Oct. 1, 2014

CAMPUS PRIDE TRUSU-organized parade marches around campus in support of LGBTQ, p. 8

Volume 24 – Issue 5

ROMA LIVING A TRU field school in Eastern Slovakia will explore how the Roma people live, p. 5

www.truomega.ca Ω @TRU_Omega

KELLY OLYNYK Boston Celtics centre returns to Kamloops to speak to the WolfPack, p. 11

October 1, 2014

Pride parade returns to campus AARON PRITCHETT AT CACTUS JACKS NIGHTCLUB

Arts editor Kim Anderson

HATES YOUR SHIRT

2

NEWS

October 1, 2014

Tsilhqot’in “landmark decision” rendered by Supreme Court of Canada Tk’emlups Chief Gottfriedson: Decision “finally and simply asserts that First Nations must have a say” Sean Brady

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω

An important precedent has been set with the June 26 land title decision made by the Supreme Court of Canada that granted title for some 1,750 km² to the Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin) people. The land is located approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake.

The decision was a very important outcome that has never been seen in Canada before, according to a TRU faculty member who played a role in the case.

“Within one minute of the decision, we knew that the legal ground had shifted, that Aboriginal land title had finally hit the ground in Canada,” said Nicole Schabus. “It was a very important historic moment, but it is really the moment on which we have to build now.”

Schabus is a member of the law faculty at TRU and was involved with the case. On Friday, Sept. 26, she was one of five speakers who explained the case and its implications at a forum in the Irving K.

Barber Centre organized by TRUFA Human Rights chair Derek Cook.

“It is a landmark decision that came out of the Supreme Court of Canada. I was part of the legal team for the Secwepemc, Okanagan and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs interveners,” Schabus said.

Schabus explained that under current provincial legislation, Aboriginal land title is not something that is contemplated. She said this decision affirms that First Nations must be consulted.

Tk’emlups Band Chief Shane Gottfriedson called the decision a game changer and that it made clear consultation was “not simply an advisable way to conduct business, but now the only way to conduct business in B.C.” “This decision finally and simply asserts that First Nations must have a say,” he told the nearly-full Irving K. Barber Centre. “Nothing can be decided about us without us,” he said later. “The Tsilhqot’in decision should force government to look at new and alternative measures to the status quo, because the status quo is illegal and

the status quo is not working.”

Past Tk’emlups chief Wayne Christian, who was also granted an honorary doctor of laws degree from TRU, presented a detailed treaty history to the audience.

Along with a look into the past, Christian gave a prediction for the future.

“The interesting part is that we can chase them out, but they’re going to go to South America and implant themselves in a place where there is no law and no regulation, and they’ll kill the Indian people,” he said.

“This is a world issue. We chase them out of British Columbia, fine, but they’ll go someplace else and do it to some other indigenous people in the world, and I don’t think that’s a good thing, so we have to think about how we collectively move forward on sustainability, in terms of environment, but also sustainability as a people and our relationships with each other,” Christian said.

Tsilhqot’in chief Joe Alphonse called upon other bands to support the work that has been done and to help establish a new deal, which

will “become the new template in dealing with First Nations issues in British Columbia.”

The decision came just months before the 150-year anniversary of the hanging of six Tsilhqot’in chiefs who thought they were meeting with officials to negotiate, but were instead tried for murder

and hanged, a piece of history mentioned multiple times during Friday’s forum.

“Sometimes infringement happens because you allow it to happen,” Alphonse said. “In 1864 they executed six of our war chiefs.

They don’t do that anymore. What are you guys scared of ?”

Tsilhqot’in and counsel with legal team representing the Secwepemc, Okanagan and Union of BC Indian Chiefs Interveners before the Supreme Court on Nov. 7, 2013.

(Nicole Schabus/Contributed)

Biology professor named Zdunich resigns as union LGBTQ representative to College of New Scholars Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

Carli Berry

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

A TRU professor in the department of biology received recognition for her research on the reproductive capacity of a parasitic plant.

Cynthia Ross Friedman was named on Sept. 16 to the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists by the Royal Society of Canada for her research on the parasitic flowering plant, the dwarf mistletoe.

The College focuses on gathering professors from universities in multiple disciplines that have recent terminal degrees or PhDs. The benefit of having professors in multiple disciplines is so new ideas can be created by taking different approaches to certain issues. “[It involves] thinking about advancing post-secondary education or

higher learning in Canada and discussing the issues and opportunities that we have,” Ross Friedman said.

The dwarf mistletoe is found naturally in Canada and in B.C. Ross Friedman claimed the plant is worse than the pine beetle.

Her research was specific to the dwarf mistletoe infecting Lodgepole Pine trees in the province.

The dwarf mistletoe has a lifespan of around seven years. It produces seeds, which, after landing on a host, develop root-like structures that embed into the tissue of the tree. It’s the perfect parasite, as it can shoot seeds up to 20 meters to infect other hosts.

There is an 80 per cent chance that infected trees will die, according to Ross Friedman.

Ross Friedman had 50 to 60 students over a period of 10 years working with her on the research.

The TRUSU board of directors is looking for a new LGBTQ representative. Nic Zdunich officially resigned from the job on Sept. 23.

“It would’ve just taken up too much of my time,” Zdunich said.

“It was something that I was very passionate about, but I was sort of moving in a different direction than TRUSU was.”

Zdunich explained he recently accepted a position with TRU career mentoring and alumni events and will be traveling abroad next semester.

“I sort of decided that it was between TRUSU and alumni, and I thought at this part of my life it was better for me to work with alumni,” he said.

Zdunich was the first person elected to the LGBTQ representative position after the TRUSU Pride collective was created in January 2013. Without a prior body of knowledge to draw from, the new collective relied largely on the work of Katie Hutfluss, who was one of the major organizers of TRU’s first

Pride Parade, as well as ideas from around the world. TRU’s rainbow crosswalk was inspired by similar projects in Sydney, Australia according to Zdunich.

