SEPARATION ANXIETY
WHAT IF?
STARRING TOM AND TOM
B.C. student unions vote to leave CFS
TRUFA negotiations continue
Film review: Legend
CFS-BC renamed as execs plan an exit from the Canadian Federation of Students • Page 2
Media blackout sparks many questions for TRU students on potential job action • Page 4
Tom Hardy shines, but the director fell short • Page 7
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ALL ON THE TABLE
GOING UNEXPLAINED
KGHM Ajax lays out its environmental assessment Women’s soccer head coach Tom McManus fired
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RU women’s soccer is currently searching for a new leader after head coach Tom McManus was fired by the university. For seven seasons, McManus paced the sidelines of Hillside Stadium, leading the ‘Pack to multiple PACWEST division titles and eventually into the top tier of Canadian university soccer, the CIS. McManus was officially fired Jan. 5 according to TRU athletic director Ken Olynyk, but the writing was on the wall much earlier than that. “I went in in the middle of November. We were just going to do an end of the season review of how things went and at that time I was asked if I would sign a resignation letter and I said no.” McManus said. After refusing to resign McManus then took further steps to try and force the university to reconsider. “From there I kept sending in things to them, to show what I’ve done over the past seven years and every time it would just get rejected.” Taking control of the team in 2009, McManus quickly built a successful program, winning three straight provincial titles from 2011 to 2013. The team also won a bronze medal at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association nationals in 2013. CONTINUES page 11
The documents are on the table in KGHM Ajax’s bid to build the controversial mine south of Aberdeen • Page 2
HOMEGROWN TALENT
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Van Damsel lights up the Blue Grotto
Graphic Novel Club back in action
The Kamloops band sold out their show, promoting their new LP • Page 6
Kamloops Art Gallery hosts free graphic novelmaking workshops • Page 7
Former women’s soccer coach Tom McManus
NEWS
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B.C. student unions vote to leave CFS
CFS-BC renamed as it works to separate members from national organization Jim Elliot NEWS EDITOR Ω A number of motions passed at the Canadian Federation of Students British Columbia’s (CFS-BC) semi-annual general meeting serve as a step towards removing B.C. student unions from the Canadian Federation of Students, the national organization to which many unions in B.C. belong. CFS-BC’s semi-annual general meeting ran from Jan. 14 to Jan. 17 in Delta, B.C. “There was a motion put forward to have member locals work together to separate out from the national organization,” said CFS-BC spokesperson Steven Beasley. The motion stated that “the progressive coalition” that once led CFS has been “irreparably betrayed by forces outside British Columbia” and that there is no longer a need to maintain “congruency or unified identity” between CFS-BC and CFS-National.
Beasley said that the decision to split was partly inspired by the CFS national executive’s lack of response to grievances raised against them at the last CFS-BC general meeting. “That silence in and of itself makes a fairly noticeable statement,” Beasley said. All the motions related to the split passed unanimously, said CFS-BC Secretary Treasurer Jenelle Davies. The newly-named group would be called the “British Columbia Federation of Students” and CFS-BC would be no more. The name change is awaiting approval from the provincial government before it becomes official, according to Beasley. Beasley said that he did not anticipate any changes to the services previously provided under the CFS-BC name. The new organization would likely collect fees roughly equivalent to the old CFS fees in order to fund services. “In the future, if students in British Columbia have their own organization and all the fees are directed to that provincial
organization, then we only foresee improvements in the service that we can provide,” Beasley said. When asked how the separation would proceed going forward, Beasley said that it’s up to the executive committee of CFS-BC to decide how to proceed. “Nothing coming out of this meeting changes the relationship in the short-term,” Beasley said. “We are federated with the national organization, but we are our own entity. So really it’s simply that the members are keen to see the B.C. organization acting more independently of the national organization.” TRUSU did not send a delegation to the CFS-BC AGM. The union opted to stay at home in order to leave themselves free to deal with the ongoing threat of a faculty strike on campus, according to Amber Storvold, TRUSU’s VP external. She did, however, note the union’s thoughts on the matter. “We’re just really excited to move forward as a united and cohesive student movement in B.C.,” Storvold said.
