January 9, 2019 by The Omega

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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 14 · JANUARY 9, 2019

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MBA PROGRAM UNDER REVIEW

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DISCOVER TORONTO'S HIDDEN GEMS

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WOLFPACK JUMPS INTO 2019

The Omega sits down with TRU's new president Robert Wisla and Wade Tomko Ω TRU’s new president, Brett Fairbairn, almost became a journalist. If becoming an academic didn’t work out, Fairbairn was prepared to join his many family members already in media fields. However, becoming an academic did work out and Fairbairn worked his way up from a history major at the University of Saskatchewan to

eventually becoming the university’s provost. Despite leaving the University of Saskatchewan after a controversial spat involving the firing of Robert Buckingham, a professor who wrote a critical academic report on the university’s cost-cutting measures, Fairbairn looks forward to his term as TRU’s president with hopeful ambition. Now in the driver's seat, The Omega’s over an hour long interview produced some interesting pieces of

information, ranging from Fairbairn’s thoughts on TRU’s regional centres and the relationship he’d like to maintain with other on-campus organizations to CUPE and academic freedom. Yet most importantly, Fairbairn wants to assure the TRU community that his top priority in his first few months as president will be to listen.

See LISTENING Page 3

Before coming to TRU, Brett Fairbairn had taught and conducted research at the University of Saskatchewan for over thirty years. He also served as UoS's provost from 2008 to 2014. (Wade Tomko/Ω)

JANUARY 9, 2019

NEWS

Policy Wanks: Bill C-76 Unanimous support across parties to implement new rules on third party contributions for federal elections Christian Varty NEWS EDITOR Ω Mark your calendars for Monday, Oct. 21, 2019. That’s the next federal election in Canada. Just in time for that election, Bill C-76 has received royal assent and will hopefully help enshrine Canadian democracy. The bill is slated to make federal campaign contributions from private interests more transparent. New legislation will require third parties to report the contributions to a candidate if they are engaging in partisan donations, will obligate third party partisanship advertising to be identified as such in the lead up to the election period and will require the creation of a separate bank account for political contributions. Partisan advertising is described by the bill as, “transmission to the public by any means during a pre-election period of an advertising message that promotes or opposes a registered party or eligible party or the election of a potential candidate,” and includes, “an editorial, a debate, a speech, an interview, a column, a letter, a commentary or news.” In light of allegations of

interference by foreign actors in the 2016 federal election in the United States, this bill attempts to pacify worries of third-party influence in Canada. In the U.S. federal election multiple foreign countries, most prominently Russia, purchased online ads that were aimed to divide the American people according to the United States’ House Intelligence Committee. The new stipulations that firmly regulate group of origin in political ads is an attempt to nullify a similar process if it were to take place in our upcoming election. In addition to anti-advertising rules, the bill would add provisions banning the use of foreign money in federal elections. Special interest groups that receive money from foreign institutions or citizens will be barred from contributing campaign money. The amount of money that can be donated by a single person was capped at $1,500 in 2015 according to Elections Canada. While the vote to pass the legislation was a unanimous 257 votes across all major parties, Liberal MPs have been critical of the previous Conservative government’s implementation of the Fair Election Act.

“They disenfranchised voters, and they denied the use of voter information cards,” Yasmin Ratansi, a Liberal MP said about the Conservative government and the Fair Election Act. “Bill C-76 proposes the following measures to make it a fairer process for Canadians to vote: the bill would

make the electoral process more accessible and secure; it would modernize the administration of elections; and it would repeal the portions of the Fair Elections Act that made it harder for Canadians to vote.” Included in the bill are a number of multifaceted

provisions to encourage Canadians to vote. These range from the Chief Electoral Officer having the ability to implement education programs on voting and greater access to media in order to inform the public during pre-election periods to the ability to hire additional staff if they see fit.

