Dec. 3, 2014

PILOT STUDY How do female int’l students fare with Canada’s health care system? p. 4

Volume 24 – Issue 14

LONELY ABALONE A TRU researcher looks to help the species make a comeback, p. 4

www.truomega.ca Ω @TRU_Omega

TOUGH TO BEAT WolfPack women’s basketball leads Canada West’s explorer division, p. 7

December 3, 2014

HERE COMES CHRISTMAS! What about those who stay on campus? p. 5 On-campus holidays survival guide, p. 5 Food bank shortages, p. 2

Just chillin’ A campus snowman spotted after a heavy late November snowfall Photo by Alexis Stockford

Representing TRU at the Santa Claus Parade, p. 5

2

NEWS

December 3, 2014

Looking at a hungry holiday TRUSU expects food bank demand to rise in December Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

TRUSU is preparing for the annual upswing in food bank demand.

The food bank, which relies largely on cash and food dona-

tions, sees higher traffic around the holidays according to recently named TRUSU vice president of finance, Ryan Makar.

“We would encourage members to donate,” Makar said when asked how the student union is preparing for the increase.

More students look for help from the food bank during the holidays, TRUSU says.

“They can get in contact with the members services desk to set up a donation time. You can find the contact information on the website or you can stop by the office.”

According to the TRUSU website, the food bank is meant to

(Alexis Stockford/The Omega)

support students during times when buying groceries is “one bill too many” and is open to all union members. Those wanting to access the service can pick up food packages at the TRUSU Member’s Services Desk near Common Grounds.

“We try and be as discreet as we can because it’s definitely not the students’ fault that they have to use the resource, and it is there for them to use and we would encourage them to use it,” Makar said.

This October the food bank provided food to 22 TRU students.

While he personally does not know anyone who has used the service, second-year psychology student Niloy Reza said he thinks having a food bank on campus, as opposed to relying on the community food bank, is beneficial to students.

“It’s closer to them, it’s more accessible and it will actually be useful for them,” Reza said.

Arts student Martina Duocep also said she thinks the program is beneficial, but added that it should be better advertised.

“I’m in my third year now and

I only learned about it in my last semester last year,” she said.

The food bank has experienced shortages in the past. In January 2012, TRUSU executive director Nathan Lane reported that TRUSU had been “scrambling to purchase food,” The Omega reported.

The amount of food given to each student depends on what is in stock and how many donations the food bank has received.

Other emergency services New this year, TRUSU introduced an emergency bursary for unexpected financial crisis. Each bursary is worth up to $700 (although Makar said case-by-case details are into account when determining funds) to be spent on necessities such as rent, clothes or food.

Students must first meet with a TRUSU member’s advocate, the office of student awards and financial support or the office of student and judiciary affairs before receiving funds.

“I totally could have used that last semester because my student loan didn’t come in on time and I wasn’t going to get it,” Duocep said of the new bursary.

Getting a head start on the trades

High school students will be able to take classes for credit towards TRU Danya LeBlanc

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Thirty-six high school students interested in getting a kick start in trades have been given the opportunity to start their training early due to the collaborative efforts of TRU and School District 73.

On Nov. 28, officials from each institution solidified an agreement that allows students from Grades 10, 11 and 12 to learn practical skills in both construction and mechanics at the NorKam Trades and Technology Centre, which can be counted as credits at TRU.

In February 2015, Kamloops high school students will have the opportunity to gain up to 16 credits towards a high school diploma, and even more significantly, 12 credits towards a university degree at TRU over one semester at NorKam. “The beauty of it is that they get credit towards their diploma, and they also can complete 80 per cent of their credits for their first year. So they’re not even done high school but they’ve already completed part of university,” said Kelvin Stretch, school board secretary-treasurer.

Even after receiving training, if

Sheryl Lindquist, District Principal and Secondary Transitions (Danya LeBlanc/ The Omega)

students do not want to pursue a career in trades, their university credits can be applied to a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of general studies degree.

“If you get these credits at the secondary level, it’s one less thing students have to pay for. That’s why this partnership is so important – you get that dual credit towards both programs, and students are able to save time and money,” Stretch said.

In anticipation of the new program, the NorKam Trades and Technology Centre was renovated to accommodate the increase in trades and technology training.

Last year, School District 73 and the Province of British Columbia invested $7.6 million into developing a new building wing that provides new classrooms and shop facilities.

Bryan Daly, TRU interim dean of trades and technology, said in the press release on the partnership that the delivery of an upto-date, relevant curriculum and the provision of work-based skills training “will help graduates to be ready for more advanced training.”

In this coming decade the need for skilled trade workers is forecasted to require an estimated one million individuals to fill positions largely created by retiring workers, according to the press release.

“This is an opportunity to attract students to trades and technical careers by exposing students

Kelvin Stretch, secretary-treasurer for the school board, called the opportunity unique, since not all small communities have universities in town. (Danya LeBlanc/The Omega)

to the trades in a meaningful way – and to career options they might not have otherwise considered,” Daly said.

The partnership between TRU and the school district is not new.

