UBCO’s Student Newspaper
January 16th 2017 | Vol 30, Issue 8
Monashee got litt up p.6
The Artist Feature Importance Miguel Capela Of SAAM p.15
Getting consent since 1989
Caption This Contest p.24
p.8
January at UBCO is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
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Campus
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Life
A Safe Campus p.7
2017: The Year of the Plus-Size p.10
Art
Opinions
Sports
Generations Passing p.13
Free Education Now! p.17
Living Things to Celebrate the Art of Storytelling p.14
Don’t Worry About Kim Jong Il p.18
UBCO’s Self-Identified Cultural Marxists p.3 Trudeau Makes Cabinet Shuffle p.4
Artist Feature: Miguel Capela p.15
Office: UNC 132B Phone: 250-807-9296
Cover illustration and design by Varenka Kim Masthead image by Varenka Kim/SARA
Heat Head into 2017 with Strained Expectations p.22
Coordinating Editor Jacky Deng
Arts Editor Paula Tran
Web Editor Justin Kroeker
Art Director Sarah James
Sports Editor Grayson B. Leahy
Photo Editor David Vassiliev
Production Editor Kelsi Brown
Phoenix Columnist Mark Dreger
Video Editor Riley Petillion
Senior Copy Editor Francesca Gimson
Life Editor Brie Welton
Visuals Editor Sarah Dowler
Junior Copy Editor Nick Huertas
Staff Writer Frances Carruthers
Ad Sales Alex Barberis
Opinions Editor Trophy Ewila
Staff Writer Riley Schlosser
Contributors Varenka Kim, Kassandra Hakkaart
News Editor Laurence Watt
News Writer Sarah Maryschuk
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production@thephoenixnews.com
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Former Heat Star Earning Multi-level Success in Denmark p.21
Quit Whining, 2016 Was Great p.20
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University Centre 3333 University Way Kelowna, BC, Canada V1Y 5N3
To Juice or Not to Juice p.8
Monashee Got Litt Up p.6
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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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Image of the poster that was place around campus. The text reads “White Guilt, Free Yourself from Cultural Marxism, American Vangaurd, Reactionamerica.com”
UBCO’S SELF-IDENTIFIED CULTURAL MARXISTS Reaction UBCO admits to putting up White Guilt posters on campus
Sarah Maryschuk - News Writer
take a stab at those who support equality, inclusion, and social justice. “Cultural Marxism” is a term most often used to comment on the state of politicalcorrectness or multiculturalism in a society. The poster itself is a copy of those produced by the American Vanguard, a pro-white group whose website reads, “If current trends continue, White Americans will be a minority by 2044. It’s time to take a stand.” Reaction UBCO, a studentrun group that appeared on Facebook in December 2016, has claimed responsibility for the posters. “We’re just a few friends who wanted to see how people would react to nonpolitically correct material and gauge the value of free speech on campus,” a representative
“ Reaction UBCO, a student run group that appeared on Facebook in December 2016, has claimed responsibility for the posters. “We’re just a few friends who wanted to see how people would react to nonpolitically correct material and gauge the value of free speech on campus,” a representative from the group stated.
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On December 5, 2016, posters stating, “White Guilt: free yourself from cultural marxism” were found in multiple locations on campus. Shira Sneg, Chairperson of the Student Senate Caucus was one of the first to post on Facebook, warning other students about the images and the Students’ Union soon followed suit. Posts warned students that similar images have been known to contain razor blades and the like, and rather than removing the papers themselves, to alert UBCO Security. While it turns out that these posters, and many similar to them, have not yet been found with razor blades or anything else physically harmful on them, the words printed on the page
from the group stated. “We didn’t withhold our association with the posters because we wanted to hide— our logo and name were left off intentionally to leave space for dialogue and reaction.” The student also explained that Reaction UBCO will be launching a campaign this semester, and that the group does not want any association with the American Vanguard, even though they utilized the group’s print materials in what some students would consider intellectual theft. “All publicity is good publicity,” the representative argued, “we want to focus on ‘cultural marxism’ and how it’s limiting free speech on campus, in Canada, everywhere really.” While the group itself will not be sanctioned by the Students’
Union, they have continued to share their ideas on their Facebook page. The most recent post on the Reaction UBCO page suggests students “Free [themselves] from white guilt. Have pride in your European ancestry. Don’t feel shame or apologize for your forefathers,” and in a press release, they stated their commitment to “fighting back against the social justice movement and 4th waves [sic] feminism on our campus.” So far this term, there have not been any posters or images around campus either, but the group promises to hold events that challenge people’s way of thinking and the limiting capacity of political correctness.
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Photo by Sarah James/ The Phoenix News
CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY FOR NEW TEACHING AND LEARNING CENTRE
New $35 million addition to the UBCO library expected to be complete by early 2018 Laurence Watt - News Editor
Centre is not cheap, and was only made possible by financial contributions from the federal and provincial governments, and UBCO students. In total, the project will cost $35 million, with the federal government contributing $14.56 million and the provincial government providing another $10.62 million. UBCO students are set to contribute $10 million over the next 10 years following a referendum that was held two years ago. According to Kelowna MP Stephen Fuhr, the federal funding
“ ...the new centre is expected to more than double the amount of available study spaces for students.
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On December 2, the University of British Columbia announced the building of a new Teaching and Learning Centre that’s expected to be ready for student use by early 2018. The new threefloor centre will be connected to UBCO’s existing library and includes a 400-seat lecture theatre, a digital technology centre and a visualization lab. As well, the new centre is expected to more than double the amount of available study spaces for students. However, the building of a new Teaching and Learning
for the Teaching and Learning Centre will come from Ottawa’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund. This new investment fund was recently put in place by the new Liberal government in order to improve and modernize research facilities at universities in Canada. For many students, the construction of the centre is considered long overdue. The current library is the oldest building on campus and was only built to serve a student population half the size of what it is now. As a result, for years the student body
has expressed concerns about the small size of the existing library and the lack of study room on campus. Since the referendum to expand the library occurred in 2014, it is likely that the vast majority of students who voted won’t be around to reap any direct benefits from the new Teaching and Learning Centre once it’s complete in 2018. However, students who did vote can feel content in knowing that their vote helped better the university experience for future students.
TRUDEAU MAKES CABINET SHUFFLE
Trudeau changes his cabinet days before Donald Trump is inaugurated Mark Dreger – Phoenix Columnist
In just over a year since taking office, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his cabinet modifications on January 10. Trudeau has removed three ministers and rearranged three more, while introducing three new faces to the cabinet that began their political careers in 2015. After serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs under Trudeau and as a Leader of the Opposition during Stephan
Harper’s first term, Stéphane Dion has been replaced with Chrystia Freeland, former Minister of International Trade. “With all my heart, I thank the voters of Saint-Laurent – Cartierville who, a full eight times, placed their confidence in me and gave me the honour of representing them in the House of Commons,” Dion said in a statement. Dion followed that he is leaving active politics after 21 years. Replacing Freeland’s former
position is new cabinet minister François-Philippe Champagne, who spent his career working in Europe before starting politics in 2015 as parliamentary secretary for Finance Minister Bill Morneau. Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s first Somali-Canadian MP, has replaced John McCallum as Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, moving McCallum as the Ambassador to China.
Karina Gould, who will become Canada’s youngest ever cabinet minister at 29, has replaced Maryam Monsef as Minister of Democratic Institutions. Monsef will become the new Minister of the Status of Women in place of Patty Hajdu, who will replace MaryAnn Mihychuk as Minister of Employment, Workforce development and Labour. The shuffle takes place ten days before Donald Trump is
inaugurated as US president. The change in Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of International Trade may be a response to Trump’s unpredictability and open criticism of NAFTA and TPP. After the removal and replacement of two men and one woman, Trudeau’s 15/15 cabinet still holds, which he explained after the cabinet selection as, “Because it’s 2016.”
