The Cascade, Volume 32, Issue 2

CONTEMPORARY BLACK AUTHORS

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

Production Manager Sherryl Agingu sherryl@ufvcascade.ca

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

Culture Editor Kiara Okonkwo kiara@ufvcascade.ca

Features, Cover & Illustrator Eseniia Bondar eseniia@ufvcascade.ca

Digital Media Manager Wilson Agyapong wilson@ufvcascade.ca

Digital Design Manager Diana Blanco diana@ufvcascade.ca

Snapshot Illustrator Iryna Presley iryna@ufvcascade.ca

Staff Writer Gauri Sethi gauri@ufvcascades.ca

Staff Writer Cassie Williams cassie@ufvcascade.ca)

Staff Writer Veronica Powell veronica@ufvcascade.ca

Community Engagement Coordinator Sabrina Morgan sabrina@ufvcascade.ca

Managing Editor Jayden Talvio jayden@ufvcascade.ca

Creative Director Gabriela Gonzalez gabriela@ufvcascade.ca

News Editor Rachel Tait rachel@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Emmaline Spencer emmaline@ufvcascade.ca

Copy Editor Aasha Khoyratty aasha@ufvcascade.ca

Features Editor Brad Duncan brad@ufvcascade.ca

Arts

Gianna Dinwoodie gianna@ufvcascade.ca Illustrator Arsena Eeg arsena@ufvcascade.ca

Staff

Jay Peter jay@ufvcascade.ca

Staff

Allana Quigley Allana@ufvcascades.ca

Senate Recap February 2024

International student permit cap, scheduling decisions, and program changes

RACHEL TAIT

CONTRIBUTORS

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The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by The Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every other Wednesday with a print circulation of 800 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities.

The Cascade is open to written, photo, and design work from all students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment from an editor. Pitch meetings will be digital for the remainder of the semester. Please email managing@ufvcascade.ca to be put on the assignment email list.

In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief, copy editor, and corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic, or libellous content. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 200 words. As The Cascade is an autonomous student publication, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.

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

Senate is the academic governing body of UFV, with the university president and vice-chancellor Dr. Joanne MacLean as chair. They are responsible for making decisions on everything academic, including: approving new courses and programs, approving changes to programs, and setting entrance requirements and the academic calendar. The Board of Governors, which looks at the business side of the university, is advised by Senate on matters of mutual interest

All at the university are welcome to attend Senate’s public meetings, held once a month. Senate makes decisions that impact the daily lives of both students and faculty. This article will recap the main agenda items of the hybrid Senate meeting on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.

Dr. Joanne MacLean, president and chair, addressed the international student permit cap that was revealed by the Government of Canada on Jan. 22. The Canadian federal government cited concerns over the quality of international students’ studies and the impact that international students, as non-permanent residents, have on the housing crisis.

MacLean stated that the university has “taken a reasonably conservative approach,” adding that the institute has been “more intentional around understanding and supporting international students at UFV over our past than some other institutions that I know. And it leaves us in a reasonably good place.” Maclean assured the board that while there may be challenges in the future, this cap off is not a “disaster” for UFV and that it will not lead to program closures or lay offs.

Dr. James Mandigo, provost and vice president academic, gave a presentation about what UFV knows so far about the new international student permit cap. He noted that the national cap for the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to review is 606,250 for the 2024 year, which is a 35 per cent decrease from last year. The 2024 allocated number for new student applications for study permits in B.C. is 83,000. Out of that number, 50,000 study permits are projected to be approved.

Mandigo said that each institution will be allowed to accept a certain number of students each calendar year. According to the Government of Canada’s Jan. 22 news release, “individual provincial and territorial caps have been established, weighted by population, which will result in much more significant decreases in provinces where the international student population has seen the most unsustainable growth. Study permit renewals will not be impacted. Those pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, and elementary and secondary education are not included in the cap. Current study permit holders will not be affected.”

Mandigo said that each university will be assigned a specific number of letters of attestation by the province to give to students accepted into their programs. Mandigo and David Johnston, university registrar, explained that if an accepted student applicant decides not to attend UFV, the institution cannot reuse the letters of attestation and give them to another student applicant. Mandigo said they will know more information once another announcement is made in the spring.

Photography by TAdobe Stock (Accessed January 2024)

Jeffrey Kennett Anisa Quintyne Sydney Marchand

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Johnston presented to the senate three potential schedule options for sessional dates for the new year. Schedules are currently required to reach 63 days of instruction in a 13-week semester. However, according to his memo, “with the growth of statutory holidays, and reading breaks, the distribution and balance in days of the week of instruction has become difficult.”

The first option presented is to follow the current schedule and maintain 63 days of instruction; the second is to schedule Thursday as a substitute for Monday at the end of the term, decreasing the term to 62 days; the third is to substitute Friday for Monday instead, maintaining 63 days of instruction. First recommended by associate professor in the school of business, Gerry Palmer, MacLean motioned to approve option two for the sessional schedule and it was carried.

Mandigo called for the approval of the motion to discontinue the extended minor in philosophy. According to a memo from Dr. Sylvie Murray, dean of arts, the reasons include the extended minor not providing better employment opportunities than the minor and that “there is negligible demand for the program.” Moreover, students can still fulfill their educational requirements by taking a philosophy major or minor. The motion

was voted on favourably by the senate and carried.

Johnston made a motion for the discontinuance of the Aviation concentration in the bachelor of integrated studies program. Hannah Celinski wrote in a memo to Dr. Murray, “With recent revisions to the BBA Aviation there is no longer a need for the concentration in the BIS, therefore we are discontinuing it.” The motion was voted on and the changes were approved.

Canada

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Canada imposes caps on international study permits

Limitation on international students comes in hopes of improving higher education standards

CASSIE WILLIAMS

On Jan. 22, 2024, the Canadian federal government implemented a two-year cap on international student study permits and visas. The government claimed that the goal behind these caps is to improve the quality of international students’ studies by bringing in higher standards and greater accountability for educational institutions in B.C. The cap is also meant to alleviate the housing crisis by removing some of the demand from the housing market by having fewer non-permanent residents renting in Canada.

According to a CBC report, the government said it “will approve approximately 360,000 undergraduate study permits for 2024 — a 35 per cent reduction from 2023.” In a public announcement, Marc Miller, the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, said that in some provinces, the total reduction in permits could be up to 50 per cent.

The Cascade reached out to David Johnston, university registrar, for further insight on the potential impact this may have on UFV. Johnston explained that there is now a different process by which the government will distribute study permits. It’s a similar procedure, only now they’ve added an attestation letter which will be provided by the provinces and territories. Once a student receives an attestation letter, they can use it to apply for a study visa or permit. This letter confirms the province’s or territory’s support of the student applying.

“The two things holding us up now are how many students can we allow to apply and how do we get the letter from the province,” said Johnston.” He explained that prospective students are now being held in suspense thanks to this new disruption. “They’re waiting along with the rest of us.”

Johnston stated that prior to late last year, a student had to prove to the Canadian government that they had ten-thousand dollars on deposit, but now it has increased to twenty thousand.

“Many things are changing all at once,” said Johnston, “and then [the federal government] said, ‘we’re going to limit the number of study permits we allow each year.’” He observed that while there

is more of a focus on private institutions, UFV, and all other public universities in British Columbia, are “swept up in this.”

