2011.03.28

Falling in love with Dickensian characters since 1918

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the ubyssey

MARCH 28, 2011 volume 92, number xlivi room 24, student union building published mondays and thursdays feedback@ubyssey.ca

LIPDUB BRINGS hundreds “I expect us to be the most watched lip dub ever made.”

PAGE 12

UBC’s humanities 101 students give their take on the downtown eastside PAGE 4

2 / u b y s s e y. c a / e v e n t s / 2 0 11 . 0 3 . 2 8

events

march 28 2011 volume xcii, no xlivi editorial coordinating editor

ongoing events

tuesday, mar. 29

news editor

Ubyssey Production • Come help us create this baby! Learn about layout and editing. Expect to be fed. • Every Sunday and Wednesday, 2pm.

citr rap karaoke at the pit •

Justin McElroy : coordinating@ubyssey.ca Arshy Mann : news@ubyssey.ca

assistant news editor

Kalyeena Makortoff : kmakortoff@ubyssey.ca

senior news writer

Micki Cowan : mcowan@ubyssey.ca

culture editors

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Come in, pitch your idea to us and we will consider fully or partially funding your project.

• Every Monday, 11am in SUB 245 (second floor, north-east corner). For more info email resourcegroups.ams@gmail. com.

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contributors Karina Palmitesta Will McDonald

Mike Dickson Krissy Darch

Tyler Branston Maria Cirstea

Meiki Shu

Nanami Oki

Greg Scutt Michael Stewart Lenkyn Ostapovich Monica Brown George Wallace Pat Haram Willie Li Lorna Jean Johnson Paul Taylor Phoenix Winter S. Steel Komail Naqvi Will Steele Dan George Victor Jean Maryanna Aston Moore Front page photos: Tyler Branston/Jab Rewind PROD. Alison Rajah

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.

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The UBC Pottery Club is now selling their work at Sprouts and have donated some pieces in return for space. It brings a new addition to the Sprouts atmosphere and allows potters sp ac e to showc ase their pieces. • Mon–Fri, 9:30am– 4pm, Sprouts, SUB basement.

UBC’s first ever rap karaoke drops on Tuesday, March 29 at UBC’s Pit Pub. This is your chance to slay all the classic rhymes you’ve been rapping to yourself in the shower and show off your mad skills for the adoring crowd. DJ Relly Rels from the Crimes and Treasons radio show is going to be spinning the beats, keeping the party going between karaoke sets. Please note: this is not an opportunity for amateur rappers to demo their work and no freestyling! • 8pm–1am, Pit Pub, SUB. $5 at CiTR (SUB Room 233) or The Outpost, $8 at the door. To ensure that the DJ has the instrumental you want to rap over, performers need to email citrRapKaraoke@ gmail.com with their request.

Prof Talk with Dr Jeffrey Byrne • On UBC CiTR Radio’s Prof Talk,

with host Farha Khan, Dr Jeffrey Byrne from the Department of history will discuss his research on revolutionary Algeria in the 1960s in the context of some

of the North African uprisings today. • 3pm, live programming at citr.ca.

wednesday, mar. 30 br av e n e w p l ay r i t es 2 0 11 f e s t i va l • T h e U B C

Creative Writing and Theatre departments’ present their 25th annual Brave New Play Rites festival. Students from both departments stage a risk-taking and wildly inventive festival of original one-act plays. • Mar. 30–Apr. 3, 8pm, matinee at 2pm on Apr. 3. $10/$15, call (604) 822-2678 for ticket information and go to bravenewplayrites. wordpress.com for a list of plays and schedules.

friday, apr. 1 fun raiser! • Theatre at UBC

is holding their first annual Fun Raiser! It hits the stage with roller-skating, stilt soccer, fire juggling (poi), stand up comedy, live music, singing and dancing.

Featuring the talents of both theatre students and faculty, this event is destined to

become the stuff of legend. • 7:30pm, Freddy Wood Theatre, $15 regular, $10 student and senior. Buy tickets at ubctheatre. universitytickets.com or call (604) 822-2678.

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News

editor ARSHY MANN » news@ubyssey.ca assistant editor KALYEENA MAKORTOFF » kmakortoff@ubyssey.ca SENIOR WRITER MICKI COWAN » mcowan@ubyssey.ca

Greens looking to BC for first seat

Adriane Carr in front of the Gulf Islands that the Greens hope will give them a seat. Geoff Lister Photo/The Ubyssey

Arshy Mann news@ubyssey.ca In a federal election likely to be dominated by the concerns of an increasingly aging population, one party will be looking to a more youthful base.

The Green Party of Canada has yet to elect a candidate to the House of Commons, though they received just under a million votes in the last federal election.

In order to change that, they’ll be making a big push in British Columbia, with a message that most appeals to the age group that votes the least.

“I think BC is the province where breakthrough will happen by virtue of just how green

people are,” Adriane Carr, deputy leader of the federal Greens, told The Ubyssey aboard the Spirit of Vancouver Island.

Carr was en route to party leader Elizabeth May’s riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands for the Greens’ election kick-off. It’s also where the party hopes to gain its first seat in the House.

“It’s our number one priority to elect Elizabeth May in this election and…Saanich-Gulf Islands [is] a very Green-friendly riding,” said Carr.

When asked why youth should vote Green, Carr replied that, “It’s your future at stake.”

The UBC graduate and former leader of the Greens’ BC branch said that the other major

parties are only interested in gaining the most seats in the next election and not in working towards enduring solutions to problems such as environmental degradation.

“There’s a huge difference between the Green Party and all the other parties. And fundamentally, it’s because we understand that there are limits to growth, and the others don’t.

“We understand that you’ve got to think long-term, it’s not about thinking about vested interest.”

While the Greens have steadily gained voters in the past few elections, in order to finally win a seat they’ll have to fight the notion that a Green vote is a wasted vote.

During the 2008 election, the Greens picked up 8.8 per cent of the vote in Vancouver-Quadra, which includes UBC, coming in at third place—just ahead of the NDP. Laura Leah-Shaw, a local real estate agent, will be facing off against Liberal incumbent Joyce Murray; Conservative Deborah Meredith, a Sauder professor who ran and lost against Murray in 2008; and the NDP’s Victor Elkins.

Carr will be once again running in Vancouver Centre, a riding where she picked up 18.27 per cent of the vote in 2008.

Carr pointed out that Vancouver Centre, which includes downtown, the West End, Yaletown and parts of Kitsilano, has a demographic profile that is advantageous to the Greens. She compared it to Melbourne, Australia and Brighton, England—cities which just happen to have elected Green parliamentarians in the past.

“Melbourne and Brighton, just like Vancouver, are seaside ports, tourism-based economies, very strongly arts and culture and film-oriented [with] strong LGBT communities,” she said. “It’s a match in my mind.”

But in order to make those kinds of gains, the Greens need to convince youth to actually show up to the polls.

“Vote,” said Carr when asked what message she would leave students with. “They need to vote.

“If youth voted they would change politics in this country forever. Vote, and vote for who you really believe will best represent you. Don’t listen to this ‘I think it’s disrespectful’ garbage that [it] won’t count if you don’t vote for a certain party. Of course your vote counts; every vote counts, it sends a huge message and it can elect something different. So vote.” U

Yang elected AUS President in close contest; Mahal takes SUS Kalyeena Makortoff kmakortoff@ubyssey.ca The results have been tallied, and the undergraduate societies will be welcoming a new set of representatives.

Polls closed Friday evening for the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS), Science Undergraduate Society (SUS) and Human Kinetics Undergraduate Society (HKUS) elections.

The AUS’s newest president is Justin Yang. Tina Mash, Caroline Wong, Jennifer Qi, Tanya Shum, Joanne Kim and Jenny Chen were all elected to executive positions. Carolee Changfoot, beat out incumbent Alyssa Koehn for the AUS student senate seat.

Yang, who defeated Arash Ehteshami by only 20 votes said, “I definitely was surprised. It was a very tight race and for good reason. Arash was a very strong candidate.”

Two and a Half Men star and media sensation Charlie Sheen recieved 60 votes.

While Yang began the elections in both the SUS and AUS presidential races, he is happy

Yang and Ehteshami debating away. David marino Photo/The Ubyssey

that he chose to focus his energy on AUS. “I had to do some soul searching that weekend and figure out what I wanted. But I feel I made the right choice and put my heart into it.”

For SUS, Kiran Mahal won the presidency by 38 votes against runner-up Jordan Wright.

