Vol XXIX Issue XII - March 14 2016 by The Phoenix News

UBCOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Student Newspaper

March 14th 2016 | Vol 29, Issue 12

Vote MArch 16th & 17th

Peace out UBCO since 1989

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Campus

News

Elections

Arts

Clubs and Course Unions Slapped with Event Fees p.3

President, VP Finance, and Operations Candidate Profiles p.5

Artist Profile: A Take on Beauty Standards p.15

UBCO Student Elections: Board of Governors Locked in Historical Tight Race p.3

VP Services, VP Internal, and VP External Candidate Profiles p.6

Indie Games: A Feast for the Senses p.16

Director at Large and Faculty Rep Candidate Profiles p.6-10

Post Mortem: Examining the Untimely Death of the Squamish Valley Music Festival p.17

Senator at Large Candidate Profiles p.10-13

They Coloured Me p.18

Students Set to Vote on Student Refugee Program p.4 Trump and Clinton Closer to Nomination After Super Tuesday p.4

Board of Governors Candidate Profiles p.13-15

Life

Opinions

Sports

The Printer Problem p.19

Societal Constructs on Beauty p.23

Breaking Boundaries Conference p.20

You Can’t Skip Being Ugly p.24

Blue Jays Look Strong Halfway Through Spring Training p.26

10 Charts to Describe Student Life p.21-22

How the American Establishment is Trying to Rig the Election for Clinton p.25

University Centre 3333 University Way Kelowna, BC, Canada V1Y 5N3 Office: UNC 132B Phone: 250-807-9296 thephoenixnews.com Cover by Maggie Wilson and Sarah James

Why Do We Care More About NCAA than CIS p.27

Coordinating Editor Alex Barberis coordinating@thephoenixnews.com

Sports Editor Grayson B. Leahy sports@thephoenixnews.com

Visual Editor Varenka Kim visual@thephoenixnews.com

Production Manager Sarah James artdirector@thephoenixnews.com

Current Affairs Editor Mark Dreger current.affairs@thephoenixnews.com

Production Assistant Kelsi Brown production@thephoenixnews.com

Project Manager Maranda Wilson project@thephoenixnews.com

Life Editor Amithisste Multerer-Zarda life@thephoenixnews.com

Copy Editor Francesca Gimson copy@thephoenixnews.com

Web Editor Justin Kroeker web@thephoenixnews.com

Life Reporter Tiffany Goodwein lifereporter@thephoenixnews.com

Video Editor Riley Petillion video@thephoenixnews.com

Opinions Editor Brittni MacKenzie-Dale opinions@thephoenixnews.com

Life Reporter Maria Otto lifereporter@thephoenixnews.com

News Editor Laurence Watt news@thephoenixnews.com

Staff Writer Kathryn Helmore helmore@thephoenixnews.com

Contributors Stephen Dass, Paula Tran, Andrea Robertson, Gordon Hamilton, and all the UBCO Elections Candidates

Arts Editor Jacky Deng arts@thephoenixnews.com

Photo Editor Maggie Wilson photo@thephoenixnews.com

The Phoenix is the UBCO students’ free press. Editorial content is separate from the University of British Columbia Student’s Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) and from the UBC institution at large. The editorial staff encourages everyone to submit material to The Phoenix but reserves the right to withdraw submissions from publication for any reason. “Any reason” could be material deemed to be sexist, racist, homophobic, or of poor taste or quality. The Phoenix will not publish materials which condone, promote, or express actions which are illegal under current laws. This does not include articles which provide an in-depth examination of both sides of a controversial subject (e.g. legalizing marijuana). The Phoenix is published, in part, by the UBCSUO and is an active member of the Canadian University Press.

News | thephoenixnews.com | Laurence Watt - News Editor

News

UBCO STUDENT ELECTIONS: BOARD OF GOVERNORS LOCKED IN HISTORICAL TIGHT RACE PLACE HOLDER PLACE HOLDER PLACE HOLDER

UBCO precedent set with new election rules and 55 candidates running Laurence Watt News Editor

Clubs or Course Unions planning on hosting events where money is exchanged now face charges Laurence Watt News Editor

we know is that it was a decision made at the lower level and we are waiting for UBC leadership to rectify the situation.” The new club fees have provoked a fierce backlash from a number of

“ “There’s no way a club

should be considered in the same ball park as a Costco or a Big White,” said Macauley. “You shouldn’t have to spend $75 dollars to hold a bake sale that will likely maybe profit $75.”

“

Student club executives woke up to a shock a couple of weeks ago when they received an email stating that UBC is going to begin charging UBCSUO clubs and course unions the same way they charge vendors and businesses. Specifically, any student club, association or course union will now be levied a $100 fee for hosting any event where money is exchanged— this includes events with registration/ admission fees, ticket or other sales, and ‘by donation’ events. The only situations in which fees do not are apply are meetings, free events or events hosted in the UNC foyer. It is essential to note that the new fees are being charged by UBC and not the Students’ Union. According to Tom Macauley and the Students’ Union, there was no prior warning that new club charges were coming into effect. “UBC has not told us how the decision came to be and essentially their argument has been that these fees have always existed, however it’s only in February they began charging them,” said Macauley. “All

student clubs, in particular VOCO, which hosts a number of events and activities throughout the school year. However, students should be aware that Tom Macauley and the Students’ Union have stressed their dedication to fighting the new charges.

“There’s no way a club should be considered in the same ball park as a Costco or a Big White,” said Macauley. “You shouldn’t have to spend $75 dollars to hold a bake sale that will likely maybe profit $75.” Despite the outrage and on-going conflict, Macauley has stated that he is confident a resolution will emerge soon and that, until that day comes, the Students’ Union is offering to cover the costs being charged to clubs. Furthermore, Macauley has also stated that there are some positives to take from the ongoing negotiations with UBC. “During these talks we’ve also had an opportunity to talk a lot about improving food safety standards on campus and obtaining greater acknowledgement of expectations.” Ultimately, in the midst of the anger and frustration, students, club members and executives should be confident that their Students’ Union is committed to clubs and course unions and is doing everything in its power to reach a resolution and cover the cost of the fees in the meantime.

“In total, 55 candidates are

running in the election, with 11 running for the Board of Governors’ position, 15 candidates for 6 Senator-at-Large positions and 9 candidates for 4 Director-at-Large positions.

“

CLUBS AND COURSE UNIONS SLAPPED WITH EVENT FEES

Governors position are Terry Zhang, Nishat Tasnim, Gina Sangha, Ibrahim Maneka, Taylor Wilson, Louie Khasawneh, Jamie Sandhu, Shira Sneg, Gurman Buttar, Josh Fender and Matt Hoogveld. Although a few candidates have past experience with student governance, the majority of those running for BOG and the Senate are first and second year students—a fact that challenges the notion that apathy towards student politics has been institutionalized at UBCO.

Over the last 2 years, student elections have exhibited relatively low voter turnout and particular positions have gone uncontested or without any candidate running at

“

Although a few candidates have past experience with student governance, the majority of those running for BOG and the Senate are first and second year students.

“

Photo by Sarah James/ The Phoenix News

UBCO’s student election season is finally upon us, a fact you may have noticed after seeing poster after poster of candidates telling you to vote for them without any specific reason, or after spending one minute on Yik Yak. However, whether you are annoyed with the perpetual Facebook notifications or the inability to go to class without seeing the same face over and over again, this election is actually one to pay close attention too. As it stands, with an unprecedented number of candidates running, new rules, and a change to the positioning of the voting station, this election has already turned out to be different than previous years. In total, 55 candidates are running in the election, with 11 running for the Board of Governors’ position, 15 candidates for 6 Senator-at-Large positions and 9 candidates for 4 Director-at-Large positions. Historically, the position for Board of Governors has typically been contested by only a small number of candidates and, although past races have been heated, no race has ever been as heavily contested as this year. Running for the Board of

all. In contrast, this year there is a candidate running for every position, and it is expected that this election will draw out a much larger voter turnout as the polling booth will be set up in the courtyard instead of the UNC. Essentially, although students are going to have a more difficult time than usual deciding whom to vote for, this election is certainly going to go down as one of the most contested in UBCO’s history.

Laurence Watt - News Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

News

TRUMP AND CLINTON CLOSER TO NOMINATION AFTER SUPER TUESDAY Americans vote in over a dozen new state primaries Mark Dreger Current Affairs Editor

PLACE HOLDER PLACE HOLDER PLACE HOLDER

Photo by Maggie Wilson/The Phoenix News

STUDENTS SET TO VOTE ON STUDENT REFUGEE PROGRAM On March 16 and 17 students will be given the chance to vote on paying an extra $2.00 a semester to support young refugees from around the world. Laurence Watt News Editor

Last week, the UBCSUO announced that students will have the opportunity to vote on the support of the World University Service of Canada Student Refugee Program. The referendum, which is set to be held on the same days as the student elections on March 16 and 17, will ask students whether they are in favour of paying an extra fee of $2.00 a semester to give young refugees around the world an opportunity to come and study at UBCO. If the motion passes, the extra fees will be collected over the next 4 years and will enable the UBCSUO and UBC Admin to cooperate with helping refugees transition from great hardship and achieve their degree at UBC. Although this initiative is new to

the Okanagan campus, it is not new to UBC’s Vancouver campus or many other schools in Canada who have already implemented this agreement. However, given the relatively small size of UBCO, if students were to vote yes to the motion, it would be a monumental achievement for the Okanagan campus. Notable players lobbying for this motion include the UBCSUO’s VP Internal Romey Jaswal, VP Finance Ryan Kaila and UBC AVP Ian Cull. According to UBCSUO President Tom Macauley, this is not just a vote for a program but also a vote to change a life. “Regardless of whether you vote for one candidate or another in this election, vote to change a life, vote for compassion and vote “yes” on March 16th and 17th to support the Student

Refugee Program at UBCO.” This initiative concludes a year in which UBC’s Okanagan campus has taken massive strides in acknowledging and addressing the worldwide refugee problem. International Programs and Services, and the Political Science Student Association, held multiple discussions during the first semester talking about the refugee crisis and identifying potential solutions. The UBCSUO launched a number of charity initiatives and raised over $25,000 worth of medical supplies for Syrian refugees; and we at the Phoenix conducted an interview with the Alshahoud family, who arrived in Canada last May, to gain a first-hand account of their story and struggles.

On the busiest day of the election primary schedule, Super Tuesday saw voters go to the polls in 11 states for each party. As was expected, Donald Trump came out on top winning 7 states over Ted Cruz’s 3 states and Marco Rubio’s 1 state victory. Out of his 7 state victories, Trump was the clear winner in Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Tennessee, where he won by at least 14% in the 4 states, his biggest victory coming in Massachusetts with 49%, 31% higher than second-place John Kasich. After congratulating Ted Cruz for winning Texas in his speech at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump wasted no time attacking Hillary Clinton. “She’s been there [with Obama] for so long,” Trump said, with his former opponent New Jersey governor Chris Christie standing behind him, “I mean, if she hasn’t straightened [income inequality] out by now, she’s not going to straighten it out in the next four years. It’s just going to become worse and worse.” In a solid second place, Ted Cruz won Oklahoma, Alaska, and his home state of Texas, the largest for Super Tuesday’s delegates. During his speech, he declared that his campaign “is the only campaign that has beaten, that can beat, and will beat Donald Trump.” He also used his victories to unite Republicans, because “so long as the field remains divided, Donald Trump’s path to the nomination remains more likely. And that would be a disaster for Republicans, for Conservatives, and for the Nation.” Shortly after Trump said that Marco Rubio “hasn’t won anything, period,” Rubio was declared winner of Minnesota by 8% over Cruz, putting Trump in a distant third for the first time in the primaries. “Two weeks from tonight, right here in Florida, we are going to send a message loud and clear,” Rubio said, referring to his home state of Florinda’s primary on March 15. “We are going to send a message that the party of Lincoln and Reagan, and the presidency of the United States, will never be held by a con artist.” Rubio has less than a third of the delegates that Trump has. John Kasich, who came in a strong second in Vermont, stayed in the race for Super Saturday, but after Ben Carson

came in fourth or fifth in every state on Tuesday, he dropped out of the race on Friday before Super Saturday, 2 days after saying he did not see “a political path forward.” “I did the math, I looked at the states, I looked at the delegate counts. I simply realized that it wasn’t going to happen,” Carson said at an annual conservative political conference, “and if that was the case, I didn’t want to interfere with the process.” Carson was the only candidate to pass Trump in popularity in November. For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton, like Trump, won 7 of the 11 states with victories ranging from 64%-78% save Massachusetts, where Clinton won by only 1.4%. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. But work is not ‘make America great again.’ America never stopped being great. We have to make America whole again,” Clinton said, referencing Trump’s slogan. Not to be outdone, Bernie Sanders strongly won 4 states and dominated his home state of Vermont with 86%. “At the end of tonight, 15 states will have voted, 35 states remain,” Sanders said in his victory speech in Vermont, “and let me assure you, we are going to take our fight for economic justice, for social justice, for environmental sanity, for a world of peace to every one of those states.” On Super Saturday, the primaries took a slight turn. Not only did Ted Cruz have strong wins in Kansas and Maine, but Sanders beat Clinton in Nebraska and Kansas, leaving Trump with 2 close wins and Clinton with only 1 strong win in Louisiana. Although most believe the presidential race will be between Trump and Clinton, it is not yet final. Despite Clinton having strong support in former confederate states, some suggest that Sanders has more support in northern states, making the nomination process still open until the end. Cruz is rising in popularity and is slowly becoming the alternative to Trump, leaving that race still uncertain. Clinton nearly triples Sanders’s delegates thanks to her large support of superdelegates, and Trump still leads Cruz, but by less than 90 delegates.

of defiance against the UN sanctions. North Korea says their missile programme is for scientific purposes, but even China does not believe the claims. North Korea is believed to have over 1,000 missiles, including long-range missiles that could reach any area between India and Alaska. Despite China being a long-time ally of North Korea, they managed to reach an agreement with the United States after seven weeks of discussions. Russia, another North Korean ally, warned that North Korea is creating

a legal basis for other nations to use military force against them. On March 5, the Philippines impounded a North Korean vessel in their port in Subic in the north of the country, saying they will not allow the ship to leave. “The world is concerned over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and as a member of the UN, the Philippines has to do its part to enforce the sanctions,” said Philippines Presidential Spokesman Manolo Quezon.

