Trading With Tyrants -Page S UCFV Campuses Page

UCFV Abby, Not Too Shabby

By Steve Tait

Welcome; glad to see you picked up the latest addition of the Cascade. More importantly, however, I am glad you are reading my column. The focus will be my impressions of the Abbotsford campus, of U.C.F.V, what disturbs me about it, what I like about it and any general observations I have towards it. To start, I, quite frankly, enjoy going to school here; I like the campus and would probably rather not go anywhere else (except maybe Oxford). Although I have a certain fondness towards my school, it is not without its problems or draw backs. I could probably count on half of one of my hands the classes that I actually dislike or have not enjoyed taking here in Abbotsford. I feel the level of instruction is very high. And there are many of my instructors who I have developed some form of a relationship with, or who have influenced me in some way or another. An example of this would be Tim Herron. Tim teaches English. Tim is a good guy. I have taken two classes with him and look forward to more. The first class I did marginally well in, but wanted to do better because English is what I have chosen to go into and love it very much. Tim took me and my writing about two levels higher than it was before I met him. He worked with me

conference. At no time did I feel apprehensive about seeing him or talking to him about my papers. He was generous with his deadlines, which is both a good and a bad thing. But what it did indicate however, is that he really wanted me to get better, to attain that next level of writing; he wanted me to get good. I thank Tim for that and owe him a lot when it comes to my writing ability. I urge anyone who is interested in English to take his classes. Not only that, but he throws one hell of a party too! The second thing I want to touch on is some simple humble advise that I have for you. Last year I learned that there was a person whom I had two or three classes with that felt I made the classroom uncomfortable enough that they were compelled to file a grievance against me. This was probably one of the most stress inducing episodes of my life and obviously in theirs too. I was summoned to the Deans office without any explanation as to why. While waiting for the meeting I tried to deduce what could possibly be the reason the him wanting to see me. Eventually we had our meeting and I found out what had happened . I had made some comments, over the course of the year, that had offended my classmate. I was shocked when I learned who it was because I had never intentionally patiently and was always available for set out to offend. I felt very, very upset at the fact that I could inadvertently cause that much discomfort in someone else. We eventually resolved the issue and still have classes together and get along quite nicely. The point here is: be careful of how your conduct yourself around your classmates. That is not to say be timid and wary of everything you say. No, of course not. Speak your mind. Agree, disagree, persuade and grumble. But make sure you do it with reverence and tact. No one needs to feel uncomfortable at school nor does anyone need a grievance on their conscience. Now here is a helpful hint to ease some of the pain of an over abundance of homework. You know those nights when the Canucks are playing but you have too much homework to go and watch the game. You are in the library debating with yourself whether to go to Finnigan 'sand watch the game or sit begrudingly in the library. Going home to watch is not an option because you still need to do research in the library. Find yourself an empty classroom (the last one on the left hand side of the hall, up on the fourth floor, for example; I forget the number and am too lazy to go look - you'll find it). You can always get a sixer to augment the pleasure of watching a hockey game. Of course you will need an empty coke cup from the cafeteria to hide your sin. Throw on the TV and watch the game. Between periods zip down to the library, do your research and bang, you get the game and the homework done. That way you avoid looking like a chump the next day in class when your homework is not finished.

Finally, some thoughts on the library. I was glad when the library was completed. I think it is a good addition to the campus. My only concern is with the hours. Sometimes I am simply not finished or no ready to go home at nine o'clock. I think they should extend the hours that it is open. the concern may be that the budget may not allow for the extra wages that would have to be paid. But, after nine, you would really not need more than one person to act as a sort of monitor. They could have the library fully functional until nine and then simply have it open for a couple extra hours as a place to study. Perhaps also, another concern may be that there would not be enough people to justify ha,ving it open extra hours. I know several people who feel the way I do. Perhaps even just extending the hours two nights a week would work. At the very least it would be helpful to have the library open longer during midterms and finals. Thank-you for reading; I hope your time here is well spent and you enjoy all that is available to you here at UCFV.