The Feds are also using the cap to take action against private universities across Canada. In a press conference, Miller said, “it’s unacceptable that some private institutions have taken advantage of international students by operating under-resourced campuses,

lacking supports for students and charging high tuition fees all the while significantly increasing their intake of international students.”

The provincial government is also implementing new measures to address some of the exploitative practices of private degree programs, imposing higher standards, and setting minimum language requirements.

Out of the 360,000 permits the government is expected to generate each year, they are going to allocate a portion of these to each province and territory. British Columbia will receive around 83,000 student permit applications per year under the new system. “The challenge for the government,” said Johnston, “is how you’re going to split those up between public institutions and private institutions, and that’s what we’re all waiting for… each university gets an allocation — but we don’t know what it is yet.”

The federal government says that by allotting a portion of the total and distributing the permits according to population, this will result in “much more significant decreases in provinces where the international student population has seen the most unsustainable growth,” According to Johnston, UFV is not too worried, provided the government distributes the permits reasonably. “We think that [UFV] will get a fair allocation that will allow us to continue going on as usual.”

Johnston stated that the percentage of international students at UFV was just under 20 per cent for the Fall 2023 semester. This number does not include students in the trades programs, but solely those pursuing bachelor’s degrees and diplomas. With the little information known at this time regarding the new system, it remains unclear how this number will change and what other effects will come from the new implementations.

Photography by Marc Miller (2023) linkedin.com

SNAPSHOTS

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

The fear of stench

My dog has suddenly become an anxiety-stricken, tail-tucking, eyebrow-furrowing, nervous wreck. For weeks now, he has been convinced that something, somewhere is waiting to strike him from behind. The culprit, as far as I can discern from his behaviour, is not in his head. It is deeper. Guttural. It is the enemy within. It is, unbelievably, his own farts.

After nine years on the planet, he finally developed gas so bad that it broke his tiny little mind. Danger now lurks around every corner like a smelly ninja. His fear is reinforced by the sound of the air purifier, which automatically kicks into high gear following an assault. The sound of the fan spooling up to a whirr sends him

skittering between my legs, keeping his back to the wall with an eye on the exits like a mobster in a delicatessen.

The whole situation would be hilarious if his concern wasn’t so profound. He no longer feels safe in his home. Always underfoot, his waking hours are a constant whine, and sleep only comes when he’s tightly curled-up beside my neck. “It’s okay,” I assure him as calmly as I can muster knowing that now, I’m in the danger zone too.

Do I love him or am I just bored?

I can’t help it. I just can’t. I fall in love with that situationship or I fantasize about a certain friend. A week later and I’m sure I was never truly in love, but in the moment, it feels so real and good. Maybe I just love to fall in love. It’s addictive: that sweet feeling of flutters in my stomach and the irresistible need to smile at the thought of a special person.

Then the drop hits. I’ll sit and wonder if I ever loved them at all. It’s just so easy to get caught up in the moment that I don’t

even realize it’s a moment. At night I’ll think about whether these snapshots of my life are affections or afflictions of the heart. Do I love him or am I just lonely? Do I love him or is he just a convenient stranger? Do I love him — or should I just get some sleep?

Love and kindness for all!

I blush at the memories of receiving valentines from every one of my elementary school peers; they came with candy hearts and pins saying, “Be mine.” Valentine’s Day felt important; a day where we all showed love and care for each other, even those outside of our friend groups. Handing out valentines to everyone didn’t feel like an obligation, but a genuine gesture where everyone felt included.

I reminisce fondly on these days and wonder where along the line we decided to limit who to share these selfless moments with. We became adults and figured it was only necessary to give valentines to

those whom we have close relationships with, like our parents, siblings, partners, and best friends.

Everyone deserves a voucher of kindness, especially those who are generous to us: bus drivers who wait for us when they see us running to catch our ride and professors who don’t dock penalties when we hand in assignments late. It would be nice for us to show more appreciation towards those outside of our circles. You never know what a small token of gratitude might mean to someone.

Preheat to 350 and relax

Over the past few years I’ve realized that baking is a serious stress reliever. Measuring, mixing, pouring, decorating; it’s all very relaxing to me — plus, I get a sweet treat to reward myself with for all my hard work. That’s why cookie season is my favourite time of year. Especially around the holidays, I cannot help but find myself unlocking my inner granny-mode, scouring Pinterest for new dessert recipes. You have the classic shortbread, of course, but there are other delicacies out there like spiced cranberry and orange squares that are equally as delicious.

However, even if you don’t like to bake, remember to slow down sometimes. Take a moment to get out of work-mode or school-mode and do something for yourself. Whatever it may be — baking or painting or reading — find that “thing” that calms you down so you can emerge from that moment more serene than when you entered it. You deserve it.

Have a favourite dessert recipe? Share it with us! We love to feature new dishes in The Cascade Kitchen.

BRADLEY DUNCAN

VERONICA POWELL

WELL-READ AND HALF-BLACK

Six novels from contemporary authors that I think you should read

KIARA OKONKWO

While I am All About Love, February is more than a single day for the possibility of romance — it is Black History Month — 29 days of encouragement to reflect upon and uplift the contributions of Black people, wherever you may find yourself. While we look back to the people who came before us, we must also find time to think about the present and where we currently stand.

For me, Blackness is a rich inheritance. It offers me eyes that easily pick out other Black people in the throng, ears that flower open at the sound of a Black voice, a mind that craves art made by Black people, and fingers that yearn to write my Black story. I enthusiastically follow local Black artists around like a groupie (my first crack at journalism was out of pure passion for Emily Carr graduate, Rebecca Bair), and I arm myself with the Black feminist teachings of bell hooks, Angela Davis, Audre Lorde, and Maya Angelou.

With that in mind, I’m eager to share with you a curated list of six novels that are very much informed by the compounds of my identity: my womanhood; my Nigerian heritage; my upbringing in Abbotsford; but they are also stellar journeys and colourful depictions of contemporary Black life. These are not single stories of an oppressive past, but tales that span the diaspora of our present and propel us into the future. Said best by Octavia E. Butler, “I wrote myself into the world.”

Americanah Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I first came across Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie through her TED Talk, “The danger of a single story” in which she presented her experience of becoming Black in America. Born and raised in Nsukka, Nigeria, she, like me, was left transformed after reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. An accomplished writer, she received the Commonwealth Writers Prize in 2005 for her debut novel Purple Hibiscus. Her second novel Half of a Yellow Sun was an international bestseller and adapted into a film in 2013.

Americanah is Adichie’s third novel. A mirror to some of her personal experiences, the protagonist, Ifemelu, moves to the U.S. for university and encounters racism for the first time. Ifemelu’s star-crossed lover, Obinze attempts to unite with her but battles the surveillance bureaucracy of a post 9/11 America, eventually becoming an undocumented immigrant in the U.K. Through years of separation that bred differing understandings of place and identity, Ifemelu returns to Nigeria and to Obinze, but can their divides be bridged? Americanah explores contemporary issues of migration, identity, and calls out the performative nature of some Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As Canada encounters “reverse migration” and DEI functions as a political and cultural buzzword, Adichie brings a valued perspective in a time of rampant virtue signalling.

