The Cascade Vol.29 Iss.21

OCTOBER 13, 2021

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 21

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Improving toddler literacy since 1993

Fermented 8 food: lets get this bread

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THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM AT UFV

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AFGHAN WOMEN’S RIGHTS SUFFER

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KANYE’S DONDA DISAPPOINTS

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

Feature Editor Darien Johnsen darien@ufvcascade.ca Digital Media Manager Jeff Mijo-Burch jeff@ufvcascade.ca Illustrator Brielle Quon Staff Writer Kathleen Clingwall Staff Writer Rachel Tait Distributor Gurtaj Dhami

Production Assistant Niusha Naderi Illustrator Iryna Presley Illustrator Danyka Van Santen

Staff Writer Danaye Reinhardt The Shuffler Aaron Levy

Chelsea Novakowski Caleb Campbell Front Cover: April Nickel

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 29 · Issue 21 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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Staff Writer Krystina Spracklin

CONTRIBUTORS

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Arts in Review Editor Vriti Sehgal vriti@ufvcascade.ca Sports Editor Alex Jesus alex@ufvcascade.ca

OPINION

Culture & Events Editor Steve Hartwig steve@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Sydney Marchand sydney@ufvcascade.ca

ARTS

News Editor Valentina Betancourt valentina@ufvcascade.ca

Copy Editor Maecyn Klassen maecyn@ufvcascade.ca

NEWS

Production Manager Elyssa English elyssa@ufvcascade.ca

Creative Director Elyssa English elyssa@ufvcascade.ca

CONTENTS

FEATURE

Business Manager Tarini Sandhu tarini@ufvcascade.ca

Managing Editor Chandy Dancey chandy@ufvcascade.ca

CULTURE

Executive Editor Andrea Sadowski andrea@ufvcascade.ca

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11 Snapshots.......7

13.......Study Break

NEWS SUS Shuttle updates......3

4......SUS President interview

Dr. Rashad Mammodov......4 OPINION Sex and Relationships.......5

5.......Editorial

Afghan women's rights.......6 CULTURE Cascade Kitchen......11 Engagement expo.......12

11.......Campus fashion 12.......Orange Shirt Day

ARTS Donda......14

Break-up songs......15

15......Old

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

news@ufvcascade.ca Valentina Betancourt — News Editor

NEWS

SUS //

Updates for the SUS Shuttle for fall 2021 The implications and future improvements of the SUS Shuttle with Duncan Herd VALENTINA BETANCOURT The SUS Shuttle is the campus shuttle bus service managed by the Student Union Society (SUS). The shuttle currently operates from Monday to Friday, September 13 - December 10 from 7:40 a.m. to 5:40 p.m.

The schedule is subject to change from December 13 - 22 during the exam period.

A major change to the shuttle service this semester is that there is no longer service to Langley. According to SUS VicePresident Internal, Duncan Herd, this is due to students voting “no” in the 2020 SUS referendum to increase the Shuttle fee by $6.75 a semester. This lack of funding in addition to increased costs for providing the service under a new contract means the SUS Shuttle cannot continue to operate the Langley route as before.

Students taking public transportation from Langley are encouraged by Herd to take the 66 Fraser Valley Express. This bus will drop students off at McCallum Park and Ride (a five-minute walk from the Abbotsford campus).

While the U-PASS gives students free access to nearly all the Fraser Valley transit systems in Chilliwack and Abbotsford, at

the moment, the 66 Fraser Valley Express is not covered by the U-PASS program.

However, Herd said that SUS is “working with B.C. Transit to integrate the Fraser Valley Express into the U-PASS.” Upcoming changes to the shuttle program include extending the evening service to 7:30 p.m. and being able to view the bus’ location in real-time via an app, as SUS is investing in GPS trackers and software.

“We are also addressing concerns about the lack of lighting at the shuttle stops and will be working with UFV Facilities to ensure students feel safe while waiting for the bus,” Herd said.​​ When accessing the SUS Shuttle bus, students must present a valid UFV student ID, current semester U-PASS, and a valid shuttle sticker, which students can get from the SUS office at S1109. UFV is ensuring safety for all individuals riding and driving the SUS Shuttle by requiring masks to be worn on board, regardless of one’s vaccination status.

Wheelchair accessibility is only available six times a day due to SUS entering into a contract with a new shuttle bus company that is in the process of acquiring additional buses with full accessibil-

SUS Shuttle. Abbotsford. Sept. 2021. (Andrea Sadowski/The Cascade)

ity.

“An additional, higher-capacity bus will be fitted with a lift so that we can

offer more runs that are fully accessible," said Herd.

Correction: In our Sept. 29 issue's article on University Librarian Camille Callison, we erroneously stated Callison was the current Chair of Indigenous Matters Section for the International Federation of Library Associations when, in fact, she formerly served as chair.

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

NEWS SUS //

Nikiel Lal’s goals as SUS President Building a supportive community is key RACHEL TAIT The Cascade got to sit down with the new Student Union Society (SUS) President Nikiel Lal for an interview via Google Meets to talk about his vision for the new academic year.

What would you like to achieve as president?

My main goal as president is just focusing on really bringing people together both [internally] and externally; I really want to focus on building that community. What we’re [SUS] supposed to do for students is to advocate for them, but also build campus life and provide services.

Can you talk a little about your previous involvement in SUS prior to becoming president?

I am actually a transfer student from Douglas. Prior to my presidency here, I sat on the student union at Douglas College for two years. One year I was a campus representative and then the next year I was the director of college relations — and also the chairperson. I sat on the board of governors as well for two years.

When I transferred to UFV to complete my Kinesiology degree, I was very proud of what I was learning about governance and the impact it makes. I was very grate-

ful and lucky that the cards worked out the way they did, and I was able to become president of the Student Union out here and continue that work, mission, and goal to advocate and engage with students, and develop that community and post-secondary experience.

I truly believe that everyone deserves to have a really positive [post-secondary experience], and I’d really love to be a part of communicating and understanding what it takes to get there.

It sounds like you’ve had a lot of experience in governance. Where do you think that passion grew out from?

Growing up playing a lot of sports, the whole thing about injuries and how people’s physical health actually directly ties to their mental health and their longevity really intrigued me... I wanted to make an impact on how I can help people prolong their physical fitness, while also making an impact on their [lives] mentally. I [wanted] to go into some sort of student governance to learn about that and fix it. So, that is what grew my passion hand in hand with both Kinesiology and governance.

What are your goals as president during your term?

We want to make goals that are attainable and achievable. One of the things that I am going to be working on in the next

couple of weeks is this series of engaging and informative videos to build awareness called “What the SUS?”… It’s going to be a week-long series of videos describing what SUS is, why we are important, what we do, and the relevancy of why [SUS] matters to students.

My Vice President Internal, Duncan Herd, is working on the “Know Your Rights” campaign, which is essentially a breakdown of the UFV policies that are simple and easy for students to understand to help them navigate and have a successful academic year.

Another big thing we are working on is the student perks program, which will add value to the U-PASS. We have been working on adding a discount program to incorporate local businesses in the community so that students can get discounts for being a UFV SUS member by having that UPASS. We are bringing in the new inter-campus shuttle, and we are constantly working on improving, seeking feedback, and doing what we can to continually improve that.

And to end off on a big goal — releasing our strategy plan which [involves] inclusion, innovation, and community, which we’ve been continuing to work on with our partners on learning how to include and incorporate things better and really amplify the student’s voice.

You mentioned that you want to do your best to advocate and represent all stu-

dents at UFV to ensure the best post-secondary experiences possible. What are your plans to achieve that goal?

I am planning to achieve that by simply talking to everyone and putting out surveys — making engagement pieces that really speak to students [is important] because I want to know what students think and how they feel. We want to fix the problems, and we want to try to do our best to be effective by engaging with students, putting on events where they can attend, creating a safe space, and just letting them know [about] all the things that we are working on.

Also, building that trust with students so they know that they can come to us when they really need help.

Is there anything that you would like to say to students to encourage them or to inspire them for this coming year?

I would love to tell students: don’t be afraid to take the risks that will allow you to propel yourself to where you want to be in life, because the world is a big place and everyone is capable of so much.

I am always open for conversation. I am always here to listen, advocate, and support you.

Interview was edited for length and clarity.

Professor Profile //

Welcoming a new era of journalism Teaching future watchdogs to recognize societal trends before they happen STEVE HARTWIG Dr. Rashad Mammadov, head of UFV’s Communications department, has a vision for the future. He looks to further develop the university’s journalism program — putting UFV on the innovative edge of training multimedia journalists.