UN IMPOSES TOUGHEST SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA North Korea launches missile near Japan as their few allies turn away Mark Dreger Current Affairs Editor

The UN Security Council, including China, has voted to impose the toughest sanctions on North Korea in 20 years. The vote comes in reaction to North Korea’s recent nuclear tests that violated already existing sanctions. Under the sanctions, all cargo going in and out of North Korea will be inspected. North Korea is not allowed to export: coal and iron used for their missile programmes, all gold, titanium

ore, and other rare earth minerals, small weapons, and recreational sports equipment like snowmobiles and other watercraft. 16 individuals and 12 organizations have also been added to a list of 60 individuals currently with travel bans and asset freezes. South Korea’s President, Park Geunhye, has welcomed the sanctions and hopes North Korea “will now abandon

its nuclear development programme and embark on a path of change.” “Pyongyang should be learning that the types of threats they continue to make will have consequences,” said Daniel Pinkston, a North Korea researcher at Troy University. North and South Korea are still technically at war, since the Korean War only ended in an armistice in 1953. Hours after the sanctions were announced, North Korea launched short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan. Correspondents say it is an act

Elections | thephoenixnews.com | March 14th 2016

CANDIDATE PROFILES PRESIDENT

Blake Edwards

Ryan Kaila

Trophy Ewila

My name is Blake Edwards and I am a fifth year Political Science and History student. I am originally from Castlegar, BC, but I now consider Kelowna home. I am running for President of the UBCSUO because I am passionate about our campus. I believe we have something special here and the Okanagan is UBC’s best kept secret. There has been a disconnect between the SUO and the vast majority of students and campus partners. As President, I will change the culture of

the SUO by using my experiences over the last 5 years to create a more vibrant, transparent, and fun atmosphere that truly allows students to define and enhance their educational, social, and personal lives here at UBC. I am running on the values of cohesion, transparency, and accountability. I want to engage with the student population to better enhance our resources and services. I have a proven track record working with students and campus/community

partners. I believe that students should know exactly what their fees are financing. And, the Executives and Board of Directors should be accountable for their actions; I absolutely hate false promises. In addition, I have 8 highlighted initiatives that address a large amount of students concerns.

Hey Everyone! My name is Ryan Kaila, a 4th year Biochemistry Student from Kelowna and I am the current UBCSUO VP Finance. As my term comes to a close I want to use all my experience and knowledge gained to represent all students as the new UBCSUO President. I have spent the past 4 years at UBCO working to improve our campus culture and advocating for student rights. Some Highlights: As the 2015/2016 UBCSUO VP Finance I expanded the role with the formation of Harmony UBCO, a group of student leaders

representing each cultural Club across campus expanding intercultural relations. Through Harmony UBCO we created the Intercultural Banquet, Minute of Silence event and UBCO’s first ever Language Day. I completely redeveloped funding applications for all Clubs by introducing 1-on-1 meetings with representatives to further transparency in all decisions made. Alongside VP Internal Romey, we created the MOU for UBCO’s first Student Refugee Program, which is set to kick off next semester! Encouraging Student Lead Initiatives has

always been on the top of my list and I was so proud to support Student Lead Initiatives like the MarshMellow Lounge and UBCO Canvas Project this past year. What I Plan to Do: Expand Food Options on Campus: In current SUO businesses and exploring the possibility of further expansion with a new cafe while keeping prices AFFORDABLE Enriching Campus Community: Allocating additional funding towards Student Initiatives like mentioned above, while maintaining same funding for the heart/soul of our campus, Student

My name is TROPHY EWILA. I am Fourth year, Economics student I honored to be running for president of UBCSUO. I like stepping on crunchy leaves, football (soccer) and good books. I love stories and I base my world around them. Conversations are the best part of community. In my 4 years at UBC I have been privileged to meet great people. Creative, intelligent individuals doing great things. I would love to use the student union as a platform to share these stories and the

ideas in those voices. I applied to be president because I felt it necessary to use the position as a leverage point for students. My policy of open doors, open ears and open minds is best executed in the position of president. I am good at listening because I enjoy stories. My past experience as an entrepreneur, student leader and event coordinator has molded my discipline, drive and work ethic. At this point I can confidently say I am the best person for the job.

I have a simple and effective model to enhance the service delivery of the student union as a whole. Open doors to encourage students to come and share their ideas, Open ears to listen deeply to what is being said and an open mind for understanding. I will dedicate at least four hours daily for walk in sessions with myself guaranteeing presence. A personal yet plausible task I intend to work on is an open textbook resource. I know it will be difficult but it must be pursued.

Revenue and Student Space, Textbooks, Sustainability Fund, Mental Health, Food, and UBrewC.

Campus and Community Engagement, The UBCSUO Cup – Faculty Competition, Off Campus Associations. Equal Representation for all Constituencies: Introducing Board of Directors constituencies reps to ensure equal representation (Aboriginal/Accessibility/ International Student/Pride/Women’s representatives) Partnering with Career Services to increase Student Employment Mental Health Awareness push Cheaper Student Resources through UsedBookstore (Textbooks, Laptops & Printing)

VP FINANCE & OPERATIONS as the decision I made to prolong my degree and take an extra year to focus on involvement with the community and our campus I would love to pursue something that I can use as a strong foundation and hands on job experience in an area that I hope to one day be doing as a career. I will create transparency, being proactive with providing students with the knowledge of where their money is being spent and have the ability to answer questions of any shape or form.

I will be looking into to sustainable growth as our campus grows and how short term we can improve our businesses in the most beneficial way possible. I will become responsible for all good and bad that happens with the Students’ Unions finances, this might seem like an obvious thing but people tend to forget that they are responsible for their actions on how they spend your money.

Daman Bual

I am a second year management student who is the current Associate Vice President Services and Senator representing the Faculty of Management. I am an individually wanting to pursue a profession career in finance. Creating a well organized schedule and being on time is very important to me because I hate wasting someones times. I love public speaking and gaining knowledge in literally anything. I applied for this position because

Mouhammad Mbengue

My name is Mohamed Mbengue but everyone calls me Moh! I am originally from Senegal. I am third year Bsc. Major in Economics and Bsc. minor in Mathematics and Statistics. I enjoy playing sports, the outdoors and interacting with people. From a young age, I have always been fascinated by the way people living in society interact in order to meet their needs and improve their well-being. I have a keen interest in service, social justice and responsibility.

Interacting with others has taught me that there is a rhythm inside us all and although we may have different rhythms within us, it is possible to create a harmony that will capture all the notes and beats that define our identities. As your next VP finance, I will make sure the door will always be open to any club executive or student at UBCO. What is a student union if we do not constantly ask for your feedback on daily issues? We’ll also all

together put up a better fight through the ABCS for the removal of the 2.5 % interest on BC government student loans. I will assist clubs by offering new treasury training programs. My goal is to empower club executives to better lead their organizations by providing resources to increase financial literacy, and organizational skills. Also, every student want to know exactly where the SUO fees are going. Transparency will be improved through a complete fee breakdown, including the financial

equation and input figures used in calculating fees. I will work in reducing sunk costs of student clubs to facilitate increase of profits.

March 14th 2016 | thephoenixnews.com |

Elections

VP SERVICES

Layne Richardson

Peter Teng

I am a fourth year student at UBCO, studying Human Kinetics. I have been involved with the Students’ Union for three years, one as a Director-At-Large (2013-2014) and two as VP Services (2014-2015 and 2015-2016). The past two years as VP Services have been an absolute blast, so I thought I would run one more time. From coming up with the idea of Recess and growing Frosh to new

heights, to hosting weekly events in The Well, I look forward to every day in the office. Every student will have a different experience at UBCO, and each year I have put on new events and started new initiatives to enhance the student experience, and next year will be no different! If re-elected, I plan on first and foremost advocating for a fall reading break, as it has been proven that a proper break is necessary for

students’ mental health. Second, I will host a Health Week during the school year, with each day having a different focus, including mental health, how to properly care for your body and also extending awareness towards our many resources and resource centres on campus. Third, I would like to extend Frosh from strictly being a concert, to include a multitude of different events and activities! Campus life outside of the

classroom is essential for the mental health of students and integral for the transformative learning experience UBC is known for. By focusing on activities contributing to healthier students mentally and physically we foster a better atmosphere for learning.

My name is Peter Teng and I am running for UBCSUO’s next VP Services. I am a 4th year Human Kinetics Students and I’m a current acting UBCSUO Director at Large. I am running for UBCSUO’s next VP Services because I believe that throwing successful events is within my repetoire. I’m the current acting President of the

Asian Student Association. This year we have helped put together the ASA Ice Breaker, Harmony, Halloween Haunted House, ASA Thanksgiving dinner, ASA Chinese New Year dinner and UBCO’s Got Talent. Each event we have thrown has pushed 100 to 600 people in attendance. I will take this role with responsibilty and make informed

decision. The UBCSUO spends significant amounts of money on throwing parties like Frosh and Recess. I want to ensure safe parties but also events where our money is well spent. Instead of paying for events that do not meet expectations, or are not popular with students, I will make sure to deliver on what the students want. This is not what has been

happening for the past few years, it is time for a change.

VP INTERNAL

Romey Jaswal

My name is Romey Jaswal and I’m the current acting Vice-President Internal. I was born and raised in Kelowna and now in my Fourth Year of Biochemistry. I’m re-running for the position of VicePresident Internal because I’ve become so passionate about my job experience and initiatives. One of the things I’m most proud of is our campaign to collect medical supplies for field hospitals in Syria. We have collected around $30 000 retail of medical supplies which could save thousands of lives. This is one of

many initiatives that I completed and made me passionate to renew my role as VP Internal. I would like to continue my efforts on inclusivity, representation, and recognition. Inclusivity will begin by developing The UBCSUO Special Education Program. The university concerns the education of students with exceptionalities, such as students with visual impairments, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and those who are deaf or

hard of hearing. The Special Education program will provide students with disability resources including scholarship programs and tutor services. I will add to recognition by reaffirming the UBCO campus to be on unseated Indigenous territory. If elected, I will continue an initiative that all undergraduate students will receive a recommendation to take an Indigenous Themed Credit. My last initiative I want to complete is something that has been close to me.

I’ve spent many years working with students and community members with Mental Retardation and have learned so many things from them. I will begin the UBCSUO Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. This campaign is an ongoing effort to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed).”

VP EXTERNAL Kim Rutledge

I am originally from Quesnel, BC, a small town about six hours north of here. I am now in my second year studying sciences, but I have a very strong interest in student politics and business, which is what drew me to the Students’ Union. I also really like making new friends, trying new things, and cooking….I love food. I am passionate about connecting and engaging with students as well as community leaders. I believe I have

the necessary skills to professionally collaborate with both the university and businesses, improving the relationship between University students and the community. I also really like the political aspect of the position; lobbying and liaising with federal, provincial and municipal governments to further benefit our student body. My main platform points are collaboration, connection, and clarity. Firstly, I intend to collaborate with

current community partners and new, potential partners. I believe developing and nurturing these relationships will have both positive short and long term effects for us as students. My second pillar is connection. I intend to connect with our students and advocate with our University leaders in a professional manner that allows student issues to be addressed. Lastly, is my commitment to clarity. In light of recent events on social media, I do not believe the work that is

done by the SU is being communicated clearly enough to the student body. As your VP External I intend to maintain a communication network with students on issues that the Students’ Union is working on.

Elections | thephoenixnews.com | March 14th 2016

DIRECTOR AT LARGE (4 POSITIONS)

Murad Alnahef

Raminder Sandhu

Viswanath Javvaji Priyathem

Inioluwa Oladosu

Chris Nawrot

Gala to Harmony, as well as running a student club; the Arab Student Association. I plan to take advantage of the experience that I have gained to incentivize students across campus to do get involved, in order to help build our community. This is why I have come to realize that nothing beats the feeling of helping others become a part of a bigger and more interconnected community. If I get elected, I will work tirelessly to create an environment of trust, where

I am an international student, who is currently in his third year in the management program. I enjoy keeping a healthy life style within my daily routine. I like to think of myself as an outgoing individual who tackles everyday challenges and thoroughly enjoys new experiences, one of which is skiing which I am trying to pick up at the moment. Throughout my university experience at UBCO, we kept hearing the phrase “Tuum Est”, which translates

to “It’s up to you”. UBC’s message to its students is very simple; the more effort you invest into your education, the more you will get out of your degree. I plan to carry out that message to the rest of the students here at UBCO, to open their eyes to the potential they can achieve in this university. Over the past year I was fortunate enough to work alongside student leaders, whom have inspired me to get involved in different initiatives ranging from the Syrian Refugee

Raminder Sandhu is a running for the position of Director at Large for the UBC student union. He is a Nursing student that has been involved in multiple events with UBC during his first year. By electing Raminder for the position of Director at Large, he aims to make the campus life better. He will try to increase the number of Supplemental Learning Classes

available for the students in all faculties. He will also encourage more food venders to be available and incorporate much more social gatherings for the UBC community. By electing Raminder Sandhu for the position of Director at Large, you are bringing your voice into the conversation.

I guess just a name doesn’t narrate a story so let me tell you one. My name is Viswanath Javvaji and I am currently a First year student at UBCO. I’ve had much of an international experience living in the UK, Hong Kong, India, Canada and now Dubai. Life never stops to thrill me and applying for the Director at Large Position opens up a new frontier for me which I can embrace fully and give my fullest potential. I applied for

this position with the intention to bring upon a change to this campus, no matter how big or small it might be. Evolution is something which anyone and anything must follow. A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. My main aims initially in office would be to get a consensus or hold a townhall meeting along with my fellow SUO members to help find out and target key specfiic issues

on campus. Peronsally, my main aims are to help bring a Sustainable, Balanced and Enriched experience to all living on campus.

I am a 19 year old student attending UBCSUO. I am member of the comedy group OttoHumour, we make comedy skits and we collaborate with the UBCSUO on some videos. I enjoy making videos with my friends and music! I’ve been making music for years now, it’s something I really like doing! I have performed music twice at UBCO once at talent show and at the 2015 African Caribbean Student Club Gala.

I applied for this position because I want to see my ideas become a part of the UBCO community. I live on the residence here at UBCO so I have been getting the full university experience here and they are some things that I would like to change and make better. I want to be a Director at Large because they work closely with the UBCSUO executive team so I feel that this position gets me close with the executives so my ideas get heard.

I will fight for more and better food options here on campus. I was on a meal plan in my first year here at UBCO so I know the cons of being on a meal plan. I would like to expand the food options here on campus. I will also throw better campus parties.

I’m a second year Arts student with an emphasis in Economics. In 2014/2015 I was elected as Councillor/ Volunteer Coordinator of the Okanagan College Student’s Union. My personal initiatives involved increasing student enrollment in extra-curricular activities, and planning the first OCSU sponsored event in the new Atrium building. I’m extremely excited to be a part of the UBCSUO, and have since become a volunteer for the organization.

