Feb. 15, 2017

GETTING HELP

ACTIVE VOICE

"MAKE" AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

Still early for TRU's Early Alert program

TRUSU club leaders meet with Naomi Klein

Exhibited: Hair + Toilet = Trump?

Referral-based program meant to connect students with existing student services • Page 2

Ahead of her Common Voices speech, Klein took the time to meet club leaders • Page 3

A toilet covered in human (and some dog) hair showed in Old Main gallery • Page 2

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VOLUME 26

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

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A NEW PLACE TO LOUNGE ON CAMPUS PAGE 2

STANDING UP FOR STANDING ROCK

WAITLISTED

DIVERSITY IN PRACTICE

Water protectors speak to campus crowd

TRU daycare not immune to national crisis

Black law students address diversity

Standing Rock veterans talked pipeline resistance in TRU's Barber Centre • Page 5

With child care availability and affordability out of the reach of many, TRU is feeling it, too • Page 6

Panel of speakers meet on campus for Black History Month event • Page 5

NEWS

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FEBRUARY 15, 2017

New on campus: the Modo Lounge reviewed Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω

The first thing I noticed as I entered the Modo Lounge was how the atmosphere of the place has transformed from the traditional layout of Accolades. All tables and chairs have been replaced with comfy couches, soft chairs and standing-level tables for guests to place their plates and drinks on as they chat with staff and other guests. The light was reduced to a calm, warm and ambient colour.

The tapas table presented guests with four hot dishes and four cold dishes. On offer for the hot dishes were beef roulade, risotto croquette, yangnyeom chicken and sous vide pork belly. The beef roulade, stuffed

with pickles and vegetables, was tangy and moist and the pork belly was acidic and and flavourful, both equally delicious. I was not a fan of the risotto croquette, which had roasted vegetables and panko breading. The yangnyeom chicken, a Korean chicken wing, was crispy with the right amount of kick.

The cold section included flatbread crackers with hummus spreads, cold cuts, cheeses and marinated olives.

What stuck out, however, was the maple-smoked salmon on flatbread crackers. The first thing that came to my mind as I bit into it was not only how perfectly balanced the smokiness and sweetness was, but how fresh the salmon tasted.

The bar offers cocktails that are prepared in front of you by the student bartenders. While many of

the drinks are quite simple mixes, such as Harvey Wallbangers and Cuba Libres, the sparkling wine cocktail caught my eye.

The combination of sugar, bitters, brandy and sparkling wine in a sugar-rimmed glass with a maraschino cherry definitely had a bite to it, but it was refreshing and not overpowering. The cocktails are inspired by classic combinations popular during the ‘40s and ‘50s.

Before I left, I was offered some dessert chocolates to try. While berry and salted caramel flavours were nice and all, the chocolate hazelnut bite stuck out in my mind. Powdered with cocoa and filled with a cool, creamy hazelnut centre, I couldn’t leave without having at least a couple of them. Personally, I am not the biggest chocolate fan, but I would actively

seek out those chocolate hazelnut bites again.

A large focus of Modo, according to tourism faculty instructor Doug Ellis, is being consistent with the culinary arts department’s commitment to using local suppliers whenever possible. The salmon, for example, was smoked in-house by students in retail meat processing. Most of the drinks available were local as well, with Harper’s Trail and Monte Creek wine proudly on display along with Sorrento’s Crannog cider and Vernon’s Okanagan Spring beer.

Student participation is seen in all aspects of the lounge. Not only do you see friendly tourism management students on the floor bussing the tables tending the bar, and eat tapas prepared by students, but the artwork on the walls were created

by fine arts students and dessert chocolates were made by culinary arts students.

According to Ellis, as the point of the lounge is to have students practice skills in a controlled environment, the food and cocktail menu will be updated every couple of weeks. This is exciting, because that means no two experiences will be the same.

At $15 per person plus $6 per drink ticket, the experience priced modestly for what are thoughtfully prepared tapas comparable to what you can get commercially. I would not hesitate to bring a date or client I am trying to impress here.

The Modo Lounge is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. until April 13 in the culinary arts building.

The President’s Lecture Series proudly presents

Fabien Cousteau

One Ocean, One People

Water is the earth’s great circulatory system—yet this precious element is often taken for granted. Join inspirational speaker Fabien Cousteau, grandson of legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, as he recounts thrilling marine expeditions, stories of indigenous Amazon tribes, diving with whales and pushing the limits of adventure to discover this bond we all share through water, what it means, and why we should care.

Monday, March 6 7 p.m. Grand Hall, Campus Activity Centre

tru.ca/events

SEATING FREE | LIMITED FIRST COME, FIRST SEATED

Trump-inspired toilet makes appearance in Old Main Wade Tomko

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ω If you walked by the Old Main art gallery last week, you may have noticed something peculiar: a toilet covered in hair.

The creative genius behind the project, Mindy Lunzman, a social work student and hairdresser, said that U.S. President Donald Trump inspired her to make the piece.

“It definitely has to do with Trump, his inauguration and his presidency,” Lunzman said. “Also, he has terrible hair.”

Lunzman created the piece last semester as part of art professor Doug Buis’ sculpture class. While she is happy with the outcome of the exhibit, Lunzman explained that her original idea was much different.

“My original idea was a textbook,” Lunzman said. “A textbook about what students would learn about Trump in the future, a textbook dedicated to him and all his meandering nonsense.”

