The Cascade Vol. 28 Iss. 05

FEBRUARY 5 TO FEBRUARY 11, 2020

VOLUME 28 ISSUE 05

Late without reason since 1993

YOU SHOUld BE vegan 10

5

sChinckus talks business

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SUBWAY: YOU CAN'T BEAT THIS "MEAT"

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"Sex Education" Fails to Perform

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 05

Copy Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca

News Editor Jessica Barclay jessica@ufvcascade.ca

Jr. News Editor Sam Young samuel@ufvcascade.ca

Culture & Events Editor Carissa Wiens carissa@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Andrea Sadowski andrea@ufvcascade.ca

Feature Editor Darien Johnsen darien@ufvcascade.ca

Arts in Review Editor Chandy Dancey chandy@ufvcascade.ca Sports Editor Alex Jesus alex@ufvcascade.ca

Photographer David Myles

Illustrator Kayt Hine

Staff Writer Aleister Gwynne

Illustrator Kelly Ning

Staff Writer Nicholas Ashenhurst- Toews Staff Writer Krystina Spracklin

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Sports Writer Nic Jackson The Shuffler Aaron Levy

CONTRIBUTORS Manjot Dhaliwal

Cover Design: Mikaela Collins Back Cover: Elyssa English

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

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12 20......Events Calendar

Snapshots.......9 @UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 28 · Issue 05 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.

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.

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

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

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ARTS

Digital Media Manager Anoop Dhaliwal anoop@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

18.......CIVL Shuffle

Study Break.......17

NEWS Peace and Reconciliation Centre......3

4......SUS board summary 5......School of business plans

Health HUB......4

OPINION Editorial.......6

6.......Dear Robin

Bell Let's Talk.......7

8.......Coronavirus

CULTURE Cascade Kitchen......12

12.......Beyond Meat at Subway

Thrive Week at UFV......13

14.......The 8-year degree

SUS hosts ALP module......15 SPORTS Men's and women's basketball.......16

17......Sarah Brownlee interview

ARTS Sex Education......18 Cascade Rewind......19

19......Followers

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 news@ufvcascade.ca Jessica Barclay — News Editor

NEWS NEWS

UFV //

NEWS BRIEFS

Building peace at UFV UFV’s new Peace and Reconciliation Centre brings social justice into the spotlight

UNBC leadership in turmoil Following years of labour disputes between faculty and administrators, the University of Northern B.C. is losing some key members of its leadership.

President Daniel Weeks announced Wednesday that he is taking an indefinite medical leave, and will be replaced

by Geoff Payne, professor of physiology and vice president of research. The announcement comes less than two weeks after Peter Jackson, a professor of environmental science, announced that he would be presenting a motion of non-confidence against Weeks at the school’s next senate meeting — a motion he says he is now reconsidering in light of the news.

Weeks’ departure is UNBC’s second major administrative change in less than a month, following the departure of Barb Daigle, interim vice president of finance, people, organizational design, and risk.

Alfred Ochen, Shaheen Shivji. UFV. Jan. 29, 2020. (Sam Young/The Cascade)

- The Tyee

Flooding across southern B.C. Severe rainstorms that totalled up to 140 millimetres of rainfall in some areas swept across southern British Columbia Friday, causing flooding and landslides throughout the region.

Both the Cowichan Valley and the District of Kent declared local states of emergency after heavy rainfall caused major roads to flood and forced nearly 40 Kent homes to be evacuated.

Elsewhere in the province, landslides brought on by the severe weather trapped visitors to the Hemlock Valley and Sasquatch Mountain ski resorts, after a kilometre of road was made inaccessible. The Sumas/Abbotsford border crossing was also closed temporarily after flooding in Sumas made the route inaccessible.

SAM YOUNG After quietly beginning operations last August, UFV’s Peace and Reconciliation Centre (PARC) is announcing new events aimed at addressing intimate partner violence and is discussing its plans for the future.

Shaheen Shivji, who is currently a coordinator at the PARC along with her colleague Alfred Ochen, said the centre was first conceptualized by a group of UFV faculty including Jacqueline Nolte, dean of arts; Steven Schroeder, peace and conflict studies chair; and Garry Fehr, associate vice president of research, engagement, and graduate studies; along with community leaders.

Its coordinators said the PARC is the first of its kind in British Columbia, and seeks to provide programming that will address individual, community, and global needs, and inspire social change. The centre will tackle a variety of social issues, both local and global, including Indigenous issues, peacebuilding,

and more.

“We hope to be exemplary, and maybe try to project it as the most prolific centre around,” Ochen said.

“It’s like a fresh canvas,” Shivji added.

During UFV’s Town & Gown fundraiser last November, Fran Vanderpol announced that her family’s charitable Oikodome Foundation would be donating $100,000 toward supporting the PARC. According to Shivji, a strategy for how to best use these funds is still being worked on, but she said that its use will be “judicious and responsible,” and reflect the values of not only the donors, but also of the university and the PARC itself.

The first official event organized by the PARC was a panel discussion about peacebuilding in Central America held in conjunction with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) last October. More events are now planned, including a series of three panels about intimate partner violence, the first of which will be held on Feb. 13 in partnership with the College of Arts.

Shivji and Ochen said that future PARC events could eventually take other forms, such as forums, art exhibitions, and book launches. However, they added that the centre is still in early days, and they won’t be able to speak about upcoming projects until more work has been done.

The pair also said that the PARC could eventually have a hand in producing research, but not immediately. “Maybe in the long run [the PARC] will be seen as a potential ground for academic research, for fellowship … [but] those are some long-term projections,” Ochen said.

Despite what the word “centre” implies, the PARC also does not have a dedicated space on any of UFV’s campuses, though they hope that this eventually changes.

“It’s really important to have a physical space,” Shivji said. “Architecture communicates so much about who you are to the external community and internal community … but for it to happen, we have to begin a donor campaign. We need financing … but the leadership, and us, are certainly behind that.”

- The Canadian Press

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 05

NEWS UFV //

Health and Social Innovation Hub initiated through funding from the Fraser Valley community JESSICA BARCLAY Three organizations in the Fraser Valley community have pooled their innovation funding to help develop a centre for social and health research at UFV. Three divisions of Family Practice from Abbotsford, Mission, and Chilliwack approached the university two years ago regarding the development of a research centre using a year of funding from the three organizations’ innovation grants.

Now nearing completion, the Health and Social Innovation Hub will be starting to conduct research on a broad spectrum of topics relating to health within the Fraser Valley and beyond, including homelessness, poverty, and the opioid crisis.

Martha Dow, associate professor of sociology at UFV, will be the Hub’s project coordinator for the first year to get it started. After an official organization structure is decided on, which will depend on its needs as determined over the first year, leadership will be hired to run the Hub. The Hub will be a place of knowledge exchange for both researchers at UFV and in the community, and for UFV students.

It will be interdisciplinary by nature, and Dow sees opportunities for projects and research ranging outside of the social sciences, including GIS, communications, journalism, and more.

The topics that the Hub will cover have been left broad and open for this reason, to allow for interdisciplinary exploration and research into “health” and the meaning of health within the Fraser Valley community.

“When we think about health as an example, we really want to be attentive to a very nuanced understanding of both the individual and community health,” Dow said.

As it was originally the community that approached the university, it will maintain a strong community connection with its research.

“What I think is powerful about this is the community came to the university, and the university picked up the ball and has worked, I think, in a really strong collaborative way,” Dow said.

Dow sees opportunities for the community coming forward with concerns and topics for research and discussion within

the Hub. There will also be opportunities for community researchers, partnerships, and collaborations within the Hub, and for community members to advise the strategic direction of the Hub on the external advisory committee.

In addition to research, one of the longterm goals of the Hub will be to create a database of local health and social information for students and researchers in the community. A local database would provide more “nimble” access to Fraser Valley-specific data, such as statistical data from Fraser Health or Statistics Canada.

A number of learning opportunities will be available for students, including paid research assistant positions and directed study opportunities. Dow said that student engagement will be a significant component of the Hub’s activities. Three student researchers have already been hired and are working on components of the first project of the Hub: homelessness in Abbotsford.

The Hub has also found a permanent location on the Abbotsford campus in room B164. Renovations to the space are ongoing, and Dow said the opening is planned

for this April, around the same time the Hub will launch its official web presence.

Dow considered the physical space one of the most significant components of the Hub. A physical space allows UFV students to directly interact with the community and UFV researchers, to share ideas and to see topics discussed in the classroom being implemented in real-life situations.

“There are things that happen at learning institutions such as ours in that room, where all of a sudden students are rubbing up against community researchers and UFV researchers and getting that excitement and spark for curiosity, asking the questions and engaging in academic curiosity,” Dow said.

The space has been designed to inspire, and to be “alive and vibrant.” The room will contain open spaces to work, tables, and screens to connect laptops to, but no offices. One wall will be covered in art, which Dow hopes to rotate.

“I'm a big believer about the power of literature, visual art, and music to move us into conversations about important social and health issues,” Dow said.

SUS //

SUS hears petition for fee increase, executives present goal plans JESSICA BARCLAY The Student Union Society (SUS) board of directors is the highest governing body of SUS. In addition to discussing matters related to oversight of the society, the board approves changes to policies, the annual operating budget, and project initiatives. They are also responsible for both supporting the SUS executive team and holding them accountable. Executives give a report at the monthly meetings on their activities and the progress of their goal plans. There are currently seven members on the SUS board of directors, which includes the four executives.

Presentation from WUSC students SUS heard a petition from the World University Services of Canada (WUSC) committee at UFV to increase the fees students pay by $2 per semester in order to sponsor two refugee students each year.

WUSC is a non-profit organization that

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organizes the sponsorship of refugee students on campuses across Canada. WUSC UFV formed in January 2018 and welcomed their first sponsored student in August 2019. The sponsorship pays for a year's tuition, housing, and living costs at UFV. The group also supports the student transitioning into independence in Canada through finding a job and applying for student loans, as the student becomes a permanent resident of Canada through the program.

The group said that fundraising at UFV is currently not sustainable, and they will be petitioning to the university as well as other community organizations for funding.

Any increase in fees paid by students would require SUS to hold a referendum so students could vote on the fee increase.

Executive team goal plans SUS executives are just over halfway

through their year-long terms, and presented on the progress of their goal plans to the board.

