Nexus Issue 19-14 March 18/09

Volume 19 Issue 14 March 18, 2009

Camosun’s Student Voice Since 1990

FooD For ThoughT

viCTory Charge

we’ve waTCheD

Art displayed on campus makes a statement and has students questioning their food choices.

Women’s basketball and men’s volleyball teams earn gold and make their way to the nationals.

These Watchmen reviews will have you spinning circles in your newly sewn, shiny cape.

news—5

sPorTs—9

arTs—13

e s u o h b u l c s ’ y Tomm 1 Pages 10-1

VIEWS Nexus Editorial



Next publication: April 1, 2009 Deadline: noon March 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

Angry jaywalkers roam Victoria Tessa Cogman Staff Writer

For those who call Victoria home, there’s an appreciation for the mild weather, the abundance of multicultural restaurants, and the laidback attitude of most people. Shopping downtown is quite pleasant and the next boutique shop is just a skip across the street. But skip no more; jaywalkers are now being fined instead of streetwalkers.

Ankle monitors for every resident is a foreseeable future at this point. Jaywalk on Douglas, do not collect $109, go directly to jail.

Laila Brown STUDENT EDITOR

Tessa Cogman Copy EDITOR

Alan Piffer EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Kait Cavers STAFF WRITERS

Guy Alaimo Brendan Kergin Jason Motz

The Capital Region’s Integrated Road Safety Unit (IRSU) started cracking down on downtown jaywalkers on Feb. 23, angering pedestrians who feel tax dollars are better spent tackling illicit drug use,

panhandling, and prostitution. Adding to the frustration, some of the tickets were issued in an area where a Victoria bylaw allows jaywalking. The area of Government between Fort and Yates streets is exempt from the streets and traffic bylaw. It was introduced in 1992 to foster a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere downtown. So why the $109 fines downtown? I see dozens of students jaywalk to the number 14 bus stop on Richmond Road at Lansdowne campus every 10 minutes, and the speed limit is much higher on that road than on downtown streets. The IRSU, consisting of 15 officers (four each from Saanich and Victoria, one from Oak Bay, one from Central Saanich, and five Mounties), suggested the focus should be downtown. So whatever they suggest is a go? Drivers downtown know to go slow because of the busy traffic and frequent intersections; if there should be a focus, it should be on wider streets outside of the pedestrian-friendly areas. Has it really come to the point where we’re now being told where we can or can’t walk? Ankle monitors for every resident is a foreseeable future at this point. Jaywalk on

Breanna Carey Jimmy Nguyen Jason Schreurs 250‑370-3593 Campus Plus NATIONAL 1-800-265-5372 DISTRIBUTION

Adrian Binakaj Ashley Moore CONTRIBUTORS:

Guy Alaimo Jeff Baldry Olivia Bertrand Adrian Binakaj Michael Brar Courtney Broughton Chris Burnett Cristian Cano Breanna Carey Kait Cavers Alisha Charmley Tessa Cogman Michael Evans Peter Gardner Ryan Gibbons Maelina de Grasse Michael Duncan Donald Kennedy Keltie Larter Kelly Marion Chloe Markgraf Jason Motz Alan Piffer Andy Roberts Shane Scott-Travis Jenna Sedmak Ryan Shrestha Nathan Stam Ed Sum Joel Witherington Camden Wright 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]

Douglas, do not collect $109, go directly to jail. While road safety is an important matter, and there are some jaywalkers who could be referred to as “methwalkers,” $109 is too much. If a cop were to give me a $20 fine, it would have the same annoying effect, but it wouldn’t be so pricey. But the reality is governments make money on traffic fines, so the more the better. With the Olympics just around the corner, Victoria will see an in-

crease in tourists. What happens when these tourists are fined as well? The word will spread and Victoria will be known for ridiculous fines. If I want to run across the street risking my own life, then that should be my choice. It’s doubtful the person driving will get very hurt, so what’s all the fuss about? Human beings tend to take the shortcut whenever possible, and if that shortcut means getting fined it’s probably not going to stop us.

War and peace in the Olympic village Shane Scott-Travis Contributing Writer

Lately I’ve heard the term “Olympic spirit” being bounced around more often than a beach ball at a Coldplay concert. Only more annoying. The Olympics are an industry, not a lifestyle, and it sure as shit isn’t a family. Despite what people like Nancy Lee, chief operating officer of Olympic Broadcasting Services Vancouver (OBSV), will tell you. Like a latter-day Uncle Sam, Lee came to muster my fellow Applied Communication students and I, and she made one thing incessantly clear—the OBSV wants us! And not in that sweet, “aw shucks” kinda way. They want us to help them make money. Not just for themselves, but for the

Letters

ADVERTISING SALES

Graphic: Adrian Binakaj

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.

Open Space

StAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Courtney Broughton

March 18, 2009

International Olympic Committee (IOC) and private sector investors. Profit-making is the maxim of the Olympics; before the athletes, even before that sassy Sasquatch thing. It was obvious from Lee’s kickoff that my fellow classmates were marked. And she talks a good talk. All she wants to do is give us “the opportunity of a lifetime” by actively recruiting us as cannon fodder. Granted, the technology and strategy at play in an event of this magnitude impresses. But I’ve seen the world’s largest ball of twine in Cawker City, Kansas; it was impressive, too. And that ball of twine didn’t come at the expense of the elderly, low-income tenants, ethnic minorities, or Kansas’ Indigenous population.

A+ to Aramark

Sorry—I have to disagree (loudly) with your food columnists’ negative view of Aramark [Worth the Trip, Feb. 18 issue]. The food, food quality, nutritional value, and use of space have improved dramatically. Aramark delivers on what Camosun asked for—fresh food, good-value cost, ecofriendliness . . . Although I have never been a big cafeteria user (except for the hazelnut coffee, which Aramark kept, thank you very much), I eat the food because it tastes good. And because it’s served by someone who reminds me of my mom, which I find more appetizing than a side of potatoes with beautiful bosoms any day!

Maureen Niwa

Camosun student

[Note—For the nutritional value of the entire Aramark Campus Caf menu, go to www.campusdish.com/en-US/CA/camosun/menus]

After asking for a show of hands of how many students had yet to apply for positions with OBSV, Lee joked, “Shame on you!”

Profit-making is the maxim of the Olympics; before the athletes, even before that sassy Sasquatch thing. It’s kind of hard for me to see the humour in all her swagger. I’m First Nations, and I don’t really get behind any privileged out-of-towners giving me the “real

College fails to enforce smoking bylaws

I’m amazed at the lack of enforcement of the so-called no smoking laws around the campus. Have you ever noticed that in every area where there are no smoking signs there are always smokers? And the lovely discarded butts on the ground they leave behind are there as well. Maybe all that smoking destroys their brain cells enough they can’t figure out how to put the butts in the ashtray. It reminds me of years ago when they allowed smoking in high schools, and you had to walk through the smoke-filled areas to get to other parts of the school. When I did inquire at the reception area with one of the Camosun staff, all I was told is they are very short-staffed and couldn’t deal with the problem. Well, imagine if all the students died due to secondhand smoke, then they wouldn’t have to worry, as they wouldn’t have a job either.

deal” on the 2010 games. Especially since her sugarcoated version excludes the unceded Indigenous territories being exploited, or any of the other victims in this corrupt quagmire. Lee did mention the billiondollar TV revenues at the 2010 Games, but this she viewed amiably. “You’re crazy not to participate!” she said more than once. If that’s crazy, then I’m either an outpatient or a Polyanna. While I know I won’t be alone in boycotting Olympic sponsors, everyone should at least entertain the idea of challenging the Olympic myth. Theirs isn’t the only game in town. And a lot of us have to stick around long after the honeymoon is over.

Come on, Camosun management, step up to reality and let’s make this a better place for all students and staff by cleaning up this act. You put the signs up because it’s a new health regulation, but it’s up to you to enforce it. Or perhaps you’d rather have the CRD or the provincial government come in and fine the college for lack of enforcement on this health regulation!

Michael Davison

Interurban student

Department of corrections In the article Camosun chemistry student ranks high in prestigious competition [Feb. 18 issue] we incorrectly reported that Shanna McDonald won second prize at the Canadian Institute of Chemistry Student Symposium. In fact, McDonald won first prize! Yes, there’s a big difference between silver and gold. Nexus regrets and apologizes for the error.

VIEWS

[email protected]



We all need to help keep hiking trails clean Chris Burnett Contributing Writer

When hiking through the wilderness of Mt. Finlayson and Goldstream Park, one experiences the rugged smell of a 1000-year-old forest, the unbalancing walk of an old riverbed, and the crunch of an old bottle of Dasani. That’s right, a water bottle.

Too many times I’ve seen hikers pass by bottles and bundles of Kleenex. Mt. Finlayson is under attack by morons who think by throwing their plastic bottles and lids onto a log or bush, they’re returning their garbage back to the wild where it will

Photo: Courtney Broughton

decompose and become one with nature. If you believe the statement above, please throw away your hiking boots immediately. I’ve discovered a love of hiking and been climbing mountains for just over a year. On a hike up Finlayson last summer, I had to step aside to let about 100 boy scouts pass as they looked at their compasses and giggled about the most recent Hannah Montana episode. When I stepped back onto the trail and continued my hike, I saw what could only be described as a crow and seagull picnic. There were juice boxes, old sandwiches, banana peels, plastic bottles, and enough straws to start a small house. I was horrified. Here was a herd of Boy Scouts who did exactly what they’ve been taught not to do—pollute the earth. Needless to say, I couldn’t leave the path as it was, dedicating a half an hour to cleaning up and stuffing my pockets

full of garbage. Was it their fault? Partially. If the BC government and its people want to keep their forests clean, they need some new ideas. They need to have at least two plastic recycling and garbage bins cemented to the ground at both the top of Mt. Finlayson and at the beginning of the trail. Most hikers are finished their bottles once they reach the top, and will finally have a place to put their recycling/garbage. The second part of this master plan involves us all. Too many times I’ve seen hikers pass by bottles and bundles of Kleenex. It may be gross, but for the sake of our forests, grab one piece of garbage and shove it in your pocket. When you get down to the bottom you can put it away where it belongs, in the garbage. If those steps are taken, one of Vancouver Island’s finest tourist attractions can finally start looking like one.

BC Ferries back on choppy water with islanders Olivia Bertrand Contributing Writer

Is there any disputing the beauty of Vancouver Island? Not really. And it’s a good thing we think so, since increasing frustration with the ferry system is keeping more and more people at bay. For many islanders, increased costs, growing uncertainties with schedules, and BC Ferries’ unapologetic attitude have made leaving Vancouver Island more trouble than it’s worth. Travelers recently enjoyed a two-month stint where costs were cut by 33 percent for passengers and vehicles. But those days are long over, and it seems high ferry

costs are here to stay. This is hard for some to understand, since gas prices, which were a major cause for the increase in ferry costs, have dropped drastically since they peaked last summer. If costs don’t keep people from traveling by ferry, the uncertainty of how long the trip will take probably will. Reservations used to be a holiday weekend-only scenario, but more and more people are feeling the need to make a reservation whenever they take the ferry to avoid the possibility of lengthy wait times. It isn’t uncommon to arrive for the 7 am ferry at 5:45 am and be told there are no guarantees.

When someone makes a reservation it leaves less space on the

If costs don’t keep people from traveling by ferry, the uncertainty of how long the trip will take probably will. boat for those who didn’t reserve. So then those people start reserving spaces, leaving even less room for

the remaining non-reservists, and on it goes. This is all great news for BC Ferries, who make $17.50 off of each reservation. But maybe the most frustrating part of the travel experience is the ferries are running behind schedule more often, and sometimes by quite a while. When this happens, there isn’t any recourse, and travelers won’t be compensated in any way for the inconvenience. Passengers just have to make allowances for their system. Don’t expect the same courtesy in return though, because you won’t get it. As a foot passenger, if you’re even a minute late past ticket-selling time

you aren’t getting on that ferry. You have to wait two hours for the next one—if it’s on time, that is! It wouldn’t take much for BC Ferries to redeem themselves in the eyes of Vancouver Islanders. Give us a lower rate permanently, keep to a schedule, or make assurances travelers will make their planned ferry without constantly having to make a reservation. And how about a smaller cap on the amount of reservations, or hourly ferries on the weekends to avoid lengthy lineups? Just a few small changes would encourage travel and have the ferries sailing smoothly once again.

Local employment a tough scene for international students Ryan Shrestha Contributing Writer

When applying for jobs, I get to the part of my resume where I’m required to put down at least three previous job references. And then my mind goes blank. Maybe my uncle in the United States, for whom I worked for about two months? I can’t. It clearly says I can’t put down a family member as a reference. Hmm . . . who else? It would be illegal to make one up, so scratch that. Now I’m screwed. I’m an international student, and

it’s more difficult for an international student to find a job than a local student. But why is that? The ability to communicate fluently in English would be the most common reason. Most jobs require employees to be able to sell a certain type of product, or many products. Employees have the responsibility to know about each product placed on the floor and, at the same time, be able to answer any questions a customer asks them. Okay, everyone knows English isn’t the first language for foreign

students. So that automatically plays as an Achilles heel. It’s difficult for us to get our point across in an articulate manner, let alone be able to memorize and understand a store’s products while clearly answering questions from customers. And sitting down awkwardly in our pressed shirts for a job interview is a scary scene. Answering the question, “Tell me about a time where a problem arose in the work environment. How was it tackled, and did you take the

leadership position?” is a whole new level of scary. See where I’m going with this? Here’s another reason why it’s difficult for international students to find jobs—a resume clearly stating previous work experience. This is where culture and traditions come into play. It’s pretty clear most foreign students in BC, or at least in Victoria, are from Asia. Asians come from a culture where the usual norm is to finish college, get a master’s degree, and then move onto careers and perma-

nent professions. On the other hand, the youth here get their first jobs when they’re 15 or 16. Employers always prefer to hire someone with previous job experience, for obvious reasons. But the scene seems to be slowly changing. We see more and more international students securing jobs to pay the rent and groceries. Students speak better English than ever before, and we can finally ask clearly, “Credit or debit?” “For here or to go?” and, “Lettuce, onions, and tomatoes?”

