Nov. 5, 2014

EBOLA FORUM HELD Open forum sought to address concerns over the recent string of cases of the virus, p. 5

Volume 24 – Issue 10

Q&A: Autumn Hill Arts editor Kim Anderson does a Q&A session with the country duo, p. 6

www.truomega.ca Ω @TRU_Omega

THE TIME OF YEAR TO REMEMBER

CONCUSSIONS TRU researcher looks at the prevalence and damage concussions can cause, p. 11

November 5, 2014

TRU REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY – NOV. 10, 10 A.M. OLD MAIN TRU CLOSED – NOV. 11

KIRA ISABELLA Autumn Hill and more at Cactus Jacks

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NEWS

November 5, 2014

Blood is in you to give... unless you’ve had gay sex The outright ban against gay blood donors is gone, but is a five-year deferral any better?

Mary Fahey MacKenzie Riley

THE AQUINIAN (CUP)

Mitchell Peardon once donated blood, but now he can’t.

The second-year St. Thomas University student started donating blood in high school. He donated three times, but had to stop once he became sexually active.

Canadian Blood Services had a policy that men who have had sex with men are not allowed to donate since it was discovered in the ‘80s that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, was being transmitted through transfusions. It was not until 2013 that they lifted this ban in favour of a five-year deferral period.

Peardon considered lying.

“But then a friend made me realize, you shouldn’t have to lie about who you are,” he said.

He was even considering abstinence, but said it is not worth it. He can’t put his happiness on hold.

Even though Peardon can’t donate himself, he encourages others to do so.

Last week, Canadian Blood Services held a blood donor clinic on St. Thomas University’s campus in the J.B. O’Keefe Fitness Centre. Peardon, a member of the STU rugby team, said he encour-

aged the rest of the team to donate.

Donated blood is tested for HIV and other diseases before it is given to a patient.

“This is to ensure the safety of the blood and safety for the patient,” said Jacqueline Alain, manager at Canadian Blood Services.

Alain would not directly respond to questions of why Canadian Blood Services did not take blood from gay men. She said they need the safest blood possible.

Recently, there has been talk about decreasing the deferral period to one-year because of low donation rates.

“They are changing their views, which is good, but not enough,” said Peardon.

Peardon said basing the policy on health concerns is not valid.

“Just like straight people, we use protection too.”

Lately, Canadian Blood Services can’t really afford to turn anyone down, said Alain.

“We are facing the lowest inventory in eight years, so it’s going to take more than one or two clinics to make up for the shortage.”

The clinic held on STU campus on Wednesday had a turnout of 67 units collected. Canadian Blood Services holds a clinic at STU twice a year.

Alain said because of health reasons, they sometimes do have

to turn away people if they don’t meet the criteria.

To donate blood, you have to be in good health and between the ages of 17 and 71. A person cannot donate if they have had a tattoo or piercing in the last six months or if they have been to a malaria-risk area in the last year.

In 2012, the student association of Carleton University in Ottawa banned their blood clinic on campus because of its policy on donations from gay men.

While the issue was raised by a student two years ago, STU spokesman Jeffrey Carleton said the school will not ban blood clinics on campus.

“We recognize the concern of people who would disagree with the blood donor guidelines used by the blood service, but at the same time blood donor clinics are central to public health in our province. Clinics at St. Thomas have been very successful at helping them help patients.”

Carleton also pointed out that Canadian Blood Services have made changes and is heading in the right direction.

Peardon said he thinks a lot more blood would be donated if this policy was changed.

“I think in the next 10 to 15 years it will no longer be a problem because they will see that they will need everyone to donate.”

PSAs may pose dangers regarding prostate exams Those made aware of men’s health by Movember should keep something else in mind, too Angela Espinoza

THE OTHER PRESS (CUP)

For the past decade, November has served as a month of awareness regarding prostate exams.

“Movember,” as the month is nicknamed, sees men each year grow moustaches to raise money and help seek better cures for prostate cancer.

This year’s Movember health movement is pushed by recent claims that the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, the most common form of checking for prostate cancer, may actually be frequently inaccurate. The Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care (CTFPHC), a volunteer medical panel, published on October 27 an article and condensed statement stating that those over the age of 55 should not receive PSAs when testing for prostate cancer.

The condensed version specifies that those who have been tested between the ages of 55 and 69

have experienced “moderate quality evidence” in testing for cancer.

CTFPHC defends that there has been conflicting evidence in the past that PSAs provide accurate information regarding the state of men’s prostates, and have been incorrect often enough that the tests now present the group with cause for concern.

James Dickinson, a University of Calgary professor of Family Medicine and Community Health Sciences, told CBC, “Despite 20 years, the amount of evidence [regarding accuracy] that’s been brought forward is disappointingly small.” Dickinson, who is also a member of CTFPHC, added, “The enthusiasts are enthusiastic despite minimal evidence.”

The statement reported that the group’s main cause for concern is over-positivity; testing that frequently ends in a wrongly positive result. As such, more men are being treated for prostate cancer they may not even have.

However, Prostate Cancer Canada defends the usefulness and

otherwise accuracy of PSAs when testing patients for the disease.

Prostate Cancer Canada’s Stuart Edmonds told CBC, “PSA isn’t the bad actor in this, it’s actually decision-making along the process that’s part of the problem, how the PSA is being interpreted or how men are being pushed or choosing to have treatment when actually treatment may not be necessary.”