Tripat Sandhu, SUS president, discussed several ongoing projects, including the revamped website that is set to launch later this semester and the work being done to improve the emails students receive from SUS. She was part of a petition for free menstrual products in all bathrooms on campus, which was delivered to UFV this fall. There is also progress on hiring a new executive director after the most recent hire left early in the fall semester.

Tania Smart, vice president internal, reported that she has been working on updating SUS’s policies and has completed six of them. One focus group with students regarding policy changes was held earlier this year and another one is planned. She has also been working to ensure that the chief electoral officer for the upcoming elections has all of the resources they will need to operate with minimal interaction

with the SUS executive team.

Gurvir Gill, vice president external, has been working on external campaigns with the Alliance of B.C. Students, where Gill is the chairperson, and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, where Gill was elected as the treasurer of the board.

Kimberly Hunter, vice president students, reported that she has been working to improve communication with Clubs and Associations on campus, maintaining an updated email list, and attending Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and meetings of the groups. She discussed some upcoming potential events as well as events that have been held over the last semester.

Call for elections and AGM date SUS announced that their annual elections will begin Feb. 17.

The annual AGM will be held on April 2 at 4:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

NEWS UFV //

Getting down to business

Directorial candidate for UFV School of Business Christophe Schinckus talks putting UFV “on the map” SAM YOUNG On Thursday morning, faculty from UFV’s School of Business heard a presentation from directorial candidate Christophe Schinckus, who shared an ambitious vision for the school’s future should he be hired.

Schinckus, who is currently the head of the School of Accounting and Finance at Taylor’s University in Malaysia, gave three pillars for his vision for the school’s future: teaching, research and innovation, and community and internationalization.

To address what he called an increasing demand for soft skills in the workplace, Schinckus proposed the development of a “students’ capabilities framework” in order to help foster communication skills, learning skills, and social and personal competencies.

Schinckus said that he believes UFV

largely excels in the area of teaching, and cited the school’s five-star teaching score from the QS World University Rankings as evidence. However, he said that he believes the school still has room to grow and improve, particularly in the area of research.

A cornerstone of Schinckus’s vision for the business school’s future is the development and implementation of new educational methods and techniques based on recent scientific research. His presentation included discussion of his own current research, which includes an initiative to develop virtual reality software that can simulate high-stress situations with time pressure for business students.

Increasing the number of international students in the business program was also a focus, though Schinckus admitted that the university’s recent decision to cap international student enrolment at

20 per cent means that this is a long-term goal, rather than an immediate aim. He said he sees UFV’s position near the U.S. border, coupled with the school’s (relatively) low tuition costs, as a chance to further attract American students to the business school, along with continued outreach to prospective students around the globe.

Another part of this outreach strategy would involve increasing the school’s visibility, both locally and internationally. Speaking about his current position in Malaysia, Schinckus said he doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. “I want to be sure that my face is in the news,” he said.

“In the newspaper, magazines, local TV, in order to talk about what is happening in my school … every month, I want to be sure that I am present.”

Schinckus also hopes to build a finance lab at UFV (something he also accomplished in his position at Taylor’s

University), which would include terminals that allow students to view market data and simulate a real-world work environment. According to one meeting attendee, UFV Senate has previously rejected a proposal to build such a lab, which Schinckus said would provide experiential learning opportunities that can benefit not only UFV business students, but also industry and the wider community.

When questioned by faculty about how familiar he was with the bureaucratic challenges involved in securing the funding for such a project at UFV, Schinckus admitted that he was not yet as familiar as he would like, but had a bullish outlook on his chances: “If I can deal with the bureaucracy in Malaysia, I think I’m ready to deal with the bureaucracy here in B.C.,” he said. “I’m not afraid of that, to be honest.”

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OPINION

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 05 opinion@ufvcascade.ca Andrea Sadowski — Opinion Editor

Editorial //

Our wishlist for the next SUS executive team JESSICA BARCLAY MIKAELA COLLINS Over the past two years, the state of SUS’ leadership has sometimes seemed confused, disorganized, and ineffectual. At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May 2019, students demanded a full audit of the last five years of financials and claims were made that an unnamed manager threatened legal action if employees came forward with workplace grievances. Although funding was eventually freed up for Clubs and Associations (C&A) after a fee change referendum was passed, the initial budget presented at the meetings was for $0. Two executive directors have left within the last year.

A number of positions will be open, including all of the board representative positions, which are low commitment but with no pay, and the four executive positions, which are higher commitment but definitely paid. With elections just around the corner (students can send in their nomination forms starting Feb. 17), it’s time for us to think about what qualities the next executive team should have.

Executives within the organization can make a certain degree of realistic changes, but must work within the confines of the previously determined financial budget. They also need to work in line with the needs and explicit desires of the students.

Understanding the responsibilities and powers of a given position is a plus. One may consider this a given, but based on the candidate Q&A periods held for recent elections, it is clearly not. One cannot claim this is the fault of the candidates as the documents presented to new candidates regarding the positions are vague and often read more like promotional material than job descriptions.

However, candidates should familiarize themselves with what is possible and what is

expected of specific positions before making campaign promises.

SUS has had historically poor relationships with the university and other organizations on campus. This has been improving over the last year, but would be helped by executives looking to continue the trend of positive collaborations.

SUS is our student union. Just like how a labour union is supposed to act in the interests of employees with an employer, the Student Union Society is supposed to represent students’ interests in dealings with the university and the community at large – dealings that it should be proactively seeking out. This means the SUS president should not only be committed to building a working relationship with the university administration, but should also have the courage to stand up to it and advocate for students.

SUS is presently engaged in several avenues of external advocacy. The current vice president external sits on the board of both the Alliance of B.C. Students and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, which SUS pays membership to. While it is the responsibility of student unions to engage in advocacy campaigns, it needs to be in consultation and in line with the needs of the university’s students.

SUS has also been reaching out to students more in the past few months, with multiple executives reporting at the January board meeting that they’ve been prioritizing meeting with students. The current vice president internal ran one focus group last year where students were invited to discuss SUS’ election policies, and is planning more that will deal with other SUS policies and programming.

SUS should be a conduit for the voices of students on campus but it will only be that if students take an interest in how the organization is run. Vote accordingly, and consider running.

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 Quiet, please Dear Robin, I can never find a good and quiet space on campus to study. And if I do, I’ll eventually need to leave to go to the bathroom, and there’s no way I’m packing up all of my stuff just to get my spot snagged right from under me. Any tips on where to go?

Sincerely, Searching for solitude Hello, You can’t leave your stuff out in the open for someone to take in broad daylight. It’s a real issue.

Like many of my solutions, there’s two options: you can either study on the second floor in the library for some peace and quiet then ask a stranger to watch your stuff while you pee, or you can find the quiet-

SUS reception area. Abbotsford, BC. 2019. (David Myles/ The Cascade)

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est bathroom on campus (Building B, second floor) and hunker down on the counter beside the sink and get going.

Robin Eviction notice Dear Robin, My roommate’s boyfriend is over all. the. time. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy — he's quiet, he's friendly — but he is over easily four or five days/nights a week. At this point, it feels like he is living here.

To make matters worse, he doesn't even help out around the house, and he takes extravagantly long showers that use up all our hot water. When can I evict this guy?

Sincerely, With an unwanted roomie Hey, There will never be an end to roommate problems. The next time when your roomie and boyfriend cook dinner while you’re chilling on the couch watching TV, remind them jokingly (but not really) to clean up after themselves or you’re kicking them out. Laugh it off.

But keep doing this. It will make things more and more uncomfortable around the house, and hopefully this dude will get the memo.

Robin

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

OPINION Canada //

Denying prisoners the right to stable mental health Bell should not be the one to talk about mental health in Canada ANDREA SADOWSKI Bell Let’s Talk Day has become a major campaign for raising awareness on mental health issues, which is a topic that certainly deserves a lot of attention, but this message should come from a company that stands by the values they are preaching. Before changing your profile picture to include a “Bell Let’s Talk” frame, consider the company behind this slogan and some of the ways they have not lived up to the model of supporting the mental health of one of our country’s most vulnerable populations: inmates.

Bell has exclusive rights to provide phone services for inmates in Ontario provincial jails. When in prison, it is only possible to make outgoing collect calls; therefore, inmates’ families are charged an exorbitant rate to support their loved ones, and without this connection to the outside world, inmates can suffer from serious mental health problems. Ottawa criminal lawyer Michael Spratt discovered in 2017 that Bell has worked out an arrangement with the Ontario government to acquire a commission from all collect calls made from provincial jails.

Although Spratt was unable to find out just how much Bell or the government is profiting off of inmates, he revealed that the law firm he is a partner at received bills from Bell of $1 per local call and up to $30 for 20-minute long-distance calls. As if these rates were not expensive enough, these collect calls can only be made to landlines, thereby accruing further expenses for these families.

Bell is making money off of prisoners who are trying to call addiction counsellors, rehabilitation facilities, lawyers, and other support systems who can help them get out of jail, along with their parents, children, and spouses

whom they may be struggling to maintain healthy relationships with. This contract Bell has drawn up with the Ontario government completely disregards inmates’ mental health and wellbeing, and they have no right as a company to promote this as one of their values, which they have done every year in January for the past 10 years. By creating a barrier for prisoners to call their support systems, Bell is setting them up for failure. I am sure Bell is well aware of this and has no problem with it, as an in-

mate’s inability to make arrangements for jobs and places to live after their sentence is up could be keeping inmates in jail longer than necessary, therefore allowing Bell to profit off of them for longer.

Bell’s hypocrisy doesn’t end with exploiting inmates and their families, but also their own employees. More than 600 people came forward after a CBC report regarding Bell’s toxic work environment, which affected both their mental and physical health. Bell would pressure employees to hit sales targets, even i f

they had to do so in unethical ways. Bell even fired one employee after she dared to ask for a doctor-recommended medical leave.

If you didn’t know how Bell Let’s Talk actually raises funds, it does so by donating five cents for every text and wireless and long-distance call made on Bell Let’s Talk Day by a Bell customer, as well as for every social media post including the hashtag #BellLetsTalk. In this way it differs from a normal charitable campaign that asks customers to donate to a cause; instead, they are making the donations themselves based on the volume of interactions with the campaign. There is no doubt that although this campaign is cleverly disguised as a way to boost its corporate social responsibility image, it is ultimately a way for the company to save money on marketing costs as the whole campaign itself is simply a viral marketing or cause-related marketing campaign. Bell Let’s Talk promotes Bell more than it promotes the struggles faced by people who suffer from potentially life-threatening mental health issues every day.