JANUARY 27, 2016 HISTORY SHOWS SPLIT FROM CFS MAY COME WITH DIFFICULTIES According to the affiliation agreement signed between the CFS and CFSBC in 1982, the “practical process” of disaffiliation is not as simple as the current CFS-BC leadership might consider it to be. The affiliation agreement specifies that only a province-wide referendum is sufficient to allow CFS-BC to defederate from the CFS. Some CFS member locals who have attempted to leave the national organization in the past have encountered difficulties in doing so. - CAPE BRETON UNIVERSITY The Cape Breton University Students’ Union (CBSU) held a referendum to leave CFS in March 2008. A court case followed challenging the legitimacy of the referendum. CBSU is still listed as a member union on CFS’s website and they have been ordered by the court to pay unpaid CFS dues amounting to nearly $300,000. - UBCO A petition to separate from CFS was circulated at UBCO in 2013, in response to allegations of insults to their members made by the CFS national executive. The UBCO students’ union remains are a CFS member. - UVIC CFS recognized the results of a referendum conducted at UVIC in 2011 and released it from membership. CFS-BC did not recognize the result and successfully pursued their demand for a separate referendum on CFS-BC membership all the way to the B.C. Supreme Court before expelling the UVIC Students’ Union on grounds of unpaid membership dues in 2013. - MCGILL GRADUATE STUDENTS The McGill Post Graduate Student Society (PGSS) has been attempting to end their affiliation with CFS since 2010. On Jan. 7 the Superior Court of Quebec ruled that a number of restrictions CFS placed on the PGSS’s campaigns to separate violated their freedom of expression guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Montreal Gazette reported that the campaign to separate has already cost the PGSS over $400,000
The Night of the Living Shred comes to life Ski and Snowboard Club to kick off its first event on the weekend of Jan. 30 Peter Navratil CONTRIBUTOR Ω The TRU Ski and Snowboard Club is hosting its first event of the winter semester on the weekend of Jan. 30. The club is starting off
their year with a two-day event at Sun Peaks. The event is called the “Night of the Living Shred.” The event consists of a number of activities and discounts to help get students out enjoying winter. Each participant can choose to partake in all or just a
few of the events offered during the weekend. The options include a bus ride up to the mountain, discounted day lift tickets at Sun Peaks Resort for both Saturday and Sunday, overnight accommodations and free bar entry for Saturday night.
President Myles Williamson and friends enjoying themselves “Out Here.” (Submitted)
The Ski and Snowboard Club is offering hotel accommodation and two day pass lift tickets for $189. This is a substantial discount, as lift tickets alone are normally $77 per day for university students, according to the Sun Peaks website.
Myles Williamson, the president of the Ski and Snowboard Club, said the club mandate is to create a student community through the passion of skiing and snowboarding. “The Night of The Living Shred is doing exactly that. It’s getting people out here and active in a different way than they might be used to,” Williamson said. The event is open to people of all abilities and anyone who is interested is welcome to come, meet new people, have fun and see what the club is all about, Williamson said. “The more people that want to hang out and be together, the better.” The event is sponsored by Red Bull and Sun Peaks is offering discounts to participants for lift tickets and accommodations. Oronge Board Shop in downtown Kamloops is also supporting the club by giving its members a 10 per cent discount. The club plans to host three more overnight excursions like this one on Feb. 27 and 28, March 12 and 13 and March 26 and 27. Registration and more information is available at facebook. com/we.out.heresnow/ or by email at truout.here@gmail. com.
OPINION & EDITORIAL
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Why Groundhog Day deserves a spot on the calendar as a national holiday Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω The praise herein is not for Groundhog Day (the day) and its respective traditions. The idea that a groundhog can tell whether or not winter will continue just by poking its chubby little head out of its hole is a bizarre concept alone, but once you factor in the wonky traditions like the deification of Punxsutawney Phil (the famous groundhog in Pennsylvania), the made-up language in which this groundhog communicates his prognostication and the unacknowledged overall silliness of the whole affair, things really go off the rails. What I really want to talk about is the 1993 American cinematic masterpiece “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray. Watching this film every Feb. 2 has been a tradition of mine ever since I moved out on my own. It has become a mainstay of the late winter months for me that has provided some much needed warmth in the dreariest of grey days. But more than a mere comfort
