The Navigator Vol 47 Issue 09

JA N UA RY 27

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Vol 47

F EBRUA RY 9 FREE

navigator VA NCOU V ER ISL A ND U NI V ERSIT Y ST U DEN T PR ESS

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#OscarsSoWhite...Again

There has bean a conflict brewin'

Mental Health Matters: Fentanyl Q and A

The annual Academy Award nominations were announced, but there was something odd about it: the sheer number of white faces.

After 19 years at VIU, Jumpin' Java has been asked to leave campus by April 2017.

On January 8, students received an email advising them of a deadly overdose alert.

contents

news

features 08

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08 04 From camp to campus WUSC:

08 Editorials

arts 14 08 08 played guitar 04 Ziggy Sweet Dreams Norma Jean: Film review

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05 There has bean a conflict brewin'

Point of VIU

sports & lifestyle

15 No girls allowed

18 Clippers aquire Gould at trade deadline Mariners' schedule

19 08 04 it simple Keeping Lay off the stress

Opening the doors: ABE funding update

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06 The case on VIU's proposed new student fee

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VIU Services: Safety App Everyday Earth: Going with the flow

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Worldly opportunities

Nanaimo Lakes Road: A logger's playground

16 A few surprises: Radiohead Tribute Night at the Dinghy Dock

17 Oxenfree game review

20 A student's guide: Five essentials to a healthy immune system

21 Mental Health Matters: Fentanyl Q and A The student essentials to organizing a healthy semester

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Chronicling the viral ARG campaign

23 Calendar

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CON T EN TS

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letters

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CONTRIBUTORS Sacia Burton Danielle Cunningham Reid Eccles Brynn Joyce Brandon Kornelson Zoe Lauckner

Alyssa Morton Jeff Sieniewicz Spenser Smith Chantelle Spicer Brady Tighe

THE NAVIGATOR WELCOMES READER CONTRIBUTIONS

THE NAVIGATOR IS Molly Barrieau Editor-in-Chief

Emily Johnston Graphic Designer

Antony Stevens Associate Editor

Avery Crosson Graphic Designer

Kaytee Davis Art Director

Gabby Fleming Ad/Sales Rep

Natalie Gates News Editor

Shaina Bolduc Ad/Sales Rep

Catherine Charlebois Sports & Lifestyle Editor

Megan Wolfe Social Media Sp.

Brendan Barlow Arts Editor

Lynne Williams Bookkeeper

Kelly Whiteside Production Manager

Christine Franic Business Manager

You don’t have to be a journalist to get published in the Navigator.

We encourage creators to submit poetry, art, comics, photo essays, editorial cartoons, and coverage of events on campus.

Send any inquiries or content to <editor@thenav.ca> or visit <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. 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.

Lori Shwydky Copy Editor

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

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editorials

Baby got back Molly Barrieau Editor-in-Chief

Have you seen them? Did you download them? You must’ve heard, they’re at it again. The reigning pop culture family of eight known for their alliterative lineage have been pumping out babies, apps, and record-breaking Instagram likes. The Kardashian-Jenner klan (not including Caitlyn’s children from the previous marriage) have taken the social media world by storm.

You can now download (on iOS and Android for free) apps from the sisters, including Khloe, Kourtney, Kylie, and Kim (who also has her unreasonably popular Kim Kardashian Hollywood game). The app face is simply their name, and each caters to their own fanbase. From what I’ve gathered by using my best Insta-stalking skills, Khloe shares workout videos (Khlofit), and food and drink recipes (conveniently coined Kocktails with Khloe); Kim sells her old clothes, and posts makeup tips from professionals like Charlotte Tillbury (think English and expensive); and Kylie has tours of her $2.7 million house, makeup tutorials (think pillow-y, injected lips).

Asleep yet? Don’t worry—Kourtney, the mother of the klan, recently launched her own app, along with a viral video on her own YouTube on how to eat a KitKat bar.

Ground-breaking stuff, if you ask me. Now, I know that the Kardashian clan can hit a nerve for some (most) of the world, and to be honest, I really don’t understand their draw, but I can’t stop watching. It’s like a bad car accident—the whole world slows down, staring at the wreckage, wondering what went wrong as we drive past. Then we like, follow, and share the carnage, ahem, karnage.

Caitlyn Jenner, parent of Kylie and Kendall, broke the record time for reaching one million followers on Twitter, according to the Guinness Book of World Records: four hours and three minutes. Jenner surpassed the previous record reached by none other than #POTUS Barack Obama who could only come up with the one million in a measly four hours and 52 minutes.

Kim Kardashian-West, most widely known, no pun intended―for her infamous rear end, which I support wholeheartedly as a bodacious female myself, recently gave birth to her son, Saint, and her even more exciting range of emoji, aptly named Kimoji. Kim even used the woman, man, child, and baby Kimoji to break the news of the birth of her second child in December. Now, instead of a boring yellow smiley face, you can send your friends Kim’s crying face, a well-manicured hand flipping the bird, or a selection of her most popular poses and magazine covers.

Are you disgusted with the world yet? Well how about me, for writing 500 words on the Kardashian kar-wreck? I have a confession. In the writing world, over and over you are told to “write what you know,” and I am a closet Keeping Up with the Kardashian watcher. You can catch me cuddling on my couch alone, watching the frantic family and their fantasy lives.

Maybe it is the empathy I hold for their hourglass figures, or maybe I just need to feel grounded, knowing that I will never have to earn money using my face.

#OSCARSSOWHITE…AGAIN Brendan Barlow Arts Editor

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EDI TOR I A L S

There is no denying that there is a race problem in Hollywood, particularly when the awards season hits. On January 14, the nominees for the 88th Annual Academy Awards were announced, and there was something odd that everyone on social media seemed to notice right away: the sheer number of white faces.

The #OscarsSoWhite hashtag first appeared in 2015 in response to the nominations for the 87th entry to the yearly awards show and the sensational lack of representation in most of the categories.

Most jarring was during the 87th Academy Awards when the fantastic film Selma received a Best Picture, and Best Original Song nomination, but the film’s director, writer, and entire cast were passed over for nominations. Arguably, a film chosen as one of the best of the year would have more than a song to put it into that category. The passing over of David Oyelowo, who played Martin Luther King Jr., was inexplicable to say the least. With this issue, and plenty more, #OscarsSoWhite began trending on Twitter, and a conversation over racial representation at the Academy Awards exploded.

It should be stated, for the most recent list of nominees, that I do not mean to imply that the actors nominated gave poor performances, or are somehow untalented. In fact, of the films that I have seen so far, the nominations that each has received do feel deserved. DiCaprio’s performance in The Revenant, for example, is stunning, and he has earned his nomination. The problem I have isn’t with the films and actors that are nominated, but rather the ones that aren’t.

It could also be argued—and accurately at that—that this lack of representation is symptomatic of a larger problem that Hollywood has when it comes to telling more diverse stories, and making casting choices that might challenge established norms in film. There is no

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denying that the problem is bigger than the Academy Awards, but the awards are a clear and present example.

This year we see critically-acclaimed films like Creed, which received a nomination for Sylvester Stallone for supporting actor, while his co-star and lead actor Michael B. Jordan was ignored; and Straight Outta Compton, which received a Best Original Screenplay nomination, but no nod for its spectacular performances. We also see eight films in the Best Picture category that centre around the lives of white, heteronormative, cisgender characters.

The Academy Awards are problematic; that’s not really up for debate. It’s easy to argue that the entire concept of awards shows is pointless. The trouble is that in the context of Hollywood these awards shows aren’t pointless. Movies that win awards typically increase revenue, and this is viewed as proof that the same kinds of movies should continue to be made and the cycle continues viciously from there.

Again, the point here is not to suggest that the actors are bad, or the filmmakers are bad, or awards are racist. The point here is to draw attention to the problem, and to work towards resolving the bigger systemic problems that are in place.

Do I know the final answer? No, of course I don’t. Will I be doing a “Oscar Predictions” article close to the awards? Yes. Anita Sarkesian says it best: “It is both possible, and even necessary, to be critical of the media we enjoy.”

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There has bean a conflict brewin’

Customers get their caffeine fix at Jumpin’ Java.

Natalie Gates

After 19 years at VIU, Jumpin’ Java has been asked to leave campus by The Navigator April 2017.

Threats of removal and negotiations had been ongoing since last spring, but the coffee shop recently decided to go public. According to an online petition at <change. org>, in favour of keeping Jumpin’ Java on campus, and comments from staff, the university has pressured to replace the café with a bigger corporation.

Jumpin’ Java shop leader and consultant Sharon Cusack stated that they are not able to discuss in detail the agreement reached with VIU. She highlighted the positivity of having a local business on campus. “Partnerships and supporting local is what VIU is about, so why not grasp

Natalie Gates

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that and enjoy it?” Cusack said.

Jumpin’ Java manager Alix Henriksen and employee Samantha Maider agreed. “We deserve more; our customers love us,” said Henriksen. “Within less than eight hours, we had over 100 signatures [on an in-shop petition to keep Jumpin’ Java on campus].”

“I left a bigger corporation to work here,” said Maider.

“I would love to stay here.”

Jumpin’ Java took the university to court last fall, said VIU President Dr. Ralph Andrew Nilson, but they are continuing discussions around the contractual issues he explained.

VIU’s Board of Governors told the Navigator they are “not at liberty to discuss details of VIU’s business

relationship with Jumpin’ Java at this time.”

Jumpin’ Java owner Brian MacDonald says he is remaining optimistic. “We are hoping to work out something amicable between Jumpin’ Java and VIU,” MacDonald said. “It has been a long-term process, but I am recently positive that we have the framework to work something out.”

Despite the tensions between the local business and the university, MacDonald said he is thankful for the feedback he has received from staff and students. “Everybody’s interest and concern has been phenomenal, with all the people supporting our little company,” he said. “We’ve been putting our heart and soul into it.”

OPENING THE DOORS: ABE FUNDING UPDATE Natalie Gates

While the BC government is still refusing to fund Adult Basic Education (ABE), the The Navigator VIUSU has been making steady progress in gaining support from several city councils.

ABE programs provide high school equivalent courses for citizens returning to school for retraining and upgrading, which include adult special education and basic literacy programs. ABE has been tuition free in BC since 2007, and more than 25 thousand British Columbians—about 800 at VIU—use this program each year. However, the 2015 provincial budget eliminated funding for the program, which allowed ABE institutions to make up for the shortfall by charging tuition.

