The Cascade Vol. 23 No. 31

Vol. 23 Issue 31

November 25, 2015 to December 1, 2015

Rustling your jimmies since 1993

p. 9

S S A L C N I S C I M O C

p. 10-11, 18

DONATIONS FOR REFUGEES

UFV HAS CHANGED

FALL INTO FALLOUT 4

UFV’s Arab club is collecting clothing and other

Robin Anderson shares his views on his teaching

The newest installment in the Fallout

wares for refugees coming to BC

experience and a changing collegial atmosphere

series has plenty of new features

p. 3

p. 4

p. 15

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NEWS News

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Aaron Levy shares his plans to broadcast CIVL Radio across campus, hopefully with the support of other groups.

Attacks in Paris, Baghdad, and Beirut

Culture

13

Classical carols

Arts in Review

16

No nostalgia for Nirvana

Sports & Health

19

www.ufvcascade.ca

The sounds of the SUB

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Four different writers discuss these attacks and its aftermath, both on Facebook and in real life.

Volume 23 · Issue 31 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 Editor-in-Chief valerie@ufvcascade.ca Valerie Franklin (interim)

The Fraser Valley Symphony starts their season with “The Nutcracker Suite” and other holiday favourites.

Other than the enduring “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (which literally everyone has heard), The Cascade’s Martin Castro argues that Nevermind failed to stand the test of time.

No, it’s not made of people Arianna Siebert-Timmer shares the pros and cons of using Soylent, a new dietary replacement.

Editorial

Brief flares of political interest may blind us to persistent apathy, whether in federal politics or at UFV

Managing Editor katie@ufvcascade.ca Katie Stobbart (interim)

Business Manager jennifer@ufvcascade.ca Jennifer Trithardt-Tufts Production Manager brittany@ufvcascade.ca Brittany Cardinal Copy Editor kat@ufvcascade.ca Kat Marusiak News Editor vanessa@ufvcascade.ca Vanessa Broadbent (interim) Opinion Editor alex@ufvcascade.ca Alex Rake Culture Editor glen@ufvcascade.ca Glen Ess Arts in Review Editor martin@ufvcascade.ca Martin Castro Sports Editor vanessa@ufvcascade.ca Vanessa Broadbent

Image: Flickr/Christina Kuefner

KATIE STOBBART MANAGING EDITOR

In the foyer of the student union building (SUB), two marble slabs with round plaques bearing the names of past Student Union Society (SUS) presidents hang under another plaque with a mission statement of sorts. It begins with “Creating a strong unified student voice.”

I have seldom glimpsed signs of such a voice at UFV, unless there is an argument to be made for unity in relative discontent, which we engage with in our day-to-day complaints about parking, registration, the odd prof or class we find unpleasant, and other accoutrements of pursuing a degree.

However, if what the plaques represent and reality are discordant, I can’t entirely blame the leaders listed there; the missing link appears to be not necessarily a failure to govern, but our failure to understand how politics — even student politics — affect our everyday lives.

In fact, student and university governments are useful, microcosmic examples of larger governmental structures. This problem with political engagement exists at every level.

Recently, it seemed there might be a change in the political tides with Canada’s election of a new prime minister. Compared with the last few elections, it seemed this time that people — encouragingly, even people

in my own age group — were engaging with politics in a new way, demonstrating care about the choices they made, and following news coverage of subsequent events; it’s the first time I can remember people caring at all who was chosen for the prime minister’s cabinet, for instance, or who attended international summits on our behalf.

In the weeks before and after the election, The Cascade’s opinion section reflected the same fervent interest in the political matters of the day that flourished everywhere. But as the dust settles and the politics column returns to being picked last, if at all, from our list of story pitches, there seems to be a corresponding ebb in general political interest. Provincial and municipal matters remain uninspiring of analysis and critique.

There is something to be said for a good leader, especially one with a rockstar presence that inspires an interest in breaking through political static. Charisma is a valuable attribute when used judiciously. But I’m concerned that all the sound and fury is little more than a brief flare, and signifies nothing in terms of combatting political apathy and encouraging real, long-term engagement with government at any level. Instead, the noise becomes white noise, blinding us to our own apathy.

We are complacent, we do not question government, and we don’t do sufficient, or any, research to round out our under-

standings of what politicians are capable of doing in our name.

SUS, for example, has the power to persistently raise concerns about parking costs and availability with the university. It can encourage student associations to consult with departments on the difficulties students have and what they need from their professors. Student unions are able to represent a unified student voice, and also fight for our interests. This month, UBC’s Alma Mater Society (a similar body) organized a short-term boycott of the university’s food services in response to international tuition hikes. But in order to fight for students, student unions need us to care about something enough to express it, and enough to act. Here, it is like pulling teeth to ask students to attend a general meeting, or even care about what that is; getting students to vote in elections for any student-funded organization on this campus is an emotionally draining, time-consuming endeavour. A government cannot represent its constituency with our persistent disinterest.

If we don’t care about politics — if we have only a vague, uninformed sense of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and don’t hear about environmental decisions like the wolf cull in our own province until Miley Cyrus starts talking about it, and we do care about the burden of tuition and student loans but not enough even to sit down and write a letter expressing our discontent — then

one of a few things is happening.

Either we feel helpless to control our own circumstances, we feel complacent in allowing our circumstances to be controlled for us by people most of us have only seen onscreen, or we have forgotten the necessity of pushing against society. Functional discontent is essential. Society is an oppressive force: oppressive enough to maintain order, but not so oppressive as to exploit, advertently or not, its citizens.

Change is essential, and as youth are most often the vanguard of change, our political participation is essential.

I hope the rockstar presence of our current federal leader does not have the unfortunate flipside of allowing apathy and political ignorance to thrive in our blindspots. Similarly, while leadership is a worthy endeavour and deserving of a lasting mark, I hope the plaques at our front door won’t blind us to the fact that the remaining space on those plaques represents a lot of work to be done, not only in terms of unity but the assertion of that voice, and productive action. Perhaps we have come a long way, but there is more to do, and there will always be more work as long as we are interested in the society’s continuation.

Unless we understand politics as our way of pushing society’s boundaries to fit our changing experience of it, and then asserting our political will, the structure will always rule the people, instead of the opposite.

Webmaster brayden@ufvcascade.ca Brayden Buchner Video Editor mitch@ufvcascade.ca Mitch Huttema Production Assistants danielle@ufvcascade.ca Danielle Collins mitch@ufvcascade.ca Mitch Huttema (interim) Advertising Representative ishpreet@ufvcascade.ca Ishpreet Anand Arts Writer jeffrey@ufvcascade.ca Jeffrey Trainor Staff Writer sonja@ufvcascade.ca Sonja Klotz Contributors Esra Al-Abduljabar, Drew Bergen, Harvin Bhathal, Julianne Huff, Melissa Ly, Jelena Rados, Arianna Siebert-Timmer, Terrill Smith, and Rachel Tait.

Cover art by Sultan Jum 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 1,500 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 over 50 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.

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Theatre students write letter to Ministry of Advanced Education in response to program delays VANESSA BROADBENT THE CASCADE

NEWS

BRIEFS Beware of spam on myUFV UFV is advising students to take caution when opening suspicious emails in their student email accounts, after several students reported receiving phishing emails. The emails prompted students to update their accounts by logging in through a link provided, and were supposedly from UFV’s IT Service Desk. After complying with the directions in the email, students found that high amounts of spam messages were sent out from their email accounts.

UFV made it clear the IT Services never asks students to share their log-in credentials through emails and if students receive messages asking them to do so, they should be deleted. For more information, contact christopher.jones@ ufv.ca.

—myUFV

New business program accepts proposals UFV’s School of Business announced the launch of its new program, the entrepreneurship and process innovation and incubation centre (EPIIC).

The program will provide funding to Fraser Valley residents to support their business ideas. EPIIC is accepting proposals from UFV students and alumni who are Fraser Valley residents. Along with the Discovery Foundation, one of the program’s partners, faculty members from the UFV School of Business will select proposals. Assessment of proposals begins in January 2016 and winning proposals will be implemented later in the year. More information can be found by email at epiic@ufv.ca.

—UFV Today

Most students don’t want to attend university longer than they have to, and theatre students are no different. But following the Ministry of Advanced Education’s recent decision to postpone UFV’s theatre major program, students who were planning to graduate this academic year with a theatre major now can’t, and are writing letters to the ministry in response.

The UFV Senate announced at its October 16 meeting that the ministry had decided to not approve six new programs as planned, but send them to the Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB) for further review instead. These programs included the theatre major, a peace and conflict studies major and minor, a bachelor of media arts program, a bachelor of education program, and an agriculture major.

Because of this decision, many students have to pick other programs than they originally intended in order to graduate. Theatre student association (TSA) president Geneva Perkins explained that this decision has a negative effect on many students.

“It’s frustrating to not know what degree we’re going to get,” she said. “What a lot of theatre students end up doing is

BC’s Ministry of Finance announced a 0.45 per cent salary increase for unionized public sector employees, but UFV employees are not eligible. In order to obtain the increase, the employees need to have reached agreements under the BC government’s economic stability mandate for collective bargaining, and UFV has not. UFV announced in a press release that its employees will not see the pay increase because the institution does “not have a tentative or concluded agreement in place.”

The UFV bargaining team is working to investigate whether, with further negotiation, its unionized employees can qualify for the increase in the future.

—UFV University Relations

Have a news tip?

Let us know! news@ufvcascade.ca @CascadeNews

an English major and a theatre extended minor. It’s a lot about planning your classes and figuring that stuff out, which is really hard to do when you don’t know what goal you’re working towards.”

Although many of these students are choosing other programs, they still want to make their voices heard, and they’re doing just that by writing letters to the ministry, as well as other local politicians. After seeking advice from the theatre department head and members of the political science department,

TSA members decided letters were the way to go.

“We recommended writing letters to the ministers of advanced education, as well as local MLAs,” Perkins explained.

“Emails are good, but handwritten, mailed letters would definitely have more of an impact.”

In their letters, students expressed how the delay was affecting them personally, as well as emphasizing that the theatre major wouldn’t take any other infrastructure or resources to implement, as UFV already has

Arab club raising funds and donations for refugees VALERIE FRANKLIN

No salary increase for UFV employees

Image: Jess Wind / The Cascade

A long-awaited major in theatre was one of six programs whose approval was recently delayed, to the frustration of students.

a thriving theatre program.

“We said that we were really disappointed that the ministry hasn’t approved the major yet, and that it was taking so long,” said Perkins. “The frustration is not knowing why it’s being delayed so long. We really wanted to emphasize why the theatre degree would be a really good asset for the university.”

The letters were sent to Andrew Wilkinson, minister of advanced education; Sandra Carroll, deputy minister; Darryl Plecas, MLA for Abbotsford; and John Martin and Laurie Throness, MLAs for Chilliwack.

Although Perkins has yet to hear from the ministry, she noted that the Abbotsford and Chilliwack MLAs immediately responded to her letters.

“They basically said that it was an issue that they were aware of, and they were going to take steps, talk to the ministers, and see what they can do,” she said. “It was really positive hearing back from them.”

Although Perkins and other students understand that the Ministry may not change their minds overnight, they’re hoping their letters remind them how the program delays are affecting students.

“What I hope is that it shows that it’s more than just a piece of paper sitting on the minister’s desk,” Perkins said. “It’s a decision that affects a lot of people.”

THE CASCADE

At the end of November, approximately 1,500 Syrian refugees will arrive in Surrey, and the UFV Arab club wants to help them get settled into their new lives. From November 21 until December 4, the Arab club is spearheading a donation drive on campus to collect clothes, toys, household items, and other necessities for newly arrived refugees.

Arab club president Aziz Alfadel and vice-president Kinga Williams say all donations will go to the Middle Eastern Friendship Centre (MEFC), a volunteer initiative in Surrey that is preparing to assist the Syrian refugees when they arrive. Alfadel and Williams are the main organizers of the donation drive, assisted by the other Arab club members as well as the Muslim student club, and Alfadel says

he hopes other student groups will also join them in promoting the donation drive.

“We always have fun in our club … so I think now is the time where people should get together to help others, not to have a good time for themselves,” says Alfadel.

Alfadel says that at least once a year, the Arab club takes on a project that benefits society; for example, in March of this year they helped raised funds for the Canadian Cancer Society by selling daffodils around campus. Now, the need of Syrian refugees has offered the club a new opportunity to help.

“Because we are Arabs and one of the main victims are Arabs … of course we are going to help them,” Alfadel says.

Williams says the conflict in Syria hits home for her; originally from Poland, the struggles Syrians are facing today remind her of the occupation of Poland in the Second World War.

“A lot of these people are fleeing their homes and trying to start a new life, and they don’t really know what’s expected,” Williams says. “Just getting them started off on the right foot would be really nice, and just showing them support and kindness, I think, is important.”

The donation drive is looking for “basically anything and everything,” says Williams, including good-condition clothes, furniture, children’s toys, cleaning supplies, and non-perishable food. Feminine hygiene products are also in high demand.

