POLICY PROGRESS
THE YEAR THE MUSIC STOPPED
IF YOU BUILD IT... WILL THEY COME?
Sexual assault task force delivers report
Tunes Against Tuition scratched from lineup
TRU considers indoor sports facility
TRU's task force has made 14 recommendations to the university to address sexual violence • Page 2
TRUSU's annual concert disappeared from the event roster this year – find out why • Page 4
Campus planners and stakeholders share their thoughts • Page 9
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VOLUME 26
SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
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Campus neighbourhood development plans revealed by Community Trust ON-CAMPUS COURTS Work continues on the installation of TRU's latest sports feature – outdoor courts outside Old Main.
ERRRBODY
SPYING ON COWS
Clubs Day showcases opportunities
Drone research gets federal funding boost
More than 50 TRUSU clubs showed up to get students involved • Page 6
Federal grant means more students can get involved in ongoing drone research • Page 8
The TRU Community Trust announced the name and plans for TRU's first neighbourhood on campus on Monday, Sept. 19. "The Reach" will be a series of urban residential, office and retails spaces built behind Old Main and on the corner of Summit and McGill, plus areas in between, all built on 90 acres available for development. The Community Trust has put out a request for proposals for contractors to submit bids on the first stage of development, which includes 90,000 sq. ft. of buildable space. The winners will build and market a new residential development behind Old Main. Kamloops MLAs Todd Stone and Terry Lake were on hand to announce the development at the Sept. 19 media event. Also announced was that the future plans include space for a hotel, an urban market and a pharmacy. See more online at TRUOmega.ca
NEWS
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Tunes Against Tuition scratched from this year’s event lineup Student union decides to focus on other events that may boast more attendance Jared MacArthur STAFF WRITER Ω
Survey shows 1 in 10 women at TRU have experienced some form of sexual assault Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω At least one in 10 women at TRU have had a non-consensual sexual experience according to data from the 2016 National College Health Assessment (NCHA). The data shows a 3.6 point increase from 2013 to 2016 in self-reported incidents of sexual touching without consent among women, as well as smaller increases in other categories. Results for men were largely unchanged over the same period, with 5.9 per cent of men reporting incidents of sexual touching without consent in 2013 to 5.6 per cent in 2016. Incidents of sexual penetration attempts,
sexual penetration and stalking went largely unchanged for men. For women, however, incidents of sexual penetration attempts without consent went from 2.2 per cent in 2013 to 4.8 per cent in 2016. Reports of stalking also increased, going from 8.1 per cent to 9.7 per cent. All survey questions asked students to report incidents from the past 12 months. The 2016 survey was conducted in March and was sent to all TRU students. It was open for 20 days and students who completed the survey were eligible for four cash prize draws with prizes ranging from $50 to $200. TRU saw a 17.5 per cent response rate in 2016, down from 18.9 per cent in 2013. The national average response rate for 2016 was 19 per cent.
The one in 10 figure was no surprise to TRUSU women’s representative Sierra Rae. “From what I know of sexual assault and how common it is, that makes sense. It’s honestly terrible to look at that and say that’s what we have and what women are expected to have – basically a 10% chance of having been assaulted. That’s not cool, to say the least,” she said. “It’s really not something that women should feel if they're coming to a university.” The figures at the national level were even worse, according to the 2016 NCHA group data report released at the beginning of September. That report shows that 13 per cent of women indicated they had been sexually touched without their consent in the 12 months prior.
TRUSU’s annual concert Tunes Against Tuition will not be running this year following changes made to events by the union’s entertainment committee. The concert series was traditionally held on the Saturday following the Back-to-School BBQ. With the exception of one January event, Tunes Against Tuition has been held in the fall for the last eight years, from 2008 to 2015. At past events students have been spoiled by headline artists with the likes of Mother Mother, Said the Whale, K-OS, The Katherines, Arkells and Good for Grapes, just to name a few. The entire Kickstart initiative, which includes the Back-to-School BBQ, Tunes Against Tuition, Outdoor Movie Night and Clubs Day, typically accounts for $60,000 to $75,000 in TRUSU’s annual budget. The turnout at the concert was not as desirable as TRUSU would have liked to see, Storvold said. Instead, the union’s focus shifted to other events like the Food Truck Festival and Games Night. “The entertainment committee decided to go a different direction and incorporate local live music into the Back-to-School BBQ,” Storvold said. Five local artists were featured at the Back-to-School BBQ to
accommodate the new lack of live music in the group of Kickstart events. In previous years, TRUSU said music for the event was usually played off a set playlist chosen event organizers. Second-year student, Hillary Krakana attended last year’s event for the first time and said that she did expect it again this year. “Last year Said the Whale played, and it was really exciting. It was a really nice way to come back and everyone gets acquainted,” she said, adding that it’s something she will miss. The plan drawn out by the entertainment committee for each year is reviewed by the TRUSU board of directors before any final decision is made on the changes. With the entertainment committee changing each year there is no saying whether or not events that have been cut from the list will be brought back in the future. One event that is new this year is the Food Truck Festival, to be held on Sept. 21, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. “The Food Truck Festival is going to be during the Outdoor Movie Night this year, which is really exciting,” Storvold said. The festival is one of the few new Kickstart events happening this year, which is being held to support the “Hungry for Choice” campaign TRUSU has taken-up this year, which aims to address the availability of food services to students on campus.