However, Buis saw the idea as too overtly political and asked Lunzman to reconsider the piece.

“She wanted to do quite a

political piece about Trump,” Buis said. “It was going to be too direct, I said it was a little too literal.”

Lunzman said she’s always wanted to cover something completely in hair, so she decided to switch the direction of her project.

While originally the piece was supposed to be a chair, Lunzman said that somewhere along the line, she decided that a toilet would better suit the project.

“I don’t know how, I really couldn’t tell you the thought process behind that,” Lunzman said. “It just seemed like a good idea.”

As a hairdresser, Lunzman had a nearly unlimited supply of hair to use for her piece. Despite this, she said that some dog’s hair made it onto the toilet as well.

While it isn’t immediately obvious that a hairy toilet was an homage to Donald Trump, Lunzman said, her addition of bald eagle sounds coming from the toilet bowl removed any questions.

“It was my idea to add the bald eagle chick noises,” Lunzman said. “When I first mentioned it to Doug, I think he thought I was going to say the American anthem. But I think the bald eagle

noises are much more subtle.”

However, Buis believes the piece can be interpreted in another way as well.

“I think it’s about messy politics. Though you could see it as political, or not, and you could see it has bad hair, or not,” Buis said. “It’s a bit of a creepy thing.

But it does raise questions about whether art is still about beauty.

I think some art is about beauty and I think some art is definitely about the opposite.”

However you may interpret the hairy toilet, one thing is sure, Lunzman isn’t too fond of the current U.S. president.

“I think he is a terrible human being,” she said. “I don’t think that he is a strong enough character to be running a country, and this piece was sort of my tribute to him.”

As for what will happen to the toilet now that the exhibit is closed, Lunzman predicts the piece will simply sit in her garage.

“I’m hoping that it will go in the garage, or maybe the shed until further notice,” Lunzman said. “However, my boyfriend did suggest putting in where the toilet is now and using it as an actual toilet.”

Mindy Lunzman, the mind behind the TRU art gallery’s hairy toilet.

(Wade Tomko/The Omega)

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Photo courtesy Natalie Reisle/TRUSU

TRUSU club leaders meet with Naomi Klein Veronica Kos

STAFF WRITER Ω Naomi Klein, an award-winning author and activist, visited TRU on Feb. 7 to speak to hundreds of community members and students about her book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate.

Klein addressed many topics related to her book such as the environment, Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, the Kinder Morgan pipeline and more.

The event was hosted by the TRUSU entertainment committee, as a part of the Common Voices Lecture Series.

Ahead of the lecture, TRUSU club leaders were able to meet with Klein personally.

Logan Dafoe and Valerie Law are both campaign coordinators for TRUSU’s movement against the Ajax mine project and were impressed with Klein’s ability to spark interest back into older issues.

“I think it was incredible that an environmentalist can come in and physically meet with ten of the club members. She basically revived the

conversation on Ajax and got more people to start thinking about it again,” Dafoe said, stating that Klein's comments on the Kinder Morgan pipeline mirrored issues around the Ajax mine, bringing the topic back into the light.

“I found her most powerful statement was that people can’t step aside and let First Nations bear the burden of all these environmental decisions that affect everyone. We can’t push them to the forefront and expect that they will be the protectors of the land we all share,” Law said.

Kevin Pankewich, chair of the TRUSU socialist club, was most impressed by Klein’s statement of what to expect in order to see change.

“What really struck a chord with me was when she said the future is radical, and what kind of radical do we want,” Pankewich said, stating that with political issues there are always two sides to each argument, but that there must be more focus on the side that represents the majority interest.

“Her call for mobilization was so rational compared to the usual approach of simply recycling more or using less water. We should still do all

those little things but it won’t make a difference as long as the attitude of ‘politics as usual’ continues.”

Tristan Muhr with the TRU Geography Society said, “For me, the most valuable message she delivered was the importance of organizing, working and growing your career within the context of decolonization.”

Muhr stated that regardless of your professional or political standpoint we all need to shift our perspective towards what is most beneficial for the land, water and our communities.

“As geographers, this message is incredibly important to us.”

Cole Hickson with TRUSU's Eco Club, despite enjoying the talk, would like to see these events funded more equitably.

“TRUSU budgeted $30,000 this year for the Common Voices speaker, which I couldn't help but feel frustrated over. With the event receiving no funding from TRU, despite the prestige and educational value brought by these speakers,” Hickson said.

“We also don't charge anything for tickets for non-students, a population, I believe, filled a majority of the room."

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ARTS

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A Camelot not for naught: "Jackie" reviewed Jonathan Malloy

CONTRIBUTOR Ω Jackie Kennedy was a woman of extravagance, indulgence and a quiet smokey intensity. Pablo Larraín’s film about the woman behind President John F. Kennedy shares a similar thematic allure bringing virtuoso filmmaking, an eerie score and the spectacular, no-holding-back performance of Mrs. Kennedy by Natalie Portman.

This trifecta is bolstered by beautiful cinematography and a script so enigmatic and emotional by Noah Oppenheim that attacks the trauma of a nation through the needlepoint of the woman who tried to keep her composure after her husband’s brain was plastered across her fuchsia dress suit.

The film approaches the material with a brutal and winding perspective that weaves a tragic look at the white house with the continued

unraveling of psyche of the haunted first lady while balancing between a horror and accurate depiction of the time that Larraín crafts in a fuzzy and constantly moving frame.

