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gimme five: we break down what the proposed student fee increase means to you.
bosnian genocide denier dr Srdja ´ lecture Trifkovic’s sparks controversy on campus.
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$1550 / 1br - COAL HARB. VIEW 1 BEDROOM PLUS DEN/ SOLARIUM /OFFICE (CAN BE EXTRA BEDROOM ) 19th FLOOR FROM FEBRUARY 1ST; NEWLY RENOVATED , HARDWOOD FLOORS , STAINLESS STEAL APPLIANCES , IN SUITE LAUNDRY ; SWIMMING POOL , JACUZZI, SAUNA, MODERN GYM , PATIO , PARTY HALL , IN SECURE , CONCIERGE BUILDING ; STEPS TO BCIT , WATERFRONT SKY TRAIN , CONFERENCE CENTER , GAS TOWN, ETC. GORGEOUS MOUNTAIN AND COAL HARBOR VIEW ! STRICTLY N/S , N/P .REFERENCES A MUST . STUDENTS ARE WELCOME .. SORRY, NO PETS # 604 440 1756 # 604 440 1746( MESSAGES ONLY ) BETWEEN 12 00 P.M. AND 09 30 P.M.
$2995 / 2br - West End 2 Bed Furnished Condo 1 Block to Robson @ Palisades Address: #3051288 Alberni St, Vancouver Available: Now - fully furnished Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Flooring: carpets, tiles mixed Outdoor: large open patio Parking: 1 underground Deposits: half a month security deposit. Lease term: minimum 2 months stay. Pets: sorry not this one. Absolutely no smoking please. Included items: fully furnished from cutlery to linens, from TV to soap dispensers; fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave, and washer/dr yer; a lso includes, maid service, utilities, telephone, cable, and high speed internet. Not included: long distance telephone, additional cleaning & move-out clean. $1030 / 1br - Contemporary 1 bed. everything included This is an exceptionally well set up one bedroom aparment in a new building available right now. Everything is included: Utilities like radiant heat, hot water, electricity, cable, internet, one parking spot. Appliances include washer, dryer, stove, fridge. Separate entrance, nothing to share. Bus stop is across the street, very well connected to sky train lines. Pets are welcome. Meticulously clean, new paints, new blinds, modern full bathroom, new light fixtures, ... Please contact 604.521.6169 or 778.237.3369 or email back for further contacts. 8433 - 16 avenue (google map) (yahoo map) cats are OK - purrr dogs are OK - wooof Location: Burnaby it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests $1150 / 1br - Bright apartment with balcony & new appliances Vancouver Located in the West End, on the edge of Stanley Park yet walking distance to restaurants, shopping, amenities and transit. This bright and sunny 1 bedroom apartment with balcony overlooks the city. The apartment is features a new kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors, new granite countertops, dishwasher, vertical blinds, mirror closet doors, tile flooring and modern lighting fixtures. The building offers a professional on-site Resident Manager, a 24-hour laundry facility and gated parking is available. Heat and hot water is included. Sorry no pets. 1 year lease. For more information or to view, please call (604) 683-8578 . $1985 / 2br - Ross House: TwoBedroom Suite in Prime UBC Area (Chancellor Court) Features: 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom Chancellor Court consists of two 13 Storey Towers (Mackenzie House & Ross House) Prime UBC location Unfurnished suite with a spacious open balcony 3 appliances (fridge, stove, dishwasher) Secured, gated underground parking and building access Visitor parking available Well-equipped laundry facilities on site Quiet well-managed building with on-site resident managers Included in Rent: Heat, hot water and electricity Amenities: Indoor pool and sauna Policies: No Pets Minimum 1 year fixed lease
$1800 / 3br - 3 Bedrooms at the Mirada Spacious 1,389sqft. 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath townhouse in quiet interior location, excellent floor plan features 9Æ ceilings, gas f/p, 4 appliances, master bdrm has W/I closet, S/S garage with extra storage. Clubhouse includes fitness, games, and party rooms. Walking distance to all shopping, Schools, and Transit, only 2 blocks from Park & pool. n/s, n/p. Available Apr 30 - $1800/month **CREDIT CHECK WILL BE DONE** Denise Decary Property Manager and Realtor to Investors Worldwide Homelife Peninsula Property Management Condo and Townhouse Specialist 604-536-0220 (Office) 604-536-5699 (Fax) 604-7632242 (Cell) Denise@rentinfo.ca Follow me on Twitter to join in on showings! Website: www.rentinfo.ca Location: White Rock/South Surrey $1450 / 2br - Large (750 sq ft) suite 2 bedroom suite in an immaculately kept 3 story apartment block. Hardwood floors, laundry in the building, parking available. Located on a beautiful treed street very close to public transit and shopping.
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the ubyssey
Contact: Karlo 604-219-0370 or 604732-3166 AVAILABLE April 1 Location: 1555 W 13th Ave, Vancouver
$1700 / 2br - 2 Bath Sub Penthouse with two balconies Fabulous sub penthouse on the 34th floor - south facing corner 2 bedroom and 2 bath condo in the Levo - Floor Plan G1. Suite area is 1016 square feet and the total of the two balconies is 184 square feet. www.levoliving.com. This unit is different from all the rest with upgrades throughout. 10’ ceilings, hardwood floors in the living room and dining room, full laundry room and upgraded kitchen to stainless Bosch appliances. This bright corner unit on the 34th floor has spectacular views from two balconies, 1 parking, 1 storage locker, gas and hot water is included in the rent. Excellent neighbourhood and location - close to everything within a short walk to Coquitlam Centre, Pinetree Village, Douglas College David Lam Campus, restaurants and transit. No smoking. A small pet will be considered with a pet deposit. A 1 year lease is required, as are references and tenant’s insurance. Please email if you are interested and I will confirm a time to view. $1650 / 2br - Morgan Crossing Large 2 bedroom, 2 bath, approx 900 sqft. only 6 months old in the Urban Village, South Surrey. Beautifully finished open floor plan with stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, lots of closet space, fireplace, 1 parking and 1 locker. Richly stained hardwood laminate flooring throughout living, kitchen & dining areas. Shops are at your door, walk to everything. n/s, n/p Available Mar 10 - $1650/month **CREDIT CHECK WILL BE DONE** Denise Decary Property Manager and Realtor to Investors Worldwide Homelife Peninsula Property Management Condo and Townhouse Specialist
$1750 / 3br - White Rock Family Two level home, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1040 square feet upper, gas fireplace, hardwood & linoleum,
700 sq ft finished carpeted bsmt, culde-sac, private fenced large backyard, close to everything including the hospital, schools, shops. n/s, n/p. Available NOW - $1750/month **CREDIT CHECK WILL BE DONE**
$1300 / 1br - Newly renovated with balconies over looking beautiful ocean views Emerald $1300 1 bedroom w/ 3 balconies (West End) Discover this fantastic 1 bedroom apartment which has been completely renovated. Great West End location on a quiet street ╜ block from Stanley Park, close to shopping, transit, eateries and amenities. This spacious 1 bedroom suite features hardwood flooring, new kitchen appliances including dishwasher, new kitchen and bathroom granite countertops and cabinetry, new tile in kitchen and entry, vertical blinds, new light fixtures and mirror sliding closet doors. The suite has two balconies facing downtown Vancouver and the ocean. Professionally managed with indoor pool, and 24 hour laundry facilities. Gated underground parking available. Heating and hot water included. Sorry no pets. 1 year lease.
$900 / 2br - Basement Suite Available March 1, Large 2 bdrm above ground basement suite in the beautiful neighbourhood of Brookswood. Gas fireplace, shared laundry with direct access from suite and carport parking. ( sorry...no dishwasher ). Includes utilities. No smoking, cat okay. 43 (google map) (yahoo map) cats are OK - purrr Location: Brookswood, Langley
$1000 / 1br - Paddington Station Condo in Paddington Stn. complex in downtown Langley. Beautiful townhouse one bedroom plus den end unit, close to all the amenities in downtown Langley. Pricesmart, Starbucks, Liquor store, Casino and all the neat shops and restaurants are in walking distance from home. It measures 600 sq.ft. with a patio in front. Granite counter-tops throughout, stainless appliances double fridge, glass-top stove, dishwasher, solid wood cabinetry, garborator, shaw laminate floors, A/C, electric fireplace, in-suite washer/dryer, and one parking stall with availability for another. Utilities Included. n/s, n/p. Available Apr 1 - $1000/month $1000 Studio plus Den located in Kitsilano!!! Close to UBC, convenient transportation and shopping nearby. Street level entrance, cozy, high ceiling, hardwood floor, corner suite for added privacy. South facing patio from living room. Lovely Murphy bed on the wall. Electric heating system and gas fireplace. One year lease required. For viewing please contact Noble & Associates Realty at 604-264-1001 ext 418 or email rental@noblehomes.ca.
$1190 / 2br - Calera 2 Br + 2 bath Available immediately inner court yard facing 3 floor unit , 1 secured under ground parking spot & storage locker included . Facilities include Gym , Rec / Party room , elevator , court yard view Credit check & reference check required.
$1050 / 2br - Basement Suite with Separate Entrance Separate entrance 1000.sf 2 bedrooms
and 1 bathroom. Well carpeted area. It comes with : Fridge, Stove, Oven , Dish Washer In suite Laundry & Dryer Radiant Heat Cable and Internet included Close to Bus Stop No smoking inside - No pets 1050+ 1/3 utilities Ready to move
Insurance, Frogbox, GardenWorks, Co - operat ive Aut o Net work, Flu f f Furniture Rental, English Bay Bike Rental and Tippet-Richardson Moving and Storage.
in living and 2 bedrooms, & new tile floors in Kitchen & a brand new renovated bathroom.
dishwasher, fridge, stove/oven, and washer and dryer. Close to Hill High School, Save-on-food and Pacific Spirit Park. Great new neighborhood right by UBC. Large living room with great exposure, electric fireplace, open kitchen with plenty of cuboard space. functional layout, great for couples or singles. $1200 / 2br - two bedroom apartment suite on Vancouver west side Large two bedroom apartment suite on the second floor at Vancouver west side, Bright with nice layout. Hardwood floor throughout, new double-paned windows with screen. There is a living room, dining area, one kitchen, one full bathroom, and one balcony. Laundry facilities on each f loor in the building, and an elevator in the building. Located on a very convenient location;close to transits, Canada line station, schools(Laurier Elementary and Churchill Secondary) shops, etc. Easy access to Richmond, airport, UBC, downtown, etc. Lease can be flexible. $1200/month, Includes heating and hot water
FEBRUARY 24, 2011 volume 92, number xxxvi room 24, student union building published mondays and thursdays feedback@ubyssey.ca
in this area. Close to UBC and Down Town with buses every five min. Available for March the 1st . Rent is $2195 / month plus utilities. No pets No smok-
The Housing Supplement
$1000 / Stunning modern 1 bed condo @ Waterstone pool, gym, viewing 2pm Friday These apartments are beautifully designed with chic modern fittings. The apartments are spacious with an open plan concept living room and kitchen, large ceilings and a balcony. The modern features include laminate floor, marble counter tops, chrome appliances and plush carpet in the bedrooms. It is a brand new elegant space in a perfect location on 6440 194th Street. Each apartment comes with in-suite laundry, one parking space and one storage locker. This fabulous development the Waterstone has a calming peaceful place called the wellness centre which includes a lap pool, whirlpool, sauna, 17 media theatre, demonstration kitchen and wine bar and lounge with fireplace
$1850 / 4br - 4 bath View This lovely home has a panoramic view of the Fraser Valley and Mount Baker. Located close to 2 golf courses, parks, miles of trails and all level of schools. Hardwood floors in the kitchen and family room, stainless appliances, granite counters, high ceilings in the entry and living room. Spacious master bedroom with full ensuite. 5 minute drive to the West Coast Express, near Coquitlam Centre Mall, community and recreation centres. This is the upper part of the house as there is an occupied basement suite. Utilities are shared - 60% up and 40% down. They are not included in the rent. Utilities are heat, hot water, electricity and gas. No smoking. A 1 year lease, references and tenant’s insurance is required. A small pet will be considered - a pet deposit of 1/2 month’s rent would apply.