Luster Raven Leilani

I used to frequent the aisles of the West End Community Center library, when the quiet of living alone split my eardrums, in search of authentic stories about being a young woman. Ones that would be honest and impure and messy; that had nothing to do with the moral righteousness of what a young woman should be. As the tips of my fingers traced through the stacks, I fell upon a bound black book with a radiance of colour on the cover. The covert coiled curls signaled all that I was looking for, and I delved into a reading experience that offered me so much more than I expected. The book was Luster by Raven Leilani, a 33-yearold author who completed her MFA at New York University (NYU), and was named in the 2020 National Book Foundation’s “5 under 35.”

Leilani’s debut novel follows Akila, age 23, through an evolving workplace affair with a white male superior who is in an open marriage. Beginning in fraught sexual tension with a prose that realizes the idiosyncrasies of physical intimacy, through Akila we explore relations to power that intersect race, gender and sex, giving a voice to Black female sexuality that is raw and taboo. Akila’s growing curiosity for the couple’s adopted Black daughter complicates this unconventional arrangement, breathing life into the complex inner workings of the modern family and the layers of class that define us.

Girl, Woman, Other Bernardine Evaristo

This novel was given to me on the last brunch I had with a close friend the day before I left Vancouver. We met at the cafe, nestled between heritage apartments covered with sprawling vines. “I saw this and thought of you,” she said, pushing the 400-page novel towards me. The cover was like a colourful quilt, with photos and print stitched and etched together. I had no idea that I was being gifted the novel that won alongside Margaret Atwood’s sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments, for the acclaimed Booker Prize. When I began reading it some months later, I saw the art on the front as a foreshadow to the fiction that lies beneath: lyrical, poetic, makeshift, and standing tall in its own right.

Girl, Woman, Other, begins with Amma, a lesbian theatre director, on the opening of her play at the National Theatre. Through a series of episodes, the reader is brought into the lives of 12 British women with varying degrees of connection. The novel explores the intersections of race, sexuality, history, and socio-economic background, spanning decades. Evaristo ties her characters together with an invisible string that wraps itself around the lived experience of the contemporary woman.

Nightcrawling Leila Mottley

Oakland native Leila Mottley was 19 when she wrote her first novel, Nightcrawling, inspired by an accusation of female exploitation against her local police department. Centering a systemically disempowered woman trying to survive in Oakland, California, Mottley mirrors the processes of Toni Morrison; by leaning into the discomfort of her situation, she found the strength to tell a profound story — one that landed her on The New York Times Bestseller list and longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize. Kiara Johnson is a highschool dropout battling a system that has a legacy of jailing and killing her kin. Kiara works tirelessly to keep herself, her brother Marcus, and the boy next door housed in an apartment slum of East Oakland. While Marcus chases a “rags to riches” rap star pipe dream, Kiara is ensnared in the dangerous industry of nightcrawling, becoming tied up in a case against authorities as a key witness. Mottley writes a strong Black female character chock-full of agency. If you’re unfamiliar with advocate and scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw and her term “intersectionality,” then Nightcrawling may be the crash course you need to understand how compounding systems of domination can lead to disenfranchisement.

Invisible Boy

Harrison Mooney

I first came across Harrison Mooney while he was the 2022 Writer in Residence at the Vancouver Public Library. Reading his book, Invisible Boy was a pivotal experience — like getting picked first in third grade during a game of duck, duck, goose — I felt seen. The experience of growing up Black in Abbotsford was always something that I had felt substantial and worthy of exploration, and here was Mooney, doing just that. The book was a finalist for the 2023 Governor General’s Literary Award for nonfiction, and came in first place for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize in 2023. I met Mooney in 2023 at a Black History Month event put on by Black Connections Abbotsford, where I bought a copy of his book from the table out front and waited in line for him to sign it. Inside he wrote, “Kiara, I know you. I’m glad.”

Mooney’s memoir explores his childhood as a transracial adoptee of a Christian fundamentalist family in Abbotsford. Through the trials of homeschool and a God-fearing family dedicated to a war against the devil, Mooney’s nonfiction traverses his psyche “from white cult to Black consciousness.” Leading us into experiences of microaggressions, racial isolation, and tokenism, this memoir serves as an exploration of reality from a person whose world was constructed without regard to who they are. Honourable mention for the locations in the book being hyper local — there’s a scene from Mooney’s graduation from UFV.

Parable of the Sower

Octavia E. Butler

The late Octavia E. Butler is the first Black female to publish within the science fiction genre, and she was a recipient of the 1995 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. Butler held a power in her mind’s eye. Her ability to see into the future and impart warning to the present leaves readers entrenched in awe. Butler is hailed as the “mother of Afrofuturism,” a literary genre that, defined by the National Museum of African American History & Culture, “expresses notions of Black identity, agency and freedom through art, creative works and activism that envision liberated futures for Black life.” The Parable Series is a collection I could not put down, and I toy with the idea of tattooing the guiding philosophy, “God is Change,” below the crease in my elbow where it can serve as a reminder.

In Parable of the Sower, Lauren Olamina, age 15, is in the midst of global climate change and an American economic crisis in the early 2020s. Wrought with visuals of food and water shortages, homelessness and drug addiction, everyday citizens have been transformed into vagrants who are willing to do anything to live another day. Lauren’s access to education, community, and faith create a backbone of virtue that leads her through the constant threat to life. With staunch belief and the power of influence, Lauren charts a new destiny. The Afrofuturistic art of today — from Beyoncé’s Lemonade (2016) to Black Panther (2018), to the films of Jordan Peele — would not be here without Butler’s contribution to a genre that challenges our narratives of Black life. Parable of the Sower is being adapted into a film by A24.

Hockey Canada’s latest scandal just a drop in the bucket

Five players have been charged in connection to an alleged sexual assault from 2018

JEFFREY KENNETT

Hockey is embedded within the fabric of Canadian culture; our national teams are celebrated, staunchly defended, and players are idolized. However, a dark cloud that has been lurking in the background is starting to become slightly more clear. Hockey Canada is under the microscope after an an alleged incident surrounding a prominent junior hockey team has exposed a disturbing pattern of toxic masculinity, sexual assault, and discreet settlements.

On June 19, 2018, the day after a charity gala event to celebrate Canada’s World Juniors gold medal win earlier that year, the London, Ont. police department received a report of sexual assault, filed by a woman identified through court documents as E.M., involving up to twelve members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior team. Hockey Canada reportedly became aware of the incident early that morning during a golf tournament, and held internal meetings to discuss how to proceed. The organization contacted the London police sometime that evening, and subsequently opened their own investigation through an independent law firm.

Eight months later, in February 2019, London police closed their investigation due to a lack of evidence. Hockey Canada followed and closed their own investigation in September 2020; as the complainant chose not to participate, even after no charges were laid by police.

Hockey Canada’s investigation was optional for players, and thereby received mixed levels of cooperation from those who chose to be involved. The case publicly surfaced in May 2022, when E.M. settled her lawsuit with Hockey Canada and eight unnamed players.

On Jan. 31, 2024, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Dillion Dube, and Alex Formenton were charged with one count each of sexual assault. Michael McLeod has been assessed a second count for being a “party to the offence.” Formenton was playing in Europe before surrendering to police, while Hart, Foote, Dube, and McLeod were in the NHL when they went on leave from their teams. None of these charges have yet been proven in court and all five players are preparing to plead not guilty.

