September 12, 2013 by The Ubyssey

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 | VoLuME XcV| IssuE VI CLUB SELFIES since 1918

IS YOUR ARTS DEGREE WORTH IT?

CUS EXECS RESIGN OLD SUB RENOS ON HOLD Sauder FROSH cancelled in the wake of national media attention

UBC Board of Governors delays decision on what the current Student Union Building will become

EXPERIMENTAL FILM AT MOA P8 ACADIA PARK REPORT COMMENDS university P4 AMS CUTS MINISCHOOL AND MORE P3 FARMADE P8 HOMECOMING GOES BIG P7

Thursday, September 12, 2013 |

YOUR GUIDE TO UBC EVENTS + PEOPLE

WHAT’S ON

this week, may we suggest...

OUR CAMPUS

ONE ON ONE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UBC

THURSDAY 12 TOOPE TOWN HALL

12 p.m. @ FIRST NATIONS LONGHOUSE

Have a question concerning the university for the UBC prez? It’s your last chance to ask Toope before he leaves at the end of the year. If you need more incentive, there is also free food. Free

FRIDAY

FARMADE

7:30 P.M. @ UBC FARM

Come celebrate local talent and local food. The 11th annual Farmade features bands, burgers and beers. Enjoy the carnival-equse atmosphere at the UBC Farm. Free

SATURDAY

HOMECOMING

11 A.m. @ MARTHA PIPER PLAZA

Start your morning with the first ever Thunderbird Trek from the fountain to the arena. Then watch the ’Birds take on the Manitoba Bisons for men’s football. Fingers crossed: we hope the odds are ever in our favour. $2 for students

Want to see your events listed here? Email your events listings to printeditor@ubyssey.ca

U The Ubyssey Coordinating Editor Geoff Lister coordinating@ubyssey.ca Managing Editor, Print Ming Wong printeditor@ubyssey.ca Managing Editor, Web CJ Pentland webeditor@ubyssey.ca News Editors Will McDonald + Sarah Bigam news@ubyssey.ca Senior News Writer Brandon Chow mwong@ubyssey.ca Culture Editor Rhys Edwards culture@ubyssey.ca Senior Culture Writer Aurora Tejeida redwards@ubyssey.ca Sports + Rec Editor Natalie Scadden sports@ubyssey.ca Senior Lifestyle Writer Reyhana Heatherington rheatherington@ubyssey.ca Features Editor Arno Rosenfeld features@ubyssey.ca

Video Producers Lu Zhang + Nick Grossman video@ubyssey.ca Copy Editor Matt Meuse copy@ubyssey.ca

Photo Editor Carter Brundage photos@ubyssey.ca Illustrator Indiana Joel ijoel@ubyssey.ca Graphic Designer Nena Nyugen nnyugen@ubyssey.ca Webmaster Tony Li webmaster@ubyssey.ca Distribution Coordinator Lily Cai lcai@ubyssey.ca Staff Your name here! Write/shoot/contribute to The Ubyssey and attend our staff meetings and you too can see your name in the glorious tones of black that only offset printing can produce. We meet every week in our office, SUB 24 — in the basement, squirreled away in the back, there. Yeah, we know. You’ll get used to it.

september 12, 2013 | Volume XCV| Issue VI

BUSINESS

CONTACT

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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. 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. 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.

PHOTO MATT BELL/The ubyssey

Max Bogard marches to his own trombone Matisse Emanuele Contributor

When people challenge your Arts degree, you tend to light things on fire. This time it was for the best. Photo by Ceri Richards.

editorial

You can catch the Thunderbird Marching Band at most of the UBC sports games.

Max Bogard is the loudest man in the room. Quite a feat when he’s competing with the cheering crowds at a UBC men’s basketball game against UC Riverside, but this is what Bogard likes best: cheering and getting everyone else into it. As the president of the Thunderbird Marching Band, he does a pretty good job entertaining the crowd. Founded in 2012, the Thunderbird Marching Band is small, with only 12 members showing up to this particular game, but it’s clear that a lot of personality and a lot of sound can come out of the group. The band plays through each break and halftime, and Bogard is the first to lead the crowd into chants and songs to either cheer on the home team or try to distract the opponent. “The easiest thing is playing, having fun and cheering at games,” he says. When a player from the opposing team, ironically from Bogard’s home state of California, steps up to the free throw line, Bogard sends the crowd into a loop. He starts singing “I’m a Little Teapot” at the top of his lungs. The rest of the band and the crowd quickly join in before dissolving into laughter. “I get my inspiration from other marching bands, other things I’ve seen at games,” he says.

The third-year economics major first got into marching bands as a kid, when he would go to the University of California, Irvine basketball games and sit by the band. He picked up the trombone for a simple reason. “There’s the slidey thing; you can poke the person in front of you,” he said. “It’s awesome.” He was not dissuaded by the lack of marching band culture in Canada when he came to UBC for school. “In Canada, the marching

bands are all cadets. I wanted to show everyone what a real marching band was like. It’s not just military tunes, [it’s] rock music,” he says. “We’re all about fun atmosphere and welcoming people to the event.” From the moment the game started to well after people began leaving, the marching band played at every available moment, always reading the crowd to see what was causing the students, in particular the engineers, to dance and what was not.

The set list for the night’s game included the old standards of sporting events, meant to rouse the crowd and distract the teams, but the highlight of the night was their rendition of “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Bogard and the band arrange and generally “figure out how to play” everything themselves. While most of the members of the band read off sheet music, Bogard was once again in the front, louder than the rest. Though he is clearly the frontman, all charisma and theatricality, he is quick to point out that it is not just him. “It’s really about the team,” he says. The Thunderbird Marching Band is the only marching band in Western Canada, and Bogard wants to make it even bigger. He’s even considering taking the band on the road with the sports teams to represent UBC at away games in Seattle or Calgary. As the crowd ebbs, feeling a little disappointment in the UBC loss but still giddy with excitement, Bogard turns to his team with a big grin on his face. “Good job guys! Now let’s go home,” he says. If one had to guess, however, Bogard is probably going home to think about the next game, the next chance to entertain the crowd. U

Thursday, September 12, 2013 |

EDITORS WILL Mcdonald + Sarah Bigam

Sauder >>

Old sub >>

Board of Governors delays decision on old SUB renovations Will McDonald

News Editor

Two CUS executives have resigned, CUS FROSH is cancelled and the Sauder building was graffitied on Monday.

PHOTO CARTER BRUNDAGE/THE UBYSSEY

Update: CUS execs resign, FROSH cancelled

Will McDonald News Editor

Two Commerce Undergraduate Society (CUS) executives have resigned, and traditional FROSH events will no longer be held at the Sauder School of Business as a result of the recent rape cheer controversy. CUS President Enzo Woo and VP Engagement Gillian Ong announced their resignation in a release posted the morning of Sept. 11. “As the leader of the CUS, I am deeply remorseful at what has transpired,” Woo said in the release. “It would be naive to think that these problems can be solved overnight, but we have an opportunity moving forward to institute a culture of recovery and acceptance. I hope that my resignation can serve as the crucial first step in this process

