January 6, 2014 by The Ubyssey

JaNuaRy 6, 2014 | VOLume XCV| issue XXX AmATEUR WANDERINGS SINCE 1918

UBC animal research stats 227,362 animals were involved in research in 2012, 2,319 more animals from the year before

No more eat, drink and be merry Four tips on how to stick to your food-related new years resolutions

back to school back to school ﬁnd motivation back to school really? back to school again? back to school excited

I’m Feeling Not So Hot >>

Winter break 2013

Relaxing with family. No school for at least two weeks . . .

Welcome back (part two)

The holidays are over. School starts again.

AMS revamps their brand Student society unveils new $8K logo for new SUB

Monday, January 6, 2014 |

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

MONDAY 06 TERM 2 BEGINS ALL DAY @ EVERYWHERE

School starts again ... buses full again ... the routine begins again.... We expect lots of people will fall asleep in class because they can’t adjust to school life.

TUESDAY

FREE BROWNIES

11 A.m. - 5 P.M. @ SUB CONCOURSE

UBC Student Environment Centre wants campus to be aware of where food comes from and how it’s made. Go to their booth and watch a short video to claim your free Sprouts brownie. PHOTO CARTER BRUNDAGE/The Ubyssey

Andrea Palmer never planned to study engineering, but she went on to become EUS president and lead a robotics team.

WEDNESDAY 08 THE SECOND FIRST PIT NIGHT 9 P.m. @ THE PIT, SUB

Their Facebook page boasts in caps “new draft beers and awesome cocktails.” It’s the new year; why don’t you give the old watering hole a try? It won’t be long before you are bogged down by assignments and papers.

We wanted to show that the glitz and glamour of the holidays are done. Welcome back to learning. It doesn’t have to be as dreary as we pictured it. Photos by Carter Brundage and Flickr.

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

U The Ubyssey

editorial

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 Vacant Culture Editor Rhys Edwards culture@ubyssey.ca Senior Culture Writer Aurora Tejeida atejeida@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 Webmaster Tony Li webmaster@ubyssey.ca Distribution Coordinator Lily Cai lcai@ubyssey.ca

Staff Catherine Guan, Nick Adams, Kanta Dihal, Marlee Laval, Angela Tien, Carly Sotas, Alex Meisner, Luella Sun, Jenny Tang, Adrienne Hembree, Mehryar Maalem, Jack Hauen, Kosta Prodanovic, Olivia Law, Jethro Au, Bailey Ramsay, Jenica Montgomery, Austen Erhardt, Alice Fleerackers, Nikos Wright

Andrea Palmer captains both man and machine Natalya Kautz Contributor

Robot wrangling was not in Andrea Palmer’s original career plan. The path was set: she was going to go to Montreal and study at McGill, graduate with a degree in math and science and then become a teacher. But then her mom persuaded her otherwise. “I told my mom [my plan] and she was like, ‘I think you should go to UBC and study engineering.’” Without that push from her mother towards engineering, Palmer said it’s unlikely she would have ended up in the faculty, taken charge as captain to a team of robots and eventually become the current Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) president. Palmer is majoring in mechanical engineering in the mechatronics option, which is a combination of computer, electrical and mechanical engineering. “I chose robotics because it does combine three disciplines, and it studies how the systems interact with each other, and so it’s not just by itself but more of a ‘bigger picture’ thinking.” Originally from Ottawa, Palmer moved to the West Coast

at the age of six. Her family settled in Port Moody, and she attended school in Maple Ridge. Now in her fifth of a planned sixyear degree, Palmer has made the most of her time at UBC. Even before stepping up in the EUS, Palmer had been involved with the engineering community. She was technical captain of Thunderbots, the engineering team of autonomous, soccer-playing robots, and was involved in Engineers Without Borders. Outside of school, she made time to practice kickboxing. “You find time for the things you’re interested in. School hasn’t always been my top priority, but I still get through it.” Palmer chose to enter the engineering co-op program, and opted to do extra work terms through the program. Now back in school, Palmer is well into her term as EUS president, and has been kept busy since assuming the position in April. “There’s been a lot of change. We had a new dean in September, and so over the summer we had a lot of planning,” she said. “There’s been a constant supply of things to do. It’s been challenging, but it’s been very rewarding so far.”

It seems choosing engineering over science has been the right choice for Palmer so far. “There’s also just a lot of girls who apply to science, maybe not knowing about engineering or not seeing engineering as the right fit, so they choose science instead whereas they would probably do extremely well in engineering. I almost did that.” Stereotypes of the standard engineer being male can contribute to this female deficit in a faculty where only one in four entrants are female. “There are stereotypes in all levels of education, as soon as you get into elementary school as well as when you graduate high school and you talk to a career counsellor about what you should go into. I know that mine never suggested engineering as an option to me.” Palmer said she’s looking forward to the rest of her time in the faculty, and the rest of her term as president. “We have a good support community and the guys who are in engineering aren’t there to kick the girls out or anything like that. “Everyone’s just trying to get through school and help each other get through [it].” U

JANUARY 6, 2014 | Volume XCV| Issue XXX

BUSINESS

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email editor Ming Wong printeditor@ ubyssey.ca

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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.

email editors Will McDonald and Sarah Bigam news@ubyssey.ca

email editor Carter Brundage photo@ubyssey.ca

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

Toope, AMS elections, current events

Arts, entertainment, sophistry email editor Rhys Edwards culture@ ubyssey.ca

Varsity sports, athletic reviews, milkshakes email editor Natalie Scadden sports@ubyssey.ca

Investigative pieces, longform journalism, pizza

email editor Arno Rosenfeld features@ ubyssey.ca

Monday, January 6, 2014 |

EDITORS WILL Mcdonald + Sarah Bigam

Commerce Undergrad Society >>

Branding >>

AMS reveals new $8K logo

Image courtesy AMS

The AMS designed the logo with the New SUB in mind.

Brandon Chow Senior News Writer

File Photo geoff lister/THE UBYSSEY

The Sauder School of Business barred the Commerce Undergraduate Society from hosting licensed events while they investigated the CUS FROSH chants.