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Image by Sarah Dowler/ The Phoenix News
UBCO RESEARCH TEAM DEVELOPS GUIDELINES FOR USING RECYCLED WATER Quality guidelines could help people become less reliant on freshwater use Laurence Watt - News Editor
A group of engineering researchers at UBCO have developed water quality guidelines for the potential reuse of wastewater for nonpotable uses, like laundry, agriculture, fire suppression, landscape irrigation, and vehicle washing. According to the group’s research, grey water from dishwashing, laundry, and showers, and even black water from toilets, could be reused for non-potable uses if the given water meets the guideline requirements. In constructing the
guidelines, the research group used E. coli bacteria cultures to test the water quality at three wastewater plants in the Okanagan Valley. According to Gyan Chhipi-Shrestha, a PhD candidate at the Okanagan campus and author of the study, E. coli helps identify the prevalence of fecal contamination, pathogens, and other microorganisms that could be potentially harmful if consumed. The research group hopes that by establishing accurate water quality guidelines, communities across Canada will be better
enabled to conserve freshwater from lakes and creeks, and begin using recycled water. Although Canada already has some provincial guidelines for recycling used water, there is currently no national or universal water quality guidelines. This is despite the fact that in countries like Australia, Israel, Japan, and Turkey, policies exist that allow for the reuse of wastewater for particular instances. As well, based on a Canadawide survey conducted in 2013, 80% of respondents expressed that they were willing to use
reclaimed water for public park irrigation and toilet flushing. According to Rehan Sadiq, a senior investigator of the research and Associate Dean of Engineering, increasing challenges presented by droughts and climate change mean it is now more important than ever to begin exploring ways by which to help people become less reliant on fresh water. Indeed, although some people may be uncomfortable with the idea of using wastewater for laundry, increasing water shortages mean that
communities will inevitably be forced to adopt more sustainable water policies in the near future. Ultimately, the research group hopes that their proposed guidelines will contribute to the establishment of publiclyaccepted regulations for water recycling as well as help communities across Canada in adopting more sustainable policies in regards to fresh water reservation.
JOHN FURLONG REACCEPTED FOR UBC FUNDRAISER Furlong’s canceled address is reversed after backlash Mark Dreger – Phoenix Columnist
After receiving backlash from donors and alumni, former CEO of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee John Furlong has been reaccepted to speak at a UBC fundraiser on February 28, after abuse allegations against him resurfaced last month. “I’m deeply grateful to the countless Canadians who overwhelmed my family and I with heartfelt support during these past two weeks,” Furlong
said in a statement. “It’s been very humbling and helped immensely in keeping spirits up.” Furlong had his keynote address canceled in December, when unproven abuse allegations against him resurfaced after UBC alumni Glynnis Kirchmeier—who has also filed a human rights complaint against UBC over its handing of sexual assault reports—circulated an open letter criticizing the university
for inviting him. The letter led UBC to cancel Furlong’s address and to replace him with UBC president and vicechancellor Santa Ono. “I have made it my decision, as president of the university, to reverse course because it is simply the right thing to do,” Ono wrote in a statement. “The British Columbia Civil and Supreme Courts have ruled in favour of Mr. Furlong in every matter that has come before them. The university
had no basis to put its judgment above theirs.” In 2012, journalist Laura Robinson wrote a story about Furlong that detailed abuse allegations from when he was a teacher at a First Nations school in 1969 and 1970. Three former students filed sexual abuse lawsuits, but these were later dropped or dismissed. After an RCMP investigation, Furlong was never criminally charged for the allegations he strongly
denies. After Furlong was initially replaced, Ono publically apologized in a statement for making the “decision in good faith, but without proper consideration of [the cancelation’s] potential impact on Mr. Furlong or his family.” The 2017 Millennium Scholarship Breakfast is a fundraiser intended to raise money for scholarships for UBC athletes.
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Laurence Watt - News Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
MONASHEE GOT LITT UP
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Photo by Sarah James/ The Phoenix News
Fire causes water damage to 2nd and 1st floor units in Monashee Laurence Watt - News Editor
only 25 residents were in the building at the time of the fire. First responders recognized the smoke as coming from a unit on the second floor. Inside the unit, they noticed a mattress and bedding placed up against a baseboard heater. It is considered that the heater ignited nearby bedding and that the fire activated alarms and sprinklers in the unit. Although the sprinkler activation system extinguished the fire before it could spread, the 2nd floor unit and 6 surrounding units
“ It is considered that the heater ignited nearby bedding and that the fire activated alarms and sprinklers in the unit.
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On the night of Januar y 2, Kelowna’s Fire Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting smoke coming from a unit on the second floor of one of UBCO’s student resident buildings. In response to the call, the Kelowna Fire Department sent three fire engines, a ladder truck, a rescue unit, and a command vehicle along with 16 personnel to 1267 Discover y Ave. at UBCO. Upon arriving at the scene, first responders immediately began evacuating residents from the building. Due to the timing, it is reported that
sustained smoke and water damage. No students were injured. The person residing in the unit where the fire started was the person to dial 911 and report the incident. Despite managing to vacate the premises without injur y, the resident was still checked over by ambulance personnel before going to stay at a friend’s place. The cleanup and reconstruction work took place the next day, and all affected students have since moved back into their units. The Kelowna Fire Department has since released a statement
advising students and the public to double check and make certain that their smoke alarms are working.
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Photo by Sarah James/ The Phoenix News
A SAFE CAMPUS
Security Director comments on recent on-campus thefts Riley Schlosser - Staff Writer
members of the community do not store valuable items in their vehicles and that all students keep their eyes open for suspicious activity. The security team at UBCO has many methods of ensuring safety on campus, and is always looking for ways to increase that safety. The “UBC Safe” app is now available for smartphones, and includes functions to call Safewalk, report an incident to Campus Security, request first aid, or find a campus map, along with other features designed to promote safety on campus. McGinty also noted that “this year hard-working Campus Security staff have had a number of notable successes in having managed to provide enough evidence to the RCMP to be able to identify and take action against two separate culprits in the theft of IT equipment and to return items to their
“ The UBC Safe app is now available for smartphones, and includes functions to call Safewalk, report an incident to Campus Security, request first aid, or find a campus map, along with other features designed to promote safety on campus.
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Coming back to classes after the holidays is tough enough as it is, but a recent string of campus thefts has proven to make it all the more difficult. Mike McGinty, Associate Director at Risk Management and Security Services, maintains that “Although, of course, every theft is inconvenient and perhaps upsetting for the victim, we are lucky that overall campus is a very safe place.” According to McGinty, the amount of wallets and laptops that are returned to Campus Security far outnumber those that are reported stolen, and “recent rates of property crime have involved 17 reported events since the start of the 16/17 academic year to date (compared to 13 for the same period in 15/16 and 21 in 14/15).” These numbers are not remarkably different from past years, but it is still strongly suggested that
owners.” These successes should serve as a reminder to students and faculty as to the important role of the Security team in our community. Every student on campus has almost undoubtedly heard the spiel on Safewalk, but it is still probably not used as often as it should be. The service is an extremely helpful asset to students on campus after dark, or to anyone who feels unsafe and has somewhere to get to. If you are interested in volunteering for Safewalk, contact Campus Security for more information. Another program worth noting is the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Basic Personal Defense Systems, which is a free self-defence course offered on campus. The program instructs women in our community on basic defence and personal safety, regardless of age, size, experience, strength, or level
of ability. This is just one of the ways in which UBCO seeks to promote a safe community on campus and help to prevent crime before it takes place. (For more information visit security. ok.ubc.ca/radcourse.) Campus Security is “grateful for calls from members of the community who hear or see suspicious or concerning events and help [them] to keep the campus so safe,” and, of course, security teams remain “vigilant to try and prevent any crime and [are] keen to provide advice, support or help to any member of the campus community who might need it.” If you notice suspicious activity, want to report an incident, or need to get in touch with security for any reason, you can contact Campus Security’s emergency line at (250) 807-8111, or their non-emergency line at (250) 807-9236.