It continues to grow with the implementation of this program, similar to the TRU Start SD 73 program already offered to high school students, where, according to the TRU webpage, high school students can “experience university life while in secondary school through TRU on-campus courses.” The program allows students to take one or two university level course in economics, English, psychology and sociology, as well as

one-year certificate and diploma programs such as early childhood education and health care assistant without needing to pay TRU tuition.

District principal Sheryl Lindquist said that their primary aim is to “kick start career readiness,” which is only possible due to the long tradition of partnership with TRU. “We are so fortunate to have TRU so close and so willing to help us out,” Lindquist said.

For high school students interested in this program, applications for September 2015 intake will be available in the new year with a deadline set for mid-February.

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 SPORTS EDITOR Tayla Scott @taylascott3 sports@truomega.ca COPY EDITOR Rachel Wood @rachelwoood copy@truomega.ca CONTRIBUTORS Danya LeBlanc Courtney Ranger

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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.

3

OPINION & EDITORIAL

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 14

The risks of the winter road

Winter driving is something we need to take seriously Sean Brady

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω

A friend of mine recently threw in the towel and decided to just take the bus, instead. Part of his decision to drop the freedom of his car and embrace the occasional horrors of transit was that he didn’t like driving in inclement weather. Although Kamloops sees some pretty dry winters, it does occasionally get cold and icy, so I can’t fault him too much. Just last year I was involved in my first and only accident in 13 years of driving ¬– a low-speed fender bender caused by icy roads. I already took winter driving seriously at that point, but it made me realize the risks we take just by going out in bad conditions.

Thankfully my accident was on a Kamloops city street. If it had happened somewhere else, like the Coquihalla highway, things might have ended differently. Because I have family all over B.C., I typically cross the province at least twice every year.

I also grew up doing so and have taken all advice offered to me. One piece of advice stuck in particular: when conditions are bad, slow down.

Sure, sometimes it has taken me seven hours to make a five-hour trip, but I made it there safe, even if I had to crawl along the highway at times.

In 2010, the RCMP released a list of tips for safe winter driving.

Some of the tips are obvious and year-round, like don’t drive under the influence and make sure you wear your seatbelt, but some are worth following up on and paying attention to.

The RCMP suggests you pack an emergency kit for your vehicle.

That’s good advice, I think. Some of B.C.’s roads are very remote, and although you’re likely to encounter traffic if you get stuck or crash, you might have to stick it out for a while. Consider roadside safety measures like flares, cones, flashlights and then comfort and survival items like water, food, blankets, gloves and even rescue items like shovels, chains and jumper cables.

They also advise you give yourself extra travel time. I think this is among the most important of the tips. On a straight stretch, it doesn’t really matter how icy the roads are, but this is B.C. – you’re going to hit a corner eventually, and it’s probably going to be a pretty hard one.

If you’re going too fast into that corner, the best-case scenario is that you spin out and hit the guardrail, assuming there is one.

On top of giving yourself extra time to arrive at your destination, put some thought into where you might be able to stop along the way.

Traveling through a town where you know someone? Make sure you’ve got their number, just in case.

The RCMP also says you should “learn and practice safe winter driving techniques before you need them.” This is something that is often overlooked, I think. I grew up loving winter driving, and the sight of a large, empty parking lot was beautiful to me. Practicing turns at speed in the snow, feeling what it’s like to completely lose control of your vehicle, knowing how and how long it takes to brake on ice… it’s not something you can learn on the highway without serious risk to yourself and other drivers.

But I worry that others don’t know the limits of their vehicle or the real conditions of the road. Sure, sometimes it’s obvious, like when the road is so icy that it’s shining back at you, but often it’s more like compact snow covered by a fresh snowfall, or a thick layer of ice covered by a thin layer of dirt.

Finally, plan ahead. B.C. has the great resource of DriveBC.ca. This site will show you webcams of any highway in the province and will report on events that might slow you down or make you want to slow down. I recommend checking it before every trip. Drive safe and slow down. editor@truomega.ca

Plagiarism is plagiarism Profs should not get the light touch for copying students’ works Liam Fitz-Gerald

THE CARILLON (CUP)

For many university students, the world plagiarism invokes anxiety and terror, as its consequences can be devastating for the individual. The University of Regina defines plagiarism as “a form of academic dishonesty in which one person submits or presents the work of another person as his or her own, whether from intent to deceive, lack of understanding, or carelessness.”

This means if a student purchases a paper online and submits it as their work, or falsifies a lab result, then they have intentionally misled their grader and have committed plagiarism. Ignorance is also not a valid justification. Not understanding how to cite something is no excuse and seemingly innocent mistakes can also constitute plagiarism. Forgetting to cite a source in-text and forgetting to put quotation marks around the writings of another may result in a student being investigated for plagiarism.

If an instructor has reason to suspect plagiarism they are to alert their respected Dean who investigates. If plagiarism is found, then the penalties depend on the severity of the offense.

They range from a grade decrease on an assignment or a course to suspension and expulsion in the worst case.

It’s no wonder students dread plagiarism.

What happens if an instructor commits an act of plagiarism?