Mission Campus Experience

By Nolan Webb

Flashback ... September 1992. A green(and I mean to the bone) freshie wipes the remaining raindrops from his forehead and steps into the UCFV Mission Campus for the first time. It's dark, it's wet, it's cold, it's lonely and, dear God no, the class is horror of all horrors-European History (No offense E.D.)! Needless to say I never warmed up to the old Mission Campus, with it's conditions that were "intimate" to some but mostly just positively depressing to everyone else. November 1996 ... A grizzled veteran serving the fifth year of his sentence gawks skeptically at the latest government poster-project . It's the Mission joint project-A.K.A. Heritage Park Secondary School and the new UCFV Mission campus. Dazzled by the sheer size of it all, I gaze further into the majestic beauty that is before me. It offers much to my worn senses-A colossal gymnasium, a sec-

One Mr. Murdo MacLachlan, a prominent member of the group studying the possibility of a site near a "hole in the wall" on Sumas Prairie, recalled the results of this early effort to start a college in the Fraser Valley. "It did not get off the ground." Murdo was a radio celebrity at CHWK 1270. Then in about 1969, or 1970, the Minister of Education suggested that the Fraser Valley would be a good place for a vocational school. Chilliwack and Abbotsford were competitive in their respective interest. Chilliwack's Mayor Crabtree assigned Murdo to head up the efforts of the Chilliwack recommendation. Abbotsford superintendent, W.J. Mouat, worked on the ond smaller gym, a magnificent theater that is now the pinnacle of the Fraser Valley Arts community, and a gigantic sports field. While the UCFV wing of the project is still relatively small in comparison to the other campuses, it now leaves a lasting new impression. The campus is possibly best described as inviting and altogether stimulating. The architecture is modern and fresh while the open entranceway leaves students comfort-

hold, because new mouths started flap- even today, no-one was aware of a terping over the fact that the proposed site rib le threat that hung over every head was prone to flooding. The new Min- in Chilliwack ... ister of Education declared it would be Yes, a shadow loomed overhead, "irresponsible to build an educational threatening every-thing we'd built facility in an area of potential flood- here. And who would defend our moing." tel-campus? By 1973, space for classes was Oh, Chilliwack had its heroes. obtained in the five towns. Even with But it also had it's enemies. A very Kirk a permanent campus slow to material- : Khan sort of ratio. The enemies were ize, the college was begun. In brain drain, then a scarcity of courses, Chilliwack, it was the Eden bank Trad- then a big screen T. V. You see, sir, ing Post. In Hope(also serving the while Kirk was meant to win, he still Fraser Canyon), the basement of the lost Spock, his best friend. It wasa bruschool board offices. In Agassiz(also tal finish, perhaps "Khan" will conquor serving Harrison), it was in the Funk's in defeat again? Insurance Agency building, on Pioneer Their heroes came by the dozAvenue. In Abbotsford, W. J. Mouat ens. Everyone remembers Murdo Secondary School; in Mission, the old MacLachlan, but what about Tyler hospital building on 5th avenue. Tokaryk --one of the first student adClasses began in 1974. Scott Fast, and vacates of acquiring degree granting Art Ross were among the instructors status for the new Fraser Valley Colin those days, and they are still here. lege. "F.V.C." you find you still hear But, in those early days, perhaps Continued on Page 7

ably pursuing their studies. Direct access to a small but fully-serviced library is also one of the great new perks at the campus. The idea of a combined university and high school often brings to mind the image of pure chaos. But an army of Lilliputians unleashed on the gigantic college students is not the case at all, as both schools have cooperated well to keep the institutions divided. It's a novel idea and it works, and the initial and continuing success of the project has silenced even the most skeptical critics.

