UBCO’s Student Newspaper
October 3rd 2016 | Vol 30, Issue 3
I wish to be excluded from this narrative since 1989
Santa came to town p. 5 & 6
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thephoenixnews.com |
News
Current Affairs Arts
UBCO’s New Education program p.3
South African Students Protest Tuition Hikes p.6
The Phoenix Interviews President Santa p.4
Campus
Visiting Artist Lecture Series Begins in October p.8 Book Review: Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis p.9
UBCSUO By-Election Set for October 14 p.6
Why Do Hollywood Women In Distress Always Cut Their Hair? p.11
Life
Opinions
Sports
Get High Like a Runner; Be Smooth Like a Biker p.12
Don’t Call Us West Kelowna p.17
Heat Women’s Volleyball See Early PreSeason Success p.20
Working Out for Dummies p.13
Impending Death of the Small Educational Community p.18
The Generation Gap p.14
5 Reasons to Vote for Trump p.19
Sports Legend and Would-Be Hall-ofFamer Lost Last Weekend p.22
Alumni Profile: Andre Thomson p.16
Make sure you check out our facebook page, The Phoenix News, for photos and our video interview with the new president, Santa Ono.
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
Opinions Editor Trophy Ewila opinions@thephoenixnews.com
Web Editor Justin Kroeker web@thephoenixnews.com
News Editor Laurence Watt news@thephoenixnews.com
Photo Editor David Vassiliev photo@thephoenixnews.com
Arts Editor Paula Tran arts@thephoenixnews.com
Video Editor Riley Petillion video@thephoenixnews.com
Sports Editor Grayson B. Leahy sports@thephoenixnews.com
Visuals Editor Sarah Dowler visuals@thephoenixnews.com
Current Affairs Editor Mark Dreger current.affairs@thephoenixnews.com
Ads Sales Manager Jennifer Stolarchuk ads@thephoenixnews.com
Life Editor life@thephoenixnews.com
Contributors Nour Sallam, Fran Carruthers, Brie Welton, Riley Schlosser, Eddie Tat, Doortje Geelkerken
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
KELOWNA OPT CLINIC MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION Kelowna clinic set to retain same hours, same services and same staff but in a new location Laurence Watt - News Editor
Photo by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News
UBCO’S NEW EDUCATION PROGRAM Why our new Education program is ranked the best in Canada Riley Schlosser – Contributor
This year, the Faculty of Education has announced the launch of a new Bachelor of Education program, improving the quality and range of the degree. The changes have elevated UBC’s Education program from 18th to 9th globally, and to 1st in Canada. In the old program, prospective students had to choose between STEP (Secondary Teacher Education Program) and ETEP (Elementary Teacher Education Program) in order to get their teaching certificate after taking a four-year B.A. or B.Sc. Prerequisites were relatively easy to meet and the STEP program was only a year long, making for an easy way to get extra accreditation. The problem with this method is that many students who couldn’t find jobs in other careers were simply coming back to school for a year to get a teaching degree, which isn’t conducive to training effective teachers. “Those who can’t do, teach”
may be true in some respects, but it’s an ineffective model for training those who will educate our next generations. The new Bachelor of Education program strives to fix some of the pitfalls of its predecessor, and has come out as a far superior option. The B.Ed. is now a 16-month program stretching from September to December of the next year, and provides students with a full Bachelor of Education degree as well as a Teaching Certificate. Students can choose one of two streams in which to approach the program, each with different pre-requisites. The Teaching Children stream is for prospective teachers interested in K-9, and the Teaching Adolescents stream is for those interested in 1012. Regardless of which stream is chosen, all B. Ed. Students take six core courses, and then take a seventh course which focuses on the specific stream they chose upon entering the
program. Many new opportunities for students come with the renewed program, designed
“ The changes have elevated UBC’s Education program from 18th to 9th globally, and to 1st in Canada.
” to create committed and experienced young teachers. The degree now requires 25-27 weeks of real-world experience, and the university
has partnered with School District #23 so students can meet these criteria and get a taste of what it actually means to be an educator. It is the first program to align with the new public school curriculum, making the teachers it produces highly sought out in the province. The program is also designed to be highly collaborative among faculty, mentors, and other teachers, to give students an idea as to what their prospective peers are like. Potential for specialization, international work, and all sorts of practical experience abounds in the improved program, giving students more options for their future careers. For further details on pre-requisites and general information about the new program, see the Faculty of Education website or set up an Academic Advising appointment.
Effective September 26, 2016, The Kelowna Opt Clinic will open at its usual time but in a new location. Initially located at 1340 Ellis Street, the Opt Clinic has moved to the Rutland Au-rora Health Centre (RAHC) at #102-285 Aurora Crescent. The clinic is retaining the same hours, services, and staff; it will be open every Monday and Thursday night from 6-9PM. The decision to move was partly made following the Opt Clinic being rated as the 4th busiest clinic in the province. By moving to the RAHC, the clinic is better able to cope with the increasing demand for its services, and is able to make these services more accessible to clients. Last year, the Opt Clinic provided 2700 services to over 1500 patients—an increase of over 40% from the previous year. On top of that, STI testing and treatment alone increased 75%. The clinic has consistently served as an invaluable resource for Kelowna residents and university students alike, offering a number of health services. In particular, the clinic offers comprehensive sexual health services, including confidential counselling and provision of birth control, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections testing, and general sexual health information and referrals. Services are provided on appointment and a limited walkin basis. The services are free to anyone with a valid B.C. health care card or provided at a low cost for those who are from out of province or country. Kelowna residents and university students of all ages, genders, back-grounds and orientations are welcome to access the clinic’s services. Students who have questions about the Opt’s clinical services are encouraged to contact the provincial sexual health information and referral service SEX SENSE at 1-800-739-7367. Students interested in learning more or supporting the clinic are encouraged to visit Opt’s web-site at https://www. optionsforsexualhealth.org/donate
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Laurence Watt - News Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
News
Photo provided by The University of British Columbia
THE PHOENIX INTERVIEWS PRESIDENT SANTA
Santa Ono, President of UBC, sits down with The Phoenix to talk about everything from his plans for the institution to Harambe Transcribed by Francesca Gimson - Copy Editor Interview by Laurence Watt - News Editor
On September 29, our News Editor sat down with UBC’s President Santa Ono for an interview. To see the original recording, visit our Facebook page, The Phoenix News. Laurence Watt: Welcome, and congratulations on becoming UBC’s next president. Santa Ono: Thank you so much. LW: So, recently as you know, the Duke and Duchess visited our campus. What was that visit like, what was that to you? SO: Well, you know that I taught at University College London. So I’ve experienced that sort of thing in the past… you know, with the Queen, Charles, and all that, and Buckingham Palace. But to have it happen here, in Canada, in British Columbia, was very, very special. I was happy for the community here to experience that and, you know, I’d say Wills and Kate, if I may, are—you know—they’re
particularly endearing as they are very useful, and they were very clear prior to their visit that they wanted to engage with students. And they wanted it to be an informal visit, so we were told not to wear my typical bow tie. And, um, they just wanted to set the stage for the kind of interaction that occurred like they wanted. I think they really did enjoy the volleyball match, and interacting with students there. LW: I completely agree, I like Kate as well. So Santa, you have made key contributions to the field of gene regulation in the immune system, you’ve been a faculty member at Harvard, the 29th President of the University of Cincinnati, and most impressively, you’ve obtained a whopping 77,000 followers on Twitter. What’s the secret? SO: I think you just have to be yourself, you know. There are other presidents and vicechancellors that are on Twitter. All it is is retweeting other
institutional tweets. And, um, I think the reason why the number of followers grew is people realized it was really me.
and if every now and then you’re bizarre or spontaneous, that’s one way that you can really help the relationship with the community.
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LW: Here at UBC we obviously have two campuses, the Okanagan and Vancouver. Which one would you have to say is your favourite campus?
I don’t believe that the president, or a CEO of a company, should come into the institution with their own views of what should happen to an institution.
” And I will have those sorts of retweets as well, but there will also be things that are clearly from myself. And people want to get to know the individual,
SO: I wouldn’t say either is my favourite. I mean, they’re very unique, and I would say both campuses are exciting for different reasons. And each campus is the right campus for a different kind of student, and faculty member. LW: I’d have said the Okanagan as well, so I’m glad… SO: [laughing] LW: So, this question was originally going to be just a word association. But because it’s on so many students’ minds, and because you were President at the University of Cincinnati,
what is your opinion on the… on the death of Harambe? SO: It’s very tragic. You know, for me, I know the director of the zoo personally, Thane Maynard. He’s a wonderful person and— you’ve probably been following what’s happened—it’s one of the great zoos in North America. And I would hate to have been Thane Maynard for that day, and to make that decision. You know, you have a young child that’s fallen into the moat and is being dragged around by this very, very large gorilla and, um… you know, if something had happened to that child, which could have happened instantaneously, it would have been tragic, and, uh, just as news worthy as the very tragic death of Harambe. So, it’s a no win situation… so I feel for him, I feel badly for the zoo—it’s a great zoo—and I certainly feel bad for Harambe as well. LW: As UBC’s new president, what changes—what policies— are you looking to implement
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over your time here? SO: Well, you know I don’t believe that the president, or a CEO of a company, should come into the institution with their own views of what should happen to an institution. You know, being a leader of an institution, whether it’s a company or a university, is a privilege, um, especially an institution such as UBC that’s been around for a century. There are many, many remarkable divisionals that have been shaping the institution for that time that have their own plans and their own dreams and aspirations for UBCO and UBC in Vancouver. And I think the first thing that one has to do is to invest the time to get to know all those individuals and listen to what their plans have been and what their aspirations are. That’s not to say that the president shouldn’t, after listening, provide his or her own feedback as to what should happen. It isn’t to say that the president shouldn’t be part of the divisioning process—I will be. To answer your question, over this first academic year, it is my responsibility—our collective responsibility—to really think about where we have come from, where we are currently, and where we want to go in the next 5 to 10 years. And then to devise a strategic plan for the entire institution where we can define steps and identify the resources to move that institution to that vision. LW: So going off on that, you’ve
done extensive research uh, in on matters to do with diversity and social media. What are your thoughts on helping foster a greater intercultural campus? SO: That’s a very, very important question. You know, if you look on the surface at both campuses, and you look at the institution as a whole, the University of
“
…the fact that UBC does not have, as an institution, a diversity plan is something that I think is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff, and leadership to work toward.
