Vol XXX Issue IV - October 17 2016

UBCO’s Student Newspaper

October 17th 2016 | Vol 30, Issue 4

We almost died since 1989

UBCO Fall Fashion p. 12-13

abortion protests p. 3

EMPOWERRRR drag show p. 8

Consent Not Clear Enough p. 19

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thephoenixnews.com |

News

Current Affairs Arts

UBCSUO and WRC Rally for Women’s Right to Choose p.3

German Satirist has Charges Dropped for Mocking Turkish President p.6

How to Address Poverty and Inequality with Seth Klein p.4

Colombian President Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for FARC Deal p.7

Campus

Empowerrr: A Drag Show for All p.8 2016 Nobel Prize Recipients p.9 Get Ready to Be Spooked by These Books p.10

Life

Opinions

Sports

The Benefits of Hot Yoga p.11

Democracy? p.18

On Campus Fall Fashion p.12-13

Consent is Not Clear Enough Yet p.19

Heat Women Own a Pair of Undefeated Pre-Seasons p.21

Finding Your Motivation p.14

Friendsgiving Lessons: Pump(your)kins Up! p.20

Roll Up Your Sleeves and Save a Life p.15

Francesca Gimson Senior Copy Editor

University Centre 3333 University Way Kelowna, BC, Canada V1Y 5N3 Office: UNC 132B Phone: 250-807-9296 thephoenixnews.com Cover by David Vassiliev

Managing Editor Alex Barberis managingeditor@thephoenixnews. com Coordinating Editor Jacky Deng coordinating@thephoenixnews.com Art Director Sarah James artdirector@thephoenixnews.com Production Editor Kelsi Brown production@thephoenixnews.com Senior Copy Editor Francesca Gimson copy@thephoenixnews.com Junior Copy Editor Nick Huertas huertas@thephoenixnews.com

Men’s Soccer Suffer First Loss on Home Turf p.22

Kelsi Brown Production Editor

Riley Petillion Video Editor

Opinions Editor Trophy Ewila opinions@thephoenixnews.com

Staff Writer Riley Schlosser schlosser@thephoenixnews.com

News Editor Laurence Watt news@thephoenixnews.com

Web Editor Justin Kroeker web@thephoenixnews.com

Arts Editor Paula Tran arts@thephoenixnews.com

Photo Editor David Vassiliev photo@thephoenixnews.com

Sports Editor Grayson B. Leahy sports@thephoenixnews.com

Video Editor Riley Petillion video@thephoenixnews.com

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

Visuals Editor Sarah Dowler visuals@thephoenixnews.com

Life Editor Brie Welton life@thephoenixnews.com

Ads Sales Manager Jennifer Stolarchuk ads@thephoenixnews.com

Staff Writer Frances Carruthers carruthers@thephoenixnews.com

Contributors Nour Sallam, Doortje Geelkerken, Natasha Matar, Quinn Wright

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.

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News | thephoenixnews.com | Laurence Watt - News Editor

News

HUNGARY REFERENDUM ON EU REFUGEE QUOTAS DECLARED INVALID Despite 98% voting against the quotas, the numbers were too low to pass Mark Dreger – Current Affairs Editor

Photo by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News

UBCSUO AND WRC RALLY FOR WOMEN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE

If there were a nice way to start your Monday morning, it is probably not witnessing graphic posters of aborted fetuses on the way to your 9:30 class Laurence Watt - News Editor

Last week, an anti-choice activist group greeted students on their way to campus with posters and graphic images of late-term aborted fetuses.

Stationed around the roundabout outside the front of Parking Lot H on Monday, Tuesday and Friday morning, the anti-choice group attempted to push their view on abortion to students and faculty members as they drove to school. Although the protesters did succeed in attracting the attention of UBCSUO students, it was for different reasons than they had hoped.

Instead of attracting students to their cause, multiple students complained to security and the SUO about the protesters’ graphic signs being disturbing, offensive, and caus-ing discomfort.

UBC students and staff also made requests asking UBC to ban the anti-choice group from protesting. However, because the roundabout is on public

property, there was nothing the university or the RCMP could do to stop them.

Responding to these complaints, UBC’s Matthew Grant stated that, despite the unpleasant imagery, the university respects the group’s right to freedom of speech and right to protest on public property.

On Tuesday, the UBCSUO made a public statement urging all students who felt negatively affected by the protests to make use of the on-campus resource centres. In particular, the Health and Wellness Centre, the UBCSUO Resources Centre, and the Third Space Wellness Centre were highlighted.

Once it was reported that the anti-choice group would be protesting again on Friday, the UBCSUO teamed up with the Women’s Resource Centre to take a stand for women being able to make their own choices.

On Friday morning, the UBCSUO’s VP External

Kimberly Rutledge, and others, led a rally against the antichoice protesters.

According to Rutledge, one of the main reasons for launching

“ On Tuesday, the UBCSUO made a public statement urging all students who felt negatively effected by the protests to make use of the on-campus resource centres.

” a protest of their own was to stand up for those who had been hurt by the anti-choice protests.

“I’m always a supporter of freedom of speech, unless it is

being used to bully and oppress people,” said Rutledge.

“The purpose of our rally was to stand up for those who were being hurt by the anti-choice protests.”

Speaking in regards to the UBCSUO’s decision to take a stance on abortion, Rutledge said she and her fellow executives stand up for, and respect, every woman’s right to make choices for themselves and their bodies.

“We, at the SUO, respect every woman’s right to make the choices that are right for them and their bodies,” said Rutledge. “This rally was our way of showing those affected that we are here for them and we support them. Our campus should always be a place where everyone feels comfortable, safe, and supported, and that will always be something I advocate for.”

Currently, there appear to be no further anti-choice protests scheduled for the near future.

A referendum in Hungary against mandatory quotas for refugees reached high support but fell short of a majority.

98% voted against the EU quotas, but only about 44% of eligible voters cast valid ballots, leaving the referendum under 50% of voter representation, and was thus declared invalid.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that he opposes the plans to relocate 160,000 of the estimated 1.5 million refugees and migrants across the EU, despite only 1,294 being allocated to Hungary. Czechia, Romania, and Slovakia also rejected the mandatory quotas in September 2015, believing that accepting refugees should be voluntary.

When refugees and migrants traveled through Hungary to Germany, Hungary built a razor-wire fence along its border with Serbia and Croatia, and saw migration numbers fall from 138,400 in September to 315 in November.

Despite the result being invalid, Orban is still positive about the result and considers it a victory, and he plans to go to Brussels to discuss the quotas. “[…] And I shall try, with the help of the outcome, if this is an appropriate outcome, to ensure that we should not be forced to accept in Hungary people we don’t want to live with,” Orban said.

“Today is a sweeping victory for all those who reject the EU’s mandatory, unlimited quotas,” said Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Gergely Gulyás.

“It is a sweeping victory for all those who believe that the foundations of a strong European Union can only be the strong nation states.”

Critics of the referendum highlight the turnout more than the result, as Liberal politicians told their supporters to boycott the vote.

“The majority of Hungarians stayed away from the polls and what’s been left behind is a divided country,” said Viktor Szigetvári of the opposition coalition. “To heal this, we need a change in government.”

“Obviously the government tries to sell this as a success, but this is not success,” said Socialist politician Csaba Toth. “It shows Fidesz [party] could not mobilize more voters than its own voter base plus the Jobbik [party] voters.”

Despite Orban’s “cultural rebellion” failing, other European nations are facing their own possible rebellions, such as the Austrian presidential re-election and the Italian constitutional referendum, both taking place on December 4.

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Laurence Watt - News Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

News

GERMAN SATIRIST HAS CHARGES DROPPED FOR MOCKING TURKISH PRESIDENT German comic has charges dropped against him after reciting a poem mocking the Turkish President Mark Dreger – Current Affairs Editor

Photo by David Vassiliev /The Phoenix News

ARAB INTERCULTURAL CLUB SPEARHEADS INSIGHT BOOK DRIVE

50% of the books will be sent to universities in East Africa and 20-30% will be resold at lower prices locally Laurence Watt - News Editor

The Arab Intercultural Club, along with a number of other student associations, has teamed up with Textbooks for Change in the hopes of offering support to students local-ly and globally.

The initiative, which runs from October 11-21, is asking students to bring any books they no longer need to school, and drop them off in one of their boxes which are scattered around campus.

The goal of the Insight Book Drive is to collect more than 1,000 books which will then be used to help students around the world gain access to the tools that will better their education. Once collected, 50% of the books will be sent to universities in East Africa, 20-30% will be resold at lower prices to students locally and

another 20% of the books will be recycled.

According to the Arab Intercultural Club President

“ 50% of the books will be sent to universities in East Africa and 20-30% will be resold at lower prices locally.

” Loai Khassawneh, this book drive creates a great opportunity for UBCO students to help other

students around the world who are less fortunate.

