The Cascade Vol. 22 No. 9

Vol. 22 Issue 9

www.ufvcascade.ca

March 12, 2014 to March 18, 2014

Gracefully crumpling into a ball due to stress since 1993

p. 10-11

Abbotsford’s long struggle with homelessness continues p. 3

Bible films: love ‘em or hate ‘em? p. 7

2

NEWS

News

Briefs Abbotsford not to see homeless housing An Abbotsford meeting last Friday marked the last chance for the valley town to accept funding to build a 20-man housing unit in the downtown core. This housing aimed to aid the homeless population of Abbotsford but did not have a sobriety requirement. After a nail-biting vote, the development is simply not to be, leaving councillors and citizens alike looking for new solutions.

News

5

Opinion

8

Culture

13

Arts

17

Sports & Health

18

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Arts advice centre urges students to declare

After an email was sent to students in February, the arts advice centre is requiring studentst to declare their majors once they hit 60 credits before they can register.

Under construction

We’re often told to find a path and stick to it, but how can students make life decisions at a time in their life when their brains are literally rewiring? Katie Stobbart discusses mistakes, paths, and making it through one way or another.

Tips to avoid McFashion

Is your fast fashion habit weighing on your conscience? Nadine Moedt offers advice on how to find beautiful, ethically-sourced clothing and accessories with all the glam and none of the guilt.

South Park: the video game

Cascade Arcade columnist Jeremy Hannaford plays South Park: Stick of Truth, a game created by the masterminds behind South Park, and laughs his ass off. Check out the full review.

Saving the best for last

Their roster filled with players about to graduate, the women’s basketball team is making their longest playoff run yet, with each game finding a different leader stepping up. Nathan Hutton has the details.

I did not write an editorial this week

Measles in the valley There have been two confirmed cases of measles in the Fraser Valley, according to a March 8 Fraser Health press release. Valley residents of communities from Mission to Hope are cautioned to be on the alert for symptoms, which include fever, inflamed eyes, runny nose, and a rash on the head and shoulders. The Fraser Valley typically has low measles immunization rates, which can lead to geographic pockets of infection. More information is available online through the UFV fact sheet or through Fraser Health.

SUS changeover The Student Union Society (SUS) election results have been announced and ratified, meaning that new board members and new board structure take over in just a few weeks.

In the coming issues, we’ll be catching up with the SUS reps and execs who will be waving their old digs behind, as well as those who are eager to step in the office for the first time.

We’ll also bring you an update on how the new board structure shapes out, and what the deal is with next year’s budget.

Have a news tip?

Let us know!

Email news@ufvcascade.ca or tweet at @CascadeNews

Image: Tommy Hemmert Olesen / Flickr

Instead you get this picture of a cat. You probably need it as much as I do.

Happy end of semester!

Love,

Dessa

Volume 22 · Issue 9 Room C1027 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 Editor-in-chief dessa@ufvcascade.ca Dessa Bayrock Managing editor michael@ufvcascade.ca Michael Scoular Business manager joe@ufvcascade.ca Joe Johnson Online editor ashley@ufvcascade.ca Ashley Mussbacher Copy editor katie@ufvcascade.ca Katie Stobbart

News editor jess@ufvcascade.ca Jess Wind

News writer katherine@ufvcascade.ca Katherine Gibson

Opinion editor brittney@ufvcascade.ca Brittney Hensman

Production manager stewart@ufvcascade.ca Stewart Seymour

Culture editor valerie@ufvcascade.ca Valerie Franklin

Art director anthony@ufvcascade.ca Anthony Biondi

Arts editor sasha@ufvcascade.ca Sasha Moedt

Production assistant production@ufvcascade.ca Kaitlyn Gendemann

Varsity reporter nathan@ufvcascade.ca Nathan Hutton

Photojournalist blake@ufvcascade.ca Blake McGuire

Staff writer nadine@ufvcascade.ca Nadine Moedt Staff writer breckles@ufvcascade.ca Taylor Breckles

Contributors Jeremy Hannaford, Kelsey Lamb, Melissa Ly, and Tim Ubels Cover image Kelsey McHattie-Simpson

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, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

UFV routes part of major proposed changes to local bus service MICHAEL SCOULAR

THE CASCADE

Plans to reshape public transit in Abbotsford and Mission are now available for public viewing, and are currently targeted to come into effect in August.

B.C. Transit’s proposed changes would see a major reworking of bus routes. Some have been streamlined and will serve fewer low-ridership areas, a number have been split apart and recombined into more direct connections, and many will emerge under new names to reflect the difference.

For UFV students, there will be a move to more frequent service. The Abbotsford campus, served now by the #3 (UFVClearbrook) and #12 (UFVBourquin), would instead be reachable by the #1 (S. Fraser Way) and #31 (Abbotsford-Mission Connector), with the #1 running every 15 minutes until 7 p.m. on weekdays.

Weekend service is planned to be set at every half-hour on both Saturday (same as it currently is) and Sunday (an increase from every hour). To better serve students commuting from Mission, the #31 will have express runs during peak hours (6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.) that go directly to the Abbotsford campus instead of diverting to the Bourquin Exchange.

In addition, while under the current system all routes converge and leave from Bourquin, the new system shifts most of them over to the Downtown exchange, which has a smaller waiting area, but also sees lighter traffic.

Many of the new routes contain pieces of current ones (the

#1 is partly the same path to UFV, partly the current Bluejay line along South Fraser Way), but some have been left out along the way. No bus to UFV will travel along the sections of Ware and Marshall currently covered by the #12.

Senior transit planner Rebecca Newlove says these changes have been considered, and expects passengers will be able to adapt. “[We] hope that the trips students take [mean] that even if they have to take a transfer, they’d still be able to get to their destination in a good time because the frequency’s been improved,” she says.

With no increase in spending, B.C. Transit’s plan is based around “improved efficiency, increased ridership, and service equity.” The knowledge that a bus will always be within 15 minutes of travelling down South Fraser Way or arriving at UFV will make using public transit less of a challenge.

However, the correlating adjustments of reduced service in lower traffic areas will mean more walking or transfers for some passengers. B.C. Transit notes that they are aware of the effects this will likely have in their proposal document.

“The changes proposed will negatively affect some existing passengers but on the whole are projected to be positive,” it reads. “A preliminary and very conservative estimate of impacts that takes into account possible ridership losses as well as gains from the changes proposed shows that the proposals in the first year would likely result in an additional 48,450 passenger trips (up two per cent over 2013/14 budget) and $46,500 in revenue (up 1.6

Image: BC transit

The proposed #1 (S. Fraser Way) route would be similar to the current #3, but run every 15 minutes. per cent). Further ridership and revenue gains would accrue in following years [as] the restructured system stabilizes and matures.”

Elsewhere, the #34 route reaching Mission’s Heritage Park campus remains unchanged, and service to UFV’s Aerospace Centre, while a part

of #17 (Industrial) instead of the Aldergrove Connector, stays at one morning trip, two in the afternoon.

The recently-approved Chilliwack-Langley connector, slated to begin operation in 2015, is not part of this transit proposal, which deals only with current routes. But Newlove

says it is part of the same overall plan, and could potentially link to Abbotsford’s service via the McCallum interchange.

“We’re very much aware of that future project and how these proposals will connect with it,” she says.

Don’t mistake change for growth UFV Urbanists bring homeless debate to UFV KATHERINE GIBSON

THE CASCADE

“Don’t mistake change for growth,” rang Mr. Bennett’s song “Alcatraz” as the opening sequence of The Chicken Manure Incident documentary appeared on the screen of UFV’s auditorium on March 4 — a sentiment that encapsulated the evening.

More than 70 people filled the auditorium to watch UFV Urbanists’ screening of Kevin Miller’s documentary, which chronicles not only the City of Abbotsford’s decision to dump chicken manure at a homeless camp on Gladys Avenue in summer 2013, but also the lives of homeless individuals and homeless advocates within the city.

Prominent voices within the homeless debate, such as Mayor Bruce Banman, 5 and 2 Ministries’ Jesse Wegenast, police chief Bob Rich, and the Abbotsford Christian Leaders’ Network’s Jim Burkin-

Image: USDAgov/ flickr

The Chicken Manure Incident details Abbotsford’s homeless dabate. shaw, were all featured during the film. After the screening, all four individuals formed a panel to respond to the documentary and answer audience questions.

Although implicated by the film, Banman remained adamant that he had no prior knowledge any action was going to be taken by city officials.

“I had no idea this was going on,” Banman told the audience. “You would think that the mayor should know every

little thing that’s going on in the city but … when you have 800 employees; you don’t always know every single thing they do.”

When asked how homelessness should be addressed in Abbotsford, Banman called on Fraser Health to put more funding into mental health programming. Banman went on to further assert that removing the homeless from the streets was necessary in combatting the situation.

“The only time we lock people up is when they actually become a danger to others, and not themselves. I think as a nation, we need to revisit that,” Banman said. “There’s something inherently wrong when we cannot put someone away for their own good.”

Responding to the same question, Wegenast noted the collective responsibility of the city, emphasizing the need for action, rather than simply discussing the issue.

“Everybody in the community is culpable. This isn’t any one body’s problem,” Wegenast said. “Responsibility ultimately lies with … everyone in our city.”

“I completely agree that we ought to move forward, but it seems we’re pro-actively standing still from a civic perspective,” he said. “Everybody has learned how to talk the talk in Abbotsford about homeless issues …. but in the meantime people are dying.”

Burkinshaw called attention to city council’s recent decision to decline Abbotsford Community Services’ (ACS) housing unit proposal.

“We are looking at the disappearing backside of the best proposal we have seen for years, bar none,” Burkinshaw said. “I think we need to eat some humble pie … we swung at a ball instead of a strike.”

Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Rich recognized that the diversity of the homeless population will require a diverse solution.

“It certainly involves a solution for a person,” Rich said.

“It’s an individual journey off the street and into a more healthy life, so trying to understand how to do that with each person ... It’s going take a lot of that in Abbotsford to help these folks.”

4

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Where, oh, where is that BMO building?

Downtown Chilliwack campus still in renovations TAYLOR BRECKLES

THE CASCADE

Previously a branch of the Bank of Montreal (BMO), UFV’s downtown Chilliwack campus has been in renovations since last February, long surpassing projected opening dates.

Executive director of campus planning Craig Toews explains how UFV acquired the building in the first place — a donation from BMO. “Across Canada, there’s a lot of aging downtowns that are in disrepair, and universities have become quite an interesting part of those revitalizations,” Toews says, noting that BMO wanted the building to go to good use.

Luckily for UFV, the Chilliwack Economic Development Corporation (CEDCO) was willing to pick up the tab for the entire project.

“CEDCO stepped up with an incredible offer. They said, ‘if you accept this gift from the Bank of Montreal, we’ll actually fix the building up and make it ready,” Toews says, “and so they stepped up with $650,000 to do that work.”

“When you couple CEDCO’s contribution and Bank of Montreal’s building, it’s about a $1.5 million gift; the largest gift UFV’s ever received,” Toews adds.

The building project is mainly run by CEDCO, with UFV providing the design require-

ments.

However, because of the arrangement and a lack of funds, the building has taken extra time to open. After the initial plans were drawn up, building costs exceeded the amount of available funding.

Now, with some budget expansion and reworking of the plan the project is back in progress, with a projected opening set for March or April.

“The city was really managing the project, so it was out of our control as to what decisions and resources they would put to the project. They were, of course, paying the whole bill, so we didn’t have much to say in that,” Toews says.

