Issue 7 Volume 60

e x p l o r at i o n w i t h i n t e n t i o n

The Inquirer The official student newspaper of canadian university college

a n au ro r a c h ro n i c l e s pu b l i c at i o n

{By C h a n ta l J a n}

issue

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volume

60 • January 25, 2012

13-01-23 11:54 AM

Editor’s Note When the day comes a nd I’ve counted all my sins--how many I’ll see. I want to be able to say that I did more, more than pray I did more than just spend my money, just writing letters, than just going out marching, I did more than talking and saying the right thing, wearing the right thing. It’s time for an uprising.

Love’s on its way Hope it won’t be too late - Corinne Bailey Rae

Inside...

3

IN THE BRAIN

4

Rhizomatic religion

Where did you get the notion that I can’t feel the stinging criticisms. Where did you get the notion that your smile is not a smirk. Where did you get the notion that we are so different.

Where did you get the notion that you are so unlike.

5

The World

It Can’t Be That Bad

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The External and Internal World

8

Why Call a Suicide Hotline?

I know you.

You: with the empty eyes and drooping smile.

The grimace of a ghost.

Why do I exist? you ask. When nobody can see me?

And nobody can hear your silent screams. Days blur into the next restless hours. Tears hidden by shadows. Scars hidden by sleeves.

Questions go unanswered, too scared to ask: Will you help me? Can anybody help me?

9

Entertainment

I know you. I am next to you. I am you. I love you.

Hearts beat, but no light is on.

Some say suicide is a sin, but let the dying die. Some say suicide is punishable, but have themselves murdered a heart.

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First Person

Introducing: The Princess and the Pea

The Listener

12 From your SA

14 LIKE A WRITING DESK

Sapphire w.

Listen: Love Is On Its Way by Corinne Bailey Rae

To submit questions, response, art, or an article: - www.caucsa.tumblr.com - sachronicles@gmailcom January 25, 2012

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In the brain F i r st pe r s o n: T h e I n q u i r e r i n t e rv i ew i n g a c u c st u d e n t o n s e l f-h a r m a n d s u ici d e - Why do people have suicidal thoughts?

-taking an objective view. Saying that the other person is being irrational.

- Wanting to escape. To stop thinking, feeling. Mental health issues are

Don’t act like a therapist, be a friend.

also a struggle.

- What else should others know about people who are hurting - What leads to suicidal thoughts?

themselves?

- Tough situations that you want to get away from-- family disputes,

Self harm isn’t just cutting. Self harm can be substance abuse, being volun-

abusive relationships--being pushed around, choked out, slapped to sexual

tarily involved in unhealthy social disputes, sexual promiscuity-- anything

assault and harassment, seeing cliques and not feeling belonged .Or even

that can be used as an escape from your own reality. It’s really irritating

being part of a clique and realizing that you’re easily disposable. Feeling

when people treat suicide as an “unpardonable sin” and do guilt trips.

like a “pity-case.” When you lose your self worth. Non-genuine interactions.

Confinement doesn’t work: like, making me sit in my room and giving

Sitting in a classroom and hearing a professor have gender/religious/opin-

me a safe person. That’s being treated like an animal. Don’t do that. This

ion preference. Seeing no passion anymore. And without passion, there is

will quicker lead to a suicide. By being affirming and making a victim feel

no compassion.

belonged will help prevent suicide and self-harm.

- What are some stigmas about individuals with suicidal thoughts/

Once, I took all the Advil I could find. I sat in the staircase crying, but

tendencies?

didn’t want some Jesus girl to find me and be traumatized plus I didn’t

- That we are looking for attention. That we can’t handle “the real world.”

want to die alone, so I went to be around people who I trusted to take of me

Then where do we fit in? Is there a scale that “real world people” are

if anything happened. didn’t want to go home.

gauged by?

I hated my classes, I didn’t have any friends. People knew me, but didn’t know me at all. I was in a room full of girls and one girl came and sat down

- What are some ways people address the issue of suicide or react

next to me without being awkward and started asking me what was up

to the issue?

and why I looked so withdrawn. I said, “I just don’t feel good.” She started

- Some people turn their noses up or even laugh about it. They treat the

asking me if I did something, but was so inviting soI admitted to it. She

issue of suicide like it’s something gross or taboo. Even if someone jokes

asked questions to find out the whole story so she said she was going to

about suicide, it doesn’t mean that it has never crossed their mind before.

get help. I insisted that she didn’t, so she gave me water to drink and since I only took about a dozen pills, I began to feel much better. My lips got

- What are signs to look for in someone who is experiencing sui-

colour back and I didn’t look as pale as before. The next day, she asked if I

cidal thoughts?

could be her date to go to church and I was like, “shoot! What a sweet girl!”