“It feels really good, I’m really excited to lead this society, which has already been taking a leading role in campus events and student issues,” said Mahal.

Speaking about her plans to work with the SUS executive, Mahal said, “I really want to to help them be able to integrate more students into their committees, to get more general students involved, especially since we’re looking at a decreased Council size next year.”

The SUS executive will be represented by Michael Wong as VP External and Mona Maleki as VP Internal. Gary Tse will take on the role of director of administration, Joaquin Acevedo

as director of finance, Iyad Salloum as director of sports, Mark Ventura was public relations officer and Oliver Bozek as Social Coordinator. Saba Marzara won the science student senator seat by only 45 votes.

Three of the four SUS AMS representatives were re-elected. Marzara is the only new face, joining incumbents Maria Cirstea, David Kim and Ignacio Rodriguez.

Similarly, out of the AUS’s six AMS reps, four are incumbents: Kyle Warwick, Rory Breasail, Michael Haack and Caroline Wong.

Anne Kessler and Roshak Momtahen make up the other Arts councillors.

Voter turnout for the AUS elections was less than impressive, coming out at around four per cent.

Mahal estimated the SUS voter turnout numbers at just under six per cent.

“For next year we really need to make sure people know it’s important to vote and take ownership of their society.

“It’s important for us to know that students want us in our positions.” U

NEWS BRIEFS Study: Students okay with tuition increases, budget cuts SASKATOON (CUP) — When students know their university is facing a budget crisis they are willing to accept both tuition increases and budget cuts, according to a new study by the Higher Education Strategy Associates.

Slightly more than 50 per cent of students responding would accept an increase in tuition between $3000 and $9000.

Only one student in six said they wanted tuition frozen at any cost.

“I would say that the current situation that we have with all of the consultation that we get is very good at helping us to understand why the university is in the positions that they are,” said James Eastham, VP Academic at the University of Alberta’s students’ union.

“But I don’t necessarily think that it will make us happy that tuition is going up or that budgets are being cut.”

UBC Geneticist wins Canada Gairdner Award for leadership Michael Hayden, a physician who identified the genetic underpinning of Huntington’s disease and more common illnesses such as heart disease is this year’s winner of a Canada Gairdner Award for leadership, valued at $100,000.

Hayden and his team at UBC identified genes for several rare disorders and more prevalent diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, as well as chronic pain.

He also founded three companies to develop screening tests and treatments based on the discoveries.

The awards for seven recipients are considered Canada’s Nobel Prizes—although since the awards were created in 1959, 76 Gairdner winners have also garnered Nobel prizes.

Earth Hour energy reduction target not achieved As part of the university’s Earth Hour participation, UBC partnered with Vancouver energy management software company Pulse Energy to track electricity usage in campus buildings and show real time greenhouse gas emission savings.

Although Orion Henderson, associate director at the UBC Sustainability Office, said their target for this year was a five per cent reduction, they found a reduction of only three per cent in the University Services Building and two per cent in the Chem Bio Building.

The overall earth hour savings were 20 per cent at all of the Pulse Energy-monitored buildings. The amount of electricity saved BC-wide was the same as turning off close to eight million light bulbs.

4/ubyssey.ca/humanities/2011.03.28

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tary fi each oth facilitators rters and contribute ence education portive of p documen su d n o a ri pp expe , situated alumni su learning. ers, they responsive As volunte community service aduates. It s. gr m d a m, we are an u gr H s ts n t In a s pects um studen rather th f studen ides all as ittee of H eans to u activism, mittee o tre and gu ses, ing Comm s m en ur e er C o e co e C id What it m St a gi u a g g ne n . ar ke rin elsewhere DTES and sive and relevant, we have meets regularly atevCeryone who’s ever ta um Stee e invited to H h r courses t is ila , e m ss in si h t re d d — ly on ut gram ail ad is resp Canada an ni and s regular of the pro have an active em Hear abo the program Hum alum ams across ich meet roprih sure that ster progr m we ndreds of w si en ho i hu of w n To l e r fu ch are app ar m fo m a the hand r g. There ualities whi g in and alu in q o d et r e as e h P sh m e e am m each are en ts of th each progr . e people atedness: our success all aspec many mor of our situ , cs the key to fi e ci b e to sp s r u m o e se of lt and that e the resu supports— s which ar oods! nstitutional difference /i al nt s n ta o ighbourh egrees? m ti e or a p r ca n u g im r d e e u ro d av o p h an s s in r program situation ades or d to stay our siste ticipants’ e Canadian We want uisites, credits, examhs,ogrand what remains? ! programs It nt. All of th r context—to the par t Look into r e n a m e il a ov W im q m s w cipants particula rnational , and fees, prere n these are gone, ause We Hum parti ate in that t of an inte Whe in Canada ation bec nd sticks’: no transcripts, in arn from s 101 is par le m ie r e it e w t an n ? e m n u H ts a What ca t educatio ard ‘carro tise self-d elsewhere ices abou ents prac ere are none of the stand id and pract s e r h t side/Sou ns when th own East a university, what happe t n w o D t ys tha es. Yet, in level cours nd the wa Understa m courses are universityHu

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2011.03.28/ubyssey.ca/humanities/5

Current Humanities 101 participants at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the February 2011 launch of The Capilano Review’s “Manifestos Now!” issue. photo courtesy of alison rajah

What is Hum 101?

George Wallace Contributor My name is George. I’m 57 years old. Some friends asked me why I was going to UBC to do a Humanities 101 Community Program course that offers no credits. The answer is fairly simple: I haven’t been in a classroom in 40 years and I thought it was time in my life to do something different.

I worked in the oil patch, I worked in the music industry and I wanted to do something that will help the community, but I had to know if I could go back to school. I decided to apply for the course. In doing so, I had to write a little essay about why I want to go to school. I was contacted after the draw for places was made, I was number 37 on the list of 30. I didn’t think I was going to get in—I didn’t expect seven people would not want to go to UBC—but I got here. After five months it’s taught me something: I can still learn. I actually enjoy the classroom now.

It’s given me the confidence to explore other educational options—which I’m planning to do.

In class, we were sitting around talking in a group, asking each other what brought us

back to school. All of us were all around the same age, 40s and 50s. One of the ladies said she didn’t want to sit around and talk to people her own age about the weather and drink tea all day—she wanted to stimulate her thinking and explore new ideas. Humanities 101 gives you that.

....it’s about being human, it’s about classwork and working with people and understanding yourself and challenging yourself.

We’ve been discussing everything from politics to symbols and signs to philosophy, broad strokes of everything that goes on in everyday life, and you learn and share ideas with people who you otherwise might not brush shoulders with. Another lady has a learning handicap and she came here into a relaxed atmosphere and is learning every day. I asked her if she will do anything with her

education, and she is going to go on to school as well.

She feels confident now that she can pretty much tackle anything she wants. So it’s not just about learning classroom things but about interacting with people, challenging yourself, seeing what heights you can reach, what new doors open for you.

I remember as a young kid going to school and how excited I was about the first time I could write a whole paragraph instead of printing it, or read a book without using my fingertips to guide my eyes along word by word. I get the same feeling from being up here. I didn’t even know what philosophy was and then for five weeks all I did was talk philosophy. I’m still not sure I like it—but now I know what it is. And politics and the law, how the laws are dealt with for different parts of society. Even the professors like us because we do our homework.

So basically Humanities 101 is exactly that, it’s about being human, it’s about classwork and working with people and understanding yourself and challenging yourself. U

George Wallace is a DTES resident and current participant in Hum 101.

Ideals, humanities and education Education benefiting society S. Steel

Contributor

Ideals serve humanity best when they guide us and not rule over us. Countless lives have been sacrificed to the ideals of the past few centuries. The humanities ask why human society is the way it is.

So the humanities consist of many questions. Philosophy was the first humanities discipline. Critical thinking helps us to develop processes for analyzing. Architecture and all the arts can be said to be part of the humanities. We can learn much about human society by studying art and architecture.

We must learn to value our humanity and that of others. Perhaps human society can be good for all humans.

Education should not be mere indoctrination. We need to learn key human skills from those who know them well.

We also need to ask relevant questions and seek answers.

We need to find solutions

for human needs such as housing.

The marketplace works well as an informational tool but rewards the winners disproportionately, much like gambling. The National Hockey League is also very competitive, but the losing teams still have access to good housing.

