Japanese love pillow (10 letters

Abbotsford mayoral candidates debate issues at ·UFV

GRACE ROMUND

THE CASCADE

As their campaigns draw to a close, the five mayoral candid~tes for the City of Abbotsford had one last chance to formally discuss and debate the hot topics of this year's civic election.

Hosted by the Political Science Student Association, the candidates debated on issues such as the proposed public-private partnership (P3) for Stave Lake, steady increases in property taxes, and public transportation. Although the largest topic in the election by far has been the impending referendum regarding the P3 project, it did not dominate the debate only two questions posed related directly to it.

There were only four out of five candidates behind the panel table Monday' night. One of the candidates, Meghann Coughlan, was unable to attend· the debate in person due to illness, but was allowed to participate in the debate via . telephone conference. She expressed her regrets at being unable to attend and her grateful- • ness to be allowed to participate in the capacity she did.

Bruce Banman began the debate by asserting, "I want to make [Abbotsford] a great place for everyone: for elders, families, children, and future generations, especially future·generations."

Mayoral candidate and UFV student, Travis Daleman was also in attendance. Daleman began as a 17-year-old newly out of high school who threw his hat into the ring to prove that there is a younger generation interested in politics. Now an 18-year-old university student, he actively participated in the PSSA all-candidates debate.

Daleman used humour to his advantage throughout the debate. When explaining his opinion that the City of Abbotsford is "shoving the Stave Lake water project down our throats" he said he attempted a Google search of "Vote No for P3" and the first link in the search results was "Vote Yes forP3."

Incumbent Mayor George Peary continued to be the only mayoral candidate to support the Stave Lake Water Project. He explained, "The reality is, however, that even though I have recommended [the Stave Lake Water Project] personally ... the decision is where it should be, it's with the public. The public is going to participate, and there will be a referendum."

Mayoral candidate Gerda Peachey raised the issue of the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports C~ntre (AESC) which she referred to as "the money-sucking pit on King Road." She said that the money spent on AESC is money wasted, stating, "Your taxed are dependent on how well a bunch of puck chasers do."

The discussion of ideas between the candidates at this point in the campaign had become much more developed and indepth. The election will be Saturday November 19.

Abbotsford food bank helps fill bellies and stockings

Donation made during the holi-day season f i 11 needs for the rest of the year·

GRACE ROMUND

THE CASCADE

Year round, the Abbotsford Food Bank (AFB) helps families and individuals in the community who don't have enough to make ends meet ensure that they get the necessities for life. During the Christmas season especially, the AFB and the Christmas Bureau are hard at work to assist Abbotsford citizens in need.

This is the busiest time of the -year for the AFB. As Cliff Prang, an employee and community development worker at the AFB, explained: "September through December is when people are feeling the most generous, because we are looking towards the holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas. At Thanksgiving, I am thankful, therefore I share the abundance that I have with other people, and [at] Christmas too. The foundation of the holiday is giving, so we give." Once January hits, the amount of donations made diminishes, but what the AFB takes in between September through December fills their needs for the entire following year.

The food bank is for those whose living expenses exceed their income. This is a phenomenon not uncommon to university students, whose expenses (for example, tuition, books, .etc.) can be financially crippling. When an individual must add dependants into that list of expenses, balancing the chequebook can become even more difficult. AFB helps over 3000 people a month, and of those over 40 per cent are children. Because children are such a large percentage of those helped by AFB throughout the year, the Christmas Bureau ensures that those children have Christmas presents. "We sponso about 700 families every Christmas. We sponsor the families out to business, classrooms, church groups," Prang explained. Last year, 323 families were sponsored by the community directly, and 404 families were sponsored through the AFB. The Christmas Bureau supports families that cannot be sponsored at Christmas by providing food and by allowing them to come and choose gifts for their children in the Christmas Bureau toy room. The Fraser Valley Toy Run put on by the Fraser Valley Toy Run Society is one · of the major initiatives to stock up the Christmas Bureau toy room - the event brings together motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the Fraser Valley to raise toys, cash and gift certificates for children. This year, over 900 bikers participated in the toy run, and over 1000 toys were collected. on October 16 to support the Christmas Bureau. Since the economic downturn of 2008 there has been a shift in the demographic of families assisted by AFB. In 2008, the average yearly income of a food bank user was $12,183.00. From that figure, it was calculated that after rent was paid the average food bank user had $4.53 a day to live on. By 2010, the average yearly income of a food bank user was $15,792.00, leaving individuals with $16.40 per day to live on after rent was paid.

Prang stated, "The amount of people using the food bank has gone down a little bit over the years [since 2008], but only a little ... in BC the cost of living is high. There are still a lot of singleparent fan;1.ilies out there. Divorce rates continue to increase. There are a lot of families trying to do it on their own." "What continues to increase is community involvement," Prang added. "Knowing that financial pressures are high, we continue to see an increase in generosity in our city. That gives us great courage."

