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How would you like $1000/year towards your education? We look at Ignatieff’s new campaign promise. Page 3
the ubyssey
MARCH 31, 2011 volume 92, number xlivii room 24, student union building published mondays and thursdays feedback@ubyssey.ca
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BRYCE WARNES culture@ubyssey.ca Forum! Forum! We have a forum! Back in the good old days, when people on the internet were uniformly pale-faced lonely bachelors with Cheeto-stained pube-staches and niche tastes in hentai, forums were the main variety of online community. Before Facebook or Twitter had real-life friends and family members swapping pictures and text, groups of people gathered via CRT screens and dial-up modems to discuss their favourite hobbies, games and obsessions. Forums aren’t as central to the online experience as they used to be, but they were never phased out completely, and they still form the
backbones of active online communities. In June of 2010, a forum designed for UBC students appeared, appropriately titled UBC Life. It was immensely popular for two days, after which it was taken down hours after UBC announced they were investigating. Enter The Ubyssey Forum. The latest extension of your student newspaper is a place where anyone attending UBC can meet and discuss every aspect of the student experience, from Pit Night fashion atrocities to sexy professors. There’s room for off-topic conversation, too, in case you need to find a ride share for Sasquatch Festival or share your Gregor Robertson erotic fan fiction. The design is simple and the technology is
nothing new, but our forum has everything you need to connect with other UBC students. There’s potential for great things here, people (and the potential that we quietly forget about this project in a couple of months), but keep in mind: just because you’ve got a computer and you’re a big kid who knows lots of cuss words doesn’t mean you get to go around acting like a jerk bag. If you plan on trollin’, you best keep rollin’. Our mainframe police have been trained in snuffing out flamewars and no ass-foolery will be tolerated. But if you’re looking for a hip, fresh and totally radical time, you can double-click your cyber-browser to forum.ubyssey.ca. We’ll see you... on the internet! U
2 / u b y s s e y. c a / e v e n t s / 2 0 11 . 0 3 . 31 march 31, 2011 volume xcii, no xlivii editorial coordinating editor
Justin McElroy : coordinating@ubyssey.ca
news editor
Arshy Mann : news@ubyssey.ca
assistant news editor
Kalyeena Makortoff : kmakortoff@ubyssey.ca
senior news writer
Micki Cowan : mcowan@ubyssey.ca
culture editors
Jonny Wakefield & Bryce Warnes : culture@ubyssey.ca
senior culture writer
Ginny Monaco : gmonaco@ubyssey.ca
culture illustrator Indiana Joel : ijoel@ubyssey.ca
sports editor
Marie Vondracek : sports@ubyssey.ca
features editor
Trevor Record : features@ubyssey.ca
photo editor
Geoff Lister : photos@ubyssey.ca
editor’s note In our last issue, we published a supplement on the Downtown Eastside which was written entirely by members of Humanities 101, a UBC program that provides free education to DTES residents. While we enjoyed being able to show students first-person perspectives of DTES issues, the head of Humanities 101 was extremely disappointed with the final product. They were under the impression that they would receive four full pages, including two colour pages in the middle of the paper, and that none of the design they submitted would be altered.
events ongoing events
multimedia editor
Ubyssey Production • Come help us create this baby! Learn about layout and editing. Expect to be fed. • Every Sunday and Wednesday, 2pm.
associate multimedia editor
resource groups • Are you
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contributors Catherine Guan Jon Chiang Michael Cheung
Karina Palmitesta Will McDonald
Unfortunately, difficulties with the placement of paid advertisements meant we could not give the supplement two colour pages, and instead would have to spread their content over five pages. As a result, pages had to be redesigned. While The Ubyssey has full and final control over all content published in our paper, we regret that the students in Humanities 101 were unable to have a colour centre-spread of their work, as they believed would happen. As a result, we have decided to reprint part of the Humanities 101 content today as a centre-spread, unaltered from what they sent us.
working on a progressive project, but need funding? Do you have an idea, but can’t get it off the ground? Apply to the Resource Groups for funding! Come in, pitch your idea to us and we will consider fully or partially funding your project. • Every Monday, 11am in SUB 245 (second floor, north-east corner). For more info email resourcegroups.ams@gmail. com. p o t t e ry s a l e at sprou t s •
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.
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.
10am–7pm, UBC Thunderbird Park, $51–$100, equipment not provided, go to rec.ubc.ca for more information.
Capoeira Angola Study Group, Anna Baignoche and Aquizamin Garcia. • 8–10pm, Roy Barnett Recital Hall, Music building.
monday, apr. 4
wednesday, apr. 6
UBC C A M P 2 C A M P US R EFUGEE EVENT • H a v e y o u e v e r
my neighbor, my killer • My
saturday, apr. 2
wondered how the 42 million people fleeing from conflict and war live? On Monday, April 4, a coalition of UBC student groups is putting on a day time interactive display to show the work of MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in refugee camps. In the evening, MSF field worker Sharon Janzen will give an amazing talk on her experiences; workshops and an expert panel on refugee rights issues will follow. Delicious dinner and dessert will be ser ved! • 9 am – 4pm, SUB North Concourse, 5 –10pm, Hillel House.
spring fever softball • Spring
tuesday, apr. 5
sonic boom a cappella • Sonic
Boom a cappella is a student organized choir of UBC music students and students from several academic faculties across campus. They will be performing songs by Bruno Mars, Sara Bareilles, Michael Jackson, Cee Lo Green, Katy Perry and more! • 8–9:30pm, U B C O l d A u d ito ri u m, $ 5 students, $7 non-students.