In the wake of E.M.’s settlement, in July of 2022, a parliamentary committee at the House of Commons called upon Hockey Canada’s executives to face questioning amidst public backlash over the case, and to find out what taxpayer’s dollars were being spent on. Over the course of the hearings, it was discovered that Hockey Canada has quietly paid out nine settlements since 1989 that involved sexual assault, not including E.M.’s lawsuit; it was also revealed that they have handled an average of one to two sexual assault cases a year, over the last six years.

The swift action taken by Hockey Canada to settle their 2022 lawsuit with E.M. has come into question, while the federal government responded by

freezing the organization’s funding, which was valued at $7.7 million in 2022. Hockey Canada was motivated to handle the situation without an insurer, to avoid any further investigations. They instead paid sexual assault settlements out of a multimillion-dollar reserve: the National Equity Fund (NEF). The NEF is partly funded by registration fees across the country, collected from Timbits Hockey to adult rec leagues, unbeknownst to parents or players. There are reports that the fund has exceeded $15 million in recent years. Details of how the NEF operates are not included in annual reports or in the handbook for parents and players, which states that registration fees are spent solely on insurance coverage. The fund is used at Hockey Canada’s discretion, to cover charges that are deemed uninsurable or that are settled without an insurer being present.

The public reaction resulted in major sponsors deciding to walk away from Hockey Canada; including Nike, their long-time jersey provider, and Canadian Tire. Tim Hortons, Esso, and Telus paused their partnerships with the organization, which have now been reinstated. With all the attention and scrutiny, London police and Hockey Canada reopened their investigations, requiring full participation from players. Hockey Canada’s investigation has now concluded but is under appeal and cannot be made public, while London’s investigation has obviously resulted in five players being charged; out

of the eight players involved in the settlement, and the upwards of twelve initially reported to police.

Sadly, E.M.’s case appears to be far from an isolated incident of sexual assault involving players under Hockey Canada’s oversight. Changes have been made at the top, as CEO Scott Smith and the board of directors have stepped down, but the organization needs to heavily invest in reforming the culture of hockey in Canada if it wants to rebuild its tattered reputation.

Photography by The Canadian Press (2022) ‘tsn.ca

Photography by Mark Landman (2020) Unsplash

Basketball

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UFV takes bronze at Canada West women’s basketball tournament

After a commanding season, the Cascades set their sights on the national title

JEFFREY KENNETT

The UFV Cascades may have come up short for the gold medal, but they did walk away from Canada West’s women’s basketball championships with a bronze. This stellar achievement will send UFV to the nationals, in part due to a pair of electrifying performances from Canada West first team all-star, Maddy Gobeil.

The Cascades began the tournament with a quarterfinal matchup against the Regina Cougars on Feb. 22. UFV controlled the game, cruising to a 62-53 win and outscoring Regina in the first three quarters before being outscored 17-15 in the fourth. Gobeil was a gamebreaker; scoring 22 points and shooting 50 per cent from the field through 39 minutes played for the home team. The victory marked their eighth win in a row, going back to the regular season, and the first time in 10 years that the squad has advanced to the semifinals.

The Cascades’ gold-medal pursuit ultimately ended on Feb. 24, with UFV falling to the Saskatchewan Huskies in the semifinals. The Huskies dominated the regular season and came into the playoffs as the first overall seed. They would ultimately go on to win the gold medal in the tournament. Despite the loss, the

Basketball //

Cascades received efficient contributions from Natalie Rathler, who went 5-for-5 from the field scoring 11 points in 15 minutes. Julia Tuchscherer and Marijke Duralia both shot 60 per cent or higher from the floor, scoring 11 and 6 points respectively.

“I think the bronze medal game is just about competing and who wants it more,”

said Gobeil, post-game. If that’s the case, then UFV certainly wanted their prize more than the Victoria Vikes, earning a 62-41 victory on Feb. 25. The Cascades stormed out of the gates with an 18-4 first quarter and a 39-13 first half, pacing UFV to punch their ticket to the national championships for the first time since 2014. Gobeil put on another sensational

Cascades committed to process with playoffs on home court

performance, netting 26 points and gathering 5 rebounds while shooting nearly 58 per cent from the field.

The 2024 U Sports Championships begin Mar. 7 in Edmonton, and will feature the top eight teams from across Canada. Congratulations to UFV’s basketball program!

Coach Al Tuchscherer and forward Deanna Tuchscherer provide insight into the Cascades’ tournament prep after a top-four regular season finish

JEFFREY KENNETT

For the first time, Canada West’s women’s basketball tournament is being held in Abbotsford, and kicked off on Wednesday, Feb. 21. After compiling a remarkable 17-3 record this season, the UFV Cascades have shed their “underdog” label, earning a first-round bye for finishing in the top-four teams. The Cascades’ first game of the tournament will be against Regina on Thursday, Feb. 22

Hosting this tournament is an event that UFV has been building towards as a team for multiple seasons, head coach Al Tuchscherer explained.

“We have a pretty good team right now. We’ve been together for a few years — we’ve been building this team since 2019 and [the players] have had lots of experiences now. They have experienced stuff together, they’ve worked hard together, and I wouldn’t say we’re an underdog at this point, so let’s go and get er’ done.”

The Cascades are relishing the opportunity to play host, having established a thorough home-court dominance this season, winning nine of ten on their own floor. In a tournament as condensed and competitive as this, coach Tuchscherer expects the team to draw on their

regular season success at home to give them an edge.

“I think it’s really exciting to play on your home court. You can keep the event a bit more normal by sleeping in your own bed and keeping some of the routines, and just the comfort of playing on your court in front of your friends goes a long way, for sure.”

Deanna Tuchscherer, a forward in her fourth year, described the team’s motivation to make Abbotsford a tough place to play for opponents.

“I think it’s a pretty special opportunity, when we get to play at home, on our home court, in front of our friends, family,

and the kind of community that we have here in Abbotsford. So it’s definitely not something we take for granted, and we’ve kind of talked about that throughout the year, about making that an advantage for us just knowing that we do have playoffs here this year.”

UFV ended the regular season with back-to-back wins over Trinity Western, extending their streak of victories to seven games. Coach Tuchscherer says the wins are a result of how close the team has become.

Photography by Jordie Arthur (2024)/UFV Athletics-gocascade.ca

SPORTS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

“We’re feeling pretty good about our game right now. I think, just in general, we’re a pretty close team. We’re a tightknit group, and the girls play really hard for one another and you know, I think we’ve just continued to get better and better as the season has gone on… We’re going in with a real positive frame of mind.”

Deanna Tuchscherer expressed her team’s objectives remain short-term, keeping focus on the upcoming game at hand.

“I don’t really think we think about [streaks]; we just want to play the best basketball we can, the way that we know how to play, and if we can do that every game, every possession, whatever it is, and just focus on what we’re doing at that point in time, [then] we’ll be fine”

The type of success UFV has had this season is driven by contributions from up and down the roster. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Cascades ranked higher than average in both rebounding and steals, while ranking far lower than average in turnovers committed. “I think we have a team that has a lot of depth and a lot of trust in each other,” said the power forward, who specified that what has contributed to their success is “the ability

to lean on each other and trust each other on the court and off the court, [to] lean into [our individual roles].”

