2011.04.14 by The Ubyssey

volume 92, number li room 24, student union building published mondays and thursdays feedback@ubyssey.ca

Le av in g

th eb ub ble

Page 7

y e s s y b u e h t APRIL 14, 2011

Our graduation supplement shows the future isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that scary.

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wanna stop at all since 1918

2 / u b y s s e y. c a / e v e n t s / 2 0 11 . 0 4 . 14

events

april 14, 2011 volume xcii, no li editorial coordinating editor

ongoing events

news editor

Ubyssey Production • We’ve

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

got summer editions coming out starting on May 10, so stay tuned if you’re sticking around campus this summer.

copy editor

resource groups • Are you working on a progressive project, but need funding? Do you have an idea, but can’t get it off the ground? Apply to the Resource Groups for funding! Come in, pitch your idea to us and we will consider fully or partially funding your project. • Every Monday, 11am in SUB 245 (second floor, north-east corner). For more info email resourcegroups.ams@gmail. com.

multimedia editor

noon yoga $1 • Led by the UBC

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

production manager

Virginie Ménard : production@ubyssey.ca Kai Green : copy@ubyssey.ca Tara Martellaro : multimedia@ubyssey.ca

associate multimedia editor Stephanie Warren : associate.multimedia@ubyssey.ca

video editor

David Marino : video@ubyssey.ca

webmaster

Jeff Blake : webmaster@ubyssey.ca Room 24, Student Union Building 6138 Student Union Boulevard Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 tel: 604.822.2301 web: www.ubyssey.ca e-mail: feedback@ubyssey.ca

business Room 23, Student Union Building print advertising: 604.822.1654 business office: 604.822.6681 web advertising: 604.822.1658 e-mail: advertising@ubyssey.ca

business manager

Fernie Pereira : business@ubyssey.ca

print ad sales

Kathy Yan Li : advertising@ubyssey.ca

web ad sales

Paul Bucci : webads@ubyssey.ca

accounts

Alex Hoopes : accounts@ubyssey,ca

contributors Karina Palmitesta Colin Chia Charlie Beard Drake Fenton Sam Moore Cindy Choo Michael Cheung Gerald Deo

Catherine Lai

Chris Norris-Jones Sharon Doucet Caitlin Cromwell Aileen Laurel Amy Lai Will McDonald Komail Naqvi Kaori Inaoka

Yoga Club—all skill levels are welcome. Bring your own mat and enjoy this invigorating session. RSVP on the Facebook events page. • Tuesdays, 12–1pm, UBC Bookstore, $1. pottery sale at sprouts • The

UBC Pottery Club is now selling members’ work at Sprouts and has donated some pieces in return for space. It brings a new addition to the Sprouts atmosphere and allows potters sp a c e to showc ase their pieces. • Mon–Fri, 9:30am– 4pm, Sprouts, SUB basement. Grad Show 2008: SFU Visual Art Graduation Exhibition • The

School for the Contemporary Arts and the Audain Gallery are pleased to announce Grad Show 20 08, the 2011 graduation exhibition of undergraduate visual arts students. The title of this year’s show contextualizes a contemplation of the near past and the very recent, as the artists in this exhibition face the future. The apparent homage to 20 0 8 suggests an inadequate distance from 2011, yet at the same time demands a criticality above topicality. • Apr. 14–30, Tues– Sat, 12–6pm, Audain Gallery, SFU Woodward’s, 149 West Hastings St.

thursday, apr. 14 Co. ERASGA/Complot: EXpose • A

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.

powerful new full-length duet exploring sexuality, gender and identity, EXpose brings

together two exceptional male solo artists: Vancouver’s own Alvin Erasga Tolentino, artistic direc tor of C o. ER A S G A , whose sophisticated works have toured around the world; and M ar tin Inthamoussú, a driving force in Uruguay’s contemporary dance scene. T h e s e t wo c h a r i s m a t i c performers seek to expose the complexity of the personal and public territories within the gay psyche, creating a spellbinding theatrical and physical dialogue. • Apr. 14–16, 8pm, Scotiabank D a n c e C e ntre, $ 2 8 , $ 2 0 students/seniors, buy tickets at ticketstonight.ca.

saturday, apr. 16 f i l m s c r e e n i n g : Aa ki d eh •

‘Aakideh’ is an Ojibwe word meaning brave or brave-hearted. Artist Carl Beam earned a reputation for being fearless, v isi o n ar y an d ul tim atel y, unforgettable. From his early years growing up on Manitoulin Island to his turbulent years spent at a residential school, this documentary explores how these early experiences not only impacted Beam’s life but also his art. Screening time: 65 minutes. • 1pm, Museum of Anthropology, $14/$12 + HST.

wednesday, apr. 20 Soloists and Beauty Queens: The Look of Sound in Concert Performance • Stephen

Varcoe is one of Britain’s most distinguished baritones and professor at the Royal College of Music in London. He will be singing the central role of Christus in Bach’s “St Matthew Passion” at the Chan Centre on April 2. In this talk, Stephen will speak about the importance of visual presentation in musical performance, using videos and pictures as well as anecdotes from his long career as a performer. • 5 – 6pm, Coach House, Green College, free.

thursday, apr. 21 Music in the Museum: Melodic Birdsong • Heather Beaty is

a Masters student at UBC’s School of Music. She has performed internationally as well as with the Vancouver and UBC Symphony Orchestras. Accompanied by Scott Meek on

That’s all for events, folks. Don’t send them to us. Canada Post Sales Agreement #0040878022

events@ubyssey.ca

U theubyssey.ca

is invited to attend. Speakers include Barry O’Neil (CUPE BC) and Pierre Ouillet (UBC). • 11:15am–12:15pm, Rose Garden, meet at the flagpole at 11:15am.

piano, Beaty has chosen musical works to reflect springtime for an evening of music under the whale. • 7–9pm, doors open at 6pm, Beaty Biodiversity Centre. Free admission, register at biodiversity.ubc.ca/register.

saturday, apr. 30

Discover Dance! Arts Umbrella Dance Company • The energy and

Screenings at MOA: Festival of Anthropology Films • MOA

skill of a new generation takes the stage for this season’s final edition of the Discover Dance! series, when the exceptional young dancers of the Arts Umbrella Dance Company perform a varied and stimulating program of contemporar y ballets. Arts Umbrella’s dance programs are internationally recognized as training that develops the whole dancer, stressing technical strength, while embracing the importance of the intellectual and artistic elements of the art form. • 12pm, Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St, $10, $8 students. Buy tickets at ticketstonight.ca.

sunday, apr. 24 Get to Know: Open Art Studio • T he Be at y Bio diversit y

Museum is a proud partner in Robert Bateman’s Get to Know program, which encourages children and youth to become more familiar with the wildlife around them through the arts. In this series of drop-in studios, young adults and children with supervision are encouraged to draw from museum specimens and fresh plants. Art produced may be eligible to be entered into the Get to Know 2011 contest for the chance to win prizes. The studios are free with regular admission, and art supplies will be available. • Apr. 24, May 1, 8 & 15, 1–4pm, Beaty Biodiversity Centre. Cost included with museum admission. Go to beatymuseum.ubc.ca/eventsfor more information.

thursday, apr. 28 Memorial— National Day of Mourning • Every year, April 28

is recognized as the National Day of Mourning, a day that all workers remember those who have died or been injured on the job. The three Canadian Union of Public Employees locals (CUPE) at UBC are planning a memorial event that will take place in the Rose Garden. Everyone

and the UBC Ethnographic Film Unit host the fifth International F esti val of A nthro p o l o g y Films. The film unit draws upon the combined strengths of anthropologists, filmmakers, students and communit y members to explore issues of environmentally and socially responsible resource use. • 3–5pm, Museum of Anthropology, $14/$12 + HST, visit anthfilm.anth. ubc.ca for more details.

