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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 28 · ISSUE 05 · OCTOBER 3, 2018
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NEW COLUMN TACKLES LEGISLATION
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FOURTH BREWLOOPS A SUCCESS
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BUSY PRE-SEASON FOR VOLLEYBALL
TRU recognizes the cultural genocide caused by residential schools Justin Moore STAFF WRITER Ω Crowds of orange gathered under the falling autumn leaves in front of the Campus Activity Centre on Sept. 27 in solidarity for Orange Shirt Day. By the request of Paul Michel, the executive director of TRU Aboriginal Affairs, students, faculty, staff and community members formed a circle on the walkway before
speakers took to the podium to talk about the importance and significance of Orange Shirt Day. The event opened with a ceremonial honour song, followed by a woman warrior song that echoed across campus grounds as more gathered to watch from the CAC steps. The day symbolizes the years of prejudice and strife that Indigenous peoples like Phyllis Webstad, the creator of Orange Shirt Day and her family faced growing up in
residential schools. Upon being sent away to a residential school in her youth, Webstad had a brand new orange shirt taken from her. That story told years later by Webstad sparked the idea for this day, now globally recognized on Sept. 30 annually.
See ORANGE SHIRT DAY Page 3
Last week TRU came together in solidarity to recognize those that were taken away to residential schools. Drummers and singers performed two songs to open the event. (Justin Moore/Ω)
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TRU starts cracking down on freedom, memes and speech memes_of_tru Instagram page opens up about memes and censorship Robert Wisla CONTRIBUTOR Ω We all love memes, from doggos driving cars to frogs representing complex ideologies. However, Thompson Rivers University’s recent actions raise major questions to if the university shares this love of memes and more concerningly, how exactly TRU is cracking down on freedom of speech on campus. Universities have faced this issue across Canada from Lindsey Shepard at Wilfrid Laurier University facing academic probation for showing a brief clip of Professor Jordan Peterson on TVO to Peterson himself facing the threat of firing by the University of Toronto for not backing the compelled speech laws put forward by the provincial government. Even comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld are now avoiding campuses across Canada and the United States due to a worry about getting in trouble for making an offensive remark. When the people running the memes_of_tru page started the
work of posting original funny content about the students’ unions fees, TRU’s parking and jokes about food services they never expected to get tracked down by TRUSU, get hit with a harassment case by student affairs and become the fastest growing TRU-related page on Instagram on campus (1,000+ followers in a month). I got a chance to ask memes_ of_tru a few questions, the person running it wished to remain anonymous due to safety concerns. Is it true that theTRUSU executive tracked down the person running this page? memes_of_tru: “No, someone was accused of being the page admin, but it wasn’t an admin, so if it was TRUSU then they got the wrong person.” It sounds like there has been harassment cases launched through student affairs against this page, does this create issues for you personally?
Not all of the memes are scathing takedowns of TRUSU and admin, but instead tackle student issues. (MoT) mot: “I have been contacted both directly by the dean of students and indirectly about taking down certain memes, but only a couple of them. Generally, the admin seems to support my freedom of speech, but also the harassment policy seems pretty vague and its hard to know
what is and what isn’t over the line sometimes. I haven’t really been subject to any backlash about the page and I’m glad I started it.” Did you expect such growth of your page when you launched it? mot: “I wasn’t sure how the page would grow but it seems to be really catching on, lots of funny people send me some great memes and I encourage people to.” What does it say about freedom of speech on campus when TRUSU and TRU tries silencing you? Have you been forced to delete any memes and why?
While the page has only been active for just over a month, memes_of_tru already has over 1,500 followers (mot)
National Energy Board to decide fate of Trans Mountain pipeline Christian Varty NEWS EDITOR Ω The National Energy Board has begun new consultations which will decide the fate of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. The project was put on hiatus after a ruling from the Federal Court of Appeal on the plan approved by the Trudeau government. The three judges involved in the appeal all agreed that the studies conducted by the National Energy Board were so flawed that the government could not use them as reliable research. The federal government has given the National Energy Board until February to release new stipulations involving Indigenous outreach and the potential ecological impact of the expansion. In response to the quashing of the pipeline, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley pulled out of the federal climate plan until the expansion is approved. Notley has previously been an outspoken critic of the process the pipeline has undergone. She even went as far as calling for a province-wide boycott on the import
of British Columbian wine. Alberta buys approximately $70-million worth of wine from wineries based in British Columbia. Trans Mountain was purchased by the Liberal government for $4.5-billion near the end of May after Kinder Morgan pressured the government to reach a final decision. This new review will result in the pipeline being operational in 2022, if approved, two years later than previous estimates. Andrew Scheer, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada made polarizing statements last week about what his party would do if they were in power. His platform would include using constitutional leverage in order to approve the expansion. Additionally, Scheer also brought forward the proposal of banning foreign funding to interest groups that are opposed to the pipeline. One such case is Tides Canada who has received money from special interest groups in the United States. However, the Darfield pump station is a proof-positive case study that there are valid environmental concerns that need to be readdressed
by the National Energy Board. Two days prior to the Canadian government purchasing the pipeline, there was an oil spill at the Darfield pump station. The pump station is located 20 km North of Kamloops, situated next to the North Thompson River and South of Chu Chua Cottonwood Provincial Park. The spill was reported to be about 100 litres of medium crude oil that was released from the pump station due to a leak. On further review, it was determined that the actual amount was closer to 4,800 litres total. In addition to the Darfield pump station, there is a terminal located within Kamloops city limits that is used for storing crude oil as well as local distribution. The terminal is located South-East of Thompson Rivers University, close to Kenna Cartwright Park. If the expansion project is approved it will result in four new storage tanks at the Kamloops terminal. The Omega reached out to the Trans Mountain media spokesperson, who was unable to comment on the Darfield pump station and the future of the Kamloops terminal.
