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THE UBYSSEY

January 23, 2009 | www.ubyssey.ca Absinthe and Chinese food since 1918 | volume xc, number 32 UBC’s official student newspaper is published Tuesdays and Fridays

Defending the bank

How students can deal with financial pressures in the midst of a global recession

by Kevin Schulz The Manitoban (University of Manitoba) WINNIPEG (CUP)—The benefits of the university experience often come at a steep financial price. Scrimping, borrowing and penny-pinching have long been the staples of an average postsecondary student’s life. But not since our grandparents and greatgrandparents struggled through the Great Depression has the young generation inherited such a gloomy economic landscape. While the recent market slump will not directly affect most students, Janice Compton, a University of Manitoba professor of economics, warns that if these negative trends continue, Canada’s economy could enter into a nasty downward spiral where many financial institutions and private businesses will completely clam up and further restrict their already tight lending and spending policies. “It’s going to be harder and harder for students to get credit… so when you want to get a car or something else that’s big, it’s going to be really tight to get the [money] you need,” Compton said.

All of this troubling economic information culminates into what fellow U of M economics professor Robert Lobdell calls a “situation that is unprecedented in many of our lifetimes.” “It’s something that everyone should be concerned about,” Lobdell said. Despite these claims, Lobdell notes that the economy has endured some very rough patches in the past and somehow it has always come back stronger. Lobdell also believes that students should not panic, but rather seek guidance and take it one step at a time. “The first thing every student should do is go get some solid advice. Don’t do anything in haste; just take a step back and a deep breath,” Lobdell said. In attempting to find this solid financial advice, it is important that young people consult a number of sources. Unfortunately, many students are either unaware of where they need to look, or they do not have the time necessary to seek out the advice that they need. From speaking with a number of experts in the economics and business professions, the follow-

ing presents some of the key recession-proof tips and hints that students should keep in mind. STEP 1: STAY IN SCHOOL, KIDS According to Compton, choosing to make a greater investment in skills and education (or what is known as human capital) is among the smartest decisions a student can make when encountering a poor economic climate. Compton believes that in an ultra-competitive environment where the supply of jobs in the marketplace is low but the demand for work opportunities is high, any extra degree, accreditation, or relevant work experience on your resumé will be extremely helpful for being hired for the job you want. “There have been studies done that show that for students coming out of school and looking for their first job in a time of recession, they actually come out at the very bottom, and unfortunately, you might not ever catch up. So, I think that the priority should be on your education. Students should invest in their human capital because the big issue for students right

now is when they go to graduate, everything has tightened up and there will be a lot of competition for jobs. “The best thing students can do right now is to just stay in school. If you are thinking about grad school, it’s a really good time to go to grad school. If you feel like you need to graduate and get a job, consider coming back to do a night course, because it’s a really good time to improve [your resume],” Compton said. Murray Baker, the acclaimed best-selling author of The DebtFree Graduate, agrees with Compton over the importance of enhancing your human capital. “When the going gets tough, the tough go to grad school,” he jokes. However, Baker also stresses that the competitive job market won’t just affect recent graduates, but also those university students looking for relevant part-time work or full-time summer jobs. “There will be fewer jobs out there this year, especially the really good ones that everyone wants. My recommendation is to start looking for summer jobs early. The tendency is to wait until the spring, but in these tough economic times I think it’s best

to start looking for jobs even over the Christmas holidays.” Baker has advice on how eager job-hunting students can begin their search for summer jobs over the winter break. “When you are at home together with your family, start talking about your goals and begin asking your aunt or uncle if there will be any summer job openings at their work that you could apply for. The Christmas break is a great time to go through the networking process, and once you discover any job openings, start applying for them right away,” Baker said. The ongoing global financial meltdown also presents students with certain realities. In a world where post-secondary education is often very costly, and where there is now a limited opportunity to find well-paying part-time work to fund it, sometimes student debt is inevitable. A key to successfully surviving a global economic crisis is not necessarily to avoid student debt altogether, but rather to get the best deals on loans so you can limit what you owe. SEE “STEP 2” ON PAGE 4

The news in 140 “Can anyone name one characters or less: Israeli prime minister TWITTER.COM/

who wasn’t a terrorist?” Page 33 Page

UBYSSEY

Index Events News Features Culture Editorial Streeters Games Comics Sports

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2 | events & information

the ubyssey | www.ubyssey.ca

Events January 23 Global Health Discussion • The Global Health Journal Club invites undergraduates, graduates, and staff to talk about global health research initiatives from an interdisciplinary perspective. • Jan 23 @ 12:15-1:15pm, Location: Library Processing Building Rm 433, Free Admission • Achieve Academic Success

january 23, 2009

If you have an event, e-mail us at [email protected] through Meditation • The Nithyananda Meditation Academy will help you increase your concentration, visualization, memory power, and maximize you brain power. You will subsequently come to feel bliss. • Jan. 23 @ 3-6pm, Location: SUB room 214 & 216, Free admission • Tang-Yuan Making • A Chinese New Year Event allowing you to showcase your culinary skills to others. • Jan. 23 @ 6-8pm, Location: LSK 460, Cost: $2 members, $4 non-members • Women’s Volleyball • The Women’s Volleyball team takes on the Manitoba Bisons. • Jan. 23 @ 6-8pm, Location: War Memorial Gym, Tickets: $10 adult, $4 youth/ seniors, and $2 students • Comedy and Drinks • UBC’s SOS club presents an evening of live comedy. There will be hors d’oeuvres and mocktails. • Jan. 23 @ 6:30-9:30, Location: email [email protected], Cost: $10 • Men’s Volleyball • The Men’s Volleyball team takes on the Manitoba Bisons • Jan. 23 @ 8-10pm, Location: War Memorial Gym, Tickets: $10 adult. $4 youth/ seniors, $2 student • UBC Symphony Orchestra • Works include Richard Strauss,