$3400 / 2br - Stunning 3 bed 2 bath fully furnished This is a stunning 3 bedroom 2 bathroom furnished property with modern highend furniture. It is 1137sf with laminate throughout and slate flooring in the kitchen. The kitchen has new appliances with an open concept large living area. There is a sectional sofa, flatscreen TV and high speed internet. The master bedroom is large, the second a good size with a queen size bed and the third a double. The condo benefits from floor to ceiling window, is situated on the 8th floor and comes with one parking space. There are fabulous amenities in the building, a good size swimming pool, whirlpool and gym. A great location at Cambie and Nelson close to boutiques, trendy cafes and restaurants. -Laminate floor -New stainless steel appliances -Pool / fitness room / Whirl pool -Modern furniture -High quality kitchen and bathooms Rent per month $3400 û available immediately
$1450 / 1br - Condo on Alberni Street Bright & spacious 1 bedr + DEN in highly respected concrete building The Lions(West Tower) Open floor plan, hardwood floor, contemporary open-style design kitchen fully equipped with all appliances (fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave, granite countertops) in suite laundry, wall mount dryer Storage locker, underground secure individual parking, 24 hr concierge A wide variety of exceptional amenities-- Fitness facilities, sauna, steam room, recreational center, media center, board room, conference room & guest suites 5 minutes’ walk to Coal Harbor; ideal for jogging/ biking to Stanley Park Robson street, restaurants, Urban Fare & banking district around the corner. $1450 / 2br - Two Bedroom Main Floor of house for Rent Two Bedroom main floor of house for rent.Hardwood floors in both bedrooms,dining room and front room.Kitchen and bathroom are both tiled.Wood Burning fireplace in front living room.Freshly painted and new blinds installed. Ample parking on street and in secure garage.Plenty of secure storage. Ten minute walk to new Canada Rapid Transit Line.Oak Street is a five minute walk.close to UBC and Langara also. Shared laundry and utilities with basement tenants .Very quiet area.Community Centre,pool ,parks and schools all nearby.N/P,N/S,References please.
$1020 / 2br - Brand New & Super Bright 2 BR Unit for Rent 600sqft, 1-full Bath, Kitchen with appliances, Front Load Washer and Dryer, Cable TV, High Speed Internet, Water, Grund Radient Heating, and Electricity, all included. Shared indoor garage and storage. South Burnaby near Royal Oak SkyTrain station, Metrotown, library, Community center, etc. Quiet neighborhood, private entrance; Ideal for a couple; No pet, No smoking.
$1180 / 2br - Unfurnished 2BR or 1BR plus den Safe, Beautiful, Quiet & Convenient location Basement suite with High Ceilings & Sound Proof Insulation ***There is no separate living room or dining room *** Features: Brand new Top quailty Stainless Steel appliances & Granite counter-top Brand new top quality LG front load Washer & Dryer Full private washroom Included all Utilities, HD cablevision & High speed internet Front & backyard are fenced in by beautiful & sculptured bushes & ivy Separate private entrance and lots of free parking Location: Only a few minutes walk to bus routes & Rupert Street Skytrain station for UBC, SFU, Downtown & Metrotown Within walking distance to Starbuck, Renfrew Community Centre, Wallmart, Superstore & Canadian Tire Requirements No smoking, No pets, Clean, Responsible and Friendly. $700 / 1br - Furnished 1 bdrm ground floor suite Short-term rental: 1 or two month. AVAILABLE March 1st or 15th till end of April of 2011. Very bright and spacious (approx. 650 sq/ft) one bedroom suite with SEPARATE ENTRANCE (on the ground floor). 2 blocks away from bus stop. 10 minutes bus ride to SFU. Close to BCIT, SFU and Downtown. 135 and 129 bus available. Furnished with: - dinning table and chairs - 32” TV and TV stand (basic cable included) and coffee table - Kitchen: fridge, oven, range hood, microwave, double sink, and some dishes and utencils (sorry, no dishwasher available) - 1 queen size mattess - full laundary shared with landlord living upstairs - full bathroom - all utilities and wireless internet included.
$975 / 2br - basement suite available now 2-bedroom basement suite available now. boundary of Burnaby and Vancouver. Walking distance to BCIT, bus stops, shops/starbucks, 7-11, and easy access to Highway 1. Utilities included. Shared Washer/Dryer. No smoking, No pets allowed. Require security deposit and reference check. Street parking available. Please contact 778-397-1744 for inquiries.
$6500 / 7br - South Vancouver Well-Maintained House Well maintained home in popular S. Granville. Sits on a level 64.7x143.9’ lot. Beautiful street appeal. Impressive grand entrance with double height ceiling. Main floor features entertainment sized living & dining room, private den looking out to the mature garden; gourmet western kitchen, family room & guest room. Total of 7 bdrms (6 ensuites) & 7.5 baths. 4 bdrms up, 1 on main and 2 in basement. Basement has a big recreation room, sauna & hot tub. Hot water radiant heating, security system, 4 car garage. Maple Grove Elementary & Magee High School. A perfect home for your growing family. $1850 / 1br - PENTHOUSE Heat and hot water is included. Double pane windows with screens. Locker storage and laundry (smart card) facilitis on main floor. Parking - extra $25.00 per month. Convenient location - HarwooSt. and Thurlow St. Close to transit. 5 minutes to Davie St., shopping, Shopper’s Drug Mart, restaurants and night clubs. 30 minute walk to Granville Island Public Market. Walking distance to Sunset Beach and Park, Nelson Park and Stanley Park, and Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Close to St. Pau l ’s Hospita l and Vancouver Dental Clinic. 15 - 25 minute walk to Arts Club Theatre, Fifth Ave. Cinema and Vancouver Art Gallery. 15 - 20 minute walk to Oxford College, Universal College of Language, and Vancouve Film School. 40 minutes to UBC by transit (# 2 and # 99.) $1200 / 2br - 1.5 Baths @ 1460 W. 73rd Ave. 2 BD - 1.5 BATHS - Spacious north-east facing 2nd floor corner suite. Rent: $ 1,200.00 Available: Now Heat, hot water included. In-suite video monitored front entrance. Gated underground parking. Laundry facilities on each floor. Marpole location Granville St. and 73rd Ave., across from the park. Walking distance to shopping, Safeway, restaurants and library. Close to transit, Canada Line. Easy access to Richmond and airport. Close to UBC, Langara College and Downtown Vancouver. “1 Year Lease.” Sorry, no pets.
$1150 / 1br - Bright and sunny 1 bedroom apartment with renovations Brig ht a nd su n ny 1 bed room apa r t ment w it h reno vat ions. This spacious 1 bedroom su it e w it h spec t ac u la r mou nt a i n views features hardwood f looring, new kitchen appliances including dishwasher, tile f looring in kitchen and bat hroom, mirror closet doors, vertical blinds and modern light fixtures. The building is located steps from shops, restaurants, amenities, transit and English Bay. You love the Ubyssey. The bui lding has professiona l on-site Resident Managers, a 24 hour laundry facility and gated parking is available. Heat and hot water is included. In addition, as a Hollyburn resident, you get to enjoy exceptional savings from our value added partners to include Safeway, Costco, Shaw Cablesystems, Falkins
$950 / 1br - 3rd floor apartment for March Maintained to the best of standards 1 bdrm apartment for $950 close to kits beach, shopping along broadway and easy to transit to ubc or downtown. The suite has hardwood flooring, balcony, one parking is provided as well as cablevision, hydro and heating costs. $1500 / 2br - Large ground floor suite A bright 2 bedroom ground floor suite with 8’ high ceilings is available for rent immediately. The suite is approx. with 1,000 sqft with its own entrance. near 21st Avenue and Dunbar Street, close to public transit (#7, #32, #33, & #16) and Dunbar shops, Restaurants, and Community Centre/Library. Close to UBC, St. George school, Lord Byng Secondary and Kitchner Elementary school. New laminate floors
$1225 / 1br - Highbury - 1 Bdm Apts Available Immediately Beaut ifu l ly t reed and landscaped three-storey apartment building is located in Kitsilano at 6th and Highbury (Alma). 1 bedroom apartment on ground floor, 650 sq.ft., patio with privacy, available immediately and March 1st. Stove, fridge & dishwasher included Close to shopping (No Frills Supermarket), transit, UBC, 10 minutes to downtown & a few blocks from Jericho beach. Rent includes hot water, heat & storage, new coin-operated laundry onsite, small pets ok.
$780 Large bachelor suite on Vancouver west side Bright and large bachelor suite on Vancouver west side. Third floor, new hardwood floor, nice layout. with dining area, a kitchen, a full bathroom, a balcony. Laundry facilities in the building, close to transits, new Canada Line station, easy access to Richmond, airport, UBC, Downtown. $780/month, include heating and hot water, lease can be flexible call 778-861-9037 to view the suite.
$1420 / 2br - Spacious 2BR Garden suite One block to trendy Main Street and King Ed., bus routes to Canada Line, Downtown, UBC, VGH and Airport. Recently renovated, comfortable, clean, spacious ( 965 sq ft) 2 BR Garden unit in a heritage house. Big windows in unit and an open concept living room, kitchen and dining area. A beautiful fireplace, Brazilian Cherry flooring in living room. 2 bedrooms are on each end of the suite for total privacy. Coin operated laundry room and lots of storage space. Shared utilities, NO pets, NON smokers, ease and reference required. $2800 / 3br - Stunning, fullyreno’d top 2 floors of heritage house Be the first to live in this beautifully-renovated, light-filled, 3-bedroom home on the top two floors of a 1910 heritage home in Cambie Village. Approximately 1,300 sq. ft. with separate entrance and utilities. This area is the most central location in Vancouver and one of the most charming and friendly neighborhoods. Great schools. Eric Hamber catchment. Suite has been insulated and all appliances are energy star rated. Bedrooms are all on the large size with room for (at least) queen bed, dressers, desk and more. All bedrooms have closets and suite has many other extra storage options. Gas hot water, gas fireplace and electric heating. Unfurnished, Shortterm (6 months minimum) or 1 year lease available: $2,800./per month plus uitilities. Possible to rent semifurnished. Work and credit ref’s req’d. Absolutely no smoking (inside or outside). Preferred no pets. $1999 / 2br - Large 2 bedroom, one office, one den! Over 700 sqft! Amazing luxury, incredible view condo for rent in the best building in the downtown core, access to the Skytrain and Pacific Center mall from the building, as well as Steve Nash gym, Tim Hortons, Starbucks, and the Liqour store! Buil ing is pet friendly, as well as has a free gym to use! Very high floor sub penthouse level.... Serious inquires only.
$950 / 2br - New Basement Suite Basement suite in a new home, custom built, laminate floors, granite counter tops, designer bathroom and kitchen. Located on Worthington Drive- near 22nd Avenue, approx 750 sq feet. 2 bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. Clean and quiet neighbourhood, walk-in distance to Rupert Skytrain Station. Convenient location, short distance to Renfrew Community Centre, transit and Superstore. Separate entrance in the back of the house. Parking on street. Nearby Bus# 25 UBC/Brentwood route, takes you to Nanaimo Skytrain station, UBC and Brentwood Mall. 2 Bed - 2483 Yew @ Broadway Vancouver Large 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms located on the 5th floor - approx 1017 square feet All NEW kitchen appliances ‘Fridge, Stove, Dishwasher & Built in Microwave’ Washer Dryer, Gas Fireplace New Laminate Flooring and new paint Great Location with IGA & London Drugs just across the street and on the UBC bus line No pets, Lease Required $1900 per month + $50.00 move in fee $1100 / 1br - Newly decorated furnished 1 br basement suite Newly decorated furnished 1 bed room basement suite in nice house (Cambie St. and King Edward Ave.) Available late March or early April 2011. Close to King Edward Cambie Line Station, No. 25 buses to UBC and No. 15 buses to downtown vancouver and Langara college. Quiet and safe neighbourhood. Private entrance. Includes cable, wireless internet and utilities. Full kitchen and bathroom plus own laundry facilities. Bed room has 2 single beds. Suitable for reliable working person or mature college/university student. No smoking, drinking, pets, drugs and parties. Prefer 1 year lease. Good credit references required. if interested please reply with detailed personal details. $1500 / 1br - Brand New 1-bedroom plus den at UBC!! South facing brand new apartment with the view of the court yard, private back area separated by water. Carpet in living room and bdroom, tiles throughout the rest of the area. Stainless steel appliances
$860 STUDIO FOR RENT ON OAK & 17th Bright, spacious and clean studio available for rent from March first. Excellent location, close to VGH, local stores and transit with easy access to downtown and UBC. This unite is on the main floor facing East with patio, blinds, carpet and dishwasher. Rent includes heat and hot water . In the building we have a coin operated laundry and available underground parking ($40.00/month). Sorry no pets and no smoking.
ing One year lease
$500 BMT for Rent Large Furnished room (800 sq ft) with basement for rent! Second away from Number 1 highway. Excellent for students and workers. (One to Three people, each person above 3 costs $80/month) Traditional people without smoking. Close to Shopping Mall, Sky train, Vancouver Arts Institution, VCC, Douglas College, UBC, SFU, 99-B line, 88. $500/ month + 20%Utilities. or $60/night. (two electric stoves) No Sharing with other people. It is all yours except for laundry. Tenants have access to carport parking. Laundry, internet and cable included! Available on Feb! * Ideal for students* Min 1 year contract. Shower Bath. Please call 6042150821. $2600 / 4br - K ERR ISDA LE 4 Bed+Den - Utilities INCLUDED This is for a 4 Bedroom PLUS Den/Office in the heart of Kerrisdale! A beautiful, quiet, safe and convenient area. This is the TOP floor of a Duplex, (only 2 units, top and bottom), approx. 1500 sq feet. 1 and 1/2 baths, deck off the kitchen, and own yard. Very nice laminate flooring throughout, fairly updated kitchen. Dishwasher, en-suite Laundry (NOT SHARED), new ceramic cooktop stove and new fridge. Very close to UBC, Crofton House and St. George’s. Short walk to Kerrisdale village, and the bus stop is very close. This is 4 bedrooms, plus den, for $2600.00 including utilities. Available March 1st.