Professor Mammadov has more than 20 years of experience working in journalism and communications-related fields. During his career, he has witnessed the restructuring of the media industry starting in the 2000s. This drastic shift away from traditional media practices and toward the spawning of an online media age led to shutdowns of many major media outlets and forced thousands of employees to lose their jobs or choose alternative career paths.

While the new century has not been kind to journalism, Mammadov believes the industry has adapted and is ready to return to its place as the trusted watchdog of society.

“Journalism recognizes trends and problems in society before they happen, and then reports it. Journalists are key for a democracy and society to function properly,” Mammodov said.

Adopted on April 17, 1982, Section 2(b)

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of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that we all have the right to “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.” This is backed up more recently by a 2018 News Media Canada survey that suggested 94 percent of Canadians still believe journalism is important to democracy.

The Government of Canada stated in 2019 that Canadians must have access to informed, reliable journalism, but recognizes that the media landscape has drastically changed in the past decades. Canadians consume media differently now due to vast technological advancements and online environments, and this has forced the government to offer incentive packages attracting interest to a career in journalism.

“Responsible journalism follows ethics and standards, keeping the news accurate, balanced, and truthful,” Mammadov commented. “The lack of journalistic standards in the online world of social media and fake news has contributed to a need for the resurgence of credible media.

“Even with most information coming from non-traditional media sources, people still trust traditional media practices because we don’t tell them what to think,

we tell them what to think about.”

Mammadov outlined two important steps UFV will use to lay the foundation it needs to be a leader in training the new multimedia professionals of the future: UFV is finalizing the approval of a Communications major, and the creation of a Freelance Journalism minor is currently in the works. UFV is setting itself up to become an outlet for freelancers to meet an increasing need in the constantly evolving media landscape.

With support from local media organizations, Mammadov believes that a “deep pool” of freelance journalists can be created and maintained through UFV. The idea of freelance journalism as “minoring in a life passion” combined with the benefits of taking a degree major that is more mainstream, has better earning potential, and provides more career stability, is ideal.

“A specialist in other educational and professional fields having legitimate journalism training and accreditation offers a level of expertise not seen in traditional journalism. This is something we want to promote,” Mammadov said.

Learning how to recognize opportunities in the changing job market is also an important piece to building a successful career as a multimedia journalist. Current

journalism training does not include business development practices like marketing, graphic design, or user-interface design. But Mammadov thinks UFV can put it all together and offer programs meeting the demands of the marketplace.

The idea of freelance journalism is empowering because the individual has control over the stories they write and the angles they cover. While they must continue to adhere to submission guidelines, subject their work to editorial processes, and meet deadlines, freelance journalists have more freedom in the workplace than if they were to work for a traditional media outlet.

Freelancers can choose their workload and how they do their work. The organizational structures and locations, as well as the people they work with, can be significantly more flexible than traditional media jobs. Freelancers also have the potential to reach much larger audiences through publishing in a variety of outlets.

This can ultimately translate into the opportunity to earn more money.

Mammadov recommended another angle for professional development as a journalist. “We can all start by working to make ourselves, and the world, a better place. By the end of your UFV program you will be a better version of yourself.”

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

opinion@ufvcascade.ca Sydney Marchand — Opinion Editor

OPINION

Column //

Sex & Relationships: honeymoon feels Why you become clinically insane when you fall in love ANDREA SADOWSKI As Drew Barrymore’s character pronounced several times in the 2004 hit romcom 50 First Dates, there is nothing like a first kiss. We all know that feeling: when your heart skips a beat when your phone dings because you think it might be from them; when you find yourself thinking about them during the day, replaying the night you spent with them in your head; when you start to rearrange certain parts of your life because it would better accommodate them. These giddy, smitten, head-over-heels,feeling-some-kind-of-way feelings. Let’s see what's going on in our brains as these new feelings come crashing down on us like a tidal wave.

I’m sure you have heard of dopamine before. It is a neurotransmitter made in your brain when you are expecting a reward or something pleasurable to happen, felt strongly even in the anticipation of being able to touch their face again. Dopamine is one of the strongest positive motivators we can feel, and can even induce feelings of euphoria if you get enough of it. There are studies showing that dopamine plays a role in addiction, which may explain why sometimes it feels as if you are “addicted” to the person you’re falling for: you just can’t get enough of them.

Norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, walks hand-in-hand with dopamine, and it is also released into our brains when we first become attracted to someone. This is the chemical responsible for the “fight or flight” responses we feel in stressful situations. We all know that

familiar feeling of our hearts and minds racing, leaving us with a lack of appetite and surge of energy. It’s funny that this same set of feelings could apply when face-toface with a bear on a hiking trail, or the moment their hand reaches out for yours that first time. There is even evidence suggesting that norepinephrine can aid in treating certain psychiatric disorders like anxiety, depression, and even ADHD. Testosterone has been shown to increase sexual desire in both males and females. Yes, women have testosterone in their system too. Testosterone is one of the chemicals responsible for making us horny, along with others like estrogen and progesterone. Nitric oxide is the chemical that really gets the job done, though, as this is the neurotransmitter responsible for sending blood into our erectile tissues — ie. the penis or clitoris — in other words, it gives you boners.

Serotonin plays a large role in this chemical concoction we call love as well.

It differs in that while we get increases of dopamine, norepinephrine, testosterone,

Illustration by Danyka Van Santen

estrogen, and oxytocin (more on this coming up) while with (or thinking about) our love interest, our serotonin levels actually decrease. Serotonin is mostly found in the digestive system and is responsible for essential human functions like eating, sleeping, and regulating our moods.

Lastly, we have oxytocin, otherwise known as the “cuddle hormone,” as it is released during human-to-human contact activities like sex, hugs, breastfeeding, childbirth, and, of course, cuddling. This

chemical helps bond us together like glue, letting us become more attached to each other over time, encouraging monogamy, and increasing feelings of trust and intimacy. Oxytocin can also have effects on your physical health, as it can modify blood pressure and lower cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in your body.

Love is the hardest drug there is, so use it responsibly and stay safe out there.

Editorial //

Local vaccine mandates are nothing new ANDREA SADOWSKI On Sept. 28, Fraser Health hit Fraser Valley East (encompassing Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, Mission, and Agassiz/Harrison) with a brand new set of restrictions that make it increasingly inconvenient to continue life “as normal” for unvaccinated people.

Yes, these new restrictions are a measure to force people's hands to get vaccinated. But this isn’t just a Canada-wide issue. Every country on earth that is facing some kind of resistance to vaccination is enforcing different measures to ensure that people get vaccinated. This is so the pandemic can slowly come to an end.

What our regional health authorities are doing is nothing remarkable, and it is even lax compared to what other countries' restrictions have been. The bottom line is that these vaccine mandates make sense.

Certain workplaces in British Columbia like long-term care facilities, health-care facilities, and homeless shelters, will re-

quire their employees to be vaccinated, and honestly, why wouldn’t they mandate this sooner? These professions are working with the most vulnerable populations.

Health care workers already require proof of a myriad of vaccines, such as influenza and hep B vaccinations, so why is requiring proof of this vaccination any different?

Mandating the vaccine is no different than the countless other measures these agencies are doing to ensure the people they serve are protected, such as sanitizing surfaces and limiting visitations.

Mandated vaccines for Canadian healthcare workers and public servants are in line with many other countries around the world like Britain, Australia, France, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, and Russia.

Some countries like Kazakhstan are requiring either vaccination or weekly testing for those who work with 20 or more people. There are places like Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Fiji that require a fully vaccinated workforce, regardless of what line of work you’re in. Regardless of your stance on the vaccination, mandated workforce vaccines have proven to be effective in get-

ting people vaccinated; when people are faced with the choice between losing their job or getting the jab, the majority have chosen the latter.

While the biggest punishment here for not getting the vaccine is limited access to a number of public events such as indoor ticketed events, indoor sports, and gatherings of more than 10 people inside or 50 people outside. Places like Indonesia, where a shocking one in three citizens tested positive for COVID-19 this July, are enforcing vaccines by imposing heavy fines and rejecting social aid for those who refuse to get vaccinated.

Turkmenistan has also made COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all adults over 18, being the first country to do so, with exceptions only to those with medical contraindications. What’s interesting about this mandate is that the Central Asian country has yet to report an official case of COVID-19, yet its vaccine policy is one of the strictest in the world.

Places like Sydney, Australia are just beginning to reopen after being fully shut down (we’re talking a 9:00 p.m. curfew)

for the last three months because of a new Delta-variant outbreak, but their reopening is dependent on the vaccination milestones reached. In other words, everyone remains locked down until 70 per cent of residents over 16 are fully vaccinated. At the time of writing this article, 78 per cent of Abbotsford residents aged 12 and up have received two doses of the vaccine.

