, shrimp, crab meat, avocado, and cucumber. I shared with my friend, and we had more than enough of our fill.

The miso ($1.50) and sunomono ($3.95) came out first. I like my miso with lots of tofu and rich broth; Hi Lunch Box definitely lived up to my expectations.

While I’d recommend going for miso as a starter, I can’t say the same for the sunomono. Sonomono is made with sugar and rice vinegar – it should be very vinegary. This sunomono hadn’t marinated well, and it tasted sickly-sweet and pretty unpleasant.

The California roll ($3.25) was good; the center filling was creamier than usual, which I found interesting. The portions were nothing to complain about;

Hi Lunch Box doesn’t skimp. I ordered yam tempura ($6.95) and there was more than enough to share. It was hot and crisp, not quite as light as I’d like, but not terribly heavy or soggy either.

The Rock & Roll was a six out of 10 on the scale of special rolls.

The smoked salmon took over the flavor a bit too much, and it was very meaty. I enjoyed the sauce overtop, though, and the rolls were stuffed with flavor and filling. I’d be very interested in trying Hi Lunch Box’s other special rolls.

Our server was a little shy, but not so much so that she left us waiting for her. I was there for a birthday lunch with a friend, and I opened my gift fairly early on – two nice bottles of liqueur (Bols and Sourpuss). The server seemed pretty cool with letting us have those bottles out in the open. I wonder what she would have done if we’d tried to pour ourselves a drink!

All in all, a thumbs up for Hi Lunch Box for nice atmosphere, moderate prices, and hefty portions.

Cascade Arcade

Terraria, updated DESSA BAYROCK THE CASCADE

I have a love of side-scrollers and a love of sandbox games, and Terraria is the rare cross between those genres.

The game originally hit the scene in the fall of 2011 and promptly became the best seller on Steam for six straight days.

As of January 2013, it had sold 2,000,000 copies – not bad for a humble indie game!

Terraria seems simple, and that’s where it has its power: it can be all things to all people. Do you like adventuring and fighting monsters? You can do that. Do you like building cities and houses and customizing each abode and convincing NPCs to move in?

You can do that. Do you like collecting unique items and flaunting your treasure hauls to your friends? You can do that. Do you like digging really, really deep holes in the ground? You can literally go to hell and back – assuming the firebats don’t get you first.

There’s so much to do that you’re bound to get addicted; once you get bored of playing one aspect, you can move on to the next.

Despite the sheer amount of content already in the game (especially if you play in a “large”sized world), it was one of the great tragedies of gaming when the makers of Terraria, now rich on the unexpected spoils of their creation, announced they would not be updating a single thing.

Every player had the finished game: there would be no downloadable content, no patches, no additions to the game.

So the only new content available for players since the release was through player-produced modifications (which, let’s be honest, are a little skeezy even at the best of times).

Until last week.

October 3 marked a glorious day in history: the release of an official update for Terraria.

The instant an updated world loads, you can see the difference.

Terraria, like Minecraft, works on a block-based system. This leads both games to look naturally blocky (although Terraria is closer to an nostalgiac and quaintly sweet 16-bit world whereas Minecraft is pixelated and ugly as hell. But I digress.) With the new update, the blocks of Terraria are a little smoother and less, well, blocky: the trees are crooked and more natural-looking, and blocks of different heights now sometimes spawn with a diagonal block linking them – leading to a smoother and prettier world.

As the final, perfect touch to this smoothed-out atmosphere, character avatars have an easier time navigating the world: they can run up an incline of one block, where before you the player had to jump them over each and every increase. The update also introduces rope, which makes getting up and down things hella easier – especially considering how much of a trial it is to construct a grappling hook, which is the tool you need to get around with any kind of efficiency.

There are other cool additions, too, which don’t need much description. Giant, explorable trees; new boss battles (including a giant bee); new magic items, potions, and weapons; new biomes to explore, with characteristics that continue even if you go underground; new materials to build things with; new monsters to fight off, like undead Vikings; cute touches, like spawning zombies wearing raincoats when the weather is less than nice.

The only problem I really had with the update, in fact, was the weather. In the original game, the sun always rose in the morning.

In the new version, it might be an overcast day, or a rainy day, or even a snowy day – a nice touch, but one that’s a little too close to real life for comfort. It’s depressing to wake up to a rainy day, whether it’s in your own bed or your character’s house.

In any case, I support and adore this update at least 97 per cent. Terraria is available for PC through Steam at around $10, or through Xbox at about $20, or even as an app for Android, a transition that works surprisingly well. No matter what your preferred gaming platform, I highly recommend picking up a copy.

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Album Review

Ariana Grande – Yours Truly ADESUWA OKOYOMON CONTRIBUTOR

Mini Album Reviews

SoundBites

Ariana Grande is famous for her roles as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s Victorious and Sam and Cat and as Charlotte in 13 on Broadway. Yours Truly, her debut studio album, is a beautiful mixture of soul, R&B, adult contemporary, pop, and dance music, and an amazing love story.