What do you think about Scientology? By Tessa Cogman

Andrew Woodbridge-Day “No one should judge another person’s beliefs or religion.”

Jenny Bowsher

Kristen Parsley

Matthew Olbery

Lilia Seryogina

Curran Dobbs

Kim Fissel

“I think it’s kind of silly, but people are entitled to their own beliefs.”

“I don’t know enough about it to pass judgment, but it seems to be pretty popular with celebrities.”

“Aliens came to earth and some were thrown into a volcano and we are being inhabited by them.”

“It’s complete crap.”

“Not my thing, but if you believe it, go for it.”

“I don’t get it, but I don’t understand any religion. So long as it doesn’t hurt people, it’s okay.”

NeWS Campus voyeur could face prison time

4

guy alaimo Staff Writer

Camoun College international student Chun Wai Jackie Wong is facing two charges of voyeurism and one charge of criminal harassment after a 45-year-old woman discovered someone using a cell phone to take her picture while she was showering. According to Sgt. John Price of the Saanich Police, the incident took place in the women’s change room in the Young building at the Lansdowne Campus around 12:30 pm on March 5. A witness heard screams coming from the change room before students and staff found Wong and held him until police arrived on the scene. Pervez Ditta, Camosun’s manager of college safety, says the incident is a first for the school. “This has never happened before; it’s the first case of voyeurism on campus,” says Ditta. “I’ll be working with all parties making sure they get assistance from internal and external services to help resolve this issue.” Ditta also says he pushed a recommendation to the college’s board of governors to have Wong removed from Camosun College. He says a decision on Wong’s fate on campus will be released soon. The issue of voyeurism has been one of controversy on Victoria campuses over the last few years. In 2005, a website called PeepingThong.com was started by former UVic student Jeff Smith,

featuring photos of women whose thongs were exposed on the university campus. But the recent situation at Camosun was much different, according to students at the college. Chloe Markgraf, womyn’s director for the Camosun College Student Society, says the issue of voyeurism goes beyond what is legally acceptable.

“the naked body is a beautiful thing, yet our inhibition towards its exposure is creating a dangerous taboo. this will inevitably have consequences such as those we saw here on campus.” Chloe marKgraF WOMYN’S direCtOr

“We do not hail the beauty of the naked body, and we gawk at it when one has the audacity to present themselves in the nude,” explains Markgraf. “As a result, the naked taboo is sought out and we create a culture of voyeurism, be it like this 22year-old man did, or be it through pornography. The naked body is a beautiful thing, yet our inhibition

towards its exposure is creating a dangerous taboo. This will inevitably have consequences such as those we saw here on campus,” she says. The 22-year-old international student was initially detained due to being a flight risk and could face up to 15 years in prison if tried under Canadian law and convicted of all three charges laid against him, as each charge carries a maximum of five years. But Markgraf feels rushing to put the accused behind bars may not be the best option. “This man needs counseling and education that can teach him what is socially acceptable,” says Markgraff. “Not knowing anything about his background, aside from being a 22-year-old student, doesn’t allow us to understand the kind of help he needs.” One Camosun student disagrees with Markgraff and says the accused should have known better. “There is a universal understanding in all cultures of what is appropriate in regards to personal privacy,” says Andrew Augustine, a third-year political science student. “[Wong] knew what he was doing was wrong, or else he wouldn’t have tried to hide [while taking the pictures].” Wong has now been released from custody on the promise he will appear in court on March 27 and that he stays away from Camosun College and the victim.

March 18, 2009

NEWS BRIEFS

by KaiT Cavers

Talk about money, honey! feeling a little strapped for cash these days? Here’s a tasty little morsel of info that might interest you. the retail Council of Canada, in partnership with industry sponsors, will award more than $75,000 in scholarships and benefits to students entering or currently enrolled in business, marketing, or retail-related programs at Canadian post-secondary institutions. Some of the benefits of the scholarship program include financial assistance for post-secondary education, as well as a chance to network with top industry professionals by attending Canada’s retail Conference this year in toronto. the scholarships available include one $5,000 interac Scholarship and 25 $1,000 industrysponsored scholarships. Wanna try your luck? Contact Marcie Wenn at 416–922–0553 ext. 320 or check out www.retailcouncil.org

One-hour challenge for one hour on Wednesday, March 18 the Camosun College african awareness Committee challenges everyone to turn off their cell phones. from 12:30–1:30pm, power down those suckers to show your concerns about violence and war in the democratic republic of Congo. join the committee at 12:30 pm on the Young Building Lawn to form a 100-person human display to help protest. at 7 pm that evening, a film called Blood Coltan will be screened in fisher 100, Lansdowne; and on Monday, March 23, The Greatest Silence will be shown. admission is by donation. for more info, go to africa.disted.camosun.bc.ca

Speaking of challenges . . . Camosun College is presenting the Corporate diversity Challenge on March 28. this challenge was developed to promote cultural diversity and health by raising issues of race in sport while focusing on activities involving teamwork and physical activity. the participants will be showered with an array of speakers, activity, and team-building in order to increase cultural awareness. the event is in honour of the united Nations international day for the elimination of racial discrimination. Proceeds will support the inter-Cultural association of Greater Victoria and will go towards setting up a new bursary that will help send students to international co-op placements. the challenge takes place from 10 am-4 pm at the Pacific institute for Sport excellence at the interurban Campus.

Cheers for your ears uVic’s campus/community radio station CfuV 101.9 fM is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a fundrive until March 20. this year the money raised will be put towards a new transmitter. randy Gelling, long-time station manager, says the estimated cost is up to $35,000. CfuV receives no government funding or university funding. almost 90 percent of funds for operating costs, such as staff wages, come from uVic student fees, with another 10 percent from advertising. the station’s fundrive is the only source of capital funds needed to upgrade equipment. if you wish to open your wallet along with your ears, you can dial and donate by phoning 250–721–8700, or go on the CfuV website at www.cfuv.uvic.ca and donate through Paypal. finally, you can be the music to their ears.

Safe harbour training Business and community organizations are invited to become “champions of diversity” in Victoria. the inter-Cultural association of Greater Victoria (iCa) will be offering its final series of no-cost Safe Harbour training Sessions for Victoria-based businesses, community agencies, and public institutions. Safe Harbour is a Block Watch-style program and is part of a BC-wide initiative designed to encourage businesses and agencies to take a leadership role in creating an environment where all members of the community feel welcome and safe. the two-hour sessions teach about the program and how to deal with discrimination, while promoting diversity by using interactive case scenarios and group activities. upon completion, trainees are recognized as official members of the Safe Harbour network (resume material!). the training sessions take place March 18 and 25 from 4:30–6:30 pm or 6:30–8:30 pm at iCa at 930 Balmoral road (corner of Quadra). for more info, contact Steven Lorenzo at 250–388–4728 ext. 116.

Call us on it! Nexus columnists are a lively bunch of writers that like to express their points of view. Now we want to hear yours. did any of our columns spark your interest or get you riled up? tell us what you thought in 250 words or less, e-mail your feedback to Nexus, and we’ll reprint them. Give our columnists a piece of your mind!

Technology Transfer Office for Camosun College

250 .370 .3591 nexus@nexusnewspaper .com www .nexusnewspaper .com Richmond House 201, Lansdowne

NeWS

[email protected]

5

Lansdowne art installation tackles food giants Jason moTZ Staff Writer

Ever wondered what it would be like to walk through the mouth of a French anti-globalization food crusader? Well, one enterprising Camosun Visual Arts student did, and has created a two-dimensional mural replicating the experience. The mural, entitled Portrait of Jose Bove after the agricultural activist and one-time French presidential candidate, is now on display outside the Ewing building at Lansdowne.

“if you’re going to do something outside that’s in the public, there is a great opportunity to make a message, because art reaches people easier than advertising or posters.” ami muaraneTZ CaMOSuN StudeNt

“I wanted to make some kind of statement,” says mural creator Ami Muaranetz. “If you’re going to do something outside that’s in the public, there is a great opportunity to make a message, because art reaches people easier than advertising or posters.” For Muaranetz, the whole point is to get people to think about what they’re putting into their own mouths when they eat. “I’m driven. I like to see change. I don’t like talking a lot, I like doing

things,” the second-year Visual Arts student explains. The inspiration behind the mural was the activism of Bove, a published author best known for leading a group of activists in the destruction of a McDonald’s restaurant in France. He served

three months in prison for his actions. This elevated Bove to martyr status among the anti-globalization circle. “This guy needs to be recognized as a hero,” says Muaranetz. “He is championing for fresh foods for people to eat.”

Judith Price, Visual Arts instructor and Muaranetz’ mentor on this project, admits she was initially skeptical about Muarantez’ plans for the mural. “Where do you think you’re going to be able to put it?” Price asked her pupil. “I knew where she wanted to put it and we were both pretty sure that wasn’t going to happen,” she says, referring to the campus cafeteria, whose controversial owner, Aramark, has been the subject of recent Nexus articles. Though the mural doesn’t directly mention Aramark, the subtext beneath Muaranetz’ mural, “People’s health before profits,” is an implication of not just Aramark, but the corporatization of the fast food industry in general. The challenge for Muaranetz was one of discretion. “How can I make a statement without being overt and saying, ‘Don’t go to the cafeteria?’“ Donna Burger, food services director for Aramark at Camosun College, declined to comment on the mural. One person who’s supportive of Muaranetz’ mural is Camosun student Matteus Clement. An outspoken crusader for better food service on campus, he shares with Muaranetz a passion for healthy living and advocacy. The mural impressed Clement and he’s very supportive of the message it sends. PHOtO: NatHaN StaM “Although it does not make Muaranetz is an advocate for a direct stab at Aramark, it does nutrition and healthy eating. She show that Camosun students are cites alarm over Genetically Modi- aware of the need for sustainable fied Foods (GMOs), specifically farming and better food practices,” environmental safety, labeling says Clement. Muaranetz’ mural will remain issues, and the unknown effects of eating GMOs, as the catalyst for on display outside of the Ewing building until March 18. the mural.

Student plagiarism a growing concern Jason moTZ CONtriButiNG Writer

As the winter semester winds down, many students begin to feel the panic of approaching deadlines. It’s this kind of academic climate where “borrowing” someone else’s ideas for an exam or essay is most likely to rear its ugly head. But all Camosun professors agree plagiarism is a piss-poor option any time of the year. “The penalties are harsh, at least mine are; other instructors may give second chances,” says Chris Morier, who teaches Canadian and World History at Lansdowne. “My students get zero percent on the essay, and not many were able to pass the class because of that zero percent. A few didn’t even bother showing up to write the final.” The college’s student conduct policy specifically regards plagiarism as the submission of any assignment, essay, lab report, or exam that is the work of another person. The submission of an assignment where an editor or tutor has drastically rewritten it for the student also falls under the banner of plagiarism. This definition also incorporates improperly cited references and quotations, probably the most common form of plagiarism. Recently, Camosun’s board of governors approved an additional

page on plagariasm to the student conduct policy, in an effort to make the definition even clearer. Each semester, instructors are obligated to spend the first day of class going through the policy with each class, paying special attention to plagiarism’s definitions and consequences.

“Have i caught everyone? Not bloody likely. But i’d like to think that my batting average is pretty solid.” Chris morier CaMOSuN COLLeGe

Baldev Pooni, vice-president of education and student services at Camosun College, says despite the college’s best efforts to educate students this form of cheating is on the rise. “Faculty are dealing with increased plagiarism,” says Pooni. So why are students resorting to it? There are many theories among the faculty. “The students who cheated intentionally were, for the most part, pressed for time, stressed out, and desperate. I don’t think that

they were dishonest people; they just made a bad decision,” offers Morier. “Beyond ignorance of the rules, laziness seems most obvious,” adds Camosun English professor Kristine Kerins. Google-savvy students can use the web to find prewritten exams on just about any subject taught on campus. But the same can be said for profs who can compare material just as easily as students can find it. “Between UVic and Camosun over the last six years, I’ve probably discovered one out of every 80 or so essays have been plagiarized,” claims Morier. “Have I caught everyone? Not bloody likely. But I’d like to think that my batting average is pretty solid.” Kerins is proactive in her campaign against plagiarism. “I also try to frighten my [English 150 students] into understanding how easy it is to accidentally plagiarize,” she says. “I penalize or fail the assignment, have a good long chat with the student about appropriate quoting and paraphrasing, and usually move on.” Kerins mentions while mistakes can happen for students learning the rules of proper quotes and citations, the onus is on them to understand these rules as soon as possible. “This is especially common at the first-year level; it is far less forgiv-

able at the second-year level,” says Kerins. The penalties are harsh for those who opt for plagiarism. Failing grades on the assignment or the course, a written reprimand, suspension, or expulsions are among the possible consequences. According to Pooni, the harshest of these has not yet been exerted, but students have paid the price for their mistakes. “I don’t believe a student has been expelled from the college for plagiarizing, but students have received failing grades and also been removed from a program,” says Pooni. “We have not expelled anyone yet because it is a process of progressive discipline. There has not been a serious enough case for a dismissal from the college for a first offence.” But students who do face themselves under attack for plagiarism have a chance to make their cases heard. “The students can appeal through college policy,” says Pooni. “I have not had many cases of appeal. Either students have not appealed, or have gained satisfaction through an informal process.” So if you’re feeling the pinch this semester, heed the advice of faculty, adhere to the student conduct policy, and tough it out. The chances of getting away with plagiarism are slim to none.

