JANUARY 3, 2018 | VOLUME XCIX | ISSUE XVIII WHY DO WE HAVE PRODUCTION TODAY? SINCE 1918
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THE UBYSSEY
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NEWS
YEAR IN REVIEW
OPINIONS
SCIENCE
SPORTS
Free naloxone kits now available at pharmacies
A look back into 2017’s best stories
You’re more important than your grades
SailBot Ada is coming home, battered but alive
UBC’s table tennis team is hitting the mark
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JANUARY 3, 2018 WEDNESDAY
YOUR GUIDE TO UBC EVENTS & PEOPLE
EVENTS
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OUR CAMPUS
Best of Our Campus 2017 Lina Castro
By Mischa Milne, Jan 25, 2017
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6
Castro has always been a very active student on campus. In January of last year, she became the first coordinator of VICE, as well as her position on UBC Senate. “I didn’t find myself dreading this job or dreading going to senate meetings, because they were all things that I willingly took on. Putting in all those hours is a lot easier when you actually care about the things that you’re doing.”
WOMEN’S HOCKEY WELCOME BACK 4 P.M. @ DOUG MITCHELL Come watch UBC women’s hockey take on Calgary! UBC STUDENTS $5
OLAMIDE OLANIYAN
Jack Liu
By Jack Hauen, Feb 15, 2017
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY MARATHON 12 P.M. @ RIO THEATRE One trilogy marathon to rule them all... $12 AT THE DOOR
Liu was in his fourth year when he started the popular Instagram @dogspots.ubc. Over a year later, he has almost three thousand followers (this writer included) and his posts feature the best part of UBC’s campus — the dogs. “I get joy knowing that people’s days are made from the photos. Also petting all these dogs is just a huge plus.” JACK HAUEN
Elder Larry Grant By Helen Zhou, May 12, 2017
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 KOERNER’S HOUSE PARTY | BACK TO SCHOOL 9 P.M. @ KOERNER’S HOUSE Come jam out to your favourite tunes. $5 AND UP
ON THE COVER MARTIN DEE / UBC
COVER BY
Veronica Knott
Aziz Sonawalla HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
By Helen Zhou, June 20, 2017
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EDITORIAL
STAFF
Coordinating Editor Sophie Sutcliffe, Joshua Azizi, Jack Lamming, Jack Hauen coordinating@ubyssey.ca Tristan Wheeler, Zubair H i r j i , Z a k Ve s c a r a , Charlotte Beaulieu, Iyanu Design Editor Owolabi, Clare Skillman, Natalie Morris printeditor@ubyssey.ca Olamide Olaniyan, Negin Nia, S alomon Micko Benrimoh, Samantha News Editors Searle, Kristine Ho, Bill Samantha McCabe & Situ, Divija Madhani, Alex Nguyen Lawrence Ge, Veronica news@ubyssey.ca Ciastko, Danielle Olusanya, Liz Wang, Ryan Culture Editor Neale, Mitchell Ballachay, Samuel Du Bois Shelby Rogers, James culture@ubyssey.ca Vogl, Aziz Sonawa, Jordan Byrum, Lua Presídio, Aiken Sports + Rec Editor Lao, Emma Livingstone, Lucy Fox Claire Lloyd, Ashley Dhanda, Saman Shariati, sports@ubyssey.ca Tiffany Ou, Joseph Kennel, Andrea Garza, Sarah Video Producer Neubauer, Thea Udwadia, Kate Colenbrander Ryan Patrick Jones, Jacob video@ubyssey.ca White, Patrick Hatch Opinion + Blog Editor Emma Hicks opinion@ubyssey.ca Science Editor Nivretta Thatra science@ubyssey.ca Photo Editor Partick Gillin photos@ubyssey.ca Features Editor Moira Wyton features@ubyssey.ca
As adjunct professor and Elderin-Residence at UBC, Grant has worked to build and strengthen the Musqueam presence on campus. “It took me a while to realize that the role of the Elder-in-Residence is multi-faceted. It’s there as an ambassador for Musqueam, it’s there as a grandparent figure for students because they call the House of Learning ‘home away from home’ and it’s a safe space.”
JANUARY 3, 2018 | VOLUME XCIX| ISSUE XVIII
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to the University of British Columbia (UBC) and/or topics relevant to students attending UBC. Submissions must be written by UBC students, professors, alumni, or those in a suitable position (as determined by the opinions editor) to speak on UBC-related matters. Submissions must not contain racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, harassment or discrimination. Authors and/or submissions will not be precluded from publication based solely on association with particular ideologies or subject matter that some may find objectionable. Approval for publication is, however, dependent on the quality of the argument and The Ubyssey editorial board’s judgment of appropriate content. Submissions may be sent by email to opinion@ubyssey.ca. Please include your student number or other proof of identification. Anonymous submissions will be accepted on extremely rare occasions. Requests for anonymity will be granted upon agreement from four fifths of the
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Knott had been a solid fixture of student politics and in spring of last year, she was awarded the Gold Medal Student Award for her actions in making social change. “It’s kind of crazy — it’s surreal, it’s humbling. The thing about student government is that you get really tired, you burn out. And then they do these interviews and you look back and ... it reminds you that you can make a difference.”
ENGINEERS CANADA
Mark Mac Lean
LEGAL The Ubyssey is the official student newspaper of the University of British Columbia. It is published every Tuesday by The Ubyssey Publications Society. We are an autonomous, democratically run student organization and all students are encouraged to participate. Editorials are chosen and written by the Ubyssey staff. They are the expressed opinion of the staff, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ubyssey Publications Society or the University of British Columbia. All editorial content appearing in The Ubyssey is the property of The Ubyssey Publications Society. Stories, opinions, photographs and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the expressed, written permission of The Ubyssey Publications Society. The Ubyssey is a founding member of Canadian University Press (CUP) and adheres to CUP’s guiding principles. The Ubyssey accepts opinion articles on any topic related
By Joshua Azizi, Nov 29, 2017
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to acknowledge that this paper and the land on which we study and work is the traditional, occupied, unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/ Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
PATRICK GILLIN
While Mac Lean is currently the math department’s undergraduate chair, he has worn many other hats in his 20-plus years at UBC, from being a founding faculty members of Science One program to the Faculty Association’s president. “It was a nice opportunity to try something new, and probably most importantly for me is that it’s where I really learned a lot about teaching and learning.”