Yours Truly features songs produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Antonio Dixon, Mika, and Greg Wells (who produced One Republic’s hit “Apologize”).

The album begins with “Honeymoon Avenue,” co-written by Grande. The song opens with strings that launch you into a 1970s disco and stuns with doowop vocals. The vocals outshine the polished beats and leave you wanting to be “stuck / in bumper-to-bumper traffic” and go anywhere with that voice.

The second song on the album, “Baby I” opens with drums and the tempo accelerates for the chorus: “But every time I try

finger snaps, sleek beats, and piano. It has a real ‘50s feel and Grande even references the era in the lyrics: “I wanna say we’re going steady like it’s 1954.”

“Lovin’ It” speeds the album up again with an upbeat tempo, and “Piano” is definitely the pop song of summer 2013. I challenge you to listen to this feelgood dance track without bobbing your head, tapping your feet, or cracking a smile.

The seventh track, “Daydreamin’,” kicks off with piano and envelops you in melodies that make you want to re-enact Grease in your bedroom as you wait for Danny Zuko. “The Way,” featuring Mac Miller, was Grande’s first single – the song samples Big Pun and Joe’s “Still Not a Player” and Grande’s commanding vocals steal the spotlight from the percussive 1990s groove.

“You’ll Never Know” is a lovechild of R&B and pop. “You will never know what we could have been,” Grande croons.

The tenth song, “Almost Is Never Enough” is a marvellous

ballad featuring The Wanted’s Nathan Sykes and is included in the soundtrack for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Finger snaps, piano, and an astounding combination of vocals cause emotion to erupt in your heart.

“Popular Song” featuring Mika is the unofficial anthem for all the kids who were not popular in high school. First released with Priscilla Renae on Mika’s album The Origin of Love, the song’s chorus samples “Popular” from Steven Schwartz’s musical Wicked. The handclaps and wonderful vocals make it an awesome listen.

The last song, “Better Left Unsaid” is a stunning example of Grande’s powerful delivery of vocals.

Yours Truly is the perfect combination of R&B and retro pop, a first album with no better this year.

to say it / words / they’ll only complicate it.”

GOOD Music’s rap artist Big Sean is featured on the third track, “Right There,” which samples The Jeff Lorber Fusion’s

“Rain Dance.” A strong bass beat invites you into this dance track.

Then “Tattooed Heart” slows things down with that amazing voice (which you’ll already have fallen in love with) paired with

Kings of Leon Mechanical Bull

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Unvarnished

Janelle Monae The Electric Lady

Said the Whale Hawaiii

Kings of Leon sky-rocketed to massive heights back in 2008 with Only by the Night, something tough for many bands to maintain in later albums.

Unfortunately, a couple years later the band did falter with its follow-up Come Around Sundown. What Only by the Night had going for it was a rich, smoky atmosphere. It was an emotive rock album that dug at your soul. So while Kings of Leon failed to reach that place afterward, I had great hope for its new material. However, after many, many listens all I have is pain from a middling album. Never once does Mechanical Bull come close to what the band is capable of, though it would be a stretch to say that it’s a bad album when calling it mediocre is sufficient. I do suppose this could be marked up to a change of direction, as many of the songs are lighter. They do also spend time exploring new sounds, such as with “Family Tree,” where they take a turn and become a little more blues-oriented. And the better songs on the album are certainly the slower ones like “Wait For Me” and “Beautiful War,” which is actually a beautiful song. Ultimately though, after giving this album many chances to hit me, it comes down to the fact that it is just an all right overall listen and probably won’t remain in my regular rotation.

With over three decades under their belt, there’s the worry that Joan Jett and the Blackhearts could lose their sense of rock and roll and originality. For those who became fans of Jett from “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Bad Reputation,” and “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” the seven-year gap between Unvarnished and their previous release has led to some lyrical maturation, but without giving up the band’s identity. With other artists in their age group experimenting in different sounds, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts have maintained their trademark sound over their ten albums. From the opening track, “Any Weather” featuring Dave Grohl of Foo-Fighters/ Nirvana fame, to the final, a ballad entitled “Everybody Needs a Hero,” there is a newfound maturity in comparison to Jett’s previous releases. Although the playfulness of “Bad Reputation” is contained within the album, Jett shows greater songwriting depth.

In “Hard to Grow Up” and “Fragile,” she addresses the death of her parents while “Reality Mentality” is an antireality television rant. Unvarnished is a great introduction to Joan Jett’s work or simply a recap to fans of what she does best.

