September 4, 2013 by The Omega

Salmon Arm’s Roots and Blues festival

The Omega Thompson Rivers University’s Independent Student Newspaper

News Page 1

Editorial & Opinion Page 3

Pg. 4

Volume 23, Issue 1 September 4, 2013

Life & Community Page 2

Arts & Entertainment

Sports

Pages 4-5

Page 6

Textbook costs can add up, but students have options Karla Karcioglu Ω Roving Editor

Sukh Matonovich, Carlee Poleschuk, Kristen Hamilton, Dixie Smeeton and Nic Zdunich (left to right) are ready to serve students in a variety of ways. Find the help desk at the base of the stairs in Old Main by the registrar’s office. (Karla Karcioglu/ The Omega)

As the fall semester begins and students mind their pocketbooks, they should keep in mind the various ways money can be saved on required reading for the year. Glenn Read, TRU’s bookstore manager, said the bookstore does their very best to provide TRU students with affordable options by bringing in as many used textbooks as possible, offering a rental program, a digital

textbook option and by providing a textbook buyback program. “I do believe prices are high,” said Read, stating that prices are controlled by the publisher and the bookstore has a modest markup to cover costs. “Sometimes the bookstore is quite reasonable,” said Larissa Pepper, a fourth year business student, adding “If you’re looking to save, do some research.”

See E-BOOKS, Pg.

Students Corner desk ready to serve you in Old Main Karla Karcioglu Ω Roving Editor Old Main has a new desk to lean on. Students Corner, a student-run part of the Centre for Student Engagement and Learning Innovation, opened this summer. The goal of the desk is to provide a visible place for domestic, aboriginal and international students to come and seek help with anything they need, according to Sukh Matonovich, manager of student retention and engagement at TRU. “Most often places are hidden behind closed doors,” Matonovich said, “We wanted to create a space that was approachable.” The corner is a collaborative effort between staff and students to provide a peer-to-peer resource where students can get direct guidance for any of their questions. “The cool thing about Students Corner is it’s kind of like a centralized hub where you can get help on anything you want,” said Nic Zdunich, a summer coop student in TRU’s Bachelor of Business program. Students Corner is a place to help students find the right resources on campus to answer their questions

by making phone calls, finding out the necessary information, and even walking them over to where they need to be, Matonovich said. “We’re here to help and we’re here to answer questions,” said Kristen Hamilton, full-time staff member at the Centre for Student Engagement. “If we don’t know the answer we will get them that answer. Students are not turned

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providing a resource to help ease the transition to post-secondary for new students. She added that she’s especially excited to see the student orientation program grow from a one day program to a summer long support program. “It’s something students wanted, something they felt they needed and we heard their voices,” Matonovich said.

We wanted to create a space that was approachable.” —Sukh Matonovich

Manager, Student Retention and Engagement

away here, they leave with the help they need.” One of the centre’s successful programs is the timetable support lab, where volunteers are trained to help students navigate the website and plan out their courses. Matonovich said a big part of the Centre for Student Engagement and Learning Innovation is

“It’s the vision of the students, and it can’t fail because it’s what students are looking for,” she added. “My vision for what the centre is has all come from students.”

See MORE RESOURCES, Pg.

Costs for textbooks, like the books themselves over the years, can really stack up. Do your research to find the best deals. Oh, and find out if you actually need the book before you buy it.

(Karla Karcioglu/ The Omega)

Life & Community

September 4, 2013

E-books and rentals becoming popular Embrace the extracurricular and join a club F TEXTBOOK P . 1 rom

Pepper recommends waiting until you have been in the class for a few days before deciding whether it’s necessary to purchase the textbook, especially the recommended books that you may not need. She also advised to find friends in the class who would be willing to share their textbook, or even to offer to pay for half to share a book. Other campus resources may prove useful, too. Pepper said that a lot of people don’t know that some textbooks are in the library, providing students an opportunity to sign out books and take notes. Pepper also admits she really loves book exchanges. She often frequents the TRUSU online book exchange to find deals on books. “With the cost of tuition and other fees already so high, whatever students can do to minimize their textbook costs is important,” said Dylan Robinson, TRU Student Union president. Robinson called the price of textbooks “ridiculous” and added that it is getting worse with every passing year, and that textbooks are often out of date after just a year or two. “[The exchange] exists simply to save our members money on textbooks,” Robinson said. It might help to look offcampus for textbooks, as well. Textbookrental.ca is a fastgrowing Canadian company looking to help students save on the cost of textbooks. CEO Brandon Luft, a recent business graduate of York University, saw opportunity in a growing second-hand market. The company has been operating for four years and

has fulfilled over 30,000 orders according to Luft. They have also partnered with 13 Canadian universities and Canadian book retailer Indigo. The website provides students access to rent or buy over one million textbook titles at up to 75 per cent off.

