The Cascade Vol. 29 Iss. 22

OCTOBER 27, 2021

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 22

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Welding dead dogs to the faces of our enemies since 1993

Superheroes: 10 from Squirrel Girl to Superman

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DR. SHARON GILLIES’ BATTLE WITH KNOTWEED

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TRICK-ORTREAT?

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DUST CWAINE: DRAG ARTIST TURNED MUSICIAN

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

Culture & Events Editor Steve Hartwig steve@ufvcascade.ca

Arts in Review Editor Vriti Sehgal vriti@ufvcascade.ca

Feature Editor Darien Johnsen darien@ufvcascade.ca

Production Assistant Niusha Naderi

Digital Media Manager Jeff Mijo-Burch jeff@ufvcascade.ca Illustrator Brielle Quon Staff Writer Kathleen Clingwall Staff Writer Rachel Tait

Illustrator Iryna Presley Illustrator Danyka Van Santen Staff Writer Krystina Spracklin Staff Writer Danaye Reinhardt

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CONTRIBUTORS Bekah Stokes Caleb Campbell

WWW.UFVCASCADE.CA

@UFVCASCADE FACEBOOK.COM/UFVCASCADE INSTAGRAM.COM/UFVCASCADE Volume 29 · Issue 22 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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The Shuffler Aaron Levy

Distributor Gurtaj Dhami

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OPINION

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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16 Snapshots.......9

17.......Study Break

NEWS Entrance revitalization......3

4...... Chilliwack Lake name change

Dr. Sharon Gillies......4 OPINION Trick-or-treat dilemma.......5 Sex and Relationships.......7

6.......Editorial 7......Online vs. in-person classes

Mental health tune-up.......8 CULTURE Cascade Kitchen......14 Fraser Valley Literary Festival.......15

14.......Campus fashion 16.......Pre-Dental Association

ARTS Dust Cwaine......18

Soundbites......19

19......Squid Game

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

news@ufvcascade.ca Valentina Betancourt — News Editor

NEWS

UFV //

UFV's main entrance makeover will welcome everyone equally EDITORIAL BOARD UFV is wrapping up a project to build an inclusive main entrance to improve safety, aesthetics, and accessibility between Building A and B on the Abbotsford campus. The design of the new entranceway is rooted in equity, diversity, and inclusion — a central mission of UFV. “The goal for the UFV front entry landscape improvement is to create a new formal entrance, welcoming all people equally and creating a place to be, instead of a place to pass through,” said Denise Brown, Associate Director of Capital Projects at UFV. GPM Civil Contracting's project of UFV's main entrance makeover, which began construction August 3, is approximately valued at $1,200,000. The makeover will include multiple seating areas, LED lighting on the ramps and under handrails, new lampposts, extensive landscaping, and architectural concrete walls.

“Much of the new lighting is colour programmable as well, which will be useful in [recognizing] holidays and other special

days or events,” said Brown.

The project was designed by HAPA Collaborative and constructed by GPM Civil Contracting. They aim to create "inclusive, inviting, [and] memorable" designs.

Most of the construction was completed over the summer to help minimize noise disturbances. The expected finish date for this substantial project is late Fall 2021.

Mark Goudsblom, Director of Campus Planning and Facilities Management, said that after a review of the previous entrance way by the Rick Hansen Foundation, UFV made improvements to this entryway a priority to ensure the entrance is aligned with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard for accessible design for the built environment. Brown said that the new rampways in the entrance are “well below the 5 per cent grade required by code for proper accessibility.”

“A real prominence of the new entranceway provides a feeling of arrival,” said Goudsblom. “Standing at the base of the steps, looking up should give people, in the first 30 seconds, a feeling of belonging, homecoming, and being proud that they made this first step.”

“Note that those with accessibility challenges are not relegated to a side door or separate entrance. This inclusive design means not having to make their way into

UFV alone but with their friends. This sets the tone that UFV is a place to feel safe and comfortable,” said Goudsblom.

UFV Buildings A and B, Abbotsford. 2021. (Andrea Sadowski/The Cascade)

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

NEWS Column //

Professor profile: Invasive plants and river carbon with Dr. Sharon Gillies Japanese ‘Godzilla’ knotweed, rivers, and more CHANDY DANCEY Dr. Sharon Gillies is an associate professor of biology who’s been teaching at UFV for over 25 years. She completed her PhD in Plant Physiology at Simon Fraser University, going on to do post-doctoral research at the Agassiz Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre investigating postharvest physiology of fruits and vegetables. Her current research examines Japanese knotweed, which she dubs “Godzilla” for its abilities as an invasive shrub. Gillies is also a member of the Global Rivers Observatory network, which collects data on waterways to examine the role of rivers in transporting carbon. This semester, Gillies teaches BIO 310: Conservation Biology and BIO 410/GEOG 410: Plant Ecology.

I noticed that student research seems to be something you’re passionate about. Is there a reason for that?

It’s fun to let students explore different avenues. I think it strengthens your knowledge base and your ability to analyze if you would do at least one research course. For me, it doesn’t really matter what you do it in, just get the experience.

I give students the option to work on microplastics. I had one student who’s growing radishes with microplastic she put in the soil because apparently plants can take it up. She’ll be sacrificing [the radishes] next week. That’s our kind way of saying the radishes are getting cooked.

I saw that a lot of your work in research focuses on invasive plants, so I was curious — why did you decide to focus on Japanese knotweed specifically?

It was probably about 15 years ago. I spotted this plant across the street from UFV, and I went “what the heck is that?” I hadn’t seen it before, but that year as I was doing field trips with students I saw it at the top of Seymour mountain. I started noticing it everywhere. And this was before people recognized it was a huge problem. So I found out what it was and started going, “okay, we have to map this — find out where it is.” So, that’s how it started.

I read one paper in North America where it said, “it appears they’re producing seeds that may germinate.” It’s a huge problem in England, and it doesn’t produce viable seed because it was a female clone that they brought in. Turns out that in North America, and in parts of Europe, it’s hybridizing with another invasive knotweed — giant knotweed — and the seed is viable.

You mentioned that it’s hybridizing with giant knotweed. When you say a lot of hybrids, does that mean a lot of germinating baby plants?

Yes, baby plants, and each one of those is

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genetically unique because you have two different parents from different species.

Then we found out that they do a lot of epigenetics as well, so some of them are tolerant to glyphosate, some are tolerant to salt.

And that’s all epigenetics. It’s an amazing plant.

Are there any ways you recommend that students can help prevent the spread of invasive plants?

Absolutely. If you see it on your property, remove it quickly. That’s absolutely the easiest way to get rid of any of these — from purple loosestrife, Japanese knotweed, to giant hogweed. I mean some of them are beautiful, and that’s why they were brought in. Because, hey, look at how pretty it is — but they take over. Just remove it, get rid of it, don’t compost it. Just [put it in the] garbage.

the data collection ... Some of the data is published, but we haven’t started doing the comparisons yet.

The fun has yet to come.

Oh, yeah. And, you know, as we collect more data over time — what sort of trends are we looking at? Snapshots are snapshots. To me, in ecology, a lot of the important stuff is long term.

Community //

Renaming of Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park Acknowledging Indigenous land connections and supporting reconciliation acts in B.C. parks

I saw the recent article — congrats by the way — on becoming CHASI’s faculty associate. When I was reading the description for CHASI, it almost seemed vague. Could you explain what CHASI’s goal is?

I think it’s to form a community of faculty and other people interested in research and promoting collaborative work. I mean, they really are so collaborative; it’s amazing. It doesn’t matter what field you’re in. If you have a project and you think they might be able to help, and they probably can, they will jump in. So yeah, it is vague. Because it’s this whole group of helpful, fabulous people. I don't think you can define it.

I was reading about you working with larger organizations to measure water quality. Could you explain the importance of the transportation of carbon to the ocean?

One is that there’s organic carbon which is nutrients from the land travelling to the ocean … We want to look at carbon balance.

If you think about what’s going on with our mountain pine beetle and plant death — is there a big flush of carbon coming through because of these trees dying? And it kind of gives us a handle on what is the importance of the movement of carbon in rivers overall for the planet because we actually have people working on about up to 14 rivers — everything from the Amazon to the Ganges … What is the comparison? Can we see changes over time? What’s happening in our rivers and how does that relate to the carbon cycle? Which, of course, with climate change is important.

Is that project still in the data collection phase, or is there any insight you’ve gained so far?