NEWS BRIEFS UBC prof calls bull on cow-tipping myth At long last, a UBC zoology prof has provided an answer to an age-old question: can you tip a sleeping cow? Many people would say yes, you can, but according to Margo Lillie and her student Tracey Boechler, it’s mathematically implausible. Not only do cows not sleep standing up, but they are simply too heavy for a single person to push over — especially if the cow gets a chance to brace itself. Accounting for the weight of a cow and the average force a person can produce, researchers estimated it would take six people of average strength to successfully tip a cow. Canada ranks as the 6th happiest country in the world According to a recent survey co-authored by UBC professor emeritus of economics John Helliwell, Canada is the sixth happiest country in the world. Factors that contributed to Canada’s high ranking include its “long life expectancies, high average income and robust social ties.” The World Happiness Report has been conducted in more than 150 countries since 2005 and asks people to rank their happiness on a scale from 1 to 10. On average, people ranked their happiness at 5.1 in 2013, with Canada coming in at 7.48. With 7.69 points, Denmark holds the top spot. U

and I can help heal the community that has been an enormous positive influence in my life.” Woo did not respond to requests for comment by press time. “I recognize that as a responsible student leader I must step down to allow the society to implement the changes that it needs to create a positive, inclusive environment for all students,” said Ong in the release. The release also said the CUS will no longer host its independent FROSH event. All CUS leaders will also be required to take “anti-violence ally training,” run by the AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre. Robert Helsley, the dean of Sauder, released a statement in response to the resignations. “There is no doubt that this has been a challenging time for these students, and I understand that their decision to resign their posts

could not have been an easy one,” said Helsley in the release. “Although they are stepping out of their positions in student leadership, these students remain valued members of the Sauder community.... Going forward, Sauder’s faculty and staff will continue to work with the Commerce Undergraduate Society to create a positive, respectful environment that supports our vibrant student community.” Helsley also hosted a press conference on Monday, Sept. 9 addressing the chant that has received national attention. Helsley said Sauder would cease to support FROSH, but that they would still support “FROSH-like events.” He said that Sauder would launch a “fact-finding team” to investigate the chant. Every one of the Sauder FROSH leaders has been asked to meet with the dean.

At the conference, Helsley said students involved in the chant could be given punishments ranging from verbal warnings to expulsion. On the morning of the press conference, the words “fuck rape culture” were spray-painted on the Henry Angus Building, as well as in Koerner Plaza. “Teaches rape” was also painted on the plaque outside the Henry Angus Building, to read “Sauder School of Business teaches rape.” Helsley said the graffiti was troubling, but that it showed legitimate frustration and anger. “People are expressing their indignation over these events and I share those views,” he said The graffiti was cleaned that morning and RCMP are handling the incident as a mischief case. U –With files from Sarah Bigam and Arno Rosenfeld.

Services >>

Minischool closed, Volunteer Connect to be phased out

Sarah Bigam News Editor

The AMS has acted on recommendations from its first comprehensive services review since 1994. At a meeting on Sept. 4, the AMS passed a series of motions in response to the review, which was released on August 15. These included closing Minischool and Volunteer Connect, putting a mandate for regular reviews for services into the AMS code of procedures, and forming a working group to look further into the issue of unpaid internships. Minischool, which offered classes ranging from “Magic 101” to “West Coast Swing,” was discontinued as an official student service, effective immediately. It had dropped significantly in enrollment over the past three years. Council also authorized the closure of Volunteer Connect, which was formed in 1982 to help students find volunteer positions in the community. The report noted that the UBC Centre for Student Involvement and Careers offer a service that is similar. The motion directed the Executive Coordinator of Student Services Matthew Duguay to work with UBC to transition the service’s offerings to the university, with the program fully phased out no later than May 2, 2014. Duguay said that the AMS’s biannual volunteer fairs would also

FILE PHOTO GEOFF LISTER/THE UBYSSEY

Minischool is now closed, and Volunteer Connect is closing after the services review.

be transferred to university control. An amendment to the AMS code of procedures, which would include a requirement for yearly reports from the services department as well as regular reviews of the services department itself, will be drafted by the legislative procedures committee, and brought to the first AMS Council meeting in November. The possibility of expanding Speakeasy features, and of creating a scholarship database, an used book exchange service, and a new service to help students find off-campus housing, will be investigated. “One in particular that we’ve looked at is the off-campus housing office,” said Duguay. “But the way we are framing that service, it would most likely be some form of upgraded database and customer service based on the old Rentsline model.”

This service would also work with the student legal fund society to assist students with tenancy disputes, and may have a component to help students living on-campus. A working group will be formed to examine unpaid internships and how they impact the current AMS internship program. “Certain organizations are starting [to look] at the issue of [whether] unpaid internships [should] be legal, considering that they do constitute unpaid labour, and whether or not it’s fair to the rights of the individuals who enter into those internships,” said Duguay. For now, the AMS remains neutral. “Should a decision be made one way or another, we’ll operate under the framework decided by that committee,” said Duguay. The group will give an internal policy recommendation to Council by January. U

UBC has tentative plans for renovating the old SUB, but the Board of Governors isn’t convinced. The project is estimated to cost almost $60 million, with almost $53 million of that money coming from an internal loan that is expected to be repaid with revenue from Vantage College, a new school for international students who don’t meet UBC’s English requirements. The plans were discussed at the Sept. 10 Board of Governors standing committee meeting, but after some debate, the Board decided to delay the decision. The project would include squash courts, a fitness centre, collegia, study space, the VP students’ office and food outlets. It would also centralize student services, particularly those for international students. Many Board members raised concerns about funding the project with revenue from Vantage College, especially since it hasn’t opened yet. Other Board members questioned whether the plans for the old SUB were the best use of money or space. “For me, I draw the line. This is 60 million I cannot personally support when I see the other priorities on campus firsthand,” said Board member Nassif Ghoussoub. Board member Maureen Howe also questioned why UBC should commit so much money to the project. “When we talk about upgrades on campus, we’ve got to time them in and find the money, but here’s $60 million,” said Board member Maureen Howe. “It’s cool. Absolutely it’s cool. I’m just not sure it’s the right priority.” VP Students Louise Cowin argued that the building was necessary for students. It would also be the new home for the International House, which provides services for international students. The current International House was already slated for a $10 million upgrade because it is currently classified as a high seismic risk. That money would be transferred to the SUB renewal project. “It’s not just a bunch of stuff ... but really a strategy to integrate the student experience in one location,” said Cowin. UBC President Stephen Toope spoke in support of the plans for the old SUB. “I have been convinced this is the most logical and sensible use for this building and I think it would actually add tremendously to student life at the university and would update our student services dramatically,” Toope said. “It is the academic mission, it is not separate from the academic mission.” However, Toope recommended delaying the decision to commit money to the project. “I would feel better if the Board was excited about this project, rather than holding its nose and saying, ‘Well, we’re not so sure about this one,’” said Toope. The issue will be brought up again at the next Board of Governors standing committee meeting on Nov. 10. U

4 | NEWS |

Thursday, September 12, 2013

housing >>

Acadia Park review praises design, calls for better consultation

The Acadia Park Needs Assessment Report commended the design of the community and reprimanded the university for unsatisfactory consultation practices.

Sarah Bigam News Editor

AMS VP Academic Kiran Mahal has released a report containing the results of the AMS’s Acadia Park Community Needs Assessment. The assessment found that tenants were quite satisfied with the design and social benefits of the community, but that they were unsatisfied with consultations regarding the Land Use Plan, which designated part of the student housing area to be converted into market housing in 15-20 years. In the report, tenants expressed their contentment with the neighbourhood. There are nearly 1,700 occupants in Acadia Park, about 38 per cent of which are children. Starting last summer, the 459 residents of the Acadia Courts townhouses were relocated to smaller, more expensive housing in the Acadia Park area in preparation for demolishing the buildings. Currently, two-thirds of the Courts have been demolished, with the remainder set to be removed by December. UBC’s Land Use Plan designates the land where the Courts once stood to be used for student housing on the west side and higher-density market housing on the east, despite a petition signed by over 200 residents in 2012 against this. However, these changes won’t take place for a long time. Managing director of Student Housing and Hospitality Andrew Parr said planning for the redevelopment process might not take place for another 15 or 20 years. In the meantime, the land is being used as storage. The report, conducted from January to July 2013, aimed to “capture the views and needs of residents” by defining what