An engineering professor at the University of Regina is currently being

investigated for plagiarism. Dr. Shahid Azam has been accused by his former master’s student, Arjun Paul, of plagiarizing Paul’s thesis. Indeed, a CBC News story compared Azam’s paper to Paul’s thesis and found a twenty-four percent similarity between the two documents with a comparison showing almost identical writing in various sections.

Azam argues that the similarities between the documents are because he wrote them both, claiming that he wrote part of his student’s thesis during the editing process, a statement that Paul denies. Azam’s lawyer has said that while the professor’s case may fall under the university’s definition of plagiarism, it does so only technically. The defense is that it was not a malicious act as there are few ways to express some very technical scientific concepts; also, his client is allegedly the creator of both documents.

Benson Honig, a business professor at McMaster University, told CBC that universities clamp down on students much harder than faculty for plagiarism offenses, saying that faculty plagiarism reflects poorly on the university as a whole, whereas a cheating student is…just that. He’s definitely on to something and here’s why.

Although this particular case is not closed, it’s important to note that if Dr. Azam is found to have plagiarized, he will in all likelihood not be fired from his job and thus cut off from his livelihood unless he voluntarily resigns, and in all probability, his career will recover in the long term. The journal that removed his article after the allegations

came to light have said that the professor is not prohibited from submitting other work to them during the investigation.

Many established academics who commit plagiarism are not treated the same as students who do so. Remember Dr. Philip Baker? He’s the former University of Alberta Medical School Dean who resigned in 2010 after it came to light that he plagiarized himself—still an offense – in a speech he gave. He was not fired; he left voluntarily. He’s now currently working as a Director at the National Center for Growth and Development. His website profile doesn’t mention his tenure at the University of Alberta.

A university student kicked out for plagiarism can face a very uncertain future. In the worst case, it’s noted on their transcripts, which are required for transferring to another post-secondary institution, including universities and technical colleges. It’s certainly a burden they have to carry with them in this competitive economy.

All plagiarism offenses are not equal.

If some faculty can be absolved for such a transgression, then can’t some students be forgiven? Why are some students given a permanent record of shame while many professors can move forward with their lives, often in their chosen professions? Not all professors who plagiarize should be fired, nor should some students who plagiarize not be sanctioned in some form, but there certainly should be a conversation about offenses and circumstances and whether certain punishments fit certain crimes.

TUNE IN/TUNE OUT Steve Leahy

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Well, it’s exam time, and you know what that means. Time to compress an entire semester of learning that you should have done over the last three months into one or two hectic and stressful weeks.

We all do it; leave things to the last minute. I’m sure there’s some prepared students out there who have a hard time not lecturing their friends about that. But there’s even more of us who really, really don’t need to hear that again. I mean, let’s face it, we do this every time.

Maybe it’s because we have a hard time keeping up with a full schedule, especially if you’re trying to balance a part-time job. Or, more likely, maybe it’s because we’ve been doing too much partying; celebrating the beginning, middle, and end of term before we’ve actually done any of it.

That’s only natural. We’re university students after all. We’ve got a reputation for crazy partying to maintain. The trick is finding a way to get our studies done on time, or at least making it look like we’ve got our studies done. Remember, C’s get degrees.

Which is all fine and dandy if all you’re after is an undergraduate, like me. But many of you are planning on furthering your education into masters, or, God help you, doctorates. And if that’s your goal, good luck, you’ll need it. And what you’ll need even more is to take your schooling seriously; you’re probably one of the few prepared students, constantly lecturing your friends about the benefits of actually doing the readings during the term, and if that’s the case, make sure you don’t forget to study yourself. Just because you think you’re prepared doesn’t necessarily mean you are.

Overconfidence can be just as harmful as underconfidence. It’s fine and well to think you’ve already got the A wrapped up before you even pick up your pencil, but then comes that pesky little question that throws you for a loop, and then all of a sudden your questioning every answer you’ve made up to that point, and your anxiety spikes through the roof. You’ve got to be wary of that; it happens to us all, sooner or later.

And if you’re one of those students who are seriously debating skipping the exam in fear it’ll only drag your mark further down; seriously? Even a one out of one hundred is better than zero. Take a deep breath and just do it. It’ll only be as bad as you let it.

My sage words of wisdom: keep calm, and exam on. 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.

Want to have your voice heard?

We’ve got room for you. If you’ve got an opinion on a weekly basis, why not pitch it to us and put it on paper?

Politics? Social issues? Student life?

Tell us all about it and you might find yourself on this very page. If you’re interested in hearing more, write to editor@truomega.ca.

4

NEWS

December 3, 2014

How do international students fare with health care in Canada?

Pilot study seeks to answer questions over female international student use of the health care system Ashley Wadhwani ISSUES EDITOR Ω

A pilot study looking at the current health care accessibility and use by female international students is being conducted on TRU campus. The researchers, senior lecturer Florriann Fehr and co-investigators Kim Munich and Wendy McKenzie are collecting data through interviews with women on their experiences with Canada’s health care system.

The interviews are focusing on the “specific cultural and religious influences [that] may influence unaddressed health care needs while attending Canadian post-secondary programs,” according to the description of the study currently being handed out to international student women interested in participating.

