Jan. 24, 2018 by The Omega

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THE

T H O M P S O N R I V E R S U N I V E R S I T Y ' S I N D E P E N D E N T S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R

VOLUME 27 · ISSUE 16 · JANUARY 24, 2018

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AID WORKER REFLECTS

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FIRST PRESIDENT OF MARS?

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TRU'S LATEST ATHLETICS HIRE

Kamloops celebrates second annual Women’s March Kirsten Folvik CONTRIBUTOR Ω A diverse crowd of more than 150 people gathered downtown Saturday morning for the second annual Women’s March. The event began with impassioned speeches by a few local female leaders and each speaker had a strong focus on how issues of equality intersect with women’s rights.

Margaret Vickers Hyslop, one of TRU’s elders in residence, opened the ceremony. Hyslop called for a moment of silence “to remember all those who were murdered, abused, or are missing” and asked that “we be inspired to know what we can do to help all the families of missing and murdered women in this country, as well as other countries.” TRU professor Kirstin McLaughlin also called attention to the difficulties faced by indigenous women.

“Today I challenge all of us to reflect upon our own social location and the ways in which we can promote a culture of compassion, cooperation and celebration amongst women, as opposed to one of competition, criticism or critique,” McLaughlin said.

See INEQUALITY Page 5

More than 150 people gathered for the 2018 Women's March in front of the Sandman Centre to protest inequality in the workforce and elsewhere. (Juan Cabrejo/The Omega)

NEWS

JANUARY 24, 2018

Looking for the link between commercials, culture and health TRU prof discusses the importance of health and how pop culture can influence our well-being Justin Moore CONTRIBUTOR Ω

Tracy Penny Light speaks at the 2018 PHP Conference on Saturday night. (Justin Moore/The Omega)

Conversations about health, stigma, popular culture and diversity were at the centerfold of the final keynote of TRU’s PHP Conference on Saturday night. Tracy Penny Light, a professor of studies such as gender, sexual identity and history, took to the podium to discuss the importance and presence of health in our culture today, as well as its evolving history and growing relationship with pop culture. Students and faculty alike laughed as Penny Light flipped through slides of vintage advertisements featuring cigarettes

promoted by doctors and feel good Coca-Cola ads. She spoke of the evolution of consumeristic targeting, how ads have changed the way we perceive products with ties to health and well-being. Ads such as toothpaste recommended by dentists are commonplace features in our society, but rarely do we think about the impacts these commercials make on our lives. “We really all need to think critically and do some research about what we see,” Penny Light stated after her talk. “We’re all surrounded by culture. We live in it.” With her students’ questions largely inspiring her research and continuing study on these different topics, Penny Light stated

that students have a huge role the continuing critiques when it comes to conversations such as medical care, sexual identity and diversity within the world. “The students ask such amazing questions and that’s because they come from all different perspectives,” Penny Light said. The presence of diversity within post-secondary institutions and in communities help to drive new ideas and thoughts towards subjects such as health, Penny Light’s main topic of the evening. “What are our shared perspectives and where do we differ and how can we have meaningful conversations about that,” she said.

Will Elon Musk be the first president of Mars? Author Michael Byers believes the final frontier may not be that far away

Author Michael Byers talk to students and staff about the possibility of a colony on Mars. (Juan Cabrejo/Ω)

Teshu Agarwal CONTRIBUTOR Ω

EAT ON CAMPUS

We work everyday to reduce our environmental footprint and we are continually developing and implementing sustainable solutions to how we do business.

DID YOU KNOW? • All food waste at each location is composted on campus • We have a zero-waste station at each location • We use 100% biodegradable napkins, recyclable to-go containers, and cutlery made from 68% renewable resources • The hot water used in our kitchen is supplied by solar power • We serve Seattle's Best Coffee® which is organic and fair trade certified • We proudly offer vegetarian and vegan food options • Our seafood is certified by Canada's Ocean Wise Program • When possible, we source from local farmers, growers, and distributors