Burlesque & Dvorak • Jan. 23 @ 8-10 pm, Location: The Chan Centre, Free admission at the Chan Centre box office •

January 24 Exploring Christianity • An informal discussion group for those seeking to explore the Bible. You will not be required to read aloud, pray or sing. • Jan. 24 @ 9-11am, Location: SUB 113, Free admission • Do You Dream Benefit Concert • A concert for malnourished North Korean children. All proceeds will go towards First Steps. Korean cultural performances. • Jan. 24 @ 7pm, Location: SUB ballroom, Cost: $5 for students, $10 general admission •

January 26 Photoshop Level 4 • Learn how to use Advanced Photoshop 6.0. How to use filters, masks, and layers will be taught. • Jan. 26 @ 121pm, Location: http://isit.arts.ubc. ca/workshops, Free Admission • Food Security • Susan Murch, UBC professor of chemistry, will present on “Indigenous Knowledge for Food Security.” • Jan. 26 @ 12-1pm, Location: Botanical Garden Reception Center, Free admission • SUS-organized Jeopardy • Fourperson teams will participate in the first ever Science Week Jeopardy Tournament. The top four teams will advance for the Friday showdown. Questions will be drawn from all Science departments. The winning team will receive 4 $400 Princeton Review gift certificates. • Jan. 26 @ 2-4pm, Location: Ladha Centre, Free admission • Women’s Mental Health & Addictions • The presentation will focus on issues influencing the mental health of women specifically in BC and self-enforced methods to reduce the effects of epression and bipolar disorder. • Jan. 26 @ 6-8, Location: UBC Robson Square Theater, Free admission •

January 27 China’s path in the Global Financial Crisis • Zhanwu Li earned a PhD in Economics in the UK and later worked for the Chinese central government. He will present on the current economic implications for China, how the Chinese government has sought to ensure stability, and on Canada-China economic relations • Jan. 27 @ 12:30-2pm, Location: Choi Building Rm 120, Free Admission Prof Talk • Professor Benajmin Perrin talks on CiTR 101.9FM regarding Canada’s role in human trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes. Farha Khan will be the host. • Jan. 27 @ 4-4:30PM, Location: CiTR 101.9FM • UBC Improv • Team David and team Goliath crank out the jokes. • Jan. 27 @ 7-9pm, Location: Scarfe 100, Cost: $2 or free with a membership •

January 28 Learn about the Integrated Science Program • The integrated science program will host a free breakfast to allow you to see if ISCI is a fit for you. • Jan. 28 @ 7:45-9:45am, Location: Leonard S Klinck Rm 464, Free admission •

In-Class Essay Writing Tips • Learn how to write an in-class essay effiticently in 50 minutes. The workshop will focus on how to prepare, write, and learn from your in-class essays. • Jan. 28 @ 12-1pm, Location: Dodson Room, Chapman Learning Commons, Free admission • Eat Right • Students’ hectic lives make eating right difficult. Learn how to eat effectively while juggling a lot. The presentation will also discuss how to maintain your energy levels and increase concentration. • Jan. 28 12-1:30pm, Location: Lillooet Room, Chapman Learning Commons, Free admission • Photoshop Level 5 • Learn special effects such as motion blurring of a still image, serigraph effects and how to superimpose environmental effects like rain. • Jan. 28 @ 12-1pm, Location: Koerner Library Rm 216, Free admission • Opportunities for Aboriginals in your Community with a B.A. • For Aborginal undergraduates or graduates seeking to work in your community. The presenters will promote job opportunities, summer internships, and the longterm career prospects of students seeking to be involved in their community. • Jan. 28 @ 12-1pm, Location: Irving K. Barber Center, Rm 156, Free admission • Jello Wrestling • All science students invited to compete in the annual jello wrestling competition to prove your superiority. • Jan. 28 @ 12-1pm, Location: SUB Ballroom, Cost: by donation • Environmentally Beneficial Research • The Chemical and Biological Engineering Sustainability Club will showcase environmentally beneficial research that is being built at the Department of Chemical and Biological Enginerring anf the Clean Energy Reseach Center. • Jan. 28 @ 1-4:30pm, Location: Main Atrium of the Chemical and Biological Engineering Building, Free admission • Learn how to Succeed in an Interview • Garner effective skills, strategies, and other skills to sway potential employers in your favour. • Jan. 28 @ 1:30-3:30pm, Location: Brock Hall 101 •

January 29 Learn about Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias • The instructor will explain the changes the brain undergoes when Alzheimer’s is contracted, how the zdisease progresses, and its impact on communication and behaviour abilites. Information will be presented on family and friends can handle the workload, grief and stress associated with a loved one contracting Alzheimers • Jan. 29 @ 12-1pm, Location: TBA (http://02.cms.ubc. ca/Page5655.aspx#alzheimers), Free admission • Service and Leadership • Workshops on how to develop leadership skills and explore opportunities to serve your local community. • Jan. 29 @ 12-2pm, Location: First Nation’s Longhouse, Free admission • Learn to Peer Review • Peer Review is central to the ongoing professional development for teacehrs at UBC. This seesion will bolster one’s resume and likely increase merit pay. • Jan 29 @ 124:30pm, Location: Irving K Barber Learning Center, TAG Fraser River Room 2.27, Free admission •

Correction In the January 20th edition of The Ubyssey, we published an editorial, “More seats for students is the only answer,” which said that the only student seat on the newly formed Police Advisory Committee was reserved for the AMS VP Academic. While the seat is currently held by that executive, the student seat is open to any member of AMS Council. The Ubyssey regrets the error.