Student union says funding model needs updating TRUSU's Fund the Future campaign looks to address an outdated funding model Sarah Kirschmann STAFF WRITER Ω The formula for government funding of B.C. post-secondary education has not been reviewed in almost a decade and TRUSU hopes to change that. This past week, TRUSU has been gathering signatures for its Fund the Future campaign. According to TRUSU VP External Amber Storvold, “Fund the Future is basically a campaign to address the issue of government under-funding for TRU.” Currently, TRU receives $2,000 less per student than the average B.C. institution,
according to TRUSU. B.C. post-secondary institutions receive an operating grant from the provincial government on a per-student basis, but the amounts vary, and TRUSU says the rationale behind the funding formula is unclear. Over the past 10 years, per-student funding for TRU has decreased, yet the university has undergone a number of changes. “We've changed a lot, we've expanded a lot and I definitely think it's time for a re-evaluation,” Storvold said. Kathy Corrigan, New Democrat opposition spokesperson for Advanced Education, agrees.
“I don't understand the formula entirely. I don't think anyone does… [it] certainly needs to be reviewed, but it's only a part of the bigger issue of post-secondary education,” Corrigan said. She sees it as only one factor in the bigger trend of students paying more for tuition and government paying less. Corrigan believes that this leads to a growing inequality of access to advanced education and puts financial pressure on the institutions. Matt Milovick, TRU’s VP of administration and finance, is keenly aware of that pressure. “The funding doesn't reflect
the type of university that we are,” Milovick said. There is no grant funding available for graduate studies, law school or science masters programs, to name only a few areas. TRU has dealt with the lack of funding in part through international student fees, which make up almost 40 per cent of tuition revenue. He added that the government is aware of the problem, but lacks the will to act. “Pretty much every time we're in Victoria meeting with government we raise this as an issue,” Milovick said. And TRU is not alone, according to Milovick. Presidents of
other institutions are doing the same thing. While this is not the first time TRUSU has raised the issue, this year Storvold hopes to go beyond educating the community. The eventual plan is to meet with campus stakeholders, get the media involved and meet with local MLAs to push for change. While there is still work to do, all parties seem hopeful that a review is imminent. As Milovick pointed out, “when [the provincial government] hears a concerted effort from student unions and faculty associations, I think that helps to bolster the case.”
OPINION & EDITORIAL
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Noble plans, all of them, but let’s not forget about tuition LETTER TO THE EDITOR Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω TRUSU’s Hungry for Choice campaign, which aims to increase variety of food on campus, is a noble cause, and one students asked for. TRUSU is also back on its Fund the Future campaign, which aims to bring attention to the relatively low dollar amount TRU receives per-student from the government. This is also an important cause – one that will benefit the
university and all of the members of its community. But with the focus elsewhere, what about that age-old problem of tuition? Have we given up? Honestly – I would understand. Not a year has gone by where TRU, or any other university for that matter, has turned down the government-capped two per cent price increase for tuition. Making things worse is the position many universities are in: government funding has decreased in the past 20 years, meaning
institutions must look elsewhere to stay in the black. TRU’s solution is to rely on international students to make up the difference, but that might not be a sustainable model. And now, we’re all standing by watching other countries make education free and more accessible in places like Germany, Sweden and even the U.S., while here at home things are sadly predictable. We’re headed in the right direction – let’s not take our foot off the gas. editor@truomega.ca
Seeking Feedback from the TRU Community TRU’s draft Sexual Violence Policy arises from the work of the President’s Task Force on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response. It also responds to recent legislation, the Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act, which compels all BC post-secondary institutions to have stand-alone sexual violence policies in place by May 19, 2017. View the policy draft and provide your input at tru.ca/sexual-violence Date
Time
Location
Audience
Sep 22
3 to 4 p.m.
TRUSU Lecture Room
TRU staff and faculty
Sep 29
3 to 4 p.m.
TRUSU Lecture Room
TRU students
Oct 13
10 to 11 a.m.
TRUSU Lecture Room
TRU staff and faculty
Oct 27
10 to 11 a.m.
