The Cascade Vol. 28 Iss. 12

APRIL 1 TO APRIL 7, 2020

VOLUME 28 ISSUE 12

Painting dry watches since 1993

Your guide to B.C. health-care 9

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SUS CANDIDATE BREAKDOWN

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MASTURBATING WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING

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eNASCAR LAPS COMPETITION

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

News Editor Sam Young samuel@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Andrea Sadowski andrea@ufvcascade.ca

Culture & Events Editor Carissa Wiens carissa@ufvcascade.ca

Arts in Review Editor Chandy Dancey chandy@ufvcascade.ca

Digital Media Manager Anoop Dhaliwal anoop@ufvcascade.ca Photographer David Myles Staff Writer Aleister Gwynne Staff Writer Nicholas Ashenhurst-Toews

Sports Editor Alex Jesus alex@ufvcascade.ca Illustrator Kayt Hine Illustrator Kelly Ning Sports Writer Nic Jackson

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Social Media Coordinator Daniela Vasquez

Staff Writer Krystina Spracklin

Front Cover: Mikaela Collins Back Cover: Study Break

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

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@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 28 · Issue 12 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 will be digital for the remainder of the semester. Please email managing@ufvcascade.ca to be put on the assignment email list.

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

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

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ARTS

Feature Editor Darien Johnsen darien@ufvcascade.ca

OPINION

Copy Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca

NEWS

Production Manager Elyssa English elyssa@ufvcascade.ca

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

16.......CIVL The Cascade Shuffle

Study Break.......18 NEWS Pass/fail grading......3

3......SUS elections

OPINION Editorial.......6

6.......Dear Robin

Homelessness.......7 CULTURE 12.......Stocking the pantry

Cascade Kitchen......12 Toilet paper alternatives.....12

13.......Thoughts on isolation

Masturbating in isolation.....13 SPORTS eNASCAR.......14

14......Golf

ARTS BEASTARS......15 Lullabies in the Real World......17

16......Animal Crossing 17......Cascade rewind

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

news@ufvcascade.ca Sam Young — News Editor

NEWS NEWS

UFV //

NEWS BRIEFS

UFV loses Board of Governors chair UFV announced Friday that the chair of the UFV Board of Governors has lost their seat on the board.

“Justin P. Goodrich’s appointment to the Board of Governors of UFV has been rescinded by the Executive Council of the Province of British Columbia effective immediately,” UFV president Joanne MacLean said in an email announcement.

Goodrich was elected as the new chair of the board in August 2019, having served as a member of the board since 2015.

Nash Gill has been appointed as the board chair until July 31, 2020. The university said they would not be commenting further on the changes at this time.

- UFV

Students petition for pass/fail grading UFV students pressure administrators to adjust grading following COVID-19 closures SAM YOUNG Hundreds of students have signed a Change.org petition created last Tuesday requesting that university administrators offer students a pass/fail grade system following UFV’s shift to remote instruction.

The petition, which sits at about 500 signatures at the time of this writing, was created by user “Concerned UFV Student HELP.” The petition requests that UFV follow in the footsteps of other B.C. universities such as SFU and UBC, which earlier this week both offered students the option to take a “P” or “Credit” grade in place of their final marks. At those institu-

tions, these optional grades enable students to pass their courses and receive full credit without having to reveal the letter grade they received on their transcripts. They are available to all students provided they do not have a failing grade.

“We paid money for these classes and we worked hard from the beginning of the semester. It feels like our hard work has come to a waste when we look at it now,” wrote the petition’s creator.

The petition also claims that other universities have accommodated students by offering projects or assignments in place of exams, a course of action that some UFV instructors have already taken, but is not mandatory.

The petition also cites online exam time limits, general anxiety around the spread of COVID-19, and the time pressure on some professors to rapidly create their online tests as reasons to offer alternative grading and testing options.

UFV announced on March 24 that course withdrawals for the Winter 2020 semester would be extended to May 8, offering students the option to receive a “W” on their transcript in place of a grade if they wish.

However, students receiving a “W” are not financially reimbursed and must retake the course in order to receive credit, unlike those who would receive the proposed “pass/ fail” grade.

SUS //

A guide to SUS elections Conservative leadership race postponed The federal Conservatives’ Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) announced March 26 it would be pausing its leadership race due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The closure of non-essential businesses made processing donations and memberships and the distribution and counting of ballots difficult, according to the LEOC. The two leadership debates in April have been cancelled, and fundraising has been suspended until May 1. The leadership convention on June 27, where the announcement of the new leader of the federal Conservative party would be made, has also been postponed.

SAM YOUNG JESSICA BARCLAY SUS Q&A With the 2020-21 SUS elections quickly approaching, The Cascade has put together a summary of each candidate and their platform. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an in-person Q&A session for candidates could not be held as planned, so SUS has instead released candidates’ written answers to Q&A questions online with question recommendations from The Cascade.

The voting period for SUS elections (and the referendum on changes to student fees) begins on April 5 and runs to April 9. For more information on all candidates, and to read their full responses to Q&A questions, students can go to ufvsus.ca/elections.

President candidates:

- The Globe and Mail

The president represents the student body at UFV. They are the official spokesperson of SUS and the liaison between SUS and the university.

Working with the executive director, the full-time staff member hired by the executive team, the president runs the day-to-day operations of SUS and ensures the strategic direction of the board of directors is put into action.

Sunny Cheema

Jessica Levesque

Sunny Cheema has formerly held the title of vice president students at SUS, and is returning after a year off to run for president. According to his candidate statement, his platform is primarily focused on decreasing SUS’s spending in order to spend more on students. In order to accomplish this, Cheema promised he would have SUS leave the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) if elected, and use the funds saved on membership fees and travel costs to instead develop new events and programming for students.

“I feel that it is a much better use of our time, and ESPECIALLY resources to focus on issues affecting us directly on a provincial level, as well as within the university,” he said in SUS’s candidate Q&A. Cheema also said that although finances are handled by the vice president internal, he feels that ensuring that SUS is held financially accountable is a part of the president’s responsibilities. “I hope to simply ensure that we aren’t spending money on an area when it could be used somewhere else to help benefit the students of UFV much more,” he said.

Jessica Levesque is currently SUS’s event coordinator, and according to her candidate statement, hopes to “strengthen the campus culture and engagement.” She said that if elected, she plans to begin more conversations about mental health/ wellness, address operational issues highlighted by students, and continue to build WEUFV, an initiative designed to “promote campus culture and community.”

According to Levesque, WEUFV is intended to help UFV students have their voices heard and increase engagement, including giving students “reasons to want to stay on campus outside of class time,” and establishing “more effective methods to gather and to share ideas.” “[W]hen issues arise, my main objective is to ensure that all groups involved have the opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas prior to any decisions being made,” she said in her election Q&A. She also said that she believes UFV’s relation with CASA is a “crucial connection,” and cited the organization’s role in lobbying for student grant increases as evidence of their importance.

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NEWS SUS //

A guide to SUS elections CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Harshvir Thind According to his candidate statement, Harshvir Thind aims “to provide students with opportunities to feel like they’re a part of a community as well as provide the aid for academic success” if elected.

In his candidate Q&A, Thind said that his “main goal is to have more campus life, and more involvement with all students,” and to “listen to students when the [sic] express their struggles with reoccurring issues that often get overlooked or remain unresolved.”

He also said he believes that “it is quite easy to achieve both [communication and coordination] through frequent meetings and check-ups” between SUS and UFV, adding that when in opposition to UFV administrators, SUS is “often forced to … forfeit their opinion,” something he said he won’t do.

In response to a question about whether he felt SUS’s relationship with CASA is important, he answered, “The connection … is very much needed. It is good to maintain a healthy relationship with CASA.” Vice president external candidates: The vice president external’s role is to advocate for UFV students, with both the university and local, provincial, and federal governments. They represent SUS on various committees at the university and in external advocacy groups. Right now, SUS is a member of the Alliance of B.C. Students (ABCS) and CASA. Rajdeep Dhaliwal Rajdeep Dhaliwal is a fourth-year student, and previously served as SUS’s vice president external from 2018-19. She has also been involved in New Student Orientation and UFV Lead, among a number of other volunteer positions, and is currently serving her second term as a member of UFV Senate.

According to Dhaliwal’s candidate Q&A, she has made an effort to be involved in all aspects of life on campus over the years, and her previous work as vice president external involved initiat-

ing a number of projects for SUS. She said she hopes to hear directly from students if elected, so she can “direct [SUS’s] advocacy efforts towards what matters most to ufv students.” She also said she hopes to “follow up” on the projects that she initiated when she last held the position.

Her campaign promises currently include a plan to push for per-credit fees for international students (who are currently required to pay for a minimum of 12 credits per semester), looking into the possibility of implementing a “partial fall reading break,” and to gain further insight from UFV students via surveys and meetings.

Dhaliwal also said she believes UFV’s membership in CASA has value, but remains “neutral” in her attitude toward it because it is a national organization.

“Many of our concerns as post-secondary students at ufv don’t necessarily fit at the federal level but rather the provincial level,” she said in the Q&A. Andrew Stahl Andrew Stahl is in his eighth year at UFV, and has served as a student representative on the UFV Board of Governors for three years, and for three years as the SUS board’s College of Arts representative.

Stahl said that if elected, his first priority will be to review and reform UFV’s sexualized violence prevention policy. In addition, he said he will seek to deal with any issues brought up by students, and “purge” any corruption that arises within the organization.