My application for Director at Large was principally based on the desire to personify the best interest of union constituents. It would afford me the autonomy to work towards enterprise that students express the most interest towards. I’m confident that my experience as an elected representative, and event coordinator make me an ideal candidate for the position. The enhancement of UBCO’s scholastic reputation will be of outmost

concern to me. One of my initiatives would be to broaden the amount of quality research opportunities in a fiscally responsible manner. A newly created undergraduate research award could be partly funded by government grants and external organizational funding. Also, I promise to advocate on behalf of students for much needed research equipment to accommodate individual programs. Another concern is the rising rates

all students can be confident that their voices and concerns are being heard and acted upon. This will incentivize students to become more actively engaged in their campus, and therefore, their community; through supporting initiatives that aim at bridging the gap between the different student bodies and thus unifying our efforts towards common goals.

of post-secondary tuition for both domestic and international students. I firmly believe we need to take a more effective approach in relation to these matters. I’m in favor of organizing rallies and standing as a cohesive unit in opposition of arbitrary government funding decisions.

March 14th 2016 | thephoenixnews.com |

Elections

curriculum, academic policies and your experience here at UBC. As a senator at large I shall bring to the forefront of discussions the voice of my fellow students, your voice. I shall advocate for an academic focus that places more value on developing a passion and in depth understanding of the courses taught and not simply a 51%+ pass. In my time here at UBC I have

met a wide array of passionate and diverse but interconnected people. The community we have here reaffirms my belief in the progress that we can effect when working together. So allow me to stand with you as we move towards an enriching and fulfilling university experience.

has influenced me for the better. I want to be your voice, and eradicate corruption. I want to hear your questions, but most importantly I want you to answer me this one: What do you want from the Students’ Union? I want to provide it for you. I am interested in the arts, media outlets such as The Phoenix News and Heatwave Radio, and academic and extracurricular

happiness for as many students as possible. I strongly support mental health resources and I want to create a comfortable environment for people to feel like they can be open and vulnerable with others. I am always here to talk; I love getting to the bottom of problems. I will also push for a Fall Reading Break to encourage new students to return home and de-stress at a vulnerable time. I will

promote the students’ interests in our media, in our meetings as the SUO, and even in pursuit of major changes from the UBC governors themselves. A vote for Easton Doran is a vote for expression, student health, and a voice that will undoubtedly be heard. Thank you.

Easton Duran

Who I am: Psychology student, Heatwave Radio Director of Operations, Well employee, musician, and passionate philosopher. Why I want to run: I honestly believe I can ground the Union and the institution at UBCO in a way few have done before. I am an excellent, honest, transparent critical thinker and have a strong ethical compass. I want to influence this school, as it

interests are most prevalent in topics of accounting, finance and economics. I enjoy a challenging conversation that forces me to think critically. In my spare time, I like to play FIFA, drums and chess. I love to smile and meet new people. The primary reason for my application is my steadfast belief that I can drive meaningful change together with everyone at the students’ union.

The perspective I would bring to the table is unique and the multifaceted skill-set I acquired through diverse experiences holds the potential to truly innovate the students’ union for the greater success of the entire student community. In addition to ensuring proper governance of the students’ union, I would devote myself for the betterment of the student experience.

I plan to advocate for a program that would integrate artists and talented performers in order to enrich the cultural capital of our campus. I also intend to propose a late-night shuttle service on weekends for student, so that their budgets are less strained and their university experience is significantly enhanced.

Adeet Haroon

I am a 3rd year Management student with a minor in Economics running for Director-At-Large for the UBC Students’ Union Okanagan. Originally from Dhaka, Bangladesh, I have been a resident of Canada since December, 2011. The experience in Canada has been beyond humbling and I was fortunate enough to transition into this new society with all the grace that I could have asked for. My academic

Mohamed Azzam

It has always been my desire to make a positive impact in our world. I believe this can be accomplished by joining the Student Union. As an Egyptian teenager, my formative years were shaped by an extended period of unrest, demonstrations, and political change, which has afforded me a unique perspective. I hope to bring my political and democratic awareness, while simultaneously sharing my

worldview with my fellow students and ideally I will gain a wider perspective myself. As I try to be a responsible citizen I believe that I can facilitate change and make a positive impact by pursuing this position. My country, unfortunately, is characterized by corruption, violence and injustice. I have always tried to remain cognizant of the complex social and political issues that shape the future. I realized that only at the precipice do we

humans evolve. As I stood outside on the balcony I witnessed my fellow countrymen fighting each other, they both want the best for Egypt but ironically are fighting on different sides. The revolution consisted of demonstrations, marches, riots, strikes, and acts of civil disobedience. Seeing this taught me that above all we need unite in order to accomplish out goals as one student body.

I hope to become involved with the Students Union in a professional capacity making significant changes at UBCO. I want to find new and creative ways of developing a healthier community, assisting in a more peaceful atmosphere, and joyful climate. To me this would be a great honor in trying to accomplish something my fellow countrymen are trying to achieve themselves.

conservation diver where I earned my Shark Diving Certification! I decided to apply for both the Director at Large and Senator at Large positions because my involvement in the school community this year really gave me the drive to become more involved in student life on campus. Through events like International Women’s Day, Pink Shirt Day, Syrian Relief Charity Gala, and initiatives like

Third Space, and Choose Love, both the SUO and the Senate have done some great work this year in student events, wellness, and community outreach and I speak for both positions when I say that I want to build off the amazing work that the current position holders have accomplished in bringing to the campus. First and foremost, I will always have my ears open to student concerns

and will speak on behalf of the student community in order to strive for a more healthy and inclusive campus. Because I believe that a healthy campus is a happy campus, I will push for more mental health initiatives, healthier and more diverse food options on campus, and a more accessible system of wellness resources.

Sun Young ‘Amy’ Park

I am currently in my second year of Arts and am heavily involved in student activities around campus. I am the current event coordinator at the UBCO Pride Resource Centre, active member of the Theta Phi sorority, and founder of the BC SPCA Club at UBCO. I currently work at the Kelowna SPCA as a recruitment volunteer and just as a fun fact, I spent a summer in Thailand as a marine

Daniel Kandle

Elections | thephoenixnews.com | March 14th 2016

Ibrahim Maneka

My name is Ibrahim Maneka and I am a fourth year management student with a specialization in finance and a minor in economics. I’m currently completing a co-op at Coca-Cola, working as their account manager in Kelowna. I plan on coming back to school to complete my final year starting from September of 2016. Over the past four years at UBC, I have held leadership positions in various student clubs, and I’ve been

regularly involved in many campus and student club events. This, along with my desire to represent the student body, has led me to run for the board of directors for my final year at UBCO. My aim is to represent the student body by implementing their ideas and listening to their suggestions and concerns. Through transparency and my candidness, I hope to encourage students to come up with ideas and suggestions

and would like to also give them the opportunity to become more comfortable engaging with the board of directors. Additionally, my skills and experience in management and as an account manager give me good background in dealing with the responsibilities required in this position. I have a great love for this campus, and the years I’ve spent here has given me a lifetime of memories.

I hope to use both my love and my experiences to make UBCO an even greater place to be, so that its students, both current and those to come, can develop an even greater love for this amazing place.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE - FACULTY REP

Arts/ Sci: Sci: Taylor Sauder

Arts/Sci:Arts: Stella Mozin

Graduate: Mathew Hoogveld

Graduate: Moein Ahmadipour

I am a first year science student at UBCO and plan to major in biochemistry. I volunteered quite a bit with the Students’ Union this past year and was the elected president of the Students’ Union at my high school. I really admire the passion that the current members of the SUO have for everything that

they do, and I would love to become part of that by being on the Board of Directors. I want to take part in creating inclusive spaces and events, and providing an amazing experience for all UBCO students. If elected I will provide representation for the Faculty of Science in Students’ Union

decisions and ensure that the voice of our students can be heard. As well, I am an advocate of mental health and want to work to remove the stigma surrounding mental illness. Students’ mental health should be of utmost importance, and I want to ensure UBCO students are taking care of themselves and

My name is Stella Mozin and I am a third year International Relations major. Some things I am passionate for or sometimes even consider my kind of therapy are traveling, soccer, and awinspiring discussions. I work at International Programs and Services and it is like a second home for me.

UBCO is a place of opportunity and your very own oyster to grow as a person. Becoming a Faculty Representative of Arts would help me grow my understanding on affairs, administration, revenue and the control of property. However most importantly, it would help me help the students. I want to start eliminating some

of the struggles the faculty has been facing in order to expand and grow. If elected I would listen to the concerns of the students. Introducing sessions, events and seminars in referral to what one can do with their major and also how to create a more colorful portfolio before graduation.

My name is Matthew Hoogveld and I am running for UBC Okanagan’s Board of governors. I am currently in my 5th year of Human Kinetics. I am a person who is able to command a room and take charge but the key ingredient to my success is being an authentic leader. Authentic leadership is an approach to leadership that I emphasize, to hold the building blocks of my life through my legitimacy and through honest relationships with my followers, which value my input and are built on ethical foundations. Moreover I believe my Transformational leadership skills allows me to raise

everyone I encounter to higher levels of morality and motivation. I always put the others in front of my needs. The skills I have developed through teamwork, volunteer, life and the classroom have given me attributes of audaciousness, spontaneous, charisma, dependability and responsibility. I owe my skills and development through all the relationships I have created through my life teaching me how important life is. My brother has shown me this the most, having Cerebral Palsy he shows me everyday that life is a gift and with challenges I face are intensified for him and for him to continue to smile and

make others smile is my driving factor to how I live my life. “Live as if you were going to die tomorrow and dream as if you were going to live forever.” I applied for the Board of Governors position because moving into grad school, my time at UBCO is transitioning into a more professional phase. I believe that my time as an undergrad I have worked in the trenches for the school, giving back as much s UBCO has given myself. From being in charge of Create, in charge of the largest Cut for Cure on campus, and President of the Human Kine5tics Student Union, these few of the moments I have given

I am glad to announce my candidacy for UBCSUO Grad Students Representative position. For the past three years, since I started my PhD in Civil Engineering at UBC’s Okanagan campus, I have felt the need for establishment of a strong communication between graduate students community and university’s executives. In my career at UBC Okanagan, I have

worked closely with majority of the grad students’ community through International Programs and Services office. During the past year I coordinated orientations for new grad students and tried my best to create a link between new and senior graduate students. I am hoping to make grad students’ voices louder and help their careers move on more smoothly, leading to a higher-quality

research.

realize the ways in which they can do so.

voice to the students of UBCO. I believe the work I have done on campus now can be translated to the Board of Governors and that I understand what the students of UBCO need and want for their education. I believe I have become a mature student that has gained confidence and admiration from those who I have impacted and I feel as though I can represent their voice on the Board of Governors and no shy away from speaking up during meeting from being a mature student. It is our time to bring UBCO to higher levels

March 14th 2016 | thephoenixnews.com |

FCCS: Josh Fender

I am currently in the Fine Arts Faculty majoring in visual arts. I am interested in improving both the mental and physical health of students on campus. I am a founder of the UBCO yoga club and a regular volunteer at the Peer Support Network. You can view my artwork on my website: joshfender. com. Next year I plan on using my position as a representative of the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS) to help create more ‘on

campus’ artistic activities and events for students inside and outside of the FCCS. These activities will open doors for students to explore their inner artist and connect with current FCCS students. Events and activities will be geared towards relieving stress, having fun, and create opportunities to meet new people. The art events would be held around campus with the intention of homogenizing students with similar interests. This would also provide FCCS students with a larger and more

Ap.Sci: Akshay Sapra

Management: Luke Cooke

variable audience to show and share their artwork with students around campus. As the representative of the FCCS I will also bring a clear and distinctive voice to the board of directors meetings. Currently I feel that there is a disconnection between the FCCS and the other faculties and I would like to help change that. UBCO is a very diverse and interconnected community that will benefit greatly from having me on the

Elections

board of directors.

Did not submit bio:

Health/ Science: Madison McCardell

SENATOR AT LARGE (6 POSITIONS) Kelly Lu

Arina Rora

Nene Azu

Hi everyone, my name is Kelly Lu and I’m running for Senator at large in this upcoming election. I started attending UBCO since September 2015 and am currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts. One of the main reasons on why I decided to run for this year’s election is because I believe each community should have the right to share their voice in a community. Furthermore, participating in a

leadership has always been one of my biggest passions throughout my whole life and my experiences have taught me on how to be a real leader in today’s world. Specifically, in communications with different kinds of people. I was born and raised in Taiwan and moved to Canada three years ago. As an international student, I understand how hard it is for our community to stand out and have our own voice

through the whole campus. And that’s exactly what I’m planning to do, to give all the international students opportunities to spread out their words and thoughts. If I get the chance to serve as a Senator, I would utilize all the resources from UBCSUO wisely and take the most advantage for helping our student community by making use of my previous experiences as a leader. In my own opinion, I have a variety of

fresh ideas and dreams that I wish to approach for our future here in UBCO as a community in general.

Hello, my name is Arina Rora, I’m from Romania and I’m running for Senator at Large. I have spent the last couple of years trying to adapt to the canadian life and people. To be honest I haven’t really gotten to the point where I can completely accept the canadian in me. Before my very first week at UBC Okanagan started I promised myself that I’m

gonna be true to myself and not pretend, not even one bit. I kept that promise and to my surprise everyone welcomed me with open arms, no judgement, just acceptance. The pride, respect and love that I felt for myself and everyone else made me want to share that feeling. Spread it. That is why as an aspiring student representative I will put

the students needs over mine. I applied for this position in order to make a difference, even if it happens to benefit one person and one person only, I’m still gonna work towards improving that one person’s life. As your future Senator at Large I would support the student voice in any type of affairs that may or may not concern them as well as work for a

new tuition strategy. Furthermore I believe you should be rewarded for more than just your academic performance that is why I would work towards initiating a new type of scholarship that would reward people’s talent, personality and passion.

I am a 3rd year international student in the Faculty of Science studying Economics and Statistics. Coming here was a very big change; the culture was especially new to me and although I have travelled and spent time abroad, Canada, and Kelowna by extension, has had a much more welcoming vibe and I am glad I picked UBCO. Over my years here, people have known me for being a friend, always ready to

listen to their and give advice. I believe these experiences, of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, are a goldmine which many should tap into, after all it’s only at university you can get this wealth of knowledge for free. After listening for so long, I believe its time to take into consideration and implementation, the things that people feel will benefit our school as a whole. When you see and hear students, during

midterms and finals, struggling to find study space because of the size of our library, it must spark something in you; at least it did in me, this burning desire to stand up for such a cause. This is exactly why I am running for Senator at Large, to be this voice, pushing for what students want, be it in the committees I serve in or lobbying other senators. I will strive to ensure that the decisions we vote for are in the best interest

of the Student Body. #MoreLibrary #WeAreTheChangeWeHopeFor

Elections | thephoenixnews.com | March 14th 2016

My name is Jason Lammers and I am a third your civil engineering student. Before coming to UBCO I attended SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary, AB, and completed a diploma in Civil Engineering Technologies. Upon completing my studies at SAIT I worked for an engineering consulting firm as a civil technologist. After gaining practical industry experience I decided to return to school to

complete an advanced diploma at Camosun College, which led me to my third year of civil engineering at UBCO. Since then, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA while remaining an active member of the student community. This experience has inspired me to bring about positive change in the faculty of applied science. If elected as the Senator of Applied Science I hope to encourage transparent and open

communication amongst faculty and students, whether it’s about fair exam practices, access to campus resources, or affordable tuition.