The books are shipped directly to the customer through Canada Post. Students are free to highlight and write in the books and return shipping costs are provided by the company. The company also offers a textbook buyback program.

Digital versions of textbooks are gaining in popularity, as are rentals, as they are often cheaper than purchasing and then selling them when you’re done.

(Karla Karcioglu/ The Omega)

Looking for work on Campus?? HAVE AN APPROVED student loan? Want to Earn $10.25/hr?

Check Out the TRU WorkStudy Program Positions Include:    

Research & assist with projects & campus initiatives Schedule and plan for events and festivals Sell tickets and usher guests at the Theatre Act as a student peer resource/tutor Find these jobs – and almost 100 more at the Student Awards & Financial Support Office (Old Main 1631)

Open to all full-time students currently approved for a government student loan with at least a 2.00 GPA, the Work Study program provides students with valuable paid work experience. Applications and eligibility guidelines are available at www.tru.ca/finaid/workstudyprogram or visit Student Awards & Financial Support (OM 1631, 250-828-5024).

Karla Karcioglu Ω Roving Editor Joining a campus club isn’t just good for your resumé, it’s good for your mental health. A 2012 report by Queen’s University regarding on-campus health and wellness states extracurricular activities are “key to helping students reduce their stress levels and maximize their participation in university life.” In the survey included in the report 76 per cent of students surveyed listed being able to talk with friends or family as their top stress management tool. Derrick Doige, a long-time campus counsellor at the Okanagan College’s Vernon campus, said that students who feel connected to others on campus are generally more resilient. “They have people they can turn to, share with and get compassion from,” Doige said. “That support lets you know you’re not the only person stressing out and struggling, and that there’s a community that’s going through the same thing,” said Larissa Pepper, a fourth-year TRU business student. Adding that clubs were the perfect forum for hearing how others were getting through the stress. The Queen’s University report states that “peers, mentors, buddies, staff, faculty, departments, clubs, teams and other structured supports are important in minimizing isolation and building confidence.” Glendon Wiebe, who has been a campus counsellor at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus for a decade, said that large campuses can often lead to a certain anonymity for students, making it hard to connect with others. Students who move away from home to attend university or college leave behind their social sphere, Doige said, adding that at the same time many post-secondary students are aged 18 to 24 and are experiencing a social identity transformation. “Those that struggle the most are the ones that are isolated,” Doige said. “They isolate to the point where they aren’t going to class.”

“Clubs are a way to meet new, like-minded students with similar interests,” Doige said. The skills that Pepper gained through her extracurricular experiences helped her develop more confidence to try new things. “As outgoing as I can be, I’m a shy person as well,” she said, “It took someone to say ‘Hey, you should come out and try this.’ And if that one person hasn’t said that, my whole university experience probably would have been different.” Now in her fourth year, Pepper said that she is so invested and passionate about both her curricular and extracurricular work that she may stay at school for another year. Doige said clubs can also provide a distraction from academic stress for students, leaving them refreshed and able to come back and do well. “It’s not all about studying,” Doige said, “you’ve got to take breaks and do other things.” Clubs, according to Wiebe, could also provide first year students with a third or fourth-year prospective. More experienced students could relate to the academic stress and offer solutions for newer students. Pepper agrees. She said that the mentorship from other students is reassuring, especially during the difficult transition from high school to post-secondary. “Campus clubs are definitely an important service here at the student union and it is something that we really value,” said Dylan Robinson, TRU Student Union (TRUSU) president. TRUSU is responsible for organizing the creation and funding of campus clubs. “It was probably campus clubs where I met the vast majority of my campus friends,” Robinson said. “As a first-year student especially, I would highly recommend students get involved with a campus club that lines up with their interests,” Pepper said, and if you can’t find something that interests you, start your own club. This year’s TRUSU Clubs Day will be held on Wednesday Sept. 18, outside Old Main from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

More resources for TRU students Disability Services Services: Assisting students with various disabilities. Location: Old Main, room OM1631. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact: 250-828-5023 or dso@tru.ca Aboriginal Education Centre Services: Resources for aboriginal students. Location: House of Learning, room 150. Hours: Varied. Contact: 250-828-5227 or aboriginal@tru.ca Interfaith Chaplaincy Services: Religious and spiritual care. Location: Old Main, room OM1421. Hours: Varies. Contact: 250-371-5940 or chaplains@tru.ca Wellness Centre Services: Personal health and wellness. Location: Old Main, room OM 1462. Hours: Varied. Contact: 250-838-5010 or ccorsi@tru.ca Computer Lab Support Services: Technical support for computer labs, personal accounts and Wi-Fi support. Location: Old Main, room OM 1326. Hours: Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact: 250-828-5332 or labsupport@tru.ca This is just a few of the many services available on campus for you to make use of. We’ve put a more complete list of services available up on our website at the bottom of the “Students Corner” story.

