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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 20 · FEBRUARY 27, 2019
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RETHINK YOUR PIZZA TABLES
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RED CROSS NURSE SHARES EXPERIENCES
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ART AT THE MOLECULAR LEVEL
SD73 students test the seaworthiness of cardboard at TCC Justin Moore STAFF WRITER Ω "Whatever floats your boat," took on a whole new meaning for students of David Thompson and Logan Lake Elementry school last Friday. Using cardboard and duct tape supplied by the TRU Trades and Technology program, students from both schools spent three hours of the morning constructing
boats big enough to hold a single group member and buoyant enough to race across the TCC pool. "They were pretty excited and nervous and not sure how it was going to end but overall they were pretty stoked to be here," said Chris Martin, a teacher at David Thompson. These trials come after months of planning, designing, prototype building and revising as part of the new applied design science and technology program that's
being offered in elementary and secondary schools. The first of three heats took off just before 1:00 p.m., the students eagerly casting their creations off into the Tournament Capital Centre pool overlooked by parents, teachers and surrounding TCC patrons.
See CARDBOARD Page 5
Elementary school students spent over three hours building their cardboard and duct tape vessels in the TCC last Friday as part of the second annual Cardboard Boat Races. (Justin Moore/Ω)
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NEWS
FEBRUARY 27, 2019
First annual Write-A-Thon brings together writers of all stripes Kamloops Society for the Written Arts promises a day of fun, productivity and participation Wade Tomko EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω On March 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., the Kamloops Society for the Written Arts (KSWA) will be hosting their first annual Spring Forward Write-A-Thon. The KSWA plans to establish the fundraising event as an annual day of writing, fun and community participation, says JP Baker, chair of the organizing committee and Secretary-Treasurer of KSWA. While the KSWA has hosted events in the past, such as their annual Writers Festival in the fall, Baker notes that this will be the KSWA’s first actual fundraiser. “We wanted to do something new. Lots of organizations do fundraisers. There is so much competition to do dinners, that sort of stuff. We thought ‘How do we have fun ourselves.’ So even if we don’t raise money, at the end of it, we’ll say ‘That was a blast’,” Baker said. “So it will be fun even if we don’t make any money, but hopefully we’ll make some money!” The fundraising for the event will work in the form of pledges, says Baker. While participants in the Write-A-Thon are asked to seek pledges from friends, neighbours and family members before the event takes place, pledges aren’t a prerequisite to entry.
“Ideally, we’d love people to come in with something but we’re not placing huge demands on people. If you get some friends to throw you a few bucks, we’re happy,” Baker said. “There are some people out there who are raising several hundred dollars, that’s great but the big thing for us is participation. So if someone doesn't feel like they can raise a lot of money, that’s fine. We still want them to participate.” While fundraising isn’t exactly required, Baker says that there will be prizes for those who do the most fundraising. The top fundraiser will get a pass to the fall Writers Festival and a Writer’s League kit. “Writer League kits are a subscription kit that comes with all sorts of stuff from writers and a stack of signed books from our previous guest writers,” Baker said. The event isn’t just for creative writers either, says Baker. In fact, the KSWA is encouraging anyone who needs to sit down and put their pen to paper to come join them. According to Baker, some people will be spending the day writing letters to old friends, doing university assignments or simply journaling. In addition to the chance to work on that short story you’ve had in your head, the event will also offer entertainment, performances and inspiration. Door prizes will be drawn every
Baker hopes that the event will bring writers together from across the city, particularly young people. (Wade Tomko/Ω) hour, a rock band will be playing live music and local authors have promised to come and speak at the event. “At lunchtime, we’ll have some published local authors coming to talk about what they have done,” Baker said. “We have got a couple of city councillors participating. So there will be established authors, a couple that want to come participate and a couple that want to come and say some words of encouragement.” At the end of the night, an Open Mic will take place where
writers are encouraged to read their work. “At 8:00 p.m., when the WriteA-Thon ends, we’ll start the Open Mic. We’ll have music and people from throughout the day are welcome to come and read their stuff. They don’t have to, there is no obligation to,” Baker said. “That’ll be a fun event too and anyone is welcome to come to that.” While the money raised will end up going to support the yearly Writers Festival and hosting guest speakers, the
Write-A-Thon is about bringing together writers in the Kamloops community more than anything else, says Baker. “Writing can be an isolating thing and we hold these events in part because it's good to go out and get connected and meet other writers,” he said. Detailed information about the event can be found at www.kswa. ca. Interested participants should email info@kswa.ca with their name, phone number, address, and a single sentence stating why they want to be involved.
The importance of mother language for cultural preservation The Bangladesh Cultural Association of Kamloops partnered with TRU Aboriginal Affairs to celebrate International Mother Language Day Farrah Johnson CONTRIBUTOR Ω In celebration of International Mother Language Day, Bangladesh Cultural Association of Kamloops (BCA) in conjunction with TRU Aboriginal Affairs, hosted an open panel discussion and cultural showcase dinner in the Grand Hall of the Campus Activity Center on Feb. 15.