Hello, my name is Wainaina Gaithuma, I am from Nairobi, Kenya. At age 13, I had come to Canada to complete my high school education and in the lovely fall of 2015 I joined the UBCO family. I am currently in the faculty of Arts and Science pursing my passion for medicine. With the approach of our Student Union elections, I believed that I should run for senate at large simply for one reason,

positive progress. As a young campus new to the world, UBCO has a lot to offer and in my time here that was made beyond clear. Born into his world I have nothing to give but change, whether of me or of we. In the upcoming year if elected expect attempts to bridge our wants, needs and dreams with UBCO will be brought to the table. As UBCO progresses towards a new tomorrow driven by innovators, I would like to

be one of those visionaries and a vision held by all of us who make up UBCO is the goal. Beside you have nothing to lose but your chains of the past.

build on my work from last year and continue doing what i’m passionate about, which is fighting for students and leading the charge to leave this university a better place than when I arrived. Another reason I applied for this position is because, with an array of new students joining the senate, it’s imperative we have someone with experience of how the process works. In the senate I will only ever vote in favour of motions that are proven

to be beneficial to students and I’ll also propose utilizing available technology to help make information regarding university services more easily accessible to students. Outside the senate I will continue to do my best to ensure the Students’ Union remains financially accountable and transparent, as well continue to spearhead initiatives that encourage student participation in informative events - including but not limited to

debates and discussions pertaining to university issues and projects similar to the Canvas Project which promote inclusivity and harmonious co-existence.

Laurence Watt

I’m a third year Poli Sci major, VP of Communications for the Political Science Student Association, CoPresident of the Debate Society and News Editor for the Phoenix News. Among other things I enjoy discussing and finding solutions to issues relevant to UBCO and the once in a lifetime occasion when there’s study space in the library. I applied to run for a second term in the senate because I wish to

Murad Alnashef

fellow students, your voice. I shall advocate for an academic focus that places more value on developing a passion and in depth understanding of the courses taught and not simply a 51%+ pass. In my time here at UBC I have met a wide array of passionate and diverse but interconnected people. The community we have here reaffirms my belief in the progress that we can effect when working together. So allow me to stand with you as

we move towards an enriching and fulfilling university experience.

Daniel Kandle

Firstly I would like to clarify that I don’t wear white Vans. Mine are blue… As UBC students I believe that we are here seeking to develop our passions academically and not simply graduate with a piece of paper. The student senate is the academic governing body of the university responsible for course and program curriculum, academic policies and your experience here at UBC. As a senator at large I shall bring to the forefront of discussions the voice of my

App. Sci: Jason Lammers

Wainaina Gaithama

March 14th 2016 | thephoenixnews.com |

Kristen Morgan

Arts/ Sci: Shira Sneg

Gina Sangha

Hailee Lewis

Elisa Gallaccio

Elections

My name is Kristen, I’m a first year Physics and Computer Science major in the Faculty of Science, and I have the honour of running to be one of your six Student Senators at Large. My platform consists of three main focuses- mental health, student engagement, and learning technologies. If elected to Senate, I would push for an increase of mental health resources available to students, including increasing the availability

of councillors, continuing to further de-stigmatize mental illness, and invest in job-specific training in mental wellness for Peer Mentors. As well, I intend to introduce more transparency to the Senate. Current communications between students and Senators is one-way, and the student body deserves to have their comments and concerns heard by senators. Finally, I will focus on the learning technologies utilized by

students and faculty on campus. As a current member of the UBC Learning Uses Technology committee, I report on the effectivity of technologies like Blackboard Connect, iClickers/REEF, and Pay for Print. I am dedicated to ensuring students have access to the most advanced and best suited technology for their educational path. Voting for all UBCSUO positions is March 16 and 17, and I strongly encourage you to make your voice

heard by voting for me, Kristen Morgan, for Student Senator at Large.

I am a 5th-year psychology student from “Vancouver” (Richmond) with a passion for community, leadership, and promoting wellness. I see myself as a lifelong learner committed to helping others. I love people, Mitch Albom’s books, cooking, baking, spin classes, and puns.

bodies is incredibly helpful, especially to the other student Senators in their representation of students. With my seniority, I can do 2 valuable things: speed up the learning curve of incoming senators so that they feel apt to represent students right away, and continue to move the initiatives the outgoing senators have laid the foundation for, such as mental health. Next year is my final year as a student. My primary focus is to

make sure to cement the strides the Student Senate Caucus made after I leave. I will personally work to develop the elected student representatives so that they can effectively reach out to students, represent the student voice in the meetings they attend, and hopefully run again if they’re still students the following year. Other big priorities are to secure financial support from the UBCSUO for the Caucus; get a

website going so students can access representatives and information; keep the momentum of the mental health initiative to work on jointcampus policies like the fall reading break; and revisit the student award policy to make sure that financial aid properly supports students.

Hi there! My name is Gina Sangha and I am a third-year Science student, majoring in biology running for Senator at Large and Board of Governors this year. I have been an active member of both the local community and the UBC-Okanagan network. I decided to run this year to be an advocate for the average, everyday student. I feel this campus needs change. We’ve been represented by the same people year after year and I feel new individuals and ideas need

to be introduced to this campus. I am not another cookie-cutter candidate preaching empty promises. I am running to bring change to the UBCSUO practices. My platform consists of four major points. First of all, I will fight for more transparency in the board practices. Granting more access to the student body so there is never a grey area when it comes to allocation of funding. Next, I intended to place a cap on the rising tuition fees for both local and

international students. A third point in my campaign is making changes to the academic calendar. My two main concerns regard withdrawal dates and a lack of a full fall term reading break. I want to push back withdrawal dates so students have an opportunity to get a full understanding of their course load before being bound to the classes by withdrawal dates. Additionally, I want to push for a full fall term reading break. Lastly, I wish to unite the student body and the Student union so it’s easier for

students to voice their concerns.

My name is Hailee Lewis and I am a first year Arts student hoping to major in Psychology. I am passionate about gender equality and gender identity issues. I love to ride and compete in horseback riding in my spare time. I decided to apply for this position after attending a monthly senate meeting as well as a student senate caucus meeting, which gave

me a clear idea of the roles and expectations of a student senator. I am particularly interested in being a senate member, as I want to help further the implementation of mental health initiatives in the committees of my interest. Alongside mental health awareness, I would also like to look into whether first and second-year course should require a final exam. One of my major goals as a

senator at large is to raise awareness, especially in first and second-year students about the decisions made on their behalf by each governing bodies within UBCO. My position as a firstyear student would be advantageous to the senate as I can better represent the interest of incoming first years and second-year students. I also have the potential to offer continuity to the senate as I can hopefully continue

to serve on the UBC. senate over the course of my degree. To find out more about my platform visit my page at https://www.facebook.com/ votehaileelewis/

Hi! I’m Elisa. I’m from Vancouver, but came out to the Okanagan to earn a UBC degree and become a part of this tight-knit UBCO family. I am in my third year, studying Political Science and Economics. I’m a self-admitted TV show junkie. Winter Is Coming… Just kidding, only Game of Thrones’ new season in April. When not in class, you can find me at the Library or The Well, studying over a pint or having a laugh with friends. In my three years here, I have had

the opportunity to make friends across faculties, programs, and organizations on campus. I have also been involved in numerous student-led initiatives that gave me an opportunity to connect with students on a personal level. My time as a Senator At Large has allowed me to voice their opinions in the Senate and to the administration. I offer my candidacy for re-election because of my network, my experience, and my passion for the position. I hope for your support at the polls come election

period. I intend to guide and support incoming Senators in prioritizing our agenda for the 2016-2017 term. I have always been-and continue to be-an advocate for mental health awareness on campus, as well as a proponent for countering tuition increases and promoting new scholarships through the multiple committees I’m part of. I will continue to promote a transparent Student Caucus agenda, facilitate more student involvement in our meetings,

and be a voice for the student body. Let us work together to make that voice heard. I am here for you, UBCO.

It is valuable to combine BOG and Senate together since some policies and decisions at each body affect the other. Having someone in both

Elections | thephoenixnews.com | March 14th 2016

Did not submit bio:

Graduate: Katarina Trupara

Priscilla Babunga

Sun Young ‘Amy’ Park

BOARD OF GOVERNORS Terry Zhang

Shira Sneg

Gina Sangha

Jamie Sandhu

I’m a second year civil engineering student from Nanaimo, BC, and ever since I came to UBCO I’ve been heavily involved in extracurricular activities in school, and I’m a friendly-face on campus known for my approachable personality! Currently, I’m a Student Senator on the UBCO Senate, VicePresident External for the Engineering Society, and Social Coordinator for Sigma Phi Delta. Other than that I like to drop in on a lot of events in and around campus!

The Board has faced numerous controversies in the past year such as Gupta’s resignation, opposing the divestment of $1.5 billion in fossil fuel industries, sexual assault cases, international tuition hikes, and general transparency issues in the Board. I believe that I can provide a strong voice and firm opinions in the Board meetings and putting the interest of UBC Okanagan students first. Based on my leadership experience and having to deal with political matters in

these roles, I can easily bring up issues that matter to students through my media outlets and I’m very accessible and approachable to the concerns of students by having a wide audience of UBCO students in my network. Some of the biggest complaints on campus are the lack of healthy food options, lack of study space, and general lack of infrastructure. To fix this, I want be an advocate for the UBC Okanagan Campus Plan which will provide the expansion of new

academic/research facilities, new food services, and new campus resources, I will do this by seeking nomination to the Board’s Property Committee, where I can lobby for students’ interests by recommending changes and fund allocations to the Plan, such as the ongoing library expansion, formalized transit connections to Quail Ridge, and spaces for new food options and services.

and issues like transparency at the Board. This in mind, I realized that my experience, knowledge, skills, and positive relationships across both UBC campuses would prove as an asset to my fellow students when decisions that affect them take place just as I have for the past 3 years. BOG meets 5 times/year, which is not a lot to create change, especially with a new face that has to learn the ropes. Having a knowledgeable

leader means that students can rest knowing that action starts from the get-go instead of halfway through their term. This is not about me; it is about you. My focus is in transparency, student engagement, student supports (e.g. financial aid, health), cross-campus collaboration, and organizational sustainability. In a nutshell, I am here to emphasize the Okanagan campus

as with our library expansion and student supports, while also working toward the overall vision of UBC. I do this by reaching out to all people involved. To learn more, come chat, go to shirasneg.com, or email me at shirasnegatubc@gmail.com. I am here for you, so please reach out!

the same people year after year and I feel new individuals and ideas need to be introduced to this campus. I am not another cookie-cutter candidate preaching empty promises. I am running to bring change to the UBCSUO practices. My platform consists of four major points. First of all, I will fight for more transparency in the board practices. Granting more access to the student

body so there is never a grey area when it comes to allocation of funding. Next, I intended to place a cap on the rising tuition fees for both local and international students. A third point in my campaign is making changes to the academic calendar. My two main concerns regard withdrawal dates and a lack of a full fall term reading break. I want to push back withdrawal dates so students have an opportunity to get a

full understanding of their course load before being bound to the classes by withdrawal dates. Additionally, I want to push for a full fall term reading break. Lastly, I wish to unite the student body and the Student union so it’s easier for students to voice their concerns.

I have so far spent 3 years out of my 4-year degree here at UBC Okanagan studying International Relations complimented with an English minor. I come from Edmonton, Alberta; two of my siblings attended UBCO as well. Notably, I am a congenial person, I enjoy conversation; if I can say one thing, my appearance may be intimidating, but you’ll find I am the complete opposite. Come say hi.

Why I decided to apply for the Board of Governors position more specifically was when I investigated the responsibility the role entails and the BoG website itself. However when I was surfing the BoG website there was a specific piece of dialogue which caught my attention, its said, “decisions (made by the Board) are ultimately made in the best overall interest of the University.” I think first and foremost these decision should be

made in the interest of the Student, the population that is most affected by these decisions. Often these “efficient” solutions overlook the student; something the Student Representative has the ability to influence. A university is established as an institution because of its students, it should aim to govern in the interest of the student; publicity and financial gains should follow. As far as what I will do has yet to be determined as issues come and go, so I

hope to maintain my ear to the ground and continue as I have done, maintain steady communication among my peers and listen to needs and wants of the population I would be representing. Personally, as far as current campus issues go I would like to recommence the discussion in regards the UBCO Cycling route, and furthermore see the ratification of this much needed utility for our campus.

Next year is my last year at UBCO as a student. It is also an important year of transition with a new President joining our University

March 14th 2016 | thephoenixnews.com |

Nishat Tasnim

Matt Hoogveld

Louie Khasawneh

Gurman Buttar

I’m a first-generation university student from Dhaka, Bangladesh. I graduated with a BSc (Hon.) in Biology in Spring 2015 and then transitioned into the UBCO Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Masters program. I’m a nerdy do-gooder, campuscheerleader, and sci-fi lover. On campus, I’m plugged into some really neat labs such as the Gibson Lab Centre for Microbiome and Inflammatory

Research and the Humanist Data Lab. When I’m not in the lab, I am usually volunteering, walking along City Park, watching TED talks, hiding away reading, pondering the nature of the universe and/or existence, or thinking about the future (these thoughts are sometimes apocalyptic). Running for BOG was something that occurred to me after a series of events sent the opportunity my

leadership skills allows me to raise everyone I encounter to higher levels of morality and motivation. I always put the others in front of my needs. The skills I have developed through teamwork, volunteer, life and the classroom have given me attributes of audaciousness, spontaneous, charisma, dependability and responsibility. I owe my skills and development through all the relationships I have created through my life teaching me how important life is. My brother has shown me this the most, having Cerebral Palsy he shows me everyday that life is a gift and with

Elections

way. I am running because a) it’s an opportunity to serve my campus and represent our campus community, and b) I think I can bring a strong voice to the board, and the experience I’ve gained through five years at UBC. Being on the Board is a privilege and duty. In reference to what I specifically would like to do, it boils down to representing our campus in a positive light and supporting the

human potential of this space through healthy administrative practices. I think the UBCO campus has great opportunity to empower students, and make meaningful contributions to the local and global community. My hope is to engage with the board to make sure we are making ethical and sustainable decisions to support ingenuity and growth at our campus.

challenges I face are intensified for him and for him to continue to smile and make others smile is my driving factor to how I live my life. “Live as if you were going to die tomorrow and dream as if you were going to live forever.” The Board of Governors is based around research, innovation, engagement and learning and I believe that if I were to be elected into this position I would bring back UBCO. Bring the strongest voice that there ever has, to allow UBCO to become one with UBC Vancouver and not just the sister school. UBCOs’ innovation

and desire for excellence is what I will pursue within myself to allow you, the students a voice in what you want your education, your life, and your school to be. With the visions of the New president I will work interchangeable. With humble honesty, the Board of Governors is a well oiled group of people deciding the future of our school and I can promise you numerous things, but my one promise is to have a voice that will not be left in the dark, I specifically will represent you, the students and together we will create the future if UBCO.

