April 10, 2013

VOLUME 22 ISSUE 26

APRIL 10, 2013

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The conversation continues...

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2nd annual TRUSU Pride Parade

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WolfPack athletes profiled

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TRU’s Independent Student Newspaper

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April 10, 2013

Feature Controversial conversation continues due to cultural art

Taylor Rocca

Ω Copy/Web Editor Unfamiliar pill bottles have become all too familiar to Sooraya Graham. Antidepressants and anxiety medication have found a home in her life where they were previously unwelcomed and unneeded.

Graham sits at home, wondering what she ever did to deserve such a fate.

Kamloops, the city she once called home, is now just a memory. While Graham wishes it were a more distant one, this memory remains very much at the forefront of her life. Living more than 800 kilometres from Kamloops is enough to remind her on a daily basis. Citing safety reasons, Graham requested her specific location not be revealed.

Apart from being uprooted and reliant on medications just to get by, Graham is also slowly giving up her religion, that until the past year, was an integral part of who she is.

All of this is a direct result of one innocent but provocative piece of artwork.

In March 2012¸ Graham went through one of the most trying experiences any budding artist can experience.

Graham — a Canadian Muslim — was, at the time, a fourth-year fine arts student at Thompson Rivers University (TRU).

After composing a breath-taking photograph intended to foster a societal discussion about women — particularly Muslim women and the niqab, or face veil — Graham put her artwork on display as part of a class project for TRU fine arts professor Ernie Kroeger.

“I was trying to create a discussion point for Muslim women, for veiled women and to kind of just show light of how we are just normal women,” Graham said in a March 2012 interview in The Omega.

The reaction that followed was beyond anything she had ever imagined.

According to Graham, her artwork was stripped down from its display and taken away by then TRU World international student advisor, Sahar Alnakeb.

“They weren’t willing to give it to me if I was going to put it back on the wall,” Graham said in March 2012. “They were holding it hostage, I guess you could say.

“We’re always told that our voice is important and that we can say something with our art. It is shocking when someone tries to silence that.”

Alnakeb, also a female Muslim, left her business card on the wall in place of Graham’s work. She would eventually return the work to Graham, after which it would was put back on display. TRU also compensated Graham for damage to the piece.

Alnakeb would issue an apology to Graham via email.

“As an International Student Advisor I do apologize for removing your picture, at that time I was aiming to support my female Muslim students who have found

it offensive [to] students but now I see it was a mistake. Sorry for the inconvenience,” was all that Alnakeb wrote to Graham on Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

The two never met in person after the incident.

Alnakeb refused to comment when approached for the purposes of this story.

While it might have been the end, it was only the beginning of the Sooraya Graham story.

A media frenzy would follow, with CBC and Huffington Post just two of the media outlets bringing national and international attention to the story.

“You know, that 15 minutes of fame, I wanted it to be literally 15 minutes and done,” Graham said.

“I wanted the injustice to be solved because when Sahar did that, she pushed so many boundaries.”

After the story quieted down within the media, things did not follow suit in Graham’s life. She received death threats via email, hate messages were stuck on her car windshield and the front door to her home, the tail light on her car was broken and she was followed around campus by other Muslim students who disapproved of her art. She wasn’t comfortable going to, from or within school without travelling in a group.

“I didn’t feel safe on campus. I went to a counsellor and told her about it and I was stressed,” Graham said. “I tried to express it. But at the same time, I had no proof. They just said, ‘Oh, you’re just being paranoid.’”

According to Graham, she relayed these concerns to Doug Buis, fine arts advisor, as well as Duane Seibel, director of judicial and student affairs.

Buis was unavailable for comment.

Seibel maintains Graham never presented these concerns to him.

“The office of judicial and student affairs has been in touch with Ms. Graham as recently as January 21 in preparation for the release of documents as part [of] the freedom of information request made by The Omega,” said Christopher Seguin, vice president advancement.

It wasn’t only on campus and online where the issue confronted Graham. She recalled an incident in Sahali Mall, where she said she was minding her own business picking up groceries and was confronted by a man who yelled at her in the middle of the grocery store.

Eventually, Graham’s parents would convince her to pick up and leave TRU and Kamloops. Not only was she leaving behind her city and her university, she was leaving behind four years of studies towards her fine arts degree, which she has still been unable to complete. Now she doesn’t even know if she wants to finish her degree and has come to the conclusion that she certainly does not want to pursue a career as an artist, as she once did.

“In our discussion, Ms. Graham had mentioned that she moved [to a new location] and that things had become uncomfortable for her in Kamloops but there was no mention

of safety concerns,” Seguin said. “If Ms. Graham spoke to a faculty or other staff member, it was not brought to the attention of staff in student affairs, as we would have taken any safety concerns very seriously. It was our understanding that the decision to move related to other unrelated issues.”

Things did not improve upon leaving Kamloops.

“When I first moved here, I didn’t leave my house for the first 13 weeks,” Graham said.

“I’ve gone to mental health tons of

—IMAGE COURTESY SOOR AYA GR AHAM

times. I’m on antidepressants, which I’ve never been on. I have to take anxiety pills. It’s just over that one thing. It’s pretty messed up.”

As a direct result of the incident, Graham has found herself slowly losing touch with her religion, something that was once so important to her. She is no longer allowed to travel to places in the Muslim world like Saudi Arabia, Qatar or Dubai due to the danger she faces after her artwork and story circulated the international Muslim community.

“As a Muslim, what do I do about

Mecca? That’s gone for me now.

Permanently,” Graham said. “It’s an R.E.M. song. I’m losing my religion.

It’s changed me. At this time, maybe it’s a good thing.”

As for Sahar Alnakeb, she is no longer at TRU World, though no one in TRU administration was willing to confirm where she is or what she is doing.

ON THE COVER: Participants of TRUSU India Club’s Rang De Basanti event April 6 ended up more colourful than usual.

Check the story and photos on page 8 this week. — PHOTO BY BRENDAN KERGIN

SEE ART p. 7

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The Omega · Volume 22, Issue 26

THE

MEGA

www.theomega.ca

April 10, 2013

Volume 22, Issue 26

Published since November 27, 1991

editorialstaff

Editorial/Opinions Parting words of wisdom (or folly)

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mike Davies

editor@truomega.ca

250-828-5069

@PaperguyDavies NEWS EDITOR

Devan C. Tasa

news@truomega.ca @DCTasa ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Brendan Kergin

arts@truomega.ca @roguetowel SPORTS EDITOR

Adam Williams

sports@truomega.ca @AdamWilliams87 ROVING EDITOR

Courtney Dickson

roving@truomega.ca @dicksoncourtney COPY/WEB EDITOR

Taylor Rocca

copy@truomega.ca @manovrboard

omegacontributors Mark Hendricks, Travis Persaud, Samantha Garvey, Karla Karcioglu, Allison Declercq-Matthas, Karie Russell, Philipp Ciossek, Bobby Armstrong, Allen Douglas, Lauren Gagatek, Whitney Griffiths, Tyler Lowey

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF * Mike Davies BUSINESS MGR * VACANT INDUSTRY REP * Mike Youds FACULTY REP * Charles Hays STUDENT REP* Sadie Cox

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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 the Letters & Opinion section 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.

copyright

All material in this publication is copyright The Omega and may not be reproduced without the expressed consent of the publisher. All unsolicited submissions become copyright Omega 2012.

Cariboo Student Newspaper Society (Publisher of The Omega) TRU Campus House #4 Box 3010, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 0C8 Phone: 250-372-1272 E-mail: editor@truomega.ca Ad Enquiries: managerofomega@gmail.com

Editor’s Note Mike Davies Ω Editor-in-Chief As we come to the close of another publishing year here at The Omega, I would like to impart with you a few words on what I have learned this year that may help you as you move forward on your adventure — if you’d be so kind to indulge me for a moment. Wow. That sounded super pretentious. Sorry.

Life isn’t fair.

This isn’t something I’ve only recently learned, but certainly was a theory that was further reinforced over the past eight months or so. Whether it was being assigned group projects I wanted no part in, attending classes I wasn’t learning anything in or having to go into my office when there was a football game on I really wanted to watch, this year was once again full of things I had to do.

I balanced the fact that life isn’t fair by taking time periodically to find things I wanted to do — and did them. It didn’t make the things I had to do more likeable, and on occasion I really had to force them into times that weren’t really long enough, but they made me a bit less jaded at the world during the time I was engaged with them.

The world will seem less unfair if you realize that it doesn’t owe you anything.

Take responsibility for your life and put some effort in. When things don’t go your way, it doesn’t do anyone any good to whine about it (in fact it probably an-

Follow us on @TRU_Omega “Like” us on Facebook.

Do it.

Seriously.

People are inherently good.

For years I have felt the opposite.

When I look around at all the destruction and injustice in the world, I have often wondered if humanity wasn’t, overall, pretty terrible. This year the needle went back to the centre and kept moving — if only a small amount.

I see people standing up for these injustices and social destruction more and more. I don’t know whether they’ve been doing it all along and I’ve just started to take notice, but the uproar over things like pipeline and mining proposals, tuition rates (in Québec, anyway), worker’s rights and prejudicial attitudes towards sexual orientation heartens me as we move forward as a society.

The fact that we still need to take on all of these things is abhorrent — but the fact that we’re doing it gives me hope.

People are also inherently lazy (and cheap).

This might sound like a contradiction, but I think the evidence bears this out.

While many gather to protest injustices and stand up for what they believe,

they will generally only do so when and where it is convenient for them.

You sure see a lot of “Share this photo to tell (insert official person’s name) we won’t stand for this!” on Facebook these days. I can’t tell you how many “go to our site and sign our petition” emails I receive in a month. There’s a whole lot of half-assed complaining about situations going on.

How many people, on the other hand, will be withdrawing all of their money and refusing to do their banking with RBC because of the recent exposing of their hiring of temporary foreign workers to replace Canadians in order to become more cost-effective?

How many people refuse to shop at Walmart because they manage to keep their prices so low by importing mass quantities of cheaply made product from regions with dubious employment standards?

I have a feeling RBC will again manage to claim profits in the billions of dollars next quarter and we all know that Walmart is doing okay financially.

I don’t have solutions for these things.

I don’t bank with RBC. If I did, I certainly wouldn’t be anymore — but it’s not like they’d care, because they make their money off people with a ton of money, and those people likely respect them for their actions towards cost-effectiveness and I can’t afford not to shop at Walmart for some things.

