The Cascade Vol. 28 Iss. 01

JANUARY 8 TO JANUARY 14, 2020

VOLUME 28 ISSUE 01

Eating birthday cake in the production room since 1993

NATURE INSPIRES CEP LIBRARY RENOVATIONS 3

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THE RIGHT WAY T0 MAKE FRIENDS AT UFV

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SET SMART GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR

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MINECRAFT: BEGIN A NEW DREAM

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 01

Copy Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca

News Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Andrea Sadowski andrea@ufvcascade.ca

Culture & Events Editor Carissa Wiens carissa@ufvcascade.ca

Arts in Review Editor Chandy Dancey chandy@ufvcascade.ca

Illustrator Kayt Hine Photographer David Myles Staff Writer Aleister Gwynne Staff Writer Nicholas Ashenhurst- Toews

Sports Editor Alex Jesus alex@ufvcascade.ca Digital Media Manager Anoop Dhaliwal anoop@ufvcascade.ca Illustrator Kelly Ning Sports Writer Nic Jackson

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Staff Writer Krystina Spracklin

The Shuffler Aaron Levy

CONTRIBUTORS Danaye Reinhardt

Cover Photo: UFV Library Back Cover: Elyssa English

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

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14 16......Events Calendar

Snapshots.......7 @UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 28 · Issue 01 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

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 Wednesday with a print circulation of 800 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities.

NEWS UFV Chilliwack library renos.......3

4......QLess system launches

OPINION Editorial.......5 Monogamy.......6

5.......Dear Robin 6.......Making friends in university

CULTURE Cascade Kitchen......11

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.

Interview with Nikki Cabuco .......12

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14.......CIVL Shuffle

Study Break.......13

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 are held every Monday in The Cascade’s office on the Abbotsford campus at 2:30pm.

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.

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ARTS

Feature Editor Darien Johnsen darien@ufvcascade.ca

OPINION

Production Manager Elyssa English elyssa@ufvcascade.ca

NEWS

Creative Director Mikaela Collins mikaela@ufvcascade.ca

CONTENTS

FEATURE

Business Manager Aneesha Narang aneesha@ufvcascade.ca

Managing Editor Nadia Tudhope nadia@ufvcascade.ca

CULTURE

Executive Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca

11.......Haq and History exhibition

SPORTS

ARTS Minecraft.......14

15......The Library of the Unwritten

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 news@ufvcascade.ca Jessica Barclay — News Editor

NEWS NEWS

UFV //

NEWS BRIEFS

Exciting changes coming to UFV Chilliwack Library Renovations will increase study space and create more room to host events

Over 60 citizens of Iranian background detained at border After attending an Iranian pop concert in Vancouver, people trying to cross back into the United States have been detained at the Peace Arch border crossing. According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, more than 60 citizens were detained at the border and had their passports taken away; more people of Iranian background were refused entry to the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protections tweeted that reports stating that the group were refused entry because of their country of origin were false.

Concept art of the flex-space and front desk of the CEP library. ( Urban Arts Architecture )

- Abby News

JESSICA BARCLAY

Canada assists in Australia wildfires Canada has deployed almost 100 fire management personnel to Australia since Dec. 3 to aid in battling the ongoing wildfires, with more personnel scheduled to be deployed soon. The devastating wildfires have resulted in the deaths of 24 people, destruction of 2,000 homes, and burning of more than five million hectares of land.

“I have communicated with my Australian counterpart to reiterate that we are prepared to provide further assistance as necessary,” FrançoisPhilippe Champagne, foreign affairs minister, said. “When wildfires spread through Canadian communities, Australia answered our call for help.

We are proud to do the same.”

- Global News

The Chilliwack Education Park (CEP) library will be undergoing renovations this semester to expand its study and event hosting spaces and increase the visibility of services.

The changes will include the addition of a flex-space to the right of the library entrance that can be used either as a study space or to host events and activities, additional group study rooms, and a group presentation space.

The Academic Success Centre and Math and Stats Centre will be moved from the back of the library to the front, where they will be visible to students entering the library.

The front library desk will also be expanded. Currently a large cement pillar blocks the view of the library entrance, and the front desk will be pushed out so the library staff are visible as soon as students enter the library.

With the renovations comes a new look. Leslie Olsen, library technician-in-charge at CEP, said that an important part of the renovations included finding a way to incorporate Indigenous elements in the new design.

Shirley Anne Hardman, senior advisor on Indigenous affairs, and Josephine Charlie, activities & cultural assistant at the Indigenous Student Centre, were consulted during the design process and suggested incorporating aspects of the river in a subtle way to the library.

The idea was brought to the architects, and the theme was incorporated into the design of the

space.

“They really liked the river idea, because we are so close to the Vedder River here. Their vision for the lighting is quite interesting. They see this as waves and bubbles,” Olsen said, pointing out the lighting fixtures depicted in the art concept of the flex-space.

The new colours continue the idea of bringing the outside in with natural wood tones, and greens and blues. One of the fabrics was chosen because the design reminded the architects of water plants.

The renovations will begin in the next few weeks and should be completed around the end of the Winter 2020 semester.

The library will remain open during renovations. However, as with any renovations, the work in the library will be disruptive to both the students using the space and staff. There will be an effort to reduce disruptions by scheduling louder work during weekends or vacations and walling off areas where work is being done.

Additional space will be found for students looking for study space.

Students can find information on what classrooms are open to them on a week-by-week basis by contacting the library.

During the renovations, the Academic Success Centre and the Math Centre will be relocated to the second floor of CEP in room 2416.

The computer lab will still be open for student use as well as the tables along the east wall of the library.

The library will remain open, and students will still be able to check

out books and seek help from the librarians.

The library moved to its current location in 2012, but since, its capacity has increased. A number of events have been hosted in the library but have had to be set up in the library entrance, which Olsen said “does get a little cramped.”

Over the last year, the library has been host to the Chilliwack Long Night Against Procrastination, Saint John Ambulance therapy dogs, and Indigenous arts and cultural activities, just to name a few.

The large flex-space will include tables for students to study at, but will also be easy to shuffle around for larger gatherings. There will also be a television for presentations.

The changes to the library layout will enable the creation of two additional group study rooms, for a total of four. There will also be a small area for practising presentations, with a writable wall and a screen for PowerPoints.

Olsen said she is excited about the changes and the new student spaces it will create.

“We just think it will be more welcoming, and a more flexible space. The services that are helpful for students will be visible,” Olsen said.

The library will be updating their page on the UFV website as new information becomes available and as plans are confirmed. Check in online or in person at the CEP library for more information on available study spaces and updates on the renovations.

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 01

NEWS UFV //

UFV service desks launch online queuing system OReg and ITS’ new system will text students when they’re next in line MIKAELA COLLINS UFV’s Information Technology Services (ITS) desk has opened for the Winter semester with a new online queuing system design to improve students’ experience when lines are long.

The system, called QLess, was launched at the Abbotsford campus’ Office of the Registrar (OReg) on Nov. 17, 2019, and is now also in use at the Chilliwack and Mission OReg locations. The system’s cost was split by OReg and ITS. Previously, OReg used a simple number-taking system with paper slips and a beeping LED display.

“There was no intelligence to it… It didn’t really help because you didn’t know how long you had, staff didn’t know who was in line. It didn’t give us any information about what people were coming for,” David Johnston, UFV registrar, said.

