Nav Vol 46 Issue 02

No 02

SEP. 24

OCT. 07

Vol 46

NAV I GATOR VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRESS

FREE

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VIU’S KATHY PAGE NOMINATED FOR GILLER PRIZE

AFFORDABLE DORM DECORATING

COULD VIU BE SWEATSHOP FREE?

The longlist of nominees for the Scotiabank Giller Prize was revealed earlier this month, and among the 12 books under consideration this year is Paradise and Elsewhere, a short story collection by VIU creative writing professor Kathy Page.

Okay, campus dwellers: you’ve been in classfor about three weeks now, so it’s time to put away the suitcases and personalize your living quarters.

Raveena, 17, wakes early in a small room surrounded by her parents, grandmother, and three brothers sleeping on thin mats.

Contents

NEWS

04

05

06

07

Editorials

BC teachers take fight to the tabletop

New bill seeks to protect unpaid interns

VIUSU club fair Zombie walk

ResLife hopes weekly barbecues will deter alcohol overconsumption

VIU’s Kathy Page nominated for Giller Prize

FEATURES

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Book review: The Small Nouns Crying Faith by Phil Hall

Affordable dorm decorating

FROSH Week 2014: Nanaimo Campus

Point of VIU

Could VIU be sweatshop free?

Fresh food locally grown

Café review: Jumpin’ Java

ARTS

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Jamming with Alex Hicks

Master performance poet comes to Nanaimo

My Honoured Fellow Native People

Fringe Flicks fall line-up brings diverse, independent films

Movie review: Frank

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21

Buccaneers sailing to start season

Mariner women soar over Falcons

Raiders trampled by Rams

SPORTS

Mariner men continue to roll

02 CONTENTS

MLB needs to bring baseball games up to speed

THE NAVIGATOR

Letters

www.

TheNav .ca THE NAVIGATOR WELCOMES READER CONTRIBUTIONS

Notice of Election

Notice of AGM

Nominations: September 25 at 4 pm – October 23 at 4 pm

Annual General Meeting Monday, October 27 at 5 pm Bldg. 193, rm. 217

Campaigning: October 23 at 4 pm – 26 at 4 pm

Agenda: • Managing Editor’s Report • Counting of the ballots for board election • New business

Polling: Wednesday, October 27 from 1 pm – 4 pm Forms available at The Navigator’s office, bldg. 193, rm. 217 Polling stations will be at The Navigator’s office: bldg. 193, rm. 217; in front of the Library: bldg. 305; and in the lobby of bldg. 180.

To read the specific bylaw amendments prior to the election/ meeting, please email <editor@thenav.ca>.

To add anything to the agenda, please email <editor@thenav.ca>.

Positions: • President • Vice-President • Secretary • Treasurer • Minister of Internal Affairs • Members at Large (up to five)

All VIU students, faculty, staff, administration, alumnus, or community members who have paid membership fees to the society are members of The Navigator Newspaper Society and are eligible to run for a position on the Board of Directors and vote in the election.

For more information, or to organize the drop-off of a nomination form, email <editor@thenav.ca>.

All VIU students, faculty, staff, administration, allumnus, or community members who have paid membership fees to the society are members of The Navigator Newspaper Society, and are eligible to run for a position on the Board of Directors and vote in the election.

• To submit, visit <www.thenav.ca> or email <editor@thenav.ca> All submissions must be original work of the author. Editors reserve the right to refuse submissions, and to edit for space or clarity.

CONTRIBUTORS Spencer Wilson Jennifer Garceau Nadine Wiepning Shaleeta Harper Philip Gordon Drew McLachlan Alyssa Morton Brennan Hinchsliff Rainer Kocsis [CUP]

Letters to the editor should be no more than 400 words in length. The Navigator does not pay for letters. Opinions expressed in The Navigator are expressly those of the author and/or artist and do not reflect the views of The Navigator staff.

900 Fifth Street Bldg. 193, rm. 217 Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5 T: 250-753-2225 F: 250-753-2257

STAFF Leah Myers Editor-in-Chief

Blake Deal News Editor

Kotarah Rivere Copy Editor

Brendan Barlow Social Media Sp.

Christine Franic Business Manager

Rio Trenaman Art Director

Ben Chessor Sports Editor

Jessica Reid Graphic Designer

Antony Stevens Web Editor

Gareth Boyce Board President

Alexandria Stuart Associate Editor

Kelly Whiteside Production Editor

Dahlia Yuen Graphic Designer

Felix Naud Multimedia Prod.

Denisa Kraus Arts Editor

Molly Barrieau Senior Copy Editor

Euodia Mutua Ad/Sales Rep

Lynne Williams Bookkeeper

THE NAVIGATOR

LETTERS 03

Editorials

The narrowing parameters of privacy Leah Myers Editor-in-Chief The Navigator At one point or another, we’ve all heard the “nothing to hide” argument. If you don’t have anything to hide, why are you scared of a police officer, government official, or parent looking through your car, search history, or bedroom? If you don’t have anything to hide, why is your privacy so precious?

It’s this kind of logic that I imagine criminal lawyers greatly appreciate, come court date, when they have a record of their client tweeting #yoloswag before getting in a car crash.

Compared to any generation before us, our willingness to give up our own privacy, primarily via social media, is astounding. At any given time in the world, I’m pretty sure there’s an angry mother finding out about her son or daughter’s engagement, pregnancy, or newly bought home via Facebook or Twitter. Circling the realms of the internet last year was a Tumblr compilation of “funeral selfies” (yeah, exactly what you think it is: “Love my hair today. Hate why I’m dressed up;” “Cried off all my makeup so ew. But funeral #rip #wake”). And while #funeralselfie certainly takes the cake for the most private, too-much-information

hashtag, I also quite enjoy #hecheated, #constipated, and #inlabour. I can only imagine that the people who tweet details about their breakups, bowel movements, and child delivery are the ones who believe privacy is an archaic concept, or that privacy is a privilege as opposed to a right. In a world that increasingly encourages us to give up all the personal details of our lives, is it up to us to protect our privacy? And for all the people who think we should have a right to privacy, we don’t really know what to make of it any more, do we?

Despite our apparent eagerness to share every private moment over various social media platforms, there’s still a startling outcry from the general public when we feel our privacy has been breached. A recent example is the new U2 album, Songs of Innocence, which Apple deposited into the library of 500 million iTune accounts. What started off as an experiment by a music giant, and a technology giant, and was presented as a free “gift,” suddenly backfired for the two super brands with a bunch of wagging fingers asking how they have the right to decide what goes in personal music libraries. Is it dramatic to claim privacy infringement over this scenario? I’m not sure, although I am sure somewhere in the world there’s a marriage that has now ended because a wife, unaware of the scandal, found the new U2 album downloaded to her husband’s music library.

Even more recently, hundreds of actresses and other public figures (mostly women) were targets of “celebgate,” where naked photos were released on 4chan. While I like to think

most of the public reaction was sympathetic, there was also a strong mentality of, “Well, if she didn’t want anyone to see her naked photos, why did she put them on iCloud?” or “If she didn’t want anyone to see her naked photos, why did she take naked photos?” While many reduce the opinion to victim-blaming, I’d argue it’s also an attitude that blames someone for not knowing the parameters of their online privacy. Nobody expects to be hacked on what they believe to be a secure network, or they wouldn’t trust online banking either. Regardless, it wouldn’t have mattered if the photos hacked were pictures of pets or landscapes—the crime was hacking and stealing the items, and then using the photos without permission.

Just because hacking is a thing, it doesn’t mean I don’t believe in taking measures to protect your privacy online.

Saying there’s no point in trying to secure yourself online is a little like saying there’s no use in locking your front door at night because someone might break it down with an axe anyway.

I’m a writer, so I think the ship sailed a long time ago for wanting privacy in my life (not necessarily with naked photos, of course). Sometimes I get a lot of social anxiety thinking about all the privacy I won’t have if I seriously want to be a writer. Somehow I’m still the little girl who treats her poetry and personal work like it’s her grade five diary. Maybe one day I’ll publish a poem about the delivery of my firstborn, or I’ll write a non-fiction piece on the benefits of incorporating more fibre in your diet. For the rest of you, I look forward to hearing about it on Twitter.

Stories and ink Alexandria Stuart Associate Editor The Navigator Having not done one since she was 10 years old, Alexandria recalls just how dirty paper routes are.

Yes, paper routes are a dirty, dirty business. Once the writing and layout and editing and printing are done, The Navigator is still just a doorstop unless it has an audience, and to do that it needs to be in a variety of places—many places. To that end, there’s this part on the job application—the print is particularly small—and it says: “You will deliver papers.”

What they don’t tell you is that your hands will be black by the end of the process, but this is just part of the sacrifice—the supreme sacrifice we make to put our shining glory into our dear readers’ hands. They also don’t tell you how much fun it is to walk into businesses and give them something so fine looking and free. It turns out that people are really friendly when you give them free things—who knew? But what are they, and their customers, getting—what are you really getting—when the latest edition of The Nav hits the stands?

Well, we’re the paper of record for Vancouver Island Uni-

04 EDITORIALS

versity. We provide a chronicle, an archive of student life and the climate of the times here in the mid-Island. We provide access. While we can’t guarantee them column inches, everyone on campus is guaranteed the opportunity to pitch their stories. They will always have their voices heard and, space permitting, there’s a good chance they’ll get some ink. Sometimes these people and groups may have a hard time penetrating the mainstream press in local papers, television, and radio. So we’re here to tell their stories whether they’re hard news, sports, arts-related, or in that nebulous world of features.

We don’t corner the market on telling stories though—they live in all of us. Many are shared around the dinner table or the pool table, during a round of golf or a round of beer. But a wider reach requires people who will work like smiths to pound out the words and shape them on paper, hoping to reach eyes, hearts, and minds that they’ll affect, entertain, educate, or persuade. That’s us.

The notion of storytelling has had a bad rap lately though.

The term has been co-opted by branding and advertising folk who believe they’ll sell more lotions and potions if they somehow attach the product to a story. They’re working on the premise that some sort of contrived narrative elevates a sales pitch into something more meaningful. They’re calling themselves storytellers today, which I think cheapens what actual writers do. It seems to be working for now and consumers are buying it. No need to rise up for a good old Madison Ave. defenestration though; given a little time, they’ll move on, find something else to appropriate, and exercise their agendas elsewhere.

THE NAVIGATOR

Here at The Nav, we (to the best of my knowledge) have no agenda. This total lack of agenda is less altruistic than logistic: we’re too crushed for time to conspire, collude, or otherwise craft a master message for our readers.

We’re just a bunch of writing and graphic arts students given carte blanche to explore ideas. Staff and contributors enjoy equal opportunity to bask in the warm glow of publication. So, without agenda, we simply throw what we have down on the page in hopes that it will affect you in some way.

