Jan. 25, 2017 by The Omega

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOUR

FINDING HELP

BE THERE, MAKE DECISIONS

"Serious problems" with student appeals

A struggle to find mental health help

TRUSU AGM happens this week

TRUSU's executive director is raising concerns that TRU's appeals process isn't working • Page 4

One student's story on her experience dealing with TRU and the mental health system • Page 5

Student union's annual meeting takes place on Thursday • Page 4

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VOLUME 26

JANUARY 25, 2017

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SKIS AND BOARDS FLY HIGH OVER CAMPUS HILLS by Wade Tomko

The mind behind last Friday’s Campus In-flight skiing and snowboarding demonstration, Myles Williamson, called the event a “huge success.” “I don’t think this could have gone any better. It’s a dream come true,” said Williamson after the event. Campus In-flight, which showcased what professional skiers and snowboarders can do when given a high-speed winch and a 45-foot jump, had been an idea of Williamson’s for over a year. As the founding member of Out Here, TRU’s ski and snowboard club, Williamson came up with the idea as a way to show TRU students what goes on within Out Here without having to be on a ski hill. “All the stuff that goes on in the ski and snowboard club has to happen on a mountain,” Williamson said. “But it’s hard to show students what these trips can be like through photos, videos or a booth on campus while saying, ‘Hey come out to the mountain,’ when they have no idea what these trips can be like.” Wanting to host an event on campus that he could fully call his own, the idea for Campus In-flight came to Williamson while he was in the Brown Family House of Learning. “I work in the HOL and below there are those rolling hills, the teletubby hills. One day I was just looking out the window and I noticed how there are two knolls that are in perfect alignment and perfect distance for a jump,” Williamson said. “So I thought about and decided I wanted to make an event of it.” Williamson, who is Red Bull’s student brand manager for TRU, then pitched his idea to the energy drink company. The prospect of holding an extreme sporting event on a university campus appealed to Red Bull, who Williamson said was onboard with the idea from the very beginning. Skiers and boarders: Nick Carlson (top), Cole Belland (bottom left), Matt Carr (bottom middle), Abby Lewis (bottom right). See more photos online at www.TRUOmega.ca/bigair2017 – photos by Marcela Arévalo and Wade Tomko

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NO 'ALTERNATIVE FACTS' HERE

Spring Festival displays Chinese culture

Mayor's Gala for the Arts recognizes artists

Women march in Kamloops

Annual event offers plenty of culture, entertainment and food • Page 7

Awards include artist of the year, business in support of the arts and • Page 6

Kamloops had its own Women's March on Washington in solidarity • Page 2

NEWS

JANUARY 25, 2017

Campus In-flight marked as a success by the event’s creator Wade Tomko CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ω CONTINUED (COVER) The biggest hurdle for getting the event started however, would be TRU itself. It wasn’t until Williamson met Billy Collins, a lecturer within TRU’s department of Tourism Management, that Campus In-flight became an

achievable goal. “I talked to a few people about making this event, and they all said, ‘Talk to Billy Collins, he is kind of the guy who makes stuff happen around here,’” Williamson said. After proposing Campus In-flight to Collins, Williamson said that the event really started to take shape. “He submitted to me his idea in written form, in a proposal and I thought, ‘We can do this, but it has

to be done the right way,’” Collins said. “I cleaned up and edited Myles’ proposal a bit. Then we sent it off to Warren Asuchak of Facilities, Jacquetta Goy of Risk Management and Glenn Read of Ancillary Services. Right from the start they had been super supportive of it.” Collins was even able to secure financial backing for the event from both Ancillary Services and TRU Tourism Management. In total,

the event cost $1,500, the majority of which went to GK Sound, the company who provided the lighting and sound equipment for the event. Though both Williamson and Collins said that the event’s biggest expense came in the form of time, with Williamson putting in nearly 100 hours of his time in the week before the event. Collins, who is hoping to use the event to sell the tourism

management program to potential students, thinks that Campus Inflight may usher in a new era where universities are comfortable with hosting more events with potential risks. “We have lots of events on this campus, all the time, to the point where there are too many,” Collins said. “I think we need a few more extraordinary events.”

Women's March shows solidarity, for rights and against Trump presidency Women, men and children stand up for women's rights in march from City Hall to Riverside Park, part of a larger worldwide event drawing millions into the streets Sarah Kirschmann STAFF WRITER Ω Last Saturday, the square in front of Kamloops City Hall filled with approximately 200 protesters, who gathered to show solidarity with the Women's March movement. Originating in Washington, D.C., more than a million people turned out across the globe, from Buenos Aires to New Delhi, to protest the election of Donald Trump and speak up for human rights. These women’s marches grew from a global grassroots movement of people looking for an outlet for

their political discontent. The movement is based on Martin Luther King's principles of non-violent activism. In a press release, the national Women's March organizers called for all political parties to prioritize health care, economic security, representation and security for all people, regardless of gender or ability or race or sexual orientation. This diversity was represented by the Kamloops crowd of protesters, including everyone from infants to grandmothers. Many were wearing the pink 'pussyhats' which have become symbols of the movement, inspired by President Trump's “grab

