Nov. 9, 2016 by The Omega

STANDING TOGETHER

OR SEE OTHER STORY, SAME PAGE...

LNAP OR LNOPE?

Showing solidarity for Standing Rock

Healthy takeout within walking distance

Should we re-think the "long night"?

Last week's event looks at the support for protesters over the North Dakota pipeline • Page 6

No time is no excuse – here are some nice quick takeout ideas for food near campus • Page 4

Is encouraging assignment-bingeing and late nights a good thing? • Page 9

OMEGA Ω THE

ISSUE NO. 10

THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1991

NEW ISSUE EVERY WEDNESDAY · WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA · @TRU_OMEGA · FB.ME/TRUOMEGA

VOLUME 26

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

A B Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω

CHEERING THEM ON On finding the balance between art and sport in performance. Pg. 2

Remembering those who might wish to forget

very year women and men serving in the Canadian Forces sacrifice their civilian life to stand on guard for this country. They train and prepare for the ever changing needs of our allies and the security of our nation. In past wars, we have lost many, and with this month of remembrance upon us, we think of them as always and pay our respects with a poppy over our hearts. Here in Kamloops, we have a significant presence of veterans and active members of the Canadian Forces, both young and old. Branch 52 of the Royal Canadian Legion supports veterans of all ages and the Rocky Mountain Rangers brigade group has been training reserves for the past 100 years. The Rocky Mountain Rangers in Kamloops have been awarded for numerous accomplishments, including a recent battle honour from their time in Afghanistan. In the main lobby of the barracks is a monument from the First World War, made of wood scavenged from the German trenches, with the names of fallen rangers etched into the planks. CONTINUED page 5

ON DISPLAY

IT ONLY GETS MORE EXPENSIVE

TRU student short films hit the screen

Campaign aims to re-fund post-secondary

TRU's first video production class shows their work as part of Luminocity • Page 6

Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of B.C. campaign comes to campus • Page 5

Photo Mark Teasdale/Flickr CC

NEWS

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Finding balance between art and sport Jennifer Will ARTS EDITOR Ω Cheerleaders often face preconceptions of who they are and what they do. Many people see them through the stereotypes of how they are portrayed in films. Are they athletes because of their intense training? Or artists because of their beautifully choreographed cheers and stunts? Meaghan Blakely, the head coach of the WolfPack Cheerleaders, is a former student and cheerleader herself. She says that before going to tryouts back in 2011, she had many of these preconceptions about the sport herself. “I came to tryouts and my sister was the head coach at the time, and I kind of got dragged there by her. I did not want to do it but I ended up absolutely loving it. I was amazed and proven wrong,” Blakely said. After trying out and being on the team, Blakely added that she gained a lot of respect for her fellow athletes. She incorporated her 16 years of dance experience into her cheerleading career. Mikayla Levy, the team's co-head coach, says that cheerleading is a very different sport in its nature. “Basketball, volleyball – those kinds of games are all very long, whereas our routine is two minutes and 40 seconds. So, it’s really high-intensity, really fastpaced. You need a lot of strength and endurance to make it through. We jam-pack a lot of stuff in our routine with stunts, jumps, flips and tumbling,” Levy said.

Blakely adds that this year there are two cheer teams instead of one. The coaches decided to add a second team called spirit that is brand new this year and is more for beginners. “They spend their entire season learning dances, chants and stunting. Just learning the real basics and having a lot of fun. It’s way more about the experience,” Blakely said. The addition of this new team has helped to further blur the lines between artistic intent and athletic abilities. “You get that team that is more focused on dance, and chanting and spirit going with some crazy stunts and tumbling. So, they just blend and compliment each other really well,” Blakely said. Cheerleading is artful in its nature, relying heavily on athletic ability to make it work. Blakely says that any sport can be considered art, and cheerleading is just one of them. “There is choreography in every sport, it’s called a play, like in basketball they’ve got plays. Yes, it’s a form of art but it’s also a sport. I think that’s where you really get a mixed message of what is art and what is sport, [because] I think there is art within everything. It’s more about the intensity and the physical endurance,” Blakely said.

TOP LEFT: Mikayla Levy (head coach), Meaghan Blakely (head coach), Kenzie Ekelund (assistant coach) Photos by Marcela Arévalo/The Omega

OPINION & EDITORIAL

WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA

CARIBOO STUDENT NEWSPAPER SOCIETY

Notice of Annual General Meeting The publisher of The Omega, the

Cariboo Student Newspaper Society, will hold its annual general meeting on Thursday, November 24 at 5:30 p.m. in The Omega's office OM2691.

All members of the society in good standing are invited to attend.