mot: “The only memes that I’ve been asked to take down are
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ones that mentioned an individual student and a couple which were very sexual. I don’t have any problem taking down content about individuals and won’t be posting any more of that nature, but I think as long as I’m not promoting any sexual harassment or crime via the page then I don’t see why there is a problem with sexual humor.” What do you hope for the future of memes_of_tru? mot: “I hope that the page continues to grow and that there are no further issues with TRU guidelines, but if people have a problem with it that they contact the page and we can work out solutions in a mature manner rather than involving administration.”
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New scholarships being given to students wishing to study abroad TRU World offering new scholarships to those wanting to study in South Korea Morgan Hunter CONTRIBUTOR Ω TRU World is offering scholarships for students wishing to study abroad, with certain ones specifically for those wishing to study in South Korea. The South Korean scholarships are being offered to those wanting to study at Dong-A University in Busan and Gachon University in Seongnam. These opportunities also come at a point where North and South Korea continue to hold a relationship of peace between each other. The scholarships themselves that are being offered are $5001000 worth for studying abroad in general with an additional $300 scholarship being offered for art students specifically. Also, students looking to study at the two Korean schools could also receive another $500-1000. For an art students who wants to go to school Gachon University, they could receive a total of $1300. These scholarships are limited, however, with only six $500 dollar scholarships or three $1000
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scholarships. To be eligible for the scholarships, a student must: • Be eligible for exchange • Be a full-time student • Currently, hold a 2.5 GPA • Pass a screening/interview procedure from TRU world To study abroad as described by TRU World, is referred to as "all student opportunities in countries other than Canada, including exchanges, field schools, practica and internships." The motto for TRU World is “to try to give an international experience to every student” and they offer multiple opportunities for studying abroad. TRU World mobility officer Heather Wisla spoke about candidly these opportunities. “These students feel increasingly welcome with studying abroad because they tend to meet tremendous friends due to their similarities with others hoping to do the same thing,” she said. There will be a meeting to discuss these opportunities and more on Nov. 4. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is Dec. 12.
Orange Shirt Day recognizes a troubling time in our history CONTINUED (COVER) The slogan "Every Child Matters" marked on many of the orange shirts references the age that many Indigenous people were taken away from their families and forcefully placed in residential schools. "For the first time in four generations, members of my family are growing up under the same roof with their mother and father. That gives me hope for the future," Webstad said emotionally to those in the audience. After Webstad's talk, the drummers once again sounded off for the TRU community, as those in the circle joined hands in a circle dance, occasionally rushing the drummers in unison before retreating back into a circle. Those that led the dance smiled boldly and those that followed beamed just as much as they joined along. On Friday, Sept. 28, Webstad travelled back to Williams Lake, B.C. to be with her mother and grandmother, who was turning 100 years old. Webstad
expressed many times during her talk that she was thankful and blessed for her family and
even went as far as to say that the Orange Shirt Day journey was divinely guided.
"Every Child Matters" is a call to remember that Indigenous children were forcefully made to attend residential schools. (Justin Moore/The Omega)
Cariboo Student Newspaper Society Notice of Annual General Meeting Thursday, October 23, 5:30 p.m. Thompson Rivers University Old Main, room OM 2691
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Literary and visual submissions are welcomed. All submissions are subject to editing for brevity, taste and legality. The Omega will attempt to publish each letter received, barring time and space constraints. The editor will take care not to change the intention or tone of submissions, but will not publish material deemed to exhibit sexism, racism or homophobia. Letters for publication must include the writer’s name (for publication) and contact details (not for publication). The Omega reserves the right not to publish any letter or submitted material. Opinions expressed in any section with an “Opinion” label do not represent those of The Omega, the Cariboo Student Newspaper Society, its Board of Directors or its staff. Opinions belong only to those who have signed them.
