Vol XXVIII Issue IV October 19 2015 by The Phoenix News

UBCO’s Student Newspaper

October 19th, 2015 | Vol 28, Issue 4

“Where are you from” since 1989

BELONGING EVERYWHERE AND NOWHERE p.10

thephoenixnews.com

//In this issue

news

The no blame game p.3 Indiginous Credit p.4 Let’s talk about it- Mental Health at UBCO p.5

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

life

arts

UBCO Areo Club p.15

Give me your money p.7

Hallowe’en Costumes on a Boo-dget p.14

The Leftovers p.6

A conversation with Jordan Abel p.8

sports Blue Jays ALDS Champions p.12

UBCO Heat Ladies Provincial Golf Champions p.12

Coordinating Editor Alex Barberis coordinating@thephoenixnews.com

Arts Editor Jacky Deng arts@thephoenixnews.com

Production Assistant Kelsi Brown production@thephoenixnews.com

Production Manager Sarah James artdirector@thephoenixnews.com

Sports Editor Grayson Burton Leahy sports@thephoenixnews.com

Copy Editor copy@thephoenixnews.com

Project Manager Maranda Wilson project@thephoenixnews.com

Life Reporter Maria Otto lifereporter@thephoenixnews.com

Web Editor Justin Kroeker web@thephoenixnews.com

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

Opinions Editor Brittni MacKenzie-Dale opinions@thephoenixnews.com

Photo Editor Maggie Wilson photo@thephoenixnews.com

News Editor Lyndon Duncan news@thephoenixnews.com

Visual Editor Varenka Kim visual@thephoenixnews.com

Contributors Gordon Hamilton, Kelsey Anderson, Sarah Weissmeyer, Shanna Albrecht, Zoe McNair, Delator Hini, Rebecca Duerksen, Rishab Talwalker, Ben Arcega, Keera Cabrias, L.A. Bonte, Brie Campbell, Asher J. Klassen

opinions Tacos or Textbooks p.16

I’m not a ‘bitch’ because I said No p.17 The TPP: More than just a trade deal p.18

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.

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | news@thephoenixnews.com | News Editor: Lyndon Duncan

//News TRENDING

Election Results

THE NO BLAME GAME Fact finding report lays blame on institution but not individuals Zoë McNair - News Reporter Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that this past August, the 13th president of UBC suddenly resigned. Arvind Gupta’s resignation was unexpected and for the most part, unexplained, and quickly became the subject of numerous rumours and theories. One such theory was presented by UBC professor Jennifer Berdahl, who posted on her blog that Gupta had “lost the masculinity contest among the leadership at UBC, as most women and minorities do at institutions dominated by white men.” Berdahl quickly received

//News Briefs Bombing In Ankara Kills Over 100 People Mark Dreger Current Affairs Editor

Chicken tweets for restaurant

communication from UBC Board of Governors Chair John Montalbano as well as members of the Sauder School of Business, who expressed concerns about her words. This soon led to allegations that these individuals were infringing upon Berdahl’s academic freedom. In response, UBC hired independent fact-finder Lynn Smith to conduct a full investigation of the situation. The report from this fact-finding mission has now been released and was emailed to all UBC students, faculty, and staff. After conducting several interviews and reviewing relevant documents, Smith concluded that “UBC failed in its obligation to protect and support Dr. Berdahl’s academic freedom.” However, Smith clarified, no individual, including Mr. Montalbano, infringed on university policies on their own. Rather, the combined acts

UBCSUO updates Elections Policy

Transgender girls now allowed in Girl Guides

#MidtermSeason

Photo by Geoff Lister / The Ubyssey

and omissions of these individuals amounted to the failure of UBC as an institution to uphold Berdahl’s rights. “Academic freedom can be threatened not only by acts, but by failures to act,” Smith explained. While Mr. Montalbano and the members of the Sauder School were aware of Dr. Berdahl’s right to comment on the issue at hand and did not intend to interfere with that, they neglected to affirm and support her academic freedom when expressing their concerns about her words. In light of this report, UBC’s Board of Governors re-affirmed their confidence in John Montalbano’s leadership. However, Mr. Montalbano believed it to be in the best interests of the university that he leave his position, and has stepped down both as Chair and as a member of the Board of Governors.

On October 10, two explosions during a peace rally in Turkey’s capital Ankara killed between 97-128 people and injured over 200. The blasts occurred during a peace rally organized by leftist groups and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party. The rally was meant to end fighting between the government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which have been in conflict since a ceasefire ended this summer. The Turkish prime minister announced three days of national mourning after the government blocked access to Facebook and Twitter following the attack. Erdogan said in an online statement, “I strongly condemn this heinous attack on our

“I am very thankful to John for the insight and experience he brought to UBC. I always appreciated his dedication to students and our success. He will be missed,” says Jeff Krupa, the Okanagan campus’s student representative on the Board of Governors. Dr. Berdahl has released a reply to the fact-finding report on her blog. She describes her gratitude to university administration for their efforts to investigate to the problem, and writes: “I am hopeful that UBC can learn from this and strengthen its commitment to, and safeguards for, academic free speech for all of its members. This will only improve UBC’s excellence as a university.” In response to Smith’s finding, UBC has committed to implement extra measures in order to reinforce the university’s policies on academic

unity and our country’s peace.” No group has yet claimed responsibility. The government believes they have evidence that ISIS carried out the attack, despite the PKK accusing Ankara of working with ISIS. Critics blame President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government for recent attacks to exploit anti-Kurdish violence and boost its chances in next month’s election. Critics also accuse the government of not protecting the rally, as the government sent 2,000 security personnel but to the wrong location. Some suggest the government is trying to create chaos to increase their chances of holding power.

freedom. This will involve hiring a specialist to help improve the institution’s support for academic freedom, educating all new UBC hires on the issue, and developing an online reference tool. Interim President Martha Piper made it clear that academic freedom is a major priority for UBC. “It is the responsibility of every member of our university community, not just our academic leaders, to support and defend this basic value, a cornerstone of universities. If we falter, our collective creativity, our productivity, our democracy may be at risk – thereby endangering the very strength and security of our society.”

Turkey has vowed to continue scheduled elections on November 1. The proKurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has suspended election rallies due to the tragedy. The attack came nearly three months after an attack blamed on ISIS hit the Kurdish town Suruc that killed 32 people, raising tensions ahead of national elections next month.

@Raffi_RC - “vote vote VOTE for Democracy! #countrywewant #elxn42”

News Editor: Lyndon Duncan |news@thephoenixnews.com | The Phoenix | October 19th 2015

@ubcophoenixnews - “@Raffi_RC hopes his #belugagrads get out and vote! @globeandmail”

@althiaraj - “A starwars plane is taking off just as Trudea lands. Its his favourite movie.”

INCREASING KNOWLEDGE, DECREASING PREJUDICE UBCSUO putting forward a motion for a new Indigenous Course Requirement. Still in the process of planning. Lyndon Duncan News Editor Anyone that has ever seen or heard any speech given at UBC-O or looked at our street signs will know that our campus sits on unseated Indigenous territory. This means that there is a special connection between the UBC community and the Okanagan’s Indigenous peoples. With this connection in mind, UBC Okanagan’s Student Union is looking to increase education and

//News Briefs

Conflicting Reports of Russian Action In Syria Mark Dreger - Current Affairs Editor

recognition about UBC-O’s place on this Indigenous territory in the form of a required course credit. The hope behind the Indigenous credit is for UBC-O to act as a leader in the larger community as well as to increase education and knowledge around Indigenous peoples and practices. Not only will the credit increase education and promote inclusivity, but hopefully remove any social barriers or re-occurring prejudices so that students can more easily engage with indigenous culture in the future. If passed, UBC-O would be the first university in BC to introduce this sort of educational requirement into its curriculum. This initiative is being spearhead by Student Union Vice-President Internal Romey Jaswal in cooperation with elders, students, staff representatives, Russian news agencies have reported that Russian airstrikes have attacked 55 ISIS targets in 24 hours despite Western and rebel forces claiming Russia is primarily targeting rebel groups against Assad. Russia also claims to have destroyed 8 ISIS strongholds and 11 ISIS training camps in Syria. In early October, Russia’s top armed forces official said that Russia has bombed over 50 ISIS targets in three days. Russia plans to continue strikes in Syria between 3-4 months.