Coach Tuchscherer and his staff are preparing for the tournament by reviewing video and looking into how to analytically get the most out of his team once the pressure starts in Game 1 on Feb. 22.

culture@ufvcascade.ca

Culture Editor - Kiara Okonkwo

“You’re going to look at different stats and the analytic side of things,” said coach Tuchscherer. “Video is a super important part of what we do… you have all that information so readily available to you. That stuff does become important, just in how you’re breaking your team down. We’re a pretty solid team at both ends of

the floor; we have pretty good numbers both ways.”

Tickets for the tournament at the UFV Athletic Centre are available through the Cascades’ website. The Cascade is sending positive energy and good luck — not that they’ll need it — to the team as they begin their home court defence.

Campus Fashion: gone wrong!

A list of the biggest fashion faux pas in history

RACHEL TAIT

We’ve all seen them: those terrible fashion statement pieces that never made sense, but somehow became popular. They can be the weirdest, most controversial pieces people have dared to wear (or are too embarrassed to admit that they did). Let’s take a look at some of the worst, tackiest fashion phenomenons through the decades, shall we?

Corsets:

One of the most constricting garments ever created, the corset is a dangerous piece popularly worn by women in the 1900s. Corsets are known to adversely affect the wearer’s health when tightly laced through constriction of the lungs and compression of the ribs, causing shortness of breath, internal bleeding, and fainting. Just ask actress Keira Knightley, who played Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). While considered an antique of its time, corset-inspired

fashions still have a way of coming back into the fashion trend cycle.

Shoulder pads:

Meant to be empowering, shoulder pads can sometimes go a little too far, and are considered one of the worst fashions of the 1980s. Overpowering and unflattering, shoulder pads were “big” among working women, and when disproportionately large, created a most unnatural appearance.

Lace-up jeans:

Laces are meant for shoes, not your jeans. Lace-up denim was popularized around the early 2000s. In 2018, retailer Fashion Nova received backlash after their indecent version of lace-up jeans went viral. Whether located on the side, front, or down the leg, these jeans may have once served a popular statement, but they have since lost their appeal.

Micro bags:

Miniature handbags for women more closely resemble Barbie accessories than a functional piece for a full-sized person. With its miniature proportions, it is one

of the worst styles of 2023 ever created for people who use purses. Not only are they too small to put anything inside, they must be easy to lose as well!

Micro Mini skirts:

When is mini too much? Mini skirts are one thing, but micro skirts take things to a whole new level. First introduced in the ʼ80s, they were seen as highly inappropriate and indecent to wear due to their minuscule proportions, and the style was listed by Huffpost as one of the worst styles in 2022. The big question is — how do you sit in them?

Tracksuits:

Tracksuits have an interesting way of falling into the categories of trendy and athletic wear. The velour tracksuit is a classic example of when trend and athletics tried very hard to work together. Popularized by celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, these suits came in every color of the rainbow. They too have found themselves on the list of styles that were a hit in the ʼ80s but are now seen as a fashion faux pas.

Illustration

by Eseniia Bondar

There you have it, a list of some of the worst, questionable, scary, or downright illogical fashions of all time. I want to give an honourable mention to sheer dresses, oversized blazers, and fringe. Here is hoping for better fashion in the years to come. Until next time!

Photography from gocascades.ca (2024) Jordie Arthur/UFV Athletics

CULTURE

Student Spotlight: Marcella Sunshine

The provincial VYPER Lead discusses Indigenous advocacy, cultural revitalization, and creating

ALLANA QUIGLEY

Marcella Sunshine, a UFV Political Science and Indigenous Peoples Knowledge student, is a provincial leader for the Visionary Youth Peers for Equity and Revitalization (VYPER), a B.C. wide Indigenous cultural revitalization initiative. I got the opportunity to sit down with Sunshine and hear more about her life and work with VYPER.

Founded for youth, by youth, this organization is working to empower young Indigenous people with the skills to share their cultural knowledge in local communities across the province. According to VYPER’s website, their vision is “a world where Indigenous youth feel connected to and empowered by their ancestral roots; where all Indigenous young people across Turtle Island are equipped to take action towards the resurgence and preservation of their Nations’ traditions.”

VYPER consistently hosts local events like powwows and cultural nights to engage members of the community. These events are dense with activities and celebration. “It’s open to anybody to come

Event Coverage //

an inclusive community

and learn,” said Sunshine, who explained that they serve a catered dinner at their monthly Cultural Nights for guests to enjoy. “Our biggest goal is to make sure people feel welcomed and like they have a spot with us, because they do.”

VYPER also holds space non-Indigenous folks to take part in the culture. “We have intertribals: that’s where anybody can come out and dance. You don’t need to be Indigenous; you can be from anywhere.”

Sunshine is a passionate advocate for VYPER’s mission of educating Indigenous and non-Indigenous attendees. “For Indigenous kids who are coming, we like to give them regalia, and what we call ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts, and just reasons to be proud and create a community — because there hasn’t been good education in many provinces within the Canadian context on First Nations, Métis and Inuit presence.”

VYPER has been hosting events like these since 2020. In those early days, Sunshine sought the help of experienced powwow planner and champion dancer, Gary Abbott. Her team; at the time called Valley Youth Peers for Overdose

Response, hosted their first powwow in Mission on the grounds of St. Mary’s Residential School, which closed its doors in 1984. “We hosted our first powwow, and we found out the coolest thing ever — that Mission Powwow was once the biggest powwow in British Columbia for over 20 years — from the 1980s up until the early 2000s.”

“Kamloops is hosting the biggest one now,” said Sunshine, “but we hosted a pretty good powwow. We fed the people. It wasn’t until we were actually at the powwow that me and all my friends were like, ‘Wow, this is the most beautiful, most powerful cultural experience we’ve ever had.’”

“We actually stayed on the grounds after the event ended and we just kept dancing and singing and we were like, ‘we want to do this forever and ever and ever.’” VYPER has only gotten more experienced and better organized since then. According to Sunshine, last year’s annual Reclaiming Youth Powwow saw over five thousand people attend. “We want to make sure that every young Indigenous person across Turtle Island feels what we felt over those few days.”

Nothing bad about a Bad Romance Movie Night

A fun filled movie night with a purpose

JAY PETER

February is the month of love and romance, all thanks to Valentine’s Day. But amidst all the planning of grand romantic gestures and the buying of flowers and chocolates, let’s take time to think about the other important part of the affairs of love: consent.

On Feb. 12, UFV’s sexualized violence prevention group, In This Together, put on a “Bad Romance Movie + Bingo Night” in S1111. There was a fabulous turnout, with an assortment of hot chocolate, cookies, and popcorn to enjoy while the group watched Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, the 2010 film adaptation of the graphic novel series of the same name. I’m a big fan of the original series, but this movie night had a twist that put the story in a whole new light.

Each attendee was given a bingo card with regular well-known movie quotes in some spaces, and other spaces aligned

with the event’s mission: to highlight consent practices in relationships. For example, some of the spaces I had on my bingo card were “creepy behavior portrayed as romantic,” “red flags,” “possessiveness,” and “good example of consent.” Once an attendee got five across and yelled out “Bingo!” the movie was paused, and In This Together’s education assistant, Ella Haladin, would go through what the lucky player had marked off and share their findings. The first five people who yelled out “Bingo!” won one of five full-sized chocolate bars, one of those winners being yours truly.