- Missing lots of class. Someone who sleeps a lot. Sometimes, a loss of ap-

But eventually she just went on living her life and I began to think, “What

petite. You can feel it in their presence--it’s dark, and heavy.

was the point in sticking around? Is there something wrong with me?” So I started to think, “Maybe I will just end it.” But then I decided, that I would

- What kinds of suicidal thoughts have you had?

just try being alone, but that turned into depression. I just slept and slept

- Overdosing on pills, drowning was a big one, shooting myself, and throw-

and slept. All I did was shower and then go back to bed. I started to hurt

ing myself in front of traffic. Running the car off the road. Drinking into an

myself in other discreet ways. It sort of helped release any tension that

alcoholic coma. And cutting-- like, a main artery.

was inside of me. And every time I would see the scar or have it hurt, it sort of reminded me that I’m not alone because I’m here with me. It was

- What is the best way to deal with someone who is suicidal?

actually a good reminder. But after that, I told myself I would never want

- You should listen. Take action if the person wants to hurt others or

to die by pills. Because if someone finds you before you die, they’ll

themselves. Give a sense of hope. Reasoning. Being sensitive. Let the other

stick a hose inside of you--down your throat, and I heard that’s SOO pain-

person talk. Be casual. Put yourself genuinely in their life. You don’t have

ful. So it’s kind of like, is it worth it?

to be their best friend, but checking in casually is great.

But when someone reaches out to you and then all of a sudden leaves, you - What is the worst way to deal with someone who is suicidal?

think, what was that all about then? I may as well have just gone through

- Panicking. Talking over the individual. Don’t downplay the situation-

with it. I don’t want to stand it.

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R h i zo m at i c r e l i g i o n

by S aw y e r

About a year ago, my friend murdered God. A common occurrence amongst science scholars given two hypotheses narrating the Creation story—the Great Debate: Creation versus Evolution. Like any good scientist, he chose the option that had the most evidence.

He stopped believing in a personal god, and so, God vanished from his perspective.

Our religious paradigm has an interesting method of dealing with this sort of problem. Some thought my friend never had a strong enough faith to begin with.

Others invited him to the annual pro-Creation speaker for a yearly dose of comforting to relieve their cognitive dissonance. For a third option, the Science department hosts and evolution versus creation debate, where University of Alberta students propose a merger between the two opposing narratives. We’re uncomfortable with multiple narratives. One must be right; the other, wrong.

Our “either/or” ideological paradigm, inherited from the Greeks, has enabled centuries of scientific advancement, but it has also simplified our understanding of reality. Science removes the abstract and symbolic; religion negates deviance from culturally constructed norms. This inability to conceive of multiple truths is not only a church problem—but it is the church that is most endangered by it. The church believes against evidence, which complicates its ability

to keep beliefs with evidence outside of its constructed sphere. Fearing the challenge new ideas bring to systematic theology, religious belief imposes a glass ceiling of intellectual thought, an invisible barrier that portends, “if your knowledge or intellect becomes too sophisticated, then you need to keep silent in church.”

We only take what we want, causing us to live in a utopian-minded sphere where the outside world doesn’t exist. We are so vigilant against being deceived that we don’t consider that we may already have been deceived. This fear inhibits religion from progressing into unchartered territory. It causes science professors to be censored, inhibiting their ability to counsel and mentor students whose faith may be struggling—students who don’t understand that truths arranged in a self-consistent whole do not adequately describe reality. Our fear only hurts ourselves.

I’m not proposing we become evolutionists. I’m proposing a paradigm shift to understand these conflicts differently. Science is imagined and re-imagined all the time. New evidence can completely transform our understanding of basic scientific laws. This does not invalidate current scientific data. It also does not make religious beliefs better. Both thought systems multiply the possibilities of life, and can be valued simultaneously.

January 25, 2012

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In the World

by M a n u M ay u r

“B u t w h at i s l i b e rt y w i t h o u t w i s d o m, a n d w i t ho u t v i rt u e?