I am a second year student majoring in Economics and minoring in Political Science. I am currently the Vice-President of the Arab Student Association and a former member of the Academic and Advising Policy Committee at the university of Illinois, Chicago. I have moved around quite a bit, and I believe that has worked to my advantage and helped me become more experienced, well rounded, and knowledgeable.

I believe that my multicultural experiences enable me to relate to a larger and more diverse student community. As someone who has experienced the difficulties of transitioning from culture to culture, I understand the value and importance of amplifying the voice behind students’ concerns and interests. As a result of my encounters with people of different ethnicities, I am now a more open-minded and

understanding individual. With my approachable nature, I aim to unify the student body under one umbrella and voice out their suggestions without limitations to the BoG. I find it crucial that every student here at UBCO feels at home and comfort and I will work tirelessly to achieve this goal. My platform introduces the idea of bridging the relationship between the administration, Board of Governors, and student body. I find it of great

importance to showcase transparency in the decision-making process as well as increase the employability of students within the Okanagan. All in all, though, I aim to redefine student politics by introducing the first ever campus wide conference aimed at voicing student’s opinions and suggestions. A detailed version of my platform can be found on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ events/1068210033201179/

Hi, my name is Gurman Buttar. I am a candidate for the Board of Governors. I am a second year Microbiology student. That wants to rebuild the bridge between the Board of Governors and the students. If elected I want to represent YOU and let your voice be heard by the Board of Governors. I will also say “NO” to any further increases in tuition and housing because we as students already pay

enough as it is. Also, I want to put funds into projects that benefit the students like a bigger library so we can increase the student capacity of the library and provide more amenities. In addition with these funds I want to have more reasonably priced, healthier food options on campus. Sexual assault is a topic that arises at many schools but they still tend not to take action. So I want to implement stand-alone

sexual assault policies that will help the students. Furthermore, I want to make sure the wellbeing and mental health of all students is seen after. Along with that I want to push for the John Hindle Drive connecting UBCO to Glenmore Road to be moved ahead and improve cycling lanes. If elected to the Board of Governors the concerns of the students is my first priority and will push my hardest for

those concerns to be heard. To build a better quality of life at UBCO it starts with the students.

Arts | thephoenixnews.com | Jacky Deng - Arts Editor

Arts

ARTIST PROFILE: A TAKE ON BEAUTY STANDARDS

Photos by Maggie Wilson/ The Phoenix News

Maggie Wilson a girl ‘on fire’ Sarah James Production Manager

Maggie Wilson is in her fourth year in the Fine Arts program here at UBCO. Moving from Vancouver to the Okanagan campus was a no brainer; she came here to experience a smaller city and the friendly atmosphere the campus is known for. She is focusing her studies in photography and print media, and her preference for photography comes from her love of capturing creative perspectives. This year she has also dabbled in print making (silk screen), which she finds to be a similar process

to editing photos in photoshop. Wilson explains, “with printmaking you can create a similar editing process to photoshop. Every layer that you add changes your image in one way or another.” While printmaking is a newer medium to Wilson, photography is one that she knows well. As Photo Editor for the Phoenix News, she is able to express herself and use her skills in a professional work environment. She has always felt comfortable and in her element when doing creative work.

She is currently exploring mixed media, digital collage and painting. Wilson says, “mixing different art forms creates a unique process and result that I feel identifies and completes my work.” A lot of Wilson’s work this year has revolved around the adaptation of beauty standards in our society, specifically when it comes to the female body. She states, “my inspiration comes from a variety of places, like street art, fashion and graphic design.” Drawing from this inspiration, Wilson uses female

icons and sex symbols to create visually appealing works of art that mimic fashion advertisments while calling into question the standards of beauty we value in our society. The street art aspect of her work can be seen from the use of spray cans and photoshop elements made to look like grafitti. They stand out and make bold statements. The greatest challenge she has found in creating art is the collaboration between conceptual and visual concepts while maintaining her initial goals.

Ultimately, her artistic goals are to graduate with a successful series of work that will help guide her into the creative work world and she is hoping to go into graphic design, or interior design.

Jack Deng - Arts Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Arts

Screen shot from No Man’s Sky Game

INDIE GAMES: A FEAST FOR THE SENSES Highlighting some the best upcoming indie games of 2016

Paula Tran Contributor

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Cuphead is an action packed game with challenging gameplay and unique art, making it one of the most anticipated indie games of the year.

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Cuphead Cuphead is an action packed game with challenging gameplay and unique art, making it one of the most anticipated indie games of the year. Currently being developed by Studio MDHR, Cuphead uses the same audio and visuals as cartoons in the 1930s, featuring traditional cell animation and original jazz recordings. Players are able to play as either Cuphead or Mugman in single or co-op mode, defeating various monsters and bosses while discovering new worlds. Judging by the E3 2014 trailer alone, the Cuphead art style is fresh, unique, and possesses something that has not been

attempted in the past. The action and gameplay may appear repetitive at first glance, but it is extremely challenging and provides endless fun for the player. Though Cuphead was originally to be released in 2015 for Steam and the Xbox One, several setbacks have prevented the

game from being published on time, and many believe that 2016 will be the year in which Cuphead is finally released. No Man’s Sky Often referred to as a Minecraft game set in space, No Man’s Sky is set for release on June 21 this year for the PC and PS4, and has already garnered plenty of media

attention. No Man’s Sky is a space based MMORPG that essentially allows the player to explore a limitless myriad of planets, terrain, and worlds. Players fly around in a spaceship “hopping” from one planet to the next, discovering new environments, and potentially meeting new players as well. The game boasts an incredible amount of potential based on this concept alone, and the concept art shown by developers thus far has been absolutely stunning. If you are interested in MMORPGs, then this is the game for you. Adr1ft Space is obviously a popular topic for indie game developers this year. Adr1ft tells the story of an astronaut in peril and is expected to come out for the PC and Oculus late March. It is a First-Person Experience, which means the player gets to fight to stay alive firsthand. Following a catastrophic event that kills everyone on board the spaceship, the player is the only known survivor and must find the cause of disaster, while also uncovering clues and finding resources to stay alive in an effort to find a way home. The recent launch trailer has shown the concept art for the game is proving to be breathtaking, making Ad1ft of the most anticipated games of the year. Night in the Woods Mae Borowski is the star of Infinite Fall’s Night in the Woods, a provocative,

yet lighthearted game that warns players that the environment is constantly changing, and memories are not always reliable. After dropping out of college, Mae decides to go back to her home, Possum Springs, aiming to return to her previous carefree life and to reconnect

shows, seems simple enough to follow, but also complicated enough for one to be driven to uncover greater details. Successfully funded on Kickstarter, the developers of Night in the Woods are looking to publish later this year for PC/ Mac/Linux and the PS4.

The recent launch trailer has shown the concept art for the game is proving to be breathtaking, making Ad1ft one of the most anticipated games of the year.

Battle Chef Brigade Last but not least is Battle Chef Brigade, a game in which Monster Hunter meets Master Chef. As the character Mina, Battle Chef Brigade players must defeat monsters and acquire ingredients for her wonderful means and concoctions as she strives to become a top chef through beating out competitors and fighting to stay alive during hunting sessions. Battle Chef Brigade has an atmosphere akin to that of Japanese anime throughout, as it features bizarre food combinations and ingredients that are not normally found in Western dishes. The art itself is simple enough to allow for fluid animation, but detailed enough to not lose the anime sense and feel. Battle Chef Brigade is set to come to the table later this year for both PC and PS4.

“

You may have heard about Division, Quantum Break, Dark Souls III, and other triple-A games that are preparing to hit the gaming market this year. Displaying wonderful art and beautiful graphics, it is no wonder why most of the hype is gravitating towards these games. However, hidden among the sea of first person shooters and big corporate games is a treasure chest that is waiting to be discovered. Indie games, though often lacking in funds to produce graphically sophisticated video games, are still aesthetically pleasing to the eye. What they lack in graphics, developers make up for in plot and gameplay, often making lasting impressions on their players. As an avid indie gamer myself, I have compiled a list of a few upcoming indie games that have me on the edge of my seat.

with family and friends. However, Possum Springs is not what it used to be, and her friends have undergone a lot of changes. The game features a simple design and gameplay, and the same can be said for its artistic style. The characters are anthropomorphized animals, adding to both the adorable and creepy factors of the game. The plot, from what the trailer

The list of wonderful upcoming indie games is never ending, but unfortunately I cannot cover them all. Look beyond what is advertised on the front page of a games site, and maybe you will find something that you never thought you had interest in.

Arts | thephoenixnews.com | Jacky Deng - Arts Editor

Photo provided by Kelsi Brown/ The Phoenix News

POST MORTEM: EXAMINING THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF THE SQUAMISH VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL Festival cancellation due to the dollar’s lost value Let’s all have a moment of silence for the Squamish Valley Music Festival. Squamish, as its more colloquially known, and a well-renowned annual music festival put on by Live Nation and BRANDLIVE, was abruptly axed last week with an announcement via the event’s website with no reason as to why. This lack of clarity has led to the generation of all kinds of speculation about what caused or contributed to the festival’s demise, the most prevalent and plausible being the disparagingly low value of the Canadian dollar. Music festivals like Squamish book artists and pay them in USD, and two years ago,

“

Music festivals like Squamish book artists and pay them in USD, and two years ago, the Squamish Valley Music Festival could do that at near parity with the Canadian dollar, which traded at 94 cents U.S.

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Stephen Dass Contributor

the Squamish Valley Music Festival could do that at near parity with the Canadian dollar, which traded at 94 cents U.S. Today the dollar has lost nearly 28% of its value and has been trading as low as 68 cents this year while also fluctuating drastically within the past few months. With headlining artists charging Squamish Fest (if media speculation is to be believed) upwards of $500,000 to $750,000 in American dollars, the cost of finding performers could cost millions of Canadian dollars more than previous years, making the cost overrun rather difficult to predict. But why not just sign other

artists if your chosen headliner isn’t willing to negotiate down to a cheaper price tag? Well the festival circuit is packed full of events within Central British Columbia alone, and Squamish annually competes for revenue with other major music festivals like Pemberton, Shambhala, Rock The Shores, Rifflandia, Centre of Gravity, and even some below the border in Washington State, like Sasquatch, Bumbershoot, and Oregon’s MusicfestNW. It is not just local competition either, as there were over 1500 large scale music festivals in about 70 countries in 2015, with many scheduled at around the

same time, meaning if you cannot book a particular artist, somebody somewhere else most likely did or will. So unless Tupac holograms start becoming a trend, artists will only be able to perform on a single stage within a certain timeframe. The disheartening part about the Squamish situation is that the festival had been making significant gains in notoriety since it first began as family friendly, PG festival “Live at Squamish” back in 2010. Last year alone, headliners Mumford and Sons, Drake, and Sam Smith attracted 118,000 people and $15 million dollars in a weekend for a town of around 20,000 people. And while a petition has been filed on change.org to Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation, in an effort to bring back the festival, the immediacy of the announcement mixed with the sudden removal of all relevant social media handles, and lack of press release and interviews suggest that if any music festival is to return to Squamish, it probably won’t be run by Live Nation. There are some parallels with the Squamish situation with when Live Nation first to brought a music festival to Pemberton in 2008 with a massive lineup featuring the likes of Tom Petty, Nine Inch Nails, Coldplay, and Jay-Z. This massive success was followed up by Live Nation avoiding to throw another festival in Pemberton until Huka Entertainment arrived in 2014 and struck gold again with a lineup featuring Kendrick Lamar, Outkast, and Frank Ocean. Of course, Live Nation and BRANDLIVE may have just made a calculated business decision, and could very well have seen the competition coupled with the low loonie and chosen to focus on smaller endeavors, such as Fvded in the Park and their consistently successful Constant Winter Music Festival. Although one can hope that the tides change and Live Nation returns better than ever, it is becoming more likely another events company will enter the B.C festival scene to resurrect dying or dead festivals like Squamish, and perhaps even more likely once the Canadian dollar recovers from its rapid decline.

Jack Deng - Arts Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

THEY COLOURED ME

Photos by Jacky Deng/ The Phoenix News

“We must all share the experience of atonement and reconciliation to progress.” Jacky Deng Arts Editor

When I asked third-year International Relations student Jada Larkin what the goal of his social art exhibition, “They Coloured Me”, was, his answer was simple. “To create a reaction. It could have been either negative or positive, but I just wanted people to feel. Emotion incites explanation, and that creates the questioning and the understanding of one’s ideas and thoughts, “They Coloured Me”, an art exhibition held in the Creative and Critical Studies’ FINA Gallery aimed at granting individuals a humbled perspective on their own respective privileges, allowed students to engage and interact with artistic works which prompted conversation and discussion surrounding a relevant, yet sensitive topic. Backed by a development team composed of fellow UBC Okanagan students, Jenica Frisque of the Equity and Inclusion Office, Carrie Karsgaard and Leah Sandford of International Programs and Services, Harron Hall of Aboriginal Programs and

Services, and Tannis Neilson, professor of Creative and Critical studies, Larkin sought to challenge the emotions, thoughts, experiences of the individual in an effort to get one to recognize the social responsibility they hold as the privileged of humanity. In short, “They Coloured Me” did just that. With ghostly, black figures draped across the floors of the FINA Gallery, a wallspanning canvas illustrating the plague of colonialism, and endearing headsets inviting the 50 participants to transmit themselves into the memories and experiences of anecdotes, “They Coloured Me” shone light upon a topic fundamentally marred by misinterpretation, miscommunication, and misinformation. But despite this collective confusion regarding what social privilege is and who is privileged within our society, Larkin believes that the concept of privilege is something we all share within our Western society.