My point is that if you’re going to complain about these things, you should be willing to take effective action, as well.

Otherwise you just seem whiney, and remember that stuff a few hundred words ago about being whiney?

So, I guess that’s all the room I have for this week (I’m already taking some of Rocca’s space, probably).

If you’re here over the summer, watch for our monthly editions on the racks around the middle of each month, and if you’re back next fall semester, you’ll be hearing from me again.

If not, I wish you all the best as you go forth into the world. I hope I’ve maybe given you some wisdom — either today or in a previous edition — and you leave here to challenge the status quo and strive to make life better for everyone. editor@truomega.ca

Life’s waiting to begin

(Correspondence not intended for publication should be labelled as such.)

Twitter:

noys the people around you), but if you look at what went wrong and learn from it, maybe it won’t happen next time.

It might be, even under closer examination, that whatever went wrong was not your fault.

Maybe someone in administration didn’t forward the paperwork along when they should have. Maybe you were minding your own business driving through an intersection and someone ran a red light and smashed up your car. Whatever the situation was, it’s ultimately up to you as to how you deal with it. Maybe you hound the powers that be to do their jobs properly next time instead of just waiting for them to act. Maybe you take a different route to school now because you know that idiots don’t leave themselves enough time to get places and traffic is high at that intersection leading to a higher overall number of those people in that location at any given time.

Be proactive. It will leave you in a less-whiney situation, and make your friends happier, too.

TRUe Thoughts Taylor Rocca Ω Copy/Web Editor “Everyone was working for this goal where all the children left without a trace, only to come back as pure as gold to recite this all.

“Life’s waiting to begin.”

Written by Tom DeLonge and heard in the Angels & Airwaves song “The Adventure,” I quoted that as I hosted my high school graduation dinner and dance.

Seven years later I turn to it again as I prepare to turn the page on this chapter in my life.

For some of you, this will mark the final time you step through these doors as a student. For others, you might be returning to continue your undergraduate degree or to further your education.

Wherever it is life takes you next, just be sure to keep everything in perspective.

Appreciate the time you have here.

Appreciate the classmates, friends and professors you are privileged to share this space with. Appreciate each learning moment. While it’s important to stay focused on here and now, it’s equally as important to keep the greater picture in mind.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the people who have impacted my time here. This is the privilege you get when you maintain a column in your student newspaper.

To Christopher Seguin for putting up with me. I know I might not have been your favourite person, but I appreciate your time and professionalism.

To everyone I have had the privilege to work with at The Omega and CFBX, thank you for helping me hone my skills and prepare myself for the real world.

To Mike Davies for being the best boss and a true mentor.

To my classmates, thanks for push-

ing me to challenge myself, sharing in my learning experience and having a casual beer every odd weekend.

To Sam Numsen of Shaw TV who was instrumental in my sports broadcasting course. You gave me the opportunity to learn something I couldn’t have learned here on campus.

To my professors, Alan Bass, Charles Hays, Blair McDonald, Maxine Ruvinsky and Shawn Thompson. Thank you for providing me with the tools I need to find success.

Lastly, to Rebecca Mann. You might not be a professor, but you work just as hard and have taught me just as much.

You don’t get nearly the thanks you deserve for your tireless efforts.

I’m sure there are people I’ve missed and for that I apologize. To everyone else at TRU, thank you for making this a place for me to call home.

If you’re moving on to bigger and better things, thank those who deserve it. Keep connections strong with those who have impacted you. As the cliché goes, university can be the best years of your life. We’re all here with that same goal, hoping to come out pure as gold.

Don’t forget your time at TRU once life and its next adventure come calling. copy@truomega.ca

Who says you’re too old for something to still be fun?

Eric Wilkins The Other Press

Last week, whilst navigating the hallways to class, my travelling companion and I encountered a pair of those wonderful cardboard tubes, usually left over from when you run out of wrapping paper. Without a second thought, we quickly snatched them up, brief ly skirmished, and then headed up the nearby treacherous stairs, using the tubes as staffs for support, like a pair of young hobbits. With the air free of Smaug, it was fairly easy to see the expressions from passersby that greeted us on our journey. The looks we received ranged from bemusement, to indifference, and — from one particularly grumpy fellow — disapproval.

That one look got me thinking: am I too old for this? Are cardboard tube sword fights too childish for a pair of 20 yearolds? After a deep and thoughtful 40 seconds, I came to the conclusion that they absolutely aren’t, and continued to imagine how much more awesome the tubes would look covered in tinfoil.

I suppose the point of that disturbingly pathetic anecdote is that there shouldn’t be an age limit on fun. Public perceptions of what is right and proper for certain stages of life shouldn’t have any bearing on what an individual chooses to do. If you enjoy it, do it. Our society seems to be plagued by imaginary barriers erected by a judgemental few. Don’t let that stuffy bunch keep you from funning.

I always had the idea that drinking was an immature college activity and those who continue to down booze into their 40s simply failed to grow up.

Partying drinkers over 40 —or even 30 —were supposedly immature boors. I didn’t bother questioning it. But now when I consider it, I have serious difficulty seeing a problem with drinking. If someone’s into their mid-life and his/her liver can still handle it, then why not? Go ahead and binge drink. Play beer pong until you can’t stand anymore. If that’s what you enjoy doing, don’t stop just because you’ve aged a few years.

Of course, the irony of this article is that there will be folks who regard this line of thinking as immature, and I will admit this is, for lack of better wording, a youthful way to look at things. But that’s how change comes about. Remember when video games were primarily for kids, teenagers, and college bums? The average gamer’s age has been estimated to be anywhere from 30 to 37 years in recent years. Video games aren’t viewed the same way anymore, so why can’t perceptions change about other things?

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April 10, 2013

Students preparing for graduation have few resources to help transition to alumni Karla Karcioglu Ω Contributor

theomega.ca

News

This spring TRU will see another group of students graduate and become alumni. Many will be leaving behind the title student, which they have carried with them from kindergarten to post-secondary graduation.

“Life transitions can be stressful,” said Cliff Robinson, chair of the TRU counselling department.

Despite the magnitude of this transition from student to career persons, there aren’t many resources available to support them at TRU. Robinson said counselling services, which support students emotionally, are pretty narrowly focused.

“We’re busy helping current students,” he said.

“It makes sense that that ser- Sri Whorrall receives her credentials June 15, 2012 at the Spring convocation at TRU. Appar vice be provided,” he said, how- ently not much support is available to grads going through this transition. ever, the logistics of putting that —PHOTO BY SAMANTHA GARVEY program together, including who She said when she graduated, dents, they have staff that help get those messages out there. would pay for it, are tricky.

Susan Forseille, TRU career she felt like she was just done organize all aspects of reunions “For people who really thrived in [school], for that level of sup- education department chair, has and didn’t have any further sup- and they offer an alumni card that provides discounts at busiport to no longer be there can be focused a lot of research on stu- port.

“I wish I knew more of my nesses and allows access to the dents’ transition from university stressful,” Robinson said. options,” Plouffe said, “I didn’t TRU Library.

Hopefully the structure pro- to career.

TRU Alumni Services and “Students want and need this know I would need to continue vided by school will be replaced after you leave, he said. “You support,” said Forseille. “It’s my education or I would have TRU Career Education have been working together for the last four become a community member new support that hasn’t been limited job options.”

Plouffe said she had felt that years to support grads by allowand are left with the supports offered traditionally and TRU could be a leading modern uni- because TRU was a smaller uni- ing them access to career educathat are in that community.”

Gordon Down, manager of fi- versity in Canada by offering it versity it would provide more tion resources, Olynyk said.

“We saw a void and we tried to support and renancial aids and sources for stu- build that,” she said. awards, said the “We don’t kick them out the dents. large majority of “You think that door and say, ‘okay, see ya,’” his work and conyou go to school Olynyk said, “because a lot of tact is with current and then you get a people feel like this is home.” students.

She said the idea of providing job,” she said, “but He said former its not always that financial and emotional support students don’t alresources for TRU grads has not way.” ways realize the

—Cliff Robinson, Alumni officer, been discussed as far as she’s numerous repayArlene Olynyk, aware. ment programs

Chair, TRU counselling department “People do react to need,” said that alumni provided by the services at TRU has Olynyk said. government and If we don’t hear about it we only been working to expand its “[financial aid and awards] more intentionally.”

Alumni can access all of TRU services for the last five years, don’t know, she said. could do more to educate stu“Need probably hasn’t been as career education’s resources at as there has been more emphasis dents on that.”

There is no need for former anytime, Forseille said, unlike on staying in touch and welcom- aggressive as it has been in the last three years,” she said. students to go into default with other schools, which set time ing back alumni.

Sometimes people don’t say TRU Alumni Services works limits for accessing services. student loans, Down said. that they need help, Olynyk Laura Plouffe graduated from with alumni in three ways.

“There is always more to be They invite them back for net- said, “and if [there] is a need the done,” Down said, adding TRU TRU with a bachelors of science Aid and Awards has started to in 2010. She is currently training working events to share their alumni would love to respond to work with Alumni Services to for work unrelated to her degree. experiences with current stu- it.”

“We’re busy helping current students.”

Williams Lake campus receives more than $1 million towards employment training Courtney Dickson Ω Roving Editor

After eight months of negotation, TRU’s Williams Lake (TRU-WL) and the CanadaBritish Columbia Labour Market Agreement (LMA) will be putting $1 million towards a new initiative to give adults the basic training needed to compete in today’s job market.

The LMA will cover the cost of tuition, supplies and transportation to those who are in need.

Shirley-Pat Gale, grants officer at TRU-WL, is thrilled to see this program she’s been so eagerly promoting finally come

to life.

“We want to take people from where they are and bring them to where they want to be,” she said.

“It’s an opportunity for participants to move forward to life goals.”

The program will address all aspects of literacy: numeracy, reading, writing and being able to understand and analyze documents. As well, interpersonal skills, oral communication and thinking skills such as problem solving will be covered.

According to Gale, 42 per cent of people in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region do not have the basic literacy needed to be able to

compete in today’s economy.

Gale is no stranger to the struggles of literacy -- she is dyslexic. Though she has faced the struggles of a learning disability, she said she can’t imagine not being able to read and literacy has become her cause.

“Literacy is my passion,” she said.