The panellists included faculty members of TRU who spoke about the origins of their native languages and their relation to the preservation of their respective cultures, under the theme: The Importance of Mother Language and Cultural Preservation. The event was one of many around the world celebrating International Mother Language Day, which commemorates the date when students were shot
Left to right: Gloria Ramirez, June Kelly , Paul Michel and Hafiz Rahman spoke at length about the importance of mother langauge. (Farrah Johnson/Ω)
and killed in Dhaka in 1952, after demonstrating for Bangla to be recognized as one of the two national languages of Pakistan. The first panellist Hafiz Rahman, president of the BCA and associate professor in the school of business and economics, stated that language is an intimate expression of culture. “What happened in Bangladesh became a lot bigger than just a language movement because that inspired people’s imagination for freedom,” he said. “The preservation of language and culture has taken a much stronger and deeper root as a result of this movement that started in 1952.” He added that language and culture share a unique relationship because a culture’s beliefs and customs often lose some of its expression when it is translated or removed from its original context. Rahman also stated that while there are benefits of living in a multicultural society, it can make preserving individual cultures challenging for minority groups. Sharing his thoughts, Paul Michel, director of Aboriginal
Affairs at TRU, said that many Indigenous people can relate to the BCA’s efforts because Indigenous peoples also work hard to preserve their languages. Referencing the number of native languages shared among Indigenous people across Canada, Michel encouraged people to make the effort to learn more about Indigenous peoples and their cultures. “Please refer and ask Indigenous people where they’re from. We’re not generic, we are very much diverse,” he explained. June Kelly, a member of the Secwepemc nation and coordinator for the First Nation Language programme in the school of education, added that the university gives students the opportunity to study Secwépemc and St’át’imc; two of many Indigenous languages. “It’s very important for Indigenous people to learn their languages,” she said. “When we learn our language as an Indigenous person, we learn our dances, our songs and our stories.” Closing the discussion, Gloria
Ramirez, associate professor in education and social work, said when she asked people how they would feel to be in a world where no one spoke their language, they told her they would be lonely, frustrated and scared. Reflecting on the event’s purpose she stated: “Today we are commemorating those brave students who sixty-six years ago in Dhaka gave their lives in defence of their language.” Following the panel discussion, guests were invited to indulge in Indian-style tacos and vegetarian samosas in a buffet style dinner. The event also featured performances from TRU students, who showcased their unique cultures. Last week’s celebration marked the third annual commemoration of International Mother Language Day at TRU. Musfiq Rahman, general secretary of the BCA and an associate professor at TRU, explained that the main purpose of the day was to “promote multiculturalism and linguistic and cultural diversity” as well as protect native languages.
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Rethink Your Things: the eternal life of pizza tables A first in the TRU Omega’s new sustainability column Rethink Your Things by Justin Moore Justin Moore STAFF WRITER Ω I'm too young to remember some of the most iconic inventions of the 1980s, the Sony Walkman, Nintendo's Entertainment System or Hammer Pants, too many of them replaced, upgraded or frankly obsolete by the time I grew up at the turn of the century. But one thing has managed to stick around, recently celebrating its 36th birthday, remaining relatively unchanged since its inception in 1983, is Carmela Vitale's "Package Saver" or as it’s commonly known as the "pizza table." We've all opened up a box of warm cheesy pizza delivered to our homes to find the small white piece of furniture resting at the centre of our pizza only to laugh and question its purpose. For those still unaware, the threepronged table prevents the cardboard box from sagging due to steam or structural compromise. Despite the Long Beach patent, which only just expired in 2003, pizza companies, as well as other product delivery services, have used variations of the single-use plastic product and continue to do so today. This, however, was only a short journey for the iconic pizza table. According to the original patent (US4498586) the "Package
Saver" is "a temperature resistant moulded plastic device," able to withstand temperatures of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The plastic used to create these tiny objects doesn't act the same way that regular plastics would. Thermoplastics are found in toys and materials like Lego bricks, plastic containers and guitar picks. At the end of its life, these materials can be melted down and remoulded into something entirely new. Thermoset plastics, used to create pizza tables, do not act the same way. Once a thermoset plastic item is formed and moulded, it's nearly impossible to melt back down to repeat the process due to a "curing" stage which changes the state of the material at a molecular level. If you're familiar with the topic of plastic over-consumption, you may also know that plastics will not naturally break down as many materials do. It takes UV Rays an extended period (we're talking hundreds to thousands of years) to eat away at the molecular bonds of plastic. For items buried in landfills, this process is indefinite. Meanwhile, the plastic in our ocean turns to microplastic causing extended environmental issues well beyond this column. That's not to say that people haven't found alternative uses for these pizza tables (pizza ottomans, pizza nipples? You choose.) As @ josemehrinho writes on Twitter:
"My parents used to clean them after we were done with the pizza and stick them into unused plug sockets to stop us electrocuting ourselves." I can think back to my childhood of my sister using the tables for Polly Pocket parties amongst other imaginative uses. Over time many pizza companies have stopped using the single-use items entirely, opting instead for a baked dough ball that rests in the centre of the pizza, an added treat that makes a redundancy of the plastic nuisance. However, many pizza chains still deliver the plastic tables. We get them quite often at Omega pitch meetings, which in turn sparked the idea for this column. Although, it can be hoped that things are changing in the industry. When I called Panago to order a pizza this week and requested a delivery without the plastic table, the operator was shocked at my request, saying "I didn't think we still did that" and placed me on hold for two minutes to clarify, the longest I've ever been on hold to order a pizza! When I received my large Panago Classic with cheesy breadsticks (a favourite of mine), it came with a note attached strictly asking for no pizza table with delivery, which is a win-win! I get cheesy, greasy pizza and one less single-use product is being wasted and disposed of.
