The Cascade Vol. 28 Iss. 15

MAY 20 TO JUNE 3, 2020

VOLUME 28 ISSUE 15

Inviting people to join our small business since 1993

pyramid

schemes and COVID-19

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COVID-19 BRINGS STUDENT FEE CHANGES

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NEW MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

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ESCAPE FROM PLANET DEATH

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

News Editor Sam Young samuel@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Carissa Wiens carissa@ufvcascade.ca

Culture & Events Editor Andrea Sadowski andrea@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 Staff Writer Krystina Spracklin

Sports Editor Alex Jesus alex@ufvcascade.ca Production Assistant Anoop Dhaliwal Illustrator Kayt Hine Illustrator Rain Neeposh

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Sports Writer Nic Jackson Social Media Coordinator Daniela Vasquez

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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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@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 28 · Issue 15 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

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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

13.......Study Break

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NEWS

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Senate summary......3

3......Fee changes

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OPINION Editorial.......4

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Amazon is terrible.......5

4.......Dear Robin 6.......Memes and alcoholism

CULTURE Cascade Kitchen......10 Walk for Reconciliation......11

10.......Streaming services 11.......Blood donation

SPORTS Basketball coaching changes.......12

12......Joe Enevoldson Q&A

ARTS Never Have I Ever......14 Escape From Planet Death......15

14......UFV alumni debuts horror novel 15......Ascendance of a Bookworm

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

news@ufvcascade.ca Sam Young — News Editor

NEWS NEWS

Senate //

NEWS BRIEFS

Senate reviews summer, fall courses under COVID-19 SAM YOUNG

B.C. public schools to reopen in June on limited basis The provincial government announced plans last week to reopen public schools on a parttime, optional basis, following the province’s announcement of a phased plan for lifting lockdown earlier this month.

Each school district will be required to produce a plan based on provincial health guidelines.

Recommended practices include having students enter buildings single file through one set of doors, a constant two-metre distance between students, and restricting access to lockers and playground equipment.

All students and faculty will also be required to stay home if they show any symptoms of respiratory illness.

- The Globe and Mail

Coronavirus outbreak declared at Abbotsford hospital

Senate is the academic governing body of UFV, with the university president and vice chancellor Joanne MacLean as the chair.

They are responsible for making decisions on everything academic: approving new courses and programs, approving changes to programs, setting entrance requirements, and setting the academic calendar. The Board of Governors, which looks at the business side of the university, is advised by Senate on matters of mutual interest.

All at the university are welcome to attend Senate’s public meetings, which are usually held once a month at either the Abbotsford or the CEP campus, but are currently hosted online via Bluejeans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate makes decisions that impact the daily lives of both students and faculty.

Review of academic continuity task force recommendations James Mandigo, provost and vice-president academic, presented a review of recommendations from the academic

- Abby News

Recommendations for Fall 2020 in response to COVID-19 The provost’s presentation concluded with a series of recommendations for UFV’s Fall 2020 semester, with an emphasis on continuing to deliver courses remotely. According to the provost’s presentation, courses will be delivered online “wherever possible” in fall, and exceptions will only be made for courses with learning outcomes that are “impossible” to achieve in an online format.

Examples mentioned included some technical and trades courses, as well as some courses that feature lab work, although it was made clear that not all courses in these fields will be exempt.

Mandigo also said that whenever possible, those courses that do require faceto-face interaction will be moved to the Winter 2021 semester.

The presentation concluded with a reminder that the specifics of UFV’s plan are still contingent on government approval, and that individual details may be subject to change as the government releases more detailed requirements for institutions to follow.

UFV //

COVID-19 brings changes to student fees

As the pandemic continues, here are the fees UFV students will — and won’t — be paying this summer

SAM YOUNG One patient and six staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, provincial health authorities announced Friday.

The cases are all new, although Abbotsford Regional is already a designated treatment centre for COVID-19, and is currently treating other patients who have been diagnosed with the virus.

Despite the outbreak, B.C.’s overall numbers for last week remained lower than previous weeks, with a total of 51 patients in B.C. hospitalized due to COVID-19 as of Friday.

continuity committee that was established on April 9.

A draft of standards to support UFV’s continued efforts to provide education to students was presented, with points including mandatory physical distancing of two metres, sanitation of all classrooms and equipment between classes, and mandatory self-isolation of all staff and students who show any COVID-19 symptoms.

Afterward, there were several minutes of debate over how instructors can accommodate students who stay home due to COVID-19 symptoms. Given that the fall semester takes place during cold and flu season, some faculty expressed concern that student absences will be much greater than usual, and that vital class content will be missed.

All present were reminded that government guidelines emphasize that nobody should feel pressured to enter a public space at any point if they are experiencing any symptoms, but there was an acknowledgement that some learning outcomes, such as in chemistry labs, may be very difficult or impossible to achieve for absent students.

Campus Connector and U-Pass fees — Suspended As per a press release sent out last month, the Student Union Society (SUS) has suspended fees for both U-Pass and the Campus Connector shuttle. Both items have been removed from the list of fees for the summer semester, presenting a total savings of $65.70 per student.

According to SUS’s press release, the Campus Connector will be available again in the Fall 2020 semester.

TransLink has suspended the U-Pass program until at least Aug. 31. However, fare collection has also been suspended aboard all of TransLink’s conventional and HandyDART buses for several weeks, allowing free transit for all riders until June 1.

The Cascade newspaper and CIVL radio station fees — Continuing Both The Cascade and CIVL radio are continuing operations throughout the summer semester, and student fees to

support them have not been suspended.

Aaron Levy, CIVL’s station manager, said via email that the station is “offering more remote training and production opportunities than the ones already available” in the wake of COVID-19.

In addition, Levy said that CIVL’s plans for 2020 include continued sponsorship of the annual Fraser Valley Music Awards, the introduction of a new website and streaming platform for broadcasts, and continued funding efforts toward student scholarships and community stimulus.

For its part, The Cascade has shifted to online-only distribution until fall at the earliest, but will otherwise continue to operate at full capacity.

Student Union Building fees — Continuing Although the Student Union Building has been closed until winter, students enrolled at UFV during the summer semester must still pay the standard $35 fee. These fees primarily go toward paying off the cost of the building, which opened in 2015, and therefore are not affected by COVID-19.

SUS IT Service fees — Continuing According to the Student Union Society’s website, the IT Service fee is put toward paying for the Student Device Support (SDS) program. SDS is not currently offering walk-in service during COVID-19, but has extended its hours and continues to remotely offer free tech support for students via email, phone, and remote desktop control.

SUS membership fees — Continuing SUS also continues to operate during the pandemic, and continues to require a per-semester fee from its membership.

Budgets posted on the SUS website show that income from membership fees is spent on a variety of operational expenses, including staff salaries, marketing and promotions, and day-to-day costs for campus restaurants operated

by SUS. The Cascade reached out to SUS for more detailed information about how the money received for membership fees, building fees, and IT services will be spent, but did not receive a response by press time.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

OPINION

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

opinion@ufvcascade.ca Carissa Wiens — Opinion Editor

Humour //

Editorial //

Why you are still paying fees for a building you can’t use

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 A Netflix problem Dear Robin, My partner is really into watching Ozark right now, but I just can’t stand it. We live in a studio apartment with one TV, and with social distancing still in place, it’s not like I can go to the bar with my friends.

Do you have any tips for how to watch a TV show I hate to show my partner I still like him?

Sincerely, Over Ozark

Hello, Ozark isn’t my thing either. I’d watch New Girl eight times over before a dramatic TV show like that. Just start live tweeting about your experience while watching it. Tweet about the blond character’s accent and how someone’s hair can be so white yet look so natural still. Tweet about how you liked Jason Bateman more in Arrested Development and how after watching an episode or two you’re now wondering how many of your friends are involved

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in money laundering schemes. At least the show will give you Twitter content for a while.

