The Navigator Vol 46 Issue 10

No 10

FEB. 11

FEB. 24

Vol 46

NAV I GATOR VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRESS

FREE

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STUDENTS REACT TO ABE FUNDING CUTS

CONSTRUCTION ON CAMPUS

ARTISTS GLEAN STORIES AND IDEAS IN NANAIMO GALLERY

A decision by the Liberal Government to cut Adult Basic Education (ABE) funding and bring back tuition fees has caused outrage among many VIU students and staff.

Inside the building, the top floor is being renovated to accommodate a new Health and Wellness Clinic which will serve as a walk in clinic for VIU students.

New exhibition brings together local and international artworks to “glean” ignored ideas, discarded objects, or commonly overlooked parts of histories or cultures.

Contents

NEWS

04

05

06

07

Editorials

Construction on campus

Governor General David Johnston visits Harbour City

Political Studies Club founded at VIU

Nanaimo Museum spring exhibit to draw on city’s “racy” past

Students react to ABE funding cuts

FEATURES

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09

10

11

12

Museum news: Garry Oak Ecosystem

No Impact Week

Fraser Institute Student Essay Contest 2015

The wet West Coast in February

The PMS Protocol

The long commute: Memories cost money, but they don’t need to be painful to buy

A handy guide to postapocalyptic crafting

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Where the art is at

The Electric Umbrella

Artists glean stories and ideas in Nanaimo Art Gallery

Movie review: Foxcatcher

Nanaimo Arts Council

Studio 34

The Vault Cafe

The Globe

ARTS

SPORTS

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Mariner women heating up as provincials approach

Men’s volleyball suffers set back in chase for second

Women’s basketball continues strong play as playoffs near

Odds and Ends Comics and More

Clippers sail towards Island championship

Rough sailing for Buccaneers as playoffs approach

Men get revenge and soar over Falcons

02 CONTENTS

THE NAVIGATOR

No 10

Letters

Dear editor,

The Navigator, Vancouver Island’s University Student Press, is looking for you to join our team today.

Ad Sales Representatives Sells ads and meets sales goals under direction of business manager. Seeks out new clients. Makes sure each client is on the master ad list for each paper requested with the correct size and price for invoicing. Possesses excellent time management skills and is self-motivated.

The sales rep must contact clients far enough in advance so that deadlines can be met, and be able to pace themselves in order to provide quality client service.

Passes on information and materials from clients concerning ads to graphics staff and directs construction of the ads.

Sends proofs of the ads to the advertisers for confirmation.

As an alumni of VIU, there are a few things I don’t miss: 2 am Friday night dates with my history thesis, walking up 2000 stairs a day, getting roadrage in a parking lot, and paying for a well-deserved sleeve of beer with quarters and dimes I scrounged from my roommate’s couch. While living in Edmonton may have blessed me with a passable love life, a flat workplace, ample parking, and paper money, I’ve found myself spending more and more time on Facebook and blogs in order to get my “news” fix. It’s either that or I give up and become a Sun reader. It wasn’t until I came back for the holidays that I realized what I had left behind. Sitting in The Vault, reading an article on how millions were being killed on Black Friday, I was brought back to a better time—a time when opinions didn’t have to be cynical, sports coverage wasn’t inked in tears, the arts were accessible, and features were fun, not a chore, to read. Thank you for keeping me sane throughout those four years. I can’t wait to come back this summer and pick up some more Navigators.

Sincerely, Annika Miller

www. thenav .ca THE NAVIGATOR WELCOMES READER CONTRIBUTIONS

• 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 Maleea Acker Luke Bowles Stephanie Brown Julia Daly Natalie Gates Jon Hiebert James MacKinnon Drew McLachlan John Morgan Alyssa Morton Dean Pelkey Jess Reale Spenser Smith Chantelle Spicer Spencer Wilson

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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.

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LETTERS 03

Editorials

Standardized testing is so last decade

Leah Myers Editor-in-chief The Navigator At least, it should be. The Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) was introduced to grade four and seven BC students in 1998 to replace the census tests that were given to a random sample of students. And, apparently, the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) has opposed the FSA ever since, arguing that the test disrupts classroom learning, adds unnecessary stress to students, creates an unhealthy feeling of competition/comparison between schools, and is not a fair assessment of students’ knowledge or their teachers.

According to a report from the Vancouver Sun, the BCTF predicts the FSA will be gone by next year, since, “the controversial tests are in direct conflict with the government’s new BC Education Plan.” And it looks like BC teachers are already taking steps to say good riddance to the test, as the teachers’ union sends letters and encourages parents to ask

for exemptions from the test, despite the ministry’s insistance that the tests aren’t optional.

So the BC Ministry of Education administers these tests to help measure student success and identify concerns, yet the BCTF, and the people who are actually in classrooms, working with and assessing individual students, are crying out that these tests aren’t useful? How confusing!

Here are my two cents: I get how random testing pre-’98 didn’t work because it wasn’t “big picture” enough, but how does a standardized test work if, in the unwritten rules, you’re allowed to opt out? If a standardized test is something the education system needs, then make it mandatory. Unfortunately, it seems like most teachers disagree with the test anyway. With one-third of students opting out, like last year in Vancouver, this is far from a big picture evaluation.

I don’t think the FSA is a fair evaluation of student knowledge for a few reasons. The BCTF argues the test puts students under unnecessary stress. I can see that because I have terrible exam anxiety. However, on the flip side of students taking the test seriously and being stressed, they might also not try at all and forfeit questions they would’ve otherwise tried harder on if the test counted towards their grades.

From what I understand, the FSA is supposed to be reflective of the curriculum that teachers across BC are meant to follow, and the FSA material should be part of what a teacher is teaching from day to day. And parents have a right to know

if their student, and their school on average, is reaching the industry standard of education. But isn’t there a better way to give an overview of success? These aren’t law students, and this isn’t a bar exam, for goodness sake. If you want to see how a kid is doing compared to his peers across the country, why not make it part of their curriculum to do a range of “tests” and observe the data without the students needing to know about it?

Despite the saying “life is a test,” it really isn’t. Often it’s a project, speech, debate, or team assignment—things that are already happening within classrooms but aren’t taken into account during FSAs. If you’re going to do a study to determine education patterns across a province, there needs to be more components than students sitting down and writing a test for four hours. And if the government thinks there would be too much variation and bias in teachers grading projects or group assignments, why don’t they assign a representative to do a blind grading?

Plus, with all we know now, not only about different types of learning disabilities, but also about the different types of learning styles, why are we still using such a backward, black-and-white method to evaluate education? We should look to reach further than just recognizing the three main learning styles (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic) and strive towards an education system that’s as creative and individual as the students in it. We should raise our standards.

C is for Common-Law

Alexandria Stuart Associate Editor The Navigator There’s nothing white about a Common-Law wedding. No proposal, no ring, no breathy engagement announcement.

No planner, no shower, no stag. No limo, no walk, no giving away. No “now you may kiss.” No wedding DJ, no ricestrewn sendoff. No honeymoon. I now pronounce you Common-Law. Done.

From the moment you and your best love shack up in a “conjugal relationship” the clock starts ticking, and after only 365 days your carefree days as Live-Ins magically transform into the everyday of Common-Law Partners. In the eyes of the law, you are wed. In the eyes of the Canada Revenue Agency, you are wed. Now run off and report this turn of events within a month or else they’ll get cranky. Unless a

child happens to be born within that year, then the family’s status changes immediately—happy birthday!

Whether the drawbacks outweigh the benefits depends on your circumstances. On the plus side, swapping spit and tax credits can pay if your income is right (if one partner is a student, for instance). If one partner has extended health benefits through their employer, everyone gets regular dental cleanings now. But for income-tested benefits like the GST credit or Child and Family Benefits, it can cost families in lower income brackets. These are calculated based on “family income,” and the thresholds can be high—just high enough to disqualify the working poor. Going “family style” with the Medical Services Plan also delivers a serious hit; premium rates skyrocket, and premium assistance is reserved for the very poor.

Then there’s property and debt—the bottom line is what’s mine is, was, and forever will be yours, too. There are protections for the partner who brings a house into the relationship. There are also protections for the partner who doesn’t bring $60k of student loan debt into the relationship. But the only way to really protect yourself is with a trip to the lawyer.

These conversations are hard for any couple, let alone two people who just happened to be coupled under duress.

And make no mistake, current laws are tantamount to forced marriage. Normally, some just wouldn’t be bothered to marry. Others very consciously choose not to couple— they’re often the ones covered in thick scar tissue from broken homes. Whatever the reason, a couple’s definition of their relationship is theirs to make, not the government’s.

If things don’t work out, it becomes more complicated than splitting up the record collection and moving out.

That clock starts again and you aren’t officially uncoupled (Common-Law divorced?) until 90 days pass. There is paperwork and there are declarations. Then the assets and debts need to be figured out, something that lawyers may need to be involved in. Living single, living on less again, those benefits that helped prop things up before The Unwedding don’t come back in a big hurry. For a single mother who relied on Child and Family Benefits before the magical marriage, three months without that income can be devastating.

The government has tightened the loopholes so, short of maintaining separate homes, there’s no way around this dance of the invisible wedding and Common-Law partnership. Tax time is around the corner—does the government know who has been sleeping in your bed?

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04 EDITORIALS

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News

Construction on campus

Completed exterior construction on bldg 200.

NATALIE GATES

Natalie Gates

CONTRIBUTOR

Renovations on campus have been underway since October 2014 to make improvements on both the exterior and interior of bldg 200.

Inside the building, the top floor is being renovated to accommodate a new Health and Wellness Clinic, which will serve as a walk-in clinic for VIU students, said project manager Craig Hanson.

“The desire to have a health clinic on the campus has been identified for a few years and with the partnership of Island Health it has now come to fruition,” Hanson said.

The opening date is yet to be determined and will depend largely on the training processes for things such as software, but there are plans to open the clinic’s door in April or May. “Construction will be complete at the end of February, but there is an intensive training and equipment set-up process that needs to take place after that before clients can visit,” Hanson said.

More details regarding the Health and Wellness Clinic will be available soon.

In January, renovations on the exterior of bldg 200 were

completed, which included construction on the exterior envelope (the physical separators between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building), the windows, and the roofing system, as they were beginning to fail.

The aim of this project was to extend the life of the building, as well as its energy efficiency and comfort for users.

“This project was identified in Facilities Services and Campus Development’s (FSCD) renewal plan and was a high priority due to the need to preserve the building,” the FSCD section of VIU’s website states.

Nanaimo Museum spring exhibit to draw on city’s “racy” past MOLLY BARRIEAU The Nanaimo Museum’s new, eye-catching exhibit offers another glimpse into the Harbour City’s history.

The feature exhibit: “Red Lights & Roulette,” displays stories from the 1890s to 1920s, including biographies of women from the era, photos, and a selection of corsets from a private collection in Vancouver.

The exhibit is intended to “tell the story of a different part of Nanaimo’s history,” says Aimee Greenaway, interpretation curator for the museum.

Many of the corsets, which will be displayed on mannequins, date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Melanie Talkington, the

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THE NAVIGATOR corsetiere loaning the corsets, runs Lace Embrace Atelier in Vancouver.