The Cobra and the Ibis: Magic and Mysticism in Ancient Egypt • In

Greco-Roman times, Egypt was a magnet for questers seeking higher knowledge. Its allure and legacy persist to this day. In this one-day course, explore two text collections that serve as windows into the soul of old Egypt: Papyri Graecae Magicae, a library of magicians’ spellbooks from Thebes and Corpus Hermeticum, an anthology of mystical teachings from Alexandria. • 10am– 4:30pm, Room 260, Irving K Barber Centre. $85, $75 seniors, call (604) 822-1444 to register.

2 011 . 0 4 .14 / 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

May rails against debate exclusion at VAG rally colin chia Contributor Excluding the Greens from the leadership debate is damaging to Canadian democracy, Elizabeth May declared at a rally on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery, just 24 hours before the English-language debate was set to take place. Attacking the broadcast consortium’s decision to exclude her from the televised debate, May pointed out that young voters were also hurt by the decision. “The largest proportion of the Canadian public who support the Green Party are young, and this decision will further disengage young people from the political process.” While May was able to fight her way onto the televised debates in the 2008 election, this election was a different matter. The Green’s inability to gain a single seat in parliament was the justification behind her exclusion. May says that protests votes will come in the form of Green votes in response. “For this election to be about real democracy, a lot of Canadians who usually don’t vote are going to have to get out and decide to send a message that democracy matters in this country, and they’re going to send that message by voting Green.” But May didn’t disregard the importance of voting, regardless of who was crossed off on the ballot, calling on supporters to get everyone they could to come out on voting day “I’m not even saying vote Green, just vote.” The lu ncht i me crowd of about 200 was receptive to the

May is trying to channel outrage over her exclusion from the leaders debates. Colin Chia Photo/The Ubyssey

message. “She was really wellspoken. I was pleased with it, because I want to vote Green,” said attendee Natalie Topper, a resident in Vancouver’s west end. Others in attendance praised the positive tone of May’s message and shared frustration at her exclusion from the televised debates. May said her platform has policies to benefit students as well, by increasing federal-provincial transfers of funds earmarked for education, “so universities and colleges don’t have to increase their tuition any more.” The Greens would also increase bursaries and scholarships and push for interest-free student loans, she said.

Students would also benefit from a national housing program to build more affordable housing, said deputy leader Adriane Carr. The Greens would reintroduce federal support for a summer jobs program which would subsidize employers to hire more students, Carr said, citing her son’s experience of working 20 hours a week on top of attending university. She said that she wants students to be able to “earn enough money in the summer to be able to pay for your year and have a life. “We have to inspire youth that there’s something worth voting for. People are turned off

by the politics that exist, and so are we.” Carr, who is running in Vancouver Centre, said of her own riding that she would “win in a landslide” if there was a large turnout of voters under 40. Getting young voters to feel “their own power and their ability to make change is critical.” Elizabeth May thinks youth engagement is important not just for the Greens, but for the sake of democracy as well. “We want to get young people to understand that when they don’t vote because they think that politicians are awful, they’re actually rewarding the most awful of the politicians, who don’t want them to vote.” U

NEWS BRIEFS AMS passes wage increases, excludes executives

In an emergency Council meeting held Monday, the AMS approved wage increases for all employees on the “student government” side of their organization, excluding the executives. This move was prompted by the Province’s incremental raise of minimum wage in BC, the first of which will come into effect this May. Although councillors were overwhelmingly in favour for raising the wages of AMS employees, the issue of raising executive wages part-way through t hei r t erms was fa r more controversial. Nick Frank, who headed the “No” campaign against the recent AMS referendum, said that while he was not opposed to increasing executive pay, he believed it should not come into effect until the next executive team took over next February. GSS councillor Allen Chen and Businesses and Facilities Committee Chair (BAFCOM) Dylan Callow created the proposal. They argued that if the lowest tier of wages went up, then all higher tiers should also rise, ensuring that people with more responsibilities weren’t being paid less than their subordinates. Chen made it clear that the plan to raise executive compensation came from BAFCOM and not the executives themselves. During the debate, VP Finance Elin Tayyar recommended that the proposed changes to executive pay, the most controversial part of the restructure, be cut from the motion. Council passed the staff increases unanimously. U

Conservatives pitch economic focus and job creation for students micki cowan mcowan@ubyssey.ca The Conservative Party plans to continue putting education on the back burner in favour of fostering economic growth in their platform. However, if you can make it through the increasingly expensive secondary school system, they promise a wealth of glorious jobs available to you. Deborah Meredith, the Conservative candidate for Vancouver Quadra, which includes UBC, said that they are focusing on making the economy strong to encourage job creation for students finishing their secondary education. “Many students now are coming on the job market and it’s not an easy one for students and I think they recognize an economy in the doldrums is not what they’re looking for,” she said. “They’re looking for prosperity because that’s going to be what enhances their long-term security and futures.” The Conservatives also are pitching out increased support for young entrepeneurs, exemptions that allow part-time

Campus conservatives with the PM. courtesy of Jason ranson/pmo

students to work without it affecting their loans and debt forgiveness for doctors and nurses who work in rural areas. Rather than focusing on student loans, Deanie Wong, president-elect of t he UBC Campus Conservatives and thirdyear political science student, agreed that it is the economy that students should be most concerned with after the 2008 economic meltdown. “Being responsible in how we spend our money and where should be

very key to students especially with graduation for some students coming up in May.” She said that it was the Conservative focus on the economy that attracted her to the party when she moved here from Hong Kong. “I read their platform many years back and I thought that a lot of what I cared about they cared about, especially small business— and immigration,” she said. “Nowadays their stance on the economy is very strong and I

completely agree with them. “[Students] want to be able to get jobs in the future and I think the Conservative Economic Plan has been able to ensure that those jobs are available for students.” But Donald Fisher, head of the department of educational studies, pointed out the link between higher education and economic development as an inconsistency in the Conservative plan. “We know the student debt load is increasing, as evidence has been really clear,” he said. “We need to make sure that everyone has the best possible opportunity to enter into the higher education system. Therefore, we need the federal government to be proactive.” Despite education being a provincial concern, Fisher said that the federal government works best when it intervenes to equalize opportunity for students and benefits across the government. “The best way that the federal government can do that, with regard to accessibility to students, is recognizing that as student fees have increased, that students just need more help to

enter and then graduate from a college or university.” The Conservatives plan to continue leaving undergraduate studies and tuition largely up to the provinces. “Tuition is always a concern, but of course tuition is generously subsidized by the provincial government,” said Meredith. In response to the AMS referendum question where 81 per cent of students who voted supported the AMS lobbying for lower tuition, Meredith said it didn’t surprise her. “If you’re paying it, you’d always like somebody else to be paying it.” She doubts the effectiveness of the Liberal promise for $1000 per student, per year of study, and said it would damage the economy and affect the job market negatively. “You don’t just all of a sudden of a windfall of money by raising corporate taxes. It just doesn’t work that way. “The thing that is most likely to benefit education, health care, the environment and every aspect of our lives is prosperity, and that depends on a very healthy economy,” said Meredith.