“Anything that people are willing to give, we’re more than happy to collect and then donate,” says Williams. She adds that both she and Alfadel have vehicles, and that they would be willing to arrange a time to pick up donations if people aren’t able to bring them to campus.

The Arab Club is also collecting monetary donations through

cash, Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, and email transfer, but Williams explains that rather than giving the money directly to the MEFC, financial donations will be used to fill in the gaps where they may need more items than they received.

“If we were not to get a lot of kids’ toys, maybe we could use that money to go out and buy kids’ toys,” she says.

Williams adds they have no set goal, but just aim to collect as many donations as they can over the next two weeks.

“Enough for a few families to get started would be awesome, but anything more than that would be fantastic,” she says.

Donations can be dropped off in room S2102A until December 4 at noon. The donation drive’s organizers can be contacted through the donation drive’s Facebook event page, or via email at ufv.ac@hotmail.com.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Prof Talk

History instructor Robin Anderson on research, experience, and the shifting atmosphere at UFV GLEN ESS

THE CASCADE

Prof Talk is The Cascade’s oral history series, featuring the people best qualified to talk about what UFV has been like over the course of its first few decades: its professors.

Each week we’ll interview a professor from a different department, asking them what UFV was like before it was UFV, and how they expect things will continue to change here.

Robin Anderson is a history professor who teaches a variety of courses focusing on Canadian history, the history of British Columbia, as well as the history of sport.

What brought you to UFV? I arrived here in 1993 when it was the University College of the Fraser Valley. I had just finished my MA at SFU and they were looking for sessional instructors, so I arrived here. A colleague of mine, Chris Leach, who is now the chair of our department, was in the same group as I was. We got hired on as sessional instructors.

I also worked in the Writing Centre for about eight years.

For a time there, I had a split appointment between the history department and the Writing Centre, which was exhausting — two slightly different worlds; certainly different work conditions. But working in the Writing Centre was wonderful, because I got to see things from all departments. You really got a strong sense of all the disciplinary areas that existed, and different writing habits and different research genres.

What kind of changes have you noticed in the culture at UFV? I think most of the changes are good. I never came in when it was still Fraser Valley College but I knew at that time there was a significant college mentality, and then there were a lot of younger hires that came in at the university-college level. At that time there was this split developing between those two visions of what this institution was, but the administration did a very good job of trying to create a sense of community in order to contain all of those kinds of visions.

I think that’s always been one of UFV’s strongest traits: its sense of a combined collective purpose. I do think in the last six or seven years we’ve had a deterioration of that. I think there’s been more conflict between parts of the institution than in those early years, but I think that’s had everything to do with

outside forces, limitations on the budget, and a shift away from adequately funded post-secondary. It’s not just at UFV, it’s across the institution. I think it’s had a negative affect on education, and I don’t think there’s anyone who works, or even goes to school, in post-secondary education that wouldn’t agree with that. It has not been good.

How do the courses you teach now differ from the courses you taught at first?

History changes. When I finished my education I was kind of a labour historian. I was also kind of a local historian because I researched and wrote on the history of Vancouver. But I was also incorporating social history into my work, and that’s changed over time; the focus has changed.

Towards the middle to the end of the 1990s there was a shift towards cultural history, and so a lot of my own research and writing shifted over to the cultural side. I started to research sports, and now I’m involved in writing a lot of stuff on cartoons and political cartoons.

The one thing that’s always been constant in my work — this is outside of this institution — has always been my focus on B.C. and the history of the Lower Mainland. That’s always been a constant there. Our department exploded in growth. When I first arrived in 1993, there were four people in the department. We started to build from there. At our height, if you want to call it that, in about 2008, we had 14 people in our department, which is a large to medium-size department. Now we have shrunk back down to 10 or 11 and I think that probably suits the program a bit better. I think we may have grown a little too fast.

That’s always been one of UFV’s strongest traits: its sense of a combined collective purpose ... we’ve had a deterioration of that.

Have there been any colleagues or students who have been particularly helpful or influential on what you do as a teacher?

There are lots of students that have been influential, but my memory is so poor at this old age I can’t remember a lot of names. There’s been lots of very

important students — one in particular, Jason Beck. These are students who go on to do interesting or notorious things.

[Jason] was in my sport history class and I had secured for him a practicum in History 401, which is our applied studies practicum program, which I have run. I got him a practicum at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame. He worked as a volunteer there in this course, and then he got hired on as a part-time worker, and now he’s the curator of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame. Jason and I are pretty good friends, so we talk back and forth. He’s publishing a book on an aspect of Vancouver’s sporting history, and you hear him on the radio.

That’s kind of exciting, when you see students doing that, and that’s a handful of people that are like that. In terms of people, Jack Aston was always a very important mentor of mine. Eric Davis was a mentor of mine here.

I’ve always had good colleagues.

Our department has always gotten along really well. We enjoy spending time together. There are some departments here who have conflicts within them and our department is really fairly collegial.

What kinds of projects are you involved with at UFV? I’m doing a few. I just came off a sabbatical year. I’m writing a book, it’s almost completed — I just have a conclusion and a bit of the introduction to finish — on a First World War-era cartoonist who worked for the Vancouver Province, by the name of James Fitzmaurice. He was an all-purpose cartoonist, and he provided political cartoons for the front page of the newspaper, but he also drew illustrations all over the paper. He’s been a project of mine for a few years now. I’ve published a number of articles in academic journals on him, and a couple in popular journals as well. This was a book that I sort of had to write, and this project specifically is on his First World War cartoons. Once I’m finished that, I’ll be looking for a publisher.

I’m also writing a piece on sports during World War One, and that’s a larger project. I’m hoping to talk to Jason Beck about doing some collaboration on this, and we’ve also applied for SSHRC [Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada funding]. My colleague Scott Sheffield and I, and a handful of other academics in other institutions in Canada, we have

an application in to do a digitizing project on World War II. The hope is to digitize a bunch of British Columbian newspapers during World War II, and everyone has a different project that would be associated with that larger digitization project. Mine is about doing a comparison of sport experience in the two World Wars. I always have my fingers in different pies.

How would you describe what you’ve gotten out of your time at UFV? I love it here, I really do; I’m not trying to be patronizing. I feel very fortunate, because my life as an older teenager and a young adult was not destined for what I do now. I feel very blessed in a way, that I have been able to become a teacher at the university level. I had a rough teenage and young adult life and I ended up going back to school in my late 20s. It was a good time to go back to school. I kind of see everything that happens from now on as extra stuff.

But I really am committed to UFV. I think it’s had its problems in the last few years. There have been lots of conflicts between administration and faculty, and a lot of it is based on scarce resources and everyone trying to

walk tenderly around scarcity. I just hope that we’re able to get through all that and maintain some kind of sense of collectiveness. I was part of that group of faculty who were not particularly happy with the shutting down of the Writing Centre. I, along with about 30 to 40 faculty and probably many more who were just not able to support by showing up to things, were trying to make sure that the Writing Centre didn’t disappear, and we kind of lost that battle. In a way, that whole episode symbolized, I think for many of us, the underlying conflict that’s developed here.

But I would not have wanted to be anywhere else. This is a wonderful institution. Good teachers, and a really strong sense of a culture of improvement. There’s a real level of cynicism that exists in other universities. I think here, the norm is to be always wanting to do better and wanting students to succeed, and that’s not necessarily the case in other institutions.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

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Image: wikimedia commons

UFV alumni panel discusses women in policing SONJA KLOTZ THE CASCADE

Despite the fact that women make up more half of Canada’s population, only 20 per cent of Canadian police officers are female.

That’s why on Thursday, November 19 the UFV alumni association hosted a panel discussion event covering the topic of women in policing.

The event was hosted by two UFV faculty members of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice: Irwin Cohen, the school’s RCMP research chair, and Amy Prevost, the current director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. The visiting panelist experts were made up of UFV alumni, and current and veteran RCMP female employees: Stephanie Ashton, Jane Hall, Jennifer Schiffner, Bonnie Reilly Schmidt, and Margaret Shorter. Each of them shared her personal and professional experiences as a woman within the RCMP community.

One of the main reasons behind hosting the event was to provide a space for students and prospective law enforcement officers to learn about the adventures, diversity, and innovations of policing. Cohen says it’s important to “have women come out and speak about the positive aspects of being a police officer, so that people who are thinking about maybe becoming an officer do not have a [false] impression about what it would be like to be a police officer, especially if you’re a female.”

Many of these women joined the RCMP police force when it was not yet socially and culturally acceptable. Jane Hall, a retired RCMP officer, joined the police force within a few years of the 1967 Royal Commission of the Status of Women, which recommended steps to ensure equal opportunities in Canada were available to both men and women.

“It was such an adventure, such an amazing opportunity,” Hall said. “Who wouldn’t want to try and do this, especially [since it was] a male occupation at that time?”

Having women in the RCMP created many waves within the policing communities and in the 1970s society.

“It turned power on its head,” said Hall, “because at that time women were second class [and] were not in a position of authority.”

Despite the physical barriers that all the panelists have experienced due to their gender as women, each of them looked beyond their limitations and pursued what was close to their hearts.

“I’m always looking for a way to make change and make things better,” explained Schiffner. “It isn’t about being the biggest, toughest guy; it’s about thinking smart, using tactics, [and] using your voice.” As a corporal in one of Canada’s largest RCMP detachments, Schiffner teaches youth about breaking down perceptions about gender roles within the police force.

Like men, women sought out careers in the RCMP force for new opportunities and diverse experiences. Despite being a daughter of a Mountie and trying to create a new identity through studying the sciences, separate from her father’s occupation as an RCMP officer, Margaret Shorter eventually joined the RCMP force for her own personal and professional growth. It gave her an opportunity to discover where she could make a difference and “feel that it was meaningful.”

This was also true for Stephanie Ashton, who originally started off as a journalist in the Okanagan and found herself working closely with the RCMP community.

“I realized what they were doing looked like a lot more fun than what I was doing,” said Ashton. As one of her many positions within the organization, Ashton established a domestic violence unit at the Richmond RCMP. “It was one of the first of its kind in the province,” said Ashton. “We were definitely behind the times, because other provinces were already doing what we were trying to do.”

While working in recruitment, she was asked by mainstream media outlets about

what it was like for her as a woman to work in the RCMP, which was mainly dominated by men.

“There are people that are harassed in every job environment,” Ashton said. “It doesn’t matter where you work, any large organization has issues with harassment and problems in the workplace.”

Scmidt advised prospective RCMP recruits who are women to appreciate the value of understanding history.

“The history tells you about what you can expect today,” she said. “Know your human rights and know your workplace rights.”

Shorter added that it is crucial that the prospective recruits find the balance between managing their personal life and their work life.

“Know yourself; be perceptive of what

you can really do,” said Shorter. “Be prepared to be outside your comfort zone every day — think of it as an opportunity to grow.”

Cohen noted Thursday’s panel discussion is the beginning of many more dialogues about gender dynamics within the RCMP organization.

“People will still have more of this conversation around, not only on incredibly important contributions that women make to policing,” Cohen said, “but that you don’t have to expect that if you join policing for women that it’s a unique challenge or something different, but that you can have incredibly diverse and deep experiences.”

Nominate a teacher who has made a difference in your education.

Those eligible for nomination include all UFV faculty and lab instructors and sessional instructors who have completed two years of instruction.

Selection criteria include mentorship, attention to student learning, respect for students, integration of scholarship, and professional activity.

For more information, contact Ruby Ord at 604-504-7441, ext 4382 or email ruby.ord@ufv.ca

Deadline for nominations is January 8, 2016 at 4 pm Download a nomination package from ufv.ca/TEA or pick one up from Ruby in room G104 on the Abbotsford campus.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Why are there no sounds of CIVL-ity in the SUB? VANESSA BROADBENT THE CASCADE

It’s no secret that UFV has a campus radio station, but it’s not as easily heard on campus as you’d expect.

At this time, the only building on campus that plays music throughout the building at all times is the Student Union Society’s (SUS) new Student Union Building (SUB). But the SUB plays satellite radio content which consists mainly of mainstream top-40 content, not CIVL Radio.

Aaron Levy, CIVL Radio’s station manager, explained that he would like to see the station have a stronger presence at UFV. “I want CIVL everywhere on campus,” Levy said. “It’s good for our volunteers, it’s good for our promotion … The content is there and it’s valuable, and I think it would be valuable for people to have access to it on campus.”

Levy’s ultimate goal is for students to be able to listen to CIVL Radio in many spots on campus, and not just in the station.

“Our finances right now are focused on the equipment in the station itself,” Levy explained. “When our capital budgets have been utilized to their full potential on their broadcast space, we do plan to look into how much money it would cost to put various types of listening stations around on campus where students would be able to adjust the volume on their own.”

These listening stations will give students the opportunity to listen to CIVL on campus, but in a non-intrusive way where volume can be controlled. Levy is working with campus facilities to implement them.

“Facilities gave us a ‘You’re going to have to pay for it, but we’ll make it happen’ kind of thing, which is what I expected,” Levy noted. “That’s fine with me — I don’t expect UFV to pay for us to be broadcasted.”