movie, it’s a beautiful, existential reminder of my own mortality. If you haven’t seen it, stop reading and go take care of that. I’ll wait. But if you have seen it, you’ll recall the film’s plot of the main character, Phil Connors (Bill Murray), reliving Feb. 2 over and over again. Each day he awakes to the same day, forced to relive it over and over. Out of frustration, Phil eventually considers his own actions meaningless and moves towards more destructive behaviour – he ruins all of his relationships, he does things that would get him fired from his job as a reporter, he even tries to end it all – unsuccessfully, of course, as the loop he finds himself trapped in continues. As Phil grows bored of living in a world where his actions have become meaningless, he seeks out a purpose and engages with the townspeople instead and pursues his new coworker at a romantic level, using the recurring day to his advantage. Aside from Phil’s clever use of the film’s creative plot device, “Groundhog Day” has some bigger,
less on-the-nose lessons to teach. It serves as a reminder that we’ve only got one go around – that we only live and die once. It reminds us that the decisions we make have consequences and that, to some small extent, we can and should craft our lives through positive and well-intended actions. Not only does the film force us to confront our own mortality (and humanity, for that matter) it does so with a comfortable embrace. We in North America seem to have an uncomfortable relationship with death. Mexico has the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Japan has its Festival of the Lanterns – both celebrate the dead. But here, all we’ve really got is Halloween, which, beyond the odd ghost sheet and grim reaper costumes, lost any real connection it had to death a long time ago. So, join me on Feb. 2 and enjoy Harold Ramis’ existential classic. Groundhog Day is on a Tuesday this year, so you’ll have to watch it after school and work. For some reason, it’s still not a national holiday. editor@truomega.ca
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JANUARY 27, 2016
Wagamese: reconciliation requires engagement
Renowned author Richard Wagamese speaks at TRU on Truth and Reconciliation
Wade Tomko NEWS EDITOR Ω Critically-acclaimed Ojibway author Richard Wagamese spoke to a full audience in the Irving K. Barber Centre on Jan. 20 to give his thoughts on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report and what we as Canadians could be doing to move forward in the process of reconciliation. The Ontario-born Aboriginal author has visited TRU before and has even received an honorary degree from the university for his award-winning career as an author. In February 2015, Wagamese attended the Storytellers Gala and gave a presentation on the importance of storytelling. This time around however, he spoke to an audience on a topic much more serious, one that affects all Canadians. In his talk, which was co-hosted by the Kamloops United Church and TRU’s Aboriginal Education department, Wagamese stressed the importance of adopting a new narrative of how we see ourselves as Canadians in regards to the process of reconciliation.
Crucial to the process of reconciling the damage done by the Indian residential schools and the cultural genocide of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples is adopting the notion that Canada’s history began long before the arrival of European settlers, Wagamese said. “We need to change the nature of the story we believe, and if we believe that the history of Canada started with the arrival of settler people, then we aren’t going to get anywhere because we are just going to be reclaiming the old narrative,” Wagamese said. “There was a history long before settler people joined us. We need to reclaim that narrative.” But in order for a change in the narrative of Canadian history to happen, Wagamese believes all Canadians must become engaged in order for the process of reconciliation to be successful. He thinks this starts with what we teach in our schools and universities. In a follow-up interview, Wagamese said that these teachings need to start at levels as low as kindergarten, where the national curriculum could adapt to giving young children “digestible bits” of information on Canada’s history
before European settlement. In addition to this, Wagamese believes that Aboriginal stories and story books should also be incorporated in the reading curriculum at low levels of primary education. Yet the education on the Aboriginal way of life and Aboriginal society doesn’t need to end just with history. “It starts with history, but there is also a huge wellspring of information about indigenous science and indigenous cosmetology,” Wagamese said. “If people don’t understand that the Aboriginal people that they call their neighbours had all this stuff in place before European settlement, then they are missing out on a great big palette of information that colours their neighbours in a whole different way than they are used to.” What Wagamese spoke of is also in line with what TRU’s Aboriginal Education department is hoping to achieve. In a previous interview, Aboriginal Education executive director Paul Michel said that the university needs a curriculum that includes Aboriginal history and teachings.
This starts with making some aspects of Aboriginal history mandatory in university. Though few changes are in place, within the next few years TRU may offer law courses in Aboriginal human rights, nursing courses in traditional Aboriginal medicine and science courses in Aboriginal
environmental studies. Yet for this to happen and be successful, all Canadians must come to an understanding that we are one people, Wagamese said. “We are all supposed to exist as family,” he said. “Aboriginal teachings say that unity cannot happen when exclusion occurs.”