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$1750 / 1br - Brand New Large 1 Bedroom Condo over 725 sqft! Brand New 1 Bedroom Condo with Flex Space and Enclosed Balcony totalling over 725 square feet. Other features include living room, dining area, high end stainless steel appliances, ensuite laundry and one underground parking spot. This great property is available immediately on a 1 year lease. Sorry no smoking and no pets. The Waterloo is a recently completed, brand new 16-unit apartment building located in the highly desirable Kitsilano neighbourhood at the corner of West Broadway and Waterloo. This location offers close proximity to public transit, shopping, dining and entertainment. Only 5 minutes from UBC and the beach and 10 minutes to Downtown. Lets make a deal. Call for details on our tenant incentive program being offered.
$750 Bachlor suite available March 1st Basement bachlor suite available March 1st in Point Grey (14th Ave. between Trimble and Discovery). Clean, furnished, separate garden entrance, street parking available. Laundry shared with landlords upstairs. Walking distance to Pacific Spirit Park, 10th Ave. shops, UBC, and the beach. Furniture includes a new bed with good mattress (no bedbugs!), bought two months ago, new microwave and new full-sized fridge. Wireless internet and utilities included. Full bathroom. Please no pets or smokers. Please reply by email. Available this weekend and evenings for showings. $1000 / 1br - Bright, modern Avail March 1st 1 bedroom basement suite in Shaughnessy located very close to Children’s Hospital. Private entrance, shared laundry, laminate floors and a full bathroom with a tub. Open concept kitchen and living room with a gas fireplace. There is also a designated parking spot. No smoking. The suite is most suitable for 1 person with NO pets. Easy transportation to UBC, and Downtown. Utilities are extra and are shared with other suite in house. Please reply via email or phone 604733-1313 to view the suite $1850 2BD/2BATH CONDO This is a two bedroom, two bathroom condo of over 960 square feet which has an outside entrance. The fully equipped kitchen has stainless appliances, new granite counter tops and updated cabinets, plus all cookware, dishes, cutlery etc. There are hardwood floors throughout, gas fireplace, in suite laundry, plus a large balcony with barbecue. It is fully furnished and completely move-in ready, master has a new queen bed, other bedroom a single which is optional. Non smokers, no pets. It is a five minute walk to the beach, two minutes to bus stops, five minutes from shops, and 10 minutes by bus to UBC or downtown. I am looking for a renter who will be responsible and who would like to stay for a few months. This condo is available from the first of March onward All utilities are included: heat, light, cable TV, wireless internet.
$2195 / 3br - Kitsilano Main floor of house ha r dwood floors and high ceilings Main floor of a Kitsilano house with three big and bright bed rooms that have high ceilings.Big kitchen with dinning area. There is a sun deck off the kitchen in the back of the house with lots of yard space. There are 5 appliances with laundry and storage in the basement. Located on the corner of 5th and Dunbar close to the beach with good shopping
$1150 / 2br - Two Bedroom Suite w/ Private Entrance Basement suite in the Cedar Cottage/Kensington area (East Vancouver). Suite is approximately 800 sq ft, with two bright, south-facing bedrooms. Rent is $1150, and you will share heat and hydro with the upstairs tenants. Laundry is also shared. Available March 1. We are looking for clean, quiet, and responsible tenant(s), with a maximum of two tenants living in the suite (or a small family). No smoking inside or on the property, and no pets. $1195 / 1br - Fully Furnished, Very Clean A very clean and fully furnished, self-contained, small BSMTsuite, located at Queen Elizabeth Park area. The suite Is available from May 1st. It is furnished, including DVD, TV, linen, towels, kitchen utensils etc.: ready to move in. Nearby public transportation to Down Town, UBC, Langara and more. The suite can be rented for periods of 1 months and longer, although price might be higher for short periods. Will fit a single or a young couple. If you are interested - please tell us about yourself, including the dates that you are lookig to rent, where will you be coming from and for how many people. No pets and no smoking, sorry.
$650 Furnished Room Clean quiet cozy main floor furnished room in character home 1/2 block east of Main Street on 22nd Avenue Conveniently close to Bus Routes going to downtown, UBC and Langara Lots of coffee shops, restaurants, pizza, burger joints and thrifty markets here Rent is $650 per month includes all utilities, wireless internet except cable Suitable for one single responsible quiet person NON SMOKER NO PETS Security Deposit and References Required $550 / 1br - Housekeeping unit Housekeeping room available March 1, 2011 in a wonderful character home in prime Shaughnessy location. Walking distance to South Granville shops, Arbutus Meinhardts and on bus route to UBC. Has kitchenette but bathroom is shared. Utilities (heat and electricity) are included in monthly rent of $550. Call Elmar at 604.716.8080 for an appointment to view. $1900 / 3br - 3221 West 41st Avenue Cute and clean Kerrisdale bungalow at the corner of Balaclava and West 41st. Great location close to UBC. Fleshly painted and new blinds. Lovely hardwood floors throughout t the large living room, dining room and two of the good sized bedrooms. The third bedroom is carpeted and has an ensuite bath with shower stall. Taint. The second bath is nice an clean with a tub, shower combo. Appliances include fridge, stove washer and dryer. Pet ok. Priced to rent fast! $1700 New and Nice Apt on UBC Campus UBC brand new huge , bright ,quiet and south facing 1 bedroom and 1 den (may use as a bedroom ) with 2 baths on second floor in prestigious South Campus area. Steps away from the new U-Hill Secondary and “Save-On-Food.”
$1975 / 2br - Be the first to rent at the Mews – UBC Campus Introducing Mews, an exceptional collection of 72 sophisticated 1 and 2 bedroom unfurnished, pet friendly rental suites nestled in the heart of Wesbrook Place, UBC. Please visit the Wesbrook Discovery Centre at 3345 Shrum Lane, UBC or livethemews.ca for more information and to schedule an appointment to visit our show suite. Bedrooms: 1 + den and 2 bedroom suites available Bathrooms: 2 Pet Friendly: Yes (with Restrictions) Non Smoking Building Available: February 1, 2011 Rental Rates: Starting at $1795 per month for 1 br + den, $1975 for 2 br 2 bath. $700 / 1br - 1 bedroom basement suite near Canada Line King Edward station Small one bedroom basement suite on west 27th Ave. near cambie street. Include cable, wireless internet and utilities No.33 and No.25 buses to UBC, No.3 and No.15 buses to Downtown Vancouver. Minutes to Canada Line King Edward station Please note that there’s no parking
space available. For more information, please call Susan at 778-892-0803. $1100 / 2br - Renovated 2 bedroom basement suite Renovated 2 bedroom basement suite for rent. Suite has fridge, stove and fully carpeted. Suite is close to Langara college, oakridge mall, bus routes to ubc, Richmond and Downtown. Rent is 1100 which includes utilities. Sorry no pets. $3550 Three Bedroom House for Rent Three bedroom two level house for rent in Point Grey. Minutes to UBC and walking distance to schools. Two bedroom mainfloor with one bathroom. One bedroom basement suite with one bathroom and a seperate kitchen for basement. Both floors have seperate living rooms. Extra large garage and fenced yard for privacy. Fully renovated house with new flooring, appliances and cabinets. The house is vacant and will be able to show at short notice. $925 / 2br - Beau t if ul New House-Close to skytrain station New, bright and clean 2 bedroom on main floor. Very convenient location that is 2 minutes walk to 29th Ave. Skytrain station. 10min to Downtown and Metrotown. Other transportation to UBC, BCIT. Close to shopping. $925 including utilities, cable, and internet. Available March 15.
$1750 / 2br - Fully Furnished Apartment Fully furnished 2BR, 1.5 Bath apartment available March 25, 2011 for short or long term rent in one of the best areas in North Vancouver, BC. One queen size bed, two single beds. Sleeps 5 +. Everything is included - Cable, Internet, Local Tel. Fully equipped kitchen. Close to everything - only 3 min. walking distance to Lonsdale Quay and all shops and boutiques. Two bus stop stations close by. Great to have your friends ot in-laws in Vancouver for a visit. NO PETS, NO SMOKING $900 / 1br - Beautiful New 1br suite in East Van New 1 bedroom basement suite in East Van, between 1st and Hastings and just east of Nanaimo. Brand new suite in a family home. South-facing and very bright. Deep soaker tub. New appliances and full kitchen. Lots of closet space and storage. Cork floors. Shared laundry. Backyard with possible access to garden for growing vegetables. 15 min walk to the Drive. Also 10 min from cafes on Hastings. Very close to bus routes on Nanaimo and Hastings. Heat and electricity included.
$965 Spacious 1 bedroom Character Apt. This charming 2nd floor apartment is in a quiet small building. The suite has big new windows, hardwood floors, original tile countertops in kitchen, laundry facilities in building, secure parking garage, close to beaches, Davie Street, downtown, English Bay, Stanley Park and Kitsilano. Quiet neighbourhood. Available March 1st.
$1575 / 2br - 2-Bedroom Garden Suite in heart of Kitsilano Bright 2-bedroom Garden Suite in a striking Kitsilano character home with walkout access to a beautifully landscaped backyard. Bathroom was partially renovated recently. Large living room, and dinning nook open to the kitchen. Both bedrooms are a large with a cottage feel built-in wardrobe in one of the bedrooms. Berber Ca rpet s t h roug hout w it h cera m ic tiles in Kitchen and Bath. Suite has private covered patio area leading into the shared backyard. Approximately 900 sq. ft. $1800 / 1br - Entire floor of character house in Kitsilano Enjoy the 1,049 sf living space that takes up the entire 2nd floor of this newly renovated 1 bedroom suite in a true character house with great views of English Bay. Comes with a storage shed and 1 parking stall with lots of street parking. Shared laundry with 2 other units. This unit has been completely renovated from top to bottom while keeping the distinct heritage feel intact. New appliances/fixtures/ carpet, hardwood and paint. Asking $1,800 per month. available immediately. Utilities included $1500 / 2br - Two bedroom renovated suite Immediate occupancy, one year lease with option to extend. Beautiful area of Kits. Street parking. About 700 square feet. Open floor plan between kitchen, dining area and living room. Ensuite master bedroom. Second bedroom near three piece bathroom. Both bathrooms newly renovated. Carpeted throughout except in kitchen and near front and back doors. Newly renovated kitchen contains fridge, microwave, dishwasher and new electric stove. Backdoor leads to shared laundry, secure storage facility and an enclosed garden. Rent excludes ulitities and laundry where costs are shared.
2 / u b y s s e y. c a / e v e n t s / 2 0 11 . 0 2 . 2 4 february 24, 2011 volume xcii, no xxxvi editorial
events
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contributors Ben Cappellacci Gordon Katic Rachel Silver Halle Hui Kelsea O’Connor Charles To Michael Chung Karina Palmitesta
Kait Bolongaro Claire Eagle Mike Dickson Pierce Nettling Andrew McCarthy Hazel Hughes Mandy Ng Will McDonald
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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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, northeast corner). For more info email resourcegroups.ams@gmail.com.
Ilsoo Kyung McLaurin art exhibit: The Beauty of Nature • With
references to the tradition of landscape painting that captures the beauty of the land and trees, Kyung’s art pieces have a surrounding landscape that serves as a backdrop to her daily life within her adopted homeland of Canada. However, through her works, she also illustrates the darker side of the landscape, confronting the troubling aspects of environmental pollution that threaten nature. • Runs until Feb. 26, artwork featured in Irving K Barber foyer and Ike’s Café gallery.
thursday, feb. 24 Spartacus Youth Club Class Series • The Vancouver Trotskyist
League presents their second Spartacus Youth Club class discussion: Egypt After Mubarak. • 6:30pm, SUB Room 42V, call (604) 687- 0353 or email trotskyist_vancouver@shawcable.com for more information. Discover Dance! Lorita Leung Chinese Dance Company • The
Lorita Leung Chinese Dance Company is recognized by China as North America’s leading Chinese dance performing group. They will be showcasing the astonishing diversity and beauty of Chinese dance in the next edition of The Dance Centre’s popular Discover Dance! noon hour series. From the poise and control of the classical style to the exuberance of ethnic folk dances, the company will trace a journey through Chinese art, culture and traditions. There will also be a question-andanswer session with the dancers. • 12pm, Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St (at Granville), $10, $8 students, seniors and children. Go to ticketstonight.ca. [title of show] • [title of show]
is Broadway’s newest, hilarious cult hit musical and is making its Western Canadian premiere in Vancouver. Best friends Hunter and Jeff decide to write a musical starring themselves and their wacky and sassy ladyfriends Heidi and Susan. • Runs until Feb. 26, Mon.–Fri. 8pm, Sat. 2pm and 8pm, Arts Club Revue Stage, 1585 Johnston St, Granville Island. $25, call (604) 629-8849 or go to vancouvertix.com to reserve.