”
British Columbia is an incredibly diverse institution. But for me, what’s more important than just having a diverse population of faculty and students is to really have an inclusive community. And, um, the fact that UBC does not have, as an institution, a diversity plan is something that I think is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff, and leadership to work toward. And I’ve had a chance to speak with the executives, with individual senators involved in the, in
inclusion at both campuses and I think they’re enthusiastic about creating such a diversity plan. We had two diversity plans during my time at Cincinnati: one which was for 5 years, and finished that 5 years, and we’re in the midst of writing—I think we’ve completed this summer, despite my arrival—the next 5-year diversity plan. You need to do that. You know, UBC has achieved diversity… in the faculty, in the students, of the institution. Now is the time to really think about how to leverage that to make a rich environment for every member of the community. For example, UBC is one of the most international universities in the world. And, uh, I think that if we really think about how to bridge activities between international students and domestic students, between faculty members from all around the world, in a very intentional way, and support that activity. It will enrich the educational experience but also overall growth of every member of the community. LW: Fantastic, thank you. I think what we’ll do is we’ll end, if you’re okay with it, with a word association. SO: Sure. LW: So simply, what I’ll do is I’ll say a word or a phrase, and you can tell me whatever thoughts come to your mind. We good?
SO: I’m good.
LW: Um, UBC. SO: Extraordinary.
LW: Okay. So, diversity.
LW: Donald Trump.
SO: Opportunity.
SO: No comment.
LW: Harambe.
LW: [laughter]
SO: Sadness.
SO: [laughter]
LW: Kelowna.
LW: Thank you very much, President.
SO: Beautiful. LW: International tuition fees. SO: [long pause] LW: [long pause] SO: Worthy of thought. That’s too many words… I was trying to, to try one word… LW: No, that’s—it happens. It’s tough. It’s a tough game. SO: [laughter]
SO: Thank you so much. LW: Awesome. SO: Shoulda said speechless… LW: [laughter] SO: [laughter] LW: That was very good. SO: That was still on camera…
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Laurence Watt - News Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
News
SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS PROTEST TUITION HIKES Proposed tuition increases have stirred protests in the country
Mark Dreger – Current Affairs Editor
Photo by David Vassiliev /The Phoenix News
UBCSUO BY-ELECTION SET FOR OCTOBER 14
With the CRO appointed, campaigning for the by-election to begin on October 3 for three SUO positions Laurence Watt - News Editor
If you enjoy seeing your Facebook feed taken up by people in fancy outfits with their names in big bold lettering, as well as occasionally being approached by people on campus offering free food in exchange for votes, you will love the first 2 weeks of October. Last week, the UBCSUO announced the details for the upcoming byelection for the po-sitions of VP Internal, Faculty of Education Representative, and one Director at Large position. The election will take place on Friday, October 14 with campaigning to begin for candi-dates on Monday, October 3. With the Faculty of Education Representative position and one Director at Large position currently vacant, the position of VP Internal is still held by Shaman McLean who
is set to resign before the campaign period begins. During the summer, Shaman McLean was appointed to the position of VP Internal fol-lowing a secret preferential vote by the Student Union executives. However, McLean’s role as VP Internal was only to be temporary, as SUO rules stipulate that students seek-ing a fulltime role to the position have to be elected by the student body. With last year’s SUO elections causing almost as much controversy on the UBCO cam-pus as the killing of Harambe, the new CRO Nick Ross is determined to ensure the by-election runs smoothly. As CRO, Ross will be tasked with planning the election schedule and ensuring the can-didates follow the rules and regulations as stated in the bylaws. Most importantly,
Ross’ role is to be an unbiased operator of the election. According to Ross, he is confident that the
“
As CRO, Ross will be tasked with planning the election schedule and ensuring the candidates follow the rules and regulations as stated in the bylaws.
” by-election will run accordingly and avoid the issues that arose last year. “I hope, and am confident, that this election will run smoothly and allow students to com-
fortably access a private voting space,” said Ross. “I’m confident students will be able to engage in the pressing issues of this election.” From the October 3 to October 14, students are highly encouraged to acquaint them-selves with the candidates running, as well as their policy proposals. Becoming en-gaged in student politics and taking the time to become informed and vote is no doubt a hassle, but it’s very important students make their voices heard at the ballot box. After all, the more politically engaged students there are, the more the UBCSUO can work towards helping build a better campus which works for every student present and every student set to enroll in the future.
Similar to what happened in October 2015, the #FeesMustFall movement has come out again, as students in South African universities protested tuition hikes for 2017. Hundreds of students across the country clashed with police against the measure demanding free education and a 0% increase on tuition. Some students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal threw rocks at security guards and buildings. Police then launched teargas and stun grenades against protestors, leading to several injuries. The unrest has led to the cancelation of university classes across the country. On September 19, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande said that universities will have to determine their own fee increases for the 2017 school year, but the increase will be capped at 8% above the country’s 6% inflation rate. “We understand the legitimate student concerns about the affordability of university education,” he said. “At the same time, we need to ensure that those who can afford to pay, must pay.” He further stated that financially needy students will receive subsidy funding to cover the increase, while households making just over the $60,000 threshold will not experience the fee increase. The government has promised to pay $180million to cover the costs for poorer students. Despite the government subsides, protests began the next day. Critics of the protests have called them a noisy minority that will determine the future of the majority. Some students nearing graduation are more frustrated with the protestors than the tuition hike. “As someone who’s about to finish their degree now, and then this strike affects them, they fail or then something happens, then they have to repeat the modules next year,” said one accounting student. In 2015, protestors forced South African President Jacob Zuma to halt tuition fee increases for the 2016 year, giving protestors the confidence they can do it again.
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News | thephoenixnews.com | Laurence Watt - News Editor
Photo by David Vassiliev /The Phoenix News
UBCSUO SEEKS TO HELP REFORM THE CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
The UBCSUO has signed an open letter with 10 other university students’ unions criticizing the CFS and calling for reforms
Laurence Watt - News Editor
The University of British Columbia and for constructive criticism Okanagan Students’ Union is one of 4) The extreme difficulty of the 10 signatories of an open letter to accessing information, including the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) criticizing the federations’ structure and supposed lack of transparency. In addition to the UBCSUO, signatories include the Carleton University Students’ Association, the Cape Breton University Students’ Association, the Ryerson Students’ Union, the Laurentian University Students’ General Association, the University of Regina Students’ Union, the Kwantlen Student Association, the Lakehead Students’ Union, the University of Toronto’s Students’ Union, and the OCAD Students’ Union. In total, the letter presents six major criticisms of the CFS. ¬ 1) The fact that the Federation does not take proper minutes at policies, and especially meetings, and does not post the bylaws, financial information such as audited minutes that it does take online. ¬ 2) The dominance of the voices financial statements 5) The overly burdensome process of staff over those of students 3) The lack of space for dissent through which locals are able to leave
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‘The November meeting will be an opportunity for us, as signatories, to come together and reconnect about the issues we have seen.’ – Blake Edwards
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the Federation 6) The closed, exclusive nature of general meetings, which can prevent members from speaking in favour of their own motions at the committee stage Speaking to the Carlatan (Carleton’s Newspaper), UBCSUO President Blake Edwards stated it that, in particular, it was the lack of transparency and level of services that motivated the Students’ Union to become a signatory of the letter. “For us, it has been the years of frustration with the organization, its transparency, and its level of services,” said Edwards. “We have been disconnected from the organization and little has been done to mend the fences.” Furthermore, according to Edwards, these issues have been building up for quite some time and have been a concern for the UBCSUO in the past, “We have been frustrated for a while now, but this time it is more than just us,” said Edwards. “The conversation has been building for a while and we have been able to put a collective voice
behind the issues we have all been identifying. For us, we are building off the work of our predecessors.” Also in the letter, the signatories state their intention of passing a series of motions at the Federations’ Annual General Meeting which takes place in November. According to the letter, these motions are intended to help make the Federation more transparent, effective, accountable and¬¬ focused on student membership. According to Edwards, the November meeting is a great opportunity for students’ unions to come together and discuss these issues in person with the CFS. “I think the November meeting with be an opportunity for us, as signatories, to come together and reconnect about the issues we have seen,” said Edwards. “It will also be a platform for discussion with the executives of the CFS. We aren’t happy and we need to see substantive change.” Collectively, the 10 university students’ unions represent over 200,000 students across Canada.