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Brie Welton - Life Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
Life
Life
Photo provided by Varenka Kim/ SARA
JAN-AWARE-Y AT UBCO
The importance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the SARA campaign Brie Welton – Life Editor
At both UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver, January is Sexual Assault Awareness month, otherwise known as SAAM. At UBCO, SAAM is organized by student volunteers of SARA (Sexual Assault and Rape Awareness campaign), an on campus program which promotes the understanding of consent and healthy sexual activities, in addition to offering a variety of support outlets for students in need. SAAM started at UBCO in 2014 and featured the motto “Start the conversation.” In following years, however, the focus shifted. “Since then on we’ve had the motto of ‘Join the Conversation’ to let people know the conversation exists,” explains Varenka Kim, one of the directors of SARA, “there
are resources on campus that are trying… to raise awareness.” In order to achieve this, SARA has organized a series of workshops and events which are open to all, and run throughout January. “With the events that we hold on campus, we try to look at all different perspectives,” says Lea Rose Sebastianis, Co-Director of SARA. She explains that SAAM is “an institutional recognition, but also a student based initiative to come together and look at how sexual assault affects our campus.” One of the events is the Rape Defense course (R.A.D), which teaches women basic self-defence and risk reduction training. “We have to have training like this in place so students can
defend themselves,” insists Lea, “because unfortunately, [sexual assault] does still happen.” If you are interested in self defense training, contact RAD Instructor Troy Campbell via the email troy. campbell@ubc.ca. Another event, which will take place January 18, is Denim Day. Students are invited to wear denim or display a Denim Day sticker to support the dismantling of rape culture and sexual assault on campus. Unlike UBC Vancouver, where SAAM is run by a team of individuals through SASC (Sexual Assault Support Center) with access to many resources, SAAM at UBCO is organized almost exclusively by SARA, which is run entirely by student volunteers. For directors Varenka and Lea,
the desired outcome of all their hard work is clear. “We just want to see increased awareness,” says Varenka, “More students looking to be more critical of things such as the gender binary, which upholds the idea of sexualized violence and rape culture… and to be more than a bystander, to be able to step forward and change the dialogue.” January is about not only raising awareness about important issues, but educating students about what they can do and how their actions can have a positive impact. “Your day to day actions have significance and value,” insists Lea, “If you see someone who’s uncomfortable in a situation ask them if they’re okay. Use consent, always… educate
yourselves and educate those around you.” With the high prevalence of sexual assault on university campuses and the risks associated with the party culture, recognition of risks and inappropriate behaviour is more important than ever. For more information on how to get involved, a full list of the events is available on SARA’s website at saraubco.wordpress.com, with additional information on their Facebook page.
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Life | thephoenixnews.com | Brie Welton - Life Editor
THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS
Photo by David Vassiliev /The Phoenix News
Happiness researcher and UBCO professor Dr. Holder sheds light on happiness Brie Welton – Life Editor
Although happiness is an experience most can identify with, the factors which promote it are less wellknown. For stressed, cold university students reluctantly returning from Christmas break, happiness may be hard to come by. However, according to research done by Psychology Professor Dr. Mark Holder, happiness can be boosted by going crosscountry skiing with a friend, or enjoying hot chocolate on a cold day. Happiness, and its sources, vary with each individual. However, there are some general factors that make most people happy. “It’s almost impossible to find a person who’s happy who doesn’t have meaningful friendships or a meaningful romantic partnership,” says Dr. Holder, “so that gives us a hint.” Nurturing these personal relationships is essential to promote happiness. Additionally, exercise
plays an important role. “We underestimate the happiness boosting effect of exercise,” insists Dr. Holder, “it makes you happier than you think.” Another component of general happiness is spirituality, but not necessarily in a religious sense. In Dr. Holder’s research, spirituality is considered to have four components: belief in something transcendent, a sense of personal meaning, your social connections and an appreciation of nature. So, by combining these elements—social connections, physical exercise, and spiritual appreciation of nature—the resulting activity will significantly increase happiness, for example crosscountry skiing with friends. Some aspects of daily life are actually decreasing overall happiness in ways some may find surprising. “Social media can sometimes undermine our happiness,” says Dr. Holder, explaining that
social comparisons can be very damaging to well-being. Technology also plays a role in hindering happiness. “Just having a cellphone out on the table when we are talking, can make us less satisfied with our conversation—even if the phone is turned off,” states Dr. Holder. Contrary to popular belief, material gain can only do so much to promote happiness, giving truth to the saying “money can’t buy you happiness.” Dr. Holder explains, “Family income, just by itself, doesn’t increase happiness beyond 75 thousand [dollars] a year.” After this point, an increase in income will have no effect on happiness. An overbearing emphasis on materialism and consumerism can also contribute to unhappiness. “If you put your energy and time into focus[ing] more on making money, [if ] you value status, the type of car you drive, your
designer clothes more than putting your time and energy and value into your family and friends,” says Dr. Holder, “you’ve got it wrong.” However, the question remains: why does happiness research matter? In fact, the benefits of being happier are more tangible and widespread than most people realize. “The research focuses primarily on what’s right with you and how do we make it even better,” explains Dr. Holder, “It helps people thrive and flourish.” Some real benefits of happiness include a stronger immune system, better social relationships, an increase in overall health, elevated creativity and a longer life, on average seven years. Further research suggests that individuals do in fact have some control over their own happiness. “The research does show that happiness changes with age… it’s not fixed for life,” says Dr. Holder, “Experimentally, the
suggestion is that there are things you can do to increase your well-being.” A common misconception is that only big life events have any real effect on well-being. According to Dr. Holder, this is not the case. “The big things in our life—marry Mr. or Mrs. ‘Right’, getting that ideal job and promotion—we think they’ll have a bigger, longer lasting happiness boost than they actually do,” he explains, “We should be emphasizing the frequency of small happy boosters, not the intensity of the rare, big ones.” So, in reality, happiness is easier to achieve than most people are led to believe. Despite what marketing urges consumers, it’s not about money, or brand names or anything material. Ultimately, the little things in life are what matter most in the long run.
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Brie Welton - Life Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
Life
2017: THE YEAR OF THE PLUS-SIZE 2016 was a good year for plus-sized fashion, but we can do better Fran Carruthers - Staff Writer
If 2016 wa s a good yea r for plus-si z ed models, we need to keep r id i ng t hat wave— towa rds a more d iverse a nd rea l ist ic representat ion of body i mage i n h ig h fa sh ion. On 21 November 2016, plus-si z e model Isk ra L aw rence u nd ressed i n t he m idd le of a busy New York Cit y subway c a r to del iver a pa ssionate message about body-sha m i ng. She made an u rgent poi nt about t he recent ly ident i f ied com ments by Dona ld Tr u mp, wh ich objec t i f ied a nd sha med women, ta k i ng away t hei r ow nersh ip of t hei r bod ies. In t he Ja nua r y 2017 issue of Br it ish Vog ue, si z e 18 model Ash ley Gra ha m wa s t he f i rst plus-si z ed model ever to appea r on t he cover. 2016 wa s a lso t he yea r t hat Mat tel relea sed a ra nge of Ba rbie dol ls i n fou r d i f ferent si z es— cu r v y, ta l l, pet ite a nd or ig i na l—a nd i n seven d i f ferent sk i n tones, a f ter yea rs of cr it icism for na r row representat ion. As fa r a s t he g r uel l i ng , i n fa mously el it ist fa sh ion i ndust r y goes, t hese successes for plus-si z ed fa sh ion a re monu menta l. Yet i n spite of t he h ig hprof i le med ia at tent ion g iven to a selec t few cu r v y models, t he sit uat ion for t he i ndust r y a s a whole ha s st i l l needs a d ra mat ic sh i f t. L et us get a few t h i ngs clea r here. Fi rst, t here is st i l l a huge d i f ference bet ween t he si z e of t he average woma n, a nd t he si z e of t he average h ig h fa sh ion model. T he average Nor t h A mer ic a n woma n wea rs a d ress si z e 12-14 a nd weig hs 163 pou nds. Mea nwh i le, t he average model weig hs 107 pou nds, is 5’10” ta l l a nd ta kes a d ress si z e 2- 4. In t he fa sh ion i ndust r y, “plus si z e” sta r ts at a si z e 8 a nd goes up to a si z e 16, wh ich wou ld c ategor ise t he major it y of t he women we
k now w it h i n t h is bracket. T he d iscrepa nc y bet ween t he si z e of fa sh ion models a nd ord i na r y women is a
“ In the fashion industry, ‘plus size’ starts at a size 8 and goes up to a size 16.