Following the underwhelming sales on her critically acclaimed debut record The ArchAndroid, Janelle Monae remains unfazed and returns as Cindi Mayweather on her new record The Electric Lady. Mayweather, the otherworldly android alter ego of Monae, is an electric funkatronic, time-travelling, laser-blasting, cosmic soulstress, and she fills The Electric Lady with her rebellious and futuristic musings. Suite Four and Suite Five, part of her seven-part Metropolis series, divide the record into two distinct halves. Suite Four is full of radio-ready tunes, featuring an insane run of huge hooks and amazing grooves, all along the lines of her breakout single “Tightrope.” The lead single of Electric Lady, “Dance Apocalyptic,” is an infectious pop tune featuring an unstoppable backbeat and sprightly ukulele, while “Q.U.E.E.N.” is a funky R&B anthem, written for society’s outsiders. Suite Five is a slow burner, but is the emotional core of the album. More personal and revealing than Suite Four, she tones down her android persona on Suite Five, recognizing her limitations. On “Victory” Monae stoically admits, “I’ll just keep singing until the pain goes,” offering the listener solace in knowing that even androids experience heartache and grief.

In the first two days after purchasing this album, I listened to the single “Mother” 131 times. I’m still not sick of it. This is a pretty accurate representation of the entire album. It’s so damn catchy that it will never get out of your head. As always, Said the Whale is an earnest band – you can’t listen to this album without picturing them playing the songs and having a blast. The album ranges from songs that lean on their darker earlier sound (“The Weight of the Season”) to songs that dive headfirst into surf rock (“Willow”) to the singles (“Mother”, “I Love You”) which have been making the rounds on alt rock stations all summer and are experienced earworms. There are no weak songs on the album—usually there’s at least one I skip on a regular basis—but Hawaiii sticks together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Every piece is exactly where it needs to be and adds to the personality of its neighbours. My biggest question is why Said the Whale released such a peppy, summery album in September; why taunt us with something so deliciously sunny Pacific Northwest when we’re staring down a season of rain and midterms? Flaunting a summertime sound like this is cruel, STW. It’s just cruel.

joe johnson

Remington Fioraso

Tim Ubels

Dessa Bayrock

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Psych Talk

Eye contact is off-putting, not persuasive likely to change their views, especially those who had only mildly disagreed previously.

“Our findings are generally consistent with prior research suggesting that direct gaze is used across species in competitive or hostile interactions to assert dominance and intimidate others,” the authors stated in Psychological Science. “We suggest that the very experience of meeting the gaze of a disagreeing other, whether such experience is arrived at spontaneously or effortfully, creates a social dynamic characterized by resistance to persuasion.”

JENNIFER COLBOURNE The Cascade

The Science Despite the widely held belief that eye contact enhances persuasion, recent research examining this relationship says otherwise. The findings seem to indicate that if anything, eye contact makes people hold stronger to their beliefs.

The researchers, F.S. Chen (UBC/University of Freiburg), J.A. Minson (Harvard), M. Shöne (Freiburg), and M. Heinrichs (Freiburg), conducted two studies. In the first, they tracked the spontaneous eye movements of participants watching videos of speakers speaking persuasively on hot-button sociopolitical issues and measured their attitudes (including strength and receptiveness) before and after viewing.

They found that participants actually spent more time looking at the speakers when they weren’t directly gazing at the listener, which they believe suggests that eye contact was actually aversive. While they did find that people were more likely to look in the speaker ’s eyes if they already agreed on the issue (possibly an origin of the persuasive-

ness misconception), those who disagreed or were neutral who spent a greater amount of time looking in a speaker ’s eyes were less likely to agree than before – and even less so when the speaker used a direct gaze.

The second study used directed eye contact (as opposed to spontaneous contact) to serve as a control. Having the same speakers give videos on oppos-

ing views, participants in this study were each presented with whichever view they disagreed with. Using eye-tracking equipment once again, in one test group, participants were told to watch the speaker ’s mouth and in the other they were instructed to watch the speaker ’s eyes.

Unlike those in the mouthwatching group, those forced to make eye contact were far less

You, Me, and UFV This throws a bomb into the world of effective communication. Anyone who has ever taken a speech class or even been given presentation advice has been told that you must make eye contact with the audience.

It’s one of the staple tenants of persuasive speaking.

This group of researchers theorized that this mistaken belief may have come from surveys in the past wherein speakers were typically evaluated as more persuasive if looking at the listeners. However, what these surveys didn’t take into

ers like “So Fast,” “So Hard,” and “Someone Special.” Films don’t work into his priorities, so he passes them by without notice. Moments such as these are not as frequent as they could have been, but they still generate some laughter.

The underlying story of Don Jon is about addiction. It makes sense after watching the film that its original title was Don Jon’s Addiction. Some addictions that don’t seem outwardly harmful can damage a person’s outlook on the world. Jon’s expectations of sex are influenced by his ad-

diction, making it nearly impossible for him to experience complete pleasure with another woman. His breakdown of the entire process is as undignified as it is humorous, and his passionate hatred of the missionary position is hysterical as he constantly compares it to clips he has watched.