Building plans are usually targeted to open in August in order to be available for September course, and Toews admits this project missed that mark last summer. The hopedfor January opening was also dashed, but the schedules for continuing studies and programming didn’t align with the building plans anyway.

Now, Toews says that the plans are relaxed as they progress toward opening for the September semester.

Though the university isn’t paying anything toward the project — which is known at the campus planning office as the Five Corners building — BMO isn’t looking for any type of promotions.

“There’s no naming of the

Image: UFV/ CHPA architecture

UFV’s new downtown Chilliwack campus is slated to open in the spring. building or something like that … there’s a covenant in the agreement that we wouldn’t, say, rent [the building] out to another bank ... but nothing

directly related to us having to promote the Bank of Montreal,” Toews explains. “They just wanted to gift the university with this and it was part of

their mandate.

“We tried to recognize it as a kind gift and a very considerate gift, and that’s really what it was,” Toews says.

• Current VP internal Greg Stickland was voted in as college of arts rep.

• Ria Geluk was voted in as faculty of health science rep.

• Shayne Stanton was voted in as aboriginal rep.

• Jennifer Trithardt-Tufts was voted in as faculty of professional studies rep.

• Cameron Stephen was voted in as faculty of science rep.

included campus media outlets running campaign meetings; the removal of campaign materials during voting period (including posters and social media feeds); and the development of a clear policy on social media during campaigns.

Look for further details of the report in the SUS March 7 meeting minutes.

#ThingsSUSdoes Board funds 19th Directors’ Festival and ratifies election results JESS WIND

THE CASCADE

The Student Union Society (SUS) held its regular board meeting in Mission on March 7. Items on the agenda included discussion about funding to the theatre students association (TSA), edits to the endowment fund policy and ratification of 2014 election results as well as an in-camera portion that did not allow media members to be present.

Funding for Directors’ Festival With TSA members in attendance, the board addressed the tabled motion for the TSA’s original request for $7500 to fund the 19th annual Director’s Festival from the previous week’s meeting. Each year students plan and direct their own plays, and also invite theatre students from other schools to present their work on the UFV stage. The budget presented by the TSA included a staff salary for the duration of the festival, something rep-at-large Thomas Davies mentioned was a con-

cern for the finance committee.

TSA treasurer Cheyenne Douglas-Ruttan provided the reasoning for the salary’s inclusion, explaining a staff member is present during the run of the festival to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

VP internal Greg Stickland spoke against the finance committee’s original recommendation of $1495, indicating that the decision to or not to fund the staff salary portion included in the budget should have fallen with the board, not the finance committee.

The finance committee came back to recommend $4000 for the TSA and president Shane Potter moved to amend it to $5000.

The decision was carried.

Elections ratified Chief electoral officer Joe Johnson presented his report of the 2014 SUS general election. He explained that due to a technical error that allowed for a ballot being sent out twice, 30 votes were not included in the final count, bringing total votes to 315.

“It doesn’t change the end results on anybody,” Johnson said.

The final executive results are as follows: • Current VP finance Ryan Peterson was voted in as president.

• Current rep-at-large Thomas Davies was voted in as VP internal.

• Dylan Thiessen was voted in as VP external, beating out current interim VP east Jarret Bainbridge.

The final representative results are as follows:

Johnson continued to deliver his report, noting some issues that arose during the campaign and voting periods.

His final recommendations

The next SUS board meeting will be held on March 21 in Chilliwack.

Editor’s note: Joe Johnson is also The Cascade’s business manager.

SummitLearningCentre.ca Serving K-12 & Adult Students

Free High School Courses Prerequisites for Post Secondary Upgrade your Mark on a Prerequisite BC Certified Teachers & Courses

Call Now! 604-820-3333

ible Flex ule. d Sche ytime! t an

Star

1-866-881-1984 Call Now!

5

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Arts advice centre wants declaration after 60 credits TAYLOR BRECKLES

THE CASCADE

Gone are the days when a student could (and would) wait until their last semester to declare a major, minor, or extended minor.

An email regarding declaration was recently sent out

by UFV’s arts advice centre. It states that once students fulfill 60 credits, they must declare their major, minor, or extended minor.

“Students who have completed 60 credits, but haven’t formally declared with an arts advisor, will be blocked from registering due to UFV’s declaration policy,” it reads.

Director for the Arts Advice Centre Elaine Newman elaborates on the change, saying it is meant to help students find a direction in their studies.

“This [change] is for the bachelor of arts, but I believe [the sciences are] currently putting through a policy change as well,” she says. “The whole purpose of declaring is for students to be thinking about their interests, their first 30 credits allowing them exploration and taking courses in a variety of disciplines … and finding a direction.”

Students can run into the issue of too many lower-level credits when they could be building upper-level credits that fulfill degree requirements, and this is one of the problems the declaration requirement change aspires to resolve.

“It’s more of a preventative measure as well as to make sure that students know that they’re on track and are following the most current calendar

copy,” Newman says. “Once students declare, that’s the calendar they follow, so if there are any changes [they won’t] affect them.”

Should students want to change their majors, minors, or extended minors, they can do so at any time of the semester — declaring does not set decisions in stone. But declaring does benefit students battling waitlists. Newman explains that courses have some reserved seats for students declared in their programs.

Usually a certain number of seats are reserved for students who have declared majors or minors in the discipline of the class, which creates an obstacle for undeclared students. Declaring earlier, Newman explains, can help overcome that problem.

Along with helping students

pave the path to graduation, this declaration requirement change helps the university’s course planning.

“It does help the departments plan,” Newman says.

“They can more thoroughly track course offerings … we’re trying to plan strategically.”

Even though the initial email warned students would not be able to register for courses if they did not declare after 60 credits, Newman elaborates that that is not necessarily the case.

“It’s not as if we block students and [they] can’t move until [they] make a decision … we allow for some flexibility within it,” she says, adding that students can speak with career counsellors in student services for help in finding a direction.

Newman also explains that she doesn’t want to force stu-

dents to declare for the mere purpose of paperwork. That said, students are encouraged to declare even before they reach the 60 credit mark.

“We want students to be able to explore without having to make any choices [and] I think we would see more students come in if we let them declare right away [but] we give them that window of time to start thinking about it,” she says.

Newman encourages students to book an appointment with the arts advice centre before registration becomes hectic.

“We’re flexible, we’re not mean, we’re just trying to be helpful more than anything else.”

One billion rising

Gender equality celebrated on International Women’s Day NADINE MOEDT

THE CASCADE

International Women’s Day (IWD) was observed internationally on March 8.

Spirits were not dampened by the sluicing rain in Abbotsford, where the day was marked with song, dance, and various speakers outside the Reach gallery.

While IWD is a celebration of the gains in gender equality and women’s rights, speakers at the “One Billion Rising” event reminded their audience that these advances must be guarded.

“As we celebrate this day, we are also painfully aware that the gains women have made are not secure and that the assault on gender equality in Canada has been broad and sweeping under Harper’s Conservative government,” one speaker said.

Support services like Abbotsford Transition House, which supplies the basic necessities, food, crisis counselling, and housing to women in need, have undergone major funding cuts.

Abbotsford councillor Patricia Ross later shared her story.

As a girl she was abducted and raped over a period of four hours before she managed to escape.

“I was raised in a generation when we were told we just have to get over these traumatic events,” Ross said. It took her 20 years to see a therapist.

“The memories actually develop like a muscle around your heart and mind ... It will relax from time to time, but a word, a picture, hearing about another similar circumstance can trigger a memory, and the muscle will tighten its grip on you again and bring you right back to the moment it happened.”

Ross said she later found the judgements and insensitivity of others took just as heavy a toll on her mental health.

“I actually needed as much therapy to get over the effects from so-called friends and the cruel things people would say,” she said, “as I did the actual experience itself.” Her counsellor at the time explained to her that this is a common thing in rape victims.

“All the questions and judgements were about me,” Ross says. “Why should I be put in the position of having to justify my actions, my wardrobe, or what I did that night? Where were the questions for him — I didn’t hear them. Why was he there, out trolling for victims?”

The problem is not individual cruelty, but a societal insensitivity, Ross explained.

Her court case following the incident confirmed this in her mind.

“My rapist made me feel like I was nothing, like I was an expendable and a throwaway.

The court system confirms that because you are only considered a witness.”

Ross spoke about the importance of restorative justice, which puts the offender together with the victim for an apology. The victim is offered counselling, as well as both the families, and the offender has to do whatever satisfies the victim for restitution. The victim is given the respect that is required for healing.

Her rapist received a mere six months in prison.

Ross found her faith in humanity shaken to the core.

However, events like the Women’s day rally help rebuild her confidence.

“Events like this where people want to help people they don’t even know restores my faith.”

Ross closed her speech with

International Women’s Day reminds women to be proud of their accomplishments. a favourite quote from the Dalai Lama: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

Supportiveness and compassion is healing.

“That,” she said, “is how we will change the world.”

As the day progressed, the rally moved indoors, where women’s rights activist Rumana Monzur spoke about her experiences.

Monzur, a UBC student, was brutally attacked by her husband, who would not accept her returning to school to complete her education. She was left blinded and beaten, but survived. She now studies law, having completed a master’s

degree in political science.

UFV student Nicole Haney attended the event in part to help raise awareness of the violence committed against First Nations women, and for the 800 missing and murdered First Nations women.

“It’s a huge issue, so I thought it very important to attend,” says Haney, who is of Aboriginal descent. While raising awareness is crucial, the event also celebrated women.

“It was an opportunity to share their experience as women. Not only the struggles, but to promote feeling proud of being a woman,” Haney says.

“There is too much shame ... women need to stand up and be proud of what we are and need

Image: Nadine Moedt

to unite as women, as human beings.”

Haney was particularly moved by Monzur’s speech.

“It was so amazing to see such a strong woman speak out and able to pursue her goals,” she says.

“Despite everything that she went through, growing up in a culture that [oppresses] women, here she is, highly educated, speaking on behalf of woman’s rights; it was incredible.”

6

OPINION

OPINION

SNAPSHOTS

Get your head in the game — No thanks!

Goodbye high dive

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

This week’s theme:

That’s not my JAM!

Yes, I’m sure

Mayoral mailbag

Valerie Franklin

Ashley Mussbacher

Katie Stobbart

Michael Scoular

Please don’t revoke my Canadian citizenship for saying this — but I don’t get hockey.

I mean, I get the idea. A group of dudes skate around, someone smacks a puck into a net with a piece of wood, and bros all around the country drink beer and chest-bump as they watch the game unfold. Simple.

And boring. So, so boring.

It’s not that I haven’t tried watching hockey. I’ve had loving friends try to convert me to the cult of the Canucks. They invite me over on game night, press a cold Molson into my hand, sit me down in front of their bigscreen TV, and point out all the players by name as they reverently explain each of the players’ life stories. But I still end up yawning.

How many times can a bunch of sweaty guys skate up and down an ice rink chasing a piece of rubber before you start to lose interest and wonder what’s playing on the History Channel?

For me, about 25 seconds.

I’m not hating on anyone. If you’re crazy about the Canucks, awesome! Have an extra beer for me. I’ll just be over here, catching up on Vikings — or anything, actually.

As long as it’s not hockey.

I’ve always loved water. When I was a child my parents enrolled me in swimming lessons only to find out the instructor couldn’t keep me from entering the deep end.

Despite my affinity for water, nothing could get me on the high diving board.

Nothing — except a doggy dare from my brother.

I accepted the dare to go on, but I didn’t agree to jump off. I climbed the ladder, walked out, and stood on the end for what felt like an eternity. Technically, I had completed the dare, but I had also managed to hold up an entire line of people due to my paralyzing fear of heights.