Her corsets have been shown all over the world, including the Louvre in Paris in summer 2013.

Her collection is traveling to New York, where the BGC Gallery will display the antique undergarments.

The women featured in the Nanaimo exhibit, including Eva Russel, Belle Harvy, and Marguerite Morris, have their stories shared, showing a side of the city that many didn’t know about.

“These are women that, when you open up the history book about Nanaimo,” Greenaway said, “you’re not going to find them.”

The red light district of Nanaimo was located on Fraser St., where the

Island Highway now runs past the harbour.

In the gambling section of the exhibit, the museum tracks the changes made to gambling laws in the 1870s to the present day success of Casino Nanaimo and the lottery industry. This section displays the laws that used to surround gambling, and how Nanaimoites would continue to gamble in secret.

The museum’s Speaker Series, “Red Lights in Nanaimo” is Wednesday, February 11 at 1:30 pm and registration is required.

Tickets are $10 for the presentation and $2 for the regular season at the museum on Commercial St. beside Serious Coffee. The exhibit will be on display until May 1.

THE NAVIGATOR

Courtesy of <nanaimomuseum.ca>

NEWS 05

Governor General David Johnston visits Harbour City MOLLY BARRIEAU

Right Honourable David Johnston and Sharon Johnston at VIU convocation.

06 NEWS

Governor General Gallery

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During his tour of Western Canada, the Right Honourable David Johnston stopped in Nanaimo to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from VIU. During his visit, VIU held a luncheon for students to meet with his Excellency.

Held in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on January 29, the luncheon provided a chance for the Governor General and his wife, Sharon Johnston, to meet students from each faculty.

The students were also given the opportunity to speak with VIU’s new chancellor, Louise Mandell Q.C., and University President Ralph Nilson.

In his opening remarks, his Excellency cracked jokes, shared a story from his trip, and talked about his grandchildren. He commended Nilson on his progress here in “just eight years” of being an official university.

Her Excellency, Sharon Johnston, spoke with students about her novel, The Last Post, coming out April.

Set in post WWI Alberta, the story is based on her grandmother’s experience in Canada.

Before meeting students, their Excellencies visited Harmac Mill

THE NAVIGATOR near Duke Point. The paper and pulp mill went bankrupt in 2008, and was then purchased by its employees the same year.

Following the luncheon with students, his Excellency met with community members, including Bill McKay, the new Mayor of Nanaimo. That same afternoon, the Governor General attended VIU’s convocation ceremony at The Port Theatre, where their Excellencies received their honorary doctorates.

According to VIU, an “Honorary Doctor of Laws is awarded for accomplishments and contributions in areas such as politics, justice, and social activism.”

His Excellency spoke at VIU’s convocation ceremony to the 655 graduating students. “I never tire of seeing the determination and idealism on the faces of a new generation of graduates,” he said.

According to <viu.ca>, there were students “graduating from a range of disciplines in the Faculties of Arts and Humanities, Management, Social Sciences, Education, Health and Human Services, Science and Technology, and Trades and Applied Technology.”

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The Political Studies Club founded at VIU

Left to right: Caleb Rosenthal, Sebastian Barkovic, Avery Bonner.

NATALIE GATES

CONTRIBUTOR

VIU’s first ever political studies club has been founded as the VIU Political Society.

Until now, students of this department have not had an organized peer group they could confront about their post-graduation concerns. The VIU Political Society aims to improve that.

The initiative of the Society is to be a resource where students can network to find things such as work opportunities, volunteer experiences, contacts, and ideas for post-graduation, public relations manager Sebastian Barkovic said.

“Then, it can also be a social hub where we discuss rallies, news, and resolve questions about politics at VIU,” said Barkovic.

Along with Barkovic, the society has two other directors: Avery Bonner as the current chair of the group, and Caleb

A decision by the Liberal Government to cut Adult Basic Education (ABE) funding and bring back tuition fees has caused outrage among many VIU students and staff.

“This is largely affecting people who already have so many obstacles in their life,” said Patrick Barbosa, Chief Returning Officer of the VIU Students’ Union. “Up to 20 percent of VIU students started in ABE.” It is estimated that 300-500 students will be affected by these cuts coming in next year. Courses will remain tuition-free for the 2015 winter semester, but after that the future is uncertain.

The decision was quietly announced by the Liberal Government on December 4, ending the eight-year streak of having ABE tui-

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Natalie Gates

Rosenthal as the secretary-treasurer. All three are political studies majors with various connections throughout the community, and they encourage other students to come share and input their own connections.

“For example, if you want a job with a local MP or to get in contact with counsellors or businessmen, we can help you work on that,” Barkovic said. “Connections are key.”

Other opportunities will include seminars by local politicians about their personal career experiences, work-ops through the Campus Career Centre, professor relations, and openings with groups such as Volunteer Nanaimo. The society will aim to get these opportunities out to all interested political studies students at VIU. “We would like to make pamphlets or binders we can

give to everyone with lists of resources, contacts, etc.,” Rosenthal said.

By September, the directors want to apply to be a course union, which will require 30 paid members, Rosenthal said.

The VIU Political Society is also open to students of similar disciplines, such as Global Studies, and will be discussing the possibility of working with the VIU Criminology department. Connections with VIU’s Model United Nations Club are also being made.

Meetings are set to be on Tuesdays at 4 pm in bldg 356.

A specific room has not yet been booked but will be available soon.

Email <sebastianbarkovic@icloud.com> if you would like to be on the email list which will provide updates on location, as well as newsletters about the Society in general.

Students react to ABE funding cuts ALYSSA MORTON tion-free. Funding was cut from $6.9 million to $1.5 million, and students will now have to rely on grants to fund their education. For most ABE students, the average course cost of $200 is money they just don’t have.

“These folks are trying to get away from disability and low income and become contributing members [to society],” Barbosa said. He knows firsthand the experience of accessing ABE when it was tuition-free.

As a single father who used to work minimum wage jobs to make ends meet, he is aware of the impact ABE

CONTRIBUTOR had on him.

“This program changed my life. It took me from being a lowskilled worker to being more aware of my world.”

Barbosa says the students of the ABE program are highly successful in the program, and many continue their education at VIU. “They’re just asking for an opportunity to contribute to society.”

According to press releases, the former Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk, who was largely responsible for this decision, was “shuffled

THE NAVIGATOR

out of the position” days after the announcement.

Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson will be open to retracting the decision and implementing tuition-free ABE. However, Wilkinson stated in an interview that the cuts and changes are needed to sustain the post-secondary systems financially, though the government recently stated there would be a $200 million surplus next year.

“This is disrespectful to people who already have a barrier to post-secondary and who are already margin-

alized,” said one VIU mature student who wished to remain anonymous.

The student also went through the ABE program and feels the cuts are a poor political move.

“My ability to rebuild my life was through education. Others should have that chance.”

VIU’s Dean of Academic and Career Preparation Jean Maltesen said the department is currently assessing the situation, and regarding the policy change, “it is not known at this time what the impact will be for VIU.” Students are encouraged to contact their MLAs, write letters to the editor, or go to Premier Christy Clark to voice their concerns with the recent cuts.

Although Provincial elections are a long way off, students are encouraged to vote across BC.

NEWS 07

Features

Museum news: Garry Oak ecosystems JAMES MACKINNON

CONTRIBUTOR

Sitting in the lee of the Vancouver Island mountain range, much of the south-east shores of our island are graced by mild climates and relatively low precipitation—a rain shadow effect. These conditions have given rise to different types of forests than the damp, evergreen systems we associate with the rest of the BC coast. Here, the coniferous trees give way to deciduous, shrubs are replaced by grasses, and we find ourselves in the land once dominated by the Garry Oaks.

For thousands of years, these forests were a source of food and medicine for our local Coast Salish peoples. Today, they have become emblematic of our temperate region, but only in minute pockets compared to their historic range. Once, they covered the majority of the coastline from Campbell River to Victoria, and filled valleys all the way up to the alpine, but less than 10 percent of the historic range of the Garry Oaks remains today. The rest have fallen to make way for agriculture and housing, or succumbed to the pressure of introduced invasive plants. There are still a number of areas where people can visit and enjoy these remarkable sites, including a couple in the greater Nanaimo area.

Just three kilometers to the south of VIU’s Nanaimo campus, Harewood Plains offers a chance to see what much of our region would have looked like until just a couple hundred years ago. Here stands dozens of hectares of relatively undisturbed stands of the gnarled, haunting oaks that are so distinctive amongst our increasingly coniferous-dominated region. Depending on the conditions, Garry Oaks can reach anywhere from five to 25 metres tall, with heavy, sporadic, branches splitting the tree from just above the ground, and thick channeled bark running vertically up the trunk. Their deeply lobed leaves fill out the tree’s generally roundish shape through the spring and summer before falling in the late autumn, leaving the bare skeleton of branches to wait out the winter months. Live or dead, these trees provide irreplaceable habitat for countless species of birds and insects, and their soils support the highest diversity of plants of any ecosystem on the BC coast.

It isn’t just the trees themselves that make these ecosystems so unique. Beginning in February and running through June or July, the apparent winter barons beneath these giant trees light up with one of the most incredible displays of colour and aroma in our area: the springtime wildflower bloom. Amongst the pinks of the Sea Blush (Plectritis congesta) and the yellows of the Common Monkey-flower (Mimulus guttatus), Harewood Plains is home to what is believed to be over 90 percent of Canada’s population of the Bog birds-foot trefoil (Lotus pinnatus), a handsome leafy herb with rings of two-toned yellow and white flowers that is otherwise seen at limited sites around Ladysmith and Gabriola Island. The significance of this legume was recognized in 2011 when it was declared the official flower of the city of Nanaimo. More prevalent still is the Common Camas (Camassia quamish), a lily so ubiquitous in healthy Garry Oak regions that, at times, it appears to engulf the entire forest floor. A single plant will reach 70 centimetres tall and have numerous grass-like leaves growing from its

Camas.

Maleea Acker

FEATURES 08

Quercus garryana.

Maleea Acker

base. In late February or early March, five or more purple or deep blue flowers sprout from the very top of its stem.

Amongst the earliest blooming lilies, the flowers of the Common Camas have been an important indicator for the Coast Salish people who found an important food source in its roots. In the early springtime, the bulbs would be collected and steamed for up to 24 hours in huge pits in the ground.

Through controlled burning and early agricultural practice, Camas have been cultivated by the Coast Salish people for thousands of years.

45 minutes down island from Nanaimo lies another great stand of relatively intact habitat, the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve. Located just outside of Duncan on the shores of Quamichan Lake, this parcel of 54 hectares is managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, providing a study and research site for these unique ecosystems. Over the past few years, an amazing process of species rehabilitation has been unfolding here. Since the mid-1950s, populations of the Western Bluebird (Saialia mexicana) have been in steady decline. On Vancouver Island and around the Salish Sea/ Strait of Georgia, the Western Bluebird has relied heavily on the Garry Oak meadows and savannahs for nesting and feeding. Their population decline appears to be closely tied to the decline in Garry Oak habitat. By the early 1990s, researchers realized these birds were no longer breeding in the area, and in 1995 they were declared locally extinct in the province of BC. But since 2011, working alongside groups beginning similar work in the San Juan Islands, the Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team (GOERT) has been spearhead-

Sialia mexicana (Western Bluebird).

