March 21, 2018

Ω 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 23 · MARCH 21, 2018

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BEWARE TICKS THIS SPRING

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SHRED KELLY RETURNS

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LIVE AT TRU COMES TO CLOSE

Therapy dogs celebrate five years on campus Jennifer Will NEWS EDITOR Ω Therapy Thursday is well known to be one of the best days on campus, where students can destress by hanging out in Old Main with the St. John’s Ambulance dogs.

On March 15, the Wellness Centre celebrated the fifth anniversary of the therapy dog program on campus.

Chelsea Corsi, TRU’s wellness coordinator, said the idea for

the program came from looking at other schools and from suggestions by TRU employees.

“About six years ago I’d been hearing about other universities, like law schools for example, bringing puppies in during exam time. I thought that was an interesting idea and thought how we could make that work,” Corsi said.

They started the program off as a nine-week pilot project where they brought in the dogs every Thursday for a fourhour drop-in period.

“It was so successful that we couldn’t imagine not continuing on,” Corsi said. “What I know from working here so long, is that students are stressed throughout the entire semester. It doesn’t matter if it’s an exam time or midterms or just a transition to a new place.”

See THERAPY DOGS Page 2

Hanging out with the therapy dogs has proven to be a big source of stress relief for many students and is an easy way to take a quick break from an otherwise hectic semester. (Juan Cabrejo/Ω)

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MARCH 21, 2018

Therapy dogs cure exam period blues CONTINUED (COVER) Hanging out with the dogs and stopping to pet them has proven to be a big source of stress relief for many students and is a way to take a quick break from an otherwise hectic semester. Bridget Jensen, the therapy dog coordinator for TRU, says that the dogs have an impact on everyone around them including the handlers, staff and faculty, but especially students.

“A lot of them have been away from home and come from far away and have pets at home that they miss. [The dogs] have also proven to be very calming for them if they’re having any anxiety or they’re upset or homesick,” Jensen said.

Rajat Csopra, a first-year student in the accounting

program, says that he comes to visit the dogs every week.

“They make me feel good, with all these lectures and exams coming up, there is a lot of stress in the university. So, that’s why I come to see them,” Csopra said.

Corsi adds that the effects of having the dogs is not only seen by those who stop to pet them but also by others passing the area.

“What I like is that anyone who walks by can see the dogs and we’ve heard feedback from students within the last couple of weeks that even if they don’t stop and pet the dogs, just seeing them lifts their mood,” Corsi said.

You can visit with the dogs and their handlers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday in Old Main.

The dogs and their handlers are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday in Old Main. (Juan Cabrejo/Ω)

Day scholar coordinator recounts experiences in residential school Farrah Johnson CONTRIBUTOR Ω A presentation on the topic of Day Scholar: What is it? was held in the Clock Tower on Mar. 19.

The event was presented by Jo-Anne Gottfriedson, a member of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc nation and the Chair of the day scholars Class Action for Tk’emlups in partnership with Sechelt First Nation.

While a lot of people are familiar with the history of the Canadian residential schools for Indigenous people, many people are unaware of the day scholars.

Gottfriedson explained that day scholars were those that attended

residential school in the day, but went home at night.

She said that while there is often confusion between a day scholar and a day student, day scholars had to attend residential school, while day students were enrolled in schools where nobody lived.

“We were fed low grade food, banned from interacting with others outside of our grade level and we had to stay outside in the winter because we weren't allowed to be in the recreational rooms,” she said.

Gottfriedson also explained that the quality of education was very low because the teachers, who were nuns and priests, were not certified.

“It was a lot of abuse from teachers and other residential students who bullied us because they thought

The Kamloops Indian Residential School closed in 1977. Like many other residential schools in Canada, the conditions were horrific. (FILE PHOTO)

we were privileged because we got to go home,” she said.

Gottfriedson also said that she has heard many traumatic stories from other day scholars.

“There was a school where a student was thrown down the stairs and broke his hip, but he never received any medical attention,” she said.

She said that the day scholars were sexually, physically, mentally and spiritually abused.

“The first thing they did was cut our hair, which is a tradition that we only practice when we experience death in the family,” she said.

Gottfriedson explained that day scholars were excluded from the original settlement that provides reparations for First Nations that attended residential schools.

“It started in 2010 when I retired from teaching and did a research project to find out how many community members were left out of the residential school settlement,” she said.

Gottfriedson said she met with chiefs from all across Canada and encouraged them to fight for justice so that day scholars across Canada and their children could get justice.

“Language and culture are vital to our existence as First Nations people and a lot of our people are addicted to drugs and alcohol because they didn’t heal from the trauma of residential school,” she said.