Now, students use a touchscreen to enter their name, the reason for their visit, and, optionally, their phone number. Students

who don’t enter their phone number can wait in the waiting area, watching their name move up a list displayed on a screen. Students who do enter their phone number receive text messages updating them about their estimated wait time and their position in line.

With the new system, Johnston said, people can leave to get a coffee or go to the washroom without fear of losing their place. Students can text or use a free thirdparty app by the system’s developer to join the queue remotely, leave the queue, or change their position in line.

QLess also collects data about how quickly students are served, which Johnston says will help staff change their workflow to make lines move quickly.

“During busy times we’ll be able to run two lines,” Johnston said, “because people choosing to pay their fees can back things up a bit, so we can have a fee payment line, and everything else in the Registrar’s line, and that should help both lines to move people through more smoothly.”

Johnston says Abbotsford OReg plans to install a kiosk outside the doors so

OReg. UFV Abbotsford. Jan. 6, 2020. (David Myles/The Cascade)

students can line up before the office opens, and to have multiple monitors in the waiting area displaying the line during busy periods.

At the end of the Fall 2019 semester, Johnston said that most students were not yet using the texting function when they first logged in, but he expects the number

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We’re hiring

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to increase as more students are exposed to the system.

Janelle Dochuk, who works at the front desk in OReg, said students “have been very positive and receptive” to the new system and that she’s “happy to have something updated compared to our old ticket system.”

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 opinion@ufvcascade.ca Andrea Sadowski — Opinion Editor

Editorial //

It’s not all bad JESSICA BARCLAY The last few months have felt dark, dreary, and depressing, and not just because of the weather. The front pages of the papers have been filled with mass protests, incompentent world leaders, and the growing effects of climate change, and some media outlets are predicting another year of political turmoil as the U.S. pokes the beast of war and the effects of climate change begin to affect everyday life.

Many students and professors come to a university setting with the hope of making change, even in small ways, and it can be frustrating to watch governments and those in power fail to take action where action is needed.

Many Canadians have just celebrated the start of the new year, and many see the first weeks of January as a time of reflection, to look back on the previous year and analyze the positives and negatives of both our own lives and the world around us. The current political landscape is full of frustration, which may lead some to a growing sense of pessimism.

Whether you celebrate the start of a new year on Jan. 1 or not, the start of a new semester is always a good time to do some solid reflecting. Positivity and hope sometimes need to be cultivated, and a number of good things did happen in the last year that may help to jumpstart your constructive contemplation.

The first major cache of plastics gathered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch were deposited in Vancouver this October, providing proof of concept for a passive, wave-powered ocean cleanup device. The company The Ocean Cleanup calculates they can clean up 50 per cent of the patch

within five years, and has plans to deploy similar devices to clean up rivers around the world as well.

There were a number of positive steps forward in the medical field. Notably, Algeria and Argentina were declared malaria free, joining 36 other countries and territories worldwide that have stopped transmission of the disease. The World Health Organization said that the mosquito-borne virus can be eliminated through vaccinations, quick response time, and accessible treatment for those infected.

Women showed their strength in 2019.

A record number of women are serving as politicians in the U.S., with 101 women with seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 25 in the Senate. In Canada, 98 women were elected as members of Parliament (MPs), the most in Canadian history. This is only about 25 per cent of MPs in Canada and is not nearly enough, but it is a start.

Finally, in a remarkable and shocking moment of clarity, Congress voted to pass articles of impeachment against the president of the United States. The two articles of impeachment will now, eventually, move to Senate where the American people will get to watch a poorly-reasoned and completely incomprehensible trial. If nothing else, at least the audio will be more clear than in Trump's usual helicopter-accompanied confessions of guilt.

Smaller, positive stories often get buried in the media landscape. Newspapers are meant to inform, and often the news that informs is not the happy stories. But when our news sites are a jungle of natural disasters, political turmoil, and unprecedented biodiversity loss it’s important to remember that there are good people working to change the world, and change is possible, even just a little at a time.

OPINION

Advice //

Dear Robin

ROBIN HALPER Life is tough and confusing and weird.

We all need help sometimes, and when you need an expert opinion, you turn to an expert opinion-giver like Robin Halper. Whatever problem you’re facing in life, Robin will have a solution.

The Cascade cannot guarantee the effectiveness of Robin’s unique approach to life, but if you’re in a jam, get some advice by writing to halp@ufvcascade. ca Family Feuds Dear Robin, I got into a pretty major fight with my parents when going back home for the holidays; they said a visual arts degree was useless and I would end up homeless, but I think differently. Anyways, we’re not really talking anymore now that I’ve moved back to the Fraser Valley, and I don’t know what to do. I used to call them all the time but now it seems weird to. What should I do?

Sincerely, Future Homeless Artist Hey, Child-parent relationships are complex, especially when parents are close-minded and unwilling to let their child do whatever the hell they want. As long as they’re not paying for your tuition, continue that VA degree and live off of room temperature cans of beans and leftover crackers from on-campus events. Easy. But if they’re the ones paying for your classes, try to at least have a civil conversation with them about your legitimate hopes and dreams to see if they actually

want to still financially support that.

Robin Roommate of the Year Dear Robin, I stayed here in my apartment while my roommate went home for the holidays and… well… I drank all of the liquor he had stored in the cabinet above the fridge. The worst part is, I don’t have the money to replace it. And to be clear, I didn’t get his permission to drink all of the alcohol, I just did, and it definitely wasn’t my smartest decision.

Sincerely, Lucked out on liquor Hello, Firstly, talk to someone about this other than an anonymous newspaper personality who is, of course, helpful with many things, but can’t give you all the tools you need to succeed in this crazy world.

UFV has some excellent counsellors who can deal with all of the problems that come your way.

Secondly, I hope you saved those bottles and caps so that you can fill them up with water, add food colouring when necessary, and use a lighter to meld the plastic from the covering of the cap and bottle plastic together to make it look like you didn’t touch a thing. Thirdly, if that doesn’t work, Craigslist has plenty of ads looking for new roommates.

Robin

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 01

OPINION Lifestyle //

MoNOgamy

In today's dating scene, is it practical to expect monogamy as the baseline for relationships?

NICHOLAS ASHENHURSTTOEWS In the rapidly changing social landscape of 2020, it has never been a more fascinating and terrifying time to participate in romantic relationships. Only a few decades ago, mainstream relationships were thought to consist of a man and a woman. Today, in the Western world, more people are open and accepting of relationships that break convention.

One such convention that is being dismantled is the idea of monogamy, or the committing of oneself to a single partner.

Open relationships, polyamory, and other forms of consensual non-monogamy are becoming more and more common as people are open to the idea that there is more than one correct way to engage in relationships. In this shifting landscape of relationship ideals, is monogamy archaic, and should the idea of having multiple partners in a relationship be embraced?

One of the major pros in the argument for monogamy is that it’s the social and cultural norm. It can be difficult to break the pre-established mould, as one can be hyper aware of the questions that arise when one starts pursuing an alternative lifestyle. Some people may question the validity of non-monogamous relationships, and that can be damaging over time, especially when it comes from authoritative sources, such as a family member. Others can find it baffling to exist in multiple relationships due to the fact that any relationship requires a certain amount of intimacy that for them would be difficult to have and maintain with multiple people at one time. Still, others point to the potential jealousy they would experience knowing their partner was seeing somebody else.