The cinematography of Stéphane Fontaine floats around the recreations of the white house and the family of Kennedy’s unable to solely rest on any character long enough to give closure. Its a kinetic way to frame such a well known story that lends the hyper-realized performance given by Portman a haunting-ethereal quality, that at times pictures Jackie as more of a walking corpse than someone still functioning.

The film doesn’t need to but often ascends due to Portman’s soon to be iconic portrayal. Her whispered confusion and anger seems to boil under her glazed eyes presenting the most radicalized yet understandable version of grief, possibly committed to the screen.

From the awkward white house tour to the funeral procession,

A fistful of headshots

John Wick: Chapter 2 reviewed Jonathan Malloy

CONTRIBUTOR Ω It isn’t often nowadays where an action film actually takes on that role of displaying the action and making Keanu Reeves the badass he should always play. Half of the directing team comes back with Chad Stahelski at the helm of this crazy, daft and adrenaline-injected story of John Wick, the boogey man, once again on the path of revenge against the men who keep him away from a quiet retirement.

And when the revenge comes, it strikes with a furious and vengeful stride showcasing the exact type of action film that has been lacking in the hollywood system for decade.

Picking up after the brutal finale of the first film, we watch as Mr. Wick tries to track down his sweet whip from the New York based Russian mob that still has the ownership of the vehicle. After that first action scene, the film wisely takes a minute to reintroduce characters and elements that gave the first movie a sense of a larger world.

From the use of the Continental hotel and bringing in the idea of worldwide hitman contracts the writer Derek Kolstad dives into the intricacies of the assassin’s life while providing ample opportunity for a really intriguing series of deftly intricate stories for years to come.

The cast brings a physicality to their scenes, where it can be easily seen that they are actually performing their fights, driving and flips. The technical achievement, in particular from Reeves, that is created by the choreographers and filmmakers allows for free flowing, seamlessly edited sequences that prove it doesn’t take seven edits to show a single punch.

This dedication to a clear and concise filmmaking that focuses on

showing how well the stunt crew and actors can actually fight is compelling on several levels and the CGI is kept to a minimum.

As with the first film, Reeves gives his all in an extremely physical performance while side players all gather around him.

In particular actor/singer Common works well in setting up a future rivalry as another member of the underground network of killers who has an engagingly surreal and funny silent fight that happens in the middle of a crowded New York subway system. It is this balance of action and absurdism that streamlines the film to make it one of the fastest and slickest, not to mention hardest hitting films to come from this side of the world, in years.

Portman commands the camera to be for her as if Jackie herself needed it to keep going.

Alongside Peter Sarsgaard and Greta Gerwig as Bobby Kennedy and Jacki’s friend Nancy Tuckerman, the performances gel together in such an unexpected way that they bolster the film to be one of the best ensemble casts of last year.

Yet, it must be said that the overall film stands as the pinnacle of the biopic film by completely subverting all expectations usually associated with the genre. The non-linear structure and experimental violin based score by Mica Levi (who has previously worked on the spectacular music to 2013’s Under the Skin) that elevates the picture as being more of a time capsule of emotions and elements surrounding the assassination.

Feeling more in line with a tone poem than a conventional film, it absolutely is must required viewing and a more than healthy future for the extremely talented cast and crew.

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Bangladesh club celebrates success and community Jennifer Will

ARTS EDITOR Ω The TRUSU Bangladesh club marks its first Triennial Jubilation on Feb. 25. This event will be a night of celebration for the club, as they have grounded a community and presence on campus.

Asif Ahmed the TRUSU Bangladesh club’s event manager said that this event is to celebrate three years of success of the club.

“In 2014 we started this club and since then it has been active and we have put on events that have brought our culture to Canada, and united all of our fellow clubs,” Ahmed said.

This event will include singing, dancing and games. It is an opportunity to bring all types of people together to celebrate international communities on campus. The night will also include some great ethnic food and refreshments.

“We want to make people familiar with our culture, because we

want everyone to know what our culture is. So, the food is a link to our culture, it’s all made in the ethnic way,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed adds that this event is a great way for people to learn about the Bangladeshi culture.

“How we meet people, how we greet them, how we make friends easily and how we spread love to everyone,” Ahmed said.

The event is meant to be a successor to the club’s very first event You Are Invited held back in 2014.

“We have invited all nations, because at our cultural events we usually have our own people the East Indians or the Indians. For this we are calling for everyone, whether you are from Canada or Japan. Everyone is invited,” Ahmed said.

The event will take place on campus at 6 p.m. in the Old Gym. Tickets are $10 for students and $25 for non-students.

Tickets must be purchased before the event by calling Asif at 778-586-4700, Saiful at 250-2993081 or Nadim at 250-318-6632.