“It was sort of interesting because it was such a blank canvas,” Zdunich said. “Usually you come in and there are certain events that go on, certain activities, certain things that you do, but it was kind of neat that we were a completely new collective and we got to come up with our own ideas.”

“We were just happy to have him serve for the time that he had over the year-and-a-half,” said Melissa Gordon, TRUSU vice-president internal and equity committee executive member. “He served the students very well and we are sad to see him go. We really thank him for his service.”

According to TRUSU bylaws, the LGBTQ representative informs the board on sexual orientation issues, represents the LGBTQ community across campus, and is an active member of the TRUSU equity committee.

The equity committee includes the women’s, aboriginal, international and graduate students’ representatives.

TRUSU president Dylan Robin-

son has been on the TRUSU board for the last three years, both before and after the addition of an LGBTQ representative.

“I think the changes that the position has started making happen on campus have been really positive,” he said, adding that it was a “logical step in the growth of the organization.”

For Zdunich, he says he has noticed tangible differences in how the idea of LGBTQ is treated at TRU. “Visibly, on campus I find a lot more people are a lot more friendly and more open. I’ve noticed differences in the Pride Club. They’re hosting a lot more socials and getting a lot more visibility throughout campus and I think it’s growing into a stronger community now because there is that visibility, or representative, on campus,” he said.

Applications for the position opened Sept. 24 and will remain open until Oct. 8. They can be submitted on the TRUSU website. The union will announce the new representative Oct. 21. All TRUSU advocacy representatives must be a member of the group for which they are advocating.

TRU to test the waters on presidential appointment Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

Cynthia Ross Friedman was one of 91 inaugural members named to the College of New Scholars by the Royal Society of Canada.

(Contributed)

Students, staff and faculty get a say in whether TRU gets a new president next year.

President Alan Shaver’s term expires next August. The TRU board of governors is looking for feedback before deciding whether to reappoint him for another five years.

An online survey has been created and will be available to the public from Oct. 8 to Oct. 22 as part of a presidential review.

“In general it asks participants to comment on the performance of the president, give their opinions and comments as to how it has affected them and whether it’s positive or negative,” TRU board of directors chair Brian Ross said.

Ross also said that the board sees the review process as an opportunity to identify areas of improvement going into the next five years.

“There are common issues that are going to be found, and that’s how you get to deal with them. Bring them out, talk about them, put them in a format

that speaks to positive results and positive change,” Ross said.

Survey results will be compiled and analyzed by the presidential review advisory committee. The committee will present their recommendations to the board in November with a final decision expected by Nov. 27.

Anyone who wants more information before taking the survey can access public documents, including monthly president’s reports, senate reports, board of governor’s minutes and financial documents on TRU’s website.

EDITORIAL STAFF

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 5

The Omega Trinity Western will have no choice Thompson Rivers University’s

/TRUOmega

but to rescind its Community Covenant If the discriminatory pact remains in place at the university, its graduates might have no place left to work

@TRU_Omega

Sean Brady

Independent Student Newspaper Published since November 27, 1991

www.truomega.ca

/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 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 Carli Berry Marlys Klossner Danya LeBlanc 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.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω

Trinity Western University’s law school is set to open in 2016, but if none of the law societies in Canada accredit it, what exactly will be the point?

Let’s hope someone at TWU is considering that. The Community Covenant in place requires students to pledge that they will abstain from “sexual intimacy that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman” in keeping with “biblical and TWU ideals.”

If you’re going to school to become a lawyer, you may very well find yourself representing someone whose views, beliefs or lifestyle you do not yourself believe in or agree with. But lawyers are nothing if not professional, and they are taught to act this way in school. They are taught to understand that a barrier exists between their personal and professional lives, and that this barrier is an important part of their ability to hold the principles of law above all else.

If this barrier exists professionally, and it is taught in school,

what sense is there to signing a covenant that poisons the well from the very beginning? What sense is there to reinforcing a personal ideology in a setting meant to foster professionalism?

None that I can see, but I can’t vote on the matter.

Thankfully I’m not alone. Earlier this year in June, 3,210 B.C. lawyers voted for reversing the decision for the Law Society of B.C. to accredit TWU’s school of law.

There were 968 who voted against.

That non-binding decision made in June informed the Benchers (those who sit on the board of the Law Society of B.C.) as to the ideological climate among B.C. lawyers. On Friday, Sept. 26, the Benchers decided that a referendum will be held on the matter and that its outcome will be binding.

For the referendum to be successful, the vote must show a twothirds majority for adopting the resolution that the TWU school not be an approved faculty of law.

If the upcoming referendum results are anything like June’s vote, it’s likely to succeed.

And it won’t be the first time a group of lawyers has decided that TWU’s covenant isn’t welcome

among Canada’s law school cohort.

Earlier this year in April, the Law Society of Upper Canada voted 28 to 21 against accrediting the school. So Ontario is out.

In Nova Scotia, just a day later, the Barristers’ Society approved accreditation, but with a major condition: that TWU exempts law students from the covenant or that it changes the covenant so that it does not discriminate. So Nova Scotia is out, at least with the covenant in its current state.

In New Brunswick, members of the Law Society of New Brunswick voted 137 to 30 at a special general meeting against approving TWU. Now, New Brunswick is in the same spot B.C. was in a few months ago. It’s waiting for a decision from its governing body as to whether or not that vote will be binding or if a referendum needs to be held. So N.B. might be out, too.