Parents and their kids gathered on the side of the pool to cheer me on, and a teenage lifeguard even said he’d buy me candy from the vendor if I’d jump.

“Do it for me,” he said, as a last ditch effort.

I ended up climbing back down. Sorry man — you weren’t worth it.

I get the most incredulous looks.

Usually it’s at restaurants, but occasionally it happens at a friends houses or even at my own place — and it’s almost always at mealtime.

People just can’t believe I don’t eat condiments. It’s not because of an allergy, or sensitivity, or some weird diet. I just think ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, most dips, and many spreads are gross. Yes, even mayonnaise. Especially mayonnaise.

I think I would probably prefer insects to mayonnaise, and I don’t think insects are all that appetizing either.

“No sauce, please,” I say every time I order a sandwich or salad.

“Are you sure?” is often the response, after a long pause. Yes, I’m sure. Why would I have asked for no sauce if I wanted sauce?

Often I get my meal with sauce anyway, and send it back, which is a huge pain for everyone involved.

“Can’t you just eat it anyway?”

Mayor Banman, I know it’s best journalistic practice to address questions in a formal face-to-face interview, but seeing how you’re doing such a good job talking to Abbotsford’s homeless people, I thought following your lead would be the respectful and obedient thing to do.

So, a few questions: did you really say in a recent talk at UFV, that “there is something inherently wrong that we cannot put someone away for their own good,” where “someone” refers to people who are homeless and/or mentally ill?

Do you realize you just became that guy in class who speaks with great confidence but no understanding about a complicated issue he has no experience with?

Did you trip up in a bad quote, or do you actually believe this? Have you done any research, or are you just taking a guess at how mental illness works?

Rachel Aviv’s “God Knows Where I Am,” in The New Yorker’s May 30, 2011 issue, is a good place to start. There’s a copy in the UFV library, in case you’re interested.

But for now, as the kids say — who, by the way, know how to vote — that song you’re singing is definitely not my jam.

UFV’s BFA grads and a shout out for the arts BRITTNEY HENSMAN

THE CASCADE

UFV’s fine arts grads of 2014 have had to implement the DIY principle to raise money for their grad show.

The show is a requirement for these students and it looks like this year’s class of a whopping 22 students will be scrounging to muster up every last dime to get this show on the road and successfully graduate.

I know this isn’t the only program where students find themselves in a struggles for funding, but more often than not, in life, the arts get the short end of the stick when funds are tight.

Why is this the case?

Perhaps the academically minded would argue that when it boils down to survival, music and paintings won’t fill your belly, or put a roof over your head (unless you use your canvas to make a tent).

I think our society’s view is that pursuing a career in the arts won’t land you a job that generates a steady income, and the arts don’t provide necessary goods and services. Therefore giving artists extra money won’t support the economy. Pursuing academics or business is more important because those avenues are more likely to provide a return on investment.

People want facts, not ideas.

People want security, not the unknown. People want measurements, efficiency, and templates — people want money.

Personally, I identify with “the artist.” I am a musician, a creative thinker, a dreamer, and I can remember any melodic sentence I hear — not to mention find its harmonic partner. When asked the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I long to answer — “a singer.” Yet here I find myself at an academic institution, pursuing an academic career.

Why is that? Honestly, it’s because I need to be practical and singers don’t make money — unless you are Justin Bieber or Katy Perry, and though they can sing a dang catchy melody that has a way of engraving itself into your brain, I have no desire to fall into the category of a “sell-out, pop-star millionaire.”

I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many diverse practitioners who work in the arts, and they have all expressed similar stories when it comes to their careers.

Art is their passion and first love, but having a flexible job on the side to pay the bills and put gas in the car is a valuable asset to their artistic endeavors.

It’s pretty much general knowledge that a career in the arts is a struggle.

Image: Aly Sczebel

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” A. Einstein Let’s face it, pursuing fine arts or musical arts means big pain for small gain (well — financial gain).

Artists pour their heart, soul, blood, tears, time, effort, and money into creating something beautiful or with a message and society often fails to recognize the value in that work.

The voice of practicality is loud and dominant.

The way I see it, artists need help! Their skills fall under a completely different category than those who are skilled in business, or than those who are more scientifically minded. However, rather

than putting a price on which avenue, skill-set, or job will make more money, we need to partner together. Both these categories have value and when partnered together work toward a well-rounded, functional society.

Though the arts may not be in economic demand, they are in cultural demand, and society needs both.

Arts fuel culture, life, and human connections. Try to imagine the world without art. A trip with no music, a restaurant with no décor, the landscape without foliage, or the sky without the sun. The

soul feeds off the creative aspects of life, and without them humanity would suffer greatly from a vast aesthetic void.

Money is tight — it’s a message we commonly hear, and as an artist, that message will soon be a familiar melody singing its dooming fate in your ear, but cheer up.

There is always “money in the banana stand,” that is to say, government policies in place responsible for supporting the arts. Artists, you’ve just got to do some digging.

Consumers — you drink in the creativity of others every day. So stop trying to get music for free and pay the 99¢, buy a painting for your bland wall that someone spent time into creating, go to the theatre, and stop trying to get your friends to do your wedding music for free. We need to see the value the arts possess and learn not to take advantage of artists or take for granted what their work adds to our world.

Perhaps the challenge currently ahead of the BFA grads prepares them for the reality of the big wide world. But remembering the arts play a huge role in our world is important, and making a conscious effort to appreciate this side of society is significant for the artist and for you. The necessity for the arts is greater then you think.

7

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Hollywood revives the Bible epic Popular Christianity comes with mixed messages and discomfort TAYLOR BRECKLES

CONTRIBUTOR

Recently, a wave of studioproduced Christian movies have been sweeping theatres. While some find this change exciting and complementary to their tastes, others are disturbed by their abundance in 2014.

I am one of those people less-than-thrilled about the prospect of a flood of Christian films, but it’s not merely because I am not Christian.

It is my past experience of receiving mixed messages from the Christian faith that has inspired my negative reaction towards the latest Hollywood scheme.

As a child living in the “Bible-belt” of the Lower Mainland, I was banned from playing with certain children because I had different beliefs or rather, I was judged for not going to church.

Now, considering the number of people who only go to church once or twice a year, it is surprising how hostile the Christian community was toward me. As Justin Taylor states in The Gospel Coalition, “It seems that it’s more accurate to say that 40 [per cent] of Americans claim to attend church regularly.” Taylor carries on to say that church attendance from the mid 1960s to the ‘90s was around 26 per cent.

Even so, I am still judged today for my absence in church, yet now I’m “old enough” to understand why.

But I don’t understand why.

I can’t seem to grasp why the meaning of what it is to be a Christian has changed so drastically from what it is preached to be. The Bible states that you are to love one another; take Peter 4:8 as an example, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

Yet it is baffling why many people have changed this to “love all God’s children as long as they believe exactly what you do and follow all your personal moral rules.”

The passage stating that women should stay silent in Corinthians 14:34 (“Women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak”), is ignored today. As is the passage regarding tattooing and piercing (“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD”) from Leviticus 19:28. Why are only certain passages accepted at face

value?

Just like society evolves when new ideas, new theories, and new generations of thinkers are born, religious thoughts should also be willing to change.

Accepting the beliefs of others doesn’t mean that you have to pray to Allah or cleanse your house using sage, but mocking or trying to inhibit people from living the life they want is unacceptable.

With regards to the films, I must admit what Hollywood is doing is brilliant. “[Hollywood has] understood it’s a very good business to take Christians seriously, and this is a real serious market … that there are over 91 million evangel-

ical Christians in America,” says media consultant Phil Cooke to the Telegraph. The North American film industry is finally taking part in a market that is ripe for the picking.

Perhaps had the Christian faith not changed their philosophy from the “love every child” view to the “I wouldn’t give you a dime for ANY church that doesn’t take a strong stand against abortion, booze, homosexuality, adultery, immodest dress on women, et cetera” view, then these films wouldn’t be such a source of discomfort. However, until the judgement is dialled back, these films will do nothing other than inspire yet another debate.

Bible-based movies cleverly cater to a certain demographic, and remind us of values along the way BRITTNEY HENSMAN

THE CASCADE

So here’s the scoop. People are up in arms about the invasion of Christian films that will be flooding the cinema screens in 2014.

Hollywood has created and is in the process of issuing more than six films this year entirely composed of Biblical content. So, why is this a big deal?

Well, Christianity is being shoved down our throats. Is it? Do you feel the urge to convert to Christianity after viewing a trailer about the story of Noah?

If you ask me, Hollywood is smart in targeting the Christian audience with

their “new” Biblical thematic content. Christians will most definitely drop $12 to see a depiction of their beloved stories in theatres — not to mention the many people who are tired of seeing the same love storyline over and over again.

As much as people enjoy to “get away from the real world,” Hollywood’s current stable of romantic, horror, and action movies are overdone and are really nothing new. As much as people love a thrill, they are also drawn to aspects of life they can relate to — what is real, what their morals align with.

The Bible is in no way a “boring book.” It’s full of

juicy stories and episodes of love, hate, murder, scandal, heroes, lust, tragedy, joy, “the supernatural,” the unthinkable — one man building a giant boat because God told him there was going to be a worldwide flood? What!? Crazy, right? Hollywood has made movies out of this material before, is doing it again, and probably will yet again a couple decades from now.

Everyone has a worldview and comes to his or her own conclusions and thoughts on all types of issues. Getting worked up over an issue like this one is not worth it — hey, if anyone is to be upset I’d think it should be the Christian — Hollywood is using your book of faith to make a heap of money off you!

The beef is not with Christian films, or even Hollywood for that matter; I think the problem lies with many people who simply have a bad taste in their mouths toward Christianity.

Unfortunately a lot of Christians have done a bad job representing ideas in the Bible — what Jesus said — and the reason is, Christians are no better than anyone else. Christians are not perfect, Christians make mistakes all the time, Christians are failures, liars, hypocrites, and selfish — the only difference between the “Christian” and the “nonbeliever” is that Christians believe despite their failures that the consequences of those mistakes have been taken on by someone else — Jesus Christ. It’s not because they are special, it’s simply because they believe He did that for everyone who acknowledges Him. Though Christianity has a bad reputation, it’s important to realize the danger in stereotyping people for thier faith. People in university especially are always passionately debating over issues in regards to equality, human rights, anti-segregation, and the right to have a voice ­— yet it always amazes me how hostile everyone can be towards each other about what they believe. My stance is, if you find yourself feeling upset about controversial issues, find out why. There is a reason humans have emotions, they indicate something is going on deeper inside.

So if those trailers are giving you a hard time, find out why and look for answers.

8

OPINION

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Under construction Sometimes a decision is just a detour KATIE STOBBART

THE CASCADE

Teenagers’ brains are different.

There’s even science to back it up. Essentially, as we enter adolescence, our brains set up orange road signs around the frontal cortex and launch into construction that typically lasts until our mid to late 20s. During that time, most decisions are coming from the amygdala, which is the centre for instinctive reactions, fear, and aggression. This results in turmoil, misunderstanding, impulsive reactions, and most famously angst.

It also makes for a lot of poor decisions. The prefrontal cortex, which controls reasoning and logic, is not quite out of commission, but it’s a lot less accessible.

This process also coincides with that period in our lives when we’re making the social, academic, and career decisions that have the power to change our lives irrevocably. Or at least, that’s what I’ve been told.

Personally, I was still 18 when I made one of the most difficult decisions in my life to date.

For some it’s leaving home, but when my time came I was ready to fly across the country and embark on an exciting four-year journey, to pursue a degree in international studies and proficiency in at least three languages. I imagined some glamourous and noble career in my future — something high-up in the political world, like diplomacy or something.