M urd O Ultra

By Simon Langeler Good afternoon, Mr. Langeler. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to gather data pertaining to the origins of the Chilliwack campus-and to make it interesting. As always, if you and your mission impossible force fail, or are captured in your mission, I will deny all knowledge of your existence and activities. This message will selfdestruct. -The Chief.

In the beginning there was a Chilliwack full of churches. On December 3rd, 1960, the Fraser Valley branch of the UBC alumni sponsored a conference in Abbotsford to talk Abbotsford recommendation. about setting up a junior college in Chilliwack. But the idea was so small,

that there were concerns that a community college wouldn't be able to compete with grade 13.

A site was picked at the end of Lickman road, in the Chilliwack area. But then came the 1972 election, So-

cial Credit was defeated, and the N.D.P. were installed. Our school was put on

Trading With Tyrants

By Ron Dart deepened the bilateral relations be"/t is the nature of imperialism that tween the two states. Canada remains citizens of the imperial power always among the last to know--or careabout circumstances in their colonies." -B. Russell silent about China's human rights violations, and, worse yet, continues to increase its trade and aid with this tyrant.

Indonesia

Canada, ever so briefly, withdrew aid from Indonesia when President Sukarno invaded Malaysia in the mid-sixties. But when General Suharto toppled Sukarno in 1965 (millions were killed between 1965 and 1969), Canada, ever so slowly, began the process of warming up to Indonesia. Suharto was much more generous and gracious to the West than Sukarno, and the country became an investor's paradise. The Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975 and the subsequent deaths of about 200,000 East Timorese ( one-third of the total population) should have caused a massive western response. But the western media were too busy looking at Pol Pot's massacres in Cambodia. Per capita, more people died in East Timor than in Cambodia, but the West was silent about the other killing field. While Suharto eagerly opened up Indonesia to the West, Canada has uncritically embraced this tyrant. Indonesia is now the second largest recipient of CID A funding and more than 20 Canadian companies have relations with Indonesia. The Eastern Indonesian University Development Project at Simon Fraser University continues to ply its educational trade with the country (receive significant funding from CIDA) while going limp on human rights questions. Canada has been one of the few states to either abstain or vote against UN resolutions to condemn the Indonesian invasion of East Timor and Canadian defense corporations continue to trade with Suharto and his military thugs. Prime Minister Chretien's tour of the APEC states last autumn winched Canadian-Indonesian relations even tighter. And Chretien, predictably, ignored the nagging human rights questions when the shimmer of gold glistened before his eyes.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has one of the largest oil reserves in the world, plays a pivotal role in lubricating western industry and interests, and is a substantive western power broker in the Middle East. General Motors Canada has its largest contract ever with Saudi Arabia to supply the country's military with 1117 Light Armored Vehicles. the contract, worth in excess of$ I billion, extending over several years, will further arm Saudi Arabia. As well, Saudi Arabia's annual expenditure on military products places it in the top ten percent of the most militarized states in the world. The fact that Saudi Arabia is so militarized, that it represses any substantive dissent and is viewed as one of the worst dictatorships, should concern Canadians. But if thugs provide jobs for Canadians, too often it's easier to protect Canadian jobs than worry about the plight of the victims of our armaments.

Turkey

The Kurdish people, for the most part, are scattered throughout Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. The largest concentration of Kurds (16 million) is in Turkey. The Turkish state denies the Kurds basic rights and prevents them form using their language and culture. Between 1994 and 1995, the Turkish military destroyed 1,390 Kurdish villages; many Kurds were tortured. Kurdish political parties are illegal. Canada is well aware of the Turkish treatment of the Kurds. In the late l 980's and early l 990's, Canada was the third largest arms exporter to Turkey, after the US and Germany. Canada has sold military vehicles, small and large caliber weapons, tear gas, aircraft and helicopters to Turkey. although this runs contrary to Canadian policy of not selling armaments to tyrants, when the tyrant is our friend, we are quite eager to arm the bully, provided our pockets are lined.