“Coming from third world countries, we realize the importance of access to educational resources; as these books are the tools that help shape our minds and breed innovation,” says Khassawneh.

“We are privileged to be a part of such an exceptional community at UBCO that helps guide us to the next phase of our lives. And nothing beats the feeling of being a part of that process, and helping people get there. As most textbooks are mostly used for just a class or two, why not pass them on to someone who might take better use of them?”

Students and faculty members interested in learning more and getting involved are encouraged to visit their Facebook page,

titled Insight Book Drive.

The book drive is made possible by the Arab Intercultural Association in collaboration with the UBCO Political Science Student Association, Arab Students’ Association, HARMONY, Russian Speaker Student Association, Pakistan Students’ Association and International Programs and Services.

German comedian Jan Böhmermann will not face legal action for his satirical poem after prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to commit him of a crime.

In March, Böhmermann recited a crude poem on German state TV, insulting Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The insults include calling Erdogan cowardly, a pig, a woman beater, a pedophile, and one that enjoys having sex with goats.

Böhmermann argued that the poem was to test the boundaries of satire.

After the poem aired, the Turkish government, which has become known for their reprimands against critics and free speech, pressed charges that ordered the satirical video to be deleted. Prosecutors originally said there was suspicion that the poem was guilty of breaking Section 103 of the German Criminal Code, which disallows insulting foreign heads of state.

The situation sparked more controversy in April after German chancellor Angela Merkel took Ankara’s formal request seriously and allowed the comedian to face prosecution, leading some to accuse Merkel of submitting to Turkish pressure due to their controversial migrant deal. “[The] piece was part of a wellknown satirical television broadcast,” prosecutors said in a statement after dropping the case, “and that an average TV audience should therefore assume that statements made there are often accompanied by exaggerations which often lack seriousness.”

If convicted, Böhmermann could have faced 3 months to 5 years in prison, but after the announcement, Erdogan’s lawyer filed an appeal on October 9 to have the decision overturned.

Earlier in March, a German satirical video called “Erdowie, Erdowo, Erdogan” depicted Erdogan as a dictator who jails journalists and bombs the Kurds over “his brothers in faith over at ISIL.” The Turkish government demanded that the video be deleted, but instead, the German government defended the song as free speech. The creators then added English and Turkish subtitles as the video soon reached over 9 million views.

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News | thephoenixnews.com | Laurence Watt - News Editor

HOW TO ADDRESS POVERTY AND INEQUALITY WITH SETH KLEIN The Phoenix sits down with the director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives to talk about the pressing issues facing Canadians Laurence Watt - News Editor

On Wednesday, we sat down with Seth Klein, Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, to discuss what his organization does, his thoughts on inequality and poverty in Canada, and potential policy proposals to help address these issues.

least up the 2008 recession. And the OECD itself has noted that our system of tax and transfers has lost must of its capacity to mitigate inequality.

LW: What are some policy proposals or ideas that you and your organization have to tackle poverty and inequality?

Laurence Watt: For those who don’t SK: We need to restore a great deal more know, what is the Canadian Centre progressiveness to our tax regime. Our for Policy Alternatives? tax regime isn’t as progressive as it used Seth Klein: We’re a non-profit, nongovernmental public policy and social justice orientated research group based across Canada, which produces and promotes a lot of research on a whole host of public policy areas, including education, poverty, health care, pensions, free trade and globalization. We have a national office in Ottawa and provincial offices across the country. I’m the BC Director and work with a staff of 15 people.

Increasingly the BC office has been concentrating on climate policy and climate justice. In particular, looking at the connections between how we can take action on climate whilst at the same time reducing inequality.

We try to shift political culture and challenge the notion that there are no alternatives, that we can’t afford social programs, that there’s nothing we can do about poverty and homelessness, that inequality and climate change is inevitable. Our work equips people with the facts and knowledge that says that’s not true: we can solve these things.

LW: Compared to most other countries, inequality in Canada isn’t that bad, is it?

SK: Well it depends relative to whom.

Relative to most European countries Canada has a greater degree of inequality and, in terms of where we sit in the OECD rankings of inequality, our position has eroded. We’ve gone from being roughly in the middle of the pack to one of the countries in the OECD with the highest levels of inequality. We don’t have as much inequality as the United States… but we can’t be too smug about that because as inequality is greater in the US, it’s been increasing at a faster clip in Canada than it was in the US—at

“

We’re a non-profit, non-governmental public policy and social justice orientated research group based across Canada, which produces and promotes a lot of research on a whole host of public policy areas, including education, poverty, health care, pensions, free trade and globalization.

”

to be. The problem is that the whole tax regime has cut income taxes—the one progressive tax we have—and shifted instead to other taxes like sales taxes and property taxes, for example, that are regressive… where lower income households pay a higher share of their income. So the overall tax system both national and in BC are both regressive.

When you look at all taxes rolled together you see a downward slope.

The higher your income the lower your tax rate. So that needs to change.

In BC, the single biggest driver [of inequality] is the MSP—the single most regressive tax we have and BC is the only province that has it. If you’re a middle income family in BC, you now pay more in MSP premiums then you do in income tax. If you’re an upper income family, you pay the same dollar amount but it represents a much smaller share of your income. So those are changes you could make to the tax system.

In regards to transfers, we need to boost incomes going to people on the low income side of the ladder. And that’s really about welfare and EI. Economists refer to these as economic stabilizers… they kick in automatically, particularly when the economy’s heading south, and put money in the pockets of the

people who are hardest hit. But those two automatic stabilizers are shadows of their former selves, in regards to the dollar value of their benefits and the coverage in terms of access.

In the old days inequality used to be driven by what was happening to incomes at the low end, but in recent decades it’s been driven by the run away rich, by the 1% pulling away. This is why the taxation question matters, and having higher income tax brackets that start to address that.

In the end, the real drivers of inequality aren’t the tax and transfer system… it’s the market that’s driving inequality. So whereas taxes and transfers are about redistribution, what’s driving inequality is predistribution. Pre-distribution is a much more nuanced beast because it’s about the balance of power in society and who commands the share of income. So when you try to mitigate that, the policy measures are different.

That’s when minimum wage policies matter and living wages matter.

If someone’s pay is poor and someone’s working conditions are poor, you want such people to be able to exercise their power by moving, by leaving, by demanding better. But for workers to be able to do that, there needs to be enough of a decent social safety net so that people can say to a

bad employer: “I’m outta here.” Then people can fall back on that social safety net until they find something better. But we don’t a safety net like that, so people just suck it up and stay in those crappy situations.

The level of unionization also matters greatly. If you look across the OECD countries and look at all those income inequality comparisons, one of the indicators that most closely correlates with the level of inequality is the level of union density. Because that speaks to who’s commanding what share of income before the system of taxes and transfers kicks in.

LW: If there’s one thing you’d like your audience to take away from your presentation today, what would it be?

SK: That there’s nothing inevitable about poverty and inequality. These problems are often presented as intractable and as the new reality but they’re not. Places that make different choices have different outcomes.

LW: For those who are interested in what you do and the work conducted by the CCPA, where can they find out more?

SK: At policyalternatives.ca.

Photo by Laurence Watt /The Phoenix News

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Laurence Watt - News Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

UBCO TALKS BLACK LIVES MATTER

News

Photo by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News

Global spectrum brings professors and students together to discuss the roots of racism and ways to create a more equitable society Laurence Watt - News Editor

On October 6, The Global Spectrum hosted a panel discussion on the Black Lives Matter movement, the roots of racism, and ways to create a more equitable society.

The Global Spectrum, a student-led branch of UBCO’s International Programs and Services, had been planning the event since early August. At its peak, its estimated over 120 students were present to witness and engage in the discussion.

The panel discussion included professors Dr. Ruthann Lee, Dr. David Jefferess, and Dr. Bonar Buffam, as well as students Trophy Ewila, Dela Hini, Luke Morris, and Josh Dwamena.

The discussion was split into two parts: for the first 45 minutes, the panelists discussed amongst themselves questions posed by the moderator, and for the second hour and a half, the audience had an opportunity to share their opinions and pose questions to the panel.

Although the discussion was meant to run from 6-8PM, it continued to stretch on until about 8:30PM, with students eager to share personal experiences and give their opinions on questions that had been previously posed to the panel.

A central point of the discussion was for the panel and attendees to consider how we got to where we are today, and how we want to help shape the future of tomorrow. A few notable themes that arose from the event included the importance of discussion, and translating

talk into action.

During the first half, Dr. David Jefferess stated that he had not witnessed a discussion of this sort—where so many students were gathered in a lecture hall outside of class hours. During the second half, a couple of students stated that, although it is good to talk about the Black Lives Matter movement,

“

We encourage students and faculty members from all walks of life to come together, discuss the issues, and consider avenues by which we can expand the conversation outside of the classroom and into the community.

which we can expand the conversation outside of the classroom and into the community. Although translating words into action is easier said than done, the Global Spectrum notes that it has been accomplished before.