Q&A with Minister Lynne Yelich • UBC Campus Conservatives
are holding a Q&A with Minister Lynne Yelich and Conservative candidate Wai Young. Free pizza will be provided. • 7pm, Hillel House, north of the SUB.
friday, feb. 25 ubc libertarian club discussion • UBC Libertarian Club
proudly presents a discussion event regarding the WikiLeaks controversy. Speakers Anthony Mayfield and Paul Geddes, President of the BC Libertarian Party, will be discussing Wikileaks, a non-profit organization that releases confidential documents to the public
from anonymous news sources. Discussions will be held afterwards on issues like freedom of speech, national security and rights of the press. Your opinion is welcomed. • 5 – 6:30pm, Room 203, Buchanan A, free.
four individuals of mixed Chinese and Aboriginal ancestry: Lil’wat elder Judy Joe, Musqueam elder Howard Grant and siblings Jordie and Hannah Yow. Screening time: 22 min. • 1– 3pm, Museum of Anthropology, $14/$12 + HST.
L aughter on the 2 3 rd Floor •
monday, feb. 28
The annual medical school play will be Laughter on the 23 rd Floor by Neil Simon. Inspired by Simon’s early career as a junior writer for a variety comedy show, it portrays the manic antics of a group of comedy writers as they struggle with their show’s inevitable cancellation. • Runs until Feb. 25, 8–11pm, Medical Student and Alumni Centre, 2750 Heather St. $12 students, $15 non-students, e-mail medplaytickets@ gmail.com to purchase.
the pillowman • UBC Players’ Club presents The Pillowman. Katurian, a writer in an unidentified authoritarian state, becomes the prime suspect in a series of child murders when the police notice similarities between his violent stories and the deaths they are investigating. The Pillowman takes a look at violence, abuse and the influence of art in the modern world without trepidation. • Runs until Feb. 26, 7:30pm, Dorothy Somerset Studios. $5 members, $8 students, $10 non-students, tickets can be reserved by emailing productions@ubcplayersclub. com or at the door 30 mins before the show. engineers without borders wine and cheese • EWB will be
showcasing a brighter side of Africa through music, pictures, stories, speakers and possibly dancers. Proceeds from tickets sales, wine sales, the silent auction and raffle ticket sales will go towards the funding required to send two junior fellows to one of four countries in Africa this coming summer. • 7–9pm, Global Lounge and Resource Centre, Marine Drive Bldg 1.
sunday, feb. 27 Film Screening & Director’s Talk: Cedar & Bamboo • Join
Diana Leung and Kamala Todd for a screening and talk about their insightful film, which explores intercultural and communit y relations bet ween
va nc ou v er 2 0 10 a nni v ers ary gaming part y • Relive the
2010 fun on the anniversary of the closing of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games. Play on gaming systems, enjoy snacks and win prizes! • 10am– 4pm, UBC Bookstore.
thursday, mar. 3 Carnival in Jacmel • Didier
Civil is a celebrated Haitian painter and papier-mâché artist, and the founding director of an art school in Jacmel, one of the towns devastated by the recent earthquake and cholera outbreak. He will show projections of masks and costumes from the repertoire of Haitian carnival and talk about the history of carnival and its art forms. His visit to UBC is co-sponsored by the Department of Art History, Visual Arts and Theory and the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. • 5 – 6:30pm, Coach House, Green College, email gc.events@ubc.ca or call (604) 822- 8660 for more information.
english majors: ice cream social • This event is for English
majors and potential English majors (especially second year). Alumni from the program have been invited to speak about their experiences in the work force and also discuss internship opportunities. • 4–6pm, Room 261, Irving K Barber.
friday mar. 4 ubc symphonic orchestr a •
Guest Conductor for this concert is Roman Brogli-Sacher, Chief Conductor and Opera Director of the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Theatre Lübeck, Germany. This concert also features a new work by UBC composition student Eileen Padgett and piano soloist Bogdan Dulu, winner of the 2011 UBC Concerto Competition. • 8–10pm, Chan Centre, free.
2 011 . 0 2 . 2 4 / u b y s s e y. c a / n e w s / 3
News
editor ARSHY MANN » news@ubyssey.ca assistant editor KALYEENA MAKORTOFF » kmakortoff@ubyssey.ca SENIOR WRITER MICKI COWAN » mcowan@ubyssey.ca
Serbian speaker accused of hate speech Bosnian students concerned about lecture by controversial academic Srdja Trifković Micki Cowan mcowan@ubyssey.ca “Islamophobic.” “Bosnian Genocide denier.” These are just two of the labels that Ana Komnenić, a 4th year International Relations major at UBC and a Bosnian-Canadian, used to describe Dr Srdja Trifković. Trif ković, whose lecture at UBC is being sponsored by the Serbian Students Assocation (SSA), has some students concerned about what they consider hate speech targeted at Bosnians and Muslims. Aside from being employed by BBC and The Washington Times and holding professor positions at universities around the world, he also worked as an advisor for former President of Republic Srpska, Biljana Plavšić, who was tried and convicted as a war criminal after the Bosnian war. When Komnenić heard of the event, she immediately contacted university administration and sent numerous messages to the SSA requesting information. “I was blocked from the [Facebook] group and my comment deleted,” she said. When asked about the concern that some opinions might be stifled at the event, the president of the SSA, Rastko Stanisavljević, said that “I can assure you that Ms. Komnenić should not be worried about any issues of stifling of opinion, because the security
Photo courtesy of balkenstudies.org
presence that we likely will have there is precisely there to ensure that respectful dialogue is held as outlined by the letter that we received from Dr Toope’s associate.” The letter emphasizes respectful dialogue, saying that, “for a university, anything that detracts from the free expression of ideas is just not acceptable.” Chad Hyson, executive co-ordinator of the office of the VP Students, said that he is not aware of a speaker being cancelled in the past due to a controversial viewpoint. “This isn’t the first
time that the UBC community has had speakers who’ve been outspoken and whose views have been controversial,” he said, noting Norman Finkelstein’s lecture in October 2010. He encouraged students who are against the views of a particular speaker to voice their concerns and attend the event to engage in respectful debate. Komnenić was uncertain just how respectful the event would be. “I don’t see how this is respectful dialogue, because it seems like they’re trying to cover up who this guy really is,” she said.
Komnenić said that there should be someone to monitor UBC speakers and complaints like hers. “I think that clubs have a lot of liberty to invite whoever they want, but I think it’s sort of on the clubs to be cautious and respectful and careful about who they invite and who that could offend,” she said. “Of course, a lot of speakers will be controversial, I know that, but I think there is a line that needs to be drawn.” This line, she said, should fall under the purview of an administrative board created for the purpose of evaluating speakers. If the lecture does not get cancelled, Komnenić hopes a letter will be sent to Trifković warning him about Canada’s laws against hate speech, as well as assurance from the SSA that she would be welcome to voice her opinion at the event. Stanisavljević does not see a need for the university to change its policy on speakers. “I think the outline made it clear how to organize respectful dialogue,” he said. “I think that a university should be a place of free speech, and ultimately that anyone is able to voice their opinions as long as they do so in a respectful manner and allow the other party to engage them.” The event has been approved by the university and will be held on Thursday, Feb 24th at Swing Space 222 from 5-7:30pm. U
Second years click and kick to a world record Arshy Mann news@ubyssey.ca Four UBC students are hoping their soccer stamina on the small screen will earn them a place in the record books. Rene Rinfret, Jamie Tang, Gerome Louie and Anesu Mutangadura spent a grueling 36 hours in the Vanier Commonsblock shooting, sliding and scoring on FIFA Soccer 2011 in an attempt to break the world record for longest session spent playing the Electronic Arts game. “I attended the Student Leadership Conference and I saw The Buried Life…and I was really inspired to…get a world record,” said Rinfret, who came up with the idea for the attempt. The four second-year students, who all lived in Place Vanier last year, play outdoor, controller-free soccer either on club teams or through UBC Rec. But beginning 8am Saturday morning, they took their talents from the field to the sofa, slogging through 63 games before finishing at 4:30pm Sunday afternoon. “The hardest time, I would say, was around 8 or 9 am. That stretch to noon was really hard for me. I was about to fall asleep, but my friends just kept nudging me,” said Rinfret.
NEWS BRIEFS Israeli-Palestianian strife hits Carleton University Student Union
WATERLOO, Ont. (CUP)—The denial of motions proposed by the Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA) at the Carleton University Student Association (CUSA) caused a mob of nearly 100 students to bang on the walls and begin chanting slogans loudly in disapproval. The three recommendations the SAIA was trying to get passed were in regards to CUSA’s pension, which had been invested in companies that were in violation of international law in Palestine. Though the night’s events are somewhat in question, Reem Buhaisi, member of SAIA, assured that SAIA’s goals for the meeting were met and the group was pleased with the results, which will see that the pension will be reviewed. Federal government looking to enact salvia ban
OTTAWA (CUP) — The federal government has announced it plans to ban salvia, a hallucinogenic herb that has recently enjoyed a surge in popularity among young people in North America. Salvia is currently considered a natural health prod uct and technically is only allowed to be sold if it has been reviewed and authorized by Health Canada. In a Feb. 21 release, the government indicated it intends to add salvia to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, thereby making it illegal to possess, sell, import, export and grow the plant. The herb will not go under an immediate ban: Stakeholders and members of the public have until March 21 to comment on the proposal, after which the federal regulatory process could continue for up to two years. UBC study finds Canadians recieving unreliable information on prescription drugs
A midnight marathon of video games. Geoff Lister Photo/The Ubyssey
According to Mutangadura, the most difficult part of the challenge was maintaining morale. “I’d have to say, the most horrible thing about this is to stay motivated in some matches, just to carry on going. Some matches will have a bad run through, they’ll score three goals against us and I’ll be like, ‘I want to quit now and just start a new game,’” he said.
“But I know I have to go through the entire match.” He said that this problem was compounded by the fact that he was attending a friend’s birthday party until 4am the night before the world record attempt. He only regretted the choice when he was “lazily nodding [his] head back and forth,” trying to stay awake. More problems emerged when the skill levels of teams were
mismatched. “My friend Gerome and I started off as partners, and it took us eight hours to win a game,” said Rinfret. “I think we lost 17 games in a row.” Rinfret is currently compiling the group’s official package for Guinness World Records. The previous record was almost six hours shorter than the session the UBC boys played. Set in December of 2010, it clocked in at 30 hours and one minute. U
Canadian residents looking to find information about prescription drugs online may be directed to unreliable sources, according to a recent study led by UBC assistant professor Michael Law. Their research has shown that US residents who search for prescription drug information online are directed to the government-run National Library of Medicine, while Canadian residents are directed to Wikipedia or pharmaceutical industry sponsored sites, which are criticized by the study for being inaccurate. The American National Institute of Health (NIH) and Google have been in partnership since 2010, leading to the difference in American results. Other search engines, such as Bing or Yahoo used in America produce results similar to those in Canada. —Micki Cowan and Will McDonald
4 / u b y s s e y. c a / n e w s / 2 011 . 0 2 . 2 4
AMS pushes forward with fee restructure $19 fee increase will cost most students $5 due to decreased health plan costs
Fee increases AMS General fee—$7.50 Funds the major operations of the AMS. Increase will allow the AMS to reduce dependence on its businesses.
Lighter footprint—$2.25
Provides funding for studentled sustainability projects on campus.
Clubs benefit Fund—$1.50 This fund will fund events, activities and programs that are run by AMS clubs. The money will be administered by the Student Administrative Committee.
