Better than seven year-olds... probably since 1918
Ams President Bijan Ahmadian threatens council with legal action.
U
women’s hockey earns two victories against u of lethbridge.
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the ubyssey
This issue, we’re black, white
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JANUARY 31, 2011 volume 92, number xxxvi room 24, student union building published mondays and thursdays feedback@ubyssey.ca
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E-Week: Pages 5, 6, & 11
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events
january 31, 2011 volume xcii, no xxxvi editorial coordinating editor
ongoing events
tuesday, feb. 1
news editor
Ubyssey Production • Come help
Dean of Arts Gage Averill on Prof Talk • On UBC CiTR Radio’s
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senior culture writer
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business
us create this baby! Learn about layout and editing. Expect to be fed. • Every Sunday and Wednesday, 2pm.
resource groups • Are you working on a progressive project, but need funding? Do you have an idea, but can’t get it off the ground? Apply to the Resource Groups for funding! Come in, pitch your idea to us and we will consider fully or partially funding your project. • Every Monday, 11am in SUB 245 (second floor, north-east corner). For more info email resourcegroups.ams@ gmail. Alpha Omicron Pi recruitment event • UBC’s newest sorority,
Alpha Omicron Pi, is looking for more members to join its colony class! There are opportunities to take on leadership roles, volunteer and gain service hours, create lasting bonds of sisterhood and friendship, socialize within the Greek system, network with women with similiar interests all over the world and overall enrich your UBC experience. • Informal recruitment events on Feb. 5 and 27, email ubcaoiirecruitment@ gmail.com for more information.
Skating at Robson Square • Free
Room 23, Student Union Building print advertising: 604.822.1654 business office: 604.822.6681 web advertising: 604.822.1658 e-mail: advertising@ubyssey.ca
business manager
public skating rink, with skate and helmet rentals, skate sharpening and a concession stand on site. • Ongoing til Feb. 28, SundayThursday 9am–9pm, Friday– Saturday 9am–11pm, free.
Fernie Pereira : business@ubyssey.ca
monday, jan. 31
Kathy Yan Li : advertising@ubyssey.ca
saam closing reception • Come
print ad sales web ad sales
Paul Bucci : webads@ubyssey.ca
accounts
Alex Hoopes : accounts@ubyssey,ca
contributors Fabrizio Stendardo Amelia Rajala Catherine Guan Mike Dickson Crystal Ngai Kellan Higgins
to the closing reception of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) at UBC. Cake and tea will be provided. • 1–2pm, Centre for Student Involvement, Brock Hall.
Prof Talk, with host Farha Khan, Dean of Arts and Haitian scholar Gage Averill will discuss his new role at UBC as well as his recent Grammy nomination for his project, Alan Lomax in Haiti: Recordings for the Library of Congress, 1936-1937. • 3pm, CiTR 101.9FM, go to citr.ca for more information. Wine Tasting and Dining Event: exploring affordable wines •
Many do not consider wine a luxury, but rather a necessity for a full and healthy life. This Taste and Dine event will focus on a few of the many inexpensive yet attractive wines currently available through local liquor stores. Joseph Collet, Green College Executive Chef, has matched the wines with fine winter fare. • 6:30–9:30pm, Graham House, Green College, $46 regular, $28 students, purchase tickets at gc.reception@ubc.ca or call (604) 822-8660.
wednesday, feb. 2 Work Your BA: Arts Internship Program Info Session • The UBC
Arts Internship Program provides current undergraduate Arts students with the opportunity to gain meaningful work experience in the private and non-profit sectors. Arts internships are part-time, unpaid positions and can provide you a stepping stone to your future career. • 12–1pm, Buchanan B310.
’65) and Art Stevenson (CHEM ’66) will retell the infamous story of the prank that duped the entire campus and university art community. You’re all invited to join the current Engineering student body to make this the largest ORNR ever. • 6:30–9:30pm, Cecil Green Park House. gladiator • Bravely go where
many UBC students have gone each year before. This is your chance to take on your toughest competitors and compete in your favourite American Gladiator challenges—as a team! Whether you are navigating your way through a colossal maze, racing through the inflatable obstacle course or duking it out on the joust, this event is filled with non-stop action. • 4pm–12am, SRC Gyms, 6–10 registrants. $80–$175, register by Jan. 27, roster due Jan. 28.
jules massenet: cendrillon (cinderella) • The UBC Opera En-
semble and the UBC Symphony Orchestra will be performing Jules Massenet’s Cendrillon, based on Charles Perrault’s 1698 version of the Cinderella tale. Performed in French with English subtitles. • 7:30–10:30pm, Chan Centre, $35 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, call (604) 8226725 or go to ticketmaster.ca to reserve. Tickets also available at the door.
friday, feb. 4
thursday, feb. 3
storewide sale • The UBC Bookstore is having their February sale—up to 75 per cent off a broad selection of merchandise! • All day, UBC Bookstore.
old red new red • Ever wonder what the greatest Engineering prank of all time was? Some might claim the Statue Stunt of 1963 to be it! Stephen Whitelaw (AGIE
cold war confidential • This symposium expands on John O’Brian’s focus on photography during the Cold War in Canada. Symposium speakers will
explore links between culture (art, photography, literature), the environment and nuclear propaganda and protest in the Cold War era. • 10am–3pm, Belkin Art Gallery, go to belkinartgallery.com for more information.
saturday, feb. 5 Tailgater Football Tournament • Can’t get enough football be-
tween the college bowl season and the Super Bowl? Well, before you park your butt on the couch for six hours to watch the big game, come out and make some of your own history on the gridiron. Tailgater Football is the perfect way to get jacked up for the biggest weekend in football! • 11am–5pm, UBC Wright Field, 5–8 registrants, $51–$100, register by Jan 31.
tuesday, feb. 8 lunar new year celebration •
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at UBC, which includes a food sale (Sri Lankan, Korean, Vietnamese and assorted desserts), all the tea you can drink, a live music performance and a silent auction of framed artwork (cash or cheque only). • 11:30am–2pm, CK Choi Building Lounge.
wednesday, feb. 9 Double Double Foil and Fumble • Double Double Foil and
Fumble is a joint production between UBC’s Theatre and Creative Writing faculties. It follows the story of five university-aged friends as they get together to weave some magic; only none of them know what they’re doing, half of them don’t believe in magic and some of them have ulterior motives. • Run until Feb. 12, Dorothy Somerset Studios, tickets by donation, proceeds go to Pride UBC.