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SpaceX, a private company founded in 2002 by businessman and investor Elon Musk, aims at “enabling people to live on other planets.” With their reusable Falcon series rockets, SpaceX has changed the future of space travel. In a speech at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, Musk talked about his plans to send a Falcon rocket to Mars with people to start inhabiting Mars. Concepts of humans being interplanetary species might have seemed like a sci-fi movie a few decades ago, but with Musk’s agenda it might become a possibility. Michael Byers, author of numerous books and a regular contributor to the Globe and Mail, talked about Musk’s role in a possible colony on Mars in his keynote speech at the PHP Conference last week. Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia. His interest in space was stirred when his son, Cameron Byers, took him to a launch of a SpaceX rocket. Byers described the event as a scene “straight out of a sci-fi movie.” The global consensus on climate change has made the topic of colonizing another planet even more relevant now. According to Byers, aside from the fact that we might need to

diversify and inhabit Mars, we should because “humans are the species who walked on two legs, built wooden boats and houses of ice.” “We survived in every climate – rainforests, snow, desert,” Byers said. “We’ve done some stupid stuff along the way, but we’re still awesome.” A member of the audience, Heramb Vadalkar, a professor within TRU’s school of business and economics, pointed out the dangers in letting such an important decision of inhabiting another planet fall into the hands of one single person. “Leader of the free world Donald Trump cut down the space budget,” Vadalkar said. “Does that mean privatization of space? Are we looking at a second East India Company?” Byers is more optimistic about a Mars colony than Vadalkar and sees this as an opportunity for the world to come together. “Space is too vast for one man to control and will give a chance for humankind to set aside their enmity and develop it together,” Byers said. Byers also raised questions about the ethics of colonizing Mars. Are Martian and space babies ethical since they didn’t sign a contract to be born in outer space? Who would be the President of Mars? Do we tax Martians? Despite these complex questions, Byers remains positive about a Martian colony. “Space isn’t just about us being an adventurous species, but a chance to go above and beyond,” he said.

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HIRING FOR JANUARY START

STAFF WRITER As a staff writer for the paper, you’ll take assignments from section editors and pitch your own stories, too. You might explore different beats like science and technology, campus life or city and community news. There are two staff writer positions available.

To apply, send your resumé and samples of your work (published or unpublished, academic work accepted) to editor@truomega.ca. Positions will be filled as soon as possible. If a position is still posted on this page, applications are still being accepted. To be eligible for any of the above positions, you must be a student at Thompson Rivers University while you work. Students who will be employed by the TRU Students’ Union during their employment period may not be eligible to work for the newspaper in order to avoid any conflict of interest. Applicants are asked to disclose all potential conflicts of interest.

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NEWS

JANUARY 24, 2018

Former TRU student recounts time as aid worker Patrice Gordon talks about working as a Red Cross delegate in conflict zones Jennifer Will NEWS EDITOR Ω

Inside the hot zone in the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kenema, Sierra Leone, Red Cross aid worker Patrice Gordon treats a child. (Submitted).

On Thursday, Jan. 18, TRU nursing alumnus Patrice Gordon shared her stories about working in disaster and conflict zones such as Bangladesh, Nepal and Sierra Leone with a diverse group of over 100 students, faculty, staff and community members in TRU’s House of Learning. “There were nursing students, there were retired doctors, people from all walks of life were there and I think it was a wonderful opportunity for people to look outside of their immediate world,” Gordon said. Gordon said that although she has a nursing degree from TRU, that’s not where her journey as a medical professional started. “When I started nursing school in 1981, no one got a degree. To become a registered nurse you did either a two-and-a-half-year college-based program or you did a hospital-based program,” Gordon said. “I did the college-based program out of Selkirk College and became a registered nurse.”

After working as a registered nurse for 10 years, and a four-year stint in New Zealand as a pediatric critical care and emergency nurse, Gordon said she decided to go back to school to get a degree. Gordon also went on to get her Masters in Nursing from Athabasca University and has worked in a variety of settings throughout her career. She has worked everywhere from an emergency room at the Castlegar and District Hospital to the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kenema, Sierra Leone to Nepal after the 2015 earthquake to working as a critical care and flight nurse in the Canadian Arctic. Most recently in the fall of 2017, she worked in Bangladesh as part of the response to people fleeing violence in Myanmar. Gordon says she was drawn to this type of nursing work partially for adventure and partially for satisfying her curiosity. “I’ve always been a very avid reader, so I’ve read a lot about different places and done a lot of recreational travel,” Gordon said. “I wanted to be able to take the skills that I have and to help in other places to try and even out