For the carbon part of it, they’re still in

The Sxótsaqel / Chilliwack Lake. Chilliwack. 2021. (Andrea Sadowski/The Cascade)

SYDNEY MARCHAND On October 5, the government of British Columbia released an official statement outlining new legislation for two B.C. provincial parks. It stated that Chilliwack Lake Park and Newcastle Island Marine Park will be renamed to reflect their respective ancestral place names in order to build upon reconciliation acts with Indigenous peoples.

Although this was originally proposed back in 2019, the amendment has now been officially introduced following a two-year B.C. park management plan that collaborated with the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and the S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance. According to the government’s official statement, the long term goal of the plan is to “[honour] Indigenous cultural and spiritual history”. Chilliwack Lake will be renamed to Sxótsaqel/Chilliwack Lake Park (pronounced skotsa-qel), which means “sacred lake” in Halq’eméylem.

The decision to rename the provincial park was made in an effort to recognize Indigenous culture and connections with the land. As this area is the ancestral homeland of the

Ts’elxwéyeqw people, the lake not only holds significant value to the tribe but the name change can educate non-Indigenous people about these territorial connections and Indigenous history.

The Sxótsaqel/Chilliwack Lake Park name change was a part of a list of amendments made to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act, which also included the opening of a new B.C. provincial park dedicated to protecting the ecosystems of Indigenous peoples on Vancouver Island.

Chilliwack Lake is located in the upper Chilliwack River Valley and is a popular spot for locals and tourists to hike, swim, canoe, and fish. The vast stretch of water showcases many forms of wildlife and environmental ecosystems.

The Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe is a part of the Stó:lō (Stah-lo) nation, and they are the First People of the Chilliwack River Watershed. As part of the Stó:lō nation, they ancestrally relied on the Fraser River and maintained strong connections with the water systems in the Fraser Valley. They settled across an incredibly large scope of land which covers the entire Chilliwack River Valley.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

opinion@ufvcascade.ca Sydney Marchand — Opinion Editor

OPINION

Life //

Trick-or-treat: is it safe to go out?

How the pandemic caused the decline of a popular celebration

Illustration by Danyka Van Santen

RACHEL TAIT As a kid, Halloween was always a big celebration at school and in my community.

But as I’ve grown older, I find myself less and less interested in the trick-or-treating aspect of Halloween. Although I never got tired of dressing up in a costume for fun, there is something magical about being someone different and stepping into their shoes and character for a day. Last year, however, many gatherings, celebrations, and events were cancelled due to the nature of COVID-19. As more restrictions were implemented by Dr. Bonnie Henry, holidays such as Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas were affected. As Halloween quickly approaches, it will be interesting to see if history repeats itself, or if this year will be better now that more people are vaccinated.

Currently, trick-or-treating has become

more complicated as the question remains whether it is safe or not to go trick-or-treating with COVID-19 still in the air. In my opinion, the pandemic raises more concern than the usual pre-COVID-19 safety concerns, such as kids getting sick from contaminated treats or hurt by harmful things being added to candy. Now, because the variants are so easy to catch, I think that trick-or-treating during the pandemic is still too risky. I find it surprising that parents are willing to take their kids trick-or-treating despite the pandemic.

This year, I would not feel safe going doorto-door during a continued pandemic, asking strangers for candy. Nor would I feel comfortable giving out candy to little kids, or adults for that matter, because I want to keep the community safe.

Having said that, the dressing-up aspect is a fun and creative process that is unique to each individual. And, as I said before, it is nice to frolic around pretending to

be your favourite character or creature and not be looked upon strangely by the people around you (hopefully). I think that people who put in the effort to make nice costumes should be able to get recognition for their efforts and be celebrated for their individuality, including adults.

But here’s the issue I have with participating in trick-or-treating during the pandemic. If a person is covering their face with a non-medical mask, it can make it harder to identify the costume, especially if face makeup is part of the ensemble.

And for that matter, is it even realistic to expect kids and adults to keep their masks on when they are munching on their loot along the way? The efforts it would take to keep Halloween safe may be at best tedious when trying to be mindful of keeping the community safe.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to progress, it is uncertain whether this year will be able to do the celebration justice.

Last Halloween was basically cancelled due to the implementation of social distancing in Canada, and people were staying in their respective household bubbles.

But now that more people are fully vaccinated and expanding their social circles, it will be interesting to see what will happen this year and how many people will feel comfortable and safe participating in Halloween.

But still, if Halloween is a favourite celebration, then it is worthwhile to celebrate it. Just celebrate it in a safe way. Personally, I wouldn’t mind dressing up as a Star Wars character and buying a box of candy to treat myself. Halloween can still be fun and engaging by putting together unique costumes and hanging out with friends and families. Besides, age should never be a factor when candy is involved.

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

OPINION Editorial //

What the heck is going on in Haiti?

On presidential assassinations, earthquake recovery, gang violence, and kidnappings

ANDREA SADOWSKI On July 7, Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, and his wife injured, in his home just outside of the capital city, Port-au-Prince. The Haitian authorities investigating the assassination are speculating that up to two dozen professional Colombian hitmen got the job done. The judge and two court clerks who are in charge of collecting evidence have gone into hiding after receiving numerous death threats, stating “there are great interests at play that are not interested in solving this case.” The assassination left a power vacuum as to who will hold on to the reins of this turbulent nation. Ariel Henry was appointed Haiti’s new prime minister on July 20 after a power struggle with interim prime minister Claude Joseph, who was urged to step down from his post by American diplomats.

So, why am I telling you all this? I have found that the media has done a dismal job reporting on everything that has happened in this Caribbean nation over these last few months and more people need to know about this humanitarian crisis.

Students of all disciplines, especially Arts majors like political science, global development studies, and peace and conflict studies need to keep themselves in the loop about these violations of human rights. While The Cascade primarily covers issues relating to UFV and the Fraser

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Haiti. (Unsplash)

Valley, we would be remiss if we didn’t cover the turmoil faced by the world’s first independent Black republic, which has a long history of outside intervention by the Canadian and U.S. militaries.

On August 14, Haiti was hit with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, killing at least 2,200 people and leaving tens of thousands of people homeless. Haiti is still recovering from the devastating 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000

people and caused extensive damage to the country’s already weak infrastructure. Haiti’s geographic location ensures the perfect storm for natural disasters, as it sits on the fault line between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates, making the country extremely susceptible to earthquakes, and they are in the direct path of tropical storms from the Atlantic hurricane season. The warming of our planet due to climate change also puts the nation at greater risk of floods, landslides, and droughts.

“Many of these families had not fully recovered from Hurricane Matthew. One of the women we talked to today was just so distraught because she had just gotten her home slowly rebuilt over the last five years back to where she was feeling very hopeful again, and to see it crumble within minutes,” said Paul Shetler Fast, Global Health Coordinator for MCC. MCC’s relief efforts were the first to reach remote communities affected in the Southwest corner of Haiti, two weeks after the earthquake. Experts say that the slow roll of aid to the nation is due to political turmoil and the mistrust by donors, as billions of dollars of aid money given after the 2010 earthquake was grossly misspent.

August’s earthquake damaged about 70 per cent of all schools in southwest Haiti, putting 230,000 children at risk of dropping out. The lack of economic and education opportunities for Haiti’s youth is linked to the increasing proliferation of gang violence in the country.

Approximately 19,000 Haitians have been displaced due to gang violence, causing citizens to describe their country as a “war zone.” Gangs are keeping crucial

aid from entering neighborhoods and preventing essential services like Doctors without Borders from operating. The estimated 90 gangs in the country hold sophisticated weaponry and endless employment opportunities for citizens who are living hand-to-mouth due to an onslaught of crises.

On October 17, the gang known as 400 Mawozo kidnapped 17 missionaries, from Christian Aid Ministries, including one Canadian and five children, who were abducted on their way to visit an orphanage. Kidnappings are a common tactic of gangs in gaining money and power.

Christian Aid Ministries, an Anabaptist mission group whose former employee confessed to molesting Haitian boys, is one of the more than 100 Christian mission organizations currently working in Haiti. Why this group found it necessary to visit an orphanage in a country the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 4 travel advisory for back in June due to “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and COVID-19” is beyond me. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of USD $1 million per person for their release.