“The little information we have has been largely on mental health,” said Allison Perry, fourth-year nursing student and assistant researcher in the study.

Perry has always been interested in being culturally competent and culturally safe in health practices.

This research allows her to pursue both her passions of anthropology and nursing.

According to Fehr, the data is already showing insufficiencies in Canadian health care, particularly maternity care. For example, international students, specifically women from Saudi Arabia, are having babies in Kamloops, but where these women are getting post-pregnancy care from is unclear.

“There’s this big disconnect. The nurses are saying ‘we don’t know where they’re going afterward,’ and public health is having issues contacting them, too” Fehr said. “As educators and ethical people, we think ‘well I hope that they’re getting the services they need because they’re here going through TRU.’” Fehr completed her PhD with a focus on students raising children while they’re in post-secondary programs.

“My whole interest is making sure that this transition, of coming here on campus and having their academic life, is balanced with all the other stuff they need to have done outside of school. There’s this vulnerable group or unknown group of TRU international students, females in particular,” she said.

The data is already revealing a misunderstanding on the insurance coverage that international students have, where some women students

believe it’s cheaper to travel back to their home countries in order to have basic procedures, according to Fehr.

“They miss all these facts…and we’ve had a couple that have gone home for something as simple as a yeast infection. [Here] it’s an over the counter [medication] or maybe they go through a doctor, but [it’s] not known how simple it is,” Fehr said.

The data has also shown a disconnect between Western uses of certain medications and other cultural beliefs or practices. According to Fehr, some Chinese students bring an extra bag of luggage filled with traditional medicines from home such as teas and herbs.

“They don’t have any trust with the Westernized system. There is no bridging between the kinds of [medications] we have offered here and their stuff…when they go and see a doctor, they’re worried that they’re going to be given medicine that isn’t safe,” Fehr said. “They have a different way of looking at medications and treatments and antibiotics too.”

Other cultural differences found in the data include the concept of 911. In mainland China they have several emergency numbers for

Florriann Fehr, Kim Munich and Wendy McKenzie are investigating female international student experiences with the Canadian health care system at TRU. (Ashley Wadhwani/The Omega)

specific emergencies, according to Fehr.

“Some have phoned 911 not knowing what to expect on the other side and have panicked,” she said.

Other misconceptions Fehr has noticed through the interviews have been the role a pharmacist plays in prescriptions, how breastfeeding clinics work and a struggle adjusting to Canadian food leading to skin and stomach issues.

The group has mostly interviewed

female students from China and India, but the pilot study is looking to expand to all groups on campus.

“It’s very preliminary, just understanding the basic expectations and experiences these women have had thus far,” Perry said.

Perry hopes this opens doors for more research.

“At this point we’re just collecting data. We need more answers and we definitely need other cultures,” Fehr said.

Testing a plan to save the northern abalone

TRU researcher has hopes that the species can make a comeback Ryan Turcot

SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Ω

Through the 70s and 80s, northern abalone were a prized delicacy from the sea. People were willing to pay a premium price to have the exotic sea snails on their dinner plates. By 2003, however, abalone had been overharvested and the Canadian federal government declared

them an endangered species, protected under the Species at Risk Act. “They’ve put on that endangered list and the harvesting stopped, but the populations still have not rebounded,” marine biologist Louis Gosselin explained.

Gosselin is a TRU professor who specializes in marine invertebrate species like sea stars, crabs and snails. He has been studying the northern abalone

Abalone being lifted out of trays in the hatchery in Bamfield. (Louis Gosselin)

for years and, by the end of this decade, he hopes to discover a viable strategy for restoring their population among Canada’s Pacific coast.

“Abalone are part of the natural ecosystem, and if we’re protecting abalone, we’re protecting all the other species that depend on them as well,” Gosselin said.

“The abalone population densities are so low right now that on average there’s about one abalone per five or six square meters. When the population numbers are low, males and females do not meet each other, and you need them meeting each other for them to breed.”

In an attempt to repopulate the abalone populations, one potential strategy researchers have considered is a practice known as “outplanting.”

“Some people think that if the populations in the wild aren’t doing too well, then maybe what we could do is bring them into a hatchery, breed them in a hatchery artificially, and then put them back into nature after a certain age,” Gosselin explained.

He put this idea to the test, conducting a study from the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island. The study used scuba divers to take adult abalone from the wild, bring them into a laboratory and get them to spawn. The resulting offspring were then raised in the lab, in some cases for as long as two to three years. During this time, humans fed the lab-bred abalone a diet consisting of algae, seaweeds and kelp.

When the time came to introduce the abalone to the wild, scuba divers marked and tracked individual abalone to study their progress over time. Gos-

selin concluded that, while outplanting makes sense in theory, the figures in his research said otherwise. About 60 per cent of the outplanted abalone he studied died within their first two weeks in the wild.

“Within a year, you’re lucky to find one per cent still surviving,” he said.

In comparison, he said wild abalone in similar conditions would lose less than one percent of their population within the same two-week span, and over the course of the year 60 to 70 per cent of the population would survive.

“There is still mortality, but the [wild abalone] population can persist and sustain itself.”