Childcare Bursary Levy—$1
How much more the new fees will cost most students. Geoff Lister Photo Illustration/The Ubyssey
Arshy Mann news@ubyssey.ca After a six month delay, the AMS will be making an attempt this March to shore up its finances with a fee referendum. The AMS cancelled a previously planned attempt to pass a fee referendum last October, deciding to wait until a UPass vote was called in the new year. U-Pass renewals almost always reach quorum, one of the most significant hurdles to any referenda. The fee restructure would see $7.50 more for the AMS general fee, as well as increases to other current AMS fees and the creation of entirely new fees. AMS President Jeremy McElroy said that an increase in fees was absolutely necessary to the survival of the society. “We really need to get across that the fees need to pass in one capacity or another,” he said. “If this particular question fails, we’re going to rework it and go back to referendum again, hopefully before the end of the year.” McElroy said that the AMS’s current financial situation was a result of declining revenues from their businesses. “Two consecutive summers of the highest student unemployment in Canadian history, coupled by the student loan program maxing out, tuition going up every year—students are broke, and they’re not coming to our businesses,” he said. “So what we’re experiencing now is likely what it’s going to look like going forward, which means we can’t rely entirely on that revenue. “We’ve relied for the past 15 years on the fact that enrolment was increasing and we were introducing more businesses and doing better. “We’ve kind of hit capacity for enrolment at UBC and now, with
increased competition on campus as well as the world market situation, we’re essentially broke. So the only way we can remedy this is to increase our basic fee, the AMS general fee. It hasn’t changed since 1982, I can’t stress that enough. This one fee hasn’t changed in 30 years.” He went on to say that the referendum is not “a cash grab.” “The AMS’s deficit is not because of misspending—in fact, the student government budget is the lowest it’s been in four years. We’re actually coming in under budget this year [and] we’ve done everything in our power to be fiscally responsible.” According to referendum committee chair Ben Cappellacci, the changes that the AMS is proposing are more a restructuring of the fees than simply a raise. “We’re actually restructuring the whole nature of the fees, looking at changing some of the optout rules and changing some of the prorating rules, as well as increasing some of the existing fees, adding some new fees for some new services, and just sort of changing the way the fee package works,” he said. Although the new fees would affect students differently based on how many courses they take and what fees they opt out of, most students will only pay $5 more, despite a $19 increase in fees. This is because t he AMS was able to re-negotiate the Health and Dental Plan, accruing around $1.2 million in onetime savings. “Now we have a unique system…that’s unique in Canada, and by restructuring, we saved a bunch of money that would have otherwise gone to the middle man,” said VP Finance Elin Tayyar. “We’re still working on finalizing the…details, but we’re saving
definitely above $14 a year on structural cost, so we decided to go with a $14 cut in our fees to go along with the referendum.” Tayyar said that these savings would entail no cuts to coverage, and that the AMS would be no more susceptible to unexpectedly high claims than any other year. “We took those structural savings and are essentially giving them back to students instead of beefing up the plan,” he said. Although the majority of students will only see a $5 increase, students who opt out of the AMS’s Health and Dental Plan will have to pay $19 on top of their current fees. According to Tayyar, approximately 25 per cent of UBC students opt out of the health plan. In addition, t he changes would lead to fewer AMS fees students could opt out of, meaning that part-time students would, for the majority of fees, pay the same as full-time students. In order to make up for this, Tayyar said that the AMS is setting aside enough money so that the neediest three per cent of students would have all of their fees fully reimbursed. “1300 plus students will be able to get all their fees reimbursed,” he said. “UBC financial aid will be determining that…so when they apply for bursaries, they’ll automatically be considered for that.” Tay yar said he’s very concerned about the state of the AMS if the referendum doesn’t pass. “I’m a little bit worried that students don’t realize that…this referendum will definitely determine which direction the AMS will be going,” he said. “If it doesn’t pass, we will see cuts [of] hundreds of thousands of dollars.” U
Will provide subsidies for childcare and contribute to the AMS Childcare endowment.
Student spaces fund—$1 Intended for capital projects such as childcare facilities, upgrading the Whistler lodge and athletic facilities by the new SUB.
CITR—$1
CiTR will offer free DJ lessons as well as DJ services for campus events put on by clubs, constituencies or the AMS.
The Ubyssey—$1 Allow The Ubyssey to move to a 24/7 online operation and have a print edition published in the summer. The Ubyssey Publications Society is, however, not a part of the AMS.
External Lobby Fund—$0.50 Will enable increased involvement in provincial and national lobbying organizations such as CASA.
International fund—$0.25 Intended to support student projects on campus with an international focus, such as conferences, speakers or events.
2011.02.24/ubyssey.ca/advertisement/5
6/ u bys se y.c a / Housi ng/2 011. 0 2 . 2 4
Welcome to the fabulous
H O U s I N G Supplement
Kalyeena Makortoff kmakortoff@ ubyssey.ca Welcome to The Ubyssey ’s housing supplement. Va n c o u v e r i s a geoff lister photo/ b e a u t i f u l c i t y, and many of us the ubyssey can truly say we are lucky to live here. But as housing
prices rise and commitments to affordable housing wax and wane, some com plain that the luck we have is a mixed blessing at best. In this issue, housing across Vancouver is compared for prices and proximity to campus and services, as the real
Wh e r e t o l i v e ?
estate prices on Point Grey campus are examined. We also cover the controversial fate of the Olympic Village, and homelessness advocates explain Vancouver’s barriers to low-income residents. And while UBC has recently
Ubyssey’s guide to student rental options
shown commitment to creation of on-campus student housing through the new student housing endowment, Downtown Eastside activists and residents continue to fear gentrification and a loss of community placement. We only touch the tip of the metaphorical housing iceberg. I hope you find this supplement informa tive, even though it gives onl y a glimpse into the housing debates throughout our cit y. Come in, and stay a while. U
Kelsea O’Connor Contributor Whether you didn’t make it into the UBC housing lottery or are just itching to finally live off campus this year, here’s a look at some Vancouver neighbourhoods: in the areas that are popular with UBC students, what general costs and perks can be expected for a two-bedroom apartment rental.
google maps capture
courtesy of leedman/flickr
courtesy of wasme/flickr
courtesy of yorick R/flickr
Point Grey
Commercial Drive
Kerrisdale
Yaletown
The closest neighbourhood to campus, Point Grey boasts quiet streets lined with old trees and luxury homes, Spanish Banks and Jericho beaches and a shopping village on W 10th Ave between Alma and Tolmie. The area is home to Safeway, smaller meat and produce markets, cafés, restaurants and boutiques. Point Grey also borders Pacific Spirit Park, which offers great walking or jogging trails. You can expect to pay between $1250-2000/month for a two-bedroom unit—which is likely to be a basement suite. Units found on Craigslist were generally larger than in other neighbourhoods, averaging 1000 square feet. It’s only 6-12 minutes by bus to campus.
The Drive is home to a mix of ethnic restaurants, grocery stores, cafés, bakeries, nightspots and vintage clothing stores with an arty vibe and strong community spirit. Safeway, T&T Supermarket and Shopper’s Drug Mart are in the neighbourhood. Flanking Commercial Drive are residential streets full of newer and heritage homes. Expect to pay between $1000-1500/month for a two-bedroom apartment or basement suite. You can get to UBC in 35 minutes by hopping on the 99. The Broadway-Commercial Skytrain station on (you guessed it) Broadway and Commercial is your quick link to downtown (six minutes) or to Metrotown (nine minutes).
Kerrisdale has a small-community feel to its mix of low-rise condos, heritage homes and neighbourhood parks. Kerrisdale Village is home to boutique shopping, cafés and teashops, sushi restaurants and specialty food stores. However, don’t expect to find any major supermarkets. The Kerrisdale Community Centre boasts ice-skating and an indoor pool. Expect to pay around $12001600/month for a two-bedroom apartment or basement suite. Kerrisdale is 13-20 minutes from UBC on the 41 or 43 buses; the closest Skytrain station is Oakridge-41st Ave on the Canada Line, which you can reach in six to eight minutes by bus.
Yaletown’s a mix of loft spaces transformed from old warehouses and densely-packed high-rise apartments. There’s close access to the Sea Wall, David Lam Park and the aquabus to Granville Island, as well as upscale supermarkets, classy restaurants and bars and boutique shopping. The Roundhouse Community Centre offers a variety of programs and performances. Expect to pay $1800-2700/ month for a Yaletown condo. The apartments found on Craigslist were generally the smallest of all the neighbourhoods, averaging 700-800 square feet. Get to UBC in 30-36 minutes by taking the 4 bus, or take the skytrain from the RoundhouseYaletown station on the Canada Line to Broadway-City Hall, then catch the 99. The verdict
courtesy of gillicious/flickr
Courtesy of payton chung/flickr
courtesy of duane storey/flickr
South Main Street
Kitsilano
Downtown
‘SoMa’ is the centre of the Vancouver hipster culture, with an abundance of hip bars and cafés, antique stores, art galleries, restaurants and unique clothing shops emerging out of a formerly rough area. While there’s lots of trendy eateries, delis and bakeries, there’s no major supermarket. You can expect to pay $900-1500/ month for a two-bedroom unit. SoMa is 30-35 minutes to UBC on the 99, 25 or 33 buses.
Kits has great views of the north shore mountains and attractions such as Kits beach, an outdoor pool and Vanier Park. Broadway and West 4th have many produce markets, bakeries, supermarkets, cafés, boutiques, trendy restaurants and yoga studios. The surrounding residential streets are quiet and close to the beaches. Expect $1250-2000/ month for a 2-bedroom apartment. Kits is 12-22 minutes to UBC on the 4, 9, 17, 44, 84 and 99 buses. If you’re looking to get to Granville Island, it’s only a ten minute bus ride, and only 15 minutes to get downtown.
Everything’s waiting for you downtown: shopping and fine dining on Robson Street, Stanley Park and the Seawall, the Granville bar and nightclub scene, the VAG, sports arenas, theatres and more. There’s plenty to do and see in a fast-paced, urban environment, if you’re willing to pay for it. Expect to pay between $1500-2500/month for a smaller condo, depending on the area. It’s 35-40 minutes to campus on the 44, 17 or 4 buses.
If you’re looking for a quick commute to campus, Point Grey is probably your best bet. If you’re rolling in money and want a fast-paced living environment, go for a condo downtown or in Yaletown. South Main Street is becoming more attractive, while rent prices are still pretty low: it’ll give you the most bang for your buck in a trendy, up-and-coming neighbourhood. Martha Lewis, a representative from the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC) in Vancouver, said the biggest problems facing students are affordability and landlords not wanting to rent to students. “The secondary suite market is disappearing, it’s not what it was ten years ago,” she said. “Students with less money are in for longer commutes.” She noted that Commercial Drive is becoming less affordable for students because of gentrification and young professionals moving in. Lewis suggested that students looking to rent should visit TRAC’s website (www. tenants.bc.ca) and read their Tenant Survival Guide for important tips on renting in BC.
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$900,000
The price of university land leases
and counting Trevor Record features@ubyssey.ca “$799,000: 1244 sf townhome feats wonderful floor plan with 2 ensuite baths, vaulted ceilings, separate fabulous kitchen w/ S/S appls and a large eating area,” reads an MLS listing for a property in UBC’s Hampton Place. Sounds nice, but do you think it seems a little steep for what you’re getting? Still, it’s a below-average price for a lease on a university property. Craig Munn, Assistant Manager of Communication for the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, explained that since January 1, 2009, the median price of all properties sold was just under $1 million. “The average price of [university lands] properties was $929,769,” explained Munn. “The high mark was $10,008,000, and the lowest $238,000.” Those figures are based on 688 properties on the university lands that were sold during that time period. He explained that prices tend to vary around Vancouver. But in comparison, the average price of a property in the south-west marine area, which had 159 sales, was $1,428,000, with a high point of $6.8 million. David Ley, the head of the UBC Geography department, said that the trends prices on the university lands mirrored the prices in Vancouver. “That typically follows market prices, which are high,” said Ley. “There aren’t bargains out here; it’s westside Vancouver, and it has considerable amenities.... prices are of little utility to students, or indeed faculty.” Prices can still be advantageous on the university lands compared to surrounding areas. UBC anthropology professor Charles Menzies owns a townhouse on Logan Lane. He moved to the university in 1996, originally as a renter. Due to a family housing program, he said the property he purchased a lease on was about 25 per cent cheaper than a property in nearby Point Grey. Properties on university lands are initially sold by UBC through UBC-owned companies as 99-year leases. Menzies lives in a property bought from
S H F E
One of the multi-million dollar properties on the University lands, listed for $4.8 million. Geoff lister photo/the ubyssey
UBC-owned Village Gate Homes. Funding raised by the sale of real estate goes into endowment, used for investing but now also used in a special Student Housing Finance Endowment. The university benefits over Vancouver housing developers by not having to pay for the land they build on: Menzies said that five-eighths of the lease he paid for his property was for the land. “The university very creatively priced their land,” said Menzies. Business has been good: Ley, who specializes in issues in Canadian cities, said that Vancouver has been leading the country
in real estate prices for 20 years. So what is it that makes Vancouver housing so expensive? He said that the limited developable land in the area is driving up prices somewhat. However, the price actually goes far above the means of Vancouver, according to Ley. He explained that global investors are what make the price of homes in Vancouver and the university so particularly expensive. “This is a global market, and investors from all over the world are investing here, so I think you’ve got to look at Vancouver as a global setting to understand why prices are so high,” said Ley.