So, now that you know all of this, what can you do? If you have it within your means, donate to trusted organizations that are helping, such as Fonkoze, Hope for Haiti, World Central Kitchen, and Mercy Corps. You could shop at thrift stores like MCC and Project Aftershock who use their revenues to provide emergency aid and services to Haiti. You could share this article with others to increase awareness, and contact us to share your thoughts on the matter.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

OPINION Column //

Satire //

Definite signs you should cut them loose and run

Online vs. in-person: a battle of university classes

Sex & Relationships: Red flags num dong? Do they forget to take the birth control they swear to you they are taking? Do they respect your boundaries and listen to I used to be that naive, color-blind bitch that what you want in bed? Do they communicate refused to see every red flag mercilessly wav- their own sexual needs and desires? Do they ing at me during the first couple months of a wait for your enthusiastic consent for each new relationship. Ignoring the clear signals, sexual activity? If they’re completely silent making excuses for them, and lowering your when it comes to physical affection — red flag.

Do they make you orgasm? If they are not standards only ends in the most painful of heartbreaks. Here are some questions you putting in a valiant effort to give you toe-curlshould ask yourself about your new partner, ing, leg-shaking, guttural-scream-inducing orgasms, then what are you even doing? If and some warning signs to look out for.

How do they talk about their previous they focus solely on their own physical pleapartners? Do they use language that is re- sure without taking you into account — red spectful or do they call them “crazy?” Odds flag.

Do they make an effort to call/text? Everyone gets busy, and it is unrealistic to expect your partner to text you back within five minutes.

However, it takes approximately 30 seconds to send someone a “good morning/night,” or a quick “thinking of you.”

I don’t care how hard you hustle; everyone has 30 seconds to spare at some point in their day. If you feel like you are being shafted, ghosted, or you are always the one to be reaching out first — red flag.

Do they immediIllustration by Brielle Quon ately declare their love for you? Big. Red. Flag.

I have definitely declared my love for a boy are they will be referring to you as their ex one day, so are they talking about their pre- within mere hours of our first kiss, and it has vious partners in a way that you would like not ended well. When it comes to love, a slow, someone to talk about you? Look out for the steady burn is better than a loud, fast exploother side of the coin as well — do they bring sion.

How do they handle their finances and/or their ex up in every single conversation? If they can’t stop talking about their ex — red plan for the future? Unfortunately, it’s very normal for students to be in debt and live from flag; they’re not over them.

How do they handle conflict? Do they raise paycheck to paycheck. However, if your parttheir voice at you? Red flag. Do they freeze ner has debt collectors calling them or doesn’t you out and ignore you? Red flag. You need a have the slightest idea about the type of future partner who is able to regulate their emotions they want to build — red flags. To find out well, meaning that they can manage big emo- what is really important to someone, just look tions without blowing up or shutting down. If at where their money goes. That should give their anger or frustration is spilling over from you a clear picture of what they truly value.

If you see any of these red flags in your other areas of their life onto you — red flag. partner, or you begin to not like any of the You are not their emotional punching bag.

Do they have other emotional supports? habits or characteristics they have, I want you Who else do they have in their life to process to remember one thing: you cannot change their thoughts and feelings with? Are they them. Maybe you wish they would stop vapclose to their family? Do they see a therapist? ing, spend less time playing video games, Do they have a trusted group of friends? Or, spend less money on makeup, or kiss their are you their “person” who they come to for dog on the mouth less. I hate to break it to you, every emotional need? You cannot be some- but they’re not going to change, especially not one’s “everything.” Being someone’s solitary for you. There are only two things you can do source of love and affection is too big a role for to deal with these unsavoury behaviours — one person. If their social circle is extremely learn to live with them and accept them for who they are or cut your losses and leave. You small — red flag.

How is their sexual communication? Do cannot change someone; you can only change they bring protection and wear it, or do they how you deal with the situation.

So, why are you accepting red flags when make excuses about how the lovely condom you have provided is too small for their mag- you deserve the whole world?

ANDREA SADOWSKI

Goodbye, Zoom classes… Hello, fellow human beings

Illustration by Danyka Van Santen

DANAYE REINHARDT There are two wolves inside of me.

One hates online classes — it complains about asynchronous courses, forgets to hand in assignments, and convinces me to sleep in for just a few more minutes. The other hates in-person classes — it curses at bad drivers on my commute, avoids class discussions at all costs, and won’t stop screaming at me to wake up or I’m going to be late! Which wolf will win? ...Probably the most sarcastic wolf.

Online classes are the worst.

Instead of waking up bright and early to attend class — starting my day right with a morning jog and a cup of coffee — I have to stay in the comfort of my own home. Ugh. There is nothing calmer than driving during morning rush hour on a two-lane highway, listening to a scratched CD from 2009, and trying to remember who Aristarchus was for ASTR 103. Are you telling me I have to skip the wonderful commute when I’m taking online classes?

Instead, I’m stuck eating pancakes while I attend Zoom class. It’s an outrage.

On top of that, I can no longer feel the rush of adrenaline by taking lecture notes in-person, never knowing if the professor will click through the PowerPoint too fast to write anything down. It’s terrible to have the option to pause my lecture or listen to my professor at 2x speed. Who wants to hear their professor talk like a chipmunk and therefore get their class over with faster? Not me, that’s for sure.

In-person classes are the worst.

Instead of sleeping in until 10:30 a.m. and half-listening to a video lecture on the couch, I now have to leave the house and act like a functional adult.

Attend morning classes so I have the whole day to be productive? See other human beings I like? Study with my friends in the library? Forget it.

Personally, I’d prefer to waste away and watch Saturday Night Live clips on YouTube rather than join club events I enjoy and futsal intramurals to keep me active.

Do you know the worst part about in-person classes? I can't forget assignments. Assignments aren't hidden in eight different folders on Blackboard like they were with online classes. Instead, the professor just has to remind me during class when papers are due. I swear my professors are trying to combat my procrastination issues for some reason.

Now that I’m back to two in-person classes, Mr. Procrastination has definitely packed his bags and taken off.

Textbook reading? Pssh, I finished that a week ago. Midterm paper due on Tuesday? I totally wrote an outline and did the research for it already.

Um, The Cascade article about in-person classes? I’m definitely not writing it the night it’s due.

Let me tell you something! Deadlines have a whole new meaning now that I’m back on campus. With online classes, I could always see that midnight deadline on Blackboard tick tick ticking away (thank you, technology. We love your looming, invasive presence in our lives). Now, I have permission to pull all-nighters and discover the magic of Redbull while I finish assignments the day before they’re due.

I don’t know if I’ll ever decide which type of class I prefer. There is one thing I do know — university classes, whether in-person or online, have made me a more sarcastic, short-tempered person. I should have majored in Sarcasm with a minor in Eye-Rolling. Great. I have a new fouryear degree to try.

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

OPINION Life //

Get off the road: taking time for mental wellness Why we should reduce the stigma around mental health days and how to know when you need one BEKAH STOKES My car broke down the other day — in the middle of a turning lane. I had been driving it hard and I can’t remember the last time I took it for maintenance. After the tow truck came and I was out of that godforsakenforsaken turning lane, I was reminded of how we often treat our cars like our health. We try to push them too hard, forget to fill up the gas, and then they tend to give out on us. It can feel difficult, however, to justify taking your car off the road when the problem’s not something as obvious as a blown tire. So we wait until the inner issues start manifesting themselves externally before we pull the car (or ourselves) in for a tune-up. Usually, however, at that point, it is already too late and we experience a total breakdown.

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, over the past two years sick days have become much more socially acceptable. Whether at school or in the workplace, we’ve recognized that it’s not only better for the individual to take the day off when they are sick, but that the decision to stay home protects and benefits the rest of the group.

This same logic applies to a more holistic view of our health. The Canadian Mental Health Association reports that one in five Canadians will struggle with their mental health in any given year. Our collectively depleted mental health is a pandemic of a different sort. It is, as experts say, often the trigger for poor physical health.

When we have time to pull over and refuel, we can more fully engage the rest of the time we are on the road. In 2001, Stephens and Joubert published an article on the negative economic effect of poor mental health in the Canadian population.

Though 20 years old now, the data they presented is still relevant in current conversations of mental health. They reported that “the value of reduced productivity associated with depression and distress over the short term was $6 billion [in 1998]."

That’s a lot of zeroes.

Contrary to the prevailing narrative that taking time off for mental wellness signals laziness or irresponsibility, these findings suggest when we invest in our mental health, we are investing in our future

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productivity and success. The conclusion seems simple: when we take care of our mental health and pay attention to what and how we are feeling, it is better for everyone, even for the economy. If I had paid closer attention to the warning signs that my car was giving me, maybe I wouldn’t have ended up stuck in that turning lane.