So if B.C. follows suit and votes to refuse accreditation for TWU’s law school (and by all indications it will), TWU will be left with those who have until now remained silent, and who knows what might happen once the place actually exists. editor@truomega.ca

Feminism is an unpopular word, so let’s change it Actress Emma Watson’s feminism speech at the United Nations aims to recruit as many boys and men as possible, which is absolutely prudent Leah Jensen

THE RYERSONIAN (CUP)

My news feed this weekend was mostly dominated by the United Nations Climate Summit, particularly with the hundreds of thousands who took park in the People’s Climate March in New York City. At some point, I came across a link that had UN, Emma Watson and feminism in the same headline. My confusion about why the former Harry Potter star was speaking at the UN Headquarters about feminism caused me to open the link.

Watson, who apparently became the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador six months ago, delivered a 12-minute speech about feminism, while simultaneously launching the new UN Women “HeForShe” campaign.

Unlike many other gender equality campaigns, this one aims to recruit as many boys and men as possible, which is absolutely prudent.

“How can we expect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feels welcomed to participate in the conversation?” said Watson. It’s an excellent point.

Feminism has become, or maybe always has been, an unpopular word. It instantly conjures up images of angry, man-hating females

who will shake their fists at the slightest injustice. Lately, the word has crept its way into mainstream media and is slowly making its return into contemporary discourse.

Quite alarmingly, we’ve seen campaigns like #WomenAgainstFeminism go viral over the Internet, and we’re also seeing more frequently, words like “anti-feminist.” However, we’ve also seen a surge in advocates, from Playboy porn stars to performers like Beyoncé, openly identifying themselves as feminists.

All of a sudden, everyone has something to say about it, and that’s why Watson’s announcement at the UN came at an ideal time.

The conflict between some women owning the word and others trying everything to disown it isn’t the issue. That’s not what our current conversation on feminism should be about. Nowhere does this process include men; the other quintessential component to achieving gender equality.

For a word to carry that much weight, even with all the efforts being made to deconstruct our societal prejudices, why don’t we just stop using it? The negative connotations surrounding that word are so ingrained, maybe we should move on from it, give it a little break.

The fundamental problem, and

the main focus of the “HeForShe” campaign, is that gender equality can’t be reached if we continue to pit opposing views against each other. It’s a complete disservice to the idea and goals behind what the word feminism actually strives for, which is equality.

Near the end of her speech, Watson says, “We are struggling for a uniting word, but the good news is that we have a united movement.”

(David Shankbone/Flickr Commons)

3

TUNE IN/TUNE OUT Steve Leahy

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Let’s discuss smoking. I know it’s a somewhat controversial topic as it serves no practical purpose other than damaging the body. Getting rid of such a filthy habit is most certainly a good thing, but then we have to ask why?

Not why we want to get rid of it, that’s self-evident, but why people do it in the first place. Take me for instance. Yes, I am a smoker, and yes I realize it does only harm and no good. But I still do it. And it’s not because I’m ignorant to the effects, but it’s because I like it. It helps to manage stress, which is very important for a person juggling a part-time job along with classes.

Going for a cigarette is often the only way to guarantee myself of five minutes of rest and relaxation.

But many people don’t smoke.

They don’t need that quick break in the middle of a busy day. Or maybe they do, but find a healthier alternative. Either way, different strokes and all that. Can’t we just let people do as they please?

Apparently not, because we’ve got to keep our air clear, or at least that’s the new policy. Second hand smoke; that’s what’s got people afraid nowadays. A justifiable fear, but is pushing all the smokers into little corners of the campus really the way to go about it? Yes, I am biased against this new policy, I won’t try to hide it. I don’t like it, because this is my campus, too. Why can’t I walk to class with a ciggy hanging out of my mouth?

Because smoking’s bad? We know that already. Hell, every pack of smokes sports a huge warning about the dangers of smoking.

Only the blind and deaf have an excuse for not knowing the dangers of smoking, and I’m sure they’re tired of all this anti-smoking propaganda too. Smokers are quite literally being marginalized by ADM 05-2, more commonly known as the New Smoking Policy, by which I mean we are told to stand in the marginalized areas of the campus.

Where our second-hand smoke should cause the least amount of harm.

Out of sight, out of mind, if you ask me. Honestly, aren’t we adults here? If you want to save yourself from my second-hand smoke, avoid me when I’m smoking. If you don’t like the smell of smoke coming from my clothes, by all means keep your distance. It won’t offend me, but if you start telling me off because of it, that’s not helping either of us.

This new policy seems to me to be less of an attempt to create a more inviting campus, and more of a personal crusade against smoking. Fine by me. I’m not going to argue against someone with a legitimate beef with cigarette smoke, mainly because I really have no defense. But don’t expect me to just bow my head and sit in the “designated smoking area” with my evil cigarettes. You can crusade all you want, but don’t expect me to let you walk all over me. This is my campus too, and I’m not happy about being told to sit in the corner. 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.

4

NEWS

October 1, 2014

Interior Wellness Festival The festival brought three days of seminars, workshops, yoga, fitness and more to the Campus Activity Centre over the weekend of Sept. 27. Photos by Alexis Stockford/The Omega

TOP LEFT: Instructor Tammy Morrison of Let’s Move studio demonstrates fusion belly-dancing.

TOP RIGHT: It wasn’t just adults at the festival. Brooklyn Dupont, 4, adds some colour to her outfit at the face-painting booth.

BOTTOM LEFT: Kamloops resident Judy Bregoliss tries out the henna tattoo booth.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Artist Jessica Scott shows off her work.

NEWS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 5

5

Living with Gypsies through TRU Students will travel to Eastern Slovakia and explore how Roma people live Danya LeBlanc

CONTRIBUTOR Ω

In May 2015, David Scheffel will be instructing TRU’s Field School in Romani Studies, which takes students on a dynamic expedition to Eastern Slovakia. The six-credit course, ANTH 3000: Current issues in Cultural Anthropology will immerse students in Romani culture.

In partnership with the Institute of Romani Studies at the University of Prešov, Scheffel has been working with faculty member Alexander Musinka to provide the course to students.