Speak up! did you read something you didn’t like in Nexus? it’s time to speak up! this is YOur student newspaper—tell us what you want to see covered, or come write for us yourself. Send us a comment, call us, or visit us. 250 .370 .3591 nexus@nexusnewspaper .com www .nexusnewspaper .com Richmond House 201, Lansdowne

March 18, 2009

Online ballots hike national turnout JusTin bell iNterCaMP (GraNt MaCeWaN COLLeGe)

EDMONTON (CUP)–Student societies across the country are moving to electronic balloting with various levels of improved voter turnout. Both the University of Alberta and the University of Ottawa implemented e-voting for the first time this year with an increase in voter turnout at both institutions. The U of O moved to electronic balloting for the first time this year, doubling their voter turnout to 27.2 per cent, more than the previous two elections combined. “People underestimate the number of students who are part-time or doing co-op terms or who have disabilities and can’t make it [to campus],” says Wassim Garzouzi, chief information officer for the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa election. “We definitely reached out to those students.” At the U of A, turnout increased by six percent up to 20 percent this

year, due at least in part to the move to electronic balloting. It’s a marginal increase, but Patrick Wisheu, chief returning officer for the U of A Students’ Union elections, says he hopes it will grow more in the future. “With the availability to send out campus-wide email and getting people to vote works very well,” says Wisheu. “It makes voting incredibly easy for people. They can just log on and vote.” System security was also a big factor in the election as there would be no paper backups. Students had to go through a double-verification process in order to validate their ballot, logging in using their student ID, but also providing more information to ensure their identity. A number of graduate students attempted to vote in the undergraduate elections at the U of A, but were turned away by the increased security. It was the first year at the U of A where all students could vote

electronically, but smaller rollouts have been going on since 2002–03 when study abroad students were able to vote online. It was through gradual upgrades that the all-student upgrade went out this year. Students at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS broke records for student election turnout, pulling in just over 60 percent of students in their executive election this year–higher numbers than the last federal election. St. FX Students’ Union President Matt MacGillivray says turnout at the school has always been high—between 25 and 30 percent—before electronic balloting. But they’ve been using e-voting for the last five years and have seen increased turnout, making the executive’s job easier. “We do care about having a higher voter turnout, but it’s not just a show thing. It gives you a lot more swing with the university, a lot more swing with governments,” says MacGillivray.

The Students’ Association of MacEwan executive election this year will remain a paper ballot, but SA President Maigan van der Giessen says she likes the idea of electronic balloting and it could be one way to increase the stagnating voter turnout at Edmonton’s MacEwan College. “I think it’s great. We have a huge voter turnout deficit. It would be a great way to get those people out who aren’t on campus or who don’t get out to voting booths,” says van der Giessen.

Voter turnout at institutions across Canada • • • • •

St. francis Xavier university 60.4 per cent university of Ottawa 7.2 per cent university of alberta 20.4 per cent Macewan council elections 2009 6.4 per cent Camosun College Student Society the past few CCSS elections have hovered around 5 percent voter turnout

NEWS BRIEFS

by KaiT Cavers

Bikes in the bay after years of bringing up issues with bicycle infrastructure in Oak Bay, local cycling and walking enthusiasts might finally start to see what they’ve been asking for. the community has come together to create a bicycle master plan (BMP) for the municipality. the goals of the plan are to support and develop the cycling community’s transportation needs, guide the municipality in its infrastructure assessment and improvement, and coordinate this development with adjacent municipalities in Greater Victoria. Creating a BMP will also assist Oak Bay to apply for its fair share of provincial and federal costshared infrastructure program funds. additional volunteers are welcome to contribute to the ongoing vision and research process, so if this sounds like it’s right up your alley, contact Corey Burger at 250–592–8433 to find out how you can help.

No-fuss bus just when you thought BC transit had no more tricks up their sleeve, they unveil a bus the size of an elephant and as quiet as a church mouse. BC transit President and CeO Manuel achadinha introduced the firstever hybrid, double-decker bus to the public on March 10 at their corporate office on Gorge road east. keep your eyes peeled for this beauty of a beast, coming to a bus stop near you!

money back

fast

Hit the pavement for MS

ACCT. MGMT.

Peak Varsity Eye Opener Chronicle Fulcrum Western News Imprint Cord Niagara News Lance Argus Muse Gazette Aquinian Manitoban Carillon Sheaf

NEWSPAPERS:

Gateway Intercamp Meliorist Other Press Cascade Omega Martlet Ryersonian Lambda Opus Quill Bricklayer Mars Hill Nexus Plant Excalibur Pro Tem

At Guelph Saint Shield Nomad Caper Times Baron BCIT Link Navigator Mike Dialog On Campus Kwantlen Chronicle Underground Incite Over the Edge Campus Journal

the MS Society of Canada is currently searching for volunteers to help out at the Scotiabank MS walk. Volunteers are needed for a variety of fun, short-term, engaging positions, and the work doesn’t look so bad on a resume either! Multiple Sclerosis is a condition affecting the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other, leaving sufferers to have muscle weakness, muscle spasms, and difficulty moving, among a sea of other problems. the walk to benefit this debilitating condition takes place on Sunday, april 5 at Willows Beach Park in Oak Bay. if you want to help out, call ashley Hodgins at 250–388–6496 or email ashley. [email protected]

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.

08-HRB-041-BW-GE-11.indd 1

PRINT PROD.

BW

BLEED:

COPY WRITER ART DIRECTOR

DISKED:

LASER %:

REV#: 0

call us . ARTIST: TT

1-800-HRBLOCK (472-5625)

DATE STARTED: DEC 9

come in today or call

JOB NAME: STUDENT CAMPUS NWSP ADS

Screw

CREATIVE DIR.

TRIM: 8" X 10"

TYPE SAFETY: –

and you could win $5,000 towards a road trip. visit refundroadtrip.ca

LIVE AREA: –

walk in with your taxes, walk out with your money

STUDIO MGR.

GOT SOME TIPS?

DOCKET/AD#: 08-HRB-041-BW-GE-11

y g

NeWS

6

250 .370 .3591 nexus@nexusnewspaper .com Richmond House 201, Lansdowne 1/26/09 9:23:57 AM

CaMPuS

[email protected]

7

Camosun College’s secret hiding places and the college has facilities provided for eating, resting, relaxing, and reading. But who wouldn’t want to look back on their college years knowing that as they tore down the walls of their mental landscape by educating themselves, they also tore down the walls of their physical landscape by stepping outside the box (or the building) and finding their own hidden space. And plenty of untapped opportunities are out there for the perfect hiding spot on campus. Happy hunting!

Zan ComerForD CONtriButiNG Writer

Just around the corner from the bus stop, behind some bushes, and on the down-low, students can find the secret gems of institutional education—hidden hangout spots. When the cafeteria starts to feel like a feeding trough and the buzzing library lights are making one’s skin crawl, students need to venture no further than the border of campus to find their own unique oasis, some as strange and impenetrable as the deepest, darkest corners of the tortured student psyche. “I’ve lost count of the amount of girls I’ve brought back here,” says a Lansdowne student who didn’t want his name printed. His refuge couldn’t be more convenient, located in the southwest section of the campus with a clear view of the Young Building’s clock tower.

Lansdowne hidey- holes No time to trudge off the beaten path to find a new place to hang out? follow this list and let X mark the spot to find your next best-kept secret at the Lansdowne campus. just to the northwest of the Young Building, tucked away in the basement of the richmond House, are two hangout spots that feel sneakier than they actually are—the Women’s Centre and the Pride Centre. Lots of coffee, subversive literature, and good conversation await you.

“i’ve lost count of the amount of girls i’ve brought back here.” anonymous CaMOSuN StudeNt

Chuckling, he brushes aside a snarled Garry Oak branch, exposing Camosun’s version of the Playboy Mansion grotto. The leafcovered ground yields two distinct human imprints; a notebook in a plastic bag is strewn aside. “I just come here to chill, or, you know, whatever,” he says, winking. This student isn’t alone in his quest for a place to call his own on campus. Amongst the hubbub of back and forth between the areas most frequented by students is an underground community trysting in trees, hiding in cubbyholes, and burrowing under benches. Meanwhile, two Interurban stu-

after getting your fill of feminist literature, head west. Cross richmond Street and sneak behind the bus station. amble your way up the rock face, and you’ll have one of the few views that makes Victoria look like a bustling metropolis (or, at the very least, a real city).

GraPHiC: SHaNe SCOtt-traViS

dents have managed to make that campus’ more rural location work to their advantage. Both are secondyear carpentry students and have used their skills to build a bench

in the far northeast of the campus, nestled between two evergreens. Almost like a clubhouse. “It’s like a clubhouse, sure, but this time there are girls allowed,” one replies.

Partnership program at Our Place

miChael evans CONtriButiNG Writer

Camosun College offers a Fundamental Computer Studies program in partnership with the Our Place Society for anyone who’s never used a computer before. The purpose of this self-paced program is to build confidence in using computers for employment, or for entering other educational programs. The program’s instructor is available to answer students’ questions on Wednesday morning

in the library/computer lab in Our Place at 919 Pandora Street. Fundamental Computer Studies combines classes and online learning; the program focuses on skills such as accessing the Internet, using email, and word processing. It provides opportunities for learning, in keeping with the “handup” philosophy of Our Place, recognizing people in need require more than just a handout to succeed. This is one of the society’s guiding principles.

Many people who come to Our Place are shunned elsewhere for a variety of reasons, but at Our Place they’re welcomed and called family. Our Place has an inclusive mission statement—working with the homeless and others in need to enrich and improve the lives of all. Our Place is a non-profit society formed in 2006 by the alliance of the Open Door and the Upper Room. The new facility, opened last year, assists those in need, particularly the street community, by providing transitional housing, nutritious meals, support and advocacy, a drop-in centre with a library/computer lab, and a hygiene centre with spacious washrooms and showers. This facility is also accessible to persons with disabilities. The Fundamental Computer Studies program, offered in partnership with Camosun College, is one of the many specialty programs Our Place offers providing necessary support and advocacy for success.

It’s often said success is determined by how much you do after you’ve done what’s expected of you. Students have to attend classes

don’t hurt yourself on the way down from the top of the rock, and cross back to the other side of richmond and onto the walkway in front of the Young Building. Look around. Scaffolding is the epitome of an urban explorer’s dream. Go crazy, but don’t get caught. assuming you escaped from the scaffold-ed underworld unscathed, head south onto the sprawling green about 50 paces. there you’ll find one of the campus’s oldest Garry Oaks. twisting, curving, low branches that even the most hesitant explorer can climb.

Secure your future at the Camosun/VIATeC

Trades

&Technology Career Fair

Thursday, April 9 10 am-2 pm

Technologies Centre, Interurban Campus ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A $250 CAMOSUN GIFT CARD. Camosun Co-operative Education & Student Employment www.camosun.ca/ses

Specialist exhibitors, employer presentations, on-the-spot interviews, pizza!

Get prepared, bring your resume, and dress for success. Open to all Camosun students and alumni.

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



March 18, 2009

The dilemma of tipping on a student budget Ryan Gibbons Contributing Writer

“Why should my hardearned buck be given to somebody who is really just doing their job?” James Guthrie Camosun student

Photo: Courtney Broughton

*
 '


MLA Victoria-Beacon Hill

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

“Tipping automatically, it’s for the birds.” Anyone who’s seen Reservoir Dogs will remember the tipping scene and understand it does make some sense. But where does it state tipping is a requirement at a restaurant, but not at fast food chains? How do you gauge if the service deserves five percent or 15, and should a student with limited cash flow still be expected to adhere to the unspoken rules of giving up a gratuity? On the other side of the argument, students who are working in the service industry rely on tips to help them make it through school with their head slightly above water. Tyler Burton, a Camosun student who has worked in the food service industry, understands both sides of the coin very well when it comes to leaving the tip at the end of a meal. “It is hard paying your bill and knowing that it is expected of you to throw something extra in for the service you received,” says Burton. “You could argue the point though that if you were that much of a struggling student [that you couldn’t tip], then why are you eating out in the first place?” When Burton worked as a server, it was always those tips that helped pay the rent and keep his debts down. But Interurban student James Guthrie isn’t quite as sympathetic to the needs of service employees. “Why should my hard-earned buck be given to somebody who

is really just doing their job?” asks Guthrie. “I go to McDonalds and sometimes I’m told to sit down and my food will be brought out to me. When this happens, I don’t tip the person bringing me my food; it’s McDonalds, but they are providing the same service I would get if I went to Moxie’s where I would be expected to leave a tip.” Tipping can be a strange and sometimes difficult social expectation, especially for students with very limited funds. Who’s to say what is and isn’t right when it comes to leaving too much, too little, or nothing at all for the server after dinner? It’s always easy enough to “accidentally” press the continue button on the debit machine without leaving a tip, or pretend to forget to write down a tip on your credit card bill. Camosun student Alex Smith has also dealt with this situation before during his time working at restaurants. “I have had more than one person pretend to forget about the tip during a debit purchase, but I can’t say anything because it is not a requirement,” says Smith. “It is quite annoying watching it happen and knowing that you just tried to entertain these people and literally wait on their every want and need, and now they are walking out the door without leaving any kind of a thank you,” says Smith. Whether students are broke or not, most servers expect tips, but whether or not they deserve it is ultimately the choice of the customer.