Let’s face it — we all drive our cars too hard sometimes, but how to tell when you’re in need of a tune up? Here are a few warning lights to watch out for: 1. Sluggish brakes: Are you finding it hard to slow down? Is your to-do list’s momentum carrying you past your typical stop signs?

2. Interminable Tunnel: You’re developing tunnel vision.You haven’t seen anything but the same walls for a long time and it is getting pretty dark in there.

3. Road rage: Every little thing sets you off, be it your neighbour’s cat or the line up at the drive-thru.

What can you do when these warning signs pop up?

1. Gauge your gas: Check in with yourself. Are you hydrated? Are you eating and sleeping enough?

2. Check the GPS: Where are you on your map right now? Are you holding the course or getting stuck?

Look ahead to your next destination and, if needed, “recalculate” your route.

3. Carpool: If you can’t get there on your own steam right now, it is okay.

Whether you need to vent with the speakers on full blast, or just have a quiet drive and chat, reach out to a friend and ask for a ride.

When we take steps toward making space for mental recovery, we are really making room for increased productivity, fulfillment, and greater joy in our day to day. This benefits not only us as individuals, but all those around us. So stop for gas when you need it and help others do the same. And if you can feel a breakdown coming on, get to the side of the road… and avoid turning lanes.

Illustration by Danyka Van Santen

BRIEF BITS OF BITE-SIZED BREVITY

SN S AP HO TS

CURTAILED COMMENTARY ON CURRENT CONDITIONS

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

Shout out to Facilities and security I would just like to take a moment to thank the Facilities staff for keeping us all safe from the deadly virus that is COVID-19 by endlessly wiping down the surfaces that we touch.

They are truly the unspoken heroes of this school. I want to give a shout-out especially to Sarah, a Facilities staff member who remains invested in my life as a struggling student and interested in my work at The Cascade.

Cascade. I will keep trying my best to be less of a slob to make your job a little easier. I’ll also look into getting some sugar-free candy for you to eat, since you can’t eat the crystal punch bowl full of individuallywrapped sugary goods we constantly

keep stocked in the office.

I also want to give a shout out to Heath, a dedicated security guard here at the Abbotsford campus who definitely caught on that I was sleeping in my van in the school parking lot for a few semesters and never snitched.

Thanks to all the security guards who disarm the alarms so that we can leave the S building way past closing hours because publishing a paper is a heckin’ lot of work.

Keep being awesome, Facilities and security!

Andrea Sadowski

The future is fun and frightening Like many people who have made being a student part of their identity for years, I’m simultaneously excited and terrified to graduate.

On one hand, I could get used to only having one major obligation — work — rather than a daunting to-do list that includes a part-time job, working on a project, preparing for a quiz, doing an online problem set, completing a biology lab assignment, and about 10 other urgent things. During summers when I exclusively work full-time, there’s an element of simplicity to it that’s genuinely refreshing. I go to work, pay the bills, and wait for the weekend — rinse and repeat.

On the other hand, who am I if not a struggling student? Also, imposter syndrome is real. How do I compete with seemingly superstar fellow applicants at STEM jobs where I only learned the lab technique in a lecture?

Do I even want a straightforward career path, or do I want to use my degree more creatively? How do I live up to my full potential, and do I even want to try? There are so many possibilities for the future that it’s almost paralyzing. But hey, everyone’s got to take that next step, even if it’s done kicking and screaming. Wish me luck.

Chandy Dancey

Like father, like son Death to breakfast food Eggs are mediocre at best. I mean, sure, I’ll fry up an egg with salt and pepper once in a while or eat some scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, but I’ve never understood the hype for breakfast eggs. Easy? I guess. Rubbery? Without a doubt. Boring? Absolutely.

Same with pancakes. Please tell me I’m not the only one who likes waffles but not pancakes (and no, they don’t taste the same!). Waffles are nice and sweet, and the waffle squares keep it dense, as it should be. Pancakes are too fluffy and dry, despite slathering

it in butter and syrup. Don’t even get me started on maple syrup. Real maple syrup has nothing on Aunt Jemima.

I know, I know — you should revoke my Canadian license right now for all the heresies I’ve been spewing. I just want to live in a world where leftover pasta and BLT sandwiches are welcomed breakfast foods, and my breakfast preferences are not a “fun fact” about myself for class introductions.

Danaye Reinhardt

The title is an open question that won’t get much debate in this era of “new normals.” I’d like to say that I was shocked at the prime minister’s behaviour when he skipped out on Canada’s first national holiday for Indigenous peoples amid the continued sham that is the Trudeau government’s action on Truth and Reconciliation. But I wasn’t shocked. His behaviour is to be expected for a privileged white colonialist with what I consider to be a racist father. Justin Trudeau’s father, Pierre Trudeau, was prime minister in 1969 when he co-authored and pushed Canada’s own version of racist doctrine: the White Paper. I think this Liberal Party policy paper was Cana-

da’s version of a final solution of sorts to eradicate Indigenous peoples and their culture by making them “equal” — homogenized according to white standards and assimilated into Canadian society. Fortunately, the outrage and backlash following the release of the White Paper prompted its retraction, but not before Pierre Trudeau confirmed his racist opinions with the words: “We’ll keep them in the ghetto as long as they want.” Clearly, Justin Trudeau’s actions carry on the family legacy, but he governs in an era with no political backlash. He’s unaccountable and he knows it.

Steve Hartwig

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

Feature //

By: Steve Hartwig

Layout by: Elyssa English

W

e’ve all been in some kind of difficulty where we were in need of assistance. I’m sure some of us have even thought our current world is in need of saving. Over the generations, there’s been one consistent saviour — the superhero.

Superheroes transcend generational boundaries and often reflect the values and current trends of the societies and cultures creating them.

Often, the superhero(es) will fight against anything threatening these values, and in some modern examples, will even fight against values held by society. Why are superheroes so influential in our world?

The history of superheroes Historically, superheroes were based on the antecedents of religious, mythological, or folkloric significance. For example, Hanuman, the Hindu god and divine monkey, had special powers bestowed upon him. Perseus was a Greek hero and slayer of the monster Medusa. Robin Hood and his distinctive archer’s clothing robbed from the rich to give to the poor.

Before the term was coined, hero characters were created mainly through fictional writing, until the term superhero was coined in 1899 and the superhero trope was widely spread. Masked vigilantes roaming

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UFV Instructor Brett Pardy has mastered his study of the superhero universe. the Wild West, enforcing some version of the law, were written about in story books and are considered the predecessor to the superhero.

Even today, vigilantism is considered a form of American tradition and is frequently in the news.

“Many times the vigilantes were seen as heroes and supported by the law-abiding citizens ... Where the ‘law’ was deemed weak, intimidated by criminal elements, corrupt, or insufficient,” blogger Kathy Weiser writes.

The evolution of the superhero continued through the early decades of the twentieth century as writers fictionalized their characters in books, magazines, and sensationalized yellow journalism — journalism that exaggerates a person’s actions to make a more appealing news story. Writer Johnston McCul-

ley created Zorro in 1919 as one of the first masked and costumed superheroes. As public appeal in heroes grew, many other writers created characters with masked identities and costumes to represent their special talents or su-

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

heroes. Pardy is the instructor of lenged by a study published in The Joura Communications special topics nal of Abnormal Child Psychology on course, MACS 299H, Superheroes: the effects of superhero culture on kids.

Mass Media and Representation. Brigham Young University family life The course covers two major con- professor Sarah Coyne found that expocerns through the lens of superhero sure to the superhero culture led children culture: to exhibit aggressive behaviours and elicit First, the modern mass media in- a reduction in cognitive and emotional dustry and its focus on mass media responses when exposed to violent confranchises. tent and media.

“The same characters are available Saving the world from evil while doing on different multimedia platforms,” heroic deeds is a tempting story to play Pardy explains, “and their merchan- out for children and adults alike. Kids dise is more important to compa- today have moved away from reenacting nies, which far outsells superhero versions of action hero battles and have comics over the past 40 years.” grown into watching superhero feature Second, the critical theories of rep- films with realistic battles scenes. While resentation around race, gender, there is something special about first exsexuality, and disability. A deeper periences seeing well-made superhero course study includes “how super- movies, the impact of such realistic viohero hero stories have been used to lence must be researched. generate empathy and inclusion for The emotional reaction after Marvel’s marginalized groups,” Pardy says.