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Paula Tran – Arts Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
Arts
Arts
Photo provided by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
VISITING ARTIST LECTURE SERIES BEGINS IN OCTOBER Visiting Artist talks and lectures open to all students throughout this semester
Paula Tran – Arts Editor
Starting in October, the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies will be inviting visiting artists for the fall semester. Artists such as Liz Magor, Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes, and Carol Sawyer will be giving lectures to students, and presenting their studio practice to the public. All talks and lectures will be in UNC106 at 12PM. Liz Magor is one of the most important and influential contemporary sculptors in
Canada. She was born in Winnipeg, but moved to Vancouver with her family soon after. She studied at UBC, Parsons School of Design, and the Vancouver School of Art. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, including in Sydney, Australia and Venice, Italy. Magor received the 2014 Gershon Iskowitz Prize, as well as the Audain Prize and the Governor General’s Award. Her works include Carton II and Still
ANNUAL OKANAGAN SHORT STORY CONTEST RETURNS All writers are being encouraged to apply Paula Tran – Arts Editor
The 19th annual Okanagan Short Story Contest is now open for submissions. Each year, the contest recognizes and rewards the best new short fiction from writers from the Southern Interior of British Columbia. Winners will be announced
at a ceremony in February, 2017, and are encouraged to read their work in front of an audience. In order to enter the contest, only works of adult fiction between 1000-4000 words will be considered. Stories must be printed on plain white 8.5x11
Alive. Magor will be giving her talk on Monday, October 3. Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes is an artist, filmmaker, writer, and designer who explores genetic memory in a cultural perspective. Alley-Barnes developed his skills and practice under the guidance from his parents, Curtis R. Barnes and Royal Alley-Barnes. He is a member of Black Constellation, a collective that seeks to recognize contemporary culture. Alley-Barnes is an
important figure to the creation of original cultural spaces in Seattle, which includes the mixed use of punctuation, among other works. AlleyBarnes will be giving his talk on Monday, October 17. Carol Sawyer is a visual artist and singer. She works with various mediums such as photography, illustration, video, performance, and improvised music. Her visual artwork is mainly focused on connections between photography and
fiction, performance, memory, and history. She finished her degree in Photography with Honours at Emily Carr College of Art and completed her Masters in Interdisciplinary Art Practices at Simon Fraser University. Sawyer will be giving her talk on Monday, November 14. All lectures are free to attend. For more information, visit the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies website.
paper, double sided. A separate page with the author’s name, address, phone number, and story title must be attached. Manuscripts must not have any marks of identification. Entries must be accompanied by a $15 entry fee. Writers must postmark or submit their work to the Creative Studies Office (CCS 161) on, or before, December 30, 2016. No electronic submissions are allowed. All stories are judged by the UBC Okanagan Creative Writing Faculty and 2017 Writer in Residence, Renee Sarojini Sakilikar. Prizes are
$500 for first place, $200 for second, and $100 for third. First prize also includes a one-week residency at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre in Kelowna, and a chance for a publication in subTerrain Magazine. The Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre is a nature conservatory in Kelowna. It is a large heritage home that consists of 3 selfcontained apartments. The centre itself is managed by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies and houses visiting artists and scholars year round. A Studio Cabin is also on the property which is ideal for art projects, seminars, and small
scale events. subTerrain Magazine is published three times a year from Vancouver, B.C. According to the magazine’s website, the publication strives to “produce a stimulating fusion” of poetry, fiction, and graphic illustrations from Canadian, U.S., and international writers and artists. For more information about the contest, please visit the Okanagan Short Story Contest website at http://okstorycontest.org/
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Arts | thephoenixnews.com | Paula Tran – Arts Editor
Photo by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News
BOOK REVIEW: MARJANE SATRAPI’S PERSEPOLIS A graphic approach to the childhood experience Paula Tran – Arts Editor
Marjane Satrapi was only 14 years old when she had to leave her parents, and Iran. Her experiences with war have forced her to grow up quickly, and abandon her childhood at an early age. In 2000, she published her autobiographical graphic novel Persepolis, which depicts her life from childhood to her young adult years during and after the Islamic Revolution. The novel quickly spread to become a popular read amongst the general public and academia, and has since been adapted into a movie that has received various awards. The novel begins in Iran in the 1980s, where Marjane is forced to wear a veil to her
“ Marjane quickly learns, however, that freedom has a hefty price to pay.
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(now segregated) school. 1980 also marks the beginning of political and religious turmoil in Iran, and Marjane’s parents are often seen at protests, and supporting revolutionaries. As a result of her parents, uncle, and grandmother, Marjane quickly develops a passion for political activism. At a young age, she wanted to fix social inequalities and create a world where the elderly do not have to suffer. Eventually, Marjane’s parents decided that Iran is not a place for their independent and outspoken daughter, making the hard decision to ship Marjane to Vienna. Marjane quickly learns, however, that freedom has a hefty price to pay.
Persepolis is extremely well written. I can see Marjane grow as a character, and also grow into adulthood. Since the story started when Marjane is still a child, I feel more attached to her because I have “known” her for a longer period of time. I can see her innocence when the novel first starts and that innocence slowly eroding as she grows older. While the novel is mostly dealing with more serious issues, there are some parts that are so witty and funny that I chuckle to myself. Persepolis’ Marjane is such a brash woman that it is quite hard not to love her. The novel is also beautifully drawn. While the illustrations
are relatively simple, they provide a vast amount of detail into Marjane’s life. Even smaller details, like what she is wearing in a particular scene, and the time of day the scene is set in, alters the way I read the piece. I like the simplicity because it presents her opinions and life experiences in such a blunt way. Satrapi is an amazing storyteller and Persepolis really exemplifies that. Her perspective of the Islamic Revolution and freedom is just one of the many stories that are out there. Nevertheless, she really makes her voice known to many.
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Paula Tran – Arts Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
Arts
ALBUM REVIEW: WRONG BY WE ARE WOLVES We Are Wolves creates a diverse album of sounds Paula Tran – Arts Editor
Fascinating, mysterious, and interesting. These were the first three words that popped into my mind when I thought of We Are Wolves’ new album WRONG. The tunes were an interesting mix of different genres, but were still pleasant to the ear. This was their fifth album, available now from a Montreal label named Fantôme Records, and features hit singles such as “Wicked Games” and “I Don’t Mind.” It was also, undeniably, a pleasure to listen to. According to their personal website, We Are Wolves has been around since the wave of electro-art-dance-punk music
“ We Are Wolves has been around since the wave of electro-art-dance-punk music in the 2000s.
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in the 2000s. The band consists of bassist/vocalist Alexander Ortiz, keyboardist Vincent Levesque, and percussionist Pierre-Luc Begin. The group mainly focuses on the electroart-punk genre, but have recently showed off their pop side in this album. We Are Wolves have performed not just in Canada and the United States, but in various parts of Asia and Europe as well. They have shared stages with artists such as Muse, Bloc Party, and Indochine, among many others. Recorded in Montreal, France, and New York, WRONG is a step in a new direction without
compromising on the band’s original style. When I first listened to the album, I was taken aback by the musical style that the band decided to incorporate into their LP. I knew what to expect when I got it, but I was never exposed to this kind of music prior to this. It was weird at first, but I gradually learned to like it. The songs ranged from the mysterious to the upbeat, and they were not embracing the type of rock music I was expecting. The band also seemed to incorporate older genres and styles into their work, and while it seemed clunky at times it proved to
be quite harmonious in the end. I thought the vocals were splendidly done; you cannot find those kinds of voices these days, and you could hear Ortiz’s voice quite clearly amongst the back track. All in all, it worked well in general, and I am sure the album will receive a warm welcome. We Are Wolves are currently on tour for the fall and winter season. While most of their performances are held outside of BC and Canada in general, it does not hurt to check out WRONG and their past work.
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Arts | thephoenixnews.com | Paula Tran – Arts Editor
WHY DO HOLLYWOOD WOMEN IN DISTRESS ALWAYS CUT THEIR HAIR?
Photo by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News
When does visual symbolism become subtle sexism? Nour Sallam - Contributor
Recently, my friend and I were avoiding all our responsibilities, and decided to cozy up and watch Joy, starring Jennifer Lawrence. Though the movie isn’t technically new, as it came out last year, every once in a while a girl has got to watch a strong woman who founds a business dynasty and becomes a true badass boss. Through the disappointing dialogue, and Joy’s highs and lows, the one thing that stuck out to me the most was this supposedly powerful woman dramatically chopping off her hair. This is not a new idea. I have watched women in movies cut their hair, for reasons other than split ends, since I was a child. The idea behind it often stems from two things: that women need to externalize inner struggles by transforming the one thing they care about, their appearance, and that women empower themselves, and fit better within groups of power, once they shorten their hair to more stereotypically resemble a man. Joy chops off her hair right before a huge business meeting, as if she couldn’t rock it unless she could embody the power of a man. That is how you can get ahead in the world of man, says Hollywood.
