April 11, 2012 by The Omega

VOLUME 21 ISSUE 27 April 11, 2012

Theft of unattended items on campus 2

City transit gets service upgrade

Baseball slips to .500 on 10 the year

Inaugural Pride Parade

PHOTO BY CORY HOPE

TRU’s Independent Student Newspaper

April 11, 2012

Feature

Abysmal election turnout

Newly elected rep wants to increase recruitment of First Nations students Devan C. Tasa Ω Contributor

A former president of TRU’s First Nations Student Society has been elected to represent students on the board of governors. The board makes TRU’s financial decisions and is responsible for setting tuition. Carl Archie received 78 votes in the election, which took place online from Mar. 20 to Apr. 2. Sadriddin Mirkhodjaev, the only other candidate, received 38 votes. Out of around 13,689 eligible voters, only 0.85 per cent voted. The last board and senate elections that took place in December 2011 had a 2.2 per cent turnout. Archie says that he was disappointed with the low turnout. He’d like the university to look at changing its election procedures. “The fact that these elections are not promoted anywhere other than online is one of the biggest f laws,” he said. “I do think there could be more funds put toward the promotion of these elections.” TRUSU VP external Jordan Harris agrees that changes need to be made. “When you add in the previous election, it shows that with the turnout, TRU has to relook at their election strategies,” he said. “They have to relook at what they are doing and analyze what they are doing because something does need to change.” Harris says the TRUSU maintains its offer to run the elections for the university at the same time they conduct their own elections. Archie says that while the university has to fulfill certain legal obligations in its election procedures, he’d like the university to discuss the offer with TRUSU.

“I think that would be a great way to hold elections,” Archie said. Archie will begin his term in September. He will be one of two student representatives on the board. The other student elected to a position is Adrian Miller. A business administration student, Archie ran for the board to ensure Aboriginal voices are properly represented. “As an Aboriginal student, it’s been quite clear to me before I came to the university that TRU is seeking to be the school of choice for Aboriginal students,” he said. “I participated…while they were developing their Aboriginal service plan.” The plan was created in 2007. One of the plan’s goals was to increase the number of First Nations students by 10 per cent every year for three years beginning in 2007/08. According to the university’s First Nations and Aboriginal Affairs Committee, in the 2007/08 year, there were 613 part-time and 1,026 full-time First Nations students. Three years later in 2010/11, there were 696 part-time and 1,101 full-time students, an increase of 9.5 per cent. If the university was able to meet its goal, says Archie, the extra tuition and fees would reduce the need to raise fees. “It would be hitting two birds with one stone,” Archie said. “[It would reduce] the need for cuts to existing programs as well as helping a historically discriminated against population of people.” Archie says that with the projected population of domestic students trending downwards and more universities going after international students and fewer domestic students, it’s important for TRU to meet its recruitment targets for First Nations students.

TRU faculty concerned with campus security Property theft especially concerning after numerous computers go missing

Taylor Rocca Ω Roving Editor

Students beware: don’t leave your computers or expensive textbooks unattended. With the end of the school year quickly approaching, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) students will enslave themselves to their books and computers, putting in countless hours of extra studying in preparation for exams and final projects. Consider this a friendly reminder to students to keep personal belongings under lock and key or a watchful eye. The department of fine arts has experienced two very specific thefts in which expensive computer equipment was stolen from a student workspace behind a locked door. The first theft occurred during the fall semester of this academic year. Shortly after the computer was replaced, it was subsequently stolen early in the winter semester. The equipment was locked to the desk according to Clement Yeh, the visual arts studio technician. He figures that this particular crime was planned as the thieves likely would have needed some sort of device to cut through the cable and lock that were in place. “The theft was acknowledged and reported to the RCMP,” said Christopher Seguin, vice president of advancement at TRU. “There is an ongoing investigation and all repairs are being done to the classroom.” Equipment isn’t the only thing to have gone missing on campus this year. According to Yeh, student artwork has been stolen off the walls. “Student works were displayed,” Yeh said, “and there is not a whole lot we can do about that. “It’s highly personal,” Yeh said. “It’s not just a poster.” Some faculty members on campus are concerned about not only

This is an example of what you don’t want to do. Stay near your things or be prepared to lose them.

—PHOTO BY TAYLOR ROCCA

the security of property, student work and expensive equipment, but more for the safety of students. “If a student is accosted in a dark room or a student is accosted in the hallway, then [administration] will think of doing something,” said Terryl Atkins, a professor in the visual and performing arts department. “Sometimes it is about personal safety.” As it stands, there are 60 security cameras on campus. But not every hallway on campus is under surveillance. “We pride ourselves in offering a safe environment,” Seguin said. There are a minimum of two security guards on duty, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This patrol increases depending on timing and events, according to Seguin. “Increasing the security budget is probably a challenge at this

time while trying to increase everything else because increasing security doesn’t attract students,” Yeh said. “It isn’t an investment in attracting tuition dollars. It only draws capital away from the institution.” The university reviews its security protocol on an annual basis. If a number of complaints have been received form the community, they are taken under consideration when changes are made to the protocol according to Seguin. “I would inspire anyone who had concerns,” Seguin said, “to bring them up to our security teams and to our Facilities so we can make sure that their concerns are taken care of.” TRU’s Facilities Services Division oversees the management of security on campus, which is contracted out to Concord Security Corporation.

theomega.ca

The Omega · Volume 21, Issue 27

THE

MEGA

www.theomega.ca

April 11, 2012

Volume 21, Issue 27

Published since November 27, 1991

editorialstaff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Davies

editorofomega@gmail.com/250-372-1272

Editorial Another year almost done — time for some well-deserved thanks

BUSINESS MANAGER Natasha Slack

managerofomega@gmail.com 250-372-1272 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Cory Hope

SPORTS EDITOR

Nathan Crosby Copy Editor

Larkin Schmiedl Photo Editor

Cory Hope News Editor

Brendan Kergin Roving Editor

Editor’s Note

Promotions Coordinator/Adsales

Mike Davies Ω Editor-in-Chief

Taylor Rocca Amrita Pannu

omegacontributors Devan C. Tasa, Megan Gibson, Amy Berard, Demi Begin, Andrew Snucins

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF * Mike Davies BUSINESS MGR * Natasha Slack 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.