CFBX TOP 30 CFBX 92.5 FM Campus & Community Radio Kamloops, B.C. Music Director: Steve Marlow Charts to February 9, 2017 * indicates Canadian Content ** indicates a local artist 1) The Evaporators* - Ogopogo Punk (Mint) 2) Lonely Parade* - No Shade (Sleepwalk) 3) Abigail Lapell* - Hide Nor Hair (Coax) 4) DIANA* - Familiar Touch (Culvert) 5) Monomyth* - Happy Pop Family (Mint) 6) The Hidden Cameras* - Home on Native Land (Outside) 7) Punch Drunk Cabaret* - Electrik Steam Show (Independent) 8) Twin Rains* - Automatic Hand (Independent) 9) Danielle Knibbe* - Some Curious Birds (Independent) 10) String Bone* - Love and Highways (Independent) 11) Dawn Tyler Watson* - Jawbreaker! (Independent) 12) Birdheat* - Love in the Digital Age (Independent) 13) Shhh* - Be Quite! (Independent) 14) Mexican Institute of Sound/Toy Selectah - Compass (Six Degrees) 15) Various Artists - The Musical Mojo of Dr. John (Concord) 16) Chocolat* - Rencontrer Looloo (Dare to Care) 17) The Hazytones* - The Hazytones (Independent) 18) Ingrid and Christine Jensen* - Infinitude (Whirlwind) 19) Psychic Pollution* - AI Existential Intelligence Report (Eat Glass) 20) Azar Lawrence/Al McLean* - Frontiers (Cellar Live) 21) White Bird* - Force of Love (Independent) 22) The Flypaper Orchestra* - Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Flypaper) 23) Johann Johannsson - Arrival OST (Deutsche Grammophon) 24) Steve Adamyk Band* - Graceland (Dirtnap) 25) Dog Leg Dilemma* - Not This Time (Independent) 26) Rose Cora Perry* - Onto the Floor (Independent) 27) Cawama* - Sea Sick (Independent) 28) Rosalind* - The EP (Independent) 29) Bria Skonberg* - Bria (Okeh) 30) The Black Line* - Line Up (Independent)

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David Suzuki on the "bottom line for the 21st Century" Nolan Chapman

CONTRIBUTOR Ω On Monday, Feb. 8 David Suzuki delivered his presentation “Setting the bottom line for the 21st Century” in the Grand Hall. The 80-year-old environmentalist, author, broadcaster and scientist offered social and political commentary through personal stories with comedic delivery.

Suzuki started his speech by explaining how all of humanity “originated from the great plains of Africa,” establishing a commonality we all share to this day as a species.

Elaborating that humans are an invasive and the most powerful species, the biggest problem the earth faces is dealing with human destruction.

“You know we are heading in the wrong direction,” Suzuki said, pointing to islands of plastic in the ocean.

He said we need to, “transition from fossil fuels by making the commitment to stop using up the legacy of our children and grandchildren.”

According to Suzuki, it is best for humans to use science in the proper way, and to learn from our mistakes in the past and be more careful when introducing new creations into the environment. He believes that science is a very powerful tool, especially when the focus is too narrow.

A narrow focus leads to neglect in other areas, like the environment.

Suzuki does not think it is too late – not yet.

“Mother nature is surprising.

She is the basis of my hope. This hope is based in reality. ‘Too late’ isn’t the right attitude,” Suzuki said.

Even though humans seem to be the main drivers of climate change and environmental degradation, Suzuki has hope that we can still turn our consumerist and wasteful society around.

Suzuki said that it is time to call for civil disobedience and not let corporations set the narrative for conversation.

We must revise the “hope for the future,” Suzuki said, adding that “following your heart” by knowing what is truly best for this planet is the first step we must all take to help heal the earth.

David Suzuki addresses an audience at TRU. (Lynn Sunderman Photography)

Water protectors speak to campus crowd on pipeline resistance Nolan Chapman

CONTRIBUTOR Ω On Monday, Feb. 6 a panel of Indigenous land and water protectors spoke about the pipeline resistance north and south of the Medicine Line. The event took place in the Irving K. Barber Centre.

Speakers included Chase Iron Eyes, Russell Diabo, Tia Oros Peters, Clayton Thomas-Muller, Janice Billy, Kanahus Manuel and Melina Laboucan-Massimo.

Before the discussion of environmental well-being started, an Indigenous elder offered a blessing to the attendees.

Indian Tacos were served shortly after the blessing to fill the stomachs of those there to listen to the speakers’ cause.

The event began with a song and drum circle honouring the passing of Arthur Manuel, father of the speaker Kanahus Manuel. Manuel was a political leader and environmentalist belonging to the Secwepemc nation.

The event was hosted by Jeffrey

McNeil-Seymour and sponsored by the Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade (INET), and Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples.

Sustainability and communication were the main topics of discussion.

Chase Iron Eyes, a Native American activist and member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said that water and land protection is not only one community’s problem, but an issue that must be championed by humanity.

"Standing Rock to Secwepemcul’ecw" took place in the Barber Centre on Monday, Feb. 6. (Marcela Arévalo/Ω)

Iron Eyes stressed that we all must “share each other’s truths” by “getting woke and staying woke” to the continued damage we are risking to inflict on mother nature.

Renewable energy and the return to zero waste communities will be the narrative that will need to be adopted so we, as humans, can “stop the destruction and start the healing,” Laboucan-Massimo said.

Many personal stories and examples of environmental destruction were shared, like the oil spill that occurred in Little Buffalo, Alta. in 2011 near Peace River.

Speakers discussed the problems of the past, and among the speakers was Russell Diabo, who talked about Indigenous treaty issues between tribes and the Canadian government.

Thomas-Muller, another speaker at the event stated that all must contribute to “stop fossil fuel expansion” by promoting “intersectionality.” He reminded the attendees that social movement strategies work when grassroots people create change through togetherness and unity.