All that being said, we shouldn’t be shocked, scandalized, or surprised by these new regional mandates. The government wants you to get vaccinated for the safety of yourself and others. Get vaccinated if you haven’t already, educate yourself on the benefits of the vaccine, and inform your unvaccinated friends and family about why they should just get the shot already. We are not living in an oppressive government regime under the current mandates, but we do all rely on a public healthcare system that is already overburdened and overworked, so for the sake of all the burnt-out nurses who don’t want to see you hospitalized, get vaccinated.

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

OPINION World //

“We are not living, we are just alive”

What women’s lives under Taliban control will look like CHELSEA NOVAKOWSKI Just over a month ago, women in Kabul were free to take themselves to school, go for a bike ride with friends, or eat out at one of the delicious restaurants in the city. Fast forward to the present day and women are burning their degrees, hiding their sporting and music equipment, and deleting files which could implicate them in being part of the educated class.

As a researcher investigating women’s participation in sports in Afghanistan for my master’s degree, and as someone who has spent time in the country, this sudden takeover by the Taliban came as a complete shock. Not only was it surprising to myself, but to my Afghan friends who were forced to live through the horrors in real time. Many of them had not experienced the Taliban’s rule themselves, but the collective trauma from those years hung like a cloud over every woman’s head. Now they are forced to live out these nightmares in real time.

What the Taliban are now claiming — while the world’s spotlight is firmly focused on them — is that women’s rights will be honoured under Islamic law. Many people wonder what that means, and if the Taliban has changed from its past policies.

But for the Afghan people (and women in particular) the future is crystal clear — the Taliban are built on oppressing half the population through ruthless rule with no respect for the well-being of women.

In a document given to me by a confidential source working in the country, in November 2020 the Taliban — or the leadership of the newly conquered Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan — released a document outlining the criteria for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and

charities operating in the country. Regarding women’s rights, the Taliban outlined: “NGOs who take women out of their homes in the name of women’s economic empowerment, education, and sports programmes … are in no way acceptable … The [Taliban] is responsible for taking the necessary measures to prevent it.” The Taliban’s statement runs contrary to everything the Afghan people, the international community, and countless dollars — both aid and military — have worked toward.

At least $955 billion USD was spent in military expenditures and reconstruction projects by the U.S. Department of Defense alone from 2001 through 2020.

Turning to history, we can see what happened to women (and men) under Taliban rule. Afghanistan regressed in many development indicators, citizens reported they lived in abject poverty and most people lived with severe mental health issues.

This information is only derived from the limited studies conducted throughout this period (as only a handful of researchers were able to access the country) and before the advent of the smartphone. One can only imagine the true extent of what occurred and remains undocumented from those troubled times.

Now, it is evident that the Taliban intend to hold true to their warning of banning women from participating in sports. Most Afghan people, though, have no moral objection to women’s participation in life outside of the home, including sports activities. It would seem the main fear is the potential harm that could befall the girls who participate in sports. The Taliban claim this is to prevent any behaviour which could expose women in ways that could be contrary to the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam and how women should conduct themselves in light of this

interpretation. The Toronto Star reported that “the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has been replaced with a ministry for the ‘propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice.’” Virtuous women would, in the Taliban’s eyes, limit their dress, their behaviours (such as visiting friends in public, attending school, or going to the salon) and would serve men. For example, when I taught ice skating in the central mountains of Afghanistan and proceeded to do a figure skating trick, local men told me that my trick was impressive because I do it while serving tea. This anecdote highlights how entrenched the gender roles in Afghanistan are, and these roles are even more rigid according to the Taliban.

Some policies the Taliban and their members have endorsed include banning girls from attending high school, child and forced marriage, women being fully covered in public, and requiring a male chaperone to move around outside the home.

This will undoubtedly prevent women from accessing necessities such as medical care or participating in the workforce.

Taliban rule will have disastrous effects on the physical and mental health of the people, never mind the economic potential of the country. For many women, sports and educational activities provided a unique place to grow and develop as contributing members of society. Throughout my research, when asked why they participate in sports, women spoke of how proud they were to represent their country, learn new skills, and grow in confidence. These opportunities have presently evaporated.

Despite a 2019 survey in which 85 per cent of Afghans stated they have no sympathy for the Taliban, the remnants of Taliban rule swirled around the women of Kabul before the recent takeover. Some people held critical and harsh attitudes

toward women’s education and sports, while others praised the women for their strength and bravery. Women had to be careful, nimble, and diligent to participate in their various activities, but some could find ways to successfully navigate the barriers. Women felt motivated when men on the street gave them words of affirmation and encouragement. Now, the women will bear a burden too great and too dangerous to continue in these activities. One woman put it quite succinctly during my research — under Taliban rule "we are not living, we are just alive.”

Article 22 of the Afghanistan Constitution states that “the citizens of Afghanistan, man and woman, have equal rights and duties before the law.” This is most certainly a provision which the Taliban will not respect. The time is now to support Afghan leaders, such as Fawzia Koofi and Dr. Sima Samar, who are rising up in condemnation of the Taliban. It is also imperative to support NGOs who work with women in sports and education, such as Free to Run, which is supporting women athletes and also providing valuable life skills training for women.

We know what to expect from the Taliban regarding their treatment of women.

The one strength women may have to leverage is that because of the Taliban’s rigid beliefs about gender norms, women, and particularly women working together, can be much stronger than the Taliban could ever imagine. The international community must support women, condemn the Taliban, and never give up fighting for women’s futures. As one woman told me in my research, “if we have peace, we can do anything.”

Chelsea Novakowski. Ice skating. (Taylor Smith)

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BRIEF BITS OF BITE-SIZED BREVITY

SN S AP HO TS

CURTAILED COMMENTARY ON CURRENT CONDITIONS

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

Cupcakes are my superfood I found mid-pandemic that my energy levels started matching my motivation levels. I struggled to get out of bed in the mornings; I felt purposeless. I winded myself putting on my baggy, 1980s workout pants just thinking I might exercise. I was losing colour in my face, except for the blackened bags under my eyes, and my shaggy hair and beard were matted to the point that I gave up trying to brush them. COVID-19 restrictions stole everything: my sanity, my desire, and my six-pack.

That is, until the universe provided the cure to my pandemic blues. A new hope, like Star Wars, but with icing. I discov-

ered cupcakes at a local bakery-café I’d never visited before. I often dreamed of fluffy clouds and dense black forests, but to experience their culinary equivalent has been divine. I started getting out of bed with purpose — to discover what fruit or spice was atop that day’s creation. The icing stained colour into my face and beard. I used my own rhetoric of equivalency — for every workout I completed, a cupcake was my reward. My life has been transformed. Cupcakes are my superfood!

Steve Hartwig

The day the socials died My hand instinctively reaches for my bedside table as soon as my eyes open, and I see two Facebook Messenger notifications and four Instagram messages are patiently waiting for me in my inbox. Yet, Instagram won’t load.

I turn the app on and off again. Still nothing. I turn my phone on and off again. Still nothing. I get out of bed to make my coffee and try reloading the app again and again in different parts of the house, thinking it's my sketchybasement-suite-wifi. Nothing. I text someone. “Is this happening to you too?” “Yup, there’s a global shortage.

Google it, yo.” Dear God. How will I be influenced? How will I message all my friends? How will I update the 175 people who watch my Instagram story every day? How will I scroll through endless mounds of crap on Facebook Marketplace? How will I send funny memes to my group chats? How will I look at memes at all?! I calm myself and look for other ways to fill the void that is my life until I can enter the portal of influence once more.

Andrea Sadowski

“Good soup,” says the local senior When I’m not slaving away over a pile of textbooks, I work part-time at a local restaurant. And although I interact with a colourful array of people daily, the majority of my customers are seniors. These aren’t your typical grandparents, either — they are the 80+, broke out of the senior facility, forgot their name (bless their hearts), “make sure my vegetables are mushy” type of seniors. Yet, despite all of their quirks and questionable qualities, I will never understand their obsession with pipin’ hot soup.

Personally, my soup preferences hover comfortably around a warm temperature, because anything close to a boil and my mouth gets scorched and I can no longer enjoy it. But let me tell ya, these seniors must have mouths of

steel. The number of times I have to heat up their soup to a rolling boil (yes, this is their specific request) baffles me. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, either! 35-degree summer day?

Sounds like a perfect day to slurp down a flaming bowl of thick chowder, right?