For further information, please write to editor@truomega.ca

THE OMEGA STUDENT NEWSPAPER • PUBLISHED SINCE NOVEMBER 27,1991

Publisher and Board

Cariboo Student Newspaper Society TRU Campus, Old Main, OM2691 900 McGill Rd, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 0C8 Phone: 250-828-5069 Advertising inquiries: www.truomega.ca/advertise or email accounts@truomega.ca

Publishing Board

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF INDUSTRY REP FACULTY REP STUDENT REP STUDENT REP STUDENT REP

Sean Brady Christopher Foulds Charles Hays Wade Tomko Vacant Vacant

Editorial Staff

Editor-in-Chief Sean Brady Arts Editor Jennifer Will

Staff Writers Jared MacArthur Martin McFarlane Veronica Kos

Staff Photographer Marcela Arévalo Copy Editor Zain Bakhtiar

Contributors Jonathan Malloy

Letters Policy

Literary and visual submissions are welcomed. All submissions are subject to editing for brevity, taste and legality. The Omega will attempt to publish each letter received, barring time and space constraints. The editor will take care not to change the intention or tone of submissions, but will not publish material deemed to exhibit sexism, racism or homophobia. Letters for publication must include the writer’s name (for publication) and contact details (not for publication). The Omega reserves the right not to publish any letter or submitted material. Opinions expressed in any section with an “Opinion” label do not represent those of The Omega, the Cariboo Student Newspaper Society, its Board of Directors or its staff. Opinions belong only to those who have signed them.

c fb.me/truomega d @TRU_Omega

f instagr.am/truomega Õ www.TRUOmega.ca

All material in this publication is copyright The Omega except where otherwise noted and may not be reproduced without the expressed consent of the publisher.

A B Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω

CONTRIBUTE

WRITE FOR US! We’re always looking for contributors. If you’re interested in writing for us, make sure you check out our contributor guidelines found at:

truomega.ca/contribute First timer? Don’t worry – no experience is necessary and we’ll give you as much help as you need. If you’re ready to get started, just email one of our section editors and pitch your story: News: news@truomega.ca News: wtomko@truomega.ca Arts: arts@truomega.ca Sports: sports@truomega.ca Or write the editor at: editor@truomega.ca

FOOD

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Healthy takeout within walking distance Looking to eat better but short on time? You've got a few options near campus Veronica Kos STAFF WRITER Ω When the midterm season comes around, it’s hard not to find TRU students knee-deep in textbooks, kicking back that third coffee and living off a diet of Tim Hortons doughnuts. In order to perform well academically, students need to fuel themselves with foods that nourish the body and mind. This is not new information. Students know this, but when they have three midterms in one week, cooking a healthy meal is often the last thing on the minds. Takeout and fast food are normally the default options for most students, as they are deep in study mode. However, healthy alternatives are at a walking distance from campus. We scoped out some nearby healthy takeout restaurants to find the best options for hungry students on the go who want to eat healthy. One option is BeTeased, a new Shuswap-based restaurant just across the street from the university in the Landmark Centre plaza. The name is a pun as most meals on their menu are infused with owner Sharon Toews's own tea blends from her company Shuswap Tea Infusions. BeTeased offers salads, wraps, rolls, tacos, muffins, fresh pressed juices and smoothies. There is also a breakfast menu that includes classics such as scrambled

eggs or tea-infused oatmeal with tons of healthy toppings. A particularly unique and popular dish on the menu is the Ninja Bowl. Caramelized yams, chopped beet, carrot and avocado are just a few of the toppings, all on a bed of warm sunrise tea-infused rice with vinaigrette and signature ninja sauce. Everything is made fresh in-house and last but not least, the food is reasonably priced. Another option is Chopped Leaf, a Canadian franchise with two branches in Kamloops, one just steps away from the TRU campus off Summit Drive. The menu consists of salads, rice bowls, wraps, soups and sandwiches. Most of these items also come with customizable options. Their healthy alternative to fast-food has been a huge hit with Canadians. In the past two years, the franchise grew by nearly 50 per cent and opened over 16 locations in Western Canada. The franchise plans to open another 11 restaurant locations before the end of this year. Chopped Leaf’s most popular dish is their Bangkok Salad, which has toppings such as peppers, noodles, and cilantro, all covered in an evil peanut sauce on a bed of chopped romaine lettuce. If you want to support your fellow students, visit Common Grounds, a student-union-owned coffee shop in the Campus Activity Centre. Along with supporting students you’ll also be choosing the environmentally-conscious