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.

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

@TRU_Omega

So it’s the second-last issue of The Omega for the year. Well, that’s not entirely true, because we do print monthly over the summer, but it’s the second last issue that we have a staff. I get to do the monthlies by myself (hopefully some nice folks will feel like contributing, though). Since next week I’m likely to find something to point out to you about how the world is horrible place because of something or someone, or that there’s a whole lot of injustice in society, or (hopefully) that there’s a glorious ray of sunshine in an otherwise dreary existence, I’m going to take this space in the paper this week to thank some people. First and most importantly I’d like to thank you — the person that is holding this newspaper, reading these words and looking at the photos (like the one of that handsome fella above). You’re the reason that we get to do what we do, and I know that you appreciate what that is by the fact

that you’re reading this. When people stop wanting to read what others write (and look at the images that others produce) we will surely be in a mess sociologically, and even though many are turning to online sources and walking around with their faces in their smartphones, there are still some who appreciate the physical sensation of newsprint, and we will keep providing that sensation as long as that appreciation remains. (You can still get our content on the internet — for those of you who like it that way — and that will continue to develop, as well.) Second, I’d like to thank the staff of The Omega this past year for all they’ve done in getting this publication to the stands. From Brendan Kergin scouring the internet to find stories that may have escaped mostly unnoticed, Nathan Crosby having to go to a whole lot of WolfPack sporting events (rough life, hey? How do you write sarcasm on this thing?), Cory Hope following the arts scene, and Taylor Rocca doing whatever needed to be done to plug the gaps that were sure to (and always did) arise by having such a small editorial staff, the entire crew did whatever they could to make sure you folks were in the know this year. And I can’t leave out Larkin Schmiedl, who didn’t get into the pages very often this year (since that wasn’t his job), but made sure that most of what did make it in was error-free and properly worded. Oh, and thanks to Rod McCabe for getting the papers to the stands so people could read them, and Amrita Pannu for setting up our Face-

book and Twitter accounts (yeah, we were a bit behind the e-curve heading into this year) and helping with promotions. I’m not sure what the staff will look like next year, but we’ll be in pretty good shape if whoever’s a part of it works as hard as these folks did these past eight (or so) months. I probably should have put the next group ahead of our paid staff in the order of thanks, because they didn’t see any difference in their bank accounts this year for helping out — our volunteer contributors. Thanks for wanting to be a part of what we’ve been doing here and having no compensation other than seeing your words or photos in print — with your name attached to them. There are far too many to name, but you can go into the archives at issuu.com/theomegastudentnewspaper, check out all this year’s editions (contributors lists are located on page 3 on the left every week), see how many people have been pitching in and check out what they’ve been doing. I’d like to say that I’ve had a lot of fun this year, and look forward to continuing that fun through the summer and into next fall, when we will be fully staffed once again and ready to do our best to keep you in the loop with what’s happening around you, what you should know about those happenings and helping you get (or stay) involved with the TRU (and surrounding) community. See you next week for the last weekly edition of The Omega until September. Study hard, but don’t let life pass you by while you do. editorofomega@gmail.com

Managing stress levels during a critical period in the semester Exam season has arrived once again and while the temperature rises and the campus is sunny, we will likely all be hiding away somewhere quiet preparing for two weeks of madness. I spoke with David Lidster of the counselling department this week as he prepares to be visited by some anxious students when the pressure becomes too much. He has many useful resources and study tips available to students in OM 1631. Getting enough sleep is probably the most logical, yet difficult choice to make when faced with several exams. While I would be a hypocrite if I told you not to stay up late and cram the night before, try planning your study schedule so that you are heading home early to bed at least a few nights a week. Use the weekend to prepare several easy, nutritious meals for yourself that you can conveniently grab on your way to campus during the week. Limit your junk food intake and keep an eye on how many Starbucks visits or Redbull breaks you have. Schedule a few fun activities in with friends after you finish

writing a particularly difficult exam to let yourself unwind before heading into the next one. If you are like me, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest are to blame for my inability to focus during this month.

Know Your Community Amy Berard

Try closing your account temporarily or leave your laptop at home while you bring your textbooks and notes to campus. If none of these tips seem to be working, my personal favourite on the stress management list I was given is “get a pet.” You just

never know what will make you feel better! However, I do not recommend doing this on a whim for the next two weeks of your life. Because you’ll still have that pet in May and no exams to destress from. Above all, maintain a positive inner voice and talk to friends, family or a counsellor if you feel like you are reaching a breaking point. Visit the Wellness Centre or counselling department in Old Main if you need some support or advice as you study your way towards the end of the semester. Remember, even if you have mastered all these techniques, chances are that the student next to you in the library has not. Keep an eye out for someone who may look a little too stressed out. Share a smile or a short conversation — it is more meaningful than you might think. As a student community, let’s support each other through our least favourite time of year! Amy Berard is a TRU business student and the campus liaison for United Way. To get connected with the community, email her at youth@unitedwaytnc.ca.