Well, every geriatric in town seems to think so. Now that the weather is starting to change, this request is more and more frequent, and I’m dreading the anticipation of standing over a microwave every shift. This is my reminder to make sure to heat their soup into a bubbling pot of mouth-boiling, tastebuddestroying, cheek-blistering lava before I bring it to the table.

Sydney Marchand

Internet security sucks I’m sick and tired of internet security.

Norton 360 was my computer anti-virus program of choice for years, and it truly was like an overprotective mother — incessantly warning me about visiting websites, blocking downloads, and sometimes even making regular programs not work. I had to disable it to play The Sims, Sims, for god’s sake.

But this sort of non-user-friendly security is pervasive nowadays. Trying to log into a Gmail account on a different computer than normal can be a pain when it’s constantly marking it as suspicious activity and asking to text or call you with a security code to allow you access to your own email. I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m not

exactly emailing the launch codes to nuclear missiles.

And don’t get me started on UFV’s new Outlook system. No matter how many times I ask it (beg it, actually) to remember my login, it refuses, and every day without fail it asks to text/call my cell with a code. UFV Outlook is a cruel god, and I have no choice but to submit to its whims. Internet security is all fine and dandy until it’s regularly blocking users from the interface and being a nuisance. Here’s the security code since you want it so bad, Outlook; you know where to shove it.

Chandy Dancey

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

Feature //

Fermentation frenzy Cascade Editorial Board

Beer, kombucha, bread, yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, you name it — it’s fermented food. Fermentation comes in many different forms, but generally follows a process of allowing microbial enzymes to make changes to organic substances (i.e. food).

Historically, fermentation was a way for ancient civilizations to preserve foods, but more recently, this food preparation process has taken centre stage for its proposed health benefits, most notably gastro-intestinal health from all those tasty probiotics.

The process of fermentation requires careful attention and a close relationship with food — adding depth to the process of preparation. Whether it’s knowing what smells to look out for, what ingredients to use, or the temperament of yeast, it is a truly fascinating method of food preparation.

The Cascade spoke to a few local makers to get their take on why fermented foods are so unique and what they love about them, and even shared a few recipes so you can start fermenting foods yourself at home.

Sourdough Andrea Sadowski

April Nickel, a UFV Computer Information Systems alumna, made her first loaf of sourdough back in March of 2019. It all started when a visitor from Manitoba came to stay with her family for some time and he brought his sourdough starter with him. Nickel was appalled at this man’s outrageous schedule revolving around his precious sourdough that saw him waking up at 4:00 a.m. to bake the perfect loaf. Yet, when she tried it, she was hooked. It was the best bread she had ever tasted. Not wanting to wake up at 4:00 a.m, Nickel and her sister-in-law did some research and found the perfect sourdough “method” that works for them. Nickel was kind enough to show The Cascade her whole process.

While a starter is best gifted to connect you with others in the sourdough community, it is incredibly simple to make your own.

Sourdough starter is made up of just flour and water, colonizing the wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria naturally through daily “feedings.”

Which flour you use is completely up to you. There are a plethora of flours to choose from. Nickel’s kitchen has shelves of every type of flour you could imagine — whole wheat, durum, pastry, spelt, buckwheat, kamut, and rye. You name it — she’s got it. She even grew a crop of red fife and rye this summer to grind using a small countertop grain mill.

Start by adding equal parts flour and water to a jar; a good amount would be 50 grams of each. An important aspect of making a starter (and baking in general) is to always measure your ingredients by weight, not by volume.

Sourdough starter is alive and active; the natural yeast and bacteria need to be constantly fed new carbohydrates to stay alive. Feeding your starter simply means adding more flour and water to the jar. Be sure to discard a little every time you feed it so that you don’t end up with a giant mass of starter. Feed it one or two times a day when you are first giving it life, and keep it at room temperature, but a little on the warmer side.

You will know it’s alive because of the bubbles, smell, and texture.

It helps to make a starter in a glass jar or container so that you can see bubbles forming at the top, bottom, and throughout the jar. The yeasty, tangy smell also indicates a “ripe” starter. Its texture will become incredibly soft and moist, with the bubbles reminiscent of an almost honeycomb-like texture.

Sourdough bread. 2021. (April Nickel) Vicky Ng _unsplash.com/photos/v-NTfoHSg0E

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After a few weeks of daily feedings, you can store your starter in the fridge. Nickel keeps her mason jar of starter in the fridge and now only feeds her starter before she is going to use it. She likes to feed her starter twice before baking because she doesn’t like really sour sourdough. The less you feed it, the more sour it will become.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

“People will often follow very strict rules,” says Nickel, “often because they were taught those rules by someone else and think ‘this is the only way to do sourdough,’ and that’s silly. Some people bring in ratios and percentages when it comes to feeding and discarding starter, but that doesn’t really matter. It’s so simple to keep.”

Nickel does advise, however, that you flush your discarded starter down the toilet, as it will go rancid quickly in the compost or garbage and will harden and clog up your sink if you try to wash it down the drain.

Better yet, gift the discard to someone else, being sure to feed the new starter before giving it away so it remains active.

“It’s not incredibly difficult,” says Nickel. “It’s just time, flour, and water. Time is the biggest thing. I think with society in general, we’re a very instant gratification type of people.”

The other thing about baking sourdough or bread, Nickel explains, is that you don’t call the instructions a “recipe.” You call it a method or a process because you can tweak it a lot. Nickel found the easiest method to follow was from UK food blogger Elaine Boddy, who prides herself in keeping sourdough simple and accessible.

April Nickel’s sourdough method

Step one: Add your ingredients to a bowl.

Start by taking some of your starter from the jar, feeding it, and leaving it to sit on the counter overnight. When you’re ready to start making your dough, measure 50 grams of starter into a bowl.

Add 350 grams of water to the starter, a 70 per cent hydration ratio to flour.

Add 500 grams of flour to the bowl.

Nickel likes to make 10 per cent of her flour whole wheat. She uses 450 grams of all purpose flour and 50 grams of whole wheat flour.

Sourdough starter. 2021. (April Nickel) Finally, add 10 grams of salt, a crucial ingredient that plays a very important role in baking bread.

Step two: Mix your ingredients.

The initial mixture will be shaggy, meaning the ingredients will be just combined but not a perfect ball of dough. Nickel uses a tool called a danish dough mix to mix the four ingredients together, but there is no need to go buy fancy tools. Just use a regular wooden spoon.

Step three: Stretch and fold your dough.

Nickel follows a no-knead process called “stretch and fold.”

This action is undertaken exactly as it sounds — by simply stretching out the dough, folding it over a couple of times, and then letting the dough rest. Aim to stretch and fold once every half hour for two hours. This method builds strength and tension in the dough without having the hassle of kneading it. The ball of dough will become shinier, smoother, and more ball-like each time you stretch and fold it. Leave your stretched and folded dough in the bowl overnight, covered with a damp tea towel. Leave it on the kitchen counter in the winter and in the fridge during the hot summer months.

Step four: Shape your dough.

In the morning, you will shape your dough. Nickel shapes her dough in a banneton bread basket, but don’t fret if you don’t have a special bread basket.

Simply put a clean, dry tea towel in another bowl and sprinkle a bunch of flour on the towel so that the dough doesn’t stick. Do another gentle round of stretch and folds to bring your dough baby into a ball, flip it gently over into one hand, and plop it back down (gently) into the second bowl, same side down as it was in the first bowl. Cover the bowl with the damp tea towel and leave it out to proof (let it rise a final time) for another few hours, until you are ready to bake it.

Nickel likes to shape her dough in the morning, after it has been proofing all night, and then bakes it in the evening when she comes home from work. Keep in mind, the longer you leave the dough sitting, the more sour it’s going to be.

Sourdough bread. 2021. (April Nickel)

Step five: Score and bake your dough.

When you’re ready to bake, you can choose to preheat your oven or not. Nickel follows Boddy’s method in that she puts her bread in a cold oven, which saves heating energy and is very convenient, as pre-heating is an all-too-often forgotten first step in recipes. Set your oven to 450°F.

“It’s not incredibly difficult. It’s just time, flour, and water. Time is the biggest thing. I think with society in general, we’re a very instant gratification type of people.” - April Nickel 9

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

Line a dutch oven, roasting pan, or any other bigenough vessel that has a lid, with parchment paper.

Sprinkle more flour overtop of your shaped dough and flip the ball out onto the parchment paper, floured side down. Now, it’s time for scoring. Use a razor blade or a very sharp knife to cut scores into the dough. This is just a way of conducting the tears that the bread is going to make anyway as the steam escapes it during baking.

Nickel has a lot of fun scoring pretty designs into the tops of her bread, but you can keep it simple with just a straight line. You can also choose not to score it for a more rustic look.