The market anticipates the wants of the wealthy but is severely tardy in meeting the basic needs of others. Education can help fill the gaps in our society. The humanities could benefit from more resources and more diversity of thought.

Education can help fill the gaps in our society.

Ideals, the humanities and education can help guide us to better ways of being. U

6/ubyssey.ca/humanities/2011.03.28

Take the cotton out of your ears, put it in your mouth & LISTEN...

LISTEN...

LISTEN...

Pitching PitchingTurkeys Turkeys

Anything other than construction Victor Jean Contributor Being a Hum student for the past little while, I have had a wealth of unexpected knowledge placed in my lap. Every week we touch on a specific topic ranging from feminism to architecture to political science to philosophy. It has really opened my mind as to how much knowledge there is on campus and what learning at the ‘university level’ is all about.

Hum has been a lot of fun—going to the Museum of Anthropology was one of the highlights of this year. The fact that we get to explore a wide range of topics is the most fantastic part of the program. I never thought I would be out at the UBC campus taking part in anything other than construction. It’s a really sweet deal to have this course open to those who would never have had the opportunity otherwise. U Victor Jean is a Humanities 101 student.

Living onPeople lowwith incomes without diverse backgrounds andhomes knowledge,

aged 20 towomen 80, who enjoyinand value Homelessness and its effects on residing the DTES

of intellectual and activist communities. being partpart of intellectual and activist Coming Coming into into thethe Downtown Downtown Eastside Eastside communities. homeless situation. We really need lead you to hoard things, to keep what expecting expecting to to empower empower people people to to getget Pat Haram People with diverse backgrounds and knowledge, aged 20 to 80, who enjoy and value being

Moving to the DTES Moving to the DTES

The Downtown Eastside (DTES) is now well known in the media through worldwide coverage and it is now impossible to be ignorant of the homeless within the DTES. Who are the homeless?

Where is their support coming from?

Where is their voice? In this essay, I consider homelessness from the point of view of someone who has been homeless. I look at the effects on women residing in the DTES, especially in terms of hoarding, storage, medical attention, the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, shelters, government intervention and action and the Tent City on the DTES during the 2010 Olympics. I know that many First Nations people live on the DTES, some are homeless, all have a right to adequate housing of their choice and all deserve to live in a dignified and justifiable way that suits them.

Many people end up staying temporarily with some one, or ‘couch surfing.’

The world is changing and we must keep ourselves informed at all costs to see where homelessness is going.

This is a tough issue and being part of that change is not an easy one. Though there is increasing awareness of homelessness, I am also concerned about what happens when someone who was living without a home becomes housed. I believe that it’s very important to make certain that people who have been homeless are observed afterwards to see how they are coping and managing with the changes this brings, which can also be challenging.

What constitutes homelessness and what are its many faces? Does it just reside in the DTES, or is it present in many other communities? Having been in that situation myself for about three months, I can say I would not want to be there again for any reason, even briefly.

Many people like to think the homeless are a bunch of bums, people incapable of holding a job, with mental health issues and the list goes on. I had none of these problems and still found myself without a place to live. Many people end up staying temporarily with someone, or ‘couch surfing’ as it is being called—myself, I was on my brother’s couch for about two months. For some, this is just the first stage of being homeless. What comes after that is the most difficult part of the process.

After finding myself back in the stream of things, I could not believe what other areas of my life had changed. There are many aspects of homelessness.

Let us look at a few of them.

MINA MINA

SELF SELF

you need near you so that you know that you will not have your belongings taken from you for whatever reason.

In the east side of Vancouver, people’s belongings are often thrown out when they are evicted or lose their housing.

No one seems to care if these things are of value to anyone, which just reinforces the issue that there should be guidelines in place to protect people’s possessions if they are without homes.

people in these areas who care about what is going on with the women.

Generally, temporary shelters are just that—not a permanent solution to an ongoing problem—but they do help.

Millions are spent on other non-priority areas, which should go into permanent housing. The shelters just gobble up funding and then the people are back to where they were—with no permanent solution.

Storage

Government Intervention

Often people need to put things in storage lockers so they are kept safe. I had my belongings in a locker for three months and prayed each month that I would find some kind of job to be able to pay for them and not lose them altogether. The end result was $300 from start to finish until I retrieved my items out of a locker. I cried when I had them brought into my suite, after not having seen them for three months. What does the government do to help individuals who are in this position? What are needed are places to keep items without being charged if you are homeless.

The government spends vast amounts of dollars on treating individuals with addictions, mental illness and many other areas of health-related symptoms. What they need is a team of professional individuals who are genuinely interested in helping these people, and many professionals in the area are doing just that. What is the solution?

Government Action

Government policy needs to be put into place that does not distrust the individual who is in need. Libby Davies has been the NDP representative Moving to the DTES for Parliament in the Downtown EastMedical Attention

by Maryanna Aston Moore, DTES resident and participant side forWriting 14 years.

Davies does her best to get action going on these matters, Medical attention is vital to those who and last year held a fast outside Carnhave been homeless even for a small egie Centre toanrepresent how she felt amount of time. been in need I moved to the Having DTES approximately 5 years ago.

I moved into old slumlordregarding homelessness.

Her actions ruled building and Imyself, was shocked. was shocked at the poverty, and also the of medical attention I am I cerspeak words, and I am tain level I am ofnot the only one that whoI came is at across misunderstanding when louder I would than tell individuals she hasbrain the surgery peopleand on her side risk. who After homelessness, a checkup knew me that I was living in the DTES. Iglad had to go for versa.

She has put forward I hadvice to get some extreme denby a medically trained person is a ne- alsoand Bill C-304, Act to ensure secure, done at “An Vancouver General cessity. It is important that people get tal work Once Iaccessible made my address adequate, and affordable some kind of medical attention to see Hospital. to people who knew me housing for Canadians,” which would if they have been over-exposed to the known was amazed, shocked, and putI in place a National Housing Strateelements and to check any other prob- there, at are some the language gy. We all of behind you, Libby! Keep lems which come from severely inad- horrified understanding of I now live fightingtheir for the rights of all! equate housing, as well as for medical surrounding and circumstance I there are secure social housing, but conditions they may have, including di- whatin lifestyle put myself in by moving thatthere who homeless peopletoout abetes and addictions. Medical atten- hadstill of allrisk I want to state areFirst in high situations. tion is a priority after homelessness— area. as well as the need for food and social that I was not suffering so much, slumlord-ruled building, but interaction that extend beyond emer- in the What is to be done? it brought an awareness to me, one gencies and survival needs. thatDuring I had never been exposed to the Olympics in February of when I was growing up in differlast year, a Tent City was organized in DTES Women’s Centre ent acountries throughout mythe life, local parking area in east side of that is that no matterofhow Some thepoor main organizHomelessness has affected many wom- andVancouver. might be, First we allNations deserve women to live from the were en in the community, some running from oneers dignity,ofwe all deserve to live Women group at the Downabusive situations, and some finding withPower are clean, we all detown that Eastside Women’s Centre. Durthemselves without a home after years in homes have clean meals, healthy what the ingtoour time there, I wondered of having a place to call home. I have serve all deserve have access endwe result wouldtobe, other than gaining volunteered at the DTES Women’s Cen- meals, and publicity to forunderstanding, this act? Hopefully people tre (DEWC) for five years, since mov- to education, Through theneed Humaniwill realize the real here for suping back to this area where I grew up. to freedoms. classfrom that Ithe have put myself and in the govcommunity The DTES Women’s Centre supplies tiesport doors and of opportunity are in general ernment, for the world women with medical attention from recently to methis which were closed to realize is the predominant probthe Street Nurse, plus meals, clothing opening in my life – raislem of reasons this decade—not just here, but and advocacy support. Although these for various children, getting losing my thesick, world. services are helpful, they do not supply ing throughout all the needs that are necessary. There townhouse, losing belongings - at timesdo I felt I was never is a need for counselling for women, many What youthat think? and other ways to understand what going to be able to pursue an educaof the lack of money. does not comes out of being homeless for long tionI because think that homelessness Thishave program, UBC’s periods of time. to bethe a way of Humanilife, but we need tiesthe 101help Community Programme as haswell as the of all individuals opened up doors not only for myself government to solve this important Shelters to renew my interest education, problem.