David Elop Tim Blonk Gerald Deo Charles To Josh Curran
Front cover and E-Week illustrations by Indiana Joel. 40 Beer Patch illustration by Virginie Menard.
legal The Ubyssey is the official student newspaper of the University of British Columbia. It is published every Monday and Thursday by The Ubyssey Publications Society. We are an autonomous, democratically run student organization, and all students are encouraged to participate. Editorials are chosen and written by the Ubyssey staff. They are the expressed opinion of the staff, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ubyssey Publications Society or the University of British Columbia. All editorial content appearing in The Ubyssey is the property of The Ubyssey Publications Society. Stories, opinions, photographs and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the expressed, written permission of The Ubyssey Publications Society. The Ubyssey is a founding member of Canadian University Press (CUP) and adheres to CUP’s guiding principles. Letters to the editor must be under 300 words. Please include your phone number, student number and signature (not for publication) as well as your year and faculty with all submissions. ID will be checked when submissions are dropped off at the editorial office of The Ubyssey; otherwise verification will be done by phone. “Perspectives” are opinion pieces over 300 words but under 750 words and are run according to space. “Freestyles” are opinion pieces written by Ubyssey staff members. Priority will be given to letters and perspectives over freestyles unless the latter is time sensitive. Opinion pieces will not be run until the identity of the writer has been verified. The Ubyssey reserves the right to edit submissions for length and clarity. All letters must be received by 12 noon the day before intended publication. Letters received after this point will be published in the following issue unless there is an urgent time restriction or other matter deemed relevant by the Ubyssey staff. It is agreed by all persons placing display or classified advertising that if the Ubyssey Publications Society fails to publish an advertisement or if an error in the ad occurs the liability of the UPS will not be greater than the price paid for the ad. The UPS shall not be responsible for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value or the impact of the ad.
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News
editor ARSHY MANN » news@ubyssey.ca assistant editor KALYEENA MAKORTOFF » kmakortoff@ubyssey.ca SENIOR WRITER MICKI COWAN » mcowan@ubyssey.ca
President deflects censure with legal threats
Ahmadian and his lawyer, Noah Sarna. Geoff Lister Photo/The Ubyssey
Arshy Mann news@ubyssey.ca AMS President Bijan Ahmadian was able to successfully evade being censured by Council after threatening the society that he leads with legal action. The censure motion was brought forward in response to Ahmadian’s actions during AMS elections, especially his biting criticisms of then VP External Jeremy McElroy. The motion resulted in a 12-12 tie, one vote short of a successful censure. Six councillors abstained, including President-elect McElroy. Ahmadian said that he would sue the AMS if such a motion passed, arguing that he was not provided with proper notification of the motion to censure.
“I hate to be put in this awkward position to sound like I’m threatening, but I need you to know about the potential damages,” he said. He went on to cite a question asked on the bar exam, which he plans on taking, that asks if the applicant has ever been censured by an organization. Ahmadian’s lawyer, Noah Sarna, was present throughout the majority of the meeting and told Council that they should consult a lawyer before they considered taking any actions against the president. “You’re exposing the society to considerable legal potential liability,” said Sarna. “And the administrative component of
it is just one end of it. There are also employment law issues and possible defamatory issues that need to be explored and considered. “The last thing that you want and the last thing that you need, is that sort of legal problem.” The censure mot ion was brought to the floor after a nearly hour-long in-camera session, which was closed to the media, in which council discussed “executive dynamics.” Dave Tompkins, speaker of Council, said that the motion was brought to the floor after the incamera session because some councillors had been threatened with defamation lawsuits if they spoke publicly. Tompkins, whose position is non-political and usually remains above contentious debates, was dragged into the fray on Wednesday, as Ahmadian raised the possibility of suing him as well and said he perceived Tompkins to be biased. “Sue me, Bijan,” said Tompkins at one point after Ahmadian, who sits next to him, whispered in his ear. “I have no money.” He made it very clear that he strongly disapproved of Ahmadian’s threats. “One of my rules is that all council members can speak their mind freely…which is why I get my back up when people threaten and intimidate them,” said Tompkins. He also said that he believed that Ahmadian knew a censure motion was coming, based on the fact that he brought a lawyer. Tompkins went on to argue that Ahmadian had never brought up these sorts of arguments for previous censure attempts, and had supported the censuring of Blake
Frederick and Tim Chu for initiating a human rights complaint to the United Nations over the cost of tuition last year. Ahmadian countered that although he knew a general censure motion may appear, he did not know what the exact wording of the motion would be and could therefore not prepare a proper defense. Alongside his actions during the elections, Engineering Councillor Andrew Carne cited a variety of reasons he believed Ahmadian should be censured. These included Ahmadian’s communications with the university regarding land use, comments he made to the National Post which could be considered defamatory, how the Gaza donation was dealt with, failing to respect the values of the AMS and the fact that he was threatening the AMS with a lawsuit. McElroy mostly stayed out of the debate, but argued that censuring is done by student societies for a variety of reasons. He pointed out that the University of Victoria Student Society censured their director of finance in November for showing up to work late. After hours of debate, Ahmadian was finally able to avoid censure by issuing an apology for some of council’s grievances, including the way he criticized McElroy. “First and foremost [I apologize for] the distorted portrayal of my colleague Jeremy in that video last week and the unfair comments there. We have accomplished lots as a team and I think that video did not do a fair job of portraying that.” Ahmadian’s term expires on February 11. U
Primate experiments draw criticism from activists FABRIZIO STENDARDO fstendardo@ubyssey.ca STOP UBC Animal Research, an animal advocacy group, held a protest outside the Vancouver Art Gallery last Thursday to urge UBC to end research on non-human primates. It was aimed at a proposed experiment that plans to study the development of Parkinson’s disease in monkeys. The experiment, L91, would involve injecting four rhesus monkeys with the compound Lactacystin, which eventually leads to the onset of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. “We feel that this type of research and end product is horrendous to us,” said STOP spokesperson Anne Birthistle. At the rally, four people were dressed as monkeys in prison uniforms behind bars “to show... concern about the imminent doom awaiting the monkeys in the Parkison’s research,” according to Birthistle. She was, however, pleased with how the event turned out. “We had a great response.” VP Research John Hepburn referred to the protest as a “publicity stunt” and said that he
The Animal Care Centre at UBC. David Elop Photo/The Ubyssey
supports the research. “Frankly, I’m not interested in stopping a line of research for Parkinson’s disease.” STOP hopes to obtain the monkeys to stop them from being killed. Birthistle said they are willing to buy the primates. “We have public support in raising funds to purchase them.” However, she said STOP would rather not pay for the monkeys. “We feel that they really belong to the taxpayers, who fund much of the research at
UBC [and] would prefer tha t UBC donate them.” Birt hist le says STOP has asked Fauna, a non-profit animal rescue organization founded in 1997, for help in finding the monkeys a permanent home. “We’d like to give them sanctuary away from the pain and suffering their lives have entailed up to now. “We definitely would help to provide financially for their care for the rest of their lives.” However, she was unaware of
how much this support would cost, only saying it would be “substantial.” However, Hepburn said that UBC will neither donate nor sell the monkeys because they are needed for research even after they die. “Part of the [proposed] experiment involves post-mortem examination of brain tissue, which is not done without euthanizing the animals.” In addition, he said that monkeys are expensive, so even if they don’t die, UBC will still care for them. “The monkey colony is maintained and we want to make sure they are kept in good shape.” The spokesperson for the experiment, Doris J. Doudet, who is also a professor of medicine and neurology at UBC, was unavailable for comment. Hepburn said he was unaware of the requests and that no direct contact has been made between the university and STOP. He explained that experiment L91 has yet to be approved for funding, as the most recent attempt was denied by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He also stated that there was no chance the experiment would happen before April 1, 2011. U