Bake in your covered vessel for 50 minutes, until the top looks crispy and golden. Be sure to keep the lid on the whole time to keep the steam in which lets it rise better. Once it’s done baking, take the bread out of the pan by lifting the loaf up with the parchment paper and placing it on a cooling rack. While it may be tempting to cut into the freshly baked, steaming bread right away, Nickel advises to wait until it is fully cooled to cut into it, as it is still technically cooking as it cools. If you dig in right away, it affects the texture, making it slightly gummy.

Making sourdough from scratch requires time, patience, and planning. It has a very scientific, yet flexible process. Bread making can be used as a mindfulness practise, as it requires clear, methodological thought as well as creative flexibility. You can make sourdough at home yourself with just flour, water, and salt.

Koji fermentation Sydney Marchand

While many businesses struggled and shut down throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff Koop took an unexpected employment shift to refocus his goals and start a company that focuses on sourcing from local farmers while incorporating unique culinary techniques. Koop decided to take the plunge and create Koop Foods, offering a variety of plant-based dressings, sauces, dips, and juices throughout the Lower Mainland and Greater Vancouver Area.

After working in the food industry for many years, food intolerances and allergies were not uncommon requests on Koop’s radar.

Gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, canola oil-free, nut-free, corn-free, and keto, just to name a few, continue to rapidly increase diet restrictions in our world today.

“I wanted my products to be enjoyed by as many people as possible that can cover all the most common dietary restrictions we see today in 2021,” Koop said.

According to Koop, the key to success with many plant-based products is to create a strong umami flavour. This is typically described as the pleasant, savoury component of amino acids that our taste buds crave, but it can be a challenge to accomplish without the use of animal, gluten, or soy products.

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Jeff Koop’s spicy kohlrabi pickle Ingredients

Step 4: Put a small plate or lid directly on the surface of the pickles and then place a weight on top of that to keep the kohlrabi submerged in the brine.

1 large kohlrabi, peeled 1 Thai chili, stemmed and minced 1 litre water 3 tbsp + 1 tsp salt

Method

Step 5: Seal the container and ferment at room temperature for 5 - 7 days.

Step 1: Prepare brine by whisking together salt, water, and Thai chili.

Step 2: Cut kohlrabi in half and then slice into 1 cm thick pieces.

Step 3: Add kohlrabi to brine in a container big enough to hold everything plus a little extra room.

Step 6: Remove the plate and weight and then keep Kohlrabi. 2021. (Sydney Marchand/The Cascade) the pickled vegetables refrigerated and use as needed.

“I had to find a creative, cost-effective strategy to add a boost of umami to foods without corn, soy, and wheat,” Koop said; this is when he revisited his culinary teachings and turned to fermentation.

A staple fermented product Koop makes is shio koji — a traditional Japanese fermented rice seasoning similar to miso.

Essentially, it starts with a mold fermentation process that creates koji cultures. It’s not a lactic acid (like kimchi) or yeast (like alcohol) fermentation that we typically see; it’s very unique and can take as little as one or two weeks to ferment. The koji cultures are created when grains are inoculated with mold spores and then added with water and salt for a second fermentation. Depending on how long it is fermented, it can take on different textures and can be an incredibly useful ingredient to add a strong umami flavour to products. This is added to many of Koop Foods’ salad dressings and sauces for an extra delish kick.

With koji rice especially, it is important to look out for obvious signs of contamination or spoilage. Black mold is obviously bad news, but there are other types of white molds that can also indicate the product has gone bad. Therefore, learning from someone

Juices. 2021. (Sydney Marchand/ The Cascade)

with experience in this type of fermentation is always ideal, as they can teach you these “red flags” first hand and provide you with insight into the process.

“You use all your senses,” Koop explained; “Of course, if something smells bad, you don’t use it. You learn over time.”

“As a chef, the closer you get to the growing process, the better the food tastes, and the closer you get to the farmer and producers, the more it shows up on the plate. Learning about ingredients as living things is incredibly complicated, and if you’re open-minded and curious then you’ll quickly realize that there is nothing better than being immersed in the process.”

Be sure to follow Koop Foods (@koop.foods) on Instagram and check out their website to keep up to date with vendor locations and new creations. For those of us who are just starting our fermentation journey, Koop has provided a basic lactic acid pickle recipe.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

culture@ufvcascade.ca Steve Hartwig — Culture Editor

Column //

Vegan leather is here, there, and everywhere

CULTURE

Column //

Cascade Kitchen: Weeknight pizza

A new take on faux garments RACHEL TAIT This season, there has been a noticeable increase in the appearance of faux suede and leather jackets in stores around Abbotsford. Sometimes coined vegan leather, there are many variations of this stylish outerwear, and it can come in both long and short style jackets. While vegan leather is an interesting name for faux leather, it is also interesting to note that, according to the Cambridge dictionary, being vegan includes not wearing leather, which makes this term a little ironic.

However, this iconic fall piece is not made from animal-derived leather or any other animal byproducts. In fact, it is the equivalent of a plastic coat, theoretically. Faux leather coats are usually made from man-made synthetic materials such as polyester, polyurethane, polyvinyl, and spandex, depending on the jacket. While these man-made materials look and feel like leather, they are not made from the hides of animals and are sometimes machine washable.

A faux suede or leather piece in your wardrobe is a staple piece that can dress up an outfit or be dressed down for a casual day out. As a flattering trend, vegan leather can be worn by anyone no matter their age, gender, or body type. These pieces can be worn over a hoodie and jeans for a casual look, or dressed up with black dress pants and a cozy sweater for a more put-together look.

A cheaper alternative to genuine leather jackets, these fashionable coats and jackets are taking the world by storm. These pieces can be found in several stores in the Fraser Valley and online, such as Ricki’s, Bootlegger, Suzy Shier, H&M and Banana Republic. What is perhaps the best fea-

ture of these garments is how soft and comfortable they are, especially if they are made from faux suede, as faux suede feels more buttery and soft, while faux leather has a more smooth and sleek texture.

Looking at different stores in the Sevenoaks Shopping Centre, there are a variety of different styles and fits in faux leather coats that would be flattering. Two that stood out from the women’s fashion were the neutral light brown moto jacket from Bootlegger, and, for the more adventurous palette, there is the rose-coloured trench coat from Ricki’s. Both are extremely soft and versatile pieces that could be paired with many outfits for different occasions.

Some options for men include a hooded brown stand up collar jacket from Bootlegger and a faux leather aviator Guess coat from the Bay. Usually, vegan leather apparel falls at a lower price point than genuine leather and they look just as luxurious when worn over an outfit. To give you an idea, a vegan leather jacket can range from $90 - $200 or more, depending on the store, while real leather jackets and coats can cost anywhere between $300 - $1,000, which can be equivalent to or more expensive than a course at UFV for a domestic student.

While there are many nice coats and jackets made from faux leather and suede, they also come in vests for the in-between days. Faux leather vests at Suzy Shier come in white, black, and brown. These vests are sleek, trendy, and can add class to a casual outfit for school. As the Fall days become cooler and brisker, investing in faux leather or suede outerwear can help keep the chill out this semester and keep you looking cool in the cold months to come.

Pizza. 2021. (Chandy Dancey/The Cascade)

CHANDY DANCEY The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column 2. Add olive oil and warm water and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. that brings you budget-friendly recipes and cooking tips. Check back weekly for something new to try in 3. Add another 1 cup of flour gradually, adding additional flour as needed. I use my the kitchen, or if you want to see your own recipe feahands to mix this. The consistency you’re tured next, get started by reaching out to looking for is a dough ball that’s slightly culture@ufvcascade.ca. sticky but is still manageable and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Pizza; I repeat, weeknight pizza. This no-knead dough from Sugar Spun Run comes together in 4. Drizzle some olive oil in a separate bowl, coating all sides of the bowl. Transfer your 40 minutes, letting you cook all your toppings dough ball to this bowl and coat it with oil. while it rises. It’s fun to make with friends or a Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic loved one, easy, customizable, and cheaper than wrap and keep it in a warm place to rise for you think! The topping featured in this recipe 30 minutes or until doubled in size. is a personal favourite — garlicky spinach and 5. Preheat your oven to 425°F and add your shrimp pizza. spinach to a pan on medium heat with oil.

6. Cook the spinach until it wilts, then add Prep time: 1 hour your shrimp. If the shrimp is bought preServes: 4 cooked, it needs only to be warmed up before adding your garlic and cooking for an Ingredients: additional 2-3 minutes or until fragrant. If Dough your shrimp is raw, cook it until the flesh is 2 to 2 1/3 cups all-purpose or bread flour pinky and opaque before adding your gar1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant yeast lic. Add salt and pepper to taste.