To point to a monogamous relationship as the end goal for every single person is kind of ridiculous. Consensual nonmonogamous relationships can exist

in many forms, including polyamory, being sexually or romantically involved with multiple people at a time; open relationships, where the couple has agreed to be open to having sexual contact with others; and swinging, where a pair of couples agree to swap partners.

Not everyone wants the same things from a relationship. Some people have agreed to non-monogamy as a way to fill the needs that can’t be fulfilled by their partner. Those needs are not necessarily sexual in nature, with people choosing to pursue romantic or emotionally intimate relationships as well. Polyamory and open relationships require a great deal of open communication between partners. Boundaries can be and often are set up between partners. These boundaries can include what style of consensual non-monogamy they are participating in and whom the other person can have a relationship with. In many non-monogamous relationships,

those engaging in the relationship will often have a primary partner, while maintaining at least one additional relationship as well. And the level of intimacy of that additional relationship is going to vary from person to person and relationship to relationship. Nonmonogamy is not for everyone and it’s not going to look the same for everyone.

With all of this, would I be content in a non-monogamous relationship? In theory, yes, I could definitely see myself getting to know multiple people on a deep emotional level and I could see how that could help my relationship if I was seeing someone who was not asexual. However, it would need to be discussed with every new partner to see if this relationship model is something they would also be interested in. Non-monogamy, like everything else in a relationship, comes down to trust, communication, and consent.

Satire //

Suffering from commuter school syndrome?

Follow these simple steps to make friends and be cool DANAYE REINHARDT I have been a student at UFV for two years, and I can proudly say that I have never once learned a fellow student’s name. If you find yourself talking to yourself in your car, spending more money on gas than friends, or plagued with loneliness, you may be suffering from commuter school syndrome. Need a cure? Read on and follow these guaranteed steps to friendship.

1. Leave campus immediately after class. Listen, folks. You already spend hours at school listening to professors, standing in the Tim Horton’s line, and glancing at another student watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine on their laptop during lectures. You cannot afford to waste more time going to school events, watching UFV Cascades games, and joining clubs. It’s important to make friends, but take care of your priorities by rushing to your car after class and getting home as soon as possible.

2. Don’t talk to anyone in class.

Last semester, I was determined to connect with fellow students, so I sat next to someone in Astronomy 103 and started up a conversation. I even asked her what her name was!

However, my approach was much

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too outgoing and direct; she never showed up to class again, so I can only assume it was my fault. The trick is to wait for others to talk to you. You don’t want to come across as desperate by initiating conversation, do you? If you wait all semester for someone to talk to you or sit next to you in class, I am certain you’ll become friends with someone in no time at all.

3. Don’t join any clubs. Clubs are lame, simple as that.

People who join clubs either have too much

time on their hands or they don’t know how to have a good time.

Think about it: if people actually made friends by joining clubs, wouldn’t UFV clubs be thriving?

You, however, are a self-respecting

person who would never be desperate enough to make friends through clubs. A like-minded community? Regular meetings about something you’re passionate about? Please. You’ll only embarrass yourself. Instead, try something more dignified like watching The Office during class. You’ll be sure to attract lots of friends.

4.

Always put your needs above others. Some people may try to convince you that friendships require selflessness, but sacrifice is overrated.

If your new friend won’t work around your schedule, are they truly the friend you need?

Listen,

able to be your best self around your friends and fellow students. Make sure to treat yourself right and drop those friends who won’t adjust their schedules around your life.

5. Don’t be yourself. This is the most important rule of all. If you want to make friends, you can’t go around showing people who you truly are because (let’s be honest) you’re pretty weird. You will have to change every aspect of yourself so that others will like you. My best suggestion is to take your Tinder profile and bring it to life. Wear makeup every day, become taller or shorter, and tell everyone how much you love to travel — that’s what you’ve told everyone online, right?

Better yet, make all of your friends on the internet. It’s best to cultivate each friendship through Snapchat and DMs instead of meeting faceto-face; that way, you can pretend to be more outgoing, more funny, and more cool than you really are. It’s all about vibing with others.

University isn’t for stepping out of your comfort zone or exploring your interests.

You’re Illustration by Kayt Hine here to get your it’s all in the name of self-care. If degree and leave, but you might as well you don’t take care of yourself (in make some friends while you’re here. It’s the form of binge-watching Netflix, not impossible and it just might cure your wearing fuzzy Christmas socks, commuter school syndrome. It’s 2020, and saying no to anything that folks. Time to make some friends. doesn’t benefit you), you won’t be

BRIEF BITS OF BITE-SIZED BREVITY

SN S AP HO TS

CURTAILED COMMENTARY ON CURRENT CONDITIONS

Illustrations by Kelly Ning

Practice what you preach: A note on hypocrisy and mental health If we’re going to preach about supporting people with mental health issues, then we need to be treating people accordingly. As a society, we need to stop treating others like robots (employers, I’m lookin’ at you) and expecting people to cover up their feelings if they’re in turmoil so we don’t have to deal with it. If we’re going to ask someone how they are, we should be prepared to actually accept the fact that the response might not be “good.” It may mean that we have to be prepared to respond appropriately, and willing to listen if it’s not so good, even if we have our own struggles going on. In fact, sometimes

putting aside our anguish and focusing on assisting others can actually help alleviate some of our own distress.

Practising love toward each other is all we really have in this world. The more we can all practise this, the better our world could become, and the more love we will receive in return. When we are loving toward someone, they’ll be loving in response. Let caring and being kind toward each other be all of our New Year’s resolution for 2020.

Make SMART resolutions

What is the point in wanting to achieve a resolution for the year if you're not going to do anything about it a week or month after making it?

Are you trying to make yourself feel guilty? Are you trying to overstress your body while you also start a new semester, a new year, or a new day?

Continuously make achievable goals and routines to help you stay focused on the prize. The prize could be a

degree, a job, or a healthy lifestyle.

Whatever your goals may be, let there be a realistic end to the goal. Every day, create a new goal to focus on and determine when the goal will be completed. A goal or resolution will do nothing for you if your mind is not focused on the end result.

Aneesha Narang

Darien Johnsen

Not worth complaining about Planes, trains, and automobiles There is a certain spot on campus that I grew quite fond of last semester. It was a desk in the production room of The Cascade office: the desk closest to the giant printer. From that desk I watched the sky turn from blue to pink to purple. I shed tears over massive essays that were due the next day that I still needed to write 1,000 words for.

I calmed myself by seeing the clouds form from inanimate blobs into the shapes of various animals. I listened to the coffee pot rumble and the

microwave beep. I watched airplanes fly into and out of Abbotsford Airport, wishing I was on one of them instead of writing papers. I listened to the horns of distant trains rumbling through Abbotsford. If I was lucky, I even got to hear kids doing donuts with their cars in the SUS parking lot. It was an excellent spot to get work done.

Andrea Sadowski

It’s easy to find things to complain about — with the front right tire of my car being semi-flat every time I look at it to my nicest pair of jeans feeling much smaller each time I put them on — but one thing’s not worthy of any complaints: marrying into a family that, instead of baking gingerbread cookies together on Christmas Eve, goes to Mexico to get away from the rain and brings me along.