Julia Daly

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ing a project reintroducing Western Bluebirds to habitat on southern Vancouver Island. GOERT’s focus has been based on securing and rehabilitating Garry Oak habitat as well as reintroducing Western Bluebird populations; if the forests continue to decline, any introduced birds would likely go the way of their predecessors. In 2011, GOERT biologists began reintroducing Bluebirds captured from populations in Washington state into the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, and in 2012 a pair was observed nesting and laying eggs for the first time in BC in 15 years. Since then, 44 adults and 34 juveniles have been released, putting the project halfway towards the goal of 90 adults, the theoretical minimal number for such a bird population to be viable.

GOERT is a non-profit group based in Victoria, BC, with ecosystem-recovery projects throughout southern Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the BC lower mainland. To learn more about the Western Bluebird reintroduction project as well as other conservation initiatives they are working on, visit their website at <www.goert.ca>. Closer to Nanaimo, examples of the Western Bluebird and more information about our local Garry Oak ecosystems are available at VIU’s Museum of Natural History in bldg 370 at VIU’s Nanaimo campus. New displays are being put together weekly, and throughout the springtime the museum team will be holding draws for fun prizes. The museum is open to students and the public on Mondays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, and Thursdays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. More information is available on their Facebook page and at <viu.ca/museum/>.

Lotus Pinnatus.

John Morgan

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No Impact Week CHANTELLE SPICER The lifestyle decisions we make impact the environment, whether we think about them or not. The manufacture, use, and disposability of everyday products, along with the production and transportation of food, all have consequences on the natural world that many of us never ponder.

Counter-culture movements like the “back-to-the-land” ethic, influenced by the peak oil crisis and books such as Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, raised these concerns on a large scale in the 1960s. The first Earth Day brought these issues, and solutions such as recycling and organic farming practices, to broader society’s attention in the 1970s.

As times have changed, the movement itself has evolved, but has always maintained the key principles of respecting the earth we all come from—share and reduce the use of natural resources—all while reducing our general impact on the environment.

Today, these ideals are backed by science, such as biology and ecology, observing changing patterns and trends within the natural world. There is no doubt the conditions we are experiencing, from wild weather patterns to ocean acidification, are influenced by human practices. The typical passenger vehicle emits 4.7 met-

CONTRIBUTOR ric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, and the number of paper cups used in coffee shops are equivalent to throwing away 20 million trees per year. There are a lot of bleak statistics that seem overwhelming to combat on a global scale. How can we change the lifestyle choices of the planet?

Quite simply, we can’t. However, we have the power to change our own habits and influence the people around us through our personal actions.

VIU’s club, Solutions: A Sustainability Network, along with other interested students, is undertaking the No Impact Challenge to bring awareness to many issues through education and group action, and engaging the student population by finding new ways of living that connect our habits to a more sustainable community. This campaign, running between February 15 and 22, is part of a global campaign to support people in making choices that will reduce the impacts we have on the natural world. The focus is on simple actions, like shopping locally; reducing water and electricity use; taking public transit or biking rather than driving; engaging in community-enhancing activities; and eating organic and/or local, sustainable food.

The No Impact Challenge is open not only to students, but pro-

The long commute: Memories cost money, but they don’t need to be painful to buy

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fessors and staff as well as members of the general public who are interested in reducing their global impact. Rather than being a strict, follow-the-rules type of event, No Impact Week is an opportunity to think about how small changes can collectively lead to a positive impact on your own life as well as the environment.

The week kicks off on February 15 with a viewing of No Impact Man, a documentary created by challenge founder Colin Beavan, chronicling his family’s experiences living a no impact lifestyle in Manhattan over the course of a year. After the film, Solutions will be hosting a forum to discuss how these issues affect us as a student population and how they can be changed in positive ways that do not sacrifice our comforts.

The week begins with “Don’t Buy Anything New” day (except for food), followed by “Reduce Trash” day. New challenges will be added daily, while still upholding the challenge from the previous days. Even if the challenge cannot be fully completed over the week, you, as a participant, will see where the issue of impact and sustainability becomes complicated in our society.

The week ends with “Giving Back” day, which asks you to engage in a volunteer or commu-

STEPHANIE BROWN So let’s talk money, because I know you are all wondering about it. There are three main things to think about when studying abroad. First, many people don’t realize that when you study abroad at an institution that is affiliated with your home university, you pay your tuition to your home university, which saves a ton of money. For instance, I’m only allowed to take four classes a semester, but have to pay for a full (five) course load at VIU. Even though I’m paying for a class I’m not taking, it’s still much cheaper than transferring to a university in another country and paying tuition directly to them.

The next major funding issue I wish I had known about before jetting off was that applying for student loans is completely different if you study in another country for one semester. If your break between semesters is longer than one month, you must submit two student loan applications.

I wasn’t aware of this, so I had to submit paperwork admitting

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nity-building exercise. Solutions will be hosting a beach clean-up and bonfire, open to anyone who wishes to join in celebrating the company of like-minded individuals and a better environment.

At the heart of this movement is a belief that with a reduced impact on natural resources comes an increased quality of life. This happens through community projects, like the beach clean-up event, as well as better health through walking and cycling, enjoying the company of friends rather than television,

and saving money for things that really matter.

It’s not about giving up the things that improve our lives—we all love a hot shower—but offering a way for you to test where these comforts are actually making you happier, or if they’re hindering you from living a fuller life.

For information on the No Impact Challenge, visit <noimpactproject. org>. To register for the challenge at VIU, go to <noimpactproject. org/2013/01/university/> and stay connected through Solutions at <facebook.com/viusolutions>.

CONTRIBUTOR I made a mistake (which means I owed the difference back to them), and then reapply. Whatever I am granted will be applied to the amount I owe. It may work out fine in the end, but it is a huge hassle. Save yourself the headache and, as soon as you know that you plan to study abroad, talk to someone at the Financial Aid Office.

Finally, when it comes to managing funds in another country, let yourself off the hook. You have now saved or received your funds, you have paid your tuition and housing, and you have landed in your new country with your flight bill long in the past. It’s important to include currency conversions in your budget—which is important to have—but don’t forget to actually enjoy your time and get the most memorable experience you can. This is the part of your trip that is priceless, and you should enjoy it. Give yourself a break and remember that you may never be here again, so buy that coffee, even if it costs you $6.

09 FEATURES

Fraser Institute Student Essay Contest 2015 DEAN PELKEY

CONTRIBUTOR

Each year, the Fraser Institute holds an essay contest for students designed to encourage and develop student writers. This contest gives you the opportunity to showcase your ideas on public policy and the roles of markets, plus the opportunity to win cash prizes.

With over $9k in cash prizes, students from all levels of study are encouraged to enter, and there is a special category for high school students.

This year’s topic is National Security and the Role of Government: Safety vs. Privacy in a Technological Age. Since the beginning of the 21st century, government surveillance and access to citizens’ private information has climbed to

unprecedented levels, from intrusive screenings at the airport to CCTV cameras to domestic drones and data collection. Politicians, law enforcement, and military personnel have defended these security initiatives, saying they are essential in preserving and enhancing national security in a post-9/11 world. Yet, opponents argue that their right to individual privacy is being violated. Can privacy and security co-exist, and which should take precedence? To what extent should governments be allowed to monitor their citizens in the name of protecting the general public, and through what measures? Do these domestic surveillance programs actually keep us safer?

Essays should draw from modern day events and use historical evidence (as opposed to hypothetical theories). Writers may examine different methods of surveillance, the extent to which they are used, and how they affect national security and privacy. You may wish to argue whether or not concerns about national security ought to trump individual privacy, what the implications are of future security initiatives, or perhaps examine other questions related to privacy and surveillance. Examples do not have to be Canadian, but must support the position with empirical analysis. The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2015.

Cash Prize Categories:

High School

1st Prize: $1,500 2nd Prize: $1,000 3rd Prize: $500

Undergraduate

1st Prize: $1,500 2nd Prize: $1,000 3rd Prize: $500

Graduate

1st Prize: $1,500 2nd Prize: $1,000 3rd Prize: $500

The Fraser Institute Student Essay Contest 2015 is sponsored by the Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation.

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal, and ties to a global network of 86 think tanks. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute’s independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research.

To find out more, call 1-800-6653558 or visit <fraserinstitute.org>.

A handy guide to post-apocalyptic crafting JESS REALE

CONTRIBUTOR

Aw, fiddlesticks, your needles are in your knitting basket sitting beside your favourite recliner in your living room, which is now inconveniently inhabited with uncouth flesh-eating undead.

You there, chin up! Just because the world has ended, doesn’t mean your crafting needs to!

Yarn can be spun with a plain, weighted stick, or even a mere ball. Have all the sheep in your vicinity been eaten by zombies or incinerated in nuclear blasts? Don’t fear! Rather fetching yarn can be spun out of upcycled corpse clothing, or even old grocery bags. Unfortunately, there might not be too many carbon fibre Knitter’s Pride needles laying around in the debris. Thankfully, bone and wood needles are easy to make with a sharp makeshift tool and a little elbow grease.

In really desperate situations, you can always use your fingers (assuming you still have at least two of them). That group of rough-and-tumble survivors might not have a reason to include you amongst their ranks, but they won’t mind an extra mouth to feed once you’ve provided them with fashionable knitwear. With just a few of the helpful tidbits found in this guide, you’ll take comfort that your survival chances will be significantly increased. Onward, crafters!

First, let’s talk spinning. Presumably, there is a sheep and wool shortage in your area, and the government doesn’t classify wool as an “emergency item.” Chances are, there won’t be any at all in your local fallout or bomb shelter.

While there may not be wool fibre abound, you’ll find that there is alternative, spinnable fibre everywhere.

Don’t let your survival crew eat that stray dog or cat; their fur can be a fantastic resource. First, check the staple length of its fur. Longer is easier to spin, but even short fur can be used, just take care to use more twist when spinning. It may be difficult to convince your comrades that these critters are worth more as a self-replenishing source of fleece than in a stew, but they’ll soon come around. Simply brush those little strays frequently, wash your newly collected fibre thoroughly, and voila—a snazzy new pair of mittens from Mittens. If all of the local pets have already been eaten, don’t despair.

Consider the other abundant resources around you. For instance, don’t discard that corpse. Does it have hair? You’ll probably find some new and interesting colours.

Too squeamish for alternative protein fibres? Vegan-friendly art yarn can be made from upcycled fabric. Simply find some clothes (preferably free of bodily fluids), rip them into strips, and knit away. Experiment with different combina-

FEATURES 10

tions. The nice thing about fabric scraps is the versatility: the larger strips don’t need to be spun, but smaller scraps can be plied together to create funky combinations. Using this method, worn out t-shirts and other tattered clothes can be knit into brand new ultra-durable garments. Nobody’s sleeping in their beds any more, but those sheets aren’t useless to you. Plain fabric scraps can be over-dyed with tea, coffee, foraged berries, or even wild mushrooms. The local supermarket might be picked clean, but the marauding hordes probably passed by the food colouring. While you’re there, pick up some grocery bags. These too can be cut into strips and knit into fashionable carryalls.