Stahl also said he seeks to run “exciting” event programming, such as a “Battle of the Bands” in order to encourage student engagement, although he acknowledged that as vice president external he will need cooperation within SUS, and likely with organizations outside of the university, to make an event like this happen.

In response to a Q&A question about whether he felt SUS should be a part of both the B.C. Federation of Students and CASA, Stahl said that he has been “on the fence” for a while, as both organizations often do not achieve the desired results.

However, he said that he feels it makes “logical sense to stay with them, especially because we are pushing for student grant funding this year.”

Vice president internal candidates: The vice president internal role related to the internal workings of SUS. They are the treasurer and secretary of the society, and oversee finances, ensure adherence to the budget, and review and update SUS’s bylaws and policies.

Duncan Herd (Running Unopposed) Duncan Herd is a third-year political science student and has previously sat on UFV’s Board of Governors and Senate.

According to his candidate statement, his main aims if elected are to “institute greater transparency” in SUS, and to consider reform in areas including “elections, financial reports, and inter-institutional dialogue.”

In his response to the candidate Q&A, Herd was critical of SUS’s current level of financial transparency, and said he plans to change it. “The records on SUS’s website are frankly horrendous … students have a right to know and understand how SUS is operating and spending their fees,” he said.

Herd’s goals also include reforming SUS elections to require a Q&A open to the public, a meet-and-greet, and a debate moderated by the chief electoral officer, and to “look into bringing back” the inactive SUS Premier Entrance Scholarship.

“There are a lot of problems that need fixing at SUS, but there is also a lot of good,” Herd concluded in the Q&A.

and as seamless as possible,” in an effort to make UFV’s campus engagement more like other universities by developing “an on-campus culture.”

He said in the Q&A statement that choosing a single issue to define his platform is difficult, as he is “running to fix many things,” but said the end result he hopes to achieve is a campus with “active clubs, associations, and students.”

“The bureaucratic road blocks involved in running and maintaining clubs and associations is, in my opinion, excessive and unnecessary,” he said, adding that he intends to cut down on the paperwork that organizers have to deal with, citing his own experience founding the Philosophy Association. “Everything I want to fix at SUS I have experienced myself,” he said.

Keara Parsons

The vice president students is a relatively recent role, first held in April 2018, and has experienced some adjustments this election period. The VP students’ primary role is student programming: they advise Clubs and Associations (C&A) executives and work with SUS staff who develop and organize events.

Keara Parsons is a third-year student with previous experience in tutoring and volunteer programs in schools, and in management. According to her candidate statement, she has “seen first-hand” the struggles of her classmates and peers involved in clubs and tutoring at UFV, and has “insight and experience with such matters.”

Her platform’s major points include implementing crisis support as a benefit of club membership, working with clubs to foster community engagement “outside of social media posts and posters,” and implementing a revised fund request process to streamline club funding.

She also said in her portion of the candidate Q&A that she would “work to get myCampusLife more widely known and used among students,” and “ensure training for all C&A executives” to enable them to speak with members about mental health, by hosting training seminars and sharing online courses.

Tyler Branston

Prabhpreet Singh

Tyler Branston is in his third year of studies at UFV, following two years at Douglas College, and founded the Philosophy Association of UFV. He said in his candidate statement that as vice president students, he would “make the operation and creation of clubs and associations as easy

Prabhjeet Singh is an international student at UFV with volunteer experience including UFV International and Student Life.

He said in his candidate statement that if elected, he hopes to have “more events and programs that students would enjoy” on campus, and would do so by coordi-

Vice president students candidates:

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

NEWS nating with departments to run events that celebrate diversity such as Holi and Chinese New Year.

In the candidate Q&A, Singh said that his single biggest goal is to “eradicate the stigma surrounding mental health” and to “make support accessible for students who may be struggling.” He said that some students may have to wait a month in order to book appointments with campus counselors, and that these long wait times are something he hopes to address.

He also claimed he would work to steer UFV away from its status as a “commuter culture campus” by “consistently offering social events every month,” such as a half-marathon, back-to-school barbecue, and on-campus workshops for activities like dancing and painting.

Samantha Rae Smith Samantha Rae Smith currently serves as gender equality commissioner at SUS, and is in her fourth year of studies at UFV. She said that if elected, her “dream project” is to “host an action-packed full day for International Women’s Day 2021,” including a week’s worth of workshops and lectures about global gender equality issues leading up to the event.

In order to address student engagement on campus, Smith said she would also create a “viable communication network” for all activities on campus and develop an “interactive kiosk or portal” to help students keep up with what’s going on.

She added that she would also attend a meeting with each of the 23 clubs and associations on campus to learn what kind of support they need, and said she would like to help make campus C&As “more visible” while creating an environment where “more clubs [can] appear.”

Board Representative Candidates: The SUS board of directors consists of the executive team and 10 student representatives.

Each student representative acts as the voice for the student group they are representing, bringing their interests and needs to the board.

Faculty of Health Sciences Jasleen Brar (Running Unopposed) Jasleen Brar is a first-year nursing student with experience as a foundry ambassador and volunteer at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, and volunteering for UFV’s Get Out the Vote campaign. According to her candidate statement, she feels that financial aid and support services should be made more available to UFV students, and wants to “raise mental health awareness and promote vaccination” if elected.

She said in her candidate Q&A that she intends to advocate for issues that affect the faculty of health sciences, “while still acting in the best interests of the Society.”

She added that as health sciences representative, she would “always consider what is in the best interests of the faculty’s students and administration” and “ensure students have the required resources available for a convenient learn-

ing environment.”

Faculty of Sciences: Reece Doppenberg (Running Unopposed) Reece Doppenberg is running for his second term as faculty of science representative. According to his candidate statement, Doppenberg plans to advocate for better support for clubs and associations and work toward better communication between SUS and his faculty.

He will also act as the voice for students and ensure those in his faculty are heard by “consistently being in contact with the clubs and associations within my faculty” and being “open and approachable for students to ask questions, raise concerns, or give suggestions.”

Faculty of Professional Studies Harman Gill (Running Unopposed) Harman Gill currently works as a junior accountant at LLT LLP. If elected, Harman plans to bring diverse ideas to the board and use his experience working with clients to effectively communicate with students. His main goals are effective communication and to be “transparent, accountable, and approachable.”

“I will ensure the students in my faculty are heard and benefitted from board decisions,” Gill said in the Q&A.

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College of Arts Tripat Kaur Sandhu Tripat Sandhu was the president of SUS for one term in 2019-20. She is a third-year student, a member of the UFV women's soccer team, and is currently on the UFV College of Arts council.

Her candidate statement lists previous initiatives as SUS president, including advocating for UFV students at Parliament Hill, bringing Rebel Pizza and Streats into the Student Union Building, and collaborating to bring events such as TedX Talks and New Student Orientation to UFV. “If elected, I will continue bringing fresh ideas, raising awareness to student issues, and holding the SUS accountable to ensure transparency,” Sandhu said in the Q&A. Alec Zinman Alec Zinman is a fifth-year Bachelor of Arts student. As a board representative, Zinman would work to “strengthen the bonds between UFV and the Student Union,” for the benefit of students.

In the Q&A, Zinman said he is an active member of the UFV community and this time on campus has enabled him to gain "alot of knowledge and insight from my peers here at ufv.”

“I play active roles in clubs, and work and volunteer at the Student Life department, helping with the Leadership Program and the Peer Resource and Leadership Centre,” Zinman said in the Q&A.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

OPINION

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

opinion@ufvcascade.ca Andrea Sadowski — Opinion Editor

Humour //

Editorial //

Follow other B.C. universities: implement an optional pass-fail grade

Dear Robin

JESSICA BARCLAY

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

only putting themselves at risk but those around them as well. Tell your grandma if she doesn’t stay home from now on you’re going to adopt a bunch of dogs from the SPCA and drop them off at her place so she can’t leave her house at all because she has to care for a zillion dogs that need constant attention. That should hopefully do it. And hey, maybe your grandma needs some companionship anyways, so the dogs will benefit her in many ways.

Elderly actions Dear Robin,

Robin

My grandma and I are close, and she is constantly asking me to hang out. I keep telling her that it’s not very smart to do that right now, but we can talk on the phone, and I can get groceries for her. Unfortunately she just laughs me off when I tell her stuff like that. How do I handle this?

Sincerely, Grandma’s friend

Hello, Well the edgy teens aren’t calling this the “Boomer Remover” for nothing. My grandparents are the same way: they’re generally in good health and think that they’re indestructible. They say stuff like, “A little flu won’t kill me,” so they’re still hanging with their friends and going to the grocery store and continuing their knitting clubs in Margaret’s basement. Well guess what Gran? Things are crazy out there.

Whoever is not staying home is not

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Fact checking Dear Robin, I feel like I’m constantly hearing a million different things about COVID-19. How do I know what is true and what isn’t?

Sincerely, Confused in quarantine Hello, The main thing you need to know is that Trump does not tell the truth.

Do not listen to a lick of what he says. Some reputable news sources are the New York Times and the CBC. Maybe avoid getting your pandemic facts from your aunt’s Facebook posts and Fox News; just stick to making memes about what you hear from them. And of course, I’m an incredibly helpful source for all of your needs for quarantine and beyond.

Robin

UFV’s transition to online classes has been far from smooth. There is considerable confusion around how UFV is handling the barriers many students are experiencing with online classes and COVID-19, and the university has yet to publicly provide satisfactory answers.

