February 5, 2015 by The Ubyssey

FEBRUARY 5, 2015 | VOLUME XCVI | ISSUE XXXVIII LIGHTING CAIRNS ON FIRE SINCE 1918

SIT-IN ATCOURT GUPTA’S VOYEURISM CASE

OFFICE OPINIONS

BAUHAUS WEAVING ABSOLUTE SPACE

IAmAStudent organized a sitFormer prof James Rupert in inreceives front of Gupta’s office to suspended protest housing increases. sentence, criminal record.

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FACULTY Students pitted against students in inflatable savagery. PLACES TO BE Read about a VOCCUP ice climbing trip in Marble Canyon.

Returning to traditional roots with The Marriage of Figaro

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 |

YOUR GUIDE TO UBC EVENTS, PEOPLE + CAMPUS

EVENTS THURSDAY

OUR CAMPUS

THIS WEEK, CHECK OUT ...

ONE ON ONE WITH THE PEOPLE AND BUILDINGS THAT MAKE UBC

GLADIATOR

4:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M. @ UBC SRC

Registration is closed, but you can still go to watch people compete in this bizarre and fantastic gladiator-Jurassic Park hybrid event. Free

FRIDAY

FUTUREFEST

Party Well hopes that its first fundraising event this Friday will make a splash.

Party Well is hosting their first fundraising event; raising money to build wells in Kenya. Live out your Jetsons fantasies and help bring money to those that need it at this future-themed party. $10-20

Party Well is a glass-half-full kind of charity

9:30 P.M. @ SUB BALLROOM

SUNDAY

Olamide Olaniyan Staff writer

TEXAS HOLD’EM

6:00 P.M. @ UBC POKER CLUB (SUB ROOMS 211/215)

The UBC Poker Club is hosting this tournament to allow seasoned and novice players alike to test their mettle, win prizes and raise money for Tanzania Heart Babies charity. $12-20 for students

ON THE COVER I found out that I actually like opera. - Photo Cherihan Hassun

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

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FEBRUARY 5, 2015 | VOLUME XCVI | ISSUE XXXVIII BUSINESS

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EDITORIAL

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In recent years, the general public has been evolving — slowly but surely — into a more ethically conscious community. Organic produce, hormone-free meat and cosmetics not tested on animals are gradually becoming more popular. Organizations raise millions of dollars for aid to disaster-stricken places, disease research and attempts to end world poverty. Businesses are learning, too. Social ventures seem to be skipping into the fray, providing services while attempting to make a positive impact in the world. Enter Party Well. Party Well is a rapidly growing student-run club sponsored by the Commerce Undergraduate Society. In a short amount of time, they’ve managed to put together a team of about 50 students, all committed to making their plans a reality.

We don’t think we can actually solve the water crises — because that’s very unrealistic — but we believe we can play our part and maybe even go above and beyond and contribute to a future that we would like to live in.” James Cohen Sauder student and co-founder of Party Well

Party Well hopes to raise funds for water projects in developing countries while throwing unforgettable parties. The group is a subsidiary of Free The Children and 90 per cent of proceeds from their first event, ‘FutureFest,’ will go to building wells in Kipsongol, Kenya. Though they realize that it’s unlikely that they’ll single-handedly solve global water crises and end poverty, Party Well works towards, as co-founder and UBC student James Cohen put it, “making the cup half-full.”

“We don’t think we can actually solve the water crises — because that’s very unrealistic — but we believe we can play our part and maybe even go above and beyond and contribute to a future that we would like to live in,” Cohen said.

I saw James and he was energized. [He said,] ‘yo, we’re going to do something that is going to make a difference.’” Joseph Luiz Third-year finance student and co-founder of Party Well

Cohen is a Sauder student hoping to major in entrepreneurship and marketing. He lived for seven years in Tokyo, Japan where he first got his hands on fundraising when the development agency Hope International came to his school. He ended up raising 900 dollars for the project and then travelled to Cambodia, where he helped build classrooms. Last summer, Cohen took another step forward and travelled to Kenya, where he got to see the water projects at Kipsongol in person. While there, he helped a family bring water into the town. Through this trip, he found himself inspired for the future. “I got to engage with a lot of different people and that’s what’s really inspired me to work really hard to make this event as big as it possibly can be and make as big of a difference as we possibly can with this,” said Cohen. Cohen’s roommate and Party Well co-founder, Joseph Luiz is a third-year finance student in Sauder. Born and raised in the UK, he spent his teenage years in Tokyo, Japan where he met James at their all-boys Catholic school. Several years later, as Cohen was walking back to Place Vanier residence in his first year, he thought he spotted a familiar face.