Leaving the country at this time of year is always a delight. It’s even more of a delight when the in-laws cover the cost of your beach-front accommodation and your luggage can carry all of the books you said

you would read in 2019.

But to me, my time in Mexico is more than the hours of reading in the sun or the water splashing at my feet: it’s about the ability to purchase one litre of margarita for 120 pesos ($8.23 CAD). That’s right, one litre — 1,000 ml. That is a blessing Mexico has that Canada will never be able to measure up to and something I will never complain about in this sunny country.

Author’s note: this piece was written on the beach in Mexico.

Carissa Wiens

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 01

New Year,

New You :

how to make (and stick to) your New Year’s resolutions

---------------Andrea Sadowski

J

anuary always feels like a fresh start. getting better grades, as you can easily measure your progress

It’s a new year, a new semester, and now it’s even a new decade. Many people make resolutions to leave behind their old bad habits and make improvements in their lives.

New year, new you.

Three out of every 10 Canadians will make a New Year’s resolution this year, and 73 per cent of of them will abandon their resolutions by mid-February. This is partly because people put unrealistic expectations on themselves within the first couple of weeks of the new year, only to find that old habits die hard, and quickly give up when they fail to see results. No one is expecting you to make huge, sweeping character changes, but rather tiny increments of change pushing you a little further in the right direction every day.

To make a resolution that is easy to stick to, focus on writing SMART goals.

SMART Goals were originally a business tool developed by George T. Doran in 1981. The idea was to provide a simple and easy-to-follow framework for creating realistic, result-oriented goals.

S - Specific

in dollars and GPA points. Measurements are a little harder to do with abstract resolutions such as “stop procrastinating” or “develop deeper friendships.” Try to put these abstract concepts into measurable quantities, like aiming to achieve certain tasks you tend to procrastinate on in time-bound targets, or by putting a number on how often you want to see your friends each month or each week.

A - Achievable Be realistic with your resolutions. Are you actually going to read 100 books this year? Is losing 20 lbs. a month a realistic goal to strive for? This is not meant to put a damper on your lofty goals, but rather to keep them in check to avoid abandoning them altogether. Set goals that are actually attainable with your time constraints, and think about new skills that you would need to acquire in order to achieve your goals.

R - Relevant Start asking yourself why you are making this resolution. Why will your life improve if you follow through with this goal? Is this resolution meaningful to you specifically, or are you just saying that you want to visit more art shows this year because you think that is what all the cool kids are doing? Make sure whatever resolution you decide to make is actually relevant to your life, or else you will lack the motivation needed to complete it.

BBe specific with what you want to accomplish. Don’t just say you want to “be more active” or “lose weight” or “save money”; make your resolution as specific as possible. How many times a week do you want to be active, doing what? Why do you want to lose weight? How much money do you want to add to your savings each month, and what are you saving money for, T - Time-bound exactly? The more detailed you can be about what exactly it is you want to do in this new year, the better.

Breaking down your resolutions into time-bound goals is the key to success. Don’t just say “I want to learn to garden this M - Measurable year.” Instead, focus on what tasks you will accomplish each With what metric are you going to measure how you achieve month of the year that will make this goal attainable. Give your resolution? This is easy with goals like saving money or yourself a deadline on when you want to achieve the goal by,

or else it may never happen.

ping your feet around your head, Yoga with Adrienne is the perfect solution. Her Let’s look at four of the most easy-to-follow videos and down-to-earth common resolutions and personality are the reason for her 5.87 make a plan to be our best million followers, and she always posts a 30-day challenge in January to get a jumpselves this year! start on the year.

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I resolve to exercise more in 2020.

Exercising is something most students find difficult to incorporate into their busy schedules, but its benefits are hard to ignore. Studies show that regular exercise can improve your mental health, boost your energy levels, and improve your cognitive functions. Avoid crowded gyms and expensive memberships by taking advantage of some of the perks you get as a UFV student.

If you absolutely do not have the time to attend fitness classes, go to the gym, or do yoga, there are still ways to sneak some physical activity into your schedule. Try biking to school, walking to the grocery store, always opting to take the stairs rather than the elevator, or going for walks in the park with your friends instead of sitting in a coffee shop. There are always ways to make substitutions and adapt your schedule to make some time for yourself; you just need to be creative.

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I resolve to build healthier relaUFV Campus Recreation offers free fit- tionships in 2020. ness classes at both the Chilliwack and Abbotsford campuses, with everything Everyone has relationships they would from belly dancing to yoga to spin class. like to improve upon. Whether that be All you need to do is sign a waiver and try with their mother, partner, best friend, or to keep up! UFV also hosts free drop-in co-workers, all of our relationships can sports at the Abbotsford campus for bad- use tune-ups once in a while. Our relaminton, basketball, and soccer. Check out tionships are our support system and we all UFV has to offer on My Campus Life. need to do our part to keep them healthy, so it makes sense to establish this as a New Your U-Pass gets you free membership Year’s resolution! to the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, Matsqui Recreation Centre, Mission Lei- An important first step in building healthsure Centre, and the CEP fitness centre. ier relationships is setting up boundarYou have a whole range of fitness options ies. Boundaries protect us in every relaat these centres that offer drop-in sports, tionship — they help us to keep our own swimming, skating, fitness classes, and well-being a priority and communicate weight rooms. There is even a women’s our limits to other people. Each person only weight room at the Matsqui Centre if will have different boundaries for differgoing to the gym seems a bit intimidating ent relationships, and not every boundfor you. Check out their calendars to see ary has to be carved in stone. Setting up which activities work within your sched- boundaries can be as simple as unfollowule. ing or muting people you find negatively affect your mental health on social media If you prefer exercising in the peace of platforms, or as difficult as having a seriyour own home, there are countless Youous conversation with a partner who has Tube channels, Instagram accounts, and an addiction about what you will and will fitness apps that will help keep you on not tolerate. track. If you want to try out yoga, but are a bit intimidated by the thought of wrap- Learn proper interpersonal communi-

cation skills — this means being able to tell people what you need and listening to understand, instead of listening to respond. Know that your partner or roommate is not a mind reader and they may not be able to tell when you are mad or annoyed at them for constantly leaving their half-empty coffee mugs around the apartment. Use “I” statements to communicate your wants, needs, and desires to the people in your life so that they know how to take action. Be open to listen when your partner has feedback on your own actions, and indicate that you understand what they’re saying by reflecting back to them what they have said. Be sure to also validate their feelings. A crucial part of interpersonal communication is knowing what conversations to have in person, and what to have through text; save yourself a lot of confusion by agreeing to never argue over text or discuss serious issues through messenger group chats.

Learn to apologize and to forgive. This is a mandatory life skill that everyone must learn. According to Aaron Lazare, author of On Apology, there are four steps to make a proper apology: acknowledge what you did wrong to hurt the other person, offer an explanation on why you did what you did, express remorse and apologize for what happened, and say what you’ll do to make amends. Some hurts are harder to forgive than others, but once you have forgiven someone, let the issue go and don’t bring it up again in future arguments or hold a grudge against that person for what they’ve done.

A necessary step to take if you want healthier relationships this year is to work on yourself. By fully accepting and loving yourself, and getting over past traumas and hurts that are negatively affecting your present, you will be able to engage in healthier relationships in the future. UFV offers free counselling to students, and if you are on the student healthcare plan, you get access to an even wider range of counselling services, such as in-person counselling, phone sessions, or video counselling.