Important Notice for Students with Canada Student Loans

Avis important aux étudiants qui ont un prêt d’études canadien

If you are not returning to full-time studies this fall, you will need to contact us to discuss repayment options:

Si tu ne retournes pas aux études à temps plein l’automne prochain, tu dois communiquer avec nous afin de discuter des options de remboursement.

Are you graduating or taking more than six months off from school? • For your Canada Student Loan, contact the National Student Loans Service Centre at 1-888-815-4514 (TTY for the hearing impaired: 1-888-815-4556). • For your provincial student loan, contact your provincial student financial aid office at 1-800-561-1818. If you think you might have trouble paying back your student loans, there are federal and provincial programs available to help you stay on track. Ask about the repayment options available to you. For example, the new Repayment Assistance Plan will ensure your Canada Student Loan payments will never be higher than what you can reasonably afford. Visit the Spotlight On section of CanLearn.ca for details.

Tu termines tes études ou tu les interromps pendant plus de six mois?

• En ce qui concerne ton prêt d’études canadien, communique avec le Centre de services national de prêts aux étudiants, au 1-888-815-4514 (téléimprimeur pour malentendants : 1-888-815-4556). • En ce qui concerne ton prêt d’études provincial, communique avec le bureau d’aide financière aux étudiants de ta province, au 1-800-561-1818. Si tu crois que tu pourrais avoir de la difficulté à rembourser tes prêts d’études, des programmes fédéraux et provinciaux s’offrent à toi afin de t’aider à maintenir le cap. Renseigne-toi au sujet des possibilités de remboursement qui te sont proposées. Dans le cadre du nouveau Programme d’aide au remboursement, par exemple, tu seras assuré que les versements sur ton prêt d’études canadien ne dépasseront jamais un montant raisonnablement abordable pour toi. Pour plus de détails, visite la section En vedette du site cibletudes.ca.

 SPORTS Chargers bring home Chargers women bronze from nationals win provincials

[email protected]

Guy Alaimo Staff Writer

GUY ALAIMO STAFF WRITER

The Camosun Chargers men’s volleyball team can proudly boast being the number three team in all of Canada after the March 13–14 national championships in Fort McMurray, AB. After losing their first match against the Keyano College Huskies, eliminating themselves from gold medal contention, the men’s Chargers beat #8 New Brunswick St. John Sea Wolves on March 13 to gain a berth in the bronze medal games. Their loss in their first match against the host Keyano College Huskies 25_14, 25_19, 23_25, 19_25, 15_10, was a hard one to swallow, but came against a strong team. “You’ve got to hand it to Keyano,” says coach Parkinson. “[Keyano] is a nice team. They came out on fire and we had no answer for them the first two sets. We finally figured out how to hit around them and served a little tougher in the third and fourth sets, but our luck just ran out in the final set. We can’t walk the line that close and expect to come out on top

every time out.” In the fight for bronze, the Chargers first ousted a familiar rival in the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades, and then toppled the Algonquin College Thunder in the bronze medal game. The set scores were 25–19, 25–19, 15–25, and 25–20 for Camosun. Brent Hall was player of the game with 17 kills, two blocks, two aces, and six digs. Libero Josh Coutts of Oak Bay had an outstanding game on defense, making numerous saves. The national bronze medal for Camosun came after an impressive gold medal run at the BCCAA provincial championships. To win provincial gold, the team defeated the #2 ranked University of the Fraser Valley Cascades in a seesaw battle 25_22, 22_25, 25_21, 21_25, and 15_11. Coutts was named the Chargers player of the game for his strong defensive effort, while star player Aleks Saddlemeyer of Parklands led both teams with 20 kills, one block, and two aces. Brent Hall and Dan Goodburn added 17 and 16 kills apiece.

SUMMER JOBS COLLEGE PRO PAINTERS

is presently looking for responsible / hardworking University or College students for:

Saddlemeyer was named MVP of the game. The win siginified the Chargers’ fourth BCCAA gold medal in 13 overall appearances at the provincial championships. “We came to play,” said head coach Charles Parkinson after the hard-fought victory. “Our setter Derek Twomey was incredible but it was Josh [Coutts] who made amazing saves all night long to allow our hitters to shine.” The BCCAA named Parkinson Coach of the Year earlier in the season.

It has been a year to remember for Camosun Athletics as the Chargers women’s basketball team is this year’s BCCAA provincial champions. The women Chargers defeated the UNBC Timberwolves 77–61 to win the gold medal and seal their berth in the CCAA championship, a tournament that was held back from them after losing to the Twolves in last year’s championship game. “It’s sweet to win gold,” says head coach Brett Westcott. “But it’s even nicer for our vets who lost in last year’s final against UNBC to be able to come back and turn things around to win.” The Chargers took advantage of the T-wolves early in the game, jumping ahead 25–11 after the first quarter. But it wasn’t long before the Chargers let their huge lead slip

Change is good. If you’re a Biz Admin student, see your Program Leader for details. Now.Yes, now.

Full-Time Painting Positions May - August No experience required, we will train you to paint.

Positions available in your area. If interested call 1-888-277-9787 or apply online at www.collegepro.com

away as they went into halftime holding onto a 35–29 lead. By the third quarter, however, the Chargers expanded their lead to 12 points before taking control in the fourth and putting the Twolves away. Third-year point guard Kate Carlson was named player of the game with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Shooting guard Carly Hopp also had a big game with 17 points while Teresa Hartrick had 11. Carmen Lapthorne also finished with 11 points and was recently named the BCCAA Player of the Year. Carlson, Hopp, and Lapthorne were all named to the tournament All-Star team. The next stop for the Chargers is the CCAA National Women’s Basketball Championship in Sainte Foy, Quebec from March 19–21. Results will be printed in the next issue of Nexus.

Ready for your next step? Take it at Camosun. camosun.ca/bizadmin

10

FEATURE

March 18, 2009

Scientology: The world’s stran Tommy Boy does Scientology Tom Cruise is the biggest movie star around. Okay, he was the biggest movie star in Hollywood. Kind of. Well, he was A-list. Maybe he still is. Nowadays he’s better known for his preaching than his pretty boy looks. As the most famous face of the Church of Scientology, he’s the one people key in on when they think of the religion. Cruise has done a good job of putting himself in front of the media’s eye, with couch-jumping stunts and a variety of outbursts and public arguments. So when he mentions his belief system, which he often does, there’s someone there to record it. Not only that, but when he starts going on about Scientology he either gushes the positives or flames people who disagree. On top of that, he makes many appearances on film and in person for Scientology. The most famous incidence of this is the leaked video, which is now all over the web. In it viewers get equal measures of gushing about his beliefs and him looking a little nutso. Cruise has good reason to be so into the religion, he’s invested a lot of time and money. He’s received a medal of honour from the organization. He’s passed the level where you learn about Xenu and accept it as truth. In other words, he’s put his sanity on the line . . . not that there’s much left. He can thank his current status as the public face of the organization to his ex-wife, Mimi Rogers. She was already a member when they married, and he says he joined the church around this time. Though the marriage was short-lived, the belief system seemed to stick through the Nicole Kidman years. Then TomKat happened. After marrying the poor girl, it appears Katie Holmes and their daughter, Suri, are right into it. And after firing his publicist in 2005 and hiring his sister, also a Scientologist, TC is releasing his thoughts on love, life, and the evils of psychiatry on the world. Which is unfortunate, since ol’ Tommy Boy looks like he could use a quack, asap.

The trip

Rumour has it that Scientology had opened up a mission in Victoria recently. Rumour is, like usual, only partially accurate. Scientology had been in town for quite awhile, left, and returned a couple years ago. After bouncing around a couple times, and not updating it’s address online, Nexus located the Church of Scientology Mission Victoria in Saanich on Haliburton Road. Fearing it would move again, we jumped on the chance to go have ourselves checked out by Scientologists. Finding a house under renovations, we thought the mission had bounced again, but the pleasant lady at the door confirms they had just moved in and were renovating a room downstairs. It was going to be one of the “session rooms.” We decide to stay upstairs and discuss Dianetics, the self-help system created by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. It’s the jump-off point for Scientology, and it sounds plausible . . . kind of. The theory says our “reactive mind” is the cause of all of our problems, and it’s not our fault. Anything irrational that we do is because of “engrams”—memories in our reactive mind. It seems Scientologists have switched some of the words around in basic psychiatry and are telling us all of our problems are caused by subconscious recollection of past mishaps that occurred during times of stress or decreased awareness. In other words, if you’re hyped up on Red Bull all the time, you probably should have less issues. After the discussion, our host offers us a test. Not the well-known Scientology E-meter test, but a personality test to see where our weaknesses lie. After 200 simple questions on the Oxford Capacity Analysis, we get to find out that we’re both self-critical and possibly hit the drugs a little much. I’ll give them the self-critical bit, but the drugs, not so much. After the test, which we passed, we got to watch TV. No after school special though. Instead, a 40-minute DVD on Dianetics. While it was kinda hokey and repetitive, it did have good special effects. They certainly didn’t cheap out. The video explains the self-help steps that Dianetics teaches. No Xenus, no thetans, no requests for cash up front. Just explaining how to audit someone. That is, listen to their bad memories and make them irrelevant, not check their old income tax claims. It seems Scientologists’ way of selling the religion is to make it sound like one of the many new age, “positive thinking will solve all my problems” systems. It sounds plausible enough, and for someone down on their luck who better to blame than everyone else?

Dianetics seems to say that when stuff happens around you while you’re dulled by stress or sickness, you absorb what’s going on. So if you hit your head and right after that someone says, “All black people are bad,” you’ll be an involuntary racist. They use the literal example of a man having a car crash. As the ambulance picks him up, a lady nearby says something along the lines of, “I can’t see what’s happening.” Bam, buddy needs glasses. Then one of the attendants complains about stress. Bam, buddy has more stress in his life. Apparently, to keep irrational behaviour from happening in the future, keep your sick children in soundproof rooms. That’ll keep them sane. I could go on, but the bad acting in the DVD hurts a little. They went for attractive actors, not talented. When the DVD finally ends we discuss our future with Scientology a bit. Our host is really nice, and she does seem to want to help people, but at $50 for the first course, I’m thinking no. The free session didn’t reveal any of the good crazy, and to reach that really nutty stuff it costs thousands of dollars. That’s how the missions are run, as franchise operations. Scientology is kind of like the fast food of religions. On second thought, maybe not. It’s not cheap, and I’m not sure it’s technically a religion. It doesn’t seem to have a god, or afterlife, though it does have souls, who might be immortal. There’s no prayer, at least not at entry level. There’s no holy days. It’s a belief system, but that might be it.

p

The history

t h

Scientologists say the name comes from the Latin word scio, which means “knowing in the fullest sense of the word” and the Greek word logos meaning “study of.” Where the ento comes from is unclear. Well, actually it came from the mind of L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard was a well-travelled young man and turned his experiences into a writing career. Then he turned his journalism into a career in fiction. And then he wrote millions of words worth of fiction. Writing for magazines and movie houses, he eventually moved into the sciencefiction arena. During WWII Hubbard worked in the intelligence field in Australia. After receiving an injury, he recovered in a hospital and began to form theories on how the mind works. By 1947, he had worked out the basics of Dianetics. These are concepts of how the mind functions and how it can be improved. After a series of tests, he compiled a

w s “

t I t a p a i

h U H o i a 1 t h h t

t u

T

C c r 1

g t m

t r s

s p

FEATURE

[email protected]

angest belief system

und orb fter l be

ash. meg.”

s.

penroof

ts a

ure she first

azy, s of

ons.

I’m ave ght vel.

atin e of of.”

ubned his rote nes nce-

nce red ind

ics. how ed a

paper discussing the principle of existence. After friends read and passed on his theory Hubbard was urged by associates to write a “popular” book on the subject of Dianetics. Note how they urged him to write a “popular” book? As his theories gained traction, Hubbard moved to turn these into a movement. In 1952, he published new teachings as Scientology and turned it into a religious philosophy. He incorporated as a church in Los Angeles in 1954. From there Scientology has continued to grow in the US and around the world. Hubbard dedicated the rest of his life to the cause, writing and developing teachings and theories until his death in 1986. Scientologists believe that instead of really expiring, he departed his body, since he had done all he wanted to do. Since then, the organization has continued spreading, using Hubbard’s teachings.

with Chi (resembling J. Edgar Hoover) and Chu, his political henchmen, to use an army of convicts and thugs to capture all possible dissenters, including actors, black people, and newscasters. They choose who to capture by using a psychiatrist. Once everyone is collected, they are flown to Earth, also known as Teegeeack, in ships looking like a DC8 passenger jet, without the jets. There they are crammed in about a dozen volcanoes and nuked. The bodies perished, but the spirits remained. They’re now called body thetans. Xenu captured them and forced them to watch a 3-D movie for 36 days straight. With no popcorn! The theatres were located somewhere in Hawaii and the Canary Islands. Rawl avoids the mass murder, somehow, and escapes with a few loyalists to Alpha Centauri 2. There they take over the planet in a bloody battle and continue on, taking planet by planet. Eventually the come to the home planet and capture Xenu. Afterwards, Rawl bans psychiatry and imprisons Xenu and his followers. Xenu may still be there. Now Earth is considered a prison planet and the Confederacy has nothing to do with it. Usually . . . Hubbard wrote about all this in the mid-’60s, though inklings of what was to come appeared earlier. In the ’50s, for instance, he mentioned people may have lived previous lives and there was an extraterrestrial conflict somewhere in the annals of history. That’s annals, not anals. Many Scientologists ran with this and claimed to have previously lived on other planets. When reached for comment, the other planets had not heard of this Xenu character.