This kind of access to an audience—this voice—is a privilege. How many people languish in their jobs and never enjoy an opportunity to share their thoughts, persuade, or spread their knowledge? This platform is a gift. With words and images, we pick up a story, personalize it, and try to make sure we deliver more than just the salacious headlines the major news networks dish out (note: just because it’s on the news doesn’t mean it’s true). We try to serve up food for thought that lets readers draw their own conclusions. It’s part of what makes us different from other mainstream media: we’re not just trying to drive ad sales.

Full disclosure: We actually do have an agenda this year.

We will be working to pull The Nav into the 21st century, into the full stream of modern online media. This means we’ll be developing strong online integration, taking our website to heights heretofore unknown, and activating our social media presence to reach our readers with all the power and might that the interwebs have to offer. Our online staff are ink-stain free, primed, and ready. Go!

News

BC teachers take fight to the tabletop DREW MCLACHLAN Two BC teachers are asking frustrated students, parents, and teachers to roll the dice to decide the fate of our province’s public school system with their new board game Christy’s World.

The satirical game was designed

by Coquitlam- and Vancouver-based teachers Jean-Michel Oblette and Loren Letourneau as a means to protest the unwillingness of Premier Christy Clark and the BC Liberals to negotiate with the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) during the labour disputes, which, until last week’s announcement of a tentative deal, seemed to have no end in sight.

The duo took to crowdfunding website Kickstarter in order to gain support for the project in mid-August, reaching their $50 goal within 24 hours. By September 2, the final day of funding, $696 had been donated to help support Christy’s World. While those who donated received a printable .PDF file of the game board and tokens, the extra funds were used to provide copies for coffee shops and waiting rooms around the Lower Mainland, as well as mailing the game to newspapers, TV and radio stations, and govern-

CONTRIBUTOR

Told from the view of two disgruntled teachers, Christy’s World puts players in the role of the BC Premier as she races across the province to “shut down schools, privatize the industry, and raise [her] ratings.” <Kickstarter.com> ment offices across the province.

The game itself is highly critical of Clark on both a professional and personal level. According to the developers, “you play as Christy, a clueless, tyrannical political wannabe without a conscience or college degree who works tirelessly to become British Columbia’s most grotesquely unpopular leader. Your objective is to crystallize power in an economic superclass by systematically destroying public education, privatizing industry, and looking good while you do it.”

The project also featured several

stretch goals, including a tonguein-cheek goal of $325 million, which would have gone towards funding the province’s public education system for a year. The number is in reference to a BC Court of Appeal ruling in February that called for the restoration of several clauses stripped from teaching contracts in 2002.

The project ended its funding period on September 2, followed by an announcement by Oblette and Letourneau that copies of the game would be sent out early this month.

Res Life hopes weekly barbecues will deter alcohol overconsumption ALYSSA MORTON

CONTRIBUTOR

VIU ResLife hopes that their new weekly barbecue will keep students safe before drinking and help create ties within the campus community.

The newly implemented project is offering beef and vegetarian burgers every Thursday to coincide with the Students’ Union Pub’s later hours. Organizers for the new event hope that students will take advantage of a nutritious meal before drinking.

“The $20 needed for the project is coming from the Residence Life department’s budget, but I can see it expanding as we add more to the event,” ResLife coordinator Kaleb Woldeamanuel said.

This includes bringing in a wider variety of food options and student-based entertainment, such as bands and juggling acts.

The barbecue was originally the idea of a group of students living in residence, and although Woldeamanuel is the one

who signed off on the project, he is adamant on it staying in the hands of students for them to shape and control.

“The last two nights this has been held, students have brought their own supplies needed for the meal—ketchup, mustard, vegetarian options—it’s in their hands,” he said.

Eating before consuming alcohol has been proven to help the body cope. Woldeamanuel feels that the weekly barbeque will help lower the cases of alcohol overconsumption that ResLife staff and VIU security deal with on Thursday nights.

Another hope is that the project will strengthen relationships between students living both on and off campus. Students attending the barbecue last week agreed.

“You get to know different people. It makes you sit down and have a family meal of sorts,” Sarah Crann-Adair, who lives in residence, said. “I brought tofu to the last one and had a lot of people asking me about it. You learn about dif-

THE NAVIGATOR

ferent eating habits and different cultural norms.”

Student ambassador Emily Falder said she also feels it gives the campus a stronger sense of community.

“Not only are we making sure people are being fed before going to the pub, but we’re giving nonalcoholic consumers a place to come and do something,” she said.

Falder noted that there aren’t many late-night options for students under the age of 19, and she feels that this will give them that social outlet along with people who do not wish to go to the pub.

The barbeque will be held every Thursday starting at 6 pm outside the Cedar Centre, located in the Western Student Housing block. Beef and vegetarian hamburgers, along with buns, will be supplied by ResLife, and students are asked to bring any plates, cutlery, and condiments they feel are needed.

NEWS 05

New bill seeks to protect unpaid interns RAINER KOCSIS

Saskatoon (CUP) — On June 16, New Democrat Member of Parliament Laurin Liu tabled Bill C-620, The Intern Protection Act, in the House of Commons. The bill is scheduled for debate this fall.

The enactment would amend the definition of “employee” in the Canada Labour Code to include unpaid interns, thus extending the same workplace protections that cover paid employees to interns who do not receive a wage.

“Currently in Canadian law, there is no reference to interns whatsoever, so right now there’s sort of a ‘wild west’ situation for interns in which no federal law protects them against abuse,” Liu said. “The bill would essentially offer all interns, both paid and unpaid, the same protections that paid employees receive.”

Liu and the NDP are hoping to end the exploitation of unpaid interns by placing a cap on the number of hours an intern can work. The bill would also grant interns the right to refuse dangerous work and offer them protection from sexual harassment.

“The standard hours of work are eight hours in a day and 40 hours in a week and that would mean interns would be entitled to one full day of rest per week and to nine annual statutory holidays,” Liu said. “Moreover, rights to health and safety are included in the bill, so the right to know of any hazards that are present in the workplace, the right to receive proper training, and the right to participate in identifying work-related health and safety concerns.”

The bill was inspired by the death of 22-year-old Andy Ferguson in November 2011. A practicum student at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, Ferguson died after working a 16-hour day at a radio station where he was doing an unpaid internship.

While driving home, Ferguson’s vehicle crossed the centre line and struck a gravel truck head-on.

“He fell asleep at the wheel… his employer refused to sign his practicum if he didn’t complete the shift,” Liu said. “These are the kinds of abuses that we see elsewhere as well, and unfortunately Andy didn’t benefit from the protections contained in the bill. We’re hoping that interns and future interns in Canada will benefit from certain minimum protections.”

The second part of the bill deals with the fact that interns are con-

06 NEWS

THE SHEAF

sidered to be free labour by many employers. Liu hopes that the introduction of Bill C-620 will prevent companies from turning paid jobs into unpaid internships.

“What’s happening to them across Canada is that, unfortunately, employers are taking advantage of interns by replacing paid positions with unpaid internships,” Liu

earning their degree. As a result, young workers must often resort to taking unpaid internships to start their careers.

“They’re faced with a very difficult labour market. For many people it’s not a choice—it’s one of the only options that they have,” Liu said.

“It’s a difficult economic period. If we look at youth unemployment,

leagues are really supportive of the bill. I’ve been working with Andrew Cash on this issue, who is an MP from the Toronto area, along with an urban worker strategy he’s been working on,” Liu said.

“Unfortunately, the Conservatives have been pretty silent on the issue and we haven’t heard much from their side. As you know, we have a

Laurin Liu introduced Bill C-620 to the House of Commons on June 16 said. “First of all, that’s abusive.

But it also obviously leads to races to the bottom in which unpaid interns are working in jobs previously occupied by paid employees.

The bill would force internships to be educational and to provide training equal to that offered in a post-secondary institution. Additionally, the bill would ensure that internships primarily benefit the intern and offer tangible training opportunities to the intern.

Youth unemployment is currently double the national average and many university graduates are having a hard time finding work after

it’s been at a record high over the past few years, and it actually peaked at 14 per cent, and right now it’s just a bit lower than 14 per cent.”

Currently, the bill is operating on a complaint-based system where interns would be responsible to report abuses.

“What this bill would do is provide the courts a new tool to examine whether or not the internship is legal,” Liu said.

According to Liu, the response from other MPs has been positive overall.

“It’s part of an ongoing discussion in my caucus, and my col-

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The Sheaf

majority Conservative government, so it’s essential to get support from the Conservatives in order for this bill to move forward in the House.”

So far, the Bill has been endorsed by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, the Canadian Federation of Students, the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec, the Regroupement Étudiant Franco-Ontarien, as well as the Canadian Intern Association.

“Over the summer, we’ve been talking to student associations and other stakeholders and encouraging them to write to their MPs,” Liu said.

Liu and the NDP have been trying

to raise the pressure on Conservative MPs to support Bill C-620.

“This affects people all across the country and these are very basic protections,” Liu said. “It’s a question of fairness and safety.”

The bill is limited to federally-regulated workplaces and would not affect interns working in businesses or government institutions regulated by the provinces.

But it’s better than having no protections at all, which is what currently exists, Liu said.

“I think MPs are hearing more and more from their constituents about this issue, especially high-profile cases like Andrew’s,” Liu said. “There has been an increasing number of high-profile cases concerning companies abusing their interns, so there’s definitely a lot of mobilization across the country. College students and young workers are writing to their MPs, but there’s definitely a momentum in favour of offering these basic protections to interns.”

Liu is optimistic that her bill will become legislation.

“This bill was written with the goal of getting support from Conservative members because we do see an urgency to get this passed as soon as possible,” Liu said.

“It’s really important that this be a non-partisan issue. When we look at the number of interns working across Canada today, which is up to 300 thousand interns, it’s a national problem that we need to deal with, and hopefully we can work together to get this bill through the house.

“It’s really important to write to your MP to support this bill. These are very basic protections that offer basic health and safety protections, basic protections against workplace sexual harassment, and I think everyone should benefit from those kinds of protections whether they’re interns or employees. I think those are protections that we owe to every worker.”

VIUSU Club Fair DREW MCLACHLAN

CONTRIBUTOR

Angel Maheu of the Cosplay Club, a new addition to VIU this year, shows off her work

Sacia Burton coordinates Solutions, a club that focusses on building a sustainable and environmentally friendly campus and community

Drew McLachlan

Drew McLachlan

VIU’s growing number of clubs offer students a chance to share their interests, spread awareness, and meet new people.