While Don Jon does have an interesting lead, the same can’t be said of some of the secondary characters. Aside from Barbara’s nonstop gum-chewing and bigoted attitude and Esther (Julianne Moore)’s social awk-

wardness, none of the other personalities are memorable. Jon’s friends, despite the amount of screen time they get, are ultimately forgettable, and his parents are only memorable because Jon Sr. (Tony Danza) never stops swearing or making you wonder how he is still in films at all, and his mother is just loud.

While Don Jon is centred on the main character, there are times when those secondary characters should be more prominent.

The film sticks with a similar routine for the first half, but when it reaches the middle

Image: creative commons

Are you intimidated? Turn to page 4. How about now?

account was whether or not the audience members were making direct eye contact, nor the actual persuasive efforts (rather than evaluation).

It seems like common sense that speakers should look at the audience – it’s pretty unprofessional and impersonal to have a speaker whose eyes are glued to his or her notes or to a screen with a Powerpoint presentation.

However, this does not mean that speakers should bore their eyes into the hearts and souls of whomever they are addressing; as the researchers point out, it’s one of the most basic facts of human psychology that direct eye contact is considered challenging and threatening. If you’ve ever had a professor stare at you while lecturing, you know what I mean. It’s unnerving.

This is important to know. If you’re trying to win someone over to your point of view, the last thing you want is for them to be on the defensive. So it seems direct eye contact may no longer be a viable strategy – it looks like students and professional communicators will have to reevaluate their sway tactics.

Film Review

Don Jon JEREMY HANNAFORD CONTRIBUTOR

Don Jon is about a Jersey guy addicted to porn.

As long as you don’t mind that the characters are douchebags, prepare for a steady stream of good humour with an extra dose of vulgarity and sexual prowess.

Joseph Gordon Levitt has come a long way from being that kid on 3rd Rock from the Sun to the writer and director of his own theatrical feature. While some actors-turned-directors take the deep plunge into unknown territory, Levitt keeps it simple. The main character Jon follows a set of guidelines based on what matters to him: his selfimage, family, church forgiveness, womanizing friends, and finally, pornography.

But when he meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), an equally self-infatuated girl from the club who plays hard-to-get, Jon believes he is in love and tries to change his ways. This is where the film diverges from the straightforward romantic comedy (not that the vulgarity and inclusion of clips from pornographic films don’t already set it apart); it shows that finding “the right girl” isn’t the best way to deal with life’s issues.

Don Jon is a view of the world from Jon’s eyes. Barbara is cast in a warm gold glow that lights her up at night, thanks to Jon’s imagination. One hilarious moment in his perspective is at the movies – passing through the theatre we are treated to post-

it really does become interesting. Jon’s lifestyle, womanizing, and Hail Marys as workout reps move aside for the introduction of Moore’s character. Esther is a reflection to Jon, and over time becomes more than just an awkward classmate.

Sometimes feeling like a more adult version of 500 Days of Summer, Levitt’s debut as a director isn’t groundbreaking, but brings enough humour and graphically creative insight to the sexual side of relationships and its meaning to the couple as a whole.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Discussions below the belt

The ABCs of polyamory XTINA SEXPERT

What is polyamory?

Not to be confused with polygamy (plural marriage), polyamory is a relationship practice in which you can be in a loving relationship with more than one person. Polyamory, or poly, can also be closely tied to new paradigm relating.

Cherie Ve Ard and Franklin Veaux at the Florida Poly Retreat explain this as “a relationship philosophy which values using the relationship to consciously enhance the psychological and spiritual development of the partners. New paradigm relating is characterized by responding authentically in the present moment, honouring individual autonomy, equality, total honesty, and self-responsibility.”

Vonn New, author of New Paradigm Relationships, gives us the visualization of “loving with an open hand.” He explains this as treating love “as a free gift rather than as a claim.” Polyamory should also not be confused with swinging, which involves partner-swapping or non-monogamous practices that don’t necessarily require a loving connection and can be one-time encounters.

Why poly?

No relationship looks the same and sometimes what destroys one is the saving grace for anoth-

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Polyamory is love without the limits of a single partner. er. Alternative relationships are becoming more popular and not for the reasons one might think.

Contrary to popular belief, polyamory is not all about sex. Sex is a component, yes, but for some, poly has more to do with the close relationships the parties share. There is also new energy at play, which can be very powerful and restorative to a struggling relationship or improve an already flourishing one.

Compersian is a term coined by the Kerista Commune who practiced polyfidelity (sexual relationships between members within a closed group) from ‘71 to ’91 in San Francisco. The term

explains the mutual joy and acceptance expressed while seeing one’s partner(s) experience fulfillment.

Compersian is an important element in making a poly lifestyle work. Jealousy is its antonym and a difficult emotion to overcome for those practicing polyamory. Jealousy workshops specifically catering to polyamorous families are held in Vancouver, Victoria, and almost every big city throughout the U.S..

According to my research these workshops are highly attended, as jealousy is a huge threat to a successful polyamorous existence. Polyamory is not for

everyone, and when practiced without care can cause major issues in one’s primary relationship.