CUS drinking events put on hold after FROSH chants

Sarah Bigam News Editor

In response to the Sauder FROSH chants, the Commerce Undergraduate Society (CUS) was barred from hosting events requiring a liquor license for most of October, The Ubyssey has learned. “The hold was put in place during the fact-finding process after the events of FROSH when it was discovered there was underage drinking involved,” said Sauder School of Business associate dean Pamela Lim. “The school wanted to complete the fact-finding process and work with the CUS to ensure that future events would be held respectfully and responsibly and ensure safety of students, before

NEWS BRIEFS UBC grad found dead two years after disappearance Vancouver police have identified the remains of Matthew Huszar, ending the two-year search for the missing 25 year-old. Police found Huszar’s remains at a marina on False Creek on Dec. 31. They said his death does not appear to be suspicious. Huszar was last seen leaving an office Christmas party on Dec. 16, 2011 near Water and Abbot Street in downtown Vancouver. After his disappearance, Huszar’s family launched a search, offering a $10,000 reward for information on his whereabouts. Huszar is originally from Lethbridge, Alta. and graduated from UBC with an honours degree in geology. Study casts doubt on current understanding of gravity A team of scientists, including a UBC professor, have found that a system of stars could call Einstein’s theory of general relativity into question. The team of five scientists have found that a system of three stars that may behave in a way that contradicts the current understanding of gravity. “Finding a deviation from the strong equivalence principle would indicate a breakdown of General Relativity and would point us toward a new, revised theory of gravity,” said UBC astronomer Ingrid Stairs. U

further events that require liquor licenses were approved.” CUS president Sean Fleming said two to three liquor license requests were rejected during that time. The hold was lifted in late October, when the CUS received approval from Sauder for a liquor license for an annual party they intended to hold in the Faculty of Science’s Abdul Ladha Building. However, the Faculty of Science turned down the CUS’ request to host the party there. “This was not the first time a booking request had been denied because of prior behaviour of a student group,” said Paul Harrison, Science associate dean, students, in an email statement. “From time to time, student behaviour gets out of hand and

certain privileges are not granted until issues are dealt with,” he said. “While some may feel that it was not fair to treat the students in that faculty as one body, the public perception both on and off campus was that Sauder students were in need of a change of attitude.” Harrison said the dean of Science was informed that space for student events was available in the Henry Angus Building around the time requested. “If the dean of the Sauder school wanted to sanction a licensed event, there was no need to allow it to take place in the Ladha Science Student Centre until a satisfactory and public resolution was reached on the promised review,” Harrison said.

Sauder approved a liquor license for an event the CUS held on Nov. 22 in their own building, the Henry Angus Building, according to Lim. Before approving this, Sauder met with the event organizer and both parties signed an agreement on training for event staff and restrictions on alcohol consumption. Now CUS events will be approved by Sauder on a case-bycase basis, rather than in groups as before. “Every time that an application comes up, we will meet with the organizers of the event to ensure that we’re going over the checklist [of rules] and that they’re going to abide by it.” said Lim. “The approval of future events will depend on the success of the former events.” U

Sports >>

First phase of athletics review under way

Sarah Bigam News Editor

The first phase of UBC’s much-discussed sports review began last month. UBC released the final criteria for the upcoming sports review Dec. 9. The criteria and weighting categories are “essentially unchanged” from a draft presented in November, according to a media release. Data will be reviewed by an assessment team which will include two additional alumni in “an effort to expedite decisions without jeopardizing the integrity of the assessment,” the release said. The university should announce the initial decisions in late January. A second stage will follow for the unconfirmed teams, allowing them to develop a framework for meeting the criteria for varsity status. The final decision for those teams will be made at the end of February. Using these criteria, teams will be judged based on five categories, with different weight assigned to each. Thirty-five per cent is allocated for competitive success, competition and progression; 15 per cent for supports for competitive success; 20 per cent for community support and tradition; 10 per

file photo Will Mcdonald/THE UBYSSEY

Toope addressed rumours about the athletics review at a press conference.

cent for partnerships; and 20 per cent for fit with the university’s mission. Teams that want varsity status, including the 29 existing varsity teams and interested AMS clubs, will provide data on these criteria to an assessment body in early 2014. Some of these teams and AMS clubs will be shifted into a new category called “competitive sports clubs,” which will still receive some support and funding from the university. After the draft criteria was released on Nov. 8, UBC held a second round of consultation, which garnered 280 responses, according to the media release. “Of those who provided feedback on the criteria in the second round of consultation, there was

broad support for the proposed framework,” said Ashley Howard, managing director of UBC Athletics and Recreation, quoted in the release. “The input we received for improving our measures was very helpful. This feedback resulted in minor changes to improve clarity of language and ensure the assessment advisory team will get the information they need.” Teams will be asked to provide data on these criteria for a minimum of five preceding years, but they can choose to provide data for additional years as well. No funds are being cut from the athletics department’s budget in the review. The changes from the review are scheduled to come into effect in September 2015. U

The AMS has come up with a new logo as part of a rebranding campaign in the new Student Union Building. The new logo cost around $8,000 to develop. “With the new building that’s going to be opening, it’s a really great time for us to be looking at our brand and the image that we’re presenting to students,” said Abby Blinch, AMS communications manager. The AMS contracted the graphic design company Glasfurd & Walker about a year ago to come up with a new logo. According to Blinch, their proposed design was met with “lukewarm” feedback from council members. “We considered our options moving forward, which could be to keep our current logo, [use] the Glasfurd & Walker logo, or to do something new,” Blinch said. Last Wednesday, AMS Council voted unanimously to approve an altered but very similar design to the Glasfurd & Walker proposal as their new logo. “What we decided to do instead of starting from scratch — because we didn’t want to spend a lot of money on it — was just [tweak] what Glasfurd & Walker did, because they came up with something that was pretty great and there were a lot of things that people liked about it,” said Blinch. “We wanted to work with it, and that way we also weren’t wasting what had been previously done by them.” Blinch said about $7,000 was spent on contracting Glasfurd & Walker to come up with the initial designs, and around $1,000 will be spent licensing certain AMS computers with the typeface that the new logo will be using. “[The Glasfurd & Walker deal] was a part of a larger contract,” she said. “We were doing a few things with them and I think the amount spent on the logo was $7,000, which was a very large discount from what they would normally charge and because they were doing a fair amount of other work with us as well.” The Lucida typeface being used in the approved design is much cheaper than the typeface proposed by Glasfurd & Walker, which may have cost between $10,000 and $15,000 to license, according to Blinch. The new logo is set to be used whenever development of the New SUB is finished. U