attributes of the community contribute to its positive atmosphere and how these could be retained during the redevelopment process, when it does occur. It also offered recommendations to improve the consultation process that left many residents dissatisfied. “The recent changes that have taken place regarding the Acadia Park Student Family Housing community have occurred rapidly and left residents feeling confused and dissatisfied,” the report read. “These sentiments are a direct result of the poor processes currently employed by the university in regard to decision making and land use consultation.” Mahal said her office was approached by confused residents last year when decommissioning of the Courts began. “Campus and Community Planning was communicating that a robust consultation took place. Residents who had lived there since before 2010 indicated that no consultation had taken place, they’d never heard of this at all, and so [we] wanted to go back and document what actually happened,” Mahal said. The report highlighted several features of the community that residents valued, such as the original pedestrian-oriented design of the community, with plenty of green spaces and common areas. “Doing this report was a very interesting experience because we’re basically telling the university what they’ve done right,” said Mahal. “It’s kind of awkward to make recommendations to the university when we’re saying, you’ve done everything right, but we don’t understand how you’re going to actually retain that in the change you’ve made in land use.” Residents also praised the social support systems created in

the community. As many residents felt that “there was little effort to engage the community,” the report gave recommendations to improve the consultations process. These included creating a group that will give residents’ feedback to the Board of Governors, revising “leading” consultation questions to be more open-ended and providing raw data from these consultation surveys to the public. It also recommends that a third party oversee the consulta-

tion process. The report offered a series of recommendations to UBC for what to do when they plan the redevelopment of the area. To improve resident representation in the process, the

report recommended that a formal representative Council for Acadia be created, that a resident representative be included in redevelopment committees and that a body be formed to represent the needs of children. The report recommended increased community programming, as community events and spaces were found to be “highly valued” by residents. The report emphasized the importance of ground-oriented design, as this gives children easy access to the outdoors and parents direct sight lines. It also recommended that natural forested areas and community spaces be retained and expanded. “The way in which Acadia Park has intentionally been designed has been the right thing, and I would hope that the university would recognize the right things they’ve done in developing this community and make sure those aspects are retained in the future,” Mahal said. The report recommends that SHHS provide residents and the AMS with an overview of maintenance plans for the remaining student housing in Acadia Park to reassure tenants their residence isn’t slated for decommissioning or redevelopment, as some residents felt that the condition of the Courts was a result of “neglect and intentional lack of maintenance.” It was recommended that future housing remain affordable, as 58 per cent of tenants reported an annual income of less than $30,000, that an assessment be undertaken to examine the social impacts of income and demographic differences caused by market housing, and that UBC reconsider the current land use allocation. “We have yet to find a rationale in why it was divided in the way that it

PHOTO KOSTA PRODANOVIC/THE UBYSSEY

was divided,” Mahal said. Joe Stott, director of planning at Campus and Community Planning, said market housing is being put in Acadia Park, where the Courts needed to be torn down anyway, since it was resolved in 2010 that it could not be put on the UBC Farm. “The Acadia Park area has a shelf life ... and it makes more sense, when we come to renew that area, to use the land efficiently,” Stott said. “This [market housing] has been a long-standing practice of the university, to increase the opportunity of people who work and study at UBC to live at UBC..., transforming it from a commuter campus to a place where the people who work and study at UBC can live at UBC,” Stott said. Parr said that UBC will give their response to the report in October. He said that UBC will make a commitment to incorporating some of the recommendations into the future planning process. According to Parr, UBC plans to recreate the same sort of community. “Our plan is to continue to operate and create community and maintain the facilities in an effective way for residents in the next sort of 15 to 20 years, and then to participate actively in a planning process to recreate that neighbourhood when the time comes.” He said that in some cases, such as community programming, the recommendations are already being carried out. “There’s very little in conflict with the recommendations that they’re proposing and things that we want to create to make a vibrant community in that area down the road,” Parr said. There are currently no plans for another town hall consultation, though Parr said that their response at the end of October may result in further consultation if that was a desired outcome. U

EDIToR NATALIE SCADDEN

Thursday, sepTember 12, 2013 |

field HOCKey >>

Women’s ﬁeld hockey ready to defend titles again UBC enters 2013 seeking three-peat at CIS and 11th straight Canada West championship Adrienne Hembree Contributor

With two exceptional seasons behind them — culminating in an undefeated season, 10 straight Canada West titles and backto-back CIS gold medals — the UBC women’s field hockey team enters the 2013-2014 season with a powerhouse lineup and the inevitable pressure to have another dominant winning season. “We lost no one to graduation last year,” said head coach Hash Kanjee, who is now in his 21st year of coaching one of UBC’s oldest women’s sports programs. Historically, the team has fostered a strong foundation of excellence both on and off the field. The team boasts seven Academic All-Canadians, and this year six women — Natalie Sourisseau, Rachel Donohoe, Hannah Haughn, Sara McManus, Lauren Logush and Bea Francisco — represented Team Canada at the Junior World Cup in Germany in July. They will be joined by three teammates — Kate Gillis, Abigail Raye and Shanlee Johnston — in Argentina next week to play in a World Cup qualifier. Along with rugby and basketball, women’s field hockey is one of UBC’s three founding women’s sports teams, and since their inception, they have developed a talent for attracting, well, talent. Kanjee attributes UBC’s long history of success to the university’s commitment to student athlete support and to ensuring that education continues to come first. “School is very, very much first,” said Kanjee. He is confident that his team will “commit completely” and “understand what it takes” to achieve success both on the field and in the classroom. Although UBC has attracted a number of talented recruits due to the strength of North Shore programs and the Thunderbirds’ reputation, Kanjee is hesitant to credit the strength of the team to recruitment alone. “The UBC program tries to provide the basic building blocks to provide student athletes the best environment to be the best they can be,” Kanjee said. He says the program has been a cooperative effort between the student athletes, coaches and the university. “Working together, we figured out that there is give and take,” he said. “We’ve created the environment.” There is more to Kanjee’s team than just raw talent on the field. Kanjee points out that when students transfer in from other universities with several years of player eligibility remaining, they often choose not to play in order to remain loyal to their old team. He believes this is a mark of the draw of UBC’s strong educational focus and exceptional students.“We pick

good kids with good character.” Abigail Raye, a fourth-year who has been a member of the Canadian National Team since 2009, said that the team has been working hard in the off-season to keep fit. “Hash is pretty keen on that,” she said. Raye also attributes her team’s past success to the tremendous amount of support her teammates provide for one another. For Raye and other national team athletes, this support has been particularly appreciated as they are often absent for key games. “It’s really great to have the support of the team,” she said, adding that they are “really good about letting us come in and out” of the season to represent Canada all over the world. “Obviously [player absences] pose a challenge,” said Kanjee. But he is confident that the remaining athletes will step up to the challenge. “We just demand more of the players on those days. It’s a nice challenge to have.” Other factors have and will continue to contribute to the team’s upcoming season. Raye said that the team has prepared during the off-season by continuing to improve their game. “We play for a women’s club league during the spring,” she says. The Vancouver Women’s Premier League, according to Kanjee, provides a strong, competitive way for the team to stay sharp, even when not in season. Vancouver also boasts the National Training Centre, and nationals this year will be held at the University of Victoria, with whom UBC has a strong rivalry. UBC’s international-standard fields, top-notch facilities and temperate climate allows the team to train outdoors for 10 months of the year, which is key to the success of an outdoor sport like field hockey. Based on history and statistics, the team looks invincible. Kanjee is optimistic, but unwilling to cave in to the pressure of high expectations and previous successes, and he advises a healthy dose of perspective. “The game’s not played on paper,” he pointed out. “If you don’t succeed, there’s going to be pushback.” This weekend, the ’Birds will kick off another high-energy season with back-to-back games against Calgary. At the same time, they will host a high school field hockey tournament. It will be a hectic weekend for the players, but Kanjee feels that events like this are important to build the character and strength of the team. Kanjee has every reason to be proud of the ’Birds. His team has worked hard, and they have worked together to become one of Canada’s strongest women’s field hockey programs. U

BY THE NUMBERS

13 games played last 50goals scored by uBc 14 cIS championship titles 0 7 goals allowed by uBc

PhoTo caRTER BRuNDagE/ThE uBySSEy

with 14 cIS national championships, uBc has the most successful women’s varsity field hockey program in canada.

