January 22, 2014 by The Omega

‘Pack parts ways with Lundgren Pg. 11

The Omega Thompson Rivers University’s Independent Student Newspaper

Volume 23, Issue 16 January 22, 2014

News

Editorial & Opinion

Life & Community

Arts & Entertainment

Sports

Pages 1, 2

Pages 3, 9

Page 5

Pages 6, 7

Page 11

First draft of TRU priorities released Jessica Klymchuk Ω News Editor After a semester of consultations, TRU’s first draft of its new priorities has been released. Over the last four months, seven town hall meetings and two surveys have influenced the 35-person strategic priorities committee in the drafting of five priorities that will guide the university’s goals over the next five years: (1) Building student success through experiential learning opportunities, flexible delivery models for programs and supporting success in transitions between high school and university and work and university. (2) Building intercultural understanding through the indigenization and internationalization of campuses and recognition of uniqueness of Canadian society through Canada-based teaching. (3) Building research capacity by prioritizing activities that develop a capacity to conduct scholarly research through program innovation, expertise of faculty and partnerships with industry. (4) Building entrepreneurial capacity by prioritizing entrepreneurial collaboration that mutually benefits the university and the community through innovative practices, industry partnerships and career development

opportunities for students, faculty and staff. (5) Building sustainability financially, economically, culturally, creatively and environmentally. Town hall meetings at TRU on Jan. 16 and at NorKam Secondary on Jan. 17 invited participants to review and discuss the priorities and then brainstorm how they could be implemented and what would constitute success. “It isn’t prescriptive,” TRU president Alan Shaver said. “We aren’t telling people here is a priority here’s how you are going to do it. We are saying here are the priorities we think will make a difference to a lot of different things at TRU. Get together and come up with an idea so we can go with this.” Shaver said he sees these priorities leading TRU to be Canada’s first modern university, one that doesn’t have to be everything to everyone but is strategic about what it offers. “I think it’s a more directed and focused approach,” he said of the draft. “I think the 2007 priorities did a good job of developing what I’d call big picture and many of those things are just as relevant today as they were back then. Some we think needed to be changed.”

See PRIORITIES Pg.

President Alan Shaver presents the current state of the five-year priorities plan to around 75 faculty and students in attendance Jan. 16. ( Jessica Klymchuk/ The Omega)

TRU’s International Building looms large over the centre of campus. (Sean Brady/ The Omega)

Federal government hopes to double international students Jane Lytvynenko CUP Ottawa Bureau Chief OTTAWA (CUP) — The number of international students in Canadian post-secondary classrooms could double over the next eight years. On Jan. 15, the Conservatives announced a strategy to double the amount of researchers and students coming from abroad. The program centers around $5 million per year in funding primarily going toward branding and marketing. The funding was approved as a part of the Economic Action Plan last year. Minister of International Trade Ed Fast announced the program at Ryerson University. Fast said in a press release that in addition to the marketing money, “the strategy will provide $13 million over two years to the Globalink program of Mitacs, a national not-forprofit organization that fosters innovation through research and training programs.” The initiative will focus on six key regions: Brazil, China, India, Mexico, North Africa and the Middle East and Vietnam. While critics say an increase in international students is a positive overall goal, they add there needs to be more details

on the program. Alex Usher, president of Higher Education Strategy Associates, says the newly announced strategy needs to be better thought out to be successful. “There are lots of reasons why you might want to increase the number of international students but lets be explicit about what they are and work backwards from there,” Usher said, adding there is no clear purpose for doubling international students. Usher said the document presented by Fast should not be called a strategy. He wondered whether provinces and educational institutions were consulted when putting together the plan. “The only goal I can see is double the number of incoming students,” he said. “I don’t know why that number was picked and if you don’t know why the number was picked you’ll have a hard time justifying it.” Dan Harris, the NDP postsecondary education critic, said the idea of doubling international students in Canada is not a bad one. “They [international students] make an important part of the student body in Canada and help provide resources to universities through tuition fees,” Harris said.

He added the government needs to ensure the resources and support are there for the new international students, many of whom face a culture shock when coming to Canada. Gary Slater, associate vice-president international at the University of Ottawa, said new students often have a language barrier and have to deal with different methods of teaching from what they’re used to. Harris echoed Slater’s concern with resources for international students, saying, “We have to make sure they succeed and we have no problems arise from a larger student body.” He added that universities will need additional funds to provide adequate programming for the new students, something that’s not currently outlined in the strategy. Slater said that because education is a provincial matter, the federal government can only hope the numbers double as projected. The rest of the work falls on the provinces, some of which have a hard time recruiting international students.

See U.S. Pg.

News

January 22, 2014

European getaway? TRU takes next step in borderless education initiative Jessica Klymchuk Ω News Editor TRU has formalized a new partnership with the International University Network (IUN) that will see four new TRU programs offered in Europe this summer. The International Strategic Network (ISN) was formalized on Jan. 14 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Christian Werner, president and CEO of the IUN alongside TRU president Alan Shaver. The IUN includes three universities with campuses in Germany and Austria: the University of Applied Management, the University of Health and Sport and the University Seeburg Castle. Shaver said partnerships such as this allow students to pursue careers that require international competency and experience. According to Werner, they work towards implementing structures that help realize the idea of borderless high education. “This is really about how we can help our students to develop the ability to become global players,” said provost and VP academic Ulrich Scheck. Shaver said that the network will eventually grow to include partners on every continent. Werner called the ISN a network of young universities

and said its interest in TRU was enthused by the university’s dynamic nature and open learning program. He called TRU a “truly international university” in both the way it reaches out globally and attracts a global student body. “I also believe that in the future, in the globalized world, there will not be any academic program without an international component, and we have to work on that,” Werner said. In 2008 TRU signed a similar memorandum with the University of Applied Management, one of the IUN’s member universities. The new partnership comes after five years of collaborations between TRU and partners at UAM’s Berlin and Unna campuses. Four certificate programs will be the first to commence on June 2 in Unna. Available are certificates in tourism, social media, global competency and environmental sustainability. The summer 2014 programs run from June 2 to Aug. 1 and cost $5,900, which includes nine weeks accommodation and some meals. The application deadline is March 15. For more information and program descriptions visit http://www. tru.ca/studygermany.html. The TRU-ISN partnership also offers a master of arts in international adventure sport

TRU president Alan Shaver and president of the International University Network Christian Werner sign documents formalizing the International Strategic Network partnership. ( Jessica Klymchuk/ The Omega)

management at UAM, with study terms in Canada and Germany, and is ready for intake, according to a TRU press release. It also indicates that TRU is also in the process of developing a tourism master’s program in experience

Priorities, now to be finalized by committee, revealed in Feb. From FIRST DRAFT Pg.

Around 75 people, mostly faculty and administration, gathered on Jan. 16 to review the priorities. There was discussion of increased student research, more culturally inclusive orientations, increased advisory for students, more community involvement and increased student research. “Certainly there is an opportunity to become more entrepreneurial, but always keeping our eye on that balance of the mission of the university. It’s not a business,” Susan Duncan, associate professor in nursing, said. “However, we can be strategic in finding other sources of funding through what we offer and bring that revenue back in to support students and what we do as a university.” TRU director of advancement Karen Gamracy said her table’s discussion on sustainability drew a concern for the ability of students to plan funding for their university career and whether a single letter grade for international students is a socially sustainable recognition. “There were some good points from the international students at the table. They had an interesting take on the social part of it,” she said.

studies with similar study terms in both countries. Collaborative research is also underway by the respective psychology departments of the IUN and TRU on individual sustainability values.

