MY MILKSHAKE BRINGS ALL THE GIRLS TO THE YARD
PICKS FOR FLICKS
CHECKING IN ON THE 'PACK
A study abroad success story
The top films of 2016
WolfPack weekend results
One student's story of how she formed relationships with strangers overseas • Page 2
We've got 10 recommendations for flicks that might have flown under your radar • Page 5
See how your WolfPack teams fared over their weekend games • Page 7
OMEGA Ω THE
ISSUE NO. 16
THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1991
VOLUME 26
JANUARY 18, 2017
A B Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
NEW ISSUE EVERY WEDNESDAY · WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA · @TRU_OMEGA · FB.ME/TRUOMEGA
The artwork of
Xiao Han A new exhibit by a TRU graduate whose family endured China's one-child policy PAGE 3
Sexual assault policy to be presented to TRU board in February Board notice postponed from December meeting to allow for more consultation Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω The notice of motion for TRU’s draft sexual violence policy was originally meant to be presented at the Dec. 9 Board of Governors meeting, but was moved last month to the Feb. 3 meeting to allow more time to evaluate feedback. Consultations were coordinated with several councils and groups on both campuses from Sep. 21 to Dec. 2, days before the Board of Governors meeting on Dec. 9. Dean of Students Christine Adam said that over 100 people have given feedback to the policy. By postponing the notice of motion to February, Adam said that it allows time to properly consider feedback on the policy and will not affect the timeline to implement the policy.
Legislation to require universities to implement sexual violence response policies was introduced last May as a private member’s bill by B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver. The provincial government has given post-secondary institutions until May 19 to implement their policies. The draft policy lists the responsibilities of the university to survivors of sexual violence on campus, including providing support services, investigating the incident and disciplining the accused, if it is found that they engaged in sexual violence. The policy also implements providing education to the university community on consent and sexual violence prevention. “The main focus [of the policy] is to create a safe place for everyone to work and study. It’s prevention, it’s response to survivors, and then it is having appropriate reporting mechanism when survivors decide that
GET FLEXIBLE
they want to go forward with a university process,” Adam said. Survivors are also supported in reporting the incident to police, but only if they wish to do so, and can do so anonymously by being connected to the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre, who is able to report the incident without identifying the survivor. Sierra Rae, women’s representative for TRUSU, said that she believes the draft policy is sufficient and she is encouraged by open participation in the consultation process. The TRUSU Equity Committee participated in developing the policy and is pleased with the draft. “We think that the commitment to the sexual violence education in the policy is excellent and that the policy protects victims and provides a fair process to those accused,” Rae said.
YEAR OF THE AWESOME FOOD
“I think this policy … is going to be really important for protecting people who have endured sexual violence and making [sexual violence] an issue.”
Have something to say? Students and staff have until Jan. 20 to submit feedback. Visit: www.tru.ca/sexual-violence/ policy-consultation
GAMERS
Yoga sessions on offer for all body types
Spring Festival to mark Chinese New Year
Success at National MBA Games
"Abundant Bodies" yoga sessions offer an inclusive take on staying flexible • Page 2
Chinese New Year celebrations scheduled for Friday this week • Page 4
A TRU team faced off against schools from all across Canada • Page 4