NEWS BRIEFS
Ashley lockyer photo/ the ubyssey
UBC’s TRIUMF facility to make medical isotopes TRIUMF, a research lab at UBC, will help make Metro Vancouver self-sufficient in its supplies of medical isotopes. TRIUMF will become an alternative source for the most widely used medical isotopes for cancer treatments. Technetium99m, which is usually produced at Ontario’s Chalk River nuclear reactor, will now be made at two other facilities in Toronto and here at UBC, thanks to a $6-million federal government grant. The Chalk River facility was shut down for repairs in 2009, which caused health agencies world-wide to scramble for alternative supplies of the isotopes. While Chalk River reactors have been repaired and are back online, the long-term future of the reactors remains uncertain. TRIUMF, the subatomic physics lab, is owned and operated by a consortium of Canadian universities. Tim Meyer, a TRIUMF spokesperson, said that UBC labs could be supplying the isotopes to the BC Cancer Agency by March 2012. Ryerson university radio shut down
CKLN, Ryerson University’s campus radio station, has had its broadcasting license revoked by the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The CRTC said the station violated license conditions and regulations and was not able to provide quality control for its programming. The licensing conditions required program logs, submission of audible on-air tapes and completion of annual returns. Several warnings had been issued to CKLN, but CKLN failed to comply with CRTC conditions. The CRTC’s decision followed proceedings and public hearings that took place last month. Investigations into operations at CKLN by the CRTC began in July 2009 after complaints were made about its day-to-day operations, management and ability to stay on the air, as well as an unbalanced representation on the board of directors. CKLN has a history of conflict among its staff. The station went off-air intermittently for seven months in 2009 when the building manager was forced to lock out staff, volunteers and management for security reasons. Findings from a consultation in fall 2009 revealed that there was minimal student involvement at the station. U
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$700 Gaza donation officially approved Fate of Resource Groups and external donations uncertain Micki Cowan mcowan@ubyssey.ca After three months of debate and $13,000 in legal costs, the AMS has passed the final motion to allow the transfer of $700 from the Social Justice Centre (SJC) to Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) intended to fund the Canada Boat to Gaza this spring. However, debate has been spurred around AMS Resource Group structure and funding, and policies around external donations generally. Since it was first proposed, the $700 donation has caused considerable debate amongst AMS council and the larger student body. In December, council put the motion on hold until they were satisfied that the non-profit organization was not linked to terrorism and did not leave the AMS liable, as some critics had suggested. An email returned to VP Finance Elin Tay yar from Fintrac, a financial tracking organization that investigates money laundering and transfers to terrorist organizations, silenced the concerns of Council. “Fintrac does not maintain a list of organizations, charities or non-profit groups that are in good standing. It will not verify or evaluate groups about which you requested information,” quoted Tayyar. “Because these guys aren’t on their list, they aren’t being investigated and looked into [as possible terrorists],” he said. However, due to the extensive debate and uncertainty caused by transfer and subsequent
The Resource Group offices on the top floor of the SUB. Geoff Lister Photo/The Ubyssey
donation, the Resource Group structure is being re-examined by AMS Council. “The Resource Group changes we felt were important to make, given some of the things that happened this year,” said Ben Cappellacci, VP Academic and University Affairs. “[They] advocate for specific political interests, and while we feel it’s important that these have the support of students, we also felt like students should be able to make decisions about whether or not they feel their support should be given to the Resource Groups.” The Resource Groups will be part of a fee restructuring referendum held in March which,
if passed, will enable students to opt-out of the current $1.50 Resource Group fees, which the SJC is part of. “Essentially, by allowing the students to opt out of the resource group fee, we’re giving students the choice here to say that ‘Yes, I agree with the resource groups and I want to support them with my money,’ or ‘I won’t,’” said Cappellacci. He admitted that the Canada Boat to Gaza donation had partly prompted the restructuring, but said they had also wanted to take a look at the fees in general, many of which they felt could be streamlined and made more accountable to all students.
Tayyar plans to bring up even further changes at a meeting in the near future. “We’re looking at essentially stopping all donations from all mandatory fees that are collected from students. That includes any kind of donations that the AMS Council or anyone can donate,” he said. “That would stop these kinds of transfers that are just a direct donation to an outside organization. We’re changing the rules to say that all mandatory fees have to be spent on things that all UBC students will have access to.” According to Tayyar, the SJC is “in support of the changes.”
Gall Levit, a second-year Arts student, told AMS Council that she attempted to participate in SJC meetings but was unable contribute her views due to what she perceived as “hostility.” She argued that changes are needed. “It think it should be a lot about trying to engage a wide amount of students because they [receive] $10,000. Their main purpose should be trying to involve as many students in their decisions as possible,” she said. “The SJC seemed like they liked… their own exclusive little group, with very radical views.” Active SJC member Gregory Williams said that this debate has taken up hundreds of hours of their time, and has been “a complete mess.” “While the debate on the fund transfer is over now, [things are] just heating up because the LPC [Legislative Procedures Committee] is just starting that review,” said Williams. “We’re still going to be in committee rooms fighting this for months and months.” While many are aware of the referendum, the possible code amendment is less well-known. Former president of SPHR Omar Chaaban said that the amendment hasn’t yet been discussed at length by the Resource Groups that he knows of. He hopes that the referendum does pass as he values that it gives students a choice, but that the code amendment fails at Council. “It’s like a blanket boycott kind of thing. It’s all or nothing…it’s kind of authoritarian to me. My fear is that it will pass. They don’t want to talk about these issues. They want to talk about the easy stuff.” U
U of A suspends frat for five years Three-month investigation revealed widespread hazing at DKE chapter Alexandria Eldridge The Gateway (University of Alberta) EDMONTON (CUP)—A f ter a three-month investigation into hazing activity, the University of Alberta administration has suspended the Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) fraternity chapter for five years. Frank Robinson, the U of A’s dean of students, announced Thursday morning that the university made this decision after their investigation revealed that hazing activity had taken place. Some of the hazing allegations raised in October included forcing pledges to eat their own vomit, forcing pledges into a plywood box and depriving them of sleep. Robinson could not go into detail about the hazing or the investigation, but added that they are not pursuing charges against individual students and DKE has complied with this decision. “The DKE fraternity has acknowledged that hazing took place over a number of years and that this behaviour was participated in by both student and alumni members from this U of A chapter,” Robinson stated. During the five-year suspension, the group will be ineligible to register as a student group at the university, meaning they will lose the ability to use the
university’s name or insignia, use the university’s liquor or gaming licenses, rent university property or equipment, or participate in university governance or other activities. “I’ve taken this serious action as a result of ongoing concern for the safety and well-being of our students and for the entire university community. As a result of the suspension, the DKE fraternity is no longer allowed to officially identify themselves as, or carry on activities, as if they are associated with the U of A in any manner,” Robinson said. After a period of three years, DKE may apply to have the suspension lifted at Robinson’s discretion, provided they can demonstrate good behaviour during the period of suspension and provide a plan for future activities. During the period of suspension, the Dekes will also be meeting with Robinson periodically. “One aspect is a sanction and the other part I like to think of as more of a restorative model. We have agreed to work with [the fraternity] and help them come back, as opposed to simply slamming the door,” Robinson said. “The actions taken in this case concerning the Dekes have been motivated to ensure that our student groups remain a positive force in student life.”