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THE UBYSSEY January 23rd, 2009 volume xc, no 32

Editorial Board coordinating editor Kellan Higgins : [email protected]

news editors

Stephanie Findlay & Justin McElroy : [email protected]

culture editor

Trevor Melanson : [email protected]

sports editor

Shun Endo : [email protected]

features & perspectives editor Joe Rayment : [email protected]

photo editor

Goh Iromoto : [email protected]

production manager

Paul Bucci : [email protected]

copy editor

Celestian Rince : [email protected]

volunteer coordinator

Ricardo Bortolon : [email protected]

webmaster

Adam Leggett : [email protected]

multimedia editor

Tara Martellaro : [email protected]

Editorial Office Room 24, Student Union Building 6138 Student Union Boulevard Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 tel: 604-822-2301 fax: 604-822-9279 web: www.ubyssey.ca e-mail: [email protected]

Business Office Room 23, Student Union Building advertising: 604-822-1654 business office: 604-822-6681 fax: 604-822-1658 e-mail: [email protected] business manager : Fernie Pereira ad traffic : Sabrina Marchand ad design : Gerald Deo

Legal The Ubyssey is the official student newspaper of the University of British Columbia. It is published every Tuesday and Friday by The Ubyssey Publications Society. We are an autonomous, democratically run student organization, and all students are encouraged to participate. Editorials are chosen and written by the Ubyssey staff. They are the expressed opinion of the staff, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ubyssey Publications Society or the University of British Columbia. All editorial content appearing in The Ubyssey is the property of The Ubyssey Publications Society. Stories, opinions, photographs and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the expressed, written permission of The Ubyssey Publications Society. The Ubyssey is a founding member of Canadian University Press (CUP) and adheres to CUP’s guiding principles. Letters to the editor must be under 300 words. Please include your phone number, student number and signature (not for publication) as well as your year and faculty with all submissions. ID will be checked when submissions are dropped off at the editorial office of The Ubyssey; otherwise verification will be done by phone. “Perspectives” are opinion pieces over 300 words but under 750 words and are run according to space. “Freestyles” are opinion pieces written by Ubyssey staff members. Priority will be given to letters and perspectives over freestyles unless the latter is time sensitive. Opinion pieces will not be run until the identity of the writer has been verified. The Ubyssey reserves the right to edit submissions for length and clarity. All letters must be received by 12 noon the day before intended publication. Letters received after this point will be published in the following issue unless there is an urgent time restriction or other matter deemed relevant by the Ubyssey staff. It is agreed by all persons placing display or classified advertising that if the Ubyssey Publications Society fails to publish an advertisement or if an error in the ad occurs the liability of the UPS will not be greater than the price paid for the ad. The UPS shall not be responsible for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value or the impact of the ad.

Contributors Once upon a time Joe Rayment was dating Tara Martellero who never stopped talking. When Joe was on the phone one day, Shun Endo remarked that he had thought he was on hold. Justin McElroy agreed, he had never seen someone speak so little on the phone. Paul Bucci cut in and argued this statement, then Stephanie Findlay came out from the woodwork with a dagger. She quickly let it go though, her moral resolve was being saved for getting her hair cut. Vivian Tulewski suggested that she might want to drink before the haircut, Kellan Higgins agreed. Celestian Rince scoffed at him, “man,” he said, “when you cut your hair you rarely take off even a centimetre!” Katarina Grgis and Gerald Deo chuckled. Kristen Ford laughed right out loud and then punched Olivia Fellows in the face. Kate Barbaria walked in with Sam Jung and Zoe Seigal and flopped down on the couch. All they wanted was some wine. Ricardo Bortolon laughed at Ian Turner who was running around with his head cut off.

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News

Editors: Stephanie Findlay and Justin McElroy | E-mail: [email protected]

January 23, 2009 | Page 3

Overcapacity crowd at Finkelstein lecture

AMS Election debate recaps

Controversial scholar packs Woodward for Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights event

Norman Finkelstein lectures at UBC. zoe siegel photo/the ubyssey Candidates Frederick, Duncan, Markle and Ahmadian at The Gallery this Wednesday. gerald deo photo/the ubyssey

Board of VP Governors External by Samantha Jung News Staff

by Kyrstin Bain News Staff

VP Finance

Wednesday’s Board of Governors (BoG) debate saw the candidates emphasize their experience to spectators at The Gallery. The debate began without Andrew Carne. The Engineering Undergraduate Society executive was attending a conference and was absent at the critical debate, the candidates’ first chance to introduce themselves to students. The other four candidates are current AMS executives. Blake Frederick, current member of the UBC Senate, talked about the problem students have paying their education, noting that the average debt for a post-secondary student is $27,000. “More and more students can’t come to this university because of the cost.” Frederick pledged to look at getting more needs-based bursaries. Current AMS president Michael Duncan stressed his successes as president this year, citing the SUB renewal project, the UBC Farm, and making the Aquatic Centre free to students at all hours as examples. Tristan Markle, current VP Administration argued he has a track record of “changing the campus.” “I have probably the best understanding of the key issues that the BoG deals with,” Markle said. Incumbent BoG representative Bijan Ahmadian argued one year isn’t enough time to accomplish goals or establish relationships between other members. Ahmadian said he is only halfway through his projects, which include improving relations with the RCMP. The other candidates cited their disapproval towards the underground bus loop, or “bus bunker,” but Ahmadian said that he voted for the bunker because it would have been futile to oppose the motion The next Board of Governors debate is next Tuesday. U