Time to meet your cellmate, Hanz Stiffer punishment needed for those who text while driving Megan Gibson Nexus (Camosun)

VICTORIA (CUP) — A lot of drivers have this narcissistic notion that they are the best motorists in the world. It’s as if they believe Jeff Gordon taught them to drive, when, realistically, most drivers behave as if they’ve ingested Charlie Sheen’s tiger blood. Worse yet, some of these same people text behind the wheel, when the vehicle’s actually in motion. It really ought to be illegal to text and drive. Oh, wait: it is. Well, it’s illegal everywhere in Canada except Nunavut, anyway. There’s even a penalty of sorts: in B.C. it’s a measly fine of $167 and a three-point penalty. According to the B.C. government, from February 2010 to September 2011, 47,000 drivers were caught with a mobile device in one hand and a steering wheel in the other. Of those caught, 1,300 were texting. Clearly, many drivers still don’t understand the severe impact that texting while driving can have. In 2010, distracted driving was a contributing factor in 104 collision fatalities in B.C., according to the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). More recently, in Québec, a young woman drove into the back of a truck while texting with her fiancé. She’s dead now. Imagine how awful her fiancé feels. Imagine if she had taken more lives than just her own. He’d feel even worse. Sadly, many people who hear this story won’t heed its warning and will continue to text and drive. But people would be much less likely to ignore the laws if the fines were heftier. Better still, why not prevent texting while driving from happening in the first place? Car manufacturers could work to create a mechanism, a mobile deactivator that turns off cell phones as soon as the ignition is started. And that’s what society has come to: drivers need to be treated like children so they will behave and obey the rules. Misbehave and toys start being taken away. Continue to misbehave and privileges will be revoked. Misbehave again, well, there’s a nice 10 by 10 cell where a lengthy timeout could be served. Maybe drivers would understand the stupidity of texting while driving if they had to spend time in jail with a sevenfoot tall skinhead named Hanz.

April 11, 2012

News In case you missed it, Kergin’s got you covered: Things you probably didn’t see happening around you last week • New New York Cabs

Brendan Kergin Ω News Editor

Global • Good news everybody! The leaders of Pakistan and India had lunch together the other day in New Delhi. The reason this is good news is, as neighbours with a big border dispute, relations between the two nuclear powers have been strained in recent years. The infamous Mumbai attack on a hotel — which lasted for three days and left 166 dead — was perpetrated by Pakistani militants. While the two countries are not in open warfare, there is a constant border dispute in the Kashmir region. However the meeting seemed amicable as the two leaders discussed a variety of topics and shared lunch before the Pakistani leader visited a shrine in western India. Read more at reauters.com.

New York city is pushing the bounds of personal transportation further with redesigned cabs. The yellow cars have always been a symbol of the city, with each redesign becoming a new icon. The new versions move away from the mass produced sedans of the past and look more akin to a modern revisioning of the London cab. A shorter frame, higher roof and a ton of new tech features like plug-ins for iPhones, the new cabs are trying to represent the new digital, green era ideal. While many are fans of the new cabs, the oldest Yellow Cab driver in NYC, a 92-year-old Johnnie “Spider” Footman isn’t a fan. A driver since 1937, he prefers more room in the back to fool around. Read more at news.bbc.co.uk.

National • Harper and his jets Stephen Harper and his Conservative majority in Ottawa are taking

some heat from a new source. The robocalls scandal isn’t over yet, but critics are jumping onto another subject. F-35 fighter jets. The future jets are supposed to be the next level of aviation military strength. However, that sort of tech comes with a price tag. As with anything in the future, it’s debatable what that might be. Harper originally suggested the already controversial jets would be a measly $15 billion. However, the auditor general of Canada — an independent financial reviewer for federal expenses — has just taken a look and thinks that cost might be closer to $25 billion. Read more at thestar.com. • Montreal student arrests Student protests are continuing throughout Québec as student activists voiced their opinion and displeasure. Montreal has been a particular hotspot, with protestors being arrested Apr. 4.

CFBX Program Schedule for April 2012

The days activities started with activists meeting around 8 a.m. and a police presence shortly thereafter. The police quickly deemed the activity illegal and tweeted they would spend time monitoring the situation and making arrests. At one point it was reported that a “pyrotechnique device” had been used by the protestors. By the end between 50 and 60 people had been arrested and riot police had kettled the roving group. Read more at cupwire.ca.

Provincial • Whale vomit less neccessary! UBC has made another massive breakthrough which is sure to alter the course of humanity. They’ve made it possible for high end perfumes to not require whale vomit. Yep. Sperm Whales spew and the results float to shore. The aquatic upchuck is collected at the beach and sold to upper-class perfume companies. They extract a compound from it to help the expensive odours stick to people. UBC researchers have developed something similar using something from trees which will fill the same role. Read more at publicaffairs.ubc.ca. • Budget thoughts B.C. Finance Minister Kevin Falcon thinks the recent federal budget is a good one for Canada and will keep the Canadian brand strong in uncertain global financial waters. While he believes the overall vision is strong, he is concerned with how a couple areas may affect B.C. and says the province will continue to work closely with the federal government on those areas.

Health care is one of those areas of concerns, with B.C. facing an older population than the average in other province. Another spot of bother could be the resulting costs of bill C-10, aka the Omnibus Crime Bill. Most pundits foresee increasing costs associated with the bill, but it is uncertain how they will be manifested. Read more at thetyee.ca.

Local • “Smart” meters With B.C. Hydro expounding the greatness of their new smart meters, some were beginning to think the machines were going to get a special place on peoples’ mantel. However, the tune has changed after the discovery of a Kamloops meter spinning a little too fast. It looked to bill a man about six times more than his normal monthly charge. The faulty meter has been taken to Vancouver for an autopsy and a new one has been installed. Read more at theprovince.com • Romantic cities The ever-romantic website Amazon.com has calculated what it believes to be the most romantic cities in Canada. This is done simply based on the per capita spending of romantic gifts around Valentines Day. B.C. comes out strong — for fans of the red hearts and cheap chocolate dreams — with three in the top 10 and five in the top 20. Kamloops does well as the ninth most romantic city (based on consumerism), squeezed between sweetheart cities Calgary and St. John’s. Read more at vancouver.openfile.ca.

The Omega is hiring Deadline for applications for editorial positions for the 2012/2013 academic year is

Apr. 20.

Submit cover letter, resume and any writing samples you may have for our perusal to: Mike Davies, Editor-in-Chief

editorofomega@gmail.com CFBX Radio -92.5 FM, 106.1 Cable Campus/Community Radio for TRU and Kamloops Phone: (250) 377-3988 Email: radio@tru.ca Website: http://www.thex.ca Look for us on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

We need people interested in campus events, news and sports, as well as photographers and graphics people. (You must be a returning student.)