Arts

“We all possess a privilege, so we all have a social responsibility as privileged individuals to listen, understand, sympathize, and aid those who we are more privileged than – our rights are upheld by each other. However, Larkin and his team also strove to recognize social privilege as something deeply personal. As aforementioned, privilege is privy to a variety of definitions due to the number of subjective experiences of individuals. Each person carries within them their own memories, biases, and perceptions which inform their concept of privilege. Additionally, many may not even recognize the privilege they hold in society, playing euphemism with the inequalities within our hierarchical class structure by stating “it is just how things are.” With the hope of conveying and correcting these messages, Larkin and his team chose art as their messenger. “Art is interpretation and expression. It’s personal. I wanted participants to interpret

the art pieces and to challenge their previous experiences, thoughts, and biases. It’s like the theory of a thesis and an anti-thesis creating a synthesis that then becomes the thesis to repeat the cycle of development. I thought the vulnerability of art was the way to create this.” I found “They Coloured Me” to be a much more different and transcendental experience than I had anticipated, the latter being your run-of-the-mill workshop on equality and inclusivity. Though such workshops are invaluable to the promotion of equality, they are often overtly subdued and suppressed in order to ensure that the workshop feels safe and secure. “They Coloured Me” acted as contrast to such programmes. Immediately upon walking into the FINA Gallery, one could sense an air of concentration and deliberation throughout the room. Art displayed was uncensored and provocative, actively reaching out in order to instill a sense of responsibility and duty within participants. Arguably the most poignant piece of the event, Larkin administered a “Privilege Test”, a simple activity designed to illustrate the stark contrast in equality within Western society. Unsurprisingly, the test found the most privileged individual to be a Caucasian

male and the least privileged to be a Middle Eastern female. Though such methods of emotional and cognitive provocation may seem overwhelming, Larkin argued for the importance of this recognition in an address to the most privileged of society. “There may be a lot of guilt associated upon recognizing your social privilege, but it’s important that you feel that, and it’s important that you recognize it. But don’t let that stop there; you need to let that manifest into something productive and something responsible so you can bring forward those behind you.” With the success “They Coloured Me” and his recent victory at Inspired Word Café and the UBCSUO’s joint poetry slam event “Battle on the Hill”, Larkin has proven himself to be dominant voice for social change within the on-campus and greater Kelowna community. But despite his recent achievements, Larkin believes that this is only the foundation for multiple legacy products at UBC Okanagan. “You can expect me to keep developing events which foster conscious development and thought and for ‘They Coloured Me”’to become an annual event and an avenue which encourages and cultivates expression with a conscious message.”

Life | thephoenixnews.com | Amithisste Multerer-Zarda - Life Editor

Life

THE PRINTER PROBLEM

UBCO’s unreliable printers cause students to suffer from low grades Amithisste Multerer-Zarda - Life Editor

have spent a lot of time and effort in the past year in trying to improve the service by upgrading their print system to Pay for Print. The brand new system, implemented in July, has been difficult to work with. The first outage was for a full day at the beginning of the semester, and staff were present overnight working on attempting to fix it. They have a much better understanding of the system now. Even though I was searching for reasons as to why the printers are unreliable today, Rosco and his colleagues continued to point out that they are more reliable today than they were in the past. Heck continued the conversation by stating that 99 percent of student printing happens within the library. A million copies are printed each year by students and six million by staff. Although they are working with the manufacturer of the new software to fix things, they do not know exactly what the root cause is. Heck explains that it could be a volume issue and insisted that changes are coming. UBCO has the biggest printers Xerox currently makes, Xerox 46-22s, and the fastest devices for printers on the market. Money generated through library printing provides for operating costs of printers across the entire campus. Printers get replaced every 4 years with new editions coming to the market, and when new printers are installed in the library, which happened during the summer in 2015, software issues are bound to happen. There are many problems due to printers being unable to read certain types of paper. New software has the ability to detect page types, however there are still problems with it as well.

Heck also notes that though there may be fewer problems, there are longer outages. One printer outage took 30 hours to solve. After asking where students could go in case printers are down, Heck responded that IT will “help for life or death situations. The service desk underneath the bookstore in the Administration Center will figure out

“ We rely on these printers to print out vital papers and assignments that affect our grades, which in turn affect our futures.

“

About a month ago, I had to print out a cheat sheet for a midterm that was worth 30 percent of my grade. Arriving at the UBCO library an hour prior to the exam, I attempted to print out my key to passing the midterm. I was quick to figure out that the printers were not working via signs placed on the printers that stated “PRINTERS OUT OF SERVICE.” Hastily, I explained my situation to a librarian at the service desk and she informed me that no printers on campus were working. Even after insisting that I was in dire need of this cheat sheet, she told me there was nothing she could do, and then I got cut off by another student. I ran to the Students’ Union, who told me to go to the Green Text bookstore, who in turn told me that there was nothing they could do either. Teary eyed, I walked in to my exam with no cheat sheet and no chance of passing. After explaining the situation to my professor, he informed me that he could not take my situation into consideration when marking my midterm. I was completely stunned that a university’s printer system could be so unreliable. We rely on these printers to print out vital papers and assignments that affect our grades, which in turn affect our futures. On top of that, we also pay for this service; we have to pay a minimum of $5.00, and can print at $0.05 per page. I sat down with Barbara Sobol, a UBCO librarian, Steve Rosco, Senior Manager of IT infrastructure, and Aaron Heck, senior manager at IT client services to discuss the reasons for the issues that UBCO students commonly face when trying to use the printers. Steve Rosco told me that they

a way to get it printed somehow. A lot of the times we do everything we can to make things work. We are not prepared to deal with a large volume of problems, but we will do what we can and have lots of printers to make a print job happen. We do not want to advertise it and start a stampede, but if you are a student in crisis, we want to help. It matters to you and it matters to us.” If the solution to not being able to print out pages in the library is simply going to the IT Service Desk to print your documents when the library

printers are out, I asked Heck what they are doing to inform students of this option. He responded that they do not have a plan to advertise for students to come to the IT service desk. He also can only guarantee that they will do the best they can. I suggested to Heck that telling the Service Desk staff at the Library to tell students to go to the IT service desk could be a solution to this problem, and he responded, “that’s a conversation Barbara [the librarian] and I can have” and that they would “consider communicating to Barbara’s staff.” I asked them what students should do if the printers are unavailable to print and the professors do not accept the situation as a valid excuse. Barbara responded, “it is at the discretion of the professor and the library has no assistance. We don’t give free out of jail cards. That’s not our role as the people who work in a library to be that intermediary even though it seems completely unfair and we are extremely empathetic but we can’t mitigate that on students’ behalf.” The IT staff does not consider emails to students when printers are down as a legitimate form of communication because they believe students do not check their emails. There are bulletins uploaded to the IT News site when there is a printer outage, and they have a Twitter account, however that does not get used. After half an hour of technical printer talk, I suggested more effective communication between the staff members at the service desk in the library and the students of UBCO. I interviewed some students in the library about their experience with the printers and the Library staff.

“ It is at the discretion of the professor [to accept printer excuses] and the library has no assistance. We do not give free out of jail cards.

“

Photo by Kelsi Brown /The Phoenix News

“A lot of times, I’ll be trying to print something and it won’t work but it will still take the money from my printing funds,” a fourth-year Science student told me. “I miss the old coin system in which I could take out the small change and [I could] buy a page if I needed to. A $5 minimum is unrealistic and unnecessary. I had to figure out how to use the printing system on my own. It’s always backed up. I have asked before when printers weren’t working or backed up and the librarians were sometimes helpful.” Many students seem to complain about not being informed on how to use the Pay for Print system. A thirdyear Arts student feels as though she “never knows when printers are working or not. I had to hand in an assignment late and got docked marks. I had problems loading money onto my account, so I went to the UNC, and then was told to go to the Housing Office. They should have signs up explaining how to load money [onto our printing accounts.]” A fifth-year microbiology student express his difficulties with the system, stating, “the printers stop printing after charging the money, don’t print the entire document, or don’t work at all. Usually there is nothing we could do because the help desk says they have to wait for IT to deal with it. Apparently, it is no secret that the printers at the UBCO library are unreliable. Students can count on printers to be backed up, not print in color, and not read the funds available when money is clearly deposited into students’ Pay for Print accounts. Students have not been able to hand in assignments on time, or at all, due to the unavailability of printers, and can receive zeroes on major assignments. Furthermore, the staff at the Library are inconsistent in their helpfulness. The solution could be a better understanding of the new software installed earlier this year. Or perhaps the solution is abolishing printing altogether and handling academia electronically. It could be that Library

staff are not being informed to tell students to seek help at the IT Service Center in crisis situations. With software problems potentially due to the volume of printing, and failure of communication between staff members and students, it is certain that UBCO faces a major printer problem, putting the grades of students, and their futures, at stake.

Amithisste Multerer-Zarda - Life Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Life

TRADING SPACES: RESOURCE CENTER REVAMP

Newly renovated Resource Center comes equipped with mental health counselling services courtesy of the Third Space Foundation

PLACE HOLDER PLACE HOLDER PLACE HOLDER

Tiffany Godwein - Life Reporter

Photo by Connor Punch

BREAKING BOUNDARIES CONFERENCE UBCSUO presented conference in celebration of International Women’s Day Amithisste Multerer-Zarda - Life Editor Breaking Boundaries, held on March 8, 2016 by the UBCSUO, was an all-day event that celebrated and educated women of all ages in the Okanagan Valley. Topics commonly discussed were a woman’s role in a male dominated work force, how to balance life and work as a female, and how women can make a difference in today’s world. The event was hosted by Kelly Taverner, Vice President External at UBCSUO, and Kimberly Rutledge, who is currently running for Vice President External of the UBCSUO in the upcoming elections. I had the pleasure of attending and covering the lovely event that embraced empowering and connecting women from ages 16 to 65 in our community. The event began with pastries, fruit and caffeinated refreshments along with orange juice to get the women prepared for what was in store. Women were pre-assigned to a table number and networked with those at their table. The tables were decorated with purple flowers and tablecloth. Shortly after, the first Keynote speaker, Courtney Kirschbaum, Owner and Founder of career training and coaching company Original Experience from Colorado, began her presentation explaining that if Trump were to become president she would move to Canada, along with many celebrities. She explained that after working for corporate America, she was not satisfied with the work she was doing. She goes on to explain 3 vital concepts in the work force that she wished she had done more, “I wish I had asked more, shared more, and connected more.” She claims that 3 universal transitions will guide women to success: becoming in the know instead of curious, empowered instead of insecure, and confident. She then asked us to write on a neon index card some “atom-bomb-goals” that we want to achieve in the next year. Women were asked to stand up and share their goals. Only 4 hands in a room of 200 women were held in the air. After her presentation, an engineering professor at UBCO asked if Kirschbaum believes that people are born confident. She explained that some people

are naturally confident, and others simply are not, and you can see so from childhood. Kirschbaum replied that she does not feel that confidence is genetic, it is something built by surviving risks, stating, “confidence is simply dynamic, it is not genetic.” At the end of her presentation, Kirschbaum shared an experience of being verbally pinned by a male coworker in her previous corporate career: “someone said, ‘way to be a bitch, Courtney.’ That was extremely difficult to hear. There are a lot of things that suck, and you have to take full responsibility. I continue to work with fire in my soul and grace in my heart.” We received a short break during which I got to know my table members. I sat with a second-year management student from UBCO, an Okanagan College student, two mothers with 3 children each, an international student from Taiwan, and 2 other UBCO students in the Faculty of Science. After our break, we were assigned to workshops. The 3 different workshops available were the Innovation and Entrepreneur Panel, Empowerment Through Language, and the Why and How of You. Attending the Innovation and Entrepreneur panel, I listened to 4 different female entrepreneurs speak about obstacles surrounding being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Tina Mandl, owner of the second Oranj franchise, a fitness studio and gym, explained that when sitting at a business meeting with the building owners, she was told that she simply would not be able to finance it. She was also told the same thing by her family. She expressed difficulty in getting the business’ name out there since people would question its legitimacy, and whether her business plan was simply a hobby. Ariele Parker, owner of Martketer Inc., founded her marketing company at age 21. She explained that leaving her family business was looked down upon by her father. She also questioned if her company plan was just a hobby. Michelle Novakowski, Executive Director of women in crisis of abuse association Elizabeth Fry Society, who also raises her children and looks after her husband with ALS, explained that she has experienced situations where men tried making her idea sound

better: “I had an idea that I brought up to the board, and no one seemed to be to keen on it. Then when a male co-worker brought up the same idea a short while later, all applause was lead to him.” I asked Mandl how she balanced her work life and personal life. She admitted, “I lost a lot of friends. I couldn’t gossip and talk to co-workers because they weren’t co-workers anymore, I was their boss.” Mandl pointed out that being mindful when posting pictures on social media is vital, saying, “your personal brand is very important and word gets around in a small town.” After the workshop, we were provided with lunch and more time to network. My table invited me for a glass of wine in the lounge. I learned that in another workshop, the ladies were encouraged to refrain from using the words ‘but’ and ‘like’ in their day to day jargon, and when sending emails to be more direct and assertive. The conference continued with two more keynote speakers. The first was an engineering professor that encouraged women to seek careers in sciences and math. She pointed out that women are often raised to pursue careers such as a nurse, social worker, or a career in the arts and humanities. According to a study, a company is more profitable if there is a balance of women and men within the company. Finally, the last keynote speaker was Linda Edgecombe, an author and public speaker. Edgecombe gets paid to publicly speak, and influence and empower women. She stated that people love interesting people, and encouraged young women to get out there and do something different in order to tell stories to people who crave the entertainment. The event ended with a closing from Kelly Taverner, who thanked everyone for coming and all the people who made the event such a success. Without a doubt, the event was certainly a success and was enjoyable from start to finish. Women in the Okanagan Valley received an opportunity to become inspired, network with other ambitious women in the area, and celebrate being a woman.

Located in the UNC, the Resource Center now boasts fresh new paint colors, shelving, and cozy seating, providing student visitors a safe, non-judgemental atmosphere when they come to visit. The beautiful new changes to the room are thanks to the Third Space Foundation who spent roughly $8000 to complete the beautiful renovation to the room, which was once home to The Phoenix News. The new renovation is part of an initiative brought to students by the Third Space Foundation and the UBCSUO. “The UBCSUO has recognized that there is a great need on campus for more counselling services and mental health support services on campus,” said Peer Support Network Coordinator Stephanie Wise. Bob Drunkemolle, Executive General Manager of the UBCSUO, states, “we found that a lot of the students came to us with mental health problems and we didn’t have anywhere to send them because Health and Wellness upstairs was full.” Drunkemolle adds that the goal of the space is to offer students a quicker, and more convenient, treatment response as opposed to leaving students to wait until their appointment time at Health and Wellness— this can sometimes takes days. “We are really molding the resource center so that we can offer an immediate response to students,” said the UBCSUO Executive General Manager. The counselling services offered through the Third Space Foundation are free to students, as they will be covered through their Health and Dental Plan. Students wishing to access these services can easily do so by dropping by in the morning from 8A.M.-12P.M. to speak to a qualified counsellor. Aside from the addition of Third Space, and the new aesthetic of the room, the Resource Center is still home to the Pride Center, Women’s Resource Center, and Peer Support Network. All of these sectors of the Resource Center strive to provide students with a safer, equitable, and inclusive environment. The Pride Center, Women’s Resource Center, and Peer Support Network all support advocacy and equality measures, putting on various events throughout the year to educate students in an entertaining and informative fashion. Most recently, the Women’s Resource Center put on an event titled “The Red Dress Project”, which aimed to shine a light on the number of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada. With fresh paint, comfy seating, and Third Space’s stamp of identity, all of the groups at the Resource Center welcome anyone who may be struggling with open arms.