Danger aside, poly relationships are becoming more common and socially acceptable.

One factor in its acceptance is media coverage. The creation of reality shows such as Polyamory: Married & Dating, which airs on Showtime, is coaxing the poly lifestyle out of the shadows and into the mainstream.

In the first season, the show focuses on two families, one of which is a triad (three-person relationship) comprised of two women and one man. This is the most common type of poly relationship. However, in the first season we also meet a poly family comprised of two married couples who share a home and their relationships.

Where poly?

Poly clubs and organizations are popping up in big cities and even here in the Fraser Valley.

They connect singles and couples looking to explore and meet others in the lifestyle. Mixers, barbecues, and poly speed-dating are among the activities organized to facilitate connections.

How poly: the triad (three), the quad (four) and the polyamorous family There are many ways for people to “do poly.”

The triad involves one man and two women, or two men and

one woman. Sometimes, however, three men or three women make up a triad. They may date individually as well, but usually remain a long-term threesome.

A relationship with four members is called a quad. The quad can be comprised of any gender configuration but usually is made up of two married couples who have come together. Members of the quad will sometimes also pursue relationships outside of the union.

A group of polyamorous people who identify as a family are, if you didn’t already guess, called a polyamorous family. This was very common in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Polyamorous families generally share a strong bond and sometimes will absorb new members either on a permanent or temporary basis.

If given a chance and freed from judgement and misunderstanding, polyamory is a legitimate path for a relationship to take. If those seeking a poly lifestyle are able to overcome jealousy and open themselves up to living and loving without limits, the benefits can far outweigh the risks.

However, this is not easily done and can devastate a relationship. Research is always an asset when pursuing a new endeavour and polyamory is no exception. Remember it’s only poly if your partner is aware of the non-monogamy. So if you are considering the lifestyle, play safe physically and emotionally.

Haute Stuff

Plaid takes over fall wardrobes … again ASHLEY MUSSBACHER THE CASCADE

Autumn brings crisp mornings, red and yellow leaves, giant spiders, and plaid.

You can’t go anywhere this time of year without seeing it. It evolves a little each year, but it’s still there – like that boyfriend you dumped in high school and keep running into. But where the heck did it come from? (Plaid, not your ex.)

As it turns out, plaid has a long history. The criss-cross pattern consisting of horizontal and vertical bands of colours is actually called tartan. While tartan is often associated with Scotland as a whole, according to the Scottish Tartans Society (STS), it originates in the Highlands.

“The dress today remains attractive, distinctive, colourful, and martial. It has come to be linked with the virtues of courage and hardiness, with love of an area and with the music, poetry, and culture of the Highlands.”

It is hard to say when tartan evolved into the garment known as the belted plaid (“which itself was the forerunner of the modern kilt,” STS says). In North America the STS notes that plaid is sometimes worn as a dress, but that the meaning of the Gaelic word plaide (pronounced

Image: Jamie McCaffrey/flickr

According to Scottish Highland history, this is a preview for fall fashion 2014, 2015, 2016... “pladjer”) means “blanket.”

So now we know where the tartan came from, but what about the colours and patterns?

Do they mean anything?

According to STS, the multi-

coloured cloth played into the Highlanders’ intimate relationship with their environment.

However, the idea that each coloured tartan holds a unique meaning is purely a modern one.

According to The Clans of Scotland by M. MacDonald, there is no evidence to suggest the patterns had any meaning. The myth is that red tartans were “battle tartans,” because they

did not show blood, that there were also provincial and territorial tartans, that blue symbolizes lakes or rivers, and yellow is used to represent various crops.

If the meanings behind the colours are a myth, then what about the pattern and design?

On the website “The Scottish Register of Tartans,” established in 2008 by Scottish Parliament “to protect, promote and preserve tartan,” you can compare, register, and record tartan designs. The design is broken down into two categories: pallet and threadcount. Based on this information, a record can be drawn up and back-dated.

Under “history” there is an image of a piece of tartan which is “believed to be from the plaid of Bonnie Prince Charlie, given to Lady Mackintosh at Moy Hall, Inverness-shire, where he rested before the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. Tests have been carried out on the dyes, which suggest the tartan is of the correct period.”

The earliest mention of Highland tartan is in 1538 in the Exchequer records. If you have a piece of tartan and want to know where the design came from, try it out.

And when you slip on your warm plaid fall jacket and scarf, just remember this is no mere fad, but an ages-old tradition.

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SPORTS & HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Heat Report

No fire without a spark

Heat lights up Lake Erie to open 2013/14 season

Photo: Clint Trahan/Abbotsford Heat

The Heat have a lot of unknowns coming into the season, as only seven players are over the age of 25.