PHOTO KOSTA PRODANOVIC/THE UBYSSEY

“I just bumped into him and I was like ‘Joe Luiz?’, and he was like, ‘James Cohen?’ It was fantastic,” said Cohen. Luiz had been skiing up at Whistler last year when Cohen called him and excitedly told him about his new idea. He told his roommate he would hear all about it when he got back. Three days later, when he was back, he found Cohen already obsessing about this idea.

When I talk to people about this, a lot of them don’t just say, ‘I’ll come to your event,’ a lot of them say, ‘how can I help?’ It’s what really allowed us to grow really quickly.” James Cohen

“I saw James and he was energized. [He said,] ‘yo, we’re going to do something that is going to make a difference,’” Luiz said. From there, when Luiz decided to get involved, Party Well was born. Even though their event has not launched yet, the two are completely confident in its potential success. Both agree that the entirety of this project relies greatly on its volunteers and they believe that this could be their greatest strength. According to Cohen, all of their members as well as the DJs for their event are volunteers. “When I talk to people about this, a lot of them don’t just say ‘I’ll come to your event,’ a lot of them say, ‘how can I help?’” said Cohen. “It’s what really allowed us to grow really quickly.” As the date of their premier launch event FutureFest, a futuristic themed party, approaches, Cohen and Luiz feel like they could be a jigsaw piece in the water crises, and they hope to do so while doing what they love: partying. As Cohen said, “it is possible to have a really great time with close friends and at the same time actually make a difference.” U

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 |

EDITORS JOVANA VRANIC + VERONIKA BONDARENKO

FUNDING >>

LAW >>

Former prof sentenced to probation for voyeurism

PHOTO MARTIN DEE/UBC

Former UBC professor James Rupert was handed a suspended sentence and a 15-month probation period on Feb. 4.

Veronika Bondarenko News Editor

Former UBC Kinesiology professor James Rupert was handed a suspended sentence and a criminal record on Feb. 4 after pleading guilty to voyeurism. Rupert, who was charged with secretly observing and recording subjects of a study in June 2014, pled guilty to videotaping four women who were using a changing room for one of his studies between Jan. 14 and Apr. 16 2014. Two of

NEWS BRIEFS BoG Update The UBC Board of Governors held their Standing Committee meeting on Monday, February 2. While the majority of talks took place in private throughout the day, the doors were opened to the public for thirty minutes at the end of the meeting to hear the Board approve plans for a National Soccer Development Centre and tuition fees for the Bachelor of Urban Forestry and Doctor of Pharmacy programs. Discussions about the proposed residence fee increases, which the Board is expected to vote on at the February 12 meeting, also took place behind closed doors. U

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the women were filmed while they were at least partially nude. At an earlier hearing in a Richmond court, Rupert admitted to viewing the videos for purposes of arousal and masturbation, but said that the recordings were later deleted and not disseminated to other people. In late March, a graduate student who was helping Rupert conduct the research noticed that he was nervous throughout the study, searched the storage room and found a tool box with

holes in it labelled “old computer stuff.” She notified one of the other faculty members, who later looked inside the box and found a camera before notifying the police on Apr. 14, 2014. Rupert’s defence lawyer, Irina Ceric, requested a conditional discharge, while Crown Counsel, Damienne Darby, argued for a suspended sentence with probation, which would result in a criminal record. Since being charged, Rupert resigned from his tenured position

as a Kinesiology professor at UBC and sought the services of a professional psychologist, who provided a statement that said Rupert demonstrated remorse for his behaviour and posed a low risk of reoffending. Justice Kathryn Denhoff reviewed the facts presented at Rupert’s earlier court hearings, saying that one of Rupert’s victims was forced to undergo counselling to deal with the trauma that followed being taped, for which she paid $1,100 of her own money. Denhoff also said that Rupert saved his victims from having to testify in court by pleading guilty and suffered the shame that comes with losing his job and being the subject of intense media coverage. “I accept without hesitation that Dr. Rupert is truly remorseful and ashamed of his behaviour,” said Denhoff. Denhoff also said that while Rupert demonstrated the appropriate remorse for his actions, the seriousness of the offence warranted a sentence with a criminal record and requited to sending a message that recording was a breach of privacy. “The breach of privacy in this case was serious, prolonged and involved several victims,” said Denhoff after citing several cases involving similar offences. At the end of the hearing, Denhoff sentenced Rupert to a suspended sentence with a 15-month probation that would result in a criminal record. As part of his probation conditions, Rupert needs to report to a probation officer over the course of the term, have no contact with his victims, stay away from UBC’s campus, complete 80 hours of community service and pay restitution to the victim who underwent counselling services. U

