Nexus Issue 19-12 Feb. 18/09

Volume 19 Issue 12 February 18, 2009

Camosun’s Student Voice Since 1990

ready, Set, BuSted

CharGinG to PlayoffS?

BalCony Banter

If you’re prone to drinking and driving, better put some cash aside for a new breathalyzer initiative.

Chargers fans keep fingers crossed in hopes our sports teams show up strong at upcoming playoffs.

Ebert and Roeper pack their bags so the Nexus professionals can step in and analyze the Oscars.

neWS—4

SPortS—9

artS—13

Photo: Courtney BrouGhton

VieWS Nexus Editorial

2

Deadline: noon Feb. 25, 2009 Address: Location: Phone: Email: Website:

3100 Foul Bay Rd., Victoria, BC, V8P 5J2 Lansdowne Richmond House 201 250-370-3591 [email protected] www.nexusnewspaper.com

Publisher:

Nexus Publishing Society

NEXUS PUBLISHING SOCIETY STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS

Kyla Ferns Kelly Marion Andrea Moir Jason Motz Chris Pal Miriam Putters MANAGING EDITOR

Jason Schreurs LAYOUT EDITOR

Laila Brown STUDENT EDITOR

Tessa Cogman COPY EDITOR

Alan Piffer EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Kait Cavers STAFF WRITERS

Guy Alaimo Brendan Kergin Jason Motz STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Courtney Broughton

Would you like fries with that? teSSa CoGman StAFF Writer

Campus life can get addicting. The beautiful landscape, friendly faces, and helpful faculty can make a student feel safe and at home. We have spent years at school, networking and becoming familiar with everyone here. But once graduation arrives, the bubble bursts, reality comes crashing down, and students are thrown into the real world, job or no job. I will be graduating from Camosun this April from the Applied Communication Program and I am getting antsy myself. Quite a few of my peers will be moving on to university, but I will be entering the real world in hopes of pursuing a career. But when April arrives, my student loan money will say “bye-bye” and I will be working two jobs just to keep food in the cupboards while searching for an ideal position. Some students enter programs they have no intention of pursuing a career in, but for students with a clear goal in mind there’s a tendency to lose your head after that graduation cap hits the ground. Printing off resumes for McDonalds and Fairway Market isn’t

Open Space

ADVERTISING SALES

Breanna Carey Jason Schreurs 250-370-3593 Campus Plus (national) 1-800-265-5372 DISTRIBUTION

Adrian Binakaj Ashley Moore CONTRIBUTORS:

Guy Alaimo Adrian Binakaj Courtney Broughton Chris Burnett Cristian Cano Breanna Carey Kait Cavers Alisha Charmley Matteus Clement Tessa Cogman Zan Comerford Maelina de Grasse Samantha Doney Michael Duncan Christi Kay Donald Kennedy Keltie Larter Alissa Lauren Kelly Marion Chloe Markgraf Jason Motz Miriam Putters Sarah Rankin Andy Roberts Shane Scott-Travis Ed Sum Joel Witherington the views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors, not of the nexus Publishing Society. one copy of nexus is available per issue, per person. nexus is printed on a mixture of 100 and 40 percent recycled paper. Please recycle your copy. thanks! Editorial meetings Come out to our weekly nexus editorial meetings, where all Camosun students can get involved in their student newspaper. Meetings take place every tuesday at 11:30 am in the nexus office, richmond house 201, lansdowne. Call 370-3591 or e-mail [email protected] for more information. Send a letter nexus prints letters that are 250 words or less in response to previous stories. nexus reserves the right to refuse publication of letters. letters must include full name and student number (not printed). nexus accepts all letters by e-mail to [email protected]

very appealing, but to keep the cash flowing until a career is found a snazzy uniform might be an unfortunate possibility. But you can stop having restaurant job-related nightmares, because there’s hope.

For students with a clear goal in mind, there’s a tendency to lose your head after that graduation cap hits the ground. Each year, college graduates are surveyed nine months after the end of their program. The 2008 survey respondents said they were 80 percent employed at a job or business. Of these students, 88 percent reported they found their job within two months of actively looking and 73 percent said they were in a job directly related to their studies. Phew! That’s very good news. But with the job losses in BC, how accurate is that survey this year? The economic crisis has everyone’s panties in a twist, but it’s not

grAPhiC: AdriAn binAKAJ

like it’s going to last forever, folks. There’s an economic crisis every other decade and the world hasn’t come crashing down just yet. Until we get past the mess left by Bush’s mistakes, it might be a little harder to find a career, but don’t give up. Instead of printing off fourdozen resumes and applying everywhere and anywhere, apply to the

jobs you want and apply early. Be professional, include a cover letter, and don’t be stuck with nowhere to go come graduation. And hopefully Camosun’s employment success rates will be even better next year. The earlier we brace ourselves for the road ahead, the softer the ride will be.

open Space accepts submissions from Camosun students. Submissions to open Space should be 400 words or less. responses to previous articles in nexus should be 250 words or less. e-mail submissions to [email protected] and include your name and student number.

Let’s boycott the Aramark bad habit andy roBertS Contributing Writer

For the second Friday in a row, I step into the Campus Caf at Lansdowne, only to find the sandwich display empty, the soup urns down to their dregs, the pasta selection reduced to smithereens, and the pastry selection limited to a few muffins that have seen better days. My only choices seem to be deepfried junk, overpriced pizza, the somewhat pathetic Euro Baguette, or a rather pricey salad. I ask about sandwiches and am told some are being made; 25 minutes later there stands a row of ham sandwiches, perfect for someone like myself who neither eats ham nor red meat. Enough is enough. I’m tired of

help build our team

nexus needs student volunteers if you would like to write, take photos, or just want to help out with the newspaper, get in touch with us asap! 250.370.3591 [email protected] www.nexusnewspaper.com Richmond House 201, Lansdowne

having my food selection whittled down to nothing on a Friday afternoon or late in the day. I’m also sick of Aramark touting their corn cutlery and other recyclable condiments as a reason to charge higher prices—a responsible company should be eco-friendly as a matter of course. Aramark is a food provider for people of limited means and it consistently fails to listen to customers or serve customers’ needs. It suddenly dawned on me what I needed to do, and the solution was staring me in the face—boycott the Caf completely. Rather than fill out surveys or write a letter, I decided to hit Aramark where it hurts by not giving them my money. Ever.

Letters

Next publication date: March 4, 2009

February 18, 2009

Put the “e” back in womyn

I was a little confused when reading the recent story, Not a gentleman’s club [Womyn’s Centre column, Feb. 4 issue], by Chloe Markgraf. At first I thought there were just shitloads of typos, but I soon realized the spelling of “womyn” was intentional. What’s with that? Do they not want the word “men” involved with anything feminist? Lame! If I were a racist (keyword “if”), would I change the way I spelt “Caucasian” to “Cauceysian” so that the word “Asian” didn’t appear? I don’t think so. Changing the way you spell “women” just so the word “men”

From now on, I’m bringing food from home every day, with granola bars, rice cakes, and fruit as a backup if I’m running late.

rather than fill out surveys or write a letter, i decided to hit Aramark where it hurts by not giving them my money. I’ll buy my coffee from a nearby coffee shop on my way into campus, and anything else I need will come doesn’t appear is ridiculous and immature. I totally support equality for everyone (men and women, and the people in between), but stunts like this make people think feminists are just a bunch of bra-burning yahoos.

eriC mCveiGh

CAMOSUN STUDENT

(Ed. note: For an explanation on the spelling of womyn in the Womyn’s Centre columns, see Chloe Markgraf’s column in the Jan. 21 issue.)

Historical booboo!

Re: Cameras offer powerful tool for Palestinian struggle, Jan. 21 issue.

from the bookstore, which is priced lower than the Caf and always does their utmost to stock items on request. Better still, I’ll exercise my right to eat this stuff in the Caf right in front of their noses. Big, hairy mammoth balls to you, Aramark. I’ve heard enough excuses from Aramark and refuse to believe they don’t make a profit or can’t lower prices and raise quality. I’m pretty sure any other franchise could make a profit and supply a decent quality of food. If another franchise set up a mobile cafe and pulled up in the parking lot one day, an awful lot of money would be made. So long, Aramark. You failed me for the last time. Thanks for running this very interesting article. I was in Hebron myself once and remember it vividly. However, you need to print a correction. In the accompanying article, An endless struggle by Staff Writer Brendan Kergin, he states, “An agreement was struck with the Palestinians already living on the land to split it with the refugees founding Israel.” I fear Kergin has made a historical boo-boo! The Palestinians agreed to no such thing. The United Nations imposed the division, after much lobbying by Jewish populations and, I believe, the British government.

SuSan SCott COMMUNITY MEMBER

VIEWS

[email protected]



Students shouldn’t support the fake brands Alissa Laurin Contributing Writer

A student is standing in line at the bookstore, when a woman in front boastfully pulls out a Chanel wallet. Meanwhile, the man at the counter is sporting a nifty pair of Oakley sunglasses on his head. But are these name-branded items real or fake? There’s no doubt name brands are everywhere—in the halls of Camosun, movies, and even on buses. In our society, things we own can send out an impression of what type of person we are. This is an underlying reason for our consumption of name brands. They have the power to make us feel like we’re paramount for purchasing them. Since many people want to own the crème de la crème of materialistic paraphernalia, it only makes sense that there’s undercover copy-

ing of name-branded goods. This is where the black market comes in, selling cheap replicas of

Since many people want to own the crème de la crème of materialistic paraphernalia, it only makes sense that there’s undercover copying of namebranded goods. name brand merchandise for less than the original item. This can be heaven-sent for those who can’t af-

ford the cost of the genuine article, and want to feel like they can by purchasing a faux. But it’s demeaning; it takes away from the original creator of the item and is of much lower quality. In addition, underground markets make replicated items more obtainable and less prestigious than before they became accessible to the rest of the public. This can further confuse consumers as to what’s real and better quality, and what appears to be but isn’t. The black market used to be undercover and less accessible. Now, largely due to demand for imitation products, black market items can be found in Victoria malls during the winter season, in small boutiques downtown, and even in UVic’s Student Union Building. This is appalling and should be

Photo: Courtney broughton

More and more students are wearing name-brand knockoffs around campus.

stopped. Not only do underground markets sell replicated and stolen ideas, they also lead to risk factors such as the uncertainty of what these pseudo items are made from

and where they come. It’s far better to save up and invest in authentic products where quality, trust, and honesty are also obtained in a purchase.

Sharing the wealth during tough economic times Keltie Larter Contributing Writer

Recent reports released from Statistics Canada show that over the past three months the Canadian economy lost a jaw-dropping 213,000 jobs. Wow. It seems we’ve all been living in an economic house of cards. And, of course, when the job market shrinks, so do some people’s minds. I am so tired of hearing people complain about foreigners “stealing” our jobs. Every time layoffs happen, a bunch of ignorant, selfish jerks start moaning about migrant workers and how we should be taking care of our own first.

Just because we’ve had the luck to be born in Canada doesn’t mean we own this country or we’re owed employment. The jobs do not “belong” to us. Besides, everything we have we’ve stolen from those who were here before us. A lot of people believe foreign workers in BC should be sent back to their countries and their jobs given to those who have been laid off, so “real Canadians” can look after their families. But what about the families of the thousands of workers we send packing? Most foreign workers come from countries where there’s no unemployment insurance, health care, or welfare, and

the loss of money most Canadians would find paltry would be devastating for families relying on the extra income to survive. At least the families of those who were laid off in BC won’t face starvation, sickness, or death because of their reduced circumstances. And really, would you want to work 12-hour days in a box factory or in some hotel scrubbing wealthy people’s shit out of toilets for eight bucks an hour? Because I wouldn’t want to, nor would most of us spoilt Canadians, which is why employers solicit foreign labour in the first place. I met a man last summer who left his wife and children back in

Every time there are layoffs, a bunch of ignorant, selfish jerks start pissing and moaning about migrant workers and how we should be taking care of our own first.

Mexico to work in the fields picking daffodils 14 hours a day for minimum wage. His only day off from the daffodil farm was spent working at a neighbouring farm shoveling manure. He said he felt extremely lucky to have such good jobs, and the money he made would send his children to school and buy heart medication for his wife, not to mention feed them all. It was a humbling conversation. We enjoy a standard of living in this country which most of the rest of the world pays for in one way or another, so shouldn’t we be happy to share the wealth?

Canadian education needs some stimulation too Michael Duncan Contributing Writer

With the recent release of the federal government’s budget and economic stimulus plan, it’s clear the issue of student debt relief was disregarded. While the budget included personal tax reductions and other economic measures, there remains a growing burden on current and former Canadian students—the $13 billion federal student debt. According to the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), who

tracks the mounting loans, this federal debt increases by $1.2 million every day. This amount doesn’t even include approximately $5 billion in additional student debt owed to provincial governments, as well as personal debt from credit cards or bank loans. The combination of the current economic downturn with a generation of students mired in debt renders both the economy and graduates disadvantaged from the onset.

The current graduate debt average of $25,000-$28,000 could be returned directly to the Canadian economy if Stephen Harper and his band of fiscal conservatives can expand their mindsets to consider the benefits of freeing graduates from a decade or more of student loan repayments. The federal budget does address some educational concerns, with an allocation of $500 million for worker retraining in the Strategic Training and Transfer Fund, and $175 million for a combination of

Aboriginal Skills programs across Canada. But the budget does little for a majority of young students. In response to the current situation, the CFS sent a letter to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty suggesting an increase to the Canada Social Transfer for post-secondary education to $1.2 billion, reducing debt and tuition fees; more grad-student funding; an increase in financial support for Aboriginal students to $200 million; and a boost in funding of the Canada Summer Jobs

program to $200 million. According to the CFS, postsecondary education should be treated as a public works “megaproject” that will benefit the next generations. With an investment in debt relief for Canada’s students, whether in the form of fee reduction, increased grants, or additional employment opportunities, the government would not only provide urgent stimulation to education but also invest in the country and students’ futures.

Where do you see yourself in five years? By Keltie L arter

Roxanne Smillie

Chad Kreutzenstein

Brie Nelson

Chris Ho

Patrick Rooney

Melanie Johnson

Eli Bell

I see myself continuing with my activist work, as well as starting work as a nurse.