I worked hard to get to Ontario,

and ultimately was accepted into the university I had dreamed of attending for an entire year. I even earned a scholarship that would cover my tuition for all four years of my education there.

The hard part was realizing I had made a mistake.

I won’t go into the details — that’s another story. Ultimately, a few months into my first year, I came to the understanding that if I stayed, I would be amputating parts of myself I couldn’t imagine losing. The person I would have become wasn’t me.

I made it through the rest of the year, then gave up the remaining three years of free tuition and came to UFV to do what I really wanted to do: write. Say what you want about how crazy it was to give up the money, but it felt like coming to my senses, and I don’t regret it.

It wasn’t the first time someone changed programs, and it certainly won’t be the last. Leaving home, as impulsive and dramatic as it felt at the time, was not the worst decision a teen has ever made, and I was lucky enough to realize early that it wasn’t going to work for me.

One of the hardest parts about coming to that conclusion though, was feeling so awful about turning back. I had been coached for years in public school to find some perfect career path and stick to it for the rest of my life and I had failed.

I’ve talked with people who have dropped out of school, picked the wrong careers, switched their programs close to completion, and made a whole host of other deci-

Image: Biologycorner/ flickr

“This results in turmoil, misunderstanding, impulsive reactions, and most famously angst.” sions that eventually turned out to be the wrong ones. I’ve discovered it’s common to change our minds about things we thought we were passionate about. Not only is it common, it’s okay. In my case, it was a bit expensive, but it was okay.

However, I have to marvel at the fact that the age at which we are least equipped to make sensible, long-term decisions is the same time when we are expected to make major life decisions, learn to

operate heavy machinery, and start up our RRSPs. Yikes.

Yet that’s how our society works.

I don’t necessarily disagree with that; when else will we make these choices? What I do disagree with is the expectation, at least in high school, that young adults should have it all figured out.

A mistake does not always spell failure. Sometimes it’s just a fork in the road, a sign that says, go the other way. Since when does figuring out what you want to do with

your life exclude the occasional wrong turn? There’s enough angst in that decade or so of brain development, without the added pressure of expectations that are reiterated as students approach high school graduation.

It’s actually one of the things I appreciate about UFV: flexibility.

There’s a general understanding, at least in my experience, that in this period of our lives, there’s bound to be a bit of road work.

by the city and the ADBA drafted in 2004 to prevent housing and harm reduction initiatives in the C7 zone.

A document sent to the City by the ADBA days before the referendum said, “have the integrity to uphold the bylaws.”

Indeed, all integrity was lost.

The revered values are now the profit of the businesses and property taxes the city will gladly accept.

In response to the film Mayor Banman stated that the chicken manure incident was the result of miscommunication — a joke which became a reality the next day.

The Mayor stated that something had to be done. While the Ministry of Social Development, B.C. Housing came forward with $15 million for the proposed 20-person facility.

I heard time and again that we must take action, that there needs to be solution; all the while the solution came and we threw it away all because of a business pact.

While asked for solutions about the homelessness in Abbotsford, Mayor Banman and Bob Rich answered pointedly that addiction and mental illness were the root of the problem. This is true, however people can’t get help for either issue while living on the street.

Our Mayor Bruce Banman said that homelessness wasn’t an issue

in the past because people were given indefinite prison sentences.

We have come a long way, enacting basic human rights, on the behalf of all people, not just those in a position of privilege. I focused on him — he looked thoughtful, as if dreaming about the good ol’ days. To paraphrase him, he said: “if people cannot help themselves, then I think they should be just locked away for their own good.”

Silence pierced our ears.

His comment would be the climax of the panel discussion.

My anger stems from the “morality,” values, and judgements expressed by the City, the ADBA, and the residents of Abbotsford.

People are disagreeing over what is best for a population who lives a lifestyle radically different from their own. The beliefs and judgments for what’s right are halting any progress from occurring on the matter of homelessness.

The initial proposal should have proceeded. However, the City, the ADBA, and the residents of Abbotsford disagree with the proposed facilities policy.

The facility does not require sobriety in order to have a bed. If we impose conditions to get help, then the structure is flawed. In a sense, it’s discrimination. Akin to saying that you must be white to ride on the bus, in this case, you must be

sober to have to a place to sleep.

There is no reason behind either instance.

The motivation to get well is internal; a person who is homeless will develop hope, if they have a bed. People do not get better if they are missing essential needs of survival. A person who is homeless can barely begin to think about seeking help for an addiction or a mental illness when primary actions are directed toward what they will eat and where they will sleep.

We are the problem. It is our inability to consider circumstance beyond our own. A popular solution in this city is to walk away or to view problems from our cars as we drive by quickly. I wish for everyone to think. There is a lot of talk, rhetoric, and protection of special interests out there. The answer for the problem is not easy. It is best that we reflect on our motivation and what we can do in order to create change in our community.

The solution may be as simple as a change in perspective, an open mind, an open heart, or the willingness to consider circumstances beyond our own.

Letter to the editor

We are the problem

Image: Normanack/ flickr

Many curious people and those who are current with the events in our city came together for the screening of The Chicken Manure Incident. While I sat in the centre of the auditorium, I learned that a panel discussion was to take place after the film with Mayor Bruce Banman, Police Chief Bob Rich, Jim Burkinshaw, and Jesse Wegenast of 5&2 Ministries.

The film introduced us to the scenes of homelessness in Abbotsford and the real faces of people who are homeless. We saw that people without a home are just human beings with stories and

problems like the rest of us. Some did suffer from a mental illness, an addiction, or have lived through traumatic circumstances. We were introduced to the reality that anyone could be homeless; perhaps this is why many people ignore the issue.

Throughout the film the question was asked: who is responsible for the homeless? The City of Abbotsford, the faith communities, or the provincial government?

The problem began with morality.

Abbotsford residents are proud to declare that they have a strong moral compass for what’s right.

However, since the proposed facility did not have a sobriety requirement, the idea made many people uncomfortable, particularly the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA).

People, including the Mayor and the ADBA were fearful that a facility housing the homeless in the C7 zone, or ‘Old Downtown,’ would be detrimental to the wellbeing of businesses. Fears were exclaimed that a facility housing 20 men would host, all of a sudden, drugs, prostitution, lowered property value, and a loss of profit because people would avoid Old Downtown.

The proposed facility was officially rejected due to an agreement

- Dylan Much

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

SUDOKU PUZZLE

CROSSWORD Dry

9

8 9

by KATIE STOBBART

3

2 5 9

6 3 1 4 9 8 7

1

8 4 2 4 1 6

9 2

3

1

4 6

ACROSS

Extremely dry and barren. (4) Used for drying; throwing it can be a symbol of capitulation. (5) A condition of the lips necessitating balm. (7) Bits of dried bread. (8)

Sudoku solution

ACROSS 2 IRIS 4 EASTER 6 DAYLIGHTSAVINGS 7 PASTORAL 8 FROLIC 10 MAYPOLE DOWN 1 FARMERSMARKET 2 CHERRYBLOSSOM 3 SEEDS 5 VERNAL 9 IDES

The Weekly Horoscope Aquarius: Jan 20 - Feb 18: In a fit of whimsy and procrastination, you will plant a garden. But beware: many things may grow from the seeds you sow, and not necessarily the ones you intend.

Pisces: Feb 19 - March 20: Yellow is a good colour for you this week. This is the silver lining to your high probability of contracting jaundice.

Gemini: May 21 - June 21: The next time you attempt small talk, you will instead be consumed by BIG TALK. NOW YOU HAVE TO TALK LIKE THIS FOREVER.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22: Your first Etsy purchase will be an unmitigated disaster.

8 9 5 3 1 6 4 2 7 2 1 6 8 4 7 5 3 9 3 4 7 5 2 9 6 1 8

2.

4.

5.

7.

Last week’s crossword

7 6 3 1 5 2 8 9 4 1 5 4 6 9 8 2 7 3 9 2 8 7 3 4 1 6 5

DOWN

Answer keys

4 7 1 9 6 5 3 8 2 6 8 2 4 7 3 9 5 1 5 3 9 2 8 1 7 4 6

1.

The invisible process by which liquid turns to gas. (11) 3.

Not to be confused with the delicious after-dinner treat -- sand is

not so good for eating. (6) 6.

A skin condition often characterized by extreme dryness. (6) 8.

Drying your hair can blow this. (4) 9.

Lacking lustre. (4) 10.

A narrow basin in which watercraft is constructed and repaired. (7) 11.

A barren landscape, and the subject of a famous poem by T.S. Eliot.

(9)

Star Signs from January Jones* Libra: Sept 23 - Oct 22: This weekend, everyone except the people with Blackberries will be taken up to heaven in the technological rapture. Sorry, people with Blackberries.

Scorpio: Oct 23 - Nov 21: The angles of Pluto and Uranus are telling you to invest in a Kama Sutra. Jupiter and Mars, on the other hand, are fairly certain you can learn everything you need to from Google.

Aries: March 21 - April 19: In a freak industrial accident, you will gain the ability to repair anything with scotch tape.

Leo: July 23 - Aug 22: Dionysus is petulant that you haven’t had a beer lately.

Dionysus is petulant that you aren’t holding a beer right this second. Dionysus is a big baby, but you can’t deny beer is delicious.

Sagittarius: Nov 22 - Dec 21: Your princess is in another castle.

Taurus: April 20 - May 20: Doorknobs are your enemies.

Virgo: Aug 23 -Sept22: This isn’t even your final form.

Capricorn: Dec 22 - Jan 19: Your spirit animal is DHL. *No, not that January Jones

10

CULTURE FEATURE

Title: Eurhythmic Artist: Alisha Deddens Medium: Oil on canvas Date: 2013

“How do you respond to the harmony of rhythm and music, the very thing that fills up silence and has the ability to speak to the soul? Can you portray the fluidity of movement that comes with music and rhythm? The symbiotic relationship between art and music is not something new in the discourse of art history. The artist has the ability to stir the same touching emotions as music does, the ability to inspire and challenge the status quo.”

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Title: Connor Artist: Michelle Auton Media: Acrylic on canvas Date: 2010

“This work is a portrait of my son and is part of a series where I interviewed subjects about how they are willing to allow themselves to be portrayed. I have situated individuals in portraits that they could tolerate and focused on their individualism and the process of paint. I want my viewer to take from this work an appreciation for distinctiveness both of the human condition and the treatment of paint.”

Crea Pa

Title: Cal Artist: K S Medium ph

11

CULTURE FEATURE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Title: Portrait of Connection Artist: Ashleigh Miller Medium: Acrylic and waterbased oils on canvas Date: 2014

“I was highly inspired by the constant need to be connected to people through technology. Even in the presence of friends, the chirping cell phone takes precedence over the physical being.”

Title: Innocent Scapegoat Artist: Alisha Deddens Medium: Oil on canvas Date: 2014

ative age

“I was inspired to create this piece when reading an article in the Footprint Press called “The Raccoons in the Neighborhood.” In this article the author suggests that we too easily blame raccoons for the cause of the mischief that happens in our suburban neighborhoods when in actual fact raccoons are docile and only retaliate when they feel threatened. It is this new perspective at looking at these relatively harmless animals that I think is worth considering.”

Title: Portrait of a Family Artist: Ashleigh Miller Medium: Water-based oils on canvas Date: 2013

“No longer are we bound to physical interactions as our world evolves into digital consumption.”

This collection of artwork, photography, and writing showcases the unique talents and culture of UFV’s artistic community.

Want to see your work on this page?