TRUSU Lecture Room
TRU students
If you have questions about the policy or how to participate in the consultation process, please contact dean-students@tru.ca
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A number of Policy Information Meetings have also been scheduled:
Food options on campus are leaving students hungry for choice When the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union hosted its annual Student Budget Consultation last spring, students made it clear that food service on campus wasn’t good enough, and they told us why. Students are hungry for better value, competitive prices, and quality food. For longer hours and a vibrant campus life. For dining options that range from quick coffees to class break snacks to sitdown meals. For variety in ethnic foods, dietary accommodations, and nutritional options. In short, we’re hungry for choice. The lack of campus food choices is the result of a lack of campus food providers. The lack of providers is the result of a decision TRU has made – the decision to award multi-year food service contracts that give one company exclusive rights to sell to the whole campus!* Each food service outlet on campus is operated by the same company – in many cases serving the same food items prepared in the same kitchens. If you aren’t satisfied, you can’t take your business elsewhere. When you have few alternatives, the provider has little incentive to better meet your needs, even when concerns are raised. For example, when the last decade-long exclusive food contract expired in 2013, TRU hired a consultant to conduct a review. The criticisms they heard are familiar: overpriced, little variety, lacking meal options, limited hours, and poor cultural and dietary accommodations. TRU announced a new exclusive contract with promises to improve.
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Most of those promises have been broken. With multi-year, exclusive contracts, the only time a provider needs to respond to expectations is when they are bidding for the job. The most effective and consistent way to better food service is to ditch our take-it-or-leave-it system and become empowered consumers with choice between competitors. Those competitors would need to strive to offer us the best menu on campus if we could vote with our wallets every day! That’s why the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union is launching the Hungry for Choice campaign to call on TRU to take immediate action to introduce competition to campus food services. We are looking for TRU to be innovative. There many ways to welcome independent providers with a daily stake in winning your business with bargain deals, quality food, and diverse menus. We have administrators, staff, and faculty with a wealth of experience and knowledge in service delivery, culinary arts, business, and tourism. We believe the possibilities are there. Are you hungry for choice? Join the call. Sign the petition at trusu.ca, or visit us at the Hungry for Choice Food Truck Festival on Wednesday, September 21 at 6:00PM in the Campus Commons! Michael Zaitlin Student Caucus Chair TRU Students’ Union *The Students’ Union Building and Culinary Arts Building are the only exceptions
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Sexual assault task force makes 14 recommendations to university With the release of a draft sexual assault policy, TRU has turned to students, staff and faculty Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω The President’s Task Force on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, which formed in the summer of 2015, has made 14 recommendations to the university to address sexual assault. The first recommendation of the task force is to present a sexual assault policy to the TRU Board of Governors. That policy is currently being developed and a draft was released alongside the task force’s report. The task force also recommended that the university hire a sexual violence prevention and response manager, collect data on assaults that happen both on and off campus, develop training and education programs and ensure that victims are given a choice in how their report is handled after they’ve disclosed an assault. A full list of the
recommendations is available in the report. TRU has invited students, faculty and staff to a series of information sessions to discuss the draft policy. Students are invited to provide input on the draft policy on Sept. 29 and Oct. 27. Faculty and staff have separate meetings on Sept. 22 and Oct. 13. The meetings will take place in the TRUSU Lecture Hall. “It’s a draft policy – and it is ‘drafty.’ We’ll collect input for revising it before it goes to the board,” said Christine Adam, TRU’s dean of students. “We’ll work along the same lines as UBC has, to produce a bit of a guide for people to consider the policy and what things to ask about it.” TRU began developing a sexual assault policy in July 2015, but the provincial government effectively put a clock on the implementation of a policy in May 2016, when a
bill requiring universities to have a sexual assault policy received royal assent. The bill was introduced by Green MP Andrew Weaver, who shared the story of Jean Strong, a TRU student who said she was merely told to change schools when she reported a sexual assault to the university in 2012. As a result, TRU must have a sexual assault policy
implemented by May 2017 under the Post-Secondary Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act. The task force’s 14 members came from all over campus and the local community, including security and risk management staff, student affairs staff, legal staff, athletics staff, RCMP members, human resources staff, marketing staff, human
resources staff, counselling staff and four unnamed students. One recommendation that has already been picked up on by the university is the hiring of a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Manager, with the hiring of Amber Huva, who began work at the school on Sept. 1.