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THE OMEGA STUDENT NEWSPAPER • PUBLISHED SINCE NOVEMBER 27,1991
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FEBRUARY 27, 2019
NEWS
Red Cross volunteer nurse shares experiences during global disasters Rosalind Neis describes her time in the Red Cross during the Nepalese earthquake and the Rohingya crisis Juan Cabrejo BUSINESS EDITOR Ω West-Kelowna registered operating room nurse Rosalind Neis, who volunteers for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, recounted her experience aiding the people devastated by the Nepal earthquake and the humanitarian situation in Myanmar and Bangladesh at TRU on Feb. 11. “The Red Cross taught me so much about myself, about the world and about humanity,” she said. “Humanity is a word that I never fully understood until I joined the Red Cross.” Neis was first inspired to work internationally by some of her fellow nursing peers doing work for Rotary International and other organizations. She began to look at opportunities with the Red Cross notably when the 2010 Haiti Earthquake occurred. She described how the extensive training and certification process opened her eyes to the lengths the organization goes to help improve the lives of people around the world through various services. “I naively thought it was all doctors and nurses but there were technicians, there were pharmacists, there were
engineers, people from all different fields taking the same training,” she said. “The things that they taught and the teamwork that came about that course was so amazing and interesting to me, that’s when I really got a sense of what the Red Cross is as an organization and how deeply they care about everyone that’s involved in the work that they do.” Neis describes the field training as being put in a “hospital in a box,” accurately simulating how an emergency response unit (ERU) field hospital would operate in a real deployment. “It totally gets you set up for what you hope doesn’t happen, but if it does, you’re ready and in my case, my call to participate in an ERU first came with the earthquake in Nepal,” she said. “The call came out, they essentially ask you if you can be deployed in 48 hours, I was fortunate that I had that ability with my job and I said yes and I was off to Ottawa to get a briefing.” Neis elaborates on the tremendous learning experience for herself and the local volunteers. One of the most valuable assets for a nurse practicing abroad is the sharing and adoption of treatment methods. Despite the dire conditions,
Neis soon realized the capabilities of makeshift medical solutions. She shares the case of a patient with a broken limb, usually requiring traction equipment. “When you’re on the field, you don’t have the luxury of what you might have at home here to deal with; we didn’t have traction equipment,” she said. “Thank God one of the seasoned people that had done many missions said, ‘Okay, tie heavy bottles of water with a towel, that’s our traction’ and it worked.” In addition to being an incredible learning opportunity for Neis, she knew that eventually, she would be leaving the hospital behind along with her International Red Cross peers. With intentions of leaving a lasting impression on the Nepalese community, the volunteers trained and certified four Nepalese locals to continue running the hospital and hopefully leaving them with the possibility of securing better employment in the long run. “What good is it unless there are remaining Nepalese locals who know how to run it,” she said. “As a Red Cross delegate, I’m learning every day but I also have the responsibility and the desire to teach every day.”
Policy Wanks: Bill C-406 Christian Varty NEWS EDITOR Ω Amidst stories of controversy ailing the Trudeau government and how the government will fare in the nearing federal election, the coverage of Bill C-406 has taken a backseat. Proposed by Conservative Party of Canada member of parliament Blaine Calkins, the bill is an effort to crack down on foreign influence in Canadian elections. The summary of the bill reads, “This enactment amends the Canada Elections Act to prohibit foreign contributions to third parties for election advertising purposes.” While Calkins, the MP for Red Deer-Lacombe clarified during a house debate that foreign interests are able to corrupt our electoral sovereignty on the basis that, “registered third parties receive
contributions from foreign entities, which are subsequently used to fund various political activities, including for election advertising purposes.” This bill comes right on the heels of Bill C-76, a Liberal bill that received unanimous support across partisan lines which ultimately resulted in royal assent. Bill C-76 was also centred around increasing transparency of Canadian elections, particularly donations and the behaviour of third-party organizations. While Bill C-76 received support from all three of the major parties in the House of Commons, Bill C-406 is currently only being supported by the Conservatives. Members of the Liberal Party of Canada have been critical of the bill insisting that it is redundant and won’t make a meaningful change in the next election. “What Bill C-406 hopes to achieve was achieved by Bill C-76,” Liberal MP
Kevin Lamoureux said during a House debate. “The original bill only prohibited the use of foreign funds during an election period. However, once it went to the procedure and House affairs committee, amendments were put forward to make it illegal for [a] third party to use foreign funding at any time to engage in partisan activities.” The Conservative response to the claims of redundancy has put forward that the current framework laid out in Bill C-76 is not comprehensive enough to efficiently block foreign actors from influencing elections. “We have a Liberal government that passed Bill C-76 with minimal strategies to address foreign funding. That is concerning. This private member's bill, Bill C-406 would close that loophole when it comes to the influence foreign funding would have on future Canadian elections. We are not immune. It has happened,” John Barlow, a Conservative MP retorted against the dismissal of Bill C-406. “We are bringing forward an opportunity to correct the mistake in Bill C-76, which did not have the teeth needed to ensure that Canadian elections are protected.” “The purpose of the bill introduced by my colleague from Red Deer— Lacombe is to prevent this foreign interference in the next election. Groups like Tides Foundation and Leadnow invest millions of dollars to defeat candidates and influence the democratic process even here in Canada,” Conservative MP Luc Berthold brought up nearing the end of the debate on the bill.