Bell continuously ignores the mental health of their employees and rips apart the primary connections that prisoners need to maintain stable mental health while going through possibly the most challenging period of their lives. This happens all while celebrating the fact that they raise approximately $7.7 million per year for mental health initiatives, a figure that is $3 million less than the total annual compensation of their former CEO George Cope.

Yes, let’s all talk about mental health and the dangerous stigmas attached to it, but let’s demand accountability for companies that urge us to do so. Don’t be fooled by a company because of its brilliant PR campaigns, or over-thetop donations to charity; instead, look at the company’s ethical standards before being caught up in the hype.

Illustration by Kayt Hine

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 05

OPINION World //

Is Canada prepared to face the novel coronavirus?

Canadian health officials appear cautiously optimistic in wake of the novel coronavirus KRYSTINA SPRACKLIN As your friendly, neighbourhood hypochondriac, words like “pandemic,” “outbreak,” and “climbing death toll” that currently saturate global headlines ensure that my sleep schedule no longer exists.

After a week and a half of carefully scrutinizing news articles, social media posts, and announcements from health authorities, I cannot say I fear the new coronavirus more than I’m afraid of the willingness to devolve into racist vitriol with a little support from mob hysteria. I won’t patronize your fears with the classic reminder that the flu kills more people a year than the coronavirus has even infected — it’s true, but the flu hasn’t initiated a global panic.

As of Jan. 31, there are only four confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Canada — three in Ontario and one in British Columbia. The patients are recovering, isolated, and as public health officials insist, the risk of a public outbreak remains low. The majority of those infected are in

China, but fear of a North American pandemic is paramount after the devastating loss experienced during the SARS outbreak.

The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus first appeared in late 2002 and reached Canada by 2003, where 44 people died out of about 375 probable infections. Most of these deaths occurred in Ontario, and it was primarily healthcare workers who fell ill.

But health officials in Canada seem confident that they’re better prepared this time around. One of the notable differences between the SARS outbreak and the novel coronavirus is global awareness of the outbreaks. In November 2002, Chinese officials didn’t report their discovery of the infection, instead engaging in acts to cover up that anything was wrong until relenting in February 2003, when they submitted a report to WHO. Thanks in part to social media and public pressure, the Chinese government came forward much sooner for the novel coronavirus, allowing other nations to prepare and properly

monitor the situation.

We’ve also improved communication between provinces, which was abysmally lacking during the 2003 outbreak. There are now measures in place for provinces to share information and protocol during infectious outbreaks, and we can thank SARS for the creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada, which is actively providing updates on the current novel coronavirus.

On one hand, we’re grateful for the heads up; on the other, clickbait hysteria-fuelled headlines are going to ruin the stomachs of every health-anxious soul out there.

What’s worrying about the novel coronavirus is that not only does it spread through human transmission, it starts to spread before symptoms have even developed, which is why many ill patients weren’t diagnosed until days after leaving Wuhan. Some scientists speculate that the outbreak started from infected wild meat sold in a Wuhan market, though they haven’t been able to confirm their suspicions at this time.

As for treatment, bacterial infections allow for treatment with antibiotics, but because the coronavirus is viral, treatment is limited to supportive measures that help to relieve symptoms — there is no medicine that can actively combat the virus.

However, companies are already working on developing vaccines; the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre is currently trying to develop its own vaccine, though human testing won’t be available until 2021.

My fears of contracting the novel coronavirus have lessened considerably, and staying aware of reliable, rational updates helps with that. I deeply sympathize with anyone who shares my paranoia, but I caution against believing any account of the virus that’s delivered via social media or unreputable “news” sites. There are ways to lessen your risk of exposure from any virus: wash your hands often, sanitize public areas before engaging with them, and avoid touching your face.

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CURTAILED COMMENTARY ON CURRENT CONDITIONS

Illustrations by Kelly Ning

An unfortunate name for an unfortunate garment It was never going to be easy for the sleeveless white shirt. It is unflattering, unstylish, provides little warmth, and is suitable as topwear only on the most casual of occasions. This item of clothing is hard enough to love without the unfortunate name it has been saddled with: “the wifebeater.” The name conjures up images of a slovenly and uncultured man, his stained undershirt straining against his beer gut. He slouches in an easy chair, TV remote in one hand, can of cheap lager in the other. He does no work save perhaps collecting a welfare cheque, while his poor abused spouse does all the real

Homeless in Delhi

“No one will give you a room in Delhi without your passport — police orders,” the receptionist of the hostel told us after our five-hour bus journey from Chandigarh to Delhi. It was Republic Day weekend (a huge national holiday) which required a passport to be presented at check in, an order that the police enforced due to terrorist threats. The receptionist referred us to one of the biggest Gurdwaras in Delhi, Sri Bangla Sahib, where they would not ask us for passports.

“You must book rooms here at least 15 days in advance; all of our rooms

work around the house. If this warped domestic scene is disrupted, this imaginary man rectifies the situation with his fists. Such foul associations come to mind from the word “wifebeater.” Not only is this nickname cruel and unwarranted, but it also trivializes and makes light of misogyny and domestic violence. So please, let us not use the contemptible term “wifebeater,” and let the poor white sleeveless shirt retain some shred of dignity.

Aleister Gwynne

Just another Sunday

I had a great Sunday, thanks for asking. Sleeping in on a Sunday is a wonderful little pleasure I always indulge in. After, I did some work for a couple of hours while sipping on some yummy coffee, which is always better when my partner serves it to me as I’m snuggled on the couch with my cat.

Alexa Chung and Tan France’s new Netflix show, Next in Fashion slayed, and I devoured it over the weekend. To celebrate a fantastic show I took a delicious nap on the couch whilst remaining snuggled.

On another note, someone had invited me to a party in the afternoon

Mourning

are full on Republic Day weekend,” a volunteer at the Gurdwara told us.

After much pleading, the volunteer realized the seriousness of our dilemma and allowed us to stay in the dormitory, a room with 50-plus single beds, normally reserved for families, or those whose relatives were in a hospital.

The moral of the story is this: if you are ever in trouble while travelling, go to a Gurdwara; they will give you a meal and a bed.

Andrea Sadowski

I’ve been thinking about death a lot lately. Maybe I’ve just heard so much tragedy recently. I’ve been thinking about how we don’t mourn properly.

Even after the long, slow process of mourning, what waits on the other side for those left behind is never made easier with time. I think it was in the song “Forget Me Not” by Marianas Trench where I first heard the notion that “Life’s too short / But the end is long.” That song is about the narrator’s mother slowly slipping away and losing her memories due to Alzheimer's.

We push loved ones away while they're still here in some feeble attempt to make it hurt less when they’re

to watch something on TV — I can’t remember what though — but there’s no way I was going to leave my comfy couch on a Sunday, so obviously I declined. They posted some pictures on Instagram, and a lot of people showed up just to watch TV on a Sunday afternoon — so odd — but it looked like there were a lot of chip-and-dip combos, which is my favourite snack. Maybe they’ll have another get together next Sunday so I can go and get in on it.

Carissa Wiens

gone. I've seen the tragedy of a young death be used to push someone else's ideas. My 90-year-old great grandmother has had her funeral planned for a decade, but I’m still not sure I’m ready to mourn her. I’ve been thinking about how every night I assume I will die, but at the same time know I will see the next day. I try not to glorify the dead too much, but it’s hard when seemingly everyone else has such a different way of mourning.

Nicholas AshenhurstToews

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 05

mortality risk.”

Going vegan: why and how I

have been a vegetarian since I was 10 years old, so for the past 16 years I have not consumed the flesh of an animal thanks to watching a graphic video that PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) released of slaughterhouse footage. I have been vegan on-and-off for the past two years now, trying as much as possible to avoid dairy and eggs, and to strive for a plant-based diet. The reasons for choosing to cut animal products out of my diet are much more complex now than when I first became a vegetarian and didn’t want to eat meat because I thought pigs and cows were too cute to be food.

What is a vegan?

Let’s first clarify what I mean when I say “vegan,” as there are many different dietary restrictions that often get confused with one another.

• Pescatarians avoid eating any meat products from land animals, but will still eat fish and seafood.

• Lacto-ovo vegetarians cut out all forms of meat from their diet, but still consume dairy products and eggs.

• Lacto vegetarians do not eat any meat, or eggs, but still consume dairy products.

• Ovo vegetarians do not eat any meat, or dairy, but still consume eggs.

• Plant-based is a diet that is not necessarily totally vegan or vegetarian, but one where people choose to focus their eating patterns primarily on plant-based products. If they consume meat, they do so rarely and not as the centre-point of their meal.

• Vegans do not eat any product of animal origin. They cut out all meat, dairy products, eggs, and honey. As well, most vegans do not use cosmetic products that are tested on animals, and avoid using animal products in their clothing and accessories, such as leather, wool, and silk. For many, veganism is a lifestyle as well as a diet.

by Andrea Sadowski Why choose a vegan diet?

For Your Health Eliminating meat and dairy from your diet forces you to add more grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables and can add more fibre, antioxidants, and other vitamins and nutrients into your diet.

“But how do you get your protein?” is a question that I get asked almost immediately after someone finds out I don’t eat meat. There are a myriad of ways to get sufficient amounts of iron and protein as a vegan: pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, tofu, beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, peanut butter, almonds, swiss chard, collard greens, tempeh, barley, soy, quinoa, oatmeal, and fortified cereals are all excellent sources of protein and/or iron. It is important to pair these iron- and protein-rich foods with vitamin C, such as oranges, bell peppers, and strawberries in order to absorb non-heme iron, which is iron found in plant-based foods.

While eating vegan can lead to the increased consumption of plant-based foods, it is completely possible to be a vegan and live off of potato chips, peanut butter and jam sandwiches, and coconut ice cream. Supermarkets are now full of vegan junk food that is high in additives, sodium, and processed sugar. Also, I’ve personally found that I consume way more carbohydrates than I ever did before being vegan because I ended up filling my diet with a lot of bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes — all delicious, vegan options, but not ideal if you’re looking to lose weight.