is in full swing, so dust off your mitt and get ready to play some softball. Bases, game balls and catcher’s masks will be provided. Players must bring their own bats and gloves. CoRec teams of 12 to 15 participants only. Close out the school year in style, as this tournament is a sure-fire home run! • Register by Mar. 25, roster due by Mar. 28.
a f r o - bra z i l i a n s u i t e • A journey through the African roots of Brazilian music. AfroBrazilian Suite was composed by Juan Diego Diaz M. It is a five-movement piece inspired by samba, capoeira, sacred candomble rhythms, funk and jazz. Featuring UBC Jazz Big Band Ensemble, Sambata, UBC
Neighbor, My Killer is an award winning documentary film by Anne Aghion on the Gacaca (local courts) Justice in Rwanda. Literally meaning “ j u s t i c e o n t h e g r a s s ,” Gacaca is a form of citizenb ased transitional justice which Rwandans decided to put into place in an attempt to deal with the crimes of the 1994 genocide. • 5–9pm, Liu Institute for Global Issues, reception to follow.
thursday, apr. 7 ams block party • The AMS Block Party is an event by UBC students, for UBC students and the campus community that brings students and friends together in a celebration of a year completed and a summer soon to start. This year’s bands include Switch, Felix Cartal, Rye Rye, Team Canada DJ’s and My!Gay!Husband! • 19+ event, 2–8pm, MacInnes Field, $15 at the Outpost starting Apr. 4, go to amsblockparty.com for more information.
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.
Not very many issues left, so send us your events before April 14. events@ubyssey.ca Canada Post Sales Agreement #0040878022
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2 011 . 0 3 . 31 / u by 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
Liberals hope to woo students with education plan Arshy mann news@ubyssey.ca With his first major policy announcement of their campaign, Michael Ignatieff is hoping to give students one billion reasons to vote Liberal this time around. If elected, the Liberals are promising a billion-dollar “Passport to Education” program that would give at least $4000 to all students pursuing a post-secondary degree. Students would receive $1000 up-front every year, for up to a total of $4000, to help pay for their education. Lower income students would be given $1500 a year—$6000 in total. “This is at the heart of the Liberal vision,” Ignatieff said at Sheridan College in Ontario, before flying to Vancouver. In order to receive the money, students would have to open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) account, although they would not be required to deposit any money into it. Ignatieff is proposing to pay for the program by cancelling the Conservatives’ corporate tax cuts, as well as by axing existing education and textbook tax
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff. Alex Smyth Photo/The Fulcrum
credits, which currently cost Ottawa around $450 million. “We can do this because we aren’t going to give the corporations a tax break,” he said. Both the Conservatives and the NDP have taken aim against the program. Prime Minister Stephen Harper harped against the initiative for the cancellation of tax credits. “In trying to promise billions for education, if you read Ignatieff’s plan thoroughly, it said that
they would take away tax breaks for students and parents’ of students to pay for their program… in other words, raise their taxes,” said Harper at a campaign rally in Winnipeg. The NDP’s Jack Layton argued that the “Passport to Education” would do little to address rising tuition costs. “If tuition goes up by $1000 at the same time you are receiving the $1000, you are no further ahead,” he said.
Joyce Murray, the Liberal MP for Vancouver-Quadra, which includes UBC, argued that the plan will make a real difference. “This actually directly addresses the cost of tuition because this is money that students will get up-front, as opposed to tax credits that may come months or a year after they needed to write the cheque,” she told The Ubyssey. “This puts money right in their pocket, tax-free.” Murray, who is running for re-election, said that this announcement demonstrates that the Liberals are the party that takes education most seriously. “We’ve seen that the Conservatives want to put $17 billion into expanding the prison system. We think it’s a lot more important to assist young people to get further education.” She said that the “Passport to Education” is only one plank of the Liberals’ comprehensive learning agenda that also includes support for First Nations students, programs to teach new Canadians necessary skills and funding more childcare spaces. Iggy touches down in GVRD
After making his education announcement, Ignatieff flew
across the country to Vancouver, where he held an event at Langara College and a campaign rally in Richmond. The Liberal Party of Canada provided buses to send students from UBC to the latter. UBC Young Liberal President Stewart McGillivray estimated that around 50 or 60 UBC students attended the event. “It was a strong turnout from UBC, as well as the other universities in town,” he said. According to McGillivray, “people were buzzing with the new announcement” at t he event. “[Access to education has] always been a statement of principle, so now we’re saying…how you get there. [The Liberals] are saying anyone who wants to and is able to go get a post-secondary education, the government will stand there with you,” he added. “Part of it is just launching off of a very simple thing, which is a slogan Ignatieff has been using for a while now, which is, ‘If you get the grades, you get to go.’ “Youth turnout is tremendously low and I think the kind of policies we’re unrolling now are the kind of thing that can counter that.” U
News is always looking for contributing writers. Spread the word about the latest happenings on campus. Our last issue is on April 14. Come in to volunteer before then and you’ll get free dinner! justin mcelroy | coordinating@ubyssey.ca
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4/ubyssey.ca/humanities/2011.03.31
take the cotton out of your ears, put it in your mouth & LISTEN... LISTEN... LISTEN...
Anything other than construction by Victor Jean, Hum 101 student
Being a Hum student for the past little while, I have had a wealth of unexpec week we touch on a specific topic ranging from Feminism to Architecture to really opened my mind as to how much knowledge there is on campus, and w about.