Life | thephoenixnews.com | Amithisste Multerer-Zarda - Life Editor

8 CHARTS THAT DESCRIBE STUDENT LIFE The mathematics of student life Amithisste Multerer-Zarda Life Editor

Number of Hours Spent on Social Media Per Day

Participation in Class

How Much You Miss Your Mom

How Much Interest You Have When Someone Tells You Their Thesis

Should you mention how much homework you have?

Diet (If you do not live at home. If you do, consider yourself #blessed)

Chances Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Say Hi to Someone From History Class

Things You Learn in Class That Help You in the Real World

Amithisste Multerer-Zarda - Life Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Life

Opinions | thephoenixnews.com | Brittni MacKenzie-Dale - Opinions Editor

Opinions

HOW THE AMERICAN ESTABLISHMENT IS TRYING TO RIG THE ELECTION FOR CLINTON

Composite image by Maggie Wilson /The Phoenix News

Clinton’s corporate and financial support allows her to censor criticism and break election rules Mark Dreger Current Affairs Editor

Corporations Love Her It is hardly the American public that enthusiastically supports her. In a Quinnipiac University poll, 67% of Americans find Clinton dishonest and untrustworthy (59% of Americans distrust Donald Trump), so aside from a bunch of uneducated voters, the ones supporting her most are politicians, corporations, and banks. Her current top 20 contributors include 5 banks (4 in the top 6), 8 corporate law firms, and 3 corporations, some of which gave her millions of dollars for private speeches from 2013-2015. Aside from support from major banks like Goldman Sachs, #8 on the list is media

corporation Time Warner, the parent company of CNN, who declares Clinton the winner of every debate, even when Bernie Sanders is voted the winner on CNN’s online poll. CNN also has Clinton campaign workers speak on the show posed as “Democratic strategists” to promote Clinton without any mention of their financial ties to her campaign. Not only that, but Clinton has support from NBC, News Corp (parent of The Wall Street Journal and Fox News), Reuters, and the New York Times. No wonder these pro-Clinton media outlets say Sanders has no chance of winning. Politicians Love Her Not only does Clinton have the backing of banks and corporation, but she also has the support of almost the entire Democratic Party in both Houses, a dozen state governors, dozens of mayors, over 700 State legislators, and hundreds of other current and former political leaders across the world. This connects to America’s system of superdelegates, a number of delegates per state that can vote for whichever candidate they please at the National Convention. However, most superdelegates are party insiders such as Democrats in the House and Senate, Democratic governors, and mayors. With that in mind, take a guess how many superdelegates have already pledged their support for Clinton. She currently has 457 superdelegates from party officials, with Sanders only having 22. Superdelegates only represent 15% of the delegate pie and although there are still over 200 unpledged superdelegates, and they can change support before the convention, it is clear how hard the establishment is trying to give her the nomination independent of public opinion. Fraud and Favouritism As was seen in 2012, the fraud in

the primary elections is so brazen it is impossible to ignore. As I mentioned two weeks ago, the Clinton campaign in one Iowa caucus purposely miscounted their supporters by adding their newly acquired voters without subtracting the ones that changed sides, giving her the easy victory that was only questioned by the Sanders campaign. Clinton won the state by only 0.29%, which led Bernie Sanders to demand

“ “2016: a choice between Donald Trump and Goldman Sachs.” – Edward Snowden

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In the first week of March, Hillary Clinton won 8 out of 14 states and received over 3.8 million votes—which kind of makes me want to scream. It is appalling how anyone can like her, let alone have the immense folly to cast a ballot with an ‘X’ by her name; but I will admit she has the best presidential résumé. She was Secretary of State for 4 years under Obama, was First Lady to Bill Clinton for 9 years in Arkansas and 8 years in the White House, and was a senator for New York for 8 years. But she is also a criminal. She lied about the Benghazi attacks, her relationship to Monica Lewinsky, her connections to Wall Street, and her multiple email accounts. She was fired and called “an unethical, dishonest lawyer” for her work in the Watergate scandal, she stole and destroyed documents related to a fraudulent scheme with Webster Hubbell and Vince Foster, and let’s not forget when she laughed gleefully at the death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Despite all this, and other disturbing criminal scandals that plague her career, the establishment still wants her to be president in 2016, and they are doing all they can to get her there.

the raw vote totals, but the Iowa Democratic Party chair, Andrea McGuire, would not release the numbers and said the results were final. McGuire is a long-time Clinton supporter and even has “HRC 2016” as her license plate. In the Nevada caucus, Clinton supporters were allowed to enter some caucuses without registering, thus allowing anyone, even non-democrat party members, to vote. Clinton won that state by a close

margin as well. Hillary has also been guilty of a 3rd degree voter violation in Massachusetts, when her husband and former president, Bill Clinton, campaigned for her within 150 feet of a polling station. He also campaigned for Hillary inside other polling stations; but despite him breaking the rules, closing the polling station he spoke at for over 2 hours, and a petition receiving over 100,000 signatures to have Bill prosecuted for the violation, the issue has not been addressed. Clinton won Massachusetts by less than 2%. Censorship Not only is the establishment ignoring Clinton’s cheats, they are doing all they can to keep the public in the dark about her record. After #WhichHillary went viral on Twitter for highlighting Clinton’s hypocrisy and flip-flopping, Twitter suspended the initial activist’s Twitter account and blocked thousands of #WhichHillary tweets from users’ trending lists. It is important to note that Hillary has a close relationship with Twitter’s CEO, Omid Kordestani, whom she recently held a fundraiser with. In a separate incident, independent media organization WeAreChange inexplicably lost monetization on 3 YouTube videos that criticized Hillary Clinton. It should be addressed that in 2015 Clinton hired Google executive Stephanie Hannon as chief technology officer for her campaign; and Jared Cohen, the director of Google Ideas, used to be one of Clinton’s advisors. To put it bluntly, Clinton has the whole corporate and political establishment behind her and they are doing all they can through finances, dirty tricks, and propaganda to make it a reality. Beware The Trump Assuming Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination and faces Clinton

in the debates, he will have no problem highlighting all the skeletons she keeps in her closet. Trump has information on her email scandal, Benghazi, the Iraq War, the Lewinsky scandal, Chinagate, Jeffrey Epstein, Vince Foster, her relationship with Henry Kissinger, the conflicts of interest in the Clinton Foundation, donations from the Saudi royal family, her paid speeches to Goldman Sachs and other private groups, her connections to Wall Street, and many more. If Trump can defeat Jeb Bush through ad hominem, a poor campaigner like Clinton will be like a sheep alone with a wolf. Clinton could mention that Trump donated to her 2008 presidential campaign, but Trump could twist that and make it appear that she can be bought while he cannot. If she denies it, he can accuse her of lying; if she stumbles, Trump will call her incompetent. Clinton’s reputation cannot stand against Trump, so if Democrats want to stop him from winning the oval office, Sanders is the only candidate with the intellect and reputation to win. Hillary Clinton is the embodiment of the U.S. establishment. She has the support of corporations, banks, politicians, the media, and many ignorant Americans. She can censor criticism and cheat elections. She is a criminal, a liar, and is responsible for deaths in the Middle East that should have her in a prison cell instead of the President’s chair. Obama and Bush were puppets to the establishment, but Clinton is a much more dangerous personality—yes, even more dangerous than Trump because Clinton knows what she is doing and has Party support. I am not overly ecstatic about any candidate in the 2016 election, but if I had to make a decisive choice, it would be easy: #AnyoneButHillary.

Brittni MacKenzie-Dale - Opinions Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Opinions

A BLACK GUNSLINGER: IT IS (STILL) NOT OK TO BE RACIST After Idris Elba was cast to play Roland Deschain of The Dark Tower series, many fans responded with, at their best, awkward hesitation and, at their worst, racism Here is why Chris Rock’s Oscars speech matters and Elba’s casting does not Brittni MacKenzie-Dale Opinions Editor

SOCIETAL CONSTRUCTS ON BEAUTY How compliments on physical appearance are objectifying, offensive, and superficial Andrea Robertson Contributor You have nice collarbones. Great, you should sell-out. You have been blessed with a symmetrically constructed face. But who was it, exactly, who blessed you? Should we be thanking God? The Big Bang and the little star particles that glisten behind your eyes? Or do we thank your parents for having sex and not using birth control? You did not earn the size of your lips, the high cheekbones you touch in the mirror or your desirable ‘ski-slope’ nose. But with the ever-increasing surplus of attraction-based dating websites, we might begin to believe that perhaps we have nothing else to offer but our beauty. I have heard too many complaints from female friends about men objectifying them through compliments. However, men should not be chastised for being the only visual sex. In this age of Tinder, we are all visual creatures. And the reason we are not communicating is because we are not connecting thoughts. Our brains are what control us, not the construction of our faces, or the curve of our hips. So why do we worship beauty in the ways that we do? As a female in her mid 20s, I have become used to getting both positive and negative comments on my physical appearance. Usually these remarks come from strangers. And in return, I am supposed to be thankful to my abusive observer for objectifying me, for placing me on a superficial pedestal, and for gifting me an artificial crown to sit upon my apparently empty head. But what have I done to discourage vocalized observations? I put on an allotted amount of make-up every day, I straighten my hair, and I wear clothes tailored to the

shape of my body. All of this is done in a pathetic, but effective, way of accentuating positives and hiding negatives. But why do I care? A few years ago, when asked why I was dating someone who I clearly had nothing in common with, I indignantly replied; “Well, he makes me feel good about myself.” And how does he do that? “He tells me I’m pretty every day!” Oh. Wait. But no, it was not until after I broke up with him that I stopped to consider my need for positive affirmation on my obviously warped body image. Why did I need affirmation? Was it because it had been continually ingrained in me from a very young age? I hear adults ogling over children, and sure, I catch myself as well saying things like, “don’t you look pretty in that dress!” or “how handsome!” Adults do not recognize that they are indoctrinating beauty standards into malleable minds, not to mention with what is usually a horrifying collection of gender specific compliments. We are feeding flawed societal constructs to the new generation. Teenage girls can name off more Kardashians than they can winners of any Nobel Prize, because they have been presented with the idea that beauty is more substantive than brains. I am not saying that intellect and aesthetic are mutually exclusive though. Both should be celebrated when appropriate. But our Hollywood praising society tends to believe that our physical appearance is the most interesting thing about us as human beings. Tabloids that ask “who wore it better?” and “oh my GOD, did you

hear she got ANOTHER nose job?” Why? Why did she get another nose job? Did someone tell her she would appear smarter with a little rhinoplasty? No, they told her she would be more beautiful with one. I am not saying that surgical reconstruction should be prohibited; if you want to change something about yourself then you should have access to it. Just as if you are stupid, I suggest you read a book. But when was the last time somebody used a pick-up line on you that asked what book you were reading? Of course first impressions are based on appearance, but as previously mentioned, our North American culture treats physical appearance like it is the most interesting thing about a person. Not just the fact that it is the first thing we notice about each other. I try not to swallow shallow condemnation from strangers. And I believe that nobody should, at least, as lightheartedly as we tend to do. It has become a way to control the other person—as if the opinions of a stranger mattered. It is their way of saying, “either I tell you you’re pretty or I tell you you’re ugly. And the way you feel about yourself for the next 5 minutes, the next 5 days, maybe even the next 5 years should be based on my opinion of you!” No. Both take a fair amount of willpower, but I tend to ignore physical compliments with the same amount of strength as I ignore physical insults, because I know that I am more than just corporeal.

If the screenwriters stay true to King’s sweeping, sci-fi, Western epic, a massive collection of work about hope, growing old, and the power of imagination—well, I think we will be taught a lot more from a movie like that than one that spent all its energy making sure the actors mirrored their fictional counterparts exactly. And besides, there is always the film adaptation of The Shawshank

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If you really cannot see The Gunslinger as anything but white, that’s fine—you can always pick up the books again, and picture him however the hell you want.

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Photo by Maggie Wilson /The Phoenix News

If you are a fan of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series, you might already be privy to exciting news: a movie adaptation is actually, finally, blessedly going to happen. Production begins in South Africa in a mere few weeks. Idris Elba has been cast as Roland Deschain (more commonly known as the titular gunslinger), Aaron Paul has been cast as Eddie Dean, and Matthew McConaughey as Randall Flagg (or the Dark Man). Given the current cultural climate, this is a particularly relevant conversation. Just a couple of weeks ago, Chris Rock hosted an extraordinary and historical night at the Academy Awards. He did not simply call Hollywood racist, but gave concrete examples, and proceeded to litter the entire evening with political rhetoric. Not only thought provoking and timely, Rock was right. Since then, I have talked with a few people who think that he chose a bad moment to unfurl criticism. The Oscars, they contend, are not really the place for talk like that. But aren’t they the perfect place? Entertainment is not just for entertaining—it is for teaching, too. Not just the arthouse, indie films, but more importantly, the ones that reach the most audiences. bell hooks contends that “pop culture is where the pedagogy is.” If we accept movies and television as helping us (re)construct identity models—which I really think we must—then Rock did the exact right thing by bringing up racism and lack of black actors in prominent roles in Hollywood at the Oscars. If entertainment is pedagogy, well, we have all been taught over and over again that non-whites do not matter quite as much as the white folks do. Once Elba’s casting was confirmed official, people responded with awkward hesitation. Many online qualified their comments with that dreaded preface “I’m not racist but…” before launching into race-related reasons as to why Elba should not portray The Dark Tower’s protagonist Roland. While I agree that not liking a casting choice is not necessarily racism, we must be mindful of how readily we have accepted white actors in non-white roles. We see little to no arguments in these cases, even with absurd casting choices like Emma Stone as a HawaiianChinese character in Aloha. Don’t get me wrong, I was upset when I saw the first trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and noticed that Daniel Radcliffe’s eyes were not green like in the novels. I was also eleven. Do you think anything was truly lost with that decision? Harry Potter’s eyes are still significant in the films, even if their color has changed. Blogger Michael Mims says it best when he says, “fans are not entitled to a Dark Tower adaptation that perfectly encapsulates their vision for the series.” This is more important than we might realize. Core themes of the novels are more significant than a character’s eye color, or even skin color.

Redemption to think of. Particularly salient to this topic is that in the novella, the story’s narrator Red is so called for the color of his hair and Irish lineage. Yet in the movie, Morgan Freeman plays Red; and I am willing to bet even diehard King fans would not change that casting decision. So let’s give it a chance, shall we? Those familiar with the series might argue that this racial change will disrupt key plots and conflicts. In the story, Roland and one of the other black main characters dislike each other, in part, due to race. This character spends an entire book referring to Roland as a “honky mahfah.” But guess what? This series is fucking massive: not only does it consist of seven books, but weighs in at a hefty word count—almost a million and a half words to tell this story. So if we are being realistic, a lot is going to have to be cut for this tale to make it to the big screen, and this seems an easy subplot to either slice or twist around. If we are going to pretend that this is vital to adapting the Dark Tower series, there would be no point in even beginning a screenplay. If you really cannot see The Gunslinger as anything but white, that is fine—you can always pick up the books again, and picture him however the hell you want. But remember that representation is a powerful tool for equality, and that the inventor of Roland Deschain himself wholeheartedly approves of Idris Elba portraying a character he has lived with for over 3 decades. In the words of King himself, “to me, the color of the gunslinger doesn’t matter. What I care about is how fast he can draw.”