Vietnam

The recent Klondike Days event in Edmonton (July '96) generated much controversy. The 'Discover Vietnam' exhibit, many claimed, obscured and left undiscovered the oppressive nature of the real Vietnam. In fact, various Vietnamese, who were part of 'Discover Vietnam', defected and claimed refugee status in Canada. The Department of External Affairs willingly conceded that "Vietnam has a human rights record right up there with China and Indonesia" but profit is profit. In 1995, Canada granted Vietnam "most favored nation" trading status; between 1987 and 1995, Canadians invested $160 million in Vietnam and exported $34.8 million worth of goods. Trade between Canada and Vietnam continues to thrive and grow regardless of the oppressive human rights situation in Vietnam. The State Department argues that "maintaining a healthy trading relationship with Vietnam can ~ontribute to modernization and bring the country into the international community". This argument, of course, is used by corporations to justify sidestepping, on a substantive level, the human rights question. The argument is also, for the most part, fallacious, because many oppressive states are more concerned about wealth than basic political and civil rights. Certainly, China, Indonesia, Turkey, or Saudi Arabia have not changed their minds about oppression because we have assisted them in modernization or brought them into the international community. The Vietnamese poet, Nguyen Chi Thien, who has survived as a political prisoner for twenty-seven years said, 'If politicians in the free world think that they can de-link business and human rights, they can look forward to the deserved contempt that people living under a totalitarian regime will reserve for them". Canada, unfortunately, is often a crude opportunist when it comes to profit or human rights, and, in many way, if this is our stance, we deserve the contempt reserved for such uncivilized behavior.

The U.S.

The U.S. is Canada's largest trading partner. NAFTA further binds us to our southern neighbor. Since World War II, the U.S. has willingly supported many authoritarian states, engaged in thousands of CIA covert operations and been responsible , directly and by proxy, for the deaths of millions. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the support of Syngman Rhee in South Korea, Batista in Cuba, Somoza in Nicaragua, Pinochet in Chile, the Shah in Iran, and Duvalier in Haiti, should caution us about American views of liberty and democracy. Likewise, the U.S. invasion of Panama and their role in the Gulf War should concern us. During the Vietnam War, Canada made more money per capita from military sales to the U.S. than any other country. Canada, when it comes to the arms trade, can sell virtually anything it wants to the U.S. without an export permit or end use permit.

Canada

Canada has been known, when the stakes are not too high and the consequences minimal, to limit aid and trade with states that undermine human rights. Canada withdrew aid to Pol Pot's regime in Cambodia, withdrew support of Afghanistan when the U.S.S.R. invaded, refused to aid the Marcos' government in the Philippines, and stood against ldi Amin in Uganda in 1973 and Pinochet in Chile. Canada will sometimes take the moral high road when it comes to dealing with states that it has little or no significant relationship with. But, in states like China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Vietnam, or the U.S., trade always wins the day. The International Trade Business Plan for 1995/96, published by the Canadian Ministry of Supply and Services, has targeted seven states as "growth markets": China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, South Korea and Turkey. None of them get high marks for human rights. Canada is keen and eager to trade with tyrants. The sooner we remove the cataracts from our eyes, the more readily we will be able to acknowledge we are much more of a hawkish and money-hungry state than we might like to acknowledge. The captains of industry sit on a luxurious throne while the dove of peace is kept ma cage.

"Our Fear that communism might someday take over most of the world blinds us to the fact that anti-communism already has." -M. Parenti

Earlier this year, the New Internationalist published a list of "the world's ten worst dictatorships": Burma, Syria, Nigeria, Indonesia, Zaire, China, Iran, Sudan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Three of these states have important and substantive trade and aid ties with Canada. Turkey, Vietnam, and the U.S. are important partners as well, and each state has a questionable human rights record. But in the inevitable clash between trade and human rights, Canada often turns its back on rights for the promise of a few more pieces of silver.

