The Confluence | October 29th, 2018 | The Spooky Edition

Confluence

The

YOUR OFFICIAL COLLEGE MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 29TH 2018

The Spooky Edition

Damon Robinson

Paige Riding

Editor-In-Chief The Confluence

News Editor The Confluence

Harman Dandiwal Organizer CNC Students’ Union

News Editorial

by Paige Riding

Happy Halloween! The Confluence team is proud to present what we affectionately call “The Spooky Edition.” We’ve jam-packed this issue with artwork and writings that fit the theme of monsters and ghouls for your viewing pleasure. Of course, having the release date being October 29th, we do run the risk of having our audience grab a copy in November. The horror!

Ironically, October is National Dental Hygiene Month. While kids are jamming their mouths full of suckers and chocolate and adults are slamming back Sourpuss shots (both are super sweet, some giving sugar rushes, some with slurred speech, both giving too much confidence in public), dentists and orthodontists around BC are advocating for people to floss their damn teeth. The trick is to chew the taffy, then justify it with proper brushing.

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Drive slowly when you are on your way home. A little Spiderman might race across the street to get to their next house without looking both ways. With such a high influx of people walking around each neighbourhood at night, getting home 5 minutes later than normal could make a huge difference in terms of keeping everyone safe. Check any candy any of your younger dependents receive before they inhale it. Even though it may “ruin their costume,” make sure to bundle up Trick-or-Treaters so they stay warm enough to be out long enough to get a good candy haul. Stay warm. Stay safe.

Enjoy the spooky anthology we have gathered! If you see me around campus, tell me your thoughts on the issue. Be kind, though. My pride is easily bruised.

Paige Riding News Editor of The Confluence

Editorial Ciao,

by Damon Robinson

It’s me again. Hopefully everyone is enjoying this Halloween season! It’s truly something great when you think about it. The idea of dressing up to pretend your some fantastical creature or just someone you’re not is something that many wish for. Halloween gives you the ability to do so without the additional judgement and concern for your mental well being!

There has been a lot of discussions that I want to go over - not related to Halloween. We are currently living in a world where many people see your political association in such an important light that they will hate you or love based on your standing. I feel that this conversation has come up recently a lot with our neighbors in the south and their not so recent election. It does concern me that there is such a divisive line between the left and the right. Personally, I stand liberally in the middle. That doesn’t mean I support the party that has used the word liberal as its name. See, we have mixed politics and our every day lives to such a point that we are programmed to immediately dislike someone a lot more because of their beliefs. My personal mantra I was raised with was that just because I disagree with someone politically, does not mean they are automatically “The Bad Guy”.

Disagreeing with someone over politics is fine, but if you are inclined to dislike them over their political leaning, then it is something that should be brought up more. We don’t always have to agree with one another, and everybody has the right to be wrong.

Now that I have said my piece we can move onto the current issue of the Confluence.

This one takes a break from the very political issue that we published earlier in the month and is very relaxed this time. I do have some exciting news, however! This issue marks the first time that we have accepted submissions from CNC students in Quesnel! (To my knowledge) We have a few pieces included in this issue, and I am very excited about moving forward to be working with our friends down the road!

Arrivederci, Damon Robinson Editor-in-Chief of The Confluence College of New Caledonia’s Students’ Union

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Hopefully, you find this issue to be a nice break from our political norm, as it is a nice break before we move forward in our fight for true equality amongst all of us. To those who I have spoken to in the hallways, it has honestly been great. We all should speak more to each other in general and form a community. Like I said before, the one thing that we all for sure have in common is that we found our way here.

CONTENTS INTERVIEW WITH A CULTIST PAGE 6

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STAY PAGE 12

Submissions, inquiries and requests can be made to editor@cncsu.ca, in person at the CNCSU room 1-303, or mailed to “The Confluence c/o CNCSU 3330-22nd Ave. Prince George, BC V2N 1P8.”

All submissions are welcome, the authors of edited works used in the confluence receive a $20 cheque upon publication.

Advertisement rates are available upon request.

A TWO-SENTENCE HORROR STORY PAGE 10

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HALLOWEEN POEM PAGE 12

Interview with a Cultist

by Justin Madu

Robin

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The Heaven’s Gate suicide cult

formed sometime in 1972 and lasted until March of 1997. During the mid-spring of ’97, thirtynine members of the cult committed suicide with the belief that their souls would be picked up by a UFO trailing the Hale-Bopp comet which was passing by earth during that time.