Besides PSAs, digital rectal exams are the next leading tool in testing for prostate cancer. There is also currently research looking into whether or not magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) can be used to test patients for prostate cancer. MRIs are currently bestused in detecting more aggressive forms of prostate cancer.

After skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer to occur in men, and the third highest cause of cancer-related death for men in Canada. To get involved in fighting against prostate cancer, visit Canada’s Movember site ca.movember.com.

Emily Beulieu prepares to give blood at the donation centre set up in the J.B. O‘Keefe Fitness Centre on Wednesday (Andrea Bárcenas/The Aquinian)

Law Society of B.C. will not recognize TWU law school grads Sean Brady

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω The Law Society of British Columbia has passed a resolution to not approve Trinity Western University’s (TWU) school of law. The decision made by the society’s governing body, the Benchers, comes one day after a referendum was held in which members of the society voted 74 per cent in favour of not approving the school.

This means that TWU graduates will not be admitted to the Law Society of British Columbia and therefore will not be licensed to practice law in the province.

Trinity Western University’s law school, set to open in 2016, was mired in controversy after some took issue with its Community Covenant, a pledge that students must make to attend the school. The Community Covenant requires students to pledge that they will abstain from “sexual intimacy that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman.”

The Oct. 30 referendum was

called after a non-binding vote took place in June, where the vote was 3,210 to 968 to reverse the decision to accredit the school.

B.C.’s law society is one of many across Canada rethinking the school’s accreditation. The Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario) voted 28 to 21 against accrediting the school in April.

In Nova Scotia, their law society decided that it would only accredit the school if the covenant was rescinded. In New Brunswick, a special general meeting took the pulse of N.B. lawyers to discover that they, too, were against the school’s accreditation, but because the governing board of the law society had already approved it, they are in the same situation that B.C. found itself in earlier this summer.

In the referendum question put to its members, the Law Society of B.C. said that the resolution will be binding and implemented if one-third of all members of the society voted and two-thirds voted in favour.

Both of these conditions were met according to the Law Society of B.C.’s results.

OPINION

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 10

The Omega Thompson Rivers University’s Independent Student Newspaper Published since November 27, 1991

www.truomega.ca /TRUOmega @TRU_Omega /tru_omega

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sean Brady @iamseanbrady editor@truomega.ca NEWS EDITOR Alexis Stockford @AlexisStockford news@truomega.ca ISSUES EDITOR Ashley Wadhwani @ashwadhwani issues@truomega.ca SCI-TECH EDITOR Ryan Turcot @RyanTurcot sci-tech@truomega.ca ARTS EDITOR Kim Anderson @K_AndersonSays arts@truomega.ca

Wellness resources are there to help

TUNE IN/TUNE OUT

Stress, anxiety, depression and more – get help if you need it

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Sean Brady

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω

Midterms are in the rear view mirror and assignments are piling up as we enter the last month of classes in the fall semester. It’s a time when we look ahead to see what we’ve got left to do before breathing a sigh of relief during the Christmas break.

It’s not uncommon at this time of year to feel anxious, depressed or otherwise stressed out. In fact, according to last year’s National College Health Assessment, more than one third of all students said that stress was impacting their studies.

While stress was the biggest disrupting factor, noted by 37 per cent of the 945 respondents to the survey, it wasn’t the only one affecting a large number of students. Anxiety and sleep difficulties both affected at least one quarter of respondents and depression affected 15 per cent.

Other major factors affecting studies were concern over a family member or friend (15 per cent), work (19 per cent), Internet use/ computer games (16 per cent), cold/flu sore throat (20 per cent), finances (10 per cent), and relationship difficulties (11 per cent).

My point is, at least some students around you are probably going through the same thing, and those who can help you are aware of what you’re going through. Not just aware, but actually prepared to help you deal with these things.

As much as we like to think our problems are only our own, they’re often not – it’s just that we don’t talk about them enough.

It can be difficult to confront issues of mental health. It might feel impossible. But knowing that others around you are going through the same thing might help. Mental health and physical health really aren’t all that different, especially to the professionals who work with patients every day.

Depression, anxiety, stress – there

are people whose lives revolve around alleviating these things.

The resources out there to help you are numerous. TRU offers counselling services to address career, educational, personal and crisis issues, and visits are free and confidential. The Wellness Centre offers one-on-one health and wellness planning and education sessions, which can address stress, substance abuse, nutrition, sexual health, relationships, work-life balance and more. There are also small group sessions available.

There’s also TRU Health Services where you can book an appointment with a doctor. The campus even has a sleep clinic that offers assessments.

These resources are worth taking advantage of if you think that your stress is affecting you adversely. Remember that you’re not alone and that there are people around who are eager to help you.

Information about all of these services can be found at: www.tru.ca/wellness

SPORTS EDITOR Tayla Scott @taylascott3 sports@truomega.ca COPY EDITOR Rachel Wood @rachelwoood copy@truomega.ca CONTRIBUTORS Hannah Allen Marlys Klossner Steve Leahy

PUBLISHING BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sean Brady INDUSTRY REP Christopher Foulds FACULTY REP Charles Hays STUDENT REP Travis Persaud STUDENT REP Adam Williams STUDENT REP Hugo Yuen

PUBLISHING Cariboo Student Newspaper Society (Publisher of The Omega) TRU Campus House #4 900 McGill Rd, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 0C8 Phone: 250-828-5069 Advertising inquiries: accounts@truomega.ca

LETTERS POLICY 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.