I have no idea where I’ll be in five years. I hope it’s somewhere good.

Studying environmental sciences and working in a co-op program on the east coast. And generally enjoying life!

I’ll be somewhere in the sea of new media, hopefully creating what I want to create. And maybe finally making some cash on the side as a YouTube partner!

I see myself sitting in my own office, living the life!

In five years I see myself traveling somewhere far away.

I see myself living on a co-op farm, working as a librarian, raising kidlets, and fomenting evolution.

NEWS



February 18, 2009

New technology keeps drunk drivers off streets gram will benefit the police in doing their job. “Anything that we can add to the fight against impaired drivers and the carnage they cause will be of benefit to the whole community,” says Price.

Blow over .02 into this handy unit and the car and its passengers won’t be going anywhere fast until the driver sobers up.

Jason Motz Staff Writer

A new initiative between the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles and the Victoria police is going to squeeze the wallets of anyone caught drinking and driving. The Ignition Interlock program, first introduced to the province as a pilot project in 2005, was expanded effective Feb. 1. So far BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec are in the camp of ignition interlock advocates. The program utilizes an ignition interlock device, a small breathalyzer installed in a car to prevent

drunk drivers from starting their vehicle. It looks a bit like a CB radio with a tube stuck to it. The driver gets behind the wheel of his/her car, blows, and if he or she is over the preset limit of .02, the vehicle won’t start. Steven Kelly, a Camosun psychology student and self-described “hard-ass” when it comes to drinking and driving, questions a potential flaw in the program. “It may be effective, but only to a certain extent,” says Kelly. “Couldn’t you just get a friend to blow in it for you?”

But the unit asks for breath samples at random times during each drive, to avoid other people blowing into the device before the drunk driver gets behind the wheel and drives away. In the case of a failed breath sample at any time during a drive, a warning is issued to the driver to shut the vehicle off. If repeated warnings are ignored, the car horn blares and the lights flash until the driver concedes. Hell hath no fury like a breathalyzer scorned. Sergeant John Price, public information officer for Saanich Police, is a firm believer the pro-

“Anything that we can add to the fight against impaired drivers and the carnage they cause will be of benefit to the whole community.” John Price Saanich Police

Those who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, multiple 24-hour roadside suspensions, or 90-day Administrative Driving Prohibitions (ADPs) will now be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle. Kelli Moorhouse, acting chair of Camosun’s Criminal Justice Program, is cautiously optimistic, but questions if the program will

work on all participants. “In theory, it’s a good idea. For some folks it will work really, really well,” says Moorhouse. An ignition interlock device isn’t a free gift from ICBC or the Victoria Police Department. All fees associated with the device come straight out of the driver’s pocket. There’s the program fee of $150, another installation fee of $150, and a monthly monitoring fee of $105. Throw in the Responsible Driver Program at $880, and miscellaneous expenses such as towing and legal fees, and it adds up. That’s precisely the point of the device—to make the driver pay. “Driving is a licensed activity, and if you don’t want to comply, then take the bus,” says Price. Can the program be successful? Price thinks so. “Jeopardy—like fines, driving suspensions, criminal records, now ignition locks—is a deterrent for most drivers.” According to data from the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles, the program has been responsible for a 90 percent drop in repeat drinking and driving infractions. Price adds, “Life is about choices, and when that poor choice has the potential to change lives forever, then it is important that people sit up and realize what it will cost them and their family.”

Another film crew at Camosun Maelina de Grasse Contributing Writer

films in Victoria alone. “I started in high school, and after graduation, I just couldn’t get away from it,” says Bauman. There appears to be a reason local movie makers stick around in Victoria, as opposed to finding other opportunities in bigger cities.

Camosun hosted yet another film crew on the Lansdowne campus Feb. 6–7 for the making of Stranger with My Face. The film stars 7th Heaven’s Catherine Hicks, Victoria’s own Beau Mirchoff (Scary Movie 4), and Alexz Johnson (Smallville, Final Destination 3). Some ACP students The 90-minute feature is a Halwho were there in the loween thriller about a high school girl whose friends start to see her in later hours of the places she’s never been. Johnson evening also plays the part of Laurie, who discovers she has an evil twin sister mentioned seeing the plotting to take over her life. crew set up on the The first portion of the shooting began in the top floor of the fields in front of the Lansdowne library. Young Building. The scene included Laurie and her friend searching through the pages of a book to help uncover her twin mystery, as well as a con“In each project we work with versation between her and Gordo a core crew,” says Productions (Mirchoff), a jock who’s confused Manager Paul Rayman. “We all as to why she’s more interested in know each other very well, so it books than in him. makes planning and organizing The crew moved into the Fisher much easier.” building, and later the third floor of Because there aren’t a lot of jobs the Young Building in Room 311, for aspiring filmmakers in Victoria, a room used by the Applied Com- Rayman says getting together a munication Program (ACP) as a crew makes for a very easy task. small lab. The room also has a door “The crew is like a family—they can that leads to the Young clock tower look out for each other.” and some filming was done on the The film crew will be shooting tower’s roof and in the stairwell. for approximately a month in variSome ACP students who were ous locations, including Sooke, 10 there in the later hours of the even- Mile Point, Mount Doug Senior ing also mentioned seeing the crew Secondary, and BC Ferries. set up on the fields in front of the Stranger with My Face will air Young Building. just in time for next Halloween Jeff Renfroe, who’s been mak- on the Super Channel, where you ing movies since high school, is can also find one of Bauman’s director of the film. Also, producer other recently produced miniseries, Ted Bauman has produced over 15 Impact.

neWS

[email protected]

NEWS BRIEFS

By Kait CaverS

Long overdue the Camosun libraries need your help. the Camosun Foundation is launching a campaign to help raise funds for Camosun’s upcoming library revitalization project. More and more students are taking advantage of the libraries at both campuses, and computer access continues to remain insufficient, while group and quiet study space is at a premium. the demand for electronic research tools is escalating, and with your help the libraries can take a step into the “next generation” to provide the right amount of the best tools that students need to learn. the love Your learning library campaign will help to purchase more books, provide online resources, more computers and media stations, as well as provide classroom equipment to more students. For info, e-mail [email protected] or call 250–370–4232.

New group for old growth less than 10 percent of the old growth forest on Vancouver island remains. the newly formed Action for old growth (AFog) student group at Camosun wants to know if we can afford to lose such a key component of a vital cycle that nature has carried for so long. the old growth forest on the island has been an important part of the culture and economy, and the outlook of its survival constantly remains in limbo. if you are one of the many that feel the need to take action to protect this part of your homeland, then AFog wants to hear from you. beginning March 1, the group will launch 10 days of actions and events for the ancient forest with uVic groups and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. if you want to get involved, e-mail [email protected]

Bully beat-down

Shelter bylaw creates challenges for local homeless zan Comerford Contributing Writer

A new bylaw amendment put in place by the city of Victoria on Feb. 5 has many local advocates for the homeless concerned. The bylaw states camping in parks is allowed, but only between 7 pm to 7 am, and not in playing fields, Bastion Square, roads or pathways, or anywhere designated for an event. “Can you imagine what it’s like to have to pack up your home and all your worldly belongings every single morning by 7 am?” asks Janine Bandcroft, a local activist and founder of StreetNewz.

“our interest is in ending homelessness, not managing it.” dean fortin

Although it often seems like child’s play, bullying in and out of schools across the country has the ability to lead to tragedies on much larger scale that can and have included suicide and murder. bullying touches everyone at some point, and if you have been affected by it then you know the serious emotional impact it can take on families, and the horrific events it can potentially to lead to. on Feb. 25, students and staff at Camosun are asked to make a pledge and wear a pink shirt on Pink Shirt day to let everyone know that you do not tolerate bullying. For info, or to see how you can help, go to www.pinkshirtday.ca

Prizes! the City of Victoria is conducting consultation on a project called the Victoria Sustainability Framework. As part of this consultation, the city has launched an online youth forum to get a discussion going about sustainability. the forum is designed for ages 13–24, and is currently interested in getting input from the Camosun student community. the forum will be live until the end of February, so participants are encouraged to get their opinions in before then. need a little inspiration? there’s a chance to win some prizes, as well as the satisfaction in knowing your opinions can directly help shape the direction of the city. to voice your opinion, go to www.vibrantvictoria. ca/youth

5

ViCtoriA MAYor

Whether or not bylaws like this are reasonable city policy, or in conflict with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, has been debated by protesters, the City of Victoria, and the Supreme Court. In October of 2005, the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to ban persons from making their own shelter if there’s insufficient space elsewhere. The city appealed this ruling in 2008, implementing regulations (since turned into the recent bylaw) specifying when and where shelters could be erected.

Photo: CourtneY broughton

Tents like this one on Pandora near Quadra won’t be allowed between 7 am-7 pm.

Most bylaw disputes go unOthers see the controversy as an noticed by the population at large, ongoing opportunity for progress. but this issue was thrust into the “[The bylaw proceedings] were, public eye with the arrest of activists and still are, an opportunity to call a Kristen Woodruff, David Johnston, public meeting, include the homeand Tavis Dodds this past winter. less, and see what imaginative soluThe three were arrested for re- tions a compassionate community fusing to remove their belongings can muster,” says Bandcroft, citing from their camp under the Sequoia the numerous successful tent cities tree in Centennial Square. in Portland, Olympia, and Seattle. On Jan. 28, Victoria Mayor The city-appointed Coalition to Dean Fortin announced the regula- End Homelessness takes a different tions had been ruled “not a sufficient approach. basis to enforce bylaw infractions,” “Tents are not homes, and shelthe aptly named “Sequoia Three” ters are not homes,” says Robert were found not guilty. Mitchell, a coalition member. Justice Brian Mackenzie found On Jan. 28, Fortin announced, by arresting them the city was “Our interest is in ending homelesstrying to enforce a bylaw deemed ness, not managing it.” unconstitutional and therefore no As for those actually affected longer in effect. by the bylaw, one local homeless Public opinion remains mixed man who has been sleeping outside about the direction the city must most nights for the past year-andtake in order to effectively address a-half says, “Shelter is essential Victoria’s housing problems. for survival; we all have a right to “[It’s okay] as long as they keep survive. When the government to themselves,” says Camosun begins regulating your right to student Maria Peacock, “they need survive, well, you’re entering into somewhere to sleep.” dangerous territory.”

Using your outside voice this March marks the first annual loudSpeaker festival, a celebration of music, poetry, and theatre in correlation with international Women’s day. the goal of the festival is to promote awareness of the many diverse experiences of women, through creative performance. the shows also hope to aim attention at the status and experiences of women who are powerful role models. Subsidized or free tickets are available for those in financial need. Proceeds from the festival will be donated to the Prostitutes education empowerment resource Society, which provides support resources and exiting programs for both male and female sex trade workers. For a full list of events and their descriptions, e-mail [email protected]

Got pipes? if you’ve got the pipes to belt out some sweet tunes and are looking for a place to expose your talent, the harmonious Family Choir is seeking you. the choir is a non-audition community choir that welcomes all individuals and family groups. the spring season new singer intake began Feb. 5, and they are still searching for unique members to join their harmonious team. For details go to www.harmoniousfamilychoir.com, call 250–385-Sing, or e-mail [email protected]. get your voice heard, sign up now!

Rob Fleming, MLA Victoria – Hillside 1020 Hillside Avenue

250 360.2023

Board of Governors & Education Council

ELECTION

Representation is important! Do you want to make a difference? Would you like to have a voice in the development of educational programs? Expand your horizons by serving on Camosun College’s Board of Governors or Education Council!

The nomination period is from Monday, March 02 through Monday, March 16 (3 pm deadline). The election will be held on Tuesday, April 7, Wednesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 9, from 8 am – 7 pm.

[email protected]

Serving Our Community

For more information, see posters around the campus, on CamNews, student website, or contact Becky McGowan at 370-3530.

CAMPUS



February 18, 2009

Dental students and First Nations team up a relationship between the Malahat Nation and Camosun ColStudents of Camosun’s Dental lege. Working in conjunction with Hygiene Program have embarked Camosun’s First Nations Education on an ambitious community project. department, Kasting admits the In conjunction with the people of idea sprang up informally. the Malahat Nation, this initiative “We just started talking. It was is designed to promote oral health one of those things,” says Kasting. care among the First Nations people, “We got together in the fall, started while at the same time providing the talking, and it grew from there.” students with an excellent learning experience. According to Colleen Kasting, chair of Camosun College’s Foun- “We want to build trust dation board, the program will be of between the Malahat equal benefit to both groups. Band and health “The needs of the Malahat band are huge,” says Kasting. “Meeting services.” with the students makes it a whole Denise Baillet lot easier. They’re more likely to Camosun student take better dental care.” Currently no active oral health care program exists within the Malahat Nation, which has two Although this is only a pilot land reserves, one in Goldstream project, optimism is high. “It’s a and the other over the Malahat really good opportunity all around,” near Mill Bay. adds Kasting. “It’s really exciting Cultural differences between to watch.” the Malahat band and the health Melissa Schaefer, an instructor care industry are a sensitive mat- in Community Health at Camosun, ter the students are very cautious believes this comprehensive comof. This cooperative program aims munity-planning project is a perto fix that. fect fit for the Dental Hygiene “We want to build trust between Program. the Malahat Band and health ser“We’ve been looking for somevices,” says dental hygiene student thing like that,” says Schaefer. Denise Baillet. “And it’s a small nation, so it’s not This program is the first step in overwhelming for our students.” Jason Motz Staff Writer

Photo: Courtney broughton

Camosun dental students are excited about a new partnership with the Malahat Nation to provide the community with oral hygiene.

Currently, 263 people are registered members of the Malahat Nation, but only approximately 150 live on the two land reserves. The dental students have begun the program in earnest. In early February the students started a series of informational presentations designed to educate members of the Malahat Nation. Specialized presentations were organized that focused on dental care for youth members, new parents, and a men’s group. These presentations highlighted basic oral and hygiene instruction. The next step in the program is to initiate individual assessments. “It has to fit in with the students’ schedule. That is how we are working it,” says Kasting. The combination of education and trust will be crucial to the program’s success. “We want to help them get to the point where they feel empowered,” says Baillet. For Baillet, there’s the added incentive of promoting the role dental hygienists play in the health care profession. The students in her program will have direct involvement in the planning and implementation of an oral health care plan in an “at-risk” community. “This is what we do,” says Baillet. “It’s a bit beyond teeth sometimes.”