For graduating students hoping to buy in Vancouver, Ley said that there are predictions that housing prices will eventually drop. But in light of the recent publishing of a livability survey by The Economist, he suggested that the market won’t be favourable to young buyers at least for the immediate future. “Vancouver is once again the most liveable city amongst the 140 that they looked at worldwide,” said Ley. “That means that there will be even more desire for investors from outside Canada to be investing in the land market—either as a seasonal home, or as a pure investment.” U
Kalyeena Makortoff kmakortoff@ubyssey.ca UBC’s Board of Governors (BoG) has unanimously approved the creation of a Student Housing Financing Endowment (SHFE), with the goal of providing housing to 50 per cent of the university’s fulltime undergraduates. The new endowment will be drawing directly from land lease proceeds from the Utown@UBC BoG creates residential community on UBC’s endowment lands, Student a group of eight neighHousing bou rhoods t hat i ncludes, among others, Financing Hampton Place and the Endowment Wesbrook Place/South Campus Neighbourhood. The creation of the SHFE “preserves the land lease proceeds generated from creating a residential community as a long-term source of income for student housing,” said BoG Chair Bill Levine in a press release. “This ensures that land revenues will continue to benefit future generations of UBC students.” “I’m hugely in support of [SHFE],” said student BoG representative Sean Heisler. “I think what it does is create something tangible for students, so they can see what market housing is doing [for] university life.” Creating the SHFE essentially places funding for student housing in a direct endowment. Nassif Ghoussoub, the elected faculty representative on the BoG, explained in a February 8 post on his blog how this differed from how market housing proceeds were previously directed.
First year students move into rez. Geoff lister photo/the ubyssey
“The endowment will be supported by a portion of the proceeds of land development on campus,” Ghoussoub wrote. “Normally, all proceeds go directly to the UBC endowment where it is invested in the market.” Heisler said the benefit would be directed funding, as opposed to the previous system in which student housing was in competition with other capital projects. “It takes student housing off the normal priority list, and makes it so as soon as you can build it you’re going to because there’s nothing else you can do with [profits from market housing],” said Heisler. Citing the BoG’s response to student concerns, a February 10 post from The UBC Admin blog attributed increased interest in on-campus housing to the price
of real estate in Vancouver, especially on the west side, closest to UBC. Heisler said that the SHFE will remain in place until the housing demands of students are met—he estimates this to be when about 50 per cent of students can be housed on campus. Currently, UBC provides housing for 29 per cent of full-time undergraduates with roughly 8000 beds. “We know that students in residence highly value the rich educational and social experiences that come from living on campus,” UBC President Stephen Toope said in the same press release. “UBC already has the highest number of students in residence of any Canadian university, but we must do better.” U —With files from Trevor Record
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W he r e
a r e
pur
Rentals Pierce Nettling Contributor
Y
Va
SROs: 4,852
Social Housing In the Vancouver context, social housing means affordable housing or public housing. Social housing also differs from regular housing, as it does not involve the market and is either built, owned or controlled by the local government or a non-profit.
Row, Semi & Single Detached: 11,400
60.7% Secondary Suites: 19,440
Cooperative Housing
1960-19
Cooperative housing, or co-ops, differ from social housing, as the individual residents within the apartment complex or house collectively own the structure and democratically decide the rules, lease and residents. Like social housing, co-operatives are non-market based approaches to housing and give the occupant lower, subsidized monthly rent costs. John Lennon, the famous Beatle, lived in The Dakota while living in New York City, which is a famous co-operative for wealthy occupants that was once a hotel. Housing cooperatives are common on university campuses in the United States. The largest student cooperative is the Berkeley Student Cooperative for the University of California-Berkeley, which houses over 1300 students. The North American Students for Cooperation is the cooperative body which represents and assists student cooperatives in the United States and Canada.
Total Rentals: 131,500 Rented Condos: 19,412
Purpose-built Rentals:
Social Housing: 21,360
Data com tling. Sourc sociates, Au
Trevor Reco
54,810
Market Housing Market housing is a general term encompassing all housing or real estate properties driven by market forces and speculation in order to make a profit. Except for social housing, cooperatives and some SROs, real estate within the Vancouver region is controlled, bought and sold through the market. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation The second largest federal Crown Corporation after Canada Post, the CMHC was created help find and create housing for soldiers and families after World War II. When the CMHC had a federal housing mandate, it pushed for the creation of public housing, cooperatives and urban renewal projects such as Granville Island. However, since the mid-1980s, the CMHC no longer functions in this manner; the federal housing program was completely eliminated in 1993. Today, the CMHC’s main purpose is to give out affordable, high-risk loans to prospective Canadians looking to buy a home for the first time. Secondary Suites A secondary suite is an umbrella term for garden suites and basement suites. Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units are a type of housing which serves the most vulnerable in our community. Vancouver’s SROs are located in the Downtown Eastside in former hotels. Each occupant pays a small monthly fee to stay in a modestly sized room, which does not come with a private bathroom. An SRO can be a rather horrific place to live for some tenants. Single room occupancy hotels have increasingly disappeared in the Downtown Eastside due to gentrification. Purpose built Rental Apartments Purpose built rental apartments are apartments exclusively built for renting and not owning. This type of housing has dramatically decreased in Vancouver in favour of market condo developments.
D T E S
Gentrification or Development? Kait Bolongaro kbolongaro@ubyssey.ca The Downtown Eastside (DTES) is at the centre of Vancouver’s housing debate after the City of Vancouver and private construction firms recently purchased local residential hotels and surrounding lands. DTES community members have raised concerns about increased rental costs, creating less affordable housing for current residents. DTES activists have been relentlessly pushing against “gentrification” the socio-cultural displacement that can occur when more affluent people acquire property in low-income communities. “The condo development has ripple effects that increase property values,” says Jean Swanson, coordinator for the Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP). “As a result, the rents in the hotels go up and businesses that serve low income [residents] get replaced by those that cater to rich people.” She said that there is also concern that new tenants would lobby to remove social housing and services from the area. CCAP is also wary of the new residents moving into the DTES for their potential impact on the neighbourhood’s social fabric. “There are all these effects that push low-income people out and destroy the community,” says Swanson. “Seventy per cent of residents from the Downtown Eastside are low-income. A lot of them are discriminated against for race, gender, type of addiction and for being low-income. But because people who are
discriminated against are the majority, they don’t feel marginalized [in the DTES], but at home.” For the city of Vancouver, however, this is more an issue of development and integration rather than the forced removal of DTES residents from their neighbourhood. “There are legitimate fears about gentrification,” says Dr Kerry Jang, city councillor for the city of Vancouver and UBC professor of psychiatry. “[However], there is also fear of ghettoization and the push back of not allowing new construction, and deliberately making a low-income area. The city has a policy of mixed neighbourhoods. People can live wherever they want to, mix different income levels and experiences, without displacement.” There are also housing policies in place to ensure that social housing rental units aren’t lost in a onefor-one replacement program. “This is a way to manage development and ensure renewal of building stock without displacing people,” says Jang. “There are long negotiations with developers to guarantee units that are social housing within the condos. [Then], the developer can turn a profit [from the more expensive units] but it also helps subsidize the lower income units.” The city has also recently created a Local Area Planning Committee to give residents and activist groups until December 31, 2011 to establish a clear community development plan in cooperation with housing plans already approved by city council. The city’s mixed-neighbourhoods policy may serve to help break down some of the stereotyping of lower-income residents, which UBC student Nima Farzaneh noticed during his one week stay in the DTES community. “I noticed that a lot of people who are low income are [judged] to be a part of something negative,” says Farzaneh. “I think that people who do want to judge them should go actually talk to some of them. The issue of people judging [the] homeless is a big one considering that [wealthier people] say things with a certain view. But how many [low income Vancouverites] do you know and have sat down and talked to? The best way to remove these stereotypes is to actually spend some time with people and talk to them.” U
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Y o u L i v i n g ?
When were the rpose-built rentals constructed?
acancy!
%
owners
1975-1989
5%
1990-1999
3.4%
2000-Cur.
3.5% Ownership (non-condo) with mortgage: 35,045
27.3% 1960-1974
974
From those “million-dollar condos” you hear about on the news, to any building with shared ownership of inside units.
Ownership (non-condo) without mortgage: 41,175
ord graphics/the ubyssey
Strata are the governing bodies of some condominiums, with powers similar to those of a cooperative but without a nonmarket approach to housing. Each resident pays their strata fee which goes towards the general upkeep of the entire “common land”—any area within the complex that is not owned by an individual occupant is considered common land. Unlike cooperatives, residents cannot necessarily control who lives in the condominium. This power is held by a board, the management or the owner of the property. Each strata complex has its own laws and rules that are determined by each strata’s management. Condos
Total ownership households: 121,850
mpiled by Pierce Netce: McClanaghan & Asugust 2010.
Strata
Single-Detached Housing Single-detached housing refers to houses found outside of the downtown core and in the suburban neighbourhoods of Vancouver. Outside the control of an owner’s association, they are still part of the real estate market. In other words, the house you grew up in by Nanaimo and East Broadway. Developers
condos:
The corporations and individuals that are responsible for creating or renovating housing and other properties for profit.
45,602
The Ubyssey doesn’t want me to write this because it is editorializing: developers are mysterious unnamed millionaire architects and urban planners from Hong Kong, the United States and Canada who quietly control the Vancouver City Hall, Victoria legislature and the UBC Campus Plan.
Gentrification
Affordable housing Claire Eagle Contributor “Systemic problems.” “Unspeakable conditions.” “Crisis.” These were some of the words recently used to describe the housing situation on the city’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) at the February 3 Chapman Discussion Series presentation of a panel entitled “Affordable Housing for All?: Homelessness & Legal Activism in Vancouver.” Speakers Doug King of the Pivot Legal Society, Didi Dufresne, a legal advocate at First United Church, and UBC Law Professor Margot Young each brought a unique perspective to the housing issue. “If you see the situation of a lot of the housing downtown, a lot of it is supposedly called ‘social housing,’ and I don’t see any way of describing it other than as a crisis,” said King, whose Red Tent Campaign during the 2010 Olympics aimed to bring attention on Vancouver’s poor. The panelists did not focus on the lack of social housing, but rather a lack of affordable social housing as the main contributor to homelessness in Vancouver. Dufresne said that on top of social housing being overpriced, living quarters are often unsafe and poorly maintained—yet
for all? few options exist for low-income tenants of the DTES. “It’s shocking to see that relationship between landlord and tenant in the Downtown Eastside, and it’s incredibly frustrating to work with,” said King. “You witness it and feel that you can tell the Residence Tenancy Act, you can tell City Hall the kinds of things that landlords can do in the Downtown Eastside, and nobody believes you because it doesn’t seem like it’s true. It has felt like there is a bit of a lawlessness in how...things work down there.” Beyond the DTES, the panelists commented on the housing situation in Vancouver generally, which is notorious for its high housing prices. “Vancouver is unique in its social dimension,” said King. “It’s almost becoming a place where the middle class can’t afford to live anymore.” Panelists said they believed that change may be coming, however, with Bill C-304, put forward by Vancouver East NDP MP Libby Davies. “It’s quite a remarkable piece of legislation... It’s a secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing act,” said Professor Young. “It puts forward the markers recommended by the UN Rapporteur on [Adequate] Housing.” UN Rapporteur Miloon Kothari commented in 2007 that Canada was one of
the few affluent Western nations without a national housing strategy and recommended that the government “embarks on a large scale building of social housing units across the country.” The panelists said that if passed, Bill C-304 would give priority to the underhoused and those suffering mental illness, among others. The Bill has gained much momentum across Canada and is in its third reading, but will be lost if it fails to pass before the next election. What is next for the DTES and for Vancouver as a whole? Dufresne said that while mixed housing strategies, which combine social housing with market priced condominiums in one building, have found some success, the businesses and communities built around these housing developments tend to be inaccessible to low-income residents. But Professor Young concluded with hope, encouraging those in the audience to continue learning. “We need to rethink what is great about t he Downtown Eastside,” she said. “It’s a place of belonging as well as being one of displacement; people who live there enjoy a community and a degree of acceptance and freedom that they wouldn’t get elsewhere. There’s something to be saved, not just changed.” U
There are many forms of gentrification, but there are three specific forms that predominate in Vancouver. The first occurs when a developer converts a brownfield—a former industrial site—into condos. This can be seen through Coal Harbour, False Creek, Yaletown and Woodward’s developments. The second form of gentrification is created through the creation of public transit lines, specifically the Canada Line and its effect on Marpole. The third form of gentrification is when young, upper-middle class trend setters move into low-income neighbourhoods. This generally leads to an increase in the neighbourhood’s property values which, in turn, makes the neighborhood less affordable for low-income residents. This type of gentrification has happened or is happening on Main Street, Commercial Drive and 4th Avenue and in the neighbourhoods of Gastown, Strathcona, Mt. Pleasant and Kitsilano. Flipping Flipping is when someone buys a singledetached home and quickly sells the property after making a few improvements or upgrades to the structure in order to increase its property value and make a profit. Flipping leads to a rise in the total property value of the neighbourhood. Rent Control Rent control refers to laws and policy set by the local municipal government, which restricts individual landlords from raising monthly rent levels past a specific monthly rent level. If there were rent controls for the student residences on campus, the University could not raise your residence fees past a particular monthly rate. Rent controls are usually introduced on socio-economic moral grounds when it is believed the housing within a specific neighbourhood or area would otherwise be unaffordable to the local residents. U
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budget blues Mike Dickson Contributor The fate of the former Olympic Village has grabbed the attention of housing interest groups in Vancouver. The Southeast False Creek project has 252 units designated for affordable housing; half the units will be rented at market rates, while the other half will be rented at belowmarket and rate range. Prior to April 2010, city council had promised to provide all 252 units as social housing units, but then halved the project. In November 2010, the project gained enough financial trouble to be pushed into receivership with Ernst & Young. While there is a recognized need for more low-income housing for downtown residents, city councillor Geoff Meggs said “the economic realities of the project have to enter the equation at some point. “For activists to say that it should all be affordable is akin to asking the city to put the whole project in a flying saucer; mismanagement by [ex-mayor Sam Sullivan’s] NPA council led to a situation where we
The semi-deserted Olympic Village. Charles to Photo/The Ubyssey
had staggering cost overruns on the part of the project that was supposed to be affordable by their rules.” The irony of going over-budget on budgetary housing was not lost on Executive Director of the CoOperative Housing Federation of BC Thom Armstrong either. Armstrong is tasked with filling and administering two of the three Olympic Village buildings. He believes that the oversight, which has included the city pouring an additional $32 million into these already historically over-budget
buildings, comes on the heels of a much larger issue. “The report that was just tabled to city council on the need for a rental housing supply is illuminating,” Armstrong said. “It demonstrates that the rental housing market has not been able to meet the demand for it in a long time. “ The cost of ensuring that affordable housing is actually affordable means facing hard facts, like the necessity of selling many units at full market rates to operate the housing on a sustainable basis. According to
a February 11, 2011 article in The Vancouver Sun, condo prices at the troubled Olympic Village project will be reduced by an average of 30 per cent from May 2010 levels. “The gap between economic and market rent isn’t one you can just wish away,” Armstrong said. Who qualifies for affordable housing is partly determined by the core-need income threshold: the income you’d need in any given area to pay the average market rent without it taking up more than 30 per cent of your gross income. With provincial resources now being focused on the demographic most in need, low-income families are taking a back seat to those with addictions, disabilities and other ailments. It is hard to argue those needs shouldn’t be served first, but it’s equally difficult to create a new need demographic by neglecting the ones served second. “If you have an addiction or disability, there are programs available for you,” Armstrong said. “If you’ve just got a low-paying job and a family to support, it makes it that much tougher.”