Last year, when The Global Spectrum was first created, its co-founder Stella Mozin hosted a series of smaller and similar discussions in the International Programs and Services work space. It was during one of these discussions on terrorism and the refugee crisis that students were able to brainstorm ideas and come up with the Canvas Project.

According to The Global Spectrum

executive team, they’re set to continue encouraging students to think critically about the pressing issues of today, and brainstorm ways to unite and create positive change in the Kelowna community and beyond. The Global Spectrum is only getting started and this discussion was only the beginning.

The event was made possible with the help of the International Relations Student Association, HARMONY, the African-Caribbean Student Club, and the Political Science Student Association.

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what needs to be discussed is how to spread the conversation and come up with ideas that could potentially help alleviate issues like racism in our society.

According to the Global Spectrum, hosting these events and providing students with a platform to voice their opinions is one of the first steps in creating tangible change.

By hosting these discussions, we encourage students and faculty members from all walks of life to come together, discuss the issues, and consider avenues by

Photo by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News

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News | thephoenixnews.com | Mark Dreger - Current Affairs Editor

Photo provided by Ministerio TIC Colombia/ Creative Commons

COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT AWARDED NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR FARC DEAL Despite the Colombian people rejecting the deal, Colombia’s President still receives the prize Mark Dreger - Current Affairs Editor

Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 7 for his deal with FARC rebels in the country.

Colombia’s government and the Marxist FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrilla movement have been at war since 1964.

On September 26, Santos and the Marxist rebel leader Rodrigo Londono signed an agreement to end the conflict after four years of negotiations.

“What we have signed today is a declaration by the Colombian people in front of the world to say that we are tired of war and that we do not accept any more violence as a means to defend ideas, and that we say loud and clear ‘no more war,’” Santos said after signing the deal in September.

FARC agreed to turn in their weapons, leave jungle camps, and re-enter Colombian society.

Under the deal, the crimes committed during the conflict would be tried in court, and

FARC would be given 10 seats in the 268 seat Congress until 2026.

After receiving support from UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon and US Secretary of State John Kerry, Colombian voters narrowly rejected the peace deal 50.2% to 49.8%, a difference of less than 60,000 votes out of 13 million. Voter turnout was low at 37%, but only 13% of the electorate needed to support the deal to make it valid.

Critics of the deal, like former President Alvaro Uribe, who led the “no” campaign, believes the deal is too soft on FARC. He and others believe that the rebels should not be given seats in Congress and should face jail time. Some rebels could get lenient prison sentences or none at all if they confess their crimes, which include kidnappings, rape, and drug trafficking.

Other critics want the deal renegotiated to disallow FARC members guilty of war crimes from running for public office. They also want FARC to pay compensation to victims, as the 52-year conflict

“ ‘The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2016 to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his resolute efforts to bring the country’s more than 50-year-long civil war to an end.’ – The Nobel Committee

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resulted in at least 220,000 dead and nearly 8 million displaced.

“Making peace is much more difficult than making war because you need to change sentiments of people, people who have suffered, to try to persuade them to forgive,” Santos said.

“The fact that a majority of the voters said no to the peace accord does not necessarily mean that the peace process is dead,” the Nobel committee said in a statement. “The referendum was not a vote for or against peace.

What the ‘No’ side rejected was not the desire for peace, but a specific peace agreement.”

Santos has since announced an extension of the ceasefire signed in June while the peace deal is being amended.

The committee believes that the award “will give [Santos] strength to succeed in this demanding task,” as the award is expected to lift morale among the deal’s supporters.

Inspired by the Cuban revolution in the 1950s, FARC was founded in 1964 as part of

Colombia’s Communist Party and fought against perceived inequality, while also attacking security forces and military posts. Within the last decade, however, the group has lost many members and lost several leaders through natural death.

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Paula Tran – Arts Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Arts

EMPOWERRRR: A DRAG SHOW FOR ALL

Arts

Photo by Andrew Memije/ The Phoenix News

Embrace yourself!

Paula Tran – Arts Editor

On Friday, October 7, the Pride Resource Centre hosted “Empowerrrr”, a drag show for students and community members, in the Admin Theatre.

The purpose of the drag show is to introduce the art of drag to those who are new to it, as well as to entertain the people who love the art. Performers included Yumi, Craven Moorehead, Sparkle, Jenna Telz, and Envy Herdoe. Even Ben Moody, from the Pride Resource Centre, performed a few songs of his own. There was a prize draw at the event, and event goers could

win prizes such as underwear, lube, and sex toys. Everybody who purchased a drag show ticket was given a raffle ticket at the door, and prizes were determined by random draw.

Although the Admin Theatre was not filled to maximum capacity that night, the show still went on, and those who decided not to come were clearly missing out. All of the performances were amazing and really well done: the costumes were well designed, and everybody had great presence on stage. Sparkle started the

INTERNATIONAL TOPICS AND PERSPECTIVES BLOG A blog run by the community to inform the community Paula Tran – Arts Editor

The Global Spectrum Blog is an initiative and website run by Carrie Karsgaard, Nene Azu, as well as various contributors from the UBC Okanagan community. The blog serves as a link to the UBCO campus and the

world by addressing a wide variety of international topics and featuring cultural events and other creative expressions by students. The blog also prides itself on featuring a wide range of student perspectives and ensuring that these stories are shared

event with a quirky, funny, and interesting personality, acting as the emcee throughout the night and entranced the audience with her charm. Performers also interacted with the audience, giving a few lucky people lap dances and walking around off the stage making intense eye contact with event goers. There were also games and prize draws in between, including “pin the nipple on the model” and “phallic ring toss”. Prizes included underwear, lube, and sex toys from various sponsors throughout the Okanagan.

Drag and drag culture is not something new in the Okanagan.

Seasoned performers such as Sparkle, Jenna Telz, and Yumi, have performed at various events throughout Kelowna, including high profile art shows as well as clubs. There is also a drag competition held every year in August as part of the Okanagan Pride Festival, where the best performers come out and battle for the title of King or Queen of the Okanagan.

This year, Jenna Telz snagged the title as Queen, wowing the judges and the audiences

with stellar and one-of-a-kind performances.

This is not my first time going to a drag show on campus, and this year did not fail to impress me; it was both fun and interesting to see others feeling comfortable about their own bodies, and it made me comfortable in mine. This event is important not only to promote and introduce drag as an art form, but also to encourage people to feel comfortable with their own sexuality, body, and person.

with UBCO students.

Articles and posts on the blog range from the local, like interviews with Santa Ono, and the day through the life of a Jumpstart Coordinator, and the international. In a particularly interesting and a relatively recent article, Nene Azu writes about whether or not someone should apologize about their country.

The author concluded that even though we are not directly related to the issues at hand, we still feel tied to what happens because of the environment that shapes us. Furthermore, the author

explores the idea how the act of apologizing is an internal as well as an external struggle, and apologizing can be seen as an act of individualism or taking action against injustice.

Students, and those of the UBCO community, are encouraged to submit to the blog. In general, everybody can contribute, as long as you follow the blog mandates: to promote intercultural understanding on campus and counter reductive stereotypes, to serve as a link between the broader world and Kelowna (and the UBCO campus specifically),

and to build community within a diverse student body. Articles can cover Canada’s involvement with the world, creative student work, and events.

For more information on how you can submit, and to check out other articles of the blog, visit www. theglobalspectrum.org.

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Arts | thephoenixnews.com | Paula Tran – Arts Editor

Photo provided by News Papad

2016 NOBEL PRIZE RECIPIENTS A report on this year’s Nobel Prize winners and their achievements Paula Tran – Arts Editor

The Nobel Prizes are awarded each year to men and women around the world for outstanding and extraordinary achievements in chemistry, physics, physiology/medicine, literature, economic sciences, and work in peace. First awarded in 1901, the Prize was first founded in 1895 when Alfred Nobel wrote his last will, which left most of his wealth to be used towards the establishment of the Nobel Prize. Known for his work on explosives, Alfred Nobel’s legacy lives on through the incredible works of scientists, authors, and others for 115 years. In 2016 awards went to three people in Physics, three in Chemistry, one person was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology, two people in the Economic Sciences, and one person for both Literature and Peace.

The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane, and J. Michael Kosterlitz. Using topography as a tool, all three scientists demonstrated that superconductivity could occur at low temperatures and explained the mechanism and phase transitions that made superconductivity disappear at higher temperatures. According to the official Nobel Prize

website, their work has opened up research for new and exotic phases of matter, and are looking for new applications for this discovery in material sciences and physics.

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, and Bernard L. Feringa received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the “design and synthesis of molecular machines”. They developed

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Alfred Nobel’s legacy lives on through the incredible works of scientists, authors, and others for 115 years.