The Omega · Volume 21, Issue 27

Arts & Entertainment Spring art exhibitions

Many installations and gallery showings keep Kamloops art scene strong

Cory Hope

Ω Arts and Entertainment Editor For a relatively small city, Kamloops has an impressive art scene. With school coming to an end soon, as well as my time with The Omega, I thought I might try to offer you a quick roundup of what’s going on, coming up and going away at some of the local galleries. With the Certificate and Diploma show at the TRU Art Gallery tucked away, the gallery doors are now closed until the BFA Grad Show on Apr. 20. The annual event is going to be a great show, with 18 graduates coming through the program this year. But until those doors open again... The Kamloops Art Gallery currently has a video installation by Esther Shalev-Gerz titled WHITE-OUT: Between Telling and Listening. The installation has been met with mixed reviews, but when the featured artist is arguably most famous for completing an installation by burying it in the ground (all twelve metres of it, straight in the ground), mixed reviews, I’m guessing, are pretty standard. Check out the Cube while you’re there to see Connecting

The Dots, a collaborative, multigallery piece featuring Berlinbased interdisciplinary artist Astrid Menze and TRU’s own Doug Buis. Six of the BFA grads will be featuring more of their works at the Arnica Artist Run Centre starting Apr. 27. The galleries at Arnica can be seen for free during regular hours, but it is a non-profit venue, and donations can be made in the gallery. They’re appreciated, too. A recent addition to the Kamloops art scene is Clement Yeh, who has been working at TRU this year as the art department’s lab technician. Somehow, despite all the work hours he puts in during the course of a week, he’s managed to get some of his own work done and his show will be opening at 6 p.m. on Apr. 12 at The Wilson House Gallery, located at 115 Tranquille Rd. Yeh’s work, titled Fresh Faces: Portraits of Kamloops Residents by a Newcomer, is - read the title again if you need this one described to you. I’ve seen a little bit of Yeh’s work before, and I’m eagerly anticipating the show. So get out and take advantage of the numerous galleries and exhibitions in Kamloops and support the art scene so it can continue to be as good as it is.

Students and faculty mingle at the closing party for the fine arts department year-end show. The TRU Gallery will re-open for the graduate show which will open Apr. 20. Take in some art at the downtown and North Shore galleries this spring, too.

—PHOTO BY CORY HOPE

Ye Olde Canadian Music Corner Guidestones update Cory Hope

Kergin and Rocca highlight the underappreciated Taylor Rocca Ω Roving Editor

Brendan Kergin Ω News Editor

Bo Aganaba is a singer songwriter currently hailing from Edmonton, Alta. Fans of City and Colour will instantly fall in love with Aganaba’s acoustic guitar and soulful and soothing voice. Providing hope for brighter days, Aganaba woos his audience with heartfelt, inspiring lyrics. Aganaba released his first full-length album, Four Leaf Clovers and a Red Balloon, in Sept. 2011. Upon its release, it quickly shot to the top of the Singer/ Songwriter charts on iTunes. His first single, Light & Dark, is slow and somber but uplifting as Aganaba sings about tough times and the friends that help you through them. “When your life seems to unfurl,” Aganaba sings, “don’t forget that you matter to more people than you think.”

Words and a Melody, the last track on Four Leaf Clovers and a Red Balloon shows Aganaba’s talent with six strings. The poetic and emotional lyrics about heartache and love draw listeners in, leaving them to reminisce about loves lost and loves pursued. The talented, young Agabana is not only a phenomenal vocalist, he also excels on piano, guitar and behind a drum kit. Aganaba lists his influences as City and Colour, Jack Johnson, John Mayer and Matt Costa. You can follow Bo Aganaba at facebook.com/boaganabamusic or @boaganba on Twitter. Aganaba’s album Four Leaf Clovers and a Red Balloon is available for purchase in the iTunes Music Store.

With Vancouver’s vibrant music scene these days, it’s not a surprise that bands are forming out of other bands. One of those gems rising quickly is Rococode. Made up of chunks of Tegan and Sara (not Tegan nor Sara), a former member of Said the Whale and a guy who often is part of Hannah Georges’ set up, Rococde are a chance for some of the backing parts of these more well-known bands to get a chance front and centre. So far they’re having a solid start, hitting the scene with Guns, Sex & Glory, a debut full-length album. Off the strength of their debut Rococode is already on a cross-Canada tour, has a full social media campaign going and has a single with a music video (yeah,

some bands still make those). The sweet arty/indie/pop songs have a maturity and professional sound that comes with being around for a bit. While Rococode is new, the members aren’t noobs. The lead single Empire is strong and sure to gain them some spins on campus and indie rock stations across the country. These guys could be another entry into the regular rotation of great Canadian small time/big city bands for some time. At worst they should be a strong side-project for some hardworking musicians which scenesters can go enjoy on a trip to Vancouver. Check out the single Empire on Youtube. They’re also all over twitter, blogging , bandcamp and all the other spots the cool kids are hiding online.