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NEWS

Listening a top priority for new president MBA program under review CONTINUED (COVER) “My priority in my first months at TRU is really about listening to people,” Fairbairn said. “Listening to people inside the university and listening to friends and supporters in the community and I’m interested in learning more about what makes TRU special.” On top of his commitment to listening to the community, Fairbairn also added he can see the furthering of TRU’s Indigenization and internationalization efforts, two areas he believes the university to be a leader in. “To some extent, I’m predicting what people might suggest and how I might respond to their suggestions. It certainly would surprise me that giving more substance to Indigenization isn’t on the agenda for TRU,” he said. “Internationalization is another area that TRU is a leader in. I have seen first hand how TRU’s recruitment efforts are first class in other countries.” When asked about the relationship he’d like to maintain between TRU’s administration and other on-campus organizations such as TRUSU and TRUFA, Fairbairn responded by saying cooperation and a mutual understanding between the three groups will be critical to the success of TRU as a whole. “You have to remember that we have different interests in different jobs,” Fairbairn said. “I want to respect their role and what they do but that's not identical with my responsibilities. We share an interest in the success of the university and that's kind of the common point.” When it came to re-negotiating CUPE contracts later this March and the possibility of striking staff members, Fairbairn noted that B.C. negotiates contracts quite differently when compared to the rest of Canada.

“It's different in B.C. than any other province in Canada,” he said. “There's things that are special about B.C. that I'm still learning. These contracts are considered public sector bargaining and are covered by provincial mandates that are very different from basically everywhere in Canada and that does influence the amount of scope a president can have to do things differently in those negotiations.” Fairbairn couldn’t recall if he met with CUPE local president Lois Rugg but added that he has met with all the major players on campus that were available for meeting. When asked if he had visited any of TRU’s regional centres, Fairbairn said that the Williams Lake campus is the only one he has visited so far. Fairbairn even went on to question the usefulness of the regional centre model, citing changes in technology and the use of Open Learning. “This university has a large Open Learning mandate and thinking of how that's delivered and who is accessing it to me that's a different model for geographic access than having regional centres. One of my questions is what's the takeup? What better meets the needs? What’s the role of both?” Fairbairn said. “There is a lot of changes resulting from technology and I think it's kind of exciting that an institution with those digital methods of delivering courses could connect to the regional centers. I'd be interested to look more into that.” The Omega also had the chance to ask TRU’s new president about his thoughts on professors using academia to criticize their universities. However, in regards to his time as provost at UoS and the firing of Buckingham, Fairbairn said that he “didn’t want to talk

about University of Saskatchewan examples.” Yet when it came to the Derek Pyne situation here at TRU, Fairbairn said that he has learnt many things over the years and that academic freedom will remain a priority but he doesn’t believe Pyne’s case to be solely an issue of academic freedom. “What has been described to me are matters that might come up in any place of employment, not academic freedom. That has been the university’s position,” he said. “When it comes to Canadian Association of University Teachers, they’re an outside body, we don’t share confidential information with outside bodies. They have no particular role to be involved between TRU and our Faculty Association. I don’t consider it a priority to cooperate with them.” In respect to predatory publications, Fairbairn said that the quality of journals has always been an issue. To him, the most predatory part of these publications is their solicitation via email where they request academics to send them their manuscripts. “The part that feels predatory to me is that if I publish an article in one place, in a respectable journal with good circulation and quality peer review other people see that and I start getting bombarded by emails from journals I’ve never heard of who’s quality I know nothing about,” Fairbairn said. “That sort of pressure, “Send your manuscript to us.” That feels predatory.” Specifically, in response to pay-to-publish journals, Fairbairn noted that page charges were the norm in many fields. “The nature of peer-review is an issue and hiring committees and faculty needs to think about where they are publishing their papers,” Fairbairn added.

Employer engagement survey utilized to meet the individual needs of various stakeholders Juan Cabrejo BUSINESS EDITOR Ω The School of Business and Economics is undergoing a review of the MBA program using an employer engagement survey. The purpose of the survey is to further boost the MBA experience by identifying certain areas that need improvement. TRU is using a different approach to the review by not only consulting faculty, staff, students and alumni but also engaging with external stakeholders like local employers and the business community. Mike Henry, Dean of the School of Business & Economics, is expecting the survey to be completed this week. “It is a part of an overall program review; we are contacting employers, alumni and various other stakeholders,” he said. “It’s not quite complete, but it will be complete this week.” The information collected from employers will be summarized in a final report and action plan which will be sent to Henry and the MBA committee for approval. The plan will also receive input from the provost and vice-president academic, Christine Bovis-Cnossen, before being sent to the academic planning and priorities committee for implementation in early 2019. Despite not fully knowing what needs improvement in the program, Henry notices a trend in students looking for more customizability in their educational options. “I think the kinds of things that we are starting to see is students wanting greater emphasis on specializations, majors, residence and general MBAs; looking at more