These are unprecedented times though, and it would be unfair to criticize a relatively small university like UFV for being underprepared to shift their entire curriculum to an online format in two months. (Yes, the World Health Organization only declared a global health emergency two short months ago, on Jan. 30.)

However, as the full effects of the pandemic on B.C. citizens and businesses have been realized, UFV has been slow to adapt, and is failing to carefully and holistically consider the impacts of COVID-19 on students' grades and provide sufficient resources for students and faculty to successfully complete the semester.

UFV should consider adopting a grading system similar to what UBC and many other universities across Canada have implemented: an optional pass-fail grade.

For most universities, the pass-fail grading system is optional for students and will, at this time, only be used for the Winter 2020 semester. It’s not ideal — there can be academic consequences down the line for students, as a pass does not allow future employers or schools to judge if the student was successful at the course. But are there any ideal solutions right now?

Despite the prevalence of technology in people's lives, it is unreasonable to assume every student, and professor, at UFV has access to the internet or even a device at home to use for online classes. Moving classes online has created a barrier for students who do not have access to an electronic device or the internet.

There appears to be limited solutions for students without internet or computers. Libraries and cafes students may previously

have depended on for the internet or computers are closed. UFV has set up Wi-Fi hotspots in the parking lot of the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses and has kept several computer labs open for student use. However, this requires transport to the campuses, and the shuttle bus many students used is offline until further notice.

This also requires students to be well enough and safe enough to attend the campus in person, not to mention be in the same country. Anyone who is self-isolating or in quarantine, has family members who are atrisk, or has gone home due to the pandemic can’t use this option.

Many students have also taken on the role of caring for at-risk or ill family members, shopping for those that can't or currently shouldn't shop for themselves, or caring for children who no longer attend school or daycare. Others working in essential services such as health care or the service industry have taken on additional shifts, either willingly or not, to deliver necessary services to British Columbians.

During the most critical time in the semester for projects and examinations, many students are stepping up and taking on additional responsibilities during this pandemic.

Right now, UFV is offering an extended withdrawal date: students can withdraw from classes up until May 8 with a W on their transcript. Students who worked hard in their classes but now face barriers to complete them will need to pay to retake them.

If UFV is considering these barriers they have failed to say so, and their actions do not reflect adequate movement toward eliminating these barriers to ensure students are able to successfully complete their semester.

A pass-fail grade option can help the grades of students reflect that, despite the barriers currently in place due to the ongoing pandemic, they were previously on track to successfully complete their course. It’s a step forward UFV badly needs to take in addressing the educational barriers online classes and the pandemic in general have created in education so that students are not punished for circumstances far out of their control.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

OPINION B.C. //

When staying home isn’t possible How Abbotsford is handling the COVID-19 crisis with its homeless population ANDREA SADOWSKI Contracting COVID-19 won’t be a good time; some of the symptoms include a high fever, exhaustion, and a lot of coughing. The good news is that most people (around 80 per cent) recover without needing special treatment, so chances are you’ll be okay. However, you hold a greater risk for more severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, if you’re over 65 years of age, you have a compromised immune system, or have any underlying medical condition. To protect ourselves and others we have been ordered to stay home. But what if you don’t have a home?

Street-entrenched people living in Abbotsford have very few options when it comes to finding a safe place to sleep and even fewer for self-isolating. Besides the handful of extra shelters that open during the extremely cold winter months, if you don’t get one of the 30 beds at the Salvation Army on Gladys Avenue or one of the 40 beds at the Lookout Shelter on Riverside, you’re probably out of luck. This is unless you are a homeless youth, in which case you’ve got a shot at one of the 12 beds at the Cyrus Centre, or if you’re a man over 50 you could get one of the 20 beds at 5&2 Ministries. Most homeless people set up encampments in parks since overnight camping became legal in 2016. Both taking a bed at a shelter and camping pose serious risks when it comes to COVID-19 transmission.

According to a resident in Downtown Eastside Vancouver, the coronavirus has the potential to “spread like wildfire” in these street-entrenched communities that lack the basic proper sanitation necessary to prevent transmission. The City of Vancouver has responded to the COVID-19 crisis in the Downtown Eastside by setting up hand-washing stations and ensuring single-room occupancy housing landlords and tenants ramp up their sanitation. Shelters like Union Gospel Mission are creating more space between beds by moving beds to different floors and are closing their dining hall, offering to-go meals instead. Safe-injection sites have reduced their number of tables to allow social distancing, which is leading many people to opt for using on the streets instead of waiting for a table.

The Salvation Army in Abbotsford is an invaluable resource for those struggling with addiction and homelessness. They have limited their meal services to just one to-go meal a day and showers and laundry services to only those staying at the shelter. They still have 30 beds open seven days a week for those lucky enough to get there on time and not showing any symptoms. However, they have ex-

perienced a sharp drop in donations in the past couple of weeks, along with Abbotsford’s two other essential non-profits: Archway Food Bank and Cyrus Centre.

Beyond shelters, the homeless population often use recreation centres, restaurants, churches, and other outreach centres to use the bathroom and wash their hands. All of these facilities have recently been closed, so where does one get access to hot, soapy water? It’s a necessity all the time, but even more crucial now, as streetentrenched people’s immune systems are compromised, and they often have underlying health conditions; therefore, a virus that most people can recover from could be potentially fatal to them, especially if there are no beds available for them to recover in.

As of March 24, two people who use the shelter system in Toronto have tested positive for COVID-19. The City of Toronto has already responded to the crisis by opening nine new facilities, with plans to open a 10th, to ensure more social distancing for those in need of shelter. As well, they have opened up an “isolation centre” for homeless people awaiting test results, and even booked hotel rooms for those needing to quarantine for 14 days due to exposure to the virus. The City of Vancouver has also booked hundreds of hotel rooms for the homeless to live in temporarily and has transformed two community centres into shelters.

Abbotsford must follow suit and make some serious changes on how they are handling this virus amongst the most atrisk populations. So far, an isolation shelter in Abbotsford for the homeless experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 is set to open “soon.” At the very least, the city can ensure there are hand-washing stations at hotspots and a dissemination of correct information about the disease to people with extremely limited access to the news and internet. If the city really cared about its homeless population it would open up a dozen more shelters to give a fighting chance to those whose life expectancy is already lower than the average person, but I may be asking for too much from Abbotford’s MP Ed Fast and Mayor Henry Braun who have done little to help this vulnerable population.

You can do your part by donating any food you have to spare, either produce or non-perishables, to the Archway Food Bank, Salvation Army, or the Cyrus Centre — some of the most needed food being soups, pasta, canned meat, and peanut butter. If you happen to have any extra cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, or toilet paper on your hands, those would be useful to these essential services at a time like this as well. May this terrible situation bring out the best in us, not the worst.

Illustration by Kayt Hine

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BRIEF BITS OF BITE-SIZED BREVITY

SN S AP HO TS

CURTAILED COMMENTARY ON CURRENT CONDITIONS

Illustrations by Kelly Ning

UFV and COVID-19 are both a curse While wholly unrealistic, I really wish the semester was neatly wrapped up and over. At this point, I’m past worrying about my grades. Don’t get me wrong: I’m a student who loves what I’m studying, and I’m not one to skip classes ever, but this COVID-19 pandemic is majorly distracting students.

Students are worrying about the health of themselves and their loved ones, stressing about money and the potential of being laid off, and hunting down essential supplies to protect themselves. And those that work in essential services like grocery stores and health care will be asked to come in for extra hours to serve on the frontlines

amid frantic customers and patients.

At least, I know I have. The last thing anyone wants right now is to gear up for final exams and have to learn how to navigate their classes in an online format they never thought they’d be using. What are the chances that UFV will shut down classes altogether?

Slim to none. Will that stop me from complaining? As I sort through my upcoming assignments, midterm (yes, that’s right), and finals, the answer is a resounding no.

Daffodils for dreary days Sometimes on the dreariest of days, the best thing to do to cheer yourself up is to bring a bit of death into your home.

Joking aside, if you are lucky enough to have a yard during self-isolation, bringing in some fresh, fragrant flowers from the outdoors can really liven things up. No, not from their bright, cheerful colours and delightful scents that make parts of your home smell like tiny pockets of spring — it’s the bugs that live on the flowers that can

really put a spring in your step.

Not sure what to do with your morning? Bring in a bundle of daffodils and put them in vases around the house.

Which bunch has a giant spider, or one of those little pointy bugs that smell funny, or perhaps even a centipede? Only time, or your cats’ frantic pawing at 2 a.m., will tell.

Jessica Barclay

Chandy Dancey

Sims addiction is the answer to quarantine blues The need to escape

I am never in one place too long. In between high school and university, I had six long years where I did nothing but travel and work in exotic locations.

The longest I ever stayed in one place was seven months. Being in university has been hard, because I am required to plant myself in one place in order to get this degree done. I still try to get away as much as I can: I’ve done an international internship, I work at remote fishing lodges in the summer, and I try to go on mini-road trips during every break. Even though I am

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here, I am always somewhere else in my head. I am constantly planning the incredible adventures I will go on once I graduate. I never fully appreciate the season of life I am in because I am always thinking about the next one.

I need to work on building a life for myself that I don’t feel the need to constantly escape from.