If successful, this

would mean that all

undergraduate students at UBC-O would be required to take a minimum of one 3- credit course from a

list of approved courses

that meet the Indigenous

Credit Recommendation.

The US claims that 90% of Russian strikes targeted West and Saudi-backed opposition rebels instead of ISIS positions. Opposition forces say they are the ones getting bombed, leading to over forty Syrian insurgent groups vowing retaliation against Russian airstrikes. The Syrian ambassador says Russia is only attacking the Islamic state. The head of the lower house of the Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, Alexei Pushkov, accused the US of

Photos by Maggie Wilson

and local governance to ensure that all interests and opinions are taken into consideration during this process. The motion for the implementation of this credit is currently in the preliminary process of planning and will be presented to the Senate later this year. Once the motion is ready it will be put forth to the UBC Senate. The Senate will then discuss the proposed motion and either pass or deny the motion. If passed, the Senate will strike the Senate Sub-Committee and the University of British Columbia Indigenous Requirement Curriculum Advisory Committee. The committee will discuss potential community engagement and consultations, logistical planning sessions, timelines, goals, as well as any issues that may arise such as engineering or nursing

course-load space, or paying professors to run the course. After all of this has been discussed and approved, students can expect to see implementation of the credit requirement in 2-3 years. If successful, this would mean that all undergraduate students at UBC-O would be required to take a minimum of one 3- credit course from a list of approved courses that meet the Indigenous Credit Recommendation. This process is still in the conversation stage and is open for any and all to share their opinions on the initiative. Anyone looking to contribute can contact Romey Jaswal, vpinternal@ubcsuo.ca to add your voice to the conversation.

pretending to bomb ISIS during the last year. British Prime Minister David Cameron and US Secretary of State John Kerry have said Russian intervention in Syria will only make the situation in the country worse. Russia claims to have the same aim as the US to target terrorist groups; however, Russia’s definition of “terrorist” differs from the West’s. Russian president Vladimir Putin wants to work with Assad to defeat all “terrorists” in the region, while

Western powers want Assad removed and ISIS defeated while funding rebel forces. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov admits that ISIS isn’t there only target and they are working with the Assad government to attack other terrorist groups like the Al Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front. “If it looks like a terrorist, if it walks like a terrorist, if it acts like a terrorist, if it fights like a terrorist, it’s a terrorist,” Lavrov said.

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | news@thephoenixnews.com | News Editor: Lyndon Duncan

@UBC - “#UBC is#1 in Canada, #8 in the world for Environment/ Ecology.”

@GlobalOkanagan - “ICYMI: 3.6 million people cast ballots over four days advance polls #elxn42”

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT 56.1 % OF UBC-O students find academics difficult/traumatic New Mental Health considerations in senate decisions Zoe McNair - News Reporter According to recent surveys, 56.1% of UBCO students found academics to be “traumatic or difficult to handle” in the last 12 months. The relationship between academics and mental health is the focus of a set of recommendations being brought forward to the UBCO Senate. Senate members Nicole Legg, Lauren Oleksewich, and Shira Sneg have been working on the proposal since January, including the summer months. The

In early October, Russia launched 26 missiles aimed for Syria from the Caspian Sea roughly 1,500km away; however, “unnamed US officials” said at least four missiles landed short in Iran and may have damaged buildings and hurt civilians. Russia denies the claim and states all the missiles reached their target in Northern Syria. Iran also denies the claim, stating, “We have no reports of any Russian missiles crashing in Iran. All those media reports alleging

proposal is now a standing agenda item for the Academic Policy Committee, an achievement Sneg calls “hugely significant”. Legg, Olesewich, and Sneg, who are all upper-year psychology students, hope that their proposal will allow the campus to adopt an institution-wide, holistic approach to mental health support. They wish to encourage the university to adopt preventative measures instead of continuing to rely on “our overextended reactive support programs and initiatives”, which operate under a multitude of departments. Presently, this campus lacks a unified and systematic structure for mental health initiatives. This approach comes in response to a growing awareness of the impact of mental health on academic success. According to a 2013 survey that Russian missiles aiming at Syria hit Iran are blatant lies.” The unnamed officials gave no details of where the missiles landed and cannot confirm the claim. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, “Unlike CNN, we don’t distribute information citing anonymous sources, but show the very missile launches and the way they hit their targets almost in real time.” American based NGO Human Rights Watch claims Russia killed

@CanadianGreenParty - ““Monday, we get out and vote. Monday night, we celebrate. Tuesday morning, we get to work”-@ElizabethMay”

Photo by Maggie Wilson

conducted by the American College Health institute, students at UBC’s Okanagan campus ranked stress, anxiety, and depression as the top three factors affecting their academic performance. Over half of UBCO students also indicated that they had faced “overwhelming anxiety”, while more than one in three disclosed that they were “so depressed it was difficult

to function”. The new model being brought forward to the Senate suggests a systematic approach to crisis prevention. This would include a focus on support and inclusion as well as mental health awareness for all students. “Being proactive, widereaching, and systematic are core pillars of our mental health initiative,” says Sneg. Legg, Oleksewich, and Sneg hope that implementing proactive methods will enable initiatives to reach students before they approach an at-risk or crisis level. The most recent mental health survey of UBCO revealed that 8.8% of respondents had “seriously considered suicide” within the last 12 months. Clearly the university’s current measures are not enough. With this in mind, the three students

propose “considering mental health and well-being in academic decisionmaking to maximize student academic success and retention”. Their proposal includes consulting with existing programs to create a summary report on ongoing mental health data that is specific to UBCO, modifying policies to incorporate a focus on well-being into the campus’s decision-making process, and compiling a comprehensive list of resources which would be included in the syllabi for all courses and allow faculty to refer at-risk students. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend the Senate meeting on October 29th from 3:30-5:00pm to learn more about the initiative and to watch the discussion of these recommendations and other important Senate matters.

at least 17 civilians in airstrikes, while Russian president Vladimir Putin calls the claim an “information attack.” Saudi Arabia is responding to the recent attacks by providing weaponry to the rebel groups, which the West fears could fall into the hands of ISIS or other terrorist groups in the area. An unnamed Saudi official believes that allowing Assad to stay in power, even temporarily, would be the worst thing the West could do. Putin has since met with

Saudi Arabia’s defence minister to discuss cooperation on Syria. Between airstrikes and foreign aid to Syria, many countries have become involved in the conflict. On one side are Western forces attacking Assad and ISIS led by the US with Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar; and on the other side is Russia, Iran, aid from China, and Iraq defending Assad and attacking ISIS. President Obama fears that the situation in Syria could turn into a proxy war.

Western media argues Russia is involved in Syria to strengthen Assad’s regime; while Russian media argues that Western and Arab powers created ISIS and are funding them to oust Assad from power. Between the propaganda machines operating in the United States and Russia, it is difficult to conclude what is truly happening in the region.