Richard Wagamese. (Submitted)
Addressing the “what ifs” of a faculty strike at TRU The threat of job action as negotions, under a media blackout, continue Jim Elliot NEWS EDITOR Ω There are many questions yet to be answered regarding what exactly will happen if the TRU Faculty Association (TRUFA) decides to go on strike. At the beginning of the current round of mediation, the parties seemed to be far apart on many important issues. If mediation were to break down, TRUFA may undertake some form of class-disrupting job action. TRUFA and university administration have agreed to a media blackout while mediation is in progress with little information given about what course job action may take if the mediation fails to
secure an agreement. One of the deciding factors of how long TRUFA may be able to maintain a strike is its ability to supply its members with strike pay. According to the strike policy posted on TRUFA’s website, TRUFA maintains a defence fund to support its members in the event of a strike. The strike policy specifies that all full-time employees would receive $100 per day. TRUFA is also positioned to receive help from the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE) of B.C. According to the strike policy, if the strike persists longer than three days, the FPSE contributes $60 of the total $100 from its strike fund. TRUFA’s policy does require the
cooperation from its members, however. “Members appointed to 100% workload positions will be required to perform required duties (making signs, phoning, delivering supplies, communication, picket line duties etc.) for daily shifts of 2 or 3 hours for a total of up to 15 hours of support per week per FTE will be required to collect strike pay,” the policy reads. The policy also states that TRUFA members who cross a picket line will be fined a day’s salary. Some insight into the course that job action might take can be found in other cases of faculty strikes in B.C. All bargaining between university administrations and
their faculty in B.C. is required to abide by the 2014 Economic Stability Mandate, which provides guidelines for all public sector management negotiating with their employees in B.C. Many of the contentious issues in the other strikes are similar to those at TRU. The two most recent faculty strikes in B.C. have taken place at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and Capilano University. The UNBC faculty was on strike for two weeks before resorting to binding arbitration to settle their dispute. The strike at Capilano began in the final days of the 2015 spring semester and was not settled until May. One concern for students is whether or not their tuition will be
refunded if the job action disrupts classes. UNBC offered their returning students a tuition credit and funded bursaries on behalf of the graduating class. Capilano justified its choice not to refund tuition in a press release: “Although the CFA (Capilano Faculty Association) strike commenced three days prior to the end of classes and the beginning of the final examination period, students will complete their academic terms and receive their final grades. As a result, the university will not issue tuition fee refunds or rebates.” With a media blackout in effect and negotiations still underway, students at TRU can only hope for a resolution and guess at a possible strike’s duration and aftermath.
Undergraduate Research Experience Award (UREAP) program Receive a $4,500 scholarship to complete your own research project.
Deadline: Feb. 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. tru.ca/myresearch
NEWS
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Alex and Pauline Horvath roasting hotdogs over campfire at Jacko Lake on Sunday, Jan. 24. (Tristan Davies/The Omega)
Prof. weighs in on mine and environmental impact statement Wade Tomko NEWS EDITOR Ω KGHM Ajax Mining Inc., the company behind the proposed Ajax mine, submitted its 18,000-page application/environmental impact statement to the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office on Jan. 18. Inside it were multiple models created by KGHM assessing the project’s impact on the surrounding region. KGHM says it specifically chose the “worst-case” years of the construction and operation phases for its assessment because these would be the years with the greatest impact on the region’s environment and air quality. The study notes that air quality is already a pre-existing problem in Kamloops, but claims that the project’s impact on regional air quality will be minimal. KGHM notes that because “there is no smelter associated with the project, and emissions from the actual processing of ore into concentrate are small” that the majority of the project’s emissions will stem from the exhaust and dust raised from haul trucks going to and from the mine. The regions directly surrounding the mine, which are largely uninhabited grasslands, will be
(Tristan Davies/The Omega)
affected the worst according to the assessment, with KGHM admitting that “levels of contaminants that exceed the government objectives will occur in undeveloped and uninhabited grasslands surrounding the project.” Though habitat loss in the region has been labelled as not significant (minor) or not significant (moderate) depending on the species, Jacko Lake and its trout population will feel the project’s effects more than any other region or species. Despite KGHM’s claims that the Ajax open-pit copper and gold mine will have minimal impact, Peter Tsigaris an environmental economist at TRU, notes that these are simply based on assumptions. “The problem is that all of these predictions are based on models instead of actual experience,” Tsigaris said. “If you want to see a real model, go look at Highland Valley Copper and see how they are doing for air pollution and environmental impact.” Tsigaris also claims that this may be a bad time for the project in general, as copper prices are currently low and that going ahead with the mine may mean negative profitability for KGHM. In light of the project’s most recent feasibility study, KGHM Ajax has cut the life expectancy of the
mine from 23 years to 18 years and has increased their capital expenditure by $500 million. “So what they basically need to do is increase production and increase those metal prices, but the metal prices are quite highly inflated,” Tsigaris said. “And by digging up more copper, they cause the price to go down to very low, then they stop production, layoff workers and close down plants and that isn’t very good as well.” Tsigaris believes the project may also adversely affect tourism and housing prices in the Kamloops region. “It could affect tourism, because you are changing the image of the city to make it more of a mining town. You fly in and you see this giant pit right next to the city and just assume it’s an industrial city,” he said. “Property values will be affected too, there is no doubt about it. They say it is based on perception, but my problem is that perceptions themselves are important,” Tsigaris said. “People might say ‘why buy a house right by a large mine where industrial activity is happening?’ But of course we can’t know for sure yet.” The Kamloops Area Preservation Association’s John Schleiermacher is concerned that the mine may affect Kamloops Lake and Peterson Creek as well. “They want to pump 15 billion litres of water from Kamloops Lake, which they say they will try to recycle as much as possible, but that in itself has challenges,” Schleiermacher said. KGHM has itself claimed that even if they decide to divert Peterson Creek, the creek will mostly likely be affected, as the mine’s pit will intrude on the creek to the south of Jacko Lake. KGHM Ajax Mining Inc. did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
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Ajax mine review underway, You don’t comment period ongoing have to sit in
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JANUARY 27, 2016
Van Damsel performing at the Blue Grotto on Jan. 21. (Tristan Davies/The Omega)
Van Damsel rocks The Blue Grotto
The Kamloops band promoted their new LP at a packed show Carli Berry CONTRIBUTOR Ω Hometown boys Van Damsel rocked the Blue Grotto at full capacity last Thursday, Jan. 21, with the audience clapping their hands, hooting and hollering and singing along with a mix of new songs from their upcoming LP and old favourites. Matthew Barron, drummer for Van Damsel, said the theme of their first LP, set to release on April 22, revolves around striving
to be the best and the fact that “being dissatisfied is a good motivator for people.” The band has released two singles from the album: “The Best of Everything” and “Sophia.” “’The Best of Everything’ kind of sums [the LP] up. It is about striving. It is about, you know, working towards something, trying to be successful at something,” Barron said. But, Barron said, they also want people to connect with the music and interpret it with their own ideas.