Cultural talent show at Lansdowne hits the mark Andrea Moir Contributing Writer

The Peer Connections Talent Show on Feb. 12 proved Camosun College is blessed with a gifted student body, no matter what continent they may call home.

“Working together and learning about culture is what this night is about.” Brian Herron Camosun College

The Peer Connections Program is a peer support group for international students. The talent show was put on to promote awareness of the program, as well as honour and celebrate Camosun’s diverse culture.

The night was organized by Peer Connections and performed by any Camosun students who wanted to be involved. Brian Herron, Camosun’s international student coordinator, set the cultural tone for the night as he started off the show by thanking the Coast Salish people for “having us here on their land.” From there on, the Gibson Auditorium in the Young Building at Lansdowne was transformed into a world of cultural entertainment. The audience was treated to 12 performers in nine acts. The unique pieces each entertainer put together created a diverse show. From Iranian dance styles to First Nations drumming, the performances captivated the full auditorium immediately. The first performance had the audience involved as they clapped along to traditional Sudanese music. A poetry performance by psych-

Photo: CHristi Kay

Camsun student Takehiro Suzuki was one of 12 performers at a recent oncampus talent show.

ology student Robin Patterson had the audience in a somber silence, until he recited the final line of his self-written poem, The Door—”Are you almost done in there, I have to pee!” Possibly one of the best pieces of the night was an Arabic performance by Mohammad Khadim,

*
 '


MLA Victoria-Beacon Hill

Supporting more affordable and accessible post-secondary education [email protected] 250-952-4211 www.opposition.bc.ca

who played the oud, an instrument prominent in Islamic music. His style could be considered worthy of a spot on Camosun’s global roots station, Village 900. Additionally, contemporary folk singer Elizabeth Gerow’s spiritual songs made it clear Camosun is home to extraordinary talents. What does Herron hope his international students will gain from this experience? “Working together and learning about culture is what this night is about,” he says. “They have also been taking leadership; they have been the spirit of this whole event.” Planning the show meant a lot of hard work for all of the Peer Connections students, especially Takehiro Suzuki, a classical voice major in the Music Foundation Program at Camosun. “I had to e-mail a lot of people every night, and to be honest, I wanted to cut off my fingers so I didn’t have to e-mail anyone else. My teachers will be happy after this,” says Suzuki. Suzuki not only took charge of planning the talent show, he

also performed four songs that night, each in a different language— German, French, Japanese, and English. His vocal range shocked and delighted the audience, with his first songs in low baritones and his final songs in a range Mariah Carey would find tough to beat. His musical talent is one many singers could only hope to achieve, and one that did not take him very long to cultivate. “I have been singing for four years. I worked really hard and I have a great teacher at the Conservatory of Music,” he says. Unlike dream-crushing American Idol tryouts, no official winner or loser was announced at the show; instead, it focused on celebrating the diversity of Camosun students. The show was a success but, as Suzuki explains, perhaps more important was what the performance gave back to the students who were involved. “It made them proud in what they do because when you have that kind of reaction from the audience that makes you feel really great.”

If someone around you became seriously ill or injured, would you know what to do?

FIRST AID & CPR Training Standard First Aid with CPR “C" & AED, WCB OFA Level 1, 2, 3 CPR”C” Renewal,

GUARDIAN EMERGENCY TRAINING

Group Rates Available

(250) 642-1911

WWW.bcfirstaid.com

liFe

[email protected]

7

Disabled student says capitalism must go Guy alaimo StAFF Writer

Not being able to walk or do everyday things can drastically change your outlook on life. Just ask Nathan Moss. The 27-year-old Camosun College Interurban student, who suffers from cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around campus, has lots to say about the state of the world. He also has a few ideas on how to change it.

“it’s not about our environment, it’s not about famine; it’s about a dollar bill.” nathan moSS interurbAn Student

“I have three goals in my life,” says Moss. “One, to get into professional sports. Second is to look after my chosen family and my blood family. Third, is to create a militia that will bring capitalism to its knees.” His third goal is the one he’s most passionate about. Moss harbors resentment towards capitalism for a few reasons, some more personal than others. He says our current state of government puts people with disabilities at a serious financial disadvantage.

“I live on $856 dollars a month, with $325 of that going to my caretaker. [People with disabilities] are expected to live on about $500 a month from our wonderful government,” says Moss sarcastically. “That pretty much sums it all up. That is why I believe capitalism has to be destroyed.” The destruction of the natural environment is another thing Moss worries about, along with the general state of the world he says has been deteriorating because of capitalism. “It’s not about us and it’s not about the oppressed,” says Moss. “It’s not about our environment, it’s not about famine; it’s about a dollar bill. That’s what it breaks down to. People just don’t give a fuck, that’s why it’s so sad, in my own country, to see people from the upper middle class and elite behave so ignorantly.” As for creating a “militia,” Moss says he wants all minority groups around the world to join together. “I want to bring real solutions to the issues,” says Moss. “We will start in Canada and create a real economic plan. One that doesn’t just benefit the upper middle class and the elite.” Bringing a level of understanding about other serious issues many Canadians may take for granted is a driving force behind Moss’s goals. “We need to start the process of enlightening people about the mentally ill and the drug-addicted

Photo: CourtneY broughton

Doctors feared Interurban student Nathan Moss would not survive after being born prematurely and with cerebral palsy.

people. We need to have more compassion to those groups. We need to have more talks about legalizing even the harder drugs, and offer them the right amount so they will be comfortable, or offer them an option to go to rehab.” Another thing on Moss’ long to-do list is working in Africa. “Currently there are many countries [in Africa] that are in the midst of war,” says Moss. “We need to go in there and help. We don’t want to create a Western-style democracy. We simply want the Africans to live their lives, and return back to

what made the continent so unique, without Western propaganda influencing them.” When it comes to competing in professional sports, Moss says it’s always been a dream of his. After being born four months premature with cerebral palsy, a nurse draped the diehard Saskatchewan Roughriders fan in the team’s green and white colors. “I guess the colors kind of seeped into me, because I’ve bled green and white ever since,” says Moss, whose bedroom is stocked to the brim in sports memorabilia.

Moss currently plays floor hockey in a league with other disabled athletes. He is also interested in someday working for a professional sports team. In the meantime, Moss is going to continue his crusade fighting for a better world to live in, despite what some people might think of his beliefs. “I live life with my soul, whether that means fighting, reading, mediating peace, or working on my career. No one can question my desire to live and make this world a better place.”

Camosun College is looking for your INNOVATIVE ideas to help the college become a leader in sustainability. You could win a $1,000 cash prize and a $1,500 operational budget to help make your idea a reality. Your idea could be anything *, as long as it has a positive impact on sustainabilty at Camosun College. Project submissions are due by 4 pm, March 2, 2009. Applicants must be registered Camosun students in March, 2009.

www.camosun.ca/green

*for a complete list of contest rules see:

Camosun Colleg Students for Environmental Awareness

Business Options Career Fair Interurban Campus

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Centre for Business and Access building (first and second floor atrium) Exhibitors and networking: 10 am-2 pm Employer presentations start at 10 am (see schedule below)

Want to get your career on track? Are you a business student wondering which area to specialize in? Almost ready to graduate and looking for career options? Want to find out more about life as an accountant, a marketer or a hotel manager?

Got questions you would like to ask potential employers?

Exhibitors include:

BCHRMA—www.bchrma.org RBC Royal Bank—www.rbc.com Ministry of Attorney General—www. gov.bc.ca Staples—www.staples.ca Certified Management Accountants of BC—www.cmabc.com Investors Group—www. investorsgroupvictoriametro.com Canada Revenue Agency—www. cra-arc.gc.ca Inn at Laurel Point—www.laurelpoint. com Certified General Accountants Association of BC—www.cga-bc.org

Speakers include:

• Larry Randle, Manager of Corporate Services, Township of Esquimalt • Anita Wasiuta, Senior Marketing Coordinator, BC Transit

The School of Business and Co-operative Education and Student Employment are banding together to help you get the answers by hosting a Business Options and Career Fair. Representatives from a variety of local businesses will deliver a series of career related information sessions to increase students’ awareness of the different sectors; what skills are required, what steps to take to enter the market, and the possible career prospects. Exhibitors will be set up and ready to chat with you about their business and potential career, co-op, internship, or summer employment opportunities. • • • • • • •

Learn how to enter the market Discover possible career prospects Meet and chat with employers from all business sectors Build your personal network Discover what skills are required in the workplace Find out where the best opportunities lie Investigate employment opportunities

Maximize your opportunities. Come well prepared, dressed appropriately, and with resume in hand.

Enter the draw for a grand prize provided courtesy of Staples.

• Ian Powell, General Manager, Inn at Laurel Point • Brock Campbell, Hayes, Stewart, Little & Co. • James McKenzie, President, Monk Office Supply • Michelle Roswell, Manager, Human Resources, Public Affairs Bureau • Kim Jordison, Premier’s Office, Province of British Columbia • Maggie Ker-Southin, President, PR Director, Artemis PR & Design

Thursday, March 5 presentation schedule 10-10:30 am

10:30-11 am

12:30-1 pm

1-1:30 pm

Public Administration Management Marketing Tourism and Hospitality

Accounting Management Economics Marketing Human Resource Management

Human Resource Management Public Administration Economics Marketing Finance Tourism

Accounting Finance Economics Public Administration Marketing Management

SPortS Three Camosun sports teams look to charge into provincial playoffs

[email protected]

Guy alaimo StAFF Writer

The Chargers women’s basketball team had one game left in their fairy tale season that had seen them ranked as high as first place in the country. With a win on the weekend of Feb.13–14, the women would clinch home-court advantage in the BC Colleges Athletics’ Association (BCCAA) playoffs. Results were not available by press time but the team currently sits at 14 wins, one loss. One thing is for sure though. The women Chargers are basketball favorites heading into the BCCAA postseason. Kate Carlson, one of the team’s more outstanding players, was ranked ninth in the league in assists, averaging 2.73 per game. Carmen Lapthorne is also having a very strong season, and was ranked fourth in the league in points per game with 13.4, and fifth in assists per game with 3.4. Meanwhile the men’s basketball team is out of the playoffs with a record of 4-11. Their last game is against Douglas College on Feb. 20. Jeff Krawetz has been a bright spot, ranking eighth in the league in scoring with 15.9 points per game. Also, Nick Adair is seventh in rebounds with 7.3 per game.

The Chargers women’s volleyball team was barely in playoff contention heading into the last two weeks of the season with a record of 5-10. To do the improbable, the Chargers had to defeat rival Vancouver Island University (VIU) on Feb. 13. Results were not available by press time.

Post-season blues here’s a look at how the Chargers teams have fared in the bCCAA playoffs over the past two seasons: Women’s basketball • 2007/08—finished first in league play (13–3), silver medal in playoffs • 2006/07—finished sixth in league play (6–10), fourth place in playoffs

“the players are confident and really believe that they can win.”

Men’s basketball • 2007/08—finished third in league play (11–5), bronze medal in playoffs

CharleS ParKinSon CAMoSun ChArgerS

• 2006/07—finished fifth in league play (9–7), fifth place in playoffs Photo: SAMAnthA doneY

But the team may not have gotten this far at all had it not been for the stellar play of Charger Caitlin Weir. She was in first place in BC with 0.53 aces per game. Laura Ouillete was seventh in BC with 3.59 digs per game. The men’s volleyball team, currently at 11-4, was also in a mustwin situation if they wanted a bye in the first round of the playoffs. UBC Okanagan trailed them by half a point heading into their final

Kate Carlson and the women’s basketball team hope to win it all in BC playoffs.

game of the regular season. If the Chargers won the weekend of Feb. 13–14, UBC had to lose one of their final two games for the Chargers to get home-court advantage. Head Coach Charles Parkinson says his team is prepared for the upcoming playoffs. “We could do well in the playoffs this year because we have beaten all the top teams at least once and are riding a pretty hot streak right

now, says Parkinson. “The players are confident and really believe that they can win; a mental state which is critical at this time of the season.” Parkinson also says the team has worked hard all season and is well prepared for the playoffs. “We have earned every one of our 11 victories this season,” says Parkinson. “We’ve found a way in every match to earn the last few points at crucial times.”

Chargers to watch for

• 2007/08—finished seventh in league play (6–12), didn’t make playoffs • 2006/07—finished sixth in league play (5–11), fifth place in playoffs Men’s volleyball • 2007/08—finished seventh in league play (8–10), didn’t make playoffs • 2006/07—finished third in league play (10–6), fifth place in playoffs

What were your personal goals this season?

How are you feeling about upcoming playoffs?

being my last year at Camosun, my goals were simply to play hard and to the best of my abilities while leaving no regrets.

i’m eager for playoffs to start and excited about the possibility of winning provincials and making it to nationals. As a team, we will really have to come together and play our best for a whole game for that to happen, but i think we are ready.

team goals are definitely to win provincials and nationals!

What were your personal goals this season? My personal goals were to play as hard as i could every game so i can finish this season with no regrets.

What have been your highlights so far in a Chargers uniform? What stands out for me are definitely the friendships. We have a great group of girls and i have shared many wonderful experiences on and off the court with them. How are you feeling this year with all the changes, like the new gym and new players?

Team: Women’s basketball Year: 4 Position: Post Height: 5’ 9” Hometown: Victoria, BC

it’s great! We have added talented new players that really contribute to our team. the new players also really give depth to our team, which is always a good thing. the new facility is awesome. i love finally having our own gym.

High school: Claremont

i bring some experience and leadership to the team.

Camosun program: Nursing

Women’s volleyball

By Samantha doney

What are your team goals?

Ashley Mackay—#15

9

What’s your role on the team?

What have been the highlights so far in a Chargers uniform?