I do notinhave the answers to it’s provided opportunities forbut I do bethe homeless situations, The Downtown Eastside Women’s butall us to reignite those wonlieveofthat solutions are out there if only Centre did provide a shelter a few so many skills, thosepolicy wonderful ideas, government is put into place that years ago, and that worked well for a derful wonderful memories lay does not distrust thethat individual who is six month period, with funding from those us for the in need. the government. There were meals within U ability to learn and feelHaram blessedisand honoured to and Hum and soups served and clothing avail- grow. IPat a DTES resident in the program&and I wantin Hum 101, able on a daily basis. There are kitch- be here alumna, participant mentor ens and available agencies around the Hum 201 & Writing and a Steering CommitDTES to help women deal with the tee member.

Powerful voices project an image of us which drowns us which out. drowns us out.

DETER DETER

Maryanna Aston Moore Contributor Maryanna Aston Moore Contributor I moved to the DTES approximately five years ago. I moved into anapproximately old slumlord- 5 I moved to the DTES ruled building I was shocked.

I was years ago. Iand moved into an old slumlordshocked at the poverty, and also the level ruled building and I was shocked.

I was of misunderstanding that Iand came shocked at the poverty, alsoacross the level when I would tell individuals of misunderstanding that Iwho cameknew across mewhen that I Iwas living the DTES.who I hadknew to would tellinindividuals go me for brain andinalso to get that Isurgery was living thehad DTES. I had some extreme dental workand done atIVanto go for brain surgery also had to couver General Hospital. get some extreme dental work done at Once I made my Hospital. address known Vancouver General to people knew meaddress there, I known was Oncewho I made my amazed, shocked horrified at what to people who and knew me there, I was their understanding of what lifestyle amazed, shocked, and horrified at some and I had put myself in ofcircumstance the language surrounding their underby standing moving to that area was.and First of of what lifestyle circumall,stance I wantIto state I was notmoving sufhad putthat myself in by fering so area. muchFirst in the to that of slumlord-ruled all I want to state building, butnot it brought anso awareness that I was suffering much, in the to slumlord-ruled me, one that I building, had never been exbut it brought posed to when to I was growing up in an awareness me, one that I had nevdifferent my life. er beencountries exposedthroughout to when I was growNoing matter how poor one might be, up in different countries throughout wemy all life, deserve to live withno dignity, and that is that matterwe how all poor deserve live be, in homes that are to one to might we all deserve clean, we all deserve to deserve have clean live with dignity, we all to live meals, healthy we we all deserve in homes thatmeals, are clean, all deserve to have access education, under-we to have cleanto meals, healthytomeals, standing andto tohave freedoms. all deserve access to education, Through the Humanities 101 class to understanding, and to freedoms. that IThrough put myself recently, doors the inHumanities class of that opportunity opening to me which I have putare myself in recently, doors of were closed forare various reasons in which my opportunity opening to me life—raising children, getting sick, loswere closed for various reasons in my inglife—raising my townhouse, losing belongings. children, getting sick, losAt ing many I felt that I was never mytimes townhouse, losing belongings; going to betimes able toI felt pursue education at many that an I was never gobecause lack money. proing to of bethe able toof pursue anThis education gram, the UBC’s 101This Combecause of theHumanities lack of money. promunity has opened up101 doors gram,Program, the UBC’s Humanities Comnotmunity only forProgramme, myself to renew inter-up has my opened estdoors in education, has provided op-my not only but for myself to renew portunities foreducation, so many ofbut us to interest in it’sreignite provided opportunities so those many wonderful of us to reigthose wonderful for skills, nite those those wonderful memories skills, thosethat wonideas, wonderful memories layderful withinideas, us forthose the ability to learn and thatIlay within us for thehonoured ability to learn grow. feel blessed and to I feel blessed and honoured beand heregrow. in the program and I want to be here in the and I want let to others know whoprogram aren’t familiar with to others know who with thelet DTES that there arearen’t manyfamiliar many inthe DTES there are many many dividuals, as that there are in other parts of individuals, as intelligent, there are indetermined, other parts of town, who are town,conscientious who are intelligent, determined, witted, and hopeful for witted, conscientious andUhopeful for a bright future before them. a bright future Maryanna Astonbefore Moorethem. is a DTES U residentMaryanna and WritingAston Seminar participant.

Moore is a DTES resident and Writing participant.

Contributor

WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY!

them them outout just just isn’t isn’t going going to to work. work.

It’sIt’s more more productive productive to to make make people’s people’s lives lives as as positive positive as as they they can can bebe in this in this neighneighbourhood—give bourhood; givepeople people the the best best quality quality of of lifelife given given their their circumstances. circumstances.

That That doesn’t doesn’t mean mean coming coming to to thethe DTES DTES and and pitching pitching turkeys turkeys outout of of thethe back back of of a a truck truck at at Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving.

Some SomeEastsiders Eastsiders get get upset upsetwith withdodo-gooders, gooders whobecause do this, because they don’t they do don’t anything do anything meaningful meaningful to help. to help.

Helping Helpmeans ing means goinggoing backback to Langley-land to Langley-land and and lobbying lobbyingthe thegovernment government for fordecent decent housing, housing, a stop a stop to gentrification, to gentrification and an and increase an increase in welfare in welfare rates.rates.

This will Thisimwill prove improve the quality the quality of lifeofinlife theinDownthe Downtown town Eastside.

Eastside.

U U Phoenix Phoenix Winter Winter isisa aDTES DTESresident, resident and a participant participant in in Writing Writing && Writing Writing SemiSeminarnar andand a Steering SteeringCommittee Committee member. member.

TION TION

Phoenix Phoenix Winter Winter Contributor Contributor

Hoarding

It takes many individuals years to overcome the effects of having been homeless even for a short period of time. In the back of your head you keep wondering, ‘Will it happen again? Maybe next time I won’t be so lucky and will end up in hospital or something.’ This fear of being without safety and security can

2011.03.28/ubyssey.ca/humanities/7

Food Line

Drug addiction Lorna Jean Johnson Contributor

Drug addiction may be beneficial for society, but it isn’t good for the individual. Obedient citizens are what government prefers. It is much easier for the community to turn people into complacent drug addicts by having licensed doctors prescribe the drugs. Few people care enough about these addicts to “undo” the dependence upon prescription medication.

It is more important, from a cost perspective, to help addicts on illegal street drugs. These addicts create a greater financial drain upon society.

Government puts cost ahead of quality of life, so more money is spent on dealing with street level addiction, and seniors with addictions are ignored.

Our society accepts the addicted seniors. Seniors living alone can have problems if they run out of prescribed drugs, like benzodiazepines. The withdrawal causes seizure-like spasms and requires a trip to the doctor. More medication is needed to prevent withdrawal symptoms from continuing to occur.

In a seniors’ home, medication is supervised. The sedative side effects of benzodiazepines create very complacent seniors. Medication is provided by a doctor, so this keeps our seniors off the corner of Main and Hastings.

Those citizens addicted to illegal street drugs bear the brunt of society’s anger and disgust. Dealers don’t care if the drugs are addictive. Turning a single mother into an addict doesn’t faze the street dealer. There are very few well run rehabilitation centers for the recovering street drug addict to live in. Studies show the brain needs more and more drugs over time, and this makes the addiction harder to break. The man in his 20s crying and saying he is going to die unless he can get money for drugs because the pain of withdrawal is worse than death to him. There is no dignity in this lifestyle.

Some addicts need lifetime supported housing, because they aren’t able to stay off drugs on their own.

Providing this option means the addict will be able to go to school or work and be an accepted member of

Listen to the ways that Downtown Eastside/South residents practice self-determination because

WE WANT IT! our neighbourhoods And we want to stay in

Powerful voices project an image of us

WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY!

WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY!

The sidewalk in front of the Provincial Court at Main Street and Cordova is much wider than other sidewalks. Sometimes reporters, cameramen and people involved in particular court cases are packed in. Most of these events take place during the day, but during the evening and weekends, the sidewalk is mostly quiet, except when the free food is given away.

Every Saturday morning and Tuesday and Thursday evening, the free food event takes place on this sidewalk. Some local charities come here for their mission and offer free food to those people who live in the Downtown Eastside with low income status. There is a bus stop nearby. I usually get off my bus every Tuesday and Thursday night after my class at UBC and I see a lot of people lining up for food—usually around 10:30pm. The street lights and security lamps on the front of the buildings make the sidewalk area quite bright. I pass by the crowd and clearly see the people standing in a long snaky line. They slowly wriggle their way forward and do little talking. The shadows on the ground coordinate with their movements, leaving scrawled darkness on the ground. Some seagulls fly around, trying to get some human food.