them by the pussy” comment. The Kamloops march was organized by Angela Frye and TRU student Carlin Bolt. Frye said the idea was sparked by watching the events in the United States unfold. “We just wanted some way to show that we do not support [Trump's politics]. We believe in equality and unity and solidarity and diversity,” Frye said. The organizers also expressed surprise at the size of the turnout, as the event was “very last minute.” “It just goes to show how many people are unhappy with the hate speech,” Frye said. The march began with a moment

of silence. Next, there were several speakers, including B.C. NDP candidates Nancy Bepple and Barbara Nederpel. Bepple's message reminded the crowd that while events further south triggered this protest, there is still work to be done in B.C. “[The government] set the legislation that guarantees our rights, but we are the ones who have to fight for it again and again and again,” she said. Bepple went on to cite examples of historical wins for women, like equal pay and reproductive rights, saying “these things didn't happen on their own.”

“We protest today because we know that these gains are in danger of being destroyed,” Nederpel said. She questioned the desirability of Trump's campaign promise to “make America great again,” pointing out that from the perspective of minority groups, a return to an outdated climate of increased misogyny and racial tension is a real fear. All speakers emphasized the need to band together to create political change, and to continue the conversation started by the march. As put by Charlene Eden, KSAAC agency coordinator, “When we're divided, patriarchy wins.”

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Records show that sexual assault policy development started in 2014 Wade Tomko CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ω In December 2016, the Omega obtained documents from Thompson Rivers University under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act that revealed the development of the university’s upcoming sexual assault policy was first mentioned in October 2014. What appears to have set in motion the development of the current policy was being contacted by a Toronto Star reporter asking how universities across Canada address sexual assault in terms of policy and education. The Star’s article, which was published in November 2014, revealed that only nine of the 102 universities contacted had specific, separate policies to deal with sexual assault. While the university did not have a sexual assault policy in place, they did state in their response to the Star that they had taken steps to educate students on the issue of sexual violence. Such steps noted by the university

include the “Don’t Be That Guy” campaign during 2013’s Sexual Health Week and Mike Domitrz’s “Can I Kiss You?” presentation in September 2014. Another example given by TRU to the Star was Meghan Gardiner’s sexual assault education show “Dissolve,” which the university said was attended by 150 to 200 people “in each of the past four years.” When Omega contributor Alexis Stockford attended the event in 2014, however, she made note of 60 people in the audience. TRU also told the Star that residence advisors at the TRU Residence and Conference Centre (RCC) are trained on the topics of consent, sexual assault, resources and related company protocols. Resident advisors are employees of Campus Living Centres, the company that manages RCC. The university also told the Star that it was drafting a code of conduct that will address sexual assault, although no records prior to the Star response were returned in the information request. The documents obtained in the request also show that TRU

tried to model its sexual assault policy after the policy in place at Queen’s University. TRU considered adopting an interim sexual assault policy similar to Queen’s in February of 2015, and formally announced its own interim sexual assault policy on July 29, 2015. While the Queen’s sexual assault policy served as a template for the what TRU’s policy would eventually become, administrators at TRU were also looking at the policies of other universities across Canada, such as York and the University of Winnipeg. During policy development, TRU also contacted the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre for advice, which also features in the policy as it is currently drafted. TRU did not reveal that a sexual assault policy was in development until after the Omega published an article in June 2015 detailing one student’s issues in reporting her sexual assault to campus counsellors. The policy, which has been in development for over two years, will be presented to the TRU Board for approval on Feb. 3, 2017.

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NEWS

JANUARY 25, 2017

Student appeals process has “serious problems”: Lane TRUSU refuses to send students as representatives on appeals committee Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω The Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union is refusing to put students forward for appointment to the senate appeals committee, the body that hears student grade appeals and complaints, over concerns that the process is unfair and inconsistent. In the past, TRUSU’s student caucus has been asked to put forward student representatives to fill the position. But now, TRUSU executive director Nathan Lane says that they will no longer respond to those requests. To appeal a grade, a student must first try to resolve the issue with his professor. If that isn’t successful, however, the student can pursue a hearing before the senate appeals committee, which consists of two faculty representatives, two student representatives and the committee chair. Students and faculty are drawn from a committee membership roster that includes faculty from a variety of departments and is supposed to include students from a variety of departments, as well. Lane has watched a number of

appeals from up close. Through TRUSU, he serves as the member’s advocate, a kind of guide in the process that advises students and prepares them for their appeal hearing. He helps students fill out forms, helps determine which questions they should ask and will sit with them at their appeal, although he isn’t allowed to speak at the hearings. The main issues for Lane are a lack of consistency in the process, no adherence to the principles of natural justice, no rules for evidence and a lack of training for the included parties. “I can’t imagine anyone who would participate in this process and not recognize that there are serious problems that need to be addressed,” Lane said. To provide an example of the issues, Lane talked about how evidence is handled in hearings and how accusations that seem indefensible can be brought up in hearings. “In numerous appeals that I’ve participated in, evidence that a student may have committed plagiarism would be that a faculty member would come in and say ‘John Smith has been in two of my classes and did only mediocre, and therefore I would

What was your experience trying to appeal a grade? Let us know. Write to editor@truomega.ca.