COPYRIGHT 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 The Omega 2014.

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Sean Brady/The Omega

The time of year to remember We’ve got a lot to remember this year.

Remember constables Douglas Larche, Dave Ross and Fabrice Gevaudan in Moncton, Patrice Vincent in Quebec and Nathan Cirillo in Ottawa.

These are just some of the names of people who put their lives on the line for our safety and security in the past year and died doing so. There

are many more not listed here, and more still who live on and still provide us with safety and security.

There’s a reason campus will closed this Remembrance Day. There’s a reason why things will be quieter than usual around town.

The day should serve as a time for remembrance and reflection on the good fortune many of us have to live in this country.

I’m a big advocate for remembering however you want. If it’s a war movie that puts you in that place, that’s fine. (Band of Brothers is a

favourite). If it’s poetry or a novel, there are plenty of options. If it’s remembering loved ones who fought and died, or went on to live with their experiences, fill your thoughts with them.

If you have no way at all to relate, try to find a way to do so, and maybe think about how fortunate you are, as I am, to be so far removed from the horrors of war that came before our time.

We’ve got a lot to remember this year, but we’ve got a lot to remember every year.

Nov. 10

Nov. 11

Nov. 13

TRU Remembrance Day Ceremony 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Old Main Student Street Guest speaker: Private Frank McCusker

Remembrance Day TRU Campus closed

Advanced voting for TRU students/staff 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Campus Activity Centre

Sean Brady

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω

Cover photo (poppy) OliBac/Flickr Commons

Steve Leahy

I have a semi-serious question for all you students out there: anyone taking this TRU branding campaign seriously? Anyone?

I’m sure not. “Let’s brand TRU as an elite university so we stop losing enrolment numbers.” Yeah, cool, except for the fact that TRU’s image is already well established; we’re a local university that offers courses that can be transferred to the actual elite universities. Rebranding the school seems to me like putting the cart before the horse, you know? We don’t need a new image, we need some reason for people to stay and finish their degrees here.

In order to do that, we need some stability. Right now it feels like the entire focus of the university is on the business and law programs. Fair enough, those are important programs, but there’s only two of them.

How many other departments and programs have been gutted in order to ensure that the business and law programs can run comfortably?

I don’t have the numbers, but my educated guess is all of them.

Let’s take the philosophy department for starters. Actually, it’s the philosophy, history, and politics department since none of those three departments are funded separately.

You know what, let’s look at the entire arts program. Many of us are arts students since that’s the one department that everyone who doesn’t have a clear idea of what they want to be enroll in. The vibe I get from TRU is that the arts department is essentially just furthering your high school education, and once you’ve decided to take “real” university classes you’ll be so impressed with the business program.

So what’s the point of rebranding the university? It’s not going to change anything, except the public image of the university. What’s that going to accomplish? Fooling people into thinking TRU is better than it is? What happens when they enroll? Will they even notice a disconnect between the education they were promised and the education they receive? Not if they go into law or business, but if they go into the arts they might be put off by the cancellation of core classes.

And even more put off when those courses aren’t available again for a year, maybe even two.

If the school really wants to rebrand itself, it should first focus on whether or not their product is worth the effort of rebranding. And honestly, it’s not an education, it is a product. At least it is to the people in charge of making decisions that affect the entire student body.

You don’t need to rebrand an education, it’s obvious why education is desirable: it sells itself. Rebranding is something an advertising company does to make it look like their offering a new, exciting product, when it’s the exact same as it always was: all it’s good for is separating the consumers from their money. And until we’re looked at as students, we will be consumers.

Some friendly advice: make sure you keep your receipts. leahys112@mytru.ca Stephen Leahy is a third year philosophy student who has been attending TRU since 2011. He has been living in Kamloops for 21 of his 23 years.

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October 29, 2014

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 10

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Faculty and staff weigh in on Ebola outbreak An open forum on Ebola addresses some concerns over the recent string of cases Ryan Turcot

SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Ω

“Can I tell you an Ebola joke?”

TRU professor Michael Mehta began. “You probably won’t get it.”

All joking aside, that was the consensus last Thursday when a panel of speakers offered their expertise at TRU’s public open forum on Ebola. The panel included TRU World’s managing director and five TRU faculty, including instructors from the nursing, journalism and history programs.

Mehta began the forum by arguing that, “while the Ebola epidemic spreads and 5,000 people die in central and western Africa, fear-based decision-making is running amuck in countries like Canada and the U.S.” To help alleviate some of this

fear, TRU World managing director Mike Henniger spoke as the first of six panelists, addressing the public concern that an international student from an affected country could carry Ebola to Kamloops.

“Right now, TRU doesn’t have students coming from the affected regions, which makes things a lot easier from the get-go,” Henniger said.

He also mentioned that international students are required to pass a medical exam to obtain a Canadian study permit, and that they cannot legally study in Canada without one.

TRU also monitors staff, faculty and TRU-sanctioned student travel to identify and prevent people from going to Ebola-affected regions, though Henniger acknowledged “somebody could still go

on [a personal] vacation and we wouldn’t know that.”

In September, an international student did plan to travel to an affected region to visit family, but voluntarily cancelled the trip when TRU identified a risk in a submitted travel report.

Henniger explained that international students are required to pay into a provincial Medical Services Plan (MSP) after their third month of studies, but can opt out of the expense to save money while they travel home. In the process of doing so, TRU requires the students to submit travel plans.