“The best for one person may not necessarily be the best for somebody else. It’s about finding out what your personal best is.” Barron also discussed the promotion for the self-titled LP and how being an artist in the social media age has its difficulties. He used an example of Ed Sheeran, who is currently on a social media hiatus. “An artist is supposed to be creating art and social media is a great way to get that art seen and heard, but having this pressure to always be on and always churning
out content of the highest quality at a breakneck pace is pretty daunting,” Barron said. Barron said his goal for the album is for people to connect with the band and to enjoy the music. “The best thing for me would be for people to enjoy it... A band would not exist in the way that it does without fans,” Barron said. “That’s the goal, to connect with people.” If their performance on Jan. 21 was any indication of Van Damsel’s success with developing a connection to people, they are
well on their way. The place was packed with people still trying to get in even with the Grotto at full capacity. There was dancing, singing and beers clanking at the 19+ show. Van Damsel shared the stage with fellow B.C. bands Little India and The Caspians. They hope to play another show in Kamloops before their LP release, which will be followed by a cross-Canada tour – the band’s third. This year, they plan to go as far as Halifax, Barron said. The tour will kick off in late April or early May.
Book review: When the Guns Were Turned on Us
The locally-set novel by Christopher McGarry is too ambitious for its own good Marlys Klossner ARTS EDITOR Ω The very first sentence in When the Guns Were Turned on Us by Christopher McGarry explains exactly what this book is: the realization of right-wing conspiracy theorists’ extreme predictions. The almighty American dollar has fallen and the United States, NATO and Israel are at war with the combined forces of pretty much every country east of the Ukraine, plus Brazil for some reason. The fall of the dollar has plunged North America into chaos, with food riots and Central Americans running amuck through the border. North America, Central America and Caribbean nations form a political union under one currency, the Amero, with martial law, human rights statutes void, and
extreme right wing leadership. Protagonist 40-year-old Jake Scribner has lived in Kamloops’ Batchelor Heights for a year. Jake’s personality consists mostly of his heroic mission to rescue his love and her child, and his “borderline-ripped” bod. He’s ex-U.S. Air Force. His girlfriend Nicole is a researcher for a chemical company and runs a popular opinionated blog. After spending considerable time establishing backstories and political intricacies, the story is kick-started when Nicole and her seven-year-old daughter Arielle are inevitably abducted and taken to a “re-education centre” (a prison). Jake shoots two troopers, runs off into the wilderness and immediately encounters a grizzly bear. He gets the bear to eat his phone and a box of crackers, distracting it enough to let him get away, and misleading his pursuers into
tracking the bear. The novel is full of events like this that seem both cliché and bizarre. The third character we meet, and one of many antagonists, is Frank Carragher, a man so damaged by being bullied for being overweight as a child, he now has an insatiable thirst for power. He sets his eyes on controlling the Thompson-Nicola Regional District after being relocated there by the big bad President Asher. Carragher seems to speak mostly in awkward exposition. One of his best forced lines is “Anyway, we should start discussing how we’re going to govern the district,” as though the reason for the meeting had eluded his colleague. In fact, most of the characters’ dialogue feels inorganic. There are four groups to keep track of throughout the book. Jake gathers a group of dissenters, Nicole and Arielle are kept in two separate sections of the
re-education centre where they meet several others, and then there is Carragher and the bevy of military men. With even minor characters given backstories, it’s a lot to keep track of. If the effort to explain every minor character’s childhood had been put towards developing the main characters, When the Guns Were Turned on Us would be a much more interesting read. It would also make it a lot easier to root for the people the author wants us to root for. The best example of wasted words is when Carragher’s assistant is described as “somewhat naïve.” This characterization doesn’t matter one bit because after she is introduced she is neither seen nor heard from again. This book is full of army terminology, to the point where it could be considered military porn with a story in between. The bare bones of When the
Guns Were Turned on Us aren’t bad, but the only reason to read it is if you are really into military novels, or you’re just curious to read something set in Kamloops. Either way, it doesn’t necessarily make for an exciting first installment of a potential series.