Ω Arts and Entertainment Editor

A few weeks ago I was introduced to The Guidestones, and then I took it upon myself to introduce you to it as well. Almost 50 episodes later, I thought I’d let you know how the show is coming along. One of the first things I wondered about when I was first introduced to the show was how it was going to make any money. Not that that’s important to me, but I am cognizant of television shows being financed by their advertisers, and because episodes of The Guidestones are emailed directly to the viewers without any commercials, I wondered how the series would be produced. The answer, not surprisingly, is product placement. Although they do try to keep it subtle, there are definitely advertisements placed throughout the show. While I’m not going to mention them here by their brand names, I will give you a few examples, in case you’re not familiar with the practice. The camera equipment used by the main character in The Guidestones is almost always filmed head-on when she is taking photos, from an angle that allows the camera’s label to be seen. The same pizza chain is featured by name in a few episodes — complete with offers of a slice passed between people. Perhaps the most notable advertiser is the one that’s not mentioned by name, but rather by implication. The parent company is mentioned, but there is actually a clever effort made to show how cool gadgets can be even if they don’t start with an “i”. As long as it’s not too over-the-top, I’m willing to let the product placement slide. I have seen shows in the past in which it was so obvious that I refused to ever watch the show again, and The Guidestones appears to be aware that a show that is delivered in such short segments (the episodes

average three minutes) should not be seen as a set of commercials. But just because they’ve managed to get that part right doesn’t mean that they’ve made a winning formula. The episodes are short, as I mentioned before, ranging from 30 seconds to seven minutes, and there doesn’t ever seem to be enough time to properly build tension within the plot. While the events are supposed to be emailed to you in real time, I can’t help but wonder if maybe something more exciting was happening in the moments that I didn’t receive in my inbox. Is it just a problem of delivery? Is a three-minute segment not enough to engage the viewer in any meaningful capacity? If this is so, then it could be problematic for The Guidestones, because that’s their schtick. The whole reason I started watching this series was because of this new mode of delivery, which I’m still hoping has potential, but The Guidestones has not been realizing that potential. If it isn’t in the delivery, then it must be in the writing. The acting is acceptable, for the most part, but the writing of the story itself feels like every episode is picked out of a bag of clichés designed to force the plot along, without ever taking the time to slow down and develop any particular plot point they might have started to establish in a previous episode. Why it is I’m still watching The Guidestones is pure curiosity. I don’t even know if I’m curious about how long it can go on before it ends, or if I’m afraid if I turn my back for a minute it will just become awesome and I will have missed it. In the meantime, I waste less time watching The Guidestones than the average person does watching commercials in a day. It’s almost a guilty pleasure, but I don’t like it enough to call it that yet.

April 11, 2012

News

Kamloops’ first ever Pride Parade happens on TRU Campus Brendan Kergin Ω News Editor

With bright colours and thumping bass TRUSU Pride unleashed Kamloops’ first ever Pride Parade on the TRU campus Apr. 5. Marching Thursday afternoon down the stairs near the CAC to the Campus Commons the parade was a supportive group estimated at over 400 people. Organized by Katelyn Scorer, a fourth-year tourism student, and Katie Hutf luss, a third-year tourism student and incoming TRUSU director-at-large, the event came together quickly over a couple of weeks, but snowballed with a great deal of community support. “Nelly Dever was there. We had Donavan Cavers,” said Scorer, listing off some of the notable community members who attended. Hutf luss also recalled Kamloops city counsellor Nancy Bepple attending for a short period. Firefighters and police officers in uniform showed up as well, not as crowd control, but to offer open support. The B.C. Nurses Union were an early supporter, coming up from Vancouver to set up a booth. TRUSU and TRU Recreation had booths as well. Starbucks offered free coffee to attendees from their booth.

The parade started at 1 p.m. and the common area in the centre of campus was a little louder and more colourful for about two hours with bass-heavy music pumping from the main tent. TRUSU Pride, allies, community members and students bustled about, with some dancing and others chatting around the edges. “People have been on the cusp of doing something proud and out, it just took a little bit of steering in the right direction which is where Katie and I came in,” said Scorer. “We were just the facilitators, but everyone was on board and everyone was ready to go from the very beginning.” Larkin Schmiedl, president of TRUSU Pride was beaming during the event. “It’s kinda the best thing ever,” said Schmiedl (full disclosure, he’s also the Omega copy editor). Most of the TRUSU council and staff attended the event as well. “The TRUSU Pride club does support equality across campus, whether you’re gay, straight, bi, transgendered and obviously TRUSU as an organization, we do support that. Everyone is equal and everyone has equal rights,” said VP External Jordan Harris. “It’s a great event, I hope it carries on.”

Beach

+ LAPTOP = OPEN LEARNING

That’s what you said For this week’s issue, we patrolled the grounds looking for your answers to this question:

Is it important for Kamloops to have a Pride Parade?

Get ahead this summer by studying at a pace and place that suits you. Enrol in an online and distance course through our Open Learning Division and get the prerequisite you need or redo that challenging course. • Study anywhere, anytime • Choose from over 550 courses • Easily transfer your credits to your on-campus credential

Adam Strath Business

MC115936

“Yes, because it brings awareness to the campus and community about an important issue.”

Kaison Monteith Kaitlin Libel Arts/Fine Arts

(Kaitlin) “Yeah, it’s really good for Kamloops to have a Pride Parade because it creates awareness and because it is a smaller city developing into something more.” (Kaison) “Yeah, it shows Kamloops is actually an accepting place, not the stereotypical red neck or country place people think. It’s not as ignorant as people think.”

Kain Robson Science

“I definetley think so. “It brings out knowledge that there are gay and lesbian, etc., people in the community and they’re not afraid to come out and show it. They’re not afraid of what everyone thinks of them.”

The Omega 路 Volume 21, Issue 27

Photo Gallery

ALL PHOTOS BY CORY HOPE

April 11, 2012

Arts & Entertainment Cake and Callouses: An adequate acoustic album Albertan Angela Saini comes through with talent, but definitely room to improve

Taylor Rocca Ω Roving Editor

Hailing from Calgary, Alta, Angela Saini is a self-described combination of Feist and Sheryl Crow with a sour cherry candy on top. Cake and Callouses is Saini’s debut EP and I will admit that I didn’t have high hopes when I first looked at the bubble-gum poplooking album cover featuring the singer in a short leopard-print dress holding a matching feather boa and posing like a six-yearold on the first day of school. It doesn’t help that the designer of the cover chose to conveniently chop off Saini’s toes, leaving me to wonder how she manages to hold that pose so steadily. That being said, Saini proves true the old saying that you cannot judge a book by its cover. While Cake and Callouses isn’t the “shrink-wrapped to sell” pop garbage I was worried it would be, it also isn’t anything groundbreaking or new. Saini establishes herself as a strong vocalist and guitar player but the lack of depth in the album’s lyrics really take away from the strength of the work as a whole.