Gosselin then conducted studies to examine why this was the case. He found that the lab-bred abalone never learned to detect or defend themselves against the kinds of predators they would encounter in the wild.

“They’ve lived in an environment where there are no threats or predators,” he explained. “Whenever there’s something moving around them it’s a person coming to feed them.”

“In the wild they’ve been exposed to odours and contact with predators.

They don’t get fed, so movement to them is a bad thing, not a good thing.

They hide, clamp onto rocks, and avoid predators, so their survivorship is much better.”

“We found that the ones coming from the lab stay out in the open.

They don’t hide if there’s a shadow or if something touches them.”

Gosselin suggested that outplanting could still be a viable solution if researchers could somehow train the lab-bred abalone to do a better job rec-

ognizing and responding to threats. Researching the viability of this concept is one of his upcoming research projects.

“This might mean having tanks that contain abalone next to tanks that contain predators like sea stars and octopi,” he explained. “Or, if we could have them in the same tank, but with a separator, then abalone could learn smell the predators. Abalone don’t see very well but they can detect predators by smell.”

“One of the tricky things is that to keep the abalone in the lab, you have to feed them, and when you’re feeding them that creates shadows and disturbances in the water.”

To work around this problem, he said researchers could stress the abalone on occasion to help make them uncomfortable with shadows, but Gosselin said that it might take a few more years to know exactly how to do this.

Gosselin hopes that one day, a sustainable harvesting practice might once again be possible.

“At the very least, it would be nice to let the First Nations bring abalone back into their traditions. It’s actually a species that’s been used extensively among the First Nations in the past. They used the insides of abalone shells [mother of pearl] in jewelry, in decorations and at one point even as a currency. Abalone were also used as food, and they used to be so abundant that, at low tide, First Nations people could just go down to the shores and collect them. You can’t do that anymore, there are no abalone at low tide and you have to go much, much deeper to find them.”

“If we can save the species, it’s a winwin for everyone.”

NEWS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 14

Not at home for the holidays What about those who stay after campus closes?

Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

While most students are packing up to head home for the holidays, many out-of-province and international students who cannot afford the trip are staying right where they are.

According to Craig Engleson, TRU World activities, events and housing manager, about 70 per cent of TRU’s over 1,750 international students will not return home between fall and winter semester.

McGill On-Campus Housing owner Tammy Desrochers said staying on campus over the break can be “extremely isolating for those that celebrate Christmas.”

“In some parts of the world they don’t celebrate the way we do, so then [students from those countries] are kind of OK with it, but the ones that do, they have a bit tougher time,” she said.

Sheena Erhardt, residence life co-ordinator for the TRU Residence and Conference Centre, said she especially sees a difference in students in the last two weeks of December

when TRU services are closed. “[Some students] are typically extroverted people but they become very introverted, and a lot of the time it’s based on homesickness or the ability to feel at home, even in a building that you have to live in for the next four years because you’re so far away from home,” she said.

The TRU campus, including the TRU Residence and Conference Centre, is closed from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1, although Erhardt said resident advisors and staff will be available throughout the break to students who need assistance or support.

International student Hardee Kaur said she is going home this year for the first time in a year and a half.

Last year, she remained in Canada over the winter break and took part in a co-op work experience.

“International students, we’re here for such a long time, and so you sort of build that routine,” she said.

The fourth-year student said she did miss her family last December, but added that she spent her time with friends.

According to Engleson, staying on campus for the holidays may not be as isolating as people assume. He

TOP LEFT: Heather Pratt-Johnson and Natalie Butler show off their holiday best at the McGill On-Campus Housing Christmas pasta dinner Nov. 28.

BOTTOM LEFT: WolfPack cheerleaders braved the cold and followed their float.

TOP RIGHT: Santa Claus, seen here in his titular parade, already came to town.

But word is that he’ll be back in less than a month’s time.

BOTTOM RIGHT: A prize-winning parade float by those in TRU’s trades, nursing and WolfPack in the Kamloops Santa Claus Parade.

Photos by Alexis Stockford

said that, depending on their finances, many international students take this chance to try new activities once classes are done.

“While we do find that, yes, they’re not with family, the network is very small with our international students and a lot of them will go skiing on ski trips or they’ll go on some sort of travel experience and, if they’re not doing that, they’re with a pretty large group of friends and they do tend to have a lot of fun,” he said.

He also pointed out that students also use winter break to work.

Winter break events Both residences have a list of events planned during the holidays.

Events on the TRU Residence agenda include decoration making Dec. 23, a Christmas Eve movie marathon, Christmas Day potluck and snowman making, and a New Year’s Eve party.

McGill On-Campus Housing, on the other hand, has planned a spa night and ski trip to Harper Mountain. Desrochers added that she would try to accommodate any other activity suggestions that her residents mention.

On-Campus Housing will also

5

Holiday survival: alone on campus Wellness Centre co-ordinator Chelsea Corsi had some words to share with The Omega on being away from home during the holidays.

First and foremost, being able to cope on your own over the holiday season really depends on your own resilience, independence and attitude. If you use the power of positive thinking, it will help you make the best of the situation.