But what if your Ashford Elizabeth spinning wheel has been repurposed as firewood? Don’t panic—make yourself a drop spindle. A drop spindle can be made out of almost anything as long as it is heavier at the bottom than at the top. Scour the decimated ruins of your town for a CD, a screw hook, and a wooden dowel, and you’ll be spinning merrily along in no time. Simply affix the CD near the bottom of one end of the dowel for weight, and screw the hook onto the heavy end of the dowel for a top-whorl spindle, or the lighter end for a bottom-whorl spindle. Not as posh as a Kromski, but it will work just fine. While everyone else is hunting for trivial things such as clean water, food, or shelter, you’ll be on the prowl for hooks, sticks, and dowels (and you probably won’t have to fight anyone for them).

Perhaps you are living in a hole or up a tree, and have absolutely no access to civilization. Good for survival, but bad for crafting. At any rate, don’t fret—you can make a Russian spindle by carving a stick so that it’s heavier at the bottom and pointy at the top. If you can scavenge a bowl or rounded dish to spin it in, so much the better.

No sharp object on hand? Check out How to Make a Shiv or Severing Temporal Lobes for Beginners. Nevertheless, if you can find a ball or similar spherical object, you can still spin yarn. Simply tie your leader around the ball, and twirl in mirthful joy while holding your fibre, letting the ball go further and further away from you as you draft.

Once you have a good amount of yarn, stop twirling, wind your freshly spun yarn around the ball, and repeat.

Give yourself a little pat on the back and take heart—you

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might not have a weapon or even a dim hope of survival, but you still have yarn.

If you have followed the versatile, handy steps in this guide, you should be well on your way to finding new fibre and spinning yarn. But what to do with your newly spun skein of lofty human hair or your funky sheet yarn? Knit it up! Aw, fiddlesticks, your needles are in your knitting basket sitting beside your favourite recliner in your living room, which is now inconveniently inhabited with uncouth flesh-eating undead. Don’t risk dismemberment. Dowels can be sharpened with a crayon, pencil sharpener, or even a crude shank. Windfall tree branches can be sanded into various-sized sharp points for sock knitting, and for those with strong stomachs, bone needles are both hard-wearing and easily accessible. Hey, if you make a good, sturdy pair of needles, you don’t need to worry about carrying a weapon— good for cabling and piercing skulls. Dual-function is the name of the game in the apocalypse. If all else fails, arm or finger knitting is always an option, providing you still have at least two.

And remember, don’t just restrict yourself to knitting attire. If your local climate is unsuited to camping outside, knit yourself a thick blanket double-quick with some curtain rods and salvaged sheets, or knit a handsome yet functional zombie barrier with some hefty rope and a couple of broom handles. A gun cozy is a must-have. But beware of causing a fight among your group once they see the hammock you have knit yourself. Or, why not make a pompom garland to festoon your local fresh water source.

You don’t need a pompom maker, just wind the yarn around your hand and tie it off between your middle and ring finger. Instant shabby-chic!

Hopefully, this guide has acquainted you with more primitive ways of fibre processing, spinning, and knitting without luxury blue-faced Leicester and silk blends, golden-tipped rosewood needles, and lacquered, double-treadle spinning wheels. The absence of expensive tools doesn’t mean there aren’t other resources. Go forth and survive without them.

Don’t forget to look on the bright side: the death of society as we know it has spawned an exciting new era of extreme DIY crafting!

No 10

The wet West Coast in February While the rest of Canada is seeing temperatures near -15˚C and below, here on Vancouver Island we’re enjoying a turbulent winter featuring the Pineapple Express, rain, sunshine, and cozy fireplaces. Ontario gets snowfall warnings while we enjoy the first buds. Ottawa’s Rideau Canal is open for skaters while our first flowers are blooming. The West Coast may be a lot of things—green, wet, warm, windy, foggy— but one thing it is not is freezing cold and waist-deep in snow.

LUKE BOWLES

AS NUMBERED 1.

2.

3.

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1

Hope springs eternal.

The budding of winter.

The all-too-familiar wood pile.

Too soon to garden.

You know it’s wet when...

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No 10

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11 FEATURES

Top 14 things PMS stands for Source <pmscentral.com/pms-jokes>

Pass My Shotgun

Puffy Mid-Section

Pass My Sweatpants

Psychotic Mood Shift

People Make Me Sick

Pissy Mood Syndrome

Pack My Stuff

Provide Me with Sweets

Plainly Men Suck

Permanent Menstrual Syndrome

Pardon My Sobbing

Who cares? I’m not in the mood to

Perpetual Munching Spree

Pimples May Surface

play this anymore!

ALEXANDRIA STUART My head aches. So does my abdomen. It’s 9:30 am and I’m ready for a nap. My neighbour’s coal roller frankentruck has been idling in the driveway for five minutes; I’m about to introduce it to my rolling pin. That SPCA commercial starring Sarah McLachlan just came on—the one that plays Angel—and I’ve started to cry. My boyfriend is baffled. Are these the thoughts and actions of a rational woman? What if that woman was in the grips of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?

“Ah,” he’d say, “that explains it.”

Grab the flak jacket; it’s time to initiate The PMS Protocol.

Women are blessed with bodies that do wondrous things, like

growing babies, but we need hormones to do it, and those levels fluctuate. The downside of dancing the hormonal tango is that it’s like a roller coaster of very real physical, chemical, and emotional side effects. Some, like periodically increased libido, are great. Others, like nausea-inducing multi-day migraines, abdominal bloating, and alternating waves of tears and rage, less so.

Women experience these things to different degrees. If you grew up ducking your mother when she was premenstrual, chances are your kids will be doing the same with you. So for those about to bleed, on the couch balling over a puppy food commercial, we salute you.

Google “PMS” and the top hit will give you, “Standard PMS Protocols.” Great. Unfortunately, that’s <cisco.com>, completely unhelpful on the topic of premenstrual syndrome (but offers a wide array of information on the topic of developing and coding). It’s worthwhile to note that, after researching an article like this, Google will return more relevant results.

THE NAVIGATOR Menstruation is as old as human reproduction, a very necessary part of the works. At one time, menstruating females were sent away from their tribes for fear that the powerful forces accompanying menstruation would challenge the magic of the shaman. Some see this as an isolating form of exile. I can’t help but wonder if those women didn’t do a happy dance on their way to The Hut. No responsibilities, just one mouth to feed, camaraderie, and plenty of time to nap or catch up on sewing. How many women would turn that down today?

I also wonder whether a woman’s greatest power comes at the time of menstruation, as the blood leaves her body, or if it’s actually stronger leading up to the flow? The power and emotion of the premenstrual phase is more likely to knock my boyfriend’s socks off than the crampy ball rolled up on the couch, whimpering requests for herbal tea and Pamprin. He has a good attitude towards menstruation, and is happy to oblige, but he finds the chaotic roller coaster in the week(s) before perplexing.

Whether it had a label or not, PMS is as old as menstruation itself. It affects about three out of four women, but didn’t get serious attention until the 1980s after it was used as a legal defense for the first time in Britain. In the decades since, it has slowly gained credibility in the medical community and society in general. Today, women are less likely to be told it’s, “All in their head.”

Many factors contribute to the cluster of symptoms labeled PMS. The change in hormones produces changes in brain chemistry, which plays a part in moods. Depression, fatigue, food cravings, and sleep disruptions are just the tip of the iceberg. Emotional symptoms include tension, crying spells, mood swings, and irritability.

Physical symptoms also include headache, bloating, breast tenderness, acne, and joint pain.

For some women, the emotional symptoms can cross the line and become debilitating, which brings a new diagnosis, a form of PMS

called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Home-grown treatments for PMS cover the full gamut from essential oils, juice fasts, detoxifying cleanses, fitness regimens, you name it.

These all fall under basic self-care, lifestyle choices that can manage the symptoms. PMDD can require medical intervention, and sometimes psychiatric medication if it’s too debilitating. In either case, charting your cycle on a calendar is a good way to get a handle on things. When you see that window of days, block it out and make the conscious choice to go easy on yourself. Don’t make an appointment with the bank to renegotiate your mortgage. Ask your partner to take your son to swim practice and skip the brightly lit echo chamber with the shrieking synchronized swimming coach blasting tinny music through the sound system and keeping time by hammering a wooden counter on a metal bar over and over and over and over again.

Why put yourself through that?

It’s during the premenstrual phase that I’m most likely to be deemed unfit for human contact.

So where’s The PMS Hut? With a space of my own I could catch up on some reading, poke at the mending pile, knit a little, and nap when keeping my eyes open shoots daggers of pain into my brain.

When the hormones stopped spiking, I’d emerge refreshed and altogether more capable of basic human kindness, rational in both thought and deed. Navigating my period would be a piece of cake.

The benefits of supporting this little slice of self-care for women would far outweigh the costs.

Think of the cost savings on therapy and divorce lawyers alone. Why not offer paid sick leave to sufferers of PMS? The idea comes up periodically for menstruating women (met by much clamour and gender politicking and general sulking from male workers), so why not apply it to PMS? It isn’t just a women’s issue; it affects anyone within striking distance of a premenstrual woman’s sharp tongue. Countless websites are available for women seeking relief from their symptoms, or at the very least an understanding of why they feel like a monster has taken over their bodies each

month. But where are the resources for the men?

Female reproduction, in general, tends to be utterly baffling to men. Even the dating site, <eharmony.com> includes a helpful page about PMS in their dating advice section. It’s only fair that men be offered a road map of sorts: The PMS Protocol. Adopting military vocabulary helps make the topic relatable while imparting the very solemn truth that this, in fact, can be like war. But it’s not personal: the hormones are the aggressors, while the suffering female is simply their innocent vessel.

It’s helpful for men to have a rudimentary understanding of how women’s brains work. For instance, women can seem psychic, but really, they’re just more attuned to facial expressions and subtleties like posture or tone of voice, all helpful when caring for preverbal infants. This sensitivity can also help women avoid conflict, which can be unbearable because the chemicals that flood the brain are akin to seizure activity. That aversion to conflict may have evolved as a way to avoid physical aggression, because children were more dependent on their mothers for survival. And just for kicks, women get to relive the tribulations of adolescence a second time, during perimenopause, which usually strikes in the late 40s. On the upside, after all is done, women seem to catch a second wind. Unfortunately, later in life tends to be the time their partners start winding down (hence the prevalence of women’s hiking groups).

No matter where a woman is on the continuum, open communication between everyone in a household or relationship will help to smooth things out if women are able to tell the men in their lives what’s going on and how they’re feeling. A simple statement like, “The woman before you may become a total stranger over the next week or so. It may seem like you’re dating/married to a sharptongued, emotionally unstable intruder, but please don’t take it personally. The forces at work here are invisible to the eye. But they’re very real. So please be nice, even when I’m not.” Also note: a woman may openly label herself a raving lunatic, but it is not recommended

that anyone else take the liberty of speaking such things aloud.

The PMS Protocol is predicated on careful movement. Stress makes the symptoms worse. She may want you around, but she may also need space. Simultaneously.

This has nothing to do with you.