“Being proactive, wide-

reaching, and systematic are core pillars of our

mental health initiative.” Shira Sneg, Student Senator

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | arts@thephoenixnews.com | Arts Editor: Jacky Deng

//Arts TRENDING

Goosebumps: The Movie

Big KRIT mixtape

Pulp Fiction open mics

Photo by Televisione Streaming/ Flickr

THE LEFTOVERS

“We are living reminders.” Jacky Deng Arts Editor

It’s difficult to explain what HBO’s The Leftovers really is. Based on the novel by Tom Perotta and created by Lost‘s Damon Lindelof, The Leftovers is about what happens to the world after 2% of Earth’s human population vanishes at the same moment in time (140 million people!). There are no explanations, no avenues for comprehension, nor reasons for why particular people vanished in the first place. Called “The Sudden Departure” of October 14th, 2011, Lindelof takes Perotta’s relatively light source material and uses the idea of The Departure to delve into grandiose themes and concepts using

//A look inside CCS Ben Arcega Contributor

the “leftover” characters, ranging from faith, religion, cults, death, family, and science. The story picks up on October 14th, 2014 and is told through the eyes of the Garvey family. Kevin and Jill Garvey, father and daughter, respectively, live under the same roof in the fictional town of Mapleton, New York. Jill’s mother, Laurie Garvey, has joined “The Guilty Remnant”, a local cult whose members take a vow of silence and smoke incessantly; while her brother, Tom Garvey, is part of the cult of Holy Wayne, a psychotic, self-professed messiah who believes he has the ability to cure people of their “burdens”. There are many other starring characters, each with their own unique pros and cons relative to the viewer, and each with their own unique afflictions. These burdens are what drive the

Shane Koyczan ‘The Cut’

story forward; the cavernous phantoms the departed leave behind place intense and morose encumbrances upon their leftover loved ones which, for the most part, are expressed in such realistic circumstances that you find it easy to understand why such things can exist in such a dilapidated world. Charity events are run for those who have lost entire families and October 14th has become an international holiday to remember the departed. Multiple religious sects attempt to explain the departure within the comforts of their faith, while some lose faith in their deities after the apparent Rapture. The aforementioned cults start out strange, but become threatening, comprehensible, and even relatable once you find out what their ultimate goals are. It’s strange; as I’m writing this, I can’t help but feel as if I’m

Ben Arcega is currently a 4th year visual arts student specializing in drawing and painting. You can normally find him anywhere in the CCS building or working at the Green Bean coffee shop. His latest work is a 6 foot by 4 foot multimedia collage made using paper, gouache, acrylic, ink, and magazine cut outs. He has the most fun with his creative process when he creates imagined imagery and unusual characters and settings. “I’m always trying to be innovative in the ways that I draw, paint and create characters that each have their own personalities [and] expressions. I find that cutting out my drawings

describing a world that truly exists outside of the silver screen. Those familiar with Lost will notice these similarities; with The Leftovers, Lindelof is able to create a tangible, believable society with the most welldeveloped, intelligible characters on television that you don’t question whether or not such a world would react to a catastrophic event in such ways – instead, you begin to accept that you’re a part of it. Many critics of The Leftovers dislike how the show never explains the how’s and why’s of The Sudden Departure. My rebuttal: that’s the entire point. The Leftovers is not about The Sudden Departure; at its core, it’s a character drama that uses the events of October 14th to explore a society in which religion, science, government, and

gives me more freedom to see how they can play and communicate with each other.” Arcega has a strong desire to sell as much original work as possible and hopes to eventually get his work into the design aspect of the skateboarding and snowboarding world.

ideas about life and death have been changed forever. A society where pain is perpetual. A society insistent on creating meaning from disaster. A society of leftovers. If you’re interested in a show that will make you think, Season 2 of The Leftovers has recently started, but Season 1 is available for binge-viewing via HBO GO.

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | arts@thephoenixnews.com | Arts Editor: Jacky Deng

Visiting Author Series

Back to the Future: Oct 21, 2015

Fargo is back... and the Flash... and the Walking Dead

Fantastic Four to Marvel?

Logos found on companies websites

GIVE ME YOUR MONEY

Join the crowd(funding). Jacky Deng Arts Editor

A couple years back, I came across my first Kickstarter campaign. Bacon Man: An Adventure ended up being a cute, independent platform game that arrived at the same time Internet bacon worship went viral. If you bring up Bacon Man’s Kickstarter page today, you’ll find this statement at the immediate right of your browser: “391 backers pledged $21,280 to help bring this project to life”. I’m afraid to admit that I was not one of those backers (I wanted real bacon), but nevertheless, Bacon Man opened my ignorant, everything-should-be-free eyes to a beautiful, communal side of the Internet: crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding is the process of funding a project/venture through the monetary contributions of people via an online platform. Because of this, crowdfunding is really about the crowd. Each individual acts as an agent of the offering, selecting and promoting the projects in which they believe. In 2013, the crowdfunding industry raised over $5.1 billion worldwide and it’s definitely grown since then, with crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo, Crowdfunder, and Patreon backing thousands of projects each month.“Crowdfunding is a great way for artists to focus less on making money and more on making art. It also helps you grow a community of people who enjoy what you do, because everyone gets to choose whether or not they support you.” Eric Striffler is one of those artists. Founder of too many projects and a

//Events

October 9th-24th

The Alternator The Alternator is proud to present the work of recent UBCO grad Connor Charlesworth, the opening reception will be held at 7pm.

pioneer of the term “YouTube famous”, Striffler’s presence within the online community began over a decade ago when he began uploading short films and movie reviews to YouTube. Since then, Striffler has branched out into a plethora of different projects; his entertainment news talk-show, Pretty Much It, is the one of the most entertaining entertainment news talkshow on the Internet; his Long Island, NY based fringe theatre production, Nyctophobia, scares the shit out of hundreds every October; and his improv-comedy troupe, Pity Applause, adds narrative to an art-form that prides itself in being spontaneous. But the remarkable thing is that Striffler gave up Google Adsense via YouTube ads years ago, opting to move to crowdfunding-site Patreon (think Kickstarter but for long-term creators)

October 20th Capsulas, (Columbia, 2011) Hispanic Cinema Retrospective | The World Through the Eyes of a Child Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. FREE admission October 23rd Skin and Bones Music Series Guitarist Ryan Lidstone and electronics musician James Masz will be appearing October 23rd at the Alternator Centre

before anyone. In essence, Pretty Much It, Pity Applause, and Striffler’s personal short films are all funded by fans from across the globe. In a time where the online consumer can get everything for free, Striffler thinks it incredibly valuable for audience members to perceptibly express their appreciation to artists. “I do feel that crowdfunding is the future for artists. I have nothing against running ads or having sponsors, but it’s nice to have the option to not go that route as opposed to it being the only revenue source that they can rely on. I think it’s going to become more and more social, but in a niche way. Sort of like how fan clubs work, but on a much larger scale.” Of course, artists like Striffler must produce quality content on a consistent basis if they are to generate

for Contemporary Art. October 24th The Alternator Center for Contemporary Art 7pm-12am Alternator Fall Pub Crawl,15$ wrist bands at the Alternator. Visiting Muninn’s Post , Wine and Art Bistro and Krafty Kitchen October 31st Okanagan Pride Hallowe’en The Laurel Paking House

a strong following such that they can feed themselves. The pressure sounds overwhelming, especially when you realize that you’ve put your ability to afford bare necessities in the hands of some 14-year-old kid in Brazil, but Striffler thinks that’s the best and most exciting part of it all. “My income has always fluctuated, starting with Google AdSense via YouTube ads and now moving over to Patreon. I can’t imagine it any other way, to be honest, and I love the constant ebb and flow of it. Keeps me on my toes, keeps me thinking. I’m not interested in being comfortable at this point in my life, it’s less inspiring.” You can check out Eric Striffler’s multitude of projects here: youtube.com/prettymuchit youtube.com/pityapplause youtube.com/ericstrifflervids

The Okanagan Pride Hallowe’en parties are one of the best attended events of the year. Come out for Hallowe’en ‘15 with great beats in a fabulous setting. Doors open at 8:00 pm 19+ Event - Advance Tickets $12 - Door $15

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | arts@thephoenixnews.com | Arts Editor: Jacky Deng

SHAPING INSIGHT: A CONVERSATION WITH JORDAN ABEL

What goes on in the mind of one of Canada’s most acclaimed, upcoming writers? Keera Cabrias Contributor

It has been two years since Vancouver based Nisga’a poet Jordan Abel released his debut book The Place of Scraps. The book, although experimental, has received a surfeit of positive reviews while winning the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize and being nominated for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. Abel is currently pursuing his PhD at Simon Fraiser University for Indigenous poetics and digital humanities. His career may be young, but Abel is well on his way to