NEWS LEADERSHIP //
Provincial government shakes up Board of Governors
Alex Nguyen News Editor
JANUARY 3, 2018 WEDNESDAY
EDITORS SAMANTHA MCCABE + ALEX NGUYEN
FILE KOSTA PRODANOVIC
The NDP provincial government has approved three new appointments and three reappointments to UBC’s Board of Governors (BoG), in order to fill the upcoming gap of six members whose terms expired on December 31, 2017. The government also rescinded the appointment of Alan Shuster, whose term was supposed to last until February 2020. The three new appointments are Nancy McKenzie, Chaslynn Gillanders and Joel Solomon. They are to replace current BoG members Graham Lee, Beverlee Park and David Sidoo. As stated in the orders in council, McKenzie, Gillanders and Solomon are all expected to serve until December 31, 2018. Following this one-year term, they could potentially serve a second twoyear term and a final three-year term, according to government appointment policy. Until June 2017, McKenzie was the chief financial officer of Seaspan, a group of Canadian companies that focuses on shipbuilding and other coastal marine transportation services, for 12 years. A member of the Nisga’a Nation in BC, Gillanders is a senior counsel at Callison & Hanna — a law firm that is both Indigenousled and focused. Her speciality is in “comprehensive land claims, employment law and finance law.” Solomon is the chairman of Renewal Funds — a venture capital firm that invests in “organic food [and] green products” — and a founding member of non-profit organizations like Social Venture Network, the Tides Canada Foundation and Hollyhock. He is also a financial supporter of current Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson’s political campaigns. The three reappointed BoG members are Celeste Haldane, Raghwa Gopal and Michael Korenberg, who is also the Board’s vice-chair. While Haldane’s term will only go to December 18, 2019, both Gopal and Korenberg’s terms will be two weeks longer. Currently, the government has yet to announce who will be appointed to fill Shuster’s rescinded role. While it is unclear when this information will be released, it is expected to be through another order in council. Prior to his terms as BoG member, Shuster was the campaign manager for Christy Clark — the previous Liberal Premier of BC — in UBC’s riding, Vancouver-Point Grey. He was first appointed to the Board in February 2014. The transition took place on December 31, 2017. U
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DRUGS //
Free and anonymous access to naloxone kits now available at select pharmacies
Zak Vescera Senior Staff Writer
The BC government has made naloxone kits available for free at pharmacies across the province, following $2 million in additional annual funding to its “Take Home Naloxone” program and a partnership with London Drugs. Kit recipients are also not required to give identifying information. For UBC students, the new policy will mean increased anonymous access to a life-saving substance previously only available for free via specified services and sites. The kits are now accessible at University Pharmacy on campus, as well as London Drugs and Save-On Foods’ pharmacy locations. This initiative is part of BC’s latest $322 million investment to fight the overdose crisis, which has seen 1,208 fatalities in the first 10 months of 2017. This statistic is nearly double the number from the first 10 months of last year. An opioid antagonist, naloxone can counteract the effects of opioid overdoses for up to 30 minutes, giving the victim time to access life-saving medical services. Accordingly, medical and social service specialists have
stressed naloxone access as key to reducing overdose fatalities. “Take-home naloxone kits are a key harm reduction measure in our multi-pronged approach to combat the overdose crisis, and [they] have saved countless lives,” said Dr. Jane Buxton, BC Centre for Disease Control’s harm reduction lead. At UBC, naloxone kits have been available via Student Health Services since April 2016. However, due to a combination of access barriers and changes to the campus’s naloxone policy, students have been hesitant to undergo the training. As of mid-November 2017, SHS has distributed 63 kits. The government’s latest move is an important step towards making naloxone accessible, especially for those uncomfortable accessing other health services, according to Stephanie Lake — a PhD student at the UBC School of Public Health and chair of the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Use’s Vancouver chapter. “This is a great way to expand access to naloxone at no cost to individuals who may be at high risk of overdose or of witnessing an overdose, but who may not have felt comfortable accessing naloxone,” said Lake in a written statement to The Ubyssey.
LUIS BUSCA/KARMIK/THE UBYSSEY
This effort is also complemented by student-led initiatives in the fight against the overdose crisis. For instance, AMS VICE — the student union’s addiction management service — has recently led two pilot “naloxone training parties” in conjunction with local harm-reduction service Karmik,
training and equipping hundreds of students at once. “No matter what students are doing, there will always be safer and less safe ways to do it,” said AMS VICE Coordinator Alex Dauncey in a previous emailed statement to The Ubyssey. “We want to provide pragmatic ways to move from highrisk towards low-risk.” U
ADMINISTRATION //
UBC hires new VP Human Resources the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. “Barbara will be a valuable addition to our executive team and I have full confidence she will be able to build on the excellent progress made by Lisa Castle, former vice-president of human resources, to make UBC a rewarding and fulfilling place to work,” Ono said in a UBC press release. Prior to coming to UBC, Meens Thistle held leadership positions in human resources at multiple private and public organizations, such as electric services company Emera, telecommunications company Eastlink, BC Hydro and ICBC. She was also voted HR “professional of the year” by the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources’s BC and Yukon chapter in 2016.
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Currently, beside her VP Central Services role at ICBC, Meens Thistle is also a fellow at the Canadian Board Diversity Council, as well as a board director with OceanWise — which oversees the Vancouver Aquarium — and Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. “I’m thrilled to accept this new challenge to lead human resources programs and services at UBC, one of the province’s top employers,” said Meens Thistle in the press release. “UBC has one of the largest workforces in British Columbia and I look forward to continuing efforts to making the university an inspiring place to work that also supports faculty and staff wellbeing, resilience and commitment.” U
THE UBYSSEY
Barbara Meens Thistle
Alex Nguyen News Editor
Barbara Meens Thistle, ICBC’s current VP Central Services, has been hired as the new VP Human Resources of UBC. Her hiring comes after a three-month global search by a committee chaired by President Santa Ono. Meens Thistle will replace Linda McKnight, who has been serving as the interim VP Human Resources due to the retirement of former VP Human Resources Lisa Castle. She will begin work on February 5, 2018.
HR PEOPLE + STRATEGY
Upon taking the role, Meens Thistle will be providing “support and advice to UBC’s faculties and departments,” as well as “a range of services for faculty and staff, including recruitment and employment, organizational development and workplace learning, wellbeing programming, faculty and staff relations, compensation, pension and benefits administration and the development of human resource policies and practices,” according to UBC. Her portfolio will cover both
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CULTURE
JANUARY 3, 2018 WEDNESDAY
EDITOR SAMUEL DU BOIS
LOTS OF BLACK EYELINER //
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CREATIVE WRITING //
UBC Goth: The voice behind the void
COURTESY ALESSANDRA NACCARATO
Naccarato’s award-winning poem describes the East Coast through mossy lands and homesteads.
SAMUEL DU BOIS
Twitter account UBC Goth published their first tweet at the end of November, as the air grew colder and the days became shorter.
Zak Vescera Senior Staff Writer
“You’re walking down East Mall late one evening and feel someone watching you. You glance over your shoulder and swear that Buchanan Tower is a little closer than it was before. You walk faster.” Twitter account UBC Goth published their first tweet at the end of November, as the air grew colder and the days became shorter. Since then, the account has pumped out a repertoire of eerily hilarious content highlighting the gothic side of campus, marrying a niche genre of literature with a broadly palatable, tongue-in-cheek sense of comedy. The consistency of the account’s morbid, sharp
humour has made it UBC’s best new social media account, amassing a cult following in the process. In spite of all that, the account’s creator said the account started largely by accident. “I was bored during a stats lecture when I came up with the idea ... It was very unplanned,” they said in a Twitter message to The Ubyssey. “In a way, the account is a way for me to dramatize and poke fun at my own perspectives.” The timing was prophetic — between the winter chill and the looming shadow of exams, campus felt dark in more ways than one. “If I want to think about the void, sitting in the back row during a lecture and contemplating my future usually suffices,” joked Goth.