Neis displays a universal body part chart used by volunteers to communicate with patients without having to speak the same language. (Juan Cabrejo/Ω)
B.C. government eliminates interest on student loans As part of Budget 2019, interest from all new and existing B.C. student loans will be completely removed Wade Tomko EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω As part of their 2019 budget, the B.C. government has announced that they will eliminate all interest from all new and existing in the province. The move comes after years of pressure from B.C. student organizations, including the B.C. Federation of Students (BCFS). In addition to eliminating interest on student loans, Budget 2019 also introduces B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit for kids up to the age of 18, reduces taxes for businesses and prioritizes investing in clean energy and climate solutions. “People in B.C. struggled for too long because the old government made choices that helped the few at the top while
everyone else fell further and further behind,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance in a press release. “Budget 2019 opens doors for you and your family by putting thousands of dollars back into your pocket. We’re helping hard-working British Columbians get ahead at every stage of their life, no matter where they’re starting from.” When it comes to student loans, which in B.C. have risen 88 per cent since 1999 according to BCFS, the changes outlined in Budget 2019 mean an average graduate would save $2,300 in interest, based on a $28,000 combined federal and provincial loan with a 10-year repayment period. While interest on provincial loans has been officially removed, federal loans still have an prime rate of interest at plus 2.5 per cent.
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Cardboard doesn’t float, right? CONTINUED (COVER) The objective of the race was simple, get to the other side of the pool before the other two teams in each round, but as the kids quickly found out, cardboard doesn't easily stay intact in water. While many made it to the other side of the pool in relatively one piece, others capsized halfway through the race but not without cheers and smiles from
everyone involved. After three rounds, the kids were excited to compare their strategies with one another, pose for pictures or carry what was left of their vessels. Even though the whole spectacle lasted just under an hour, the excitement was endless and for David Thompson Elementary, “It's happening again for us for sure," said Martin.
The competition is part of an SD73 applied design program in partnership with TRU Trades. (Justin Moore/The Omega)
TRUSU Equity Committee brings Canada’s shame to the big screen Award-winning film Indian Horse sheds a light on the abuse faced by Indigenous generations Cailyn Mocci ARTS EDITOR Ω The TRUSU Equity Committee showcased award-winning film, Indian Horse, in a free film screening for the TRU community on Feb. 13. The film was a host for conversations surrounding the horrors of residential schools in Canada. The topic of reconciliation in Canada is one that is spoken about often but many who have not faced the crimes and horrors that generations are still dealing with today may not completely understand. The Equity Committee prefaced the film screening with a background of the pain that many Indigenous people faced, many of whom are still a part of society today. Much of what is taught makes the residential school system seem like that it is of the distant past but this is not the case. The last residential school to close its doors was the Gordon Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan in 1996, a mere 23 years ago.
The Kamloops Indian Residential School (KIRS) operated as one of 130 schools within the Canadian Residential School system. The KIRS opened in 1893 and continued until it’s closure in 1977. Hundreds of Secwepemc children were placed in the care of the residential school and more often than not, forcibly removed from their families and forced to assimilate and banned from practicing their culture and spirituality. Indian Horse is based on the novel by the same name by Canadian author Richard Wagamese. Wagamese was an Ojibwe from the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations in northwestern Ontario who spent the last years of his life in Kamloops. He was also given an honorary doctorate from TRU in 2010. Although Wagamese did not attend residential school, he still faced a lot of the pain via his mother, aunts and uncles who were residential school survivors. Indian Horse itself is set in the late 1950s Ontario and revolves around eight-year-old Saul
Indian Horse. Saul was torn from the arms of his grandmother and fellow member of the Ojibwa tribe and forced into a notorious Catholic Residential School. In this Residential School, Saul was denied the right to practice the traditions of his culture and speak his traditional language. This oppressive treatment, criminal by today’s standards, was a harsh reality that many children faced in Canada not too long ago. Amid the horrendous abuse witnessed in the school, Saul became drawn to hockey, as if his spirit called for it specifically, and became a natural hockey legend. His immense talents whisk him away from the terrors of the school but Saul is continuously faced with horrible flashes of the abuse he’s witnessed. This film was an honest and beautifully written tale of how long the pain can linger after such a horrific event. The concept of intergenerational pain is an issue that many Indigenous families face to this day and Indian Horse was a testament to how long a person may carry those burdens.