No social housing accepted
Vacancy! Lost in t he controversy surrounding t he Sout heast False Creek site and the issues it has come to represent is the emergence of the first housing co-op in a decade and the stateof-the-art green technologies employed in the buildings to make them more sustainable. “The Urban Fare in one of our buildings is being constructed so heat given off from all of the fridges and freezers is used to help heat the building,” Armstrong said. “Rainwater recycled for toilet-flushing, solar panels, roofgardens; I think people are going to get really excited about that.” However, given that the Olympic bid included social housing promises, it may be easy to understand how the Village’s awardwinning sustainability innovations continue to take a back seat amidst affordable housing debates. U
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culture
editorS BRYCE WARNES & JONNY WAKEFIELD » culture@ubyssey.ca SENIOR WRITER GINNY MONACO » gmonaco@ubyssey.ca ILLUSTRATOR INDIANA JOEL » ijoel@ubyssey.ca
SUB aims for state of the art...art
NEWS
Students consulted on role of art in new SUB
Jonny Wakefield culture@ubyssey.ca A music lounge, graffiti murals and programmable video projectors were some of the suggestions students had at a consultation on art held by architects HBBH+BH in t he new SUB. During Wednesday’s meeting with designers Bruce Haden and Kate Gerson, students outlined their wish lists for how everything from public art to signage to audio would be incorporated in the new SUB, slated to open in 2014. Representatives from CiTR, the Photo Society and other clubs and organizations were in attendance to advocate for arts space and their own visibility in the new building. “We’re very concerned about public profile and having students know our radio station exists,” said CiTR station manager Brenda Grunau. “A profile space in the building so people can see what we do is important.” CiTR is currently slated to go into the atrium, an open common area that sits partially on the north slope of the knoll and includes a black box theatre. “It’s a big sloping hill, and if you took a toboggan down the stairs you [would] run right into our station,” said Grunau. “The one issue is that we’re going to be five feet sunk into the ground. We’re kind of going to be in a cave, but at least we’re in a visible cave.” The rest of the consultation focused on how public art could
The consultation was roughly circular. Geoff lister photo/The Ubyssey
be used to improve the student experience. “One of the things that we keep coming back to is that the new SUB is supposed to create a sense of community,” said New SUB Project Coordinator Andreanne Doyon. “It’s really campus’s living room.” “If you respect the art that’s on the walls, you’re going to respect the furniture and facilities more,” said Grunau. One suggestion was to decorate the SUB with works from the AMS’s permanent art collection. Compiled largely in the 1970s, the collection is valued at around $2 million, according to AMS President Jeremy McElroy. He said the idea was a possibility, but that
students shouldn’t overestimate the value of the collection. “Essentially, we have like four paintings that are worth like 1.8 million dollars collectively, and a bunch of other stuff. I can’t stress the ‘other stuff’ enough,” said McElroy. Another suggestion was a music lounge where students could relax and program songs for public play. “The AMS used to have a sound lounge,” said McElroy. “You could come in between classes and you could put on records.” Other suggestions included space for graffiti artists to tag, space for commissioning murals, areas for students to skate and programmable video installations that could be used for art
or club advertising. Haden joked that wealthy alumni could pay to have their skeletons incorporated into the building. Doyon said this is the second stage of consultations and is an attempt to fill in the details. She said that initial consultations regarding space were completed this fall. “Each [user group] gets face time with myself and the architects,” said Doyon. At this point, these ideas are only suggestions, said Gerson. “[We’re getting] ideas about how to bring art not only into the sort of ‘designated’ performance and exhibit spaces but into the building in general,” she said. “We’re just starting to bash those ideas around.” U
Pillowman may keep you up at night Andrew McCarthy Contributor The UBC Player’s Club’s presentation of The Pillowman opens tonight. With a script by awardwinning playwright Martin McDonagh and directed by UBC Theatre and English student Tanya Mathivanan, the play promises to bring to its audiences many laughs—and a few screams. In choosing the play, Mathivanan felt it “completely fell in line with the type of plays I like…it’s dark and violent but not unnecessarily so and it has lots of issues to it. It’s very multi-layered, very complex.” The Pillowman’s protagonist is “a writer named Katurian, who writes these really gruesome and grisly stories in which children die. He’s called into this interrogation room.” The action is “set in a totalitarian state. [Katurian] has no idea why he’s been called in, but he finds out that there has been a string of child murders that perfectly re-enact his stories. And he’s the number one suspect.” Katurian is played by Daniel Johnston, whom Mathivanan cast for his grasp of Katurian’s multiplicity as a character. She liked
theatre
that, as opposed to others who play him in an overly sympathetic manner, Johnston portrayed him as “extremely sad and just a victim. Daniel has the ability to create layers and to make us not like him while still sympathizing with him.” The play takes on the loaded issues of abuse, violence, freedom of speech and the place of art in society. “Does the artist have creative license to do whatever he wants?” asked Mathivanan. “How much is it the state’s responsibility to control what’s put out there? And what is human nature and how much of it do we blame on ourselves, and how much of it do we blame on external circumstances?” The production will feature fake blood, a choreographed fight, severed fingers and heads, electric drills, premature burials and, on a lighter note, a dance number, for which the director is particularly excited. U The Pillowman runs from February 23 to 26. Show times are 7:30 pm at the Dorothy Somerset Studios. Tickets are available 30 minutes before the show for $10, and $8 for students.
Katurian is a tortured soul. photo courtesy stephanie ng
food with Kait bolongaro Caribbean in the city Although not known as the Caribbean-Canadian cultural hub that Toronto and its boroughs are, there is still a strong Caribbean food heritage in Vancouver. Caribbean cuisine is a mélange of flavourful ingredients, composed of African, European, Asian and Native culinary traditions. This mixture is due to the complex history of the area. This has led to overlaps in regional cuisines, with each country creating its own national dishes. “Jamaica has a rich history,” says Andrea Goldson, a PhD Student in Food Science who is originally from Jamaica. “Its foods have been influenced by many different cultures including the British, African, Asian and the Spanish. Our national dish, ackee and codfish, has its roots in West Africa.” In this dish, the ackee fruit, native to West Africa, is boiled and cooked with onions, sweet peppers and flakes of salted cod. The end product looks similar to an omelette with a stronger salty cod fish taste, as ackee becomes flavourless when boiled. Another Jamaican favourite is jerk chicken, says Goldson. The jerk style of cooking, which was created on the island nation, involves rubbing special jerk spices—a mixture of mainly pimento (allspice) and spicy Scotch bonnet peppers on meat and letting it marinate for an hour or so. Then the meat, usually chicken or pork, is grilled for five minutes on each side. This dish is spicy and the flavour fills the senses. “Jamaican foods are known for their distinctive flavours,” says Goldson. “Nothing beats an escovetich fish [fried fish served with onion gravy] from Hellshire beach. [In Vancouver], the best Jamaican restaurant is Riddim & Spice at 1945 Commercial Drive.” “Most people don’t know where Guyana is on a map,” says Merika Yong Ping, a Guyanese-Canadian and vice president internal for the Caribbean African Association. Guyana, a landlocked country near Venezuela, is another culinary gem of the Caribbean. “One of the dishes my family cooks is cookup,” says Yong Ping. “It is a meat and rice dish and is one of the most popular in Guyana.” Cookup rice, a Guyanese specialty, is made with long grain rice, oxtail and beans, flavoured with thyme and coconut milk mixed into one pot. Another favourite is roti and pumpkin. “We fry the pumpkin with garlic, onion and pimento,” says Yong Ping. “Then it is served with roti [a flatbread brought to Guyana via India]. It is one of my favourites.” U Yong Ping recommends the Reef (4172 Main Street or 1018 Commercial Drive) and Calabash (428 Carrall Street) as her favourite Caribbean restaurants.
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games & comics sazaemon, by meiki shu
crossword
blundergrads, by phil flickinger (blundergrads.com)
Puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com. Used with permission.
last ditch effort, by john kroes (lde-online.com)
suscomic.com, by mike bround
Across
Down
1. Fall prey to a banana peel, say 5. Meat 10. Fill to surfeit 14. “That smarts!” 15. Like poorly made oatmeal or mashed potatoes 16. Asleep 17. “Hard ___!” (sailor’s yell) 18. Fit out 19. Author Morrison 20. Haunt 22. Leading 24. Adored 26. Cantankerous 27. Greek goddess of the moon 30. Martini’s partner 32. Hindu religious teacher 33. Monetary unit of Lesotho 34. Burmese, Manx, and Scottish Fold 38. Skye cap 39. Pertaining to fat 42. My ___ Vietnam 43. Break, card game 45. Fabric ridge 46. Scorn 48. Ablaze 50. Pollen producer 51. Allotted amount 54. Spud 56. Incident 58. Unrestrained exercise of power 62. Asian sea 63. Defamation 65. Portend 66. Calamitous 67. Uneven 68. Incline 69. Kill 70. Sums owing 71. Lodge members
1. Work up lather 2. Corker 3. Bakery worker 4. Cork 5. Arm cover 6. Heavy stocking cap worn in Canada 7. Flightless bird 8. Capital city of Western Samoa 9. Curvature of the spine 10. Diabolical 11. Dwelling 12. Domingo, for one 13. Enlighten 21. Ancient region of Asia Minor 23. Hesitant sounds 25. Bit of liquid 27. Grounded fleet 28. Actor McGregor 29. Priest of the East 31. Plains native 33. Make-up artist? 35. Grad 36. Shipping deduction 37. Fein 40. Lessened 41. Aromatic compound 44. Pattern of colorful curving figures 47. Short allegorical story 49. Rock’s Fighters 50. Fashions 51. Peruses 52. Month of showers 53. Jewelled crown worn by women 55. Bikini blast 57. Green land 59. Christmas 60. Minn. neighbour 61. Cravings 64. Short cut
solution
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Cappellaci: How I see the state of the AMS Ben Cappellacci Perspective Those who are quick to discount student politics must first remember that the AMS, at 46,000 members, is larger than most towns. And like most towns there are citizens that are concerned with how things work. Be it for the prestige, the wealth, the power or simply to have their voice heard, people choose to become embroiled in what inevitably results in the pandemonium of local governance. Yet unlike a town, the students of UBC represent an unusually high level of diversity in background, opinion and culture. Facilitating and overseeing many of the services that support these activities is the AMS, whose leadership is composed of elected students. Each year they are elected based not on their “platforms,” but through
one concept: social leverage. He or she who has the greatest ability to have students directly communicate to other students to vote will win. Those who say that students are largely unaware of what the AMS does for them are correct. By and large people don’t usually care about what their government does for them until it goes away, especially if it starts to negatively affect their lives. Aside from that truism, the AMS does a woefully inadequate job of communicating its activities to students in a meaningful way. Moreover, the great inconsistency in the quality of what the AMS provides in food, services and especially events makes the activities of the AMS unappealing to the masses. But what more could be expected when each year any student with enough friends can run for the title of “student executive”?