1 1/2 tsp sugar 7. Once the dough has risen, use your hands 3/4 tbsp salt to deflate it and transfer it to a well-floured 1/4 tbsp each garlic powder and oregano (or surface. Knead it until smooth (only 3-5 dried basil) times, don’t worry). Use your hands or a 2 tbsp olive oil rolling pin to roll it into the correct size for 3/4 cup warm water your pizza pan.

8. Transfer your dough to an oiled or parchToppings ment paper-lined pan and fold over the 2 cups spinach, washed edges to create a crust.

1 clove garlic, minced 1 cup shrimp, shelled and deveined with tail off 9. Use a fork to poke holes all over the base of the pizza to prevent bubbling when cook1 small can of pizza sauce ing. Spread a generous layer of pizza sauce, 1 ball of mozzarella cheese (~340g) , shredded shredded mozzarella, and your toppings.

Arrange the shrimp so there’s some love in Method: each slice!

1. Combine 1 cup flour and the instant yeast, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and oregano in a 10. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the toppings are golden brown. Slice, serve, and enjoy! large bowl.

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

CULTURE UFV //

Beyond Orange Shirt Day The truth of three generations of residential school survivors with Phyllis Webstad VALENTINA BETANCOURT Phyllis Webstad spoke on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Sept. 30, at 11:30 a.m. at the Fraser Valley Heritage Park in Mission. The Heritage Park is on the grounds right behind where she attended the former St. Mary’s Indian Residential School.

Webstad is a third-generation residential school survivor and the creator of Orange Shirt Day; a day of remembrance in Canada to commemorate and honour Indigenous children who experienced residential schools. Webstad published a book called Beyond the Orange Shirt Story, which tells the story of three generations of her family and was released Sept. 1, 2021.

The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is a federal statutory holiday for the first time in 2021. The holiday was approved by Parliament on June 5, after Bill C-5 received royal assent after passing unanimously in the Senate. The event encourages Canadians to learn more about

the ongoing impacts and history of residential schools.

At the event, Webstad talked about her book Beyond the Orange Shirt Story and discussed the collection of stories from her family and friends before, during, and

“It didn’t matter how much I protested or told them I wanted it back.

They didn’t listen,” after residential school. The event gave people a close-up view of what life was for many survivors before and after their resi-

dential school experiences.

Orange Shirt Day honours how Webstad had her orange shirt taken away from her on her first day of residential school.

Residential schools were church-run, government-funded schools that functioned between 1831 and 1997. More than 150,000 Métis, Inuit, and Indigenous children were forced to attend these residential schools.

“I remember lots of crying and the feeling of terror, pee-your-pants terror, when my clothing, including my new orange shirt, was taken. It didn’t matter how much I protested or told them I wanted it back.

They didn’t listen,” said Webstad.

At the event, Agnes Jack, aunt to Webstad, said, “The priests and the nuns, they made us believe that they were doing good things for us, especially the priests and the brothers.”

Jack compared residential schools to prison: “I thought my heart just seemed to jump in my throat. I got all choked up thinking I am going to prison. Someone must have told me what prison was about

when I was little, and I could feel my heart just beating and wondering what I was coming to.”

Children at residential schools were physically, psychologically, and sexually abused.

“I thought the church, the pope, the head of the Catholic church, should have apologized for what had taken place because that is who was creating — was abusing and hurting emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally hurting the children here in the school and, it seems, having no conscience about it. I thought the church should have apologized as well,” said Jack.

The Department of Canadian Heritage encourages Canadians to learn, reflect, and educate themselves on the legacy of residential schools. UFV was closed on Sept. 30 to allow employees and students to attend events related to truth and reconciliation. Sept. 30 is now known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to recognize those who survived residential schools and remember those who did not.

UFV //

Campus Engagement Expo saw over 30 clubs and associations Expo “felt more intimate, more social, more connected,” said Student Life Coordinator DANAYE REINHARDT The Campus Engagement Expo (formerly U-Join) took place on Sept. 29 at the Abbotsford campus and Oct. 6 at the Chilliwack campus, showcasing over 30 clubs, associations, and services at UFV. The Student Union Society and myCampusLife hosted an in-person event for students to discover club events, volunteer opportunities, and UFV services at the event booths. Booths included the Islamic Relief club, Kinesiology Student Association, College of Arts, UFV HOPE, Physics Student Association, and many others. Students could spin a wheel for prizes with University Christian Ministries, answer cow trivia at the Agriculture Tech table, and win ice cream with UFV Study Abroad.

Sheila McKay, Operations Coordinator in Student Engagement, explained that the initial plan was to host the Abbotsford Expo outside on the Green, but due to rainy weather, it took place in three different areas of Building B. “It worked out for the best,” McKay said. “I think that it had a really neat feeling to it. It felt more intimate, more social, more connected.” The smaller spaces, she said, allowed shy or overwhelmed students to engage more comfortably at the event.

“I try to really think about who’s not at the door and why they’re not there,” she continued. “It’s really important to me to create events that are open to all students and that feel comfortable for all students.”

Last year, the Expo took place virtually, with each club or association hosting Zoom calls for students

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to join. Unfortunately, it saw little student engagement. For McKay, COVID-19 revealed that some things needed to change for campus culture. She believes they are still fighting the commuter campus attitude.

“COVID-19 awoke within me the realization that now our students are off-campus (and how do I reach them?), but yet our students have always been off-campus,” she said. “We need to be reaching students where they are, not where we think they need to be. That hybrid piece of what came out of COVID-19 is going to stay with us.”

This year rivaled past in-person Expos, with 33 booths at the Abbotsford Expo and 18 at the Chilliwack Expo. McKay found that it had an overall feeling of energy. Clubs, associations, and services were excited to personally connect with students after a year of virtual events. It signified a hopeful year for student events and opportunities.

“I would love [to talk to] people who are not at the door or who don’t feel comfortable attending events, or maybe have some thoughts about what they’d like to see,” McKay said. “My job is to try and build community here. If I can’t talk to you, how do I do that when I don’t know what you want or need?”

Students can find Sheila McKay and other myCampusLife workers at the Student Life lounge in Building S of the Abbotsford campus or Building A of the Chilliwack campus. Students can also contact McKay directly at sheila.mckay@ufv.ca. To see events hosted by clubs and associations, go to mycampuslife.ufv.ca.

“AND NOW THIS” - CALEB CAMPBELL

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

STUDY BREAK Crossword //

Made by Steve Hartwig

ACROSS

DOWN

1. The scientific study of human body movement 4. General and specific care for patients

2. Study of the nature and behaviour of natural things and the knowledge that we obtain about them

6. Making one’s living by engaging in commerce

5. Relating to the teeth

8. The study of crime and deviant behaviour

7. The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence

3. The spread or exchange of information or news

9. Artistic disciplines including painting, sculpture, print, and photography 11. A collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers

10. Skilled jobs, one requiring manual skills and special training

12. A social science that studies how people interact with values, goods, and wealth Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.55) Sudoku //

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2 2

8

3

6

1

1

5

4

5

7

9

4

3

LAST ISSUE’S

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ANSWERS: Across: 3. Spanish 5. Mandarin 7. Malay 8. Russian 9. Bengali 10. English

Down: 1. French 2. German 4. Portuguese 6. Arabic 11. Hindi

Horoscopes //

Your weekly life predictions as told by Shiva the Sage

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 You, dear Aries, are a naturally motivated sign. You’ll want to take advantage of this when studying by time blocking — meaning to create study time in your schedule by dividing your day into blocks of time meant for accomplishing different tasks. Remember to take breaks often so you don’t burn out.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 The cards say to stop reading this or you’ll have a streak of bad luck this week. Seriously, stop. Okay, that’s enough. You need to control yourself. STOP.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 Given your wide social circle, take advantage of study groups as you prepare for the last half of the semester. Get your most studious friends together (virtually or in person) and you’ll find that it scratches your itch for connection while allowing you to avoid falling behind.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 Moods tend to ebb and flow with you, little Cancer, which can make regular study time hard to plan. Instead, motivate yourself to study by making it fun: listen to instrumental music, find ways to apply the material to your own life, and colour code everything

1 2

4

1

9

7

6

6

2

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3

5 6

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 9 16:56:56 2021 GMT. Enjoy!

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 You’re known for being broad-minded and boisterous, so make use of that in your studies by asking lots of questions during lectures (we know you’re not shy), getting your money’s worth out of office hours, and even considering tutoring.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 The key to unlocking your full study potential is to create structure in your routine because you thrive on it; once you know what needs to get done, you’re not afraid to put in the work.