TRU also has pandemic plans drafted for diseases like the H1N1 flu virus, and would prepare a similar one for Ebola should the disease become a bigger threat in Canada. As a last resort, TRU has the power to implement manda-

The Ebola open forum panel addresses audience questions. From left to right: John Hart, Wendy McKenzie, Michelle Funk, Mike Henniger, Charles Hays, and Florriann Fehr.

(Ryan Turcot/The Omega)

tory deferrals to prevent students from affected areas to coming to campus.

“That’s something we really don’t want to do, and it would be a last case scenario,” Henniger said.

Nursing instructors Florriann Fehr and Wendy McKenzie spoke to concerns that nursing students and practicing nurses may have about being in a profession that could expose them to health risks like Ebola.

“Unfortunately, 10 to 15 per cent of nurses that come into contact with clients also catch Ebola, and that’s sad for our profession,” Fehr said.

“I’ve had some students and colleagues come up to me and ask some pretty tough questions. ‘If I’m a nurse, do I have to take care of a patient who has Ebola? If I refuse, will I get fired? What if I get quarantined?’” she said.

Fehr does insist that abandoning a patient goes against a nurse’s duty to practice, but also explained “there are some fabulous policies to protect you if you ask these questions.”

Students and practicing nurses with concerns can contact the College of Registered Nurses of BC, and Fehr believes they should.

“If you are not prepared, if you are not properly trained, or if there isn’t a system in place to keep you and your clients safe, then you are not fit to practice [on an Ebola patient]. You have to be mentally ready. You have to be in the right mind and heart to do this.”

The B.C. government has also set up an Ebola preparedness task force to ensure that health care professionals receive the proper training and mental preparation.

When journalism instructor Charles Hays spoke, he argued that “the voices with the expertise to assess the [Ebola] problem in

an informed way are getting lost in the noise that the media is creating.”

Hays explained that journalists generally report on issues that are unique and current, and in doing so issues like Ebola can appear more threatening than they really are.

“You are more likely to get lung cancer than Ebola, even if you don’t smoke,” Hays said.

Michelle Funk, who also teaches in TRU’s School of Nursing, explained that there are cultural sensitivities that can affect how Ebola is fought overseas. In August, for example, the Liberian government began enforcing the cremation of deceased Ebola victims to kill the virus residing in the corpses.

Cremation offends the cultural beliefs of many Liberians and, in response, some have shunned Ebola treatment centers.

John Hart, a TRU historian, concluded the forum by sharing his personal experiences with past disease outbreaks in Canada, including polio, tuberculosis and smallpox.

“I lived through the polio epidemic, and I remember it vividly. I can’t even explain how awful it was for everyone.”

Ebola, in comparison, is not as big of a threat, Hart said. Like Ebola, however, he explained that the worst part about the polio outbreak “was the fear that you were going to catch it.” He admits that the hype around polio also made it seem like a bigger risk than it was.

“TRU needs to develop a dialogue on a regular basis. The Ebola forum was a trial run of a platform for looking at these kinds of things. I would like to create a regular risk forum that deals with risk issues in a timely way as they emerge,” Mehta said in reflection of the forum.

Call for applications for Sustainability Grant Fund Got a bright idea for to make the university more sustainable? $100,000 available Ryan Turcot

SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Ω

Last year, TRU only received six final applications for their $100,000 Sustainability Grant Fund. This year, students have until Nov. 16 to apply for the grant.

The grant gives students the opportunity to design and implement a project to advance the environmental, economic and social sustainability at TRU. “You can ask for up to $100,000, but your project can be as big or small as you want,” said environmental programs and research co-ordinator James Gordon.

Students interested in pursuing a sustainability-related research project can also apply for up to $10,000 of the fund.

An equivalent $10,000 is open for faculty research.

In the fall of 2013, $27,500 was awarded to fund four scanners and software licencing that enabled TRU to convert its paper-based student records into

an electronic format. In the winter of 2014, the TRUSU Eco Club received a grant that allowed them to replace paper towel dispensers around campus with electric hand dryers.

TRU’s Office of Environment and Sustainability invested the remaining money from last year’s fund into a composter in the Culinary Arts building.

To apply for a grant, students need to submit a 500-word outline of their project or research idea to the TRU Office of Environment and Sustainability. If the idea is approved, applicants will have until Feb. 10 to write a full proposal. Students who need help getting started on a proposal can attend a grant-writing workshop on Nov. 27, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the TRUSU Lecture Hall.

Successful applicants have one year to spend their grant, and must submit midterm and project-end reports to update TRU on their progress.

For more info on the grant, contact James Gordon at jgordon@tru.ca.

A still from from a video presenting the “Green Hands” project, a successful application from last year (Courtesy TRU)

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ARTS

November 5, 2014

Q&A WITH AUTUMN HILL Kim Anderson ARTS EDITOR Ω

Canadian country duo Tareya Green and Mike Robins burst into the music scene with their hit single “Anything At All” in 2013. Autumn Hill is making a name for itself as a dynamic and incredibly talented duo. Tareya took a few minutes with The Omega to talk about the band’s newfound success, performing on stage, and, perhaps most importantly, her night guard.

Kim Anderson: How have things changed for you since “Anything At All” dropped?

Tareya Green: Oh my goodness. My life is completely different. We didn’t realize when we released it how profound the response was, everyone was so amazing in sharing the song and liking it. It was incredible to experience that kind of acceptance into the music industry with a debut release. I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m living my dreams now because of how people have received it.