Disney’s Mulan and GI Jane’s, Jordan O’ Neill, (Demi Moore) both have scenes where the transformation of strong women from lowly females to figures of power is portrayed through the dramatic, boisterous haircuts marking this shift.
“ It’s not a new idea. I’ve watched women in movies cut their hair, for reasons other than split ends, since I was a child.
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I don’t necessarily disagree with empowering yourself through a change in appearance. But somehow, this one method, used by several screenwriters to externalize a coming of power, age, or a sense of
determination, comes from a place of sexism. It is poor female character screenwriting when several movies, and even some music videos like Katy Perry’s “Part of Me” all boil down to a woman’s value being dependent on her appearance. But here’s why she’s a badass: because she stared herself in the eye through the mirror, and, with a dramatic soundtrack, possibly with tears, she cut her hair to fit in with the big dogs. Her feminine locks, cascading down her shoulders, are symbolic of weakness, and in this powerful, raw scene, you see her getting rid of it. Goodbye hair, hello power! Now, Joy can kill at that meeting and become a true boss; before then, her hair weighed her head down. In other cases, female characters have used that good old pair of scissors after experiencing some kind of trauma. In Insurgent, Tris Prior’s cute hairdo stems from the traumatic effects of watching her mom die. HBO’s TV Show, The Newsroom, also has Maggie cut off her hair after she witnesses another character’s death. Deb from the 1955, Empire Records, is another example. We can blame Hollywood. Yet, the issue goes beyond western Hollywood. A Turkish TV show I
watched this summer, Çilek Kokusu, showed a strong female character’s break down after a breakup and her madly chopping off her hair. Just like Miranda Lambert’s breakup lyrics, she too “cut [her] bangs with some rusty kitchen scissors.” Surprisingly, shorter hair does not magically fix your problems, though it is less time consuming to style. What happened to the old breakup tub of ice cream to soothe the burning feeling in your heart, instead? To see screenwriters continue writing such a cliché is disappointing. Frankly, it feeds sexist stereotypes of irrationality, dramatic reactions, and carelessness when a writer portrays a female character’s values, troubles, and distress through a hair cut. We don’t often see men in distress cutting their hair on screen. It sends a distorted message to the audience out there, including young girls, that our appearance is who we are, and that changing it drastically reflects on our thoughts and experiences. Admittedly, TV screens might need a little brushing up on equality and social issues. It is the 21st century, after all.
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Life
Photo by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News
GET HIGH LIKE A RUNNER; BE SMOOTH LIKE A BIKER How cardiovascular exercise can vastly improve your life
Frances Carruthers – Contributor, Riley Schlosser – Contributor
Fran Carruthers sheds light on the mental health benefits of running, whilst Riley Schlosser explores the physical health benefits of cycling.
Running
Someone once told me, “the moment you start to enjoy running is the moment when you forget that you are running,” and I have ever since struggled to find a more accurate representation of the feeling with which so many runners identify. Hitting the wall: Many who tr y running are quick to give it up, for the claim that it’s boring, painful or just plain hard work. The cliché of having to get past “the wall” undoubtedly holds true. It took me around 5 weeks of consistent running before I made that breakthrough, discovering that beyond the mountain of hatred I held for it, after weeks of literally forcing myself out the house, I actually enjoyed it. A runner’s high: “Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest,” says Haruki Murakami in her book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. By this, she means that not only does running equip us with advantages for our physical health, but makes us feel more content and energized throughout our day-to-day lives. Keen runners often speak of a “runner’s high”—a phrase which makes non-runners
“ Like the well known “runner’s high,” biking can lead to an “addiction” to the endorphins released during exercise, and can even help to replace the need for other addictive substances.
” shrink at their nauseating, athletic smugness. Yet, according to a 2012 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health, participants who did just 30 minutes of running per week reported a boost in sleep quality, mood, and concentration during the day, after just 3 weeks. Keep your mood in check: Many runners report that they use running to help moderate their mood, and there is evidence to suggest that this really works. A 2014 study at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that aerobic exercise—such as jogging—purges the blood of a substance called kynurenine, which accumulates during
times of stress, and is believed to be linked to depression. In my research for this article, I was staggered by the number of accounts I found of those who had battled severe depression through running. Whilst I have never experienced that myself, I can say that the times I’ve felt low and lethargic and had to force myself to move, are those which I have noticed the most significant change in my mood and outlook. Clear your head: To employ another irritating runner’s cliché, it is undeniably true that running helps to clear my mind. Runners are able to think through important decisions, absorb difficult life changes, and set goals for themselves, all whilst running. Running is not for ever yone. But if you find it hard to identify with other types of exercise, and want something that can be done at any time and place, for ver y little cost, taking up running could be a life-changing move. And with so many benefits for mental and physical health, perhaps it’s time that we all lace up our trainers, pull on those wear y sweatpants and take a step toward embracing the running buzz.
Cycling
These days, it’s a well-known fact that regular exercise helps to increase lifespan, relieve stress and anxiety, reduce fatigue, and of course lose fat and build muscle. Digestion, skin,
Life
immune system, memor y, creativity, blood pressure, heart health, cholesterol, and circulation will all benefit from any cardiovascular exercise done on a consistent basis. However, studies have shown that there are a few ways cycling stands out among the pack, in terms of the benefits to our physical health and wellbeing. Good for your back: Biking works out not only your legs, but also the smaller muscles along the spine, which will reduce soreness and stiffness. Strengthening your lower back muscles can also help prevent slipped discs and improves your posture. Joint protection: Due to the lowimpact nature of cycling, it’s not as hard on your knee and hip joints as running tends to be. This means that your joints last longer, you can fight off arthritis, and you can keep cycling into your later years of life, which you will likely have more of. Get there quicker : Ever yone knows what it’s like to be sitting in heavy traffic, cursing at the skies, while watching bikers fly by in their empty lane. Cycling truly has become a viable transportation option, with low costs, obvious health benefits, and the ability to avoid the rush hour crawl. Aid pregnancy : Recent studies from the University of Michigan have determined that pregnant women who continued cycling throughout their 9 months had fewer complications in labour and found the process easier. The mothers were more emotionally stable over the course of their pregnancy, and made quicker recoveries after wards. The children were found to have better neurological development in the womb and were half as likely to become obese in adulthood. Reduce cancer risks: Studies have shown that women who cycle regularly are 34% less likely to develop breast cancer, and men who cycle are around 50% less likely to develop cancer in general. Another study conducted in Scandinavia found that cyclists who do get cancer have a 33% chance of a healthy recover y Positive addiction: Like the well known “runner’s high,” biking can lead to an “addiction” to the endorphins released during exercise, and can even help to replace the need for other addictive substances. Increasing popularity of cycling routes: It’s easier than ever to be a cyclist in our current society, which is promoting eco friendly ideas more and more, foremost being convenient bike routes. And, with the new bike path to UBCO completed, there is no excuse not to hop on a bike and go explore.
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Life | thephoenixnews.com
Photo by Aditya Chaudhuri
WORKING OUT FOR DUMMIES The do’s and don’ts for every gym newbie
Brie Welton - Contributor
Picture this: it is fall, the season of new initiatives and getting back to the grind. You and your squad are decked out head to toe in Adidas. Your look is on fleek and you are ready to hit the g ym for the first time. You walk in and it’s lit AF—full of people who know exactly what they are do-ing. You start to panic. What do you do? Where do you go? Then you see the stair master. Stairs, you think to yourself, I know how to climb stairs. So you and your squad
hit the stair master and ever y day becomes cardio day. However, if you do this, you might need some help. Working out is simple once you figure out what to do. The first step, however, is to STOP doing the following: 1. Taking selfies. It is great you and your squad are stoked about your new g ym memberships and want to share with the world — those booty pics will look great on your Instagram. How-ever, if your iPhone is the only thing
THE DANGERS OF SOY Why replacing dairy with soy milk does not solve the problem Brie Welton - Contributor
Recent studies have linked cow’s milk to increased risk of prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers. The National Cancer Institute found that the high levels of estrogen in grocery-store milk can fuel the growth of tumours. The trend towards non-dairy milk and a vegan lifestyle is well-established— soy milk is offered at most
coffee shops including Starbucks and Bean Scene. How-ever, what most people don’t realize is that simply replacing dairy with soy milk may in fact cause more health problems. Consuming small amounts of unprocessed soy will not have any adverse affects on health. However, the vast majority of soy consumers are eating too much soy, and it’s easy to understand why. Soy milk
that you are lifting, you won’t get the gains you’re look-ing for. 2. Excessive Grunting. Pushing your limits at the g ym can help you gain muscle strength, which is great. But if you need to grunt and moan like a dying animal to finish your reps, this may be a sign that you’re lifting too heavy which can result in long term injur y. Also, grunting makes the people around you really uncomfortable. 3. Texting. In some
on cereal for breakfast, soy milk latte from Starbucks, soy yoghurt in a smoothie and tofu stir fry for dinner may seem like a reasonable amount to those who regularly consume soy, but in reality this is a soy overload. Food scientists at Precision Nutrition suggest only 1-2 servings of soy per day—one serving being 1 cup of soy milk and 4 ounces of tofu or other soy products. Consuming too much soy can actually disrupt hormones in the body, such as in the thyroid. This hormonal disruption can lead to a slower metabolism and may result in weight gain. More specifically, researchers are interested in the relationship between hormone levels and the
circumstances, texting at the g ym is acceptable: for example, texting Bae between sets, or in the changing room before your workout. What’s not acceptable is texting while sitting on the equipment, especially when there is a queue of people behind you waiting to use the leg curl machine that you are using as a chair. 4. Appropriate Attire. Wanting to look fly at the g ym is understandable; there are mirrors eve-r ywhere.