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TRU hosts leadership conference to encourage aspiring student leaders Workshops featuring representatives from TRU and local community offered students unique takes on leadership Farrah Johnson CONTRIBUTOR Ω Developing leadership skills and qualities are a great way to gain an edge in an increasingly competitive job market. In this light, TRU held a leadership conference on Sept. 29. to expose students to a variety of “leadership perspectives.” The first session was held in the Clock Tower, while the various workshops and lead sessions took place in the International Building. Students who registered for the day conference attended three sessions and were given the opportunity to select from a variety of speakers. While the themes for the lead sessions focused on amplifying, developing, emerging and learning, the two-afternoon workshop sessions explored leadership as it relates to purpose, empathy, culture, non-profit organizations and the globe. The keynote speaker, Janice Otremba, a professional speaker and certified leadership coach, kicked off the event with a lively presentation on the topic: ‘LEAD that Change.’ “When we step into leadership it’s really about our ability and I do believe that in today’s complex world we have to have leadership as a skill set. It’s not
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just a mindset –that’s part of it– but it’s actually a skillset,” she said. Otremba was referencing the fact that university students were in the perfect position to assume leadership roles through speaking up, trying new things and working towards finding their voices. She also encouraged students to start thinking about what they would be prepared to stand up for and against. “That’s the opportunity you have here [in university], to be seen, to be heard, to experiment for yourself, try things on and see if they feel right,” she added. Emphasizing the importance of embracing change, she also recounted a personal experience that had taken place five years prior when she made the decision to adopt a healthy lifestyle. She told the audience that she had already acknowledged that making a change would require “some radical shift” in her daily routines, not only related to what she ate, but also how she felt and what she thought about herself. “I realized okay, I need to have some help. I need to find someone who has gone before me and in that I called up a really good friend. So when you’re looking for leaders, no need to reinvent the wheel, find
the person that’s already doing something that you see that you’re attracted to,” she said. Still, Otremba insisted that the “bottom-line” in change boils down to the person making the decision. “A decision, whether it’s yours or it’s going to find you, it needs to be an intentional one so that you can be engaged and learn from the experience, because when you are intentional you can still choose to be engaged and deepen your understanding of yourself in that process as you go through it,” she explained. Otremba also led a few interactive exercises where she had students introduce themselves to each other and share their non-negotiable values. She emphasized the opportunity students have now to change how they experience life and encouraged them to be an active part of diversity themselves by leading change. The different sessions provided students with the opportunity to network with a variety of experts and professionals as they shared their own perspectives on and experiences with leadership. Overall the conference was a success and inspired and motivated those in attendance to aspire to and embrace leadership.
Documentary Whipped exposes secretive system of party discpline in Canadian politics William Kamau CONTRIBUTOR Ω On Sept. 26, the documentary Whipped was screened at TRU’s International Building. The screening of the film was organized by Fair Vote Kamloops in partnership with the TRU Sustainability Office. Whipped is a 45-minute documentary that exposes the secretive system of party discipline that transforms Canadian politicians into what writer and director Sean Holman calls ‘trained seals’. In the documentary, Holman speaks to some former and current elected officials who tell him about the backroom forces that cause them to vote against their constituents on legislative matters. The documentary also shows how the system of party discipline assures that the party in government almost never fails to achieve its legislative agenda. “Outside this chamber, British Columbians hold a multitude of opinions, but inside only two opinions are usually heard: the government's and the opposition’s,” Holman said. “And like elsewhere in Canada, it’s the government that always prevails. In fact, during the nine years I reported on provincial politics, not a single opposition bill was passed and not a single government bill was defeated. According to the legislative library, the last time a government bill was defeated was March 1953.” Holman is an associate professor at Mount Royal University, Calgary. As a former investigative journalist
covering B.C. politics, he uses these skills in the documentary to bring to light how political parties strive to ensure that politicians vote in agreement with the party’s decision in the legislature. In fact, in the movie he interviews several former MLA’s who admit to having voted in favor of bills that they disagreed with. “Party discipline also means that democratically elected representatives may have very little influence over the government and if they don’t have any influence, how much of a say do voters really have in this legislature?” asked Holman in the documentary. In conclusion, however, Holman points out that there are a significant number of voters in B.C. who vote with consideration primarily to party policy and values rather than their politician’s personal values. The documentary creates awareness of the dynamics of party discipline, and voters can then make better-informed decisions. A representative from Fair Vote Kamloops that was in attendance said that it was important for the people of B.C. to watch the movie as upcoming elections draw nearer. Fair Vote Kamloops is a local organization that is working to improve the democratic process through the implementation of proportional representation. It is a local branch of the larger Fair Vote Canada-B.C. Whipped is also available in its entirety and free of charge on Sean Holman’s website, Unknowable Country, where he advocates for freedom of information and government transparency.
Kamloops Junior Dragons’ Den Open for registration Student entrepreneurs from grade five to post-secondary can apply until Feb. 8, 2019 Juan Cabrejo BUSINESS EDITOR Ω As of Oct. 1, aspiring student entrepreneurs from the fifthgrade to post-secondary have the opportunity to present their business ideas and be selected to compete in a live audition of the up-and-coming Kamloops Junior Dragons’ Den. The Thompson Country competition will take place at TRU’s House of Learning on April 4, 2019. Applications are accepted until Feb. 8, 2019. Nicole Plato, business analyst for Community Futures Thompson Country (CFTC), shared a few words on the competition. “The competition is open to any student enrolled in any kind of academic institution in Kamloops or the Thompson-Nicola region,” she said. “Any student from grades five to post-secondary with a business idea can participate.” Junior Dragons’ Den is a student business competition intended to evaluate and provide feedback on young
entrepreneurs’ business ideas. The competition will be separated into three categories including a junior level for students from grades five to ten, a senior level for high school students in grades 11 and 12, along with a post-secondary level for colleges, universities and trade schools. To further develop elevator pitches and business concepts, candidates will be matched with local mentors in their pertaining industry. Students are required to submit a proposal paper either for their business idea or to improve upon a pre-existing business model if that be the case. They should outline the five Ws of their business, along with detailing their associated start-up costs. “I think the evaluators are mainly looking at the business concept paper; the who, what, when, where, why and how of business and to see if it’s a sustainable business idea,” said Plato. “The judges will have a certain criterion based on each level, so every student can have a
Think you've got what it takes to enter the Dragon's Den? Apply before Feb. 8, 2019 to find out. (Submitted) have a fair shot.” A selection committee will assess and select 15 candidates for the live pitch competition. Not all “dragons” or mentors have been formalized yet for the regional competition; however, according to Plato, Blair Gray, general manager of CFTC and George Casimir, general manager
of Community Futures of Central Interior First Nations (CFDC of CIFN), have been confirmed as judges. Modelled after CBC’s notorious “Dragons’ Den,” Junior Dragons’ Den originated as a West Kootenay-Boundary-wide student business competition five years ago and has proliferated across
the province. This year, Junior Dragons’ Den will be featuring two regional competitions and a championship. Students can download an application form on the Community Futures Thompson Country website under Junior Dragons’ Den and should be submitted to either CFTC or CFDC of CIFN.