4 / u by s s e y. c a / n e w s / 2 011 . 0 4 .14

geoff lister photos/the ubyssey

undie run Overtakes campus

arshy mann news@ubyssey.ca On Monday evening, instead of hitting the books, students stripped down to their boxers, briefs and bras. The second annual UBC Undie Run, organized by the Ski and Board Club, ripped through campus like a scantily-clad hurricane. Hundreds of students, wearing exact ly what you would imagine, braved the evening chill and brazen stares as they sprinted, jogged, scurried and speed-walked in a loop around UBC. “I love this event and everyone should do this once in their undergrad degree,” said Liz Piccolo, a UBC student, in mid-stride. Dano Morrison, who spends too much of his time studying viruses, said, “This is the highlight of my week.” “I’ve never seen this much f lesh before,” he said as he jogged off. Beginning at midnight, the trek first took the nearly-naked scholars from the Knoll to the Place Vanier Residence.

Ea rl y on , a s t he g r oup trounced down University Boulevard, a few participants peeled away from the pack, while latecomers struggled to catch up, some stripping their clothes mid-run. The crowd was diverse in their choice of undergarments. Briefs, boxers, thongs, speedos, g-strings, corsets, jockeys and bras (of both the strapless, pushup and sport varieties) in an array of colours were unashamedly bared. Viking helmets and fake beards were also notable accessories. After start ling numerous first- and second-year students dozing before exams in Vanier’s Commons Block, the unruly mob shifted towards Irving K. Barber Library for a more conscious crowd. Entering through the south doors, students rushed up the stairs and occupied the third floor of the library, which was packed full of studious and fullyclothed students—not that most seemed to mind. “It’s awesome, man; that’s all I’m saying, it’s awesome,” said Sherman Morasaneshan, whose

cram session was interrupted by the horde. “This is best way to relieve stress. And [nobody] is now interested in studying for exams.” Students occupied the main staircase and began chanting “U-B-C! U-B-C!” as stunned onlookers took photos and videos. When a campus securit y guard, while locking the front doors of Irving K. Barber Library, was asked by The Ubyssey photo editor Geoff Lister if he had any comments, he stated that, “I’m going to have you criminally charged, because I saw you texting and I know what you were doing. “You were instructing them on how to get into the building. As far as I’m concerned, you are criminally liable,” he said, referring to the fact that the undie runners were first trying to get in the front doors, which security had blocked. Other security guards in the building were less fazed by the incident, and looked on with amusement. After about five minutes of intense chanting and shouting, the horde left the bewildered

“I’ve never seen this much flesh before.” “We are a very attractive campus.” students to their books, exiting the building and running back towards the Knoll. “I think this is a great event that shows UBC spirit and pride,” said former AMS President Mike Duncan, carrying a boombox astride his exposed torso. “We are...a very attractive campus,” he added. Instead of stopping at the Knoll, much of the crowd began streaming towards the outdoor pool, with hundreds clambering over the fence to jump in the balmy water. Others either watched from the other side of the chain-link fence or began peeling off from the group and returning to their homes. When asked what he thought of t h e e v e n t , Ju l i a n L a w replied,while lounging beside the fence, “It’s college…that’s what Hollywood told me [college would be like] and I’m just kind of happy t hat it’s halfass true.” After students splashed about in the water for around five minutes, sirens began to ring out. Many immediately bolted from the pool and climbed over the fence. Others, claiming that it

was campus security trying to scare them away, stayed in the water. One group found a ladder, propped it up against the diving boards and began lunging into the pool. After another two minutes, the pool had cleared completely. The RCMP arrived on the scene and began talking to students who had just exited the pool. They made no attempt to subdue the masses. Back at the Knoll, Mickey Henry, one of the organizers of the event, alongside a number of his friends, was gathering bags of clothes that were to be donated to the Development Disabilities Association. “We stripped down for charity to give all the clothes away to the DDA. And we’re just killing it every year,” he said. “No biggie.” When asked if he thought this was a campus tradition in the making, Henry was cocksure. “It’s two years in a row and nobody’s died so far,” he said. “We’re just stoked to have so much fun in the middle of exams when everybody’s stress-balling.”U

2 011. 0 4 .14 / u bys s e y.c a /c u lt u r e /5

culture

editorS BRYCE WARNES & JONNY WAKEFIELD » culture@ubyssey.ca SENIOR WRITER GINNY MONACO » gmonaco@ubyssey.ca ILLUSTRATOR INDIANA JOEL » ijoel@ubyssey.ca

One-liners on the 99 B-line

Wojtun doesn’t plan to trade his PA for microphone any time soon. Geoff Lister photo/The Ubyssey

Kalyeena Makortoff kmakortoff@ubyssey.ca “They call me ‘Open Book Bill,’ because I’ll talk to anybody about anything.” On a dreary Vancouver day, the sound of William Wojtun’s voice over a Translink PA can be a surprise, especially when you realize that you aren’t necessarily being told to move so the doors can close. Instead, he is probably cracking a joke.

Or, if you are in t he way, he’ll tell you to squish close enough to count the change in your neighbour’s pocket without using your hands. That line is one of his favourites. The 48-year-old never intended to become a bus driver. But after the rental television business went bunk in the ‘80s, he found himself behind the wheel. Wojtun grew up in Port Coquitlam and he still lives there

today. And while driving a bus in Vancouver can be an unpredicatable job, Wojtun appreciates the way it keeps him on his toes. “Not a day goes by where somet hing doesn’t surprise me,” he said. “Something fresh comes up every day.” UBC students most likely rode his bus at the beginning of the semester, when he ran the 99 route. But assignments rotate every three months, and Wojtun speculated that his next

route will be the 106. “Everybody hates the 106, but I find the people there are a riot,” he said. Wojtun is one of the most conversational Translink drivers, keeping up a steady patter over the PA. He says he never regrets staying with the job. “It’s either that or stand-up comedian. So, I think this one pays better, or at least [it] is steadier. And of course I have a captive audience,” he said. “It’s not like