Gottfriedson said she believes the fatal area of the original settlement was excluding the day scholars, because they experienced the same trauma as those that lived in the residential schools.

“We want equal treatment because day scholars should have never been excluded out of the original settlement, so we hope to settle in one to two years outside of court,” she said.

Lyme disease on the rise in Canada With spring fast approaching, make sure to check your body and clothing after going outside Jennifer Will NEWS EDITOR Ω Lyme disease was once only found near the U.S. border in Ontario but has since spread to nearly every province. Lyme disease is an inflammatory infection that is spread to humans via tick bites.

According to Stats Canada, in 2016, 987 cases of lyme disease were reported and there has been a steady increase of the amount of cases reporting lyme disease all over the country.

According to the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation’s website, “lyme is a borreliosis caused by borrelia bacteria, which commonly infects animals like birds, mice, other small rodents, and deer.

Ticks pick up the bacteria by biting infected animals, and then pass it on to other animals, including human hosts. There are many strains or genospecies of borrelia that cause lyme disease (borreliosis) in humans, just as there are many strains of the flu virus that cause flu symptoms in humans, with some strains more virulent than others.”

Jen Meers and Rory James are two local Kamloops residents who have both contracted lyme disease and have been struggling with it for years.

“We both have late stage neurological lyme. We are both really, really sick,” Meers said.

Meers added that there are a

lot of misconceptions about the disease and that with tick season coming up, they want to get the word out there.

The two also run a Facebook support page for people who have lyme disease in Kamloops, and the group currently has 27 members.

James adds that they are also planning community events to help raise awareness.

“We actually are doing a walk for lyme disease awareness on May 5,” James said. “That’s one of the ways were going to bring awareness to people to check for ticks.”

Some tips for preventing a tick bite when in a wooded or forested area is to wear light-coloured and long sleeve clothes, walk on cleared paths, use bug spray that contains DEET or Icaridin, and shower within two hours of being outdoors.

For more information on tick prevention you can visit www. canada.ca/en/public-health/ services/diseases/lyme-disease/ prevention-lyme-disease.

A deer tick is about 3 mm in length.

(U.S. Department of Agriculture)

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TRUSU's campus food bank launching new initiatives Food bank is finding new ways to get donations for students in need Jennifer Will NEWS EDITOR Ω Going to school can be expensive if you are just paying for books and tuition, but the cost goes up significantly when you tack on rent, utilities, other bills and groceries.

Sometimes, this means buying groceries can fall to the wayside at the end of the day.

According to TRUSU’s website, the Food Bank on campus is in place for just this reason, for times when bills stack and students can’t afford a trip to the grocery store.

Nathan Lane, TRUSU’s executive director, says the need for the food bank “goes up and down.” However, in order to keep this service available for students, getting donations is the key.

“That’s how we keep food in the food bank,” Lane said.

This year the Services Committee, along with regular food drives, has launched some new initiatives in order to get donations.

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“[They] formed two partnerships that are going to help us make sure we have an ongoing inventory of food. One was with the HR Department to get donations at IDays events, the other one will be coming up at the end of the year with residence,” Lane said. “It will allow students to donate their remaining food when they’re moving out to the food bank and it will be held as inventory for students when they need it.”

If you would like to make a donation to the food bank you can contact the office administrator by phone at 250-828-5289 or by email at office@ trusu.ca. They accept donations from students and members of the community.

“If students are in need of the food bank, all they have to do is come to the Students Union Building anytime we’re open, it’s a super easy process.

It takes less than five minutes and we can make sure they get the food they need,” Lane said.

To request a package from the food bank, you can drop by the Services Desk in the Students Union Building.

Men's circle talks toxic masculinity TRU students provide support group to address consent and sexual violence in the community Farrah Johnson CONTRIBUTOR Ω The Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre, in conjunction with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Project, hosted a Men’s Circle in the multimedia room of the TRU Residence on March 15.

The men’s circle, held on the second Thursday of every month, provides a support group for men to discuss masculinity, consent and ways to take action in their communities.

Hosted by Robert Long, the

program is designed to create a safe space for men to talk about subjects that males would normally try to avoid.

"I found that I wanted to be able to talk about sexualized violence, but I felt like there weren't any spaces to do that," Long said, explaining his motivation behind spearheading the cause.

Long added he believed that the topics of masculinity and consent are some that men learn not to talk about at an early age.

He said he believes the initiative isn't as popular as it could be because it revolves around an uncomfortable topic.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Re: Do TRUSU elections actually have merit?

The TRUSU elections in 2018 felt more like a popularity contest than a political election.