For the animals I first became vegetarian because I thought it was unethical to kill sentient beings for food. I never wanted to eat a pig or a cow, with both species showing high levels of personality, emotion, and intelligence. I never grasped why some animals are considered pets, and others are considered food.

This argument is highly cultural, as dogs are eaten in certain Asian countries, like South Korea and China; as well, guinea pigs, a common household pet here in North America, are a delicacy in the Peruvian diet.

Eating animals is not unethical — humans may not have evolved into the intelligent animals we are today without consuming meat. It is the inhumane and sadistically cruel way in which the animals are raised and killed in factory farms that is unethical.

A factory farm is defined as a large, industrial farm: in Merriam-Webster it’s listed as “a farm on which large numbers of livestock are raised indoors in conditions intended to maximize production at minimal cost.” Not all factory farms are the hellscapes that PETA paints them to be; some actually follow animal welfare laws, but others truly are torturing animals every day.

“This industry is simply not sustainable, and in due time giving up meat will not be a choice, but a necessity.”

Vegans need to be vigilant to get enough vitamin B12, which is produced by bacteria. Usually people consume B12 through animal products, as some livestock will accumulate this bacteria during their lives. However, it can still be found in certain algae, fortified cereals like Vector, fortified non-dairy milk, and nutritional yeast.

There have been several studies that indicate vegans may experience certain health benefits, such as lower blood sugar levels and improved kidney function, which reduces the risk of diabetes.

There may also be a reduced risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease, and arthritis pain when you switch over to a plant-based diet, but the current research is inconclusive. Not to mention, a high-fibre, plant-based diet can do wonders for your intestines and your digestive tract, i.e. you will have the best poops of your life. However, the downside to eating all of these extra fibres found in beans and vegetables is extra bloating and flatulence.

Moreover, a study done by the Harvard School of Public Health found there may be an increase in mortality associated with the consumption of red meat, coming to the conclusion that “[a]n increase in total red meat consumption of at least half a serving per day was associated with a 10% higher

Animals raised in factory farms are often raised in extremely overcrowded, cramped cages and pens. They are pumped full of antibiotics to keep diseases from spreading like wildfire and hormones to allow them to grow at unnatural rates. To prevent animals from hurting one another, spreading disease, and to ensure the best-tasting meat, farmers debeak chickens, dehorn cattle, castrate pigs, and cut the tails off of pigs and cows, generally without any kind of anesthesia.

If you’re a vegetarian that eats eggs, consider the fact that laying hens are one of the animals that suffer the most in factory farms. Many spend their lives in cages so small they cannot walk or even spread their wings.

Conditions for employees at factories farms, and the slaughterhouses where the animals are sent to, may include long working hours and increased chances of workplace injuries, not to mention the psychological harm caused to slaughterhouse employees who are constantly working under conditions of large-scale violence and death.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

Contract farmers are living hand-tomouth as they are exploited by large corporations, leading to the deterioration of rural communities.

A large percentage of factory farm workers in the U.S. are immigrants, an unknown percentage of them undocumented. Some farmers prefer undocumented workers because they are less likely to protest their inhuman work conditions and low wages.

If you are unwilling to go vegan or vegetarian because you just love the taste of meat too much, the least you can do is know where your meat is coming from. Did the animals live a happy life where they could feel the sunshine on their back, graze on grass, and run in open pastures? Support small, local farms who are raising animals in humane conditions. Yes, this type of meat will be more expensive than the kind you buy at Walmart. Consider having meat in just one meal a day so you don’t need to buy so much of it — quality over quantity. Try shopping at Reverent Acres farm in Abbotsford, Central Park Farms in Langley, or Sumas Mountain Farms.

For the environment Giving up meat, in particular beef, is one of the single most effective things you can do to lower your carbon footprint. Raising cows for meat is extremely land-inefficient, and produces large amounts of methane gas. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, 33 per cent of cropland on Earth is used to grow feed for livestock, and up to 26 per cent of ice-free land on Earth is used to graze livestock.

Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of red meat, produces 10 million metric tons of beef per year, with China as its main consumer. The Amazon rainforest has been deforested by 17 per cent in the last 50 years, with 80 per cent of recent deforestation caused by cattle ranching. One hamburger requires an estimated 14.6 gallons of water, 13.5 pounds of feed, and 64.5 square feet of land.

Animal agriculture emits 18 per cent of the total human-induced greenhouse gas emissions including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Manure produced in animal agriculture is prone to spillage and can contaminate local water supplies. An Illinois hog farm’s manure spill killed over 140,000 fish in 2012.

There are simply not enough resources to keep producing meat at the rate we are currently consuming it. Large-scale deforestation takes place in order to graze animals and grow their feed. There is also an overwhelming amount of manure to deal with that some farmers are disposing of illegally, and massive amounts of fossil fuels are needed to transport herds of livestock from where they are raised to slaughterhouses, and to grocery store shelves.

This industry is simply not sustainable, and in due time giving up meat will not be a choice, but a necessity.

Climate change is a complex issue that will not be mitigated by participation in Meatless Mondays.

In order to make this planet inhabitable for our grandchildren, we need to start making dramatic changes in our lifestyles and consumption habits.

Don’t show up at climate change protests armed with wonderfully artistic signage if you are not willing to make tangible changes in your own life. Going vegan could save our planet.

What about fish?

The fishing/seafood industry has just as great consequences for our health, the environment, and animal and human welfare. The industry is full of hormones usage, worker exploitation, and pollution. Fishermen are overfishing at a rate faster than fish can reproduce, which is causing serious damage to our marine ecosystems. Atlantic cod and herring were nearly overfished to the point of extinction.

A study conducted in 2006 concluded that if we continue pillaging the sea at the rate we are now, every species of wild-caught seafood will collapse by 2050.

The equipment used to catch such large quantities of fish is destroying marine ecosystems and aquatic habitats. Trawling can lead to large amounts of bycatch, so marine life such as turtles and dolphins end up getting caught by commercial fishermen by accident.

This bycatch can contribute to the degradation of ecosystems, a disruption in the aquatic food chain, and the endangerment of species.

Discarded fishing gear, nets, and lines make up 10 per cent of all plastic pollution in the ocean, and up to 70 per cent of surface macroplastic pollution. This lost gear is a hazard to all marine life, as it ends up ensnaring tons of animals and fish. The macroplastics, which break down into microplastics as they disintegrate in the ocean, are consumed by fish, which eventually get eaten by humans.

Then of course, there is the risk posed to wild fish (especially salmon), when contaminated by pathogens from farm-raised fish along the B.C. coast. B.C. has seen a dramatic decline of Fraser River sockeye salmon, which some suggest is the result of large-scale aquaculture, and others say is due to climate change.

The fishing industry around the world is rampant with cases of slave labour, with children and men being kidnapped or tricked into working on a deep-sea trawler, with nearly uninhabitable living conditions, brutal working conditions, and frequent abuse and murder. The Thai fishing industry has been known to enslave undocumented immigrants from Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as young boys looking for work.

Slavery in the indistry largley goes undocumented and unnoticed, and it is impossible to know just how many people on commercial fishing boats are there by force.

With all these rampant atrocities against both humans and animals, it is worth considering a transition to a vegan lifestyle. If you do feel that this is the right option for you, consider the following advice.

Tips for going vegan: • Take it slow. Make small changes each day and focus on a slow transition rather than a 180-degree turn into a brand new diet. Start by switching one meal a day to be completely meat/dairy free, then go one day a week, until you reach a point where you are eating sustainably-sourced meat just once or twice a month as a treat.

• Eat more. Remember that plant-based meals have lower caloric values than meals containing meat and dairy, so be sure to eat larger portions and more often if you find yourself fatigued or losing weight.

• Allow yourself to make mistakes. Just because you indulged in some free pizza a club was giving out one day, or had a piece of turkey at a family gathering does not mean you need to fall off the bandwagon completely. It’s okay to satisfy your sweet tooth with some milk chocolate every once in a while.

When making any significant life changes just remember: progress over perfection.

• Stay motivated. Keep reminding yourself why you are making this lifestyle change, watch some movies that highlight the dangers of factory farming, like Okja, Cowspiracy, or Food Inc. Volunteer at a farm animal sanctuary once a week and discover that pigs love belly rubs, and cows come when you call them. Try Happy Herd in Aldergrove, Saints Rescue in Mission, or Good Shepherd Barn in Surrey.

• Don’t avoid going to social events like dinners or potlucks; simply bring your own vegan dish to share with others so they can discover just how delicious plants are. Remember that no one should try and shame you for your dietary choices, or guilt you into eating things you don’t want to eat. You are doing what you think is best for your body and for the environment, and anyone who doesn’t respect your choices isn’t that great of a person to hang out with anyway.

• Try prepping meals and snacks at the beginning of the week so you are not tempted to get non-vegan takeout when you are in a pinch. Get meal inspiration from blogs like Minimalist Baker, So Vegan, and Thug Kitchen.

Buy everything you can in bulk, and get your produce from B-grade grocers like Fruiticana to save money.

The world does not need a few self-righteous vegans who eat plants 100 per cent of the time, but rather, a multitude of people willing to reduce their meat and dairy consumption for the greater good of our planet, our health, and other living creatures.

CULTURE

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 05 culture@ufvcascade.ca Carissa Wiens — Culture Editor

Column //

Cascade Kitchen: chia seed pudding

Chia seed pudding. Jan. 2020. (Manjot Dhaliwal)

MANJOT DHALIWAL 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.

Mornings are usually the busiest time of the day, and breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is nice to have an easy, quick, and healthy breakfast to help power through the day.

I recently learned about chia seed pudding. I started loving it because I can change the toppings I put on it and never get bored of it. It is a very quick and easy recipe to make because most of the prepping is done the night before. This recipe’s serving size is for one person, but it can be multiplied to make a bigger batch.

It can be left in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container for a few days. Chia seed pudding can be eaten for breakfast or as a snack.

Ingredients: 2-3 tbsp chia seeds (depending on how thick you like it) 1/2 cup of milk Toppings (can be changed to any other fruit): 10-15 raspberries Honey as needed Instructions: 1.

Mix the chia seeds and milk together in an airtight container. Make sure to mix it well.