U.S. is stiff competition for Canadian institutions hoping to recruit internationally From FEDERAL Pg.

A town hall meeting on Jan. 16 brought the first discussions and reviews of the drafted strategic priorities, inviting input on how they should be implemented and what would constitute success. ( Jessica Klymchuk/ The Omega)

The strategic priorities committee will review the input again before the final draft is solidified in February. “We agree on the priorities, but it has to be done by people, students faculty and staff,” said

Shaver. “We really have to tap into that creative genius and get them to come forward with stuff. And then the challenge for the senior administration is to make sure we can invest in it and get something done.”

“This partnership fosters the goal of international mobility for education and for students,” board chair Brian Cross said. “This is a necessary characteristic in the modern world and the modern university.”

“We have to recognize that a national policy like that will be differently seen in the French and the English world,” Slater said, pointing out that Quebec has a harder time recruiting international students. “It’s much easier to recruit students that want to study in English than in French. We have to work hard if we want to keep a linguistic balance in the country.” Slater said while Canada has a great post-secondary education system, it has to compete with the USA. That’s where the $5-million yearly initiative for advertising comes in. “The number one thing the federal government can do is give Canada a good reputation outside the country,” Slater said. “It’s a marketing issue to a large extent.” According to Harris, Canada also needs to ensure there is an easy way to immigrate for international students who decide to stay. “We should be putting a focus on making

sure there is a path to immigration and family reunification,” he said. Whether the students stay or go back, Slater said anyone studying in Canada is an asset for the country. Those moving back often forge strong links with the institution they studied in, while students who immigrate contribute to the economy. “They bring a lot not only to university but to society,” Slater said.

What are your thoughts? Chime in on this or any other story you see in the paper at truomega.ca

Editorial & Opinion

The Omega · Volume 23, Issue 16

The Omega www.truomega.ca

January 22, 2014 Volume 23, Issue 16

Published since November 27, 1991

editorialstaff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mike Davies

Where’s the line on “accommodation,” anyway? Freedom of religion and other rights seem to only be an important when they’re easy

editor@truomega.ca

250-828-5069

@PaperguyDavies

news@truomega.ca @jjklym

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Courtney Dickson arts@truomega.ca @dicksoncourtney SPORTS EDITOR

Adam Williams

sports@truomega.ca @AdamWilliams87 ROVING EDITOR

Karla Karcioglu

roving@truomega.ca @0_kmk_0 SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR

Mark Hendricks

sci-tech@truomega.ca @MarkHendicks5 COPY/WEB EDITOR

Sean Brady

copy@truomega.ca @iamseanbrady

omegacontributors Alexis Stockford, Danya LeBlanc, Ashley Wadhwani

publishingboard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF * Mike Davies INDUSTRY REP* Sylvie Paillard FACULTY REP* Charles Hays STUDENT REP* Travis Persaud STUDENT REP* Hugo Yuen STUDENT REP* Adam Williams

letterspolicy

Literary and visual submissions are welcomed. All submissions are subject to editing for brevity, taste and legality. The Omega will attempt to publish each letter received, barring time and space constraints. The editor will take care not to change the intention or tone of submissions, but will not publish material deemed to exhibit sexism, racism or homophobia. Letters for publication must include the writer’s name (for publication) and contact details (not for publication). The Omega reserves the right not to publish any letter or submitted material. Opinions expressed in any section with an “Opinion” label do not represent those of The Omega, the Cariboo Student Newspaper Society, its Board of Directors or its staff. Opinions belong only to those who have signed them.

Editor’s Note Mike Davies Ω Editor-in-Chief It bothers me that we use expressions like “freedom of expression,” and say that we believe in people’s rights to practice their religion and that we accommodate people’s beliefs — and then completely decide not to whenever we feel like it. Many of you remember the 2013 spat between soccer players and their league about whether they should be allowed to wear their religious headgear, for example. The league actually tried to say there was some “safety issue” with wearing a turban on a soccer pitch and then backed off that when people called them on that being nonsense. Then they tried to say it was because FIFA (the worldwide governing

Protection isn’t just about birth control. You know that, right?

All material in this publication is copyright The Omega and may not be reproduced without the

Cariboo Student Newspaper Society (Publisher of The Omega) TRU Campus House #4 900 McGill Rd, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 0C8 Phone: 250-372-1272 E-mail: editor@truomega.ca Ad Enquiries: accounts@truomega.ca

Wellness Matters

Courtney Dickson Ω Wellness Columnist

Twitter:

While I was at a student press conference, I picked up the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) paper, The Weal, only to find an article that I found mildly concerning. A Trojan Condom and SIECANN (Sex Information and Education Council of Canada) study found that of students engaging in sexual activity, only half of them are using condoms. According to writer Amanda Siebert, the Trojan/SIECANN study found that 54 per cent of surveyed students use condoms as birth control, while only six per cent use them for STI (sexually transmitted infection) prevention. The rest use them for both (which I applaud).

@TRU_Omega “Like” us on Facebook. Do it. Seriously.

for other reasons (physical disability, for example) then they should be given accommodation for religious beliefs, as well. “Students often select online courses to help them navigate all types of personal circumstances that make it difficult for them to attend classes on campus, and all students in the class would normally have access to whatever alternative grading scheme had been put in place as a result of the online format,” said Rhonda Lenton, York University provost and vice president academic. However, Grayson denied the student’s request nonetheless, and the student has agreed to work in the group setting with women, but the debate still rages on whether the school was right to accept the request, the professor was right to deny it, or even if the student should have been allowed to make the request in the first place. Human rights rules are in place that mean a student can not be asked about their religious beliefs, so we don’t know exactly which religion the student is claiming to follow, but scholars at the university claimed that even Muslim or Orthodox Jewish students would not have that stipulation in their religion, “unless he is asked to be physical with a female student, which I assume he is not.” Some feel this student merely didn’t wish to work with female students

Who’s really being safe about sex?