//Comic Section Filbert Cartoons L.A. Bonte Cotributor

becoming a powerful voice in Canadian Indigenous literature. I had the good fortune to speak with him about his motifs, inspiration and success. “I think the greatest challenge in entering the literary community is being a poet...I think poets are notoriously plentiful and also the underdogs of the creative community, or at least that’s how it seems”. That being said, Abel had a surprisingly humble and genuine disposition, something of a rarity among avant garde poets. What’s more is his impressively long list of professional occupations. Abel is not only a student, but an instructor at SFU, as well as at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. “I knew a bit about Indigenous peoples through a few Indigenous literature courses, but I didn’t know, specifically, the history of the Nisga’a people, who are my

ancestors. In the course of trying to find out who the Nisga’a people are, I ended up reading a bunch of anthropology”. The Nisga’a people reside, and are rooted, in British Columbia’s coastal north-west region. Among the anthropologists to write about them was Marius Barbeau, a 1920’s ethnographer and collector of Indigenous artifacts. Though wellintentioned, Barbeau’s actions actually contributed to the displacement of Indigenous culture. It was on Barbeau’s 1929 book Totem Poles that caught Abel’s interest. Abel stated that “I became interested in, not only what he was writing about, but what biases he had as a white anthropologist”. Instead of resenting Barbeau, Abel found his misjudgments strangely relatable. It was this personal connection that fueled The Place of

Scraps, a bravely political and genuine retelling of an important story, the story of the ongoing erasure of the north-west pacific Indigenous culture and the many misguided efforts to reverse it. It’s a challenging piece, healing, but thought provoking. Although the academic world is slowly opening up to the inclusion of the Indigenous literary cannon, there is still a perceivable shortage in many institutions and an overwhelming shortage in popular culture. Being something of a pathfinder, Abel has expressed that the lack of popular knowledge of Indigeneity can be challenging.“[In terms of Indigeneity] my greatest challenge might be to explain to somebody who doesn’t know anything about Indigeneity what my book is about. Especially with the Place of Scraps. It is kind of a complicated

Photos provided by Jordan Abel

book because it requires, at least partly, an understanding of Indigenous history in Canada, specifically the role anthropology played in colonization and the erasure of Indigenous peoples.” However, with every challenge comes an opportunity. It could be argued that Abel’s eccentric approach to writing and artistry is something we need in order to address such sensitive issues. Items of post-modern literature are known to harbour many voices within them. It is an effective medium for locating meaning in dark places. Such an art form might be necessary in catalyzing academic conversations about Indigeneity and, perhaps, moving towards reversing some of the devastating effects of colonialism. Abel is certainly a special and necessary breed of artist and is, undoubtedly, someone to watch out for.

11 in a unique “third culture” after moving to India on two different occasions. More recently, the term has also taken other forms such as “global nomads”. What sets Third Culture Kids apart from others such as international students and their experiences is that TCKs are not determined by race, a country of origin, or the places where they have been; rather, it is a term that encompasses the experience as a result of a clash of these factors.

Geoffrey, Suraj and Billy can refer to one ethnicity that works in temporarily dodging the confusion that comes with the “where are you from?” question.

A common characteristic of TCKs, and also what links Himaini, Geoffrey, Suraj, and Billy, is the constant moving between cities, countries, and even continents.

A common narrative among all TCKs, and one shared by all four members sitting across from me, is being unable to identify one true home. What may have been home for their parents is not their home, and where they live currently is not home either. I asked hesitantly whether they have ever felt a sense of sadness over not having a “home”, to which Himaini bluntly responded:

In a Washington Post article published in 2000 about the experience of children of expatriates, TCKs, on average, make eight major moves before graduating from high school. Most TCKs are pejoratively referred to as “military brats” or have parents involved in non-military government, missionaries, business, or other international organizations. Himaini and Suraj’s parents are diplomats; Geoffrey’s mother is a choreographer and his father is a corporate developer; and, Billy’s father works in a company where he is sent back and forth between head offices. “We [TCKs] are the minority here. Even just the question, ‘where are you from?’ throws us off so much. You end up getting so tired of explaining yourself -- and it’s not getting tired of actually explaining yourself -- but it’s more people thinking you’re abnormal or making other assumptions like you’re really rich... which is not the case”, Himaini says exasperatedly about the lack of awareness about the TCK experience. Himaini in particular is vocal about her TCK identity and raising awareness about it. On August 12th, she posted a lengthy Facebook status that finally made public her struggles with being a TCK, which garnered over 75 likes, shares, and numerous outpourings of support and thanks from her TCK friends. Her experiences have also appeared on blogs such as UBC’s The Global Spectrum. Surprisingly, the lack of awareness even extends into academia, as Danau Tanu from the University of Western Australia addresses in her research titled “Global Nomads: Towards a Study of ‘Asian’ Third Culture Kids”:

BELONGING EVERYWHERE AND NOWHERE THIRD CULTURE KIDS AT UBCO ON THE STRUGGLE OF BEING GLOBAL NOMADS Across from me sits four UBCO students who, collectively, have lived in more countries than I have fingers and toes. As I’m digging for my notepad and pencil in my bag, Suraj greets Himaini in a language I cannot quite identify. I’m eavesdropping, but all I can pick up on is the odd English phrase sandwiched between a whole slew of inaudible chatter and laughter. I notice the others bonding over a list of counties, many of which I have shamefully never even heard of. This is our first time meeting together as a group, but I cannot help but feel that they have already connected on a level I never will with them.

to India, then to Stockholm, Sweden where Himaini was born. Himaini has since moved every three years to a new place. Her list of countries includes: Turkmenistan, United States (Texas), Mexico, India, Croatia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Zambia, and now, Canada. Suraj is a 4th year computer science major who identifies as ethnically Indian. He was born in Prague, moved to Geneva, then spent two years in India. He then moved to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Doha in Qatar, India again, Copenhagen in Denmark, then to where he is now in Kelowna.

I immediately regret the question.

Billy is a 4th year biochemistry major who identifies as ethnically Chinese but was born on the Solomon Islands in Fiji. He then moved to China for six years, only to move back to the Solomon Islands for seven years, then to Vancouver and Kelowna.

Himaini is a 4th year biochemistry and psychology major whose father is Indian and her mother is half-Mexican, a quarterPortuguese, and a quarter-Sri Lankan. They met in Sri Lanka, moved

Geoffrey Kasenbacher is in his first year at UBCO and intends to major in Economics. His father is Austrian/German, born in Austria, and his mother is Dutch with parents from South America.

“So, where are you guys all from?”

His parents met in the Netherlands, then moved to Austria where Geoffrey was born. He then moved to the Netherlands, Norway, London, back to Austria for his military service, then to Kelowna. A relatively simple question for most, you would think. The four of them, however, collectively agreed that this question makes them cringe because it involves an elaborate answer consisting of their family history along with explanations for each move in order to ultimately convey how their transient lifestyles came to be. I had the luxury of hearing their full stories, but I began to wonder: how do you convey such an answer to a stranger who comes to expect a brief one-word answer? But that is the everyday reality for Third Culture Kids like Himaini, Geoffrey, Suraj, and Billy. The term Third Culture Kids, or abbreviated as TCK, is used to describe the experiences of children who were raised in a culture outside of their parents’ culture for a significant part of their developmental years. It was coined by sociologist Ruth Hill Useem in the 50‘s after noticing her own children’s existence

“Their transient globe-trotting lifestyle suggests that they are living at the forefront of globalization, and yet not enough research has been done on them,” she states as the primary reason for her research. Her findings suggest the TCK identity is a constant renegotiation in relation to the dominant culture, and when you factor in the general lack of awareness, it leaves many TCKs feeling misunderstood and alone in their experiences. This is especially pertinent for a city like Kelowna where only 7.9% of the 122,000 people population is a visible minority and population growth has been primarily due to intraprovincial migration rather than international migration, according to Kelowna’s 2014 Community Trends Report. As I asked each of them about the struggles associated with being a TCK, their responses were all so different, yet the feeling of being misunderstood, mislabeled, and alone underpinned every one of their responses. “People assume ethnic identity is all there is about your identity, and people even stereotype you based on that identity... hence there is that barrier that you need to cross [in explaining the TCK situation to them]” says Suraj who identifies as Indian because of his parents and his passport, even though he has spent more time living in other countries than in India. For mixed-race TCKs like Himaini and Geoffrey, there is an added dimension of confusion over people like Suraj, who is ethnically Indian, and Billy, who is ethnically Chinese. Unlike Himaini and

“I tell people I am from Austria, but then there’s the story about my parents, so then I try telling them I’m European, but that doesn’t really cut it. It’s tough”, says Geoffrey.