Robin Online class forever Dear Robin, I’m really into class being completely online. My dog no longer gets anxious because I’m out of the house most days, and I sleep all day and do my work during the night.

It’s great. But I’m not looking forward to when class goes back to the usual, whenever that may be. How can I prolong this social distancing thing for as long as possible with UFV? Sincerely, Still in pyjamas Hey, JMake the most of what you have now. If you put on jeans once every few days, start putting them on once a month. If you sleep 10 hours a night, make it 11. Get so into the groove of nesting at home that once UFV announces that classes will go back to normal, you’ll be so tired of your life you’ll actually want to go back to your old life. You’ll be so sick of online forums that you’ll actively participate in class discussions when everyone’s back in a classroom — you’ll be the person that you used to scoff at for talking too much in class.

Robin

The Student Union Society (SUS) recently announced that students would not need to pay certain fees over the summer semester, as the services would not be usable due to COVID-19. Despite not being open for student use, the $35 Student Union Building fee will not be one of them.

Students, understandably, have been frustrated. During a time when expenses are already tight for so many, why should students pay for a service they can’t even use?

The answer lies in a 2008 referendum of questionable validity, where students made a long-term financial commitment for decades of UFV students.

Our Student Union Building hasn’t been around forever, with its lovely plants, bureaucracy-centric space allocations, and furniture that blocks the poorly located stairs.

In 2008 a referendum passed by a scant 52 per cent majority, approving the creation of a $35-per-semester capital building fee in exchange for a decrease in the health and dental fee. The building fee would be used for the eventual creation of a student union

building that would act as a hub for student services and activities.

Development of the building began, but after plans fell through to receive a loan and the B.C. government backed out of their $5-million contribution, SUS put forward the idea of getting a mortgage to pay for the building.

SUS ran a referendum in December 2011 to obtain a $10-million, 25-year mortgage, which passed with a 63 per cent majority.

During this time, however, questions were raised regarding the validity of the first referendum. Dan van der Kroon, vice president academic of SUS, said the original referendum question in 2008 was poorly worded, barely passed, and many of the students who voted in that referendum were no longer at the university. The motion to pursue another referendum was shot down at the SUS board meeting.

The building finally opened in 2015, seven years after the original referendum for its creation. And thus we will be paying for a building — as well as its considerable loan interest, and all of the associated building maintenance — that we are unable to use during a pandemic.

Illustration by Elyssa English

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

OPINION World //

Amazon is terrible But Jeff Bezos is more terrible

CARISSA WIENS It was recently announced that Amazon is cutting the $2-per-hour raise granted to their warehouse employees for coming in during the coronavirus pandemic.

The raise began in mid-March. Many employees are angry that the raise is being slashed at this time because even though some states are beginning to open up, cases of the disease in the U.S. are not slowing down.

On top of this, Amazon discontinued giving unlimited unpaid time off to their employees, another thing that was introduced during the pandemic. All of these cuts come at a time when working people need secure jobs more than ever. All of

these cuts show us that Amazon is a corporate giant who does not care for their employees.

It was recently speculated that Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and CEO, may in fact become the world’s first trillionaire in 2026. Currently, Bezos’s net worth is estimated to be around $130 billion. To put that into perspective, Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, is only worth around $650 million, which is virtually nothing compared to Bezos. With these amounts of money in mind, it seems almost bizarre that Amazon would cut something as miniscule as a temporary $2-per-hour raise. In response to criticism about the cuts, the company stated that they had already spent $800 million on these incentives to keep their employees working during the pandemic.

Now let’s go back to thinking about Bezos’s wealth: $130 billion — not million, billion. The man has so much money that he could easily take a tiny pay cut to show that he has some small level of compassion and care for the people who work tirelessly for his company. But no. That’s not happening.

So instead of logging onto Amazon.ca for your next order of crew-cut socks or lentils, take a different approach to buying your goods and avoid supporting a multibillionaire and his company as they disrespect their employees in this hard time.

Here are some ways to do that: •

Companies that sell through Amazon are usually actual companies that have their own websites to buy

•

•

from. It may be less convenient, but purchase from their websites instead, which will help these smaller companies get all the money from the sale.

Instead of buying groceries at Amazon, hit up a local grocery store in the Fraser Valley like Kin’s Farm Market or The Local Harvest. These places have local produce, and usually at a decent price.

As hard as it might be, cancel your Amazon Prime subscription. If you can live without ordering from them, you can probably live without their semi-decent selection of movies and TV shows.

Illustration by Kayt Hine

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

OPINION Life //

It’s all fun and games until someone’s an alcoholic Meme culture can normalize bad habits DARIEN JOHNSEN That’s right, I said it. Meme culture has always bothered me. Not because I don’t appreciate its hilarity and endless hours of entertainment, but because it’s normalizing a lot of unhealthy habits.

Poor coping mechanisms, mental illnesses, and substance use are often prime subjects of memes.

There’s a reason for this — many people struggle with these things and making them into jokes helps us cope. Fair enough.

But during the COVID crisis, the rise in alcohol memes has only fuelled our already saturated alcohol culture. Yes, it’s easy enough to say laugh it off, ignore these memes, fall back on your healthy coping mechanisms as best you can, and try not let it affect you.

I’ll admit, I did pretty well during the first month of isolation, but the jokes about White Claw, margaritas during Zoom meetings, and day drinking eventually got to me. Why not day drink? Well, let me tell you, a day or two of day drunkenness soon turned into an entire month of “every-other-day-why-the-hecknot?” drunkenness. I didn’t even know what White Claw was before physical distancing became a thing, but you better believe that vodka sodas are my new favourite drink. I began to realize that these memes about getting drunk at 9 a.m. were influencing my thought processes by taking the guilt off of the decision to get drunk in the middle of the day on a weekday and if anything, actually triggering a craving to get drunk.

According to a CBC Investigates report, statistics collected

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from the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) from the month of March reported that cask wine sales are up 144 per cent, 24 cases of beer up 120 per cent, while spirits are up 153 per cent all in a matter of a few weeks — and that’s just from the B.C. liquor stores.

While there’s no concrete evidence linking alcohol sales and alcohol memes, it’s worth considering the relationship. Joking about something tends to normalize it. Joking about getting day drunk and stockpiling liquor is bound to have some societal impact. The impact of meme culture may be stronger than we realize.

In fact, the traditional definition of a meme is “an idea, behaviour, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.” While this definition isn’t directly about internet memes, it isn’t far-fetched to say that the word's roots reflect its place in culture. Memes carry with them ideas, and when you’re repeatedly exposed to these ideas, they may start to stick with you.

This isn’t lost on those in power either — it was recently revealed that former U.S. presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg had been paying to create sponsored meme content, showing us that where the memes are, so lies the power.

It’s true that many of us are struggling and being mentally tested while physical distancing measures are in place, and there’s nothing wrong with having a drink once in a while to help ease the stress of these unprecedented times. But we should be aware of when and if drinking becomes a problem. This is the perfect breeding ground for the development of addictions or for recovered addicts to relapse. Shopping,

Illustration by Kayt Hine

eating, and drinking can all form into unhealthy addictive behaviours.

Catherine Paradis, senior research and policy analyst at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), noted in the CBC report that there’s a risk that people will be drinking more and more often: “Right now, in this crisis, all those boundaries are blurred,” she said. “So what will that mean when possibly every day feels like a Friday or a Saturday, or there's always an

excuse to have a drink, and then you have alcohol in the house?”

While we shouldn’t shame each other for falling into addictive behaviours for the first or 100th time, we should be wary of what we’re posting, and the culture that we are fostering for our friends and family. So while you’re not expected to be posting positive stuff every day, or even happy stuff every day, be careful of what you’re consuming and posting because you have no idea how it will impact others. The

COVID crisis could either be a time of growth or regression, so let’s try to uplift our friends, and not joke about something that could be a tender spot for others.

For those struggling with substance abuse issues in isolation, there are a number of resources listed on the Government of Canada’s website. Those between the ages of 12-24 can also contact the Impact program through Foundry for over-the-phone counselling sessions.