LIFE

you guys can get out whenever you want.” Wojtun’s jokes range from the wholesome to the satirical, and he admitted to having a standard set of routines. “I have some favourites that I’ll use over and over again, which is why I’m glad we change schedules from time to time, because I get a bit more mileage out of my jokes that way,” he said. “However, most of what I say comes off the top of my head.” Often, when people are taking their time at the back, he’s known to say, “C’mon people, the longer you stand in the back doors, the closer we’re going to get to breakfast.” He never lets his impatience bubble over into nastiness, though. “I don’t allow frustration on my bus, so that’s one of the things I look after. “One guy, in 20 years, got mad…Had a little black cloud over his head…He told me to pipe down from the back. But of course he only has his vocal cords, I have a PA system. So I can’t pipe down, I’ve got way too much caffeine and sugar in my blood stream right now, I need to vent,” he laughed. With all of the colourful creatures that crawl onto Translink buses, he has some passengers he loves, some less so. But he doesn’t let a customer’s attitude prevent him from interacting with them. “I’ve thrown zingers out there, and I’ve had passengers throw better zingers back. And then I’ll laugh my brains out,” he said. “So that’s essentially it. I’ve been silly all my life, and I don’t see any point in quitting.” U

Gaining a new Vantage point with the VOC

VOC

UBC’s Varsity Outdoor Club explores Washington’s dry interior Charlie Beard Contributor A couple of Fridays ago, several cars loosely related to the VOC drove down to Vantage, Washington to enjoy a weekend of climbing on the steep columns of the Columbia River flood basalts in the middle of a dusty desert. After raiding Trader Joe’s, we drove eastward across the Cascade Mountains toward Vantage. We arrived at the campsite at 11:30pm. It was strange being out in the wild without snow. We scrambled up to the base of basalt columns looming above the campsite to get a feel for the rock. Soon other members of the club arrived, and after throwing up our tents we geared up for night climbing. It was tricky to see footholds in the dark, but thankfully the routes were easy, and soon we had a couple of top-ropes set up so everyone could climb. At 2:05am—two climbs later—we hit the tents, ready for action on ‘Sunshine Wall’ the following day.

Sat urday was sunny and windy. We woke at about 8am and cruised down the path toward the main section of the Frenchman’s Coulee. We were rewarded with a panoramic view across the desert planes with steep, columned walls of multiple lava flows spanning t he landscape. Scrambling through a tight crack lead us to the base of Sunshine Wall, where we climbed sport routes up to 5.10b. The wind tore around the top of pillars as we balanced precariously, particularly on ‘Sunshine Buttress’, a great 5.10a climb with a really balance-critical top section. A friend and I stayed on the walls until the sun dipped toward the windmill-strewn horizon, casting a warm glow over the silent, dusty landscape. It had been a great day and we’d climbed lots of routes! Elated, we scrambled the kilometre or so back to the campsite. In our absence, the other members of the club had driven to

Vantage to buy firewood. Many climbers gathered around the fire singing, staring at the dark, starry new-moon sky and sharing stories of past climbs and plans for summer adventures deep into the night. On Sunday we rose late and prepared a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs and fresh grapefruit. We hiked in to Frenchman’s Coulee, but this time headed northward toward Fat Man Wall and Moonshine Wall. Myself and two others battled a 5.10c route with a tricky, steeply overhanging start. Eventually we all cracked the overhanging climb before moving on to a couple of easier 5.10a walls and packing up to leave. We pulled down camp, got in the cars and stopped in Ellensburg for burgers, soup and steaks before tackling the long drive back to Vancouver. A few kilometres before the Canada-USA border, we hit rain—a welcomehome gesture from the Canadian weather gods. U

Photo courtesy Charlie Beard/VOC

Total Red Cross Canada aid: $17

Taking stock of UBC student aid to Japan Total Red Cross funds raised by UBC students: ~$12,666

Total Red Cross aid:

$1.3 billion (as of April 7)

How did UBC students do?* Campus group

Amount

AMS Food and Beverage services Japan Association UBC Red Cross disaster relief fund ‡Buisness comm club ‡Anime Club ‡UBC Unicef

666.89

Total

10,000+ 2000+ 713.32 437.77 2000+ ~12,666.89

*Totals as of April 12. Estimates only. ‡Part of JA total

Total Red Cross Canada aid:

The area of each circle is in proportion to the $1.3 billion raised by the Red Cross as of April 7.

6/ u bys s e y.c a /c u lt u r e /2 011. 0 4 .14

$17 million Total Red Cross funds raised by UBC students: ~$12,666 Ginny Monaco culture@ubyssey.ca In the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan last month, students have shown overwhelming support for the nation and those affected by the disaster. For almost a year and a half, UBC Red Cross has been preparing for a disaster such as the one that struck on March 11. “Up to the Japan earthquake we had been raising money for the Canadian Red Cross’ International Disaster Relief Fund, which is essentially an emergency disaster fund in case a natural disaster strikes like it did in Japan,” said co-president Dawei Ji. Through a Krispy

Kreme sale and classroom donation cans, the UBC Red Cross raised over $2000. AMS Food and Beverage outlets raised $666.89 through donation boxes set up at the Honour Roll and The Burger Bar. Donations will go directly to the Canadian Red Cross. In addition, several student organizations—including UBC Red Cross, UBC Unicef, the Finance Club and the UBC Anime Club—have collected money through various events. A student at University Hill Secondary, Amy Aoyama, spearheaded an effort at her school and raised about $1120. The money collected by these groups will be donated through the

UBC Japan Association to the Canadian Red Cross. The Japan Association ( JA) has been by far the most active campus group in raising relief funds. All proceeds from JA-hosted events this year will be given to the Red Cross. The organization’s awareness booth in the SUB used intense visuals to bring home the absolute devastation of the disaster. The booth raised $7500 in donations over two weeks. “It was generosity in its purest form,” said Fumihiro Sato, head of the JA’s promotions department. “We weren’t trying to sell anything, we weren’t giving anything away. It was just heart to heart talk with people and people wanted to help.” The JA is still taking donations daily.

Early estimates put the Japan Association’s collaborative donation at over $10,000. Almost all of the money raised by campus groups will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross, who will in turn hand that money over to the Japanese branch of the organization. In total, the Canadian Red Cross has raised almost $17 million nationally. According to spokesperson Bas Brushe, that money will be turned into “equipment, transportation, blankets, food, diapers, plastic sheeting and medication.” Brusche called the Japanese relief efforts a “long-term operation” and compared the situation to that in Haiti, where

reconstruction efforts are still ongoing in the aftermath of the earthquake over a year ago. Once the rescue efforts turn to long-term support, the Red Cross will move to address issues like education, permanent housing and personal financial needs. Said Bruche, “If you look at the timeline of a disaster, the first steps will always be search and rescue, providing immediate medical aid.” “Then you start taking care of people, making sure they have a roof and food and then you look if there are any further medical needs, psycho-social needs. In the case of Japan, there is a considerably large need for that phase.” U