TRU has been sending students to Eastern Slovakia since 1993, when the field trip was instrumental in the development of a Romani community. The 2015 trip however, promises to be different. Previously, visiting Romani communities was just a chapter in a much broader field trip in Eastern Slovakia, but this year the course will entail spending the entire three weeks living with host families in cites of oppression, discrimination and poverty that Gypsies are segregated into by mainstream society. According to Scheffel, “there is no other field school in the world that will have this kind of focus.”

In Canada we have many cultures who, for the most part, live side-by-side harmoniously. However there are other countries where this is not the case.

“People can learn from these extreme examples, which is the case in Slovakia,” Scheffel said.

“For centuries, the Romani people have been at the centre of those inter-culture controversies.”

That is why ANTH 3000 focuses on the “Roma question,” which examines why mainstream societies are having such a hard time living side-by-side with the Roma.

The communities that students will visit are not just sites of poverty, dirt, discrimination and oppression. They are also cites of a degree of resistance where Gypsies maintain their cultural identity and practice the mentality that “we do things differently, we remain untamed and we remain independent.”

Scheffel expanded on this mentality by noting that what is being studied is a “counter-culture that sees things and does things differently.”

“I don’t want it to be a poverty safari. I want them to think more about [the Roma question] and think about this kind of segregation from mainstream society.”

This experience is open to all TRU students and students from other universities. Since there are no prerequisites for the course, a diverse selection of students from all programs can enroll. The pro-

A Gypsy family and friends gathered outside their hut during the field school trip of May 2011. gram fee, which covers all travel expenses in Slovakia, is $2,575, but all attending students also qualify for a $500 CUEF travel bursary. International airfare, travel insurance and immunization are the responsibility of participating students.

Because students will be exposed to an entirely different culture and are going to experience culture shock, Scheffel commented that the course is open to anyone looking for a “high impact” experience.

Canada. Scheffel claims the experience itself promises to teach students more about cultural discrimination than a classroom ever could because you can depend much more on peer learning and feedback.

According to Scheffel, the site of the field school is no more dangerous than some Canadian cities, but he did note that there are “pockets of unexpected behaviour.”

“I take it seriously, and the host families take it seriously. In all the years I have not had a single incident where a student has felt threatened or in danger,” Scheffel said. Slovakia is a country that is part of the UN. Law and order are maintained and medical care is easily obtained.

Accommodation with host David Scheffel, Romani Field School instructor families is one of the main experi“It requires an open minded ences that a student can get out of attitude and pioneering spirit,” this course. The families are welScheffel said. coming and provide the support In order to prepare students for that students need in order to rethe trip, mandatory readings are flect on the experience, according assigned before the trip so that to Scheffel. students know what to expect.

“You need a bit of guidance. You The coursework for the class need a niche that you can relax in is designed to let students fo- and that you can feel safe in. And cus on their experience while in that is what these host families Slovakia. There is a test on these are designed to do,” Scheffel said. readings and a paper that is due a “Going into these settlements as month after students are back in an outsider can be a very emo-

tional experience.”

Host families live in apartments, houses or huts and students have the choice to decide where they will live and for how long they want to stay.

According to Scheffel, this experience is “the core of what students take out of there. They don’t just learn from books or from looking at something as if they’re on a safari, but they actually are

(David Scheffel/Contributed)

of Eastern Slovakia as similar to those of sub-Saharan Africa, but this is in Europe.

Five years ago, in partnership with Alexander Musinka, Scheffel founded a non-profit organization helping Roma families integrate into Slovak society by providing the support necessary for these families to buy houses. The official webpage at www.svinia. org provides more information on

“I don’t want it to be a poverty safari. I want them to think ... about this kind of segregation from mainstream society.”

TRU’s David Scheffel (middle left), socializing with local Slovakian Roma in May 2010.

(David Scheffel/Contributed) expected to interact with people.”

As an expert on the Roma peoples and having facilitated these trips for the last 20 years, Scheffel is extremely sympathetic to the Gypsies current quality of life.

He compares the communities

the organization’s goals and how to help.

For more information on ANTH 3000: Current Issues in Cultural Anthropology, contact David Scheffel by email at dscheffel@tru.ca.

6

ARTS

October 1, 2014

Done gone country: B.C.-born star throws a backwoods party at Cactus Jacks Marlys Klossner CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Country music giant Aaron Pritchett, hailing from Terrace, B.C., performed to an enthusiastic crowd on Wednesday Sept. 25 at Cactus Jacks Nightclub. One

More Girl, a sister duo out of Vancouver, B.C., opened the show with energy and heart.

Pritchett began his set with his popular song “Let’s Get Rowdy,” to which the audience immediately obeyed. The concert felt more like a backwoods tailgate than a formal event, which suited Pritch-

ett’s musical style.

The performance was rife with audience interaction, giving it an intimate vibe. Pritchett received several roses, two bras, and an inexplicable sock. As with most live music events today, cell phones were a constant presence. Pritchett himself grabbed numerous phones

from eager fans in the front row and took a few selfies mid-performance.

The audience was female-dominated and had a wider age range than CJs’ usual barely-legal crowd, as evidenced by the dominant drink choices: beer and wine.

Pritchett saved the best for last,

coming back for an encore after the audience started chanting “Hold My Beer.” He mashed his hit song with crowd favourites like Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ‘69” and Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and went out with a bang.

After the concert, I joined Pritchett for a quick Q&A session.

But first, let me take a selfie. Aaron Pritchett doesn’t miss a beat while taking a selfie with an eager fan’s phone during his Sept. 25 show at Cactus Jacks. (Marlys Klossner/The Omega)

Concert Q&A: One-on-one with Aaron Pritchett Q: How did you get started singing?