The TRUSU elections have started garnering more attention in recent years, which is good, don’t get me wrong, but we need to ask what credibility do some of these parties have?

A lot of the people who ran for a position in the TRUSU elections were well known to a certain degree, but what wasn’t well known were their political philosophies or agendas.

I can count on one hand the people who took their time to explain their ideas to me if elected into office.

I thought it was a joke that some people expected me to vote

for them even though I didn’t know them or their policies. I understand that is how the student elections are run at TRU, but that’s not good enough in my opinion.

Let’s make the elections more interesting and credible, start campaigning strongly towards the end of the fall and have major debates and discussions about policy in the Winter. It’s easier said than done, I understand that but it’s worth a try.

Some people may think these elections are meaningless, largely because the people in the student’s union don’t have as much power as they would have us believe.

Despite that, being in the students’ union looks good on a resume and so the positions in the students’ union are extremely valuable.

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The TRUSU food bank is finding new ways to get donations from students and the broader Kamloops community. (Jennifer Will/The Omega)

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“People are hesitant to recruit other men and it is really hard to avoid the circle being branded as a men’s campaign, rather than a male support group to try and change harmful narratives,” he said.

Long also believes that men deserve the opportunity to talk and that they have a responsibility to do so.

He said that as long as there is sexual violence and consent violations in society, men should band together to help address the issue.

“I think that there are a lot of opportunities where many men could contribute more to the equity processes," Long added.

News Editor Jennifer Will

Arts Editor Cailyn Mocci

Sports Editor Alvin Mutandiro

Photographer Juan Cabrejo

Distribution Jonathan Malloy

Contribuors Justin Moore Farrah Johnson Morgan Hunter Elizabeth Nygren

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People also need to start treating the elections like a true competition, candidates at times were a little too sensitive. I mean it’s politics, there are no real friends.

Let people have a go at each other, that might help bring a little more attention to the elections and it would make for good viewing for those people who care.

I respect the people in the students’ union and I’m sure they work hard to get into those positions, I just believe the current election system can and should be improved if we are supposed to take it seriously.

Alvin Mutandiro Sports Editor

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2018 TRUSU General Election Results PSA secures landslide victory over Yours Truly, taking 16 of 19 positions Wade Tomko EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω The Progressive Student Advocates (PSA) have won the 2018 TRUSU General Election by a large majority.

Unlike last year, where only three of the 19 available positions were contested, this election saw fierce competition between the incumbent slate, PSA and the opposition, Yours Truly. Tatiana Gilbert has been elected for another term as TRUSU president, while Cole Hickson has been

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Tatiana Gilbert Gagandeep Singh Arjun Gill Gurmanpreet Kaur Sierra Rae Cole Hickson Paola Lopéz Simranjit Singh Patience Nyoka Inderpreet Bains Samantha Baker Joginder Singh Fatimah Abdullahi Shireen Rahman Marriappan Vasudevan James-Dean Aleck Josh Martinez Giriraj Ojha Damandeep Singh Beckham Evans Gloria Franciso Yogesh Gandhi Ibrahim Mussa Elycia Buckley Paige Caswell Shilpy Verma Obaapa Ayisa Aria Kornas Siddarth Sharma Nicholas Warner Christian Andrews Mackenzie Byers Haonan Deng Arman Gill Kazim Amirali Swagatam Mujumber Abu Taj Ramatoulaye Comma Matt Eriksson Shammah Madamombe Mico Miege-Moffat

elected to serve another term as vice president external.

Sierra Rae, who was previously the women’s representative in 2016/17, has been elected as the new vice president equity. Simranjit Singh, previously the international representative, has been elected vice president internal.

The position of vice president services was won by PSA candidate Samantha Baker.

While PSA seems to have swept Yours Truly, it was a close race for most positions, with PSA candidates only achieving victory by a hundred or so votes.

Yours Truly candidates Swagatam Mujumber and Abu Taj won both positions on the services committee, however PSA did not have candidates running for those positions.

Yours Truly candidate Arman Gill won a position on the entertainment committee as well.

According to TRUSU, voter turnout for the election was 21 per cent - more than double last year’s turnout of 9.4 per cent.

Elected candidates will take their positions after the end of this semester.