“They obviously have an intercom sys-

The Student Union Building is the only building on campus that plays music, although it’s not CIVL Radio. tem,” Levy said. “They were broadcasting satellite radio, which I’m sure they’re paying for.”

One of the reasons that CIVL’s content is not broadcasted in the building is because, being a campus and community radio station, the content contains a variety of music genres and talk radio, and may not always create the ideal atmosphere for the laid-back study space that SUS is aiming for.

SUS president Thomas Davies explained in an email that SUS doesn’t feel that CIVL’s content fits in with the mood of the SUB. “The purpose of the atrium audio system is to provide soft background music,” he said. “This allows students to study, socialize, or hang out in the space with a background filler not unlike other public spaces like a mall or a shopping centre.

CIVL’s drastic differences in programming — from heavy rock to a political talk show — is great for a community radio station, but does not work as this consistent soft background atmosphere for the atrium space.”

But Levy doesn’t see this as an issue for CIVL, or a reason to not play the station.

“The content is the content; people are going to turn it off on the radio if they

don’t like it,” said Levy, acknowledging that CIVL’s style of music is usually different from the type of music SUS wants in the SUB atrium. “But to me that’s the excitement of campus radio,” he said.

One solution would be for CIVL to create an alternative stream that suits the SUB’s environment and the general student demographic.

“The only reason that I haven’t pushed any further than I have is because I don’t think we are ready to put together alternate content,” said Levy, “which is why I favour the adjustable volume so that the content is always the same, and it can be turned down whenever.

“I don’t think we’re ready to be constantly putting together this week’s feed; we’re already doing an FM broadcast feed. If someone doesn’t like the style of music, they can turn it off.”

Levy expressed that he would welcome support from SUS to play CIVL Radio in the building.

“I’m happy if SUS is happy to have CIVL heard in the Student Union Building,” he said. “If somebody made a decision that, since CIVL is more easily heard in the building, to stop playing other music, then I appreciate that, I thank them, and it means a lot to me.”

Image: Valerie Franklin

Image: Brittany Cardinal

Above: CIVL station manager Aaron Levy.

The Editor-in-Chief (EIC) sets the editorial direction for the paper, is ultimately responsible for all published content, and writes the editorial for each issue of The Cascade. The EIC works with other executive staff, editors, and writers to produce the paper. The EIC is also the public representative of the paper. The position is paid an honorarium of $300 per issue, and the length of term is from January to August of 2016.

THE CASCADE IS SEEKING AN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PAY: $300 / ISSUE

Applicants must: • be registered in at least one course for credit at UFV during the winter semester.

• be available to work varying hours, and to maintvain an office presence for at least 25 hours per week, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays; applicants should be aware that job duties will likely require a greater time commitment.

• be able to deal effectively with the Cascade Journalism Society, university staff, students, and the general public.

• demonstrate strong literacy skills and excellent command of the English language; an editing test will be administered in the interview process.

• have knowledge of all relevant laws and journalistic standards concerning libel.

• be able and willing to work with a diverse group of volunteers, and to resolve conflicts when they arise.

• have a strong vision for the future and editorial direction of The Cascade.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and sample editorial to Katie Stobbart at katie@ufvcascade.ca by December 4 at 11:59 p.m. The editorial should be between 500 and 750 words, written specifically for this application, and directed at a student audience.

7

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

SNAPSHOTS

Curtailed commentary on current conditions Images: Mitch Huttema

Merry consumption to you!

Unpredictable weather

Scary post-secondary

Hello, it’s me, Adele

Rachel Tait

Julianne Huff

Esra Al-Abduljabar

Jelena Rados

‘Tis the season to ... spend money? Whether we like it or not, money plays a tremendous factor in the holiday celebration. And it is not just the presents. People spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on decorations, food, parties, holiday vacations, travel, and so on. Christmas has evolved into a consumerism-obsessed time of year for a lot of people. It is scary to witness how easy it is to get sucked into the traditions and patterns of over-buying and stocking up for Christmas, and it does not help that malls host crazy sales, where you get deals like an additional 50 per cent off the last ticketed price. In the past, Christmas was a more wholesome tradition for celebrating the birth of Jesus, but in this age, Santa Claus and his gifts play a more dominant role, revealing the truth of our dependence on consumption to enjoy the Christmas season.

It’s coming. Whether you love it or dread it, the Greater Vancouver winter’s cold and rain is coming. I know it’s coming every year, yet I’m still surprised by how cold or wet I am. But this in-between weather is what I dread the most — not quite winter sweater weather, and no longer t-shirt weather. I put on a sweater, jacket, and scarf for class in the morning, only to get out in the afternoon to die in the sun. Or what’s worse, I plan for a day like that, and instead I encounter rain with no hood. You just can’t win with this weather, though I’ll take it over slushy rain any day.

Many high school graduates fear continuing on to higher levels of study such as university. I think it’s because they are intimidated, thinking it will be a scary place. But UFV is such a small university that it is really easy to become friends with many amazing people, and to get involved in various activities like clubs and associations while growing as a person. Of course, university is difficult and stressful, but taking that first step and actually returning to your studies opens many doors for success in your future, because a piece of paper (your degree) can decide how you will be living the rest of your life. So study ‘til you can study no more, but also get involved and have fun!

I’m wondering, after two weeks of being completely consumed by Adele’s latest hit and dreadfully singing those high notes in the shower, if anyone has actually paid attention to the lyrics? Don’t get me wrong, Adele never fails to impress me with her robust vocal range, her awful-yet-charming accent, and her exquisite, on-point contouring.

However, her latest single, “Hello,” cheeses me off due to her blatantly insensitive lyrics: “Hello from the outside / At least I can say that I’ve tried / To tell you I’m sorry / For breaking your heart / But it don’t matter, it clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore.”

Um, excuse me, Adele — are we not allowed to move on? It appears she would appreciate it if her ex-lover pined over her for the rest of their life. This song is not about Adele apologizing to her past love; it’s about Adele being a manipulative ex by making her cutie-boy from 90210 feel bad for not crying over her anymore. You’d think that if you shattered someone’s heart, the least you could do is be happy for them once they’ve moved on with their life. Come on, Adele.

You’re better than that.

Mega coffee corp ruins holiday MACK CHIATO

COFFEE CRITIC

Starbucks is a large corporation that has roots deep into our society. But how deep do these roots burrow before they begin to change society itself?

Recently, Starbucks made the decision to remove the words “Merry Christmas” from their cups.

Some may see this as a simple redesign, but others claim they can see through the ruse. In an attempt to put an end to it, some honest member(s) of our society have worked to inform the general public of this misdeed through our society’s greatest network of information: Facebook.

In an interview with the anonymous individual(s) who leaked this information, they said, “Starbucks isn’t just ‘redesigning’ their cups.

What’s going on is much worse; they hope to shut down Christmas for good!”

When asked why, they could only

say, “[We] can’t say [we] know why; but [we] do know that the conspiracy runs deep, and that the government itself is involved. The changing of the cups was just the start; their plan is to move slowly, so that people won’t notice. But [we] know.

[We] knew all along.”

When we reached out to Starbucks for comment, they at first were unwilling to discuss the issue.

However, with the recent rise in popularity pertaining to the trending conspiracy, their chairman and CEO, Mr. Wilfred S. Bucks, had this to say in a recent press conference: “Yes, it’s true that our final goal with this change is to outmode Christmas as a holiday. What we plan to do, however, is for the greater good of the country — even the world! Through recent studies, we found that the pumpkin spice latte had very positive and uplifting effects for the long-term as well as the short. To compensate for the loss of the Christmas holiday, our plan is to

extend the fall season through January.”

When asked what would happen when the physical season becomes winter, Bucks replied: “This is very much a long-term plan, and we hope to make the transition as comfortable and easy as possible for everyone. Eventually, we plan to manipulate climate change to eliminate the winter season as a whole with minimal effect on the global environment. While the technology is incomplete, the research is slated for completion and deployment in early 2023.”

While Starbucks is sure to encounter many negative responses to this plan, only time will tell how this whole situation will play out.

In the meantime, Starbucks has announced a new flavour of the eggnog latte that will present a nice “spicy” alternative. Hopefully this will be enough to appease those who are affected by the utter destruction of Christmas.

Satire

8

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

HOW DOES THE WEST Multiculturalism: alive and well, or smoke and mirrors?

MELISSA LY CONTRIBUTOR

Multiculturalism as a concept stirs up conflicting opinions within me. On one hand, I want to be proud of Canada for being a leader in multiculturalism, and for being known as an accepting and diverse country. On the other hand, at times I feel like multiculturalism is a façade for the racism, discrimination, and prejudice that exist behind the screens.

This inner battle of opinions existed ever since I was in elementary school. At the same time that my school would embrace diversity, such as by celebrating Diwali and Chinese New Year, I also remember having to deal with racist taunts or cruel words that were said to me because I have a different cultural heritage. It happened in the classroom, in public parks and pools, and even at an amusement park.

I understand that children and adolescents are a cognitively, socially, and behaviourally developing demographic. This means that mistakes happen. Hey, even I have done and said a thing or two that makes me now cringe and shake my head. Yet, to this day, I still deal with prejudice (from adults, no less).

These experiences go far beyond stereotypical Asian jokes.

For instance, I am dating someone from a different ethnic background than me. Disapproval from people of older generations was not surprising, and is indeed a whole other story. What left me utterly flabbergasted was to learn that people in my agerange — university students — would criticize our relationship based on the fact that we were an interracial couple. These people did not even know me, had no idea what kind of couple we were, yet they had the narrow mind to look down on me based on the colour of my skin rather than the content of my character.

Furthermore, when the Conservative government was in

power, there was a legal battle to prevent a woman, Zunera Ishaq, from wearing her niqab during her citizenship ceremony. Wearing the niqab did not pose any identity concerns, as right before the ceremony Ishaq showed her face to an official to confirm her identity.

In light of the recent attacks in Paris, people are once again acting out on anti-Muslim views.

According to the CBC, on November 16 a Muslim mother in Ontario was picking up her children from school when she was attacked from behind, called a terrorist, and told to go back home. This example, sadly, is one of many.

Racism and prejudice have been issues that have seeped into my personal life, my community, and in the governance of Canada. Perhaps my gut reaction is to feel angry. Maybe I have feelings of doubt and question multiculturalism in Canada.

But when I let those feelings sit around too long, I feel like I have lost, and that such feelings would only contribute to the endless cycle of negativity.

It is important to understand that racism and discrimination, sometimes subtle and at other times flat-out bigoted, do exist in Canada. But knowing this, we cannot let ourselves sink into that negativity. There will always be people who hold prejudiced views. Trying to open them up to different perspectives is like having a conversation with someone who does all the talking and none of the listening. On the other hand, there are also many more people standing up against discrimination, and we ourselves have the ability to take part in that positive progress. As the KKK do not represent Christian values, and ISIS does not represent Muslim values, we must remind ourselves that racism does not represent Canadian values.

Rather than condemn the ignorant, we ought to work harder at combatting the ignorance itself.

Paris and, uh, Beirut Ignorance isn’t always on purpose ALEX RAKE THE CASCADE

Without question, the attacks in Paris were awful, although it was nice to see how people supported each other in its aftermath. Social media feeds were filled with regrets and condolences for Paris, and Facebook even offered users the option to superimpose the French flag on their profile pictures to express solidarity. Amid all this sympathy for Paris, however, many pointed out that few Westerners were expressing the same kind of sympathy for Beirut, which experienced a similar attack just the day before, and even fewer seemed to share their condolences for Syria, which people are still fleeing because of the constant violence.

These criticisms of the West’s self-absorption are fair enough. Clearly, many of us are either ignorant or uncaring about much of the world. But I noticed many of these criticisms online were paired with personal accusations about how shitty white North Americans are for being so selective with their sympathy. This is simply not useful, since their sympathy probably isn’t carefully selective so much as it is only directed at the things that trigger an immediate response for them; in other words, it’s directed at things which feel more real than yet another news story they didn’t read about in yet another place they’ll never visit. Rather than condemn the ignorant, we ought to work harder at combatting the ignorance itself.

It’s not that the attacks in Beirut weren’t covered

by Western news outlets, but people just weren’t reading the coverage. Many publications, including the New York Times and BBC, reported the Beirut attacks on the same day they happened. Yet, as Anne Barnard of the New York Times writes, “For some in Beirut, that solidarity was mixed with anguish over

the fact that just one of the stricken cities — Paris — received a global outpouring of sympathy akin to the one lavished on the United States after the 9/11 attacks.” She also notes that while Facebook gave users a “Safety Check” feature to make sure users’ loved ones in Paris were all right, “they had not activated it the day before for Beirut.”

The problem is therefore not so much with Western reporting but with what many of us use as our news source: Facebook. As an institution, Facebook has no journalistic ambition; its core function is as a social media website, and though it’s used all across the world, it is still based in the West. The articles users see are based on what their friends share, and the sum of what friends share doesn’t always accurately represent what’s going on in the world. People usually share stuff they looked up after hearing about it, so naturally if they heard about the Paris attacks because of their cousins or whoever lives there, that’s the news they’re going to seek, share, and talk about.