TIM UBELS

CONTRIBUTOR

Last season, the Abbotsford Heat managed to turn a stellar 17-12-3-4 start into a 12th place finish in the conference, concluding the season with a meagre record of 34-32-6-6. The second half of the season is always difficult no matter what the sport, but after the NHL lockout ended the Heat lost top scorers Sven Baertschi and Roman Horak from the lineup. The offense struggled, scoring only 171 goals during the season, which left them ranked 29 out of 30 AHL teams. Combine this inability to score consistently with instability in net, and the team

began to slide in the standings.

This new season, however, will be much different for the Abbotsford franchise personnel-wise. Coach Troy Ward, who returns for a third season as Heat head coach, helped finalize the team’s roster, which includes a lot of fresh faces. Most of these additions were drafted or signed within the last three years by the Flames organization. Included among them are former college standouts John Ramage, Corban Knight, Josh Jooris, and Ben Hanowski, OHL draft picks Michael Ferland and Tyler Wotherspoon, as well as European-born forward Markus Granlund and goalie Reto Berra.

This is also an incredibly

young lineup compared to last season, as veteran players like Quintin Laing, Krys Kolanos, and Ben Walter have all moved on from Abbotsford. With only seven of the Heat’s 27 roster players over the age of 25, fans of the team should be inclined to choose optimism over predictions on how well the team will do statistically. Heat fans will get to experience potential NHL talent, particularly with defenseman Mark Cundari and forward Ben Hanowski.

The Heat opened its season on the road Friday night in Cleveland, Ohio where they faced off against the Lake Erie Monsters.

The Heat were down 1-0 in the first period, when Monsters for-

ward Garrett Meurs was awarded a penalty shot, and although his shot beat Reto Berra, it rang off the post, keeping the game from getting out of hand early.

The second period saw the Heat come storming back as their powerplay began to click. Chad Billins, Drew MacKenzie, and Ben Hanowski all potted goals in the second period, putting Abbotsford up 3-1. Monsters’ forward Brad Malone pulled his team within one only 58 seconds into the third period, giving his team momentum to start the final frame, but Heat forward Josh Jooris sealed the game at 14:15, ensuring the Heat a victory in their road opener.

Heat goalie Reto Berra, who

made his professional debut in North America, turned aside 31 of the 34 shots he faced from the Lake Erie team who played in front of 12,123 excited fans Friday night. Berra fended off a late third-period push from the Monsters, keeping them at bay until Jooris added the insurance marker, and the game finished 5-2.

Abbotsford’s home opener is on Friday October 11 against the Milwaukee Admirals, and will feature an autograph session from Guy Lafleur as part of the Legends of Hockey series. Tune in to CIVL 101.7 FM at 7 p.m. to hear it live.

Wrestling added to CIS roster PAUL ESAU

THE CASCADE

UFV Athletics has announced the launch of a CIS wrestling program for the 2014-2015 season. This year, the wrestling club will compete unofficially at several Canadian meets and train at both UFV and SFU. A wrestling program has been a UFV goal for several years, said Athletics director Rocky Olfert, as well as the dream of many community members.

“It’s just amazing to me that in such a short time we’ve been able to get great coaches, facilities, equipment, and been accepted as Canada West wrestling,” he said.

UFV will be the only CIS wrestling program in BC, and will join Winnipeg, Alberta, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Regina in Canada West.

The addition of men’s and women’s wrestling raises UFV’s varsity team total to 12.

Both teams will be coached

by Arjan Bhullar and Raj Virdi, members of the national team. “I truly think this is the best time to get this going,” said Bhullar.

“I’m excited to be here, in a program in the CIS. I’ve wrestled my entire life, it’s in my blood, it’s what I do. It’s a dream job for myself and Raj to be involved in this program.”

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

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SPORTS & HEALTH

UFV golf sweeps PacWest Championships SOCCER

NATHAN HUTTON CONTRIBUTOR

Golf is a game of mistakes; the winner is the one who makes the fewest, and this weekend the Cascades made none.

Both the men’s and women’s Cascades golf teams closed out their regular season this past weekend hosting the UFV Invitational at the Chilliwack Golf and Country Club. The two-day weekend tournament featured some of the best talent from the PACWEST conference and acted as the precursor to the national championship tournament occurrig in two weeks in eastern Ontario. A win would give both the men and women the number one seed in the PACWEST conference, providing them with a serious target on their backs for nationals.

The women teed off late in the morning hours with the men following in the afternoon. The men were highlighted by thirdyear Darren Whitehouse and fifth-year Aaron Pauls. The men had a very strong showing over the two days, finishing off their second consecutive PACWEST Championship with a combined score of 1,717, beating out second place Camosun College by 50 points.

The men’s player of the weekend was second-year Connor O’Dell. O’Dell shot a 63 on the second day of the tournament,

SCORES MEN’S

Oct 4 UFV vs Victoria L 0-1 Oct 6 UFV vs UNBC L 2-5 WOMEN’S

Oct 4 UFV vs Calgary T 1-1 Oct 5 UFV vs Lethbridge W 5-0

Golf MEN’S

UFV Invitational: First Place WOMEN’S

UFV Invitational: First Place

Upcoming Home Games SOCCER Photo: Nathan Hutton

The award-winning golfers of UFV are poised for a good season finale after doing well this weekend.