“No, because we cant really miss what we never had.” They all reassured me that the benefits of being a TCK far outweigh its negatives. Himaini joked that because she had to leave so many places and people behind, she is really good at saying goodbye. The same goes for packing and moving. Billy proudly told me he arrived in Kelowna with just one suitcase. “I got to live in so many places, meet so many people, and gain so many perspectives,” says Himaini. Suraj mentions that through his TCK experience, he has learned to adapt no matter where he goes. “You never get desensitized to leaving, but you learn to adapt. Adapting to a new location is second nature to us.” When asked whether they intend to follow in their parents’ footsteps, the answers were mixed. Himaini describes a restlessness that comes with being in a place for too long, and with her degree coming to an end, she describes wanting to move somewhere in East Asia. She cannot imagine any other sort of lifestyle but the one she has lived her whole life, and fully intends to pursue work with the United Nations or Doctors Without Borders. Suraj, on the other hand, is ready to settle down and intends to stick around in Kelowna for as long as he can. Billy also agreed he would like to settle down in one place for a while. By the end of our conversation, I realized that I had only really scratched the surface of what it means to be a TCK, and as a person who was born and raised in Canada with no experience moving outside the country, I cannot begin to fathom the TCK experience. However, it did occur to me that -- like with any identity, really -it operates on a spectrum. For people like Himaini who has lived in almost every continent radically on one end, and people like Billy whose experiences were shaped by three very diverse places on the other, they all share the common ground of questioning the definition of home, their connections to these places, and how it has shaped who they are as people. As I sat down to write this piece, Himaini sent me a link to a blog post she wrote and told me she thought I might find it helpful. Illustrating the post was a photo of a heart and house drawn into sand with a caption that seemed to nicely summarize my chat with Himaini, Suraj, Geoffrey, and Billy: “We are caught in a dichotomy of wanting to go back home, yet knowing that we are home. Time – the present – is the first and best home we’ve ever had. The intangibility of home is the price we pay for having known and loved throughout the globe.”

Story by Maranda Wilson Photos by Maggie Wilson and Sarah Jamee

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | sports@thephoenixnews.com | Sports Editor: Grayson Burton Leahy

//Sports

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BLUE JAYS ALDS CHAMPIONS! In Game Five, the Toronto Blue Jays Closed Out the American League Divisional Series Against Texas Grayson B. Leahy Sports Editor

On Thursday, October 8th, 2015, the Toronto Blue Jays started their first MLB Postseason series in over two decades against the Texas Rangers. The division series started with two wins for the Rangers, putting the Jays on the ropes by October 10th. The jays bounced back, winning both games at Arlington Ballpark in Texas. Game Three ended with the Jays winning 5-1, and Game Four ended with a score of 8-4 in favour of Toronto. The series had some unexpected

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Caroline Lee and the Ladies golf team best in British Columbia, look to keep rolling at Nationals.

Grayson Burton Leahy

Sports Editor

twists, with Texas star Adrian Beltre going out in the first game with a stiff back, to return in questionable shape at home in Game Four. David Price also made a rare relief appearance in Game Four of the series, and was credited with the Win. Price, a 2012 Cy Young Award winner, replaced R. A. Dickey, the other 2012 Cy Young winner, on the mound in the fifth inning. The move has been questioned by many fans and analysts alike, but Jays’ Manager John Gibbons cited his confidence in Marcus Stroman as his reason for taking Price out of contention to pitch the deciding game in the series on Wednesday, October 14th. For fans of the Blue Jays, the 2015 ALDS was a stress-filled week. For

almost an entire generation of Canadian baseball fans, this has been the first time they’ve ever had the chance to see their team play in the Major League Baseball Postseason. For many, it was an emotional roller-coaster, with deep lows after Games One and Two, and growing excitement following the back-to-back wins leading into Game Five. On Wednesday, at 1pm Pacific Time, The Well was packed with a collection of Jays fans ready to watch their team win at home, decked out in all manner of jerseys and hats. Many fellow students were told to get out of the way of the projector screen, boos rang out any time a call went against the Jays, and chants of “Let’s Go Blue

Jays!” punctuated many moments of downtime. Some students scheduled their entire day around the nine-inning contest. Classes happen every day, some were saying, but very few in attendance had ever seen anything like this. Worries about classes, papers, exams, and work took a back seat for a few hours, and baseball took over. Marcus Stroman, who returned to the starting rotation very late in the season after recovering from surgery on his right knee, was throwing steadily above 90mph in his start. Having finished the regular season with a record of 4 wins and 0 losses, he seemed determined to continue that dominance. He showed his strength early, striking out Chris

Gimenez in the second inning, finishing him off with back-toback 94mph fastballs. Thirteen of his first sixteen first pitches to Rangers batters were for strikes, reinforcing the air of fearlessness he had against the Rangers’ lineup. Stroman was backed up by some outstanding fielding, highlighted by yet another amazing diving catch by centre fielder Kevin Pillar in the fourth inning. As one lifelong Jays fan put it, “Two thirds of the earth is covered by water. Everything else is covered by Kevin Pillar.” In the top of the sixth inning, Jays’ second baseman Ryan Goins made another highlight reel play, sliding to stop a ground ball off the bat of Elvis Andrus and gunning him out at first. Goins would make another

On Sunday, October 4th, 2015, the UBCO Heat Women’s Golf Team were awarded the Golf Medal in Provincial competition. After the final tournament of the Provincial schedule, played at Chilliwack Golf Club, our Heat ladies solidified their spot as the premier group in BC. This is the fifth year in a row that the ladies have medalled, and this is their third gold

medal. In Conference play, they were dominant. Individually, Carolyn Lee, Lauren Siemers, and Emily Adams finished in second, third, and fourth place for the season, respectively. Lee and Siemers were awarded AllStar honours for finishing in the top three of the seasonlong leaderboard. The four tournament tour within the PacWest

Conference ended with the tournament hosted over the weekend of October 2-4 by the University of the Fraser Valley at the course in Chilliwack. For the season, the Heat totalled a score of 1314, well ahead of the Fraser Valley team’s cumulative score of 1349. For Carolyn Lee, this is the second year in a row finishing with the silver medal for individual performance, and

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | sports@thephoenixnews.com | Sports Editor: Grayson Burton Leahy

//Sports

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Caroline Lee and the Ladies golf team best in British Columbia, look to keep rolling at Nationals.

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October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | sports@thephoenixnews.com | Sports Editor: Grayson Burton Leahy

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exciting leaping catch in the top of the eighth inning to rob Rougned Odor of what might have been an extra-base hit. Rangers’ starting pitcher Cole Hamels also had a good start, striking out four Jays batters through his first three innings of work. He didn’t allow a run until Jose Bautista drove in Ben Revere with a double to left field in the bottom of the third inning, at which the entire crowd in the Well stood and yelled its approval. He let up his second run when Edwin Encarnacion crushed a huge home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, tying the ballgame up at 2-2, to a deafening eruption from Jays fans and countless reenactments of the Ed-Wing.

Marcus Stroman’s outing was over in the seventh inning, replaced by reliever Aaron Sanchez. The Rangers scored shortly after, on a strange play and even stranger call by the umpires. The throw back to Sanchez from catcher Russell Martin ricocheted off the bat of Ranger’s batter ShinSoo Choo, and Rougned Odor, the runner on third base, stole home on what the umpires initially ruled as a throwing error. The game was delayed as the call was debated, and the initial ruling was confirmed, the officials citing Rule 6.03(a)(3). Fans at the stadium responded with shouts and beer cans hurled onto the field, and fans at the Well were outraged that the umpires were making themselves the centre

of attention yet again. The strangeness continued, as the home half of the seventh started with Russell Martin, Kevin Pillar, and Ryan Goins reaching base on back-to-back-to-back errors by the Rangers’ shortstop Elvis Andrus, first baseman Mitch Moreland, and Elvis Andrus again, respectively. With the bases loaded and likely MVP Josh Donaldson up to bat, Cole Hamels’ day was done. Another mistake followed the pitching change, with second baseman Rougned Odor missing a catch leading to the tying run coming across. With runners on first and third, Jose Bautista again endeared himself to Jays fans with an enormous home run, punctuated

her second year in a row earning Provincial All-Star honours. Lauren Siemers, the other All-Star from UBCO, had an incredible rookie season, following up her hole-in-one on September 27th with the second-lowest score on the weekend of October 4th. She shot 80, 82 to finish with a 162 for the final tournament. Their outstanding play earned the ladies a berth in

the 2015 Ping CCAA National Championships, running October 13-16, again at the Chilliwack Golf Club. At the time of this article’s writing, Carolyn Lee leads the National tournament, continuing her amazing run. Emily Adams, who finished one spot out of Provincial AllStar standing, finished in third place on October 4th with a cumulative score of 164 for

the weekend, shooting 86, 78. The Heat ladies were not the only squad from UBCO to perform well, as the men’s team finished with the Provincial bronze medal for the third year in a row.