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Policy Wanks: a new column by Christian Varty Bill C-71, meant to tighten regulations around firearms, passes through House of Commons Christian Varty NEWS EDITOR Ω Last Monday night, Bill C-71, an act to amend certain acts and regulations in relation to firearms passed through the House of Commons by a margin of 185 yes to 79 no. The bill will be voted on in the senate where a final review will be made. The bill was sponsored by Ralph Goodale, long time Liberal and Minister of Public Safety. Bill C-71 was introduced March 27th, 2018. While Goodale acknowledges that gun crime in general has been on the decline in Canada during the past decade, he said that "a number of critical statistics concerning firearms pivoted in 2013 to show a significant increase over subsequent years." Goodale then supplemented this assertion with data saying that “in 2013, there were 134 gun homicides; in 2016, there were 223. For armed robbery, the numbers jumped from 2,096 in
2013 to 2,870 in 2016.” On the Liberal’s platform website they have said they will implement “common-sense measures that will crack down on illegal handguns and assault weapons, creating safer communities.” This act aims to do so by bringing in more regulation around how Canadians are able to transfer non-restricted firearms to each other as well as introducing provisions for transporting restricted weapons and prohibiting certain models and grandfathering in existing models. Bill C-71 would also see the implementation of a rule that requires the sale of all new guns to be recorded by the retailer and that these records are to be kept for a minimum of 20 years. These records will be privately held by the firearm retailer and will not be available to government institutions except upon request from the RCMP while undergoing an investigation. Detractors of the bill claim that this will effectively bring back the long-gun
registry, which the Conservatives scrapped in 2012. The long-gun registry was put under scrutiny for being ineffective at preventing crime, as well as being needlessly tedious. The two types of firearms that are being given prohibited status are the SAN Swiss Arms rifle series and certain CZ858 models. Both of these models have bounced back and forth between the classification of non-restricted and prohibited, depending on the government of the day. The government’s reason for cracking down on these two models are the allegations that these particular models have been made semi-automatic from automatic guns. While they are functionally and mechanically the same, these guns are identifiable by various markings on the firearm. People in the firearms community have raised concerns and suggested that this new legislation will soon lead to the culling of more firearms in Canada. Tony Bernardo, executive director of the Canadian Shooting
Sports Association, said in an interview with The Omega that while the government isn’t at the point of confiscating guns, Bill C-71 may set a precedent for future laws. “Confiscation is deferred, for now,” Bernardo said. “Owners
still get to shoot their guns, but only at the discretion of the Chief Firearms Office, which may change at the drop of a bureaucratic hat. How do you boil a frog alive? Slowly. Raise the temperature so imperceptibly the frog doesn’t notice.”
Local wineries bring home the gold
Science seminar series happening Monte Creek and Privato win places in the BC Wine Country awards weekly at TRU Robert Wisla CONTRIBUTOR Ω Fort Berens, Monte Creek and Privato Vineyard and winery are among the best places enjoy a nice glass of Riesling and Rosé according to The Best of BC Wine Country Awards. The awards which were picked through an online crowdsourced survey curated by the BC Wine Institute, invited the public to vote on their favourite B.C. wine experiences from a variety of "Best of" categories: Best of BC Wine; Best of BC Place; Best of BC Experience. Wine lovers voted for their favourites in each of the various B.C. wine regions, including the Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley, Vancouver Island, Gulf Island, Fraser Valley and the new appellations (Thompson Valley, Lillooet, Shuswap and Kootenays). As voted on by the public, the Best of BC Wine Country 2018 included the following regional awards for Fort Berens, Privato and Monte Creek. • Fort Berens Estate Winery Riesling – Best BC White Wine (2017 Riesling) • Fort Berens Estate Winery Rosé – Best BC Rosé Wine (2017 Rosé) • Fort Berens Estate Winery – Best BC Winery Tasting Room • The Kitchen at Fort Berens – Best BC Winery Restaurant Showcasing Local Food • Monte Creek Ranch WineryBest BC Sparkling (2017 Sparkling)
• Monte Creek Ranch WineryBest BC Winery Tour • Monte Creek Ranch WineryBest BC View • Privato Vineyard & WineryBest BC Red (2012 Reserve Pinot Noir) • Privato Vineyard & WineryBest BC Winery Pet - Jenny the Black English Lab • Privato Vineyard & WineryBest BC Special Events Rolf de Bruin, co-founder and co-owner of Fort Berens explained the importance of the awards. "We were absolutely delighted to find out that we won these four Best of BC Wine Country Awards. To have the support of our community vote for us means so much to our entire team,” he said. “These awards show that we are meeting our goals of producing outstanding quality wine from Lillooet, providing an outstanding experience to our guests in the tasting room and showcasing the incredible local food in our restaurant, The Kitchen at Fort Berens. As the first winery in Lillooet, we are so honoured to be able to showcase our emerging and growing wine region.” "The results show authentic recommendations from the public on what to do and where to go for the best wine touring experiences throughout B.C.'s diverse wine regions and we are thrilled to share their choices," noted Maggie Anderson, director of communications and content of the BC Wine Institute. Ashley Demedeiros with Monte Creek Winery also expressed her happiness in winning an award. “We are extremely proud of our
team for winning several awards this year at the Best of BC Wine Awards which include Best BC Sparkling, Best BC Winery Tour and Best BC View in the Thompson Valley,”
Demedeiros said. “A lot of hard work goes into our winemaking program and our tour program. It is just wonderful to see that guests appreciate our dedication to quality.”