Women’s

a remarkable -9 for the challenging course, set up with long roughs and fast greens. Darren Whitehouse and Aaron Pauls capped off a great year, with both finishing in the top five for individual scores throughout the entire season. Darren registered a score of 431 total strokes, good for fourth place. Aaron shot an impressive 428, placing him third in individual scoring and just two strokes off the firstranked Will Deck from UBC-O, Whitehouse, and Pauls were also

Oct 11 vs Saskatchewan Oct 12 vs Regina

named to the PACWEST all-star team for their performances.

The woman’s team also proved how good they were once again.

The three-woman team of Kelly Dalzell, Danielle Shap, and seasoned veteran Jen Woods put up great numbers on their way to their first ever PACWEST title.

Both Woods and Shap ended the season atop the leaderboards, with Shap registering a score of 474 strokes and Woods registering 480. Not only did Shap dominate all season, leading

the conference in scoring, but it was confirmed that Shap was also the best player in the league as she was awarded the annual PACWEST Player of the Year award.

Overall, both teams played extremely well, capturing both the men’s and women’s PACWEST titles. The teams will seek to limit their mistakes as they travel east carrying the flag for UFV when they compete in the national championships hosted

by St. Lawrence University.

*Soccer games played in Chilliwack Volleyball Oct 12 Women 6 Men 8

UFV rowing ready to rumble in new season NATHAN HUTTON CONTRIBUTOR

It’s 7 a.m. in Fort Langley as the dense fog begins to disperse and the sun rises in the east over the small town. I’m standing on a dock overlooking the historic Fraser River without a soul in sight. As I begin to question what I’m doing here, I hear the faint sounds of a man yelling “Row…Row…Row,” urging his teammates on. Squinting into the mist, I see the narrow rowing scull lurch out of the fog as if it were an undiscovered marine species seeking early morning prey.

The Cascades rowing team is partaking in its early morning ritual as the rowers make one of their many runs down the narrow strait. The team is accompanied by a woman in a motorboat who functions both as taskmaster and cheerleader, yelling out instructions and encouragement. She is 13-year head coach Liz Chisholm.

As the fog once again swallows up the team in the distance I can’t help thinking of the interesting bond that must form between teammates as they spend the early hours on the open water sharing effort, energy, success, and failure.

As some time passes, Coach Chisholm returns in her motor boat, but this time accompanying a solo boat that is perhaps going even faster than the first.

The Cascades rowing team

The women’s team on the water in Langley. participates on a national level and has generally been in the middle of the pack since its inception. The team has been able to participate in the Western Canadian University Rowing Championships (WCURC) in the past. This event, which serves as a gateway for the Canadian University Championships, gives the team an opportunity to compete against the largest university rowing programs in Canada.

Coach Chisholm also had praise for her team saying that they have done “very well” as of late and have been able to challenge the bigger programs of schools like the University of Victoria (UVic) and the Univer-

Photo: Tree Frog Imaging

sity of British Columbia (UBC).

However, when questioned about the growth of the sport of rowing Chisholm did have some negative comments concerning the funding and training programs that the bigger schools are offering that are not available to UFV students: “For the past three years; the national sport governing body has allocated money to national development centers at 10 universities in the country. Those of us who are not linked with a national center have noticed the change in results regionally and nationally.”

Coach Chisholm has a point in saying that the national governing board has overlooked

Jocelyn Woelke in a single scull.

UFV for bigger schools, and that funded schools hold a serious advantage. The UVic Vikings have captured four national championships since they received a national development center just three short years ago.

Is it possible that with the same funding, the UFV program could be as strong as our counterparts on the island? All amateur sports get political at one point or another, particularly on the national level, yet one can’t help but wonder at the potential of the UFV program if it received proper funding.

At least one coach is frustrated by the stacked odds.

However, Chisholm is excited about the future of the program

Photo: Tree Frog Imaging

and proud of its history. She praises alumni Lisa Roman and Alex Janzen for their success since their UFV days. Both rowers will be competing for spots on the Canadian National Team with an opportunity to represent Canada in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The WCURC rowing season kicks off on October 20. The Cascades are expecting to once again challenge for an opportunity to compete in the national championships, where they hope to finally slip from the mist and into the sun.

20

SPORTS & HEALTH

Mark Village takes a solitary walk across the pitch. Goaltending can be a lonely job.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 www.ufvcascade.ca

Tyler Ker fixes makeshift headgear for Justin Sekhon after the midfielder took an elbow to the crown.