Write for news.

news@ubyssey.ca

4 | NEWS |

Monday, January 6, 2014 Rodents: 132,815

Fish: 67,534

Small mammals: 996

Birds: 1,783

Reptiles and amphibians: 22,975

Large mammals: 908

Marine mammals: 351

1 = ~10,000 per animal

GRAPHICS MING WONG/The Ubyssey

UBC releases animal research data for 2012 Sarah Bigam News Editor

Animal research is on the rise at UBC, according to data recently released by the university. In 2012, 227,362 animals were involved in UBC research, up 2,319 from 2011. Ninety-eight per cent of these animals were rodents, fish or amphibians. Sixty-seven per cent were involved in either Category B or C research, which causes “less than minor or short-term stress” such as observance or tagging wild animals. “We’re really saddened that they’ve increased their numbers,” said Laura-Leah Shaw, director of Stop UBC Animal Research. Eighty-five animals were involved in Category E experiments, 26 more than in 2011. The Canadian Council on Animal Care defines Category E as “procedures which cause severe pain near, at or above the pain tolerance threshold of unanesthetized conscious animals.” All animals involved in Category E research in 2012 were given anesthesia during surgical procedures, under veterinary oversight and with “an approved pain management plan,” according to a media release.

The use of animals in most species groups has decreased since last year, except for fish and large mammals, due to a study which occurs every two years surveying 11,000 fish in the wild and a series of animal welfare studies which involved a large herd of dairy cows. “Every single animal [studied] has to be accounted for and tracked,” said UBC Associate VP Research and International Helen Burt. “When you’re using large numbers of fish and so on, the numbers are going to go up … but I don’t believe that [the numbers going up] represents any kind of trend.” UBC did not disclose numbers on specific species used. “The reason for that is … keeping our studies confidential,” said Burt. “It’s important to remember that this is all published on completion of the work. It’s always available to the public through the medium of publications.” In 2011, Stop filed a series of access to information requests regarding research protocols, statistics on specific species used for research and the source of primates used in research.

UBC did not share this information on the grounds that it contained research information of UBC employees, which is not included in the B.C. Freedom of Information Number and Protection of of animals Privacy Act. used in UBC The information research and privacy commissioner for B.C. ordered UBC to continue processing the requests that did not contain research information of UBC researchers, including the source of primates and the names and affiliations of members of the UBC Animal Care Committee. This information has not yet been released. “You can trace [cattle] from the supermarket shelf all the way back to the farm where they originated at, or the place of their birth. We should be able to have the same information on a research animal,” said Shaw.

Categories of invasiveness

0.04%

A. Experiments on most invertebrates or live isolates B. Little or no discomfort or stress C. Minor stress or pain of short duration D. Moderate to severe distress or discomfort E. Severe pain near, at, or above the pain tolerance threshold of unanesthetisized conscious animals

32.79%

44.57%

22.60%

n/a

1.02% increase

1.01% increase

250000

250,000

200000

200,000

150000

150,000

100000

100,000

50000

50,000

2010

2011

2012

Years UBC has released animal research statistics

This is UBC’s third consecutive year releasing animal research statistics, and the first year they have released a virtual tour of one of their facilities. The virtual tour of the Centre for Comparative Medicine, which opened in March 2012 and cost $40 million, includes views of training, scanning and surgical facilities, as well as views of housing units for rabbits and geese. “The public rarely get to see what kinds of facilities we have, and I think this demonstrates quite nicely the state-of-the-art facilities UBC now has for conducting research,” said Burt. UBC controls 21 animal research facilities, and between six and eight of these are on campus, according to Burt. A 2010 report by the Canadian Council on Animal Care recommended more “appropriate management” of their facilities by centralizing them and increasing supervision of animals used in research. The report also found one facility, the name of which was redacted, to have “deficiencies.” The report also said UBC has “made excellent progress in its animal care and use program.” Over the past eight years, UBC has invested $160 million in new animal facilities on this campus. According to Burt, about 10 facili-

ties have been closed over the last eight years. Shaw expressed concerns about the new Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, set to open on campus in early 2014. Research at the centre may include primates, according to Shaw. UBC does not have plans to end animal research. “The fact is that we’re doing a lot of research and we will allow research that meets the ethical standards to go forward. So provided that UBC continues to be so successful, we will keep allowing studies that use animals,” said Burt. “When other institutions in other parts of the world are reducing and eliminating animal research, here’s UBC increasing it,” said Shaw. She cited China, India and Norway as examples of countries cutting back on animal research. “We don’t want to stop the research,” Shaw said. “We understand the research is important, but there’s ways of doing the research without both the pain and suffering of animals and the extremely high cost in taxpayer dollars of using animals.” According to a press release, UBC is the only Canadian university that publishes its animal research statistics annually. U

Monday, January 6, 2014 |

eDitOR NATALIE SCADDEN

C.J. PENTlAND

WIll MCDONAlD

FORmER ATHLETE TURNED OLD mAN

WATCHES A LOT OF FOOTBALL AND, WELL, mORE FOOTBALL.

MING WONG FEARS GARRY VALK. LIKES EDDIE LACK.

GEOFF lISTER SHOOTS FROm THE SIDELINES

RHYS EDWARDS CANTANKEROUS OLD COOT

show me a person who doesn’t think uBC men’s soccer is the best and i’ll show you a liar.

men’s soccer. they really earned their trophy this year (and may be the last team to get it).

the cleaning team at irving Barber when it was open 24 hours a day. their teamwork kept the building from smelling too much like stale students.

men’s soccer. Back-to-back championships, ‘nough said.

the one with those guys. you know.

MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM?

women’s soccer gave up two goals over their first 11 games, gave up three in their 12th and eventually missed nationals again. the song remains the same.

Football. Between close losses at home and getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, the team was a real let down.

the ams exec team because not enough controversies. and also not giving 110%.

Football — win more home games please.

the Dibley mallards. their match against arsenal FC last year was a travesty.