SCIENCE >>

Astronomers look to rare stars for answers on space-time warp Scott Jacobsen Contributor

UBC astronomers were able to look at the space-time curvature warp inside a binary star before it slipped out of view. Ingrid Stairs, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, studied the binary pulsar system J1906 along with a team of other researchers in the hopes of measuring the mass of the two neutron stars, which are the most dense and small stars in the universe, and the degree of the space-time curvature warp to determine how they interact with each other. J1906 is located 25,000 light years from Earth and will not come into view for observation for the next 160 years. The research team also wanted to figure out the nature of the companion star, which serves as the centre of orbit for the two neutron stars. “We were interested in measuring the masses of the two stars, in part hoping to figure out what the companion star is. The result is still a little ambiguous as the object could be either a white dwarf or another neutron star,” said Stairs. White dwarf stars are very small, very dense stars that emit thermal energy and have low luminosity. According to Stairs, the research team measured this binary pulsar system to clear up ambiguities about J1906, which is a largely unexplored area of our solar system, and determined the mass of astronomical objects within it. The team found that the mass of the binary pulsar (a neutron star that rotates at high velocity and

PHOTO SCOTT CRESSWELL/FLICKR

Astronomy prof Ingrid Stairs looked at the space-time curvatures of a binary star.

emits radiation) was 1.291 +/- 0.011 solar masses and the mass of the companion star to be 1.322 +/- 0.011 solar masses. Astronomers usually use this unit of measurement to determine the mass of stars, but it can also extend to measurement of the mass of nebulae and galaxies. Stairs also said that while the research team did not measure the spin axis or change in orientation of the stars, they did look at how their shapes changed based on the theory of general relativity. According to the research team’s predictions, the pulsar disappeared from view after they were able to calculate the mass of the two stars.

“We didn’t derive a measurement of the rate of precession of the neutron star’s spin axis, but the profile shape changes and near-disappearance of the pulsar are qualitatively in agreement with the predictions of warped spacetime due to general relativity,” said Stairs. In the future, Stairs hopes to use the knowledge gained about the pulsar star to get a clearer understanding of the types of stars that exist within J1906. “In the medium term, we should be able to make a map of the radio emission beam of the pulsar, because we’ve been seeing different slices of that region as the spin axis precesses,” said Stairs. U

UBC offers fasttrack option for internationallytrained midwives Geoff Ching Contributor

After a $680,000 donation from the province, UBC will create a program that puts internationally-trained midwives on the fast-track to being able to practice in B.C. The program, which will bring eight internationally-trained midwives to UBC each year, will open its doors to the first four midwives in January 2016. This comes after the province provided $2.7 million in funding for the program to increase the training capacity of UBC’s Midwife program from 10 students to 20 students in 2012. Once accepted into the program, the students will be individually assessed and matched with training that best fits the skills and knowledge they gained abroad. After completing a three-month online course, six weeks of in-person training and a practicum, they will also need to complete the Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination in order to become licensed as a midwife in B.C. According to the UBC Midwifery website, applicants must have “a degree or equivalent in midwifery,” and must have “attended at least 60 births over a five-year period in a jurisdiction where midwifery is regulated.” Ganga Joliceur, the executive director of the Midwives Association of B.C., said that, with the growing demand for midwives in the province, this change will help make a difference in the structure of natal care services for years to come. “This new program will provide women and families with greater choice and access to quality maternity-care services in urban and rural communities throughout B.C.,” said Jolicoeur in a media release. While midwifery standards can vary in countries around the world, UBC’s program heavily emphasizes ethical theory and practical training. A 2006 Maternity Experiences Survey also shows that midwives provide a benefit to both women and children — births supervised by midwives were 44 per cent less likely to require an induced labour and 8.9 times more likely to require only medication-free pain relief. When the same study was conducted in 2009, it also found that over 9.8 per cent of B.C. mothers received care from a midwife at some time during their pregnancy. Michelle Butler, director of UBC’s Midwifery Program, also said that the experience will help with the growing demand for midwives that the province has seen in recent years. According to Butler, midwives in Canada are responsible not just for childbirth, but also for the holistic care of mothers to ensure that they receive “not just [the] physical care, but also psychological and social care,” throughout and after the pregnancy. “This pathway also will help diversify the profession, bringing in individuals with cultural backgrounds that reflect B.C.’s immigrant and second-generation communities,” said Butler. With only 20 midwives per year graduating from UBC’s current midwifery program and a lack of programs dedicated specifically to midwifery in many Canadian provinces, midwives continue to be in high demand. U