The VP External debate Wednesday afternoon quickly showed all the makings of a gongshow. Candidates Tim Chu and Iggy Rodriguez battled with two joke candidates, Fire and The King’s Head. The four candidates disagreed on most topics. Chu, a member of the NDP club on campus, claimed he could lower tuition fees. Rodriguez, himself a Young Liberal, promised to work toward a reasonable tuition fee cap. Chu mentioned implementing a task force in order to suss out exactly why there was so little minority representation in AMS council. He also proposed starting an AMS publication that will demonstrate to students exactly what the AMS is doing with their money. Rodriguez showed interest in moving the equity program forward and promised to increase transparency of AMS dealings. However, despite a semiserious start, the debate very quickly degraded into partisan lobbying and personal digs directed toward one candidate or the other. When a student who recently joined the VP External office asked the candidates if they could name both her and her job, Rodriguez replied she was “another member of the AMS establishment continuing to disappoint students,” while Chu identified her correctly. Another question involved the candidates proving they had the cojones for the VP External job by taking a tequila shot. Throughout the debate, Rodriguez continued to hold that what the office of VP External needed most was “new blood,” only to be peppered with continual cries of “vote experience!” from the heavily Chu-weighted crowd. By the end of the debate, Fire’s promise to instate a “Trial By Burning Oil” method of choosing our political leaders began to seem like a much more sensible solution. U

The second debate between VP Finance candidates Ale Coates and Tom Dvorak started off on decidedly non-financial issues. Dvorak began by firmly stating his desire to set global standards as a student society. Coates addressed her plans to budget into student initiative. Dvorak gave an overview of his background, including his enrollment in the Sauder School of Business, citing his close ties with the business community as a vice-chairperson of a Student Development Conference. Coates cited her current position as vice-chair for the Student Administrative Commission. Coates said she knows the issues clubs are dealing with when it comes to the AMS, and that she plans on restructuring the finance commission to better address clubs’ needs. She also mentioned making a weeklong clubs event in term two as well as creating an AMS bookstore. Dvorak said that he plans to set a mandate to ensure each faculty society meets with him regularly to discuss individual faculty needs. When an audience member brought up the subject of childcare funding, both candidates acknowledged that there was $180,000 allocated by the AMS towards the issue. Coates said that she plans to set up a committee to deal with the issue, while Dvorak said that he didn’t want to spend the money just for the sake of spending it, but pledged to create a committee to investigate the issue as well. U

by Katarina Grgić News Staff

The office of VP External needs “new blood.”

—Iggy Rodriguez. VP External candidate

by Zoe Siegel News Writer On Wednesday, more than 800 people came to hear the acclaimed, highly controversial Dr Norman Finkelstein speak about the Israeli-Palestinian situation, which he refers to as a “massacre” and “bloodbath.” The son of two Holocaust survivors, Finkelstein is considered an expert on this topic, yet he was banned from Israel for ten years and denied tenure at DePaul University for his beliefs on the decades-old conflict. The student run organizations Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) and Color Connection sponsored the event where attendees piled into the main room and two overflow rooms. SPHR president Fatemah Meghji was really pleased with the turnout. ”This is the biggest event that SPHR has ever had,” she said. Jon Elmer, the controversial photojournalist who spoke at the last SPHR event, introduced Finkelstein and admitted that he is also a highly controversial man. However Elmer argued that, “the word ‘controversial’ is a term used to detract from what [Finkelstein] really is, ‘a scholar’.” Finkelstein began his speech by announcing that he was no longer going to speak about Gandhi’s theories on non-violence and how that applies to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Instead, spurred by recent events in the region, he spoke about what he referred to as “a background on the Gaza massacre.” Finkelstein said he never refers to the situation as a war. “How can it be a war when the ratio of death was 100 to 1?” he asked the crowd. Instead, he decided to refer to it as a massacre, bloodbath, or a slaughter—though he did call it a war a number of times during his speech. Much of his speech was an in-depth history of the IsraeliPalestinian situation dating back to 1948, focusing a great deal on the 1967 war. He referenced many of his friends and colleagues, and included a plethora of quotes and statistics. He stated that, “Israel is a Spartan-like society consumed by blood loss. Killing Arabs is a sure crowd pleaser. Killing Arabs is a way to garner votes.”

Finkelstein believes that one of the main reasons that Israel recently attacked Gaza is to restore its deterrence capacity. He told the audience, “that’s a technical term meaning restoring the Arab world’s fear of Israel.” While approaching the more present situation Finkelstein said that “as far back as March 2007, Israel decided to attack Hamas. Then there was a ceasefire truce in June 2008. Israel broke the ceasefire by killing Hamas soldiers on the flimsy excuse that they were digging a tunnel. This was an excuse that no one in Israel took seriously. Israel could now embark on yet another murderous event.” He went on to say, “The [Israel Defense Force] has no mercy for children in Gaza nursery schools. No one intended to kill children but no one intended not to kill them. The blood of Gaza’s children is on our hand and we will never be able to escape this responsibility.” The effect of the media was brought up often during the speech. He stated that Israeli press “gives prostitutes a bad name, but there is no press more shameful than the Canadian press. I read the editorials in The Globe and Mail and my innards churn.” He also said, “The Nazis were the best thing that happened to Germany. That defeat broke the back of German racism and German Militarianism.” He concluded his main speech by saying, “That’s the facts. If we just learn to wield truth and justice, that despite all the money that the other side has, that [we could win].” During a phone interview before the event, Finkelstein announced that he does not think that Obama will make much of a difference when it comes to international decisions. ”[Obama] is a master at exploiting opportunities created by the real sacrifices of other people who came before him. After the civil rights movements, he walked though with a latté in one hand and a smile in the other. He is just a corrupt, opportunist politician,” he said. Finkelstein believes that Palestinians should have the right, “to elect the government that they want, not the government that Condoleezza Rice wants. Can anyone even name one Israel prime minister who wasn’t a terrorist?” The event lasted well over three hours and UBC students had a variety of responses afterwards. Second-year student Kristina Cooke admitted that she “didn’t know too much about the situation [beforehand] but he gave really excellent explanations and reinforced what I already knew.” Not everyone in the crowd was as positive though. Thirdyear Arts student Kara Lipsett said she “was surprised and disappointed at how one-sided it was and how he didn’t talk about resolutions to the conflict as it was advertised he would.” U