the inequity.” Gordon adds that one of the most rewarding aspects of working abroad is the constant reminder of generosity in the human spirit around the world. She says that her travels have also really taught her that everyone is the same. “It doesn’t matter what country we’re from, what religion we have, what gender we are, what anything,” Gordon said. “We all have the same hopes and dreams, we have our own, they might be unique, but we all have hopes and dreams and fears and aspirations and general needs.” Gordon’s biggest advice for students looking to get into a similar line of work is to be diverse in your studies and obtain a variety of skills. “Some expertise in maternal child health, public health, international medicine, emergency, those areas are really important,” Gordon said. For now, Gordon is continuing her work in the Chilcotin region of B.C. providing mobile medical care to remote communities in the west-central region of the province.

TRU receives funding for software engineering TRU's new engineering program will help grow Kamloops’ burgeoning tech sector Wade Tomko CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ω Last week, Minister of Advanced Education Melanie Mark announced that TRU will receive $400,000 in startup funding from the B.C. government this year in order to offer a full software engineering degree program. TRU is expected to ramp up to a total of 140 spaces in undergraduate software engineering by 2022-23, which will produce 35 additional graduates per year by 2023. Mark’s announcement is part of a province-wide initiative by the NDP government to supply B.C.’s fast-growing tech sector with skilled workers. “Our province is in desperate need of these tech graduates. We are going to need thousands of engineers, programmers and software developers as more than 80,000 tech-related openings become required in the next decade,” Mark said. “We have committed to 2,900 technology seats throughout B.C. institutions to invest in 21st-century jobs.” B.C.’s tech sector is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the provincial economy, with

106,000 people working for 10,200 business and generating $29 billion in revenue a year. However, compared to other provinces, B.C. is producing fewer tech graduates, notes Mark. “We don’t want to be behind the 8-ball, we want to be ahead of the curve,” she said. “I’ve talked to people at startups and they need talent, there is a huge shortage of talent. In order to have the best BC, we need to have people trained in relevant courses and programming.” In addition to the $400,000 being given to TRU, another $4 million in funding has been given to other B.C. institutions such as University of Northern British Columbia and the College of New Caledonia to develop their own engineering degree programs. Though TRU has long since allowed prospective engineering students to start their degrees here through a transfer program, they would eventually be required to leave and complete their degrees elsewhere. With the addition of an engineering program in Kamloops, students will be able to graduate, work and live within their community. “The choice of software engineering comes from our desire to support the growing tech industry here in Kamloops

and the region and to empower our students to take part in that expansion,” said TRU President Alan Shaver. “We anticipate that there will be a lot of new startup companies because of this and this is going to accelerate the growth of the tech industry and the region.” In total, the B.C. government expects there to be 83,400 job openings in technology-related fields within the next decade, with 5,100 of those openings in the Thompson-Okanagan. Funding for engineering programs across B.C. is to be ramped up to $42 million by 2023, Mark added. TRU’s software engineering program will begin next year during the fall 2019 semester. Yet it is likely that the software engineering program will have a presence in the Industrial Trades and Technology Centre when it opens later this year according to Dean of Science Tom Dickinson. “The same equipment that is used in some of the trades is used in the labs for engineering. We’ll have a presence in the ITTC as soon as it opens this summer,” Dickinson said. “In addition, with our architectural engineering program, it’s building towards a degree and we’ll have them move to the ITTC too.”

Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, Melanie Mark, announces TRU's new software engineering program. (Juan Cabrejo/Ω)