K: Have you had good feedback from other artists as well as fans?

T: It’s been incredible. We’ve had the opportunity to work with Jann Arden recently on her new single “Karolina.” She’s so generous with everything, she literally

30,000-60,000 people. It was a massive stage with a runway. They put a mic in my hand and said go for it, do your thing.

It was terrifying.

K: How long did it take to feel comfortable on stage?

T: I don’t know if I’ll ever feel comfortable on stage. I feel comfortable singing, so once I get into the song and get lost in it a little, the comfort is there, it’s in the song. There’s always nerves but once you start singing it feels like home.

K: What inspires your music today?

T: Being a duo, you have another person bringing perspectives and experiences to the table. It’s a combination of everything you go through in life, capturing the fun nights in the summer, a weekend at a cabin with your friends, break-ups, just everything you experience as a person.

K: Since you and Mike started performing, what’s been your greatest challenge as a band as far as writing goes?

T: There’s always a challenge when people are expressing something as personal as a melody or chord progression.

Merging our visions for each song is probably the most challenging. We like to say the song picks the best version. We definitely have it out over the song, but it makes for a better song in the end.

K: What’s the most rewarding part?

T: Having someone to share not only your challenges, but your successes. There’s someone who knows exactly what you’re feeling, and there’s someone to celebrate with all the time.

K: Have you prepared yourself for your tour? What’s something you can’t leave home without?

T: The answer is so embarrassing. Oh my gosh, it’s my night guard, for my teeth. Literally, it’s in my purse right now.

I don’t leave my house without it. I wish I could’ve said a good pair of jeans, or some cool answer, but no…

Marlys Klossner/The Omega gave me about 50 per cent of the lines in her song to sing. That just blew me away. I’ve been doing a little work with Tom Cochrane, who is an idol of mine.

He’s an incredible musician and person.

It’s really amazing to see your idols in real life and have them be just as incredible people as they are musicians.

K: I read that you were discovered on YouTube. That’s interesting to me, because another really famous Canadian that that happened to was Justin Bieber.

Not to compare you to him, but I didn’t think that happened very often. Before that happened, did you consider that performing and music could be a career for you?

T: I have always loved singing. I’ve always sung in some capacity. I have always been a very shy person, so YouTube was a way for me to sit alone in my room and record a song and still have people see it, but with a degree of separation. I got the email to move to Toronto and explore music as a career. It was very out of character for me to take that leap of faith, get on a plane and move across the country and pursue a pipe dream. It was really out of character for me.

K: Did you do any open mics?

T: Not really, I didn’t do open mics. It’s actually funny, the first show I did was in P.E.I. and I think the capacity was like

Marlys Klossner/The Omega

K: What has been your most memorable moment while playing live?

T: So many moments, it’s so hard to choose. There was one really cool moment, a couple was telling us about how “Anything At All” brought them back together as a couple. Then her boyfriend pulled his shirt down off of his shoulder he had a tattoo of an anchor and it said “tied to me like an anchor to my soul.”

Someone tattooed the lyrics to our first song onto their body. It was surreal to see, but it was so flattering.

Kira Isabella had the Cactus Jacks bar at her feet, literally Marlys Klossner CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Country diva Kira Isabella performed Saturday, Nov. 1 at Cactus Jacks Nightclub. Vancouver band Me and Mae opened the show, followed by duo Autumn Hill and then Isabella.

The female-dominated audience was slow to build, with just 20 girls crowding the stage for Me and Mae, but with every act the group doubled. Although not as big a crowd as CJs is used to, the audience was still formidable and their response filled the room.

Me and Mae performed with charisma and had the audience singing along as they ended their set with Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”

Mike Robins and Tareya Green of Autumn Hill channeled their inner Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko in black leather outfits. Robins and Green played enthusiastically,

K: How do you and Mike compliment each other as artists?

T: Mike has a lot of live experience, he knows his way around, he knows the ropes when it comes to touring and playing shows. He brings a lot of energy to our shows and gives me energy to play off of.

K: As country artists, what do you bring to fans that is a bit different?

T: There are a few amazing duos right now. I just know it’s a little bit of a smaller group, us duos. Being able to sing a song and look at a certain situation from two completely different perspectives, I think it’s interesting contextually to sing about something from a guy’s perspective and a girl’s.

K: Anything you wanted to say to your fans?

T: Thanks for making the last year the best year of our lives! We can’t wait to rock out with you!

Marlys Klossner/The Omega

feeding off the audience. Green’s tambourine even lost a few zils (the metal cymbal parts).

Autumn Hill performed some new songs that will be on their upcoming second album, including “It’s a Good Night for Going Nowhere” ¬– an instant dance anthem.

They closed with a rendition of “Royals” by Lorde, first in a rock interpretation and then country.

Autumn Hill also had a World Vision charity information booth set up between acts.

Her performance at CJs is part of Isabella’s first headlining tour to promote her latest album Caffeine and Big Dreams, released Oct. 14.

Her set drew the biggest crowd, with at least 80 people dancing, and more seated at the back.

After a few songs, Isabella changed from a glamorous red corset and black heels to a simple black tank top and cowboy boots.

One ambitious man held a ring out to the pint-size powerhouse, but his proposal was not accepted.

Halfway through her set, Isabella said that she wanted the band to come out onto the floor for a song or two, and then decided instead to perform on top of the bar. This spontaneity and fun characterizes Isabella’s showmanship.