Kate Carlson—#5 Team: Women’s basketball Year: 3 Position: Point/wing Height: 5’ 5” Hometown: Victoria High school: Spectrum Camosun program: Criminal Justice

the friendships i’ve made over the past three years, and being a part of the transformation of the women’s program. What’s your role on the team? As a third-year player and the point guard my role on the team is to be a leader. i bring some experience to the court and hopefully that helps my teammates out. Plans after Camosun and Chargers basketball? i don’t have any set plans for next year; it will definitely be weird not being a Charger anymore!

Chargers to watch for is written by Samantha doney, a second-year Sport Management student and Sport information and Promotions intern for Camosun Chargers Athletics. Check out the new Chargers blog at camosunchargers.blogspot.com

Call, e-mail, stop by. We want to hear your

JUICY story tips. 250.370.3591 [email protected] Richmond House 201, Lansdowne

10

L

February 18, 2009

FeAtu

osing the b One student’s story

I LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION of the word “fat” the other day. It was defined as “the ester of glycerol” and “one, two, or three fatty acids.” That’s not what fat really means. Fat means being teased. It means you’re tired all the time. It means you wear enough clothes to cover up the “fatty acids” clinging to your body. It means you’re ashamed of what you’ve done to your body, and the realization you can’t do anything about it—you’re too far-gone. You’re going to be a “fat-ass” for the rest of your life. No romantic relationships, no swimming with your shirt off. Pass the burger and fries; it’s game over. That was my thinking 22 months ago. It was March of 2006, and I held three tickets in my hand to a Stars on Ice figure skating show at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Arena. My grandmother was visiting from Nova Scotia, and my brother and I decided it would be a great idea to take her to the show. I put on my usual t-shirt with a flannel shirt on top, along with a hoodie and a puffy vest. I was a fashion nightmare. As my brother and grandmother took their seats, I discovered something that horrified me. I couldn’t fit into the seat. My “love handles” wedged themselves against the chair’s side arms and my 283-pound body was suspended in mid-air. This, needless to say, was fucking embarrassing.

I took away the power the depression had over me by destroying its foundation. Luckily, my brother was occupied trying to explain something to my grandma and never saw my Cirque de Soleil handles-of-love seat trick. I forced myself into the seat and sat there, bleeding on both sides for two and a half hours. There I was, in agonizing pain, watching men in spandex pants flying through the air. “It’s for Grammie,” I told myself, so I endured. I made it back home, went up to my room, and cried myself to sleep. I was a reasonably healthy kid up in the few years

of an of wa we

for co the tha the

old “m sch

try eve ah

ba run pa

ing so tio pa hit wo

so Fu av

ex it— wi my po

af fai

sch an be (I w

fas wa rat

Tips for shedding those extra pounds Here are a few helpful tips for losing weight that I’ve discovered along the way. MUSIC

A PROGRAM YOU ENJOY

OLD PICTURES AND VIDEO

INJURIES

WEIGHING YOURSELF

Music was the key to my success and wanting to go out to exercise. Bands like Muse, Linkin Park, Coldplay, and Radiohead kept me going and rose my confidence while exercising. Music is also important for the gym. When you put in your ear-buds and turn up the music, it puts you into your own little world. You forget about everything and everyone. It’s just you and the beats.

Finding a form of exercise you enjoy is essential for successful weight loss. For me, it was hiking. When you find the right type of exercise, there’s no stopping you. The same goes for food. I’ve discovered a love for healthy foods; bananas, oranges, dried apricots, and raisins, to name a few. If I don’t feel like fruit, I’ll have a piece of 12-grain bread with a small amount of peanut butter and a thin slice of cheese on top. It’s a great mixture of complex carbohydrates and protein.

This is a great motivator. What I did halfway through my weight-loss program was print up a few pictures when I was at my heaviest. I put the pictures all around my room so I would see them. I would tape one to my door, on top of my alarm clock, beside my desk . . . It served as a reminder to me; if I decided to stop exercising and eating well, I would end up looking like the pictures.

What I found out the hard way was there’s a very fine line between pushing yourself and pushing yourself too hard. There’s no better killer of a diet and exercise program than an injury. Work hard and make sure you end up in a sweat, but don’t go as far as feeling dizzy or nauseous. It never ends well.

Because your weight fluctuates dramatically throughout the week, it’s essential to weigh yourself only once a week in the morning (before eating). Also, you have to be wearing the same amount of clothing each time. By weighing yourself before eating in the morning, you can see how much you weigh without food digesting in your stomach. If you weigh yourself every day, it will fluctuate. Some days your body retains water, and others it doesn’t; the ever-changing weigh-ins can be very demoralizing. To get your true weight, weigh yourself only one morning a week.

ing em

ab for

sch oth for in gre wo liv an the

the are

ins be

Ature

[email protected]

11

e baggage

ory of dropping 120 pounds and starting life over again

he nd lly

he he

ur ut ss” no es;

ch on al

nd ke nel as

,I fit es dy as

er n.

in de he nd

in e,” nt

rs

t y s f e . f y e u u u , s r, e s . , e

of my life. I started playing sports with my brothers and began playing in a soccer league. Around the age of six, I used to wake up really early every weekend and watch morning cartoons and sports. It was one of those weekends where it all began. I began to travel down a path I wouldn’t escape from for the next 15 years. I crawled up on top of the kitchen counter and grabbed six cookies from the cookie tin on the top shelf. Why six? Because cookies are delicious, that’s why. So every weekend I ate my cookies and lived the life. I steadily gained more and more pounds as I grew older, and by high school I was classified as being a “morbidly obese” teenager. When you’re fat and in high school, you generally have a rough go of it. It was there I began covering myself up with clothes, trying to hide my very public secret. In gym class, when everyone was in shorts and a t-shirt, I was in shorts and a hoodie. I loved sports; I loved scoring goals and smacking a ball with a bat as hard as I could. But when it came to running around the bases, or trying to get open for a pass, my weight quickly became an issue. I was always completely out of breath before reaching first base. I couldn’t get past the halfway line of the soccer field without wanting to drop dead of exhaustion. Everyone noticed my struggles and no one would pass me the soccer ball. And no matter how far I could hit a baseball, I couldn’t get past second base. My body wouldn’t allow it. My high school had a 2400-metre run once a month so students could show off their fitness to their teacher. Fuck. The first person would finish in eight minutes. My average throughout high school was 40 minutes. Was I embarrassed? You bet, but people weren’t expecting anything different from me. Think about it—how could someone that large run for a long distance without lagging behind? I ended up dreading going to my favourite class and it made high school almost impossible to deal with. When it came to the end of high school, I was labelled a fat, insecure redhead with seemingly no chance of a fair life without the excess pounds. As you might have guessed, I didn’t have a date to the school prom. I did ask one girl out (via e-mail, of course), and she ended up making the excuse she was going to be in Seattle that day. I ended up going with my parents (I was so cool) and only stayed for the free food. When the dancing started, I booked it out of there faster than a fat kid on a Smartie. There was no way I was going to embarrass myself on the dance floor; I’d rather go home and have some Ben and Jerry’s. And that was the end of high school. No more judging the fat kid, no more 40-minute runs, and no more embarrassing moments with friends at sports events. I knew I couldn’t go straight to university; I needed a break from the education system. I decided to sign up for a trip to work abroad. I was assigned to work in an American international school in Genoa, Italy. I was thrown together with five others my age from all around BC who were handpicked for this trip. It was the first year the program was working in Italy, so we all felt special and unique. This would be great, I thought. I’d be going to a country where no one would know me, and the only person I knew in Europe lived in England. This would be my chance to fix things and become a better, mature person. I was supposed to be there for 11 months. But I didn’t last nearly that long. Genoa itself was a beautiful place to live; palm trees, the calming waves of the Mediterranean, and the food are things I still crave to this day. It was the middle of October when I felt something inside me start to change. I was stressed from the work, becoming upset and irritated at very minor things, and

my overall mood took a serious turn for the worse. After a long day at work, I would stop by the bakery, grab two pieces of cheese foccacia, and head up to my apartment. I would shut my door and close the curtains and windows so it was pitch black. Looking back at it now, this behaviour wasn’t normal. But for me, it was. My mind began to turn on me. Then my friend came to visit me from his own trip in England. It was during this visit when he realized something was wrong with me. While he was entertaining my friends in the kitchen, I was sulking in the comfort of the dark in my room. In the pitch black, I couldn’t see where I was and what I looked like. I was alone with my negative thoughts. I had a serious case of clinical depression and needed help. I flew home early in December after being in Italy for only three months and began my long road to recovery. It was during this time that the weight really started to pile on. The feeling I had during the worst months of my depression was the feeling of being completely and utterly numb. I couldn’t laugh, cry, be happy, or show any emotion. I was numb to everyone and everything around me. Eating food was the only comfort I had in life. I ate the foods that had the best taste so I could get some enjoyment out of something. Those foods ended up being fast food, chocolate, Timbits, and candy. Any food with more than 100 calories in a bite would be digesting in my stomach in a matter of seconds. In a year and a half I strengthened the main weapon of my depression—my weight. Anytime I would feel a little good about myself, my inner voice would show up and take me down. It would remind me I was wearing size 54 shorts. This was the way I was and it would never change, I thought. One of the later stages of my depression involved me having extreme mood swings. One minute I would be happy and on top of the world, the next I would be bombarded by a dark cloud with nothing to look forward to. It was during one of these episodes where I began having a discussion with myself. I was sick of feeling sorry for myself. I was sick of being fat. So I gave myself an ultimatum—keep eating and living the way I was and end up in the morgue after a fatal heart attack, or start working hard to shed the pounds and see what the rest of my years would be like as a healthy person. I knew I didn’t want to die a fat, depressed 20-yearold who never gave himself a chance. It was time to change for good. I set a date to start my own diet and exercise program. I immediately cut out all the junk food and started eating healthy. It was difficult, and my body began craving the calorie-heavy foods I was so accustomed to. But the change of food was nothing compared to the exercise. Exercise hurt. I started walking on a trail by my house for 20 minutes every other day. I would be so out of breath at the beginning, middle, and end that I felt like if I fell over I wouldn’t be able to get back up. My lungs would hurt, my legs would burn, and my stomach turned into a sea of nausea. I had to remind myself every minute I was sick of being my depression’s bitch. This needed to be done; I had to win. During this excruciating work, I had a mental image of what I wanted to look like when I was finished. I knew I had to push through the pain to accomplish that image. I took it week by week and began shedding the pounds. Eventually, the trail wasn’t enough of a challenge for me; I was becoming fitter and faster. Throughout my program I discovered I loved hiking, so I began climbing Mt. Doug. I climbed it every week as much as I could. I loved the challenge and that I could

By ChriS Burnett Photo: CourtneY broughton

see how high I climbed when I reached the aerial at the top. Weeks turned into months and I continued to lose weight. In January of 2008 I did something I never thought I would ever do. I joined a gym. I hated gyms because I always felt like everyone was watching my sad attempts at losing weight. But I had lost 50 pounds and knew if I wanted to lose more the gym would be the best place to do it. I worked on all the machines my body would allow and dropped the weight even faster. After 115 climbs up Mt. Doug, I discovered it wasn’t enough of a challenge, so I thought bigger. I started climbing Mt. Finlayson. To this day I climb “The Fin” and love being in and around nature. It’s come to the point where I actually miss doing exercise if I don’t do it. I get a high off of it. I never thought I’d like exercising, but I know if I’m down and feeling stressed I’ll go for a hike or row a couple thousand meters at the gym. It’s amazing how different you feel after the endorphins do their thing. I took away the power the depression had over me by destroying its foundation. I changed my life and the way I live. All it took was a hunk of willpower and a lot of hard work and dedication. When all is said and done, I’ve dropped 120 pounds. I’ve gone from a size 54 waist to a size 32. I can wear any kind of clothes I want and have the freedom to play well and hard at any sport. While I’m only 21 years old and am by no means out of the woods yet, I have the confidence and support around me to continue this lifestyle for the rest of my life. When I set out to lose the weight, I wanted to be thin for the sake of looking thin. I wanted to fit in with everyone. What I’ve come to realize is my image is only a small portion of the good that came out of this experience. The fact I can move more freely is the most important thing to me now. I can get up off the floor with one hand. I can do pushups. I can do sit-ups. I can jump like I’ve never jumped before! I’ve taken control of my life and my body. Game on.

Try and try again This article would not be complete without mentioning my failed attempts at losing weight. The first time I really tried was in Grade 8. I started running around my neighbourhood for a few weeks and ended up losing 15 pounds. I figured that was enough; I thought I could keep it off for a while. That “while” lasted one month. That’s how long it took me to gain it all back. All other attempts to lose weight ended prematurely. On one try I pulled a hamstring; on another I tore a ligament in my foot. I would lose all interest by the time I was better, and before I knew it I was memorizing the dollar menu at McDonalds. My best attempt came in the summer after Grade 12. I had received numerous tips from my PE teacher and really went hard at losing weight during the summer. By the time I took off for a trip to Italy, I had lost 50 pounds. I was giddy with pride. But, a few days into my trip, I contracted a serious infection on my big toes. I could barely walk, let alone exercise. No exercise plus foccacia, gelato, and pizza equals a fat Chris. It took exactly one-and-a-half months to gain back the weight I’d worked so hard to lose. Chalk it up as another failed attempt. It’s important to understand that my latest attempt wasn’t my only one. I’ve had eight years of failure to get to where I am today. The important thing is to persevere, to never give up on what you know you can do. I’m living proof of this idea.