One of BeTeased’s most popular dishes: The Ninja Bowl, featuring veggies of all sorts. (Veronica Kos/The Omega)

option as all their cups and containers are biodegradable. Common Grounds offers fairly traded organic coffee, homemade baked goods, daily soups, sandwiches and wraps. Their daily soups are a delicious and filling option for under five dollars. Sushi is another option that might allow you to eat healthy, assuming you’re not ordering the deep-fried options. Oya Sushi up Summit offers all kinds of healthy options on their menu. When choosing healthy sushi stick to fresh raw fish, vegetable rolls or

rolls with brown rice. Try to stay away from sushi with sauces, cream cheese or anything fried (tempura). If you are particularly starving, choose a bento box. Packed with sushi, salad, vegetables, edamame, sashimi, miso soup and more, these boxes will power you through your latenight study sessions. There’s even Subway, which has a limited menu of lower-calorie sandwiches. If you are not careful with your order you can fool yourself into thinking you have a healthy lunch alternative when

you are actually having just the opposite. If you want to keep it healthy, stick to 6” sizes, as most of the foot-longs will have a full day’s worth of sodium. Try turkey breast instead of meatballs and switch the iceberg lettuce for spinach. Iceberg is one of the least nutritious greens while spinach is packed full. Skip the cheese, chips and cookies and stick to only one sauce. Other than that, load up on veggies as your toppings. Save yourself a sugar crash and grab something that your brain will thank you for.

The most classic Canadian dish finally comes to Kamloops Owner Élie Toni Hanna of the Poutinerie wants to win over Kamloopsian hearts Veronica Kos STAFF WRITER Ω You may have already heard about Kamloops’ new Frenchies Poutinerie. The place has been buzzing since it opened on Oct. 26. Depending on what time you choose to visit, you may be waiting in a lineup stretching out the door with eager customers dying to taste the classic Canadian dish. I sat down with owner Élie Toni Hanna to talk about his new business, and to taste what everyone else in town has been talking about. Considering just how Canadian poutine is, it’s surprising Kamloops did not have a poutine restaurant in town. That is exactly what Hanna thought when he first moved to Kamloops from Montreal back in 2009. A TRU alumni himself, Hanna graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business. With a passion for cooking since he was young, Hanna sat on the idea for five years before finally saving up the money and opening up his own restaurant.

Frenchies Poutinerie has been busy ever since its kickoff. According to Hanna, the first four days after opening, the restaurant was sold out by 4 p.m. and he had to hire four new employees just to keep up with customer traffic. The reasoning behind its popularity is likely due to the attention Hanna pays to his dish of choice. Everything is homemade and cooked in-house daily and leftovers are delivered to New Life Community downtown. Hanna is quite the perfectionist. Care and detail are put into every single ingredient in each dish for customers to receive the highest quality product. The pulled pork takes two days to cook, the french fries have a multi-step process to achieve perfection, and every ingredient other than the cheese is from local farms here in B.C. The cheese is from Montreal, as Hanna says that nothing beats his hometown’s cheese quality. Such care and dedication takes a lot of time and energy, but Hanna says he doesn’t mind being at the restaurant from early morning to late at night, as it is his passion.

Frenchies Poutinerie is located Downtown on 104-340 Victoria St. (Veronica Kos/The Omega) “Since it’s my own business, I have the drive to wake up in the morning and come here,” Hanna said. “It’s great being your own boss.” His passion for creating

delicious food really shows. I ordered the La Gatineau with ground beef, sautéed onions, mushrooms, bacon and jalapeños, all on a bed of fries and cheese swimming in a delicious

homemade gravy. I can confidently say it was the best poutine I have ever had. Frenchies Poutinerie is located downtown on 104-340 Victoria St. and is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

NEWS

WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA

Campaign pressures government to increase school funding Open the Doors campaign pushes to bring funding back to institutions and relieve student debt Jared MacArthur STAFF WRITER Ω The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of B.C. (FPSE) has teamed up with faculty associations throughout the province to tackle the issue of per-student government funding cuts and the negative impact they have had on institutions from program cuts to the incessant tuition costs burdening students. Hearing the call to take action, the TRU Faculty Association (TRUFA) has joined the efforts by promoting the FPSE’s Open the Doors campaign here on campus. The campaign was launched back in March 2015. The organization says that per-student funding grants from the provincial government are contributing about 20 per cent less to university coffers and putting a strain on faculty and administration. George Davison, president of the FPSE, explained that in 2002 the B.C. Liberal government decreased per-student operating grant funding to all universities, and within a year or two released a freeze on tuition fees. The federation claims that the lack of funding from the provincial government will see these costs continue to rise, as well as putting programs in jeopardy as

resources are diverted away from them and institutions look to balance the books. Although each university is subject to the same cap on tuition increases, institutions have been able to work around the cap by increasing fees in other areas, while the government has turned a blind eye, since it is the only way some of the province's universities can stay above water, according to Davison. “Institutions have found every creative way imaginable, and they’ve had 15 years to do this, to get around that tuition cap. One of the ways is by cancelling a program, revamping it, and re-launching it with higher tuition,” Davison said. In places like Langara College, Davison said, tuition fees are now accounting for up to 56 per cent of institutional revenues, showing that while universities used to not have to rely on tuition as a dominant source of revenue, they are increasingly dependent on it. Tom Friedman, president of TRUFA, said that here at TRU, “student tuition, that used to be about 20 per cent is now, for the first time, bigger than the government grant. It’s just exceeded 42 per cent.” “In terms of cuts, because of underfunding we are seeing the number of core sections, or the number of courses being cut. In