A: At karaoke. Believe it or not, the very first night I sang in public was at karaoke in 1991 and I was scared like you wouldn’t believe. The guy that was running the karaoke that night said, “Do you want to work for me? You’re a really good singer.”

I didn’t think I could sing. I was shaking so much I don’t think I remembered much of singing that actual first song. So after that, the guy had me working for him for about six months.

Then I started my own company, and I was singing every song you could imagine, not just country, everything and anything.

Frank Sinatra to Led Zeppelin... everything. That really helped me create a voice for myself, and started me heading in the right direction.

Marlys Klossner/The Omega

Q: You’ve had the opportunity to tour with some huge names in country. How has working with

other artists influenced your own style?

A: Well, I think their influence more came from when I was playing in the clubs. I played in the clubs in Vancouver for almost ten years before anything happened with recording. Their influence on me was early because I played a lot of Keith Urban. I played a lot of Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, a lot of those guys. So when the time came that I was added to a concert tour of theirs, it was an absolute thrill.

Recently I got to open for my hero, Tim McGraw, in Duncan on Vancouver Island for a big outdoor festival, so that was pretty awesome. Those guys had a huge influence on my career, and creating a sound. It derives from all different areas and especially from those guys back in the day, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, and I got to tour with them so that was pretty cool.

Q: Do you have any projects on

the go right now?

A: Yeah, recording right now, I’m in the studio currently, on and off. The process has changed a lot from being in the studio one day and recording four or five songs in that day and then doing all the vocals and stuff later. But for the most part, the bones of it are done that one day.

Now, you can get a guy remotely playing drums from Nashville.

I can send him a track and a beat and how I want it played and he puts together a drum track. It’s not as long a process as it [once] was.

I’m currently in the studio now working on new material so there should be something new for spring.

Q: Do have any advice for someone who’s trying to make it in the business?

A: Yeah, don’t do it! [laughs] Just kidding. If you have a vision and you stick to that vision, make a plan of what you want to

see your career do and where you want it to go and be tenacious.

Don’t ever give up, no matter what people say or what people try to do to you to make your career that much tougher, don’t give up. If you really believe in yourself and believe in what you have as a talent with people supporting you, go for it.

Q: Do you have anything you’d like to say to your fans?

A: I honestly believe that without the fans, there is no industry.

We don’t have a movie industry, we don’t have a music industry, we don’t have an entertainment industry, period. It is because people do come out to shows and support us artists and the arts itself that without them we’re nothing.

We’re just people playing music and sitting around a campfire. I honestly, with everything I have, thank each and every person for supporting not only myself, but anyone who’s creative and puts on a show.

ARTS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 5

7

Kim Anderson/The Omega

I HATE YOUR SHIRT That dead guy you’re wearing across your chest, do you know who he is?

Kim Anderson ARTS EDITOR Ω

My stomach was twisting, my vision became blurry and my brow started to bead with sweat when the thing entered my field of vision.

I had walked into Forever 21, or Bluenotes, or something in that category of fashion store at the mall. I was looking for a pair of cheap, black flats for work, when the thing stopped me dead in my tracks.

It was a white crop-top. Normally, that wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary in such a store, but upon further inspection, it was something truly horrifying. There, right in front of me, was an image of Kurt Cobain surrounded with flowers, guitar in hand. The letters “COBAIN” were plastered in green across the front.

I stood there, stunned. For perhaps the first time in 24 years, I had no words.

Some background on why I was feeling so rattled: I was that angsty teen who helped her guy friends

dye their hair the same deep red that Cobain donned for a while. I was the one listening to Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and all those grungy bands religiously whenever I got the chance. Their indifference and disgust for popular culture and the mainstream really spoke to me at the time, and it still does today, but in a different way.

Nirvana’s music was built on being a dirty misfit and societal reject. Cobain and company relished on living on the outskirts of society and when the fame and mainstream notoriety of Nirvana became too much for Cobain to bear. Well, we all know how that story ended.

All I could think was, “What in the actual fuck am I looking at?”

This exact thing was everything that Cobain loathed. A mainstream fashion store was profiting from his image.

Do the girls buying and wearing the top even know Nirvana, or what they represented? Maybe. Or maybe they just know Kurt’s name. But anyone who understood his music wouldn’t even entertain the idea of

wearing that skimpy crop-top with his name across it.

When people promote bands they don’t actually know, weird and awkward stuff happens. For instance, a coworker and I were chatting after a shift and I noticed that she was wearing a Nirvana tank top. I was stoked, because I didn’t peg her as a fan and excitedly I exclaimed, “Yes! Nice shirt!”

A few seconds of thick, uncomfortable silence followed.

She replied, “Oh… I actually don’t know them, I just liked the shirt.”

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hide my prominent frown, raised eyebrow and crushing disappointment.

Full disclosure time: I own about 20 or 30 band t-shirts. Roughly 75 per cent of those were purchased at a show. Some shirts are from my favourites, the classic titans of rock like Rush, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.

However, some of those shirts are from smaller bands that are just starting out. I will never buy their band merchandise just to have it. The music has to speak to me, reach me. If it does, I feel compelled to buy some

merch to support them. In a tiny way, I believe I’m helping them in their journey of chasing their dream.

If another fan were to approach me about my shirt, there’d be no question we could have a discussion about the band.

Hold on though. Before you write me off as that pretentious, know-itall music fan, I feel this way about any band or artist. Why should some cheap clothing store, or anyone other than the artist or band, for that matter, profit from their image? Too often I see commercial goods stamped with the work of Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, and Da Vinci.

Amidst my ranting, my point (yes, I do have one, somewhere), is a simple question: should the lifelong toil and hard work of a deceased artist be whittled down to a cheap t-shirt, worn by someone in the name of fashion?

Should the legacy of an artist be whitewashed and transformed into profit for whomever their estate now benefits?

No. It’s gross and I hate it. It’s capitalism at its worst.