Endgame is an example of the impact suIn the post-WWII era, superhe- perhero culture can have on people. In the ro audiences consisted mainly of post-Endgame superhero world, with so children, and offered lessons about many superheroes eliminated in a single social inperpowers.

The first superhero comic, featuring The teractions and sim“Superheroes are inspiring to me Phantom, was a newspaper strip appearing ple social structures like right and wrong in 1936. American writer Lee Falk created because in a world where so many what was to become a template of sorts for or being prosocial. future costume-clad superheroes in comics, In the 1980s, laws people use their abilities for and, in a greater sense, the superhero uni- changed, allowing verse. Today, the superhero universe and popular culture to selfish reasons, superheroes use all the characters within continue to loosely market directly to theirs to help others” — Pardy follow the stereotypes Falk and McCulley children, and subsequently to sell the introduced. Clear examples include Superman, Batman, and the original Captain superhero universe Marvel — all white, male heroes in tights as part of the TV and film industry. This deregulation allowed for moment, fans were left grieving the loss with masks or hidden identities.

UFV instructor Brett Pardy dedicated his companies to influence audiences to reflect of their favourite characters. The years after were spent debating what would come master’s degree to studying Marvel’s super- on whatever they desired.

“Superheroes began as a form of enter- next for the Marvel universe. tainment for all ages in the late “I enjoy the imaginativeness of their [su1930s and early 1940s,” Pardy ex- perhero] worlds,” Pardy says, “especially “The story has to be more plains,”but because of a moral pan- in comics where the story never realic in the 1950s, they became a form ly ends. The story has to be more imagimaginative to explain why of entertainment primarily aimed inative to explain why it keeps going. It at children [with tight regulations]. also means the story has to keep reacting it keeps going. It also Comics throughout the 1970s and to changing social trends and current 1980s worked to get back to some- events.” means the story has to thing that was aimed at teenage and The superhero universe has thousands of keep reacting to changing adult audiences.” costume-clad characters, with Superman, However, any belief that children Batman and Wolverine listed as the most social trends and current were gaining positive reinforce- popular. The Marvel universe is more ment and life lessons was chal- popular than the DC Comics’ universe, events.” — Pardy 11

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“Superheroes transcend generational boundaries and often reflect the values and current trends of the societies and cultures creating them”

but the two combined dominate the world’s superhero markets much like Amazon or Facebook dominate their respective industries.

With such diversity, any theme, social issue, or world event can be addressed in any way the writer or creators desire.

“The great part about superheroes is they are not really tied to one genre,” Pardy says, “instead they have the ability to be any genre, or all genres, and can borrow from horror, mystery, science fiction, et cetera.”

Superheroes are not always doing good deeds Superheroes are often immortalized for their heroic deeds, upholding justice, saving the planet, or defeating an arch-villain, but what about superheroes who failed miserably or were thrown into the superhero scrapyard?

The troubled superhero, often called an anti-hero, has gained popularity in recent years and can often be far more relatable than the untouchable superhero of the past.

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Dr. Eric Bender described in Psychology Today how people can relate to the moral complexity of anti-heroes.

“They’re flawed. They’re still developing, learning, growing.

And sometimes, in the end, they trend toward heroism. We root for their redemption and wring our hands when they pay for their mistakes. They surprise us.

They disappoint us. And they’re anything but predictable.”

We can see anti-heroes in characters such as: Punisher (1963) is a military veteran turned vigilante in his campaign against criminals and organized crime.

John Hancock (2008) is a drunken, anti-social superhero who is over 3000 years old. He often causes more damage and destruction than is necessary.

Deadpool (1991) is a disgruntled mercenary with powers of regenerations and dark humour.

Some of the arguably worst superhero characters include: Dogwelder (1997) is a superhero welding dead dogs to the faces of his enemies that didn’t catch on for obvious reasons.

Squirrel Girl (1990) has superhuman abilities resembling a squirrel’s, yet she unbelievably defeated Thanos in an off-strip battle. Arm Fall Off Boy (1989) can detach his limbs to beat villains.

Government use of superheroes for propaganda “There’s a belief that superheroes are kind of fascist,” Pardy says,

“the idea of strong individuals imposing their will, but really it’s what academic Matthew J. Costello calls liberalism with a fascist aesthetic.”

Governments certainly do use the superhero trope for propaganda. Starting in the second World War, the U.S. Government started using various forms of media to influence the way their population thought about the war. Posters, news reels, and movies were popular media used to target and inform adult audiences while comic books and superhero propaganda aimed at young audiences with the creation of heroes like Superman (1938), Batman (1939), and Captain America (1941). The use of superheroes as a means of propaganda continues, with more recent examples including attempts to reimagine 9/11 and the War on Terror.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

Governments need their populations to respect law and order to function effectively.

Using superheroes to help reinforce government doctrine is a questionable practice because it often divides audiences and forces people to choose sides. The “with us or against us” mentality, prevalent during the Bush presidency, was at the forefront in the recent superhero civil wars.

It’s well known that superheroes often abuse their position of power to achieve their own purpose, or the purpose of those giving the orders and directives — the alcoholic Hancock’s brazen destruction of cities, Deadpool’s comic madness. In doing so, the superhero’s behaviour is often called into question. Writers and creators can then use the intent behind the superheroes actions to make a point, political message, or address a societal concern.

“The deniability of allegory becomes a forum to ask questions about the ethics of power,” Pardy says. “Violence is a constant, but who orders the violence, how lethal the violence is, and if the motive for the violence is to further the ends of the powerful or to aid the less powerful can alter the meaning.”

Superheroes, or their variants, will continue to frequent history in all manner of spoken and written word, art, music, and multimedia. Superhero movies represent some of the largest grossing movies of all time and there’s no expectation for that to end. Comic books and strips have been a major fixture in the superhero universe for more than a 100 years and continue to provide millions of readers with regular content. The multi-billion dollar toy action figure industry also contributes greatly to the impact superhero characters have on our lives.

Superheroes are seen in action everywhere from portable technology to the big screen.

They are read about. They are played with. They are worn. There’s no doubt that we have made them part of our everyday lives. Regardless of our personal taste, superheroes are here to stay.

“I think that Spider-Man’s motto, ‘With great power comes great responsibility,’ are great words to live by,” Pardy explains, “and superheroes are inspiring to me because in a world where so many people use their abilities for selfish reasons, superheroes use theirs to help others.”

“Violence is a constant, but who orders the violence, how lethal the violence is, and if the motive for the violence is to further the ends of the powerful or to aid the less powerful can alter the meaning” —Pardy

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CULTURE

culture@ufvcascade.ca Steve Hartwig — Culture Editor

Column //

Column //

Masks can be fun Cascade Kitchen: The evolution of the face covering Banana bread sticky buns RACHEL TAIT

Banana bread sticky buns. 2021. (Sydney Marchand/The Cascade)

SYDNEY MARCHAND The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column Method: that brings you budget-friendly recipes and cooking tips. Check back weekly for something new to 1. Prepare the dough by combining the butter with the milk in a microwavetry in the kitchen, or if you want to see your own proof bowl and microwaving for 40 secrecipe featured next, get started by reaching out to onds. The mixture should be warm, but culture@ufvcascade.ca. not hot. Add the yeast in, and let it sit for about 10 minutes until the yeast starts to What’s better than freshly baked banana bubble. bread? Banana bread made into a cinnamon roll and (drumroll, please), covered in a glori- 2. In the same bowl, add the sugar, salt, mashed banana, and stir until combined. ous lake of sweet caramel sauce. I’ve made a variation of this Tasty recipe a few times, and 3. Next, add 3 1/2 cups of flour slowly.

Adding 1/2 cup at a time and stirring beeach time I slap myself for not making it more tween each addition. often. Although they take a while to make, I promise you that they are more than worth 4. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until it forms a ball. Add more the wait. flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until it pulls away from the surface and is smooth.

Prep time: 4 1/2 hours 5. Coat a clean, large bowl with oil and Serves: 12-15 transfer your dough. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise in the refrigerator Ingredients: for at least three hours or overnight until doubled in size.

Dough: 6. Once risen, roll the dough out to a 1 cup plant milk 1/4-inch-thick rectangle.

4 tbsp unsalted dairy-free butter or 1/2 stick, 7. Mix the filling ingredients together and melted (I use the Becel plant baking sticks) spread over the dough. Then, roll the 1 packet instant yeast (2 1/4 tsp) dough up and slice into three-inch slices 1/3 cup granulated sugar using a sharp knife.