TRU Faculty Association members campaigning in April 2016, for the Open the Doors campaign. (TRUFA) other words, in some areas students have less selection in terms of courses, and some students are telling us they have had to delay their graduations,” Friedman said. This is more of a provincial government issue, though, than an institutional one, Friedman pointed out, saying that, university administrators are under a lot of pressure to recover lost revenue. He said TRU’s administration has been trying to bring more revenue into the university to sustain the operating costs in a

number of ways, from an increase in international students on campus to the new Maple Leaf University School and the development of The Reach. Universities are also under pressure to accommodate government initiatives like the Skills for Jobs Blueprint launched in 2014, which asks universities to take up to 25 per cent of their decreasing government grants and divest them into trades programs, something Davison believes does not reflect the needs of B.C. institutions, and as a result other

programs in need of funding may lose it. Every year the FPSE has submitted recommendations to the provincial government’s select standing committee on finance and government services, but has not received any response. It’s a tall order, but the Open the Doors campaign would like to see the provincial government restore post-secondary institutional funding back to what it was in 2002, and will continue to push these issues on the provincial government until they are heard.

Remembering those who might wish they could forget Wearing the poppy is not only a celebration of service but a recognition of loss and sacrifice Jared MacArthur STAFF WRITER Ω CONTINUED (COVER) More than 40 men and women from the Rocky Mountain Rangers, a primary reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces, have served on tours overseas since 2002. Maj. Amedio Vecchio, is the deputy commanding officer for the regiment and he himself has served on three tours since the 1980s. He has seen first hand what the frontlines of hostile environments are like and how difficult and rewarding it can be to be there. In 1988, Maj. Vecchio served in Bosnia and years later in 2004 he was deployed again, this time to Afghanistan, where he would return in 2011 for his last tour. His experience has taught him that soldiers really need to be signing up for the right reasons before they deploy, and that they should have a “personal purpose” for going overseas, whether they want to make a difference or just have skills they want to contribute. When you’re out on those missions, Vecchio explained, you really have to have your head on

a swivel all the time, which he calls a “condition orange.” On these operations, it is vital to be in that condition all the time, since combat situations quickly lead to scenarios in which a soldier's every decision may mean the difference between going home or not. Preparing servicemen and women is not an easy task. Before being deployed, they train for six to nine months, going through scenario after scenario of real-life combat situations, conditioning themselves to be ready. Vecchio believes the training for soldiers is enough and that the preparation and decompression structures the military has in place are outstanding compared to what we used to have, but nothing can really prepare an individual fully for what they are going to experience, or the injuries that may be sustained, be they physical or psychological. In the last two decades, there is growing recognition, by both the military and society at large, of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a legitimate health issue facing servicemen and women in the Canadian Forces. Veterans advocacy groups have been raising issue in government

The J.R. Vicars Armoury is the home of the Rocky Mountain Rangers, a reserve unit of the Canadian Forces that has been training in this area for a century. (Jared MacArthur/The Omega) for more than a decade, calling for more access to mental health professionals for injured soldiers and a compensation for continued care, as suicide rates have steadily increased among those who served in Afghanistan.

Reid Webster, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at TRU, says the psychology community is making advances in the treatment of PTSD but it is still very difficult to treat and can never be fully cured.

“It’s not about medication,” Webster said. “it’s about helping them work through this trauma.” TRU will be holding a Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 10, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Student Street in Old Main.