Exploring the idea of an indoor sports facility on campus Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω Outdoor field sports could become a year-round activity at TRU if talks of an indoor stadium become concrete. Matt Milovick, Vice President of Finance, said in an email that the indoor field is currently just an idea that would eventually be brought forward to the university’s planning committee for approval. “This is a project that we have been exploring the viability of for the past 18 months, having looked at different models and having talked to various constituent groups in the community,” Milovick said. He added that the primary objective is to improve recreational and athletic experiences for students. No details were given on where the facility would be built, what the projected cost could be or the timeline for the project, if it were to get the greenlight. Ken Olynyk, Director of Athletics and Recreation, believes that an indoor turf facility would have benefits for TRU and the Kamloops community. Any planning for a new facility would be in the “infant stages,” Olynyk said. “At TRU, we see it as an opportunity to grow our recreation, grow our programming for our students and for our staff,” Olynyk said, adding that having an indoor field would allow the
university to do more with their recreational and intramural programming. “Opportunities for our students – that’s what we’re looking at.” While soccer would most likely be its most popular use, Olynyk said that indoor turf can be used for a variety of different sports, such as cricket, baseball and futsal, a five-a-side version of soccer. Indoor turfs exist in other parts of the city, including a privately-owned facility on the North Shore and another on the Kamloops Indian Band reserve. However, they are “not outstanding,” according to Olynyk. If a new facility were to be put at TRU, it would be suitable for use by high-performance groups such as the WolfPack soccer teams and the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy. Olynyk also said that a stadium used for recreation will give students another reason to stay on-campus when not in classes. It would also bring benefits to the rest of Kamloops, especially in the winter. “I think that a big part of Thompson Rivers University is its reach into the community. It’s a vibrant university, it helps the community and I think that is what we’re looking at,” Olynyk said. Before the project can get approval to go to the planning phase, the university must consult and include discussion from the TRU community.
YOUR THOUGHTS We asked students to weigh in on a potential indoor sports facility here on campus. Here's what a few of them had to say: Photos by Marcela Arévalo/Ω
“I’d probably use it if they had intramurals or something up there.” Brett Campbell, 3rd year NRS
“That’d be cool. I would support that.” “It’s cold in the winter and it is hard sometimes to get out and exercise.”
“I’d support it. I don’t think I would use it though.”
“I’d use it, especially for soccer.” Jason Sorensen, 2nd year comp sci.
Jeff Fooks, 3rd year NRS Faith Bellamy, 3rd year arts
“I don’t know. How much would it cost and how many people would actually use it?” “I’d rather see cheaper tuition.” Grace Hollenberg, 3rd year business
NEWS
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Clubs Day showcases opportunities to get involved Sarah Kirschmann STAFF WRITER Ω Students flooded the newly installed sports court for Clubs Day to explore the array of clubs TRU has to offer. More than half of the university’s 100-plus clubs made an appearance at the Sept. 15 event. With everything represented from cosplay to whitewater rafting, marketing to vegetarianism, there was a chance to pursue almost any interest. Several community organizations, such as Kamloops Mothers for
Clean Air, also made an appearance. The courts outside Old Main were flooded by new and returning students as they wandered among the tables in search of ways to get involved. Some groups, like the TRUSU Botany Club, are just getting started. Created in midsummer, the group plans to lead nature walks a few times per month, supplemented with sketching and learning about local flora. So far they have attracted signatures from students across a diverse range of disciplines, including fine arts. The TRU Modern Marketing
Association, is another recent addition. While just getting off the ground, organizer Milap Dadlani has big plans for the group. This group sets itself apart from the existing marketing club as a common interest group rather than academic. The idea is to help students develop valuable interdisciplinary skills which marry tech and marketing in a fun environment. Others, such as the Pride Club are returning to the scene. This year the Pride Club is organizing Pride socials as a way to connect and have fun without the organizational aspect of meetings. “We're trying
to make it a positive social atmosphere,” said club president Paolino Caputo. One of the most crowded tables belonged to the TRU Adventure U Outdoors Club. While only in their second year, the club is already a hit, receiving “hundreds of signatures” on Clubs Day according to club organizers. They offer outdoor trips like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and rafting to students of all levels of experience. Our one and only political club, the TRUSU Socialist Club, also made an appearance. Organizer Kevin Pankewich described the group as
More than 50 clubs showed up to this year's Clubs Day outside Old Main on Sept. 15. Among the clubs there were the Skateboarding Club (top left), Focus Club, Adventure U Outdoors Club (top right), Spanish Conversation Club and the Computer Science Club. Photos by Marcela Arévalo/The Omega
a collection of left-wing students including anarchists, socialists and communists working together to create change. This year they will continue to push TRU to divest from fossil fuel industry funding. Whether you are seeking networking opportunities, academic advancement, meaningful change, or simply something to do on weekends, there is a club for you. For the extensive list of organizations to get involved with, students can check out the club directory on the TRUSU website. Students can always create their own club by contacting the TRUSU members desk.