2. Leave in the counter for 5 minutes and mix with a spoon once again. The chia seeds should start puffing up a bit.

3. Place the airtight container in the fridge overnight or for 6 hours.

4. Mix the chia seed pudding after it has rested in the fridge.

5. Add the raspberries in the pudding and drizzle some honey on top.

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Lifestyle //

This vegan meat can’t be beat Beyond Meat makes its way into Canadian Subway restaurants CHANDY DANCEY The beginning of January marked the release of the limited-edition Beyond Meatball subs at Subway locations all across Canada. This sub is offered as a traditional Beyond Meatball sub and a marinara variant, both focused on offering customers a new plant-based meat alternative.

The Beyond Meatball is a co-developed product by Subway and Beyond Meat. These faux-meatballs are made up of a plant-based protein blend derived from peas, brown rice, mung beans, and Subway’s own breadcrumb mix to give sub-lovers a new choice of protein. For those especially health-conscious diners, the Subway website confirms that both renditions of the Beyond Meatball sub have some of the highest amounts of protein on their menu, despite being similar in price to other subs.

The Beyond Meat company has been a pioneer in creating new vegan protein options and are responsible for meat substitutes that have been incorporated into a growing number of franchise menus. The plantbased protein trend began when A&W began offering their Beyond Meat burgers, serving as the first national burger chain to do so. From there Beyond Meat products have expanded to White Spot, Tim Hortons, Carl’s Jr., 7-Eleven, and now Subway. Their meat alternatives mix proteins with fats, minerals, and flavours — including beet juice extract for that reddish hue — to create a product line that boasts beef crumble, sausage, ground beef, and burger substitutes.

Beyond Meat advertises that their products can address human health issues, have a positive impact on climate change, result in improved animal welfare, and address global resource constraints. But beyond appealing to non-meat eaters and those wary of the environmental impacts of the meat industry, imitation meat also appeals to those whose religion limits what meat they can consume and when. The faux-meat options are kosher for those who are Jewish and appropriate for those that are Catholic to consume during Lent. Meat alternatives are also expanding to become halal-certified for those of Islamic belief, starting with the Impossible Burger.

Upon a personal taste test of the default builds, the Beyond Meatball sub and its marinara counterpart pass with flying

colours. The flavour profile of the Beyond Meatball itself is savoury with a spiced-meat taste that isn’t overpowering, and its texture is convincing enough to pass as meat except that it’s slightly softer and spongier than ground beef. Inside of a sub though, which is often a wonderful amalgamation of textures and flavours, the Beyond Meatballs are delicious.

Although the marinara version has the more intense flavour due to the tomato sauce, the traditional Beyond Meatball sub is still a solid contender if it’s paired with one’s favourite sauce.

Although it’s only a limited edition, the Beyond Meatball subs fill a gap at Subway that most don’t realize exists. While advertising itself as a healthier alternative to fast food, Subway is unfortunately flooded with a selection of processed meats, which were classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization in 2015. In fact, they were classi-

fied as Group 1, shared by asbestos and tobacco smoking, denoting the strength of scientific evidence pointing to them being a carcinogenic agent. Having Beyond Meatballs in their lineup allows Subway to stick to their premise of healthier fast food by offering a rich, meat-like flavour without any of the aforementioned negative health side effects.

Consumer demand seems to be dying down for these tasty vegan protein options, indicated by Tim Hortons phasing them out of their menus and the slowing sales of the Impossible Whopper at U.S. Burger King locations. But despite how individual companies are doing, imitation and lab-grown meats are being declared the future of meat with a growing number of companies cropping up focused on their development. In the coming years it could prove to be more than just a dietary fad, so don’t be shy about going out and seeing what all the fuss is about.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

CULTURE UFV Event //

THRIVE week at UFV Zen garden and tea

JESSICA BARCLAY As part of the 2020 Thrive Week line-up of events, “Tea and Zen Garden” was hosted in the Student Union lounge.

Students were invited to drink tea and create their very own Zen garden from noon to 3 p.m. on Jan. 28.

Supplies were set out on tables in the Student Union lounge, including sand, a container for the garden, and rocks and plastic plants for decoration. The

garden creation was self-guided and students were able to take their garden home with them.

The tea served was the usual catered affair of the university. There were several choices of green tea, black tea, and rooibos.

Raking the small gardens appeared to be relaxing, and a small group of students creating gardens said they were enjoying themselves.

Let’s talk CARISSA WIENS Bell Let’s Talk Day took place on Jan. 29.

This was the 11th annual event created

by Bell Media to destigmatize mental illness and bring it into everyday conversation. To mark the occasion, UFV Counselling Services had tables set up outside the Library in Building G on the Abbotsford campus where donuts, touques, and helpful guidance were given out.

Various counsellors from UFV were present along with student volunteers.

On the floor in front of the tables was a large banner where students could write encouraging notes for other students.

The event was incredibly similar to last year’s event.

This welcoming space provided a great opportunity for students to learn about the various counselling services at UFV and where else they are able to get support on campus when desired. Not only does the university offer free personal counselling, they also offer career counselling and study skills counselling too.

During UFV’s Thrive Week, UFV Counselling Services also hosted several workshops around the Abbotsford campus, including a Self-Care Toolkit workshop and a Mindfulness Skills for Student Success workshop. They hope to host more workshops, similar to the ones previously offered, throughout the upcoming year.

Let’s Talk poster. UFV Abbotsford. Jan. 29, 2020. (Carissa Wiens/The Cascade)

Melissa Friesen's zen garden. Jan. 28, 2020 (The Cascade)

Multiplayer gaming, the old-fashioned way ALEISTER GWYNNE Wellness Wednesday of Thrive Week included the Board Games Unplugged event. Between 2 and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, students were invited to play old-fashioned board games in the Student Life Lounge (room S1111).

Board Games Unplugged (BGU) is an example of “more programming we’re bringing to UFV to get more students on campus,” according to Vaibhav Soni, a PRLC assistant who was overseeing the event. BGU is intended to help students relax, unwind, and socialize. “We want to stress more involvement on campus instead of being a commuter campus,” said Soni.

The lounge contains several board and

card games that students can use, which are kept on shelves near the centre of the room. Options include well-known favourites like Monopoly, UNO, and Scrabble, as well as more obscure ones like the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Game, Killer Rabbits, and the Ungame.

Curiously, they do not seem to have a chess set.

This year’s BGU was a low-key affair.

Soni said attendance varies by year and time of day, but that he would be happy if 10 to 15 people showed up. In the end, only six people took advantage of the games during those three hours, but those who did greatly enjoyed themselves. The attendees played a few hands of UNO, followed by Connect Four, and finally Battleship, before dispersing one by one.

THRIVE physical fitness workshop How to engage with physical fitness NICHOLAS ASHENHURSTTOEWS The Let’s Get Physical fitness workshop was held on Jan. 30 in the Student Life lounge (room S1111). Personal trainer, Katie Purdy, lead this fun and informative workshop. Together with participants we discussed the benefits of physical activity, how to incorporate more of it into your everyday life, and some basic training information for beginners.

If you were unable to attend the event, here are the broad points covered in the workshop.

First, Purdy stressed that there was no one right way to engage in physical activity, stating that depending on the goals, a training program can look drastically different. Next, she touched on the importance of a pre-planned workout routine, both to optimize time and results, but to also take away some of the uncertainty that can arise when first go-

ing to the gym. She recommended working each major muscle group: legs, back, chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps, and core. She also recommended using compound movements or movements that work out more than one muscle group.

Think of it like a push and pull between the different groups.

Purdy also touched on the importance of having a balanced workout, both for health and fun. She stressed the importance of a proper warm-up and cooldown before and after working out to minimize injury. The last thing touched on in the workshop was non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), which is an easy way to increase metabolic rate substantially. These activities can range from walking distances to even fidgeting and, while not a replacement for proper workouts, can increase physical activity. This will be the one essential in my fitness journey going forward.

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 05

CULTURE Lifestyle //

The 8-year degree

Finishing an undergrad in 4 years seems to be a rare thing, but how long is too long?

CARISSA WIENS If the movies are correct, everyone in America graduates high school then gets shipped off to college the following September to complete their undergrad in precisely four years. Afterwards, they enter the workforce and that’s their life from there on. But from my understanding, Canada — specifically UFV — is a little different.

There is a shockingly low amount of people that I know in my life who have finished their undergrad in four years. Most of my peers, including myself, have taken time off after high school to travel and/or work, then enter university. And they usually spend much longer than four years in university — sometimes even a whole decade.

On the other side of this are people, like Kelly Kang, UFV 2018 alum, who came to university to push out an undergraduate degree in four years or less. With some smaller programs that UFV offers, like French, theatre, or peace and conflict studies, it can actually be difficult to finish a major in the recommended four years be-

cause some of the required courses are rarely offered. Kang noticed the lack of course offerings at UFV and took matters into her own hands: “I took as many as they were offering so I could eliminate the chances of having to wait a full year to take one or two courses which will postpone my degree.” This strategy, along with the goal of finishing her degree in four years, resulted in Kang completing her undergrad in three and a half years with a major in French.

Kang knew when she started university that she wanted to major in French, and

that she wanted to study abroad. In order to apply to study abroad through UFV, a student needs to complete 30 credits. That pushed Kang to finish 30 credits in her first year as soon as possible so she could study abroad in her second year.

“After [studying abroad], when the time came to apply for a job, I wanted to work abroad in Japan, and my position requires an undergraduate … so I finished as quickly as possible so I could get to the next step. Although I enjoyed UFV immensely, in retrospect, at the time, I could not wait to finish. If I dragged it out, that would

Illustration by Kayt Hine

only make me resentful for wasting time on something I did not enjoy doing,” Kang said via email.

Kang’s story is quite inspiring. She worked hard and is now living her dream by working in Japan. When I think of myself and many other students at UFV, we simply don’t know what we want next in life but understand that getting a postsecondary education is an important step to take. By not knowing what area of study I wanted to pursue, I was able to try an assortment of topics to see what I actually enjoyed.

For goal-oriented people like Kang, the four-year degree is a great option, but for people like me who do not have a specific plan for what’s next, taking time to get involved on campus, trying out an interesting sounding course or two, and taking less than 15 credits a semester is a nice life.

Now after six years here, I’m finding myself getting a little too comfortable at UFV. Enjoying a period of life is a great thing, but I’ve realized that I need to challenge myself elsewhere, so I will be channeling Kang from now on to get moving. I encourage you to do the same if you find yourself feeling too comfortable.