Editorial & Opinion

The Omega · Volume 23, Issue 1

The Omega www.truomega.ca

September 4, 2013 Volume 23, Issue 1

Published since November 27, 1991

The official 2013-14 “welcome back” column!

editorialstaff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mike Davies

editor@truomega.ca

250-828-5069

@PaperguyDavies NEWS EDITOR

Vacant

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Courtney Dickson arts@truomega.ca @dicksoncourtney SPORTS EDITOR

Adam Williams

sports@truomega.ca @AdamWilliams87

Editor’s Note

ROVING EDITOR

Mike Davies Ω Editor-in-Chief

Karla Karcioglu

roving@truomega.ca @dicksoncourtney COPY/WEB EDITOR

Sean Brady

copy@truomega.ca @iamseanbrady

omegacontributors Jessica Klymchuk, Kevin Skrepnek

publishingboard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF * Mike Davies INDUSTRY REP * Sylvie Paillard FACULTY REP * Charles Hays STUDENT REP* Sadie Cox 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 the Letters & Opinion sections 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.

For those who don’t know me, my name and position are in the little box there by my picture, and this space is where I rant and rave about things that are bothering me any given week, praise something worthy, give some advice (I’ve been around academia for a long time) or explain what we think we’re doing with this publication. This week I’d like to formally welcome all newcomers to Thompson Rivers University, welcome back those returning for another round of classes and explain who we are and what we do here at The Omega. You will meet the staff I’ve assembled for this publication year as soon as I have them all hired — and you can see who’s already on the team under “About” on our website — so I won’t go too much in-depth as

All material in this publication is copyright The Omega and may not be reproduced without the expressed consent of the publisher. All unsolicited submissions become copyright Omega 2013.

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

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where they need to go. If you’d like to chime in on a story you see in these pages — we love having conversations about what we’re doing or reporting on — you can do so on the newly designed website at www.truomega.ca or over on the Facebook page. Also, if you like free stuff, I strongly recommend that you follow us on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for a digital subscription (where the week’s headlines show up in your email so you can go straight to the stories you want to read). We often have random prizes to

This newspaper is yours, not ours.”

If you want more upcoming event listings so you can get your party on, tell us that. If you want more news about who was wearing what at the last big Hollywood awards ceremony…that probably won’t happen, but tell us that anyway. I think you get the point, yeah? As for how you should go about doing that, our contact information is all over this paper. Email the section editor you’d like to inf luence directly or just send your complaints or praises to me and I’ll get them

give away through these forums. I’m looking at a $100 gift card to Simply Computers right now, for example. That’s like any case for your Apple anything and some left over for cables, chargers, USB hubs, adaptors or whatever. You don’t use Apple products? Sell it to your friend who does! Anyway, that’s enough out of me — for now. I’ve made my pitch. Now it’s up to you what you do with it. Contact Mike at editor@truomega.ca

Kick bad habits before they even start

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

far as who we are, but I will say that we’re only the management. This newspaper is yours, not ours. We’ll do our best to keep you in the loop as far as what’s going on around you, entertained between classes, places you can find ways to entertain yourselves and up-to-date on Wolf Pack athletics, but you need to tell us how you want us to do that or we’ll just do it how we want, and that’s not fair. If you want more investigations into who is spending your tuition money and how they’re spending it, tell us that.

Wellness Matters Courtney Dickson Ω Wellness Columnist As the school year begins and young minds learn about the joy of independence, it’s common for students to neglect basic wellness. However, there is a reason you chose to pursue postsecondary education, and poor health can severely damage your education and experience during university. This is my sixth year of postsecondary, so I understand how bad you just want to grab a bag of chips from the gas station across the street to munch on at midnight while you work on an essay due the next morning. There are so many things wrong with this approach. I don’t want to nag, but seriously, I can’t stress enough how harmful this lifestyle is. A lot of you will start doing your own grocery shopping. Maybe your parents used to limit the amount of junk food in the house, or you don’t

actually know what the healthy alternatives are because you never paid attention to that stuff. This is where things got really tricky for me when I first left home. All I wanted to buy was juice and doughnut holes. Things did not go well. Here are some tips from a university veteran that will hopefully help encourage a healthier lifestyle. Recognize what kinds of food it is that you always go to: microwave popcorn, chewy cookies, gummy candy, etc. Now find healthy alternatives for those foods. An alternative to a food like this is something that is similar in taste, so if you want sweet, you need to replace it with something else sweet. Same with crunchy, salty, etc. I like hot chocolate, so I picked up some black tea with vanilla, chocolate, peppermint and peppercorns. Add a little milk and voila! It’s a low-calorie version of my favourite treat. Don’t fall into the habit of buying food on-campus. I’m sure food services would disagree with me, but you will save a ton of money and you’ll know what you’re eating is healthier if you prepared it at home. Pencil-in exercise as part of your schedule so that it becomes just as important as going to class. If you have a break between classes, going for a walk can noticeably improve physical and mental health.