(Correspondence not intended for publication should be labelled as such.)

body of soccer) said that they weren’t allowed. They backed off again and actually ended up reversing the ban once they didn’t have any defense to its implementation after FIFA said they didn’t have a problem with it. Maybe that’s a bad example. That was in Quebec, after all, and they’re currently trying to impose legislation that make it so public employees can’t wear anything that signifies their religious belief while at work. But it recently came out that a student at York University in Toronto had refused to work in a group setting with female students because of his religious beliefs, and the fallout from that is causing some serious debate. The student was taking his degree online, but there was an “in-person” requirement that involved group work that he had requested to be exempt from. “One of the main reasons that I have chosen Internet courses to complete my BA is due to my firm religious beliefs,” the student wrote, saying he would be unable to meet in a public setting with female students. Paul Grayson, the professor of the course, attempted to deny the student’s request, saying that religious beliefs shouldn’t trump women’s rights, but was overruled by the university itself, the reason being that if people are given accommodation

This is a huge generalization on my part, and may be entirely inaccurate, but I have a feeling that that entire 54 per cent is not in some form of relationship. And those who are engaging in sex with multiple partners are probably not having each person they get busy with get a pre-intercourse STI test. So why are so few people using condoms strictly as birth control, not as STI prevention? There are a ton of options as far as birth control is concerned. While I’ve previously discussed that it kind of sucks that it’s usually up to the lady to manage that part of a sexual relationship, it’s not like there aren’t accessible options. Condoms do double duty-they help prevent unwanted pregnancy and prevent the spread of disease. I just feel people aren’t recognizing how important the latter is. The Public Health Agency of Canada says STI rates are highest among young adults in Canada. Is that because we primarily think about preventing unwanted pregnancy, and let the really uncomfortable stuff come second? It’s weird, because I feel like our generation has had access to a lot more sexual health education than those before us. I went to public school in Calgary where, starting in grade four, we did some kind of human sexuality unit in health class (except for students whose parents chose not to educate their kids). As

I got older, if I didn’t understand something, I had access to the Internet where I could just look it up. Heck, I asked people if I didn’t know. At that conference we got dental dams in our “swag bags” and I didn’t know what that was, and I had to have it explained to me. But someone knew, and that is important. To me that says some people are educated about this stuff, but STIs aren’t as important as not having babies. Why? STIs can do a lot of harm to our bodies. They can cause infertility, while right now you may say “That sounds great! Then I don’t have to worry about getting a lady preggers!” one day you might seriously regret that. You can suffer through a lot of pain and discomfort from an STI. You could also contract HIV which could develop into AIDS. I don’t think I really need to elaborate on that one for you to know how serious that is. What’s worse, you can pass an STI on to other partners. How bad would you feel if you found out you had gonorrhea, because someone unknowingly gave it to you, and then you unknowingly gave it to someone else? I’m guessing you would not feel too awesome about yourself. Take some time to educate yourself on STIs, as well as pregnancy prevention. One is not more important than the other. Both are things you should know if you are going to be sexually active in any capacity.

and it had nothing to do with his religious beliefs. Accommodation is a wonderful thing. But where does it cross a line? We make sure that the buildings on campus have wheelchair ramps, for example, and I don’t think anyone would argue that we shouldn’t. No one would say, “If they can’t get to the classroom, then they shouldn’t be allowed to attend,” and leave it at that. According to the mandate of TRU Disability Services, “[TRU is] committed to facilitating and providing services and reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities in a manner that is consistent with TRU’s educational mandate and academic principles. These objectives will enable students with disabilities to participate on the sole basis of their academic skills and abilities.” If the objective of the university is to facilitate learning and allow them to participate “on the soul basis of their academic skills and abilities,” then can you deny education to someone based on anything other than their academic skills and abilities? Like a belief structure, for example? What say you? Where does “accommodation” cross the line and begin to be intrusive itself? editor@truomega.ca

truomega.ca

NEWS EDITOR

Jessica Klymchuk

Science & Technology

January 22, 2014

The deep places of the world Extreme caver Nicholaus Vieira spoke at TRU about what it’s like to be an underground explorer Mark Hendricks Ω Science & Tech Editor

Cavers climbing down to explore the underground river.

(Image courtesy Nicholaus Vieira)

This week in science A plant that can learn, our sun’s activity in a lull, and spirituality helps strengthen the brain? Mark Hendricks Ω Science & Tech Editor

Spirituality helps combat depression A new study shows that spirituality can lead to a thickening of the brain cortex which can help combat depression. Spirituality (in the context of the study) can range from something as simple as meditation to organized religion. The protection against depression is especially strong in those individuals who are already at high risk for protection. A thicker brain cortex helps counteract the cortical thinning that occurs as a result of severe clinical depression. More research is needed as it is not currently understood why this happens. The study was published by Lisa Miller on Dec. 25, 2013 in the online journal JAMA Psychiatry.

This research follows previous research done by Miller which showed a 90 per cent decrease in severe depression in people who valued spirituality versus those who didn’t when both parents suffered from depression. Find out more: http://www.newswise.com/articles/

Smart plants New research has shown that at least one plant, mimosa pudica, also known as a touch-me-not, has the ability to learn and remember behaviors just as an animal would. The research was conducted by Monica Gagliano from the University of Western Australia along with three other colleagues and was published in the January issue of the online journal Oecologia. The team trained the plants’ shortterm and long-term memories in both low light and high light conditions by

New research shows that meditation and other forms of spirituality might combat depression by thickening the brain cortex.

(Image by Moyan Brenn/Flickr commons)

rigging an apparatus to continuously drop water on the plant. The plants initially closed their leaves as a result of the water, but quickly opened them back up when they realized it wasn’t causing any damage. The plants learned this behavior in a matter of seconds and retained this behavior for weeks, even under changing environmental conditions. Find out more: http://www.sci-news.com/biology/

Solar inactivity as solar flares and sun spots die off The sun has entered a stage of solar lull, a period signified by very little solar flare activity and bitterly cold winters. According to scientists, solar cycles are getting shorter and there are fewer solar flares. Solar cycles rise and fall in 11-year cycles. Despite being at the peak of this cycle, however, the sun is at its lowest state of activity in over a hundred years according to Richard Harrison, the head of space physics at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The declining rate of activity mirrors a period in the 17th century known as the maunder minimum, a period of virtually no solar activity. It was a period of bitterly cold winters where the River Thames froze over in England for two months. Scientists aren’t certain if this declining solar activity will trigger a similar situation. Due to the effects of global warming and human activity on the atmosphere there isn’t any data as to how a solar lull like this will affect temperature. Find out more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ science_and_environment/

It takes a very special kind of person to explore the deepest places on Earth. We know very little about caves – they remain largely unexplored and there are constantly new surveys taking place to map out the interiors and take samples of what’s being found inside. Exploration is not without its perils. Caves can be home to underwater passageways, tight squeezes, dizzying climbs and descents, fast flowing rivers and waterfalls, deep spanning crevasses, low-oxygen areas, razor-sharp rock and of course the absence of nearly all light. It’s an utterly foreign environment, rife with peril for the unprepared. “Underground is where all the fun stuff is,” Nicholaus Vieira said during his presentation on extreme caving at TRU on Jan 16. Vieira has made his home in caves like these. He’s not a professional caver, only because according to him, there are no professional cavers – but he is an extreme caver. Vieira spends over 200 days of the year caving, sometimes spending weeks at a time underground. In order to support this passion, he lives out of his jeep in the Canadian Rockies. He has been working alongside TRU microbiology professor Ann Cheeptham, bringing her the cave samples for her research. “Be careful of that recreational caving thing, because it leads to the next step, exploration and

scientific research,” Vieira said. “Because you’re going to start asking questions. That’s where all the trouble begins.” Vieira’s current work is on a B.C. cave system called Raspberry Rising in the southeast of the province. Raspberry Rising has been known since the 1800s, but the interior has still not been fully explored. Many of the samples for Cheeptham’s research come from this cave system. Vieira explores caves all over the world and recounted his experiences of several caves during his presentation, including what it’s like to explore in Castleguard Cave, the longest cave in Canada. Exploring Castleguard requires bridging, the act of stretching your body across a chasm and shimmying across with your hands and feet. “You do this for about four kilometres for the first fissure and two kilometres for the second fissure. Don’t slip, there are no ropes and it’s usually about a 16 meter drop,” Vieira said. “It’s quite amusing.” Vieira stressed how little we know about caves and just how unexplored these places are. “Many people have been to the top of Everest, multiple people have been to the moon, one person has been to the bottom of this cave,” Vieira said, referring to the deepest cave in the world: Krubera Cave in Russia with a depth of 2,179 meters. If you’re interested in learning more about Vieira’s exploration and research, read more on his website at www.crazycaver.com.