But between the approach of finals and the arrival of a dense, Stranger Things-esque fog, campus really did suddenly feel darker. The pristine walkway of Main Mall suddenly felt forsaken. The canvas around Martha Piper Fountain made it look less like a campus landmark and more like an abandoned construction site, and the hordes of sleep-deprived students milling out of IKB each night were zombies in all but biology. “I wanted to capture the vaguely unsettling feeling of impending doom that seems to follow me around campus,” said Goth. “UBC is oddly inspirational in this sense.” That might be the secret to UBC Goth’s cult following; their humour contains a nugget of disconcerting accuracy. The fog was creepy. This statue is scary as all hell. The eternal nature of campus construction is unnerving. We’ve gotten used to all of this because we see it every day — but at night, something changes that can make UBC an undeniably strange place. Goth said their tweets are inspired by a range of whimsical gothic fiction — especially the famed Lemony Snicket’s children’s saga A Series of Unfortunate Events. “Lemony Snicket remains one of my favourite authors,” said Goth. “I’d say he’s my biggest influence for this sort of thing.” UBC Goth never seems to struggle for content. The account posts regularly, making observations on campus landmarks from Buchanan Tower to the Cairn that highlight a mysterious, whimsical and often downright creepy side of what is often considered the most beautiful campus in Canada. “I’ll usually write down ideas that come to me throughout the day and turn them into tweets later,” said Goth. “I haven’t had any struggle coming up with content yet.” Goth did express their surprise at the account’s modest success — although they’re unsure exactly what lies in the shadows for their new macabre project. “I’m not sure what I expected to come of this account or where I want it to go,” admitted Goth. “I wasn’t anticipating such an enthusiastic response, but it’s been a lot of fun.” U
CBC Poetry Prize winner Alessandra Naccarato is on the rise Jack Lamming Senior Staff Writer
Alessandra Naccarato, a Toronto native and UBC alum, recently won the CBC Poetry Prize, which came with $6,000 and a 10-day residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. It was in Banff that she was deemed by a fellow poet as “Alessandra, who has lived three lives.” What does this mean? Naccarato was evasive on this, stating that she had lived in “many different cities, many different parts of the world,” though when pressed only named Toronto, Montreal and Salt Spring Island. Naccarato has been creative her entire life, even staging a play at seven years of age with the support of her alternative art school. Her parents were immediately supportive of her poetic ambitions. “Every member of my family works in a different discipline. My mother has been in theatre and my father is in visual arts and my sister is a dancer,” said Naccarato. Her modus operandi is classically millennial — that work ethic that we are at turns mocked or praised for: no one told her she couldn’t do it. Naccarato grew up surrounded by creative types, including her best friend’s mother who is a published poet. The poem that won Naccarato the prize was her thenunpublished “Postcards for My
Sister.” The poem conjures ideas of the East Coast with nonspecific images of mossy land and homesteads. The happy family that Naccarato described in our interview is not reflected here. Instead she portrays a story of broken marriages, strong mothers and sisters at the end of their rope. Similarly inscrutable is the phrase that sits front and centre on Naccarato’s website: “writing for rewilding.” The meaning of the slogan was too complex for Naccarato to give one explanation for, but she stressed that it was about life as a settler. She was adamant in explaining that she “has chosen to leave the urban centres that [she] grew up in and spend a quiet life in the woods,” which she said reflects in her writings. Other than “Postcards for My Sister,” Naccarato’s poetry is made up of short verses of oblique imagery. She talks about blind cats chewing on chicken bones and women she met on cruise ships. These poems are specific and inscrutable, rich in detail but not in substance. A poem about women at a disadvantage in the legal system takes breaks to ask “where do they piss and how often?” So after the CBC Poetry Prize, what’s next for Naccarato? She’s currently pitching her first poetry collection to publishers and then plans to make that classic author move — go to a Hawaiian island to write a novel. U
Like a good wine? Have a lot to say on books your friends haven’t read? Feeling cultured? Ubyssey Culture welcomes you.
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THE UBYSSEY
LOOKING BACK AT 2017
JANUARY 3, 2018 WEDNESDAY
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THE
BEST OF 2017
Mischief charge dropped against woman who burned pride flag Jan 11, 2017 After allegedly burning down a pride flag that was flying on campus in February 2016, Brooklyn Fink was charged with mischief. She was supposed to go to trial in March, but Crown prosecutors dropped the charge against her on December 6, 2016. The Pride Collective was uncomfortable with the treatment of many people by Canada’s prison system, and thereby was uncomfortable subjecting anyone to it.
UBC reinstates John Furlong as keynote speaker Jan 10, 2017
JANUARY Video: The Women’s March in Vancouver January 22, 2017 The Women’s March in Vancouver had a massive turnout, drawing in a major crowd around the Trump Tower. With a large number of UBC students in attendance, protestors carried signs, sported pink toques and rallied in freezing conditions.
The UBC Free Speech Club: A safe space for whining about safe spaces January 25, 2017 UBC Free Speech club has been the topic of many articles in 2017, but last January one of our writers took an in-depth look at what the club actually had to offer. It included multiple screenshots of online arguments and disputes that members of the club would have with the UBC community ranging from the LGBTQ2+ movement to Trump’s presidency to white nationalism. If you are looking for one of our most controversial pieces of the year, you’ve found it. Video: Ubyssey goes Backstage February 9, 2017
How UBC grades your broad-based admissions essays Feb 17, 2017
FEBRUARY
UBC Theatre is always putting on wonderful productions that we often review in the culture section, but this time we went behind the scenes in video to see the work that goes into putting on a student production. Love and Information was one of the most complex plays that the theatre department has put on and we gave the exclusive backstage look.
MARCH Editorial: Why The Ubyssey is disendorsing every presidential candidate March 6, 2017 Every March brings a new round of AMS elections, which includes the presidential race. Last year, The Ubyssey disendorsed every single candidate because no one appeared quite up to the challenge. There were five candidates at the time but only four of them were running seriously — until just a few days before the Great Debate, when Alan Ehrenholz stepped out from behind the masquerade of “The Cairn” and ended up being elected into the AMS President position.
The Thunderbirds are your 2016/17 volleyball national champions March 20, 2017 After a disappointing fourthplace finish in 2016, the Thunderbirds women’s volleyball team, once unstoppable, got back on track this year with a national championship, their seventh in ten years. After a run of six straight national victories, UBC was dethroned by the Manitoba Bisons in 2014, leading to a couple goodbut-not-great seasons. This year marks a return to form as the ‘Birds retake their perch atop the league.
Professor wins award for equation that is beyond its time March 20, 2017 Dr. Stephanie van Willigenburg was awarded the 2017 CMS Krieger-Nelson Prize for her discovery of quasisymmetric Schur functions, which are tools on the cutting edge of theoretical mathematics.
After a decision made by President Santa Ono, John Furlong was reinstated as the keynote speaker at the 18th ZLC Millennium Scholarship breakfast, an annual event to support varsity athletes. Furlong was removed as the New Aquatic Centre open to event’s speaker after allegathe public on January 23 tions against him from 2012 reJanuary 19, 2017 garding child abuse resurfaced in a letter of protest. After uniThe Aquatic Centre opened versity public affairs initially in January, featuring multipledged that Furlong would ple pools, a makeshift water not be getting an apology, Ono basketball court, a lazy river, called his removal as speaker a a general play area complete “well-intentioned but incorwith pool toys and a very large rect decision.” The back-andhot tub. So far, the Aquatic forth sparked a debate in Centre has been very popular the community about UBC’s among students, faculty, staff commitment to reconciliation, and the general public. It also since the allegations against was named one of the nicest Furlong came from students at pieces of architecture on a former residential school. campus.