There is certainly room for growth, but Saini displays strong enough talent to give hope that she can one day reach her potential and become an accomplished Canadian female acoustic artist. The first song that caught my ear was Close to You. Saini’s vocal strengths come through impressively on the track, pulling on the heartstrings of the listener.

The lyrical depth isn’t magical or that inspiring, but Saini sounds great throughout. I’m not sure what it is about the track, whether it’s Saini’s soft voice or the soothing guitar, but something about Close to You almost instantly reminded me of Jeff Buckley’s cover of the Leonard Cohen hit Hallelujah. The slow build on the EP continues with The Story.

Upbeat and by far the heaviest track on the album, Saini sings, “I always loved tragedy until I saw it happen to me.” I found myself tapping my foot as I was able to almost instantly connect with this track. Dear Diary is hyped as one of the stronger tracks on Cakes and Callouses as it was nominated for a 2010 International Acoustic Music Award. While it isn’t the worst song I have heard lately, it definitely isn’t the strongest track on Saini’s debut EP. If I was a 14-year-old girl, I might be able to relate to this song better. Keeping Score slides in to the number five slot on the EP and it marks the point in which Saini’s voice resembles Sheryl Crow the most. Discovered by Johnny Fay, the drummer from Canadian rock icon The Tragically Hip, Saini went on to record demos with him that would contribute to Cake and Callouses. Currently on a crossCanada tour, Saini will play a show in Kamloops at The Commodore on Apr. 19. From there, she heads back to her home province of Alberta for shows in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton. Following the Alberta leg of her tour, Saini will hit the rails, heading east to Toronto courtesy of VIA Rail and the VIA Rail On Board performance series.

City increases bus service on routes 1, 2, and 9 Devan C. Tasa Ω Contributor

The city of Kamloops is improving evening and Sunday services on the city’s most used bus routes. Users of routes 1 and 2, which go from downtown to the North Shore, and route 9, which goes from TRU to the Upper Sahali, will get bus services every 30 minutes in the evenings starting in September. Currently, evening buses are scheduled to come every hour. Sunday bus service on routes 1, 2 and 9 will also be increased to every 30 minutes. But there will no longer be bus service every 15 minute on routes 1, 2, 7 (from TRU to Aberdeen) and 9 during the summer months of July and August. Overall, the city has accepted 5,500 more bus operating hours out of 8,200 total hours offered from B.C. Transit. The extra cost is $150,000 for this year and $455,000 in following years. Among the bus service improvements rejected by Kamloops city council was having buses come every 15 minutes during midday for route 9 and

extending service to 7 p.m. for Routes 10 (the North Shore Express) and 16 (Juniper Ridge). TRUSU VP external Jordan Harris says that for the student union, hearing news of the additional bus service was the culmination of a lobbying process that involved being active in the creation of a plan which lays out Kamloops’ future transit expansion, as well as being active in budget consultations. “We’ve gone out there, we’ve voiced our opinions and we’ve discussed our opinion, so we couldn’t have been happier with the additional hours that will be added to the Kamloops bus system,” he said. Harris says that TRUSU would like to see more bus services in the future, but right now they are pleased with the 5,500 additional service hours that were approved by council. If TRU students encounter future difficulties with the transit system, Harris says they can ask TRUSU for help. “If there are future problems, we would love to listen to them and love to go to city councillors and discuss what students have told us about their issues with transit,” he said.

Email editorofomega@gmail.com, tell me you looked here, and it said, “The best cheeses come from cows” and win some free coffee from common grounds for while you’re studying

The Omega · Volume 21, Issue 27

Arts & Entertainment The rule of the fittest

Pitchfork’s Mark Richardson on how to survive as a music journalist

Demi Begin

The Link (Concordia) MONTREAL (CUP) — In a world where even the red, f lowing Rolling Stone emblem is having trouble moving magazine copies off the rack, Mark Richardson is feeling optimistic about the future of music journalism. Editor-in-chief of the world’s best-visited independent music writing website, Richardson’s at the helm of a ship that is retaining many tricks of the old media’s trade, while succeeding in the new. Pitchfork maintains tight editorial control, doesn’t have comment sections on its articles, and doesn’t tweet back at its followers. In many ways, it’s still a magazine, rather than a website. And yet it’s the de facto tastemaking music site of the 21st century. A Pitchfork review can make — or break — a musical career. Pitchfork is at the top of its game. Even though it now all seems rosy, it has not always been that way for Richardson. When he started out as a freelance writer, the Brooklyn resident couldn’t afford to be picky. “I would write about whatever I could for money,” he admitted. Despite living and breathing music and music journalism, it took him several years to refine his writing style. Then, in 1998, he went from odd writing jobs to writing steadily for the thenthree-year-old website. When Richardson talks about it, it seems as if he can’t believe himself how much time has passed. “You know it was very, very small back then, it was just this tiny thing,” he stressed. “So when

I talk about writing for Pitchfork in the ‘90s, it was just a really different world.” Fast-forward through the last decade and newspapers and magazines are now in precarious financial positions, while the Internet has taken over. Pitchfork itself is getting more than 4 million unique visitors a month. Still, for the head of such a depended-on news source, the cultural addiction to a no-cost, 24-hour news cycle has some drawbacks. “I don’t really love the secondby-second, chit chat commentary. If someone is a reporter …, they might be excited at, like, 10 p.m. that something happened, and they have to sit down and write a story. I get a message at 10 p.m. when something happens and I’m like, ‘Huhhhh.’” Richardson added that having to be constantly connected is probably the element he dislikes the most about his job. Pitchfork, for its part, doesn’t update on weekends. As much as the site has become a staple of the web for many media-minded netizens, its social media cousins Twitter and Facebook are not on his list of favourites. “I don’t crave the 24-hour cycle stuff. I would rather sit and stare at the window for an hour,” he admitted. “In my dream life, I’m in a quiet study, thinking and writing and undisturbed. I don’t really love having to be plugged in all the time.” Although the non-stop f lux of information can be overwhelming for some, it’s also undeniably affecting the way print journalism is perceived. In a society where