” poi nt t hat ha s been made by cou nt less a r t icles, blogs, v ideos a nd T V shows i n recent yea rs. A nd yet, a l l t he wh i le t hat t hat d iscrepa nc y cont i nues to ex ist, it is a poi nt we must cont i nue to ma ke. Ash ley Gra ha m, in pa r t icu la r, is keen to be voca l about sel f-love a nd sha re her persona l st r ug g les a nd successes i n t he i ndust r y to promote awa reness. “A nd t h ick t h ig hs? You a re just so sex y you c a n’t stop r ubbi ng each ot her. T hat ’s a l r ig ht. I’m g u n na keep you.” T h is wa s one of t he openi ng statements made by her, look i ng at hersel f i n t he m i r ror on-stage wh i lst g iv i ng her 2015 TED Ta l k . She pra ised her “cel lu l ite” a nd “ back fat ”, procla i m i ng her love for t hem a s a pa r t of her body, before lau nch i ng pa ssionately i nto a speech
about her ow n ex per iences w it h body-sha m i ng a nd r ise to g loba l model l i ng fa me. She cla i med , “I felt f ree once I rea l ised I wa s never goi ng to f it t he na r row mou ld t hat s o c i e t y wa nted me to f it i n”, a d d i n g , “I’ve come to t he conclusion t hat t here is no, one, p e r f e c t body.” In 2016, Ash ley Gra ha m ca me to be recog nised a s not just a plussi z ed model, but a super model i n her ow n r ig ht. As for t he way t hat ou r societ y ref lec ts d iversit y, in an i ndust r y as scr upu lous a nd exclusive a s t he fa sh ion i n d u s t r y , we ca n on ly hope t hat her success i nspi res ot her you ng models a nd ac t iv ists to cha nge t he face of fa sh ion. A nd no, it may not happen i n 2017, 2018 or even 2019. But may be, one day not too fa r f rom now, we w i l l come to a poi nt at wh ich models l i ke Ash ley don’t have to pref i x t hei r profession w it h “plus si z ed ” or “cu r v y ” but c a n refer to t hemselves si mply a s what t hey a re—models.
Illustration by Kassandra Hakkaart /The Phoenix News
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Life | thephoenixnews.com | Brie Welton - Life Editor
WINTER FASHION
UBCO students: colder and more fashionable than ever
Brie Welton – Life Editor
Top Man Hudson’s Bay The Gap
Free People
Aldo
Madewell
Zara Aldo
It’s January, the snow is falling faster than the last scraps of the seasonal sales, and everyone is pulling on layer after layer to keep out the cold. Which begs the question: how do you stay looking fine when it’s minus nine? We scoured campus to pick out four looks that ‘toque’ our fancy this week.
Alexander Fong 3rd year Biology Shoes: Aldo Coat: Hudson’s Bay Bag: Waterfield Designs
Nav Takhar
Nick Mercuri
Ana Gutierrez
4th year Microbiology Shoes: Aldo Coat: The Gap Gloves: Aldo Bag: Aldo
1st year Management Coat: Top Man Jeans: Zara Shirt: Zanerobe Hat: Hershel
3rd year Management Scarf: Free People Skirt: Madewell Shirt: Madewell Bag: Free People
Photos by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News
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Brie Welton - Life Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
TO JUICE OR NOT TO JUICE
Life
Image by Sarah Dowler /The Phoenix News
Living off liquids may leave dieters unsatisfied Brie Welton – Life Editor
In light of the onset of New Year’s resolutions popularized by social media this time of year, some “healthy” trends beg for further investigation. One of which is the common practice of juicing, which manifests as detoxes, cleanses and “quick and easy” crash-diets. What certified personal trainer and nutrition coach Gordon Palmer wants people to know is that in terms of weight loss, juicing is not the answer. Although drinking fruit and vegetable juices significantly increases vitamin C and nutrient intake, the other benefits are slim to none. “More vitamin C, nutrient dense… honestly, I don’t think there is any benefit to juicing other than that,” states Gordon, “It’s too unbalanced to be healthy.” Going on a cleanse or detox, where meals are replaced exclusively by juices, may in fact have the opposite result
consumers are aiming to achieve. Due to an absence of fiber, the body absorbs the sugar in the
“
'More vitamin C, nutrient dense… honestly, I don’t think there is any benefit to juicing other than that,' states Gordon, 'It’s too unbalanced to be healthy.'
” fruits and vegetables much faster than when consumed in their natural form. As a result, a spike in blood sugar produces insulin, a storage hormone, which takes the sugar and stores it in fat cells.
“You can slow down that spiking of the blood sugar by combining fiber, protein or fats with your meal,” explains Gordon, “But if you’re just drinking juice, you’re not getting any of that—you’re just getting sugar… your body gets overwhelmed and releases insulin. Lots of it.” Although juicing isn’t the ideal approach to weight loss, Gordon does concede that it’s not all bad. “There’s nothing wrong with juicing. I just think people are doing it for the wrong purpose,” he explains, “They think they’re going to lose a huge amount of weight or cleanse their body out… You could do the same thing by eating good, clean, real food.” This begs the question: what is a well-balanced diet? Gordon explains, “A well-balanced diet is a good balance of carbohydrates, fats and proteins—generally you want more carbohydrates,
a moderate amount of protein and a small amount of fats.” Carbohydrates in this instance are whole foods in their natural form, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains or seeds—also known as complex carbohydrates, which are harder for the body to digest. Maintaining this dietary balance is essential to a healthy diet. Gordon cautions that some foods, although they may be healthy, are high in calories and can inhibit weight-loss. Foods such as fruits, nuts and avocados can be dangerous for a dieter, especially since they’re easy to overeat. “Especially, fruit,” says Gordon. Two to three pieces per day is inconsequential, however Gordon says, “If you’re having fruit in your shake and fruit for breakfast and eating fruit during the day and drinking juice… that’s a problem.” It’s understandable why
juicing has become such a widely accepted trend: it’s quick, it’s convenient and it’s a meal easy to consume on the go. However, Gordon offers an arguably even more convenient solution: smoothies. “If you are blending versus juicing, then you’re still getting all the fiber,” explains Gordon, “You get the fiber, the fats, and the protein… Throw it in a blender, all of it at once. Blend it up, drink it and away you go!” With the surge of intense cleanses and absurd diets which mark the beginning of a new year, researching these popularized weight-loss methods is more important than ever. More often than not, as in the case of the juicing trend, social media is only giving consumers half the facts.
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Life | thephoenixnews.com | Brie Welton - Life Editor
CAN PROCRASTINATION BE PRODUCTIVE?
Image by Sarah James /The Phoenix News
Studies suggest procrastination is not as bad as we think Fran Carruthers - Staff Writer
At the beginning of a new semester, many of us are clocking in some early reading, looking ahead to early deadlines, and ensuring we can be as organised as possible for the upcoming few months. However, if this does not sound like you, never fear—new research shows that a certain way of working, which has been coined “productive procrastination”, can be effective and even come naturally to many people. Productive procrastination— it’s not an oxymoron. There is a certain kind of active or “structured” procrastination, as termed by Stanford philosopher John Perry, who spent 17 years researching the concept. The general idea is that certain styles of procrastination can actually help us to be more productive in our lives as a whole. Those who engage in it tend to put
off prioritised tasks in favour of completing other, less urgent or pressing tasks. They put off deadlines until late notice, but then thrive under the pressure created by a build-up of work, and often manage to achieve in spite of tight time constraints. Does this sound like you? If this is the case, the question is not if but how you procrastinate. Society constantly tells us to stop procrastinating, but if we use it to our advantage and do so actively rather than passively, it might be a useful resource to tap into. “The psychological principle is this: anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn’t the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment,” argues Robert Benchley, humourist and actor quoted by Perry in his blog. Think of all the other, important, creative and useful things you have done whilst avoiding
doing what was supposed to be the most urgent task. I almost always write articles just when a deadline is looming—they are like a nice palette cleanser before the sickening taste of dread that comes with a 2,000-word essay. Of course, procrastination in itself is not necessarily a good thing, and there is a difference between being a productive procrastinator and being downright lazy. If procrastination means constantly checking social media, gaming, or watching TV, this is a passive form of procrastination which is not beneficial to overall productivity. If, however, you are procrastinating from highpriority tasks by completing seemingly less significant ones—perhaps scratching up your CV, writing creatively, or reading up on random topics that are not directly related your
studies—the chances are, you still gain something from your procrastination in some small way. It is even thought that procrastinators are more productive: they tend to take on more responsibilities and opportunities than nonprocrastinators, since they are used to juggling tasks and will take on extra activities to avoid doing other things. The phenomenon has also been linked to creativity, with many highly creative people being experienced procrastinators, who avoid getting into a creative block by stepping back from a particular task and doing other things. Bryan Hutchinson, author of positivewriter.com, says, “I discovered that the more time I put off writing and procrastinate, the more time I spend creating. It goes against
everything I’ve ever been taught, but it works”. Our teachers, peers and parents drum into us that procrastination is inherently negative, yet it is actually the way that many people naturally function. Perhaps, then, stopping procrastination is not the way forward. If we can ask ourselves whether each diversion that we take is productive, in some small or inadvertent way, then we can harness our procrastination productively, and even become more efficient workers in the long run. Among your friends and family, you will undoubtedly have high-functioning, effective and productive procrastinators, who are actually getting some pretty cool things done in their moments of distraction.