Andrea Sadowski

Unlike many of you who are using this time in self-isolation to “improve yourself” or “get some work done and stay in shape,” or the dreaded “start up an online business,” I’ve successfully done the bare minimum and let myself fall apart. Aside from making cringy, depressing posts on Instagram and then immediately deleting them full of regret, I’ve been eating blocks of baker’s chocolate (because I ran out of my quarantine candy in like, two days), listening to hours of true crime podcasts, and playing The Sims. The Sims is really the best way to pass time in quarantine. If you spend enough time playing, it’s almost like society

hasn’t shut down at all. It’s just become cartoon-like, four-dimensional, and someone’s entire lifespan lasts about the equivalent of 10 real-world hours. I’m happy to report that I’ve successfully raised three generations of Sims. My current family is wealthy, just installed a pool, and is raising an over-achieving daughter, who, already in her teens, has come close to maximizing the creativity and body skills, and just got into private school. Now, when do I get my bumper sticker that reads “Proud parent of a Sims honour roll kid”?

Darien Johnsen

Your friendly guide to the B.C. health-care system New to the province or just want to understand how things work?

We’ve got you covered.

B

efore I began working as a part-time pharmacy assistant, I had no idea how to navigate the health-care system in B.C. as a young adult. All that was important was that I walked into a doctor’s office and came out without paying. Health care is easy if you’re still being covered under your parents’ benefits, but when making the transition to the SUS Health and Dental plan, it becomes a different story altogether. Deductibles? Plan G? Special authority? Young adults have a massive learning curve if they aren’t familiar with the health-care system of B.C. With the COVID-19 pandemic fresh on everyone’s mind, health care has quickly become a source of public concern. However, have no fear; your friendly guide to all things B.C. health care is here! Whether you’re a seasoned pro at prescriptions or a confused newbie who’s never been in a pharmacy before, chances are there are resources you aren’t taking advantage of or money you could be saving.

by Chandy Dancey a guardian’s account as a dependent and must register themselves. The exception to this are full-time students aged 19-24 who can choose to remain on a parent’s MSP coverage. Registration can be done by filling out forms on the MSP website, mailing a paper application form, or visiting a Service B.C. office. After registering, a B.C. Services Card can be picked up at an ICBC driver licensing office.

As of Jan. 1, 2020 there is no longer a monthly cost (called premiums) to pay for MSP coverage.

What’s PharmaCare?

Whereas MSP covers medical services, PharmaCare covers eligible prescription drugs and medical supplies for B.C. residents. To be eligible for most PharmaCare plans, active MSP coverage is required. There is no charge to register or to have this service, and all eligible drugs are laid out in the PharmaCare formulary.

MSP stands for Medical Services Plan and is the provincial health insurance in B.C. that allows for Canadian and permanent residents of the province to access medical services. This covers things like diagnostic tests and visiting hospitals, physicians, or surgeons, and it’s mandatory that residents of B.C. enrol themselves.

Depending on your situation, you’ll be eligible for different PharmaCare plans. The most widely used plan is Fair PharmaCare. This plan is income-based, and, like MSP, people over the age of 19 should generally register for their own account. Registration can take place online, by phone (1-800-663-7100), or by mail. However, those that are unmarried and full-time students aged 19-24 can contact Health Insurance B.C. to remain on their family’s PharmaCare plan.

When residents turn 19 years of age, they’re no longer eligible for coverage under

PharmaCare works on a tiered system of deductibles and plan maximums, both depending

What’s MSP?

on your income. A deductible is the amount that will need to be paid in full by the patient before getting any coverage; after meeting a deductible, prescriptions will be 70 per cent covered. A plan maximum is the next tier and is similar to a deductible, but after this is met there will be 100 per cent coverage for any eligible prescriptions.

Only drugs that are a benefit to PharmaCare (meaning they’re eligible for coverage) will count towards this deductible. Ineligible drugs must be paid at the full cost by the patient.

There is a calculator online that will give you an idea of what financial assistance you’ll receive through Fair PharmaCare. An example of this is if you’re unmarried with a net income of $31,000. The annual deductible is slated to be $650, meaning you’ll need to cover 100 per cent of the costs of your prescription drugs until you reach this amount. Thereafter, any prescriptions will be 70 per cent covered, with the remaining 30 per cent to be paid by the patient and going toward the next tier, which is the family maximum of $900. This means that if prescription costs for the year exceed $900 paid by the patient, PharmaCare will cover all eligible drugs until deductibles reset Jan. 1.

Other coverage plans include Plan W for Indigenous residents, Plan C for recipients of B.C. Income Assistance, and Plan G for psychiatric medications. Most eligibility for plans will be determined without you having to apply, but if you do require coverage of psychiatric medication, speak with your physician to have an application form filled out on your behalf.

The list of drugs that are covered by this plan is available on the PharmaCare website under the Plan G Formulary. Once accepted, Plan G lasts for one year before it will need to be renewed.

If you have third-party coverage (through work or school), after registering with PharmaCare you’ll need to get in touch with your plan and l e t them know your PharmaCare registration number. Plans want to be certain that they’re paying the lowest possible cost on prescriptions, and you can have your coverage suspended if you aren’t able to confirm you have PharmaCare coverage to them.

Don’t risk it!

What’s special authority and how does it work?

Getting special authority for a drug is an application process that involves a doctor and is for patients unable to afford treatment but who have no other therapeutic options. An example would be if you’ve tried multiple different inhalers for your asthma and find that the only one that works for you is an expensive option like Advair — but you find out it’s not a PharmaCare benefit and you can’t afford it.

Applying for special authority involves your doctor filling out forms and sending them off on your behalf. These applications can be either approved or refused, and they often expire after a specific period and need to be renewed.

Where before a drug was not a benefit to PharmaCare, having special authority means it now will be. This doesn’t mean it will automatically be 100 per cent covered though. It means that it’ll follow PharmaCare deductibles where, if you’ve reached your family maximum, you’ll receive full coverage. If you haven’t met your deductible or plan maximum, you will still be required to pay for special authority medications until you have.

What can I do if I can’t afford my medication?

If your medication is not a benefit to PharmaCare, you can apply for special authority to have it become a benefit. However, even if a medication is eligible to be covered

by PharmaCare it could still be costly depending on your deductible and level of coverage. One possibility is to talk to your physician (or pharmacist since they’re more familiar with pricing) about a cheaper alternative. You can also ask your pharmacy if there’s a generic drug available to bring down the cost.

Or, if you require a brand-name prescription and it’s not covered, you can fill out personal information for a coverage card (it acts like an insurance card that you present at a pharmacy) through RxHelp or Innovicares. These coverage cards bring down the cost of certain brandname drugs to what they would cost if they were generic. Other brand names have savings cards on their websites, such as the ADHD drug Vyvanse, or phone numbers to call to request payment assistance, like Humira.

Depending on your medication, you could also request your pharmacy to pill split. This means filling a higher strength of your medication and cutting the pills for your dose. An example is if you take 10 mg of a tablet daily but request the 20 mg and split the pill in half. That way you get two doses with one tablet. However, this can’t be done for some medication, including those in capsules or that are timed-release.

What’s brand name versus generic? Is there a difference?

When a new drug is released on the market, there is a period of time where it will be protected by patents, giving the sole right to sell the drug to the company who developed it. This allows for drug companies to gain back some of the enormous cost that goes into research, development, and clinical trials to test the drug. Once these patents expire, generic versions of the name brand can be approved.

A generic is a chemically equivalent alternative to a brand-name product that often costs much less (because much of the testing for safety has already been done). The FDA states that generics are “the same as brandname medicine in dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, and quality” along with having the same active ingredients that work the same way. To be sold on the market, generics must prove that their drug is just as safe and effective as the brand name.

However, it’s always possible to react better to one than the other. Although active ingredients may be identical between brand and generic, they could still differ in their non-medicinal ingredients (although companies are required to show these are up to standard too).

These can cause allergies or adverse effects in some patients. Don’t let this deter you though; hospitals widely use generics, and when doctors write prescriptions they rarely (if ever) prescribe specifically the brand name.

I’m a busy student, and I always forget to take my medication. Is there something I can do?

There’s always the possibility of using apps to remind you with alarms (which is especially great for oral contraceptives that have to be

taken at the same time daily), but there are other pharmacyrelated resources too!

Most drug stores offer pill organizers that are arranged into days of the week and can be discrete and portable.

A step further than that is to have your pharmacy blister pack your medication.

This service is normally free of charge. Blister packs are packages organized into times of day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime) and days of the week where you pop out your medications as you proceed through the day. This is ideal if you’re on multiple medications that make things hard to keep track of or if you find it hard to take your medication at the correct time.

If they interest you, discuss things further with your pharmacy and blister packs can be arranged to be made weekly or monthly.

I can’t see a doctor before I run out of medication. What do I do?

Pharmacists are authorized to give patients emergency supplies depending on the rationale and drug in question. If you run out of medication before an appointment, this is a great way to ensure you have enough before your renewal.

This can be requested over the phone or inperson at your pharmacy. Or, if you’ve been on a stable dose of a chronic medication for over six months, pharmacists are authorized to adapt prescriptions to renew them for a short period of time.

Patients can also request pharmacies to contact their doctors via fax to request renewals if they’re unable to see them for some reason.

During the COVID-19 pandemic this is especially relevant because many offices that normally don’t accept fax requests are making exceptions.

There’s never been a better time to jump onto the bandwagon for telecommunication medical services. Many offices are adopting this technology to offer remote phone and online consultations for both walk-in and family doctors.

Otherwise, virtual doctors can be convenient and help bridge the gap between appointments with a family doctor. They also offer health care on the weekends where many walk-in clinics might be closed. Apps and services like Access Virtual, Babylon Health, and Vivacare allow you to make appointments for a video consultation with a physician over a

webcam or smart device. They’re able to handle simple renewals, prescription antibiotics, and referrals.