Hum has been a lot of fun - going to MOA was one of the highlights of this y Much is said by many about the Downtown Eastside; less often are local residents liswide range of topics is the most fantastic part of the Programme. I never tho tened to. On these pages, you’re invited to listen to their voices, to read their words, to hear taking part in anything other than construction. It’s a really sweet deal to hav about what’s wanted and needed, and how to go about doing it – read local knowledge and exnever have had the opportunity otherwise. pertise, lust for learning, and non-judgemental lively approaches which light up ways of practising self-determination, for starters. Contributors are active in the Humanities 101 Community Programme – ‘Hum’ for short – a 12 year old Faculty of Arts programme which runs free courses at UBC with residents of the Downtown Eastside + Downtown South (DTES/South), ongoing Public Programmes at Carnegie Centre and the Gathering Place, and attracts education activists from within and without this university. Check out our website to learn more about the Programme, our Steering Committee of Hum students and alumni which guides all aspects of the Programme, and other organizations which contributors work with in the DTES/South and surrounding areas. http://humanities101arts.ubc.ca People with diverse backgrounds and knowledge, aged 20 to 80, who enjoy and value being
People with diverse backgrounds and knowledge, aged 20 to 80, who enjoy and value being part of intellectual and activist communities. part of intellectual and activist communities. Living With Low Incomes With/Out Homes: Homelessness by Pat Haram, DTES resident and Hum alumna, participant & mentor in
The Downtown Eastside (DTES) is now well known in the media through
owntown Eastside (DTES) is now well known in the media through worldwide worldwide and it now impossible tothe be DTES. ignorant of the homeless ge, and it is now impossiblecoverage, to be ignorant ofisthe homeless within re the homeless?within Wherethe is their support coming WhereWhere is theirisvoice? In DTES. Who are the from? homeless? their support coming from? say I consider homelessness from the point of view of someone who has been Where is their voice? In this essay I consider homelessness from the point of ess. I look at the effects on women residing in the DTES, especially in terms of someone been homeless. I look atCentre, the effects on women rerding, storage, view medical attention,who the has Downtown Eastside Women’s s, government intervention action, and the pros and cons of the Tent storage, City siding in theand DTES, especially in terms of hoarding, medical attenDTES during thetion, 2010the Olympics. I knowEastside that many First Nations people live on government interDowntown Women’s Centre, shelters, ES, some are homeless, all have a right to adequate housing of their choice, and action, and theway Tent City onthem. the DTES during the 2010 Olympics. deserve to livevention in a dignified and justifiable that suits
I grew up. The DTES Women’s Centre supplies women with medical attention from the Street Nurse, plus meals, clothing and advocacy support. Although these services are helpful, they do not supply all the needs that are necessary. There is a need for counseling for women, and other ways to understand what comes out of being homeless for long periods of time. Shelters The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre did provide a shelter about a few years ago, and that worked well for a 6 month period, with funding from the government. There were meals and soups served and clothing available on a daily basis. There are kitchens and available agencies around the DTES to help women deal with the homeless situation, and we really need 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.
I know that many First Nations people live on the DTES, some are homeless,
orld is changing all andhave we must keepto ourselves informed at all see where a right adequate housing of costs theirtochoice, and all deserve to live essness is going. This is a tough issue and being part of that change is not an in a dignified and justifiable way that suits them. ne. Though there is increasing awareness of homelessness, I am also concerned what happens when someone who was living without a home becomes housed. I e that it’s very important to is make certainand that we people who haveourselves been homeless The world changing must keep informed at all costs to ked at afterwards to see how they are coping and managing with the changes see where homelessness is going. This is a tough issue and being part of that ngs, which can also be challenging.
change is not an easy one. Though there is increasing awareness of home-
constitutes homelessness its many about faces? what Does ithappens just reside in someone who was lessness, and I amwhat alsoare concerned when ES, or is it in many other communities? Having been in that situation myself living without a home becomes housed. I believe that it’s very important to out 3 months, I can say I would not want to be there again for any reason, even make certain that people have been people homeless are looked at afterwards Many people like to think the homeless are awho bunch of bums, incapable ing a job, with to mental health issues the and list goes on. I had none these this brings, which see how they are and coping managing with theofchanges ms and still found without a place to live. Many people end up staying canmyself also be challenging. rarily with someone, or ‘couch surfing’ as it is being called – myself, I was on ther’s couch for about 2 months. For some, this is just the first stage of being ess. What comesWhat after constitutes that is the most difficult partand of the process. find- faces? Does it just homelessness what are After its many self back in the reside stream of I could what my life in things, the DTES, or not is itbelieve present in other manyareas otherofcommunities? Having been anged. There are many aspects of homelessness. Let us look at a few of them.
in that situation myself for about 3 months, I can say I would not want to be there again for any reason, even briefly. Many people like to think the ng: s many individuals years to having incapable been homeless homeless areovercome a bunchthe of effects bums, ofpeople of holding a job, with or a short period of time. In the back of your head you keep wondering, will mental health issues and the list goes on. I had none of these problems pen again? Maybe next time I won’t be so lucky and will end up in hospital and myself a place live. people end up staying ething. This fear of still beingfound without safetywithout and security can to lead youMany to hoard to keep what temporarily you need near yousomeone, so that you that you will with or know ‘couch surfing’ as not it ishave being called – myself, I elongings taken from you for whatever reasons. In the east side of Vancouver, was on my brother’s couch for about 2 months. For some, this is just the first ’s belongings are often thrown out when they are evicted or lose their housing. of things being are homeless. comeswhich afterjust thatreinforces is the most difficult part of e seems to carestage if these of valueWhat to anyone, ue that there should be guidelines place to protect people’s possessions if things, I could not the process. Afterinfinding myself back in the stream of re without homes. believe what other areas of my life had changed. There are many aspects of homelessness. Let us look at a few of them. e:
people need to put things in storage lockers so they are kept safe at least until s some place toHoarding put yourself in a home. I had my belongings in a locker for 3 s and prayed each month that I would find some kind of job to be able to pay takes many individuals years overcome effects of having been m and not loseItthem altogether. The end result wasto $300 from startthe to finish homeless for aI cried shortwhen period of time. In the back of your head you keep retrieved my items out ofeven a locker. I had them brought into my fter not having wondering, seen them forwill 3 months. Whatagain? does the government do to Ihelp it happen Maybe next time won’t be so lucky and uals who are in this position? What is needed here is some place to keep items will end up in hospital or something. This fear of being without safety and t being charged if you are homeless.