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molecules with controllable movements, which can perform a task when energy is added.

The first step was initiated by Sauvage, when he linked two ring-shaped molecules together to form a chain, which are linked by a mechanical bond instead of covalent bonds. The second step was taken by Sir Stoddart.

He threaded a molecular ring onto a thin molecular axle and demonstrated that the ring could move along the axle. His developments based on this discovery included a molecular lift, muscle, and moleculebased computer chip. Feringa was the first person to develop a molecular motor, and in 1999 he got a molecular motor blade to rotate continuously. Since then, he has rotated a glass cylinder much bigger in size and designed a nanocar.

Yoshinori Oshumi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for his discoveries in autophagy, and fundamental process in cells required for degrading and recycling cellular components.

Autophagy, which means “self-eating” in Greek, was first observed when scientists discovered that cells could enclose their own contents in a membrane for transport to the lysosome, a recycling component of the cell. Oshumi used baker’s yeast to identify genes that were important for autophagy. His discovery showed the importance of the process in physiological diseases, where mutations in the genes play a major role, and how the process is involved with the development of certain cancers

and neurological diseases.

The 2016 Nobel Economic Sciences prize was awarded to Oliver Hart, professor at Harvard University, and Bengt Holmström, the Paul A. Samuelson Professor of Economics at MIT. Holmström and Hart are being lauded for their contributions to contract theory, an area of economics concerned with intersections of economics and law. Their theories cover a broad scope of issues, ranging from questions surrounding control rights to labor market interactions. Such understandings are particularly significant to management practice, in areas such as worker motivation. Hart and Holmström continue to research under their posts are professors at their respective universities.

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Juan Manuel Santos, the current President of Colombia. Rewarded for his recent efforts to bring about peace in his country, Santos dedicated his award to fellow Colombians, and more specifically the victims of elongated Colombian conflict.

He then spoke to those opposed to the peace deal, invoking them into action to end the hostility, stating, “I invite everyone to join our strength, our minds,

and our hearts in this great national endeavor so that we can win the most important prize of all: peace in Colombia.”

In a surprising twist, Nobel’s 2016 Literature Prize was awarded to musician and lyricist Bob Dylan. The committee attributed Dylan’s win to his “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”

This occasion marks the first time the Nobel Prize has been awarded to someone whose predominant title is musician.

The last notably jarring pick for the traditional literature prize was Dario Fo, Italian playwright and recipient of the 1997 Nobel.

The reaction on social media to Dylan’s appointment has been mixed, with some embracing the diversity of the title “literature” and some criticizing the academy for their bizarre choice, sarcastically claiming Gordon Ramsey or Keith Richards may be the next winners of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Dylan has yet to make a public statement, though the artistic world can agree that this Nobel Literature Prize could potentially change the scope of recognition for both musicians and authors of texts not confined by traditional formats.

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Paula Tran – Arts Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Arts

Photo by Haga Wirba/ The Phoenix News

4 BOOKS TO SPOOK YOU SILLY THIS HALLOWEEN Books to get you ready for Halloween, with one feel-good book to wind down Paula Tran – Arts Editor

The weather is getting colder, the leaves are changing colour, and the days are getting shorter. If you love the sweater weather and pumpkin spice lattes, all props to you. You are a much better person than I am. But if you are anything like me, I would much prefer cozying up to a fire place wrapped in a blanket, my nose buried in a book (never mind that I do not have a fireplace in residence). When the seasons change, I tailor my book list accordingly, and here are my top four books on my “to read” list for the season.

1. Dracula Written by Bram Stoker in 1897, this classic gothic and horror novel is set in England and Eastern Europe.

It is formatted as a series of journal entries by a series of protagonists: Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray, Dr. John Seward, Lucy Westenra, and Dr. Van Helsing. The story begins with Jonathan Harker travelling to Transylvania seeking a real estate deal with Count Dracula. He soon finds out that there is more behind the scenes than a real estate deal, especially when the locals warn him about Count Dracul’s identity.

Trouble erupts, and the more Harker investigates, the more troubled he becomes.

“ Frankenstein is another classic horror novel written by Mary Shelly and is often referred to as the ‘Modern Prometheus.’

” 2. Frankenstein Frankenstein is another classic horror novel written by Mary Shelly, and is often referred to as the

“Modern Prometheus”. In the story, Victor Frankenstein comes to study natural philosophy and chemistry at the university of Ingolstadt, along with his friend Henry. Victor is soon consumed with the desire to discover the true meaning of life. He creates a creature out of old body parts, but soon realizes how horrible his creation really is.

Victor then enters a life of grief and suffering as a result.

3. The Girl on the Train Now a major motion picture, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is a thriller that many be compared to Gone Girl. The Girl on the Train is a story revolving around Rachel Watson and her life post-divorce.

Everyday, she commutes to work on a train to London, and she always passes by a house owned by a couple that she fantasizes about.

The golden couple, Megan and Scott, lives on the same street that she used to, where her life has been torn to bits. The golden couple, however, doesn’t have a perfect life.

Rachel notices one day that Megan is kissing another man, and then the next day, Megan goes missing.

Rachel decides to join in the

investigation and get to the bottom of the mystery.

4. My Sister’s Keeper Also a major motion picture, My Sister’s Keeper is a gripping story by Jodi Piccoult that tells the story of the Fitzgerald family. The youngest daughter, Anna, sues her parents for medical emancipation when she is expected to donate a kidney for her sister, Kate, who has leukemia.

Anna is a perfect genetic match for Kate, designed by scientists and doctors to be a donor whenever Kate needs blood or bone marrow.

Their parents, Sara and Brian, are too wrapped up in Kate’s treatments that they become strangers, and Anna and her brother, Jesse, act out as a result.

Life | thephoenixnews.com | Brie Welton - Life Editor

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Life

THE BENEFITS OF HOT YOGA According to two longtime yogis, it is worth the sweat

Brie Welton – Life Editor

“Any yoga, for mental health, is phenomenal,” says yoga teacher Bill Eager, who teaches Flow and warm Vinyasa classes at Moksha Yoga Studio. “Just to focus on something else, like internal breathing,

projects, and the seemingly can calm you down.”

In the university world of impossible task of balancing the endless deadlines, time consuming two, students could benefit greatly from practicing yoga.

“I think yoga is a compliment to pretty much any activity, as is meditation,” continues Bill, “It’s like any muscle you would exercise and it’s a systematic practice… the more you do it the more you get a benefit from it.”

The benefits of yoga are not purely mental, but physical as well.

“The poses themselves create wonderful health effects for all the internal organs,” says Bill, listing improvements in “musculature, s t re n g t h , toning [and] stretching.”

The health benefits of yoga are wellestablished, h o w e v e r,

the benefits of hot yoga are perhaps less clear. The question many face is: is it dangerous to sweat so much and why should I put myself through that?

Ian Jamieson, hot yoga teacher at Moksha Yoga Studio, is a strong advocate for the practice because of its numerous benefits.

Ian divides the effects into the physical and the non-physical.

“Physically, you sweat more, so you detoxify,” states Ian, “it gets your heartrate up a little bit [and] you get a little more of a calorie burn because of the heat.” Additionally, the heat of the classroom helps the muscles become more pliable and facilitates the stretch. However, according to Ian, the benefits of hot yoga are not purely physical.

“It’s an added challenge,” insists Ian, “and yoga’s about overcoming challenge… it forces you to stay calm, to stay relaxed.” To those who worry about the difficulty of the high temperature, Ian replies, “A little bit of pressure is a good thing. It forces you to work with your breath [and] your breath brings you to the moment.”

Students often worry that they are not fit or flexible enough for yoga. This is a sentiment Bill has heard many times. “You know what I say to people who tell me they aren’t very flexible?”

Bill asks, “I say, well, the good

news is that you don’t have to go far to feel a stretch.” Ian also regularly addresses student concerns about being unable to tolerate the heat of his classes.

“Our advice always is if it’s too much, don’t push,” states Ian. “If a student finds the heat overwhelming, we allow them to just lie on their back or go to child’s pose.” And as for the concerns about sweating too much, Ian reveals, “You can absolutely do [Hot Yoga] every single day,” adding that some students even do it twice a day, and advises to always hydrate prior to coming to class to prevent any problems. Attending daily classes may not be possible for university students, and with this in mind Bill insists, “If you can go 2 or 3 times a week I’d say you’re definitely ahead of the curve.”

Students who are overwhelmed, stressed and unable to find time for themselves can find sanctuary in yoga, and an added challenge in hot yoga, which will benefit them in the studio and in their daily lives both physically and mentally. Bill’s parting advice to those unsure of where to begin: “Just start where you are.”

Photo provided by Nathan White Photography/ @_nwhite

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Brie Welton - Life Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Life

ON CAMPUS FALL FASHION

The Phoenix life reporters interview some of UBCO’s most fashionable students

Brie Welton - Life Editor, Frances Carruthers - Staff Writer

Maddy Pasemko – Anthropology Describe your style: “Comfortable.”