Photos provided by the UBCO Heat Athletic Association

by “the mic-drop of all bat-flips,” as one fan put it on Twitter, to put the Jays up 6-3. The Well could be heard halfway across campus, and the Rogers Centre exploded with excitement not heard since Tom Cheek exuberantly yelled “Touch ‘em all, Joe!” In the top of the eighth, Roberto Osuna came in to pitch in relief of Aaron Sanchez, and despite two runners on base, closed the eighth and ninth innings with poise far beyond that imaginable for a twenty-year-old. He closed the game out with style, striking out Will Venable on an 87mph slider, swung at and missed, and the Toronto Blue Jays are going to the ALCS. I’ve never seen or been a part of anything like this game.

Errors, one-in-a-million calls, highlight-reel plays in the field, home runs, and the most savage bat flip we’ve ever seen. Not to mention the atmosphere created by the enormous number of people watching and cheering. The Well has never had such an electric environment for any sporting event, and being a part of the Jays’ first playoff series victory surrounded by so many excited fans, I can’t imagine a better way to experience a win that my generation has been waiting a lifetime for. Here’s to the Toronto Blue Jays, and here’s to the Fans, who made this an experience that I’ll never forget. On to the American League Championship Series, and the Kansas City Royals.

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | life@thephoenixnews.com | Interim Life Editor: Maranda Wilson

//Life

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HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ON A BOO-DGET Halloween puns aside, Shanna shares her tips to save some “bones” on your costume (Sorry, last one). Shanna Albrecht Contributor Happy October, everyone! Congrats on making it through the first round of midterms! October is a busy month for university: midterms, Thanksgiving, and Halloween! The truth is, I have never been very excited about Halloween—don’t get me wrong, I love a good themed party, but once I got too old for trick-or-treating it lost some of it’s appeal. I also realized how expensive Halloween costumes can be, so I started to make my own by getting

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creative with what I already own. With my experience (which resulted in saving $$$), I am here to help you do the same. This is my step-by-step plan on how to have a great costume without breaking the bank. Step one: Pick a theme. There are four big themes that you can choose from: iconic teen movies, animals, professions, and eras. Step two: Use your own clothing and your friend’s clothing as much as possible. Step three: Take advantage of the dollar store and thrift stores to complete your outfit. First theme: Iconic Teen Movies. This theme also works well for a group costume: #1 Clueless –Thankfully, due to the reincarnation of 90’s fashion, it is very easy to find plaid skirts, crop tops

@kobikleekai

and knee-highs in almost any young woman’s closet. Add a headband, grab a textbook or two, and you got yourself a Halloween costume. #2 Wet Hot American Summer – After Netflix brought back the hilarity that is Wet Hot, I noticed an abundance of American Apparel being worn by the characters. High waisted shorts, a crop top, sneakers and your friendship bracelet from 2nd grade put you back in the early 80’s. Add a dollar store find, such as a sporty headband, to complete your outfit. Second Theme: Animals Dollar stores are wonderful because they literally have animal ears for $1.00 dollar! I did not think that $1.00 dollar items still existed! #3 Black Cat –Choose all black clothing. Go for fuzzy or leather, sleek

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Smartforms Training

or cute. Paint on some whiskers, add the ears, and you got yourself one adorable costume. Third Theme: Professions We have all seen the sexy cop, sexy firefighter, the sexy nurse, and the sexy sailor outfits that cost a pretty penny. If you want to stick with the classic Halloween choice (besides a witch and ghost) there is the option to create one of these outfits with what you already own. #4 Sailor –Choose a stripped dress, add on some fish nets or knee-high socks, and use the dollar store or thrift store for a sailor hat. Simple, and will only cost you $1.00 dollar (plus tax). Fourth Theme: Eras When I was putting this together, I accidently only chose costumes from the 80’s -- but there are a lot of great

@meetthepugs

options spanning the other decades! You can be a 50’s housewife, a 60’s jazz singer, or a 70’s radical hippie… #5 80’s Prom Queen –Now is the time to dig through your mother’s old clothing or through someone else’s— thank goodness for thrift stores. Find a big shoulder dress that doesn’t quite fit, add on bright make-up, and pick up a crown from the dollar store. It is also a fun idea for a couple’s costume! #6 80’s Rocker –pull out that band tee, anything metallic or mesh, do your hair very big (hairspray is your friend) and load up on that eyeliner. Happy costuming! xx Shanna

@marniethedog

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | life@thephoenixnews.com | Interim Life Editor: Maranda Wilson

#Projekt: Halloween

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CLUB SPOTLIGHT: AERO CLUB UBCO’s most innovative engineering club takes flight. Delator Hini Contributor UBCO has been home to many dynamic engineering clubs, and now innovative minds are teaming up yet again to build something remarkable. The newest engineering club on campus is UBCO’s Aero Club, founded by brothers Blago and Ilija Hristovski. Not long ago, the Hristovski brothers had a vision of building a UAV for a competition here at UBCO. As preparations were made, that vision has grown into one of cultivating an environment for bright minds to flourish. As the name suggests, the Aero Club will explore the engineering of aerospace by designing and constructing a UAV. A UAV is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, or as it is most popularly called, a drone. Unlike your typical aircraft, a UAV does not require the pilot to be inside the vehicle. Rather, the pilot can control the aircraft with a remote control from any location. Through the Aero Club, students with an interest in aerospace can explore the possibilities of UAV research and production for real world problems. The UAV design is broken down into an acronym called “SPACE”: S: Structural -- this focuses on the internal skeleton of the aircraft including payload.

“The UAV design is broken down into an acronym called “SPACE”.”

P: Propulsion -- Students working here will focus on how the aircraft moves through the air. A: Aerodynamics -- this has to do with the shape of the aircraft and the design of the external aircraft. C: Control system -- Students working here will focus on autopilot systems, looking at how one might steer the airplane, and what signal controls work where and how. E: Electrical -- The focus here is on wiring and the electrical construction of the aircraft. Although the Aero club involves many technical aspects that are engineering related, it is far more than a club solely for technical students. As Blago expressed, “Computer science [students] can be a part [of the club], as a lot of programming

is needed. Creative writers and art [students] are needed in order to help make proposals and pitches -- we need more people with keen writing skills and presentation skills. [As well] management students to develop the management skills of the club.” It is the aim of the Hristovski brothers to foster an environment in which students can come to learn and grow. Apart from the main goal of constructing a UAV, the Aero Club will provide a place in which students can gain hands-on technical experience, while building leadership and intrapersonal skills. Evidently, the Aero Club also exists as an industry related club in which the knowledge of students with various academic backgrounds can share their expertise. As the future of aerospace is reaching new heights each day, the future of UBCO’s Aero Club looks very bright. At the moment, the Aero club will not be competiting -- entering a competition will follow once the construction of the working UAV is completed! So if you’re wondering if there are prerequisites for the Aero club, know that there are “none”-- “all you need is an interest; a desire to learn... and we’re here to provide that opportunity to learn!”, remarks Blago Hristovski. Club membership is a one time $20 fee upon the attendance of your first meeting. For more information, contact: ubcoaeroclub@gmail.com with your first and last name, and your area of interest.

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | opinions@thephoenixnews.com | Opinions Editor: Brittni Mackenzie-Dale

//Opinions

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TACOS OR TEXTBOOKS?