security can lead you to hoard things, to keep what you need near you so
l Attention: that you know that you will not have your belongings taken from you for l attention is vital to those who have been homeless even for a small amount whatever reasons. In the east side of Vancouver, people’s belongings are e. Having been in need of medical attention myself, I am certain I am not the out when theyupare or lose their housing. No one seems ne who is at risk.often After thrown homelessness, a follow by evicted a medically trained person cessity. It is important people get some of medical attention to see to carethat if these things are kind of value to anyone, which justif reinforces the issue ave been over-exposed to the elements and to check any other problems which that there should be guidelines in place to protect people’s possessions if rom severely inadequate housing, as well as medical conditions they may have they are without homes.Medical attention is a priority after viduals including diabetes and addictions. essness, and also the need for food and social interaction that is not just about encies and survival instincts. Storage
Government Intervention The Government spends countless 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 is the NDP representative for Parliament in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and has been for 14 years. Libby does her best to get action going on these matters, and last year did a fast outside Carnegie Centre to represent how she felt regarding homelessness. Her actions speak louder than words, and I am glad she has the people on her side and vice versa. She has put forward Bill C-304 “An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians” which is for a National Housing Strategy to be put in place. We are all behind you, Libby! Keep fighting for the rights of all! I now live in secure social housing, but there are still people homeless out there who are in high risk situations.
Moving to the DTES
by Maryanna Aston Moore, DTES resident and Writing participant What is to be done? During the Olympics in February of last year, a Tent City was organized in a local parking area in the east side of VancouI movedwere to theFirst DTES approximately 5 years I moved into an old at slumlordver. Some of the main organizers Nations women from the ago. Power of Women group the Downtown Eastside ruled building I was shocked. I was at the poverty, and gaining also thepublicity for this Women’s Centre. During our time there, and I wondered what the end shocked result would be, other than level of misunderstanding I came from acrossthe when I wouldand tellthe individuals act? Hopefully for people to realize the real need herethat for support community government, and for the who knew me that I was living in the DTES. I had to go for brain world in general to realize this is the predominant problem of this decade, and not just here, butsurgery throughout the world. and also I had to get some extreme dental work done at Vancouver General Hospital. Once I made my address known to people who knew me there, I What do you think? was amazed, shocked, and horrified at some of the language surrounding I think that homelessness does not have to be a way of life, but we need help of all individuals well as the governtheir the understanding of what aslifement to help solve this important problem. I do not have the answers to alland the circumstance homeless situations, style I had but putI do believe that solutions are out there if only government policy is put into place that doesin notbydistrust who is in need. myself movingthe toindividual that area. First of all I want to state that I was not suffering so much, in the slumlord-ruled building, but it brought an awareness to me, one that I had never been exposed to when I was growing up in different countries throughout my life, and that is that no matter how poor one might be, we all deserve to live with dignity, Drug Addiction we all deserve to live in homes that by Lorna Jean Johnson, East Vancouver resident and participant inare Writing & Writing clean, we all Seminar, deserve Steering to have Committee clean meals, healthy meals, we all member deserve to have access to education, to understanding, and to freeDrug addiction may be beneficial for society, but it isn’t good for the individual. Obedient citizens are what government predoms. Through the Humanities class fers. It is much easier for the community to turn people into complacent addicts having that drug I have put by myself in licensed recentlydoctors prescribe the drugs. Few people care enough about these addicts to “undo” thedoors dependence upon prescription medication. It is more of opportunity are opening important, from a cost perspective, to help addicts on illegal streetto drugs. These addicts createfor a greater me which were closed vari- financial drain reasons in my life – raising chil- level addiction, upon society. Government puts cost ahead of quality of life, so more ous money is spent on dealing with street dren, getting sick, losing my townand seniors with addictions are ignored. house, losing belongings - at many times I felt that I was Our society accepts the addicted seniors. Seniors living alone can have problems if they run never out of going prescribed drugs, like to be able to pursue an education benzodiazepines. The withdrawal causes seizure-like spasms and requires a trip to the doctor. More medication is needed to because of the lack of money. This prevent withdrawal symptoms from continuing to occur. In a Seniors’ program, Home, medication supervised. The the UBC’sis Humanities 101 sedative side effects of benzodiazepines create very complacent seniors. Medication is provided byProgramme a doctor, so has this opened keeps our seniors off the Community corner of Main and Hastings. The dignity of a prescription in hand, andup drugs handed out infor blue bottles doors not only myself towith re- childproof tops. new my interest in education, but it’s anger provided opportunities so care if the drugs Those citizens addicted to illegal street drugs bear the brunt of society’s and disgust. Dealersfor don’t many of us to reignite those wonare addictive. Turning a single mother into an addict doesn’t faze the street dealer. There are very few well run rehabilitaderfulthe skills, tion centers for the recovering street drug addict to live in. Studies show brainthose needswonderful more andideas, more drugs over time, those wonderful memories that lay 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 within us for the ability to learn and for drugs, because the pain of withdrawal is worse than death to him.grow. ThereI feel is noblessed dignity and in this lifestyle. honoured to
Powerful voices project an image of us Powerful voices project an image of us which drowns us out. which drowns us out.