I don’t have an appointment with my doctor, but I need medical advice. What do I do?

Rest assured, Google isn’t the only answer! 8-11 (or toll-free at 1-800-567-8911) is a phone line that provides free-of-charge provincial health information and advice operated by HealthLink B.C. This hotline connects you to a health service navigator who will take in your information and direct you to the appropriate health-care professional.

This phone service offers registered nurses, registered dietitians, qualified exercise professionals, and pharmacists during hours where a community pharmacist might not be available.

This is especially useful for international or ESL students who might not be able to communicate their health concerns in English, as there are translational services for more than 130 languages.

For those who know of 24-hour pharmacies or locations that are open late, pharmacists are available in person or over the phone to answer questions about medications and give recommendations for over-the-counter products.

What’s the SUS Health & Dental plan?

This is extended health and dental coverage for full-time students of UFV and is compulsory to enrol in unless you can prove you have coverage under a different and equivalent third-party coverage plan. This is paid semesterly and has extensive information for what it covers on the SUS and Studentcare websites. It focuses on vision, dental, prescriptions, and health practitioner services like chiropractors and psychologists. Any questions can be directed to the Studentcare Member Services Centre at 1-866-358-4437 from Monday to Friday.

To have this health insurance plan cover prescriptions directly without having to pay first and be reimbursed, print off or take a picture of the pay-direct card to present to your pharmacy.

Your student number will be required as one of the ID numbers.

Through partnerships, you can get the most coverage from your SUS Health & Dental plan by visiting health-care professionals that are part

of the Studentcare Network. Rexall also has some additional coverage for Rexall brand products and out-of-pocket drug costs. You’ll still have coverage regardless of whether you choose to go to a practice that’s part of the network or not, but you’ll be able to get additional coverage if you do.

reason why pharmacies have an incentive to give flu shots is because for each shot they administer, they’re paid a set fee by PhamaCare. However, as mentioned before, flu shots are essentially free for all B.C. residents.

I had to pay upfront for a health care cost. How do I get reimbursed by UFV’s student plan?

B.C. has a Smoking Cessation Program that allows anyone with active MSP coverage to receive three consecutive months of nicotine replacement therapy products for free. This is available once per year, resetting on Jan. 1.

Products that can be received for free include patches, nicotine gum, lozenges, and inhalers.

All that’s needed is to walk into a participating pharmacy and fill out an authorization form that acts as a prescription for a 28-day supply.

Prescription costs can be directly covered by presenting your pay-direct card at a pharmacy.

Otherwise payment will need to be upfront (like with vision and dental costs) and reimbursed by filling out and sending a claim form in the mail along with receipts. Or, more conveniently, Studentcare also has an app where the pay-direct card can be accessed, claims can be submitted, and coverage can be checked. This also allows for direct deposit of your reimbursements to your bank account, which is easier than sending an authorization form in the mail.

Can I claim prescriptions on my taxes?

Absolutely. Anyone paying for medical expenses of any kind should be including them on their taxes to receive tax credit. Printouts are available at individual pharmacies for income tax purposes and can be presented to anyone performing your tax return. If you’ve been to multiple pharmacies throughout the year, make sure to receive a printout from each. Receipts saved from dental care and medical supplies can also be claimed.

Where can I get a flu shot? Does it cost money?

Flu shots are released annually based on the strain that is predicted to affect the general public.

There are criteria to receive your flu shot for free with a valid personal health number (PHN), but they’re so widely encompassing that not having it covered is a rarity.

It’s important to get a flu shot annually, even if you don’t often get sick, to avoid transmitting it to others — especially those that are immunocompromised or are unable to receive a flu shot themselves. Flu clinics will reliably have vaccines stocked from October to December in preparation for the flu season that begins in February. The

What are my options if I want to stop smoking?

Otherwise, other smoking cessation drugs can be prescribed by a doctor (like Champix or Zyban). Once per calendar year, these drugs will be a benefit to PharmaCare similar to those above for up to 12 consecutive weeks — meaning if you’ve reached your deductible or plan maximum, they’ll be partially or fully covered.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, it’s becoming as important as ever to learn how to navigate British Columbia’s health care system. Whether you’re new to navigating the system in general, new to the province, or just want to learn how to cut costs, getting ahead of the curve and educating yourself can drastically reduce your stress during these unusual circumstances.

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

CULTURE

culture@ufvcascade.ca Carissa Wiens — Culture Editor

Lifestyle //

Column //

Cascade Kitchen: Pickle in a Cup

Pickle in a cup. March 30, 2020. (Chandy Dancey)

A kitchen that will last Throughout quarantine and beyond CARISSA WIENS Usually, I hit the grocery store once or twice a week. Even though I plan out what meals I’m going to be cooking for dinner each week before my main Monday grocery shop, there’s always an ingredient that was out of stock or something that I think would add an extra oomph which brings me back to the store for the second time that week. But as I try to leave the house less and less these days, my grocery shopping (and meal planning) has become much more efficient and resourceful. Here are some helpful tips for preparing your kitchen to keep you well fed for a long time.

Pantry staples are key at this time. That includes rice, lentils, beans, pasta, canned tomatoes, canned fish, and crackers. Of course everyone’s basics look different, but these are the things that will last months and months on end. If you plan on surviving without a grocery shop for a while, ensure you have these things in your cupboards (plus chips and candy!). For me, canned tomatoes and canned tuna are incredibly useful for getting creative with food. The New York Times recently provided a useful

article on how to use canned tuna in your meals to add an extra level of deliciousness. Add it to salads, rice bowls, pasta, you name it. It’s salty and packed with flavour, plus super cheap.

Once your pantry staples are stocked, check out the freezer.

Before purchasing more frozen ingredients, go through your freezer and get rid of the items that have been there for way too long, like the ends of bread loaves or muffins you’re never going to eat. Once you’ve cleaned out the freezer you’ll be ready to store more essentials. Frozen veggies are a no-brainer. I also store bagels and other breads in the freezer to keep them around longer.

If you’re feeling lazy, purchase a frozen pizza or two — it will come in handy.

Even though a lot of produce is good to be frozen, it’s often nice to have some fresh fruit on hand.

Make sure to purchase the fruits that will be fine on the counter for longer than two days, like apples and oranges. Avoid stocking up on bananas (unless you’re making banana bread) and fresh berries. Go for some frozen berries though! If you do use fresh veggies, make sure to store the scraps in the freezer to use for making soup stock. And since it’s almost

impossible to make a meal without garlic and onions, make sure you’ve got that fresh on hand; you won’t regret it.

To bring the finishing touches to your fully stocked kitchen, fill up your spice shelf. I like to have plenty of garlic powder on hand because, even though it can’t be a perfect substitute for fresh garlic, it can help a dish when I’m out of fresh garlic and don’t feel like trekking out to the grocery store just for that. On top of that, herbs are always a great addition to a meal but often don’t last very long.

Take a hint from Bon Appetit and rinse your fresh herbs as soon as you get home, roll them in a paper towel, and store that in a plastic bag in the fridge. Those greens will last at least a week, which isn’t amazing, but it’s better than three days. I also purchase semidried basil that keeps in the fridge much longer than fresh basil. It’s always great for pasta dishes and adds a punch of flavour.

Everyone’s kitchen looks different, so purchase your version of pantry staples and freezer goods.

But no matter what, avoid hoarding all of the canned goods or rice from your local grocery store. Buy what you’ll need for the next two weeks and keep it at that.

CHANDY DANCEY 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.

“You take the moon and you take the sun / You take everything that seems like fun / You stir it all up and then you’re done / Radda radda radda radda radda / So come on in, feel free to do some lookin’ / Stay around ‘cause something’s always cooking.”

With this theme song, Chowder the cartoon aired in 2007.

This animated series focused entirely on food and cooking, choosing to name characters after dishes like Panini, Gazpacho, and Schnitzel. It combined my two loves in life: things you can eat and light-hearted, witty humour. I wasn’t the only one influenced by this cartoon either; Lil Nas X made a song entirely on the character Panini that’s blown up to 23 million views on YouTube. In an early episode, Chowder was encouraged to make this recipe by his chef mentor, and while I can’t say that he ever took Mung Daal up on it, this one goes out to you, Chowder. Happy April Fool’s Day, to one and all!

Ingredients: 1 pickle 1 cup Method: 1. Place the pickle in the cup.

2. Serve and enjoy!

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Humour //

Toilet paper alternatives ANDREA SADOWSKI This is it, my friend: you’ve run out of toilet paper and every store you’ve been to has run out as well.

Personally, I don’t get what all the fuss is about; toilet paper sales weren’t successful until 1928, and many countries in the world still go without this resource we find to be precious enough to stockpile here in the West. Human beings are born with an innate creativity, and I bet if you tried hard enough you could think of plenty of things around your house that can be used to wipe your butt that isn’t a precious roll of two-ply. So let’s brainstorm together.

Take a look in your kitchen: tortillas, leaves of lettuce, old dish towels, maybe a sponge, those end pieces of bread that no one likes, corn husks… I’m sure if you poked around a bit and thought outside the box you could find plenty of options in your fridge or

pantry.

Open that old linen closet. Do you have a ratty set of bedsheets you’ll never use again? Take a sheet to the bathroom along with a pair of scissors and just cut away, strip by strip. It’ll take a while to get through that sucker.

What’s that you say? You can barely afford the sheets on your bed let alone have enough to necessitate an entire linen closet?

Well don’t get uppity with me.