Signature piece: “Right now… brown suede skirts, like the miniskirts with the buttons down the front.”

Madison Tomkow – Sociology

David Hwang – Management

Describe your style: “I’m kind of all over the place to be honest. I just decided to try nice-ish today.”

Style inspiration: “Whoever has nice clothes.”

Favorite places to shop: “I like Zara… H&M as well. But I do most of my shopping in Hong Kong.”

Jenny Stolarchuk – Accounting Signature piece: “My new coat… it has the angular collar… it’s down to my ankles and it’s grey knit [with] deep pockets.”

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Life | thephoenixnews.com | Brie Welton - Life Editor

"But I got scrubs on...

No fall fashion for me..."

Kilentey Leshore – Civil Engineering Describe your style: “Simple, comfortable, classy.”

Would never wear: “I can try anything.”

"Fall fashion is in full effect: The amount of olive tones I've seen on campus proves it. *tweets while wearing olive tee*"

Sophie Russo – Undeclared

Jessica Wong – Management

Describe your style: “I like it polished, but fun.”

Signature Piece: “I always wear hoop earrings… it feels wrong without them. I love my leather jacket too.”

Describe your style: “Monochrome, leather, luxury.”

Would never wear: “A toque! I’ve never worn a toque.”

Ross Mosychuk - Management Describe your style: “Easy. I like to just keep it simple.”

Would never wear: “Flowers on shirts.”

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Brie Welton - Life Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Life

Photo by David Vassiliev /The Phoenix News

REKINDLING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MOTIVATION Tips and tricks to banish your tendency for laziness once and for all Doortje Geelkerken - Contributor

As the weather starts to turn gloomy, the leaves start to fall off of the trees, and the winter scar ves are pulled out of our closets, we sometimes find ourselves with a lack of motivation. We struggle to get out of bed in the morning, and we spend our days buried in books and assignments as we cram for midterms and finish off those final essays.

October and November can be difficult months to get through.

Especially if you find yourself unmotivated. But hey, even though these months can lack excitement, you can quickly make them more exciting by doing a few simple things.

Setting goals is important. It gives students the motivation to work towards something. From something small, like treating yourself to a coffee after reading 5 chapters of your textbook, or maybe something even bigger by allowing yourself to have a night out or a fancy dinner with

“ There is nothing better than sitting down at your desk to study, knowing that you have exercised, eaten healthy, and set your goals.

” friends. Setting goals can give one the drive to take their mind off of their work load.

Getting a part-time job can help. It allows you to make some extra money while also socializing

with the public and making new friends. Additionally, you get some guilt-free time away from your assignments to earn some money for future travels, new clothing or a flight back home to the family.

To get you out of that postThanksgiving slump, make sure you get some exercise. This does not mean you have to go ham at the g ym, it just means that you could do a few sit ups in front of the T V at night or go for a jog with some friends. Fresh air and exercise will stimulate your brain and it will give you the motivation to be productive again.

Find friends that are studying the same subjects as you—there is nothing better than having friends in your classes that you are able to bounce ideas off of. You can form a group chat, meet up in person, or even host study sessions. It will give you peace of mind knowing that you are not alone during this time. You can motivate and

encourage each other through difficult topics and assignments.

It is gladdening knowing you have fellow peers who are interested in your ideas and thoughts, and are willing to share theirs with you.

There is nothing better than sitting down at your desk to study, knowing that you have done your exercise, eaten healthy, and set your goals. B efore you know it, finals season will roll around and you will finish off another semester at UB CO. R ather that spending your day dreading how much studying you have to do, or laying in your bed doing nothing, find the motivation to work hard by focusing on your personal goals, your dreams, and your ambitions.

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Life | thephoenixnews.com | Brie Welton - Life Editor

Photo contributed by Jeffrey Schlosser

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND SAVE A LIFE Why you should consider becoming a blood donor Riley Schlosser – Staff Writer

malaria), victims of natural disasters, and surgery patients, just to name a few. Individuals being treated for cancer, thalassaemia, haemophilia, kidney disease, or sickle cell anaemia are also in need of donations, as they often require regular blood transfusions.

Those with O- blood type are considered universal donors, and for that reason, they are the most requested donors.

Similarly, plasma from AB+ donors is compatible with every other blood type, so those with AB+ blood are also desperately required. Medical professionals,

WHEN COUNTING SHEEP DOES NOT WORK Use any of these 5 tricks to fall asleep both quickly and easily Brie Welton – Life Editor

We have all been there: tossing and turning, counting the hours before you have to get up, and being completely unable to fall asleep. The next time you just cannot turn your brain off or calm down enough to sleep, try some of

these tricks to help send you off to dreamland.

1. The “4-7-8” method.

Popularized by various health bloggers and best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil, the “4-7-8” method is designed to increase the amount

“ Blood cannot be manufactured, so the only way to satisfy the need is through generous donors.

“

Put simply, giving blood saves lives. The odds are good that most students reading this are viable donors, but have never given blood. For comparison, stats from the American Cross state that every 2 seconds someone in the US needs blood.

While we currently reside in Canada, the need is dire here too, with extremely low donation rates and increasingly high demand. Blood is used in a variety of medical situations, including treatment of women with complicated pregnancies, severely anaemic children (usually from malnutrition or

of oxygen in your bloodstream and relax your body. Here’s how to do it: inhale through your nose for four second, then hold your breath for seven seconds, and exhale through your mouth for eight seconds. Repeat this cycle as many times as you need.

2. Listen to classical music.

A 2008 study done by the Semmelweis University in Budapest investigated the effects of music on sleep quality in adults with sleep problems. Not only did the group that listened to classical music have improved sleep quality, but they also showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms.

however, prefer to give patients their own blood type if possible, so every type is needed.

Donations have been relatively low since 2014, and blood collection agencies such as the Canadian Blood Services are often having a hard time keeping up with hospital demands. With the advent of smartphones and the convenience of apps, people simply do not bother trying to find time in their busy schedules to donate anymore, instead just giving monetary donations online. However, blood cannot be manufactured, so the only way to satisfy this need is

3. Progressive relaxation.

This technique involves tensing and relaxing muscles in one part of the body at a time. First, focus on the muscle you are targeting. Then, breathe deeply and tense this muscle firmly but gently for about five seconds. Next, exhale as you release the muscle and remain relaxed for 15 seconds, then repeat the process with a different muscle.

4. Counting.

Though it may seem overly simplistic, counting can actually be greatly affective as a distraction from stressful racing thoughts and, when combined with deep breathing, can relax the body and prepare it for

through generous blood donors.

Canadian Blood Services has made efforts to make giving easier, with a user-friendly website and app where you can find your nearest clinic location and make an appointment in minutes. Many people also cite fear of needles or fainting as reasons for not donating, although the reality is that less than 10% of people feel tired after giving, and only 5% feel dizzy or light-headed.

The actual process of donating is relatively risk-free and easy to do. It is a good idea to start by booking an appointment, but with low donation rates there is a fair chance of walking in and being attended to right away.

The process takes about an hour, and consists of a short questionnaire and a mini-physical exam to make sure that you are eligible. The volunteer nurses check your temperature, blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin (a finger prick), to make sure your blood is safe to use. One of the nurses then takes about a pint (450 mL) of your blood, a process that only takes 10-15 minutes. After that a volunteer will escort you to a refreshment area, where you’re given juice and cookies.

They suggest you avoid stressful or rigorous activities for the next day or so, and to make sure you’re drinking lots of water to replenish your lost supply. You will then have to wait 56 days before giving again so your platelet count has ample time to reach normal levels again.

Here on campus, a group of fourthyear nursing students working with the Canadian Blood Services are hosting a UBCO Blood Donor Clinic in the UNC Ballroom on October 26, from 10AM-5PM. In Kelowna, you can give blood at Canadian Blood Services at 1865 Dilworth Drive, beside Orchard Park Mall. For both services, book online at www.blood. ca, or through the GiveBlood app.

sleep. Try counting backwards from 100, or counting by threes.

5. Melatonin.

Melatonin is a natural hormone which, when released into the blood, decreases alertness in anticipation for sleep. Melatonin can be purchased as a supplement and taken to regulate sleep patterns and assist with troubles sleeping. Ask your doctor if melatonin is right for you. If you would rather not take supplements, try eating foods that naturally increase melatonin before you go to bed. These are foods such as walnuts, milk (or any dairy product), cherries, spinach, pineapple, bananas, and oranges, to name a few.