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Inequality in the workforce still a major problem for women CONTINUED (COVER) McLaughlin, who is also the president of the Kamloops Pride Club, then asked those in attendance to think about how they could be better allies to those affected by colonialism, racism, ableism and homophobia. These sentiments were echoed by Ashton Brenna Wright, the vice president of the TRU Pride club. “Speak your truth,” Brenna Wright said, “the world needs to hear more of what you have to say.” Inequality in the workforce was also a prominent topic, particularly by speaker Barb Nederpel, the President of the Kamloops & District Labour Council. “After decades of advancements, we still have not broken the barriers to equality and parity in all things,” she said. Nederpel went on to point out recent policy changes across Canada that could benefit women if brought to BC, such as affordable childcare options and paid leave for women escaping domestic abuse. Many of the attendees stated hope that through Women’s Marches and other advocacy, Kamloops could become a more inclusive place. “I have two little girls and I don’t want them to have to deal with the same things that I’ve had to,” said Kamloops local, Sandra Bandura. “I think education is going to be the key to making real change.” The sentiment was mirrored by Kelly Therrien, whose passion stems in part from many years working with survivors of domestic abuse. “I’m here with my son and I think it’s equally as important for us to get our male and female children out,” Therrien said. “It hasn’t always been this good and hopefully it will be way better in the future as well. But I hope he’s a voice one day for women’s rights.” For TRU Journalism student Megan Cary, the march was crucial to attend. “Sometimes as a second year thing, the movement can die out a little bit, so I think it’s important to give continuous support,” she said. “I hope to see more TRU students next year. We have to keep speaking out.”

Photos: Juan Cabrejo

NEWS

ARTS

JANUARY 24, 2018

TRU theatre alumni moving on to Toronto

Chimera founding members will be joining The Second City training centre Cailyn Mocci ARTS EDITOR Ω Local Kamloops actors and TRU alumni will be jetting off to Toronto to further perfect the craft of acting. Chimera actors, Brittany McCarthy, Jessica Buchanan and Brooke Ballam will be traveling to study at The Second City, a theatre training centre. The three actors are quite prominent in the Kamloops theatre scene. McCarthy and Ballam, along with Andrew Cooper were the founding members of Chimera Theatre, a local theatre group giving opportunities to the community. McCarthy also founded The Freudian Slips, a local improv comedy troupe, with fellow TRU alumni Buchanan. Not all starts in acting come equally, and this is incredibly true in the case of McCarthy. Theatre was never on her radar; it was a fear. Growing up a shy kid, the thought of being an actor was never one she had. It was only when she was forced to take an acting elective in high school, because the woodworking elective was full, that she blossomed into her acting career.

“I would have rather risked getting my hand cut off with a saw than do theatre,” McCarthy recalled. In Ballam’s case, acting never felt like a career choice but rather a hobby. That was until he reached university and started to pursue it more after taking a theatre class. Second City is a huge step for budding actors. The three Chimera actors will be using this knowledge to further pursue a career in what they love. “I like theatre as escapism. I want to help people escape their everyday problems,” Ballam explained of his inspiration to perform. As for the future, both McCarthy and Ballam agreed that to make a living doing what they truly love would be their greatest accomplishment. Kamloops has given them their start, but they will move on towards big things and possibly bring back knowledge to further the theatre scene in Kamloops. “We are so grateful to this community for giving us a chance to do this,” McCarthy said, extending sincere thanks to the community of Kamloops for the theatre career she has started with TRU and Chimera Theatre.

Above: Jessica Buchanan (left) on stage with the Freudian Slips. Bottom left: Buchanan (left) and Brooke Ballam (right) take part in an improv scene. Bottom right: Brittany McCarthy as Mockus Aurelius. (OMEGA FILE PHOTOS)

TRU students revive the Humans of TRU project Students focus on the campus community with both photography and storytelling Cailyn Mocci ARTS EDITOR Ω The TRU community will soon become the subject of a human interest project through the medium of stories. TRU students will be bringing back Humans of TRU, a story project inspired by the well-known Humans of New York series. Humans of TRU is not a new concept for the university. The project had been previously run by

former TRU student Eric Rankin. TRU Journalism Lab Technician Kim Anderson remembered the project from years ago when she was a student on campus and saw the potential in it. Using the roots that Rankin set out, Anderson is breathing new life into the project with the help of students. The project is set to bring a focus on the campus community. Humans of TRU will be focusing on the everyday but at the same time showing the interesting things that fellow TRU students get up to.

“Something really everyday for you, could be really profound and interesting,” Anderson said. Anderson recalled the interest in seeing new faces on campus through the project and hopes that this revival will continue that interest in current and future students. The project revival was pitched at the end of the fall 2017 semester and was met with a lot of enthusiasm. Anderson believes that this project is a great learning experience for not only journalism

and communication students but for anyone involved. She hopes that the content creators involved will push themselves to step out of their comfort zones and try something new. “Its really hard to interview someone about nothing. When you push yourself, cool stuff happens.” The current Humans of TRU team consists of photographers, interviewers and a social media team to piece all the stories together. The project is new and Anderson explained that the roles may shift

until they find the perfect combination to create the best project they can. The team is still currently gathering fresh content to share with the TRU community but they hope to have the first flow of stories out in the next week. You can catch up on all the TRU stories on their Facebook page, Humans of TRU, and their Instagram page, Humans of TRU Official. “If you see one of us walking around with a camera, don’t be scared!”