information is instantaneously updated and accessible, print media is slowly losing its relevance. “I think print still has some advantages visually, with tactile experiences and longer pieces and those type of things,” Richardson said. Still, he acknowledged that the newspaper’s heyday is unlikely to return, but he held out hope for the industry, explaining that it simply has yet to figure out a new, more profitable, business model. “I feel like there’s a possibility that there’s something looming that we haven’t quite envisioned yet, that will be of higher quality than things are now… At least, I hope so.” Whatever the situation for the publications themselves, the reality for the people who are hoping to break into them is something else entirely. It can be difficult to hold out faith in your craft when you can’t seem to find any work. Journalists are the new actors; many people want to do it, but only a few, either the hardestworking or most talented, will make it. Pitchfork’s success story is certainly refreshing to journalists hoping to find some work — preferably paid — in an industry of temporary gigs and unpaid internships. To them, Richardson has only one bit of advice: patience. “If you love to write, and especially if you love writing about art and culture, there’s nothing wrong with doing that part-time, for months or years,” he said, pointing out that publications will be willing to pay writers money for their writing when they’re good enough to get noticed. That being said, the one question every journalist is looking for an answer to is simple: what does

—IMAGE BY ERIC BENT (THE LINK)

one have to do to get a job in the business? The answer, according to Richardson, isn’t all that surprising. Every year, Pitchfork, like countless other publications, puts out a call for interns. And, putting things simply, those interns who succeed and stand out will eventually move up the ladder, paving the way for the Mark Richardsons of the future. “It’s not too much of a myste-

rious process, other than we’re looking for people that want nothing more than to be involved in the world of music journalism, and also seem like they are going to work really hard,” he noted. “Making it clear that you want to do whatever you can to help is the best thing. Those are the interns you tend to notice more, pay attention to, and then eventually want to help out.” — With files from Alex Manley

Community Calendar Wednesday, Apr. 11

• Arts Colloquium Series Dr. Jenna Woodrow It’s Not Just the Thought That Counts CAC 314 (CURA offices) 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Apr. 13 • TRU Survivors Ouside Old Main in front of Student Street Starts at 11 a.m.

Know of upcoming events the student body should be aware of? Get them in the calendar for free! Contact: editorofomega@gmail.com The last issue of the semester is next week, so anything happening until the end of April should be in that one! “Community calendar” in the subject line will help ensure they get to the campus community.

April 11, 2012

Sports

Twomey’s legacy of perseverance and strong will Struck by family tragedy, will return to Manitoba after seeing the WolfPack into the playoffs for the first time peg],” she said. “But then once I got used to it Ω Sports Editor here, I love it.” On January 30, 2011, her world Being a successful athlete and was turned sideways when her dealing with a personal tragedy older brother, Derek, died at the at the same time would be one of age of 21. He had taken a prethe hardest obstacles to deal with scription drug and suffered a severe reaction in his sleep that at university. Wolf Pack volleyball setter, night. He didn’t wake up the next Kara Twomey, knows this. Yet morning. He was a role model that every she fought through it. In her second year, Twomey younger sibling wants in an older brother. put the presHe had finsure of getting ished playing the women’s two years of volvolleyball team leyball at Camointo the playoffs sun College and in her hands wanetd to pursue and she came a degree in psythrough in leaps chology. and bounds. In fact, he was The setter the one that infinished sixth spired Kara to in the Canada play volleyball. West in assists, “I was always averaging 8.55 at the games per game. Her —Kara Twomey watching and focus never he was a setter strayed from so that’s immethe court when diately what I she was getting wanted to do,” ready to make a she said. perfect pass to a hitter. The hardship she has faced She showed amazing determination and skill, considering didn’t affect her play on the what she went through in her court, but she said it is too hard to play with Derek in the back of rookie year. Born and raised in Winnipeg, her mind. Twomey has decided Twomey came to TRU in the fall that she has to return to Winnipeg after the end of this school of 2010. “It was a big change moving year. “I always played volleyball for away from home and my first week or two I was hating it, I [Derek] and I came back thinkwanted to go back [to Winni- ing I’d have a good year, but I

Nathan Crosby

“I’m going to miss Kamloops and the people that I’ve met.”

didn’t enjoy it as much,” she said. Twomey’s presence will be missed. “Her loyalty was tremendous,” Wolf Pack head coach Keith Lundgren said. “She’s developed into a leader. She is a tremendous kid that faced adversity well.” Lundgren’s team made their first ever appearance in the playoffs, finishing seventh in the Canada West and winning nine games, a school record. “Keith was very understanding

— PHOTO BY ANDREW SNUCINS

of my situation,” Twomey said. “I wasn’t sure how this year would go and he expected a lot from me. He wants the best for his players and was hoping for the best for me.” She also credits her roommate, team captain Kelly Asleson, for her guidance and friendship. Twomey wants to continue to her studies in child and youth care but wants to take some time off from volleyball. She is hoping to help coach the team at her old high school,

Glenlawn Collegiate in Winnipeg. “It was a great two years here, we had some ups and downs but it ended on a high note and everyone was part of making it what it was,” she said. “I’m going to miss Kamloops and the people that I’ve met.” Twomey has faced a personal loss that no one deserves to endure. But she willed herself to take the volleyball team to a new level. Her love of the game is because of Derek.