Position

Affiliation

Votes

President President VP Equity VP Equity VP Equity VP External VP External VP Internal VP Internal VP Services VP Services VP Services Graduate Representative Graduate Representative Graduate Representative Indigenous Representative Indigenous Representative International Representative International Representative LGBTQ+ Representative LGBTQ+ Representative Visible Minorities Representative Visible Minorities Representative Women’s Representative Women’s Representative Women’s Representative Campaigns Committee Campaigns Committee Campaigns Committee Campaigns Committee Entertainment Committee Entertainment Committee Entertainment Committee Entertainment Committee Services Committee Services Committee Services Committee University Affairs Committee University Affairs Committee University Affairs Committee University Affairs Committee

Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Yours Truly Independent Progressive Student Advocates Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Yours Truly Progressive Student Advocates Independent Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Independent Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Yours Truly Progressive Student Advocates Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Independent Yours Truly Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Progressive Student Advocates Progressive Student Advocates Independent Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Independent Yours Truly Yours Truly Yours Truly Progressive Student Advocates Yours Truly Progressive Student Advocates

861 (53.7%) 743 (46.3%) 655 (41.7%) 188 (12%) 726 (46.3%) 894 (55.5%) 717 (44.5%) 861 (54.2%) 727 (45.8) 572 (36.9%) 733 (47.2%) 246 (15.9%) 777 (51.4%) 612 (40.4%) 124 (8.2%) 822 (55%) 672 (45%) 850 (55.2%) 691 (44.8%) 803 (53%) 711 (47%) 754 (48.5%) 800 (51.5%) 710 (45.8%) 660 (42.5%) 182 (11.7%) 639 (21.7%) 760 (25.9%) 718 (24.4%) 823 (28%) 853 (32.3%) 430 (16.2%) 655 (24.7%) 709 (26.8%) 625 (27.8%) 816 (36.4%) 804 (35.8%) 628 (22%) 879 (30.8%) 639 (22.4%) 707 (24.8%)

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ARTS

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Holocaust survivor shares her life story Vera Schiff, the sole survivor out of fifty family members, recounts experiences Juan Cabrejo PHOTOGRAPHER Ω Holocaust survivor Vera Schiff came to share her personal experiences of living in a concentration camp, as well as the stories of the valiant souls who fought for their lives. Schiff was born in 1926 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. In 1942, she was deported with her family to Theresienstadt, a concentration camp in the garrison city of Terezín (today located in the Czech Republic) which served as a transit camp for Jews en route to extermination camps in the east.

“I was the sole survivor out of my 50 family members,” she said.

“The fate of our family was not exceptional and returning to the homes in Prague was very difficult for me.”

Every prisoner would be compelled to perform labour assignments every day, usually lasting 12 hours. This included Jewish

children who were denied access to education along with basic necessities.

“You were more fortunate to work for the German war industry as perhaps you would get an extra piece of bread,” she said. “The quest for knowledge was perceived as a crime for the Germans.”

Every day was a struggle for Schiff and her family. Despite having many skilled doctors in the camp, there was very little they could do without supplies.

“Life in the camp was a nightmare; there was the constant fear of being deported at any possible date,” she said. “For the Germans, it was a joke to see these defenceless people; for us, it was to see the misery and atrocities.”

Schiff’s mother managed to write a diary before her passing, which served to motivate her to keep fighting for her life and find justice for her family’s suffering.

She has published the diary in one of her books.

“I believe her words speak volumes about the day-by-day pain and despair of an inmate in Theresienstadt,” she said.

The concentration camp was also where Vera Schiff met her future husband, Arthur Schiff.

They both survived captivity and eventually moved to Israel for 12 years before settling in Toronto. Today Schiff has two sons, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

“After the war, it was a not only a healing process but a process of finding a place in society,” she said.

Vera Schiff’s son David also spoke about the value of the survivor community in Israel during his formative years.

“I’ve had the pleasure of growing up in a part of Israel where at least half the country was composed of survivors,” he said. “These people who had lost everything created a pseudo-family environment which has

Vera Schiff, who was accompanied by her son, shared her experiences of the holocaust in the soldout Alumni Theatre. (Juan Cabrejo/The Omega) been very healthy for the second generation.”

Copies of her three published books were available for purchase

at the end for those interested in learning more about her autobiography, her mother’s diary and the memoirs of her family and friends.

Shred Kelly set to return to the Kamloops stage Following the release of their fourth studio album, Shred Kelly will take the stage at the Blue Grotto Cailyn Mocci ARTS EDITOR Ω B.C. based folk band Shred Kelly are back at again with a brand new album, Archipelago and a tour across Western and Central Canada. Shred Kelly will be touching down in Kamloops on March 27 to bring audiences together with their contemporary approach to the genre.

Shred Kelly has recently released their fourth studio album, Archipelago, three years

after their third album Sing to the Night in 2015.

Archipelago features 11 tracks of “in-your-face” folk tunes sure to keep your foot tapping and longing for sunny summer afternoons.

The album was signed under DevilDuck Records, a label based out of Germany. Since going worldwide, DevilDuck has cued up many international acts with Shred Kelly being their first Canadian signing.