A selection of the university’s 50 clubs and unions assembled in the upper cafeteria on September 17 for the VIU Students’ Union’s annual Club Fair, showing students what they have to offer. For those who couldn’t make it, The Navigator was there to speak with some of the new and returning clubs.

One of VIU’s most popular clubs is Solutions, a group that aims to support sustainability projects on campus and in the larger community, including recycling and alternative transportation initiatives, and most recently the Ban the Bottle campaign. Solutions also organizes film nights and symposiums.

For those interested in activism, VIU has a chapter of World University Service of Canada (WUSC), a group that funds

refugees to live and study in Canada. WUSC is sponsoring two new refugees this year, and is looking for students with expertise in online marketing to handle the group’s web presence, and in finances to help the new students with financial planning. Members will be matched to positions fitting their skills.

Celebrating their first semester is the Cosplay Club, a group dedicated to creating and sporting costumes. Coordinator Angel Maheu said the club welcomes students of all skill levels, whether you’re a veteran seamster or looking to grow your skills.

Another recreational group is the Chess Club, which meets to play every Wednesday afternoon. Skill levels range from beginner to master.

Despite its affiliation with the History Department, History Club co-chair Clarice Blanel said anyone is welcome to join.

“It’s not just for history students,” she said, “it’s for anyone who has an interest in the past and would like to learn more.”

The History Club regularly hosts conferences with guest speakers, movie screenings, and pub nights.

Politically-minded students may be interested in the Young Liberals, who are rebuilding their campus presence after a four year absence. As VIU’s only partisan group, they provide members with a forum to discuss the Liberal Party of Canada, and are also working on a campaign encouraging students to vote.

For students who have an interest in global politics, but who aren’t interested in partisan groups, VIU has a Model United Nations. The club meets twice a week to form a UN meeting, with each member representing a delegate from a different country, and work towards finding resolutions while following their respective foreign policies. Coordinator Shantel Beaute said that the club is great for building public speaking and cooperation skills, though joining requires prior knowledge of global politics and writing resolutions.

There are also several religious clubs on campus, including University Christian Ministries. The club is open to all Christian denominations, and hosts several bible study “core” groups each week, as well as camping trips and guest speakers.

“UCM is all about building relationships,” core leader Jess Penman said. “Building a relationship with each other, with the community, and with God.” For more information on VIU’s many campus clubs, visit the Students’ Union on campus or online at <VIUSU.ca>.

Zombie walk Over 40 people joined the horde on September 14 for the Nanaimo Zombie Walk. Clad in undead makeup, the group walked through downtown, from Port Place Mall to Maffeo Sutton park.

Drew McLachlan

VIU’s Kathy Page nominated for Giller Prize DREW MCLACHLAN The longlist of nominees for the Scotiabank Giller Prize was revealed earlier this month, and among the 12 books under consideration this year is Paradise and Elsewhere, a short story collection by VIU creative writing professor Kathy Page.

Released in the spring of this year, Paradise and Elsewhere is described as “a collection of dark fables at once familiar and entirely strange.” Although it is the first of Page’s works to be selected for the

CONTRIBUTOR Giller Prize longlist, her 2002 novel The Story of My Face was nominated for the Orange Prize (now the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction) and her 2005 novel Alphabet was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award.

Established in 1994, the Giller Prize is awarded each year to a novel or story collection by a Canadian author. Previous winners include Esi Edugyan’s Half-Blood Blues and Vincent Lam’s Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures. Prize founder

Jack Rabinovitch announced this year that the cash prize will double: $100k for the winning author and $10k for each finalist.

The Giller Prize shortlist will be announced on October 6, and the winner will be announced at the gala ceremony on November 10, which will be broadcasted live on CBC. An event with the prize’s finalists, Between the Pages, will also take place in Vancouver on November 6.

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More information on Paradise and Elsewhere, as well as Page’s other work, is available on her website, <KathyPage.info>. For more information on the Giller Prize, visit <ScotiabankGillerPrize.ca>

“A collection of dark fables at once familiar and entirely strange.”

NEWS 07

Features

Book review: The Small Nouns Crying Faith by Phil Hall

Courtesy of <bookthug.ca> PHILIP GORDON

CONTRIBUTOR

Diving into any title published by Book Thug always comes with a mix of fear and excitement. The small Toronto press, run by Jay MillAr, added Governor General award-winning poet Phil Hall to their staff as poetry editor shortly after releasing his 2013 collection, The Small Nouns Crying Faith.

In addition to his GG prestige, his work has been shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize. Hall carries impressive clout as a poet and instructor.

When I picked up a copy of The Small Nouns Crying Faith (Nouns for short), the cover page itself confronted me immediately. The surrealist red-shifted man pictured on the burlap-like paper puts the reader on alert that there won’t be any friendly, happy moments inside. After repeated readings, I can say that it’s absolutely right. Phil Hall’s poetry is not the stuff of inspirational cantos or cozy nights at home. It’s about the wounds language leaves in the soul, and the experiences of assembling that grief into something resembling music.

With only a few other collections of Hall’s earlier work under my belt, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect in Nouns.

It’s obvious Hall has done his time composing the sort of poetry we’re used to and, as such, plays with composition, form, and syntax any way he chooses. Poems in Nouns constantly jump in and out of italics and visual rhythm, with many words chosen seemingly only for the sound they make in combination with other words. As a line from the “Choired” stanza of “Harmony” tells us: “To sing water out loud creature noise a decampment.” These ideas all seem

to have just the piercing tail of each other in connection— but, as flatly as they’re introduced, the real impact comes next: “to have a drunken brother somewhere also caught through the jaw.” Hall’s flashes of memory and personal moments are often brief like this, which is a shame, because they make up the book’s most powerful moments.

As I plodded through the soggy waves of language disassembled and reorganized (“plu / unplu / plu / unplu / fastfast (to merit the slap out of / * / Or have no lip to give = savannahs,” from “Ingress”), I found myself hunting for bits of poetry that would settle in my heart. There were more than a few of them. In “Fletched,” Hall gives us a bitter memory from youth. “When I was five asleep on a fold-out couch my cousin Clint Gordon 16 sleeping there too / I woke up he was in me hurting me from behind I tried to get up he held me down if you tell they’ll send you to the bad place.” Brief tragedies like these aren’t to be wished for simply because they’ll make a good poem—but it feels like the meandering scraps of syntax in the rest of the book dull a little in comparison to the very raw and real moments of confession like this one.

There’s still something to be said for the moments of pure lyricism and experimentation. “Fire Number 178” ends “my laboratory the moment / is accordion-shaped cluttered sopping // and not eternal.” It’s a combination of blurred grammar and piqued contemplation powerful enough in the question of its introspection to grab the reader by the ear and refuse to let them go. Other babblings are less motivat-

ing: in “Forfar,” “The night I shouted splurged poise three times and then enacted it” is a bit too nonsensical to come together into a complete picture, and this is a trend carried throughout the collection. Mostly, I kept thirsting for the moments when Hall shucked off the cage of his ambling language quirkiness and simply spoke, ending poems with lines like “I have missed the boat fuck it.” While I have a personal proclivity for well-applied profanity in poetry (say that five times fast), here, the profane comes at the end of a long, sombre meditation, which proves that Hall knows just when to turn the torque to win his audience over. Why, then, after reading this collection, am I left with a feeling that there was a little more of spit and soul that could be on the page?

For those unfamiliar (or un-fond) of the avant-garde, linguiphile tendencies of Book Thug’s most prevalent titles, I’d recommend Hall’s earlier collection Killdeer as an introduction to his work, or to slightly more experimental poetics in general. The Small Nouns Crying Faith, while rewarding for someone as interested in the disgruntled gasp of language as I am, isn’t for the inexperienced reader, though the brief moments of honest lucidity might be enough to win over some converts from the camp of more typical poetry. At 112 pages, the book is lengthy enough that there’s sure to be at least one rewarding moment inside for any reader—it’s just a matter of how many of those moments it takes to determine whether Nouns is an eccentric curiosity, or an experiment wrapping around a gem of human experience.

Café review: Jumpin’ Java SHALEETA HARPER

CONTRIBUTOR

They say it right under the name—Jumpin’ Java is a coffee and tea oasis on VIU’s Nanaimo campus. Anyone—student or professor—with an early Monday class knows how gratifying it is to snag a cup en route. Jumpin’ Java is a necessity, and the line-up between classes proves it.

Like an actual oasis, Jumpin’ Java is difficult to find if you aren’t a local. This is a campus hub, but not a place that’s easy to stumble upon if you’re an outsider. Most of our readers probably don’t have a problem finding Jumpin’ Java though—they have a problem staying away.

The staff is usually helpful, and not too harsh on loitering; signs are posted asking people not to sit around unless they’re customers, and I wasn’t asked to leave after hanging out on the comfy pleather chairs for several hours with just one small coffee hovering by my elbow. As long as you don’t take up the limited seating without purchasing anything, you will be pleasantly ignored. Wi-Fi isn’t a problem either; you’re on campus and it’s as free as the air. There’s also a printer just a dozen steps away if you really need those documents before class.

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Jumpin’ Java spills out into VIU’s main library, which is where I usually sit. This extra seating space offers a relaxing respite from the shop’s somewhat cramped interior, and an excellent place to have casual meetings with professors or other students. I’ve taken advantage of its central location to set up meetings with people I don’t know very well. The separation from the main coffee shop also shelters you from the sound of buzzing espresso machines, making it easier to speak or concentrate on an essay that’s due in two hours.

I’m more of a coffee shop girl than a coffee connoisseur, but when I tried the medium roast at Jumpin’ Java, it was mildly toasted enough for my taste buds. Black coffee isn’t my preference though, and after a few days of sampling the café’s treats and teas, I moved on to my favourite: the mocha, topped with fresh chocolate whip, chocolate sauce, and shaved chocolate. Once you get past the sweet topping, it becomes clear why they’ve spoiled you: below that topper, it’s all business. There’s more espresso than chocolate for a killer wake up, making a better beginning

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to a week than an end. It kept me in front of the books for several hours.

Jumpin’ Java also offers a wide range of snacks from fresh fruit to tangy lemon bars (which I was forced to sample again and again). The citrus tang is enough to jolt you awake without caffeine, and the pastry base levels out the sour bite. With such a variety of food and drink, there’s something for everyone.

This is a good place to pull long study sessions, as long as you remember to grab extra snacks and caffeine before they close. Weekdays they open early and close late (7:30 am to 8:30 pm), except for Fridays when they close at 3 pm.

Saturdays they’re only open from 11 am to 3:30 pm, and they are closed on Sundays.

Jumpin’ Java is in the right place at the right time for students, and that is one of its best features. The accommodating staff and casual nature make the shop a highlight for weekday study sessions, but you’ll need another venue if you have to cram over the weekend.