NEWS

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Standing Rock pipeline protest in U.S. garners support from local communities Event looked at pipeline risks in Kamloops, called for unity and respect of Indigenous laws in unceded territory Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω The anti-pipeline standoff underway in North Dakota has rallied people in Kamloops to bring to light similar issues closer to home with the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline. Members of the Secwepemc First Nation and Kamloops community members identifying as “water protectors” met on Nov. 2 to hear from community members who have gone to Standing Rock, N.D. In a press release, the organizers said that the protection of the waters of the Missouri River from pipelines reflects identical issues in Kamloops with the expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline. Water protector is the name used by those who are against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) due to the concern on the project’s impact on the local

water supply of the Missouri River. Chief Rueben George of the Tsleil-Waututh nation near North Vancouver spoke at an event on the Tk’emlups reserve. He went to Standing Rock, met with Kinder Morgan executives and took part in an Indigenous-led environmental assessment that concluded in opposing the energy company’s expansion of its Westridge Marine Terminal in the Burrard Inlet. George criticized the government’s influence by oil companies. He also said that the First Nation’s laws should precede any Canadian laws in the land where Kinder Morgan is expanding the Trans Mountain pipeline. This is because it is unceded territory that has not been signed off in a treaty. Several members of the Secwepemc nation have been to Standing Rock, including Evelyn Camille, Jody Leon, Henry Saul, Keenan Phillip, Art Manuel and Gwa.

Last month Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, the local area of the Secwepemc nation, accepted $3 million in a mutual benefit agreement given by Kinder Morgan in order to expand the pipeline through their territory. According to George, former Conservative finance minister Joe Oliver once asked why don’t First Nations take the money being offered by energy companies? “We don’t need it more than the reciprocal relationships between us, the land and the water,” George said. “Standing Rock is a good idea.” Social work sessional faculty member and Tk’emlups community member Jeffrey McNeil-Seymour was the master of ceremonies. In a later interview, McNeil-Seymour said that the event had a good turnout and that its intent was to call upon Indigenous and settler allies from both sides of the river.

ABOVE: Social work sessional faculty member Jeffrey McNeil speaks at the solidarity event at Moccasin Square Gardens. LEFT: Amy George, TsleilWaututh Chief Rueben George, Evelyn Camille, Jody Leon, Henry Saul, Keenan Phillip and Gwa have traveled to Standing Rock to protest in the past. Photos Martin McFarlane/The Omega

He also said that it is profound that Secwepemc people are on the front lines at Standing Rock opposing DAPL construction. McNeil-Seymour agreed with everything said by George at the event, and is “appalled” at the lack of consultation before the agreement between Kinder Morgan and Tk’emlups was finalized. McNeil-Seymour said that while the decisions themselves should be held accountable, the decision-makers are not inherently bad people, adding that they are community members and family, and that they are loved. “Collectively, we can do things different. The blame doesn’t have to be placed squarely on their shoulders,” McNeil-Seymour said. “We can carry it together.” With Kamloops being a resource-based community,

McNeil-Seymour said that the work is in raising consciousness on the environmental issues and encouraging “yucamin’min,” which is protecting the earth and its people. “This is really about coming together,” McNeil-Seymour said. Standing Rock is a Sioux native American reservation that is on the route of the Dakota Access pipeline. The pipeline, in which Calgary-based Enbridge owns a stake, would carry oil from the state of North Dakota to Illinois. Protesters have been in action since the summer blocking the construction route and demonstrating against the project. Indigenous groups from across the United States and Canada have rallied in protest of the pipeline. They fear the project’s environmental risks and future impact.

TRU’s first video production art class hits the screens Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω Trains, peanut butter and jelly and stop motion came together at the Riverside Park Bandshell in the latest show of talent by TRU’s newest visual arts class. The event, part of the Kamloops Art Gallery’s Luminocity series, featured short films made by TRU’s video production class. The second-year visual arts course is the first of its kind at TRU. According to Doug Buis, the faculty member running the course, the section was filled to capacity and has generated even more interest on campus. “I was really excited by having [a film course]. It’s overbooked and it seems to be working out quite well,” Buis said. The videos showcased were

created as part of two assignments given by Buis. Anton Shilka, a fourth-year business student who is also working on his visual arts certificate, went above and beyond the scope of the assignments, producing a 15-minute short film in black and white with a distinct Russian style of filmmaking. Titled “Amba,” the bleak film follows a jobless young man that is marginalized by society. He began work on the film eight months ago in a previous visual arts class and continued progress on it in Buis’s Video Production class. Shilka describes his work as a political video exploring notions of anti-industrialism and nihilism, which looks at life as meaningless and not guided by religious and moral principles. While it was not based on any particular style, he was inspired by Russian filmmaker

Andrei Tarkovsky, French New Wave style and urban settings. If he had to change his work, Shilka would keep the film dreamy and abstract, but would make the character more human and easier to relate to. “You always want to change your work,” Shilka said, adding that artists have to beat the anxiety of perfecting their pieces. Later in the film, the main character snaps and destroys everything in his room, including a coffee maker, a lamp, and even throws a brick through a TV. “[The film] needed a catharsis, a resolution of sorts,” Shilka said, adding that smashing is a good way to channel emotions. “It’s a pretty long dragging movie. I think it needed some sort of action.” Shilka said that he learned a lot from Buis and the most important

Anton Shelka showed his 15-minute short film at the event. (Martin McFarlane/The Omega) lesson he takes away from the class is to be more fearless in what an artist wants to do. Buis hopes that the success of the inaugural program will allow for more classes and to expand into

other genres such as documentary filmmaking. Plans are getting underway to host a film festival on campus at the end of the semester to present all of the students’ work.