Archipelago was produced under Vancouver-based music

producer Howard Redekopp who has worked with wellknown Canadian sister duo Tegan and Sara, as well as music producer Josh Rob Gwilliam.

The track “Don’t Ever Look Back” also featured the producing powers of Colin Stewart, known for his work with Canadian Indie Rock band Yukon Blonde.

“We worked hard to create an album that captured the energy of our live show, which can be a challenge in the studio. Thankfully, our producers Howard

Redekopp, Josh Rob Gwilliam and Colin Stewart really succeeded at getting dynamic performances, and challenged us while keeping the process a lot of fun. We are very proud and excited to put it out into the world,” said band member Sage McBride.

The album features up beat riffs of banjos, mandolins and the classic guitar. The tracks mix together the collaborative writing powers of band members Tim Newton, Sage McBride, Jordan Vlasschaert

and Ty West.

“We’ll never put a song on the album that we don’t all agree on. With all of us gravitating towards different styles of music, it’s difficult at times to all agree on what we like most.

So if we all love it, it’s a definite yes for the album,” McBride said.

Kamloops will get their chance to see this up-beat B.C.grown band perform at the Blue Grotto on March 27 before they set off for the European leg of their promotional tour.

The Freudian Slips welcome new and familiar faces

With a new crew, Kamloops comics bring explosive laughter to the theatre scene Cailyn Mocci ARTS EDITOR Ω After yet another successful season of making the Kamloops community laugh, the Freudian Slips are back for another much anticipated season full of inappropriate comedy and gut-busting giggles.

Chimera Theatre and the Freudian Slips will open their 2018 season with an explosion of hilarity from new and familiar faces. This season sets the stage for their newly formed comedy troupe.

With Chimera Theatre’s mainstage production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, adapted and directed

by Freudian Slips funny man and host Andrew G. Cooper now finished, the troupe will take the stage to continue to bring monthly improv shows through the spring and summer.

The troupe has had to say goodbye to founding members

and co-directors Jessica Buchanan and Brittany McCarthy as they bid Kamloops farewell and travel east for greater comedy adventures. Stepping up to the plate as the troupe’s

director is the Freudian Slips’ long time comedic genius Paul Rancourt.

This season is sure to please just about anyone’s sense of humour with six hilariously themed improv

shows. With themes such as 80’s Tight n’ Bright, Star Wars vs. Star Trek, and a Freudian Slips classic Strip n’ Sip. The 2018 season will feature some

The Freudian Slips featuring (left to right, top to bottom) Kennedy Crane, Dan Ondang, Jamie Mason, Taylor James McCallum, Paul Rancourt, Andrew G. Cooper, Allandra Gardner, and Brendan Law. (Cailyn Mocci/The Omega)

familiar faces to the Slips’ family, including Andrew G. Cooper as the host as well as Brendan Law and Taylor James McCallum.

The troupe is also welcoming back Allandra Gardner and Dan Ondang from previous seasons.

Making their debut on the stage is Kennedy Crane and Jamie Mason.

As with every Freudian Slips show, audience members are encouraged to dress up according to the theme. The shows are hilarious and interactive, with roaring laughs you won’t leave the Stage House Theatre disappointed.

Catch the Freudian Slips in their season opener show on March 24 at the Stage House Theatre. Make sure to pull out your neon leggings and legwarmers as Freudian Slips’ take on the 80’s in Tight n’ Bright.

Tickets can be purchased online in advanced at www.thefreudianslips. com or at the door, but be sure to save your spot in advanced for this much anticipated show.

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MARCH 21, 2018

ARTS

Live at TRU ends series with monologue by Brendan McLeod

McLeod explored consciousness, mental illness and friendship in his monologue ‘Brain’ Elizabeth Nygren CONTRIBUTOR Ω On Thursday, March 15, Brendan McLeod presented his monologue ‘Brain’ in the Alumni Theatre at TRU, ending this year’s ‘Live at TRU’ series.

The monologue was approximately 1 hour and there was a short meet-andgreet afterwards.

This isn’t the first time Brendan’s been to TRU, as he came once before to play with his band, ‘The Fugitives’.

His monologue took about 10 months to prepare, including finding what he wanted to say, deciding how he wanted to say it, and lastly memorizing the piece to make it as effective as possible. It explores his personal experiences with mental illness, consciousness and friendship, all while making it humorous, interactive, and thought-provoking.

McLeod’s monologue begins with when he started middle school.

He said he was very nervous at the

beginning, so he began praying to God everyday and slowly he got obsessed with it. He explained how he would pray during class, before he’d fall asleep and it was the only thing he’d use his thoughts for.