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options that people can focus on, he said. “Whether it be e-commerce, healthcare management, entrepreneurship or other options.” Henry also adds how the program may have an interest in incorporating more real-world activities in the curriculum and not only the fundamental principles. “The other thing that’s coming out is the increased emphasis on ensuring that when students graduate, they not only have the technical skills, but they also have the worksite skills in terms of being able to move into a managerial role, understand how organizations work and be able to hit the ground running,” he said. “To have those skills about working in and between organizations and not just the fundamentals of business.” The survey is being accomplished through partnerships with community organizations that represent employers throughout the region, including the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, the Kamloops Innovation Centre, Venture Kamloops, Community Futures Thompson Country (CFTC) and Open Door Group. Bovis-Cnossen also shared her enthusiasm for the review along with working with the community. “Thompson Rivers University is proud to engage these community partners in this MBA program review,” she said. “The findings will be an important contribution to education planning in our region and we look forward to enabling our students to take advantage of the many career opportunities that the future will bring.” For those who have not completed the engagement survey, it can be found at www.tru.ca/ mba-review.

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truomega.ca/contribute First timer? Don’t worry – no experience is necessary and we’ll give you as much help as you need. If you’re ready to get started, just email one of our section editors and pitch your story: News: news@truomega.ca Arts: arts@truomega.ca Sports: sports@truomega.ca Or write the editor at: editor@truomega.ca

NEWS

JANUARY 9, 2019

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ARTS

Bring in the new year with a new you... or not How to maintain your mental stability in the face of New Year's resolutions Cailyn Mocci ARTS EDITOR Ω The time has come and you know for a fact the month of January is going to be flooded with the phrase “new year, new me” and nothing brings more anxiety to my mind than the pressure of doing a complete 180°. New Year's resolutions will begin pouring in and here’s how you can survive the stress, fear and possible failure of the “new you”. If you’re like me, you can recall the end of December rolling around and the little things that you’ve thought about changing throughout the year start pinging around your brain. The New Year seems like the perfect time to start fresh, switch it up and finally begin doing what you’ve been whining about for the entirety of the previous year. When I googled ‘New Year’s Resolution’ I was bombarded with over 215 million results, which gives you an idea of how widespread the concept of “new year, new me” really is. Many of the results flooded across my screen circled around a few very common questions: • What are the top New Year’s resolutions? • How do I make a good New Year’s resolutions? • Why should I make a New Year’s resolution? That last question is what got me thinking. Why? Why are we doing this?

I myself have been guilty of setting a New Year’s resolution but without knowing why I was doing it. Sometimes it was my elementary school teacher instructing the class to make a resolution, other times it was me just following the trends my peers around me were making. In theory, the idea of a New Year’s resolution is perfect, but when put into action it typically becomes, well, inactive. Making goals can be extremely beneficial for personal growth and that aspect of New Year’s resolutions is what should live on. However, there are a few small but important distinctions you need to set with yourself to actually see success. The one issue I see year-afteryear in both my resolutions and those around me is that there isn’t a plan of action. As much as people tell you to “throw it into the universe” that isn’t the end of that. Studies by Richard Wiseman, a psychologist, state that of those who make New Year’s resolutions 52 per cent carry confidence in themselves that they will successfully follow through yet a mere 12 per cent actually do. This isn’t meant to deter you away from making goals or New Year’s resolutions, but if you’re going to do it, avoid the stress and possible sadness of failing by actually picking a resolution that is obtainable and realistic. Here are my own personal tips for actually making a New Year’s

Remember, just because it's a new year, you don't have to give into the pressure to change. (Harry Metcalfe/Flickr) resolution that you could see possible success in. Don’t be vague. Make sure that if or when you decide that you want to make a New Year’s resolution you be as specific as possible of what you want to see yourself do. If you want to become healthier, you first need to define to yourself what this actually means to you. Make it relatable to you. When setting the goal for yourself, make sure it’s something that you want yourself not a resolution you think you need to make because everyone else around

you is also doing the same thing. If you don’t see yourself doing something, don’t. This isn’t to say that you need to limit yourself just because you never did it before but if you have no desire to do it you aren’t going to do it just because you said so in your New Year’s resolution. Don’t do it. You don’t have to make a New Year’s resolution. You don’t have to wait for a new year to put change into action. If you want to do something, don’t think that it’s less of a goal because it wasn’t made as you rang in the new year.