The DKE house at U of A. Dan McKechnie Photo/The Gateway
After the five-year period, the group will have to re-apply, and will only regain their student group status at Robinson’s discretion. “After the suspension is lifted in five years, they will be like any other frat or sorority. We watch all of our fraternities, we watch sororities, we watch clubs, and if we have a problem, we’ll deal with it.” The last time a fraternity was sanctioned at the U of A was in
1999, and in that case, it was also DKE. Rory Tighe, a students’ union vice-president, was pleased with the university’s action and felt that the restorative model Robinson has prescribed is a good approach. “I’m glad the university took a stronger stance than the alumni council. I hope this will accomplish the goal,” Tighe said. “I do think that this required
a harsh sentence and I think that was appropriate. I’m hoping that this does lead to what the dean said—rebuilding the community and allowing the Greek system to get back to its height.” Interfraternity Council President Mike Siebert also released a statement expressing his satisfaction with the university’s decision. “This group has acted in an immature and selfish manner and by doing so has undermined the positive impact that fraternities strive for,” he wrote. “As long as they are suspended as a student group, they will continue to have their membership from the IFC suspended.” In December, DKE International provisionally suspended the U of A chapter for three years. A local alumni council will be formed to monitor the activities of the chapter and revise the initiation process. DKE posted a statement on their website apologizing to the university community for their actions. “We agree that hazing has no place at the University of Alberta or in fraternity life, and we, the Delta Phi chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon, apologize to the international fraternity, the University of Alberta, the university community and the other fraternities at the university.”
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sports
editor MARIE VONDRACEK » sports@ubyssey.ca
Coach Reimer under the ‘scope
bird droppings
Three straight CIS championships make coach a constant for T-Birds Mike Dickson Contributor Chemistry. That’s been the key ingredient in the success of the UBC women’s volleyball team in recent years. It’s also prime recruiting material when it comes to head coach Doug Reimer choosing his squad, a system that has served the Thunderbirds well during their three-year reign as national champions. “As a coach, you want to create an environment where players want to be here and want to get better every day, which is something we’ve tried to grow here over the last few years,” Reimer said. The players have bought into Reimer’s system and continued their winning ways not only with their talent on the court, but their character off it as well. “What’s great about Doug is that he considers you as a person, not just a volleyball player,” starting setter Brina Derksen-Bergen said. “He creates a great atmosphere that makes you want to be here every day.” Her sentiments were echoed by returning national team outside hitter Kyla Richey, who believes the Thunderbirds’ success stems from their willingness to support each other.
Triple CIS banner winning head coach Doug Reimer.
“I definitely think it’s our team relationship,” Richey said. “After every season we’ve won, people asked us why we did, and we’ve got a great team full of talent, but you can’t do anything with talent without chemistry. It’s not just the best 6 players on the court but the best 17.” That combination of chemistry, talent and hard work was on full display last weekend as the T-Birds swept the University of Brandon Bobcats two games to zero, not losing a single set in the process.
Think our stories are lame? Come write ‘em. Marie Vondracek | sports@ubyssey.ca
U theubyssey.ca
“The support we have for each other is great in both good and bad situations, and adds to your team confidence as well as individual confidence,” Derksen-Bergen said. Reimer’s experience, which includes being the head coach of the women’s national team from 1997-2000, has taught him to recruit not just the best volleyball players, but the best people too. “Each of the three years has been different,” Reimer said. “But the biggest commonality between them has been good chemistry
gerald deo photo/The Ubyssey
amongst the group. We want to make sure we’ve got good people who are working hard and keeping the environment fun, one that people want to be a part of and let the chips fall where they will.” Reimer has been nominated for CIS Coach of the Year, along with the ‘09-10 T-Birds squad. The squad, which closed a 25-0 season with a third consecutive CIS championship, is up for CIS Team of the Year. Graduated outside hitter Liz Cordonier is also up for her second CIS Female Athlete of the Year award. U
UBC Men’s hockey swept by Lethbridge
The Lethbridge Pronghorns and the Thunderbirds remain tied for sixth place, with the ‘Horns having one game in hand over the ‘Birds after sweeping UBC 5-2 and 5-1 in Lethbridge. Lethbridge keeper Scott Bowles put in a stellar performance on Friday, stopping 33 shots. Jordan White was forced to make only 21 saves. Entering the third period only one goal down, UBC fell victim to a third period Lethbridge hat trick from Andrew Courtney, which propelled the ‘Horns to a crucial 5-2 win, bringing them two points behind. Before the ice was even dry in the third, Courtney struck for his first, then again four minutes and twenty-three seconds later on the power play, Courtney scored again, putting the puck over a sprawling White to make it 4-1. Brennan Sonne brought the gap down to two with 108 seconds left, but upon pulling the goalie, Courtney completed his hat trick with an empty net goal. The ‘Horns did not let up on Saturday, jumping to a threegoal lead by the halfway point. UBC’s Max Grassi responded by tapping in a cross-crease pass from Justin McCrae. However, they didn’t get any closer, as the Pronghorns added two more to pull away for a 5-1 victory, completing the weekend sweep. U
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NCAA decision expected this year After years of reports and discussions, UBC hopes a final decision will be made this spring justin mcelroy coordinating@ubyssey.ca
UBC against the NCAA’s Minnesota. Geoff Lister photo/The Ubyssey
The NCAA: To join or not to join? It’s a decision that UBC will make in the coming months after releasing a report discussing the issue. And if that sounds like deja vu, it’s because it is. President Stephen Toope has said that UBC intends to decide whether to apply for Division II membership in the US-based National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) by the end of this semester. They’ve released a report on the topic for discussion—18 months after an earlier report on the same topic was written. However, the new report takes into consideration discussions that have taken place with the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) over the past two years. “What I wanted to see was whether anything could change,” said Toope. “Because I wanted to be comparing apples to apples, I didn’t want to compare some historic view of the CIS to some prospective view of the NCAA. So what I wanted to ensure was that we had actually explored all the options with the CIS to see if indeed things could change, or would change, before making any determination about the NCAA and that’s why it’s been a year and a half.” For much of last decade, UBC Athletics, led by Director Bob Philip, have advocated a move to the NCAA, arguing it would