SUS by-election debate presents students with wide variety of options

\ I I \

STUDENT UNION SOCIETY

JOE JOHNSON

THE CASCADE

How to increase student awareness, open communication between clubs and associations and create a more cohesive student body were major points of debate at the SUS by-election all can- . didates' meeting _on Monday at

UFV's Abbotsford campus.

Candidates for VP Social, Clubs and Associations Rep, Residence

Students Rep and Rep-at-Large all had the chance to illustrate their platforms and distinguish themselves from their competitors. Jhim Burwell, SUS Communications Administrator, acted as the time keeper and moderator.

All candidates had similar stances on many of the issues; the main difference between candidates were in how they framed their ideas. VP Social candidate

Wyatt Scott said he thinks UFV is the greatest school of all time, and that we're lucky to have so many different cultures on campus, but he sees UFV as a "teenager" that is experiencing very quick growth, a.nd said we are experiencing issues related to this. He also believes that the SUS needs to be talking with every club and association.

With regards to events, fellow

VP Social candidate Soderstrom believes that we need to see more consistency. He also believes that the SUS needs to do more in reaching out to student organizations, as well as to co-sponsor events with other associations.

His support on the new Student

Union building is based on contingencies, but he sees it as an im, portant investment.

Final VP Social candidate Tuong Thai feels that it's important for the expectations of clubs and procedures regarding the SUS to be more well-known. When the question of support for the new

Student Union building came up, he pointed out that the current space with which the SUS, CIVL, and Cascade now oc;cupy - as they would move to the new building - could be freed up to make new classrooms. This would help ease the wait-list for students, as new space could be allocated for them.

The sole Residence Student

Rep candidate Christian Doyle feels that simple communication is a great way to increase student involvement. A new idea that he floated was the possibility for students in resid~nce to receive a second card, in addition to the U-Pass. Some possibilities for the card could be benefits at the local movie theatre, and more restaurant deals as well.

Rep-at-Large candidate Anne Franklin brought up ways to increase student communication and awareness. One such way is to have small events like hot chocolate in the hallways as students pass by. The students who stop by can tell the SUS their thoughts, and dialogue for improvements can begin. Franklin would also like to see a new rail between Chilliwack and Abbotsford.

Rep-at-Large candidate Cleal Harvey believes the new student building is to be a legacy of the future. He wants to take it as far as he can while at UFV. The UPass is also an issue with him, as he would like to see it changed he feels it should include extended areas towards Vancouver.

Rep-at-Large candidate Shane Potter is running on being a counter-voice. Oversight is significant with him and he wants to stand up to deficits that take money away from students. While still supporting the Student Union ,building, he acknowledged that the possible $10 million mortgage is a significant amount and needs to be scrutinized with regards to every cost.

The point that set apart Repat-Large candidate Greg Strickland was his call for a stronger web presence between the SUS and students. While it's great to talk to students in the hallway, h~ noted, the web is always on. He. believes that possibilities such as establishing a YouTube channel that can act in an interactive way will help inform students of upcoming events and help to create a more cohesive student body.

Rep-at-Large candidate Jeannette Laberge was absent, as was Clubs and Associations rep candidate Cody Willems-Kutz.

Want to make your voice heard· in student government? UFV's SUS by-election is an opportunity to choose between candidates for VP Social, Clubs & Associations Representative, Residence Representative, and Reps At Large. Polling will be conducted via my.ufv.ca between November 17 and November 23.

2011 Student Union Society by-election: Candidate statements

Questions

1. If elected, what would you like the Student Union Society to ·achieve / i:q1prove during your term in office? 2. How will you improve the responsibility of the SUS to enhance student life at UFV? Please elaborate. 3. SUS is the primary _ advocacy · 01:ganization for students, how do you plan to improve the efficacy of SUS's efforts ,in these engagements? - · · 4. SUS has very large profile proj. ects in its future including the Student Uni<,m Building, U-Pass commitments and future large and small .concerts, what role do you see yourself taking for these projects?

Candidates for VP SOCIAL

there connecting with Student Organizations I'll be letting them know that SUS can help with more than just throwing parties. 4. I've always had an extended interest in the Student Union Building and would like to be more involved with it, but as VP Social most of my time will be spent making SUS's various events as fun and accessible as possible.