BRIEF BITS OF BITE-SIZED BREVITY

SN S AP HO TS

CURTAILED COMMENTARY ON CURRENT CONDITIONS

Illustrations by Rain Neeposh

The worst thing about prison was the dementors I can usually gauge how depressed I am by how much time I spend watching The Office.

Office. I binge-watched the entire series (up to season seven because once Michael leaves the show goes downhill significantly) during my first month in self-isolation. It started with an episode here or there, but it slowly became the only thing I would watch, and the only thing I would fill my time with; I would even just have it on in the background as noise. Not only that, but I have watched every season’s blooper reel, and every episode’s deleted scenes on YouTube. I have even binged all of the Office La-

dies podcast, where the actors who played Pam and Angela recap every episode and what it was like on set.

The Office provides all the necessary comfort and nostalgia I need to get through this season of worldwide turmoil. I’m always wondering what Michael Scott would have done in a situation like this one. I would pay any amount of money to see Michael attempt to cure COVID-19 with a fun run he brainstormed during a conference room meeting.

Andrea Sadowski

The curious case of Benjamin Button, but it’s my dog Over the years of taking my dog on walks, people have often asked if he’s a puppy. I’m not certain my dog has ever been a puppy.

Brutis is 16 years old and, in the seven or eight years we’ve had him, has been beset by old man face. For years, his primary facial expression was that of a dignified old man who owns a luxurious study, an elderly king sat atop a pillow throne, looking out over his kingdom. He’s gotten so white that I have to question how anyone could look upon his wrinkled, disgruntled face and wonder if he is anything other than ancient. I have seen one single

photo of him as a puppy, and even then he looked like an old man.

Weirdly, in his extremely old age, his demeanour has gotten more youthful. He still sleeps 10 hours a day and is now too arthritis-ridden to jump on the couch (or handle stairs half the time), but his rich old man face has melted away, and he’s much more likely now to trot after you with his ears up, or stare at you with the big round eyes of a puppy begging for affection.

Nadia Tudhope

Tools on Facebook It seems like every time I check Facebook now, I unfollow a friend or two.

When you unfollow someone on Facebook, you’re still their friend, but none of their posts end up on your News Feed. It’s an excellent tool because now my hyper-conservative relatives live in bliss thinking I still watch all of the videos (of middle-aged moms sitting on lawn chairs talking about how public schools shouldn’t include trans students and the government should ban abortion) that they post when, really, I don’t and probably never will.

All the while I’m still their Facebook friend, but my day isn’t ruined by seeing that people actually believe the

world would be a better place if there was less gun control.

If you’re tired of seeing people from high school post about how terrible COVID-19 is because they’ve had to postpone their wedding when they’ve only been engaged for a few weeks, unfollow them. Hell, if you’re feeling it, just take the bold move and unfriend them. I’m not there yet, so I’ll keep unfollowing and check the ’Book less often. Do what you need to do to stay positive these days, even if it may seem a bit savage.

Carissa Wiens

Being creative is hard If you are a creative or you’ve been friends with creatives, you may have heard of the term “creative blockage.”

Whether you’ve heard it in the context of writer’s block or artist’s block, most of the artists I know occasionally struggle with this. I am not exempt from feeling uninspired in my creative life. Whether it be that I have too many ideas and am paralyzed in the face of starting any of them, or have burnt myself out on creative projects due to school, I go through creative blockages every once in a while.

Now is one of those times. I feel cre-

atively stagnant in a way that I haven’t really felt before. I still have ideas, but working on anything doesn’t bring me much joy right now. I’m not sure if it’s because of the continued state of the world, or the fact that I’ve been looking at the work of great artists leading to self-consciousness.

Being creative is hard sometimes. I think it’s important to remember that creative blocks won’t last forever.

Nicholas AshenhurstToews

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FEATURE //

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

B E WA R E T H E P R O M I S E OF F I NA NC I A L F R E E DOM The COVID crisis and the growing risk of pyramid schemes Darien Johnsen “Are you interested in learning something new with great interest potential?” “Second guessing your career path and looking to start working online?” “Lost your job because of COVID-19 and looking to make income elsewhere?” “I’ve tripled my salary by working from home! I’d love to chat about financial freedom with you! Just DM me!”

These are common pyramid scheme and multi-level marketing (MLM) fishing tactics. I’m sure we’ve all seen it, especially with the rise of COVID-19: that one Facebook friend that makes offers of financial freedom working from home or a vivacious new health product that will beef up your immune system to defend against this deadly pandemic.

According to the Canadian government, pyramid schemes are illegal, defining them as “a form of an MLM plan focussed primarily on generating earnings through recruitment.”

“Although a small number of participants at the top of the pyramid may make money, the overwhelming majority of participants lose their money,” according to the B.C. government.

With so many people losing their jobs and being laid off, it’s no wonder that seemingly lucrative online businesses offering larger-than-life benefits and opportunities would be attractive. But many of these so-called businesses leave people even more broke and heartbroken than they were to begin with.

Though pyramid schemes are illegal in Canada, many of them are hard to detect, as they are often disguised as legal multi-level marketing plans with legitimate products to sell. An MLM is defined by the Canadian government as a business model “with three or more levels (the operator and at least two levels of participants) that promotes the supply of a product to participants of the plan.”

In her TED-Ed talk, Stacie Bosley, an economist from Hamline University in the U.S., describes the rise of Vemma Nutrition. She states that it started off as a “life-changing opportunity to earn full-time income for part-time work … There were only two steps to get started earning: purchase a $500-600 kit of their liquid nutrition products, and recruit two more members to do the same.”

This company quickly grew into a global phenomenon, bringing in thousands of new members a month, but Bosley explains that “While the company generated $200 million of annual revenue by 2013, the vast majority of participants earned less than they paid in.” Eventually, Vemma was charged with operating a pyramid scheme, but not until after they sucked their participants dry of whatever money they were willing to put into the company, thinking they would make it big and gain financial freedom.

Sarah Mills, a UFV student, shared her brief experience with a health company that she and her family suspected to be a pyramid scheme.

“I was 17 years old when I got roped into joining MonaVie. Seventeen is a very vulnerable age. You’re trying to be independent but still can be very naive. My friend and her boyfriend told me to come with them to a meeting.

I thought, why not? I arrived and noticed people were all

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dressed up. I quickly realized it was a different kind of meeting and felt very out of place,” she said.

pyramid schemes during the COVID-19 health crisis.

“Everyone seemed like they knew each other except for me. I’ve never been one to be upset about not knowing people, but this felt odd. We watched a video, and there was a speech on this new product. It was supposed to be ‘life changing’ in terms of health, and make you ‘rich’ by selling. All I had to do was buy a case and sign up. I didn’t have the money at the time to do that, so it didn’t make sense to do. But my friend quickly offered [to pay] and said it was fine as long as I helped sell them.”

Recruiters are working through social media to convince people to buy into their companies, promising $800 returns on a $100 investment, or more if they recruit others. Experts say this money is going straight into recruiters’ private bank accounts and that investors are unlikely to ever see a return.

Mills quickly realized that the selling of the products wasn’t as easy as it was made out to be, and came off as pushy to her friends and family. Luckily, her dad realized what was going on and warned her that she was involved in a pyramid scheme and needed to be careful.

“I was curious as to what he meant and did my own research. If I join, the people above me get money. And then I recruit others, and I make money. I didn’t like it. You’re made to feel like you’re a part of a team, but you’re not.

I didn’t like that — it felt like I would be guilt-tripping my community of friends and family so someone at the top could get rich,” Mills said.

When Mills tried to remove herself from the company, the friend that recruited her started to distance herself from Mills.

“I quickly wanted out,” Mills explained. “I didn’t like the approach used, the guilt you feel when you don’t join or participate, and what it can do to relationships. Of course, these things are not easy to get out of. I was given a case so I needed to repay that back and explain to my friend I wanted nothing to do with this. Sadly she took it as I wanted nothing to do with our friendship. It really ruined our friendship.”