If you like some alone time and need a rest after a busy semester, now is the time to capitalize on all the fun things you wanted to do when you were so busy with school. It could be catching up on your favorite shows, watching some Netflix movies, or reading a book for pleasure (one that wasn’t assigned). Don’t feel guilty if you put your feet up to relax a bit.

Your body just might need a rest.

If you like to be social and participate in activities with others, find host traditional turkey dinner Christmas day.

“There’s nothing I hate more than the thought of [students] sitting in their room on Christmas Day by themselves,” Desrochers said.

Other events on campus include the International Student Activity

out who else is sticking around and make some plans to get together over the holidays. Do something active like cross country skiing or snowshoeing because Kamloops is a great place to have active winter fun. If you live in residence, find out if the advisors are organizing any activities for students who are staying around.

Stay connected to your family and friends with the technology you have. If you have access to Skype, Facetime or Facebook, you can pretty much stay digitally connected with anyone you wish to be with over the holidays.

Finally, feeling homesick or “peoplesick” is normal, but if you are feeling overly sad or even depressed, please contact someone that can help you. The TRU counselling department is open until 12 p.m., Dec.24, so you can book an appointment with one of our counsellors who can help you with personal issues.

Program Christmas Tree Party Dec. 5 and the F.O.C.U.S Club Christmas dinner program, which matches registered students with families in Kamloops. The students are then transported to their host family’s home for a traditional Christmas dinner.

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ARTS

December 3, 2014

“The Best of Everything” an ambitious production Female-dominated cast leads the latest production from TRU’s Actors Workshop Theatre Kim Anderson ARTS EDITOR Ω

The female-dominated cast of “The Best of Everything” treated the audience in the Black Box Theatre to bouts of riotous laughter and moments of intense contemplation slashed with disdain, for one character in particular.

The TRU Actors Workshop Theatre’s production of “The Best of Everything” was directed by Robin Nichol and assistant director Megan Graham. It is an adaptation done by Julie Kramer, based on a book by Rona Jaffe.

The nine-person cast of Emily Thibert as Caroline Bender, Taylor Pace as Eddie Harris, Stephanie Morrison as Brenda Zaleski, Maddison Hartloff as Mary Agnes Russo, Krystine Lucas as April Morrison, Joel Feenstra as Mike Rice, Alicia Ashcroft as Amanda Farrow, Allandra Barton as Gregg Adams and Clayton Webber as Mr. Shalimar/David Savage/Ronnie all combined talents to deliver an entertaining and seamless production.

An interesting hybrid-corridor set design was adopted for this show. It essentially split the auidence in half with seats on opposite sides of the stage and forced the actors to be hyper-aware of their bodies in relation to each other and to the audience. “[We had to] act to both sides, making sure that each side equally has a portion of the actor. Acting, in a way, with your back, so the audience knows when you’re angry, sad, or surprised,” Thibert said.

“Not only will you not be facing [each other], sometimes you will be blocking other actors,” Feenstra said.

“The Best of Everything” follows the life of Caroline Bender (Thibert), a young secretary turned editor living in New York. Caroline is trying to piece her life together and become self-reliant after being brutally dumped by her fiancé, Eddie

(Pace), via letter (which would be today’s equivalent to a text).

Thibert succeeded in tackling the feat of an emotionally complex role.

She had to convey feelings of inner turmoil, the drive to succeed, lust after a (somewhat) unrequited love interest and loneliness. The mastering of her role pushed her to grow as an actor, and as a person.

“I’m an apologetic person, and kind of scared of putting myself out there in fear of what other people will think. This role has kind of pushed me to be out there and be seen, and [to be] less apologetic,” Thibert said.

Early on, Caroline meets April Morrison. At first, April is a brighteyed, naive, unabashedly honest young woman and a newcomer to New York. Lucas convincingly brought vivid life to her character and, more than anyone else, kept everyone in stitches with one-liners and unparalleled enthusiasm in her delivery.

Gregg Adams commanded the attention of the audience when she stepped onto the stage, illuminated by a single spotlight, all while belting out a striking solo. Barton had several monologues that pushed her acting chops, including a dramatic scene recreating a fight with an invisible man.

This play is filled with sudden and jarring shifts for some of the female characters. April transitions from an innocent and starry-eyed young woman, to a somewhat jaded, chic socialite and eventually to a content (stereotypical) bride-to-be.

Gregg jumps from being a sultry, confident and commanding presence to a needy, insecure, mentally unstable and broken woman.

“It was really challenging jumping from fabulous, sophisticated Gregg, to a girl who was sitting and picking cigarette butts out of a garbage bin,” Barton said. “The cool thing about Gregg is that she’s always had that predisposition for craziness, it was in her all along.”

In contrast, Caroline stays rel-

atively consistent throughout the play, only wavering when Eddie returns. She starts out as an ambitious, determined intellectual, who places a high value on her career, and ends up in the same position, but a bit higher up on the corporate ladder.

Interestingly enough, the male characters stay consistent as well.