After a four-year legal battle with the university, The Ubyssey obtained the entirety of the rubric that UBC uses to evaluate applicants in a broad-based way from an anonymous source. Previously, UBC had refused to comply with the BC Supreme Court and Information and Privacy orders to release it. The rubric asks graders to mark essays based on how well they display certain attributes. In approximately 1,000 words, the ideal applicant would have a sense of self and community, problem solving and resilience, intellectual readiness and expression, leadership and initiative and achieving goals.
AMS Elections passes voter goal, reaches almost 21 per cent turnout March 15, 2017 Over a fifth of eligible voters at UBC made their voice heard in the last AMS elections, which is either kind of sad or very impressive, depending on where you’re sitting. Turnout was higher in 2013 when 43 per cent of students voted, but just over 12 per cent came out in 2016 and 2015, leading the AMS to fund more initiatives aimed at getting people to vote. It worked. Best (and worst) Storm the Wall team names 2017 March 20, 2017 Every year, The Ubyssey covers the various Storm the Wall team names. In 2017, we categorized them into “funny,” “wall-puns,” “trump-related” and “faculty-specific.” Our favourites from each category? “On Tuesdays We Storm,” “George Stormthewallpoulus,” “See Trump walls don’t work” and “Storm the Cell Wall.” Hopefully this inspires you to start thinking about your team name and keep an eye out for our 2018 Storm the Wall writeup in March.
Conflict in Kelowna March 28, 2017 The Ubyssey ran a monthslong investigation into UBC Students’ Union Okanagan after it ran unprecedented deficits in 2015 and 2016. They found that the union’s 2015 outgoing president used his marketing company to run the winning campaigns of 24 of UBC Okanagan’s 31 positions in student government. That past president and his company then won a website contract for the union’s student work subsidy initiative, a project that flopped with only eight students receiving grants and the website went defunct along with it.
6 | Looking back at 2017 | WEDNESDAY JANUARY 3, 2018
Review: POV 27 proved that student films can be great, most of the time May 5, 2017 POV 27 proved that student films can be great, most of the time. The Persistence of Vision is a short film festival showcasing 19 films created by thirdand fourth-year students in UBC’s Department of Theatre and Film. From quirky vampire romances to tolling nine-to-five office workers, this year’s lineup displayed diversity in technique, content and character.
APRIL
Striking gold: Men’s track and field become first Canadian team to win NAIA championships June 6, 2017 The UBC track and fields team ended the 2016/17 season with brilliant performances at the NAIA championships. The men’s team finished first, making them the first Canadian team to claim the title in the NAIA, while the women ‘s team finished in fourth place, one point away from third place. Video: Ubysessions: UBC Opera June 26, 2017 The lovely voices of UBC Opera came to visit The Ubyssey office, and with a pianist to accompany them sang beautiful ballads to the staff. Two members each sang solo and then together in a duet. Cypress soars to 10,000 feet at its first rocket launch competition July 13,2017 A year ago, no one imagined that a team of amateurs from UBC would successfully send their rocket, Cypress, to an altitude of 10,000 feet. No one imagined the amount of time and energy that the team would dedicate to flying a rocket to suborbital space. Above all, no one imagined that this team of underdogs would win their first ever rocket launch competition. Canada 150: UBC is a place of mind for politics July 25, 2017 For over 100 years UBC has shaped Canadian politics — and as Canada reaches 150 years since its confederation, the university is not slowing down. But unlike many Canadian universities who have traditionally found niches of impact through informal partisan alignments, UBC is focusing instead on educating the people and parties who practice politics from across the political spectrum. The Ubyssey looked back on UBC’s past to find out how it is forming our country’s future.
Science is the idea that through questioning and testing those questions, we can come up with new ideas to make our lives a little easier, a little happier and a little bit better. We encouraged UBC students to support science locally by spending a Saturday walking around in a giant amoeba of nerds, even though Canadian science can seem relatively unaffected by alternative-facts politics.
UBC ties for second last in “hardest partying” universities in Canada May 23, 2017 UBC is one of Canada’s topranked schools academically and athletically — however, in terms of “partying” our school lacks the charisma to beat out some of our east coast contemporaries. In May, UBC tied for second-last in the category of “hardest partying schools” according to MacLean’s magazine and I’d have to agree that they’re right. In comparison to Queens, for example, UBC doesn’t have a “student ghetto” where thousands of students live and party all year long — we have Main Mall, where students tears and Mother Nature’s rain mixes. Step it up, UBC.
Ono to apologize for UBC’s role in the Indian Residential School System Aug 25, 2017 President Santa Ono planned an apology for UBC’s involvement in the residential school system for late September 2017. It was to be broadcast live in front of an audience of UBC Senators, Board of Governors and Faculty Association members and Indigenous faculty members. The day before, however, UBC pushed the apology to an undisclosed date due to a “scheduling conflict.” It still hasn’t come.
Editor’s note: Why you should march for science April 21, 2017
SUMMER
Is the vote wasted on youth? May 25, 2017 As the BC provincial election results hung in the balance last spring, The Ubyssey asked students and voting experts why youth — although not as much the case with post-secondary students — have so much trouble simply getting out to vote. Despite some clues pointing towards general apathy as the main cause, it turns out that voting and making an educated decision are structurally difficult for students, which create a negative feedback loop between young voters and elected representatives who might advocate policies in their interest. The library is crowdfunding to buy a $25,000 copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone June 30, 2017 UBC’s Rare Books and Special Collections department is making a bid to acquire a first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, being auctioned in London for around $25,000, through a crowdfunding campaign. This is the last book required to complete UBC’s collection of first edition Harry Potter books published in the UK, US and Canada. UBC hopes that through the acquisition the department and library as a whole will feel more special and personalized to students.
AMS VP Academic Daniel Lam resigns July 20, 2017 Former AMS VP Academic Daniel Lam, who was elected in an uncontested race in March 2017, stepped down just three months into his term for personal reasons. His resignation triggered a by-election which pitted anti-social justice activist Franz Kurtzke against Lam’s vormer associate VP, Max Holmes, who won a resounding victory with 84 per cent of the vote.
School War I: Which faculty would reign superior in a campus battle? August 15, 2017 It’s the age-old question and one that a Reddit user by the name of u/elanonelp attempted to answer. They wrote multiple stories focusing on different war-tactics such as weaponry, money, architectural support, size of the various armies (faculties) and more. In a tale as twisted as Lord of the Rings, this story will make you laugh, cry and get in arguments with your friends in other faculties.
You In? August 29, 2017 A months-long Ubyssey investigation revealed that being a residence advisor is not all fun and trust games. From limited crisis and trauma response training, to long working hours and blurred lines between coworkers and counsellors, residence advisors opened up about the challenges they face in such a demanding position and the structural barriers that drive many bright leaders on campus away from ResLife.
JANUARY 3, 2018 WEDNESDAY | Looking back at 2017 | 7
Video: Welcome Back BBQ review September 12, 2017 The Ubyssey didn’t get press passes to the Welcome Back BBQ this year (thanks AMS!), but we still managed to cover it — from the outside — providing in-depth reporting on its audio quality (loud), fence integrity (strong) and smell (neutral).