He talked about when he moved to Victoria for university and first experienced marijuana. McLeod said he wouldn’t stop bothering a classmate until he showed him what the world of marijuana was like and the idea of being high was the only thing he could focus on.

After he finally experienced it, he became overwhelmed with the idea that this classmate was going to kill him, which he noted was a crazy thing to think. Yet his mind was so filled with different obsessions that it was suffocating him.

The theatre went quiet when he said he thought about molesting children. He thought to himself ‘Would I do that?’, and although ‘No’ seemed like the 100 per cent correct answer, his mind tricked him into thinking

that he wouldn’t be completely sure unless he pictured every possible scenario in his head.

He thought about these scenarios day and night and eventually became obsessed with it, just like the praying in middle school. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him, until he was told by counselor that he had obsessive compulsive disorder.

The moment of learning the truth freed him. He realized he wasn’t a monster, he was someone with a disorder. He realized when he said aloud ‘I think about molesting children’, that he would never actually do that.

McLeod noted how no one knows and how we will probably never know, how our consciousness works. He then went into his thoughts about how important his friends are to him and how they helped through a strenuous time in his life.

He left the audience with the message of “you never know when you might be helping someone,” which is truly something to consider.

Brendan McLeod shared some very personal details of his own life and delved into the realm of human conciousness. (Elizabeth Nygren/Ω)

Ready Player One: read the book before you see the movie Morgan Hunter CONTRIBUTOR Ω Ready Player One is a book that shows a deep respect towards nerds, yet still appeals towards the average person who enjoys a good adventure. The book is written by author Ernest Cline and centers around Wade Watts, an 18-year old man in the dystopian future of 2044. The entire planet has been plagued by climate change and overpopulation and the only escape from the decline their world is facing is to turn to a virtual reality simulator

called the OASIS. Once the creator of the OASIS dies, a video is triggered, which features the creator challenging everyone to find an easter egg left in the OASIS, the prize being his immense fortune. The book then goes on to represent the 80’s in all its glow, tossing in every and any reference at the reader to truly immerse them into an almost nostalgic future.

All the characters introduced are all given such personality with all of them holding the same goal, all trying to acquire the egg.

Halfway through the book, it does give this great moral quarrel that

stuck out. It asks two lower class characters how such a fortune as the book describes should be used; to better humanity in a crumbling world or to abandon the planet and its population in order to thrive elsewhere. The answer isn’t ever given so that theme stays in the back of the reader’s mind, which is another testament to how well the book is written.

The theme doesn’t necessarily speak against the idea of the obsession that the protagonist carries due to the setting that surrounds him, letting the reader empathize with him and his only

Everything Shuswap offers unseen insight into the beauty of the region

Volume one of Jim Cooperman’s newest book series is a must have for residents and tourists familiar with the Shuswap Justin Moore CONTRIBUTOR Ω One of British Columbia’s most diverse regions of lakes, rivers and inhabitants, dating back over 9,000 years, is in the spotlight of Everything Shuswap, local author Jim Cooperman’s newest book.

Volume one of the geographic handbook features a stunning array of stories and photos, including maps and graphs detailing the Shuswap’s lush and fertile lands. The first chapter of the book giving an extensive look at the local watershed, exploring the many lakes and rivers of the region.

Cooperman also dives into the history of the indigenous Secwepemc peoples that first inhabited the land.

Featured in this second chapter are photos of artefacts close to 11,000 years old found in the area, along with the uses for these early tools.

The chapter also recounts traditional Secwepemc stories, their customs and habitations in the area of the Shuswap lakes and surrounding areas. This history is traced and continued through the Fir Trades, the Gold Rush and even tells of experiences in the tragedy of residential schools.

The final chapter of the book chronicles the early European settlers that travelled to the Shuswap area during the Fir Trade and the proceeding Gold Rush that swept over BC around the 1860’s.

Cooperman has included many journal entries and many man-made maps created by these settles attempting to mark the geography of the area. Many contributions had been added by various explorers, aiding the final maps of the area by marking the Shuswap’s many lakes, river and mountains.

The volume goes on to detail the

use of steamboats on the interior lakes that provided quick travel and aided transportation of logs between logging sites and mills. These logging efforts had a major impact on the construction of the railroad that finally made its way to the Shuswap after 1885.

Everything Shuswap is the first comprehensive book about the area.

Cooperman’s extensive work capturing the rich history of the area in his first volume is seen on every page of the book, complete with striking and detailed imagery from past and present times.

With the succeeding books in the series looking at the impacts of climate change, overdevelopment and what the future holds for the Shuswap area, the Everything Shuswap collection is a must-have for anyone interested in learning more about one of British Columbia’s oldest and most beautiful regions.

passion: finding the easter egg.