phytoestrogens (PEs) found in soy. PEs are similar to estradiol (a form of estrogen) and are found in varying amounts in different types of soy foods. As a result of surpassing the daily recommended serving of soy, high levels of PEs in the body can affect hormone levels for both men and women, resulting in inhibition of muscle gain and fat loss to a certain degree. Choosing what kind of soy products you consume is also crucial to avoiding adverse affects on health. Highly processed forms of soy like isolated soy protein, soy cheese or soy burgers block mineral absorption in the body. In order to avoid this, consumers should select fermented, whole
However, the moment your outfit starts to interfere with your mobility or fails to cover up what should be covered up, it’s time for a makeover. Gym clothing should be comfortable, but whether you’re sporting brand new Nike or thrift store sweats is entirely up to you. 5. Form. The most important factor for a successful workout is good form. While doing your chosen exercise, it’s important to do it correctly in order to get the results you want and avoid injur y. Although there are many professional fitness bloggers with exercise tutorials all over the internet, the most failsafe way to ensure you have good form is to find a personal trainer who can show you in person. Attending group classes may seem intimidating, but they can help with both improving form, and providing inspiration for your next workout. So, picture this: you and your squad are fitness goals in your comfortable but stylin’ workout clothing. You roll up to the g ym you’ve belonged to for a couple months. You walk in and you’re confident: you know exactly what you’re doing. As you head to the stair master for a quick ten mi-nute warm up, people are getting out of your way. By respecting these five do’s and don’ts, there is nothing stopping you from getting some sweet #gains.
soy products like edamame beans, tempeh or tofu. Research on the dangers of soy is still ongoing, and researchers have found mixed results so far. However, a consistent conclusion among scien-tists at Precision Nutrition is that moderate amounts of soy are fine, but too much soy can lead to varying health issues and hormone disruption. Don’t worry though, there are plenty of other healthy dairy substitutes — such as almond milk, hemp milk, and coconut milk —that are arguably even tastier than soy milk. So, next time you get a craving for a Soyloney sandwich or a soy dog, remember that moderation is key.
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Life
Illustration by Sarah Dowler/The Phoenix News
THE GENERATION GAP Why are older people on Facebook so funny?
Frances Carruthers - Contributor
We have all been there. A friend posts a photo of us doing something stupid whilst drunk, and the next thing we encounter is a cringeworthy comment from one of our relatives on Facebook. The older generation (in other words, our parents’ age and above), have taken to Facebook in their masses lately— much to the embarrassment and amusement of our slightly more clued-in younger generation. We have developed a subtle set of codes that shape how we communicate on social media sites, and whilst young people have a fairly good grasp of this Facebook etiquette, there is a slight lapse for many of our older relatives. From my grandmother asking how to delete her own niece on Facebook, because “she keeps posting pictures of flowers and it’s annoying,” to a comment thread on a photo on my wall, where two of my relatives proceeded to have a completely unrelated private conversation about their arthritis (yes, really), I have definitely enjoyed moments of unintentional comedy thanks to the older generation on Facebook. And whilst it may feel like we’re laughing at them, rather than with them, don’t feel bad—this is one of the few scenarios in which the kids know best. What are the biggest offenses on
the spectrum of social media fauxpas? First of all, there are the many shambolic misuses of emojis. The emoji, to the untrained user, can be quite a difficult thing to navigate. Is there a place for the regular ‘smiley
“ Our parents and relatives seem to think it’s acceptable to comment on every single thing we are tagged in.
” face’, or has it just become uncool? What level of sadness calls for the single-tear face, as opposed to the streaming-down-face crying emoji? In what scenario does the laughing face feel a little over-friendly?
It is a familiar image. We find our parents with their eyes screwed up in concentration at a phone screen, asking, “What on earth is this brown triangle with eyes meant to be?” Oh Dad, don’t be silly, it’s just the smiley poop emoji, duh! And how many of our parents went through the phase of thinking “LOL” means lots of love, and using it horribly inappropriately? (Jean, I’m so sorry to hear your cat died. LOL xxx). Then there is the confusion between what is private and what is public on Facebook; or rather, older people failing to realize the existence of a private message, therefore ending up posting everything as public. Or the crime of over-commenting—when our parents and relatives seem to think it is acceptable to comment on every single thing we are tagged in. My mum once went through and individually liked 32 photos of me from one of my friend’s albums— meaning that she got inundated with annoying notifications from my keen mother. So with these things in mind, I have compiled a basic “How to Facebook” guide which you can cut out and keep for your parents, grandparents, or older relatives who are in need of an intervention: 1. There is a difference between a posting on someone’s wall, and
sending them a private message. We don’t all need to know about your doctor’s appointment. 2. Please, ask me first if you want to tag me in something. Or comment on one of my posts. Or interact with me in any way for that matter. 3. If you don’t know how to use emojis, leave them out. There’s nothing worse than inappropriate emoji use. 4. I am happy that you like to see what I’m doing, but you don’t need to comment on every single post or photo I am tagged in. 5. Pictures of flowers are never necessary as a status update. Nor is what you had for dinner last night. 6. If you have less than 30 Facebook friends, the chances are that its benefits are lost on you, so just quit while you’re ahead. Facebook is now so popular and widely used that we need, out of love, to pass on our wisdom to our elders about how to use it, in order to avoid total humiliation for us all.
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Life | thephoenixnews.com
SILENT SNACKS All snacks are not made equal Doortje Geelkerken - Contributor
DO THE (CAFFEINE) MATH
Illustration by Sarah Dowler/ The Phoenix News
What your daily coffee could buy you in a year Frances Carruthers - Contributor
London • 9 pairs of Nike running trainers • Two HP 17” Laptops • 16 round-trip tickets to Vancouver by Greyhound • 10 years’ worth of UBC gym membership That’s over $1300 per year in order to fuel your coffee addiction. Still worth it? Even for those of you who favour the slightly cheaper option of Tim Horton’s, a medium filter coffee, at $1.80 per cup, will end up costing you $657 a year. Which could still buy you one and a half ski passes, a 16” laptop or 4 mini fridges. While I’m not trying to run the coffee outlets on campus out of business here, it’s interesting to look at this expenditure when we consider that we are a bunch of students—probably without a lot of money to
spare, student debt piling up, and future investments such as property to think about. Coffee is not a bad thing. It wakes us up, it tastes delicious, and it has even
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Even for those of you who favour the slightly cheaper option of Tim Horton’s, a medium filter coffee, at $1.80 per cup, will end up costing you $657 a year.
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Like many students, I seem to have become dependent on the easy, lazy choice of a takeout coffee for a caffeine hit to start my day. Curious as to how much my habit is costing me, I set out to do the math and figure out if my freshly brewed cup is really worth it. At Starbucks, a grande latte costs $3.65 a pop. It’s something many people consider a daily little luxury—perhaps just a quick caffeine hit to get themselves going in the morning, or spur them through a hangover. But assuming that you have one every day, it works out as a whopping $1332.25 per year! Here are some of the things that this amount of money could buy you: • Just short of three Student season passes at Big White (selling at $449 a pop) • A round trip flight to
been reported to be good for our health (in small doses). But the way it has been come to be seen something of an
essential item, and one that many of justify spending so much money on is perhaps something we should reconsider. Swapping a takeout coffee for a home brewed coffee in a reusable cup, reduces wastage of paper and will drastically reduce the impact on your pocket (which is most definitely a good thing). Or, just cutting back on the amount we drink, and realizing that we rarely actually need a coffee to survive, could make a big difference. There is no reason to stop buying coffee, of course, but as an avid coffee-drinker myself I was simply curious to find out what exactly my laziness and habit was costing me. It is definitely food (or drink, if you will) for thought.
You are mid way through a lecture and you find yourself getting the munchies. Your stomach starts to make the most unattractive, whale-like noises, and students are starting to turn around and stare in annoyance. You find yourself in a sticky situation. Do you get up and go get a snack and potentially miss some important content? Do you tear open a packet of chips and risk disturbing other students? Or even worse, do you sit through the duration of the class combating the sounds of underwater creatures begging for food? The best way to tackle this awkward situation is to fill your bag with silent snacks. What are silent snacks? These snacks are housed in quiet packaging and are perfect fillers for the duration of the class. They have the ability to go unnoticed as you munch on them during a quiet lecture filled with hundreds of students. My go to silent snack has to be fresh fruit, if you package it in a zip lock bag it will barely make any noise and it is a healthy option too. Fresh strawberries or dried apricots are great snack to keep your energy up through out the duration of the class. Some other things to opt for are, smoothies, or soft, unpackaged granola bars. These can actually be bought here locally at the Kelowna Farmer’s Market. Not only will you be eating in silence but you will be supporting local businesses as well. Bananas, string cheese or even trail mix are great snacks to reach for throughout class. If you find yourself not having any snacks, my trick is to always drink a lot of water throughout the class in order to trick my body into thinking that it is full. Do not be the person that rips open a packet of rice crackers or loudly slurps down their smoothie. Silent Snacks have been a life saver for me during long lectures and have helped me stay energized and focused.