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Brie Welton - Life Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Photo by David Vassiliev /The Phoenix News

TEST ANXIETY: A SLY MISFORTUNE Three ways to tackle academia's resident shadow beast Brie Welton – Life Editor

Text anxiety occurs when an individual is under a lot of pressure to perform a certain task, like a midterm that is worth 20%, or a final exam that will decide whether you pass or fail. Symptoms include intense feelings of nervousness, stomach aches, sweating, shaking, rapid heartbeat, and in some cases, nausea. Obviously, these symptoms can interfere with concentration and ruin your test performance, making the hours you spent holed up studying in the library feel like a

complete waste of time. If you are struggling with test anxiety, try these three ways to tackle it: 1. If you know that test anxiety is something you experience, give yourself a head start on studying. The more prepared you are for the test, the less distracted you will be when taking it. Not having to worry about failing clears up a lot of mental space for remembering the material. Additionally, psychological studies show that information is better recalled when studied over a long period

TOO CLOSE TO UBCO The ongoing fentanyl crisis Nour Sallam – Contributor

It is easier to think of things as far-fetched until they come close to home. Recently, a man was confirmed dead at U-One due to a drug overdose. Our condolences go out to his family and friends, who have sadly lost a loved one, as this incident proves to be another reason why the current fentanyl crisis deserves more public attention, especially on

a university campus.

Over the past 3 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of drug overdoses where fentanyl was detected, often combined with other drugs. British Columbia declared a public health emergency because of 200 overdoses in the last 3 months alone. Fentanyl is now circulating on the street and being sold in both pill and powder form, mixed with other drugs, or sometimes as fake Oxycontin (Oxycontin is a prescription synthetic opioid used as a painkiller, but also commonly sold as a street drug).

of time than when learned over a short period of time—AKA the classic night-before-thetest cramming. In a 2009 study at the University of California, spaced out learning was more effective than cramming for 90% of participants.

2. Learn the art of testtaking. If you are confident that you know what you are doing, your anxiety during the test will greatly decrease. Taking a test can be simplified into a set of steps. First, read through the entire test thoroughly, especially

Though it is easy to say “don’t do drugs,” it is not a form of prevention.

Frankly, it does not really help anyone. We are (mostly) all adults, and do not need to be told not to do drugs, or talked down to as children.

We are making our own decisions, and frankly, sometimes they can be stupid. Because we are so young, we do not realize or comprehend that buying one drug off of that guy you do not really know that well on a Saturday night at Sapphire might just kill us. That is, until we realize that someone we know has lost someone they know to a fentanyl laced drug.

If you are a drug user, or you know someone who is, advise them to be smarter. If you, or your friends, are going to use any drug

if there are essay questions at the end. Give yourself as much of a heads up as you can about what you will have to answer— this will eliminate the anxiety of not knowing what to expect.

Knowing what is on the test will also help you to effectively budget your time and prevent the last minute scramble to finish a 10-mark essay question.

If you have doubts about your ability to finish the test, start with the questions with the highest point values. Ensure you read the entire question, and if

of any kind, make sure you trust your source, know the risks, and possibly even pick up a naloxone (marketed as Narkan) kit. Naloxone is an opioid blocker that can be used in a suspected fentanyl overdose to negate the symptoms while you seek medical help. You can pick one up from Kelowna Health Unit on Ellis St., or Outreach Urban Health on Leon Ave. Because most drug testing kits cannot pick up on fentanyl, it is better to be safe than sorry. Fentanyl is about a hundred times stronger than morphine, which is why it is so dangerous. A fentanyl overdose can be spotted if you feel like your heart is beating slower, your breathing is shallow or difficult, you are having

Life

you are having trouble focusing, take a deep breath and read it again. Pace yourself, come back to questions you are not sure about, and finally: REVIEW. Yes, it is a bit annoying—you will most likely want to get out of the exam room and to The Well as fast as you can. However, reviewing your test will prevent the post-exam anxiety of “oh wait, did I answer that question I skipped?” or “did my written answers even make sense?” You may catch some simple mistakes that can earn you some easy marks.

3. Sleep: an oldie but a classic. Get a good night’s sleep. Moms give this advice for good reason. In a study done by Ghent and KU Leuven universities, researchers found that students who got more sleep did better on their exams.

Students who extended their sleep time from 6 to 7 hours had an average increase of 1.7 points on a scale of 20 for each exam. Additionally, more sleep increases thinking ability and solidifies new knowledge. For this reason, napping between study sessions can be effective.

So, look ahead in your schedule. Figure out when your big tests are and get organized. When taking a test, combat anxiety by treating it systematically one simple step at a time. By studying ahead of time, finding a test taking system that works for you and getting a solid amount of sleep, the next test you take could be the easiest one yet.

trouble walking or talking, or you feel sleepier. If you notice these symptoms, you do not need to be told that you should call 911 as soon as possible. Rest assured, you will not get in trouble or get arrested for having ingested drugs. Their job is to help, and at this point, that is the priority.

You risk your life every time you take a drug. That is not just a saying that goes around. Truthfully, you can never be completely sure, which is why it is always important to take precautions. The ongoing fentanyl crisis is one more reason why UBCO, as a home to many students, needs to shed a light on the issue of drug use and abuse.

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Opinions | thephoenixnews.com | Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor

Opinions

Photo by David Vassiliev /The Phoenix News

A DOGMATIC ROUNDABOUT A commentary on language in critical conversations Quinn Wright – Contributor

“[Language] becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts,” George Orwell propounds in his renowned essay “Politics and the English Language”.

While reading the UBCSUO Facebook page regarding the pro-life supporters’ activities around campus in early October, their words seemed to be very much accurate.

Some comments on the union’s post are perfect cases of popular patterns of thought that I notice quite often with politically tense events, that I believe need a brief wringing.

My wish is for any position to avoid dogmatic sayings that rest solely on emotion and promote more critically viable arguments.

Consider Michelle Jorgensen, who writes “the choices

are to be assaulted by what some people would call violent sexual imagery or child pornography…” This is an extraordinarily flagrant claim. Here we have 2 distinct corruptions of which to address. How on earth is being confronted by a dissenting opinion equivalent to what is here called assault? The comparison of seeing posters you do not approve of with being physically beaten seems wrong, and in effect reduces the ability for the word assault to carry its required seriousness. If we are to ever strive towards an egalitarian society, we absolutely must be tolerant of others. This means allowing for dissent, to do otherwise is petty—wrong opinions needn’t be censured with hyperbole. Secondly, there is a scary perversion in the claim that an aborted fetus is violently sexual or equitable

to child pornography. I sincerely hope this is laughed off by the average reader as

“ How on earth is being confronted by a dissenting opinion equivalent to what is here called assault?

”

doing nothing but trivializing the coercive and disgusting practice of this morally indefensible act. The irony of course, is that Jorgensen

puts forth that straw man in mockery, as if it were “theirs” (those who support the prolife position), but uses it in her defense as to why they should be silenced.

“Freedom of Speech does not extend to hate crimes, and the imagery and the insinuations on the written signs are certainly hate crimes… these “protesters” - they are terrorists,” Naythan Walsh asserts. I would advise that of course speech does not extend to act. Surely this is not a crime then, I will give the benefit of the doubt and assume that he meant hate speech. I ask, if this was his minority voice that was receiving censure, would he accept it? Free speech includes presumed hate speech and liberty does not just work for your stance; it is by its very nature opposed to all illegitimate authority.

What, then, is implied with

this want to quiet other’s expression but authority manifest? Observe the right for a different opinion, and if you disagree, make the better argument. Lastly, to state that they are terrorists is hollow and his appeal to authority by the Canadian government’s definition does not even apply here on a closer reading. To be intimidated with the pictures of what you are defending seems to be missing certain grounding in the conversation, one which should not be clouded by feelings, accept reality, and still be a defensible stance.

This empty rhetoric takes great effort to reduce, as nuance is hard. I am optimistic however; we can always strive to root out the degeneracy between language and thought and I again hear Orwell: “the point is that the process is reversible.”

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Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Photo by David Vassiliev /The Phoenix News

DEMOCRACY?

A perspective on what democracy looks like Trophy Ewila – Opinions Editor

Democracy is a concept so revered it has been used to legitimize the destruction of lives and the sovereignty of nations. It is the proposed solution to end poverty for African governments, it can stop wars and might even feed you. All the exaggerated talk around democracy makes it an intriguing concept to me.

I fear that I probably do not understand the idea well enough or have missed something critical about it. Therefore, I will write about what I know so I can stand corrected. I must state that my critical view of democracy does not mean I detest it or think it irrelevant. I just want to understand what is so special.

It is an ideologically ambivalent concept. I do not see democracy

Opinions

“ Basically, during a Canadian Federal Election, if everyone has voted, do you think that as the last voter your vote will change the result?

�

as an end but simply a means to one. An election is the most potent manifestation of the democratic process. It is a means of choosing a leader. The end is the leader you pick. It enlists a popular outcome, and not necessarily the right one.