ARTS

WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA

Film review: Doctor Strange Jonathan Malloy CONTRIBUTOR Ω I have come to realize a distinct feature happening with this year’s releases: quite a few are marvellously crafted with visuals and characters that take years to create, yet are so peculiarly short that you have to wonder if the scripts were cut 10 pages, as to not worry investors. Including The Girl on the Train, Hacksaw Ridge, Star Trek Beyond and several others, each film seems to end in a way that tries to tantalize the next entry or insinuate a certain style, yet end up feeling half-baked in their final moments. At 115 minutes, it could be understandable to not want the audience to “get bored” as we dip into the final act, nevertheless I can’t help but wish some more had been invested in creating a great finale for the movie and not as another

springboard for the continuing Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite these feelings, it is hard not to commend director Scott Derrickson and his cast in crafting a wildly weird film that can be considered both psychedelic and mind-bending in its visuals. Derrickson, as well as his cinematographer Ben Davis, create a vibrant and beautiful film. It differentiates itself from its competitors by embracing the magic that surrounds Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange as he learns about the Marvel Universe’s unique approach to the spiritual arts brought to life by many visual effects artists that make the entire film have a tangible reality that I have yet to see since Avatar. As most may know, the film follows Strange, played with asto-be-expected brilliance by Benedict Cumberbatch, an arrogant surgeon who loses the function of his hands and is forced to

find a new path in his life before stumbling into the magical realm of physics-altering, reality-warping magic. The entire cast really cements the world into a realistic, albeit far-fetched, experience that proves to be great character material for the likes of Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton and Mads Mikkelsen, with a stirringly funny performance that hasn’t been fully seen before from the great Chiwetel Ejiofor. The film is bound to rake in swimming pools full of money this week, yet ultimately I am more excited to see where the characters introduced here will end up in future installments. The film itself is a stunning work of characters and visual effects, but I am more hopeful that future Marvel releases will take longer with their final acts, give these great characters more time to celebrate their acts and actually have a resolution.

Mel Gibson and Hollywood’s arc of redemption Jonathan Malloy CONTRIBUTOR Ω Actor, director, father, and for quite a while a complete outcast in Hollywood, Mel Gibson’s career has taken a variety of paths since he stepped into the limelight in several amazing Australian films, only to be characterized as someone who is distinctly, well, Mel. With his blacklist from the industry being somewhat retracted with the immense praise coming from his latest film Hacksaw Ridge, it seems that Gibson is poised to make a comeback, with many calling for a nomination for best director at the upcoming Academy Awards. While I was watching Hacksaw Ridge this past weekend, I started to understand where many critics were coming from. The film is extremely well made from its two major battle scenes and the tender portrayals of each major character that provided a deep sense of commitment to seeing these people

find their way home. While preachy at times, the film commits to its main character who is deeply religious, thus providing a reason for the film to take this preoccupation. But, as the film transitioned to its final battle, I will say that personally I felt the film’s motivation slid away from the characters accurate depiction and into that of something else entirely. The casual racism felt throughout the film peaked at the final sequence as the glorious Americans fight against their Japanese enemies, lighting them on fire, firing bullets into hordes of men, gripping onto their firearms as a chorus of “angelic” voices ascend them above as the “Japs” fall below. After reading this, how do you feel? Listen, I am the first to point out that I am not the most PC of people writing in the paper, yet I do feel this is a bit of an antiquated way to think. Thus my confusion with the film is propelled possibly by either my lack of understanding of the filmmaker’s intent (wholly

possible) or that the praise this film is receiving complements the complete lack of understanding in the industry many felt earlier this year with the controversy surrounding the whitewashing of the Academy Awards. And so the reason for Mel Gibson’s induction back into the circle of praise still eludes me. While he has provided several moments of questionable reasoning in the past, many will see his fall from the spotlight as his anti-Semitic statements and general bad behaviour following his 2006 DUI. He blamed this behaviour on his alcoholism and the state of his relationship with his ex-wife. Yet, 10 years later many commenters have undoubtedly fallen for the wave that is following his newest film. And, while his filmmaking still has an acute sense of spectacle, Apocalypto being an extremely well crafted Mayan chase film, I have to wonder at what level of discrepancy the film industry is willing to look over to have another golden Hollywood comeback story. Gibson may very well have

a long and prosperous career ahead of him, but I feel like the audience should be more critical of the platform allowing these sentiments to slip into the everyday consciousness.