Thursday, sepTember 12, 2013 |

EDIToR ARNO ROSENFELD

Those with BAs: barista is not an endgame By Miriam Mortimer

I’ve heard this line so many times that now I just nod — despite it not being true.

“Oh, you like English? So you want to be a teacher.” Sometimes I don’t say English, though. Sometimes I say history. Sometimes I say geography. (I’ve never taken a geography class in my life.) But the response is generally the same. I don’t, in fact, want to teach. My real interest lies in the field of political science, but it doesn’t help much to tell people that.

“Oh! So you want to work for the UN?” While intriguing, the UN is, to best of my knowledge, not the primary employer of poli sci majors. But when it comes to studying in the Arts faculty, people seem to be under the impression that

you’ll either be forced to teach, shoehorned into a narrow line of work — analyst at a think tank? novelist? Egyptologist? — or labour under a heavy burden of debt at Starbucks. Arts students get more than a little ribbing over our faculty’s salary-to-tuition ratio post-graduation, which is often admittedly less desirable than that of other faculties. Given the assumption that we won’t be able to enjoy sprawling estates and swimming pools in our future residences, and that we won’t be able to fill said pools with Robert Borden-adorned polymer notes, many folks ask whether a Bachelor of Arts is worth much of anything at all. But occasional condescension aside, I’ve realized that far from defending their degree’s value, many Arts students don’t understand themselves what

the utility of an Arts degree is in today’s world. It’s hard to escape one reality of university: it’s incredibly expensive. Some UBC students can expect to graduate with upwards of $30,000 in debt, and much more for international students, so it’s easy to see why there’s an expectation that graduates should rush out and secure jobs to repay their loans as quickly as possible. These expectations can weigh heavily on students, especially those who aren’t on a path to being doctors or corporate consultants. Arts students generally understand that the experiences and knowledge we gain during our time in university is altruistic in the most basic sense, because it fosters a more educated citizenry, and because our education provides a window in a wide range of humanity — far more than, say, studying engineering would do. But despite our confidence that we’re doing something good, we often fall into one of two problematic mindsets regarding our post-grad opportunities. The first is that our BA will provide a conventional path to a decent career. The second is that an Arts degree will weigh us down, ensuring that the only house we will ever own will be made of Lego. Currently, a BA is an undergraduate degree that exists to give you options, not to set you up for a particular vocation or trade. The advantage to

this is that the skills and knowledge you gain from your education will, as a result, be much more transferable. The reason we study liberal arts at all is because we gain a better perspective of the individual and collective human experience through it. “Liberal arts education helps to produce individuals who are masterful communicators, keen analysts, sophisticated researchers and innovative thinkers,” said Gage Averill, dean of the Arts faculty at UBC. This view of the liberal arts extends beyond the Arts dean’s office, where it’s only reasonable to expect to find spirited defenses of the faculty. Darren Dahl, senior associate dean of Commerce, echoed Averill’s sentiments. “It’s about leveraging the process of the education,” he said. “It’s about what you went through to get your degree, not the degree itself.” Notably, everyone I spoke to for this article sees society as the primary beneficiary of liberal arts-trained students. Who knew that an informed, aware citizenship would be conducive to a high-functioning society? Another common refrain was that students of all faculties should carry with them into the

world the knowledge they’ve obtained during their studies. Dean of Applied Sciences Marc Parlange

emphasized the importance of possessing such knowledge, particularly for those in positions of power. “Today’s graduates will likely hold several different

jobs over the course of their careers. What will help you the most, in any job in any sector, is the ability to be creative and persistent,” he said. Of course, if you are in Arts, one would hope that you’re in it because you love what you’re studying, and your studies should inspire dedication. But while your passion may not lead you to the most obvious job, it will open unexpected doors. Averill shared an interesting example of a student who grew up reading National Geographic and fell in love with maps. He said it was unlikely that if that student went into geography, he or she would become a mapmaker. While conceivable, there just aren’t that many jobs out there for cartographers. “But,” Averill explained, “their interest in geographic information might lead them to a career involving the application of global information systems or to work on demographics for Stats Canada, or as an entrepreneur in a global

business, perhaps combined with a business degree and utilizing their knowledge of a foreign language learned while at [university]. This is closer to the kind of student we are seeing emerge from our programs: self-motivated, creative in career choices and ready for a challenge.”

However, many of these career paths require additional training. A degree in Arts is formational in these kinds of arrangements, rather than specific training for a particular vocation or trade. With that in mind, it’s no secret that those who attempt to enter the workforce immediately upon finishing their BA do often struggle to find meaningful work. This doesn’t lessen the value of a BA, but it does mean that connections and the work you do during your time as an undergrad matter. Daniel Maki is a recent UBC alum who majored in political science and now works for a media agency. During his time at university, he did volunteer work with non-profits, eventually rising to be on the board of a health organization. That coupled with internships set him up to succeed with his Arts degree post-graduation. “Ultimately, that extracurricular work, and the networking I was doing throughout it, was what led to me finding work,” said Maki. But many of his friends haven’t been as lucky. “I have many friends and classmates who graduated and spent months or even years before they were able to find a job.” That difficulty in finding work might be why many of the people I talked with stressed

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the complimentary aspects of an Arts degree. As useful as an Arts student’s skills are, they fair significantly better outside of university when

paired with technical certificates and second-entry professional programs. This doesn’t make an Arts degree less valuable, though — just different from what many people expect of it. Neil Shapiro, the associate creative director at DDB, one of Canada’s most awarded creative agencies, was one such Arts major who decided to further his education after completing his undergrad. Having previously considered law school, an MBA and, yes, work at UN, Shapiro ultimately chose to do a postgraduate program at Humber College in copywriting. “I think an Arts degree in and of itself doesn’t lead to many jobs,” Shapiro said. “This was something I was painfully aware of upon graduation. What it does do is open up doors for postgraduate education that can lead to rewarding careers. I had a number of career paths open that wouldn’t have been possible without having completed a BA first.” What’s important to remember is that university does not entitle you to a job in the sense that you — or your parents — might think. Most people in Arts don’t get jobs directly related to their degrees because the way our complex, shifting job market is structured means in-depth knowledge of medieval England is just not a highly sought skill. But that doesn’t mean such a degree has no practical use. Arts is about having improved decision-making skills, an expanse of unique knowledge and, for most, a myriad of possibilities for further postgraduate education. I don’t think it’s desperately important that Arts students defend what we study, because it should be evident that an Arts degree does hold weight in the real world. It’s just that people think Arts should only act as a quick vocational trainer when that simply is not feasible. For all the Arts students out there: remember that it’s still the beginning of the school year. Continue to cultivate your interests, get involved, participate in a co-op program, try an internship or a tri-mentoring information session. Don’t like what you’re offered? Then search elsewhere. But don’t look for something exciting expecting to find a conventional path forward. U This is article is the first in a series about different faculties at UBC.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

| SPORTS + REC | 7

Wrestling >>

UBC wrestlers can dream again

Wrestling’s reinstatement to the 2020 Olympic programme breathes new life into UBC club Mehryar Maalem Contributor