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ARTS

Exploring beauty through nature and the human body Elizabeth Nygren CONTRIBUTOR Ω Upper-level photography students will be showcasing their love of nature and the human body in an upcoming exhibition in the TRU Gallery from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9. Kazia Poore, Kylie Forseille, Kieran Muller, Victoriia Kunitcyna, Elizabeth Sigalet, Emily Dundas Oke and Alannah Markert are the seven students contributing to the visual arts program’s photography exhibition. Although film photography is not the only focus of this exhibition, it does play a pivotal role in the students’ pieces. Some artists have chosen to explore and showcase digital photography as well, but many of the students feel much closer to film. Many consider film to be an outdated form of photography, but Kylie Forseille, a first-year nursing student, believes it has importance in today’s digital era. “It brings you back to basics and you have to have patience with film,” Forseille said. Elizabeth Sigalet, a third-year bachelor of fine arts student, also cares very strongly about film photography. “There’s a depth to it that’s different from digital photography,” Sigalet said. All the exhibitioners recognize film as a beautiful form of photography, but it’s not an effortless task. Kazia Poore, also a third-year bachelor of fine arts student, considers

her projects rewarding but recalls herself spending a lot of time in the darkroom and working on these projects for longer than she would have in any other class. The students expressed how time-consuming and complicated developing photos can be and could even recall missing a step or two during the process. It is just as extensive as any other art form. Victoriia Kunitcyna, another third-year bachelor of fine arts student, expressed how magical she feels the process is. She didn’t begin studying film until three years ago when she began at TRU, but prefers film photography over digital regardless. All the exhibitioners started exploring photography at different ages, but they each have a similar appreciation for it. Kunitcyna notes that there is “no particular age to start,” and Forseille suggests to aspiring photographers that you shouldn’t stop trying. When asked why people should go see the exhibition, Sigalet noted it would be a great experience in unique photography. “You’ll see photography that’s different than you’ve ever seen before,” she said. The TRU gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and will be showcasing these students’ work from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9. The gallery is available at no cost. There will also be a reception held on Jan. 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the gallery, where those in attendance will be able to chat with the artists over some snacks.

The work of Kazia Poore will be on exhibit in the TRU Gallery from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9. Other artists include Kylie Forseille, Kieran Muller, Victoria Kunitcyna, Elizabeth Sigalet, Emily Dundas Oke and Alannah Markert. (Submitted)

CFBX TOP 30 CFBX 92.5 FM Campus & Community Radio Kamloops, B.C. Music Director: Steve Marlow Charts to January 18, 2018 * indicates Canadian Content ** indicates a local artist 1) Destroyer* - Ken (Merge) 2) Calum Graham* - Tabula Rasa (Independent) 3) Lex Plexus** - Stellar Trip (Ulusulu) 4) The Pack A.D.* - Dollhouse (Cadence) 5) Raleigh* - Powerhouse Bloom (Independent) 6) Wolf Parade* - Cry Cry Cry (Sub Pop) 7) Maylee Todd* - Acts of Love (Do Right!) 8) Gord Downie* - Introduce Yerself (Arts and Crafts) 9) Compassion Gorilla* - Coalesce (Independent) 10) Taivi* - Rising Tide (Independent) 11) Teleskopes - Stereocilia (Independent) 12) Blu Shorts* - Blu Wave Music (Independent) 13) Mama Spanx - State of Groove (Independent) 14) Anti-Flag - American Fall (Spinefarm) 15) Terra Lightfoot* - New Mistakes (Sonic Unyon) 16) Weaves* - Wide Open (Buzz) 17) Beck - Colors (Capitol) 18) Sweet Santa Fe* - Santa Fe (Independent) 19) Jessicka* - Uh Oh EP (Independent) 20) Slow* - Against the Glass (re-issue) (Artoffact) 21) Sam Tudor* - Quotidian Dream (Independent) 22) Shrouded Amps* - Come Along to the Chocolate Church (Lost Sound) 23) Milk Crate Bandits* - The Neighbouhood (Independent) 24) White Hot Jet* - YYJ (Mighty Speck) 25) The New Weather Machine* - Seas of Dawn (Independent) 26) Dead Weights* - Mountain Arresting (Independent) 27) Ryder Bachman* - Ryder Bachman (Independent) 28) Propagandhi* - Victory Lap (Epitaph) 29) Carol Welsman* - For You (Independent) 30) Kyle Pullan* - Into the Wild (Independent)