UBC opens $29 million soccer training centre for T-Birds, Whitecaps September 22, 2017 UBC opened a soccer development centre where not only the Thunderbirds train and play, but also the Vancouver Whitecaps. It is a sprawling 473,600-square-foot facility that boasts a 38,000-square-foot fieldhouse and five fields. The fieldhouse itself includes a two-storey weight room and a hydrotherapy-equipped sports science wing, among other features.
Amid sexual assault policy implementation, UBC fields another human rights complaint October 10, 2017
SEPTEMBER
Snakes are no longer simply green, slimy, creepy reptiles that you have to keep an eye out for when you’re out in the woods — they’re now all over campus, specifically in the Henry Angus building where the Sauder students roam. Or at least, that’s what people had to say about it. However, the joke died down around October, after a letter explaining why Sauder students are good people became one of the most read opinion pieces of the year.
Almestadi found not criminally responsible for attempted murder in UBC dorm attack October 26, 2017
OCTOBER
A former student at the Okanagan campus filed a complaint against UBC with BC’s Human Rights Tribunal, alleging that the university mishandled her case after she reported a sexual assault. Her case was dealt with using a generic “non-academic misconduct” policy, leading to massive delays and communications issues. It is UBC’s hope that the relatively new sexual misconduct policy will prevent these issues moving forward.
Sweep for the seventh: ‘Birds win twice against Lions to claim national title November 5, 2017 The best Thunderbird team is probably one you’ve never even seen in action. The UBC women’s field hockey team won their seventh (seventh!) straight championship in November, sweeping the York University Lions in a bestof-three series. At this point they’re basically unstoppable. Seriously, there are players on this Thunderbird team who have — never not won a national championship — during their time at UBC. Ridiculous.
NOVEMBER
Controversial research linking vaccines to autism is retracted by UBC researchers November 21, 2017
In November, UBC and SFU got in a war of sorts — some would call it a millennial war, others would call it a joke. But we coined it “The Meme War of 2017” that took over our Facebook newsfeeds and subreddit pages. UBC was making fun of SFU not being as academic or as athletic as UBC, and SFU was taunting UBC over the fact that we are pretentious and uptight. SFU reigned supreme in this battle, but we’re coming for blood in 2018.
UBC launched the “largest campaign for scholarships for students in the history of British Columbia,” according to President Santa Ono in a press conference held on November 27, 2017. An $100 million fundraising campaign will support student awards ranging from “fellowships, scholarships, bursaries and experiential learning opportunities like co-op.” This campaign will be pursued by the university and the AMS’s VP academic and university affairs.
Science is ever-changing and is incredibly self-correcting. A scientific paper from UBC linking aluminum found in vaccines to autism-like characteristics in mice was retracted by the original researchers after data manipulation allegations.
UBC’s public art collection hides in plain sight December 4, 2017 With the installment of “The Shadow”, we took a look at the state of public art on campus. Works such as “Millenial Time Machine” and “Native Hosts” dot the campus, acting as mementos to our fraught history, while other sculptures, like “Concerto,” simply beautify the drabness of Buchanan.
From students’ housing insecurity to the university’s loss of talent, the Vancouver housing crisis is creating a crushing pressure even UBC doesn’t know how to fully solve. While UBC is doing what it can and what it can afford to do, housing instability still comes in a package deal with UBC’s “place of mind” — making it even more difficult to attract potential students and faculty, if they consider coming to UBC at all.
Pro-Nazi posters found at War Memorial Gym, site of Remembrance Day ceremony November 11, 2017
UBC and SFU are in a meme war and nobody is safe — not even Douglas College November 10, 2017
Ono announces $100 million fundraising campaign for student awards November 27, 2017
One of our news editors covered the trial of Thamer Almestadi, a former UBC student who was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon for attacking another UBC student in October 2016. The trial saw testimonies from various witnesses, including the first responders to the attack, Almestadi himself and the psychiatrist who assessed him, amongst others. Almestadi was found not criminally responsible and will instead be sent to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam.
Our ‘Big One’: Lifting the crushing weight of the Vancouver housing crisis October 31, 2017
Video: #MeToo Raly Vancouver November 7, 2017 Protesters in Vancouver brought the #MeToo campaign to the streets. The event sought to build momentum for an issue that garnered global attention recently on social media. UBC students and alumni were among the hundred or so people who rallied outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, with speeches from community members and survivors of sexual assault.
Letter: It’s time to stop using the term “snake” to describe Sauder students September 12, 2017
DECEMBER
November saw a number of incidents where pro-Nazi messages were found on campus. The most serious case was when posters were found on all entrances to the War Memorial Gym, the site of UBC’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony. These incidents were condemned by the university and student groups, as well as investigated by the RCMP and Campus Security.
‘Balancing act’: What is the limit of freedom of expression at UBC? December 5, 2017 As UBC seeks advice on its draft statement on freedom of expression, The Ubyssey asked where students, faculty and community groups want it to draw the line when it comes to freedom of expression. Thus far, the statement’s language indicates that UBC is performing a delicate balancing act as it wades into a politically-charged issue that has pushed many other major universities across the continent to take a stance.
OPINIONS MENTAL WELLBEING //
Last Words: Your wellbeing is worth more than your grades
The Ubyssey Editorial Board
December 21 was the day that most professors released their final grades on the SSC, which can often be more stressful than the act of writing exams itself. It is important to keep in mind that grades are just a number — you are worth more than your grades and whatever you receive does not define you as a student or as a person. If you are finding that a final grade is taking a toll on your wellbeing, please seek support. Whether it’s picking up the phone to call a friend or talking to a professional, it’s important to put yourself before your academics. These are not the only ways to cope, but here are some suggestions if you are feeling down to get those final grades off your mind: Get off campus and head to your favourite coffee shop, restaurant, clothing store, etc. Campus is a bubble and it is important to get out of there every once in a while. Write down three things you did well this semester, whether it was academically, socially or achieving a personal goal — repeat them to yourself out loud for however long you need. Do something that you don’t normally get to do during the semester. Bake, read for pleasure, go on a walk, exercise, write, paint, or whatever else you may want to do; you are in a position where you can do the little things for yourself right now. Disconnect: take a break from social media, from your laptop, video games and just be in the moment. The holidays are a time to be with family and friends that you don’t get to see all the time so spend some quality face time (not the virtual FaceTime) and make some memories. You are not the first or the last person to be upset with a final mark. You are not a letter grade or a percentage. You are not alone. The Ubyssey’s editorial board members are not mental health professionals. If you need additional support, please take a look at the list below that was suggested by /u/tobaccojuice and compiled by /u/Kinost. In case of an emergency, call 911.
RESOURCES: Access & Diversity: for if you have a documented disability/ illness/mental health challenges (or are planning to acquire documentation/diagnosis for such), an unforeseen event that could adversely affect your academic performance (a family member becoming seriously ill) or conflicting responsibilities (military duty, conferences, religious holidays, etc.). They will work with you to provide accommodations tailored towards your situation, including providing class notes, special examination accommodations and academic concessions. Book your appointments early as it can take a while before they can see you.