Throughout the book, the journey keeps the reader both coming back not only to the interesting setting being described, but also in their own personal attempt to figure out the mystery of where the egg truly is, making every reader a true gunter (“egg-hunters” as described in the game).

The book also debates the problem of falling too deep into anything and the repercussions that could have. Yet it doesn’t

represent these characters as normal and makes the argument for all-out immersion in any medium much more grey. The book does have a very sudden ending however, but justifies it artistically. Overall, the world that Ready Player One gives is a surreal one that isn’t that far-fetched from the present, yet gives a sense of hope at a very individualist level that leaves readers smiling from beginning to end.

Puzzle of the Week #20—Gene’s Zoo

(in the March 21, 2018 issue of The Omega) Welcome to Gene’s Zoo. There are four types of animals: alligators, budgies, cats, and dogs. There is at least one of each type, and there are no more than twenty animals total.

There are at least twice as many cats as dogs, but no more than three times as many.

The number of budgies is the number of dogs plus an even, positive integer.

There are fewer alligators than any other animal.

The number of budgies is equal to the number of other animals.

How animals are there of each type?

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.

WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA

7

SPORTS

Nursing students tackle multiple sclerosis and Parkison's 'Pack basketball player Shenise Sigsworth among students in new care partner support group Alvin Mutandiro SPORTS EDITOR Ω The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, British Columbia and Yukon Division, as well as the Parkinson’s Society British Columbia (PSBC) are partnering to promote a new care partner support group in Kamloops.

Wolfpack women’s basketball player Shenise Sigsworth is involved in the project with her fellow nursing students to help people here in Kamloops who

have MS and Parkinson's.

The first volunteer-led support group meeting will take place on March 27 and will provide a new avenue of support for caregivers or care partners, of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s disease (PD).

While the initial meeting will be facilitated by a group of nursing students from Thompson Rivers University, it is hoped that it will continue as a monthly volunteer-led support group thereafter.

Support groups offer an informal way to link people who share common concerns or experiences. A caregiver may be a parent, spouse, adult child, friend or family member who cares for an individual living with MS, PD or an similar disease.

Individuals who are formal or informal caregivers, have unique experiences and needs.

Talking to peers in similar situations can help provide support and comfort.

“Recognizing there are many

topics which appeal to caregivers who provide support to individuals with neurological conditions, we are most excited for this opportunity to partner with Parkinson Society British Columbia to promote this in-person support group for caregivers of individuals living with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease,” said Elena Tilton, Community Services Coordinator for the MS Society, B.C. Division.

This care partner support group is a special initiative of a

group of third-year TRU nursing students who are completing NURS3510, a project-based course wherein two to three students are assigned to an agency field guide in order to advance their community nursing and program development skills through various strategies.

The first care partner support group meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27.

A room has been generously donated by The Hamlets at Westsyde, 3255 Overlander Drive, Kamloops.

'Pack men's baseball splits two doubleheaders in the States The Wolfpack won two games and lost two against Olympic Community College Alvin Mutandiro SPORTS EDITOR Ω

The ’Pack men’s baseball team continued their pre-season tour in the states as they took on the

Olympic Community College Rangers.

The WolfPack men’s baseball

CFBX TOP 30 CFBX 92.5 FM, 350 Watts Kamloops, BC Music Director: Steve Marlow Charts to March 15, 2018 * indicates Canadian Content ** indicates a local artist Artist - Album (Label) 1) Shred Kelly* - Archipelago (Devilduck) 2) Ladyshark - Lovesick (Amityville) 3) The Olympic Symphonium* - Beauty in the Tension (Forward) 4) Freak Heat Waves* - Beyond XXXL (Telephone Explosion) 5) Janiva Magness - Love is an Army (Bluelan) 6) Dana Jean Phoenix* - Synth City (Independent) 7) Various Artists - African Cafe (Putumayo) 8) Laila Biali* - Laila Biali (Chronograph) 9) Danielle Duval* - Lose It (Independent) 10) Born Ruffians* - Uncle, Duke and the Chief (Paper Bag) 11) Sarah Cripps* - Sarah Cripps (Independent) 12) Flowshine* - Gets Me Going (Independent) 13) Kylie Fox* - Balcony EP (Independent) 14) Downchild* - Something I've Done (Linus) 15) Trent Severn* - Portage (Independent) 16) Todd Stewart* - Everything You Want (Northern Beauty) 17) Grand Analog* - Survival (Independent) 18) The Perms* - Miracle (Hugtight) 19) No Museums* - It All Begins to Feel (Independent) 20) Wake* - Misery Rites (Translation Loss) 21) Andrea Ramolo* - Nuda (Independent) 22) Alexandre Desplat - The Shape of Water OST (Decca) 23) Miesha and the Spanks* - Girls Girls Girls (Saved by Vinyl) 24) The Wailin' Jennys* - Fifteen (True North) 25) Kutch* - Notionside (Independent) 26) Rose-Erin Stokes* - Wherever I Go (Independent) 27) Brian Holden* - Drivin' (Paucoh) 28) Good Field - Surface Tension (Independent) 29) Marker Starling* - Anchors and Ampersands (Tin Angel) 30) Cootes Paradise* - Cootes Paradise (Independent)