Surprises are best saved for another time. Keeping things simple is helpful; some women prefer to avoid social engagements until they’re feeling more personable (and perhaps a little less bloated so they can fit into their favourite jeans). If you notice changes in her diet, those are probably best left uncommented upon. She hasn’t forgotten that you’re both cutting the carbs, but if half a pizza is what she needs to take the edge off, just let it be. Where there’s room to be a little helpful, take on chores that she’d normally do, but do so without fanfare, without drawing attention to yourself. Such an act of kindness can make the difference between a slightly grey evening and one that is stormy black.

We know it isn’t fair, it really isn’t your job to spend this time walking so softly, but you’ll find that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks if you do.

A variety of apps have been developed to provide alerts and reminders to men as their female partners/sisters/mothers/coworkers are approaching their fragile time. Forewarned is forearmed; grab the eggshell-shoes.

When it comes to female hormonal activity, PMS gets the spotlight, but a woman’s hormones fluctuate constantly during her cycle (that’s to say, all the time).

At one point, the combination of hormones creates premenstrual symptoms. But there are other peaks and combinations as well.

After menstruation, some women experience a period of euphoria.

Down the line, closer to ovulation, women may feel flirtatious and sexier—this is biological preparation for ovulation and baby-making.

Surges in estrogen and testosterone can kick the libido into high gear, so enjoy your sassy sexpot in her new miniskirt, and grab some romantic moments while the gettin’s good. This hormonal rollercoaster may not be a ride you signed up for, but there are thrills to be found along the way.

Arts

Where the art is at DENISA KRAUS

Nanaimo has taken off with a new creative energy in the last few years.

The growing popularity of live art events, new artist groups and organizations, and, most importantly, VIU's introduction of a Visual Arts Major with the expanded course selection, are just a few of the signs

of the changing landscape. Inspired by these new opportunities for art production, The Navigator has taken a tour of Nanaimo's art venues and assembled an incomplete, two-part list of places where artists of all ages and stages can show off the product of their sweat, tears, and talent.

Part one looks at five art-friendly businesses in Nanaimo. They may differ in style, audience, nature of business, or quality standards, but all have the following: a venue to submit your art framed and hangready, accompanied with a name tag, price, and contact information.

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Nanaimo Arts Council The Nanaimo Arts Council (NAC), the central institution of Nanaimo's arts community, runs a gallery and retail space in Nanaimo North Town Centre on Rutherford Rd. and offers exhibition opportunities to members as well as artists from outside the group. Every year, the gallery organizes member group shows, seasonal showcases with broad themes such as “Autumn Equinox” or “Bling Before Spring,” and a spring youth showcase for artists under 18 years of age. Their latest exhibition highlights the works of VIU students and alumni. NAC is also expanding its exhibition spac-

es to the Port Theatre and Nanaimo Conference Centre downtown, although these locations are still a work in progress.

While the North Town Centre gallery is a community space open “to all abilities,” NAC president Melanie Godel says works submitted to the two new spaces will have to meet the criteria set by a showcase committee regarding both quality and scale.

Regardless of the location, all works have to meet the standard requirements mentioned above.

For more information, email <admin@nanaimoartscouncil.ca>.

VIU Visual Art student Reta Beirnes with NAC President Melanie Godel.

Denisa Kraus

The Vault Cafe The Vault Cafe is a versatile spot for a range of leisure and cultural activities. Aside from hosting gatherings and live bands, the licensed café offers its stage to live painting shows, spoken word, or performance; and its olive green walls to paintings, photographs, projections, and smallscale sculptures.

Owner Amanda Scott also encourages artists to have solo exhibitions. “It's something we want more of this year. It's fun to give people a chance to meet the artist and make an event out of it.”

The Vault's patio on the corner of Victoria Cres., Wallace St., and Albert St. can accommodate outside installations of weatherproof or weather-responsive art. “It would be nice to make the corner a little bit wacky,” Scott smiles.

The average show length is between three weeks and two months, “or until something else comes up,” Scott says.

She has no preferences regarding the style or content, but if some works are louder and overbeat the antique decor, the café will have it on display for a shorter time period.

The Vault charges no commission, because they're “happy to just have the art on the walls,” and accepts credit and debit card payments to promote the art sales. Works have to be hang-ready, and large heavy pieces must be equipped with wires. Scott also requires the artists to come and collect their works after the show to prevent damage in the very limited storage space.

Artists can message the café via The Vault Facebook page, call 778-441-2950, or walk in and speak to Scott who is happy to find the next suitable show date in her event book.

ARTS 14

The Vault ocassionally hosts one-day installations after a live painting night.

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Denisa Kraus

No 10

The Electric Umbrella

Sean “Bromunkey” Anderson and his friends on “After Fukushima” opening night in August 2014.

Denisa Kraus

The Electric Umbrella Gallery and Tattoo is unique in terms of artistic focus and the amount of spotlight young artists can get in Nanaimo. Each month, the gallery showcases one artist in a professionally presented exhibition, bringing large crowds to opening nights. Solo shows sometime alternate with group exhibitions. Owner Russ Morland says the gallery's main focus goes hand-in-hand with the skating and street art culture he endorses, which attracts a somewhat specific demographic. On the other hand, the tattoo studio exposes the artworks to a bigger audience who wouldn’t see it in a different location.

Artist Sean Anderson, the author of “After Fukushima,” a large scale mixed media exhibition which the Umbrella hosted in August 2013, says he is “a lot more comfortable to show there, because you're working with people who have the same mindset and taste. And Russ is a good person to approach if you have a crazy idea­—he'll be open to everything.”

True to its lowbrow, underground approach, the gallery has very few requirements from the application package. Morland says all he needs to know about the artist is a sample of their work. No resume or application package is necessary.

The average waiting period is one year, but applicants may take advantage of ocassional openings when scheduled artists cancel. “No one knows for sure where they're going to be in a year,” Morland concludes.

Studio 34

Non-representational sculpture is Faubert’s signature style.

Denisa Kraus

Studio 34, a fairly new gallery and workshop facility, will cheer up sculptors and creative minds with a weakness for street art. Hidden neatly under the Nicol St. side of the Firehouse Grill's heritage brick building in downtown Nanaimo, the red-and-white-and-black door is hard to miss once you're in the area. These are the flagship colours of Studio 34 owner Briant Faubert's artistic style. They are also the main colours of paint dripped all over the wooden floor of the studio, which,

according to Faubert, helps his guests and clients feel more comfortable with getting their hands dirty with art. The studio currently operates as a workshop, offering the space and tools for sculpture as well as affordable training classes in mold-making, metal work, and stone carving. Faubert also plans to reinvent Studio 34 as a community gallery space and facilitate weekly exhibitions in the front space in the middle of February.

Faubert has no stylistic pref-

erences regarding subject matter, medium, or form because he “like[s] to see them all and provide the reasonable space,” but he will base his selection of artists on the merit of their work. Studio 34 makes no commission on sales, and Faubert is happy to give a helping hand on hanging and set up. He requires a portfolio of 20 images, artist statement and resume, and a $50 fee per week to cover the rent and expenses. Visit <studio34.ca> for contact information.

The Globe

The many stages at The Globe make perfect makeshift studios for live painting events.

Denisa Kraus

No 10

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The Globe Hotel offers a diverse environment for diverse artwork.

The venue hosts a range of music events from electronic club nights to punk concerts, as well as Latin dance classes and poetry slams. The foyer can accommodate painting or photography, the two stages provide space for a temporary display of three-dimensional work. It’s a perfect venue for projections or live painting in combination with music shows. Given the eclectic program, there are no requirements on the style, content, or artistic prowess.

“We like to 'mix cliques,'” Boulter says. He prefers not to intervene in the installation and exhibition as long as laws and health and safety standards are met.

“I think full freedom is more what I'm going for, tempered by adherence to liquor laws and other legal restrictions,” he says.

Regarding the time period reserved for display, Boulter thinks

in terms of hours rather than days or months. “Time limit? We have to shut off liquor at 1 am and have everyone out by 1:30,” he says. “We can't open until 11 am. If we don't have anything else, and someone wants to do something immediately or the next day, that is ok.”

Boulter says his experience with guest artists has been fantastic.

He is happy to provide the outside patio for art installations as well but recommends that the artist choose weatherproof pieces.

Artists interested in exhibiting at The Globe can fill out the form at <globehotel.com>, pay a visit to him during his office hours at the Globe daily between 7 and 9 pm, or call 250-754-4592 between 2 and 5 pm.

Part two in issue 11 will outline a young artist's options beyond businesses and membership-based art institutions—”guerilla” art, pop-up galleries, and underground venues.

15 ARTS

Artists glean stories and ideas in Nanaimo Art Gallery DENISA KRAUS

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Gleaners, a new exhibition hosted by the downtown branch of Nanaimo Art Gallery, brings together local and international artworks with the unifying theme of “gleaning” ignored ideas, discarded objects, or commonly overlooked parts of histories or cultures. Curator Jesse Birch chose artworks from across the genre spectrum—video, photography, needlework, storytelling, performance, installation, assemblage, and found objects. The exhibition concept was inspired by “Gleaners,” Jean­Francois Millet’s painting from 1857, in which peasants pick forgotten crops from a harvested field. A representation of the painting, a needlework of the same name by Mary Atkinson, is the “spirit work” of the exhibition.

Surrealism, with its practice of finding objects, reassembling them, and attributing to them a new meaning and value, also informed the concept. But to Birch, the main source of inspiration lays right here. “Nanaimo is an environment of sharing—on an organizational level as well as personal.” He points to the NAG’s collaboration with Nanaimo Foodshare during the exhibition. “This is a community of gleaners. People here really like gathering and sharing.”

The exhibition begins with a mixed media installation by Norwegian artist Joar Nango who assembled a tape player, headphones, and a supply of mix tapes with Sami hip hop music into a “distribution outlet” on the gallery’s wall. The work symbolizes the methodology of improvisation—both technological, artistic, and cultural. Sami are the indigenous people living a traditional nomadic life in the north of Norway.

“Being nomadic in the north, where it’s really difficult to get material, the Sami tend to improvise with whatever they have on hand,” Birch says.

The mix tapes carry a collection of 22 songs by different rappers in their indigenous languages.

“Some are the last speakers of their respective language,” Birch says. The mix tape is a medium that preserves the history on multiple levels throughout time and technology, but it is also a medium of sharing, and not necessarily legal distribution, of samples.

Distributing the voices on the mix tape internationally is therefore a political gesture of “looming around this illegal territory and restrictions put on hip hop music, and the distribution of this subculture covertly,” Birch says.

The installation itself is a microcosmic representation of the larger mechanism of an underground culture. The tapes are available by donation. “The only catch is you have to have a tape player,” Birch says, adding that the tape has been following him on his car trips for a year.

Vancouver­-based artist Sean Alward contributes to the exhibition with two works of conceptual character. First, a series of plant photographs called “Salal (Mouth of the Columbia River, April 1825)” presents a unique novel photography technique that uses plant chlorophyl printed on paper. In this process, chlorophyl, a photosensitive emulsion, replaces silver or platinum used as emulsions in traditional photography.