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Paula Tran – Arts Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
Arts
Arts
Illustration by Sarah James/ The Phoenix News
GENERATIONS PASSING
An analysis of artist deaths in 2016 and what to expect in the year ahead Riley Schlosser – Staff Writer
2016 is being considered a pretty rough year for a number of reasons, but a main point of misery for many people was the apparent increase in celebrity deaths over the course of the year. From the passing of David Bowie to Prince to Carrie Fisher, and so many in between, people are understandably saddened. Others, perhaps, are becoming annoyed with all this talk of celebrity death, but it is important to acknowledge the cause of this increased mortality and the
legacy these celebrities leave behind. The most prevalent explanation for these deaths is simply that celebrities are getting old. The rise of many celebrities came with the rise of Hollywood, especially in the 1950s and 60s, and those people are now getting into their 70s and 80s. Even celebrities who died this year, and were between the ages of 50-70, fit this bill, as the hedonistic lifestyles they often engaged in dramatically lowered their life expectancy.
Some experts are actually saying that we should have predicted even more celebrity deaths this year, given the above reasoning. That may seem grim, but with the huge success of Youtubers, Viners, and similar Internet celebrities, as well as the expansion of media through streaming sites, television, and simply cheaper ways of creating content, we have more celebrities than ever. Realistically speaking, the number of celebrity deaths will likely only increase over
the years. Looking at the legacies of these artists is an important component in accepting their deaths. David Bowie once said, “As you get older, the questions come down to about two or three. How long? And what do I do with the time I’ve got left?” That second question aptly sums up what it means to build a legacy, and the artists that passed away this year have certainly left behind footprints that will not be easily forgotten. This year,
as fans cried out at the death of their favourite artists and thousands of other creators crafted personal tributes to the dead, served as a reminder of what an impact art can have on our lives and the importance of expressing ourselves.
WRITER RENÉE SAROJINI SAKLIKAR TO SPEND TWO WEEKS ON CAMPUS UBCO’s tenth annual Writer-in-Residence arrives on January 29
Paula Tran – Arts Editor
Renée Sarojini Saklikar is UBC Okanagan’s tenth annual Writer-inResidence, and will be on campus for two weeks starting January 29 and concluding her visit on February 12. Her visit will include meeting with select students to critique their work, selecting winners for the
Short Story Contest, visiting classrooms to read her work, and meeting with local writers in the Okanagan area. Saklikar will also be hosting public readings in Kelowna, with the date and location to be announced on a later day. Saklikar is a Canadian writer that writes thecanadianproject, a lifelong poem chronicle that
is widely published in journals, anthologies, and chapbooks. The first widely published work from the project is Children of Air India, a collection taking an innovative approach in the Canada/Air India aftermath and event, according to Harbour Publishing. Along with Wayde Compton, Saklikar also co-edited The
Revolving City : 51 Poems and the Stories Behind Them, a diverse collection of poems from authors living in the Canadian west coast from a variety of perspectives. Saklikar was the winner of the 2014 Canadian Authors Association Awards for poetry and a finalist for the 2014 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Award. Saklikar is currently a
mentor and instructor at Simon Fraser University, as well as the founder of the poetry reading series Lunch Poems. She was recently appointed to be the Poet Laureate for the City of Surrey.
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Arts | thephoenixnews.com | Paula Tran – Arts Editor
Photo provided by Miguel Capela
STUDENT ARTIST FEATURE: MIGUEL CAPELA His piano skills are known to give people life Paula Tran - Arts Editor
On a normal day on campus, no matter the occasion, Miguel can usually be found in either the ballroom or the Purcell House Lounge running his adept fingers across the black and white keys of the piano. Be it day or night, the sounds of the piano echoes loudly throughout the whole of the Purcell residence or the UNC. He can also be found talking to people and filling their ears to the brim with puns and jokes, but that’s another story to be told at another time. Miguel Capela is a third year Psychology major and a Resident Advisor for the Upper Cascades residence. He is best known among his peers and colleagues for his incredible talent and ear for all things music. He started playing the piano just under
“ I don’t typically have a style, as I have classical to contemporary to pop. I play what captures my mood at the time, or what matches the kinds of emotions I want to pour out.
”
five years ago, when he found his musical interest in the band room at his school. He struggled initially, even over simple songs such as Heart and Soul, but his passion, confidence, and skills grew over time as he kept on practicing. When asked about a particular style of play, Miguel comments, “I don’t typically have a style, as I have classical to contemporary to pop. I play what captures my mood at the time, or what matches the kinds of emotions I want to pour out.” His musical talents don’t just stop at the piano, however. Miguel also transposes songs in his spare time. On sunny days, he can also be found on the Commons strumming his guitar, Amber, and humming some tunes to himself
or jamming with other residents/people. The guitar is an instrument that helps him connect and interact with his community. He likes it when residents or friends say hi to him from afar. His first experience with the guitar was a nightmare, as he puts it. He almost gave up, because chords were difficult and his guitar class was “useless”. When asked how many instruments he plays, Miguel says that is a difficult question to answer because he cannot define what instruments he can play “fluently”. “My violin skills aren’t as good as my guitar skills, but I still think I play well,” he says. He has also played the harp, which he says is a gorgeous and beautiful instrument. In the end, music
connects Miguel with the world around him. Aside from playing music in the Commons, ballroom, and the Purcell House Lounge, he also performs regularly at events and programs. Just recently, he showcased his musical and piano skills at the Multicultural Art Gala on the 26th. Hopefully there will be opportunities for him to perform in the near future.
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Paula Tran – Arts Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
Arts
Photo provided by the Rotary Centre for the Arts
LIVING THINGS TO CELEBRATE THE ART OF STORYTELLING Puppets, masks, and performing objects galore Paula Tran – Arts Editor
Living Things is a performing arts festival hosted by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies and Inner Fish Performance Company, with the goal of celebrating the art of storytelling through various mediums and genres. The show will include performances from internationally and locally known artists, and will feature roaming performances from students of the Faculty of Creative Studies. This is the first year the festival will be held and is an ongoing event held in the Rotary Centre for the Arts downtown between January 27 and February 5. To launch the festival, the Faculty of Creative Studies will be screening animated films from the National Film Board and the Underground Puppet Film Festival; the screenings will be held on January 11 and 18, and February 1. Portaits in Motion will be
presented by Volker Gerling, a Berlin based artist, on January 27, 28 at 8p.m. The performance is a photographic flip-book cinema featuring photographic portraits Gerling takes while wandering on foot. Amongst the portraits is an old man who almost starved while wanting to improve the world, a homeless woman who wished to see her children again, along with many others. Gerling presents the lives of many of his “protagonists” by flipping through their photographs underneath a video camera lens and projecting their images onto a screen. Goods is a live performance/ installation piece by instructors Samuel Roy-Bois and Neil Cadger on January 30 and 31 featuring everyday objects as protagonists. The public will be invited to observe selected objects as voice-over and live music accompany their
experience. As inanimate, everyday objects are the main subjects of the piece, Goods is a mix between a performative art and a sculptural practice. The duration of the live installation will be approximately 60 minutes. Caws & Effect is a performance by Mind of a Snail happening on February 2, 3, and 4 at 8p.m. and February 5 at 3p.m. The group, consisting of Chloe Ziner and Jessica Gabriel, hails from Victoria, BC. They present a modern fairytale and fable that explores the consequences after a crow plants a magical seed. According to the Living Things website, the story is told using handmade layered projections, puppetry, masks, and original musical scores. Using overhead projectors as their main light source, Ziner and Gabriel try to develop multi-layered styles of visual storytelling by
combining different mediums and experimenting with lighting and timing. Caws & Effect won Patron’s Pick at the Winnipeg, Toronto, and Vancouver Fringes, Producers Pick in London, and Best of Fest at the Edmonton Fringe. The Message is a Mess is a tabletop puppet/object theatre piece created by the Moth Orbit Object Theatre from Vancouver. The performance will be happening on February 2, 3, and 4 at 7p.m. and February 5 at 2p.m. The piece explores how communications travel and the process of understanding that we take for granted when humans speak. Trash becomes treasure, and becomes spirited, as motheaten monuments are built of found objects and rejected materials. Each act of puppetry from the theatre group tries to suggest a solution to an existential problem and
explores dramatic uses of performance objects. A laser and electronic music performance titled Coherence will happen at various times during the festival, performed by instructor Miles Thorogood. Coherence is a series of popup performances involving lasers and electronic sound in downtown Kelowna. According to the Living Things website, each event is run from a rig on a bicycle, with a batterypowered computer controlled a laser and speaker/amplifier system. Thorogood will also be hosting Blaster, an interactive experience involving lasers and floating objects, for the closing night party on February 4.