Pick up a membership at the TCC (only $27.50 per month for students with a valid student ID) or go to one of TRU’s free fitness classes each week. Perhaps the easiest habit to fall into is irregular sleep. I realize some people work best when it’s 2 a.m. and the pressure is on to learn an entire semester‘s worth of material in the next six hours, but as we’ve all been told many times, sleep is imperative to your well-being and the more often you stay up late to work on assignments, the more you will start staying up late just because that’s the routine. The added stress of exams, deadlines and new responsibilities wreaks havoc on your body. Figure out early on what a good strategy is for you to deal with stress. For some, it might be as simple as going for a drink with friends. Don’t wait until stress is high during midterms to find out how to cope; learning now will do wonders for you in the future. Just because it’s the end of summer and you’re going back to studying, it shouldn’t mean that it’s time to start pigging out on junk food and replacing healthy physical activity with a daily nap (or two) in order to make up for all the fun you aren’t having at the lake or some EDM festival. All it takes is one slip-up to start creating a pattern of poor health. Contact Courtney at arts@truomega.ca

University experience goes beyond the classroom Karla Karcioglu Ω Roving Editor As a returning fourth-year student I have regrets about my first couple of years at university. I want to share my experience with you so you can make the most of your university experience. When I came to university I wasn’t entirely aware of the experiences I would have. I knew with certainty that I wanted to be here because I wanted to continue my education. What I didn’t realize was the numerous life experiences I would have or how they would shape the person I am by teaching me things I didn’t know about myself. University life may be filled with classrooms, textbooks and exams but it can be so much more if you take advantage of what is now available to you. We pay thousands of dollars to be here and not all of that money goes to the classroom experience. When you pay your tuition, take a look at your list of fees. Our money helps pay for academic and support services like tech support, career counseling and personal counseling, as well as recreational activities like guest speakers, student clubs and free yoga classes. Do you know if you like yoga? Take a free class and find out! Maybe you’ll meet a new friend who will introduce you to another new experience. Or maybe you won’t enjoy it, but whatever the outcome is you will be experiencing new things that will teach you more about who you are. The biggest thing I have learned about myself is that if I try, I’m more likely to succeed than to fail. That goes for everybody. You’ll never know what you’re capable of if you don’t try. It’s easy to talk yourself out of things and convince yourself they’re not possible. Challenge yourself to try something new and see what you can do. I can now look back on my previous years at university and kick myself for not making the most of my time at TRU. Now I’m playing catch up, trying to squeeze in as many things as I can into my final years. I realize now that this may be the only time in our lives when we will have this many resources and experiences available to us. University is also a place where we are able to reevaluate and learn about the world in a safe environment that promotes education and self-discovery. Don’t miss out! Get out and take advantage of what’s available. Try new things and discover new things about yourself. You’re paying for the experience, so make it one worth having.

Arts & Entertainment

September 4, 2013

Roots and Blues comes down to earth in Salmon Arm

Album Review: The Big Picture

Jessica Klymchuk

Courtney Dickson

Ω Contributor There’s nothing consistent among the genres of music or age and nature of the crowd at Salmon Arm’s Roots and Blues Festival. What binds those at the event together is the shared enthusiasm among them and the carefree atmosphere of acceptance. Between Aug. 16 and 18, 26,000 people came through Salmon Arm to attend the 21st Annual Roots and Blues Festival. The gates opened Friday night and welcomed festival-goers to two evening stages featuring Fatoumata Diawara, Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer and Mississippi Heat. Six-time Juno-nominated bluesman Harry Manx also took the Boogie Bar-N Stage followed by blues pianist Ben Waters. On the TD Main Stage, Jamaican Ky-Mani Marley serenaded the larger audience with a set that, as expected, included Bob Marley songs. The reaction was mixed. For some, the laid back Jamaican tunes were welcomed, but others lost interest, wanting to hear more Ky-Mani than Bob. With handcrafted bagpipes, horns, drums and medieval attire, Corvus Corax exploded the stage next with their innovated medieval sound, inspired by the ancient musical manuscripts of Viking, Celtic, Chinese and German culture. For many reasons they represent a unique and free-spirited vibe

A festival-goer is clearly into the music at the 2013 edition of the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival held Aug. 16 to 18. ( Jessica Klymchuk/ The Omega)