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 01

If you want to do well in a course, you need to show up. Many teachers give participation marks if you simply fill a seat in class, so why are you wasting such easy marks by skipping out? Other professors count the quantity and even the quality of your input in class discussions, so by just putting up your hand and speaking, you get some points that may contribute to an A. At UFV, we have the advantage of small class sizes, so professors can actually know their students by name and offer assistance to students who are struggling. If you find you are unable to grasp a difficult concept that is being taught, don’t be afraid to get in contact with your professor to

your homework, structure your essay, and check over your citations. As well, different departments offer more in-depth tutoring options, such as the Math & Stats Centre and the Modern Languages Institute. There are also Supported Learning Groups offered for various courses, which are study sessions led by other UFV students that help you retain what you are learning in difficult courses.

If a learning disability is hindering you from getting the grade you strive to achieve, the Centre for Accessibility Services can help you by making the proper adjustments during class time and exams to accommodate your needs.

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---------------I resolve to get better grades in I resolve to save more money in 2020.

2020. find out their office hours, or get advice through email. If you have a large paper due, many professors will look over your outline or even your first draft to give their input.

Saving money is simple in theory: earn more and spend less. But this is much harder to do in practice. It’s best not to get overwhelmed by doing a complete overhaul of your finances and by pinchMake friends with people in your class, or at least ing every penny if you are used to a more lavish the person you are sitting beside. It makes a huge lifestyle. Start by making small adjustments that difference just to have someone who is able to you will notice in the long run. send you notes if you happen to miss a class. For First of all, be vigilant where you spend your upper-level courses it may help to create a study money. Look at your credit card statement and group with your classmates. Designate a certain do an analysis on where your money goes each time and place you will meet each week to work month, and consider how you might be able to on projects and assignments, and study for ex- scale this back. Perhaps you are spending $100 ams together. per month on Tim Hortons or Fairgrounds. You Read your textbooks and do the assignments. can start saving money by waking up five minutes Doing the assigned readings for each week of earlier to make your coffee at home and bring it your courses will enable you to contribute to to school. The same goes for food; you can save class discussions and prevents you from having exponentially by planning your meals and prepto read 150 pages of material the night before ping ahead of time. Groceries and home-made your midterm. Keeping on top of your assign- meals cost significantly less than eating out and ments and making sure to hand in even the as- buying your lunch on campus every day, so plan signments that are worth just 0.5 per cent of your ahead and brown bag it. Cut back your data usage grade do make the difference between a B and on your cell phone bill, or cut out data altogether; constant access to the internet is expensive and an A. adds up quickly — not to mention the mental The hardest part of doing all of this work is the health issues that may arise from phone addicdiscipline it takes to get it done. When you have tion and constantly being plugged in. Consider a midterm to study for in one class and a research sharing streaming services like Netflix and Amapaper to write in another, it’s hard to complete zon Prime with friends by using family accounts, these little assignments that seem insignificant. and take advantage of student pricing with Apple But just getting these little tasks done and out of Music, Spotify, and Adobe products. The more the way will alleviate so much stress, and allow you examine your bills and where your money is you to focus on assignments that are worth more. going, the more you will be able to identify areas Once you establish these habits and routines of where you can save money. getting your assignments done on time, your Buy everything, short of socks and underwear, mental health will improve greatly. used. Not only is this helping the environment, If you need even more help with your classes, but it will also save you a significant amount of UFV offers free peer tutoring in nearly every money if you try to buy everything you can used. subject through the Academic Success Centre. Frequent the many thrift shops we have here in These tutors are there to help you get through Abbotsford, like the MCC on Gladys Avenue or

Value Village on Clearbrook. Use Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or LetGo for more specific items you need to purchase. Buy used textbooks through Facebook groups or Books2Go. Stay away from shopping malls, where you will undoubtedly make some impulsive purchases, because you can buy almost everything you need used, and in good condition, secondhand.

If you find that you are doing everything you can to save money, but are still not saving as much as you want to, you may have to earn more. Consider cutting back your course load so that you are able to have a part-time job. Graduating on time isn’t worth destroying your mental health over finances. Slow down, take your time, and take care of yourself. There are many job opportunities available on campus through the Career Centre directory, through SUS, or even with The Cascade.

Start a side hustle if you want to make a little extra cash but don’t want to commit to an official job. Sell seats in your car on PopARide if you are making a trip to Vancouver, or drive to Surrey often. Become a dog walker or pet sitter on Rover and get paid to play with dogs in your free time.

Deliver food through Doordash or a similar app that allows people to order food online. Sell stuff you don’t need anymore on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or LetGo. Offer your babysitting abilities to your friends with children, or be a house-sitter for friends who are going out of town. Take advantage of any other skills you have that people will pay you for, such as graphic design, photography, and web design. There are a million ways to make a little extra cash when times are tough if you’re creative.

UFV has many scholarships and bursaries available for those who are in need and qualify for them. If you demonstrate genuine financial need, you may qualify for a bursary, which you can apply for from Jan. 15 to March 15. As well, there are many scholarships and awards available for students who show outstanding academic achievement and community leadership. Applications for these awards are accepted between March 15 and May 10.

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Whether your New Year’s resolution is to eat more vegetables, drink less caffeine, or learn how to do a cartwheel, by making SMART goals, and by adjusting your lifestyle little by little each day, you will be so proud of all you have achieved by 2021.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 culture@ufvcascade.ca Carissa Wiens — Culture Editor

Preview //

The Haq and History exhibition

A new cultural collection highlighting the lives of Punjabi communities in BC to arrive at UFV CARISSA WIENS This month UFV opens its doors to host the Haq and History exhibit in the university’s S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery.

The collection was designed by the Royal B.C. Museum and the South Asian Studies Institute at UFV and will be on campus from Jan. 15 Feb. 13.

The Punjabi Canadian Legacy Project (PCLP), a partnership project between the Royal B.C. Museum and the South Asian Studies

Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley formed in 2013, called for “a revolution to break traditional institutional boundaries.”

The group wanted marginalized communities to be presented to the public in order for other Canadians to learn about groups like their own.

After many years of work, the Haq and History exhibition was presented at the Royal B.C. Museum on May 4, 2019. The exhibition highlights five themes chosen by the Canadian

Visual Art Poetry Short Fiction Photography

CULTURE

Column //

Cascade Kitchen: Everything pasta

Punjabi communities that express their stories in B.C.: trans-Pacific journeys, families and homes, community celebrations and commemorations, sawmill experiences, and community activism for rights and justice.

An opening reception will take place on Jan. 15 in the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. This event, along with the entire exhibition is free to attend for everyone.

Now accepting submissions Info: ufvcascade.ca/zine Submit: zine@ufvcascade.ca

Nutritious pasta in one bowl. Jan. 4, 2020. (Carissa Wiens)

CARISSA WIENS The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budget-friendly 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.

Let’s get one thing straight: the bowl of pasta in this photo does not look very appetizing. The colours are bland, and people who are not fans of onions will definitely be turned off. But regardless of the appearance, that bowl of pasta was mighty fine. Under the top layer of balsamic-glazed onions and chickpeas are simmered tomatoes and spinach mixed with al dente linguine. This dish has everything necessary for a meal: protein, grains, vegetables, and fat (the olive oil). This recipe will make about 6 servings, so pack it away for the week’s lunches.