WHO WIll BE THE BEST TEAM DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR?

women’s volleyball and women’s swimming will win nationals, guaranteed. i don’t see any Canada west team beating women’s hockey, either.

women’s volleyball. things look good for a seventh straight national championship.

the honour Roll sushi team for supplying the demand for rolls during the lunch hour rush.

women’s volleyball, and they might set a Cis record for [consecutive] championships, too.

the one that wins the most games, presumably.

THE UBC WOMEN’S VOllEYBAll TEAM WIll lOSE A GAME WHEN...

Nike, the greek god of sport, and Victoria, the Roman equivalent, round up their pals to make a super team and finally prevail in a tense fifth set.

the men’s soccer trophy turns up.

i play for them.

uBC goes NCaa.

they decide to, of course.

it’s been my theory all along: the football team (who moonlights as Pit security) stole it, so it’s probably in thunderbird stadium somewhere.

ask the women’s volleyball team.

it’s in Peru.

wouldn’t you like to know?

it’s in our office. Our News editors stole it so that we would always have something to write about. Plus it’s a handy storage vessel. [kidding, of course.]

andrew wiggins.

Offer cheaper drinks for students.

Copy and paste attendees. Or free food.

hiring a student promotions team instead of more staff.

some new branding might be the trick. “uBC athletics: we will make all of your wildest dreams come true.”

Being sad that there is no knoll to slide down when it snows.

urban golf.

People watching, because it requires finesse.

the ropes course.

Raccoon-baiting. Look at those little fellows go.

Debating who makes the Canadian Olympic hockey team.

Biathlon. the athletes are trained killers.

Luge, because it’s not just about going down a long and windy slide. it’s about staying really stiff while you’re sliding.

skijoring. it’s like waterskiing behind a horse, but on snow. [a demonstration sport at the 1928 Olympics.]

Bare-knuckle lumberjack duelling. U

BEST TEAM OF FIRST SEMESTER?

WHERE IS THE MEN’S SOCCER TROPHY?

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR ATHlETICS TO INCREASE ATTENDANCE AT GAMES?

WHAT’S THE BEST RECREATION ACTIVITY ON CAMPUS? THE MOST UNDERRATED WINTER OlYMPIC SPORT IS...

6 | SPORTS + REC |

Monday, January 6, 2014

skiing >>

Photo GEOFF LISTER/the ubyssey

Mt. Baker Ski Area is located 50 miles east of Bellingham, Washington and offers 1,000 acres of skiable terrain.

Mt. Baker provides U.S. option for UBC shredders Ski area has plentiful backcountry access, receives highest annual snowfall in the world Natalie Scadden Sports + Rec Editor

Essex Prescott may live in Whistler for a good chunk of the year, but the head of the UBC Freeride Team — what he calls the “shred side of the Ski and Board Club” — hasn’t missed an opening day at Mt. Baker in five years. Many UBC students may be familiar with Mt. Baker. Its glaciated cone rises high above the surrounding mountains in the Cascade Range. It's a striking, beautiful symbol of a clear day in the Lower Mainland, but the ski area itself is lesser known. Located about 50 miles east of Bellingham, Wash., Mt. Baker is about a two-hour drive from Vancouver, depending on the border lineup. It can’t compete with the over 200 runs and 8,171 acres of skiable terrain offered up at Whistler, but it doesn’t really try to. While Whistler has become a four-season resort and a booming tourist destination, Baker has kept a much more laid-back, local feel. However, the area has a thousand acres of skiable terrain — about as much as Cypress, Grouse and Seymour combined — and there are often little to no lineups to get on any of the eight chairlifts. “I think it’s pretty refreshing to go [to Baker] just because it’s a lot different,” said Prescott,

who grew up in northern Idaho. He's spent a lot of time at Baker, including over 10 days there last season. “It’s definitely just a raw skiing experience," he said. "There’s no accommodation on the hill, [and] there’s really not any accommodation in [the nearby town of ] Glacier either.” Despite the lack of an aprèsski scene at Mt. Baker, what keeps Prescott coming back is its plentiful backcountry skiing opportunities, easily accessible from the top of several chairlifts — provided you have the necessary equipment and skills. “It’s different because most of the backcountry in Whistler is alpine, above the treeline, [whereas] most of the backcountry at Baker isn’t alpine, so everything’s just a lot closer together,” Prescott said. Mt. Baker also enjoys the highest annual snowfall of any ski resort in the world. During the 1998-99 season, a world record 1,140 inches of snow was recorded, and over the past eight seasons, there’s been an average of 727 inches of snowfall. By comparison, Whistler Blackcomb lists their average annual snowfall as 462 inches. Skiers and snowboarders love to find fresh powder and Baker gets loads of it, but with this heavy snowfall comes an increased avalanche risk, some-

thing Prescott was quick to warn about. “The thing about Baker is it’s so dependent on being able to read the forecast well, of when it’s going to be good there and when it’s not going to be good,” he said. “It’s not like Whistler, where pretty much regardless of the conditions you can get to an elevation that’s going to be OK, or you can get to a spot that’s going to be OK. Baker’s pretty finicky, and especially with the amount of snow they get, they get pretty heavy avalanche danger sometimes.” He also noted that the backcountry line called Shuksan Arm is one of the most dangerous spots. “Last year they had one of the biggest slides ever. It was something like 10 feet of snow that slid, which is crazy. I think [the backcountry skiing at Baker] is good and it’s accessible, but you've got to know where you’re going for sure and you've got be careful.” For those who wish to ski at a more recreational level, Mt. Baker offers 31 runs mostly sectioned into easy, intermediate and advanced areas. Lift tickets are $50 on weekdays and $55 on weekends, and gear rentals are $36 for the day. Plus, draft beer is sold for $3.50 at the White Salmon Day Lodge. Needless to say, it's worth the trip. U

A backcountry skier drops in off of Shuskan Arm at Mt. Baker.