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Film review: Legend Hardy’s performance is legendary, the rest not so much Marlys Klossner ARTS EDITOR Ω Legend stars Tom Hardy and Tom Hardy as twin gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray, who ran a real crime ring in London’s East End in the 60s. The story is told by Frances Shea, the girlfriend of Reggie. Shea repeatedly tries to get Reggie out of the life he is in, but the allure of the lifestyle and his loyalty to his brother win out. Further complicating things is Ronnie’s declining mental health, with increasing paranoia and hare-brained business ideas. Reggie struggles between his allegiance to his brother and trying to keep the business afloat in the face of his brother’s mismanagement.
As we’ve come to expect, Tom Hardy knocks it out of the park, with two great performances. The small differences Hardy employs to distinguish the twins are successful in making them seem like two totally different people, although alike enough for us to believe they are brothers. The minute changes he makes in body language do wonders. Although Legend is mostly a drama, there are several successful comedic moments, which make the characters more endearing. Emily Browning does alright as Frances Shea, but her character seems dull next to Hardy’s. It is clear that this film is a Tom Hardy vehicle, and in that respect it is successful, but it doesn’t work as well as the gritty gangster biopic it is trying to be.
The Kray brothers ran a small criminal empire, yet we only see a few scenes of them actually being gangsters. Our introduction to them in a bar fight is a step in the right direction, but the rest of the film is about the relationship with Shea, which is not as interesting. What makes movie gangsters so interesting is their combination of charisma and brutality, but Legend only focusses on the charisma. You get the feeling that Hardy can put this film on his resume with more pride than director Brian Helgeland can. If Martin Scorsese had directed, Legend could have been something really special. Alas, if it hadn’t been for Hardy’s amazing performance, Legend would have already been forgotten.
(Universal Pictures)
Graphic novel fans gather to create The Kamloops Graphic Novel Club is back in action at the Kamloops Art Gallery Jonathan Malloy CONTRIBUTOR Ω Created as a way to bring together young adults and fans with their interest in both the art and creation of graphic novels, the Kamloops Graphic Novel Club has been organized as a means to further the Kamloops art community. The club’s first meeting was held at the Kamloops Art Gallery on Jan. 20. Co-run by Susan McCowan of the Kamloops Library and Melaina Todd of the Kamloops Art Gallery, the group felt like a casual and inviting atmosphere.
A general explanation of what graphic novels are was followed by several different examples chosen by the hostesses as a means to show the group the different possibilities their work could create. What followed was a 30-minute session dedicated to taking out and viewing any novel in the library’s large collection while also encouraging participants to grab their own free library card. The last portion of the first meeting was dedicated to giving young artists the time and tools to come up with their own graphic novel ideas and begin to work on a small personal projects.
McCowan is hoping to dress up a corner of the library with each person’s art, bringing an example of Kamloops’ creativity to those who walk by. Sparking that creativity in young people is what seems to be the main goal for the club as the focus seems to be on giving the community a place to discover and refine their own style and uncover what may be a possible love for graphic novels. McCowan also wishes to introduce readers to series and novels that are not as popular in order to broaden the appreciation of the medium while also giving readers the proper inspiration to fuel their own creativity.
Susan McCowan (left of centre) looks on as club members examine some the graphic novels available at the library. (Jonathan Malloy/The Omega)
The art form has grown in popularity recently due to the proliferation of many animated series that originated in graphic novels being created and premiered for young adult audiences. Both hostesses share a love for the medium and are happy to answer any questions that may come up during the session. The discussion about different authors and artists provided inspiration to those in attendance by showing the various approaches one can take when approaching their own work. Several examples ranged from the relative light reading of the Bones series to more mature
manga such as the lengthy series Akira. Given the relatively easy vibe that the first meeting brought, future weeks will bring a more focused and driven narrative of how to properly advance the young artists’ voices and uncover the talent they may have hiding just underneath the surface, be it writing or drawing. The club will meet every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the Kamloops Art Gallery until March 16 and is free to anyone between the ages of 12 and 24 while also providing free materials to begin work on your own projects.