Contact valerie@ufvcascade.ca for more information.

lming Chamomile Kelsey McHattieSimpson m: Large format hotography

“With this project I wanted to show the power nature has over individuals. Nature can be both amazingly beautiful and terrifying at the same time, a complete juxtaposition. The strength and capability nature possesses is a force never to be reckoned with; it can be the wind in your hair on a sunny day while you sail along the sea, and it can be the forceful strength that shoves you effortlessly far beneath the depths of the ocean while stuck amidst a horrible storm.”

Title: Earl Grey Morning Artist: Kelsey McHattieSimpson Medium: Large format photography

12

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

International Women’s Day inspires change across the world

Upcoming

Events March 5-23

UFV Theatre presents Romeo and Juliet UFV’s theatre department brings Shakespeare’s most famous love story to life for the third time — with a postapocalyptic twist. Featuring the directorial work of awardwinning fight director Paul Gélineau, this unusual adaptation of Romeo and Juliet promises a fresh and thrilling take on the tragic story of star-crossed lovers. Advance tickets available online through UFV’s website.

March 11

Project Connection Come join other young adults aged 18-30 for a series of café nights celebrating religious diversity. This regular event is held at Abbotsford’s Sippchai Café on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Come prepared to make friends, listen to stories, play board games, and enjoy some great coffee or chai! For more information, contact gugan. sidhu@abbotsfordcommunityservices.com.

March 12 UFV Career Fair Image: European Parliament/Flickr

Sixteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai, who survived being shot in the head by a Taliban assassin two years ago, has gone on to promote women’s right to be educated throughout the world.

KELSEY LAMB CONTRIBUTOR

I’m going up to Kelowna for the weekend to celebrate two great women in my life, but in two different ways. My mother ’s 50th birthday is on Saturday, and the party is going to be off the hook with tons of food, lots of toasts, and maybe a little dancing to celebrate what a wonderful person she is. The other reason I’m going up to Kelowna is my husband’s 93-year-old grandmother passed away this February, and the funeral is on Sunday. We will be celebrating her beautiful life with an intimate family service, acknowledging the profound legacy she has left for her children, grand-children and great grand-children.

This month is a time of celebration for the women in our lives, both in life and in death, and for those who are raising their voices in support of all women. Author and public speaker Brené Brown once said, “Even to me the issue of ‘stay small, sweet, quiet, and modest’ sounds like an outdated problem, but the truth is that women still run into those demands

whenever we find and use our voices.” Brown’s quote is important for us because there are still issues of gender equality around the globe. International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 is a day to celebrate women’s voices, but also to bring attention to the changes that still need to take place.

IWD, which started in 1911, is intended to celebrate the social, political, and economic achievements of women while also focusing the world’s attention on areas requiring further action.

This year ’s theme, “inspiring change,” is exemplified by activists like Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who knows first-hand what it takes to stand up to adversity; for her efforts to improve girls’ access to education in Pakistan, she took a bullet to the head from a Taliban gunman in 2012 and survived.

Yousafzai has continued to inspire change, and at 16 years old, she’s the youngest person to have been considered for a Nobel Peace Prize. In Canada, Rumana Monzur, who survived being brutally assaulted and blinded by her husband in 2011 for wanting to further her education at UBC, continues to inspire change locally through her activism, and was the keynote

speaker for Abbotsford’s IWD celebrations.

These two women are beacons of justice, raising their voices in honour of every female on the planet. Women like them everywhere are struggling to fight against domestic and public violence, sexual harassment, human trafficking, and genital mutilation practices. Even in the modern Western world, women still have to fight for equal pay; access to quality childcare; job security for working women during pregnancy; and an equal role in politics, media, and business.

Let’s take some ink to talk about men’s empowerment initiatives for gender equality. Have you ever heard of the saying, “If you’re not for us, you’re against us?” Violence against women is learned, not biological. Research from the Battered Women Support Services (BWSS) in Vancouver shows that on average, every six days a woman is killed in Canada by her intimate partner.

The Vancouver BWSS office registers 100 new women a month who have suffered some kind of abuse, with 81 per cent of their reported trauma caused by men. Men who wish to promote women’s rights to their bodies should also share equal respon-

sibility for contraceptive use and sexual reproductive health.

Real gender equality should include equal domestic responsibility as well. What about caring for those babies and dependent family members at home? I have never heard of a woman being given a salary to be at home, and caring for a household is never over. Economic equality for women in the workplace also should mean equal expectations for men’s participation at home.

No one can say they do not have women in their lives, whether a mother, wife, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, or girlfriend, who does not deserve to be honoured this March. I have many more women to honour, but I thank my grandmother-in-law for bravely immigrating to Canada from England — I might not have otherwise met the love of my life, and I thank my mother, whose rally for education, along with her giving and gracious nature, has inspired change in me to become the woman I am today. As we reflect on women’s equality this month, may we hear the voices of justice and progress and each be inspired to change.

Graduation blues got you down? Looking for a job?

Check out UFV’s biannual career fair in the Envision Athletic Centre, where you can meet with over 50 different employers including the Abbotsford School District, B.C. Hydro, and the Canadian Forces.

Event runs 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

RSVP through UFV’s website and you’ll be entered to win a prize!

March 13

Canadian Writers Series Join UFV’s writer in residence Daniela Elza, Dr. Trevor Carolan, and authors Renée Sarojini Saklikar and Rob Taylor at the Abbotsford campus bookstore for an afternoon of readings between 12:30 and 2 p.m. Six open mic spots are also available if student writers want to share their own work of any genre; contact daniela. elza@ufv.ca to sign up.

13

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Fashion Forward

Fashion with a conscience NADINE MOEDT The Cascade

In the age of fast fashion, university students can dress from the catwalk for less than the wages from a shift at whatever minimum-wage job we’re working at. Stores like Forever 21, American Eagle, Sirens, and Ardène offer student-friendly pricing for their replicas of “now” fashion. We buy in, knowing very well that the clothes will last about a year before they wear out or become last season’s cast-offs.

Most of us are aware of the consequences — the environmental detriment, the humanitarian crisis — that are the real accessory to our faux wool coats and Payless shoes. The problem is most of us can’t afford the quality of the real thing.

So how can students dress fashionably with a clean conscience?

The first step to a responsible closet is to change your perspective on buying clothing. Clothes, shoes, and jewellery should be seen as an investment; look at how much you spend on fast fashion, and use that money to make one big purchase instead of various small ones. Find the item that is timeless — the wool trench coat or pencil skirt — and

Image: Sudrishta/Flickr

Handmade accessories like this scarf are a stylish, ethical, and unique alternative to fast fashion products. invest in something higher quality that can work with several outfits. It’ll last more than one season, and can look fresh when paired with new accessories.

When choosing where to invest, consider something locally designed and made. An online search for Vancouver fashion brings up dozens of organic and responsibly-created products.

Mulierose, a Vancouver-based women’s fashion store, “upcycles” clothing into new styles; a cute, mint-green, high-waist cotton skirt transformed from a men’s dress shirt goes for about $45.

Supporting makers of hand-

made products is an easy task on sites like Etsy, where you can talk to the designer who is making your purchase and ask for alterations where desired. Or, find an interesting charitable project to support online with your purchase. Awamaki Lab, a nonprofit organization based in Peru, sends designers to work with local artists using environmentally friendly materials and techniques. Their woven sweaters and vests are chic, bright, and genuine.

However, if you prefer to shop in-store, you don’t have to go so far as Vancouver to find places that cater to the environmen-

Wild harvest pasta with fiddleheads and mushrooms

Image: Howard Walfish/Flickr

Wild harvest pasta with fiddleheads and mushrooms

VALERIE FRANKLIN The Cascade

Fiddleheads emerge in the springtime, slowly uncurling themselves from the fronds of young ferns in wet, shady forest groves. These delicate green spirals are pleasantly crisp to the bite and have a mild, clean flavour similar to asparagus or broccoli stems. Freshly steamed to a bright green and tossed with a pat of butter, they’re a wonderful spring side-dish in their own right — but paired with garlic, basil, and tender, pungent mushrooms in this easy pasta dish, they’re exquisite.

Fiddleheads can be bought fresh or frozen at grocery stores and farmer’s markets, or you can even forage for them yourself on shady hillsides. As with mushroom hunting, first consult a reputable guide to safe and sustainable foraging practices; certain types of fern are poisonous or carcinogenic, and even edible fiddleheads can never be eaten raw.

Makes four servings 1 tbsp butter 1 c. fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced 2 c. fiddlehead ferns 2 c. uncooked pasta (penne, spiralini, or conchiglie are best for this dish) 4 cloves of garlic, minced generous handful of fresh basil, chopped ¼ c. heavy cream Salt and pepper Parmesan cheese Cook the pasta, drain, and set aside.

Boil the fiddlehead ferns in their own pot of water for about two minutes, or until tender.

Once they’re cooked, immediately drain and rinse them with very cold water to preserve their crispness and bright colour.

Melt the butter in a deep frying pan or pot.

Toss in the sliced mushrooms and let them fry over medium heat; you should hear them gently sizzling but not spitting. Once the morels are golden-brown around the edges, add the garlic, basil, pasta, cream, and the cooked fiddleheads.

Stir over low-medium heat for two minutes.

Season with salt and pepper to taste, top with shaved parmesan, and serve.

tally aware shopper. Ladyfern Athletics in downtown Abbotsford sells organic and ethically produced workout gear, and All Things Eco in Chilliwack sells both men’s and women’s styles along with a wide variety of organic household wares and body products.

If you buy simply because you love shopping, limiting your list to higher quality items can get expensive. Try hunting in places that sell previously cherished clothes to satisfy your shopping high. Value Village, which always has a great selection of men’s dress shoes, can be your new Aldo. Abbotsford recently lost Champion Jack’s, our only vintage store, but sifting through regular second-hand stores can be rewarding — and interesting, to say the least.

Another simple way to keep the clothing turnover low is to take care of your clothes. Conserve the freshness of your clothes by hand-washing and hang-drying; socks and undergarments have a particularly short lifespan when constantly being washed via washer and dryer. By simply switching over to a gentle hand wash, you can increase the lifespan of your favorite lace panties or Under Armour boxers.

Polishing shoes and repairing clothes should not be a thing of

the past. If you don’t want to fix a tear in your clothes yourself or if you don’t own a sewing machine, bring your well-loved garments to a tailor. Many dry cleaners and shoe repair locations also make clothing repairs.

Expert Dry Cleaners on Sumas Way in Abbotsford does cheap and fast repairs. Replacing a button on a pair of jeans costs about $8, while sewing up a rip in the knee costs about $13.

Do-it-yourself repairs also work for any jewellery that is building up dirt or oil. Carefully massage white toothpaste into the metal; the abrasive paste actually takes off any discolouration and restores jewellery to its former brightness.

Keeping your style controversy-free takes some dedication.

Our consumerist culture pushes us to buy those novel and inexpensive shoes, and the convenience of simply buying cheap to replace cheap makes fast fashion hard to resist. With the increasing popularity of H&M and the other McDonald’s of the fashion world, young dressers begin to look like slightly over-sized mannequins: identical in style and lacking creativity entirely.

Make a statement: look beyond the mannequin for your own style in a culture of disposable fashion.

14

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Dine & Dash

Vic’s Diner SASHA MOEDT THE CASCADE

Breakfasts $6-$10 Lunches $10 - $14.50 2073 Clearbrook Rd Abbotsford, BC V2T 2X1 Vic’s diner is one of the first things you’ll see when taking the Clearbrook exit. It’s in a building attached to the Comfort Inn, which is why we accidently walked in there first. After a moment of confusion, we made our way to the separate doors of Vic’s Diner.