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thephoenixnews.com |
ALUMNI PROFILE: ANDRE THOMSON
Life
Photo by David Vassiliev/ The Phoenix News
UBC alumni returns to hometown to open business in Rutland
Brie Welton - Contributor
Pulled pork sandwiches, the mouth- know what, this might be a fun career watering smells of southern barbeque, path.’” and soulful blues music are what drew Andre currently owns several UBC alumni and business owner Andre businesses at different locations Thomson to the original Memphis Blues in Vancouver. “I was a long time regular,” reminisces Andre, “I just fell in love with everything that it was. I love the music, the sights and the sounds. It’s a ‘I just fell in love with everything unique restaurant.” that it was. I love the music, the At the time, Andre was completing his undergraduate degree at UBC sights and the sounds. It’s a unique and working in restaurants such as Earls, Milestones and Joe Fortes. restaurant.’ – Andre Thomson Upon completing his BA in Canadian Studies, Andre chose not to go on to law school as he originally planned, but decided instead to dive into the restaurant world he had fallen in love worldwide. According to Andre, his with. education and academic learning “It was exciting,” recalls Andre, “it experiences have played a substantial was a lot of fun and I thought, ‘you role in his success.
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“A lot of students I know who are doing an undergraduate degree are thinking in the back of their minds: am I going to be able to get a job?” says Andre, commenting on student’s uncertainty as to whether or not their investment of time and money is worth it for a degree. “For me, based on my experience, I can definitely say that yeah, absolutely it does benefit,” affirms Andre, “it helped me move forward in my career faster than a lot of people at the same level and sometimes at a higher level than me.” When an opportunity arose for Andre to purchase his own Memphis Blues Barbeque House in Kelowna, the decision to return to his hometown was clear. “I just couldn’t pass it up,” he insists. As a result, Andre now owns the Memphis Blues at the Rutland Crossing,
which is conveniently accessible from the UBCO campus via the 8 bus, at the intersection of Rutland Road and Highway 33. Andre invites students to bring homework and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi or come for live blues night on Mondays, no cover fee. Students who show their student card also get a deal on a pint and a pulled pork sandwich — the same sandwich Andre always craved from the original Memphis in Vancouver. Happy hour runs daily from 4PM—5PM, during which all pitchers are half price. Luckily for UBCO students, the slowly smoked meat, authentic bourbon, barbeque and comfort food normally found in the Deep South is only a short bus ride away. “When I was a student,” says Andre, “this is the kind of place where I would have liked to hang out.”
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Opinions | thephoenixnews.com | Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor
Opinions
Photo by Sarah Dowler/ The Phoenix News
DON’T CALL US WEST KELOWNA West Kelowna referendum further shows city’s divide Mark Dreger – Current Affairs Editor
After the city of West Kelowna voted to reject the council’s proposal to borrow $7.7million to build a new city hall and civic centre, the close result shows that the city is still politically divided. In the referendum, the “no” vote won by only 27 votes (4,212 to 4,185), with three regions rejecting the proposal by 52%-54%, while 62% of the Westbank region voted yes. To natives of the Westside, this nearly equal divide is nothing new, and that’s why talking Westside politics is still a touchy subject. For those that do not know, the name “West Kelowna” is full of spite and division and calling it “West Kelowna” can stir resentment in some. To understand the Westside’s political divide, one must understand the politics of the last decade. In 2007, the Westside District Municipality
held a referendum and voted 5,924 to 5,582 to incorporate into its own city instead of amalgamating with Kelowna. The divide was clear: residence closer to the bridge wanted to join Kelowna, while residents further west wanted to incorporate. Despite uproar from the amalgamators, the Westside district became its own city. In the first municipal election that fall, pro-amalgamation candidate Rosalind Neis was elected mayor with two proamalgamation councillors joining four pro-incorporation councillors. After incorporation settled, the next step was giving the Westside an official name. This is where the real divide starts. In 2008, a referendum gave residents four options for a city name: Okanagan Hills, Westbank, West Kelowna, and Westlake. It was obvious
that Westbank and West Kelowna were the most popular options, with the
“ The divide was clear: residence closer to the bridge wanted to join Kelowna, while residents further west wanted to incorporate.
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incorporators wanting to keep the historic Westbank name, and the amalgamators wanting to stay relevant to Kelowna and spite the incorporators.
In the end, West Kelowna got 3,841 votes over Westbank’s 3,675, a difference of only 2%. The amalgamators had spoiled the party and implemented the equivalent of an independent Scotland changing its name to North England. To this day, many incorporators still refuse to accept the name West Kelowna. The “I love Westbank” bumper stickers and big “Westbank” signs still cover the city. Many still have Westbank as their home address. The “Welcome to West Kelowna” signs have been vandalized at least twice, with one occasion having the “Kelowna” letters removed and “bank” painted in its place. Even though the vote was nine years ago, Westsiders still don’t like talking about it. That’s why I just referred to us as Westsiders because using West Kelowna is still too controversial. If talking with
someone from the Westside, just call it “Westside” because odds are the person is an amalgamator or an incorporator; “Westside” is an agreeable compromise. We’re fine with telling people which region we’re from, since that can include Westbank, West Kelowna Estates, Glenrosa, Shannon Lake, etc. Although many voted “no” in this last referendum because they wanted the surplus money used elsewhere, I have little doubt many voted out of spite for what happened nine years ago. After three referendums in the last decade, the city stays politically divided, and it will stay that way unless the borders are redrawn or something radical shakes the city. While some say the city needs to unite, I do not see that happening anytime soon.
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Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
IMPENDING DEATH OF THE SMALL EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY
Opinions
Photo by Kelsi Brown/ The Phoenix News
Planned growth of UBCO is not necessarily better for future students
Eddie Tat - Contributor
UBCO was once advertised in 2005 as a campus that could offer the quality of a world-class university in a homier community college-like setting. Small classes were the norm and relationships in the community were tighter. UBCO used to be just right for those looking for a personalized education where they could be more than just number in the crowd. No more of that, unfortunately. UBCO is set to become what is best described as a scaled down version of UBC Vancouver—not as large as UBC Van and yet still too big to call it a home. It really is a shame to witness the death of the small educational community, which was a brilliant and unique concept in its own right. Administration, however, thinks otherwise. They recently put together an initiative to double the size of the campus in the next 20 years. This was meant to accommodate a rapidly increasing student population by building more academic and residential facilities. But, bigger does not necessarily mean better for students. In the 2010s, large class sizes have
become common on campus and the effects of this can be especially felt for those in first year courses. Multiple sections of the same course are already
“ The future UBCO student must accept the fact that she/he will be an even smaller fish in an even bigger pond.
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the norm. A human connection cannot possibly exist between one professor and one out of perhaps two hundred students in a lecture hall. It will only get worse through expansion. Already, professors struggle to provide the same level of
support to hundreds of students. If UBCO were to return to small class sizes while accommodating future student population growth, many new professors would need to be hired lest a slip in educational quality occurs. That requires funding that administration would be hard-pressed to find given its current budgetary constraints. More personally, the sense of community on campus will be lost. The future UBCO student must accept the fact that he or she will be an even smaller fish in an even bigger pond. Gone are the days when you could have remembered the name of everyone in the same program as yourself. Without a sense of community, UBCO simply becomes a lifeless entity. It would be difficult to stir up any feeling of compassion or openness for thousands upon growing thousands of students who will probably remain strangers to one another. Sociologist Samuel Stouffer once claimed that, in such a scenario where individuals become small fish in a big pond, people experience intense competitiveness and a lack of confidence. I am already
seeing this in the ever-growing and evercompetitive Faculty of Management. I fear the same for the rest of UBCO. The result of the planned growth will be a campus that was not designed for its intended purpose. When UBC bought out the properties of the old OUC in 2005, those who made the decision knew that the campus would be best suited as an institution in which UBC can deliver quality education to a different part of the province. That quality might slip, along with the sense of community that attracted so many in the Okanagan to UBCO. Considering that the administration’s decision is finalized, with aggressive plans for expansion beginning this year, we should accept that the campus that we know and love today will be forever changed tomorrow. Many in the administration are celebrating. I, however, shall not, knowing that future students who arrive here will never experience UBCO at its best.
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Opinions | thephoenixnews.com | Trophy Ewila - Opinions Editor
5 REASONS TO VOTE FOR TRUMP
5 reasons why I see Trump as the best candidate
To really learn about fascism you need to experience it—not just read about it (satire)
Mark Dreger - Current Affairs Editor
Laurence Watt - News Editor
I can’t deny I’m part of the 33% that are pro-Trump because he’s not Clinton, but from what I believe America needs, I see Trump as the best choice left. That does not mean I agree with everything the narcissist says. I dislike some of his non-conservative values and his big government stance on surveillance and whistleblowers, but I believe Trump’s positives overcome his negatives.
In terms of the upcoming Presidential election, Americans haven’t had an easier choice to make since five minutes ago when they were asked whether or not they’d like to supersize their fries. However, as is the case with most elections, there is a significant number of undecided voters. This article is intended to inspire those undecided voters and open their eyes to the obvious and best person for the job: the real conspirator behind the death of Harambe, Donald J. Trump.