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FEBRUARY 27, 2019
NEWS
MARCH 7–16, 2019
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THIS MOUNTAIN LIFE
THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT
ANTHROPOCENE
Frozen (Sing-ALONG)
Q&A
OPENING NIGHT FILM
WINEING DISCUSSION
DARKFEST
THURS MAR 7 • 7PM
FRI MAR 8 • 6PM
FRI MAR 8 • 9PM
CAPERNAUM
EdGE OF THE KNIFE
FINDING BIG COUNTRY
SAT MAR 9 • 12PM SUSPIRIA
Q&A
DARKFEST
SAT MAR 9 • 2PM
SAT MAR 9 • 5PM
SAT MAR 9 • 7PM
SAT MAR 9 • 10PM
SIR
DANCING DOGS OF DOMBROVA
NEVER LOOK AWAY
Q&A
kissfest.ca
SUN MAR 10 • 12PM
SUN MAR 10 • 2PM
SUN MAR 10 • 5PM
SUN MAR 10 • 8PM
AT ETERNITY’S GATE
THE GRIZZLIES
Sink or Swim
VOX LUX
BEER TASTING
BEER TASTING
MON MAR 11 • 6PM
MON MAR 11 • 9PM
TUES MAR 12 • 6PM
TueS MAR 12 • 9PM
WILDLIFE
SHOPLIFTERS
THE BROMLEY BOYS
ROMA
WINE TASTING
BREWING DISCUSSION
WED MAR 13 • 6PM CIRCLE OF STEEL
WED MAR 13 • 9PM
THURS MAR 14 • 6PM
THURS MAR 14 • 9PM
COLD WAR
BEN IS BACK
KAYAK TO KLEMTU
Q&A
STEEPING DISCUSSION
FRI MAR 15 • 6PM
FRI MAR 15 • 9PM
at the
E E R F
ailab v a s er Vouch RUSU. T from
le
SAT MAR 16 • 3PM
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
SAT MARCH 16 • 6PM
paramount theatre
kamloopsfilmfest.ca $5 PINT/$12 JUG OF BEER & 25% OFF ONE APPETIZER PER PERSON WITH KFF TICKET STUB
*$5 student tickets are available at MOVIEMART (376 St. Paul Street) and online up to 1.5 hours before every screening, and the Paramount Theatre (503 Victoria Street) 45 minutes before each screening. Fees apply when purchasing tickets online or at Moviemart. A Kamloops Film Society Membership is included in the TRU UPASS.
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20,000+ POSTCARDS SIGNED
100S OF VOLUNTEERS 2,000+ EMAILS TO THE FINANCE MINISTER 13+ STUDENTS’ UNIONS TAKING ACTION
0%
INTEREST ON BC STUDENT LOANS
The BC Government’s 2019 Budget announced that interest on the BC portion of all student loans is eliminated effective February 19, 2019.
STUDENT ACTION WORKS – WE DID THIS TOGETHER! @theBCFS
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ARTS
Upcoming Events Common Voices lecture with Dr. Brian Goldman Feb. 27, 7 - 9 p.m. CAC Grand Hall Are we on the verge of health care revolution? Can we improve access to health care using smartphones? Is health care prime for disruptive innovation? Join Dr. Goldman as he makes the case that health care both needs and is ready for a big disruptive shake-up. Indigenous Awareness Week: Conversational Secwepemctsin Feb. 28, 10 - 11 a.m. CAC Grand Hall Learn words and greetings with Marie Sandy and Gabriel Archie. Mourning Becomes Electra Feb. 28 - Mar. 02, 7:30 11 p.m. Black Box Theatre Actors Workshop Theatre presents this Greek tragedy re-imagined in Civil War-weary New England at the end of the 1800s. The wealthy shipping family, the Mannons, are torn apart by jealousy and suspicion in this American theatre classic full of high drama, fascinating characters, imagery and allusion. Indigenous Awareness Week: Drum and Rattle Painting Mar. 1, 3 - 6 p.m. HOL 190 Kel-c Jules, who is an alumna of TRU’s Bachelor of Fine Arts, leads the workshop and teaches you the basics of painting. Bring an unpainted rattle or drum to decorate. Smoking Cultures Dialogue Project Mar. 4, 1 - 3 p.m. HOL 402 You’re invited to share your thoughts about smoking, cannabis and vaping in a small-group dialogue led by students. All opinions and people are welcome. To thank you for your time, we’ll be providing free food and a chance to win a $300 cash prize.