Upon walking in, my first impression was that Vic’s Diner isn’t desperately trying to be a ‘50s diner, which is nice, because in those kinds of diners I spend most of my time picking out what isn’t ‘50s. But Vic’s is simple in its décor; the booths are classic diner style and the art on the wall is minimal. The place was fairly busy for a weekday afternoon, and there was only one server, but she was friendly and sweet to us and the other patrons.

The menu had all the classics — all-day breakfast, and hamburgers and steak for lunch. The menu was extensive, though haphazardly laid out in just black and white text. The only thing that seemed to be missing from the menu for me was a fruit cup or something for a side for the breakfasts, which is what I always go for.

The plates that the patrons around us were ordering looked huge and tasty. I did avoid ordering fries, though, because they looked very thick-cut and plain.

I ended up going for an egg sandwich on sourdough with hashbrowns while my boyfriend ordered bacon bennys. Jukebox Oldies playlist played in the background while we waited for our food. I noticed that Vic’s also serves alcohol ($4.75 for highballs, and $5.50 for a Caesar) — better than some bars around here! But it was definitely too

early to order booze.

My portions were big and diner-sized, a good deal for $8.

What surprised me was that my food wasn’t overly greasy. There was some grease — I’d be disappointed otherwise, at a diner — but not enough to make me feel like I got punched in the stomach.

I was pleased with my food.

The hashbrowns were great, shredded style, and way better than at Denny’s or IHOP, because they were crunchier and far less greasy. My egg sandwhich would have done well with a pickle or tomato on it — there was a lot of egg and it got a bit boring once I was at the middle of the massive thing.

But the sourdough was nice and crunchy in the crust and soft in the middle.

My boyfriend is a self-proclaimed “hollandaise hog,” and he loved the benny for the great hollandaise sauce. His plate was filled with food when it came out; definitely $10 worth.

The service was good, the prices very affordable, and I liked the atmosphere. I’d recommend giving Vic’s a try for a nice breakfast-at-lunchtime experience.

Image: Trip Advisor

Vic’s diner doesn’t go in for the campy, over-the-top ‘50s decor popular at similar restaurants.

The interior of Vic’s gives off the feel of a classic diner experience, and is a good pick for breakfast at lunchtime.

Book Review

I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali MELISSA LY CONTRIBUTOR

This book is a must read for both female and male readers.

I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced was published in 2010. In today’s world of fast-paced technology, four years ago is old news.

But children’s rights around the world, especially pertaining to girls, are a social justice issue that has yet to be resolved.

And Nujood’s memoir is a voice well worth listening to.

Although I’d much rather you read the book then read my lame summary, in short, the memoir captures Nujood’s childhood.

It moves from innocence and games of hide and seek to being married off at the age of 10 and being sexually, physically, and verbally abused at the hands of her husband. Despite being born in a village in which “women are

not taught how to make choices,” Nujood Ali makes the brave decision to run away from her abuser, and fights for her pleas for a divorce to be heard.

The first-person narrative is straightforward and fast-paced.

The memoir is only 176 pages, and every page makes an impact. To a certain degree, I find that Ali is succinct with her descriptions, yet she is able to paint a picture in the reader ’s mind without going out of her way to give lengthy descriptions.

For example, when she talks about the first night of her rape, she says enough that I as a reader am disgusted and horrified at what had happened, but she also knows she doesn’t need to be overzealous with the details to connect with readers.

This memoir is the perfect book to compliment International Women’s Day: it represents

the purpose of the day in its entirety. International Women’s Day is not only a day to remind us that females all around the world still face injustices and inequality, but it also celebrates the great strides females have made.

This novel reveals that Ali’s story is not an isolated incident and that young girls are still subjected to arranged marriage against their will.

On the other hand, throughout her memoir her words ring with a note of hope, and by the end of the book readers can rejoice in celebration with Ali as she is granted a divorce, and is now able to go back to school.

She is the youngest divorcee in history and has inspired other young girls in the Middle East that change is possible.

Image: Vic’s Diner / Facebook

15

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Album Review

Bend Sinister — Animals

DESSA BAYROCK THE CASCADE

Judging by the cover art, this album could be anything: four men with long hair man stand with their instruments, looking like someone has told them to pose for a photograph after a long night of drinking and goodnatured shenanigans. Two wear winter hats, and one is in a bathrobe. The room is festooned with taxidermied animals, lit in warm earth tones, and despite the odd assortment of details, looks cozy.

This cover could belong to any genre; are we in for rock? Metal?

Indie? One of those odd lumps in the corner of the room could be an accordion — are we in for polka? I have no idea.

It turns out Bend Sinister isn’t too sure either; the band seems to pick its favourite elements from any old genre it fancies and stitch them together, which becomes abundantly clear in the opening track.

“Best of You,” sets the stage with rhythmic bare piano and the background synths you’d expect in a space film. Are we in for a power ballad? Screaming guitar joins the synth and piano.

It appears we are, indeed, in for a power ballad. The listener holds their breath. What’s next?

We half-expect Freddy Mercury to make an appearance, so much

so that when the vocalist pops in, it does sound like a Queen bside for a second. Better buckle up: it looks like we might be in for a rock opera.

But suddenly — and oddly — the song changes completely, as though it’s a teenager unhappy with its outfit. We find ourselves in the brief and happy throes of a pop song, and the result is offputting. Bend Sinister has a firm handle on both styles, but to butt them up against each other in the same song detracts from each and does a disservice to both.

The power ballad characteristics eventually sneak back in, but the combination is still less than satisfying. We’ve heard the purity of both styles done well, and now mixing them together feels lukewarm at best.

After this calamity of odd style-mixing in the first track, Bend Sinister seems to sort out its genre-bending. They still incorporate a surprising number of genres, but the sudden shifts are saved for the breaks between songs rather than cluttering up individual tracks with markedly different ideas.

The second track, “Fancy Pants,” is one of the home-runs of the album: it starts out sunnily cheerful and is guaranteed to get feet tapping with jaunty piano and a steady drum beat.

A snatch of trumpet and hand-

clapping appear in time for the second chorus, forming the perfect soundtrack for a dance break.

“I Got Love” is another winner, and could be a track from Grease — cheerfully gritty and jazzed with an insistent bass.

Finally, the power guitar has found a loving home. The cherry on the cake is a brief snatch of gospel-style chorus, although I could do without the accompanying organ solo.

My favourite song on the album by far is “Better Things to Do.” It hums along from the very beginning, anchored by a lovely meandering note in the repeating chorus. “We both had better things to do-oo-oo-oo,” he croons between verses, an easygoing anthem with a subtext of que sera, sera. We follow the story of protagonist and the just-outof-reach girl with bated breath.

Perhaps by the end of the song, neither of them will have better

things to do and they’ll finally be happy.

“Thunder and Lightning,” “Teacher,” and “Seventeen” all pass in a blur of power rock before we get to “You Remind Me,” which keeps the insistent kick drum and humming guitar going, both winning features, and also returns the focus to vocals and harmonies for brilliantly catchy results.

“Through the Week” also skips the roaring guitar in favour of a softer start, which works beautifully and highlights the fact that Bend Sinister is most successful when it sticks to the basics: soft piano, soft vocals, haunting harmonies, and simple lyrics that appeal to anyone who’s chased a girl or suffered through a broken heart.

All in all, pulling elements from a variety of genres to season the songs works well, but the few tunes that try for an equal hybrid fall flat. Just the right amount of power ballad seasoning gives this album a taste of gumption, the same way a red flower stands out in the lapel of a dark suit. But just because you can pull out a power rock guitar and growling tenor doesn’t mean you should, and this is something Bend Sinister would do well to remember for the future.

HIRING!

Mini Album Reviews

SoundBites

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Real Estate Atlas

Neneh Cherry Blank Project

Atlas, Real Estate’s third full-length album, was recorded in just two weeks in Chicago at Wilco’s home studio, the Loft, a setting that seems to have resonated with Martin Courtney, Matt Mondanile, and Alex Bleeker.

Mondanile’s cyclical guitar in tandem with Courtney’s vocals are the most compelling aspect of Real Estate’s music, but when the guitars verge on too breezy and aimless, it can seem monotonous. Luckily, this is not the case on Atlas, as their guitars leads are taut and Tom Schick’s production recalls Good Earth-era Feelies. The big difference between Atlas and their past records is here Courtney’s lyrics no longer retreat into his childhood experiences. Courtney is now married, and his lyrics reflect that, as he looks towards the future. On “Primitive,” he sings “Don’t know where I wanna be / But I’m glad that you’re with me” and “Talking Backwards” finds Courtney feeling disconnected or lost in time, singing about being away from his loved one, “we can talk for hours / we are not getting any closer / we may as well talk backwards.” Atlas has the feel of a mature third record, as Real Estate boldly tries to take hold of an unclear future.

Ruthlessly cutting through poses and aimless rhymes, Neneh Cherry’s spirit of glee and a challenging stare came through on three albums (Raw Like Sushi, Homebrew, and Man) where both rap and pop choruses came through distinct, possessed by a voice that cared about the lyrics as they stood in her songs, and how they responded to history’s. Where a younger Cherry could joke about “The Next Generation,” that’s the serious subject of most of Blank Project. Cherry’s aware of the years that have passed since she started singing, and of her own defensive cynicism (“What I don’t hear can’t upset me,” she speak-sings, fighting off the fever that stands in for love, distraction, and everything, depending on the track). The doldrums wait in the corners of each track, until Cherry breaks through on the Robyn-featuring “Out of the Black.” Unlike the stereotypical story of producer-singer creativity, Cherry and Kieran Hebden, whose recording methods here include live mixing and the use of single takes, have engaged in a real collaboration — Cherry adapts to Hebden’s more distinctive-as-Four-Tet flourishes (“Cynical”), while Hebden keeps most of his time-keeping drum machines and bass pulses subdued and background to Cherry’s spacious storytelling, from tense silence (“Across the Water”) to disco-grunge (“Dossier”).

tIM UBELS

michael scoular

The Editor-in-Chief directs editorial and production staff through all stages of publishing the paper each week.

The position requires a minimum of 16 office hours a week, and is not recommended for full-time students.

If you want to gain valuable writing experience and think you can handle staying on campus for nearly 24 hours a day, this might be the job for you!

For a full job description, check out the employment page on ufvcascade.ca, or email michael@ufvcascade.ca Pay per issue: $300

16

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Not your parents’ Shakespeare UFV’s post-apocalyptic adaptation of Romeo and Juliet has plenty of sex, violence, and leather

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Shuffle

CHARTS

Varsity Girls darnit

AARON LEVY

CIVL STATION MANAGER

Heaven for Real Hero’s Code

CIVL station manager Aaron Levy says that spring is finally looking to be here, so here are some songs that make you feel good, just like the weather should.

Tough Age Tough Age Jef Barbara Soft To The Touch

Haim — “The Wire” I recently described this single from the Los Angeles trio of the sisters Haim as Prince meets Chromeo. It’s just the perfect mix of both, right down to the bassy, throaty vocal tone of the verse’s finales. Pay careful attention to hear alternating vocalists that sound exactly the same! Girl power!

Mac DeMarco Live & Acoustic, Vol. 1

The Pack A.D. Do Not Engage

Fountain Fountain

Moist — “Silver” I used to think David Usher was my cousin in this video; they’re both long-haired musicians with darkish complexions. What’d I know? I was only like, 10. This song is selected in honour of the UFV Cascades women’s basketball team taking silver at the Canada West finals last weekend.