Summer time isn't the only time to enjoy award-winning wines from the Thompson-Okanagan, like Fort Berens' riesling and rosé. (Robert Wisla/Ω)
Justin Moore STAFF WRITER Ω Local and visiting professors are hosting seminars on relevant environmental issues and how to tackle them in the future. The promise of free coffee and doughnuts wasn't the only reason for students of many educational backgrounds to attend the first of many scheduled Environmental Science Seminars. Dr. Lingling Jin took to the stage for the first presentation of the series to speak about her research in the field of the evolution of plant genomes paired with her background in computer science. Jin is an assistant professor at TRU that specializes in computer science and its relationship with the natural world. Jin credits her teaching to the Canola region of Saskatchewan, where her education in computer science was based. Upcoming lectures feature topics such as climate change patterns at British Columbian ski resorts, building resilient landscapes in the face of wildfires and the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to name a few. Lectures run for roughly an hour in the Ken Lepin Building starting at 4:00 p.m.on Thursdays, with previews and abstracts on the TRU faculty of science website. This week's seminar will be led by Hossein Kazemian from UNBC. Kazemian will be speaking on environmental applications of natural zeolites.
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OCTOBER 3, 2018
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Upcoming Events TRU Actor’s Workshop Theatre Presents: She Kills Monsters Oct. 3 - 13 7:30 - 10 P.M., Black Box Theatre TRU Actors Workshop Theatre kicks off its 2018-19 season with this high-octane, dramatic comedy that’s laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and 90s pop culture. Startup Coffee: Caffeine & Entrepreneurial Conversations Oct. 5 1:30 - 2:30 P.M., Common Grounds Startup Coffee is back on campus and is your opportunity to discuss new business ideas with experienced founders and mentors. Get feedback on the business idea you’ve been thinking about, ask questions, meet other student entrepreneurs, and get connected. Rock and Roll Bingo Oct. 3 7 P.M., Lucky’s Restaurant Kamloops Come spend a fun night with us playing a few rounds of good ol' traditional bingo! We'll be playing tons of great rock and roll music with all sorts of amazing prizes up for grabs! 3 games for $1! Great food and drink specials! All ages welcome! Bring your daubers and let's get silly!
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The Kamloops North Shore welcomes beer enthusiasts Brewloops looks to celebrate movement of collaborative businesses in Kamloops Cailyn Mocci ARTS EDITOR Ω Kamloops hosted yet another successful Brewloops, marking the fourth annual celebration of local and guest craft breweries. With two nights full of craft breweries, cideries, food trucks of any meal you could ask for and live music. Walking through the gate transported you into a beer lover’s paradise. With booth after booth of different tastes ranging from local favourites like Iron Road and Red Collar and even Kamloops new-comers Bright Eye Brewing to visiting breweries from Victoria including Lighthouse Brewing Company. Food trucks lined the venue with local TRU favourites like Eats
Amore and Happy Camper. The 2018 Brewloops festival saw the growth of the festival continuing as its popularity grows year after year. This growth meant one thing, a bigger venue. This year’s celebration moved locations to accommodate the growth in beer enthusiasts. Festival-goers were treated with not one but two live music stages to keep the crowds lively. With a number of DJ mixes and live rock-guitar riffs drifting over the crowds, drinks were flowing well after dark. The festival is not exclusive to the two-night event that transformed the North Shore parking lot. Brewloops had everything from brunch, Farmer’s Market tastings, large tailgate music shows, high-end cask/ food pairings, education sessions,
cider, bike tours and boutique socials that brought enthusiasts close to the brewers who love the beer just as much as they do. Brewloops has committed to giving back to the community, working hard with the local Rotary Club and Western Canada Theatre (WCT). These efforts we made to drive funds right back into the community. By leveraging the power of the WCT and the connections through the Rotary Club, Brewloops was able to deliver a unique and exciting event with local music and arts. So far, Brewloops has raised $30,000 for local community groups. It looks like Brewloops is here to stay with the growing community of craft beer fans and craft breweries popping up in Kamloops.