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Opinions | thephoenixnews.com | Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor
Opinions
Photo by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News
FREE EDUCATION NOW! Free tuition and textbooks can be a thing
Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor
If we are to ask what major challenges the student union should tackle over the next years, financial issues related to tuition and textbooks should be at the forefront. I do believe, with strong conviction, that these issues can be solved if there is will from both the students and the union to challenge them. The most important issue, in my opinion, is tuition. I strongly believe that the majority of students on campus would welcome a reduction or eradication of the tuition fee. Over the last four years, I have not come into contact with, or remember, a student union election candidate that has dared to deal with this issue so openly as to include it in their manifesto. I am conscious of the fact that this is not an issue that is easy to deal with; however, I am convinced, without a doubt, that having free education in Canada is not only plausible but possible. The best solution to tuition is
“ I am convinced, without a doubt, that having free education in Canada is not only plausible but possible.
”
through lobbying the government of Canada to increase investment in education. On November 2, the Canadian Federation of Students and its solidarity partners made clear their demand for an increase in government spending on education to eradicate tuition costs. They state, with clarity, that “Regardless of where you are born, how old you are, or the background you come from, everyone should be able to access higher education and skills training without the barrier of cost or the fear of incurring debt.” Clearly, there is a country-wide desire to see a solution to post secondary tuition fees. I do not think that an increase in government spending on education will cripple the economy. On the contrary, it would reduce the amount of people joining the work force with debt on their backs. Countries in Europe such as Germany, Sweden and Norway have taken on universal (free)
post secondary education. It is therefore not possible for Canada, a country with a greater gross domestic product (GDP) per capita than the aforementioned states, to claim an inability to replicate it European counterparts due to economic limitations. I will state, with humility, that I am no expert on the Canadian economy. I am simply making a proposition that seems logical. After paying tuition comes textbooks. It is rare to find a student who can afford to buy all textbooks, for a full course load, without bemoaning the cost. However, the BC Ministry of Advanced study and BCcampus have set out to tackle this issue through the open textbook project. “The goal of the project is to provide flexible and affordable access to higher education resources in B.C. by making available openly-licensed textbooks in the highest-enrolled academic subject areas.” Though this project is still in its early
phases of implementation, I do believe UBCO can begin adopting this project where feasible. Our current Students’ Union president, Blake Edwards has taken a keen interest in the project and I wish him utmost success. However, in the event that his term of service is to end prior to any success, the next team of leadership should carry on from where he stopped. It is important to remember that a high youth turnout in the last federal election helped bring the current liberal government to power. It is with this success that I do believe the collaborative efforts of students can be very effective in bringing change.
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Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
DON’T WORRY ABOUT KIM JONG IL
Opinions
Photo by Urbe Noticias/ Creative Commons
An open skepticism towards the North Korean narrative
Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor
Demonize their leader if you so wish. Make movies that undermine his legitimacy internationally but for god’s sake, don’t undermine the agency of the North Korean public. It is my understanding that simply because North Korea historically chose to be communist and align with Russia, against the will of the United States, all its leaders will be deemed bad. I have never been to North Korea, nor am I an expert on it. However, I am skeptical about the reports I hear about its leaders and the state of affairs especially from Western media. I do not believe that there will be objective reports from an ‘ideological enemy’. Similarly, one should be skeptical of reports from within North Korea about the ‘west’. I reject the view that North Korea is this rogue state with a leader so powerful he decides men’s haircuts or wakes everybody at 8 a.m. to work on staterun farms. I reject all these assertions that undermine
and insult the agency of the people of North Korea as if to say they are a helpless bunch. I have too much faith in human ability and spirit to believe over-exaggerated narratives fit for a comic book. If the people of North Korea do not want Kim Jong Il, he will not be there. My skepticism also arises because his script has been overused. It starts off with a crazy, yet charismatic leader of a poor country. He hates the United States because of a vague reason like its freedom or democracy and enjoys killing and torturing dissidents. Somehow he has been able, with limited resources, to create, or is hiding an extremely dangerous weapons of mass destruction. He is always on the brink of setting it off to destroy the Earth (read: United States of America) and he needs to be stopped fast. I saw this with Saddam Hussein of Iraq, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, and is currently happening with
“ I stress, with confidence, that anyone who goes to North Korea with the common preconceived idea of it will leave disappointed because they find out its just a normal place with a different system of governance.
”
Bashar Al Assad of Syria. I do not believe this young North Korean leader is a threat to the world. He has no weapons of mass destruction nor the finances to create one. He is solely focused on building his country the way he sees best. In any case, if he does so, is he not entitled to building weapons for the defense of his state? The only country that has the highest potential of using ‘weapons of mass destruction’ is the United States. I say this because of all nations with nuclear weapons, they are the only one to have used them against another country. Even Russia, with ‘mavericks’ like Stalin and Putin, have never used their lethal artillery on another state. I bet you if you flew to North Korea, you would go through the airport uninterrupted as in any other airport. In fact, I have not met anyone who has been to North Korea and seen the craziness we often hear about. The response I get is often “oh, the government
only showed us the good part,” assuming there is some secret torture facility hidden in the hinterland. If true, in normal circumstances, governments try to hide their dirty linen. That is common practice. If it was not, the aboriginal issues of North America would be at the forefront or even settled. I stress, with confidence, that anyone who goes to North Korea with the common preconceived idea of it will leave disappointed because they find out it is just a normal place with a different system of governance.
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Opinions | thephoenixnews.com | Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor
THE MEDIA’S DOUBLE STANDARD
Image by Sarah James/ The Phoenix News
A hate crime is a hate crime, regardless of race
Mark Dreger – Phoenix Columnist
A few days after New Year’s in Chicago, four young African-Americans kidnapped a young white man with special needs and reportedly held him for over 24 hours. They beat him, cut him, ripped his clothes, made him drink toilet water, and yelled “f*** white people” and “f*** Trump” all while live-streaming the events on Facebook. The perpetrators were later arrested and charged, but what is repulsive and hypocritical is the police and the media’s response. Chicago PD said they believe the victim was selected because he was special needs and not because of his race. At a press conference, police tried to downplay the event, saying that “kids make stupid decisions” and that they will have to determine if the attack was “sincere” and not
just “ranting and raving.” Don Lemon of CNN said that the act was not “evil,” but the result of “bad home training.” Guest Symone Sanders, who is against white people leading the Democratic Party, told Lemon that people cannot call everything a hate crime because the people need to know if it was racially motivated. I guess hearing, “f*** white people” was not convincing enough at the time, but she retracted her words the next day. Despite the media’s questionable moral values, the four kids were charged with two counts of committing a hate crime due to race and mental disabilities, but why the double standard? If a group of white people streamed the beating of a special needs black kid
yelling, “f*** black people, f*** Obama,” the media would be in an immediate frenzy, as they should. I thought the media loved capitalizing on hate crimes and race-baiting stories since Trump got elected, whether they were true or hoaxes? If a hate crime is proven legitimate, people should unite against it, which means leaving double standards at the door when events do not fit a media narrative. The FBI’s website defines a hate crime as a “criminal offence against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.” Some definitions include “prejudice” or “social group,” but the point is clear. Under the FBI’s definition,
the attack easily qualifies as a hate crime due to race, since saying “f*** white people” during torture is a fairly clear tell. The main point is that we should learn how to put the shoe on the other foot. During the US presidential campaign, people were interviewed and told that the candidate they supported also supported a list of policies, so they predictably liked the policies; however, when they were told the candidate they dislike actually supported the policies, they suddenly become less appealing. Something does not suddenly become good or bad because a particular person supports or rejects it. Work by principle and truth, not narratives and appeals to authority. Based on the words of the CPD and CNN, there are two
possible conclusions: 1) it is okay to call a race-motivated kidnapping and torture as stupidity, insincere, and the result of bad home training; or 2) the race, religion, and sex of victims and perpetrators is irrelevant when the act fits the hate crime definition. Put away the double standards; the other foot is getting cold.