As I get used to seeing these scenes, it becomes such a natural thing here. The free food events happen year round. Whether in hot summers or windy, snowy winters, the charities come here for their mission work. If it is a Saturday morning, a church band and choir also come along with their hymns. For the people who get free food here, this has become a routine in order to survive. They would be in big trouble without this food.

People call this spacious sidewalk area ‘Food Corner.’ Many people in Vancouver know about it. The Food Corner is somehow a symbol of God’s compassion and of the generous love of Jesus. Thank God for his great blessings, especially for the group of people living on low income here in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver—a city which has been named most livable city in the world by The Economist. I don’t know if The Economist is aware that a lot of people are lining up for their food here. Many of the people lining up for free food are actually homeless. They have to spend about two or three hours waiting for free food, but they are patient, calming their hearts by listening to, or singing along with, the hymns.

The food is usually from large stores like Safeway, Save-on-Foods, or other companies in the area. A wide variety of foods are included: bread, pastries, fruits and vegetables and even different

WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY!

Willie Li Contributor

The 12 Key Actions

Based on over two years of intensive work with 1200 low-income DTES resLiving With Low Incomes With/Out Homes: Homelessness and its effects on types of drinks. All of these foods are idents, and in co-operation with many women residing in the DTES due to expire in two orbythree days, or DTES organizations, the Carnegie ComPat Haram have already expired, but they are still munity Action Project’s “Community ViThe Downtown Eastside (DTES) is now well known in the media through worldwide edible. Some of these foods were priced sion for Change in the Downtown Eastcoverage, it is now impossible to be forth ignorant of the 12 homeless within the DTES. very high when they were in theand stores. side” puts these key actions Who touch are the homeless? is their support coming Where their voice? In Of course, nobody would them Where as the foundation andfrom? guide for isfuture this essay I consider homelessness from the point of view of someone who has been if they remained on thehomeless. store shelves. development in the DTES. Research I look at the effects on women residing in the DTES, especially in terms In order to keep the food the market

by CCAP’s Pedersen and Jean Centre, of at hoarding, storage, medical attention,Wendy the Downtown Eastside Women’s price, store owners have to give those intervention Swanson, Juneand 2010. shelters, government and action, the pros and cons of the Tent City on the Therefore, DTES during the 2010 Olympics. I know that many First Nations people live on nearly expired foods away. the food DTES, some are homeless, havesocial a righthousing to adequate of their choice, the stores usually give the to char1. all Build forhousing low-income and all deserve to live in a dignified and justifiable way that suits them. ities. This demonstration of kindness people. and compassion may The also make the and 2.

Tackle systemic poverty. world is changing we must keep ourselves informed at all costs to see where rich business people homelessness feel good isand 3. is a Stop process thatis not an going. This tough gentrification—a issue and being part of that change charitable. It is good foreasy theone. poor peohasawareness happened in hundreds Though there is increasing of homelessness, I amof alsocitconcerned about what was living becomes ple to have free food available tohappens meet when someone ieswho around thewithout worlda home when richerhoused. I make certain who people have beenin homeless their daily basic needs.believe that it’s very important to people pushthat outpeople poorer are looked at afterwards to see how they are coping and managing with the changes These stories date back to the 70s. a community and property values this brings, which can also be challenging.

I think at that time there might not increase. have been as many poor and 4. Improve safety byfaces? working Whatpeople constitutes homelessness and what are its many Does it with just reside in the DTES, or isorit in in many otherpolice communities?

Having been in that undersituation myself homeless people in Vancouver, to provide a better for about 3 months, not want be thereresidents again for anyfrom reason, even any of the rich developed countries.

AI can say I would standing oftoDTES briefly. Many the homeless are a bunch of bums, people incapable lot of data shows that more and people morelike to thinktheir perspective, dealing with seof holding a job, with mental health issues and the list goes on. I had none of these urban poverty issues are emerging non-resiproblems and stillin found myself curity withoutguard a placeharassment, to live. Many people end up staying these so-called big, rich cities.with The dent surfing’ drinkers replacing ille-I was on temporarily someone, or ‘couch as itand is being called –the myself, free food event in Vancouver may befor about 2 months. gal drug with a legal market my brother’s couch Formarket some, this is just the first stage of being homeless. What comes after that is the most difficult and part of the process.

After findjust a sign of social economic disparbased on health human rights ing myself backregin the stream of principles. things, I could not believe what other areas of my life ity. Apparently about 200 people of homelessness. Let us look at a few of them. ularly get free food athad thechanged.

Food There Cor-are many 5. aspects Improve health services. ner and the number isHoarding: increasing. It 6. Support and fund DTES arts & somehow rings a bellIt about theindividuals intakes many yearsculture. to overcome the effects of having been homeless even for a short period of7. time.Develop In the backan of economy your head youthat keepserves wondering, will equality of the social economy in our it happen again? Maybe next time be so local lucky and will end up in hospital society, especially in the Downtown andI won’t employs residents. something. This fear of8. beingEnsure without safety andspaces security can you to hoard Eastside of Vancouver.or U public arelead public, things, to keep what you need near you so that you know that you will not have not gated, sufficient, safe, and Willie Li is a DTES resident, particiyour belongings taken from you for whatever reasons. In the east side of Vancouver, welcoming. pant & mentor in Hum101/201 & Writ-are often thrown people’s belongings out when they are evicted or lose their housing.

9. things Keepare towers and retain heriing and a Steering Committee member.

No one seems to care if these of valueout to anyone, which just reinforces the issue that there should be guidelines in place to protect people’s possessions if tage buildings. they are without homes. 10. Involve DTES residents in neighbourhood decisions.

Storage: 11.

Often people need to put thingsAttract in storagemore lockerschildren. so they are kept safe at least until Create a DTES image that honours there is some place to put12. yourself in a home.

I had my belongings in a locker for 3 respects low-income residents. months and prayed each month & that I would find some kind of job to be able to pay for them and not lose them altogether. The end result was $300 from start to finish

I retrieved my itemsThe out ofDTES a locker.

I cried when Icommunity had them brought mainstream society. until Many addicts low-income hasinto my suite after not having seen them for 3 months. What does the government do to help would welcome this option, because a right to exist in Vancouver and to seek individuals who are in this position? What is needed here is some place to keep items they want to give up drugs.

Thecharged ad- if you improvements without being are homeless. for itself: Residents themdicts who prefer not to quit using are selves, with help from government, will Medical Attention: a tougher challenge. Society decides be able to strengthen and improve their Medical attention is vital to those who have been homeless even a small amount what the penalties are for drug use already strong community by for building of time. Having been in need of medical attention myself, I am certain I am not the and how much social assistance will on assets that are currently present. only one who is at risk. After homelessness, a follow up by a medically trained person be given to these individuals.

See is a necessity.They It is important thatccapvancouver.wordpress.com/ people get some kind of medical attention to see if have shortened lives and must interccap-reports. they have been over-exposed to the elements and to check any other problems which act with violent dealers keep us-inadequate housing, as well as medical conditions they may have cometofrom severely as individuals including diabetes and addictions. Medical attention is a priority after ing drugs. It is a frightening choice. homelessness, Seniors and others addicted to and pre-also the need for food and social interaction that is not just about and survival instincts. scription drugs usuallyemergencies stay addicted Downtown Eastsiders know for life. Celebrity rehab doesn’t exist what they want and need, and for the ordinary person. Some peopractice self-determination. ple spend the rest of their lives without much joy or energy because sedation and depression are often side Seventy per cent of DTES residents effects of their medications. The comlive on low incomes. Income Assisplacent, fatigued and quiet individuals tance (welfare) is $610 month minus don’t set off any alarm bells in society. rent ($375-$425). About 700 people No-one cares if these people spend live in the DTES without homes. Genmany hours alone because they aren’t trification is a process that has hapcausing unseemly ripples in the fabpened in hundreds of cities around the ric of the community. U worl. Its effects ripple out; it displaces people from their homes, neighbourLorna Jean Johnson is a East Vanhoods and communities. It need not couver resident and participant in Writhappen. Vancouver East MP Libby Daing & Writing Seminar, and is a Steervies’s Affordable Housing Bill is soon ing Committee member. going into its third and final reading (http://www.libbydavies.ca/bill_c304).