2011.04.14/ubyssey.ca/graduation/7

graduation

editor TREVOR RECORD » features@ubyssey.ca GUEST EDITOR ASTU 400M

The stereotype is there: does a MA=BA? Amy Lai, Arshy Mann, Kaori Inaoka and Catherine Lai Contributors Just as April showers bring May flowers, the stress and turmoil of final exams and term papers in April give way to the excitement and anticipation of thousands of graduating students every May. Half a century ago, the future after graduation was fairly simple. A degree meant a job, and a good one at that. But things have changed. In this century, higher education has come to be seen as a necessity for a good job, as family and government incentives encourage students to pursue degrees that were once seen as a luxury. And with the creation of over 25,000 undergraduate seats in the province over the past ten years, the bachelor’s degree is becoming as common in BC as rainy afternoons. Many are now claiming that in order for students to distinguish themselves in the job market, they need to pursue education beyond a bachelor’s. But with the high costs of tuition and the loss of potential earnings from joining the job market later than expected, others are questioning the logic. That being said, is a master’s degree the new bachelor’s? where we’re gonna be when we turn 25? In the job market, the value of your degree to potential employers is determined by how many other people have the same certificate. The competition for undergraduate students today has increased significantly in the last 20 years. In 1990, 3887 undergraduate degrees were conferred at UBC. Last year, students received 5740 undergraduate degrees. According to Jenny Phelps, associate dean in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, this increase directly affects students’ chances of being able to work in their preferred field following graduation. “I think there are more people with the bachelor’s degrees now, and so it’s becoming more important to have additional credentials to get more professional level jobs.” According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, people with a masters in communications earn six per cent more than their undergraduate counterparts; holders of master’s degrees in the social sciences earn 14 per cent more and people with a master’s in education earn 30 per cent more. However, NACE also found that students in the social sciences are 3.9 per cent less likely to receive a job offer. In addition, some graduate degrees are more financially rewarding than others. The Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers found in a 2007 survey that the highest premiums are paid out to those with an MBA. Howie Outerbridge, director of UBC Career Services, explained that MBA and engineering master’s degrees “skew the data”

“Pursuing a graduate degree really shouldn’t be the only option for improving your chances to find a rewarding position.” Howie Outerbridge director of UBC Career Services

cindy choo Photo illustration/The Ubyssey

in calculating average starting salaries, and that other degrees may not provide similar increases. “Skills for Growth: British Columbia’s Labour Market Strategy 2020,” a report commissioned by WorkBC, reported that over the next decade, 77 per cent of all jobs will require some sort of post-secondary education. So is grad school worth it? Phelps emphasized that there are other things to consider besides potential salary expectations. “There’s always going to be worth in terms of learning experience, the people they meet and what they learn about themselves and about the world.” For his part, Outerbridge said that “pursuing a graduate degree really shouldn’t be the only option for improving your chances to find a rewarding position.” He stressed the importance of marketable, relevant work experience to employers, pointing out that students with master’s degrees simply offer a more specialized skill set, as opposed to the transferable skills that undergrads build. “Building your skills at the university through part time volunteer work, through opportunities to study, research, do service learning opportunities abroad—things like co-op, mentoring, being involved with a club [are essential]. We really encourage our students to be building these transferable skills so that when they do graduate they can say, ‘You’re looking for oral communication skills? Well, I have them.’” if we get the big jobs, and if we make the big money Many students, including those pursuing graduate education, are similarly wary about a belief that master’s degrees are now a requirement for a successful career. For Carmen Lam, a student who graduated in the class of 2007 from the Biology department in UBC, attending grad school in the United States was the next logical step for her career. Lam knew from a young age that she wanted to become a professional in the healthcare industry. Grad school was the necessary choice since without a medical degree in optometry, she would not be able to practice. She also commented that her degree helps in limiting the choices she has to make because now her field is “more specialized.”

“As unfortunate as it is, I think I do feel that the master’s is the new bachelor’s.” Carmen Lam Graduate

“As unfortunate as it is, I think I do feel that the master’s is the new bachelor’s. In a sense, because so many people in society now have some sort of degree past high school, it makes that degree worth less,” she said. “Back when everyone got a job right out of high school and only a small group of people in society got a post secondary degree, bachelor’s meant much more. People view a bachelor’s as the norm now.” Benson Kwong, a biochemistry major who will be graduating this May, also wants to work in medicine, but as a doctor. So far, he’s applied to a couple of medical schools and is thinking about retaking the MCAT to improve his score. He said it is essential to know what you want to do before you pursue further education. “I’d say that it is important to remember what you want to do and why you want to do it,” he said. “The most important question is asking yourself whether or not you have genuine interest in working in the area. “Do not stay focused on a single goal or fall into the trap of listening to what everybody else does,” he continued. “If you are considering a professional school, remember that everybody else is thinking the same thing, and that you, yourself, should discern why you want the career aspirations you want.” Unlike Lam, Benson does not believe that master’s degrees are necessary, at least for now. He argued that bachelor’s degrees are “still fulfilling [their] role of weeding out the unqualified” and that the master’s will not become the norm until much later. He also argued that the increasing pressure and competition is due to economic changes in society. “People want to make money but at the same time want to spend the least to get

what they want. Unfortunately it is taking a toll on our students by making education more of a necessity than as an option to pursue one’s dreams.” Jerry Weng, a 2010 graduate with a double major in economics and Asian languages & culture, is now at grad school at Waseda University in Tokyo studying international economics. He said that while pursuing higher education may be beneficial for getting hired faster, he doesn’t necessarily think it will provide higher paying work or guarantee a successful life. “I would not recommend new graduates to enter graduate schools only if they just want to obtain a higher degree, because it will just be a waste of time. After entering graduate school, one will be focusing on discussing numerous specialized topics and research.” What about the individuals who only have a bachelor’s? How do they feel about higher education and the increasing need to take the next step? Michelle Cho, an English literature major who graduated in 2006 from an American university, knew she didn’t have to give into peer pressure to attend grad school. “For most people I know who went to graduate schools, they couldn’t find actual jobs after graduating college or university, so instead they went to grad school because they didn’t have other choices,” she said, adding “Some people do go to grad school because it’s beneficial to their careers, but for the others who didn’t have choices after graduating with a bachelor’s degree, that’s just pathetic. They couldn’t find a job because they just gave up looking for one.” keep on thinking things will never change The question of the devaluation of an undergraduate education is not necessarily a universal phenomenon. Jimmy Li works for Antarctic Digital, a digital marketing company. He pointed out that in Japan, many companies prefer to hire “shinsotsu”—workers who are fresh out of their undergraduate degrees, as opposed to those that have a higher education. According to “A Re-examination of the Lifetime Employment System in Japan: Job Duration of Freshly-Graduated Workers,” a paper by Sen Eguchi, an economist at Niigata Sangyo University in Kashiwazaki, Japan, it is common practice for Japanese workers to be employed by firms immediately after graduation and not change jobs until they retire. Li said that while in Japan previous work experience can be seen as a negative, in Canada companies value a wide range of experiences in order to demonstrate a person is qualified to do the job. He also stressed the necessity of making connections in the job market, by networking, working a variety of jobs and doing internships. can we survive it out there? can we make it somehow? While it’s clear that the value of a bachelor’s degree has declined over time, it is less certain that a master’s is worth the time or investment required, especially for those unsure about what career path they want to pursue. “If you feel that your level of education doesn’t allow you to be who you want to be, then go ahead and do more schooling, even if it means taking more time,” said Lam. “But don’t get into it just because your parents wanted you to or because you feel like you would be looked down on if you didn’t. Do what you think will make you happy, because you still have a lot of years ahead of you.” U

8/ubyssey.ca/graduation/2011.04.14

‘Oh, the places y UBC degree— what’s the value? drake fenton and chris norris-jones Contributors