The Omega · Volume 23, Issue 16

Life & Community

Conserving energy across campus Friendly competition begins between TRU, UNBC, Okanagan College, Portland State and UW Karla Karcioglu Ω Roving Editor On Jan. 10, TRU’s department of environment and sustainability began monitoring TRU’s energy usage in the library, the Independent Centre, culinary arts and the Residence and Conference Centre. The information will be used for a baseline for TRU’s participation in the Campus Conservation Nationals (CCN). The CCN is a North American initiative to provide incentives for colleges and universities to reduce electricity and water usage. Numerous schools in the United States are already participating, but TRU is one of just four Canadian universities, all in Western Canada. The department will record an initial baseline of energy usage from Jan. 10 to 31 and then work to reduce its energy use from April 4 to 25. “We’re going to try and get people to do all the small things like turning off lights and turning off computers when not in use,” said environmental programs coordinator James Gordon. TRU has also teamed up with four schools, UNBC, Okanagan College, Portland State University and the University of Washington to

see who can reduce their energy usage the most between them. The winner of the Cascadia Campus Conservation Cup will get bragging rights and a trophy made of recycled materials which Gordon has volunteered to construct. For the next several months TRU will be engaging in a variety of energy saving programs geared towards reducing the university’s environmental impact. TRU’s department of environment and sustainability has also signed on for BC Hydro’s Continuous Optimization Program, which according to BC Hydro’s website “offers incentives, tools and support” to help participants make buildings more energy efficient. During the program, BC Hydro Power Smart and FortisBC will fund a re-commissioning consultant to “study the building and recommend energy efficiency improvements, provide training of the buildings operators and conduct follow up coaching” and they will also fund the installation of an Energy Management Information System (EMIS). The department of environment and sustainability has also approached the TRU Residence and Conference Centre about a potential energy saving pilot project which uses

Director of Environment and Sustainability, James Gudjonson, wipes some snow from the solar panels set up on the roof of Old Main shortly after their installation in 2011. (Omega File Photo)

occupancy-sensors to control room temperature. The potential energy savings according to director of environment and sustainability Jim Gudjonson would be approximately $20,000 to $25,000 per year. The department is currently waiting for the TRU Residence and Conference Centre to decided if they want to

accept the project. A project to install solar panels on the Independent Centre was recently approved and the environment and sustainability department is currently helping TRUSU calculate how many panels will be required. Even though TRU’s size has increased with the building of the House of Learning in 2011

and expansions to the Campus Activity Centre and Old Main in 2012, its energy use has been decreasing. This is thanks to TRU’s Energy Management Program. Currently, TRU uses around 15,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year at a cost of around $900,000, according to Gordon.

Toolbox program offering low Undergrads show their cost support to entrepreneurs work at PHP conference Jessica Klymchuk Ω News Editor Today’s history major might not seem like tomorrow’s business owner, but with the right support, one of them could be the next accidental entrepreneur. Enactus is looking to provide that support and hopefully curb businesses suffering from improper expertise and closure. Recently elected MLA Todd Stone calls himself an accidental entrepreneur – one of the successful ones, considering his company iCompass Technologies Inc. is celebrating 15 years of business. Stone devotes much of his recent success in politics to the experience he gained as an entrepreneur and struggling business owner in iCompass’ startup years, a time when he said there was very little support or guidance. Stone talked about days when the office was a one-bedroom apartment with two employees or a time when failure to meet payroll was a serious concern. “These are the kinds of stories every entrepreneur has,” he said. “The sad reality is how few businesses make it passed 10 or 15 years, let alone 30.” Enactus Thompson Rivers teamed up with BDO Canada to offer the Toolbox program, now in its third year of operation, to offer mentorship and guidance to entrepreneurs. Its first-ever Business Start-Up Night introduced the revamped program on Jan. 16. The program used to focus on tradespeople looking to start their own practice. “As our program grew we realized there were so many other entrepreneurs

in town that wanted help but there was no program like Toolbox available for them,” Enactus president Acacia Schmietenknop said. “So we decided we were going to grow Toolbox so that it was open to everybody.” Starting in February, Enactus will run four weeks of Toolbox workshops with its partnering organizations, the Canadian Home Builders Association, Venture Kamloops and Community Futures, each hosting a night and teaching accounting, finance, marketing or human resources. In between

and expansion manager at Venture Kamloops, said the majority of job creation in Kamloops comes from within, which is why entrepreneurship is so important in the community. “Our job is to do everything to make sure business is thriving in Kamloops,” he said, adding that he has seen around 170 entrepreneurs in the past year. He said it’s important for new business owners to not only access expertise, but also implement it. BDO Canada’s Brian Callander said amidst critical voices it’s important for entrepreneurs to have support and access to expertise at a low cost. Schmietenknop recognized that the Kamloops Innovation Centre also works with entrepreneurs, but Toolbox is the only program that offers free workshops. “It’s easy to get discouraged from your vision if everyone’s going to mail you thousands of dollars of bills every time you turn around,” Callander said. “Enactus —Colin O’Leary, gives them that ability to get the expertise.” Venture Kamloops Jonathan Bowers emphasized the potential of a single good idea with successful entrepreneurial stories, like Airbnb. Bowers is one workshops, student consultants work of the organizers of Startup Weekend with entrepreneurs to apply their new Kamloops, a 54-hour program that knowledge to their business. Workshops sees entrepreneurs creating a business are free to attend, while consultation is a model and seeking business validation. small fee. Programs like Startup Weekend work “So, they are constantly being able to to solidify an idea and figure out if it’s work on their business. They aren’t just worth pursuing. going to a workshop and then thinking Business Start-Up Night left around what do I do now?” Schmietenknop 50 attendees with several messages of said. “It’s more like you learn this, we encouragement from leading business give you an opportunity to try it out owners in Kamloops. for yourself, ‘where are you having “It’s about recognizing the problems, okay now let’s apply it.’” opportunity, being prepared to seize it Colin O’Leary, business retention and then strapping in,” Stone said.