Downtown Eastsiders have been put in the position of having to fight for resources that are easily found in most Vancouver areas; and they have created and supported many nodes for self-determination to meet their wants and needs, including:

A message from the Carnegie Newslettter Paul Taylor Contributor

Aboriginal Front Door Society: aboriginalfrontdoorsociety.tripod.com/index. html Carnegie Community Action Project: ccapvancouver.wordpress.com Carnegie Newsletter: www.carnnews. org Downtown Eastside Literacy Roundtable: dteslit.blogspot.com Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council: dnchome.wordpress.com Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre: www.dewc.ca Raise the Rates: www.raisetherates.org Streams of Justice: www.streamsofjustice.org VANDU (Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users): www.vandu.org

WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS

LISTEN... It’s not what you might have thought... www.humanities101.arts.ubc.ca & at the Vancouver Art Gallery WE:Vancouver until May 1, 2011 Hum provides practical support which acknowledges the circumstances that have kept our participants out of university.

I sold former UBC President Martha Piper and Fred, her travel companion, copies of The Heart of the Community: The Best of the Carnegie Newsletter and asked her to shop it around as our contribution to your education. Following that, two profs added it to their recommended reading lists. Maybe one or a hundred of you should check it out, or at least go to carnnews.org.

You will be amazed. U Paul Taylor is a DTES resident, volunteer editor of the Carnegie Newsletter for 24+ years, publisher of Help in the Downtown Eastside (free resource guide in English, French & Spanish) for 20 years, alumnus of Hum 101, Writing 101 & current participant in Hum 201.

Many of the people who work with these groups—and who volunteer with many more organizations in the DTES/South— are also involved with Hum.

WE MANIFEST DAILY! WEMANIFESTOS MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY!

8/ubyssey.ca/humanities/2011.03.28

Neighbourhood culture is ordinary Everyone contributes to the culture of the place where they live Dan George Contributor

Everybody contributes, for better or for worse, to the overall culture in which they live or work. Everyone absorbs and transmits the lessons they learn from their family, their street and their neigbourhood. If any part of the picture is erased, then the history and character of the local culture is impoverished.

The Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, which has been described as the worst postal code in Canada, is also a microcosm of the multi-ethnic nature of Canada. There are people from many different backgrounds, with varying levels of education and with high aspirations for their new lives, or perhaps they have abandoned any hope of improving their miserable lives.

Most individuals in the area are ordinary folk doing unspectacular but important work.

Some clean the streets and alleys, some people try to heal the sick and dying and others tend to the business of buying and selling. Supporting this network of social healers, authority figures and aspiring saints are the addicted, the paranoid and marginalized citizens with their real or phantom fears, pain and anger.

Then there are the unsung heroes and angels. They are rarely mentioned. Some are academics, others are ecclesiastics,

most are professional handwringers. There is the disabled man who always has a cheerful word and the most beautiful lady in the universe who sets aside her own private pain to volunteer. There are many others who listen to the oppressed and the downtrodden and help drain some of their pain.

Most individuals in the area are ordinary folk doing unspectacular but important work.

There are predators searching for victims on almost every corner. The drug dealers in their baggy clothes, the preachers with their pamphlets and the johns cruising the DTES streets and alleys. The dealers and addicts, the preachers and sinners and the sex buyers and sad ladies all haggling—each trying to get the best of a bad bargain.

The market forces prevail even in these dark and dingy streets and alleys—buy low, sell high.

A sense of despair and distrust hangs in the air like the pungent smell of piss that permeates the whole neighbourhood and swirls from street to street with the shifting winds. Everyone is equal in good and evil.

The skid-row lifers, young and old, sit in their little rooms wondering where their lives have gone as they plan their daily shuffle from soup line to food line. A bit of gospel in exchange for a bit of grub. People live and die and disappear from the neighbourhood history after a brief mention on a bulletin board—some do not leave a trace. They too add the part they play to the total picture of the neighbourhood.

The momentary citizens, the slumming suburbanites and students, the transit riders and the Nikon tourists are also part of the neighbourhood culture, although they may not wish to be lumped together with the local lowlifes.

This urban swamp can never be completely drained—it would alter its character forever. Its shabby history and its sordid and saintly characters are what makes it unique. Generations of academics, ecclesiastics and various other professional handwringers have tried to improve or change conditions in the DTES and failed.

People live and die in the skids to be replaced by others bringing their own pain, joy and history with them. The people may be poor but they enrich the neighbourhood with their personal histories. U Dan George is a DTES resident and participant in Writing & Writing Seminar, and a Steering Committee member.

Take me to your teacher Teachers influential leaders in society Wil Steele Contributor

A clear example of teachers as influential leaders in our community are the staff, faculty, instructors, volunteers and students of programs like UBC’s Humanities 101. All members of this program serve as leaders in the community by bringing what they know and learn— from within the program and without—back to the communities to encourage the pursuit of learning and to raise awareness of important social issues.

Most often those involved at all levels of the program are volunteers within the Downtown Eastside, Downtown South and UBC communities and engage in activism on issues such as housing, civil liberties or more recently, the Olympics. Also, rather than keeping academia behind closed doors in lofty towers, it is opened to the Downtown South and Downtown Eastside communities by way of discussion groups held in the downtown core to raise interest in academic thought as well as in common current interests. Those involved work as true leaders, not only to further the goals of education within a free utopian dynamic, but also for the betterment of the inhabitants of the communities.

The program itself stands as a leader in breaking the classical model of ‘top down’ education. Instead of lecturing on the topics that others believe to be important or indoctrinating students into often-outdated or irrelevant points of view, it

inspires people to think critically about issues and decide for themselves what is important.

To do this, the program balances the course load with contemporary works alongside the classics. It attempts to give a more rounded view of the material in line with newer modes of thinking and teaching and strives towards a “utopian pedagogy” free of the biases of the past or the influence of the controlling social system.

Rather than valuing only the knowledge and abilities of those who have received education from within formal settings, the instructors from Humanities 101 also include experts and those with knowledge and experience in areas concerning the arts and humanities, regardless of the ‘on paper’ qualifications of these people, enabling students to learn from and engage with a large range of instructors with very diverse points of view.

It goes beyond the borders of socio-economic status and reaches out to show the value of all members of society, rather than just the ‘elite,’ to promote free thinking and attempts to broaden one’s mental ‘toolbox’ to encourage participants to see and decide for themselves what goals are in their best interest and try to discern the best ways to achieve these goals. U Wil Steele is a Downtown South resident, Humanities 101 alumnus and study group leader, current discussion facilitator in HUM 101/201, Steering Committee member and full-time student in Arts One.

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sports

editor MARIE VONDRACEK » sports@ubyssey.ca

Blinded by NCAA possibility of full-ride scholarships?

Mike Dickson mdickson@ubyssey.ca Under the brightest of lights on the biggest of stages, our athletic future may be shaped by what is one of the biggest differences between the NCAA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport: scholarships.

A decision on UBC joining the ranks of the NCAA is coming soon. Open forums are taking place today and Wednesday in the Irving K Barber Centre in preparation for the final decision in May that will shape the direction of UBC Athletics for years to come.

CIS rules dictate that athletes can only be given scholarship money to cover tuition—no more and, said UBC women’s volleyball head coach Doug Reimer, often less.

“Teams are in different situations based on endowments and alumni support,” said Reimer. “I know for us, we’re not at the stage where we’re able to offer tuition to all of our players.”

The Millennium Breakfast has raised millions for UBC’s student athletes with the goal of ‘Keeping our Student Athletes in Canada.’

Athletic director Bob Philip cited a study done last year by the CIS that revealed scholarships are the number one reason Canadians leave.

“That was by and large the biggest reason athletes chose to attend school in the States,” said Philip. “We currently have about a million dollars that is spread

amongst all of our student-athletes. If we join the NCAA, we’re looking to immediately raise that figure to two million.”

The jump would have different effects on different teams.

For example, UBC men’s hockey would likely join Division I, which includes the likes of former NCAA champions U of Minnesota and U of North Dakota. That kind of exposure would go a long way in encouraging talented hockey players from the Lower Mainland to stay and play closer to home.

“Sixty junior A players from BC received scholarships to Division I schools last year,” UBC men’s hockey head coach Milan Dragicevic said.

“If UBC jumps to the NCAA, I think there are quite a few players from the lower mainland we could attract with the draw of playing closer to home, in front of family and friends.”

This would be even more attractive if the crowds grew from families and friends stretching their legs to NHL scouts fighting for elbow room. Division I legislation allows teams to hand out the equivalent of 18 full-ride scholarships, worth in excess of $30 000 a year.