Just choose an old shirt you’ll never wear again from your wardrobe, preferably something cotton, and use the same technique.

Of course, please do not flush rags down the toilet — just wash and reuse them!

Venture into your backyard. A nice smooth stone should do the trick, and it’s even reusable if you put in the time to wash it. Leaves of course are your best friend in these times of need, just be careful not to pick any that might give you a rash; the medical system is

too overloaded right now to deal with your butt problems.

What’s on your desk? A plethora of options of course: old notes, syllabuses, your tax forms whose due dates have been pushed back, or maybe even an old copy of The Cascade. Ball those babies up and wipe away.

Here’s a novel idea: just take a shower after every trip to the bathroom. Lord knows we have the time and could use a little extra cleanliness right now, so just go ahead and hop on in. Or even better: eat nothing but rice to block your bowels right up until the store’s toilet paper stock is replenished.

So there you go my friends.

Don’t panic when you run out of tushie tissue, just use your noggin, and I’m sure you’ll find something to make do with until the world returns to normal, and humans are no longer hoarding ungodly quantities of basic necessities.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

CULTURE COVID-19 //

Thoughts from isolation The ever-changing ideas of togetherness and being alone NICHOLAS ASHENHURSTTOEWS Like many of us have been doing, I’ve been taking part in self-isolation and social distancing as a way to try and combat the COVID-19 outbreak. Although, I think I might be having an easier time than most.

I have been more or less isolated even prior to these past couple of weeks. I still went to class, I still saw people, but most of the time I didn’t really go out of my way to

plan events where social interaction was the main goal. It’s just not really my thing.

Isolation is all well and good when it’s me who has decided to do it. I have endless personal projects to eat away at the hours. I have the ability to look at a large block of free time and wonder what I can turn that time into. Most recently, it’s been developing my watercolour skills and trying to figure out how webcomics work. I’ve been trying to balance my life around the schoolwork that I need to do and things that make me happy. I recognize that the

things that make me happy tend to be solitary activities. That makes self-isolation a little easier.

However, I’ve found self-isolation to be an incredibly lonely experience. As a person who is often lonely, not having physical access to the few people that I don’t feel lonely around has been difficult. I’ve found ways to combat loneliness, whether that be texting or calling people, watching live streams, or retreating into my own daydreams when the internet becomes too much to handle.

I’ve had several friends reach out to me during this time as a way to stay connected with people who aren’t in isolation with them. I’ve had a couple long-form text conversations with people whom I haven’t spoken to in months. It brings me such joy to talk to them again. Some of them are introverts who live with family or roommates, and the quarantine has not strained their mental health. Others are extroverts who are terrified by how long the isolation period will go on.

Self-isolation is necessary right now. It’s a necessary precaution to take in order to combat the COVID-19 crisis. That doesn’t mean it’s not going to lead to incredible strains on our emotional and mental health — not to mention the hit that the economy is going to take. It feels like every day I am bombarded with different stories of terrible things happening, both related to the pandemic and not.

Last weekend I invited a friend to watch the sunset with me. We didn’t talk; I don’t even know if he was looking at the sky with me.

It felt like he was. It reminded me that, even in this time of social isolation, where many of us may feel the most alone we ever have, we don’t have to be together to not be alone.

Illustration by Kayt Hine

Lifestyle //

Masturbating in self-isolation How to do it when you’re always home — but so is everyone else MIKAELA COLLINS On March 21, the New York City health department advised citizens, “You are your safest sex partner” for the duration of the pandemic. COVID-19 is easily spread through kissing and close contact with others, so it makes sense that sex is perhaps not the ideal self-isolation activity.

Masturbation, on the other hand? Its time is now.

If you’re being a responsible citizen and self-isolating, your access to key me-time ingredients like time alone at home may be severely reduced. If you’re used to having sex with other people, you may find yourself even more lonely than the average social distancer. How can you deal with it?

There are two answers: don’t be ashamed, and be considerate.

If you’re the type of person who only jacks off when your housemates aren’t home or when everyone else is asleep, it might be time to get over that hangup. As long as you’re being respectful about it — that is, doing it quietly, in your own room — your private time isn’t anyone else’s

concern. Your housemates probably have no idea that you’re scheduling masturbation sessions around them, and they most likely don’t care if you do it while they’re home or awake. But, if that is something that’s completely outside of your comfort zone (or theirs, if it’s come up before), ask them to let you know when they go for a walk or when they’re going to bed. If you still live with your parents, I leave it up to you to determine how much discretion is necessary in your house.

Once you’ve (hopefully) gotten over feeling uncomfortable about masturbating within 20 feet of another living person, you just have to think about how to go about it.

Try not to be loud, but there’s no need to gag yourself (unless you’re into that). Sex sounds are human sounds and part of living with other people, and if your roommate can listen to the Joe Rogan podcast without headphones, you should be able to masturbate without worrying about every little sound. That’s just equality. However, you should definitely wear headphones if you’re watching porn; that’s just common courtesy. And if you really need to, play some music to drown yourself out.

Invest in some incense or scented candles to cover smells of sweat and sex, especially if — heaven forbid — you share an actual bedroom with a sibling or housemate. In that case, you get to have an extra fun conversation about when you get to boot each other out into the living room and whether they prefer to put a sock or a clothes hanger on the doorknob when company is unwelcome.

Don’t let dirty sheets, socks, or towels hang out in any communal laundry areas.

Those go right from your bedroom floor to the laundry machine, because no one wants to accidentally touch your crusties.

Keep your sex toys clean. This one is more about being considerate to yourself than others, but it’s important: a UTI from a dingy, dusty sex toy is a preventable trip to the doctor’s office that will not help to flatten the curve. Being diligent about toy hygiene may mean, if you decide to use them at an inopportune time, washing them in the sink when other people could walk in and see them. Do it anyway, or wait and wash them in the dead of night.

Put towels you use to dry them directly into the laundry hamper.

If you’re someone who’s used to getting off with other people and don’t normally masturbate much, self-isolation is an opportunity to experiment with how you play with yourself and others. Every aspect of life that can be moved online, from work to school to shopping and socializing, seems to be going that way, and your sex life can too: consider video calling, sexting, or having good, old-fashioned phone sex while you both pleasure yourselves. Or, try some new toys and techniques on your own; even if it isn’t quite the same as sex, you can go to your first post-quarantine rendezvous with a bunch of new tricks up your sleeve.

Masturbation is normal, fun, and a pretty good way to pass the time when your Netflix queue is empty and you think your brain might wither and die if you crochet one more granny square or follow along with one more YouTube yoga tutorial. Selfisolation might make it daunting or more complicated if everyone in your house is home all the time, but managing close quarters and constant company is not only simple — it’s well worth it.

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

SPORTS

sports@ufvcascade.ca Alex Jesus — Sports Editor

Esports //

eNascar becomes the most-viewed esport on TV With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports, Nascar has found another way to entertain fans NIC JACKSON As the world goes into self-isolation mode, many outlets around the world are still trying to push out content for their fans.

First, the NBA’s Phoenix Suns announced that they would continue playing their regularly scheduled games virtually on NBA 2K20, and now, Nascar has decided to host virtual races for their athletes to take part in.

What this means is that professional Nascar racers will be facing off with one another, from the comfort of their own homes, through a virtual racing simulator called iRacing. On the iRacing official website, they state that the game is a com-

petitive simulation that “organizes, hosts, and officiates online racing on virtual tracks all around the world.” Unlike other racing games, such as the Need For Speed franchise, iRacing’s simulation aims to be as realistic as possible.

Most of the participants included in the invitational are real Nascar racers. While many of Nascar’s drivers have been competing in real races their entire life, one who is involved in the online tournament is William McComas Byron Jr. Although Byron is a professional Nascar driver now, the 22-year-old North Caroliner first started his career through competing on iRacing. Byron jumped from the virtual simulator to real stock car racing, but now, this tournament acts as a return to

form for him.

With the success of the first eNascar iRacing Pro Series Invitational on March 22, Fox has decided to broadcast the rest of the tournament. This means that the online races will air in the time slots that were originally meant for the live events.

Accompanying the eRaces will be the regular Fox Nascar broadcast team. This includes Jeff Gordon, Mike Joy, and Larry McReynolds.

Despite not being on the Fox network, the first race of the invitational had 900,000 viewers. In a blog post, Nascar announced that the first race in the invitational was the “most-watched sports telecast on cable television, as well as ranks as the highest-rated esports TV program in

history.” Not only was it the most-viewed esports TV program in the U.S., but the race ended in an exciting fashion. As the race was on its final lap, Denny Hamlin in the number 11 FedEx car was just able to stay in front of Nascar veteran, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Currently, there is no set schedule for the rest of the eNascar iRacing Pro Series Invitational. With the uncertainty of the coronavirus, Nascar has decided to implement a week-by-week schedule that will mirror the races that should have taken place on the given Sunday. The next race in the invitational will be the virtual recreation of Bristol Motor Speedway. This race can be viewed on Fox or TSN at 1 p.m Sunday.

Golf //

University golf championships cancelled Two UFV athletes miss the change to represent Canada as pandemic cancels golf tournament ALEX JESUS UFV golf is one of the latest Cascades teams to see changes to its schedule because of concerns regarding COVID-19.

On March 26, 2020, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) announced the cancellation of all of its events until August 2020.

The implications for the Cascades golf team were significant, as Team Canada’s three-person men’s team consisted of two UFV players, Zach Olson and Wyatt Brook. They were the third and fourth UFV golfers in the history of the program to represent Canada at a FISU event, after Aaron Pauls in 2014 and Sharon Park in 2017.