A combination of learning disabilities, lack of accessibility to education and the devastating memories left by residential schools contribute to poor literacy in B.C. according to Gale.

“There’s a generational mistrust of education.”

There are 300 spaces are

available for those interested in taking the training. Each individual will be assessed and a training plan will be created.

Eligible participants include employed, low-skilled individuals and those who are unemployed but do not qualify for employment insurance.

As of now, there are three community coordinators involved. The number of staff TRU-WL hires will be based on how many participants sign up for the course.

Training will be provided at the TRU-WL campus, at specific employers and within First Nations communities.

Sidney Harry, education coordinator for the Tletingox-t’in Band is responsible for all the band’s students in post-secondary and is hopeful that people in the region will take advantage of this opportunity.

“Any experience someone can get means a lot out here,” he said. According to Harry many people work forestry jobs during the summer and are left unemployed in the off-season. With the training TRU-WL will be providing, he hopes to see these people employed year-round.

“It’s always hit and miss with programs here because we’re so far out,” Harry said.

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The Omega · Volume 22, Issue 26

News Voter turnout drops for TRUSU election Devan C. Tasa Ω News Editor

Fewer students voted in this year’s TRUSU election, but the students union has given no indication it will take action to prevent another decline in the future.

For the 2012-2013 school year, 10.4 per cent of eligible voters voted. For the election for 2013-2014 student representatives, which took place on March 26 and 27, only 7.5 per cent participated.

president, which dropped by 144 votes to 503 votes cast.

This was despite the fact the 2013 election saw the vice president internal, Aboriginal representative, women’s representative and directors at large contested.

In 2012, there was no race for any position.

Seeing the smallest drops in voters were the vice president finance, which dropped by 106 to 499 votes cast; international representative, which dropped by 117 votes to 490 votes cast; and vice president ex-

“We thought the election went well.”

—Dustin McIntyre, TRUSU president

In 2012, 7,090 students were eligible to vote. The students union didn’t release the number of eligible voters for 2013, but Dustin McIntyre, TRUSU’s president and electoral committee member, wrote in an email there were more than 7,000 members eligible.

In 2012, an average of 621 students marked a ballot for each of the available positions. That has dropped by 162 students to 462 in 2013.

The positions that saw the largest drops in voters were the vice president internal, which dropped by 160 to 483 votes cast; women’s representative, which dropped by 146 votes to 481 votes cast; and

ternal, which dropped by 121 votes to 500 votes cast.

Nobody ran for the new graduate students’ representative. The students union will be calling a byelection to fill that position.

McIntyre was requested for an interview. The request specifically asked how the electoral committee thought the election went, if there were recommendations for the future and if there was any concern about voter turnout. He opted to send a statement via email.

“We thought the election went well,” he wrote. “We are happy with the election. There were no issues that took place in this year’s elections.”

International Intonation

Others can see your dreams, printing skin with a 3-D printer, and one heck of a rocket...in theory Mark Hendricks Ω Contributor

I can see what you’re dreaming Japanese scientists recently announced they can predict what a person is dreaming about with 60 per cent accuracy.

The process involves a functional magnetic resonance imaging (f MRI) machine, which measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood f low and an algorithm. The scientists subject patients to an f MRI and analyse their brain patterns while they sleep. They then wake the patient up and ask them what they saw.

The researchers then find an image of what the patient was dreaming about and show it to them while they are still in the f MRI, then they take a reading again.

The results are then fed into a learning algorithm that translates the neural activity registered in an f MRI into images.

When the patients sleep, the algorithm produces images of what the person is seeing based on the learned data.

At present time the algorithm is right 60 per cent of the time, but due to the nature of a learning algorithm it will only get more accurate the more information is fed into it.

Where you can find out more: www.latimes.com

Printing skin or something like it Oxford University scientists recently published in the journal Science that they can print synthetic material out of fat and water using a 3-D printer that closely resembles human tissue.

The process requires a custom-built 3-D printer that chains together water droplets and fats.

— IMAGE COURTESY CHRISTIAN

FISCHER / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The synthetic tissue has a wide range of potential applications, like administering drugs and replacing damaged tissue.

The future implications are much more profound and could create synthetic muscles to replace damaged ones.

“We have created a scalable way of producing a new type of soft material,” said Gabriel Villar, lead author of the paper and builder of the 3-D printer. “The printed structures could in principle employ much of the biological machinery that enables the sophisticated behaviour of living cells and tissues.”

Where you can find out more: www.redorbit.com Fusion powered rocket travel Researchers from the University of Washington are busy constructing the components of a fusionpowered rocket that could take people to Mars in as little as 30 days.

The project is being funded through NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program.

All the individual pieces of the rocket have been successfully tested in laboratory circumstances.

Now they just need to see if the pieces will all work together.

To power the rocket, scientists created a plasma that is encased in its own magnetic field. When the magnetic field is compressed, fusion occurs.

A piece of this material the size of a grain of sand has the same energy potential as nearly four litres of rocket fuel.

For comparison purposes, a return trip to Mars using current technology would take over four years.

Where you can find out more: www.rdmag.com

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April 10, 2013

News Fill the food bank while waiving library fines Courtney Dickson Ω Roving Editor

For the ninth year, the library is partnering with TRUSU to fill the food bank and keep money in students’ pockets. Now through April 27, students who have incurred fines for overdue books from the TRU Library can waive those fines by donating non-perishable food items to Food For Fines.

“It’s a win-win for everybody.

We get our books back, students don’t have to pay fines and TRUSU wins,” said Kathy Gaynor, TRU library director.

Each item donated will count for $2 worth of fines. So, if a student has $8 in fines, only four items are needed to wipe those from his or her record.

In past years, the library has been able to waive more than $500 in fines to faculty and students.

“Last year we had to scramble to get more boxes to fill,” Gaynor said.

All food donated will be put into the TRUSU food bank. Any food donated at the Williams Lake campus will go into their community food bank, as TRU-

SU does not represent that campus.

TRUSU president Dustin McIntyre is ecstatic about the partnership between the TRUSU food bank and the library.

“It’s fantastic. The food bank is an integral part of the services we offer here,” he said.

Because students are often low on funding during this time of year, McIntyre said it is extremely important that the food bank continues to be stocked.

“I think our food bank is just as busy now as it would be at the beginning of September. Students are dependent on the food bank, end of the semester especially, when they’re unable to work as much or money has run out from student loans,” he said.

“We’re talking about a month here where students are unable to afford food.”

“We found there was a greater uptake by students at the end of the academic year. The TRUSU food bank gets a lot of attention at Christmas time, we wanted to make sure the food bank was stocked up for September and onwards,” Gaynor said.

Gaynor is excited about the initiative because she said the library staff doesn’t enjoy collect-

Food donations can be dropped off at either of the libraries on campus, but don’t forget to return overdue books as well.

—PHOTO BY COURTNEY DICKSON

ing fines from people.

“The issue is not the money,” she said. “We just want our books back. We’re not in the business for making money off fines.”

Students and faculty at the Kamloops campus can take their food donations to the old library or to the House of Learning library Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., Friday

8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Williams Lake campus students can drop theirs off at their library during its hours of operation.

The Jack Project comes to TRU Karla Karcioglu Ω Contributor

The Jack Project came to TRU Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5 to raise awareness of mental illness, thanks to the efforts of TRU Wellness and four TRU students with a personal interest in mental health.

The project was created in 2010 after 18-year-old Jack Windeler, a first-year student at Queen’s University, committed suicide. His parents started the project to create understanding about the stressful life transitions faced by young adults.

“College can be super stressful, some people can’t handle [it],” said Danica Ryan, a firstyear human services student who helped organize and run the event.

She said they wanted to do this

project now because it is exam period, a demanding time for students.

“Depression is so unnoticed,” Ryan said.

Everyone in his or her lifetime will be affected, so it is important for everyone, she said.

The Jack Project website states 75 per cent of mental disorders develop by age 24 and 3.2 million young people ages 12 to 19 are at risk for developing depression.

“There is still a lot of stigma around mental illness,” said Chelsea Corsi, wellness coordinator.

We’re trying to reduce stigma, raise awareness and give information to students, Corsi said, adding she wants students to realize they aren’t alone.

“It’s definitely something important,” said Stacey Rowat, a first-year Bachelor of science

student. She said TRU is doing a really good job providing booths and opportunities to learn about important issues like these.

Amy Detaeye, a first-year human services student, said most students were interested in the stress reduction techniques and that students enjoyed making stress balls, an activity available to students who stopped by the booth.

“It’s good to hear they’re taking that [from this],” said Detaeye, who also helped organize and run the event.

The Jack Project, which is in partnership with Kids Help Phone and Queen’s University, has included many workshops, presentations and events aimed to raise awareness including Unleash the Noise, Canada’s first Student Mental Health Innovation Summit, which was held March 15 and 16 in Ontario.

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Danica Ryan, Amy Detaeye, and Rory Fisher organized and ran the booth teaching TRU students about mental illness.

—PHOTO BY K ARLA K ARCIOGLU

7

The Omega · Volume 22, Issue 26

Life & Community

Leadership in environmental sustainability certificate now available to students Courtney Dickson Ω Roving Editor

TRU is now officially offering a certificate in leadership in environmental sustainability.

Students looking to expand their resumes and receive recognition for their work in the community will finally have something to show for it, as it was introduced with the March 27 Upcycle That! event.

Peter Tsigaris, chair of the economics department, helped develop the certificate to help students gain experience with environmental issues so they can make a difference in the future.

“We want to be the university of choice for environmental sustainability,” he said. “In the future we will have to be dealing with our environment and climate change issues. Not enough resources have been allocated to environmental issues. There will be lots of jobs there for students.

We are providing something that is good for the world.”

“TRU does try to position itself as being aware of sustainability issues and this helps to confirm that,” said Ryan Turcot, second-year communications student, who is working on completing the certificate. “I think it’s a solid initiative.

“It’s quite unique actually in the world.”

Only five out of the 12 points required can be from coursework, the rest has to come from extra-curricular activities. How-

ever, students don’t have to use any coursework towards their certificate.

Larissa Pepper, a third-year human resources student is already only two points away form earning the certificate.

“As soon as it came out I started thinking about what I had already done,” she said. Pepper has used coursework and extracurricular activities to collect points towards the program.

Pepper is very involved with sustainability issues. She has acted as the director of two environmental programs and was the program manager for one of those, contributing to the development of said program.