Along with her original music, Isabella sang a medley of songs across different genres, from “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore to “Rude”

by MAGIC! and “Fishin’ in the Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Before ending her set, Isabella got teary-eyed, thanking the audience for their support.

“I’m sorry I’m such a wimp, you guys are just so awesome,” Isabella said, dabbing her eyes.

She returned for three encore songs, the first of which was a refreshing solo acoustic version of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer.”

Kamloops was the fourth stop on their “Shake It” tour. In the coming weeks they will work their way east, ending in London, Ont.

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 10

ARTS

7

LUMINOCITY

LIGHTING UP KAMLOOPS “It’s great and beautiful, just incredible.

As soon as summer ends, things quiet down. It’s nice to see some art and beauty,” –Jewell Shaw

The Kamloops Art Gallery has put together Luminocity, an innovative art exhibit arranged in public spaces, with work from over 20 artists. Luminocity runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 8 and is displayed in several different locations downtown. Artists have created works with a variety of new media, photography and video technology. Charo Neville, of the Kamloops Art Gallery has curated this exhibit. Former TRU students Clarence Jules and Vincent Viezzer, current students Paulino Caputo, Devon Lindsay, and Siqi Xu, and instructors Terryl Atkins, Wayne Egers, and Doug Buis, have all contributed work for this week-long public art project.

Photos by Kim Anderson

OCT. 31 to NOV. 8

DOWNTOWN KAMLOOPS

8

NEWS

November 5, 2014

New rules have international students on the job hunt Study permit holders can join the work force, but only until they graduate Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

This year, international students can get a job off-campus without a work permit, but only until they graduate.

Regulations as of June 2014 are meant to make life easier for current students while minimizing abuse of the system, according to settlement and integration counsellor Liza Ferris Ortiz with Ka-

mloops Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.

“Misuse was happening,” she said.

“Students were, maybe, being approved for a four-year term and they were just either quitting studies, and I can understand because of the high fees, or reducing their study terms, changing programs and then overstaying and doing work when the main purpose of a study permit is studies.”

Under the new system, international students can work part-time over the school year and full-time during holidays with only a study permit and social insurance number. Students must also be enrolled full-time in a designated learning institution like TRU. International student Nich Komissirenko has been at TRU since 2012, but said this is the first year he has felt working off-campus was worth the hassle.

International students pack into the TRUSU Lecture Hall for the immigration workshop on Oct. 28.

(Alexis Stockford/The Omega)

“I can find a job and I can work here,” he said. “Usually on campus there isn’t a lot of work and there are a lot of students wanting to work, so it’s very hard to find a job in the university.”

He added that his new job at Aberdeen Mall has made the year easier for him financially.

“It’s easier for me and much easier for my parents,” he said.

While new regulations have streamlined student employment, the window after graduation has narrowed. Under the old system, an international student had until their study permit’s renewal date to remain in Canada, a date that could be up to year after graduation.

With the new system, study permits expire 90 days after written confirmation of the program’s end is received (i.e. a transcript or physical degree).

There is concern that, while the new system may help current students, it puts the pressure on recent graduates to get a job quickly after graduation.

Immigration experts, however, also point out that post-graduation work permits allow new graduates to live and work in Canada for the same amount of time as their program, for a maximum of three years.

Graduates of a program two years or

longer are eligible for a three-year permit. Applications must be made within 90 days of written confirmation of graduation.

International student Harlen Chung said he is not concerned about the new expiry regulations, since he can get a work permit after he graduates next year.

“As long as it’s not like Vancouver, Toronto, any of those big cities, I’m not worried about [finding work],” he said.

According to Ortiz, application for a post-graduate work permit can take a month or longer, depending on backlog. She advised students to apply for the permit as soon as they know they have passed their program.

“There is only one chance,” she said.

“You only have 90 days and that’s that.”

Work done with a post-graduate work permit can go towards permanent residency as long as the job is Class 0 (management), Class A (university education required), or Class B (college or skilled apprenticeship needed) under the National Occupation Classification.

TRUSU did its part to help international students along by holding a student visa and immigration workshop on Oct. 28.

Government promises further anti-terrorism measures TRU law professor says a new bill might follow the introduction of Bill C-44 Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

Canadians have been told to expect more anti-terrorism measures from the federal government following Bill C-44, or the Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act, tabled early last week.

The bill was to be presented to Parliament just before Ottawa was rocked by the Oct. 22 shootings that killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and ended in the halls of Parliament. Two days prior, a car hit two members of the Canadian Forces in Quebec, killing Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent. The driver was identified as Martin Couture-Rouleau, who was being monitored by the RCMP as a possible extremist.

The government did not have time to take either attack into account before presenting Bill C-44 to Parliament on Oct. 27.

Robert Diab, a TRU law professor specializing in constitutional law, human rights and national security, said it is too early to say how lawmakers in Ottawa will react to the attacks.

“It’s not clear that there’s much more we can do,” Diab said.

“Conversely, it’s not clear that what happened last week in Ottawa was a consequence of a lack of police powers…There seems to be a wide consensus that what happened is very difficult to prevent, given that it’s a lone individual, probably suffering mental health issues.

There’s even debate on whether it was an act of terror, or was it just a crime.”

Diab added that the government might present a new bill in response to the attacks.

In his opinion, that bill could amend the Criminal Code to increase the time someone suspected of terrorist involvement can be held without charges being laid to one or two weeks, something Diab said may or may not be constitutional.