1/4 tsp salt 8. Prepare the caramel sauce by combining 3 ripe bananas, mashed the ingredients in a small saucepan over 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided medium heat. Keep stirring, bring to a 2 tbsp vegetable oil gentle boil, then immediately remove from heat.

Filling: 4 tbsp unsalted, dairy-free butter or 1/2 stick, 9. Pour sauce in a 9X15-inch baking dish, top with walnuts, and then arrange the melted rolls in rows.

1/2 cup granulated sugar 10. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 1 tbsp cinnamon 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350˚F. Caramel sauce: 1/2 cup unsalted, dairy-free butter or 1 stick 11. Remove plastic wrap and bake for 40 minutes, or until light golden brown.

1 cup brown sugar 12. Let cool for 10-20 minutes and then in1 tsp salt vert the dish on a serving platter or cook1 tsp vanilla extract ie sheet.

1/4 cup honey or maple syrup 13. Bask in its glory and enjoy!

1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

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When Jim Carrey starred in The Mask in 1994, little did the world know that masks would become a mandatory staple in everyday life. When the pandemic first reared its ugly head almost two years ago, no one knew how long the restrictions would be mandated for, or that masks would become a new fashion trend. Many stores and independent companies took advantage of the need to wear masks, creating interesting and fashionable variations of the safety wear.

Disposable masks come in a variety of colors that are relatively inexpensive and lightweight. People can have fun buying them in funky colours, such as purple or bright pink, to a more subtle black or white. For a more adventurous spirit, there are also face coverings that come in different designs and patterns on Etsy from a number of vendors and sellers. They come in various sizes and quantities, and are fun to wear.

Fashionable reusable masks can make or break an outfit, show off people’s personalities, and even allow others a glimpse of their entire face. Some masks are designed to show a picture of the bottom half of a person’s face, so people can look like they aren’t wearing a mask at all. Companies such as Maskalike offer this service. For die hard fans of popular television shows such as Disney’s The Mandalorian, there are many masks featuring Force-sensitive baby Grogu that can be found online at Etsy.

There are also more natural options that are made from materials such as silk and bamboo. These materials can make it easier to breathe.

Bamboo masks are good because they are more comfortable, durable, and are less irritating for the skin.

According to Global News, someone who is more prone to acne breakouts due to wearing a mask may want to get masks that are made from natural materials such as cotton or cotton with a silk liner. Although they can seem more expensive at first, they last

longer than disposable masks and are more environmentally friendly because it prevents more disposable masks from going into the landfill.

According to All Things Being Eco, they claim that their bamboo masks have “natural anti-bacterial properties in the fabric [which] can inhibit the growth of bacteria.” Other sources such as an article in The Journal of the Textile Institute also confirms that bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial in nature. This means that it will be less likely for bacteria to grow, build up, and allow germs to spread which can hopefully help decrease the spread of maskne.

The term maskne refers to the breakouts that are caused by wearing a mask and having the material brush across the skin all day. According to MDacne, it is a combination of “heat, humidity, and a lack of airflow” that causes the breakouts to occur.

There are different masks and alternatives that people may want to avoid using in order to stay safe, one of them being the mouth shield.

According to CBC News, the mouth shield is not as good at protecting people or at stopping the spread of droplets and spit from spreading to other people as a reusable cloth mask is. According to the Government of Canada website, they recommend not using face shields, neck gaiters/ neck warmers, scarves, bandanas, or masks with exhalation valves. It is important to determine which mask is the right one and also to avoid alternatives that may not keep the wearer as safe from COVID-19.

If people want to make their own masks, they can visit the Government of Canada website that has full instructions on how to make effective masks that will keep the wearer safe and protected.

While there are many masks out there, I cannot wait for the day when we can shed them altogether. However, until we do, we may as well have fun wearing the ones we love and make the most out of the situation.

Masks. 2021. (Anton/Unsplash)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

CULTURE UFV Event //

Rob Taylor discusses writing, audience, and upcoming literary festival Fraser Valley Literary Festival can “make visible this invisible web of connections” DANAYE REINHARDT The Fraser Valley Literary Festival is an annual event celebrating the literary scene in the Fraser Valley. This year, the keynote speakers are Adèle Barclay, Dallas Hunt, and Rob Taylor.

Panelists are Junie Désil, Fiona Tinwei Lam, Keith Maillard, Hope Lauterbach, Shashi Bhat, Aaron Chan, Molly Cross-Blanchard, and Kyla Jamieson.

This year’s festival will take place on Nov. 5 at 6:00 p.m. and Nov. 6 at 11:30 a.m. at UFV’s U-House. You can register at their EventBrite page to attend.

The Cascade sat down with keynote speaker Rob Taylor, a poet and short story writer, to learn more about his writing process and the literary festival. Taylor teaches creative writing at SFU’s Writer’s Studio and formerly taught at UFV. How did you get into writing? What started you on this path?

My father was a minister and I always knew that wasn’t the path for me. But I knew that the path I wanted to follow was

“When I read literature, I not only see another human being (the author), but I merge with them: their words become my words, their thoughts my own.” adjacent to his, at least. Somewhere along the way, I started bumping into one poem here, another poem there, that would stay with me, that I would think about a lot, that would give me companionship and insight and peace.

I realized that those types of interactions were what I really loved about my dad and

my dad’s work, in terms of being in communion with people and helping them think through big ideas and helping them come to some peace and understanding about those big ideas.

At some point, I just kind of made the commitment to writing and teaching and editing and making that the centre of my life, and I have not regretted it.

Do you find that your dad’s work and the church make [their] way into your poetry?

Yeah, I mean, the Bible is an incredible resource for storytelling, but also, if you read the King James version, the language is very beautiful. It’s elevated language, and it has rhythms and just amazing word choices. So, that absolutely had an impact on me growing up as a minister’s son and hearing passages from the Bible.

But also, my father would deliver sermons, and sermons and other kinds of rhetorical speech are full of rhythm and repetition and all sorts of devices that you see in literary language as well.

Thinking about the Fraser Valley Literary Festival and how that has an audience, what do you think the importance of a literary festival is?

I think that the work of writing is done very quietly and in private, most often. So it’s easy to underappreciate how complex and vital and vibrant the web of connections that’s being formed is ... When we read books, we’re making connections with so many other people and with so many parts of ourselves. And all of that happens privately and usually completely invisibleinvisibly to everybody else.

I find [with] readings and festivals, the main thing that they do is they make visible this invisible web of connections, right?

So, readers can come together and talk about their experience or share a space where they all love a certain book or a certain author. That author can connect with those readers and with other writers who inspire them. And then all the conversations that come out of that can tie together all the threads of personal history and politics and whatever else it might be that [is]

Rob Taylor. 2021. (Marta Taylor)

happening — all that happens within the conversations of the festival.

You are a keynote speaker for the festival. Do you have an idea of what you’re going to be speaking on?

I’ll definitely be speaking about ... how literature and literary language connect us in this more direct and intimate way than everyday speech.

I’ll be talking about why I write: that writing makes me feel less alone and more connected to my fellow human beings. I’ll be considering how literary language, with its elevated attention to rhythm and its surprising associative movement, mirrors the rhythms of our bodies and the thought processes of our minds. Because of this, when I read literature, I not only see another human being (the author), but I merge with them: their words become my words, their thoughts my own. I’ll be talking about how this phenomenon has helped me get through difficult times in my own life, and how it has helped so many of us deal with COVID-19-related isolation.

Is there something that you’re most looking forward to for the festival?

Oh man, I’m looking forward to everybody. Adèle Barclay and Dallas Hunt are two of the finest writers in the province.

They both have a great deal to say about writing, but also about politics in the world, and I’m very excited to see what they have to say.

And then all the poets and writers — Shashi Bhat is one of the funniest short story writers and Molly Cross-Blanchard is one of the funniest poets out there. Junie Désil has a tremendous first book, eat salt | gaze at the ocean, which is one of my favourite books that I read last year I’m looking forward to seeing all those people, and I’m really looking forward to coming back to the campus and to seeing some people who I haven’t seen in a long time. There’s just such a lovely energy on campus. There [are] so many enthusiastic young writers, and getting to know them and bringing out some writers to do readings and events in the time I was at UFV was one of the highlights of my teaching career.