UFV Event //

SUS hosts second ALP module Marny Point discusses the revitalization of Indigenous languages

DARIEN JOHNSEN On Wednesday, Jan. 29, the Student Union Society (SUS) hosted the first module this semester for their Advanced Leadership Program (ALP), titled “The Revitalization of Indigenous Languages.” The module was free for students and community members to attend, though students were eligible to receive co-curricular credits for the program if they stayed behind after the event to write a reflection on their experience.

The module was arranged as a two-part event, starting with a presentation from Marny Point, the urban program coordinator for the Indigenous Teacher Education program (NITEP) and lecturer for the First Nations and Endangered Languages program (FNEL) at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

Unfortunately, Point unknowingly drove to the Chilliwack campus, so the SUS team decided to switch things up and begin the module by breaking students up into four table groups and giving them questions to discuss. I was placed at table four with seven other students. Our question was “Should public schools teach Indigenous languages, or should Indigenous languages only be taught in Indigenous schools?”

Other questions included “Are dying languages worth saving?” and “What are the causes of dying languages?”

Our group had some great discussions;

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afterwords, all the tables took turns sharing what they came up with. Students mentioned that public institutions, like schools, represent settler colonialism and may not be the best place to teach Indigenous languages. Others mentioned that

“We need the very thing that harmed us, and had such a detrimental effect on our people — education is the one thing that will also bring us back to who we need to be.”

First Nations people should be the ones to teach the languages, and concerning the issue of having official languages, students mentioned that the idea of an “official” language is possibly just another Western construct that may not be valued by Indigneous or other cultures.

When Point arrived we shuffled back into Evered Hall for her presentation. She introduced herself as a fisherwoman from Musqueam First Nation and a teacher of the hən ̓q ̓əmin ̓əm ̓ (hunk-a-meen-um) language of the Musqueam band, different from Halq’eméylem — which is the larger dialect of the Coast Salish people. Point

joked that “If your stomach doesn’t bounce, and if you’re not spittin’ on people, then you’re not speaking hən ̓q ̓əmin ̓əm !̓ ” While acknowledging the Stó:lō land that UFV is situated on, she stated that First Nations have a “connection to our land and our rivers, and the knowing ways, and the people in our stories connect us with who we are, and give us that power and that identity to walk into the world, and in academia.”

She said that it’s important for learners to be informed of the far-reaching history of colonialism, including residential schools, the ‘60s Scoop, the banning of cultural ceremonies, and the White Paper, among others.

Point then discussed that she teaches Indigenous language for her family and “those who have gone before us.” She shared a piece from her great-grandfather, Chief Dan George’s “A Lament for Confederation” speech, quoting: “I shall grab the instruments of the white man’s success — his education, his skills, and with these new tools I shall build my race into the proudest segment of your society.”

Point then explained “We need the very thing that harmed us, and had such a detrimental effect on our people — education is the one thing that will also bring us back to who we need to be.”

Intergenerational learning is part of the oral traditions in her culture, which encourages people to tune in and listen when they are being told a story or teaching so

that they may act as witnesses and can share the stories with others.

She went on to say that you cannot translate Indigenous languages word for word, as it often obscures what it is truly said, and that there are a number of non-verbal aspects that go along with language: “Our Indigneous ways of teaching, and knowing, and connecting — we always are in the moment that our grandfathers, our grandparents, our ancestors were when they’re telling that story — when we’re connecting to that story. It’s true, it’s [with] language that we get to do that. Our understanding of language is more literal, versus how it translates into English.”

For Point, a note of central importance for her and her family is the realization of how much is stored in language: how memories, knowledge, and stories are connected to and ingrained in language. When re-learning and hearing the language of hən ̓q ̓əmin ̓əm ̓, she said that it awakened memories. Her uncle, she explained, started taking hən ̓q ̓əmin ̓əm ̓ classes at UBC, and shared that the language “reawakened in him, and words came alive. The memories and the pictures of where he was in the house, in the kitchen or out in the backyard, he could hear these words happening.”

The fact that many children were beaten in residential schools for speaking their language and men were sent to prison for it adds to the importance of reclaiming the language, and preserving it for future generations.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 sports@ufvcascade.ca Alex Jesus — Sports Editor

Men’s Basketball //

The Cascades’ last road trip ends successfully

In Kamloops, the Cascades hit a triple-digit score for the third time this season

Women’s Basketball //

UFV continues their winning streak The Cascades played their last away games of the regular season in Kamloops

NIC JACKSON

Vick Toor. Nov. 15, 2019. (UFV Athletics)

NIC JACKSON This weekend the UFV men’s basketball team played their last two away games of the regular season. After winning two games against the Mount Royal University Cougars the previous weekend, the Cascades headed to Kamloops to face off against the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Wolfpack on Friday, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb. 1.

When Friday’s game started, the Cascades quickly took the lead. The Cascade’s Sukhjot Bains opened the scoring with a three-point basket, only 10 seconds into the game. Quickly after, Parm Bains added three points to the Cascades’ score when he drained a shot from outside the three-point line.

The Cascades continued to increase their lead over Wolfpack in the first quarter. Despite the Wolfpack answering UFV with points of their own, by the time the first quarter had ended, the Cascades held a lead of 33-23.

Throughout the second quarter, the Cascades continued to outscore the Wolfpack. After a minute of play, TRU’s Kyrin Cybenko fouled Cascades’ Matt Cooley. Cooley was awarded

two free throws, of which he sank one, marking the first point of the quarter. After the second quarter was finished, the Cascades remained in the lead, with a score of 59-42.

When the two teams started playing after halftime, the Wolfpack began to close the scoring gap. Although they were unable to take the lead away from the Cascades at any point in the third quarter, the home team was able to turn the Cascades’ 17-point lead into just a onepoint difference. The quarter ended with the Cascades holding on to the lead, 77-76.

After five-and-a-half minutes of play in the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack took the lead for the first time in the game. Though it looked to be a turning point for TRU, the Cascades’ Vick Toor quickly silenced the home team’s fans when he took the lead back 10 seconds later. Although the rest of the game was a close battle, the Cascades were able to hold the lead and win with a score of 100-91.

The next day, the two teams both showed that they were determined to win. The first quarter ended with the Wolfpack holding a lead of 22-18; however, by the time the second had end-

ed, the Cascades bounced back and took the lead, with a 45-40 lead.

In the third quarter, the two teams continued to battle. After TRU’s Joe Davis opened the quarter’s scoring with a layup for two points, the Wolfpack’s Anton Bilous drained a threepoint shot, which tied up the game at 45-45. From here, the two teams traded baskets, and by the end of the quarter, the score remained tied, now at 5656.

With just nine seconds off the clock in the fourth quarter, Cascades’ Jordyn Sekhon pushed his team into the lead when he drained his only three-point attempt of the game. For the remainder of the quarter, UFV held on to the lead. When the final buzzer signalled the end of the game, the Cascades won, 82-73.

Since the Cascades returned from the holiday break, the team has gone on to win all but one game. Next weekend, the Cascades will enter their last weekend of regular season with a nine-game winning streak.

UFV will host the University of Regina Cougars at 8 p.m. and 7 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8, respectively.

SPORTS

This weekend, UFV’s women’s basketball team played their sixth and seventh away games of the regular season since the holiday break. This time, the Cascades travelled to Kamloops to take on the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Wolfpack. Heading into the weekend, the Wolfpack held a record of 7-9, while the Cascades sat at 12-4.

The first game of the weekend showdown took place on Friday, Jan. 31. The first quarter saw the Cascades and the Wolfpack battle for every possession. By the time the quarter had ended the two teams were tied at 14 points each.

This close contest continued into the second quarter. After four minutes of play, the teams were once again tied. When Cascades’ Taylor Claggett broke the 19-19 tie with a layup from in the key, the team went on a scoring run. From 19 points, the Cascades went on to score 11 points in the quarter, while the Wolfpack only picked up three in the same amount of time.

The second half of the game started with the Cascades and the Wolfpact sitting at 30 and 22 points respectively. From this

score, the Cascades determined the pace of the game. In the second half the Cascades outscored the Wolfpack, 45-28. By the time the game had ended the Cascades had created a 25-point lead, with a score of 75-50.

The next day, the Wolfpack looked determined to bounce back from the loss. After a hardfought first half on Saturday by both teams, TRU held the lead over the Cascades, with a score of 51-42. This lead, however, did not discourage the Cascades from fighting back in the second half.

The visitors went on to outscore the Wolfpack in the second half 49-25. Although the Wolfpack ended the game with 76 points, the Cascades left scoring 91 points. This was the first time in the season UFV has reached the 90-point mark in a single game.

The Cascades now hold a record of 14-4 in the regular season. Despite still being in fifth place in the Canada West conference standings, the Cascades are only three wins from first place.

UFV will have to move up in the standings next weekend when they face off against the University of Regina. The two games will be held on Friday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m..

Jessica Parker. Jan. 4, 2020. (UFV Athletics)

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 05

SPORTS Q&A //

Sarah Brownlee speaks on her journey at UFV ALEX JESUS The UFV volleyball teams have been going through a transition year as they prepare to leave the PacWest conference for Canada West and the U Sports league (the highest Canadian-based league for university/college sports). That process can require a lot of turnover, both at the coaching and playing levels. As new players have been brought in for the incumbent step up in competition, some have stood out. Sarah Brownlee is no exception.

Featured as one of three setters, Brownlee’s 2019-20 campaign with UFV has been impressive. The second-year player is primarily known for her blocking and confidence against opposing teams’ biggest shot makers. However, 2019 wasn’t the first time she met the team.

“I actually practiced with UFV a few times,” Brownlee said.

“The feedback from the coaches was just good all around, and encouraged me to look further into it and pursue it a little more.”

First up for the former Langley Christian School athlete was Briercrest College and Seminary in Saskatchewan, which helped her achieve one of her goals: to play at a Christian college or university.

“My parents actually met at Briercrest, so there’s a little bit of family history

there,” Brownlee said.

With Briercrest College, she saw a legitimate opportunity and a fresh start.

“I kind of wanted to go somewhere where no one knew me. Not that I didn’t like the people that I already knew, but just a full new experience. I loved it so much. It was awesome.”

Brownlee decided to return home to study and play at UFV, a place that Brownlee says comparatively is much bigger.