Wyatt Scott 1. If elected to the position of VP Social, I will bring fresh new ideas to help enhance the already great events put on by the SUS. I look forward to creating new and exciting student events. 2. Student events should work to enhancing their university experience. Why not take it one step further and supporting them 'in. · their academic study? 3. Most students don't know what SUS does with the exception of students who are involving with student clubs and associations. Thus, I would recommend SUS having an open dialogue with students and eRcouraging them . to provide feedbacks and sugSUS would be to. aide in student involvement. The issue on campus th~t bothers me the most is student apathy and I want it to · be-SU~'s job to attempt to get the

Tuong Thai gestions. For example, . schedule 1. · If elected, I wou:ld like to work . . a meeting with all student clubs ·with SUS Exectitives .· achieving . and associations at the beginning two goals: first, lwould like to see of each -semester, for clubs· and _ SUS collaborating with program associations executive members departments and student clubs getting to know SUS executives implementing a new education and vice_ versa and second, eduevent such hosting a life skills eating clubs and associations new conference with well-known executives about SUS's policies on speakers, ie. Jim Pattison, Presi- requesting funds and other serdent of Ikea Canada, Chief Editor vices. During this meeting, clubs of the Vancouver Sun. The reason and association can also give sugbeing is that I want SUS to be gestions or recommendation how recognize for other accomplish- they want SUS to help them or ment, not just as an organization what event they want SUS to put that gives student clubs and asso- on for students. ciations money for events, Dis-0, In addition to communicating providing health and dental plan, with student clubs and associaand U-Pass. I know the Career tions, SUS also needs to have an Centre and the Alumni office open communication with the have collaborated with various general student population to

student.bpdy out of the comatose . state that it currently resides in. . .3 .. As Residence Rep I will be closely involved with the BHRA and in doing so I would like to help advocate for residents in both a residence scale and a university scale. 4. !would become involved in the

SUB, and also with the inclusion of various businesses for the U-

Pass and residents card.

Candidates for REP AT LARGE

Anne Franklin 1. I would like to see a bus line connecting Abbotsford to Chilliwack as soon as possible. As well,

I will advocate for more afford-able food options on campus, and more events and activities that support student interaction and a g_reater sense of community at

UFV. create a sense of student culture program departments to orga- inform them what SUS does and academic unity. I would first nized these events but students and how we can assist them. We look within our student body to are not interested in those speak- can communicate this message fill the needs of the SUS. I believe '.:~. ers thus, they have approximately in three ways: first, sending an by doing so, it will help to build a 10 to so= students ilttended each email to students with a link to tight community among students. event. I believe SUS can organize SUS website, second, highlight 3. As a member of the PSSA and this eyjmt if we work witl:l other some of the important services

2. I will improve the responsibility of SUS to enhance student life at UFV by lobbying SUS based on the students' needs. I want to know what my fellow students feel is needed for a fulfilling and enjoyable experience at UFV, and I will present their ideas and requests to the SUS executives, aran active student in political sci- guing in favour of any improveence, I have a good understand- ments that could be made. ing of issues and the norms of political life. Even though it's outside of the purview of the VP Social, if elected I am still available to help bring clarity to the hard-lining political issues the SUS faces everyday. 4. My role in these events will be to use my professional experiences in the entertainment industry to help streamline and expand our social presence throughout the student body. Zack Soderstrom 1. I would like to see SUS make progress on the Student Union Building, tun\ AfterMath into a sustainable business, and make sure that there is something fun happening on campus every week. 2. By making involvement with student organizations an actual responsibility of SUS. Outside of funding requests SUS rarely has any interaction with clubs -or associations,. and even the process of applying for funding is full of frustrating bureaucratic hoops that would be much easier to jump through with just a little more back and forth communication. We are a student union that has failed at uniting the students. The old excuse of student apathy doesn't hold up when there are dozens of groups out ·there trying to bring students together, to improve life on campus, and we're not even trying to reach out to them. That's why if elected I will do all that I can to set the precedent for a better relationship between SUS and Student Organizations. 3. By letting students know we're here to help. Sometimes the biggest challenge isn't getting -the changes made but knowing what changes the students what. Just like with Student Organizations there is very little outreach being made, which is why while I'm out departments because we ha.ye the money and connections-io make it work. This type of ·event will show that SUS c~re about provid-_ ing students activities to release stress and life skills during their . time at UFV. Second, I would like SUS to negotiate with the Athletic Department allowing students to use the facility. I know we have the U-Pass program which allows students to free ride on the Abbotsford transit and access to the Abbotsford Recreational Centre (ARC) and Matsqui Recreational Centre (MRC). However, we do have students commuting to UFV and would like ·to use the fitness centre at the university to work out in between or after classes. This is a great program because it is convenient for students and SUS-is providing students with a healthy living style. I think it will work because they have. a new athletic director and the department needs money f~r their programs. I would like to achieve at least one of the two goals during my term. 2. SUS is already doing a great job at enhancing student life at UFV however; there is one thing that I :would like to see SUS working with students lobbying for more classes. Currently, many students are taking online courses at Thompson River University (TRU) to graduate because UFV is not offering many courses that students need to graduate during their last year. Consequently, students are the ones being affected by this because they are delaying their graduation which could then have a negative impact on their career. Since SUS is representing UFV students, I believe it is_ our responsibility to help students achieving their goal (getting a university degree) on time, when the job market is hot. Thankfully, SUS is already providing students with fun activities for them to release stress from studying and that SUS providing in the student -handbook, and third, having SUS executives available for questions at the beginning of each se ester beside Tim Horton. Once students know who SUS are and the services we provide, I believe we can effective in advocating for them. 4. At the beginning, I would work with other executives to learn more about these projects and what my role would be for each of them. But once my role has been identified, I see myself working with all stakeholders to make the project a success, ie. I could be a decision maker for some of the projects while others I would be working alongside other executives helping them completing the project. In addition, I will out in the public networking with various organizations for different projects. 3. In support of greater efficacy, I want to engage students in discussion regarding their wants and needs, and pass their suggestions on to the greater SUS body. I wish to be an advocate for the students and let their voices be heard directly. 4. I am fully .supportive of the SUB U-Pass and events hosted by SUS, as these all lend a greater sense of community to our student body. This is an ideal I hold in high regard and will support wholeheartedly and to the best of my abilities. Cleal Harvey 1. I would see the SUS maintain its ro1e as arbiter for students' rights. To represent all students equally and fairly, and to provide the necessary services to students that any union in good conscious would extend to its members. Candidate for CLUBS & ASSO- 2. I intend to become more inCIATIONS REPRESENTATIVE volved in a variety of student -aspects and to have students feel Cody Willems-Kutz · that their needs and cbncerns 1. I would like to see better com- · are being represented fairly and muri.ication and relations be- justly. tween SUS and the Clubs and As- 3. By upholding both the value sociations. and decisions of the SUS, I would 2. I will attempt to make SUS more help maintain/instill/create an involved with events around atmosphere of the SUS's genuine campus, focusing on Clubs and care for student-related issues. I Associations. would also encourage students to 3. By representing the SUS while become more active around camengaging in these organizations. pus themselves and to share their 4. I see myself being very sup- ideas/concerns with the SUS. portive of these projects and aid- 4. I have specifically concerned ing in anything they need. myself with the nature and struc-