Eddie opens the play with a monologue, which is actually a letter from himself to Caroline explaining why he is leaving her for another woman. When he eventually returns, and starts up a passionate affair with Caroline, he reveals that the only value he places on her is as his lifelong mistress, not a wife.

Additionally, the mysterious and slightly strange Mike Rice stays developmentally steady. Mike maintains an emotional connection and attraction for Caroline but refuses to pursue a relationship beyond one physical encounter for fear of ruining her life.

“My biggest challenge was that he wanted Caroline, but didn’t want to hurt her future. I’ve never had to really experience that, because I’m fairly young. I don’t have those years of experience like he has,” Feenstra said.

The storyline drives home the often grim realities of women who want “the best of everything,” or the ideal life. Strong tones of feminism and the choices women are forced to make in the professional sphere are apparent. “[It’s about] what was expected of a woman in that time. You get married, you have a house, you have kids,” Thibert said.

The message is delivered seamlessly because the play is, at times, so humorous.

“It’s fun and it’s kind of melodramatic so you don’t have to take it too seriously,” Nichol said.

But behind the laughter lay harsh truths of glass ceilings, workplace harassment and the real role of women in society.

“Anytime you have a period

The book on which AWT’s latest is based.

play that is set in a different time, it makes you think, that’s not my life, I’m looking at something else.

But then you suddenly realize that there’s a lot of things that haven’t changed,” Nichol said.

The very selection of the script and the casting was related to the disproportionate percentage of women in theatre programs.

“I was looking for a show with a lot of women in it, because as in many other aspects of the world, most plays have more men than

(Penguin Books Limited)

women and most theatre programs have more women than men,” Nichol said. “Even in [plays] with a lot of women, they are secondary characters. So finding something where the women were central was important to me. And I found this.”

Art should first serve to entertain, but above all else, to provoke thought. Leaving the Black Box Theatre, I was forced to contemplate what exactly “the best of everything” is and precisely what I wanted for my future.

Book review: Dark Places

Latest from “Gone Girl” author is great if you can stomach the suspense Courtney Ranger CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Surviving has not made Libby Day stronger.

As the agonized protagonist of “Dark Places,” Gillian Flynn’s second novel, Libby embodies the impulses most of us outgrow as children. She’s reckless, she steals and she throws fits. But it’s almost excusable.

In 1985, Libby’s mother and two sisters are slain in their home in Kinnakee, Kansas. It’s a crime for which her brother, Ben, is serving life in prison following Libby’s testimony.

Her absentee father is staying true to his nature. Orphaned at seven years old, Libby becomes “troubled” and bounces from home to home.

Twenty-four years later Libby meets Lyle, a member of a mur-

der-obsessed club that believes Ben to be innocent. The so-called Kill Club hopes to pay Libby to track down witnesses to prove its case.

Desperate for cash, Libby agrees.

As she learns of alternative theories with Lyle, she begins questioning her brother’s guilt. The pair set out in search of anyone related to the murders.

The story plays out in both past and present, as the chapters alternate between Libby’s modern perspective and her mother or Ben’s views from the day of the murders. It can be tricky to move from one character’s mind and into another so frequently, but the story gains more from flipping perspectives than it loses.

Libby, Ben and their mother are fully explored in their individual circumstances. Despite their differences, a thread of internal conflict

connects the three. The characters are heavily flawed and are far from heroes, but their shared moral ambiguity and desperation are intriguing and honest. Each perspective is essential to completing the picture.

The plot could easily have been a disaster. Thankfully, Flynn answers each question she raises. Flynn knows when to withhold information and she does so artfully. She scatters potential suspects throughout the novel.

As in life, the truth is complex.

Like her more famous work, “Gone Girl,” “Dark Places” is outrageously grim in spots and suspenseful all over.

Flynn doesn’t shy away from violence or gore in her descriptions. Often she shines a light on subjects that will make a reader flinch.

This is one novel that is unafraid to divulge. “Dark Places” is worth a look if you have the stomach for suspense.

SPORTS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 14

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Swim team stays afloat despite rough waters A challenging but successful first semester for WolfPack swimmers Tayla Scott

SPORTS EDITOR Ω

Despite an injured swimmer and a tough schedule change to Canada West, the WolfPack swim team has seen success and gained interest for next year.

Head coach Brad Dalke had been trying to get a WolfPack swim team going for 10 years, and in September it finally became a reality. The team has three swimmers: Sarah McChesney, Jagdeesh Uppal and Jacquelyn Belanger. Dalke hopes to get another four or five swimmers recruited for next year.

“We’ve got lots of people interested. The very fact that we’ve got a team going has made a significant impact. Everywhere we go I’ve got people that are coming up and talking to me and expressing an interest in TRU,” Dalke said.

Dalke said there has been a lot of interest from swimmers in Calgary and Lethbridge.

“Within our own swim club, the Kamloops Classic swim team, we’ve got a number of kids that we’re looking at that will be graduating this year and that are interested in staying at home,” Dalke said.

“I would say it looks pretty good for next year.”

The ‘Pack has faced some unex-

pected challenges this year, starting with Belanger suffering an injury and being unable to swim for the past few weeks. Belanger will be getting back into the water with the ‘Pack on Dec. 28 when they go to San Diego for a two-week training camp.