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Features

Editor: Joe Rayment | E-mail: [email protected]

The university student’s guide to surviving the recession CONT’D FROM PAGE 1

STEP 2: MANAGING AND LIMITING STUDENT DEBT With the global and national economy in such dire straits, many university students may find that they need assistance to help cover the cost of tuition or to pay for their rent and groceries. But in light of the predicted large-scale job losses, banks and credit card providers have become increasingly selective in giving out loans. As an alternative, many banks and credit card providers have also increased their interest rates substantially in an attempt to recoup some of their losses. For this reason, Compton stresses that while credit cards can be beneficial for students looking to establish a credit rating, the key is in establishing a great credit rating by using your credit card both prudently and responsibly. “Using a credit card to establish credit can be very helpful for students, you just have to be very careful,” he says. “It’s really important for students that they don’t just make [the minimum payments], but that they are paying their bill off in full every month.” Despite the potential benefits of credit card use, Professor Lobdell feels that the risk of racking up a huge debt greatly outweighs the positives and suggests that students look instead toward either local credit unions or the government for financial assistance. “Credit cards are just so dangerous so I think you are much better off to go to a credit union or to apply for a student loan,” he said. “The student loan business is a lot better than it’s made out to be and credit unions really try to make your life better and are also more flexible [than the big banks].” Barry Stone, the acting director of the University of Manitoba’s financial aids and awards office,

Domes. “I think the student loans are still the best option available to students as long as it meets their needs. Beyond that, we have a student loan special for our members, where we will top up their Canadian governmental student loans and we have subsidized rates that really cater to our students’ needs.” Finding the financial assistance plan that’s right for you is often a critical step, necessary to help you enhance your human capital. But along with nearly every other matter pertaining to your economic well being, finding the plan that fits your needs takes a lot of foresight and planning. Carefully budgeting your finances and planning ahead are both especially important in a recessionary period, when your expenses are rising, but resources are often harder to come by. goh iromoto graphics/the ubyssey

strongly encourages young people to consider applying for a Canadian government student loan and firmly believes that a student loan is the best financial assistance option available to university students. “The government student loan is almost always financially better for students because to start, there is a very low rate and secondly, as long as the student stays in school, the rate stays the same and there is no obligation for them to pay off their debt,” Stone said. Stone also addressed the issue of how applying for a student loan is perceived by some students to be time-consuming and complicated. “From talking to students, we have found that a lot of them are going toward private credit lines because from what I have heard, many of them feel that the student loan process is complicated and cumbersome, but I think a lot of that is perception. Of course, things

could always be more streamlined, but we are working on that, and we will work with students every step of the way to help them get the aid they need. “Plus, with the new online and electronic programs that we have, the student loan process can actually be quite seamless,” Stone added. “We are here to help the students.” David Domes, the manager of the Sanford Credit Union, accepts that government student loans are often the safest and most practical choice for students, but points out that most credit unions have plans in place for students to receive further assistance when their government loans are still not enough to cover all of their costs. “Where student government loans sometimes have zero per cent interest for now, and we and other credit unions have very low rates, with a credit card, you’re looking at 18 to 25 per cent interest and maybe even more,” said

STEP 3: BUDGETING, PLANNING There are different methods that can be used to budget your finances, but the basic idea is to accurately record all of your expected expenses over an allotted timeframe, versus your expected income over that same timeframe. You can then work out a plan on how you are going to cover the difference.“It’s more important now than ever to think ahead and really have a solid game plan with your finances, and the reason I’m such a big advocate of budgeting and planning ahead is because it prevents forced error,” Baker said. “When you don’t start out the school year with a solid plan, then you may find out at the beginning of March that you have run out of money, and then with exams and things, it can become a real scramble.” Baker believes students should plan to leave a significant portion of cash available to pay short-term expenses and help

January 23, 2009 | Page 4

cover any errors made in longterm budgeting. He says this money should be left in a highinterest savings account so it grows in the meantime. “It’s important that students have enough cash to pay for their short-term expenses like their rent and groceries, but it’s best to invest your money into a high-interest savings account so your money doesn’t just sit there,” he said. According to a new poll from the Royal Bank of Canada, about 79 per cent of all Canadian university students say they plan on budgeting their finances in some way this year. However, Kavita Joshi, director of student markets at RBC, points out that “the challenge is creating a budget that’s realistic and practical.” Joshi suggests that students should split their expected expenses into two separate categories. “To start, you should have fixed expenses like rent, tuition and other things that you need to pay for each month. Then, make another list of variable expenses such as groceries and clothing: items you need, but the costs can vary from month to month.” Joshi explains that in spite of a tumultuous worldwide financial situation, good planning and a detailed budget can still get you a long way. “With a good plan and a little discipline, you may even manage to have some money left over.” Baker also notes that young people should avoid losing too much sleep over these tough times, as poor economic conditions are not going to last forever. “I do think that this is certainly a big wake-up call, but everything is cyclical so even if there are some rough years ahead, history has shown us that things always come back better.” U

The Ubyssey Thanks to everyone who came out to the CiTR/Ubyssey beer garden. Stay tuned for another Ubyssey event soon to hit campus. [email protected]

www.ubyssey.ca

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CSongs for star gazers Culture

Editor: Trevor Melanson | E-mail: [email protected]

January 23, 2009 | Page 5

courtesy of the weinstein co.