The best way to combat the general ignorance of Facebookers, then, is not to tell them they’re being bad people when they’re just wishing a city well, because that comes across like a weird punishment for a well-meaning gesture. Instead, use the platform to educate them by example on the platform’s limitations. Share links to articles about other parts of the world, like Beirut, that deserve just as much attention as any other country. Talk intelligently about reliable sources and how to find them, and about how Facebook isn’t really a source. Expecting expertise from people speaking from the soapbox — not think-tank — of social media is itself a little ignorant. So guide people, don’t yell at them.

Of course, if they still insist on justifying their ignorance and actively act like assholes, you can yell a little.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

9

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

RESPOND TO TRAGEDY? Let’s go beyond Facebook solidarity SONJA KLOTZ

THE CASCADE

Just over a week ago, three major tragedies occurred across the globe: terrorist attacks in Beirut, Lebanon; Baghdad, Iraq; and Paris, France. Since then, an overwhelming amount of opinions have been expressed across social media. In the wake of these disasters, Facebook has created a “cause” by providing users an opportunity to stand in solidarity with our fellow global citizens.

“If you wish to pay your respects and show your support, all you have to do is find a friend using ‘causes’ feature in Facebook to customise their profile picture in your Facebook news feed,” explains Nicola Oakley, reporter for the Mirror. Is that all we have to do to show our compassion and fight for human rights nowadays?

Although I am excited to see how vocal people have become in this fight against terrorism, I am concerned that this is as far as it will go.

For me, the “cause” filter on Facebook comes across as the catch-all for actively campaigning for social justice issues. Whether someone sympathizes with only France or Iraq or Lebanon in their filter selection, I believe that it should not be the only step to-

wards global solidarity. Although there are many differing political ideologies and perspectives that are shared on Facebook as a result of the profile picture flagoverlays, and it encourages excellent discussions between users’ personal and professional networks, people are beginning to question whether this new fad is actually improving our political fight against these socio-political catastrophes.

We get too comfortable in sharing our political opinions behind the security of our technology.

I think that often we rely too much on social media to do our bidding in the fight for political and social justice. Why not go beyond the filter and pursue outside avenues to fundraise, or work with local organizations that are actively working with the victims of global terrorism? Are we too afraid to experience direct sociopolitical consequences? Why can we state our opinions so openly online but then refuse to engage

in political discussions in person?

I cannot help but think that sometimes we get too comfortable in sharing our political opinions behind the security of our technology in the name of anonymity or invincibility. What I mean by Facebook anonymity is that often we portray ourselves on social media outlets as someone who we want to be perceived as rather than who we really are in the nonvirtual world. From my experience on social media, the sharing and criticism of people’s opinions is ironically done through virtual distance where the individual’s name and desired identity is on display. If someone did not like what you shared or stated on your profile, you can hide behind your screen and automatically delete their comments, or easily ignore them with one click of a button — unlike confronting someone in person about their opinions on sensitive issues, where you cannot simply ignore their reactions or outbursts. So are we really engaging in an honest open discussion if we have the power to control who says what on our posts?

According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Centre, “Facebook and Twitter users were less likely to want to share their opinions in many face-to-face settings, especially if they felt that their social

audience disagreed with them.”

I would like to acknowledge that this is not necessarily true for all social media users, since there are many possible consequences that can come out of online discourses about the world’s current events, such as “defriending” contacts due to their perceived hatred and white supremacy (although it is less common to lose friends immediately in the middle of a faceto-face discussion).

Social media initiatives are only powerful if they are followed up by reallife involvement.

Putting a flag on your Facebook profile picture or “liking” or “sharing” causes is only the beginning of mobilizing peace and global solidarity. These social media initiatives are only powerful if they are followed up by reallife involvement. “Solidarity,” according to the Oxford Dictionary, is a “unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.”

Historically speaking, socio-

political solidarity was only successful with the follow-up action of like-minded individuals, such as the overthrow of dictatorships we recently witnessed in the Arab Spring of 2010.

Does changing the Facebook profile picture help create a global awareness of the current events taking place? Absolutely. We must talk about it in whatever capacity we can, but fighting for justice, especially on such a scale as large as “The Fight Against Terrorism,” requires active participation outside of the virtual world of technlogy. It may require attending a meeting with other like-minded individuals once in a while, or it may be as simple as volunteering at a nearby neighborhood community centre.

Either way, helping for the greater good requires more than taking a few minutes out of your schedule to change your profile picture. As uncomfortable or as stressful it may seem, it is through meeting the people for whom you claim to advocate that makes the largest impact. If you stand in solidarity with France or Iraq or Lebanon or whatever other cause you find attractive, I strongly urge you to physically engage with those communities around you and take real steps in the peacebuilding process.

Not guns, but flowers: resisting hatred after tragedy JULIANNE HUFF CONTRIBUTOR

It seems that every time you log onto social media right now, you are swarmed with ranting posts, terrible memes, and videos of people discussing the tragic attacks in Paris. With the Syrian refugee movement and these attacks of terrorism, people seem to be on edge — and it’s bringing out the best and worst in everyone.

After a terrible event like this, it is hard to make sense of what happened and why. People turn to the media and sources online for their information. The problem with this is that sometimes misconceptions and wrong ideas are quickly spread.

The common misconception is that this is a result of Muslim extremists who were brought in

disguised as refugees. In a CBC article published on November 17, 2015 (along with numerous other articles published about the perpetrators), we learn that although many of the attackers are from Middle Eastern descent, the majority have been identified as French and Belgian citizens. So why are people still so quick to blame refugees?

Through my classes and experiences this semester, I have had the opportunity to look at this event from a variety of angles.

On November 4, 2015, a week and a half before the attacks in Paris, peace activist Yonatan Shapira visited the UFV Abbotsford campus to give a lecture on the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

Even though the conflicts are not directly linked, the ideas of which Shapira spoke are transferable; he believes in peace’s ability to de-

feat violence and oppression, and advocates that peace and unity is what those in power fear. This connects directly to a discussion that we had in my anthropology of world religions class. We talked about the media, the fear of people, Trudeau’s promise to take in 25,000 refugees, and the concept of peace as a solution to ISIS’s terrorism. The extremists in ISIS want to create division and fear; they want everyone to deny asylum to these refugees fleeing violence and oppression. If we deny these refugees entry into countries around the world, where will they have to go? The problem is that they will have nowhere to go but to return to ISIS for help.

So what is the proper response to the people who fear Syrian refugees coming into our countries, or who argue that our only solution is to fight back with more

weaponry? We can’t blame an entire people or religion for the comparatively few extremists who create the violence, and it is not possible to go to war with an ideology. Just like other religions, Islam is composed of many different sects. A great comparison was made by Victoria White in the Irish Examiner: “Britain didn’t mistake Ireland for the IRA. Don’t confuse Islam with IS [Islamic State].”

I have posted my fair share of articles, videos, and pictures on Facebook in a sea of rants and comment wars galore, but the best moments are when you find the positive stories. Like the video of a man explaining to his son that the French should not fight back with guns and bullets, but with flowers. Or the video of Antoine Leiris who lost his wife in the attack on the Bataclan, warning the

attackers that he would not give them the satisfaction of revenge or hatred, but instead insists that he will not turn against his neighbours. There’s the story of a security guard who stopped a suicide bomber from entering the Stade de France. And then there’s the little-known and heroic story of Safer, a Muslim bartender who pulled two injured women into the basement of the restaurant while there was still gunfire in the streets.

These are the stories we should look for instead: the stories of hope and the persistence of humanity after a tragic event, and of the ability of people to overcome horror and show love for their neighbours.

Image: Mitch Huttema, after Jean Julien

10

Image: Danielle Collins

BY KAT MARUSIAK

COMIC BOOKS

AND THEIR

PLACE IN LITERATURE

When you think of the word “comics,” what comes to mind? Colourful images of superheroes fighting villains?

Your favourite strip in the newspaper funny pages? Or maybe one of the graphic novels you discussed in your last English course? Probably not that last one, I’m guessing.

For far too long, comics have been relegated to a category below “real” literature: picture books for children who are not yet ready for the complexities of a text-only novel. But comics are capable of being just as deep and complex as any book, and at the same time, just as beautiful and inspiring as a painting or other fine work of art. In a sense, they are both — a bridge that spans the gap, a connection that glues the two genres of art and writing together. They are a unique category all on their own with an almost endlessly wide range of different styles and techniques that combine art and, though there are exceptions, the written word.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A “COMIC”?

Upon trying to define the word “comics,” one will generally find that the genre encompasses so much that trying to define it is an ongoing process.

Scott McCloud, comic artist and author of the book Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, attempts to craft something close to a suitable definition of the genre: “Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and / or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer.” However, as he points out, this definition still doesn’t cover everything; for example, single-panel comics, which are still instances of the juxtaposition of words and pictures.

He adds, “A great majority of modern comics do feature words and pictures in combination and it’s a subject worthy of study, but when used as a definition for comics, I’ve found it to be a little too restrictive for my taste…”

The “comics” genre is constantly changing, evolving, and growing. The combination of pictures and storyteliing has been a part of human society for much longer than most people would imagine. Of course, not everyone would consider things such as ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics (many being able to convey a message, especially in sequence, as opposed to simply representing certain words or letters), or 13th-century German paintings captioned with text, to share similarities with modern comics.

At some point, storytelling and communication began to move away from pictographic representations and toward the written word alone. Pic-

tures are seen as “simpler” and thus suitable only for younger readers, and the fields of literature and art are generally kept distinctly separate. Upon further examination, one can’t help but ask, “Why?” Why do we, as a society, continue to hold this stigma against comics / graphic novels when they can be such thought-provoking and emotionally evocative masterpieces?

SNOOPY VERSUS WOLVERINE Many people generally lump comics into two main categories: the comic strip, and the comic book; notably those that are often associated with geek culture, about things like heroes, zombies, and other action-packed adventures.

Comic strip series like Garfield are made more for laughs and money, and we don’t exactly see them as particularly mature or mind-expanding. But this doesn’t mean there aren’t also many insightful, well-written comic strips. As a young child, I was enraptured with Calvin’s adventures with his tiger Hobbes — a journey into imagination and self-discovery that I could not only connect to then, but also appreciate again on a whole other level as an adult.

How about comic books / graphic novels? The world of comic books is as diverse as that of text-only novels, ranging from the bright, sometimes gaudy, eye-catching pages of fantastical superhero comics to underground comics (a result of the Comics Code Authority in the ‘50s, which attempted to completely censor and regulate the genre) and more racy images by artists like Robert Crumb, and the life stories and commentary of Harvey Pekar. Stories of fantasy and adventure appeal to all age groups, but there are also the emotional and introspective autobiographic “tragicomics” of Alison Bechdel in which she explores her sexual identity and family history; the brilliantly psychological, deeply thought-provoking works of Alan Moore, which may or may not throw you into a minor existential crisis; and incredible accounts of history, such as Art Spieglman’s Maus, in which he documents the story of his Jewish parents’ survival of the Holocaust, and the effects it had on their lives afterwards.

Comics come in all shapes and sizes, forms and categories — and they come from all over the world! Most countries have their own classifications and unique designs around the genre due to their individual histories, cultures, and the developments of different styles and subject matters.

The simplistic, narrow-minded view

many have towards comics is a terrible shame, as they have so much to offer.

THE MARRIAGE OF ART AND STORYTELLING Comics are not always simple to create. There are many techniques available to comic artists that allow them to create complex, subtle, and intricate designs within their stories, including the shape and number of panels; the use of colour, gradient, and shading; and symbolic objects and themes reoccurring silently that may or may not be noticed upon first read. Think of all the time, thought, and talent that must go into crafting a story, writing the narrative, sequencing the panels, and drawing the images — that’s no easy task! (This is part of the reason why it’s quite common to see collaborations between authors and illustrators.)

A BLURRED LINE The true value of comics is slowly becoming more apparent to people, but the stubborn old stigma about comics being for children still remains, and there is still a long way to go for the genre to be accepted by most literary scholars and writers. Comics are a creature all their own, deserving of a respectable position in the literary arts as a form of storytelling which has much to teach. They cannot be lumped into any one category, and there is constant debate as to just where the blurred line between comics and other forms of art truly lies. As Jonathan Lethem writes in The Best American Comics 2015: “Comics are positioned to bring together the lessons of both the narrative and the visual arts. As such, comics should continue to have the capacity to appear alien and difficult to assimilate within literary publishing.

It is an expression of what they are. To expect comics to function merely as colourful, illustrated cousins of conventional narrative fiction is a profound and wasteful act of self-denial.”

So if you’ve never read any comics, or are skeptical of the ability of so many to be a much higher form of literature than they are commonly thought of, I hope you might consider expanding your horizons by taking a closer look at some that may suit your tastes sometime; you may be very pleasantly surprised at just how much of an impact they can make, just how capable they can be of speaking to and moving us, and what a beautiful and effective way they are for people to express themselves and convey their messages to the world.