After the film, there was a short discussion about the consensual and non-consensual practices we’d noticed. This discussion put many aspects of the film in a whole new light for me. While looking for the points on the bingo card, I started to notice the more problematic aspects of the relationships depicted in the movie, and frankly, that’s exactly

what In This Together wants to see. Bryanna Anderson, associate director of student affairs, describes the goal of In This Together and their events as “to help create a campus culture of consent and one of support.”

This event was only made possible through the diligent work of In This Together’s volunteers. While they got to partake in the movie, they also set up the film, got the snacks, created the bingo cards, and ran the game. These volunteers are also the ones who run the workshops, and are really the heart of the program. In This Together is always looking for new volunteers to join their ranks — not only so that they can offer more workshops and events on campus, but so students can have the chance to improve their presenting skills. Anderson explained that becoming a volunteer facilitator offers a chance to grow your skills while giving back to the community. For those who want to get involved even further, In This

VYPER appears to be stronger than ever, and is demonstrating just how important community leaders like Marcella Sunshine are in advocating for Indigenous cultural education. Updates on events hosted by VYPER can be found on their public Facebook group.

Together is also hiring a limited number of paid positions.

Bad Romance Movie Night is just one of the several events the group has put on to support the goal of sexual violence prevention. “We also have workshops open to any students who want to participate,” said Haladin. “Often it’s a criminology related workshop; and in past years, we’ve done workshops like a consent café that involved blackout poetry.” Their next workshops will be held on Mar. 11, and will be focusing on criminal justice and sexual violence prevention. The group is also dedicated to having a presence at orientation and the campus expos, in hopes of letting both new and returning students know that they are not alone.

All in all, the event was wonderful and I can’t wait to attend future events. If you’re interested in a paid or volunteer opportunity, you can contact In This Together through their email, inthistogether@ufv.ca.

Photography by Marcella Sunshine (Accessed January 2024)

The Afro Caribbean Society presents: The Black Renaissance

Student-led Black History Month event connects and uplifts the Black diaspora at UFV

ANISA QUINTYNE

February marks Black History Month, an annual observance that recognizes and commemorates the history of Black Americans, Canadians, and citizens across the world. Originally proposed by Carter G. Woodson as a single week of recognition, the members of the Black United Students at Kent State University would later come to pioneer the event as an entire month worthy of commemoration. And here, only 55 years later, its imprint has been left on the world and officially recognized by federal governments and student unions alike, including those at UFV.

On Feb. 16, UFV’s Afro Caribbean Society (ACS) held its first student-led function in celebration of Black History Month, The Black Renaissance. The event facilitated a number of activities, from board games and Kahoot quizzes, to raffle prizes, karaoke, and finally a dance floor manned by DJ’s playing afrobeats. Amazing food was also provided; everyone was well-fed with plantain, meat pie, jerk chicken and more. It was an excellent celebration, and couldn’t have been done without its hardworking ACS executives and all those involved.

When asked how it felt to have events like this for Black students on campus, Taylor McElroy, a second year student at UFV, said: “I think it’s really good, especially because when you come as an international student, you don’t really meet a lot of people who might be Black or Caribbean. So I feel like it’s really good to have that space to meet other people who are like you, so you don’t feel isolated, especially if you’re in a new country.”

When McElroy discovered there was an event for Black students on campus, she was amazed. “I was so excited. I think my friends sent me [the invitation], and they were like, ‘You have to come! It’s going to be so fun!’ I was so excited, because I wanted to meet more people from the Caribbean as well, and just see other cultures that are similar to mine.”

The food at the event was an especially strong reminder of life before UFV. “I felt like I was back home, even if it was just for a little while — and the music, and the people — it felt great.”

Two ACS executives, Florida Tesfay and Claudia Hanna, also felt great about bringing everyone together.

“This club is more about having community — getting to know each other,” said Tesfay. “We wanted to start creating a family. It’s not just a club like any other club, it’s more like a family, and we are coming together to embrace our beautiful culture.”

“The fact that everybody is here,” Tesfay continued, “makes us feel like all the hard work paid off. Just getting everybody together and communicating well and engaging with everybody; it just brings an amazing feeling.”

“Even if people are able to be here for 20 minutes, that was a really good feeling,” said Hanna, who hopes to build a society that can be passed down to future generations of students. “Next year for Black History Month, we’re bigger and better.”

Any students interested in finding out more about UFV’s Afro Caribbean Society can check them out on Instagram and Linktree.

Photography

The Cascade Kitchen: Dark Chocolate Brownies

GAURI SETHI

The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budgetfriendly recipes and cooking tips. Check back weekly for something new to try in the kitchen, or if you want to see your own recipe featured next, get started by reaching out to culture@ufvcascade.ca.

Savour the rich flavours of these easyto-make homemade brownies that are sure to be a favourite among family and friends. These mouthwatering dark chocolate brownies will definitely satisfy your cravings, whether you’re in the mood for a decadent dessert or a sweet treat during your study break. Ideal for budget-conscious, shorton-time students; they require few ingredients and are simple to prepare.

Serves: 4-6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup chopped dark chocolate

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1/4 cup condensed milk

• 1½ cup milk

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 3/4 cup flour

• 5 tbsp cocoa powder

• 1/4 tsp baking powder

• Optional:

• 1/2 cup chocolate chunks

• 1/4 cup diced walnuts

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 320 degrees.

2. Grease or line a square cake tin (preferably an 8 by 8-inch) with parchment paper.

3. Pour some water into a saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer.

4. Rest another bowl on top of the saucepan to make a double boiler and toss in all of the dark chocolate and butter. Slowly melt the butter and chocolate mixture, stirring occasionally. After it melts, briefly set it aside to cool.

5. Add the milk, condensed milk, and cocoa powder. Blend thoroughly.

6. Fold-in flour, powdered sugar, and baking powder.

7. Fill the prepared cake tin with the batter. If desired, add a few walnuts or chocolate chunks to the top.

8. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

9. Take your brownies out of the oven. Allow it to cool fully before serving.

10. Tips:

11. Fudgier: Reduce the flour to 1/2 cup for a fudgier texture.

12. Cakier: Up the baking powder to 1/2 tsp for a lighter texture.

Enjoy!

Sudoku

Illustration

Photography by Gauri Sethi (2024)

Your monthly horoscopes made by Yours Truly.

Aries - Mar. 21 to Apr. 19

Aren’t you just riddled with anticipation, Aries? Your birthday is fast approaching and you wonder how time flies so quickly. Take your birthday seriously this year. Plan a small trip or a dinner with people who make you feel more like yourself, and celebrate your authentic being!

Libra - Sep. 23 to Oct. 22

With the first lunar eclipse of the year in your sign, Libra, the word of the month for you is change. If you’ve been pondering a switch up — maybe moving homes or looking for a new job — the spirit of Aries will serve to support your endeavors.

Taurus - Apr. 20 to May 20

Taurus, let’s talk about routine. While rotting in bed may be your favourite way to decompress, your dopamine levels deserve better. Take initiative and create some doable daily routines; it doesn’t have to be perfect — a little action can go a long way.

Scorpio - Oct. 23 to Nov. 21

Scorpio, if you’re feeling uncomfortable in your skin this month, lean on the presence of friends. Quality time with a loved one, romantic partner, or a pet could really ground you, allowing you to feel safe and secure.