I’ve failed years of New Year’s resolutions and most of the time I give up after that first fail but that doesn’t mean you stop right then and there. This is where I’ve gone wrong. Pick it up again but maybe just label it as a goal so there isn’t the internal pressure and anxiety of failure. Whether you make a New Year’s resolution and thrive at the idea of a “new you” or sneer at the idea of buying into another push by companies to better yourself but only with their products, make the new year a successful one according to you.

Discover some of Toronto's hidden secrets

Planning a trip to Toronto and don’t know where to start? These three hideaways are waiting to be found Cassandra Elonen CONTRIBUTOR Ω Toronto, also known as New York North - Canada’s answer to the Big Apple, is a vibrant city with a population of 2.81 million and still growing. The options and must-see attractions are endless and although this type of accessibility is exciting it

can also be daunting. Maybe this is a first-time visit and you have no idea where to start? Or you have already been to the classical hotspots multiple times and are seeking inspiration for something new to explore? Regardless of your previous history with the city, we have treats that we want to share with you. Here are three hideaways that are waiting to be found.

Kost Address: 80 Blue Jays Way - 44th Floor (Bisha Hotel) For more info and directions: www. kosttoronto.com Start the day with indulging in a breathtaking sky view brunch. Located at the rooftop of Bisha Hotel you will find Kost restaurant. Before entering the restaurant let yourself be dazzled by the extravagant art

Are you a fan of authentic Mexican food? Make sure to check out the El Catrin Destileria. (Cassandra Elonen/Ω)

decor surrounding the hotel lobby, then take the elevator to the top floor. When the elevator door opens a host will stand ready to greet and guide you to your table. Be sure to ask for Patrick. He is an excellent floor manager that provides firstclass service, as he gladly shares his expertise in both cuisine and fun facts about the city. Once you are seated, prepare to enjoy a delicious meal and be stunned by a magnificent view of the metropolitan skyline, including a closeup of the CN Tower. The SPORT Gallery Address: 15 Tank House Lane, Toronto ON M5A 3C4 For more info and directions: www. thesportgallery.ca After shopping, sightseeing or whatever amusement you decide to spend your day with an afternoon break is much needed. Preferably a break that involves snacking and a hot drink. If sport is your cup of tea a visit to The SPORT Gallery, a museum and clothing store that also has a hidden indoor café. Learn about the rich sports history Toronto has to offer while buying swag and sipping a freshly brewed beverage at the same time. Since the multipurpose gallery specializes in limited editions in all

their forms of art, whether it is sports photography or vintage garment, you can rely on been given a unique cultural experience at this venue. El Catrin Destileria Address: 18 Tank House Lane, Toronto ON M5A 3C4 For more info and directions: www. elcatrin.ca Distillery District is a hip and artsy area filled with big brick industrial storages and picturesque photo opportunities. It is easy to spend a full day in this charming part of town. Once you are done admiring the beautiful Victorian architecture, bohemian pop-up stores and cool galleries, it is time for dinner. How does a Mexican food at a place awarded as the “best-for-a-first-date-restaurant” sound? El Catrin offers tasteful dishes, vegetarian and free of gluten options, all while staying true to their roots and for a reasonable price. Food is best experienced with all of your senses tempted, something El Catrin is well aware of as they deliver a spiceand-art-fused explosion. Although every plate is elegantly decorated and thought through, the sense of sight is blown away from the soulful mural paintings that cover the walls inside the restaurant.

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SPORTS

Men's basketball starts the new year with overtime win 'Pack suffered a 10-point loss and secured a thrilling overtime win to kickstart 2019 Alvin Mutandiro SPORTS EDITOR Ω TRU lost 90-81 to the UNBC Timberwolves on Jan. 4 in Prince George, B.C. The WolfPack scored 13 points in the second quarter from Anton Bilous to keep a four-point lead going into the halftime break.