Scientologists say the name comes from the Latin word scio, which means “knowing in the fullest sense of the word” and the Greek word logos meaning “study of.” Where the ento comes from is unclear.

The other history Xenu was a fairly bad guy. If you know any of Scientology’s apparent galactic history, you’ve probably heard he screwed his population and ours. The general story goes somewhat like this. Back about 75 million years ago there was a Galactic Confederation and Xenu was their emperor. People wore clothes similar to the 1960’s, which means they probably resembled humans. They drove cars and trucks like the 1960s as well. Around the time of the blessing in of the 2054th Congress, Xenu’s new laws pertaining to personal rights and taxes are challenged by Rawl, a heroic Loyal Officer, who may or may not resemble Hubbard. Xenu calls on one of his political henchmen to justify the new laws. His name was Chu and he looked pig-like. A recent war meant the Confederacy was broke and needed some cash quick. Rawl calls bullshit and demands Xenu’s power be essentially cancelled. The place goes nuts until the motion passes and Rawl is considered a hero. Instead of Xenu conceding defeat, he concocts a scheme

The operations With all the controversy around Scientology, a few groups are working against them. Okay, more than a few,

11

Brendan Kergin Staff Writer

but they have to be careful. The leaders of Scientology don’t like haters, and try to sue them when they can. With the information behind the Church of Scientology so hard to come by, any snippet is golden. Where best to show off that nugget? The internet. That’s why Scientology’s relationship with the web has been dicey. With the Operating Thetan III documents leaked, which is where Xenu hides, and videos spreading through all the hosting sites, Scientology has taken a massive PR hit due to the ‘net. So it makes sense that that’s where all the opposition hides out. The most famous of the anti-Scientology groups is Anonymous, an online group without a leader or physical base. They use a working model that resembles anarchy, bent on attacking groups they don’t agree with. They started off hacking Habbo and a white supremacist. Then they started Operation Chanology, which essentially aims to disrupt Scientology activities. The battle between the two groups is fairly heated with the internet as the battlefield. On one side are the group of online individuals working in a moderately uniform manner, while Scientology is trying to use legal measures. But so far no one can be charged since most Anonymous activities are legal. After the famous Tom Cruise Scientology promo video leaked on the internet, Anonymous attacked Scientology for its litigious move on YouTube and Gawker. That’s the stem of it, and since it has gone on to sending black faxes to scientology fax machines, emptying them of ink; prank calls; and open protests. The activists tend to wear masks to stay, well, anonymous. The main point Anonymous aims to make is knowledge is free and paying to essentially find out what your religious views are is ludicrous. Another issue is the tax-exempt status of Scientology. One of the current campaigns Anonymous is working on is to revoke this status. The argument is two-pronged. Part A is that Scientology is not a religion, but a popular cult and should be on par with something like the Raelians. Part B suggests they are not non-profit, since almost everything about them costs money. Also, Operation Clambake has pissed off Scientology so much that Google had to stop listing a bunch of their pages, not that Google went quietly. Clambake hasn’t stopped there though. Under the site name Xenu.org, they’ve posted a ton of critical material about the Church of Scientology.

FOOD Cheap eats for broke students

12

March 18, 2009

Jenna Sedmak Contributing Writer

You’ve just paid your rent and money’s getting tighter towards the end of the semester. While groceries are already expensive, eating out in the city can be outrageously priced for students. But never fear— some great restaurants offer a wide variety of filling, tasty, and healthy food at a low cost. Could you ask for anything more? The following eateries offer great bang for the buck, leaving you wanting more. Even if you’re full.

Bubby Rose’s is so good, it’s located twice on Cook Street, one in the village and one near Fort Street.

Bubby Rose’s Not just a bakery, a variety of foods are available here that are quick, delicious, fresh, and not too expensive. They offer an array of sandwiches, lasagnas, pizza, quiches, baked goods, and, of course, coffee and tea. Vegetarian and wheat-free options are available as well. Grab a slice of lasagna, a fresh-baked cookie, and a cup of tea for about 10 bucks. And on Mondays they offer great deals on their day-old, homemade bread. Bubby Rose’s is so good, it’s located twice on Cook Street, one in the village and one near Fort Street.

Lotus Pond A friend told me about this place and called it delicious vegan junk food. If you’re a fan of Asian cuisine, definitely check out Lotus Pond. Although everything is vegan, a variety of mock meat dishes will satisfy most tastes (minus the

Photo: Sarah Dart

MSG and excess grease). Different combo options are available, as well as a pay-by-weight buffet. Cheaper menu items are available after 2 pm on weekdays. Lotus Pond is located at 617 Johnson Street (near Johnson and Broad).

Shiki Sushi Here’s a place where students can afford a great sushi meal. Shiki

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

Sushi has daily lunch bento box specials for under $7, as well as fairly priced sushi rolls and other options. Everything is super fresh, and the service is quick. You can have a miso soup, garden salad, rice with peanut sauce, and a roll of your choice (with non-stop tea) for under $12.

vegetarians, and meat eaters. The portions are large, scrumptious, and inexpensive. A favourite of mine, Pad Thai, is $12 for a traditional and delicious, sweet and savoury meal. The serving is big enough to share or to have leftovers for another meal. Also, they have lunch specials for under $10.

Little Thai Place

Hernandez

Conveniently located near Camosun College’s Lansdowne campus on Shelbourne Street (they also have Cook Street and Langford locations), Little Thai place offers a delicious menu to suit vegans,

This is the real deal. Authentic Latin American food, fresh as it comes. Hernandez is locally owned and operated, and all of the food is made from scratch with fresh (and sometimes local) ingredients. A

variety of menu items are available, and everything’s affordable. The staff speaks Spanish and the meals come served on brown paper. The best dish is five tacos for five dollars. Add a bowl of rice and a side of hot sauce and you’ve got a full meal for about eight bucks. Great for carnivores and herbivores alike. You may not have encountered this hidden gem, as it’s tucked away in a small mall on Yates Street right across from the Odeon Theatre. Also, check out their new second location in Fernwood at the corner of Bay and Shakespeare.

ARTS

[email protected]

13

Local festival features female perspectives

Photo: Courtney Broughton

Zan Comerford Contributing Writer

Victoria boasts the reputation of having three women for every man. It’s plain to see all over the city, on the campuses and on the streets. But one place you have to look a little harder to see a strong female presence is on our stages. Checking out Victoria’s diverse

performance arts community, the gender ratio seems to be reversed, with an abundance of all-male acts but only a handful of well-known female performers. The LoudSpeaker festival recently brought a wealth of local female talent into the spotlight, showing Victoria what it had been missing. LoudSpeaker showcased

And then more stuff blows up Eagle Eye Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton Runtime: 118 minutes

If the brain could narrate what it was seeing while watching a movie, Eagle Eye would go something like this; “Okay, credits . . . credits. . . . people in the desert . . . ROCKET LAUNCHER!” No joke; that’s how quickly this film gets started. And there’s no stopping it, either. Once it gets going, it just continues gaining momentum, until remembering to breathe becomes difficult. Ridiculously advanced technology enabling the government to watch everybody all the time, immediate action, and thrilling car chases—what’s not to like? Seriously, they must have blown up 25 cars throughout the course of this film. And these aren’t run-ofthe-mill car crashes, either. We’re talking obliterated in just about every way possible. But enough about the cars. What about the technology that can communicate with Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) by hacking into marquees within his line of sight, or can call him on the phone of the guy sleeping opposite him on the subway, or can listen to conversations by analyzing vibrations from a metal travel mug in the room? Pretty unbelievable stuff, but it makes for an exciting movie. Jerry and Rachel (Michelle

Monaghan) are two strangers thrown together under the most stressful of circumstances, who end up relying on each other to stick to a wild goose chase an unidentified voice commands them to follow. But there isn’t much choice in the matter; it’s either obey or die . . . well, more like obey or get blown to smithereens by a crystal the size of a thumbtack with the explosive range of a football field. Jerry tries to prove he’s not a terrorist, and Rachel’s out to save her son who’s on a band trip to play for the President. Oh yeah, and a crazy government computer called ARIA has become too intelligent to control, and decides it needs to eliminate the White House. This is where the cheese factor kicks in, because it can be safely said the concept of technology as a threat has certainly been done before. But Eagle Eye focuses on thrill, action, suspense, and visually exciting graphics to distract from the slightly hokey plot. Directed by D.J. Caruso, Eagle Eye is a fantastic popcorn flick pretty well anyone can enjoy. Numerically, it’s an easy 11/10, with bonus marks for featuring LaBeouf in a police uniform.

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

music, theatre, and poetry in celebration of International Woman’s Day. Festival coordinators Andrea Routley, a Camosun Creative Writing student, and Emma Cochrane, a Women’s Studies and Spanish student at UVic, are longtime friends who took their friendship to another level when they decided to organize a festival together. “We’d always get together to talk about things that were frustrating us, but at some point you get tired of ranting and you get tired of being frustrated with the way things are,” says Cochrane. The two were inspired to use arts as a vehicle for empowerment after seeing The Viral Monologues last fall, a theatre performance of women living with HIV/AIDS. LoudSpeaker opened with Stirring Words, a poetry workshop for women and transgendered people, led by Camosun professors Jeanne Iribarne and Candace Fertile. The week progressed to one of the festival’s highlights, Women in the Raw, a night of spoken word poetry performed by an all-female, all-nude cast. That night’s ambiance was clearly set as the Victoria

Event Center filled with an exclu- Talk Too Much as a possibility. sively female and transgendered “Too often the guys are the funny audience. ones, and the women are supposed The performers used their words to be the audience,” says Cochrane. and their bodies to convey a sense “Too often women are silenced, of sisterhood, with themes as far- their experiences and perspectives reaching as sexual abuse to the first silenced; we want to be the ones time each woman masturbated. talking.” Giving voice to the voiceless was an important theme through“Too often women are out the festival, with proceeds being donated to the Prostitutes Educasilenced, their tion, Empowerment and Resource Society (PEERS). experiences and Self-proclaimed “Only Dyke at perspectives silenced; the Open Mic” Kate Reid performed a witty mix of candid, storytelling we want to be the folk at Spiral Café on Friday night, ones talking.” and the festival concluded with three performances of “A MemEmma Cochrane ory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a LoudSpeaker festival Prayer,” the second instillation of Eve Ensler’s famous play, The “It’s amazing that 60 years ago, Vagina Monologues. a group of women acting like this LoudSpeaker was rounded off would be dismissed as uppity,” says perfectly with the publishing of Heather McGlynn, a Camosun a chapbook called Stop Violence student in the audience. against Women and Girls with local The rest of the festival continued male and female contributors. along a similar path with She’s So It appears the days are long gone Loud, a night of women in comedy. when women were asked to speak The event’s catchy title was decided only when spoken to; now, they’re on after considering Women Who yelling until they get noticed.

Watchmen

Watchmen ★★★★★

★★★★★

Michael Brar

Ed Sum

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Nuclear apocalypse at the hands of the Soviet Union is imminent, and America of the mid-’80s is faced with its darkest days. Who will the free world turn to in its time of need? If you expected the answer to be “The Watchmen,” then you haven’t read Alan Moore’s iconic graphic novel of the same name. But after having seen Zack Snyder’s recent film interpretation of Watchmen, most would agree you really don’t need to read the print version. The time and effort invested in this film is easily apparent upon watching the finished product. The attention to detail is simply absurd; everything from the books on Hollis Mason’s shelf to the knick-knacks in Moloch’s cutlery drawer are deliberately placed with care in such a way that even the most jaded fan couldn’t possibly complain. The art direction, especially the costume design, is unquestionably top class. Even with a runtime of just under three hours, Watchmen won’t force viewers to look at their watches. Regardless of whether or not you already know the story, the engrossing narrative will keep you at full attention throughout. This is an unapologetically gory, vulgar, and obscene film; Snyder definitely didn’t have any problems obtaining the R rating he’d been hoping for.

Some better answers to the question “who watches the Watchmen?” are what time is it, and is it over yet? Adapted to film by Zack Snyder (300), there’s only one word to describe Watchmen—heavy. A lot of imagery and story need to be absorbed in a 160-minute movie. It’s no Spiderman 2 or The Dark Knight in terms of non-stop action and a simple plot. Instead, audiences are treated to a detective story and a drama about what defines a hero. Alan Moore masterfully conveyed his social commentary in his graphic novel, but unless you’ve read it the movie version is a flood to the senses. There’s too much material to cover and not everyone will get it. The cinematic presentation is wonderful, but it doesn’t stand out. The effects are getting stagnant. Who still wants to see slow-motion fight effects a la The Matrix? Snyder understood the source material, but he didn’t go beyond it. If this film didn’t stick so close to the comic, it would have been better. 300 was grand and beautiful, but if Snyder can’t use a different bag of tricks for Watchmen, reading the graphic novel is more appealing.

One Week ★★★★★

Shane Scott-Travis Contributing Writer

Toronto-born writer/director Michael McGowan (Saint Ralph) easily avoids the sophomore slump with his second feature, One Week. Despite its innocuous title, One Week turns out to be a playful picture oozing with Canadiana and requisite wit. Arguably, many of the best Canadian films exist in the road movie genre—classics like Goin’ Down the Road, Highway 61, and Atanarjuat.