Pillows can turn a bed into a couch

Shaleeta Harper

Affordable dorm decorating SHALEETA HARPER

CONTRIBUTOR

Okay, campus dwellers: you’ve been in class for about three weeks now, so it’s time to put away the suitcases and personalize your living quarters. I’ve never actually been blessed with life in the dorms, but from the ones I’ve visited, I’ve found it’s not so different from the teeny apartment I decorated.

Here are some tips to make perking up your space a little easier on your wallet. Good luck—and have fun!

1

WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. The cheapest things to decorate with are the items you already own, so let’s start there. Do you have an amazing hat collection? Great costume jewellery? Gorgeous scarves or bow ties? Put them on display! Not only do they make unique and interesting decorations, but you’ll conserve valuable storage and counter space. Plus, they’ll be handy to grab when you’re heading out. This is just one type of gallery wall you can create.

2

A WHAT WALL? A gallery wall is one wall (or section of a wall) that you pick to display an assortment of images and/or items. It can cost a lot less than finding a large piece of artwork and is often more interesting. The best gallery walls you find on Pinterest usually have a wide variety of items, from mirrors and hats to giant letters and framed fabrics. If you have a bunch of loose photos, hang them up with cheap frames from a dollar

store or thrift store. They’ll really pop with a coat of spray paint in one of your favourite bold colours. (Don’t use the spray paint in your dorm room though!)

3

CUT THE CLUTTER. Let’s be honest—we always have more junk than we know what to do with. The best decorating tip is to keep the clutter out of sight. The more paperwork and socks on the carpet, the more dingy the rest of the place is going to look. Use every space you can to put things out of sight. A long, shallow tote box can be an excellent catchall that slides under the bed, and a laundry basket can fit snugly into the closet. If you really don’t have space to hide things, pick up some decorative storage boxes and stack them in a corner as a makeshift table.

4

MAKE YOUR FURNITURE WORK FOR YOU. If you bring in more furniture, make sure it’s useful.

Anything you add to your already small quarters has to work hard. An example of a productive piece of furniture is an ottoman: it’s an extra seat when friends come over, a table when you need another surface, and if you find one with storage in it, that’s even better. If you don’t want to bring more furniture in, that’s probably best. Instead, try moving around the pieces you have to make the layout work for you.

5

THERE’S NOWHERE TO SIT. To make more seating in your dorm without adding furniture, consider getting some extra pillows and turning your bed into a lounge area while people are visiting. The pillows are an excuse to show off your style and brighten up the room, and you gain a comfortable place to sit while you chat or watch movies. If you can’t find affordable pillows, a local fabric store may have a solution. Google “no sew pillows,” and you will get great tutorials about how to wrap fabric nicely around a pillow form. Or really impress everyone and sew one youtself.

6

WHAT ABOUT THE WINDOWS? You may find that your curtains are less than inspiring. Luckily, they can be an inexpensive upgrade, even new (though you can find dozens at thrift stores, or easily make your own).

Hanging curtains from the floor to ceiling—even when the window is smaller—will draw the eye up to the ceiling and make the room appear larger, which is a handy trick for very cozy quarters. Just make sure you don’t throw out the curtains that came with the room because they’ll want them back— put them away in those pretty boxes we talked about earlier.

Fresh food locally grown

Left to right: Chef Debbie Shore, Culinary Arts student apprentice Kyley Latam, VIU store room clerk Lucrezia Mancini, and Girdler.

Marilyn Assaf, VIU Communications Officer

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Growing and using local food at VIU’s Nanaimo campus is becoming a priority for students and service departments. Horticulture student Sally Girdler (right) recently delivered a batch of fresh garlic harvested from the G.R. Paine Centre gardens for use by VIU’s Culinary Arts department and Food Services.

Students also grow greens, basil, and other vegetables in community gardens on campus. A Farmers’ Market is held every Thursday outside the main cafeteria from 11:30 am to 1 pm.

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FROSH Week 2014: Nanaimo Campus Brennan Hinchsliff Contributor

LEFT Violinistextremist: Kytami breaks strings A student hangs out by the FROSH 2014 van

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RIGHT Students and hot jams under the sun at the Plazaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;footwear optional The Funkee Wad pumps up the crowd at the Plaza

Zakary Myers, VIUSU Director of Events, at Outdoor Movie Night

Over 100 students enjoy Captain America: Winter Soldier under the stars at Royal Bank Plaza during Outdoor Movie Night

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Point of VIU DREW MCLACHLAN / CONTRIBUTOR

Is a sweatshop free campus important to you?

Do you pay attention to where your clothes are made?

Niki McDonald, 40, Staff

Marissa Eagle, 18, Science

Ana Carvalho, 25, Hospitality

Dylan Ahl, 17, English

“I don’t really pay attention to where my clothes come from, but I do think it’s important. In this day and age it’s hard to not just focus on price.”

“Not really, but it depends on what it’s for. I work on a farm, so I don’t really care about work clothes, but I wouldn’t mind spending extra money on clothes for school. I think [being sweatshop free] is important, and people should be more aware.”

“Yeah, but it’s really hard to avoid nowadays—every store seems to use sweatshops, and the information we get seems to be filtered by the media.”

“Yeah, I think it’s important to not take advantage of cheap labour, and to make sure workers are paid fair wages. I don’t always look at where something is made, but if I see something online and it says that it wasn’t made in a sweatshop, I’m more inclined to purchase it.”

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11 FEATURES

Could VIU be sweatshop free?

ALEXANDRIA STUART

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Raveena, 17, wakes early in a small room surrounded by demand change. Some large manufacturers and retailers Federation of Students, we have been able to put our money her parents, grandmother, and three brothers sleeping on are pledging to become sweatshop free, but the weight and where our mouth is,” says Alec Patterson, VIUSU Director of External Relations. “Students want a formalized committhin mats. The family stirs around her as she moves to the enforceability of these pledges remains to be seen. kitchen before it gets too crowded, splashes her face with The Vancouver Island University Student’s Union (VIUSU) ment to high ethical standards through a comprehensive water from a bowl, and grabs a slice of leftover naan bread. brought the issue of ethically sourced goods to campus this purchasing policy that supports safe working conditions and She takes a few hasty bites before leaving for work. Parting year with a sweatshop free FROSH Week. “It’s been received fair treatment of employees throughout the supply chain.” the curtain that hangs in the entryway, the sun takes on an very positively. I would say we’ve had an almost universal- The Nanaimo campus bookstore also takes the issue seriotherworldly haze through the dust that’s kicked up from ly positive response,” says Patrick Barbosa, VIUSU Orga- ously. “The bookstore has a process to help ensure the the road. The door covering offers the illusion of privacy but nizer-Advocacy representative. “We have found a positive majority of what we source is produced in an ethical way,” does nothing to shield their home from the surrounding dust response with mixed levels of awareness. One of the goals of says Mike Thibodeau, Retail Operations Manager. “We work swirls and the smells of her neighbours’ morning activities. the campaign is to provide awareness, and we’re achieving with Campus Stores Canada, an organization which partners with vendors who are members of either the Fair Labour She finishes her breakfast on the 30 minute walk to the gar- that goal.” ment factory. Her feet are caked in dust when she arrives.

Posters for the campaign challenge students to visualize Association (FLA) and/or the Fair Trade Association Sweatshop labourers like Raveena frequently work 12 the working conditions behind the garments on their backs (FTA).” hour days, with only one break at lunch, for a total of 60-80 and feet. For an even more vivid picture, students are invit- VIU’s campus/community radio station, CHLY, hours per week. Under pressure to fill an order from a large ed to simulate the experience of a sweatshop worker’s life. has also made a commitment to source its merpurchaser, the factory doors may be locked and a day’s work Sim Sweatshop is a game on the VIUSU website set in a shoe chandise ethically and chose to run their curcan stretch to 25 hours. She may receive only one or two factory that presents a variety of tasks and variables that rent batch of t-shirts with ethically sourced dollars a day for her efforts—not enough to keep food on the a worker may encounter in a day. Try it here: <www.viusu. material. “Our shirts tend to be American Apparel at the moment, which from family’s table. Often, her working conditions are unsafe—the ca/section/13>. factories are rat-infested and structurally unsound—and Sherry McCarthy, VIUSU Chairperson, says, “Students my understanding is sweatshop free she is subjected to harassment and intimidation from her recognize the importance of supporting companies that and made in the USA,” says Radio supervisors. She may be forced to work overtime and han- implement safe and ethical employment standards.” They Malaspina Society board memdle toxic chemicals like paints, solvents, and glues without are collecting signatures on a petition to urge the campus to ber Jesse Woodward. He has protection. adopt a purchasing policy that excludes goods produced in experience sourcing promo Raveena is a composite of what one young woman’s expe- sweatshops. They hope to document support from at least tional merchandise. “I used rience as a sweatshop labourer in India may look like. She 25 percent of students to present to campus administration to work as a screen printcould also live in Central or South America, Asia, or certain by the end of the semester. Barbosa is optimistic that the er, and some of the garregions of Europe—these are places with some of the lowest campaign will be well received. “VIU has a long history of ments out there are indeed made with wages and human rights protections in the world—but the listening to concerns of the campus community,” he says. conditions will look similar.

Janina Stajic, Manager, Communications and Public shady labour,” he The word “sweatshop” reaches back to the end of the indus- Engagement for VIU says, “At this point, VIU is in active says. “There is trial revolution and refers, literally, to the sweat of the work- discussion with VIUSU on how we can support this initiative. a Canadian ers who produced the goods. According to <dosomething. It’s too soon to comment on what that will look like, but we company out of Montreorg>, a sweatshop “is any workplace in which workers are hope to have something to share in the coming months.” subject to extreme exploitation. This includes not providing This is a student-led initiative, and students have made it al that uses workers with benefits, acceptable working conditions, or a clear that they would like to explore more ethically produced labour from living wage. A living wage differs from minimum wage by options. There’s a lot of conflicting information around the Haiti and Ecuador enabling workers to cover the cost of basic needs, such as sources of goods and truth in labelling. “The reality is that that was the cheapest food, shelter, and health care; minimum wages usually do there is no guarantee that an item is sweatshop free, but that shirt you could get.” Woodnot cover these costs.” doesn’t mean that we get a free pass. We need to continue to ward noted that sweatshop free Until recently, major garment manufacturers sought work to ensure that people aren’t suffering so that we can options were available from Canadian companies, but that they didn’t offer the cheapest possible labour for production of their goods. get affordable clothes,” Barbosa says.