Alward used the technique to produce eight enlargements (scans of the original and fugitive prints which are kept in a dark room) to portray salal plants at a range varying from life­ size shots to macro close­ups. The prints, loosely attached to the wall and seemigly coming off it, are meant to mimic the

“Salt Walks” by Randy Lee Cutler. movement of leaves on a plant, while the texture of the print surface evokes the tactile quality of both nature and technology.

“It’s about touching,” Alward explains the three levels of contact the work explores. First is technological­—the photographs are made through contact print. We can see the second, physical touch, on some of the photographs which capture the artist’s hand holding the plant in front of the lens. The last level, “the colonial contact,” is the conceptual core of the series.

Alward draws the idea on a diary entry of a Scottish botanist David Douglas who explored the flora of British Columbia. Salal was the first thing he touched upon stepping off the boat in 1825, which, in a historical analogy, was the exact same time photography was being invented in France.

In the second work, “Screen,” Alward further explores the contact of mankind with its history. In 2014, the artist joined a team of graduate archaeology and ecology students to document their mission to Calvert Island to explore a midden site that is closed to public.

“You can find the general area on a map, he says. “But if you went there on a boat, trying to find exactly where it is would be difficult. It doesn’t even have a name.”

Alward’s colour photograph printed in canvas captures two archaeologists completing a “dig” in the ocean near Calvert Island, on a site where ancient peoples harvested shellfish.

They are pulling out a screen box used for picking artifacts from the sea bottom.

“They’re sifting ancient garbage full of artifacts. They’re looking, screening, trying to pull out information. They’re trying to conjure a picture of what life was like 6000 years ago,” Alward says.

The figures, with their backs to us, are looking at the box over which Alward painted a bright green field as a reference to Chroma Key, a green screen used as a backdrop for special effects and digitally inserted images in television or film pro-

The “alchemy” vitrine of “Salt Walks.”

ARTS 16

Denisa Kraus

Denisa Kraus

THE NAVIGATOR

duction.

“It’s about conjuring an image,” he explains the three­fold symbolism connecting the archaeologists, the green screen, and the artist. “My ideal images are pictures. They’re trying to conjure one kind of picture in their way, I’m dealing with images and pictures in another way, and the analogy I saw in this photograph between what they and I are doing is thinking about screens. It is a way of substituting something that is not there giving space to our imagination and speculations.”

A similarly scientific approach to the idea of gleaning can be found in Randy Lee Cutler’s installations and a video from a body of work called “Salt Walks” (2013-­ongoing). A Vancouver-based writer, artist, and professor at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Cutler experiments with new media and performance to explore the relationships between art, gender, science, and technology.

“Salt Walks” is a study of salt as a primordial substance and essential element in nature as well as a versatile material in local cultures. The two vitrines show the mineral in relation to sea life (represented by barnacles, a crystal used by Vikings as a navigation tool, and smoked salt) and in alchemy, where salt played an important role as a rudimentary substance in various magic­bordering experiments. Cutler designed this part of the work as an introduction to an upcoming performance, and while the video documentary talks about salt’s social, cultural, economic, and historical impact on everyday life in a specific location (Vancouver’s Chinatown), the artist will be giving a similar talk about salt’s significance in the Nanaimo area on the “Salt Walks” tour on April 19.

Another work dedicated to local matters is Back To Gabriola, a short documentary film by Gabriola Island-based filmmaker Steven Davies who revisits Canadian involvement in the two World Wars from the perspective of First Nations veterans.

Davies, Coast Salish on his paternal side, draws on the testi-

“Magnetic Stalactite” by Kara Uzelman.

Denisa Kraus

No 10

monies of a number of his relatives, volunteers from the wars, and recognizes the lesser-known history and forgotten stories of First Nations participation in combat.

“My ancestors over three generations were native veterans from the coast,” he says.“It’s time for me to not only honour my family but all First Nations veterans. There are more aboriginal volunteers for all the wars than any other community in Canada. That’s a story people need to know and understand—that the first peoples were signing up to protect the land here.”

Davies has been exploring the topic through working on a feature format, and while the feature length format is currently in development, he completed a shorter version of the documentary specially for Gleaners.

“There have been a lot of sensitivities with this film that I decided not to include, a lot of personal aspects and experiences my family had,” he explains.

Dutch artist Joost Conijn brings more global perspective on gleaning for the forgotten or unheeded from his journey across eastern Europe in a documentary film Haut Auto/Wood Car (2012). Having a solid artistic background in creating homemade forms of transportation (including building a plane he ended up flying), Conijn documents his adventure driving a wooden car, which is also fueled by wood, through the back country of eastern Europe. The film depicts numerous little episodes with different local communities with whom the artist seems to connect with through the wooden automobile. None of the scenes are translated and subtitled. There is, in fact, very little dialogue, as Conijn doesn’t speak the countries’ respective languages and the countrymen usually don’t speak English.

“He’s constantly struggling to communicate what he’s doing, but the car speaks for itself,” Birch notes. “People love it; it’s a very powerful storytelling piece.”

Conijn spends most of his journey gleaning: for stories, sights, wood, or food which the locals share with him. The very act of traveling in this manner is a gleaner’s gesture to the contemporary world which prefers convenience at a fast pace.

Another work “lives” in the gallery in the form of a story told by artist Michael Drebert during set-up and now narrated by Visitor Services Coordinator Dawn Marusin. We listen to the story of the artist “falling in love” with a Japanese fishing bowl he saw in a guest house in Haida Gwaii. We follow him on his quest to Japan, where he returns the precious object to a local fisherman. By letting the story be passed on to visitors in the spoken form, Drebert refers to the oral culture, so closely tied with the nature of gleaning.

Kara Uzelman’s three­-part installation, on the other hand, is present in the gallery both materially, acoustically, and as an electric energy. The work is closest to the surrealist practice of reassembling found objects into new unexpected forms. Uzelman not only works with the found objects, but takes her art pieces from her previous series and regroups them into a new body of work. “Magnetic Stalactite” (2009), hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the gallery, is an assemblage of metal objects and magnets found in the Nanaimo area. “Expanded Radio” (2015), a functioning “circuit board” of objects connected by an electric wire, occupies most of the gallery’s floor, while it’s centrepiece, an old crackling radio, responds to the movement and proximity of other objects and visitors in the room. The third work, “Spirit Level” (2013), is a sculpture made of found wood and a crabapple moonshine bottle. All works embody the gleaning act of extracting the discarded and unnoticed from the landscape. Uzelman further references the landscape in the improvised invisible environment she created through connecting all the works through electromagnetic energy but allowing them to retain their specific spiritual quality.

“Each piece has its own energy and language,” she says.

Gleaners will be on show at the downtown Nanaimo Art Gallery until May 15. Admission is free. Additional programming includes free screenings of Agnes Varda’s film The Gleaners and I at the NAG Art Lab on Fridays February 13, March 13, and April 10 at 7 pm. “Salt Walk,” Randy Lee Cutler’s “lecture” tour of Nanaimo, will take place on April 19 at 2 pm.

“Screem: Kwakshua Channel EJTA4” by Sean Alward.

Denisa Kraus

Win tickets to see Shane Koyczan.

This is your voice. Use it.

Write a poem—a poem to motivate, to activate, to stimulate.

Editors from The Navigator will pick two poets to win a pair of tickets each for the Port Theatre show. Their work will also be published in an upcoming issue of The Navigator.

The unifying theme of Gleaners is attributing new value to found objects.

Denisa Kraus

No 10

Entry deadline is March 1—email to <editor@thenav.ca> in Word or Rich Text format. Winners will be announced in the March 11 issue of The Navigator.

THE NAVIGATOR

17 ARTS

Movie review:

Foxcatcher

Courtesy of Sony Classics SPENCER WILSON Foxcatcher is based on a true story, but the less you know about the events surrounding the wrestling program at Foxcatcher Farm the better. Revolving around the end of Olympic gold-medal wrestler Mark Schultz’s last major competitions, the film presents what Schultz himself calls the most accurate depiction of what took place during his time as head wrestler for Team Foxcatcher.

Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) isn’t where you think he’d be after winning gold in Los Angeles’ 1984 summer Olympics. Living in a dumpy flat, eating instant noodles, and giving $20 lectures at high schools about motivation, all while training with his gold-medal champion wrestler brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo), Mark is just getting by until his next wrestling competition. Just when things are starting to get destitute, he receives a mysterious phone call from eccentric millionaire John E. du Pont (Steve Carell), head of one of the richest estates in the US, Foxcatcher Farm. Du Pont offers to pay Mark to train at his facility and live on the property for reasons which are only explained as “for America’s pride.” Mark finds himself relating to this message, and tries to convince his brother to come coach at the facility, which doesn’t happen until later due to Dave’s family situation.

Thanks to support from John and Dave, Mark goes on to win the 1987 World Wrestling Championship in Clermont-Ferrand, France. John uses this victory to slingshot himself into the wrestling world’s public eye by using Mark’s accolades. As they begin to attend public events, Mark sees John use cocaine before public speeches and begins to use it himself after the classic peer pressure statement, “It’s just cocaine; it’s not going to kill you.” Mark enters a downward spiral on the brink of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and is barely held together by his brother while John’s intentions become even more malicious.

Carell’s portrayal of John is easily the most interesting part of the film. He reveals to Mark that

ARTS 18

CONTRIBUTOR his mother used to pay one of the boys at his elementary school to be his friend, and this lifestyle of artificially inflated social elevation carries into his older age with him giving basic wrestling advice and passing it off as legitimately good coaching, along with winning in a local middle-age wrestling competition that looks like it was a paid-off victory. This begins to culminate in a documentary about himself that he is paying to have made which is supposed to show what a good coach and person he is. His inadequacy as a leader is defined during the directing of this documentary, especially when Dave can’t keep a straight face when he has to say that John has influenced his wrestling abilities during an interview (since Dave is the only one teaching the wrestlers on Team Foxcatcher anything worthwhile).

John uses the documentary to promote himself as this father figure, and reveals that he had been recording footage of Mark’s victories and scripted speeches to orchestrate the idea.

Those who are familiar with Steve Carell’s surprisingly dynamic acting abilities won’t be shocked by his amazing and quietly terrifying performance as John. The big shock comes from how terrific Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo are as the Schultz brothers.

Tatum and Ruffalo had to spend many hours off-set doing wrestling training with each other, which translates on screen to them having impeccable chemistry. Tatum does a great job of bouncing between Mark’s dual-personality of being simple and soft-spoken to being uncontrollably angry, which is highlighted in a completely unscripted moment where Tatum breaks a mirror with his head because he fully embodied Mark’s frustration. Ruffalo continues to elevate himself beyond his days of being a romantic-comedy actor—striking the perfect note as Mark’s best friend and mentor.

Director Bennett Miller took home best director at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival with Foxcatcher and was almost nominat-

ed for the Palme d’Or. Foxcatcher’s dark and quiet atmosphere echoes his fantastic 2005 film Capote. The film remains starkly silent, with very few moments being accented

by Rob Simonsen and West Dylon Thordson’s haunting and beautiful score, which builds up the film to feel incredibly sinister by the end. Miller does a good job overall,

but you’ll find him focusing on too many filler shots of family pictures rather than shots that could lend a bit more to the film’s narrative (which began at four hours before getting cut down to two), making the film feel a bit too slow in places that could have been paced better.