ARTS

12 Swim with a new school

Add online courses to your regular studies Didn’t get into the course you needed? Is your busy schedule making it difficult to balance schoolwork and a job? Thompson Rivers University can help by bringing education directly to you through Open Learning. With over 400 online and distance courses available for registration throughout the year, you can get the credits you need and transfer them back to your home institution. You can study when you want, where you want and even set your own exam schedule. For a complete list of Open Learning courses and programs please visit our website.

www.truopen.ca 1.877.663.4091

February 18, 2009

A précis on Propagandhi Shane Scott-Travis Contributing Writer

There’s Propagandhi, purveyors of political punk and satirical song craft. And there’s the Canadian music scene, which the band is tethered to in a guilt-by-association sort of way. They are based in wintry Winnipeg, a culturally rich city that has shaded some true Canadian originals, of which Propagandhi member Dave “The Beav” Gullias “Bands like SNFU and DOA is no exception. opened me up to a new kind of culOn the cusp of the band’s fifth (seriously shredding on guitar). “We’re at a rejuvenated state tural paradigm,” says Samolesky. full-length release, Supporting Caste (which drops March10), and and we’re progressing; it’s like “If Propagandhi can contribute an eagerly anticipated world tour Propagandhi with a new clever layer to that sort of thing, that’s how set to begin, these self-proclaimed added to the mix,” says Samolesky. I’d measure our success. We’re “visibly aging prairie skids” are back “We’re moving ahead with a lot of a band in a privileged position; confidence.” we were able to ride the coattails with renewed energy and vigour. Confidence needs to be conclu- of the pop-punk explosion of the Despite a fickle punk scene, Propagandhi has been slam-dan- sive for a band known for picking early/mid-’90s, and that bumped cing their way into hearts and minds their battles and fighting the good everything up a level or two. Now for over two decades. No small feat fight. Often described in multiple we have our second wind to take in a genre where longevity’s a knack hyphens as a powder keg of anti-fas- things seriously, to keep improving cist, pro-vegan, pro-gay, left wing and to keep spreading messages.” very few can crack. According to Samolesky, any“We’ve never been a band to flag-bearers, a sense of humour is body can play a role in social change. milk the genre,” explains drum- requisite for these Manitobans. “Which Muppet is my favour- “I appreciate people who go against mer Jord Samolesky, one of the band’s founding members. “We just ite?” snickers Samolesky. “I don’t the grain, and many academics, produce music at our own pace and want to say Animal—that’s too like Ward Churchill and Norman obvious. I’m leaning towards the Finkelstein, should be viewed as suddenly 20 years passes.” Being planted in the prairies old curmudgeonly fuckers [Statler social artists.” “It’s the same with people on the and working on their own terms and Waldorf], I could see myself as has been primary to the band’s a variant of either of them later in margins of society, or even just kids my life.” in a college environment who are perseverance and motivation. There’s always been a certain generating and sharing information And Supporting Caste represents a shift in the band’s dynamics. amount of sass with their ouevre for a reason. That alone speaks to “We’re excited!” says Samolesky. and Supporting Caste, while futzing me as much as any art,” he says. Anyone wishing to break free “It’s our first studio effort as a four- with new thumps and thuds, is still prime Propagandhi. With tracks of imposed thinking, giggle at piece band.” The current lineup also includes like “Human(e) Meat,” Swiftian some great banter, or simply hone lead vocalist/guitarist Chris Han- satire never chimed truer. And this some armchair intellect should visit nah, Todd “The Rod” Kowalski recipe of politics and parody has propagandhi.com and bone up on some high-priced social currency. (slapping a mean bass), and newest helped sauté their success.

How much is too much to spend on going out? How do you choose where to spend your money? Going to movies, seeing a band, or hanging out with friends are all ways to have fun while you’re at college or university.

For many of you, going to college or university is about freedom and exploring your own boundaries. But it’s also about making good decisions. Unfortunately for some people their decisions regarding gambling can lead to problems. Problems with gambling can ruin your relationships with friends and family, affect your finances, and destroy plans for graduating and career. The Province of British Columbia established its Responsible Gambling Strategy in 2003. The goal of the Strategy is to prevent gambling problems and raise awareness of responsible gambling practices. Managed by the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, it is comprised of public awareness and education, clinical counselling and prevention services, research, and policy development. If you would like more information about these services, or to be referred to a counsellor near you, phone the 24 hour toll-free Problem Gambling Help Line at

1-888-795-6111 The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is an independent, non-profit organization committed to problem gambling prevention. RGC designs and delivers highly effective awareness programs. The Council promotes the identification and adoption of best practices in problem gambling prevention through research and information dissemination.

ARTS

[email protected]

13

The trouble with Oscars Nexus review team picks their own winners Shane Scott-Travis and Ed Sum Contributing Writers

It’s almost time for the Oscars—where the Hollywood elite puff up their chests, powder their noses, and look down on all of us who clamor at the gates to Tinseltown. But for every Hollywood phony in attendance, you’re sure to find more movie lovers willing to put up with the pageantry and paparazzi to see what films get the coveted prize. Here to point their fingers and laugh derisively at some of the categories are Nexus’ resident film buffs, Shane Scott-Travis and Ed Sum. Ed: You know, too much time is spent covering who’s wearing what as they walk down the red carpet, as well as the after-parties. And to host the Oscars, you need someone with a voice, like Billy Crystal. Shane: This year, Hugh Jackman’s hosting the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Really? The guy who played Van Helsing? Isn’t that kinda like ordering champagne and getting served Baby Duck? I don’t know who’s going to be winning on Oscar night, but now I know who’s going to be losing—the audience! Okay, so let’s take a look at some of the nominees and start cracking this nut.

Photo: Courtney broughton

In the balcony: Shane Scott-Travis (left) and Ed Sum (right).

BEST ACTOR, LEADING

Richard Jenkins, The Visitor Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon Sean Penn, Milk Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler Ed: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a great concept, but Brad Pitt? He’s hardly an exceptional actor. And the story’s not exactly original; it was inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story. Will Hollywood ever recognize originality? Shane: Did David Fincher even read Fitzgerald’s story? It was a satirical piece laced with irony, not a three-hanky weep-athon! I have to say, Ed—Brad Pitt, despite his bad boy visage and hot lateral spread, really can act. But he won’t be taking home Oscar for this one. Ed: After seeing Frost/Nixon, Frank Langella’s nomination for Best Actor is highly deserved. Langella really pulled it off. His eyes revealed the depth of his character and he gave it his all. Shane: Sean Penn was sublime in Milk, but he’s a real douche offscreen. Not that you need to be a nice guy to win an Academy Award, but it wouldn’t hurt. The same can be said for Mickey Rourke. He was brilliant in The Wrestler, but in real life the guy is a total butt-munch. The Oscars are like hemorrhoids—sooner or later every asshole gets one. Ed: It’s Langella all the way. I can only imagine what the film crew must have felt while shooting those climactic scenes. As for The Wrestler, just because Rourke has the baby-face look down and there’s tons of praise for his comeback doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll win an Oscar. The person I’m rooting for in that film is in the next category . . .

ACTRESS, SUPPORTING

Amy Adams, Doubt Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona Viola Davis, Doubt Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler Ed: Marisa Tomei played more of a three-dimensional character

than Rourke. Shane: Tomei was fearless and impressive, but I’d like to see Penelope Cruz win for her role in Vicky Christina Barcelona. Cruz was a highlight in a great film which should have gotten Woody Allen a screenwriting nomination, but didn’t. Too bad, because it’s one of his freshest stories in years! Ed: Over in the supporting actor category, there’s a lot of fuss over Heath Ledger. His performance as the Joker will be remembered for a long time. He put the joke back in Joker. Shane: The big question on everyone’s minds is will Heath Ledger show up to receive his Oscar? Ed: (Groans.) Shane: What? Too soon? Ed: Nyah-ha-ha! No, seriously, for a supporting role, it’d be cool to have a cast member from a comic book movie win.

The Oscars are like hemorrhoids—sooner or later every asshole gets one. BEST PICTURE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Frost/Nixon Milk The Reader Slumdog Millionaire Shane: Why is Slumdog Millionaire nominated for everything? Sure, the film has heart, but no way does it compare with Revolutionary Road or Synecdoche, New York. Neither film got nominated, but both will be remembered and written about for years to come. Mark my words! Ed: I don’t know about Slumdog; maybe because it’s not a stereotyped look at India? Shane: Don’t tell India that! I look at Slumdog and see a compendium of clichés. Best Picture will probably go to Milk. Though, in my opinion, Van Sant’s other film from last year, Paranoid Park, was every

bit as evocative as Milk. Of course, there isn’t a big name actor in its entire cast, which would explain its absence from the Oscars and strengthen my theory that these awards amount to a popularity poll.

BEST DIRECTOR

David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon Gus Van Sant, Milk Stephen Daldry, The Reader Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire Ed: None of these stand out as spectacular, spectacular. Sorry, I had to borrow a line from Moulin Rouge there. It’d be a rarity if Hollywood went for Slumdog, so it’s a toss up between Boyle and Van Sant. There’s something about Slumdog I like, and I always root for the underdog. Shane: My money’s on Van Sant. Milk is a small miracle, and San Francisco hasn’t been framed as lovingly and as hauntingly since Vertigo. Boyle’s competent and all, but Slumdog isn’t his masterpiece. I wonder why John Patrick Shanley got snubbed? Doubt was stunning and it had four of the leads all nominated for Oscars in acting categories. The director would have something to do with that, don’t you think? Ed: Too bad Best Director couldn’t go to Andrew Stanton for Wall-E. For a CGI film, it surpasses everything this genre can do.

ANIMATED FEATURE Bolt Kung-Fu Panda Wall-E

Shane: I predict Wall-E will win for Best Animated Film and maybe even Best Original Screenplay. Ed: I never thought Wall-E could be carried through by sound effects alone. And how Stanton could guide the creative and CGI teams throughout the rendering process must have been draining. Why the Best Director category is limited to live action films is beyond me. Shane: Documentary directors get dissed too. Don’t get me started. Ed: I’m a huge animation fan,

and Pixar never disappoints. I can only hope their future films are just as thoughtful. I can see Kung-Fu Panda challenging Wall-E because kids can identify more with cuddly animals than cold steel. Shane: I never would have guessed you were an animation fan, Ed. Never! Ed: You got me. Something else that gets me is the Academy voters. They determine the fate of CGI flicks! Making these films takes a long time, and only so many can come out each year. This category should be retired until there are at least four challengers rather than three. Bolt doesn’t even come close to being Oscar-worthy. Shane: Horton Hears a Who should have gotten Bolt’s nomination. And there were other animated films that got overlooked. Waltz with Bashir got a Foreign Language Film nomination, but it’s animated. What gives? Ed: I agree with you on Horton. At least it had less of a Disney feel.

HONORARY AWARDS

Shane: Onwards and upwards! Each year the Oscars have honorary awards to dole out. This year’s no different, with Jerry Lewis getting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Does this mean that 40 years from now Tim Allen will get his? Ed: Jerry Lewis definitely deserves it. He’s done more than cross boundaries in all the work he’s done, on and off screen.

Shane: True, Lewis’ telethons raised billions of dollars to fight Muscular Dystrophy, but it’s the least the man could do for putting us through all those dreadful films he did with Dean Martin. There’s a reason Lewis is big in France—they love fromage!

OTHER CATEGORIES

Ed: I’m not surprised The Dark Knight was snubbed in the major categories but is carried by technical awards. Comic book movies are not meant to be Best Film winners. That would mean Hollywood writers are admitting defeat; they can’t put out a good story. Shane: I don’t know about that, Ed, but it’s great Mike Leigh has been nominated for his screenplay for Happy-Go-Lucky. Leigh doesn’t technically write any of his screenplays; they’re organic creations he teases from his actors over a long rehearsal process. He’s publicly admitted his loathing for traditional screenplays. I wonder if it pisses him off to be nominated? I guess the joke’s on the Academy this time.

FASHION

Shane: Drawn like a moth to a flame, I’ll be watching on Feb. 22. All complaints and pettiness aside, I really want to see what Angelina Jolie will be wearing. Will she warrant another entry in my fantasy file? We’ll see. Like a moth to a sexy flame, we shall see. Ed: We’ll have to wait until Feb. 22 to see what goes down! Until then, the balcony is closed.

GRAB A NEXUS Copies of Nexus are now located on the outskirts of campus in our handy blue boxes. Find us near the Richmond and Foul Bay bus stops at Lansdowne, and near the bus shelter at Interurban.

No more boring bus rides! 250.370.3591 [email protected] www.nexusnewspaper.com Richmond House 201, Lansdowne

ArtS

1

Rock and roll and agriculture

Noise Addict

By Michael Duncan

Peter Gardner Contributing Writer

Dan Sioui, lead singer and guitarist of Vancouver band Carpenter, loves singing, partying, John Cougar Mellencamp, and farming. Agriculture might not be hardcore to some, but in Sioui’s opinion, all of these things are key elements to rock music. “There are a lot of similarities [between music and farming]. You need to believe in yourself, and be passionate about your abilities and the cause,” says Sioui. Sioui’s love of farming started when he was working in the downtown eastside of Vancouver. “I was seeking a refuge,” explains Sioui. “I started spending time on organic farms in the lower mainland, and started educating myself about the struggles they were going through. I found myself becoming passionate about it, and wanting to spread the word to help the cause.” It’s a cause Carpenter has been well involved with. In the past, they’ve helped support such organizations as the Canadian Organic Growers and Farm Folk City Folk. Now the band is about to head to Cuba. The band recently got a letter from the arts minister of Cuba, inviting them to tour the country. The tour will last 18 days and the money raised will go to Solidarity Rock, which promotes freedom of expression through rock and roll. As well, the band is bringing instruments and equipment to donate. “They heard about us since we’ve done some political cause shows, and they liked our music and what we were all about,” says Sioui.