1. He’s anti-TPP. Trump has been consistently against the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The TPP is a deal that allows corporations to sue governments, prevents cheaper pharmaceuticals, and threatens online freedom to name a few. Hillary Clinton supported TPP as Secretary of State and praised it 45 times according to CNN, but once the deal became unpopular she turned against it “in its current form.” 2. He’s politically incorrect. First, it’s important to clarify the difference between political incorrectness and indecency. In one way, being politically incorrect is addressing a concern that is true but may be politically damaging, but Trump and many of his supporters fail to distinguish the difference. When Trump says that some illegal immigrants are criminals or that some Muslims are terrorists, that is considered politically incorrect; but when Trump says that Megan Kelly was “bleeding from her wherever,” or when some Trump supporters call people “cucks,” that’s just rude and doesn’t achieve anything. Trump’s occasional rudeness is annoying, but he at least addresses controversial issues. 3. He’s anti political establishment. This is often the first point that Trump supporters use, mainly because of who is against him. When people see corrupt politicians and media outlets attacking him, big banks not supporting him, and figures like George Bush, Hank Paulson, and other Republicans rejecting him, it further convinces voters that he’s outside the political establishment. Yes, some politicians support him for political purposes, and certainly one could argue these politicians see Trump “as the lunatic he is,” but I still see him as against the current status quo. If the DNC emails and possible election fraud against Bernie Sanders are any clue, Trump may be right and the election is rigged. 4. He puts America first. Trump is not afraid to say no to globalization and put America first for work and immigration. That said, I completely reject the notion that Trump is the next Hitler or that he’s a racist. Trump never said “all Mexicans are rapists,” nor did he ever suggest banning all Muslims. He said SOME illegal immigrants from Mexico (and other southern countries) bring crime, drugs, and rape, while SOME others are “good people.” Salon wrote a detailed piece last December regarding this misquoting issue. Trump wants to “immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place.” I believe this is constitutional under 8 U.S.C. 1182. 5. He doesn’t want war with Russia. I find it hilarious that the media sees good relations with Russia as the worst thing Trump could do. US-Russia relations are at a worst since the Cold War, and if the Cold War is any clue, having good relations with a major nuclear superpower should be a good idea. What scares me is Clinton recently threatened “military responses” against countries that cyberattack America, a reference to the false accusation that Russia hacked the DNC. Getting cozy with Russia is one thing, but getting more antagonizing as Clinton is, is not wise. We don’t know if America will be great again under Trump, but provided what I’ve observed, I see Trump as a better president than Clinton.
1. The environment doesn’t really matter that much anyway. Don’t get me wrong, there are many issues facing the human race, but environmental degradation isn’t one of them. When was the last time clean air built a wall, or a tree stopped ISIS? And don’t even get me started about global warming, a myth obviously invented by the Chinese to hinder our economic prosperity and freedoms. If anything, it’d be great if global warming was a real thing as it would deter refugees from settling in a country increasingly resembling a desert wasteland. 2. There’s nothing like a little nuclear war to brighten up your life. If there’s one person with the proper temperament needed to make worldaltering de-cisions, it’s Donald Trump. Author of the Art of the Deal— unfortunately not the Art of War—Trump is not one to back down from petty threats or provocative language. For example, if North Korea were to threaten the United States, or mock Donald Trump’s stubby fingers, Trump would rightfully wipe them off the map. A more pleasant world for everyone. 3. Trump knows the struggles of being an average American worker. Like most Americans, Trump was born into a wealthy family where he ended up inher-iting millions from his father, Frederick Christ Trump. With these millions, Trump was able to set off into the world of business and stay on top of the financial ladder despite investing tens of millions in products that failed miserably (Trump Steaks, Trump Wa-ter, Trump Vodka, Trump Wine, Trump Magazine, etc.). And maybe it’s this factor that some, certainly not all, Americans love about Donald: just like America’s foreign policy, every mistake is somehow a success. 4. America was great before all the immigrants arrived. There was once a time in America where food was plentiful, the air was clean and cor-ruption was nonexistent; the year was 1450, and Christopher Columbus was still striv-ing to be the fastest swimmer of all the seamen. Just think, had any other seamen made it to the egg before Columbus, many aboriginals wouldn’t be aboriginals: they’d just be the people who live there. Imagine that, aboriginals enjoying equal rights and opportunities like everyone else. At least I think that’s what Trump’s getting at… 5. To really learn about fascism you need to experience it—not just read about it. It’s one thing reading about Hitler’s anti-semitic policies in a grade 12 history text book, and another thing to wake up to your Muslim neighbour being dragged out of their house and crammed into the back of a military vehicle—especially when you realize they’re not even Muslim, they’re Hindu. If 3 out of 100 skittles were poisonous would you take the risk? Of course not, you’d ban everything from sour to tropical skittles—but keep the originals. Don’t even get me started on M&Ms. For all those who feel outraged by this, unfortunately you didn’t get it, but I appreciate the fact that your heart is in the right place.
Illustrations by Emma Smith
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Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
Sports
HEAT WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEE EARLY PRE-SEASON SUCCESS
Sports
Photo by Greystoke Photography
Royal visit aside, the defending national bronze medalists have had a promising pre-season so far
Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
With two exhibition matches TRU took the first set of the played as of September 27, the UB C exhibition 25-20. The Heat then Okanagan Heat women’s volleyball took the next 3 sets, 25-18, 25-18, squad doesn’t seem to have lost a step. Despite 6 of their most prominent players from last season graduating, the Heat women have put together an impressive pair of wins in their pre-season action so far. Their first test of the 2016/17 Talking specifically about how the campaign came when they travelled to Halifax to play the defending changes to the roster this season AUS champion, the Dalhousie will factor in, there is no lack of Tigers. The Heat made quick work of the Tigers, taking the match in confidence in the women who three straight sets, by scores of 25have stepped up to be the new 21, 25-17, and 25-21. The second exhibition match core of veterans. for the Heat came on Friday, September 23 when they faced off against their perennial rivals in the Thompson Rivers WolfPack. The ‘Pack, another Canada West playoff team last season, and the Heat’s opponent in the annual President’s Cup competition between the two schools, were no and 25-19 to win the match. After match for the highly praised team the match, Heat Head Coach Steve Manuel said, “I liked to see how from UB C Okanagan.
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we battled down the stretch…We are still tr ying to find our identity. We are a fairly new group. It took us a while to play like a team.” On his team’s ability to adapt to a new core lineup after the graduation of six key players at the end of last season, he added, “Sometimes it takes a little more than a few sets; sometimes it takes a whole season. What I liked to see is that as we got rolling we played more like a team.” While this quote would indicate that coach Manuel is doing the responsible thing and tamping down what could become overly lofty expectations, he is also not hesitant to state that the team is still one of the best in Canada West: “We are on par. It will be a slower process for us this year…(but) I have TRU in my books as one of the teams that is going to ‘be there.’ I am happy with how the girls played tonight.” Talking specifically about how the changes to the roster this season will factor in, there is no lack of confidence in the women who have stepped up to be the new core of veterans. “Megan [Festival]
is a warrior,” said Manuel. “She played ver y well tonight and was a stabilizing force. I like what I am seeing from our [fifth year] setter Emily Oxland…she has a bunch of new weapons out there and she is tr ying to figure out how to use them.” In the match against TRU, it was Festival who led the Heat offense, with 10 kills. Michelle Jakszuk and Siobhan Fitzpatrick, two outside hitters who will likely take on bigger roles this year than they had last, had 9 and 7 kills respectively on Friday. If the Heat can continue to play at the level they have so far in their pre-season, any doubts about the new roster’s ability to live up to last year’s national bronze medal performance will quickly fade away.
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Sports | thephoenixnews.com | Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
UBCO BILLIARDS CLUB GROWS INTO SECOND YEAR The campus pool club is adding a semester-long competition to its schedule of tournaments
Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
Photo provided by UBCO Heat Athletics
HEAT WOMEN’S SOCCER SUFFER PAIR OF LOSSES IN A SCORELESS WEEKEND
The Heat dropped further out of early playoff conversation with losses to UFV & TWU last weekend Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
The UB C Okanagan women’s soccer team seem to have lost a step after a strong start earlier this season, having lost three of their four home matches between September 17 and September 25. In the last two contests of a four-game homestand, the UB C Okanagan women were unable to get on the board. The Heat were shut out first 2-0 by the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades (4-1-2; 3rd in Pacific) on Saturday, September 24, and then 3-0 by the undefeated Trinity Western University Spartans (5-0-2; 1st in Pacific) on Sunday, September 25. As of September 27, the Heat women own a record of 2 wins and 4 losses on the season, and sit in 6th place in Canada West’s Pacific Division. In the
point system that the division uses to establish its rankings, the Heat hold 6 points, well behind the 5th place team, UB C, who have earned 10 points thus far. Trinity Western, the Heat’s last opponent and the current leader in the Pacific Division, have 17 points. Offensively, the Heat women’s side have seen their production drop sharply off in recent weeks, with their goal totals now sitting at 7 for, and 15 against. After scoring 4 goals in their first 2 matches, they have only managed to score 3 times over their last 4 matches. This drop in goal scoring can be primarily attributed to the increasing focus paid to third year for ward, and leading Heat scorer, Courtney Hemmerling by opposing defenses.