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
New app aims to improve campus safety University launches TRU Safe app with "Friend Walk" feature and emergency contacts Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω Used to walking home alone at night? You might never have to again with TRU’s new safety app for smartphones. Called TRU Safe, the app developed with the Office of Safety and Emergency Management aims to give students and employees quick access to safety and emergency information. One of the app’s key features is the “Friend Walk,” a service that allows a user to send their location to a friend and have them follow their movements to their destination. In an emergency, the walker can press a panic button, which will notify the friend and also start an emergency call. TRU Safe also includes quick access to phone numbers for first aid, security and emergency services. For suspicious activity, users can email in a tip, attach photos or videos. The app is also connected to TRU Alerts and users are able to get up-to-date information on incidents on campus. Available for iOS and Android, the app was developed on mobile safety platform AppArmor and apps similar to TRU Safe are in use
on campuses in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. According to Safety and Emergency Management Manager Stacey Jyrkkanen, work on the app started in mid-June after hearing about the success of similar safety apps at other universities. She said that the app is an additional resource for the TRU community to access safety information and for the office to communicate with students and staff. “From the whole emergency management perspective, you want to make available multiple layers of information on several different platforms, because not everyone is going to be looking for information in the same places,” Jyrkkanen said. The Office of Safety and Emergency Management officially launched the app at the Back-toSchool BBQ. According to the office, the feedback from students and employees has been “very positive.” The new app has been supported by the Student Services office and TRUSU executives. Sierra Rae, women’s representative at TRUSU, thinks that the app is a further step to establishing a safer campus. “I can see this app being a
Called TRU Safe, the university’s new safety app gives users safety information and contact numbers at the tap of a menu screen. (Martin McFarlane/The Omega)
key component in creating a safe learning environment for students,” Rae said, adding that she has heard stories of students and employees feeling unsafe on campus. “I think it is a good addition to campus, and will help make
students feel safer, such as when they walk to their car at night.” As of the morning of Sept. 13, the app has been downloaded 482 times. Jyrkkanen says that the office is working with the orientation team to make sure students are aware of the app and
to encourage adoption. “These things take time, it will always be a continuous push,” Jyrkkanen said. TRU Safe is the second official TRU app available on the app store, with the other being the bookstore’s sell-back program.
The River City to celebrate its defining features Kamloops set to host its eighth annual World Rivers Day celebration down at Riverside Park Jared MacArthur STAFF WRITER Ω The waterways and bodies of water around Kamloops have always been an integral part of the city’s history. It is as Kamloopsians have coined it, the “River City” and to the Tk’emlups’ te Secwepemc nation, a land recognized for its vital rivers. Because of the proximity to the city of Kamloops, with its more than 85,000 residents, the lakes, rivers and streams that define the landscape surrounding the area are visited often. With temperatures in the summer reaching more than 30 degrees Celsius, people are drawn out to the water even more. The lakes and rivers in the area are an important part of Kamloops for recreational use and the city’s sustainability. The Thompson rivers (north and south) are the main source of drinking water for the entire city of Kamloops, according to Jaimi Garbutt, environmental educator for the City of Kamloops. It is important that people “enjoy them but still respect them” Garbutt said. Next week, the eighth annual international World Rivers Day celebration is returning to Kamloops on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. Down
at Riverside Park, the City of Kamloops and local organizations will entertain and educate the crowds throughout the afternoon. Organizations participating in the event this year include the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, BIG Little Science Center, BC Wildlife Park, Kamloops Fire Rescue, Pacific Sports and the City of Kamloops Arborists Department. Arts, crafts and live music will be playing throughout the day, while educational booths entertain the curiosity of those interested in sustainability, science or wildlife. Last year, the BIG Little Science Centre displayed samples of aquatic life collected from different bodies of water in the region and the Department of Fisheries laid out two salmon specimens to educate the public on the significance of salmon in our rivers and their importance in the large ecological picture. World Rivers Day is held in towns and cities around the world. In 2005 founder Mark Angelo, a British Columbia veteran, initiated the event to bring awareness to the vital role rivers play in ecosystems around the world. The event now runs in more than 60 countries around the world, raising awareness and educating people on river stewardship.
Live music entertains the crowd at last year's World Rivers Day event in Riverside Park. The festivities return this year on Sept. 25. (Jared MacArthur/The Omega)
Alongside the World Rivers Day celebration, there will be the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, event taking place on the banks of the South Thompson around Riverside Park, organized by TRU student Julie Dixon. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is led by the Vancouver Aquarium and the World Wildlife
Fund (WWF). There have been four events in the Kamloops area alone and events can be planned any day of the year from the Shoreline Cleanup website. Individuals or groups can sign up to collect litter from the shoreline at the Shoreline Cleanup booth at Riverside Park on the day of the event. It is a family event and
a great way to give back to the community, and drives home the idea to “act locally, think locally,” Garbutt said. She says that each year cigarette butts seem to be the biggest pollutant in the Riverside Park area, but over all the pollutants in the rivers and lakes around Kamloops are minimal.