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find it hard to believe that John By the nature of his position, Smith got an 80,’” Lane said. as university registrar and “I can’t imagine anyone “There’s no bar for evidence.” chair of the appeals committee, Lane also said that witBluhm will be involved in the who would participate nesses are often called before review of the policy, but didn’t in this process and not the committee without even comment on the progress of knowing what they’re going to addressing issues raised by recognize that there are be testifying about. TRUSU. serious problems that Another issue on the table is “I don’t think it’s far enough need to be addressed,” the lack of training. Faculty and along in that review,” he said. student representatives hearing When asked if he’d be willing Nathan Lane a student’s case only receive a to consider the issues brought Executive director at TRUSU binder full of information that forward by TRUSU, Bluhm said has been collected and reviewed he would. by the student affairs office and “That’s the point of a review, the university registrar, and the to make sure that you’ve got a rest is up to them. working policy that outlines Michael Bluhm, associate a procedure that is intended vice-president strategic enrolment about natural justice, about issues of to ensure fairness and equity and and university registrar, said “It’s evidence,” Lane said. ensure unbiased opinions and tricky,” when it comes to training. As for evidence, Bluhm said he decisions,” Bluhm said. Bluhm also sits as the chair of the doesn’t see the issue, and that evi“We absolutely have to be open appeals committee. dence presented, even if it’s hearsay, to look at how that policy is serving “If you consider the hearing panel. should be given to committee the current needs and situations.” Is it a panel of lawyers? Is it a panel members for a hearing. He added that the coming of trained judicial administrators? “It’s not going to be filtered out consultation will “certainly involve” Or is it more aligned with, say, a jury? from getting to the panel, but at the TRUSU and other groups on The idea of a jury is that they are panel hearing, the panel of course, campus, like faculty and the office unbiased, they are untrained, they should be diligent enough to say of student affairs, and noted that are the public view,” Bluhm said. ‘Okay, this is a claim, where’s the any changes must be “meaningful “The idea of a panel is that it is evidence?’” Bluhm said. and suit everyone’s needs.” people that are engaged in the same “I, as chair, would have some acUntil the policy is reviewed and kind of activity at the institution, countability in making sure that the changes are implemented, however, whether it’s providing education panel is taking into consideration Lane said that TRUSU won’t be or receiving education, and to have the validity of the information before responding to requests for students. their own opinions about that.” them.” “Until the institution can But if you ask Lane, the stakes are demonstrate that this process is too high to not train those who hear Under review improved, that it has training, that it a student’s case. Policies at TRU are given a review has regulations, that it has oversight “At stake in an appeal is often date when they are approved by from institutional staff who are somebody’s academic future. There senate. ED 4-0, the policy that supporting and resourcing it … is not a single moment of training covers student academic appeals, we are not going to be subjecting provided to people who sit on the was to come under review in April student representatives to participanel about procedural fairness, 2016. pate in that.”

Students have a say on proposed changes at annual TRUSU meeting Changes concern student caucus, vice president and director-at-large positions Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω Every year, the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union holds its annual general meeting, where major changes to the union can be voted by students. This year, the AGM will take place on Thursday, Jan. 26, and there are a number of special resolutions on the table that, if approved, will change how the union operates. The first of three major changes would be to the student caucus, a group of volunteer student representatives that provides input to institutional committees and lobbies for change. This year’s special resolutions seek to recognize student caucus meetings as standing meetings of the union, making the caucus more like every other committee of the organization. “We’re proposing that there be two committee representatives from the caucus who would actually be democratically elected and then would also sit on the board, similar to the structure of other committees,” said Nathan Lane, TRUSU’s executive director.

Another change is to the director-at-large positions the union has used in years past. Previously, students were elected to these general positions and those elected found work on committees afterwards, with electors having little idea what the person they were electing would do once elected. On the agenda for Thursday’s meeting is the proposal to replace those four directors-at-large with nine other positions, including the aforementioned two student caucus steering representatives, two campaigns committee representatives, two entertainment committee representatives, two services representatives and a visible minority students’ representative. When asked how the union would accommodate that kind of growth, Lane said he wasn’t concerned. “It’s not that we’re going to have a plan to accommodate that growth. The amount of things we’re doing already requires those people. It’s not a question of creating the people and then finding work for them,” he said. A third major change is the creation of the vice president equity position and the renaming of the

At least 50 students in attendance are required to meet quorum and pass special resolutions this year. (FILE PHOTO) vice president finance position, to be replaced by the vice president services. “A couple of years ago we sort of evolved the equity committee to do some of the work that members had been talking to us about around our Storyteller’s Gala, around participating in international days and other equity-based issues. The committee evolved, but it never had a vice-president,” Lane said. Lane said that the current

portfolio for the vice president internal, which includes the entertainment committee and the equity committee, is too much for one person to handle. Attendance will be one issue the union may face this year. Last year, although there were special resolutions on the table, they weren’t voted on because the meeting did not meet quorum. TRUSU’s bylaws dictate that 50 members or five per cent of the membership (whichever

is smaller) must attend the meeting in order to pass special resolutions. Lane said that steps have been taken to address attendance issues, including better communication. “We can’t just post a Facebook post and think people are going to come to the meeting,” he said. “Board members have been more active in being out talking to people, and so have staff and clubs. I sincerely hope we’re going to have 50 people at this meeting.”