FEBRUARY 27, 2019
Album review: Dreamdrops
Zenchuck pulls a wide range of influences into conventional downtempo Christian Varty NEWS EDITOR Ω Dreamdrops, the latest release from Vancouver based producer Zenchuck is a dive into an otherworldly experience of lite psychedelia and experimentation loosely based in a hip-hop context. The album is a marriage of different influences coalescing into a relaxed and organic soundscape ripe with fruitful ideas. The record takes note of influences that are perhaps foreign to a western pallet but reimagines them in a way conducive to a vague semblance of familiarity. The composition and atmosphere of the music is not dissimilar to the proclivities of prominent downtempo artists in the late aughts and early part of the 2010s such as Emancipator and Bonobo. But where Zenchuck is able to pull ahead of the pack is the ability to incorporate a seemingly disparate range of musical influence mix and blend them into a seamless where they fit so well, they seldom announce themselves on the forefront. Those subtle moving parts come in the form of echoed xylophone on the track Turqoister and as a breathy pan flute on tracks like Minuscule Mules in Blue and Hang Loose Nous amongst others. The key to Zenchuck’s success is the subtle ways in which he’s able to weave these little unconventional pieces into the music while simultaneously not drawing overt attention to the foreign components of the music that result in the alien yet familiar soundscape. Perhaps the most comfortable and relatable aspect of the music found throughout the record is the
unrelenting stutter and stammering of the drum kit. Zenchuck’s drum programming doesn’t take any risks and stays well within the bounds of modern downtempo but that is one of the reasons this is a particularly exemplary aspect of the record. Zenchuck proves that he’s adept at drum programming without being showy. Album opener, The Surreal Decline of
Humanity showcases the duality of Zenchuck’s utilization of muted live sounding drums with the pairing of irreverent and a prominent 808 drum machine. Dreamdrops is an album that works just as well as background music as it does for intense listening. The sheer attention to detail on this record renders in engaging enough to require multiple listens
to fully grasp the intricacies of what is happening, while Zenchuck’s ability as a downtempo producer shines through and ensures the parts are not greater than the sum. And when it comes down to it, the sum is a fantastic relaxing downtempo release. 8.4/10 - Sunny day in a zen garden
Movie review: Happy Death Day 2U Completely self-aware, Happy Death Day 2U is both fun and ridiculous Morgan Hunter CONTRIBUTOR Ω Happy Death Day 2 U, a sequel to Happy Death Day, is a self-understanding sci-fi rollercoaster that, knowing what it is, goes through every scene with a love for what it’s doing. It revolves around the aftermath of the first film where Tree
Gelbman is now sent to a parallel universe where she must find a way to fix the anomaly while attempting to escape the killer wearing a Baby Face mask. The description alone shows why this film is fantastic. It’s stupid. It doesn’t attempt to reflect itself as Hamlet in some dramatic story that holds complicated themes. It’s about a college student who literally will kill herself in order to restart
the day to save the multiverse. But, rather than give it some controversial theme or some deep meaning, it goes for entertainment and that’s something to be valued in today’s all-too-serious society. One of the best aspects of this show is that it does it’s best in every category. The actors are, like in the original, giving it their all with an exceptional performance from both the lead Jessica Rothe and the
supporting lead Israel Broussard. They try to make every joke land, every drama moment have value and given to the plot of the film and its nature, that’s really refreshing to see on screen. The plot is ridiculous. No matter how it’s sold, a plot about a “whodunnit” killer, coming second to a universe-jumping plot, that started off as a groundhog day rip-off can’t be taken seriously. However, the film knows this and plays to this. There are sequences that add to this convoluted plot for the sole purpose that it’s entertaining and the passion that comes out when these events happen only add to the movie. It’s not the next Citizen Kane, though Happy Death Day 2 U is an enjoyable film that went by fast due to it just being fun and adding in great acting, weird sci-fi and some genuinely heartfelt moments that land, that justifies a ticket purchase in itself.
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ARTS
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TRU welcomes artist taking her drawing to new levels Manjot Kaur dives deep into her abstract depictions of our lives at the molecular level Cailyn Mocci ARTS EDITOR Ω TRU Visual Arts department welcomed travelling artist Manjot Kaur on Feb. 14 to showcase her wide array of visual media, including drawings and animations. Kaur received her BFA in Painting from the Government College of Art at Panjab University in Chandigarh, where she currently lives and works. Much of Kaur’s work is focused on the notion of “on-going” using mediums such as journal drawings, installations, 2D animated videos, timelapse and sound. Many of her projects are layered with socio-political issues surrounding the Punjab state and the world. Her focus on “on-going” can be seen in her works that touch on passing of time in the processes of movement, growth, change, decay, the circle of life, evolution and identity. “I’m very much interested in how nature develops. How things happen on the micro level and at the same time how things happen on the macro level,” said Kaur. Many of her drawings and animations, as displayed in her presentation for the TRU community, showcase this sense of growth and decay in the form of scientific drawings. In the book Random
Kaur links together her Punjab culture with a deeper look at our world from a molecular level in a drawing from her book Random Order. (Cailyn Mocci/Ω) Order, Kaur displayed the 12 drawing that takes on an abstract form of life on the molecular level. Kaur describes Random Order as a collection of works that “point towards the ever-evolving life using the imagery of microscopic cellular forms existing all around us.”
Kaur also showed in her presentation an interactive installation called Open Secret, a play on the identification system used in the Punjab state. This installation was a tangible look at issues of privacy, identity and the tools of mass surveillance, using Aadhaar – The UID project.
In Open Secret Kaur as well as her partner, dressed in military garb and set up in open urban areas with high foot traffic, in the case presented a shopping mall. Local Public was invited by the means of the announcement as a metaphor for advertising in the consumerist era. Only people with
an Aadhar number could enter the space. Kaur’s work takes on two very contrasting elements often seen in art, abstract and science. Her blending of the two melds perfectly as a commentary of the world constantly spinning and all that happens both big and small.
Ghosts and violence lie through the doors of AWT AWT’s latest production of Mourning Becomes Electra holds death, despair, violence and a whole lot more Elizabeth Nygren CONTRIBUTOR Ω Mourning Becomes Electra, written by Eugene O’Neill and adapted by TRU professor Heidi Verwey, is the last of the Actor’s Workshop Theatre’s big productions of the 2018/2019 season. Mourning Becomes Electra is
a thrilling, haunted tale which follows the Mannon’s, a wealthy family living in England during the early 1900s. This story shows the plights of this tormented family as they all live a life of scandal and betrayal. Lavinia and Orin Mannon, the children of Ezra and Christine Mannon, are determined to end their mother's crimes, but this only leads to death and despair.