Could a new canteen help you eat more and pay less? Sarah Weissmeyer Contributor

With the ever increasing tuition across BC, money is an issue more frequently on student’s minds than ever before. For many students it is very difficult to work part-time and study full-time, putting more pressure on everyone to successfully complete a program in as little time as possible. On top of this, UBCO students have to think about the ever increasing living costs in Kelowna, transportation, textbooks—we can all agree that the live of a student is everything but cheap. Surprisingly, this issue does not seem to have had any major impact on our school’s cafeteria and snack

ensemble which is comprised of little food stands and food chains such as Subway and Taco Del Mar. Even though this arrangement is able to offer us a wide variety of different and even culturally diverse foods, rethinking the arrangement of our current cafeterias could save students a whole lot of money. Food costs for the individual student could be drastically reduced if UBCO had a larger canteen preparing a smaller variety of foods in large quantities. By only offering about 3 different choices per meal to accommodate dietary needs and food allergies such as celiac disease, lactose intolerance and other factors, a big canteen could become the solution to accommodate students’ ever decreasing budgets. Through selling food that is less diverse but offered in larger quantities

//A response to Issue #2’s “Five Ways Retail needs Marxism” by Gordon Hamilton Asher J. Klassen Contributor

TPP benefits outweigh losses?

“And let’s not forget that we can also boost the local economy by buying fresh produce and products for our canteen meals from the area. Nutrition should not be a major worry on student’s minds.”

Dear Mr. Hamilton, There is no class struggle within your place of work; there is a hierarchy of business management. Asking management and the government for a raise is not proletarian revolution... in fact, to say “the only way to change anything is to ask for it” fundamentally rejects the idea of revolution. You want more money for your work? Tell you what: vote. Vote, and then give your local governmental representatives a call, arrange a meeting, and talk it out. But don’t pretend you’re enacting some kind of social overthrow by

we can work towards reducing the costs for each student’s meal to five dollars a plate. Moreover, if students filled out questionnaires about their eating habits (quantity, preferences, allergies) at the beginning of each semester, those responsible for the major canteen could use statistical strategies to lower the costs of food that is wasted and help the environment, at the same time. That does not mean the quality of the food needs to suffer, in contrast, healthy eating choices would be made easier for everyone if the canteen would reduce deep fried and highly processed foods which, after an exhausting day at school, many of us feel tempted to snack on. Moreover, if we don’t eliminate all of the little food stands that we already have on campus, then students who want to treat themselves

doing so, because all you are is another schmuck grovelling before Capitalism asking for a better share in the system. To lament your alienation from product is absurd, as you are stocking shelves with goods likely not fabricated in this country. You aren’t producing anything. If you’re that bent out of shape about it, open a booth at the Farmer’s Market. Marx was writing in a recently postIndustrial Revolution era, seeing systems of production mechanized as the role of the craftsman in society waned; you have never known a

keep control over their food choices as long as they can afford it. A large canteen that offers a breakfast, lunch and dinner at a more affordable rate could help us get the nutrition we need, and are often confused about, by following Canada’s food guide published on the Health Canada website. And let’s not forget that we can also boost the local economy by buying fresh produce and products for our canteen meals from the area. Nutrition should not be a major worry on student’s minds and by strategically organizing a canteen that reflects student’s wishes we could work out ways to eat better and pay less. Rethinking our cafeteria could help students stop worrying about the freshmen 15 and say goodbye forever to an emergency Ramen noodle diet.

society where workers by and large were not alienated from the product of their labour, and you likely never will. You are a university student in a wealthy town in a first-class country in the western world; you are the Bourgeoisie. To continue playacting otherwise does the ideas proposed by Marx, ideas you profess to admire and respect, a great disservice. If you want your BA to be worth something, acknowledge your position in society and recognize that the knowledge you are cultivating gives you the power to enact societal change.

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | opinions@thephoenixnews.com | Opinions Editor: Brittni Mackenzie-Dale

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I’M NOT A “BITCH” BECAUSE I SAID NO We’ve all been there: a sexy date, too much wine, and then the inevitable question… Brie Campbell Contributor We’d had a great night. He picked me up at my dorm and we went out for a late dinner—Mexican, because we both cited our favorite foods as burritos on our online dating profiles. Afterwards, we went for a walk in the cool July air, flirting with holding hands; we’d bump into each other, grinning those shy and awkward smiles of first-dates, our fingers grazing but not quite latching. We walked for over an hour, getting to know one another. When we reached his car again, he looked at me sideways. “Want to come over?” he asked and happily, I said sure.

//Be a Killjoy Brittni MacKenzie-Dale Opinions Editor

If you’ve ever been a single woman out on a date, you might know the next part of the story. He opened some Quail’s Gate. We made out on his couch to the tunes of Angus & Julia Stone and The Wonder Years and some old Blink 182. It was fun and exciting and sexy. Then he pulled out a condom. I held my hand up. “No, thanks,” I said, and did something I don’t normally do. I offered a (true) justification: “I’m on my period.” He let out an audible groan. I was a little tipsy at this point—I thought maybe he was joking. Or maybe I just wanted him to be joking. I mean, he was really cute up until that point, and the dark button-down he was wearing brought out the olive in his eyes. “I don’t care,” he insisted. “Let’s just do it.” At that point, I was a little offended. I’d just told him no—and politely, too! I’ve come to a conclusion about myself, one that makes me feel somewhat uneasy: I’m a killjoy. What does this mean, exactly? I would hope I’m a pleasant and kind person—I strive to be, anyways. But sometimes and in certain contexts, as a feminist and as a vegan, I find my very presence to be hostile. I can feel it in my bones: I’m disturbing the happiness order. Feminist scholar Sarah Ahmed explains a killjoy as someone who “critique[s] social happiness—happiness being used to justify social norms as social goods.”

Nice hair = nice platform?

Photo by Mandee Carter

I told him again that I wasn’t interested in that, at least not tonight. He asked me at least twice more before I sat up straight, re-adjusted my bra, and coolly asked him to pass me my purse. He looked at me grumpily, threw me my purse, and said: “Bitch.” No, I didn’t

key his car. I didn’t even send him an angry text afterwards. What I did do was take a cab back home and lay in bed, slightly intoxicated, feeling guilty. It makes me cringe to think this now, but I thought maybe he was right. Was I bitch? Did I lead him on? Was it wrong to kiss him and take off my top and then deny him sex? Of course not. When I woke up the next morning, mind clear and stomach a little queasy from that overstuffed burrito and too much wine, I felt electrically alive with anger. Who was he not to accept my “no”? Now, if this had been a onetime thing, I would have been able to shake it off easier. But as I went about my day, sloppily cleaning my room and procrastinating essays, I realized how often I had been chastised for speaking my opinion—even when it was about my own body. As the mental list grew

longer, I became more horrified. What is it about our culture that teaches men not to accept women’s answers, and simultaneously instructs women to be shy about their convictions? If you haven’t already seen it, Jennifer Lawrence released a poignant letter on LennyLetter.com (Lena Dunham’s wonderful new brain child) about being paid less than her male co-stars. In her letter, she says the following: “I’m over trying to find the ‘adorable’ way to state my opinion.” This doesn’t just go for wages. This goes for bodily autonomy, for classroom-related disputes, for domestic decisions. It goes for everything. As women, we need to stop internalizing this idea that we need to frame our “no”s with smiles and blushes. We can just say “no”—and guess what? That doesn’t make you a bitch.

Feminist killjoys are the most obvious and salient example in the 21st century. Another one is the vegan-feminist killjoy, a person who not only counters sexism but also carnism (the violent ideology that allows for our inconsistent treatment of nonhuman animals). It’s easy for killjoys to be dismissed as the source the problem, when really their desire lies in seeking to combat the problem. Sometimes we’re dismissed as incorrect; as stubborn or crudely defiant; or the particularly demeaning “oversensitive”.

Ahmed says it best, I think, so I’ll use her words: “Over-sensitive can be translated as: sensitive to that which is not over.” The only way for progress of any kind to occur—any sort of step forwards in changing dominant ideologies—is to allow yourself to sit in the position of the killjoy. It sucks. But it’s also necessary. And remember: there are sneaky ways to be a killjoy. We can take a look at Tracy Stewart (married to The Daily Show’s John Stewart), veterinarian technician and recent author, who wrote just-released Do Unto Animals.