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Student struggled to find help for mental health issues Student seeking help with mental health found barriers at TRU and in the health care system Jean Strong CONTRIBUTOR Ω In 2015, Jaime Warren was rushed by ambulance to Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) where she stayed for a week. She was suffering from anxiety and depression and needed help. Warren felt alone and scared and said she was passed between doctors and nurses. She missed classes and midterms at Thompson Rivers University, but at the time, school was the last thing on her mind. When Warren returned to TRU, she thought getting help would be simple. The staff at RIH told her the university had great supports for mental health, but when she approached counselling about getting help, she was surprised to learn how little they could do for her. Her anxiety made contacting professors on her own nearly impossible, and she feels that the TRU counsellor she was seeing didn’t follow through on the offer to help. “It felt like she was trying to get

rid of me,” Warren said of how she was treated by a TRU counsellor during an appointment. “I withdrew because I was left to talk to teachers on my own. With help, I would have had more leeway. I purposely took the path of least resistance, out of fear of being denied extra help and time periods.” Waiting for care Warren was referred to a private counsellor, for which she had to wait four months. Tara Mochizuki, an Interior Health spokesperson, said wait times vary for different services, but appointments for a private session with a counsellor or psychiatrist can take months. Waits at Kamloops Mental Health and Substance Use can be even longer for those who cannot access care privately. An estimated 20 per cent of Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, and wait times have been a challenge across the country. “I don’t think Kamloops is any different than anywhere else,” she said. She added that group-based

services in the city may actually make access easier than elsewhere. For TRU students, accessing university-based counselling takes less time, said Cliff Robinson, cochair of the TRU counselling and academic support department. “I’ve been here 10 years, and the biggest wait I’ve ever seen is two weeks,” Robinson said. Alone in a foreign place The challenge greater than the wait time for students like Warren is managing care alone during a time in life when stress is already high. The university works with various community services, including Mental Health, where students with certain or severe issues can be referred for further help. But, after a referral between agencies, patients are on their own to follow through. “There is a self-management component of this too,” Mochizuki said. “In all parts of health care we’re looking to the patient to really guide their health care, and I recognize that that's sometimes difficult for some folks.”

Warren said she struggled while moving from departments in the hospital, to the school, to private care. “I was forced to try and stand up for myself and believe in myself at a point in my life where that was really difficult,” she said. “It was really difficult to try and motivate myself to fix my situation when my mind was telling me that I'm not good enough to succeed, and that I don't matter enough to become something.” Mochizuki agreed it can be challenging for patients to access the care they need. “I think that our system, regardless of how much work we do to try and make it seem seamless, is cumbersome. And I think it's confusing for people. Especially when you’re in a mental health or substance abuse crisis, you’re suffering…that's a particularly challenging time in your life. So to navigate through any system, regardless of how simple we try to make it, is challenging.“ Warren said she doesn’t blame the school for her withdrawal, though she does think she would

still be attending classes had she had more support. She is now receiving care and feels much better than before, but she wants to draw attention to the challenges faced in the mental health system. “I was so angry about it, and didn't want to see it happen to anyone else,” she said. “The thought of putting my experience out there to let it be judged on whether or not it's an actual problem was way too scary. But I did, and hopefully it helps at least some people.”

Jaime Warren is doing better now, but she struggled to find help for mental health issues. (Submitted)

Fifth annual law conference welcomes student community Presenters include Live Nation president and industry professionals in Vancouver and beyond Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω The TRU Society of Law Students (SLS) is expanding its reach in this year’s law student’s conference by encouraging all interested students and community members to take part. The theme of this year’s TRU SLS conference is In the Spotlight: Sports, Entertainment and Media Law, with talks being presented by law students, faculty and industry professionals who have worked for organizations such as Hootsuite, Sports Illustrated and the Canadian Olympic Committee. Previous

conferences have explored topics including new media and technology as well as civil liberties. The conference’s planning committee co-chair Jatin Shory and head of media and community outreach Sam Varing said that the theme of sport, entertainment and media law was chosen partly due to Kamloops being deeply involved in sports as the “tournament capital” of Canada and the vicinity of the entertainment industry in Vancouver and its presence in Toronto. This year, the keynote speaker is Paul Haagenson, president of Live Nation Canada. While he’s not a lawyer, he is heavily involved in

the entertainment industry and its legal components. “[Haagenson] runs the largest entertainment company in Canada right now and I think he will bring volumes of stories and experiences that will resonate well with any crowd,” Shory said. While the focus is on subjects in law, Shory and Varing hope that having speakers from other professions will also attract students and community members as an opportunity to connect and network. “Their scope is quite wide. They’re not necessarily all lawyers, so they bring in a lot of diverse experience,” Varing said, adding that the presenters will be available to

interact with attendees during the conference. In a move that makes the fifth annual conference different from previous years’ events, TRU SLS connected with members of the Kamloops community for sponsorship and invited them to the conference. Also new this year is a workshop teaching students how to draft their own entertainment contracts, hosted by multinational law firm Gowling WLG. Planning for the conference began in April, which allowed the planning committee to secure sponsorship from CIBC. The event is also supported by the Law

Foundation of BC, the Canadian Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Insurance Association. Shory thinks that this conference could provide an opportunity in providing additional identity to TRU’s law program, which has several courses focusing on the law in sports, entertainment and media industries. The conference runs from Feb. 2 to 3 on the third floor of Old Main. Haagenson will be speaking on the first day in the Irving K. Barber Centre at 4 p.m. For more information and a schedule of events, visit trusls.org/news/student-conference or the TRU Student Law Society Facebook page.