The AMS has been the organization of the students at UBC since the university’s first year. Whether or not they’ve always represented the voice of the students is debatable depending on who you ask but by and large it does its best to articulate students’ needs and interests. The direction of the AMS is largely dictated by executives, especially the AMS president, who gains the most attention with his/her actions. Like most democratic realities there is a political spectrum. There are students who “fight” for things like lower tuition and believe the university is an enemy. There are also students who “negotiate” for lower student loan fees and believe the university is an unfailing ally. The year to year cycle of AMS politicians is balanced by the dependability of the permanent staff and businesses. They have
a lot of institutional memory, and if they are asked in time they can help avoid a lot of very common mistakes. Yet the recent recession has greatly impacted the AMS businesses. They deliver profits to a student government with increasing costs, yet limited revenues due to student fees that haven’t increased since 1982. The shortfall in businesses isn’t temporary and a better solution needs to be found as the AMS transitions to a new SUB. This past year there were significant cuts made to many sections of the AMS’s budget. Student government, services and events all had to deal with significant cuts in order to create a balanced budget after a $250,000 structural deficit the previous year. With a decrease in revenue from businesses, the AMS must once again look to cuts, yet this time there is little that can be
cut to account for the shortfall. The solution to these problems is the referendum, and if it’s successful it will be one of the biggest events to happen to the operations of the AMS in living memory. Despite the difficulties and pettiness of student politics, the AMS will continue to move forward. The allure of student politics draws all descriptions of students. Working in the AMS gives a student an unmatchable level of control over an organization at a young age. Much like UBC is a global leader in universities, the AMS stands out amongst its fellow student unions. Its position on such a unique campus, its heritage and most importantly, its people make it a constantly exciting place. U Ben Cappellacci was the VP Academic and University Affairs for the AMS in 2010–2011.
McElroy: Here’s how to argue for the NCAA Justin McElroy coordinating@ubyssey.ca Over the next two months, UBC’s Administration will be listening to the campus community as it decides whether to become the second Canadian school to join NCAA Division II. So if you have an opinion—or want to have one—on a giant decision your university will make this year, now is the time to read the reports and bone up on the issues. Or, you can just read my next two columns, as I present the most honest, ethical and straightforward arguments I can for and against moving to the NCAA. Here’s the case for the NCAA: First, let’s accept that the overwhelming majority of UBC students don’t care about university
sport. They don’t when we face off against Trinity Western, and they won’t if we play Central Washington University. The only school we sort of care about is SFU, who just moved to the NCAA. Right now, we only face them in the Shrum Bowl, but if we move, we’ll have an intracity rival again. That’s nice for the 5 per cent of students who care about such things, but for the other 95 per cent, the main question should be, what is better for the athletes? Well, student-at hletes are generally in favour of moving, for a couple of very good reasons. First, there’s the matter of competition—in too many sports, UBC is a big fish in a small pond. In basketball and volleyball, our teams are
forced to play uncompetitive blowouts with small universities year after year. In field hockey and swimming, we only play a few schools and are guaranteed to finish first or second every year. And t hese problems are probably only going to get worse. Not only that, but we have a number of sports—baseball, track and field and golf among them—that don’t have a competitive CIS program, so we play in the NAIA, a small American league. The only problem is that they’re looking to merge with the NCAA in the next five years. The CIS doesn’t allow teams to play in both leagues, so the cost of staying with them may mean the de facto elimination of a whole whack of programs we offer.
Joining the NCAA would also allow UBC to offer full scholarships to talented Canadians, who would otherwise have no choice but to move to America to chase their dreams and further their goals. Unless they want to go to SFU. And unless you’re a communications student, who really wants to go to SFU? Yes, full-ride athletic scholarships can degrade the mission of a university and lead to corruption, as we’ve seen in some large American schools. But that’s Division I. We’re going to be in Division II, where scholarship levels are low, corruption is scarce and academic standards are high. Also, because athletics is an ancillary department (meaning it has to be economically self-sufficient), there’s little risk of UBC
putting too much money into new buildings and scholarships for athletes. That’s the case for athletics. For students though, there’s one very enticing draw: because there’s no Division II hockey, we would be allowed to play in Division I. Eight players from the NCAA are on the Canucks right now, some very good (Ryan Kesler) and some who may be Tanner Glass. They all played there first, and more and more teenagers are opting for the NCAA over junior hockey. What if there was a Canadian option for them, and what if we got to watch it? Imagine cheering on future NHL stars at a packed Thunderbird Arena, hoping that UBC makes the Frozen Four. It could happen—but only if we make the leap. U
Next week: We break down proposed bylaw changes, Justin McElroy gives the case against the NCAA, and Taylor Loren talks social media. It’s hacktackular! justin mcelroy | coordinating@ubyssey.ca
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editorial in middle east, tv tops twitter Journalists often feel that they have an expert opinion when it comes to everything from wheat price fluctuations to Wilsonian diplomacy to the best way to remove beer stains. And although The Ubyssey certainly has opinions about the revolution currently rocking the Arab world, even we must admit that Middle Eastern politics are not our forte. We know a little bit about social media, though, and on that topic, we do feel we have something to say. Commentators, pundits and Geoff Lister have, with an air of smug satisfaction, lauded Twitter and Facebook as the twin hammers that have smashed the stasis of the Arab world. They argue, with near certainty, that without the ability to share information provided by these tools, protestors would never have been able to organize. Make no mistake; social media was essential to the success of any of the initial protests. However, with only Twitter, the uprising in Tunisia would have remained a largely in-country affair. But for a street vendor’s self-immolation to turn into an uprising throughout the Arab nation, it needed a narrative, making turmoil in a small country something historic. And for this, Al Jazeera can claim credit. While most Western media outlets ignored the events in Tunisia until the very end, Al Jazeera broadcast the news into households across the Arab world. When people saw that it could be done there, they asked why not in Tunisia or Yemen or Libya. Al Jazeera is by no means perfect. If the protests were to spread to Qatar, whose government owns and operates the station, it is highly improbable that their coverage would be as omnipresent as it was in North Africa. But regardless, in this world of new media, it was still the old broadcast form that was able to take the disparate actions of small groups and mold them into the narrative of a people galvanized into action. Turns out revolutions can still be televised after all. getting to study on the street you live This issue, we’ve talked about the wonderful and inevitably expensive housing all around this city. For many students, though, the most important housing doesn’t come with the labels of co-operative, rental or market, but Vanier, Marine and Gage. Student housing is an integral part of this campus and the fact that it’s a crapshoot is infuriating when you consider how much land UBC has and how expensive anything else in the city is. But UBC has made many encouraging decisions lately. First, the Board of Governors gave initial approval to the Ponderosa Housing Hub, a new complex that will provide another 1100 beds for students, half of which will be in place by August 2013. Next, thanks to Totem’s recent expansion, UBC has guaranteed housing to all first-year students. This means that students from Surrey—currently forced into unenviable and never-ending Skytrain rides—may now enjoy that quintessential Totem year of 90 per cent fantastic memories and 10 per cent crippling shame. Finally, the university has created a Student Housing Financing Endowment, which will prioritize student housing on this campus for decades to come. Any new market housing will directly benefit us in at least one way: we’ll get more beds on campus. More than anything else, the lack of student housing and affordable nearby rentals is the greatest impediment to improving the UBC experience. When students spend three hours in transit every day, that’s three hours that could be spent doing something substantially more productive— not all of it, mind you, but enough to make this campus a better place. Because of the decisions made over the past few months, hundreds more first-year students will get into housing, campus will gain 1100 new beds and there will be a sustainable model for creating more student housing, decade after decade. It’s a first, necessary step towards putting student housing worries to rest. U
bryce warnes graphic/the ubyssey
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Katic: Who will you stand with? Gordon Katic Columnist All across the world ordinary people are standing together and saying they will no longer be trampled on by the political elite. In this historic moment of popular uprising, it’s time to decide which side you’re on. Will you defend the interests of the privileged few, or will you stand with the many? In Tunisia, a street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi, angered over unemployment, poverty and corruption, set himself ablaze after his cart was confiscated by police. This act of defiance sparked an uprising in Tunisia that would spread throughout the Middle East. Millions of Egyptians joined together to oust their long-time tyrant, Hosni Mubarak. Libyans continue to protest despite being slaughtered by the hired mercenaries of Moammar Gadhafi. Similar protests in Jordan, Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq and others continue. It’s quite amusing to now read mainstream news outlets like The New York Times condemning these tyrants—many long-backed by US diplomatic, economic
and martial support—for their crony capitalism and corruption, suppression of dissent and lack of legal accountability. The truth is, these Arab regimes feature much of the same elite corruption we see today in Western nations. Like them, we have a two-tiered system of justice, one for the people who matter and one for the people who don’t. In the so-called “war on terror,” the people who don’t matter continue to be held without charge and without access to legal representation, many suffering abuse, torture and even death. The economic policy of the past 40 years has further demonstrated who matters and who doesn’t. Since 1973, the real wages of ordinary citizens have stagnated, while the financial elite have seen enormous gains. As a share of national income, the top 1 per cent has increased from 8 per cent to 18 per cent since 1973, while the top 0.1 per cent has gone from 2 per cent to 8 per cent, and the bottom 99 per cent has declined from 92 per cent to 82 per cent. The vast majority of economic growth of the past 40 years has been in the hands of a very small minority, while ordinary
citizens are finding life increasingly difficult. Simon Johnson, former chief economist of the IMF, went so far as to conclude that the US is a “financial oligarchy, on the verge of becoming a banana republic.” Those who impoverished millions by perpetrating the most heinous of frauds have seen not jail time, but bailouts, extended tax benefits and record profits. Conversely, those who don’t matter face foreclosure, unemployment and poverty. Thankfully, it seems we may have learned something from the Arab world. In response to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s vicious union-busting policies, thousands of public employees in Madison have occupied the statehouse, reminding their political leaders that ordinary citizens will no longer be treated like they don’t matter. There is no way to predict where this popular uprising will go. However, one thing is clear: the only way to oust corrupt elites, be they Arab tyrants or corporate shills, is to stand with the many who long for a more just, free and equitable world. U
21 years and counting for DTES march Rachel Silver Perspective For many, Valentine’s Day is an excuse for couples all over Vancouver to act extra cheesy, spend lots of money on floral and delicious gifts and make all of us single people band together in various anti-romance plans. But amongst all the lovey-dovey vibes and all the romantic stigma, another emotion was brewing in Vancouver: grief, nostalgia and hope for change. On February 14 at 1pm, hundreds from around Vancouver gathered for the 20th annual Missing and Murdered Women’s March to remember women lost in the city of Vancouver. Many of these women have gone missing from or have been murdered in the DTES and along the Highway of Tears in northern BC. Families of women associated with the Robert Pickton case, most of whom are still waiting for justice also joined the March.
Standing in a sea of colourful umbrellas at the intersection of Main and Hastings, emotion was thick in the air as Aboriginal drums played and many joined in singing for lost loved ones. People held up plasticwrapped quilts made for lost sisters, mothers and daughters, as February rain drenched us all, covering up the tears of many. A microphoned voice ringing out from Carnegie Hall added to the noise, describing the ages and heights of missing women whose families were still hanging onto hope. With a strong drum beat leading the procession, I felt the Aboriginal chant rise up in my own throat with hundreds of others as we marched to various locations in the DTES where bodies of women have been found in the past year: on Main, in Gastown, outside hotels. Walking through the rain amongst all sorts of people— from all over Vancouver and its suburbs—brought a tangible sense of
reality to the proceedings. Issues of racism, poverty and sex trafficking are prevalent here in our city and the loss of women each year in Vancouver affects people from all walks of life. In 1991, a woman was murdered in January on Powell Street, inspiring a Valentine’s Day March for her and other women in the city whose deaths had never been publicly commemorated. Nineteen years later, the annual march has become a public expression of concern and loss for women murdered and still missing in Vancouver. Last week’s March included healing ceremonies at Oppenheimer park and finished with a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall. For many, the Valentine’s Day March is a significant and purposeful event— calling leaders in BC to address the issue of missing women and lead a public inquiry into their cases. U
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Justin Mcelroy coordinating@ubyssey.ca The road to national championships officially begins this weekend at War Memorial Gym, as the Thunderbirds take to the court in the Canada West Playoffs. The women’s volleyball team, ranked No. 1 in the nation after a 15–3 season, face the Manitoba Bison at 5:30 Friday in the Canada West semifinals, with the winner advancing to both the conference final
the next evening (game time 5:30) and the CIS Championships, held next week in Montreal. Meanwhile, the men’s basketball team, ranked no. 2 in the nation, also face the Manitoba Bisons in the bestof-three Canada West quarterfinals, starting Friday at 8pm. Meanwhile, the women’s basketball team (17–7) travels to Edmonton, where they will face the No. 10 ranked Alberta Pandas (17–7) in a best of three series beginning tonight. U
geoff lister photo/ the ubyssey