MonaVie is now a defunct company, but when it was active it faced countless lawsuits, including false and misleading advertising in regards to certain health claims made by the company. The class-action lawsuit from Arkansas states that the “Defendants and their independent distributors are engaged in a conspiracy to unjustly enrich themselves to the maximum extent possible at the expense of consumers who fall victim to the false and misleading advertisements generated

by Defendants and their co-conspirators. This is the Mona Vie Scheme.” They were also sued

by Dr. Oz and Oprah for wrongful use of their image. A Forbes article compares the MonaView business model to that of a pyramid scheme, claiming that “The reality is that a mere 1% of Team members make any money from involvement with the firm.”

The health and wellness industry is, arguably, one of the most popular industries for direct sales and MLM business models. This could not be more of a problem during a global health crisis.

According to the Westerly Sun newspaper, officials in Connecticut are warning people about a rise in

“Remember that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull is quoted in the Westerly Sun article. “We know that in times of hardship it can be tempting to give in to these offers, but we encourage families to take a step back, and recognize the signs of a scam.

Unfortunately, in times like this scammers will try to take advantage of our fears.”

In B.C., the Better Business

“MLM makes even gambling look like a safe bet in comparison.”

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Bureau reported a five per cent increase in Scam Tracker reports related to COVID-19 in March and April, stating that 60 per cent of victims lost money. Karla Laird, manager for community and public relations with the B.C. Better Business Bureau, stated that the majority of scam websites were all created in the last three months and were selling items such as face masks, sanitizers, gym equipment, and fake vaccines and cures for COVID-19, amongst other things.

Quebec law enforcement has also been dealing with a rise in pyramid schemes, warning citizens that these schemes were affecting multiple regions in the province.

The scammers are asking individuals to invest money and recruit others to invest as well. A CTV News article states that the Quebec law enforcement agency “reports that in some cases, scammers establish a temporary scheme to quickly pocket initial investments before disappearing. People therefore lose sometimes considerable sums of money.”

Though pyramid schemes can seem obvious to detect, that isn’t always the case. Like Mills’ involvement with MonaVie, many companies operate under the guise of a direct sales business, meaning the products are sold to you in a non-retail environment by a representative or distributor, and are not available any other way. Many companies are suspected or accused of being a pyramid scheme, but there isn’t enough evidence to legitimately accuse them of such.

proper and ethical marketing practices are being followed.

But, Amway again made headlines in China after four government agencies announced a crackdown against the company’s marketing model. According to a New York Times article, a number of former Amway recruiters organized online to share their stories and warn others, accusing the company of brainwashing them into buying products that they ultimately would not be able to sell.

In fact, Liu Gang gave up a teaching job in 2009 to pursue the promise of an Amway fortune. He went as far as mortgaging his home and borrowing from illegitimate lenders to try and pursue this dream, only to be left with $600,000 of debt.

One of the company’s top distributors responded to Gang’s story by saying that the distributors were responsible for any debt they accumulated. Amway’s business practices remain legal in China, and the country is the company’s biggest market. Amway has been amping up production in Michigan to supply the Chinese market after factories in the country shut down due to the coronavirus.

One such business is the dietary company, Herbalife, which was ordered to pay $200 million in 2016 after being accused of being a pyramid scheme. They were also ordered to provide compensation to distributors who lost money. While Herbalife avoided the pyramid scheme label, they were ordered to restructure their business model, including “changes to the way the company rewards its distributors.”

Indeed, it is often difficult for companies to regulate how recruiters market or advertise their products, since MLMs have a fairly detached marketing system. There really isn’t any way to ensure that

But Emily Kevener, who grew up in Abbotsford before briefly moving to Alberta to be with her boyfriend, sees Amway as a problem. A friend introduced her to the multi-level marketing company after she moved to a new province and was socially isolated.

“I only knew one person at the time. She introduced me to it, and I was vulnerable because I had no other group to socialize with, so I wasn’t sacrificing ‘free time;’ I was getting to interact with nice people. But in the end these people wanted to benefit from me. I believe their intentions were and are good, but I attended a couple rallies and felt it was very culty,” Kevener said.

Isolation and desperation could drive more people to fall into the lure of a promise of money and friends. In this way, the COVID-19 pandemic is a huge business opportunity for MLM recruiters. According to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), fear, anxiety, dread, and uncertainty are commonly felt emotions during a crisis. This increases our vulnerability, especially if there is an added factor of financial worry. This could possibly lead people to look for other opportunities, and MLMs are undoubtedly capitalizing on this fact.

But MLMs are not the answer, and certainly neither are pyramid schemes. According to a report from the Consumer Awareness Institute by Jon M. Taylor titled “The Case (for and) against Multi-level Marketing,” “less than 1% of MLM participants profit [from the business]. MLM makes even gambling look like a safe bet in comparison.”

Edith Ramirez, the former United States Federal Trade Commission chairwoman, is quoted in the Guardian as saying “The company promised people a dream: a chance to quit their jobs, change their lives and gain financial freedom.” The article goes on to say that instead of that, “the LA-based company paid out almost exclusively to employees who pressured other people to buy into the program at a cost of about $2,000 apiece. Herbalife enjoyed revenues from members in some of the world’s poorest countries, notably Ghana and Zambia.”

While government, law enforcement, and business monitoring agencies such as the Better Business Bureau can try to help consumers be aware of the danger of pyramid schemes and MLMs, it’s hard even for officials to detect them at times, let alone shut them down.

One of the earliest forms of MLMs came in the form of Amway, founded in 1959. The company specializes in the sale of home, beauty, and health products. They started making headlines in India after the CEO of the Amway India branch was arrested multiple times, the latest in 2018 following a complaint about financial irregularities. His arrest in 2014 was noted to be for “promoting illegal money circulation scheme, cheating and looting the gullible public with promise of get rich scheme (sic),” according to the first information report that was obtained by BW Businessworld, an Indian business magazine. Amway quickly responded that his arrest was out of line and didn’t represent their business accurately.

In the United States in the 1970s, Amway was part of a landmark decision in which the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) distinguished an illegal pyramid scheme from an MLM. Since Amway did not require participants to purchase excessive products that were non-returnable, the FTC website explains, it did not constitute a pyramid scheme.

If you’ve found yourself in the midst of a pyramid scheme, or worry that the company you’re working for may not be all that it’s promised itself to be, don’t feel bad or guilty. It often isn’t easy to tell if a company is a MLM or a pyramid scheme disguised as a legal business. So forgive yourself, move on, and be more aware in the future.

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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission lists several pyramid scheme warning flags on its website, including: “Beware of any plan that offers commissions for recruiting new distributors, particularly when there is no product involved or when there is a separate, up-front membership fee. At the same time, do not assume that the presence of a purported product or service removes all danger. The Commission has seen pyramids operating behind the apparent offer of investment opportunities, charity benefits, off-shore credit cards, jewelry, women’s underwear, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and even electricity.”

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When in doubt, go with your gut. Ask questions, do research outside of the company, beware of get-rich-quick offers, and be realistic if you’re being required to sell something.

Capitalism isn’t anybody’s friend (besides the one per cent), and the COVID-19 crisis is taking a mean swing at our economy, and in turn our wallets; but don’t panic and buy into a company that might seem better than it actually is. Not all that glitters is gold.

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Illustration by Anoop Dhaliwal

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

CULTURE

culture@ufvcascade.ca Andrea Sadowski — Culture Editor

Column //

Cascade Kitchen: Cheesy broccoli casserole

Lifestyle //

In all these streams we drown Video streaming has never been more necessary in the wake of quarantine KRYSTINA SPRACKLIN Streaming services are cropping up fervently, with many networks such as NBC and HBO releasing their own respective platforms to showcase their work. While I won’t let quarantine take full ownership of my mastery of streaming options, it certainly helped to formulate my opinion. After binging nearly every reality show on Amazon Prime, every crime documentary on Netflix, and every Marvel movie available on Disney Plus, I’ve come to the conclusion that owning multiple subscriptions to different platforms has become as unfulfilling as paying for cable.