provide more competition for UBC and make it easier to keep student-athletes in Canada. The issue moved to the forefront in 2008 when NCAA Division II, which is the second-tier league in the association, invited international schools to apply for membership. While SFU immediately signalled their intentions to apply, and entered the league last year, UBC created a NCAA Division II Review Committee to investigate the issue. In March 2009, they issued a 588-page report, which did not make a recommendation either way, but revealed that of the 537 people who filled out a survey on the issue, 52 per cent were against moving to the NCAA. However, in an interview last month, Toope seemed to take issues with the value of those responses. “Most people didn’t have a clue about what they were talking about. I’m being very serious,” he said. “If you actually broke down the views—there were a whole bunch of things which predicated views, which I think actually were not well thought through,” said Toope citing confusion over whether UBC would be joining Division I or II as one example. “My only hope in the NCAA discussion is we actually talk about real things, we don’t talk about visions that people have about what CIS is or what NCAA
is. I want to be as clear as possible as to what we’re actually debating and then we’re going to have a real discussion around it.” Last year, the CIS had a committee examine the merits of a flexible scholarship model, which would allow universities to offer full-ride scholarships to a limited number of student-athletes, while limiting the total amount of money available per sport. Currently, scholarships are limited to tuition and mandatory fees, and athletes must have an 80 per cent average out of high school and maintain a 65 per cent average throughout university. “The principle is to keep the best student athletes in Canada,” said UVic Director of Athletics Clint Hamilton in 2009. “Currently, the scholarship situation is such that it’s limiting our ability to do that.” At last June’s Annual General Meeting, the CIS decided not to vote on any proposal. In a report prepared for delegates, it was claimed that “although the Flexible Model that was proposed ‘received some support,’ it did not garner significant support in its current format.” Toope said he hoped the ideas from the CIS would allow clarity to people’s opinions at UBC. “My only hope is people actually look at the report, look at the information we’ve tried to provide and then have a conversation about real things, not false things.” U
‘Birds bring out the brooms
Thunderbirds sweep Lethbridge with only fifteen healthy skaters Friday
Marie vondracek sports@ubyssey.ca When the weekend began with a technical malfunction of the national anthem, UBC women’s hockey took up the slack and belted out the final chorus themselves, making it audible to even the farthest fans. This act of ‘holding the rope’ has been the trademark of this hockey club time and time again. Just as with the sound system breakdown, the Thunderbirds did not begin lighting up the board until the final frame. Entering the third period one goal down, Amanda Asay opened the scoring by beating a rushing goalie to the loose puck at the top of the circles and calmly sliding it into the empty goal. Four minutes later, Laura Jordan, a rookie who has been given very few opportunities prior to this weekend, put the puck in net and fellow rookie Tatiana Rafter fired a low hard shot past the keeper. “Jordan was given the opportunity, she stepped up and she did a great job,” said UBC head coach Nancy Wilson of Jordan’s play. With only and all three lines rolling, Asay and Rafter both potted their second of the night to help the ‘Birds earn a hardfought 4-1 victory. “The team showed lots of cha ract er t on i g ht; t he [i njured] kids are begging t he doctor to let them play. Those who are playing are inspired by the kids who are sitting off. They’re playing hard for them. Our bench is not down. They’re showing a lot of character and
‘Birds 4
1 ‘Horns
Saturday ‘Birds 5 0 ‘Horns Third-year Kelsey Halvorson stepped into a forward’s role due to injuries. Tim Blonk photo/The Ubyssey
I’m very proud of them,” said Wilson. The Thunderbirds earned a night’s rest before facing off again on Saturday, when they came out flying. After pausing to honour fellow teammates Lisa Bonang, Melinda Choy and Kirtsen Mihalcheon with a golden helmet for their 100 th CIS career game, Tamara Pickford opened the scoring six and a half minutes in, upon reception of a pass from Kaylee Chanakos through three pairs of legs.
Chanakos offered Pickford an early birthday present by threading another pass through to Pickford for her second of the night. “I don’t think anyone had a bad game tonight, but especially Pickford with two goals. And it’s her birthday on Monday, so it’s an early birthday present for her,” said Wilson. “Pickford is an older player in the dressing room and she comes prepared. She works hard on and off the ice.”
Once again Asay and Rafter each added a goal to the board, the latter reeling in a stretch pass from third-year defenseman Jocelyn Marren from her own end. While Melinda Choy made 17 saves in her 106th CIS game and earned her seventh career shutout, Ra f ter a nd Asay combined for six goals this weekend to help the Thunderbirds (7-12-1) earn a sweep over the Pronghorns (4-15-3). “The past two or three series, Asay has really stepped
up her game…[and] Rafter has great hands with a quick release. She had a beautiful goal tonight and she’s had a couple this year already,” commented Wilson. Even though UBC is out of the playoff race, they’re arguably playing their best hockey of the season and having fun. “You’re always having fun when you’re finding time to move the puck. They’re working hard and they’re getting the results.” U
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Thunderbird Athlete Council
athlete of the week Men’s Alpine Ski Team
UBC men’s alpine ski team prepped and ready to go. Josh curran photo/The Ubyssey The men’s Alpine ski team has earned a spot as athletes of the week for their performance at the peak of Vancouver on January 22 and 23. UBC played host to an array of American schools on Grouse Mountain for the first league
race of 2011 and the first United States Ski Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Northwest Conference race to be held in Canada in 16 years. Despite warm and overall unfavourable conditions, the team was on
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fire, finishing first in the team standings both days. On Saturday, the Men tore up the slopes,dominating the top ten in a field of over 70 athletes:rookie Austin Taylor took gold, followed closely by Mike Bisnaire in third, veteran Ben
Middleton in fourth and Alex Binks in fifth. Mike Cadman and Taylor Drury finished in eighth and ninth, respectively. The women also finished first on Saturday and then second on Sunday. U
—Amelia Rajala
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culture E-History: the Cairn “Erected in humble appreciation of the diversified and continuing contribution to campus life by the Engineers.” —Plaque on the Cairn, circa 1966 The E. The Cairn. An impotent phallus. Whatever you choose to call it, the big old rock with an “E” on it on Main Mall is the source of many a campus legend. Luckily, the engineers are not ones to forget their storied history. They have recorded the story of the E on Heustory, the Engineering Undergraduate society’s wiki. The Ubyssey presents an abridged history of the E. The first Cairn, literally a pile of rocks, was erected in 1966. It was destroyed several days later by the groundskeepers. Another E was built in 1968. This time a hole was dug in the middle of Main Mall, filled with scrap, cemented over and embossed with a red E. The Board of Governors had it destroyed several days later.