Create a study schedule to stick to, time block your days, and break larger assignments into smaller, manageable tasks you can cross off as you go.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 Let’s face it: you’re prone to distractions, Sagittarius. Instead of trying to change that, try to work around it. Study for chunks of time before taking a break like with the Pomodoro technique, reduce intimidating assignments into smaller tasks, and turn off your phone when you break out the books (or use website-blocking apps to stay off social media)

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 You have streaks of competitiveness in your studies, Capricorn, which can be a great motivator when studying — just make sure to take breaks and not base your self-worth on academic success. Otherwise, when it comes to studying, get in the habit of regularly reviewing material after your classes, and practice spaced repetition of studying so you can create a better work-life balance.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 Studying with others is a great idea for you, Libra, but just be aware you’re also prone to distractions. Eliminate anything that might get you off track, and tap into your sociable nature by having others run through flashcards with you, paraphrasing the material in your own words, and explaining the concepts to others.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 Solo-studying is likely what works for you best, o’ independent Aquarius, but also consider matching your inventiveness to your study routine by getting creative. Try mind mapping all you know about a subject, drawing diagrams or visuals, or even listening to music to mix things up.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 You like to study last minute, Scorpio. It works for you, but there are ways to improve the art of procrastination. If you want to put off studying, try exercising or cleaning instead to get you in a productive mindset. And when you actually want to hit the books, entice yourself with the goal of only studying for a short period of time. Make study sessions short but consistent.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 You’re a daydream-y sign, Pisces, so to keep you on track, try something like the Pomodoro technique when studying. Force yourself to focus only on studying for a specified amount of time (like 25 minutes) before taking a short five minute break, then repeat. This gives you the best of both worlds: keeping up with classes while also letting yourself be the imaginative water sign you are.

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

ARTS

arts@ufvcascade.ca Vriti Sehgal — Arts Editor

Album //

CHARTS 1 Homeshake

Under The Weather

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SHUFFLE AARON LEVY BUTT MUNCHER

CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy serves up a few of his favourite Fraser Valley Music Awards (FVMA) artists and more from the last year Ada Lea as he encourages you to apply at one hand on the steering fvma.civl.ca before Oct. 18 for this wheel the other sewing a year's edition! garden

Retrograde

Mauvey - “The Bull” Mauvey's rhythmic, downtempo love song posits himself as the proverbial "bull" in the so-called "china shop" of one's heart and mind. He performed this one during the Jam in Jubilee video stream last year.

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Ok Vancouver OK Never Perfect

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Mauve Shining Gold (single)

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Great Aunt Ida Unsayable

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Missy D some relatively raunchy lanDelete My Number (sin- guage on not only this, but a gle) whole bevvy of danceable,

Kid Filthy - “ME&MINE” There are filthy beats and

9 Echo Beach Salted

10 Saturnine Sighs Saturnine Sights

11 Still Woozy

hummable, shareable tunes from Kid Filthy. He also played Jam in Jubilee's one-off popup outdoor concert event in Mill Lake Park this past summer, and bills himself as Vancouver's answer to Drake, nee Aubrey.

If This Isn't Nice, I Don't Summer Crush - “I Missed Know What Is You”

12 Cartel Madras

The performance of this song brand new Abbotsfordbased punk trio Summer Crush in front of the wall of guitars The Halluci Nation One More Saturday Night presented at Long and McQuade's makes clear that there is a new punk vibe in town, Mannequin Pussy and it's not to be “missed” in Perfect EP the future.

The Serpent And The Tiger by

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15 Cabela and Schmitt

Glisha - “Staycation”

The Perfect Answer (single) This song, go figure, was part

16 Choices Made

Reason for Conflict (EP)

17 Sue Foley

Pinky's Blues

18 Tommy Keyes

Radio Days (single)

19 Dr.Know

Killing for God

20 ghosthands a subtle difference 14

West’s highly anticipated album disappoints fans

DijahSB Head Above The Waters

4 Parlour Panther

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Kanye West’s Donda: a huge let-down

of Glisha's Jam in Jubilee video stream this summer, and maybe even resembles Estelle's “American Boy” in it's globetrotting locale call-outs from Tokyo, Taiwan, Sydney, and more. Extra marks for the well-utilized ad-libs that Glisha peppers into her verses throughout this catchy song.

VRITI SEHGAL Kanye West released Donda, his most ambitious album yet, on August 29. Named after West’s late mother, Donda, the 27-track album’s listening party at Soldier Field in Chicago was so extravagant and excessive that it generated a lot of social media hype and gathered public attention. And, like most Kanye fans, I let all this publicity trick me into believing that Donda might become the biggest album of 2021.

The album’s listening party featured a replica of West’s childhood home, complete with a cross on the roof, which was precisely curated for Kanye’s performance, using the house’s front porch as his stage. The concert started with images of the late Donda West flashing across the screens as the stadium filled with a chant of her name. But the perfect conclusion to this listening party was when the rapper and his (soonto-be-ex) wife, Kim Kardashian West, supposedly reenacted their wedding vows on stage, as the song “No Child Left Behind” played in the background, sparking rumors of KimYe’s reconciliation. Kanye certainly went above and beyond at the listening party, only to successfully create false expectations amongst his fans for the new album.

At only 52 seconds long, “Donda Chant” was the first and shortest song in the album, paying homage to his late mother. It is followed by “Jail,” which fans speculate is West talking about his marriage with Kardashian, using lyrics like “You made a choice that's your bad, single life ain't so bad” as their marriage hit the rocks.

Throughout the entirety of the album, West talks about Christianity and how he sought comfort in his faith after the passing of his mother.

He embraces his religious side and lets his fans see him in a whole new light. This is evident in his song titles “Praise God,” “Jesus Lord,” and

“Heaven and Hell,” which were all derived from biblical concepts. The rapper also highlights themes of compassion and forgiveness in his song “Jonah,” named after a Louisville artist who was shot and killed in August 2020. “Jonah” manages to explore these ideas with the use of lines like “Know how it feel to lose a brother, we got a bond still / 26 years, pops got out to see his son killed / … I see blood still” to refer to the late artist. He talks about the story of Jonah from the Bible and how he was able to receive forgiveness from God. In a nutshell, the entire album is just Kanye highlighting his own unique relationship with God, which might come across to some people as an extortion of God’s name. But I view it as a devotee’s expression of gratitude to his god, in a way that might be unfamiliar to people but is personal to them.

What the album does well is have impeccable lyric work. But what stands out the most is that it featured many notable artists that worked on the tracks along with Ye. Artists like Playboi Carti, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, and Kid Cudi were featured in the album. The fans were especially excited to see Jay-Z and Kanye join forces to work on the song “Jail.”

While Donda is a satisfying mixture of hip-hop and gospel music, it ultimately failed to hit the mark. Although it was highly inspired by West’s personal life and the tracks had some very wellwritten lyrics, the album just felt never-ending and unnecessarily long. Almost half-way into every song I had to fight back the urge to skip to the next one.

West’s Donda felt forced, and the tempos switched drastically in many songs, almost making tracks sound like two completely different songs. Clocking in at nearly two hours, the album was very hard to pay attention to and was a true test of your patience. Unfortunately, the new album by Ye was a huge let-down to those eagerly waiting for its arrival.

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

ARTS Movie //

M. Night Shyamalan’s new film gets Old fast CHANDY DANCEY Old, an M. Night Shyamalan film, was released in theatres July 23. The premise was adapted from a graphic novel called Sandcastle where a series of vacationers spend their day on a secluded beach only to realize it’s somehow causing them to age rapidly, “reducing their entire lives into a single day,” according to IMDB. While this premise is genuinely interesting for a thriller, its execution suffers greatly.

This film was a rollercoaster of plot holes, viewer frustration, and odd script choices. But before we dive into that, let me walk you through my first thought after leaving the theatre: M. Night Shyamalan loves his women. And if you love women too, rest assured that the male gaze is alive and well in this film. With a movie taking place next to the ocean, and given that it’s directed by Shyamalan, expect gratuitous, lingering shots of halfnaked women as they get into the water or wander around the beach. Or even a supposed 15-year old girl who’s now “outgrown” her bathing suit since arriving at the beach (okay, that example’s a lot more creepy since she’s supposed to be under-

aged). Don’t get me wrong: everyone can appreciate a good-looking human being; it’s just that the sexualized shots were unnecessary and felt at odds with the tension and drama Shyamalan was building.