Netflix

Easy, cheesy, beautiful casserole. May 17, 2020. (Carissa Wiens)

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

This is the recipe to make when you’re in charge of bringing a “hot vegetable dish” to a family gathering, the recipe for when you haven’t eaten anything green in over a week, and the recipe for when you don’t have time to whip up anything more for dinner. It’s incredibly versatile and has a bunch of variations. Add in cauliflower or chickpeas or different cheeses if you’d like. The options go on. But this is my favourite version of the broccoli casserole.

Ready in: 45 minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 3 heads of broccoli, cut into florets 1 can of Campbell’s Cream of Broccoli & Cheddarese soup 1 cup aged white cheddar cheese, plus 1/4 cup for topping, shredded 1-2 Ttbsp yellow mustard 1-2 Ttbsp nutritional yeast* (optional, but great) 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs *Also known as “nooch,” these yellow flakes are a form of inactive yeast and have a cheesy and nutty flavour.

Method: 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. Toss broccoli, soup, 1 cup cheddar cheese, yellow mustard, and nutritional yeast in a large bowl. Make sure all florets are evenly coated.

3. Pour broccoli mixture into an 8x8 inch pan. Top with panko and 1/4 cup cheddar cheese.

4. Bake for 35 minutes. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

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We start with the classic. Since its conception, Netflix has undergone repeated developments to improve its algorithm, video player, and title selection. They’ve even removed features, most noticeably their five-star rating in favour of a thumbs up or down button, and cycle through new content every month. Their original shows are surprisingly brilliant at times, when the executives aren’t cancelling anything that doesn’t feature an all-white cast. (Thinking of you, One Day At a Time and Sense 8.)

The downside of Netflix’s popularity is that it’s a struggle to find anything new to watch.

Since most of their original shows release an entire season at a time, it’s easy to binge something in a matter of days (or even hours), and then you’re stuck waiting an entire year for the next season. However, their video player is the best available, and their catalogue ranging from Dear White People to Tiger King to Riverdale is certainly unrivaled.

Netflix Basic starts at $9.99 for one device that streams in SD quality, $13.99 for two devices in HD quality, and $16.99 for four devices at 4K quality.

Amazon Prime Video Truth be told, Prime Video is a huge letdown.

The selection of film and television is dismal, with only the occasional intriguing title, like Amazon Originals Good Omens and The Boys, but much of its borrowed selection is just too similar to Netflix. Many popular shows are also blocked behind the purchase of an added subscription, meaning on top of the $3.99 (student pricing) you’re paying for Prime, you’d have to spend an additional $14.99 for a channel like HBO. Their video player is also overly simplistic

compared to Netflix, lacking the feature to surf between episodes and seasons, as well as having a horrible subtitle script. Its only interesting aspect is a button that reveals random trivia throughout the show, but it’s more worthwhile to pause whatever it is you’re watching and pull up IMDB instead.

If you’re already an Amazon Prime member, it comes with your subscription, so it might be worth perusing, but Jeff Bezos really doesn’t need your money, nor has he offered a streaming service worthy of taking it.

Disney Plus You might speculate that the largest media conglomerate in the world could afford a better video player, but apparently when you own all of the titles tied to the majority of the public’s childhood, you’re free to scrimp on the technical side of things. Neither the app nor the website impress me with their constant glitching. I constantly lose which episode I paused on because it doesn’t keep an accurate record of previous watch history, but if you want to have access to the largest library of nostalgia available for only $8.99, it’s worth enduring these frustrating mechanics.

Hulu One of the disappointing aspects of being Canadian is being deprived of American video content because of our geography. Alas, Hulu, with wonderful titles such as America’s Next Top Model, Little Fires Everywhere, and Bob’s Burgers is not available to Canadians, unless you have a VPN (a virtual private network), which allows you to reroute your online presence, including your geographical location. Under those circumstances, you can subscribe for $5.99 USD with ads or $11.99 USD without.

Funimation While anime might not be the sort of content everyone enjoys, Funimation is a solid streaming service if you like dubbed (translated to English) shows. Though it was not initially my intention to sign up for a membership, Funimation has a clever way to lure in customers, offering a set number of episodes for free before stopping the video player midway through. I managed to binge seven and a half episodes of Fruits Basket before they forced my hand. No hard feelings were had. Brilliant trickery, 10/10 would fall for this entrapment again.

For $5.99 per month, you can too.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

CULTURE Event Preview //

Walk in the Spirit of Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation Reconciliation Reconciling Church invites you to

A walk in solidarity with the First Nations of the Fraser Valley ANDREA SADOWSKI To mark the closing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015, thousands of Canadians participated in the Walk for Reconciliation in cities across the country. A group of churches had connected during the walk that took place in Vancouver in 2015 and decided to put together a walk on an annual basis here in the Fraser Valley. The fifth annual Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation is happening this year on May 29, 30, and 31 throughout various locations in the Fraser Valley.

“The walk is a way of looking at reconciliation and recognizing the First Nations families who were affected by the residential schools for so many generations,” said Bridget Findlay, MCC’s Indigenous Neighbours program coordinator and the organizer of this event.

This year’s event will take place as a safe, self-guided walk, due to the restrictions put in place because of COVID-19. Participants will choose one of seven routes that span from Fort Langley to Abbotsford to Mission and vary in length from 1.5 km to 8 km. Participants can walk their chosen route on any of the three days of the event, being sure to maintain social distancing protocol with other walkers they may encounter.

As participants complete their routes, they are encouraged to share photos of their walk to the Facebook event page, and the event or-

ganizers will update the map of the different routes to show other participants that the entire area has been covered. If you don’t live in the Fraser Valley, you can still participate in a solidarity walk by walking any location of your choice during the three days of the event.

In the past, the event has featured interactive, cultural activities for participants to take part in, such as a meal in the Kwantlen First Nations’ longhouse, a tour of the former site of St. Mary’s residential school in Mission by a Stó:lō representative, and a Kairos blanket exercise. The purpose of the event is not just to lament and remember the tragic legacy of the residential schools, but also to recognize the richness of the different First Nation cultures here in the Fraser Valley. Since these group activities cannot take place this year, there will be Indigenous resources posted on the Facebook event page, starting on May 24 for participants to understand the cultural aspect of this walk and why reconciliation is so important.

Participants are encouraged to register online through Eventbrite before May 29 to receive a map of their route and a free T-shirt.

Feel free to walk any portion of any route. It doesn’t matter whether you walk 1 km or 20; what matters is that you participate and understand the spirit behind the event. If you have any questions regarding the event, contact Bridget Findlay at 604-850-6639.

May 29 - 31, 2020

This year’s walk will be self guided, maps will be provided and you can walk at a time that works best for you! Plus you will get to read Indigenous stories, videos and more on our Facebook page throughout the week and weekend!

1. Register Online at

reconcilingchurch.eventbrite.com

2. Walk on May 29th, 30th or 31st 3. Join the Facebook event and share your photos! www.facebook.com/events/646691492730011/

Presented by:

Questions? Contact Bridget at 604-850-6639 ext. 1120

Community Spotlight //

Canadian Blood Services still needs your blood ANDREA SADOWSKI Just a friendly reminder: the need for blood is constant; if you are eligible to donate blood, you should book an appointment at your nearest blood donation clinic.

Canadian Blood Services is urging people to continue booking and attending their donation appointments, as long as they are in good health and not showing any symptoms of COVID-19, in order to maintain a steady supply of blood products to be used in hospitals. Canadian Blood Services has adjusted its donation facilities to allow for physical distancing and is maintaining strict cleaning protocols.