“This isn’t even a big university I don’t think you’d say for out here, but compared to what I was at, it’s huge. There’s different buildings! We had one building at Briercrest for everything, so coming, it’s like ‘Okay!’ I had to get one of my teammates to show me all of my classes the first day.”

Her play on the court came naturally and Brownlee’s skills have been an asset to the Cascades. Known by fans as a confident and hardworking player, her abilities seem to fit well with UFV’s program.

She sees her confidence helping a lot up at the net, where she can go up against opposing teams and block shots.

“When we’re playing against big hitters and stuff like that, I just feel super comfortable up there. I feel like I can do a good job.”

Brownlee has definitely helped the Cascades; however, their success is tempered by their drive to always do better.

Though UFV is ready for the playoffs according to Brownlee, losing close games that the team could have won can be tough. As she explained, a part of that is the new skills they’ve been learning this year with the changes in coaching staff.

“It’s kind of a bit back and forth. I think we’re developing a lot of new skills that we’ve just only learned this year, and just with the change of coach, she’s bringing in different ways of doing things that we haven’t done before, so I think we are starting to perfect some of those.”

Though a common saying in sports is that there are no moral victories, this Cascades team might be the exception due to their unique situation. Though winning is always a priority, simply learning the new systems and plays and practicing them in live games will aid their transition to Canada West. Though winning in PacWest would be ideal, the transition to U Sports is also something the team must prepare for with equal focus.

With players like Brownlee poised to become future stars, along with the new coaching staff, Canada West teams may have to look out for this group.

The Cascades will hit the road this upcoming weekend when they take on the College of the Rockies Avalanche in a series of away games that will take place Feb. 7 - 8, with Friday’s game beginning at 5 p.m. and Saturday’s at 12 p.m.

Francisco’s defence. The 49ers, unable to score, seemed shocked themselves.

All of a sudden the offence, the defence, the entire roster of the Chiefs was back in action. Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers’ QB, tried his best, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the force that was Kansas City. When the final horn sounded and the Chiefs removed their helmets, they stood alone, NFL champions.

Alex Jesus

Biden doesn’t understand video games In American politics, every four years there is a vote to see which politician will become the president; however, months before that there are debates and votes to see who will represent each political party. This year, former vice president Joe Biden is looking to become the representative of the Democratic Party. Despite having the credentials for the job, Biden’s personal opinion of the video game ecosystem has led him to make remarks and claims that show he might not understand the modern American landscape.

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When Biden was vice president to Barack Obama, he proposed an additional tax on violent video games. While he has said that this tax would go to victims of weapon violence, this attack on a creative medium is not founded on any evidence. Other countries that have equal access to video games, such as Canada, Australia, and England, have not seen a similar rise in violence since the creation of video games. If video games were a direct link to real-world violence, these other countries would have a similar problem, but Canada has

Women’s Basketball Game/Date: UFV at Thompson Rivers / Friday, Jan. 31 Score: UFV 75 TRU 50 Game/Date: UFV at Thompson Rivers / Saturday, Feb. 1 Score: UFV 91 TRU 76

Men’s Basketball Game/Date: UFV at Thompson Rivers / Friday, Jan. 31 Score: UFV 100 TRU 91 Game/Date: UFV at Thompson Rivers / Saturday, Feb. 1 Score: UFV 82 TRU 73

Women’s Volleyball

Score: UFV 2 Capilano 3

The Chiefs win the Super Bowl star. Mahomes was throwing interceptions and the 49ers were running the ball with great effectiveness. When the score read 20-10 going into the fourth quarter, let’s be real, most of us thought Kansas City was finished.

We, however, forgot one thing. We forgot the great equalizer for the Kansas City Chiefs — the very reason they are known to come back in games. We forgot, or even doubted, the magic of Patrick Mahomes.

Like lightning he came back, fighting through the formidable front line of San

Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2020

Game/Date: UFV vs. Capilano / Friday, Jan. 31

Slapshots // On the eve of the Super Bowl, fans were unsure. Yes, they were excited, but this year was different. All the experts and professionals could do was tell you what you already knew. This was going to come down to the destructive San Francisco 49ers’ defence versus the magic of Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback.

The game was tough at first for both teams. Soon enough, the halftime score read 10-10: a completely even match. As the second half raged on, things looked worse and worse for the NFL’s newest

UFV Cascades Sports Scores

only reported seven school shootings since 1989; in November, America had 45 in 2019 alone.

Biden has also gone on record calling video game developers “little creeps.”

His proposed tax addition can easily be interpreted as a personal attack. As of 2017, over 220,000 jobs made up the video industry in America, and that number has only continued to grow.

This tax could simply be Biden’s attempt at sticking it to a $120-billion industry.

Nic Jackson

Men’s Volleyball Game/Date: UFV vs. Capilano / Friday, Jan. 31 Score: UFV 0 Camosun 3

Women’s Rugby All games held at UBC Date: Saturday, Feb. 1 Score: UFV 7 Alberta 46 UFV 36 Lethbridge 0 UFV 15 Trinity Western 19 Date: Saturday, Feb. 1 Score: UFV 0 Calgary 52 UFV 48 UBC Okanagan 0

STUDY BREAK

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

Crossword //

Made by Carissa Wiens

ACROSS

DOWN

1. NASA’s location.

1. When your skull hurts.

2. Proactiv says they’ll cure this.

4. What volcanoes do.

3. 50 is J. Lo’s _ _ _ _ _ _.

5. The small black circle on your face.

6. Just another word for water.

9. The White Stripes wrote about the seven nation _ _ _.

7. Elegant and fashionable.

8. What kids look at in restaurants.

11. An acid addition to a Mexican dish.

10. Like an ostrich.

12. The result of rain that will ruin your shoes.

LAST ISSUE’S

ANSWERS: Across: 2. Oar 4. Carpet 5. Road 7. Academy 10. Math 12. Hair 13. Tofu 15. Nun 16. Queen

Horoscopes //

Down: 1. Visa 3. Retry 6. Dot 8. Circus 9. Endgame 11. Hazard 14. Inn

Your weekly life predictions as told by Ang the Great

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 Expect positive momentum in your work life, as you will complete a project that your boss is sure to love, and in turn your boss will continue to trust you with bigger and better assignments. Just remember, to whom much is given, much is expected.

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 Someone is going to try and test your patience this week, but don’t let it reach a point where you lash out and do or say something you will end up regretting later.

You probably already know who this person is, so just avoid them this week to be safe.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 You will encounter someone who desperately needs your help this week. Take time out of your busy schedule, or even money out of your tight budget to help this person, and you will experience true joy through this act of generosity.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 Plan to make some investments in your future this week. You have been passive with your finances and your investments for too long.

Set yourself up for future success and think about meeting with a financial advisor to get your life in order.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 There will be a dispute in your family this week as old, dusty skeletons in the closet will once again rear their ugly heads and become the forefront of an argument. Stay away from this negative energy and try not to get involved.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 Reign in your spending this week. You’ve been treating yourself to unnecessary luxuries for too long. It’s time to get to the root of why you gravitate toward retail therapy whenever your life becomes too much to handle.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 You need to relax, seriously. You have been way too high-strung lately, and are starting to notice the effects of this controlling attitude on your relationships. Take a moment to relax, stop being productive for just one minute, and breathe.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 Your schedule has begun to pick up the pace, and you are finally starting to feel the pressure of your classes. Remember to keep taking time for yourself and stick with the habits you so diligently followed in January!

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 You will experience a spiritual awakening this week, and your mind will be opened to an indescribable light and positive energy that will radiate off of you unto others. Be ready for this life-changing experience.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 You will find yourself doing a lot of selfreflection this week as you analyze branches of your life you must prune in order to grow into your truer, fuller self. Be honest with yourself as you reflect, and don’t be afraid to let go of what no longer serves you.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 You will have an argument with a classmate or coworker this week as they will become extremely offended by your strong opinion on a sensitive matter. Just stay cool, back off, and don’t push the matter any further.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 This week will require you to put in a little extra effort than you normally do in school.

Your professor may demand more, or the members of your group project may slack; whatever it is, just stay strong, get the work done, and this time of pressure will pass.

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ARTS ARTS

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 05 arts@ufvcascade.ca Chandy Dancey — Arts Editor

Netflix //

CHARTS

SHUFFLE

1 Sarah Mary Chadwick

AARON LEVY

2 Holy Fuck

CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy can see the snow accumulating once again, and that might remind you of a snowy state we all know as Prince's home!

Please Daddy Deleter

3 Woolworm Awe

4 Nap Eyes

Mark Zuckerberg

5

Babe Corner Alone At The Party

6

Louise Burns Portraits

7

Jay Arner Jay III

8

WUT White Walls (single)

9

Harpdog Brown For Love & Money

LESBIAN RELATIONSHIP EXPERT

Known. - “Eucalyptus” These lyrics from 20-something Missionite Known., produced by co-Missionite and UFV student JML, kick off this week's shuffle. "I'm like what, hold up, always on call, Motorola, I'm so sick, pneumonia, heart so cold, Minnesota."

The video is pretty awesome too, full of stylish, attractive young folk and toilet breaks.

Lizzo - “Truth Hurts” In case you're not up to date with the Lizzo saga, she borrowed the opening line to this song from a woman who later claimed "I still till this day struggle with the fact that a fat, black woman got famous off what I said, and I wasn’t that woman."

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Lié You Want It Real

11

Mallsex Live In Reverse

12

Kaytranada BUBBA

13

Tops I Feel Alive (Single)

14

Red Mass A Hopeless Noise

15

Begonia Fear

16

OOIOO Nijimusi

17

WHOOP-Szo Warrior Down

The Odds - “Someone Who’s Cool”

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Skye Wallace Skye Wallace

19

Wolf Parade Thin Mind

20

Dawn Tyler Watson Mad Love

This song was famously, perhaps only in my mind, covered by a local supergroup of Fraser Valley musicians, with last names like Murie, Dawson, Currie, and Wagner, who once upon a time competed in the inaugural #CIVLBattle way back in 2013, and their band was appropriately called Minnesota. Nice, right!?

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Weird Al Yankovic - “The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota” I had the immense pleasure of realizing a childhood dream this past summer, joined by host of CIVL’s Mood Swings and former high school co-op placement, Domo Perry, when we finally witnessed Weird Al Yankovic's live stage performance with his 40-piece symphony, where he also played this stupid song.