However, Heaven’s Gate left behind two members to maintain their website, and answer questions from the outside world. The Heaven’s Gate website still exists, unedited since shortly before the infamous mass-suicide. Through their website, I was able to directly contact the two surviving members, who have kept their identities secret for over twenty years. The following interview was conducted via email over the course of several days.

Interestingly, while there are two members left, there was never any indication as to who was answering my questions. The responses offered by the surviving members are unedited. This means that while the responses retain authenticity, they also have minor grammatical quirks. Additionally,

the wide use of improper capitalization is likely intention to convey meaning. It is my assumption that the capitalizing of words such as “Group” likely references terms used within the cult while it was still active. Interestingly, whomever I spoke to seemed unwilling to answer a question I had asked about how the two survivors were specifically chosen to be left behind. The members’ insistence that they were not a cult was also interesting, because although they stated that “academia” would not consider them a cult, they did not provide any sources supporting this claim. In fact, a cursory search reveals that The Heaven’s Gate group does meet the criteria for being defined as a cult.

Heaven’s Gate Logo.

“All knowledge that the planet earth has accumlated over time, comes from the Next Level.”

May I ask why you were chosen to stay behind? What was the purpose of leaving some members behind?

To maintain the website, emails and provide information to the world.

Were you disappointed to be left behind?

No. The media has often portrayed Heaven’s Gate as a “cult”, do you feel like this is a characterization?

The definition doesn’t seem to fit. That is not only our opinion but that of academia.

What are your thoughts about the loss of your group? Are the two of you saddened by it, or happy that the others were able to fulfill their goal?

We are happy they graduated into the Next Level.

Do you ever miss them? Would you consider them your friends?

Yes to both.

(Aside: The Conversation has been verified by the Editor-in-Chief, Damon Robinson.

This conversation did occur.)

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If you had to describe Heaven’s Gate, how would you do so?

It is a real, physical level above the human one here on this planet. The individuals there are in real, physical body, in real, physical crafts. The Next Level span the universe.

They created this planet and all the life on it.

All knowledge that the planet earth has accumulated over time, comes from the Next Level.

How many members of Heaven’s Gate would you estimate are currently worldwide?

Zero. It came to an end in 1997. There is no Group or members.

What about you? How do you fit within the organization?

We joined them at the beginning in 1975 and have been with them for 43 years. Still doesn’t mean there is a Group.

Why do you refer to yourself/yourselves as “we”?

There are two of here in Arizona.

Would you still consider yourself loyal to the cause/ideology that was established when there was a group?

Yes. Do you interact much with the outside world outside of emails? Do you hold jobs?

Yes, we work full time jobs to pay for things.

Poetry Submissions

Stay

by K. Gregg

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She sat by the window, deep in her thoughts.

Of her past and her present, her haves and have nots.

She sits here in silence, sipping here tea.

And although I hate to admit it, this confused girl is me.

I don’t know what to do, don’t know what to say.

I love you so much, but I just can not stay.

Many times you’ve let me down, and broken my heart.

And although I feel I love you, we must be apart.

So here I sit, alone and depressed.

I just can’t believe it, who could have guessed?

And now here we are, stuck at a crossroads.

And yes it may be hard, but I have to switch modes.

I have to have courage, I have to be strong.

Even if im not sure, if this is right or wrong.

So here I go, I’m on my way, but my greatest wish?

To hear you say “stay”.

Untitled

by Madison Buckner black, lacy, segmented dating for four, fucking for one

is it me?

I don’t understand I’ve heard the women talk, all my adolescence spent listening to the gossips and complaints but now I’m the one broaching the topics with my women

isn’t this a problem faced in marriages?

surely not for us, merely 122.6 days in Is it because you can’t hold me up on a wall?

you said you pulled her around by a leash,

Yet you won’t explore with me

of course, for that, you’d have to want to touch me

And I’m left, laying awake

held in by a bodysuit Enveloped in your scent; perplexed you say I’m hot, call me your babe your queen Then why won’t you fuck me like you’re a king Fighting for your castle

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tight, sheer, wired your eyes rake my body with hunger, “I am sleepy” just like that, you snore

Poetry, CONTINUED!