On Sunday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that wrestling, one of the Games’ most traditional sports, has been reinstated to the programme of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The decision has sparked new life and hope into wrestling programs across Canada. “Wrestling’s reinstatement means young male and female wrestlers all over Canada can dream again,” said David Wilson, head coach of the UBC Wrestling Club. Wrestling’s biggest stage is the Olympics. Unlike other sports such as basketball, hockey and baseball, there are no proper professional leagues for wrestlers. There is very little money involved. The athletes truly compete and train for the love of the sport and the dream of one day having the opportunity to compete in the Olympics. The decision not only encourages current athletes but will also directly contribute to the emergence of more young wrestlers in future generations. “[The Olympics are] a wrestler’s fuel. When you start wrestling, every hard practice, every tough match, every grueling tournament is you picturing yourself on the mat in the Olympic finals,” said Wilson. “No massive endorsements, no celebrity. It’s just that dream.” Inspired by the “Save Wrestling” campaign, the UBC Wrestling Club

held the Vancouver International Wrestling Festival at Robson Square in August. Athletes from Oregon, Idaho, Washington and the Lower Mainland participated in the event to voice their support to bring wrestling back to the Olympics. The movement has sparked immense interest in UBC students who want to pursue wrestling, with 80 students signing up for more information on Imagine Day, an all-time best for the club. “I’m getting calls from the media to do stories when the phone rarely rang [before], and past wrestling alumni are reconnecting with us,” Wilson said. Almost as old as the Olympics itself, wrestling was initially cut from the 2020 Games earlier this year. The IOC made its decision based on the direction to “streamline” the Olympics. Wrestling was ranked among the lowest sports in popularity, TV audience, hits on the Internet and press coverage. Being one of the main sports in the ancient Olympiad in 708 BC, one of the main events in the first modern Olympics in 1896 and appearing in every Olympic Games since 1904, it was not surprising that the decision caused international outcry and prompted countries such as United States, Russia and Iran to fight for the sport’s Olympic life. Wrestling finally won back its spot by getting 49 votes in the first round of the secret balloting by the IOC committee, with baseball and

The UBC Wrestling Club hopes to make its case for varsity status this year.

softball coming in second with 24 votes. To accommodate the IOC’s concerns, changes were made to the competition to energize wrestling matches for wider viewership and increased accessibility. Several new rules were implemented, such as penalizing passive wrestlers while rewarding more aggressive ones, and two new weight classes were added for women. Wrestling was established as a varsity sport program at UBC in 1959. The program boasted one of the top teams in the country and managed to train a multitude of CIS

champions, including Taras Hyrb, one of UBC’s three wrestling Olympians and a three-time CIS champion, and Kyle Raymond, a two-time CIS champion. Despite its success, the program was shut down in 1986, but students continued to train. In 2001, a “new” UBC Wrestling Club was created. Wilson took over coaching duties for the club in 2006, despite little funding and a handful of members. While the club has not been returned to varsity status, it does have athletes competing in various competitions across Canada. It has

Photo Chris borchert/the ubyssey

also created arguably the best youth wrestling summer camp in Canada with Olympic champion Daniel Igali and world champion Gia Sissaouri as coaches. The Wrestling Club has been lobbying to reclaim its varsity status at UBC. With a growing interest and the momentum of the “Save Wrestling” campaign, the club plans to really push its case for varsity status this year. “I’m looking forward to continuing building our UBC wrestling program back to one of the best in the country,” concluded Wilson. U

School spirit >>

Homecoming 2013 to create a new athletic tradition? UBC Athletics attempts to revamp homecoming with more sports and new events Natalie Scadden Sports + Rec Editor

The other new event that has been added to homecoming weekend this year was dubbed the Great Thunderbird Trek, an homage to the Great Trek from the days of UBC’s founding. At 11 a.m. on Saturday, all available varsity athletes will be rallying at Martha Piper Plaza, the new fountain on Main Mall. Accompanied by the Thunderbird Marching Band, they’ll walk over to Place Vanier and Totem Park to pick up residents and lead them to the tailgate party before the football game. There will be face-painting and poster-making, and Athletics plans to “shoot a cool video.” While Denenfeld noted that “the more a team wins, the more people care,” winning doesn’t seem to be the Thunderbirds’ problem.

UBC has more CIS national titles than any other university, and most teams are perennial playoff contenders if not favourites. Last year, a group of Sauder undergraduates from the sportscrazed United States didn’t understand why UBC had such little fan support at many games, so they did a survey as part of a class research project. “They were like, ‘We don’t get it, what’s the catch here? Why aren’t people coming to games?’” said Denenfeld. Plenty of excuses have been offered in the past: not enough rivalry games, too many blowouts, a tight budget, other things happening on campus, having to battle for sports fans with the Canucks, the Whitecaps, the Lions — the list goes on.

Surprisingly, the results showed that people simply didn’t know about it. “There’s so much noise, so many messages being delivered to students. It’s like, how do you filter through that?” said Denenfeld. He added that Athletics faced the difficult question of how to differentiate themselves. That’s when the department realized it needed to work on promoting the Thunderbird image better. Rather than coming across as an exclusive community, varsity athletes are aiming to engage with campus and make more of a connection with their fellow students. “We need to put a face to a name,” said Denenfeld. “We told the athletes: the most effective tool to get people to

Every fall, high schools and universities across North America take part in often-longstanding homecoming traditions, usually centred around a football game. This year, UBC Athletics is turning its homecoming into a two-day, three-sport endeavour, showcasing both the men’s and women’s soccer squads as well as the football team. With the addition of two non-sport events as well, homecoming is going big this year. Leon Denenfeld, marketing and promotions coordinator at UBC Athletics, said that while homecoming “really has an alumni flavour to it,” the department hopes to “start new traditions and welcome first-year students to campus.” Following the soccer doubleheader on Friday night, an outdoor movie will be shown at Thunderbird Stadium. “[It’s something] we’ve wanted to try at Thunderbird Stadium for a while,” said Denenfeld. The choice of movie was put to a vote, and the winner was Ferris Bueller’s Day Off . Recognizing the success of the Fresh Air Cinema series at Stanley Park, Denenfeld added that showing outdoor movies at campus sporting venues is something Athletics is looking at doing in the summer, and homecoming will be used as a trial run. Not only does an outdoor movie offer fun that isn’t centred around alcohol, but it also helps put Thunderbird Stadium on the map. “It is an old facility, but it’s really beautiful. It’s a really unique staThe iconic Thunderbird Stadium will play host to several homecoming this weekend, including a screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. dium to be in,” said Denenfeld.

come to your games is you inviting them,” he said. “Once [people] get there, our athletes, our coaches, and all the stuff we do — we think that’s going to sell itself.” Laura Thompson, president of the Thunderbird Athlete Council, said that most of the athletes are excited about the Great Thunder Trek because it’s going to be “such an in-your-face, let’s-gethyped thing.” She estimates at least 150 athletes will be there for the rally. “I don’t see why we can’t [get that many]. We have 650 varsity athletes.” Thompson hopes that the revamped homecoming weekend will be the start of a trend this year. “All you’ve got to do is start with something right? More will come out after.” U

Photo BECCA WILLIAMS/the ubyssey

Thursday, September 12, 2013 |

EDITOR Rhys Edwards

End of the voyage

art >>

food >>

Farmade heralds summer harvest

Experimental film showcase to conclude inspiring art exhibit at MOA Prabhi Deol Contributor

“Intense and sometimes beautiful experiences of travel, being stuck in place, fantasies of other places, dislocation and disorientation.” This is how Laura Marks describes Experiments in Arab Cinema: The Travelling Program, an upcoming film showcase at the Museum of Anthropology (MOA). The event, happening this Sunday, Sept. 15, will conclude several months of programming for the museum’s major contemporary art exhibit, Safar/Voyage . The program will consist of seven short films, ranging from three to 27 minutes long, created by artists from Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and more. Marks, a Dena Wosk University professor with the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU, is curating The Travelling Program . She says the featured films work towards deconstructing the Western world’s perception of the Middle East. “Hassan Khan’s computer animation deconstructs notions of stable identity,” she said. “Rami Abdul Jabbar’s beautiful Japanophile film deconstructs Orientalism by proposing an Egyptian Orientalism. Ziad Antar’s Tokyo Tonight deconstructs an idea that rural Syrians out in the boonies are innocent of the wide world. The list goes on.” The films closely parallel the artwork of Safar/Voyage in theme, so visitors would be best advised to ensure seeing both during their visit. Marks chose films “that complemented the exhibition’s theme of travel,” and worked together effectively to evoke a sense of movement — whether it be forced due to political circumstances and

PHOTO TIM BLONK/THE UBYSSEY

The UBC Farm hosts work and leisure in equal measure.