Opinions | thephoenixnews.com | Brittni MacKenzie-Dale - Opinions Editor

WHY YOUR CHEAP, TRENDY CLOTHES AREN’T SO COOL While it is easy to spend your student loans on new threads, you are actually creating more waste for the environment and perpetuating cycles of oppression Gordon Hamilton Contributor

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companies pay their workers utter shit. They suffer from terrible working conditions, perpetuating cycles of poverty and oppression. If you look up documentaries for stores like Forever 21, interviewed workers practically beg those watching not to buy any more clothes until the company changes its policy and, you know, treats them like human beings. 2. All those thrifts stores cannot handle any more of your unwanted clothing.

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The planet hates your shitty clothes.

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I have not seen men this stylish except on Entourage, especially if you frequent the EME building.

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have not seen men this stylish except on Entourage, especially if you frequent the EME building. The women on campus are almost startling in their trendiness; there are more rompers and crop tops than an American Apparel ad. So what is the problem with looking good? Well, nothing. But most of us are not investing our money on quality clothing that will last us for years. If we are honest, most of us spend money on cheap crap from places like Forever 21 or West 49. Don’t get me wrong, being trendy is not a problem in and of itself—nor is being frugal. The problem lies mostly in excess and haste. 1. Worker exploitation. You know why you were able to buy that dress for $11 or that American Eagle cardigan for only $18.95? It is not because these companies care about you or feel sorry for your student budget. Nah, it is a much more ghastly reality than that: these

Thrift stores receive more clothes than they know what to do with all the time. Yes, it is better than directly tossing your clothes in the garbage, but remember, all the stuff that thrift stores (like Value Village) do not use, just ends up in the dump anyway. It is still a decent option, but when you have dropped off your fifth garbage bag full of clothing, maybe re-think what you are spending all that money and resource on. Look for a textile recycling program instead—or use your old threads as cleaning tools! 3. The planet hates your shitty clothes. Every year, Americans purchase over 20 billion new items of clothing—10 million tons of that goes to the dump. 42% of cotton fiber is carbon, which gets released as it decomposes. So cheap fashion might be easier and quicker, but it is super bad for the environment—as are so many things that are easier and quicker, like not buying a single $12 travel mug and instead throwing out your six hundredth Starbucks cup. Want some solutions? Remember that trends do pass—what is in this year might be embarrassing next year. So stick to one or two trendy things a season, and keep the rest at basics that you will wear and re-wear in the years to come. When you do buy clothing, try and be conscious of where you are getting it. And the easiest of all? Buy less threads. Be that antiCapitalist, anti-consumer your professors want you to be.

Image found on Instagram, @bumble

YOU CAN’T SKIP BEING UGLY

The difference between ugly 90s kids and thirteen-year-olds today who look like they are in university Andrea Robertson Contributor

When we were kids, we hit the ugly stage hard. If ugly and awkward was some joint, misshaped tree of grossness, we managed to hit all of the branches—some of ‘em twice. I do not know if this is because it was the early ‘90s and aspects of the unfortunate ‘80s still lingered on. Maybe it was that “style” happening through the ‘90s: all the grudge and boxy crop tops and baggy sweaters. Think Roseanne. Think forest green. Think huge curls. The good stuff. Kids then had the unfortunate mydad-c ut-my-bangs-to o-shor t-andmaybe-he-drank-too-much-beforehand hairstyle—the bowl cut that was nevergetting-your-hair-cut-again chic. And, of course, the corn rows. We had it all. Basically, everything you can imagine a stereotypical loser in a John Hughes movie having (without the good bone structure), we had it—and it was normal. The acne, the back zits, finding out about blue eye shadow because somehow it was always blue eyeshadow and not a normal colour, like something you would find in the Naked palette. The frosted lips and frosted tips. The gaudy braces and headgear and weirdly large DC skate shoes that all genders wore with, well, anything. Fashion, am I right? I mean, we were not pretty back then, but somehow it gave us more of a character—a distinction. We felt being pre-teens and teenagers. We knew what we were because we were little freaks and monsters and that was okay. Yeah, it sucked, but it also felt like a rite of passage: “okay, I have this ginormous zit on my gross, greasy face, and I am wearing a

fuzzy green zip-up that my mom swears is ‘in’, but at least I am only fifteen and everyone hates me anyways.” Can I just say it? Girls nowadays all look the same. With their black leggings, Adidas everything, heavy mascara and eyeliner, and straight hair—all the same. Like little minions, being over-sexualized

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Maybe it was that ‘style’ happening through the ‘90s: all the grudge and boxy crop tops and baggy sweaters. Think Roseanne. Think forest green. Think huge curls. The good stuff.

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University is a place that people flock to from all over the world to gather in classrooms and obediently listen while an expert in their given field fills their thirsty brains with knowledge that will make them better people, and thus create a better world. Right? Sort of. University is also a time in a person’s life where they get to try out being themselves. This is a pretty big milestone. For many, this means leaving home and a comfort zone for the first time. Not only that, but also having money. A lot of students have help from their parents, or scholarships, or had the foresight to save their cheques from their first job at McDonalds to help with tuition, but the majority of us are struggling with student debt. And when you are eighteen and handed thousands of dollars, it is pretty difficult not to spend at least a bit of it on looking like the self you always imagined. Have you looked around UBCO? I do not think all of these students are just here to study. I personally have heard friends, after receiving $10 000 to be put towards school and living, explain that they have money to finally build a new wardrobe. I

by culture and all conforming to one norm in some sort of weird protection against social anxiety. This is the problem. We cannot really tell their ages because a thirteen-year-old looks like an eighteen-year-old. Girls have skipped this crucial ugly stage and jumped right to the hot stage. Quite frankly, it is unfair. Can you tell I’m envious that someone decided to apparently whack down the tree of grossness? Or maybe kids

got better at scaling trees. Kids nowadays just do not have the same character that we got growing up. What is it that makes these girls all try and fit in? Probably a strong desire to not be made fun of, which is something we can all relate to. But here’s the thing: watching one of these girls growing up like a normal kid—eating dirt and chasing birds and being gross and comfortable in their body—then suddenly hitting thirteen and acting like they are twenty, is weirdly unnerving. I wonder: why do parents let their kids live this way? Is it the parents that have stopped caring and made them become adults too fast? Or is it society teaching people that this is the way you should be, act, and look? I do not remember girls being in a cult at my age, but most of them now look as though they have joined one. I fear not just for them having to exist in a society that demands they go straight from little kid to young adult, but also for the fact that they miss a crucial building block in personality—that is, longing to have something, or be something, or be someone. It is often this messy step that helps us build our future selves, and without it, we might be causing more anxiety than we are avoiding.

Grayson B. Leahy - Sports Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Sports

BLUE JAYS LOOK STRONG HALFWAY THROUGH SPRING TRAINING With the regular season starting on April 3, the Jays look ready to pick up right where they left off Grayson B. Leahy Sports Editor

to improve upon last season’s performance. The major focus of the media around Jays’ Spring Training facility in Dunedin, Florida has been on OF Jose Bautista and his upcoming free agency. The reigning bat flip champion has also become a lightning rod for comments made about him, and his teammates, by Hall of Famer Goose Gossage in recent days. “Bautista is a f---ing disgrace to the game,” Gossage said in an interview with ESPN last week. Taking the high road, Bautista responded when asked about the statements, “I’m disappointed that he made those comments, but I’m not going to get into it with him. I would never say anything about him, no matter what he said.” The Jays slugger made it clear where he wants to keep his focus, continuing, “today is my first game [of the spring], getting ready for a new season; hopefully, we will whoop some more ass.” Staying away from a confrontation with a Hall of Fame pitcher was undoubtedly the right move,

“ Today is my first game [of the spring], getting ready for a new season; hopefully, we will whoop some more ass.

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Through 11 games in the Grapefruit League in Florida, the Toronto Blue Jays’ Spring Training season has been a strong source of optimism. After ending their season in October with their sixgame American League Championship Series loss to the Kansas City Royals, the Jays look like they have got a shot to go further than they have in over 20 years in this upcoming season. While Spring Training is not necessarily a great judge of what a team will be like once the regular season gets underway, the fact that Toronto has only lost once so far, 7-1 to the Houston Astros on March 6, should give Jays fans something to smile about. Looking forward to the upcoming season, Canada’s only remaining MLB team seems poised to pick up the significant slack left by the flailing Canadian NHL franchises. With no postseason hockey to get geared up for, there will be an enormous amount of sporting enthusiasm focused on a team that has openly stated its plans

especially considering the media attention Bautista has already been getting due to his statements concerning the contract that he would like to sign with the Blue Jays. All things considered, being on the receiving end of a tirade from a retired player, who is quite obviously out of touch with the state of baseball today, might work out for the aptly nicknamed Joey Bats. Gossage has also been on record saying that he believes ‘nerds’ have turned baseball into a joke, completely disregarding the rise of analytics and its importance in the game today. On the tail end of his statement, the former Yankee reliever said that he believes Bautista, by flipping his bat, was “acting like a fool, like all those guys in Toronto.” Many of the Jays fans who will have read, seen, or heard these statements will reflexively side with Bautista, as he has long been a fan favourite. Seeing as Gossage not only insulted the Toronto all-star, but the whole team, much of the negative attention

that Bautista has been getting will likely subside, at least for the time being. A few hours after Gossage’s statements made the rounds on the internet sports media, Bautista made his first plate appearances of Spring Training. He did not get a hit, but got on base once after being hit by a pitch in the foot. As for the other big-name player yet to make an appearance for the Jays in Spring Training, Edwin Encarnacion will take a few more days before his first at bat, as he is currently recovering from dental surgery. Despite the injuries, controversy, and contract negotiations, any fan of the Blue Jays can appreciate a 9-1-1 record, with only two weeks until the season gets under way for real. If they can continue to put up numbers like they have, and transition those winning ways into April, the team will be picking up right where they left off at the end of last season, as one of the best teams in baseball.

CANADA TO MISS OUT ON NHL PLAYOFFS The chances of a Canadian team making the NHL postseason are smaller every day

Grayson B. Leahy Sports Editor

With only a few weeks left in the regular season, there is no Canadian NHL squad with more than a 5% chance of making it into the playoffs. For the first time since the NHL-WHA merger in 1979, it looks as if the National Hockey League playoffs will be without a single team from the nation that invented the game. As it stands, the team with the largest statistical chance to earn a playoff spot is the Montreal Canadiens. According to sportslubstats. com, they stand at a 2.6% likelihood to finish in a playoff spot. The Ottawa Senators,

second in statistical likelihood, sit at a 0.4% chance. One might imagine that the patron saint of Americafirst hockey agendas, Gary Bettman might be overjoyed by an NHL postseason filled with nothing but teams located in the United States. For Canadian hockey fans, which is to say essentially all sports fans in Canada, are not only disappointed but slightly horrified as well by the idea of having not a single Canadian team in hunt for the Stanley Cup. A great point of pride for Canadian sports fans is that we can claim to be from the

country that invented one of the greatest, most widelyplayed and -adored games on the planet. Canadians as a whole are famous for a relatively slim list of things, chiefly among them, being nice, saying “eh” a lot, and hockey. To Canadian sports fans, it can seem to be far more than just a lack of teams representing our nation in one of the toughest postseasons in North American sport, but rather even as a partial loss of identity. Despite the number of Canadian players on American teams, it is not quite the same to cheer for Canadian players

as it is to cheer for a Canadian team. As of the most recent tally, the vast majority that Canadian NHL players used to hold has all but disappeared. Simply put, there is just less for hockey fans in this country to cheer for during the upcoming NHL postseason. The one positive way to swing the lacklustre performance of Canadian hockey teams this season, is the upcoming draft lottery. As it stands, there is a 69% chance that one of the seven Canadian NHL franchises will land the first overall pick, and take the 18 year old Auston Matthews, whose season with

the Zurich Lions came to a surprising first-round playoff loss. Matthews has been the project first overall pick for the upcoming draft for months, and it has been argued that it is in the best interests of many Canadian teams to tank their seasons, which many seemed unable to avoid, in order to gain the boost he will inevitably provide once he is drafted. Despite the potential upside of earning a number one draft pick, it has been a thoroughly disappointing season for any and all fans of the NHL clubs in this country.

Sports | thephoenixnews.com | Grayson B. Leahy - Sports Editor

WHY DO WE CARE MORE ABOUT NCAA THAN CIS? With March Madness coming up, few eyes seem to be turned toward its Canadian counterpart.

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Grayson B. Leahy Sports Editor Every year, March Madness takes over the minds of basketball fans all over North America. It is often referred to as the most entertaining tournament in sports, even by those of us who have an impressive collegiate basketball league, and national tournament of our own north of the 49th parallel. College basketball is one of the biggest sports in the United States, and it owns, at least colloquially, an entire month of the year. A vast majority of the Canadian sports fans who will spend the next few weeks filling out brackets and trying to figure out whether or not they trust the four number ones to go all the way, would have a tough time trying to name half of the teams playing in the CIS tournament in Vancouver next weekend. The NCAA is one of the recognizable sporting organizations in North America, despite all its athletes technically being amateurs. Collegiate athletics is big business in the U.S., and whether its due to greater population, better advertising, or more of a focus on the athletic half of the student-athlete title, American college sport is simply bigger than its Canadian counterpart. As with far too many things, we as Canadians are more invested in the American rather than our own Canadian version. March Madness is truly a month of mild sports-obsessed insanity. It makes money, and it grabs Photo by Greystoke Photography

the attention of the sports world for its duration. It is a single-elimination tournament involving the 64 teams deemed to be the best in the country at what they do. On the majority of those teams, many of the most talented players use the tournament as a final touch-up to their basketball resume before announcing for the NBA Draft after one or two years. Very few NCAA men’s basketball players stick around for a full four years, as the ‘one-anddone’ rule forces NBA prospects to take at least one year between the end of their high school career and the beginning of their professional one. In the CIS, it is exceedingly rare for any basketball players to filter into the NBA. As a result of this, the Canadian national tournament gets nearly no attention, except from a few local, school, or specifically targeted news sources. As it stands, both the NCAA and the CIS national tournaments will see some of the most exciting basketball competition that they have had in recent years. While an enormous amount of attention will be paid to March Madness, I for one will be trying to give the CIS tournament in Vancouver the attention that it deserves as the premier basketball tournament in this country.