4 | NEWS |

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

MEDIA >>

Journalism School plans collaborative video project UBC journalists are looking to highlight the experiences of minority groups throughout Europe the proposals submitted by the applicants and give 10 of them 500 euros to create the video. Klein will then put the videos together to build a website that shows glimpses of what is going on in Europe today. “We want to empower members of communities in Europe that are victims of intolerance — Muslim immigrants, African immigrants, Roma, Jews, LGBT, et cetera — to tell their own stories,” Klein said. Each storyteller is given creative freedom in how they want to deliver their video. According to Klein, this will enable some individuals to tell their own stories about being victims of intolerance, while others will want to showcase the bigger picture by looking at overall trends in their countries.

ILLUSTRATION SOPHIE LEE/THE UBYSSEY

Strangers at Home will be a collaborative video project profiling the challenges facing European minorities.

Mary Solomon Contributor

UBC School of Journalism Director, Peter Klein, is hoping to tackle xenophobia with a video project about minority groups in Europe. The video project, which is called Strangers at Home , was created in the aftermath of the January 7 attacks at the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris, and asks people to propose ideas for 60-second videos that highlight the stories of minority groups in Europe and the discrimination that they face. A committee will review

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE

We want to empower members of communities in Europe that are victims of intolerance — Muslim immigrants, African immigrants, Roma, Jews, LGBT, et cetera — to tell their own stories.” Peter Klein Director of UBC’s School of Journalism

“We want to empower each storyteller to use whatever method they want to showcase their story,” said Klein. Klein hopes to bring people from all types of backgrounds and life experiences together through the project. In particular, he hopes to give a voice to people whose stories might have otherwise been ignored. “The world is our demographic,” said Klein. “We are certainly

targeting audiences in North America, but many communities in Europe are largely cut off from these grassroots stories as well,” said Klein.

There’s the obvious issue of historical resonance — this happened before, after all — but this is a complex contemporary story... People are literally dying from this as we saw in France a few weeks ago and many more people are being hurt, displaced and ostracized.” In particular, Klein also hopes that the video project will show that discrimination and intolerance also exists in one’s own backyard. “Audiences all over the world could benefit from seeing that the patterns of xenophobia and intolerance that are problems in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America are also prevalent in Europe,” said Klein. Klein believes that it is important to bring a focus to the experiences of Europe’s minority group and shed light on a hidden human rights crisis that the world needs to know about. “There’s the obvious issue of historical resonance — this happened before, after all — but this is a complex contemporary story that doesn’t easily fit into historical parallels,” said Klein. “People are literally dying from this as we saw in France a few weeks ago and many more people are being hurt, displaced and ostracized.” U

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 |

STUDENT VOICE. COMMUNITY REACH.

OFFICE OPINIONS on opera

As students, we are incredibly lucky to attend a university with a strong performance arts program and attending a UBC Opera performance is not only cheap ($20 for students!) but it’s also beautifully enlightening. If you have three hours to spare this weekend, I suggest you check out The Marriage of Figaro .

Jenica

Nick

As the Sports and Recreation Editor of UBC’s official student newspaper, my opinion on all things arts and culture should not only count more than my peers, but should be the official stance of the university and Vancouver as a whole. That said, I believe that it is a damned shame indeed that UBC Opera has put on exactly zero — count ‘em — zero productions starring Bugs Bunny dressed up like a real composer. Jack

Biting a cactus. Drowning while being eaten by a shark. Slamming my finger in binder rings. These are just a few of the things I’d rather do than go to the opera. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy antiquity from time to time, but usually it’s in the form of Greek philosophy or lighting fires. I enjoy music — and I’d probably actually be down to listen to the orchestral aspects of opera on their own — but the long, drawn out vocalizations of Italian vowels makes me want to retort with an equally long, drawn out “Vaaaaaaffaaaaancuulooooo.” I may be disrespectful. I may have no taste. But at least I’m, unlike most of the people who go to the opera, honest.