However, if you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, have fully recovered, and have been symptom-free for at least 28 days, your blood is more precious than ever. Canadian Blood Services has recently established a program collecting convalescent plasma, which scientists believe may help those re-

covering from COVID-19. Your blood could aid the research effort in the treatment for this worldwide pandemic through the CONCOR-1 trials, a national clinical trial to see if convalescent plasma from someone who has recovered from the virus could be a potential treatment option for someone currently infected with the virus.

Canadian Blood Services has quite a few restrictions to ensure the safety of those who receive the blood, such as no recent piercings or tattoos (within three months) and no recent travel abroad. (Restrictions vary depending on where you travelled to.) If you are eligible to donate you should definitely take some time out of your day to fill a bag of blood at a Canadian Blood Services clinic — it could save the life of someone undergoing a major surgery or medical procedure. It is especially important to donate if you have a rare blood type.

So, eat a nice big bowl of oatmeal, followed by a glass of orange juice to get those iron levels up, and empty those veins!

develop professional skills get experience writing and editing join a great team

send inquiries to managing@ufvcascade.ca

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VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

SPORTS

sports@ufvcascade.ca Alex Jesus — Sports Editor

Men’s Basketball //

Joe Enevoldson is the newest Cascades head coach

New head coach joins the men’s basketball team for their 2020-21 season ALEX JESUS After the departure of Adam Friesen, the search was on for UFV’s next men’s basketball coach. The UFV athletic department was tasked with finding a coach that would help keep the program strong. Their answer?

Douglas College’s former head coach Joe Enevoldson.

Enevoldson’s resume sets him apart from most coaches, as he comes to UFV after four straight medal years for Douglas in PacWest, two of which resulted in gold medals. Once the Cascades job was available, Enevoldson realized that this was the opportunity he was waiting for.

“U Sports jobs are so hard to come by. They don’t open very often, so it was a pretty easy decision from a family perspective to apply when the job did come open,” he said. The winning culture that Enevoldson brings will certainly fit in at UFV, as the team is coming off of back-to-back winning seasons and trips to the playoffs. His inaugural season may have to wait though, as the COVID-19 crisis could affect scheduling for the start of the team’s training camp, which is only months away.

In the meantime, Enevoldson is doing what he can to meet the team during the pandemic and get acquainted with the staff.

“The vibe around the guys is pretty good!

I think whenever there’s a coaching change, there’s a little bit of ‘Ooh, what’s the new guy gonna bring?’ I think the good thing is [that] most of them know me from Douglas and from Basketball B.C., so I’m very familiar with them. I don’t think the transition is as large as, say, somebody coming out from the East Coast,” he said.

The change of coaches is certainly not the only change for the program, as three top seniors are no longer eligible to compete in U Sports, having completed their fifth season.

The loss of Parm Bains, Sukhjot Bains, and Matt Cooley will be difficult to overcome; however, the rise of first-year players like Vlad Mihaila as well as third-year players such as Jordyn Sekhon signal that the program is set up to succeed with players that can defend, score, and stand out as good decision makers.

Add in Enevoldson’s recruiting of Matthias and Zach Klim, a pair of 6’10 twins from G.W.

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Graham Secondary School in Chilliwack, and things are starting to shape up for the Cascades, as height was a concern for them against some teams.

The new Cascades head coach is very straightforward when it comes to the kind of basketball he wants to play.

“At Fraser Valley, the plan will be to go inside-out. I’m very much an inside-out basketball guy. I want to punch the ball. I want to take high-percentage shots early in games and then allow the three-point shooters, allow the

“I want to take highpercentage shots early in games and then allow the three-point shooters, allow the guys on the wing to play off of close-outs once the ball is inside.” guys on the wing to play off of close-outs once the ball is inside.”

What Enevoldson is referring to is a style of basketball in which the ball is first sent toward the basket with very few shots from distance.

Layups and close-to-the-basket shots will help the team get rolling. Then, when opposing teams decide to send players toward the basket to help, players out on the sides of the court will be able to shoot open shots, resulting in a higher percentage of them going in.

All in all, Enevoldson seems like the coach that UFV needs. His cerebral approach to the game should help players develop, and with his history of winning in PacWest, the challenge of U Sports will be a storyline that fans of the Cascades can enjoy as they, hopefully, watch the team play this upcoming season.

Men’s Basketball //

Men’s basketball changes coaches for the 2020-21 season On February 28 2020, UFV athletics announced that the Cascades and Adam Friesen parted ways ALEX JESUS UFV announced in late February that the longtime men’s basketball coach Adam Friesen would not be returning for the 2020-21 season.

Friesen, a coach that has led the team since 2012, had multiple winning seasons with the Cascades, which included playoff runs and a 29-game winning streak earlier in his career with UFV. Friesen had just come from two seasons featuring playoff runs. The news came as a surprise to many, and a comment was posted on UFV

Athletics’ Instagram page supporting Friesen.

No reason is known for the dismissal, or whether it was mutual.

UFV released a statement in which they said, “In keeping with privacy legislation and human resources practice, UFV will not be publishing the details of this matter.” No more details are known at this time. The Cascade reached out for comment but did not hear back.

Joe Enevoldson, a new hire for the men’s basketball team, will now lead the team as the head coach for the 2020-21 season.

STUDY BREAK Social Influencer Quiz Everyone is spending 27 hours a day in front of a screen nowadays, so naturally we all are trying to become influencers. What type of influencer are you?

1. What do you typically eat for breakfast?

a. You try to prepare a new style of egg every day: today it was eggs benedict; tomorrow you will

If you picked: 3. What are your friends most likely to call you out on?

a. Letting your food get cold in a restaurant because you spent 30 minutes getting the perfect shot.

b. Posing for photos in ridiculous places, like the middle of a busy road, or a precarious ledge.

c. Kissing your dog on the lips. Like, really kissing them. Like a kiss that is so intimate it might have

master an omelette.

b. A green kale ginger peach tropical smoothie with almond milk and coconut water.

c. Half-burned oatmeal, as you were too busy pre-

paring your cat’s extremely particular breakfast to keep an eye on the stove.

d . A bowl of cereal, or a toaster strudel.

2. What are you allowing yourself to splurge on with that precious CERB cheque?

a. A set of high-quality chef knives. b. A gorgeous designer sweatsuit. c. An elaborate mansion your pet will use just once because it prefers to sleep directly on top of your face.

d. A massive bag of fuzzy peaches. Like a disgusting amount of them.

to be censored.

d. Spouting out extremely offensive jokes with absolutely no filter.

4. What do you want to be when you grow up?

a. An exclusive personal chef, to important clients. b. A fashion designer, or a model — actually both, at the same time.

c. The trainer of the winning dog of the Westminster Dog Show.

d. What's the point of dreaming? We’re all going to

Mostly A’s: Foodie Every day you come up with a new delicious creation, putting the rest of us here with our microwaveable popcorn to shame. Can I please be quarantined with you?

Mostly B’s: Fashion Icon Channeling the OG influencers, you spend your days serving us lewks that rival the Kardashians. Thanks for the inspiration hun!

Mostly C’s: Pet Star You would prefer to divert the attention to the true king or queen

of your household: your pet. Thank you for blessing the world with this A+ content of your best friend!

Mostly D’s: Meme Creator.

You spend your days making dank memes that I am forwarding to all my friends and screenshotting to laugh at later. Thank you for your services and for making us laugh at your dark humour.

die anyway.

5. Which essential item are you most likely to hoard?

a. b. c. d.

Flour.

Scented hand sanitizer.

Fancy Feast.

Doritos.

Snakes and Lizards

Horoscopes //

Illustration by Elyssa English Your weekly life predictions as told by Ang the Great

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 Things have been a bit rocky at your workplace lately due to this whole pandemic that's going on; however, you can do your part to make things run smoother with your colleagues through open and honest communication.