Photo GEOFF LISTER/the ubyssey

Monday, January 6, 2014

| SPORTS + REC | 7

BASKETBALL >>

Harleen Sidhu happy to be back on home court

The power forward joined UBC after playing 3 years at University of Nebraska Casey Watamaniuk Contributor

For the first time since high school, Harleen Sidhu is truly playing on home court. As one of the latest additions to the UBC women’s basketball team, she is a power forward to be reckoned with. Given her first pair of basketball shoes before she could even walk, basketball has always been a part of Sidhu’s life. Inspired and motivated by her basketball-playing father, she started playing competitively in Grade 4 and her love for the sport has kept basketball centre court in her life ever since. Sidhu said that whenever her family watches her play, pride and excitement is written all over their faces. Especially proud is the father who gave his daughter her first court shoes. “After every game, I go up to him and give him a big hug because I know what it means to him [to watch],” Sidhu said. Thanks to the support of her family, intense determination to perform and an early start on preseason training, Sidhu is not only at the top of her mental game, but also at the top of UBC’s stats. She's tied for the most minutes played per game (31.7), second only to the reigning Canada West MVP Kris Young in points scored per game (15.4) and has nabbed by far the most rebounds (98) through 10 regular season games this season. She has also started every game so far. It's no wonder UBC head coach Deb Huband has always had her eyes on Sidhu. Coming out of high school with top B.C. provincial status, Sidhu was signed to the NCAA Div. 1 team at the University of Nebraska, where she played off and on for three years through some injuries. Balancing a pre-professional degree in nutrition sciences, an intensive basketball regimen and all the stresses that come with being so far from home, it was almost inevitable that she would start to feel a little burnt out. “I hadn’t had self time in a really, really long time,” Sidhu said. Her involvement in basketball had barely allowed her enough time for a university degree, never mind time to create concrete plans for after graduation. She was left in a strange limbo between basketball and the ever-approaching "real life." It was a difficult decision for Sidhu to go on hiatus from the game she loved, but taking a break was necessary. Her mental game was off, so Sidhu took some personal time while still maintaining an involvement in coaching. “The much-needed year off gave me a little bit more clarity,” she recalled. “It helped me decide whether basketball was something I really wanted to do." The decision to return to her roots in the Lower Mainland wasn’t solely based on UBC’s diverse course selection; the emotional and physical challenges of being away from her sport left Sidhu with an overwhelming hunger for another chance at her basketball career. Sidhu’s year off confirmed how much the sport meant to her. Back on home turf, it was time for her to shoot for the Thunderbirds.

Sidhu is now experiencing an all-time career high in her desire to play ball. Her entire motivation has changed, and that may have something to do with her cheerleaders. While she’ll always cherish the memories she made in Nebraska, nothing compares to the feeling she gets when she sees her family in the Thunderbird stands, cheering her on and pumping her with confidence. “To have them up in the stands, every game here ... that means the world to me,” she said. “I missed that ... when I was in the States.” Surrounded once again by her close family — her sister Jasmine is the team's new manager — Sidhu is comfortable and confident. Despite playing with new teammates and under a new coach and starting at a new university with her eyes on medical school, she’s finally back home. It’s as if she’s never left the Western Canada basketball scene, save for a few free throw rule discrepancies — which Sidhu says she has struggled with, continuing to leave the line on release rather than wait until the ball hits the rim. She's so determined that she rushes the ball. But given that she's missed just four of 35 free throw attempts — second best in the conference — there aren't too many rebounds up for grabs anyway. Due to her previous trouble with injuries in Nebraska, Sidhu still has two of her allotted five years remaining to play university-level basketball, of which she’ll no doubt make the most of it with the Thunderbirds. Constantly improving and growing stronger in her game, Sidhu will be an integral part of carrying the blue and gold back to nationals. Though she’s still undecided when it comes to choosing a path for her future, Sidhu is certain that she loves basketball, and will keep it up for as long as she can. Right now, with the seven wins the women’s basketball team has so far this season, all we’re certain of is this: Harleen Sidhu, the Thunderbirds are glad you’re home. U UBC basketball will play their next home game on Friday against Alberta. The women’s game tips off at 6 p.m., with the men’s game following at 8 p.m.

Photo will mcdonald/the ubyssey

Harleen Sidhu, a transfer from the University of Nebraka, has been a key component of UBC’s 7-3 record so far this season.

HARLEEN SIDHU By THE NUMBERS

31.7 Minutes per game 15.4 Points per game 9.8 Rebounds per game .473 Field goal percentage .886 Free throw percentage (31 of 35) 7-3 Regular season record so far for UBC

FISU WINTER UNIVERSIADE

BIRD DROPPINGs

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

UBC’s Christi Capozzi and Tatiana Rafter helped Team Canada to it’s third straight gold medal at the 2013 FISU Winter Universiade in Trentino, Italy in December. Canada went undefeated over seven games at the tournament, outscoring their opponents by a 77-2 overall margin. Rafter finished the tourament with seven goals, while Capozzi added one. Rafter was also influential in Canada’s shutout of Russia in the gold medal game, assisting on three of five goals.

UBC began 2014 with two more victories to add to their Canada West-leading tally. The T-Birds triumphed in Calgary with 4-2 and 1-0 wins over the Dinos on Friday and Saturday respectively. Stephanie Schaupmeyer had two goals on Friday, while Tatiana Rafter scored her league-leading 12th goal to carry the team on Saturday. UBC improved to 14-3-1 this season, and will return home to Thunderbird Arena this coming weekend to face the University of Regina Cougars.