Opera gets a bad rap from kids nowadays (and by kids I mean anyone born after 1800), though it really doesn’t deserve it. Opera is a diverse genre that is home to some of the most technically and artistically proficient musicians and singers of any type of music. UBC is playing host to one of the most famous operas of all time this week, and its low price and beautiful venue (the Chan Centre) provides as good an opportunity as any to dip your toe in to a whole new world of music. Austen

Opera is definitely an under-appreciated art form that needs to be brought back with a vengeance. I am no party animal per se, but I know that nothing brings people at social gatherings together quite like belting out a number from La Bohème or Carmen does.

Veronika

It’s a little hard for me to give much of an opinion on the opera — my knowledge of the genre comes exclusively from the scene in Quantum of Solace where Daniel Craig breaks a door handle and some bad guys disrespectfully ignore the performance they are attending. However, from what I can glean from that it seems an extremely potent art form, it also provides the backdrop for a good scene in an otherwise-below-par Bond film.

Ciaran

WHISTLER >>

Rez Whistler shuttle is an idea that is long overdue CIARAN DOUGHERTY Op-ed

The rez Whistler shuttle is a great idea that’s long overdue and has yet more potential. The snow up at Whistler was not brilliant this weekend; it was actually pretty poor. However, being there was still a lot better than not being there. I, like at least 53 others who live on rez, was able to spend my Saturday on the mountain. This was mostly courtesy of the new shuttle service that the RHA is providing to its residents. The bus service, correctly labelled as long overdue by its organizer Avery Wong, allows skiers and snowboarders a relatively straightforward and affordable means of transport to one of the best ski resorts in the world. Okay, the vehicle itself is no showstopper — a cramped school bus with bench seating — but we are students, and 20 dollars for a seat that takes you from your residence area to Whistler and back is a bargain. Some students have cars and their friends can often catch a ride with them, there are ride share options and there’s always the Greyhound. But what if your friend with a car cancels on you? What if you suffer one of the ride share horror stories that seem too common to be just rumour? What if paying much

more than 20 dollars for a service, which only you picks up and drops you off at downtown, does not appeal to you? Then this bus service is ideal for you. Sure, there were some teething issues in the first week; the bus did not leave on schedule due to a kerfuffle getting in and out of a few pick up locations and there is not yet an efficient system for loading baggage. However, I imagine that the RHA will debrief and find ways to amend these problems — it was only the maiden voyage. My biggest concerns, however, are why such a service is only now becoming available, and why doesn’t some organization on campus extrapolate the idea to offer a service to all students? These are not questions for the RHA, which has outdone itself with this idea. But this is great business opportunity for some campus-wide organization. The price for the RHA service is as low as possible because it is an association that does not aim to turn a profit, but I reckon students not on rez would be more than happy to pay a little more for a similar service that is open to everyone. Maybe I’m being a bit simplistic, but the rez bus was full to the brim, and I think there are students who are not on rez that would like to go just as much. This is definitely something the Calendar or the AMS could take an interest in. U

UBCOPERA

Presents

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

(Le Nozze di figaro)

Comic opera in four acts by WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756–1791) Sung in Italian with English Surtitles February 5, 6, 7 // 7:30 pm | February 8 // 2:00 pm Chan Centre for the Performing Arts Neil Varon | Conductor Nancy Hermiston | Director with members of the UBC Symphony Orchestra

UBC Bands and Chamber Ensembles

TICKETS 604.822.9197 or ChanCentre.com

FREE ADMISSION 8pm, Chan Centre

Robert Taylor

Christopher Unger

Director of Bands (study leave)

Interim Director of Bands

2014/2015 2014/2015

Presented by the UBC School of Music www.music.ubc.ca 6361 Memorial Rd. Vancouver, BC

EDITOR JENICA MONTGOMERY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 |

The Marriage of Figaro Returning opera to its traditional roots Jenica Montgomery

Culture Editor

In a world where the arts are constantly struggling to engage audiences with modern interpretations of classics, UBC Opera Ensemble is showing its roots with a traditional production of The Marriage of Figaro . The opera classic Le Nozzi di Figaro is a based on Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais’ 1784 play Le Mariage de Figaro and remains as one of the most recognizable comic operas. “The drama is great, it has all elements within it. It has the comedic element but also just real characters having real problems,” said Geoffrey Schellenberg, who plays Count Almaviva in the production. Directed by UBC Opera Ensemble founder Nancy Hermiston, the performance follows Susanna, played by Tamar Simon and Stephanie Nakagawa, and Figaro, played by Peter Monaghan and Scott Brooks, as they try to escape the powers set on breaking up their wedding — particularly the unwanted advances from the Count. The power dynamics between the Count, Figaro and Susanna are at the forefront of the