To me, it is a numbers game that serves those with the majority opinion. During elections, as a candidate, popularity is more essential to winning than your actually ability to do the job. So you have to popularize the right choice for it to be accepted in a democratic environment. The decision for Britain to leave the European Union whether good or bad was a democratic choice.

The more people involved, the less an individual will matter.

Let me elaborate this point mathematically. If a group consists of 2 people, each voter carries half of the voting power. If the are 4 people, it is a quarter. If the group increases to 100 people, the voter now has just one percent of the voting influence. Basically, during

a Canadian federal election, if everyone has voted, do u think that as the last voter your vote will change the result?

Many a time, especially on a national level, democracy through elections offers an emotional result as opposed to a rational one.

The best candidates know how to appeal to the emotions of the masses. Take Trump, for example, his statements on Mexicans and Muslims aroused the American populace. His words won him a lot of supporters, yet at the same time cost him a good amount of voters.

Democracy is normally associated with human rights, freedom of speech and things of the like. Linguistically, these concepts are not synonyms.

Democracy can be used to achieve these things and these things can be characteristics of a democratic dispensation, however, that does not mean they are different words with the same meaning.

Democracy can manifest itself in different ways depending on the

society. In the United States at the advent of Black people and women gaining the right to vote, an electoral college was set up incase the new electoral participants voted wrongly. This exists today and George W. Bush is one of the lucky beneficiaries of this system.

In Europe, it manifests itself differently. Countries like German and the United Kingdom do not have term limits for their leaders.

So if you like your government, you can keep it in as long as its popular. With that said, there is no better system of democratic governance in my opinion.

Democracy is not a perfect system, idea or concept. It has its flaws as well. The fact that it may be the best system of political participation does not mean it is for every society. It is just a means to a desired end and not an end in itself, as earlier stated. How a society uses it should be at their own discretion.

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Opinions | thephoenixnews.com | Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor

CONSENT IS NOT CLEAR ENOUGH YET

Photo by Kelsi Brown /The Phoenix News

Why the UBC campaign needs to do more to educate about consent

Frances Carruthers - Staff Writer

I understand and completely resonate with the message that the UBC “Consent is Clear” campaign has initiated. I think that the way the campaign has transformed the discourse of “no means no” into “yes means yes” is brilliant, and has underlined what consent should look like— unambiguous, mutual understanding. But I believe that the way that this message is being communicated by the university is not good enough.

The fact is, a great many people turn a blind eye to such campaigns unless they are shoved in their faces, and consent is not the kind of issue that we should simply neglect to talk about. Tessa Hill and Lia Valente probably agree. You have probably never heard of them, but they are the 13-year-old schoolgirls who campaigned to make consent education a

legal part of the elementar y sex education curriculum in Ontario last year. BC should sit up and take note. And whilst consent education is important in schools, I would argue that it is even more prominent at universities, where many students are having sex and/or getting drunk for the first time.

The issue came to my attention following consent talks being held at my exchange university, the University of York in England, and attracted national media attention when around a quarter of students walked out of one talk. Third year student Ben Froughi stood outside the talks handing out leaflets which effectively told students not to attend, calling the talks “patronizing” and saying that he felt “infantilized” by them. Not only that, but he was ignorant enough to do so whilst having never actually attended one

of the talks himself. Indeed, whilst insisting that consent was something basic and “natural” that ever yone understands, he admitted that it could be seen as a “grey area”—so surely, opening up different conversations about that area is the only way to deal with it?

In response to his ignorance, I would like to state that talking about sexual consent is relevant.

It is relevant at a time during which a candidate for U.S. Presidency recently dismissed brags about sexual assault as “locker room talk” in a live debate. It is relevant at a time during which, out of ever y 100 incidents of sexual assault in Canada, only 6 are reported to the police.

It is relevant because no one remembers the part in the romantic comedy where the guy actually asks the girl if she wants to have sex. Consent is not always consistently and

urgently being verbalized in today’s society, and that needs to change.

Such talks should not be seen as patronizing or unnecessar y, but essential.

Posters and websites are all ver y well, but they are simply not communicating the message with the clarity or urgency that it needs—we need something that addresses ever yone, precisely because this issue is universally important.

The Women’s Officers at York spoke of their dedication to establishing a “completely gender-neutral, non-patronizing, positive, solution-based tone.”

In other words, the message of consent talks is absolutely not, as Froughi suggests, simply telling men not to commit rape. It is about making sure that a discussion is normalized, and making that mutual understanding an ordinar y part of sex.

Although the number of sexual assault crimes at UBCO may be thankfully low, we should not have to wait for a high-profile incident before we initiate sexual consent talks.

Educating about consent should not be simply a case of stating what the rules are, but creating a platform for change in the way that sex is talked about, and normalizing consent in ever y situation. The Consent is Clear campaign has been spot-on with the message it is tr ying to promote—but until the university advocates consent education as an essential part of our personal safety, the urgency this issue so clearly needs will never be given.

20

Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor | thephoenixnews.com |

Opinions

Photo by Sarah James/ The Phoenix News

FRIENDSGIVING LESSONS: PUMP(YOUR)KINS UP! Let your gourds down and tell your friends you appreciate them

Natasha Matar - Contributor

I did not spend the closing evening of this long weekend travelling home with a food induced coma causing me to experience trouble getting up from my plane seat because I had decided to sneak pie for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 4 consecutive days. Instead, I spent this Thanksgiving weekend as a lonely orphan, having a turkeyless weekend because a flight home did not fit into my student budget.

Skipping a traditional Thanksgiving made me realize that it was not the feeling of being spoiled with a colorful feast in contrast to bland university meals that I was missing. Nor was it the rare nature of a holiday where my family feels pressured by other poster families to pretend we enjoy each other’s company. Only now do I realize that all along, it was simply the genuine happiness that would kindle my heart, inspired by this holiday theme that was missing this season. This theme acted as a prompt, arriving packaged with an excuse to tell the people I care about that I appreciate the small things they do that fill my

life’s platter with happiness.

If the dynamics of the majority of your close friendships are anything akin to mine, saying thank you may not be part of your daily best-buddy vocabulary. Unless someone goes out

“

I am not saying I will quit being a jerk to you cold turkey, but maybe we can all start giving a little more thanks… even on the days our mouths are not stuffed with turkey.

”

of their way to offer me something tangible, such as spotting me a meal when I forget to bring cash—or using their gas money to save me from cutting the circulation off from my fingers because I made the mistake of going grocery shopping on an empty

stomach—I usually end up gobbling up these two powerful words and keeping them to myself.

Most of my best pals would agree that they would go running to their ear doctor if they started hearing compliments coming from me on a daily basis. It just has to be opposite day if I greet a close friend with “hey gorgeous” instead of “greetings buttplug,” “what’s up loser,” or “hey ugly.” If I do end up complimenting a friend, it is typically followed by a counter-compliment. I may say something like “wow, your hair doesn’t look like a cat coughed it up today!” or “you actually smell like you practice good hygiene for once.”

Just to give you a vague idea, these are about the extent of my flattering phrases.

Although this may just be the silly nature of my friendships and the immature humor I share with my close friends, once in a while I guess it wouldn’t hurt for them to hear a compliment or a thank you.

These may be big dreams for me, but maybe I can even gradually increase the expression of gratitude

in my day-to-day interactions. I am not alluding to inserting words of admiration where they are not sincere or spontaneous. I have simply noticed that sometimes the thought of saying thank you crosses my mind, or a desire to praise a friend steeps in me. And during these occasions, I immediately stop myself because in my unrealistic universe of friendships, my best friends have the power to read my mind, my body language, and my facial expressions.

It is these non-verbal tools that are supposed to say everything my ego holds me back from voicing. But if I cannot read their mind to verify that they received my gratitude, how do I expect them to read my mind and accept my thank you?

I think it may be time to let my gourds down and be a little kinder.

So cheers to you, friends! I am certainly not saying I will quit being a jerk to you cold turkey, but maybe we can all start giving a little more thanks even on the days our mouths are not stuffed with turkey.

21

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

Sports

HEAT WOMEN OWN A PAIR OF UNDEFEATED PRE-SEASONS

Photos provided By UBCO Heat Athletics

The UBC Okanagan women are dominating both the basketball and volleyball courts prior to their Canada West seasons

Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor

As of October 12, 2016 both the final game for the Heat at the annual Heat women’s volleyball team and Calgary Cup, a pre-season tournament the Heat women’s basketball team hosted by the University of Calgary have yet to lose during the leadup to their 2016/17 Canada West campaigns.

While the UBC Okanagan women’s volleyball program finished last season atop the CIS rankings and continues on its path of success, the ...UBC Okanagan women’s volleyball women’s basketball team is making program finished last season atop a name for itself, as the players continue working toward their first the CIS rankings and is continuing Canada West playoff appearance. on its path of success, the women’s Heat Women’s Basketball: Finishing just shy of a postseason basketball team are making a name berth after a string of losses to end for themselves as they continue to last season, the Heat have evidently begun their preparation for the work toward their first Canada upcoming season with a fire in the West playoff appearance. collective belly.