The Graphic Novel Club starts out in one of the Kamloops Art Gallery’s studios. (Jonathan Malloy/The Omega)
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JANUARY 27, 2016
From the courtroom to the hard court
TRU law professor brings a different lesson plan to the basketball practice Cameron Doherty SPORTS EDITOR Ω Ted Murray is a busy man. The first-year sessional law professor at TRU splits his time between the three things that he enjoys most: the law, teaching, and coaching basketball. Murray was made to coach. A self-described “tiny little guy in high school that graduated at 102 lbs,” he soon realized that playing might not be the most successful way to partake in the sport that he loved. After spending his time as a hybrid team manager/assistant coach in high school, Murray went on to Simon Fraser University (SFU) and after four years spent as a team manager there he became an assistant coach, working under current TRU head coach Scott Clark. “Ted is is an extremely intelligent guy. I think he understands the game greatly, he always wants to learn more about the game,” Clark said. Leaving Clark and SFU, Murray returned to his alma mater of North Delta to become both a
teacher and the head basketball coach at the high school from 1999 to 2007. Murray decided to go back to law school in 2008 and after passing the BAR exam, a desire to escape the financial rigours of downtown Vancouver as well as to reconnect with Clark brought him to Kamloops earlier this year. “I knew one of the things I would do up here was volunteer with Scott coaching. When I was considering where to move to out of Vancouver, the fact that Scott was up here was really a big part.” Murray said. Teaching employment law and insurance law this semester, Murray said that there is some crossover between teaching and coaching. “Community building is very important in both of those fields. All the technical stuff is fine and great but you can’t get anywhere with that unless you have your players and your students on board.” Murray said that his role with the WolfPack is to spend time with the younger players on the team, making sure that they
WolfPack Schedule
A definitive guide to the ‘Pack’s upcoming home games FRIDAYJANUARY29
FRIDAYFEBRUARY5
Women’s volleyball vs University of Manitoba Bisons
Women’s basketball vs UNBC Timberwolves
Men’s volleyball vs University of Manitoba Bisons
Men’s basketball vs UNBC Timberwolves
SATURDAYJANUARY30 SATURDAYFEBRUARY6 Women’s volleyball vs University of Manitoba Bisons Men’s volleyball vs University of Manitoba Bisons Women’s basketball vs UBCO Heat
Women’s basketball vs UNBC Timberwolves
FRIDAYFEBRUARY12 Women’s volleyball vs TWU Spartans
continue to improve in each and every practice. “Scott’s in his 21st year as a head coach at this level. He knows exactly what he wants to do in every technical aspect of the game. One of the things that I try to bring to my classroom and the gym is that I’m a pretty positive, enthusiastic person,” Murray said. Clark feels as though it is the life experiences that Murray brings to the table that makes him effective as a coach. “The best part is that he can teach. He can take complex skills and complex schemes and simplify it, break it down and teach it so that it can be learned.” TRU is currently first place in the explorer division of Canada West basketball with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses, and while Murray is happy with how the team is playing, he is even more happy with the balance he has achieved. “I really enjoy the law, I really enjoy coaching and I really enjoy teaching, and now I’m getting to do all three of those things in different interesting ways.”
Ted Murray, law professor and assistant coach. (TRU Athletics)
SATURDAYFEBRUARY13
SATURDAYMARCH26
Women’s volleyball vs TWU Spartans
Men’s baseball vs Okanagan College Coyotes
Men’s baseball vs Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs
Men’s baseball vs Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs
Men’s baseball vs Okanagan College Coyotes
FRIDAYFEBRUARY19 Women’s basketball vs UBCO Heat
SUNDAYMARCH27
Men’s basketball vs UBCO Heat
SATURDAYFEBRUARY20 Women’s basketball vs UBCO Heat Men’s basketball vs UBCO Heat
Celebrate Literacy Week by buying a book or two at the EML Department Book Sale, Friday, January 29th 9am-4pm in Student Street, Old Main Bldg.
SATURDAYMARCH19 Men’s baseball vs Fraser Valley Collegiate Baseball Group
SUNDAYMARCH20 Men’s baseball vs Fraser Valley Collegiate Baseball Group
Hardcover: $2.00
Paper Back: $1.00
WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA
THE OMEGA
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COMICS & PUZZLES
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JANUARY 27, 2016
Puzzle of the Week #13—Confusing? You have some fuses that take one hour to burn from end to end. They are made out of handwavium. This substance lets me stick in a statement that while a fuse will burn out in exactly one hour, the fuse does not necessarily burn at an even rate. You have no way of telling time or timing intervals by conventional means (watch, cell phone, sun, stars, etc.). Using one or more fuses, how can you measure a one hour and fifteen minute interval? 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/). Come visit the Math Centre (HL304): we are friendly.