Seeing Foxcatcher get nominated at the Oscars for Best Director

but not for Best Picture is a big surprise. Although there have been better pictures this past year, it certainly stands above some of the more decorated competition like The Imitation Game and American Sniper. Foxcatcher is a surprisingly good thrill with great acting, and anyone, from wrestling to non-wrestling fans, will enjoy it.

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THE NAVIGATOR

No 10

Sports

Mariner women heating up as provincials approach BEN CHESSOR

Ben Chessor

Women’s volleyball

MP

MW

ML

Pts

Camosun College Chargers

20

18

2

36

Capilano University Blues

20

14

6

28

Vancouver Island University Mariners

20

13

7

26

College of the Rockies Avalanche

20

11

9

22

Fraser Valley University Cascades

20

10

10

20

Douglas College Royals

20

4

16

8

Columbia Bible College Bearcats

20

0

20

0

THE NAVIGATOR

The VIU Mariners’ women’s volleyball team got off to a slow start to the season, losing five of their first six contests. But since the slow start, the team has been on fire climbing up the PacWest standings.

The Mariners traveled to the mainland for their most recent games. The team was in New Westminster to take on the Douglas College Royals on February 6 and 7.

In the first game between the two teams, the Mariners won the opening set by a score of 25-13. VIU expanded their lead to 2-0 by winning the second set 25-12. The third set was a more tightly contested affair, but the Mariners were able to complete the sweep, winning the set 25-17.

The two teams were back in action the next day. The Mariners won the match’s opening set again. The Royals mounted a comeback in the second set, winning the set 25-23 to tie the match. But the Mariners proved to be too much for the hometown Royals, as the Mariners won the match’s final two sets 25-16 and 25-17 to take both games between the two teams.

The Mariners were also able to win both of their last two home games on January 30 and 31 against the visiting Capilano Blues. On the Friday, the Mariners picked up a three-set sweep, winning the first two sets 25-20 and 25-9 before winning the third set in a tiebreaker 29-27. The next day the Mariners picked up the victory in four sets.

The Mariners have currently won their last five games in a row. VIU has only lost three sets during the five-game run. The Mariners have also won 11 of their last 12 games, losing only seven sets over those 12 games.

The Mariners currently sit in third place in the PacWest standings. The team’s 13-7 record gives them 26 points on the season, two points behind the second place Blues, and four points ahead of the second place University Fraser Valley Cascades.

The Mariners only have four games left before the end of the PacWest season. Three of those games are at home. The Mariners take on the Cascades on Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 pm and Friday, February 12 at 6 pm. Thursday, February 19 the team plays their final home game of the season against the Camosun Chargers at 6 pm in the VIU gym.

Clippers sail towards Island championship BEN CHESSOR

Ben Chessor

No 10

THE NAVIGATOR With only seven games left in the British Columbia Hockey League season, the Nanaimo Clippers have all but officially clinched first place in the league’s Island Division.

The Clippers’ record of 35-13-0-3 gives the team 73 points on the season, 11 more than the second place Powell River Kings, who have also played two more games than the Clippers.

The Island Division title will be the first for the Clippers since the 2007-2008 season. The team will also be searching for its first playoff series win since the 2009-2010 season when the Clippers beat the Victoria Grizzlies in six games.

On February 7, the Clippers played a home game against the visiting Langley Rivermen. The game got off to a crazy start with seven goals in the first period.

First, the Rivermen took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Justin Szeto.

Then, the Clippers scored three goals in the span of six minutes.

First, Sean Buchanan tied the game at 1-1. Then, Nicolas Carrier scored back-to-back goals to give Nanaimo a 3-1 lead. However, Langley got goals from Marcus Vela and Zac Masson just 13 seconds apart to tie the game at 3-3. But with under three minutes left in the first period, Jake Jackson scored to give the Clippers a 4-3 lead heading into the second period.

The second period was a lot quieter than the first, with Jacob Hanlon scoring the only goal to give the Clippers a 5-3 advantage as the game moved into the third period.

In the third, the Clippers got two goals from Sheldon Rhemple and one by Brendan Shane to round out the scoring as the Clippers picked up the solid 8-3 victory.

The victory was a good bounceback effort for the Clippers, who lost 5-2 to the Port Alberni Bulldogs the previous night in Port Alberni.

Through 51 games, the Clippers’ offense has scored 213 goals. The Clippers have 20 more goals than the Penticton Vees, who are second in the league in goals. The Clippers are the only team in the BCHL to average more than four goals a game.

With only seven games left in the regular season it looks like the Clippers’ first round opponent will be the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, who have a solid hold on fourth place in the Island Division. Despite losing the last meeting, the Clippers dominated the season series, winning seven of the nine games between the two teams.

The Clippers’ next home game is Friday, February 20 against the visiting Powell River Kings. Action begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 for VIU students and include a free beer.

All Clippers home games are played at Frank Crane Arena on Bowen Rd.

BCHL Island Division Standings

GP

W

L

T

OTL

Pts

Nanaimo

51

35

13

0

3

73

Powell River

52

26

16

1

9

62

Victoria

50

22

17

1

10

55

Alberni Valley

48

23

20

2

3

51

Cowichan Valley

51

19

28

2

1

42

THE NAVIGATOR

SPORTS 19

Men’s volleyball suffers set back in chase for second

BEN CHESSOR

Ben Chessor Men’s volleyball

GP

MW

ML

Pts

Douglas College Royals

20

17

3

34

Camosun College Chargers

20

14

6

28

Vancouver Island University Mariners

20

13

7

26

Columbia Bible College Bearcats

20

11

9

22

7 Fraser Valley University Cascades

20

6

14

12

College of the Rockies Avalanche

20

5

15

10

Capilano University Blues

20

4

16

8

THE NAVIGATOR

The Mariners’ men’s volleyball team remains in a tight race with the Camosun Chargers for second place in the PacWest standings, and a bye into the semifinals of the provincial championship.

The team faced their toughest test of the season as they traveled to New Westminster to take on the first place Douglas College Royals on February 6 and 7.

The Mariners got off to a good start in the first meeting between the two teams, winning the first set in a thrilling 31-29 tiebreaker.

The Royals took over the game in the second set, winning 25-23 to tie the game at one set apiece.

After Douglas won the third set to take a 2-1 lead, the Mariners battled to keep the match alive in the fourth set. But the Royals managed to win the fourth set 25-16 to pick up the four-set win over the Mariners.

The two teams faced off in a rematch the next day. This time the Royals made short work of the Mariners, winning three consecutive sets en route to the victory.

The Mariners were in action on home court January 30 and 31 against the visiting Capilano Blues.

On January 30, the Mariners picked up the three-set sweep of the Blues, winning the first two sets 25-17 and 25-23 before needing a tiebreaker to end the match with a 27-25 win.

The next day, the two teams split the first two sets. The Mariners won the first set 25-16, but the Blues responded with a 28-26 win in the second set to tie the match. The Mariners took the lead with a 25-22 win in the third set, and won the fourth by the same score to win the match and give the Mariners the sweep in the second series between the two teams.

Through 20 games the Mariners sit in third place with a record of 13-7, good for 26 points on the season. The Mariners currently sit two points back of the second place Camosun Chargers (14-6). The Mariners also sit four points ahead of the fourth place Columbia Bible College Bearcats.

There’s a good chance the race between the Mariners and the Chargers will go down to the last week of the season, when the two teams play against each other twice. Those games take place on Thursday, February 19 at VIU and Saturday, February 21 at Camosun College.

The Mariners still have two more home games before that final week series against Camosun.

The Mariners play home games against the College of the Rockies Avalanche on Thursday, February 12 and Friday, February 13.

Thursday’s game starts at 8:30 pm, while Friday’s starts at 8 pm.

Both are at the VIU gym.

Rough sailing for Buccaneers as playoffs approach BEN CHESSOR As the Vancouver Island JR Hockey League regular season enters its final week, the playoff picture is starting to become clearer for the Nanaimo Buccaneers. It’s starting to look as though the team will begin the playoffs on the road as the third seed in the North Division.

It has been apparent for a while that the Buccaneers would be playing the Comox Valley Glacier Kings in the first round of the playoffs.

The question was which team was

THE NAVIGATOR going to have home ice advantage.

Now, with only a week left in the season, it’s looking like home ice will probably go to Comox Valley.

The two teams are tied with 50 points on the season, but Comox Valley has four games left to play this season and the Buccaneers only have two.

The Buccaneers got a preview of their first round series on February 7 when the team traveled to Comox to take on the Glacier Kings. Comox opened the scoring

on an early powerplay as Keegun Selva scored to give Comox the 1-0 lead. The Buccaneers got a powerplay goal of their own from Jordan Levesque at 14:39 to tie the game 1-1. But Jordan Crisp scored a goal for Comox late in the first period to give the Glacier Kings the lead heading into the first intermission.

After Clayton Peace scored for the Buccaneers to make it 2-2 at 15:18, the Glacier Kings scored two late goals before the end of the period.

First, it was Selva with his second of the game, followed by Kyle Wade scoring to give Comox a 4-2 lead heading into the third period.

Early in the third period Hobin Zinck scored for the Buccaneers to cut the Kings’ lead to 4-3.

Then, with just under two minutes left in the game, Levesque scored his second of the game to tie the score at 4-4 and force overtime. Late in the first overtime period, Grant Iles scored for the Glacier Kings to give Comox

Valley the 5-4 overtime win.

The loss was the Buccaneers’ second in a row. The team has only won one of its last eight games.

The Buccaneers only have one home game remaining in the regular season on Thursday, February 12 against the visiting Comox Valley Glacier Kings. Puck drops at 7:15 pm. Tickets are available at the door and are only $8 for students.

All Buccaneers home games are played at the Nanaimo Ice Centre, located below campus.

VIJHL North Division Standings

GP

W

L

T

OTL

Pts

Campbell River

45

37

4

1

3

78

Comox Valley

44

22

16

1

5

50

Nanaimo

46

21

17

3

5

50

Oceanside

45

6

36

2

1

15

20 SPORTS

THE NAVIGATOR

No 10

Women’s basketball continues strong play as playoffs near BEN CHESSOR As the PacWest basketball season enters its final few weeks, the VIU Mariners are playing some of their strongest basketball of the year.

The team traveled to the mainland for games against the Kwantlen University Eagles and Columbia Bible College Bearcats on January 30 and 31.

The Mariners jumped out to an early lead against the Eagles and kept the pressure on. At halftime, the Mariners had built a 31-16 lead.

The Eagles came out strong in the third quarter, determined to cut into the Mariner lead. As the fourth quarter began, the Eagles had cut their deficit to 35-30. But the Mariners didn’t let the Eagles complete the comeback, winning by a final score of 56-50.

The Mariners made their weekend road trip a successful one the

Interdisciplinary Studies

THE NAVIGATOR next day, picking up a 65-48 win in Cranbrook over the hometown Columbia Bible College Bearcats.

The Mariners returned home from games against the Douglas College Royals and Langara Falcons on February 6 and 7.

The Mariners jumped out to a 29-17 lead at halftime against Douglas. In the second half, the Mariners did a good job of staying competitive with the Royals, not letting Douglas mount any sort of comeback. The Mariners led 45-33 as the game entered the fourth quarter and came away with the 60-47 victory.