TION TION
MINA MINA
SELF SELF
DETER DETER
Often people need to put things in storage lockers so they are kept safe. I had my belongings in a locker for 3 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 3 months. What does the government do to help individuals who are in this position? What is needed are places to keep items without being charged if you are homeless. Medical Attention Medical attention is vital to those who have been homeless even for a small amount of time. Having been in need of medical attention myself, I am certain I am not the only one who is at risk. After homelessness, a follow up by a medically trained person is a necessity. It is important that people get some kind of medical attention to see if they have been over-exposed to the elements and to check any other problems which come from severely inadequate housing, as well as for medical conditions they may have as individuals including diabetes and addictions. Medical attention is a priority after homelessness, and also the need for food and social interaction that is not just about emergencies and survival instincts. DTES Women’s Centre Homelessness has affected many women in the community, some running from abusive situations, and some finding themselves without a home after years of having a place to call home. I have volunteered at the DTES Women’s Centre (DEWC) for five years, since moving back to this area where
WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY!
and its Effects on Women Residing in the DTES
With Low Incomes With/Out Homes: Homelessness and its effects on Hum 101, Hum 201 & Writing, Steering Committee member n residing in the DTES Haram
be here in the program and I want Some addicts need lifetime supported housing, because they aren’t able to stay off drugs theiraren’t own. Providing this option to let others knowonwho familiar with of the DTES thatsociety. there are means the addict will be able to go to school or work and be an accepted member mainstream Many addicts would many individuals, as there welcome this option, because they want to give up drugs. The addictsmany who prefer not to quit using are aare tougher challenge. in other parts will of town, whotoare in-individuals. They Society decides what the penalties are for drug use, and how much social assistance be given these telligent, witted, conhave shortened lives and must interact with violent dealers to keep using drugs.determined, It is a frightening choice. scientious and hopeful for a bright future before them. Seniors and others addicted to prescription drugs usually stay addicted for life. Celebrity rehab doesn’t exist for the ordinary person. Some people spend the rest of their lives without much joy or energy because sedation and depression are often side effects of their medications. The complacent, fatigued and quiet individuals don’t set off any alarm bells in society. No-one cares if these people spend many hours alone because they aren’t causing unseemly ripples in the fabric of the community.
The 12 Key Actions
Moving to the DTES
by Maryanna Aston Moore, DTES resident and Writing participant
cted knowledge placed in my lap. Every o Political Science to Philosophy. It has what learning at ‘university level’ is all
homeless. I look at the effects on women residing in the
of hoarding, storage, medical attention, the Downtown 1. Build social housing for low-income people shelters, government intervention and action, and the pro 2. Tackle systemic poverty on the DTES during the 2010 Olympics. I know that many 3. Stop gentrification: a process that has some happened in hundreds the DTES, are homeless, all have of a right to adequa andpeople all deserve to live a dignified and justifiable way th cities around the world when richer push outinpoorer people in a community, and property values increase. The world is changing and we must keep ourselves inform 4. Improve safety by working with police tois provide homelessness going. Thisa isbetter a toughunissue and being pa easy one. perspective, Though there is increasing of homele derstanding of DTES residents from their dealing awareness with about what happens when someone who was living without security guard harassment, non-resident drinkers, and replacing believe that it’s very important to make certain that peop the illegal drug market with a legal market based ontohealth hu-are coping and are looked at afterwards see how+they man rights principles this brings, which can also be challenging. 5. Improve health services constitutes homelessness and what are its many fa 6. Support and fund DTES arts & What culture the DTES, or is it in many other communities? Having be 7. Develop an economy that serves and for about employs 3 months, I local can sayresidents I would not want to be there briefly. Many people like to think thesafe, homeless are a bunch 8. Ensure public spaces are public, not gated, sufficient, of holding a job, with mental health issues and the list go and welcoming problems and still found myself without a place to live. M 9. Keep towers out and retain heritage buildings temporarily with someone, or ‘couch surfing’ as it is bein 10. Involve DTES residents in neighbourhood decisions my brother’s couch for about 2 months. For some, this is homeless. What comes after that is the most difficult par 11. Attract more children ing myself back in the stream of things, I could not believe 12. Create a DTES image that honours & respects low-income had changed. There are many aspects of homelessness. Le residents. Hoarding:
takes many individuals years to overcome the effects The DTES low-income communityIthas a right to exist in Vancouver even for a short period of time. In the back of your head + to seek improvements for itself;it residents themselves, with happen again? Maybe next time I help won’t be so lucky a from government, will be able to strengthen theirsafety and secu or something. Thisand fear improve of being without things, on to keep what youare need near you so that you kn already strong community by building assets that currently your belongings taken from you for whatever reasons. In present. http://ccapvancouver.wordpress.com/ccap-reports people’s belongings are often thrown out when they are ev
No one seems to care if these things are of value to any the issue that there should be guidelines in place to prot they are without homes.