Kate goes for Oscar gold Having already picked up a Golden Globe M83 played a sold out, hypnotic set at Richard’s on Richards this past November. matthew ratzlaff photo/the ubyssey

by Matthew Ratzlaff Culture Writer M83, like the dazzling spiral galaxy it’s named after, makes spectators want to jump out of their bodies and fly through outer space. Headed by Anthony Gonzalez of Antibes, France, the band returned to the stage at Richard’s on Richards for a sold-out show late last year. The crowd followed the lead of the band members, who seemed to be instantly hypnotized by their dreamy electronic rock. Cheers erupted during songs from M83’s newly-released album Saturdays=Youth, which dominated the majority of the set. However, many die-hard fans appreciated the odd song from previous albums such as Before the Dawn Heals Us and Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts. After an encore the band applauded the cheering audience, and a beaming, starry-eyed Gonzalez shouted, “I think I’m in love with you, Vancouver!” Before the show, The Ubyssey sat down with Gonzalez to discuss M83’s music and success (for the full effect, picture Gonzalez speaking with a thick French accent). UBYSSEY M83 played in Vancouver in May 2008 and again in November. What inspired you to return to Vancouver so soon?

GONZALEZ Because that’s music. You have to promote your music all the time, so you never really stop. I think it’s cool to come back. Last time we had a good experience at Richard’s. It was really amazing. I hope tonight will be okay as well. U You have maintained a characteristic M83 sound across your albums. What attracts you to make this particular style of electronic music? G This is a really tough question. I don’t really know because I think the music I’m doing is just a mix of all my influences. Because I’m listening to a lot of different kinds of music, I just pick the things I love in music and put that together. I think that’s the recipe. I’m not really thinking when I’m making music. It just happens. U What impact do you want your music to have on your listeners? G I think it’s important for me to have my music listened to from a lot of people. To touch more and more people with my music. I think if I can give happiness to people with my music that’s already a great thing. I can’t expect much more than that. It’s just music—it’s not a big deal. U Your lyrics often combine human emotion (love, fear, etc.) with out-of-this-world themes (ghosts, dreams, outer space, etc.). Where

do these references in your lyrics come from? G From plenty of things. I’m watching a lot of movies. I’m listening to a lot of music as well. And also my personal life is a big influence. It has a big influence on my music. When I’m making music, it’s also a part of myself that I reveal. U Your music is starting to be used in clothing ads and various films. How do you feel about your music being used for these purposes? G It depends on the product, it depends on the movie, it depends on the director. I’m really difficult. I don’t let my music be used by anybody, by anything. I really choose the people I want to work with. When the project is cool, yeah, let’s do it. I like to have my music used. U You’ll be touring with The Killers in 2009. How do you feel about M83 getting more exposure in North America from playing big venues with them? G I think it’s good to tour with a famous band, especially for a small band like us. It’s going to be a wonderful experience. You’re playing in front of a lot of people that don’t know about your music and it’s very challenging, but also very exciting. It’s definitely a good thing, a good way to promote your music. U

by Gavin Fisher Culture Writer The Reader is a powerful and thought-provoking drama about passion and the destructive powers of shame and pride. Adapted from Bernhard Schlink’s international bestseller of the same name, Reader is a moving rendition of the original novel. Set in post-World War II Germany, the film tells the story of 15-year-old Michael Berg (David Kross) who has a passionate and secretive affair with Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet), a tram conductor twice his age. One day Hanna packs up and moves away, leaving no trace of her whereabouts. Eight years later Michael is a law student studying the Nazi war crime trials, and there he meets Hanna again, shocked to discover that she is now on trial for her involvement in the Holocaust as an SS guard. As Michael comes to terms with the horrendous past of his former lover, he also discovers that Hanna is guarding a secret she considers so shameful that she will sacrifice her own freedom for it. Director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours) and screenplay writer David Hare have kept faithful to the original by following the novel’s plot closely. However, the main weakness of this movie is that it does not represent Michael Berg’s in-

ternal conflict as effectively as the novel does. Both Kross and Ralph Fiennes (who plays the older Michael Berg) excel in representing the pain and distance Michael feels, but the internal monologue that drives the novel is missing. This could have been achieved by having some narration—an option that Hare regrettably decided against. As a result, the novel has more psychological and emotional depth than its adaptation. The movie succeeds in terms of its casting. Winslet is an excellent choice for Hanna Schmitz, accurately fitting the novel’s description of her character. Winslet delivers a powerful portrayal of her character’s helplessness and vulnerability, proving herself worthy of the Golden Globe she recently won for this role. Young German actor Kross plays Michael Berg in his teenage and young adult years, excelling in his first major role in an English movie. Newcomer Kross effectively brings out both the passion and turmoil of his character. Fiennes, who plays the adult Michael Berg, successfully portrays how Michael’s pain carries into his adult life and affects his personal relationships. The Reader is a heart-wrenching and truly unique love story, making it a definite must-see for both fans of the novel and for everyone else. U

E

Editorial

If you’d like to submit a letter, please contact [email protected]