ARTS

Upcoming Events Surviving the Classroom: Notetaking and test-taking techniques Jan.25 OM 2674, 4:30 to 5:55 P.M. Taking good notes can strengthen your overall success as a student. This workshop is designed to provide you with note-taking and test-taking strategies to use during lectures and while reading. Winter Film Series – Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World Jan. 25 Paramount Theatre, 7 P.M. RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World is a feature documentary about the role of Native Americans in popular music history. The Birds and the Bees Jan.25 to Feb. 3 Sagebrush Theatre, varied times Western Canada Theatre presents a sassy, sexy, modern comedy about beekeeping, turkey farming, and romance. The Birds and The Bees is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud at its hilarious observations on family, being an adult, and ﬁnding true love at any age.

The best albums of 2017 #5 Haim Something To Tell You Reaching closer to the 70’s rock that originally inspired them, the Haim sisters sophomore effort trades some of the kick that their original effort carried in favour of harmonies that, coupled with more subdued instrumentals, offer an ethereal folk/rock that chills when everything settles in place. From the opening song Want You Back the story of heartbreak carries throughout the record with each cutting track providing an ample causeway for Danielle Haim’s throaty, impassioned vocals. The percussion of the album has also been bolstered with tacks like Right Now and the title track being pushed forward by the thundering 80’s ﬁll drums that kick each into a groove that was somewhat lacking on the last effort. Continuing to expand on their voice their album was also bolstered by an excellent live recording directed by Paul Thomas Anderson titled Valentine that is an essential companion piece to the album.

#4 Maggie Rogers Now That The Light Is Fading This five-song EP from Maryland caught the attention of the internet in mid 2016 with the release of a video in which she stunned Pharrell Williams with the demo of a song she had been working on for a masterclass. This song, Alaska, and four others present a unique blend of folk and dance music filled with personal ballads that offer a distinct sound not present in current indie music. Rogers singular voice belts across each track such as the opening track, Color Song, where the sparse piano plucks across a haunting loop of her poetry that evokes a late night August campfire session. Alaska and On + Off echo with heavier bass beats that are catchy and immediately danceable tunes. The singer-songwriter essence carries through with her lyrics of exploring nature and the woes of heartbreak that present a raw, immediate feeling to each one of her tracks on this spectacular debut.

#3 Kendrick Lamar DAMN Stepping further away from the inherently political nature of To Pimp A Butterﬂy, Kendrick Lamar has created an aggressive answer to his own image that would be a standout album if not for his unique voice alone. Lamar is once again backed by some of the greatest producers currently working as he goes back to his Section 8.0. days with a less focused story that is punctuated by themes of dissatisfaction and family. The punches are thrown out of the gate with the ﬁrst half of the record being dominated by cuts like DNA and Element that focus Lamar’s anger into pointedly assured tracks that tackle Fox news, detractors and himself as he struggles to see if his success has aided in the elevation of the black population. The last half of the album transforms anger into parables of power and Lamar’s attempts to reconcile himself in the eyes of God and his family. The album is anchored by the insanely catchy Humble, basking in syrup sandwiches and crime allowances the pouncing piano and bass allow Lamar to gloat in how far he has come and his absolute dominance over the rap game.

Equity: Art, Access and Visual Inspection Jan. 26 OM 1562, 9:30 to 11 A.M. Matt Rader, creative writing faculty member at UBC Okanagan, presents What we talk about when we talk about equity: Art, access and visual inspection. Beginner Lindy Hop Lesson Series Jan.31 Akimbo Dance Studios, 7 to 8:30 P.M. You will learn about partner connection as well as fun and essential patterns and moves. We teach this at an easyto-follow pace and we ensure to adapt to each individual’s learning style. For brand new beginners! No partner or experience required!