The administration was convinced only a charge of dynamite could destroy it. Another E, allegedly modeled on a tank trap, was built on Main Mall in 1969. At five feet tall, the administration was convinced only a charge of dynamite could destroy it. In 1970, the administr a tion repor tedly contracted Plant Ops to clear the site for $10,000. The EUS bid $1000 on the project, and was given a go-ahead. The monument was moved by crane to its current location. The Cairn was defaced consistently for the next ten years. In 1980, Arts students tried and failed to flip the E with a forklift. In 1981, the Cairn was renewed and made two feet larger. In 1988, Forestry students with a backhoe and drills reduced the E to rubble. Over the next year, the Cairn was rebuilt (allegedly with a propane tank in the centre to destroy any vandals). In 1989, the E as we now know it was completed, and it has stood ever since. Source: Heustory, the EUS wiki.
editorS BRYCE WARNES & JONNY WAKEFIELD » culture@ubyssey.ca SENIOR WRITER GINNY MONACO » gmonaco@ubyssey.ca ILLUSTRATOR INDIANA JOEL » ijoel@ubyssey.ca
week Prank you very much Mike Dickson Contributor Pranks. They are the result of engineers—mathematically gifted minds with a legendary reputation for consuming drink and a bent for problem-solving—getting together around E-week and unleashing their skills in creative ways. But the art of the prank has been declining for some years within the Engineering faculty, both in number and execution. Past stunts have ranged from suspending future Prime Minister Kim Campbell in a tree with a hammock in 1964 to stealing t he Speaker’s Chair out of the Victoria Legislature in 1978 and holding it for $1000 ransom to be paid to Children’s Hospital. However, the infamous failure to suspend a Volkswagen Beetle from Ironworker’s Bridge in 2009 got five UBC engineering students arrested
and, explained Engineering VP Events Nigel Myers, was a poor demonstration of their professional skills. “It reflects on how you have to go about your job as an engineer,” Myers said. “You have to prepare for all the variables and plan ahead carefully, which in retrospect they didn’t do.” Careful planning has been in-
volved in subjecting the various incarnations of Omar, the Forestry Undergraduate Society car, to engineering originality. These
include filling Omar III with concrete (1980) and welding Omar IV around a tree (1981). Engineers also dismantled Omar 2008 into a Christmas card for the FUS, which read, “Save a tree: Bulldoze a Hippie.” If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing
well—but in recent years, many just haven’t been worth doing. “In the last few years ideas have been lacking originality,” Myers said. “It looks to continue
being that way for some time to come.” A com mon t h read f rom past engineers to present has been their focus on charity. 2008 saw the creation of a gigantic red engineering jacket filled with clothes for the needy draped around the English Bay inukshuk, while in 2009 engineering students handed out red scarves to the homeless. “Pranks have never been endorsed by the Engineering Undergraduate Society,” said EUS VP Communications Will Gallego. “The EUS does not condone pranks of any kind.” It is teamwork that pulls off the spect ac u la r, a s the 1969 pranksters who stole Stanley Park’s 1800-pound Nine O’Clock Cannon can attest. Its ransom generated over $1200 for the Children’s Hospital. U Engineers are encouraged to come out to E-week, which hosts a career fair on Wednesday and Thursday from 10am—3pm.
Forty brews and booby traps too The fact and the fiction behind the Engineering faculty at UBC Crystal Ngai Contributor They happen every year: engineering pranks, events, compet it ions and celebrat ions. But what about the outrageous things you hear about but don’t get to witness firsthand? These are the myths that get passed down from year to year. Are they more than myths, though? Enter the 40 beer challenge. It’s not exactly a myth, but neither is it something you hear being promoted openly. To clarify, it is an “engineering thing,” isolated from the EUS, that
occurs every term. Those who attempt the feat are given a time limit of 12 hours to down 40 cold ones. Victors are awarded bragging rights and a special “40 beer badge” for t heir r e d ja c k e t . For lightweights, there is the one-fifth under 200 pounds challenge. This replaces 40 beers with a number of brews equivalent to one fifth of the participant’s body weight.
EUS VP Communications and administration representative William Ga l le g o s a i d , “You can find engineers around campus with t he 40 beer patch, so it’s obv ious t hat it still goes on, and people do actually finish it.” If you see an engineer bearing this remarkable symbol on their red jacket, ask them about their
experience. They will probably be happy to tell you. Then there is the buzz regarding the Engineering Cairn (the giant E on Main Mall). It is rumoured that there are several propane tanks hidden inside or below the Cairn to dissuade those who might want to destroy or remove the landmark. “I’ve heard that story myself, but there is no way in telling unless you destroy the Cairn,” said Gallego. It cannot be entirely validated as a fact, only a real possibility. But it would not be advised not to try and find out yourself. U
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Adding substance to your liquid lunch Culinary tips from the “Cooking With Beer” champ
E-Week Events At its core, E-Week is an annual celebration of Engineering. But it is also a competition between each department in the faculty for bragging rights. Engineers compete in a number of challenges to earn points for their team. We’ve taken a slice of some of the most epic competitions and social events EWeek has to offer.
Catherine Guan Contributor
Guinness Smashed Potatoes and Vegetables
Slow Cooker Guinness Top Sirloin Roast
Beer is the sustenance of the masses, or at least, the college masses. But no other faculty can challenge the engineers for their long-standing devotion to and liberal consumption of the beverage. During E-Week, interdepartmental rivalry heats up in the kitchen. Armed with their favourite brew, the engineers show off their culinary chops at “Cooking with Beer.” The rules are simple. “You can make anything you want as long as it has a substantial amount of beer in it,” said Omid Javadi, the winner of the 2009 cook-off. “I knew I was a good cook,” said Javadi. “We just wanted to blow everybody away.” His winning entry was a Guinness Rye Pot Roast. “Lager would be good for something like beer-battered chicken,” but his advice for novices is that “you can’t go wrong with Guinness Rye.” What could be better than beer with a little whiskey? Javadi’s first attempt at cooking with beer was a perfect disaster. “We used one of those kettles … filled half of it with water and half of it with beer to cook some eggs, and called that our entry.” He admitted, with a rueful laugh, that “the smell of boiling beer stunk up the Cheeze.” At “Cooking with Beer” at the Cheeze this Friday from 12:00 to 1:30 pm, students can taste some strange and wonderful concoctions. Or, you can experiment in your own kitchen. But be sure double up on the amount of beer. After all, good chefs always sample their ingredients first. U
• 5 red potatoes • 3 cups liquid from slow cooker • 0.5 kg baby carrots • 1 can cut green beans • ¼ can Guinness • 2 tbsp butter • Salt, pepper, garlic and milk to taste
•1.5 can beef broth •1 can French Onion soup •½ can Guinness •1 Guinness Rub Sirloin Roast (see below) •1.5 oz Canadian Club rye
Directions
1. Place all liquid in slow cooker.
Four Legged Race—Cheeze @ 6pm: Teams of three engineers are bound at the ankles and forced to collect clues from across campus. Glory ensues.