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Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
QUIT WHINING, 2016 WAS GREAT
Opinions
Image by Sarah James/ The Phoenix News
2016 should be known as the year of the pessimists
Mark Dreger – Phoenix Columnist
I do not understand how it became cool to say that “2016 is the worst year ever.” People bring up politics, celebrities, and disease as the top reasons, but 2016 does not come anywhere close to being the worst, or even that bad. With the Ebola outbreak over, Zika is the main concern, but it is minuscule compared to history. The years that include the Great Chinese Famine, the 1918 flu pandemic, the Great European Famine, the two world wars, and many more tragedies far outweigh anything that happened in 2016. “But what about the list of celebrities that died?” Why should the deaths of people you have never met or known affect your life? The deaths of Carrie Fisher and David Bowie have as much of an effect on my life as the death of someone’s Uncle Joe in Kansas. Certainly such events are tragic for the friends and families of the
deceased celebrities, and my condolences go out to them, but not the public that never knew them. I once cried for a celebrity death; I was 8. But the one that people love to use the most is because politics in 2016 made it the worst year ever. So a specific election or referendum did not go the way you wanted. Yes, that happens to about half the population in most democracies and the losing side goes crazy; it is nothing new. Many things do not go the way we want. It is called reality; get used to it. I think people need to be reminded that we are currently living in the best time in recorded history. Compared to 1960 according to ourworldindata.org, extreme poverty is down from 64% to 9.6%; world literacy is up from 42% to 85%; the population surviving their first five years is up from 81.5% to 95.8%; and the population living in democracies is up from 83% to 93%. The population
“ I think people need to be reminded that we are currently living in the best time in recorded history.
”
with basic education is up, life expectancy is up, war is down, and on and on. It does not mean things are amazing, but historically, the world is doing the best it ever has. And the worst irony of it all is that rich Western countries still rank high in numbers of people with depression. Why? It is amazing how high our standards have become that we call a year the “worst ever” on our smartphones in our heated homes with internet access to unlimited information. Certainly some are justified in calling 2016 bad because of a personal crisis or the death of a loved one, but not the worst because of celebrity deaths and elections. Although 2011 and 2015 were bad years for me personally, there were still positives that I still carry with me today. Even my best years had negatives, but I do not let the minor inconveniences define it; instead I look back at what made it great. Try
this: make a list of the best and the worst for each year and see that it was not only bad. Some do this yearly or monthly, but in such a pessimistic climate it should be done daily and not just on Thanksgiving. If you still call 2016 the #WorstYearEver for silly reasons, get out of your pathetic self-loathing bubble and appreciate the life you have. Life is never perfect, but there are always reasons to enjoy it, so appreciate the good without hyperbolizing the bad.
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Sports | thephoenixnews.com | Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
Sports
ATHLETE FEATURE: CATILIN NYHUS
Nyhus pictured here in #8 uniform. Photo provided By UBCO Heat Athletics
Former Heat star earning multi-level success in Denmark
Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
Caitlin Nyhus, who was a leader in the Heat women’s volleyball program from 2006-2011, has taken both her academic and her athletic pursuits to the next, and the international, level. In her career with the Heat, which was prior to the program’s joining CIS (now U Sports), Caitlin became one of the most successful players in BCCAA history. She played in 88 matches with UBCO, and won 88 of them. Her teams took home back-toback national championships, as well as a national bronze medal. They were at the top of the Provincial standings every year, finishing with two silver medals and three Provincial Championships. After finishing up her five successful years of eligibility with the Heat and graduating in 2011, Nyhus moved to Denmark. She was offered entry into the University of Copenhagen’s Master of Science program, and is now in the process of completing her post-graduate master’s. Also in 2011, Nyhus began
her professional volleyball career. She joined Holte IF of the Danish VolleyLiga, a team that she now captains as the starting setter. As she did with the Heat, Caitlin has won continuously overseas; she and her team have been to the championship four out of her five seasons there. She has once again won back-toback championships, as Holte finished atop the ‘Liga in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons; they finished with silvers medals in the 2013/14 and 2015/16 seasons. Reaching beyond the areas where she has already achieved an impressive level of success, Nyhus is also part of the Youth Goodwill Ambassadors of Denmark, a program designed to facilitate global cooperation amongst businesses, their leaders, and the talent pool of international students. Her academic and athletic success, combined with her involvement in that program, led to her being invited as one of 150 selected international students to a conference in mid-December.
The conference was hosted at the headquarters of Arla Foods, one of the largest dairy companies in the world. The conference was designed to put those 150 students in a position to meet and talk to senior executives of the Danish and global business world. “It was an honour to meet the open-minded, innovative and very experienced company representatives. It tells a lot about Denmark as a society that [it] values a flat hierarchy so I, as a student, can encounter all these influential executives from international companies in such an informal environment,” said Caitlin in a press release put out earlier this month. “I had never thought of trying to make a career here when I first came to play volleyball in 2011, but now that I am six months away from completing my MSc, I feel like Denmark is actually the perfect place to start my career, as it is such an internationallyminded country with a high standard of living.” Caitlin’s goal in talking about her recent experiences
is to show students that the international world isn’t as far away as they might think. “I do not think students realize the global opportunities [that] are out there for them. I know it is a big decision to move away from what is comfortable, but it does not have to be forever, it can be to start a career. […] I think it is invaluable experience to leap out of your comfort zone and bring some Canadian flair to other markets; because to be honest, Canadians are amazing and other countries recognize that.” The impact of Canadian talent like Nyhus going overseas is one of dual benefit. While she was able to attend the University of Copenhagen, Danish businesses simultaneously have the opportunity to build their reputation amongst the international student community. “Highly-skilled international staff are coveted, and there is fierce competition for them,” said Copenhagen Capacity CEO Claus Lønborg, who is one of many with the goal of connecting international
talent with Danish business. “Greater Copenhagen and Denmark is attractive and known on the global scene for our innovative businesses, our values and life quality, but we are a small country who needs to be proactive in the global competition.” Caitlin Nyhus’ involvement in last month’s conference is a product of that proactivity, as her talents in the classroom, on the court, and otherwise make her exactly the target audience. Summing up the impact the conference had on her, and the message that she would take away from it, she said “I realized that the need and want for international employees here is extremely high and there are many opportunities for foreigners to stay and build a life here.”
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Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
Sports
Photo provided by UBCO Heat Athletics
HEAT HEAD INTO 2017 WITH STRAINED EXPECTATIONS After recent years of steady improvement, the first half results of this season fell short of where many expected the women’s volleyball program to be
Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
The Heat women’s volleyball team was, inarguably, one of the best teams in the country last season. With a conference record of 22-2, they finished at the top of Canada West, and earned the right to host the conference championships. In that tournament, they finished with the silver medal, and earned a spot at the national tournament. The bronze medal that they brought home from that national stage was the highest finish in the history of the program, and understandably raised both the reputation and the expectations of the program. With a record of 8-2 at the beginning of the winter break, and now 8-4 after the first matches of 2017, there is work to be done to maintain that reputation as a national contender. Despite the graduation of six key players at the end of last season, the Heat women were placed near the top of the pre-
season rankings, and their spot in the U Sports Top 10 early in the 2016/17 season, though based in part on the recent strength of the program, was well earned. With the transition to a new core of veterans and leaders within the program, it was not necessarily expected that this season’s team would repeat their dominating performance from last season. However, having as many losses through their first ten matches as they had all last season was not quite expected either. Despite that 8-2 record heading into the winter break, the new core of team leaders has risen to the challenge of filling the shoes left empty by the departures of Katelyn DeJong, Chandler Proch, Kailin Jones, Brianna Beamish, Katy Klomps, and Katie Wuttunee. This year’s team will see three players graduate: Emily Oxland, Megan Festival, and Kaitlynn
Given. Each of them has taken on a far greater role than they had last season, and none has failed to step up. In addition to this trio, second year Aidan Lea, third year Siobhan Fitzpatrick, and fourth year Michelle Jakszuk have lifted their games to new heights. After the first weekend of competition in 2017, Fitzpatrick, Lea, and Festival all sit near the top of statistical performance in the conference. Fitzpatrick leads the Heat with 138 kills through 12 matches, Festival sits fourth in the category of service aces per set (.57), and Lea has the best hitting percentage in the conference, at .350 (94 kills on 183 total attempts). As a team, the Heat women sit tied with Calgary and Mount Royal atop the conference in assists, with 513. Emily Oxland, now the team’s senior setter, deserves much of the credit for this, as she has 337 so far this season,
and sits 11th in Canada West with an average of 7.49 assists per set. Despite having recently lost three straight matches, the Heat are nowhere near the point of having to hit the proverbial panic button. Those three losses were to Calgary and UBC, two teams who rank among the best in the country, and are perennial contenders for national titles. The upcoming schedule for the Heat does have them facing two more nationally-ranked teams, the Trinity Western Spartans and the Alberta Pandas. The remainder of the schedule has them facing teams that are all at or below a .500 record. Their strength of schedule—along with the projected wins against those teams near the bottom of the conference—paint a promising picture for both their playoff chances and their ranking on the national level (though they
may drop out of the U Sports Top 10). With the first part of the season over, the new year presents the new Heat stars with the opportunity to create a reputation for winning of their own. Players like Lea, Jakszuk, and Fitzpatrick, who all have at least another season of eligibility, are poised to take this year’s Heat team back to the playoffs and on to another national run. The struggles of the first half are not as large as they would seem, and the talent of the program is showing itself greater every week.