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

| CULTURE | 7

There are two casts for The Marriage of Figaro, performing on alternate days.

plot. However, the connection between the couple emphasize the importance of strong relationships, playfulness and love over lust. “It really comes down to a true relationship.… There’s give and take. [Susanna] tries to calm Figaro down … and she takes the consoling figure as well as, at the same time, she might freak out and Figaro is there to console the situation, so it’s a true relationship,” said Monaghan. While Figaro is the most well-known character, the role of Susanna in the opera is a prominent one. She is a strong female character in the production, often staying steps ahead of the Count in his advances and setting forth the plans that they plotted to oppose the Count. “The Count feels like he’s on the same playing field, the same game, as Figaro, but he really does not keep up with him. He

constantly thinks he understands whats going on, and that everyone will do his bidding, but it doesn’t quite work out that way and he doesn’t really understand why,” said Schellenberg. The characters, beyond the main three, serve to bring in both realistic and comedic elements, particularly Cherubino — played by Katie Miller and Courtney Bridge — a young man who is often found by the Count in compromising situations with different women from the castle after whom he lusts. “All these other characters that bring the subplot in ... really give a huge drastic change from the realism to the comedic,” said Monaghan. Though the characters and plot are enticing to any audience, the opportunity to see a traditional opera is the most exciting aspect of this production. Many modern performances of The Marriage

The Marriage of Figaro follows Susanna as she avoids the advances of the Count before her wedding to Figaro.

of Figaro around the world are concept productions, said Simon, however UBC Opera will stay true to the medium’s traditional roots, forgoing modernized versions of the production. “Everybody tries to make a revolutionary thing when it comes to opera to try to bring audience members, but when it comes down to it, some of the best productions that you’ll ever see is really what it was meant to be put on as,” said Monaghan. Their production utilizes elaborate traditional costumes and sets to emphasize the beauty and grandeur of The Marriage of Figaro. The sets are, according to Schellenberg, 60-70 years old and 25 feet tall. The

set takes up a large portion of the stage, but doesn’t crowd the space, transporting the audience to time in the distant past. “It’s pretty true to what Mozart would have wanted,” said Simon.

The Marriage of Figaro will be performed from February 5-8 at the Chan Centre. You can purchase tickets online or at the Chan Centre ticket office. U

MUSIC >>

Noah Derksen mixes music and academics

Amanda Bamford

Contributor

Most don’t often think of the sciences and music as influential to one another. However, one science student proves that the two are intertwined. “I do have a fairly science-y mind in terms of logical thinking and processing so the theory of music, as much as it has interested me — I always saw music as something I could do on the side and [as] something I could teach myself,” said UBC musician and fourth-year Science student Noah Derksen. “I can pick up an instrument ... give me some time and I can learn it.” Originally from Winnipeg, Derksen moved out to the west coast to play for the men’s varsity volleyball team at 18. He no longer plays volleyball competitively, instead redirecting his focus towards his studies in the “realm of neuroscience” and — of course — his music. His debut album was released on January 27, the encompassing theme being his experiences since moving to Vancouver and how he became the man that he is. The independence, discovery and changes in perspective that have all occurred since he ventured to the west coast. As both a Science student and a musician, Derksen puts 100 per cent into everything he does. “I can’t stand doing a lacklustre job,” he said. In regards to managing all

his activities in a timely manner, he said it’s been challenging yet fun and that the enormous commitment of varsity sports helped prepare him to balance his time. One area of his life has benefited another. He said that the artistic element of his life has given him a different perspective on his academics. “Having those different perspectives, both academic and artistic, helps both your academic and artistic careers.” In addition to being a self-taught musician, Derksen has been writing his own music for the past couple years. “It gets to a point where you need to kind of take the next step forward in terms of continuously challenging yourself — to write your own music and perform your own music,” he said. He cites musicians such as Ben Howard, John Meyer, Ray Lafontaine and Damien Rice as major musical influences and Leonard Cohen as a lyrical influence for writing his music. He describes his style as contemplative folk. Being both an observational and critically thinking individual, his music is his “invitation to other people who listen to [his] music [to be] immersed in it.” One can see the intersections between his artistic and neurological sides. Derksen wants his listeners to be exposed to deep contemplation when experiencing his music.