As it stands on October 12, the Heat women have a pre-season record of 5-0. Their most recent win was against the University of Calgary Dinos, a team that finished 15-5 and earned a 3rd place ranking in Canada West’s Pioneer Division and Mount Royal University. The last season.

UBC Okanagan women swept the The win against Calgary was the tournament, beating Mount Royal, St.

“

”

Mary’s, and Calgary by scores of 77-74 (OT), 74-56, and 71-47 respectively.

The Heat will round out their pre-season basketball with another tournament, this time at York University in Toronto, from October 21-23. Then they will tip off their Canada West regular season at home on Friday, November 4 when they will host the Trinity Western Spartans in the UBC Okanagan Gymnasium, a.k.a. The Furnace.

Heat Women’s Volleyball: In recent years, the Heat volleyball women have been the most successful athletic team on campus. If this year’s pre-season is any indication, their 2016/17 campaign will be another exciting one for UBC Okanagan volleyball fans. As of October 12, the Heat volleyball women have yet to lose a match since the new school year began.

So far, the list of victims to fall to the Heat in pre-season competition is as follows: Dalhousie, Thompson Rivers, Acadia, Sherbrooke, Guelph, Ottawa, and McMaster. The Heat are 7-0 for the pre-season so far.

Their most recent matches came at

the Gee-Gees 40th Annual Pre-Season Classic hosted by the University of Ottawa, from September 29 – October 2. UBC Okanagan defeated all comers in the nation’s capital. They beat the Acadia Axewomen 2-1, the Sherbrooke Vert & Or 2-1, the Guelph Gryphons 2-0, the host University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 2-1, then defeated the McMaster University Marauders 3-2 in the tournament finals.

As there has yet to be a new poll taken regarding the top ten women’s volleyball teams in CIS, the UBC Okanagan Heat still hold the top spot on that list thanks to their performance last season. With their dominant run through exhibition matches this year, and their first four Canada West matches at home to start the season (Oct. 28 & 29, Nov. 11 & 12), they have a good chance to hold onto that top national ranking and defend their national bronze medal from a position of power early on.

22

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

Sports

HEAT GOLF FINISH 2016 PACWEST SEASON

James Casorso and McKenna Lesiuk were the low shooters for the men’s and women’s Heat golf teams this year Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor

Photo by Kelsi Brown /The Phoenix News

MEN’S SOCCER SUFFER FIRST LOSS ON HOME TURF With their first loss at Nonis Field against TRU, the Heat men fall further away from a potential return to the Canada West postseason Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor

In their only game on Thanksgiving weekend, the UBC Okanagan Heat soccer men fell to the visiting Thompson Rivers WolfPack for their first home loss of the 2016 season.

The 2-0 shutout was the third consecutive loss for the Heat, as they fall further out of a playoff spot in the Pacific Division of Canada West. They now hold a conference record of 4-6-2 (14 points), and sit in 5th place in the division. At the top of the Pacific Division are the Trinity Western Spartans and the UBC Thunderbirds, who have already clinched playoff berths with records of 9-32 (29 points) and 7-1-6 (27 points) respectively.

As the top four teams in the division make the postseason based on the points system, the Heat have to move up at least one spot to pass either the TRU ‘Pack or the UFV Cascades, both of whom have records of 5-6-1 (16 points).

As of October 12, the Heat men are three-quarters of the way through their season and have four games left on their conference schedule of 16. They will look to bounce back and

“ The Heat have to move up at least one spot to pass either the TRU ‘Pack or the UFV Cascades.

” return to form on home turf in what may be their most important match of the season on October 15, when they host UFV on Saturday

at Nonis Field. With a win in that game the Heat would move past the Cascades in the Pacific Division standings and sit in at least fourth place, a playoff spot.

The day after the UFV game, Sunday October 16, will be the Heat men’s last regular season home game of 2016 and they’ll host the powerhouse Trinity Western Spartans, who hold a CIS national ranking of 6th.

The Heat will then finish off their season on the road, playing their final two games at UBC and the University of Victoria on Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22 respectively.

In these final four games, the Heat will undoubtedly rely on veteran keeper Mitch McCaw, who at the moment is in the top five in Canada West in the statistical categories of Save Percentage (.786, 4th) and Goals-Against Average (1.20, 5th). All of their opponents to close out the season have scored

more than the Heat’s 9 goals this year, although Trinity Western and UVic have both allowed more than the 16 the UBC Okanagan men have given up.

After the final tournament of the PACWEST season at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, BC October 1&2, the UBC Okanagan women’s team and James Casorso of the men’s team all received silver medals.

The women’s team finished collectively in second at the conference, and Casorso earned a second place individual finish with his cumulative season score of 576 through four tournaments.

On that final tournament at Morningstar, fourth-year Heat team member James Casorso followed up his worst round of the season with his best. On Saturday, October 1 he recorded a score of 77 in the opening round, before tying a season low for the conference on Sunday, October 2 with a tally of 66. As a result, Casorso will travel to PEI to compete as an individual in the 2016 PING CCAA national championship hosted

by Charlottetown’s Holland College (October 19-21 at Fox Meadow Golf Course), despite the Heat team finishing tied for 4th place provincially, and not making the national cut.

To top it off, James Casorso was also named to the Provincial All-Star team for the second consecutive season.

Jacob Stewart, a second-year member of the Heat men’s team, also finished in the top ten individually for the province, earning 8th place with a cumulative score of 598.

On the women’s side, the provincial silver medal was not enough to earn the Heat a spot at the national championship.

Freshman golfer McKenna Lesiuk was the only member of the Heat women’s team to compete in all four tournaments this season, and looks to be a rising star with the program.

Lesiuk earned a provincial 4th place finish for the season, with an individual cumulative score of 674 through her four tournaments.

23

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

Photo by Dinur/ Creative Commons

JAYS SWEEP RANGERS EN ROUTE TO SECOND CONSECUTIVE ALCS APPEARANCE The Toronto Blue Jays face off against the Cleveland Indians in the American League Championship Series beginning Friday, October 14

Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor

For the second straight year the tension between the two teams. It Well, our beloved UBC Okanagan came after Joey Bats reached first as student pub, was packed with a result of being plunked by a pitcher, people ready to watch the Toronto Blue Jays beat out the Texas Rangers in the American League Divisional Series. The poetic justice this time, though, was that Jays fans all across Canada got to make comedic use of our brooms, as Toronto swept Texas in three straight games to knock the Rangers out of the MLB postseason.

For what I’m sure is a majority of Jays fans across our country, seeing the Rangers fall out of postseason competition without a win was a vindictive delight. The drama that continues since the beginning of last year’s series has been seemingly unending: Jose Bautista’s bat flip, the Rangers’ immediate reactions to it, the tension during the regular season this year, and then finally the punch from Rougned Odor 143 days before the 2016 ALDS began.

That punch, which coincidentally proved to all watching that who wasn’t even on the Rangers Bautista has a jaw made of roster when he infamously flipped something resembling iron, was the his bat into the stratosphere, in the culmination of months of growing last regular season meeting between

“

I’d rather be punched in May than knocked out in October.

– Fan sign @ Rogers Centre

”

the teams in 2016. It also set up one of the greatest fan signs in Canadian baseball history.

During Game 3 of this year’s ALDS, camera crews around Rogers Centre returned a number of times to focus on a long sign hung by Toronto fans sitting immediately back from one of the stadium’s balconies. It read, “I’d rather be punched in May than knocked out in October.”

That sign was proven prophetic on Thanksgiving Sunday, as it was none other than Rougned Odor who threw the game away in the eleventh inning and allowed Josh Donaldson to score from second base. The diminutive Rangers second baseman may have landed a Mayweather-like right hook many months ago, but that same right hand put the ball in the dirt and the Toronto Blue Jays into the next round of the 2016 MLB playoffs.

While The Well may have only been able to show the first two games of this year’s ALDS, there will undoubtedly be a growing number of students on hand to watch the upcoming games on the screens around the bar.

Despite the second game of the Jays-Rangers series beginning at 10:08AM, fans on campus didn’t have to miss too much of the game.

Doors opened early (around 10:30 AM, though no liquor was served before 11:00 AM) so that those of us determined enough could catch the early innings of a big game on a big screen. That was on a Friday morning. The first game of the ALCS is scheduled to start 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time on Friday night.

Marco Estrada, who threw an absolute gem in the opening game of the Jays’ series against the Rangers, is scheduled to make the start to open the series against Cleveland on Friday. He will undoubtedly have the rapt attention of a large crowd of UBC Okanagan baseball fans, a crowd grown more optimistic and more spirited after last year’s ALCS, and this year’s domination of would-be rivals from the Lone Star State.

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