Monday, January 6, 2014 |

EDITOR Rhys Edwards

Eat your words Four new year’s resolutions for a healthier diet

PROCRASTINATION STATION

THE HOBBIT AND FEMINISM

Are warrior-women a token gesture or a potent feminist symbol? Chicks with guns are out; women with bows are in. Currently, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug rests at the top of the the U.S. box office charts. Along with quicker pacing, fans credit the film’s success to another factor: the inclusion of UBC international relations graduate Evangeline Lilly (better known as Kate from Lost ), who plays Tauriel, a brash, bow- and dagger-wielding wood elf captain. Fans who pick up a copy of the original Hobbit will not find Tauriel among its pages. Writers created her specifically for the film in an effort to address the absence of women in Tolkien’s 1937 text. Tauriel is the latest iteration in a phenomenon that has developed popularity in recent years: the representation of women as warrior-hunters in pop culture. The fad isn’t exactly new; the association between femininity and hunting can be traced back to ancient Greece, in the form of the goddess Artemis (renamed Diana by the Romans). However, the archetype experienced renewed interest throughout 2012 and 2013. In cinema, Disney Pixar’s Brave and The Hunger Games ’ Katniss Everdeen both brought powerful female archers to the big screen; and in videogames, two of last year’s blockbuster titles, Eidos’ Tomb Raider reboot and Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us , also featured hunting females in lead roles. As testaments to the effectiveness of the warrior-hunter motif, all four of these titles featured images of their respective stars posing with bows in their marketing campaigns. The resurgence of the warrior-hunter as a feminist symbol adds a new dimension to narrative worlds which traditionally emphasize hunting and fighting as masculine exercises — that is, in fantasy worlds, such as those featured in Brave or The Hobbit, or in dystopian worlds, such as those in The Last of Us and The Hunger Games . Since these genres so frequently dominate pop culture, the warrior-hunter symbol provides audiences with an alternative way to access these stories. However, there is a flip side to the popularity of the warrior-hunter: the reinforcement of stereotypes. Rather than being permitted to inhabit a world on the same terms as a male character — that is, to be concerned about things which have nothing to do with gender — the warrior-hunter is defined in terms of the qualities other women supposedly lack: through her weaponry, aggression, fighting prowess and leadership. Further, even though Tauriel’s inclusion in The Hobbit is a positive gesture towards gender equality, she isn’t exempt from a cinema trope that often mires female characters: despite Lilly’s wishes to the contrary, studio executives included a love triangle subplot for her character during reshooting. Nevertheless, The Hobbit ’s relative progressiveness in mainstream cinema portends a positive trajectory in pop culture: one where women are neither warrior-hunters, nor even women, but simply people. U

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Photo carter brundage/THE UBYSSEY

A healthy diet isn’t just about eating nutritious food; it involves being good to yourself, and your body, through conscientious decision-making.

Food

Jessica Christin-Hametner

After the indulgence and luxury of the festive season, January is, for the most part, a period of penny-pinching and privation. Having eaten just a little too much, the New Year marks a time when we often pledge to eat less and exercise more. Naturally, this is easier said than done. While I support healthy eating after the Christmas food extravaganza, I reject the idea of dieting in favour of developing better eating habits by adding nutritious foods to your diet. For me, the key to eating healthier is focusing on a lifestyle change rather than depriving oneself of the foods one loves. It’s about balance. It’s about taking small steps that make a big difference in the long-term. But what, then, should you eat?

1. Go green It is widely known that generous helpings of vegetables help improve your health and prevent cardiovascular disease, but are you getting the recommended daily amount (two and a half cups) of your greens each day? Dark leafy green vegetables are antioxidant powerhouses. As suggested by RawBC, a volunteer run non-profit organization that promotes a raw plant-based diet, these greens are rich in vitamins and minerals that provide nourishment to optimize health and well-being for the body. Protecting cells from stress

or injury, helping maintain a healthy body weight and providing that feeling-fuller-for-longer-feeling are just some of these benefits. Start small by adding one new green vegetable to your diet each week. For instance, skip Subway and combine kale, Swiss chard or spinach with turkey or tuna by making a homemade, inexpensive and healthy wrap or salad. Cheap and cheerful.

2. Fight the fizz Ditch the Diet Coke in favour of plain water. Carbonated drinks are sugar-laden, high in caffeine and often contain added colours and flavours, which can increase body weight and the risk of cardiovascular disease. A recent study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that overweight people who chose healthier alternatives to fizzy drinks, such as water, were able to lose four to five pounds over a sixmonth period. Furthermore, Harvard University researchers have discovered that swapping sugary drinks for water aids weight loss and lowers risk of Type 2 diabetes. Aim to drink about 1.2 litres of water per day to boost your body’s metabolism, burn off more calories and increase brain activity.

3. Savour your favourites When the clock strikes 12 at midnight and a New Year begins, overambi-

tious New Year’s resolutions often set many up for failure, simply because we still have the same habits on Jan. 1 as we did on Dec. 31. When depriving oneself of the foods one enjoys, temptation will soon prove to be simply too great to resist. For me, the idea of banning the naughty stuff is something I simply do not believe in. When craving a slice of sumptuous cake or a scoop of creamy gelato, savour it guilt-free and enjoy every mouthful. Choose quality rather than quantity. For instance, visit your favourite French bakery, restaurant or Italian café, and treat yourself to a delectable dessert of your choice once in a while. I like Faubourg in downtown Vancouver, which offers an authentically Parisian culinary experience complete with French pastries and macaroons.

4. Experiment When it comes to eating healthier in 2014, do be adventurous and try new foods. Put your culinary skills to the test, and in lieu of focusing on what you can’t eat, concentrate on what you can. Begin by experimenting with a variety of colours, flavours and textures in the kitchen that create dishes bursting with wholesome goodness. Someone once told me that there’s no need for New Year’s resolutions; instead, one should choose a word or theme, such as love, money or mindfulness. Indeed, choosing “health” rather than “losing weight” might be the best way to promote better eating habits. U

–Rhys Edwards, Culture Editor

More online Read other Procrastination Station columns, and web exclusives, at ubyssey.ca/ culture.

| CULTURE | 9

Monday, January 6, 2014

music >>

High brow, low budget

clubs >>

IRSA sponsors new charity for gala event

MuzeWest Concert company makes classical music accessible to the public

photo courtesy ubc international relations society

Karlson Leung, the president of IRSA from 2012-2013, presented at the fundraiser last year.

Aurora Tejeida Senior Culture Writer

Jan Bislin and Jonathan Chan will performing in concert on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the West Point Grey United Church, 4595 West

photos courtesy brook jones

Johnathan Chan, left, and Jan Bislin, right, are playing at this Thursday’s recital, which will combine classical styles with modern day hits.

Night of a Thousand Dinners will take place at Performance Works on Granville Island, 1218 Cartwright St., on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.