February 18, 2009

Old rockers, new albums

Being on an independent label can sometimes make it harder to get noticed by these organizations. But a lot of Carpenter’s songs are about the struggles of being a farmer, which “ brings a level of being genuine when you’re singing about it,” says Sioui. “Plus, I just bought a 160-acre farm in North Ontario. [Your message] carries a bit more weight when you put your money where your mouth is,” he says. But as important as farming is to Sioui, he knows it’s about the music first. “The point of our music isn’t just to bring people to a cause, but for people to sing along and enjoy the music,” says Sioui. “That’s the big thing about this band. At first it’s almost seen as a novelty act because of the John Cougar thing, or the farming thing, but once they get a chance to see us, we get taken

If the following three musicians were spotted in downtown Victoria, someone might assume they were retirees out for a leisurely stroll. With their graying hair and sagging complexions, their golden years might just be behind them. Then again, these men are iconic and influential musicians who have just released new material. So get past those geriatric jitters and harvest these new albums from Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. Neil Young’s newest album, Sugar Mountain: Live at Cantebury House 1968, may not be a set of recently written songs, but it’s a seriously as being a real profes- look at his unique sound just as it was blossoming. This live recording sional band.” Playing with hardcore and punk from 1968 is Young’s first solo gig bands and being on a predominately after Buffalo Springfield’s breakup, punk/hardcore label, Winnipeg’s and his first test as a lone singer/ Smallman Records, doesn’t worry songwriter. Whether you’re a devoted fan or a casual listener, Sugar a rock band like Carpenter. “Our band, live, has the spirit Mountain is a necessity. It contains of punk music. We might not have songs from his first album, Neil a lot of half-time breakdowns or Young, but also features material screaming parts, but at the end of from his biggest commercial album, the day, what Carpenter embodies After the Gold Rush. This live album is straight-up-in-your-face rock is low-fi and simple, featuring only and roll; and we’re loud as hell,” Young and his guitar but, overall, it’s an album highlighting a young says Sioui. “We claim to be the loudest band and rising musician with a high in the west, and I guess we’ll find out pitch and a charming ability. Bob Dylan’s voice may be when we come to Victoria.” hoarse nowadays, and to some it may feel like sandpaper to their Carpenter (with Gob) eardrums. But he doesn’t mince words and his songwriting ability Feb. 27, $15 is unparalleled. With his newest Lucky Bar album, Tell Tale Signs: Bootleg Serwww.luckybar.ca ies No. 8, nothing has changed. Although this album is a collection of

previously unreleased and alternate tracks from 1989 to 2006, it reveals there’s no defining version of a Dylan song. The album maintains a refreshing feeling throughout and contains a staggering quality of sound that many contemporary artists can only hint at.

Bruce Springsteen can be, at times, a point of contention for many tune-jockeys, but it’s surely out of a lack of listening. His newest album, Working on a Dream, is a batch of songs written while on tour in support of Barack Obama’s campaign, and may be more accessible for skeptical listeners. While this accessibility might please the hesitant listener, rabid Boss fans might worry. But don’t distress— the album is laden with his diverse hooks and signature surging ballads. With a distinct song collection and rich production, Working on a Dream is an excellent addition to that Boss collection. Or maybe just the start.

Rock

Arena

STREAMLINE YOUR PORTFOLIO Go from classroom to career with the School of Business at BCIT. Launch or advance your career with BCIT’s School of Business specialized part- and full-time programs. Learn from industry experts, make valuable connections, and gain an unparalleled experience. Get the skills you need to make a difference from day one. Now that’s an impressive portfolio. Visit bcit.ca/business TECHNOLOGY CHANGES EVERYTHING

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT > INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION > MANAGEMENT > OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT > AND MORE . . . client: Lynne Cruz ad name: SoBiz publication: uni/college

High School Musical: The Ice Tour Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, Jan. 29 aliSha Charmley Contributing Writer

I walked out of the arena not entirely sure what I just witnessed. Was I impressed? Well, yeah. It’s not every day kids younger than myself dance, catch basketballs falling from the ceiling, flip, and jump on tables, all while on ice. It’s also not every day a microphone is shoved in my face at a huge concert and I’m forced to sing (terribly, I might add) in front of an arena full of children and their parents. That took me to the other side of my confused emotions—complete and utter embarrassment. Following the giant sing/ dance-along began the story about young love, school musicals, and

snotty popular girls. During the show there were three on-ice falls, a cheesy slow-motion basketball game, pleather sparkly pants, and lip-syncing to questionable music playing from shitty speakers. But the phenomenal choreography and exceptional skaters made it good enough for what it was—a Disney movie turned into an ice show. I could say so much more, but it doesn’t really matter what I think; the show wasn’t designed for me. As I walked to my car, a little girl skipping in front of me said to her mom, “That was the best High School Musical ever!” putting the entire evening into real perspective.

ArtS

[email protected]

Curtain Call

If you’re going to sleep around, do it with a Roman god

Scud: The Disposable Assassin: The Whole Shebang!

By Rob Schrab Published by Image Comics

Joel WitherinGton

Shane SCott-traviS

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Back in 1998, Rob Schrab put an abrupt halt to the successful little indie comic he’d been doing for close to five years. That book was called Scud: The Disposable Assassin and it was destined to become a shaggy dog story without end. But 10 years on, a revitalized Schrab, having rediscovered his muse (while writing, directing, and producing episodes of The Sarah Silverman Program, perhaps?), finally gave the closure fans were clamoring for. Scud: The Disposable Assassin: The Whole Shebang! collects all 24 issues of the series, as well as the Drywall: Unzipped one-shot, in a mammoth trade paperback. This book, whose fate many thought was already decided, is a definite delight. Scud takes its cues from a Tarantino-like universe of high and low pop culture references, crazy social commentary, and ultra-violent slapstick. Think Terminator meets the Marx Brothers and you’re getting warm. Scud is set in a near future where consumerism reins supreme,

technology is everywhere and taken for granted, and most people are a bunch of cynical smart alecks. Sound familiar? Well, in Schrab’s world you’ll also find vending machines containing “Scuds”—robot assassins that execute the target of your choosing and then self-destruct. It isn’t long before nonsense and nausea become routine. Sensitive readers may wriggle and struggle while fans of mainstream comics may be puzzled and put off. Thankfully Scud makes no apology for its bombast and bile. Now that the Scud circle has effectively closed, will the animated film be far behind? As fans of the series know, there has been talk of this for ages, and blather of an Oliver Stone-led production have resurfaced too. While this is mostly speculation, one thing is for certain—The Whole Shebang! is a deathly delight that should pacify the most critical of fanboys.

A chance meeting Once

Starring: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová Runtime: 85 minutes On the streets of Dublin a talented busker is trying to make a living and an adorable Czech woman just wants to get her vacuum cleaner fixed. But they both have something to hide. The busker is suffering from heartbreak, only playing his touching, original pieces in the middle of the night when no one is around, and the beautiful foreign girl is trying to get by without her husband, the father of her little girl. One evening their paths cross, when the woman shamelessly insists that the busker tell her who he wrote the songs for. During their conversation he mentions he just so happens to work at a vacuum repair shop. And so begins their amazing journey, taking them places they never could have been if it weren’t for their chance encounter. The characters’ names are never mentioned, but most people could go through the entire film without noticing this. The reason behind the anonymity isn’t clear, but it likely goes hand in hand with the alternative style of the film. Once is meant to look almost like a home video. The camera work is jittery, the zooms patchy and irregular, and the lighting often poor. This is a clear stylistic choice, giving

15

the movie a very film festival-type feel, almost as though it was never meant to be as big as it became. On the other hand, multiple continuity issues exist within the film, as well as a few more obvious mistakes, such as the shadows of the equipment and crew being visible in a handful of shots. This is where the film walks a very fine line between artsy and amateur. But the slightly untidy film style acts as the icing on the cake, because what makes Once stand out is how incredibly real it looks. The characters are realistic and gritty, untouched by Hollywood’s perception of what the average Joe should be. And the best part is how nonsappy it is. These two young souls touch each other’s lives, helping each other discover the courage to find happiness and the ability to go their separate ways to pursue it. Written and directed by John Carney, Once is the winner of an Oscar for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, which would come as no surprise to anyone who sees this inspiring film.

ratings Complete disaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unfortunate malfunction. . . . . . . . A solid stand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Freakin’ fabulous . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I had never been to the opera before and I was very impressed with Handel’s Semele, currently at the Royal Theatre. Opera is a great fusion of symphony music and theatrical performance. Handel was one of Beethoven’s favourite composers and he doesn’t let us down in this opera. Semele is an entertaining Baroque opera about Roman mythology. The story follows the Princess Semele, who’s supposed to get married to Prince Athamas but has fallen in love with the Roman god, Jupiter. The feelings are mutual and, despite his marriage, Jupiter also falls for Semele, kidnaps her, then hides her away in his pleasure palace. Jupiter’s wife, Juno, is the protector of marital fidelity, so she’s not too happy about the little love affair. Juno plots revenge while Semele tries to become immortal and gets pregnant with Jupiter’s child. The opera is about desire, mortality, love, and a little “endless pleasure.” Don’t worry about translations,

this play is all in English, plus surtitles are above the stage if you have trouble following the story from song. The set design is magical. The warm temperature in the theatre would have put me to sleep, but the wonderful sets and lighting changes throughout the opera kept me going. All the performers had great voices, listening to the whole chorus

sing about love and death was both relaxing and inspiring. For opera fans, or those who have never been before but enjoy the performing arts, Semele is definitely worth going to.

ciety because they share a uniform aesthetic. Entre Les Murs has elements of cinéma vérité and feels something like a documentary, but it’s neither. It has more authenticity and humanity than any film in recent memory. This film’s heart is unequalled and it exceeds cinema. It’s bigger than all of us.

Victoria. Ultimately, this movie is too short. It has a lot to feature in 40 minutes, like a cute kangaroo rat, mammoth manta rays, aging grey whales, and speckled rattlesnakes. Some humourous moments can be seen in the film, especially amongst the seagulls. Adding to the enjoyment of seeing this film at the IMAX is feeling the huge theatre’s roaring sub-woofers. Capturing the depth of the elephant seals’ grumble not only requires excellent long-distance microphones, but also proper sound systems to recreate their call. Compared to the IMAX experience, watching this documentary at home would only prove disappointing. Naturalists will enjoy this film and a portion of ticket sales goes towards continued research and conservation efforts in the Baja California peninsula and the Sea of Cortés.

Semele Until Feb. 21, 8pm Royal Theatre www.pov.bc.ca/semele

Entre Les Murs (The Class) ★★★★★ Shane SCott-traviS Contributing Writer

Watching the new film by Laurent Cantet, Entre Les Murs (The Class) is to witness the rebirth of cinema. Nothing you see on the screen is done for pure effect, and eliciting anything but an impassioned response from the moviegoer is impossible. The film’s unassuming origins only add to its appeal. Cantet’s film won the Golden Palm at Cannes last year and is based on François Bégaudeau’s award-winning semi-autobiographical novel from 2006. Bégaudeau’s novel, also entitled Entre Les Murs, depicts his tenure as a teacher in an inner city middle school in Paris. His story adapted to the screen has so much emotional power that it electrifies. That Bégaudeau is cast as himself bolsters the proceedings tremendously. And what is more, his teacher is no saint but a flawed man who makes mistakes. His teenaged students are comprised entirely of non-actors, insuring an authenticity that Hollywood could never doctor. Their performances are so vibrant that you believe every word, every glance, and every gesture. This film is not a dirge, nor is it all hard knocks. It calls to mind Truffaut’s The 400 Blows or the lesser yet still noble Dead Poets So-

Ocean Oasis ★★★★★ ed Sum Contributing Writer

IMAX films are never visually disappointing and Ocean Oasis is suitably impressive. When compared to other oceanographic odysseys, this one emphasizes a message of conservation. Otherwise, this IMAX offering doesn’t stand out too much compared to similar films. Filmed in 2000, the Soames Summerhays-directed documentary is finally making its theatrical run in

VIEWS

16

Expectations a letdown Sarah Rankin Contributing Writer

I stare helplessly into the desolate coffee cup, searching for something that obviously isn’t there. I’m looking for my $6 worth of hope and joy, but all I find is a sad excuse for a latté. What the menu earlier promised as the solution for my morning woes has now turned into the black hole of my day. Lukewarm milk with a sorry layer of brown foam; all I taste is disappointment. One more sip of anger, followed by the dregs of regret, and my day has taken a turn for the worse, all thanks to one cup of coffee and the expectations that came along with it. Expectations are the plague of our existence. Always one step ahead of rational thinking, these preconceived ideals tear pleasant experiences into shreds of failure. And whom do we have to thank for these unrealistic expectations?

Advertising and mass media— those who spoon-feed us notions of an ideal life. In the advertising world, a new phone can give you friends at your fingertips, the right beer can make you a real man, and skin cream can reverse time.

Expectations are the plague of our existence.

Media leads us to believe family problems can be solved in a 20 minute heart-to-heart, using the right shampoo will make you a better girlfriend, and a diamond actually means forever. As these beliefs continue to sway us in making personal decisions; they distort our reality. Ro-

mantic comedies might be to blame for the breakup with your partner, not your ex’s habit of breathing too loudly all of the time. Most romance movies last long enough to follow the character’s battle against all odds to win each other’s hearts. We never see the 20 years later, where husband and wife mow the lawn and fight over yogurt prices. When it comes down to it, it’s all a matter of having the right perspective, and a good perspective is an easy thing to lose when you’re up against the genius of modern marketing. In reality, Marc Jacob boots won’t make you popular, moving to New York City won’t make you fabulous, and a Porsche Carrera can’t make your hair grow back. So what does this mean for us as consumers? For me, next time I go for coffee I’m expecting coffee, not my dreams realized in a paper cup.

February 18, 2009

Here’s to caring less Miriam Putters Contributing Writer

College students are overwhelmed with assumptions of curiosity, intelligence, and the obscure knowledge of pop culture references. But what about those of us who are indifferent if the president of the United States is black, if McDonalds is terrible for your arteries, and if we never accomplish something legendary? Apathy, Camosun College— sometimes you don’t have to give a fuck. People are disgusted when I haven’t contemplated existence. For instance, if the chicken I eat is farmed, and why I haven’t learnt from my mistakes. But does any of it matter? Not every piece of music is worth a detailed review, nor is every cough in need of a medical exam. We’ve got to let things go. We can’t care or be interested all the time. I get it . . . life’s difficult. You

money back

fast

walk in with your taxes, walk out with your money and you could win $5,000 towards a road trip. visit refundroadtrip.ca

come in today or call

1-800-HRBLOCK (472-5625)

To qualify for student pricing, student must present either (i) a T2202a documenting 4 or more months of full-time attendance at a college or university during 2008 or (ii) a valid high school identification card. Expires July 31, 2009. Must also qualify for Instant Cash Back and Cash Back products. See office for details. Valid only at participating H&R Block locations in Canada. SPC Card offers valid from 08/01/08 to 07/31/09 at participating locations in Canada only. For Cardholder only. Offers may vary, restrictions may apply. Usage may be restricted when used in conjunction with any other offer or retailer loyalty card discounts. Cannot be used towards the purchase of gift cards or certificates.

work part-time; you’re unimpressed with your grades; and your Facebook event invite must have gotten lost in cyberspace. But it’s not worth all the time, health, and effort we’re all investing. The majority of concerns are simply taken out of context. It’s wrong to expect a significant opinion on any given subject. Why can’t we just remain apathetic? As for your marks? It’s Camosun College. You’re probably an oblivious University Transfer student anyways. Occasionally, when you have the spare time and energy to research indie music, current events, and contribute to a political-based conversation with more than, “I would vote Obama because I’m not racist,” you’ll eventually be “that guy.” When have you enjoyed the company of someone passionate about everything and never once had to explain what that eye roll meant? Life goes on and there are larger concerns. Eventually you’ll have to let the topic go, so why bother with it in the first place? Next time you’re cornered into providing a vital, self-professing comment on something you’re indifferent towards, just be direct. You don’t have to care enough about anything.