Charlie Harris Contributor

photos courtesy of rebecca sharma

Left to right: Iraqi director Rheim Alkadhi’s Subtitles for Stolen Pictures is featured in The Travelling Program; Maha Maamoun’s Night Visitor uses recovered footage from the Egyptian revolution; Lebanese director Ziad Antar’s film Tokyo Tonight also features.

concern for one’s personal safety, or nomadic. The films are all experimental in nature, with moods varying from playful to haunting. For example, Rheim Alkadhi’s eightminute film Subtitles for Stolen Pictures tells the story of an unknown civilian through news photos, whose own narration via subtitles persists despite her own death halfway through the film. Ammar Bouras’ Un Aller Simple (“oneway trip”) is a five-minute film of various voices overlapping during phone calls, with constant static, beeping and the repetition of the French greeting “allo?,” suggesting the recipient of the phone calls is unavailable.

It is important to note that many of the artists of Safar/Voyage and The Travelling Program do not live full time in their countries of origin; they often travel between homes in Europe, North America and the Middle East. For instance, Taysir Batniji’s art installation Hannoun explores the struggle of “setting up shop,” only to have to close down once again and move. As the artist’s workshop in Gaza has been made inaccessible several times due to political tensions, he is forced to continue work at his second home in Paris. Jill Baird, co-curator of Safar/ Voyage and curator of education and public programs at MOA,

said Safar/Voyage “has been very well-received. “These artists and their work was new to me three years ago, when we began planning the exhibition,” she said. “Now it feels like the works are friends and teachers. “I am happy that the exhibition is closing with contemporary Arab cinema,” she added. “It will be another opportunity for us to learn through the eyes of the artist filmmakers and communities.”

Experiments in Arab Cinema: The Travelling Program takes place on Sunday, Sept. 15 at MOA. It is free with admission, which is already free if you are a UBC student or faculty member. U

documentary >>

Student film captures drama of eco-crisis The controversial Keystone project is a proposed 1,900-kilometre pipeline that would transport bitumen from northern Alberta to the Midwest and Gulf Coast of the United States. “The development of the Keystone pipeline system has already caused a lot of problems and will just cause more,” said Parizeau, comparing the increased greenhouse gas emissions released from oil sands extraction to more conventional oil production. In late April of this year, Parizeau traveled to MIT in Cambridge, Mass. to interview Chomsky. Now, she is combining her talent and training as a filmmaker with her passion for environmentalism to create a short film on the planetary ecological crisis. The film Tree Spirit , by Velvet Root Productions, will feature Parizeau’s interview with Chomsky, and she will serve as the director, editor and videographer for the project. The goal of the proposed 25-minute documentary is to present expertly-sourced facts about the reality of climate change and its effects in an exciting and creative manner. According to Parizeau, the film will allow audiences to digest the weight of this information in an engaging fashion; in this way, she hopes, the film will motivate people to make

Photo courtesy Bérangère Maïa Natasha Parizeau

Despite the scale of the global ecological crisis, Bérangère Maïa Natasha Parizeau maintains a positive outlook.

Boluwaji Akhigbe Ogunyemi Contributor

“Your generation holds in its hand the fate of the human civilization.” These words, spoken by recent UBC honorary doctor of laws recipient and international environmental activist Tzepora Berman at her convocation ceremony, have motivated UBC graduate

student Bérangère Maïa Natasha Parizeau to launch an ambitious film project. Recently, Parizeau had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and interview one of the world’s most well-known intellectuals, Noam Chomsky, about the Keystone XL Pipeline project and the broader consequences of human activity on environmental change.

environmental responsibility more of a priority on the agenda of local, provincial and national governments. “We don’t need to let go of [the] many individual advantages that we have, but on a governmental level we need change,” Parizeau said. This demand for change, of course, has been echoed by numerous experts in fields related to environmental science, demography and economics. Originally from Montreal, Parizeau is currently a master’s student in Asian Pacific Policy studies at UBC, a freelance political writer and an emerging filmmaker. Fluent in English, French and Mandarin, she completed a master’s in film production at the prestigious California College of the Arts in 2006. Parizeau has launched a public fundraising campaign for Tree Spirit . The production will include hand-drawn and digital animation in addition to live action sequences, along with professional sound editing and original music by electronica hip-hop group Everymen. The projected budget for the film, $27,000, will be spent on the cost of the animation, website construction, directing, videography and editing, as well as the original soundtrack and sound mixing. “I just really feel that I am following my heart,” Parizeau said. U

On Friday, Sept. 13, for the 11th year in a row, the UBC Farm will be opening its gates and stocking up on supplies for Farmade, a free event that combines sustainability and environmental issues with craft beer and food — creating one of UBC’s most environmentallyand conscience-friendly backto-school events. Boasting an incredible range of locally-grown produce, vegan, veggie and low-impact beef burgers, as well as the notorious “mega-brownies,” Farmade’s worth going to just to eat right. It also features a beverage garden with a local brewery, for those who feel like drinking right, too. Free musical entertainment will be provided by several of Vancouver’s own homegrown bands such as Viper Central, Shout White Dragon, the Lina Dancers and increasingly-renowned bluegrass group Washboard Union, who were recently featured in four back-to-back shows at Canadian Music Week 2013. A few years ago, the 24-hectare plot of land that comprises the UBC Farm was under threat of development by the university, sparking a battle to save it for future generations of students. Farmade became a rallying point for the farm’s supporters. The immediate threat has passed, but Lisa Allyn, the Administrative and Events Coordinator for the Farm, says that the significance of the event has not changed. “It’s definitely still about the same vibe, the same celebration of sustainability and of our farm,” she said. “As ever, we’re really excited to bring the community out here to enjoy good food and good people and to celebrate harvest, and to connect different organizations and movements that support sustainable farming. Once again, AMS has provided a great deal of support, and we really appreciate it.” It’s not just food, music and beer, although to some that may seem like enough. This year, Farmade will also feature free tours, family-friendly children’s areas, square dancing and henna tattooing. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn more about sustainability and the possibilities of low-impact farming, and to the aboriginal farm to discover more about the traditional medicinal uses of plants through the ages. The UBC Farm is on the edge of the Wesbrook Village and is easily accessible by the 41 bus, which goes almost to the front gate. For cyclists, a bike valet service will be in operation. The event starts at 3 p.m. and all are welcome. Head down to the farm for what will probably be one of the last glimpses of summer. U

Thursday, September 12, 2013

| CULTURE | 9

THEATRE >>

Vancouver Fringe Festival reviews (part deux)

Fringe Fest ends on Sept. 15 — you still have a few more days to experience it in all its eccentricity, whimsy and scandal. Our seasoned writers have sojourned once again to the grime-kissed gravel of Granville Island to deliver unto you the second installment of our expert verdicts. PHOTOS COURTESY VANCOUVER FRINGE FESTIVAL

the last show you’ll ever see

“At the last trumpet the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” — Corinthians 15:52 Meet Sara Liane Foster, a trombonist playing a concert that will be interrupted, several times, by the Apocalypse. The first thing you will learn upon meeting Sara is that there are many versions of how the world could end, her favourite being the

one described by Norse mythology. Funny and very well-researched, this show will have you pondering the role of the Valkyries while humming some Wagner. Be prepared for many classical and contemporary musical pieces (adapted for trombone, of course) that will illustrate our last moments on Earth. Is being a horseman of the Apocalypse a job reserved for those that left their end-of-the-world job applications for the last minute? These are things you may never have thought about.

Maybe it will be a black hole generated by the Large Hadron Collider in Europe, maybe it will be an oldstyle biblical end of times judgment day; as long as Sara continues to play the trombone, no one really cares. Make sure you watch this show before it’s too late — just in case the world ends. –Aurora Tejeida Remaining shows are at False Creek Gym, 1318 Cartwright St., on Sept. 12 at 8:20 p.m., Sept. 14 at 4:50 p.m. and Sept. 15 at 3:35 p.m.