Peters contributed to Thomas-Muller’s proposals when she emphasized that we need to rely on

our communities by supporting the front-line workers that are doing what is right.

The sense of responsibility to the younger generations was mentioned throughout most of the speeches.

These speakers emphasized that the Indigenous groups had fought long and hard for the protection of their lands and sacred water, and it is now time for the next generation to step up and lead the resistance.

Manuel mentioned, “each one, teach one”, meaning that as a community we can educate each other on the issues needing to be taught.

Among the attendees at the event was activist and award-winning author Naomi Klein, who spoke the next day, offering political commentary on contemporary environmental issues.

She offered advice to any youth wanting to get involved in land and water protection: “Show up to important events to learn – follow and listen to knowledgeable indigenous leaders for guidance. It is important to be accountable to your community.

Everyone makes mistakes, it is part of the journey. Be humble and be ready to learn,” she said.

Black Law Students’ Association celebrates diversity Diana Igumnova

CONTRIBUTOR Ω On Monday, Feb. 6, TRU Black Law Students’ Association club hosted a discussion panel called Diversity in Practice. It consisted of four accomplished black professionals in the field of law. The panel was a forum for guest speakers to discuss their experiences of advancing in the legal profession as people of colour.

Black History Month is celebrated annually in the month of February. During this month, communities across Canada recall outstanding contributions and sacrifices made by the black community.

However, Black History Month is also also an opportunity for those in minority groups to encourage and promote intercultural activities.

There are a variety of diversity issues in the world arena that need to be addressed, and events such as this bring relevance to intercultural conflicts, acts of terror and prejudices towards minority groups in society.

Cemeka Douglas, president of TRU Black Law Students’ Association said, “Last semester we had the idea to organize our first event and we wanted it to be inclusive for everybody. We did not want anybody to feel like their voice did not matter or make people think that it is a race issues club. The point of the club is to share diverse stories and diverse situations.”

Douglas, who came to Canada in 2015 and was the only black student in TRU law department, initiated the idea of launching a club that promotes diversity, and advances black excellence and ethnicity in the legal field.

Last year, Douglas and her friends officially launched the TRU Black Law Students’ Association club.

Douglas and her team invited lawyers from the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, and among the attendees was retired B.C. Supreme Court judge Justice Selwyn Romilly, who was the first black Canadian appointed to B.C.’s Supreme Court.

“Diversity in Practice is perfect as it is exactly what we wanted. We wanted to see diverse faces in the legal field who practice law and doing it excellent,” Douglas said.

Guest speakers discussed their experiences of gaining success in the law profession as people of colour.

“It was really important to see people of colour in the legal field doing amazing things, and I am so thankful that they actually came all

Raphael Tachie, President of the B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Assosiation of Black Lawyers, addresses students. (Marcela Arévalo/The Omega) the way here and took time out of their busy schedules.

“Such presentations were important not only for people of colour,

but also for women and for other minority groups who might experience the same issue or concerns,” Douglas said.

NEWS

6

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Early Alert program gaining traction Referral-based voluntary support program already assisting students Martin McFarlane STAFF WRITER Ω

A new service meant to guide students to support services before their academic progress declines is well underway.

The Early Alert program, officially launched this semester, directs students referred by university faculty and staff to relevant academic and personal support services so that they can get the help they need before there is a large negative impact on their grades.

According to Pamela Fry, the learning strategist responsible for Early Alert, the program is mostly referral-based, however the program will use other indicators such as those who receive academic probation letters to determine who to make contact with.

The program aims to connect students in difficulty to services that suit their needs in order to assist them in their academic studies. The services, however, are not always academic-based, and

the program works with students who are struggling with class quizzes, depression, exam anxiety, relationship problems and financial stress.

“It really runs the gamut from strictly academic issues for someone who would benefit from using the Writing Centre, for example, to something more personal, a little more lifestyle based,” Fry said.

The Early Alert process begins with a faculty or staff member contacting Fry about their concerns for a student in their class. Using contact information on file at TRU, Fry will attempt up to two times to connect with the student, usually by text message.

If a student responds to her, they will meet with each other and Fry will connect them with suitable services.

The entire process is kept confidential and will not appear on any permanent student record. The only information that the faculty or staff member will receive is whether or not Early Alert made contact with the student. The program is voluntary, and there

is no penalty if a student chooses not to connect.

Fry believes that having the program be voluntary reflects the culture of TRU and aims to make the program as student-oriented as possible.

“I really try to have a personal touch with the students and, for example, if a student comes into my office who clearly would benefit from speaking to a counsellor because of a struggle with mental health, I don’t [just] give them the counselling office card.

I walk them down to the counselling office, I help them make an appointment, if they’d like, I come with them to the first appointment,” Fry said.

“We’re trying to personalize service and make it so that the students feel there is a caring person behind the system who wants to make sure they get the right help.”

Early Alert programs have been implemented on several other university campuses, including UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses and other universities in the United States.

According to Fry, the Early Alert

The Early Alert Program sends referred students messages welcoming them to meet and connect to student support services. (Martin McFarlane/Ω) program has received referrals from as early as last September during its soft launch. Future work could explore more targeted interventions, voluntary workshops and focus on international students’ cultural challenges.

While she wouldn’t comment on usage numbers, Fry said that program usage is increasing as

more staff and faculty become aware of the program. More outreach and awareness is planned for the near future.