While One Week may not transcend the genre, it’s still a prize. Joshua Jackson (Dawson’s Creek) is heaven-sent as the conflicted hero, Ben. When Ben is diagnosed with cancer, he decides to take a week-long tour from Toronto to Tofino by motorcycle. This sits badly with his fiancée, the lovely Liane Balaban (New Waterford Girl), who doesn’t share his sudden wanderlust. One Week is terrifically cast and CanCon music cameos abound by the likes of Gord Downie (The Tragically Hip) and Joel Plaskett (ex-Thrush Hermit). One Week’s narrative structure

is rocky in places, but staying the course has its rewards, one being Campbell Scott as an omniscient narrator who throws in non-sequiturs and anecdotes worthy of early Woody Allen. Essentially a grab bag of ideas, One Week impresses on many levels. That it all works is testimony to McGowan’s fine script. In places where lesser films would delve into saccharine formula, this one stays whetted. McGowan has a lot of potential, and the film has moments that carry a surprising amount of depth and demeanour. One Week is an overstuffed but breezy slice of cinema.

artS

14

March 18, 2009

New van, band, and era for Bend Sinister

PeTer garDner CONtriButiNG Writer

Musicians hold many things about their musical life close to them. It could be their instrument, or maybe the best song they’ve written. Or, if they’re a touring musician, their van. Dan Moxon of Vancouver’s Bend Sinister is getting his band ready for a big cross-Canada tour with Montreal rockers, Mobile. It will be their first full tour, as opposed to just jumping on shows across the country. This will also be the first time across the country without “Corky,” the band’s previous van. Moxon was heading up to a cabin in Alberta when the old van

started to overheat, and it wasn’t too long until it was out of commission for good. “I already miss it,” says Moxon. “Yesterday I went out to Hope [where the van ending up dying] to transfer all the stuff in it. I’ve used it over the last five years as a little storage locker. Putting all that stuff that was in Corky in the new van literally just filled the space and we didn’t even have our gear in it. So, in some ways, it’s a step down, but the van we have now will be way better on gas and is way easier to drive.” Change is nothing new for Bend Sinister. As a band that’s gone from an instrumental metal band to the progressive pop rock band of today,

Noise Addict

and after massive lineup changes, the death of Corky seems like the

“each time you replace someone, you find somebody that’s equally as driven as you are to be in a band.” Dan moXon BeNd SiNiSter

appropriate next step to Moxon. “Right now I’ve got the newest

Rock

GOB Lucky Bar, Feb . 27 Tessa Cogman Staff Writer

folk-rock sound a la Zuma, Matt Mays has been an East Coast Music Awards winner, and is now looking for his first Juno award with a nomination for Best Rock Album. Mays and El Torpedo are nominated for their latest recording, Terminal Romance, and while the album has the inklings of a more alternative sound, the roots of folk-rock still linger on many of the tracks. With competition from Roberts, Sloan, and The Trews, Matt Mays and El Torpedo look to be the underdog in their category. Regardless of the outcome, they’re well worth the attention.

“I’ve got about seven songs down so far,” says Moxon. “And I just wanna keep hitting the touring; the States and Europe which I’ve been waiting to do for three years. We’ll also just keep going across Canada trying to build momentum.” With the newest lineup (and a new van), Moxon feels that momentum will happen. “I always refer it to the Deep Purple thing. They refer to the Mach 1, Mach 2, and Mach 3 of Deep Purple because they went through the ’60s, the ’70s, and the ’80s with different members and it really changed their sound. And I feel like I’m in Mach 3 Bend Sinister right now. It’s a great time for the band.”

Arena

By Michael Duncan

Genuine Juno talent The annual Canadian Juno Awards are fast approaching, airing Sunday, March 29. These awards, honouring rising and already-risen Canadian music talent, are important highlights in an often-vibrant music scene. But with Nickelback leading with the most nominations, it’s clear this year one has to wade through the rubbish and its lingering stench. So, in honor of the real highlights of this year’s awards, here are three bands genuinely worthy of Juno attention. Plants and Animals (myspace. Sam Roberts com/plantsandanimals) are a bright youthful vigor which has the band three-piece out of Montreal, garner- nominated for four Junos this year. ing much attention over the past Among other categories, Roberts is couple of years with an EP and now nominated for Artist of the Year and the nominated full-length album, Rock Album of the Year for Love at Parc Avenue. The band is nominated the End of the World, a sometimes this year for Best Alternative Album, foreboding and anxious album in along with other nominees includ- search of a renewed future. Roberts ing Black Mountain and The Stills. is in high competition in all of his This isn’t the first nod for Plants and categories, but the seasoned Juno Animals, who were also nominated winner looks to come away with at for a Polaris Music Prize for their least one golden statue for his latest album’s grand, layered sound. outstanding effort. Sam Roberts (myspace.com/ Matt Mays (myspace.com/ samrobertsband) and his band mattmayseltorpedo) with his band can no longer claim to be the up- El Torpedo are the dependable start youth of their Brother Down east-coast rockers. While embodydays, but their sound maintains a ing Neil Young’s late-’70s heavier

lineup for the band,” he says. “Each time you replace someone, you find somebody that’s equally as driven as you are to be in a band. Everyone has to work really hard to try and get your name out there.” And Moxon knows you’ve got to work hard to make it as a band, so finding people as motivated as you are is welcome. It doesn’t hurt that they’re all good musicians, too. “All these new guys are the best players I’ve played with to date, and they’re all driven and willing to give it a go,” adds Moxon. The band’s latest album, Stores of Brothers, Tales of Lovers, came out in October 2008, but Moxon is already busy writing the next album.

The sold-out GOB show kicked off with metal band Haggatha and rootsy rock/punk/hardcore band Carpenter. Haggatha played only three songs in about 25 minutes, but somehow managed to make it sound like one never-ending song. As the lead singer looked like he was regurgitating a fur-ball on stage, I strained my ears trying to understand the lyrics he screamed in Satan-tongue. I should have taken their MySpace description as a warning, “First the Earth cooled. Then the dinosaurs came. Then Haggatha arrived and shit all over your mind.” Carpenter still maintained a hardcore sound but had fans dancing to their melodies and the lead singer’s frequent high kicks. Many people in the crowd left before GOB even made an appearance. Did the tickets sell out for GOB or Carpenter? For those who stuck around until 12:45 am when GOB finally came on, they brought out all the

old hits and had drunken fans mosh-pitting until closing time. As the Langley band passed around Haggatha’s bottle of Wiser’s whiskey, lead singer Tom Thacker showed the audience a scar by his kidney from an event in Nanaimo, referring to the city as a vagina. GOB brought back memories, playing “Oh! Ellin,” “I Hear You Calling,” “No Regrets,” “For the Moment,” and “Give up the Grudge.” They also played some newer hits, such as “The Banshee Song,” off their new album, Muertos Vivos. I’ve never seen crowd surfing in Lucky Bar before, but GOB made it happen during their remake of “Paint It Black,” where I got elbowed in the head and felt like I was at Warped Tour all over again. But, whatever, at least the show (and my boyfriend’s elbow) knocked some memories into me. I wish I had never experienced Haggatha, I’d like to be as flexible as the lead singer of Carpenter, I look forward to hearing more of GOB, and I’m happy to see Victoria folk giving mosh-pit victims a helping hand. Overall, good show.

COLUMNS

[email protected]

GIVING IT UP: old habits di By Kelly Marion

15

hard

By Keltie Larter

Fake orgasms

Photo: Courtney broughton

Sunlight The challenge Try my best to avoid sunlight.

The reason With vampire talk abuzz and many books and movies being produced along the lines of Twilight, I got to thinking what it would really be like living without sunlight. It doesn’t seem feasible, but I decided to try to live as much “in the shadows” as I could, just like that gorgeous bloodsucker Edward.

The rationale Beyond wanting to be like a vampire, I’m giving up sunlight because I need to save my skin before I fry my way to skin cancer. With spring weather on the horizon, who isn’t longing for a day basking at the beach? Everyone knows the sun’s UV rays cause serious damage to our skin, but did you also know stats from the Canadian Cancer Society show 4,600 new cases of melanoma (a type of skin cancer) were diagnosed in Canada in 2008, rising from 4,400 in 2005. And melanoma is the less common of the skin cancers! Basal and squamous cell cancer reports occur at a rate of roughly 18 times that amount. Count me out.

The trial Day 1: I feel like a weirdo as I walk to the bus stop today carrying an umbrella and wearing shades. I could understand if I was carrying a pretty parasol, but this vinyl, black, plastic thing I’m sporting is for one purpose only, and that’s to wield off rain. It’s not even drizzling outside. . . . Day 3: The forecast called for sun today, so to beat the rays I left for school while it was still dark, not an easy task when busses only run so early. Luckily, I was able to hitch a ride with my dad on his way to work the early bird shift. As I quickly scrambled my papers together while my dad laid on the horn, I hastily forgot my umbrella and the fact that when I normally come home the sun is still out. I ended up logging a 15-hour day at school to avoid the light, which was excruciating but very productive. Day 6: My eyes have almost grown accustomed

to the dark and it actually hurts to look into the light. I wouldn’t say I’ve got night vision yet though, and I think I’ll be coming out of this with a few bruises on my pasty skin. I’ve already decided it’s best to not use anything sharp for the next week. Day 7: I’ve become the annoying girl who follows people around and shuts all the lights off. To be equally annoying, my brother decided to run around the house last night and flicked on every lamp and ceiling light he could get to. He learned his lesson though and he’ll be feeling it tomorrow . . . mwahaha. Day 9: Just as the sun has decided to finally make an appearance with Spring creeping in, I decide to hide from it. What a fool! I’ve got the winter blues and am counting on chocolate and perogies to keep me from falling into deep depression. Ahh, the power of comfort food. Day 11: Aren’t tanning beds glorious? This is just like when I gave up caffeine and drank some caffeinefree Coke—there’s always a loophole. If only I had thought of this earlier. If there was a 24-hour tanning booth, I’d move my lair there. Day 13: It’s a bright and sunny 10 degrees outside with no signs of clouds (shocking for Victoria). Am I happy about this? No! It was so much easier to be a vampire in overcast weather. So today I pretended I was hung over and bed-ridden and skipped class. My day consisted of me laying in bed drapes that were closed for 70 percent of the day, only getting up to use the washroom and get food, which is still very hard to do in the dark. My food tasted good, but I’m sure my taco salad looked more like slop.

The result If I wanted 24-hour darkness I’d move to Northern Canada in the winter. Sunshine makes me feel good and, as far as I see it, freckles are cute . . . I’ll worry about cancer later. Since I’m not actually a vampire (although my skin is as pale as one and I’ve been known to bare fangs), sunshine is one thing I’d love to keep in my daily repertoire. Hell, I may even move to Florida, the acclaimed Sunshine State!

Next issue I’m putting looks aside and giving up vanity.

Only together can we stop violence Chloe Markgraf Womyn’s Director

The documentary film Until the Violence Stops is a plea made by playwright Eve Ensler (The Vagina Monologues) and others who have started a global movement towards ending violence against womyn and children. The scope of this dream is large, yet the consequences of turning a blind eye to violence are horrendous. Until the Violence Stops is a request asking all those who can to stand up against violence. Violence is everywhere and it breaks through what’s sacred about

life. Violence destroys human livelihood and shatters hope, whether it’s waging wars overseas or gang fights in our backyards. Whether it affects our neighbor, or the one in six womyn who are raped. What about when it affects our children, or our grandchildren? Is that what it will take before we stand up against violence? We must remember we’re in a broken world, full of disease, war, famine, overpopulation, and environmental degradation. Violence has torn our earth into pieces and, more than ever, it needs repair.

The issue of violence isn’t a simple one; it’s deeply repressed. It’s not talked about, nor is it addressed in conversation. Yet it’s something affecting how we function, day in and day out. One of the ways to stop violence is to speak out against it. There’s no simple solution to violence, but if we all stand together there’s one result—solidarity, until the violence stops. On April 24–25, Camosun students will be performing The Vagina Monologues. Join us as we stand against violence towards womyn and children. For more information, visit vday.org

Probably one of the most famous cinematic orgasms was a fake. I’m talking about that scene in When Harry Met Sally where Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal’s characters are sitting in a diner, eating and talking about one-night stands. When Crystal’s character insists no woman has ever faked an orgasm with him and that he would have been able to tell if they had, Ryan’s character performs an earth-shattering orgasm right at the table to prove him wrong. Her climax is so convincing that an elderly woman in the booth next to them whispers to the waitress, “I’ll have what she’s having!” The sad fact is women fake a lot of orgasms. Not that we like to admit it, mind you; at least not to men. I decided my upcoming trip to Mount Washington would be the perfect opportunity to pick a few unsuspecting brains about the matter. So, while I was riding up the mountain on the lifts, I posed my questions between runs. Aside from one asshole who said he “didn’t give a damn if a girl got off, as long as he did” (I pity whoever ends up in the sack with that loser!), all the other guys I asked said they would feel insulted and/or embarrassed if they knew a girl had faked it. And most of them were pretty sure no girl had ever faked it with them. Yeah, right. On the other side of this sad story, only one woman I spoke to all weekend said she had honestly never faked an orgasm in her life, and she was a lesbian! Reasons for faking an orgasm vary. Sometimes it’s to protect the ego of a partner, or sometimes the embarrassment of being unable to achieve climax. Another reason is to simply speed things along. Many of the women I spoke to said they were even able to fake orgasmic vaginal contractions. So women fake it to protect men, but men have no idea that women are faking it, and men wouldn’t want them to fake it if they knew. What a conundrum. Solution? Talk to your partner!  Even if it’s a one-night stand, you should at least be comfortable enough to tell the other person what you like and what you need to have in order to reach an orgasm. And if you’ve had a few too many and you’re pretty sure the little woman in the boat isn’t going to be as responsive as usual, just let your partner know. From the sounds of it, a man would be less insulted with honesty than with a fake orgasm. I’ll admit I’ve been guilty of faking it once or twice in my life, but I’m making a promise to myself that from now on if it’s not going to happen, I’m not going to lie about it anymore. Well, I’m going to try not to, at least.