“

Our job is to do everything to make sure business is thriving in Kamloops,”

Taylor Fry Ω Contributor TRU held its seventh annual Philosophy, History and Politics (PHP) conference from Jan. 16 to 18 with 59 presenters discussing a wide variety of topics. Many of the panels, such as “Does Pop Culture Matter” and “The Societal Harms of Pornography,” were standing room only. Several of the presenters were making repeat appearances, including second-time presenter Justin Potestio, who described presenting his paper on Britain’s anti-war poets of the First World War as being even more nervewracking than his first time presenting. “I felt I had to top myself from last year,” Potestio said. Leigha Maaskant, one of the merchandisers and volunteer directors of the conference presented on the history of the comic book hero Superman on Friday. “I felt good,” said Maaskant, “I was kind of nervous because I was afraid there was going to be a lot of people, but at the same time I was glad there was a lot of people.” She describes the conference as a way to get people’s research out there and to work with professors in a more collegial way. “You feel like you are equals,” Maaskant said. This year’s conference attracted students from all over, including Mount Royal

University, the University of Alberta, the University of Victoria and Central Washington University. Michael Phillips from Mount Royal University presented his work on the temperance movement’s effect on soldiers during the First World War. He said he knew about the conference for a few years and finally felt he had written a paper substantial enough to present. The PHP Conference is one of the few undergraduate conferences in Canada giving students a unique chance to share and discuss their research with peers. “One of the great benefits is that it highlights the fact the bachelor of arts can and should be a research degree,” said this year’s keynote speaker John Lutz, attending from the University of Victoria. He described the conference as bringing students from different disciplines together in a common project and providing a unity that isn’t seen on other campuses. Jenna Woodrow, TRU professor and the internal keynote speaker this year, lauded the conference because it focuses on the research done by undergrads. Woodrow added that the conference brings together the different disciples and gives students experience presenting and some new ideas to look into and study across other disciplines. “I couldn’t be more proud of these students. The caliber of the presentations really are top notch and wonderful,” Woodrow said.

Arts & Entertainment

January 22, 2014

Book review: Joy of Zentangle Danya LeBlanc Ω Contributor

Zentangle is a new way to keep your brain active and get your creative juices flowing. (Image courtesy Design Originals)

Joy of Zentangle is a book that explores the art and techniques of drawing to reduce stress and increase creativity. As a very non-visually creative person, I have never before thought of art as being a stress release. I am continuously frustrated that the dog I’m drawing looks more like a deranged rabbit. Zentangle is a way for all people, creative or otherwise, to improve focus and well-being. The art form itself looks like some kind of doodling, though as discussed in Joy of Zentangle, it is nothing like doodling there’s a clear picture of what will be created. On my first attempt at a Zentangle, I was disappointed by the mess of squiggles on my page that looked like someone had tried to crochet using overcooked spaghetti. It was, in my humble opinion, an absolute failure at abstract art. However, Joy of Zentangle assured me that with more practice and by mimicking some of the example design techniques in the book, I would soon be coming up with my own Zentangle. The how-to-Zentangle book is very clear in creating a foundation for beginners to develop their art. Chapter two describes how to start and what to be thinking about in the representations of the boundaries in the canvas. There is no right or wrong in art, and that principle is constantly enforced to encourage artists to open up to themselves and their art as a sort of release.

As it turns out, my fourth attempt turned into something that I would not consider being an embarrassment. By following the steps like creating borders, connecting lines and shading appropriately, the book actually teaches you not only how to be an artist, but also how your mental state can be represented by shapes, lines and shades on a 3.5 inch square tile. Co-author Sandy Steen Bartholomew uses the analogy that Zentangle is like yoga for your brain: “Zentangle delivers that same sense of thriving and health that yoga can to those who practice it – a wonderful release of tension and stress and increase mental clarity.” After giving readers a basic understanding of Zentangle, the book goes into detail helping artists develop their creative talent further with elaborate patterns and larger pictures within the art. Zentangles can become extremely complex with layers of patterns and designs. The book teaches aspiring artists how to channel their inspirations of the world around them with ripples, paradoxes, printemps, webs and waves with their drawing pencils. There are many creative forms of stress release and achieving mental clarity. Some people write poetry, others do yoga, work on a Sudoku, complete a crossword or perhaps draw. For those who have difficulty drawing, Zentangle is a fantastic new option to channel creativity. The next time you’re feeling stressed or overloaded from studying, pick up Joy of Zentangle and a pencil to see if it helps.

Remebering the children of Air India David Ly The Peak (SFU) From her early beginnings as an undergraduate, B.C. poet Renée Sarojini Saklikar’s journey began much like that of many in the arts: hard work compelled by nothing but passion. Saklikar earned a BA in English Literature and, in the late 80s, an LLB at UBC. She then began working with “three remarkable people at SFU”: Jerry Zaslove, Stephen Duguid and Michael ManleyCasimir. It was here at SFU that Saklikar began planting her own artistic seed, studying social justice, the humanities, and education programming. Years later, she has tended to that seed and it has grown into a collection of poems, offering a revealing commentary on one of Canadian society’s most traumatic events. Children of Air India: un/ authorized exhibits and interjections is Saklikar’s first work, and judging by the packed room at its launch at SFU Woodward’s Campus, the poems have touched many. After her time at SFU’s The Writer’s Studio in 2009, Saklikar discovered the words to describe her intimate connection to Canada’s traumatic history. With the loss of her aunt and

uncle, who were among the passengers during the bombing of Air India Flight 182, Saklikar looked further into the event’s details to make sense of it all. Of her research on the subject, Saklikar remembers two things distinctly, “[Firstly], the persistent haunting of the voices of those 82 children under the age of 13 who died in the bombing; and secondly, the discovery that the bomb was developed and tested in the woods outside a beloved heritage country: Paldi, B.C., located near Duncan on Vancouver Island.” Having learned that her home was so closely tied to Flight 182, the 82 children “spoke” to Saklikar and compelled her to write an ode to them in a way that is close to her heart: poetry. The poems are based on — and contain excerpts from — actual records and the resulting work is artistically haunting and unsettling to read, as if the reader is privy to very private material. She says that “[a] kind of aphasia descends in contemplating [the poems].” To Saklikar, the action of breath is essential to reading poetry, how it connects to rhythms, sounds, and the beats of lines. In the case of her book, breathing plays a critical role in allowing the reader to feel the raw emotion of the bombing of Flight 182.

“If we think of the breath as related to a poetic line, then in this book length sequence, the breath wrote itself out, jagged, interrupted, curtailed, compressed at time, and, at other times, strung out, disconnected, disintegrated,” she says. In the tightly packed room of the launch, it was as if our own breathing synced with Saklikar’s as she spoke passionately about her writing process. Saklikar says that talking and writing about the experience made her realize how truly important sound was in the exploration of trauma. “The deeper I ventured into the Air India archive, the more sound became paramount, rather than meaning: through that process of listening, I jettisoned many earlier iterations of the work.” Drafts and drafts later, the premiere of Children of Air India, in her home province, is certainly an experience all on its own, bringing up memories of inspiration for Saklikar. “The inf luences I channel come from all over. The Fraser River is a muse, for sure, having grown up in New Westminster. Also, the fact that I take Skytrain everywhere . . . what comes through are the sound and rhythm-motion of the train, the inside architecture of the individual cars, the way the body experiences a journey on the line, east to west and back again.”