UBC annually ranks as one of the top universities in the country. Thus you would assume that graduating with a UBC degree would be a relatively prestigious accomplishment. Yet once you are given that diploma and forced to enter the “real world,” how far will that prestigious degree take you? Daniel Honeyman works for Modus International, an IT staffing agency. In laymen terms, that means Modus acts as a recruitment agency for companies looking to hire IT personnel. Honeyman sees a UBC degree as an asset, though only to a certain extent. “There definitely is an advantage [in having a UBC degree]. To be honest, when I’m looking at resumes I would rank UBC first, followed by BCIT, and then SFU,” he said an interview last week. “It varies from job to job but generally speaking, it is always UBC first.” Honeyman only deals with IT resumes but he feels that his sentiments regarding UBC are applicable to most fields that hire people who have the option of receiving the same degree at any of the three institutions listed above. “To

start with, it’s [usually] the hardest school of the three to get into and there are some programs that are obviously better at SFU and BCIT . But on the whole, it’s UBC that ranks above them.” For some fields though, it may be more beneficial to receive your education elsewhere. For example, UBC has yet to even create a communications department—undergraduate or graduate. However, when viewed in its entirety, the level of prestige associated with UBC separates it from other institutions. “Talking in general, UBC on a resume stands out more. Usually the name of UBC catches the eye of your interviewer, and it makes the interviewer delve deeper into t he conversation. Interviewers may question you more if you have a degree from somewhere else,” he said. If you attended SFU, an interviewer may question why you chose to go there over UBC, explained Honeyman. If UBC is generally accepted as the “best” university in BC then it stands to reason that students would aspire to receive the education that best serves their post-education careers. “It speaks for itself on paper,” Honeyman said. Yet the prestige associated with a UBC degree will only take you so

far and only give you a slight advantage in getting a job. “Experience is your most important asset,” Honeyman said. “It will separate you from the field more than a prestigious degree will.” Gaining experience that will be beneficial to finding a job post-graduation is an onus that falls on the student. If a student has the drive and aptitude to succeed, then the likelihood of their success will not be determined by the prestige associated with their respective university choice. According to the Brookings Institute, an American thinktank, this same dilemma is one that is being faced by prospective American university applicants. There is a consensus among the American population that graduating from an Ivy League school such as Yale, Harvard and Princeton will guarantee better jobs in the future. The Brookings Institute suggests that this is true, but only to an extent. Based on their research, students who were accepted into Ivy League schools generally did have a higher income after five years than students from “less recognized” schools. However, students who were accepted to Ivy League institutions but chose to go to “less recognized” schools made equivalent

incomes after a five year period as their Ivy League counterparts. Both the Brookings Institute and Honeyman came to similar conclusions. A degree is a degree, and which institution you have attended will only matter to an extent. What you accomplish outside of your studies and the type of student you are will end up being much more important. Honeyman set up an example to reinforce this point. “For instance if you have two people, one with a degree from UBC and the other with the same degree from SFU, what will distinguish one candidate over the other will be their extracurricular work,” he said. “If the person from SFU has a couple years of experience in the field relevant to the job that both candidates are applying for then that person will have the upper hand... That work experience will speak volumes for you.” Essentially your degree is what you make of it. There is an advantage to being a UBC student, but that advantage is nullified if you do not make use of it. U

LINKEDIN FAQ alicia woodside and joe mcmurray Contributors LinkedIn is a powerful professional networking site, where students can connect with people from a wide range of fields, apply for jobs, and scour companies like never before. With all of its features, LinkedIn is becoming an important tool at the Sauder School of Business. Sauder Career Coach Sheila Maria Chan started a LinkedIn training program this year to help students snag opportunities that might otherwise go unnoticed. Chan was motivated to start the program after speaking with job recruiters about what they look for when they consider a new hire. She found that many employers are using LinkedIn for the depth of information it provides about potential employees. “With LinkedIn,” Chan explained, “employers can see, hear, read or listen to the candidate. A [paper] resume is a cookiecutter; it doesn’t give employers enough to show real skill sets. LinkedIn allows [users] to develop a profile that [employers] cannot really imagine from a resume.” Chan believes that traditional resumes will eventually become redundant, as LinkedIn and programs like it continue to attract more members from both sides of the employment market.

To help students use LinkedIn to their advantage, Chan’s program teaches students to hone their online profiles with some of LinkedIn’s powerful functions. Applicants can use LinkedIn as part of a strategic offensive to find employment by developing profiles that speak not only to their relevant skills, but also to their personality and interests in ways a paper resume can‘t achieve. As a networking tool, the site allows members to contact individuals across the business spectrum, from peers, to hiring managers to CEOs. And it’s a growing spectrum: in April, the site hit ten million users worldwide. Unlike a cramped and sweaty networking session, LinkedIn allows users to comfortably approach exactly who they’d like. The site uses algorithms that determine relevant points of connectivity between, say, an aspiring advertisement guru with a penchant for red wine and an agency that specializes in cab sauv, merlot and pinot noir. To help break the ice, the site also offers warm introductions through mutual contacts. Once connected, members on LinkedIn can wow hirers with resumes that allow them to stand out from the seething mass of weary job-searchers. For example, a user might attach a portfolio of his or her photography or artwork, or a link

to a blog showcasing one’s writing skills. LinkedIn also provides ample space to add recommendations from former employers or volunteer organizations. LinkedIn is also every applicants’ best friend for conducting job research. With thousands of organizations already active on the site, chances are you will find at least some that match your interests. And because it offers such robust data input on users’ profiles, LinkedIn is able to report detailed statistics about companies and their people, giving job-hunters information they might not be able to find elsewhere. At UBC, students are already catching on. Paul Davidescu, a fourth year Sauder student, has amassed over 500 contacts on LinkedIn. Davidescu’s strategy involves using almost every feature the site offers. For example, by attaching a personal blog that details his projects and involvements, he has received no less than ten recommendations, and he even embedded a video profile to show his personality. “You have so many options to do so many things,” he explained. “Just get creative with it! You can really elaborate on things, without being limited to the one to two pages like you would put in a paper resume.” He had some good advice for LinkedIn newbies. “The first logical thing to do is to

get all your materials on there and go from there. It’s an everyday thing, it’s not overnight.” Davidescu also recommended LinkedIn’s “search email contacts” feature, which invites contacts from people you regularly email. By using this tool, Davidescu’s contact lists increased by 150 in a few days. But you don’t have to be a business student to extract the highest value from LinkedIn. Whether your forté in academia ranges from research to graphic design, LinkedIn has an avenue for you. For example, Chan recounted the story of a current Sauder student, who used a past school project to showcase her presentation prowess. When Chan conducted a Google search of the student’s name she was directed to a Prezi project posted on Prezi.com which demonstrated the student’s ability. The unintentional placement had a great effect: Chan was immediately impressed with the quality of the project and the student’s skill set. She recommended that students showcase their presentations by embedding them through LinkedIn’s Slideshare application. If LinkedIn is the future of finding a job, just think about all the skills the so-called “net generation” show off online. U

2011.04.14/ubyssey.ca/graduation/9

Four years out of uni

you’ll go’