Ω Arts & Entertainment Editor Four years after his first album, Canadian rapper Cale Sampson released his latest effort on Sept. 3. Unlike other hip-hop artists, Sampson uses his talent to simplify social injustices and issues for his listeners, as he believes these issues will have a prominent effect on generations to come. “A lot of today’s hip hop is disconnected,” Sampson told The Omega, in regards to rap and hip-hop music heard on popular radio. “Nothing to Prove,” the second track from his new album, contains the lyrics “ E v e r y o n e ’s sick of the crap that’s on the radio, we don’t want to listen to that.” While others (though Sampson notes, not all) are concerned A shoulder-top seat for a youngster in front of the TD Main Stage with creating the next big single and at the 2013 Salmon Arms Roots and Blues Festival. making money, Sampson uses his ( Jessica Klymchuk/ The Omega) music for a greater good. that the festival is all about. stages with solo acts more than Not only are his lyrics more serious Corvus Corax’s alter ego, once. than those in popular hip hop, the BerlinskiBeat hit the Boogie Selah Sue’s soulful voice music itself is without fancy bells Bar-N Stage on Saturday for a serenaded the TD Main Stage and whistles: no electronic music or workshop with Finnish beatboxer crowd on Saturday night and auto-tuned vocals, displaying a sense Felix Zenger and Ontario’s again at the Boogie Bar-N Stage of sobriety throughout the album. powwow electronica sensation A on Sunday. The 21-year-old Though the content is important, he Tribe Called Red. Belgian reggae-soul singer held doesn’t sacrifice hip hop’s notable Workshops brought two or the crowd’s attention with a voice rhyme schemes and catchy beats. three artists together to jam, beyond her years. “Reach Up,” the single off The often fusing contrasting sounds The Bright Light Social Hour Big Picture, touches on a number to produce impromptu magic. proved to be a crowd-pleaser on of environmental, economic and Four daytime stages hosted 16 two occasions, as well, with their political issues. workshops over the weekend, rock and roll meld of psychedelic The music video for the single was offering plenty of opportunities blues and deep soul. Their album created by Sampson, director Jay Fox to see artists vibe together was sold out at the merchandise (also known as Le Nouveau-Pauvre) organically. tent long before their second and Sampson’s wife Jamie Doyle Zenger said he doesn’t often performance. (the Jamie named in the album’s only jam so publicly, but there were The always popular City and love song “Jamie’s Song”). It was moments when the product was Colour (or as others may know completely self-funded. brilliant. him, Dallas Green) wrapped up The seventh track, “Evolve,” Even amidst the line-up of the weekend with some mellow heavy blues artists Shakura acoustic solos. About half way S’Aida, Steve Strongman and through his set he stopped to Rita Chiarelli and classic legends acknowledge a front-and-centre including Bruce Cockburn couple. Green dedicated the last and Daniel Lanois, Zenger’s verse of “Northern Wind” to the beatboxing was a hit. He, A pair. Tribe Called Red and DJ Skratch Leading into “Paradise,” which Bastid offered urban alternatives Green described as a “woe is that simply worked, even in a me” song, he said “If I had more barn. Everyone, including those experiences like these moments, I upwards of 60, could be found wouldn’t have written this song.” bobbing their heads. Green’s commentary is similar For their grandkids, the Hub to something Shakura S’Aida International Barton Family also said: the Roots and Blues Stage featured a line-up of audience produces a spirit, unlike kid-friendly acts such as the other festivals, that resonates African jams of Jacky Essombe, with the performers and fuels who visited the stage on both their energy. Even from the stage, Saturday and Sunday. the artists are aware that the vibe Many artists frequented the is unique.

has an intense beat and current yet unique-sounding music. The music is hidden though, by lyrics encouraging listeners to act as leaders if not for others, then certainly for themselves. Though Sampson is really excited about “Reach Up,” the track “Evolve” may soon become a fan-favourite if it finds a mainstream audience. Compared to the U.K.’s Lowkey and Peruvian-American artist Immortal Technique by critics for his use of language and hip hop for cultivation of minds, Sampson coined the term “inforap” to describe the lyrics of his original songs. He treats each song like an essay. He researches and fact-checks, as he wants to make sure he has some weight behind his words. The final track on The Big Picture, “The Money Song,” took him more than a year to research. He reads books, watches documentaries and spends countless hours gathering as much information as he can in order to write lyrics that are correct and comprehensive. In fact, it took him three years to write The Big Picture. Born and raised in Toronto, Sampson discovered the hip hop culture at the young age of nine, thanks to the young men who hung around outside the apartment building Sampson lived in with his mother. After learning to freestyle, he realized he had a natural talent for communicating with others through music and took inspiration from well-known artists KRS-One (or Teacha) and N.W.A. to use music as an educational tool. “If you are a person who cares what’s going on and are concerned with the direction humanity is going, I would encourage you to stand up and speak out and use whatever medium you can to create change,” he said.