(Photo by Jason Lang/ The Peak)

Arts & Entertainment

The Omega · Volume 23, Issue 16

Book review: Confessions of a Middle-Aged Hippie Amy Reinitz Ω Contributor Beverly Golden’s Confessions of a Middle-Aged Hippie follows significant events in the author’s lifetime through an extended conversation with a fictional talk show host named Erings. The events, listed nonchronologically, include her musical career, marriage, birth of her daughter and her struggle with illness throughout her life. Coming from a present place of healthiness and self-fulfillment, Golden ref lects on how she has handled each event in her life and suggests to readers what might have been the best way to do so. The blend of fiction and non-fiction allows Golden to offer ref lection and wisdom on her life so far. Golden’s book is different from other memoir-type books in that she has not achieved fame or lived an extraordinary life, but this gives her the advantage in connecting with average readers, especially from her generation. Although the events included are not wholly exceptional, Golden does her best to contrive a lesson out of each one for the reader to take away. The book comes off a tad self-righteous at times, mostly because it feels like Golden is congratulating herself through Erings praises of her stories. The fiction/non-fiction collaboration is unique, but unnecessary for the purpose of the novel. The hippie-esque lessons were occasionally difficult to relate to, especially if you have little stock in astrology, in which Golden is a committed believer. Golden does seem more than satisfied with her existence. She frequently mentions that she has taken a path less travelled, and she’s proud of it.

Despite all this, it feels like Golden is searching for approval from her readers. Her need for applause is evident through the constant praise she rewards herself from Erings. This mixes up her message a bit, because readers are initially encouraged to stand by their own intuition, meanwhile noticing Golden’s own insecurities about her stories of doing so. For a first time author, the novel reads well and is grammatically sound, but unless you identify as the same kind of ‘hippie’ as Golden, it is hard to stay engaged. The memoirs, though cherished by Golden, are not the most riveting for the average reader. However, Golden’s outlook on her life can be seen as endearing at the least, and inspiring to anyone who can relate. Overall, the memoir tries hard to deliver life lessons, and Golden can be commended for her positive outlook on her own life.

Recently read something you loved? Something terrible? Tell others about it by sending us a book review! arts@truomega.ca

editor@truomega.ca

(Image courtesy Motivational Press)

Album review: Expecting Company? Ashley Wadhwani Ω Contributor

Wagons’ album Expecting Company? is a dark collection meant for more experienced listeners. (Image courtesy Spunk)

Henry Wagons’ unexpectedly dark album Expecting Company? Is a year old, but those of us living under a rock are still lucky enough to be discovering it for the first time. “Unwelcome Company,” the first song on the album, gives off a dangerous vibe with its dark lyrics, “Until they all lay dead on the basement floor / and once again I could sleep once more.” It’s the most evil song of the seven tracks included on the album, but for those of us looking for less murderous-sounding music, it only gets lighter from here. “Give Things a Chance to Mend” is just about that: allowing time to cool off emotions after upset from a huge disappointment or relationship catastrophe. Wagon slows things down and keeps that deep stern voice with an old school country feel. Wagon’s vocals are similar to that of the late (and great) Elvis Presley, but with a modern twist. His lyrics speak to listeners, and spinning this record on those slow and solemn Monday mornings satisfies those more depressing moods that can only be cured by colder and deeper music.

Another edgy track that pops up on the album is “A Hangman’s Work is Never Done.” This song gets a little grim as it is about a man in charge of hanging people. Wagon’s thought process on this is fascinating, as he takes the role of the killer who holds the final moments of those about to die. Not only are his lyrics spinetingling, but his vocals send shivers throughout listeners’ bodies. “Please Give Me a Kiss” shares Wagons softer side about that unfortunate relationship where you don’t want to give up, but you know it’s the right thing to do. This track features fellow musician Gossling, who uses Wagon’s first name in the chorus, which makes this track a favourite of mine. The use of the name adds personality, setting it apart from other artists who sing similar sad songs. Unique in Wagon’s work is his collaboration with a different artist for each track (except for “Marylou Two,” of his songs from 2011 that perfectly ties this album together). These collaborations add the sounds he as a man just simply cannot make, and they work well embellishing his deep and dark thoughts by surprising you making you listen a little closer.

January 22, 2014

Albertaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Destination University. Make it yours.

What can the past teach you about tomorrow? This is just one question that Karissa Patton (BA â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;13) is asking at the University of Lethbridge in the Master of Arts program. The MA program at the U of L offers you a personal and customized degree so you can answer the questions that interest you the most. You will explore innovative and interdisciplinary areas of research while working alongside faculty members who are world-renowned experts in their fields.

Apply by February 1 for Summer 2014 or Fall 2014. All applicants will be considered for the School of Graduate Studies Award of Excellence worth $10,000.

For more information, visit: www.uleth.ca/graduatestudies

gradstudies-workingversion-sk.indd 5

Celebrating 30 years of Excellence

14-01-14 5:07 PM

Opinion Feature

The Omega · Volume 23, Issue 16

Killing wolves to protect caribou Tyson Kelsall Over the Edge (UNBC) PRINCE GEORGE (CUP) — “The Grey Wolf (Canis lupus; hereafter wolf) is a highly adaptable, intelligent carnivore that inhabits most of British Columbia” – Ministry of Environment, Government of British Columbia The face of an elusive wolf plays to the heart of many people; it evokes strong emotions. Canis lupus is as close as you can get to man’s best friend in the wild; travelling in packs, wolves have intertwined themselves throughout the landscape of human history — they are likely the most studied animal, ever. A wolf can play the role of a predator in the wild, but its recognizable image has a crucial role in reminding humans there are things outside our sprawling megacities and small towns that we do not yet control. This has not stopped us from trying. The government has sanctioned traps and guns to hunt them under a grey wolf management plan; what defines ‘attempted control’ better than a management plan? There has been a coming and going of open season hunting in certain areas of B.C. in order to keep populations level. The B.C. government notes that, even in the early 20th century, wolves suffered “persecution.” The war on wolves in the Pacific Northwest is a little more ugly than a single shot to the back of the canine’s head. Besides being stigmatized, wolves have been poisoned, trapped, sterilized and shot under the mandate of government programs. Early in the 20th century they nearly went extinct in southern B.C., according to Timber Press. There have been proposals both in B.C. and neighbouring Alaska to shoot them from helicopters. This has led to a division amongst citizens, with many calling wolf culls immoral. Shelley Black, co-founder and operator of Northern Lights Wildlife Centre in Golden, B.C., said that ever since the European man settled in the west, the human-wolf relationship has been violent. On the other side of the predator-prey dynamic sits the caribou, a disappearing

species, which migrates with the weather. The government has drafted recovery plans for caribou. Cross-border, non-governmental organizations, such as the Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative, have taken note. The caribou has a long cultural history in northern North America with both First Nations and settlers, and its face has passed through many hands on Canada’s quarters. As Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation stated in a 2011 media release, “The caribou have and will always be the traditional food of our people. Working to sustain the caribou is critical for our culture, and way of life.” Where do these two animals intersect? Historically, the caribou sated the wolf’s hunger while the wolf kept the caribou strong by eating the weakest members of the herd. However, with human manipulation of ecosystems around caribou migration routes, they have not been able to stay strong. Now their numbers are dwindling, and although they remain a meal to predators, because of social constructs and, perhaps, guilt that humans feel for allowing them to be in such a situation, caribou have found themselves a priority when it comes to protection. Where does human responsibility sit in all of this? In western history, the idea of humans removing themselves from nature reaches as far back as early interpretations of the Book of Genesis; some say it was the unlocking