Ready in 30 minutes.

Ingredients: 1 lb linguine (or any other long pasta) 4 tbsp olive oil, divided in 2 15 oz can chickpeas 1 yellow onion, diced 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar, divided in 2 1 tsp garlic powder 3 cloves garlic, finely minced 8 cups fresh spinach 15 oz can diced tomatoes 1/2 cup vegetable broth 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes Salt & pepper to taste Method: 1.

Bring a pot of water to boil and cook pasta according to package instructions.

2. In another pot, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium high heat. Add in onion and cook until it begins to look translucent. Toss in chickpeas, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, and garlic powder and cook for another several minutes until liquid dissolves. Put the chickpea mixture in a separate bowl and clean out the pot to use for the sauce (because you don’t want to dirty more pots than necessary).

3. Heat the other 2 tbsp olive oil over medium high heat. Add in spinach. It might look like a lot of greens but it will cook down in no time. After it begins to wilt, toss in the tomatoes, garlic, broth, and red pepper flakes and let it all simmer together for about 10 minutes.

4. Once the pasta is ready, add it into the pot of veggies, turn off the heat, and let it all absorb together nicely. (It might take another 10 minutes.)

Season with salt and pepper accordingly.

5. Serve with the chickpea mixture on top.

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SPORTS

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 01 sports@ufvcascade.ca Alex Jesus — Sports Editor

Women’s Basketball //

Nikki Cabuco continues to impress at UFV

The UFV Cascades’ Nikki Cabuco is having a rookie season for the ages as she continues to learn on the court

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Jan. 3 – Jan. 4, 2020

Women’s Basketball Game/Date: UFV versus UBC / Friday, Jan. 3

ALEX JESUS In almost all sports, talent mixed with hard work yields impressive results. This is how Nikki Cabuco has risen as one of the premier women’s basketball players at UFV in just her first season on the team.

Her impressive array of offensive skills combined with high-level defence has her looking like one of the Cascades’ future stars.

Cabuco plays point guard for the Cascades, but was introduced to the players and coaches of UFV long before her time with the varsity team. When she was younger, Cabuco played with some of her current teammates on the Junior Cascades, a program by UFV Athletics.

“I actually played Junior Cascades when I was little. I live in Port Moody, so this isn’t that close to me, but I played on the provincial team with Parker, Maddy, and Deanna, and Al was our coach,” Cabuco said.

Her position is one of great importance for UFV, as point guards bring the ball up the court, help set up plays for others, and contribute offensively. Cabuco does all of this, but what makes her special is her defensive prowess. In her first year competing at the university level, Cabuco is averaging 2.0 steals per game for the Cascades, which is in the top 20 for the Canada West conference that UFV plays in.

“I love getting those handy little steals and poking out. My favourite thing to do is to be places that people don’t think I’m going to be,” Cabuco said.

Working on not turning the ball over is a skill she’s still developing, but her defence alone is enough to earn her place on the roster of a team with playoff hopes.

Rookies at UFV or in any major athletics program often have a long road ahead of them in terms of their personal growth as players. Due to the guard position having so many roles, it’s tough to be good at everything. Cabuco sees her offensive skills as something she can improve on.

“For me, what I want to work on is when I can attack and when I can be selfish sometimes and not just give up the ball so much. But then also, even outside basketball, I’m a very sharing person and more caring about other people than myself sometimes, so I think that plays a big role in basketball.”

With playoffs on the horizon, Cabuco is excited for the upcoming challenges the team will face as they continue to build up to their best form for the postseason.

“I think we’re ready. Pat [the assistant coach] and others are doing an incredible [job] on defence. Our offence looks pretty good right now. We just added something sneaky, so I’m actually super excited but I think we will do good.”

UFV Cascades Sports Scores

Score: UFV 74 UBC 76 Game/Date: UFV versus UBC / Saturday, Jan. 4 Score: UFV 77 UBC 62

Men’s Basketball Game/Date: UFV versus UBC/ Friday, Jan. 3 Score: UFV 63 UBC 80 Game/Date: UFV versus UBC / Saturday, Jan. 4 Score: UFV 84 UBC 82

Women’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV versus Douglas / Friday, Jan. 3 Score: UFV 3 Douglas 1 Game/Date: UFV versus Douglas / Saturday, Jan. 4 Score: UFV 0 Douglas 3

Men’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV versus Douglas / Friday, Jan. 3 Score: UFV 0 Douglas 3

Nikki Cabuco. Abbotsford, BC. Nov. 15, 2019. (UFV Athletics)

This upcoming weekend the Cascades will hit the road in search of some wins against the UNBC Timberwolves in Prince George before coming home to

take on the Trinity Western Spartans at home on Jan. 18 at UFV after facing them in Langley on Jan. 16.

Game/Date: UFV versus Douglas / Saturday, Jan. 4 Score: UFV 0 Douglas 3

STUDY BREAK

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

Crossword //

Made by Andrea Sadowski DOWN

ACROSS

2: A device for winding up a fishing line.

1: Set the _ _ _ low.

4: Part of they’re, but not they are.

3: A pretty, little spotted beetle.

5: Like shooting a fish in a _ _ _ _ _ _.

7: A requirement of life.

6: One whose case is hopeless.

9: Developed by Samuel Morse in the 1830s.

8: The day after this paper came out.

10: Between 0 and 90 degrees.

11: A sharpened shaft tipped in feathers.

11: The invisible gaseous substance surrounding the Earth.

12: A woman practising black magic.

13: Someone who loves their country.

14: Have a conversation.

15: One of these goes round and round on the bus.

16: Winnie the Pooh’s favourite treat.

Cascade Calamities

Horoscopes //

Your weekly life predictions as told by Ang the Great

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 You will experience thriving relationships this week in all areas of your life with pretty much everyone you come in contact with. Your newfound energy and zest for life as a new year begins will contribute to these positive partnerships and a rewarding social life

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 This week you will find yourself filled with positive energy that draws others to you. The heavy loneliness you felt last semester will fade away as your renewed mental health will help you form relationships with new friends and new lovers.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 You will gain a new source of income this week, but be careful to not spend this extra cash frivolously. As a Taurus, you crave luxury, but don’t waste your hard-earned money on worthless things. Cultivate new habits this year that will allow you to be financially responsible with this new pay raise.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 You find yourself facing this new semester with a sense of anxious dread that you just cannot shake. You will experience a loss this week, but the stars are uncertain of the specifics. Avoid being involved in controversy or spending your money unwisely this week, as the repercussions could be severe.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 The fog of sadness and dreariness you experienced ever since the days became shorter and the temperature colder will lift this week and you will gain an indescribable joy in your life that will lift your spirits. This year will start off magnificently for you as your mind will be more clear.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 It’s the first week of the semester, and you already find yourself with an unending to-do list. You are hitting the ground running this year, as you always find yourself doing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends, family, and coworkers, as they are more than willing to lend you a hand.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 Expect gains in your professional life this week. Management might hire a new coworker that you get along splendidly with that will make your shifts 10 times more enjoyable. Enjoy this prosperity in your professional life, as your work will soon get busy beyond belief.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 Your health-related issues you have been struggling with for the last while will resolve themselves this week. You will feel a weight lifted off your shoulders as you will receive a correct diagnosis or better medication that will help you thrive and be your best self.