The Omega · Volume 23, Issue 1

Arts & Entertainment

September Event Listings The Shrugs – Sept. 7 The Art We Are 8:00 p.m. $5 at the door. Indie rockers The Shrugs will be playing an intimate show at Kamloops’s favourite independent café and art gallery. Lead singer Caitlin Connelly has a pop-music sound similar to that of The Veronica’s, but backed by a Mother Mother-esque band.

Tunes Against Tuition ft. Mother Mother, Van Damsel and We Are the City – Sept. 7 TRU Campus Commons 1 p.m. FREE.

Saskatoon-based Close Talker plays The Art We Are Aug. 24, and makes the most of an “unfortunate” power-outage. (Kevin Skrepnek/ The Omega)

Up close and personal with Close Talker Kevin Skrepnek Ω Contributor According to BC Hydro, the Aug. 24 blackout in downtown Kamloops was an unplanned power outage. However, it couldn’t have been orchestrated better for Saskatoon-based indie folk rockers Close Talker and their set at The Art We Are on Victoria Street. The prairie foursome consisting of Will Quiring, Matthew Kopperud, Chris Morien and Jerms Olson were in Kamloops as part of the B.C. leg of their Western Canadian tour, which culminated with a headline performance at the Ponderosa Music Festival in Rock Creek at the end of August. The show was already off to a cozy and intimate start with the band half-way in to their first song of the night, CBC Radio 3 pleaser “The West Was Won,” when the lights f lickered and abruptly plunged the venue, along with the rest of downtown Kamloops, into darkness. Unfazed, the band continued the show – although not before borrowing an extra acoustic guitar, courtesy of opening act Joe’s Orbit of Vancouver. “We aren’t typically an acoustic band,” quipped Kopperud, as the band retooled their instruments for an improvised unplugged set. Now basked in candlelight, the room provided the perfect ambiance for the rest of the evening as the group worked their way through an hour or so of songs, mostly from their debut album, Timbers. Their range was further showcased with “Flux,” a spacey melody punctuated with thunder drums and atmospheric vocals. It was a piece that has no doubt leant itself to the favourable comparisons being made to Kelowna alt rockers (and Peak Performance Project alumni) We Are The City. As Courtney Dickson noted in August’s edition of The Omega, the band has only precious weeks wedged between university semesters to gather, record, and rehearse.

Despite the impromptu nature of the set, it was an incredibly tight performance overall – surprisingly polished for a group that only formed last year. This sparse time spent together is not telegraphed in their live act. They are comfortable, charming and capable live performers. The quality of the show was evident in the fact that despite the power outage, not a single person left The Art We Are that

Saturday until the last song was done – in fact, the crowd had grown as interested passersby were lured in as Close Talker’s harmonies spilled out onto Victoria Street. The evening made for a oneof-a-kind performance from a band that won’t likely be playing in such intimate venues for much longer. Close Talker is worth the price of admission and more – whether the lights are on or not.

Join TRUSU with their annual free outdoor concert, fighting increasing tuition prices, featuring some of indie music‘s finest. Students, friends and families are all encouraged to come out and dance in front of the stage or relax on the grassy knolls right in the middle of campus.

Deekline – Sept. 12 Cactus Jack’s 9:30 p.m. $7 advanced at Mountain High Pizza. Creator of the genre BreakStep, a bass-heavy sound infused with two-step, the U.K.’s DJ Deekline has produced and mixed a number of electronic dance music (EDM) tracks. He’s received international acclaim for his music and has collaborated with Ed Solo and Wizard, two notable names in the U.K.’s EDM world.

Sarah Miller of Spike TV’s Ink Master at Sakred Skin – Sept. 16 to 23 Sakred Skin, 320 Victoria Street. Phone (250) 828-1313. Celebrity tattoo artist Sarah Miller will be in town for a week doing tattoos for the Kamloops community. If you are interested, Sakred Skin advises potential clients to get in touch with Miller’s media team as time slots are filling up quickly.

Everything Fitz – Sept. 19 TRU Alumni Theatre (Clock Tower) 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. FREE. The first of a five-show series as part of the Live! At TRU line-up. This family of fiddlers and percussionists are coming to TRU with their step-dance music. This show is free to anyone, not just students.

Bliss N Eso – Sept. 23 Cactus Jack’s 9:30 p.m. $10 in advance at Mountain High Pizza. This Australian hip hop group released their latest album in June of this year. They’ve toured globally and have been nominated for an MTV video music award. Their sound is refreshing in a world of manufactured and artificial hip hop.