January 23, 2009 | Page 6

Fight for your right to party Whether or not there is a War on Fun on campus, we at The Ubyssey propose a War for Fun. After years of complaining, it’s time for UBC students to stand up and make the campus into what they want. Are you mad about the lack of a music scene on campus? Start a band. Organize shows at the Meekison lounge. The Pendulum used to host open jams on certain days of the week. Get a bunch of people together and sit in the SUB and make some music. Or, hell, actually listen to CiTR. That’s right folks, we have a radio station. 101.9 on the FM dial. You can totally volunteer for them, too. Or let’s say you’re furious about the direction of campus politics. Then organize a rally. Go to an AMS meeting. They have free food. Join the SDS and try to piece together that fragmented mess. March to the Farm and yell a little. Or, by God, people, please, VOTE. Maybe you think there needs to be a little more art on campus. Well, then make it. And put it out there. Guerilla art is damn fun. We’d all talk about it. Or organize an art show. Lack of theatre? Do some street performance. Or if you can’t act, find people who can and get them to. UBC Improv is there for you to exploit. It’s the same for anything. Skateboarding? People used to (and may still) skate down the parking garages. Street hockey? We have wide open spaces and slow moving drivers. Philosophical discussions? Check out the Philosophy Students’ Association, or put up posters saying, “Philosophical discussion Monday, lunch, Koerner’s.” Hell, do you just want more crazy shit to go down? Then do it. Get some people together, paint yourselves blue and recreate ancient Celtic battles across the Knoll. A War on Fun will never destroy student spirit, it will only give excuses to those who had none in the first place. So the RCMP wants to restrict our drinking, and that sucks. We love our booze, too. But we go to school with 44,000 nerds—there’s got to be some creative ways to entertain ourselves, and be part of a community as well. U

Investing in your future As the prolonged economic crisis approaches its second straight quarter of disastrous market conditions, President Obama is a shining beacon of light/hope/change/optimism for millions of people that are suffering through this situation. North of the border, here at UBC, the worry is more towards the slim job market that has very little to offer us compared to a year ago. But in this disaster, it may be that investing some spare cash might be a wise choice for your future. No one is sure whether the market has hit rock bottom yet, and it probably hasn’t. At least one of the big three auto companies is destined to go bankrupt. Job losses keep piling up. With interest rates now slashed to a minimum, governments are running out of options. Yet despite the entire negative outlook, the main reason for investing is simple. It may be a disaster right now, but sooner or later, the market will correct itself. It’s pretty much like Vancouver weather—we may still be in the midst of the never-ending rainy (and suddenly foggy) season, but people are just waiting for those sunny summer days. The bottom line here is that if you play your cards right, a substantial amount of surplus could come into your pocket at the end of this road. Who doesn’t like profit? Secondly, investing is probably better than leaving all your money in savings. We have to pump money into the circulation in order to help the market recover. There is risk in investing, but your chances of winning are high and you are simultaneously putting capital into a company. Now, when talking about investing money, people often get the impression that the person is greedy for money. That may be true, but if you actually make a profit, it’s your choice what to do with it. You could just as easily give your surplus away to charity as save it for your future plans. You will also obtain some kind of economic knowledge that could never hurt you. Basically, investing is an intriguing option, and if you stay logical and use your surplus money (and not your tuition fees), things might turn out better than they were when you started. The market will always have its ups and downs, but it’s our choice to make the best out of the situation. Of course, if you have no money and mounting student debt, you probably have no spare cash, in which case, we suggest prayer. U The Ubyssey is not responsible for financial gains or losses coming about from the above editorial.

By the way The AMS elections committee has officially decided to implement the Condorcet system of voting for this election. This allows for a preferential ranking system.

by Trevor Wolf

Internet comments

THE WAR ON FUN IS REAL IN RESPONSE TO “THERE IS NO ‘WAR ON FUN’” [JAN. 20, 2008] How deliciously ironic that the guy drafting the Anti-Marijuana Coalition’s constitution is the one telling people there is no war on fun, never has been. This rigid adherence to petty rules is what’s preventing people from caring about campus life. I mean, apparently the DKEs [Delta Kappa Epsilon’s] got shut down for drinking at a beer garden! Who would have thought they’d do that? Taping their liquor licence to the wall in a prominent location sounds simple enough, but a little pointless, don’t you think? UBC’s bureaucracy is the abyss, as unwittingly demonstrated by the amount of space devoted in this article to providing the steps to getting anything done. No, the AMS

isn’t gung ho about promoting anything but themselves and holding little parties where nobody shows. It’s mostly because they’re the sort of sanctimonious selfrighteous types that want/don’t mind even stricter regulation on every aspect of university life. This piece itself is apologizing for the fact that students have to jump through 50 hoops before being permitted to have fun while at the same time proclaiming that the hoops are absolutely necessary and are fun itself. Some respect for students please! They don’t need literal and figurative minders every step of the way. UBC’s an inconvenient island and this stuff ain’t helping. I imagine that a nonapologist who has a concept of fun ought to be the one proclaiming the end of this “War on Fun.” —Caleb

If you wish to to submit a letter it must be no longer than 350 words. Your identity will be confirmed by phone or by ID from the office. People may email us at [email protected]

Streeters Are you concerned about your online presence affecting future opportunities?

Ian van den Dolder Commerce 3

“I deleted my Facebook profile...because that kind of thing just kind of sketches me out...[there are] a lot of employers that just go on [Facebook] and search you out...it kinda scares me.”

Maureen Bezanson IR 3

“Yes, I’m concerned... I am a library studies student and have been involved a little bit with the folks that did the Digital Tattoo project at UBC, which is all about that.”