China

Since the early 1970's, Canada has nourished ever closer trade and aid ties with China. "While China treats human rights with contempt, it is also the fastest growing market in the world today, attracting foreign investments on a massive scale," Pierre Sane disclosed at the Amnesty International annual general meeting in Canada earlier this year.

Although the Tianamen Square carnage shocked the world by its brutality, the virtual negation of political and civil rights in China has a long and consistent history. The Chinese treatment of pro-democracy dissidents, the constant imprisonment and torture of those wh@ dare to differ with official state policy, and the terrible treatment of the Tibetan people, all show the Chinese state has little or no concern for fundamental rights. Yet China continues to play an ever-increasing role for Canada. An appraisal of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) noted: "Disbursements in China in 1990-91 amounted to $63.85 million, making it the second largest aid recipient that year. China was Canada's fifth-largest export market in 1992." CIDA funding and trade ties with China have flourished since 1992. In fact, Team Canada's tour to China in the autumn of 1995 consolidated and

The views expressed inThe Ca s cad e are the views of students, mainly people just like yourself.

Get the point?

Ed. This is an abridged version of a longer article; anyone wishing a copy of the original, can contact Ron.

Intro to Indie

By Greg Mohart

You may be wondering, "What Chilliwack every Tuesday from Octathe hell is Indie '96?" Due to the near ber 29th to about December 10th. absence of promotion for this event, this is a good question indeed. However, I shall do my best to fill you in. Billing itself as "Western Canada's First Original Band Competition," not to mention being "Open to Any and All Formats of Music," lndie '96 is a contest in which the 120 bands are unsigned; therefore, they won't exactly say no to some of the $17,000 in cash and prizes being offered. The first round takes place at, among other venues, Greg's Place in scenic downtown Three bands compete against one another each Tuesday, with one winner being chosen to move on to the next round of competition. I feel the overwhelming need (as I do very often) to provide you with some insight into how a "Battle of the Bands" competition tends to work. It can be a great experience for a spectator; you get to see local bands playing their hearts out because they are eager to build fan bases, and winning some cash and prizes certainly wouldn't

Red Autumn Fall

make their lives any worse. Plus (and I know this from personal experience), the bands really appreciate it if you approach them after the show and compliment them on their set. I will be honest, however: there is a drawback to such a competition, and lndie '96 is no exception. Audience response, a common factor in band competitions, is the sole factor that determines victory at lndie '96. When the night's competitors have finished playing, all of the bands come up on the stage and the DJ asks the crowd to make noise for the band whom they believe to be the winner. Whoever receives the most applause moves to the next round of competition. Thus, in order to win, bands are bound to stack the club with as many of their friends as possible. This can create a real "Hooray for Our Team" atmosphere. While I can understand friends wanting to root for friends, I am not fond of using this particular audience response system as the absolute and final method of judgment. Despite these quibbles, Indie '96 can be a fun event for those adventurous fans who'll take some chances and check out some bands they've never heard before. I'll be covering the event at Greg's Place every Tuesday from now until mid-December.

By Nolan Webb INTERVIEW WITH SIMON ROSS OF Financially and emotionally we were CALGARY'S RED AUTUMN FALL absolutely devastated. So for a couple of months Red Autumn Fall sort ofbeCalgary's emotional pop gems, came a name. We weren't a band Red Autumn Fall, have been creating quite a buzz again lately. After showcasing at both Music West and NXNE festivals, declining numerous contracts, surviving near-death experiences and subsequent emotional drought, lead singer Simon Ross has rallied the troops and is destined for big-time success. After a brilliant performance that exceeded style, class and especially passion, Ross and I sat down in the dungeon of the Town Pump for a detailed look at Canada's greatest unsigned band ....