To this extent, expect Donald Trump’s “All American Exchange” to be making its way to your television on Fox in about a decade. I mean, who doesn’t love to root for the underdog?

UPPER COLLEGE HEIGHTS Located at 704 McGill Road, Kamloops, B.C. (Across the street from TRU & Superstore) Our office is open Monday to Friday from 9am-1pm & 3pm-5pm. Come in & view our Show Suite on site! *Discounted Summer Student Rooms available for immediate rental May 2 –Aug 5/16 only $1075 *Fall/16 & Winter/17 semester (Sept 1/16 to April 21/17) $3800 (*plus $250 security deposit). For payment due dates and more information please visit our website www.uppercollege.com Email: uch@uppercollege.com. Phone: (250) 372-0207 during office hours

HOUSING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FOR 25 YEARS!

NEWS

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Opinion: An event against procrastination could lead to more of it Jennifer Will ARTS EDITOR Ω Twice a year the TRU Writing Centre and TRU library host the Long Night Against Procrastination, an event aimed at motivating students to work through the night and get their assignments done. However, this way of thinking may have affect sleep patterns and reinforce bad habits that should be nipped in the bud. The sentiment for the event is great: providing students a venue for a marathon study session that aims to alleviate some mid-semester stress by providing motivation to get their assignments done and over with. Although the event means well, isn’t it misguided? It reinforces the bad habits of all-night cramming, which is usually the result of procrastination itself, and this is something that could possibly carry over into one’s professional life after school. The real issue here isn’t the long night against procrastination, but the general attitude students have towards sleep: that they can go without it and not suffer the consequences.

Meaghan Hagerty, the Wellness Centre Coordinator says that sleep is a key aspect to academic success. “I can’t stress enough on how important sleep is. When you’re sleeping is when you’re creating your memories and storing information and things like that. So mentally and grades-wise, if you’re not sleeping, it’s been shown that your academic performance goes down,” Hagerty said. Late night, let alone all-night cramming sessions maintain the idea that procrastination is a good idea and can be worked around. It represents ideals that if you can just get it done all in one night, why not leave it to the last minute? Hagerty adds that sacrificing your sleep for a cramming session, although inevitably a part of student life, is not ideal. “As far as academic performance, and both your physical and mental health, late night cramming sessions are not the golden answer,” Hagerty said. Students were encouraged to attend the event with incentives like free pizza at midnight and a 6 a.m. “survivor’s breakfast.” As silly as it

sounds, this positive encouragement entices students to make these bad decisions. I mean who can really say no to free food? Hagerty stressed that no matter how tempting it can be to leave it all to the night before, students should try to plan ahead so they can create good habits that will lead into their future working life. “If there is one thing that students had to do, if they had to pick one thing to do, I would definitely say that sleep should be up there,” Hagerty said. The stress of classes is an understandably sensitive subject. The pressure to complete assignments while balancing your social and academic lives is demanding and therefore students tend to procrastinate when they can. Although it may sound counter intuitive, sometimes the best option is to put down the books and close your eyes. With all that said, one night probably won’t ruin your life, but students should be wary of habits that could start to form or that they are continuing to reinforce, and maybe we should think about rescheduling that long night into the daylight hours.

Are events like LNAP reinforcing bad habits? (Jennifer Will/The Omega)

CFBX TOP 30 CFBX 92.5 FM Campus & Community Radio Kamloops, B.C. Music Director: Steve Marlow Charts to November 3, 2016 * indicates Canadian Content ** indicates a local artist

TRU master of nursing program receives approval Classes may begin as early as January 2017, funds committed towards new nursing building Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω Thompson Rivers University may begin offering a master of nursing program as soon as January 2017, following the approval it received from the Ministry of Advanced Education to run the program on Nov. 7. TRU says the program will offer “opportunities for baccalaureate nurses and registered nurses to gain leadership roles within the field, advance healthcare knowledge and obtain clinical education for academia.” Students can choose to study part-time or full-time and a “blended delivery model” means offerings are both in-person and

online. There are 33 credits on offer through the program and it has five core courses. Students can opt to complete a thesis, a major project or a major paper. Other focuses may include indigenous health leadership, clinical education and practice and nursing education, according to TRU. The announcement follows plans for a new nursing building on campus, announced in September. The new Nursing and Population Health Building would cost $31 million, and the university must first commit $8 million to get the go-ahead. At the beginning of November, the project received a $550,000 commitment from the Stollery Foundation.