To be able to participate in an event that is bringing so much talent to the campus and to connect with the students is something I’m really looking forward to.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

CULTURE Club spotlight //

UFV’s revived Pre-Dental Association has a bright and shiny future Sink your teeth into UFV’s Pre-Dental Association CHANDY DANCEY The UFV Pre-Dental Association, although originally founded in 2015, is undergoing a revival by current President Gurneet Sandhu. Both Sandhu and Secretary Jaskiran Chauhan sat down with The Cascade to chat about their journeys to dentistry, their recent dental hygiene kit event, and what the future holds for their association.

As far as origin stories go, both Sandhu and Chauhan’s paths to dentistry began in high school, with both of them expressing how it seemed like a career that could have life-changing effects for patients.

Sandhu was able to job shadow a dentist during high school and found that dentistry combines many disciplines together in a compelling way, but also allows for creativity: “With shadowing the dentist I was able to understand dentistry and get exposed to different procedures and see first hand how a dentist has an impact on someone’s confidence. This really drew me toward the career. It can be creative because to produce the best results a dentist needs to focus on the aesthetic results, not just the procedure that needs to be performed.”

The association has started the semester off strong by recently hosting their dental

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hygiene kit event where they “created oral hygiene kits that included toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss.” The kits will be donated to the Salvation Army for distribution and will be an addition to the Christmas backpack program. The two executive members emphasized their wish to connect with the local community through this event and to bring an often overlooked form of healthcare in the form of dentistry to those that may not have access to it.

They also credited a number of local dental clinics for donating the supplies that created the kits, including Abby Smile Care Centre, Clawson Orthodontics, Novo Dental, Blossom Dental, Fort Langley Dental Office, and Summit Denture Clinic.

Regarding what’s coming up for the PreDental Association, they are looking to host a clay sculpting event toward the end of November.

“We plan to host a manual dexterity skill event in collaboration with a local dentist, as manual dexterity is an important skill that will be learned in dental school,” said Sandhu.

The association will be holding regular monthly meetings starting in the Winter semester where they plan to “discuss the different aspects of the dental school application — from the DAT (Dental Aptitude Test) [to] mock interviews,” according

Executive team. 2021. (Harwinder Singh)

to Sandhu. Sandhu also spoke about wanting the association to not just provide a social aspect for members, but also to focus on strengthening each other’s application to dental school by hosting “important and relevant events surrounding admissions.”

As for what Chauhan would say to interested but hesitant students: “You won’t know if something is for you until you try it out and participate! We are very welcoming and always love to have members join even if they are not interested in dentist-

ry.” Gurneet followed this up with the idea of exposing yourself to as many careers as possible during university so you can learn what you truly want to pursue.

Interested members can keep up with the Pre-Dental Association on their main social platform, Instagram, at @ufvpredental, reach out to ufvpredentalassociation@gmail.com, or check their regularly updated myCampusLife page.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

STUDY BREAK Crossword //

Made by Steve Hartwig

ACROSS

DOWN

3. They want to suck your blood

1. Plunders ships at sea

5. Used to carve Jack-O-Lanterns

2. Witches brew bubbles and boils in one of these

7. Get lost in a field in one of these

4. Earn a yearly supply of this by Trick or Treating

9. Things that go boom 10. Wear your costume to ward these off

5. Both real and fictional; Disney made them famous 6. Scary house with ghosts 8. Hanging in doors ready to pounce

Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.52) Sudoku //

6 2

8

3

ANSWERS:

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6

Your weekly life predictions as told by Shiva the Sage

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 The cards say to try not thinking of a white bear this week. That is all. Good luck.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 As you inch closer to final exams, try to rein in your more negative traits, Cancer.

You’re moody, which isn’t bad, but it reads as unpredictable to others when you’re happy one moment then angry the next. The important thing here is to communicate what you’re feeling so others can understand your point of view.

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Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 We all know the end of the semester is tough, Taurus, but try to avoid your pitfalls. You’re stubborn to a fault, and this means you have trouble admitting when you’re wrong.

It’s likely because of your strong internal compass, but it never hurts to consider other viewpoints and to adapt when things aren’t working.

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Down: 2. Sciences 5. Dental 7. Philosophy 10. Trades

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 The last half of the semester may bring out the worst in you, Aries, so be aware of your weakness. The truth is, sometimes you get caught up in your own fiery ambitions and come off as self-centered. Learn to embrace other ways of doing things and listen to different perspectives.

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LAST ISSUE’S

Horoscopes //

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Across: 1. Kinesiology 3. Communications 4. Nursing 6. Business 8. Criminology 9. VisualArts 11. Theatre 12. Economics

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 9 16:57:26 2021 GMT. Enjoy!

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 The end of the semester is on the horizon, Leo, and that means your less-than-desirable qualities may rear up. You’re used to being the brightest person in the room, but that doesn’t always need to be the case. You can learn by listening, thinking before you speak, and remembering that other people’s sparkle doesn’t diminish your own.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 With final exams one month away, it’s time to examine your worst qualities, Virgo. We know you want things done to meet your high standards, but micromanaging may not be the way to achieve this. Your perfectionism results in great quality work but also hinders your relationships. Learn when to let go.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 The semester is dipping into its last half, and that means your negative tendencies may increase, Libra. You find it difficult making decisions. This ties into your people pleasing tendencies, where you value harmony with others more than you do with yourself. Realize that it’s healthy to have boundaries and okay to put yourself first.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 Final exams are approaching, stress is heightening, and you, my Scorpio friend, may lash out. Your inability to forgive can hold you back, and unfortunately it’s usually paired with vengefulness. Remember that forgiveness is for your healing, not for others’.

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 It’s hard to do anything but survive as finals draw near, but try to control your worst traits from coming out, Sagittarius. School requires self-control, and this can be difficult to balance with your fun-loving, thrill-seeking nature. Take breaks when you need to, but remember to plan them in advance instead of giving in to impulsiveness.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 The end of the semester is coming, and that can bring out the bad side in anyone, Capricorn. You’ll need to look to reel back in your expectations. Your standards are high, but sometimes you don’t always need to achieve them. Give yourself and others a break and broaden your horizons.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 We’re in the last stretch of the semester, Aquarius, and while you may be stressed, remember to rein in your negative qualities.

Your analytical nature can come across as cold and uncaring at times, together with your headstrong determination. Try to consider the feelings of others in your ambitious plans from time to time.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 As the sun sets earlier and exams creep up on you, your bad side may come out to play more, Pisces. You tend to take things too personally due to your sensitive nature, and this can come off as being unintentionally selfcentered. Open your eyes to other people’s needs and put things into perspective.

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

ARTS

arts@ufvcascade.ca Vriti Sehgal — Arts Editor

Artist Q&A //

Dust Cwaine’s journey from drag artist to musician CHARTS

SHUFFLE

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Homeshake Under The Weather

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DijahSB Head Above The Waters

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Mauve Shining Gold (single)

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Ok Vancouver OK Never Perfect

Tracy Morgan — “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah”

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Ada Lea one hand on the steering wheel the other sewing a garden

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Great Aunt Ida Unsayable

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Exmiranda EYEZ ON THE PRIZE

I'll never stop shuffling this. Is it the SNL and 30 Rock alum's casually Big Bopper-esque delivery of the Hebrew word “haftorah,” referring to the Hebrew Bible passage read in order to ascend to adulthood, or is it the absurd picture, drawn through song, of “Boys becoming men / Men becoming wolves?”

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Missy D Delete My Number

Guns N’ Roses — “November Rain”

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Parlour Panther Retrograde

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AARON LEVY SEER OF THE VOID

CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy is “ready” if not “excited” for Halloween season, but these songs are all selections that DO pass the smellmy-feet-give-me-something-goodto-eat test of making him happy in a nostalgic kinda way.

With the changing of the seasons comes the recycling of pumpkin spiced java tinged stories, the re-emergence of Mauvey Night Skin, Pt.1: Goldie rain, and the quick transition from Thanksgiving, Hallowand Odyssey een, and post-season baseball into November, the holiday Vincent Crowley season, midterms, and this Beyond Acheron re-shuffled classic. Far and away, this is my favourite Guns Cartel Madras N’ Roses recording. Sorry, The Serpent and The Tiger "Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door."

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Michael Jackson — “Don't The Halluci Nation One More Saturday Night Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”

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Shane Cook & The If you were at the inaugural Abbotsford Canucks game on Woodchippers Friday, you would've heard Be Here For A While

some MJ, marking one of the first times in the last couple years I've been presented with the Pop King in public. Not getting the R. Kelly treatment, evidently, or alternatively, The Rolling Stones' “Brown Sugar” mode.