It i s t h e g r e at e st o f a l l p o s s i b l e ev i l s; fo r i t i s fo l ly, v i c e, a n d m a d n e s s, w i t h o u t t u i t i o n o r r est r a i n t.”

– Edmund Burke

In many prisons, people eat, read, rest, play sports, shower, use the washroom, get haircuts and other activities that we are used to. A major difference between prison and the free world is that prisoners live in confinement under a constructed day. Are we that far off though?

We are confined in thinking and doing one way of life. We are practically prisoners of our own imaginations. We do nothing for others but ensure that we are fixed with our daily dose of friends, movies, friends, school, friends, showers, and friends.

In the 20’s, the Equal Rights amendment was granted in the United States of America, and finally women were granted the right to vote. Do women in today’s world actually practice their rights? I see women on our campus yielding to men, and girlfriends being carried along while their boyfriends steer the direction in

which they go. There is an awkward hug, followed by the boyfriend trotting off to his class and the girlfriend sitting in her class doodling on a sheet of paper while wearing a grin and her boyfriend taking notes while contributing to the class.

We have the right to an education. When speaking of education, do not be confused by handing assignments in on time, and getting the best grade that you can while regurgitating facts. More importantly than striving for A’s is getting an education that makes you a progressive thinker.

Let us use our imagination and play a game. Imagine yourself: locked in a cage for 4 months and a sudden alarm blares and the gates open. What would you do?

Sit until the officers come to close your gate? Or do you rather run for the exit? Well, why don’t you escape from societal constructs and run free to the exit. Your choice.

Listen: If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow

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T h e E x t e r n a l a n d I n t e r n a l wo r l d

by Ev i e da r k ly

Hello everyone. I’m back, and I have an announcement: the world is getting better. Of course, “better” is both relative and in the eye of the beholder, but let’s consider this for a moment before I address the true concern of this column.

Contrary to news media portrayals and the constant doomsday prophecies we’ve all grown accustomed to, there is an emerging perspective that insists we are living in a golden age. One advocate of this perspective is Peter H. Diamandis, Harvard graduate, entrepreneur turned philanthropist, and author of 2012’s Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think. He challenges the notion that all the forces in the world are conspiring to bring humanity to its ultimate demise by postulating that in reality, it’s just the opposite: the universe is conspiring to solve all our biggest problems.

Here’s what Diamandis had to say in a recent interview about the world getting better:

If you pull back a little bit from the sea of bad news that’s assaulting us these days, what you actually see is a preponderance of trends that are moving in a fantastic direction. Take health care: over the past century, child-mortality rates have dropped by 90 percent, while the human lifespan has doubled. Or poverty, which has dropped more in the past 50 years than it did in the previous 500. At a global level, the gap between wealthy nations and poorer nations continues to close. Across the board, we are living longer, wealthier, healthier lives. Certainly, there are still millions of people living in dire, back-breaking poverty, but using almost every quality-of-life metric available—access to goods and services, access to transportation, access to information, access to education, access to lifesaving medicines and procedures, means of communication, value of human rights, importance of democratic institutions, durable shelter, available calories, available employment, affordable energy—our day-to-day experience has improved massively over the past two centuries.1 So why are we all so pessimistic? Why are we convinced

things are getting so much worse? Diamandis points to the survival instincts of all organisms, humans most of all. Our brains favour threatening information over non-threatening information so that we have a heightened awareness of potential risks. And because news outlets are still businesses, they are going to promote what will attract (and hold) our attention: the bad stuff.

Let’s now examine this in another way. Let’s talk about your life. You’re pretty privileged, right? Lucky you, right?

I mean you’re living in Canada, one of the best places in the world to live. And you’re getting a college education. You have a roof over your head, food on your table, probably some money in your pocket too. Maybe you also have interesting friends and a loving family, are in good health, own a closet’s worth of clothes and a smartphone and an iPod and a laptop. Maybe you have the brightest future, and everyone is rooting for you. Then why are you depressed?

There is no rationale for depression. There is no recipe, no formula “A + B + C = Depression”. Depression does not discriminate. It is not partial to the rich or the poor, the young or the old, the privileged or the disadvantaged. And despite the “case for optimism” about our modern world (as Bill Clinton would put it) and the many achievements in the mental health field over the last 30 years, there have not been adequate advances in the prediction and prevention of suicide.2 Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, has highlighted the importance of researching strategies of suicide prevention. He notes that although there have been encouraging decreases in deaths by traffic accidents and homicide in the last few decades, suicide rates have remained about the same.3 Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.4 This probably isn’t shocking news. We can talk about college as a transitional period, wrought with uncomfortable changes and anxious, confused, lost, stressful emo

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tions. But like I said: there is no formula. It’s not black and white. Sometimes there’s a multitude of reasons, sometimes there’s no reason at all. Either way, you don’t need to berate yourself for slipping into the jaws of depression. You don’t need to feel guilty for hurting.