Gemini - May 21 to Jun. 20

With a quarter moon in your sign on the 17th, it’s an opportunity to take time to assess your priorities for the rest of the semester, Gemini. In the latter half of the month, make an adjustment to that end of year project or invigorate your exam prep. Know that the energies of Aries will support and motivate any initiative you take.

Sagittarius - Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

Your priority this month is control, Sagittarius. You are known for being a little spicy, and the temperature of Aries’ season might just be too much for you, come Mar. 21. Know when to step back and take a break. Use your voice to amplify the voices of others. Self-service comes all too easily for you.

Cancer - Jun. 21 to Jul. 22

Cancer, this is a great time to express who you are. Like a pot of water close to boiling, your passions are eager to break the surface. If you’re creative, don’t be a hermit, and consider submitting a project to the Interpret Festival.

Leo - Jul. 23 to Aug. 22

Embrace the burn, Leo! With spring around the corner, you may be impatiently waiting for warmer weather, but there are ways you can heat up now. Take a new fitness class — hot yoga, perchance? Remember that you do pay for gym access with your SUS fees, so get moving.

Virgo - Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

Virgo, when was the last time you got a haircut? You may be overdue. DIY projects are fun but the reality is, sometimes a professional needs to step in. A new haircut could be the spark you need to transfer electricity into other areas of your life.

Capricorn - Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

Capricorn, you relish in cutting yourself some slack. Maybe tighten up those boot straps and focus on your commitments. Contrary to your beliefs, the spotlight is big enough for two, so make some room for those in your life who deserve some recognition.

Aquarius - Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

Let’s go, overachiever! Aquarius, the middle of the semester is no sweat for you. Think of some ways you can take it a little bit further. Are there any opportunities outside of school that will allow you to be innovative? Scholarships open on the 15th: consider applying.

Pisces - Feb. 19 to Mar. 20

Pisces, all that romantic energy from February will be trickling into March. Passion isn’t always pretty but it sure is fun! Remember to protect yourself, as rose-coloured glasses are the most pigmented when you first put them on.

Across:

Pulitzer 3. Artist from Brooklyn known by his last name for graffiti and abstract paintings greatest 4. He was the 44th but also the first.

5. Human rights activist who famously said "A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything." who makes

9.

Down:

Across:

1. Rap musician awarded the 2018 Pulitzer 3. Artist from Brooklyn known by his last Prize in music for his album DAMN. name for graffiti and abstract paintings

2. Retired NBA player known as "the greatest

4. He was the 44th but also the first. player to ever touch a basketball."

5. Human rights activist who famously said "A man who stands for nothing will fall for

6. The fastest man alive anything."

7. 32 time Grammy Award Winner who makes Lemonade

8. Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction

9. Poet and activist who famously wrote "And

ARTS

Event Coverage // Local talent takes the stage in Mission

Loans, The Sylvia Platters, and Daniel Sparrow with The Visions collaborate to deliver a resounding performance at Copper Hall

JAYDEN TALVIO

The recent concert featuring Loans, The Sylvia Platters, and Daniel Sparrow with The Visions ended up being an ultra-casual stand up function. The intimate Copper Hall venue in Mission reverberated with energy that shot through my body from my heels to my head and made standing still impossible. With a sold out crowd of roughly 35 concertgoers, it felt like a private invitation to an epic performance.

The Jan. 20 event featured three local acts: Loans and Daniel Sparrow with The Visions are Abbotsford-based, and The Sylvia Platters are Abbotsford and Vancouver-based. All three play within the indie rock genre.

Daniel Sparrow with The Visions got the night going. Sparrow’s soft vocals contrasted beautifully with the heaviness of the drums and guitar. I was blown away by their new track, “Keep U Alive:” the decrescendo of its guitar riffs gave this song a down-to-earth feel. I was filled with love on multiple occasions — not only when Sparrow declared “I love you” to the audience, but also when he embraced one of his bandmates mid-way through their performance.

Next was The Sylvia Platters — as refreshing as their new song and accompanying music video, “Kool Aid Blue.” The vocals were incredibly soulful, and the band strategically added depth and a dose of perfect imperfection when they intentionally — and sparingly — squeaked their instruments.

Loans quite literally ended the night with a bang, and I’d recommend to anyone who likes hard-hitting drums as much as I do to see this band live. Normally, I can’t shut my mind up, but Loans’ act thoroughly captured me and kept me in rapt attention. The lead singer put so much energy into his performance that veins popped out of his neck, and the bassist contributed a deep undercut that stuck in my chest until his fingers left the strings.

I spoke with Sparrow, and with singer, guitarist, and songwriter for The Sylvia Platters (and former Editor-in-Chief for The Cascade), Nick Ubels. “I’m constantly listening to a lot of Bob Dylan,” said Sparrow when I asked about his musical influences. “Once I put [Daniel Sparrow with The Visions] together, it definitely turned into something a bit more rock, like indie rock forward — a

little bit of Americana, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Killers, Sloan — a lot of rock and roll.”

Ubels said he and his brother Tim “listened to a lot of really great guitarbased melodic rock and roll” when they were growing up. As they got older, they moved away from their parent’s bands like The Beach Boys and The Beatles, and discovered new sounds in Big Star, Teenage Fanclub, and Alvvays. “That’s our wheelhouse.”

Sparrow, who’s expecting a baby, will be taking a break from performing until summer at the earliest, but Ubels offered to be a point of connection for other local bands. “If there’s anybody who is reading this article, has a cool band, and wants to play a show, message me,” he said. “We’ll try to make something happen.” Those interested in collaborating with Ubels can contact him at thesylviaplatters@gmail. com or through The Sylvia Platters’ page on Instagram, X, or Facebook.

CHARTS SHUFFLE

01. AUTOGRAMM MUSIC THAT HUMANS CAN PLAY

02. SLEATER-KINNEY LITTLE ROPE

03. BREEZE SOUR GRAPES

04. MUNYA JARDIN

05. KELELA RAVEN

06. BRITTI HELLO, I’M BRITTI.

07. BUSTY AND THE BASS FOREVER NEVER CARES

08. HOTEL MIRA I AM NOT MYSELF

09. PACKS MELT THE HONEY

10. POST-MODERN CONNECTION A WELCOM CHANGE EP

11. DWELLER DWELLER EP

12. HOT GARBAGE PRECIOUS DREAM

13. EKKSTACY EKKSTACY

14. GINGER BEEF GINGER BEEF

15. BRY WEBB RUN WITH ME

16. VACATIONS NO PLACE LIKE HOME

17. CHROMEO ADULT CONTEMPORARY BMG

18. CORDUROY INSTITUTE TAKE THE TRAIN TO MANCHESTER

19. LITTLE SIMZ DROP 7 FOREVER LIVING

20. HONEYMOON SUITE ALIVE

In honour of Black History Month and CIVL’s newest music show, Echoes of Roots and Dub, hosted by Lion Trod, CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy brings you a shuffle of Grade A Reggae-oriented tunes to groove to this month!

SERANI — NO GAMES

I hadn’t heard this song much since it came out in the late 2000s, but after enjoying a deep cut spin during a drum and bass set last year, it’s been a staple in my long car ride journeys. I’m all about the high vocal flourish on the games!

BARRINGTON LEVY — MURDERER

Canadians may know Levy from the popular early 2000s Rascalz hit, “Top of The World,” with his skatalogical vocalizations connecting the Canadian diaspora with the authentic calls of the roots reggae tradition. He’s one of the originals, and this is as formative as it gets.