Berry Mao ELI

“I think so because Facebook is just like a big, a huge network and it is contain a lot of information and I think it is maybe an opportunity for the future.”

Natalie Cammarasana Arts 1

“I don’t think its something that I’m super conscious of... looking back you kind of maybe worry about [employers access]...But am I worried about it [now]? I’d say probably not.”

Leanne Murao Arts 2

“Not too concerned at all. It depends what kind of things you put on the blogs. If you don’t put anything incriminating...it shouldn’t be that bad.”

—Coordinated by Celestian Rince & Tara Martellaro, with photos by Gerald Deo

january 23, 2009

the ubyssey | www.ubyssey.ca

Sudoku

4

9 8

Crossword

5 7

by Kyrstin Bain 39. Someone who holds unorthodox religious views. 41. Leftover from dinner. 43. End of a sermon. 44. East Indian tree. 46. Coleridge’s “Dejection: __ __“. 47. Tidily. 49. Spanish donkey. 51. “__ for the poor.” 53. Invade in great numbers, as with pests. 57. Determined cost. 62. “__ __ la la la.” 63. Flexible twig of a willow tree. 64. La Sagrada Familia architect: abb. 65. Frost’s “__ by Night”. 66. Obelisk. 67. Soft, wet, low-lying land. 68. Hundredth of a buck. 69. “__ be sorry!” 70. Unknown: abb. 71. On the cutting edge.

1 8 6 9

6 1 2 8

5 3 4 2 Hard #6

games & comics | 7

2 6 9 7 7 5

3 2 7

#4

ACROSS 1. Meat shop. 5. Persian fairy. 9. Electrical cord. 14. __ one’s eyes. 15. Genus commonly known as Maple. 16. Month of fools. 17. Demons end. 18. Zeus’ mother. 19. Item of tack.

20. The way out. 21. Romantic hero of the Spanish Golden Age. 23. An energetic person. 25. Part of a fork. 26. Who the borrower owes. 28. “No man is an __.” 33. First president of Botswana. 36. A misspelling on a keyboard. 38. Olive genus.

DOWN 1. Vaulted. 2. Resin used in strong adhesives. 3. Russian founder of the Bolsheviks and first head of the USSR. 4. One episode of a series. 5. “Excuse me?” 6. Reverberation. 7. “This is Houston, you’ve been cleared for __.” 8. A native of Iraq. 9. Most frightening: s____t 10. Highest peak. 11. Vigorous. 12. Bellybutton fuzz. 13. “Go ask somebody __.” 22. An organization of employees. 24. One of a castle’s best defences. 27. To write on metal or stone. 29. Where 26 Across may work. 30. The lowest female singing voice. 31. Require. 32. Cook of Good Luck Chuck. 33. Genghis of the Mongol Empire. 34. Does __ like __? 35. Place. 37. An African antelope. 40. A short descriptive poem about rural or pastoral life. 42. Work hard for. 45. Refrain, e.g. from alcohol. 48. Hardy’s slapstick partner. 50. Dominated by, e.g grief-__. 52. Molten rock. 54. Run down (with dog-) 55. The alcoholic Singapore __. 56. Delicious. 57. Teapot’s blanket. 58. “Go as far __ __ say.” 59. In __ of. 60. Portable phone. 61. New Spanish coin.

ANSWER TO TUESDAY’S PUZZLE:

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SSports

Editor: Shun Endo | E-mail: [email protected]

Athletes of the Week

January 23, 2009 | Page 8

by Claire Hanna, Thunderbird Athletic Council

Joel Halcro | Track and Field

kellan higgins photo/the ubyssey

As UBC’s track and field season is starting to get underway, so are some of its runners. This past weekend at the Dempsey Indoor Preview, Joel Halcro proved how fast he really is. After taking a couple years off to train, Halcro is back in it, ready to compete in a variety of events. A competitor in the 100m, 200m, and 400m sprints, Joel started the season off showing up to dominate. He made the finals in two events, the 60m and the 200m—all extremely competitive divisions. The 60m, an indoor sprinting event, an event that Halcro would not normally call his forte, had him shave .09 seconds off his time to clock a 7.06 in the 60m final. In the 200m final, he came in first running a fast 22.12 seconds. He also brought valuable maturity and experience to the team this year. Currently, UBC does not have an on-campus track. That’s about to change. The new track, which is under construction on Wesbrook Mall just past the Thunderbird arenas, is set to be ready by summer time. Look for Halcro and the rest of the track squad to be competing there in the next upcoming months. U

kellan higgins photo/the ubyssey

Blain LaBranche | Men’s Basketball If Blain LaBranche struts into War Memorial Gym this Friday after a thrilling weekend defeat of the University of Winnipeg Wesmen and the University of Manitoba Bisons, it’s with good reason. Notching a solid 12 points against the Wesmen last Friday, LaBranche used the night as a warm-up period. On Saturday night versus the Bisons, not only did the 6’4 senior score a team-high 25 points, but LaBranche scored 16 of those in the clutch third quarter of the game when the Birds desperately needed a comeback. LaBranche also hit six of nine three-pointer attempts, helping

place UBC at an overall .500 efficiency from the three-point line. This performance helped propel LaBranche to a fourth-place spot in the CanWest conference statistics for three-pointers. He also currently places fifth on the free throw line hitting .821 of all his shots. This is only LaBranche’s second year at UBC, but he seems to be fitting into the program nicely. Make sure to catch more of LaBranche and the rest of the Birds at the end of the month when the War Memorial Gym hosts Lethbridge and Calgary on January 30 and 31. Women at 6pm and Men at 8pm. U