How dare you waste a single second stewing in self-pity?

Don’t you know how many people are starving in the world, how many people are denied of any sort of education, how many people would give their right arm to have one-tenth of the luxuries you take for granted?

But it’s not that simple, is it? Maybe in your moments of clarity--when the fog of self-loathing and despair settle a little and the light filters down--you recognise this. You recognise that this is bigger than yourself. It’s bigger than you taking some deep breaths and a long walk and the very best multivitamins. It’s bigger than sucking it up. It’s bigger than waging war with yourself every day.

But it’s hard to ask for help. One in five college students believe that their depression level is higher than average, yet only 6% say they would seek help.4 Approximately 19% of college-age people contemplate or attempt suicide each year.

But maybe you, dear reader, are not depressed. So here’s a statistic I want you to pay attention to: Four out of every five young people that contemplate or attempt suicide exhibit clear warning signs.5 There are probably people close to you who are depressed, possibly even contemplating suicide.

Chances are, they are too ashamed to seek help themselves.

Reach out. Promote an environment of openness and honesty in your relationships. Take the time to really notice those around you. Pay attention to the struggles of your friends and classmates. Take the time to ask them how they are.

Pray with them. Encourage them to seek help. Follow up.

Because there’s good news: 80-90% of people who seek the necessary form of mental health treatment can recover from depression and become high-functioning individuals.5 The external world may be getting better, but you or someone you know may be experiencing an internal hell. The Inquirer newspaper team wants CUC students to be aware that there are services right here at the school to help combat the darkness of depression.

CUC’S COUNSELLING SERVICES There are two therapists available by appointment at CUC. Wanda is a therapist who specialises in abuse issues, past traumas, family of origin issues, anxiety and depression.

She uses much of the tools from the Cognitive Behaviour Model of therapy, but also uses a bit from other models depending on what works best for the client.

Rochelle is an eclectic therapist (which means she pulls tools from several therapeutic models), who has a breadth of experience working with many cultural and population groups in Central Alberta.

Appointments can be scheduled between 9am and 8pm Tuesday through Thursday and on Fridays from 9am to 12pm. Please call Crystal in the mornings at 403-782-3381 ext. 4141 or Tasha in the afternoons at 403-782-3381 ext.

4154.

Additionally, CUC is providing an 8-week Depression Recovery Program from January 28th to March 25th. This group will meet on Monday evenings (with the exception of Family Day) from 7-9pm in North Hall. Contact anyone in CUC’s Counselling & Career Development department or simply drop by the Student Success Center (North Hall) to register.

For immediate help, call 911 or the Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433). **************** As always, The Inquirer welcomes submissions. If you would like to submit a personal experience battling depression (or anything at all), please write to sachronicles@cauc.ca. We want to hear from you!

Depression can signify the need for important change in your life. You can turn it into something positive. It can be your great lesson. In the words of the great Leonard Cohen, “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

Footnotes 1

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/21/the-world-is-getting-better-arguesnew-book-abundance.html 2

3

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-victor-schwartz/college-suicides_b_1904005.html

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/media/video/nimh-director-talks-with-nimh-researcherabout-the-high-priority-research-strategies-of-suicide-prevention.shtml 4

5

The Inquirer

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http://www.suicide.org/college-student-suicide.html

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/09/02/statistics-about-college-depression/

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Why Call a Suicide Hotline?

Sometimes it’s hard to admit... that we need other people.

Sometimes depression and suicidal thoughts contain a component of upset and anger towards the world and the people in it.

But the truth is, nothing can really substitute for human contact we do need people.

The truth is, just talking to someone, explaining, sharing, venting, being listened to, can often give us a temporary reprieve.

Talking to someone can temporarily change your perspective - Human contact changes the brain chemistry and opens that emotion “pod” of pent up emotions for temporary relief - and it may not be what they say, but just the exchange of emotions like empathy, compassion, and concern.

Will they cure us - no.

Will they take the pain away ?

Maybe ease it for a little while.