Consumers were demanding low prices, and the industry The fear of more expensive clothing is another concern as wide a variety of colours and styles. They was delivering while still keeping profits high. Every time for students. “For the Students’ Union, we have seen no net were also outside of the society’s budget. a business imports sweatshop-manufactured goods for increase in the cost of materials,” Barbosa says. He antici- Sweatshops aren’t limited to the garment industry; they also produce source materials, like cotton or silk, sale to Canadian consumers, the international garment pates a similar situation for the university’s costs. manufacturing industry receives tacit approval for their The issue transcends economics though; it has become or the rubber and plastic used for shoe treads and branded substandard treatment of workers. It sends the message that one of life and death. Recent tragedies at sweatshop factories water bottles. Trying to shop sweatshop free can be overit’s acceptable to keep costs low at the expense of human demonstrate that the working conditions can surpass unsafe whelming, especially with inconsistency in labelling, but workers. Free Trade Agreements have created the condi- and become deadly. Catastrophes like the April 2013 factory a focus on ethically sourced clothing and footwear can be tions that make sweatshop manufacturing lucrative and collapse in Bangladesh that killed at least 1100 people and a good place to start. “By working together, students have attractive for corporations. According to <dosomething.org>, injured more than 3000 bring the story home with vivid created an alternative to sweatshop materials on campus,” Nike, Disney, Wal-Mart, Reebok, the Gap, Liz Claiborne, and images of deadly destruction. Putting a human face on the McCarthy says.

Ralph Lauren are just some of the companies that have set sweatshop industry, with accompanying human suffering, One day, Raveena will wake up in her own home with a up international corporations to circumvent US labour laws. has propelled consumers into action. They’re telling the family of her own, running water, tiled floor swept clean, and This is just a sample of the apparel manufacturers who have retailers and manufacturers of their favourite brands that separate bedrooms for her children, who will go to school. been implicated in supporting sweatshops. Realizing that they won’t tolerate having blood on their hands in the name Raveena may still sew for a living, but she will make a living wage. For more information on the campaign, or to sign the the money they pay for their clothes remains in the coffers of cheap clothing any longer. of corporations while only the tiniest trickle finds its way The same message has reached campus communities. petition, visit <www.viusu.ca/sweatshopfree>. back to workers like Raveena, consumers are beginning to “Using the bulk purchasing consortium of the Canadian

“

The reality is that there is no guarantee that an item is sweatshop free, but that doesn’t mean that we get a free pass. We need to continue to work to ensure that people aren’t suffering so that we can get affordable clothes.

-Patrick Barbosa, VIUSU

”

Sweatshop:

any workplace in which workers are subject to extreme exploitation. This includes not providing workers with benefits, acceptable working conditions, or a living wage. A living wage differs from minimum wage by enabling workers to cover the cost of basic needs, such as food, shelter, and health care; minimum wages usually do not cover these costs.

-Source: <dosomething.org>

Arts

Denisa Kraus

Jamming with Alex Hicks DENISA KRAUS One night, she sits on the dark stage in a black corset, flooded with purple light, her face and chest splattered with blood-red paint. She won’t even look up from her guitar as she strums brutally melancholic riffs. The large scale live-painting behind her shapes up a story of a dark romance.

Another night, she pours you a pint at the café where she works, then leaps over the bar, casually grabs her acoustic guitar, and co-sings “Karma Police” as the regular opening act of the Wednesday open mic.

True to her Gemini self, Alex Hicks is hard to pin down to one personality trait or category of art, let alone music genre. During our talk, Alex often burst into laughter or an old sappy country song. Here is what the VIU-schooled singer and self-motivated dancer, performer, and painter has to say about jam-

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THE NAVIGATOR ming, stage fright, and the music in grocery stores.

a population of 4000, so growing up, it was really big for me.

Navigator: Where are you from?

When did you first feel this musical itch?

Alex Hicks: I was born in Calgary, but when I was two my parents and brother drove across the country to Prince Edward county in southern Ontario. My parents still live in the same house in the boonies, surrounded by trees, near Lake Ontario. When you’re out there, you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Where do your memories begin?

My dad built the house. We lived in a trailer at first, and then moved to the basement as he continued building. There was a lot of mud for my brother and I to play with.

And the small town life. We lived 20 minutes away from Pikton with

I remember a moment when I was walking down the hallway to the washroom in elementary school and singing a song. I thought, ‘Yeah, that sounds really good’ (laughs). When I was five, I sang in my first talent show. My mom plays the piano, but she’s really shy, so she won’t play in front of people. My dad plays the guitar and sings. He won’t miss an opportunity to perform. If you pass him a guitar, he’ll have it the entire night and play for everybody. He always urged me to pursue music, but before I was singing I was dancing. I wanted to be a dancer and I took lessons to get my energy out.

I was a wiry kid, so I had to dance that shit off (laughs).

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What did dancing give you?

Confidence. I knew I was good at it. Plus, I was a control freak and loved telling my friends what to do.

There were choreographed dances and organized productions with these little girls (laughs). I felt really, really good when I danced, and I still do.

to perform, they’d give me the first note and I’d go in. I sang the one song entirely off pitch. I didn’t even realize that until my dad told me after. I was horrified by the experience because I humiliated myself publicly, but it was such a lesson for a kid. Not the best sort of feeling, but before that, with all the small town encouragement, I thought I was the shit (laughs).

So when did this transition from dancing to singing happen?

What about the guitar?

When I was five years old, my dad and I started to perform at the country fair every year. I got a lot of encouragement from the audience as a kid putting myself out there, but it wasn’t until I entered this country singing contest a couple hours away from our town. I sucked balls! I was so bad! They would have me rehearse with a band for a few minutes, and when the time came

I didn’t even notice the guitar until grade eight or nine. This is going to sound so cliché, but my dad was playing “Stairway To Heaven,” the most cliché song you can get inspired by, but I thought ‘I wanna do that.’ Then every day I would get home after school and go into the basement to play my guitar, and I did that obsessively.

I can’t say there was anything else

I obsessed about like I obsessed about my guitar.

something upbeat, but if it moves me then I’ll listen to it.

Did you take classes?

Speaking of movement, is there any music that makes you run far away really fast?

I took a class in high school that showed us simple three-chord songs, and I got bored with that, but our music teacher let us into the quiet room to jam. I hung out with some guys that were playing power chords, and they taught me to play some Iron Maiden songs.

(pauses) I don’t like spending a lot of time in Shoppers Drug Mart or grocery stores because the music in there is horrifying in a super aggressive way. Also, in Noodle Box, the music was crazy loud—

ing the music I play now, I don’t even know what that means. It’s all sorts of things. Right now, I love playing the electric guitar and jamming with people, sharing these ideas, and seeing where it goes.

What does good jamming feel like to you?

because I allowed it to come easily.

It felt good. I kept repeating it until I was done work. Then I went up to my room and recorded it over and over. I practiced so many times that I started to feel paranoid that my roommates could hear me and would get annoyed and say, “Shut up, sounds fine, go to bed!”

What brought you over here?

It’s like meditation. You’re constantly letting go of what you just did, taking whatever comes at you,

How do you like recording your music?

I’ve put out a record before, and I hate it. I can’t listen to it for long, but when I do, I hear my voice that was too young. The ideas were underdeveloped and put into permanence.

Do you feel like it was time wasted?

No, it had to happen. I like how crisp it sounds, but I don’t like my singing. You can tell I was not comfortable.

How do you become comfortable and effortless in your singing?

At the Dark Romance live painting.

And let’s face it, Iron Maiden is hilarious—funny dramatic stuff— but I was stoked to learn the power chord. I still play it.

What are your musical influences?

It’s all over the map. I enjoy a lot of music, and I don’t search for it. I’m always influenced by people around me and what they’re into, like my best friend when I was growing up. Her parents were so different from mine. They were European and their house was like nothing I’d seen before. The way they decorated it, the food they ate, and the music they listened to was all foreign to me. I went over there for a sleepover one day, and in the morning Milly’s dad was playing Buena Vista Social Club. I’d never heard anything like it before. I loved that shit because you could dance to it. So if I could draw any sort of connection in music I like, it’s something I can move to. It doesn’t necessarily have to be

Denisa Kraus

this throbbing club music that did not suit the environment at all.

It’s funny that you tend to pin music down to locations rather than naming genres you don’t like.

Genres are so cloudy these days. I can’t tell you I don’t like pop music because that would be a lie. I love pop music; I just don’t like shitty pop music, and that’s the stuff you find in drug stores.

What do you think you are best at in life?

I’m trying to create art that incorporates all the things I enjoy and am good at all at once. I can feel in my life right now, where I’m living and who I’m surrounded by, that all these things are starting to come into motion with one another. They’re still a little separate because I don’t know how to put them together, but then again, when you ask me how I got to play-

can keep my cool and breathe, the feeling of fear is actually beneficial.

I crave that feeling. If I don’t have that little bit of nervousness, then it’s probably going to be a pretty shitty show. It’s going to be lifeless, and that’s scarier than anything else.

and being open to things—like playing a weird note and being able to say “oh, that sounded gorgeous.”

Who’s going to say that it’s wrong?

I prefer the spontaneity over knowing exactly what’s going to happen, but I’d like to have balance. There’s something more that I’m going for than just pure spontaneity. There’s this other neurotic part of me that wants to create an actual show or story to say something.

Does spontaneity bring you more inspiration?

Do you remember the a-capella song I sang the other night? I wrote that one during closing time at work. I was humming a melody while going through the tasks. I attached a word here and there, and without thinking about forming a sentence or a full thought, another word came and the thought formed itself. Sometimes it’s the other way around. I don’t know how to explain it. That song came easily

With time and the desire to do so.

It goes back to meditation. Well, I don’t meditate. I use that word, but it’s not like I sit down in silence.

I’d say that when you speak, feel your voice and get in touch with it.

Your voice is an organic instrument which is reliant on your health…

Or not even that. Tom Waits and Billie Holliday were heavy smokers and drinkers, but their voices were authentically theirs because they were comfortable with themselves.

Also, taking lessons helped me because I had someone else watch me sing. These teachers don’t just give you voice lessons—they’re teaching you how to be comfortable in your skin. They’re able to see where your discomforts are and how to help. I’ve heard so many people say “I wish I could sing.”

I know they want to sing because they see how good it feels. That’s the desire, and then something stops them. Their body is closed.

I’ve felt that before and I can tell when someone else does. It helps to have someone point out some techniques, teach you how to use your diaphragm and breathe. Breathing is huge!

I came for the jazz program. Coming out of high school, I knew I wanted to be creative in some way, and music stood out to me.

I applied to two schools—one in Toronto, where I didn’t get in because I didn’t know enough theory and my scales were off; but I got accepted to Malaspina. I was stoked; I felt that, locationally, that’s where I wanted to be.

So what is on your horizon right now?