Gorgeously illustrated, the book is a fun romp into considering animals morally. But one might not expect it; in fact, they might not think it even after having read the book. Yet, what’s really happening with stories like this—and voices, and rallies, and projects, and essays—is a challenge to the status quo. Inconspicuously, Stewart created a text that challenges the status quo’s happiness order. So keep on killing that joy, because it’s the only way to create future, more inclusive ones.

“What is it about our culture that teaches men not to accept women’s answers, and simultaneously instructs women to be shy about their convictions?”

Opinions Editor: Brittni Mackenzie-Dale |opinions@thephoenixnews.com | The Phoenix | October 19th 2015

THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP: MORE THAN JUST A TRADE DEAL Secretive bill benefits multinational corporations at citizen’s expense. Mark Dreger Current Affairs Editor On October 5, the 12 countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) reached a deal after nearly eight years of negotiations. The secretive deal now must pass the respective parliaments in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Peru, Chile, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore (China, perhaps intentionally, not included). Politicians advertise the agreement as a historic trade deal that will phase out import tariffs and enhance trade and investment, but it is far more than just a trade deal. Under the deal, foreign corporations

// “Anything but Harper”: Trendy or Authentic? Kelsey Anderson Contributor

can sue governments in secret courts for effecting their investments with the costs falling on taxpayers. The deal also strengthens penalties against copyright violators with copyright extending from life of the author plus 50 years, to life plus 70 years like in the US, which is expected to cost Canadians over $100 million per year. If one infringes on copyright, then the infringer is ordered “to pay the right holder the infringer’s profits that are attributable to the infringement,” which could include lost profits, the value of the infringed good, and other legal jargon. Under article H.8, the deal provides criminal procedures to ones with unauthorized access to a trade secret, willful misappropriation of a trade secret, or willful disclosure of a trade secret, all by means of a computer system. This section is said

to heavily damage free speech online and incriminate whistleblowers. The TPP also wants to prevent cheaper pharmaceuticals from competing in the market, which may increase the price of lifesaving drugs. US drug makers already have a 12year patent protection monopoly on drugs, but the US wants to place the same patent period to all countries in the deal. Canada currently has only a 5 year patent protection period, but some countries have shorter periods, or none at all. Thankfully, some countries (not Canada) stood up to the US and only a 5-8 year period was approved. The extension may not be as dramatic in Canada, but in developing countries like Peru, Vietnam, Mexico, and Malaysia, citizens may completely lose access to arthritis and cancer medication with no cheaper alternative

available. The forced extension on drug patents to poorer nations will benefit pharmaceutical companies and cost the lives of those who cannot afford what they need. Despite the deal being terrible, it is still better than what the US initially introduced, which is a frightening thought. The 30-chapter deal will not be made public for about a month, but Wikileaks has published what it says is the 60-page “Intellectual Property” chapter of the deal and it appears to contain monopoly protections for pharmaceutical companies, and threaten online freedom of speech. Campaign director Evan Greer of internet activist group Fight for the Future released a statement saying, “The text of the TPP’s intellectual property chapter confirms advocates warnings that this deal poses a grave

threat to global freedom of expression and basic access to things like medicine and information. But the sad part is that no one should be surprised by this. It should have been obvious to anyone observing the process that this would be the result. Appointed government bureaucrats and monopolistic companies were given more access to the text than elected officials and journalists; from the outset there was no way this was going to be a good deal for the public.” Opposing voices have spread all over the world against the TPP and similar trade agreements. In Japan, a group of over a thousand people tried to sue the Japanese government to halt Japan’s participation in the negotiations. The group included eight parliament members and over a hundred lawyers,

Voting day is coming up. I see many “Anything But Harper” campaign posts on my news feed, Twitter feed, and all around in daily conversation. It’s practically a Canadian mantra at this point. Before I get into this, here’s a disclaimer: I’ve yet to fully educate myself on the Canadian parties and where my vote will be placed. I’m neither here nor there about any one party at the moment. What I’m curious about though is if these people with the Anything But Harper votes know what their true votes really fit—or if it’s just a trend to jump on board with. We

have seen this before with KONY (remember how many people jumped onboard, donating money, without fully researching?). I know the circumstances are different, as are with all situations, but I’d be very saddened to see votes be misplaced due to a trend. This could be compared to the American federal election when Obama was running for office. I read many articles that said “Vote Obama— he’s black!” and also, regrettably on a different scale, read the opposite “Obamas black! Keep America White!” These votes aren’t based on policies or ideologies of the party, which is

entirely terrifying and life altering for Canadians as well. I know it has been said before, and will be said again, but Canadians will be voting in the lesser of the evils. I have found it really hard to find where I fit. I’ve taken tests, watched Leaders Debate, and have read tons of critiques on all parties. I’m still confused as to what to pick. This doesn’t sway me away from voting though! I think all Canadians that are eligible to vote should try to get a real understanding on what is going on. The world has a lot of tense issues at the moment, Syria and the Oregon College shooting being just two that

are all over the news. Please take the time to educate yourself on which party you will be voting for in the upcoming election. Canada is a powerful nation that has the capability and power to change the world. There is no room for voter apathy, and even more so, voter ignorance. If your vote happens to be Harper, Trudeau, Mulclair or May—don’t feel bad because it doesn’t seem to be the trendy thing to do. Do your research and stick to your convictions; but don’t rely on a popular twitter hashtag to convince you of your opinion.

October 19th 2015 | The Phoenix | opinions@thephoenixnews.com | Opinions Editor: Brittni Mackenzie-Dale

Screen shots from WikiLeaks - The US strategy to create a new global legal and economic system: TPP, TTIP, TISA

farmers, and celebrities. In Berlin, Germany, over a hundred thousand people (some putting the number at 250,000) protested against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a similar trade deal between the US and European nations that is just as secretive and dangerous as the TPP. US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is against it, saying that “It is time for the rest of us to stop letting multinational corporations rig the system to pad their profits at our expense.” Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton recently claimed to be against the TPP, but she was a strong supporter of the deal while secretary of state from 2009-2013, saying, “This TPP sets the gold standard in trade

agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field.” She noticed the public outrage against the deal and is now saying whatever it takes to get elected. When the local federal candidates were at the university in late September, I asked Conservative MP Ron Cannan and NDP candidate Norah Bowman about the deal. Ron said “[Canada] won’t sign any trade agreement unless it’s in the best interest of Canadians,” but based on what I have listed, Ron’s statement is false. I asked Ron about the auto industry and he didn’t address it and instead talked about the deal’s benefits to the Okanagan’s cherry and wine industries. Ron did remind me that the deal must be passed by

parliament and that there will be “ample time for public input [and] for public debate,” but that’s only if we get a copy of the deal to read. President Obama pledged to make the TPP public, but only after the deal is passed. And even if we get to see the deal, will our say have any effect over how the MPs vote? It didn’t for C-51. It didn’t for C-24. Ron supports the TPP and if he’s re-elected he will support it 100%. Norah Bowman was against the deal’s secrecy and how it “doesn’t recognize the important voices of all the groups in Canada who will be affected by it.” Although she did address the damage it will cause to the auto industry, she also overlooked the issue and focused on the deal’s benefit to some farmers. She supported it at

the time, but Mulcair has since said he will oppose the deal after being “enthusiastically in favour of a trade deal” at the beginning of the campaign in August. Do I believe Mulcair is truly against the deal? Not really. It’s a political stunt that makes him the only major candidate to oppose the deal and possibly acquire the many young voters who dislike it, too. Will the NDP candidates, including Norah Bowman, suddenly oppose the deal now that Mulcair opposes it? If so, then what does that say about the selfthinking of our representatives? Prime Minister Stephan Harper said he will give $1billion to the auto sector over ten years to allow it to cope due to the TPP. Another $4.3billion will go towards the dairy, poultry, and egg

industries to minimize the effects of the deal. If so much money must go into these industries due to the TPP, then it makes one wonder if it’s worth passing such a damaging deal in the first place, not including all the nontrade related additions. The Conservatives and Liberals don’t think it matters, and I personally don’t believe the NDP will hold firm to their opposition. The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a secretive, corporate-swelling, citizeninfringing, government-waning deal that benefits corporations and ruins the people. I only hope that public opposition continues and politicians stand up against this heinous abomination.