Even if you know you may be upset or suicidal again soon, just give it a try. Even though non-depressive humans won’t really know exactly how you feel --let them try to help the best they can.

Talk to them, let them listen.

Most of them are not even getting paid. The only reason they are there is for you.

They may not always say the exact right thing, but they are hoping that somehow they can help you make it through a difficult night, to live and fight another day.

It doesn’t have to be a one time only call.

Although it is often the last resort for many, you don’t have to be

• • • •

St. Paul & District Crisis Centre • Serving all Alberta and Northeastern Saskatch ewan • Box 1237, St. Paul, AB T0A 3A0 • Crisis 24 hours: 1-800-263-3045 • Crisis 24 hours: (780) 645-5195 • Business: (780) 645-5132 Salvation Army Community & Family Centres • 9620-101 A. Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5H 0C7 • Hope Line – Mon – Friday, 9:00 am – 11:30 pm:

(780) 424-9223 Greater Edmonton Area • Business: (780) 424-9222

Distress Centre Calgary • Serving Calgary and surrounding areas • Suite 300, 1010-8 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1J2 • Crisis 24 hours • Main Crisis Line:(403) 266-4357 • ConnecTeen: (403) 264-TEEN • on line chat support: www.calgaryconnecteen. com

embarrassed to call & it doesn’t have to be a big dramatic event If you know you are in trouble or if you really don’t know what is wrong -- whether you think it will help you or not, just call anyway. You may not know how it helped until after you are well, your depression is treated and you look back and see that it really did make a difference. It probably won’t be just one thing that gets you through this terrible time in your life - It will be lots of little things that really don’t seem like help at all.

The one time I called a suicide hotline was after I took something to kill myself. I don’t know why I even called. It was my second attempt & I was determined to kill myself. But my doctor had given me the number so I called it. I wasn’t even upset - I just told the gal that I had taken something to kill myself. She said I should go in and wake my Dad and tell him - if not they would send an ambulance.

Without the Doctor’s “will” - his directive to call the number, and

Doctor Margaret Savage Crisis Centre Cold Lake, AB T9M 1P1 Crisis 24 hours: 1-866-594-0533 Crisis 24 hours: (780) 594-3353 Business: (780) 594-5095

• • • •

Wood’s Homes 805, 37 Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N8 Crisis 24 hours: 1-800-563-6106 Crisis 24 hours: (403) 299-9699 Business: (403) 270-4102

Crisis Support Centre, a program of The Support Network • Serving Edmonton and Northern Alberta • 400 – 10025 106 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 1G4 • Crisis 24 hours:1-800-232-7288 (Toll free service

available to Northern Alberta) • Crisis 24 hours: (780) 482-HELP (4357) • Seniors Abuse Helpline: (780) 454-8888 • Business: (780) 482-0198

the counselor’s “will” or influence, I feel sure that I would have just laid down & waited to die like I had done the first time I tried.

(However, just as in my previous attempts, the stuff I took would not have killed me anyway, but I would have wondered about damage to my body or brain, making my plight worse than ever.)

Visit: http://www.suicideprevention.ca/in-crisis-now/find-a-crisis-centre-now/crisiscentres/crisis-alberta/

January 25, 2012

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Entertainment

I n t ro d u c i n g: T h e pr i n c e s s a n d t h e pe a by m e l i s s a m y e r s

I met with Selene Dublenko and Aaron Boscanin to talk about the upcoming theatrical production on CUC’s campus, “The Princess and the Pea: The Musical.” Selene is head choreographer and a chorus member, and Aaron is dance captain and plays the Jester.

Selene and Aaron give insight as to what the production is about and their own experiences from working as part of the cast and crew. Whether you’re reading this prior to the opening performance or after the curtains have closed on Sunday, rest assured that there is plenty of talent and dramatic flair coursing through-

There is a performance of The Princess and the Pea on Friday, January 25 at 2 p.m. for home-schooled and elementary students and their families. Faculty, CUC and PAA students, and community members are invited to attend shows on Saturday, January 26 at 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and Sunday, January 27 at 2 p.m. All performances will be held in the admin chapel. Tickets are available at the door.

out our campus.

“The musical was originally named Once upon a Mattress,” Selene explains, “although CUC Drama Society has officially renamed it ‘The Princess and the Pea: The Musical.’ It’s directed by Julie Thompson and assisted by Megan McConnell. The musical itself is the traditional fairy-tale story of the Princess and the Pea, where a princess must undergo a test of her true royalty to see if

Events

she will indeed feel a pea beneath hundreds of mattresses.”