WolfPack baseball lays three eggs over Easter weekend Nathan Crosby Ω Sports Editor

Heads were shaking in frustration around Norbrock Stadium after the TRU baseball team lost three home games in a span of two days. The Wolf Pack’s are now 6-6 on the year thanks to three loses over four games on Apr. 7 and 8. TRU managed to split the weekend series with the Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs, losing 7-6 and winning 3-2. But the team struggled against the Vancouver Island Baseball Institute Mariners, a team that came into the weekend with the worst record in the CCBC, losing 16-5 and 8-3. “It was up and down, there was no decisive person ahead at any point, but those are the games you got to win,” WolfPack pitcher Denver Wynn said. Nothing seemed to go right the first day of games for the ‘Pack despite the gorgeous first weekend of April reaching highs of 16 and sunshine warming the North Shore. It was a great day to be at the ballpark. The team started off with a loss to the Prairie Baseball Academy, 7-6, despite a late game rally in the ninth inning, scoring three runs only to come up short. Cam Strachan was the losing pitcher, but only gave up three hits over five innings.

Then came the first game against the Mariners. The Wolf Pack gave up four or more runs in the first, fifth and eighth innings and were embarrassed to lose by 11 runs to a team that came into the weekend with two wins. Catcher David Hole had a strong game and crushed two solo shots over the fence of left field to tie for the home run lead in the CCBC. TRU wanted to put the day in the past and move on and things went well the next day in the first game. It was a rematch with the PBA Dawgs. For most of the game, both teams were playing defensively, making bunts and getting on base on balls. Denver Wynn was solid and pitched the entire seven inning game to give the team their only win on the weekend, 3-2 over the Dawgs. Then came the Mariners, again. Travis Nevakshonoff started the game and the Mariners scored two runs early in the first. TRU kept pace for four innings, but surrendered four runs in the fifth en route to another lost to the Vancouver Island Baseball Institute. Tyler Lowey came in for relief and pitched two innings, giving up one hit and two runs. A scary moment came late in the game when Lowey was on the mound. The pitch he threw

Despite a great show for the fans at Norbrock Stadium over Easter weekend, including collisions at the bags like this one and good hitting and pitching performances, the WolfPack slip to 6-6 on the year after going 1-3 at home Apr. 7 and 8. —PHOTO BY CORY HOPE

was hit right back up the line to the mound and he had half a second to react. He dropped to the ground and ball missed his head by an inch, the crowd at Norbrock let a collective gasp. “We have yet to play consistently in all three parts of the

game this spring,” Wolf Pack infielder Tyler Lowey said. “This weekend was just frustrating because we are making the same mistakes since Arizona now, and that has to change.” The play of the game went to right fielder Brock Stewart, who

made a spectacular diving catch off a deep hit ball that ended the third inning There were plenty of great plays, yet the ‘Pack came up short and now sit three games back of the division leading Dawgs.

The Omega · Volume 21, Issue 27

Coffee Break crossword

9 3 1 3 2 8 6 5 4 2 3 6 7 9 4 7 3 1 6 2 8 5 4 1 8 2 5 2 7

MYLES MELLOR and SALLY YORK

sudokueasy

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“All’s Well That Ends Well”

SUDOWEB.COM

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last week’s answers easy 6

hard The hard sudoku puzzle last week couldn’t be done, as there were two 5’s in the same column. Congratulations to Jesse Bazergui for noticing. He gets some free coffee from Common Grounds!

1. Credit or tarot follower 5. Dash 8. Bladder, e.g. 11. Organic compound 12. People person, briefly 14. Fodder holder 15. Takes his leave of a lady 18. Nigerian language 19. City in Italy 20. Adult insect 21. Big Bertha’s birthplace 22. Lhasa’s land 23. Raillery 25. Best seller 26. ___-cochere (carriage entrance) 27. Krypton, e.g. 28. Group of poems 32. TV castaway 36. ___ brat 37. College in Ashland (abbr.) 38. ___-made 39. “Come again?” 40. Rears 42. Birthplace of Little Richard 45. Tracks 46. Caribbean cruise stop 47. Units of work 48. Protestant denom. 51. Place to find pennies? 54. European language

55. Dead to the world 56. Consequently 57. Home improvement network 58. Rather than 59. Dated oath

33. Salt shaker? 34. Joyful exclamation 35. Threat ender 39. Bindle bearer 40. French existentialist 41. Cheap 42. Native New Zealander 43. Dilettantish 44. Adorable 45. Allude 48. Floater 49. Chlorella, e.g. 50. Slog 51. Twin, e.g. 52. Undivided 53. ___ bit

Down 1. 27, to 3 2. University in Pakistan 3. Make over 4. “___ Boot” 5. More high-spirited 6. Mischievous 7. Sleep-disturbing legume? 8. ___ of Vicksburg 9. Apportion 10. Mil. rank 12. French commune 13. ___ Columbia 14. Q-Tip 16. Urges onward 17. Give off, as light 21. Admittance 23. 1922 Physics Nobelist 24. Jack-in-the-pulpit, e.g. 25. Pilgrim’s journey 26. School org. 27. African antelope 28. Decorative jugs 29. Hymn of praise: var. 30. Cutlass, e.g. 31. Arch

A P E S

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S C H E O A K E F I X R I S E I T R M G A L O M I T S E I G E S S M

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D O N E

S N I T

E L I E T A E T I C E D

T A W S

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

sudokuhard

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April 11, 2012

TRUSU Membership Advisory End the year with a .....

H S BA CAMPUS COMMONS APR 12TH • 12AM-4PM

Post-Secondary Education Fact:

BC Students are tied with the maritimes for the highest student debt in the country upon graduation

Graduating?

This Week:

The Students’ Union offers free graduation gown rentals for convocation photos.

• Last Class Bash • John K. Samson & the Provincial Band Concert • Council Meeting

To rent a graduation gown and regalia, drop by the Members’ Services Desk in the Students’ Union Building. You must provide a $60 cash deposit or credit card. Your deposit will be returned when the regalia is returned.

Did you know the Students’ Union has a

MEMBERS’ ADVOCATE? The Members’ Advocate can help you with academic issues, housing issues, and more. To set up a meeting, email advocate@trusu.ca

Check out the Events Calendar at trusu.ca for details!

Log on to trusu.ca and get connected! • Subscribe to the Newsletter • Join us on facebook • Follow us on Twitter

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