Although the universe revolves around the Mannon’s, many other characters exist in it, including their many servants, the townspeople and their close friends, the Niles’. James McFarlane, a third-year TRU student, plays the role of Dr Blake, one of the townspeople in the show. McFarlane has acted in two productions at TRU, with
Amos (Andrew Lucas) prepares to break a wine glass over Seth's (Rem Murray) face in the upcoming play. (Submitted)
Mourning Becomes Electra being the third. McFarlane says that the show is very similar to a horror movie. “I never really thought horror could actually work in a theatre production, but seeing it all in action, it’s actually amazed me with what people can come up with,” he said Greg Brown, a second-year theatre major at TRU, plays Peter Niles, Lavinia Mannon’s love interest in the play. Mourning Becomes Electra is Brown’s debut at AWT, but he did participate in Director’s Festival in 2018. Brown says that the play is “a scary soap opera in ways” and adds that “a lot of interesting relationships are explored [in the play].” “Relationships in old love, new love, betrayal between family and friends, and that sort of thing,” Brown said. Shannon Cooper, a first-year Bachelor of Education student who has completed the theatre program at TRU, plays Christine Mannon, the malevolent mother of Orin and Lavinia. Cooper has been working on shows, either as an actor or as backstage personnel, for the past five years since she began at TRU. Mourning Becomes Electra is the fourth show she’s acted in at the university. “[Mourning Becomes Electra] is a
new spin on an old classic for sure,” she said. “It has elements of horror sprinkled throughout and there’s a lot of manipulation.” Cooper says the audience will feel out of their comfort zone, but that “it’s thrilling, it’s interesting and it’s fun.” She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen and The Magnificent Voyage of Emily Carr by Jovette Marchessault were very different shows in comparison to Mourning Becomes Electra. Brown and Cooper had thoughts about these differences when looking back at the previous shows this season. Brown says that this show is very dramatic in contrast to the other ones which were a comedy and a historic, play-type documentary, adding that “it’s very dark in comparison.” Cooper says that this show is different because it’s a horror and it’s definitely more soap opera-like. Regarding the other two shows, Cooper said that ”one was very realistic, one was very fantasy and this one’s kind of both.” Mourning Becomes Electra opens at AWT on Feb. 28, with shows on Feb. 28, March 1 and 2, and March 7-9, starting at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15, and are available by phone or in person at the AWT box office (250377-6100) or online at brownpapertickets.com.
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COMICS & PUZZLES
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9 5 6 Puzzle of the Week #17—Fudge (in the February 27, 2019 issue of The Omega)
You have a piece of fudge which you are going to share with two friends. The fudge is square and consists of 3x3 smaller squares. Each of you are going to have a threesquare piece.
CFBX TOP 30
You could simply cut the fudge into 3 1x3 strips, but where is the fun then?
CFBX 92.5 FM, 350 Watts Kamloops, BC Music Director: Steve Marlow Charts to February 21, 2019 * indicates Canadian Content ** indicates a local artist
fudge?
How many other different ways can you cut up the
To count as different, the resulting set of shapes must be unique. Rotations do not count as different. 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.
Artist - Album (Label) 1) Mother Mother* - Dance and Cry (Universal) 2) Inflatable Band* - Discount Everything (Independent) 3) Rusty Creek* - Looking Back (Independent) 4) High Parade* - The Ocean (Independent) 5) Harrison* - Apricity (Last Gang) 6) Robyn - Honey (Konichiwa) 7) Lovelet* - Couple's Fight Night (Independent) 8) Van Morrison - The Prophet Speaks (Exile) 9) Golden BC* - I Don't Want to Be This (Independent) 10) Dan Mangan* - More or Less (Arts and Crafts) 11) Way North* - Fearless and Kind (Independent) 12) Kaia Kater* - Grenades (Acronym) 13) The Arkells* - Rally Cry (E1) 14) Mike Field* - True Stories (Independent) 15) The Paddyhats - Green Blood (Metalville) 16) Niki Kennedy* - The Weather Up Here (Independent) 17) Atlas: Empire - The Stratosphere Beneath Our Feet (Independent) 18) Murray Kinsley and Wicked Grin* - Murder Creek (Phoenix) 19) Neavv* - Fall Hard/Get Sad (Independent) 20) Single Mothers* - Through a Wall (Dine Alone) 21) Tia McGraff* - Stubborn in My Blood (Bandana) 22) Bill McBirnie* - The Silent Wish (Independent) 23) Jay Aymar* - Your Perfect Matador (Independent) 24) Jeff Goldblum/Mildred Snitzer Orchestra - The Capitol Studio Session (Decca) 25) Bob Sumner* - Wasted Love Songs (Independent) 26) Exdreams - Physical Contact (Independent) 27) Francine Honey* - To Be Continued (Independent) 28) Eric Bibb - Global Griot (Stony Plain) 29) David Graff* - Supposed to Fly (Independent) 30) Nearly Dead* - Something Stronger (Independent)
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SPORTS
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Men's volleyball score historic playoff win against Golden Bears 'Pack beat the Alberta Golden Bears in one of the most historic playoff wins for the program Alvin Mutandiro SPORTS EDITOR Ω The TRU men’s volleyball team won their playoff series against the Alberta Golden Bears. The series was played in Alberta. The first win came on Feb. 22 where TRU won the match in four sets, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 25-20. Tim Dobbert was the star of the show for the WolfPack as he had 25 kills in 42 swings, six digs, one service ace, one solo block and three block assists. Charlie Bringloe had ten kills in 25 chances, six digs, two assists, one solo block and three block assists and Anton Napolitano had 42 assists, six digs, three service aces and a block assist. “It was a great performance,” said head coach Pat Hennelly to TRU Athletics. “I expect the bears to be tough tomorrow and we know it is still a long way to go.” The ’Pack were able to stay focused and fight through adversity the following evening as they beat the Bears in five sets, 25-19, 23-25, 14-25, 25-16, 15-8 on Feb. 23. TRU had the momentum early and managed to win the first set 25-19 but Alberta bounced back strong winning the next two sets 23-25 and 14-25. The sudden swing in momentum forced Hennelly to make some personal changes which fortunately, bore fruit for the ‘Pack
(TRU Athletics/Cole Behiels)
as they won the fourth set 25-16. From that point on TRU never looked back and had a 4-0 run to start the fifth set. The ’Pack led 12-8 late in the set and managed to go on a 3-0 run to win the match.