Real men dress in drag Cristian Cano Pride Director

I watched a TV show some time ago where the main character lost a bet and had to dress up as a drag queen at the gay bar. The character faced discrimination he hadn’t expected; cab drivers didn’t stop for him and people yelled hateful things at him. Near the end of the episode, he said, “Only real men can be drag queens.” This line will stay with me because it articulates the courage of men who give up the unearned privileges of masculinity to challenge society’s conception of gender. I doubt most men would be willing to put on makeup, a dress, and high heels. I know I couldn’t do it, but I admire anyone who has the balls (even if they keep them tucked

up between their butt cheeks) to defy society in that way. I’m grateful to drag queens for the work they do in the queer community as spectacular, campy, subversive ambassadors. In recent years, drag kings have become more popular as they challenge the ideas of what it means to be masculine in a non-male body. Unfortunately, people who challenge gender norms in this way continue to face discrimination—both inside and outside the queer community—despite the fact they’ve contributed a great deal to the queer rights revolution. Just as they weren’t afraid to wear high heels, drag queens weren’t afraid to also use them as weapons in the fight for equality. For that, I thank them.

w w w.ne xu snewspap er.com

visit t h e nexus online

COLuMNS

16

Ask Anything

Worth the Trip?

By Breanna Carey

Escaping the perfect guy

Woman on woman

Q:

Q:

A:

A:

i’m dating this wonderful guy who’s successful, funny, kind—the whole nine—but i can’t stand the way he smells, and his baby kisses annoy the hell out of me. do i end things with Mr. Perfect? i bet it’s the type of thing where you gloat about his magnificence to your coworkers and maybe even some friends, but when talking to those who really know you, you can’t seem to find anything you truly love about this guy. it’s the “perfect on paper” situation, where your mind is telling you to make things work because he fits in so well with your life. in battles of heart and mind, the heart almost always wins. if you don’t want to wind up as the super-bitch that tore this amazing guy’s heart out and stomped on it, then end things soon. Stay humble by considering he might feel the same way about you and not know how to approach you about a breakup. But if you feel your relationship is worth salvaging, bring home some man-fume to dilute his natural odor. Chances are, buddy’s been busy at work and you need to take the reins. You might even catch yourself off guard.

The battle of on and off-campus eats

CSea MeMBer

Growing plants is great for the environment. And if you can get food from those plants, that’s even more fabulous! Community gardens are starting to show up in more and more locations around Victoria. Lots of people want to be part of a community garden; that’s why most of them have multiple-year waitlists. Community gardens are a great example of efficient land usage. A good example of poor land usage would be planting a lawn. The grass we plant can grow to a

by Donald Kennedy and guy alaimo

i’m probably not the only woman on the planet who ever does this, but on more than one occasion i have locked lips with one of my lovely lady friends. Now i’m all confused about it and not too sure if i want to keep playing it straight. You have to love the college years, hey? it’s when everyone gets their squirrelly behaviour out of their system before they settle down, right? You might be the type to accidentally fall into a situation you never expected would go further than a kiss. Ladies do this all the time for attention and free drinks. it can be really hot for the guys to see, and why not embrace your feminine power by making out with other girls? a few kisses typically aren’t enough to cause a switch, but it may challenge your demeanor. Be honest with what you want and, if you like, discreetly play both sides. You might surprise yourself or re-affirm your previous thoughts. talk to someone you trust (who won’t think you’re hitting on them) and relax, you have your entire life to decide who you want to be.

You can’t eat your lawn Joel wiTheringTon

March 18, 2009

natural height of a foot or more, but we water the lawn and cut it short so it looks nice. That’s a waste of human and fossil fuel energy, not to mention water. Growing some of our native mosses might be a better way to achieve an effortless lawn requiring no water or mowing, but using your land, water, and energy to grow your own food is a better idea. Almost any piece of land can be used to grow plants. In the past almost everybody had a garden, but then people started buying all their food from grocery stores and switched to lawns. Most of the good topsoil was removed during construction

Campus Cafe Philly Cheese Steak $5 .79 plus tax

Presentation and service

Guy: the amount of effort the cook put into making the sandwich made me feel like i was a special customer. this guy is really coming into his own now, having been part of the cooking team as far back as the first time i started going to Camosun, which has been way too long. the other cook must have been pushing 40, and his eyes lit up when he saw my Maple Leafs shirt. Hockey talk is always nice, especially when you bump into a Canadiens fan who doesn’t like chanting, “ole ole.” donald: is tuesday boy’s baseball cap day at the Campus Caf? if it is, they should extend it to include female staff. While the female cashier looked tired and sullen today, the boys in the baseball caps were having a merry old time frying up steak and extolling the virtues of the Montreal Canadiens. i predict a productivity increase of 500 percent if everyone at the Caf starts wearing hats . . . get on it, aramark.

Taste

and sold, so you may need to get some compost to mix with your dirt before you plant. If there’s land nearby no one is using, go ahead—dig it up and plant. If you really can’t find any land to farm, then you can grow veggies in pots. To get started, check out www. organicgardentips.com and www. plants-free-for-life.com CSEA is working to get a community garden started on campus or in the neighbourhood, so now’s the time to get in before any waitlists. For more info about CSEA, visit www.camosunstudent.org/ csea or e-mail [email protected]

Maude’s March Specials

G: this is the second time i’ve had the Philly cheese steak at the Caf and it was good both times. if there was one item that could reinstate my confidence in the Caf, this could be it. unfortunately, when i think of the Caf the first thing that comes to mind is five-hour-old pizza turning dark brown under heat lamps and energy drinks that are priced $0.50 more than across the hall at the bookstore. d: i think i’ve had this same chipotle mayo in an airport breakfast burrito somewhere. it’s not wonderful, but it won’t make you throw this package out early either. the main problem here is the lack of grease. i was expecting a bomb, but only got a cap gun flare. Still, the steak was surprisingly well cooked; this is certainly better than the same dish at Boston Pizza.

1550’s Pub Style Restaurant Philly Cheese Steak with Fries $13 .49 plus tax

Presentation and service

donald: Sure, it’s nice to be in close proximity to thick toast and a toilet you can use without fear of someone snapping pictures while you make cheese steak farts, but during a crisis you need to be with family in order to heal. if not for a twist of fate, it could have been the image of my breasts that was so wantonly stolen in a women’s shower stall on campus earlier this month. 1550’s just doesn’t understand what we’re going through. in the words of the great Camosun poet Little Ling, “Oh Camosun, you are my daddy; nurture me and care for me.” Guy: it’s really hard to follow up after someone throws a Little Ling bomb, but here it goes—1550’s fucking sucks. if they don’t shape up, i might have to go next door to Young Young’s and tell one of my frost-tipped, gang-bangin’ friends to throw down right after they finish their mango/cherry bubble tea. Philly cheese steak must be lame in general. do yourself a favour and order a burger.

Monday

$6.95 Burger & Fries (substitutes extra)

Taste

d: Never having been to Philadelphia, i can’t comment much on the proper taste of a cheese steak. i will say that the greasy, non whole-wheat bun and the side of au-jus were a pleasant upgrade from the Campus Cafe though. But 14 bucks after tax is pretty damn pricey.

Music Bingo starting March 9 at 7:30 PM Tuesday

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

G: Philly Cheese Steaks just aren’t very interesting to me. it’s sliced beef and cheese with onions and green peppers. So, as far as taste goes, i’m not impressed, but it is still one of the best options at the Caf. PS—dear 1550’s, please take a trip out to royal roads Cafe to find out how Baked Spaghetti is supposed to be made. Yours totally blows.

And the winner is . . .

Wednesday

the aramark commitment to value finally makes an appearance.

.35¢ Wings (after 2 PM)

Verdict

Not worth the trip. a side of fries and a variety of thick toast options up the road is tempting, but hardly worth an extra eight bucks.

Thursday

$6.95 Perogies (after 4 PM)

Hey, check out our Victoria buffet and burger blogs at vicbuffet.com (Guy) and vicburgers.blogspot.com (Donald).

Sunday

$7. 95 Brunch Specials $3.99 Caesars/ $5 Doubles

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

H

UNC L Y IL

DA

5DWICH 9 . 6 $ SAN

P SOU

AND

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

Mexican Tacos
Tamales
Beer






















8 typical Mexican taco llings Try any 3 for just $5 low low student prices every day

1002 Johnson St. (at Vancouver)

Visit us today at www.orale.ca

Fo rg et g ro u n d b e ef. . .we p u l l o u r m e at !

VIEWS

[email protected]

17

More to life than the internet Cell phones a detriment to youth

Jenna Sedmak Contributing Writer

addiction itself is just the icing on the cake; the moist center is As students, we all face plenty a psychological, sociological, or of daily struggles, including the health problem most won’t admit challenging task of maintaining to. Or, maybe, they just don’t know a regular social life. But because how to talk to people in real life. some students spend much of their According to the Center for time on the Internet, they find a Internet Addiction Recovery, online virtual life more interesting, which addicts are often found to use the can easily become an addiction. ‘net to psychologically escape unpleasant feelings or stressful situations. Dr. Ivan Goldberg, who first identified the affliction in 1997, sees Internet addicts are it as symptom of other problems often just dodging that should be identified before their real-life issues. treatment occurs. And just like any other addiction, the recovery stage is long and difficult. And the younger these Internet In a guide to Internet Addiction, users are, the more vulnerable be- Dr. John M. Grohol believes the cause they haven’t fully developed problem lies in how the web has the necessary skills to cope and progressed. It’s become a social tool interact in today’s society. where the addiction is a euphoric reInternet addicts are often just sponse to discovering something on dodging their real-life issues. The the internet and interacting with it. Ed Sum

Contributing Writer

I try to call a friend, but the battery on my cell phone dies and my memory fails me, so I’m stuck with Photo: Courtney Broughton no idea what number to dial. As a People want to talk to like-minded kid, I not only had the phone numpeople online, and when they spend bers of all my friends and family excessive amounts of time in chat memorized, but also the local pizza rooms or in games like World of place and video store. A digitized Warcraft it eventually becomes a phone book in the palm of my hand compulsive behavior. has made things easier, but it has One big problem with online let me down occasionally. chat is you never know exactly who I’ve noticed cell phone users you’re talking to. And communicat- are getting younger while their ing by text is no way to read each dependency on their virtual leash other’s emotional states. Also, it’s is growing stronger. way easier to lie in an email than These kids are messaging their in person. And what about the friends while they’re out for dinner. real-life friends these addicts are Not just one or two short messages, abandoning? but an ongoing electronic conversaGoing online is a choice. For tion with someone who isn’t even in some, it can be productive. For the room. Their parents halfheartothers, it’s a way to pass the time. edly say, “Please put your phone But internet addicts go online to away,” but there isn’t much luck. I avoid interacting with friends and asked a parent of a young cell phone family. owner why they don’t just take the To leave the virtual world may phone away, and the answer was feel cold, but if those online buddies “it’s for the safety of my child.” are truly friends they can still get in I understand cell phones offer touch the old fashioned way. security not possible in previous generations. If there’s an emergency, help is only a phone call away. I can empathize with parental concern, but phones are available only for calling emergency numbers—no text, no camera, no internet.

Customer service shouldn’t be such a dying art Alisha Charmley Contributing Writer

“Hi there. Did you find everything you were looking for today? Would you like paper or plastic?” Eye contact. Smile. Converse. Smile again. “Have a nice day.” These simple courtesies of customer service are becoming more and more rare. When shopping or grabbing that afternoon coffee, most customers just want to get in and get out. But whether we know it or not, friendly cashiers and helpful staff make finding that hidden box of our favourite crackers a non-frustrating part of our day. Many high school students serve us at grocery store tills, bring us coffee, and slice us meat at the deli. For them, a grocery store or retail position is the best way to pocket some dough for a new pair of jeans. But while some of them are friendly and helpful toward customers, many are ignorant, rude, and lazy. With age comes experience, and with experience comes confidence.

For an inexperienced young person, a new job means having to learn an overwhelming amount of information about products, people, and policies.

Though some high school-age employees simply lack confidence, there are also many who don’t understand they’re there to do a job. The pressure to know everything about the job can leave them feeling uncomfortable and out of place. Because of this, young employees may have difficulties answering customers’ questions for fear of being wrong. Although not entirely their fault, this gives the impression of bad customer service. Though some high school-aged employees simply lack confidence,

there are also many who don’t understand they’re there to do a job. They’ve had things done for them their whole life, so when it comes to helping others and working hard, they don’t. They need direction, because without direction they stand around, text message during their shift, and socialize with other employees or visiting friends. When a customer comes to a workplace like that, they feel ignored, like they’re an inconvenience, as if they’re interrupting a conversation. Students have to start work somewhere, but when entering the world of work and customer service, the best way to gain knowledge and service is to get out there and do it. Experience and confidence will come with age, and standing around, socializing, and rudeness should be left outside the door. Many students will argue they’re underpaid and underappreciated, but the only way to change that is to respect coworkers and customers, be professional, and work hard.