Current Swell and Jon and Roy – Sept. 26 Cactus Jack’s 9:30 p.m. $10 in advance at Mountain High Pizza. Both hailing from B.C.’s west coast, Current Swell and Jon and Roy bring their indie-acoustic sounds to Cactus Jacks for a night of relaxing, home-grown music.

Culture Days – Sept. 27-29 Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops Museum & Archives, Riverside Park, Old Courthouse Centre for the Arts. Visit the city of Kamloops website for more information about the wide variety of activities and events happening around the city in celebration of Culture Days, a nation-wide event.

Jacobus Verberg – Sept. 28 The Art We Are 8:00 p.m. $5 at the door. Described as gypsy jazz-folk, Verberg’s soft vocals and simple acoustics attract fans of Jack Johnson, James Blunt and Jason Mraz.

Close Talker’s set turns acoustic-by-candlelight at The Art We Are.

(Kevin Skrepnek/ The Omega)

If you have an event scheduled in October, email Courtney at arts@truomega.ca to get in the listings

Sports

September 4, 2013

Entering her final year, Bekkering still finding motivation to achieve greatness summer playing for the Kamloops Heat of the Pacific Coast Soccer League’s (PCSL) premier division. In 16 regular season and two playoff games she had six goals – four regular season and two playoff. The Heat exceeded expectations, advancing to the championship final before losing to Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7-2. Heading into her final year with TRU, Bekkering will use her years of experience in the PCSL and Pacific Western Athletics Association to lead the Wolf Pack as one of the team’s three captains. She will be joined by fourthyears Laura Smylie and Bronwyn Crawford. For Bekkering, it was the one personal accomplishment she had yet to secure, and she said it’s especially significant since she will share the title with her best friend, Crawford. “That was one of the things that was on my bucket-list,” she said, of her captaincy. “I’m really excited that people see me as that much of a leader on the field.” Bekkering’s leadership was on full display in TRU’s preseason games Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 against the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves. She

forced a corner-kick late in the 1-1 draw on the Saturday, using it to set up Crawford for the game’s Ω Sports Editor tying goal. On the Sunday she If success has made Alanna scored the team’s second goal, the Bekkering complacent, you eventual game-winner, en route to wouldn’t know it from talking a 3-1 victory. with her. It’s that sort of leadership on the Bekkering, one of the most field that her coach said made her decorated athletes in recent a natural fit for a captaincy. Wolf Pack history, will play her “She’s inspirational to the final year of soccer for TRU this players at practice and in games upcoming season. She’s coming ... players look to her and see off a season in which she was what they need to do,” said Tom named MVP of the playoffs for the McManus, head coach of the second consecutive year, received Wolf Pack. “It’s a really good fit.” all-Canadian honours from the Heading into this, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Wolf Pack’s final season in Association and again scored the the Pacific Western Athletics game-winning goal in the Pacific Association, it’s looking to exit Western Athletics Association on a high. Both Bekkering and championship final. McManus have their eyes set on Still, even with all the accolades another championship and a better and accomplishments, Bekkering outcome at this year’s nationals, in gets nervous before the start of Richmond. the season. “To be really honest I think “I’m extremely nervous, just we’re going to have a stronger because I want it [the season] to team this year than what we did go out with a bang and be a good last year,” McManus said. “It’s final year for myself,” Bekkering going to be a great opportunity for said. “I need to not focus on it us to ‘three-peat’ but at the same being my last year and I just need time we also know every team in to play the way I play, focus and the league is hunting for us now have fun.” and out to get us. Bekkering again spent her “We just have to do the right thing at the right time and we have the opportunity to ‘three-peat’ and to leave the college association ... being the three-time champions, which would be lovely.” Bekkering said she’s somewhat disappointed she won’t be able to play another CIS season – she played with the CIS’s University of Victoria Vikes in her first year of eligibility – but for the most part she’s happy with how her career has unfolded. Sitting out for a year in order to be a part of next year’s Canada West squad was never a consideration. “All the girls that I’m with now, I’m so close with,” she said. “I would want to be able to help them out with the PACWEST Bekkering fights for the ball in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over UNBC. championship and go out with a She scored the game-winning goal in the match. bang with them, because they’re the ones who pretty much got me (Andrew Snucins/ TRU Athletics)

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Alanna Bekkering will lead the WolfPack as one of the team’s captains this year. Entering her final year of play she is looking to solidify herself as one of the WolfPack’s best all-time.

my accomplishments last year.” So with the final year of her university career set to kickoff this Saturday, Bekkering hasn’t gotten complacent. If anything, her personal goals are as ambitious as ever. She’s got her sights set on becoming a two-time all-Canadian – a feat that hasn’t

(Photo courtesy TRU Athletics)

been accomplished in Kamloops women’s soccer since Kelley MacDonald did it in 1999-2000 and 2001-02. Back then, TRU was still known as the University College of the Cariboo. There’s a good chance that at the end of this year MacDonald will have a little more company.