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Tei Shi Die 4 Ur Love

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Paul Cafcae It Ain't the First Time

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Sue Foley Pinky's Blues

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Bob Stetson Brand New Personality This classic Langley mall-punk band had a series of Canadi(single)

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Suuns The Witness Brendan Hendry Blue Summer Crush

Gob — “I Hear You Calling”

an radio hits, not the least of which included a cover of the aforementioned Stones' "Paint It Black." This music video in particular is a Halloween fright-fest, replete with soccer hooligan-style zombie melee action.

Dust Cwaine. (Chase Hansen)

VRITI SEHGAL Dust Cwaine is a Vancouver-based artist who uses music to spread the messages of understanding aromanticism and their sexual identity with the help of their music. In this interview, they talk about their passion for music, their journey of connecting with their sexuality, their musical inspirations, and drop hints about their upcoming work.

How did you start making music and what inspired you to make music?

I have listened to music my entire life. A lot of my inspiration comes from my parents. They have a very eclectic taste. My mom likes a lot of pop rock and my dad likes Can-con [Canadian content] music.

I started doing drag in 2016. When I found drag, I found an understanding of how I could become an artist or how I could pursue doing the things that I really love. So, when the pandemic hit in 2020, I recorded five demos in the closet, by myself ... After that, I just had a thirst for finding out what was next. I felt like I had a story to tell, and it was something I wanted to do seriously.

Also, after my dad passed away, the grief that I experienced was interesting. I started channeling that grief into making music with ... Helm Studios. We started writing and making music, and it has been an incredible learning curve for me.

How would you describe your music style in your own words?

Right now, we are just verging onto what my style would be. “A mixture of what my inspirations are” is the best way to paint that picture. I’m really inspired by alt-rock and pop rock. I seek inspiration from Matchbox Twenty, Liz Phair, Counting Crows, Melissa Etheridge, and Bruce Springsteen — the sort of pop rock eccentricities that have a little bit more depth and emotion to the lyrics, yet still have a repetitive experience to them. My music is light-hearted, and I infuse a lot of my queerness into it. I think that is the best snapshot of what my style is like.

Would you say that your songs explore the themes of sexuality and aromanticism? Are

they about your journey of sexuality?

A lot of these themes are very important to me because they are a huge part of who I am. As I venture out into being a singer/songwriter and introducing myself to the world, I think the most authentic thing that I could do right now is sharing myself to the world as I am and where I come from.

So, sharing things about my queer identity is important to me. I am non-binary. I use they/them pronouns. I’m pansexual and also an aromantic.

Being aromantic essentially means that I don’t feel a lot of romantic feelings. It is something that I am still unraveling with myself in a society that says that I need to feel those things to be “more normal.” But there are a lot of people out there who are struggling in relationships, who don’t understand that they are not feeling romantic in relationships. They are intellectualizing romantic feelings which is what I was doing. So, it is really important for me to spread those messages.

When I write a song about a specific experience from my life, that song can be very specific to me, yet still incredibly broad at the same time. I experienced a lot of emotional depth from friendships.

So, potentially there might be songs that sound like love songs but they are actually about friendships. For me, it’s about learning the nuances to be able to create a song that is broad enough for people to enjoy, but is also specific enough for a specific group of people to feel seen and understood.

So, what can you tell us about your upcoming work and your song “Innuendo?”

It is a sexy song, in the vein of Matchbox Twenty and Rascal Flatts. It’s a really fun song about not knowing the difference between love and lust. It’s about the first relationship one has where they think they are so in love, but it is really just lust.

There is going to be another single coming out in the beginning of January. The album is coming out in 2022, and I am so excited about them both.

“Innuendo” by Dust Cwaine was released October 22; it’s available to stream on all music platforms. Give it a listen and enjoy their catchy tunes.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

VOL. 29 // ISSUE 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

ARTS Netflix //

Squid Game deserves its spot at the top KATHLEEN CLINGWALL Squid Game, the Netflix show that took the entire world by storm, is an automatic must-watch after becoming the mostwatched show Netflix has ever released.

The show involves a group of 456 players that compete in a series of six children’s games to win billions in Korean won.

Sounds quite easy, right? Well, there’s one catch: once a player is disqualified from a game, they are killed.

The show really captures the feeling of being in debt and doing all you can to make money. Players are chosen to participate in the games based on their financial instability and the fact that they are in debt. The fact that their lives are on the line if they don’t succeed in the games does not seem to stop many of the players from participating. Although Squid Game may just be an entertaining TV show, I think it also demonstrates how desperate people can become when it comes to financial stability, especially now. The pandemic made it significantly harder for Americans and Canadians to feel secure financially due to job loss and wage cuts. If there was a real-life version of Squid Game, I am almost

positive that there would be lots of people more than happy to participate in it.

Not only is Squid Game amazingly written, but it also has some fantastic characters and strong character development.

While I believe that all of the characters are astounding (seriously), an honourable mention and favourite of mine would have to be Sae-byeok, played by Jung HoYeon. Her character was mysterious and edgy, while also showing emotions when needed. Jung’s acting was phenomenal.

I also really enjoyed the vast variety of characters in the show. Each of the main characters had their own unique personality — not one player was like another.

By the time we reach the end of the show, the characters have developed in such a way that they no longer care about winning the money, and they care more about each other.

In the past, not many people would have taken a chance on a Korean TV show, mostly because they don’t want to have to watch a show with subtitles or badly dubbed voices. Personally, I don’t mind watching a foreign show. I’m a big fan of anime so I’m used to subtitles or dubs. It’s also a nice change-up to watch a foreign show and be immersed in their world

rather than an Americanized one.

Overall, Squid Game is an amazing show and I have never seen anything like it. I’m sure there are other shows that involve playing games to earn money, but this is the first one I’ve watched and genuinely enjoyed. I don’t think I’ve felt this way about a show before, especially because

of the distinction between each character and how amazing the production value was. So if you’re still unsure about whether or not to take a chance on Squid Game, hopefully this article will help make up your mind.

Soundbites //

“Easy On Me” Adele Adele is back, baby. Sad girls had to wait six long years for this queen to break up with her man so that she could release another fire album for us all to belt out in the car with tears streaming down our faces.

Since we last heard from Adele, she got married and subsequently divorced, inspiring the hit album 30, to be released on November 19. Much of the album’s hit single “Easy On Me” is similar to her other singles like “Hello” and “Someone Like You.” She holds the same powerful, deep-voiced, long-noted melodies, accompaniment of a piano, and a black-andwhite music video that starts with her in an empty house, having a phone conversation with an unknown person. What’s different about “Easy On Me” is that the tone and lyrics are much softer and more

tender: she is no longer seeking vengeance, repentance, or telling her ex to eff-off, but instead she is debriefing a love lost — the father of her child and ex-husband.

“There ain’t no room for things to change / When we are both so deeply stuck in our ways / You can’t deny how hard I have tried / I changed who I was to put you both first / But now I give up.”

It’s a different kind of heartbreak, one that she has no doubt constantly replayed in her mind, searching for solutions but coming up dry. It’s a reckoning with herself that she was “still a child” when she entered the relationship, and it’s okay to put herself first and move on.

ANDREA SADOWSKI

“Social Stamina” Rosie Music and art can bring solace to those feeling misunderstood or alone. There are songs out there that are capable of sucking the air from your lungs and forcing you to marvel at the fact that someone fundamentally understands what you’re going through. If you’ve experienced the common side effects of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic, are you ready for that next song? Enter “Social Stamina” from Rosie.

“I lost touch with all my friends / I’m in bed by 10 p.m., I have no social stamina / I cancel on all my plans, I commit then I don’t answer / I can’t keep up with anyone.” The opening set of lines to this ballad laments the disconnection felt despite living during a time when we’re more connected than ever — to the point of near social exhaustion. Our world is full of

parasocial relationships to YouTubers and Instagram influencers, where we keep up with our friends' lives through their social media instead of phone calls and meet ups.

Despite having more access than ever to others, genuine connection is still hard to come by.

The Harvard Gazette wrote about a study that found that the majority of young adults reported high levels of loneliness during the pandemic. If you’re between the ages of 18 and 25, chances are you might be feeling lost and alone too. If this track can offer you comfort, then let it. Rosie, the artist, similarly said: “Let this song serve as a friend and support system as you navigate the highs and lows of life.”

CHANDY DANCEY

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ANDREA SADOWSKI