1) Tanya Tagaq* - Retribution (Six Shooter) 2) Snowblink* - Returning Current (Outside) 3) Preoccupations* - Preoccupations (Flemish Eye) 4) Delhi 2 Dublin* - We're All Desi Remixed (Westwood) 5) We Are Wolves* - Wrong (Fantome) 6) Emilie and Ogden* - 10000 Solo (Secret City) 7) Pang Attack* - North Country Psychic Girls (Independent) 8) The Pack A.D.* - Positive Thinking (Cadence) 9) Groenland* - A Wider Space (Bonsound) 10) TUNS* - TUNS (Royal Mountain) 11) The Agonist* - Five (Napalm) 12) Charlotte Day Wilson* - CDW (Independent) 13) Crystal Castles* - Amnesty (I) (Last Gang) 14) Tracy K* - What's the Rush? (Independent) 15) The O'Pears* - Like Those Nights (Independent) 16) Harpdog Brown* - Travelin' with the Blues (Dog Breath) 17) Peppermoth* - Now You Hear Me (Big Mind) 18) Diana Braithewaite/Chris Whiteley* - Blues Country (Big City Blues) 19) Boreal Sons* - You and Everyone (Independent) 20) Jack Garton* - Move This Mess Around (Independent) 21) Leagues - Alone Together (Dualtone) 22) Fond of Tigers* - Uninhabit (Drip Audio) 23) Like a Motorcycle* - High Hopes (Ground Swell) 24) Les Finnigan* - Out in the Wild (Independent) 25) Sunday Wilde* - Blueberries and Grits (Hwy 11) 26) Sex with Strangers* - Disclosure (Northern Light) 27) Turkwaz* - Nazar (Independent) 28) July Talk* - Touch (Sleepless) 29) Harrison Brome* - Fill Your Brains (Nettwerk) 30) Laurenn Marchand* - Ghosts in the Garden (Independent)

WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA

THE OMEGA

COMICS & PUZZLES

10 Puzzle of the Week #9 — Paths You see a giant chessboard at a park. If you start from the square of your choice and walk from the center of the square to the center of an adjacent (but not diagonally adjacent) square and keep doing this, how long is the shortest route where you have visited each of the 64 squares at least once? 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.

SUDOKUBREAK 3

5 8

6 4 3 5

5 5

1 4

3 7

9 2

1 6

6 8

YOUR COMIC HERE WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR STUDENT CARTOONISTS. WHY NOT GIVE IT A SHOT? EMAIL EDITOR@TRUOMEGA.CA

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

SPORTS

WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA

Both teams drop games in basketball opening weekend Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω Basketball season kicked off this past weekend with home and season openers for both the men’s and women’s teams, who each had a tough first opponent, facing the UBC Thunderbirds. For the women, offense proved to be a real struggle. In their first game, the team put up 46 points to UBC’s 72, and in their second, the team put up just 38 to UBC’s 58. Turnovers were another major factor in the team’s weekend losses. The bright spots for TRU over the weekend were the performances from Shenise Sigsworth, who put up 9 points, 4 rebounds and one steal in the team’s first game, and Chelsey Hoey, who put up 9 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in the second. The results on the men’s side

were similar, with the team losing both of its weekend games. For the men, the weekend started with a 96-60 pounding from UBC. The team was outscored in every quarter, going 20 for 51 in baskets (39 per cent) the first night. One standout player was Volodymyr Iegorov, who brought in 16 points for the ‘Pack, on top of his 4 rebounds and 5 assists. In their second game, also a loss, things were a bit closer, with the team putting up 67 points to UBC’s 78. TRU outscored UBC in the first two quarters and even tied them in the fourth, but the third quarter saw UBC outscore them 30-13. TRU was shooting about the same, going 22 for 58. Derek Rhodes came through big for TRU, putting up 20 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals in his 37 minutes on the court.

Derek Rhodes and Chelsey Hoey were two of a few bright spots for TRU over the weekend, putting up noteworthy performances against the visiting UBC Thunderbirds. (TRU Athletics)

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2–2–0

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 0–4–0

Next game: Nov. 11, TCC

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 0–2–0

MEN’S BASKETBALL 0–2–0

Next game: Nov. 11, Winnipeg, Man.

WINS, LOSSES, TIES

* DENOTES EXHIBITION REORD

THE OMEGA

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Nov 17th at 6PM

in the TRUSU Lecture Hall details at trusu.ca/events

Do you have a dentist appointment? Need to find your health plan number? Wondering what is covered on your plan?

visit trusu.ca/health-dental for more info

Grant Information Sessions Find out more about how you can apply for funding at attend a conference, host an event, or hold an on-campus lecture!

â&#x20AC;˘ Conference Grants - Nov 23 at 4PM â&#x20AC;˘ Event Grants - Nov 24 at 4PM details at trusu.ca/events trusu.ca

/TRUStudentsUnion

@TRUSU15