JANUARY 3, 2018 WEDNESDAY
EDITOR EMMA HICKS
Enrolment Services: the people that point you in the right direction when you don’t know what to do or where to go Faculty Advising: for questions about programs, majors and graduation requirements, as well as course enrolment. AMS Advocacy: for someone to assist and support you in regards to academic misconduct accusations, academic standing appeals, etc. They will offer you guidance for your situation and support you in any situation where you’re at conflict with the university. Office of the Ombudsperson for Students: which is responsible for pointing you in the right direction for things that Enrolment Services can’t easily direct to you or isn’t allowed to direct you for, and to inform you on university policies/mediate any academic standing conflicts. Your instructors: for questions pertaining to the course, grade and viewing your examinations
FEELING DISTRESSED? AMS SpeakEasy: need to vent? Speakeasy provides free, confidential, one-on-one peer support for UBC students and staff facing a wide variety of challenges. EmpowerMe: free counselling for those with the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan (which you pay for already unless you’ve opted out explicitly). Does not count towards your $300 annual limit for psychologist services. Sessions can be conducted over the phone, online or in-person at a local clinic. KidsHelpPhone.ca: offers immediate on-the-phone counselling for those from age 5-20. The name is a misnomer because it’s for both young adults and kids. BC Crisis Centre: if you’re having thoughts of suicide, the BC Crisis Centre can be reached at 1-800-784-2433. Interpreters are offered in over 140 languages if needed. EmpowerMe Crisis Line: if you’re in crisis, including thoughts of suicide, all students are able to access EmpowerMe’s services regardless of whether they have the AMS/GSS plan at 1-844-741-6389. Vancouver Access & Assessment Centre at the Vancouver General Hospital is a walk-in program that will direct you to the relevant community resources for mental health and properly assess your situation. Non-emergency situations only. Can be reached at (604) 675-3700 or at Vancouver General Hospital. Are you or do you know someone threatening to hurt themselves? See this guide and call 911 immediately if you have immediate concerns for you safety or their safety. Student Health Services offers 30-minute appointments with psychiatrists that are billed under MSP. UBC Counselling: free counselling for UBC students. UBC Kaleidoscope: an informal support group at UBC that will resume in early January 2018. U
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STIGMA //
Letter: Let’s end the stigma around students’ mental health problems Samreen Gilani and Haris Gilani Contributors
In 2016, the entire UBC community was shocked by the news of a knife-wielding undergraduate student assaulting his fellow student on campus. A year later, the court found that the assailant was suffering from mental illness with a psychotic episode. In our opinion, it was surprising that no one had a clue about his mental health condition before the attack. This incident calls for better mental-health interventions among university students. But we are still a long way from adequately addressing the issue of mental health due to stigma that prevents students from asking for the help they desperately need. Recently, many high-profile personalities have shared their experience in battling with mental health issues in an attempt to break the barriers associated with mental health problems. Santa Ono, UBC’s current president, has spoken and written extensively about his struggle with mental health issues during his youth and early academic career. Beyond the academic world, Prince Harry and Prince William attempted to break mental health taboos by publicly expressing their struggles with depression after the death of their mother, Princess Diana. Mental illness is a disease — a disease of brain, similar to other physical diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. So why is there still so much stigma against mental health that prevents students from seeking help? The answer lies in the stereotyped views formed by society about mental illness and how they affect people. Many people perceive mentally ill individuals to be violent and dangerous, when in fact these people are greater risk of being
attacked by others or harming themselves, rather than harming other people. Research has shown that the stigma associated with mental illness is a key factor that impedes mental health service use. University life comes with a lot of excitement but is also accompanied by many stressors, including academic workload and irregular sleep patterns. Several other factors can also act as barriers in the use of mental health services among students. These factors include a lack of a perceived need for help, being unaware of the help services and implications for subsequent successful career progression, as mental illness may be viewed as a form of weakness. Higher education in North America, specifically UBC, caters to a large number of international students. International students are particularly prone to mental illness due to being away from their families, experiencing new cultural settings and undergoing financial stress. Minority groups, who already face discrimination because of their group affiliation, experience double stigma when faced with the burdens of mental illness. In Canada, “suicide ranks second as a leading cause of death among young adults aged 15 to 34.” Over the past year, four suicide deaths occurred at the University of Guelph — all were attributed to mental health problems. Mental health problems among university students represent an important and growing public health concern. Mental health problems early in life can impact the academic performance and create many other health issues — physical and mental. Social lives of students suffering from mental illness are drastically impacted, which can lead to alcohol or substance abuse, dropping out of school or delinquent and antisocial behaviour. In Western countries, the central objective of national mental health policies is to
Mental health problems among university students represent an important and growing public health concern.
reduce stigma. Programs and services that help decrease stigma will reduce the attitudes and behaviours that might be barriers to care seeking. In Canada, government and advocacy groups have strongly endorsed resolving the stigma of mental illness as a way to improve service use. One proposed strategy to reduce stigma is through interpersonal contact with students with a mental illness. Programs that avoid unnecessary labelling, respect confidentiality and are community-based may diminish aspects of stigma experienced by students with mental illness. In addition, a better understanding of the problem of stigma is needed to inform the development of anti-stigma campaigns. Enhanced mental health education and services in universities could help stigma reduction efforts by actively involving students’ families. Many universities, including UBC, offer a range of services that could help students suffering from mental illness. Education and conversation can change the way we talk and think about issues of mental health. This change will take place in our homes, classrooms, offices and dorms. We strongly feel that together we can make a difference by increasing awareness about this issue so we don’t hear about another student completing suicide on any university campus or having a psychotic break and attacking one of their peers because the mental health resources are lacking. U If you need additional support, please contact Student Health Services, Sexual Assault Support Centre and/or the Wellness Centre. Samreen Gilani is an MD and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Health Science at UBC. Haris Gilani, PhD (UBC) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Forest Resources Management at UBC.
FILE JOSH CURRAN
FROM THE BLOG
JANUARY 3, 2018 WEDNESDAY
EDITOR EMMA HICKS
HUMOUR //
CULTURE //
Tristan Wheeler Senior Staff Writer
An inside look at the UBC exchange student club
99 things to do at UBC: The engineers drank (and sang) me under the table #91 – Go carolling with the engineers and get drunk before 9 a.m. Christmas Carolling with the engineers was booze-soaked and loud. The day started with me getting up at 6 a.m., which hits the nail right on the head of times I don’t want to get up at ever. Apparently, people do this as “part of a routine” — I was shocked to see that even when the sun had not come out, people were awake and doing things in a way that suggested they were used to it. I felt bad for them. But what I was doing was much less normal. I went to bed early and got up at the crack of dawn so I could join a parade of drunk engineering students singing Christmas standards. If you had asked me when I was 13 what I thought university was like, this is basically what I would have said. I got to the event at around 8 a.m. and the parade was already in full swing. At least a hundred of the infamous red jackets came pouring down Main Mall, bellowing “Let it Snow.” As soon as the crowd got near, the smell of rum and eggnog hit me. I checked the time again: 8:04 a.m. Christ. I soon found some friends to help me understand the traditions
Sanjana Subramanian Contributor
This may be the only time of the year being an engineer looks fun.