PaulR Taylor, DTES resident, volunteer editor of the Carnegie
Newsletter for 24+ years, publisher Storage: of Help in the Downtown Eastside Often people need thingsalumnus in storage lockers so they (free resource guide in English, French & Spanish) forto 20put years, there is some place to put yourself in a home. I had my b of Hum 101, Writing 101 & current participant in Hum 201
months and prayed each month that I would find some ki
for them and not lose them altogether. The end result w until IPiper retrieved myFred, items out a locker. I cried when I I sold former UBC President Martha and heroftravel suite after not having seen them for 3 months. What does companion, copies of “The Heart of the Community: The Best individuals who are in this position? What is needed here i of the Carnegie Newsletter,” without (Taylor, Paul. (ed.) Star being charged if youNew are homeless. Books, Vancouver, 2003) and asked her to introduce it around Medical Attention: as our contribution to your education. Following that, two Medical attention is vital to those who have been homele profs added it to their recommended lists. Maybe one attention myself of time. reading Having been in need of medical only one is ator risk. homelessness, or a hundred of you should check itwho out, atAfter least go to a follow up by is a necessity. It is important that people get some kind of http://www.carnnews.org. Youthey will bebeen amazed. have over-exposed to the elements and to chec
come from severely inadequate housing, as well as medica as individuals including diabetes and addictions. Medical homelessness, and also the need for food and social intera emergencies and survival instincts.
Downtown Eastsiders know what they want and need, and practise self-determination.
“In Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, there is a high percentage of seniors, Aboriginal people, people of Chinese ancestry, people with mental and physical disabilities, and people who use illegal drugs. The DTES is a non judgmental community where many people are accepting, empathetic, caring, and volunteer in many capacities. There is also a tremendous community spirit and a history of the community fighting for its basic human rights. In the 1930s unemployed men rallied in the DTES before going to Ottawa to seek work and wages. In the 1960s residents stopped a freeway from bisecting the community. In the ‘70s they fought for a community centre, better housing and neighbourhood improvements. In the ‘80s they occupied waterfront land until the city developed CRAB Park and worked for more social housing. In the ‘90s they fought for North America’s first safe injection site and to demand that police find missing and murdered women from the neighbourhood. In the ‘90s they occupied Woodwards to demand social housing. Now the fight continues for more decent housing, higher incomes and to slow gentrification which is pushing low income residents out and destroying many community assets.” “Downtown Eastside Fact Sheet” CCAP http://ccapvancouver.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/dtes-fact-sheet-nt.pdf
70% of DTES residents live on low incomes. Income Assistance (welfare) is $610 month minus rent ($375-$425). Minimum wage is $8 hr. About 700 people live in the DTES without homes. Gentrification is a process that has happened in hundreds of cities around the world when richer people push out poorer people in a community, and property values increase; its effects ripple out; it displaces people from their homes, neighbourhoods and communities. It need not happen. Vancouver East MP Libby Davies’ Affordable Housing Bill is soon 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:
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.
MINA
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
DETER
These stories date back to the 70s. I think at that time there might not have been as many poor people and homeless people in Vancouver, or in any of the rich developed countries. A lot of data shows that more and more urban poverty issues are emerging in these so-called big rich cities. The free food event in Vancouver may be just a sign of social economic disparity. Apparently about 200 people regularly get free food at the Food Corner and the number is increasing. It somehow rings a bell about inequality of the social economy in our society, especially in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.
Based on over two years of intensive work with 1,200 low-income Low DTES Incomes With/Out Homes: Homelessne DTES residents & in co-operationLiving withWith many organizations, women residing in the DTES the Carnegie Community Action by Project’s Pat Haram “Community Vision for Change in the Downtown Eastside” puts forth these 12 key The Downtown Eastside (DTES) is now well actions as the foundation and guide for future development in known in the coverage, and it is now impossible to be ignorant of the the DTES. Research by CCAP’s Wendy Pedersen and Jean Swanson, Who are the homeless? Where is their support coming fro June 2010 this essay I consider homelessness from the point of view
SELF
WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY! WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY!
WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY!
I moved to the DTES approximately 5 years ago. I moved into an old slumlordruled building and I was shocked. I was shocked at the poverty, and also the level of misunderstanding that I came across when I would tell individuals who knew me that I was living in the DTES. I had to go for brain surgery and also I had to get some extreme dental work done at Vancouver General year. The fact that we get to explore a Hospital. Once I made my address known to people who knew me there, I ought I would be out at the UBC campus was amazed, shocked, and horrified ve this course open to those who would at some of the language surrounding their understanding of what Food Line lifestyle and circumstance I had put by Willie Li, DTES resident, participant & mentor in Hum101/201 & myself in by moving to that area. Writing, Steering Committee member First of all I want to state that I was The sidewalk in front of the Provincial Court at Main Street and not suffering so much, in the slumCordova is much wider than other sidewalks. Sometimes reportlord-ruled building, but it brought ers, cameramen and people involved in particular court cases are an awareness to me, one that I had packed in. Most of these events take place during the day, but durnever been exposed to when I was ing the evening and weekends the sidewalk is mostly quiet, except growing up in different countries when the free food is given away. throughout my life, and that is that no matter how poor one might be, Every Saturday morning and Tuesday and Thursday evening, the we all deserve to live with dignity, free food event takes place on this sidewalk. Some local charities we all deserve to live in homes that come here for their mission and offer free food to those people who are clean, we all deserve to have live in the Downtown Eastside with low income status. There is a clean meals, healthy meals, we all bus stop nearby. I usually get off my bus every Tuesday and Thursdeserve to have access to educaday night after my class at UBC and I see a lot of people lining up tion, to understanding, and to freefor food - usually around 10:30 p.m. The street lights and security doms. Through the Humanities class lamps on the front of the buildings make the sidewalk area quite that I have put myself in recently, bright. I pass by the crowd and clearly see the people with their bodies standing in a long snaky line. They slowly wriggle their way doors of opportunity are opening forward and do little talking. The shadows on the ground coordito me which were closed for varinate with their movements, leaving the scrawled darkness on the ous reasons in my life – raising chilground. Some seagulls fly around, trying to get some human food. dren, getting sick, losing my townhouse, losing belongings; at many As I get used to seeing these scenes, it becomes such a natural times I felt that I was never going thing here. The free food event happens year round. Whether in to be able to pursue an education hot summers or windy, snowy winters, the charities come here for because of the lack of money. This their mission work. If it is a Saturday morning, a church band and program, the UBC’s Humanities 101 choir also come along with their hymns. For the people who get Community Programme, has opened free food here, this has become a routine in order to survive. They up doors not only for myself to rewould be in big trouble without this food. People call this spacious new my interest in education, but sidewalk area Food Corner. Many people in Vancouver know about it’s provided opportunities for so it. The Food Corner is somehow a symbol of God’s compassion and many of us to reignite those wonof the generous love of Jesus. Thank God for his great blessings, derful skills, those wonderful ideas, especially for the group of people living on low income here in the those wonderful memories that lay Downtown Eastside of Vancouver - a city which has been named within us for the ability to learn and most livable city in the world by The Economist. I don’t know if The grow. I feel blessed and honoured to Economist is aware that a lot of people are lining up for their food be here in the program and I want here. Many of the people lining up for free food are actually hometo let others know who aren’t faless. They have to spend about two or three hours waiting for free miliar with the DTES that there are food, but they are patient, calming their hearts by listening to, or many many individuals, as there are singing along with, the hymns. in other parts of town, who are intelligent, determined, witted, conThe food is usually from large stores like Safeway, Save-on-Foods, scientious and hopeful for a bright or other companies in the area. A wide variety of foods are infuture before them.