JANUARY 24, 2018

Lorde Melodrama Taking four years from her debut album Pure Heroine, Lorde came back from her hiatus with a fully formed electro-pop sophomore album that took the now seemingly barebones framework of her ﬁrst effort and transformed it into a rousing, intimate portrait of modern youth. Beginning with the effervescent, bouncy Green Light, Lorde uses her personal stories of heartbreak from these past years and creates a resounding anthem of synths and reverberating, breathy vocals that dare you to not get lost in the ever-expanding cacophony of the track. From there the album weaves tales of melancholy and fading youth that are presented in portraitures of Lorde’s life wrapped in some of the most thumping, unforgettable songs of the decade. A unique voice and soon to be infallible pop-icon, Lorde presents these stories in her signature voice that never ceases to surprise with the range that she seems to handle with ease. The album ﬂows from song to song effortlessly with tracks Supercuts and Perfect Places balancing pulsing beats against a sorrow of faded memories. Lorde once again provides ample excuse to continue watching her fascinating rise as a fully formed superstar.

#1 BROCKHAMPTON Saturation Trilogy This American boyband had the audacity to record and drop three full length albums in one year as well as shoot a feature ﬁlm that is to be released within the next couple of months. The immensity of this project notwithstanding, the fact that all three albums had the best hip-hop had to offer all year, in terms of talent and absolute bangers, is astounding. From straight bombastic openers of Heat, Gummy and Boogie all three provide a needle of adrenaline that allows all ﬁve of the most prominent members to unleash looping verses that bounce off each other in surprising and instantly memorable ways. Sister/Nation stands out from the third album as an anemic, pulsing track that rests on the fringe of something dangerous while never stopping being instantly catchy and propulsive. The hooks that pop up on each album stand out as hallmarks of catchy songwriting in 2017 with Gold and Swamp getting the absolute most out of lyricist and leader of the group Kevin Abstract. His unique voice grounding the album throughout its entirety while never overshadowing the other members from their own dazzling energy. With another album set to release in the next few months it’s hard not to keep an eye on this young, insanely talented group.

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Puzzle of the Week #13â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Five Nickels (in the January 24, 2018 issue of The Omega)

You put ďŹ ve nickels in a bag. Four of them are ordinary nickels, but one is a fake with two tails sides. A random coin is drawn from the bag and placed on a table so only one side (which is randomly chosen) is showing. The coin shows tails. What is the probability that the coin drawn is not the fake? 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.

JANUARY 24, 2018

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SPORTS

Women's volleyball split games with Saskatchewan WolfPack hopes to play more consistently in future games Alvin Mutandiro SPORTS EDITOR Ω The TRU women’s volleyball team split games with the Saskatchewan Huskies in two thrilling encounters. The WolfPack women’s volleyball team lost in five sets, 28-26,16-25,1925, 25-20,16-14 to the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday January 19 on the Warner Rentals court, TCC, Kamloops, BC. It was a thrilling encounter that had a lot of momentum shifts. It was obvious from the onset that both teams were evenly matched, the game was tied at 11 all in the first set. There seemed to be a lack of consistency from both teams, with TRU looking dominant at times and then Saskatchewan looking dominant at times. The momentum shifts in the contest made it an extremely entertaining contest for the crowd in attendance. The game was tied for most of the first set until Saskatchewan seized control and won the first set 28-26. The second started with TRU leading 13-8, but like the first set both teams had problems returning serve. TRU eventually won the second set by nine, 25-16, in what seemed like a game changer after having lost the first set. TRU continued the good work in the third set, winning the set 25-19. At that point it appeared as

though TRU was in control, they had recovered extremely well from the first set and confidence was high. Despite that though the huskies rallied and came back to win the fourth set 25-20. The final set was just as thrilling as the first four, the game was tied at four all early on and then TRU led 8-7. The lead changed many times before the Huskies won the final two points to win the tipsy turvy contest. Rachael Windhorst was top performer for TRU with 20 kills, 3 assists and 13 digs, Yvegeniya Nyukhalova had 12 kills and 12 digs, Mikayla Funk had 7 kills, 15 digs and 6 service aces and Anastasiya Muzyka had 37 assists and 3 service aces. TRU head coach Chad Grimm spoke to The Omega after the game and acknowledged that serving was a major factor in the result of the game. “Both teams, at times, struggled to receive the ball,” he said. “When that happens and you start giving away points and runs, it makes it difficult to win.” The TRU women’s team was able to bounce back and beat the Saskatchewan Huskies in four sets, 26-28, 26-24, 25-14, 25-8 on Saturday. The game began like the night before, with the Huskies winning a close first set, 28-26. TRU led late in the second set, 24-20, when Saskatchewan made a small comeback.