Derek Rhodes had a strong performance in the third quarter scoring 17. TRU led 65-69 at the end of the quarter. The WolfPack bench outscored UNBC’s 25-19 with TRU scoring six points off rebounds. TRU had 30 points in the paint compared to UNBC’s 22. UNBC out rebounded TRU 35-33. “It’s hard for them to guard

us inside, but they have really good guards,” said Derek Rhodes to TRU Athletics. “We have to defend the ball screen better. When you have good guards, it’s tough.” UNBC outscored TRU 31-16 in the final quarter to secure the result. Rhodes was the top performer for TRU with 17 points,

two defensive rebounds in 34 minutes. Joe Davis had 17 points and three defensive rebounds in 32 minutes. “We led for the first 35 minutes. UNBC amped things up and we were unable to respond. The story was the fourth quarter. We gave up 31 points and defensively, we can’t do that,” said head coach Scott Clark to TRU Athletics.

(TRU Athletics/Brett Cullen)

TRU was able to turn things around on the following night on Jan. 5 in Prince George, winning the game 82-78. The WolfPack had a 20-11 lead at the of the first quarter. UNBC made a big play just before halftime scoring a buzzer beater and taking the lead 37-35. It was a very evenly contested game with UNBC leading 52-50 going into the final quarter. TRU had an 8-0 run in the fourth quarter and looked to be headed to victory. Despite that, the UNBC Timberwolves still managed to make a last-minute shot to take the game to overtime at 70-70. Tyus De Vries put TRU up four towards the end of overtime. They would eventually win the game 82-78. “I was staying the course, playing within our system,” said Anton Bilous to TRU Athletics. “My teammates were able to get me some good looks and I was able to knock them down.” Bilous was the top scorer in the game for the ‘Pack with 26 points, six defensive rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Enrico Nuno had 16 points, five defensive rebounds and one steal. “It was a big win for us. We are 5-7 now and this keeps us in the playoff picture,” Clark said. “A really big team win. Everyone stepped up. A character win for us.” TRU and all its fans will be hopeful that the team can secure another playoff win.

Women's volleyball split sets with Manitoba Bison in first games of 2019 The WolPack split a pair of four-set matches with the University of Manitoba Bisons to start the year Alvin Mutandiro SPORTS EDITOR Ω The WolPack split a pair of fourset matches with the University of Manitoba Bisons to start 2019. The women’s volleyball team beat the Manitoba Bisons 3-1 at the Investors Group Athletics Centre in Manitoba. The game was played on Jan. 4. Scores were 25-14, 15-25, 29-27 and 30-28. Olga Savenchuk and Anastasiya Muzyka led the way for TRU on offence in the first set. Abby Spratt did a phenomenal job spreading the offence with 19 assists. Both the third and fourth sets were very back and forth. Savenchuk had 25 kills in 49 swings, 19 digs and four block assists. Kendra Finch had 13 kills in 39 chances and 18 digs. Muzyka had 46 assists, 10 digs and five block assists. “We blew them out in the first set, they blew us out in the second,” said head coach Chad Grimm to TRU Athletics. “Not very stable on either side. Both teams found their rhythm a little bit in

the next two sets and played a tight match after that.” Manitoba was able to bounce back strongly in the second game, played on Jan. 5 at the Investors Group Athletics Centre in Winnipeg. The Bisons put on a strong performance winning the contest 3-1. The final scores were 28-30, 25-22, 25-20 and 25-21. Olga Savenchuk had 17 kills in 42 chances, 13 digs and three block assists, while Kendra Finch had 16 kills in 53 attempts and ten digs. Anastasiya Muzyka had 46 assists, seven digs, one solo block and three block assists. Avery Pottle had six kills in 21 opportunities, four block assists and one dig. “I didn’t think we played poorly. I think Manitoba showed they were a little more desperate,” Grimm said. “It’s important not to be swept at home. We didn’t have that same level of desperation. I think a desperate team plays with a little more focus.” Both teams are 6-8 after these two results, TRU will be looking to go on a run as 2019 begins and secure a playoff spot.

(TRU Athletics/Trevor Hagen)

JANUARY 9, 2019

NEWS

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