Pepper is excited about the certificate and the fact that it is going to help boost her resume.

“Most employers are looking for extra-curricular activities in general,” she said. “It really sets you above and beyond. Students who are specialized will stand out.”

Turcot became interested in the certificate because it will help to improve his resume.

“I’m a very career-oriented student,” he said.

Though Turcot admits there is always a chance he could end up working for a company that is not environmentally-friendly, he said most companies are “considering the trend of environmental sustainability as something they’re interested in pursuing.”

Due to the nature of his pro-

Ryan Turcot created a magazine rack holder out of soup cans as part of the Upcycle That! event, which counted as points towards the leadership in environmental sustainability certificate.

—PHOTO BY BRENDAN KERGIN

gram, Turcot will earn points from extra-curricular activities only and no coursework.

“It recognizes students’ extra-curricular activity and therefore they’re engaged and involved in environmental problems and issues. They are pro-active; they went beyond their coursework. Employers look not only at what you did in school but the extra curricular activity that you have done,” Tsigaris said.

However, Tsigaris is disappointed that this certificate is only available to students registered at TRU and hopes to see that change.

“In the future, I don’t see why we cannot go into the community and reward people in the community that have environmental leadership traits.”

Tsigaris estimates between 65 and 70 students have registered to obtain the certificate. Students

interested in starting the process of obtaining the certificate are advised to visit the centre for student engagement.

“The young generation is really concerned about these things. It’s good that they are concerned. I give them a thumbs up,” Tsigaris said.

“If we don’t make a change, we aren’t going to have anything left to use,” Pepper said.

Art continues to impact former TRU student ART...from p. 2

ing opportunity for all and has since implemented reflective discussion sessions on cultural sensitivities as well as additional training for all ISAP team “The employee has since left TRU,” members,” Seguin wrote via email.

Seguin wrote via email. “Due to per“Training content [is] focused on: Casonal privacy issues, I can’t comment nadian charter of freedom and rights, further.” working in Canadian post-secondary “As I was not on campus during this environment, academic freedom, inaptime, I am not able to add anything propriate behaviours in [an] academic further,” Diana Skoglund, TRU’s meenvironment. dia and communications coordinator, “TRU World continues to offer more wrote via email. “I really do not know cultural sensitivity training for TRU who the staff member was.” faculty, staff and students.”

A freedom of information request Despite all the stress, all the adverwas submitted to TRU on October 22, sity and all the change 2012, requesting any that has come to Sooraand all information ya Graham’s life as a and internal email result of one simple communication relatphotograph, she tries to ing to this incident. It maintain a positive outwas received Februlook on her life. ary 4, 2013, much of “My relationship it censored out. with my boyfriend has Content contained kind of come from a within the freedom of weird place from that,” information request would indicate that

—Sooraya Graham Graham said. “It’s kind of where it started — in Skoglund was in fact an art gallery talking aware of the situation as she sent and received emails found aware Graham had felt unsafe and run about it. So silver linings I try to find off of TRU campus when asked about amongst the harshness.” within the document.

Sooraya Graham won’t ever be the According to Adrian Conradi, as- Graham.

“I believe there was lots of support same person she once was before she sociate director of international student services and study abroad, Alnakeb left and I am dismayed to hear she felt she took that famous photograph back in TRU World of her own will, though he had to leave campus as a result of this,” 2012. She likely won’t ever return to does not believe the decision was tied Conradi said. “All students should feel TRU or Kamloops. She might comsafe on campus and we have a lot of pletely give up her spiritual beliefs. to the altercation with Graham.

Yet with all of this considered, she still Sultan Almajil, an international things in place to ensure they do.

“I would encourage her to get back maintains a positive outlook and ability student advisor at TRU World and former colleague of Alnakeb, confirmed to class and continue the provocative to find the silver linings amongst all the harshness. she has returned to Ottawa, where her art she was pursuing before.”

More importantly, she taught the While TRU states it has addressed family resides and where she was origithe problem and implemented learning whole world just how powerful art can nally from.

Alnakeb’s profile on the professional opportunities for staff and students, truly be. networking site LinkedIn indicates she Graham is not and feels she cannot be With files by Philipp Ciossek, Lauis working as the managing director at in Kamloops to experience that.

“TRU World views this as a learn- ren Gagatek and Whitney Griffiths Quick Application Services, a visa application service and Canadian university application service for people looking to come to Canada from abroad.

According to Graham, no one from the university ever followed up with her after it seemed the situation had calmed. As far as the university was concerned, the issue had been dealt with and not a soul was harmed as a result of it all. Things were kept so quiet, that not even Graham’s professor, Ernie Kroeger, knew she had fled Kamloops as a result.

Conradi, who was a key liaison in the resolution of this situation, was un-

“It’s an R.E.M. song.

I’m losing my religion.

It’s changed me.”

Sooraya Graham poses back in March 2012 with the artwork that sparked this ongoing conversation. Graham fled Kamloops, but her life is still feeling the effects of all that ensued due to the work’s display.

—PHOTO BY TAYLOR ROCCA

8

April 10, 2013

Life & Community Rang De Basanti paints campus Allison Declercq-Matthas Ω Contributor

Colours f lew as 250 people participated in the TRUSU India Club’s Rang De Basanti outside of Old Main on Saturday, April 6.

Using Indian food, bhangra dancing, a DJ and an event called colour play, where people use coloured powder and water to cover others in vibrant colours, the TRU event celebrated three Indian festivals: Holi, Vaisakhi and Ram Navami.

Vaisakhi, depending on the region, celebrates many different things, including welcoming the new year and abundant harvest.

The festival is highlighted by performing bhangra and eating food. Ram Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of the 10 major incarnations of Vishnu. Holi, which is where colour play is from, is the festival of colours and a welcoming of spring.

“What we accomplished today was magnificent,” said Amit Goel, organizer of the event and international student advisor at TRU.

He ordered 56 kilograms of coloured powder for the event this year.

“Next year I might have to order a couple hundred kilograms,” Goel said. With the event outdoors for the first time, Goel was unsure how it would go. After the clouds moved on and sunshine appeared, students gave him positive feedback about the change.

“What I’ve been hearing from students is that they like it,” Goel said.

TRU student Fariaa Zaidi certainly enjoyed the event.

“It was my first experience, but it was really nice,” Zaidi said. She said she would attend it again.

Goel said holding Rang De Basanti outdoors meant people could chase each other around and freely throw the coloured powder. The cleanup was easier too.

“It’s a different kind of cleaning,” Goel said.

“We can use a pressure washer to clean the tables and chairs and the powder disappears in the grass.”

Ethnic events squeezing into athletics schedule Allison Declercq-Matthas Ω Contributor

The TRUSU India Club’s Facebook page was vibrant with neon-coloured photos last week as talk of the colour play, music and food planned for the Indian Rand De Basanti (RDB) event spread. On April 3, 196 of 633 people invited on Facebook stated they were going to be at the event.

When it started at TRU, RDB was hosted in the Grand Hall, but it quickly outgrew the banquetstyle capacity of 380 people.

Last year RDB was held in the TRU Gymnasium. This year the gym was booked around the holiday.

Since the festival is about throwing colourful powdered dust at friends and family, orga-

nizer Amit Goel said holding it outside will be easier to clean.

An international student advisor at TRU World and staff representative of the TRUSU India Club, Goel has helped organize RDB and the Diwali Bash since their introduction to TRU. “The cleaning in the gym cost around $2,900,” said Goel. “The cleaning staff and I were there for hours.” But he hopes to be in the gym next year for both events.

Despite finding no room at the TRU Gymnasium, Goel said they will not move the event off campus.

“If it was off campus it would not be a student event anymore, but a public event,” he said.

The International Days Showcase, also hosted in the TRU Gymnasium, is starting to see a space issue as well.

“It was packed,” said Adrian Conradi, an organizer of the event, estimating an attendance of 2,500 people throughout the eight-hour International Days Showcase.

“I don’t think we maxed it out though.”

The TRU Gymnasium has the official capacity of 1,100 people according to fire code. The event also used to be hosted in the Grand Hall, but once it outgrew the hall it had to move.

“At the moment the gym is a great fit,” Conradi said. It allows people to come and go and the event can have food booths. The space is small enough that the sound quality is acceptable, but large enough for the stage and the bleachers provide additional seating.

Also, it is dark enough inside that proper lighting can be op-

erated for performances, unlike the Tournament Capital Centre (TCC) gymnasium, which would be the event’s next choice when it outgrows the TRU Gymnasium.

However, scheduling the space is difficult because the TRU Gym is being utilized for athletic purposes.

“We do disrupt the athletics department,” Conradi said.

The event displaces recreation events, P.E. classes and clubs.

If the showcase hopes to move to the TCC it will be contending with space used for an even more congested athletics schedule.

“Until the request comes forward it is basically speculation,” said Clint Andersen, a staff member of the Kamloops Parks and Recreation department. If the organizers of the International Showcase wanted to hold

it around Feb. 8, the designated date for the showcase, the TCC would find it hard to accommodate the request.

“That’s right in the busy season,” Anderson said.

There are other venues in Kamloops but any hall off campus would be unsatisfactory said Conradi.

“The goal of the showcase is to show cultures on campus,” Conradi said.

“It would also be difficult to get performers and the audience to another place.”

The event has become a staple of TRU and caters to students — particularly international students.

Conradi said he has witnessed international students performing for friends and family in the showcase say it was the highlight of their trip.

(ABOVE AND TOP RIGHT) Participants of TRUSU India Club’s Rang De Basanti event April 6 ended up more colourful than usual. A central part of Rang De Basanti is the throwing of coloured powder at friends and family, known as colour play.

—PHOTOS BY BRENDAN KERGIN

9

The Omega · Volume 22, Issue 26

Life & Community

Pride march fills campus for second year Devan C. Tasa Ω News Editor

“It’s okay to be gay.”

That’s what organizers at the second annual TRUSU Pride Parade told the 400 people in attendance on April 5.

At 11 a.m., people dressed in everything from regular street clothes to outfits with vibrant colours listened to speeches, then marched across campus chanting slogans like, “Hey, hey. Ho, ho. Homophobia’s got to go.”

Katie Hutfluss, the organizer of the event and a TRUSU director, was pleased with how the march went.

“I think it was an overall success. I think we had a few more people than last year and we’re looking forward to plotting out the total numbers and seeing how people liked the event,” she said.