Indiana Joel illustration/ the ubyssey

This is where the union could prove itself to be blissful matrimony for both UBC and the NCAA. In the NCAA, recruiting the best doesn’t mean recruiting the brightest—particularly in basketball and football, where academic exploits take a distant second to on-field performance.

“If there’s one thing UBC brings to the NCAA, it’s academic credibility,” Philip said. “Given that

the CIS just doesn’t have the fan base and image they do, the flip side is us being able to play off the brand-name and marketability of the NCAA.” The NCAA just signed a tenyear deal for the television rights to March Madness, worth $14 billion. Reaching that level of exposure and that echelon of competition could set UBC a world apart from its CIS brethren, both in its capacity to give scholarships and the calibre of athletes lining up to take them.

However, some, like UBC Thunderbirds wide receiver Jordan Grieve, think that things wouldn’t change as much as some think.

“Honestly, I don’t think the football program would be affected that much because there are so many players on the team,” said Grieve.

“I doubt there’d be a lot of guys receiving full rides; maybe a higher general amount per player but not significantly so.”

Talking the talk when it comes to scholarships is one thing, and walking the walk is definitely another.

“We have an allotted amount of funds we’re given by alumni and the UBC hockey department, and we obviously can’t give more than what we’re given,” Dragicevic said.

Philip admitted the jump would not be 100 per cent better for every sport, and noted that teams from NAIA (North American Intercollegiate Athletics), in which UBC has several varsity squads that have made the jump have fared better than those that jumped from the CIS. “In the short term, it’s just like moving houses; it’s always a hassle, change always has uncertainty and it could be a bit of a scary ride for a couple of years,” said Philip.

That said, the university has a buffer to that uncertainty in that it is committed to playing in Canada until at least 2012–2013, giving teams some time to prepare for their ascension to the elite should UBC join the NCAA. “This has been going on for many years and the time has finally come for a decision,” said Philip. “We’re going to have to do this right, and I believe that we are doing it right.” U

Douglas ‘Buzz’ Moore 1922–2011

Saying goodbye to the “heart and soul” of UBC Athletics

Richard Lam/UBC Athletics

Marie Vondracek sports@ubyssey.ca Douglas ‘Buzz’ Moore, a revered former rugby star and the backbone of UBC Athletics, passed away on March 14, 2011 at the age of 89. A standout on the rugby pitch for both Canada and UBC, he was inducted into the BC and UBC Sports Halls of Fame in 1967 and 1996, respectively.

Even after his retirement, Moore worked tirelessly to engage alumni. Thanks to his efforts, the Big Block Club, has grown to over 8000 members.

To gain membership of this prestigious club, an athlete must play two varsity seasons for UBC. Every year, current and former TBirds come together at the annual Big Block banquet to celebrate UBC Athletics and raise money for the UBC Athletic Scholarship Fund.

“The passion and commitment he’s given for building the Big Block Club into what it is today, during his over 40 years with the Athletics Department, will be appreciated by everyone forever,” said UBC Athletics sports information director Ben Schach.

Presented with an honourable Doctor of Laws degree from UBC, Moore has been “a gentleman through and through.” He was also the ‘right hand man’ of Athletic Directors RJ ‘Bus’ Phillips, Bob Hindmarch and Bob Philip since Moore’s arrival in 1964.

According to Philip, who directed athletics for 27 years—16 of them with Moore—”he [was] extremely loyal...I couldn’t have done it without Buzz. He was the glue that held everything together.

“Buzz worked closely with nearly everyone in the department. He gave so much of his life to support UBC Athletics and his passion— rugby. He will be missed.” 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

Artist profile Black Wizard unleash s abbat h shr e d

Kalyeena Makortoff kmakortoff@ubyssey.ca

Close to 1000 students turned out Saturday to sing and dance for the viral video. komail naqvi/The Ubyssey Tyler Branston/Jab REwind Prod

Dub Lip DUB Student attempt at viral video draws hundreds to film shoot Jonny Wakefield culture@ubyssey.ca By all accounts, the filming of UBC’s LipDub video last Saturday went off like a well-planned heist.

“It’s really hard for me to fathom that everything happened,” said LipDub producer and BFA student Andrew Cohen, with an exhausted sigh. He still sounds winded a day after the fact from the massive undertaking. “It just kind of worked.”

Cohen and Bijan Ahmadian— his co-producer and the former AMS President—were in charge of the production team and volunteer staff that coordinated the close to 1000 students and community members who showed up to dance and lip sync along to Pink’s single “Raise Your Glass.”

The day started early for the team, who showed up at around 7am to make sure everything was in place. Volunteers came in an hour later, and at noon the cast showed up for registration. Ponchos were distributed. “The ponchos we had purchased as a contingency plan in case it rained,” said Cohen. “We decided early on that it had to be that day, that we couldn’t reschedule it. It didn’t rain, which was glorious.”

By 2:30pm, the cast and crew were filming on a strict schedule, due to an aerial shot of a flashmob on the ground of the Museum of Anthropology.

“We had 30 minutes to film the flash mob, because of the helicopter. The helicopter was not allowed to land anywhere at UBC. It flew in from downtown and started promptly at 2:20 so it would be

overhead at 2:30, hover for half an hour and then go back.”

Everyone then reset for the continuous shot that is the core of a lip dub video. In this shot, a camera pans along a crowd of people dancing and singing. The shot started behind IK Barber and passed through the building, proceeded along East Mall into the SUB and through to the Aquatics Centre for an underwater shot. Cohen said the video will include, among other things, a city bus, a Maserati sports car, an obstacle course, scuba divers and a woman dressed as a Zebra covering herself in pudding. “We had the air, we had the earth, we had the water,” said Ahmadian.

“And maybe we’ll add the fire in post-production.”

“Take, reset, take, reset,” said Cohen. “Everyone was so gungho, so filled with energy.”

Cohen said that much of the equipment and time were donated, and that the aim of the video is to raise funds for the Make a Wish foundation. Cohen and Ahmadian hope that corporate sponsors will pay between $0.01 and $1.00 for every hit the video gets on YouTube.

“You can’t make any mistake about it: we are the most wellequipped lip dub in the world,” said Ahmadian. “I expect us to be the most watched lip dub ever made. That was our goal.”

The video will be officially released April 8. Cohen’s next few weeks will be filled with editing and promotion. But he’s still awe-struck by the experience.

“Holy crap, all of this just happened,” he laughed. U

Right off Hastings and Main, a dark staircase lined with an ominous string of green lights leads up to the wizard tower—or at least to one of the Wizards’ print shop.

Johnny de Courcy, the print shop owner and building manager, is one of four members of Black Wizard, a righteous stoner metal band of 20-somethings that has garnered well-deserved attention beyond their hometown of New Westminster.

“At first people say the Sabbath thing, and, it’s like, yeah, yeah, I get it,” said vocalist and guitarist Adam Grant. But their wide-range of musical interest is evidenced by the group’s old thrash-metal band Onslaught—and Grant’s short stint as a rapper.

“The rumours are true; I was in a hip-hop band,” Grant laughs.

“We had studio access at our high school and so we would make some hip-hop gangster beats and just make really dumb, white boy rap.” But despite de Courcy and bassist Kyle Fee’s support, Grant said it’s unlikely we’ll hear any rap in upcoming Black Wizard tracks.

The four started playing together in 2009, but it didn’t really go anywhere until de Courcy stepped in.

“Me, Kyle and Eugene were playing as Black Wizard and were really Sabbath-y and it was just us getting drunk in a basement… and then when Johnny came, it all clicked together again.”

In early 2010, they made their record debut with a full-length, self-titled and self-released album. The first song, “Long Way Home,” is a good example of the band’s musical range, an oscillation between energetic rock riffs, extensive guitar harmonies by Grant and de Courcy and drudging bass and thundering drums.

The band hopes to “spread the seed,” as Grant put it. Two tours are in the works: one to Alberta this week and another down the west coast to California in April.

A tour fundraiser show will take place here in Vancouver on April 1 at the Interurban Gallery.

The three weren’t shy about revealing the tension between them.

Speaking of drummer Eugene Parkomenko, de Courcy said, “I do not see eye to eye with him on so many fucking levels. I’m being serious, it’s hard…But I think that’s what makes us, us.”

“There’s your couple of words,” Grant laughed. “Mom and dad are still together, but they’re not sleeping in the same room.”

“They don’t live in the same city, they never have sex,” de Courcy continued.