Despite that, the WolfPack was able to hold them off winning the second set 26-24. From that point on it was one-way traffic with TRU dominating the third set, which TRU won by nine, 25-14. The fourth was even more dominant than the third, TRU won 25-8. Rachel Windhorst was top performer yet again with 15 kills, 6 digs and 1 assist, Yevgeninya Nyukhalova had 12 kills, 9 digs and 2 service aces, Anastasiya Muzyka once again had the highest number of assists with 19 assists and 3 digs. Head coach Chad Grimm was impressed with his team’s performance, “We did a better job on picking up on picks and rolls. We made them score the ball a little bit more,” he told TRU athletics. “We didn’t let them get out of jail in bad situations. We served the ball tough and Saskatchewan struggled on serve/reception. Teams know that once you pass off the net, blocks can be set up. Kaitlin in the middle closed the blocks and put them in trouble,” he concluded. After the weekend’s Usport action TRU are 7-11 and are still in with a shot to make the playoffs. TRU seemed to be more consistent and able to capitalize on momentum in the second game than they were in the first. It was a mixed bag of results, TRU will be hoping they can be consistent more often in their performances like they were in the second game.

Mikayla Funk had combined 29.5 points over the weekend. (TRU Athletics)

New athletic performance advisor plans big for TRU Peter Soberlak looking to take TRU to the next level in university sports Alvin Mutandiro SPORTS EDITOR Ω

TRU Athletics

The departure of Ken Olynyk from the WolfPack has already led to a few changes in TRU’s athletics programs – one of them being the appointment of Peter Soberlak as the department’s new athletic performance advisor. Soberlak is a former professional hockey player and an assistant coach on the men’s soccer team. He’s also a lecturer at TRU, teaching sports-related courses. A very positive individual, Soberlak uses his experience as a former hockey player to help athletes deal with the pressures of sports and this is evident with his history of being a consultant with the Kamloops Blazers hockey team. He will be TRU’s first athletic performance advisor in the university’s history. It is a position that TRU hopes will help take the program to the next level in college sports. Soberlak comes across as a

genuine person with good intentions. His eyes light up when it comes to discussing sports and how to go about maximizing an athlete’s potential. When Ken Olynyk announced his retirement, Soberlak showed interest in replacing him, and although that wasn’t meant to be, discussions took place to have him join the organization as the athletic performance advisor. As per his new position, Soberlak will be counselling and working with athletes and coaches from all the WolfPack programs. “The toughest part will be figuring out where to put my focus,” he told The Omega. “There are so many teams, coaches and athletes.” Soberlak went on to state that he might start the job by focusing on one program at a time, with his focus being helping athletes with self-confidence and positive self-talk. “Developing student athletes, that is my focus,” he said, “The priority will be to help them

be successful in the classroom. Athletic performance is almost equally important,” Soberlak said. Soberlak explained that his schedule has been designed in such a way that allows him to do his job effectively and efficiently without any conflicts to worry about. He also emphasized his passion and love for the job TRU wants him to do, a job which he admits he is very grateful to have. Soberlak plans on continuing to work with the soccer program albeit in a more reduced capacity than previous seasons. “I like to be involved. It’s a fun aspect of the job,” he said. The WolfPack program has improved tremendously over the few years and Soberlak hopes there can be even more improvements to come. “Everything needs improvement. I’m sure there are a lot of areas we could be doing things better. At the same time there has been a lot of growth with TRU athletics,” Soberlak said.

JANUARY 24, 2018

THE OMEGA

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING January 24, 2018 at 6PM Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union Building download a copy of the meeting agenda online at trusu.ca/events

Coffee Giveaway

Jan 31st at 9AM TRUSU Building

details at trusu.ca/events /TRUStudentsUnion

@TRUSU15