The Ketamines Stay Awake b/w Always Small

9 10 11 12 13 14

Ghost Beach Blonde

Born Gold — “Where Is My Mind?”

New Vaders Dynamic Trax Vol. 1

The Cascades women’s b-ballers really were born gold, and may all have their feet in the air and their heads on the ground this week while they recover from a program-best finish to the 201314 season, and look for their first nationals medal in Windsor this weekend.

n.213 Rejectamenta HSY HSY Dum Dum Girls Too True

Weezer — “Don’t Let Go” Not my favourite album of theirs, but probably one of The Green Album’s most infectious tracks, on an album purposefully filled with a ton of them. You’re probably more familiar with “Island in the Sun,” but let’s be honest, that’s just because of the cute animals in the music video. Cherry pickers.

Angel Olsen Burn Your Fire for No Witness

15 16

Average Times Average Times

Creedence Clearwater Revival — “Lookin’ Out My Back Door”

Yes Men Jr. There Is No Limit To How Poorly I Can Feel

17 18

The Julie Ruin Run Fast

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band Take Me To The Land Of Hell

19

Oneohtrix Point Never R Plus Seven

20

Fog Lake Virgo Indigo

Doo doo dooooo. It’s hard not to snap your fingers and tap your feet to this one. Classic John Fogherty, straddling the line between country and rock and roll, and it’s obvious that he had no other choice than to rip himself off on future recordings. So simple and fine.

Image: UFV Theatre

Gear up for a version of Romeo and Juliet set in a post-apocalypic future: creepy, but still romantic.

VALERIE FRANKLIN THE CASCADE

Imagine if Mad Max was an angsty teenage love story told through poetry. With dubstep.

That’s UFV Theatre’s gritty, post-apocalyptic take on Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s most famous romantic tragedy.

It’s about as far from the traditional Renaissance love story as you’ve ever seen it — but the setting works. It works well.

With your very first step into the theatre, there’s a sense of moving forward into a stranger, darker time. The air is thick and smoky, and bits of old netting, grimy rags, and rusty scrap metal are strung across the walls and railings. Several enormous twostorey metal scaffolds on wheels loom in the corners of the stage, waiting to be rearranged as the scenes change. The atmosphere is grungy, murky, and irresistibly mysterious.

With a set like this it’s hard not to get carried away into the fantasy, and the enthusiasm of UFV’s theatre students is infectious. You can tell they’re having fun on the stage. Eli Funk and Rae MacEachern-Eastwood, who play Romeo and Juliet, have a rare and sparkling chemistry, and their kisses are so intimate, they’re almost pornographic. Juliet is effervescent and a little whiny, just as she ought to be, and Funk gives a straight but strong performance as Romeo. The supporting cast shines, too; Ashlyn Tegg’s butch and boisterous Mercutio steals

every scene, Geneva Perkins’ Nurse provides most of the play’s rare gems of comic relief, and Dylan Schroeder ’s pale, dead-eyed Paris oozes a deathly sort of sleaze that makes you wonder just what his intentions are with tender young Juliet.

Not only is this production well-cast, it’s well-dressed. Gas masks, face paint, leather, and tattoos lend a punky aesthetic to this ruined, futuristic universe, the cause of which is left up to our imaginations to explain.

Costume designer Catrina Jackson has also succeeded in showing a distinct class difference between the two feuding families: the Montagues are scruffy street ruffians in muddy combat boots and ragged, earthy vests, while the rich Capulets are dominatrix-glam in black leather, luxe fabrics, and sleek, bondageinspired corsets, buckles, and chains.

And did I mention the weapons? With certified fight director Paul Gélineau at the helm, this production doesn’t lack action. We move from massive, pounding dance scenes, featuring the entire cast of leatherclad actors grinding on each other to the heavy thump of dubstep, into all-out melees featuring machetes, shivs, daggers, spiked baseball bats, and a mysterious but nasty-looking metal hook fixed to a pole. The play is worth watching just for the beautifully-choreographed brawls, especially the raw, dirty, and surprisingly realistic duel between Romeo and Tybalt.

In case you couldn’t already

tell, this show is definitely not for kids — not just because of the sexy dancing and violence, but because frankly, it’s pretty damn spooky. The random bloodcurdling shrieks, white faces suddenly illuminated by flashlight beams, and moody, atmospheric music create an ominous chill that never really leaves, even in the sweetest moments between the young lovers. The play is also narrated by the ghostly character of Fate, a tiny wraithlike girl in an old-fashioned lace gown, who crawls on her belly out of the darkness to deliver the play’s famous prologue and ending lines. Just before critical plot points, she glides across the darkened stage with peals of childish laughter that can only be described as downright creepy.

The line delivery goes quickly as the actors attempt to cram Shakespeare’s wordy rhetoric into a two-hour time slot, so anyone who’s not already familiar with the script might have difficulty following the swiftlydelivered puns and flowery, metaphorical language. But otherwise, Gélineau’s adaptation is an original, startling, and thoroughly entertaining take on Shakespeare — no less than we’ve come to expect from UFV Theatre. Come for the knife fights, stay for the acting. But maybe think about leaving your grandma home for this one.

17

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Cascade Arcade

South Park: The Stick of Truth JEREMY HANNAFORD CONTRIBUTOR

Not since EA’s The Simpsons Game has there ever been a movie or television-licensed game that has delivered both great gameplay and exceptional fan service. Sometimes we’ve seen games deliver one or the other — or most of the time none at all.

But South Park: The Stick of Truth does both perfectly. It is, in my opinion, the best licensed game ever made for the PS3 or Xbox 360.

Within the first five minutes, you are already plunged into crude and familiar realm known to any South Park fan.

You meet Cartman and his Kingdom of Kupa Keep, a band of warriors who constantly announce themselves as the “KKK,” and you begin to embark on a journey to recover “the stick of truth.”

With the Game of Thrones anthology episodes still fresh in mind, The Stick of Truth comes across as instantly engaging and hilarious. I found myself laughing throughout my entire playthrough. From the start, your character is tricked into being named Sir Douchebag, and that’s merely a taste of what is to come.

This game boasts a story from a script by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Reportedly 850 pages long, it is fantastic. Due to its length, developer Obsidian Entertainment reportedly tried to break off content as DLC. At a ComicCon panel, Trey Parker simply responded with, “Fuck that” and kept the original vision intact.

A big surprise for this game is how interactive and enthralling the combat is. On the surface, it looks to be normal turned-based combat, but in truth, there are many inventive gimmicks hidden within. Timing button attacks, fart attacks, and shaking off rats to prevent Kenny from

being eaten are just a few of the features that make combat as hilarious as the story. Battle scenarios are always changing, while story setups keep evolving in technique and difficulty. As if summoned from a child’s crude imagination, alien probing devices, plastic swords, and other

similar items make up the hilarious arsenal of the game.

Due to its lack of a headsup display, however, the game sometimes does not give the greatest directions on how to execute moves. The same can be said for the various mini-games that appear. I was stuck perform-

ing an abortion on Randy Marsh for 15 minutes because I couldn’t figure out the instructions.

While the lack of information on the screen is difficult to get used to, it helps build the immersion in the game — so much so, it feels like an actual episode of South Park is playing out before you. The thematic guitar twang welcoming you back to the game is one of the many, many things that will make fans feel familiar and entertained.

Parker and Stone delayed this game for months after its original release date, but they were able to make fun of their faults in the television show’s Game of Thrones-spoofing finale. The same tongue-in-cheek humour is here, along with the same wacky and absurd humor. Jokes poking fun at redundant audio logs, the overuse of Nazi zombies, and turning Canada into a 16-bit adventure and boasting our national anthem as the music are just a few of the many moments that will make you laugh until you cry.

Stable loading times and fluid interactivity help keep the game running smoothly and the South Park atmosphere alive. Only a touchy selection wheel prevents the presentation aspect from being perfect.

Obsidian has been notorious for games with decent stories but horrible technical prowess, such as Fallout: New Vegas, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, and Alpha Protocol. But Parker and Stone worked long and hard with Obsidian, and they’ve crafted a game they can all be proud of.

Film Review

300: Rise of an Empire JEREMY HANNAFORD CONTRIBUTOR

Eight years ago, director Zach Synder introduced us to a world of battles, legends, and oiled eight-pack abs. His adaptation of Frank Millar ’s graphic novel was an entertaining film for its amazing CG work, the intensity of the action scenes, and the ridiculous physique of its Spartan warriors. While it was severely overblown, it presented itself as a Greek storyteller might have done, exaggerated and morphed into something forcibly inspiring.

Now, with Rise of an Empire, we are told the story of Themistocles, the often forgotten naval commander who made the Spartans’ three-day stand of Thermopylae possible.

If I had any doubt in this sequel before seeing it, it was the lack of action experience director Noam Murro had. Smart People, a movie that could not be less like 300, is his only prior featurelength movie. But I was proven wrong. Murro crafts some amazing sequences and follows them smoothly.

Rise of an Empire offers a much more expansive narrative in

comparison to its predecessor. It begins with the battle of Marathon and thrusts the viewer into a visceral battle of mud, blood, and dismembered limbs. The choreography is top-notch and the intensity is off the charts.

Blood streaks across the screen

as striking images of lightning and war fill the screen. Themistocles charges across the muddy field, killing many in his wake.

However, as awesome and intense as the opening battle is, it sets a very high standard for the rest of the movie, one I feel was

never reached again.

When it comes to the characters, while Sullivan Stapleton gives a decent swing at Themistocles, he can’t stand up to the gruff and overly masculine performance from Gerald Butler in the first 300. It’s Eva Green who

steals the show as the sadistic Persian naval commander Artemisia, a lover of violence, manipulation, and violent and manipulative sex. Green’s villain of such ruthless brutality provides a love-hate relationship with Themistocles as the two admire each other ’s command yet hate the other ’s ideals.

A majority of the film is a sidestory to its predecessor, showing how Themistocles defended the Artemisium Strait. This is a tale often out of the historical spotlight, and it is enthralling to watch it unfold, but without the addition of Leonidas’ defence, the film feels like it is missing something. Rise of an Empire is trying to build up the final battle of Salamis, but spends such a long time living in the past that it runs out of time to tell the finale.

Rise of an Empire attempts to tell a wider-reaching story than 300, but lacks the economy and control its predecessor had. Rise of an Empire lacks a true main character as well. Green’s role is the more compelling character, but Themistocles is the hero we’re meant to side with. Still, it will leave action and comic book fans excited right to the end.

18

SPORTS & HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Women’s basketball overcomes top-seeded Pandas to reach nationals NATHAN HUTTON THE CASCADE

After four straight years making the Canada West final four but being unable to get to nationals, the Cascades finally mastered the climb. The women’s basketball team is heading to Windsor next weekend to do battle with the best women’s basketball teams in the entire country.

The spectacular feat proves that the UFV fans have had the chance all year to witness one of the eight best women’s basketball teams in Canada.

The Cascades not only made the national tournament, but also defeated one of the highest ranked teams all year to get there: the University of Alberta Pandas.

In a game that many CIS basketball pundits are calling the team’s game of the year, the fifth-ranked Cascades upset the number one seed in Canada West (third in the country) in spectacular fashion.

The back-and-forth affair featured a stunning 16 lead changes and stand-out performances on both sides of the ball. The Pandas’ Andria Carlyon registered a team-high 17 points, with most of them coming from her shooting 13-14 from the free throw line. However, UFV’s Aieshia Luyken stole the show and proved herself worthy of her second team Canada West

Kayli Sartori (left) and the women’s basketball team fought their way into a top-two Canada West finish. all-star award.