team split a doubleheader in Bremerton, Washington, USA, against the Olympic Community College Rangers on March 17.

The ’Pack lost the first game 5-3 and won the second game 8-4.

Josh Hills, (Calgary, AB.) got going 2-3 with a double, a RBI, a run scored and two walks. Adam Filmon, (Winnipeg, MB.), went 3-5. Cole Paquin, (Regina, SK.), finished 2-5 with a RBI double and a run scored.

Connor Mckenzie, (Kamloops, B.C.), got a RBI when we walked with bases loaded. Matt Pidlisecky, (Abbotsford, B.C.), went 1-1. Tyler Hodder, (Fort McMurray, AB.), started on the mound, throwing just 1.1 innings allowing two runs and two hits.

Joe Siniscalchi, (Burnaby, B.C.), made his best outing on the pre-season yet, throwing 3.2 innings allowing one run on three hits and two strikeouts.

Quinn Nesplak, (White Rock, B.C.), suffered the loss throwing three innings, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks.

The bats were alive for the whole second game as they scored eight runs on 12 hits.

Jackson Dartnell, (Winnipeg, MB.) led the offense as he hit a two-run homerun in the top seventh inning.

He finished 2-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. In the four-run fourth inning, Jordy Cunningham, (Ladner, B.C.) had a RBI single and Josh Hillis squeezed a run in.

Cunningham finished 3-5 with two RBIs, a run scored, two walks and a stolen base. Malik James, (Toronto, ON.), went 2-4 with a double and a run scored.

Adam Filmon went 1-3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Kyron Smith, (Maple Ridge, B.C.), had a base hit. Tyler Moskalyk, (Thunder Bay, ON.), was great on the mound for the ’Pack, tossing seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out nine batters.

Bryant Jameus, (Kamloops, B.C.) threw two innings, allowing one run on a hit and a walk.

He struck out two batters.

TRU also split the doubleheaders on March 18. TRU lost the first game 5-2 and won the second game 10-3.

Regan Gillis, (Fort McMurray, AB.), started game one for the ’Pack and suffered the loss. He tossed 6 ⅓ innings, allowing four runs on 13 hits and walked one and struck out one. Scott Wood, (Stratford, ON) allowed one run on two hits in 1 ⅔ innings.

Connor McKenzie, (Kamloops, B.C.) and Jordy Cunningham, (Ladner, B.C.), each had RBI doubles in the first game. McKenzie finished 2-3 and Cunningham finished 1-4.

Adam Filmon, (Winnipeg, MB.), went 2-4. Malik James, (Toronto, ON), and Matt Pidlisecky, (Abbotsford, B.C.), both went 1-4 with a run scored.

James’s hit was a double. Josh Snider, (Moses Lake, WA.), had a base hit as well.

In game two, the offense came alive as they scored 10 runs on 14 hits. Malik James continued his hot day, going 2-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Robert Scarr, (Tsawwassen) had a two RBI single, finished 2-3.

Nick Bolt, (Brooks, AB.), went 1-2 with a two-RBI single. Kurtis Wall, (Nelson, B.C.), had a RBI single and Taylor Van Ham, (Medicine Hat, AB.), collected a RBI on a bases-loaded walk.

Jackson Darnell, (Winnipeg, MB.), went home 1-2 with a double and two runs scored.

Rhys McKenzie, (Kamloops, B.C.), went 1-2 with a run scored. Jack Suhai, (Medicine Hat, AB.), went 1-1 with a run scored.

Washington native Dillion Ferguson got the call on the mound in game two.

He got the win, tossing 5 ⅓ innings, allowing three runs (Zero Earned) on three hits and three walks. He also struck out three batters.

Josh Snider allowed just one hit in 1 ⅔ innings. Bryant Jameus and Cole Paquin each threw a shutout inning.

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MARCH 21, 2018

THE OMEGA

t a s t l u s e r n o i t c ele ws

e n / a c . u s u r t

INFORMATION SESSION March 22 at 6PM TRUSU Lecture Hall

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