Spending a weekend with soccer’s old breed PAUL ESAU

THE CASCADE

It’s about 8 p.m. on a Saturday night, and UFV soccer coach Alan Errington and I are huddled over a four-person table at Victoria’s Bard & Banker. To my right is team manager John Werrel, and across from me is physical therapist Tyler Ker. The three of us are mostly quiet as we concentrate on listening to Alan’s voice through the kaleidoscope of weekend pub din and live music. Privately, I’m trying to find a menu item within my price range, but Alan’s made me laugh so often I’ve forgotten what I’m looking for.

Alan Errington is one of the old breed.

He remembers 1986, Canada’s one and only appearance in the World Cup, and keeps hundreds of stories ready behind his Newcastle accent. He coached the national team with Bob Leonarduzzi from ’88 to ’96, the Whitecaps before that, and a good half-dozen teams since. Sometimes he tells the good stories, of jokes on the pitch and pranks in the locker rooms, tales of piss-drunk professionals urinating in hotel lobbies, and inside jokes from squads long disbanded. He claims that neither the refs nor the players have the same sense of humour they used to, and I don’t doubt it while listening to him.

Sometimes Errington tells the bad stories, of the times he handed out Canada pins at Olympic functions while other nations traded in track suits and lobster dinners, or why Canadian men’s soccer is falling into mediocrity after two decades of decline. Here he becomes serious and leans across the table, intense in his frustration.

Somewhere between the tortilla chips and the cod chowder, Tyler asks him why Canadian soccer is so underdeveloped, and Errington’s forehead tightens. “One word: league,” he says, “Name me another country that doesn’t have its own professional league!”

Tyler and I think about it. “Croatia,” he says, wrong on his first try. I think about saying Japan, but catch my mistake.

“Turkmenistan,” I venture.

Errington looks at me, and I think I’ve stumbled onto something (I later find a national premier league on Google). “The players need somewhere to play,” Alan says, “Without a league, Canada will never get back to the World Cup.” He makes his argument, quoting sources, citing experiences, arguing passionately for a future he obviously doesn’t believe will happen. Then Tyler asks him why the Cascades don’t play with a sweeper, and he’s off on a different, more positive subject, as John and I finish the chips.

The 18-man Cascades travelling squad, plus all of us at The Bard & Banker, are

in Victoria to avenge the team’s Friday loss to the UVic Vikes by a score of 1-0.

The team has had a poor record against UVic in recent years, but UFV is tantalizingly close to a playoff spot and they know it. It’s in their eyes and the back of their minds – the hope that this year will be the year the Cascades make their first CIS playoffs.

Mark Village is UFV’s fourth-year goaltender and the foundation of the Cascades’ post-season hopes. The 2012 Canada West All-Star is also finishing minors in both criminology and history, which makes him a man close to my own heart.

“I love history, I really do,” the usually enigmatic goaltender admitted as we rode the bus towards a Saturday ferry, “but I think there are just more options in crim.” He’s one of several players pursuing subjects unusual among varsity athletes, including three players majoring in the sciences.

The odds were not with Village in Victoria. After claiming a one-to-nil lead in first half injury time, the Cascades surrendered five goals in the second. For a goaltender that averaged 1.25 goals against last season, it was a humiliating and angry experience. Village made a dozen spectacular saves throughout the game, and yet it was the first tally, the one he seemed to drop into the net, which haunted him.

It was not a game UFV was supposed to lose 5-2; a loss was not part of the narrative. It was a game Errington started in high spirits, tossing jibes at his opposing coach (and friend) Bruce Wilson as the Canadian legend lofted balls across the field.

“Why don’t you take some strikes of your own?” I asked Errington during a lull in the warm-up. “Can’t let Wilson show you up.”

“Oh Bruce? That’s my grandfather!”

Alan said, waving a hand dismissively.

“Don’t want to dishearten the lad!”

Errington has a retort for everything, a way with words as formidable as his conditioning sessions. I watched Wilson gather in his team, and made a cautious foray of my own. “If you used to play a game as quality as the one you talk now,” I said, “You must have been some player.”

Alan smiles, letting my cheek slide.

“I’m the best ****ing player I’ve ever been,” he says, “The way I tell it, I get better every year.”

The sun is shining, and UVic has one of the best fields in the CIS. Alan stays in a good mood until a wretched 15-minute span in the second half, during which the Vikes score three goals and the game slips suddenly beyond his team’s grasp.

After that he’s on fire, and assistant coach Tom Lowndes pulls me aside after the final whistle.

“You’ll need your earmuffs in the

change room,” he warns, meaning what’s coming can’t be printed.

Soccer is a strange game. Twenty-two men on a field, and yet somehow 11 win, and another 11 lose. It’s never simply one mistake, never simply one failure, and yet to each Cascade it seems that he alone might be directly responsible. Village sits with his head in his hands; the change room stinks of frustration.

“They threw in the towel,” Errington says, jaw clenched. He scrutinizes me, the veteran of decades of playing and coaching studying the university journalist.

“What did you think?” he asks.

I’m honoured, but I don’t know what to say.

Mid-game mullet sweat courtesy of Ryan Liddiard.