“I’m so happy we’ve had a good turnout and I’m just really happy that people are having fun.”

The pride parade marks the end of a school year that saw the creation of a LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer and questioning) collective and representative within TRUSU’s structure.

Newly-elected LGBTQ representative Nic Zdunich told the attendees that he was repeatedly asked on the campaign trail why his position was needed.

“The answer to me is simple,” he said. “We need one for progress.”

Progress, said Zdunich, would include the creation of pride-positive spaces in the community, combatting cyber-bullying and improving community support for LGBTQ people.

“We must make progress so no minorities feel like a minority anymore and it needs to be done in this generation,” he said.

The LGBTQ community from outside the university was also invited to speak at the parade. Brian Husband, the president of the Kamloops Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA), spoke on behalf of that organization.

“We’re very pleased to celebrate such an important event with TRU Pride and just want to say that you have helped the cause by bringing education, acceptance and awareness to all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and twospirited people everywhere,” he said.

Other organizations from outside of the LGBTQ community, including the Kamloops United Church, the B.C. Government Employees Union, the B.C. Nurses Union and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), also attended.

“CUPE’s been actively involved in supporting gay, lesbian, transgendered and other groups. A lot of the people that work at TRU and the community are transgendered, gay and lesbian and we like to support our brothers and sisters,” said Lois Rugg, the president of CUPE Local 4879, which represents support workers at TRU. “That’s why we’re here today at the parade; to show our support to all of the groups.”

Mariah Peters, a second-year English and philosophy student, was one of the parade’s attendees.

“I’m here because pride parades are a heck of a lot of fun,” she said.

“They’re great for promoting a minority community that could use a little bit more support.”

Peters urged people to connect with the LGBTQ community.

“I encourage everybody to be involved in the community, even if they aren’t queer themselves, because every bit helps,” she said.

“It’s good to have support in the community and it’s all very much appreciated.”

Approximately 400 people marched in the second annual TRUSU Pride Parade on April 5.

—PHOTOS BY DEVAN C. TASA

Check out more photos from both the Rang De Basanti festival and the TRUSU Pride Parade at www.theomega.ca

10

April 10, 2013

The Wire Culling the best from Canadian campuses The crackdown against the right to protest in Montreal continues Erin Hudson

Katherine Gibson

CUP Quebec Bureau Chief MONTREAL (CUP) — “Aha I fixed it! Now I can make giant bubbles next time — if there is a next time,” said Steve Camille, while adjusting his large blue bubble maker.

Camille, a Concordia student, was one of the 279 people arrested en masse on April 5 under Montreal’s municipal bylaw P6, which requires protesters to submit an itinerary of their protest for police approval.

The mass arrest, known as a kettle, lasted for four hours and remained largely peaceful save one incident two hours in, which involved Camille.

“Basically I was in the middle of committing the illegal act — completely dangerous — of blowing bubbles into the trees,” he said.

“Eventually there were some bubbles that, because of the wind — an element I cannot control — inopportunely collided with one officer’s visor. And so the officer got angry and he tried to take away my bubble maker.

“I wanted to resist and so he tried to grab both me and my bubble blower.

But happily, thanks to my friends, who pulled me back, he only succeeded in grabbing my bag,” said Camille.

“It was officer 4442 that stole my bag. We will remember his number and I will always remember his face.”

Outside of the kettle, three protesters in connection with the demonstration were arrested under criminal charges, according to police.

Organized by the Anti-Capitalist Convergence, Friday’s demonstration was against P6 though many marched for other reasons as well — from the indexation of tuition to the recent arrest of a woman who posted graffiti of the police’s media relations officer online.

Before the march began, large stickers of the graffiti were handed out.

Cécile Riel adhered the sticker to the back of her coat.

“The picture that I have on my back, well, that picture went everywhere in the world,” she said. “By doing something stupid what the police did was just open the discussion everywhere — how far is too far? Taking a picture of graffiti is now too far? You can get arrested for that?”

Protesters began walking out of the downtown square and were forced to

Chilliwack firefighter contests age discrimination The Cascade (UFV)

One protester wears a sticker featuring the graffiti image a woman was arrested for posting on Instagram.

—PHOTO BY ERIN HUDSON/CUP

walk in a circle as police officers in riot gear and mounted on bikes blocked all streets leading away. The march circled the square, in the streets yet blocked, for less than 15 minutes.

“We decide our strategy on the spot depending on what happens,” said an officer, assigned to take me through the arrest process hours later.

“This is all new,” he said, gesturing to the line of protesters standing in a straight line between two public buses, each guarded by an officer.

The new system is nicknamed the drive-through. Officers, mostly rookies on Friday evening, sit inside, windows slightly open, and ticket each protester brought to them.

“We used to take people into the buses and take them to a detention centre but now we just do it this way.”

After receiving a $637 ticket, protesters are escorted through a third bus where their ticket is signed by an officer in-charge (all tickets issued must be signed by the same officer).

“I think that a lot of people are afraid of that $637 that you’ll never pay,” said Riel. “Those tickets are to be contested — that’s all — because P6 is going to court.”

CEGEP professor Julien Villeneuve, also known as Anarchopanda, is challenging P6 in court, arguing that it violates both the Quebec and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

With or without a courtroom victory, conquering P6 is a question of numbers for Riel. “The more we are the less they can apply it.”

“We’ll see. I have hope that people will see that it’s numbers that count.”

ABBOTSFORD (CUP) — Russell Shellard is not your average senior citizen.

At 63-years-old, Shellard is used to living life at a normal pace — except for the days that he spends running into burning buildings to fight fires as a paid on-call firefighter (POC).

At least he used to.

A little over a year ago, the Chilliwack Fire Department (CFD) dismissed Shellard from his position as a POC, citing a mandatory retirement age. “[The CFD] has what they call a mandatory retirement policy in place,” explained Shellard, “which says that firefighters must retire at the age of 60.”

All new recruits of the CFD now sign a legal document accepting this mandatory retirement age, but Shellard was never told about this procedure upon his hiring.

“The policy was never made known to me,” said Shellard. “I never had to sign any legal documents.”

“In fact, I didn’t find out about the policy until the first year I started serving.”

One of the main concerns that the CFD has regarding older firefighters is directly healthrelated. However, the medical tests that POCs undergo are fairly minimal.

“Medical requirements for POCs are not that stringent,” said Shellard. “There could be

all sorts of [POCs with] health and safety risks out there despite their age.”

The lack of these requirements has Shellard questioning the validity of the CFD’S argument that his age would put him in danger and hinder his ability to continue doing his job effectively.

“I have passed all of the medical and cognitive requirements to be a firefighter,” he said. “I feel that it is because of my age that my job was lost.”

Shellard’s case also opens up larger questions regarding age discrimination in the workplace.

The B.C. government passed new laws in 2008 that amended human rights legislation in the province to protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of their age — something that Shellard views as important and worth fighting for.

“I feel like I’m carrying the torch for others that will come up after me,” he said.

“There are lots of people in the CFD — POCs — that are approaching their 60th birthday and are looking with anxious eyes and hearts at [my] particular case.”

Shellard has taken his complaints to the Human Rights Tribunal, where he hopes the validity of his argument will be recognized.

“One of the biggest frustrations is to be told that you are too old,” said Shellard.

“I would like to make that choice for myself.”

Prospective advertisers should contact Mike at: managerofomega@gmail.com and check out our production schedule and rate card at www.theomega.ca

Voting isn’t the democratic act it’s cracked up to be Joseph Leivdal The Peak (SFU)

BURNABY (CUP OPINIONS) — As the B.C. election approaches, we will begin to hear the usual message about our right and responsibility to vote. This notion that our democratic responsibility can be fulfilled by casting a ballot for whomever we think is the lesser of evils needs to be reinterpreted, as the current way it is often presented — in terms of combating apathy and a denial of political alternatives — is dangerous.

Representative democracy assumes that the state has a reasonable amount of control over its social and economic destiny.

However, capitalism has been so invasive that it operates regardless of borders and political boundaries.

This should not be a surprising statement. We live in a world where corporations are granted the rights of persons and market systems, they not only depend on globalized, cross-border operations but actually work to undermine political processes that prevent these operations. When a society that is founded on the ideals of democracy is materially dependent on the exploitative market, it’s bound to be full of contradictions.

One of those contradictions is the mythology of the democratic responsibility to vote. According to this myth, it is the individual’s responsibility to change the system for the better, and channels people’s energies into a means for enacting a change (i.e. voting) that is fundamentally broken.

Lucy Parsons, an American labour organizer and radical social-

ist, made the famous statement: “Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.”

Those most often at the butt-end of this mythology seem to be the youth, containing one of the largest demographics of non-voters.

The media perpetuates the myth by portraying youth as a generation corrupted by popular culture and individualism, with no concern for the collective destiny of the nation.

This dangerous statement confuses alienation from the political process with the fictional concept of “apathy,” while concurrently demonizing political dissent, a collective action, and individualistically reinforcing the responsibility to vote.

When all we see is politicians who seem unable to tell unethical policy from their you-know-

whats, who operate within in a system that consistently betrays good-faith, it is no wonder that we can find better things to do than vote on election day.

However, while the harmful effects of the previously mentioned discourse must be criticized, we cannot miss the margins for the mainstream.

While we may feel alienated from the political system, and indeed it is often easier to imagine what the end the world would look like rather than a world outside the current system, your vote does make a difference in the lives of the most marginalized in society, who are rarely afforded a voice to demand recognition of their struggles — they struggle within the shadows. Witness the enormous increase in homelessness in B.C. under Gordon Campbell.

There is something wrong with

democracy, yes. The mythology of apathy and responsibility may be harmful, yes. While the difference between policy decisions by the NDP or Liberals or anyone else simply cannot end oppression and poverty, it does make a difference in the lives of the most unfortunate. An analysis of the broader trends and ultimate rejection of the voting system is not a privilege that those struggling to feed themselves and their children can afford.

Those of us who are more fortunate have a responsibility to those who are less fortunate, and so we should vote. But in a society that is by definition corrupt and unsustainable, that lies to us, degrades us, and demands obedience, the only democratic responsibility that remains is that of a radical confrontation with that very system.

11

The Omega · Volume 22, Issue 26

The Wire

New B.C. law could prove worrisome for live-in couples Katherine Gillard

Capilano Courier (Capilano) NORTH VANCOUVER (CUP) — Earlier this month, B.C.’s Family Relations Act made a big change that affected many live-in couples in the province. According to the new Family Law Act, live-in couples who have been together for two years will now be considered to be common-law married and will have to divide assets and debts — acquired during the relationship — in half.