of the event, but the first thing they told me was that I needed some “cheer” in the form of “spirits” — whether that meant holiday spirit or liquid spirit, I may never know. They flagged down one of the many “cheer fairies” and got me to kneel on one knee and drink something from the top of a staff. I won’t disclose what it was, but I will say it was spicy, cinnamon-y and reminded me of high school. Engineers sure do love their chants — the most important of them being about drinking 40 beers and a 26 of rum. It doesn’t take long to learn the chants because they’re repeated every three freaking minutes — they got drilled into
FILE GEOFF LISTER
my brain quickly and I’ve been singing them under my breath ever since. After some sips from a few opaque vessels full of some strong liquids, I looked at the time again: 9:36 a.m. This is the earliest I’ve ever felt this “cheerful” in my life and I was taking it easy compared to others. This also might be a good time to mention I’m about as far from an engineer as you can get, because I’m an English Literature major. I read old novels, write dumb articles like this and my parents are worried about my future — I need to be reminded of the difference between mechanical and civil engineering on the daily. We continued to march through
the residences, engineering buildings and whatever door that seemed to be open. The songs got sloppier, but more intense as we went. There was about one song everyone knew all the words too, which was “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” The rest were mumbled until they got to the big hooks, which were hit with zealous confidence. It was around 11 a.m. when I decided my time with the engineers had reached its logical conclusion. I said goodbye to my newfound friends and went on to begin my day with a buzzing head and a sore throat. I spent the rest of the day chugging coffee trying to counteract my dumb decisions. This may be the only time of the year being an engineer looks fun. U
CLUBS //
Club Profiles: The most outdoorsy clubs on campus They’ve been to places like Cypress Falls, Brandywine Falls and the Botanical Gardens at UBC. All levels of experience are welcome as they first start practicing on lower, easier slacklines.
Negin Nia Staff Writer
Do you love nature? Do you live for that morning hike? Have you ever wanted to be just like Bear Grylls from Man vs Wild? If you answered yes to any of the above, we have got you covered. UBC has a variety of clubs that focus on the outdoors with all different kinds of activities ranging from hiking to balancing on a slackline up in the air. So, take a break from studying and join one of these clubs that allow you to explore BC.
SCUBA DIVING CLUB
Enjoy the great outdoors by exploring the underwater world. The UBC Aqua Society teaches all levels of scuba diving and plans trips to dive in places across BC and the tropics. When purchasing a membership, you get access to the monthly meetings, newsletters, events and discount on rentals. You can take introductory level courses or just go on fun dives and trips.
AMS VARSITY OUTDOOR CLUB UBC’s Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is a student run club for lovers of the wilderness. Membership gets you access to all their trips, which run almost every weekend. The trips include hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, back-country skiing, paddling, bike-touring and more activities that get you off campus and outside of UBC’s bubble. Although certain trips might be challenging, the club offers opportunities for students of all varying levels, so don’t fret over not having enough experience.
SISU GIRLS OF UBC Through participation of outdoor activities, members of the Sisu Girls
9
UBC SAILING CLUB
All levels of experience are welcome as they first start practicing on lower, easier slacklines.
empower one another through their values of “courage, bravery and resilience.” They do activities like hiking, yoga, rock-climbing and even skateboarding, surfing and hockey. The Sisu Girls aim to get out of their comfort zone and find strength within themselves.
FILE STEPHANIE XU
SLACKLINE UBC UBC’s Slackline club gets students practicing their balance by walking on slacklines which are similar to tightropes set up at the Nest. They later test their capabilities when they go on highline missions in the outdoors.
Membership at the UBC Sailing Club gets you full access to water sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and sailing. The club runs all throughout the year, offering affordable lessons and rentals for all UBC students in the club and are one of the largest clubs at Jericho Sailing Centre. Joining one of these clubs is a great way to de-stress from school, a cool way to meet people with the same interests as you and a way to experience the outdoors during your time at UBC. U
University can be challenging if you don’t have the right people to share the experience with. Factor in the stress of exams and assignment deadlines and you will definitely feel the need to unwind and meet new people with different perspectives than your own. If you’re unsure of how you can get to know new people, the UBC Exchange Student Club (ESC) is here to help you form new connections with people from all over the world. UBC is known to attract a large population of international students, but sometimes we forget that our community is made up of several exchange students as well. Founded in 2012, the club currently has 550 members made up of domestic, international and exchange students studying at UBC. With the aim of showcasing Canada’s best while allowing exchange students to bring their culture to us, the ESC welcomes all students willing to share, socialize and learn. So far, this term, the ESC has organized several major events. Starting with Introduction Week at the very beginning of semester, they’re also responsible for many team-bonding activities, such as bi-weekly pub nights at Koerner’s, trivia, improv and karaoke nights, and barbecues and bonfires at Wreck Beach. The ESC also organizes many trips, the most notable ones being to Sunshine Coast and to Whistler for the ski season’s opening weekend. If you’ve missed out on these great events, these activities will continue next semester, with more exciting trips potentially heading to Silver Star, Portland and other iconic locations dotted along the West coast. But apart from these social initiatives to share and learn from people of different cultures, there’s so much more for you as a member, even if you’re not an exchange student. “The ESC gives you the value of exchange without you actually going on exchange!” said Grayson Allen, a current executive and former president of UBC ESC. But more than this, it gives you the opportunity to create a network of contacts spanning several continents. For a membership fee of $10, you can experience not just the vastness of the world in your own backyard, but also walk away at the end of your university experience with a familiar face in any city across the globe. Become a member anytime or even join the executive committee as an events and trips planner, or social media and communications director. You can even apply for the niche positions of photographers, DJs and more! Visit their Facebook page and contact them for more information on how you can get involved. U
SCIENCE
JANUARY 3, 2018 WEDNESDAY
EDITOR NIVRETTA THATRA
10
ROBOTS //
After a year lost at sea, Ada the SailBot is coming home Koby Michaels Contributor
When her phone woke her early one morning, Vivian Cheung didn’t think much of it — and she definitely wasn’t going to wake up to answer. But then, a thought snuck into her mind: what if Ada had been found? “Being Ada’s mom, you assume she is still out there. You have hope,” said Cheung. A few hours later, an email confirmed Cheung’s wildest dreams — Ada had been found. Ada was coming home. On August 24, 2016, Ada, an autonomously sailing robot designed and built by a team of UBC students, set out to be the first boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean completely autonomously. After the launch, the team watched with hope as Ada’s GPS signal sailed closer and closer to Europe. In London, Cheung and fellow UBC SailBot team member Cody Smith prepared for Ada’s arrival. But then, four days after leaving Newfoundland, Ada wandered off course in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The team kept hoping she’d turn east and continue on her way to Europe, but she never did. The team watched helplessly as Ada drifted further and further off course until November 14, when Ada’s GPS stopped sending GPS heartbeats back to the team. The record-setting voyage was over and Ada was lost at sea. The team returned to
Ada was found off the coast of Florida by an American research vessel.