Nonce Written and performed by poet Steve Larkin, NONCE (Not On Normal Courtyard Exercise) is based on the real-life experiences of an artist teaching prisoners in an English prison. This dark and funny slam poetry piece is well-reviewed for a reason — Larkin will charm you to the edge of your seat with his masterfully-crafted lines and flawless storytelling.

exit When Alejandro, completely silent, hugs the family photo album he brought from Venezuela, he presses it so hard against his chest that you can feel how much he misses his people. And that’s when you start to realize how it feels to be an immigrant. EXIT tells the story of Alejandro, a Venezuelan immigrant who arrives in Canada looking for a new beginning. As expected, he’s happy and excited

about the possibilities his new residence presents. But those feelings quickly interweave with melancholy and sadness when he remembers the traumatic episodes that forced him to leave his home country. EXIT works best when Isaac Luy, the professional clown who plays Alejandro, takes the time to build an emotional connection with the audience — which happens around 15 minutes into the hour-long play. That’s when he allows the viewers to

member looking to participate in some off-the-cuff magic. “I love the spontaneity in a community when a new group of people come together,” said Fleysher. “It’s unsafe, but never humiliating.” –Lisa Anderson

this is not a porno

set around Granville Island. Take a cookie, don the mask and cape they provide, and if they ask you to break something, it’s OK — you can break it. The actors work wonders with a somewhat fluid script, and welcome the audience to let go and be a kid again. This is a must-see in audience-participatory theatre. –Lisa Anderson

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Remaining shows are at Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright St., on Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 14 at 5:50 p.m. and Sept. 15 at 2:45 p.m.

Remaining shows are at False Creek Gym, 1318 Cartwright St., on Sept. 10 at 8:25 p.m., Sept. 12 at 6:45 p.m., Sept. 14 at 1:30 p.m. and Sept. 15 at 7:25 p.m.

This is not an artsy clown performance, nor is it clown noir. This is your traditional big-nose, bright-shoes clown performance meets every romantic comedy that has ever existed. In this Edmonton-based show, Rocket and Sheshells are two next-door neighbours that dream about finding love. You can guess where this is going after watching the first five minutes of the

sound effects will pull you in. “She can totally adapt to any audience,” said audience member and fellow Fringe actor Adam Keele. “The show is inspiring and will influence the future shows I do, for sure.” Hilarious and daring, Butt Kapinski challenges its audience to do more. It urges you to forget what you knew about being a passive audience member and to jump up and sing, talk and move. This play is not for everyone — it’s for the 18-plus audience

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Written and performed, without subtlety, by Deanna Fleysher, Butt Kapinski is a raunchy, lighthearted and comedic mystery improv piece that gives its audience as much as they give the play. Fleysher’s total lack of self-consciousness is catching, and she’ll have you participating in the murder mystery before you realize what’s happening. Fleysher’s wacky use of language, lights and audience-made show — it just might take a bit longer than you would expect. The first 10 minutes of the show are pretty dull, but it definitely picks up. It helps that the chemistry between the actors is very good; unfortunately, many early scenes have them separated. Played by Adam Keefe and Christine Lesiak, the physical aspects of the show are definitely the best parts. As the play progresses, they begin to interact a lot more, creating many memorable and

close attention, and enjoy your reaction to his slyly developed social commentary. A word of warning: NONCE deals with provocative themes of sex and violence, which may make some viewers uncomfortable. –Lisa Anderson

journey with him through his emotions; to explore with him not only the happiness of being able to start over far from a place where he never felt safe, but also the frustration of being forced to leave behind everything he held dear. –Carlos Tello

butt kapinski

fools for love

Larkin asks you to dig into your own imagination using only his hands, a cellphone and stage lights to create each scene. The black and white set and costume design frame Larkin’s red cheeks and sparkling green eyes. Visually simple, emotionally complex, rhythmically engaging and humorously dark, NONCE will have you questioning your ideas about prison, rape culture, gender, sexuality, romance and poetry as a powerful medium. Pay

Remaining shows are at False Creek Gym, 1318 Cartwright St., on Sept. 13 at 5p.m., Sept. 14 at 6:45p.m. and Sept. 15 at 12p.m.

creative scenes — most notably at a carnival, and later on making ingenious use of flashlights. If you’re looking for a light romantic comedy, look no further. You might not get an intellectual or overly creative experience, but you’ll definitely have a good time. –Aurora Tejeida

Remaining shows are at Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright St. on Sept. 14 at 9:15 p.m. and Sept. 15 at 5:55 p.m.

Two words: “What the —” Tucked behind Cat’s Social House, you’ll find the inexpensive outdoor hidden gem This Is Not a Porno . Directed by former UBC instructor Andrea Rabinovitch, it’s absolutely ridiculous in the best of ways. The characters appear out of nowhere, and keep you on your feet. Surprising you at every turn, they walk you (or roll — it’s wheelchair friendly) from set to

Remaining shows are at the Picnic Pavilion on Granville Island, from Sept. 9 to 15 at 8:30 p.m. U

Thursday, sepTember 12, 2013 |

STuDENT VoIcE. coMMuNITy REach.

lAST WORdS Kid Cudi and ubC bookstore boo, stephen J. Toope and athletics woo STaFF oPINIoNS

screw you aND your stupiD show So Kid Cudi came to play at UBC. Unlike the hoards of devoted fans who waited outside Dough Mitchell Arena to buy tickets, your trusty campus newspaper generally doesn’t get so worked up about shows like this. But we weren’t even granted a measly media pass, let alone an interview with the Kid. And we don’t deal well with rejection. Yes, Scott, we know you’re a star and all, but couldn’t you spare a few minutes to speak with the college newspaper? Kid Cudi is an international rap star who doesn’t need anymore exposure (see: those hoards of eager fans buying tickets). We’re a campus newspaper focused on all things UBC — and generally not much more. The balance of power is not equal to begin with; Scott could have thrown us a bone. Stars who think they’re above our culture section, take note: this issue’s editorial comic shows what happens when you turn down our interview request. Well, maybe not. But in all seriousness, we heard your show sucked.

Today, we gesticulate with Toope — albeit in writing — in calling for the governors to ﬁnalize a plan for the old SUB. fiNaliZe the olD sub plaNs It’s not everyday we find ourselves on the same side as UBC’s peerless leader Stephen John Toope. But in the case of the Board of Governor’s postponement of deciding just what to do with the current SUB once the New SUB is completed, we certainly are. A red-faced Toope gesticulated passionately as he was forced to support the postponement at risk of getting the current proposal shot down by discontent governors. Today, we gesticulate with him — albeit in writing — in calling for the governors to finalize a plan for the old SUB. Work needs to get underway, things need to happen, and neither us nor our university president are going to stand for lollygagging. The governors standing in the way of progress have two main complaints. The first is that most of the money for old SUB renovations is coming from Vantage College before enrollment numbers are known. Vantage College is the new school at UBC meant primarily to milk international students with poor English language skills for all they’re worth, so we’re confident UBC will work hard to fill its ranks with eager students with deep pockets.

RIchaRD kIM/ThE uBySSEy

kid cudi turned down our request for an interview, and then his show was awful. coincidence? (watch our welcome Back BBQ video!)

JaIME RIVERa VIa FLIckR

Scott “kid cudi” Mescudi declined to be interviewed by The Ubyssey.