“

do we consider social aspects within wolf packs? The answer could be that even if the numbers are sustainable, there could be serious impacts on the traditional structures of wolf packs. Historically, reviving threatened species has not been as simple as graphs and calculations. The B.C. government acknowledges that even the “economic returns have been low for decades,” so what is killing a wolf worth besides protecting the human ego from taking responsibility for caribou — and other prey — decline? Hunters suggest it might be ethical to kill certain wolves when the numbers become unsustainable for survival, but the idea of open season throughout B.C. could be a too sloppy and vague, considering packs are not likely to be overpopulated in every area. Black disagrees, suggesting that deliberately killing wolves is never necessary. She points to a common misconception that most people believe all wolves breed. That is not the case; only the two alpha wolves will breed. As she explains, when there is not enough prey to feed the pack, the wolves ostracize certain members, and a lone wolf only has about a 1/10 chance of surviving. Black points out that the population will go in five–seven year cycles, and deems

Where does human responsibility sit in all this?”

of agricultural capability that pushed people on to a different plateau, taking a step outside the food chain. However, where do morals and ethics fit in when it comes to the killing of wolves to fix damage caused by humans? When hunting and trapping laws are examined under the assumption the laws are “nondetrimental” towards wolf populations,

Sustainable Solutions for the Global Marketplace. Our BBA in Sustainability and International Business enables you to complete your third and fourth year full time on-campus. You’ll build an international network while learning with like-minded students from around the globe, with real-world guidance from expert instructors. We’re ready when you are: 1.877.778.6227.

life.changing

royalroads.ca/bba

a wolf cull to be ethically “ridiculous” and points out wolves and a variety of prey, including deer, moose and caribou, have co-existed for a long time, and says that man is now using the wolf as a scapegoat. Markus Pollhammer, a B.C. hunter and an environmentalist, agrees that it is not necessarily humanity’s job to control wolf populations, but argues that if humans can harvest a wolf in an overpopulated pack and make use of its hide and meat, without affecting the pack in a negative way, then perhaps it is not ethically, nor theoretically, problematic. However, he acknowledges gaps in the current system with how hunters really know exactly what is going on in a timely fashion, in regards to both wolf populations and what other hunters do. There is very little done, legally speaking, to monitor how the animal is used after it has been killed. Pollhammer points to the provincial “Report All Poachers and Polluters” program, but says that much of it is based on the honour system rather than solid policing. After being reported to the conservation officer, the officer then has to go find proof of the hunter misusing the animal he or she killed. Generally, Pollhammer reasons, the monitoring of killing animals is too loose to really know what is going on. Of course, wolves are not the only species shouldering the consequences of human misconduct; another member of the animal kingdom has borne much blame — the pine beetle. By any standards, pine beetles’ effects on B.C.’s forest have been absolutely tragic, both ecologically and economically.

(Photo by Dayn Craig/Over the Edge)

However, it has been suggested that the pine beetle’s unexpected winter survival is due to the winters getting warmer, which can be attributed to climate change. Climate change has been proven with 95 per cent certainty to be man-made by the “UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s fifth assessment” which came out in September. There is a potential pattern here of humanity walking away from environmental mismanagement and putting the burden on another species. Many great thinkers and psychologists have pointed out that how our species treats non-Homo Sapiens reflects how we treat our own kind, and what kind of people we are. Gandhi once took it as far as to say, “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” Black says it is possible that we fear wolves because of how similar they are to us. Perhaps the violent and sometimes barbaric ways we treat wolves is only one part of a greater trend — the conscious human separation from nature. Perhaps part of dismantling this myth is to shrink the space in between nature and humans by taking full responsibility in our recovery plans, to modify our own behaviour instead of the behaviour of other species, and to be mindful of the consequences to ecosystems brought on by our actions. The stance of killing certain species to protect others is surely a controversial, multi-faceted topic; but could it be avoided altogether with a new approach to how we treat the planet?

Coffee Break

sudokueasy

2 7

8 3 4 6 1 6 4 5 5 7 9 2 2

sudokuhard

1 8 6 5 8 1

3 6 7

5 4 1

“Pulling Rank”

2 7 8 6

9 1 6 9

6 5 2 6 6 1 9 2 7 2 8

Puzzle of the week Puzzle of the Week #12 – The Vending Machine The vending machine price for potato chips is $1.50 per bag. The vending machine accepts nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies, and toonies. How many ways can you pay $1.50 exactly? If you pay with a toonie, how many ways can the machine give you your $0.50 change? The government starts pushing the half-dollar coin. The vending machine gets modified to accept and dispense half-dollar coins. Answer each of the above cases with this change in effect. (In all cases, for counting the number of ways, the order of the coins does not matter. It is only the number of each coin type that counts.) This contest is sponsored by the Mathematics and Statistics department. The full-time student with the best score at the end of the year will win a prize. Please submit your solution (not just the answer but also why) by noon the secondto-next Wednesday to Gene Wirchenko <genew@telus.net>. Submissions by others are also welcome. The solution will be posted the Wednesday after that in my blog (http://genew.ca/) and in the Math Centre (in the HOL, fourth floor study area). Come visit: we are friendly.

Across 1. Indian martial art 6. Calculate astrologically 10. Exploitative type 14. Old war story 15. Unattractive tangelo? 16. Bad idea 17. Sugar ___ 18. Happiness 20. Eton and Epstein, e.g. 22. Blonde shade 23. Vietnamese musical instrument 24. Relax 27. “My bad!” 30. For fear that 34. Rosary recital 37. Sharp 39. Post office department 41. For her and him 42. Interpretations 43. Fix firmly 44. Start of an idea 45. Congeal 46. Canal locale 48. Pie in the sky? 51. He leads a band 59. Large, flightless bird 60. Short musical piece 61. Greek earth goddess: var. 62. Ancient Andean 63. Fat

64. Tolkien creatures 65. Observer 66. Beats it Down 1. Favor one side? 2. Banned orchard spray 3. Dwelling: var. 4. Confection 5. Bean products? 6. Die 7. Seasons 8. Is remiss 9. Church offering 10. Biblical connector 11. Music category 12. Expires 13. Beluga yield 19. H+, e.g. 21. Where the heart is 24. Hard to pin down 25. Media attraction 26. Photo finish? 28. Engine need 29. Man with a mission 30. Son of Jacob and Leah 31. Balances 32. Conductor Koussevitzky 33. Assignation 35. Entanglement 36. It may follow you 37. Go quiet

38. Maximum 40. Suffix with auction 44. Apple variety 46. Mania starter 47. Cliffside dwelling 49. “___ So Good,” Mangione song 50. Sight-related 51. Brand, in a way 52. Grand 53. Handwoven rugs 54. Riviera city 55. Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Tale of ___ Saltan” 56. Insect stage 57. Trim to fit, maybe 58. Catsup and strawberry 59. Opposite of hence