Call for nominations

Ubyssey Board of Directors

Nominations close Jan 10, 2014 and elections run Jan 27-31, 2014. Nomination forms are available at SUB 23. This is not an editorial position. Members of The Ubyssey’s Board of Directors areresponsibleforoverseeingthefinancesofthe newspaper. Responsibilities include attending board meetings, tending to business as it arises and overseeing personal projects. y pub b eu

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Forfurtherdetailspleaseemailbusiness@ubyssey.ca

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[my] belief that young people can be transformed by music.” Even months after pianist Alexander Karpeyev visited the school, West said the “children are still humming the theme from Stravinsky’s Firebird.” Although their first concerts were a success, West admitted the organization faces several challenges. Raising the funds to hire quality musicians and concert space is difficult, especially when trying to keep ticket prices low. She recalled, for example, one day “walk[ing] for three hours in a business district and [getting] zero dollars” in sponsorship. Although crowdfunding campaigns on websites like IndieGogo have been helpful, fundraising still remains an issue for MuzeWest. In addition to these financial issues, MuzeWest is also struggling to overcome cultural stereotypes about how to enjoy classical music. “We find it hard that classical music has got that kind of elite [attitude],” explained Chan. “It targets a certain audience.” He, West and Bislin want to break through this stereotype, providing a musical experience that even non-traditional classical audiences can enjoy. For this reason, Bislin and Chan plan to dedicate the second half of their upcoming recital to a number of classically-influenced pop music covers. These covers, West hopes, will “invite people to enjoy music in a different way.” Indeed, “different” might understate what audiences can expect from the upcoming recital. Bislin and Chan remained elusive about their playlist, but hinted that it will include 2013 hits in addition to well-known classics. The pieces will be largely improvised, drawing inspiration from bluegrass music, Bach, and Jimi Hendrix. As Bislin aptly put it: “you never know what could happen.” U

“Welcome to the geek squad,” laughed Jennifer West when I told her that I, too, am a fan of composer Johannes Brahms. “Brahms is my homeboy,” she continued, smiling. Already, my meeting with the co-artistic director of MuzeWest Concerts, an organization aimed at making classical music more accessible within the Lower Mainland, is nothing like what I expected. My surprise only grows when she introduces me to Jan Bislin and Jonathan Chan, the accomplished violin duo set to perform in MuzeWest’s upcoming concert on Jan. 9. Enjoying the evening’s hockey game with a burger and a beer, Bislin and Chan look more like a pair of college Canucks fans than renowned classical musicians. Although they may not look it, all three of my companions are deadly serious about one thing: music. “We’re a big believer that everybody loves music,” said Chan. Bislin agreed: “Well, of course,

music is freedom, right?” This shared belief — that music is a vital part of life — is the driving force behind MuzeWest. West, who founded the organization with fourth-year music student Diana Chan, and who herself holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from UBC, explained that it has two goals: to increase awareness about the importance of music education, and to inspire audiences. To achieve these goals, MuzeWest hires professional musicians to perform affordable classical music concerts, as well as free outreach shows at local elementary schools. This outreach, she emphasized, is vital to MuzeWest’s mandate. “It’s just part of our philosophy,” West explained, “because we all believe that the music that we grew up listening to... has done something in our life.” Overall, MuzeWest’s community involvement has been rewarding. MuzeWest’s first outreach show at West Point Grey Elementary, West said, “confirmed

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Alice Fleerackers Staff Writer

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Photo courtesy Brook Jones

Jennifer West, an education graduate, and Diana Chan, a fourth year music major who plays the oboe, co-founded MuzeWest.

For the past 10 years, the International Relations Students Association (IRSA) has been dedicating their annual gala, Night of One Thousand Dinners, to the Canadian Landmine Association. After deciding they had already focused on the issue of landmines for long enough, this year the association has decided to switch partners and dedicate the gala to the Canadian Harambee Education Society. “We wanted to focus on a semi-local issue and we thought this was a good organization to partner up with because they help empower girls in Tanzania and Kenya,” said Brenda Nguyen, the gala coordinator. The Canadian Harambee Education Society is dedicated to ensuring girls have access to education, providing them with scholarships, dormitories, libraries and schools. The society is also focused on improving living conditions for girls. “All the money from this event will be going to the girls, 100 per cent,” Nguyen said. “None of it will be used for administration because the people who work for the [Harambee] organization are volunteers.” According to Nguyen, the first year the gala was held, the student association raised $5,000. But every following event only brought in a couple thousand dollars. This year’s theme is “Empowering Girls, Inspiring Futures,” and the organizers are hoping the change will help create more involvement. “There are more changes this year that are aimed at engaging

the community,” Nguyen said. “We have a photo booth and a cocktail reception before the event. Last year it was very formal, so we’re hoping people can socialize more.” About 300 people, mainly community leaders and university students, attend the event every year. This usually provides a good opportunity to learn more about international issues and how they have worldwide impact. This year’s guest speakers will include Imbenzi George, a Kenyan foreign and public policy analyst, and Lorrie Murkirazi, a Canadian Harambee scholar recipient. But since this year’s gala is focusing on empowering girls through education in two specific countries, the main concern has been how to expand on this. “Maybe next year we can focus on empowering girls in Asia or in other parts of the world to make it more global,” said Nguyen. Focusing on a different organization each year can have its benefits. Organizers hope the gala will draw attention to these projects, so that attendees with a special interest in certain issues can continue their support after the event. “This way more people can get involved. When we focused on the Canadian Landmine Association, a lot of people already knew about them. However, not a lot of people know about the Canadian Harambee Education Society,” said Nguyen. U

Monday, January 6, 2014 |

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A BULLET HOLE FOR THE AMS LOGO The AMS has spent $8,000 on their new logo as part of a rebranding campaign for the New SUB. It makes sense that the AMS would want to be rid of their old logo, which was ugly, but it does not make sense that they chose a new logo which is also ugly. And it’s not just ugly; it’s weird. While it’s supposed to be a take on the AMS’ existing “sun” logo — because UBC is known for being so sunny, presumably — it looks like what you would find after a bullet passed through a sheet of metal. This issue was brought up at the AMS Council meeting when the logo was approved, but AMS President Caroline Wong said they decided it looked less like a bullet hole than another logo that was considered.

As for the money spent, the price “Your Student Society” paid for professional design is likely not out of line with similar jobs taken on by the company they hired. However, there was absolutely no reason the AMS needed to pay a company to come up with their new logo. For a student government that prides itself on being in touch with students, the AMS could have found a student to come up with a new design for free. Hopefully, when they go through another rebranding campaign in the next couple of years, that is what the AMS will do. But given that its been

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decades since their last true rebranding, it looks like we’ll be stuck with this one for a while.