2. Place roast in center of liquid.
Tuesday
2. Saute mushrooms in oil.
1. Remove liquid from slow cooker, place in pot alone and bring to simmer.
3. Mix three tbsp cornstarch with small amount of water.
2. Wash and cut potatoes into eighths.
3. Cook on medium for six hours in slow cooker.
4. Enjoy the non-Newtonion concoction.
3. Add carrots, green beans and potatoes to liquid.
5. Add more water to cornstarch, and then add it to the pot.
4. Cook vegetables thoroughly, remove potatoes, and place in a bowl.
Godiva Band March @ 10am: High school band kids get to relive the good old days and show off their faculty pride with this annual march through campus. This event used to feature a naked woman on a horse as an homage to an 11th century English noblewoman who rode naked to protest taxation. The practice was called off in 1986 after the murder of 14 women at Dawson College in Montreal.
Guinness Gravy Directions 1. Place one cup liquid from slow cooker in pot. Add remaining Guinness, bring to a simmer.
6. Mix liquid as mixture thickens.
5. Add Guinness, milk, salt, pepper, butter and garlic to potatoes. 6. Mash the shit out of the potatoes. 7. Return carrots/beans/liquid to slow cooker to warm. Serve separately.
Directions
Guinness Rub Sirloin Roast •2 tbsp paprika •1 tsp cayenne pepper •2 tsp thyme •2 tsp rosemary leaves •1 tbsp salt •1 tbsp garlic •2 tsp pepper •1 tsp Guinness •1 tsp rye •1 tbsp olive oil Directions 1. Mix dry ingredients. 2. Mix in wet ingredients. 3. Rub on entire surface of roast.
Monday
Chariot Race—Main Mall @ 2pm: Each engineering department designs and races a human-powered chariot. Wednesday E-Ball Soccer Tournament—Main Mall @ 1pm—Full-contact soccer with a six-foot-tall ball. Thursday True Engineer—The Cheeze @ 4pm—Teams are given some basic supplies and one hour to engineer a device to perform a mystery task.
Arts Career Expo pacifies post-grad anxiety Ginny Monaco gmonaco@ubyssey.ca When Dr Gage Averill, Dean of Arts, gave his opening speech at Thursday night’s Arts Career Expo (ACE), he seemed to touch a nerve. “Anybody here whose parents ever asked ‘How are you going to make any money?’” Nervous laughter and several dozen raised hands followed. “I know that line,” he said. Averill, in many ways, embodies the changing attitudes of academia. His approach to the faculty follows the movement from “chalk talk” to a more discussion- and dialogue-based style of learning. It may be due, in part, to his unlikely past. Before he was thrust into the university, Averill made a living as a school bus driver, a tractor driver, handyman, espresso server, musician and “failed Time-Life book seller.” “Be open to accident,” he said. According to Carol Naylor, Associate director of Career Development, it’s a message that is particularly important for Arts students. “An Arts degree is, by definition, flexible,” she said. Naylor works for Career Services as part of the Center for Arts Student Services (CASS). She emphasized that, upon graduation, it is no harder for an Arts student to find a job than a student from any other faculty. “The challenges differ,” she admitted, “but there’s this myth
that an Arts degree is somehow less employable.” This “ less-t han” menta lity echoes the comments with which Averill opened ACE, and a long-held belief that a BA is not a valuable degree. UBC is part of the BC Post-Baccalaureate Survey, a research initiative that tracks post-secondary graduates two and five years out of university.
“The challenges differ, but there’s this myth that an Arts degree is somehow less employable.” Carol Naylor Career Services
“The stats show that in Arts, it’s no different,” said Naylor of the 2007 survey. “There are some differences—maybe a little less average salary two years out—but by five years out that gap isn’t as big. “One of the questions they ask is ‘To what level is what you’re doing now related?’ For Arts it shows that it is less related, but to me that doesn’t mean less satisfied or less rewarding. Arts students are out-scoring in terms of jobs satisfaction.”
A Maclean’s article dated November 18, 2010 noted a rise in budget cuts to the humanities in both the Canada and the US, partly as a way of diverting money to college curriculum and trade schools. Averill called these cutbacks “shortsighted and retrograde” and stressed that the pattern will not follow to UBC. “The increasing focus of this campus is on an Arts education that is more real-world, to use a tired phrase.” In an ACE panel ent it led “Why I hire BAs,” the word “experience” was thrown around a number of times. Carol Naylor echoed this importance. “I think of that old research term ‘necessary but not sufficient.’ The degree is not less than your experience, but without t hat experience, it’s not enough.” She pointed out that the Faculty offers several ways of facilitating this experience. Both the Arts Internship and Tri-Mentoring programs exist to provide practical knowledge and guidance within a selected field. While it’s best for students to involve themselves in co-curricular activities as early as possible, it’s never too late. “My sense is that students walk around with the feeling that there is a single mistake they can make that will doom their entire future,” Naylor said. “Every small decision you make has the potential to be a career decision.” U
Arts ≠ Dishwashing. Geoff Lister Photo Illustration/The Ubyssey
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games & comics philosophrenic, by rachael freedman
crossword
suscomic.com, by michael bround
Puzzles provided by bestcrosswords.com. used with permission.
sazaemon, by meiki shu
comicmaster, by maria cirstea
blundergrads, by phil flickinger (blundergrads.com)
Across 1. Group character 6. “Diana” singer 10. Iowa city 14. Cool! 15. Agitate 16. Commotion 17. Pub perch 18. Up and ___! 19. First king of Israel 20. Uncertainty 23. Halogen element 27. Bridge positions 28. Ladies of Sp. 29. Slanted 34. Capital city of Yemen 36. Difficult question 37. Baseball club 40. Reticent 43. Hot time in Paris 44. Vessel 45. Carried 46. Speaks 48. Dweeb 49. Pays to play 53. Stylish 55. Commodities 60. Hurler Hershiser 61. Observed 62. Demote 67. Eye layer 68. Part of Q.E.D. 69. Discourage 70. Breather 71. Big do 72. Long Down 1. Nav. officer 2. Hanoi holiday 3. Monetary unit of Vietnam solution
last ditch effort, by john kroes (lde-online.com)
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4. Siouan speaker 5. Gannet 6. Bedouin 7. Words of denial 8. Capital of the Ukraine 9. ___ mater 10. Baffled 11. Haunted house sounds 12. Something drawn out 13. Mends a shoe 21. Cry River 22. Ogle 23. Point in question 24. Praying figure 25. Move rhythmically 26. Golfer Aoki 30. Sudden burst 31. Rope used to guide a horse 32. Bendable twig, usually of a willow tree 33. Delt neighbor 35. Surprise attack 37. Seizes with teeth 38. Declares 39. Woman’s one-piece undergarment 41. Floor covering 42. Accent 47. Radical ‘60s org. 49. Love affair 50. Audacity 51. Forest makeup 52. Acclaim 54. Not hesitant 56. Between ports 57. Soft ball brand 58. Expensive 59. A big fan of 63. Fuzzy buzzer 64. Loss leader? 65. Sun talk 66. Directional ending
2011.01. 31/u byssey.ca /opinions/11
opinions
do you care? WRITE US A LETTER » feedback@ubyssey.ca