But that’s not good enough. In order to remain cool with their friends, youths want a top-of-theline phone because “mommmm, everybody has one!” Once the parents are fooled, these phones are rarely used for emergencies, or even just important calls. Chatting and texting with friends during class, after school, and on the weekend is the hip new way to keep in touch.

I’ve noticed cell phone users are getting younger while their dependency on their virtual leash is growing stronger. I understand cell phones are a very positive form of technology, and I appreciate the convenience of being able to make a phone call while I’m out, but I’m not dependent on it. I worry future generations will become more and more detached from humanity. I fear the youth will spend more and more time in their virtual worlds, becoming apathetic to other people in their lives.

Canoe $10 Burger and Beer on Monday Nights!!

S

ll

t ra

en tud

un

mos

Ca y at

Learn more about how YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE and protect the last portion of old growth forest left on Vancouver Island with ACTION FOR OLD GROWTH (AFrOG). Join the group page on Facebook or drop a line at [email protected]

Canoe welcomes students to join us on Mondays for a Canoe Burger or a Veggie Burger with a glass a Canoe brewed beer for just $10! If you’re currently a student, bring a valid piece of student ID to take up this incredible offer! *Offer not valid with any substitutions*

All students must have 2 pieces of government-issued ID to join us in the pub.

Canoe Brew Pub 250-361-1940

[email protected] www.canoebrewpub.com

n ff k-

VIEWS

18

March 18, 2009

Riding the Macintosh douche wagon Jeff Baldry Contributing Writer

The geeks have spoken; this year’s award for the biggest douche goes to . . . the Mac user! With the ability to run windows and surf the net virus-free, the shrug-it-off Mac users have built themselves a wall of douche so high not even a company like “iDestruction” could knock it down. This, of course, all stems from a certain ad where a trendy college student asks a corporate PC guy rhetorical questions about his operating system, only to have the guy freeze up or be instantly proven the unusable “other” choice. Is it just me or do these new MacBooks come with slip-on Vans and a book on how to laugh under your breath? Up until I got a Mac, I was convinced you had to know some secret handshake to get into the Apple stores. But it turns out you just need about twice as much money as you would if you decided on a PC. But the Mac does have a lot of bang for the buck. I haven’t seen the blue screen of death in some

time now, and all the programs are incredibly easy to use. The system only takes about a week to get to know, and then you’re ready to start making fun of PC users like all the other stereotyped Mac’ers. And it’s so hard not to! When you’ve got so many viruses you can’t even play Minesweeper without your computer crashing, it would be moronic to get a new PC and expect to remain virus-free. Sure, you could give up downloading music and streaming Internet porn, but then what’s the point of having a computer anyway? So you spend a little extra cash and go for the big Apple with a bite out of the side of it, and suddenly you’re blaring Guero and watching Jenna Jameson courtesy of your neighbour’s password-free router. Sold! Mac users get a bad rap for being smug and cocky about their computers, and rightly so. I bug my friends all the time about their PCs, and they give it right back to me. I don’t know how many people actually assume they could become cooler because of a computer, but it

Mac users get a bad rap for being smug and cocky about their computers, and rightly so.

Photo: Courtney Broughton

sure is fun to act the part. It might be my passion for stirring things up, or just that I’m a bona fide douche, but any chance to hop on the wagon is a good one. In a perfect world, there wouldn’t be any logos, and the smug, falsified hipness that comes along with

purchasing things that go against the norm wouldn’t exist. But that isn’t the case, so I smirk at the girl across the hallway as I open my little white MacBook and showcase the incredibly arrogant stereotype that the Mac niche has so proudly earned.

It’s a computer, not a seven-digit bank account. Quit trying to act like you’re superior to other computer users because you have hot corners and widgets. You’re making the rest of us look bad.

Bathroom graffiti should World overrun with undead youth be more high-brow Camden Wright Contributing Writer

Jason Motz Staff Writer

Whenever I use the washroom facilities in the Young or Fisher buildings at Lansdowne, I’m assaulted by the degenerate art of, well . . . some degenerate. Most of what I see and read is typical grade school wit—crude boob humour, poems on the subject of shitting (as though bathroom users need a refresher) and, alarmingly, racial epithets. Did I miss something? Did Hitler win the war? Has there not been 2,000 years of human evolution? Why the fuck, then, are there

You’d think by 2009 there’d be little interest in using Liquid Paper to draw the penis-that-should-be for fellow stall-users to see. goons on campus who feel it necessary to scar stall walls with their idiocy, pig ignorance, and humour so low-brow and lame the Wayans Brothers would call it weak and unfunny? A logical assumption is this spectacle of public defacing began in grade school, where it succeeded in eliciting some crass accolades from a pack of like-minded chuckleheads. Sadly, the practice has graduated along with the Rembrandts of the toilet. What is the psychology of someone who deems it worthy to write vitriolic, hateful screeds against Jews and the handicapped (in a handicapped stall, no less), or delights in leaving anonymous mus-

The dead now walk the earth. But the graves are still full, and the disgusting smell of rotting flesh isn’t in the air. The undead are actually youth who have refused to live with society. The zombie girls wear headbands with pretty skulls that still scream in-

ings about defecation? Surely this is not the behaviour of a future leader? The obvious lack of creativity is surprising, given that phallic scrawling on lavatory walls pre-dates Caligula’s Rome. You’d think by 2009 there’d be little interest in using Liquid Paper to draw the penis-that-should-be for fellow Could Tim Burton, the stall-users to see. A post-secondary institute creator of so many cult should be a place where one’s juclassic macabre films, venile instincts mature and die. We who chose to come to Camosun or be responsible? UVic do so seeking enlightenment. We learn history, both near and far, we read languages, study the bones of our elders, and learn to dividuality all over them, obsessed communicate in an increasingly with sexy vampire boyfriends and technologically driven world. the thirst for juicy gossip. Would it not be more appropriBoys are affected too; their brains ate to see somebody’s rough work have been eaten away by screaming as they try to suss out a complicated music, black hair dye, and tight girl physics equation? Is it too much to ask for the compositionally inclined to post some more refined poetry for public viewing? What I would give to see one Andy Roberts of the more ambitious Visual Arts Contributing Writer students take their pallet of skills If there’s one thing that unites and render some of the more ob- people, it’s hatred, and members jectionable stalls in campus into a of a Facebook group called “Keep valid exercise of artistic flair. Your Fucking Hand Down in LecAnd yet there remains a min- ture and Shut Up, No One Cares” ority of people whose intellectual have one particular pet-peeve in apex appears to be seven years old. common—disruptive students with Terrific! no respect for their classmates or I assume there must be some professors. primordial human urge to use stalls Being alert and present are for the lamest and crudest of human critical to the learning experience. thoughts, so I’m not suggesting an When material that students have amendment to the Criminal Code never seen before pops up on the allowing for the public flogging of final exam and sets their hearts washroom Warhols. pounding, it’s fair to assume their But I think it’s only right some- attention was elsewhere during thing be done. If personal account- lectures. ability won’t keep Camosun’s stalls If students aren’t going to focus free of the lame and the obscene on the lesson (the entire point of then, please, can we at least see a attending school, after all), why not little more creativity? Is that too bugger off so everyone else can? much to ask? School is expensive and many students have an extensive commute

pants, while tattoos of skulls, hearts, and flowers are sprinkled over their newly undead bodies. These young people were born with brains, intelligence, and a chance to be something, but society has eroded their soft, delicious brains, replacing them with a hollow existence and a heavy case of mob mentality. Easy to spot and slow-moving, this new wave of undead youth collect inside shadowy areas (and just about any public location) to complain about how expensive it is to dress as if they don’t care what the living think, and why it’s so damn hard to be themselves. Life isn’t easy for the undead. Their life is so much harder than the living, in ways we could never imagine. Think of all the bad luck thrown their way, and how much the world hates them for no good reason. Think of all the times their shoelaces have come untied, and the

times their pens have run out of ink, all because God won’t let the rest of the world feel their sadness. Their parents love them and support them all the way; too bad they think their parents secretly hate them. How could this happen? Could Tim Burton, the creator of so many cult classic macabre films, be responsible? What about Marilyn Manson, the shock rock legend? It could even be emo music, which became screamo, which is now turning into bitchy metal? Whatever the cause, it created a horrifying onslaught of undead, that we hope will eventually go away. Yes, they will go away. But they won’t die again. They’ll transform back into what they once were. Their brains will eventually build up to fully grasp what the latest trends are. And hopefully they will become something more, something happier.

Please just shut up and learn to get to campus each day. Incredibly, most students don’t come to Camosun to socialize. Is it really such a Herculean feat to sit back, shut up, flick off the iPods, and take some fricking notes? Would it kill students to focus their questions on the topic, rather than stick up their hand every two minutes to relate some tedious, irrelevant chunk of their life story? And let’s not get started on the issue of personal hygiene; the campaign “We Share the Air” goes both ways. You might have a near-fatal allergic reaction to my cologne, but I don’t particularly want a near-vomit reaction to the bacteria currently partying in your armpits and other bodily niches. Cell phones are the number one tool of choice for the budding class saboteur. Is it really that difficult to set a phone to silent or switch it off completely during a lesson? I’m sure

we’ve all been in an exam and seen someone scramble madly to find their phone when it begins to vibrate halfway through, despite warnings from the teacher. Is basic courtesy and consideration for other students really that far down on some students’ agendas? Oh, and to the person at the back of the class sending text messages under the desk—do you honestly think the prof has no idea what you’re doing? Those who refuse to shut up while the professor is talking, or use any means at their disposal to distract their attention from the lesson, are not only pissing off their classmates, but are usually the ones leaving sour comments on Ratemyprofessor.com because they never got the A+ they so richly deserved. Ultimately, you cannot learn by osmosis, so shut up and knuckle down.

HuMOur

[email protected]

Looking Glass By Adrian Binakaj

1

Phlegm By Shane Scott-Travis

Darth & Luke By Alan Piffer

eye on campus By Kait Cavers Wednesday, March 18

Nexus Pizza Day do i really need to dive into the benefits of buying cheap food once again? i know that aramark serves pizza too, but we’ll sell it to you cheaper and, at the end of the day, we don’t use your money to light our Cubans. We’re not stupid—we use flamethrowers for that. 12 pm until it’s totally devoured, outside the fisher Building. Wednesday, March 25

Café International Peer Connections hosts inter-

national Café Night with academic study information. international Student advisor jennifer erwin will be on hand to answer any questions. from 1:30–3:30 pm, Wilna thomas 234, Lansdowne. info: [email protected] Thursday, March 26

Free movie! as if life couldn’t get any better, Peer Connections presents the movie, Twilight. admission is free and students are welcome to invite their friends and family to come along. free is free, and apparently this movie is the next Harry Potter. from 5:30–7:30 pm, fisher 100, Lansdowne. info: [email protected] Monday, March 30

Copyright this! in RIP: A Remix Manifesto, web

Saturday, March 21

Jon and Roy, Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra By kait Cavers

Friday, March 20

Utah Saints, Scotty Stylus HUSH, SHOW AT 10:30 PM, $25

utah Saints mix it up with Victoria’s own bad boy of breakbeats, Scotty Stylus. if you’re in the mood to party, head to Hush to check out this show. Saturday, March 21

Hollydene, Fineas Gage, Lacking Tact THE CAMBIE, SHOW AT 8 PM, $5

fineas Gage is back from a long hiatus, playing with Hollydene. if you haven’t checked this two guy/one girl combo out yet, it’s time to! Lacking tact joins for a night that will leave you wanting more.

SUGAR, DOORS AT 9 PM, $16

What more do these two amazing talents need in an introduction? don’t miss out on some serious island talent right here.

Sunday, March 22

Talib Kwell, Georgia Murray ELEMENT, DOORS AT 9 PM, $35

talib kwell, Georgia Murray, d Whiz, Langdon auger, dj Stallion, j reign, trekk, and dj Speedy Shoes all collide for a solid night of spinning sweet tracks to groove to. Saturday, March 28

Run Chico Run, BA Johnston, The Stables LOGAN’S, DOORS AT 9 PM, $7

run Chico run has been around since i first learned how to walk. Come check out what age and experience will do to your music. You won’t be disappointed!

activist and filmmaker Brett Gaylor explores issues of copyright in the information age, mashing up the media landscape of the 20th century and shattering the wall between media’s users and its producers. at 6:30 pm, fisher 100, Lansdowne. info: interurbanplan@ camosun.bc.ca

Hockey! if i had a hockey glove, and i wasn’t communicating with you via newspaper, i would slap you across the face and challenge you to a duel in the game i so affectionately refer to as “sticky-nets.” do you accept? 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.

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: “You guys are looking for a Little Ling video, aren’t you?”

“do you want me to hit you with the hammer?”

“Hey, Google ‘orgasm face.’”

“Why can’t she describe the screams?”

“She’s harassing them with her deep, baritone voice, brought on by steroid abuse.”

“Scientology creeps me out.”

[email protected]

March 18, 2009

A trip for TWO to the 52nd GRAMMY Awards ®

NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS

READER DIGITAL BOOKS

DJ SYSTEMS

FREE BOWLING

FREE MILK

For full contest rules, go to mustdrinkmoremilk.com or call 1-888-313-6455. No purchase necessary. Skill-testing question required. Odds of winning are approximately 1 in 21. Prizes may not be exactly as shown. Sony, VAIO and Xross are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. GRAMMY and the gramophone logo are registered trademarks of The Recording Academy® and are used under license. ©2008 The Recording Academy.