Techno annoying Matteus Clement Contributing Writer

Click, click, click—the tap-dancing of keys springs out from the person sitting next to me in class, punching away messages to one of their Facebook buddies. This is my favourite class, but I can’t focus at all with the sounds of cyber banter and flashing laptop screens in my line of vision. Whatever happened to pen and paper? Do laptops have a place in the classroom? Do they provide an educational edge over the old-school pencils and notebooks? I might think so, if it wasn’t for the fact every time I look at most people’s computer screens, I see Facebook or some other social networking site. I’ve seen only one student consistently use a laptop for class notes. Looking at Camosun College’s policies, the last update made to the Computer and Technology mandate under “acceptable computer use” was in 2003. It didn’t even mention laptops anywhere in the document. Perhaps when laptops were 30 pounds and not terribly practical for school, it wasn’t so much of an issue. Cell phones have a time and a place too. I’m sure instructors are offended when someone’s cell phone goes off in class. I would like to see this reprimanded—can a professor even do that? And, for the love of god, if you have one of those cell phones that vibrate (and by vibrate I mean shake itself into pieces), just put it on silent and keep it off the table!

COLUMNS

[email protected]

By Keltie Larter

17

GIVING IT UP: old habits di By Kelly Marion

hard

Conquering with a kiss Whoever said the eyes are the windows to the soul was mistaken. It’s all in the lips. I’ve heard that ancient peoples believed a person’s soul was carried in their breath, and that kissing was thought to be an amalgamation of souls. And did you know that we use 146 different muscles in our faces and necks when we kiss? Photo: Courtney broughton

The way a person kisses says a lot about who they are in my opinion. For example, some people kiss like they’re in a porno; they stick their tongue out all stiff and pointy and sort of wiggle it from side to side in your mouth. If any of you out there reading this are porno kissers, do yourself a favour and just stop! Porno kissing is not hot.

The challenge

Likewise, with those of you who immediately jam your whole tongue down the other person’s throat and those of you who slobber all over the other person’s face. Not hot!

The research

A good kiss should start slow. Try taking the other person’s top or bottom lip between yours and then switching to the other one. This means that if you are kissing your partner’s top lip, they’re kissing your bottom lip, hence the term “lip lock.” Now you can start playing a bit with your tongue. Instead of putting it all out there all at once, try just softly flicking your tongue in and out of the other person’s mouth. As the two of you start to get more hot ‘n’ bothered, more pressure, a little nibbling, and more tongue are okay—just remember not to strangle your partner with it. Most people will kiss and touch you how they like to be kissed and touched, so pay attention to what your partner is doing! Also, there are lots of other good bits to kiss on a person’s body. The back of the neck and shoulders is a popular but sadly overlooked area. Basically, anywhere where a person would be ticklish is a good spot for kissing because there are loads of nerve endings just waiting to be stimulated. Next time you’re getting it on, try forcing yourself to do nothing else but kiss each other for at least 30 minutes, and then see how much better sex is after that. A good kiss can raise the little hairs on the back of your neck, stiffen your nipples, curl your toes, make your heart race, melt your spinal column, and muddle your brain, not to mention cut down on the amount of lube you need to use! The famous Dutch poet Daniel Heinsius wrote “you may conquer with the sword, but you are conquered by a kiss.” It seems as though kissing has been thrown out the door along with chivalry and romance. I say we bring it all back.

Take part in The Vagina Monologues Chloe Markgraf Womyn’s Director

As 2009 settles in, the Camosun College Womyn’s Centre is gearing up for a production of The Vagina Monologues. The Vagina Monologues was first performed in 1996 by playwright Eve Ensler. Ensler wrote the play after interviewing hundreds of women about their vaginas. This may seem to some like an odd topic for a theatre piece, but it puts a spotlight on an otherwise out-of-sight body part. The play is a series of monologues addressing a variety of issues surrounding womyn and their vaginas. It opens with womyn discussing how worried they are about vaginas. The show transitions smoothly from monologue to monologue, giving vaginas a voice and exploring concerns with both humor and seriousness. The piece is an ode to womyn,

and a reminder of how speaking openly about vaginas is crucial in halting violence against womyn. Ensler has developed a nonprofit to raise money for antiviolence against womyn groups worldwide. To date, the organization has raised over $50 million for charities. Aside from raising funds, the shows create awareness, reminding us of the beauty of this most hidden body part. The Vagina Monologues also outlines how destructive violence against womyn is and how it must be stopped at all costs. For those interested in participating in this project, men and womyn alike, drop by the Womyn’s Centre (Richmond House bottom floor, Lansdowne) anytime from 3–7 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Bring your ideas, questions, hopes, and inspirations. For more info, e-mail [email protected]

Veganism Give up eating meat and all animal byproducts and live the life of a vegan. The average American adult eats roughly 50 pounds of pork, 66 pounds of beef, and 86 pounds of chicken annually. That’s an alarming amount of animals being killed just for us to eat. And it doesn’t include animals slaughtered for fashion. We can do without the leather (or can we?), and do we really need to chow down on pig’s butts and chicken legs? Protein is necessary for a balanced lifestyle, but many arguments have been made claiming meat-based protein, especially to the extent that most of us eat it, is more or less digging our own graves by inflicting strokes, clogged arteries, cancer, and heart disease. Did you know vegans have a cancer rate only 40 percent that of meat-eaters?

The rationale

I wouldn’t dream of eating my beautiful kitty, so why would I hack up a defenseless, grass-munching cow? Following the footsteps of the Dalai Lama, I’ve decided to adapt to animal-loving ways, treating them like mammals of equal status rather than my next meal. Hello Tofurkey!

The trial

Day 1: No meat; so much for family dinners. Papa made his famous Guinness Stew tonight and couldn’t leave out the beef, so I’ll be making my own grub. Hmm, tofu, tempeh . . . let’s weigh my options here. Day 3: Getting dressed today, I was careful to not wear any leather, silk, fur, or wool. That was until I mindlessly put on my running shoes, which are, like most kicks, made of leather. Do I have any plastic shoes? You know it, baby. I just bought some sweet-ass rainboots! Mom thought I was crazy paying $80 for them, but thank god I did. Day 5: Today I was too lazy to flip through my newly purchased vegan cookbook (yes, I bought one just for

this experiment), so I popped by the grocery store on the way to school and picked up some vegan-friendly options. My day consisted of vegan granola bars, an Amy’s Black Bean Burrito (not too shabby, but burritos should really have meat in them), veggie dogs, and carrots. Man, I’m really selling veganism, aren’t I? Day 8: Thanks to my cookbook I made a delicious lentil, chickpea, and veggie stir-fry tonight. Tomorrow, I try wild mushroom stroganoff. Meals like these aren’t entirely unfamiliar to me, as a large portion of my meals are already pretty loaded with veggies, but my stomach has still been feeling a little bit off these days. Those cruciferous veggies are making me a little gassy (such a lady) and I think I’m going through beef withdrawal. I also miss my cottage cheese and haven’t been able to track down a vegan-friendly kind. On the flipside, my energy levels have boosted! Day 11: I thought being a vegan would be super expensive, but I’ve found you can find some pretty decent grub for a good price if you just shop smart. Buying in bulk is great, and not buying $20 sirloins helps. Also, when I went out for dinner last night with my friend, making sure we went somewhere with vegan options was easy, as it’s becoming more available these days. Even the quirky Joint Pizzeria has a Happy Hippie pizza which is garlicky, veggie-loaded, and has vegan cheese as an option. Believe it or not, some restaurants also offer entire vegan menus. Day 14: I could almost see myself being a vegan, but that’s too farfetched. Two weeks is long enough for me to go without meat. It would be way too time-consuming for me to shun every minor or hidden animal-derived ingredient, and I have a feeling even the best vegan out there falls short on this one. I have far too many other things I should be thinking about; for example, that paper due in three days that I’ve yet to start.

The result

I’m sick of my rubber boots and I want my beef. Vegan . . . hah. It’s not for me.

Next issue

I’m giving up germs.

Decreasing our eco footprints Joel Witherington CSEA Member

If you’re not going to throw caution to the wind and hitchhike to someplace exotic during reading break, why not take some time to calculate your ecological footprint? In simple terms, an ecological footprint is the effect our actions have on the planet. Throughout the year, this column has suggested easy things anyone can do to decrease their negative effect on the environment. An ecological footprint calculator is a tangible program that helps you understand how some of your actions may be affecting the en-

vironment, and suggests ways to decrease the impact. A good calculator can be found at www.go-beyond. ca/carbon-footprint-calculator The calculator asks questions about your daily routine, like your commute, the food you eat, and how your home is heated. Then it tells you how many tons of carbon you’re responsible for putting into the atmosphere, and offers lots of hints to help reduce that amount. If tons of carbon doesn’t mean anything to you, then check out www.earthday.net/footprint/flash. html This calculator tells you how many planets would be required to support the world population if everyone lived like you did.

These calculators are not meant to depress; they’re meant to motivate and inspire. If your current impact is big, that means you have the most room for improvement, so try some of the suggestions and do the calculator again in a couple months. We only have one planet, and no one knows for sure what the future holds with respect to global warming and the environment. But it’s worth it to play it safe and live in community with our planet as much as we can. For more info on Camosun Students for Environmental Awareness, go to www.camosunstudent. org/csea or e-mail camosunsea@ hotmail.com

ColuMnS

18

Ask Anything

Q:

A:

A:

go outside of your comfort zone as often as possible. if public speaking is your fear, then sign up for a toastmasters meeting where you chat with all sorts of people and give speeches in front of them, or offer to host for a group project. every little bit helps; if you accept your mistakes and try not to criticize yourself, you’ll improve every time you speak. Another way is to write a speech designed to sell yourself. in other words, what you would tell an employer about yourself in order to get hired. talk about all of your strengths on camera and review the tape. Another option is to engage your friends in a mock interview situation. As much as this seems silly, it can really help to correct stuttering and lack of confidence. dates and interviews have a lot in common because they consist of one person trying to get a feel for what the other person is like. if you’re confident and capable, then that’s the persona you’ll exude.

Worth the Trip?

By Breanna Carey

Q:

i’m trying to work on my confidence, for a number of reasons, but mostly to meet new people. how can i do this, and fast?

Pride direCtor

Every day we see people trying on clothes in stores and think nothing of it. But when a male-to-female transgender person attempts to try on women’s clothes, they often face ridicule, aren’t allowed to try the clothes, or are even kicked out of the store. We see couples everywhere holding hands and kissing, but how often do we see same-sex couples being

The battle of on and off-campus eats

i met someone on Valentine’s at a singles party, except i’m not totally sure he’s single. We connected really well, but i don’t want to do anything i might regret—help! if the person was at a singles party, and he was alone, i’m guessing even if he’s in a relationship he’s not very happy. Still, this doesn’t give you the green flag to go ahead and nab him. if you want to come out of this unscathed, play the friend game until you know more details. of course, that’s assuming you two didn’t act more than friendly the other night. either way, dial it back a bit and let him come to you. A man rarely if ever leaves for the other woman; that’s usually the rule. You must treat yourself with the ultimate respect and refuse his advances unless you’re confident he’s single, otherwise things will get messy. Play it coy, and when he does contact you keep things short and sweet, and act busy. Men thrive on women being busy and unattainable because it seems like they’re hard to get. if it’s meant to be, things will work out in time. remember, you deserve all of another person, not someone who’s stuck between two.

The risk of just being yourself CriStian Cano

February 18, 2009

affectionate in public? Many queer people avoid public displays of affection towards their partner, because they’re afraid of being discriminated against, or worse, victimized by hateful acts or speech. It may be hard to believe something as simple as holding hands with your partner can be so intimidating. For a queer person, holding hands can be an act of courage and a political statement. Ask yourself, “Am I part of the problem or part of the solution?” Even though Victoria is one of the

queer-friendliest cities in the country, plenty of things can be done to improve the experiences of queer people here and help create safe spaces. The Camosun Pride Collective has decided to take a stand and help the community identify truly queerfriendly places of business. The collective is designing a survey to achieve this goal, and it will need as many volunteers as possible to survey area businesses. If you would like to volunteer, contact us at [email protected]

By donald Kennedy and Guy alaimo

Aramark Campus Caf Lansdowne Campus World Fair Special (Teriyaki Rice with Chicken and Vegetables) $6.41 (tax included)

Presentation and service

guy: look at this! the Campus Caf has finally and ever-so-subtly introduced daily specials. they really want us to like them. it’s like posting a cleavage picture on Facebook, then pretending not to notice when everybody comments on how good you look. Will the food taste as good as the new flashy lCd screen promoting it? Probably not, because it looks like the cook just squirted teriyaki sauce out of a squeeze bottle. donald: i swear the cook here gets more personable every time i step up to the order counter. it’s only a matter of time before his line of questioning branches out from, “how’s your day?” to something more probing. eventually he’ll ask something like, “have you ever had to perform a pancreaticoduodenectomy?” And, before you know it, i’ll be doing home surgery in return for free baguettes. Actually, no, that would never happen. i just hyperbolized your ass!

Taste

d: Microwaved rice with sweet teriyaki sauce, chicken, and vegetables— this is the type of meal boring girls make on second dates. tastes fine, but i’m not going to take it home to meet the folks. g: A taste of the world, you say? A taste of my ass. nice try here. Charge six bucks plus taxes for waterlogged veggies, steamed rice, and a teeny weenie bitty of unflavored chicken breast. i’ll take the bus to hillside Mall and order some Mcdonalds. nice scam though. hopefully it’s back to the drawing board for this special. Serve some fucking food, for fuck’s sake. You have a kitchen. Fucking use it.