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Derksen began performing at open mic nights.

With one more year left in his undergrad, Derksen plans to take some time off after graduation and pursue his music full-time with travelling (and touring) hopefully in the mix. A career in neuroscience or health sciences is also a possibility but nothing is presently set in stone. “I just want to keep everything as open ended as possible to be able to dive into different paths and different components of life,” he said. U

PHOTOS CHERIHAN HASSUN/THE UBYSSEY

business.humber.ca/postgrad

8 | CULTURE |

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

ART >>

AMS >>

transgression/ cantosphere explores a language under threat

Absolute Space explores the world we live in

PHOTO CHERIHAN HASSUN/THE UBYSSEY

Absolute Space explores the dynamics between science, technology and their influence on the space around us.

Olivia Law

Senior Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY CENTRE A

transgression/cantosphere celebrates the Cantonese language.

Chloë Lai

Contributor In late September of last year, just as classes were getting under-way at UBC, a pro-democracy protest was erupting in Hong Kong. Dubbed the Umbrella Revolution, it lasted 79 days and involved thousands of protestors, many of them students. While it’s difficult to tell what the long-term outcome of their efforts will be, the incident sparked something right here in Vancouver: the transgression/ cantosphere exhibit. As a collaborative project by interdisciplinary art company Hong Kong Exile (HKX), UBC linguist Zoe Lam and local artist Howie Tsui, transgression/ cantosphere is a celebration of the Cantonese language, which is under threat due to the Chinese government’s desire to establish Mandarin as the national standard. Visitors to the gallery are greeted by a sign that reads “Historic Chinatown,” over which the Chinese characters for “transgression” and “cantosphere” are alternately projected. “Naming is a powerful action,” said Lam, the language consultant for the project, on the team’s decision to create the term cantosphere as a way to refer to the countless Cantonese-speaking communities that exist worldwide. “They are geographically separated, [but] they are one cultural entity, and they deserve our protection.” Lam, whose research centres around tone languages and perception of pitch in speech, is quick to identify the main antagonists to her native language. In Southern China, Cantonese is banned in radio and TV programmes. In Hong Kong, schools are shifting their language of instruction from Cantonese to Mandarin in return for government subsidies. In Vancouver’s Chinatown neighbourhood, condo developers put up an oversized sign greeting the predominantly Cantonese-speaking population in Mandarin. While it’s unclear

whether that was an oversight or a strategic move to attract Mainland Chinese investors, the artists behind transgression/cantosphere consider it a symptom of the move away from Cantonese. The language standardization has even infiltrated the homes of native Cantonese speakers around the world. Many Cantonese-speaking parents, hoping to ensure better employment opportunities for their children, now speak Mandarin at home instead. Recognizing the power of humour to connect individuals and undermine authority, as well as the Chinese community’s long history of tone-based punning, the transgression/cantosphere exhibit features a pun generator that projects Cantonese idioms onto the gallery walls. One of the projected words in the sentence is then shuffled and replaced with a tonal variation of the same syllable, transforming its meaning. “I want genuine universal suffrage,” one of the tag lines of the Umbrella Revolution, becomes “I want genuine universal garlic.” The visual changes are accompanied by recorded readings of each variation, as well as the clatter of mahjongg tiles. “Our first vision is that [Cantonese-speaking] people become aware of the threats to their own language and culture,” said Lam, hopeful that the exhibit will remind Vancouver’s Cantonese population to value their heritage. The second goal is to raise awareness of Cantonese language and culture among the non-Cantonese-speaking general public, who may not know that more than one Chinese language exists. An English translation of the exhibit’s puns is available as a handout at the gallery. “It’s a story,” said Lam, pointing out that the lines, when read in a particular sequence, form a narrative that speaks directly to the Umbrella Revolution.