Fees for ABE classes are now similar to those of most regular university courses, at $320 per class.

With support from the BC Federation of Students, the VIUSU has been touring around city councils in the region asking them to endorse the Don’t Close the Doors on ABE campaign.

The VIUSU did a presentation to the Duncan city council in December, from which it received a unanimous endorsement.

In addition, on January 11, the VIUSU did a presentation to the Qualicum city council; this council has a policy to receive delegations and then review their decision on the following meeting, so the Students’ Union is awaiting feedback. On January 18, they presented to the Parksville city council, who also endorsed the campaign.

“I can say that when we do these presentations the response seems to be very positive,” said VIUSU Organizer-Advocacy representative Patrick Barbosa. “City councils are often the ones that work with people in our communities, and they seem to get that people need the opportunity to do this basic level of education so they can move on to find a meaningful role in the economy.”

Ministry of Education statistics show that between 2010 and 2014, there were between 21 and 25 thousand adults taking courses in BC public and independent schools. For

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the 2014-2015 school year, with the changes coming into effect in January 2015, the number dropped to 17 thousand. While there has been a substantial drop in ABE enrollment at several of VIU’s sister institutions, Nanaimo’s campus has seen an increase. Barbosa suspects this finding in Nanaimo is related to the downturn in the oil industry. “I know a lot of folks in Nanaimo have been working in the fields, so they need other options of employment because they’re losing their jobs,” he said. “ABE is a great example that will help them ladder into other trades or academic programs.”

Efforts to open the doors on Adult Basic Education remain strong.

So far, the VIUSU has received positive responses from Duncan and Nanaimo’s chambers of commerce, and they have plans to continue with follow-ups. “We’re trying to show the government that there is a broad base of support in a whole diverse community of Canadians,” said Barbosa. “It’s not just students saying you should support these programs; it’s also the business community and human rights leaders. It’s an important issue that people get.”

Barbosa urges students to get involved, show support, contact their MLAs and the Ministry of Advanced Education, and generate conversation on the topic. “This cut by the BC government really only saves about $6.9 million, and our economy is somewhere near $2 billion,” he said. “And this is the way they are cutting? They ought to be embarrassed and ashamed.”

Visit <dontclosethedoors.ca> for more information, or to support the campaign.

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Natalie Gates

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THE CASE ON VIU’S PROPOSED NEW STUDENT FEE Natalie Gates The Navigator

VIU students currently pay $167 in ancillary fees and $4,177 in tuition (based on a standard 30-credit school year).

Natalie Gates

The VIU Board of Governor’s proposed ancillary fee, which will cost students $6.27 per credit, and up to a maximum of $188 per 30 credits, is causing disputes among the VIUSU. Designated to provide “enhanced services in the Health and Wellness Centre,” “experiential learning for all,” and “access to a Technology Lending Library,” this fee is expected to create a total of $1.3 million of additional student fees in the 2016-2017 year.

Increased services at VIU’s Health and Wellness Centre will include things such as increased hours of service and psychiatry professionals to deal with mental health issues, said VIU President Dr. Ralph Andrew Nilson.

“What we’re finding is the demand is through the roof, and there is a significant increase in areas we aren’t currently providing service for,” he said. “We worked hard to get a partnership with Island Health, which funds the nurse practitioners, and to get it to campus. Students come from different jurisdictions and can’t always get into walk-ins or emergency.”

VIUSU Organizer-Advocacy representative Patrick Barbosa says the Students’ Union disagrees with the necessity of this.

“The university is actually trying to have their cake and eat it too; they’re double dipping,” he said. “I’m not entirely sure why students who already pay taxes for a health system in the province should also then be expected to pay a university fee to duplicate that service, especially when that service is already being funded by Island Health.”

“Experiential learning for all” is described as a co-curricular record to document involvement in things such as internships, practicums, and work-learning opportunities on students’ transcripts. “We have been working on this for a year and a half, and it’s something new that is very important to demonstrate their learning experiences,” said Witty.

unfortunately the university and student affairs did not provide that fair assessment.”

Barbosa also explained that the VIUSU researched the cost of the program. “The Board of Governors, the Director, and the Executive Director of Student Affairs suggested it is going to cost a little less than $50k,” he said. “So I’m not sure how a $47k licensing fee equates to a $1.3 million student fee.”

Finally, the proposed Technology Lending Library is catered towards the increase in digital needs in university programs.

“More and more we are seeing students’ need to engage in the web and access info from online, and some can afford it, some can’t,” said Witty. “Technology changes so rapidly. We know students can’t afford this. It’s important if we want to provide that high quality learning environment, and want students to choose VIU. We need these fees.”

Barbosa doubts the legitimacy of Witty’s claims and states VIU has not provided evidence of what these alleged expansions will be. “I’m not aware of any occasion that a student has come into this office and said, ‘I really wish the university had more laptops I could borrow in the library,’ because most students have their own laptops,” he said. “If a student doesn’t have a laptop, it’s very likely they have an iPad. This is a decision made by administrators for administrators, and they should have evidence to support that the technology is being requested.”

The Ministry of Advanced Education has a Tuition Limit Policy that states the university cannot create new fees for existing programs over two per cent. “Because these are new services it does not apply, as the government limitation at two per cent applies to current fees in place,” said Witty.

While the Board of Governors claims these enhanced services are new programs to VIU, the VIUSU believes they are pre-existing. “We have always had technology lending from the library; we’ve always had experiential learning, and we currently have nurse practitioners,” said Barbosa. “These programs exist, so that means, under the Ministry of Advanced Education’s policy, the university is literally not allowed to create these fees.”

Lack of funding from the Ministry of Advanced Education appears to be fueling the debate on ancillary fees. Witty explained, “We don’t have other sources of income,” illustrating the fact that institutions in BC are underfunded.

As an attempt to solve this issue, the Students’ Union believes the Ministry of Advanced Education has been coaching the institution in creating these ancillary fees, said Barbosa.

“What we have is a system where people aren’t creating fees to supplement services that students want; they’re creating fees VIU’s Health and Wellness Centre opened in May 2015.

Natalie Gates because the Ministry says, ‘Hey, we know you’re underfunded.’

It’s a real challenge for university and college administrators, Barbosa stated that no one overseeing the process suggested and so it’s a real challenge for us.” there would be a mandatory fee of $1.3 million assessed to The VIUSU is currently circulating a survey to retrieve students to pay for the program. “We feel as though we have students’ opinions on the proposed new fee. Contact the been misled in that process,” he said, “because to make Students’ Union for further information. a fair decision, you need both the costs and benefits. And

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Worldly opportunities

Left to right: WUSC co-chairs Hamdi Aweys and Jessyca Idi.

Natalie Gates

Chantelle Spicer In light of the Syrian civil war, many VIU WUSC will also be hosting two other events during

of the country’s citizens now find themselves seeking sanctuary in other countries, with millions of people now separated from their homeland and culture. Under the new Liberal government of Canada, we open our doors to those seeking refuge from this crisis, offering a doorway into a new kind of life for many. This is not an easy thing for those new to Canada, who are submerged into a new culture, for many a new language, and exponential financial burdens.

In November of 2015, VIU announced that the institution would be supporting refugee students from Syria, committing to doing everything possible to assist the refugees who have fled civil war in their country. This includes the creation of the VIU International Refugee Scholarship Fund and supporting the Scholars at Risk Program, which would assist those whose education has been disrupted due to the violent situation.

To help aid in the goal of continuing education for Syrian students, International Development Week at VIU, which takes place from February 2 to 5, will feature many events to raise global awareness on this and other issues. The Worldbridger Film Series, a free movie series hosted every term at VIU, will be showcasing A Requiem for Syrian Refugees, directed by Richard Wolf. This is a fundraiser event, with all donations going to VIU International Refugee Scholarship Fund, which will go towards sponsorship of a Syrian student through VIU’s World University Service of Canada (WUSC) committee. This student will be arriving to VIU in September of 2016.

Worldbridger Film Series is open to everyone. Movies are shown every Thursday night at 7 p.m. in bldg. 356, rm. 109. This series uses the art of film to raise awareness of many global issues and cultures, including war and peace, human rights, gender, and music. By exploring these issues, it creates space for bringing together those with different perspectives and expanding the mind into different realities of being human.

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International Development Week.

On February 1, WUSC, along with several other clubs and groups involved in development and social justice, will host a booth on volunteer opportunities through the club, where the theme will be global youth employment. This event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the upper cafeteria.

“We will talk about humanitarian projects and opportunities for students interested in travelling abroad and show how we can connect them,” said WUSC co-chair Jessyca Idi. “In some situations, there is the possibility of these opportunities adding to their credits.”

On February 2, WUSC, along with VIU’s Syrian Refugee Response Committee, the City of Nanaimo, and the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society will host “Stories of Migration.” Here, several refugees living in the community will tell their stories of how they came to Nanaimo; in addition, there will be time for open conversation on how to get involved or provide support for refugees. VIU WUSC’s own co-chair Hamdi Aweys will tell her story of how she lived in Somalia, entered a Kenyan refugee camp, and became a sponsored student through WUSC (see page eight for more on her story).

“I was surprised there are so many initiatives and families in Nanaimo,” said Idi. “There are so many things happening now. For example, the multicultural society is very involved with sponsoring families. Our main focus is usually on campus, but the community is also very important, so we want to work on reaching out more.”

Stories of Migration will take place at the Shaw Auditorium in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre from 7 to 9 p.m.

All International Development Week events are free and open to the public. The full schedule of events and more information can be found at <viu.ca/internationalization/IDW.asp>. For questions regarding WUSC, email Idi at <jessyca.idi@stumail.viu.ca>.

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“We will talk about humanitarian projects and opportunities for students interested in travelling abroad and show how we can connect them.”

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WUSC: From camp to campus Natalie Gates

Noor Mohamed Maalim, 23, breezes in two minutes late The Navigator in a crisp, white button-up shirt. With an easy grin and friendly greeting, he plops down two boxes of pizza on a table before his fellow club members. He grabs a marker and struts to the whiteboard where he jots a list of priorities to be covered at the VIU World University Service of Canada (WUSC) meeting.

He has obviously done this before.

WUSC is a Canadian non-profit organization working in international development. They collaborate with a unique network of postsecondary institutions, private-sector partners, and volunteers to provide education, employment, and empowerment opportunities to millions of disadvantaged youth around the world, both within their home countries and abroad. The Student Refugee Support service pays for one year of schooling abroad, and living expenses.

After the end of the students’ first year, sponsored students apply for student loans and often look for jobs to finance the rest of their schooling.

Some of the students around Maalim’s table are sponsored refugee students, others are not.

But each leans in intently to listen to the year’s plans. Maalim and students with lead roles in the club discuss how they will greet the new sponsored students at the airport in the next few

“It’s hard to describe the refugee camps in words.”

- Noor Mohamed Maalim

weeks. Hamdi Aweys, 24, her head covered in a beautiful canary-yellow scarf, says she will cook the first Canadian dinner for the new arrivals. A few years ago, Maalim and Aweys were the ones stepping off the airplane and being greeted to a whole new world by a similar group of students.

Maalim and Aweys were both born in the midst of the Somali Civil War, which caused the deaths of over 350 thousand Somalis due to starvation, disease, and war violence. An ongoing conflict sparked by the fall of Somali President Siad Barre’s regime in 1991, the Somali Civil War has been perpetually waged by armed rebel groups competing for power. The resulting collapse of customary law and absence of a central government has led to Somalia being characterized as a “failed state.”

Maalim was only one year old when he left Somalia with his parents and four brothers. For 18 years his family lived in the Daadab refugee camp in Kenya. In a different story, Aweys’ father was a victim of war three months before she was born. When she was five years old, her mother sought refuge and brought the family to the same refugee camp.

“It’s hard to describe the refugee camps in words,” Maalim says. “I don’t want to say that nobody can live there—I lived there for 18 years—but there’s no opportunity. There are a lot of talented students there who could go to post-secondary school, but after they finish high school there’s no opportunity. If a student has a

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dream of being a doctor, that’s the end.”

Originally meant to accommodate approximately 90 thousand refugees, the citysized camp in the Kenyan desert has seen its numbers swell to more than half a million. With the growing population came the struggle to attain enough clean water, sanitation, and food.

Likewise, safety was not guaranteed.

“There were some girls that were kidnapped from their houses in the camp,” Aweys says. “It was very stressful knowing there was a bad man around that was kidnapping girls.”

After completing high school, Maalim and Aweys applied to be sponsored students through WUSC. Students may apply to multiple schools, but if they are not accepted by any, the WUSC will place them at one. Both Maalim and Aweys were accepted by VIU. Maalim arrived in Nanaimo in 2011 and just finished his final semester, completing his Bachelor of Business with a double major in Accounting and Finance. Aweys, now in the third year of her Accounting degree, arrived at VIU in 2013.

The WUSC sponsored students program is competitive; approximately one thousand students across 60 schools in each camp apply every year, of which only 10 to 20 students have grades that qualify. In total, between 50 to 60 students from Kenya and another 50 from the Middle East and Asia are accepted. Students who do not qualify their first time may apply twice more in proceeding years. Aweys had friends who did not make the cut.

“I felt very bad for my friends who did a good job but didn’t qualify,” she says. “Many now go to Nairobi universities, but I don’t know if they are happy with that. There are no opportunities like going abroad where they wanted, and they are still not given good jobs because they are considered refugees.”

“In the camps there are no resources, no books, no stationary—there’s nothing,” Maalim says. “Some of the teachers there aren’t well qualified, so few students will make it to the standard to qualify, which is a B+, because even here, with all the resources, it’s quite hard to get a B+.” In addition to academic testing, students do community service to indicate that they are willing to contribute to their new country as well. WUSC also ensures that each student is prepared to move and attend university, but also considers how vulnerable they are so they can help the students who are the most deserving, Maalim says.

During their first few weeks in Canada, Maalim and Aweys were full of excitement for what seemed to be the endless possibilities before them, but adapting took a toll.

“When a student comes here, they are so excited to see everything and learn everything, and there are lots of people who are interested in talking to the student because he is new and he has a unique background,” Maalim explains.

“But after a while the student goes through a depression. It’s like a honeymoon phase, then a depression. They feel like they want to go back to their original place.”

“My first year I was very homesick,” Aweys says. “Now when I think of my mom and miss her, I try to sing songs for her. I sent one to her recently and she was crying.”

For Maalim, the transition has included adapting to the western pace of life.

“We are more individualistic here,” Maalim says. “We need to do our own stuff. But at the

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refugee camps, they have nothing to do—they don’t have a dream, so they are always socializing, and it’s a communal life where everyone is always coming together. Back home, if I didn’t give time to my friends, they would think I was no longer interested in their friendship.”

WUSC members and other people in the community commit to supporting the sponsored students as they make this transition. Each student lives in student housing for at least their first year, and Resident Life Assistant Manager Kelly Muir says residence staff keep an eye on new refugee students.

“It comes in the form of donated goods, like bedding and school supplies, and also in taking time to intentionally connect with the students to see how they are doing,” Muir says. “I wouldn’t say I stalk them, but I do keep a watch out for them.”

“I didn’t like the tiny rooms [in residence],” Maalim laughs, “but you have that interaction with students from different cultures. It’s so beautiful to make friends with so many different backgrounds.”

Despite some hard times, some of the culture shock has been easy to manage. “When I first came here, everyone was always smiling,” Maalim says. “Back home, if you don’t know the person, you don’t smile to them. They really think there’s something wrong with you if you do,” he laughs.

Noor Mohamed Maalim (right) with a friend at the Bike for Refuge fundraiser in October.

Courtesy of WUSC Facebook Page

Other differences are more profound; the refugee camp they lived in was predominantly Muslim, and the role of faith was much more prominent. For example, Aweys’ religious practices prohibit her from shaking hands with someone of the opposite gender. “I’ve had times where it is very tempting to shake hands with people I meet, but I have to explain to them I can’t,” she says.

Maalim explains that casual intimacy in public was a new concept he found difficult to adapt to.

“Here, when you make a friend, your friend will just hug you. It’s a friendly hug,” Maalim says.

“My culture doesn’t allow me to hug someone.

When someone did that on my first days when I was more conservative, it was hard for me to accept.” And it goes both ways: “Back home, if I was just with my friends telling them to follow me, I would just hold their hand, but here if you

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do that [with the same gender], they will judge you and think you are gay.”

Aweys says that some people have been more accepting than others: “Racism exists,” she says.

“Some people are very broad minded and accept different cultures—they want to know about you and ask friendly questions. But some people don’t want to talk to you. They want to ignore you and it’s like they are scared of you.”

Despite the stark differences between the two societies, Maalim has grown accustomed to Canadian culture. “After a while we figure out the culture and we figure out our own way. At first it was a shock, but I was also interested in pursuing my education, so that was one thing that I had to support myself to keep trying, knowing that one day I could pursue my dream.”

Inspired by all the people who helped them, Maalim and Aweys joined WUSC to assist other refugee students. Maalim became an active member in his first year and eventually the chair of the club. With events, weekly meetings, and sponsored students to support, it’s a big commitment, but one he is proud of.

Now that he is graduating, he will pass on the torch to Aweys and Jessyca Idi, an international student from Brazil, who will function as cochairs.

“There is no way we can calculate the value of a human life,” Idi says, “and yet statistics make us so indifferent to the individuals, families, and communities that are suffering. It is important to have student involvement because it is not just about funding; it is about raising awareness.”

VIUSU currently sponsors two refugee students each year, and is working with the university to increase that number. In response to the Syrian refugee crisis, VIU has created the

International Refugee Support Fund, with an initial contribution of $10k from the VIU Faculty Association, and all donations are matched at 50 cents on the dollar. The initiative will fund and support a third student from Syria, and fund scholarships for university-aged children of sponsored refugee families arriving in Nanaimo in the coming months. VIU will also join and support Scholars at Risk, which assists academics who must flee violence or persecution in their home country, and provides them with opportunities to study and teach at universities abroad.

In the meantime, Aweys is determined to complete her degree so she can pursue another in gynecology. “That has always been my dream,” she says. “Something I have wanted to do since high school.” She plans to work for a couple years after VIU to save up money before beginning medical school. Marrying is another priority she thinks about.

“My sister got married when she was in grade seven, so she didn’t go to high school. It’s very hard to pass your education when you have a family. Everything is done by the wife and the man does the financial path, but I don’t blame my culture because it used to be like that for all cultures. It was only recently in Canada that women joined the workforce. I find it impressive when I hear friends that are boys here in Canada say, ‘I cook for my wife,’ because that doesn’t happen back home.”

Of course, like all students, they find time for fun. When he isn’t organizing things for WUSC or studying, Maalim is often at the soccer field—a passion he brought with him from Kenya. Both he and Aweys have discovered a love for bowling since moving to Canada. “We go with WUSC members and have bowling nights, with potluck

POINT OF VIU JEFF SIENIEWICZ | CONTRIBUTOR .

dinners and such,” he says.

“And I love just hanging out with friends,” Aweys adds.

Aweys and Maalim both look forward to returning home for a visit.

“I don’t know when,” says Aweys, “but I will.”

Until then, Maalim hopes to bring his mother, who still lives in the camp, to Canada. “I’m hoping that she will be here next year. I’ll be sponsoring her since I’ll be done school and be making money.”

He’s also excited to complete his business degree so he can start working and climbing the corporate ladder. “I want to see what changes I can make in the world,” he says with a smile.

“That’s the long term plan.

“You never know where the future lies.”

Hamdi Aweys.

Courtesy of WUSC Facebook Page

“WOULD YOU PREFER JUMPIN’ JAVA OR A FRANCHISE COFFEE SHOP ON CAMPUS, AND WHY?”

NAVIN YADAV

DANAE WERKEMA

PRATIK BHATIA

ALY SUNDBY

JOHNSON YU

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Nursing (BSN)

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Nursing (BSN)

Hospitality

“I feel some changes need to be made there. It needs a better atmosphere and better hours. Prices aren’t great either. I like the idea of local, but feel a franchise coffee shop would be better overall than Jumpin’ Java.”

“Personally, it doesn’t matter which one. I only go in there when my girlfriend goes. But whichever they choose, it needs to have more space. It’s too small as it is.”

“I’d prefer Jumpin’ Java. It has been here for 19 years and people like it. I think they should allow it to carry on.”

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“Replace Jumpin’ Java. I’ve twice tried to support the local business by going there instead of Starbucks and it has been closed due to staffing issues. I feel Starbucks would be more professional and regular with service.”

“They should leave Jumpin’ Java. They make you feel at home. It brings a warm atmosphere and puts part of Nanaimo right here on campus.”

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VIU SERVICES: SAFETY APP Kelly Whiteside

EVERYDAY EARTH: Going with the flow Chantelle Spicer Water is wonderful in all of its through providing filtration. This is done by immense, forms, whether I am taking a hot shower after a long day, or swimming in the Nanaimo River on a sparkling summer day. Most of my favourite childhood memories come to me while standing in the creek near my house, noting the seasons change in the trees surrounding it. Water is all around us every day, especially here on the coast, taking the form of dense fog that moves like ghosts in trees, and crashing waves against rugged shorelines. Many creation stories, from the Indigenous to the Christian, begin with water. It exists everywhere in literal and figurative forms.

In recent years, water has become the subject of conflict as our cultural connections come head-tohead with the fact that it is a life sustaining resource, forcing it into the realm of a capitalist commodity. As a transient and powerful force on the landscape it is hard to imagine owning water, yet companies ranging from Nestlé to logging companies are doing just that.

Water on a public scale is ruled by watersheds, which are incredibly powerful landscape features that work like the veins of our planet, moving water back to the heart of the earth—our oceans. To look at a watershed from above, it is easy to see the veins literally; the rivers and streams which make it up are almost mirrors of our own human circulatory system.

The watershed in Nanaimo is massive, covering 23 thousand hectares (equivalent to 30 thousand soccer fields), and although the water is a publicly used resource, the land it resides on is privately owned.

This private land ranges from spectacular forests to logging operations and clear cuts under the management of two companies: TimberWest (which owns 12 per cent) and Island Timberlands (which owns the remainder). The City of Nanaimo website says the city itself owns the structures which provide its citizens with the tap water, including the footprints of two dams (the larger being Jump Creek) and the land under which its pipelines reside. This is all managed under the standards of the Private Managed Forest Land Act legislation as well as other provincial and federal regulations with regard to water quality. The City and forestry companies work together to manage the complex relationship between forest and water through a cooperative Watershed Management Plan.

To ensure this all works according to plan, the city samples two thousand times per year, resulting in Nanaimo “water generally meet[ing] the legislation and guidelines for drinking water quality.”

To me, however, the water within our watershed is for more than testing and best-management practices for forestry operations. Rivers within our watershed hold significant spiritual meaning to the Snuneymuxw and Stz’uminus First Nations, neither of which were mentioned by TimberWest or the City of Nanaimo on their respective websites when I was conducting this research. The Nanaimo River is the setting for many of my summer days spent in idyllic wilderness, and I know I’m not alone. The waters have special value to the fish and wildlife which make the rivers their home, which include trout, amphibians, and salmon.

The relationship between forest and the watershed is what is most highlighted in this fight for the land. A forest in its natural state is not only a thing of beauty, but it also provides an important function to waterways Contributor

The Navigator The “spring” semester actually takes place during winter—the time of the year when it may be dark whether you’re heading to class in the morning or leaving campus at night. There’s also a higher possibility of snow or other extreme weather forcing the university to close. These are some of the reasons VIU has created a safety app for students and staff.

The VIU Safety App posts current and expected weather conditions daily, and will alert you when campus is closed unexpectedly. In the event of a campus emergency, such as an earthquake, power outage, or fire, the app walks you through proper procedures. There’s also a list of emergency contacts available at the touch of a button, including campus security, first aid, and 9-1-1.

A safety toolbox features a flashlight and a loud alarm, as well as the option to send your location to a friend or security. If you feel unsafe, you may request a security guard to safely accompany you to your campus destination.

The app also includes a list of safety resources, including information on counselling, drink spiking, health and safety services, emergency kits, emergency preparation, and more.

If you see something suspicious on campus, you’re encouraged to send a message or photo to security. If you see something that needs fixing, you can also send a message or photo to campus maintenance.

The VIU Safety App has already shown its usefulness this year; on January 20, there was a gas leak on campus, and the Safety App reported updates every 15 minutes.

The app is available free to download on iOS and Android.

established root systems belonging to the trees and understory plants which take up excess water during our frequent periods of intense rains. When the forests above the rivers are cleared, rain falls upon the hillsides, running straight into our drinking water system along with soil sediments and debris.

There have been recent pushes by concerned citizens to come to better terms with our relationship with our watersheds. In March 2015, the Nanaimo Council was approached to start the process of making these waters a publicly owned and controlled resource.

The movement was backed by similar pressures from the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, which has brought the issue to the attention of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Three options were brought before city council that day: Purchase the lands around Jump Lake, take possession of the entire watershed, or create a governance structure which involves the community on land decisions in this area. All three options would allow the public to control clean, fresh water now and into the future, and would “[create] the foundation for resilient communities and a robust economy.”

The fight is not an unfounded one, although it would make Nanaimo a rarity on the provincial landscape, as only two other cities, Victoria and Vancouver, privately own their watersheds. I recently spoke with Paul Manly, former Green Party candidate, now a humbly concerned citizen who approached council regarding the issue of making our water a publicly controlled resource. Manly has been an advocate of water protection for years, having become a major voice in the area in 1993 when an exposé he did on logging in the Victoria watershed raised public awareness. Ten days after video footage of the devastation of the area was released to local news, logging operations were ceased. In 2007, Victoria went even further, purchasing the adjacent Leech Watershed, and allowing it to begin a return to its natural state as forested land.

In regards to our local Nanaimo watershed, Manly pointed out, “the land has changed ownership a few times already and could end up being owned by any foreign corporation or used for other purposes. At this time, it is logged right out. What we have seen happen in Shawnigan, which is also a privately-owned community watershed, is that it is all subdivided and has many resources being pulled from it. The Forestry Act and Mining Act supersede the Water Act. This is our most important asset we are talking about here, in terms of economics and health, now and into the future. This needs to be protected more fully.” Private ownership by foreign corporations is especially grievous for Manly, especially in regards to the North American Free Trade Agreement, Foreign Investment Protection Agreement, and the Korean Free Trade agreements.

At this time, there is no action on behalf of city council to move forward with the public purchase of our watershed. Concerned citizens, like Manly, in conjunction with groups like the Nanaimo Area Land Trust and the Nanaimo River Watershed Roundtable are going to be drivers of this action. That means us— anyone who cares about the many values that water holds for us as humans. All of us are inland seas, made up of water, surrounded by water, all of it connected.

Water, water everywhere—who wants a drink?

Courtesy of <apparmor.com>

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Nanaimo Lakes Road: A logger’s playground

Spenser Smith Contributor

The Canadian prairies is a decrepit gold mine of photo opportunities. While navigating the maze of gravel roads outside my hometown of Regina this Christmas, it didn’t take long to find abandoned houses circa 1880 and old train cars emblazoned with rust. I started to wonder: What is the Vancouver Island equivalent to exploring gravel roads in the prairies? The ocean, the forests, the mountains—

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it’s all stunning—but sometimes, it’s almost too pristine. Where could I find some rot and destruction mixed in with the natural wonders of the Island? When I arrived back in Nanaimo, I found my answer in the logging roads off Nanaimo Lakes Rd. and the clearcut forests they provide access to. Simultaneously barren and lush, there is something otherworldly about these landscapes.

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1 ­— The forest, logged and half-alive, is guided by winding trails.

2 — Snow-covered twigs reach for the sun.

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3 — The sky, usually obstructed by vast stretches of overarching trees, is given free reign.

4 — A marked tree divides stumps and the still standing.

5 — Not sure who Spanky is, but he/ she is probably up to no good.

[Editor’s note: Spanky refers to a popular TV show from the 1930s called Our Gang about Spanky and his gang of five to eight year-olds.]

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ZIGGY. PLAYED. GUITAR.

David Bowie in the video for Blackstar.

Courtesy of <diymag.com>

Brady Tighe

Ziggy played guitar. Bowie played Ziggy.

Contributor

Bowie is dead and the world suddenly credits him for everything cool, everything uncool, making everything uncool into something cool, inventing the very idea of cool, the very idea of everything to ever exist, and possibly a few things that aren’t included on that vast list. They forget that the song “Heroes” is all Bowie needed to contribute to forever be worthy of monuments and monoliths. He’s chain-smoking, with one eye brown, and one eye blue. He’s the eternal star man, and there’s something wrong, and this time it’s not an astronomical coke habit and a penchant for young flesh—a son of the silent age who never failed to always give us a beautiful vocal performance.

Razor wires for guitar strings—this is a blackout, and down on the ink black streets devoid of light, young androgynous rebels in leather jackets count constellations and hope that their dealer can still find them among all this darkness.

The only sounds are the heavy cleaver strike of zippo lighters and zippers being drawn down for all kinds of late-night life of Mars-style love.

“Hey babe, let’s stay out tonight.”

Am I only coming to all of these conclusions now because he’s dead? Was he lost in the ether of hot wax record collections until his death shot everyone’s copy of Station to Station into action and forced it to fall out of the shelf? No one will know, and debating such things is foolish.

All we know is that we are lesser now. That is one thing that all of the papers and blogs and posts and rants and pieces of writing (including this one) get right. I did not know Bowie the person, but I knew of Bowie the idea, and that idea was one that clicked its heeled boots, chopped its rails out, and sang whatever the fuck it wanted regardless of the culture. Then, when it became sick of that idea, it moved on to the next one—a chameleon indeed.

One thousand cheesy obituaries typed to cash in on something trending—the anti-Bowie. This piece is included with all of those as well. I tried to make it a little different, but being different?

It ain’t easy, no matter how many sentence fragments you churn out in a small room after reading too much Beckett. He won the Pulitzer, though, so there must be something at the bottom of this well besides rats and more ranting?

I’m done, I need some sleep, and I think my spaceship knows which way to go, which is enough sound and vision for me to make it through the night. There, that’s enough.

SWEET DREAMS NORMA JEAN: FILM REVIEW Brandon James Mason in Sweet Dreams Norma Jean.

Brendan Barlow Sweet Dreams Norma Jean is a short film in mind, the film may have benefitted from a simpler story.

set to screen at the Vancouver Island The Navigator Short Film Festival in February. The short was directed by Dave Hamilton and written by B.J. Mason.

The movie runs only six minutes and 24 seconds, and attempts to communicate a pretty complex story in that time. The plot, taken from their film’s page, is as follows:

[The film] follows a girl seeking revenge for the terror brought forth upon her family. Being the lone survivor in the brutal aftermath of her [family’s] murder, she seeks out the man responsible and takes justice into her own hands. Eager to find her [family’s] killer, the girl’s broken heart and irate behaviour get her in well over her head.

It’s an engaging premise to be sure, however the film is hampered in the telling due to its brief run time. Much of the story is communicated through exposition rather than the audience being shown. I recognize that when working with extremely limited budgets (and a short run time), adding more scenes can put impossible needs on the filmmakers. With that

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There is no denying that the film is beautifully shot. There is no credit to a cinematographer that I was able to find, but whoever was responsible should be very pleased. Shots are well-composed, though the first pre- and post-title scenes are quite different aesthetically but they do work in both cases.

The editing works well too, the filmmakers have done real great work on a technical level, though a bit more work on the sound design would have been to their benefit, a gunshot sound effect in the film feels like a sound effect, more than something that happens in the world of the film.

Both of the main actors do solid work, if at times a little bit stilted. Hayes (Brandon James Mason) is an interesting character, and Mason gives a solid performance. Crawford (Carly Neigum) is not as well-defined, but Neigum makes it work well.

The writing may have benefitted from an edit or two, and if I’m being honest, could have done without any use of the “n-word.” I recognize that there is a desire to make things “period accurate” but, in most cases, nothing is added from its use, and that is the case with this movie. It’s jarring, and only serves to be “shocking” rather than to add any depth or

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Courtesy of <vimeo.com>

definition to the character who uses it, or even to communicate the period in which the film is set. It comes off more exploitative than anything else.

The issues that I had with the Sweet Dreams Norma Jean, could largely be credited to the simple fact of short films being what they are: short. The story is too complex to only be told in six minutes, and working with no budget can be an extremely challenging thing. That said, the movie is well-shot, well-assembled, and showcases good work from all involved.

The Vancouver Island Short Film Festival takes place February 12 at 7 p.m., and on February 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Each screening has a different post-show event, the February 12 will feature a performance from Nanaimo’s Boomshack, the 2 p.m. show on the February 13 will feature an actor’s Q&A, and the 7 p.m. show will feature the festival awards ceremony.

Tickets are $15, and sell out quite quickly, so get yours right away. See <visff.com/tickets/> for more information about tickets. Sweet Dreams Norma Jean, as well as 12 other films, will be playing so don’t miss out on a showcase of great talent from a huge number of local and international filmmakers.

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No girls allowed Brendan Barlow The Navigator

This article may contain spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Get over it, and read it anyway.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is now the third highest grossing film of all time. Sitting pretty at more than $1.75 billion, the movie has smashed through records and proven that the Force is strong in fans of the franchise. On top of its financial success, The Force Awakens has proven that a genre dominated by white, male heroes can flip that paradigm on its head by casting a woman as not only the main character, but also as the hero of the story. It’s easy to say that this isn’t, or shouldn’t be, a big deal, but the fact is that this carries implications for gender and the future of the Star Wars franchise, and film as a whole.

It would appear, however, that the creators of merchandise haven’t gotten the memo. Complaints about the absence of female characters in movie merchandise—particularly toys marketed to young boys—have been increasing in frequency, and the reasons given from manufacturers are spurious at best. There is no denying that, despite the beliefs of manufacturers, there are is an enormous audience of female fans for comic books and science fiction.

Millenium Falcon toy set.

Looking at those examples, it is inconceivable Courtesy of <IdleHands.blogspot.com> that the fans who helped The Force Awakens or even The Avengers make over $1 billion could be entirely, or even predominantly, male. Yet, when we look at the products that are so often associated Gwendoline Christie, who is again absent from this with these products, female characters often get set in favour of non-specific characters. Further minimized or erased completely. proof of this bizarre erasure of Ridley’s character comes from a Millennium Falcon playset which features Chewbacca, Finn and BB-8, but is, once again, missing Rey despite her being the character who is most associated with the Millenium Falcon during the film.

Of course, this problem is not limited to Star Wars. Similar problems keep coming up with merchandise for films like Guardians of The Galaxy and The Avengers. Despite both films having outstanding female characters, their presence is noticeably reduced in merchandise for both films, from action figure sets that feature all of the Avengers except Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johannsen, to backpacks that feature the four male Guardians and exclude Zoe Saldana’s Gamora.

This is not to say that these toys do not exist; if you look for them you will find examples. The trouble is that many of them feature the female Guardians of the Galaxy backpack. character on their own, and there is an obvious lack of variety and availability. Female characters Courtesy of <Superhero-Collection.com> are pushed aside and often marketed to girls, rather than any address to the fact that the fans of A perfect example of this exclusion comes any franchise are hugely diverse and this exclusion from a collection of action figures sold at Target is not something that should be written off as which features the main characters from The trivial. The implication of not including these Force Awakens—iconic characters like Finn, female characters is twofold, one being that girls Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, Random Storm Trooper, don’t care or want the toys anyways, the other Random Pilot A, and Random Pilot B. All of your being that boys shouldn’t have female characters favourites are represented, right? The obvious present in their toys. Both of these are ludicrous issue is that Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, is the assumptions, and we confirm them every time we main character of the film and has more to do with remain silent. the plot progression than John Boyega’s character. Toy manufacturers and Disney have both Now, this is not to say that she should be included responded to the criticism received so far. Hasbro instead of Boyega, but it should be clear by the responded to complaints over Rey being absent other characters included that there was certainly from the Star Wars edition of Monopoly by saying room for her. Also excluded is Phasma, played by that “the game was released in September, months

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before the film, and Rey was not included to avoid revealing a key plot line,” which is absurd on its face. Monopoly is not played like the plot of a Star Wars movie, and including a character from the film is not a spoiler on its own. The version of Monopoly in question features Darth Vader, who is not present in the film at all, and Luke Skywalker, who appears only briefly. These two characters’ presence could act as spoilers too, but they were included anyways. Disney, in a statement given to Buzzfeed, said that “Rey figurines were held out of stores until after the movie was released as they contain moderate movie spoilers… [and] a new wave of Rey products will be available in January.” This would suggest that it isn’t possible to adjust the merchandise to avoid spoiling, if that is the concern.

And what of the promise from Disney that January would show an influx in Rey merchandise?

One article, from <FiveThirtyEight.com>, showed that those looking for “girls’” toys on the Toys ‘R’ Us website will only be shown 17 per cent of the merchandise that has been deemed as “for girls,” while the remaining 83 per cent are shown as “for boys.” As well, in terms of numbers of toys sold at Toys ‘R’ Us, 38 feature Kylo Ren, 15 include BB-8, and only 10 feature Rey despite her being the central character in the film.

Action figure set.

Courtesy of <Nerdist.com>

At the end of the day, there is no reason for the exclusion. It is a clear example of a real problem with representations of gender in film and entertainment. The outcry does make one feel optimistic, but only time will tell if it makes any difference.

Vote with your wallets, and always ask #WheresRey.

Avengers set.

Courtesy of <TheOdysseyOnline.com>

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A few surprises:

Radiohead Tribute Night at the Dinghy Dock Sacia Burton

On a brisk evening in mid-January, Nanaimo musicians and Radiohead fans alike bundled up for a quick boat ride in the Contributor name of nostalgia, nachos, and dreamy music. Together we were ferried across the harbour by our captain, Bernard, to the Dinghy Dock Pub on Protection Island. Amidst adornments of seaglass, life preservers, and the odd mermaid, the crowd was serenaded throughout the night by six acts covering their favourite Radiohead songs.

Paul Mitchell kicked off the show with a crowd-pleasing rendition of “Karma Police.” A quick survey showed many heads bobbing and mouths silently singing back-up to this well-known tune. It felt like a room full of people who are in on a secret, which is a good way to start a show. Mitchell kept the tempo up with his rendition “Just,” and left it on a mellower note with “High & Dry.” Mercedes Courtorielle took the stage second, summoning the crowd to settle in for a few quieter songs. Having heard her cover “Creep” before, I was eager to hear it again. Her take on “Fake Plastic Trees” and “No Surprises,” similarly, left nothing to be desired. With incredible control over her voice and a warm presence that immediately draws you in, this lady and her ukulele sure can (and did) stop a show.

Dane Letourneau and Jesse Janzen (of Nanaimo’s art rock favourites Gold & Shadow) graced the stage third. Whether they missed or ignored the “acoustic” memo, I don’t know. Either way, I am happy they did. In addition to guitar, Letourneau brought in synth sounds while Janzen’s kick drum and shaker set the beat. This combination allowed the duo to stay true to the complex songs they covered from Radiohead’s 2006 album In Rainbows. As someone whose introduction to Radiohead came by way of In Rainbows during high school, I felt a particular soft spot for Letourneau and Janzen’s true-to-the-original covers of “Weird Fishes – Arpeggi,” “15 Step,” and “Videotape.”

To further prove the magic of Radiohead, Letourneau shared a story about the 2008 In Rainbows concert he and Janzen attended in Vancouver. According to Letourneau, for the encore of the show, Thom Yorke asked if the crowd would rather hear “Idioteque” or “Paranoid Android.” To Letourneau’s disappointment (as an “Idioteque” fan), the popular vote went to “Paranoid Android.”

Then, as if by some divine (or at least badass) force, when Yorke sang the line “rain down/rain down/rain down on me,” the weather, in fact, complied. The skies opened up; the crowd went wild; and everyone slodged home afterwards, mesmerized and muddy.

Back at the Dinghy Dock, three more acts graced the stage. In addition to two songs played solo (“Idioteque,” likely to Letourneau’s delight, and “The Tourist”), Sean Patton brought Elise Boulanger on stage for a delicate duet of “Pyramid Song”. Boulanger’s vibrant voice aligned with Patton’s rambunctious guitar and lingering vocals. Boulanger’s training as a classical opera singer rang through the long-held, captivating notes. I had chills.

As the night continued, David Bitoni re-energized the hushed crowd with enthusiastic covers of “Paranoid Android,” “Everything In Its Right Place,” and “I Will.” Finally, Nick Begg and Katelyn Wood capped off the night with delicious harmonies on “True Love Waits,” “How To Disappear Completely,” and “Faust Arp.” A loop pedal brought layers of the playful pair’s voices to the, once again rapt, crowd.

I was impressed that each act covered three of their favourite Radiohead

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Paul Mitchell, seen through the nautical décor of the Dingy Dock.

Sacia Burton

songs with no overlap. “We did a lottery to make sure that each artist did three unique songs,” said Andrew Roberts, owner of Got Pop? concerts, and promoter of the show. Each performer made a list of 10 songs they wanted. Roberts then worked his way down the list, starting with their first picks, to sort out a line-up that fit everybody. This is the first tribute night that Got Pop? has hosted at the Dinghy Dock. After seeing the success of full-band tribute nights popping up in Vancouver and Victoria, Roberts believed there was a market in Nanaimo for something similar. The Dinghy Dock also hosts a running series of acoustic shows put on by Got Pop?, so Roberts had no doubt that a stripped-down tribute night would be a hit.

Surprised to have recognized so many of the tunes, I was reminded of the scope of the Radiohead canon. Their broad range of works have infiltrated our collective pop culture headspace, and I’m quite OK with that. As a fan, it was a treat to hear what Radiohead means, and could sound like, to a diverse roster of local artists.

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OXENFREE GAME REVIEW

The dialogue interface in Oxenfree.

Night School Studio

Antony Stevens On Google, the word “blocking” is defined in a few ic dial. The only other queue is one at the heart of Oxenfree’s emotional

different ways. As a noun, it is “the action or process of obstructing movement, progress, or activity,” as in a “failure to recall or consider an unpleasant memory or train of thought.” As a verb, it is to “design or plan the movements of actors on a stage or movie set.” Oxenfree, the inaugural title from Night School Studio—a team of talents formally of Pixar and Telltale Games—is best considered with the word blocking in mind.

Oxenfree opens on a small boat, where it introduces you to its equally small cast of only five characters. You puppet Alex, a high school senior who’s on her way to a beach party on a deserted island with some old school chums and (reluctantly) her new step-brother. Your old friend Ren promises the night will be one to remember—so long as you’ve brought your radio which he assures will pick up on some unusual transmissions later in the night. Things go quickly awry once Alex taps into the transmissions, but the game never devolves into straight horror. Oxenfree maintains an eerie adventure through the lens of teenagers wrapped up in the drama of finding themselves all amidst a disturbing (albeit fun) paranormal mystery.

The majority of your time with Oxenfree will be spent engaging in dialogue; as you roam the island, one of your acquaintances will begin a conversation and you’ll be able to both converse and wander the area simultaneously. Oxenfree never forces you to be a talking statue, instead always giving you a way to direct the scene and block your character. In a campfire scene, for instance, you can grab a beer, throw some rocks in the ocean, poke the fire, all while continuing to involve yourself in conversation. You can even walk away, and the characters will remark on you leaving before continuing what they were saying in a natural segue.

As in the Telltale adventure games that inspired it, Alex as a playable character is more an extension of you and your perception of the character’s role than it is a traditional player insertion. Each dialogue in Oxenfree offers you a brief time to choose from a selection of paraphrased responses—a dialogue tree—each with varying subtextual attitudes. The response you choose is then elaborated by Alex to form a naturally flowing dialogue that develops her character in the tone you choose. She can be shy or spunky or a sarcastic badass, and she can open up about her family or friends or her personal grief over the death of brother, all depending on which options you choose. Alternatively, you can block it all out and choose not to respond at all.

The system isn’t perfect; however, sometimes Oxenfree will buffer your dialogue selection to come during a natural lull in conversation, but sometimes it will blatantly interrupt what another character was saying. Most of the time, the dialogues are so long and the areas so sparse that you can reach the end before a conversation is even finished. Then you have to either interrupt the dialogue to continue the game, or pace around for a while until it finally ends.

The alterations Night School has made to the dialogue wheel incur a minimalistic design philosophy. There is almost no visual interface beyond the occasional, subtle queues to interact, or to speak (emblazoned in speech bubbles), or change the station on your radio via a holographThe Navigator

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salience: A notification that a character is thinking about another via a small thought bubble.

If you worry or upset another character, a brief indicator will appear above their character’s head with the face of the character they’re thinking about. The feature offers nothing more than the knowledge to you that Oxenfree’s characters are, in some ways, alive. And that’s one of the game’s greatest achievements; by the end of the game, I was able to read the subtext of Alex’s dialogue simply because I knew her so well as a character I shaped.

The result is theatrical if not cinematic—Oxenfree feels distanced by its omniscient wide-angle camera, and it creates the sense of controlling a stage play. The art of the island and its backgrounds is a painted, almost saturated watercolour style, and it evokes a theatre backdrop with its lay-

Statue on Edwards Island.

Night School Studio

ers and odd, 2D geometry, while the characters stand out as 3D models walking across a stage. There’s an attention to aural design as well; audio queues indicate unlocks, nearby secrets, and puzzle solutions, while the game’s remarkable, voice-acted dialogue is the forefront to the story and mechanics. A rich soundtrack of synth and distortion by Scntfc (recalling the best of his work with Jim Guthrie) scores the game’s many turns of emotion and dramatic tone.

Oxenfree is like a playable podcast serial; it’s like an audio drama that was put to stage and subsequently converted to a videogame—and the narrative would succeed regardless of its medium. What makes it work best as a game, however, is its dedication to player agency. Its dialogue options are large-scale in terms of character development, and player involvement and investment is imperative to solving certain puzzles and reaching one of the game’s widely varying outcomes. Alex is not a formulaic character, but a formative one. And Oxenfree is not just an adventure game, but the advent of a new style of interactive fiction.

This article was originally published on <clipthrough.com>.

NAV IGATOR

A RTS

17

sports & lifestyle

CLIPPERS ACQUIRE GOULD AT TRADE DEADLINE Reid Eccles

The British Columbia Hockey League’s (BCHL) trade deadline came and went on January 10, and the Nanaimo Clippers were actively involved in one of the day’s 10 trades.

The Clippers acquired forward Gavin Gould from the Merritt Centennials in exchange for rookie Clipper forward Zach Court, as well as a future draft pick—a pick Nanaimo received in exchange for goaltender Jonathon Reinhart in a trade with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) back in early December.

North Vancouver native Gould comes to Nanaimo seated 10th in the league, scoring with 54 points in 41 games this season.

In two and a half seasons with Merritt, he totalled 138 points in 153 games and had already earned the title of 24th all-time in Centennials’ scoring. So far, Gould has tallied three points in three games as a Clipper. Court only produced 16 points, eight goals, and eight assists in 33 games as a Clipper before being traded. “[The trade was] to add some forward depth and experience to help down the stretch and into the playoffs,” Clippers’ Head Coach Mike Vandekamp said.

The Navigator

Back in December, it seemed Clippers sniper Sheldon Rempal was set to reach the 50-goal plateau in 50 games.

On January 17, Rempal potted goal number 50 in only 45 games, enforcing his status as the BCHL’s leading scorer. Rempal currently has recorded 90 points in 45 games, averaging two points per game. This is the first time this has happened since the 1998-1999 season.

Reid Eccles

Mariners’ schedule

Gould is welcomed to both the Clippers’ second offensive line, and the second-unit power play, playing on the left wing of Chris Dodero and Nolan Aibel. Up until now, the Clippers have relied heavily on their top line led by Sheldon Rempal. Rempal scored his 50th goal of the season on January 17, and with line mates

Clippers’ new trade, Gavin Gould.

Courtesy of the Merritt Herald

Devin Brosseau and Matt Hoover, the top three have combined for 98 of the Clippers’ total 177 goals of the season (55 per cent).

Although the Rempal-line has proven its dominance all season, secondary scoring is key driving into the playoffs; without a legitimate top six producing each game, one injured forward could stymie offensive output drastically. The Clippers have commanded a lead over the Island Division this season, and with the addition of Gould to the second line they’re preparing to grind their way to the Fred Page Cup. With the Centennials last in the Interior Division, and second to last in the league, only ahead of the dwindling Surrey Eagles, the trade for a draft pick and the youthful Court makes sense.

Gavin is one-year senior to Court—next year will be Gould’s last eligible year in the BCHL, but that means there is potential for Gould to play alongside Matt Hoover on the Clippers’ top offensive line. Gould is committed to Michigan Tech’s NCAA team.

The left-shooting Gould stands at five foot eight, weighing in at 160 pounds, and is considerably smaller than Court, but with his addition the Clippers claim four of the top 10 point-scorers in the league (Rempal first, Hoover third, Brosseau fourth, and Gould 10th). As a Clipper, Gould wears the number 23 jersey.

Tickets for Clippers games can be purchased at the box office at Frank Crane Arena starting an hour before puck drop. Tickets are only $10 for VIU students, and a free beer is included with admission.

(January 27 – February 9)

BASKETBALL MEN’S

WOMEN’S

DATE Jan. 30 Feb. 5 Feb. 6

AWAY VIU Quest Langara

HOME Camosun VIU VIU

TIME 8 p.m.

8 p.m.

3 p.m.

Jan. 30 Feb. 5 Feb. 6

VIU Quest Langara

Camosun VIU VIU

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

1 p.m.

DATE Jan. 29

AWAY Douglas

HOME VIU

TIME 8 p.m.

Jan. 30

Douglas

VIU

3 p.m.

Jan. 29 Jan. 30

Douglas Douglas

VIU VIU

6 p.m.

1 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL MEN’S

WOMEN’S

18

SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

NAV IGATOR

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sports & lifestyle

KEEPING IT SIMPLE Catherine Charlebois

Catherine Charlebois

The Navigator

The Navigator

It was a scorching hot day in Toucacas, Venezuela. Local women in colourful dresses chattered in Spanish as they prepared a local favourite. Through the language barrier they managed to teach me how to make these healthy, satisfying dishes which I found to be just as good at home as they were abroad.

“Re-Chicken” salad Surprisingly, this salad is completely vegetarian. Similar to coleslaw, it contains cabbage (repollo in Spanish), and the Venezuelans enjoy poking fun by combining re and pollo (chicken). Creamy, filling, and easy to make, this “re-chicken” salad is a winner in my books.

Ingredients • 2 cups carrots (shredded) • 2 cups cabbage (finely chopped)* • ¼ onion (chopped, add to taste) • Mayonnaise (to taste) • 1½ tbsp fresh cilantro (finely chopped, to taste) • Salt and pepper

Instructions 1. Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.

2. Put salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy. *Though the traditional recipe calls for green cabbage, using red cabbage works too for a tangy taste.

Sprinkling your re-chicken salad might just do the trick.

Catherine Charlebois

Wasakaka salad For those feeling a bit fancy, or wanting an excuse to eat a giant bowl of what is basically guacamole, go for the Wasakaka salad. Though this one doesn’t keep as long, it serves many, and your friends at the party will be your biggest fans.

Ingredients • 4 avocados, cut in small cubes • 2 big tomatoes, cut in small cubes • ½ onion, finely chopped • 1 red pepper, finely chopped • Juice of one lemon • Garlic • Salt

Instructions 1. Add salt, lemon juice, and garlic to taste.

2. Mix all ingredients together.

Tip: Keep the avocado pits and put them in the salad. They keep the avocados green longer.

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Lay off the stress At the end of the fall semester this year, my stress levels were off the charts, and when I get anxious or stressed, my brain goes a million miles a minute and I can kiss my recommended eight hours good night.

Needless to say, a stressed out student and lack of sleep do not go hand-in-hand when it comes to being productive.

I found out about weighted blankets purely by chance.

I was feeling cold one night and decided to grab an extra blanket I had laying around—the green thing is completely the wrong size for my bed, with the corners spilling off the sides onto the floor. I was too cozy to care, so I drifted off to sleep.

To my surprise, that night was the best sleep I had all semester; I felt refreshed, calm, and collected­—something brand new to my end-of-semester frazzled brain. I kept the blanket on my bed, hoping this wasn’t just some miraculous one night extravaganza, but day after day I had blessed nights of sleep—going to bed was a warm embracing hug rather than an endless toss and turn. I was able to focus better on my last projects, so I decided to dig further into why this simple act worked so well.

It turns out that weighted blankets are used by a variety of people, from those with ADHD to soldiers serving overseas—there are even companies that offer custom-made options. In order to gain more knowledge on the matter, I had a heart-to-heart with my friend Alyssa Morton, who uses a weighted blanket to ease symptoms of her Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), where the body is not able to process sensory stimulation to meet appropriate responses to the environment.

SPD comes with four main categories: hypersensitivity, hyposensitive, sensory seeking, and sensory avoiding. While some people may be a part of different categories, Morton is hypersensitive, sensory seeking, and sensory avoiding.

“Due to the [sensory] seeking, my body is constantly in need of sensory input,” says Morton. “If I’m not getting enough input, my body will put itself in panic mode. The weighted blanket gives a constant sensory input, along with the serotonin release, to help my body regulate and remain calm during sleep.”

Not only does the blanket have a calming effect due to the feeling of security, it creates with its mild pressure, and the release of serotonin created by the pressure helps regulate mood, sensory perceptions, and, as with my case, sleeping patterns.

Though the weight of an extra blanket was enough for me, those that require or want a custom-made blanket have many options, with companies specializing in creating custom blankets. There are DIY options out there, and trying it out is something Morton would recommend.

“I made my first blanket out of Ziploc bags, rice, and duct tape,” she says. “It was a good way to test if the blanket would work. It was also a massive conductor of heat, and I used to sleep with the window open all the time to keep cool enough. Eventually it broke apart so many times that my first roommate made one for me. She sewed a bunch of what were basically bean bags together into a quilt that was the required weight.”

Though physiotherapists recommend a 10 per cent bodyweight plus one pound as a standard weight recommendation, some may like it to be lighter or heavier depending on their needs.

“It’s sort of the unwritten code that if you’re doing more than 10 per cent and two pounds, you’re only using the blanket for less than an hour, and it’s for an added therapy reason,” says Alyssa. “For those who are hyposensitive, extra weight might be needed to help them ‘feel’ their body and the resistance. I’m seeking and avoiding largely due to being so incredibly hypersensitive.”

The weight formula is designed to be a safe weight that

NAV IGATOR

Alyssa Morton snuggles up with her weighted blanket.

Alyssa Morton

prompts the body to release higher levels of serotonin, though it may not work for everyone.

My Weighted Blanket, an American weighted blanket business, says that proper blankets should “fit an individual and not a bed,” nor should it hang off the bed (unlike my unintentional weight blanket), as the weight could be unevenly distributed and thus defeating its intended purpose and even causing harm.

A common pattern of weighted blankets is the Grow with Me pattern, where pockets are sewn in to add and remove weight as desired.

Though the weighted blanket isn’t the be-all and end-all solution, it is a great resource. It’s no wonder that such a wide range of diseases and conditions utilize this resource in order to ease their symptoms, from PTSD and anxiety, to lupus, and many more.

For more information on weight therapy, visit <myweightedblanket.com> or <psychologytoday.com/ blog/minding-the-body/201112/choosing-blanket-helpyou-sleep>.

SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

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sports & lifestyle

A STUDENT’S GUIDE: FIVE ESSENTIALS TO A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM Danielle Cunningham Contributor

1

Probiotics

“Eighty per cent of the immune system is in the gut,” Holmes said. The live bacteria in probiotics are an important digestive aid, preserving the health of the gut environment. Probiotics also help the body absorb nutrients and minerals, increasing immune function, and even easing depression, according to Holmes. Probiotic supplements can be found in the form of capsules, or as an active ingredient in organic yogurt. To maintain a healthy balance of probiotics, Holmes recommends taking one tablet a day, with a dose of two million colonyforming units (CFUs). After my diagnosis, I was prescribed antibiotics. Under this circumstance, it is also important to take probiotics for yeast infection prevention.

4

Rhodiola

Rhodiola is a plant-based medicine used to combat stress and anxiety. Rhodiola is used to promote energy, stamina, and improved mental function, said Holmes. The rhodiola root stores most of the plant’s nutrients, which explains its alternative name, “arctic root.” Stress reduction, improved learning, and memory are key benefits attached to the rhodiola supplement, Holmes says. Rhodiola can be obtained in pill form from a local health and wellness shop, and can also be found in grocery stores. The benefits of rhodiola are particularly useful during final exams and times of high stress. Consult a health care practitioner for dosage, as this can vary depending on stress level and the use of other supplements.

20

SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

As a full-time student, I know the stress that comes with meeting due dates and cramming for exams. I also know the toll this stress can take on my health. Last April, in the midst of final exams, I fell ill with mononucleosis (mono), which doctors first misdiagnosed as a seasonal virus.

At first, my symptoms were much like any run-of-the-mill flu: sore throat, dry cough, aching muscles, and the token runny nose. It didn’t surprise me when my first visit to the doctor’s office resulted in little more than an apologetic shrug and a peek at my tonsils.

Two weeks passed, and the symptoms worsened. Walking left me breathless, talking was painful, and small red bumps besieged my body while swelling developed on my lower lip.

Seeking a second opinion, I visited the nearest walk-in clinic. There, I was told that the rash and swelling were inconsequential, likely a result of new laundry detergent or sensitivity to skin care products. After only a little contemplation, the doctor reached the conclusion that an antibiotic “might” be the appropriate solution for what “might” be a bacterial virus. With that, he scribbled a prescription for amoxicillin with a “take it or leave it” passivity.

Another week of worsening symptoms passed, bringing me down a total of 12 pounds, my internal temperature up several degrees, and my frustration immeasurably higher.

Simple blood tests at the emergency room revealed that I had a serious case of mono all along, developing fluid in my chest (pneumonia) in the meantime. Had the doctors probed a little further, an earlier catch could have prevented the infection.

I suffered for a total of two months with these illnesses, which stemmed from a weakened immune system. As Samaya Holmes, a Nanaimo-based registered nutritionist later told me,

2 Colloidal silver Colloidal silver doubles as a natural anti-bacterial agent and an immune booster, Holmes says. Silver can be used to prevent illness and treat eye and sinus infections. This product can be sprayed directly in the eyes, nose, and mouth.

“Silver is tasteless when ingested in good health, but has a metallic flavour when taken during an infection,” Holmes said, comparing the taste to “licking a nickel.”

“The great thing about silver is you can never take too much,” she adds. Three sprays to the infected area three times daily is recommended until the symptoms disappear.

5

immense stress levels, sleep deprivation, and malnourishment had compromised my immune system, causing a chain of subsequent illnesses.

It is clear that Holmes and her team at the Nanaimo Health Shop are passionate advocates for holistic nutrition and natural remedies. Holistic nutrition connects the mind, body, and spirit to achieve personal wellness and fend off illnesses. Holmes referred to these components when assessing my needs during my visit.

Holistic medicine and supplements are natural alternatives to medicine and can be used as precautionary measures when trying to avoid illness—something which I wish I had taken to avoid my fate last April. These remedies found in local health and wellness centres can help maintain a healthy immune system to combat sickness during highly stressful times.

With school back in session and stress levels soon to be (if not already) on the rise, I decided to take my health into my own hands to avoid the same fate. Students like me are more susceptible to the gamut of viruses caused by contagions and weakened immune systems than the general population.

Listed below are five underrated, cost-effective essentials that Holmes recommends students carry in their book bags to take control of their health.

Complementing the list below with a nutritious diet, regular physical activity, and as much sleep as the demands of homework and extra-curriculars will allow, will help prevent or manage symptoms of the cold and flu, and, in more serious cases like mine, mono. I hope my experience encourages others to invest in their immune systems and remember their bodies during a whirlwind of academic obligations. Talk to your naturopath or physician before beginning a holistic treatment.

3 Medicinal mushrooms Medicinal mushrooms are gaining momentum among health critics and consumers, as they are recognized for their numerous nutritional properties, Holmes says. Shiitake, reishi, maitake, and hybrid mushrooms are the best immune boosters to fend off illnesses. Among several other benefits, mushrooms support immune function, regulate cholesterol and blood sugar, and function as an aid with sleep and stress, says Holmes. Viral infections, for instance, can be treated with the use of the reishi mushroom. Practitioners recommend mushrooms be taken daily during times of the year when they are more susceptible to the seasonal flu and viruses. These mushrooms can be obtained in liquid form from the local health food store.

Homeopathic medicine

Homeopathic tablets function as an alternative to the use of prescription drugs, Holmes says. These tablets are rich in tissue salts and minerals, which the body produces naturally.

“Sometimes, the cause of illness is related to mineral and tissue salt deficiency,” said Holmes. “This is where homeopathic medicine comes in.” Allopathy differs from homeopathy, as the treatments used in allopathy produce side-effects that are different from the illness being treated. Homeopathy treats adults and children by responding to cold and flu symptoms rather than preventing them. “Homeopathics are trending among parents,” Holmes said. With an increasing awareness of prescription drugs posing a threat to children’s health, homeopathics are becoming more widely recognized as a natural alternative to medicine. Homeopathic tablets provide instantaneous results, and can aid with nasal issues (runny nose), and other symptoms, such as fever, cough, and sore throat. Holmes recommends that individuals “follow labels for proper dosage. This varies depending on age and symptoms presented.”