For a student government that prides itself on being in touch with students, the AMS could have found a student to come up with a new design for free. Hopefully when they go through another rebranding campaign in the next couple of years, that is what the AMS will do. All we can say is thank goodness the AMS stopped when they did, rather than spending another $10,000 to $15,000 to license the font originally proposed to accompany the logo.

SPORTS REVIEW FINALLY UNDERWAY

the current ams logo. the new ams logo is pictured on page 3.

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the runner-up for the new ams logo cost a little less money to make.

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Hoping for more diversity in the AMS

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old and wise

UBC began the first stages of their sports targeting review last month, kicking off a process that many have been dreading. But while UBC President Stephen Toope confirmed that the number of varsity teams will decrease from its current number of 29, there is little reason to worry that UBC’s major teams are in danger. UBC said from the start no teams were guaranteed varsity status, and several people took this to mean that sports like football and hockey were on their last legs. This is, to say the least, an outrageous assumption. While a team’s impact on campus isn’t the only factor by which teams gain varsity status, it’s pretty obvious that sports like football, hockey and basketball are important to UBC as a whole. UBC men’s basketball is slated to host nationals in 2016 and athletic director Ashley Howard praised the football team at their recent gala and listened to suggestions from wealthy alumni and businesspeople — the future of UBC’s biggest teams seems safe. As for smaller teams with tiny budgets, they will probably get moved to “competitive club” status, where they will still be Thunderbird teams and still receive funding from UBC. These teams don’t get much funding in

the first place — Nordic skiing, for example, doesn’t have a full-time coach, while football has 16 staff — so they won’t appear to suffer. Rob Ragotte, player-coach of the Nordic skiing team, even said being a competitive club “might be a better fit” for them. The results will be announced over the next few months, but the end result of how this new model affects UBC won’t be seen for a few years. Overall, though, it seems to be shaping up to be a positive one.

HAPPY NEW YEAR? Last term was rough for UBC. Scandal at the Sauder School of Business over a rape cheer during FROSH week; unsolved sexual assaults making campus feel unsafe; a bit of drama over activism stemming from those issues; and finally, a tragic car accident that took the lives of two UBC students. The sole piece of good news in The Ubyssey ’s top stories of the term was that Koerner’s Pub reopened. Do with that information what you will. In any case, while last term kept us at the newspaper busy, we — like all of you — are hoping for a happier second term. There’s only so much you can do to make next term better for your university — unless you like singing about rape or groping women, in which case please stop — and we know some of this comes down to random chance. Still, be friendly, get involved with cool campus events and be there for your friends. Happy New Year. U

Is your new year’s resolution to get involved? Volunteer with us! COME BY THE UBYSSEY OFFICE SUB 24, FOLLOW THE SIGNS

Letter

There is a lack of diversity in AMS executive positions, and this needs to change. The upcoming AMS elections remind us of this pattern — a pattern prevalent in broader society and reflected here on campus. As two current and former AMS executives, we have not only experienced the benefits of serving in student government, but have also noticed the worrisome lack of diversity in AMS executive profiles. At UBC, women make up 54 per cent of the total student population, and over half of students at UBC identify as minorities. Yet I, Caroline Wong, am the first female AMS president in the past nine years, and only the second Chinese president since the 1980s. And I, Kiran Mahal, was the first female VP academic and university affairs in the past eight years, and the first South Asian VP academic and university affairs in AMS history. The AMS has never had a fully female executive team in its nearly 100-year history. Since 2000, only two women have represented students at the Board of Governors, the highest governing body at UBC overseeing the university’s fiscal management and operations. In B.C., 22.6 per cent of elected provincial and federal seats are held by women, which is slightly above the national average of 21.1 per cent and a global average of 21.3 per cent. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Canada ranks 47th globally in representation of women in national government. These numbers are not only reflective of women running for elected office, but also of women in senior leadership roles across all sectors. This is not just about diversity statistics that are run off; these are systemic issues that impact the effectiveness of our private and public sectors. According to the 2011 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, “diverse leadership is most likely to find innovative solutions to tackle the current economic challenges and to build equitable and sustainable growth.” There is no doubt that the university and the AMS are facing big decisions in the next few years, financially, operationally and pedagogically. Accessibility and diversity are on the top of the agenda for post-secondary education and AMS leadership needs to reflect the diversity of the student body we represent. According to research by the Center for American Women and Politics, a key difference between men and women who were contemplating running for elected office was that women were less likely to receive the suggestion to run for office. Such suggestions were high predictors of whether a potential candidate considered moving ahead. So let us give you some suggestions: Run because you want to. Run because you know you can do a great job. Run because the AMS needs great leaders. Run because we are only as strong as the diversity of the opin-

FiLe PhOtO hOgaN wONg / the uByssey

Caroline wong is the first female ams president in the past nine years and the second Chinese president since the 1980s.

ions and backgrounds that inform our decision making. It’s not about having all the answers or knowing every detail of every project going on in the university or the AMS. Your qualification comes from your capacity to learn, work hard, and most of all, serve in the best interest of students. Information can be learned on the job; passion and dedication can’t.

This is not just about diversity statistics that are run oﬀ; these are systemic issues that impact the eﬀectiveness of our private and public sectors. Need a nudge or a question answered? Join us for an informal networking event with some past AMS executives and a few fantastic leaders from the UBC community and beyond. The event will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. in the SUB. Please RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/ kvlas5y. Whether you’re thinking of running in the AMS elections or not, come and connect with a great support network. Kiran Mahal is a former AMS VP academic and university affairs and two-term student senator-at-large; she can be contacted at kiran.mahal@alumni.ubc.ca. Caroline Wong is the current AMS president and former VP administration; she can be contacted at president@ams.ubc.ca.

FiLe PhOtO hOgaN wONg / the uByssey

kiran mahal, former VP academic and university affairs.

Monday, January 6, 2014 |

PiCtuRes + wORDs ON yOuR uNiVeRsity eXPeRieNCe

NEW YEARS RESOlUTIONS

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

guess which Ubyssey editor said what!

Back to school edition: cheers, jeers and no more u-Passes