He also suggested new measures might include making it easier to place court-enforced conditions, called a recognisance, on those suspected of terrorist involvement or increasing the criminal consequence of encouraging radicalization.

Some activists and political experts are expressing concern that “further anti-terrorism measures” could translate into unconstitutional legislation.

Brigitte DePape, who made headlines three years ago after walking into the centre of the Senate chamber and holding up a “Stop Harper” sign to protest the Conservative majority, accused the Harper government of “using this crisis to push for laws that are threatening our own civil liberties.”

“I think this is precisely the time that we need to be having compassion and need to be challenging racism and need to be investing in social services,” DePape said.

“We know a root cause of crime is inequality and unequal access to good social services, like around mental health, and that to me is really the response we need.”

DePape was on campus on Oct. 28 to speak on civil liberties and the “Stop Harper” campaign.

DePape wasn’t the only one calling for caution. On Oct. 29, the Privacy and Information Commissioners of Canada released a statement urging an “evidence-based approach” to new powers for intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, open and transparent dialogue on new anti-terrorism

measures and “effective oversight [to] be included in any legislation establishing additional powers for intelligence and law enforcement agencies.”

“Canadians both expect and are entitled to equal protection for their privacy and access rights and for their security,” the statement said. “We must uphold these fundamental rights that lie at the heart of Canada’s democracy.”

Diab said that he would like to see better information networks at the community level, which he thinks would allow law enforcement to intervene earlier in the radicalization process.

“Concerns about what happened last week I think are better addressed, would be better addressed, if we put more energy and resources into understanding the process of radicalization,” Diab said.

Flowers and memorials were left for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was shot and killed while he stood guard at a war memorial outside Parliament on Oct. 22.

(Jamie McCaffrey/Flickr Commons)

NEWS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 10

9

Rebranding: Finding a new face for TRU Hannah Allen

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

TRU got a look at what people really think of the university last week. The results of a branding questionnaire released to students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members over the last few weeks were presented at a town hall meeting on Oct. 30 in the Campus Activity Centre.

The anonymous survey prompted individuals to give their honest opinions about TRU and will be used to create a new brand to represent the university.

“We’re trying to figure out why

people love this place so much and…what we have that makes us different, and what it is that we can do better than other [universities],” said Lucille Gnanasihamany, associate vice president of marketing and communications.

According to 739 responses, TRU sets itself apart from other universities through class size, scope of programs and location.

When it came to the things that TRU does well, university atmosphere made up the top answer, followed by international culture and activities. Finally, respondents regarded people at TRU as sincere (friendly, down-to-earth) and rugged (outdoorsy).

The town hall also gave individuals the chance for a more handson approach. Event goers were able to write their thoughts on a series of themes and attach them to a theme wall. Topics included opportunity, diversity and community connection.

Those who agreed with another’s point of view were able to place a coloured dot on the comment, indicating their agreement.

“I like the idea of the board that lets you be a little more free with your thoughts and lets you write down exactly what you think, knowing it will all be looked at by the committee and all be taken into account,” TRU student Kath-

arine Ranta said.

Ranta is also involved in the branding development.

“I like looking at the dots so you can see what other people think as well, and you can go, ‘Oh, I agree with that’ or ‘No, I don’t,’” TRU director of finance Kathy Humphrey said.

In the university’s 2006 rebranding effort, it ended up paying $100,000 to Trapeze Communications for the slogan “Now, that’s university,” according to a report by Kamloops This Week.

This rebranding effort has taken a more collaborative approach.

The new brand for TRU will aim to capture the attention of

those who know little about the university and convince more students to explore the institution.

“We really do believe that it’s important for those people who can really benefit from TRU to know about us, because otherwise they’ll go on with their lives and they might have been able to have a really good experience at TRU, but they never knew,” Gnanasihamany said.

The information presented at the town hall will be available online for another five weeks to give open learning students and students who were not able to attend the meeting the chance to express their opinions.

› Thomas Edison: Relentless Inventiveness Failure is no biggie. Just ask Edison. If he stopped at failure, he would never have moved on to invent a little thing called the light bulb. So if you’ve failed a class somewhere else, or have a scheduling conflict, come on over. You can catch up with our world-recognized online courses, then move on to bigger successes. Talk about a light bulb moment.

open. online. everywhere.

Learn more @ athabascau.ca/edison

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

“ The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

10

COMICS & PUZZLES

November 5, 2014

Puzzle of the Week #9 – Leaves There are millions of leaves on your (or your parents’) lawn! OK, not really. Given: 1. The number of leaves is a four-digit number (abcd ).

2. a times b equals d.

3. The digits are all different.

4. a plus b equals c.

5. Two of the digits are even, one digit is odd.

6. a equals 2.

How many leaves?

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 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 (HL304). Come visit: we are friendly.

SUDOKU 1

Because you’re probably not doing enough math

7

3

3 4

4 9

7

1

8

5

9

4

8

6

5 3

3 7

5

2 8 1

7 3

1 3

8

2

7

1

1 5

4

6

SPORTS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 10

11

Concussions: Hurting your brain for the game

TRU researcher explains his findings; a former player shares his experiences Tayla Scott

SPORTS EDITOR Ω

There is no “magic solution” to concussions, according to Dr. Jeff Dunn, who presented his research to the TRU community on Oct. 30.