Album review: Mended with Gold Latest offering from The Rural Alberta Advantage has a lot to offer, but is the band abandoning its roots?

Sean Brady

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω

The Rural Alberta Advantage is straight out of Toronto (I know, right?) and released a third album, Mended with Gold, on Sept. 30.

The 12-track record isn’t much of a departure for the band. If you’re looking for loud, fun indie rock with a lot of heart sung by

a guy who sounds a lot like Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, look no further.

The album’s best feature is its percussion. Drummer Paul Banwatt is a machine. No, seriously, I think they replaced him with a drum machine infused with the soul of a talented and passionate drummer. How else could he deliver such consistent, delicate quick-hit beats that so effectively contrast the smoothness heard on some of this record’s tracks?

Especially the mellow-but-quick and haunting “Vulcan, AB.” Another standout on the album is “On the Rocks.” It’s got a pulsing lo-fi intro that adds a certain grittiness. It comes clean about 30 seconds in, but the theme returns throughout and the song is noticeably well-composed. Lead singer Nils Edenloff slurs his vocals a little more than he should, but he’s always bright where he needs to be.

If the other offerings on the

record were consistent with the themes heard in “On the Rocks,” it might be a little better. It’s still quite good, but I don’t think it’s on par with 2010’s Departing or the more garage rock-sounding record Hometowns from 2008.

Perhaps it’d be a good idea for the band to return to its rougher roots. There are certain 2008 tracks, like “The Dethbridge in Lethbridge” that sound, by comparison to the almost over-produced tracks found on Mended with Gold, like they were written and recorded in the same day by some sort of natural rocker talent and a group of guys who all met that day to make something awesome.

It’s the gritty, lo-fi sound that made me like the band to begin with, so anything that sounds like an attempt for them to abandon it feels a little alienating to me.

But regardless, I hope the band continues to find an audience, even if I’m not in it.

Image courtesy Paper Bag Records

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NEWS

October 1, 2014

Fall chills TRU Pride Parade attendance, but the show goes on Alexis Stockford NEWS EDITOR Ω

The crowd was smaller than normal at TRU’s annual Pride Parade on Friday.

About 100 people came out to show support for the LGBTQ community.

The parades in 2012 and 2013 each saw an attendance of over 300.

For students in their first or second year, this was their first taste of the TRU Pride Parade. Typically held in April, TRUSU decided last year to hold the 2014 parade in September, effectively skipping 2013-14 academic year.

TRUSU president Dylan Robinson said that the scheduling change may have contributed to the small-

er-than-usual crowd, but added that he is still happy with the day’s results.

“We’re really just glad that as many people came out as they did and sent a really strong message of support for LGBTQ students, staff, faculty and the community more broadly,” Robinson said.

“It’s nice to see someone stepping up and supporting some diversity,” Kamloops resident Jeff Conners said.

Conners was one of several participants not affiliated with TRU to attend the parade.

“We have people from the community, different service agencies stepping up and supporting, trying to link the community and campus which sometimes I think is really lost,” Conners said.

Dean of students Christine Adam was one of several university staff and faculty to participate this year. “This is something that I’ve supported since it started a couple of years ago and I think it’s really important to recognize the diversity on campus and also for all students to feel welcomed here,” she said, sporting a bright purple wig.

Bright outfits, rainbow-coloured signs and banners emblazoned with slogans like “Queer is Beautiful” were common as participants marched around Old Main and the campus commons. Participants were also encouraged to join in chants like “We are proud,” and “Hey! Ho! Homophobia’s got to go!”

Students Katelyn Echlin-Scorer

and Katie Hutfluss organized the first TRU Pride Parade in 2012. The next year, TRUSU created the Pride collective and gave it the responsibility of making the Pride Parade an annual event.

First-year student Madison Thomas said she was glad to see the Pride Parade on campus.

“I think the TRU Pride Parade, and pride in general, is a really big deal that I think needs to be more supported,” she said.

Robinson said there are definitely things that TRUSU and the Pride collective can look to improve for next year’s parade.

“We’ll be continuing to strategize about how to get more people engaged

in the community and engaged in building a safe and inclusive campus for everyone,” Robinson said.

TOP: TRUSU president Dylan Robinson leads the crowd in a chant (Kim Anderson/The Omega) BOTTOM LEFT: Kamloops city councillor Donovan Cavers joins in (Kim Anderson/The Omega) BOTTOM RIGHT: Dean of students Christine Adam and counselling services chair Cliff Robinson don wigs (Alexis Stockford/The Omega) RIGHT: Parade participants stand ready for the parade to begin (Alexis Stockford/The Omega) BOTTOM MIDDLE: Professors Kellee Caton and David Hill express their support (Alexis Stockford/The Omega)

NEWS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 5

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Controversy surrounds Bill C-36 debate Vanessa Broadbent

THE CASCADE (CUP)

Prostitution and the laws surrounding it have always been a source of controversy, and the Canadian government’s new bill cracking down on the practice is no exception to the rule.

So it’s not surprising a keynote forum in Vancouver on September 17 leaned strongly in one direction.

The event was kicked off by Kerry Porth from the PIVOT Legal Society, who was critical in her assessment of the bill, calling it an “insane and misguided attempt to abolish prostitution altogether.”

One of the forum’s featured speakers, Catherine Healy, spoke about her experiences as a former sex worker turned activist fighting for the legalization of sex work in New Zealand.

She was followed by a local activist for abortion rights and sex work, Joyce Arthur. Arthur’s opinion on the bill

was consistent with her fellow speakers’.

“The premise of Bill C-36 is rooted in the same old sexist, patriarchal, conditional beliefs that we’ve been fighting for centuries,” Arthur said. “It’s not only impossible to abolish [sex work and abortion]; it’s dangerous and unjust … Criminalization removes women from the law and from health care services. When sex work is criminalized, women die.”