The government hopes that this will help modernize the former act, which was in much need of an update with the rate of common-law marriages rising 13.9 per cent between 2006 and 2011.

The new laws are aimed to help clarify the meaning of “family” and parental responsibilities as well as to assist in making the application for spousal support easier.

The law may seem unfair to younger couples moving in together who do not want to divide assets and just want to save a little money, but proponents say that the change was necessary for many couples.

“There are common law relationships that last for 17 years with no spousal support or property rights, that looked like any other marriage,” said Monika Follett, a law professor at Capilano University. “For them it’s very fair — there are no extra

hoops to say that it is like a marriage.”

Although other provinces such as New Brunswick and Quebec are not changing their laws for common-law marriage and will be continuing the same type of law British Columbia had previously, the government feels that they need to catch up with society.

There has been an increase in common-law couples in the past few years and a growing demand to re-define “family” Follett points out. “It’s a different approach, to try to catch up with society. Law is always 10 years behind society, it took until 2005 for same-sex marriage to be legal.”

The new laws safeguards premarriage assets, inheritance and lottery wins in the case of a break-up. Couples can opt-out of this new law by choosing to legally remain seen as roommates and not as a common-law couple.

It also makes division of property more transparent, especially when it comes to property owned before becoming live-in partners.

For young couples planning on moving in together Follett said, “They should sit down, each individually with a lawyer and go over the pros and cons and create a written agreement so that later on there’s no confusion. It’s important to know your rights.”

Courtney Fentiman, who is now 22, was with her boyfriend for four years and lived with him

for three years, making them a formerly common law-married couple.

“It’s a lot of pressure to put on a relatively young couple. There is definitely a huge stigma surrounding the word ‘marriage.’

When someone becomes your spouse rather than someone you’re just dating, the weight of that change can cause undue stress on the relationship,” said Fentiman.

“You know something has definitely shifted when one day [after the given two years] you can randomly start referring to your live-in boyfriend as your ‘husband’ – it changes things.”

For people who are looking to move ahead but aren’t ready for the full commitment of marriage and division of assets, the idea of moving in with your partner may be something to put on the backburner, along with all of the other considerations.

“On a certain level, it takes the carefree element from the equation. Not only do you share a relationship, but you are also bound monetarily, which takes a huge amount of trust,” said Fentiman. “It may even be the reason for these relationships to end, considering how much is at stake without even being literally married. However, it could also work the opposite way and solidify your relationship, knowing that you both have more than just emotions invested and are choosing to combine your lives.

“The tricky thing about common-law marriage is the fact that one enters into this union often not by conscious choice, but by simply cohabiting for a given period of time. It also gives you more to think about when considering to end the relationship …

You may be more hesitant to do so if it means you will take a financial blow.”

With these new changes, cou-

ples may want to know their rights and understand what they’re heading into when they move in with their partner. If the relationship is one that is expected to last then the division of assets could be a good thing, but with a law like this couples may consider talking to a lawyer before reaching those two years that lead to common-law marital bliss.

NDP post-secondary critic targets student loan rates, funding cuts ahead of B.C. election Laura Rodgers

CUP B.C. Bureau Chief VANCOUVER (CUP) — B.C. NDP advanced education critic Michelle Mungall isn’t making any new promises yet, but she’s confident she understands students’ needs.

“Students are concerned about affordability issues. The cost of tuition, the cost of living, also the cost of textbooks — it all adds up,” she said. In an interview with Canadian University Press, Mungall again plugged the NDP’s promise of $100 million in new needs-based student grants and slammed the Liberals’ plan to introduce cost-saving measures across B.C. universities.

Her party hasn’t released their full election platform yet ahead of the 2013 provincial election, but she said they’re considering adding some additional spending to higher education in the province.

The f loating interest rate for B.C. student loans is prime plus 2.5 per cent, the highest provincial rate in Canada. Mungall said she learned in a conversation with previous Liberal advanced education minister Naomi Yamamoto that the government borrows money for the loans at a rate of prime minus one per cent.

“So we have a discrepancy here,” she said. “The NDP has long been looking at the possibility of reducing interest rates in student loans, and we continue to do that. I won’t preempt our

platform today, but suffice it to say that we absolutely have heard that call from students.”

The Liberals plan to cut $46 million in operating funds to colleges and universities over the next two years, but Mungall argues their justification for the cuts is unsound.

When the 2013 provincial budget was presented in February, former Liberal advanced education minister John Yap said institutions would be able to make up the $46 million through a “shared services” initiative, in which everything from purchasing to IT is centralized across the province to cut costs. But Mungall said the Liberals were overstating the amount of money that could be saved through shared services.

“They estimate anywhere between $38 and $83 million [in savings], and they won’t really realize any of that until six years from now … They put it into a two-year time span so they could balance the budget. But realistically speaking, that is not doable. And fudging numbers to balance the budget is not good fiscal management.”

When the shared services plan was being developed in late 2013, many university staff unions expressed concerns that the initiative would bring job losses.

Mungall shared their concerns.

“You look at some of the opportunities for shared services, and you can see potential job losses in that,” said Mungall. “That’s something institutions will have to contend with as well.”

She said the NDP’s top capital spending priority was replacing outdated trades training equipment across the province, some of which dates back to the 1960s.

“We need to do a massive equipment upgrade province-wide, and I think that’s something we’re looking at.”

And as far as any other spending is concerned, Mungall said the party would be considering all sorts of requests, such as matching federal research funding or upping dollars for grad students. But there’s only so much they’ll be able to promise.

“It’s so easy to offer the moon when you don’t acknowledge that comes at a cost, and it takes work to do that. So we’re trying to be practical and be up front,” she said.

Ryerson students demand refund for PR course they claim taught them nothing Diana Hall

The Eyeopener (Ryerson) TORONTO (CUP) — Students at Ryerson’s Chang School of Continuing Education are demanding a refund for a course they say has taught them nothing nine weeks into the Winter semester.

Sixteen out of 18 students enrolled in a reputation management course (CDPR114) have sent a letter to the administration arguing they should be reimbursed and credited for a course that left

them “disappointed.”

“My fear is that we, as students, are paying for the ineffectiveness of the instructor in more ways than one — by not learning, and by actually paying full tuition and not receiving value,” said Brad Lee, a continuing education student.

As outlined in the March 15 letter to program director Muthana Zouri, students are particularly frustrated with instructor Rick Hall’s “failure to cover course materials beyond discussion of

the textbook,” “inadequate and unclear assignment notes” and “treatment of students in a condescending manner.”

“I’ve checked out of this class.

I don’t want to go any more,” said Corey Herscu. “Why should I sit there and [listen] for three hours while this pompous person condescends to the entire class? He tells us we should know better because we’re in university. It’s not fair.”

Lee is frustrated that the school isn’t doing enough to address the students’ complaints. Students

heard nothing from former administrator Cheryl Ficker, who sat in on one class and shocked students by resigning shortly after.

But Gervan Fearon, outgoing dean of the Chang School, insisted the administration has “taken rather significant steps” to appease the students’ concerns, such as arranging a meeting with Hall, and by installing program administrator Nick Douloff as a co-teacher, who has more university-level teaching experience.

“We have really high ratings [for programs at the Chang School] but with 1500 courses, even a 0.1 per cent error means that somebody is affected,” Fearon said. “And what I hear [is that] students are saying they were affected and what they’re hearing from me is I want to address it.”

Lee said Ryerson is “applying a band-aid solution to a bad situation.”

Hall couldn’t be reached for comment.

12

April 10, 2013

Arts & Entertainment

Chad Pelley talks latest Directors Festival novel, Every Little Thing, showcases work of TRU students and what’s next Brendan Kergin Samm Joyy

The Muse (Memorial) ST. JOHN’S (CUP) — St. John’s author and Memorial University alumni Chad Pelley has just released his second novel Every Little Thing, and it’s said to be just as intense as his first award-winning novel Away From Everywhere.

Pelley has an enthralling way with words as he captures his reader’s attention within the first chapter, and keeps them engrossed until the very last page.

“I want to make people feel what they’re reading, instead of just reading,” Pelley said, and he manages to do just that through passionate plots and authentic characters.

“If I find myself getting bored while writing [a novel], I’m sure the reader’s going to get bored, too,” he also noted.

Pelley strives to write a story that causes emotion for his readers. After his first book was released, he attended a few local book clubs and was surprised at the reactions he saw.

He witnessed friends and family members frantically debating the acts of the main character and how the novel unfolded.

Realizing he could cause that much of a response, he set out to write a novel where each reader would experience something different as the plot thickens.

“Every Little Thing is about how our whole lives cascade from one or two decisions that we make along the way. [The main character] made this one decision and it changes the course of his life. He keeps making these decisions, and his heart is in the right place, but his life keeps getting more and more screwed up because of it,” he explained.

Every Little Thing was released on March 20, 2013. However, there will be an official book launching on April 11, 2013 at The Ship Pub in St. John’s.

Although Every Little Thing is just hitting shelves, Pelley is already underway with his newest project. He has put together a collection of various short stories. “[They’re] all kind of about people who are longing for something,” he explained. “Some of them are funny and some of them are really sad. It’s pretty much done and it feels kind of great that I have my second book just going out to book stores and another one to start showing publishers.”

Ω Arts & Entertainment Editor

Six nights of live theatre will be capping off four years of education for a group of TRU students. They’re part of the theatre program and will be filling the Actors Workshop Theatre in Old Main from April 8 to 13 with productions done completely by students.

“You have to take all the acting courses and then in fourth year you can take fourth-year acting along with fourth-year directing,” Justin Hall said. “So, you have to make your way up to directing and it’s one of the upper level courses. Then you get to direct the students that are in the third-year classes.”

Hall is one of the fourth-year students in the directing course. He’s taking on Steve Yokey’s Bright. Apple. Crush., a dark show looking at murder and has three actors to guide.

“For me, as a director, during the process I’m trying to help them [the actors/classmates] with their directing next year if the take it,” he said.

“So it’s kind of nice for me to pass on some tips. It’s good because being acquaintances with everyone we all see each other at least twice a week and we get to talk about it.”

This will be the first time the directing students get to direct a whole play that will be performed for a paying audience.