What has been your favourite part about choreographing the musical?

Selene: “My favourite part has definitely been seeing it all come together and seeing people who claim that they cannot dance whatsoever embrace it and enjoy it. I get so happy when I see people do what I’ve envisioned, even if it’s not perfect.”

Is it difficult teaching people choreography?

Selene: “No, it’s a lot of fun and we get a lot of laughs out of it.

Watching people learn to dance is funny, and learning to dance is fun too. You can’t take it too seriously.”

Aaron: “Most of the time, even though it was a lot of hard work, we spent a lot of time having fun, and that’s what makes it enjoyable.”

Was it a stretch becoming your character or is your character very much like yourself? Aaron, a third year Music major, explains: “I think my character is an exaggeration of myself in some ways.

The Jester’s entire life is about entertaining; everything he does is really out there and with the intent of drawing attention. I enjoy being on stage and performing for people. It wasn’t extremely difficult for me to play the Jester.”

•

AY: Saturday, January 26, 4:00pm in LVH Chapel

•

Basketball: Saturday, January 26, 6pm

•

Sunday at Seven: January 27 at College Heights Church

•

LVH Men’s Open House: Sunday, February 3

•

AY: Saturday, February 9, 4:00 pm in the LVH Chapel

•

Bistro Italiano: Saturday, February 9, at 6:30 pm at the

Cafeteria •

Banquet: 2 Worlds: CUC Prom, Sunday, February 10, 7

pm at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. Tickets are on sale

now at Student Services.

•

Orchestra Tour to Edmonton: Sunday, February 10

•

Valentines Day: Thursday, February 14

•

Reading break: Friday, February 15-Tuesday, February 19

•

Dodgeball Tournament: Saturday, February 16, 7 pm

•

Edmonton Trip: Sunday, February 17, 10 am. More informa

tion at LVH.

•

Maple Hall Open House: Thursday, February 21

•

AY: Saturday, February 23, 4:00 pm in the LVH Chapel

•

February is Black History Month

Why should someone come see the musical?

Aaron: “This musical is really creative. I hope the audience is entertained and enjoys our acting, the set, the costumes, and the overall creative concept that is the play. It’s fun to see how much of a transformation we’ve all gone through in order to put this production together.”

“I hope that they’ll like it so much that they’ll want to see it twice!” Selene quips.

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t h e l i st e n e r

“S ong for Z ula ” -P hosphorescent , M uchacho ( forthcom ing ) Matthew Houck, better known as Phosphorescent, has strung together some of the most introspective and frankly touching lyrics I’ve heard in a long time. It’s true poetry, and sung in the way only he could, old-soul drawl in full-effect.“Song for Zula” is his best work yet.

“W ith J ust O ne G lance ” - N icolas J aar ft . S cout L a R ue Enter with the cool croon of a saxophone playing in your head: an impressive display of notes and trills can go here. You’re in a dark room wearing sunglasses and dressed in all black. My, you are talented. And so begins “With Just One Glance.” Nicolas Jaar, Chilean/New York electronic prodigy, creates a sultry track filled with all the right elements to take the listener to another world: a slick sax, smooth beats, drums, and the intoxicating voice of Scout LaRue. Her vocals carry the song, which is impressive, given the simplicity of her lyrics. She highlights Jaar’s brilliant electronic engineering, rather than

“C ruise ” - A stronautica , R eplay L ast N ight ( forthcoming )

competing with it. Jaar’s underlying beats combined with the

L.A. young blood Astronautica, real name Edrina K. Martinez, has produced a little instrumental that’s quite true to its name.

It’s a gentle burn of a song, with atmospheric synths and rolling, smooth percussion that feels like warm waves lapping at your ankles as the last of the sun drips into the ocean. Too bad we’re stuck in Alberta, huh? “Cruise” has no defining melody; you won’t be humming it later on today. But you may be drawn

smooth decadence of LaRue’s vocals creates an exotic, intoxicating sound. This is a shoulder swaying success if I have ever heard one, or had the authority to say so. Exit with the saucy confidence of an accomplished jazz performer. Bravo.