Hemmerling has been kept off the score sheet in each of her last 3 matches, and was kept from
“ The Heat were shut out 2-0 on Saturday, and then 3-0 on Sunday.
” recording a shot in her most recent match by the Trinity Western defense. With next weekend being the half way point
in the UB C Okanagan women’s soccer season, the Heat will have to win against some strong competition in order to earn a spot in the postseason. The Heat will play their next two matches on the road against teams that are currently ahead of them in their division, first facing off against UB C (2-1-4; 5th in Pacific) in Vancouver, then the University of Victoria (3-1-3; 4th in Pacific). A road win against either team would go a long way toward lifting the Heat into a better position in the Canada West standings heading into the second half of the conference season.
The UBCO Billiards Club has begun its second year of activity in the Well Student Pub. With the introduction of league nights, and an earlier start to their schedule of tournaments, the club seems to have grown significantly in popularity since the end of last semester. The biggest change to the club this year is its introduction of the league Nights system. 40 students have signed up to compete in the semester-long competition, with 20 playing on Tuesday nights and the other 20 on Thursday nights, with rankings and points being tallied in a similar fashion to that of the American and National Leagues of the MLB. Club President Josh Evans organized the system in order to create a more continuous sense of competition within the club, rather than the start-andstop that comes with bi-weekly tournaments. Each player will have the opportunity to play a number of games each league night, with their standing in their league dependent upon both their winning or losing, and the number of balls left on the table at the end of each game. The first tournament of the season for the Billiards Club took place Friday, September 23. With mostly returning members participating, as it was before the beginning of the regular league night season, it was a smaller beginning to what should be a much bigger year than last year. Brett Saremba, returning member of the club, took home first place and the $50 cash prize. Commander in Chief of Social Functions for the club, Thomas Fisher, said about the addition of league nights to the club’s schedule, “it’s fucking lit fam.” He added, on a more serious note, “through the introduction of league nights, we are hoping to bring a new degree of consistency and legitimacy to the pool club, in addition to our bi-weekly tournaments.”
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Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor | thephoenixnews.com |
Sports
Photo by Ed McDonald/ Creative Commons
SPORTS LEGEND AND WOULD-BE HALL-OF-FAMER LOST LAST WEEKEND The sporting world mourns the deaths of Arnold Palmer and Jose Fernandez
Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
Sunday, September 25, 2016 was was not the most accomplished one of the saddest days for sports golfer in histor y, nor was he the in recent memor y. We woke up most dominant throughout his to the news of the death of Jose Fernandez, and shortly before the kick-off of Sunday Night Football, we were informed of the death of Arnold Palmer. In Palmer, the sports world lost one of its longest-standing icons, but at 87 years old, we knew that Arnold Palmer had given the world all he had, and made it the best place he could. In Fernandez, we lost not only someone who could have been one of the best to ever play the game, but a true fan of baseball, who took ever y opportunity to enjoy it with the type of childlike enthusiasm that is all too rare in recent years. The news of Palmer’s death was not necessarily surprising, but it was undoubtedly impactful. Arnie hadn’t won a PGA tournament in almost 20 years by the time I was born, but he has always been a figure at the fore-front whenever entire career. What Arnie was, golf has been thought about or though, was The King. Arnold Palmer started his career talked about in my lifetime. He
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‘He was the king of our sport and always will be.’ – Jack Nicklaus
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on the PGA Tour in 1955, and early in his career made an outstanding impact on a game that, before him, had been predominantly a sport for wealthy men in private clubs. In describing the game of golf before Arnold Palmer, a golf club may as well have been a synonym for a silver spoon. Arguably the greatest contribution from Palmer, the son of a greens keeper in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, was the transformation of golf into a game for people of all classes. The timing for the start of Arnie’s career could not have been better. Much like John F. Kennedy in politics, Arnold Palmer made television an integral part of golf. Palmer, in his younger years, has been accurately described as Marlon Brando with a golf swing. His exceptional good looks, his R at Pack-esque style, and his use of raw power in his game irreversibly made golf a sport to be televised. His fan club, Arnie’s Army, was the first of its kind, and was unlike anything anyone around the sport could have imagined at the time.
Golf had been a game reser ved primarily for literal gentlemen, but in Arnold Palmer it was utterly disrupted by a sportsman. He was a character, a champion; he was personable, and powerful. He won 62 PGA events (the first of which came at the 1955 Canadian Open), 7 Majors, was the leading money winner 4 times, was named the PGA Player of the Year twice, and was named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1960. That professional stat line is by no means the most impressive in the histor y of the Tour. It was not simply his greatness on the course that set him apart—it was his enduring presence as a leader in the advancement of the game, and as an idol to all those who love golf. Palmer played in 50 consecutive Masters tournaments, playing his last in 2004 at the age of 75. He was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, a year after his last PGA Tour win. In 2004, he was awarded the United
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Sports | thephoenixnews.com | Grayson B. Leahy – Sports Editor
States’ highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2009, he was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. In a heartfelt testament to the importance of Arnold Palmer to the game of golf, Jack Nicklaus, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, wrote an open letter after finding out Palmer had passed. “He was more than a golfer or even a great golfer,” said Nicklaus. “He was an icon. He was a legend. Arnold was someone who was a pioneer in his sport. He took the game from one level to a higher level, virtually by himself…We were great competitors, who loved competing against each other, but we were always great friends along the way. Arnold always had my back, and I had his. We were always there for each other. That never changed.” Nicklaus concluded his statement, saying, “He was the king of our sport and always will be.” Arnold Palmer passed away in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the age of 87. Far more surprising than the news of Arnold Palmer’s passing on Sunday, was the news of Jose Fernandez death earlier that morning. Fernandez was one of the best pitchers in baseball, and at 24 years old, the end of his life and career came far too soon. The sadly shortened stor y of the Miami Marlins star pitcher could not have been written more tragically by the best of Hollywood screenwriters. He was born in Santa Clara, Cuba on July 31, 1992. He attempted to defect to the United States 3 times unsuccessfully, eventually spending some time in a Cuban jail, before finally making it to Florida in 2008. On that successful crossing, he dove from the boat to save his mother, who had fallen into the water. At 16 years old, he was already a hero, as he would become to all of southern Florida during his nearly four years with the Marlins. In his first game with the Marlins, Fernandez pitched 6 innings, striking out 8 Mets batters on April 7, 2013. He was only the seventh pitcher under the age of 21 since 1916 to strike out 8 in his first start. Later that season, he was named a National League All Star, became the sixth pitcher since 2000 to strike out at least 13 batters in consecutive starts, set a new Marlins record for most strike-outs by a rookie (187), earned back-to-back NL Rookie of the Month honours in July and August, and was named National League Rookie of the Year. His first season was statistically historic. Fernandez finished with a
Wins Above Replacement stat of 4.2, putting him in the top ten for players under 21 since 1900. He was only the fourth pitcher since 1900 to have an Adjusted ERA+ of 174, and that number put him
“ ‘Just put your hand on somebody if somebody is struggling, pick them up.’ – Giancarlo Stanton
” in the top ten of all time in that statistical categor y. He finished third in 2013 NL Cy Young voting, behind established aces Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright. As the Opening Day starter for
the Marlins at 21 years old in 2014, Fernandez was the youngest since D wight Gooden in 1989 to begin his team’s season on the mound. He became only the sixth Opening Day starter ever to strike out 9 batters and walk none. His sophomore season was cut short soon after, as he under went Tommy John surger y in May of that year. His meteoric rise continued through his next two seasons, culminating in what he called “the best game [he’d] ever pitched” in a post-start conversation with a teammate. He struck out 12 and didn’t allow a run through his eight innings, and his Marlins went on to beat the divisionleading Nationals. That September 20 start, rather than being the jumping off point for a career to be remembered at Cooperstown, would be his last. Jose Fernandez died in a boating accident off the coast of Key West, Florida in the early hours of Sunday, September 25, 2016. Barely a week earlier, he had announced that his girlfriend was expecting their first child. The impact that the 24-year-old had on his team and his community was made devastatingly clear following his death, with a number of tributes and speeches given in the aftermath.
B efore their first game after Fernandez’s death, his teammate and friend Giancarlo Stanton, with tears streaming down his face, gave a short and emotional speech to his team around the pitcher’s mound at Marlins Park. “We’ ll all come together and help each other out. We’re going to do this somehow. Just put your hand on somebody if somebody is struggling, pick them up. And we’re going to find a way to do this. I love all you guys.” In his own tribute to Fernandez, Dee Gordon, the Marlins’ lefthanded lead-off hitter, stood in the right-handed batter’s box in order to wear his departed teammate’s helmet for the first pitch of the game. He switched to his natural side, and on the next pitch hit his first home run of the season. After wards, Gordon said of the home run, “I ain’t never hit a ball that far, even in BP…I told the boys, ‘If you all don’t believe in God, you better start.’ For that to happen today, we had some help.” In that first game back, ever y member of the Marlins, players and coaching staff alike, wore jerseys bearing the name Fernandez and the number 16. It is the last time any Marlin will wear 16, as the organization is retiring the number.
Photo by Arturo Pardavila/ Creative Commons