CASCADE: Fill me in on the last year and a half since you last played Vancouver (At Music West 95) ROSS: We went on tour to play a show with the Odds in Toronto in January and we got into this van accident and just about died. We spun and did flips and that sort of thing. Right after the anymore. It was the energy and direcaccident, the four of us were sitting in tion of Zucherbaby that inspired us to the police car warming up after giving come back together again. We're back our statements, when another van came on track. A lot of things are helping to and smashed the police car that we boost us now. A lot of big record comwere sitting in. We decided to rent a panies are showing an interest. We're mini-van since our van was totaled and just finishing up working on our secwe tried to keep going east. We got and album, tentatively called Debutant. stuck in Cochrane, Ontario for four We're going ahead to plan to release days in the worst blizzard to hit On- this as an indie but it's kind of prematario in over forty years. When we ture to say what the American compacame back we were broken as a band. nies will do with it. Right now they need more demos as they only have our debut Charmer . I think it was a good first effort but I don't think it had many single potentials on it. We're more mature now. It was a little too young and theatrical. So, it's hard to say. By November we could be signed and well on our way, but we can't tell just yet. As soon as March/ April hits we 're going to tour again. We won't tour in the winter now. CASCADE:Are you interested in signing in Canada? ROSS: I think that we have always set our eyes on the American market, just · because we have had a hard time with Canadian companies because I think the industry has a hard time knowing what to do with us. "Too theatrical" or "Too UK" are common comments. Since we had a favorable review in the American trade magazine called derstand us a lot more than say, Canada, in the same way that The Cranberries made it big in the US before Ireland, and the Pixies were big in Europe before they were at home. '

"Gordon Flash" we had seven calls CASCADE: I would assume that most from American companies. Three remain interested. Our new attitude stems from the fact that for so long, RAF has waited for things to get done, like with our old manager, we sort of waited for him to do the job. Now we are doing things ourselves, and we have the support of so many people. CASCADE: During your show, I couldn't help but think that you would be very successful if you could crack the UK market. ROSS: We are actually talking about going for five weeks and staying with friends, all after we release the first singles. We think that Europe would unof your influences are British. ROSS: Yes, all of them, U2 and Radiohead are my favorite bands of all time. I love most of the old bands like Depeche Mode and The Cure as well as the new bands too. CASCADE:What if nothing happens for you in the way of major label signings? ROSS: We are going to go ahead, keep making the videos and releasing the singles just like we've been doing. We've got so much help on the inside that we really have a good opportunity here to do it.

How To Write to

Bard's MTV Version Shows ''Reality'' The Cascade

By Mark Schuster Letters must be typed, double

Ahip, in your face rendition of - spaced, of either and submitted in a computer disk the form compatShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet done ible with The Cascade's Macintosh by Baz Luhrmann (who also directed format, or sent via e-mail. Strictly Ballroom) hit theaters with a bang on November 1. It was one of the most anticipated movies of Fall 1996, and it surely was not disappointing. Luhrmann emphasized religion, confrontation,and death, all in a realistic way. With blazing guns (replacing swords), Verona Beach (cool hangout) and futuristic looking cars, he expressed this reality in a way that no one else who has ever done this tragedy has managed. While the plot of the story did not change the constant flashing of guns made one feel like one was at a National Rifle Association meeting. This show of power made it look like this future society is not at all adverse to solving its problems with guns, but rather that this is an everyday occurrence. While we already are conditioned to think nothing of the many rape and murder scenes on television, is this how society will deal with its problems in the future? In terms of acting, Leonardo DiCaprio (This Boy's Life,What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, Basketball Diaries) and Claire Danes (My So-Called Life, Little Women) offered a great onscreen romance, and it is due only to their acting that this movie is such a crowd pleaser. Their giddy, enthusiastic old English was apparent, but not overdone. It will certainly be interesting to see how this movie advances each actor's career. With so much 90s reality and fashion, the new adapted Romeo and Juliet is surely not to be missed by all that are young at heart! All letters submitted from the student body must include the name, phone number, and student number of the author(s). Letters from persons and / or groups not affiliated with UCFV's Student Body must include name, phone number, and address of the author(s) or group. The Cascade accepts and publislles all letters verbatim with the full name of the author(s).