Olson, a UFV golf member since 2014,

14

was preparing for his last tournament as a collegiate golfer; however, the cancellation of the championship marked the end of his highly decorated career with the Cascades. Among various individual honours, Olson was a CCAA champion with the Cascades in 2017 and also won the Canadian University/College National Championships with the team in 2018.

Olson was understandably unhappy about the cancellation, but understood the precautions were necessary. “[I’m] definitely disappointed to have the tournament cancelled. Both Wyatt and I were really looking forward to representing Canadian golf as well as the opportunity to travel to a country we have never been,” Olson said.

“That being said, with COVID-19 ramping up as quickly as it has, we both fig-

ured the event would unfortunately be cancelled.”

Brook was also one of UFV’s standout golfers selected to the team. One of his most prestigious achievements was his bronze medal at the inaugural Canada West Golf Championships in 2019.

Unfortunately, cancelling events is the current protocol for nearly all major professional and amateur sports leagues as the world battles COVID-19. The cancellation of events until August by FISU suggests what many in the sports world are hoping to avoid: significant layoffs and drastic measures.

Although few players or coaches would disagree with the needed and necessary precautions, it does mean that teams will have major hurdles to overcome from training and logistical perspectives. Play-

ers will likely have to adapt to new methods of practicing and training in isolation and in accordance with social distancing policies, and their fitness will be less structured and more independent. These challenges could be overcome however, as many prominent figures in the sports world have shown support online by posting workouts and motivational content.

For now, the Cascades will have to move forward with the decisions of the leagues and plan accordingly, but there seems to be more hope for sports such as golf, which is significantly less dependent on a close proximity of people compared to nearly all other major sports. Regardless, athletes and fans continue to wait patiently as COVID-19 continues to be fought.

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 32, 2020

arts@ufvcascade.ca Chandy Dancey — Arts Editor

ARTS

Netflix //

BEASTARS: society, instincts, and anime anthros New Netflix anime series deals with feelings and forbidden love ALEISTER GWYNNE Now that so many of us are cooped up indoors, it’s as good a time as any to catch up on some Netflix, and one new show on offer is Beastars.

If I had to explain Beastars as simply as possible, I would describe it as “Zootopia, but much darker.” This, of course, would be greatly oversimplifying, and Beastars has some aspects to it that set it apart from anything else I have encountered.

The story takes place in an otherwise modern world populated by sentient, humanoid, talking animals (or furries if you prefer); it’s much like Zootopia or Bojack Horseman, but in an anime style rather than 3D or 2D Western animation as in the former two respectively. Like Zootopia, this world is based on the premise of herbivores and carnivores living together in harmony. However, in Beastars, this supposed harmony comes at a much steeper price. Animal instincts are much stronger and are a challenge to overcome. Birds,

reptiles, and possibly fish are sentient as well as mammals, so dietary options are more limited for carnivores. Worsening the situation is a spate of “devourings” (this universe’s term for cannibalistic murder of prey by predator) which has heightened mistrust and bigotry between species.

In this troubled milieu we follow the stories of Legoshi the grey wolf, Haru the dwarf rabbit, and Louis the red deer, all students at Cherryton High School. Each of them struggle with their animal instincts, their moral code, social pressures, and their feelings for one another, which often pull in contradictory directions. The main plot is kicked off when Legoshi has a moment of weakness and nearly devours Haru when they first meet. They later realize they have romantic feelings for each other, but are haunted by the possibility that Legoshi might succumb to his predatory instincts.

The exposition can be a bit clunky at times. They introduce a new character for the sole purpose of explaining why eggs

are acceptable food but most other meats are not, and do not do anything with her afterwards. Bojack did a better job of seamlessly integrating its worldbuilding through showing over telling or through unobtrusive dialogue.

Characterization on the other hand is definitely one of the series’ strong points.

The inner natures and experiences of the main characters are laid out gradually, making the audience keen to learn more, and shedding valuable insight on why the characters act the way they do. Over time, we really come to know them on a deep level.

I think the animation style deserves special mention as well. The art style is crisp, detailed, and very visually appealing, but what really stands out to me are the character movements. In most animation one tends to see either realistic movement, or else quick and exaggerated motions; in either case the movements are free and airy. In Beastars however, a lot of the motion seems fluid, yet heavy and lethargic, almost as if everyone is under-

water. I do not recall seeing anything like it before, and I am still not sure how I feel about it. It bothered me at first, but I found that it grew on me.

Much like the animation, Beastars is a love-it-or-hate-it show. Aspects that are a draw to some may be off-putting to others. I think it greatly depends on one’s interests and preferences going into it.

Beastars is a complex and ambiguous show, and I do not think I can really do the series justice without explaining every aspect of it in detail. Even now I struggle to put my finger on “What it’s all about.”

Though, if I had to hazard a guess, it is about learning to come to terms with one’s own irrational impulses. Perhaps it is best if you discover it for yourself and see what you make of it. Personally, I recommend giving it a try if this sounds interesting to you, but be warned that there are some disturbing themes and imagery.

Still, love it or hate it, Beastars has at least one thing going for it: that theme tune is really catchy. I can’t get it out of my head.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

ARTS Video Game//

CHARTS

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the franchise at its greatest

SHUFFLE

1 Tops

PRODUCTION GANG

2 Hannah Georgas

CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy is still MIA. After diligently investigating (the SS PortCar has not seen their captain, and are not admitting to keelhauling) we must conclude the most likely culprit for his disappearance: kidnapping by tone-deaf, subproletariat saxophones. Not to leave him to his demise, we at The Cascade have constructed a sampling of exemplary songs to assist as he, in his infinite kindness, first teaches them to sing before making his gallant escape.

Colder and Closer (Single) That Emotion (Single)

3 Mike Aube

Together (Single

4 Dixie Alley 719

5 MEF Muse The Clock

6 Nakeem Grace

THE APRIL FOOLS

Wish I Would've Known AleHampton the Hamster - "The Hamsterdance (Single)

Song"

7 SOPHIST

A truly classic piece of mod-

Betrothal to the Stone: ern musical art. “Dibidi ba didi Conception of Mephisto dou dou / Di ba didi dou / Didi

8 Uh

didldildidldidl houdihoudi dey

oh and the Oh dou.” Refreshingly simple yet Wells sophisticated, and requiring a Uh Oh and the Oh Wells trained ear to decipher each

9

layer in this musical master-

piece.

Dwane Dixon Betting on a Gambling Rob Man

Cantor LaBeouf" Live

10 Lucky Peterson

50 Just Warming Up

11 L'Homme Absurde Belong

12 Johnny Burgin

Johnny Burgin Live

13 Caribou Suddenly

14 Rich Aucoin The Other 15 Jessica Towler

On My Own (Single)

16 Lié

You Want It Real

17 The End A.D. Badlands

18 Andy Shauf

Neon Skyline

19 20

16

-

"Shia

“Aha! In the distance / A small cottage with a light on / Hope!

You move stealthily toward it / But your leg! Ah! It's caught in a bear trap!” Hope, and again peril as the tone-deaf saxophones attempt to pull off this orchestral ensemble. Do any have a magnificent voice to rival that of Rob Cantor?

Lazy Town - “We are Number One” “Ba-ba-biddly-ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba / We are Number One / Hey! / Ba-ba-biddly-ba-ba-baba, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba / We are Number One/ Ba-babiddly-ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-baba-ba-ba-ba / We are Number One.” Hey. Sunstroke Project & Olia Tira - “Run Away”

Run away with that beautiful sax solo, Epic Sax Guy. If our Moonshine Society tone-deaf saxophones can exSweet Thing ecutive this song then surely CIVL Station Manager Aaron Commando Levy has finished his job and Love Songs #1 (Total De- can escape. Proper hip shake struction, Mass Execu- execution is required during tions) escape.

NIC JACKSON With the current circumstances in the world right now, it seems almost perfect for Nintendo to release a new installment in the Animal Crossing series. For many people stuck in self-isolation wondering what to do, New Horizons is the perfect blend of fun gameplay, a beautiful art style, and an overall great, slow-paced experience.

For many gamers out there, New Horizons may seem slow to start. For instance, it takes multiple real days outside the game before you unlock abilities that will let you explore the entire island. Although this is the case at the beginning, the game opens up soon after and allows players to do all sorts of activities.

From fishing to renovating your home, from catching bugs to building a deserted island into a full town — anyone that goes into New Horizons with the expectations that it is meant to be played slow and for short spans over several days, rather than a long one-day binge, should be able to enjoy their time. That does not mean the game cannot be binged though, just that players probably will not see the progression in one sitting like

most modern video games.

On top of having fun gameplay, New Horizons is also a visually beautiful game. Though the art is simple and very similar to past games in the franchise, the colours seem to pop off the screen. This is in part due to it being the first game in the Animal Crossing series on a high-definition console. While the people in the town have the same art direction as other games in the franchise, the characters have never looked as sharp and crisp.

One new feature that I found myself using more than I thought I would is the online and couch multiplayer. Although there was plenty for me to do on my island, hopping on a plane and visiting a friend was a refreshing experience. Not only was it fun to see how others have built their islands, but it rewards players for visiting. Certain items will be worth more to sell at a store on a friend’s island, and players can profit more by trading and growing each other's native fruit.