“It seems like the number of concussions are on the rise, possibly with the increased interest in adolescent sport and high-performance sports,” Dunn said. “The long-term symptoms of concussions are worse if you’re younger... adolescents have a longer recovery time for concussions than adults.”

According to Dunn, most people will recover 100 per cent after a mild concussion, but symptoms like dizziness, headaches, poor co-ordination and light sensitivity can last from weeks to years.

Dunn, who is a Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Imaging and a professor in clinical neuroscience, described a concussion as a brain injury that occurs when the brain is shaken. He explained that helmets don’t protect against concussion, they only protect the skull.

Dunn said the best thing to do after suffering a concussion is to rest immediately. If there is a noticeable increase in pain, dizziness or experiences vomiting in the hours after a concussion, he or she should be taken to the hospital.

Otherwise, the best thing is cognitive and physical rest. This means avoiding physical activity and avoiding light from cell phones and television.

Concussions at TRU, SFU and UBC: Among TRU’s 190 athletes, there has already been six concussions since September, according

to TRU’s athletic therapist Kevin Brechin. This already surpasses the four concussions in total from last year. The concussions from both years occurred in soccer, basketball and volleyball.

Simon Fraser University (SFU), which has about 350 athletes, has had 19 concussed athletes since August. The concussions have been across a wide range of sports including swimming, wrestling, football, volleyball and softball.

Laurie Freebairn, SFU’s head physiotherapist, explained that athletes at SFU undergo baseline concussion testing before they are allowed to begin practising their sport. This involves cognitive, co-ordination and balance tests.

“Otherwise when somebody has a concussion you don’t know what is normal for them,” Freebairn said.

“When an athlete sustains a concussion, we monitor him or her daily doing SCAT (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool) symptom checks. The athletes are also monitored by our team physician, who ultimately gives the clearance to the athlete for full participation in their sport,” she said.

UBC has approximately 650 athletes, with five concussed athletes since September, according to head therapist Scott Fraser.

Although he wouldn’t release the exact statistics, he estimated that UBC has between six and 12 athletic concussions each year.

Five concussions later: Brennan Wright, 23, has been playing hockey practically his entire life. At 15 he suffered his first concussion.

“I was cutting around the back of the net going for the puck and the opposing forward came in,

TRU researcher Jeff Dunn uses a glass skull to explain brain injury caused by a concussion. (Tayla Scott/The Omega) jumped and elbowed me in the were all like, the ringing in the head,” Wright said. “It gave me ears, star struck, can’t see anything. a black out for about a minute. I I’d have a real hard time, dizziness didn’t know where I was.

I had no idea what province I was in. I was completely oblivious to what happened.”

Over the next seven years, Wright experienced four more concussions while playing hockey. Each concussion was either from being elbowed or shouldered in the head in blindside Brennan Wright, five-time concussion hits, even though hits to the head are not allowed in the leagues Wright played in. and a lot of vertigo when I initially “My subsequent concussions got these concussions,” he said.

In 2012, Wright’s first year at TRU, he received his fifth concussion while playing an exhibition game with the WolfPack hockey team. Afterwards, he visited a head trauma specialist.

The specialist told him that he was probably going to get another concussion, and that when he does, he’ll likely end up getting some mental disabilities or brain damage.

Wright took the advice of the specialist and decided to quit playing hockey.

“Immediately after the [fifth] concussion, I was told to sit in a dark room for about a month. I wasn’t allowed to look at my phone, TV, anything like that because the light would be too sensitive for my eyes,” he said. “I had post-concussion syndrome for about a year.

Basically, it’s the lasting effects of what a concussion is. I had trouble focusing and I had migraines.”

After each concussion, Wright would experience these symptoms for six months to a year. He also felt depressed and would sometimes experience mood swings.

“The mood swings are definitely a symptom of a concussion and I know that. I can sense when there’s a mood swing due to a concussion, because it’s really irrational,” he said.

According to Dunn, the tendency to get depression after a concussion is really high since the person concussed has to avoid friends and exercise in order to recover. He

explained that it is common for a concussed person to be uncharacteristically angry and irritable.

“Concussions can change your behaviour.

Every person can have a different series of symptoms. I think the changes in behaviour and depression, they’re the ones that change people’s family lives a lot,” he said.

According to Dunn, an MRI will show no difference in the brain after sufferer a concussion and getting one would be a “waste of time.” But that might change with new MRI technology.

“The new part for concussion and brain injury is called diffusion tensor imaging,” Dunn said.

“There’s active research into diffusion tensor imaging, which will actually show brain injury due to concussion.”

Unfortunately, there are only a few machines in Canada capable of diffusion tensor imaging, but Dunn believes it will become more popular in concussion research and treatment in the years to come.

Until then, reducing concussions is up to the athletes and the leagues they play in.

“Right now we’re looking at managing concussions and managing rules,” Dunn said. “There is a reduced incidence of concussion in younger hockey players when they don’t have checking in the league.

So there could be rule changes to help with certain sports.”

According to former WolfPack hockey coach Don Schulz, the current rules in place, like no checking from behind, no hits to the head and no jumping to hit another player, have already increased player safety.

“Body checking is a part of hockey. It would be like taking tackling out of football,” Schulz said.

Dunn believes that continuing research on concussions is important to understand why certain people recover faster than others, and the best way to keep athletes safer from concussions is to keep people educated about the causes of concussions and the recovery needed afterwards.

“I didn’t know where I was.

I had no idea what province I was in. I was completely oblivious to what happened.”

12

November 5, 2014