The second complaint is that the university has other needs and the old SUB shouldn’t be a priority. That’s somewhat true, but of course by that very explanation you could deny funding to any renovation work on campus — there’s always more to be done. Onward to progress, comrades.

bookstore, Just stop Not unlike an insouciant teenager, the UBC Bookstore seems to be having an identity crisis. It doesn’t know what it wants to do, or what it’s meant to be, so as a result, it’s spent several months trying to find itself — and, just like said teenager, everyone else who actually has to deal with these “rebranding” efforts finds them irritating, pretentious and needlessly expensive. To further demonstrate its youthful precociousness, the Bookstore has also elected to arrange course texts in a fashionably retro manner. Students could once find everything they needed for a course on the same shelf, but books are now arranged in alphabetical order, meaning extra legwork for confused first-years. And of course, for reasons unknown to merely mortal minds, pretty much everything else in the store is in a different place than it used to be. Bookstore, we say to you: needless “innovations” are not innovations at all.

athletics, DoN’t stop Homecoming is a grand football tradition, and it’s great to see UBC Athletics going all-out with the concept to try and get fans out to the game on Saturday. The fact that they are combining it with two soccer games and a movie make it even better; if you don’t want to drink beer and yell at opponents, you can still enjoy a nice evening with a classic flick. (Solid choice on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off , too). But this can’t just be a one-time thing. If Athletics really wants to raise their profile on campus, they need to put in effort every week. Be it athletes going to classes or booths set up in the SUB — or perhaps even letting students know that there is consistent coverage of their teams in their student newspaper — a steady personal presence will help their cause. A few posters around campus aren’t going to cut it. U

Watch what you say, online and oﬀ HOW TO BE

By konrad Philip You only have one chance to make a first impression, and in September, that’s what many of us are doing. Whether at an orientation event, in a classroom or at a social event, first encounters are especially important and should be carefully approached. In addition to a strong handshake, one should have strong intuition. As funny as you think your jokes are, or as valid as you feel your opinions are, no assumptions should be made about another person’s beliefs, comfort level, or past experiences. Take time to know the person before saying something you might regret. Words must be chosen with caution during a first encounter. One should stick to positive topics. Ask questions about likes and dislikes, and stay away from controversial topics. If you insist on pushing the envelope with racy jokes or strong opinions, at least find out about the person’s background beforehand to find out what kind of humour they will not tolerate. Failing to do so could hurt not only your new acquaintance, but you as well. Aside from learning about your audience, you need to be confident that they can be trusted, especially when technology is involved. While you think your funny text is reaching one person, the joke may soon be on you when that message is forwarded or posted on the Internet for all to see. As far as posting edgy content online, remember this rule: if you wouldn’t want it on the front page of The Ubyssey , don’t do it. So what to do if someone offends you with a joke? It’s best to speak up. Most jokes are told with the intention of lightening the mood. If the joke teller is failing to do so, don’t be afraid to let him or her know. In some cases this might be difficult. If you don’t feel comfortable saying anything, do not smile or laugh — ultimately, distance yourself from the person. All of us will inevitably make a comment that will upset someone. There is no use trying to save face

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and shift blame. Restore trust by owning up to what you said and apologizing, no matter how trivial you think it is. What is funny to you may be very hurtful to someone else; it is your job to judge how the person will react before you show off your sense of humour.

As far as posting edgy content online, remember this rule: if you wouldn’t want it on the front page of The Ubyssey, don’t do it. While one may be tempted to talk a lot when meeting a new acquaintance, research shows

that what we say makes for only 7% of a first impression. As long as you don’t say anything rude or offensive, and instead focus on non-verbal cues like eye contact, facial expression and tone of voice, you will be on your way to making a new friend. As university is a place of learning, it is also a place of awkward encounters and lapses in judgment. Don’t let this scare you: your mistakes should not and will not be held against you indefinitely. Conversely, don’t let the actions of a few shape your opinion on an entire group or faculty. U What’s your worst awkward moment? Send your etiquette questions to etiquette@ubyssey. ca — they may be answered in Konrad’s next column. For more tips on first impressions and other areas of etiquette, visit his website, NotAwkwardAnymore.com.

THURSDAy, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

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1- Dark cloud 5- Take ___ at (try) 10- Blind part 14- winglike parts 15- church singers 16- hourly rate 17- at the same time 20- Pertaining to hearing 21- Stops 22- Wheel of Fortune buy 23- Extreme reverence 24- Sleeveless cloak 28- auction oﬀ 29- georgia, once; abbr. 32- animal trap 33- about, in memos 34- ...baked in ___ 35- Divide up 38- city near Provo 39- gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans 40- Feels for 41- airline to oslo 42- coffin support 43- Took steps 44- Mustachioed artist 45- year abroad 46- Subordinate ruler 49- Tranquillity 54- Study of communicative attitudes 56- get one’s ducks in ___ 57- Bit of wisdom 58- child support? 59- Tennis matches are divided into these 60- Makes 61- Mogul capital until 1658

1- Tailless rodent 2- Baseball family name 3- Put down 4- Director Riefenstahl 5- Broadway opening 6- apportion 7- Swank 8- Small island 9- wrist band 10- Vow 11- Neighbour of cambodia 12- a shivering fit; often a precursor to malaria 13- actress harper 18- Less fresh 19- oscar winner Patricia 23- Plants with fronds 24- windows predecessor 25- The end of ___ 26- Scruﬀs 27- Streetcar 28- Facial expression used by Elvis Presley 29- hubert’s successor 30- Measured 31- actress witherspoon 33- Rock and Roll hall of Fame architect 34- Banned apple spray 36- Engine attachment 37- Thespians 42- ancient Semitic for “lord” 43- Slowpokes 44- Sketches 45- Take ___ for the worse 46- Pampering places 47- River in central Switzerland 48- horse’s gait 49- Lab gel 50- aleutian island 51- walk sign 52- Bakery employee 53- on or towards the Mediterranean, for example 55- PBS benefactor

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video content Make sure to check out our ﬁrst-year trailer and Welcome Back BBQ video, airing now at http://ubyssey.ca/videos/

VOLUNTEER FOR THE UBYSSEY SUB 24, FOLLOW THE SIGNS PuZZLE couRTESy kRaZyDaD. uSED wITh PERMISSIoN.

| GAMES | 11

Community Contribution Award This year marks the 95th anniversary of The Ubyssey, the official student newspaper of UBC. Since 1918, we’ve fostered a sense of community on campus by welcoming volunteers into our editorial office with open arms, and reporting on issues that matter the most to students. In recognition of this milestone we’d like to formally recognize activities and events that strengthen this sense of community. We celebrated our 80th anniversary in 1998 and established a $50,000 endowment which continues to fund the Ubyssey Community Contribution Award. This unique award is given to a UBC student who has made a significant contribution to developing and strengthening the sense of community here on campus by: 1) Organizing or administering an event or project, or 2) Promoting activism and awareness in an academic, cultural, political, recreational or social sphere. All returning, full-time UBC students, graduate, undergraduate and unclassified in good standing with the Ubyssey Publications Society are eligible to apply. We will award $3,000 to a single project for the 2013-2014 academic year. Decisions will be made in early October 2013, and the award will be presented to the successful candidates in mid-October 2013. Nominees will be evaluated by a panel on the following criteria: 1) The impact of the contribution made: the number of people involved or affected. 2) The extent of the contribution: the degree to which it strengthens the sense of community on campus. 3) The innovation of the contribution: preference will be given to those with a new contribution over the administration of an existing one. 4) The commitment of the individual to UBC as a community. Nomination packages should include a cover letter by the nominator (either an individual or group) stating the nature of the contribution, the individual being nominated and the contact information of both the nominator(s) and nominee. A letter approximately 500 words in length is also required, detailing the contribution made and how the four criteria listed above have been met. Students are welcome to nominate themselves, but must attach a letter of support from another member of the campus community. Applicants will be judged by a committee chaired by a representative of the UBC Student Financial Assistance and Awards office, in addition to members from various parts of the campus community.

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Completed applications should reach The Ubyssey, Room 23, SUB by Friday,

For further information, please contact: Fernie Pereira Business Manager The Ubyssey Ph: (604) 822-6681 Email: fpereira@ubyssey.ca

October 4, 2013.

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