The second thought immediately following the first after leaving the theatre: wait, what the fuck? So many aspects about this movie failed to make sense, leaving it riddled with plot holes. Shyamalan strives to answer the big questions, like why the beach causes them to age (with some hand-waving), why they can’t leave, or what happens to babies born on the beach. Other questions, however, are left obviously unanswered. For example: one character astutely offers a means of escape — everyone takes small steps over several hours through the cave opening leaving the beach, allowing their bodies to acclimate to aging slower. This is promptly never explored or attempted. Another example is that the movie explores the horrors of rapid pregnancy and labour, but not the fact that characters with uteruses should have periods every couple minutes if they’re aging fast. Or that if you hold your breath for a minute you’d probably die.

Another problem with fitting so many

ideas around aging into one movie with events happening in a single day is that you don’t really get to know the characters. The plot unravels at whiplash-inducing speeds where one shocking incident after another is happening, leaving little time to process things in between. Instead of getting attached to characters, there’s little time to get to know them or care about them before they’re killed off; each one is just continuously reacting to traumatic events. Because of how fast-paced Old is, it’s difficult to become emotionally invested in anything happening on screen.

As for the script, I have two words: it’s clunky. Dialogue feels stunted and odd, likely mixing bad acting together with a script that doesn’t feel authentic or human.

The writing fails to capture the fluidity and dynamicness that is human speech, and fails to pair the writing with actors that can make the script shine despite its flaws. Additionally, the two parent protagonists, Guy and Prisca, are played by actors with heavy accents, making it hard to understand everything they’re saying.

Those with hearing or auditory processing difficulties would benefit from watching it out-of-theatres with a service that

offers subtitles.

Old was a bad movie released at the right time: countless lives have been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many others have considered their own mortality in wake of the virus. M. Night Shyamalan’s film was rich in potential with its themes of aging, body horror, and disease, but there was little takeaway at the end. The concept of aging was the main theme, but the movie failed to offer any kind of narrative on what it means to age or to truly live — or even what it’s like to live with a debilitating health condition. What was gained by the few characters that survived after witnessing death, illness, and murder? Old felt more concerned with shock-value than providing a meaningful message during a global health crisis.

Old offers a fascinating premise that promises to explore aging, death, and disease, but doesn’t manage to live up to the hype. Its hasty pacing is full of plot holes, features a questionable script, and fails to connect viewers with the characters, but the upside is that from the number of upand-down shots of bikini-clad women, it won’t leave you guessing Shyamalan’s sexual orientation.

Music //

Breakup playlist essentials ANDREA SADOWSKI More often than not, music, for me, tends to fall under one of two categories: falling in love and tumbling out of it. I have made many breakup playlists in my days here on Earth, as I am constantly tormented by the whims of my heart and the rejection that follows. I usually create a new playlist with every stage of grief I go through in a breakup. These songs are not for the days of crying in the rain or reminiscing about the good times. These songs give off big screw-you, I’m-better-off-withoutyou energy, and are best listened to while driving full-throttle down the highway, screaming the lyrics at the top of your lungs. You may notice this list is exclusively composed of female vocalists — that is out of personal preference of not wanting to hear male voices in my ear canals more than absolutely necessary during my tragically heterosexual breakups.

“I Will Survive” - Gloria Gaynor This classic breakup anthem dates back to 1978 and should be the very first song you listen to after a breakup to remind yourself that life does go on, and you are so much better off without that silly boy you thought you could never live without.

It’s about moving on, moving up, and saying “no” to any man who dares to come crawling back. Fun fact: Gaynor’s leg-

endary track was a definitive song of the “Happier Than Ever” - Billie Eilish 1980’s queer disco scene, and one time I This is the song I have been jamming got in trouble for dancing to it at a homophobic missionary base in Brazil I worked out to on repeat most recently. What I love most about this song is the way it starts at in my early twenties. off slow and soft, with Eilish’s haunt“You Oughta Know” - Alanis Morissette ingly melancholic voice accompanied by the strumming of a single ukulele, as it This track from the Canadian artist’s slowly transitions into a scream-at-thegame-changing 1995 album Jagged Little top-of-your-lungs rock ballad telling a Pill, asks all the important questions I toxic asshole of an ex to just fucking leave wish I could ask my exes with zero shame you alone. or remorse like my girl Morissette does.

Questions like: “would she go down on “Traitor” - Olivia Rodrigo you in a theatre,” “are you thinkin’ of me when you fuck her,” and “every time If you’re going through a breakup, may I scratch my nails down someone else’s I recommend Rodrigo’s Sour in its enback … can you feel it?” We all know the tirety, on-repeat, for the rest of time. This answers are (in respective order): no, yes, 18-year-old’s brilliantly-written lyrics perand you wish. fectly capture the intense angst, anger, and anxiety of a breakup with a guy that “We Are Never Ever Getting Back To- never deserved you in the first place, a gether” - Taylor Swift guy you suspected was cheating on you (if not physically, then emotionally), and who Writing sappy/heartbreaking/empow- never loved you like you loved him. This ering songs about her many famous exes song in particular captures the unspoken is Swift’s specialty, and I’m here for it. This jealousy that you know was justified, yet song in particular holds a special place in was never owned up to. my heart as I sang it over and over and over again to myself after my very first “Irreplaceable” - Beyoncé breakup to remind myself that we are in fact, never ever ever getting back together.

“To the left, to the left / Everything you This song is rumoured to be about Swift’s own in the box to the left.” Take your stuff breakup with Jake Gyllenhaal after their and get out of my house because my next intense three-month relationship went up dick appointment is on his way over. Lisin flames. ten to this bop next time you need to re-

member to put your ex right back in their place and remind them that there are a million other fish in the sea; he ain’t nothing special.

“Truth Hurts” - Lizzo This could be my favourite song on this playlist, and it should be named the female empowerment track of the century.

Lizzo would like to remind all the heartbroken ladies out there that their exes ain’t shit, and there are plenty of other eggplant and peach emojis sliding into your inbox on the daily. “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100 per cent that bitch” who has already gotten over you.

“Heartbreak Anthem” - Galantis, David Guetta, and Little Mix A collaboration between Swedish electro-pop group Galantis, David Guetta, and Little Mix, “Heartbreak Anthem” is the perfect way to end this earth-shatteringly good playlist. This 2021 summer jam will not get you caught up in your feelings or even make you feel angry over the time you wasted with your loser of an ex. Instead, the song ends things on a gracious note, telling your ex that you wish them the very best in their future endeavours and reminding yourself that you have better things to do than dwell on a relationship that didn’t work out for whatever reason.

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Note:

Some of these events require tickets, and most are online. If something catches your eye, take to the internet for more details, including those about social distancing measures for in-person events.

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River Bends and Totem Ends @ Pitt Meadows Art Gallery, Wednesdays - Sundays, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Art on Demand 7.3 Exhibition by Faria Firoz @ The Reach Gallery (Abbotsford), Tuesday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00 5:00 p.m.

Haunted Corn Maze @ Maan Farms (Abbotsford), 7:00 - 9:00 p.m

Building Resilience: Understanding Challenges, Learning Strategies, and Accepting Change @ Online, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

They Only Love Us When We’re Dying @ S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery (B136), 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.

48-Hour Film Festival Screenings @ The Reach Gallery (Abbotsford), 6:00 - 11:00 p.m.

Cascades Women’s Soccer vs. UNBC @ Rotary Stadium (Abbotsford), 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Cascades Men’s Soccer vs. UNBC @ Rotary Stadium (Abbotsford), 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Planting Bulbs @ UFV’s Shakespeare Reconciliation Garden (Chilliwack), 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Behind Closed Doors Exhibit by Krista Kilvert @ O’Connor Group Art Gallery (Chilliwack) 12:00 - 5:00p.m.

Save Your Semester: Learn Your Way and Discover Your Learning Style @ Online, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Sweeney Todd @ Rotary Hall Studio Theatre (Chilliwack), 7:30 p.m.

Cascades Women’s Basketball vs. UBC @ Building E, South Gym, 6:00 p.m.

Cascades Men’s Basketball vs. UBC @ Building E, South Gym, 8:00 p.m.

48-Hour Film Festival Screenings @ The Reach Gallery (Abbotsford), 6:00 - 11:00 p.m.

Cascades Women’s Soccer vs. UNBC @ Rotary Stadium (Abbotsford), 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Cascades Men’s Soccer vs. UNBC @ Rotary Stadium (Abbotsford), 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

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Love Letters presented Community Arts Addition

by Fraser (Abbotsford),

Valley 7:30 -

Stage @ 9:30 p.m.

Cascades Women’s Basketball vs. UNBC @ Building E, South Gym, 5:00 p.m.

Cascades Men’s Basketball vs. UBC @ Building E, South Gym, 7:00 p.m.