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 Don’t be afraid to ask for help from others this week, as you will find yourself struggling to keep on top of your commitments. Humble yourself enough to ask for help in carrying some of your burdens.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 Your sense of security may get shaken this week, as an important fixture in your life will be uprooted, robbing you of your peace of mind. Take more time to focus on grounding yourself and in meditation to ease this painful transition.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 Lean on your friendships this week to get you through some rough patches. Be intentional about video chats and keeping in touch to maintain strong bonds.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 You may find yourself to be overwhelmingly restless this week and feel an incredible urge to escape whatever situation you are in. Do not make any hasty decisions; rather, take a walk and think things over logically.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 You will experience massive growth in your self-esteem and self-confidence this week, and through this transformation you will radiate positive energy which will inspire others.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 Destructive thoughts and old feelings of insecurity may creep back into your brain this week, as you have found yourself feeling stale and bored. Keep your mind active with productive activities and call a friend if you need to.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 An important anniversary is taking place this week, and it marks the beginning of a new season in your life. Take some time to reflect on the past, plan for the future, and celebrate this newly achieved milestone.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 You are reaching a fork in the road this week, and the time has come for you to make a decision. Ultimately, you should go with your gut, knowing this is the path you were meant to take all along.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 Let some of your responsibilities slide this week and have a little fun. Do something just for yourself to recharge your batteries and get ready for another busy season that is just around the corner.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 You will become more in touch with yourself this week as you slowly become aware of the self-destructive patterns you have formed in your life. This new perspective will allow you to make wiser life decisions in the future.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 Someone you have been living with for a long time may surprise you this week with a new quirk. This quirk may come as a delightful eccentricity or an annoying habit — best of luck to you.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

ARTS

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

arts@ufvcascade.ca Chandy Dancey — Arts Editor

Netflix //

Never Have I Ever watched a show quite like this Netflix’s Never Have I Ever delivers a fresh take on the perils of adolescence KRYSTINA SPRACKLIN If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch Netflix’s latest coming-of-age dramedy, Never Have I Ever is worth the five-hour binge, though with a few narrative hiccups. Devi, a first-generation South Asian American teenager, tragically loses her father to a fatal heart attack a few months before the start of the show. Subsequently, her legs stop working (the reason believed to be psychosomatic), confining her to a wheelchair until one day she sees her crush across a grocery store parking lot. In a sudden spurt of desire to see him, she regains function of her legs again.

The show’s writing is a little off-kilter, suspending a mostly realistic setting with spurts of ghostly visits from Devi’s father and a narrator who frequently breaks the fourth wall. But Devi is fascinating from the start. She doesn’t care to be some downtrodden victim of fate and circumstance; instead she’s belligerent, temperamental, selfish beyond reason, and self-obsessed to the detriment of her most important relationships. However, for each one of these flaws, she faces severe consequences, and begins to grow into a kinder, more understanding person whilst still

navigating the confusing feelings of adolescence.

The most popular boy in school, Paxton, and Devi’s academic rival, Ben, serve as her love interests throughout the 10-episode first season. Ben is a strange contender for the writers to lean on, considering that his introduction in the pilot includes the fact that he uses a “mildly racist” term for Devi and her two best friends, all of whom are teens of colour. The show attempts to balance this by having Devi attack Ben’s Jewish roots with anti-Semitic remarks, making the idea of this relationship sailing even less tolerable.

Sure, we can be sympathetic to someone saying horrible, ignorant things that need correcting in their youth, but the show fails to demonstrate that these two have matured from their earlier wrongdoings. They just develop the hots for each other instead.

The message “Only discriminate against someone if you develop an attraction to them” might not be what the showrunners are aiming for, but it’s how this plays out when their prejudices are skirted around and abandoned altogether. Paxton isn’t much of a treasure either, having a host of problems being the popular guy “settling” for a dorky loudmouth like Devi and brushing her off whenever he can get away with it.

While my recommendation is that all three of these teenagers seek healthier coping mechanisms before plunging into sex and dating, Devi at least has a leg-up on the boys with a therapist who’s used to her antics.

The most surprising disappointment in the show comes out in the writing of one of Devi’s best friends, Fabiola. Gay representation is rife in this new comedy series, and while I love to see it, it’s the driest, least interesting component of the show. A nervous, gay teen coming to terms with

their sexuality, rejecting their crush outright with an “I’m not like you” scream of shame, and terrified that their family — who ultimately turns out to be fully supportive — will reject them, brought nothing original to the screen. While Fabiola’s mother is tender and the sort of mom we all want behind us as we navigate an identity crisis, it’s redundant television. Gay characters deserve riveting plot roles, even if it means that their sexuality isn’t at the centre of it.

What the show lacks in satisfy-

ing romance and LGBTQ+ storylines, it makes up for in its demonstration of family: a strong-willed daughter who struggles to relate to her strong-willed mother, a foreign cousin grappling with an impending arranged marriage, and a dead father who seems to crop up whenever Devi is at her lowest point. While Devi’s story begins with a typical quest for popularity and a hot boyfriend, the creators of Never Have I Ever offer a fresh take on this familiar journey.

Book //

Hazel’s Shadow is horror fiction made accessible UFV alumni’s debut horror novel hits virtual shelves CHANDY DANCEY Hazel’s Shadow is the debut novel from UFV alumni Nicole MacCarron, released in late March. Its plot combines the dark themes of a zombie apocalypse with the paranormal, and manifests in its protagonist, Hazel, being able to see ghosts. Ever heard of a shadow person — a dark, humanoid entity often associated with folklore and sleep paralysis? MacCarron’s novel preys on the innate and human fear of the dark with an elusive but sinister antagonist connected to a zombie outbreak where ghosts are the least of the protagonist’s concerns.

One of the defining (and dividing) features of the novel is that, although wellwritten, it’s clearly meant for a younger audience. It’s classed as paranormal young adult fiction, targeted toward ages 13-18.

This means readers are unlikely to see detailed, flowery descriptions, complex vocabulary, or extensive characterization.

It’s reminiscent of Cirque du Freak, an early 2000s book saga that spun a tale about gore, nightmarish circuses, and vampires, but for a younger readership. If you’re not

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a strong reader, this is an accessible and recommended read for those wanting to dive into some horror this summer. However, if you’ve already sunk your teeth into Stephen King novels, this particular novel might not be as satisfying.

While the plot isn’t overly complex, Hazel’s Shadow does play with some interesting ideas — although perhaps not as developed as higher-level readers are hungry for. If ghosts are real, what happens when someone becomes a creature of the undead? Additionally, when delving into any zombie fiction, there’s always an explanation for how the apocalypse was started, whether that be a parasite, virus, or laboratory containment breach. Hazel’s is related to a shadow who has terrorized her since childhood, previously thought to be confined to her house but having later appeared at the hospital where the outbreak occurred.

MacCarron also manages to incorporate representation without it feeling forced or in-your-face. When the opportunity arises, Hazel is revealed to be overweight and insecure about it at times, but it isn’t written as a negative or self-hatred-inducing trait.

With her weight comes immense strength, allowing her to chuck desks at zombies, run long distances, and in general be a badass. She also struggles over the course of the novel with her feelings toward a female classmate named Jen. As MacCarron puts it: “I believe in representation. It ought to be there, and I wanted it to be normal … She might be gay and she might be heavy, but she’s also an athlete, she can see ghosts, she’s a good friend.

She’s a lot of things. She’s a person.”

For those interested in grabbing a copy, MacCarron self-published the novel through Amazon Kindle in ebook and paperback format. For readers who want to read a writing sample before they purchase, a short prequel is also available through her website at nicolemaccarron. com by signing up for an author newsletter.

As a UFV student, MacCarron finished a degree in English before pursuing teaching, also through UFV. To further build upon her skills, she took a novel-writing class instructed by Andrea MacPherson where a deep passion was sparked for National Novel Writing Month (affectionately dubbed NaNoWriMo). MacCarron was also

on the editorial board for the 2013 Louden Singletree as a webmaster.

“That has definitely come in handy now because I had no idea how much I would need that to create my own website and get out there on social media.”