Members of the 2007 graduation class talk about where they are now

– Dr. Seuss

sharon doucet & caitlin cromwell Contributors Navigating life post-grad is not as simple as it is in university where authority figures are telling you what to do each step of the way. The plethora of options is intimidating and there is no set path for how to get started on your career. We spoke with graduates from 2007, four years after they graduated, to find out what they did after they graduated and what they’re up to now. How did you feel about graduation at the time? Cory Norris-Jones, Bachelor’s in business administration: “Happy to be done but unsure of what I was going to do with it.” Cariann Dunn, BA psychology: “Well, it felt good to be done. I took five years for my undergrad so, yeah I felt excited and kind of relieved to be done.” Cameron Kennedy, BS cell biology and Genetics: “I felt pretty ambivalent about graduation. I was pretty sick of school after 19 years, but I wasn’t thrilled about the prospects of working full time either.” Rachel May Friederichsen, BA geography: “I was really excited because I knew what I wanted to do. I knew that I was going to go overseas and that I was going to live abroad and have that experience. ” Did you know what you wanted to do after graduation? Dunn: “I knew what I wanted to do; it was just a matter of getting there. So I looked for work in sexual health. You know, I just started applying and that was my focus just getting into sexual health.” Norris-Jones: “No, I was focused on saving money to travel then.” Do you work in the same field you got your degree in? Kennedy: “I do not work in the same field as my degree. Cell Biology & Genetics. A fine degree, but I got tired of labs and the upper level work (designing experiments of your own) didn’t appeal to me as much as reading about the years of work of others condensed into a report.” Norris-Jones: “Well, kind of, I’m an operations assistant for apex tents. They do tent rentals for events and concerts, I just started a couple weeks ago.” Dunn: “I did until recently; I’m back in school now. I just started nursing school in January. After I graduated it took about eight months of working in a different field, and then I worked in sexual health for three years.” What would you say to this year’s graduating class 2011?

Interviews by Cindy Choo and Caitlin Cromwell. Illustration by Allison Mah

Dunn: “Figure out what you’re passionate about and use that to carve out your career. Get involved and put your fingers in a lot of pots. Whether or not it’s an organization or volunteering, whatever you’re passionate about get involved in a lot of different ways. A lot of opportunities for me came from the connections I’ve made over the years.”

Friederichsen: “Keep reading. As much as you’re probably tired of reading, remember that you spent so much money on this crazy education, but there is so much to learn out there and that the world, especially the financial world is complex. We don’t have to rely on our parent’s model of income, the nine-to-five. There are so many more options out there now, if you are creative enough and astute enough to understand market trends, there are so many options out there.” Do you wish you had done anything differently? Kennedy: “I wish I had done some things differently. Spread my partying around a little more equitably. I worked really hard in the first year, less hard each year, and my grades reflected this. If I had partied more in the first two years, maybe it would have been out of my system and I could have focussed and got better marks when it counted. I had some friends follow this more traditional trajectory, and they had an easier time getting into grad school than I did.” Norris-Jones: “While I was in school, I wish I had taken part in more extra-curricular activities, I didn’t take advantage of the networking opportunities that were available to me, which would have made it easier probably finding a job.” What does being a UBC grad mean to you? Kennedy: “Being a UBC grad does mean something to me. I was lucky enough to attend a school with a great deal of international respect. Frankly, it was chosen largely because of geographical reasons, but my lazy decision-making aside, it worked out very well for me and I’m pleased with my education.” Friederichsen: “It’s a highly competitive school, so I’m very proud of the fact that I went to UBC. Also, UBC is very connected to Vancouver for me, not being a native Vancouverite; I’m from Edmonton originally, so the education you get from living outside your home town is if not more valuable, then certainly just as valuable, as the actual education you get inside the classroom.” What are you doing now? Dunn: “I’m back in school now. I just started nursing school in January. I’m going to the after degree nursing program so I’ll come out with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. I realized through working in sexual health that getting my nursing degree would provide me with more opportunities for growth.” Friederichsen: “Right now I’m just working at a restaurant, in a bit of a transition period, but I’m also working on a business plan and I’m taking some acting courses at The Actor’s Foundry.” Norris-Jones: “I’m an operations assistant for apex tents. They do tent rentals for events and concerts, I just started couple weeks ago.” Kennedy: “I am currently gearing up to attend law school this Fall and teaching a class on LSAT preparation.” U

10/ubyssey.ca/graduation/2011.04.14

The five stages of post-grad depression By Chris Norris-Jones and Sharon Doucet illustrations by Allison Mah Here you stand. It’s been four years since you first walked onto campus (or five or six), your last essay’s been handed in, your final exams are all finished, and you’ve even walked across an expensively-decorated stage to pick up an even more expensively-decorated piece of paper. Congratulations! …So why does it feel like you’re mourning the death of fun? Its okay, everyone goes through these feelings. If film and the internet

have taught us nothing else, they’ve shown that university is supposed to be the most fun of our entire lives, and even if that sentiment didn’t prove to be exactly true, it’s still really painful to crawl out of the educational womb you’ve been gestating in for these past few years. But not to worry! We’ve got your back here with this handy, scientifically-verified (not actually true) model for post-graduate depression!

#1: Denial “Oh, I’ve got plenty of time before I graduate! It’s still weeks away! I’m barely twenty years old, I can’t already be finished school!” This first stage is one most start experiencing even before officially graduating, often coinciding with when people start asking that dreaded question: “So what are you going to do after you graduate?” It’s also often in this stage that people

start giving hobbies or chores around their house significance. You can’t be worrying about your imminent expulsion into the real world when your room’s that messy, and now’s not the time to be worrying about finding a job after graduation, not when the fridge needs cleaning, and you need to go to the gym, and it’s been weeks since you’ve updated your blog!

#2: Anger “How the hell could I already be graduating? I should have done a co-op, or some sort of international exchange! It’s this stupid school’s fault they didn’t let me get as much as possible out of my university experience!” This stage is usually centered around one’s anger towards themselves, for potentially squandering the “best years of their life” not doing enough in university.

Those students who spent all their time in the library will often wish they had gone out more, and experienced the “party” aspects of UBC. Those who can’t remember a Wednesday night not spent committing sins at the Pit will wonder if there could’ve been more to university, and be mad at themselves for not taking the time to find out.

#3 Bargaining “Maybe I could delay my graduation for one year? Or even come back and take my Master’s? Alright, I’ll take a little time off and then come right back to school!” At this stage you’re willing to make any deal in order to delay the inevitability of the real world. You’ll be begging your parents to help you pay for a graduate

degree, or even strongly consider the hellish future that is increasing your student loans. You’ll go to all your classes this time, you promise. You’ll study hard, you’ll finish your assignments on time, just for the love of god please give you one more year outside of the workforce!

#4: Depression “My life is over. I can’t go drinking on weekdays any more; I can’t wear sweat pants for a week and call pizza breakfast with a straight face. I need a suit, I need a tie, I need a job. God, I need a drink.” You’re staring into the full abyss of a future without university life. And what can you see ahead of you? A desperate struggle to find a job, any job, in an economic climate that could be called “Mad Max-ian” on a positive

week. Even if, despite all odds, you’re successful, you have the drudgery of an endless rat race to look forward to; waking up early for a job that barely pays you enough to live in a place that isn’t your parents’ basement, while it seems like all your amazing university friends are going off to travel the world or start their own incredible career. At least you’ve still got liquor, though, right? Right?