Vancouver to work on Ada 2.0, a boat they hope to race from Victoria to Maui, Hawaii. Cheung, who has since graduated, never lost hope in finding Ada again. But as the months rolled by, Smith left the SailBot to join a different design team and work on his mechanical engineering degree. “I hoped for it [finding Ada]. I didn’t think it would ever happen,” said Smith. When they found out that Ada had been found off the coast of Florida by the Neil Armstrong,
an American research vessel, Cheung and Smith were shocked and excited. “I was in disbelief. She’s been on her own for one and a half years,” said Cheung. The Neil Armstrong noticed an unidentifiable object in the early morning on December 1, 2017 and changed course to investigate. Seeing Ada’s name and research vessel label, Dr. Jennifer Miksis-Olds, a research scientist on board, googled Ada. When she read Ada’s story, the
COURTESY UBC SAILBOT
team scrambled to get in touch with UBC and rescue Ada. Miksis-Olds chronicalled the rescue in a blog post and the Armstrong’s captain sent an email to SailBot describing Ada’s recovery. Cheung jumped into action to organize Ada’s return to campus. Backed by financial support from the university, Smith and another former SailBot team member, Dave Tiessen, flew out to Massachusetts to meet the Armstrong on its return home to
the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Cape Cod. “She’s been battered, she’s been through a lot, but she’s still alive,” said Smith, describing seeing Ada for the first time in over a year. According to Smith, Ada is missing her mast and suffered some bumps and scrapes but is otherwise intact. It appears no water breached her hull so the electronics that serve as Ada’s eyes, ears, navigation system and brain should be in tact. In-between sending near constant updates and photos to team members at UBC, Smith and Tiessen constructed a cradle to carry Ada back to Vancouver. In the new year, a truck will drive the 5,226 kilometres from Woods Hole to Point Grey, finally returning Ada home. The SailBot team hopes to collect data from Ada to determine what went wrong. When Ada originally floated off course, the team guessed something was wrong with the rudder. Smith said it was too early to say for sure, but once Ada is back at UBC, he’s hopeful they will be able to determine the exact cause of Ada’s failure. Cheung and Smith both hope Ada will eventually be displayed somewhere — possibly on campus, at Science World or at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. SailBot’s hope is for Ada to serve as inspiration for others to dream big and build those dreams into reality. U
FLYING METAL TUBES //
Build planes and fly high with UBC AeroDesign
UBC AeroDesign members aim to win the annual Society of Automotive Engineers student design competition.
Patrick Hatch Staff writer
As opposed to previous team captains of UBC AeroDesign, Nicholas Hui thinks planes are only “okay,” and I have to agree. Whenever I’m on a plane, legs nagging with pain, questioning
why I chose a window seat again when for most of the flight there is nothing to see but the wing backdropped by an abyss, I think ‘if only I could be on a train.’ Then I remember that I’m traveling the 4,000 kilometre distance between Vancouver and Toronto to see my family — and
COURTESY UBC AERODESIGN
cats — in less than four hours. These flying metal tubes can be pretty close to miraculous. But some people don’t like leaving the miracle of flight as just a miracle. For UBC students, engineering or not, that’s where the AeroDesign team comes in. The team acts as its own classroom for
students to learn how to beat birds at their own game through technical knowhow of plane design aspects such as stability and centre of gravity. No previous engineering knowledge is required to be a part of the team. Those with considerable experience are in charge of design, but there are heaps of nitty-gritty hands-on and administrative jobs for first-year engineering or nonengineering students. “We just want someone who has the time,” said Hui, “and also someone who can think outside the box, who can get things done.” There may not be any exams or grades in this classroom but there is one overarching goal: to win the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) student design competition held every April in either California or Florida. Countries from across the globe take part in SAE — from India to Egypt to Poland — with about 40 teams in total. Last year, UBC AeroDesign came out third overall in their respective class. What is this respective class? There are three classes of planes flown at SAE. UBC’s team currently focuses on regular class planes which are designed to carry the heaviest payload possible, but they are starting to look into building advanced class planes. These planes are designed to both carry and drop a payload to simulate dropping medical care or food or, as Hui
anxiously jokes, weaponry. The last class is called micro and these types of planes are built to be environmentally friendly. More precisely, they are judged based on their payload weight to plane weight ratio. Participating in this group is currently a more long-term goal for UBC AeroDesign. Despite his nonplussed attitude toward planes themselves, Hui is very dedicated to the AeroDesign team as he sees “a lot of potential” in terms of both its growth and his own personal development as a project manager. AeroDesign is one of the few engineering clubs that is not at max capacity, thus there is opportunity for growth in terms of numbers. Perhaps more importantly though, AeroDesign has room for improvement in terms of communication. The SAE judging criteria is divided into three sections: oral presentation, written report and actual performance of the plane. These three aspects simulate the full process of an aerospace project in industry but obviously on a smaller scale than something Boeing or Airbus might do. Last year the team placed third in performance, first report-wise, but only ninth for their talk. Hui admits that “engineers are … pretty bad at presenting their work” and therefore someone from outside the faculty might come in handy to bring UBC AeroDesign from third to first overall in the upcoming competition. U
SPORTS+REC
JANUARY 3, 2018 WEDNESDAY
EDITOR LUCY FOX
11
CHAMPIONS //
UBC table tennis is conquering Cascadia outside of the spotlight Elizabeth Wang Contributor
On a campus as big as UBC, it is easy for teams to fly under the radar — particularly those outside of the Thunderbird varsity sphere. One such team is now in the history books for their sport here in the Cascadia region, an achievement they earned quietly across the border in the fall: UBC table tennis. Over the November 11 weekend, the AMS club team took home their first championship of the year in a Northwest divisional game at the University of Washington campus. With the win, the co-ed team and the women’s team headed back to Vancouver as the top team divisionally, which guaranteed them a spot in regionals. They currently have a 4-0-0 record, topping the Northwest division table ahead of four other teams including Washington and Oregon. To many, this non-varsity team may sound unfamiliar. In fact, the team has a longstanding history on campus, though it only started showing its strength in international games last season. “UBC always had a team, but we didn’t play that well,” said club President Mary Shen. However, as excellent players such as Michelle Yeung — a
team Canada player at the time — joined UBC’s roster and the AMS started providing funding for the competitive sports team, the team reached a new standard of competition it didn’t think possible. “In 2016, our women’s team placed fourth in the North America College Championship, and our co-ed team ended up 16th in the league,” Shen said. “It was our first time going to the nationals.” As for this season, Shen is hopeful for some impressive results with their current roster. “Besides Michelle Yeung, we also have a lot of team BC members play in the team… We’re aiming for the national championship this year,” she said. The team also benefitted from a large-scale club shift last season: the combination of their competitive team and their general club. This upped their player selection substantially, while also spreading table tennis further across the UBC community. One major difference from the other sports on campus is that UBC table tennis does not have a men’s team. “That’s because the league we take part [in] doesn’t have a men session. I think it’s a way they … encourage female athletes to participate in the team,” Shen explained.
COURTESY UBC TABLE TENNIS
UBC’s table tennis team.
“Right now, we have four girls in our women’s team and eight members of our co-ed teams. They’re all selected for the annual tryout at the beginning of the school year. These people represent maybe the highest table tennis skill level in Vancouver, as we are the only team in Canada West.”
While table tennis is a wellknown sport in Asia, first-year Norwegian player Hans Peter also sees it growing in popularity around the world and on campus. “It’s fairly well-known in the world that table tennis is very popular in Eastern Asia, and it’s a part of Eastern Asia’s culture as well. The majority [of ] members of our team either come from or have a background from Eastern Asia,” Peter said. “However, if you go to our public session on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, you can see that there [is] a lot more [diversity] between the players there. Because anyone in any skill level is welcome
here, and we want to build a friendly atmosphere for everyone who wants to learn about this fascinating sports.” Even after their successful weekend in Washington in November, the club president and the players said that there’s still a lot of work need to be done. “We’re trying to promote table tennis in general,” Shen said. “We’re hoping to host a tournament here in Vancouver. Right now we still have to face [some] obstacles. Many teams are based in the US and they may not want to come, but if we have enough amount of resources, I believe we can make this dream come true.” U
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