“I’m ready, I hope my actors are,”

Bright. Apple. Crush. is a dark play looking at murder from three points of view. It’s directed by fourth year student Justin Hall.

—PHOTO BY KELSEY GILKER /AWT PUBLICITY

said Brittany McCarty, another fourth-year student and director of the play Mary Just Broke Up With This Guy. “Well, maybe opening I’ll be ‘What can happen?’ but at this point I’m not nervous.”

“It’s a long process. We’ve been together for a month and a half with this one play, so it’s kind of nice,” said Hall. “By the end you get to see everything, your vision on stage.”

“Justin and I, last year we were third years, so we were in Director Festival being directed by students last year,” McCarthy said. “It was hard being on the other side at the beginning but now it’s just…it’s going to be good. And you get to see what your other classmates have pulled out, too.”

Over the six nights seven short plays will be acted out.

“It’s like trail mix but good,” said third-year actor Brooke Ballam, describing the variety of plays lined up.

He’s one of the actors working with Hall in Bright. Apple. Crush. which is the darkest play to be performed.

Mary Just Broke Up With This Guy is a comedy with an actress playing a single character while her male counterpart goes through many character changes.

The seven plays are split into a group of three, or Night A, and a group of four, known as Night B. Night A will be performed April 8, 10 and 12 while Night B is April 9, 11 and 13. Tickets are $12 for one night or $18 for both.

U-Carnivale to replace TRU Survivors Brendan Kergin

Ω Arts & Entertainment Editor

Canadian Music Corner Travis Persaud

Ω Resident Music Guy If timeless has come to describe music out of place among contemporary radio sensations, then Devin Cuddy’s music is timeless. Under the subtle moniker The Devin Cuddy Project, Cuddy released Volume One last September.

The record’s title and band’s name is quaintly simplistic, adhering to the theme of Cuddy’s music.

Piano driven, synth and ambient sounds negligent, Cuddy’s album is all soul. It’s a slow down, but a welcome change of pace taking listeners back to the early-to-middle sections of the 20th century.

There’s swing, there’s blues and there certainly is a New Orleans flavour. Rounding out the album

Brendan Kergin

Ω Arts & Entertainment Editor Cuff the Duke is the exact reason a column like Canadian Music Corner exists. The group has been around 12 years. That’s four years longer than Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson.

Cuff the Dukes produces a high quality of music that is creative, interesting, fun and easy to listen to.

It’s not complex jazz that few can understand; it’s a home-style indiecountry blend.

It’s easy on the ears but offers more than generic rock. Blue Rodeo can claim some influence, but not

on “Walking,” Cuddy punctuates his sound with a riff straight from Jimmy Reed’s days.

If you find yourself in Toronto one evening this summer, you might find yourself lucky enough to hear Cuddy’s music spilling out of The Cameron House into the warm evening air transforming the street with the nostalgic sounds of an era long gone. While a setting for some of Toronto’s finest live acts, The Cameron House further enables local musicians with its label fittingly entitled Cameron House Records.

Cuddy finds his musical home on this label.

At a time where vintage clothing and vinyl are all the rage, Cuddy’s music is a stamp on the idea that the old romance is not lost today.

Check out “I Got a Girl” as a starting point. ownership of the sound, as there’s more of the indie-rock style in this Oshawa, Ont. quartet’s sound.

Cuff the Duke has never made it huge. Keeping on with a sturdy, well-earned fan base, playing shows and festivals across the country. In fact, last year the band was in nearby Salmon Arm for the Roots and Blues Festival. It’s one of many shows played across the country. Cuff the Duke has also been featured on Hockey Night In Canada.

For a warm welcome to Cuff the Duke’s sound, try “The Ballad of Poor John Henry,” a cut from the 2005 self-titled release.

This year, as with every year for nearly a decade, there will be a campus party to celebrate the last day of classes. However, after a number of years of TRU Survivors, students will see a slightly different event in front of them on April 12. It will be the first Celebrate U-Campus Carnivale. “[The name] was to tie into what the Centre for Student Engagement was doing with their Discover-U and their Community-U. ‘U’ not being restricted to ‘you’ as an individual, but as the university campus as a whole,” said Rheannon Green, the campus recreation assistant and one of the organizers for the event. “So at the beginning of the year you ‘discovered you’ and then to wrap up the year you’re going to celebrate you by celebrating everything that has happened over the last year.”

The new event is aimed to be more inclusive than TRU Survivors, which had teams compete against each other on an obstacle course. This year’s carnival will allow more participation from students and university organizations.

“The last couple years it’s been brought to us that doing this event, our survivors event, was limiting in terms of how many students could participate, just based on the day and the logistics of doing a big obstacle course for teams,” said TRU wellness coordinator Chelsea Corsi, who is also helping organize the event.

Instead of teams competing in a knockout-style tournament, there will still be some obstacles for students to overcome one-by-one. This time though, times will be taken and the winners will be the fastest to complete the task over the entire day.

In addition to the obstacles there will be other aspects as well to create a fun atmosphere. This includes carnival games and a dunk tank, which will have

Students from TRU Survivors 2012 race over a wall. The wall returns for this years event. —PHOTO BY K ARIE RUSSELL/TRU WORLD

TRU faculty and staff. Also, one of the tourism classes will be creating a tent party.

“It’s themed around the song “Thrift Shop” and they are having DJs in there, there’s a nacho bar,” Green said. “From my understanding they’re having to compliment the barbecue, actual nachos, nacho cheese and salsa, in the tent.”

Other student groups and campus organizations will be involved with specific activities as well. Groups like ISAP, the bookstore and student clubs

are involved in booths and smaller parts of the event.

“It’s not so much meant to be an information session; it’s not like the welcome back barbecue,” Green said. “It’s more meant to be, ‘let’s have some together. We just worked our butts off for the year; we’ve put our heart and souls into everything we do. Let’s just have some fun with everybody else.’”

Celebrate U-Campus Carnivale will happen April 12 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in front of Old Main.

13

The Omega · Volume 22, Issue 26

Sports Bonus Adrien Hervillard’s road to Kamloops Philipp Ciossek Ω Contributor

The British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) hockey season might be over, but for TRU hockey goalkeeper Adrien Hervillard, there is no rest, not once.

Sweat is dripping from his forehead, his body is aching from hits he takes as he practices ju-jitsu and muay thai kickboxing in the Infusion Fitness Studio in Kamloops. This is his offseason.

Face-to-face sparring in a boxing ring with a single opponent is different than being on the ice. Evading, blocking, striking, kicking and you have no pads, blockers or mask to protect you. He is enjoying it. It is different. It is not hockey and maybe that’s what makes it so appealing.

Hailing from Paris, France, Hervillard just finished his first season with the TRU WolfPack men’s hockey team of the BCIHL. When Hervillard signed with TRU in 2012 he was the first international hockey player to do so.

Being the rookie in goal for TRU, Hervillard hasn’t played much during the 2012-13 BCIHL season. He saw two starts and two substitutions in 24 regular season games. The rest of his time was spent on the bench or in the stands.

Goalies Shane Mainprize and Riley Wall were on the ice during most of the games throughout the regular season and playoffs. This didn’t stop Hervillard from improving and adapting his game to the BCIHL and working hard on his skills and mental game during practice for next season.

“Riley and Shane taught me various things about playing goalie in the BCIHL,” he said. “I really appreciate that.”

“Adrien is a hard worker, very determined and driven for success,” said TRU’s goalie coach, Richie Kohorst. “He improved a lot during last season. His aggression in the net is the most visible difference; he is coming out more and is challenging players to make their moves.”

He is also very well accepted in the locker room, said forward Jake Howardson.

“He is a dynamic goaltender, who never gets spooked or is out of position. He has the ability to elevate the team around him. Whenever we are at the rink he is extremely positive and does what needs to be done.”

For Hervillard the team always comes first, which doesn’t mean he isn’t up for the challenge of being the starter next season. Mainprize and

Wall will complete their degrees in April 2013 and retire from the university hockey team. Hervillard sees this as his chance to be the starting goalie for the upcoming 2013-14 season, even knowing TRU will sign at least one more goalie.

“I want to be the starter,” he said, “but in a team sport, you have to think team first. And I am willing to make all the sacrifices for the success of the team.“ He also has high expectations for himself.

“I won championships in all the leagues I played in, from novice to junior and I want to win the BCIHL championship next. I want to be recognized as a champion.”

He won’t shy away from sacrifices, this is his way of life, being ready for anything. But on the other side he is humble, does his part and is a team player.

With the 2012-13 BCIHL over, Hervillard is already preparing for the upcoming season. Currently he is on a four week recovery schedule — which means no skating on the ice or physical exercises in the gym — before returning home to France for off-season preparations. In France he will have a strict schedule of physical exercise, cardio and mental training, before his planned return at the beginning of August.

WolfPack hockey practice and exhibition games for next season are scheduled to begin in the middle of

Though his playing time this season has been limited, Hervillard hopes his talents will lead help him to secure a spot as the team’s starting goaltender in years to come.

Ω Contributor

It was business as usual for the boys in orange April 5, as the TRU Wolf Pack posted a commanding 15-5 win over the Calgary Dinos and extended their regular season record to 8-1.

It must have been déjà vu for the ‘Pack, as they dismantled the Dinos by the same score two weeks ago in their second regular season game.

Kicking off their four game series at home, the Wolf Pack laid out 14 hits scoring 15 runs and only al-

—PHOTO BY ALLEN DOUGLAS

makes sense to me,” he said. “It is a focusing on hockey; I want to live GMHL, Hervillard received offers choice I made and I’m enjoying doing my dream right now, but the possibil- to play in the NCAA. He had to turn both at TRU and I want to finish my ity that something unexpected might down offers from teams located in Minnesota, Massachusetts and New happen isn’t escaping me.” degree here.”

In France, Hervillard split his time York due to their high tuition costs.

Having the possibility of graduatPlaying two seasons in a Canadian ing with a bachelor’s degree gives between playing hockey and working him more possibilities for the future on his high school education. After junior league made him an interestoutside of hockey, should the dream making his way through all levels of ing choice for the TRU hockey team. of making a living with hockey fail. French youth hockey and completing Former WolfPack goalie coach AnWhenever asked about why he is high school, Hervillard decided to dré Larchoue, who knew Hervillard bothering with studying and achiev- leave Europe and moved to Canada from previous goalie camps in Canada, recruited him for the TRU hockey ing good grades, it is the idea of pro- in 2010 off-season team in 2012. viding his future famHervillard honed ily with a solid life. his skills through For him, hard work various goalie camps and full use of the all over the world, day are mandatory.