#5: Acceptance “Wait, hold the phone here. I’m in my early twenties, I’ve got a degree from one of the best universities in Canada, and I’ve still got my friends and family. The future can’t be all that bad!” Finally, you’ve travelled the emotional roller coaster that is graduation; you’ve tried ignoring the situation, you’ve tried rebelling against it, you’ve debated going back to school, and in a fit of depression you’ve even eaten two large pepperoni pizzas from that disgusting pizzeria down the street.

You’ve woken up in fear, you’ve woken up in cold sweats and you’ve woken up wondering if this constant feeling of terror would ever go away. But today you wake up feeling pretty good. The sun (for once) is shining, the birds are cheerily chirping and you’ve got a coffee date with an old friend from residence. Things aren’t all that bad and you know in your heart that if you keep at it and work hard things will all work out. Now get a job. U

cindy choo Photo Illustration/The Ubyssey

Does your transcript matter? chris norris-jones & drake fenton Contributors Transcripts: the document students worry about throughout their academic life. All the hard work put into getting that ‘good grade’ is a main ingredient for the creation of the stressed student. What all students want to know though, is if transcripts matter if they’re not going to grad school? Some companies and university grads think maybe not. There are plenty of local companies which actively recruit university students. One company is Sierra Wireless, a wireless communications equipment designer and manufacturer, which offers several student career programs. Manu Varma, the company’s global manager of training and development, said, “We don’t hire based on transcripts. We are a school-friendly company, and we look for people with a lot of energy and who are able to work in teams.” Some recent and past university graduates from different fields of study have found companies are generally indifferent when it comes to transcripts. Jeremy Vincent, a 2005 University of Victoria co-op graduate in earth and oceans sciences, now works in the mining industry as a senior resource geologist for a consulting firm. “Instead of my grades, the company I work for wanted to focus more on my extra-curricular activities and work experiences. The company I work for now wanted to see if I would fit into the culture of the organization. They promote having a healthy lifestyle and people that lead active lifestyles. They wanted to hire people that are like-minded,” said Vincent. Fiona Petigara, a 2006 SFU graduate in kinesiology and current UBC medical school graduate, was also involved in her university’s co-op program. She completed five co-op placements to add to her resume. After graduating, she spent a year in China. “I don’t find grades coming [come] into play when looking for a job. When I finished school and looked for kinesiology jobs, no one asked for transcripts,” said Petigara, who argued that her

life and work experiences helped shaped her career options. What if a student finishing university does not have much work experience? Jonathan Steblin, a soon-to-be graduate at UBC in political science, spent the past few months going through the job recruitment circuit, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT). “Not every job asked for transcripts. Some do, but it depends on the job. Every single internship I applied for asked for transcripts,” he said. “Non-internship positions had certain standards that focused on specific degree requirements, but not grades. I would say, yes your marks count, but overall they’re gonna look at your resume and years of experience. I think you need to rely on more than just marks.” On the other hand, Jessica Lee, a 2007 UBC graduate in English, works abroad in Hong Kong teaching English Literature at an all girls high school. She believes that grades really depend on the type of job. “I didn’t have much experience. So I do think transcripts can matter, but for a job like mine, my advantage was more so in my fluency in English,” she said. “In terms of the position I have now, the fact that I did well in literature is also probably why I have the classes that I teach now,” said Lee. Julie Walchli, director of the UBC Arts Co-op Program, agrees that although some employers may look at grades when hiring students, transcripts are rarely requested for post-graduate jobs. “After graduation, employers care about your degree, what you got it in, when and where. They’re not interested in marks,” Walchli said. “They want to know if the student has a degree that aligns with the skill sets they’re looking for and what previous experience you have.” It appears that unless students have grad school in their future plans or there isn’t much on their resume, transcripts don’t play much of a role in the job hunt process as much as experience does. “Grades can count at times,” said Vincent, “but as soon as you get experience, grades don’t come into it anymore.” U

2 011 . 0 4 . 14 / u b y s s e y. c a / n e w s / 11

Bijan: song and dance man Justin McElroy coordinating@ubyssey.ca The Ubyssey is in no way, shape or form Time Magazine. We do not declare a “Person of the Year.” But if we were to do so, there would only be one choice for 2010–2011:Bijan Ahmadian. From disagreements over land-use negotiations with UBC in October to controversy over withholding a donation for Gaza in November; from organizing UBC’s Got Talent in January to threatening a lawsuit against the AMS in February, before being the co-public face of LipDub in April. Simply put, Ahmadian was at the centre of the biggest and most controversial events at UBC time and time again this year. To the applause of his supporters and the irritation of his critics—and he has a lot on both sides. “Part of me doesn’t want LipDub to succeed, just because it will make Bijan look good,” said one councillor to me, privately, before the video was launched. Such was the vitriol Ahmadian attracted to himself throughout the year. “I am the kind of guy, nobody makes any mistakes about it, I like to run a tight ship. With everything. And that was part of the criticism about me,” admitted Ahmadian. He confesses that he is more of a project manager than a natural politician. “I’ve decided I probably don’t want to do that,” he says, and having to work with people with different aims caused a strain.

because it’s there. If the spirit wasn’t there, we couldn’t have done what we did. You just have to find a way of opening up.”

“I think there are lots of things I look back and would do differently. It has been a learning experience in many, many different things.” Bijan Ahmadian Former AMS President

Bijan Ahmadian and Stephen Toope sing “Sweet Dreams” at UBC’s Got Talent. Charles to Photo/The Ubyssey

“You come in with other elected executives, with slightly different platforms, and different approaches in dealing with people. The code says they all report to the president, but they’re all elected independently. So there’s a natural conflict that happens.” After his stormy term ended, he immediately set to work on LipDub, collaborating with Andrew Cohen to put together, as he put it, “the best LipDub ever.” His experience and contacts on

campus proved invaluable to the project. There were no politics involved. “It was so good,” laughed Ahmadian. “We would get together, we would go along, report back, have sushi, be in touch with one another…the depoliticized nature of it was extremely appealing, because everyone was focused [on one thing].” Between LipDub and UBC’s Got Talent, Ahmadian was a major force behind two brand

new events that celebrated the people of UBC, so you won’t see him being cynical about campus spirit. “Our school has a specific kind of spirit [from] American schools. We have over 50 per cent of students say they don’t speak English at home. So spirit for a group that can be majority immigrant takes a different shape,” he said. “When you open the right doors, t he spirit comes out,

Next year, Ahmadian will begin to focus more on finishing his degree and ending his 13-year tenure on campus. He hopes to spearhead a second annual UBC’s Got Talent, with the hopes of holding it in Thunderbird Arena. But his time in the headlines, by his own admission, is over. “I t hink t here are lots of things I look back and would do differently. It has been a learning experience in many many different things…but you can’t turn back time.” “Going to keep those things to yourself, though?” we asked. “Yeah,” he said. U

12/ubyssey.ca/featur es/2011.04.14

The Ubyssey’s

The Ubyssey got together to debate which ten UBC stories mattered most from 2010 to 2011.