Faculty and staff who know of a student who may be experiencing difficulty in their studies or personal life are encouraged to make a referral by visiting tru.ca/ earlyalert.

TRU daycare not immune to child care crisis Child care is in a crisis across the province with long wait list times and underfunding Wade Tomko

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ω Both a psychology student at TRU and a mother, Heather Andersen has had a difficult time finding daycare for her daughter in Kamloops since she returned to school last year.

Andersen put her daughter’s name on the waitlist for the Cariboo Child Care Society, TRU’s on-campus daycare, last June.

After eight months, the daycare was finally able to get Andersen’s daughter in three weeks ago.

“I’m currently living with my parents, but as they get older, finding daycare is hard,” Andersen said.

TRU’s very own non-profit daycare, the Cariboo Child Care Society, located next to House 4. (Wade Tomko/The Omega)

Andersen originally tried enrolling her daughter at the Montessori pre-school in Sahali, but cited the cost of part-time daycare there as a barrier to entry.

While an eight-month waitlist period may seem like a long time, it is fairly common in Kamloops and around the province. Waitlists at some daycares can even be years.

Owner of Lil’ Foot Daycare in Sahali, Crissy Felker, said that waitlist times for infants can be upwards of two years.

“Most people, when they get pregnant, they sign up,” Felker said.

At the Cariboo Child Care Society, executive director Marian Hardy says it’s much of the same situation there.

“There is a huge shortage of childcare in this province,” Hardy said.

“Here, we are limited because we have 12 infant spaces, 12 toddler spaces, and 50 spaces from ages three to five. Infant-toddler is the most needed.”

While Hardy admits it is heartbreaking to have to turn parents away, many of the spaces available at the Cariboo Child Care Society are filled months in advance. While students are given priority, and the daycare is mandated to maintain 70 per cent of the spaces for the children of students. They also reserve spaces for faculty, alumni and parents within the community.

The facility survives, in part,

on funding from student fees and government subsidies as well, and although the situation has slightly improved over the last decade, Hardy says that more needs to be done by the government.

“For students and especially young parents, it needs to be an election issue. These politicians need to put their money where their mouth is and get it moving,” Hardy said.

“If you rolled all the subsidies, small and large grants together, and directly distributed it to the programs themselves, not the parents, then you would be able to develop this $10 a day program everyone is hoping for.”

Currently, prices for infants stand at $50.50 per day. Elsewhere in town prices for children of the same age can run as high as $70 per day.

With demand so high, and with TRU’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program right here on campus, some are wondering why waitlists are still around.

While daycare prices are often a barrier to enrollment for parents, the cost of the the ECE program combined with the low wages of the profession often make many cautious about entering the ECE field, according to Connie Alger, TRU’s ECE program coordinator.

“People are drawn to this profession. They really value children, they recognize that the research is showing that early childhood education is critical to

Marian Hardy, executive director of the Cariboo Child Care Society. (Wade Tomko/The Omega) a child’s success,” Alger said.

“But because the educators are not being respected and valued at the societal level and they are not earning a good income, people can’t stay in the profession long.”

Last year, in order to make the ECE application program easier and less costly for those interested in the program, Alger and her department revised the application process and removed unnecessary prerequisites.

“We looked at our requirements and realized some of them were from the ’80s, like needing first aid and foodsafe,” Alger said.

“We checked with licensing and asked if they these were required of ECE students anymore and they said, ‘No, they are not.’

So we decided to eliminate those because they are just cost barriers

to students.”

While the low availability of ECEs does present problems for Kamloops daycares, Hardy is hoping that TRU’s university village plan will force the university to make child care on campus more accessible.

“The idea would be to have more childcare spaces, more options for parents across campus,” Hardy said.

Until concrete changes come to the way TRU looks at child care, Hardy says that it’ll be business as usual.

“It sometimes amazes me how many people say they don’t know a daycare exists on campus. But then again, sometimes we keep quiet,” Hardy said.

“I don’t put out advertising, because I don’t think it is fair to get parents’ hopes up.”

THE OMEGA

WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA

Kamloops Film Festival

KONELINE:

THE SPACE BETWEEN

OUR LAND BEAUTIFUL

OPENING NIGHT FILM

7

THE EYES OF MY MOTHER DARKFEST

Q&A

Q&A

THURS., MAR. 2 | 7 P.M.

FRI., MAR. 3 | 6 P.M.

FRI., MAR. 3 | 9 P.M.

ODDBALL AND THE PENGUINS

ELLE

THE SUN AT MIDNIGHT

Q&A

SAT., MAR. 4 | 12 P.M.

SAT., MAR. 4 | 3 P.M.

SAT., MAR. 4 | 7 P.M.

THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS

KISS

(THE POETIC PERSIAN EPIPHANY OF ROSIE MING)

WINDOW HORSES

kissfest.ca

DARKFEST

SAT., MAR. 4 | 9 P.M.

SUN., MAR. 5 | 2 P.M.

SUN., MAR. 5 | 2 P.M.

I, DANIEL BLAKE

THE SALESMAN

ANGRY INDIAN GODDESSES

SUN., MAR. 5 | 5 P.M.

SUN., MAR. 5 | 8 P.M

MON., MAR. 6 | 6 P.M.

MAUDIE

END OF THE WORLD

IT’S ONLY THE

MOONLIGHT

STEEPING DISCUSSION

MON., MAR. 6 | 6 P.M.