In an article published by CBC News, Canada’s Justice Minister Peter MacKay argued that the law aids sex workers seeking health care or help from police. He also emphasized the intent of the bill to convict others involved in sex work rather than sex workers themselves.

“Prostitution is now de facto illegal, but the emphasis and the focus is on the purchaser and the perpetrator — the pimps who are attempting to exploit and gain ma-

terially from prostitution itself,” MacKay said.

Janine Benedet, a law professor at UBC who testified on the bill, told the Ubyssey she felt that Bill C-36, while not perfect, is an improvement on old legislation.

“For the first time, we have a provision that says it’s an act of exploitation to buy another human being for sex and you should stop because ultimately, you’re fuelling inequality and exploitation and trafficking,” she explained.

The bill still needs to be passed in the House of Commons before it is made official, and the intent of the forum in Vancouver was to send a message to the federal government, Arthur told the Valley Voice before the event.

“The experience of New Zealand that Catherine will speak about should send a strong message to Ottawa that there is a proven, better way to protect both communities and sex workers from harm,” Arthur said.

A former sex worker from New Zealand, among other activists, spoke against a new prostitution bill.

(Rob Gross / Flickr)

Uncertainty and controversy over Canada’s role in the fight against ISIS Drew MacEachern THE CADRE (CUP)

The crisis surrounding ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), sometimes called ISIL (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), the radical Sunni group which has captured large swaths of Iraq and Syria and has been committing various massacres, has been a top priority among most of the world’s govern-

ments. Both America and France have already begun an air campaign to bomb ISIS strongholds and networks in both Iraq and Syria. Britain seems to be on the fast track to join this campaign as well.

Canada is already involved with the conflict in a limited capacity. On September 4th, the Harper government announced that it would be sending several dozen (later specified at 69) members of

Canada’s special forces to Iraq to act as military advisors and trainers to the Iraqi government and Kurdish fighters for a 30 day period, at which point Canada’s contribution would be assessed. In an email to the CBC from Jason MacDonald, a spokesman for the government, MacDonald explained the mission as, “This is an advise and assist role, not one in which Canadian Forces will be accompanying Iraqi forces

Canada is weighing a larger, more direct military effort in the fight against ISIS, but uncertainty still lingers (Pete Souza/Wikimedia Commons)

on missions [or] tactical operations.

They are there to provide advice that will help the government of Iraq and its security forces be more effective against ISIL.” Interestingly, this mission is not part of the wider NATO mission, but is solely being undertaken by Canada.

Now however, with the campaign ramping up, Harper has made it publicly known that the government is considering responding to President Obama’s request for a greater military contribution from Canada. However, later statements insisted that any further expansion would not take the form of a combat role. In Parliament, when questioned whether an expansion of Canada’s military role would be accompanied by a vote in Parliament, the parliamentary secretary for the minister of defense refused to directly answer, only that the government would need to discuss that matter in Cabinet and that “discussions” would be had before a final decision was made.

However, this has caused controversy at home and in Parliament.

Before sending the first military advisors, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird took a two-day tour of

Iraq with the Foreign Affairs critics for the Liberals and the NDP, Marc Garneau and Paul Dewar respectively. Both said they appreciated the attempt to get multi-party input into Canada’s response to the crisis. However, this appears to have turned to frustration as the government appears unwilling to answer questions clearly in the House. Just a few days ago, NDP leader Tom Mulcair tried to get Harper’s parliamentary secretary Paul Calandra to answer several questions about the mission in the House of Commons, including the start date for Canada’s stated 30 day commitment. However, Calandra’s answer was not directed towards the question, but instead mentioned a Facebook post by an NDP fundraiser that was critical of Israel and the IDF, contrasting that with the Conservative’s support for Israel. Mulcair asked the question two more times and pleaded with the Speaker to force Calandra to answer the question but he still received the same answer. This lead Mulcair to publicly question the Harper-appointed Speaker’s neutrality, causing the Speaker to ignore Mulcair’s request for further recognition.

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COMICS & PUZZLES

October 1, 2014

Puzzle of the Week #4 – Midterms Midterms are approaching. You are taking five courses. Unfortunately, all five courses’ midterms are in the same week (Monday to Friday).

1. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday combined, you have four midterms.

2. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday combined, you have three midterms.

3. On Tuesday and Friday combined, you have three midterms.

How many midterms do you have on each of the days Monday to Friday?

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

Because you’re probably not doing enough math

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6 4

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5 3

8 1

5 4

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1 4 9 5

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5 7

Contributions Have something to contribute? We’re always looking for comics, jokes, or anything entertaining you can think of. If you’ve got something in mind, fire off an email to editor@truomega.ca.

xkcd.com

SPORTS

The Omega Ω Volume 24 • Issue 5

11

NBA player Kelly Olynyk speaks at TRU’s first annual scholarship breakfast Olynyk made a special trip home for the event, which raised $100,000 for WolfPack scholarships Tayla Scott

SPORTS EDITOR Ω

Kelly Olynyk spent the majority of his life in Kamloops before moving to Boston in 2013 to begin his professional basketball career with the Boston Celtics.

The morning of Sept. 25, 325 guests enjoyed a buffet of scrambled eggs, French toast, hash browns and yogurt parfaits in the Campus Activity Centre. The theme of Olynyk’s speech was “It takes a village to raise a child.”

The event raised $50,000, with TRU matching the funds raised.

The total will go towards athletic scholarships for WolfPack athletes.

“I know the importance of having a scholarship,” Olynyk said.

“To give these kids the opportunity to do something they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do is big.”

“It’s tough when you have to take out loans or if your family doesn’t have the funds to go to school.

Scholarships are a benefit and allow you the opportunity to do something special.”

Olynyk moved to Kamloops with his family in 2003 when his father, Ken Olynyk, was hired as TRU’s athletic director.