Illustration by Elyssa English Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 Your academic life will thrive this week and this semester as you feel refreshed, regenerated, and ready to take on a new course load. You will experience a zeal for your classes that you haven’t felt before, and this new motivation will lead to better study habits and higher grades.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 You will face an obstacle this week that will be difficult to overcome, but with the proper assistance, determination, and focus you will be able to surmount this seemingly impossible roadblock. Don’t try to escape the situation.

Be patient and don’t make any rash decisions that will just result in more difficulty.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 A long-held dispute between you and a family member or a friend will be resolved this week.

Tensions will dissolve, and you will both realize your past mistakes and be willing to reconcile with each other.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 You will resolve many interpersonal problems this week by working on your communication skills. The people in your life just want to be heard, so listen carefully to their concerns. A little observation will go a long way this week, as you take notice of what your loved ones really need from you.

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ARTS ARTS

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 01 arts@ufvcascade.ca Chandy Dancey — Arts Editor

Video Game //

CHARTS

Still going strong 11 years later

SHUFFLE

Minecraft has dug its way into our hearts, and here’s why

1 Common Holly

AARON LEVY

2 Woolworm

Levy reminds you that status quo suggests that all's fair in love and war, and he asks you to think about that, critically.

When I Say to You Black LUCKY HE'S SO CUTE Lightning CIVL Station Manager Aaron Awe

3 Chain Whip 14 Lashes

4

Alexandria Maillot Benevolence

Prince - “All Along the Watchtower”

Sport

One of the all-time Super Bowl moments didn't even come from a player on any team whatsoever. It came in the rain, at halftime, with purple drapes, and a scandalously phallic, oddlyb u t- r e c o g niz a bly- sha p e d guitar, thrust towards the sky in a blitz of classic songs.

Princes kept the view.

8

Sigh Images

The Cranberries “Zombie”

9

Alien Boys Night Danger

5 Blessed Salt

6 Divorcer

Debt Jubilee

7 YEP

10 Badge Époque

Ensemble Badge Époque Ensemble

11 Jo Passed

Their Prime

12 Begonia Fear

-

Another ‘90s revisionist nightmare to some, a nostalgic tunnel of love for others, this Irish band of grunge rockers really took over pop culture of the era, even getting a coveted reference in the Wallace Shawn vehicle Clueless, starring Stacey Dash, famously referenced by B.C.cum-Ontario rapper Shad.

Kenny Rogers Gambler”

-

“The

13 Sore Points

Previously shuffled, the deck certainly could be swapped at this point, because someone somewhere needs to get to 14 Angel Olsen All Mirrors counting and figure out a way to beat the house before we have to start running for the 15 Sue Decke Outskirts Of Love exits once it starts burning down faster than the White Sunday Wilde & The 1 House back in 1812.

Not Alright

Eyed Jacks Wilde & The 1 Matthew Good Band “The War Is Over” Eyed Jacks

16 Sunday

17 The Tesla Coils S/T

18 Angel Forrest

Hell Bent With Grace

19 Diplodocus

Hell Bent With Grace

20 Skye Wallace Skye Wallace

14

This is a song from another era. An era now so far behind us that we're constantly being shocked by how distant the past we remembered whilst living in that slightly less distant past is... The wars are no longer over, and decades after that fact, it's harder to ignore.

CHANDY DANCEY Minecraft is a sandbox video game well known for its characteristic pixelated look, dropping players into worlds comprised of solely cubes where they are encouraged to explore rather than complete tasks or progress a storyline. Since its release in 2009, the game has blown up to become one of the best-selling games in history behind Tetris and Wii Sports, garnering 112 million monthly players.

Although it’s been 11 years since its initial release, Minecraft is still going strong. In fact, recently there’s been a revival of Minecraft content, especially on YouTube following a playthrough by one of the biggest channels on the platform, PewDiePie. It begs the question: how is it able to maintain modern gamers’ interest? When trying to explain how Minecraft has become such a huge phenomenon, it’s easy to list out its key features: an open world platform for players to enjoy both single and multiplayer game modes that offer survival, building, and exploring. However, Minecraft isn’t the only game to have these basics. Arguably, its popularity is largely in how it manages to deliver these features, and it does so largely through its atmosphere.

One example of the importance of Minecraft’s atmosphere is how any YouTube video of the game’s soundtrack shows innumerable comments filled with nostalgia for the instrumental music. The music of Minecraft is essential in shaping the experience. The majority of the game is played in silence other than sound effects such as the crunch of walking or the snort of animals. This is broken by events, such as the time of day, that cause slow, melodic piano and synth notes to

begin echoing into the landscape.

One of the most notable songs is “Wet Hands.” The music, by the artist C418, creates a mood of quiet and solitude, yes, but also of peacefulness, making the cartoon art style seem rustic and folksy rather than cold and digital.

The world of Minecraft also manages to evoke an ominousness one wouldn’t expect. In survival mode, players are dropped into randomly generated worlds filled with opportunities to explore and resources to gather. Evidence is scattered throughout the world of human activity and past life, but there are no other human entities in the game beyond players. Villages can be found sporadically with inhabitants that are humanoid but only speak in sounds of confusion, rare fossils form deep beneath the earth, and structures like abandoned mineshafts, woodland mansions, and fortresses can be explored. This implied lost history creates a feeling that the player has missed some cataclysmic event, one that allowed skeleton men and creepers to overrule the world while humans faded into obscurity.

This idea of there being more to the world of Minecraft is only furthered by the poem that plays at the end of the game. Although it doesn’t have a concrete plot, Minecraft does have bosses that can be encountered and one final boss that can be defeated to reveal a piece of poetry and credits. The poem features dialogue between two unknown narrators who break the fourth wall, meaning they acknowledge that they’re inside a game.

They express sweet but odd thoughts such as, “Does [the player] know that we love it?

That the universe is kind?” to which the other replies,

“Sometimes, through the noise of its thoughts, it hears the universe, yes.”

The narrators continue to explain that the entire game, and furthermore life outside the game, is a dream with consequences based in another reality the player is unaware of and must manifest a higher level of consciousness to realize. It’s at times like these when Minecraft rejects the idea that it’s merely for one age demographic or that it lacks depth.

The poem ends with the words: “And the game was over and the player woke up from the dream. And the player began a new dream. And the player dreamed again, dreamed better.

And the player was the universe.

And the player was love. You are the player. Wake up.” The credits roll.

This metaphysical boundary is also pushed within the paintings of the game. Using ingame resources, paintings can be created to decorate houses that feature pixelated versions of real work by Kristoffer Zetterstrand.

His process for making his art involves creating digital still lifes in landscape generators that he distorts then uses a physical medium to paint. Similar to the poem, he also breaks the fourth wall and plays with reality by using the physical to represent the digital that is then pixelated and put in as decorations in the digital again — a video game.

Although Minecraft has become synonymous with a younger player base, nothing about the game is childish in itself. It’s accumulated enough of an adult fanbase to warrant a closer look at how mood is a huge part of the player experience.