Canada, Sweden, Hervillard has a very France, U.S. and even clear idea about his Switzerland. Franfuture in the world of hockey. He wants

—Adrien Hervillard, çois Allaire, former Toronto Maple Leafs to sign a professional hockey contract in

WolfPack Hockey goalie coach, knows Hervillard from sevNorth America, be His first steps into Canadian eral camps. it in Canada or the U.S. There is of “Through the years, Adrien recourse a backup plan. Signing a con- hockey were from 2010 to 2012 in tract in one of the European elite the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey ally progressed and improved technihockey leagues, like the Finnish SM- League (GMHL), a Canadian devel- cally,” Allaire said. “He controls now liiga or the Swedish Elite League is opmental junior A ice hockey league. most of the situations I show him on He played 35 games for the Elliot the ice and some of them are not easy. also an option.

“You have to be a believer to Lake Bobcats and the Mattawa Voya- The future is difficult to evaluate, achieve your dream, you only have geurs in Ontario. During his two- there are so many factors involved.

24 hours each day for that,” Hervil- season tenure he won the GMHL But I think Adrien will make the championship with the Bobcats in maximum of his North American lard said.

Asked about concrete plans what 2011 and was selected to play in the experience. After this stage, if there he wants to do after his sports career, GMHL 2012 all-star game while isn’t any opportunity here [in North America], he will probably interest playing for the Voyageurs.

Hervillard is uncertain.

Following his two seasons in the teams in Europe.”

“I don’t know. Currently I’m just

“I want to be recognized as a champion.”

WolfPack goaltender Adrien Hervillard (Photo courtesy of TRU Athletics)

August and go through September, before the official start of the 2013-14 season in October.

In Kamloops, Hervillard is splitting his time between studying and playing hockey. He’s enrolled in the TRU bachelor of finance degree.

“Studying and playing hockey

WolfPack dominate Dinos in weekend baseball action Bobby Armstrong

lowing one error. The Dinos managed five runs on five hits with three errors and saw their record fall to three wins and six losses.

“We’ve been swinging the bats pretty good the whole year,” said Wolf Pack head coach Ray Chadwick. “They [Calgary] score one in the top, we come back with four.

“Brent Carmichael’s been leading us, he either gets a hit or walks then steals a base, so a perfect leadoff guy for us. [If] we hit the ball and throw strikes we’re really good.”

Carmichael had one hit and two RBIs and is batting .355 on the season.

After Calgary scored a run in the top of the first inning, the WolfPack answered back with a hot start, charting four runs in their first inning at bat.

With what looked like a rocket to the moon under the starry lights of Norbrock, David Hole got all of his 210 pounds behind the bat to register a three-run home run to centre field.

The next batter, Cam Strachan, smoked one down the first base line to add to the excitement as he hustled in to third base for a standup triple.

A change in pitching would not slow the bleeding for the Dinos and

at the end of two innings the WolfPack were up a dominating 10-1.

Calgary would do their best to make a game of it with two runs in the fifth and one run in each of the six and seventh innings, but in the end they were no match for the thriving WolfPack.

“Any time you win by that much it’s always a good game, especially when you get to give the guys that don’t normally play that much some innings,” Hole said.

“It’s fun for everybody right, especially when we all hit that well, that’s why we play baseball, right there.”

Jake Hein, of Langley, B.C., re-

corded his second victory of the year—he pitched four innings giving up two hits, two walks and a run. Following Hein, the WolfPack’s bullpen saw lots of action, Frank Fisico, of Toronto, Ont., chucked for a commendable two innings, followed by Mike Riddle, of Surrey, B.C., who would come in for the final chapter and close out the game.

The WolfPack closed out the weekend with another win against the Dinos by a score of 9-1 and a 10-1 win and a 10-2 loss to Vancouver Island Baseball Institute Mariners, bringing their season record to 10-2.

14

April 10, 2013

Sports

Another obstacle for Gardner Tyler Lowey Ω Contributor

Sebastian Gardner is staring down cancer, for the second time.

‘Seb’ Gardner, 24, is a member of the Thompson Rivers University men’s soccer team, a midfielder and has played for the team for siX years.

On Dec. 28, 2011 he was called into the doctor’s office and told that he had been diagnosed with cancer. The oncologists weren’t exactly sure what kind it was but they had it narrowed down to Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia.

“I did my own research on the three cancers and found out what was the ‘best cancer’ to have,” Gardner said.

Jan. 11, 2012 he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which has the highest success rate out of the three cancers he was facing.

Many know it as the same cancer that Mario Lemieux overcame in 1993.

“The oncologist told me that there was a 95 per cent chance of overcoming this,” Gardner said.

“That really turned my spirits around and gave me the strength to take this on.”

He remained very positive and never doubted for a second that he could overcome it, it’s just the way he was raised. Gardner comes from an English family that immigrated to Vernon, B.C. when he was five years old. He is the oldest of three children with a younger brother and sister.

Gardner started chemotherapy by the end of January back in Vernon. He did the work there because he felt comfortable with the doctors and it is also where his original diagnosis was.

“I would spend six hours hooked up to an IV getting pumped with four different types of drugs,” Gardner said. “I would feel pretty shitty for the next two or three days, but after that I was fine.”

Gardner was in and out of chemotherapy until the end of June “My motivation was to return to soccer by July,” Gardner said. He still had two more years of eligibility left.

Ten days before his 24th birthday the oncologists told him that he was cancer free.

“Seb called me after he found out the good news, he was so happy,” said Cassie Drummond, Gardner’s fiancée. “He was out on the streets in Vancouver crying with happiness.”

Gardner was ready to take a crack at soccer again. He started playing in the men’s summer league in Kamloops by the end of May. He had to miss the odd week or two depending on his chemotherapy schedule, but he still played regularly.

He worked hard for the rest of the summer, setting his sights on making TRU’s team out of the August pre-season camp and he did.

The team responded to his return. They went from a team that won three games the previous year to winning seven this past fall. They just missed a trip to nationals and Gardner was named a second-team all-star. Everything was going so smoothly.

Gardner went in for a routine checkup this past January, but something came up. The doctors found something suspicious in his chest. They wanted to be safe, so they booked him for a CT scan.

The cancer was back.

“The news was absolutely crushing,” Gardner said. “Lots of tears and disbelief.

“I questioned myself, if I brought it back. I felt guilty for every drink I had or any bad food that I ate when I was healthy.”

Oncologists gave him a 40 per cent chance of overcoming this second round of cancer.

“Giving up or giving in never crossed my mind,” Gardner said.

“I believe God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.”

Gardner has a new approach to his second stint with cancer. He has completely changed the way he lives. Starting with his diet, he has eliminated dairy and alcohol.

He says he has cut down his red meat and increased his intake of raw vegetables.

“Right now I take it one day at a time and enjoy life,” Gardner said.

Gardner has some tough work ahead of him. Starting April 11 he heads down to Vancouver General Hospital for a stem cell transplant.

He will be given drugs to harvest the stem cells in his blood and those cells will be frozen and stored for a few weeks. In the meantime, Gardner will be in isolation for two weeks where he will go through aggressive chemotherapy as they wipe out his immune system; it will be an exhausting process.

Afterwards, once his body begins to show signs of recovery, doctors will slowly give the stored stem cells back to him.

The goal is to have the stored cells restart his immune system.

He will remain in the hospital for a few weeks as he recovers and goes through more chemotherapy.

Doctors like his chances compared to most people because of his physical condition and his young age.

Those two factors improve his chances of surviving from 40 per cent to 50 per cent.

—PHOTO COURTESY TRU ATHLETICS

An athlete for all seasons Colin Chia

The Ubyssey (UBC) VANCOUVER (CUP) — Studentathletes have a lot on their plates, having to balance academics with highly competitive sports. It can be an overwhelming task, but it’s a challenge that Christina Donnelly faces head-on. Not only does she play on the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds women’s soccer team — she also competes on the alpine skiing team, making her the one of few athletes at UBC who plays two varsity sports.

Growing up in Ottawa, Donnelly played soccer during the summer, and come the winter she would ski at Mont Ste. Marie, a ski resort one hour north of the city.

“You can’t really play soccer outside [in winter], so it kind of gave me an opportunity to ski as well. My main sport growing up was skiing; my parents skied a lot and my dad’s actually a coach,” said Donnelly. “[The sports] kind of help each other, because when I’m playing soccer I miss skiing, and when I’m skiing I miss soccer.”

Donnelly did quit skiing for a couple of years at one point to focus on soccer, but she found that she missed skiing.

With the encouragement of her father, she decided to get back on the slopes.

“UBC ended up just being the right fit of soccer level and ski level, and I wanted to find a school where I could do both. So that’s one of the reasons I came here.”

—PHOTO ILLUSTR ATION BY K AI JACOBSON/THE UBYSSEY

The differences between the two sports — soccer’s emphasis on stamina, skiing’s reliance on strength — do pose a challenge when they overlap; Donnelly finds her speed deteriorates in late autumn when she’s strength training for skiing and the soccer season is still in progress.

At the same time, however, it does complement the midfielder’s physical style of play on the soccer pitch.

“In terms of agility and endurance, my soccer really helps my skiing, and just my fitness level is higher, just from doing both,” said Donnelly.

“They do help each other, but they also hinder each other when I’m training different energy systems.”

Although the competition seasons for alpine skiing and soccer don’t

conflict, Donnelly has had to miss several exhibition soccer matches this semester. Although it’s only preseason preparation, it obviously doesn’t please new UBC soccer coach Andrea Neil.

“She hasn’t been too happy with me that I’ve been missing so much, but ski season is over, so now I can focus back on soccer,” she said.

She has one more year of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) eligibility, but after graduation, Donnelly doesn’t plan to rest: she intends to stay involved with both sports. Off the pitch, she wants to stay involved with the UBC women’s soccer alumni, and on the slopes, she hopes to take up a coaching position with a ski team in the area.

15

The Omega · Volume 22, Issue 26

Coffee Break 2 1 9 6 3 1 4 7 8 2 3 6

MYLES MELLOR AND SALLY YORK

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“Case Study”

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April 10, 2013

Thanks for a great year!

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