Candidate for RESIDENCE REPRESENTATIVE

Christian Doyle 1. One of my goals is to aide in the development of the SUS. Though my main goal is to help with residence involvement . and awareness. 2. My goal in this aspect of the ture of the student U-Pass. While I agree with its purpose and intent, I would like to see its value for students extended to include other areas where students live and work, including the distinct transit regions of Metro Vancouver and also that of Hope. Jeanette LaBerge 1. If elected, I would like to SUS make a safe comfortable area for women. I would also like to see more cultural events so students can be more aware of the land we are on. I believe SUS needs to imporve on what SUS actually does. 2. I will Hsten to the debates of groups and make a decision for what is best for all students at UFV. For example, if a group needs money to support an NGO. 3. I plan on improving the efficacy of SUS's efforts in these engagements by supporting minority groups in the school and putting more money towards clubs that are wanting to make a change to people discrimin~ted against such as the pride community. 4. I -see myself promoting a Abbotsford/Chilliwack connector for students and also promoting SUS events such as the new SU:S building." Shane Potter 1. I want to be a voice to students who are concerned about the SUS society fees and the consequences of future projects like the Student Union Building on the Student's cost of attending UFV. 2. I have two years experience as a Student Representative on UFV's Senate, as well as, sitting on various policy and sub-committees through Senate. I will use the experience gained from:U,.ese-~om" mittees to improve and challenge ' · .. the policy and framework .in the SUS. -3. Students are not taking advantage of programs that we all pay for. While some programs are very useful among students, such as the gym membership, other programs cause massive strain on the SUS budget. We should make sure the SUS costs we pay each semester are worth it. If many of us paid $272 in SUS costs this semester but only use the gym membership, we have to reexamine our fees. 4. Due the large costs attributed. towards future and current projects, I want to provide a voice of reasonable and efficient spending. I encourage future SU~ projects as long as there is no increase in individual student costs. We pay enough fees. There are many economic problems in our student body, as well as, the rest of the world and the student fees add up fast. I feel that the SUS needs a voice that speaks towards our SUS fees and spending. Greg Stickland 1. I would like to improve SUS's presence online, particularly with YouTube and Facebook videos. Other than that, I just want to aid SUS with their current projects. Even if that involves 2. "Responsibility" grunt work. is a rather large term. But as far as student life goes, I want to help with SUS's current projects for the first part of my term. After that, I can begin new projects based on the experience. 3. As a rep at large, I don't have a pet project planned. I plan to be a general communication line between students and SUS. Once I get a good feel for the job, I can definitely expand from there. 4. Again, rep at large is a very general position. For big projects I'd help however I can. Helping with fundraisers, contributing ideas, pushing papers, handing out flyers. I have the time so I might as well.