Images: Brittany Cardinal

11

TEACHING COMIC BOOKS AS LITERATURE: AN INTERVIEW WITH RON SWEENEY KAT MARUSIAK THE CASCADE

This fall, English instructor Ron Sweeney has been teaching a new English course, ENGL 170: Literature in Context – Understanding Comics, for the first time this semester at UFV`s Abbotsford campus. As the course wraps up, he sat down with The Cascade and talked about what inspired him to start the course, how it’s been going so far, and why comics deserve to be taken seriously as literature.

When did you first start getting into comics?

My main history is not so much as a child, although I remember the Calvin and Hobbes books, Peanuts, the Sunday funnies, and reading that sort of stuff. But I didn’t really read many of the “standard” comics, and where I sort of got into it was much later in grad school actually, where I started looking at “literature and the page” — that was my area of interest — so some of the literature and poetry that did different stuff on the page. And then when I was teaching courses, I would start including some graphic literature on there, and so I actually started with the more autobiographical and quasi-underground kind of stuff. But it was really well received, so I taught stuff like Art Spiegelman’s Maus, and Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home.

Fun Home has been probably the most well-received of the books I’ve taught. But I guess I was looking at stuff that was considered “good” — “graphic literature” as opposed to “the comic book.” So stuff like Watchmen, where it was like, “Oh you have to read this; yes it’s comics, but it’s ‘good!’” and then eventually moved over to realize that there was a whole bunch of popular comic book stuff that was also really good.

Some of the stuff like what Chris Ware does, and very spectacular experimentation with story telling, realism, ordinary life, all the way up to the superhero stuff which is [in a hushed tone] actually quite good!

And that helped inspire you to start an actual comics course?

Yes! For most of my fiction courses I’ve included at least one section on comics, and sometimes I make sure if I’m picking an anthology I look for one that has a few little pieces from comics. One of the anthologies I would use would have a chapter from Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, so there would be a chapter of that, or very often Art Spiegelman’s Prisoner on the Hell Planet might get put in there. I very often included in my novel courses Bechdel’s Fun Home as I mentioned, and the overwhelming response from students has been like, “Where has this been!? Why can’t we do more of this — of comics? Could you do a whole course on this?” And I’d be like, “... Yes I can.” And you know, it took a while. I kept proposing, put together my huge list of comic books, and said that I think this would be a really good course for the department. And now we have 170, and the new overwhelming feedback is, “Could we get an upper level one!?” Hopefully! Hopefully soon! Because you know, there’s so much interesting stuff, and I think it’s a really good challenge for students — the challenge of interpretation of both the fascinating visual and verbal.

There’s really important stuff happening in comics, and the debate over whether comics are literature is just ... so over, right? It’s been over for decades, and there’s so much literature that still doesn’t get taught and still gets ignored. There’s even questions around things like video games; in my summer class, for the first time, I taught a video game as literature, and we asked that sort of question: “How do we interpret or analyze this stuff? Can we use our literary tools that we’ve learned to analyze and explain plot and character, etc.?” There are all of these genres, and they interact in really interesting ways, and only looking at print I think misses some of the ways in which there is this whole ecology of story telling.

Now that we’re nearing the end of the semester, how do you feel about how the class has gone? Are there any changes you might like to make in the future?

I’m really happy with how it’s gone! I would like to add about 20 books to the syllabus; it’s hard to choose from so many comic books I would like to teach and then have to sort of narrow it down. I think we’re going to be keeping it pretty much the same.

The one thing I will say is that it almost deserves to be split into a part one and part two. You know, “Comics: The Superhero,” or then “Comics: The Ordinary.” Although, of course, then maybe nobody would take the one on comics of the ordinary, and everyone would just go for the superheroes, so it’s a nice way to start.

It is finding that balance between the different genres and styles; there aren’t a lot of anthologies, so in an intro to lit class, you’re trying to show a whole bunch of d i ff e re n t fiction, what you very often do is go to the anthology. They have their problems, and ideas of “canon” and stuff like that, but the thing with comics is, you have Best American Comics, but there’s no “Best American Comics Comics.” The very best of the best of! That might be something I’d be interested in.

But it remains that it is an introduction, and the thing I’m the most impressed with in the class is the sharing that goes along in comics. People bringing books to class and sharing books with each other, sharing books with me, me sharing books with people. And that seems to be a big part of the culture, like, “Hey, have you seen this?!”

And people bringing their experiences.

People who haven’t read many comics getting to see what it’s like.

The other thing I need to eventually become an expert on is non-Western comics and non-English comics. Eventually, I think that would be added to the course. I think there could be some really interesting comics courses that could be offered here, and hope they do get offered here eventually.

female superheroes, and has written some great stuff.

The other one then I would always recommend is Alison Bechdel. Read Fun Home.

Fun Home is fantastic. I also recommend — with some trepidation because of the super violent content — but some of the stuff that’s coming out of Image Comics just blows me away. And then the absolute — if you’re interested in all of the possibilities of comics — then Chris Ware is the person to turn to. He does some of the most interesting, ordinary, everyday-life comics. Ware also explores comics culture in really fascinating ways, explores nostalgia, explores the city, explores the way in which comics work — so things like moving around the page in very different ways, forcing you to try to figure out how to read a Chris Ware comic.

The first time you read one you may be very frustrated because you’re not used to what’s going on, or finding your way around the page in quite the same way. There are so many good artists working today that you come across certain artists where you’re like, “I can’t believe I missed this person!”

Any last things you’d like to say about the class in closing?

Take English 170! You will learn to understand comics! It’s a really fun course, and it’s a really serious course, and I think you’ll be looking at comics in a whole new way if you come take it. There are some really interesting questions around interpretation, you’ll get a little bit of the history of comics, understand why comics are often associated with children’s reading, and what’s happening in contemporary comics. And you’ll also get to share your own ideas and experiences of reading comics.

Kat Marusiak is enrolled in English 170 this semester.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

WANT MORE? TURN TO PAGE 18 TO READ ABOUT MULTICULTURALISM IN COMICS — OR CHECK OUT THE LATEST “SPACED” ON PAGE 12.

If you could only recommend a few artists or titles to someone who’s just getting into comics, what would you recommend?

What are your favourites?

Well, when I’m recommending books to anyone, I tend to ask more questions before — so for example, if you’re interested in superheroes you should absolutely be reading Ms. Marvel. Go back and check out some of Gale Simmons’ work. She did a fabulous job of drawing attention to the mistreatment of Image: andrew kwan / deviantart

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STUDY BREAK

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

CROSSWORD Say It Again

by VALERIE FRANKLIN 1

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ACROSS 5. Try-out before landing a role or a job. (8) 7. This crossword’s is “Say it Again.” (5) 9. Like the taste of black coffee, or your ex. (6) 12. Apple or banana — or, technically, even a tomato. (5) 13. To strike, possibly by an angry deity. (5)

DOWN 1. Grim notice in the newspaper. (8) 2. Catch fire. (6) 3. Popular ab exercise. (3, 2) 4. Opposite of black. (5) 6. Enticing thing to lure you into a trap. (4) 8. To modify or correct writing. (4) 10. Delicious piece of food or gossip. (6) 11. He or she might judge food, film, or fashion. (6)

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Last issue’s crossword ACROSS 2. LOGARITHMIC 5. DATE 6. ANALOGUE 7. FORTNIGHT 9. TIMEOUT 11. FLIES 12. ROUNDTHECLOCK DOWN 1. ETERNITY 3. ANTEDILUVIAN 4. PRESENT 8. SENTENCE 10. HICKORY

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EclipseCrossword.com

The Weekly Horoscope

Star Signs from Moira Mysteriosa

Aquarius: Jan 20 - Feb 18: Fingernails are lucky for you this week. Do not cut them under any circumstances!

Gemini: May 21 - June 21: The stars are not impressed with your behaviour this week. Beware of meteors and solar winds aimed directly at your house.

Pisces: Feb 19 - March 20: No, gentle reader, you do not have superpowers. But you can have super flowers. Moira recommends lupins.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22: Fact: you are older now than you were when you began reading this horoscope. How does that make you feel?

Aries: March 21 - April 19: Eat more coffee beans. The liquid form of coffee is barely working for you anymore, is it?

Leo: July 23 - Aug 22: Roses are lucky for you this week.

Unfortunately, they’re all dead because of the frost. You’ll have to go without luck this week, dear reader.

Taurus: April 20 - May 20: Toothpaste is a reasonably good adhesive. Use this information however you need.

Virgo: Aug 23 -Sept 22: The stars want me to tell you about my love life. It all started back in 1996 when — wait, where are you going?

Libra: Sept 23 - Oct 22: Beware of Gemini — they’re up to something.

Scorpio: Oct 23 - Nov 21: Someone near you will soon have a baby. Invest in earplugs and a hazmat suit; it’s the only way to survive.

Sagittarius: Nov 22 - Dec 21: Burritos are lucky for you this week.

Doubly lucky if you bring Moira one.

Capricorn: Dec 22 - Jan 19: Your spirit animal is that girl from that show you like. You know the one.

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CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Fraser Valley Symphony rings in the Christmas season JEFFREY TRAINOR THE CASCADE

The Fraser Valley Symphony Orchestra opened its 32nd season on Sunday, November 15 to a soldout Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. The community orchestra’s first performance of the season featured festive songs ranging from Petyr Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” to more traditional hymns such as “O Holy Night.”

The orchestra is composed solely of premier players from across the Fraser Valley region and plays four concerts per season, which runs from November to June. For this performance, the orchestra was also joined by North Vancouver’s Andrew Greenwood, a renowned baritone vocalist, who has worked and performed in operas around the world, including stops in Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

At first entrance into the auditorium, it was evident the symphony was not taken lightly by most of the audience. Almost all the attendees were dressed in their Sunday best and were chatting quietly with those around them. However, upon the opening of the show and the entrance of the symphony’s concert master, a round of applause erupted and fell to a bated silence as each instrument was granted an opportunity to tune. Once the tuning process was complete, conductor Lindsay Mellor entered from stage right to another storming round of applause. From then on, Mellor would take to the microphone at the front of the stage between pieces to explain some background or history of the song the audience was about to hear next.

The first half of the performance was entirely devoted to “The Nutcracker Suite,” and saw the group

move from famous score to famous score as Mellor provided commentary on what was going on in the opera. If anything, it acted as a brilliant preview to the opera as a whole.

“Greenwood, without the assistance of a microphone, filled the theatre to the brim with the resonance of his voice.”

The second half of the program was freer flowing; it was here that Greenwood joined the orchestra.

He would sing a song, leave the stage for the next, and then come back again to sing — receiving a round of applause each time — and his booming voice did well to break up the performance and allow for some diversity from the

entirely orchestral pieces. Mellor also seemed more loose in the second half of the program, and delved deep into the tragic personal lives of some of the composers whose pieces the orchestra was performing. Some examples were the stories of Georges Bizet, whose opera Carmen was torn apart upon its initial performance, but is now arguably one of the most well-known opera in the genre today, and Fredrick Delius, the composer of “Sleigh Ride,” who never considered himself to be an esteemed composer.

However, the star of the show was Greenwood and his robust baritone vocals. The best moment came in his first appearance of the evening, when Greenwood performed the “Toreador” song from Carmen; though this piece was outside of the Christmas theme, I think no one in the audience had a query with it, as Greenwood, without the assistance of

a microphone, filled the theatre to the brim with the resonance of his voice. Though Greenwood wonderfully performed classic Christmas songs such as “O Holy Night” and “Ave Maria,” “Toreador” was his true shining moment.

The Fraser Valley Symphony is hosting three more shows this season, and perhaps the most intriguing of the bunch is an afternoon called “Family Fun” which will feature music from popular films such as Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean. While the symphony may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of going to see a musical performance, it deserves more attention. The amount of musical talent on display was exceptional for a community group and it is surely something that should be experienced by anyone.

The Cascade’s annual wrapping paper contest Use the special Christmas-themed cover of next week’s issue to wrap a gift, then take a picture and tweet @UFVCascade or email paperwrap@ufvcascade.ca to be entered to win a prize.

Stay tuned for more details in next week’s issue.

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CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Professors share lunch and lectures GLEN ESS

THE CASCADE

Wednesday, November 18 saw an informal gathering of professors from a multitude of fields and departments at U-House as part of the Scholarly Sharing Initiative, an ongoing monthly event that allows professors to present their research in a casual, congenial, setting. The SSI, open to anyone interested in attending, features a light lunch and thoughtful discussion following each presentation.

This month featured two presentations, the first by history professor Clare Dale on the propaganda poetry used in 18th century Britain to glorify the empire and its colonialist attitude. Nicola Mooney from the anthropology department also gave a presentation on the use of the word “caste” and its over-simplification of a complex network of different ideas present in the Indian caste system. And while the topics may seem to be the sort you’d expect to hear in a classroom, the delivery and the absence of a rigid “teacher-student” relationship, meant

that the event felt more organic and stimulating.