ARTS

JANUARY 25, 2017

Winners announced at Mayor’s Gala for the Arts The winners in three categories were announced at the annual gala in celebration of local artists Jennifer Will ARTS EDITOR Ω On Saturday, Jan. 21, the winners were announced for the 10th annual Mayor’s Gala for the Arts. Awards were presented in three categories: emerging artist, business in support of the arts and artist of the year in performing arts. The awards were presented to the recipients by Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar. In the first category, emerging artist, the three finalists were Bees and the Bare Bones, Madison Olds and Eric Prytula. Madison Olds, a Kamloops native took the award in the category. Olds was also a member of the Bees and the Bare Bones. “To have been nominated twice is a complete honour, and I’m really thankful that Kamloops even considered me twice,” Olds said. Olds performs locally downtown as a solo artist as well as with her band, and has been a lover of the arts from a young age. “I’ve been dancing since I was very young and so I love live performing,” Olds said. Olds is now focusing more on working as an indie folk artist, both in her solo and collaborative work.

In the second category, business in support of the arts, the three finalists were CFJC TV’s Midday Show, Kamloops This Week and NL Broadcasting. The award recipient for this category was NL Broadcasting, which is a resident-owned broadcasting company that was founded in 1969. Garth Buchko accepted the award on behalf of the station. The third category presented at the gala was for artist of the year in performing arts. The three finalists in this category were Andrew G. Cooper, Cathi Marshall and Cvetozar Vutev. The winner was Kamloops Symphony concertmaster Cvetozar Vutev, who is originally from Sofia, Bulgaria. Vutev is a violin performer and music director for community programs such as Vivace Chorale, Kamloops Interior Summer School and Thompson Rivers University. Unfortunately, Vutev was unable to attend the event and his son accepted the award on his behalf. The annual Mayor's Gala for the Arts had over 300 attendees present and works to recognise the work of local artists within the community. The gala is a collaboration between the Kamloops Art Gallery, the Kamloops Symphony and Western Canada Theatre.

Top: More than 300 people attending the 10th annual Mayor's Gala for the Arts. Bottom left: Garth Buchko accepts the award for business in support of the arts on behalf of Radio NL. Bottom right: Andrew G. Cooper, TRU alum, was a finalist for artist of the year in the performing arts. (Marcela Arévalo/The Omega)

Author and activist tackles capitalism and climate in TRU lecture Presenters include president of Live Nation and industry professionals in Vancouver and beyond Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω Activist and award-winning author Naomi Klein will be challenging capitalism in the face of global climate change at TRU on Feb. 7 as part of TRUSU’s Common Voices lecture series. Her lecture, titled This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate, is named after the Canadian writer’s 2014 book which investigates how current political and economic systems inhibit response to climate change. It argues that drastic economic changes must be made to reduce emissions to sustainable levels. In her book, Klein presents the case that the free market is unable to respond sufficiently to climate change, saying that the only times that emissions have been reduced

were during economic downturns. Klein asserts that climate change can be managed by subduing the free market, suggesting governments take back ownership of utility services, invest in public transit, reject “harmful” free trade deals and respect the land rights of Indigenous peoples. The book also touches on localized economies, especially in food production, referring to backyard gardens being promoted as a resource-saving measure during the Second World War. Klein further argues that society has made sacrifices to uphold the economic system, such as with raising student debt and lowering pensions, so therefore society should be able to make lifestyle changes to preserve the planet. The book also talks about how the United Nations is failing to hold governments accountable to

agreements made about climate change and argues that natural resources are being abused on land unceded from Indigenous Peoples, using British Columbia as an example. The key, according to Klein, is to get people to realize how much more progressive the world needs to be in cutting back emissions. “If enough of us stop looking away and decide that climate change is worthy of Marshall Plan levels of response, then it will become one,” writes Klein, referring to the large investment the United States made in rebuilding Western Europe after the war. Klein has written for both The New York Times and The Guardian and has authored several other books, including international bestsellers The Shock Doctrine and No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies. She is also a board member

Naomi Klein presents in the Grand Hall on Feb. 7. (K. Keshiri/Submitted) of 350.org, a climate advocacy group that is currently campaigning against U.S. President Donald Trump’s climate agenda as well as to freeze all new fossil fuel projects.

Klein will be presenting in the Grand Hall at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Seating is limited. Those interested can collect tickets at the service desk in the student union building.