If only all dysfunctional families could produce sweet riffs like these. U

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games & comics sazaemon, by meiki shu

sudoku (hard)

untitled, by nanami oki

UBYSSEY ELECTIONS!

solution

Think you have what it takes to run this rag? We’re electing the following positions for the 2011–2012 year.

Coordinating Editor Managing Print Editor Managing Web Editor

Art Director News Editor (x2) Culture Editor

Features Editor Video Editor

All positions are full-time beginning in September, with possible part-time work during the summer to be determined.

Candidates must apply by noon on Friday, April 1. For more information, email elections@ubyssey.ca justin mcelroy | coordinating@ubyssey.ca

U theubyssey.ca

Submit your comics to our website at ubyssey.ca/volunteer/ submit-a-comic. virginie menard | production@ubyssey.ca

U theubyssey.ca

2011.03.28/ubyssey.ca/opinions/15

opinions

do you care? WRITE US A LETTER » feedback@ubyssey.ca

editorial change for changes sake a good thing In many countries, elections are long-awaited, eagerly anticipated events. Dates are circled for months, politicians and strategists working ceaselessly until that day. Then there’s Canada. A budget is presented on Tuesday, a non-confidence vote is passed Friday, the government casually falls and an election is called Saturday, commencing a five-week sprint/campaign/reality TV show.

May 2 we will have an election, the status quo will be changed, and for that—above all else—we will be thankful. Whether you like Stephen Harper or not, this parliament has been a less-than-stellar representation of how we govern ourselves.

Only 59.1 per cent of the population voted in the 2008 election, a record low matched only by the low level of decorum that has marked our political proceedings since then. The past three years have brought a whole lot of yelling, slogans and partisan tweets, but very little in the way of tangible debates or accomplishments.

As a result, there is an air of relief that something could break the melancholy pall that has been cast over Parliament Hill for the past two years. From the moment Harper incited the coalition controversy by attempting to end political party subsidies—a scant two months after the election—there has been nothing but election speculation.

The pre-election campaigning was the result of a minority parliament, where the Prime Minister can fall at any time to Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. True, this is the downside of no party having a majority. But the upsides have more or less dissipated over the seven years of minority government in Canada, leaving us in a quagmire where the only question on many pundits minds is “When’s the next election?”

This has a corrosive effect on our politics and policies; it cheapens our discourse and makes it impossible for anyone to focus on how to improve Canada next year, let alone in the next decade. Instead, the focus is on who’s up and down, who’s hot and not: if Ignatieff is ready for his time in the spotlight, if Harper is mean to the press and if Layton is giving up too much in whatever budget is up for debates. And, of course, if an election is coming.

That means there is less time to talk about the net effects of corporate tax cuts and hyper-specific tax cuts for individuals. Or what Canada’s vocal advocacy of Israel does for diplomacy. Or issues regarding the world economy and whether we are in need of any changes in our own economic policy. These are important debates that are getting drowned out by political clatter.

Of course, the debates we hear over the next five weeks will feature many of the same subject. The narrative is already there: Ignatieff is a weak leader who will sell us out to socialists and separatists, versus Harper, a control freak with no respect for democracy or the fundamental values we all share. Despite a ballooning deficit, troops still in Afghanistan and a host of proposals the Conservatives were hoping to be approved in the budget, this will be an election of style, not substance.

But now the speculation is over. The election is here. We can vote and either throw the Conservatives out of office, give them full control for five years, or keep things the way they are.

Hopefully some sort of reconfiguration will result, one way or another. And while the next five weeks will be filled with papers, finals, job-hunting and house moving, students need to register and get ready to vote. Whatever your politicial beliefs, odds are you aren’t happy with the status quo. Now’s the time to act. U

The Ubyssey’s Annual General Meeting is this Friday, April 1, at noon in the AMS Council Chambers. All UPS members are welcome to attend.

U theubyssey.ca

virginie ménard graphic/the ubyssey

opinions

Goldcorp’s $5 million gift to UBC raises questions krissy darch Contributor Late last year, Stephen Toope announced the building progress of the new Earth Systems Science Building.

What he failed to mention was that the project was made possible in part by a five million dollar donation from Goldcorp, the Vancouver-based mining giant.

Toope went on to say that UBC’s “commitment to sustainability is vital to UBC’s growth as a globally significant university, and as an example of how a large institution comports itself in a world that demands—and desperately needs—a much higher level of environmental responsibility than ever before.” However, I can’t help but notice that Goldcorp donating to the Earth and Oceans Sciences is sort of like Paul Bernardo donating to Women’s and Gender Studies.

At SFU, students are organizing in outrage against the administration for accepting a ten million dollar donation from Goldcorp to its Woodward’s art facility, which is now the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. SFU President Andrew Petter, has said that Goldcorp’s human rights record is a “non sequitur.”

At least Petter is not trying to defend the company, as its chilling human rights record and environmental record have been reported and

investigated by CBC and the BBC, alongside a slew of independent journalists and researchers.

Goldcorp has been laid with criminal charges for water pollution by both Honduras and Guatemala. In Honduras, the company uses massive sprinklers that spray cyanide into the air; even by the low chemical standards we have here in Canada, this would never be permitted.

Regular explosions near mining sites allegedly make cracks in houses of local residents, which the company claims to be the result of loud music. Water pollution has caused body rashes and hair loss in children born downstream from the mines, rashes which the company claims to be the result of poor hygiene.

Andrew Petter received an open letter from the Siria Valley Environmental Committee in October 2010, describing how the community has lost access to safe drinking water, how the people are suffering bloodbased arsenic and lead contamination, and how local people have lost food security. It also cited an increase in militarization and violence due to the private security working for the company.

UBC isn’t the only Canadian institution investing in conflict in Latin America. The Canadian Pension Plan is currently holding 256 million dollars in Goldcorp shares, while public

sector pensions in BC have 280 million dollars invested in the company.

Why is UBC helping one of the most notorious Canadian corporations to launder its reputation on our own campus? What does it mean that our educational institutions are being used as vessels of corporate advertising?

Stephen Toope likes to talk about UBC’s commitment to sustainability and social justice; a pillar displaying the word “sustainability” and a pillar displaying the phrase “social justice” flank the entrance of the Liu Institute for Global Issues. So why don’t we engage in public and systemic analysis, looking at the decision to accept these donations? Is someone conducting an analysis on the corporate privatization of the university, and the effects of moving public goods into private hands?

The new building will be called the Goldcorp Teaching and Learning Wing.

If we’re naming buildings after Goldcorp, UBC risks condoning corporate actions. On the Goldcorp website under “Corporate Social Responsibility,” one can see that undisclosed amounts have also been accepted by The Liu Institute of Global Issues, the National Centre for Business Law and the Mineral Deposits Research Unit.

We deserve to know how much Goldcorp has donated in total to UBC, and how these decisions were made.

We deserve some accountability. U

this yourself by googling “pay gap Canada” and reading the top result, which is a 2001 report by Statistics Canada.

Or google “Workplace Salaries Time” for a Time article about how young single women now outearn men by 8-20 per cent.

As for domestic violence, google “Martin Fiebert.” The top result is an annotated bibliography of 275 scholarly works, collected by a CSU professor. His conclusion? “...women are as physically aggressive, or more aggressive, than men.”

Some highlights, which are reinforced throughout: “...half the violence was reciprocal. In non-reciprocally violent relationships, women were the perpetrators 70 per cent of the time.”

“With regard to injuries results reveal that women inflict serious injuries

at least as frequently as men...1.5 per cent of men and 1.1 per cent of women reported that their injuries needed treatment by a doctor or nurse.”

So much for Isaac’s claims. Sadly, their widespread acceptance has been a direct and significant harm to men.

They have led to even non-violent men being arrested under “dominant aggressor” policies. They have led to men being arrested even if they were the victims that called the police. They have led to battered men being disbelieved when asking for help.

Shame on anyone who perpetuates such harmful lies, on anyone who “supports” women by falsely demonizing men.

letters in response to issac rosenberg and rory breasail’s letters about my letter “If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.” Doubly so if the lie can be made into a sound bite. Rosenberg asserts that women commit very little serious violence, and if they do, it is almost always in self-defense. Breasail asserts that women make 80 per cent of what men do when working in the same job, with the same hours.

These statements are completely false.

The so-called wage gap does not take into account hours worked per week, nor does it account for different occupations. It compares secretaries with sanitation workers, 35 hours per week with 50 hours per week. You may verify

— Cel Rince

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