Another challenge came for the ‘Pack when the Canada West championships were moved up two months from January to November.

“We had new recruits coming in like Sarah McChesney. It takes a little while to get used to how she responds to rest and training and all of those kinds of things so it was more challenging from that perspective,” Dalke said.

But McChesney certainly rose to the challenge. She was the only swimmer to qualify for the Canada West Swimming Championships, which had eight university teams in attendance and were held from Nov. 21 to 23 in Lethbridge. McChesney placed eighth overall in the women’s competition.

She considers her specialty to be freestyle, however she swam two personal bests in butterfly races at Canada West.

The ‘Pack’s only male swimmer, Jagdeesh Uppal, saw some success during the Penticton Iron Pentathlon. Uppal placed 12th overall in the men’s category, fourth in the

Jagdeesh Uppal hopes to qualify for the CIS championships, either this year or next.

50- and 100-metre breaststroke and fifth in the 200-metre breaststroke.

Uppal didn’t qualify for Canada West championships this year, but still has the goal to qualify for the upcoming CIS championships in February.

“It’s my goal next year, and right now too, but it will be difficult making it this year,” he said.

Both Uppal and McChesney need to shave time off their races if they are going to qualify for the CIS championships. The best chance for them both to qualify will be at the MJB Law Classic meet, which will be held from Dec. 12 to 14 at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.

McChesney needs to shave 30 seconds off her 800-metre freestyle

(Tayla Scott/The Omega)

race to qualify for the championships.

“It’s a doable target for her because she’s certainly training at that level right now in her practices,” Dalke said.

Both Uppal and McChesney will be tapered by cutting down their practice time before the meet, which is expected to have over 500 swimmers from B.C. and Alberta.

WolfPack women a tough team to beat Women’s basketball has climbed to the top of the Explorer Division in Canada West Tayla Scott

SPORTS EDITOR Ω

Taiysa Worsfold tries to avoid a block from teammate Shenise Sigsworth during a Nov. 24 practice at the Tournament Capital Centre. (Tayla Scott/The Omega)

The ‘Pack, currently at the top of its division, has seven wins and one loss since the season opened on Nov. 7.

The WolfPack downed the Mount Royal University Cougars twice over the weekend of Nov. 28, winning their games 75-63 and 63-46.

One of the reasons the ‘Pack is seeing success is due to its powerful starting line up.

Jorri Duxbury, in her fifth and final year of eligibility with the ‘Pack, scored 19 points in the first game against the Cougars, above her average of 12.1 points per game. She has made 26 steals since the season opened, the most in the division.

“The actual numbers aren’t on my mind, but that’s just the way I like to play, to play hard and go for steals,” Duxbury said. “This is it, so you have to just give it all you got. It’s the last time I’ll be here.”

Taiysa Worsfold, in her fourth year of eligibility, is fifth in the division in free throws, going 3443. Worsfold scored 21 points on the first night and 16 points on the second night against the Cougars. She currently averages 15.8 points-per-game, the eighth highest in the division.

“Our goal this year is to host

a playoff spot or a playoff game series. We’d have to come first in our division,” she said.

The ‘Pack has made it to playoffs for the last three seasons, but has yet to place first in the division and host its own playoff game.

Another powerful player on the team is Michelle Bos, the only one of five rookies with a starting spot.

“I definitely had to prove myself. During the pre-season coach pushed everyone really, really hard and everyone was working to get a starting spot,” she said.

“I think I just fit into the offence and well into the team. I just fit a role and that’s what they needed right now.”

On the ‘Pack’s first night against the Cougars, Bos scored 12 points and had 12 rebounds.

She received a 3rd star on Nov. 17 from Canada West for her game play. She is currently 2nd in the division for rebounds, with 12.6 rebounds per game and 101 rebounds in total.

“You work off each other so much. One person can’t completely change a team. One person doesn’t score 60 points in a game ever. For somebody to score one point somebody else has got to pass them the ball or move off their screen,” Bos said.

A notable game for Bos was on Nov. 22 against the University of

Fraser Valley Cascades. With 26 seconds left and a tied score, Bos made a pull up shot and won the game, giving the WolfPack a score of 72-70 and putting the ‘Pack at the top of the Explorer Division.

“That shot, like the pull up, it’s something that I’ve been working on a lot with my coach. I knew I had the ability to make that shot and I just had the confidence from all the practice and time I’d put in,” Bos said.

Duxbury said Bos fits in well with the team, as do all the new recruits.

“They’re a talented group of kids. The Kamloops kids knew our offense coming in, so they already had some experience. It was a smooth transition for them,” Duxbury said.

Both Duxbury and Worsfold agreed that playing in the new Explorer Division is better for travelling, but it’s just as challenging on the court.

“It’s too bad that we’re called the lower league. People think of us like that but it’s not at all, it’s just good competition and it’s just as much of a battle every weekend,” Duxbury said.

The WolfPack will play 12 more games before the post-season begins. If they make it to the end of the season while at the top of their division, the ‘Pack will accomplish their goal and get to host their first playoff game.

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December 3, 2014