L A M A O V E N P I T A V E G R A T T A W A R M F R E S U S E L I S L U C H A M H E R B U R G E B O O R

P A S E T A S R T O H V A E S S P A I G A

E S C A P E

S C A B

T O L L F A R N E E G E P E E L F R A G N E N U R E N I S S E

S O T C E C E C U L O P L Y E T A B A D O I N S E A L U N E Z E A T S

P A R R

E V E R

D E W Y

M E L B A

P R E E N

H E S S E

C E N T

H A L T I E P

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS

9 2

4 6 2 1 4 7 9 9 4 3 5 1

MYLES MELLOR AND SALLY YORK

5 3

January 22, 2014

crossword

Sports

The Omega · Volume 23, Issue 16

At the end of the day, it was time for a change in back-to-back matches to the University of Alberta Pandas in Ω Sports Editor post-season play. In 76 regular season and playoff matches with TRU Athletics parted ways Lundgren at the team’s helm, the with women’s volleyball head Wolf Pack won just 11 matches. coach Keith Lundgren on Jan. 14, Prior to this weekend’s action citing a need to go in a different under Grimm, they had not won direction. a set since Feb. 2, 2013, a match With the in which they lost Wolf Pack 0-14 3-1 to the Mount this season under Royal Cougars. Lundgren, and The women lost 0-22 last season, both matches to the it seemed it wasn’t Winnipeg Wesmen a matter of if the this weekend, but Wolf Pack would they managed part ways with a set victory in Lundgren, but their first match when. with Grimm at the “I made a helm. decision to talk to The Wolf Pack Keith about going will play eight in a different more games this direction at this season and Grimm time,” said athletic will be tasked director Ken with trying to put Olynyk. Olynyk a positive spin on said Chad Grimm, a team that isn’t who has been an brimming with assistant coach positivity at the with the men’s moment. volleyball team “I would —Morgan Kolasa, definitely say the for seven seasons, would take over the girls were very WolfPack Middle coaching duties on down,” Wolf Pack an interim basis. middle Morgan Olynyk hopes to Kolasa told have a permanent Kamloops This replacement by the Week. “There’s end of March. been talk of girls Neither Lundgren nor Grimm not coming back throughout the could not be reached for season. It’s been really negative. comment. Whether or not it was coaching’s The Wolf Pack women made the fault, something had to change playoffs once under Lundgren’s because these last two years have leadership, going 9-11 in the been really tough on everyone in 2011-12 season before falling the program.”

Adam Williams

“

There’s been talk of girls not coming back throughout the season. It’s been really negative.”

After a 0-22 season last year and a 0-14 start to the current campaign, the WolfPack have parted ways with women’s volleyball coach Keith Lundgren. (Photo courtesy TRU Athletics)

Olynyk said he didn’t know if Grimm would have interest in staying with the Wolf Pack longterm. He’s a teacher locally and is also completing his master’s degree in counselling. But Pat Hennelly, head coach of the Wolf Pack men’s basketball team, said he thinks that by taking the interim position, Grimm has declared his interest in the permanent position. “I think the statement is being made by the fact that he’s

accepted it and wants to help out the program as an overall piece as much as anything,” Hennelly said. He also said that with Grimm studying counselling, he’s been someone the Wolf Pack men have been able to talk to, another person to act as a sounding board. “I think Chad is going to help sort of stabilize things there,” Hennelly said. Grimm has connections both provincially as well as overseas,

a network that would serve him well if he were recruiting for the women. He’s responsible for bringing Dane Philip Ozari to the men’s team and is well respected in Europe from his time as a coach and professional player in both Belgium and Denmark. But right now, the focus is on the present, and with the Wolf Pack winning its first set in almost a year in their first game under Grimm, the future for the squad might look a little brighter.

“In this corner ...” From CIS wrestler to professional MMA fighter Taylor Sockett The Carillon (U of Regina) REGINA (CUP) — I have often wondered what goes into the making of a professional fighter. After all, I have seen all of the Rocky movies, so I assumed all it took were a frozen side of beef and a lot of raw egg drinking. So when I was given the opportunity to interview a real fighter who attends the University of Regina, I jumped at the opportunity and essentially began picturing a training montage. Turns out there was no 80s motivational music, no side of frozen beef, not even a raw egg anywhere in sight. Just a fighter preparing to go to war. Paul Grebinski isn’t your everyday, average, third-year arts student; he has an uncanny ability to beat the crap out of people. Thankfully, Grebinski has found somewhere to practice his art, while training as a professional MMA fighter. In the Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC), he sports a 1-0 record. While watching his training session, I quickly realized that Grebinski has a number of important people helping push him towards success. I watched as Grebinski’s teammates lined up to beat the crap out of him round after

round in a tough sparring session, but as brutal as it may sound, they were encouraging him every step of the way. However, for Grebinski, the most important person in his corner has to be coach, A.J. Scales. “[Scales has] been my coach since day one. He’s supported me, believed in me from day one, helped me in all aspects of the game,” Grebinski said. “[Scales] took me from a chubby little goof ball and turned me into a professional fighter at the highest level of Canada. I owe everything I have in this sport to him.” Prior to seeing this training session live, I thought fighting was an individual sport, but now I realize how important the support of a fighter’s team is. When sitting down with Grebinski, one of the things that stood out to me the most is how humble he is; he has not forgotten where he comes from. And when asked about how his time with the U of R wrestling program has helped with his development as a fighter, Grebinski was quick to give full credit to the Cougars. “It took me from amateur to professional for sure. The university’s wrestling program doesn’t get a lot of attention and it’s one of the best programs there is in the school’s history,” he said. “ The guys in the room put so much

effort in for no one else but themselves. It really made you buy into it. That carried over for sure”. Grebinski tooks his show on the road in January into the hostile environment of Edmonton where he fought the local Jarred “The Yeti” McComb on Friday, Jan. 17 at MFC 39 No Remorse. When I asked Grebinski about the nickname, he believed it seemed fitting. “He is the ugliest guy I’ve ever seen in my life, so I’ve got to like get prepared to fight someone so ugly. It freaks you out a little.” Looks aside, prior to the fight Grebinski acknowledged this will be his “toughest fight ever,” as McComb sports a 5-3-1 record, making him the more experienced professional fighter, and also has the hometown crowd on his side. However, Grebinski does not feel that he is the underdog. “On paper, I think I’m a favourite because of my wrestling and Jiu Jitzu,” said Grebinski, who sports a successful amateur career, which was not taken into account. The most important thing I learned at this training session was that if I ever stepped into the ring, I would die. The amount of sacrifices fighters make is almost super-human and is clearly the reason most of us watch from the stands.

(Photo by Arthur Ward/ The Carillon)

January 22, 2014

Membership Advisory TRUSU Annual General Meeting Wed | Jan 29th | 7PM Students’ Union Building Agenda available at trusu.ca TRUSU PRIDE COLLECTIVE

Feb 6th | 7PM

Common Grounds

Story Teller’s Gala with

Roy Henry Vickers Feb 12 | 6PM | Mountain Room

for more info visit trusu.ca /TRUStudentsUnion

@TRUSU15

trusu.ca