“I spent a majority of my life in Kamloops. TRU has been an instrumental part of my life in getting me where I am today, helping me with basketball and giving me the opportunity to play.

“Although you don’t realize it, [many people are] lending a hand.

Just stop and realize that and give thanks to those people and appreciate where they’ve gotten you.”

After graduating high school in Kamloops, Olynyk went to Gonzaga University on a full scholarship.

He graduated after three years in an accounting program and started his masters, but left to pursue his basketball career when the opportunity came.

“I was going to be drafted in the NBA, which is like a dream when you’re a kid. Every kid who plays basketball has a dream to play in the NBA. I had that opportunity, it was there and I felt like it was the right time to take it,” he said.

Olynyk was selected by the Dallas Mavericks and immediately traded to the Boston Celtics in 2013.

“It’s always different moving to a new city, but it was an adjustment that was exciting and fun. Boston is an amazing city. It’s a big city, but it’s really a small knit city. Everyone knows each other.”

The seven-foot-tall centre has played 70 games and has a free throw percentage of 81.1 and averages 8.7 points-per-game. His career high was when he scored 21 points against the Atlanta Hawks.

When asked what his backup career choice was, Olynyk said, “I always wanted to be a chef. I always wanted to go into culinary arts. So maybe that. But I took accounting at Gonzaga, so probably the business side of sports.”

Olynyk gave advice for aspiring student athletes: “There’s going to be adversity everywhere in life, whether it’s on the court, off the court, in the classroom. It’s not how you get hit with adversity it’s how you respond. Do you get back up?

Does it make you stronger or does it shut you down?

“Things are going to go well, things are going to go bad, but you’re never as good as people say and you’re never as bad as people say. You’re somewhere in that middle and trying to improve every day.”

His parents, both involved in basketball, are the reason Olynyk pursued the sport.

“It was kind of cool to have both of them there so excited about the game of basketball. It was definitely something that really impacted my decision to play.

“When you’re younger you want to do stuff to make your parents proud, and that was something that they loved,” Olynyk said.

The story of Olynyk’s career is not without its setbacks, however.

Last year, he injured his back and ankle, but is hopeful going forward.

“You have to listen to your body to make sure you’re not breaking down. I’m healthy going into the season, so looking forward to a good year,” Olynyk said.

When asked what he would do while he was back in his hometown, Olynyk said he was going to visit his parents and family and try to relax and maybe grab some sushi.

“Oya Sushi, my favourite restaurant. Gotta go there every time I come back,” he said.

But the real reason Olynyk came back was to support and speak at TRU’s athletic scholarship breakfast.

“It’s just a way to give back for me and give thanks to what they’ve done for me,” Olynyk said.

Kelly Olynyk and TRU president Alan Shaver pose for a photo during Olynyk’s visit to the university.

(Thompson Rivers University)

Runaholic Ryan Pidhirniak won’t be stopped

WolfPack cross-country captain talks recent success, setbacks and future plans Tayla Scott

SPORTS EDITOR Ω

Ryan Pidhirniak won the 2014 Kamloops Half Marathon and is the captain of the WolfPack cross-country team.

(Tayla Scott/The Omega)

With 12 kilometres already covered and another nine to go, Ryan Pidhirniak saw the sole competitor in front of him disappear, taking a wrong turn and going off-course.

Not long after, more competition came from behind, but Pidhirniak stuck it out.

He won the 2014 Kamloops Half Marathon with a time of 1:19:15.

“It was kind of my flagship race for the year. It was the one I had circled on the calendar,” Pidhirniak said.

Pidhirniak, a third-year business student at TRU, is pleased with the progress he has made over the year as a runner.

“I must have run over ten races this year, so from January until that race I’ve just been running and training for all sorts of races,” he said.

Pidhirniak also won the Merritt Country Run this year, another 21-kilometre race, with a time of 1:24:35.

Running is a huge part of Pidhirniak’s life. He is the vice president of Kamloops Ridge Runners, a local running club. He is also the captain

of the men’s WolfPack cross-country running team. All of that running put has put a lot of stress on his body.

“I just developed some IT band issues, which are very common with runners. It’s a typical overuse injury. It came on in August and I ran a race in Revelstoke which I probably shouldn’t have, because it was sort of bugging me. That hurt. It was hard to get through the 21-kilometre trail race with that bugging me,” he said.

“For a few days I couldn’t really walk up and down the stairs.”

The injury kept Pidhirniak from running for four weeks, which he said made him stir crazy.

“Yesterday was my first pain-free run, so I definitely turned a corner in this last week,” he said.

“It’s been hard as a captain to not be there running with the team. I’m there every morning at the start of practice and then they go off on their run and I hit the pool or hit the weights or the bike.”

But the injury hasn’t discouraged his passion for running in the slightest.

“We have a trip to Western Washington University, where I hope to make my season debut with the team.

“It’s a real cross country race, whereas the races that we’ll be running locally are trail races and the competition isn’t really up to our level. It’s just a way to gear up for nationals.”

The WolfPack cross country team will compete on Nov. 8 in the CIS Nationals at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

“It’s our first time at the CIS level.

We’ll be competing against runners that will represent Canada. We’ll get a taste of what CIS is all about,” Pidhirniak said.

But he doesn’t plan on stopping there. He hopes to compete in the Boston Marathon.

“I qualified for the Boston Marathon last year. You have to run under three hours and five minutes if you’re 20 to 34 years of age. I won’t be able to go this year just because it’s an expensive trip to Boston,” he said.

“I intend to run under three hours next year at the Vancouver Marathon, and I intend to do an Ironman [triathlon]... I also have my eyes on Ultrarunning, which is anything over 50 kilometres.

“I really love running and Kamloops is a great running community.

I really want to be a part of that for years to come.”

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September 3, 2014