UVic Campus Centre Café University Centre Open Face Turkey and Gravy Sandwich with Rice and Vegetables $4.75 (tax included)

Maude’s February Specials Monday

$6.95 Burger & Fries (substitutes extra)

Presentation and service

d: i’ll just put this bluntly because i can’t think of a clever way to say it—the girls here are fucking gorgeous. they all look like they spend 10 hours a day volunteering downtown before squeezing in some casual modeling before bedtime. i bet if i pretended to be a homeless photographer, i would be neck-deep in pussy.

Music Bingo starting March 9 at 7:30 PM Tuesday

g: that’s right. don’t just pour the gravy over the turkey. Make sure it’s spread nice and thick over the rice and vegetables. Very personable lady running the hot item section, if you can get past the annoying lineups full of Canuck memorabilia-wearing pricks who can’t stop calling each other “brah.” the refreshment cooler is located against the lineup, which is a pain. get ready to say “excuse me” six times in 15 seconds.

$6.95 Quesadilla - Chicken, Beef, or Vegetarian (after 4 PM)

Wednesday

Taste

.35¢ Wings (after 2 PM)

d: do uncle ben and the Jolly green giant run the kitchen here? no, of course they don’t. they’re fictional characters. if they did run a kitchen though, it would probably produce something like this. the salty gravy and soft bread do taste comforting enough, but it’s all just a little too familiar.

Thursday

$6.95 Perogies (after 4 PM)

Sunday

Sunday Brunch Specials Roast Beef Special ($8.95)

Daily Draft Specials Show your student ID for 10% off food

H

UNC L Y IL

DA 6.95 WICH $ SAND ND

A OUP

S

g: it’s a low grade Swiss Chalet meal. that’s the only thing i can possibly compare it to. it’s almost like the messy chicken sandwich, but with turkey instead, and for less than five bucks, it’s awesome. You even had a choice of potatoes.

And the winner is . . .

beautiful bosoms and a side of potato, uVic has it all.

Verdict

it’s still worth the gas money and travel time to save $1.66 and not have to eat at Aramark.

Watch Canucks hockey here! 3810 Shelbourne Street (at Cedar Hill X Rd) 250.721.2337 w w w.nexusnewspaper.com

visit t h e nexus online

Mexican Tacos ● Tamales ● Beer

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

2 tostada $5 3 tacos $5 3 quesadilla $5 nachos $5 low low student prices every day

1002 Johnson St. (at Vancouver)

11am - 7pm Mon - Sat

Visit us today at www.orale.ca

Fo r g e t g r o u n d b e e f. . . w e p u l l o u r m e a t !

eVentS

[email protected]

by Kait Cavers

Saturday, Feb. 21

AC/DC tribute Thunderstruck SOPRANO’S, DOORS AT 8:30 PM, $15

if you’re both a starving student and a diehard ’80s metal band fan, then not only can you barely afford your Kraft dinner, but you’re probably also hurtin’ for some serious concert action. thunderstruck to the rescue. this band is so close to the real thing they will satisfy your concert needs and leave you with some cash to spend on food that isn’t canned.

Saturday, Feb. 21

Horde of Anachron, Black Lotus, Mother Died Today LOGAN’S PUB, DOORS AT 9 PM, $10

if you like metal, then go to logan’s this Saturday. leather jackets with spikes, cargo pants, lots of beer, and a forecasted 78 percent chance of moshing. need i say more?

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Hawksley Workman, Geoff Berner ROYAL THEATRE, DOORS AT 7 PM, $25

As much as i disagree with the venue (an opera stage for hawksley? Seriously?), these two acts are both definitely worth checking out. 25 bucks will get you an evening filled with music you just can’t help but move to. this Wednesday, drop your books and head downtown for some serious concert action.

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Dinner and a Movie the Superior, doors at 5 pm, $5

dinner and a Movie down at the

Superior Café presents film noir with The Postman Always Rings Twice. enjoy your meal with a side of historic cinema. Share this classic film and a fine meal in a unique setting that is rare to come by these days.

Thursday, Feb. 26

Armchair Cynics, theset, with guests SUGAR, DOORS AT 9 PM, $10

Alright Armchair Cynics and theset, i understand you’re too big to play any venue in this town other than Sugar, and i get that you don’t charge under double digits to get in anymore, and, yes, i admit it’s always totally worth it and you guys rock, but, seriously, what is with the killer whale on your posters? is it eating penguins? C’mon. Seriously.

Saturday, Feb. 28

Waking Eyes, Arkells SUGAR, DOORS AT 7 PM, $12

Atomique Productions presents the always-enjoyable Arkells with the incredibly talented Waking eyes. it would be crazy not to check out this show. if you’re looking for a great way to spend your Saturday night, with a guarantee that you will go home slightly buzzed and smiling, then get your tickets for this show in advance.

Saturday, Feb. 28

Reza Manbachi: The Journey of Love BELFREY THEATRE, SHOW AT 8 PM, $25 ADVANCE, $35 AT DOOR

reza Manbachi takes the audience on a mystical ride with the release of The Journey of Love. backed by an ensemble of masterful musicians on both traditional and non-traditional instruments, the musical celebration includes some of the top instrumentalists from around the globe. expand your musical mind with this show!

eye on campus By Kait Cavers Thursday, Feb. 19

Reading break ’09 the gargantuan, two-day spectacular referred to as “reading break” begins. two days of pure, intense studying will commence in order to get ahead in our learning adventures. And, yes, two days is all we need, because we are all a breed of next generation super-humans already submerged in the ancient art of speed-reading five courses worth of textbooks while also juggling our personal lives.

Monday, Feb. 23 to Friday, Feb. 27

Tax help School of business Accounting students will be available to help other students file their 2008 tax returns. Fees are by donation and all proceeds go to the College Foundation. this is made available for students only, so take advantage of people who deal with numbers better than you do and get your taxes sorted out before it’s too late! From 11:30 am– 1:30 pm and 3:30–5:30 pm, Monday to Friday. located in CbA 289, interurban and the Fisher Foyer, lansdowne.

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Employment info session Many employees and new hires are unclear as to how much negotiation power they have when it comes to the conditions of their employment. this workshop will help you to discover the art of contract negotiation and find your voice in order to get what you want and need out of your career. Facilitated by Suzanne tremblay, Camosun’s senior human resources consultant. From 4:30–5:30 pm, Campus Centre 121, interurban. e-mail employ@camosun. bc.ca for more info.

19 Mondays and Wednesdays

Drop in floor hockey indoor floor hockey is like a fine cocktail. one part sport, two parts gym, garnished with the echo of gleeful laughter, and then consumed until someone ends up on the floor with a broken leg from trying to impress their buddies. Mondays and Wednesdays 7–9 pm, Young 112, lansdowne. info: 250–370–3602. Also, if you want to drop in on nexus’ own floor hockey games, we play from 2:30–4 pm every Monday.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Nexus pizza day Seriously, if i see you in the cafeteria one more time unpacking a diagonally cut bologna sandwich from a crumpled brown bag, i’m personally going to call your mom and tell her to cut you off. grow up and eat pizza like an adult. You’re in college; it’s time to pack your own lunch. And by pack i mean bring money so you can buy it. nexus sells pizza for $2 a slice from 12 noon until you’re completely satisfied in every single way. no, not that way. outside the Fisher building, lansdowne.

classifieds engliSh tutor for help with eSl, essay writing. bente, 250–592–8340, bentels@ shaw.ca MAth SCribe wanted for physically disabled man in Math 053. Mon/tues/ thurs 10:30 am-12:20 pm, in CbA 117, interurban. Pay is $15 per hour. Please call rob at 250–414–7315 or drop into the upgrading help Centre in CbA 109.

Rules Each registered student at Camosun is eligible for up to 40 words FREE per semester. this can be in the form of a 40-word ad, or two 20-word ads. drop off your ad at the nexus, richmond house 201, lansdowne, e-mail it to nexus@ nexusnewspaper.com, or call the ad in at 3703591. Please include your student number and contact information. Small print: nexus reserves the right to refuse ads for any reason. no sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise derogatory or slanderous ads. business-related ads are $15 for 20 words or less. 50 cents per extra word

Eraserhead By Adrian Binakaj

Phlegm By Shane Scott-Travis

Overheard at Nexus

teSSa CoGman StAFF eAVeSdroPPer

nexus staff works very hard during production of the newspaper, and there are times when exhaustion takes over what we say. the following is what’s been overheard at the nexus office lately:

“Your dog’s name is Meow?”

“i don’t want my vagina to have a voice.”

“What’s that noise? is someone downstairs digging a tunnel to narnia?”

“Yes, a cabbit. A cat mixed with a rabbit.”

“the last time that happened i just started reefing on it with a hammer.”

“i’d take allergies over a stomach worm any day.”

VICTORIA 153-2401C Millstream Rd. (250) 391-0885 Tillicum Mall (250) 386-2282 Westshore Mall (250) 478-3912 3388 Douglas St. (250) 385-8000 766 Hillside Ave. (250) 380-1011

HOT SMARTPHONES FOR HOT, SMART PEOPLE.

1306 Douglas St. (250) 389-0818 Shelbourne Plaza (250) 477-5999 DUNCAN Fort Centre (250) 748-6388 NANAIMO Port Place Mall (250) 741-8288 Woodgrove Centre (250) 390-1820 Nanaimo North Town Centre (250) 729-0108 2540 Bowen Rd. (250) 756-0517 Woodgrove Centre G7-6631 North Island Hwy. (250) 390-3834 CAMPBELL RIVER Ironwood Mall (250) 850-1535

THI N

COURTENAY Driftwood Mall (250) 703-2008

VE CUR RY

Discovery Harbour Centre (250) 286-1008

T BLACKBER S E N

ABBOTSFORD Abbotsford Village Shopping Centre (604) 852-5863

BERRY ACK L B

101-3240 Mt. Lehman Rd. (604) 856-0151 320-32500 South Fraser Way (604) 854-1440

FIRST BLA C

9869 Austin Ave. (604) 421-7500 7645 Royal Oak Ave. (604) 451-0233 Old Orchard Shopping Centre (604) 433-6125 Brentwood Mall (604) 320-0789 CHILLIWACK #40 Salish Plaza (604) 792-7609 COQUITLAM

Y FLIP ERR KB

T POPULA S R O M

BURNABY 6512 East Hastings St. (604) 291-9068

Coquitlam Plaza (604) 464-4222 Austin Avenue Mall (604) 931-5332 Westwood Plateau Village (604) 464-5862 Como Lake Village (604) 931-8104 COURTENAY Courtney Crossing Mall (250) 334-3070 DELTA Sunshine Hills Shopping Centre (604) 591-7767 LANGLEY Fraser Park Shopping (604) 530-3422 Willowbrook Park Shopping Centre (604) 533-8555 MAPLE RIDGE Pacific Colonnade 22430 Dewdney Trunk Rd. (604) 463-2231 100-20398 Dewdney Trunk Rd. (604) 460-6527 MISSION Lougheed Mission Plaza (604) 820-4869 NEW WESTMINSTER Columbia Square (604) 524-1100 Royal Square Mall (604) 515-8213

NOW GET

NORTH VANCOUVER

UNLIMITED

972 Marine Dr. (604) 986-7500 1661 Lonsdale Ave. (604) 980-7291 Capilano Mall (604) 983-9744 PORT COQUITLAM Prairie Mall (604) 552-3316

TXT, EMAIL & IM

*

Shaughnessy Station (604) 941-2423 RICHMOND 8900 No. 1 Rd. (604) 241-0711 192-8180 No. 2 Rd. (604) 275-4848

O N LY F O R A L I M I T E D T I M E

8360 Granville Ave. (604) 244-8446 Garden City Shopping Centre (604) 244-7800 Ironwood Plaza (604) 241-8441 SURREY 8112-120 St. (604) 599-0099 10340-152 St. (604) 588-8900 101-7175 138 St. (604) 599-8880 8934 152 St. (604) 581-2287 Cedar Plaza (604) 581-7884 Peninsula Village Shopping Centre (604) 535-8828 Surrey Place (604) 584-7274 Clover Square Village (604) 574-6341 TSAWWASSEN Bayside Shopping Centre (604) 943-9940 VANCOUVER 2097 Broadway W (604) 676-7015 1674 Davie St. (604) 687-8000 2696 East Hastings St. (604) 254-9555

BLACKBERRY CURVE 8320 ®

99

5503 West Blvd. (604) 266-6097

$

8377 Granville St. (604) 266-1500 1295 Davie St. (604) 669-7377

99

†

2200 York Ave. (604) 732-5007

TM

54999

$

no term

ALL NEW

BLACKBERRY CURVE 8900 ®

199

$

99

†

TM

59999

$

no term

BLACKBERRY PEARL FLIP 8220 ®

49

$

99

†

TM

39999

$

no term

E XC L U S I V E LY F R O M R O G E R S

1027 15th Ave. W (604) 731-1699 5603 Victoria Dr. (604) 301-1836

rogers.com/unlimited

Pacific Centre (604) 801-5292 VICTORIA

CANADA’S MOST RELIABLE NETWORK;

2631 Quadra St. (250) 361-4949

FEWEST DROPPED CALLS, CLEAREST RECEPTION

Canwest Centre – Eastgate (250) 478-8556 1099 McKenzie Ave. (250) 479-4510 102-1567 Cedar Hill Cross Rd. (250) 472-7522 2973 Tillicum Rd. (250) 360-0388 Mayfair Shopping Centre (250) 382-4196

-

-

ls

Victoria Eaton Centre (250) 385-6151 Hillside Mall (250) 370-4339

† On select 3-year plans. Offers subject to change without notice. *Available with any BlackBerry device with subscription to select plans and activation with BlackBerry Internet Service. Includes unlimited personal e-mail (up to 10 accounts) while using BlackBerry on the Rogers Wireless network. See rogers.com/unlimited for plans and details. Usage subject to Rogers Terms of Service & Acceptable Use Policy available at rogers.com/terms. TM Rogers & Mobius Design are trademarks of Rogers Communications Inc. used under license. All other brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. © 2008 Rogers Wireless.

RGW_N_08_1371_4C_F.indd 1

1/5/09 6:36:53 PM