TUES., MAR. 7 | 6 P.M.

TUES., MAR. 7 | 9 P.M.

TONI ERDMANN

MEAN DREAMS

LAND OF MINE

WINEING DISCUSSION

BREWING DISCUSSION

WED., MAR. 8 | 6 P.M.V

THURS., MAR. 9 | 6 P.M.

THURS., MAR. 9 | 8 P.M.

WEIRDOS

PATERSON

VILLE-MARIE

FRI., MAR. 10 | 7 P.M.

FRI., MAR. 10 | 9 P.M.

SAT., MAR. 11 | 12 P.M.

GRAND UNIFIED THEORY

20TH CENTURY WOMEN

2017 KAMLOOPS

FILM FESTIVAL CLOSING PARTY Q&A

SAT., MAR. 11 | 3 P.M.

AT THE

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

SAT., MAR. 11 | 7 P.M.

Paramount Theatre

kamloopsfilmfest.ca

GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY!

SAT., MAR. 11 | 9 P.M. $5 PINT / $12 JUG OF FESTIVAL BEER and 25% OFF ONE APPETIZER

with your film ticket

5

$

MOVIE * S T E K C I T

2017 March 2-11

* $5 student tickets are available at the TRUSU Desk (Campus Activity Centre), Moviemart (444 St. Paul Street), and online up to one hour before

every screening, and at the Paramount Theatre (503 Victoria Street) one hour before each screening. Fees apply when purchasing tickets online or at Moviemart. The UPASS is a KFS Membership: “All TRU students with a UPASS are already members of the Kamloops Film Society.”

ARTS

8

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

TRU's got talent: behind the voice of Jonas Loza First-year student expresses his love of music on social media while getting his degree Jennifer Will

ARTS EDITOR Ω Jonas Loza is a first-year arts student at TRU. Fresh out of Vancouver, Loza moved to Kamloops only a few months ago.

“I’m from the big city and I wanted to change my scenery. I think a small city like Kamloops would help me focus on academic stuff and also on creative writing. I like writing music,” Loza said.

The move from Vancouver to Kamloops was inspired by a need for a slower pace of life that would give him the ability to start building a music career while going to school.

“Vancouver is such a big city.

You can get lost there sometimes.

I feel like starting off in a small environment and building yourself up from there is a better route.

I’ve been asked why I didn’t stay in Vancouver, and I love Vancouver as a city but I feel like I can connect more with people in a smaller town,” Loza said.

Loza is thinking of switching things up.

“I want to move into tourism management so I can travel the

world, to reach places that don’t get to hear the type of music that I listen to, hear the music that I create. I want to bring content to people that they would enjoy listening to and want to hear,” Loza said.

Loza says that music is just something that runs in the family.

“I’ve always grown up with music, if you go to my house, my whole family is singing and they’re not afraid to sing. I guess I picked that up when I was younger. Ever since then I’ve just been singing,” Loza said.

Connecting with the Kamloops and TRU community has helped him to find like-minded people and a way that he helps to get his name out there.

“Going to these local events such as the open mic at the Padlock or the Art We Are, a small café that likes listening to local artists. Just branching yourself out there is amazing,” Loza said.

He added that social media has been another great tool for showcasing his music to the Kamloops community.

“It’s actually pretty crazy. I’ve gained a lot of followers over the last couple of months, especially

Jonas Loza, seen here in Old Main, played us a tune last week. To see the video, find the story on TRUOmega.ca. because I’ve been tagging a lot of local artists here. The music scene in Kamloops in general is very supportive,” Loza said.

Most of Loza’s videos for social media have taken place around the TRU campus.

“I want to touch base with the students, as a student myself, having other students listen to my

stuff helps them hear what I have to produce. The acoustics here are amazing too,” Loza said.

Right now, Loza is working on finishing his degree and bringing the Vancouver vibe to Kamloops with his music.

“I really want to finish my degree, I came to school to finish my degree. My parents didn’t have

the opportunity to get theirs, and I’ve always told them I’m going to go get a degree,” Loza said.

You can follow Jonas Loza on Instagram @ivan_jonas for more of his music.

Political clown drama shows at the Pavilion Chimera Theatre's newest production "Mockus" is edgy and fun and features TRU alumni Jennifer Will

ARTS EDITOR Ω Mockus was written by TRU’s own George Johnston, and was inspired by the real-life mayor of Bogotá, Colombia named Antanas Mockus. The story focuses on a fictional city by the name of Gobota and takes place during political turmoil and government corruption.

Juan Antonio, the mayor of Gobota played by Todd Sullivan finds himself caught up within

corruption.

After a near-death experience and his daughter bribing a clown she meets at the park to come to her birthday party, Juan starts to change his tactics. The clown, Mockus Aurelius, helps the mayor to see that there is more than one way to solve serious issues of crime, pollution and civil unrest.

Two amazing performances came out of this production with Brittany McCarthy as Mockus Aurelius and Sofia played by Morgan Benedict.

Todd Sullivan (as Juan Antonio) and Brittany McCarthy (as Mockus Aureleus). (DIana Igumnova/The Omega)

Mockus was a character that needed time to grow on you, because you were never quite sure of his/her intent. McCarthy delivered with a slow plunge that just forced you to love and respect her character. Benedict was the shining star of this production, playing a simple supporting role of the mayor’s daughter. Her character offers comic relief when needed, but also gives the play a real sympathetic element that was undeniably charming.