Not only are players drawn in by the endless possibilities that the world of Minecraft offers, but they remain nostalgic long after for the atmosphere it portrays.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

ARTS Book //

The novels that never were Aspiring authors, this one’s for you

NADIA TUDHOPE A. J. Hackwith’s The Library of the Unwritten is a story about stories, but mostly about humanity. It strikes out with a diverse cast of characters, a heaven-versus-hell dynamic that fans of Good Omens will appreciate, and clever worldbuilding to deliver a love letter to writing and storytelling.

Claire Hadley is head librarian of the Unwritten Wing of Hell’s library. This library is unique not only for its location or for the fact that it contains books, art, and rugs that are more dreamt than made: sometimes books escape. Unwritten books can get restless and manifest as one of the characters from their story, and the events of the novel are kicked off when one sly hero escapes from the library and makes it to Seattle to find his author and change his fate.

The Library of the Unwritten is notable for its layered characters and how well it develops them — and their secrets. Each of the primary characters (except, perhaps, for the exiled angel Ramiel who is consigned to being an angel, and therefore is predictable) has a carefully foreshadowed backstory and is more than they appear at first. We learn very quickly that Leto is not actually

a demon, but that this is the punishment his soul believed he deserved for whatever he did on Earth before dying. Claire has nearly as many secrets and tragic elements to her backstory as she does skirt pockets (many).

Her assistant Brevity, a former muse who — except for the mystery of why she was kicked out — seems to be simply as bubbly and one-dimensional as she appears, is quickly revealed to be much more complicated once we get inside her head.

The novel relies on archetypes but is subtle in how it subverts them. Characters that manifest from unwritten books fall into categories like “damsel” or “hero,” and the protagonists seem to fit similar, albeit more nuanced models: Claire is the competent, pragmatic (even cold-hearted) head librarian who will not compromise her duty; Brevity is the bubbly, compassionate sidekick that balances her out; Leto is innocent, loyal, and imbued with a heroic streak. The manifested hero character who escapes early in the novel literally chooses to name himself “Hero.”

Rather than obviously subverting these moulds, The Library of the Unwritten points to the fact that they are archetypes and lets the actual characterization and nuance do the work of subverting them. In the subtle offbeats of these moulds, Hackwith plants some of her best foreshadowing.

A l t h o u g h characters are what make the story, the one area The Library of the Unwritten struggles with the most is differentiating the rotating points of view that narrate the book. Chapters that follow the main cast often seem to forget whose points of view they were supposed to be in, sometimes using names or nicknames that the narrator would not know, or going entire pages without any interjection from the narrator — to the point where I forgot who the point-ofview character was supposed to be.

However, with its twisting turns, fast pace, delightful worldbuilding, and clever foreshadowing, The Library of the Unwritten is definitely worth the read.

Rewind //

The Stand: an epic you can’t put down DARIEN JOHNSEN Stephen King is known for pumping out epic novel after epic novel. Focusing mostly on the horror genre, King never fails to suck readers into shocking narratives. His casual writing style and relatable characters make his books accessible to both avid and occasional readers.

The Stand is one of King’s greatest accomplishments. It was originally released in 1978, but as King explains in the preface of the uncut edition, 150,000 words had been cut from that release.

The uncut ver sion was then released in 1990, and the book totalled 1 , 1 4 1 pages in length. The ultimate story of good versus evil, The Stand is packed full of religious and postapocalyptic i m a g e r y.

While slow starting, it is rich with character and story development, and like most of King’s work, follows several storylines that converge into one for an explosive climax and unexpected ending.

The novel was written, and is set, in America in the 1960s, a time when the U.S. government was experimenting with germ warfare, and the novel explores its worstcase scenario: America’s own biological weapons turned against itself. A killer plague developed by the army wipes out most of the population, leaving other physical weapons of mass destruction, such as fighter jets and A-bombs, lying around just waiting to be picked up. Meanwhile, dark and light spiritual forces rule the earth, a battle between the forces of Satan

and God, leaving the characters to feed either the good or bad within them and join a side. The remaining population must not only survive but must band together to defeat the evil forces that threaten to overrule the earth and wipe out any remaining good or, alternatively, join the cause of “the dark man” to eliminate good and allow evil to conquer.

While it’s set in a post-apocalyptic situation, it holds a mirror to readers by taking them deep within the characters’ personal struggles and battles with right and wrong.

As the characters realize that they must truly rely on others to survive, they must explore who they want to be when there is no law to hold them accountable and any decision could cost them their life.

Raw h u m a n emotions including l o v e , hate, and rejection are amplif ied in each character, and influence them more strongly than they normally would.

The Stand will have readers crying, laughing from shock, and glued to the page, greedily awaiting the next sentence.

King is the king of suspense and horror. Both shocking and grotesque imagery is contrasted with heart-wrenching love and compassion, revealing the lengths that humans will go to to survive in desperate times and exploring the internalization of societal rejection, and battles with the self.

Most noticeably, The Stand features flawed characters who will have readers sympathizing with and attempting to understand even the most seemingly evil people, all while questioning their own true selves.

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Note:

Some of these events require tickets, most are on Facebook. If something catches your eye, take to the internet for more details.

• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

• Tucked & Loaded @ The Stage, 9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

• Drag Queen Music Bingo @ The Stage, 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

• Building K Grand Opening @ Building K, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

• Adrian Bellue @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.

• Boardwalk Puzzle Challenge @ Boardwalk Cafe and Games, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

• Live Voltage @ The Railyard, 7:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

• Judy Tuesday @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

• Youth Open Stage @ The Railyard, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

• Youth Open Stage @ The Railyard, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

• Gender Diversity Workshop @ Abbotsford Campus A225, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

• “Unmooring the Komagata Maru” Book Launch @ Abbotsford Campus F125, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

• Co-operative Education Information Session @ Abbotsford Campus B121, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

• Haq and History @ Abbotsford Campus B136, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

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Glow Yoga @ Abbotsford Campus E105, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Begonia @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Art-making for newcomers to Canada @ The Reach, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

• Physical Activity at Every Size Workshop @ Abbotsford Campus K173, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

• 2019 Mission Business Excellence Awards @ The Stage, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

• Carrie-Oke with Carrie Dawn @ The Stage, 7:00 p.m. – 12 a.m.

• Stand Up Comedy @ The Railyard, 7:00 – 11: 00 p.m.

• President’s Leadership Lecture Series Presents: Dr. John Jansen @ Abbotsford Campus B101, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

• Design Thinking Innovation Workshop @ Abbotsford Campus A225, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• UFV Theatre student pop-up performance: Dog Sees God by Bert V. Royal @ Abbotsford Campus D105, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

• Let’s Dance for Mission Hospice Society @ The Stage, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

• UFV Theatre student pop-up performance: Dog Sees God @ Abbotsford Campus D105, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

• Drag Queen Music Bingo @ The Stage, 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

• An Evening with Switchcraft @ Captains Cabin Pub, 8:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

• Casinos, The Sylvia Platters, Primp, & Bellflowers @ Carport Manor, 7:00 – 11:30 p.m.

• Beatles Live Band Nerdlesque @ The Stage, 8:30 – 11:30 p.m.

• Art-making for newcomers to Canada @ The Reach, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

• Superhero Sundays: Marvel Champions Meetup @ Boardwalk Cafe and Games, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.

• Developing a Professional Growth Plan Workshop @ Abbotsford Campus A225, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.