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The annual Take Back the Night march brought out a number of empassioned speakers, advocates and survivors to march against sexual assault and domestic violence at Riverside Park. Photos by Marcela Arévalo/The Omega
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Federal grant looks to expand student involvement in ongoing drone research Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω TRU has announced more than half of a federal research grant for a project monitoring cattle and mapping ranchlands via drones will go towards expanding student involvement. John Church and David Hill, natural resource science and geography faculty and collaborators on the research project focused on precision ranching, have received the College-University Idea to Innovation grant of $663,940 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Church and Hill have partnered with Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and Kingsclere Ranch in Golden, B.C. and the research project is now valued at approximately $1.1 million. “This grant will train a new generation of scientists to use technology to promote maintaining the health of the planet,” said Associate VP Research and Graduate Studies Will Garrett-Petts at a press conference. He added that the grant goes towards student development at TRU through participation in Hill and Church’s research. The project uses drones with infrared sensors to observe cattle from the air. Combined with new
RFID tag technology in cattle developed by SAIT, ranchers can identify a specific cow in the herd remotely. At the announcement, Church jokingly said that his and Hill’s research monitoring cattle was listed on the internet as “the number-one craziest use of drones.” Jokes aside, the research funding has a serious application for TRU students. “Students will be trained as leaders in a new field,” asserted Church, also saying that they will be linking with the project’s partners and do their own networking. With the funding, Hill and Church have been able to recruit six TRU undergraduate students, one master’s student, and a post-doctorate fellow who has studied at both TRU and MIT. The undergraduate students come from multiple disciplines including natural resource sciences, geography and biology. The students will be managing different projects related to the use of drones on ranchlands. Hill and Church’s own research has potential to determine if cattle are diseased by infrared body temperature, determine healthy and unhealthy vegetation over a large area and to create ultra-high precision maps with details “up to the sub-centimetre.”
John Church displays one of the drones used in his ranching research. He and collaborator David Hill received a federal research grant that will bring TRU students onto their research team. (Martin McFarlane/The Omega) In an interview with The Omega, Church said that the federal funding gives an opportunity for students involved to get experience producing research in cutting-edge technology. For his project, it means more ways to explore and apply the machines to the ranching industry and agriculture. “The student takes over their
project,” Church said. “It’s their project to run.” While use of drones will not replace ranch workers, it would allow them to manage their land much more efficiently and to cover more ground in less time. The students are receiving training on drones made by Chinese tech company DJI, who according to Forbes account for
70 per cent of the market. In the future, Church could see other imaging technologies being added to the drones, providing further research opportunities. SAIT researchers also received funding for student positions, and are designing antennas for the drones and solar-powered RFID tags.
TRUSU tries to make a point with Food Truck Festival Hungry for Change campaign brings trucks on campus Jenn Will ARTS EDITOR Ω In the evening of Sept. 21, TRUSU will be hosting the Hungry for Choice Food Truck Festival. Michael Zaitlin, chair of the Student Caucus, said the festival is part of a campaign that was born out of need for change and diversity in food on campus. The focus of the campaign is to show what campus would be like with more competition for food. “[It] will provide students and the campus community members a taste of what choice in campus food services could be like,” Zaitlin said. “Last year we held our annual student budget consultation and it identified student food services as the top priority. We found the lack of choice due to the exclusive contract was the main concern of students. [The festival will] show what campus life could be like if TRU was to introduce competition
to the food services rather than an exclusive contract model,” Zaitlin said. Aramark is the current contractor that holds all of the control for food services on campus. Zaitlin said that the university has had a sole provider for food services due to multi-year contracts that are put in place. However, this is what the campaign and event hope to put an end to. “We believe that sole providers usually eliminate the incentives to provide better services and students feel like they can’t take their business elsewhere,” Zaitlin said. Without competition in place, Zaitlin feels that a sole contractor like Aramark will not necessarily provide the best possible experience for students on a day-to-day basis. The results of the festival and the amount of support received for the coinciding petition will ultimately rely on the student population to step up and fight for change.
TRUSU hopes that if the response to the campaign is strong enough, the university can move forward with new initiatives. Zaitlin believes that if more vendors are introduced to the daily menu on campus, it will be a positive change for everyone. “We’ll move that towards having a sole provider push toward a competition model, which will require the sole provider and multiple provider toward trying to win student business,” Zaitlin said. A portion of the sales from each vendor at the festival will be donated to the Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association to raise money for people with disabilities and at-risk youth programs. The food truck festival will lead into TRUSU’s Outdoor Movie Night event, which starts at 7:30 p.m. The festival will commence at 6 p.m. and TRUSU is advising students to bring cash, as not all of the vendors will accept debit or credit.
Have a point to make about food on campus? We want to hear from you! Whether you're an advocate for change or all about embracing what we've got, we want you to be heard. Write a letter to the editor by writing to editor@truomega.ca *And check out our letters policy, page 2
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Theatre review: Made in Italy This one-man show from Farren Timoteo is a compelling immigrant story Jenn Will ARTS EDITOR Ω A surprising and intimate one-man show, Made in Italy was written by and stars Farren Timoteo. Drawing from his own and his family's past to astonishing effect, this musical comedy premieres on stage for Western Canada Theatre’s first production of the season. Opening with an old Italian man breaking the fourth wall, he invites the
audience to be a part of the story. Unique in a timely but old fashioned sense, this is one play you do not want to miss. Starring in each of its widely different and personality-driven roles, Timoteo walks a surprising line of sincerity with each character, from men to women, young to old. He transitions between characters, often not with a costume change, but with the tone in his voice, his posture or a pair of glasses. Timoteo was the main brilliance of the production and as an audience member, you get to see his large Italian family through one man, while still connecting with each character in different ways. Walking into this production, I was skeptical of its one-man-can-do-it-all attitude, yet after leaving the theatre, I understood that this story could not have been told in any other way. The production lets us take a peek into the strange, but strong, bond between Francesco and his father. His father who was one of 22 children and was born in a small Italian town. He moved to Canada so his family could have a better life. Francesco struggles with being an immigrant to the country and he constantly has to deal with prejudice at school.