I would like to free myself more. As much as I love playing the guitar, I feel that I’m going to stay in the realm of hanging with the boys and jamming. That’s not really about performing, but rather enjoying sound for yourself. I would like to get more into vocal, hands-off-theguitar performance and feed that other part of my brain that’s writing the notes. I have this fantasy about making a music video with a bunch of chicks on long boards, singing and doing synchronized moves (laughs). I love physical performance. That’s where my heart is, so if I could combine all those things… But right now it’s just shaping. And I’m not going to force it. I’m just figuring it all out!

Do you have stage fright?

Yes, but I move past it very quickly because I can’t handle it. It’s more important to me that I get to perform than focus on my fear. If I

Master performance poet comes to Nanaimo DENISA KRAUS

Courtesy of Nanaimo Fringe Festival

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British virtuoso of performance poetry, Jem Rolls, will appear onstage at Harbour City Theatre on September 28 to benefit Nanaimo Fringe Festival.

His show, “jem rolls ATTACKS THE SILENCE” has toured Fringe Festivals across Canada this summer, winning acclaim namely in Toronto, Ottawa, and Edmonton. His latest appearance in Vancouver marked his

THE NAVIGATOR 100th fringe performance.

Nanaimo Fringe producer Chelsee Damen says Jem Rolls will bring “salty wit, vigorous stage presence, and playful passion for words” together with a special 30 minute presentation of additional material from his greatest hits.

Tickets are $15 at the door or $12 in advance from <nanaimofringe.com>.

15 ARTS

Geraldine Manson and Natasha Bob in the Studio

My Honoured Fellow Native People

ARTS 16

Courtesy of Kenny Brault

JENNIFER GARCEAU

CONTRIBUTOR

A drum beat slowly grows louder as CHLY’s “Si’ em’ nu Ts ‘lhhwulmuhw” (My Honoured Fellow Native People) radio show gets under way. It is hosted each week by Geraldine Manson, Natasha Bob, and Kenny Brault with frequent guest co-hosts such as Devon Pielle and Buffi David.

Brault is already a familiar voice on the CHLY airwaves, having previously hosted an eclectic celtic show. Brault felt it was important to honour the country’s celtic roots because he feels that “Canadians typically identify with American music and culture.” As he became more familiar with CHLY, he learned of the station’s commitment to broadcast seven hours a week of First Nations focused radio and the difficulty in fulfilling this requirement. He felt inspired to continue his mission to present Canadian perspectives on the airwaves by co-hosting a show that would feature local First Nations music.

“I wanted to follow protocol and ask for permission from the Snuneymuxw First Nation to broadcast in their traditional lands,” Brault said, at which point he realized the CHLY airwaves broadcast over Stz’uminus (Ladysmith) and Snaw-Naw-as (Nanoose) lands as well, reaching as far north as Campbell River and the traditional lands of Tla’amin near Powell River. While making the appropriate requests with these three communities, he sought out people who might be interested in hosting the show with him.

In the course of connecting with community leaders, the show began to evolve into something beyond featuring First Nations musicians. The communities all expressed their desire for the show to have an emphasis on cultural education, language, and, of course, music.

Getting the show off the ground involved more than following protocol and finding contributors. Over a course of two years, proposals were sent back and forth between Brault and CHLY’s previous management. This spring, the show received the green light to begin broadcasting. Brault couldn’t be happier with the timing, as it came about when his co-hosts were ready to commit.

When the hosts got together to name the show, the right was passed on to Manson—an elder in VIU’s Human Services as well as the Bridging Pathways programs—of Snuneymuxw to choose a title. Manson thought of her traditional teachings and asked David, as the eldest, to name the show instead.

Brault recalls that David immediately started thinking in terms of the Hul’q’umin’um’ language.

“Language is so important and sacred,” Brault went on, explaining that the title David chose highlights the show being shared amongst different communities as well as the cultural emphasis on showing respect to fellow community members.

During the early planning stages of the show, Bob, a VIU graduate of the Criminology program, began to take an interest in the platform of radio, adding that at the time “a lot of First Nations topics were starting to arise” in the media. She felt it was important to be a part of a positive framework for

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cultural education.

Bob hopes that more First Nations, Inuit, and Métis VIU students will be inspired to do the same. “I really want to encourage students to use their voice,” she says, adding that she was shy in the beginning but overcame it as she felt the pride in her work. One of the original goals of the program was to include more students.

“There are a lot of First Nations students from all over the place,” Bob said, “and I think there are a lot of stories and it’s a great opportunity to showcase the diversity in First Nations culture.” Manson would like to see more student participation as well. She invites students to share their family’s stories and songs. Brault said they can be flexible in finding a way to help students hear their contributions on the radio. “They don’t have to come in live. We are open to everything. There are no limits, as long as there is a First Nations perspective to what they share.”

As an elder for the university, Manson wants to foster a student-driven radio show. “Traditionally, elders take the lead.

But we want to take a step back when young people feel comfortable to step forward. We want to give them their roots.”

Part of fostering a new generation of First Nations programming includes covering local history. “We try to keep the emphasis on culture,” Brault said. “Sometimes this means talking about historical events. Anyone can read about local historical events. What we provide is a First Nations perspective on it, stories passed down, stories that are not written in books.”

Reflecting back on the early planning stages, Manson said, “In the beginning it was about songs—songs people never heard before, songs that come from creation stories, stories from their elders and grandparents.” Now she feels that the “Si’ em’ nu Ts ‘lhhwulmuhw” radio show can be part of a healing process from colonial history. “Even today there is a lot of misinformation about First Nations culture.” The radio show is an opportunity for First Nations students to find their voice as well as for non-First Nations students to better understand the culture of the traditional lands they live within.

VIU student Celise Squire has a desire to grasp the First Nations culture. “[I want] to better understand the traditional stories of the land I am standing on right now while I am on campus. I don’t want to know a textbook version of an entire culture; I want to know the real stories. I’m proud to live here; I’m grateful to live here. I hope to do my part in showing the respect this land deserves. I think it’s great that I can tune in and hear songs and stories.”

With a smile etching across her face, Manson explained the importance of VIU, CHLY, and the Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, and Snaw-Naw-as First Nations working collaboratively.

“By using VIU’s radio, working with Ken and all the other communities, we are pulling out wisdoms from everywhere.”

“Si’ em’ nu Ts ‘lhhwulmuhw” airs on CHLY every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am until 11 am.

Courtesy of Fringe Flicks/TheatreOne

Fringe Flicks fall lineup brings diverse, independent f ilms NADINE WIEPNING TheatreOne has announced the fall line up of Fringe Flicks at Avalon Cinema. The four films, carefully chosen by the Fringe Flicks Committee, are Tracks, Calvary, Words and Pictures, and Art and Craft.

“We are pleased to choose films that have not been shown in theatres or released on DVD. Our surveys have told us our audiences like independent films from Canada and around the world. They want to be both challenged and entertained, and even made a bit uncomfortable on occasion. This fall we have an adventure, a dark comedy, romance, and documentary,” said Julian Smithers, Fringe Flicks Programmer.

CONTRIBUTOR TRACKS - Showing September 28/29. Director: John Curran.

In 1977, 27-year-old Australian Robyn Davidson set out from Alice Springs to walk 2700 kilometres of harsh desert to the Indian Ocean.

Accompanied only by her dog and four camels, Davidson yearned for a solitary journey of self-discovery, but became a National Geographic photo story.

CALVARY - Showing October 26/27.

Director: John Michael McDonagh.

Starring Brendan Gleeson (The Guard and The Grand Seduction) and Chris O’Dowd (The Sapphires), Calvary is a superbly written, darkly funny, and moving mystery sto-

ry set in a sleepy coastal village in Ireland. Featuring lively performances, spectacular scenery, crackling dialogue, and “grounded by a performance of monumental soul from Brendan Gleeson as a tough-minded Irish priest marked for death by one of his parishioners, the film offers a mordantly funny survey of small-town iniquity that morphs, almost imperceptibly, into a deeply felt lament for a fallen world.” —Justin Chang, Variety WORDS AND PICTURES - Showing November 9/10. Director: Fred Schepisi.

In similar format of a Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn movie, at the

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centre of the film’s appeal are its two lead performances (Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche), and the joy of watching these actors discover each other in real time. Words and Pictures is a witty, romantic, and moving film from a veteran director.

ART AND CRAFT - Showing November 23/24. Directors: Sam Cullman and Jennifer Grausman.

Mark Landis is one of the most prolific art forgers in US history, but he isn’t in it for money. Posing as a philanthropic donor, Landis has given away hundreds of works. But after duping a tenacious registrar who exposes the decades-long ruse,

Landis must confront his own legacy and a chorus of museum professionals clamoring for him to stop.

Fringe Flicks are screened at Avalon Cinema on Sundays at 1, 4 and 7 pm, and Mondays at 7 pm. Season tickets are $101 for 10 films, and single tickets are $12, available at the door for one hour prior to showtimes, and in advance by phoning 250-754-7587 or online at <www. theatreone.org>.

Thank you to Fringe Flicks sponsors Cutting Room Creative, Gordon Halkett, Michael Gill Wealth Management, and Red Door Yoga.

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Courtesy of <wallpapret.com>

Movie Review: Frank SPENCER WILSON

F

CONTRIBUTOR

rank Sidebottom was the alter ego of British musician and comedian Chris Sievey. Although the head used in the film is unmistakably alike to Sidebottom’s, the story manages to intertwine elements from the lives of Daniel Johnston, Captain Beefheart, and Jon Ronson (one of the co-writers who played keyboard in Sidebottom’s band). The film is quirky and fun on the outside, but underneath it is a lot of pain. By the end, Frank (Michael Fassbender) ends up embodying the struggle that comes from carrying your mental problems into your art.

Director Lenny Abrahamson has been a prominent figure in Irish cinema since the debut of his tragicomedy Adam and Paul (2004). Since then, he has received numerous accolades within the UK film circuit. Abrahamson reached a peak in 2012 with the intense slow-burner What Richard Did when he sweeped the major film categories at the 10th Irish Film and Television Awards. Frank presents a change of pace and scenery for Abrahamson, who usually directs dark films related to the troubles of Irish people.

Abrahamson maintains his dark side in Frank, but we are treated to a film that is more colourful and faster paced than his previous.

The film opens with our main character, Jon Burroughs (played by Domhnall Gleeson, modeled after writer Jon Ronson), trying to make up songs on the spot by looking at things around him as he is walking down the street. This spawns a number of child-like tunes that he tries to unsuccessfully revive later on. Jon is a straight-forward, dissatisfied middleclass man: he lives with his parents, works a menial desk job, and writes songs in his spare time with the hopes of fame.