YOUR COMIC HERE WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR STUDENT CARTOONISTS. WHY NOT GIVE IT A SHOT? EMAIL EDITOR@TRUOMEGA.CA
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A writer, poet, or multimedia artist;
A BC resident;
Between the ages of 17—29;
Someone who has something to say about anxiety?
If so, enter AnxietyBC’s 2016 Writing & Multimedia Contest!
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Are you :
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Winners will receive up to $500 and have their work published on our website and social media channels. Submission deadline is March 31, 2016. For more information or to enter go to: http://www.anxietybc.com/anxietybc-writing-and-mixed-media-contest-2016
SPORTS
WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA
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McManus fired as women’s soccer head coach Coach who served seven seasons left in disbelief as TRU starts search for new leader Cameron Doherty SPORTS EDITOR Ω CONTINUED (COVER) “I got coach of the year all three years (that the team won provincials). I’m surprised this is what it’s come down to,” McManus said. Olynyk agrees that those three years were a good time for TRU soccer. “I think that there were definitely positives within the program, within the PACWEST and the college championships we did well at that time. I think that that was good for the institution and good for us.” McManus then steered the team through the difficult transition of stepping up a level from the PACWEST into the CIS. After a rough first season in which the team won only one game, McManus and the ‘Pack were able to right the ship this past season and qualified for the playoffs with a record of 5 wins, 7 losses and 2 draws. “As far as I’m concerned, we did really well. We achieved what we needed to. We were given two pages of things we had to achieve this year and we hit each and every one. Ken (Olynyk) gave me this list last year and we went out and hit each and every one,” McManus said on the
improvement that the team showed in just its second year competing in the CIS. Jaydene Radu, who played five years for the WolfPack under McManus said that the jump to the top level of university soccer was tough on the team. “It was a tough transition from PACWEST to CIS and when you start losing some games it’s tough to stay positive,” Radu said. Radu also said that despite the positive season put together by the ‘Pack this past year that the decision to fire McManus did not shock her. “There are a lot of factors that go into the program, I think it was going in the right direction but some changes needed to be made to make that happen.” As for any possible reasons that the long-time coach of the WolfPack was fired McManus says that he wasn’t given any. “They just stated that it’s in my contract that I could be released without cause and I was quite surprised, but it is in there. I looked up my contract since then, so I was a bit shocked by the whole thing.” Citing university policy, Olynyk declined to discuss any reasons for the coach’s firing. Having just traversed through the period of instability inherent in making the step up to the CIS level
Tom McManus coached the WolfPack women’s soccer team for seven seasons. (TRU Athletics) of competition, Olynyk does not believe that a coaching change will result in more uncertainty for the program. “No, I think it’s a necessity. We’re making this change to move forward so that’s what we are looking at,” Olynyk said. Now that the split has happened the two parties will go their separate ways. The university has already begun the search for a new head coach by sending out an advertisement for a coaching position to the CIS, the CCAA, the national soccer
association, the B.C. soccer association and the Vancouver Whitecaps. “So that way, we think we will hit everybody that might have an interest in the position, so it’ll be a national search. We’re looking at candidates across the country, not just regionally in the city.” Olynyk said. McManus, meanwhile has “gone through all the emotions that I think you could have – disbelief and anger to a point now where I’ve had to accept it and relax a little bit,” he said. The former coach of the WolfPack
now begins the long process of trying to find a job in the ultra-competitive field of elite-level soccer coaching in Canada. “It won’t be in Kamloops, unfortunately, because there’s no coaching jobs,” McManus said. While he tries to move forward with his career, McManus said that, “I still don’t know what’s going on. It’s frustrating. I didn’t expect it at all and it kind of blew me away when they told me.” McManus finishes his career at TRU with an overall record of 42 wins, 30 losses and 17 draws.
SEVEN SEASONS OF TOM MCMANUS PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONS PACIFIC WESTERN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (PACWEST)
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COACH OF THE YEAR PACIFIC WESTERN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (PACWEST)
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RECORD WITH THE ‘PACK CCAA NATIONALS BRONZE MEDAL, 2013 SEAN BRADY GRAPHIC
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CANADIAN INTERUNIVERSITY SPORT
THE OMEGA
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JANUARY 27, 2016
Membership Advisory TRUSU Annual General Meeting Thursday Jan 28 at 6PM Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union Building Meeting agenda at trusu.ca
REFERENDUM NOTICE Voting in the TRUSU Lecture Hall on: Feb 9th 8AM-4PM Feb 10th 8AM-8PM Feb 11th 8AM-4PM THE REFERENDUM RESOLUTION WILL READ AS FOLLOWS: Be it resolved that International Students be added to the TRUSU Extended Health and Dental Plan at a cost of $248.00 per plan year
For more information visit
trusu.ca/news/services trusu.ca
/TRUStudentsUnion
@TRUSU15
@TRUSU15