Farren Timoteo in the world premiere of “Made in Italy” at the Western Canada Theatre. (Murray Mitchell/Western Canada Theatre) He learns to find the balance between being the Italian singing church boy that his father loves and Frank Martin, a singer with disco fever trying to make a name for himself. Francesco's indecision between the two styles of music compels his character through the duration of the play as Timoteo belts beautifully with his lovely voice.
The minimalist set played a huge role in the production with the big wooden table practically acting as a character. All of the props played a small but integral role and had a deeper symbolic meaning. This was all enhanced by the bevy of technical wizardry created with the lighting and sound design. This musical comedy is a
story about life and is a must see for any theatregoer, even if it does feel a little long in the tooth before intermission break. The show will run until Sept. 24, 2016 at the Pavilion Theatre with a 7:30 p.m. show time on weekdays and a 8 p.m. show on weekends. Student price for tickets starts at $27 and adult admission starts at $33.
FILMS IN REVIEW Blair Witch
Snowden Jonathan Malloy CONTRIBUTOR Ω Aptly jaw dropping and infuriating in the same scene, Oliver Stone’s interpretation of CIA and NSA information leaker Edward Snowden’s life shows promise, but is held back by odd decisions and a lack of narrative focus. The film follows Snowden’s professional and personal life from 2004-2013, inserting focus on his positions in the CIA and NSA before he leaked high level top secret information to the press. A large positive of the film is the astounding work performed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, transforming his voice and mannerisms inspiringly to that of Snowden’s. Tracking his maturation from a young man wanting to serve his country any way he can to a man disgusted by his country’s lack of transparency and willingness to break as many laws as it needs to “protect its people.” Gordon-Levitt is quite reserved throughout the film as he displays the inner depression and stress brought on by his work. Several other notable performances come from Oscar winner Melissa Leo as documentarian Laura Poitras, whose 2014 film Citizenfour is represented in meta-fashion being filmed during the film’s proceedings. She is sympathetic in her approach to her subject, understanding his need to share the information and give power back to the people. Both Rhys Ifans and Nicholas Cage
perform well in their small roles as members of Snowden’s past, who represent opposing sides of the conservative opinion while also shoehorning a lesson or two about the “real nature of politics” into their conversations with the young wunderkind. Shailene Woodley stars in a significant role as Lindsay Mills, Snowden’s partner throughout his time working for the American government. Unfortunately she feels miscast in the role, often appearing taking the safe route in her portrayal with loud conversations about the future of their relationship being the main focus over any actual character development. The biggest disappointment of the film sadly arrives from the drab, meandering script from Stone and co-writer Kieran Fitzgerald. The director tries to spruce up the events by switching from, often gorgeous cinematography, to a bevy of different types of camera combined with flashy editing techniques. The editing choices seem misplaced in scenes, cutting some scenes oddly long, holding on a heavenly Snowden walking into the light before his body is oddly disfigured by distortion or cutting between the mid-seizure of Snowden and his recently drained pot of pasta. Stone and his crew take the riveting story to heart and deliver a film that altogether is trying to say something very important about the state of secrecy our governments take without the knowledge of its people, yet the film falls short of its material due to its underwhelming and overly long execution.
Jonathan Malloy CONTRIBUTOR Ω From the opening frames to its horrifying ending, Adam Wingard’s sequel to the original found footage phenomenon is a worthy successor and one of the first truly terrifying films to release this year. Taking the formula and feeling from the prequel, building on it in nearly every way. Technologically and story-wise, this sequel makes up for its early reliance on jump scares to build to an unnerving ending. Taking place 15 years after the disappearance of Heather Donahue and two other filmmakers as they tried to uncover the truth behind the legend of the Blair Witch of the woods near Burketsville, Maryland, we join her EMT brother James on his journey to find the trio. James is joined by his friends, their camera equipment, and two strangers who claim to know more about his sister and the woods. The setup is clear and concise, wasting almost no time before the young group sets off into the woods. Those familiar with the original film will note similarities between the two films as some beats are retread, often calling back to the original's haunting atmosphere and locations. None of the new characters presented are particularly compelling on their own despite their strong performances. Instead, the pleasures of the movie are purely
adrenaline driven, each new sequence providing another notch in which the filmmakers up the ante and thrills. By the end of the film, I firmly believe more than one person in each theatre will be successfully shaking in their seat. Wingard has proven his merit in the horror genre with previous projects You’re Next and The Guest, each of those twisting the genre in an equally surprising fashion. With Blair Witch, he takes a decidedly more generic turn with the material instead, focusing on building a tense atmosphere for the film until assaulting the audience in the final minutes of the film with an unrelenting barrage of non-stop frights. The serenely distorted background music composed by Wingard adds in the constant building of tension, backed by the surprisingly clear “handycam” style that the original refined. Shot in the Woods of an undisclosed location in B.C. (one fact you may not have wanted to know) the setting acts as the greatest character presented in the film, a dark, brooding and impenetrable blanket of spiny trees that cut off any sense of hope allowed for the poor men and women stranded in the woods. Continuing this year's strong string of horror hits, Blair Witch is an unnerving and deeply satisfactory horror film that plays just long enough for 89 minutes to crawl underneath your skin and pop in the original to see where it all began.