Although my girlfriend does not typically enjoy the games I play, the couch multiplayer aspect of the game inspired her to give it a try. Although some parts of the game are locked off

to the second player, like talking to non-playable characters, this can easily be worked around seeing as how fast it is to switch the party leader. By player one simply clicking the minus button and then choosing the change leader option, anyone else will be able to gain control of the group.

While there are many games out there fighting for every gamer’s attention, New Horizons definitely deserves a playthrough.

Despite the fact that the game is simple enough for children to play and understand, it never truly holds your hand. Instead, players are introduced to things over several days so that they do not become overwhelmed with the more intricate components of the game.

For players looking to waste several hours while they are self-isolated, the game is easy to start and does not expect people to play for long periods just to be on par with everyone else. The gameplay is fun, the visuals are the most beautiful in the franchise, and playing with someone else can often be more entertaining than playing alone.

For anyone stuck at home with a Nintendo Switch, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a must-play.

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

ARTS Poetry //

Quartermain’s latest: slow start, rich history Lullabies in the Real World chock full of history DARIEN JOHNSEN Meredith Quartermain is a novelist and poet who lives in British Columbia and has been active for over 20 years, having published numerous books and collections of poetry. Her upcoming collection from NeWest Press Lullabies in the Real World is set to be released on April 1, 2020. It is an interesting mix of Canadian history and children's nursery rhymes — or lullabies — as it takes readers on a journey across Canada. Quartermain also intersperses her writing with classical literary references to works such as The Odyssey and sprinkles of the French language, including one entirely French poem.

The collection is carefully crafted and reads as if written by someone who is welleducated. It is quite clear that Quartermain sees poetry almost as a science, but this has the unintended side-effect of making it lack clear emotion. As the title implies, some of the poems in this collection read as if they were lullabies. But they’re more so the lullaby ram-

blings of a fifth grader experimenting with freeform poetry, reflected in lines such as: “who said / how long / bridge on fire / just a story / on fire / like your pants / really / really” and “Karoom!!! Gotcha poet / point in a grid, bit in a byte / boo in a boonie.”

While the content reflects an author who is extremely well-educated on Canadian history, I couldn’t help but be put off by the coupling of childish and complex vocabulary, the awkward use of lullabies, and the random and inconsistent attempts at rhyming. The pairing of children's folklore and intellectual content did not mesh well. Its purpose together wasn’t entirely clear, though it could serve to infantilize Canadian history, or possibly portray Canada in a childish light; which, given the country’s young age could make sense.

From an educational standpoint I would say that it’s quite impressive. I did enjoy the commentary on progress, specifically the author’s comments on resource extraction, the environment, rural to urban migration, feminism, and colonization — though the dive into colonization could have come sooner in the collection, given that it was a selling point on the back cover of the book. Some particularly critical poems were “That I may be a perfect offering to divine Majesty” and “Frère Jacques.”

The latter contains these powerful lines: “the merchants gaining money / Reverend Father gaining souls / and the Father’s judge suitable / till the Fathers take her away… Fathers in recto tono / chant such loving crosses / the earth holds exhausted / earth holds in the snow.”

These lines reflect the role the Catholic church played in the early development of Canada, which impacted Indigneous and non-Indigenous Canadians in negative ways, the effects of which are still reverberating today.

Overall, Quartermain’s Lullabies in the Real World contains an extraordinarily diverse amount of history of Canadian people, a critique on colonialism, and portrays the vastness of the Canadian land and cityscapes. I wasn’t a fan of the use of children’s lore or simple spoken-word rhyming, and it was a slow and frustrating start, but overall I would call this a feat of Canadian historical poetry and altogether a worthwhile read.

Rewind //

Fried Green Tomatoes and complex female friendships A take that almost definitely involves overanalyzing everything NICHOLAS ASHENHURSTTOEWS As of April 2, the movie Fried Green Tomatoes will be leaving Netflix’s collection. Released in 1991, it is an adaptation of Fannie Flagg’s novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. It follows the story of Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates) as she befriends Ninny Threadgoode, an elderly woman living in a nursing home, portrayed by Jessica Tandy.

As a friendship is formed between the two, Ninny tells Evelyn about growing up in Whistle Stop, with much of that story centring on the relationship between two women who ran the Whistle Stop Cafe. Those women were Idgie Threadgoode (Mary Stuart Masterson), whose tomboyish attitude clashes with the 1930s southern town’s sensibilities, and Ruth Jamison (Mary-Louise Parker), a classic southern lady. As Evelyn becomes more engrossed with Ninny’s tale of love, murder, and cannibalism, she finds her own life transformed by Idgie and Ruth’s influence.

This is quite a celebrated film, having won six awards ranging from the USC Scripter Award in 1992 for Flagg and Carol Sobieski’s screenplay to a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film, also in 1992. Most of the nominations are accredited to either Tandy, who received an Oscar Nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, or Bates, who was nominated in the BAFTA Best Supporting Actress category.

This film is about women and the complex relationships that form between them. In 2020, there are still not that many movies focused primarily on women and their relationships outside

of chick-flicks or romance movies — even in those cases it’s often how female characters relate to the men that they are dating, trying to date, or trying not to date. While there are still men in the movie — Evelyn is in a somewhat struggling marriage and Ruth at one point has an abusive husband — the focus of the movie is almost entirely on the friendships that are formed between Idgie and Ruth, and later between Ninny and Evelyn. This is breathtakingly refreshing, as every major female character can easily be identified with, has her own unique personality, and is genuinely likeable.

One way you may have seen Fried Green Tomatoes discussed is that it is a film about lesbians.

While the sexualities of Idgie and Ruth are never stated, their relationship is implied to be that of romantic love. It’s not a bad reading of the film. However, as one of the characters in that relationship dies it does subject this film to criticism that it may use the “Bury Your Gays” trope. No film exists in a vacuum, and the sad fact is that a lot of films about queer characters end up being tragedies. It’s doubtful that it was intended as anything more than a character dying, but with the background that gay characters die more often than not in film, it cannot be ignored.

Overall, Fried Green Tomatoes offers a gripping story, likeable characters, and stand-out performances. It is interesting to compare it to media trends of today and see how we’ve progressed in telling stories about LGBTQ+ characters, and where the mainstream film industry still needs to do better.

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STUDY BREAK Crossword //

Made by Carissa Wiens

DOWN

ACROSS

1. As of March 26, 2020, this was priced as $0.89 per litre in Abbotsford.

1. The feeling of being responsible for doing something wrong.

2. A large and fancy boat.

3. A semi-aquatic marine animal that often gets mistaken for a sea lion.

4. Christians say this at the end of a prayer.

5. The plural of cactus.

6. Taking a class for this involves wearing special shoes that clack loudly.

10. A perfect accompaniment to potato chips.

12. A high, snow-capped mountain range.

11. A casual restaurant and bar chain originating in Canada.

LAST ISSUE’S

ANSWERS:

Horoscopes //

Across: 1. Mantle 3. Claw 5. Gap 6. Pita 7. Blissful 9. Liar 12. Uncle 13. Wing

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 You are a hard worker, ambitious, and take your job very seriously. It is important for you to have a steady paycheque and unwavering job security. Aim to take a job in a reliable, growing company that you can see yourself working at for the long haul.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 You are impatient, spontaneous, and need constant change and movement in order to stay engaged. This may cause you to jump around to at least half a dozen different jobs until you find one you are perfectly suited for.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 You need a relational job that involves a lot of contact with people. You will wither away in front of a computer, but will thrive when placed in social situations. Consider working in hospitality, or something in the service industry.

14. A large house away from the city, popular in England.

15. When a fashion statement or music genre is popular for a moment.

Down: 2. Nap 4. Ankle 5. Gambler 8. Shrug 10. Iowa 11. Acts

Your weekly life predictions as told by Ang the Great

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 You love to be in charge and thrive in positions of leadership. It will be a challenge for you to work under various managers if you apply to entry-level positions. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to just start your own company. Be your own boss!

8. A negative vote.

9. The opposite of no.

13. A large body of water suitable to take a canoe on.

Snakes and Lizards

7. Use this to capture a mouse or any other thing worth capturing.

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 You are incredibly passionate and empathetic, as well as a loyal, engaging leader. You will do best working for a company with a strong social cause, as you need a deep sense of purpose in your job, not just a paycheque.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 You are always on the move, and your to-do list seems to be never-ending. You thrive in situations that are unmanageable to other people because of your intense organizational abilities. Skip over the entry-level positions and apply straight away for a role in management.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 You can network like no other — your list of friends is a mile long, and you’re in your element when it comes to winning people over. Consider going into sales or business, as your persuasion skills and likeability are uncanny.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 You never take anything lightly, you pursue every task with a strong drive and ambition, and you will do almost anything to achieve your goals. You are able to work in intense environments and welcome competition. You might want to be a stock broker, or a tree planter — any job that requires you to work under pressure.

Illustration by Elyssa English Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 You have big dreams for your future — much bigger than any job this small town could offer you. Consider moving to a big city, or even abroad to pursue a career, as you crave constant excitement and stimulation in your life.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 You are extremely loyal and dedicated, with a 10-year plan you strive to stick to. Aim to find a company you can really settle down at and develop roots in, as you will most likely stay with the same company for decades, perhaps until your retirement.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 You need a job that will give you plenty of breathing room and freedom to do your own thing. Consider entrepreneurship, and in particular, sales. Your innate sense of humour and wit will give you the ability to sell fire to Satan.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 You are imaginative, creative, and spend most of your time daydreaming. This is why you would be perfect in any job that puts your artistic talents to good use, and gives you the flexibility to go on your own journey.