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Spring Festival Gala shows off Chinese culture Event binds cultures together and gives international students a taste of their homelands Diana Igumnova CONTRIBUTOR Ω On Friday, Jan. 20, TRU’s Chinese student community hosted their annual national event, the Spring Festival Gala, which officially symbolizes the beginning of the New Year in all Eastern cultures. The event took place at the Grand Hall in the Campus Activity Centre. “Along with feeling back home atmosphere, the purpose of the event was primarily to share the eastern New Year celebration traditions with variety of cultures,” said the director of the Spring Gala, Ying Li. The event blended different kinds of activities from musical performances and folk Chinese dances to fun games and fireworks. There were a variety of artists from different ethnic backgrounds who showed their support by adding a multicultural twist to the event. The TRU Music Club was also present and performed a couple of songs. Young and talented students representing Chinese culture demonstrated diverse activities such as playing the violin and

sang traditional songs that spread the message of gratitude to their ancestors. Most performances and activities were hosted in Mandarin but were translated in English by interpreters. According to one of the hosts, the event allowed students from eastern countries to feel at home and not be “homesick.” “I was very pleased to be here tonight and enjoy performance of very talented students and I liked that they had a wonderful mix of modern and classical shows in order to entertain everybody,” said Tony Rogge, international and managing director of TRU World Global Operations. The event was a testament to the way young people try to stay connected to their old folklore and home countries. According to the Eastern Lunar New Year, fireworks are an important ritual, as the Chinese believe that firecrackers are able to frighten ghosts away, so the New Year can start free of bad things and evil. This year fireworks brought the evening to a close and gave the show a sense of completeness.

Fengru Shu, the public relations sponsorship manager of the Gala said, “Last year we didn’t have the sense of conclusion at the end of the Spring Gala as we did not include fireworks in the show, and it was pretty much a big deal because it is essential for Chinese culture to organize fireworks. This year we decided to extend our budget a bit and give people chance to enjoy real fireworks, we also changed the size of the traditional meal menu, and our guests had a chance to try another eastern cuisine other than Chinese.” Spring Festival Gala was a perfect way to bring different cultures together. The event gave the audience a chance to experience Chinese culture in its entirety and observe the way diverse backgrounds at TRU collaborate with each other. “All are welcomed on Spring Gala each year. People have a chance think of our culture in a different way. There might be variety of cultural aspects, which other cultures might be not be aware of, however, due to Spring Gala we have an opportunity to demonstrate what our culture encompass,” Li said.

Top: A dance group was among the entertainment at the event. (Photo Marcela Arévalo/Ω) Middle: Evelyn Liu, Eva Liang, Sophia Wang, Alyi Zhao (left) (Photo Diana Igumnova/Ω), and event emcees (right) (Photo Marcela Arévalo/Ω). Bottom: Traditional Chinese fan dancing (left) (Photo Diana Igumnova/Ω) and Evelyn Liu, Eva Liang, Sophia Wang, Alyi Zhao (right) (Photo Marcela Arévalo/Ω).

NEWS

JANUARY 25, 2017

Debunking the myth of the 20-minute rule Are you really free to leave after 20 minutes if your professor doesn't show up? Veronica Kos STAFF WRITER Ω The clock is ticking. You’ve been waiting in class for your professor who has yet to show up. Once that clock hits 20 minutes past the start of class, everyone gets up to leave. You’ve waited the “official” amount of time needed before you’re allowed to leave class and you’re free to go, right? Well, not exactly. If you’ve ever had a similar thought, you might need to brush up on TRU’s attendance policy. The popular 20-minute rule myth has been floating around on campus for many years. What may have started as an assumption that if a professor is late by over 20 minutes, class is most likely cancelled, has morphed into a false rumour that this is an actual policy. Students were asked by the Omega to respond true or false to the following statement: "If your professor is late by 20 minutes, you are allowed to leave class as a policy or rule." Of the 36 students queried, 29 thought the statement was true. However, not all students believed in the myth.

“I know it’s not a written rule, but I’ve heard from several people that you only need to wait 20 minutes. I think a lot of students believe that’s a policy,” said Riley Butchko, a first-year communications student. While other students were unsure if it truly is a policy, they believed common sense would suggest that 20 minutes is enough to wait before safely assuming class was cancelled. “If the professor didn’t have an excuse and didn’t notify the class, I would wait 20 minutes but then I would leave. It’s common courtesy,” said Riley Scott, a second-year natural resource science student. Some of TRU’s faculty found the rumour amusing. “I think it exists as a way for students to break free from the classroom as a part of the fantasy of hoping your teacher doesn’t show up so you don’t need to work,” said Blair McDonald, a professor in the faculty of journalism, communication and new media. Shannon Smyrl, also a communications professor, recalled that a similar rumour existed during her student days, the only difference being that a student

Your prof. is late. How long do you wait? Is there really a policy that says so? (Veronica Kos/The Omega) only had to wait 10 minutes. “A lot of this is based on mutual respect. If I was 15 minutes late for class, I would not expect my students to still be there.” However, some faculty weren’t so amused. “You’re paying to be here. You’ve committed to being here. Why would you be happy when

the instructor doesn’t show up?” said Jane Horton, university and employment preparation chair. Horton advised students to take action if they have professors who are substantially late without notice. “I would advise students to see the instructor themselves first to complain, or they can go to

student services.” Horton said there are policies that require professors to communicate to their students if a class is cancelled, either via moodle, email or by placing a note in the classroom. “There should good communication, because students deserve that,” Horton said.