transgression/cantosphere will be running at Centre A until March 28. U

Upon entering the latest exhibit, Absolute Space, at the AMS Art Gallery in the SUB, one thing which stands out immediately is the sense of vastness in the space. This, as indicated by the title of the exhibit, is what the curators were aiming for — the gallery feels very open and larger than the fairly small room in the corner of the SUB that it is. Absolute Space is a meditation on the effects of science and technology on our understanding of space and awareness. Presented by UBC Sharing Science, the exhibit explores the physicality, mysteries, immensity and multiplicity of the world we live in through works by nine artists. The individual works all had a strong sense of the personal involvement of each artist — something one might not expect to encounter when thinking of a somewhat scientific topic. The standout piece of Absolute Space is a collaboration between Evelyn Cranston, Aftab Narsimhan and Connor Shannon. “SAD FRANCISCO — Where have you

cried in San Francisco” is a laser-cut map of the city with illuminations based on crowd-sourced research on where individuals have cried in San Francisco. The connection between emotion and space creates a beautiful, yet saddening work; one which would be interesting to follow up with a Vancouver-based piece. Accompanying the map is a booklet containing testimonials by those who have contributed to the map. Some of the stories are long, emotional and detailed, and one just said “Dickheads.” It’s a true testament to human emotion, and how it can be mapped so simply and immovably by the physical space of the city. Another highlight of the exhibit is Evan Chen’s showcase of individual cellular components of a spinal cord. Aiming to highlight the importance of focusing on details over the big picture, the images, which might be more at home in a hospital, again use light and darkness to emphasize the composition of internal over external space. The highlighting of the individual cell over entire tissue or body shows the importance of the uniqueness and absolute

necessity of every part of the body, which translates to the individual, to the city, to the world. Lauren Scott’s “Time is Also / Another Kind of Space” uses multiplicity of layers to create beautiful geometric patterns, exploring two-dimensions, three-dimensions, real and unreal. The three frames are composed of diagrammatic time lines, cut and reassembled into three-dimensional forms and flattened into two-dimensional once more through photography. A unique form of representation, Scott is encouraging the debate between the real and unreal, in patterns that wouldn’t be out of place in your home. A thought-provoking exhibit, each piece gives much opportunity for reflection of space on micro and macro levels. Although the highlighted works were standout pieces, the entire exhibit is highly recommendable. The area around each piece gives time and space for reflection and calmness, whilst remaining relevant to our society on large and small scales. U

Public Open House – February 10 University Boulevard Precinct Planning

UBC is updating plans to implement the precinct vision. This is needed to respond to changes in the area and to guide new development and programming opportunities on the remaining sites. Please join us at a public open to learn more about the vision and proposed uses for the remaining sites and provide your ideas on proposed ways to achieve the vision.

Place: 2nd Floor Foyer, The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, 1961 East Mall Refreshments will be served. Date: Tuesday, Feb 10, 2015 Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm Can’t attend in person? An online questionnaire will be available from February 10 – 23. This first phase of public consultation also includes a public workshop. Visit planning.ubc.ca to sign up for the workshop or to learn more. For additional information on the project, contact: Aviva Savelson, Senior Manager, Consultation, Campus + Community Planning at aviva.savelson@ubc.ca or 604-822-9984

This notice contains important information which may affect you. Please ask someone to translate it for you.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 |

EDITOR JACK HAUEN

HOCKEY >>

Playoff hockey at the Doug this month

VS UBC Thunderbirds

University of Manitoba Bisons

A best-of-three series / February 20-22 / Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena

Regular season standings

UBC MEN’S HOCKEY HAS A HOME PLAYOFF DATE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1971 y 1. Alberta

The men’s hockey program took a step forward recently, as the team shut out Lethbridge on the road to clinch a home playoff game in the quarterfinals for the first time in decades. UBC finishes the season with a record of 13-10-5, good enough for a fourth place finish in the tight

Canada West conference. Other matchups in the quarterfinals include the third-place Mount Royal Cougars and the sixth-place University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Game times haven’t been decided as of yet, but the best-of-three series will take place every day of the February 20-22 weekend.

24 20 17 13 15 10 8 5

x 2. Calgary x 3. Mount Royal x 4. UBC x 5. Manitoba x 6. Saskatchewan

7. Regina 8. Lethbridge x = Clinched playoff spot

3 8 10 10 13 15 17 23

OTL 1 0 1 5 0 3 3 0

PTS 49 40 35 31 30 23 19 10

y = Clinched conference

THUNDERBIRDS >>

T-BIRDS 5-ON-5

ALISTAIR HARDY-POIRIER

CATHERINE ROUSSEAU

JACKSON HAMMERSLY

Nordic Skiing

Golf

Alpine Skiing

GABBY JAYME

JUSTIN CHAN

Field hockey

Swimming

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I am planning to specialize in computing engineering and build software for car design.

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Chemical and biological engineering.... One day, I’ll create the first genetically enhanced superhuman.