Top performers for the ’Pack were Dobbert with 23 kills in 42 swings, six digs, one solo block and four block assists and Anton Napolitano had seven kills in eight swings, 35 assists, three service aces, three digs and two
block assists. “It was a very good match. We played great,” Hennelly said. “This was one of the biggest weekends in our playoff history. We have won three playoff series on the road ever and this one
ranks up there for sure.” The WolfPack team have started the playoffs with a bang and given the TRU faithful something to cheer about, the hope will be that the run continues as long as possible.
Playoff hopes dashed for WolfPack women's volleyball
After setting postseason record, the 'Pack were unable to carry the momentum forward Alvin Mutandiro SPORTS EDITOR Ω The TRU women’s volleyball team played game one of their playoff series against the
Alberta Pandas on Feb. 23, a game which they won 25-17, 25-23, 18-25, 15-25, 15-13. It was only the second time the Pandas had been beaten on their home court. It also marked the first time
in history that both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams won a playoff game on the same day. Kendra Finch led the way for TRU with 15 kills in 50 swings, 14 digs and a solo block.
(TRU Athletics/Don Volkander)
Avery Pottle had 13 kills in 31 swings and three digs and Olga Savenchuk had 12 kills in 39 opportunities, six digs, one assist, two solo blocks, one block assist and one assist. “Nice to get a result,” said head coach Chad Grimm to TRU Athletics. “Really proud of the girls’ composure.” Unfortunately for the ’Pack, they were unable to carry the momentum built from their historic night into game two. TRU lost in straight sets, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-16 on Feb. 23. The Pandas were much improved and played a better passing and attacking game. Olga Savenchuk was the top performer for the ’Pack with 11 kills in 27 swings, nine digs, three block assists and a service ace and Kendra Finch had seven kills in 30 opportunities along with eight digs. “We didn’t take care of the ball well enough,” Grimm said. “We had a little bit of hesitation in our game. A lot of the girls haven’t been on the floor in a playoff environment where results matter. Good experience for them.” The Pandas were able to carry their good form into game three of the series as they beat the
WolfPack 25-17, 21-25, 25-16 and 25-14 on Feb. 24. It was a tough contest for TRU as the Pandas played a very consistent and effective game which they couldn’t compete with. TRU had more attacking errors than Alberta, 29 to 15, errors which ultimately cost TRU the contest. TRU led early in both set one and two but were only able to win the second set. Olga Savenchuk was the best player for TRU yet again, she had 15 kills in 36 swings, 19 digs and one service ace and Kendra Finch had 11 kills in 61 swings, 11 digs and a block assist. “Obviously disappointing to end our season against a quality Alberta team,” Grimm said. “I give Alberta a lot of credit. They played tough and were really consistent. Hopefully, we can use this to push ourselves in the offseason and come back with a little more experience and go on a deep run.” As the season comes to a close the women’s volleyball team will have mixed feelings, at times they were excellent and at times they weren’t, consistency will be key if they want to go on a deep run in the future.
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FEBRUARY 27, 2019
THE OMEGA
Voting: March 18-22, 2019 Nomination packages can be picked up at the Membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Services Desk in the TRUSU Building Nominations will be accepted from February 19, 2019 at 8:00AM to March 5, 2019 at 4:00PM for the following positions: President
LGBTQ+ Representative
Vice President Equity
Visible Minorities Representative
Vice President External
Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Representative
Vice President Internal
Campaigns Committee Representative (2)
Vice President Services
Entertainment Committee Representative (2)
Indigenous Representative
Services Committee Representative (2)
Graduate Representative
University Affairs Committee Representative (2)
International Representative
The campaign period will run from March 11- March 22, 2019 If you have questions regarding the TRUSU Election please contact the Electoral Committee at elections@trusu.ca, 250.828.5289, or visit trusu.ca/elections
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