While out for one of his walks, Jon notices two police officers wrestling with a man trying to drown himself in the ocean. Overlooking the scene is a mysterious group of people who are complaining about finding a new keyboardist. Jon recognizes them from the posters around town as a band called the Soronprfbs (don’t worry, the cast barely pronounces it right either) and offers to play keyboard with

ARTS 18

them that night. They hesitantly accept, and Jon only meets Frank once he gets on stage. The experience completely shakes Jon, and he is later offered to come to Ireland and sit in as the keyboardist for the recording of their new album.

This is where the intersection of musical histories becomes most obvious. As relentless recording and rehearsal begins, the story begins to mimic the recording sessions of Trout Mask Replica (1969) by Captain Beefheart and His Magic. Captain Beefheart locked his band in a remote cabin where they rationed food, were humiliated by Beefheart, and vigorously practiced the avant-garde compositions that Beefheart was coming up with. The band was so well-rehearsed that they recorded most of the 28 extremely difficult and avant-garde tracks in six hours. As an added callback to Beefheart, the Soronprfbs’ manager, Don (Scoot McNairy), is a hilarious, aesthetic replication of Beefheart himself.

During this time, Jon documents the band’s recording and struggles to drum up some online attention through social media. Jon will occasionally type and narrate his tweets throughout the film, and it is always good for a quick laugh. The dramatic irony of him using the hashtag #livingthedream on a bad day will remind you of all those times you typed “lol” and had a completely neutral face. By the time the album is recorded, the social media project proves successful and the band is offered a chance to play at the Austin, Texas festival, SXSW. This is where the film starts to fall flat. It wasn’t perfect up until this point (the main album recording montage was particularly awkward), but it was fun and well-paced up until the final act. The snail pace is akin to Abrahamson’s film What Richard Did, but it worked in that film because the entire piece was consistent. As Jon begins searching for Frank when he loses him at SXSW, the film turns into a dark meditation on mental illness and creativity. Jon spends his time at the cabin asking “where can I get that kind of creativity?” in response to Frank and his manager’s tragic back stories, but is assured later on that mental illness has

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only slowed down Frank’s musical capabilities.

With Frank’s story running parallel to the bizarre Captain Beefheart, and the mentally disturbed but naturally talented Daniel Johnston, he becomes a character that warns of the trade-offs that come with being mentally disturbed and practicing art. Certainly, the product produces some truly unique pieces, but at the cost of a person’s well-being. The co-writers, Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan, really grasp this balance by contrasting the experimental, psychedelic rock of the Soronprfbs with the great deal of accessible music being played at SXSW. The writers clearly love how far music can go, but also make sure not to overdo it by making Frank a very disturbed individual.

The performances by the cast are mostly one-dimensional and comedic except for Frank. For a character that wears a paper mache head, Michael Fassbender does an excellent job of making him feel animated and expressive (this is outside of Frank’s phase of describing his facial expressions).

If you were never told who the actor for Frank was, it would have been impossible to guess. Fassbender flows gracefully between Frank’s laidback attitude, his intense music persona, and his mentally disturbed self.

Fassbender’s intensity is never made clearer than in the recording session for the album. All the music was recorded live by the cast, which makes it feel more intimate and focused than it would otherwise. The rest of the cast works excellently in these sessions while Fassbender maintains a commanding presence with his wailing vocals and avant-garde lyrics.

Chris Sievey died, penniless, of cancer in May 2010, although he had given a blessing for the film before then.

When the announcement came that Sievey would be given a pauper’s funeral, a social media campaign was launched to raise funds so Sievey could have a proper funeral; it was successful. The inclusion of Jon’s tweets is mostly intended as a gag, but his use of social media also feels like a celebration for what it has the power to do—show the world new music or give a poor genius a proper burial.

Frank is sort of all over the place, like its title character, but is a fun film that has some interesting ideas about art. Some people are naturally talented, and some are meant to play backup; some people have a mental illness and are musical, and some have mental illness. It’s also wonderful, from a music lover’s perspective, to see multiple artists’ histories paid tribute to in this film. Abrahamson shows with Frank that he is a promising director to look out for.

Sports

Buccaneers sailing to start season BEN CHESSOR

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The Nanaimo Buccaneers are off to a solid start in the first month of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The team came from behind with a 6-3 win over the Peninsula Panthers on September 19 in North Saanich, which moved Nanaimo to 4-1-0-1 in the young season.

Nanaimo trailed 3-2 going into the third period against the Panthers. But at 8:54, David Osbourne tied the game for Nanaimo at 3-3.

Later in the third period, the Buccaneers took the lead 4-3 on a goal by Carter Turnbull, his second goal in as many games. Just a minute later, Nolan Richardson scored a powerplay goal to put the Buccaneers up 5-3. Hobin Zinck added an empty netter for Nanaimo, who won by a final of 6-3.

The Buccaneers’ last home game was against the Campbell River Storm on September 18. The game was an early season battle for first place, as the two teams were separated by just one point atop the Island’s North Division. Nanaimo got off to a quick start at home, as Trent Ball opened the scoring just 44 seconds into the game, giving the Buccaneers an early 1-0 lead.

Gage Colpron and James Severs both tallied for the Storm before the end of the first period, giving Campbell River a 2-1 lead after the first period. Early in the second period, Christian Brandt fired a shot that slipped through Nanaimo

goalie Greg Maggio, increasing the Storm lead to 3-1. Carter Turnbull’s first career goal was early in the third period, and got Nanaimo back to within one, but that was as close as Nanaimo could get. The Storm ended with an empty netter to win the game by a final score of 4-2.

With the win, the Storm remained undefeated for the season and took a 3-point lead over Nanaimo for first place in the division.

The previous weekend, the Buccaneers picked up 5 out of a possible 6 points against Kerry Park, Campbell River, and Comox Valley.

First, the Buccaneers picked up a dramatic 3-2 home victory at Kerry Park on September 11. Nanaimo picked up a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to Campbell River the next night before closing out their weekend with a 2-1 victory over the Comox Valley Glacier Kings on Saturday, September 13.

The Buccaneers currently sit in second place in the VIJHL’s North Division. The Bucs are 3-points ahead of first place Campbell River but have a 5 point lead over the third place Comox Glacier Kings.

The Buccaneers’ next home games are Thursday, September 25 against the Saanich Braves, and October 2 against the West Shore Wolves. Puck drop for both games is at 7:15pm. All Nanaimo Buccaneers games are played at the Nanaimo Ice Centre below campus. Student tickets for the games are only $8.

Ben Chessor North DIvision Standing

GP

W

L

T

OTL

PTS

Campbell River

6

6

0

0

0

12

Nanaimo

6

4

1

0

1

9

Comox Valley

5

1

2

1

1

4

Oceanside

5

1

4

0

0

2

Mariner men continue to roll BEN CHESSOR The VIU Mariners’ men’s soccer team has gotten off to a scorching start to the PacWest soccer season.

The team has yet to lose a game during the season and has received some national attention for their strong play.

The latest victory for the Mariners came on the road Saturday, September 20. The Mariners traveled to the mainland and came away with a hard-fought 2-0 win

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The victory over Langara is the latest win on the team’s current unbeaten streak. The Mariners have won five of six games they’ve played this season. The only game the Mariners haven’t won was a 0-0 draw at home Sunday, September 14, against the Kwantlen Eagles. The Mariners have also outscored their opponents 11-3 over the course of the season.

The Mariners’ early season success has earned them some national attention. The Mariners are currently the fourth ranked men’s soccer team in Canada by the Canadian College Athletic Association and one of two PacWest teams ranked in the top 15 nationally.

The Kwantlen Eagles are the other team, currently ranked 12th in the nation.

The Mariners’ next home game

is Saturday, October 4, against Quest University—kickoff is at 3 pm. Saturday is the only home game the Mariners will play that weekend as the two teams travel back to the mainland for the second half of the home and home the next day.

For more information on the Mariners’ schedule, please visit <mariners.viu.ca>.

Men’s Soccer Vancouver Island University Mariners

GP 6

W 5

L 0

T 1

+/5

Pts 15

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Eagles

6

4

0

2

9

12

Douglas College Royals

6

3

1

2

1

10

Quest University Kermodes

6

2

1

3

-6

7

Langara College Falcons

6

0

3

3

-4

3

Capilano University Blues

6

0

3

3

-5

3

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SPORTS 19

Mariner women soar over Falcons BEN CHESSOR

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The VIU Mariners’ women’s soccer team picked up a big win in PacWest action on Saturday, September 20. The Mariners picked up a clutch 2-0 victory on the mainland against the Langara Falcons. The victory improved the Mariners’ record to 4-2 on the season. With the victory, the Mariners avenged their 1-0 defeat to Langara at the Mariners September 6 home opener.

The victory over Langara vaults the Mariners ahead of the Falcons in the standings. The Mariners now sit in sole possession of second place in the six-team PacWest. VIU now has 12 points on the season, 2 points ahead of Langara.

VIU is currently 3 points behind first place in the PacWest, which is owned by the Douglas College Royals. The Royals picked up the victory in the first game played between the

two teams on Saturday, September 13, in Nanaimo.

The Mariners are riding a mini two-game winning streak after their loss to Douglas. The Mariners picked up a dominating 4-0 victory over the visiting Kwantlen Eagles on Sunday, September 14.

The Mariners have also received some national attention for their early season success. The team is currently ranked 11 in Canada amongst women’s university soccer programs.

The Mariners’ next home game is Saturday, October 4, at 1 pm. The two teams then return to the mainland the following day to play the second half of the home and home series.

For more information on the Mariners and their schedule, visit <mariners.viu.ca>.

Woman’s Soccer Douglass College Royals

GP

W

L

T

+/-

Pts

6

5

0

1

5

15

Vancouver Island University Mariners

6

4

0

2

9

12

Langara College Falcons

6

3

1

2

1

10

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Eagles

6

2

1

3

-6

7

Quest University Kermodes

6

0

3

3

-4

3

Capilano University Blues

6

0

3

3

-5

3

NANAIMO ATHLETIC CLUB’S

STUDENT SPECIAL •8 month membership to fit in with your school year.

•Paid in full and monthly options.

•Full access to 35 scheduled classes, Yoga, interval cardio, Zumba and much more...

Nanaimo Clippers drop season opener BEN CHESSOR The Nanaimo Clippers started their 2014-2015 British Columbia Hockey League season on a rough note Saturday, September 20. The Clippers got off to a slow start at the Bauer BCHL showcase, losing to the Prince George Spruce Kings by a final score of 6-4.