COMICS & PUZZLES
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Puzzle of the Week #2â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Breaky! The small breakfast smorg included eggs, bacon, and sausage. The first diner took one-third of the eggs, one-third of the bacon, and no sausage. The second diner took one-half of the eggs, no bacon, and one-third of the sausage. The third diner took one-half of the eggs, two slices of bacon, and two sausages. The fourth diner took one-half of the eggs, bacon, and sausage. At that point, one egg, one slice of bacon, and one sausage remained. How much did each diner take, and how much of each item was there originally? [Fractions refer how much a diner took of what was there at the time.] 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.
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YOUR COMIC HERE WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR STUDENT CARTOONISTS. WHY NOT GIVE IT A SHOT? EMAIL EDITOR@TRUOMEGA.CA
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SPORTS
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Visiting Pandas roll over WolfPack women in home opener WolfPack women fall hard in home opener, but find redemption the following game Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω The visiting University of Alberta Pandas trounced the WolfPack women’s soccer team 5-0 in a Saturday, Sept. 17 game at Hillside Stadium. The loss is the team’s third of the season, making their record on the year 1-3, which includes a shellacking 10-0 defeat delivered by the University of Calgary Dinos earlier in September. The WolfPack was also outshot 19 to 3 by the Pandas. Despite the loss, head coach Kelly Shantz saw the bright side of the game by focusing on how the team turned around in the second half. “We didn’t have the compete or energy level in the first half that we need to be successful at this level. We talked about it at half-time: it is not enough to do it in training, we have to do it in a game against a good side. We came back in the second half and started to make body contact. We got some chances by getting physical, sneaking in and making contact and it showed. We started to get chances. When you are building you do things from hard work. I was happy with the second half. It was much better,” Shantz said after the game. The turnaround continued, and the WolfPack women managed their first win of the season by defeating the UNBC Heat 2-1 the
Keeper Alyssa Smith faced 19 shots in the team's 5-0 loss against the visiting Pandas. Despite the loss, Smith got a nod from the Pandas coach Liz Jepsen, who gave her props and said "she made some fantastic saves." (TRU Athletics) following day. Both UNBC and TRU were 0-3 for the season prior to this game. Both Kenzie Lacon (first-year forward) and Ava Simpson (firstyear midfielder) put up markers for the ‘Pack, capitalizing on corner
kicks and free kicks respectively. “The first 25 or 30 minutes was the best of my career here thus far. The girls really want it. We had a real let down in the last 15 minutes of the first half. We sorted it out at half and got
the job done. It would have been really easy for us to let down after they tied it up on a defensive miscommunication. To have the girls rebound, get the winner and hang on till the end was a character builder for us,” Shantz said.
The women return to their home field this weekend to face the Trinity Western University Spartans for the first time this season on Saturday, followed by a rematch against UNBC on Sunday.
WolfPack baseball team splits weekend doubleheader Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω WolfPack baseball took their first game decisively with a 12-1 win, but dropped their second 10-6 against the visiting Okanagan College Coyotes. The win was the team’s first of the season, having dropped six games prior since the beginning of September. Two of those losses were also against the Coyotes, who beat the WolfPack 15-8 and 3-2 just two days before. Ethan Mohan was a main player for the WolfPack, going 3-4 with a double, an RBI, a hit by pitch, a stolen base and a run scored. Pitcher Scott Wood threw for seven innings in the game and gave up two runs on five hits, striking out 12 batters. Bryant Jameus relieved Wood, throwing two innings and allowing eight runs (four earned) on seven hits, a walk and two hit batters, striking out two. Up next on the team’s schedule is four straight games on the weekend against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in Vancouver. The team is at home the following week to play the UFV Cascades and the Coyotes once again.
Tyler Hodder fights an inside pitch against the visiting UBC Thunderbirds during a Sept. 11 game at Norbrock Stadium. The 'Pack will face the Thunderbirds once again, this time on the road in next weekend's games. (TRU Athletics)
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2016