Halloween Poem Wind bites at the legs, the lips and the nose, Autumn nears its demise, snow soon billows.

But before winter crackles and stiffens the trees, Ghosts and ghouls may do as they please.

Your footsteps echo as the moon glares above, Something glistens from each passing alcove.

You may think you are alone, Yet from the branches, there comes a haunting moan.

The supernatural naturally act out this eve, You are their chosen target, so they just will not leave.

Worry not about the prickling you feel on your neck, Hair-raising sensations as you continue your trek.

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No need to panic, keep checking your flank, Keep walking, it is just a child’s prank.

There are no monsters to give you a fright, Or, are there on this Halloween night?

Your imagination is now out of control, The mind spirals deeper down its rabbit-hole.

The eyes play their tricks, as does the dark, Your senses away from the body, embark.

You are past the point of salvation, Your fears stem from your own creation.

Witches, demons, all the undead, Are running rampant, if even just in your head.

Untitled

by Lake Morris No, I won’t fight over my existence again. i am still here. we are still here. i am so tired and so ill over having to fight for my existence. today i’m angry and i’m upset and i’m not apologetic about it. i do not need to convince anyone of how i feel or prove to anyone about it either. i don’t have to feel strong all the time (i know i’m not, but recognizing this is very courageous) i’m allowed to feel discouraged.

i’m still here. my name is lake and i am here. my name is lake and i’m a trans boy. my name is lake and i’m a boy. a real boy. right from the start. right from the beginning. what anything says on a piece of paper is nothing. what i say and how i feel is everything. my name is lake and i am still here. my name is lake and i’m a trans boy. we are still here. i am still here.

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you will not erase me. you will not erase us. some of the greatest revolutions start the quietest. like a raging fire starts small and explodes greatly.

A Two Sentence Horror Story

by Ewan Gillespie

Jim and his nephew had an Iron Maiden in their house and always left it open to display the deadly spikes inside.

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Jim woke up one morning to find his nephew missing and the Iron Maiden closed.

Art Submission

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by Corrina Wellett

STUDY ABROAD WITH

CNC

Seven experiences to choose from: • Australia • Mexico • Japan • South Korea

• Ecuador* • India** • Choose your own Volunteer Service Abroad

Romana Pasca Email pascar@cnc.bc.ca

Ecuador: students must be enrolled in NRFT, Biology or Geography; India: students must be a second-year nursing student enrolled in NURS 220.

Web www.cnc.bc.ca/Study_ Abroad

Why Study Abroad?

Visit CNC International Education Room 1-780

*

**

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For more information contact:

• See the world • Take in a new culture • Develop new skills

• It will look good on your resume!

• Gain independence • Make life-long friends

Financial assistance for Study Abroad available, please visit www.cnc.bc.ca/Study_Abroad for more information.

Study Abroad with CNC

68% OF

BRITISH COLUMBIANS AGREE:

IT’S TIME TO ELIMINATE INTEREST ON STUDENT LOANS Aran Armutlu, Chairperson, BC Federation of Students

EMAIL FINANCE MINISTER CAROLE JAMES

WWW.WEAREBCSTUDENTS.CA/INTEREST TAKE ACTION

@theBCFS

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TO URGE HER TO ELIMINATE INTEREST IN BUDGET 2019

Support and Crisis Contacts and Help Lines • Crisis Line- for immediate 24/7 support and information and referrals: 250-563-1214 Toll Free: 1-888-562-1214

• Youth Support Line: 250-564-8336

Chat line at www.northernbccrisissuicide.ca

• Provincial Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-784-2334

• College and University students for mental health • CNC Counselling: 250-561-5818 • UNBC Counselling: 250-960-6369

• Individuals who identify as aboriginal or wish to access aboriginal services • Carrier Sekani (Family Services): 250-562-3591 • Central Interior Native Health: 250-564-4422 • Native Friendship Centre: 250-564-4324

• Healing Centre: 250-564-4324 • SUCCESS Chinese Help Line:

Cantonese Help Line, available 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.: 604-270-8222

Mandarin Help Line, available 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.: 604-270-8222

• Bounce Back teaches effective skills to help adults overcome early symptoms of depression and improve their mental health: www.bounceback.ca