The game was scoreless until late in the first period when Taylor Allen was able to jam the puck past Clippers goaltender Guilaume Decelles to give the Spruce Kings a 1-0 lead. Prince George expanded their lead at 7:31 in the second period. This time it was Justin Rai who beat Decelles to give the Spruce Kings a 2-0 lead. Six minutes later, a power play goal

by Cole Todd put the Spruce Kings up 3-0. But before the end of the second period, Anthony Rinaldi scored Nanaimo’s first goal of the season to make the score 3-1 heading into the third period. Just 31 seconds after Brent Lashuk scored to give the Spruce Kings a 4-1 lead, Corey Renwick beat Prince George goalie Jesse Jenks to cut the lead to 4-2. Then just 30 seconds later, Devon Brosseau added another to make the score 4-3. At 11:59 of the third, Todd scored his second goal of the game to put the Spruce Kings up 5-3. Brett Roulston scored late and cut the score to 5-4, but the Spruce Kings added an empty netter and picked up the 6-4 win. The

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THE NAVIGATOR loss marked the third time in four years that the Clippers have lost the opening game of the season.

The Clippers finished their exhibition play this year with a record of 3-2. The team was a force offensively, scoring 23 goals in the six games. This year, the Clippers have 10 returning players from last year’s roster. The Clippers do have the luxury of having all three of the team’s top scorers from last season returning this season, with Brendan Taylor, Sheldon Rhemple, and Devin Brosseau. Taylor, who is returning for his fourth season in a Clipper uniform, has been named captain for the season. On defense, the team will look for returning players Edwin Hookinson, Nicholas Gushie, and Austin Dick to anchor the defense core. The team will have a completely new goaltending tandom. Nanaimo acquired 20-year-old goalie Guilaume Decelles to take over the starter duties. Decelles will be backed up by 17-year-old Jakob Severson.

The Clippers open their home schedule on Friday, September 26, against the Powell River Kings, who eliminated Nanaimo in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Nanaimo will also be in action the next night against the Victoria Grizzlies.

Opening faceoff for both games is at 7 pm at Frank Crane Arena.

Raiders trampled

by Rams BEN CHESSOR The VI Raiders had a rough weekend, losing to the Langley Rams 53-14 on Saturday, September 20 in Langley. The loss drops the Raiders’ record to 3-5 in the season with just two games remaining.

The game was scoreless through the first half, before a rushing touchdown put the Rams up 7-0 early in the second quarter. Then after a 55 yard Langley punt return, the Rams connected for another touchdown to take a 14-0 lead. The Raiders got on the board with a touchdown of their own with just 3 minutes left in the half to cut the lead to 14-7. But the Raiders just couldn’t stop the Rams’ offense, which put up two more touchdowns before the end of the second quarter. That gave Langley a comfortable 28-7 lead heading into half-time. The Raiders got their

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The Rams took a 35-14 lead by the end of the third quarter and cruised to the 53-14 victory. The win moved the Rams to 6-2 on the season and gave them the victory in the three-game series between the two teams.

The previous Saturday, the Raiders were out for revenge against the BCFC’s top team, the Okanagan Sun. This game was a defensive battle for the opening kickoff with both teams struggling to get first downs. Eventually, the Sun trapped the Raiders behind their own goal line. The Raiders were forced to concede a safety and give the Sun a 2-0 lead. Then, on the Sun’s following possession, they managed

the game’s first touchdown as they converted a one yard run to take a 9-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The score stayed that way until the closing minutes of the half, when the Raiders finally managed to get on the board with a touchdown, making the score 9-7 at half-time. The Raiders came close to taking the lead multiple times in the second half, but couldn’t break through the rock solid Okanagan defense. The Sun tacked on a field goal and touchdown in the game’s second half to win by a final score of 19-7.

With a record of 3-5 on the season, the Raiders haven’t had much luck from the league’s schedule makers. The Raiders have now played six of the team’s eight games against either Langley or the Okanagan, who are the two

BCFC Okanagan Sun

Record 7–1

Pts 14

Win% .875

PF 359

PA 100

Langley Rams

6–2

12

.750

375

200

Kamloops Broncos

6–2

12

.750

262

223

Vancouver Island Raiders

3–5

6

.375

249

277

Westshore Rebels

2–6

4

.250

138

332

Valley Huskers

0–8

0

.000

103

354

top teams in the conference. The Raiders have a record of 1-5 against those two teams. The Raiders have won their only two games, which were not against those teams, by a combined score of 120-15.

The Raiders only have two games left before the end of the BCFC reg-

ular season. The team plays Saturday, September 27 against the Kamloops Broncos. The Raiders then return home for their final game of the season against their Island rivals, the Westshore Rebels, the following Saturday, October 4, at 1 pm.

Ben Chessor

MLB needs to bring baseball games up to speed BEN CHESSOR

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This past summer, thanks to the Seattle Mariners’ new-found success, I became obsessed with baseball. I’ve always enjoyed baseball, but when the team you cheer for is supremely untalented and frustrating, you don’t watch the games very closely for sanity’s sake. As the summer went on, I watched more and more games, and I started to notice something.

Baseball has never been the most thrilling sport. With a lot of down time between action and sparse physical contact, it doesn’t exactly appeal to the high-octane sports fan. But this year it seemed like the games were taking longer than they had before.

I did a little research and found out that I was correct — the average baseball game is taking longer now than it ever has. 2014 is the first time in baseball history that the average length of a MLB game is 3 hours and 10 minutes. In fact, the Mariners were the only team with an average game time less than 3 hours, at 2 hours 59 minutes. Not only are the games taking longer, but they also contain less scoring than before. This year, runs per game are also down to the lowest total we’ve seen in decades. So not only are baseball games taking longer to play, but less is happening during those games—not exactly the best recipe for fan entertainment.

It doesn’t take much effort to see why game times are increasing, as there are many ways in which the pace of the game has slowed down. Pitchers are taking longer than ever to throw the ball. Batters are stepping out of the batter box after every pitcher, adjusting their batting gloves, and getting coach signals. Meanwhile, managers are making more pitching changes than ever. Combine that with this

new obsession baseball times have with constantly using different kinds of shifts, and you have a sport that takes an astounding amount of time to play.

It wouldn’t be very difficult to get the average speed of a baseball game back under 3 hours, possibly even 2.5 hours.

If the proper rule changes were made, the average spectator wouldn’t even see the difference. In fact, the MLB already has some rules in place designed to speed up the game that the league doesn’t utilize. Rule 8.04 of the MLB rulebook says, “When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call a Ball.” For some reason, the league has the rule in the books, but elects not to use it. The average time between pitches without a runner on base this season was 24 seconds, double the allotted time under rule 8.04. If you consider that each baseball game has about 300 pitches, and about 100 of those are delivered with no runner on base, then just enforcing rule 8.04 would knock roughly 1500 seconds (or 25 minutes) off each game.

If the MLB really wanted to shorten games more than 25 minutes, they could also implement a few additional rules that would cut down on unnecessary time during games.

First off, the league could stop allowing batters to step out of the batter box after every pitch. After every pitch, a batter will call timeout, step out of the batter box, adjust both his batting gloves, take a few practice swings, adjust his glove again, and then finally step back into the batter box. The process takes between 10-30 seconds, and is entirely unnec-

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essary. More often than not, the batter didn’t even swing at the pitch previous. Shouldn’t professional baseball players be able to properly put on batting gloves?

The MLB could also shorten game times by limiting the amount of pitching changes a manager can make during a game—either by not allowing a manager more than a certain number of pitching changes per inning, or by forcing each pitcher brought into a game to face a minimum number of batters. Too often in baseball these days, a manager will bring in a pitcher from the bullpen who will throw one pitch, get the out he needed, then the manager will bring in another pitcher to face the next batter. Each pitching change takes about 5 minutes to complete and causes the game to drag on when three pitching changes are made in the same inning.

Far too often, a manager will bring in a new pitcher from the bullpen, only to have the opposing manager bring in a pinch hitter to face the new pitcher. So what does the first manager do? He takes out his new pitcher, before he even throws a pitch, and brings in a different pitcher. Situations like these take almost 10 minutes to unfold and completely delay all flow of the game.

A couple weeks ago, MLB commissioner Bud Selig was on television talking to the commentary crew for the Mariners.

Selig discussed how bogged down the game of baseball has gotten and how steps need to be taken in the off-season to make the game faster. I hope that Selig follows through on his word and does make some changes to baseball this off-season before we start talking about 4 hour games as the norm.

SPORTS 21

Student Showcase

Fire...

EMERY KONST

CONTRIBUTOR

burning embers crackle upon slabs of cold stone its fiery pulse stationed at your feet toes curl and stretch in the glowing warmth your vision hints hues of scarlet within amber horizons as rays of a mourning sun shine through your eyes

Emery Konst is an English major student focusing on fictional story and poetry. Besides reading and writing in her hammock, she enjoys annoying the neighbors with her loud music.

Her poem, Fire..., was forged from a dream about mountain rock, dawning sky, and an eternal fire.

Point ELAINE LAY

CONTRIBUTOR

Tell all.

But tell it slant, she said Success in circuit, in circuit. . . * There is no circuitry here.

Nor edgewise fringe sneakery, (Unless it’s the palm warm on the back Rubbing slow, sad circles A balm independent of the telling) There is only: Declarative statements served raw Punctuated with periods. No commas.

This. And this. And this too.

Pressed deep without twist or flourish.

Once. Twice. And again it beats on the door The signal for a forced march Straight to some inevitable telos Prodding the reluctant to plod Relentless as the mule-driver’s whip the hortator’s mallet the conductor’s baton Striking in the air some invisible message With all emphasis.

But then softly, and then softly here now Something rises on the horizon, all rosy-fingered Formless still and dewy with the shine of new things And the falling light of it Morphs the regular march of the bullet points Into skipping stones that ripple and ripple On murky water, reflective as looking glass A straight path of blossoming concentric circles That lead. . .

Oh, yes.

I see. *Note: The first stanza features a quote/riff from Emily Dickinson’s: Tell all the Truth but tell it slant-Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight

Elaine Lay is a new Canadian, born and raised mostly in the Philippines. She graduated Dalhousie University a year ago with a B.A. in English, minor in Classics, and is now taking Creative Writing at VIU. The poem was originally titled The Truth and was inspired by Audiomachine’s soundtrack of the same name, as well as a vague mishmash of classical music impressions, perhaps most notably Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture. It all started when Emily Dickinson’s poem Tell All the Truth started having a dialogue with Audiomachine’s The Truth in her head.

ODDS & ENDS 22

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS. TUESDAY OCT 28TH 2014 6:00 PM ON CAMPUS AT 900 FIFTH ST, NANAIMO —BUILDING 200 ROOM 203 PROPOSED AGM AGENDA: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. PRESIDENT REPORT 3. PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL RECORDS 4. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS 5. SPECIAL RESOLUTION: BE IT RESOLVED THAT JESSE SCHROEDER BE EXPELLED FROM THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE RADIO MALASPINA SOCIETY, AND BE BANNED FROM FUTURE MEMBERSHIP.

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