Pick season one for your Netflix and chill The second season of Sex Education isn’t exactly riveting CHANDY DANCEY Sex Education is a British Netflix series that explores the awkwardness of teenage sexuality with hilarious writing and a diverse cast (including Gillian Anderson from The X-Files). Its first season was met with immediate success, leading to a much-anticipated second season released on Jan. 17. The new season features a returning cast tackling new problems amidst Otis, the protagonist, trying to restart his sex therapy clinic for students at his high school.

Unfortunately, the best word to describe the new season is scattered. There’s little to no overarching plot, and the show suffers for it. Where the first season had a solid premise of Otis and his friends operating a sex therapy clinic (with each episode revolving around a new client that often led to Otis gaining insight about his own life), the second season falls apart by lacking a clear direction.

The sex clinic soon becomes null as Otis’s mother asserts herself into Moordale Secondary’s sex education curriculum, and she does so with little reasoning other than to seemingly give her son more screentime for other activities. The result, however, is a storyline that quickly dissolves into an overwhelming number of love triangles, miscommunication, and indecisiveness from characters not knowing whom they want to pursue romantically.

That’s not to say that Sex Education wastes its screentime. Through new characters the show continually opens up much-needed conversations centered around sexuality, exposing a wider audience specifically to asexuality and pansexuality. It also allows its minor characters to flourish. A considerable amount of screentime is given to dilemmas involving family and friends of the main characters, and it’s thoroughly entertaining — although it soon becomes one of the season’s

shortcomings. Without a strong central narrative giving context as to why characters are being given attention, indulging the stories of side characters makes the series feel like it’s pulled in too many directions.

A single episode will feature the drama of Otis, his mother, and his best friend all having relationship issues while also trying to cram in the sensitive topic of sexual violence and another side character trying out for the school play. It’s enough material to fill up an episode, but it leaves the viewer questioning why any of it was explored. Season one was a great example of having just the right amount of filler with purpose. Eric, the best friend of Otis, has an arc where he’s the victim of a hate crime.

Because of this experience he’s forced to reevaluate who he is, ultimately coming to terms with both his feminine and mascu-

line sides as a gay man; Eric regains his confidence and even reconnects with his religion and family over the turmoil. This storyline was given the time it deserved, spanning several episodes but never taking away focus from the main plot.

Although the second season is disorganized, Sex Education is still an incredibly charming and heartfelt show with valuable insight into sexuality. It also has amazing diversity in its cast, including love interests that are often people of colour with complex backstories and a disabled character played by an actual disabled actor. Despite its flaws, it’s a binge-worthy watch that will provide ample reason to procrastinate during the upcoming reading break. Afterall, everyone could use a brush up on their Sex Education no matter how long it’s been.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

ARTS Book //

Followers speaks to the Kardashian in us all KRYSTINA SPRACKLIN Megan Angelo’s debut novel, Followers, is a provocative telling of how overly consumed we are by social media today and the consequences that await our dependency. Besides her penchant for choosing obscure and inventive names for her protagonists — Orla, Floss, and Marlow — Angelo’s attempts to map a tentative future of online vanity, follower validation, and celebrity consumption are well executed. The dystopian eeriness of Followers is like an episode of Black Mirror transformed onto the page.

The story is divided into two timelines, 2015 and 2051, which are cleverly inverted dates that crawl through time to unite the intricate mystery of how the past influenced the bleak future. Woven into the plot are rumblings of an internet-based catastrophe dubbed as “The Spill,” which Angelo carefully reveals during the course of the novel.

In 2051, Marlow, a celebrity representing a drug that suppresses emotions, longs to escape the Constellation, a celebrity-manufacturing community that raises children to become world-famous influencers. In 2015, Orla, a gossip columnist, and her roommate, Floss, set out to achieve internet fame by evolving Floss’s unremarkable reputation with a series of gossip articles that catapult

her to stardom.

What’s most fascinating about these women is their thirsty ambitions that escalate their character development — and Followers is a wonderfully character-driven story. The romances flittering through the pages are hardly compelling compared to how desperately Orla seeks to become a published author, Floss’s destructive desire for fame, or Marlow’s quest for answers about her past and escape from the celebrity cage she’s bound to. These women are written with complex, scrutinizing, and sympathetic details that elevate the story beyond just a darkly amusing plot.

Without venturing too deeply into spoiler territory, Angelo’s visceral plot turns criticize how celebrities are stalked and harassed by paparazzi, but also how fans equipped with no more than their cellphones can replicate this harm. Her vision of how this game of “cat and mouse” can lead to sinister repercussions is a chilling account toward the book’s finale.

However, as plausible as Angelo paints a vision of the future, I’ve grown a little wary of stories that blast the narrative that the internet is inherently evil. It’s safe to say that any gathering of humans will produce a few bad apples, and while cyberwarfare certainly isn’t something to scoff at, the idea that the internet will inevitably evolve into an oppressive dystopian tool is tedious. Our willingness to believe “fake news,” overshare our information, or take everything we read at face value derives from our own laziness. While I think Angelo attempts to place blame solely on how we, as a society, use the internet, her depiction becomes too focused on the idea that everyone who uses the internet in the future will only care about celebrity influencers.

Where Angelo wins back my fervor — because as a consensus, my experience reading Followers was overwhelmingly positive — is my favourite question posited in literature: can humans change the outcome of the future by learning from the mistakes of the past? On a societal level, no. Angelo concedes that we’re doomed to reap the consequences of our fundamental vanity, but there is hope for change in the individual.

Rewind //

Flowers for Algernon continues to haunt us with hope and humanity CHANDY DANCEY Flowers for Algernon is a science fiction short story published by Daniel Keyes in 1959 that has inspired countless pieces of media since, including a novel by the same name published in 1966. It’s a short but powerful piece that questions how those with intellectual disabilities are treated and dehumanized in society.

The story follows Charlie Gordon, a hard-working and good-natured man who’s unable to read, write, or complete complex tasks due to being intellectually disabled.

He’s selected by a research group to undergo a surgery to triple his IQ, something that’s never been performed on humans before.

While only having anticipated being able to converse better with his friends and understand the world around him more, the increase in intelligence also reveals to Charlie all the discrimination he’s faced.

What sells the piece is how it’s written in the first-person as diary entries. Readers are thrust into the perspective of Charlie, and it helps push the narrative of tracking the results of his IQ-increasing surgery.

His vocabulary and punctuation slowly improve, and his entire voice changes as his intelligence increases. Most heartbreakingly of all, he becomes cognizant of how the coworkers he considered friends make him the butt of their cruel jokes, often physically assaulting him. Readers also get to experience the grief of him realizing that his intelligence has surpassed even the scientists behind his experiment, leaving him equally unable to communicate with others as before his

procedure.

Although the Flowers for Algernon novel fleshes out Charlie’s budding sexuality, interpersonal relationships, and realization that he’s been abused by his parents, the short story is a more effective and worthwhile read. The fact that it’s much shorter means it’s forced to be concise and focus more heavily on the central themes, like the relationship Charlie has with Algernon, a mouse that had undergone the same procedure. The brevity of the piece is dizzying, contributing to the same pace at which Charlie realizes his newfound intelligence is deteriorating.

While rights for those with disabilities have improved enormously since the short story was written in the ‘50s, it doesn’t mean its message is now null and void. The applications for Flowers for Algernon today are different, but they’re important nonetheless. For example, I’ve noticed members of my own family will change how they speak to English second-language citizens, talking down to them by overly dumbing down their language. And since the rise of the anti-vaccine movement, many have pointed out that those that are anti-vaccine choose to have their children be susceptible to deadly diseases rather than autism, a developmental disorder that’s been wrongly associated with vaccines.

This resistance to fully accept those with disabilities and treat those with different communication skills as equals is a concept that our modern world is still trying to overcome. Flowers for Algernon helps make this clear in a deeply human story that, despite being a quick read, will continue to haunt readers long after.

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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.

• Woof Woof Wednesday @ UFV (Chilliwack) Building A Atrium, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Consent Cafe @ UFV (Abbotsford) A212, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

• Haq and History reception and opening @ UFV (Abbotsford) S’eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

• Open Mic Night @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

• Live Music @ S+L Abbotsford, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

• Meditation Exploration @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

• Woof Woof Wednesday @ UFV (Chilliwack) Building A Atrium, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Open Mic Night @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

• Live Music @ S+L Abbotsford, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

• Meditation Exploration @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

• ALP Module: Expanding the scope of Bio-energy. Sustainable energy for a greener future @ UFV (Abbotsford) Evered Hall, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

• The Limits of Division: Getting Beyond Polarized Politics — Public Talk by Dr. Scott Matthews @ UFV (Abbotsford) B101, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

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

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

• Graphic and Digital Design Portfolio Info Session @ UFV (Mission) D227, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

• Forum: “When your partner abuses you” @ UFV (Abbotsford) B101, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

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

• Neil Osborne @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

• CreWri Book and Rose Sale @ UFV (Abbotsford) Building G Atrium, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

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

• Live music @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

• Open Mic @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.

• • • •

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

Dead City @ The Railyard, 7:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Cat Murphy Band @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

The DRAG Show @ The Stage, 9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

• Live music @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

• Open Mic @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.

• Dr. Saeed Rahman: Global Climate Change and the Emergence of Multi-Level Governance @ UFV (Abbotsford) B140, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

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

• Neil Osborne @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

• Live Band Karaoke @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

• Spread the Love Post-Valentine’s Kitchen Party @ The Railyard, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.

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

• Book Signing by Jean Barman @ UFV (Abbotsford) B1011, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

• Project: Life Switch @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

• Miniatures Paint Night @ Boardwalk Cafe and Games, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

• Faculty of Science Dean’s Seminar Series with Dr. Adam Ruben @ UFV (Abbotsford) B101, 3:00 – 4:15 p.m.

• Dungeons and Dragons 101 @ Boardwalk Games and Cafe, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

• Live music @ Trading Post Fort Langley Eatery, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

• Live music @ Trading Post Abbotsford Eatery, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

• Family Day (No classes)

• Educators Journey Towards Reconciliation @ UFV (Abbotsford) G124, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Live music @ Trading Post Fort Langley Eatery, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

• Live music @ Trading Post Abbotsford Eatery, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

• Open Mic Night @ Trading Post Brewery and Tasting Room, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

• Live music @ S+L Abbotsford, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

• Meditation Exploration @ Tractorgrease Cafe, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.