The best money-saving apps and add-ons to try in 2017 Veronica Kos STAFF WRITER Ω One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to save money. As we dive deeper into January, however, many people find themselves already abandoning their money-saving tactics. If you’re struggling, make your life easier by letting your smartphone or computer do the saving for you. These are some of the best money saving apps and extensions for the new year. Honey Honey is a Google Chrome extension that searches the internet for sales, deals or different coupons that you can apply to any shopping cart online. When you’re checking out simply click the Honey button and it will automatically apply the discount to your purchase, saving you money. Honey also offers cash points if you recommend the app to your friends, giving you more savings at the expense of spamming everyone you know. Checkout 51 Checkout 51 is an app for your phone that mimics the traditional grocery coupon method. The app provides a list of items that give you cash-back rewards. After you shop, upload a picture of your receipt to the app and you’ll see the money you earned in your account within a few days. Once your account hits a total of $20, a cheque is mailed to you.

Textbook Trade and Sell Although this is a website rather than an app or extension, the Facebook group “TRU textbook trade/sell” is a necessity for any student who cringes at paying full price for new textbooks. Before visiting the bookstore, check the page to see if someone is offering to sell the same textbooks that you need. Prices are often less than half of what the bookstore offers and textbooks are almost always in great condition. At the end of your term, sell your own textbooks to get some extra cash. GasBuddy The cost of gasoline is always fluctuating. It’s difficult to keep track and try to find the cheapest station to fill up at. GasBuddy keeps track for you by listing nearby gas stations in order of prices. You can search different locations if you are travelling as well. The app also rewards users who update or confirm prices at different stations by entering you in different giveaways to win a free tank of gas. Mint If you’re looking for a simple money manager, Mint is great for organizing your spending. The app displays and categorizes where you are spending your money and allows you to set a budget for each category. This gives you the ability to track how much you have left to spend or how much you may have gone over your budget. Many Canadian banks have a similar version of this app, such as TD

mySpend. If your bank doesn’t provide a similar option, Mint is a great alternative. Whether you’re trying to keep up with a New Year’s resolution commitment or simply want to save some money, these apps are great options for students.

Have a money-saving tip? Tweet it to us @TRU_Omega

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Film review: Monster Trucks Jennifer Will ARTS EDITOR Ω Monster Trucks was one of the most ridiculous films I have seen in a long time. This film is about a small town in North Dakota that is run by an oil company. When drilling a new oil well, the engineers discover a new species that lives deep below the earth’s surface in a secret river. Much of the filming of the movie was done right here in Kamloops. The film kicks into gear when one of these creatures, nicknamed “Creech,” escapes and runs into Tripp, played by Lucas Till. Tripp is a high-school student and part-time mechanic, and runs into Creech while trying to fix up his truck. Creech then becomes a functioning engine for Tripp’s tricked

out new ride. This is despite the fact that Creech resembles a Neopet that is crossbred between a beluga whale and an octopus. This film was directed by Chris Wedge, mostly known for his work in animation on the original Ice Age movies and Robots (2005). Wedge manages to make the various (and often excessive) action scenes of trucks crashing into things and jumping from rooftop to rooftop run smoothly. Till and Jane Levy as Meredith provide surprisingly good enough performances along with Rob Lowe as the main villain. Lowe worked well in this role, even if his character’s ending is shown during an odd ending montage. The major problem I have with this film is that it has a completely disjointed message. This movie starts out with an environmental

Film review: Split Jonathan Malloy CONTRIBUTOR Ω At this point it seems that the horror-comedy genre is truly only kept alive by a few purveyors, with the likes of Peter Jackson and Sam Raimi having left those aspirations behind. Yet, it is the once shamed director behind the likes of The Happening and, my personal most hated film, The Last Airbender, who has taken the twisty genre confusion of ‘horrody’ and crafted his own unique Shyamalan twist with it. Following three young women who are abducted by Kevin, a man with dissociative identity disorder, we follow as the women attempt to escape and the warring personalities inside Kevin vie for control of the body. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the film nestles gut-wrenching, nail-biting sequences with lapses of absurdity used sparingly enough to allow for surprise laughs amongst the terror. Continuing his smaller films with better stories from 2015’s The Visit, the script anchors the absurdities of Kevin’s 23 personalities among a harrowing story of societal outcasts and their quiet origins. Aiding in the incredible coalescing of the script is the ever incredible James McAvoy, who displays the most amount of range and tactical precision in his performance than has been seen in years. Deftly bouncing from one personality to another, he commands his performance by developing each personality of Kevin into a substantially different human being. It is rarely seen nowadays where an actor will be given full rein to craft their character in such a distinct and fully rounded character

but what McAvoy does here is nigh short of brilliance. Other players, Anya Taylor Joy and Betty Buckley each provide delicate and understated performances that delve into each other’s backstory, while also creating a fleshed-out world for the story to inhabit. Joy in particular displays a confidence first seen in last years The Witch, that proves hopeful her upcoming roles. And yet it is the so called ‘Shyamalanaisance’ that is surprising to see from this film as it works so assuredly on every level that it is hard to see where he previously deviated. Working with Cinematographer Mike Gioulakis, best known for his work on It Follows, and editor Luke Ciarrocchi, they have created a raucously good springboard for films in 2017 with a film that is exciting and intensely personal. I hope to see more films like this in the filmmakers’ futures, as exciting genre films that look to flip ideas on their heads and provide genuine entertainment as good as this.