editorial Concerning the Engineers Engineering students are hairy-palmed troglodytes with less social intuition than graphing calculators. They make the Computer Science department look like charm school. Engineers wear bright red jackets so that other students can see them coming from a distance and take flight before the smell hits. It’s similar to the way lepers in the Old Testament days were forced to shout “unclean!” whenever in the company of the uninfected. And much like leprosy, the scent of an Engineer at close proximity can cause one’s nose to fall off. There was a time when printing the kind of libel you just read above in the Editorial section of The Ubyssey would push Engineers—or “Redshirts,”— to acts of revenge. Allan Fotheringham, an editor in the ‘50s who would go on to dominate the back page of Maclean’s, was abducted by members of the faculty for calling Engineers “uncouth louts.” He was chained to a clock in downtown Vancouver and had to be rescued by firemen. In the ‘60s, Michael Valpy—a senior writer for the Globe and Mail—was punished for similar crimes by being attached to a pillar in the Engineering building and forced to wear dunce cap. In the ‘70s, current Vancouver Sun writer Mike Sasges was thrown in a pool for criticizing the Engineers. It’s a time-honoured tradition: we mock the Engineers for being sexist, greasy-haired, slide-ruleclutching sub-humans. They exact some sort of physical revenge, like abducting head members of our staff or collecting all the issues on campus and burning them. The fact that The Ubyssey’s Coordinating Editor has yet to be abducted by Engineers this decade—this century, in fact— shows how far their faculty has fallen from its former glory. Not that we would ever encourage the Engineers to kidnap Justin McElroy (who can be found in The Ubyssey office most days of the week, wears a red NBC jacket, can be habitually seen clutching a bottle of Coke and usually catches the 99 B-Line home from the bus loop). But even if we did expressly suggest that the Engineers do such a thing, we would not fear the repercussions. After all, two years ago, the Engineers couldn’t even manage to suspend a VW bug from the Steel Worker’s Memorial Bridge. Last year, cowed, perhaps, by their previous failure, they didn’t even attempt such an escapade. You heard us right. They were so scared of failure, they didn’t even show up. Which begs the question: if they cannot manage such a paltry prank as the public planting of the Forestry beetle, then what do we, the all-powerful media, have to fear from them? In fact, it is questionable whether most Engineers are even capable of reading this editorial. Taking seven classes per term in maths and sciences, your average Redshirt does not get much exposure to English literature—or to the company of human beings capable of using words for the expression of complex thoughts or emotions. The scraps of the English language that UBC Engineers do manage to pick up during their undergrad years primarily come in the form of catbased internet memes and rejections from members of the opposite sex. Engineers should spend this week reflecting on what a sad shade of its former self their faculty has become and plan an act of havoc that will regain them a fraction of their departed glory. More likely, though, they’ll just hide in the Cheez (Hey, you’re getting a new social space! And only a decade after Arts and Science students did!) with their cheap beer and tiny population of female students—who are all dating guys in Arts. Enjoy E-Week, you sissies. U
The 80s: When Engineers would ransack our office without fear of repercussion. photo archive/the ubyssey
opinions
Our series of tubes is under attack! trevor record features@ubyssey.ca This last week, anti-government protests have rocked Egypt, leading to the government cutting off Egyptian internet and cell phone use on Thursday. As coverage of the events in Egypt continues, literally thousands of articles have zeroed in on this issue specifically. From China to Iran to Myanmar, government suppression of communication services has been met with dismay from those of us in Western countries. Quashing freedom of expression seems to strike a direct nerve to most in Canada, but our underlying assumption is that usage of the internet here is safe and unrestricted. What is it we value about openness of communication, and are those values going unchallenged? There are a number of ways, both subtle and direct, in which use of the internet is becoming less open. But here, it isn’t the government that is the direct cause. Proponents of net neutrality, for instance, complain of internet service providers (ISPs) supplying preferential access to websites, like Comcast does in the US by not counting access of NBC sites (which it partially owns) towards your data allowance. The concern is that as trends continue, ISPs may eventually begin to tighten bandwidth control to an extent that sites and applications approved by the company are the only ones effectively worth accessing. At the extreme end of the spectrum, certain
sites are locked off altogether: this has already occurred in the past, when Telus blocked subscriber access to a Telecommunications Workers Union website. More pressingly in the battle for net neutrality than outright censorship, however, is that our ability to use the internet may be further stymied by the introduction of metering, or usage-based billing (UBB), by ISPs. Essentially, in addition to your basic subscription to broadband it would require you pay extra for every byte you download or upload. Bell Canada, Rogers and Shaw are having their plans to switch to this model approved by the CRTC as we speak. Er, write. Beyond the claims made by some that this is just a money-grabbing scheme, what is the problem with this system? It would hamper our ability to communicate via the internet, of course. Think about the fundingstrapped media outlets—The Ubyssey included—whose ability to increase their production of video- and flashbased web content would be hampered by this model. How many would opt to not bother at all, leaving Canada in the dust when it comes to the internet? It also affects your ability to access that content. This isn’t just going to affect people using P2P networks to download films. Think about the kid growing up who wants to watch NOVA or the Discovery Channel online, but whose parents can’t afford that extra bit of bandwidth. The way we use the internet is gradually shaping our ability to communicate
with it, as well. In a polarizing feature last summer, Wired predicted the death of the “web,” referring specifically to web browsers, as the method through which we use the internet. Although web browser usage has continued to rise, as a total portion of web traffic it has been going down steadily since the early 2000s. Now the trend is moving to applications, like the ones on your iPhone. This isn’t a condemnation of iPhone applications. We at The Ubyssey have a fondness for quite a few. But now, rather than directly choosing the way we communicate with the internet, we are increasingly leaving it up to the people who control our apps to determine where we go. In effect, we are trading away range and ability for ease of use and convenience. Even our access to those apps is being directed. Normally, iPhone users are only able to install applications which appear on their iTunes web page. And Apple has attempted to resist the legalization of “jailbreaking” their iOS as an example of this. Jailbreaking, a process which allows users to switch their phone to other non-approved networks and install applications of their choosing, was recently upheld as a right in the US— much to Apple’s chagrin (in Canada, there still are no laws for or against jailbreaking). The Egyptian government’s decision to directly suppress access to modes of communication is condemable. However, in light of the uproar over their actions, we should keep in mind what really matters about those rights. U
Letters. We like them. Even when they’re not about the AMS. Especially when they’re not about the AMS. Make ‘em under 300 words and it’s even better. Send them to feedback@ubyssey.ca. And Engineers, if you can manage to string together five or six coherent sentences in a row complaining about us, we promise we’ll print that too. justin mcelroy | coordinating@ubyssey.ca
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our campus Justin McElroy coordinating@ubyssey.ca UBC not only hosted the 2011 Canada West swimming championships this weekend, they came away victorious. Both the men’s and women’s swim teams defeated t heir archrivals from Calgary in the three-day competition. UBC’s Savannah King, who was named Canada West Female Rookie of the Year, finished in first in the 400m freestyle with a time of 4:11:51. The CIS national championships will take place February 24-26 in Calgary. U josh curran photo/ the ubyssey