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Sports | thephoenixnews.com | Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
USA BEAT OUT CANADA FOR GOLD AT WORLD JUNIORS A one-goal shootout put the Americans at the top of the podium in Montreal
Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
The World Juniors tournament has become a major holiday tradition for many of us in recent years. Starting on Boxing Day, it is how a growing number of Canadians, as long as they do not have to go back to work right away, spend the time between Christmas and the beginning of a new year. This year’s final, between the United States and Canada, was one of the best in recent memory. Canadians certainly had a bias to feel this way, considering a spot in the final was a significant improvement upon last year’s disappointing fourth-place finish. For the second year in a row, though, Canadians were kept off of what, as the oft-stated inventing nation of the sport, many see as their rightful place atop the international podium. While the fact that the United
States sit atop the podium as a result of a shootout may seem insufficient, or disappointing to some, the game was closelycontested, as a gold medal game should be, and the tie was unlikely to be broken within reasonable time any other way. The gold medal game saw Canada take a two-goal lead twice. After the first period, Thomas Chabot (04:38) and Jeremy Lauzon (09:02) had given the Canadians a 2-0 lead. The second period saw the Americans as the only scorers, with Charlie McAvoy (03:04) and Kieffer Bellows (PP – 09:30) bringing the score even at 2-2. The final regulation period of the tournament was not a happy one for either goaltender, as each team scored twice. Nicolas Roy (PP – 01:52) and Mathieu Joseph (04:05) gave the Canadians their
second two-goal lead, which would last less than a minute. Kiefer Bellows (04:44) netted his second goal of the game, and Colin White (07:07) brought the score even once again at 4-4. On a less unhappy note for the goalies the rest of the third period, and the full 2o minutes of overtime play, didn’t see another goal. The resulting shootout was nearly as goalless. The first three shooters for each team were unable to score. Troy Terry, the seventh to have an attempt in the shootout and the fourth American to go, was able to beat Canadian goalie Carter Hart, who’d come in in relief in the semi-final and was credited with saving Canada’s finals hopes. The final three shooters were unable to score, and Tyler Parsons was perfect as the American goaltender. The Canadians had
the last shooter, but Roy was unable to put away his second of the night, losing control of the puck before he could get a shot off. Parsons swept the loose puck aside, threw his glove and blocker in the air, and the American celebration in Montreal began. The tournament as a whole has seen an exponential growth in popularity over the past few years, and while we, as proud Canadian hockey fans, may be disappointed that we can no longer expect a gold medal for our team as an inevitable result, the play throughout the competition has improved every year, and is worth consistently watching. This was especially true this year, as the latest tournament saw objectively great hockey played in Toronto and Montreal. Amongst this year’s exceptional plays, Canadian defenceman
Thomas Chabot was named the Most Valuable Player. His 10 points were tied for third most in the tournament, and, along with Dylan Strome, he was the coleader for the Canadian team. Of those 1o points, three came in the medal round, with an assist in the semi-final against Sweden, and a goal and an assist in the final against the US. In an interview after the gold medal game, Chabot made it clear that the individual recognition was not what he was hoping to take away from the tournament. “That’s the last thing on my mind,” he said. “It’s definitely a bonus at the end of the day to be rewarded for my efforts, but we didn’t get the result that we wanted. That’s all that matters.”
CLEMSON TAKES DOWN ALABAMA IN FBS CHAMPIONSHIP In a rematch of last year’s final, the Tigers avenged their 2016 loss, beating out the Crimson Tide thanks to a last-second touchdown Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
After one of the most disappointing wild card weekends in NFL history, the eyes of football fans turned to the 2017 FBS Championship on Monday, January 9 in the hopes that it might make up for the lackluster Saturday and Sunday pro games. It did far more than that. Stories and legends grow around college football in a way quite unlike any other sport, at any other level. Most of that probably has to do with the fact that none of the players are getting paid. The game of college football lives on passion, pride, and an incessant drive to prove the ability to play at the next level. It also has to do, especially in games like this one, with the coaches and the legacies they seemingly can’t help but build like maniacs. Last year, Clemson was undefeated and ranked the #1 team in the country heading into the championship, and were beaten by #2 Alabama 4540. This year, Alabama seemed
unbeatable, and it was nearly a forgone conclusion to many that ‘Tide head coach Nick Saban would cement himself as one of the greatest coaches of all time by tying legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant with six NCAA football national championships. Clemson, led by their head coach Dabo Swinney and quarterback Deshaun Watson, kept that history from being made. Swinney and Watson, along with Tigers wide receiver (and former walk-on) Hunter Renfrow, are being credited with earning the win with one of the most exciting plays in football. With six seconds left, and down 31-28, Swinney opted to go for the touchdown to win, instead of for the field goal to tie and force overtime. In any football game, that’s the type of decision that puts you on the edge of your seat. In a national championship, a rematch, with Nick Saban potentially on the losing end? It’s explosive. It’s electric. Pick any other over-thetop adjective.
With just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Alabama scored on a 30-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jalen Hurts to go up by three. They kicked off, Clemson’s C. J. Fuller ran it back 20 yards, and the Tigers started driving. Four straight completed passes and a run by Watson made it 3rd down and three yards to go on the Alabama 32-yard like with 28 seconds left. Another completed pass, then a timeout, and another completed pass with a pass interference call against Alabama. 1st down and goal to go, ball on the two-yard line, six seconds left in the game, Clemson down three. In a play call that would make any Seattle Seahawks fan freeze up in terrified remembrance of Super Bowl XLIX, Swinney called a pass play. Watson rolled out to his right, saw a miraculously rare lapse in Alabama’s pass coverage, and put the ball in Hunter Renfrow’s hands. Renfrow fell into the end zone with his second touchdown of the game (and fourth in the past two
national championships against Alabama), Greg Huegel made the extra point, and Clemson went up by four, 35-31, with one second left on the game clock. Game over, Saban’s stuck at five national championships, still tied for second most all-time. (Author’s / Editor’s Note: one of two men tied for third place on that list is named Frank Leahy. Probably no relation). The stories involved in this national championship, aside from the obvious one of the play on the field, are everything that make college football great. Nick Saban, the obsessive and constantly intense coach in search of all-time records; DeShaun Watson, making a championship-winning pass after breaking the all-time record for total yards (475) in a national championship last year; Dabo Swinney, the coach still trying to prove himself as deserving of the label of a truly great coach; Hunter Renfrow, a 180-pound redshirt sophomore and former walk-on, grabs a piece of history
and puts his name in Clemson football lore. The disappointment of the NFL’s wild card weekend was forgotten, and Clemson-Alabama had football fans wondering if they were watching one of the greatest stretches of college football ever, if not one of the greatest rivalries. In the aftermath some players will declare for the NFL Draft, others will return to the programs in search of another national title (and potentially another championship contest against each other). Fans will talk about how unbelievable NCAA football is. And, inevitably, commentators, analysts, and writers will debate what this game, and Clemson’s championship, means in the grand scheme of things. The day after the championship, less than 24 hours after Renfrow’s catch, the first rankings for next season were released in what is appropriately called “the inaugural 2017 WayToo-Early Top 25” (as per ESPN. com). Alabama is at #1.
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“Response”
Action UBCO Campus Security All of usUBCO have witnessed conflicts or unacceptable behaviours. Some of us respond. Most• of usNon oftenEmergency feel at a Campus Security • Emergency 250 807-8111 250 807-9236 loss of how to respond. We are afraid of retaliation or embarrassment. Or we might fear a loss of relationships Emergency 250 807-8111 with the person in question or with others who may disapprove of our responses. Or we believe that some else will take action – someone with more authority or expertise. It is important to realize that everyone has a part Non Emergency 250 807-9236