Sullivan offered a truly brave performance, by literally baring it all when he flashed a mob

of angry Gobota citizens (also known as the nearly sold out audience) his bare butt in a moment of heated debate. He worked well enough in the role of Juan, but didn’t always offer the versatility needed to make this performance as great as it could have been. However, he struck gold in those softer or more satirical moments.

One thing that I appreciated most from this play was its deep-rooted themes that, at times, represented left-leaning policies. It presented ideas that everyone, no matter their political stance, could get behind. The

goal of these characters was to get rid of the corruption that was crippling their city with debt and pollution. We watch as they find fun ways to raise moral and make Gobota a good place to live again.

The biggest fault of this play was its inconsistent tone, bouncing from absurdist comedy to horror, to drama. It handles some of theses genres better than others. The tone of the play can be rather off-putting at times, contrasting some truly terrifying scenes with sappy moments.

This play wasn’t perfect and had some flaws, but the good far outweighed the bad.

NEWS

WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA

9

The time that I… competed in the first women’s enduro mountain bike race in southern France Veronica Kos

STAFF WRITER Ω Trying new things is always a bit daunting, however, trying new things abroad is a whole other story. That’s exactly what Michelle Davies, a fourth-year tourism student set out to do when she competed in the women’s enduro mountain bike race in the south of France.

Davies was originally studying in Switzerland, where she first learned how to mountain bike.

Being new to the sport, the idea of racing against other skilled female mountain bikers was far outside her comfort zone.

Knowing that the best adventures come from pushing through these boundaries, however, Davies was determined to give it a shot.

With that attitude, she and nine other friends packed themselves

Michelle Davies (fifth from the left) with the other cyclists. (Submitted) into a car with their mountain bikes and hit the road.

Upon arrival, Davies realized she had forgotten a piece of her mountain bike at home. Although she was able to borrow a friend’s, the sizing was very different making it harder to practice riding the trails.

Thankfully, the weather and the beauty of Valberg made up for it.

The girls hit the trails, eager to see what they were up against.

Davies admitted the trails were a bit more challenging than what she was used to, but the encouragement of her friends kept her going.

A friend who drove down to

Valberg a day later was able to bring Davies the missing piece of her bike, and with that things started to get back on track.

On the day of the race, the girls woke up to pouring rain.

“It was raining harder than I’ve ever seen in my life, just rivers of rain pouring down the streets,” Davies said.

Additionally, her cold was in full force and Davies felt worse than before but she was determined to do what she came all the way down to southern France for: race.

Davies described the race as a “rollercoaster of energy,” saying that the beginning started with pure adrenaline, as the rain

poured down on the girls. She said It was cold and wet and they were getting covered in mud. Once they reached the top of the mountain, it was a steep dash down and the girls decided to ride full throttle, as fast as they could.

Davies’ energy levels were exceptionally drained from her cold, but the adrenaline pushed her on until she finally crossed the finish line. Although it was a race, the girls all celebrated everyone's scores feeling as though each made a huge accomplishment.

“It was quite the experience,” Davies said, noting that while this was her first race it definitely won't be her last.

COMICS & PUZZLES

10 Puzzle of the Week #16 — Chocolate Your sweetie loves chocolate. You bought your sweetie some chocolate: an assortment of 24 chocolates with six each of four flavours. “Oh, honey, you shouldn’t have.” Why not? Unfortunately, chocolate causes your sweetie to gain weight per the following table:

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

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3 3 4 4

6

Scenario 1: Your sweetie gains two or more kilograms.

Scenario 2: Your sweetie’s weight does not change.

Scenario 3: Your sweetie loses weight.

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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

WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA

11

Women's volleyball team clinches playoff spot Sean Brady

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω The TRU WolfPack women’s volleyball team is headed to the Canada West playoffs following two weekend wins against the University of Winnipeg Wesmen.

In two games over two days, the team took six straight sets, scoring 25-20, 25-19, 25,20 in the first and 26-24, 25-23, 25-20 in the second.

TRU’s Iullia Pakhomenko had a combined 25 kills on 50 chances and 21 digs. Rachel Windhorst also showed up big, delivering 26 kills on 68 chances with 13 digs.

Despite the final scores, the ‘Pack spent much of their second night down, as far down as 15-5 in the second, battling back to win.

“Obviously Winnipeg had some huge leads during the game. That wasn’t the game plan. I was happy that the girls kept finding a way.

Not how we want to start sets but the way we want to end them. It’s not perfect but I was happy with us going through the adversity and not giving up,” said head coach Chad Grimm, according to a TRU press release issued after the game.

The women have two more weekends of regular season play to go, wrapping up at the end of February.

The WolfPack's Mikayla Funk was named the "TRU Bookstore/McDonalds Leader of the Pack Player of the Match" for the Feb. 11 game. All told for the weekend, she put up 14 kills on 31 chances with two service aces and three digs. (TRU Athletics)

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL 12 – 8 – 0

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2 – 18 – 0

Next game: Feb. 16, TCC

Next game: Feb. 16, TCC

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2 – 18 – 0

MEN’S BASKETBALL 8 – 12 – 0

Next game: -

Next game: -

WINS, LOSSES, TIES

WINS, LOSSES, TIES

WINS, LOSSES, TIES

WINS, LOSSES, TIES

12

THE OMEGA

FEBRUARY 15, 2017