cluded: bread, pastries, fruit and vegetables, and even different types of drinks. All of these foods are due to expire in two or three days, or have already expired; but they are still edible. Some of these foods were priced very high when they were in the stores. Of course, nobody would touch them if they remained on the store shelves. In order to keep the food at the market price, store owners have to give those nearly expired foods away. Therefore, the stores usually give the food to charities. This demonstration of kindness and compassion may also make the rich business people feel good and charitable. It is good for the poor people to have free food available to meet their daily basic needs.
Powerful voices project an image of us
2011.03.31/ubyssey.ca/humanities/5
listen to the ways that downtown eastside/south residents practise self-determination because
WE WANT IT! our neighbourhoods And we want to stay in
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.
WE MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAIL
WE MANIFEST WEMANIFESTOS MANIFEST MANIFESTOS DAILY! DAILY!
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The Twitter of unrequited love Like a Little a new way for secret admirers to communicate Catherine Guan Contributor There, you have the dewy-eyed romantics, baiting their hook for love and laughter, sharing and caring, long walks and quiet talks. There, you have the perennial train wrecks with their plaintive cries of “Why doesn’t anyone love me?” And over yonder, a regular suggests that you should get together some time. Clothing optional. Last names unnecessary. You don’t need to troll the Pit Pub on Wednesday nights to observe the mating ritual of your fellow T-birds. LikeALittle. com, a more liver-friendly option, allows you to compliment a crush or bemoan a missed connection, all behind the anonymity of a computer screen. “We’d like to t hink of t he sit e a s a f l i r t i n g -f ac i l it a tor platform, or FFP, for advanced users,” said Evan Reas, who founded the site with a few friends while studying at Stanford. Just this December, Dillon Craig, a third-year film studies student at UBC, brought Like a Little to UBC’s campus. After signing on to the UBC homepage using a valid interchange email account, you can enter the gender, hair colour and location where you spotted the swoonworthy specimen, then follow with a flirty message. Other users can then send a reply, leave a comment or like the posting under a randomly generated fruit name, or ‘like’ the comment on Facebook. A typical posting may read: At IKB3: Female, Black hair. You’re in a blue sweater, laughing with another guy. I’ve loved you forever, why don’t you notice me?
Irving K. Barber Library is quickly emerging as a hub of love. “I guess there is a lot of procrastination going on there,” said Craig with a laugh. “It’s a good place for ‘bird watching,’ as they call it.” First-year Science student Genie Cheung had her tongue planted firmly in cheek when she made her first posting. “On Christmas Eve, I wrote a flirt to Santa Claus, caught red-handed in Irving Barber.” They range from salacious — At Room: Male, Black hair You got a nice rear end. —to earnest. At Class: Female, Black hair I skip class alot, but everytime I show up, you’re always there in the front row. I just want you to know that hair tuck thing you do behind your left ear is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen, and its probably costed me what little attention I had left. Others get brownie points for shooting from the hip: At WRCUP: Male, Blonde Culture Editor of Ubyssey. I just -want- him. The increasing popularity of online flirting has some worried. Have our social skills atrophied so much that we can’t engage in face-to-face banter? “I certainly think our generation is more prone to socializing on the internet,“ said Craig. “I just see it as a natural evolution in terms of how we communicate.” It does seem like a natural progression from cruising down Main Street for a piece of action during the automobile-crazed 50’s to trolling the waters of cyberspace in our times.
Like a Little has yet to incorporate a lipstick feature. Geoff lister photo / the ubyssey
The time for final exams is sneaking up on us. But according to Craig, there is no better time to start posting on Like a Little. Examination period last semester saw a surge in flirting activities
as students looked to ease their stress with a little loving. A word of advice from Reas: “Be cute, be genuine ... those are the types of posts that are most likely to get responses.”