Luyken led the team by scoring an astounding 29 points, including 57 per cent from the three-point line and 62 per cent shooting overall.

For much of the season head coach Al Tuchscherer has claimed that the Cascades have one of the deepest benches in the league, and they proved it in this game. Kaitlyn Brink, Sarah Wierks, and Kayli Sartori fouled

out of the game in the fourth quarter, forcing players to step up in during crunch time and pull out the big win.

The final frame proved to be the difference, with the Cascades outscoring the Pandas 19-9 and taking their largest lead of the game to win 66-56.

In the Canada West gold medal game the Cascades stayed right with the University of Saskatchewan for the first three

quarters, with the two teams duelling back and forth. The Cascades held the lead at the half by four points. However, the Cascades couldn’t overcome a huge third quarter from the Huskies, which forced the game right out of the Cascades’ hands. UFV ended up losing the game, but still secured the team’s first silver medal and trip to nationals, where there’s always the potential for a rematch.

Image: University of the Fraser Valley / Flickr

The CIS final eight goes next weekend in Windsor. The Cascades will first be matched up against McGill University in their quarterfinal, which starts at 5 p.m on Friday. All games are streamable online through the CIS website. Semifinals and medal games follow on the subsequent Saturday and Sunday, and will also be broadcast on Sportsnet 360.

Heat unable to find ways to win with depleted lineup TIM UBELS

CONTRIBUTOR

Things are very fluid in Abbotsford right now, and that has been reflected in the team’s recent subpar record. The Heat have earned just two of a possible 12 points on their current home stand, suffering losses to conference rivals (the Texas Stars, Grand Rapids Griffins, and Chicago Wolves), all the while sliding down in the Western Conference standings.

“It seems like we have a different group every game,” Heat coach Troy G. Ward explained after Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to Texas. “As it changes, it takes a lot of patience.”

Ward wasn’t exaggerating.

Injured Flames combined with the recent NHL trade deadline meant that Heat players had to be recalled in bunches to fill the holes left on their parent team’s roster. Reto Berra, who started for the Heat at the beginning of the season, was one of two Flames players dealt at the deadline. The 27-year-old Berra was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a secondround pick, which is surprising, considering their provincial rival Edmonton Oilers only got a fourth-round pick for Ilya Bryzgalov. The biggest benefactor of this trade has to be 22-year-old

Finnish netminder Joni Ortio.

With Berra traded and Flames starter Karri Ramo out with an injury, Ortio has an unchallenged opportunity to start in net for the Flames for the foreseeable future.

Currently, the Calgary Flames have eight rookies in their lineup, the most the team has dressed since December 1996.

Ortio, Sean Monahan, Joe Colborne, Markus Granlund, Max Reinhart, Corban Knight, Ben Hanowski, and Tyler Wotherspoon were all dressed for the Flames’ weekend contests against the New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks. Along with these rookies, Calgary also iced the likes of Lance Bouma, T.J. Brodie, Mikael Backlund, and Paul Byron, all of whom are under the age of 25 and spent time on the Abbotsford Heat during the past couple seasons.

Fresh faces in a locker room can really inspire a team, especially when some of them are hunting down their first NHL goals during every contest.

Despite the unusual number of Heat players suiting up for the Flames, the Heat still had some firepower in the their lineup. Forwards Ben Street, Blair Jones and all-star defenseman Chad Billins have been tasked with picking up the offensive slack over the next few games.

And amidst all of the call-ups, Sven Baertschi, surprisingly, remains with Abbotsford.

Baertschi has been putting up the points lately and is one of the team’s top prospects, but Flames interim general manager Brian Burke is concerned with Baertschi’s overall development.

Burke told the Calgary Sun the day before the deadline, “His goal totals are disappointing for a player with his skill level, but he’s learning to do things that are vital if he wants to play here in terms of playing in all three zones and for 60 minutes. He’s made dramatic improvements.”

The Heat’s goaltending tandem of youngster Olivier Roy and veteran Joey MacDonald have struggled since Ortio’s callup. The pair allowed 13 goals in four home games against Grand Rapids and Texas.

After Berra was dealt to the Avalanche, MacDonald was called up to backup Ortio and Abbotsford signed Canadian goaltender Aaron Dell to fill in for the Heat. Dell, 24, has spent most of the season suiting up for the Utah Grizzles of the ECHL, and will see some playing time with the Heat before the season’s out. With the current goaltending situation in Calgary and Ortio’s stellar play, Abbotsford shouldn’t expect to see their former starter back anytime soon.

Image: Ben Schreiner

Image: Rocky Olfert

UFV rowing opened 2014 by hosting a regatta at their home in Fort Langley. The men’s 8 (coxswain: Ben Schreiner) (top) had a strong second-place finish (23:07), and the women’s 8 rowed a 27:27.

19

SPORTS & HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

UFV Legends: Jasper Moedt NATHAN HUTTON

the results will come.

THE CASCADE

What does it mean to you to be nominated for the CIS Ken Shields student athlete of the year award?

I think it’s nice. It’s funny because I don’t think I was doing anything special. I was using my time as I should. I think that might be the biggest thing I learned going through school ... that basketball doesn’t have to be the whole focus of your university career. Athletics gives you a platform to do more with your life if you use it properly, and I hope that’s a lesson that a lot of guys learn. I think that I was just doing what I had time for.

Major: Criminology Height: 6’7” Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C. High School: Yale Secondary Jasper Moedt came to UFV six years ago following a BC AAA title at Yale Secondary. The next six years would see the emergence of one of the greatest Cascades of all time.

After the 2011-12 season, Moedt transferred to the University of Alberta before returning to UFV this year. Moedt wrote about the tumultuous year in a piece for The Cascade titled “Invincible, untouchable and out of control: varsity athlete Jasper Moedt’s struggle with mental health.”

Moedt, who has one remaining year of eligibility he can use to play for a season, has yet to make his decision on whether or not he has played his last game for UFV. No matter the answer Moedt has cemented his name as one of the best to play at this school.

You have been at UFV for six years — how has it evolved over the years?

I think when we first came in we were a pretty young team, there was a big group of us rookies, and we just got beat on night in and night out. It has been a real process. The mindset of the program now is we have all these new guys that never have to go through that kind of growing stage. They show up and the mindset is we are going to beat teams, we are going to play good teams and win. We might have some tough games, but overall we expect to be in every game and win every game we play. I think that is the mentality that has had to change.

If you could go back and tell something to your grade 12 self, what would you say?

I think I would preach patience — actually I would probably advise myself to take basketball less seriously then I had. I think I put too much of my own personal weight into it. That really drew on me.

The decision to transfer to the University of Alberta must have been tough.

It’s tough, right? I mean considering the situation ... It was something where it is hard to say exactly how I felt because I wasn’t healthy. But either way it is, whenever you make a big decision in your life you are always going to have that “what if?” scenario. I think that I am lucky to be able to come back and be welcomed back. I still wonder sometimes: what if?

I think that at the end of the day UFV has become a home to me and the fact that they have welcomed me back graciously has really reaffirmed that for me. This is where I belong.

How much of a role did former head coach Barnaby Craddock play in you leaving?

It was huge; that was the only connection I had to Alberta at that time. He was also the guy who in a lot of ways made me the player I am today. He had a lot of faith in me, playing me

Image: Tree Frog Imaging

Jasper Moedt dominates under the rim as a UFV point guard, but has also grown as a leader off the court. a lot. I started from my second year on and I was getting lots of minutes in my first year. He was a guy that showed a lot of faith and really helped me develop basketball-wise. So yeah, it was huge ... I don’t think I would have come to UFV if it wasn’t for him kind of selling it to me first.

How much of a role has your family played during your time at university?

Family support has been a massive thing for me. I think of where I would have ended up without them and I definitely don’t think I would have been on this path. I think that especially over the last few years that have been a little more rough they have always sort of stood behind me and supported any of my decisions either way and have been kind of the perfect parents in that sense. Kind of letting me figure things out and that has really helped me out for sure.

This was your first year playing under Adam Friesen as your head coach. Can you talk about the effect he has had on you?

I think it has been a funny transition with Adam. The first time I met [him] I was in grade nine and he was this university guy shooting in the gym and it was pretty intimidating. I knew he played at [Trinity Western University] at the time and I was like, “Wow, this guy must be really good.” He was good but was also kind of a goof. He would talk trash to me; I was some uncoordinated little kid. As the years have gone by he moved from the university player to the assistant coach and our relation-

ship has evolved over the years.

I have a lot of respect for Adam.

I think he is one of the best basketball minds I have ever met and he is really good at developing his guys and you don’t always see that in a university coach.

You came onto this team this year only knowing one player (Klaus Figueredo) from the last season you played. How much of an adjustment was that at first?

It was tough; I got frustrated a lot. I think the beginning of the year was particularly tough — not because the other guys aren’t great players, but [because] I was really used to a certain way the team interacts. The way Barnaby runs a team compared to the way Adam runs the team is very different and was a hard transition for me. I think for a lot of guys just figuring out how they gelled with the team really showed in our results early in the season. We lost to a college team, we lost to Mount Royal, we had kind of rocky start, but obviously as time passed we gelled a lot better.

You do have a friend on the University of Alberta team: Joel Friesen whom you played with for a while before he left with Craddock. Has your relationship with him changed over the year at all?

I’ve played with Joel since grade 10 and obviously we don’t share in the ins and outs of the teams, but I don’t think that the relationship dynamic changes.

When you see the guy in the room, it’s the guy you have played with and went to war with countless times. I think

that I am always going to have a massive amount of respect for Joel. Obviously now that we are on two different teams, it is a little different in that sense. But, let’s be honest here — give it two years, and we are both adults and there is no school in there anymore.

“I think that might be the biggest thing I learned going through school ... that basketball doesn’t have to be the whole focus of your university career. Athletics gives you a platform to do more with your life if you use it properly, and I hope that’s a lesson that a lot of guys learn.”

You played on a lot of different Cascades teams — are any your favourite?

I think they each have their own little place in my heart. I think this team was probably the most fun team I have ever played on, as far as just enjoying the year, not being so worried about the little things, and letting things happen. It has been really special in that sense.

I have never been on a squad where we can just have fun and

If this ends up being your last year and you could say anything to the guys in the locker room, what is something you want to tell them in a basketball sense?

I think next year, whether I am there or not, they’re going to be easily a top 10 team in the country. I think the biggest thing is to just enjoy it as a group. It doesn’t matter whether you win nationals, make nationals, don’t make nationals, or don’t even make playoffs. The difference is only a couple of weeks either way, [so] just enjoy that process.

I know you are going to talk to Klaus — he would say the exact same thing, [and so would] any fifth-year. You [have] to enjoy it while it lasts — it’s going to be done before you know it.

What is your favourite memory from a game?

I think there have been a lot.

The Joel Friesen buzzer beater game — I finally played well in that series and that was huge ... I think the biggest one was when we went to nationals and we had a couple of guys step up. They were good players but we never really expected them to and [it was] just a real team feeling, they kind of [took] the pressure of the other guys on the team.

It was just a real special feeling after that first win in the locker room.

Finally, will you participate in the program like Kyle Grewal and try out assistant coaching if you can?

Yeah, I think that if I do step away, the next couple of years I will be exploring other areas of my life. I enjoy “Jasper Moedt the basketball player” and that’s something that has been a huge part of my life. But, I also know that there are a million other different kinds of me and I think the last six years have been basketball-focused ... I haven’t been able to explore the other areas of my life. I think in the long term I will definitely be back and maybe there will be a season where I assistant coach or help out but I think the next couple of years I will step back if I decide to leave.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

S

20

SPORTS & HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca