The Navigator Vol 47 Issue 11 by The Navigator Newspaper

F EBRUA RY 25

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Vol 47

M A RCH 9 FREE

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

Fee disputes between VIUSU and University leaders continue The VIUSU claims VIU's proposed new service fee is a violation of government policy and believes the Ministry of Advanced Education has lost control on the issue.

Real Friends

These fictional tweets were written to satirize the ongoing feud between Taylor Swift and Kanye West.

Fish out of water: Stuey the Sturgeon It might be hard being Vancouver Island’s most recognizable sturgeon. Present at almost every game, VIU’s own Stuey the Sturgeon isn’t just your average living-fossil sea creature.

contents

news

features 08

04 08 Real Friends Editorial:

08 04 The Great Bear Rainforest decision: A big day for forests everywhere

arts 14 08 08 They were short and they 04 VISFF: were films

Extra, extra read all about it! Or...don't? The inequality games are an analogue for social change

Integrating Aboriginal culture into public schools

VIU Services: Shq'apthut

Not to Disappear Album Review

From BC to NB: Women in the campus newsroom

Op-Ed: Diamonds and despair in the discount bins

The convenience of kings: A travel piece

16 Best pictures?

Fee disputes between VIUSU and University leaders continue

Focus your mind: Ambient noise

19 08 04 for ice cream I scream Mariners' schedule

20 VIU hosts the CCAA Badminton Nationals for the first time in over a decade Fish out of water: Stuey the Sturgeon

Giving a heart to Africa

Mental Health Matters: Social constructionism and culture-specific mental disorders

Point of VIU

sports & lifestyle

Visual arts x natural history

VIU mascots: A history

Page 22

Congratulations...you hacked yourself

23 Calendar

CON T EN TS

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letters

nav the

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CONTRIBUTORS Bill Beese Julia Craig Philip Gordon Dana Gullison Claire Jones Brandon Kornelson

Zoe Lauckner James MacKinnon Jeff Sieniewicz 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 donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

These fictional tweets were written to satirize the ongoing feud between Taylor Swift and Kanye West.

Molly “Yeezus” Barrieau Editor-in-Chief

Antony “T-Swizzle” Stevens Associate Editor

EDI TOR I A L S

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news

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT! OR…DON’T?. Natalie Gates

Two BCIT journalism students say they were suspended from their school magazine, The Link, after an email from their publisher was posted online. In the email, the students were encouraged to write positive stories about the school following an alleged peeping-Tom case that rocked the campus. The Link is run by the BCIT Student Association, which is entirely separate from the university. BCIT had been criticized for not telling students about a man who was arrested and charged in November for secretly recording men in a campus bathroom. When news of the arrest broke, Link’s publisher Dan Post sent the students—Jessica Fedigan and Lindsey Howe—an email calling it a “non-news story” and encouraging them to “take this opportunity to promote all the positive BCIT student stories coming out of this campus.” Post, who works for the Student Association, denies he was trying to censor student reporters. “At no point did I ask my staff to not report on the BCIT voyeur incident,” Post told CBC News. “I did not attempt to censor my writers, I did not attempt to encourage them to downplay or spin this very serious matter. I did, however, encourage them to promote positivity whenever possible, something I believe this world desperately needs more of. I stand by that message.” This case brings into question how often university papers have their content and focus challenged by other entities on campus. VIU journalism professor Richard Dunstan was on the Navigator’s Board of Directors for a couple years, stepping down in 2003, and has always been The Navigator

considered an unofficial advisor for the editors. He says he doesn’t know anything of this level occurring at VIU, but explained there have been a number of disputes between the paper and the Students’ Union trying to exercise influence in various ways in the past. These concerned things such as funding, election procedures, and physical facilities. “The Nav is explicitly set up separately from the Students’ Union, with its own non-profit corporation and board, to avoid this sort of nonsense,” he said in an email. “I’m not aware of any directives even attempting to tell the Nav what to print on a matter like this. As to the substance of the dispute, it’s just the sort of mindless boosterism that serious journalists have always resented and resisted.” On the other hand, Dunstan suggested being suspended from the magazine due to the circumstances is not surprising. “It is fair to mention that publishing a contentious memo from the boss and criticizing it in the newspaper supervised by the boss would most likely get you fired from any publication,” he said. SFU’s the Peak is independently run and has not experienced such conflicts. Editor-in-Chief Max Hill says he has spoken to several student journalists in Canada who have had similar struggles with administration and students’ unions “usually as a result of their being owned or operated by those bodies,” though he is unable to give specifics. “I tend to think that student newspapers should have total freedom to tell the stories they want to tell, so naturally I disagree with the publisher’s

choice to suspend the writers,” Hill said. “If the editors of the Link believed this was a story worth covering, that decision should be respected.” Editor-in-Chief of the Capilano Courier Andy Rice said he believes such issues may occur when the paper must answer to administration or the student association on a broad scale. Howe is his former News Editor and he says he can speak to her credibility as a journalist. “We’re lucky at the Capilano Courier in that we’re autonomous and we don’t have any collateral with our school’s administration or student association,” he said. “There’s no fancy legalese dangling over our head that makes us fear we’ll be evicted if we write something unfavourable about anybody when it’s warranted. For other papers, that’s different.” Rice believes that being students can put a target on the backs of journalists for people who want to push their own story agenda. “We don’t have a journalism program at Capilano University, so I’m constantly reminding our editors and contributors to be careful of ‘spin’ and those moments when people do try, sometimes quite innocently, to turn your news story into a carefully-sanitized press release,” he said. “Newspapers have a duty to report the facts and bring light to issues that affect their campus community—good, bad, or otherwise. Good for Lindsey and Jessica for setting that example for the rest of us.”

THE INEQUALITY GAMES ARE AN ANALOGUE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE Natalie Gates

It takes a certain kind of person to dedicate their time to creating The Navigator positive changes in their school, city, and international communities. VIU’s Student Organization for Social Change (SOSC) is doing just that. SOSC started in September 2015 and focuses on raising awareness of a broad variety of issues, with an emphasis on social justice, and plans many different events dedicated to them. “In the summer I was approached by a friend who wanted to take part in more activism, and we just built on that,” said club leader Amanda Inglis. Now, having teamed up with VIUSU’s Women’s Collective, they are planning several discussion groups to build on the one they held in the fall semester. These discussions will be dedicated to rape culture, sex positivity, gender-based violence, and the internet. “The last one had too much content, but it went on a lot of interesting tangents,” said SOSC member Alida Kelly. “So this time we’re breaking them up.” The next especially big event will be The Inequality Games which, with partnership with the Sociology Students’ Union, will highlight different aspects of inequality. “For example, there will be a bake sale where prices for women will be cheaper to represent the wage gap,” said Kelly. “Privilege is a touchy thing, so it’s about engaging in a way to recognize it, that is fun and inspires an intersectional way of thinking.” There will also be a unique obstacle course where participants will pick a label out of a hat and have to do the course as if they are representing that label. “For

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example, compared to a white heterosexual male who will have fewer obstacles to go through, a homosexual Asian female will have more,” said Inglis. “It’s not about saying you have it better off, it’s about respecting both sides.” So far, SOSC has already held several other successful events. They participated in “Halloween for Hunger” where they collected a large donation for the food bank, and in December participated in “Dressember,” a campaign using fashion to advocate for women who’ve been exploited for their feminity. To do so, the women in the club took on the challenge of wearing a dress for 31 days and unexpectedly raised $100 for human trafficking awareness. “Since we’re privileged white girls we wore pants underneath,” Inglis joked. “But it was great.” In January, they held a “Bring Back the Holidays” party in support of the Nanaimo Extreme Weather Shelter where they raised $700 for Nanaimo’s homeless. In addition to the upcoming events, the club’s goal is to expand on campus and get involved with other departments. “We’re just a lot of people dedicated to making change,” Inglis said. The Inequality Games will take place March 7 and 8 at the Royal Bank Plaza. Further information for all of the events will be available soon. You can find the SOSC on Facebook or email them at <rganization4socialchange@ gmail.com> to stay updated. The club meets every other Monday at 2:30 p.m. in bldg. 356, rm. 317. The next meeting will be on March 2.

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Courtesy of The Inequality Games Facebook event page

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Integrating Aboriginal culture into public schools Nanaimo District Secondary School (NDSS) has hired an Aboriginal Elder, Penny The Navigator Seward, becoming the first public school in the district to do so. Seward is tasked with educating students about her culture, teachings, and ways of learning, much like the Elders at VIU who provide counselling, support, and guidance to all students. “So many will benefit from her cultural background and her rich history of the traditions and values of family,” said VIU Elder-in-residence, Geraldine Manson. As a retired crisis counsellor, when Seward saw the job posting on the district’s website, she was attracted to the special opportunities it offered. “I just love my culture—it’s me,” she said. “And I love teaching it to the children.” After starting in January, she has had teachers ask her to visit their classes to discuss the subjects they are studying in an Aboriginal context as a way to compare and contrast cultures and their lessons. For example, in a science class, Seward spoke about the Aboriginal explanations for the shifting of the Natalie Gates Earth’s crust; in a French immersion class, she connected the importance of learning new languages to her own experience learning her traditional language, as she is currently attending classes each week to deepen her knowledge of it. “I consult with other Elders in the community about our stories and teachings so I can bring it here in a good way,” she said. “I’m more or less an experiment for this position, and I think we need an Elder in every school.” VIU currently has nine Elders working, with five in Nanaimo, three in Cowichan, and one in Powell River. Now that NDSS has hired one, many hope for the trend to spread. “[Seward’s] teachings come from Elders of the community, many who are no longer there, and she practices these teachings in her home and other facilities,” Manson said. “I would certainly like to see - Penny Seward this flourish in other schools across School District 68.” Seward explained that noticing people’s differences and

Natalie Gates

Penny Seward.

“IF I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU, AND YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ME, THAT’S WHERE THE BULLYING AND PREJUDICE CAN START.”

finding alternate ways to teach and learn is crucial. “We are all connected and need to understand each other,” she said. “If we understand each other, our spirits can work together. If I don’t understand you, and you don’t understand me, that’s where the bullying and prejudice can start.” NDSS Vice-Principal Bob Brooks explained that Seward’s position helps connect staff and students to Aboriginal culture by collaborating and thinking of ways to view the world through an Aboriginal lens. “It focuses on how to be patient, take time to pause, and give thanks,” he said. “It’s an organic evolution. It’s a job you can’t just define, as we don’t want to have too many pre-conceived ideas, because it’s a learning experience for all.” Penny’s position is site-based, which means she can work with all programs at NDSS, including the Tier 3 alternative learning programs and Aboriginal Education department. She works with the Ravens Lelum Teen Parenting Centre, a program for young parents to fulfill academic goals, teaching a life skills program that uses a canoe metaphor to talk about real-life problems and situations. She also teaches this canoe metaphor to the other staff and students to speak about encountering new things and working together to find solutions; when people don’t know how to paddle, you put more people in a canoe to find balance and direction. “The Coast Salish are canoe people,” she said. “We are all in one canoe pulling together and working towards our destination or goal.” Having gone to high school at NDSS herself, Seward said she was a bit nervous to return, but has found a great amount of support and positivity, as the teachers have been very eager to make connections with her culture. “And the students acknowledge me; they know me,” she said. “To make that connection makes me happy; it’s very uplifting.” To learn more about VIU’s Elders or to contact one, visit <viu.ca/aboriginal/elders>.

FEE DISPUTES BETWEEN VIUSU AND UNIVERSITY LEADERS CONTINUE Natalie Gates

The VIUSU claims VIU’s proposed new service fee is a violation of government The Navigator policy and believes the Ministry of Advanced Education has lost control on the issue. Intended to provide “enhanced services in the Health and Wellness Centre” on campus, “experimental learning for all,” and “access to a Technology Lending Library,” this fee is expected to create a 6.5 per cent tuition increase. The proposed fee will cost all students $6.27 per credit, up to a maximum of $188 per 30 credits. The Ministry of Advanced Education has a Tuition Limit Policy that has been in place since September 2005. It states universities in BC cannot create new fees for existing programs over two per cent, but “Institutions may introduce new mandatory fees for new services if there is a clear benefit to students,” said Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of Advanced Education. VIU states the proposed new fee complies fully with the limitations. “Because these are new services, it does not apply, as the government limitation at two per cent applies to current fees in place,” VIU President Dr. Ralph Andrew Nilson said. Nilson also explained that the new services are in response to high demands from students. The VIUSU disagrees that the services are new or necessary. “Creating this new fee is nothing short of VIU attempting to bypass the limits on fee increases for students,” said Director

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of External Relations Alec Patterson in a press release. The VIUSU claims that approximately five institutions in BC have proposed new fees that violate the policy. The VIUSU had sought a response to this since mid-December through emails and phone calls; when they met with the Minister in January, they were surprised when he told them he had not heard about these proposed fees, said VIUSU Organizer-Advocacy Representative Patrick Barbosa. “The Minister [of Advanced Education] is supposed to be responsible for the actions of universities and colleges in this province. If it’s true that he isn’t aware of fee proposals that have been flagged to his staff, we must conclude that he has lost control of the post-secondary sector,” said Patterson. According to the Cowichan Valley Citizen, Wilkinson said, “It’s a gross overstatement to say this ministry has lost track of the 25 institutions we fund to the tune of $2 billion per year. We have a very close working relationship with all of them and a very close accounting arrangement with all of them.” Wilkinson told the Navigator, “Public post-secondary institutions are expected to ensure programs and courses are affordable and accessible for students. The VIU Board is responsible for approving fees—both mandatory and tuition—at the institution, ensuring the cap on tuition increases of two per cent annually.” Barbosa said the January meeting changed their perspective

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on the issue. “Up until then, we were under the impression institutions were being coached by Ministry, but then we realized this is something totally different,” he said. According to the Citizen, Wilkinson said that he has yet to have adequate input on whether or not the programs that would be enabled by the fee would have a clear benefit to students. But, countering this, VIUSU spokesperson Patrick Barbosa provided the Citizen a copy of an e-mail he sent to MAE Deputy Minister Sandra Carroll in mid-December and delivered by hand to Wilkinson at the meeting in January that provided detailed reasons for VIUSU’s disagreement against the proposed fee. “The public record shows that VIU is trying to find mechanisms to offset costs for existing programs,” the e-mail reads, citing text from a Board of Governors agenda. Barbosa says for the past three years, the BC government has cut various levels of funding so he understands that VIU has to look for ways to replace funding cuts. Patterson agreed, saying, “British Columbians elected the government—not university administrators—to manage the province. Unfortunately, this government appears to be asleep at the wheel.” “We’re working hard to push back against this fee,” Barbosa said. “We are not anti-university by any means, but they are cautious against discussing this with us. It’s unacceptable that the president and his team can’t put together a basic cost projection.”

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GIVING A HEART TO AFRICA Claire Jones

Editor’s note: Claire Jones is a VIU Global Studies student Contributor providing a recount of her own experience with one of the many Canadian-run non-governmental organizations (NGO) with opportunities available. Last spring I had the most incredible experience of my life volunteering with Give a Heart To Africa (GHTA) at a women’s school in the city of Moshi, Tanzania; now, the NGO is looking for new volunteers. GHTA is a small Canadian NGO run by Monika Fox, a former Toronto businesswoman committed to empowering underprivileged Tanzanian women to start up their own small businesses in their communities. GHTA is comprised of a school that provides free classes in Business, English (Tanzania’s language of commerce and higher education), and vocational skills such as beadwork and sewing. There is also an affiliated crafts cooperative and a food kiosk, both run entirely by former students, which double as field studies where current students can learn first-hand the process of successful small business management. I was in Tanzania for four months, though there is no particular minimum or maximum length of time—some volunteers stay for only two weeks, while others have gone for upwards of five months. Volunteers stay in a small house attached to the school, where electricity, water, and weekday dinners are provided. Duties vary, and participants are placed in a teaching role in one of the three classrooms, with a ready-made curriculum to be delivered. Those skilled in arts and crafts may be tasked with helping out at the cooperative, while volunteers with business experience may lend their entrepreneurial skills to expanding or managing the cooperative or kiosk. Volunteers must be over 18 years old, and some previous experience in any of the school’s subject areas are a plus. For example, before I left for Tanzania, I earned a Teach English as a Foreign Language certificate online, and tutored at a local college. It is not a necessity to have, however, as the curriculum is already prepared. As a volunteer English teacher, I was responsible for designing lesson plans based on the curriculum and teaching two classes from 9 a.m. until noon. While the curriculum was pre-designed for the school, there was plenty of opportunity to use creativity in putting together

Class of 2015 gathered in front of the school.

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A group of 2015 GHTA students perform a traditional dance in front of the school building.

lessons and activities for the students. Over the first couple weeks I came to know what kinds of lessons were most useful and popular, which greatly improved my teaching abilities over a period of time. Then, of course, there was the process of getting to know the students. These were women from impoverished backgrounds seeking to create better lives for themselves and their families through education. Coming to know their names and stories, acquiring enough Kiswahili (Swahili) to converse with them in their own language, and visiting them at their homes around the city was a window into an entirely different way of life. Their progress in the class became a joy we could share—together we came up with games and songs to help them learn vocabulary, many of which were so much fun that the whole class was laughing by the end of it. There are few feelings more magical than reaching that “aha” moment with a class—when the students are so proud of themselves for having understood a difficult concept and the volunteer is proud of having helped them get there. Many of them endeavoured to teach me Kiswahili— our translator, Furaha, once even brought me a picture book she’d drawn and stapled together to help me learn the names of household objects and basic verbs. As I was teaching them the language that would help them advance their businesses, they were teaching me, in ways both direct and

Claire Jones

indirect, what it meant to be a woman in Tanzania and how daily life is lived in a world as far away as one can get from middle-class western Canada. As friendship developed between my students and I, opportunities arose to walk with them to the local markets, attend their church services, live it up at local festivals, play with their children, help cook traditional meals, explore the city together, and ask them questions about Tanzanian society. Tanzania is an extremely diverse country, and within a single classroom were women of various cultural groups, native languages (Kiswahili being the shared common language or lingua franca), and religions. Each of them brought to the classroom a unique set of skills, viewpoints, and life experiences that fostered fascinating discussion sessions. The friends I met in class helped me through every stage of adjusting to my new environment, including educating me on the proper dress code and manners that would allow me to better fit in. It allowed for an experience far richer than one would get from passing through Tanzania as a tourist or short-term volunteer. To learn more, visit <giveahearttoafrica.org>, and follow the Give a Heart To Africa Facebook page, or email me <claireguineverejones3479@ gmail.com> with questions.

Courtesy of Give a Heart To Africa Facebook page.

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features

The Great Bear Rainforest decision: A big day for forests everywhere

Chantelle Spicer

Halfway up the coast of BC sits the largest, mostly intact temperate Contributor rainforest in the world. Terrestrially, it is home to old growth trees, Kermode (also called spirit) bears, many bird species, and rare species of frogs. As the forest slopes away into the waters, one sees humpback whales, orcas, and white-sided dolphins, along with hundreds of fish species that contribute to the health and diversity of this forest ecosystem; the land and the water are one. The area is also home to many scientists and non-governmental organizations, such as ForestEthics, Greenpeace, and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Many First Nations people not only call this area home, but a part of themselves and their history. It is over three million acres of bustling life and exquisite beauty—one of the few places in our province left unspoiled by industry. It is also a place that, for the last 20 years, has been the subject of a great battle. Forestry companies who have invested interest in the forest for timber rights have been at the table with many other stakeholders who see the land as more than monetary value. This includes hunters, fishermen, First Nations, policy makers, environmental groups, scholars, and citizens all using their voices to express concern over what would happen to this land if harvested. It is a testament to a deep love for the land and the life upon it that the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement has persevered. On February 1, the nation-to-nation council (the First Nations council to provincial government) announced alongside forestry companies Sierra Club BC, Green Peace, and Forest Ethics, that a decision has been reached—marking the most ambitious land conservation and management agreements in the province’s history. What has been agreed upon is the safeguarding of 85 per cent of these lands for future generations, wildlife, and the trees themselves. The remaining 15 per cent will be under the strictest forest management, guided by ecological-based management, that will be the

strictest recognized in all of North America. This is a very rare and unique agreement that has the forestry industry working together with First Nations and environmental groups to protect old-growth and potentially valuable forests. It sets a precedent for other forests around the world that need to be protected from various types of industrial pressures. As stated by Jens Wieting of the Sierra Club in a recent press release, “The realization of the agreements proves their value as a model for collaboration, conservation, communities, and climate action. Implementation of the agreements strengthens the resilience of communities, and secures the ecological integrity of an ancient and vastly rich network of forests, fjords, and islands twice the size of Vancouver Island.” One major critique of the agreement is its lack of protection for grizzly and black bears, both of which are a major attraction to sport hunters looking for trophies. As ambassadors for healthy forest and stream ecosystems, Kermode bears are a critical part of the landscape and culture for many First Nations—the Kermode spirit bears in particular. These bears have become the stars of this ecosystem and a major driver in so much international attention. They are a unique subspecies of black bears who bear a milky-white coat which makes them stand out like a spirit in their dark, old growth forest homes. For First Nations, they represent a reminder of times past when these lands were covered in ice and snow, which the Kitasoo First Nations call the Long White Time of Before. Raven, the Creator, chose Bear to be the keeper of dreams and memory of this time, with the two of them making an agreement that a portion of all bears would wear the mark of the white coats. At this time, the population of these sacred animals is approximately 400. Even though their spectacular habitat is being protected, these creatures within it are not, being under the persistent threat that arises from continuing trophy hunting. Because of these culturally significant bear populations,

POINT OF VIU JEFF SIENIEWICZ | CONTRIBUTOR .

as well as two thousand vital salmon streams, and rare coastal wolves, science will continue to rule and try and protect the Great Bear Rainforest. Organizations like Raincoast Conservation Foundation <raincoast.org>, who employ different types of biologists and scientists, as well as education and public outreach coordinators, will continue to be integral to our understanding of this area. PacificWild <pacificwild. org> is a similar organization, connecting local communities to education and resources, as well as ongoing scientific observation of at-risk environments. It is not just science interested in expanding our love of the forest; many artists have been involved in and will continue to participate in the conservation of the land in beautiful ways. Recently, Lorna Crozier, who teaches at UVic, released a book of poems inspired by her time in the Great Bear Rainforest. Each poem is a deeply moving testament to the beauty and importance of our connections to the natural world—especially one as special and unspoiled as the Great Bear Rainforest. The book, which features photos from PacificWild, “inspires you to treasure and protect wolves, bears, salmon, whales, and trees in all their beauty so they will thrive alongside us on this earth.” Even if you have never stood in these forests, laid eyes upon a Kermode bear, or heard the call of wolves on the coast line, knowing that such a place exists in the world is comforting. This land is important to our human sense of the wilderness—as something untouched and free that lives in our hearts as much as it does upon the landscape. The Great Bear Rainforest Agreement is not perfect and will need to be constantly adapted, but that is the way of nature too—with the land and its creatures constantly changing and adapting—but it is a welcomed step in the right direction. For more information on this Great Bear Rainforest issue, check out <savethegreatbear.org>.

Where were you during the VIU lockdown on February 4, and how do you feel about the way VIU handled the situation?

Scott Brown

Nabbel Lakhani

Nathan Denroche Dennis Adams

Sports Health and Phys-Ed

International Business

BSc Psychology

Adult Basic Education

Sports Health and Phys-Ed

“I was in bldg. 356, in the atrium on the second floor. I felt they gave good direction, and the alarm system gave constant direction to take cover and stay where you were.”

“I was in the dorms. The word spread quickly [about] what was happening, and the RA of the building told everyone to stay where they were. We just waited it out. I think VIU handled it appropriately. Best to be safe.”

“I was in my room on residence. I stayed where I was, but I know one guy tried to leave the building. There was a loud voice outside—I think an RCMP officer—telling him to get back inside until further notice.”

“I was on my way to VIU when it happened. The bus driver came on the speaker and told us there was a gunman on campus. Then we were directed away from the school. I feel VIU followed their procedure, and they seem to have a good plan in place.”

“I wasn’t on campus, but was following the updates and constantly texting with a friend who was in the library, and with my boyfriend who was also on campus. It’s impressive that VIU has such a good plan in place.”

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Jen Coburn

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features

VIU Services: Shq’apthut Kelly Whiteside Shq’apthut: A Gathering Place was the Aboriginal Students’ Representative, as well as resident

built in 2009 as a designated area that reflects and transcends our First Nations culture. The Gathering Place now boasts staff from the Services for Aboriginal Students team that supports Aboriginal students to succeed in achieving their academic goals. The team assists students in their transition to VIU, and provides support to students with academic or personal concerns. Staff at the Gathering Place are also able to give information or referrals to other community services; offer personal or substance abuse counselling; help with career planning; and help with bursaries, scholarships, student loans, and funding for status, non-status, and Metis students. The Gathering Place promotes cultural, recreational, and social activities for Aboriginal students. It works alongside The Navigator

Elders and other organizations, to provide many services and activities for all students. Past activities include morning smudges, drum-making workshops, and moccasin-making workshops. The team is currently working on ways to provide support following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including healing circles. Upcoming events include a dreamcatcher workshop on March 23. For a full calendar of events, take a look in Shq’apthut, bldg. 170. The Gathering Place is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services are offered in the building Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

From BC to NB: Women in the campus newsroom Molly Barrieau

Before many journalists make it to the newsroom, The Navigator their careers begin at university campus papers. As women still face hurdles when it comes to equality in the workforce, campuses across Canada are proving that women studying journalism have a better chance of success in the field before they graduate. Female students currently dominate journalism classrooms and campus papers, including the University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) the Brunswickan and University of British Columbia-Okanagan’s (UBCO) Phoenix News, where two women are beginning their newspaper careers. Emma McPhee, Editor-in-Chief of the Brunswickan, made her way through the ranks of the UNB newspaper, beginning as News Editor, and working with a variety of female and male journalists on the masthead. This year, her section editors are all male, with the exception of Copy Editor. “Me and all the boys,” McPhee, 21, says with a laugh, “They call me the ‘Bruns mum.’” When it comes to insecurity as an editor, McPhee says she never feels that her relationship with her editors is negative. It is, rather, her own self-doubt, and the struggle in how to use her weaknesses as strengths. “As a more soft-spoken person, I try to use that to my advantage,” McPhee says. Small in stature, McPhee says she could pass for a young teenager, and says that when she was News Editor, many of the senior administration at the university saw her as “less of a threat,” which created a relationship between the communications department and the paper. This year, even though her News Editor continues to work with the admin, they are much more responsive to McPhee when she joins him at an interview. “They thought they’d have more luck with me,” McPhee admits. McPhee feels that a newsroom filled with mainly male writers does not affect the way she runs the editorial, and that the change from the previous year where it was the opposite—male

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Editor-in-Chief with female editors—was solely a result of who applied for which job. In 2014, Bronté James was one of the women on the Bruns masthead as Sports Editor. She used the opportunity to open up a conversation on the lack of respect given to women writing sports in a tongue-in-cheek article: “You’re a woman and a sports reporter?!” James has a strong interest and background in all sports, and uses humour in the article to bring attention to sexism in genre-based journalism. “It seems natural to have men in sports, but women are always questioned or ‘congratulated’ for making it,” James says, “as if it is some sort of high aspiration.” Since completing her BA in Journalism at St. Thomas University—on the same campus as UNB—James has worked at four newspapers, including the Calgary Herald and Fredericton’s Daily Gleaner, and three radio stations in Calgary and Fredricton as well. University papers differ from national publications because the competition for the top spot is much less rigorous, and the opportunity to showcase your abilities is much more inclusive, as staff is transient and changes year-to-year. At the university level, journalism is much more about the experience rather than ascension and promotion. As Canada’s oldest official student publication, dating back to 1867, the Bruns has a scattered history. In 1922, the “students’ magazine” only had a smattering of female writers and editors. In 1939, according to the UNB library website, the paper was taken over by female students during “co-ed week,” publishing the first edition of the paper not largely written and edited by men. UNB does not offer journalism classes, but McPhee, who is completing an honours in Archaeology and the Classics, says that she may pursue journalism in her graduate studies. “She knows news, and how to find the core of a story,” James says about McPhee. Alexandra Barberis of the Phoenix at UBCO is also unable to take a journalism course, yet is the Coordinating and News Editor of the 25-year-old

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newspaper in Kelowna. Because the university does not offer any journalism courses, Barberis considers the Phoenix as UBCO’s only source of journalism training. Of the 16 staff at the Phoenix, 11 are female. Barberis believes that it is imperative to have women in the newsroom, but also finds herself wanting more males to add perspective. This openness to diversity and equality is common at smaller papers, like university publications, where writing skills and talent—not gender—are the chief criteria for hiring. “It has been eight years since the Phoenix has seen a female Editor-in-Chief,” Barberis adds. She proudly admits that this is the first year the publication has run without a deficit, and is set to run a surplus. Both the Brunswickan and the Phoenix newspapers fall under The Canadian University Press’ umbrella of over 40 student publications, and have print runs of four thousand and two thousand respectively. Each school has under 15 thousand students, and successful and modern campus papers looking for fresh ways to provide content for their student body. When it comes to workforce-entering millennials, social media is a crucial tool to integrate into daily life and the now-changing face of journalism. “We are trying to boost our online presence,” McPhee says. “Our Multimedia Editor is taking that on as an initiative.” Both publications have Instagram accounts, sharing stories through pictures and links to their Facebook and Twitter feeds. Barberis sees that most news is “digested through a digital means” and thus created a new position of Project Manager at the Phoenix to increase engagement with readers online. “I think it plays a huge part,” Barberis says. You can follow the Navigator on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Issuu for more, or visit <thenav.ca> to read all our stories online.

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features

The Convenience of Kings A travel piece Philip Gordon

When given the opportunity to escape the monotonous Contributor hell-hole that is small-town Nanaimo avail myself of the sights and sounds of a distant land, I was ecstatic. Visions of a Pacific Ocean sunset and sakura blossoms danced behind my eyes—or maybe the shores of Ireland, or the scenic vistas of a backpacking trip through Europe. As I have learned in my tenure with the Navigator, however, a thriftier execution of budget is part of the job description. The Fifth St. 7-Eleven several minutes from my apartment boasts a sizeable presence within the University Village shopping complex, complemented by its proximity to Value Village and the piles of garbage in the ditch beside the bus stop. Drunks who pass out in front of the store are frequently escorted away in a timely fashion; the floors are swept when someone remembers, other than the sticky patch in front of the Slurpee machine, and all the employees are as friendly as anyone can be while earning minimum wage. In addition to its well-kept low-key décor, the Fifth St. 7-Eleven also houses a wide array of Canadian delicacies, including questionablyflavoured potato chips (maple syrup, curry, and macaroni and cheese, to name a few), stale doughnuts, sub-truck-stop-quality chicken wraps, and a half-smoked joint I found one time in the magazine section. Perhaps in the future, 7-Eleven

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could consider a cross-promotion with High Times magazine, and offer a sample of BC bud with every purchase to zone right in on their target demographic. I wonder how much High Times pays their feature writers? Just fun to think about. What the 7-Eleven offers in convenience (close enough that I can find my way there at 2 a.m. on a flat bottle of diet Dr. Pepper), it sometimes lacks in stock: several late-night junk food runs saw me come away with only a stale taquito or two, and the chili button on the nacho machine seemed prone to malfunction. On a vaguely related note, it’s possible historians will one day pinpoint the decline of western civilization to the moment the phrase “chili button” entered our common vernacular. I would definitely return to the 7-Eleven, under the assumption that the trip was covered for expenses. The savings I allocated allowed me to get a bag of mini-cinnamon buns and a Full Throttle energy drink on my last visit—a lavishliving style I’d be unable to keep up for any length of time on my own dime. If you’re looking for an affordable, charming vacation getaway, I highly recommend the 7-Eleven—and, please, when you’re there, consider taking a side-trip to make a donation to the bearded fellow staring longingly from the nearby corner. Tuition costs are high, and taquitos do not come cheap.

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features

Visual Arts x Natural History 1

James MacKinnon Contributor

Students, staff, and the public are invited to the grand opening of the “Nature in the Arts” display at VIU’s Museum of Natural History on Tuesday, March 8. This event marks the beginning of a three-week display of artwork inspired by the natural world, created by students and faculty members from several departments across campus, including Fine Arts and Sciences. Free food and beverages will be served, and a number of artists and museum staff will be on-site to explain the techniques that have gone into the artwork, as well as to show the museum and the array of fantastic specimens within. If you are unable to make it to the initial event, or would like to come by for further viewings, the display will be set up in the museum from Monday, March 7 through Friday, March 25. If you are interested in participating or submitting pieces for display, go to the museum (open Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Fridays 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) to talk with the staff, or email <jamesmackinnon11@gmail.com> for more information.

1 — Downey Woodpecker by Dana Gullison 2 — Forest by Julia Craig 3 — Western Grebes by Bill Beese 4 — Forest II by Julia Craig 5 — Raven by Dana Gullison 6 — Blue Heron by Bill Beese

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CONGRATULATIONS... YOU HACKED YOURSELF Antony Stevens The Navigator

On February 16, 2016, the CEO of Apple wrote in a public letter that encryption is “the only way to keep [their customers’] information safe.” The information in question refers to all the data and digital possessions on your iPhone. That means your photos, text messages, contacts, location data, medical records, passwords, credit cards, fingerprints—everything that you trust in that sliver of a computer in your pocket. Apple knows that a passcode alone isn’t secure enough to keep all that information safe, so the digital information—the code—is all encrypted. The typical encryption process essentially shuffles the data so that it can’t be read unless you have the code to reverse it (called a key). In the case of the iPhone, the key to decrypt is only available by inputting your passcode. That means that unless you put in your passcode, nobody—not even Apple—can access the data encrypted on your phone. Sounds good, right? The aforementioned letter was in response to an FBI request that Apple create a backdoor—a way to access encrypted data without knowing the passcode. The phone the FBI so desperately wants to break into belongs to a suspect of the 2015 San Bernardino mass shooting—the single worst shooting in the US since Sandy Hook. The data on the suspect’s iPhone may be able to give insight on the attack, offer intel on other perpetrators, and bring justice to the families of the 36 victims. But Apple said no. “The government is asking Apple to hack our own users,” writes Apple CEO, Tim Cook, in a public letter. “[Creating a backdoor] would be the equivalent of a master key, capable of opening hundreds of millions of locks—from restaurants and banks to stores and homes.” Apple says that it has provided all of the information and data it has access to, but refuses to comply to a court order to “bypass or erase the auto-erase function” that wipes the phone’s data

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after 10 failed passcode attempts. A cryptography expert reported to the Washington Post that without a backdoor “it might take 10 years to crack a strong password on the phone.” “[If] a way to bypass the code is revealed,” Cook writes, “the encryption can be defeated by anyone with that knowledge.” A different cryptography expert said to Engadget that “the mere knowledge that it was done will make it easier for others to find out how.” Since Apple’s letter, Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted his support for the response, saying the court order “could be a troubling precedent.” In a less direct act of support, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella retweeted a statement made by the Reform Government Survelliance group against

“[CREATING A BACKDOOR] WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF A MASTER KEY, CAPABLE OF OPENING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF LOCKS.”

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backdoors. Facebook’s statement mirrored that of Google’s, calling the judge’s demands “a chilling precedent.” And that’s what the issue comes down to— it’s not just a concern that encryption will be weakened. All the FBI claims to want is a way to brute force the code; they want the ability to input as many passwords as it takes as quickly as possible without the phone erasing itself as a security measure. Not only that, but Apple may already have the ability to install firmware on your device if it’s in their possession. It’s completely plausible that they could install a version of iOS that lacks an auto-erase function onto this one, single device, and allow the FBI to brute force the code. The crux is that only Apple may be capable of installing firmware without user consent, or else the FBI would just do it themselves. As cybersecurity expert Dan Guido said to Wired, the government is trying to turn Apple into the very threat their security is meant to protect from. The real concern is about precedent. If Apple creates a bypass this one time, they and other companies around the world may be forced to comply again under different circumstances, or— worst case—companies may be forced to prevent you from ever locking the government out of your device. Your device which has every existing detail about yourself, including everywhere you’ve ever been and everything you’ve ever said. So what does this all mean for you? More than anything, you should be aware of what the American government is trying to do, and know what you can do to secure your digital information and keep it private. If you’re interested in full security on your desktop, you should look up FileVault (Mac) or BitLocker (Windows), how to encrypt your emails via SSL, and what a Tor browser is. If you’re looking for some simpler solutions—namely ones for your smartphone—here are some tips and tools.

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If you own an iPhone and use a passcode, your data is already encrypted, but make sure to keep your iOS firmware up-to-date, as every update includes security patches and more. Just last week, Error 53 was explained: If an unofficial repair shop makes any alterations to Touch ID— the fingerprint sensor—then the sensor will be disabled as a security precaution until the phone is brought to Apple to be fixed. Moreover, if you’re on iOS 7 or below, Apple can extract your data without your passcode; it’s only with iOS 8 and higher that Apple tied the encryption key to your passcode for the sake of security. If you’re on an Android device, the process is a little more complex. If your phone came with Android 6.0 already installed, your device is encrypted by default. Otherwise you’ll need to turn on a PIN for your lock screen and device boot up. If you’re on Android 4.4 or lower, you’ll need to go settings > personal > security > encryption. For added security, you can encrypt your passwords for your various accounts. 1Password is an app for smartphones and PC that uses complex algorithms to create and encrypt your passwords, and then allows you to input them with a single touch or click for ease-of-use. Lots of people use Messenger, WhatsApp, or Snapchat, and while each of those services provide encryption on outgoing messages, they can be intercepted and decrypted by the provider— Facebook for both Messenger and WhatsApp, or Snapchat for its own app. If you’re on iOS, the native iMessage feature is encrypted end-to-end and cannot be intercepted or decrypted by Apple. If you don’t have friends with iPhones, you can use Signal by Open Whisper Systems for end-toend message, media, and call encryption on iOS or Android. For a full list of messaging apps and their encryption policies, and more tools to keep yourself digitally secure, check out <eff.org>.

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arts

VISFF: THEY WERE SHORT, AND .THEY WERE FILMS.

The audience at VISFF.

Brendan Barlow The Navigator

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Courtesy of VISFF Facebook Page

February 13 marked the 11th annual Vancouver Island Short Film Festival (VISFF). Thirteen films screened, 12 of which were filmed in BC, and four of those from Nanaimo. A wide variety of films were shown, many of which were drama, with dabs of comedy, and even a dash or two of horror. I attended the Saturday evening screening, the final show of the festival, and I was really pleased to see what appeared to be a full house. Following the screening, the festival awards were given, with Nanaimo-produced Lost taking both Best Film and Audience Choice awards for the evening. Winners also included Moth (Delta, BC) for Best Student Film, Dude, Where’s My Ferret? (Vancouver, BC) for Best Original Music, A Late Thaw (Montreal, QC) for Best Technical, Kindergarten: Da Bin Ich Wieder (Vancouver, BC) for Best Writing, and Unlock (Malaysia) for Best Performance. Overall, the films each showed an exceptional amount of technical know-how, and there were some genuinely beautifully shot projects on display. Most notably, at least for me, were the cinematography in Moth, Lost, and A Late Thaw. Beyond simply using nice cameras, these films showed particular skill in their execution and kudos should absolutely be paid to those filmmakers. A Late Thaw, in particular, was one of the most visually interesting pieces in the entire festival. The film told the story of Tara, whose partner finds a beautiful house for the two of them to live in, which then triggers memories of a previous partner who died during a mountain climbing incident sometime in the past. The execution of the story wasn’t my favourite, but the visuals used in the film were stunning and very interesting, particularly the scenes in which snow fell in the house as Tara explored. For me, the best film had to be Kindergarten: Da Bin Ich Wieder, which told a complete story, along with being well-shot and well-written. As I mentioned in my previous review of the film (available online at <thenav.ca>), it is a bright, colourful, and funny short. Also noteworthy was a short from Vancouver called The Home Show, which was the shortest of the lot and a parody

commercial for an HGTV show called “Un-F*ck This House,” a show that rescues “victims” of home renovation shows. Short, sweet, and hilarious, The Home Show ticked all the boxes for me. Story development was a struggle for several of the films. Many of the films pushed stories into 15 or less minutes, which needed a considerably longer amount of time to be told. It seems to me that many of the stories were part of something larger, more like a one-act play than a short film. While some did have a three act structure and communicated a complete story, many ended abruptly or relied very heavily on exposition, feeling more like a scene in a film than a standalone piece. I expressed similar concerns in my review of festival short Sweet Dreams, Norma Jean (also available online at <thenav.ca>) and much of the same criticisms apply. Another issue that arises with a lot of low budget films is the use of effects or techniques that filmmakers aren’t able to pull off with their budgetary restrictions or limited experience. A perfect example comes from the horror piece Mind Game Demon, which features a large, plastic, pre-bloodied knife. There’s nothing wrong with working within your budget or technical knowledge. Fabulous films have been achieved with very little or no effects at all. If something doesn’t look right on camera, it doesn’t have to stay in the film, and you may find that the end result is better for it. There were other nit-picky story things that time could be spent on, but really, I am thrilled to see so much hard work and passion on display at the festival. All in all, it’s reassuring to see so many people with a drive to make movies, and such a diverse selection to boot. While there’s always more work to do and more growing to go through, it’s encouraging to see people work so hard to produce these films. Also encouraging was the audience turn out; seeing people continue to support the arts community is always a positive thing. Congratulations to all of the filmmakers, and it will be interesting to see what next year’s festival has in store.

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Sweet Dreams Norma Jean. Courtesy of VISFF Facebook Page.

Best Picture winner Lost. Courtesy of VISFF Facebook Page

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arts

Not to Disappear album review Chantelle Spicer

There is something about music from the UK. Whenever I listen to my Contributor favourite artists from this part pf the world, I feel like I am transported to another place, another time, or to no time at all. It seems much of the world agrees, with so many famous groups or artists hailing from this portion of the world—The Beatles, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Radiohead—along with a battalion of emerging indie-folk artists. One UK-based band which is beginning to gain momentum, and who certainly deserves the attention, is Daughter, composed of singer Elena Tonra, Swiss-borne guitarist Igor Haefeli, and drummer Remi Aguilella of France. After the beauty of the debut album If You Could Leave, released in 2013, and several EPs, Daughter achieved quite a bit of notoriety outside of the band’s native England from critics and fans alike. After winning Independent Album of the Year at the Independent Music Awards in England, as well as having many songs, including “Youth” and “Home”, used in multiple marketing campaigns and television shows, the band seemed set for indie stardom (whatever indie means in today’s musical world). They are not disappointing. On January 16, fans were gifted the second full-length album titled Not to Disappear, a 10-track album which perfectly encapsulates the ethereal beauty of Tonra’s voice and the haunting musical atmosphere of her Franco-Swiss band. In short, the album is spectacular and mesmerizing. The singles off the album, which appear courtesy of Glassnote (North America) and 4AD (Europe), “Doing the Right Thing” and “Numbers” are excellent inlets to the album, providing

ambitious soundscapes that bring to mind winter forests and epic starry nights. An echo from the previous album, If You Could Leave, the lyrical content is dark and deeply sad at times, but the quality of the writing, as well as Tonra’s voice work to make it a beautiful experience rather than depressing. No emotional subject seems beyond the capacity of the band, taking on depression, break-ups, over-medication, and unrequited love, all made into elegant landscapes of sound. In contrast to the somewhat bleak and stark atmosphere that is symphonically created in their debut album, her voice and words are backed by a multi-layered sound of reverbs, fascinating drum patterns, and explosive crashing symbols. From the first track, “New Ways,” to the sweeping outro provided by “Made of Stone,” the growth of the band is apparent. One big surprise is the track “No Care,” which is an unusual dance track that has me inspired to spin about in circles under a rainy sky. Its multi-layered electronic drumbeat is quick and tight, with rapid-fire lyrics really filling out the song, leaving no room to breathe. The lyrics echo the frenetic quality of the music, speaking of dysfunctional relationships, broken souls, and desires to make it seem right. “Fossa,” although it has the signature misty, haunting quality and sad lyrics of a Daughter track, is a standout track as well. It is an incredible web of vocal reverb, spiraling guitars, and entrancing drums. It is probably the most ambitious track I have heard them make and they should be really proud of it. Daughter is currently on a largely North American tour which kicks off on March 3, and we will be lucky enough to have them appearing in Vancouver at the Vogue Theatre on

Not To Disappear by Daughter. Courtesy of <heyreverb.com>.

March 18. Seeing the live show is a moving experience that I would highly suggest, as I do this album. If you are in need of a mental break from your own essay and midterm woes, give it a listen— the lyrics are bound to give you some emotional perspective, and the instrumentals will give space for your brain to roam about in.

DIAMONDS AND DESPAIR IN THE DISCOUNT BINS OP-ED

Brady Tighe

Vinyl is becoming increasingly expensive because of its booming popularity. While Contributor it is awesome that everyone is now buying turntables and saving the greatest listening format of all time from obscurity, it is awful for my bank account. It is also not good for my sanity to see shitty old albums from previous decades re-released and re-mastered, with a sticker mentioning how “indispensable” or “essential” said records are. The other day, I saw a remastered copy of Face Value by Phil Collins for $37—a sign of the goddamn end times if there ever was one. In these times of shiny new vinyl, I find that it helps to remind everyone of the complete and utter joys that come from plumbing the discount bins of your favourite records stores for the old and used stuff that has been abandoned to the ether of time. Among these old records (that reek of bong water and mothballs) can be found the greatest of hidden gems, and the worst embarrassments to the concept of pleasing sound. You’ll see awful tacky covers featuring all kinds of awful chest hair, and if you dig deep enough, you’ll find glorious albums that most likely never made it to CD—a true vinyl treasure, typically priced for less than $5. In tribute to this searching spirit I recently went to my local record store and grabbed a few albums out of the discount bins to review.

1. Live Peace in Toronto 1969 Plastic Ono Band Released 1969, paid $2.99 A band of three famous heroin addicts and two nobodies formed for one gig in Toronto in 1969. The part of the band that matters was made up of ex-Beatle and lousy human John Lennon, his musical equivalent of a howler monkey wife Yoko Ono, and famous racist, soft-rock icon Eric Clapton. Side one of this record is the band jamming through the only covers they all happened to know how to play, a Beatles tune

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that’s basically a blues jam, and a virtually screamed version of the hippie-wet-dream of a song “Give Peace a Chance.” It’s listenable, even enjoyable, simply because the talent playing the songs is some of the best to ever grace rock ‘n’ roll (even if they were all dumpster fires of decency). However, side two is where this record really shines as a conversation piece. It opens with a warning from Lennon that, “Yoko is going to do her thing all over you,” and that is exactly what she does for over 20 minutes of screeching oneword vocals over a wall of guitar feedback. If you want your neighbours to kill you, play this side of the record. Another use for this side of the album would be if you needed to end a house party and want everyone to leave as quickly as possible.

2. Not Fragile Bachman Turner Overdrive Released 1974, paid $1.99 This is an album worth listening to for the scorching, ballsout title track. It is also an album worth throwing into the street, lighting on fire, breaking in half, or just plain screaming at until your vocal chords bleed, for being guilty of containing the song “Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” which has tainted radio for long enough to practically be a crime again the human race.

3. Breakaway Kris and Rita Released 1974, paid $0.99 Want to be a third wheel to Kris Kristofferson and his wife Rita Coolidge crooning their way through a bunch of bullshit country songs? Me neither. However, the album was worth buying for the photos on the sleeve of Coolidge looking unsympathetically at what is clearly a bombed-out-of-his-mind Kristofferson.

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Also, Kristofferson has way better duet albums, like all the ones he made with his life’s true loves: whiskey, dirt weed, peyote, and cigarettes.

4. Welcome to the Pleasure Dome Frankie Goes To Hollywood Released 1984, paid $1.99 A complete joy of cocaine-fueled ‘80s electro-pop. An example of an album so over-produced that literally none of the musicians in the band, sans the vocalist, actually appear on the album. Also, how glorious is that title? Every song on this double album is a danceable epic, and proof that new wave was capable of its own Blonde on Blonde. In addition, it features the most unlikely cover of “Born to Run” to ever exist.

5. Catholic Boy The Jim Carroll Band Released 1980, paid $1.99 Jim Carroll is a great poet, and his novel The Basketball Diaries should be required reading for anyone interested in New York’s twisted junkie culture (a seemingly endless well of material in itself). His music career, however, doesn’t get nearly as much attention, and it really should, as Carroll and his band are a pretty incendiary (and incredibly listenable) punk group. Each one of these songs benefits from Carroll’s skill with words, and one might feel compelled to check under their fingernails for grime after each listen. Also, the song “People Who Died” is a masterwork.

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arts

BEST PICTURES?

Brendan Barlow The Navigator

The 88th annual Academy Awards is coming up on February 28. I’ve written about the issues surrounding the representation (or lack thereof) in this particular group of nominees, and I set out to see as many of the nominated films as I could and was able to finish the eight films in the Best Picture category before sitting down to write this. These are supposed to represent the eight best films from the previous year; whether or not that is true remains to be seen.

The Big Short (Also nominated for: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, and Film Editing)

Courtesy of <empirecinema.com>

This is a film about the market crash, and the people who made money off of it. While it’s well-acted and well-directed, the movie has its share of problems beyond being genuinely terrifying. One of the major issues with this is its editing, despite being nominated for a separate award for that. It’s a straightforward movie telling a complicated story, the problem arises with the fact that someone chose to cut it like some kind of spy thriller; quick cuts and random cutaways ultimately add up to nothing at all. There’s a great story to be told here, but it falls short in the execution.

Bridge of Spies (Also nominated for: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Original Score, Production Design, Sound Mixing, and Original Screenplay) Here we have a solid effort from Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg producing a movie that is ultimately just fine. Everyone who worked on this movie is strong and operating at their usual calibre of performance. That, however, is the problem that I had with this movie. This category is supposed to be full of the best movies of the year, and this is really just a pat on the back to talented people producing a high quality, but unremarkable film. Courtesy of <movieweb.com>

Brooklyn (Also nominated for: Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Adapted Screenplay)

Courtesy of <comingsoon.com>

Speaking of unremarkable films, Brooklyn is the story of a young Irish girl who emigrates to America and falls in love. It’s really about as boiler-plate as a love story, or even a period drama, could be. It is, again, well-made and well-acted, but the story is nothing new or special. There’s very little conflict or anything to make you care for the characters, besides the story being rather funny and sweet at times. I will give serious kudos for this being the first romantic drama to ever allow their lead actress to poop in a bucket on a ship (complete with hilarious fart sounds).

Mad Max: Fury Road (Also nominated for: Best Costume Design, Directing, Visual Effects, Makeup and Hairstyling, Cinematography, Editing, Sound Mixing, Production Design, and Sound Editing)

Courtesy of <adweek.com>

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This is truly one of the biggest surprises, and most remarkable films on this list—an all-out action film that breaks with the usual macho-chiseled-white-dude-action-hero trope in favour of an awesome, ass-kicking female protagonist, with Max playing the mostly silent sidekick for much of the movie. Throw in the most impressive special and visual effects in years, and some poignant feminist and environmental overtones, and you have Mad Max: Fury Road. While I would be stunned if it won, having it here on the list is encouraging to be sure.

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arts

The Martian (Also nominated for: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Visual Effects, Sound Editing, Adapted Screenplay, Sound Mixing, and Production Design) This is a great movie—there’s no two ways about it. Matt Damon is in top form, it’s well-shot, well-directed, and was one of my favourite movies of 2015. I found myself Googling the fictional character that Damon plays because I forgot, more than once, that human beings have not been to Mars yet. Fully engaging, funny, and smart, The Martian is a movie that deserves to be on this list. Courtesy of <huffi ngtonpost.com>

The Revenant (Also nominated for: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Cinematography, Directing, Actor in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Sound Editing, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects)

Courtesy of <aambar.wordpress.com>

It’s easy to say that this is one of the most talked about films in the category, besides Mad Max. Starring Leonardo Dicaprio, and directed by last year’s Best Picture winner, Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant is a major cinematic achievement. The cinematography is stunning, the performances are great, and the movie just works. While the runtime of over two and a half hours can feel like a bit much at times, it’s still another movie that deserves its place here.

Room (Also nominated for: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Directing, and Adapted Screenplay)

Courtesy of <jthecinemamonster.wordpress.com>

While Room may not be my favourite on the list, I won’t deny that it is something unique. An abducted woman raises a son, conceived during her time in captivity, in a single room. The two of them build a whole world, and once they are free, the young boy comes to know a world he had no idea existed. It’s extremely well-acted, and the longer I have to process it, the more I appreciate what this film accomplished. It’s extremely well-shot, and pushes you into the perspective of a young boy who is essentially exploring another planet.

Spotlight (Also nominated for: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Directing, Film Editing, Original Screenplay)

Courtesy of <ucsb.edu>

Of all of the movies on the list, the performances in this movie were among the strongest. Mark Ruffalo quite literally knocked the wind out of me at one point, and everyone gives rock-solid performances from start to finish. The movie also handles an extremely upsetting and disturbing story in a non-gratuitous or exploitative way. A lesser movie would likely have gone a more emotionally manipulative route, but this one allows the story to speak for itself. Another stunning achievement and one that deserves its nomination.

My favourite: Mad Max: Fury Road Likely winner: Spotlight or The Revenant Snubs: The Danish Girl, Carol, The Hateful Eight, Straight Outta Compton. With two rather unre-

markable movies nominated, and these four receiving nominations elsewhere, it really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense that these found themselves left out of the Best Picture category.

Finally, on the topic of #OscarsSoWhite, I kept my eyes open while watching all eight of these for main characters who were significant in driving the movie forward, and who were not straight, white, cisgendered males. Of the eight movies, only three of them featured such a character. There’s no denying that there are high-calibre films nominated for Best Picture this year, but pretending that the low levels of representation are not problematic doesn’t help anything.

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Follow Brendan on Twitter for reactions to the Oscars, and to the world in general. @TheBarleyGuy

A RTS

sports & lifestyle

Focus your mind: Ambient noise Catherine Charlebois The Navigator In an ideal world, reading break means catching up on projects and papers due at the beginning of March, though the allure of slacking off and having a good time can be challenging to ignore. It can be tough to focus at this point in the semester, having just come out of mid-term season and it looks like there’s no end in sight, but using ambient noise to your advantage could benefit you when studying or giving that final push for the last half of the semester. While some of us prefer a lone, quiet space to work, others prefer lots of background noise, or some might work best in a mixture of both. There might be a scientific explanation to such a preference. According to a study done by the University of Illinois on the effect of noise on creative thinking, sounds created by a coffee shop and other ambient noises at 70 decibels (noise level comparable to a TV in the background) creates the perfect breeding ground for creativity and helps focus the mind. Sounds too loud, like the sound of a garbage disposal, or too quiet, were found to hinder concentration. Ravi Mehta, an assistant professor leading the study, found

that extreme quietness sharpens your focus, but stifles the creative juices, as it prevents abstract thinking, recommending projects requiring close attention to detail, for example editing a paper, be done in quiet environments. It’s no wonder, then, that the library on campus and coffee shops like Starbucks are the mecca for studying. But what about those lacking focus at home? There are hundreds of sites dedicated to providing a myriad of ambient sounds to help focus and soothe, and there are even a lot of app options for focus on the go. Sites like <asoftmurmur.com>, found both online and in the app store, lets you personalize your own medley of sounds, with dials adjusting to the desired level of ambient noise, whether it be sounds of a thunderstorm, rain, crashing waves, and, of course, a bustling coffee shop. Whether you get the full week off for reading break, or need a little help in your upcoming projects, ambient noise might just be the push you need to get yourself in the right mindset. Happy studying.

A Soft Murmur is just one of many ambient sound generators on the web, with an app for on-the-go zen. Courtesy of <asoft murmur.com>

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS:

Social constructionism and culture-specific mental disorders Zoe Lauckner

Have you ever been out at sea alone for too long, seal hunting, and experienced Contributor intense panic-like symptoms and fear of drowning? Ever felt like your reproductive organs are disappearing inside your own body? In western society, we would likely categorize these behaviours to fit using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5), likely diagnosing in the realm of anxiety or dissociative disorders. Among the Inuit peoples who have experienced kayak-angst, and people from Southeast Asia who have experienced koro, the concept of anxiety and dissociation doesn’t necessarily hold the same meaning. Before we start to talk about culture-specific mental disorders, let’s delve briefly into the concept of social constructionism—that is the idea that we use to make sense of the world through shared assumptions about reality. These jointly constructed norms or assumptions are widely accepted by the society in which they were created, but may or may not represent a reality shared by those outside of the society of origin. What is normal in one society may not be normal in another, likewise with abnormality. For example, if you were to attend a church here in Nanaimo and in the middle of the sermon an attendee entered a trance-like state, speaking in tongues, that behaviour would likely be seen as abnormal and as a possible mental disorder. In other places in the world, even within North America, this behaviour is seen as quite normal and individuals experiencing this would be nurtured and supported throughout this journey. In fact, trance-like states are quite common around the world; in Nigeria, this is called vinvusa, and in Thailand, phiipob. Additionally, in psychological research we are taught

SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

it’s important to understand the concept of reification, also called misplaced concreteness, which is when something that is abstract is treated as if it were a concrete, physical, and observable entity. Consider, then, the word mental—is this a construct or a concrete entity? We can’t measure it, we don’t know its shape or size, our understanding of the word is constructed through our society, which brings this conversation full circle back to social constructionism. Now that we’ve established that our understanding of mental illness is socially constructed and therefore varies widely across cultures, and that even the term mental is a construct, we’re left with curiosity. To go back to our first point, kayak-angst is a condition historically traced to the Inuit of Greenland, specifically seal hunters who spend lengths of time in one-man boats. It is characterized by panic-like symptoms that include severe anxiety, rapid heartbeat, intense disorientation, helpless feelings, and fear of drowning. Treatment for this culturerelated anxiety disorder is to get the hunter back on land and in the presence of other hunters. Frigophobia, also called paleng and wei han zheng, is a disorder well known to Chinese mental health practitioners, characterized by severe fear of wind and cold, which are believed to cause fatigue. These individuals will ruminate over loss of body heat and engage in avoidance behaviours related to the cold, such as wearing heavy clothing despite warm temperatures. You’ve probably heard the term running amok before. One of the most interesting culture-specific disorders is called amok, which is characterized by a trance-like state in which individuals run compulsively, often brutally assaulting and sometimes killing people along the way. The western world

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was introduced to this disorder through the journals of Captain Cook, although historically it dates back as a Hindu war tactic. Amok is actually a Malaysian term meaning “to engage in furious battle,” where, following the rampage, the individual has no recollection of the episode. Although presentation and classification vary, this disorder is found across many different cultures, including the Inuit, where it is called pivloktoq, and the Navajo, called frenzy witchcraft. Perhaps the most bizarre culture-bound disorder (from my western perspective) is koro, a Malay-Indonesian term meaning “turtle head.” This disorder is specific to males, and involves panic-like anxiety about the male reproductive organ sinking inside the abdomen and disappearing, which is thought to cause death. As is the case with many mental disorders in Asian countries, symptoms are often accompanied with somatic complaints, in this case involving the abdomen and genitals. Examples of this disorder are apparent in other parts of the world including Africa, Europe, and middle eastern countries. It’s important to consider how our socially constructed understanding of mental disorders and illness impacts how we view, relate to, and treat those with mental illness. Preoccupation with constructed mental disorders can create a worldview that then informs treatment policy that is oriented towards the “disease” rather than the unique needs of individuals. Labels are seductive—in that they are simple ways for us to communicate about mental illness and form a shared understanding. However, behind every label is a person that is more complex than the diagnostic terms we use to define them. Stay sane(ish), VIU. Until next time…

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sports & lifestyle

I SCREAM. FOR ICE. CREAM. Catherine Charlebois

What’s white, pink, brown, and is gluten-, lactose-, and sugar-free? This recipe, of course. I don’t know if it’s just me, but sometimes the craving for ice cream strikes even in the depths of winter. Right now it’s especially bad, having had a taste of balmy weather before the rain took over again. Quick (think five minutes or less) and easy to make, this guilt-free ice cream will leave you dreaming of summer days.

Three ingredient banana ice cream Ingredients

The Navigator

Vanilla-banana: • 3 large, frozen, ripe bananas, cut* • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Strawberry-banana: • 2 large, frozen, ripe bananas, cut • 1 cup frozen strawberries**

Choco-banana: • 3 large, frozen, ripe bananas, cut • 3 tbsp cocoa powder • 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions 1. Put all ingredients in food processor.*** 2. Mix until consistency is goopy. 3. Put in container, freeze overnight, and enjoy. *

Frozen bananas require six or more hours until they freeze all the way through, so a bit of prep is required. ** You can play around with this recipe by adding a cup of frozen fruits instead of strawberries. *** Though this recipe does call for a food processor, blenders work just fine too. Made with simple, healthy ingredients, this recipe is sure to quench that craving for summer.

Catherine Charlebois

Mariners’ schedule

(February 23 – March 8)

BASKETBALL MEN’S WOMEN’S

VOLLEYBALL

DATE Feb. 26

AWAY Camosun

Feb. 26 Mar. 3-5

Camosun VIU PACWEST Provincials

HOME VIU

TIME 8 p.m.

DATE Feb. 25-27

6 p.m. Capilano University

SOCCER

BADMINTON Mar. 2-5

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Play around, add some chocolate chips to the mix, and some whipped cream for a nice snack or dessert option. Word of caution, it is very filling.

CCAA Nationals

WOMEN’S

DATE Feb. 27

PACWEST Provincials

AWAY VIU

HOME Van Isle Wave

CBC

TIME 2 p.m.

VIU

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SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

sports & lifestyle

VIU HOSTS THE CCAA BADMINTON NATIONALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE

Catherine Charlebois The Navigator

VIU will host the 2016 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Badminton Nationals from March 2 to 5 for the first time since 2004. Having qualified for singles, Graydon Robb and Melissa Liew, 2015 mixed double silver medal winners, will be competing for their province along with six other athletes from Langara, as well as Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). Though provinces go through a cycle when it comes to hosting Nationals, this year is a special year, says Helen Cheung, phys-ed work-op student. “This is really big for us this year,” says Cheung. “This is the last Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST)[for badminton], and we’re trying to start a new league for next year. It’s really big for Team BC, and we hope to do really well.” With 50 athletes, 50 coaches, and support staff, it looks to be a busy weekend for everyone at the campus gym. Bruce Hunter, VIU Athletics Director, is also looking forward to the Championships.

“It’s pretty exciting to get the best players in the country here for the Championships, to have it at VIU, show them Nanaimo, and show off what we have here on the west coast. The calibre of the play is amazing—most people have never seen badminton at a university level. I would encourage people to come out, especially on Saturday for the medal games.” Graydon Robb, known for his trick shots and intensive play, can attest to that. In a February 2 PACWEST All Access interview with Ryan Watters, he gave insight on badminton at a professional level. “If you’re comparing it to tennis, the match intensity is twice as much and you’re covering twice the amount of space in half the time,” he said, adding, “I’ll bring my A-game for Nationals.” The Badminton Championships will be at the VIU gym, and admission is free for all VIU students, with draw prizes at the door. For more information, visit <mariners.viu.ca> or <pacwestbc.ca>.

The CCAA Badminton Nationals will be hosted at the VIU gym from March 2 to 5. Courtesy of Brent Dunlop

Fish out of water: Stuey the Sturgeon Catherine Charlebois The Navigator It might be hard being Vancouver Island’s most recognizable sturgeon. There at almost every game, VIU’s own Stuey the Sturgeon isn’t just your average living-fossil sea creature—he holds high standards for himself and his craft. I managed to track him down as he was visiting his friends in the Aquaculture buildings on upper campus to find out what it really means to be the VIU Mariners’ mascot.

Catherine: Stuey, what made you want to become a mascot? Stuey: I wanted to become a mascot because the ocean was just too small for a big fish like me.

C: Did you need to study for this? Does being a mascot require a degree? S: I went to medical school to become a sturgeon surgeon, but, unfortunately, I found my true passion in the arts. This led me to a degree in dance, which helped me excel as a mascot. After changing my career path from medicine to the arts, my family has embraced my passion for being a mascot. Stuey the Sturgeon gallivants with a young fan, with VIU’s own Farida El Sheshingy watching in the background. Courtesy of Craig Glennie

SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

C: What’s it like being a fish out of water?

S: I am not going to lie—it is a little hard to breathe at times, but hey, it’s part of the gig.

C: How do your friends in the Fisheries building feel about missing out on all your games? Do they support you from the deep end? S: My friends miss me and ask me about the games, but are very supportive of my desire to be the best mascot ever.

C: If you could play a sport, which sport would it be? S: It’s no secret to some that I fancy myself as a bit of a Cristiano Ronaldo. So I would have to say soccer.

C: What’s it like being the most recognizable sturgeon on Vancouver Island? S: The cameras and tabloids can be a bit much sometimes, but I really enjoy hanging out with all the VIU fans that come to all the sporting events.

C: What has been your favourite mascoting experience so far?

C: What do you like about cheering for the Mariners?

S: My favourite experience as a mascot is a toss up, as I have been fortunate to be invited to some very special events, such as the Rock City Fun Fair, The Ladysmith Light Up Parade, and, recently, the Nanaimo Children’s Fun Fair—all of these have given me the opportunity for great experiences.

S: I like cheering for the Mariners because they are my family. All the students on campus are fantastic and I enjoy being around them.

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sports & lifestyle

VIU mascots: A history Catherine Charlebois You may have seen him going worn out and they’re not cheap; it’s not like you just go buy up and down the stands during a basketball game or riling the crowd into doing the wave during a volleyball tournament. With his big whiskers and slick grey skin, Stuey the Sturgeon, VIU Mariners’ mascot, comes from a long line of mascots, back to a time before VIU even existed and was still Malaspina College. There are few that recall the original Mascot, the Ancient Mariner, though he is remembered fondly by a few seasoned staff members at VIU. Bruce Hunter, VIU’s Athletic Director and Mascot Expert, imparted some of his knowledge on the school’s mascot history. “I think the Ancient Mariner would have been late ‘80s. I don’t think we had a mascot until then,” says Hunter. “Blue Thunder came along in ‘95 or ‘96.” With a big rain jacket, gumboots, and a mariners’ hat, the Ancient Mariner was just the first of the mascots to follow a nautical theme. Blue Thunder, affectionately called “Thunder”, is more like your typical mascot, with electric blue and bright yellow skin, big tail, grinning mouth, fangs and all. “Blue Thunder sort of looks like a dragon, but is meant to be a sea monster,” says Hunter. “We’ve had some really good mascot people in the past that have made the most out of Blue Thunder, but he got a little tired. He was getting a little bit

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another one.” After Thunder came Stuey, the anatomically correct Sturgeon, in 2010. After an outreach from the Fisheries program to VIU’s administration, it was decided that Stuey would be Thunder’s successor. “VIU has a big sturgeon breeding program and we’ve had the sturgeon research program here forever; it’s one of those things that’s iconic to VIU,” says Hunter. Though Stuey doesn’t make it out to every game, mostly due to a lack of a “dedicated mascot person,” he is still a prominent figure when VIU does public events. “We usually use a work-op student [as a mascot person],” says Hunter. “But what we found in the past is that lots of people have the idea that they want to be a mascot, but then when they get in the suit, it just doesn’t really work. It’s definitely a challenging role; people think it’s easy but it’s not.” Though finding a mascot person can be tough, there’s no denying the effect mascots have on a crowd. “They add quite a lot to the whole game experience,” says Hunter. “We have Stuey now, but, to be honest, Thunder hasn’t fully retired. Sometimes we even have both of them out. Thunder still comes back for appearances.”

Thunder gives high-fives to young fans during a game.

Courtesy of Bruce Hunter

VIU’s old and new mascots, Blue Thunder (left) and Stuey the Sturgeon (right) makes quite the energetic pair. Courtesy of <mariner.viu.ca>

Stuey the Sturgeon poses with a young fan out in the community.

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Courtesy of Bruce Hunter

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SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

page 22

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

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February/March

SUN

MON

TUE

WED 24 Pink Shirt Day Diana Krall Plaza, 90 Commercial St. Noon – 1 p.m. FREE

THU 25 The Sound of Muzick: A Karaoke Musical The Taphouse Restaurant, 321 Selby St. Doors 7:30 p.m. $20

The Bill Coon Quartet

Primary Red

Simon Holt, 6582 Applecross Rd. 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.

Art 10 Gallery, #123-4750 Rutherford Rd.

Students $10

9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

FREE

Regular admission rates

6 Office Hours Bailey Studio, 2373 Rosstown Rd. Doors 2 p.m. $18

Glow in the Dark Skating Frank Crane Arena, 2300 Bowen Rd.

Ed Kowalczyk: Throwing Copper Unplugged Port Theatre, 125 Front St. Doors 7 p.m.

A Different Moon Malaspina Theatre, Bldg. 310 8 – 10 p.m. $10

$34.50

FRI 26

SAT 27

2016 Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d’Érable: Plaid Dinner and Party

Nanaimo African Heritage Society Presents: Finale Dinner Dance Gala

Beban Park Auditorium, 2300 Bowen Rd.

Bowen Park Complex, 500 Bowen Rd.

Starts 6 p.m.

5 – 11 p.m.

$25

$40

13th Annual Wee Tipple Party Grand Hotel, 4898 Rutherford Rd. 7 – 10 p.m. $95

17th Annual Nanaimo West Coast Women’s Show Beban Park Auditorium, 2300 Bowen Rd. 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Students $4

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra

Characters, Con Men, and Celebrities

Port Theatre, 125 Front St.

Nanaimo Museum, 100 Museum Way

Doors 7:30 p.m.

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Students $18

Students $1.75

JOIN THE NAVIGATOR ONLINE THENAV.CA /THENAVIGATORNEWSPAPER @THENAV_VIU @THENAV_VIU

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C A L EN DA R

Call for resumés Looking to gain valuable experience working with fellow students publishing a bi-weekly newspaper?

You write/create. We pay. Send a resume to <editor@thenav.ca> with your preferred position(s) for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Deadline March 18. Available positions: Associate Editor, News Editor, Arts and Entertainment Editor, Sports and Lifestyle Editor, Production Manager, Copy Editor, Web Editor, Ad Sales Representative, Art Director, Graphic Design Assistant, Social Media Manager, and Multimedia Producer.

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.

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