standpoint but deviates from that to drive around souped-up trucks. The script is a huge disaster that resembles a messy pile of garbage more than an actual script, with characters’ motivations suddenly switching without any logical reasoning or the sweet but underdeveloped love story between Tripp and Meredith’s characters. No amount of shenanigans from the loveable Creech can aid the boring storyline shoved between the nonsense action sequences. This film was riddled with problems. It had redeemable acting from its two main stars, though, and while the CGI was better than expected, it was by no means great. This movie will be right up the alley of any monster truck or explosion enthusiast. Monster Trucks is not a good movie, but it is stupid fun.

CFBX TOP 30 CFBX 92.5 FM Campus & Community Radio Kamloops, B.C. Music Director: Steve Marlow Charts to January 19, 2017 * indicates Canadian Content ** indicates a local artist 1) Monkeyjunk* - Time to Roll (Stony Plain) 2) The Evaporators* - Ogopogo Punk (Mint) 3) Tasseomancy* - Do Easy (Hand Drawn Dracula) 4) Duchess Says* - Sciences Nouvelles (Bonsound) 5) Telecomo* - Telecomo (Independent) 6) Jeff Chaz - This Silence is Killing Me (Independent) 7) Adrian Glynn* - Morelightthannolight (Light Organ) 8) Smoke Wagon Blues Band* - Cigar Store (Independent) 9) Chocolat* - Recontrer Looloo (Dare to Care) 10) In Drift* - Better Days (Independent) 11) Alexandria Maillot* - Time (Independent) 12) Rampant Lion* - Rampant Lion (Independent) 13) Louis Simao* - A Luz (Independent) 14) John Prine - For Better, for Worse (Oh Boy) 15) Ace Martens* - Palm Springs (Independent) 16) 100 Mile House* - Hiraeth (Independent) 17) JW-Jones* - High Temperature (Solid Blues) 18) Shirley Eikhard* - I am the Hero (Independent) 19) Brent Cobb - Shine On Rainy Day (Elektra) 20) String Bone* - Love and Highways (Independent) 21) Nickolett Pankovits - Magia (Independent) 22) Wise Child* - Lucky You (Independent) 23) Massive Scar Era* - 30 Years (Independent) 24) Lucas Haneman Express* - Tearing Up the Rails (Independent) 25) 3Peat* - 3Peat (4th Quarter) 26) Johann Johannsson - Arrival OST (Deutsche Grammophon) 27) Mark Crissinger* - Night Light (Independent) 28) Julian Taylor Band* - Desert Star (Aporia) 29) Monomyth* - Happy Pop Family (Mint) 30) DIANA* - Familiar Touch (Culvert)

COMICS & PUZZLES

Puzzle of the Week #12 — More Temperatures

JANUARY 25, 2017

C R O S S WName: O R D Ω Awards Season 2017

It is warming up, and one of the answers to this one is rather warmer. What is the value for x where 2x°F = x°C or where 2x°C = x°F? There are two answers.

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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SPORTS

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WOLFPACK NEWS IN BRIEF EYEING ISLAND PROSPECTS The TRU WolfPack women’s soccer team will host a prospect camp in Campbell River on the weekend of Feb. 4. The camp will look at prospects born between 1999 and 2001 and see if they might be a future fit for the ‘Pack. In attendance will be WolfPack women’s team head coach Kelly Shantz, who has teamed up with the Vancouver Island Premier League’s Upper Island Riptide to hold the event.

Plus, it’s not just for students. Parents can meet with TRU advisors to see what the university has to offer and ask coaches and former players what playing CIS soccer is like. The ‘Pack had three of its own come from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, including Kenzie Lacon out of Victoria and Ricci Leitch and Natalie Verdiel from Powell River. (Information and photos taken from TRU WolfPack website.)

MEET GOES SWIMMINGLY Volleyball and basketball weren’t in action this week, but the WolfPack swim team showed up in a big way at a meet in Kelowna. The TRU WolfPack swimmers sent four to the 2017 Snowfest Invitational Swim Meet in Kelowna held on the weekend of Jan. 20. In total, the team took away 14 medals – three gold, seven silver and four bronze. Breena Rusnell took home the 200 IM and three silvers in the 100 and 200 Free and the 50 Backstroke. She took a

bronze, as well, in the 50 Fly. Gabrielle Dagasso took second in the 100 Backstroke and third in the 200 Backstroke. Joelle Young got the gold in the 200 Breaststroke and Backstroke, a silver in the 100 Breaststroke and bronze in the 50 Breaststroke and 200 IM. Jagdeesh Uppal took silver in the 50 and 200 Breaststroke. The swim team is back in action on Feb. 11 at the Pacific Seawolves Invitational meet in Surrey.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL 6–8–0

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2 – 12 – 0

Next game: Jan. 27, TCC

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2 – 13 – 0

MEN’S BASKETBALL 9–7–0

Next game: Jan. 27, Abbotsford

WINS, LOSSES, TIES

THE OMEGA

JANUARY 25, 2017