NAV IGATOR

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sports & lifestyle

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS:

Fentanyl Q and A with Island Health’s Harm Reduction Coordinator Griffin Russell

Zoe Lauckner

On January 8, students at VIU received an email from the school advising them Contributor of a deadly overdose alert. The lethal drug, fentanyl, which is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine, has been sweeping the local media lately with the number of deaths and overdoses consistently on the rise.

Despite hearing a lot of buzz about this drug for the last few months, very few of us know much about it and how it affects the individual and, consequently, the community. In light of this, I have teamed up with Island Health’s Harm Reduction Coordinator Griffin Russell to provide the student body with more information about the drug that is increasingly taking lives in BC.

Zoe: There has been a lot of talk about fentanyl in the local news lately, with overdoses and deaths happening on the Island and in BC, yet most of us remain unaware of what it is and the depth of its effect on the community. Can you tell me what fentanyl is, exactly?

Griffin: Fentanyl is an opioid, a narcotic pain medication that is most commonly used for pain management in hospital settings, or as a prescription for chronic pain management.

Z: Is the fentanyl that’s on the street causing overdoses and, unfortunately in some cases, death, being sold as fentanyl, or is it laced into other drugs?

G: I am hearing accounts of both scenarios whereby people have reported their experiences of believing they purchased heroin, oxycontin, and, in some cases, crystal methamphetamine, but have in reality bought something adulterated with fentanyl, so have unknowingly taken it. And, along with other prescription drugs, there are also reports of people using fentanyl and other opioids without a prescription.

Z: Why is it so much more dangerous than heroin or other opiates?

G: Fentanyl was not designed for use outside of the medical system (for illicit use); it should only be taken under the care of a physician, with oversight by a pharmacist, and with absolute caution even in these circumstances. Again, it’s not intended for non-medical use.

Z: As you’ve spoken to, fentanyl started as a prescription pain medication intended for use only within the medical

system. With that in mind, do we know how long it has been can be life-saving. The drug will not cause harm when applied on the streets? to an overdose where opioids are not involved, so it should be in the event of any overdose.

G: Based on the rise of overdoses in BC, it would seem early administered

2013 is when the presence of fentanyl in illicit drugs started Z: How can VIU students work to protect themselves against to be more common. This trend has persisted, where fentanyl this drug? continues to be implicated in overdose fatalities. In 2012, five G: It’s important for anyone using drugs, whether once or per cent of overdose fatalities included fentanyl; in 2013, 15 per regularly, to educate themselves on any and every drug they cent; and in 2014, 25 per cent of overdose fatalities displayed use. And people should follow some basic overdose prevention implications of fentanyl involvement, typically in a situation strategies: avoid using alone; always try a small amount first, of polysubstance use as opposed to fentanyl alone. This trend then dose according to your tolerance; avoid mixing drugs and has continued to increase through 2015. using multiple drugs at once; have an overdose response plan; Z: How has the community of Nanaimo specifically been and get a Take Home Naloxone kit. And, as I stated before, calling 9-1-1 is critical in the event of an overdose; it should affected by fentanyl? be the first step.

G: Going back to 2013, Nanaimo has, unfortunately, seen a persistent increase in overdoses, both fatal and non-fatal.

Z: As the Harm Reduction Coordinator for Island Health, can During this time, there have been 53 overdose fatalities in you tell us some of the things happening within the public Nanaimo, and 27 of these have involved fentanyl, and typically health sector to combat this recent flux in fentanyl? other illicit substances as well (heroin, crystal meth, cocaine,

etc.). The rate of fentanyl-detected deaths in Nanaimo has G: We have assembled a Nanaimo Overdose Prevention and been above the provincial average for the past several years. Management working group, bringing together representatives Adding to the concerns of fentanyl is the use of more than one from many local organizations to ensure a coordinated substance, mixing drugs, as polysubstance use increases risks response, including emergency personnel, and we have of overdose as well. developed a data surveillance system to monitor overdose

and to distribute community alerts. Additionally, I Z: What signs and symptoms should we be aware of, in case trends am focused on increasing access to the Take Home Naloxone we suspect an overdose? program, and I anticipate we will see several new services

G: Signs of an opioid overdose could include: slow or no offering naloxone kits within the month. breathing, slow or no pulse, difficulties talking and/or walking, unconsciousness/unable to be woken up, and blue lips and Whether or not you are a drug user, educating yourself about fingertips. These are all signs the body is shutting down and harm reduction and becoming more prepared in the event of there is a lack of oxygen circulating through the body. Critical a suspected overdose will help combat this issue within our to any suspected overdose is calling 9-1-1 immediately. community. There is a great opportunity for anyone to get

coming up on Thursday, January 28 here on campus.

Z: In the email that VIU students received, it states to provide involved VIU, Island Health, and the RCMP are presenting a “Drug breaths until naloxone is administered and/or the individual Overdose and Substance Use Awareness” public forum, from is breathing on their own. What is naloxone and how does 7 to 8:30 p.m. in bldg. 335, rm. 203. Anyone and everyone is it work? welcome and encouraged to attend.

G: Naloxone, also known as narcan, is a medication used to reverse the effects of opioids, including an opioid overdose, and Please be safe, use smart, and, as always, stay sane(ish), VIU. it is a key component to preventing overdose fatalities where Until next time… opioids are involved. So, if someone overdoses on fentanyl, heroin, morphine, oxycontin, or any other opioid, naloxone

The student essentials to organizing a healthy semester Brynn Joyce

Some people claim they work best at 3 The following lists five tips to become a more organized a.m., pumped full of caffeine, writing a and less stressed student. This system works for me; let’s hope Contributor paper on a book they just bought that it works for you too. same morning—but that is something I avoid at all costs. So I’ve created a system to keep myself from falling apart (at least until exams start).

1. Write everything down

Face it—your memory is garbage. You can’t even remember what your professor lectured on two hours ago. Don’t let your brain trick you into thinking it can remember something, because it won’t. Write it down. I don’t care where you do it—it can be in your agenda, your notebook, or your phone—but get it down.

2. Weekly reading list

We have all walked into class only to discover that there was definitely reading to do, and you definitely didn’t do it, and that the in-class discussion is going to be a real pain to bullshit your way through. I have a chalkboard in my room that I’ve divided into five sections—one for each course. Every week I write down what reading needs to be done in each class and the date it needs to be done; it gives me a visual of everything I need to read at a glance.

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3. Weekly project list

This is basically an addition to my previous point. Set a goal for how much progress you want to make in a project by the end of the week. Write down your goals on your chalkboard from tip number two if you have space. If not, you could try writing it on a sticky note and sticking it to your computer screen—anything you can come up with to keep it visual.

Believe it or not, spreading your project out will most likely achieve a better end result than pulling an all-nighter.

4. Month-at-a-glance calendar

5. The due date spreadsheet

This is by far the most useful tool I have, and I am eternally grateful to my friend for sharing it with me. The due date spreadsheet is designed to make sure due dates don’t sneak up on you. It does takes a lot of work to set up, but it has been a life-saver. Open Excel and make five headings: “Due Date,” “Class,” “Assignment,” “Handed-In,” and “Per cent of Grade.”

Now grab all your syllabi and start entering the information for each project into your spreadsheet, in chronological order. You can even colour-code each course if you want. Print it out, pin it to the wall above your computer, and voilà—you’re all set.

On top of my chalkboard, I also have a month-at-a-glance calendar on a whiteboard mounted on my wall where I write down all major events occurring this month—you just need to schedule your life. You might be thinking, “but Brynn, I don’t have the space for a big wall calendar”—it’s just as easy to put events into your phone’s calendar.

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SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

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page 22

“Contaminated” soil, exceeding the BC regulatory amounts of salt, lead, or mercury, is being dumped near Shawnigan Lake’s sensitive watershed, despite the local residents’ protests.

Brandon Kornelson is a Sociology and History student. He hopes to become a journalist.

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January / February

SUN

MON

TUE

WED 27 The Hunting Ground Bldg. 355, rm. 203 7 – 9 p.m.

FREE

THU 28 VIUSU Frost: Free Curling Nanaimo Curling Centre, 106 Wall St.

FRI 29

PechaKucha Vol. 3

Malaspina Theatre

Nanaimo Entertainment Centre, 46 Nicol St.

Doors 7 p.m. $5

TheatreOne’s Fringe Flicks: My Internship in Canada Avalon Cinema, 6631 North Island Hwy. 1, 4, and 7 p.m.

3

BC Lions’ “Be More than a Bystander”

Country Idol 2016 Semi-Finals

Malaspina Theatre

The Queen’s, 34 Victoria Cres.

6 – 8:30 p.m.

FREE

$12

7

2

8:30 – 11 p.m.

FREE

4

The Wet Secrets w/ Kendall Patrick and the Headless Bettys and Ah, Venice The Cambie, 63 Victoria Cres.

Doors 7:30 p.m.

5

Worldbridger Film Series: A Requiem for Syrian Refugees

Lunar New Year Gala: Mulan Percussion Musical

Bldg. 356, rm. 109

The Port Theatre, 125 Front St.

7 – 9 p.m.

FREE

Doors 7:30 p.m. $10

FREE

1

30

One Act Festival

8 – 10 p.m.

31

SAT

$28

6 Characters, Con Men, and Celebrities Nanaimo Museum, 100 Museum Way Students $1.75

$8 advance, $12 doors

8

9

Frontrunners Island Race Series: Cedar 12k

BC Provincial Family Day Swim and Skate

Silva Part II: “Booming Grounds”

Cedar Secondary School, 1640 McMillan Rd.

Oceanside Place Arena, 830 West Island Hwy., Parksville

Nanaimo Art Gallery, 150 Commercial St.

Students $25

Swim 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Skate 1 – 5 p.m.

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

By donation

FREE

JOIN THE NAVIGATOR ONLINE THENAV.CA

/THENAVIGATORNEWSPAPER @THENAV_VIU @THENAV_VIU

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C A L EN DA R

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OPENING JANUARY 2016!

By Levin C. Handy (per http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.04326) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

You don’t have to sit in school to stand among greatness.

› Thomas Edison: The world’s most extraordinary failure never gave up.

Thank goodness.

open. online. everywhere. go.athabascau.ca/online-courses