Escape from Padova: Tunnel Escape Room Oct. 4 - 6 Various times Tranquille Tunnel Theatre and Chimera Theatre are bringing a brand new escape room experience to the abandoned tunnels of Tranquille this fall with Escape From Padova, Canada’s only tunnel escape rooms with actors! The abandoned sanitarium outside of town has just been purchased and they’re now calling it Padova City. You heard that there’s something strange about the new owner and wanted to check it out for yourself. Kamloops Film Series Presents: Puzzle Oct. 4 7 P.M., Paramount Theatre
This year's Brewloops was the largest yet with many local and provincial breweries in attendance. (Justin Moore/Ω)
A woman who has a talent for assembling jigsaw puzzles sneaks away from her suburban town and goes to New York City, where she partners with a man for a puzzle tournament in Atlantic City. As she experiences independence for the first time, she begins to view her value and the pieces of her own life in a whole new light.
Get ready to party with the occult this Halloween
Karaoke Night Oct. 5 9 P.M., Pogue Mahones Pub Showcase your talent or lack of talent at Pogue Mahones Irish Alehouse Friday night with drinks and karaoke. Sun Peaks Fall Festival Oct. 5 -8 Sun Peaks Resort All of your favourite fall activities will be in Sun Peaks, from a pumpkin carving competition to gourmet food and wine, an outdoor market, toe-tapping music and street entertainers all weekend long.
Soul Patch Productions is set to host two lively, spookey and unique parties this Halloween Cailyn Mocci ARTS EDITOR Ω With October well on its way, it’s time to start thinking about what you are going to do for Halloween. Kamloops has two new and unique parties, perfect for anyone’s taste. Kamloops party planning company, Soul Patch Productions, is taking on not one but two major Halloween parties back-to-back. The evening will start off with the Voodoo Doll Ball and then a treasure hunt that leads partygoers to the Halloweed Hoot-A-Nanny. Both parties are sure to be like
no other party in the city. Live music and dancing will keep you going until the haunting hour. “I’m a little selfish, I want to have a good time too. Hopefully, everyone else has a good time,” joked Gabe Salvatore, owner of Soul Patch Productions. Part one will kick off at Let’s Move Studio from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. with the Voodoo Doll Ball. Partygoers will be treated to a costume contest, live music courtesy of Doc the Disorderly and a fortune teller. If you’re aren’t too tired, the party continues down the street at Wizards Advanced Medicine
dispensary. Join the crowd for a jam band, dance party and weather permitting, a pumpkin smash. Salvatore, while born and raised in Kamloops, spent a number of years in New Orleans and these themes reflect his love for the spooky and occult. “There’s a character behind every voodoo doll,” Salvatore said. “Someone’s out to get cursed and what a better way to break a curse than the Halloween weekend.” Tickets will be available at the door for both the Voodoo Doll Ball and the Halloweed Hoot-A-Nanny. In addition to this, you may just get a discount for coming in costume.
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OCTOBER 3, 2018
ARTS
Album review: Wasted Years Together by Pale North A look at Pale North's new album and the transition from garage rock to basement indie Christian Varty NEWS EDITOR Ω When the population density of a city increases: its residences will be built vertically, not horizontally. If done in a suburban neighbourhood, will often result in the transplacement of basement in lieu of garage. In doing so, a new generation of bands are being forced to play in a basement rather than a garage. This has led to a new phenomenon I’m dubbing, “Basement Indie.” Because of the nature of vertical living, these budding indie bands are retreating to a lethargic and mourningfully subdued swath of alternative music rather than the aggression and punk-ethos commonly associated with garage rock. Nowhere has this trend been more apparent than in the urban sprawl of Metro
Vancouver. Other studies have been done in Surrey with Sleepy Gonzales’ Llover (2017), Greater Vancouver with Wax Cowboy’s Darcy! (2017) and Club Sofa’s self titled debut (2018). Today’s case study will look at Delta and the band Pale North with their September 21st release, Wasted Years Together. The record was recorded over two years and is comprised of what is essentially a mosaic of demo tracks during that period. Something you’d never be able to tell while listening to the album. The aim is true throughout the album. The band forgoes standard song structure and indulges in a near seamless cross-stitching of dense guitar riffs and gentle reverb and chorus-affected guitar noodling, while ignoring verse-chorusverse conventions. Intimacy is the main stitching
of this album. It’s sewn into the album title itself, Wasted Years Together. Pale North is two friends recording music in a basement. It’s authentic. It’s genuine. It’s what DIY musicians should aspire to accomplish. The rapport and consistency is shown best on the opening and closing tracks. In album conceptualization, this is by design. But it lends a common thread to the album and ultimately ties the release together. Even if that wasn’t the initial intention of the songs. The album closer: “Life’s Not Always Out to Get You (Death of a Narcissist)” embodies that emotional intimacy in some of the opening lines with vocalist Frank Hops’ gently crooning, “What good is being sad in a basement/ for over two years with a close friend?” It’s moments like this on the album that let us take a look into