The Louden Singletree editorial board is also where she met two other students, Jess Wind and Katie Stobbart, who went on to form an editorial company — the same company that would later edit her novel.

MacCarron is a testament that UFV students can go on to become distinguished alumni — working as an elementary school teacher by trade and beginning to gain traction as a budding new novelist.

Hazel’s Shadow is a debut novel with exciting new ideas for the young adult paranormal and zombie genres. With a sequel hinted to be in the works by the author, it’s worth checking out for readers who are looking to round out their summer reading or just want to gain a new fear toward shadow people and the dark.

The Cascade was given a press copy of Hazel’s Shadow in exchange for an honest review.

VOL. 28 // ISSUE 15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

ARTS Podcast //

A story-driven sci-fi podcast Robots, ghosts, and giant bees!

NICHOLAS ASHENHURSTTOEWS Escape From Planet Death is a podcast written and produced by students and faculty members of Brigham Young University in Utah. It is a production written by the faculty mentored students (FMS) of the department of theatre and media arts (TMA).

The series consists of 10 episodes, ranging in length from about 11 to 17 minutes.

The podcast is about what happened after the end of the world. Following the Earth’s core heating and the planet becoming uninhabitable, a pair of ships were launched in hopes of preserving humanity. The story begins on one of those ships as it makes its way to the colony that was established on the planet Genesis. During this trip, however, the protocols of the X-12 command robot, Ulysses, were switched, leading to the bot going on a murderous rampage in hopes of protecting the colony and having a parade.

Working to stop this is a group of bureaucrats called the Friendship Delegation and an NK robot nicknamed Nick. As the

group crash-lands on the planet, the story takes a turn into a surreal horror-adjacent place as members of the Friendship Delegation work to stop Ulysses, save the few remaining members of the colony (as well as the second transport ship), and escape Genesis, which, as Nick realizes, is the planet of the dead.

For a small, studentrun production, the podcast feels very professional with good sound mixing, highquality voice performance, and a lush sound design. The audio is crisp and clear, and lines are clearly spoken and enunciated while maintaining a high level of consistent voice quality and characterization. In addition, all of the voices sound distinct, leading to little confusion on which character is speaking, even if you don’t know or can’t recall the character’s name. The podcast is also bookended by narration that feels reminiscent of old

radio dramas, which harkens back to the 1938 broadcast of H. G. Wells’s novel The War of the Worlds by Orson Welles.

The writing is left in an awkward position. There is a high level of characterization in the script — each character has their own distinct way of saying things. The writing is also quite funny, allowing for a breath of air during some of the story’s heavier beats and darker ideas. However, there is a level of polish that the writing lacks, particularly in that some dialogue can feel unnatural. In some cases, characters will discuss things purely for the benefit of the audience who don’t have a visual reference or a shared history with these characters.

The story, similarly, strikes an odd note.

While it’s more or less a straightforward narrative, the amount of information that is given to the audience at one time can feel overwhelming and leave the listener

in a state of confusion. While the characters’ voices are easily distinguishable, names are rarely used, leaving you to try and match their voices from context clues.

The story is not groundbreaking but has a level of mystery that makes it very unique.

While there are no content warnings provided by the hosts of the podcasts, there is content that not all listeners will be able to handle. While the soundscape is often beautiful and haunting, there are many sudden noise shifts that caused me anxiety and led to panic attacks, so if you are sensitive to sound, maybe skip this one. In addition, there is a streak of body horror that is described in detail, as well as several moments where one of the characters is audibly vomiting.

In all, Escape From Planet Death is a storybased podcast with pretty good writing and excellent sound design. Characters are incredibly endearing, and the larger narrative is interesting, exploring themes of intense grief and shame associated with past actions that lead to emotionally gripping moments. The ending strikes a balance between haunting open-endedness and narrative and thematic resolution.

Anime //

Ascendance of a Bookworm breathes life into a tired genre ADRIAN RAIN What if you went back in time with all the 21st-century knowledge and skills you had right this moment? Ascendance of a Bookworm asks and answers this question with a gentle and burning passion. This anime takes a modern Japanese woman with a love of reading, arts, crafts, and shrewd business practices and plops her in the middle of a fantastical version of medieval Europe.

But there’s a genre problem happening in anime right now. Isekai, often known in English as “Trapped in Another World,” started out with good intentions. Do you remember Digimon and Inuyasha? Our protagonists stumble from the real world into a parallel world in need of saving. It’s escapism at its finest; what kid wouldn’t want to be summoned into a place where magic is real and you can play the hero?

But season after season the isekai genre adds to its body count. There were at least 16 isekai titles released in the year 2019 alone.

Harems of boring arm-candy women, lazy world building, and done-to-death tropes are strangling the genre. The problem is that for every one good isekai, studios greenlight three more half-baked shows to try and profit off that success.

It was looking pretty dire last year… until Oct. 3 when an aspiring librarian was tragically crushed to death by a bookshelf.

But don’t worry! Our heroine was promptly reincarnated into the body of a

sickly little girl named Myne. Bed ridden, impoverished, and five years old — this is the fresh air that isekai needed.

Bookworm’s world is bright — neon bright even. The main set pieces in season one are downtown (modeled after medieval European villages), the forest, and Myne’s home. From a mechanical standpoint the lines are clean and the colours are flat. The animation is stilted, and the camera is static. In fact, other than the wild colour palette, Bookworm is animated like a live-action TV show: the focus is on the characters’ expressions, body language, and dialogue. Some might see the apparent absence of sakuga (intricately hand-animated segments of an anime) as a lack of budget or quality. This couldn’t be further from reality. The love in Bookworm isn’t in the animation, it’s in the characters.

The cast of characters are the peasants that Myne is closest to physically. Because of her age and illness, her interactions are limited to family and neighbours. The isekai genre is littered with one-episode characters with eye-catching designs and easily identifiable quirks that make them memorable, because by next episode they’re gone forever. Since Bookworm limits itself to this small and consistent cast of characters, they’re each given room to breathe. Myne’s new parents aren’t just cardboard stand-ins that act as two-dimensional hurdles for our protagonist to surmount — they’re fully realized people who love their daughter. One of the most enrapturing facets of season one is watching Myne warm up to them. It’s bittersweet

because Myne already had parents who loved her in her former life, whom she’s been ripped from by forces she couldn’t control.

Myne doesn’t have much agency in the first few episodes, but that’s okay. Often isekai start episode one with alarms blaring and tires screeching. While a full-speed ahead approach might capture more easily distracted viewers, Ascendance of a Bookworm naturally builds up to a respectable pace. When Myne is succeeding you really feel like she’s accomplished something, because you were there the whole time she was struggling. Her wins feel earned, and her rewards are deserved unlike the shiny prizes rained down in the lap of less earnest protagonists of other isekais.

That’s what I’m loving so much about Ascendance of a Bookworm.

TV Tropes identifies an isekai trope named “New Life In Another World Bonus” where the protagonist is given an overpowered skill or weapon or a literal cheat code to help in their journey. What does Ascendance of a Bookworm give our newly reincarnated protagonist? Nothing. Unless you count crippling poverty and a debilitating and probably terminal disease a “bonus.” Myne’s superpowers aren’t cheaply doled out by some fantasy deity or an amnesic AI program; Myne’s superpowers are crochet and a love of books. Basket weaving and hair accessory making are also some of her skills that she uses to empower her family and friends, to raise their standard of living. In a world where nobles have all the fancy things, a

small girl with a deep knowledge of arts and crafts can go a long way.

I watch every week at the edge of my seat, white-knuckled and transfixed, as this small girl negotiates with merchants over who gets sole manufacturing and distribution rights to her new invention, “shampoo.”

Ascendance of a Bookworm, season one, is rated 8/10 on My Anime List for a reason. It’s endearing, intense, and all-around rewarding to watch. Season two is airing currently, and I couldn’t in a million articles completely explain how much I love this anime.

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