WolfPack Bites The WolfPack golf team lost the Coquihalla Challange to the University of the Fraser Valley this weekend. The ‘Pack, coached by Bill Bilton Jr. again this year, lost to the Cascades 6.5 to 5.5 in match play (one-on-one match winners receive one point, ties receive a one-half point). Despite the loss, it was one of TRU’s better performances in the annual tournament. Nic Corno, Blake Gozda, Brett Pound and Natasha MacKenzie will return for the team this season. The Pacific Western Athletic Association golf season begins Sept. 7 at Morningstar Golf and Country Club in Nanaimo. TRU won’t host a tournament stop this year.

The WolfPack men’s basketball team is off to a rough start, losing three players before the season has even started. Twins Blaz and Ivan Bozinovic have elected to play professional basketball in Croatia, while Justin King, who was returning to the WolfPack after taking a year off, is academically ineligible to play. King led the ‘Pack in scoring in 2011-12, his only CIS season. The 6-foot-11 Bozinovic brothers were expected to provide Thompson Rivers University with much needed depth.

TRU’s men’s soccer team is welcoming Braeden Burrows back into the fold for the 2013-14 season. Burrows missed all of 2012-13 with an injury. Burrows is a versatile player that will strengthen the WolfPack up the middle in its final Pacific Western Athletic Association season. He played for the Kamloops Heat of the Pacific Coast Soccer League’s Premier division this summer. The news is not so good for defenceman Austin Schneebeli, however. He is expected to miss the entire season with a torn ACL. Schneebeli will have four seasons of eligibility remaining after this season. The men won both of their exhibition matches against the UNBC Timberwolves (2-0 and 3-1), but lost their opening preseason match 7-0 to UFV. Kyle Fertile and Dion Gouldsborough scored in Saturday’s 2-0 victory. Justin Wallace assisted on both goals. Corey Wallis scored in TRU’s victory Sunday, with Justin Wallace netting another two.

Catch more ‘Pack bites at www.truomega.ca

Coffee Break

The Omega · Volume 23, Issue 1

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Finish the easy Sudoku, win a prize. Finish the hard Sudoku, win a better prize. Email editor@truomega.ca for details.

Random joke of the week! The local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet. The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money. Many people had tried over time, but nobody could do it.

Across 1. Rage violently 5. Sword handle 9. Counters 14. Infant’s desire to be loved (Japanese word) 15. Asian nurse 16. Cricket position 17. Outlaw turns soul singer? 20. Cockeyed 21. Spread a fertilizer 22. Oolong, for one 24. Enlist 28. Maori war dance 31. Spite 34. Exude 35. “Act your ___!” 36. Had on 37. Personae non gratae 38. Director turns businessman? 42. Sentence type 43. Fruitless 44. Trick taker, often 45. Any thing 46. Mozart contemporary 48. Finnish river 49. Cognac cocktail 51. Bit 53. Adorn 56. City in Belgium 60. Pop artist turns actor? 64. Bill of ___

65. Poker diva 66. Not theirs 67. Daisy variety 68. Yemen gulf 69. White ice Down 1. Big Indian 2. Home of ISU 3. Cher flick 4. 100 centimos 5. “The ___” (Uris novel) 6. Prayer leader 7. Guru 8. Prefix with magnetic 9. Color of honey 10. Faulks novel 11. ___ Annie 12. Bully 13. Hampton ___ 18. “Concentration” pronoun 19. Brickbat 23. Acknowledge 25. Uproars 26. Nahuati speakers 27. Rent payer 28. Kentucky forward 29. Rabbit-like rodent 30. Got it 32. Baseball stat 33. On edge 36. South Korean currency

37. Juliet, to Romeo 39. Agoraphobic? 40. Palindromic begetter? 41. Touch 46. Muslim pilgrimage 47. Anatomical ring 48. Text changer 50. Perfume 52. “Aladdin” prince 54. Scolded 55. Pad or cap starter 57. Needle holder 58. Undeveloped idea 59. European language 60. This may be fragile 61. Nova, e.g. 62. Piggy digit? 63. Hosiery defect

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One day this scrawny little man came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice, “I’d like to try the bet.” After the laughter had died down, the bartender said OK, grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. He then handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the little man. But the crowd’s laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass. As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little man, “What do you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or what?” The man replied, “I work for Canada Revenue Services.”

Got a better joke? Got a better comic? Send ‘em in and we might run ‘em.

editor@truomega.ca

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September 4, 2013

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