CFBX TOP 30 CFBX 92.5 FM, 350 Watts Kamloops, BC Music Director: Steve Marlow Charts to September 27, 2018 * indicates Canadian Content ** indicates a local artist Artist - Album (Label) 1) Dizzy* - Baby Teeth (Royal Mountain) 2) Kara Grainger - Living With Your Ghost (Station House) 3) Strangers on a Plane* - Wings (Evren Oz) 4) Jory Nash* - Wilderness Years (Thin Man) 5) Joytfultalk* - Plurality Trip (Constellation) 6) Great Lake Swimmers* - The Waves, the Wake (Nettwerk) 7) Housepanther* - Club Soda Lows (Independent) 8) Yukon Blonde* - Critical Hit (Dine Alone) 9) Cowboy Junkies* - All That Reckoning (Latent) 10) Ellevator* - Ellevator EP (Arts and Crafts) 11) Linda Saslove* - Everything (Independent) 12) Ryder Havdale* - Candy Haven (White Whale) 13) Duffy Bishop - Find Your Way Home (Lil Spinner) 14) Peter and the Wolves* - Howlin' and Prowlin' (VLV) 15) Grounders* - Coffee and Jam (Nevado) 16) Tom Hambridge - The Nola Sessions (Superstar Factory) 17) Chvrches - Love is Dead (Glassnote) 18) Astral Swans* - Strange Prison (Saved by Vinyl) 19) Kalyna Rakel* - Before and After You (Independent) 20) Tri-Continental* - Dust Dance (Independent) 21) Newport Electric* - Thin Wild Mercury (Independent) 22) Joani Taylor* - In a Sentimental Mood (Cellar Live) 23) Billy Hector - Some Day Baby (Independent) 24) Awaken I Am - Blind Love (Victory) 25) Ben Paterson - Live at Van Gelder's (Cellar Live) 26) Dark Orchard* - Tres (Independent) 27) Camaro '67* - Still Burning (Independent) 28) Jean Derome* - Resistances (Ambiences Magnetiques) 29) Kellie Loder* - Benefit of the Doubt (Independent) 30) The 427s* - Stay Gold (Stingray Sounds)
the personal workings of Pale North. Those fleeting moments of youth and vulnerability.
7.4/10 - Fan air conditioning in the summer
Review: The Predator Morgan Hunter CONTRIBUTOR Ω The Predator is a mediocre comedy disguised as an action film where the only memorable part about it is a few well-placed jokes and the controversy surrounding the show itself. The movie is about a U.S. sniper who watches his entire brigade get killed by an alien and is then hunted. The entire premise is continuously made fun of throughout the movie, where one of the biggest bits is that they call the alien a predator and with that it doesn’t hold a very serious tone. The story has so many jokes in it that when something serious does happen, it feels a bit jarring for the audience. The plot continuously goes from point A to point C without wanting to discuss point B. It all also leads to an eye-rolling plot twist that for one, doesn’t make any sense considering the actions before it and two, feels so lazy and cliche. The most jarring parts of it do come through its editing, however, where the controversy does have ownership over the final product. The controversy in question came
out of the director of the film, Shane Black hiring a sex offender to work on the project without telling the cast. This clearly left actors feeling very uneasy, especially Olivia Munn, who then reported this to the studio, 20th Century Fox. While this lead to several scenes featuring the person in question being cut, the effect on the film feels like more than that. There were too many editing shifts, wherein one scene they randomly find an RV, as well as fight sequences that feel choppy, to say the least. The flow doesn’t really continue to keep viewers interested and instead, forces viewers to pay attention due to making small leaps in understanding. The acting is alright, with the writing being on point for some scenes. Keegan-Michael Key is a stand-out. It’s a pity because the performers are all trying to do their bests and it does come through. Yet so much is cut out that it feels disorienting. It also feels uncomfortable with many very patriotic themes being presented though never feeling justified. It’s as if it wants to present a reasoning for the patriotism of the U.S. military, though when it gives a reason it’s summed up to “because we’re awesome.” Another critique is the excessive amount of gore. Gore can be used very expertly, with a fearful tactic like the original Alien to comedic ways like with the first Deadpool. With The Predator, it’s just thrown in whenever it can be. In some scenes, it can lead to intense moments, but it then feels very obscene when it happens in the middle of a joke. Overall, The Predator was given all of the effort from the actors involved, yet was failed by it’s editing, writing and directing which all led to an experience that isn’t at all memorable.
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Puzzle of the Week #4—Ies Pet Store
(in the October 3, 2018 issue of The Omega) Welcome to Ies Pet Store where we have kitties, doggies, and fishies. 1) The number of each animal type is such that the total number of animals is the maximum it can be. 2) The number of fishies is the square of the number of kitties or maybe of doggies. 3) The number of kitties and the number of doggies are both prime. 4) The total number of animals is less than 100. 5) There are more kitties than doggies. there?