Over the course of an hour I learned of a concerted effort on that part of Britain’s leadership to sway public opinion away from negative criticism of their imperial imperative through poetry — which, when you consider how poetry, music, and the arts have become even more of a voice for anti-establishment thought in modern times, is quite interesting. Over past two hundred years, we’ve been told that poetry is the purest form of self-expression, a creative outlet for individualism, and the British government in the 18th century felt that poetry was the perfect way to promote pro-imperial propaganda. The lionization of the monarchy and heroic characters such as James Wolfe for his victory of the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham and subsequent annexation of Quebec, all through a pseduoclassical form of poetry? Who did they think they were fooling?

But it does raise certain thoughts; it’s almost stereotypical of students to be considered

rowdy, rebellious youngsters who don’t get along with the “the system,” and if there’s one thing the Beat generation showed us, it’s that protest poetry can be surprisingly effective. But is there anything about the institutions surrounding us, our employers, our government, our society, that is worth praising through the arts?

Can we write creative pieces in support of the organizations that dictate so much of our lives? Or was the British pro-imperialist poetry a short lived, failed fad?

Following the discussion on the propaganda poetry, Nicola Mooney continued on a different avenue of the same branch of study: colonial attitudes that clash with the general consensus. Her topic, the oversimplification of the Indian caste systems caused by the use of the word “caste” to describe several different systems, was another interesting one. It’s easy to picture this being taught in classroom, but due to the lessinhibited structure of the SSI, the conversation was far more engaging than a regular lecture.

Even though I was bombarded by

terms in a language I don’t speak, I was enthralled by the complexity and inter-connected nature of Indian society, which has been all boiled down, incorrectly, into one all-encompassing word — one which completely fails to even approach the nuanced meanings and relationships of the actual systems themselves, as Mooney pointed out.

It was an eye-opening moment and a strong reminder of the power of words, and the consequences of misusing them.

Ultimately the Scholarly Sharing Initiative was the most informative and interesting method of learning I’ve experienced as a student in a long time. It was casual, stress-free, and most importantly it was engaging. And if you’re like me, and struggle to pay attention in a classroom, then this conversational style of teaching is right up your alley.

The Scholarly Sharing Initiative will return in the Winter 2016 semester with talks from Leonne Beebe and Linda Pardy on January 22.

Fashion

Winter is coming — so bundle up, kids GLEN ESS THE CASCADE

I am not a fashionista. I am pretty much the opposite of fashionable. I don’t dress up or down — I dress horizontally. If it’s comfortable and I like it, I’ll wear it. But with the weather worsening and the chilly hands of winter reaching out to us, it’s time to bundle up and bunker down in warm clothes.

But, as a member of the fashionless, the unaware, what do I wear?

Well, taken possession by a researching mood, I rooted around online and decided to check out what the only fashion-related publication I can name of the top of my head had to say on the subject. According to Vogue, I should be wearing a combination of black and white checks, diamonds, stripes, and zebra stripes (wait … aren’t those last two the same?) all in a fetching sea-faring naval style with nods of nostalgic recognition to the ‘80s.

Basically, dress like a grey-scale Ronald McDonald.

So clearly I don’t have the capacity to talk style with the big boys of the industry, but what sorts of styles are able to take on the wet winter months without

Image: ?????

Ronald McDonald looks much more fashionable in greyscale. making me look like an insane, unholy combination of Captain Jack Sparrow and Pennywise the dancing clown?

How about we go back to basics and just focus on what’s most important to surviving the coming winter? What are the key, necessary pieces of clothing to staying warm and toasty?

Well a good jacket is a must.

Preferably waterproof, warm, and maybe not the puffy sort that make people look like Michelin Man. And shoes are important too — again, they should be sturdy enough to withstand the winter chill and wetness, but also comfortable.

And you can’t go wrong with a

pair of jeans; they’re timeless and most importantly, you don’t need to worry about wrinkles and stuff anytime soon. A good sweater or a hoodie can help you stay warm too, and if you’re feeling super fancy-schmancy, a scarf is cool and you can totally use it as a flag in those emergency situations.

Don’t forget to carry around a pair of gloves too, to protect your fingers from Mother Nature’s savage wintry bite. In this day and age, finding a pair of gloves that you can keep on while using your phone will save you the precious two or three seconds it takes to take them off, poke at your phone for whatever reason, and then put the gloves back on.

In terms of accessories, a ski pass tagged onto your jacket, in combination with a toque and ski goggles, will make you look sporty and active. For a more laidback feel, consider a lumpy holiday-themed sweater. The holidays are the one time you can wear something purposefully ugly and still feel attractive!

But no matter what you wear, remember the most important rule for winter: Stay Warm.

And there you have it folks!

Fashion for everyone!

UPCOMING

EVENTS November 26

Lecture: The Nature of Sex Dr. Carin Bondar talks about the ins and outs of animals mating rituals. Event will be at the Abbotsford campus in room B101, running from 12 to 1 p.m.

November 27 Casino Royale Running from 5 to 10 p.m. in the SUB, the fourth annual Casino Royale will be hosted by student clubs and associations, featuring free admission, games, and martinis.

November 29 Concert: Sylvia Platters, Casinos, and Saturdays CIVL Radio presents a night of music at Brothers Bowling and Billiards in Downtown Abbotsford to celebrate the release of the Sylvia Platters’ debut album. Also playing: Casinos and Saturdays. Doors open at 6 p.m., admission is $5, and the show is 19+ only.

November 29

Downtown Abbotsford Christmast tree lighting The 26th Annual Christmas tree lighting will run from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and features free hot chocolate and cookies, as well as a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

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ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Cascade Arcade

It’s hard not to fall in love with Fallout 4 DREW BERGEN CONTRIBUTOR

CHARTS 1

Deerhunter Fading Frontier

Vy 2 ElReturn to the Moon

3 Ought Sun Coming Down Vile 4 Kurt b’lieve i’m goin down Bridges 5 Leon Coming Home Blonde 6 Yukon On Blonde

7

Grimes Art Angels

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Majical Cloudz Are You Alone?

Lands 9 Grey Right Arm

10 Timesuck Simple Life Baby 11 War Death Sweats Are The City 12 We Above Club

13 Limblifter Pacific Milk Year Storm 14 Seven Aion I Cliché 15 Nouveau Walk in My Shadow

16 TVBadFreaks Luck Charms Galaxy 17 Young Falsework

18 Nylithia Hyperthrash

Shuffle

DAVE CUSICK

PROGRAM DIRECTOR / THE PODFATHER

Comic books and rock & roll singles are two defining mediums of the 20th century into the 21st, so it’s not surprising when the two cross-pollinate. Here’s a few songs where the results are rather nice.

The Ramones “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” In 1937, the comic book Sheena, Queen of the Jungle hit shelves as the first female-titled series, preceding Wonder Woman by four years. Sheena could communicate with wild animals, and shapeshift into any she made eye contact with. Forty years later, Joey Ramone brought the primal nature of Sheena’s character into one of his catchiest songs, honorarily inducting her as a punk rocker.

R.E.M. “Superman” Possibly my favourite R.E.M. song, but they didn’t even write it (the Clique did), and Michael Stipe didn’t even want to do it! I’m not sure how to feel about that.

Laurie Anderson “O Superman” Digital sampling was still in its infancy in 1982 when Laurie Anderson looped the syllable “ha” on the note C for the nearly eightand-a-half minutes while she sang and spoke over it, processing her vocals through a vocoder. Though she’s American, it never charted in North America, despite going to number two on the UK Singles Chart. But let’s be honest, the Brits’ musical taste has always been more interesting than ours.

Alvvays “Archie, Marry Me” I’m always initially suspicious of bands with Vs in their name that don’t belong there (Wavves, Chvrches, and of course, Alvvays).

But all three of those are actually really good, and, let’s face it, really Google-able.

Sex Bob-omb “We Are Sex Bob-omb” Is Scott Pilgrim named after Billy Pilgrim from Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five? These things keep me up at night.

Five years ago, Bethesda released Fallout: New Vegas, a follow-up to 2008’s Fallout 3. Since then the company has gone on to make smash hit Skyrim, but has left the Fallout franchise alone — until recently.

Since its release on Novemver 10, Fallout 4 has dug its claws deep into enthusiasts new and old alike. Both a deviation from the previous formula and a rethinking of well-established gameplay traits, Fallout 4 is a first-person action RPG set in a retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic future. The game’s ‘50s sci-fi aspects married to a Mad Max post-apocalyptic setting may sound like a strange combination on paper, but it has a very distinct and loveable aesthetic.

There’s a solidity and depth to the Fallout universe’s design; from the culture to the enemies and technology, everything has a distinct flavour that remains consistent, creating a unique and recognizable experience.

But although the aesthetic is the same, Fallout 4 has made some considerable changes to the way the game plays.

To start, the character stats have been changed so that instead of picking out your character ’s traits at the beginning of the game, the player starts near the bottom with only a few points to assign, and as they level up they can assign points to one of over 70 different skill trees. While this may seem daunting at first, Fallout 4 lacks a level cap, which means eventually all of these traits can be unlocked. If you have the time, that is.

Fallout 4 has also made some distinct changes to the combat.

While before the VATS system (a “targeting” system that froze the action and let you select what you wanted your character to attack, where to aim the attack, and in what order) “stopped” time, it now only slows down time to a crawl, making the system a lot more reflexive and on-the-fly. To compensate for this change, Fallout 4 has greatly improved its firstperson combat. Melee attacks and gunplay both play exponentially better than in previous 3D instalments, making the real-time combat a much more viable option. With the removal of the weapon and armour

Despite the glitches, at least Dogmeat can’t die in this version. quality system, there’s now no need to worry about your gear breaking down. These aren’t even the end of the changes; there are many more significant ones Bethesda has made to different aspects of the game, particularly the power armour, that change up how it plays in good and refreshing ways.

Fallout 4’s gameplay also deviates from the straightforward RPG style that previous instalments have had. While previously the game had you progress through the story linearly, Fallout 4’s gameplay is a lot more open, giving your character much more to do and much more to explore. With locations “respawning” their respective loot and enemies, Fallout 4 presents the re-playability that has been previously lacking in other instalments. Combined with the new base-building aspect of the game, management of the many settlements you can find and develop, the many rich characters (and many more voice actors!) and companions to encounter, as well as the countless locations to explore and loot, Fallout 4 has no lack of things for a player to do.

However, the game is not all sunshine and roses. While the gameplay itself has improved significantly compared to previous games, the story does not hold up quite as well. The narrative for the primary tale feels disjointed and lackluster, but luckily the plethora of sidequests and alternate activities

more than make up for this.

Another issue is that Fallout 4 just doesn’t work as a PC game. The game itself is optimized and built for console play first, and overall the PC version (which I currently play) feels like a console port, from the way its menus are designed to the strange functionality of the game. Most PC users (and Xbox One players) will experience strange frame rate drops, and while some parts of the game may look gorgeous, many others feel lazy or poorly optimized. On top of this, Fallout 4 features the signature “Bethesda Jank™.” What this means is that the game frequently has strange glitches and physics quirks that can take away from the experience. While Fallout 4 is a large and ambitious project, there’s a lack of polish to the game that definitely rears its head as you play, and can be difficult to ignore.

Fallout 4, in the end, is a fantastic game. Overall, it’s a large step forward from the previous instalments, and offers plenty for a single player to experience and enjoy. With significant replayability and a deep open-world environment, Fallout 4 can be a solid choice for a good time-sink. Unfortunately, I would strongly suggest you choose the PS4 edition, unless you are highly confident in your computer ’s ability.

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ARTS IN REVIEW

S undBites

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Mini album reviews

One Direction

Ty Dolla $ign

Made in the A.M.

Free TC

As a religious follower of classic rock, I expected to hate Ty Dolla $ign’s second album, Free TC, with as much passion as a rocker usually hates typical and cliché hiphop. The album obviously still featured the typical hip-hop elements that would usually cause me to cringe instantly, but Ty Dolla $ign brings a unique spin to them, making the album slightly more bearable than I anticipated. In fact, to simply call the album hip-hop would be an understatement, as Ty’s smooth vocals brought an R&B vibe to a lot of the tracks.

Tracks like “Straight Up” and “Miracle” were more than tolerable and Ty’s mix of strong lyrics and even stronger vocals mix perfectly. “Saved,” however, reminded

me exactly why I usually tend to avoid hip-hop altogether. And then there was “Solid,” and for an entire three-and-a-half minutes I nearly forgot that I wasn’t listening to southern Californian folk rock.

But where Ty was expected most to come strong, on “Guard Down” featuring Kanye West and Diddy, the song felt like an awkward collision of overproduced beats, and was by far the album’s most disappointing track.

While I’m sure that I’ll never listen to Free TC again, I’ll admit that I survived an entire hip-hop album, and won’t wait as long until the next one.

Vanessa Broadbent

I am sure you have all heard by now that the four remaining members of One Direction have decided to follow in the steps of their former bandmate Zayn Malik and venture out on their own. Though many have seen the end of “1D” as a positive for the musical world, their final release, Made in the A.M., leaves us with some strong reminders as to why they became a global phenomenon. You may be thinking, “Jeff, you must be joking,” but I assure you: I am not.