The next day against the Langara Falcons the Mariners once again jumped out to an early advantage, this time leading 20-12 after the game’s opening quarter. The Falcons weren’t able to

cut into the Mariner lead in the second quarter, as VIU led 37-29 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Mariners came out strong and expanded their lead to 15 as the score stood 53-38 as the game entered its final quarter. The game ended with the Mariners’ victory at 69-55.

With just five games to go before the end of the regular season, it looks like the Mariners will finish the year in second place. The team’s 13-3 record gives them 26 points on the season. The Mariners are six points behind the first place Quest Kermodes, but are also six points ahead of the third place Douglas Royals.

The Mariners’ next home game is Saturday, February 14 against the visiting Camosun Chargers. The game begins at 6 pm.

Women’s Basketball

PL

W

L

Pts

Quest University Kermodes

16

16

0

32

Vancouver Island University

16

13

3

26

Douglas College Royals

16

10

6

20

Capilano University Blues

16

9

7

18

Camosun College Chargers

16

7

9

14

Kwantlen University Eagles

16

4

12

8

Columbia Bible College Bearcats

16

3

13

6

Langara College Falcons

16

2

14

4

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Men get revenge and soar over Falcons BEN CHESSOR

THE NAVIGATOR

The Mariners’ men’s basketball team hasn’t been on the losing end of many games this season—just one to be exact.

On February 7, the Mariners exacted revenge on the only team to beat them this season; the Mariners defeated the Langara Falcons 82-67.

The game featured the last two CCAA national champions, with the Mariners winning in 2013 before Langara went on to win the title last year. The Falcons won the last meeting between the two teams 76-69 back on January 16.

The game got off to a fast-paced start, with both teams guarding tightly. But, as the quarter progressed, the Mariners started to pull away, leading 23-11 after the first. The two teams played an evenly matched second quarter, with neither team able to apply consistent pressure to the other.

At halftime, the Mariners still held a 44-34 lead. The evenly matched battle continued until the fourth quarter, when the Mariners managed to pull away from the Falcons. The Mariners were victorious 82-67 when the final buzzer sounded.

The Mariners had also been in action on home court the day before, as the team picked up the convincing 91-61 victo-

Ben Chessor

No 10

ry over the Douglas Royals. The Mariners got off to a strong start against the Royals, jumping out to a big 51-30 lead at halftime before cruising to the victory in the second half.

The team traveled to the mainland for a two-game weekend road trip on January 30 and 31 against the Kwantlen Eagles and Columbia Bearcats. The Mariners’ offense reached new highs on the road trip, scoring 100 points in back-to-back games for the first time this season. The team picked up the 115-56 victory over the Eagles on January 30. The next day, the team came a few points shy of topping their total from the night before, winning 113-79 over the Bearcats.

The Mariners’ 15-1 record gives the team 30 points on the season, good for first place in the PacWest standings. The Mariners are four points ahead of both the Langara Falcons and Quest Kermodes, who are tied for second place. The Mariners don’t play the Falcons again this year.

The Mariners’ next home game is on Saturday, February 14 as the Mariners take on the Camosun Chargers. The action begins at 8 pm at the VIU gym.

Men’s Basketball

GP

W

L

Pts

Vancouver Island University Mariners

16

15

1

30

Langara College Falcons

16

13

3

26

Quest University Kermodes

16

13

3

26

Douglas College Royals

16

9

7

18

Camosun College Chargers

16

6

10

12

Capilano College Blues

16

5

11

10

Kwantlen University Eagles

16

2

14

4

Columbia Bible College Bearcats

16

1

15

2

THE NAVIGATOR

SPORTS 21

Odds & Ends Student showcase Spenser Smith is a Creative Writing major at VIU. His hobbies include skateboarding, photography and drumming.

Big Bang Spenser Smith Prairie grass Numb and tangled Crunches underfoot An icy cloud Slips From my lips Like a mini big bang And swells the air A rabid design The hiss of autumn wind Sifts through The elm trees I hear it whisper This is it Leaves let loose In agreement

Comics by Jon Hiebert

Masterpiece Spenser Smith Pink stained fluff Fuses with The looming dusk Crickets chirp Clustered within Thick meadow grass My engines stiff strum Rumbles through Sun drenched air As I bend my wrist Against the throttle I chase the Smoke soaked shadow Of my brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bike Our tires carve the trail With studded trim Creating a masterpiece Of dirt

Spenser Smith

ODDS & ENDS 22

THE NAVIGATOR

No 10

February

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

12

13

No Impact Week presents Movie Night: No Impact Man

Arts and Humanities Vancouver Island Colloquium Series: Symphony: He Sings, “Disordered Eating: How She Sighs can Feminism Help?”

Port Theatre, 125 Front VIU Nanaimo campus, St. Malaspina Theatre $42 - $84 (students $20) FREE

VIU Nanaimo campus, bldg 355, rm 203 FREE 7 PM

14

10 AM

7:30 PM

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

Fringe Flicks: Two Days, One Night

Harbour City Newcomers Open to men, women, singles, and couples new to Nanaimo.

Oliver Woods Community Centre, 6000 Oliver Rd.

Weight Room Workshop Series

Tango Lessons

Community Meditation

The Beastiary

Nanaimo campus, bldg 190 (gym)

Fibber Magees, 131 Selby St.

VIU Graphic Design Beer & Burger Fundraiser

Bent Tree Wellness Centre, 123 Nicol St.

The Vault Cafe, 499 Wallace St.

FREE

Cost N/A

suggested donation $5

by donation

7 – 9 PM

7 – 8 PM

1:30 – 3:30 PM

6:30 PM

Avalon Cinema, 6631 North Island Hwy $12 1, 4, & 7 PM

FREE

Old City Station Pub, 150 Skinner St. $15 6:30 PM

7 – 8 PM

22

23

24

11th Annual Nanaimo Global Film Festival

Cellular Yoga

Spotlight Series: Compagnie Marie Chouinard

Various locations in downtown Nanaimo For more info, visit <www.nanaimofilmfest. org>

Bent Tree Wellness Centre, 123 Nicol St. $13

Port Theatre, 125 Front St.

12 – 1 PM

$13 12 – 1 PM

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No 10

THENAV.CA

THE NAVIGATOR

TWITTER @THENAV_VIU

CALENDAR 23

We are hiring for next year!

CALL FOR RESUMES

Now accepting resumes for the September 2015 through April 2016 school year.

Deadline: Wednesday, February 25, 11:59 pm.

• Please submit resumes to The Navigator office, bldg 193, rm 217, or email <editor@thenav.ca> • The Navigator offers unparalleled work experience for students, a casual yet professional office environment, only two scheduled shifts per month, good times, and regular salary paycheques.

• For more information, call 250-753-2225 or email <editor@thenav.ca>

Managing Editor

Supervises and organizes the overall production of the newspaper from start to finish; writes one editorial per issue; approves final pages before they go to the printer; meets with the business manager to keep informed of the financial situation of paper and participates in financial planning; accepts responsibility, in consultation with the business manager, for any administrative duties that may come up in the general running of The Navigator office (letters, responses to phone calls, etc.); reports to the Board of Directors on production and personnel issues, and assists in the development of policies and procedures; participates in the Hiring Committee; and resolves conflicts that may arise in the office.

Associate Editor

Assumes editorial responsibility for the features section (six pages); writes one editorial per issue; takes on the responsibilities of the managing editor when required; participates in copy editing for all sections and helps enter editorial changes on production weekend; participates in layout and assembly during production week; calculates and presents an expense report to the business manager or bookkeeper detailing contributor payments for each issue.

News Editor

Assumes editorial responsibility for the news section (four pages); arranges for contributions, seeks out stories on campus that are timely and relevant to the student population of VIU, and edits submissions; monitors the editorial process for the news section and approves pages; gives approved pages to managing editor for final review; participates in copy editing for all sections and helps enter editorial changes on production weekend.

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Assumes editorial responsibility for the A&E section (five pages); arranges for contributions, writes reviews and features, and edits A&E submissions; monitors the editorial process for the A&E section and approves pages; gives approved pages to managing editor for final review; participates in copy editing for all sections and helps enter editorial changes on production weekend; and maintains the events calendar.

Sports Editor

Assumes responsibility for the sports section (three pages); arranges for contributions, writes content for section, and edits submissions; and participates in copy editing for all sections and helps enter editorial changes on production weekend.

Production Manager

Oversees the process of organizing the paper for production; in case of illness of either the managing editor or the associate editor, the production editor fills in; schedules, co-ordinates, and tracks copy through the editorial and proofing process; using the Chicago Manual of Style, the Canadian Press Style Book, and CP Caps and Spelling as a guide, the production manager prepares editorial style sheets that outline house preferences regarding numbering, punctuation, spelling, and other text elements; works with copy editors to edit contributors’ work during production week.

Copy Editors

Assists the production manager during production week; edits contributors’ work for spelling, grammar, house style, content, and format; does fact checking as necessary; enters changes to text and saves the edited versions to the network files; proofs copy on production weekend; and checks copy for format and any errors.

Web Editor

Provides existing website with a fresh new look at the beginning of every volume; moves all articles from the print edition to the website between the time the paper is finalized (Sunday) and the time it meets the public (Wednesday); demonstrates above-average computing and communication skills; and possesses technical computer skills and can assist with troubleshooting, computer training, and maintenance of office computers.

Ad Sales Representatives

Sells ads and meets sales goals under direction of business manager; seeks out new clients; makes sure each client is on the master ad list for each paper requested with the correct size and price for invoicing; possesses excellent time management skills and is self-motivated; contacts clients far enough in advance so deadlines can be met, and be paces themselves in order to provide quality client service; passes on information and materials from clients concerning ads to graphics staff and directs construction of the ads; and sends proofs of the ads to the advertisers for confirmation.

Art Director

Produces, or supervises the production of, all graphics/ photos/illustrations that appear in the paper; designs, in consultation with the managing editor, the graphic elements of the newspaper and any signage or promotional material for the newspaper; supervises the layout of all articles in the paper; and trains and supervises the graphic assistants.

Graphic Design Assistant

Works with the business manager on the production of ads for clients and assists art director when required.

Social Media Manager

Ensures Facebook and Twitter are constantly being updated and finds related work and media from other presses to retweet and connect with; works with web editor to make sure related new media is being included with the articles (links, related videos); plays an avid role in connecting The Navigator with student paper resources, such as Canadian University Press (CUP), Canadian Writer’s Association (CWA), and Free Media; and proficient in Wordpress administration, Google Analytics, and other tracking mechanisms to calculate ROI of advertisement budget.

Multimedia Producer

Has strong video shooting and editing skills; produces fresh, new media for the web, including audio interviews, video street surveys, and entertaining short videos; and works with the section editors to provide video coverage for their stories.

Online Reporter

Responsible for making sure content is frequently going up online so we can have timely, relevant news content going up as it happens; reports, edits, and uploads stories from Nanaimo’s community and VIU campus as they break; stories will be short and succinct and can cover any subject (news, sports, arts, and features); has basic editing and Wordpress skills to copy edit and upload their own stories.