SNOW — INFORMER

Darrin Kenneth O’Brien is from Toronto, born in 1969, and has a completely manufactured Jamaican Patois accent. Apparently he had the blessing of community members and supporters around the neighbourhood/city, but years later, I can’t stop thinking, he puts that accent on? Yes, yes he definitely does.

HAVIAH MIGHTY — WISHY WASHY

Haviah Mighty has been winning Junos, rocking social media, and overall re-establishing a new hip hop Queen in Canada — and like Michi Mee and Jully Black before her, she’s based in Toronto. From Mighty’s record 13th Floor, this track is perhaps her most “roots oriented” in the stable.

Photography by Grey Lodge Records ( Jan 20, 2024)

EVENTS CALENDAR

11:00AM - 02:00PM Pink Shirt Day @ S1111

12:10PM- 12:50 PM Self-Care Yoga @ Cascade Athletic Centre

01:00PM - 01:45 PM ASC Workshop: Read and Summarize Journal Articles @ CEP A1206

02:00PM - 04:00PM Jewelry Making: Post-Midterm Sparkle @ S1111

05:00PM - 07:00PM Games Night @ B223

ALL DAY Leap Into Trades @ Trades and Technology Centre

10:30AM - 11:00AM ASC Workshop: APA Basics @ CEP A1206 and online via Blackboard

12:00PM - 1:00PM Civility in the Workplace @ Online via Zoom

03:00PM - 03:30PM Language Exchange: Learn Maltese @ B223

06:00PM Barbie’s Queer Movie Night @ B101

06:00PM - 08:30PM Glow Zumba @ North Gym (Room E105)

09:00PM - 10:30AM Dawn Rising Urban Medicine Circle @ Mámele’awt Indigenous Education Centre

09:00AM - 02:00PM Procrastination Awareness Week @ Online via Zoom

12:10PM - 12:50PM Self-Care Yoga @ Cascade Athletic Centre

03:00PM - 05:00PM UFV Origami Night @ S1111

06:00PM Field House RUN CLUB @ Field House Brewing Co

06:00PM - 08:00PM Trivia Night @ Old Yale Brewing

09:00AM - 02:00PM Procrastination Awareness Week @ Online via Zoom

09:45AM - 02:30PM Inspiring Inclusion: Local and Global @ Evered Hall

09:00AM - 02:00PM Procrastination Awareness Week @ Online via Zoom

12:10PM- 12:50 PM Self-Care Yoga @ Cascade Athletic Centre. 12:30PM - 01:30PM Know Your Roots! @ Atrium, Agriculture Centre of Excellence

09:00AM - 02:00PM Procrastination Awareness Week @ Online via Zoom

12:00PM - 02:00PM Code Green: Computing for a Sustainable Tomorrow @ A210

03:00PM - 03:30PM Language Exchange: Learn Maltese @ B22

06:00PM - 09:00PM Back Porch Music Series @ Old Yale Brewing

08:30AM - 10:00AM Community of Practice: Holistic Assessment @ Online via Zoom

09:00AM - 02:00PM Procrastination Awareness Week @ Online via Zoom

12:00PM - 01:30PM

03:00PM - 06:00P.M

Sustainability Pathway Info Session @ B161

International Women’s Day 2024 @ Evered Hall, 06:30PM - 09:00PM UFV’S A BALL!! Drag Bingo @ S2103

09:00AM - 10:30AM Dawn Rising Urban Medicine Circle @ Mámele’awt Indigenous Education Centre, 09:00AM - 02:00PM Psych’d about Reading @ B132 and B140

12:10PM - 12:50PM Self-Care Yoga @ Cascade Athletic Centre

04:00PM - 06:00PM

South Asian Canadian Intergenerational Cooking Program @ Archway Family Centre Kitchen

06:00PM - 08:00PM Trivia Night @ Old Yale Brewing

01:30PM - 03:30PM

Traditional Plant Walk @ Indigenous Teaching Garden

04:00PM - 06:00PM Cedar Weaving Workshop @ A22

07:00PM

Abbotsford Canucks vs. Bakersfield Condors @ Abbotsford Centre

Note:

Some of the events require tickets, and most are online. If something catches your eye, take to the Internet for more details, including those about any saftey measures for in-person events.

MARCH

12:00PM - 05:00PM AI Art Exhibition: Exploring Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence @ B136

12:10PM - 12:50PM Self-Care Yoga @ Cascade Athletic Centre

04:30PM Movie screening: Seed — The Untold Story @ Chilliwack Campus Library

05:00PM - 07:00PM Games Night @ B223

0 7:00PM Abbotsford Canucks vs. Bakersfield Condors @ Abbotsford Centre

09:00AM - 09:45AM ASC Workshop: Integrating Sources in your Writing @ Academic Success Center

11:00AM - 03:00PM 2024 Career Fair @ Evered Hall

11:00AM - 03:00PM Early Earth Day @ Library Rotunda (G102)

03:00PM - 03:30PM Language Exchange: Learn Maltese @ B223

06:00PM - 09:00PM Back Porch Music Series @ Old Yale Brewing

07:00PM - 09:00PM Rhinoceros @ D105

9:00AM - 10:30AM Online Lecture with Prof. Fazeeha Azmi @ Online via Zoom

10:00AM - 12:00PM

Movie Screening: Above and Below the Ground @ B101

9:00AM - 10:30AM Dawn Rising Urban Medicine Circle @ Mámele’awt Indigenous Education Centre

07:00PM Abbotsford Canucks vs. Henderson Silver Knights @ Abbotsford Centre

07:00PM Abbotsford Canucks vs. Henderson Silver Knights @ Abbotsford Centre

12:30PM - 01:00PM ASC WORKSHOP: THESIS STATEMENTS @ CEP A1206, 06:00PM - 08:00PM TRIVIA NIGHT @ Old Yale Brewing

12:10PM- 12:50 PM Self-Care Yoga @ Cascade Athletic Centre

12:30PM - 02:30PM Movie Screening: There’s Something in the Water @ Evered Hall

04:30PM Science Café: Plants, Pests, and Pollinators @ Chilliwack Campus Library

12:10PM- 12:50 PM Self-Care Yoga @ Cascade Athletic Centre

9:30AM - 11:30AM A Trash-terpiece Event: UFV Waste Audit @ SUB Basketball Court

11:00AM -11:30AM ASC Workshop: APA Basics @ CEP A1206. 12:00PM Panel: Overcoming Environmental Racism and Injustice @ TBA

03:00PM - 03:30PM Language Exchange: Learn Maltese @ B223

12:00PM - 01:30PM Sustainability Pathway Info Session (CEP) @ Chilliwack Campus A1354

02:30PM - 03:00PM

ASC Workshop: MLA Basics @ CEP A1206 and online via Blackboard

01:00PM - 04:00PM Community Arts Space: Open Studio @ The Reach Gallery Museum

09:00AM - 10:30AM Dawn Rising Urban Medicine Circle @ Mámele’awt Indigenous Education Centre

06:00PM - 08:00PM Trivia Night @ Old Yale BrewinG

12:10PM - 12:50PM Self-Care Yoga @ Cascade Athletic Centre

10:00AM - 02:00PM Clothes the Loop: Reduce, Renew, Restyle @ SUB Atrium

03:00PM - 05:00PM South Asian Studies Institute Open House @ Building K