Made in the A.M. features a surprisingly diverse mix of musical genres and a charismatic instrumental complexion that keeps each song feeling fresh compared to the prior. I’m not going to sugarcoat the

fact that it is, at its core, a “pop record,” and you have straight-up pop tunes such as “Drag Me Down” and “Perfect”; the later tracks on the release are where the real strength lies. The diversity is found within tracks such as “Temporary Fix,” which relates closely to indie-pop artists such as the Kinks; their song “Infinity,” which could easily fit onto any of Coldplay’s recent releases; and “If I Could Fly,” which features a delicate string arrangement along with a simplistic piano melody. I’m not saying any of you need to listen to Made in the A.M., but you surely shouldn’t knock it before you try it.

Jeffrey Trainor

Nostalgia

Never mind Nirvana’s Nevermind MARTIN CASTRO THE CASCADE

Nirvana’s Nevermind came out in 1991, which makes the record 21 years old. Apart from the chronically overplayed “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” I doubt that any songs on the record are still embedded in the public consciousness. This said, it’s 2015: how does it hold up?

“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the first track on the record, should be a write-off. In the past 20 years, the angst-ridden anthem went from an overnight hit to a cultural behemoth in no time at all. Even your grandmother and your sister ’s tone-deaf twoyear-old know “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Hell, I’m pretty sure I’ve heard the song used to advertise hamburgers at one point or another; I can’t begin to imagine how many times Kurt Cobain has rolled over in his grave by now.

Name another song on Nevermind. I dare you. “In Bloom” and “Come As You Are” don’t count.

As instrumental as the record was in providing exposure for Seattle’s grunge scene (and it didn’t even really do that much; name another grunge band), I think it’s safe to say that had Kurt Cobain not been so spec-

After all these years, Nirvana hasn’t reached nirvana. tacularly romanticised by the Lisa Simpsons of the world, Nevermind would have come and gone with the same impact that In Utero did.

Seriously, name one song off of In Utero.

Speaking of “In Bloom”, this track epitomizes non-“Smells Like Teen Spirit” Nirvana: loud distorted guitars! Add more crash cymbals! Quick, isolate the bass and kit for dramatic effect, and while we’re at it, Kurt can brush his shoulder-length dirty blonde hair from his eyes

while he half-moans words into the microphone with all the enthusiasm of a twelve-year-old made to volunteer his summer at a retirement centre as punishment for failing both math and English for the second consecutive year.

There are 13 songs on Nevermind: “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Come As You Are,” “In Bloom,” and “Generic Grunge Song” numbers four through 13.

Let’s talk about Nirvana’s saving grace. No, it’s not Kurt

Cobain. It’s Dave Grohl. (I’m only going to mention Krist Novoselic to articulate my surprise at finding out he’s actually still alive, applaud his dignified resignation into relative obscurity, and point out the fact that he now looks like a New York Times Sunday edition caricature of a psychiatrist, which I find endlessly appropriate given the circumstances.)

Barring Kurt Cobain for what should be an obvious reason, Dave Grohl is the only member of Nirvana to still have a career

in music. There’s a reason for that. First off, I think it’s very telling that Grohl is known more for his role in Foo Fighters and Them Crooked Vultures than he is for his role in Nirvana, a band in which he had little creative input. And secondly, Grohl is actually a nice guy; just about everything I’ve heard him say indicates that he’s not afraid to let you know you’re in the wrong, but as long as you’re not hurting anyone he’s content to let you keep on truckin’.

Dave Grohl is that cool uncle we all wish we could have. And he makes halfway decent music as well.

Unless you’re new to being a teenager and want to let everyone know you’re edgy and full of angst, there’s absolutely no reason why you should listen to Nirvana’s Nevermind in its entirety other than to remind yourself that no matter how much of a stand against capitalism and corporate America you think your favourite grunge band embodies, someone somewhere has been paid to allow the cover image of that same record to be plastered on a shirt that sells for $22.50 at Hot Topic. Kurt Cobain, eat your heart out.

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ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Album

The true story of The Incredible True Story HARVIN BHATHAL

CONTRIBUTOR

The best albums are ones that take the listener through a journey. While that may be a cliché, Logic’s sophomore album The Incredible True Story is presented as a literal journey through space with the destination being the planet “Paradise,” as Earth has been destroyed. In his most ambitious venture to date, the Marylandbased rapper brings a change from his first album Under Pressure; that album was about his personal experiences with the challenges of his career and upbringing, and coping with the stress, while The Incredible True Story is more inspired by sci-fi and anime. Logic takes on the role of a screenwriter and director, approaching the album like a film; he has said that the best way to explain the album is as “an audio-cinematic experience.” The creativity of the album stems from his childhood of playing video games, and the fusion of video games and music created a single entity in the form of The Incredible True Story.

“Contact” gives the listener the feel of orbiting through space: a long journey, tough obstacles, and the feeling of finally arriving. It’s more of a beat track with dialogue near the end between the two narrators, Thomas and Kai, than an actual song with lyrics. The song samples the drumbeat from Kanye West’s “Amazing.” However, it accomplishes its purpose of preparing the listener for the rest of the album by providing back-story. Thomas and Kai talk about listening to oldies, referencing Logic’s first album, and setting The Incredible True Story in the present as the album begins.

Next up is “Fade Away.” As one of the album’s three singles, it was well-received, and deservedly so.

With a chill vibe, the song is about accepting mortality and living life to the fullest before you succumb to death. The skit at the end leads to the next song, “Upgrade,” as Thomas and Kai talk about the upgrade for “Thalia,” their ship’s computer. Thalia served as a virtual guide in Under Pressure as well.

The upgrade to Thalia is a metaphor for Logic’s upgrade, but in the music industry and in his personal life. With an amazing melody and rhythm, paired with inspiring lyrics, “Upgrade” serves as an example of how Logic has improved since his first mix tapes and first album.

The song transitions to one of the five scenes in the album, “White People”. This is the first scene where Thomas and Kai’s

Logic showcases his storytelling abilities on Incredible True Story, taking the listener on a journey. adventure is featured, as they encounter the ship Aquarius I and its extraterrestrial inhabitants. Eventually, the mission proceeds.

One of the three singles of the album, “Like Woah” has LWogic reflecting on his career and life and how far he has come. Many of Logic’s songs have the perfect blend of up-tempo beats and lyrics and a chill vibe, and “Like Woah” is no different. The song ends with Thomas and Kai doubting their safety and the continuation of their journey to Paradise, a metaphor for Logic’s hope of overcoming all of the negativity in his life and reaching complete happiness.

As the lead single of The Incredible True Story, “Young Jesus” is old-school rap epitomized. With hard-hitting beats and lyrics, the song takes the listener back to the ‘90s, as Big Lembo so eloquently says in the beginning. Although the song doesn’t have much to do with the space storyline, it carries on the message of “Like Woah.”

“Intermission” is exactly as it’s titled. With its smooth, slowflowing melody and chorus, it’s a welcome change from the last two songs. The song concludes with an interview of a child, presum-

ably set after Paradise is found.

Although the songs immediately following “Intermission” don’t have much to do with the album’s storyline, they’re catchy and listenable. First Logic boasts about how he is the greatest rapper of all time in “I Am the Greatest,” and that the only opinions that matter are the ones of his loyal fans. “The Cube” follows as the third scene of the album, but rather than returning to the space storyline, it focuses on a Rubik’s cube, a favourite symbol of Logic’s. And in terms of style, the beats and flow on “Lord Willin’” resemble Childish Gambino’s “3005”; with a solid bounce and hook, the song can appeal to everyone.

This section of the album doesn’t lack meaning, however.

“City of Stars” is one of the deepest songs of albums, featuring Logic “breaking up” with hiphop, as it has changed so much since its inception and no longer has a specific style. The song is also his first reference to race and how it was difficult for him as a biracial rapper. The complexity of “City of Stars” requires multiple listens to decipher each lyric and understand its full meaning. Similarly, “Stainless” is Logic venting

about how rappers should be themselves and be proud of who they are. The beat is similar to “I Am The Greatest,” and like the aforementioned song, the lyrics are hard-hitting.

Finally we return to The Incredible True Story with “Babel,” the fourth scene, in which Thomas and Kai discuss having lived at the “Babel” space station for quite some time. They’re afraid Paradise will eventually end up being another Earth due to the overconsumption of unrenewable resources and pollution — an obvious allusion to the current environmental situation on Earth.

“Paradise” has elements that remind me of songs from Under Pressure. Lyrically, the song is one of the strongest of the album.

It’s essentially composed of two parts, and the second half of the song is less upbeat and much darker; instead of talking about the hardships in his life that he has had to overcome, Logic focuses on the people that tried to stop him from overcoming those hardships. As a whole, “Paradise” is an inspiring song.

“Never Been” is easily the most soulful song of the album with its uplifting tempo and vibe. Logic’s

heart shows through in the song, and the listener knows; you can really lose yourself in listening to this song. Logic continues with his evolution from his younger years and how he’s become smarter and resistant to the temptations of the darkness. The song ends with Logic telling his engineer Bobby to “run it,” leading into the next song.

Lyrically, “Run It” is full of even more braggadocio than “I Am The Greatest.” Logic expresses how proud he is of his accomplishments, and talks about how he started from the bottom in life and the music industry and now he’s here and runs it. The lyrics are fast-paced and the flow from the song is one of the best from the album.

The fifth and final scene before we finally reach Paradise is “Lucidity.” Like the title, this track is light, bright, and clear as Thomas and Kai discuss their hopes and dreams that could be possible on Paradise, unlike on Earth.

Finally, the titular song “The Incredible True Story” offers the long-awaited conclusion to the space storyline, as well as Logic’s personal storyline under the space metaphor. He talks about his ability to connect with his fans and how it has never been better, inspiring them to follow their dreams and ambitions. The instrumental in this song is by far the best on the album, making it easy to lose yourself in the beats.

The lyrics are on par with the rest of the album, but the chorus of “They wonder who am I, so high” is my favourite. Logic samples a quote from Alan Watts about people settling rather than going for their dreams and desires, which ties in with everything. The final skit tells how Thomas and Kai’s journey ends. Listen to the album to find out what happens …

Compared to Under Pressure, The Incredible True Story is a fantastic follow-up album. Creatively, Logic took a risk, which can be appreciated — it’s better for an artist to aim high and miss rather than play it safe. A major leap forward was taken with the album in terms of musical storytelling. The production was superior to that of his first album, but lyrically, it wasn’t on par; it lacked the postalbum high that Under Pressure had. Nonetheless, The Incredible True Story is an album worth multiple listens.

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ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Comics

In comics, now anyone can be a hero KAT MARUSIAK

THE CASCADE

There has always been something massively lacking in North American superhero comics. Two of the most famous comic book publishers, Marvel and DC, have been gaining even more widespread fame and fans as their movie adaptations bring more attention to the world of superhero comics. But let’s look at some of the most famous heroes from these stories: Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, Thor ... The list could go on and on, with one overtly noticeable connecting factor: they are all Caucasian, and the majority of them are male.

When people are asked to describe what they think of when they think about “the superhero,” the image conjured by many is usually that of a muscular, handsome Caucasian male, or a beautiful, busty Caucasian female. But with so many diverse cultures inhabiting North

America, why is the world of superheroes still so noticeably white-washed?

We are finally starting to see more integration of multiculturalism into traditional hero comic books, but we still have a long way to go. For example, taking a familiar character such as Spider-Man / Peter Parker and creating a new iteration of him as an African American named Miles Morales is a step in the right direction at least, but not a big enough one.

However, we are still slowly gaining ground. One of the best examples of this I’ve found recently is in the new series of Ms. Marvel. If you’re a fan of superhero comics — hell, even if you’re not — this is definitely a series I can’t recommend highly enough. The original Ms. Marvel, or “Captain Marvel,” who is also still a character in the new series, is a blondehaired, blue-eyed, shapely white woman named Carol Danvers who originally first appeared in the ‘60s. In the new series, she passes the mantle on to a new hero in the making: Kamala Khan, a

16-year-old Muslim girl (and huge nerd) who idolizes her. Of course, being a superhero isn’t exactly easy, and Kamala suddenly finds herself trying to balance heroics with school and all of the many trials of being a teenager — and not just a teenager, but a geeky Muslim teen living in the predominantly white, non-Muslim world of New Jersey — while also trying to truly find herself and embrace her own identity.

In such a diverse land full of so many different people, we need more diversity in our comics as well. When people can more closely relate on a personal level, these characters can speak to us much more intimately, and also remind us all that anyone, of any race, colour, gender, identity, etc., can feel the same desire to protect the innocent, fight for a better world, and be a hero.

Image: Torisora / DeviantArt

Theatre

UFV’s Argonautika retells classic myth of Jason GLEN ESS

THE CASCADE

UFV Theatre opened its season by performing Argonautika, an adaptation of the story of Jason and the Argonauts on their voyage to reclaim the Golden Fleece written by Mary Zimmerman and directed by Colleen Lanki.