“F irst L ove N ever D ie ” - SOKO I feel like walking. Do you feel like coming? asks SOKO, a

back to it, as I have been so many times, for the light and calm it

band fond of lost love and childhood memories. Walk with them

indulges eager ears.

back to your first love: maybe you’re still with the person, or you dodged that bullet and ended things with Tommy before it got too serious—grade five was going to bring too many changes for the relationship to go further, anyway. First love never die. May-

“G un -S hy (L indstrøm R emix )” - G rizzly B ear On paper I wasn’t sure if a Grizzy Bear and Lindstrøm pairing was going to work, but as soon as I pressed “play” my lips curled into a smile and I was (for once) happy to be wrong. Both entities-Grizzly Bear, the traditional/non-traditional Brooklyn band, and Lindstrøm, the Scandinavian disco king--released significant albums in 2012, Shields and Smalhans, respectively. Here, Lindstrøm has transformed one of the tracks from Shields into a nearly 7-minute heater that pops and fizzes, introducing a slick

be you long for your first love; maybe you have a heart of stone and don’t crack thinking about it; maybe you’re still waiting for the right person. Maybe your first love was a different kind of love—your pet or imaginary friend. Face it. We love many people in many types of ways, and that’s a love that will never die. Even if Timmy, err Tommy, broke your heart when you were twelve, or when you were twenty; even if you broke his. We love on. SOKO has created a beautiful and nostalgic track that contemplates life’s journey and what has inspired so many songs to be written into existence—first love.

little piano riff and synth stabs from 1984. You’re gonna have fun, promise.

- L.B. -E.D.

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L i st e n

watc h

Hanging High - Lykke Li

• I Am Sam

Explode - Uh Huh Her

• The Black Swan

I Try Hard -Yael Naim

• The Moth Diaries

The End Of the World - The Eversons Love’s On Its Way - Corinne Bailey Rae

• Caught On Camera: Tsunami

Lightness - Death Cab For Cutie

• To Save a Life

Nye - Dinosaur Bones

• Martha Marcy May Marlene

Finally We Are No One - Mum

• Precious

Dissembler - Woodhands Day N Nite - Kid Cudi Chaos - Mute Math

• The Aviator • Sylvia

Wish I Stayed - Ellie Goulding

• Virgin Suicides

Dance Dance Dance - Lykke Li

• Veronika Decides To Die

The Sun - The Naked and Famous Goodmorning - William Fitzsimmons

• It’s Kind of a Funny Story • Fight Club • Requiem For a Dream • Donnie Darko

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F ro m yo u r SA

“Um… Yes so, what should I do?”

It is this question that I am asked and strive to answer for the individuals who make up our student body.

For those who don’t know, my name is Kevin Choi, SA Academic Vice President for 2012-13 and, frankly, I think of myself as a shy, timid guy. I cry in movies (yes, Notebook did the trick… and others I shall not mention), absolutely shudder public speaking, and am sensitive – both in the inside and outside! As the Academic VP, I attend Academic Committee meetings and Faculty Councils as your representative and I find myself often not satisfied, thinking I could have done a better job representing you. Maybe it’s because of these reasons (especially crying in movies) I take my job with extra caution and seriousness. Especially with academic concerns, it is quite tough because I need to stand my ground of getting you what you deserve, not what you want. I have to take the integrity of this institution, the SA and the fairness your classmates deserve into consideration. Of course, being a student myself, I go in the meetings with sympathy towards our students.

But there are more important values than sympathy I should think through when making my mind.

So, here I am, asking for your help. I want to help you the best I can so that you may achieve what you deserve. But in return, I am asking for your support. I have suggested some tips for you below that will help me to represent you better with your academic concerns. In the end, you will have done yourself a favour.

1. Prevention first! - know thy self! – It’s your program, your school. Be proactive and familiarize yourself with school policies and the requirements. Know what classes you are officially registered in. You can only get credits for the classes you are registered for. It’s always better to prevent issues than fixing them.

2. Team play – ask for help from your instructors, friends, counsellors, etc. If you know you need help, ask for it. Be reasonable and don’t wait till the last minute.

3. Always try to solve the issue at the lowest level – if issues occur, try to solve it the easiest way. For example, if you have a problem with your instructor, talk to him/her first, then your advisor, chair, dean, and so on.

Don’t go to Dr. Haynal and start telling him about the grade you don’t think you deserve. He did not give you the mark, your instructor did.

Talk to your instructor!

4. Keep the necessary documents – if you have a doctor’s note, a transcript, or any other important documents, it’s good to keep them! It may come useful explaining what actually happened.