“But remember,” said Cheung, “the first impression you make is related to how you communicate. If u sned a flrit liek dis den u r w8ting 4 a disastur 2 hapen.” U
We will pay you with touches.
volunteer for culture | culture@ubyssey.ca
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editorial ubc-o deserves a free press Connoisseurs of other campus papers in British Columbia (all six of you) might have been surprised to read a recent editorial from The Phoenix, the paper at our sister campus at UBC-Okanagan. In the editorial, The Phoenix made a public pitch to become independent from their student union. They wrote, among other things, that “The.Ubyssey Publication Society (UPS)...has offered to act in an advisory role to help us arrange our business office, and we are in discussions
to potentially enter into a partnership that will allow them to help us grow until we can stand on our own, as an independent and autonomous newspaper.” Wondering what they mean? Here is what’s going on. Like us, UBC-O students pay a dedicated fee for a campus paper—the “student media fund.” Unlike us, the fund is controlled by their student union, the UBC Students Union Okanagan (SUO). This creates interesting situations. For example, The Phoenix gives the SUO the back two pages of every issue for free, but are
charged a lease, as an external organization would be. They’re expected to be fair and balanced in their reporting, but the people holding the purse strings to The Phoenix are the same people that The Phoenix has a responsibility to report on. Understandably, this causes tensions, weird power dynamics and awkward conversations—especially when coverage of SUO politicians is not universally positive. This sort of situation is nothing new at campus papers in Canada. Virtually all are started through the student union, and remain
under their control until an inevitable conflict arises. Tensions are high for months, if not years, and both sides eventually realize that an autonomous press is the only long-term solution. The Phoenix is being proactive in requesting this before relations break down with the SUO. They’ve also been proactive in reaching out to us. We have a business office, full-time advertising representatives, knowledge of how to launch an independent paper— all things The Phoenix doesn’t have. We’re prepared to use
our resources to aid them in a non-financial fashion as they go through this tumultuous but necessary transition. We may occasionally tease our brethren at UBC-O for being our country cousins. But they, just like us, go to the University of British Columbia. They receive the same degree. And they deserve a free press. That’s why we’re proud to support The Phoenix in their quest for independence and will help them in any way we can. They deserve it. More importantly, so do UBC students. U
letters rince’s letters do no favours for ubyssey ’s rep. The Ubyssey is not doing Celestian Rince any favours by continuing to humour his ridiculous charade of concern. I am truly sick of turning to the Opinion section to find that, once again, someone thought it would be funny to publish his hateful, misogynistic screed. I generally enjoy student journalism, and I read The Ubyssey every [Monday] and Thursday, but I’m really disappointed at the attention the Opinion page has been giving him. Is it for a love of controversy, or a lack of other suitable letters? Please, if a lack of publishable material is the problem, plenty of interesting and provocative thoughts can be found here: www.xkcd.com. Randall Munroe welcomes you to reprint his work if you credit him. If it’s for a love of controversy, we could talk about how annoying all the construction on campus is, and demand our daily pedestrian commute be taken into consideration. But giving this guy more space in the Opinions page is simply alienating those of use who would otherwise enjoy our student newspaper. Please, next time Rince sends in a letter criticizing women for wanting equal rights or something equally ridiculous, do us all a favour and consider your readers. — Alexandra Lawson Editor’s Note: The Ubyssey has a policy of publishing, space permitting, all letters under 300 words sent in by students UCLA Girl going wild on Asians I was amused at the now viral YouTube video of UCLA student Alexandra Wallace’s rant about Asian people. It brought back many similar experiences of when I attended university. I
was surprised, though, at the reaction of people. Wallace was called a racist, ostracized and received death threats. However, if you ignore the fact that she’s white, blonde, has an annoying voice, big breasts, and is not the most eloquent person, she may actually have a point. In her YouTube video, she says she doesn’t have a problem with all the Asian people attending UCLA but she wishes they’d learn American manners. Is that too much to ask of people, whatever race they may be, to learn the values and culture of the country that was generous enough to give them citizenship and the benefits that come with it? Wallace says that the families of Asian students are always helping with cooking, cleaning and laundry. Her point is that the Asian students don’t learn to fend for themselves. Yes, she may have exaggerated her point a little but I don’t see anything wrong with telling people to leave the parents at home and take care of themselves. Wallace says Asians frequently chat on their cell phones while in the library, disrupting her studying. She advises them to go elsewhere. Nothing racist with that. I can’t tell you the number of times I was in the library studying, only to be interrupted by some person talking loudly with their friends. Unfortunately,s the person was almost always Asian. Wallace imitates an Asian person on the phone, saying, “Ching chong ling long….” How many times have we heard Jay Leno or Conan O’Brien imitate accents of other nationalities? Are they racist too? So Wallace has raised some good issues that my friends and I had beefs with while in university. So why all the backlash from people? I think her only crime may be that she is white and blonde. — Ethan Chan
UBYSSEY ELECTIONS! 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
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our campus
Marie Vondracek sports@ubyssey.ca This year’s UBC Rec Storm the Wall has brought out competitors of all sizes and vertical prowess. All week, entrants in teams of five have participated in either the competitive or “just for fun” categories. They divide the 225 metre swim, 450 metre sprint, 2.8 kilometre bike and one kilometre run amongst themselves before ‘storming’ the 12-foot wall together. Every year, the Thunderbird crosscountry and track team puts together a group to compete in the
varsity division. Crosscountry team captain Amelia Rajala said that the race is “more intense than any track meet all season.” The braver, or crazier, Iron Person or Super Iron Person competitors fly solo the whole way until they hurl themselves, usually in speedos, at the wall. Iron Persons can get help up the wall from one friend, while the Super Iron Persons are left to fend for themselves. The finals take place all day Friday, with the Iron Men and Women launching themselves at 12:20pm and 12:25pm respectively. U
Jon Chiang Photo/UBC REC
Check out our annual spoof issue coming out on Friday, April 1! justin mcelroy | coordinating@ubyssey.ca
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