The intimate nature of the small, thrust-stage style theatre ensured that the performers were capable of delivering a performance that immersed the audience and captured their attention for the nearly three-hour-long performance.

The actors put on a show that was excellently produced with nary a hiccup along the way.

Scene transitions were sharp, and the actors proved to be more

than capable of manipulating the emotions of the audience, as Argonautika flowed from comedic to tragic, much like the wine-dark sea upon which the crew of the Argo sailed.

The performers put their hearts and souls into bringing each character to life — the brashly overconfident Hercules (Russell Blower), the charismatic and dreamy Jason (Luke Steele), the quite literally love-struck Medea (Phaydra-Rae Gagnon), and the tongue-in-cheek, fourthwall-breaking narrator, the goddess Athena (Heather Littlejohn).

It was remarkably easy to get lost in the tale and become emotionally invested in those characters on a stage just a few feet away.

However, the play, like any

production put on by students still learning their trade, contained moments of pure quality and marvelous potential, with some few instances where they maybe could have done better.

Given the large cast of Argonautika, it was inevitable that the portrayal of some of the Argonauts would be less fleshed-out than others. But at times during the first half of the play, it appeared that Hercules was a more visible and more central character than Jason, as Hercules, by far the most commonly known Greek hero, was at the heart of some of the early obstacles faced by the Argonauts.

Ultimately, this rendition of Argonautika will most certainly entertain: “It’s got a bit of every-

thing really, comedy, romance, even tragedy,” says theatre student and Argonautika assistant director Geneva Perkins. It will amuse you, and have your stomach aching from laughter, but it will also break your heart at points and make you weak at the knees at the ruthlessness of Greek tragedy. It will also make you walk out of the theatre thinking to yourself, “Man, Greek goddesses are jerks.”

Argonautika is playing until November 29 at the CEP campus.

Tickets are available online at www.ufv.ca/theatre.

Image: UFV Theatre

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

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SPORTS & HEALTH

Dayton Pagliericci volleys into new season VANESSA BROADBENT

THE CASCADE

As the Cascades men’s volleyball team comes home from their second road trip of the month, third-year criminology student Dayton Pagliericci is midway through his second season as a middle on the team.

Pagliericci talks about balancing athletics and his studies, his favourite moments with the team, and the team dynamics this season.

How did you start playing volleyball?

I started playing recreationally, just playing drop-in volleyball, and then I got into Abbotsford Drop-in League, which is a lot of ex-college players. That’s where I met Adam Chaplin, who’s on the team right now. He invited me out because, being 6’6, they said, “Why not, let’s give it a shot,” and it’s been like that ever since.

It’s been a learning curve playing a sport that I never played in high school, or played when I was little or anything like that. I was more of a hockey / lacrosse player, but it’s been awesome. There’s a strong team environment in this sport, which I really enjoy.

What do you like about playing volleyball?

The sport part about it is great. I love how everybody has to come together. I’ve never played a sport that requires the whole team to be on at the same time. If it’s hockey or lacrosse, a single player can handle the whole team, but this is such a mental sport. I really en-

your course load and athletics?

It’s my first year ever not working and I have to tell you, it’s night and day. It’s a lot easier to balance.

I’m doing three courses right now.

It’s tough for any kind of varsity athlete. The first years that I was at school, I didn’t play volleyball or any sports, and I thought, “Oh, these athletes get prime registration” and all that stuff, but they need it because they have to balance themselves. I’ve never been juggling so much in my life. I’ve lost relationships with it because you’re so busy with school and volleyball. You can’t give that time to the person. It’s tough. I respect varsity athletes, but also any student to be honest. We just go through so much hell.

joy it. I love playing a university sport, it’s great. I’ve loved being on a team ever since I could play sports. It’s just a great brotherhood you have on a team.

What are the team’s goals for the season?

Obviously, just like last year, it’s to go to nationals this year. So far, our season’s been looking good; the team’s looking good. I’m really proud of them, especially since in the past, UFV volleyball hasn’t been successful, and with our coach and our new players coming on to the floor, there’s a really good mental side to it. We believe that we can go all the way this year.

Image UFV Cascades

“Those are the kind of games that I live for, where everything says that you shouldn’t win and then the guys stick together and you do win.”

Are you planning on pursuing volleyball after you graduate?

No, I’m not actually. I thought this was a great opportunity to just play a different sport that I haven’t played and be with the guys. If there’s an opportunity that’s thrown my way, I’ll take

Dayton Pagliericci (number 7) is leading the CanadaWest conference in blocks. it into consideration, but I’m not looking for it.

What other sports do you play?

I play lacrosse, hockey, I swim, I play baseball, and a little taekwondo; all that good stuff. Oh, and squash, I love squash — nice indoor sport. Gotta love the indoor sports.

What have been your favourite games playing with the Cascades?

Just recently, we played a five game set — games go up to five — and it was the last set, and it was just really cool to have to whole team together. I can’t stress

enough how great it is, the brotherhood on this team. No matter what’s going on and what happens, we get our heads into it and we talk amongst each other and we push through it. Those are the kind of games that I live for, where everything says that you shouldn’t win, and then the guys stick together and you do win. It’s a really great feeling to have that, and that’s what I live for — that push that we all have, that drive.

I like surrounding myself with people like that, and that’s all the guys that we have on the team this year.

How do you find time to balance

You’re leading in the conference in blocks. How does that feel?

It’s a really great feeling. I don’t like to look into that stuff too much. You just focus really hard on the one game coming up. Stats are great to know, but it just makes me want to do better and better, especially since last year I wasn’t really good at blocking. That was my kryptonite pretty much. I was a good offence player, but defence was kind of iffy. So this year I’ve switched it around. I’m a little iffy on the offence, but hopefully stronger on the defence, which is a lot nicer. It’s a good recognition, it feels good, but I’m just going to keep pushing through it.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Is swapping meals for Soylent worthwhile?

ARIANNA SIEBERT-TIMMER CONTRIBUTOR

There’s a new craze spreading around the tech industry, and its name is Soylent. Not to be confused with the cannibalistic wafers in the 1970s science-fiction film, this version is based on various vegan sources and is designed to meet every nutritional requirement the human body has.

Engineered by a software developer in the Silicon Valley, Soylent is supposed to be able to stand as a food replacement (either in part or in whole), working with the intention of removing the day-to-day hassle of prepping meals in a healthy and sustain-

able way. So the big question is, does this actually work?

In terms of prepping meals and the overall cost of Soylent, it’s a fantastic resource. Depending on which version you get (either the liquid pre-made version, or just the powder), the overall cost of eating a 2,000 calorie diet is around $10 CAD per day. Meal preparation time is at most three minutes — pour the powder into a container, pour twice as much water into the container, give it a good shake (or a whirl in a blender) and either enjoy, or store in the fridge so it has a chance to thicken up a bit. As for what it’s actually like, the best comparison for both versions (in terms of taste and texture) would be pancake

batter; since there are various flours in the recipe, it tends to be the most accurate and common description.

Of course, this still leaves the question, is it healthy? This is difficult to answer accurately. As we learn more about the human body and its nutritional needs, we are constantly discovering new nutrients that are essential for biological functions. By cutting out the variability in our diets, there is the risk that one of these nutrients will be missing for a long duration of time, which could have less than desirable implications (e.g. scurvy) on your overall health.

One thing for sure is that there really are varying degrees of

“healthy.” If your current diet consists of Twinkies with a side of Coke (diet or not), then yes, this would definitely be a step in the right direction, at the least. There have actually been a few instances where people have experimented with a Soylent-only diet for 30 days, and found that upon their return to eating normally they were able to make healthier choices, as they had broken the sugar-craving cycle that so many of us are afflicted by.

However, if your current diet is based on fresh fruit, veggies, and an overall lack of anything processed, then really, Soylent may not be the solution for you. In this case, should you want the timesaving aspect of the product, you

would be better off creating your own version of Soylent, and (unlike most companies), this is actually something that Soylent themselves support through a large DIY community on their website.

Of course, when all is said and done, perhaps you are perfectly happy eating actual food and have no desire to switch to this Matrix-esque solution. As in all cases, everyone is different, and what works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. So you do you, keep healthy, and for whichever path you choose, bon appétit!

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SPORTS & HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 www.ufvcascade.ca

Take a Hike!

Rotary Trail good for all seasons TERRILL SMITH

CONTRIBUTOR / PHOTO

UPCOMING

EVENTS

November 27 to 28 Canadian Arenacross Championships Future West Moto is hosting the 2015 Canadian Arenacross Championships at Chilliwack Heritage Park this Friday and Saturday. The event begins nightly at 6 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit www.futurewestmoto. ca.

Every Monday Hip-hop dancing The UFV hip-hop dance club welcomes students of all skills levels to participate in hip hop dancing. Classes are every Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall in the Student Union Building. More information can be found online at facebook. com/groups/ufvhiphop.

Every Wednesday Free yoga classes Join the UFV yoga club for free yoga every Wednesday. Classes are from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Great Hall in the Student Union Building. For more information visit the yoga club’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ ufvyogaclub.

Ongoing Organized drop-in sports Now that school is back in gear, drop in sports are beginning again. Stop by the Envision Athletics Centre to join in basketball, pickle ball / badminton, soccer, volleyball, rugby, or ball hockey games. No registration is required and anyone with a valid UFV campus card can participate.

For more information and to see the full schedule visit ufvcascades.ca/ rec.

The Trans Canada Trail comprises the longest network of recreational trails in the world.

Stretching from the west coast of Vancouver Island to Canada’s east coast, one notable portion of the trail — the Rotary Trail — runs through Chilliwack, which allows you to enjoy various sections of the north dyke of the Vedder River. While the trail also offers up spectacular views of the surrounding mountains (including Cheam and Slesse), perhaps its most significant feature is its multi-use nature.

The Rotary Trail is a gravel trail located within the Vedder Greenway, which is the floodplain area of the Chilliwack and Vedder River extending from upstream of the Vedder Crossing Bridge to the Highway 1 crossing of the Vedder Canal. Since the trail runs along a floodplain, it is naturally flat, and therefore conducive to many different types of activities.

Walkers, joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, and horseback riders can all be seen sharing the trail simultaneously, demonstrating that while the trail has a fundamentally easy degree of difficulty, you can increase the difficulty by engaging in more strenuous activities.

Although a consequence of the trail’s multiple uses and resulting popularity is congestion, there are helpful signs along the trail indicating right-of-way (cyclists yield to pedestrians and horseback riders, while pedestrians yield to horseback riders). And remember to always keep right!

There are also other helpful signs as well. For example, markers

Chilliwack’s Rotary Trail is perfect for all types of physical activity. exist for every kilometre of the trail, which extends approximately eight kilometres from its start at the Vedder Road parking lot to its junction with the Vedder North Dyke Trail west of the Great Blue Heron Reserve. The markers are particularly useful for those walkers and joggers wishing to keep track of their distance travelled, and if you’re exhausted from a taxing jog or run, benches and picnic tables along the trail offer a place for respite.

There are also portable toilets, including wheelchair accessible

Scoreboard Men’s Basketball

Nov 20 UFV Cascades vs. UNBC Timberwolves L 81-74

Nov 21 UFV Cascades vs. UNBC Timberwolves W 74-72 Women’s Basketball

Nov 20 UFV Cascades vs. UNBC Timberwolves W 80-68

Nov 21 UFV Cascades vs. UNBC Timberwolves W 78-67 Men’s Volleyball

Nov 20 UFV Cascades vs. COTR Avalanche L 3-1

Nov 21 UFV Cascades vs. COTR Avalanche W 3-0 Women’s Volleyball

Nov 21 UFV Cascades vs. COTR Avalanche W 3-1

Nov 22 UFV Cascades vs. COTR Avalanche L 3-2

ones, for when needed.

If you’re driving in from Abbotsford, it’s important to note that there are parking lots at Vedder Road, Peach Road, Lickman Road, Hopedale Road, and the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve.

The most scenic, and therefore most popular, stretch of the trail runs from Vedder Road to Lickman Road, so keep this in mind.

In other words, if you’re looking to go on a cathartic, solitary walk in nature, you’re best to park at Lickman Road and walk west to-

ward the heron reserve.

Lastly, because much of the trail follows the east bank of the Vedder River, easy access to the river for fishers is provided, further proving the trail’s truly multi-use nature. However, although you won’t see fishers at this time of year, you are still free to walk, jog, or bike the trail.

After all, just because it’s getting cold, that doesn’t mean you have to stop being active!

Upcoming Games Men’s Basketball Friday Nov 27 8:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. TRU Wolf Pack (away) Saturday Nov 28 7:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. TRU Wolf Pack (away) Women’s Basketball Friday Nov 27 6:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. TRU Wolf Pack (away) Saturday Nov 28 5:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. TRU Wolf Pack (away) Men’s Volleyball Friday Nov 27 8:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. CAP Blues (home) Saturday Nov 28 7:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. CAP Blues (home) Women’s Volleyball Friday Nov 27 6:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. CAP Blues (home) Saturday Nov 28 5:00 p.m. UFV Cascades vs. CAP Blues (home)