How many each of kitties, doggies, and fishies are
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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OCTOBER 3, 2018
SPORTS
Women's volleyball team keeping busy in the pre-season WolfPack women's volleyball playing tournaments and performing charity work Alvin Mutandiro SPORTS EDITOR Ω The WolfPack women’s volleyball team took part in a tournament in Edmonton to start off their 2018/19 pre-season. TRU lost all three games but were involved in two five-setters. The pre-season always serves as an opportunity to get some match fitness and get some reps. On Sept.14, the pack lost in five sets to the tournament co-hosts, the University of Alberta Pandas. Despite having lost the contest TRU will be at least a little satisfied for pushing the contest all the way and competing hard with quality opposition. On Sept.15, TRU lost in five sets to the defending Canada West champion University of Calgary of Dinos. The score was 22-25, 25-23, 24-26, 25-14 and 15-11. “Overall, I was happy with the way that we competed,” said head coach Chad Grimm to TRU Athletics. “The last three sets we rolled with all our first-year players. They kept the ball in play and started to make decisions. I think our team grew up pretty well this weekend. I think we got tougher. That was a good sign,” Grimm added. TRU has also hosted some exhibitions which included three Albertan
Universities: University of Alberta Pandas, MacEwan University Griffins and Mount Royal University Royals. The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds and the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat were also in attendance. The team has also been involved in charity events around the city. The women’s ’Pack volleyball team attended the scholarship breakfast where local businesses and members of the sporting community came to listen to Olympic gold medalist Kelsey Serwa, who is a Canadian freestyle skier. The volleyball team also took part in the “You can play” initiative. The initiative ensures the safety and inclusion of all sports including LGBTQ2S+ athletes, coaches and fans. They were also involved in the Terry Fox Run on Thursday Sept. 27. The event involved a number of Kamloops schools, athletes and local community members. With the season just a month away the team will be looking to continue improving and getting into perfect condition for the upcoming season where they will be hoping to reach the playoffs and beyond. The season opener is Friday, Oct. 23 on the Warner Rentals Court at the Tournament Capital Centre as the ‘Pack hosts the UBC Thunderbirds.
TRU Athletics
TRU women's rugby in the final year of its trial period Head coach Derek Pue looking to get the most out of the team before trial period is up Alvin Mutandiro NEWS EDITOR Ω Derek Pue is focused on getting the most out of women’s rugby program as they are going into the final year of their trial period. The women’s WolfPack rugby
sevens team is in the final year of its trial period and head Coach Derek Pue is filled with optimism and excitement for the upcoming season. Derek Pue, a proud dad and a self-professed football and rugby addict, is very friendly and unassuming, a man who always wears a smile on his face.
He speaks about rugby with an enthusiasm and passion, but also with a realization that this could be the final year for the program. The rugby sevens program is TRU’s newest athletic program, which hosted open tryouts a few weeks ago, trials which Pue felt went really well. For him, the
TRU Athletics
goal is just to get the message out to the community. Pue believes his biggest challenge with the program will be creating awareness about the program. “Rugby isn’t a household name when it comes to sports in Canada,” Pue said. He also alluded to the fact that Canada’s women’s rugby team getting a medal at the Olympics has helped gain more attention for the sport in Canada. Pue aims to ride off the wave and momentum that was created from that success. He also mentioned how that success has helped gained more traction in local schools. “I think our biggest challenge is going to be to get to them and show them TRU is a great spot that you can come and learn and do your studies, but you can also play a high caliber of rugby,” he said. Pue also spoke about the tough schedule they had last season, especially against stiff competition. “Last year we got thrown into the deep end in terms of the competition, playing against international caliber athletes at UVIC and UVA, they all have very strong programs,” Pue said. Pue emphasized that one of his goals going into the season is to increase the workload of
his players to improve the skills of the team. He added that he is very open to all types of athletes joining the team and the sport, as he believes rugby sevens isn’t just for rugby players but for all athletes. Pue mentioned the fact that some people age out of certain sports and need some form of athletic competition and rugby can offer an alternative. Pue acknowledged having a set plan for the trial period and then another plan for the next five years if the program is approved. The ‘Pack women's rugby has also been involved in programs within the community and that is something which Pue is proud of. “Through TRU we got out and few of the girls were involved in the Raise-a-Reader program, they went out with the mayor and stood at Starbucks and took donations for the Raise-a-Reader program, which is incredibly important to varsity athletes,” he said. The women’s rugby team also attended the sponsorship breakfast and the Terry Fox Run as well. The team seems to be getting involved in the community and the program seems to be looking to grow; hopefully, the sport is approved and stays at TRU.
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SPORTS
MEN'S SOCCER (2-6-2) AWAY TEAM
HOME TEAM
August 27
UFV
TRU (0-1 loss)
August 31
UBC Okanagan
TRU (4-0 win)
September 2
TRU (0-0 tie)
UBC Okanagan
September 7
TRU (0-2 loss)
UBC
September 8
TRU (3-3 tie)
Victoria
September 15
TRU (0-1 loss)
Calgary
September 21
Alberta
TRU (0-1 loss)
September 22
Mount Royal
TRU (4-0 win)
September 28
TRU (2-3 loss)
Trinity Western
September 29
TRU (1-3 loss)
UFV
October 6
UNBC
TRU
October 7
UNBC
TRU
October 17
Trinity Western
TRU TRU Athletics
WOMEN'S SOCCER (1-7-0)
TRU Athletics
AWAY TEAM
HOME TEAM
September 8
MacEwan
TRU (1-2 loss)
September 9
UNBC
TRU (3-1 win)
September 15
TRU (0-5 loss)
Alberta
September 16
TRU (1-4 loss)
Mount Royal
September 21
TRU (0-3 loss)
Victoria
September 22
TRU (0-3 loss)
UBC
September 29
Trinity Western
TRU (0-6 loss)
September 30
UFV
TRU (0-3 loss)
October 4
UBC Okanagan
TRU
October 6
TRU
UBC Okanagan
October 13
Winnipeg
TRU
October 14
Manitoba
TRU
October 19
TRU
UNBC
12
OCTOBER 3, 2018
THE OMEGA
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