5. Sooner the Better - Try to fix it as soon as possible.

Time matters. As soon as you see a problem, try to address it.

6. Last but not least - Feel free to come talk to me! I will be more than happy to listen to your comments.

There they are. I wish you all good luck with this semester and hope you have the best Winter 2012-13 semester ever! You are more than welcome to join me for my tearjerker sessions.

Godspeed.

Yours sincerely, Kevin Choi

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l i k e a w r i t i n g d e s k

with ginger

In Lewis Carrol’s book, Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter asks “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” and the guests at the tea party attempt to solve the riddle. Several pages later, the Hatter admits “I haven’t the slightest idea.” This scene was meant to illustrate the mystical, magical world that Alice has fallen into, a place of leisure and adventure. In turn, this column is a cove of possibilities, where whatever you create, write, draw, photograph, or imagine can come to life. In each issue, you can flip to this section to find voices of others that are meant to express, inspire and stimulate.

Photography by Joel Robinson

The focus of these photographs is Liminality, the in-between, the process of growing and the emotions that coincide with developing, living. I chose this theme for many reasons. Firstly, because of the way poetry buds inside me until I have to write it down. Words are the root of life and through words, we can create beautiful stories and images that can be planted into other people’s hearts. This theme focuses on a seed, taking root and growing into a tree. The tree blooms with life, emotions, ideas, spouting beliefs, passions, loves. The tree, as all trees do, faces storms, weather strife and pain. The tree produces fruit that fill stomachs, though its flesh may sometimes leave a strong aftertaste. The tree slowly dies, but not before leaving Mother Nature with more seeds, more words, more poems to plant.

As you go about your life, you will find signs of this, poetry in the things you touch, the things you love, and you will wonder what has been planted in you. You will wonder what you have planted in others.

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Dear Readers, Poetry is a beautiful expression of feelings and ideas, often written with a great intensity of emotion. It is a release, a way to connect with others, a way to speak up about things that you cannot find the words for until after you have sat down and found the chance to mull it over with a pencil and paper. Poetry is in everything around us, if we choose to look.

For me, poetry is a way of expressing myself, documenting my feelings or speaking up about something I feel strongly for, whether it is passion or pain or sadness that I feel.

Writing is one of my favourite things to do, but it is also

[The evening is my mourning

something I must do. Poetry is a part of me, whether I am

And the sunset is so bright]

writing or reading it. Sometimes a poem is simply worded beautifully and that is the extent of my love for it. Other

“Take off your shoes,

times, it crashes into me, words that aren’t mine but feel as

let down your hair,

though they are, strung together in perfect accord. Some-

Go and stand beside the bed”

times I’ll pick up a poem and fall in love with the flow of the

My shirt went up

words, the rhythm, or perhaps it is the metaphor that will

My pants came down

strike my fancy.

Bra, and undies met the ground His shirt went up

Poetry is this way for me, and I wish it upon you too.

My face went down “Please, oh please, don’t hurt me now” To recall the event woke my senses. I can still smell the carpet and see the curtains dance in the wind. To lay myself to rest would be to lay the memory to rest and that is all I think about these days.

Carry on with my day, I must Show up to class and practice trust Rhyming is the only way to convey My heavy thoughts to you today Thanks for listening, thanks so much To hear the rest is to reveal what’s hushed Get on now, enjoy you day I can’t help but feel dismay Still I kneel for you and pray Get on with your life now, okay?

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- By a CUC Student

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Poem For a few moments, let someone help carry your pain Someone who is there because they care enough to help a stranger in need Because they know, or they have seen, From someone they know, or somewhere they’ve been That your life may be in danger and there’s nothing they can say, To really make that pain go away.

But they are there for you even so, Because somehow they know, That somehow, some way, They can help you find the strength to live another day...

Photography by Joel Robinson

A Creative Pay-It-Forward I decided to participate in a creative pay-it-forward activity on facebook. I realized that this is a lovely way to encourage creativity and give fun gifts to others throughout the year! Therefore, I thought I would do the same through the newspaper :) The first 5 people to submit a poem in to the newspaper will receive a gift from me in this 2013th year. It will be something creative, there will be no warning, and I will do it when the mood hits me...the only catch is you have to offer the same to the first 5 comments on your facebook status! Hope you all have fun with this!

You guys can email me at jdiamant@cauc.ca!

January 25, 2012

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